1-29-09

Well it has been a while since I have had anything to write on here. Mostly because my life is just not that exciting. I still haven't gotten caught back up since Christmas. Crazy isn't it.

Levi has a cold right now. I am amazed at the incredible amount of snot coming out of his nose. Right now it is just a cold and not too big a deal. Say lots of prayers that it doesn't get any worse.

Today is mine and Steven's fourth wedding anniversary. So in honor of the day here is layout I did with one of our engagement pics a while back. It has definitely been a crazy four years.


Well I better put this computer away. We are going to go to dinner this evening to celebrate our anniversary. Charleston's - yum!

Big Buck Contest

Yes that is right, I am here to tell you about a Big Buck contest. My friend Sarah's husband shot a really big buck the week of Thanksgiving. He is now in a Big Buck contest and needs lots of votes. So go here http://www.4are.com/bigbuck/index2.php?g2_itemId=7 and vote for Ashley's deer. You just click on the stars to vote. He will be so excited if he wins so please help him out! He is very proud of that deer.

Doctor Appointment and Recipe

Levi had a check-up yesterday with his pediatrician. Everything was just fine. He gained two pounds and grew an inch in the last three months. That hasn't happened for a very long time. I guess the new food he is on is really agreeing with me. So thankful for no news.

Here is a recipe I wanted to share with you. I found this in the little cookbook that came with my crock pot.

Corn and Beans

1 tbs olive oil

1 large onion, diced

1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, diced (I used 2, we like spicy)

1 clove of garlic, minced (bust out your Pampered Chef garlic press)

2 cans (16 oz) light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 bag (16 oz) frozen corn

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces

2 tsp chili powder

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp black pepper

Heat oil in medium skillet. Add onion jalapeno peppers and garlic. Cook 5 minutes or until onion begins to soften. Add all ingredients (including onion mixture) to crock-pot. Cover and cook on low 7 to 8 hours or on high 2 to 3 hours.

Yummy! And you gotta love a good crock pot recipe. We had this as a side dish last night with meatloaf. But it would be super yummy served over rice as a vegetarian main dish. It makes a bunch too so it would also make a great pot luck dish.

Omnipresence

I was just reading a passage in the Bible (yes I read it) that reminded me of the omnipresence (I know that is a big word, but I do know a couple of those) of God. I was reading 2 Kings 5. In this passage Elisha heals Naaman of leprosy. Naaman tries to give Elisha a gift in return but Elisha refuses. Gehazi, Elisha's little helper, decides to make up a story and get Naaman to give him the gift. But, Elisha knows what he did and confronts him. Gehazi lies and said he didn't do anything and Elisha curses him with Naaman's leprosy. I was reminded that God always knows what we are doing, saying, and even thinking. Do I always want Him know those things about me? I really didn't want Him to know last week when I was cranky and acted ugly to Steven, or the times I skipped my quiet time, or when I called that guy a name when he was driving stupidly on the highway. But God does know those things. (Whoops!) He is omnipresent, always there. This is something I need to remember next time I am in a bad mood, lazy, or irritable. Do I want God to know what I am doing, saying, and thinking during those times. Makes me stop and think. It also makes me thank God for mercy and forgiveness.

1-3-2008

Oh my head is still spinning from all the activity the last couple of weeks. Or maybe that is the head cold I have. Either way life has been busy.

Christmas was great this year. I don't have the finger strength to list out all the great things we received. Levi got tons of little outfits and diapers. You can never have too many diapers. Steven got enough Starbucks gift cards to last him the entire year. He also got a couple of games we can't wait to play, The Office trivia game and Star Wars Monopoly. Those could make for some fun family time around our house. A couple of my favorites are my Ott Lite and my new Viva Pinata game.

I went to Arkansas to see my family on Christmas Day. It was so good to see everyone. I had not been back since Levi was born. All the kids were so big and there were a few new ones (kids that is). Then Christmas night I took my nephew, Logan, to see Bedtime Stories. We had a great time and the movie was super cute. It had all the crazy Adam Sandler humor without the profanity or crude jokes that are in a lot of his movies. I totally recommend it.

Then of course I started coming down with something while I was there. So sure enough when I got home I started throwing up. So I was totally missing Levi and I had to steer clear of him until my stomach bug cleared up. As soon as I was better though I spent some time cuddling my little booger bear. He is such a good cuddler.

New Year's Day Steven stayed home with Levi and watched football while I went to Just 4 Keeps to scrapbook all day. (As well as scrapbooking with one of the ladies from my church on Friday night). Here are a few of the things I got done.

This is a layout I did from when my friend Sarah and her family came up right before Thanksgiving. Her daughter Hannah was so sweet with Levi. She was like a little mama. The journaling on the layout reads "Hannah would have taken care of Levi all day. She would talk to him, cuddle him, and give him little kisses on his head. When she wasn't holding him she would make sure to go check on him in his room every few minutes. It was so sweet."


Here is one of the birthday cars I made. I got all my cards done for January, so now I just need to remember to send them out on time.


This is the calendar I made to hang in our kitchen. The wording on the top reads "Lucky to have each other."

Well that is just a few of the things we have been up to lately. So much for starting off 2009 at a slower pace than 2008.

Hope your New Year has started off great.