TOP 4

A) Four places that I go to over and over: Wal-Mart, Ultra Food, Target,....the bank

B) Four people who e-mail me (regularly) Facebook, Dell (I can't seem to get rid of them), and the rest would consist of the parents of my students...regularly

C) Four of my favorite places to eat: Grandma's, Subway, Chili's, Chipotle
D) Four places I would rather be right now: Riviera Maya Mexico, on a date with my husband, chilling in the hot tub, with all my friends scattered across the country (Ambs-MO, Danielle-Nebraska, Maddie-WI)
E) Four people I talk to everyday: Sharon, Bethany, Rosie, Kim

F) Four TV shows I watch: Grey's Anatomy, the Hills, Desperate Housewives, Biggest Loser

I am an American

I did the American deed...I voted today! The first election I was eligible to vote in was the re-election of Bush....unfortunately I never received an absentee ballot and was not registered to vote yet in Missouri, where I was attending school, and therefore did not get to exercise my vital American right! (I got a lot of scrutiny for that). I can finally re-claim my American identity because I proudly cast my ballot. It took all of 10 minutes and was conveniently located 5 minutes from my work. Early voting is a must!!!!! It's no surprise who I voted for....let's just say I didn't support a man who's name rhymes with..."full of drama!" The rest of the ballot looked foreign to me...full of names I've never heard of. I tried to stay on top of those running, aside from presidential candidates, but I just went with who I identify myself with. I have to say however, I was quite tempted to roll with the Green party for president...at least they don't have media drama!


My mornings, although monotonous, always begin with a chipper tone. On those days that my husband has to get up and leave before I wake up, he climbs back in bed for a hug and kiss and whispers, "I love you beautiful," before leaving. (I don't always recall this happening as i'm still in a sleep trance). His other tradition is the leave me a short note to make me smile. Today's note was the most romantic that I have ever received. It was short, simple, and sincere:

"Beautiful,
I have found out one very important thing in the last few months...

I can't live without you."

Love,
Husband

This melts my heart. I love this man...and baby, the feeling mutual!

Why I love Kids

A few pictures that remind me of why kids can be "adorable?"



A few years into the future: My 3 nephews watering Mimi and Pop-pops flowers



Present day: Kent searching for a snack.(current events at Auntie J's house)


What I believe my sisters probably did to me as a baby.



Already flirting....early start!



He waited all day to do that....getting back at daddy....a favor for Mommy

Biggest Loser

JP and I have really gotten into the show "Biggest Loser" this season. I believe it's for two different reasons.

1. There's isn't much on on Tuesday nights.

2. It gives one's own body image a boost.

*Guest which one was my excuse?

We ashamedly found ourselves screaming at the tv as "hefty" Heba (As we like to call her) had created a terrible tragedy out of the game. Her actions annoyed me. Needless to say something good did come out of tonight's episode. A man sent home, returned to his wife with a ring and flowers at the place he first proposed 20 years ago, and surprised her with a renewal of their vows upon his homecoming. It was the sweetest thing to see his hands shake as he asked her for her hand in marriage...again! I only want to be that happy in 20 years, and that in love...and that blessed with a still thoughtful husband. (I'm not too afraid...I know I've got a great catch!)

On another note, I have been trying recipes for under $7 and 300 calories, from the biggest loser. Last night was

Grilled Chicken with Warm Mango Salsa
SO YUMMY!

-mango
-small jalepeno
-fresh cilantro
-medium red onion
-medium tomato
-2 limes (zest & juice)
-chicken

-Cook strips of chicken or cut chicken breast or thighs into strips after cooked. (spray both sides of chicken with PAM before cookin)

-Spray onions with PAM and cook until tender
-Mix jalepeno, mango, tomato into onions and cook until warm through

-Top salsa with cilantro (2/3 cup) and juice and zest from 2 limes
-Serve chicken with warm mango salsa!!!!! YUM!

Envy

Lately I've been in a state of envy. I haven't necessarily envied what people have, rather that what they have seems to be so perfect, seamless, picturesque. The current state of my friends' relationships with their significant others, their exciting lifestyles, numerous friendhsips, their future plans, their current financial status, or job they hold, often make me jealous of all they have.

Don't get me wrong. There is nothing I love more than my current state with my husband, time with my family, and being in my classroom, but no matter where we are, the devil always seems to make us think someone else has it better...that we aren't blessed enough.

Oddly enough, in the last week, I've talked to all of these close friends that I seem to envy in some way or another, only to hear that pieces of their life are crumbling. Some are at odds with future in-laws, others are broke, one is broken from the lack of substance in frienships, and another from the loneliness and helplessness felt in their current occupation. It's as if Christ is trying to open my eyes to not only my blessings, but to the fact that if we allow it, the devil can always create a state of discontent of where we are at. If we allow him to creep in, we will never be satisfied with where we are....always wishing we had a piece of the past back. This is not only the nature of humankind, but also the reason I am thankful for a God that grants peace beyond all understanding.

I've been reading Ecclesiastes this week and in the first chapter I ran across a message that talked about all things being beneath Christ's foot. That he has conquered it all; lonliness, sadness, discontent. I feel I ran across this at the perfect time- to be a ministry to my friends who I seemed to envy. Sadly, in their hard times, I find myself blessed for not only what I have, but for friendships full of trust and compassion in all circumstances.

God is good, God is big....God has conquered it all!

I thank God for my wonderful, unconditionally loving, wonderfully weird family; my adorable, patient, genuine, loveable husband; and the amazing, God-timing opportunities I have been blessed with over the course of the last year! May I wish to be in no other part of my past or future...rather right here in the present!

A Fool

Don't let that previous post persuade or fool you to think that I am by any means a good cook. I should have bought the entire "Cooking for Dummies" collection.

For example: Today I tried to make Grandma's meatballs *using turkey meat*. The ended up being flat square fried pieces of meat. That's my second attempt. I had a little melt down and accidentally burned my husband with hot oil when I put water in the pan.


I officially can't cook!

Yummy in My Tummy

This is for Bethany Pat-rice. Seeing as my husband and I are new to the world of family grocery shopping and cooking for two....rather I'm new to cooking, in general; I am getting the hang of experimentation. I admit, there have been many attempts gone bad (ex: Spinach/Blueberry Oatmeal bars- sources say "nope!"). However, I have come to understand the art of cooking with minimal ingredients on a tight budget.

Last week I made chicken chili. So yummy! We buy grilled chicken strips for tacos, and with those that I had left over, I cut them in cubes and cooked them with "white chicken chili seasoning (like 99 cents), and a can of white beans. You can add a can of diced tomatoes, onion, and anything else you'd like in your chili. The two simple ingredients were amazing, to the point that my husband asked for a repeat.

Also a hit are the chicken breasts in a bag. Buy the seasoning that comes with a bag, fill with fresh veggies and cook. Nothing better, nothing easier!
Another great hit are the simple baked egg puffs. It's from the "Deceptively Delicious" cookbook and is made with an added ingredient of yellow squash, which I opt to leave out. With 2 large eggs, 4 eggs whites (I just toss in the whites from some eggs), 2 Tbs shredded low-fat cheddar cheese, 2 Tbs flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt...you mix them together and pour them into either 4 souffles cups (which I don't have) or coffee cups that are 1/2 greased. Bake them on 400 for 15 minutes and you have a great meal! You can even add sausage or bacon already cooked! This past week I doubled the recipe to make 6 coffee cups because JP loves them so much! Can't say I blame him!

Finally, JPs favorite is turkey sloppy joes. (really its just grilled turkey and barbeque sauce and onions). He always asks for leftovers to bring to work! It's also a leaner choice than ground beef.

I have to say, I appreciate my husband's patience as I experiment, his kind words for my chunky pudding, and quick help when my recipe is drowning. He may eat for 4 (all the more reason to find cheap and easy recipes for a family of 4)....but he's never picky!