O-damn!

This past weekend Allen and I went down to Odem (or O-damn in Allen's words) to visit family. It was a very nice visit. Saturday we went into Corpus to see & visit with Mamu. She is doing well- getting better day by day. It was also a special time since Joe got to meet his cousin, Peter (they are 3 weeks apart) so that was fun! And of course we all had a wonderful time getting to spend time with baby Joe. He is SO cute and just as happy as he can be! Always smiling & laughing! Such a sweet baby boy...as you can tell from the photos he is one happy little boy :) and he is definitely a momma's boy. And Cadee has adjusted well to motherhood, she's such a great mommy! Joe also LOVES his Uncle Allen!

West Texas Fun!

Aubrey watching the West Texas Fair Parade

Hugging little Miss Aubrey

Aubrey loves her baby sister!

Precious Shaylee Girl

On Friday, September 5th was not only my first day of substitute teaching but also was the start of one fun weekend. Mom had already decided she was going to Abilene for the weekend so I decided to go along for one to keep her company but also to see my sweet baby nieces, Aubrey & Shaylee. We had a great weekend and so much fun! It really was like a girls' weekend since Casey and Dad were bird hunting all weekend.

The West Texas Fair was kicking off that weekend and we got to take Aubrey & Shaylee to the parade that Saturday morning. I LOVE parades! They are like a childhood classic and bring back fond memories of the parades in downtown Wharton on the square. The joys & experiences of living in a small town. I had a wonderful time playing with little miss Aubrey. She is one funny little girl! And such a great BIG sister. Shaylee is such a good baby and oh so sweet! Aubrey helped me bake a cake...she loves cake! She says "cake!" haha, she gets her sweet tooth from her Daddy & her MiMi. She is a great helper and baker! And let's not forgot oh how she loves make-up. Ohh I think Casey & Jen might be in for it when she gets older. Haha! Aubrey and Shaylee are just precious and I'm so thankful for their sweet lil' faces! Here are just some of the fun photos from my weekend in Abilene...enjoy!

Nonni Loves Shaylee!

Already posing for the camera :)

Nonni let Aubrey do her own make-up that day...haha

Only 2 and already SaSSY!

Aubrey thought the Cool Whip was for her instead of the cake- look @ that face! Haha

Papa and Aubrey ready for bed!

“Be glad of life because it gives you a chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at stars." Henry Vandyke

Sunday News

Seems like I haven't had much time to sit down and write since I started work. I have some free time so I thought I'd give a somewhat quick update of what's been going on... Yesterday I returned from a 2 day conference in Fort Worth, where I learned so many new things and it really was another affirmation to me that this is exactly where God wants me at this point in my life. I could go on forever about the conference and all the amazing things I learned but I really don't want to write a novel so I'll just say it was one of the best experiences I have ever had at a conference. Dr. Becky Bailey founded Conscious Discipline and she is one amazing teacher and person. I am so thankful I was able to be apart of her experience & conference!

Having some fun at the conference!

IKE Update: Mom and Dad are still without power BUT hopefully sometime at the beginning of this week, power will be restored. They are doing great despite not having power and thank God daily for sparing their house during IKE. Kara on the other hand is still trying to clean up the mess IKE left at her house, as well as Judy & Heather...please continue to keep them in your prayers!

Allen's Grandmother- MAMU: Mamu was in a bad car accident on Friday- so please lift her up in your prayers as well as Allen's mom. Mamu will have to have extensive amount of surgeries and therapy before she will be able to walk again. This has been an extremely hard year for Mamu...in May her house burned and she is still in the rebuilding process, also in mid-summer she had a mild heart attack. It will be a very long road to recovery and I just ask that you keep Mamu in your prayers for a fast healing but also for Nancy (Allen's mom) as she endures this long process with her mother. She will need the Lord's strength as well as ours to help carry Mamu through.

JOE Update: Cadee called today to share the exciting news that Joe rolled over today for the first time! He rolled from his stomach to his back :) so hard to believe in 4 days Joe will be 3 months old. They grow so fast!!

WORK Update: While I'm very much enjoying my job at the school, I am so excited to see what the future holds for me. When I think of the state I was in while at Sanderson Farms and to FINALLY be able to enjoy what I do for a living and be excited about it, is truly a blessing from above! God not until continues to show me his grace & mercy but also that when we put our complete trust in him- oh how he will move mountains for us! This is has been such a libertating experience and has definitely made me only want to seek what else He has in store for me.

I hope everyone has a fabulous week! Much Love!!

...And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm...

God Bless Texas!

So Hurricane IKE takes a toll on our great state of Texas! I have been glued to the TV since Friday night watching the storm and now aftermath. Just devastating!!! My heart goes out to everyone along the Gulf Coast. I can't even imagine for 1. having to leave my home in the midst of a massive storm headed towards the coast, 2. not having electricity, gas, food, WATER readily accessible (all things we most definitely take for granted), 3. once the storm as passed now being allowed to return to your home, and 4. the UNKNOWN of when you will be allowed back into your home, what will be there when you do, AND what comes next?

My mom & dad decided to "shelter in place" as well as Kara, Madyson, Maddox, Laura, and my cousin Heather decided to ride out the storm at my parents. While my parents were extremely blessed and fortunate that their house was spared other than some large limbs in the yard. THANK YOU LORD! They are still without power but everyone is safe and that's what is most important! My dad does have a generator so they have limited power but no air.

On the other hand, my sisters' home in Spring was not as fortunate. A tree fell on her home and there is extensive damage to the 2nd story with a great amount of water damage to both floors. The other home we are worried about is my Aunt Judy and cousin Heather which is in the Bacliff area located right off Dickinson Bay (directly off of Galveston Bay). While being glued to the TV, ABC channel 13's SkyEye went over which I believe is my Aunt Judy's home and it was STILL there! So hopefully that will be the case when she gets to go back home.

It amazes me how powerful mother nature can be! Just really unbelievable!! While I'm very thankful each of my family members and friends I know in that area are safe, but my heart still breaks for all those effected by Hurricane Ike. I am so thankful to be part and live in such a great state such as Texas. Please remember to lift up and pray Texas and all those effected by this massive storm, as well as my sister and Aunt Judy & Heather.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand....For I am the Lord, who says to you, DO NOT FEAR; I WILL HELP YOU!" Isaiah 41:10, 13

Fun in the Sun!

Madyson and her favorite aunt ever...Nonni :)

Madyson and the bunny :)


I made Maddox the tiniest pancake EVER! ( you can barely see it on his plate) He loved it & thought Nonni was too funny!

Maddox "singin' in the rain!" or water sprinkler- which ever

August 29th was Dad's 55th birthday...Happy Birthday DAD!!!! We love you!

We had a pretty low key weekend since Dad hardly ever get lots down time from work. I ended up staying longer than intended because my super sweet niece Madyson insisted that "Nonni" not go back to work but stay with her for just a bit longer. Haha...how could I resist that request?! Sunday Kara, Mom, and myself took Madyson & Maddox to Kemah Boardwalk for a day of fun in the sun! While it was just a tad bit warm, we still had a great time! Heather also met us up there & afterwards we went to Aunt Judy's to visit. It was nice to get out of the house and enjoy the beautiful day. Here are few photos of our fun-filled day in Kemah :)

A new journey...

Tomorrow will start a new journey for me as I will now be a full-time employee of College Station ISD. I am so very thankful & blessed to have this opportunity to finally be living my dream of being a teacher. While I will not have a teaching position, I will at least be in the school system and I believe it's a start of what is to come. I know God has great plans for me and while I have prayed for many months for the door to open, I truly believe I've been put in this new position for a reason. I'm not completely sure of my job title & all the ins & outs of the jobs but essentially I will be the behavioral intervention specialist for Forest Ridge Elementary (grades K-4th). It will definitely be great experience for me and I pray it will open the door for a full-time teaching position next year with my OWN classroom.

I had an exceptionally wonderful weekend in Abilene and got to see my 2 beautiful neices, Aubrey & Shaylee. I rode up there with Mom and we had a great time! WELL, I better get to bed so I'll be well rested for my first day of my new job/career. Hopefully I'll get to update later this week & post pictures from this weekend and last weekend.

Lots of exciting & wonderful things going on in our lives...Thank you Jesus!

Sew Cute!

Got a few more burp cloths done...attempting to make bibs to match! It's sew cute & sew fun!

What's for dinner?

Lime-Cilantro Pork Tacos

Ingredients

1 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into thin strips
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced onion
1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped plum tomato
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
8 (6-inch) flour tortillas

Preparation

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle pork with salt and black pepper. Add oil to pan. Add pork, and sauté 4 minutes or until browned. Remove pork from pan; place in a bowl. Add onion and jalapeño to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add broth; reduce heat, and simmer 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in tomato; simmer 2 minutes.

Return pork and accumulated juices to pan. Stir in cilantro and lime juice; cook 1 minute or until pork is done.

Heat tortillas according to package directions. Spoon 1/2 cup pork mixture into each tortilla; roll up.

Use the same pan to brown the pork and make the rave-worthy sauce. Browning the pork improves its color, and the browned bits enrich the sauce's flavor. Add more jalapoño pepper if you enjoy spicy food.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 tacos)

Nutritional Information

CALORIES 416(28% from fat); FAT 13.1g (sat 3.6g,mono 6.8g,poly 1.6g); IRON 3.8mg; CHOLESTEROL 75mg; CALCIUM 101mg; CARBOHYDRATE 43.1g; SODIUM 569mg; PROTEIN 30.2g; FIBER 3.6g


I recently made these delicious tacos for dinner and not only were they super easy but very flavorful. I served sour cream, fresh shredded cheese, and salsa as additional toppers and fat-free refried beans as a side. Black bean salsa/salad would also be great as a side dish. For the tortillas, I use whole wheat flour tortillas that are made in the store (H-E-B). They are fresh, very low on preservatives, and figure friendly as well as tasty! Can be served with corn tortillas as well. Have fun with it and tailor the recipe to you and your families liking. Serve with it whatever suits your fancy! Note to remember: pork cooks very quickly so be sure not to over cook it or else it will become tough and rubbery.

This recipe can easily be made within 30 minutes- great for a fast weeknight dinner! Hope you enjoy this tasty and super easy recipe! This will definitely be a recipe I'll be cooking for many years to come...