women...

"Women are angels. And when someone breaks our wings, we simply continue to fly...on a broomstick."

i totally stole this from someone's facebook, but it is soooo true, just had to post it!

YUK!

"working allows me to afford two luxuries i've grown accustomed to:
eating and living indoors."

mary ellen edmonds
yep... i guess it's official. after being off of work for 7 months, i am returning on february 1st.

i'm really not looking forward to it, but donnie reassures me that he is going to do his fair share around the house. (he really does help a lot, if i give him a list, which i hate to do, because i feel like i am nagging, when i do. why? can't guys just see it?) i am looking forward to being back with some of my friends that i miss seeing all of the time, but not looking forward to getting up early and having to get ready for the day, right off the bat! but... we like to play too much, and we just bought a newer ride for mwa. so... hi, ho, hi, ho, it's off to work i go!

(and this is really how i feel about the whole blasted thing!)

another hit!

pat me on the back! that's 2 in a row!
i usually don't mind cooking if someone will just tell me WHAT to cook! i am always getting these recipes on my e-mail and mostly i just delete them. but this one caught my eye, and so i decided to give it a try. i will definitely make this again! it was quick and easy (2 musts in my book!). i served it on a bed of rice with some steamed broccoli... d*e*l*i*c*i*o*u*s!

szechwan shrimp

ingredients:
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (it was really hot, next time i will only use 1/4 teaspoon)
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup sliced green onions
4 cloves garlic, minced
12 ounces cooked shrimp, tails removed
directions:
1. in a bowl, stir together, water, ketchup, soy sauce, cornstarch, honey, red pepper, and ginger. set aside.
2. heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. stir in green onions and garlic: cook 30 seconds. stir in shrimp, and toss to coat with oil. stir in sauce. cook and stir until sauce is bubbly and thickened.

long time over due....

i am one of the assistant young women camp directors in our stake. and as we have for the past few months, already started planning for camp this coming summer, it's made me stop and reflect on the days of my young women camp experiences. the first year especially is clear to me. (wishing it weren't so clear!)
we always went to the same location, "camp lo mia" in pine, arizona. all the girls and leaders in the stake would load up in big buses, monday morning and head up to camp for the week.
the first year we went, there were about 13 of us in our beehive class. (some of us a little more rambunctious than others). the sunday night before camp, we were told that we might not get to go to camp, because our leader was sick and they couldn't find any one to go with us. then we were told that one of the yw presidency had a relative that she thought might go. soooo.... monday morning, we were all excited, it was our first year, and we thought we were so cool and all that. anyway, we got to the church, got all loaded up on the bus, and waited for the replacement, who was, and i quote, "a return missionary, unmarried, and a ton of fun!". well... all of the sudden, 'amanda' got on the bus. (now, mind you... she was going to be our leader for the rest of the week). sure enough, she was a return missionary and unmarried, and to my recollection, was 75 or plus years old! she had on a DRESS , and high top boots!, with a 'cute' little sweater wrapped around her shoulders (and it was probably at least 105 degrees). she would have probably been about 5 foot nothing, except for the fact that she had a big hump on her back, so she wasn't quite that tall. i'm ashamed to tell anyone this, but i don't think we we're all that nice to her. i have tried to block some of that year at camp, out of my mind, but i do remember putting her nightie up in the rafters of our cabin. she was so short, she couldn't reach it. a couple of us would sneak off, when ever we could, to the swing that was over the creek. finally, after a few days, they sent one of the yw presidency from our ward over to stay in our cabin with us, too. i know now, that 'amanda' was just a sweet little old lady, trying to help. and we were just a bunch of little 12 and 13 year old brats, that thought we were having fun.
so... now that i know how much work goes into planning a camp, that will help young women gain confidence, learn to work together, gain testimonies of Jesus Christ, to learn and have fun...
i need to apologize to some the leaders who spent endless hours in preparation for years of camps for me. i really didn't appreciate it at the time, but as i get older and wiser, i realize, that i really did learn and grow from my young women camp experiences. in fact, that is where i gained the most knowledge that my Heavenly Father really does know me and loves me. you know the old saying "what goes around, comes around." well, it already has, and i have learned to stop and think about how i was at certain ages, then i appreciate more and more the leaders that put up with me and loved me, (even if i was a brat!), and i can be a little more patient with these young girls that are just trying to have fun!
so...so, so, sorry to the leaders that i put thru H*E*doubletoothpicks! PLEASE accept my apology from clear down to my toes and up! and...

just look at me now!
i'm am you!

flashback friday...

talk about a WAY BACK FLASHBACK !
this is me in 1973. one year before i got married. i was all set and already to go to the
junior prom.

(check out the rabbit ears AND the antenna on the t.v.)

yummy soup!

i have one of the sweetest neighbors anyone could ask for! she also happens to be my visiting teaching companion. i want to be as close to her as possible when she gets beamed up, cuz i am going to be holding tight to her apron strings! one day about two weeks ago, she came by, and said that she was sorry that she hadn't gotten over here for christmas, and in her hands had a box full of all of the ingredients and recipe for queso soup and said, "here, have dinner on us tonight". it was so yummy, that i just have to share the recipe with you. plus it's super easy to make! which is a big plus in my book!

queso soup

2 1/2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
1 can drained (or a couple of handfuls of frozen) corn
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 - 4oz. can diced green chilies
2 TBSP. snipped cilantro
1 can pinto beans (optional) ~ but i would recommend!
1 pkg. Taco seasoning
Mix altogether in crock pot
Add:
3 cups chicken broth
Cook on low (6-8 hrs) or high (4-6 hrs)
Last 30 minutes Add:
6 oz. Velveeta cheese
3/4 cup sour cream

i served it with this cornbread recipe that i got from my daughter
(tastes like the good ol' cornbread that you get at marie calendars)

cornbread

1/2 of a yellow cake mix> mix as directed for 1/2 cake** but still using 2 eggs
1 box of "jiffy cornbread mix"> mix as directed **
**substitute ALL water for milk!
bake according to cake directions
makes 1 - 9X13 pan

thanks, connie and melanie for making my life a little easier!