Wicked awesome Shish Kabobs

So, I have a wicked awesome marinade recipe for you to try...on shish kabobs. Wha?! Yes, I said it. Check it out folks. This just made our Memorial Day weekend a little sweeter! We paired this meal with watermelon, baked beans, and grilled okra (and of course red, white, and blue bomb pops) and it was per-fect. Check it out, and get to grillin!

Meat marinade

1/3 cup lemon juice

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

In a bowl, combine the marinade ingredients; mix well. Pour 1/4 cup marinade into a large resealable plastic bag and add chunks of meat (below). Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.

Kabobs

3/4 lb beef sirloin steak, cut into 1 inch cubes

1 large green pepper

1 large purple onion

4 large tomatoes

...and whatever else you like on kabobs (I sometimes add pineapple also)

Drain and discard marinade. On a metal or soaked wooden skewers (water), alternately thread beef and vegetables. Grill, uncovered, over medium heat or broil 4 inches from heat for 6-8 minutes on each side or until beef reaches desired doneness, basting frequently with reserved marinade and turning once.

I mean....magic.

A heart condition

Dear Children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

1 John 5:21 NLT

What is it for you? I had to think long and hard about this one. What is most important to me? Or takes God’s place in my heart more easily than anything else?

Well, I love when people say nice things about me, so maybe caring too much about other’s opinions is one of my biggest downfalls. “You don’t live your life for other people, Michelle. You live it for me.” I allow God to remind me of that every day.

Would I rather buy something nice than give money to someone in need? I would love to tell you that I’m a saint, but I just don’t think this answer is always no. If it was, I would probably return the coach purse I bought last weekend and give it to someone that I knew needed help paying their mortgage. I do like to buy cool things, and I think God allows us freedom to live comfortably at times, and bless others more generously at other times—if we are listening to his voice. But I could easily keep God first in my heart by just asking him before I bought some of these things, couldn’t I? No impulse purchases? How would I survive?! Well…how does half of the world survive on $1 a day? I bet I could manage just fine. I find that when I think long and hard about something before I buy it, I always find a better use for the money, and it’s never on myself.

Thanks God, for reminding me once again, that really, I’m just causing myself to miss out on the best thing that will ever happen to me anyway—you.

Mother's Day

So, although I wrote this on Sunday and evidently forgot to post it...I do in fact love my mom. :) Just out of curiosity, what do you love most about your mom? Here is what I love about mine...

I love how she always beats me at Canasta.
I love how she always makes a squinty face every time she drinks limeade, but it's still her favorite.
I love how nice she is. She would do anything for anyone.
I love that she's a master cook. The woman can make a killer meal out of old leftovers and rotten tomatoes.
I love that she laughs at my stupid jokes.
I love that she loves parks 100 miles away from the door in the Walmart parking lot just so she won't get a door ding.
I love that every time we go to Walmart together, a former student always comes up and says, "Ms. Dawson! Ms. Dawson! I'm doing really well in school this year! You would be so proud of me!"
I love how she says, "Well then, what are we gonna do about that?!"

I love her. So much. Happy (late) Mother's Day mom!