Reveling in...

the fact that around this time three years ago my beloved husband took me on our first date.  Little did I know that our date was a life-changing event taking place.  Yet, it has led me to where I am right now. 

First of all, let me clarify the definition I am using of "reveling" or "revel," and how I am applying it to our lives.  I found and liked these definitions best (it can be used as a verb or a noun).

So, when I say I am reveling in the fact that three years ago I started to date my husband, I am using the verb form of the word.  Therefore, I am taking much pleasure in it/delighting in it.  The timing of it, and the memories that come from that date are and always will be precious to me.  To bad I was not a faithful photographer then, otherwise I could possibly insert a picture from that day here.  Oh well, I won't let it hold back my reveling.  

I remember when I added the word "revel" to my vocabulary.  I had heard it and read it before, but never used it until  I was a camp counselor at an all girls camp known as Camp Desoto.  One of our camp directors used it in a small devotion right after we finished line dancing.  (Line dancing is a must at Desoto).  She said, "Do you know what I see when I look at this gym filled with girls line dancing and singing at the top of their lungs?  I see them reveling in friendships, in life, and this world that God has created."  Those aren't her exact words, but you get the idea.  Do you remember that Emily?  Anyway, her saying that has stuck with me throughout the years.  I like the thought of reveling in life, in friendships, and in this world that our loving Heavenly Father created.  

This time off from school, work, and a hectic schedule has been refreshing.  However, I will be honest.  I have not started reveling in this new season until very recently.  I cried buckets of tears the first couple of weeks of my "new life".  Slowly, I have come to the realization that because I went on that first date with Casey, and am now married to him, naturally my life is going to look different from the way I have always planned it.  I know that sounds like a basic concept, but boy has it been a toughy for me to swallow.  All this to say, currently, I am learning that it is completely acceptable to change plans and make different decisions from ones I had orginally made.

What am I reveling in right now?  Homemade bread.  Well, breadmaker bread. (I inherited the breadmaker from a friend - thanks Marianna!)  Close enough, right?  I am thankful to have the time to play around with different recipes, and to have plenty of room for mistakes.  I love the way bread smells while it is baking - to me it is the ultimate "homey" smell.

Casey is reveling in it too.

This is the conclusion of this post, but not the conclusion of my reveling!

(I hope I didn't wear out the word revel.)

This weekend...

We spent some quality time with Nanny and Papa.  The weather was beautiful! 

This was my view from the porch swing.  I read my book all day while Casey labored away tirelessly in the yard.



Hope you all enjoyed a lovely weekend too!

We went walking in the River

The Mississippi River that is.  We actually went back in November with my family, and I have been meaning to post these pictures for quite some time.  True to my title, we really did walk in the river.  It was so low that you could see and walk for miles.  It looked and felt like we were strolling in a desert.  It was amazing!  

These first two were taken from the top of the lookout tower, before we started walking in the river. 

There should be water there...

Casey was excited to explore.

So was Mom - she actually came out here before any of us did because she brought her second grade class.  Pretty cool field trip if you ask me!

 There was lots of driftwood, and many large trees were down.  Who knew?  Until the water went down...

I think these next few pictures are neat.  We found a turtle trail.  He or she had traveled all the way from the water to the riverbank.  It was as if he/she sensed that if they stopped somewhere in the middle of the sand they were not safe.  As if the land they were walking on wasn't really supposed to be land.  The turtle couldn't have bee more correct - God really knew what He was doing when he created all things living didn't He...   

Here it looks as if the turtle got a little turned around.

After walking for awhile we finally made it to the water.

Dad, my brother Aaron, and Casey.

Check out what was behind me.

That's right a huge wall of sand, or a drop off rather. 

Here is another angle of the drop off.

Aaron and Casey acting as though they are going to fall in and Dad taking a picture of me and Mom.

Here comes Stephen.

Steve and Case.

The lone ranger.

Sibling shot.

I enjoyed playing around with my shadow.  It was late in the afternoon, hence the long shadows.

Casey had fun picking up coal that had fallen off the barges.

And that's the end of this adventure! 

Hearts full of Love

Valentine's Day has always been a fun day of the year to me.  I thoroughly enjoy all of the red, pink, and white hearts that pop up all over.  Growing up, we woke up to "heart happies" on our plates at the breakfast table every time February 14th rolled around.  Also, my friends and I exchanged Valentine's every year.  I felt the love all day and always.  One year when I was in tenth grade, my high school (band? student council? I can't remember...) decided to sell red roses that would be delivered to you in class at some point during the school day.  So, one of my girlfriends and I decided to buy and send a rose to each other, but sign the card "from your secret admirer."  It was fun, because several guys we had crushes on asked us who our roses were from.  They were certainly very curious, and we couldn't have been more secretly pleased.  Of course, our lips were sealed!  We were such fifteen year olds, and we were totally going for that reaction.

However, the past few years of Valentine Day's have been some of my favorite because of a certain someone.  Cheesy, cheesy, I know - but alas it is true.  This year marks the fourth year that I have shared Valentine's day with Casey in some way.
1st year - we had just started hanging out and had been on a couple of dates.
2nd year - we were officially dating with the intentions of marriage.
3rd year - we were engaged and counting down the days till June 5th!
4th year - (this year) we are married and cannot believe how fast the time flies.

He went with the classic red roses.     

I have really enjoyed them being on the table.

         He was also very sweet and surprised me with the complete movie set of  Anne of Green Gables.  I was thrilled!  He gave it to me on Saturday, so you can just guess what we did all weekend.  It was important to me that Casey be redeemed as soon as possible from never seeing them.  When we finished watching them I turned to him with a big smile and said, "Now your life is complete."

Moving on...Have you ever heard of this book?

We received it from Casey's parents as a Christmas present.  We read it before bed, and have found that there are countless ways to address love.  We already knew that, but it is neat to see love be put into different words each day.  After all, love is the root of everything.  That makes sense, since our Creator IS love.  So far, we have fallen behind every week, but they are so short that it is easy to double up and catch up.  We realize it is only February, but we hope to read it all the way through till December.  It is well worth a few minutes of every day.

Healthier Slow-Cooker Tortilla Soup

Well, I did it again.  I went in search of a healthy, easy, tasty, recipe on allrecipes.com.  This is what I found...and this is what we had for supper last night.

I have never made chicken tortilla soup, so I really don't have any other recipe to compare it to. However, in my book it really is simple to put together.  You literally, chop, pour, and sprinkle everything in the crockpot, and let it cook for 6-8 hours.  Then, because it has been cooking all day, the savory aromas meet your husband at the door when he arrives home from work.  It's the best!

The tortillas baked until they were crispy...

and then went into the soup - yum!

Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1 15 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed

1 10 ounce can enchilada sauce

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cubanelle peppers, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups water

1 (14.5 ounce) can reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 bay leaf

1 10 ounce package frozen corn

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

7 corn tortillas

vegetable cooking spray

Suggested toppings: sliced radishes, diced avocado, sliced bell peppers, fresh cilantro

Directions:

1. Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, cubanelle peppers, and garlic into a slow cooker.  Pour in water and chicken broth, and season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf.  Stir in corn and cilantro.  Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

3. Lightly coat both sides of tortillas with cooking spray.  Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet. 

4. Bake in preheated oven until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes.  To serve, sprinkle tortilla strips over soup.  Pass bowls of toppings.

My modifications:

- Used 1 can of tomato basil diced tomatoes

- Used green onions instead of a regular white or sweet onion

- Used garlic powder instead of minced garlid

- Used mini red, yellow, and orange bell peppers instead of cubanelle peppers

- Left out the cumin (did not have any)

- Left out the cilantro (did not have any)



Happy soup eating!

Baby Boy shower

Yesterday, three of my friends and I gave a diaper shower for my former (female) RUF intern.  RUF is the campus ministry that Casey and I were a part of during our time at Southern Miss.  Now, Rebecca is expecting her second child, and she had a shower for the first child (a girl). BUT I secretly just wanted an excuse to get a bunch of friends together.  So, between four us, we pulled it off with success! 

Elizabeth was one of the hostesses and graciously offered to have it at her house.  She is an interior designer and her house is adorable/funky/welcoming.  It was perfect.  

Here is a shot of the living room.  We added extra chairs.

Mason jars...

Here is the table minus two dishes that were still in the works.

Close-up of the tulips and golden rod Elizabeth found at Wal-Mart.

      

This was one of Marianna's (hostess) contributions.  Lemon bars made from scratch!  I'm asking for the recipe.

 The dip was one of my contributions.

And the cupcake/pastry creation was one of Elizabeth's.  They were so chocolatey and good!

Two more shots of the table.  Did I take too many of the table? I liked all the different angles.

I wish I had taken a picutre of the colorful fruit tray Kelsey (hostess) did.  It was a hit.

We served punch, water, and coffee.

See the diaper cake Marianna and I made.

We learned that Target brand diapers are both way cuter and less expensive than regular ones.  That was a tip from the guest of honor herself.

And of course, there is a picture of the four of us + Rebecca on everyone else's camera except mine. Fail.  I will do better next time as far as group shots are concerned.

We had a blast and we love you Rebecca!