If I was a month, I would be… may

If I was a day of the week I would be… monday

If I was a number I would be… 5

If I was a planet I would be… mars

If I was a direction I would be… east

If I was furniture I would be… a clock

If I was a liquid I would be… coke

If I was a sin I would be… gluton

If I was a mineral I would be… Ruby

If I was a metal I would be .. silver

If I was a tree I would be… tulip gum

If I was a fruit I would be .. lemon

If I was a flower I would be… rose

If I was the weather I would be .. a gentle breeze

If I was a musical instrument I would be… a flute

If I was one of the elements I would be… wind

If I was a color I would be… pink

If I was an animal I would be… a bird

If I was a sound I would be… silent

If I was a song lyric I would be… more than words

If I was a song I would be… blackbird by eva cassidy

If I was a music genre I would be… pop

If I was a perfume I would be… laugh by brighton

If I was a feeling I would be… peaceful

If I was a book I would be… christian fiction

If I was food I would be… a chocolate chip cookie

If I was a place I would be … the beach

If I was a taste I would be… sweet

If I was a scent I would be… clean

If I was a word I would be… annie

If I was a verb I would be… busy

If I was an object I would be… a bowl

If I was a clothing item I would be… pjs

If I was a body part I would be… hands

If I was an expression I would be… wink

If I was a cartoon character I would be… Minnie Mouse

If I was a movie I would be… beaches

If I was a shape I would be… rectangle

If I was a season I would be… Fall

If I was a quote I would be… I can do all things through Christ… Phil 4.13

Have you been over to BooMama? She is hosting a SOUPTACULAR/CROCKPOTALOOZA! There are already tons of recipes linked up over there and I can’t wait to find some new favorites… Here’s a few soup recipes I heart!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 Tbsp Butter
1 Yellow onion chopped finely
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 small can green chilies
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can black beans, drained
1 cup frozen corn kernels
5 cups chicken stock
2 cups shredded chicken
2 Tbs. Taco seasoning
salt and pepper to taste

For Serving:
sour cream
shredded jack and or mild cheddar cheese
Tortilla chips

Saute onions and garlic in butter in a large pot over medium heat until onions are translucent. Add chilies, tomatoes, beans, corn, chicken stock, chicken, and taco seasoning. Stir through on high heat until soup boils. Reduce to low. Add salt and pepper to taste. Simmer one hour.Serve with sour cream, a handful of cheese, and place broken pieces of tortilla strips on top.

This one is technically jambalaya, but when mom makes it she adds more liquid and it is more soupy… it’s yummy.

 

I buy the zattarains jambalaya mix… it has the rice and seasonings inside.  Mom buys low sodium, I go for it and say “welcome salt!”

I start with olive oil.  Saute onion and green peppers in oil until onions are transluscent.

I buy Healthy Choice Polish sausage (It says best choice award on the package and is actually healthy I think…)

Slice it up and put it in with the onions…

I add 2-3 chicken breasts to saute with the mixture.  (I take them out and chop them up)

Then add 1 can of chicken broth (16 oz)

and a can of diced tomatoes…

Then pour in the package of zattarains and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for rice to cook (about 20 minutes)

Here’s where you can decide whether or not to make it more “soupy.”  By adding either water or more broth.

I don’t.  But you can.  Mom does.

This last one is an old favorite and works great in the crock pot!

Mexican soup… or hominy chili…

1 can each yellow and white hominy (corn if you don’t like hominy)
1 can or leftover black beans
1 can rotel (I use mild)
1 can stewed tomatoes
2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 package ranch dressing (dry)
1 package taco seasoning
1 can chicken broth

Mix all together and cook 6-8 hours on low. Great with cornbread!
Some fix this with ground beef, some on the stove top … very yummy and easy!

I took izzy to the orthotist today to pick up her S.W.A.S.H. and A.F.O.’s.   The A.F.O.’s were not quite ready, they are adding springs.  Here’s Izzy being fitted in the swash…

We had to wait while things were shortened and lengthened and tightened …

All done!  We go back next Monday to get the AFO’s.  Here’s a pic of Izzy with the orthotist.

These cupcakes look so good! I want to make them this week…  Do you think this would qualify as a healthy meal for the family?  Maybe cupcakes and broccoli?

 

 

 

 

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•  
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, 1 teaspoon salt and baking soda. Stir in oil, water, vinegar and vanilla until blended. Pour mixture into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.
3. To make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, egg, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt until light and fluffy. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop a heaping teaspoonful of the cream cheese mixture into each cupcake. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Allow to cool.  Maybe after this I’ll need some wieght loss pills.
   

Monday I plan to make Jambalaya… to use up some of those green peppers and tomatoes.

Tuesday chicken spaghetti in the crockpot

Wednesday … gourmet chicken sandwiches

Thursday this:

 Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 Tbsp Butter
1 Yellow onion chopped finely
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 small can green chilies
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can black beans, drained
1 cup frozen corn kernels
5 cups chicken stock
2 cups shredded chicken
2 Tbs. Taco seasoning
salt and pepper to taste

For Serving:
sour cream
shredded jack and or mild cheddar cheese
Tortilla chips

Saute onions and garlic in butter in a large pot over medium heat until onions are translucent. Add chilies, tomatoes, beans, corn, chicken stock, chicken, and taco seasoning. Stir through on high heat until soup boils. Reduce to low. Add salt and pepper to taste. Simmer one hour.Serve with sour cream, a handful of cheese, and place broken pieces of tortilla strips on top.

Makes eight servings

Friday… is trunk or treat so we’ll either get quick braums burgers or I’ll make some grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup before we leave…

Week’s Weather Chilly and very Fall-ish!

Sunday Sermon I seem to always type these reviews on Saturday evening so I haven’t been to church yet and I usually really have to work my brain muscles to remember the scriptures from last weeks lesson… but last week we were all home with sick kids and hurt back.  Hopefully tomorrow morning we’ll be in church.

Life lessons  Nothing new really.  In  the book “the shack” another statement hit me about focusing on the present and having God in the future.  That’s been on my mind.

Favorite Meal(s)  jambalaya which is a favorite of mine right now and will be made again this week thanks to mom and dad emptying the garden of all tomatoes and green peppers…  and oven fried chicken with potato salad that became breakfast for the next two mornings.  I heart potato salad.

Treasured Moment(s) I’ll be honest.  This week has been rough.  With the back problem and sick kids… there have been treasured moments, but hopefully next week my mind will remember more of them than the other kind of moments. 

Simple Pleasures fun mail, reading comments from bloggy friends, playing and chatting on facebook, sleep!

talked with jennag (ms) on facebook which was fun… texting julie (tx)… 

Impacting News

    World 

    National

    Local

    Personal

Things I Read still trying to get through “the shack!”

Movies We Watched   baby mama (kinda funny), raising helen (love that one).

Interesting Internet  nothing really new… kari’s been on a political roll

Places We Went  tulsa, school, affair of the heart (craft show), shopping

Budget Savers/Busters got great deals at JCPenny for Emelia and izzy. . . got emelia several tops and some bottoms and izzy some dresses for church for $1.97 each! My receipt said I saved $483.00!!!! and I got an outfit for me regularly $200 for $24.99!  Not bad, huh? OH and gas was $2.07 today! I filled up 

Blessings lower gas prices, Matt finishing burean and recieving his ministry certification… I’m now the wife of Rev. Pettigrew

Challenges  stupid back pain.  It’s better, but we spent about four hours standing today at the ordination cermony and I’m pooped.  Amanda has the stomach bug which is bad!!!  She missed her ACT this morning because she was throwing up from 4 a.m. until about noon.  She has been in bed with lights out all day miserable.  I got a power ade slush for her tonight at sonic and she was able to drink it, but no food.  Emelia’s lasted about 24 hours… hope she is better by morning.  Praying it ends here!  Also weird but everywhere I go people are falling down!  At the craft show a girl about 18 fell down and hurt her head and had a bad seizure right at my feet, today in tulsa during ceremony a man in balcony right above me had issues and ambulance was called, I ran to the store when I got home and an ambulance was pulling up because an employee was passed out in the floor.  Bailey said he was scared to be around me.Getting post done for keylogger.

Accomplishments Matt finishing his ministry certification… 

Photos

(me and matt leaving tulsa…)

Last week it was all about shoes… While shoes are still in the front of my mind, I’ll move on and not be repetitive…

1.  Don’t you just love watching your kids sleep?  I mean not just watching them, but seeing their little sweet faces looking so innocent and pretty.  I took this picture of Izzy sleeping, so peacefully.  Look at her little hands. 
2. Boys! To be more specific,  my boy!  Bailey asked if he could have a few friends over for a sleepover.  Outside! He was shocked that I said yes instantly without thought.  We spent last Saturday emptying a storage building to make room for some things that will hopefully find their way there this weekend but Bailey saw the open building as  a perfect place for a campout!  I had to laugh when the boys spent hours running extension cords, taking portable heaters, television, games, movies, and food all out.  It got colder as the sun disappeared and I didn’t think they would last as long as they did.  They came in shortly before midnight.  This was after watching the movie, making a camp fire, roasting marshmallows, and drinking an entire case of coke.  Boys… you gotta love them! (the sweetest part was that Bailey allowed Emelia, his 10 year old sister, to tag along.)
3. This new thin wallet!  When I bought my coach purse in Florida I bought the matching wallet.  What I didn’t realize was that the wallet was big and bulky and hard to get in and out of my purse… I found this (well, almost… mine has hot pink trim) slim wallet that is so cool!
   
4. This shaving cream. I love it. I first bought the coconut and loved it, this time I got the raspberry mist.
5. Blogging! I heart my bloggy buddies!  KC gave me this today! Thanks KC!  Some of my first blog friends were JennaG, Stacy, Carrie (doesn’t blog anymore but I keep up with her on facebook), Haley, Sheryl, Irene, Sonya, Judi, and Karen!

   

That’s my five.  Visit Susanne for more fave fives!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
~ Colossians 3:16

So many things to be thankful for… but I’ll focus on the most recent.

• Izzy’s hip orthosis and AFOs were approved by insurance and when I called the orthotic center to see if they had received notification they had and have these things ready for us to pick up! We are scheduled for Tuesday (unless they have a cancellation).  I love when things happen fast! or even at a reasonable amount of time.
• My back feels better today! I am so thankful that it is better.
• The teachers and therapists at Izzy’s school are all so wonderful!  They are so sweet to Izzy and push her to do and try things everyday she is there.  These ladies are seriously jewels.  i heart them.
• My sweet brother who called yesterday to see if I needed anything and then (on his lunch hour) went to the store with my list and brought what I needed to me!  I jokingly put “chocolate” on the list and he brought a bag of dove chocolates and some hershey bars.  That’s love.
• Mom has been so faithful to come (almost) everyday to do therapy with Izzy.  Even when she doesn’t have a great day she still shows up and never gets tired of being with Iz.  She is keeping her Saturday while Matt and I travel to Tulsa for the day.  I am so thankful for her. And dad.
• My helpers… Amanda, Bailey, and Emelia!  They have been my lifters the last couple of days and I have been so thankful for them!

Whew… what a week, or half a week.  Saturday night Emelia came into my room about 3 a.m. and touched my feet to wake me up, she was sick.  I had taken half a muscle relaxer because I woke up Saturday with a really bad backache (in my lower back).  I was in and out all night because medicine makes me so sleepy (I rarely take any).  So Isabelle is sick too that night.  Twice.  She had been running fever Saturday and slept all day.  Sunday we were all wiped out from no sleep etc. so we stayed home all day.  Emelia slept most of the day and Isabelle ate normally which made me realize she was just having issues with congestion.  So… Monday Emelia went to school for the afternoon and I kept Izzy home to make sure she was well.  She again slept most of the day.  Tuesday I decided to take her to school.  She slept soundly as I got dressed.  I took her anyway, thinking that she would wake up.  She slept through most of the afternoon.  At school.  Getting her in and out of her carseat was a painful experience for me.  I winced in pain and blinked away tears.  Stupid back.

Sweet Melanie ran out with a “for no special day present.”  I am so dingy I thought she was singing something about a snow day present?  I have no excuse…   She is Izzy’s teacher and at the pumpkin patch I remarked about the beauty of the white pumpkin.  The kids couldn’t choose a white pumpkin, and even if they could we would have to hike a fair distance to get one.  Anyway, we stopped at her house to see a pond that she had installed recently in her back yard (it was very pretty!) and she had a white pumpkin on her porch.  I joked that I was going to swap Izzy’s green pumpkin for that white one … I didn’t.  But she brought me this (Isn’t it cute?)!  It’s the pillow with a white pumpkin on the front.

My friend Kari sent me a Fall card (that she made) and then a Halloween card (she made it too!)  I told Amanda yesterday I need to buy a homemade card to send to her and Amanda suggested I make one.  I guess that’s an option but compared to hers I’m not sure… Haley also sent me an adorable Halloween card and Emelia looked at it and can’t remember where she put it.  So it’s not pictured.  But thank you Kari and Haley!  You guys are so talented and so thoughtful.

It’s really raining this morning.  It’s also thundering loudly!  I love it.  I am really enjoying the Fall preview with cooler weather.

When I picked Isabelle up yesterday (from school)… Camilla put her into the car for me.  So sweet.  She even emailed her cell phone number to me so that I could call her when we arrive so she could help get Izzy out and into her stroller.   Aren’t they just the best?  I am so blessed to have these friends at Izzy’s school.  I am seriously praying that my back gets better today.  I have to admit I had to fight back tears this morning when I realized it was still hurting.  But I won’t be defeated and I am speaking against the pain!  (and have an ice pack on my back as I type…)

Hope you have a great Wednesday.

p.s. I blogged on the internet cafe yesterday.  I forgot to tell you.  Sorry.

1.What is your earliest memory of a library? Who took you? Do you have any funny/odd memories of the library?

 My earliest library memories would be those walks from school to our little local library.  The only odd memory from a library was in jr. high at the school library, there was a half wall with a bean bag behind it for some reason… I walked over to find a couple making out.  I guess they found a purpose.

2. What two things are at the top of your to-do list? When do you think you’ll get around to doing those things? How good are you at crossing things off your to-do list?

Do some paperwork and get it mailed and put my pantech duo phone on ebay to get rid of it.  I have been postponing these two things for weeks.  I am usually very good at getting things done and crossed off my list. Oh and do a post for industrial knobs…

3. Where do you come in the family? Are you the oldest? Youngest? Only child? Or smack in the middle? How do you think this has affected the way you grew up? Would you agree with your birth order personality? Are you happy with your birth order, or do you wish you had been the oldest/youngest, etc.

I am the youngest.  I have two older brothers.  Mike is six years older than I am, Jody is 10 years older than me.  I think I was spoiled being the youngest and only girl.  Looking at this list of last born traits I can see some similarities.  I am happy to be the youngest.  I wish I had a sister… I used to beg mom to have one more but she didn’t.  I think I would love to have a sister and am always jealous of all those close sisters.  Mom has like nine and they are some of her closest friends.  Most of my friends have sisters except Melody.  She has two brothers just like me.

Last born children tend to be the easiest to define when it comes to the correlation between birth order and personality, this is mostly due to the fact that there is only one main type of last born.

Last Born Traits

• Risk takers
• Idealists
• Good sense of humor
• Hard working
• Immature
• Attention seeking
• Secretive
• Sensitive

Last born children are often considered the baby of the family, and live up to this role. At times it is difficult for the last born child to find his/her place in the family, as the first and middle child have already left huge footprints to follow in, and carved their own niche into the family.

Strengths V.S. Weaknesses

	Category Strengths Weaknesses Traits Outgoing, sociable, affectionate, caring, creative, empathetic, and confident. Spoiled, manipulative, immature, self-centered, and capricious. Career Careers in sales, or invention corporations work well because of their ability to sell things, including themselves, work well alone, want to be the boss, and just do their own thing at their own pace. Do not like to be tied down to committment, can be perceived as “cut throat”, try too hard at times, alternative routes in life may make them the odd man out.

Fun Facts

• Famous last born children: Howard Stern, Jay Leno, Ralph Nadar, Bill Gates, and Danny DeVito
• Tend to go against the norm
• Make the biggest stirs in life
• Know no boundaries

4. If it wasn’t for Jesus, I would be lost.

Another edition of “Fall in Flavor” hosted by  Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee is on. It’s all about the yummy, rich fall comfort foods that we all love. Check out her site for more recipes and add one yourself!

I’m posting the recipe I made yesterday… Jambalaya.  It has been on my menu the past few weeks and it is easy and really good.  It’s best served with garlic bread.  You can make it more soupy, or thicker.  We prefer it with less liquid… It’s probably not “authentic” jambalaya, but it is delicious and relatively healthy although Linda will be happy to know there are no rutabagas… you could pair it with nespresso.

I buy the zattarains jambalaya mix… it has the rice and seasonings inside.  Mom buys low sodium, I go for it and say “welcome salt!”

I start with olive oil.  Saute onion and green peppers in oil until onions are transluscent.

I buy Healthy Choice Polish sausage (It says best choice award on the package and is actually healthy I think…)

Slice it up and put it in with the onions…

I add 2-3 chicken breasts to saute with the mixture.  (I take them out and chop them up)

Then add 1 can of chicken broth (16 oz)

and a can of diced tomatoes…

Then pour in the package of zattarains and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for rice to cook (about 20 minutes)

Here’s where you can decide whether or not to make it more “soupy.”  By adding either water or more broth.

I don’t.  But you can.  Mom does.

That’s it.