Deep Thoughts

"If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let'em go, because, man, they're gone." - Jack Handy.

I thoroughly enjoy the deep thoughts by Jack Handy, look them up if you are looking for a good laugh. But I digress...

For some silly reason I've gotten caught up in making goals and desiring change in myself this new year, thus my deep thoughts. I usually am not one for "new year's resolutions" but I guess with the holidays over I think...no wait, I will (be optimistic right?) have time to make some changes. I know the underlying theme here is discipline so my first priority is to set realistic goals, small goals. Sadly, but realistically, I need to make it as easy as possible on myself, otherwise I know I won't do it, not even for a month. Maybe that's a "duh" factor for most people, but I always feel like if I'm really going to change, it should be a difficult process. Really, I don't know where that comes from.

So here goes, my goals and some action steps (in no particular order):

1. Studying the bible. Cliche I know but I really want to study it. I feel like if I study it like a history book I may be able to stick with it because I get frustrated with "looking for application". Action Steps: reading at least 3 times a week, journaling notes as I go, 1 chapter a sitting, and a friend or two asking me about it.

2. Getting more organized: with grocery shopping, daily chores around the house, storing stuff (i.e. cleaning up our office) so those daily chores are easier. This is a big one, I know. Action steps: grocery shopping will be made easier by planning out our dinners for a month, January is already done. Daily chores: well getting organized and putting things away (like in our office, did I mention that already?) will help, but I also want to plan to do specific chores like laundry on a certain day every week.

3. Making more time for nurturing our marriage. It's certainly not in any kind of danger but with a kid in the mix I've discovered you have to be a lot more intentional about it. Action Steps: More constant date nights with Jon, asking Jon how I can pray for him more often, and of course my time studying the bible should help that.

4. Reading and writing more. I've mentioned before I'd like to write books in the future and I don't want to put that on the back burner. Action steps: I know to be a good writer it would behoove me to read all types of books and literature. I'd also like to start the writer's guild program at some point this next year so I can pursue that.

I think that's enough for now. If you'd like to bug me about how I'm doing on any of these, feel free, I'm sure I could use the encouragement.

Happy New Year to you and may God bless you beyond your wildest imagination....or deepest thoughts.

"Let me see that casserole!"

Jon and I always sing (to the tune of "Let me see that Tootsee Roll") this to each other whenever I make this delicious enchilada casserole. Enjoy!

2 cans cream of chicken/cream of mushroom soup

1-2 Bell Pepper chopped

1/2 Onion chopped

2 small cans of diced green chilies

1 pkg of tortillas (you'll probably only use about 5 or 6)

1 pkg of Shredded cheese

2-3 cubed/shredded chicken breasts, cooked (you can use the cubed chicken in the can, about 2 cans will work. I like to grill two chicken breasts and then shred.)

1 can sliced black olives (optional)

Saute the bell peppers, onion, and green chilies (with juice) in sauce pan. Add creamed soup and chicken pieces. Heat through. Layer casserole dish with torn tortilla pieces, then casserole mixture, and top with cheese. Repeat layers until all casserole mixture is used. The more cheese you use the better! Bake at 350 for 45 min to 1 hour.

Now let me see your casserole!! To the left, to the left......now dip baby, dip.....with tortilla chips!

Month 7

Wow! Lots seems to have happened. Current stats for baby girl are as follows: 13lbs 15oz, 26.5 in long, and finally fitting into 6 month clothes! She is maintaining her 5% growth so the doctor is happy. She received her final round of the flu shots and later that day developed a very runny nose. The next day her nose was even worse and had a bit of a temp, however after one dose of Tylenol she was fine. She was a little cranky but mainly just sleepy. Day 3.....a tooth had broken through! The left bottom incisor. The right one seems to be close behind. Here we go, down the road of teething.

Hadley's sitting up by herself, which now gives us the freedom to put her in high chairs in the restaurant or the shopping cart. She's not real interested in tummy time anymore since she can sit on her own. This prevents her from practicing her crawling. Although, while on her tummy she does show signs of trying to move to get stuff but her interest quickly wanes and she's on to something easier.

We tried the nursery at church for the first time this past weekend. It didn't go well, as was expected. In our unsureness (if that's a word) of how to do this whole thing we handed her over too quickly and walked out the door. She was screaming by the time we walked out the door. About 10 mins. later someone came and got us out of church to tend to her. Our dear friend Kacy was working hard to calm her down and almost had her calm by the time I got there. I ended up staying in there for a while with her so she could get used to all the other babies and adults in the room. She played fine for about 30 mins. so I decided I'd try to leave again. I guess she lasted for a few minutes more and then started crying again. Kacy took her outside and she calmed down and actually slept for a few minutes. Poor girl! It's hard because she usually naps during this time but I know there's too much going on for her to do that. We're going to keep trying but I think we'll gradually leave her this next time instead of rushing out.

Jon and I did ok with it. Yeah right....we were pretty anxious. We have a lot of work to do ourselves. We will keep trying though.

She's still a good eater. I need to figure out what foods come next and if I want to take the time to make them myself or just start buying commercial made food. Big thing about making my own baby food is the meats are a little involved so she hasn't had a taste of any of those. I'm sure it's not a big deal but I want her to at least try them out. She loves our Christmas tree and anything she can get in her mouth, most notably technological devices. She's into saying "mamamama" or "dadadada" a lot but of course doesn't know what they mean. That about does it for this month. I know these next few months are going to be busy for her and we look forward to it all!

Her cute little hat!

She likes to sit up in her bouncer now, and lean over the side. It might be time to put it away!

Asking new questions

This thought came to me as I thought about those around me who are going through personal struggles. I'm sure it's not a new idea by any means but one I hope to keep close at hand. Sub-conscientiously when I go through a tough time my initial reaction is: "what did I do to deserve this? I must have done something wrong, where did I mess up?" I take a lot of time to figure out why I'm receiving a "consequence".

I suppose there's a lot of theology/philosophy around whether God gives us trials to endure, etc. I'm not quite sure where I stand on that. I don't believe God punishes us, but I do believe there are natural consequences for our actions. These consequences can manifest themselves physically, mentally, or emotionally.

However, this rephrasing of my question comes in those situations that are just hard to explain why they're happening, except that we are imperfect humans living in an imperfect world.

Drum roll please......

Instead of asking, "Why is this happening?" What if we started asking, "God what do you want me to do as a result of this situation?"

I believe for me and maybe other people, this would take the victim role out of the situation, like we are entitled to have a great, easy life, as well as help us rise up out of the hurt, sadness, anger, etc. We start to focus on what we can learn and perhaps that's what God wants out of that situation. Maybe we're not receiving a consequence for the past maybe God is preparing us for something else in the future.

Your thoughts, experiences?

This year's going to be different

Or at least that's what I think. I love Christmas! It's definitely my favorite holiday of the year. I think it's because of all the great traditions I had as a kid. First was decorating, mostly it was my mom and I but my dad helped with getting the outside lights up and my dad and brother would occasionally help decorate the tree. We went shopping for the Christmas tree as a family, usually at Home Depot. Decorating the tree, reading the bible as we set up the manger, getting together with family, going to church on Christmas eve and sometimes driving around the neighborhood at night to look at all the lights were all great memories. Then came Christmas morning. I can't remember at what age I realized Santa didn't exist, it was when I figured out the writing on the presents belonged to my mom. I wasn't devastated as some kinds might have been, in fact I remember kind of laughing inside, how would that big ol' guy get down the chimney anyway?

On with the story, I usually woke up first, some years I even heard "santa" filling the stockings late at night. I'd wake up usually around 4 or 5 in the morning and go out into the den to the fireplace that would still have coals burning. I'd take all the presents out of my stocking and lay them neatly on the fireplace bench. Then I'd go out to the living room to look at the presents under the tree. Sometimes I'd plug the lights in and just sit there looking at the tree. I even fell asleep on the couch next to the tree once or twice. If I just couldn't wait any longer I'd go wake up my brother and he'd get all his stocking presents laid out and then we'd wake up our parents. Stocking presents came first and then the real presents. After everything was opened, my parents made breakfast while my brother and I played with our presents. Of course, some of these changed as my brother and I got older, like getting up early to open presents, but we kept most of our traditions.

I've had no real traditions since leaving home. Some traditions Jon and I have started and kept since being married are getting a real tree, usually at Home Depot, and giving each other gifts early....sometimes like 2 weeks early!! We still have that child-like giddiness of not being able to wait! Now with Hadley we have talked a little about traditions we'd like to start with her, although it's hard this year just because she's so little, she can't really participate.

What's going to be different you may ask? For one, I'd like to not focus so much on the gifts. While I don't see ever getting rid of that aspect completely (and I don't feel it's necessary to eliminate completely) I'd like to have our focus on what's important. Very cliche I know, but it really is a desire I have and one I want for our children. I think one way to make this happen is to just cut back on the number of gifts we give each other and other people. I'd also like to make sure there is a giving spirit that my children have, and not so much in material things, although adopting a family may be a different story, but giving in their time and energy.

One other tradition I'd like to start is lighting an advent wreath and reading scripture. I created a wreath and hope that this weekly act of worship as a family will keep us focused on Christ and not presents. Once Hadley gets a little older I'd like to make an advent calendar that includes actions (read, sing, give, create, etc) to keep us focused on Christ and maybe some candy for each day. ;)

I don't foresee preventing Hadley from experiencing Santa or not filling a stocking for her to discover, however I hope that the traditions we set will be Christ-centered and they will be ones that our children will keep with them always. May you and your families be blessed this Christmas!

There's a new salad on the block

This is one my absolute favorite recipes that I've found in the past. It's called Apple Almond Crunch. By the way thanks to all those who shared their recipes on the last post...keep 'em coming.

I'm not going to put exact measurements because I think with salads it's really all "to taste".

Romaine Lettuce

1 Granny smith apple, cubed

Slivered almonds

Golden raisins

Feta cheese

Raspberry vinegar dressing

Red Onion

Simply mix all the ingredients together, adding as much of each as you like! Enjoy!

Oh Waiter! There's a fly in my soup!

This is what customers would say if I were the chef because I'd probably think it was one of the ingredients! Ok not really, I've gotten better at cooking since being married, but when you make cookies with confectioner's sugar instead of granulated sugar....you've got a problem! There are things I can make really well....grilled cheese sandwiches, pancakes, blueberry muffins are among the few. So a goal of mine while I'm now staying at home is to build my repertoire and skills of cooking. My poor husband has been such a trooper. Although I haven't burned too many dinners, the variety has been fairly limited. In hopes of getting some delicious, simple, and fairly healthy recipes from fellow friends, I wanted to share some of our favorites (selfish I know).

This particular one is from a cookbook called "Make it in Minutes" (my kind of recipes):

Pasta Fagioli

1 jar (26oz) Ragu chunky gardenstyle pasta sauce

1 can (19oz) white kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 box (10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed

8 oz ditalini pasta (also called salad macaroni), cooked and drained. (reserve 2 cups of pasta water)

1. In 6 qt. saucepot, combine Pasta sauce, beans, spinach, pasta and reserved pasta water; heat through.

2. Season if desired, with salt, pepper and grated parmesan cheese.

Makes 4 servings

Variations: I've added chopped zuchini which will require a little more cooking to soften it, or you can pre-cook the zuchini and add it to the mix. I've also used white (navy) beans in place of the kidney beans just because I couldn't find the white "kidney" beans at the time. You also may want to use more pasta sauce if you'd like to have more of a "soup".

There it is! If you'd like to share a recipe I'll take it!! ;) Either leave it in the comment section or write it in your own blog for others to copy. Stay tuned for next week's recipe....my new

favorite salad!

*A note: the sugar mixup happened pre-marriage so Jon avoided having to taste those cookies!