Bacon Cheeseburger Chicken

A.K.A.  A Heart-attack! :)

I mentioned this recipe a while back but never posted it. I got it from the awesome
kevinandamanda.com. I've had several people tell me that the combination of ingredients didn't look like they would mix well.....boy were they wrong. This is so delicious. I've made it several times now and will continue making it. Try it out and give your taste buds a real treat. I also recommend stopping by kevinandamanda.com to see the yummy pictures she posted and get step by step instructions.

Bacon Cheeseburger Chicken
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, split
1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 lb bacon (or bacon bits) --trust me...MAKE YOUR OWN!!!

Preheat oven to 350'. If you make your own bacon bits then leave a couple of tbsps of bacon grease in your large skillet and on medium-high heat add your chicken breasts. Saute 4 to 5 minutes each side, until lightly browned. If you didn't make your own bacon bits (shame on you) then heat up the oil and butter over medium-high heat and then saute your chicken. Place browned chicken breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover with teriyaki sauce and then put the ranch dressing on top of that. Sprinkle with cheese and top with bacon bits. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

I hope you think it is as fabulous as my family did. Enjoy!

My Church Is Kind Of A Big Deal -COTM- Parts 1 & 2

My Church Is Kind Of A Big Deal - Part 1 from Church on the Move on Vimeo.


My Church Is Kind Of A Big Deal - Part 2 from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Chicken Pasta

Here is another delicious recipe that people have been asking me to share. I got this one from Amanda at Our Oklahoma Nest. Check out her page for pictures and the full recipe. I have picky eaters so I left out the parts for the mushrooms and artichokes.

Chicken Pasta
whole wheat penne
chicken breasts
butter
herb and garlic marinade
sour cream
shredded parmesan
salt & pepper
garlic

1. Cook the pasta according to package.
2. Add the marinade to a large skillet, add chicken and turn to medium heat. Add salt and pepper and garlic to taste. Cook until chicken is done. Set aside.
3. When pasta is finished add butter, sour cream, and parmesan to taste. Mix with pasta until melted.
4. Top the pasta with sliced up chicken and top with extra parmesan.

So Gooooood! I served mine with garlic bread sticks and salad. I thought my kitchen had been turned into an Olive Garden. The picky husband LOOOOOOOOOOVED it too! That is always a plus!!

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

I've had several friends ask me for this recipe lately so I'm going to post it on here for you all. I got this recipe off of The Pioneer Woman, I love her! If you haven't checked out her blog yet {have you been hiding under a rock??} then you should take a look. She has a cooking show that will be premiering on Saturday on the Food Network Show. I'm super excited to watch it.
Here is the basic recipe but you really should head HERE to see Ree's post on it. She has great pictures that shows you exactly how to do everything and she is really funny! Enjoy.

Sour Cream Noodle Bake
1 1/4lb ground chuck
1 can(15oz) tomato sauce
1/2 tsp salt
freshly ground black pepper
8 oz egg noodles
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/4 cup small curd cottage cheese
1 cup grated sharp cheddar

Preheat the oven to 350'. Brown ground chuck in Lg skillet. Drain fat, then add the tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp salt and plenty of pepper. Stir, then simmer while you prepare the other ingredients. Cook egg noodles as pkg instructs. Drain and set aside. In med. bowl combine sour cream and cottage cheese. Add plenty of ground pepper. Add to noodles and stir. To assemble, add the noodles to baking dish. Top with half the meat mixture, then sprinkle on half the grated cheese. Repeat with noodles, meat then final layer of cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serve with crusty french bread.

(I mix the bottom layer of ingredients together and then layer from there.)

One Line

That's what I saw when I took a pregnancy test earlier. The funny thing is, I wasn't upset this time. I haven't been taking tests because well when you've been trying for over two years, it becomes a huge slap in the face every time you get another negative test. I decided to take one today because of how great I've been feeling about it all and as you know, it was negative. I was fine. I wasn't sad or upset at all. I just shrugged my shoulders and said "It's okay, it'll happen".  I'm happy. Today I proved to myself of how far I have come.

Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

An Angel Is Born

One of my really good friends had her baby the other day. I can't even begin to express how much happiness she is bringing me. I will be the first to admit that for awhile I distanced myself from her and didn't rejoice with her as much as I should have. I wasn't doing good with my own situation. I was having a poor me pity party and it saddens me that I wasn't there for my friend 100% of the time. That kills me. She needed me and I wasn't there.
We've talked about things since then and I have explained(no excuses) why I acted as I did and I feel she has forgiven me. She may not know the exact feelings I was having but she understands it, understands me. She knows how much I have been hurting and she has always tried to be there for me. I wish I would of just expressed what was going on and talked to her rather than trying to hide away. I not only hurt myself by doing that but I hurt her...and that hurts me even more.
She has been through a lot and instead of letting things get to her, she learned from them. She grew from them. She continues to grow as a child of God, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend. She is absolutely beautiful from the inside out and I am honored to call her my friend.
For a long time things were foggy for me. I couldn't see straight. I only knew the here and now and couldn't see past my pain and struggles. Then things changed. I changed. I continued going to church and praying. I confessed my sins to God and asked for his forgiveness, I was saved. I really just started believing as a whole with absolutely no doubt in my mind. I have given all of my pain and suffering to God and I've honestly been happy...something I really haven't been in a long time.

I was able to be truly happy for my friend. I was happy for her before but I carried a lot of sadness and grief with it and then one day it was gone. The only thing left was a heart full of love, happiness and real genuine smiles. Going through our hard times together has brought us closer. For that I am thankful. I'm able to be there for her completely now and it brings me such joy. Her daughter brings me great happiness. I feel a connection with her, this precious child. I feel like God has taught me great lessons through her: Hope, Faith and Unconditional Love. I truly am blessed. I have so many amazing friends, it almost doesn't seem fair to the world that I managed to capture all the great ones out there.

Congratulations to my amazing friend and her family.

Photo credit: Brian Moreno Barker (*edited by me)

Baptism

  I was baptized on Sunday. It was a GREAT day!!!! 

-Review- Cherished

About the book:
How can she believe God cherishes her when she can't forgive herself?


Kelli London once dreamed of being a songwriter. As crazy as it seemed, she hoped that God would use the lyrics that came to her while she slept. She dreamed about Brian too, that the love they shared would be a forever kind of love. But choices she'll forever regret upended her hope . . . and turned her dreams to dust. When those dreams come knocking once more, she's forced to deal with the pain of the past.


Heather Anderson's life has spun out of control—first, an affair with a married man, then a one-night stand with the drummer of a popular Christian band that left her devastated. Broken and alone, she cried out to the only One who can save her. And He did. But that's just the beginning, because now she must leave behind the only life she's ever known.


Two women with shame-filled pasts form an unlikely friendship. What does God's forgiveness look like for them? Will they ever believe that He loves them . . . and can still offer them a life where they are cherished?


My opinion:
I enjoyed this book very much. I was able to connect with the characters and feel their emotions right along with them. Being a somewhat new follower of Christ myself it was a great read for me to see how these women prayed together. I need to pray more. I don't use prayer as often as I should. I'm sure most of us have at some point in our lives questioned how God could forgive us for the awful things that we have done - this book is great at showing His everlasting love. 


I didn't realize Cherished is the second book in a series. The first book is called 'Faithful'. I will look for it, as I'd like to read the characters stories from the beginning. 




I received this book from BookSneeze.com as part of their book review blogger program in exchange for an honest review whether it be negative or positive. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Meaningless Words

How is it that you can explain to someone how you feel about something and they still could care less. You should always support the ones you love even if you don't agree or don't believe in the same things. It's called respect. You should have it for the ones you supposedly love.

A lack of action can be just as heartbreaking as hurtful words.

Now Faith Is - COTM

I've been behind on posting these so here is all of the videos on the series we just finished up at Church on the Move.


Now Faith Is - Part 1 from Church on the Move on Vimeo.


Now Faith Is - Part 2 from Church on the Move on Vimeo.


Now Faith Is - Part 3 from Church on the Move on Vimeo.


Now Faith Is - Part 4 from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

I feel like I can't breathe. My heart aches for all of my loved ones that are hurting, one inparticular. I can't even begin to imagine what they are going through. I wish I had the right words to say or the power to change things. Sometimes we can't do anything but be there. Be someone they can cry with and laugh with. Let them just be themselves. Be there for them to lean on and catch them if they fall. Be their support.
I wish I could take my own emotions out of it. I can't not feel for them though. It's impossible to not feel their pain and suffering. Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair. You would do anything for them but this time nothing you can do will make it any better. It makes my heart hurt.

Dinner with the Girls!

I had a good day yesterday. My anxiety was pretty high for some reason but I pushed through it and enjoyed my day. Colton and I went and picked out his backpack for school and then we met up with my mom so she could take the kid for the night. It was wonderful! :)  I was able to get my grocery shopping done without a bunch of added things that a little three year old likes to con me into getting. Ha!
Afterwards I came home and picked up the house a bit and then off to dinner with the girls! We had so much fun. We were missing our fifth so we weren't complete and it felt like something(one) was missing all night but the food was good and conversation was awesome. Lots of laughter and many calories consumed!
We have a busy month ahead of us. Colton is going to be starting school for the first time and my friend Diana is going to be having her second child, little Miss Ava. I have so much stuff I need to get done before Colt starts school. I need get a set routine down and stick to it. No Stress!

Protection

I DID NOT take this picture. I wish I knew who did. Its amazing. I received this in an email from my mother-in-law today and had to share it. 

Psalm 91:4,  He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

-Review- Knitting Knee-Highs

Knitting Knee-Highs

Sock Styles from Classic to Contemporary

By: Barb Brown

Published by: F&W Media

Hmmm.....while it is a beautiful book and the socks are absolutely gorgeous, I definitely don't think this is a book for beginners like myself. I am new to knitting and was very excited when I saw this book on the list to be reviewed. However, after many failed attempts, I think I need a little or well maybe a lot more practice before I try it again. I love the patterns, they are very pretty but I feel that I can't give a true review of this book based on my knitting level. I think more knowledge and experience on my part is needed before trying them again. I passed the book onto my mom(a more avid knitter) to borrow and made sure to point out which patterns I liked best in hopes that I'll find a nice pair of knee-highs under the Christmas tree this year!

I received this book from BookSneeze.com as part of their book review blogger program in exchange for an honest review whether it be negative or positive. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Clarity

On Mother's Day 2011(well technically it was the day before) I was singing praise and worship at church when I felt God put his arms around me and I felt an embrace I've never had before. I was hurting and at that moment I knew God was telling me to let it all go. To trust Him and let Him carry my pain for me. Its an experience that I hope everyone gets a chance to have. Its indescribable.
For so long all my focus was on my infertility struggles. Its all I could think about. It took control of my life. That night at church, I knew everything was going to be okay. Of course I'm still sad about things but I don't keep it as my focus. There are some days that pass where its not even a blip on my radar.
Gods love is all I need. He has me wrapped so tight in his arms, I know he's never letting go.
It may sound strange but I know God has another child for me. I've dreamed of him. I've held him in my arms. He has the perfect child for me just waiting until its time. There are lessons left for me to learn and I know that. I feel at peace with it now. I know its only a matter of time before I'm ready. I trust God and I know that in His time all the desires of my heart will be fulfilled.

Take Me Away

source

My dreams are being taken over. I wake up in the middle of the night on the verge of tears, panic and sadness. It's all from stress. But not my own. I have a few stress factors in my life but honestly nothing that would cause me to lose sleep over it. I am having very vivid and detailed dreams about things that are going on in my friends lives. Things that I have no control over. I haven't written much about it but I've been having a lot of anxiety the last few months. All of this stress is making it worse. My head is killing me, I can't sleep and when I can my dreams are not my own, and my heart...it feels swollen. I feel like it is so big it's going to burst out of my chest. I feel like I can't breathe. How do you not care about the issues that your loved ones are going through? I don't think its possible to separate it. Their hurt is your hurt, their stress is your stress. If that's the case, then somebody please take my anxiety! 

source

Women of Faith 2011

I am very excited to announce that I have been selected to go to the Women of Faith event Over the Top in OKC this fall. I cannot wait! It is going to be a two-day event filled with laughter, tears, hugs, new friends, old friends......and so much love for God!


God loves us more than we know. He gives us more than we can ask or dream. He's unrestrained... excessive... outrageous... Over the Top.


I have never been to a Women of Faith event before but I have heard great things and there are amazing speakers lined up. Excited does not even begin to express what I'm feeling about this! Anybody else planning on going?? Thank you so much to BookSneeze and Women of Faith for this amazing opportunity!