Autumn Chowder...

It has been very cold here in Texas and I always like soup on cold days. Yesterday I was looking through my Taste of Home Soup cookbook and found this recipe.  I doubled it as I was feeding three and we ate almost all of it.  It is very easy to make.  We loved it and I will definitely make it again!  Hope you enjoy!

Autumn Chowder

     ~~from Taste of Home

2 bacon strips, diced
1/4 cup chopped onion (I did not use)
1 medium red potato, cubed
1 small carrot, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/2 cup water
3/4 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1 cup milk
2/3 cup frozen corn
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2-1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cold water
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp; remove to paper towels. Drain, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings. In the drippings, saute onion until tender. Add the potato, carrot, water and bouillon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables are almost tender.

Stir in the milk, corn and pepper. Cook 5 minutes longer. Combine the flour and cold water until smooth; gradually whisk into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheese until melted. Sprinkle with bacon. Yield: 2 servings.

Deeper Still...

Two friends and I attended the Deeper Still event in Oklahoma City, OK this week end. Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, and Priscilla Shirer were the speakers. Travis Cottrell was the worship leader.  I loved each ladies teaching!  Kay Arthur taught from Hebrews and told us how important it is to live by God's Word. Priscilla taught from Ephesians and told us to see the Greatness of God and shift our attention from our problem to God.  Beth spoke from several different scriptures and talked to us about spiritual discernment.

After the session on Friday night we went back to our room and decided to order room service.  We sat on our beds and talked and talked.  After 45 minutes we realized our food had never come.  A call was made and the food arrived but we were not charged for it.  Not only that, but we received fruit and a piece of cheesecake to make up for the food being so late.  What a blessing!  We also enjoyed room service in the morning.  We had a yummy breakfast, but had to pay this time. :)

At the end of the event Kay, Beth and Priscilla had a question and answer time.  The questions were taken from emails that ladies had sent in.  This was more of a fun time than serious and we had lots of laughs.

I am very thankful for my week end of great Bible teaching and fun time with my sweet friends!!

Christmas letters...

We wrote a Christmas letter this year. For some reason we have not written one for a couple years. Ours is written and some were mailed today. As I was sitting here addressing and putting stamps on the envelopes I began to wonder how many letters I would receive this year. So many people have email, a blog, are on facebook, twitter and numerous other networks that I wonder if they feel it unnecessary to write a Christmas letter, or any letter. I miss receiving letters that come to my mailbox. Not the computer mailbox but the one outside. I remember when I could hardly wait for the mailman to come to see if I had a letter from a friend or family member. Often I would tuck them away to read again later. I have done that with some of the Christmas letters I have received. How fun to find one the next year and read once again the news of that family while waiting to receive that year's letter from them. So I hope my friends and family that receive our newsy Christmas letter will enjoy it...and hopefully send us one. I will be watching for the mailman! :)

December...

It is December and I really cannot believe it.  I have actually started my Christmas shopping though.  I am looking forward to my sister coming from Honduras where she is a missionary and my nephew coming from Ft. Riley where he is stationed in the Army.  I am doing some baking so I have some things in the freezer when they arrive.  The other day I made yogurt muffins.  They are very easy.  My daughter, Shawna, gave me the recipe.

YOGURT MUFFINS

1/2 c. melted butter

1 (8 oz.) c. any flavor yogurt

3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. soda

Mix well and spoon into lightly greased muffin pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes 12-18 muffins.

Happy Anniversary...

Today is Stacy and Travis' 3rd wedding anniversary!

We love you both!

Happy Anniversary!!

Jim's trip to Honduras...

Jim just returned from a mission trip to Honduras.  While there the city of Comayagua opened up a viritual library for the people in the city. The mayor of the city named it in memory of Amy.  What a blessing to know she is being remembered in the city she visited on a mission trip in 1998. I often think how she would be so amazed and humbled at the number of things that have been done in her memory!

After the tour a group of high school students

performed for Jim.

Jim presented the Amy Elizabeth Pack Memorial Scholarship to a senior from Ruach International School. It is always fun to surprise the person receiving the scholarship. Carlos had no idea he was the recipient until his name was called! We once again were able to give $1,000.00 thanks to the generosity of family and friends!  This is such a blessing to be able to help another young person as we remember Amy's life!

In 2001 our church brought a 10 yr. old Honduran girl with severe scoliosis to Scottish Rite Hospital for surgery.  Without this surgery she would not have lived long.  The surgery was successful and she is graduating from high school this year.  Jim planned a two day overnight stay for her and her family at a hotel in the mountains. This is something they had never done.  A nice dinner was provided and they celebrated with a cake made by one of our missionary's daughter.  Friends from our church gave cards of congratulations and each card included at least $5.00. We also gave her digital camera.  Jim said she was overwhelmed with the love shown her. 

Chocolate Cinnamon Muffins

A friend gave me a cook book called 1 Mix, 100 Muffins. There is one basic recipe and you can make 100 different muffins. I made the Chocolate Cinnamon Muffins tonight. They smell so good.  I plan to take them to a friend who just came home from the hospital with her baby. The recipe is below if you would like to try them. Or maybe you would like to buy the book. Just click on the name and it will take you to amazon.com. It would make a great Christmas gift for someone on your list that likes to bake!

Chocolate Cinnamon Muffins

   makes 12

heaping 1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

heaping 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 large eggs

1 cup milk

6 tbsp. sunflower oil or melted, cooled butter

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease a 12-cup muffin pan or line with 12 muffin paper liners.  Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt into a large bowl.  Stir in the sugar and chocolate chips.

2. Lightly beat the eggs in a large pitcher or bowl, then beat in the milk and oil.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid ingredients.  Stir gently until just combined; do not overmix.

3. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan.  Bake for 20 minutes, until well risen and firm to the touch.

4. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then serve warm or transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Trusting in the Lord...

My precious daughter, Stacy, wrote a meaningful post on her blog, Sweeter Things.  I know you will be encouraged and filled with hope as you read it. Feel free to leave her a comment.  She would love it.

Little Pilgrim's Progress...

I have been reading Little Pilgrims Progress to 4 yr. old Colette, the little girl I take care of.  It was written by Helen L. Taylor fifty five years ago.  She took John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and wrote this book so that a child could understand.  I found the copy I bought when my children were young. I asked her if she would like me to read it to her.  She asked, "Is it a picture book?"  I told her no it wasn't and if after I read the first chapter she was not interested we would not continue.  She loved it. The chapters are short, about 2-3 pages and we read one or more chapters every day at nap time. She always wants, "one more chapter".  I am enjoying reading it as much as Colette.  I hope you will start reading this book to your child, grandchild, or any child in your life. I highly recommend it.

Think on this...

There is something of beauty to be learned from every dark and lonely place in our lives.

It is in those times of obedience during suffering that we have an opportunity to experience our Father as more than enough.

Out of the rough material of our trials, He is more than willing to fashion objects of beauty.

~~Lisa Bevere (from Fight Like a Girl)