Bounder

Chris has been working really hard on a new iPhone game and it just released. You can check out "Bounder" by Kaio on the App Store. There is a lite Christmas version that is free and the full version is $1.99. Here is the trailer on youtube

Often Requested

Here is another favorite in our family. This also makes 2 9x13 baking dishes. It freezes very well!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake

2 packages (6 ounces each) stuffing mix

1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1 cup milk

8 cups cubed cooked chicken

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3/4 pound sliced deli ham, cut into 1-inch strips

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese

3 cups (12 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

Prepare stuffing mixes according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine soup and milk; set aside.

Divide chicken between two greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dishes. Sprinkle with pepper. Layer with ham, Swiss cheese, 1 cup cheddar cheese, soup mixture and stuffing. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese.

Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Defrost frozen casserole overnight in fridge before using. Each casserole is 6 servings.

Yummy!

I know I should be posting about all the holiday baking I am doing, but I'm just not in the mood to bake and sweets don't sound good right now. Instead I will be sharing some of our families favorite mealtime recipes.

Cheeseburger 'N' Fries Casserole (makes 2 9x13 dishes)

4 pounds lean ground beef
2 cans cream soup
2 cans cheddar cheese soup
1 package onion soup mix
2 packaged (20 oz each) frozen crinkle-cut French Fries

In a skillet, brown the beef and drain. Stir in soups and soup mix. Pour half into a 9x13 baking dish. Top with 1 bag of French Fries. Bake uncovered at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until the fries are golden brown.

Pour remaining mixture into a gallon size freezer bag. Lay flat to freeze. When ready to use, thaw and cook as instructed above.

Addition

I know that most of you have read the news on facebook or heard it from us directly, but I thought it was only fitting to announce it here as well. That's right our family is growing again. We are happy to announce that we will be adding a new baby to our family this July. Our boys are very excited to have another sibling. I'm sure there will be plenty to update you on over the course of the next 7 months.

Thankfulness!

We have so much to be thankful for! We choose to take time and remember all that we have to thank God for. A few of the things that we praise God for are:

A family that serves God together!

Health

Our Home

A job

A Faithful God that provides!!!

As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, what are you thankful for?

Hello!

It has been so long since I have posted here. I have thought about many different things to blog about over the last 10 months, but life has just been too crazy. Hopefully I will be back to blogging more regularly soon. Until then.... enjoy your Thanksgiving!!!

Crock Pot Recipes

I love to use my crock pot. It is great on busy or cold days. There is nothing like the aroma of a homemade meal wafting through the air of your home, especially one that took very little effort on your part.

I am always looking for new crock pot recipes. Well, I was told about a wonderful blog devoted to crock pot recipes (Thanks Susan!) This lady decided to cook everything in her crock pot for an entire year (that was in 2008) and she is still going strong. I can't wait to try some of her recipes. You can check out her blog here.

Maybe someday soon I will share some of our families favorite crock pot recipes.

Grocery Shopping

Grocery Shopping is not one of those tasks that I enjoy. I do it because I have to. Now, I could wander around the grocery store for hours (especially in those specialty stores) and just look and take in all the new and strange items. I find it relaxing to just roam the store and dream of all the new recipes I could concoct with such great finds. Am I the only one that finds this fun? Please tell me that others find this therapeutic too!!!

I must make a list of meals that I am planning to prepare before I can make my grocery list. That way I know what items to put on my list. I have found that if I just go shopping without a list I come home with tons of groceries, but never seem to have all the ingredients to prepare an entire meal. How is it that with my pantry stocked to the gills that I can be missing an essential element to any recipe? I still don't understand how that happens. Well, it does.

Another problem with shopping is that I seem to back track in the store. As I double check my list before heading to the check out line I always find a few items that I forgot. I end up returning to parts of the store that I had just seen minutes before. Thankfully, I had them on my list though.

Well, I have found an answer to both those problems (thanks to my MIL, Bev). She told me about another professional organizers website. I found an excellent form for meal planning and my grocery list all in one place. I print out a bunch of these at one time so that I always have some on hand. They break down my list by types of foods/areas of the store. Now when I am in the produce section of the store I look at the produce section of my list. I rarely miss things on my list anymore. Try it for yourself and let me know how it works for you.

One benefit to menu planning and shopping using this list is that I don't purchase as many impulse items. Knowing that I have a specific meal plan gives me a sense of peace knowing that we will eat well and that I don't have to try and fill that void by picking up junk. In turn this saves us money.

You can find it under the Personal section of free forms. It is called Grocery List/Menu Planner

Adventures in a New Country

After a very long and tough year my father-in-law has a new job. This job is an answer to prayer. It is almost too good to be true. I say almost because the one drawback to the job is that he will be far away for an entire year. How far away? Half way across the world. That's right he will be in Abu Dhabi for the next year. He will be able to come home a couple times during the course of the year, but it will be tough for my mother-in-law and the rest of the family. The kids are use to seeing Grandpa everyday (they lived across the street from us, up until their recent move in Nov.). We are making great use of technology. Skype has become a new "friend" of ours.

They have only been in Abu Dhabi for a few days, but they are already recognizing what a blessing this job is from God. After hearing a few of their stories we are extremely excited to see how God will use them this year.

My father-in-law has started a blog to keep in touch with family and friends. If you would like to follow his journey here is his blog http://wakefulatmidnight.wordpress.com/ Please pray for the entire family as we all walk this new journey together!

Giveaway

Check out this great giveaway for a custom portable fabric highchair. This would be so much easier to carry around then a booster chair.

Before the Morning

I have heard this song a lot on the radio. It has wonderful lyrics. It serves as a great reminder to me as we endure these trying times. I pray that God will use these challenges to bring glory to himself. I know that I may never see the reason for trials here on earth, but someday I will see the big picture.

I am trying hard to focus on the many blessings that God has given me. I have so much to be thankful for. I am looking for the little things that bring joy. Even when it feels like life is falling apart I still have a reason to rejoice.

Before the Morning by Josh Wilson

Do you wonder why you have to
Feel the things that hurt you
If there’s a God who loves you where is He now

Maybe there are things you can’t see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending

Someday somehow you’ll see you’ll see

Would you dare would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
So hold on you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

My friend you know how this all ends
You know where you’re going
You just don’t know how you’ll get there
So say a prayer

And hold on cause there’s good for those who love God
But life is not a snapshot
It might take a little time but you’ll see the bigger picture

Once you feel the weight of glory
All your pain will fade to memory

It’s just the hurt before the healing
Oh the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning