ZUUUUUMMMMBBBBAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Ok ok ok O K!
I tried it! Ya happy now world?!!!



Actually....I liked it. {gasp}

It is VERY different from my usual style (aka Belly Dance) and a great workout. [I am so extremely out of shape having just had two babies.] The instructor is a gal from church who invited me to try it out. [That woman made it look so freaking easy.] It is just up the street and at good times. [Twice a week might just give me a heart attack.] I might give it a month and see how I like it. [I might die before the month is out.]

Hope and Thankful

This little sweetie is blind from meningitis,
No one knows her exact age.
Meningitis is easily treated here in the states.
She wasn't treated in time to save her eyes.
She is an orphan in Haiti.
She is one of the lucky children there,
she will most likely be adopted and eventually leave the poverty of Haiti behind her.

My mom just spent 8 days with a medical group traveling among tents cities and remote villages offering free clinics. My mom paid $1200 to be there. She can't wait to go back.

The village in the mountains hadn't had medical care for 2 years. My mom's group was welcomed by the entire village singing "How Great Thou Art" in Creole. All though my mom didn't understand the language, she knows the words and knew what they were saying. She will never hear that song again the same way. When I asked her if the people realized these "blancs" were there by their own means, she said no, but she thinks they realized that the "blancs" meant HOPE. Hope that God has not and will not abandon Haiti, that he is still listening to prayers, that he still loves them.

I won't write down everything she told me about, it would take too long! But I will say this:

Because I have been given much, I too must give.

Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live.

I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see,

who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care…

I cannot see another’s lack and I not share-

my glowing fire, my loaf of bread-my roof’s safe shelter over head,

that he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love dear Lord,

I’ll share thy love again according to thy word.

I shall give love to those in need. I’ll show that love by word and deed,

thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

I'm not saying we should all spend $1200 and go to Haiti, but I do think we should all challenge ourselves to do more for those in need. "I'll show that love by word and deed"

Got beef?

Two easy recipes to put those pot-roast leftovers in:

Steak and Mushroom Pies

Ready to use Croissant dough (two individual croissant for each pie)
1 small can of mushrooms
brown gravy (just use a mix)
shredded pot roast

Mix the pot-roast, gravy, and mushrooms.

And stuff just like in the Chicken Turnover recipe.
Bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

More than just the beef left?

Sunday Dinner Shepherd Pie

In 9 by 13 pan layer in this order:

Mashed potatoes
Corn/carrots
Shredded pot-roast
Gravy
Altered biscuit mix: 2 parts Bisquik to 1 part milk, it will be runnier than normal biscuit dough.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 or until golden brown. The mashed potatoes taste so yummy baked!!!

NEW DOG!!!!

I got an email from the director of Arizona Adopt a Greyhound this morning, they have a dog for us! She is 5 years old, black, GOLD eyes, and is playful. The best part? She has been living with a 18 month old and is great with him!! That was the only problem we had with Ben, he thought he needed to chase the baby. We will be picking her up next Friday!!!!!!! I have seriously missed having a big lazy dog lying around.

Winnie and Squeaks

Having babies 13 months apart isn't as bad as I had imagined. :)
I get to have twice as much fun with them!


Kisses!


Punch drunk baby!


Newborn coos and smiles.

Taylor has an eye for design me thinks!

She picked out the fabrics, designed the cover, helped sew (she made one of the flowers herself!), and picked out the book too! She wanted to give her friend a special present for her birthday, I think she pulled it off. :)

And just for a quick update:

We had a cold night last night, poor basil has only been with us 2 days!
{far right, yup, the really dead looking one, that's basil}
So tonight they are sleeping indoors!

Chicken Turnovers

Oh My Gosh! My kids loved these! They ate them wicked fast and asked for more!

I wish I had a picture......

Ok, so you can vary, but this is what I did:

boiled 5 chicken thighs, pulled meat from bones and shredded
boiled 2 diced carrots with the chicken (drain)
mixed chicken and carrots in with 1 can cream of chicken soup and 1 can corn
dash of salt and pepper

preheated oven to 375

ok, here is the fun part!

take ordinary croissant dough (like the store-bought-rolled kind) and place one flat on greased cookie sheet. spread chicken mixture over it leaving space around the edges. place a second croissant on top, pinch the edges closed. repeat. i used large croissants for adult servings and regular size for the kids. i ended up using 12 large and 6 small for the amount of filling listed above. that made 6 adult serving and 3 kids servings.

bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Yummy!

You could totally use: left over chicken, a rotisserie chicken from the store, frozen mixed veggies, celery, carrots, peas, etc etc etc. Nice, fast, filling, simple meal. :)