Different, yet the same.

I am taking a Family Science class this semester and I am required to take counseling sessions for a grade. In my session today my therapist shared a few things with me.

The first thing she shared was that she sees traits in me that I only have because of the experiences I have had in my life. She said I have unique insight and compassion because of the things God has brought me to and through. She feels that I am going to make a fantastic counselor one day. Well, I was both shocked and flattered that she felt this way. She also said she feels encouraged by my life story and hearing me talk about how far God has brought me. It was so nice to hear her say that I have done a wonderful job in processing my feelings about what God is doing in my life. I told her that I felt inadequate and uncertain about what I am called to do. I told her I thought Satan was not out necessarily to keep me from God, but to keep me from helping other hurting people. She told me to hang on, to be confident that God began a good work in me and that He will carry it on to completion. To just KEEP WALKING IN HIM, one step at a time. Just like I had to depend on God when I was dealing with those deep, dark places in my life, I have to depend on Him to light each step when times are good, too. God will not leave me and He will not lead me astray, He will guide me to the exact place He intends for me to be.

I was encouraged, and this evening I feel very strongly about the other thing we talked about...

My therapist and I also talked extensively about my plans to have another tattoo done on my foot. Now, I won't share all the details of this tattoo....you have to wait for the pictures. But, I will tell you it has a butterfly in the design. She asked me if I knew that a caterpillar and a butterfly have the same DNA. (Huh? What? I did not know that!!) Yes, it seems that it is true. Their DNA is the same....exactly. The caterpillar goes through metamorphosis and when this happens, certain genetic codes are "turned on" to allow growth and change to take place. Before the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it's DNA becomes a kind of DNA soup. It loses it's structure entirely and has to hang on believing that something good can come of the mess it is in. That poor caterpillar just sits there waiting on something beautiful to happen. After metamorphosis is complete and the butterfly is fully formed, it still has the same DNA as when it began life. The only difference is that the butterfly is now "grown up" into a beautiful creature.

Made me think about how God has grown me over the years. Made me think about all the things I have "survived" over the years. And...it made me think about how that little butterfly on my foot will be a permanent stamp of the changes I have gone through.

That butterfly on my foot is the symbol of my testimony. My heart. My life story.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

2 cups cooked, cubed chicken breast
1 lb. bag Bird's Eye Classic Mixed Vegetables
2 medium potatoes, washed and cubed into bite size pieces
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cans of ten count buttermilk biscuits (I usually get the Pillsbury four pack and then have two cans leftover)
one can Cream of Mushroom soup
one can Cream of Chicken soup
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup milk
garlic to taste
salt to taste
pepper to taste
dash of basil-optional
couple pinches of thyme-optional


Boil chicken (reserve 1/4 cup of broth), allow to cool, and then cube into pieces.
Grease a 9x13 baking dish and pour in bag of frozen vegetables.
Wash, peel, and chop potatoes. Put them on top of the veggies.
Add the chopped onion on top of this.
At this point I usually put my salt, pepper, garlic, basil, and thyme on top of everything in the pan.
Add cubed chicken on top.

(You should have the following order: Veggies, potatoes, onion, spices, and chicken in the pan)

Last, mix the cans of soup with 1/2 cup of milk and 1/4 cup of chicken broth. It will be pretty soupy. Pour this mixture over the chicken and veggies in the pan. Use the back of a spoon to distribute evenly.

Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 30-45 minutes. The cooking time depends on how long it takes the potatoes to cook. I usually pull the pan out of the oven and check the potatoes with a fork.

When the potatoes are fork tender add the two cans of biscuits on top. You should be able to fit all 20 biscuits in top.

Leave off the foil and put the pan back in oven. Bake another 10-15 minutes until the biscuits are golden brown on top.

***I made this recipe up one night just going along and adding things together. When my kids asked for it again a couple of weeks later, I had forgotten how I made it!! Five years later, it is now a favorite. My children and husband beg for this dish all the time. They absolutely love it.***

This recipe will feed a hungry crowd of kids.

Remembering my Mama

Mama,
Today makes 16 years you've been gone. I miss you today just as much as I did back then. I'd give anything to hug you just one more time. I think the words of this song sum up my feelings really well. I miss you like crazy and I can't wait until I see you again.

***Scroll down and stop the music in the music player before starting this video.



You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbye
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

Dear Daddy...

I wrote this last year in memory of my Daddy. And, while it brings me to tears every single time I watch it, I really wanted to re-post it this year. I miss my Daddy every day of every year that goes by. This will be my 14th Father's Day without him.

I cherish these pictures with all of my heart, as they are the only ones I have left of him. For those of you that might wonder, that is my beautiful Mama with him in the blog post. In the video, he is shown with his longtime and very dear friend, Pam Austin.

The very last picture on the video is the last one ever taken of Dad. It was taken only ten days before he died.

I believe it captures best what we all loved about Waymon...his smile.


***Read the blog post and then watch the video at the bottom. Be sure to hit pause on my music player so you can hear the music on the video.***


{original post}

This year makes the 13th year I have spent Father's Day without you.

I miss you every single day of every single year that passes by. I never realized how hard it would be without you. I miss you at times when I least expect it. I have very few pictures left of you and not one of you and Holley together. It stinks.

My memories are all I have left when my children ask questions about you. I tell them all the funny, crazy stuff we did together.

I tell Holley about how scared you were to hold her the day after she was born.

She just laughs.

I remember the educational things you taught me over the years.

I remember the silly little things.





Because of you:

I learned to check and change the oil in my car.

I learned how to change a flat tire.

I developed a serious constant craving for Chick-A-Dilly chicken.

Every time I see a jar of Tostitos cheese dip I think of you.



I learned to judge the mechanics that work on my car.

I also learned to never let them take advantage of me.

All during my childhood I was convinced I had been named after a carburetor.

I learned to appreciate a person that can hunt and kill their own food.

I developed a deep love for hunting later, because of you.

I see you when I see blue Dickies coveralls.




Crown Royal tastes the best when I miss you terribly and need a good, stiff drink...Waymon Holley style.

Everywhere I look I see hooded eyes.

I learned that sausage is best smoked on the grill and served with mustard.

I remember sitting with you on the porch at Pam's holding your hand...silently.

I remember going hunting with you and sharing a can of Vienna Sausages. YUK!!

You always bought me an ICEE, every time we went into the Pit Stop.

I think of you every time I think of Pam. Those bonds are unbreakable.

Pennywise the clown still scares the crap out of me.

My college degree? It's for you.

To this day I think of you when I see a Nissan truck.

And a Rottweiler.

And a Cocker Spaniel.

And a Beagle.


Click on my music player to disable the blog music before you play this video. Thx.

Pretzels with Cheese Dip

By far, The Yummiest Pretzels Ever!!!

Ingredients:

* 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
* 1 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
* 2 tablespoons butter, softened
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 4 cups water
* 2 tablespoons baking soda
* Coarse salt
* 8 ounces process American cheese, cubed
* 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
* 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
* Prepared mustard

Directions:
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add butter, sugar, salt and 2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
Punch dough down. Divide into 12 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 15-in. long strip; twist into a pretzel shape.
In a large non-aluminum kettle, bring water to a boil; add baking soda. Drop two pretzels into water; boil for 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain. Place on a greased baking sheet; sprinkle with coarse salt. Repeat for each pretzel. Bake at 475° for 10-12 minutes. Remove from pan to wire racks to cool.
For dip, combine cheeses in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or until melted, stirring occasionally. Stir in milk. Serve the pretzels with the cheese dip and mustard. Yield: 1 dozen.




Picture borrowed from Taste of Home website.

World's Best Potatoes

Here's a quick side dish when you are too busy to slave over the stove.

5-6 medium Yukon Gold potatoes

3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 Tablespoon salt

1/2 Tablespoon pepper

2-3 Tablespoons McCormick Grill Mates Onion & Garlic Medley Seasoning

Wash and cut up potatoes into bite size pieces. Put in large bowl. Add in the salt, pepper, onion and garlic, and EVOO. Stir until well coated. (You can add more or less of the seasonings to suit your individual tastes.) Put all in a greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake at 375 until golden brown and the potatoes are tender.

These are delicious!! My hubby and children request them on a regular basis.




The Honey BBQ Chicken we made to go with our potatoes.



YUMMY!!!!

Favorite Sites.

Sites I visit Everyday

My photos on Flickr

My photography fan page on Facebook

TWLOHA

NWA Healthy Marriages

____________________

Helpful Sites

Psych Central

National Sex Offender Registry

Breaking pornography addiction

Heart Support

Pure Life Ministries

Partners for Purity

National Domestic Violence Hotline (When you click on this link it will give you a pop window expressing safety precautions. The link is not broken, it will work.)

Violence Unsilenced

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Missing Kids

Amber Alert

____________________

And...Food :)

Campbell's soup recipes

Food Network

Emeril

Allrecipes

I will add more later. :)