I want to share a recipe with you...

A few years ago we had a Chili Cook Off at our church. My sweet friend and "adopted" sister, Sandra, won the contest! She made what she calls Crock Pot Chili...and it is GOOD. Definitely worth the win! It's really tasty...it's really easy...it's really warm...and it's really popular around here! And I want to share it with you! Ready? Here it is...

Crock Pot Chili

1 lb. beef stew meat (I use a half pound...because I'm frugal...and it's really plenty)
1 medium onion - chopped (or if necessary, dried onion works well, too)
2 T. chili powder
2 cloves garlic or equivalent of garlic powder
1 Bay leaf
1 t. salt
1 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 t. oregano
1/2 t. cumin
16 oz. can tomato sauce
15 oz. can kidney beans
15 oz. can pinto beans
a dash of cayenne if you're feeling lucky punk!

In a skillet,saute the onion and lightly brown the beef. (I season the meat at this point with a little extra of the seasonings...you know, that whole "depth of flavor" thing.) Add canned ingredients, seasonings and cooked meat and onion mixture to the Crock Pot and stir to combine. Cook on high 2-3 hours or low 4-5. The flavors blend better when cooked for the longer amount of time...but either way it's really yummy.

Serves 6. OR 4 if two of them are hungry teenage boys with a helping leftover for lunch. I make a big ol' pan of cornbread to go with it and it is a delicious combination! Enjoy!

I put a pot of this together before we left for Ian's baseball game last night. I made some cornbread and set it aside. By the time we got home several hours later the chili was ready...the house smelled great...and we ate a delicious, warm meal after a cold night at the ball field!

And the WINNER is.....

Congratulations to WHITE STONE!

The only woman I know who can take apart a sewing machine and put it back together again!! I mean, I could take one apart...but..uh...yeah.

So, White Stone...you are the winner of "The "One Year Devotional for People of Purpose, 365 meditations on how to make an impact on your world" and a set of note cards made by yours truly!

I hope you are blessed....

Please email me your name and address so I can get your prizes out to you!

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As for my Etsy Shop re-stock!? I need a few more days. I ended up getting the flu last Thursday so I was out of commission for a few days. Thank you for your patience!

I feel like giving something away!!

**GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY!**

Yep...you read that right. I feel like I want to GIVE SOMETHING AWAY TODAY!!

And that something is this....

The "One Year Devotional for People of Purpose, 365 meditations on how to make an impact on your world".

And let me just say, we are ALL people of purpose. Every last one of us. And we all have the ability to make an impact in the world. None of us is too small...or too insignificant. God has a plan for our lives...for my life, for your life and for your life and for yours and yours and yours. So don't think that this devotional is not for you...because it IS. Most definitely.

Along with the devotional, in celebration of my Etsy shop re-opening happening REAL SOON, I am also going to include a set of my new photo note cards.

I am so excited!

And I hope you like them...xo

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So...to enter this GIVEAWAY all you have to do is tell me one thing about yourself...anything you want...anything. Whatever. Just tell me the first thing that comes to mind...I'm all ears!

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The GIVEAWAY will close Sunday evening at 8pm.

The winner will be selected randomly by drawing...and will be announced on Monday when I officially RE-STOCK my Etsy shop.

So what are you waiting for? Go on...go to the Comments section and tell me something about YOU. Anything at all... xoxo

Welcome...

I just want to take some time to welcome new "Followers", and to welcome some old friends (Hi Laurey!), and to say hello to my awesome family both near and far...and to say THANK YOU for taking time out of your day to stop by and see what's going on in my little corner of the world.

I love that you visit and I love when you comment! I read each and every one...and comment on the ones that allow me to. If I can't comment I will often find a way to visit your little corner of the world! I'm blessed to be in such good and beautiful company. Have a blessed day...xox

Wednesday in the Word.

Psalm 4

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?

*Selah

Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself, the Lord will hear when I call to him.

In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.

Selah

Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.

Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

(*Selah means "stop and ponder, think on this.)

A while ago...like a year or two...I had a very vivid dream. I was laying in a bed in a very dark room. The only light was a dim bulb shining directly above me. As I was laying there trying to sleep a little sheep came and jumped up on the bed and tried to lay down next to me. I immediately moved away...holding my hands away from it in disgust as it was dirty. It had dirt and leaves and hay stuck all in it's fur and I was so grossed out that it was getting in the bed. Not only did it get in the bed...it tried to snuggle up next to me. It kept wanting to get closer and closer. The more I pulled away, the closer the little sheep got to me. It was not aggressive...it was not pushy..it was persistent. It was sweet. It needed me. It wanted comfort...and warmth...and love. I finally gave in...and I let the little sheep get close. I put my arm over its soft wool and let it close. And when I did I felt a peace like I'd never felt.

When I woke up, God whispered this in my heart...

"Feed my sheep."

l.o.v.e.

When the boys were little we would say "I love you" in sign language. You know which one I mean? The one sort of like a Hang Loose sign but with your pointer finger up, too? We did this at school drop offs...babysitting drop offs...just because.

When Ian was three I went back to work part-time. It was really, really hard...but it was also necessary. We were incredibly blessed to find out that an old friend of mine had opened a daycare and had one spot available. Ian fit right in. Even though it was a great fit and he had a great time while I was at work it was still hard for us to say goodbye to each other in the morning. So to make it easier (on both of us) right after I'd drop him off, he'd go to the front window and wave to me all the way down the driveway. Sometimes I'd do silly waves...or really BIG waves...or sometimes I'd skip...the neighbors must have thought I was crazy. But that was OK...it made the separation much easier. And it was worth it to his toothy grin instead of a sad face.

When I finally got to the car I'd get in...fasten my seat belt...then look to the window where we would both flash each other the sign language "I love you" sign. Once that was done he'd go off with the other kids...ready to start his day. And I'd drive off to work...content knowing that he was in good hands and was going to have lots of fun until I got back.

odd(s) and ends...

Sweet Nellie...she's calm. She's patient. She's friendly. Not to mention beautiful and...um...fluffy.

She was feeling left out after Libby's "10 things" post the other day. No, no...she didn't tell me she was feeling left out. She's not like that. She's not a complainer like someone else we know. I could just see it in her eyes...she needed some attention, too.

(My husband finds it...um...odd, in a good way, of course...that I have such a knack for speaking chicken. Is it wrong? I mean, come on. I can't help it that I am a good communicator.)

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So today is Monday. And...so far, so good.

The weekend was good...some rain, some sunshine, some rest and some running around.

I got some laundry done. Chris and I cleaned the coop. I made a healthy dinner last night of stir fry and Asian slaw. I visited a dear friend on Saturday night who was in town visiting her daughter for the weekend. I got some great deals at Old Navy...an additional 50% off clearance items! I worked on my paper and am in the process of learning my new Word program for term papers. (Not the most fun...but it was very necessary.) The paper itself is just about done. Now I just need to figure out how to insert citations and a bibliography. Exciting, no?

I work today at 11. My new schedule is working out well so far. I like having the morning to do things around the house. Important things like laundry, dishes, dinner prep, feeding the chickens and blogging! And I figure in the summer it will give me time to water and tend the garden. So what I originally was unsure of...a work schedule smack dab in the middle of my day...is actually turning out to be ideal for me and my family. And I'm thanking God for that...for allowing me to have my cake and eat it, too. I can work and make a little grocery money. I can have a schedule that allows me to be available to my kids...and I won't miss a baseball game unless I'm at school! I can still be available to do the books at our business. And my hours are the same every week. This is almost unheard of in retail! So I feel very blessed. It's a win-win situation...and I'm thankful.

This week is much less busy than last week...and I'm thankful for that, too. Last week I had something going every night...school, bible study, baseball meeting, band concert. It was a lot. But...I made it through, one day at a time, and it was good. Not to mention, it made my Friday night all the better because I got to stay home and do NOTHING. AND...it was raining!! Perfect...

How about you? How was your weekend?