Getting Creative

So, we're really trying to make our food stretch in efforts of saying up money for a down payment on a house. Here is a creative I made that Tim found was a pretty good hit.

Guacamole-Salsa Burgers (Time to make, 20 mins)

Ingredients:

• 1 Chicken Breast
• 3 slices of cheese
• 3 sets of hamburger buns
• 3 tbs. of olive oil
• black pepper
• Butter
• Zaschilla sauce (Food 4 Less)
  

*Makes about 3 burgers.

Slice chicken breast about 1/8 in. thick pieces. Set aside.
Heat up 3 tbs. of olive oil in a skillet. Cook chicken until light brown. Season to taste with black peper. Set aside.
Butter each side of buns and cook over medium heat until golden brown.
Top 3 of the bun halves with cheese and let it melt.
Spoon cooked chicken into the remaining halves. Top with zaschilla sauce.
Serve with some yummy chips!

This was a perfect serving for Tim and I. Pretty good lunch on a budget.

Natty News

Quick blog, guess who's waving now?!? I am in AWE of all Natty does and is learning. It is just unbelievable!!!

Here's some of her milestones:

• Rolls over EVERYWHERE
• Sits up
• Eats fruit/veggies
• Smiles constantly
• Laughs
• Knows her name
• Crawls
• Waves
  

I WON!!!

Ok, totally silly, but I get so excited when I win stuff, just because I never really win stuff! Anyhow, our mortgage company sends out monthly newsletters, and there's trivia questions in it each month. Anyhow, I always enter contests and never win, but I thought, hey it's worth a shot. So I entered, and I won!!!! I get free Starbucks!!!!

Ok, the funny thing about Starbucks is, if you know me really know, you know that I DO NOT drink coffee. Can't stand the stuff. Well, I've never EVER purchased a coffee beverage. I mostly get the cream frappuccinoes, hot chocolate, and yummy ice-teas. Silly I know, but hey, it makes me happy.

In other news, we are still looking for a house. We've started the very "daunting" process of getting our pre-approval letter, which tells realtors what we are good for. We're excited though. We recently found a 4 bd/ 2 bath about 20 minutes from my work, which would be PERFECT for us. It's at the end of a culdesac and is still within CNUSD. We drove out to see it the other day and it looks like a very nice starter home. We're really not extravagant people. We're just looking for a place to raise a family, and a yard for Natty. Keep us in prayer for that if you think of it.

Natty is growing very well. She's got a tooth and a half, rolls over EVERYWHERE, and has learned to sit up. We are so blessed to have her as our daughter. She is a wonderful child. She really lights up my life. I think the favorite time of day is when I get home from work, and she hears me unlock our apartment door. She doesn't see me, because she's in front of our couch player, but she'll turn herself around and wait. I'll get on the floor and crawl around the corner of her couch and I'll smile real big and call her name. She gets the HUGEST smile and giggles when she sees me. It makes me feel so loved and content.

Well, that's it for now. Happy Weekend Everybody!

I got it!!!!! (Job 6-9)

Ok! I think I just found my new favorite chapters of the Bible. It could have been so easy to read Job and not really realize how much it impacts do. I've been a couple days behind, but I'm still going in order. I'm glad I did, because today I was given a revelation! All this time, I've always thought and got used to Job just being about God's unfailing love, and Job's undying devotion to the Lord. HOWEVER! Reading Job 9, it all at once hit me!

3 If someone wanted to take God to court,[e]
would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?
4 For God is so wise and so mighty.
Who has ever challenged him successfully?

This is totally about the challenge between God and Satan! Satan chose to challenge God and Job 9 is a response to him!!! I'm so thrilled. It gets better!

5 “Without warning, he moves the mountains,
overturning them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth from its place,
and its foundations tremble.
7 If he commands it, the sun won’t rise
and the stars won’t shine.
8 He alone has spread out the heavens
and marches on the waves of the sea.
9 He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky.
10 He does great things too marvelous to understand.
He performs countless miracles.

Job is exalting God, letting Satan know just how 'BIG' God really is - kinda like a MAJOR resume. I've loved reading this chapter.

AND here is the best part...
32 “God is not a mortal like me,
so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.
33 If only there were a mediator between us,
someone who could bring us together.
34 The mediator could make God stop beating me,
and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
35 Then I could speak to him without fear,
but I cannot do that in my own strength.

Closing in on v. 33 - This alludes to Jesus Christ, our mediator!!!!

OH MY GOSH!!! I have loved this chapter!!!! Totally AWESOME!

So I have a 5-month old

What's changed: Finished my third comp (barely), had a baby, went on maternity leave, graduated with my Masters (in special education), came back from maternity leave, went off track, and....we are now in the present.

So....obviously...I've had Natty and she is five months old now. So far these are the things I've learned about motherhood...

• "Quietness" means "Be ware! A mess is on its way!"
• Just because she goes down later, does not mean she'll sleep in longer.
• It's wise to set up a diaper fund BEFORE baby arrives.
• No matter what you do, the drool will keep coming.
• There are not enough hours in a day.
• It's ok to have your sink filled with dishes.
• No matter how close to bed time her bath is, she'll get dirty...AND that's ok.

What I've loved about motherhood so far...

• When Natty sucks on my chin, it's her way of giving me a kiss - silly, I know, but she only does it to me.
• Singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" - it's her favorite song.
• Nursing Natty - because it reminds me that I am capable of providing for her.
• Watching/Listening to Natty blow raspberries.
• Making Natty laugh
• Reading Natty stories
• Doing "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" a million times, and it doesn't get boring.

So...I have a 5-month old and am loving every bit of it. Even though our lives (Tim and mine) have changed so drastically, there is nothing that would ever make us change what we have now. With Natty peacefully napping in her crib as if there isn't a care in the world, it makes us love having her that much more. Will we have another baby? Sure! Having Natty hasn't scared me out of having another baby. To be totally honest, it wasn't all that bad at all. I didn't really have morning sickness, except a couple times. The delivery wasn't that bad either, well, after the epidural. =P But still, being able to hold out until being dilated to 5-6 cm. is impressive in my book, no matter what other people say!

Day 12

Alrighty, we are on day 12! Forgot to update you guys yesterday that I passed 2/3 comprehensive exams for my Masters' Degree. I took the third one a week ago, but will probably have to wait another week for results. I'm very excited. Graduation day is Dec. 14th. Other than that, no baby yet. Some lower back pains and the fun Braxton-Hicks, but nothing consistent. Tomorrow our nephew is being dedicated. He is SO adorable!!! Later...

Day 13

Alrighty, I'm officially under 2 weeks from my due date. Yah!!! I've been feeling very agitated and irritated at the most random things. I just want to see Nattaya. I know, I know, she'll come when she's good and ready. I'm just so tired. I never seem to have the energy to get anything done. Our apartment's a mess. I get frantic about whether or not I have what we need packed. I can't sleep at night. I know this is a lot of complaining. However, considering I haven't crumbled until these last 3 weeks, I think I've done really well. Honestly, this whole pregnancy has been a blessing. No severe morning sickness, no complications. It's gone very smooth. I just pray our delivery will be the same. People ask if I'm freaked out...I don't think I am. I thought I would be. I felt very nervous in the beginning of the pregnancy until I could feel her move. Then I'd obssess about feeling her move. Now, she doesn't seem to stop moving. =P I had my weekly appointment this past Tuesday. News is I'm 50% effaced and a little over 1 cm dilated. That IS progress, but it just means she's going to come when she's ready. In the mean time, I'm driving my poor husband mad. Each day, multiple times a day, I'll ask him if today's the day. He thinks I've gone batty, but just hasn't shared it. =P He has been so encouraging and comforting. I think the best part of this pregnancy for us as a couple is that we've grown so much closer, and I've gotten to see a part of my husband I never knew existed.

Well, off to find something eat. Maybe tonight's the night, maybe it won't be. Will update later...