Well hello there ol’ bloggy blog. Nice to see you again!
This summer has been a whirlwind so far – I can hardly believe we’re halfway through July already! Tim and I spent most of June traveling to Arizona, Illinois, and Wisconsin to visit friends and family, attend my cousin’s wedding, and do a little sightseeing along the way.
At the end of our trip we totaled 11 different locations that we’d spent the night – ranging from hotels to friend’s guest rooms to pull-out couches in the living room to separate twin beds (and separate bedrooms hah!) at my grandparents’ house to the floor of the airport when our late-night flight was cancelled on the way home.
Needless to say, we’re happy to be home and have our very own bed to sleep in. It’s taken me a couple weeks of being back at home to feel like I (maybe?) have my feet back under me and can get back in the routine of life here. We’re in a wild season right now (see what I did there?) as we figure out our next steps with our business, deal with the looming uncertainty of Tim’s job this coming school year, and as we dream about the possibilities of the next few years of our lives.
We keep reminding ourselves that we don’t have to have it all together right now. We’re nowhere near “having it together,” so that’s a reassuring reminder that we need daily. I’m so guilty of comparing myself and our lives to others and it quickly becomes discouraging. I keep coming back to the thought that my story isn’t the same as theirs and it’s not supposed to be. Tim and I are meant to live our own story – one that is unique to the gifts and the passions that the Lord has given us. Comparing ourselves to others isn’t just unrealistic, it’s comparing two different things that do not compute.
I’m reminded of this pin I came across on Pinterest recently that says, “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.” I see these words as freedom from feeling like I have to fit into someone else’s expectation for my life (or even my skewed perception of what I think someone else’s expectation is for my life.) God does strange things and works in unexpected ways – often we don’t see what He was doing till after the fact.
I also like to turn the tables and see this quote from the other direction – “Sometimes you won’t understand other people’s journeys. You don’t need to, it’s not for you.” In other words – stop comparing, stop setting unrealistic expectations, relax, focus on the things that you are meant to be doing, enjoy where you are right now, love on the people in front of you, be present and mindful, breathe, and say no to the lies that say you’re not good enough and you never will be. Live your own story. Enough with trying to live someone else’s.
And on that bombshell, (as we like to say in our house – Top Gear anyone?) let’s get on to the recipe!
This is a great summertime recipe – the cucumbers in our garden are multiplying daily and our tomatoes aren’t far behind. This dish can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until you’re ready to serve, making it perfect for a picnic or an outdoor dinner on a warm summer evening!
Summery Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers peeled, seeded, and diced
- 2-3 medium tomatoes diced (I also like to remove the seeds)
- 1/4 of a red onion diced
- 3/4 lb of pasta I love using tiny bow ties or orzo
- 2 Tbs red wine vinegar add more to taste - I usually do
- 3 Tbs lemon juice
- 1 Tbs pesto optional, but if you have a jar in your fridge I definitely recommend using it!
- 1 tsp honey
- 2-3 Tbs olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Feta and chopped mint for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and then rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and set aside to cool completely.
- Combine red wine vinegar, lemon juice, pesto, honey, olive oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk together to combine. Pour over the top of the cooled pasta. Add cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and stir to combine. Taste and adjust flavors to suit your preferences. I tend to add more red wine vinegar at the end for a little extra zip.
- Place in fridge until ready to serve.
- Serve topped with feta and chopped mint.
I picked up this adorable screen-printed flour sack towel at The Handmade Market in Raleigh a while back – you can see more fantastic designs from The High Fiber and purchase items at her Etsy shop!
