i feel like cooking!

Almost been a month since my last post! Some of my friends and I are participating in an email recipe exchange. It's been fun getting different recipes from people I don't even know! Here are a few that I am looking forward to trying!

Fromm Jill Flowers
This is one of my favorite easiest recipes but I make a few substitutions to make it healthy and a tasty…at least to my familyJ
MEATLOAF – LIPTON STYLE – this is one of those 30 min meals that makes life as an athletic trainer easier.

1 envelope Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Onion Soup Mix (I also use beefy onion or onion/mushroom for different flavors)
2 lbs. ground beef (I use 1.25-1.50# of the 96% LEAN ground meat or some friends have used turkey)
3/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs* (my substitute is the quick 3min oatmeal)
2 eggs
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup ketchup (my substitute is to use (2) 6 oz V8 juice which will also take care of the water and it adds a great flavor and it adds a vegetable)

I hand combine the ingredients (with gloves) and place it in a round glass bunt bowl, cover with a paper plate and cook it in the microwave for a total of about 15 min. The round shape of the meat in the bunt bowl allows it to cook evenly in the microwave so it is done MUCH faster.J Cook at 5-6 min intervals and check the meat doneness between intervals. Then before the last 5-6 min of cooking, I cut it into quarters. Or you can follow the traditional baking directions below.

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Combine all ingredients in large bowl.
2. Shape into loaf in 13 x 9-inch baking or roasting pan.
3. Bake uncovered 1 hour or until done. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.


From Gaylynn Sills
Chicken Enchiladas
1 whole fryer (or I use 4 to 5 chicken breast)
1 can chopped green chilis
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup chicken broth
Flour tortillas
Cheddar and Monterrey Jack Cheese
Boil Chicken until done and then cut up. Combine Chicken, green chilis, both soups and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Put mixture in the flour tortillas and roll up.
Place rolled tortillas in a greased pan. Spread cheeses over the top and bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted.

From Michelle Baker
DUMP CAKE
1) regular box of yellow cake mix
2) 1 can cherry pie filling (I buy the lite one)
3) 1 can crushed pineapple
4) 2 sticks butter – melted
5) Crushed pecans ½ cup or so – (optional)
Take a 9 x 13 pan – do not grease do nothing
DUMP the entire can juice and all of pineapple use the back of a spoon and spread evenly
DUMP the entire can of pie filling use the back of a spoon and spread evenly
DUMP the entire box of dry cake mix use the back of a spoon and spread evenly
Sprinkle the entire package or ½ cup handful of pecans on top
Pour the melted butter EVENLY over the top
Cook in 350 oven for @ 45 minutes –
Comes out like a cobbler - Serve warm with vanilla ice cream J
You can change all kinds of parts of this receipe. You can use fruit cocktail for the pineapple, any kind of pie filling for the cherry pie filling (blueberry and pineapple is my favorite) also you can use coconut for the nuts but add them about 15 minutes before done.

Flu season indeed

My hands- clammy, my skin- cool, head- hurts, attitude- grumpy, sleep- didn't last night (I triiiied), throat- sore from coughing.

Are these side effects from my flu shot yesterday? I chose to pay 10 extra bucks and get the mist instead of the shot. The sign said:

Shot- 80% effective with flu like symptoms for 2 days
Mist- 100% effective with no symptoms.

Come on now, tell me you wouldn't get the mist?
However, I do know the difference between the two is that the mist is a live virus and the shot is a dead virus. So, are these side effects or did I get the shot a moment too late?

My students are dropping like flies.....

my heavy heart

This week my students have been delivering their first speech. I have been so impressed with the speeches! This is an introduction speech where they tell about a vivid memory- a time in their life that impacted them. They tell it in first person using descriptions and details, and there have been many tears shed from both me and my students. Loved ones lost, students battling cancer, involvement in drug raids in Puerto Rico, getting shot during a drive by shooting, calling the police when your mom is being beaten by your dad, giving birth at age 14... these are just some of the many stories I have heard this week. My students are desperately in need of a Savior. I pray that I can be a light and encouragement for them. Will you join me?

i speek crectly

I know. I'm over due for a blog, but let's be honest, it was summer time.

So to catch up or just act like I never took a pause in the blogging....

I'm a little frustrated. You see, my students are on day 2 of their first speech of the semester and many of them either did not write enough or did not do it all. What makes it worse, is they don't care! One student who had to stay for tutorials yesterday so I could make him write his speech (it's amazing what you can do with a simple phone call to mommy... "What?! He hasn't written it? Well I'll tell the coach he wont be at practice until he completes it!") anyway, he said "Man Miss, I was planning on getting to sleep through this class all year."

I think not. English is good, math is great, science wonderful, and history is up there too, but seriously people EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE! Thus the importance of COMMUNICATION APPLICATIONS! However, Texas disagrees. They vote on Thursday to see if it will be a required graduation credit. 10 years from now they'll be at some restaurant placing an order and can't understand a single thing the person taking their order says. Wonder what a com app class could have done for them....

I'd like to see the State Board of Education come and challenge my students in the "Ummm... Olympics." My moneys on the kids.

it's the beauty of simplicity

I am 2.5 days away from finishing my first year of teaching. CRAZY! I have been so busy these last few weeks. Ok, I've been busy all year, but especially these last few weeks. God is good though. Here's some updates:

I am teaching one session of summer school. 8 days. It will be good. I'm looking forward to it.
My Shepherd group on Sundays has grown to 14 girls!
Tammi and I combined our small groups for the summer. We are doing "a summer of prayer" and I am SO excited!!!
Free Food Mondays is still doing well. We continue to have a a great turn out each week. God is blessing this ministry.
We got a cat..... (and I kinda like it... who knew!)
My girls back home all graduated! I've been their small group leader since they were in 7th grade! Now they are all going to college! I'm so proud of them!
Summer is almost here and I am ready for a tan!
I've decided to grow my hair back out. I've enjoyed my adult haircut, but I miss ponytails and simplicity.
I'm starting to enjoy running. I still hate it more than I love it, but my heart (or head?) is slowly changing...
I miss my family... a lot.


2.5 more days! Then maybe a reflection on my year... maybe. :)

I pledge allegiance

Every morning at 7:15 AM the school bell rings. I close the door after checking every one's ID as they enter the classroom, reminding them to tuck in their shirts and turn their phones off. The familiar voice of our principal comes over the loud speaker, and we all rise to pledge our allegiance. The students stand, facing the small and pathetic representations of our state and country that are attached to the white board. Some actually look at the flag while others stare at the floor, yawn, or make a face at their friend across the room. On a good day, one or two students may be awake enough to mumble through the pledges, but it means nothing to them. It is just a part of their daily routine, a routine that began years ago on their very first day of school. Now, 13 or so years later, it's no different then brushing their teeth. When did we stop teaching the purpose of this routine? The magnitude of this action; to pledge allegiance to something is anything but routine. It's a commitment, a lifestyle.

According to dictionary.com to pledge allegiance is to solemnly promise the loyalty of a citizen to his or her government. I'll be the first to admit that I fall short of this. I complain along with everyone else about all the mistakes our government is making, certain I have the solution. It's not my fault, I didn't vote for them. When I pledge allegiance, I'm really just promising my loyalty to those in our government who I voted for, leaving me the right to complain about our leaders who I feel are unfit for the role...

My parents raised me better than this. They taught me to have respect for those in authority, even when I disagree with the choices they make. I may not have voted for you, but you were elected and I will support every decision you make because I have pledged my allegiance to this country and its government. I will do my part if you do yours, for I can not pledge my allegiance to a country who does not fight for the values it was founded upon. One Nation UNDER GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL. When you take that oath, you are pledging your allegiance to these values, promising to defend them at all costs.

One Nation under God- This is the core of our country. As Derek Webb wrote, "My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man.My first allegiance is not to democracy or blood, it's to a King and a Kingdom." We are to seek God in every decision, keeping Him the CENTER of our nation. Instead, we have taken Him out of the schools and to even speak of Him could cost you your job.

Indivisible- We spend more time trying to obtain the majority, planning for the NEXT election, rather then focus on the here and now. Instead of fighting and defending bills that represent the values we were founded upon, we waste time gossiping and complaining about the red and blue. What happened to the UNITED States of America? I often feel like the Divided States of America is a more appropriate name. Over the last several years the few times I have felt united was during a tragedy like 9/11, Hurricane Katrine and Ike, or the shooting at Virginia Tech. Shouldn't I feel that we are united every single day?

With Liberty- I teach the required speech credit students in Texas must take to graduate from high school. I teach them about the 1st Amendment and their right to freedom of speech, and yet I'm not allowed to share my faith with them. How is this liberty? How is this free? What would Patrick Henry have to say about this? Would he choose our weakened concept of liberty or would he choose death?

Justice for all- I feel so much pride in our country when I hear stories of our troops fighting for justice, or the stories of rescue missions taking place on enemy territory. We fight for the beaten, abandoned, and abused. The jobless, homeless, sick, and the old. However, we draw the line at the unborn. They have no voice, no rights, no choice. How is this just?

I DO pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, because I am a part of that republic. For I believe in a Nation that is one under God, indivisible and united, not just in name but in what we stand for, with liberty and justice for every single being. This is what I pledge to, and as long as our leaders can pledge to this as well they will continue to have my support and respect.

keep the comment questions coming! This is fun!

Beate- I sure would love to travel to Norway, but if I'm going to spend that much money on a flight I want to be there for a while. I only have a limited amount of time this summer... maybe next summer! As far as tips for teaching go... I'm still trying to figure that one out! Praying for my students daily and asking for patience has helped greatly!!

Julie!!!- I'm going to be spending 10 days with the Botacio family (Aylen and her mother worked at Cresta Del Mar each summer with us). During those 10 days Aylen and I will be taking a long bus ride to Costa Rica to spend 3 days with Robert & Nina and help them with a camp they are doing. If there is anyone you want me to take something to or bring something back from please let me know!! I'll be in Tyler in June, and leaving for Panama July 15!!