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.
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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!

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