Tilapia, good music and best buddies

I've often considered putting recipes up on my blog but never have. Mostly because my readers are few and I'm not sure there's anyone reading this looking for new ideas. BUT.... If you know me you know I love cooking and I love finding a keeper of a recipe so I will share. Plus we had this last night and I already wished today that I had leftovers. This one is so incredibly easy and so so yummy. Perfect for summer. I always serve it with rice, and think it's so delicious that I would happily eat a huge bowl of just the salsa and rice. Yummmm.

TILAPIA WITH CORN SALSA
4 tilapia fillets (6 oz each)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
3/4 cup Italian salad dressing
2 Tbsp chopped green onion
2 Tbsp(I prefer more=) chopped red sweet pepper

Drizzle both sides of fillets with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Broil 4-6 inches from heat for 5-7 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Serve with fish.

On an unrelated note, I was struck all over again last night with an overwhelming love of / thankfulness for music. What it does for me deep in my soul is something I can't try to explain. As I cleaned up from dinner I put on one of my very favorite Pandora stations and wow did it make me happy. Great song after great song and I couldn't help but grab my littlest boy and twirl around and around.
To those of you who have music deep in your soul, you get it.
I am very thankful for music.

We spent the day yesterday with dear, dear friends whom we don't see nearly as often as we'd like but they still remain some of our best buddies. 5 years ago now Darla said to me "you need to meet Jack and Jill" and I said "really???", thinking that I had just moved home from Japan and declared that I really didn't need any new friends.
Foolish me and thank you Jesus!!
These years have passed and the two babies between us have turned into 8 (soon to be 9) and life is crazy but we've sure stuck together.
And our kids love each other and that's a joy to see.
I am very thankful for Jill.

this heart of mine

143)freckles
144)living in a small town
145)cooking with my kids
146)Amelia Bedelia books
147)after dinner walks on a breezy evening
148)all 3 boys busy enough while on a walk that I can hold their daddy's hand for just a minute
149)Jill, and her perspective on life
150)Cole singing to the sound of the vacuum every time I turn it on
151)unseasonably cool June days
153)California rolls
154)going to sleep asking for peace in my heart and waking up in the morning with a very peaceful heart

Happy days, happy boys

Lots of fun days filled with fun moments...
And here are just a few =)

Happy birthday

Today is my little sister's birthday. Last night I lay in bed in the middle of the night thinking of her and it turned into a little mental celebration of her and all the things that make her so great and so her.
I love people, so so much, but I'm not always the best and letting them know that. Or at least the how muches and the whys....
So here's to my sister Joanna...

- I love the way she turns everything into something fun. There's a never-ending supply of games in her head, and it turns out anything can be a game! Never a dull moment.
-she is loyal. Really really loyal. Don't mess with the people she loves. I'm blessed to be loved so absolutely by her. And if someone hurts me too bad, watch out... =)
- she smiles all the time. If you want proof then just look at her little girl, who has in one year learned from her mommy that there's always something to smile about.
- she's a fighter for what's right. I think she got it from our daddy
-she will give and give and give of herself, and I am often amazed by the growing list of people who are touched by her
-she can keep going, and do so productively, even when really tired (I can not)
-she shows up big time whenever there is a need
- she LOVES her husband, LOVES her little girl, and would always rather be with them. The 3 of them together are always very happy.

I could go on. Today I feel thankful for her, blessed by her, humbled by many of the ways that she loves.
I love you Jo.