Author: The Wild Gems

We are all like precious stones. We all come in different shapes and sizes. It is when we are cut and polished that we begin to live a more radiant life.
The Wild Gems hopes to inspire you to live life to the fullest and to enjoy every moment!

Thai Rice Noodle Soup With Red Curry

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What You Need:

1 lb to 1 1/2 lbs of cooked chopped chicken breast or tenders (shrimp would be delish with this too)

click here for my cheat sheet on not overcooking your chicken

1 pack of rice noodles (usually a pack is 6.75 oz, but I only add 3/4 of the pack of rice noodles)

6 cups of chicken broth

3 tablespoons of red curry paste or green curry paste (I’ve tried this recipe with both)

1 red bell pepper chopped up

1 tablespoon of grated ginger (optional)

1/2 to 3/4 sweet onion chopped

4 cloves of garlic minced

1 can coconut milk unsweetened (not the fat free either)

3 teaspoons of light brown sugar give or take

1 tablespoon of fish sauce

Salt and pepper for taste

1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro plus more for garnish

A handful of freshly chopped basil (optional but recommend)

Thinly sliced green onion for garnish (optional)

Steps:

1. Cook your chopped chicken on a nonstick skillet on low medium heat for 6 minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper. Set aside.

2. In a large pot drizzle 3 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Sauté the onion, bell pepper, and garlic until soft. Stir in the red curry paste and ginger if using for about 1 minute.

3. Add your chicken broth and coconut milk. Add the brown sugar and fish sauce. Seasoning with salt and pepper. Bring to boil, then to a low simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to mix together.

4. Add 3/4 of your packed rice noodles to the pot and 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro. Allow to cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add your chicken. Mix well.

5. Serve immediately in bowls with fresh lime juice, chopped basil, sliced green onion, cilantro, and ENJOY!

Maple Cinnamon Apples Made In The Skillet

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What You Need:

2-3 apples chopped (skin left on)

2 tablespoons of water

A few dashes of cinnamon

1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup

1 tablespoon of granola (optional)

Steps:

1. Chop your apples and place in skillet with the 2 tablespoons of water. Place lid and allow to simmer on a medium low for 5 mins.

2. Add the butter, cinnamon, and maple syrup to the skillet and place the lid on the skillet and allow to simmer for an additional 5 minutes or until soft. Throw in some granola while hot and toss around (optional)

Top with ice cream or whip cream! Enjoy!

Easy Homemade Granola

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What You Need:

4 cups of oats

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

A pinch of salt

1/3 cup of real maple syrup

1/4 cup of unsalted butter melted

Steps:

1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Add all the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and mix well with hands.

2. Scatter uncooked granola on sheet and bake at 300 for 45 mins, mixing one or two times in between. Allow to cool for 15 to 20 minutes.

Sprinkle on ice cream, top with yogurt, or eat as is! Enjoy!

Easy Roasted Asparagus

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Servings: 2-4 people

What You Need:

1 bundle of asparagus

3-4 tablespoons of olive oil

Salt and pepper (measure with your heart)

Italian breadcrumbs (measure with your heart)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 400 and line a cooking sheet with foil.

2 Place asparagus on the pan, drizzle with olive oil, dash with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with bread crumbs.

3. Get your hand in there and mix it up! Place in the oven and bake for 25 mins.

Enjoy!

We Had Ferrets When I Was A Kid

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What animals make the best/worst pets?

When I was younger, maybe around 11 or 12 years old we had ferrets. We had a total of 3. Buddy was the name of one of them, he was the favorite child. And the other two I can’t recall. One was albino with red eyes, and the other one I remember was just bully like behavior.

How ferrets came to be in our family, I have no idea. It was like growing up in a pet shop. And what I remember most about these little creatures that were indeed very cute by the way was their stench and their poop. It was horrific.

I am in my thirties and I can still see the images of ferret poop in my head! Pure mush. They were so smelly too! Why ferrets reek like, like, I don’t even know what to pin to their scent but it’s not pleasant.

Scattered newspaper in their cage and lots of poop scattered with it.

Not an animal I would recommend.

We Are All Unique

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Which aspects do you think makes a person unique?

Makes a person unique?

Each one of us is a unique individual. We each possess a different story. Each of us are like a walking diary. Some of us have similar stories one could say, but like snowflakes, no two are alike.

To exist is to be unique.

To identify or better understand “the uniqueness” of individuals is to ask questions, listen, and not be afraid to get deep. The other person has to be willing to share and if they do consider that a treasure. The key is in our pocket. It’s up to us if we want to let others open us up.

When we are vulnerable and willing to expose ourselves that is when others can see how unique and special we really are. Although we should know in our hearts that we each are unique. Validation is not necessary.

Each of us a walking mystery. And each of us have readers that want answers. They want to celebrate the uniqueness that we are.

You, reader, are unique. I don’t even know you. But I know that you are one of kind. I know that you have purpose.

I hope you know that too.

I Think I Knew Better…

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When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was five I wasn’t thinking about being a grown up.

I was thinking about cinnamon toast, swimming with friends, chasing the gingerbread man at school.

I don’t recall being eager to grow up. I feel like I was just living and having fun.

I had a huge brown cardboard box that stored all my Barbie’s. I had stencils of roses along my room. My mom was really into stencils. I had best friend named Katherine. And I kinda had a boyfriend, his name was Jerry. He was my first kiss! He shared his zebra gum with me.

Age 5 was so innocent. So fun. I don’t recall at that age wanting to be a grown up. I think I knew better. I think I knew I was living the real joy, just being a kid.

You Are A Sacred Gift

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There’s a book I just began reading called, “A Child Of The Native Race.” A story of woman who was born to an Indian family but taken away at 18 months old and raised by a white family. It’s a story of returning to her roots.

In her dedication the author Sandy White Hawk says this,

“

Even if we came into this world in the worst of circumstances.

We are not that circumstance; we were sacred when we were born

separate from the hardship that surrounded us.

Our life is good and has a purpose.”

“

This quote above really resonated with me in such a way. I don’t know that I can fully put into words.

It resonated with me because of my own adoption story and discovering my roots and finding my biological family. And it resonated because of my daughter, and her adoption story.

And currently, we are fostering my nephew, who we plan on adopting.

It is sad? The circumstance? In a way, yes, yes it is. And that should be acknowledged. But it is also a gift as well in it’s own way. And the gift may not be recognized until many years later (I can testify to that). This quote above affirms what I already know. That each of us are sacred, no matter how we entered this world. No matter the circumstance in which we are born into.

When we enter into this world we couldn’t be anymore pure. Each of us, first born, are so full of life, curiousity, adventure. It is the world, the pressures, the fears, the power and greed that work to steal us away from who we are. We become confused, afraid, and we feed ourselves lies.

Listen to me….

We are sacred gifts. We are miracles. We are love. You must never forget that. Never forget how significant you are. Never doubt your capabilities. You are chosen. That is the truth.

Forgive others. Forgive yourself.

Many of us DO enter this world through challenging circumstances. But how we come into this place does not define who we are. We are still chosen to be here, despite the troubles that may surround us. And we will find our way.

Lean not on your own understanding.

Live your days recognizing the gifts that surround you. Remind others that they are treasure. Help others to see how remarkable they are. We are never alone on our journey.

Discussing and sharing is healing and it’s connecting.

Lots of love always.

– m.g.

Soften The Heart: Devotional #22

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“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

The payment to live and be with God is death. We know that we are alive, and that one day, we, and everyone else will die. Death is the gateway to be with THE ONE.

Death can be thought of like taking a shower. Our earthly lives are covered in mud. We are head to toe covered in mud and gunk. And no matter what we do we can’t really get clean in this life.

Jesus let’s us know that when we die the mud will be removed. We gain peace knowing that one day, we will actually be clean and free.

This awareness brings joy. We don’t have to waste anymore time scrubbing away “this mud.” We CAN’T scrub it away anyway no matter how hard we try!

There are others who live who are still convinced that they can get clean and wipe this mud away themselves. They spend almost their whole lives scrubbing and wiping this mud, convinced that they can become clean without anyone’s help.

To die, is to truly remove the mud that is clung to each of us like wet clothes. Death is the ONLY way.

Death is a gift. Death is removing the chains of sin to be with God.

I know the talk of death is scary. It is. It’s scary because there is still much unknown what’s on the other side. It’s scary to think of the separation from the ones we love on this earthly life. But it will okay.

We have been gifted with faith and assurance that it will be okay. That we are loved. And whether we know it or not, this is something we all actually really want.

We have been given a great gift. Many want to point and blame God for the suffering in this world. However it is the suffering that will actually strengthen our bond with God, it’s the suffering that will provide understanding. To recognize the sin in this world is to cry out to God.

You are loved, always and forever. And you are never alone. May peace be with you.

m.g.