Southwestern Chicken Pasta Salad

I realize some of you have probably assumed I've fallen off the face of the earth because my poor blog has been terribly neglected the past few months. After thinking and thinking about things to write, I've decided instead of trying to make my blog a story of my life and thoughts (which aren't very interesting anyways), I might as well make it about one of the hobbies I enjoy most: Cooking!

So from here on out, no longer will this be a diary of my life, but rather a diary of all my favorite recipes. Recipes that I not only love, but that I want you to be able to share with your families as well. If there's one thing that makes me smile, it's knowing I can serve my family a satisfying meal and make someone else's tummy happy =). So for all you who have asked me for recipes in the past, and you're still waiting... wait no longer. Hope you all enjoy and to start off my new blog, here is a great summer recipe that Chris loves. The measurements aren't very precise because I kinda eye ball some of it, but it should be pretty close ;) Enjoy all!

* This recipe courtesy of Southern at Home Living

Southwestern Chicken Pasta Salad:

-8 oz. cooked fiore pasta - cooked, drained and cooled. (You could also use wagon wheels. I like fiore because of the fun honey comb shape, and also the ridges on the outside really help the dressing adhere to the pasta.)
-8 oz. boneless fajita chicken breast roughly chopped (recipe for fajita marinade below)
-4 oz. grape tomatoes (halved)
-1 can golden whole kernal corn (drained)
-1 can seasoned black beans (rinsed)
-4 Tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro

*Put all the ingrediants into a large serving bowl and stir so all ingrediants are evenly mixed.

Dressing:

-1/2 cup canola oil
-1/3 cup pure honey
-1/4 cup fresh lime juice
-2 1/4 tsp. chili powder
-About 1 Tbsp. salt (you may use less depending on how much you like)

*Whisk together oil, honey, lime, chili powder and salt. Drizzle over salad and mix well. Top with reserved fresh cilantro to garnish. Chill and serve cold or serve immediately at room temperature if you just can't wait =) Enjoy!

Fajita Marinade:

-1/4 cup of water
-2 Tbsp. of vinegar
-2 Tbsp. sofrito (I usually find this in the taco or ethnic aisle. It's a Goya product)
-2 tsp. minced garlic
-3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
-2 tsp. soy sauce
-2 tsp. onion powder
-1 Tbsp. ground cumin
-1 Tbsp. chili powder
-2 Tbsp. liquid smoke (usually in the bbq sauce aisle)
-1 tsp. salt
-1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

*Place chicken in a large ziploc bag and add all the marinade ingrediants to the bag. Place in a glass dish and put it into the fridge to marinate for atleast 8 hours. For even better flavor, I like to mix and make my marinade the night before and that way the chicken has a whole day to tenderize and soak in all those yummy flavors!

*Serves 5-6 as an entree

My Big Boy

Well, good news: Jace is starting his first day of day care tomorrow, and I am really excited. We've had our names on a wait list for quite a while now, at a church day care. It was the only one we visited that we had a 100% complete peace about, and we're finally in! Yay!
It's kinda crazy to think that our little man will be in a class with a teacher and little classmates. It makes me feel like he's getting so big so fast. Seems like just yesterday I was propping him up on our bed, making silly faces at him, and noises I've never made before, just to try to get him to giggle. Now, he's so fast and always a step ahead of me, and always into everything. Funny how what everyone said is true: they grow up SO fast =)
It's nice though. Every stage has its moments. When he was first born, he was so dependent on me for everything and it was nice to be needed. He was so tiny, and at times I would just hold him and marvel at how amazingly beautiful he was. It was nice to know I always had someone to cuddle and love. Now he's so big and independent, and getting him to hold still for even a minute is a challenge. Yet, even though he's beyond the cooing and cuddling, he's so much more interesting now. Whether it be his facial expressions or his words... well if you could call them words, he's such a little person. It's so fun to interact with him and see the boy he's becoming.
There's no doubt, I love being a mom. Tomorrow is just another one of those moments that I'll lock away in my heart forever.

New Weight Goal

Okay so with the weather starting to warm up a bit, I've been thinking lately that I need to up my goal. I reached my first goal which was 130. It was about 15 pounds I was going for then, and I reached it which is great, but I'm thinking I can push for just a bit more. Honestly, I have cut back on a lot of the bad stuff I was eating, but since reaching 130 I've started to figure out ways to cheat and stay at 130 which isn't good! I don't want to be thin, I want to be healthy! And that is the hard part. Unfortunately, I love a juicy burger now and again, and I LOVE chocolate, and I even enjoy a vanilla coke once in a while, but if continue to substitute bad foods for all the good ones, then my cholesterol and my long-term health is what's going to suffer. SO, I think that if I can crack down a bit more on my fast food and sweets, and up my exercise, maybe go walking with Jace more, I think I can make it to 125 by the summer. I know it's only 5 pounds, but I have a feeling those last 5 are going to be the hardest. Especially since the lightest I've ever weighed (since being out of middle school that is!) is 127. We'll see, but I think I can do it.... with some help of coarse. Some help from the Lord to give me strength when I'm being tempted by all the yummy, delicious foods I want to eat. Help from Chris who is still keeping his weight off and looking great! And help from friends. From today til summer, it's time to get back into being healthy! .... and a tiny bit thinner would be nice too =)

OKC photos

I unfortunately forgot to bring the camera, but my girl Rachel took a couple on her phone. Here are two from the OKC Star competition. Thanks again everyone!

Me and Rachel Williams

This is me being my normal CHEESY self. (Also evidence that I have officially lost my baby weight!!!! Thank You Jesus!)

"We're Family!!!"

So the results are in, and I didn't place as well as I had hoped, but I can't say I'm disappointed. It was a fun night. I sang my best and can't say I would have done anything differently, the competition was just really tough.
The fact that I even made it as far as I did is something to be happy about, but what topped it all off, and made the night better than ever was the crowd. In the crowd, there were about 30 people from Peoples Church there to support me! I felt so special and SO loved! It's funny because since being out here, I've always told people that the only down side is that we're far from family, but after this past weekend, I realize that couldn't be farther from the truth. The second they announced my name, everyone from our church stood to their feet, screaming, waving dozens of posters, and blowing into kazoos... yes kazoos! I mean.... really, they were the best! Even though I'm sure there were many other things they could have all been doing with their time, they chose to come out and support me. I have to say, I am definitely feeling the love! Thanks guys so much. I'm so glad we're here, living life and doing ministry with such amazing, loving people. We are family! ... and I love you guys!

A living testimony of youth ministry

The other day in the office, I overheard Mandi talking to a volunteer about a recent video we showed in service. It was our Crazy Generations video, and during the video there were clips of Chris and Mandi where they shared basically their heart for ministry. It's a powerful video, that highlights the importance of youth & kids ministry and how relevant it is that we have an impact on the youth of the next generation. Mandi was sharing how she's so thankful that just as she is able to invest in youth, she was also invested in when she was younger. As I heard her talking about it, it just really resonated with my heart. Truthfully, if it were not for my youth pastors and spiritual mentors that God put in my life, I really don't know for sure what my life would be like today. It's eye opening to think that every week Chris and I have the chance to impact youth's lives for eternity. Some people may disagree about the importance of youth ministry, but the truth for me is I am a product of youth ministry and so is my husband Chris. When I think about it, it makes youth ministry that much more real to me.
I just wanted to take a minute and say thank you to all those people that have taken the time, made the sacrifices they've made, and invested in me because they saw my worth. Thank you so much. It's not a gratitude that words could ever really express. I want to say a special thanks to Pastor Tim and Kristina Martin, and Pastor Paul and Debbie Hinzman. They were my youth pastors. They were a part of my life when I needed someone most. They loved me unconditionally, accepted me for who I was, and saw something special in me that at that time I didn't even see. Because of all they did, they helped lead me down a path that has lead me to where I am today: serving in ministry and serving my family. I'm so glad God put them in my life. It's something I'll forever be thankful for. To them, and to anyone else who ever took the time to invest in me, thanks.

the offizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

So I did it... I gave it a shot. A fair shot too. I watched 4 or 5 episodes in a row, and much to my dismay, "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz". I know. Right now, I have friends that disagree with me and probably don't like me very much for saying what I just said, but I'm sorry. I guess British comedy just isn't for me! I have to say, it had a few giggle moments, I'll give it that, but for the most part, everyone talked it up so much that maybe my expectations started off way too high. On a scale of 1-10 on the laugh'ometer, it was barely a 6 for me. Could it be that I make myself laugh so much that nothing else is really ever "that" funny?.... NAH!
Well, like I said, my deepest apologies to all those out there who revolve your entire week around "the office", but from this day forward, I think I'll have to stick to my favorites. The shows that never dissapoint me: 24, LOST, Heroes, Survivor.... ahhh. I'm smiling. I didn't even say it, I only typed it and I'm smiling.
Sorry Dwight =(

"The Office"

Everyone out here seems to watch the office. After much convincing from almost all of our friends, we're giving into the peer pressure. So tonight the journey begins with season 2 of "the office". As I prepare to hit the play button, many questions are bombarding my mind: "Will I love it just as ALL my friends do? Could I possibly commit to one more show when I'm already spread so thin? Will I be able to handle the pressure of following "the office" with Survivor getting ready to start back up as well?" As these are all equally important questions, one question sticks out in my mind the most, and may haunt me for years to come: "Will watching all these shows turn me into a T.V. junkie???!!!"....... NAH!

Love Lockdown

Well last night was fun. As some of you probably already know, I love to sing, but when it comes to speaking, that's my husbands area of expertise =). But last night, I had the opportunity, for the first time, to speak to our female students and it was so much fun!!! A little scary, but fun =)

We just started a new sermon series called, "Love Lockdown" and it's all about dating and relationships. When Chris first asked me to speak, my first reaction in my head was, "me? are you kidding?!" But once he explained to me that I would be talking to our girls about modesty, I instantly was excited about getting to share my heart on this issue. I'm not going to lie, I was definitely nervous, but I'm pretty sure that was inevitable. All in all, I'm pretty happy with how I did, and the best part is last night, several students gave their hearts to Christ. That never gets old. Looking back, I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to speak into the lives of our girls. I think it's important for them to hear from someone who knows what it's like to be a teenage girl and to struggle with the same things they struggle with. I hope they all heard my heart, but more importantly I hope they were all challenged to be godly young women.

I'm Really Excited!!

So not very many people know, but just recently I entered a local singing competition called the OKC Star. It's basically for anyone in OK. Totally open auditions and the top 3 overall get a cash prize. I had never heard of it, but a girlfriend of mine, Hilary, told me about it, and basically told me that I WAS going to try out. Well thanks to her, I'm glad I did. After making it through 3 rounds, I just found out tonight that I'm going to be competed in the final round with the top ten singers. Pretty nerve recking, but so exciting!!! When I first went into this, I tried not to get my hopes up too much. Not because I don't think I can sing, but because I've done stuff sort of like this in the past, and have never really done too well. But this has been great so far! I'm so glad because even though it's taken me a while, and even though I still get nervous, I feel like time has helped me develop into a better singer/performer. I've come a long way, and definitely still have a long way to go, but if you think of me, say a little prayer because I want to do my best.... and hopefully impress the judges too, and i'm going to need all the prayers I can get ;)