Tomato Basil Fettuccine

Just tried this new recipe which was a huge hit for the fam! It came from the Taste of Home magazine, so I just knew it would be wonderful!Tomato Basil Fettuccine

8 ozs cooked fettuccine
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon butter
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes - undrained
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (or 1-2 tablespoons dried basil)
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Saute onion and red pepper flakes in butter till onion is tender. Add tomatoes and salt; cook and stir over medium-high heat until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat; let stand one minute. gradually whisk in milk. Drain cooked fettuccine and place in a large bowl. Add the basil, Parmesan cheese and tomato mixture; toss to coat. 4 servings.

The next day, I added some chopped up leftover chicken and a few tablespoons of milk which made an awesome meal along side my warm, home made wheat rolls!

Happy cooking :)

Thankful for My Heritage

I experienced something very odd a few weeks ago. Due to other events at home, we chose to attend the traditional first service at our church instead of the second service which is contemporary.

When I first walked in, I was shocked at the songs they were singing. I knew it was a traditional service but really wasn't expecting songs from my childhood.

'Blessed Assurance' along with 'Look What the Lord Has Done' and 'I Will Enter His Gates' were songs I sang as a preteen! I will have to admit that my initial thought was, "I cannot believe they are still singing these songs!" It only took a nano second for the Lord to convict me and remind me that I was saved on these songs. The words still ring true and with passion. Within minutes, I began worshipping with a lump in my throat as we sung 'You are Awesome in This Place' and 'Come Holy Spirit'. I only had Adam with me who looked rather perplexed at the style of music and the change in my behavior. I knew right then that Hymn 101 was a new class that would start in my home the next week!

I borrowed a hymn book from the church and then spent some time Monday morning explaining my heritage to the kids. I sang as I spoke and wept as I sang. For me, it was a moving moment that I wanted my kids to experience. We read the words to 'Amazing Grace', 'There is Power in the Blood', 'What a Day That Will Be' and 'How Great Thou Art'. Then I began sharing with them my limited knowledge of the historical background of the writers of these precious old hymns and their incredible journeys in life.

Fanny Crosby, blind from childhood, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1975 and is known as the "Queen of Gospel Song Writers. She was a rescue mission worker, poet, lyricist and composer with over 9000 songs in print as well as 1,000 poems. She was also an incredible public speaker, played the organ and gave piano lessons...let's not forget that she was blind!

That first service worship experience was so rewarding, that I decided to do it again. With both kids in hand, we greeted the predominately older folks and began to worship with them. While we sang 'In The Presence of Jehovah', I could hear my mom harmonizing with me in my mind. Oh, what powerful words 'He is Here, You Can Touch Him' possess!

I was so blessed and elated when a message in tongues was given. Paraphrased..."I am here now with you to bless you. I will give you My strength. I am yours and your are Mine. Together we are victorious."

Amen!! I accept that, Lord! I'll take Your blessings AND the victories!

I don't feel it or say it enough, but I am extremely grateful for my Christian heritage. I enjoy the contemporary services as much as anyone else, but I treasure the hymns - they made me who I am. They shaped my hope and strengthened my faith. Thank you, mom and dad, for the Godly heritage you gave me!

Update on My Kids - Part 2

"In the midst of her trials, she has found strength she never knew she had and an appreciation for life unlike anything she has ever known. As a consequence, she is joyously alive, howbeit, in the face of great adversity."

I love to read. Period. You name it, I want to read it. It inspires me. Encourages me. Raises me to new levels that I didn't know existed. God's Word, other blogs, books, Internet articles, quotes, devotions, online sermons, etc., etc.

I read the above quote somewhere and copied it onto my virtual notepad. I want this to be me. I want people to be able to say that about me one day...

"...this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead" 2 Corinthians 1:9.

A dear friend of mine recently shared with me Rick Warren's personal observations since dealing with his wife's cancer. He said that he used to think that life was a series of hills and valleys. "There were good and bad times that ebbed and flowed. Now he sees life more like a railroad track. Two parallel lines - one side being good things and the other being the challenges. At every stage in our life we have things that are wonderful and we consider them blessings. At the same time, we are facing challenges and struggles that God is using to shape us into the people who will spend eternity with Him. We have to remember that everything we are doing now is only practice for the "REAL" life we have yet to live."

Wow - I love the parallelism to this analogy!

After my first update on the kids, I started receiving these precious emails ... "I pray that they acknowledges their struggles and successes, all at the same time."

"We declared Victoria to be "Victoria the victorious" in our prayers this morning! I am asking the Father to give her a vision for where He is taking her."

"I'm sure this is a roller coaster ride for you. Thank you so much for sharing and being an inspiration for those of us who are just struggling with the small stuff. The boys tell me that Adam is an amazing guitar player and I know they are blessed and encouraged by his example."

"We are in God's throne room daily, lifting your kids up."

I am so thankful for the phone calls, encouraging emails and reassuring comments. I read them to my kids and watch the spark in their eyes light up.

So how are they doing a week after my first update? Amazing to say the least! I have purposely waited a week to write this second update so I could report their success after another mapping session on Thursday.

* I call Adam on the phone often and rarely ever sign. I sat in the hallway this week in guitar lessons for the first time. I do believe the proverbial umbilical cord has been severed!!

* Victoria is now getting annoyed by my keyboard clicking, soft background music at the Chiropractor and the beeps on my phone when I'm texting! Although she is irritated, I can't help but laugh. Why? Because she can hear them :) I keep reminding her that her brain will eventually tune out the noises that are not necessary to function - just like it happened with her heartbeat.

Ironically, when I asked her last week if she still hears her heartbeat, she looked very puzzled and wanted to know what I was talking about. Flabbergasted, I explained the whole scenario. She had no idea what I was talking about and says she hears nothing!! Not only has she tuned out the beating sound, but also the entire event!

* They both received an excellent report from the audiologist and the surgeon as we prepare for surgery number two.

* When we left the appointment yesterday, I stepped on a bunch of leaves and heard them crunch. I stopped, made the kids freeze and stepped on them again asking if they heard that. They both did!! Victoria had a strange look in her eyes and then the dimple appeared - I heard leaves crunching!!

* I was very encouraged yesterday when our precious audiologist stated that she was very proud of both the kids and that Victoria is already doing better than she ever anticipated - woohoo!


I have to share one more funny thing. I was going over the next surgery date and the proceeding appointments with them both yesterday. The surgery is on Tuesday, so Victoria asked what time on Thursday do we go to the audiologist to have the implant activated. Thursday? "No, honey, remember, we have to wait three weeks for the incision to heal before it can be turned on."

I was completely amazed as she sat there trying to tell me that it wasn't like that with the first implant - she has completely forgotten! In case I haven't shared this yet, that was the one thing that I was so upset about. I just knew that the three week waiting period with ZERO hearing for my kids was going to be horrendous. Trust me when I say that it was certainly difficult, but four weeks later and my kids don't even remember - they think they got activated two days later! God is so funny :) Good thing I'm journaling this whole event or they wouldn't remember a thing a year from now!

Although we're nearing the finish line, please but don't stop praying -- their second surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8 at 7 and 10 am.Count your blessings, name them one, two, three!