Those Fly Over States…...

Often times when I listen to Jason Aldean's song I don't give it much thought…I just like his music! However, sending my daughter back to New Orleans' tonight and hearing this song on the way home made me cry all over again today! What a wimp! I can't believe I gave in to it today and sweet Holly had to see it! Maybe it was good…I don't know…what I do know is that it's really hard to have her come home and send her back so often! But I don't want that to stop! I just want it to be what I want it to be!

Hmmm… sounds like a plan to me!

 Wonder if God listens to my plan? Does He care if I don't like His plan all of the times? Does He care if Holly flies over all kinds of states…sits by all kinds of people…frets over the plane crashing? (oh, wait…that's me!) Does He care that we all stop what we are doing and make it a big deal every time Holly and Brad come home? Does He understand what that takes? That it takes everything out of me and saps my energy for days because I want it to be a Happy memory for them…that I want the meals to be great….the house to be clean…to have fresh flowers in their room? Does He get it? Does He know what this mother's heart longs for and prays for and dreams about? Her teaching again and them having a small house or apartment just around the corner like our oldest child, Mitch? Does He? Does He know this was NEVER in my dreams or wildest imagination?? Does He??

Of course He does! And boy am I glad! He listens to my cries…He hears my worries, my fears, my doubts and my longings for the perfect life that in my mind I've decided will be perfect for us! Lucky for me He has so much more in mind and promises to never leave me or forsake me! His plan is perfect…and even when I don't feel like it is….IT IS!!!! I just need to be STILL!

Left to my own devices there is no telling where I would be! Probably in the depths of despair! Which is where I sometimes feel like being! Yes…I really do! BUT…Because I know how much He loves me…how much He loves Holly and Brad…how much He has all of our best interests at heart and wants the very best for us I am able to cry out to Him…and to you…and to my precious Holly and still be loved by the ultimate Lover that gave Himself up for me…and for you…and for Holly and Brad! That's how much He cares about every fear that I have…every doubt that crosses my mind…every time I waver…He is there standing firm and never moving…and instead, He uses this to draw each of us closer to Himself…closer to each other!

 Our family has definitely grown stronger through these past two years and I truly wouldn't trade that for anything! I can't say that I'm not ready for it to be over with because I'd be lying! Yes, I want it to be over…I want them to move back…I want that more than anything in my earthly being…But deep inside my heart I know that what I truly want is God's best for Holly and Brad. And if that happens... if I trust Him with their lives and know that He is fully in control of where they end up….then we will experience true happiness and be content in Him! There is nothing I want more than to be content in Him…

And there is nothing I want more than for my children to grow and learn and experience all of God's best for them! Not just Holly and Brad…but Mitch, Britney, Miller and yes, even Layton! And me and Jim as well! 

Love this verse and I'm so thankful that God listens to even a silly and sometime's scared and weary mother's heart. None of our problems are silly to Him…and I know that…I just want to learn to trust Him fully with each and every situation!

Family

"Family will kill you…quicker than a freight train!!"

 I've heard that my whole life practically! My precious, very lady-like mother in law has so many great quotes from her own mother. I've always taken them for granted so to speak.. Lately I've been seeing just why and how these quotes came to be! When you've lived enough of life you begin to understand!

For the longest time I thought being a family was being the "ideal" family! I thought it meant being what the world considers the "All American Family" to be! That is not real and is rarely the case with most of us! Most of us are not perfect…do NOT represent the "All American Family" and quite possibly don't want to be! Perhaps the "All American Family" seems like a farce to some…perhaps it seems unattainable, I don't know! What I do know is that after today…after seeing tremendous flaws revealed in our own family, after seeing us stick together for each other and love each other in spite of the trials we've been put through I've come to the conclusion that we have something BETTER than the All American Family…We have the family that God intended us to have! We have each other because God gave us each other and for that I will be forever grateful for! You see, when you have family you have a sense of belonging and of being loved and of being a part of something bigger than yourself. I saw that happen today in the worst case scenario. I will never forget it and I don't want to forget it! I wish my children could have been alongside us…I wish they could have felt the love I felt with my precious family that I've been a part of for the past 30 years! WOW!!! I don't ever remember a time that I didn't feel like I wasn't a member of Jim's family! I'm so glad for that! I've seen other members come and go…and I'm not trying to make light of that! It's true though and I've seen our family stick together and love each other no matter what. ( for the most part!) I just can't stress enough how tough and yet how special today was…I truly am left feeling like I need to do more…and that I've never given enough of myself to these people that I call family.

"Why watch Soap Operas when real life is so much more interesting?!" 

That is another quote often heard in our family! And wow…so very true! Today, I sat in a court room…I saw things I never, ever thought I would see or live through. I saw severely hurting people…people with no hope in their hearts.. people full of hurt, tears, fear, hate, anger…and things I can't begin to explain but know I never want to see again. I arrived fearful and truthfully left fearful. The two fears were different but both very real. I've cried off and on all day. I feel nothing and then I feel everything. I know that God made Himself very real to me and Jim last night as we prayed about this ordeal today…I know that I saw and felt God working in our family as we sat there today and we didn't cry…much! If you know us at all you know that is a miracle in itself! I know that God has definitely blessed us with the perfect family for us and I for one do not plan on missing out on any of the adventures that are set before us! Big, little, fun, miserable,  you name it! We are there! That is our perfect family…and yes, we are all American! 

I watched a judge that I was terrified of and fell in love with all at the same time! How is that possible you ask? Well let me tell you! He represented the America we are all suppose to be enjoying! One that requires respect and honor and trust and truth! TRUTH! He actually called people out on things that he felt were disrespectful in his courtroom! And they were just in the audience! I was on pins and needles! Every time Jim looked at his watch I jabbed him with my elbow! I was NOT going to be made a spectacle like every one else that he got on to! I never even left to go to the bathroom! Oh no…not me! I sat there with my eyes glued to him and not moving a muscle! Which explains the tension I've felt all afternoon! 

No matter…I actually left feeling a sense of pride in my State again! I saw someone treat the law with respect and honor…the way it should be! He made me want to stand up and say the Pledge of Allegiance!  ( if I hadn't been too nervous about the big guy behind me! ) 

Anyway, today was a rare, rare day! In more ways than one! I've never felt more love for my family…or extended family that I have today! If I had missed out on today…then yes, I would have DEFINITELY missed out on a blessing! How can I say that, you ask? Because I saw our family come together! And we NEEDED that! That's how! I saw love….I saw trust…and yes, I saw Honor! I saw God working most of all…and that's really all I needed to see! But He was VERY gracious and gave me even more than that! He gave me the ALL AMERICAN FAMILY!! And I am blessed to be in this family and I love them….

MORE THAN ALL THE RICE IN CHINA!!!!!!!!! 

God gave us this wonderful verse last night and then the song at the bottom…I hope you enjoy both!

Isaiah 55:6-7

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁶ Seek the LORD while he may be found;
   call on him while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake their ways
   and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

God of Wonders

Gourmet Grilled Chicken Enchiladas

I don't know if it's just me or is everyone having a difficult time thinking of new things to make for dinner all of a sudden? I worked really hard for several months on the cookbook I did for my family and I guess I got really burned out! Finally, something sounded good to me again! And…I got smart and grilled a lot of chicken at one time so I wouldn't have to worry about the "main ingredient" for the new few dinners! Anything that saves me time in the kitchen now is a huge help! The first night we just had grilled chicken and some side dishes…I don't even remember what they were honestly! Then…that spark of wanting to get creative in the kitchen began to happen! Slow at first…but when googling and pinning recipes something finally clicked! We had it last night and my mom was here as well…we all declared them to be the Best Chicken Enchiladas Ever!

I hate that I forgot to take pictures at the very beginning of this process but here is the filling before being rolled up in the soft flour tortilla. I used whole wheat you don't have to!

Just look at this beautiful cilantro! There's really nothing like the flavor fresh cilantro can give to a dish! I think I will be planting some in my garden this year for sure!

I only made half of the recipe because Miller wasn't going to be here eating dinner so I figured I could make half last night and half another night! Good thinking, huh?

Just look them now covered in this incredible sauce! You will never guess what the "secret" ingredient is! It almost made me not want to try them! Boy, was I wrong!!

Now they are almost ready to go into the oven!

After a while I just had to take a peak!

And there they are! Not the best picture in the world but trust me on this one! They are definitely the Best Chicken Enchiladas in the world! To us at least!

And yes…here it is!! The secret ingredient that I was shocked by! Not really shocked…just surprised!

Here is the recipe!

GOURMET CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

6 large chicken breasts

1 large onion chopped finely

10 large flour tortillas (or use low carb wheat tortillas)

2 T butter

1 can rotel diced tomatoes with lime and cilantro

1/4 cup sliced jalapeneos-optional

3 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese

1 8 oz. brick cream cheese softened

1 pint sour cream

2 T chopped fresh cilantro

1/2-1 tsp Cavenders greek seasoning

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 pkg cream of chicken Cup-o-Soup

Boil chicken in lightly salted water until tender. Dice and set aside.

In large saucepan, saute onions until tender. Stir in Rotel, diced

chicken, 1 cup Colby Jack cheese, cream cheese, 1 cup of the sour

cream, 1 T cilantro, Cavenders, and garlic powder.

Taste the mixture and add more seasonings, if needed.

Grease large casserole dish and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Fill each tortilla with 1/2 cup (approximately) chicken mixture and roll up. Lay filled

tortillas into casserole with seams on the bottom.

In medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the other cup of sour cream,

the dry Cup-o-Soup contents, chili powder, and 1 cup hot tap water

until smooth and creamy.

Pour soup mixture over tortillas. Sprinkle with 2 cups Colby Jack

cheese, and the other T of cilantro. Lay jalapenos on top if desired.

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until cheese is melted and slightly

browned. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

*just remember that I grilled my chicken which is totally up to you!

I grilled 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this marinade:

1/4 C olive oil

1/4 C lemon juice

1/2 T Cavender's Greek Seasoning or more!

1-2 t Dale's Steak marinade

Hope you enjoy them as much as we did! Maybe this can start round two of the next edition of "Collections"! 

We shall see! Have a great week!

You are a Lone Reed

Sometimes I truly question why I do "What" I do...Especially this last month....


While watching "You've Got Mail"...I always hear myself in every one of Meg Ryan's lines in that movie!

"What is it that I do exactly"? "All I really do is run a store"! ( of course this is Meg answering her own questions!)
"You are a Lone Reed" was the answer she received..... from her boyfriend.
"I am a lone reed...I am a lone reed".....
and Meg ponders.....
"Sometimes I wonder about my life..it's valuable, but small...do I do it because I like it or because I'm brave? Sometimes I want to throw that question out there...but who am I sending it to? She said to a cosmic void...

As much as I love this movie..and for as many times that I've watched it and quoted it...I'm so very thankful that indeed...there is nothing cosmic or void about it nor is there anything small about what I do!

I often have these exact same thoughts and at times let it get the best of me! The most recent example is me being quite worried about my own life and how I've spent it! Not too long ago a customer innocently made the remark about how she couldn't believe that someone would start working while she still had young children! Of course my heart and soul cringed within and sweet Pattie assured me that I had not neglected my children, especially my youngest.
Why I felt the need to compare myself to this person my customer was referring to is beyond me! But I do, and I did! It's quite impossible not to! I try way too hard to be everything to everybody and as of today...am realizing I can't do it! I'm only responsible to God, my husband and my family and myself. Why I make myself go through these "hoops" that I create in my own mind is ridiculous!

While fretting over my youngest son Miller on his spring break mission's trip...I've come to some pretty major...and yet very simple conclusions about life!

Number one being...If I say that I love the Lord with all of my heart  then I can rest assured that all that I do will fall into place if I'm truly seeking His will!


Secondly, there is nothing I can do to change what God has already planned for  my life...therefore, I need to quit worrying and fretting! That is very freeing to me!


Thirdly...all of this falls under a "vague" but real category in most of our lives..
I hit highs and lows as all of us do...that makes me real and it makes you real...I need to quit second guessing that! I just read an incredible book by Terri Blackstock that ended with this paragraph and I fell in love with it! I hope it will touch your heart as it did mine!
Talking about highs and lows in the writing life she says,


 " It's a roller coaster, that's the writing life! I love that roller coaster. It's the ride God gave me, and doing it for the Kingdom of God is a privilege. Theres a ride for you, as well, one that He chose for you before the foundation of the world. I hope you're on it!"


John 15:8 "My father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."


Find your gift and use it. Then enjoy the ride!


I don't know about you, but this just inspired me to make my ride really count! 


Much love,

Spring Forward!

 Spring Is Here!!! And I For One Am Loving It!!!

And soon... everything will be coming up roses!!!

Well, now that is a stretch but everything is coming up, that's for sure!

Mostly just everyday life! 

But just take a look around you! It's right there in all of our own back yards!

The beauty of Springtime!

The Roses, the Jasmine, the Day Lilies, the Dogwood trees, etc....

Aren't these climbing roses beautiful! These are actually in Brad's grandmother's yard...lovingly planted by Coach Walker...an avid gardener! I sure could've learned a lot from him! About a lot of things!

I just love his gardens...

And Easter is just around the corner! What a glorious reason to celebrate and trust in God's provisions for us!

There is really nothing prettier than any "climbing" flower in my opinion!

Especially my Cecile Brunner roses! I planted them ages ago and won't even re-paint our garden shed for fear of losing them!

And look at these snapdragons! They just make me happy!

The Dogwood is the ultimate symbol of Spring to me!

I love the fact that I actually do have perennials and that I'm learning what to do with them!

Oh, and then there are my fig trees! I'm definitely still learning about them!

Maybe one day I can make fig preserves! We shall see!

Love this one, lonely rose! It's trying so hard to bloom!

Reminds me of the saying, "Bloom where you are planted!"

Just like my hydrangeas that are struggling to come out of hibernation!

And our Lenten Roses! A breath of fresh air after a long season of nothingness!

And yes, I snuck this photo from my across the street neighbor's yard! Isn't it pretty?

 And here we go...finishing on this note! Spring time is to me what chocolate is to a lot of women! It's the time that I get to begin dreaming of my perfect garden! "One day"....that's what I always say to sweet Jim! "One day...I want the perfect garden!" What I've never realized until recently is that what I really want...is the perfect gardener! I love the look of a perfect garden!!! Who doesn't? 

Last year we dealt with this pesky little rabbit if you will remember!

Hopefully he will have moved on to another neighbor's yard this spring...but I doubt it! We shall see! For now I will still dream...and dream big!!! There is nothing wrong with that!!!!

Here is my dream garden!

Or should I say, "Dream Gardens"!

Enjoy!

Maybe this year we will have something to show for it!!!

Thankfully last year we at least had a few Zinnias!

And a few Tomatoes!

 No matter! Spring is a wonderful breath of fresh air to me! I hope it is to you as well! 

Happy planting! and enjoy every minute of God's beautiful creation...Spring Time!