Do you believe in miracles?

I certainly do! Before I share some BIG news, let me tell you a little background info. I was dianosed with Endometriosis back in 2005 after I had emergency surgery to remove a 6cm cyst. The doctor told me I would never be able to have children because of the severe damage the Endo had done to my left ovary. Of course that was incredibly hard news for me since I adore children and knew I wanted to have a lot of them!

In 2007 I had another surgery to remove scar tissue and more Endo. The doctor that performed my second surgery was more hopeful that I would be able to have a baby. I was put on continuous birth control to help keep the Endo from growing back as fast. Last year Jacob and I got married and we began praying that the Lord would direct us in regards to having children. In February of this year, I stopped taking birth control. We knew that the doctor said it could take a long time for me to get pregnant after being on continuous birth control for so long.

I am thrilled to announce that no matter what doctors say, GOD WORKS MIRACLES!!! Jacob and I found out a couple weeks ago that I am PREGNANT!! We are sooo excited! Lord willing our little one will arrive at the end of December. Please pray that everything will go smoothly with the pregnancy and that the baby will develop properly and be healthy.

This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23

Green Smoothies

I love green smoothies! They give me so much energy! Some people think it's strange to drink spinach, but I promise, these smoothies are not gross! You can't even taste the spinach.

All I do to make them is throw a handful of fresh spinach in the blender with a half cup or so of juice (I like oj best). Blend that up really well then add any kind of frozen fruit and blend again until smooth. You can use fresh fruit instead of frozen, but add a few ice cubes to thicken the smoothie. Here are some of my favorite add-ins:

• frozen banana
• frozen strawberries
• frozen pineapple
• flax seeds
• fresh apple slices
• carrots (add at the beginning with the spinach & juice)
• yogurt
• sliced almonds

Depending on what you add, you can get up to 2-3 servings of fruit/veggies in this smoothie! Can't beat that!

I wanted to share some pictures from today too. Kaitlyn has been here all day and my little brother, Joshua came over this afternoon. They had fun playing together!

Philippians 3:14 Friday - 4/24/2009

My hubby and I are traveling today to South Carolina for a friend's wedding. It's a beautiful day to be driving! We just stopped at a big mall in Atlanta for lunch and to walk around. It was nice to get some exercise after driving for 3 hours!
Once again this week I didn't do very well with my goals. It's really ok though. The way I look at it is that I've done better than I would have if I didn't have any goals at all.

April Goals update

Daily goals
- Spent time with God all but 1 day. I finished Ephesians this week.
-Started my prayer journal and I'm loving how it helps me keep up with prayer requests and praises!
-Taken vitamins everyday
-Exercised 4 days
- Only read 2 or 3 days this week

Reading
- I finished Feminine Appeal

Projects
- Still no garden planted
- I worked a little on cleaning up my spare rooms, but not much progress

Homemaking
- I only washed the dishes 4 nights this week, but on the days I didn't, I did the dishes first thing in the morning.
- I did well with the menu planning and grocery budget this week.
- I only worked about 15 hours this week.

I'm thankful for all that I was able to get done this week even though I didn't meet all my goals. I'm glad next week is a fresh start!

Stop by Which Proverbs 14:1 Woman? to check out more Philippians 3:14 Friday posts!

Gorgeous Wednesday

The sweet little girl I keep was here today and we had so much fun!

It was sunny and warm outside, so we took a walk around the neighborhood.

The blue sky and fluffy clouds make me so happy!

We met my sister, brother-in-law and their baby for lunch at a coffee shop/cafe.

Kaitlyn didn't know what to think of Ridley. The way she's looking at him cracks me up!

After lunch we played outside while my hubby conducted a youth orchestra group. Kaitlyn was fascinated with a clover.

10 month Anniversary!

Ten months ago today I married my best friend...

Today he is my lover, my leader, my best friend, and so much more. I think it's awesome how my love just keeps growing for him! I am so thankful for God's grace that has brought us this far and I trust Him to lead us through the rest of our lives together.
Go here for more Gratituesday posts!

Yummy Chicken & Rice Casserole

This casserole is a big hit in our family and at church dinners! I've changed the original recipe a good bit to suit our tastes. I love that this recipe doesn't use cream soups (a rare find when it comes to casseroles!), so it's gluten free!

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
salt & pepper
olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pkg mushrooms, sliced
2 cups chicken broth (I use gluten-free)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1-1/2 tsp salt
1 can Rotel (tomatoes & chilies), slightly drained
1-1/4 cups raw long grain rice
1 tsp each Italian seasoning, poultry seasoning, paprika, & garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a large sauté pan on medium high. Sprinkle a dash of salt on the bottom of the pan. Season the chicken pieces all over with salt and pepper. Working in batches, brown the chicken pieces on two sides, about 1-2 minutes per batch. Add a little more salt to the pan (and more olive oil if needed) after every batch. This will help prevent the chicken from sticking to the pan. Remove chicken pieces and place in baking dish. Note: the chicken does not have to be cooked through, only browned.

In the same sauté pan add 1 Tbsp olive oil, add the onions, and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add onions to baking dish.

Raise heat to medium high, add the sliced mushrooms. Dry sauté them (no need to add butter or oil), allowing the mushrooms to brown lightly, and release some of their moisture. Add the mushrooms to the casserole dish.

Add chicken stock, milk, sour cream and salt to sauté pan. Whisk together over low heat until blended. Add the raw rice and rotel to the casserole dish, then carefully pour the sauce mixture over top. Add the seasonings to the dish. Stir the mixture so that everything is evenly distributed in the casserole dish.

Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in a 375°F oven for 45-50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before removing foil. If the casserole is still too liquidy, let it cook a few minutes more, uncovered, until the excess liquid has evaporated away.

Approx 6 servings (the leftovers taste great too!)

Check out other great gluten-free dinner recipes here.

Philippians 3:14 Friday - 4/17/2009

Well, I must admit, this has not been such a great week. My hubby and I have been so busy. Jacob is a professional violinist and he plays in a symphony orchestra. There is a concert this weekend, so he's had rehearsals every night til 10pm then a 45min drive home. I love to go with him since so we can at least spend time together during the drive. So, I've been slacking in my goals this week.

April Goals Update

Daily goals

• Spent time with the Lord everyday. I'm at Ephesians 3, so a little behind, but it's ok. I think that a little is better than nothing!
• Have yet to remember to start my prayer journal. Need to write this down somewhere!
• Taken vitamins everday
• Exercised everyday!
• I've read for 15mins 3 days this week.

Reading

• Have like 2 pages left in Feminine Appeal

Projects

• Still no garden planted :(
• No work done on cleaning up my office & spare bedroom

Homemaking

• Dishes were left unwashed 2 nights this week. I guess when you get home at 10:45 at night you have a little bit of an excuse?
• I've done really well sticking to my menu this week! I also stuck to my budget for groceries!!
• Considering how many work hours I have now, I'll probably have about 25 this week. When I go with Jacob to rehearsals, I take my laptop and work...it's nice to get in some extra hours!

So you see, I haven't done so well this week. It's really ok with me though. I have to remember that these are only goals I've set to work towards. When I have a busy week, my goals need to be flexible.

Be sure to check out more Philippians 3:14 Fridays!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am so thankful for my salvation. This morning I read these precious verses:

For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

I am thankful for God's grace that has saved me! Even my very best good works (which are but filthy rags) could not earn my salvation or merit with Christ. Praise the Lord, salvation is the gift of God!

What we did today

Sweet little girl trying to crawl

Watching the Tax Day Tea Party live online

Having fun reading books

Me and my sweetie

Celebrating Life & Death

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday. We had a little family party last night for her. My sister and I made pizzas and salad and we had ice cream sundaes for dessert. It was a great evening celebrating the life of my precious Mom!

Today we are celebrating the life and death of a dear man named Billy. He was a precious man. He drove my hubby and me away from our wedding in his convertible mustang! Billy started coming to our church after our wedding and he came quite regularly up until a month or two ago. When asked about his soul, Billy would always change the subject or talk about his profession as a child.

His health started really going downhill about a month ago and he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He was in and out of the hospital many times over the course of 2-3 weeks, and still when asked if he was trusting Jesus, he brushed off the question.

Last Monday, he was sent home from the hospital with nothing else the doctors could do. On Wednesday, Billy was taken to the hospital for the last time. My Dad and my brother-in-law rushed to the ER and one last time opened God's Word to Billy. They read the passage about Jesus walking on the water and Peter going to Him and starting to sink and crying out "Lord, save me." The Lord worked in Billy's heart and on his deathbed he said "I am trusting Jesus."

Billy passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2009. Praise the Lord for saving this dear man!

Go here to see more Gratituesday.

Philippians 3:14 Friday

I hate that I'm so late in posting my goals update today, but we've had some scary tornadoes to deal with this afternoon (including tennis-baseball sized hail!). Thankful the Lord protected all of my family and our houses!

April Goals Update

Daily goals

• I have spent time in God's Word everyday this week. Some days it hasn't been a long time with Him, but it has been a little each day. I finished Galatians today. I've been so blessed the last few days in studying the Fruits of the Spirit!
• I have not started my "prayer journal" yet, but I did get the journal, so that's a start.
• I've remembered to take my vitamins everyday
• Exercise: I've worked out 4 times at Curves in the last week and took one bike ride. Not up to where I want to be, but will still work on it.
• I have read 15 minutes everyday but 1!

Reading

• Have 1 chapter left in Feminine Appeal

Projects

• We didn't get the garden planted because it's been so cold this week.
• Got a lot of wedding presents unpacked and worked on cleaning up my office. I will show pictures at the end of the month!

Homemaking

• I went to bed all but 1 night this week with no dirty dishes in the sink!
• I've done pretty well sticking to my menu, although my sweet hubby surprised me on Monday night by getting a gift card to Outback with his credit card rewards. It was a great date night!
• Work is going ok this week. I should have 20 hours done by tomorrow evening.

I love having the accountability of posting my goals and updating my progress! Be sure to head over to Which Proverbs 14:1 Woman? to see more Philippians 3:14 Friday posts.

Johnny Jump Up

Today I splurged and got a Johnny Jump Up for the little girl I take care of. She loves it and I love that she's "confined" and having fun at the same time!

She's so cute!

It's great for eating and sleeping too! LOL!

The Joy of the Lord

Today I am thankful for the joy of the Lord! I struggle with worry and stress. Not always with things in my own life, but stuff that my family and friends are going through as well. Here are two verses the Lord has been bringing to my mind the last few days:

Nehemiah 8:10
The joy of the Lord is your strength

Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore

• I am thankful for God's ever-present strength. I am so weak.
• I am thankful for the joy I have in my future with Christ.
• I am thankful for the joy that comes in knowing/remembering that the Lord is directing the path of my life (and the lives of my family and friends)!

Head over to Heavenly Homemakers to check out more Gratituesday posts!

Super Savings Saturday

Publix

• Whole Chicken
• Sweet Potatoes
• Bird's Eye frozen brussel sprouts
• McCormick pure vanilla extract
• Del Monte diced tomatoes
• Breakstones sour cream

Value $22.16

Sales & coupons $12.60

Total oop $9.56 (including tax)

Kroger

• Tortilla chips
• Paper towels
• All purpose flour (had a coupon, usually get at Aldi)
• Frank's hot sauce
• French Fried onions
• Luzianne tea bags
• 2 Sargento finishers
• Tennessee Pride sausage
• 4 (24oz) bags of shredded cheese
• Orange Juice
• Bell pepper
• Apples
• Bottled water

Value $70.24

Sales & coupons $27.11

Total oop $43.13 (including tax)

Aldi

• 10lb bag potatoes
• Zucchini
• Spinach
• Lemons
• Grapefruit
• Chocolate chips
• Soft tortillas
• Graham cracker pie crust
• Pepperoni
• Parsley flakes
• Paprika
• 2 cream cheese
• Sweetened condensed milk

Total oop $20.13 (including tax)

I'm pretty happy with my shopping trip this week. Lately I've been really pressuring myself to keep a $60 budget, but it hasn't been working. Alot of the things I got this week are the more expensive "brand," but it's what my hubby likes the best, and that's ok. What's the point for me to try to save so much money getting "cheaper" brands (or doing without) if my husband isn't going to be happy? I want him to enjoy his meals and snacks. I look at it as a way I can serve him. I know this point of view is not for everyone, but I think it's the best for my situation.

Be sure to stop by Money Saving Mom to see how other bloggers did this week!

Philippians 3:14 Friday

I am so excited to participate in Philippians 3:14 Fridays over at Which Proverbs 14:1 Woman! It's great accountability! I've actually never written down my goals (awful, I know!), so some may seem a little crazy, but I'll learn as I go.

My goals for April

Daily goals

• Spend time in God's Word. I would like to finish reading/studying Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians by the end of the month.
• Write down prayer requests that I come across on other blogs or hear at church so that I remember to pray for them daily.
• Take my vitamins everyday
• Exercise - workout at Curves 3-4 times/week, take a walk or bike ride on the other days
• Read at least 15 minutes/day

Reading

Finish reading:

• Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney
• A Wife After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George
• Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow

Projects

• Plant the garden (we're trying square foot gardening this year)
• Finish unpacking wedding gifts (now that I have shelves to put them on!)
• Clean up my office and spare bedroom. They are the catch-all rooms right now

Homemaking

• Wash all dirty dishes before going to bed each night (have done this successfully for a week and loved waking up to a clean kitchen!)
• Stick to my menu plan and weekly grocery budget
• Work 20+ hours/week (I work from home and have the hardest time getting in enough hours)
  

Well, that's all I can think of right now. I think these goals are pretty doable. Guess we'll see next week!

Things I Love Thursday - Road Trips

Last week I went on a road trip to South Carolina to visit family and one of my very good friends. I stayed in the dorm at the university I attended several years ago. Talk about lots of memories! I definitely don't miss dorm life although I do miss my friends! Here are a few pictures from my trip:

Me and my awesome friend Cassie. She was in my wedding last summer and I'm in her wedding this summer! We are kindred spirits!

This is me with my sister & her baby and a dear lady that was like a mom to us when we were at college away from home!

My FAVORITE road trip snack - Fritos (which are gluten-free! yay!) and Hershey's dark chocolate! I certainly needed something to keep me awake during the long drive home!

I thought the sunset was cool.

Even though I was only gone 1 night, it was a nice change of pace for me. I think it's good to get away sometimes to refocus on what's really important to us. I get in a rut a lot and forget to be thankful for the little things about home and my hubby. It was a great trip, but I'm so happy to be at home!

Be sure to stop by The Diaper Diaries to check out what other bloggers love!

Life today

I haven't been doing a whole lot today besides taking care of a darling (sometimes grumpy) 9 month old little girl. We have so much fun together! We made a fleece blanket today. It's a birthday gift for a 10 year old boy we know.

While I tied knots, little darling worked hard with the tape measure...

Then she decided she wanted to tie knots too...We made a great team! :)

Btw, the blanket was camo on one side and lime green on the other. Turned out very cute! Click here if you'd like to make one too!