Chicken Fajitas

So SERIOUSLY how I love my chicken!  lol  Yep, I said it.  I'm addicted to that white meat.  Grilled, fried, roasted, baked.  But the best way ever, EVER, to eat chicken is grilled with onions and peppers and made into fajitas!

There are lots of places that sell such.  Like Chilli's, Applebee's, some of our local restaurants.  Everytime I go in these places I order the exact same thing from the menu.  Because I can.  Because I LIKE IT!  :)

While I was surfing yesterday looking for a sewing pattern (yep, not even headed in the direction of chicken) I found THIS recipe.  Staring at me like a golden compass drawing me in.  I was craving those juicy grilled veggies and flavor of a fajita.  So, I made a grocery list and sent my hubby to the store for the goodies and look what we had for lunch today:

And yep, I like to take pictures of my food cuz I'm a dork like that!  :)  So, check out Dana's recipe and see what you think!  The best part is that you can make these 'homemade' and they are incredible!  NO fajita seasoning packets, just fresh ingredients and a few 'spices' will make you fall in love with making fajitas at home.  I can tell I'm going to be eating IN a lot more in the future!

Just had to share that today.  It's been a great Sunday!  Church, homemade fajitas, and now I think I need to lay down on the couch with my blankie and reflect on it all.  Let's hope I don't fall asleep!  ;)  Yeah right!

We are Family

So, 'meeting' this new facebook friend has allowed me to expand my world so to speak just a bit farther.  To be honest I'm not exactly sure how I found Christie, but God knows.  God led her to Bugabo village in Uganda, and God led me to her.  And I'm ever so glad He did!!!

Of course we all know in this world of social media and being able to communicate so easily that we are able to establish relationships all around the world.  And isn't if funny how you can go months, years, maybe even your lifetime and never meet them, but feel as if you've know them your whole life?  When our hearts and minds are focused on the same thing it's like having family.  Which, in fact, we are.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ.  And I gotta tell ya, my 'new sister' Christie is someone I can't imagine not having in my life now.  Yep, she's that special.

I loved reading how her heart was changed, how in just one short year of becoming a born again believer she has changed her life RADICALLY for Christ.  She's walking the walk, not just talking the talk.  ♥

Through her we were able to sponsor Samuel (remember my Christmas present?).  We have also been able to help others in the village she resides in with the purchase of shoes, and school desks.  It's incredible to see just how far an American dollar can go in a third world country.  The awesome part is, by eliminating the 'middle man' she's putting our donations to work immediately!  She's taking ACTION!

Just had this on my heart today and wanted to share with everyone.  So, if you have time, and are into surfing blogs (which I know you are!) check out Compass In My Heart.  And, check out our Samuel!  He went and got himself a haircut! ;)  But isn't he still just the most handsome boy ever?!  (well, okay, one of 4) lol  My own boys are pretty handsome devils too.  ♥

How cool that we can see updates of what Christie is doing everyday (friend her on facebook if you'd like!), and being able to see the kids is such a blessing.  Our daughter sponsored two children, my sister has sponsored two, and I have friends that are donating to help with the school.  It's like having another part of our family on the other side of the world.

Some day......  my feet will step on African soil.   And I hope to squeeze and kiss on those big chubby brown cheeks!  =)

12 Days & Counting

This post was taken from a blog friend and you never know who might see this through another friend of a friend.  Please pass it along, share it with everyone you know.  You can tell from the date that it was posted....this sweet boy has 12 days and counting now.  Time is running out, but nothing is impossible with God!

December 20, 2010

time is running out...please help!

Twenty days is all this handsome young man has left to find his forever family. 

Just. Twenty. Days.

And then--he will never have the opportunity to be adopted again.

Oh my heart.  I cannot stand the thought.

Look how sweet he is....



I cannot even imagine being in his situation.  Seeing countless "little kids" leave the orphanage with their mom and dad and wondering, wondering, wondering, if his turn will ever come.

Sadly for this young man, time is about to run out.  He has waited for such a long time on waiting child lists--but no one has ever said "Yes" to him.  Can you imagine being passed over so many times?

Absolutely heartbreaking for any young person.

According to the agency that has his file, apart from a history of Hep B (just like our girls--very easy special need) he is healthy, smart, and a great thirteen year old kid.

Goodness, I just know that his family is out there somewhere.  I know someone will go.  Why?  Because I believe with all my heart that there is a family for every child who waits.  They just have not found him yet.

Unfortunately, there's a catch...

He absolutely must be adopted before his fourteenth birthday in February.  That means that his family MUST already have a dossier in Ch*na.  They must be in the process of adopting another child from this country and are willing to add this boy to their adoption.  Or, their dossier is in country and they are waiting on a referral.

One of my favorite lines from the movie, "Faith Like Potatoes" is when Angus Buchan says, "The condition for a miracle is difficulty, however the condition for a great miracle is not difficulty, but impossibility."

God loves to show His glory through seemingly impossible situations.

It's time to stand a trust the Father for a GREAT MIRACLE for this sweet guy.  As time ticks by and things become more and more impossible, I ask myself again, "Is anything impossible for the Lord God Almighty?"

I know the answer all too well.  So do many of you.

Nothing is impossible!  Nothing at all.  Not even this. 

Please, friends, can you help us to spread the word about this young man?  Post him everywhere you possibly can in the hope that his mom and dad will find him soon--before it is too late.  Once he turns fourteen he will be considered unavailable for adoption.  He will never know what it feels like to be loved and treasured by parents.  He will remain in the orphanage until he is sixteen...and then...well, who knows?  It is the sad reality of any orphan who ages out of the system.  Hopelessness.

Twenty days...that's all we have to get the word out there on the internet.  Will you please help?  Will you pray with us for the GREAT MIRACLE that he so desperately needs this Christmas?  Will you help to spread the word wherever you can?

I so appreciate your help.  You guys totally rock.

Let's give him the best Christmas present ever...a family!

If anyone wants more details, reply or leave a comment to this post, or e-mail me at renealynch at yahoo.com and i can put you in touch with the ones you need to talk to  regarding this sweet boy!

Merry CHRISTmas!

So..... I kinda missed the month of December!  Where did it go?!  Did anyone ever mention that the last two months of the year are quite simply THE busiest time of the year for photographers?  They should be enjoyed and leave you feeling blessed.  They leave me exhausted and quite frankly sometimes just disappointed in folks.  (Hey, we're being honest right?!)  I didn't say all folks, just some, sometimes.  For the most part December was a terrific month for me!  For us.  We are blessed beyond measure and spending time with family the last few days have reminded us of that fact.

I had a long post I was going to write about Black Friday last month, but everytime I started it.....well, it was always so negative I couldn't click publish.  It was such an awful experience.  Simply put, I was reminded why I do my shopping online!  I almost sat down in the middle of the WalMart on black friday and cried.  Yep.  That bad.  I hadn't been in over ten years.  So my first 're-encounter' was more than I could handle.  They now have security and police in the stores to keep people from stealing and fighting.  Which doesn't always happen, preventing it I mean.  There were actually grown women fighting over bed sheets.  Yep..... I almost cried.  So I'll spare you the gory details of that trip.

I discovered yet another new online friend, Christie Cotney and learned all about her return to Uganda, Africa to serve the people of Bugaboo Village.  The even better part...  learning that it only cost $100 to sponsor a child for AN ENTIRE YEAR!  We now have a new boy to add to our 'family'.  =)  Meet Samuel...

He is 5 years old and lives with his grandmother. He wants to be a pilot when he grows up. His favorite color is red. He loves to eat rice & meat, and his favorite animal is a cow.  And now, Samuel is a part of our family.  ♥

The really awesome part about Christie's ministry and sponsoring these kids is that your donation covers the children for the ENTIRE YEAR!  Samuel will now get to go to school, have a meal provided to him everyday, and have dental and medical check ups on a regular basis.  You can read more about Christie's mission on her blog and she updates with photos regularly!!!  We may even get to Skype Samuel someday.  We sent him a letter for Christmas.  One of the men that is helping Christie was reading her newsfeed on facebook and actually ask if 'Santa' was real or just a game?  Can you imagine living in a country where Christmas is celebrated ONLY as Christ's birth and nothing else added to the mix?!  What a testimony.

I also spent a week or two in December following Kristi & Kelly's trip back to Ethiopia!  I found these girls online over a year ago and love seeing what their families are up to and what Kelly is doing with Ordinary Hero.  They traveled back to ET to meet Kristi's daughter's birth mom.  WOW.  What an adventure in pictures and words.  My heart was overwhelmed with emotion just from a far.  I can only imagine the girls' excitement and love of the people there.  What a blessing to be able to share their trip through their blogs and facebook!  You must go read!  Especially if you are considering adoption!  Kelly has some new photos of waiting children on the Ordinary Hero site that are waiting for a new mommy & daddy!  Be still my heart!  ♥

I'm a room mom and got to help plan the Christmas party for Tanner's first/second grade class at school.  I'm the cool game mom! ;) lol  We had a blast!  So glad I get to be a part of his life (all my kids' lives!) like that.  Time goes by too fast not to take time to enjoy the little things!

And of course school Christmas programs were too cute!  The North Pole Goes Rock-n-Roll!  I made my little man an elf costume.  I turned this:

 into this:  (not too shabby if I do say so myself!)

 Santa visits the school every year after the program so the kids can tell him what they want for Christmas.

Then we had the Christmas program at church that Joy and I were in charge of with our youth group kids.  And I must say they did an AWESOME job!!!  We were so proud of them all!  And I was rather fond of one of the little wise men. ;)

Note to self.... next year teach dad how to shoot around the people in front of you. ;)  

And, well, then Christmas hit!  We spent Christmas eve with family at my Granny's.  Tanner hauled in on the golf gear.  Not sure where that came from but he was tickled to death!!! =)

Sugar high!  LOL ;)

Then we had Christmas at home with just us and the kids.  Aaahhhhh...... didn't have to go anywhere, drive anywhere....just enjoyed our kids and each other on Christmas day.  My parents came over, had lunch and gave the kids their presents and then it was just us again.

Did I mention Samuel!?! ;)  That was my Christmas present from my hubby.  His sponsorship and the most amazing letter from my man.  He's so wonderful.  I couldn't ask for more.  I am blessed.

Taylor made homemade 'Elf Cupcakes' from a recipe book she got for Christmas!  They were adorable!  Even if it did take her two days to make them!  LOL  Poor girl doesn't like cooking, and this little project reinforced her dislike for the kitchen.

The boy got us up at 5:30 a.m.!  Seriously!  Ugh...... ;)

  

Even Gus got a stocking with beggin' strips in it.

I was hoping Tyler would get a haircut as my Christmas gift.  ;)  Didn't happen!  lol  I still love him and his fuzzy locks!

Then today we went to my aunt and uncle's house for another Christmas dinner after church.  Lots of good food, more family and fun!  We went sledding just like when the big kids were little kids.  =)  Makes you wonder why you don't do these things more often.  ♥  We are blessed!

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas and look forward to a bright new year!  

Give Thanks

Give Thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever! 

~1 Chronicles 16:34~

Our family gathered for Thanksgiving on Thursday.  Our little family of five and my husband's brother and his family of 6, along with my father-in-law.  Three teen/adult kids ages 15-21, and four wee ones from 3-10.  Yep, we scattered them in all ages, lol, but it makes for tons of fun!  The older kids played board games all day in the game room and watched videos, while the littler ones played with toys, played tag outside and entertained themselves.  And us grown ups.... well, we played cards after my sis-in-law and I cleaned the kitchen and the guys got in their game time and power naps.  ;)  

Us 'big kids' playing cards.

The attitudes playing board games. ;) lol

Gotcha sis!  My daughter always turns away when I'm taking pictures...  she didn't know I was 'packin' when I walked into the game room.  GOTCHA!  =)  Only picture of my daughter from the whole day.  Oh well.  ♥

Our 'twins'.  These two are cousins and just a few shorts months apart in age.  They are in the same grade in school and both were named after their grandmother....

My Tanner Lee, and bro-in-law's Chandler Lee.

And no, in case you're wondering....we didn't plan ANY of it!  lol  They get along famously!

Even 'cousin' Macie came for Thanksgiving.  And Gus was beyond thrilled to have a playmate for the day.  Just like the kids.  They wrestled, explored the great outdoors and took long, lazy naps all day.  (And thankfully....there will be no puppies in our future.) lol

Now... here's a cute little piece of useless information for you:  My husband's side of the family must have some super powered genes because all of our kids tend to look EXACTLY like their fathers.  So much so, that the cousins even tend to look like brother and sister.

Check out my Tanner:

And my niece Kenzie:

Downright scarey freaky huh?!  :)  But definitely adorable!

I can't believe we didn't take some pictures of the food and my HUGE new table that my hubby finished for me.  He bought an antique table at a benefit auction the church had, brought home a BEAUTIFUL surprise for me of a dining room table that is nearly 100 years old (I know this, because I know the family that donated it!), and I could comfortably seat all 11 of us for dinner.  Yep.... ALL of us, and I LOVED IT!

I know someday I'm going to have to have another 'kid' table when we start adding grandbabies, but for now, we can all sit together, share together, help one another, and love eating as a BIG family together. ♥ It was my favorite part of the day.  

After dinner (and before games and cards) I took family pictures for my bro-in-law's family.  (you can bet it was all his wife's idea! lol and we tortured him as long as we possibly could).  Family pics and a new Christmas card were made and I can't wait to surprise them with some extra goodies come Christmas time! ;)  I can safely share this tidbit because I know Michelle doesn't read my blog.  lol

My Bro-in-law Howie & awesome sis-in-law Michelle (who makes the most incredible chocolate pie ever!)

My oldest niece (and I claim her as my first child...long story) Brittany & Macie

New Christmas card with my favorite cuties!  Sidney, Chandler & Kenzie (aren't they just adorable?!)

♥ Family Christmas Card ♥
I just wish I had one for my OWN family! lol

I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving with your families.  Stay tuned to hear how it took a turn for the worse on Black Friday!  (just kidding.....but it wasn't pretty)