Friday, October 28, 2011

Favorite Thing Friday



The cutest Buzz Lightyear & the most adorable Fairy Princess. 

I love these girls! 

Happy Halloween!

Rachel

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Where I Am

You know those days of pity that sneak up on you & then manage to take you out like a MACK truck?  I had one yesterday...and it was u.g.l.y.  I could say that it was because I had a sick kid & was confined to the house.  I could blame it on the stress of raising, disciplining, trying so hard to be consistent parenting two preschool aged girls.  I could insert & justify my "Pity Party of One"...(just ask Bferg) but the real reason boils down to self centered pride & a lost focus of who Christ is in my life & how His character is manifested in me.

I tend to reach for a little book called, The Valley of Vision in these moments of self realization.  Maybe because it is God's Word worded in old truths/prayers or maybe it is the old english that just wraps my heart in its words because it makes me truly read it or maybe the Holy Spirit is ever present in me & knows I need comfort.  Whatever it is...it always speaks to me.

The following words spoke to my heart today & if you have ever struggled with remembering that God is the Source of all good I hope you can find comfort in them as well.

"The Heavens declare thy glory, The earth thy riches,
The universe is thy temple;
Thy presence fills immensity,
Yet thou hast of they pleasure created life,
and communicated happiness;
Thou hast made me what I am, and given me what I have;
In thee I live and move and have my being;
Thy providence has set the bounds of my habitation,
and wisely administers my affairs.
I thank thee for  thy riches to me in Jesus,
for the unclouded revelation of him in thy Word,
where I behold his Person, character, grave, glory, humiliation, sufferings, death and resurrection;
Give me to feel a need of his continual saviourhood,
and cry with Job, 'I am vile',
with Peter, 'I perish',
with the publican, 'Be merciful to me, a sinner'.
Subdue in me the love of sin,
Let me know the need of renovation as well as
of forgiveness,
in order to serve and enjoy thee for ever.
I come to thee in the all-prevailing name of Jesus,
with nothing of my own to plead,
no works, no worthiness, no promises.
I am often straying,
often knowingly opposing thy authority,
often abusing thy goodness;
Much of my guilt arises from my religious privileges,
my low estimation of them,
my failure to use them to my advantage,
But I am not careless of thy favour or regardless of thy glory;
Impress me deeply with a sense of thine
omnipresence, that thou are about my path, my ways, my lying down, my end."

Valley of Vision, pages 6-7

If you read all of that...thanks.  It is just where I am today.  So thankful that His mercies are new every morning!

Rachel

Monday, October 24, 2011

"Smookie"

That is little girl talk for Spooky!  :)  We got to go on a smookie hayride last week at Farmer John & Miss Tammy's farm.   
(Aunt Lindsey's Mom & Dad.)
It was full of giggles, fun & a little bit of smookiness.

First, you get to sit on hay on a tall wagon.

Next, get real cozy with new friends!
New fun flashlights because the sun is starting to set....
"Wait, no one told me about the jabberwokies found in the woods." 
 "Are you serious?"
Don't turn your back on the crazy eyed cows!
Boo!  Let the sugar high begin!  Happy Halloween Week!

Rachel

Thursday, October 20, 2011

{Sisters} This Time Last Year

They look like babies!  I cannot believe the difference a year can make!  I can't wait to compare pictures from the pumpkin patch this year!

Rachel

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Little Bits Being BIG!

 It was time for the girl's 6 month check ups at the dentist office.  Lily was so interested last April so I decided to go ahead & schedule her first appointment too.  I knew she would do anything that Aubrie did I just didn't know she would do it so well at 2 1/2.
Getting Ready.

Sweet girl with a sweet smile!

Such a big girl!

Open Wide!
Proud of you Lil'Bits!  You are becoming such a big girl!

Rachel

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

~Tasty Tuesday~

Chinese Takeout.  I love it but I don't always love the MSG, chewy chicken, soggy veggies...etc that can come with chinese food.  Insert an easy at home recipe for honey chicken, where if you can make a batter, cut chicken & make rice you can have a tasty meal that you can feel good about feeding your family!

Honey Chicken
1 1/2 Pounds Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, cut into 1" chunks
Oil for frying

Batter:
4 Tbs. Cornstarch 
1/4 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 Egg
1 Egg White

Sauce:
1 1/2 Tbs. Oil
2 tsp. Minced Ginger
3 Tbs. Minced Garlic
1 tsp Salt
3 Tbs. Honey
1 tsp. Rice Wine Vinegar
1/2 Cup Water
1 tsp. Cornstarch mixed with 1 tsp. Water

Sesame Seeds for garnish.  (Optional)

In a large bowl mix batter.  Cover & let it sit for 30 minutes.
After cutting your chicken, toss in the batter to coat.  Heat a deep fryer to 350*.  (I just used a large saute pan & essentially pan fried my chicken.  It didn't get as golden brown but did cook all the way through.)  Fry chicken in batches for 2 minutes or until batter becomes firm.  Drain on paper towels.
To make the sauce: Heat 1 1/2 Tbs oil in a wok.  (Again, I used my same saute pan.)  Add garlic & ginger & stir-fry for 30 seconds.  Add, salt, honey, vinegar, & water.  Mix well.  Combine the water & cornstarch to make a slurry, add to sauce & simmer for 2 minutes.  (The sauce should thicken & become like a really thick honey.)
Coat the chicken in the sauce & garnish with sesame seeds if desired.  Serve immediately with either white or brown rice.
Next time I make this dish I will probably add either red pepper flakes or Sriracha in with the sauce with the garlic & ginger.  I tend to gravitate more towards spicy on the Chinese Restaurant menu but as is it is a great dish & my girls ate it up like crazy!

Enjoy!

Rachel

Friday, October 14, 2011

Football + Family = Fun!

Last Saturday we got to go to our first football game of the season.  Turns out it was an amazing one to get to witness first hand.  The Hogs played Auburn & we brought home the victory!  It was a close first half but then we just kept pulling ahead in the second half to win big!  We had a blast & got to enjoy a night away from home with Justin & Lindsey.

Woo Pig Sooie!

Lindsey & Me.

I love this man!

The Jferg's.  So cute together!
Happy Friday!

Rachel

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

So Busy, So Behind But Having Fun

I feel like this fall has been SO busy already.  Here we are well into October...wasn't it just Labor Day?!?!?  I'm so behind with blogging (and laundry too!). 
We ended September with a trip to the Firehouse for a tour.

Can't you just feel their enthusiasm!?!?

Aubrie & her favorite boys!  Lily being Lily!

I love this picture.  Aubrie has them both by the hands.  It looks like she's the one giving the tour!

Watching the Fireman gear up.

Fun Day at the Firehouse!
Thanks to the Bentonville Fire Department for giving us a tour, letting the kids climb on the trucks & for giving us fire safety tips!  It was a fun morning!

Rachel