A Different Perspective...

On Sunday I had the honor of serving dinner to and loving on the homeless men, women, and children of Lebanon. My women's group hosted a dinner for the Brooks House and Hellums Boarding House. I'm pretty sure I was blessed way more than they were. To see people who literally have nothing be so grateful for a hot meal and new pajamas was humbling. They each came from a different place in life and yet every single one of them had a smile on their face and were just thankful to be alive. It made me think about a verse we have studied in my bible study class. 2 Samuel 7:18- "Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"  I have to wonder..how did I get the life that I have. Who am I that me and my family have been blessed in mighty ways. I'd like to think that it is because somehow along the way I made God proud but I know that isn't how it works. I am thankful that God has brought me "this far" in my life...I am even more thankful that he isn't finished with me or my family yet:)

Final Days of Thankfulness

Day 22
I am thankful for my king size bed:) First of all I am thankful for the fact that I have a bed to sleep in. A lot of people go without that luxury. On top of that I am thankful that it is a KING SIZE bed. It is big enough to fit me, Chris, Link, and some mornings Jackson. I have a foot issue...I do not like feet...not my feet...not anyone else's feet. I don't like anybody else's feet touching mine. Ok maybe I have a severe foot issue lol. Anyways because of that my amazing husband made sure I had a bed that would seperate our feet:)

Day 23
I am thankful for our awsome neighbors! I love, love, love the Stewards!! They are the best neighbors....we couldnt have asked to live next door to better people. They are always there when I need to borrow something or when I need someone to chase snakes or rabbits out of my garage:) They help us out with Link. I love the random conversations we have. Overall they are just amzing people:)

Day 24
I am thankful for the Thanksgiving holiday and everything that goes with it. The food, the family, and the memories that are made.I love this holiday because it always makes me remember how much I have to be thankful for.

Day 25
I am thankful for the internet. This year I attempted to do all of my black friday shopping online and it was a success!! I was able to get all of my early bird deals and doorbusters on Thursday night from the comfort of my own bed! No lines and no crazy shoppers!!

Day 26
I am thankful for all of my Kohls cash I got from my black friday shopping! Cant wait to use it all!!

Day 27
I am thankful that my grandmother will be able to have surgery tomorrow to remove her cancer. There are so many people who don't get that opportunity and I am so thankful that she has been blessed with that opportunity.

Day 28
I am thankful for the father that Chris is to Jackson. He has become an amazing dad. He spends every moment he can with Jackson. Some men would rather play video games or watch sports on their days off but not Chris. He would rather spend time with his son. And that is how it should be. Every night me and Jackson sit on the porch and wait for Chris to come home. He waits patiently looking up the street waiting for his daddy to drive over the hill. He gets so excited when Chris gets home and gives him his hugs and kisses. That kind of love can only come from a special relationship between a father and a son. The kind you develope by spending quality time together.

Day 29
I am thankful for Pinterest! If you are not on Pinterest you need to be!

Day 30
I am thankful for everyday that I wake-up. Everyday is a gift from God and it should be treated that way. If it's a good day we should be thankful. If it's a bad day we should be thankful. We should make it a point to be thankful for everything that happens to us in our daily lives. The people that are in it and the experiences we have. What if you woke up tomorrow with the things you thanked God for today...what would you wake up with?

A little sad:(

So I was ok when it was time to pack up Jackson's swing. I was even ok when it was time to pack up his bumbo seat and boppy lounger. When he was to big for the bouncer seat I started to realize he was growing up to fast. When I moved him to his big boy carseat I got a little emotional. But I have to say that when I packed up his baby tub last week I lost it. And if I'm going to be honest I did more than just tear up... I cried...like a baby. His bath tub was the last "baby" item he was still using. I have to somehow come to terms with the fact that my little baby is turning into a toddler super fast. Not sure that I like it. Just once I wish I could freeze time.

                         Then...


                             Now.....

Still have lots to be Thankful for!!

Day 14
I am thankful for good health. Chris and I have been blessed with our good health. With the exception of my Thyroid issues we are pretty healthy. And more importantly Jackson is healthy. As a parent I consider that a HUGE blessing. He had a runny nose for a few days but other than that we have been very lucky. Knock on wood it will stay that way!

Day 15
I am thankful for the people who love my son. If there is one thing he isn't short on it's love. The women who work in the nursery at church are a huge blessing to me. Jackson adores them and every Sunday they pour their love on him. Because of that Chris and I are able to enjoy the church service. Our friends are always there willing to help. Especially when I need somebody to help watch him in the spur of the moment. Jackson has so many "aunts" and "uncles".  Our families love him to the moon and back. Not every child can say that they have 2 sets of grandparents and 3 sets of great grandparents. I don't think he will ever know truly how much he is loved:)

Day 16
I am thankful for McDonald's sweet tea. Yes I know this sounds silly but in my eyes it is one of the best things ever created! There isn't anything that a big ole glass of Mickey D's sweet tea can't fix!

Day17
I am thankful for time spent with Jackson. My house may not always be clean, there may be piles of laundry to do, or dishes to be washed but at the end of the day that isn't what matters. What matters is that I made time for Jackson. Time to go to the park and eat frozen yogurt. Time to swing....even when he wants to swing for 45 min. Time to sing and time to dance. I know he is to young to understand it now but one day I hope he can look back and say that his mommy made time to make memories.

Day 18
I am thankful for the quiet moments of my day. Now I don't have many of those...which is why I am SO THANKFUL for the few I have:). On days when Jackson sleeps in, I find myself still getting up at 6 just to enjoy some peace and quiet. You know eating breakfast without cheerios flying around. Being able to pee without somebody looking at you! Sometimes if I'm lucky naptime will fall during Ellen and I will get to watch it...all of it...uninterupted. It's funny how having children will make you appreciate the little things a whole lot more!!

Day 19
I am thankful for the last 9 months. Today my child is 9 months old. My oh my where has the time gone? I am thankful for every sleepless night, every crazy hectic day, every cry, every ounce of spit up, every mess that had to be cleaned up, every exhausting moment of every single day. I am thankful for every smile, every laugh, every song we have sung together, every teachable moment, every single ounce of joy that sweet boy has brought to my life. I am thankful for what the last 9 months has taught me. That I can operate on zero hours of sleep. That I can love somebody more than myself, more than anybody else. That I can do anything I set my mind to. I love you Jackson Ryan!

Day 20
I'm thankful for love. Last week I had the honor of being a part of my best friend's wedding. When I think back on where we were 10 years ago I never would have thought either one of us would be married. This very special friend of mine has had her fair share of ups and downs but love always prevailed. And it's that kind of love I am thankful for. The kind of love that no one or nothing can destroy. The kind of love that makes you fight for what you want and what you believe in. To watch her marry the man of her dreams made me SO happy. She fianlly got her fairy tale. I am so thankful that my best friend....someone who deserves the world...found that love:)

Day 21
I am thankful that Jackson is saying mama:) That is all!

More things I am thankful for!

Day 10
I am thankful that Chris and I are able to park BOTH  cars in our garage. It is so nice to get into a warm car on cold days and in a dry car on rainy days. We knew when we bought a house that it had to have a garage big enough for our cars and all our stuff:) It does take work to maintain but it is sooooo worth it!!!

Day 11
I am thankful for my dog Link:) He is the perfect dog for Jackson. When I was pregnant he never left my side. Now that Jackson is here he never leaves his side. He is so gentle with Jackson...even when he pulls his hair lol. I couldn't ask for a better dog. He is spoiled and very needy at times but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Day 12
I am thankful for my women's group at church.When God called me to lead it 2 years ago I ran the other way. I didn't think I was qualified to lead a group of women in doing God's work. I quickly learned that God doesn't call the qualified he qualifies the called. Once a month I get to meet with, pray with, and most importantly eat with a group of amazing women. Just kidding about food being the most important lol. I am also thankful for the hearts of these women. They each have a desire to serve God and I am so thankful for that. Whether its their time, money, or resources they give it willingly. They each bring something different to our group and there is never a dull moment when we are together. Each month God gives me a devotion to share that always ends up speaking to me more than I thought it would. Only God could bring together a diverse group of women and use them in an incredible way.

Day 13
I am thankful for my sister-in-laws. I grew up with 2 older brothers, and every birthday I would wish for a sister. Well I finally got not one but two! And I couldn't ask for anything better. I am thankful not only for them being my sisters but for them loving my brothers like they do. Michele and Tina have become very special to me and I love them both soooo much.

Thankfulness continued...

Ok so I am still a little behind but thats ok!!!

Day 6
I am thankful for my parents. When I think about how I want to be and how I want my life to be on down the road they are my role model. They are the most amazing people I know. They raised me (and my brothers) to be responsible. And by responsible I mean responsible for myself and my actions. I can't stand people who think they can just do whatever without consequences. They taught us to work hard. Another one of my pet peeves: people who think they are entitled to something or somebody owes them something in life. You get what earn. If you work hard and work smart you can have anything you want. Kids today don't think that way. They think everything should just be given to them. My parents have built a good life for themselves because they worked hard. They taught us how to care about people and how to love. I remember thinking when I was little that I wanted a husband just like my daddy. The way he treated my mom just made my heart melt. They taught us about respect. How to respect them and other people. Even today at the age of 27 I would NEVER talk to my parents the ways some kids do today. They taught us the value of time. My parents were so involved in our lives and still are. They never missed one of my basketball games and that meant a lot to me. I never once doubted if they cared. Now that we are all grown they invest their time into the grandkids and that is special. My parents are 2 of my best friends and I am so grateful for that. Now back in the day I thought my mom was mean and my dad was scary but I think I am better off because of it. I am so glad they were mean parents!

Day 7
I am thankful for unanswered prayers. You know sometimes we get so mad at God for not giving us what we think we need. But we just can't see what better things he has planned for us. There have been countless times when I thought God just wasn't listening. Times when I thought he just didn't care. But each time when I finally just waited for him he blessed me with way better things. We just have to learn to trust that God always knows best:)

Day 8
I am thankful for my past mistakes. Now I know this sounds just as crazy as being thankful for laundry but it's true. My mistakes are a little bit of what has made me who I am today. All those "Learning Experiences" have a purpose. They are what teach us. Sometimes they teach us about ourselves and sometimes they teach us about other people. Either way they are a vital part in who we are. Some I am more ashamed of than others but I have accepted the fact that they are all apart of who I am. Just think how boring our lives would be if we didnt have stories to tell about ourselves haha!

Day 9
I am thankful for coffee. It is a simple thing, but somedays it is the ONLY thing that can get my day going. Where or where would I be without my coffee??? I don't even want to think about it! I am also thankful for my Keurig coffee maker my hubby bought me after Jackson was born...I needed something quick and easy:)

30 Days of Thankfulness

Ok so I have decided to do this blog challenge of stating what I am thankful for. As you can see I am 5 days behind but better late than never!!

Day 1
I am thankful for my Savior Jesus! Without him there wouldn't be any other blessings. He is my rock, my strength, my safe hiding place. Without him I would be nothing. He has blessed my family in more ways than I ever thought possible. He has picked me up and wiped my tears away more than once. He has calmed many storms in my life. He loves me even when I don't deserve it. My life wouldn't be the same without him being the boss of it. I am so thankful he saved me!

Day 2
I am thankful for my husband. God knew exactly what I needed when he brought us together. I am so proud of the man that he has become. He is an amazing husband and an incredible dad. He is a godly man who strives everyday to be the man that God has called him to be. He works hard to provide for our family. He lets me stay home and raise our little boy and I am so thankful for that. He loves me for who I am....crazy I know haha. He has a big caring heart and that is one of the many reasons I married him. Everyday I fall more and more in love with him:)

Day 3
I am thankful for my son. He is the greatest gift God has given me. He is a huge blessing in our lives. He has a smile that lights up my day, a contagious laugh that can make any bad day better, and a love for his mommy and daddy that no one could ever replace. I am so amazed out how much he is learning everyday.  I am so thankful that God has called me to be his mommy!!

Day 4
I am thankful for my friends. My real true friends. My friend who have stood behind me as well as beside me. Real true friends are hard to find these days but I have been fortunate enough to have several. These are people who listen when I need someone to talk to and never judge me. These are people who I may not get to see or talk to as often as I would like to but when we do get together we pick up right where we left off. I would go to the ends of the world for these select few and I now they would do the same for me. Each one brings something different to my life. God knew the things I would need in my life and he surrounded me with people to provide those things.

Day 5
I am thankful for piles of laundry....clean and dirty. Why? Well dirty laundry means that we have clothes to wear. And if I look closely I see that we have lots of clothes to wear and thats a blessing. Piles of clean clothes mean we have a washer and dryer and running water. Things that sometimes I take for granted. And by having piles of both clean and dirty means that our lives are so full that we don't have time to do it:)

Recipes we are LOVING!!

One of the things I love about being a stay at home mom is having time to cook and try out new recips. Here are a few that we have enjoyed over the last couple of weeks.

Spinach and Pasta Bake

(This recipe was so good even Jackson loved it! And it is very budget friendly!)



8 oz uncooked rigatoni (I used penne)

1 T olive oil

1 c chopped onion

1 (10 oz) pack frozen spinach, thawed

3 c cubed, cooked chicken breasts

1 (14 oz) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained

1 (8 oz) container Philadelphia chive & onion cream cheese

½ t salt, ½ t pepper

1½ c shredded mozzarella cheese

Prepare rigatoni according to pkg directions.  Spread oil on bottom of 11x17 in baking dish; add onion in a single layer.  Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or just until tender.  Transfer onion to large bowl, set aside.

Drain chopped spinach well, pressing between paper towels.  Stir in rigatoni, spinach, chicken, & next 4 ingredients into onion in bowl.  Spoon mixture into dish & sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.  Bake covered at 375 for 30 minutes; uncover & bake 15 more minutes or until bubbly.

Cheesy Beefy Enchalada Casserole

(If you have ever had the taco bake kit from Old El Paso this tastes a lot like it but with a lot less sodium...Score!!!)

Ingredients1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1 large onion, chopped or season with Onion powder or minced onion
2 1/2 cups salsa
1 can (15 ounces) black beans or red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup reduced-fat Italian salad dressing
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium taco seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
6 flour tortillas (8 inches)
1 small can of drained corn, or about 1 1/4 cups of frozen corn (optional)
3/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream *Note: I used 1/2 cup
2 cups (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

Directions
In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
Stir in the salsa, beans, dressing, sour cream, taco seasoning and cumin.
Spoon a generous layer of meat mixture on bottom of 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
Place a flour or corn tortilla on top of meat mixture. Layer with half of the meat mixture, and cheese. Repeat as many layers as you like.
The last & final layer should be a healthy dose of grated cheese.
Cover with foil that has been sprayed with pam or other and bake at 400° for 25 minutes, or until hot & bubbly.
Let stand for 5 minutes before topping with lettuce, cilantro, etc

The Best BBQ Sandwhich:)

(3 ingridients...yep just 3!)

pork butt (I used 2.5 lb - but you can use whatever size needed for your family)

1 can Diet Pepsi

1/2 bottle Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce

Lawry's Seasoning Salt

Generally coat pork butt with Lawry's seasoning salt, don't be afraid to cover it all! Place in crock pot and pour in soda and barbecue sauce. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours. If you have a larger piece of meat, it will probably take longer. After 4 hours or so, take two forks and shred the meat into bite size chunks. Let it sit in the juice to soak up all that flavor. It can stay on warm in crock pot while serving, and can easily be reheated the next day. Serve on a kaiser roll and add more barbecue sauce if needed.

 

 

 

                                                        Creamy Tortalini Soup

Ingredients

1 1/2 - 2 ounce envelopewhite sauce mix

4 cups water

14 ounce canvegetable broth

1 1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed

1/4 teaspoon salt 

 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

7 - 8 ounce packagedried cheese tortellini (about 2 cups)

12 ounce canevaporated milk

6 cups fresh baby spinach leaves or torn spinach

 Place dry white sauce mix in a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker. Gradually add the water to the white sauce mix, stirring until smooth. Stir in broth, mushrooms, onion, garlic, basil, salt, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Stir in dried tortellini. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 1 hour more or high-heat setting for 45 minutes more. Stir in evaporated milk and fresh spinach. If desired, sprinkle individual servings with black pepper and Parmesan cheese. Makes 4 servings.

Last Week's Favorite Recipe: Chicken Enchilada Pasta

I only had to cook dinner 4 times last week so I didn't have many recipes to choose from BUT this one was hands down the best one of the week:)

What you need

2-3 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, diced

1 {4 oz.} can diced green chiles

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

2 {10 oz.} cans green chili enchilada sauce

2/3 cups red enchilada sauce

2 cups shredded cheese {I used colby & monterrey jack}

1 cup sour cream

Penne pasta

What you do

Cook chicken, drain, and shred.  Meanwhile boil pasta according to package and chop the onion.

Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet and cook onions for about 3-5 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for another 3-5 minutes. 

Add cooked chicken, green chiles, cumin, chili powder, salt, & enchilada sauces.  Let sauce simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Add cheese and stir until the cheese is melted and heated through.  Now toss in the sour cream, but whatever you do, DO NOT bring to a boil!  Cook on low heat or the sour cream will curdle.  Gross.  Stir until sour cream is well mixed and heated through. Drain pasta & return to pot.  Pour sauce over pasta and mix well.  Serve and garnish with avocado, tomato, green onion, and a dollop of sour cream.

I forgot to take a picture of this masterpiece so you will have to try it yourself if you want to see what it looks like!! Chris enjoyed it so you know it was good! Enjoy!!!

My Husband: The Couponer

From time to time Chris will go grocery shopping with me. He enjoys seeing the total drop by $40.00 just by using coupons. But to see the "greatness" of couponing you need to buy a few items that are on a "buy one get one deal" and use a high dollar coupon. And that my friends is what my husband did. I sent 4 coupons with him and told him I needed 8 boxes of pasta and a loaf of bread. He laughed. After his shopping trip I get a text that said..."It was really cool to buy 8 boxes of pasta, 2 boxes of oatmeal, and a loaf of bread for $7.00" Notice how he threw in 2 boxes of oatmeal for himself lol...I just love that man!!

Heaven in a bowl!!!

I have only one word to describe this....Heaven!!!
This peanut butter trifle is super easy to make.It is super rich so make sue you have plenty of milk to drink! Enjoy!!!!

                                                                              

Ingredients

• 1 fudge brownie mix (13-inch x 9-inch pan size)
• 1 package (10 ounces) peanut butter chips
• 1 package (13 ounces each) miniature peanut butter cups
• 4 cups cold 2% milk
• 2 packages (5.1 ounces each) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

 Directions

• Prepare brownie batter according to package directions; stir in peanut butter chips. Bake in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake). Cool on a wire rack; cut into 3/4-in. pieces.
• Cut peanut butter cups in half; set aside 1/3 cup for garnish. In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Add peanut butter and vanilla; mix well. Fold in 3/4 whipped topping.
• Place a third of the brownies in a 5-qt. glass bowl; top with a third of the remaining peanut butter cups. Spoon a third of the pudding mixture over the top. Repeat layers twice. Cover with remaining whipped topping; garnish with reserved peanut butter cups. Refrigerate until chilled. Yield: 20 servings (1 cup each).

Where oh where has the time gone! Half way there!

7 months....thats how old my child is....7 months!!!!!! Oh where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday he was swinging in his swing and wearing size 1 diapers. Now he is eating table food, rolling over, and babbling all day long. He is changing everyday and its a little sad. In 5 months he will be 1!!! Holy cow!! I better get to planning that big birthday bash lol. Just a warning: there are lots of pictures in this blog!!

This is right after he was born....so tiny yet so big.

One proud daddy:)

A month old. Hard to believe his hair was once that dark!

2 months old...and his first Easter

3 months old...He LOVES being outside:)

Gotta love the receding hairline:)

4 months old....I can honestly say Jackson is Chris's whole world well and me lol. I am so proud of the man and father he has become:)

5 months old...LOVE that smile!!

6 months old and loves to read...we have been reading to him since day 1 and this kid loves to look at books and be read to...I hope he always has a love for books!

Its amazing how much lighter and fluffier his hair has gotten

7 months old....And now we have a mohawk:)

                                                                                  

A lesson in honesty...

Let me just start off by saying..."Be careful what you pray for!!" God will answer them when you least expect it...in ways you don't expect.  I am always praying that God will provide me with opportunities to teach Jackson valuable lessons. I grew up with parents that didn't just tell me how to act and behave but they showed it in their daily living. Thats the kind of parent I want to be. I want Jackson to see me living out the values that I try to instill in him. Actions will ALWAYS speak louder than words. So this past Monday me and Jackson went to the grocery store. A typical Monday task. As I was putting the groceries in my car I noticed that I didn't pay for my onion. It was sitting between the diaper bag and the side of the buggy. I had already put Jackson in the carseat and it was starting to rain. I won't lie I did consider my options. I mean we aren't talking about a $100.00 item. It was a $.97 onion. But after a minute of great debate I got Jackson out of the carseat and grabbed my wallet and onion and we made our way back into Publix. The man at the customer service desk was amused that we came all the way back inside in the rain. But I knew that this was a teachable moment...one I had prayed for...and I was not going to pass it up. Once we got back in the car ( and changed a poopy diaper). I had a talk with Jackson about honesty. Now I know he didn't understand anyhting I said but someday he will and I want to make sure I don't ever pass up an opportunity to show my child the difference between right and wrong.

My little family

A couple of weeks ago I made this little craft. I found it on Pinterest (the best thing ever created) and decided to make one myself. The biggest hand is of course Chris's. Mine is in the middle and little Jackson's is in the front. Jackson loved getting his hand traced!!!!

Picture Coasters

If you are looking for an easy and cheap gift idea this is it!!! I mean who isn't in need of some good coasters? AND you can personalize them with pictures, paper, special mementos, whatever! I made a set for my parents for Grandparents Day with pictures of all the kiddos. The grand total of this project was $10.00.....yep thats it $10.00!!

At first I went to get the basic white tiles that Lowes has for $0.20. While I was there I found some stone tile that was on clearance for $0.10.....SCORE!! So after I did a happy dance I bought 8 and moved on to the felt. I bought the package of felt blankets. It was a lot cheaper to do that and just cut squares than to buy the circles of felt. Next we went to Hobby Lobby! I got Mod Podge and some clear acrylic spray paint. I used 40% coupons on both:).

First Step: Cut the pictures to the size of your tile. Mine were 3.5 by 3.5.
Next: Glue the picture onto the tile with Mod Podge. Make sure it has plenty of time to dry before moving on to the next step.
Next: Using a foam brush spread Mod Podge over the picture. try to make it as smoothe as possible because lines will show up when it has dried. Repeat this step 4 times. I say 4 just because I wanted to make sure it was set. The directions say to only wait a few minutes to let it dry. I let it dry for several hours just to be on the safe side.
Next: Spray the acrylic onto the picture. Again I repeated this 4 times just because this is what waterproofs the picture. Let it completly dry in between sprays.

This is one of the completed coasters. I made mine over several days just so everything had plenty of time to dry. You could do it in a day if you had to.

The last step is to put the felt on the back.

Happy Crafting!!!!

Budget Friendly Pizza

So the other day I was trying to decide what to make for lunch. I was looking around my pantry and decided to make a pizza! I had a pack of 2 pizza crusts which were $4.99, a tub of the Philadelphia Italian Herb cooking creme which was $1.99 (after a coupon), and a package of turkey pepperoni that was $.99 (after a coupon). It was actually leftovers from a pasta salad I had made last week. I also used italian blend shredded cheese that was $1.99. It was what I had leftover from the Manicotti I had made last week as well. So for $10.00 you can make 2 pizzas which are a good lunch or quick dinner idea. It was yummy too!!

Saying Goodbye....A celebration of life!

Today I said goodbye to one of the most IMPORTANT people in my life. A woman who has helped mold me into the person I am today. A woman who was more than just a second mother....she was a good friend. I have so many special memories with her and I will hold them in my heart. She would leave the backdoor open for me everyday. I don't think I ever left her house without eating even if I had just ate lol. She was a special lady who will be missed greatly but I know I said goodbye to her earthly body today. Her spirit is up there with Jesus....in heaven where she won't have to suffer in pain anymore. I had the honor to hold her hand in her final moments. We sang Amazing Grace and as we finished the 3rd verse she took her last breath. I know she finished that hymm on the other side. I have never watched anybody die. I have heard horror stories of what it is like and I had braced myself for that. But, if you know Louise you know that isn't her style. It was so peacful.....and I know it was only because she left in the arms of Jesus. So today it isn't about being sad. Don't get me wrong.....I am going to miss her so much. But today was a celebration of a full life lived to the very end. A life full of laughter, dancing, love, and worshiping the Lord. To know her was to love her and that was very evident today. So many people were touched by her love. I will strive everyday to leave a legacy like she did....a legacy my kids will be proud of one day!!

The IRONY of it all

6 months ago I gave birth to my little miracle at UMC. It was a place of complete happiness and blessings. I never dreamed that it would be the same place that I would prepare myself to say goodbye to one of my most dearest friends. A friend who I have known and loved for 11 years. To get to the ICU part you have to pass by the maternity ward. Everyday I am reminded that with each baby who enters this world someone must exit. Thats just the circle of life....the way the world works. I can't help but smile when I pass by, thinking of the day God blessed me with my son. But the farther I walk down the hallway the joy disappears and my heart is filled with sadness as I prepare to enter ICU. I know God has his plans. I have to hold on to the hope that maybe, JUST MAYBE, Louise will wake up and pull through this and UMC will once again become my place of happiness and hope.

The day the rattlesnake came to play.....

This past Sunday we had a very scary visitor....a RATTLESNAKE....yes a rattlesnake!!!! It was at least 4 feet long!!! I was getting ready to walk down the street to my neighbor's house and I just happen to look across the street into my other neighbor's yard and that is when I saw it. Needless to say me, Jackson, and Link all ran back inside to get Chris. As usual he thought I was yelling for him to come downstairs just for the fun of it, so he took his time. I brought him outside and showed him the snake and that was when he informed me on what it was. Now anybody who knows me knows how I feel about animals....ALL animals. I never want to see one get hurt. We see snakes all the time around here and I just let them go about their buisness but this thing was to dangerous to leave loose. All 8 of us ( everybody in the culdesac area) took a vote and we decided to kill it. So Chris brought out the shotgun. We let our neighbor the cop kill it.....only because it is illegal to kill the snake and we figured he would get in the least amount of trouble.

Here are the boys (3 of them....the 4th one...Mr. Hollywood...had to go in and finish dinner. He is another blog himself lol) trying to cut the head and rattle off. It was a crazy end to a quiet Sunday afternoon!!

2 years:)

2 years??? Wow! Its hard to believe that Chris and I have been married for 2 years. Seems like yesterday we were planning the biggest day of our lives. Even though our lives are in a totally different place than we though it would be I wouldn't trade it for anything:) I must confess something though.....I did think that the "honeymoon" stage would last longer than it did. When did passing gas and picking your nose in the bed become acceptable? I remember when quality time meant a nice dinner and conversation and now we sit side by side in the bed and play games with each other on our phones lol. Don't get me wrong, I am glad we are comfortable with each other. Just wish sometimes we could go back to the "dating" days....oh well thats married life I guess:)