Simple Chicken Veggie Soup

Simple Chicken Veggie Soup

1 box of chicken broth

1/2 bag of frozen chicken tenders

1 bag of baby carrots

2 or 3 large onions

2 or 3 zucchini squash

1 bag (or batch) of sliced mushrooms

1 cup of fresh spinach

2 tbsps. chopped garlic

1 tbsp. salt

2 tbsps. pepper

1 tsp. Goya Adobo All Purpose (Mexican) Seasoning

shredded Mozzarella cheese

Boil the frozen chicken until it's done - the tenders will float. Remove the tenders and set aside to cool. I scoop out more broth from this pot as needed. After they have cooled and you have finished boiling the veggies as described below, you may cut and add the chicken last.

While the chicken is boiling, and in a separate pot, bring the box of chicken broth and the same amount of water to a boil and start to boil the carrots while you cut the onions into eighths. After about 5 minutes, add the onions. While those boil for a couple of minutes, slice the squash, then add it. Now, dump in the pre-sliced mushrooms and all spices - save the spinach for last as it needs no boiling at all. After all veggies are somewhat tender (careful not to overcook), add the cup (or more) of spinach. After serving, add Mozzarella cheese on top and allow a few minutes for it to melt. That's it! 

This soup is great with corn chips - our favorite are the blue corn. Also, you can change it up and add celery, try yellow squash, or try other veggies like turnips or rutabagas - whatever is in your fridge. The trick is - no tomatoes or potatoes, as they totally change the flavor.

Time Flies

Time Flies!

This is a video that our son David made with his friends in 7th grade for Ms. Gandre's Reading class.

New Year

"Delight yourself in the LORD who gives you the desires of your heart." ~Psalm 37:4 This is my New Year's resolution. Well, the spiritual one. For me, it starts with being thankful to God and recognizing what He is giving me.

     Looking back at this crazy year that began with Robert losing his leg and continued with us nearly losing our daughter-in-law and grandchild to HELP Syndrome, we have much to be thankful for. Most recently, we have had fun times with our sweet family, our grandchild's first Christmas, our youngest son's 3.9 GPA, our oldest son joining him and sacrificing vacation time to work on the ranch, preparing to join Sacred Heart Catholic Church, witnessing the union of five generations as my grandma met her great-great granddaughter, and so much more. This year we also celebrated 25 years of marriage. 

     Additionally, we have parents who love us (probably too much at times); we work with great people; we are able to exercise our gifts in both of our workplaces (teacher and rancher); and we have friends who truly love us and miss us when these things keep us apart for long. What more could we ask for? Nothing but to be given opportunities to return the blessings and to delight in God.

     Yet, we still have our normal human struggles and trials- mostly just wanting to sleep through the night despite the ranch dogs barking or to have just one day when we don't have to clean up some kind of animal feces or vomit- BUT it could be worse. (Back from the rabbit trail...) In short, to delight oneself in the Lord begins with recognizing Him in the gifts of those He places in our lives- first of all, our spouse, then our immediate family and closest friends. A wise person recently told us, "You know, you and Christie will find that very often in your life, you'll be the only ones there for eachother. Kids grow up and leave and have their own family, parents age, friends move or come and go, and the same for extended family; but you two will always be there for one another. That's just the way it works." Thank God for that. 

Life Hack Chicken Tenders

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My mom-in-law's life hack-

Place frozen, yes frozen, chicken tenders in a nonstock skillet, season, cover, and cook on low until done. This made the tenderest, juiciest chicken, AND it's convenient! 

Thanks, Mama Jane! 

Samson - Caught in the Act

The Joy of the LORD is Your Strength

Today’s personal lesson leads me to one learned by the people in Jerusalem at around 400 BC. History is wonderful because it holds records of people like us who lived and strained and overcame (or not). Travel back in time with me to imagine this brief scenario for a minute.

The people of Jerusalem had been captives in Babylon long enough to forget their native language of Hebrew. Now exiled and with the priest, Ezra, standing above them on a special wooden platform he built just for this occasion, they hear him read the words of the Hebrew Law at this public assembly, where the Levites translate it for them. For the first time, many hear and understand God's teachings through the Law and begin to wail and to weep. Surprisingly, they are told to be silent with their lamenting and advised to rejoice in their deliverance - not only a physical one, but evidently a spiritual one too. 

Ezra, the priest, exhorts them: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD is your strength!” - Nehemiah 8:10 Purim is born. 

Thank God He is not a god of gloom and doom! Being sinful by old nature does not exempt us from also partaking in God's goodness by our new nature in  Him. In fact, the truth is the opposite of what you would expect. The more sinful we have been, the more reason for rejoicing to get past it! Even in mere rejoicing we are repenting, turning our attention to the Father and feasting in the greatness of His goodness that delivers us from ourselves. 

Sometimes our temptation is to remain downtrodden, or worse yet, to presume that someone else should be that way; yet God, in His merciful ways that are not like our ways, comes in and declares it time for a feast of joy! 

In short, today's lesson for me is this:

If, when we are enlightened by God's word that we are living in error, we forget to rejoice in God's strength that delivers us, then we forsake the very purpose of repentance itself - the fullness of joy through our deliverance.  

Stated positively:

If, when we are enlightened by God's word as to how we should be living, we embrace it and return, then we receive the fullness of joy, within which God intends for us to live daily.

Front Porch Pet

Meet thamnophis marcianus - aka the front-porch, checkered gartersnake or Mouse and Rat Patrol.  If you look closely, you can see a lump from a recent meal. Within this same area we have also seen a coral snake and water snake or water moccasin (we didn't get close enough to tell), so we're glad to see this docile and more harmless creature take up residence. 

Gartnersnakes are good for the environment surrounding one's home because they eat bugs and mice. These grow to be up to four feet long and live up to ten years. We're hoping our little buddy here stays and even starts a family.