Wednesday (I'm challenged in the area of naming blog posts)

This has been a really low key week.  Drew and Noah have had a touch of a stomach bug and haven't felt that great all week.  Drew did finally do some school work yesterday, but on Monday, he laid in bed all day and watched Netflix.  (What did we EVER do without Netflix?)  

I'm hoping today is a better day.  Noah's case was very mild compared to Drewby.  

I made the BEST dinners Monday and Tuesday nights.  On Monday, I made Rotel Chicken Spaghetti.  Except the spaghetti was mini farfalle.  It was so easy.  I had leftover chicken that I'd made in the crock pot with chicken broth and taco seasoning, and I added cream of mushroom and cream of chicken, two cans of Rotel and some shredded cheese.  After the noodles cooked, I combined it all and mixed it in a large bowl, spread it out in a baking dish and baked it on 350 for 45 minutes.  (Or until it's hot and bubbly.)  It was DELICIOUS.  

Last night I made a giant pot of taco soup.  I goofed, though and added too much tomato juice, so to offset all that tomato flavor, I added in some half and half and some extra black beans.  My recipe is simple: I browned two pounds (four would have been better) of ground chuck (adding taco seasoning at the end), and when it was finished, to the Dutch oven I added two cans of corn, two cans of kidney beans, two cans of black beans, two cans of Rotel, two packets of ranch dressing seasoning and one bottle of tomato juice.  I accidentally added two, though, so I had to modify the rest of the recipe.  Actually, one can of each of those is plenty unless you have four teenagers like me.  I simmer it for half an hour, then top it with shredded cheese and dip Frito scoops in it.

I wasn't here to enjoy it, so I'll be eating this today.  I went to a womens event with my mom in love at her church.  It's always so good to see old friends.  

I mentioned yesterday that I'm using an Advent reading guide.  I've never done this before, and I am really enjoying it!  Today's reading was short, Isaiah 9:6-7, so I wrote the verses out in my journal.  I also praised God for being our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace.  I also am still writing out the scripture that is in my Scripture Writing Plan, and I am still reading in Luke using the SOAK method.  

Also, yesterday, this book came in the mail.

Y'all.  It is so good that I sat down to read it and read all the way through chapter ten.  I'll finish it today.  It's all about preparing your heart for the coming of Christ the Messiah.  At the end of the book is a guide and questions to reflect on leading up until the day of Christmas.  

I cannot recommend this book enough, and Max Lucado never disappoints.  

Also, isn't it pretty?  I so appreciate a good and simple book cover.

After lunch yesterday, I indulged in a little Christmas-y goodness.  I love Christmas M&M's!  And milk.  I've always loved ice cold milk.  

Jonah loves them too.  They're what is filling his Statue of Liberty M&M dispenser we bought him while we were in NYC.  

Ahhh, that seems like such a distant memory!  I'd like to print all the pictures I took while we were there and put them into a book for us to look back on.  

These words never get old.  He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Praise Him for all these things that He is to me.  

Well.  Laundry is calling my name, and I need to make a Walmart run to get something fun for the boys today.  

Love to all!