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MY GOD LOVES ME

"Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead..."
This morning, I watched Church of the Highlands online and one of the worship songs had this line in it. It is one of my favorites. My Jesus, my precious Savior, came from Heaven to be a man and died to save me from the sin that is in me. Now, when God looks down on me, He sees Jesus. I am made perfect through Him. Because of His love, I long to be more like Him, to have His love shine through me to others. I can now truly live in the freedom He has given me. I don't have to hold on to any of my baggage, any mistake, any shame, any regret. I can let it go. I can live and be happy where I am because He loves me and has brought me to this amazing place with my family. He has made everything good because He loves me.
MY GOD LOVES ME. He sent his Son to die for me. His ONLY Son. I am not sure I could let Ryder go. I KNOW I couldn't SEND Ryder to do that. I am forever thankful for that sacrifice. For the pain and suffering that Jesus went through so that I could have the chance to live eternally with Him.
My goal is to live each day for Christ...to live everyday so that people may have a glimpse of Christ's love through my actions...

An Oreo Treat

What's better than a homemade chocolate chip cookie? What's better than an Oreo? AN OREO STUFFED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE!
Recently, I've really got into the homemaker role. I love to cook, bake, and use my crock pot. So, I've decided to share those recipes with you as I try them out.

1c softened butter
3/4c light brown sugar
1 c granulated sugar (I use granulated Splenda)
2 large eggs
1 T pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 c flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
10 oz chocolate chips
1 pkg Double Stuffed Oreos


-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-cream butter and sugars together until well combined
-add eggs and vanilla
-In seperate bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda.
-slowly add flour mixture to sugar mixture, making sure it is well incorporated before adding more.
-Using a cookie scoop, for cookie dough balls.
-place an oreo in between two dough balls and seal it.
-place on parchment paper on a cookie sheet
-Bake for 13 minutes

HOW EASY IS THAT! I'm sure it would be easier to use a pre-made cookie dough, but it just isn't as fulfilling. I love knowing that I made every single bit of what ever it is I am cooking. And I love knowing my husband loves it, too....Awww, I love being a stay at home mom:)

The Best Chicken N Dumplins Ever

I made this for Pat two nights ago and it was probably some of the BEST and easiest chicken and dumplings I've ever had--yes...better than Cracker Barrel. And it is another no mess, no fuss, no touch, crock pot dinner...What could be better?

Chicken and Dumplings
4 boneless/skinless chicken breast
2 T butter (we used 4T)
2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
1 can chicken broth
1 onion-diced
4 Grands Flaky Biscuits


-Place chicken in Crock pot
-Add butter, cream of chicken soup, broth, and onion (season with salt and pepper)
-Cook on high 4-6 hours
-Cut biscuits into 9 pieces and add 30 minutes before serving


**throughout the cooking time, I kept adding a 'Beer Can Chicken' seasoning that add a little extra flavor to the dinner...I highly recommend doing that**

I served it with sauteed spinach, salad, and brown rice. It was reasonably healthy and we have left overs for later:)

No Mess, No Fuss, No Touch Dinner

I love my crock pot...FYI:)
Chicken Taco Chili


1 onion-chopped
1-16 oz can black beans -drained
1- 16oz can kidney beans-drained
small can of green chilis
1-8oz can tomato sauce
10 oz package frozen corn
28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 packet taco seasoning (can use 1 1/2)
1T cumin
1T chili powder (I used a lot because we like spice)
3 boneless/skinless chicken breast


1. Combine all ingredients in crock pot
2. Place chicken on top (place it in frozen)
3. Cook on high for 6 hours OR low for 10 hours
4. 30 minutes before serving, remove and shred chicken with 2 forks and then stir back in to mixture.

Pat and I loved this! And we had enough left over to freeze to have later--2 servings (for the both of us) worth

"102 Minutes that Changed America"

Yesterday, Lifetime (and all of it's affiliated channels) aired a program documenting the events of 9/11. I didn't get to watch it yesterday, but we recorded it. Today, while Ryder took an especially long nap, I watched it. I haven't finished it because I couldn't. I was in 9th grade and remember sitting in Spanish class when everything began.
I didn't think I would get so emotional...but I did. Watching the smoke billowing out of the towers was absolutely horrible. I kept thinking about how horrifying it was for those poor people trapped inside. I listened to the emergency dispatchers talking to people over the phone, telling them NOT to evacuate. I can only imagine their frustration, their horror in what was going on. Knowing now, what they didn't know, what NOBODY knew, I want to go back in time and evacuate the entire buildings 30 minutes before the first plane hit. I want to tell the people on all 3 planes NOT to get on. I want to take those men and shake them, HARD. I have so much anger and I was not directly affected by them. I didn't know anyone on the flights or in the planes but this is my country, this is my home. They took something from us. They took security and safety. They took innocent lives...we can't get that back.
I had to change the channel right after they showed the explosion of the second plane hitting Tower 1. Even though I know the ending of the story, I couldn't handle it. What really sent me over was watching the people jumping out of the buildings and falling through the air. I cannot begin to imagine their desperation. How bad it must have been where they were to decide that a fall like that - the anticipation, pain, fear of the fall- was better than what they were going through. And it wasn't just one person...I guess we'll never know how many there were.
I've been thinking about what I would do and how I would feel. And it TERRIFIES me. What about my family? My friends?
I know God has a handle on everything, and, even though we feel like things are out of control, He has won the war against evil, we just have to wait until He comes back.
Still, my heart breaks and tears are falling.

Cookies and SOY Milk

All last week, since I have been back from Birmingham, I've been searching for recipes and writing them in a spiral notebook. Pat and I sat down, picked out 7 meals for dinners this week and 1 treat for him to spread out and take to work or eat for dessert. He picked a chocolate-oatmeal-toffee cookie (the original recipe calls for nuts and dried cherries but Pat didn't want those-I recommend putting them in) They were absolutely delicious and they only took 10 minutes to bake! (Prep time was about 10 minutes, too)
I've been drinking more soy milk lately (gotta support the family farming haha) It is absolutely delicious-the vanilla one not the plain-Pat won't drink it because it looks funny. Well, it was DELCIOSO with the cookies.
Anyway, here is the recipe for the cookies (the original one. You can play with it however you want)
Oatmeal Cookies with Toffee, Dried Cherries, and Nuts
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1 c butter (room temperature)
3/4 c granulated sugar
3/4 c light brown sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla extract
1 1/2 c oatmeal
1 c dried cherries
1 c milk chocolate chips
1 c toffee pieces
OPTIONAL ITEMS TO ADD
1/2 c coconut
1 c walnuts


1. Preheat to 350 degrees.
2. Sift together flour and baking soda.
3. Cream butter and sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add egg and mix on high until completely incorporated.
5. Add vanilla.
6. Add flour mix a little at a time, being sure to completely mix before adding each time on a low speed.
7.Mix in oatmeal, toffee, chocolate chips, etc
8.Use an ice cream scoop and place balls on greased cookie sheet.
9. Bake for 8-10 minutes