Ferret..........FOR REAL?

We're all about hospitality over here.........I'm about the people and Matt's about the food.......give me some people and Matt some food and it's epic hospitality..........our hospitality does not just stop with people- I am an Auntie to my nephew and niece's dog Jax- He will come over and socialize with Oklie (our dog) & Ellie.....We've babysat guinea pigs and have even watched fish (sorry Ruby, I swear Eli did not kill your fish- it was just unfortunate coincidence that it died while he was watching it...oops!).
I'm not sure who passed our hospitable home info out but somehow through the animal grape vine it was shared................
You know on those Disney Cartoons when you see the animals barking through out the town 'spreading the news'- an orphaned ferret heard and decided to 'check us out' is how I am guessing the next part of this story happened... :)
Several months back, our neighbors house sold- While it was in the process of being sold, a handy man came in and did a significant amount of work- spending several weeks at the home.  During the course of those weeks we would see him off and on- Towards the end of job we happened to catch each other in passing...........'Did you know you have a ferret living under your house?  I've seen it come and go several times since I've started working here (at the neighbors)...It was actually in the garage (at the neighbors) and I chased it out and watched it run under your house....'
I did that 'oh, wow....I will have to let my husband know- thanks' reply.  He then said 'You know, they can do quite a bit of damage under there if you guys don't do anything about it...'
Uh-huh my head nodded...
I was secretly thinking...'Seriously...a ferret...whatever....'
Fast forward 3 or so months...........Sale Pending House............Professional Inspection Ordered by the Buyers....
The home inspector was thorough- Putting on this intense white suit to go under the house (I think he even put on a mask over his mouth).
When he came back out from the 'under the house' inspection he made a bee line for Matt and I- He started off with (it was a 96 degree day) 'The nice thing about being under your house is that it is as cool under there as it is in your house........usually it is really hot under homes....'
Then he whipped out his camera and said 'I think you guys should see this'

Did you know that ferret's will eat your ducting- not just nibble but eat HUGE holes in it........all over in it!
Did you know that those holes will cause your power bill to be upwards of $300 because you are loosing so much air under your house.........
Did you know that the poor buyers were so freaked when they saw the pictures of what was going on they immediately ordered another professional who worked only in heating and air to come inspect (to see if the ducting could be salvaged)
Thankfully it could be and it is all fixed!
Next time the handyman next door comes to me and says 'Did you know that you have a ferret living under your house'
I will respond with 'A Ferret......FOR REAL' and then get right on fixing the problem.

Thankfully, as of today, our house is still pending :) :)

Still a Bit Complicated BUT...

'And We know that God will use ALL things for the good of those that love Him, who have been called according to His purpose' Romans 8:28 

38 years ago today, Sept. 16, 1975, I was born.  It was a complicated birth- not physically speaking but emotionally.  My mom and dad were struggling- my dad struggling with a choice he made to marry my mom- he had already been married, divorced, and had a child with the woman he considered his first love. My mom struggling to hold on to the man that was not only the father of her 2 girls- but the man who she thought of as her first love. 
Shortly after I was born my dad choose to trade the struggle of staying for the freedom of going....

'For we know that God will use all things for the good...'

My dad remarried and had 2 more children.
My mom remarried a man who had 2 children.
It became complicated once again- now 4 people who were broken with 7 children involved trying to navigate through the baggage of the past along with the weight of the present
2 divorces followed.

'For we know that God will use ALL things for the good...'

After my mom's second divorce she heard about a church in a town about a half hour away- just shy of my 8th birthday we, as a family of 3, walked through this Non-Denominational Christian Church's doors for the first time never dreaming that within a short time we would make a life altering decision, all 3 of us accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

'For we know THAT GOD WILL USE ALL THINGS for the good of those who love Him'....

Baggage, Broken, Bitter- how can that be used for the good?

My mom remarried for the 3rd time a Christian man who was marrying for his 3rd time, he having 2 grown kids
My dad remarried for the 4th time a Christian woman whom had been married only once before with 2 kids of her own.
7 marriages 9 children

This time it was complicated with a twist, Christ was involved in the complicated.

My mom and pops have been married for almost 30 years..both Love Jesus
My dad and step mom have been married for over 20...both Love Jesus
My oldest sister Anne has been married 10 years- her life has been complicated...5 or so years ago she gave her life to Jesus, she now has Christ involved in her complicated
My second oldest sister Jodi has been married for almost 15 years, she and her family love Jesus
I have been married to my Matt for 19 years, we love us some Jesus!!
My younger brother Chris has been married for over 10 years, he and his family love Jesus
My youngest brother Levi has been married for over 10 years, he and his family love them some Jesus too!!

Soak this in with me on this 38th Birthday of mine-
My mom and dad, having been married 7 times, produced 5 children with 3 different parents, these children from broken parents and broken homes all, during the course of their life, have accepted Jesus Christ, The parents accepted Christ, the new spouses of the parents accepted Christ.

Yes, we are all still a bit complicated, our story does not sound ideal...BUT

Our Heavenly father took this broken story- broken lives- and broken hearts and did exactly what He promised- through all of the broken He drew us gently to Him- each and every one of us.  Instead of seeing our story as overwhelming or dysfunctional beyond repair Christ took the broken pieces and restored us individually and as a family and most importantly let HIS glory shine through.  I love you Lord Jesus and thank you.

If this blog post finds you with a complicated life- seemingly beyond repair- Don't you dare give up hope- The Lord has a plan for you and will turn your bad, no matter how awful it is, into good- He will use every last ounce of that 'complicated' for His Glory and your good, He promises :)

'And We know that God will use ALL things for the good of those that love Him, who have been called according to His purpose' Romans 8:28 

left to right- my sister, Jodi & Anne Loree, my dad, me, My brothers Chris and Levi

Using the word 'Bomb' on a Sunday

Earlier this afternoon I was scrolling through facebook and something CAUGHT MY EYE...
It's Sunday...the pressure is on...it's family 'hang out' afternoon and our boys expect some good food- I usually get compared to my sis in law Lesa (who is a phenomenal cook)..........'aunt Lesa would make us this or that....' is what I hear...

SUCH PRESSURE!!

So, back to scrolling through facebook for the eye catcher-

Kathy (T) posted a recipe called 'Chicken Bombs'

Upon seeing the picture I was hooked........Upon reading the ingredients it was a done deal....
Last week we discovered among the pumpkins in our back yard a jalapeno plant...WHAT! That must have been labeled 'squash' cause I don't remember buying a Jalapeno plant :)  Hanging off of this newly found Jalapeno plant in our back yard was 6 medium sized Jalapeno's!  We picked them and they have been in the fridge all week just waiting for the perfect 'using' moment........

Lesa, this blog post is dedicated to you and your wonderful cooking- I hope I have made you proud (your nephews say it is ALMOST as good as something you would bake)
And Kathy T. thank you for posting this delicious recipe-

p.s. Happy 66th Birthday to my dad- I love you!

 

my family hanging out this afternoon :)

Chicken Bombs

• 
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Serves: 5, Yield: 10 bombs

Ingredients

• 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 5 jalapenos, sliced in half lengthwise and cleaned
• 20 slices bacon
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup colby-monterey jack cheese or 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• salt and pepper
• 1 cup barbecue sauce

Directions

1. Slice chicken breasts in half (like a hamburger bun). Place in a plastic food bag and pound until 1/4" thick. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Mix the 2 cheeses together and smear about 1 tablespoons into each pepper half (use up the cheese between all of the peppers).
3. Place the pepper on the chicken breast and wrap it up as best you can. I suggest placing the pepper cheese side down so it gets completely covered by the chicken. Wrap each chicken breast completely with two pieces of bacon. Start at one end, wrap half the breast and finish the 2nd half with the other piece of bacon.
4. Cook on a preheated 350 degree grill over indirect for 30 minutes or until chicken is done. Turn every 5 minutes and baste with barbecue sauce each time you turn it.
5. For oven: Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until chicken is done. Baste a couple times with the barbecue sauce and finish under the broiler to set the BBQ sauce. ~~I suggest a 400 degree oven and no BBQ sauce for the first 20 minutes, turning once to help cook the bacon. Then reduce heat to 375, change pans to loose some of the bacon fat, cover with BBQ sauce and and finish baking/broiling.
6. Read more at: http://www.food.com/members/subm/editr2?oc=linkback.

© 2013 Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. http://www.food.com/499604

Chin-Chill-a's & Vipers :)

I flipped open my computer a couple of days ago and the below picture was my screen saver........Where did the picture of my babies go that was my screen saver before and WHY is a chipmunk looking at me now?  Eli walked in the room just as I was mulling all this over and busted up laughing........'What do you think of your new screen saver mom?'  He came across this chipmunk looking animal for sale on craigslist and thought it was so funny looking he couldn't help but share with me..........He say's it's a 'Chin-Chill-A'...........

 Matt's 40th Birthday was last Monday (9th)..........Upon turning 40 he keeps joking that he is entitled to go through a mid life crisis..........'What are we talking about here babe- when you say mid life crisis I am imagining you going a bit crazy!' He turned and gave me an 'I can't believe you would ever think I would do anything crazy...you know I'm way to practical for that' kind of look and then preceded to give me that most adorable grin and said.........'I'm going to get a Viper....it will be a date car for us and then a date car for Ellie and I when she get's older'....................Your WAY to frugal of a guy to drop that kind of money honey was my reply to which we both busted up laughing-

I noticed the next morning when I opened my computer the below pic was my new screen saver.....

Chin-Chill-a's and Viper's as screen savers..............what is life coming too :)

 

 

Happy 89th Birthday Nana!

Happy 89th Birthday to my Nana (my dad's mom).........We celebrated tonight with a BBQ at my Uncle Reid and Aunt Anne's house.

So thankful that my Nana has been a prayer warrior- someone who has faithfully prayed for her family over the years-

Thank you for the Godly example you continue to be Nana...We all love you very much

 

 

Cutest Curls On The Block!

I think she's got the cutest curls on the block...........

I love you Ellie Marie!

(27 months old)

p.s. Happy 40th Birthday to my Matt!! 

They have no speech yet their voice goes out...

Psalm 19

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
³ They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
⁴ Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
⁵     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.
⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
¹¹ By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.
¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
    may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
    innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

 

AMEN!