31 October 2008

Boo Ya-to You!

Happy Day to all of you! For tonight's football game, the band gets to dress up. I took Rachel to the band hall a few minutes ago and the costumes just blew me away, and not in a good way! I am so thankful that Rachel and a good friend decided to go as Powder Puff Football girls. I had so much fun helping her with her makeup and glitter and fake eyelashes that dinner completely slipped my mind! Oiy! Come on halftime!

Look out team, here I come!


Let me wow you with my eyelashes!


They glow in the dark, oh yes they do! Too cool!
(I just hope that we can take these things off before tomorrow's first basketball game!)


I talked her into a fake tattoo. This was a sticker from Guitar Hero, not a self portrait of mom!


It was Super Hero Day at school yesterday for Hannah:

She was Bat-girl! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-bat girl!


Me, I'm going as a tired college student, just kidding! I think I'll catch the half time band show and then work on a few papers in between answering the door to little trick or treaters.

Did any of ya'll see the Regis and Kelli show today? The roller coaster girls were hilarious!!!


Joyfully,
Kristi



30 October 2008

Boo Mama's Souptacular Crockpotalooza!!!

Souptacular08





Ooooh! I am so excited about this!
With my busy schedule, I use my Crock Pot at least 2 times a week. Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you enjoy our family favorites:

Crock Pot Fajitas
1 small arm roast
1 1/4 C dried pinto beans (rinsed but not soaked)
1 chopped onion
1 can chopped green chilies
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 cans Rotel
1/2 C water
2 t chili powder
1 t cumin
garlic salt and pepper


I use those handy dandy crock pot liners for easy clean up. Place a layer of spices on the bottom. Put in roast and sprinkle with more of the spices. Layer beans, onion, and green chilis. Add soup and Rotel. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours. I just shred the meat and serve with tortillas, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, etc. So delicious and so easy!


Chicken Tortilla Soup
from Fix-it-and-Forget-It-Lightly
4 uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 15 oz can black beans undrained
2 15 oz cans Rotel
1 C salsa
14 oz can Tomato Sauce
Cheddar Cheese
Tortilla Chips
Combine all ingredients except for cheese and tortilla chips in your crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Just before serving, remove the chicken breasts and cut into bite size pieces and stir into soup. To serve: add a handful of tortilla chips in each bowl, ladle soup over chips and top with cheese. Enjoy!

Continental Chicken in the Crock Pot
1 2 1/4 oz package of dried beef

4-6 Whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 10 oz can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1/4 C sour cream

Place a layer of dried beef on the bottom of the crock pot. Wrap each chicken breast w/ beef. Mix the soup and sour cream together and pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. You can also use halved chicken breasts if you don't want larger portions. It's easy and elegant at the same time.




Blue Cheese Pork Chops by Dortheri Lenay Bolden
Pork Chops (I like the boneless, thin ones)

Bottle of Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

Two ingredients, what could be simpler? In a crock-pot, place pork chops and season to taste. Pour blue cheese dressing over the top. Place lid on top, set crock-pot to low and cook for 6-8 hours or so, until done. Enjoy!

For more Soup and Crock Pot Recipes, please visit BooMama for more spectacular recipes!
Joyfully,
Kristi

29 October 2008

Word Filled Wednesday-I have been approved!

I am so excited!!!! I petitioned the School of Education to waive my student teaching in the spring because of the blessing that I had in teaching as a long term substitute teacher for the 2005-2006 school year. My petition has been in the School of Education since May! My whole family has been praying and I have tried to patiently wait; I call patience the "p" word--it's not my favorite fruit of the Spirit because I clearly still have issues.

Anyway, in the mail today I received a letter from the School of Education with the words "Student Petition regarding waiving student teaching...Approved." Hallelujah! God did it! I didn't know whether to cry or throw up. I almost did both. I had to read the letter twice to make sure that it was real.

It didn't look at all like I had imagined it. I guess the plane with the large billboard sign flying behind it wouldn't fit into a tiny envelope, and I didn't hear the Hallelujah chorus when I opened the envelope but I did squeal with delight!

God heard the cry of my heart and He did it! What man thinks is impossible, nothing is impossible with God! I will graduate on May 9th! Can you believe it? I have to say it again...I will graduate on May 9th. (The tears are pouring down my face now. My heart is flooded with gratitude to God for placing this calling on my life, for providing the energy, strength, the courage to step out in faith, and boldness to press through my fears. He is awesome!)

I am just beside myself with awe and praise of a Mighty God who cares about every detail in our lives. He is so worthy to be praised!

Joyfully,
Kristi

For more Word Filled Wednesdays, please visit my friends at the 160acre woods.

28 October 2008

Tackling the Giant Lantanas!

I did it! I tackled my Lantanas. Rumor has it that they can grow to be 6 feet tall. Guess what? Mine were well on their way. I really like Lantana. They are hardy in our Texas summers, have beautiful yellow blooms, and well....they just look nice in my garden. Trouble with Lantana is that they will become wildly out of control when you aren't paying attention. (I think this could be a spiritual analogy, don't you?)

I have had so much fun with my vegetable garden that I neglected the plants in my front flower beds. They were getting so tall, that I expected them to ring the doorbell and say, "Remember us? We have taken over the outside of your house and we need more room. May we come in?"

This time of year my allergies get the best of me whenever I work in the yard. Since I didn't have to sing a solo in church or anything I was willing to risk a few 100 hives.

I started pruning, and pruning, and pruning. I pruned back my Lantanas, hawthorns, mums, salvia, and my palm tree. I pruned until way after dark. I tried to bag what I could, but then I gave up and filled the back of Mr. Incredible, I mean Buzz's, truck. He was out of town, yet again, and missed all of the excitement. I completely filled the dumpster with all of my hard work. Here are a few pictures. (I'm sorry that they are not the greatest. Apparently, I lost all feeling in my arms and couldn't hold the camera steady but it was worth it!)

Here are my enormous Lantana plants:


Look! There is a large boulder in my flower bed that I hadn't seen since last year!




Look at the truck!






And now for the afters:


There really is a boulder! I just adore pansies! They are my favorite flowers to plant. They bloom under the harsh temperatures of winter and they look so cheerful despite their surroundings. (Hmm, another spiritual analogy, I think.)




Even the guard cats like the new look! What are you tackling today?


Tackle It Tuesday Meme

26 October 2008

Menu Monday 10/27/08



I can't believe this is the last Monday in October! It is starting to feel a little bit like Fall around here. I see the first few leaves in our beautiful Red Oak trees starting to change colors and I like it. Here is my Menu for the week:

Monday:
Tortilla Soup after Pee Wee Cheerleading

Tuesday:
Taco Tuesday after another Pee Wee Cheerleading Game


Wednesday:
Baked Potato Soup

Thursday:
Pesto Chicken

Friday:
Spooky Pizza Night


24 October 2008

Boo-ya!

And the winner of the ornament is.............Brenda @ Queen of Good Intentions! Woo Hoo!!!

(please, send your address info to me)




Have you been Boo-ed? It is sooooooooo much fun!
Rumor has it, we may have started a fun, new tradition in our community
but, don't tell anyone!

You can find out more information here.
I found my supplies at Target.

Monday night, while it was still dark, my family and I headed out the door with these goodies:

We picked five of our most favorite families to Boo!
We stopped at my parents house first.
Mr. Incredible was the official driver. I was the navigator
and Rachel and Hannah were the secret deliverers.

We pulled up to my parent's house, Rachel jumped out of the car, flashlight in hand, ran to the door, rang the door bell, and raced back to the car...which was locked. She was screaming, "Let me in!" We quickly unlocked the door and sped out of their driveway. As we were leaving we all screamed "Boo-ya!" I'm not sure why, but it sounded cool. Nothing says family bonding like booing your neighbors!

We stopped at 4 more houses, the girls even begged me to make one drop off. I heard giggles as I ran for the car...lovely sight I'm sure. I have to admit, it is quite an adrenaline rush. I think we may have a new fall tradition.

It is a fun way to bless your friends and family.

I've heard rumors about other people that are now playing along. This thrills me because it is a blast! Try it once and you will be hooked too! But, you have to scream "Boo-ya!" when you get back into the car, just for me. Have a blessed weekend!



Joyfully,

Kristi

23 October 2008

Awesome Salvation Experiment!

Happy Thankful Thursday to you! I have been anxiously waiting all week to share this with you. I told you about our new children's ministry at church a few weeks ago. It's called Elevate and we use the ingenious curriculum from Ed Young Ministry.

I had six first and second graders this past Sunday and wow did we have the coolest of cool experiments. It is by far one of the neatest ways to teach children about salvation that I have ever seen. All six were wide eyed and amazed. I hope that they remember this forever, I know that I will. I had goosebumps upon goosebumps sharing it with them. I wanted to share it with all of you. Please, share this with children that you know! It is life changing!

Okay, you need 4 containers. I used 3 small mason jars and one clear vase. Fill one jar and one vase halfway with water. Label the jar with water: "Adam & Eve" and the vase should be labeled "Us." The second jar should be labeled "Sin" and be filled to the halfway point with Iodine. The third jar should be filled to the halfway mark with bleach and be labeled "Jesus." Here are pictures of the jars and vase:








I asked the children who was the first man and woman...they lived in the Garden of Eden? Adam & Eve...right! We talked about how the devil came into the picture in the form of a serpent and tempted Eve to sin. (I ask them if they know what sin is...can they give an example of sin...etc.) This is what happened to their life (which was pure and clean before) when they decided to sin:


(Pour the "sin" into the "Adam and Eve" jar.)

Because they decided to disobey God and sin, this is what their lives look like now:

Their lives are full of sin, not pure and clean anymore. Because we came after Adam and Eve, in essence we are their children, our lives are full of sin too. (Pour the contents from the Adam and Eve jar into the "us" vase).


Our lives are not clean or pure because we sin too. Ask the children what sins they have done before. (One little boy said he sinned because he poked his brother in the eye when his mom told him not to do it, even though his brother deserved it.)


Then we talked about how we want our lives to look like Jesus. We want to be pure and clean, just like Him. Compare the "Us" vase with the "Jesus" jar. They are different. Jesus was without sin.
I reminded them that Jesus is God's Son and that "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
We talked about Jesus dying on the cross and that he didn't stay in the grave because He rose again in 3 days. If we admit that we have sinned, believe that He is God's Son and that He died and rose again to save us from our sins, and then if we choose to ask Him to forgive us and be our Savior, then He comes into our hearts, our lives. When Jesus comes into our hearts, we are clean again because we are forgiven. (Pour the contents of the "Jesus" jar into the "us" vase and watch what happens!)


Immediately, there is a visible change and that is how our lives look when we ask Jesus to be our Savior and to forgive us for our sins.

We look pure and clean, just like Jesus!

I have goosebumps all over again, just from looking at these pictures. I talked about the experiment in more detail and they had questions. It was one of those days where you just know that you are right where God wants you to be and you are joining Him in something too incredible for words.

My oldest nephew is still asking questions about becoming a Christian. He is so close!!! I told Mr. Incredible that I wished A had come to church with us. I wanted him to see this. Guess what? They met us for lunch and after lunch, Aunt Kiki got to show him the experiment from the back of her suburban! He was amazed by it too. I keep praying for that glorious day when I can call my little nephew my brother in Christ. We have been praying for this day since the day that He was born.

I hope you enjoyed this awesome visual. I didn't come up with it, but I just knew that I had to share it with all of you. Isn't it the coolest?

Joyfully,

Kristi

22 October 2008

Word Filled Wednesday 10/22/08


Here is another shot from our fun evening at the corn maze and pumpkin patch that I talked about in yesterday's post.
Here are my daughters Rachel and Hannah with Caroline in the middle. She is a sweet friend and like a sister to my girls. She and Rachel have been best friends since preschool days. Hannah loves her too. We had fun surprising Caroline with our extra ticket to the Hannah Montana concert in January. She was ecstatic.
I thought of this verse when I took this picture. "A friend loves at all times" Proverbs 17:17.
Joyfully,
Kristi
For more inspiration please visit my friends. DON'T FORGET: to enter for my 100th post giveaway. Click here for more information.

21 October 2008

Tackling...Fun!

This weekend, after all the craziness ended, we tackled some well needed fun! We headed to a brand new farm with our youth group and college kids. Here is the group:





My girls with their BFF Caroline. Rachel and Caroline have been friends since preschool days. She is like a sister to my girls. We love you, sweet Caroline!
We brought flashlights so that we could conquer one of the 12 acre mazes. The trail we chose was an hour long, but being the overachievers that we are, we finished it in 30 minutes. But, we aren't competitive or anything! Take that maze...conquered in 30 minutes flat!

Here are the brave trail blazers!



Didn't God paint a beautiful sunset in the corn maze? Absolutely stunning!

Nothing says stress reliever like blasting corn from a cannon:

Ready? Aim? Fire!



Oh, the fun I could have if these came in purse sizes.
Can you imagine?...You encounter a little stress in your day...reach into your purse and pull out one of these babies... blasto...then no more stress...just giggles...and corn kernels flying through the air at lightening speed. Oh, I'm kidding.

More pictures from the maze. The sunsets were too beautiful to miss!

The farm had a GIANT slide. It was a blast! They gave you burlap sacks to slide on...Here are the girls getting ready. I can only see Caroline's legs.

Race you to the bottom!


I raced Mr. Incredible down the slide too...yes I won! Of course! Not that I am competitive or anything. Woo Hoo!!!! Race ya again?

Here are a few more pictures of all of the gorgeous pumpkins, mums and gourds.

Aren't these pumpkins unique? They almost looked fake. I want to plant some in my garden next year! They are so cool!

I think we have a new tradition. We can't wait to go back!

Joyfully,

Kristi

P.S. DON'T FORGET: Enter my giveaway in order to win a special prize in honor of my 100th post! The winner will be announced this Friday!

Tackle It Tuesday Meme