It's Not Disgusting (A Recipe)

The girls have their favorite meals.  They're picky when it comes to certain things (Espy doesn't like cheese on top; Gianna doesn't like corn inside; and Isabella sometimes needs help eating, or she's "going to throw up.")  Keeping that in mind - whenever I make something new, it's regarded with much hesitation and suspicion.

For lunch one Sunday afternoon, I decided to try a new recipe I found online.
This blog is fantastic and so is this recipe! 

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Jami Nato's Enchilada Lasagna
tortilla chips
2 cups of salsa
1 can of black beans
1 block of cream cheese
1 tsp salt
garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup fat free Greek yogurt (or ranch dressing)
handful or more of spinach, chopped
2 cooked chicken breasts, cubed and salted
salt and pepper
1 tsp chili powder
1 cup cheddar cheese

Mix cream cheese, garlic, salt, chili powder, Greek yogurt in a bowl.
Throw in a handful of spinach while you're at it.
Place 1/2 a cup (or more) salsa at the bottom of 9x13 glass pan.
Then place the chips on top.  Try and smash the chips down a little if they are sticking up too much.
Throw in a drained, rinsed can of black beans on top of this
then half of the cubed chicken
then 1/2 cup of salsa spooned over the top evenly.
then chips
then the cream cheese mixture - all of it!
then chicken
then chips
then the remaining salsa over everything
then sprinkle the cheddar cheese on top.
Really you can do whatever order you want, and you can throw more ingredients in here.
Just remember that the bottom and top need salsa.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

I prepped everything the night before so all I had to do was stick it in the oven when we got home from church.  While the girls were getting changed and waiting for lunch, there was an ongoing conversation about how I was making something new and different.  The girls were very concerned about what certainly would be strange and unfamiliar ingredients in that 9x13 pan.

Despite all the nervousness, the girls ate their lunch - and liked it! 

I mentioned it before, but while they were eating:
I thought it might be disgusting.
It smelled like it might be disgusting, but really, Mom - it's not disgusting.
I like it.  Good job.

We make it a point for our girls to be honest.  We do, however, need to work on being tactful.  There's a fine line between being open and being rude.  We're still working on the difference.

Sometimes (Revisited)

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Sometimes, I don't want to fold the clothes.  I don't want to put them away.  I don't want to make lunches.  I don't want to vacuum the carpet or clean the floors.  I get tired of repeating the same things over and over and over again.  I get stressed over the schedules, the budget, the appointments, the practices, the meetings, and the To Do lists.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed.

Then I remember that:

We have more clothes than we will ever need.  Our stomachs are always full.  Our children are healthy and happy.  My husband loves me, really loves me - and on and on and on.

I am beyond blessed - truly.

I have Someone who walks this journey with me -

the peaks and the valleys

the humdrum

the chaos.

I have Someone who has gone before me and who understands everything that I experience.
I have Someone beside me day in and day out.

I have Someone who holds my hand and guides me moment by moment.
I have Someone who carries me through this life when I'm too tired to keep walking myself.

Then I'm reminded (sometimes gently - other times: not so much) that this life isn't about me.
It's not about 
my comforts, my wants, or my needs.

I'm here to point others to Him so that they too can have Someone - always.

If You Ever Wonder

Girls,

Just in case you ever wonder how much your daddy loves you,

please listen to this (click on April 22, 2012).

Love you forever,

Mom

Not Proud Of Her Either

I don't know where in the world she gets her ability.  It must be from The Husband
because I don't have a creative bone in my body.

Last month, one of Espy's pieces was chosen to be put on display in a city-wide art show.  She has great plans to be a veterinarian nurse artist mom chef one day.

Shhh, little eight year old - let's not talk of growing up.

Easter Sunday

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CHRIST IS RISEN!!!
Matthew 28:5-6
"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

Heidi

Jesus is Risen and He is in us...
Dena

Today we celebrate a risen Savior who died for our sins. Easter is a very special day. Enjoy your time with your family and friends!
Daniel

He is risen - He is alive - and He is coming again!
Holly 

He lives. And because he lives, I live.
Laurie

HE IS ALIVE!!!!!!

Wendi

He has risen! Thank you, Jesus :)

Rachel 

Christ is risen from the grave! He is VICTORIOUS!!!

Lexi

  

Up from the grave He arose!!!!!!

Julee 

Glory, glory He is risen! Praise God! Happy Resurrection Day!

Amber 

He is ALIVE!!! Oh Happy day!

Brooke 

And in the third day He rose again!

Bobby 

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Leah 

Resurrection morning! I am a bit early for shouting "He is Risen!" but not too early for tears of joy. 
He is risen indeed!!!

 Jessica 

He is risen!! What a glorious day!!

Anna 

Hallelujah, what a Savior!! He has risen!!!

Debby 

He is risen!! Thank you Lord for loving us so much to send your son, Jesus.

Marsha 

Jesus carried His cross so we could experience the cross. Jesus told us to "pick up our cross, and follow Him" through His strength so that others could experience the cross. Life is truly about the cross experience. Are people experiencing the cross through your life? your example? your walk with God?

Clarissa

the same Power that conquered the grave lives in me!

HAPPY EASTER!

Holy Saturday

Photo by: Nomadic Lass

Can you imagine what the people were thinking on this day many years ago?

Last Sunday, our pastor gave a fantastic sermon on Holy Saturday.

So thankful that day wasn't the end of His third day story!

Amazing Love

Photo by: Walt Stoneburner

Thank You for your Love - your 
Wonderful, Never Stopping, Never Giving up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.

Thank You for loving me in spite of what I say or do.

Thank you for using my life in ways that only You can.

Thank you for all You've done and yet to do.

Not Proud At All

Gianna was excited to share what she wants to be when she grows up
during one of the PTA meetings at her school:

She was also given the opportunity to take part in the school's morning show:

What?
Of course I don't cry when I watch these videos.
Silly.

The Final Shenanigans

Note to Self:
Don't forget about your awesome time away with The Husband (see below).

Poor Bill got sick Friday night.  I didn't even hear him wake up around 3am to spend time in the bathroom.  When I woke up the next morning, he wasn't in our room.  I called for him, and he was laying on the couch with a sore stomach - yuck.  Thankfully it was just one horrible round of sickness - we're blaming it on too much awesome food at once.

We went back to that antique store, and they were open!  We picked up a ridiculously cute mini Radio Flyer for Miss Evangeline.  Look how much she loves it:


We booked massages at an adorable day spa.

Please notice our extremely relaxed selves right after our appointment:

Friday with the Husband (Part 2)

Note to Self:
Don't forget about your awesome time away with The Husband (see below).

After dinner at the bbq place, I forced Bill to take pictures
so we could have some visual evidence of our trip.

When the only camera you bring is your big fancy one,

you end up with pictures like this from The Husband's phone: