Beef Fajita Soup

I made this for dinner the other night and it was liked by all! I threw everything in a ziplock bag and put it in the freezer, then, I thawed it out and threw it in the crockpot to cook for the whole day. I served it with cornbread. Very yummy! For the beans, I actually soaked dry beans and then just used 2 cups of each kind (rather than the canned ones called for in the recipe)

Beef Fajita Soup
1-2 lbs stew meat
1 can (15oz) each pinto beans and black beans, drained
1 can (14.5oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (14.5oz) beef broth (I used 2 cups of water and 2 bouillon cubes)
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped (or 1/4 cup dried onion)
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp black pepper

Put all in crockpot and cook all day until everything is tender and meat breaks up. I let the kids put sour cream and cheese on top of theirs, but it was just as good without that.

Enjoy!

We did it!!!!

We survived our first deployment!! Woohooo!!! Praise God He saw us through this....none of us could have done it without His mercy and grace each and every day!!!!!!!!! Plus LOTS of good friends that He set about us! :)

And yes, the quilt got done, thanks to loyal friend K, that came and helped me finish handstitching the binding!! Whaddya think?


And why, you now ask, am I on here at 8:17 in the morning instead of snuggling in this cozy nest? Well, the chapel staff told him he needed to report in (at 7:30 am) to get all of his paperwork out of the way (well, that does include reimbursements and other allotments) and then he's off to enjoy a month at home with us. Hoping that will be enough time to catch up on 7 months apart!! :) At least we got to enjoy a quiet morning together like we had before he left. Finally, someone to share coffee with!!! :) And yes, we had homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast!!! Frozen, then thawed and rose overnight, to be cooked fresh this morning. Yum!! :)

Want some ketchup?

Today a friend of mine reminded me of that old ketchup commercial with the girl holding a bottle of ketchup upsided down and waiting. Wasn't the jingle, "Anticipa-a-tion is making me wait." I don't know....the curls sometimes tumble things together.

Anyway, the wait is tough right now. We both thought he would be home today, but didn't hear anything definite, until today, when he called to say that he should be home.....Monday. *sigh* A few days ago I wished I had more time because there was so much to do, and now, I really don't care about any of that stuff....I just want my guy home. Really, if he had walked in this morning just after I got up, with me in his sweats (ugh! I just about never wear sweats!) and my hair still all scary and wild and dishes on the counter, I really wouldn't have cared, even after all that dreaming of looking and being stunning for him.....when it comes right down to it, none of that external stuff really matters......our hearts just need to be back together again; I need my bestest buddy back by my side.

Shouldn't it be easier now that it's only a couple of days rather than 6 or 7 months? I am trying REALLY hard not to be impatient......but golly it will be so good to wrap my arms around that big strong man of mine!!!!

For your viewing pleasure (or means to hysterical laughter), I present.....Us! 14 years ago this December!

And just so you know, I did have shoes one when I got married, however there was no film in the camera....which we didn't discover until after. I requested that they not get my feet in the picture as they were sore from wearing the shoes.....and the rest, as they say, is history!

Feasting on the Word

Here's what I was feasting on this morning. This alone is what keeps me going day to day!
Lamentations 3:21-25
21But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation: 22It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.23They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. 24The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.25The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word].
Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I do not change [[Yes!!! ooo...sorry, couldn't help myself! I just love that thought!!!!!]]; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Isaiah 33:2
O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited [expectantly] for You. Be the arm [of Your servants--their strength and defense] every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.
Numbers 18:20
And the Lord said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in the land [of the Israelites], neither shall you have any part among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.

As I was reading all this and jotting it down in my journal, I was deeply reminded of this, Romans 3:23 says, "...since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives." I realized that all of those verses above were written BEFORE Christ brought us salvation through the cross! Which simply further substantiates Romans 3:23!!! I love this!! God is so for us, even when we ourselves aren't!!! He is so compassionate and with us through the good and bad in our lives! I love it, love it, love it!!!!

I pray that your eyes and heart will truly be opened to this great gift from our Abba!

Quilt Progress

The top of my Beloved's quilt is done!!! And today I made almost 14 yards of binding to put on it!! (I used the flowered flannel material to do it) Here's a picture of the top, with my two littles on it so you get an idea of the size of the quilt. I cannot wait to snuggle my True Love in it!!

Dishwasher deal is done!!!!

Today my new, new dishwasher was delivered! Yes!! It is a Bosch (and just so you know, I got it cheaper than what's listed at this site I linked). I was going to attempt to put it in myself because I have seen it done now and it seems fairly simple. But last night, my Superhero Hubby was chatting with me (email) and mentioned that he wanted to put a filter on the water line so that the rust and corrosion from the pipes won't damage the dishwasher. So he asked me to "wait a couple of weeks" for him to install it. Woohoo!!! I'll wait! Especially since it means the work will be done by my favorite plumber!! Hee hee!! And yes, it took over a week, but I DID get a check from the warranty company. We had to pay the difference, but considering this is a Bosch, I'm thinking the $150 more was worth it!! It was such a relief to get that dishwasher delivered! It's finally a done deal!! Let's see, it started in July.....hmmmm.....well, it's done!

Happy birthday to Daddy's girl

Well, yesterday was the Pink Princess' 8th birthday. She got a call from her Daddy and was SO excited about it! It's kinda hard celebrating life without my Beloved, and I can't even imagine how hard it must be for him to not be here for these special occasions. Little D's birthday is only 9 days away....wouldn't it be an awesome gift to have Daddy here.....but we have no idea when he'll be home. So we do the best we can. Tomorrow I am taking the Pink Princess out for a girly day (my friend K is going with us). Hair cuts, shopping, lunch, and.....getting her ears pierced! :) And that was her Daddy's idea! She really is a Princess!