♥Hi Friends!
I’ve made several references in past posts about being “more mature”. And I intentionally added quotations for emphasis. I’d like to share with you exactly why and what it means to me.
When my oldest was going through cosmetology school at a local college, I would occasionally go down and act as a “model” for the different skills she was learning. It was especially wonderful when she went through her aesthetics rotation. I loved the calming music and soft lights while receiving a facial.
And then waxing came around. My daughter and the other students/friends at the school practiced often on each other, and when “model” day finally arrived, my friend Holly and I (she being a few years younger than my 40 or so years) were excited to fill a couple of slots. I mean who doesn’t like a little pain for beauty’s sake? As we were laying on tables next to each other (receiving our torture in all sorts of places on our bodies), my daughter (19 years old at the time) says (innocently enough, not realizing the impact of her words) something like “It’s really different doing it on more mature skin.” And her friends all heartily agreed. Excuse me?! Holly and I sat up, turned to each other and with incredulous looks said quite out loud “What?!” Apparently to some, we were “more mature” now. This new found knowledge had certainly been lost on us!
I remember when I was young thinking about and waiting for the time when I grew up and I’d feel “more mature”. I often admired those older people around me who seemed so refined, classy, even dainty if you will. They seemed to have it all together. Well, so far, at age 46 (which really isn’t old), I’m still waiting to feel “more mature”. I’m also waiting to get it all together! And I’ve changed my mind about what all that really means anyway. First of all, I’ve learned all us grownups are still just kids, with higher numbers in our age, still making mistakes and doing the very best we can to navigate through this mortal experience.
And second of all, maturity is much more than just wrinkles, skin tone and the years climbing up on the calendar. It means as we HEAL, we are accessing the power of the Atonement. And it means better understanding who we are and Whose we are. Because when we do, we have peace and a quiet confidence that grows and expands, knowing the Lord is on our side. We feel more love, more gratitude, and more HEALING energy in our lives. And even though we are faced with greater, larger, or “more mature” challenges, if it means all that I just mentioned to be a grown up, then bring it on!
♥Love you!
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Holy buckets! These are SO yummy and HEALING! Even if you don’t like yams, you’ll love these. I truly feel like Heavenly Father puts recipes in to my brain, and He really did a good one this time. But He always does. He’s AWESOME that way!
ROASTED YAM TACOS
- 2 large yams (Or sweet potatoes if not partial to yams.)
- 3 Tbsp avocado oil or EVOO
- 1 Tbsp “Simply Organic Garlic Salt”
- 2 cans black beans
- 2 tsp Real Salt or 1 tsp sea salt
- 3 green onions
- 1-2 large tomatoes
- 1 bunch chard
- 1 package “12 count Organic Food For Life Sprouted Corn Tortillas”*
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash, and cut yams in to 1 inch cubes. Toss with oil and garic salt and place on cookie sheet. Roast for 40 minutes in oven, stirring every 10 minutes. While roasting, put black beans and salt in sauce pan, bring to a boil, and then turn on low. Stir often while it cooks down, thickens, and the beans soften up. Wash and chop onions (using the whole onion), tomatoes, and chard. I like to chop my chard and then put it in a strainer and wash it. Right before the yams are done, sauté chard in frying pan, cooking it down so it looks wilted. Warm tortillas on a griddle and divide ingredients evenly on each. Serve and enjoy! YUM!
*I find these at Whole Foods or Good Earth in Utah. You can request them at your grocery store also.
(Click on picture to enlarge.)