Weekly Menu

Monday- Dump Soup (yes, that is what my friend calls it)
small onion Black Beans (drained)
bell pepper Kidney Beans (drained)
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans Mexican Rotel
Rotisserie Chicken
2 cups corn
cilantro
cumin
Saute onion and bell pepper in vegetable oil for about 5 minutes in the soup pot.
Mix in the rest of the ingredients and cook till th0roughly heated. It is delicious! Especially great for cold nights!

Tuesday- Easy Weeknight Beef Enchiladas and Spanish Rice

Wednesday- Meatball Hoagies

Thursday- Chicken Spaghetti and salad (I'll post the recipe later)

Friday- Dinner with friends

Saturday- grilling out

Sunday- Christmas party with my small group

I am blessed!!

I am so excited about Thanksgiving! 40 of our family members are getting together tomorrow to eat and celebrate together!! I know the day will be full of great stories and lots of laughter and delicious food! I am working on being intentional about being thankful this holiday season!

So, an early Thankful Thursday!!

I am especially thankful to my Lord and Savior who loves me unconditionally and accepts me as I am. Me, who had nothing to offer, is a child of His. I am blessed!

To my parents that helped mold me into the person I am today. For sacrificing to give me everything I could possibly want, but especially loving me, supporting me, teaching me, and giving me a wonderful family. I am blessed!

For an amazing husband that I just don't have enough words to show my gratitude. He is everything to me. He is my best friend, the love of my life, the one I laugh with, cry with, get mad at, pout and he loves me just the same! He is the most thoughtful, caring, kind person I know. He does so much to make my days better. He is such a wonderful father! I love him more every day. He is so funny and so much fun to hang out with! I am blessed!

For my children that have enriched our lives more than they will ever know. Ashlyn's smile, laughter, stories, and personality make me smile. She has such a joy for life and a love for God that I love to watch grow. Reece is such an amazing boy. His personality is loving, kind, funny, gives me a hard time and all boy too. He reminds me of what is really important in life. I also love his stories and descriptions of things in his life. He makes me laugh. I am blessed!

For in laws that have accepted me and included me in everything like I am their own. They are so kind and caring and loving and helpful. They are wonderful Christian examples to my family. I am blessed!

For my sisters that are a part of me. They are there to listen, to give advice, to laugh with me, cry with me, or lead me down the correct path. We have so many wonderful memories and I enjoy all our times together.

For all of my extended family that are such a joy to be around!

For my friends that have become like family. They are such an important part of my life!

All of these family and friends touch my life in so many wonderful ways. My life would not be the same without them. They have helped shape me into the person I have become and share a part of my journey. Many people tell me how blessed I am to have such a great family and I have to agree. I am definitely BLESSED!!!

God, thank you so much for the rich blessings you have given me!! Thank you for my sweet family and friends. Shower them with your love. Use me to touch their lives! In Jesus name I pray.

My reason for smiling...

Thankful Thursday with a Twist!

I read something the other day that really got me to thinking. During this time of year, people focus on what they are thankful for in their lives and this is certainly a great thing!! We are thankful for our family, our health, our home, kids, etc. Well, the article I read suggests finding something that is typically a challenge or work and find some way to be thankful for it. For example: I'm thankful for laundry, it means I have clothes to wear! So although I am definitely so thankful for so many blessings in my life that I try to post throughout the weeks, I am looking for things to be thankful for in the more challenging or not so easy moments!

Here goes:

I am thankful for having to cook and clean the kitchen because that means I have a family to share meals with.

I am thankful for my aging parents because that means they are still around for me to hug on, visit with, and love!

I am thankful for homework with my kids because that is time I get to spend with them helping them learn.

I am thankful for bills to pay because that means I have a home and car to drive.

I am thankful for drama in my children's lives because it gives me a chance to help them "grow." (this is a really hard one!!)

I am thankful for laundry because that means we have clothes to wear.

I am thankful for chaotic evenings because that means we are involved in things around us!

What is something you are thankful for??

Opening Weekend

Reece shooting at the target.


Getting tips from her dad.


He loves riding around on the 4 wheeler!



Ash took this of us after the guys pulled the truck out of the mud I got it stuck in!!!

We enjoyed a great weekend at our deer lease this past opening weekend! The weather was absolutely PERFECT!! What a great time out by the campfire, visiting, roasting marshmallows, and just relaxing. The kids love riding around and enjoying time around the camp. For me, I enjoy not having to "do" anything. I get to visit and read, which are two of my favorite things to do!!! Keith did not get a deer, but that is ok. The time spent with my family made the trip wonderful to me!!!