Crockpot Comfort

Easy Hamburger Vegetable Soup

My next door neighbor growing up always made her hamburger vegetable soup for me every winter. It was one of my favorites. When I moved off to college I e-mailed her for the recipe. It is such an easy and hearty meal in the winter. But like all my recipes I have tweaked it and made it my own… although I am not sure if it is as good as Michele’s. This recipe just uses items I have on hand and I also make it in the Crockpot.

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
3 beef bouillon cubes
2 packs (30 oz) of mixed frozen vegetables (I prefer Publix’s brand)
1 can of Italian Style Tomatoes (do not drain)
2 ½ cups of macaroni noodles
3 cups of water

Brown ground beef and drain. Boil macaroni noodles as directed on package. Heat frozen vegetables in microwave for 8 minutes. Combine all ingredients in Crockpot on high for 4 hours. It is oh so good!

Special tip: brown your ground beef and boil your macaroni noodles the night before and stick in the fridge, then mix together on your lunch break the day of

Light Em Up

Ever since my aunt passed away a couple of months before Christmas my senior year of high school I’ve become what some people would call a scrooge before Christmas. I guess that was the year everything was truly put into prospective for me. All the glitz and glamour of what we’ve made Christmas to be about does not matter a bit. All the gifts under the tree that year brought no comfort or joy to her 5 children that she left behind. It was then that I really realized for the first time how we’ve turned this season from celebrating the birth of Christ into anything but celebrating His birth. I get anxious and irritable every year before Christmas. This year I was so bad I threatened not to even put up a tree… I realize how extreme and irrational I was being so I did decide to put a tree

I am very glad my thoughts about Christmas are shared with a lot of those around me including my husband. We’ve talked a lot this season about how we want Christmas to be like in our home after we have children. We are really considering just three gifts. The reason for three? Jesus was given three gifts by the three wise men. We also want our children to participate in activities where they give back.

That is why I was so excited when I found this great idea on a blog. The basic principle is to share God’s love with those around you (it may be people you know or do not know) by “random acts of kindness”. Many of you have probably seen similar ideas on Facebook or Pinterest but this particular blog that I discovered the idea to do this for Christmas breaks it down for you and makes it as easy as can be. The writer of this blog gives you ideas for random acts of kindness, gift tags to leave behind to the recipient and a planning guide on PDFs that you can download. I know we are all very busy during this time of year and sometimes even scrooges like me still get caught up in the hustle and bustle. But I love this idea and am so grateful someone made it so easy for us by providing all these resources. My challenge to each of you that reads this is to do one random act of kindness. Just one. We never know what the difference of that 1 act can make.

Merry Christmas!

To read the blog yourself and to download the PDFs visit http://www.lillightomine.com/light-em-up-2011.php .

Ham & Cheese Party Sandwiches

Ham and Cheese Party Sandwiches

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we had over some friends to watch the Iron Bowl game. My mother-in-law had sent us home with leftover ham from Thanksgiving. I decided to make ham and cheese party sandwiches. My mother-in-law has made a variation of these before and that is how I got the idea.

Ingredients
1 lb Ham- can be leftover ham from the holidays or deli ham
6 slices of provolone cheese
1 packet of Sara Lee Classic Dinner Rolls
2 tablespoons of melt margarine
2-3 tablespoons (depending on your taste) of McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning


Directions
Cut Yeast Rolls in half
Layer ham and cheese on rolls
Spread melted margarine on tops of rolls
Top with Salad Supreme Seasoning
Make at 350 for 10-15 minutes (You want your rolls browned and your cheese melted)

Serve with Spicy Mustard and Mayonnaise.

Enjoy!

No Promise of Tomorrow

Yesterday in Nashville there was a large pile up that involved over 50 cars. Unfortunately one life was lost. A life that my husband knew. A life of a young husband of only six weeks. A life of a brother whose sister was supposed to get married this weekend. A life of a son whose father was his best friend.

I have not been able to get this family out of my head. Last night as I was taking a bath after a long and stressful day and I glanced over at a picture of Greyson and I on our wedding day. I began to think about how I felt on my wedding day and as a new bride. It was G and I against the world. My mind was full of hopes and dreams of our future. We were giddy and so excited about our new journey. Then I started to think about how Paul’s wife must feel after losing her husband after only six weeks of marriage. I imagined her feeling robed of her hopes, dreams and life with her groom. I began to cry and then I lost it. My heart ached for this girl and all his loved ones. He was on his way to work and just like that he was gone.

Then I started to go a place of what if that had been me? Did I kiss Greyson before work this morning? Did I tell him how much I loved him? I know it may sound cheesy but during my breakdown in the tub the lyrics to “If Tomorrow Never Comes” echoed loudly in my head. Today I have been conscious more than ever of making sure G got a goodbye and welcome home kiss and a hug and tell him how much I love him.

I hope you will join me in praying for this family. Please pray for comfort, peace and that they will be surrounded by people who will minister to their every need. I pray that God would bring people in their lives that have been through similar tragedies. I pray that even in their grief they will find joy.

War Eagle

Greyson and I just returned from a great weekend at our friends, Ashley and David’s house in Columbus, GA. We had a great time. Ashley and I have been best friends since we were sophomores in college and I know without a doubt that we will always be best friends. Ashley and David live close to Auburn now so it was a great excuse to go to a game this weekend. Funny part is Ashley and I have been going on trips to Auburn since we were sophomores in college so I am super jealous that she lives so close now. We’ve had tons of great times in Auburn and we don’t mind telling you our stories…. And boy do we have some. Our poor husbands got to hear several of them too. We even have some from this trip. Let’s just say some things never change. I love this girl to pieces and I couldn’t imagine life without her. And we sure know how to have some fun when we are together. I can’t wait to visit them both more often now that G has a “normal” job.

2005

2006

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2011

30 Days of Thanks

My 30 Days of Thanks:

1. This list is not in any particular order but this #1 is truly my #1- My Lord and Savior. I beyond thankful to know my Savior on a personal level. I view it as a distinct pleasure that I can call on His name anytime. His presence in my life is humbling.
2. My husband. I am thankful to be married to one of the most thoughtful human beings on the face of the earth. He amazes me every day.
3. My daddy- yes, I may be 26 years old but he will always be “my daddy”. He along with my husband is one of the greatest men I know. Hardly ever does a day go by that I don’t talk to him. He is my friend, my mentor and my rock.
4. My momma- I am thankful my mom leads her life by showing by example and not by telling. Every time I cook for someone who is sick or just had a baby, put a care package together or volunteer- I know without a doubt who I learned it from. I was never told to do these things. I was shown how to do them.
5. Libby, I know she is a dog but she brings so much joy to Greyson and me. We never get tired of seeing how excited she is to see us when we come home each day.
6. Realizing I’ve never wanted anything more. Not too long ago G and I were driving down the road and I said, “You know, I’ve never wanted anything more”. We don’t have it all but I have the things I’ve wanted most in my life. I have a loving husband, a great job and an amazing family.
7. My mother-in-law. I want to come up with a new name for her soon because mother-in-law does not seem fitting. She has very much become my second mother. She is there whenever I need her and is always surprising me with her love for us.
8. New friends.
9. Old friends.
10. Leadership Rutherford. I am honored and privilege to be among this group of 40 individuals who motivate me and make me laugh harder than any other group I know.
11. Business Women’s Council. I am humbled to be a part of this council and have met some awesome women in the process.
12. MYP. I am thankful to see this organization grow by leaps and bounds this year.
13. My promotion at work earlier this year.
14. The challenges of each new day at work. Hardly ever does a day pass by at the hotel that I do not leave feeling like I have learned something new. This isn’t something that is easy to always be thankful for though : ) .
15. Greyson’s new job.
16. The ability to spend more time with my husband. This is a first for us. All we’ve ever known in our relationship is either long distance or strenuous schedules.
17. Evelyn*
18. Isaiah*
19. John Keith*
20. Kayden* Our niece and nephews. These little ones hold a very special place in our hearts.
21. My “roots”. I am very thankful for how I was raised and the principles that were installed in me.
22. Rutherford County. I know it may sound funny but I am very thankful to live and work where I do. We have such an awesome community here and a lot to be thankful for.
23. Our safe home.
24. Sweet memories of this year. And there have been a lot of them.
25. New lives. It is the year for babies! (Don’t expect one from us anytime soon though.)
26. Prayer warriors- I love having a great group of friends that I can call on whenever I need some extra prayers.
27. My health.
28. Greyson’s health.
29. My great team at work. I couldn’t do without my Alyssa and Deb.
30. The simple blessing of each new day.

Photo Card

Retro Ornaments Green Christmas

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