Almost Done!

Sometimes I feels like I have nothing in the world to blog about. Nothing exciting going on...But actually we have been moving and shaking on our home improvement! We have now painted the boys room, dining room, bath room, living room and hallway. I am very busy now rehanging pictures, making curtains, recovering chairs and so much more. I can not wait to share all our hard work with you all. The best part is it is actually getting done and I love that. The finished product makes me so happy. Pictures coming really soon!

In Memory of PawPaw

This week my family experienced a lose. Michael's PawPaw (Bob Roberts) passed away this Monday at the age of 85. He had been suffering for so long we are happy in the fact that now he is in heaven with his full body and mind restored.

He will be greatly missed at our house not only by Michael but also by myself and our children. PawPaw was a wonderful loving, Godly man. He was never angry, never said a cross word...Always gentle and kind and very compassionate. My life I know was truly blessed to have known him.

I wanted to take a minute and share a memory of him with you...

In November of 2008 Jesse was having Veteran's Day at her school. She decided to invite a very special Veteran to be her guest...She invited PawPaw. She was thrilled when he accepted. He dressed in patriotic (seeing as his old Navy duds no longer fit) colors and wore his metals. He and Jesse enjoyed the musical performance before being part of the parade that went around her school. Children who didn't have a visiting Veteran lined the halls and waved flags as the other children and their Veteran's paraded around the school. This was a long walk and PawPaw had bad knees, but he never once complained and smiled the whole long way. Jesse was so proud as she held his had and walked around the school. But no one was more proud than PawPaw. He would talk about how sweet it was of Jesse to invite a "old man" to join her. I know this small event meant alot to him and will always be a special memory for all of us of PawPaw.

I was hoping to share a photo from this day with you but blogger said my file was corrupt. So sorry!

Our PawPaw was very special to us and he will be very missed around here. PawPaw we love you and you are never far from our minds.

I decided to give up...

I am giving up Soda's this year for Lent...But mostly Mt.Dew! This is so huge for me because it is nothing for me to drink about 4 of these a day! I am giving them up because they are wrecking my body and that is not what we are suppose to do. Our bodies are to be temples and I thought this was a good place for me to start. I welcome anyone who is willing to help me be accountable to this.

For those of you wondering what I will be taking up well...I am going to start having a little more quite time. I am actually looking forward to this and trying to learn how to be more worshipful!

Good luck to everyone with their Lenten commitment. Enjoy this time use it to reflect on what this time is really all about.

Lent

Lent is comprised of the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, not inclusive of Sundays. Sundays are always feast days because every Sunday, even those in Lent, are commemorations of our Lord's Resurrection. As such, they are not part of Lent and, hence, it is indeed appropriate to partake of that which one has "given up" for Lent.


For me personally Lent is a time for me to stop take time out and remember what Jesus did for me on the cross. As a parent I realize the sacrifice that was made for me before I was even thought of...That said I normally give up something in order to allow time to take up something to grow and nurture my relationship with my Heavenly Daddy.

I am not sure yet what I will be giving up. I have done some research and am considering a sort of "partial fast". http://www.prayerfoundation.org/lent_40_days_of_prayer_&_fasting.htm In which I am thinking about giving up either one meal a day or eating in moderation for the entire Lenten season.

I have asked my older children to consider also giving something up. They have some pretty funny ideas that make me laugh:) Duece said Jesse should give up Barbies and Jesse said she was skipping the giving up of stuff!

But as Christians I think it is important to honor our Savior by making a sacrifice of our own.

(This is an excerpt from an article on Lent observance's found at http://www.arkansascatholic.org/article.php?id=1629)

"In some denominations we are reclaiming a sense of history," Dr. Jane Harris, professor of American religion at Hendrix College in Conway, said. "We can still be Protestant yet claim liturgical practices."

Harris gave two reasons to explain why more churches, including some American Baptist churches, although none in Arkansas, now follow a liturgical calendar and observe Lent.
First, she said, many churches want to recognize the rich history of the liturgical calendar.

"Observing church seasons add elements of depth and life to the congregation to spiritually enrich us," she said.

Secondly, society has diminished the spiritual elements of holidays.

"Advent and Lent slow us down and take us away from the commercialism and allow us to prepare for the high holy days of Christmas and Easter," she said.

In fact, Lent is all about preparation. While the word "Lent" means "spring," the season of Lent for many Christians is marked by a concentrated focus on prayer and a sacrifice either by giving something up or taking something on, Harris said.

"During Lent, we know that for 40 days everything is going to be different," Father Nicholas Verdaris, pastor of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Little Rock said. "It is about altering our way of life to allow more time for prayer."

A Yummy for your Tummy

SOUTHWESTERN SOUP
Nell Wise

1 pound ground round---browned (or sirloin or your choice)
2 cloves garlic (1 teaspoon canned)
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped onion, pepper, celery blend (or fresh)
1 package taco seasoning mix (you may use 49% less-sodium taco seasoning mix)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 16-ounce can pinto beans, undrained
1 15-ounce can black beans, undrained
1 16-ounce can kidney beans, undrained
1 11-ounce can white shoe-peg corn, undrained
1 10-ounce can dices tomatoes with chilies, undrained (such as Rotel)
1 14.5-ounce can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
2 cups water, or more as needed


Cook until done—45 minutes to 1 hour. I cook mine in a crock pot all day on low. I served this with shredded cheese, cornbread and sour cream. This makes a ton and my family can get two meals out of it.

HAPPY COOKING!

Happy Birthday Adam

Well today is the 22nd birthday to my little brother Adam. I just wanted to say how much I love him and how thankful I am to have such a wonderful little brother. Our mom would be so proud of him now I really wish she could see him...But I do feel peace knowing she is looking down and smiling.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE ADAM WE LOVE YOU!

Adam, our nephew Taylor and our Dad

Gulf Shore Al 2009

Say My Name Say My Name...

Who remembers that song by Destiny's Child? I do I can also remember dancing around my bedroom singing this song into my hairbrush. I don't remember all the lyrics but I remember that line from the chorus!

The other day I realized that most of Cooper's vocabulary is made up of peoples names and he LOVES to say peoples names! I spent all day here at the house with him and we spent the better part of an hour saying peoples names. I would say "Say Jesse" and he would respond "Esse" or I would say "Say Duece" and he would respond "Uce". This was so much fun and it was neat to see how many names he was able to actually say. It was great it totally made my day!

Then just this morning while I was chatting it up on the phone with Linds he was in the floor rolling around saying "Ola" over and over and over! "Ola" is how he pronounces his BFF's name Lola. He must have been board because he was just saying it and wouldn't stop! I think his little mind was thinking "Hey lady get off the phone and find me someone to play with!"

If you are ever down stop by and play this game with Cooper yourself...There is nothing like hearing his most precious voice say your name or well any ones for that matter!

Just for fun this is a short list of the names he can say and his pronunciations. Oh and for the record he says "Momma and Dadda" just regular and he is always saying those two names for sure!

Jesse=Esse

Duece=Uce

Adam=Anam

Papa=Pa

Lola=Ola

Lindsey=Lili

Brandy=Ba

Ellen=Eee

Izzie the dog=Dooooog

This is just a few and these are people he sees alot! Most of them he knows because I have worked with him and because we went over every single person we know that day we were playing the "Name Game". Can't wait to see how he pronounces other names and things later!

Recipe Sunday????

I didn't post a recipe on Sunday and was way to busy on Monday. So here is one passed on to me by my step-mom. It is yummy and easy. Enjoy....

Chicken Chowder

2 c. half and half

1 c chicken broth

2 cans cream of potato soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 sm. can green chillies

1 can mexicorn

1 med. onion chopped

2 chicken breast cooked and cubed

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients and heat until boiling. Serve warmed through with bread, crackers, or corn chips. Also can be made in crock-pot.

HAPPY COOKING!