Forget the Diet..Baked Potato Casserole

Yummy!!! This can be made ahead, so its a favorite for working people! (My family omits the green onion!)

•5 pounds Red Potatoes, Cut Into 1 Inch Pieces
•1 pound Bacon, Cooked & Crumbled
•4 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
•1 cup Green Onions, Sliced
•1 cup Mayonnaise
•1 cup Sour Cream
•1 teaspoon Salt
•½ teaspoons Black Pepper

Preparation Instructions
Peel, cube and cook potatoes until just tender. Drain and place in a large bowl to cool slightly if making the casserole right away. If you are going to make this to reheat later, let the potaotes cool thoroughly. Combine the remaining ingredients and mix into the potatoes. Transfer to a 4-1/2 quart baking dish. Bake, uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes at 325°F or until browned and heated through. Add 15 minutes to the cooking time if the casserole has been refrigerated.

Isnt it amazing??

Isnt it amazing to think back to a year ago. Where were you? What were you doing? Were you happy? Sad? Ready to give up? Who were your friends?

I sat in bed, unable to sleep last night..thinking of these things.

I am truly blessed. I thought of all the changes that have taken place in me in the last year.

**I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life, now I have 3 semesters of school behind me! And on the track to be a teacher.

** This time last summer I was lonely, I have very few friends I could call *friends*. Now I have met so many true friends. They are all such blessings to me and I am thankful for each of them.

**We found a great little house that we love. We were in a terrible rental situation and now we have somewhere that feels like home.

**We were without a church home. We found a wonderful match for us and love the people that go there, the music, the messages..all of it! It has inspired me to really grow in my Christian walk.

I am thankful for a wonderful loving husband, two awesome little boys who are quickly growing to be young men and for an amazing God who is more than I could ever deserve.

Women..Mothers and Wives..

"For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." Genesis 2:24


My husband is the baby of two sons in a family. I am the woman who "took" him away from his mother. It has been a rough transition.I believe this is one the hardest transitions in life. It is so important to realize that God has ordained that this transition take place, as the verse above states. It is one of the pillars that makes a house a home and a family secure, but it is difficult.

Women have such a power of influence. It is a strength that God has given us and we can use it for good or for evil. When there is a mother and a wife in a man's life, the wife is to be the dominant influence. As a wife, I know this has been important to my marriage. But as a mother, I cringe at the thought of letting go of my sons one day. Thank goodness, at the ages of 6 and almost5 I still have a while!

I hope that when my children are ready to leave the nest and find the woman they will spend the rest of my life with, that I will look for the good in them and be an encouragement to them. I relize that when a man leaves his parents that he and his wife are now one and they will have a family. And that will be his top priority, after God. It doesnt matter if they come to every family dinner, every family function, or even call me every day..he is with his family. I hope that I cant put my needy-ness to have control over his life aside..and realize he has done a good job. He has a wife who loves him dearly, he is raising a beautiful family and provides for them wonderfully. But most importantly I will know that we serve the same God and he is the best father, provider and friend we could ever have.

And that I know will give me the peace I need..to let go.

Coconut-Lime Bars

•1 cup Butter
•1-¾ cup Flour
•⅔ cups Powdered Sugar
•¼ cups Shredded Coconut
•¼ cups Chopped Pecans
•1-½ cup Sugar
•¼ cups Flour
•1 teaspoon Baking Powder
•4 whole Eggs, Slightly Beaten
•½ cups Lime Juice
•2 tablespoons Extra Coconut For Garnish On Top
Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour a 9 X 13 pan

To make crust:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and confectioner’s sugar. Cut in butter until combined and crumbly. Add in pecans and coconut. Press mixture into bottom of pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

To make topping:
While crust is baking, prepare topping.. In a larger bowl, add sugar, flour, and baking powder. Then add slightly beaten eggs and lime juice. Mix well and pour on top of warm baked crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes. When cool, dust with confectioner’s sugar and refrigerate.

Optional: Put 2 Tablespoons coconut on baking sheet and toast for 5-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Sprinkle over top.

Cut into bars and chill! Best served cold!

Summertime...where the living is easy..

Boy, am I sad to see August quickly approaching. The boys & I have had such a wonderful summer so far. We havent gone on any fancy-schmancy vacations..we've just stayed around home. We go to the pool about every other day, we've been to the lake a few times and just enjoyed our time together. It's so nice. I dread the day when its not "cool" to hang out at home anymore..I love the age they are. Okay, so I better quit talking about this before I tear up..oh well..too late!


We went bowling with the kids from church this morning. It is so nice to go to a church that wants the kids and youth to blossom. So many churches here in the "bible belt" have an old school way & dont have many programs for the children. The boys love love love our church & It makes me so happy.

I've been looking around at some new recipe sites! Like this one founded by none other than The PIONEER WOMAN!!! She has the most yummy looking meals! (Yes, I love pictures of yummy meals!!) you should check her out for sure! You wont be sorry!


I probably wont be around much the next week, as I have a lovely class I must take. Should be fun!


Now I will leave you with some pictures from the past few weeks. The last two are from a cookout we had for my mom's surprise birthday party & the others are just poolside!!

Worry

I was reading the next chapter in the Bible Study I am participating in and this stood out to me and I felt I needed to share!

1. Be anxious about nothing.
2. Be prayerful about everything.
3.Be thankful for all things.

I banned myself from Facebook for the day to bring you this blog post!

Ha!

I'm up to my eyeballs in World Civilizations homework & I cant get into it. I just hate it and my eyes start to glaze over as soon as I open the book! It's awful!

It's raining here :( Boo! Of all days to ban from Facebook! LOL




I'm hoping the rain subsides this evening so I can go walking with Mrs.Farmer (See her blog in the blog roll!) I have been so lazy about eating healthy and exercising this summer & It's really starting to show. I've let my subscriptions to Fitness & Shape magazines go, I bet the Wii fit doesn't even remember me & I couldn't tell you the last time I weighed myself!! Ouch!

The YMCA is so far down the road & I know I would use that as an excuse not to go..but somethings gotta give!

What's your favorite exercise and how do you stay motivated??


(I should probably tag Christy here so she will reply with some fab ideas like she always has!)