Merry Christmas!

A little late...but wishing you and yours a very blessed Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Thankful

We have so much to be thankful for this year.

I am thankful first and foremost for my salvation. For my husband, who has been my rock this year, for friends and family- old and new, near and far and for the Lord's provision in many ways.

As I was thinking of what I was "thankful" for, I had to pause. 8 sweet faces snuck into my head. I think back to where they were last year,and how their lives have changed in 12 months. I wonder what they were "thankful" for this Thanksgiving. You may not know them, or know their story, but they changed my life forever. They taught me what true joy is. The small peek I had into their life taught me to be grateful for all that the Lord has blessed me with, through the good and bad times.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for those 8 faces. And for all of the other faces they represent. And for what they have taught me about "Thanksgiving".

Free Christmas Cards from Shutterfly!

I have always loved Shutterfly products.  We got our Christmas cards last year from them, and if you know me well at all-you know that I have already begun planning our cards for this year!

This year, they are offering bloggers the opportunity to sign up for 50 free Christmas cards.

When looking at the website, I came across a few cards that I LOVED! They were super inexpensive too!

If you are a blogger, sign up to get 50 free Christmas cards here!

That's The Way Baseball Go

When the Ranger's beat the Yankees (YEAH!) to clinch the ALCS, we debated about buying World Series tickets.

But, it's the World Series, and a once in a life time, never happened before kind of opportunity. So with Christmas right around the corner, we gave ourselves a trip to the World Series for Christmas! (Noticing a theme here...lol?)

Since we had 4 tickets, we gave the other 2 to our dads (the biggest baseball fans we know). Before the game, we enjoyed some time hanging out and tailgating.

We headed into the stadium in time for the "pre-game activities". George Bush Jr. and Sr. threw out the first pitch together, and it was an incredible moment.

The crowd was amazing and the team gave it their all.

It was a great game, even though we didn't win. But as Ron would say- 

That's the way baseball go.

And hopefully we'll be right back there next year!

ALDS

I mentioned a few weeks ago that we had some exciting things planned for Mark's birthday! He is probably the hardest person to shop for when it comes to birthdays, Christmas, etc...so most of the time I just give him a) something really obvious or b) let him pick it out himself! This year I finally got something he was not expecting! I got him (well, us really!) tickets to the ALDS Game 1!

We started the day out the day (with claw and antlers ready!) tailgating with my brother at Cowboys Stadium before the A&M/Arkansas game!

Then we headed out to the stadium early to watch a little batting practice! We got to meet up with both of Mark's brothers who were at the game, and even went home with a BP home run ball!

Once the game started, we headed up to our seats to enjoy the game.

We had a great time, even though the Ranger's didn't pull out a win that night!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

I will get to those birthday posts sometime. But the cold has hit the Sangenito household, along with dealing with some crazy side effects from a medicine (another story for another day). Needless to say, this chick has been in bed for the past 2 days.

Instead, I thought I would share with you a yummy fall recipe that you all need to run out and make today.Notice the emphasis yall-this is serious stuff. These are literally the best muffins that I have ever tasted. Unfortunately I can't take credit for the recipe.  She can.

Ok....on to the recipe!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

• 4 whole Eggs
• 2 cups Sugar
• 16 ounces, fluid Canned Pumpkin Puree
• 1-½ cup Oil OR Applesauce (I used applesauce)
• 3 cups Flour - White OR Whole Wheat
• 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
• 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 12 ounces, weight Chocolate Chips

1. Mix together the first 4 ingredients.

2. When mixed well, add the dry ingredients.

3. If you’re going to add choc. chips, you should mix 1/2 the package into the batter. Then, fill well-greased muffin tins 2/3 full of batter. Then, sprinkle the rest of the choc. chips on top of the batter. This spreads out your chocolaty goodness instead of having it all at the bottom of the muffin. Although, it tastes good no matter where the chocolate lands.

4. Bake in 400 degree oven 16-18 minutes.

They taste amazing warm. Or reheated. And be forewarned, you won't want to stop at 1. or 2. And sharing may be difficult for some :) Enjoy!

26 Reasons

Today my amazing husband turns 26! 

Celebrations started this past weekend, and continue on until next Saturday!

I'll share more about those as they come, and as I get pictures!

It is so crazy to me that he was 17 when we first met, and his youngest brother will be turning 17 this week!

I thought for his 26th birthday I would list 26 things I love about him!

1. You are the funniest person I have ever met.

2.You can cook. You just don't because you are afraid you may have to do the dishes!

3. You are stubborn

4. You put up with my craziness

5. You love our families

6. You love our friends like they are family

7. You are a major computer/video game nerd

8. You vacuum

9. You are smart. And you love learning new things

10. You are a reverend

11. You take amazing photographs

12. You love my neurotic dog

13. You are one of the most giving people I know

14. You love baseball

15. You get me to try new things/foods that I would never have imagined trying

16. You don't let me get away with stupid things

17. You are the spiritual leader of our family

18. You want to be a world traveler

19. If you don't know how to do/fix something, you figure it out

20. You support me 100% (Exception: See #16)

21. You don't conform to what others think you should be

22. You let me decorate for any holiday, even if you think it's a little over the top

23. You are pretty handsome :)

24. You are so sarcastic (And yes, I DO love you for that!)

25. You eat my food, even if it is gross, and let me know when it is really good

26. You are going to be a fantastic father someday, and you are the best husband I could have asked for!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK! I LOVE YOU!

Fall Favorites

Fall has arrived and with it has come a few of my favorite things...

Pumpkin Spice Latte's are back!

Our favorite tv shows have started back!

Year 2 of Fantasy Football...and I take it seriously.

The Ranger's have made it to the playoffs! We are a baseball family to the core, so this merits a whole post to itself....coming soon!

Birthday Months! 

We both celebrate our birthdays in the next few months (one next week actually!)

And lastly...fall weather and decor. Our candles and Scentsys are burning, the pumpkins are out and the windows are open!

What are a few of YOUR fall favorites?

Home

Life has been going great since the move. You could say we are finally settled.

Living next to sandwich places galore instead of chicken fried steak and fish has probably been good for our health. Plus, the free time that looking for a job has given me allows for a lot of exercise!

Our apartment is finally feeling like home. We never really hung anything up in the old apartment, because everything always fell off of the walls. Fortunately everything seems to be staying in place now! 

A few weeks ago, we got this new chair to help seat all of our friends

And here is the master all decorated

We have stayed busy this past month, catching up with our family and hanging out with friends!

We spent a day celebrating a R@nger's victory a few weeks ago

And I got to enjoy a girl's night in Grapevine

Rainy Day Taco Soup

With all of the rain that we have been getting, and the fact that Mark has a fantasy football draft tonight....I figured I would do some easy comfort food for dinner!

This was my first time to cook this soup, but I have had it quite a few times! It comes from one of the most generous people I know! Anytime she knew life was getting crazy, she would bring us some taco soup! 

It makes alot-enough to share! So when you make it, invite some friends over or take some to a family who may need cheering up! 

Taco Soup 

1 pound hamburger meat

1 onion, chopped

1 pkg. dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing seasoning

1 pkg. taco seasoning

3 cans stewed tomatoes 

3 cans Ranch style beans

1 can hominy

1 can whole kernel corn

 

 

In large stew pot, brown meat and add onion.  Add all other ingredients and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer.  Simmer for three hours.  If liquid needs to be added, use one bullion cube and a cup of water.

(This makes a large amount of soup, but we like to have some to share or freeze.)

The Journey Continues!

It feels like all of my posts lately have been about such huge topics in our lives. I think that is just kind of how this summer has been for us.

Hopefully this will be the last post for a while with something "big" in it! You see- we have been quite busy in the few weeks since I last updated....

Yes, on top of all of the other crazy moments, we have packed up all of mine our belongings and relocated. Why? Well, because the husband got an AMAZING job with lots of new opportunities!

Here was the hard part: We had to leave my AMAZING job, the hundreds of kids that had stolen and forever changed my heart, some incredible friends, an awesome church, and family.

So, where does that leave us? That leaves us here- in a new home in the DFWish area. Close to new friends and new family. We can't wait to see where this journey will take us!

Held

Two months is too little.
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.

Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair.

This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred know our sorrow.
The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.

This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.
 

If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?

This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.
-Natalie Grant, Held

Today...

Today was supposed to be a very different day.

Most of you know that we had no intentions of starting a family for quite a few years.

But God's plans were very different than ours.

On June 30, we got some shocking news. Life changing news. Only, at the time we had no clue how much it would change our lives.

2 lines. 1 word. Pregnant. What?! 2 trips to the store. Multiple retests and alot of tears later the joy set it. We were going to be parents. Our best friends and immediate family were the only ones to know. Today was the day we would share it with the world.

We went for our second visit at almost 10 weeks, and we heard the words that no parents-to-be want to hear.

"I am so sorry...Let me go get the Doctor..."

I won't go into all of the details of all of that day....but I will tell you one thing. That day and in the weeks following, my husband was a rock. I am still not sure how I functioned, but my husband was right there beside me every step of the way. I could not have asked for a better partner to walk through this with.

Now that we are on the other side of everything that had to be waited for and gone through, we are sorting through the emotional mess that is left. It is hard to talk about. How do you walk up to someone and say "Hey this happened to me". But I know that it is an important part of healing. It is now a part of our story, of our testimony.  My prayer is that God will use our pain, use this trial to touch the lives of others as they go through the same.

Through this journey, our lives have changed. Not in the way that we thought that they would, but once again-God's plans are always so much bigger and better than ours.  I am so grateful that He does not let my selfishness or stubbornness get in the way of His ways.

Back in the Saddle

This summer has had some incredible moments. I was blessed to lead a VBS and see over 15 children become new Christians. I went to camp and had a blast with 30 of my kiddos. I made new friendships, grew closer with old ones, went on a vacation and grew closer to my husband than I have ever been. 

But this summer has also been filled with what could be called some of the hardest times of my life.

I would not call it a "rollercoaster." It is more like a journey of faith. A daily mountain and valley climbing, sweating, hard work journey.

This journey is nowhere near over. Our little family of two is in the midst of these valleys as I type. But this weekend I have determined it is time to get back in the saddle. To put one foot in front of the other and keep living.

Yes, life is still going to be hard. Yes, I may still sit down and cry sometimes. But I get to start and end each day with a heavenly Father who makes promises to me that are beyond what I can fathom. And that is more than enough to keep persevering.

I have quite a few posts to share in the coming months about what the Lord has taught us in the past few months.  They will be long and won't be fluffy. But I can promise you one thing, they will be real.

You Can Have Me

Sidewalk Prophets- You Can Have Me

If I saw You on the street
And You said come and follow me
But I had to give up everything
All I once held dear and all of my dreams

Would I love You enough to let go
Or would my love run dry
When You asked for my life

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me, You can have me

If You’re all You claim to be
Then I’m not losing anything
So I will crawl upon my knees
Just to know the joy of suffering
I will love You enough to let go

Lord, I give you my life
I give you my life

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me, You can have me

I want to be where You are
I’m running into Your arms
And I will never look back
So Jesus, here is my heart

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me, You can have me

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me

My Father, my love
You can have me

Talk vs. Walk

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.  Colossians 1:9-12

I've been absent. With no apologies or regrets. My heart and mind have been heavy,dealing with thoughts and struggles far beyond what could ever be conveyed on a blog, especially when they are not fully worked out.

There are so many different things tearing at my heart, breaking me right now, changing my heart in ways I did not know possible.

The verses above have always been special to me. I have them on an index card, and pray them over my family-present and future- constantly.Today, as I was reading, the Lord placed the following on my heart...

In these verses, the Lord does not instruct us to simply pray for knowledge. We are not just to gain wisdom, to learn through reading (rather through His word, or through words He has given others to write).  He calls us to to more. He calls us to walk in a manner that pleases Him. He calls us to bear fruit, and to continue to attain His characteristics.

How many times do we read a book, talk about how much it taught us, only to put it down and pick up a book on another subject. How many times does a sermon shake our lives to the core, yet once we walk out the doors we do nothing to change our walk.  

And why? Why do we hold back? Fear? Of what? Are we afraid that someone may judge us? Or that it may be uncomfortable? Or even that it may radically change our lives? Is forsaking the King of Glory worth hiding from judgment or fear? Is our comfort worth running from our Heavenly Father?

We talk. Alot. But when will the walk begin to match up.

the *S* word

I's that time of the year again....to start thinking about that dreaded word...

swimsuits.

Probably my least favorite clothing ever.

It is so hard to find something that fits all of the criteria: stylish, flattering, just the right colors and material...all the while attempting to find something modest!

A while back, my best friend sent me to this website:

It is a website devoted to cute, yet modest swimsuits! 

I am super excited about it...and probably going to order one soon!

I am thinking maybe...

or 

but these are really cute too....

They even have 1 pieces and mix and match tops and bottoms (so you can get diff. styles, sizes and colors!)

Spring Catchup

A few weeks ago, we ventured out to the FW Main St Arts Fest. with some friends! 

The weather was great, and the food was delicious! But the company was even better!

Around that same time,my dad and his girlfriend were so sweet to come and visit us! Not alot of people come and visit our apartment, so it is fun to be able to show it off! (Mark's parents came the next weekend, so we got a double decker there!)

Dad & Lianna

While they were here, we went to our all time favorite BBQ restaurant. I always get this baked potato...it is HUGE!

This spring has been such a blast! I don't even have pictures of most of it! We have done lots of shopping and cooking with friends and family, lots of relaxing, and lots of laughing and memory making! I am excited to see what the summer holds!

Another Little Project

I recently saw some wall art here that I loved. So much so in fact that I decided to hunt down the exact material (50% off!) and figure out how to make it for my new bedroom makeover (more on that coming soon!)

The hubs helped me build a frame out of some 1x1 1/2s or something like that (I am not a genius when it comes to those type things!) I just  know it is light and easy to hang! 

 All I had to do then was stretch the material over the frame, pull it tight, and staple! And voila! New wall art!

 Total cost: $30!

Cover your ears, Paula!

Well, the verdict is in....

This past Monday I went to a GI, and got some answers! First, he had me do the strangest thing ever. I mean ever. He had me cover my ears and close my eyes and march in place. Here's the problem--when I opened my eyes, I was on the other side of the room. Yep-I didn't really stay in place. He said that most people don't really move at all...

Turns out I have balance issues in my inner ear that are causing some major stomach issues-who knew!

Of course, because I am not one to do things simply, there was also something else going on. We got some medicine going for it, and hopefully that will get taken care of soon.

Here is where Paula Deen will be covering up her ears...I have to go on a low fat diet to help with my GI issues. AHH!


I don't think that DQ fits in that diet...so I had better pull out the cookbooks!

Do you have any favorite low fat recipes? Feel free to share!

Easter

Here is a "better late than never" peak at our fun Easter weekend! Mark and I got our first experience with coloring eggs with small children--and lets just say "experience" is a great word! It was messy-but a still a blast! Our weekend also included alot of traveling back and forth to church for our Easter Musical. I got the chance to be in it, and it was a wonderful production.

We have been crazy busy lately, enjoying much needed family and friend time-and I am so excited to have lots of pictures everything we have done on my new camera!

Verse 4

Here is my verse for the first part of May! I am borrowing it from my friend Jenna and her verse from last month!

These verses speak alot on some things the Lord is speaking to me about right now.

I am excited about another book I have on the way--Radical, by David Platt. The books website says the following: "Do you believe Jesus is worth abandoning everything for? Do you believe Him enough to obey Him and to follow Him wherever He leads, even when the crowds in our culture-maybe even our churches-turn the other way?"

Crafty Crosses

This past weekend my roommate and her husband came to stay with us. The guys headed out to golf while us girls hit up First Monday @ Canton!  

While there we kept seeing these crosses that we loved! The only problem was that they were an avg of $40!

We decided to buy the supplies to make them ourselves, and here is how they turned out--

 Tonya's

Allison's

Crosses-$1.50

Kitchen Cabinet (For Backing)- $3
Paint- $1
Paper- $1

Total=$6.50

Total Savings= $35!!!
plus we had a ton of fun making them!

Bookworm

Lately, I have been a bookworm! I have read 3 books in the past few weeks, am working on a few, and have 2 more waiting to be read! 

This book was a total tear jerker

This one is incredible inspiring, and is already just setting my heart on fire!

And this one is ridiculously challenging.

 As soon as I finish up those last 2, I will start on these:

Have you read any good books lately?

DIY

Lately, I have been in a frugal, saving money kinda mood!

I am not good at coupons....so another way I have tried to save some money is by doing some things myself....or actually making somethings myself!

Not only has it been fun to tweak recipes to what works, but also to see how I can save money in different ways, AND do things at the same time that are great for our household and family!

Here are a few of the things I have started making/using:

Dishwasher Detergent

1 tbsp Baking Soda

1 tbsp Borax

1 tbsp White Vinegar (in the Jet Dry compartment)

This works amazingly...even in our dingy dishwasher!

Frugal Dryer Sheets

1 capful of liqud fabric softener

2 capfuls of water

Mix water and softner in a plastic container with lid. Put 1/2 a cheap sponge in the container. Each time you need a dryer sheet, wring out the sponge and toss it in the dryer!

Works GREAT! Found this here!

DIY Cleaner

Put 1 capful of liquid castille soap in a spray bottle. Fill rest of bottle up with water.

Coming Soon:

Laundry Detergent, Dish Soap, and possibly Shampoo! I'll let you know how those go!

MIA

I've been MIA from the blog world lately...

and I probably will be for the next week or so.

My health is not agreeing with me, and I am concentrating on figuring out why not!

Say a prayer for me if you don't mind.

Verse 3

Here is my 2nd verse for the month of April. Been spending some time in James, and this verse has really been speaking to me....

Memory Verse 2

I am a few days late putting this up..but here is my memory verse for the first half of April!

the ultimate tank

I have a love for tank tops. I wear them under tshirts. And dresses. And sweaters. And jackets. And other tank tops. Like I said, I love tank tops.

My friend Jenna can probably agree that she is right there with me.

The other day I stumbled upon this tank and fell in love. (With the picture of course!) Its soft. Its thin. Because lets be honest, who needs extra bulkage in the waste.

And did I mention it is a V-neck....AND a scoop! Two tanks, 1 shirt. 

Like I said, the ultimate tank.

100!

WOW! I just noticed that yesterday was my 100th blog post! That is crazy! I didn't really think I had that much to talk about! (Don't let my husband see that...he probably has different opinions!)

In exactly 12 months I have had 100 posts...whew!  I went from being petrified to hit the publish button, to learning HTML just so that I can customize my blog. As silly as it may seem...I think that is one of my favorite parts of my blog-being able to learn new things about making it mine, creating something new, and challenging myself. It has almost become like a weird new hobby to me...!

I figured in honor of my 100th post, I would tell you about another 100 in my life...as most of you know I am a Children's Minister. And after this post, you may think I am a Children's Minister who has lost her mind!

I have given my kids a challenge. Get 100 kids on a Wed. night  and Mrs. Allison will permanently dye her her hot pink. (On stage, the next Wednesday night!)

An idea of what I may be looking like...(With a little more pink-and who knows, depending on the week they hit 100, a different color thrown in here or there!)

So...I'll keep you updated on the status of my hair, and on thanks for reading :)

And many more...!

Today is my mother-in-law Cindy's birthday! Yesterday we got the chance to spend the day with her and Tony, and enjoy a great lunch, cake and lots of good conversation!

Cindy, I am so blessed to have such a godly, wise and loving mother-in-law. Thank you for sharing your oldest son with me, and for raising him to be an incredible godly man. He wouldn't be the husband he is today if you hadn't been the mother you were and are. You are an incredible example to the both of us and we love you so much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WE LOVE YOU!!

Go and Be.

Tomorrow, we will leave with out with a group from our church on a family mission trip.  We will have the chance to go and be the church. To show His love in so many practical ways. To serve and sweat. To give hugs and make crafts, kick balls and share smiles.

My brother left yesterday with another group from our church...They got off to a crazy start-and seeing how the Lord intervened in each situation they faced was incredible.

Please join with us in prayer as we go, and for the second mission team that left yesterday as well....for our safety-not only in travels, but also as  we are there. For our hearts to be molded to His likness and our words to His.  For Him to shine so brightly in our weaknesses.

A picture is worth...

This past weekend, Mark got the chance to take engagement pictures for a couple. I asked him if I could share a few of my favorites with yall and he said said I just had to wait until he gave them to the couple. :) 

I am so proud of him, and how he uses his talents for such great things. His love for photography is so special, and I love how he truly has a desire to use it to help others and better their lives.

Nothing I could type today would come close to what you really need to read...

Go here.

And then go here.

Don't forget the tissues.

Verse 1

I have decided to join in with my friends Jenna and Kim, working on memorizing 24 memory verses in the coming year! There will be a verse at the first of the month, and again on the 15th of the month.

I am starting a few months behind....but here is the first verse that I have chosen! 

Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;
         They will mount up with wings like eagles,
         They will run and not get tired,
         They will walk and not become weary. 

Isaiah 40:31 (NASB)

So excited to start this journey, and to have friends to hold me accountable!

Smiles

Just a glimpse at a few of the reasons I smiled today....

Great Date 1

A few weeks ago, I posted about the Great Date Experiment that Mark and I were hoping to participate in.

Last weekend, we headed out for our first date! The instructions tell you not to look at each part of the date until you have finished the previous point....That was kind of hard for the planner in me!

 

THE DATE:

We went to BJs for dinner (we had never been there!). We were supposed to ask waiter surprise us with whatever he wanted to for dinner! I think it stressed our waiter out a bit! We ended up loving all of the food that we got!

Next, we had to decided whether to make the car super hot or super cold while driving...If you know us well, you know that I hate the cold and Mark hates the hot! So we had to rock, paper, scissor to see who could decide--and I won! We had to choose an activity to do while talking about some questions we were given.  They suggested bowling/ taking a walk....But we just chose to keep driving around instead! 

We ended the night at Target....where we each had a few dollars to pick out a dessert the other one has never had before! That was a challenge, but it was really fun, and we had some dessert to enjoy on the drive home.

It was a very spontaneous date night--but so much fun! The questions they gave us to talk about got us talking about different things, and we are excited for Date #2!

Pictures!

 

3 Minute Story Nationwide Truck Winner

  

 Kid's Night!

  

 Youth Night!

 

  

10 Key  Recipients...Who's key will start the car?!

FREE car winner with her car!

Steak Dinner (for 500) is tomorrow! Can't wait!

WOW!

Really, tonight I have no words to type, or maybe my mind and body are just too exhausted to spit out paragraphs....

A few facts instead....

2- The night of Radiate 2010 we are on

2- Crazy school assemblies

1- Winner of $100

75- The number of pizzas we went through

150+ - The number of 1st-5th graders in attendance

50- The number of kid in the nursery

464- Total attendance

2- Awesome Nintend0 gaming systems!

44-Lives forever changed

1- Number of FREE cars to be given away to a TEENAGER tomorrow!

Hows that for avoiding sentences!  I am off to sort through cards, spend time with my sweet Jesus gearing up for another crazy, awesome day tomorrow, and spending a few moments with my husband! Want to know more about whats going on? Here's a few links:

Kim's Radiate Blog

Radiate Face-book page

FBC Malakoff

Our Rocker Pup

It's amazing what living in the country and getting bored can cause you to do!

Adventures in Cooking!

Last night Mark and I were wanting something sweet.  With nothing pre-made in the house, Mark suggested that we cook something ourselves! After looking through a few recipes, and finding one that we had the ingredients for, we decided on "Heavenly Shortbread". It looked easy, and delicious!

We did have to make our own powdered sugar, because we didn't have any!

Our sugar before and after!

We managed to have only one "mis-adventure", when the mixer spun out of control--sending butter and flour all over the two of us and the kitchen!

In the end, our shortbread bars turned out good, and more importantly, we had a really great time cooking something new together!

Happy Valentines Day!

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day! We aren't really doing much for this holiday, since our anniversary was only a week ago! I do think we may try this soon: The Great Date Experiment. It is from FBC Springdale in AR, and it looks kind of interesting, and like a good way to get out of the movie and dinner dating rut!

Today started out in an amazing way, with 3 of my precious boys coming to know Christ. There is truly no greater love in this life than the one they found through Him today!

(Hearts created here)

Let It Snow!

Yesterday, I was in bed recupping most of the day...so pup and I enjoyed watching the snow fall from the open window most of the time. But, we did venture out once or twice to enjoy the beautiful snow we were getting!

Pup LOVED rolling in the snow!

 

We had to blow dry the icicles off of his legs once we got inside!

Grace was made for lives like this

525,600 minutes

Today, I have been married to my best friend for 31536000 seconds, or 525,600  minutes, or 365 days. Each of those seconds, minutes and days have literally flown by. 

I am more in love today than I was one year ago. And more than I ever knew I could be when we went on that first date 7 years ago this week.  People always said, "You will learn so much more about your husband once you get married." And in my head I laughed.  There are lots of things I didn't believe about marriage until this past year. But now I know more about that amazing man than I ever have, and every day I continue to find out things, big and small, that never cease to amaze me.  

Our first year of marriage has been no piece of cake.  It started out with Mark's company shutting down two weeks before our wedding. Talk about a rough start.  Along the road, my car decided that it was not going to cooperate, so we had repair bills, and the stress of an unreliable car.  We also moved 2 hours from all of our friends, most family, and all of the comforts we knew.  

Our first year of marriage was also full of some of the most special moments.  We were forced to rely upon each other, instead of friends or family in so many ways this year.  We grew in our relationships with the Lord in so many ways.  We learned how to fight fairly.  We had "married" dates, and learned to be frugal but fun.  We got to make decisions together, and learned to become "grown ups" together.

And through it all, good and bad, I had my best friend by my side.  I am so grateful that I have such an amazing husband. Someone who makes me laugh. Who knows how to help me stop crying, but also knows when I need to cry.  He pushes me to become a better person, a stronger person, and a more Christlike woman--even when I don't want to be. Especially when I don't want to be. He supports me and encourages me in all that I do.

I am so excited to begin year number two, and every year after that. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for our marriage, our future and a future family!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Just wanted to jump on really quick to wish my mom a ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

My mom and I have been through SO much together! She was always the "cool" mom in high school, and I have so many amazing memories from the crazy things she, my brother and I did when I was growing up! From late night slumber parties and fast food runs, vacations, and "rolling", to serious talks and teaching me what it meant to be a Christian, and a godly young woman.  My faith would not be what it was if it were not for my mother. And even through the teenage year "wars" and our ups and downs, she has always been there for me and Shane.  

I love you mom and hope your day was wonderful!

(No picture, because well...they are on f.b. and I can't get on there right now!)

Taco Soup

We had a delicious and easy taco soup for dinner tonight, so I thought I would share the recipe!

Taco Soup

 1 lb. beef

1 med. onion

1 can pinto beans (drained)

1 can black beans (drained)

1 can chili beans (drained)

2 cans Rotel

1 can corn (cream or whole kernel-drained)
1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 packet of taco seasoning

Beef broth*

1. Brown beef and onions in skillet

2. In soup pan, mix beef and onions with all other ingredients. (Add in beef broth to bring the soup to desired consistency)

4. Simmer on med. low for 20 to 30 minutes

(*We used 2-3 beef bouillon cubes and 3-4  cups of water)

Au Revoir

This past week we had to say farewell to Jenny, my trusted Jetta.

It was her time, and some were glad to see her go, as she was becoming slightly unreliable.  But even through the hard times, she always got me where I needed to be!

I will never forget the day that I got my car, my senior year in high school. I had been driving a salmon colored Escort, and dreaming of the day I would have a different car to drive.  My dad surprised me with my graduation gift early-he gave me his car! I drove that car around until midnight that night, showing it off and making it "mine".  We have gone to Arkansas, west Texas, south Texas together and I have so many great memories in that car.

(And yes, I know, this post is way to long---about a car! But...I cried for hours when my fish died, so that should tell you something about how sentimental I am!)

So, in memory of Jenny the Jetta, (and for a good laugh!) I thought I would close with a list of everything that was wrong with her when we gave her away:

*Back left door would only lock once in a blue moon. And when it did lock, you couldn't unlock it.

*Trunk would not close or lock, and flew up when you hit a bump

*Back spoiler light was duck taped on

*Inner console was broken off

*Passenger rear-view mirror was broken

*Needed brake pads, shocks and struts, and timing belt, alternator and harnesses

Now on to the fun of finding a new (old) car!

My Heart

Did you know that I was a mom?

Don't freak out, we are NOT pregnant!

Meet a few of my kids:

 

These smiles MELT my heart! The kiddos above are just a few that have been coming with our bus ministry! They are such a blessing to me.  And then you mix in all of my other kiddos, and you have a heart that could explode because it getting filled up with so much love! One of the beautiful joys of my job is that I get to be mom sometimes.  I get to give hugs, and bandaids. It means spit up, torn shirts, and sore feet. There are awkward moments, hard moments, tears and lots of laughs. And recently, that role has taken on a new meaning! It means sitting with 40 of them in church, making sure they don't throw things over the balcony and being mom to five "tweens" on a Sunday night.

And you know what--I wouldn't change it for the world. Because I also get to share with them the greatest story they will EVER hear.  I get to show love to those who have never seen it , and I get to teach them  what it means to show respect and love. 

 

I could fill up paragraphs with how much I love every single child that walks through my doors, and is a part of my ministry.  In all reality, whether they come on a bus or ride with their parent, I feel in some ways like they are mine at times! I pray for them and their futures. When I sing worship songs and spend time in scripture and, I plead with the Lord that those songs and His Word would be truth in the hearts of every child, that they may know the meaning. My heart breaks for every child who is living in darkness.

 

 I heard a song on the radio the other day. This line jumped out to me:

"But most of all I'll want to know you're walking in the truth"

And that is my prayer. That the children of FBC Malakoff, of our town, of our area are reached. That they know Christ, that they are walking in the truth.