Reading

I grew up going to the library weekly. My mom always read to me when I was too young to read. She encouraged and modeled reading to me after I learned to read on my own. I had a huge collection of books, was in a book club, and read ALL the time when I was a child.

About the time I hit high school I stopped reading almost altogether. I would have assigned readings for school, and that just made reading not fun anymore.

Well, since I am no longer in school, I guess I find reading fun again. The Shack got me started. It was so good. I then started looking for Redeeming Love, but have not found it yet. (I have to find a super cheap used or free copy because we are on a tight budget right now.. no new books for me!) While looking for it, I found about six or seven other books that look good at Goodwill, so I have them waiting for me.

I'm currently reading The Power of a Praying Wife and The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy.

No, I'm not pregant. I just like to read about pregnancy and parenting. It interests me in a big way. I never get tired of it.

Anways, I'm thinking about starting a third book: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Anyone read it? I am borrowing it from my friend Jenna. She said it was really good.

Anyone have any other good book suggestions?? I read fiction and nonfiction, but fiction is my favorite. :)

sweet & sour meatballs

I decided to try out another new recipe last night.  This time it comes from this site.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

3/4 cup quick oats

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Form into about 12 balls, each about 2 inches in diameter. Place in a casserole dish. Cover with sauce (below). Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

Sauce:

1 cup brown sugar

1/2cup apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoon mustard

1/2 cup barbeque sauce

2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine ingredients and blend thoroughly. Heat in a small saucepan until combined and sugar is dissolved and pour over meatballs.

We really enjoyed this because it was different than most things I normally make.  We both ate til we were stuffed, I took some to a friend, and we still have leftovers.  You may try halving the recipe if only serving two people.  I will next time.  And next time I will definitely follow the directions to "finely chop" the onion.  My onion pieces were too big.  Oh, and make sure I have plenty of rice.  I didn't cook enough.

Enjoy!

food for thought and for dinner

First I want to share something I read on one of my new(er) favorite blogs.  Sarah from Kingdom Twindom is an awesome and talented and funny writer.  She has two sets of twins and a baby.  Even with all the business of her day to day life, she takes time to write and inspire.

Something I've discovered over these last several years is how very childishly I can [potentially] react to what I like to refer to as "life's little tiffs". Life's tiffs are not important, and they do not really qualify as battles; still, they are unpleasant things we must deal with in our day-to-day lives.
Fender Benders
Burned dinners
Interrupting an all-important activity (like writing a blog post) to solve an argument or discipline a child
Even bad hair days
But another thing I've learned, and quite unpleasantly I might add, is that when I am going through an actual battle (and only when I am going through it God's way) I am much more equipped to handle the tiffs.

Isn't that so true?!  I know it is for me.  I love how real she is.

Anyway, to read the entire post, click here.

 

And what's for dinner?  I'm thinking about trying a new recipe for sweet and sour meatballs.  If we like it, I'll share it!

 

 

PS: sorry the blog writing has slowed down lately.  I've been in a slump.  Writer's block, maybe?  Or maybe our lives have just been boring.  Just school and work and laundry and dishes.  Yuck!  But, I hope to start updating regularly again soon. 

Cutie Patootie

I LOVE THIS GIRL!!!

just venting (feel free to skip this post)

sometimes i want to have a baby so bad that it hurts.  i want to start a family of my own with justin.  i want to have children that i can raise and teach and encourage and discipline and lead and love.  i want to have children to have traditions with and make good memories with.

it seems like im at the point in life where almost everyone i know has children or just had a baby or is pregnant.  i am happy for all of them.  but sometimes i just feel like its not fair.  when will it be my turn?  why cant i be the one announcing to the world that im pregnant?  i cannot even come close to imagining how happy i will be.  you can ask my husband.  its what i want more than anything.  my biggest hope and dream is to be a good wife and a good mother.  and thats all.

i know that God is God, and His timing is always right.  i know that ill get my chance someday, but now is not a good time.  i know that justin isn't ready... he is still in school.  and i know we dont have the money or the space.  but will we ever feel prepared in those ways?  i dont think so. 

i could just cry my eyes out right now thinking about it.  and no, its not this bad every day.  some days it doesnt even cross my mind.  most days i have the thought, but its no big deal.  and then occasionally i have days like today where its all i can think about.  my heart hurts.  i feel incomplete.

i just really hope that every person out there that has been blessed with a child of his/her own is truly grateful. they are really sweet and precious gifts from God.  it makes me sick to think that people take their children for granted or that people dont want the children they have been blessed with.

sometimes i feel crazy for feeling this way.  i dont think its normal.  at least i have never known anyone else that feels like this.  or at least they havent told me about it.  i mean i already think about names and nursery themes.  i read books about pregnancy and parenting.  i have childrens books, clothes, and toys stored away.

im ready.  just waiting on God.  and wondering why that is so hard to do.

catching up..

Well, these first pictures are a long time coming.  They are from when Justin's parents, Nicole, and Richard came in town a while back.  We spent three days going non stop.  We went to Hurricane Harbor for day 1, Six Flags for day 2, and Ripley's Believe It or Not and Wax Museum for day 3.  Fort Worth Zoo was in the original plan, but after two days of 100 degree heat and humidity, we wanted to stay inside!

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Lately Justin and I have discovered a few new hobbies~  We have been playing Wii Mario Kart.  It's really fun.. neither of us are any good yet, but we have fun losing! haha

We have been craigslist-ing.  I think I just made up that word... but we have been selling things on craigslist.  It's really great around here.  Where we are from in Louisiana not many people use it.  We have  sold our Nintendo 64.  It is a really simple way to get rid of things you don't need and make some money doing it.  :)

And finally, we have been slightly addicted to Goodwill lately.  We have looked up and been to almost every Goodwill store in our area.  Justin has found so many nice button up shirts for school and church.  We have both found tons of books for only 50 cents to 2 dollars each.. such a steal!  And I found another new dress!I <3 Goodwill! 

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I'm now officially working at the new job.  I like it, but don't like that I have to work nights and weekends.  Now it's really a treat when Justin and I have a night off together.  This week we were both off on Thursday, so we decided to make the most of it. 

We went out to eat at Posado's.  It is some of the best Mexican food.. chips and salsa, tortillas with butter and honey, yummy entrees, and soft serve ice cream!

Here are some pics of us goofing off...

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I feel the need to include some new pictures of the animals, too.

... tired

So it's 12:25am. I am just now about to start getting ready for bed. It's been a long day. I really really wanna write a nice good blog post with pictures and everything, but it's just too late.

However, I am off work tomorrow! Hopefully in between loads of laundry I will make time to write something worthy of posting. :)

Nighty-Night!

My Favorite Little Diva

I'm sad that the quality of this picture is so bad, but my sis took it with her phone.  

I love and miss this little girl all too much.  Wouldn't you?  She is sooooo precious!

the latest...

So remember how I said I have been really busy?  That's because I worked a few days in a row from 830am until about 1015pm.  Crazy, huh?!!

I am definitely NOT used to working those kinds of hours, and I'm NOT cut out for it.  That wore me out!

The reason I worked so much is because I took a new job.  Bed Bath and Beyond called and offered me a position.  I decided to take it and quit the childcare job.  I love kiddos, but that job just stressed me out and sent me home with headaches everyday.  I was not enjoying it at all. 

So... this whole week I have been working both jobs trying to give the daycare time to find a replacement for me.  It's been rough.  Today was my last day though.  I have the weekend off to rest then start BB&B on Monday!  Wish me luck!  :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today is a special day in our house!

It's Justin's birthday :)

He will be in school all day and I have to work, but he does not mind at all.

For his birthday I got him a Nintendo Wii.  It came with Wii Sports and Guitar Hero.  Then we got him Call of Duty with it too.

I also made him one of his favorite desserts, his mom's recipe for strawberry pie.  Yummy!

Happy Birthday, Justin!  I love you!

Anniversary Celebration

I can't believe I'm just now finding time to write this post about stuff that happened on Sunday!  I have been busy though.  I'll tell more about why I have been so busy later.

For now I just want to post some pics and tell about how we celebrated our first year of marriage.

We started off by going to church Sunday morning and then relaxing around the house.  We did a little shopping then came home and got dressed.  We knew we wanted to go out and eat, and Justin wanted to surprise me with where we were going.

I was so happy when we pulled up at Cheesecake Factory!  It was my first time there, and I was not disappointed.

And here is one of THE best desserts ever!  And that is saying something because I have a major sweet tooth.

We agreed not to buy each other gifts or anything since we are on a tight budget right now.  Just spending the day together and going out to eat was the plan.  But, Justin outdid himself again.  He bought me some new shoes!

I know that may not seem like a very romantic anniversary gift, but I desperately needed new tennis shoes.  My last new pair was bought when I was still in high school!  These are really comfy too.. :)

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In other news, my hubby started school today!  I am very proud of him and the steps he is taking toward accomplishing his dreams.  Today through Saturday he has 12 hour days of orientation... crazy, huh?!  I can't even imagine.  His first day of classes is next Monday.  I know he will do great!  Can't wait to see what God has in store!!!

8.8.09

This day one year ago looked like this...

Today is our big one year wedding anniversary!

I feel like it was just a couple months ago that we stood on a platform in front of all of our family, friends, and church family and made sacred vows to each other.

On the other hand, I feel like we have been married for years.  We are so comfortable around each other and know each other so well already.  Justin always, always knows what I'm going to say before I say it.  It's kinda crazy, really.

I had plans for today that we would watch our wedding video and eat our wedding cake topper.  There was a slight glitch, though, because we left our cake in WM when we moved!  So instead we watched our wedding video and ate a piece of this cake I picked up today.

It was neat to me to watch our video for the first time since the wedding.  I didn't remember everything since that day was such a crazy busy day.  I'm glad we have it captured on video so that each year we can listen to the promises we made each other before God.  It's just a nice reminder that we need to keep those things in mind and live them out day to day.

Justin has to work tonight, so I'm home alone.  He has plans to surprise me tomorrow with a small celebration of our anniversary.  :)  Guess I'll post about it later.

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Happy Anniversary, to my sweet husband!  I cannot imagine for a second my life without you in it.  You have changed me and my life so much for the better.  I know that God placed you in my life at just the right time, and although you aren't always perfect, you are perfect for me!  I love you with all my heart and cannot wait to see our lives unfold over the years to come.  Thank you for making my first year as a married woman a wonderful and unforgettable one.  And thank you for being willing to follow Christ and lead me in His will for our lives.  You are such a blessing to me, and I will not take you for granted!

yummy to my tummy

Justin's family left today after lunch.  We had an amazing time with them and hated to see them go.  Tonight I have extra-hated it because Justin went to work, and I had to go to work around here... laundry, dishes, and cooking dinner.

We ate out pretty much the whole time the family was in, so tonight Justin wanted me to cook.

I decided to try this recipe.  All of the reviews were great for it, plus I had all of the ingredients!

Poppy seed chicken

• 2 or 3 chicken breasts, boiled and cut in small pieces
• 1 16 oz sour cream
• 2 cans cream of chicken
• 2 tbls of poppyseeds
• Ritz crackers
• 1 stick of butter

Mix the first 4 ingredients and put in a baking dish. Cover with crushed up ritz crackers. Melt a stick of butter and pour on top. Bake for 20-30 minutes at 350. 

(once again this is from Kelly's Recipe Blog.. all her stuff is so good!!!)

I'm alive

Yep, I'm still here. Just been busy.

I started my full time hours at my job on Monday. It has been draining my energy bigtime. When I get home all I wanna do is lay on the couch. Yikes!

And then today Justin's family (dad, mom, sister, and brother in law) came in. We spent the day at Hurricane Harbor and then dinner and icecream cake to celebrate Justin's birthday. It's August 13th, but they will be in LA.

Tomorrow is Six Flags. Friday is Fort Worth Zoo.

Maybe after all of that is over, I will make an actual post that includes pictures and such.

Goodnite!

Testing

I feel the need to test Live Writer with my new 3 column layout.  It seems like I'll be able to have larger pictures.  Let's see....

An old picture of Miss Ava that still makes me smile.  :)

 

I sure do miss this girl.

Anywho, did it work??

HELP!

****edited: Well, I spent forty forevers and figured it out.. sorta. I still don't really know what I did. Feel free to still leave tips/info****

I got bored and decided to spend some time playing with my blog.

I chose a new background and figured out how to switch to 3 columns, and even how to put space between the columns.

But now my picture on my header is HUGE! I don't like it that big at all, but cannot figure out what to do. Can anyone help me??

Also, it's driving me nuts that the pictures are no longer in the right places on all of my previous blogs. I think I'm going to have to just deal with that though...

So, who can help me??