Saturday, October 31, 2015

Chicken Taco Soup


I experimented with a few ingredients and came up with a great soup recipe. 

...perfect for these chilly Fall evenings :)

Chicken Taco Soup 

It's quick.
It's easy.
It's delicious.


All you need is:

2 can each of black beans, red beans, corn, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, and chicken.

1 can each of tomatoes and Rotel.

2 packets each of Ranch mix (I used the fiesta ranch) and Taco seasoning

1 large bell pepper (I prefer red)

1 large onion

*FYI - I used low sodium items since they're canned.

Pour in the tomatoes, Rotel, chicken broth, and cream of chicken soup. Drain, and pour in the beans, corn, and chicken. Then, add in the Ranch and Taco packets. 

Chop and add the bell peppers.


...and the onion.


The cook on "high" for 2 hours.


Then you can serve with whatever garnish you'd prefer.

I chose to add avocado, green onion, shredded cheese, cilantro, and a little sour cream. 


And voila!


Soup is served :)



Wednesday, October 28, 2015

What's up October

I'm linking up with a few other blogger for this month's What's Up post. Want to join along?

The questions for this month are...



What I'm eating this week...

I'm bringing my lunch every day this week. Score 1 for me for saving money :)


What I'm reminiscing about...

My time at DA - especially since such a big part of the DA community passed away a few days ago (with his funeral tomorrow). Y'all Daniel's death has hit me so hard. He was only a few years younger than me. He loved God. He worked hard. He was an awesome singer, using this talent to spread the Gospel. He went to church. He supported his family. He was always smiling, always joking around, offering a prayer or a kind word, and always working his very hardest. He was such a blessing and He'll definitely be missed!


What I'm loving...

This quote I found...


What I've been up to...

I've been transferring some of the notes from my old Bible to my new one. So I've been enjoying reading notes I've written over the years...


What I'm dreading...

...listening to all the "mud slinging" that will continue until presidential elections next year. Oh, I also dread seeing all sorts of Facebook posts from people who clearly haven't read the articles/sites they're sharing.


What I'm working on...

...getting ready for AAA data collection. Fun times, y'all. Fun times.


What I'm watching...

NCIS and NCIS New Orleans 



What I'm reading...

Right now, I'm reading this book, for my last ALSOM (Berean) class before I get my License. Then it's on to Ordination next year :) 


What I'm listening to...

This worship song, on repeat...


What I'm wearing...

Apparently a whole lot of animals... Camels, elephants, and owls! Oh my! :)


What I'm doing this weekend...

...spending time with these two crazies :)


What I'm looking forward to next month...

A whole week out of school! Colorado! Seeing my Best Bud! Thanksgiving!


What else is knew...

My sweet Daddy has been gone 6 months (and 8 days, but who's counting). And you know what I'm missing the most lately? I'm missing his prayers. I miss hearing him pray for me. ...especially in regards to an issue I'm dealing with right now.


Monday, October 19, 2015

It's been 6 months.


6 months.

It's been 6 months since my sweet Daddy passed away.


...6 months since I saw him.

...6 months since I hugged him.

...6 months since I heard him say I love you.

It's been 6 months.

And you want to know something?

It still hurts.

It still makes me catch my breath.

It still makes me sad.


It's been 6 months.

...and I still struggle.

...and I still cry.


It's been 6 months.

But I don't stay sad/depressed all the time.

I remember.

...the happy times...

...the good times.

...the sweet memories.


It's been 6 months.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

My Faith - What It's Not

Yesterday I wrote the first post in my "All About My Faith" series. It was an answer to the question... 

My Faith - What is it?

* If you missed it, just click on the "older posts" link at the bottom right of this page.

So since yesterday I wrote about what it IS, I thought I'd do the opposite today and write...

My Faith - What It's Not

I gave a list of ways to describe what my faith is...

But do you know what it's not?

It is NOT being someone's judge.

It is also NOT accepting someone's sinful lifestyle in the name of "love."

It is NOT picking and choosing what I want to believe from the Bible.

It is NOT hating someone for possessing different beliefs from my own.

It is NOT shoving the Bible down someone's throat, forcing them to believe the way I do.

It is NOT only praising God when life is good.

It is NOT only praying when I need something.

It is NOT not being ashamed to share the Word.

It is NOT making my own plans without consulting God.

It is NOT being unsure of my life after death.

That is what my faith is NOT.

Tomorrow I'll be continuing with my series on "All About My Faith" and I'll be talking about fasting

Come back and check it out.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

My Faith - What is it?

My faith...

What is it?

It is 100% dependence on my Savior.

It is loving someone so much that I urge them to turn from their sin.

It is always striving to improve myself.

It is an unquenchable thirst for biblical knowledge.

It is the knowledge, without a shadow of a doubt, of where I'll spend eternity.

It is acknowledging that I am a sinner, bought by grace.

It is an eagerness to share the Gospel with truth and love.

It is straying from the appearance of evil.

It is the acceptance of a gift I never deserved, but was still freely given.

It is allowing God complete control in the planning of my life.

It is accepting the good, the bad, and the ugly and praising God all the while.

It is using the Bible as a guidebook for life.

It is hope for the future.

It is trusting and believing in the unseen.

That's what my faith is.

Do you want to know what it's not, though? Come back tomorrow to find out.

Friday, October 2, 2015

Friday Favorites

I'm linking up with AndreaNarci and Erika and sharing some of my favorites from this week.


This past Saturday was my favorite because my two favorite girls spent the day with my mom and me...


We went to McDonalds, where this little one got some of her favorites: nuggets and fries :)


We went to Walmart and my favorites thought it was fun to ride in the cool shopping cart. Although, the funness wore off really quick and it was back to a regular one :)


We also went to visit one of our favorite aunts... Aunt Sandra! I somehow missed getting a picture with her. But I did get one of my favorites in their new favorite seat :)


After that, my favorites and I can back to our house where we played and had the best time waiting on their mommy and daddy to come home.


All in all, it was a great Saturday with my two favorite girls :)



Wearing flip flops are my favorite and I know I don't have much time left before it'll be too cold to wear my favorite style of shoes. So I'm loving it while I can :)


This sign someone shared on Facebook is my favorite


And speaking of Facebook, here are some new favorite quotes friends have posted recently...



And lastly... Leaving late for work is not my favorite because I get stuck in all the school bus traffic.


But y'all, I must admit... My new morning duty is becoming my favorite. I love getting to know so many more of our students than I would have ordinarily.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Hello October


It's the first day of the month and as always, it's the time I look back and say...

Wasn't it just January?! :)

Seriously, though, this year is flying. It'll be Christmas before we know it! But before I get too far ahead, it's time to say...

Hello October. 

Here's a list of some of the things I plan to say hello to this month...

1. A New Work Schedule 

I have X students in Y grades, spread out almost evenly in Z classrooms. They each have to be pulled to my room for various times a day (1, 2, or 3) for at least 30 minutes at a time. Then I have to go into certain classrooms for some students. But I can't pull them from this time period or that time period and each grade has a different schedule. It's seriously like a puzzle, trying to fit it all in. And that's not even counting meetings, lesson planning, lunch, creating activities, modifying/giving tests, writing IEPs, testing kids, and so much more...


2. Another ALSOM/Berean/AG Licensing Class

I only have this one and one more after it and I'll be finished! 


3. 2 Days Off

Well, one of those is a professional development day, but that's ok. At least, we don't have to lesson plan/teach :)


4. Cooler Temp's


5. Writing About My Faith

I'm planning a series on my blog which will help me share about my faith. I have a few ideas in mind already, and I know more will come. I'm looking forward to how God helps me grow through this and how He'll hopefully help me to help others through these posts as well.