Basil Walnut Pesto

I posted this three years ago, and since we have a bush of a basil plant this year, I thought it would be a great post to share again! Enjoy:

We bought a basil plant last week, and I harvested almost two cups of leaves this week to add to my homemade pesto! Nurturing this plant is making me so happy–I can’t wait until the leaves grow full again and I can make more pesto.

This pesto recipe is for people on a budget, so if you don’t have pine nuts, walnuts will work as well. (You also could substitute pecans, if desired). Feel free to adjust nuts and oils to what you have at home, but this much pesto coated enough pasta for about 6-8 people.

Picking Our Son’s Name

Just as our grilled octopus, tomato coconut curry soup, and marinated olives arrived at our table at the tapas restaurant, my husband said another name idea for our baby boy: “How about Joel Christopher?” I paused…

We had been thinking of names for days, ever since we found out we are having a son the Tuesday before. Driving through the South on our road trip, we had time to brainstorm for names, and the search was getting closer when we narrowed it down to Nolan, Joel, or Boaz.

Basil Walnut Pesto

We bought a basil plant last week, and I harvested almost two cups of leaves this week to add to my homemade pesto! Nurturing this plant is making me so happy–I can’t wait until the leaves grow full again and I can make more pesto.

This pesto recipe is for people on a budget, so if you don’t have pine nuts, walnuts will work as well. (You also could substitute pecans, if desired). Feel free to adjust nuts and oils to what you have at home, but this much pesto coated enough pasta for about 6-8 people.

A Mother-Hen Hug

The students looked back and smiled when they saw me sitting in the back of Friday chapel time. Yesterday I attended worship at the school where I teacher assisted last year, and when I walked into the room where last years’ students were writing, I got mobbed! “Miss Campbell!!”

A red-headed girl got up first, threw her arms around my waist, then a boy, and in the end probably 17 kids were all around me hugging me and each other. Arms interlocked, jumping, hugging happiness expressed through smiles and saying the words, “Miss Campbell!!” with such joy. This brought more healing to my heart. I have taught students well, and will teach them again.

Picture a mother hen surrounded by her many chicks. The teacher soon had the kids back in their seats, writing again, and I stopped and talked with the kids at each table. Their bright eyes bring happiness, and it was so satisfying to see the progress they are making. Investing in children’s lives is SO worth it!

This is an example of an Aunty hug 🙂

By M. H. Campbell Copyright 2014

Letting Your Heart Surface

Tears loosen the icy grip of fear:
Fear of letting down, letting people see, letting people close, and letting yourself just be real–pimples, farts, screams, smiles, hugs, and all.

A heart buried out of fear of losing love if not perfect or doing what others want.

A heart surfacing through the unconditional love of Jesus, shown through people: the hugs and kisses of a one year old nephew, of walking alongside sisters through widowhood and marriage, of brothers letting me into their lives, and parents’ nurture and prayer.

A heart surfacing through giving 100 percent, of being rejected, but still having hope to heal and teach again.
I still have hope…for my life, for my city, for my world…
An engaged heart means deeper pain, but deeper hope.

The Swish of a Tail

Last weekend, when I was baby-sitting, Sherpa, the golden retriever got in my shot, but it created a cool effect in the photo.

Those wooden animals are created by my brother of anvil goods: #anvilgoods.

To All the Nurturers Out There: Happy Mother’s Day

The older lady at my parents’ church shook my hand and said to me, “Happy Mother’s Day!” I responded with a smile and, “Thanks!”

I’m not a biological mom yet, but I am a nurturer of children–my students, my nephew, my friends’ kids… So I took that lady’s greeting as a compliment; she thought I looked like a mom, and I hope to be one someday soon.

So to all nurturers out there: Whether you are a biological mom or a teacher, care-giver, or just a nurturer in your own special way, keep up the hard, rewarding work of caring for the children in your life!

I’m so thankful that my Grandma Jane and my Mom both chose to be teachers, and then when they had kids, they chose to stay at home and teach and nurture their children. I hope to follow in their footsteps, so for now I’m parenting other peoples’ kids by being a teacher, a youth worker, a baby-sitter…

Don’t give up hope if you are desiring your own children; just keep on being faithful with the little lives in your care, and see who else God brings into your life! So, at the end of this Mother’s Day: Happy Mother’s Day!