Did you know?

That autumn (or fall, whichever you prefer) is actually code for "season of soups." Friends, I kid you not. That's really what it mean. Well. At least in my book it does. I get stupid happy when it starts turning the slightest bit cool! Because it means I can start cooking all my yummy soups. Not only are they yummy, but they are super inexpensive to make and last forever!

Tonight, I will be making this beauty:

Taco Soup

Although poor Hubs.. when he saw the lineup for this week solemnly said "I don't think I'm ready for that yet." (Referring of course to the taco soup.) Did I mention how much I love to make soups? OOoohh, another great point.. I can start this bad boy at about 4:30ish-5ish.. we can go work out.. and it will still taste WONDERFUL when we get back. (And of course, leftovers always heat up as good as new.)

Recipe:

1 lb Hamburger Meat

1 packet Ranch seasoning/dip mix

1 packet Taco seasoning

1 can Mexican style stewed tomatoes (sometimes I just use regular ones if I can't find Mex. style)

1 can normal corn

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

Brown hamburger meat (salt and pepper to taste), drain, put in slow cooker or big ol' pot, add the rest of the ingredients and a couple (or whatever looks right) can fulls of water to pot. Let it cook on medium/low until temperature is just right.

We usually garnish ours with shredded cheddar and sour cream... and tortilla chips!

Hope you enjoy your *Season Of Soups*! =)

Professional Park People

6 Kids, 1 Park, 1 Long Walk.. and Another Park= Tons*Of*Fun

Today I learned that my nephews are part chimp.. and one is even part camel!

"Well. How do you get up there?"

Isn't this just so sweet? Jade loves her cousins!

LOL is all I have to say about this one!

After our long morning out in the parks, we headed back to my house. We all scarfed down peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like we hadn't eaten in two weeks. They were delicious. Although I had a hard time convincing my neices and nephews that I use the same brand Jelly my sister uses. I tried foolishly to also tell them we used the same peanut butter. They weren't fooled.

As my sister came to collect her precious treasures, I tried to work out an arrangement, if you will, with my neice. Instead of having to take a nap today, she could stay up and answer my calls and do all my work. She found that rather amusing. I was not kidding. I will be sleeping like a rock tonight dear friends.

Ordinary Day

I woke up this morning, quite refreshed.. and anticipating a tall cup of fresh coffee Thanks to Mr. Amazing, I enjoyed sipping on it while I worked and peeked out the window every once in a while to a beautiful sunrise. Pretty soon, the most beautiful noise filled my ears. The Princess had awoken and was talking so sweetly in her room, just kind of babbling. We had fun eating breakfast together. I threw on some clothes, and we went to go pump some iron. (Sidenote: Don't become really good, ie best friends with people who own a gym. It just makes you want to workout. Hah.) Jesus and I had some great time together on the elyptical machine thanks to Watermark. After I was about to break out in a completely grotesque sweat, we left to go home and enjoy lunch.. and a bit of random play time. And after Jade's nap we went to the park. It was so beautfiful outside, and BONUS: we did not start dripping sweat as soon as we set foot outside. So, I guess we have our own version of fall here. Jade enjoyed the dirt/mulch the most at the park. You can call a girl a Princess as much as you want.. it doesn't mean she will always act like one! =)

FINALLY, after what seemed like an eternity, the Amazing Mr. came home. We grilled our shish-ka-bobs on our awesome deck. Well. We started out there, and then we ran out of propane. But thanks to Mr Foreman and his Lean Mean Grilling Machine, dinner was salvaged. After dinner, we let the dishes just sit. (Thanks to much coersing from the Amazing Mr., I did not immediately rush inside to do them.) Then, we ran around like wild goons telling the Princess we were going to "get her," and listened to the most precious giggles and squeals erupt out of her cute little mouth. Once it got too dark to be out, we came in. I did the dishes and peeked over the bar to see Jade showing every book she has to her daddy.. occasionally wrapping her sweet little arms around his neck.

In the blink of an eye, it was bed time. Jade thought it was hilarious to waller around on her tummy and then splash real crazy like in the bath. Then, we dressed her, prayed, and I rocked her for just a bit. I put her in her bed with her little blanket and Violet (her purple, stuffed hippo.)

So there you have it.. just another very *extra* ordinary day in our crazy/normal little life.

Party Hard-y

Is that how that is spelled?

Anyways, we had a blast celebrating sweet Lela's 3rd birthday at her house! Our friends have the cutest cottage-y, country type house on the cutest little acre or so of land.. with the most picturesque surroundings. Lela may have been the birthday girl, and center of attention.. but I was able to snap some really cute shots of the Princess doing her own thing. 

This one is a bit blurry.. but I think you get the point.

Princess On A Mission

"Why in the world does this ball have all these bumpy things on it?"

Our friend made some really cute favor bags for the party guests, which included theme oriented favors. Jade got a really cute animal mask and a farm book. I knew I should have given away tiara's and jewels at Jade's 1st Birthday Party.. I know my nephews would have totally love that!! =)

Sidenote: Princess can now get off high surfaces safely. (Like the couch, our bed, etc... all of course under our supervision.) And today she scooted down the stairs on her bottom.. but I have no idea where she learned that. 

Busy, Busy weekend

This weekend was an absolute blast! Friday night we fellowshipp'ed with some friends and did much of nothing. Saturday morning, we were lazy for a bit and then met some more friends at the Pumpkin Patch. It as an absolutely, beautifully perfect day to be out. And every once in a while, we caught a nice breeze... because Texas just doesn't understand that it is AUTUMN! Nonetheless, we enjoyed chasing after Jade, going on a hayride and even a train ride. Afterwards, we enjoyed the best beverage in the world, why Sweet Tea of course, at Chick-fil-A.  (Can you believe we totally missed some other friends that were meeting us there? The Patch is crazy!)

This is the best family picture we could manage. Did I mention how beautifully, sunny it was?

Rewind approximately 365 days... that have just flown by!

We stopped home for a bit, and then we were off to celebrate another friend's 3rd birthday. Pictures of that event to come later.

For now, I will be taking full advantage of the Sabbath.. and an exhausted, napping toddler!

Indulgence

The Precious Princess had a little bit of a rough time drifiting off into dreamworld tonight.

So, after she was tuckered out...

I had one of these (not the whole box, just one)

with a glass of this.

But, now I am off to indulge in something divinely better

.. with a little bit of this on the side.

And some of this playing to lead me into the Almighty's presence...

Bear with me..

Or is it bare with me? ... Hmm..

Anyhow.. we're getting a face-lift here people! Mommy Ramblings will soon be fall-ish.. just bare with me while I get it situated!

Working in my home..

Phillipians 2: 12-18
12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

18You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me
I pray in all things.. that I would work out my salvation with fear in trembling. That I would be sensitive the Word of God and the convictions God has entrusted me with. Looking back through different seasons of my life, I can see some pretty big lessons, foundations, building blocks.. God was showing me. I am so grateful that God didn't just save me.. and say "There you go." How unexplainably sweet it is that He is not finished.. that He is still at work within me. Because let's face it.. I need it. Through each season, through each lesson, I pray that my attitude would not be negative and would not be full of complaining. But that I would find joy in the mere fact that He is not finished..that when I work, or whatever I do.. I do it all for His glory.

Since the day our precious Princess was born, life has certainly never been the same. And while I am not a seasoned Mother by any means, or one so full of wisdom; I do know this.. I am learning new "lessons" each and every day. Over the past year, I struggled with the fact that I was working outside of our home. While I am not opposed to working if need be, I was so strongly convicted over the fact that I was not being what I know God wanted me to be, a stay at home mom. I was convicted over the things that I counted as "necessities" for so long. (Cable TV, newer cars, new clothes every few months, going out to eat.) Not that it is wrong to indulge in these things, but they became necessities in my life. Through His perfect grace and mercy.. He started moulding me, if you will. These "things" suddenly became roadblocks in me pursuing what I knew I had to do. While it even seemed a bit crazy to rid us of several of those things, we knew we were doing what was best for our family.. doing what we are called to do in the Word.

And no, I do not think it is an abominal sin to have cable TV, to have new clothes, and to go out to eat. If we could afford to indulge in these things, I'm sure we would every once in a while.

I think this video pretty much sums it up.

Thank God for my Husband..

For his voice of reason when Old Navy is having a ginormous sale.. and everything, literally EVERYTHING looks like it would be so precious on our little princess!

Now, do you see the damage that was almost done?

Freedom

Way back when.. I was beyond blessed to see first hand just a glimmer of the amazing things God is doing across seas. I was blessed to be used to Glorify Him on some foreign mission trips. I can't even begin to desribe how those trips truly opened my eyes to just how AWESOME God is. After returning from one of those trips, I somehow stumbled upon this incredible book called The Voice of The Martyrs. I don't know how exactly, but I ended up with it..and was enthralled by it. I probably read it in about two days. All the stories in it were such a foreign concept. Poeple being persecuted for their faith in the most Holy of Holies? Hmm.. I guess a little teasing in school and weird looks don't count as persecution in the light of what some of these people had gone through. I thank God for opening my foolish eyes; for opening my eyes to the precious believers that are literally riksing EVERYTHING to make His name known.

So, when I "happened" to stumble across this blog, my heart broke and rejoiced for these people all in one! If you have a spare moment, visit http://www.wearethatfamily.com/2008/08/when-god-steps-in.html. (Sorry, I don't know how to make it all fancy and shortened!) I pray that as you read this 5 part story, you would be encouraged.. that your affections would be stirred for the real Joy-giver.. and that you be blessed.

Five for Friday

1. Showered before the day "began", did my hair and even put on make-up!

2. Enjoyed a delicious breakfast of McD's hotcakes and coffee with my baby girl.

3. Got to have lunch with the amazing Mr.

4. Got an autumn-y smelling candle that just smells divine.

5. Just found out the amazing Mr. just might be coming home a little early tonight! (We miss him a lot lately.. going to school 2 nights a week and then all day Saturday is rough on us girls.. and Sampson!)

GENIUS!

Sometimes, I think my whit and smartness even suprises me. That is, until I am around my daughter.. then I pretty much just feel like a pea-brain sometimes.

Jade is very much into the not liking vegetables stage right now. Or not liking something today that she loved yesterday. But last night, I have to admit that I out-whitted the smartest princess in all the land. No matter what we are eating, Jade HAS to have a bite. So, I made myself some mixed veggies and of course.. she wanted some. Girlfriend probably ate at least 4 days worth of veggies with dinner last night! Woot woot! And of course, the real fun began when I gave her the main course.. raviolis!!

Another thought... maybe if I just scattered my floor and Sampson's food bowl with veggies.. she would probably eat them all day and every day! Seriously, its a thought I should really consider.