It's Friday and it's My Birthday!!!!

UPDATE: I was just saying that there was nothing memorable about this day, nothing that would stick out in my mind. Boy was I proven wrong. A few hours after I wrote this post, I got a phone call, my heart is breaking and I'm sad and completely distraught, my uncle passed away. I loved him to death, I can't even begin to express how heartbreaking this is for me, and on my birthday, there's just no words. He leaves behind a wonderful wife and a sweet sweet 3 year old girl. Please send some prayers their way and for the rest of my family too, this was my dad's brother and I know that his heart is breaking too along with my grandmother's.

Uncle Carlos, I know that you're in heaven and I know that you're in a better place but we will never be the same without you, you have left a hole in our hearts that will never be replaced. I love you and I can't even begin to tell you how much I'm going to miss you. The heavens have won another angel but we've lost an important part of our lives.



Today is my 33rd birthday and although I reached a point a couple years ago, more like 10 years ago or so, where I don't get excited about birthdays, for some reason this one has me a little freaked out.

There really isn't anything exciting about turning 33, other than being a year older and lot wiser....well wait, I guess the wiser part could be the exciting thing??? But this one of those birthday's where you don't find a special section at your local Hallmark, and you don't hear anyone talking excitedly about turning 33 and the big bash they're about to have. It just IS!!!

It's quite frightening thinking that there's no going back to 20 or 21 years old and then I start to wonder just what exactly could be coming my way. What does life hold for me, by this time next year, will I still be sitting in the same chair, on the same computer, at the same time and blogging about how pathetic I was complaining about turning 33 when now I'm turning 34??? Will I be healthy or sick, have the same circle of friends, have finally gone back home to South Africa to see my family????

If you let yourself start wondering and asking the what if's, you may as well book a bed in the nearest asylum because that's where you will end up. So I'm taking the high road, I'm just going to sit back and let it play out, just enjoy the day (it's one like any other for me, except for the birthday presents), eat cake which my thighs are already having a party of their own at the anticipation of another slice of heavenly rich cake being ingested.

Oh make no mistake, there WILL be cake and not one made by me either, not that I wouldn't do it but hubby refuses to let me bake my own cake so he's getting me one.

I was sitting here trying to remember what I've learnt the past 33 years and I'm typing this and I've got tears in my eyes. Has that ever happened to you?? You don't even know why you're starting to cry, you just are. I must the most emotional person on earth, good grief.

There's been ups and downs and joys and heartaches but everything that I've gone through has made me the woman I am today and for that I'm thankful and I'm blessed. The Lord has had a firm grip on me from a very young age and he does let me stray but it's only to show me that I can't do it all on my own.........the minute I become complacent that's it, it's like a warning sign ringing out in my head "You're heading for a fall, You're heading for a fall....wake up wake up". And yet, just like a child who's been told over and over not to do something, I just do it allllllll over again LOL

But anyway, I've had a good life, I have a wonderful husband and children, I have the best family in the world who I love more than life itself, the best parents and stepparents and grandparents and brothers and sisters (I consider my sisters in law my actual sisters) and nieces and nephews and dogs and allergies and unmanageable hair and 33 year old thighs........you get the point!!!

So anyway, I'm going to have a normal day with my kids, eat cake, open presents and just hang out. Hope you all have a wonderful day, and have some drinks for me!!!

Slow Cooking Thursday!!!

Thank you to all the ladies who participate every week, I can't tell you how much I enjoy your recipes.

Here's mine for today, don't forget to leave a comment and your name on Mr Linky so the rest of us can come save your recipes to try them out :)

I tried 3 crockpot recipes, 2 of which I had shared in past Slow Cooking Thursdays, and they were a hit with the family. The Rigatoni and Sausage and the Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken....the other one was a Chicken and Shrimp Jambalaya which I substituted Smoked Sausage for the shrimp. They were all SO good!!!

Here's the one for today:

ORANGE THYME CROCKPOT CHICKEN

6-ounce can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 teaspoon thyme
Dash ground nutmeg
Dash garlic powder
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Combine thawed orange juice concentrate (not regular orange juice) in bowl along with the thyme, nutmeg, and garlic powder. Dip each piece of chicken into the orange juice to coat completely. Place in Crock-Pot. Pour the remaining orange juice mixture over the chicken.
Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for about 4 hours.

When chicken is done, remove and keep warm. Pour the sauce that remains in your Crock-Pot into a saucepan. Mix the cornstarch and 1/4 cup water well (no lumps) and stir into the juice in pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbly. Serve the sauce over the chicken.

Serving suggestions: Serve with rice

Taking the Proverbs Challenge!!!

I'm taking the Proverbs Challenge, do you want to join me??? August has 31 days and Proverbs has 31 Chapters, PERFECT!!!

If you want to read the rules or find out how to participate go check out this post and then join me and others.

You know the funny thing is that when my MIL and her hubby were here visiting he was telling me about Proverbs and how it's great to read a chapter a day during the months that have 31 days.....how neat is that??? Ok Lord, I get the message, I'm on in, reading Proverbs is what I need to do this month, I may not know exactly why yet, but I'm sure it will come to me.

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I've been spending way too much time on this computer, so much so that it's giving me headaches and messing up my eyes. No matter how much I sleep my eyes are still bloodshot and burning and itchy, yep I think it's time I cut back on the computer time and let my poor eyes heal. I often wonder how the people who work on computers daily, ever survive the beating on their eyes.

You know it's my birthday next week, on the 10th??? I'm turning 33 years old and it feels so darn weird to me because it seems that just yesterday I was graduating high school. I don't feel mature and old LOL I feel like the same old Sandra, still quirky and crazy and weary of responsibility, do we ever outgrow that feeling???

So, it's saturday and we're staying home, usually this is the day we run around and do all our errands in, but not today. For one, Curt is on weekend duty standby which means he has to be here in case he gets called in but I also don't feel like going anywhere, I think I want to lay in bed and read all day, maybe watch some movies or something. I need a quiet day after the craziness of moving and jumping right into normal life and not to mention school restarting on the 13th.

I have a question for you all...........do you also go through the Spiritual Rollercoaster???? I call it the rollercoaster because I've noticed that at times I'm extremely faithful and connected to the Lord, devouring everything in the bible and spiritual books that I can find and then suddenly, a month goes by, two months go by, three months and I realize that I've lost that connection, well maybe not LOST but definitely misplaced. I stray and that is usually when things start going wrong and I find myself wondering why.

I've been on the down side of the rollercoaster for a couple months and I miss the peace and the harmony I felt when I was closest to the Lord....having something happen and feeling nothing but peace and comfort in the knowledge that God will take care of it.

Well I'm happy to say that I'm back heading to the top of the rollercoaster, the past week I've felt this yearning for the Lord's word. It's quite scary when that happens because I literally feel like a scavenger, searching and searching for the christian music, the bible, the christian books and the devotionals and nothing seems to quench that thirst. So I'm throwing myself into it completely and letting it happen.

I've been listening to Michael W. Smith which has always been one of my favorites, I'm reading the Bible, I'm taking the Proverbs Challenge and I'm also reading Grab a Broom, Lord. . . There's Dust Everywhere!: The Imperfect Woman's Guide to God's Grace!!!
Oh and I've also rewatched my Nooma DVD's which if you have never watched, you really really need to.........my favorite is "Rain" go here to see the whole clip.

Things don’t always work out the way we want them to, or the way we think they will. Sometimes we don’t even see it coming. We get hit with some form of pain out of nowhere leaving us feeling desperate and helpless. That’s the way life is. Still, it makes us wonder how God can let these things happen to us. How God can just stand by and watch us suffer. Where is God when it really hurts? Maybe God is actually closer to us than we think. Maybe it’s when we’re in these situations, where everything seems to be falling apart, that God gets an opportunity to remind us of how much he really loves us.

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For dinner tonight I'm making the Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken, I can't wait to try it, I'll let you all know what we thought of it.

With that my dear friends I'm leaving you, have a blessed saturday.!

It's Friday already?!?!?!?!

More Videos

Michael W. Smith - Healing Rain

Morning everyone, I can't believe it's friday already, I feel like I've been on a never ending race this week, I'm tired and I still didn't accomplish all that I needed to get done.

I'm starting with one of my favorite songs "Healing Rain" by Michael W. Smith, isn't he just amazing??? He's actually going to be on tour in South Africa and my brother and sister in law are dying to go see him, I told him to go because it's worth it. Can't wait to hear about it :)


Last night I fixed the Rigatoni and Sausage for dinner, it was really good, the family loved it and the kids even had seconds.....now that is when you know you have a winner.


When I was at the library a week ago, I picked up this book called "Saving Dinner", it's from the Saving Dinner site and the Food For Thought Column at Flylady.net, who doesn't know the FlyLady??? The great thing about this book is that it's separated into the 4 seasons and has menus/shopping lists and recipes for every week. BUT it gets better because each week has one crockpot recipe.....how cool is that???

If you happen to see this book at your library or bookstore, be sure to pick it up, I think you'll enjoy it.

I still haven't made it out to your blogs, things have been hectic to say the least.

Two days ago we had another of the good Arizona rains, so much so that I walked into my laundry room only to realize I was splashing water........yeah, the water was coming in from the outside and flooding my laundry room. THEN my toilet in my bathroom started leaking....when it rains it pours right????

One of the great things about living on base is being able to just pick up the phone and call Housing Maintenance, having them come in and fix or replace whatever is needed and we don't pay a single thing. I love it.

Oh I have to tell you, I walk into the commissary the other day and almost threw a party, I was at the bakery and see Portuguese Bread Rolls....do you know HOW long it's been since I had one of these beauties???? I couldn't believe that they make them just like the original ones and every day. Guess where I go for my bread every morning???? LOL

Well ladies I have things to do, hopefully get caught up on everything soon so I can spend the afternoon visiting your blogs.....please stop posting for a while so I can catch up. LOL No???? Oh well, it was worth the try wasn't it???

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. God Bless,

Slow Cooking Thursday!!!

Thank you to all the ladies who participate every week, I can't tell you how much I enjoy your recipes.

Here's mine for today, don't forget to leave a comment and your name on Mr Linky so the rest of us can come save your recipes to try them out :)

CROCKPOT CHICKEN TACOS

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 cans tomatoes with green chilies
1 package taco seasoning mix

In a Crock-Pot, add all ingredients and cook on low 7-9 hours or until chicken is tender and easily shreddable.

Serving Suggestions: Serve with warmed corn tortillas, shredded cheese, salsa, and whatever else you like with your tacos. Add a bit salad and you're set.

REALLY EASY MIXED BEAN CHILI

1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 jar salsa
1 10-ounce package frozen corn
1 sweet potato, cubed

Dump everything into a crockpot, set on low, and cook for 6-8 hours. Mix well before serving.

Serving suggestion: Serve with a big green salad and some corn muffins.