Non-Smoking Please

Today I have been a Non-Smoker for 6 months! Praise the Lord, I couldnt' have done it without him! It hasn't been easy, but with the Lord's help I haven't had ONE cigarette since I quit on August 27, 2008! I have thought about it, and I have wanted one several times, but with God's help, I never gave in. I never ever thought I would be able to quit for good. But so far we are on the right track!

Sopapilla Cheesecake

This is not something I have actually tried yet, it is a recipe that someone gave me in one of those e-mail “Recipe Exchange” things...but it sounded so good...If someone tries it before me, let me know how it turns out.

You will need:

2 big cans crescent rolls

2 (8oz) packages cream cheese room temperature

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tbs cinnamon

1 1/2 c sugar - divided (1 cup for filling and 1/2 cup for topping)

1 stick of butter - melted

Beat cream cheese, vanilla and 1 cup of sugar until smooth and fluffy.

Unroll 1 pckg crescent rolls and press into bottom of 9x13 baking dish pinching together seams. Spread cream cheese mixture on top and then cover with 2nd pkg of crescent rolls.

Pour melted butter over the top of crescent roll top layer and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Bake 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Serve warm or chilled. If serving warm you can drizzle some honey on top and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Through the Fire

I have been having such a hard time with the WHY’s of life lately. God reminded me of this song this morning and I thought I would share it here. I have added it to my player at the bottom of my blog if you want to scroll down and choose the song on the player and read the words along with it. It is VERY powerful and just what I needed this morning.


So many times I've questioned certain circumstances
Things I could not understand
Many times in trials, weakness blurs my vision
Then my frustration gets so out of hand
It’s then I am reminded I've never been forsaken
I've never had to stand the test alone
As I look at all the victories the spirit rises up in me
And its through the fire my weakness is made strong

He never promised that the cross would not get heavy
And the hill would not be hard to climb
He never offered our victories without fighting
But he said help would always come in time
Just remember when your standing in the valley of decision
And the adversary says give in
Just hold on, our Lord will show up
And he will take you through the fire again

I know within myself that I would surely perish
But if I trust the hand of God, he'll shield the flames again

He never promised that the cross would not get heavy
And the hill would not be hard to climb
He never offered our victories without fighting
But he said help would always come in time
Just remember when your standing in the valley of decision
And the adversary says give in
Just hold on, our lord will show up
And he will take you through the fire again

RED STEAK & GRAVY

This is Bill’s favorite and something his mother cooks for him on his birthday. He asked me repeatedly to learn how to cook this before I ever became brave enough. I never try to duplicate any of his mother’s cooking because, well, it would just be foolish. I will never be as good a cook as she is, however, he DOES love my red steak and gravy ALMOST as much as his moms. To me that is a major accomplishment.

RED STEAK & GRAVY

Roast
(3) Cans of Tomato Sauce
Flour
Oil (for skillet)
(1) Onion
Garlic Salt
Ground Pepper
Onion Powder

Slice Roast into steak-sized slices about an 1” thick
(if you are like me and hate to touch raw meat, buy the already cut Eye of Round Steaks)
Pour (3) Cans of Tomato Sauce and (2) Cans of water into a Crock-Pot
Flour roast steaks and brown on each side
(they don’t have to cook completely they will go in the crock-pot after browning)
Cut slices of onion into crock pot
Season to taste, (I add a garlic salt, ground pepper, and onion powder)
Cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4 hours
(may take more or less time depending on the thickness of the meat)

Note: I serve with mashed potatoes (red gravy over potatoes), butter peas, and rolls!

From the Kitchen of Ma Kimble

Love & Relationships

I have figured out in order to have a good marriage you have to spend time together! I know that sounds so simple, but it is something I realized Bill and I hadn't been doing enough. We both felt neglected because each of us had our own things to do, and we were doing them apart. Not that doing your own thing and being apart is bad, it isn't. It's just that life sometimes gets in the way of your marriage. You can't have a relationship and never talk. Sometimes you have to make a decision to spend time with each other, and to make each other feel important. I made the decision about 2 weeks ago that I was going to do my best to make Bill feel like the most important thing to me (because he is). Nothing else was going to come before him. I decided to spend time with him, doing things he likes and show him how much he means to me. I realized that the more I did that, the more he decided to do the same....we have had the BEST two weeks of our marriage (so far)!!

What I realized this weekend (I knew this before now, it just hit home this weekend) is you have to spend time with God in order to have a good relationship with him as well. How can you expect ANY relationship to grow if you only talk to each other once a week. How would you feel if the only time people took time to talk to you was when they were asking you to do something? How would you feel if no one ever spent time with you just because they liked your company. I would think that is how God feels sometimes. I realized this weekend, I have really let my "quiet time" with God slip. I have allowed things to get in the way, I am not referring to sin, but just life in general. When you start letting your time with God slip, your relationship will slip as well (just like in marriage). God desires for you to talk to him, to spend time in his presence. Going to church once a week isn't enough. Praying when you want something, isn't enough. You have to have a RELATIONSHIP with God. He isn't our personal Genie in a bottle; only here to grant our wish, and then go back in the bottle until we want him again. He is the LOVER OF OUR SOUL. The almighty God and he wants his creation to worship him and love him.

Think of this: Is it enough for someone to love you without ever telling you or showing you? They just take for granted that you know they love you. Is that how we are treating God. How often do you spend time just loving God, just reading his word, worshiping him, thanking him. I know I haven't been doing enough of that lately.

I know how I desire to be shown love and to be told I am loved. I am sure God feels the same way. Yes he "knows your heart", just as I "know my husbands heart" when it comes to loving me...but there is something so much more special about it when he TELLS me he loves me.

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not have a wonderful Valentine's Date with my husband! I did not eat entirely too much at the restraunt! I did not know that a sugar overload gives me a horrific headache and then did not order a huge brownie-ice cream-whipped cream-chocolate syrupy-dessert and I did not eat almost the entire thing by myself. That is most certainly not why I felt soooo bad Sunday!

To Try or Not to Try, What a Scary Question!

Bill and I have been talking about trying to get pregnant again. I am not as confident as he is that I am ready. I honestly don't think I will ever be "ready" like I was last July. It was such an exciting time, something I had looked forward to for so long. The morning I saw that pink line I can remember how happy I was, I couldn't stop smiling for days. I am afraid I will never feel that excitement again. The thought of seeing that line appear again is exciting and absolutely terrifying all at the same time. Not only for the obvious reasons, but also for the financial reasons. Our jobs don't feel as "stable" as they did 7 months ago when we decided to start this journey. All of these fears, financial and emotional, are clouding my mind. My heart aches to be a Mommy, and I long to watch Bill be a daddy to our children. I am flooded with so many emotions; I am just not sure I am capable of making the decision to "try" again.
All of that to say this, Please pray for us that we will have a peace about whatever decision we make. God knows the desires of my heart and he knows his good and perfect will for my life. I just want to two to line up with each other.

Psalms 37:4 NIV
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Corn Chowder

1 Can of Cream Corn
1Can of Whole Kernel Corn
1Can of Diced New Potatoes
1 ½ c milk
Green Onions Chopped (to taste)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Cubes of Ham (1/2 of one of the packages of already chopped ham will do, or if you want to chop your own ham, use your best judgment)

Heat the ham cubes in the bottom of the Soup Pot
Add Cream Corn, Milk, Whole Kernel Corn, Potatoes, and chopped green onions
Stir and bring to a boil
Reduce heat to about medium and let cook for about 20 minutes stirring occasionally
Add cracked pepper and shredded cheese to taste
Serve with Oyster Crackers

Hint: I add the cheese and pepper to the individual bowls of soup, rather than whole pot. No one ever likes the same amount of cheese or pepper. When added individually each person gets as much or as little as they like.

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not kiss these little cheeks a million times Sunday afternoon!

I did not get spring fever this weekend since it was not 70 degrees on Saturday! I most certainly did not use that as an excuse to stay home and do nothing all weekend except for the small break I did not take to go kiss baby Grey on his baby cheeks!

I also did not shamelessly get Kennedy to say "finger" so Bill could hear her say "pinger" instead...and I certainly did not think it was the most precious thing I had ever heard!

I also did not laugh uncontrollably when Kennedy informed us there were 2 boys (grey and daddy) and 2 girls (her and Kylie) in her family! She did not look at me like I had asked the most absurd question in the world when I asked her what Mommy was (boy or girl). She did not answer me in a duh-like tone and simply reply "Mommy." Of Course, what was I thinking!

I have not racked my brain tirlessley to figure a way to include Kylie in this Not Me Session and I have not included a picture of her here just because!

Yes We Can Read, and a Few of Us Can Even Write!!

Have you ever heard of Tennessee Williams, Willie Morris, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, John Grisham?? All are awarded and honored writers, and all are Mississippians! AND there are many many more!! No other state can claim as many!!

I want to direct your attention to a website on my side bar under “My Favorite Websites.” It’s called “Mississippi, Believe It!”

It reveals things about our state that you probably never knew. Despite the negative stereotypes that are out there; we here in Mississippi take pride in our state, and are proud to be Mississippians. Many wonderful things have come from Mississippi and this website does a wonderful job of showcasing these people and accomplishments.

This campaign takes common Mississippi stereotypes and twists them to reveal the truth about the state.

Please take a moment and enjoy this wonderful website.

Creamy Chicken

It's that time again! Time for another yummy recipe for a bland Tuesday night! My wonderful little sister cooked this for us one night, and it was as marvelous as she is! Hope you enjoy!!

Creamy Chicken

5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
5 slices of Swiss cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup crushed croutons (Italian seasoned)
¼ cup butter (melted)

Place the chicken in a greased baking dish
Top each with a slice Swiss cheese
Pour soup over chicken and cheese
Crush croutons and Mix with melted butter and spread over the top
Bake uncovered on 350 for 45 minutes

From the Kitchen of Holly Hall

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not neglect all of my household duties Saturday to go to the woods with my wonderful husband. I did not enjoy every minute of our being alone together with no phones, no interruptions, no people, and no worries. I was not happy that we didn't see a single deer considering we don't have 2 deer already in the cooler at home waiting to be processed.

I did not accidentally leave my make-up in my desk drawer when I left work Friday, and did not seriously think about skipping church Sunday because of this. I sure didn't spend $50 that I didn't have on new "cheap" make-up at Wal-Mart at 9:00PM Saturday, so that I could go to church Sunday morning, without feeling like a troll. Not Me! I am NOT that vain!