Taco Pie

Ok so this is something I made just 5 minutes ago! It's just waiting for me in the kitchen to be put in the oven. I've made this several times but today I just thought to myself, "This is so darn simple!" that I wanted to share. I actually got this idea from my friend, Chelsea, who actually buys the Taco Pie kit at the store. Well I only shop at Kroger and they don't have it there so I sort of just make my own. All you'll need:

1 lb ground turkey or beef
3 tortillas (wide enough to fit in a pie pan)
taco seasoning
shredded cheese
Velveeta cheese (which I used for the first time today)
Your choice of what you want to top it with (sour cream, salsa, taco sauce)

1. Brown your meat
2. Drain and rinse
3. Put back in pan
4. Prepare taco meat with seasoning
5. Add in some bits of Velveeta (however cheesy you want the meat to be) and stir till melted.
6. Put 1st tortilla in bottom of pie pan.
7. Sprinkle a little (or a lot, whatever you wish!) of shredded cheese on tortilla
8. Spread half of cheesy meat mixture over that.
9. Sprinkle a little more shredded cheese.
10. Add 2nd tortilla and repeat numbers 7-9
11. Top with remaining tortilla
12. Bake in oven on 350 for 10-15 min.
13. Enjoy with your choice of toppings :)

And if you have any refried beans on hand, Chelsea will sometimes add that to her pie. Just spread on tortillas and add meat.

Why I Love My Lord

I was unpacking a few boxes the other day....yes, we have been in our house since October and I haven't completely unpacked boxes! But it's books and office stuff and we are just now getting our office room together so I have a good excuse! While doing this I came across my old student bible. The one Goodman Oaks gave me when I graduated from high school in '01. I forgot how much I loved this bible and I am actually thinking about carrying it to church again even though it says "The Student Bible" on the side of it AND I totally had to ghetto rig it because most of the Old Testament was falling out so I used lots of rubber bands to keep it in place! Anyways, it's been a while since I've looked in this bible and it was neat to see the notes I made and that I dated. The earliest I saw was 2003. One of the things though that stood out the most that I forgot all about was this printed out piece of paper that I had taped on the very front inside page of the bible. I'm sure most of you have seen this but it's the "How can a woman not love the Lord" list. I reread over it since it has been quite a while. I couldn't help but thank and praise God as I read it. I'm glad I came across this because I needed the reminder that He is the only one I should be living my life for, not my husband, not my daughter, not anyone. And so many times we get so caught up in these people and worldly things. Trying to do for them, trying to please them, etc etc. While all these things are important, it shouldn't take our attention away from God and so many days that's exactly what happens to me. I will be the first to admit it! I get caught up in my husband and daughter and forget about that one constant friend in my life. The one who will NEVER disappoint me, NEVER forsake me, who is ALWAYS by my side to help me and take away my worries and fears. While we know our hubbies, sons, daughters, friends...whatever the case may be...are wonderful, they are going to disappoint us, they won't always be right there for us when we need them, they are going to break promises. But our heavenly Father will never do these things. And this is exactly why I love my Lord:

*He is a gentleman
*He is confident
*He is a provider and protector
*He is rich and powerful
*There is nothing He wouldn't do for me
*He perfects all things concerning me
*He anticipates my wants and needs
*Every day He tells me and shows me how much He loves me
*I don't have to perform in order to earn His love
*He keeps all of His promises
*He is the ultimate intimate partner
*He can't "disown" me because I am a part of Him
*He prepares a table for me
*He covers me and doesn't expose me
*He wrote His loving words down so that I'll never forget how He feels about me

Short weekend update

This weekend Brylee and I spent most of our weekend at my parents' house because Ben started working at CVS. He still has his full time job at Baptist but he is going to start picking up weekend shifts here and there. Saturday was our Clothing Drive/School Supply Giveaway at our church. We served over 500 individuals and 300 of those participated in the school supplies. How awesome it always is to serve those less fortunate. While I was there, I saw the poor boy that I worked with a couple years ago when I was a TST coach. At the time, this boy was in 2nd grade and couldn't even identify all of the letters in the alphabet. So heartbreaking. It was really good seeing him. Such a sweet boy! I encountered something a little more heartbreaking though while I was there...at least for me it was.

A pregnant woman came over to the table where the baby clothes were. I went up to her and asked if she needed any help finding a certain size. My sister-in-law then walked up and asked her if this was her first baby. "No, it will be my fifth." Holy crap!! Oh just wait. My sister-in-law didn't want to just come out and say "How old are you?" So she started asking her where she went to school and when she graduated. "2006," she answered. Yeah, you do the math on that one. I know it's whatever floats people's boats and I'm not judging whatsoever but it nearly broke my heart just to think about all of those poor children and how they will never fully have what they need. I just don't understand why some people do what they do. Oh well.

On too more exciting news. Ben and I got an iMac Saturday evening! Yay, I finally have a desktop! We got an awesome deal thanks to the Tax Free Weekend! We got $100 off the iMac and a FREE ipod touch because Ben is considered faculty at UT. Then we also got a FREE printer (once we send in the rebate). Plus you fill out the rebate form right there in the Apple Store on their computer so you don't have to worry about coming home and filling stuff out and cutting our your receipt and mailing it in and all that other stuff you have to do to get your rebate! We have no use for the iPod touch so if anyone out there wants to buy it, let me know! You never realize how much taxes really stink until something like this comes up. I am so excited! Hopefully the next blog I write will be on my new computer :) Until then, yall have a good week!