Rainy Days and Sunshine

It really feels like fall outside today, and I really like the feel of fall.  Cool days with no humidity; God revealing His joy through the leaves changing on the trees; the smell of football in the air; pulling out all my fall clothes that I haven't seen since last year; yes, fall is a beautiful season.

It's been a little drizzly; a little chilly; it's getting dark early; and my fam. has asked for soup for dinner!   It may be rainy outside but in my soup bowl tonight there will be sunshine.

While at lunch today we all discussed which soup they would like for me to make.  One thing I hoped would that it wouldn't be anything that would take hours to cook.  Harry, El Jefe, the picky one, named the soup ~ Santa Fe Chicken Stew & and it was a resounding YES from the other three!  (this is different from the Santa Fe soup that is in the Food for Thought cookbook by the Birmingham Jr. League.  Also a very wonderful soup.)

This soup is so easy I think Henry could make it by himself.  Even if you can't cook, I promise you can cook this.  Like so many of the recipes I have, it was given to me.  A friend of my sister-in-law, Sandy, printed a cookbook over 10 years ago, and Sandy made it while we were visiting on night & everyone raved about it.  I of course tweaked it a little & you know I don't measure anything so I'll be giving you guestimations on the recipe site. Know I've given you the minimum, but I never use the minimum.  ;)  For my crew I actually doubled the recipe.

This is a really pretty soup & is so yummy!  So the next time your family wants sunshine in a bowl, you should serve them this with a smile to match.

y'all be blessed beyond measure,
~ashley

Just Call me Nuts

Hey MOJ, I haven't posted in a while... 'tis the season.  I've been hauling children hither & yon since I last posted.  It's funny how I thought things would get easier when they all started big school.  Um, yeah, that's not true at all, I just don't have any down time with them any more.  Well, that's not totally true, I have a precious few hours each week. 

Of course, I'm going to use those hours to try & stuff some healthy food down their tummies, and have a little quality time before the MASSIVE amounts of studying must resume.  We're up to our ears in homework.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, my children are getting a wonderful education, I just don't know if I could graduate from my alma mater now.  They are learning stuff I learned in college...yikes.

Just now Hop left to go to Saturday morning workouts for football...it's 6:48 am on a Saturday.  It makes me sleepy.  Or sleepier anyway, especially during carpool...have you ever fallen asleep during carpool, I have, it's another story for another time, funny though.

I am always on the lookout for easy, healthy, and good things to cook.  I had a friend from church tell me the next time I go to Taziki's (it's a yummy Greek restaurant here) to get the Friday Special.  It's so popular it's served Friday-Sunday.  Well, I happened to be there on a Friday a few weeks ago & decide to take her advice & order it...I am sooo glad I did!  Can I tell you how wonderfully delicious it was?  Oh my, I could have eaten it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I dreamed about it & could taste it in my dream.

Last Wednesday rolls around, which is a down day for the fam.  (I say that very loosely, it's the closest thing we have to a down day...I know  lot of you can relate.)  I know what I'm making for dinner...you got it, the Friday special.  It's too good to have to wait until Friday to eat it.  While I was cooking the children kept coming in & asking what we were having, I told them it was happiness on a plate.  Of course they looked at me like I had lost my mind.  If I have, it's their fault.  :)

Can I tell you the Friday special looks pretty on a plate.  My mom always said presentation is important, and not only does this dish taste divine, it presents well.  My mom would be proud.  I received RAVE reviews from the FS.  I had it done in 30 minutes, it is a healthy meal, and all the children cleaned their plates (some went back for seconds), and they all asked me to cook it again.  We'll put the Friday Special in the W column, and I will do the Victory dance, which my children promptly tell me I look stupid doing & to please quit embarrassing them.  (that last part didn't happen, but it could have.)

I have made mental notes on how to make the Friday Special taste better, and it calls for planning ahead, but it will be worth it, but if I don't no biggie, it will still taste wonderful.  I am going to give you my tweaked version, but know it makes a lot.  Make sure you do your own victory dance when you're done too.  It's always fun to embarrass your children.  :)

Y'all be blessed beyond measure,
~ashley

running away

I almost didn't post this, but through the writing of it and studying God's word, I know I need to share it with someone who feels pressed in on every side.  His blessings, ~ashley

...First Day of School...First Day of School...First Day of School...

Well, there is silence in my house except for the Rick & Bubba Show playing in the background.  And you all know why...it's the first day of school.  And everyone breath in through the nose & out through your mouth. 

Did I take any pictures of my children this morning?  Nope...because I'm a total slacker.  My camera has had one too many drops and the battery latch will not stay closed.  I'm very sad about this, I love my camera.  It's been with me a long time.  I'm going to borrow Elizabeth's camera this afternoon & take pictures of all my kiddos.  So we'll have 'after the first day of school' pictures.  Better late than never right...?

All 4 of the little chicks reacted differently to school starting.  It was so funny to watch.  I have 2 of the 4 starting new schools, so there is a lot of excitement with beginning something new. 

Hop is a junior & finally getting to shed the underclassman status & for him it is refreshing.  He was up late last night & this morning getting his summer work completed.  I love it when he waits until the last minute to finish all his work, it's great.  NOT!  I keep thinking my little 4 year old buddy is going to come through the door, but instead a man comes through it.  Yes, I'm crying, my babies are growing too fast.

Harry, the picky one, is a freshman.  He doesn't realize that there is nothing lower than a freshman boy...unless you have a sibling that is an upperclassman.  Harry has no trepidation (aren't you proud of me for using a good vocab word?).  He really excited but too cool to show it.  He's going to love being in high school, and I'm excited for this next phase in his life.

Elizabeth is a hoot.  I'm dropping her off this morning for her first day of middle school. She takes a big deep breath, giggles a bit (which she does whenever she's nervous), throws me a huge smile, tells me she loves me & hops out of the car.  Her classes have started right now so I hope she's having fun!

Henry was cool as a cucumber.  It's our family's last year in elementary school, so no big deal for him this morning.  He's like a senior in high school.  He knows his way around, the complete drill & what's expected.  It's nice when that can happen.  He has some of his best buds in his class, and we have heard wonderful things about his teacher, so it's going to be a great year.

In honor of school starting today, I'm including one of my favorite all time commercials!  I try not to laugh every time I see it & fail miserably.  But it's ok, laughter is good for the spirit.  Since silence is reigning in my house after a summer & house full of children & noise, I need something.  Below I put part of the prayer I prayed for my children this morning & I'm praying it for your children as well.

Have a wonderful first day school & be blessed beyond measure,
~ashley

My prayer for my children and yours:
Dear Lord, I praise you for a wonderful refreshing summer for our children.  As they return to school help them to remember You.  Help them to know who they belong to & that You love them more than we do.  Help them to be a blessing to their teachers and friends.  Let them reflect Your love to everyone and to speak truth in love to all they come in contact with.  Lord we ask your protection over our children's hearts, their classrooms, and schools.  I pray against any attack of the enemy.  I stand against the enemy & command that he is not allowed in our schools because I pray the Blood of Jesus who covers us over our children.   Bless our teachers and administrators with Your wisdom.  Let Your peace fill our schools.  I humble myself to you Lord Jesus for our children.  If there are any who don't know you let our children show them Your love & tell them of Your great Name.  You are the I AM.  I praise You Lord!  In Jesus most precious Name, ~Amen.

So Proud of my Girl

This summer has been fun, fast, and is now coming to a close.  For me it's been especially fun because I have watched my sweet Elizabeth begin her journey in cooking. 

This has been the summer of homemade pizzas, and Elizabeth is the best at making one.  Her brothers, with their mouths full, will mumble that her pizzas are good.  From a boy that's a pretty high compliment.

Last night she made a full cake by herself.  I didn't even supervise...a little scary now that I think about it, but she did it beautifully!  (I can't bake so I'm pretty proud! and a little jealous.)

Tonight I'm letting her make dinner.  She learned how to poach chicken & why it's better to poach it than boil it.  I'm letting her choose the menu & she decided to make PoppySeed Chicken.  Hoppy will be excited, it's one of his favorite meals.  She is shredding, mixing, spreading & crumbling.  She has decided that broccoli will go great with our chicken.  I agree, so the picky one will be most upset that he will have green trees on his plate to eat.  (If he wants cake...he'll eat broccoli.)  The only part of cooking I don't think she's going to like very much is the clean-up.  Then again, I don't like the clean-up either.  (I think I'll be nice & help her with this part.  Misery loves company.)

I'm so proud of her.  I wish my mom & MeMaw were here so I could share this memory with them.  I know they would praise her accomplishments.  For those of us who cook a lot, PS Chicken and broccoli is a simple meal to prepare, but for someone who doesn't know how to cook, it's huge.  We've shared E's cooking ability with GiGi & Pop because they spent the night last night & were able to let Elizabeth know how much they loved her cake.  It's nice when people notice your hard work and let you know they appreciate you.

So today's post is for my girl...I'm so proud of her!  She makes my job as a mom easy.  :)

Y'all be blessed beyond measure,
~Elizabeth's very proud mommy ~ ashley