Today's dinner

Today I got to do two things I love. Purge the pantry and make something new!

Since I'll soon be home sharing with someone who has a pantry the same size as mine, I know it's time to do some purging... I love to do that! While over the last couple years, I've seriously minimized my use of canned foods (unless I can them myself), there are still a few things I keep around for those last minute throw together meals. 

Beef and Beans in the Crockpot
1 1/2 - 2 lbs ground beef
chopped onion, to taste
Worcheshire sauce
28 oz can baked beans - do not drain
15 oz can black eyed peas - lightly drain
15 oz can great northern beans - lightly drain
20 oz can pineapple chunks, drained
about 3/4 c BBQ sauce
a little cayenne pepper

Brown the ground beef, along with the onions and worcheshire sauce in a skillet. While that's cookin up, add the other ingredients into your crockpot. Drain the meat once it's cooked through and add it to the crockpot and mix well. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Done!

The new thing I got to do was homemade biscuits! Here's the thing. I don't do unhomemade biscuits either - I love biscuits, therefore I never have them. Makes sense, right?! It does to me!

I didn't realize that I'd ever made homemade biscuits before until I was cutting them and memories came to me about doing that when I was a little girl with my momma. It was a sweet moment for me. I totally followed someone elses recipe since I'd never done them before and they turned out great! One thing I did learn, though, is that I NEED a rolling pin! heh.

So, to make the dinner complete, I threw a biscuit in the bottom of a bowl, broke it up, and put the beef and beans over top! Simple, delish, and filling!

Home sharing

As I write this, I am preparing my heart for a big change and a huge adjustment. In about a month, I will be moving. After a lot of prayer and consideration, I've decided that things have just GOT to get better (remember, that's my ONE WORD for this year). I went to my dear friends, whom we've often teased with together about this very thing, with the topic of sharing their home with me and my kidlet. Amazingly, they talked about it that afternoon before I even got there.

Some of the advantages for both of us are the lightened financial burdens, lessened demand on each of us in meal preparation and house cleaning, and help with our kids in various ways.

Some of the disadvantages for both of us include a lessened sense of privacy, possible disagreements in household duties, and learning each others quirks in a whole new way.

I would ask anyone who reads this (the whole ONE of you who might! haha) to be in prayer WITH us as we make this transition.

My heart breaks...

Grief is a strange thing. Hearts can feel broken for many reasons, but death is the worst. How do you explain so much sorrow for someone who only shared small moments with you over the years...

My heart breaks because his family is devastated -

because my friends, who loved him so deeply, are broken to the core -

because my son really liked "James with the hair" -

because he had an impact on me (and my kid) -

because the life of a lone driver, who woke up in the morning thinking things were normal, has had his world changed forever -

because my mommie heart knows exactly how close to home this really is with my own son -

because my dear friend is blaming himself -

because another friend carries the burden of the world with her and this will be no different -

because teenagers I love couldn't sleep last night as the tragedy sunk in -

because of lost talent that had the ability to impact the world of music in a way we've not yet seen -

because when I saw him on Christmas, I had no idea it would be the last time my eyes looked at his -

because a group of young men, who loved him enough to do hard things, will have to decide how to move on -

because I know he loved Jesus -

because I know he loved kids -

because 17 is too young -

because I feel helpless -

.....

You will be greatly missed, James.

One word - Better

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                                                              (I'm so bossy, right??)

What's your word for 2012 going to be?

This is something I will be challenging myself with through the year, but I am also going to present the challenge to our ladies ministry and to anyone who happens to stumble across my blog.

My word is better. I wanted my word to be love. I really did. But with me, it's always love, love, love... I love to love. That isn't going to challenge me the way I need it to. I need to be challenged.

If I could pick a word for our church lately, it's been more. Which is sorta like better, but different. I do want more, but I also want better. I want better relationship with Christ, I want better relationship with people, I want better for myself. I could go on and on... so while it's kind of like more and along the lines of love - it's just different enough that I can claim it! =]

Kale...again.

I know... I know... I'm talking about kale again... what's wrong with this world!

I'm trying to learn how to best incorporate some foods into my diet that aren't always the best tasting all on their own. So when I find new ways to do that, I must share!

Last night I made mashed potatoes. That was fine all by itself, but after I dumped the potatoes to drain them, I put a little butter in the pot and sauteed some chopped kale and green onions, then added a milk/half and half combo before I put the potatoes back in to make them all up. So I ended up with great taters and some good ole kale mixed in.

I had about a cup of kale still left in the fridge, so today I sauteed it again, then added it into an omelet with cheese.

Here's why I love having kale in my diet. There are all sorts of good reasons to eat it more.

With that said, go eat some kale, peeps! =]~

New Years Resolutions

We're being honest here, right? Right... Good. I hate New Years resolutions. And I don't use the word hate often or lightly – I really loathe them.

Why?

Well, let me count the ways...

They're often not thought out well or planned for properly. For instance, saying I wanna lose 20 pounds is great, but what's the action plan behind it. Saying I wanna work out more is great, how am I gonna make that happen. Saying I want to blog more is terrific, but when am I gonna have time?

I feel like we set ourselves up for failure because we set a goal without an action plan to back it up. It's not that I don't have goals – I have thousands of them... Here's a flaw in me... I have SO many goals and not enough action plans. I can't achieve my goals without knowing HOW I'm going to achieve them.

Here is my resolve for 2012 – to be the best me that God has created me to be, no matter what that looks like to anyone else. He is the most important in my life. I want to go and do and be where and what and who He wants - not where I want. It isn't always the same path. The more I've learned about Him and growing in relationship with Him, His ways are always better.

Do I want to fall in love – sure do – but should I just walk around looking for people to fall in love with or should I be falling in love with Jesus everyday so that I am prepared when He brings someone in my life.

Do I want to blog more – sure do – but should I forsake time and relationship with other people in my life to make that happen or should I do what God has called me to do and just love people?

Do I want to lose weight – sure do – but should that consume me so much that I forget to enjoy life or can I be all right with small indulgences along the way?

Don't put too much pressure on yourself – resolutions should be made all year long and not just once a year... if you want to do something new and the idea (along with the action plan) doesn't come to you until March – then start in March. There's no reason to set a ton of things on your shoulders all at once. Do them as they come and check the boxes off as you go. You'll feel better that way, I'm sure of it. At least I do...

Rant over. =]