baked ziti · Recipes

Baked Ziti Rigati

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This is one of our go to dishes.

Pasta – really any kind – I prefer ziti or spaghetti – boil per directions but not all the way. It will cook more in the oven.

Meat sauce – brown and drain 1 pound hamburger and sausage. Add your sauce of choice – we prefer Ragu thick and chunky, but any will do.

Cheese – mozzarella, Parmesan.

So, cook pasta, drain. Add to meat sauce. Mix in 2 cups of mozzerella. Top with some of the sauce, and more cheese.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes or until cheese browns a little and is bubbly.

We had fresh snap green beans. Served with gentle sprinkling of Parmesan.

Yummy.

Enjoy.

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Psalm 37

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Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong:
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good:
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:1-4 NIV

Really? Do not fret? Do you worry? I worry. I tell myself I don’t worry. I believe that God is in control, and that so long as I continue my walk with Him, everything will be fine. But I bring it back in and try to control it.

Desires in my heart. Really? My desires are to be healthy and debt free. Really? I need to refrain from anger and turn from wrath (Psalm 37:8).

Wait for the Lord and keep His way (Psalm 37:34). Wait.

Don’t fret.
Trust and do good.
Wait.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

But really? That’s it? There should be more in getting the desires of my heart. But where is my heart? Is it where He thinks it should be?
Where is your heart?

Are you fretting?
Are you trusting and doing good?

Waiting, trusting. Amen.

routines · school

School

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First day of school. Ugh.

Why is it so difficult to sleep well the night before the first day? I tossed and turned the majority of the night, and when it was time to get up and get going, I was ready to sleep. Oh, well.

Carmen – my junior in high school.

My young lady.

Stephen – my 7th grader…oh, my.

And, yes, he did have his hair cut, although it does not look like it this morning! Good Grief. My boy.

Happy school days.

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Birthdays

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Birthdays are nice, aren’t they?

At least they are to me. August 22 is the date, Saturday was the day.

I was able to spend it with family and friends (at least for a little bit). Carmen had to work during the day, and I wasn’t feeling great. Shana was in town, and we need to go over to Pensacola to get her computer back to her. So, at least I got to visit with her. She got me this wonderful box of birthday goodies…and I forgot to wear the one thing I was supposed to have on a pink and sliver plastic crown (that lights up).

This year was a little sad for me.

For some reason, I have been missing my Mom more this time around my birthday than other times lately. She always made chocolate cake. Duncan Hines box mix, and chocolate icing, but she made it. She also used to write with some color iced tube “happy birthday, Jerry Ann” somewhere on the cake, and it was never even.

School always started around my birthday. I used to have swimming parties when I was younger. I love to have friends around and give me lots of attention. Growing up we didn’t have a lot, and since it was around the school year starting, my presents always seemed to be the clothes and shoes I got for school. But, I always had my cake, and sometimes even flowers.

But, this year, I just wanted my Mom, and maybe her chocolate cake.

Kiss your Mom, tell her you love her.

music

"Perfect People" – Natalie Grant

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“Perfect People”-Natalie Grant
~
Never let ’em see you when you’re breaking
Never let ’em see you when you fall
That’s how we live and that’s how we try
Tell the world you’ve got it all together
Never let them see what’s underneath
Cover it up with a crooked smile
But it only lasts for a little while
~
There’s no such thing as perfect people
There’s no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God
~
Suddenly it’s like a weight is lifted
When you hear the words that you are loved
He knows where you are and where you’ve been
And you never have to go there again
~
There’s no such thing as perfect people
There’s no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God
~
Who lived and died to give new life
To heal our imperfections
So look up and see out let grace be enough
~
There’s no such thing as perfect people
There’s no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God
~
By a perfect God
Be changed by a perfect God
Be changed
anniversary · husband

Anniversary

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My wedding anniversary is today, August 20. It has been 3 wonderful years being married to my life partner. David was a friend that went away, and then came back just at God’s beautiful timing in my life.

We have had our moments of bliss. And, moments of severe pain. We are struggling with finances, as most newly marrieds do. But we are on the road to recovery. We don’t argue. I think that the most we have disagreed is 3 times. I am sure that I have frustrated him more than he says I do, and vice versa. But all in all, it is a good marriage.

Having two children in the mix, I thought it would be more difficult of a transition, but it hasn’t been. David and the kids getting along better than I could have ever imagined. David is normally the first one home, and the kids spill out their day to him, then by the time I am home they are done spilling.


Gifted we are. Blessed. God blessed us with David. He is an encourager, diplomat and the majority of the time a friend.

I thank God today for His gift of this marriage. I am blessed.

I wish you a beautiful day.

sushi · tuna

Dinner Out

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Friday night ended up being a wonderful night out with my hubby.

We went to Destin Commons, and walked around a bit. I went and drooled on some charms and handbags at Brighton. Love that place. Reconnected with Mary, a sales associate, but I believe the beginnings of a nice friendship.

After some walking, we ended up at Sushi Siam. A great, all around restaurant.

David got the sweet and sour scallops Rock & Wok.

I got the chirashi (assorted sashami on rice). Loved it. Their spicy tuna (in the martini glass) was addictive. The flavor of the tuna and lemon came through first, then the heat. Wonderful. Had enough to bring some home for Carmen to have after work. It was wonderful.

These pictures were taken with my iphone, and somewhat dark. I do apologize.

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Thursday’s

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Thursday is a good day. It’s after Wednesday, and one day away from Friday.

It is a day that I get to have a date (most of the time) with my hubby. The kids are on tap to go to their father’s on Thursday. Carmen is working, but Stephen will still go and get some time in with Paul.

But, for me…it is 2 hours of quiet. Two hours of just drop on the couch time.

Two hours to go to dinner or just spend some time with the hubby.

Thursday.

It’s a good day.

Enjoy your Thursday.

hamburger · Recipes · rice

Dirty Rice

jachancellor2 Comments

Dirty Rice…

This was a staple for me growing up. Ground beef, rice, and tomatoes. It was wonderful to have as leftovers, and you could cook it year round.

It is a comfort food for me.

Start cooking your rice (I use Jasmine Rice), and I cook it in the microwave.

Then chop 1 medium yellow onion (or any other kind of onion that you like), and about 4 stalks of celery. My hands were hurting, so David (my wonderful hubby) did the chopping for me.

Start browning hamburger meat, celery, and onions until hamburger is browned and the onions are translucent.

I add in some spices, and soy sauce.


I add this to taste –really not sure how much. Sorry.

Once meat is browned, add in cooked rice.

Slice some tomatoes (my plants have grown and have yet to produce fruit) so these are store bought, but still good.

I chopped up a couple of sliced tomatoes, and stir in to the dirty rice.



Yummy – enjoy.

cranky · encourage · Proverbs

Encourager

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Are you an “encourager”? People tell me I am. The majority of the time, I suppose, I am. Today, I am not. Cranky.

Cranky is a term I can deal with. It is fine for others to be cranky but apparently not me. I am always smiling and encouraging. “But, what if I don’t want to be happy today? Do I always have to smile? Wouldn’t that make me hypocritical?” I despise hypocrites. I may tell you my entire life story, several times at that, but I won’t lie about it. Not even to my children. How does one look someone else in the eye and lie? Bold face.

I subscribe to “Journey”, a monthly devotional. Today’s subject was “Radical Obedience.” Obey is a word referenced a lot for me lately. I believe I am obeying God. I believe that when I am cranky it is better just to be cranky, than to lie and be hypocritical. But it is more than that.

I am struggling with fear and complacency. “A doer who acts –this person will be blessed in what he does” James 1:25. So, if I am cranky am I disobeying? I want to be bold in the spirit. I want to see the blessings from God when I obey.

I believe that obeying is petitioning God, thanking God for what He has blessed me with. Listening. But, sometimes I can be cranky.

I am an encourager. We all have bad or difficult (cranky) days. We need to listen, obey and God will bless our faithful obedience.

Weary.

I am weary.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

Blessings today, and hopefully, I won’t be cranky tomorrow.