Girls Night!

I know some of you are gonna argue with this....but I have the best friends a girl could have. Here are introductions in no particular order.

First there are these two...All the time I hear people say how they wish they were as close to their sisters as we are to each other. So if you "people" ever get a fairy god-mother don't forget that wish! I'd hate to know what life would be like without my sisters.

Then there's this one...on the right..

She's my long time bestie. You know...the one you get in trouble with. We've been through police encounters, community college, horrible boyfriends, stealing boyfriends, flattening tires, angry parents, restraining orders, party crashing, crazy ex-girlfriends, road trips, & just about everything else together. Today we're both married, responsible, she keeps trying to make me have kids, & apparently the only parties we now crash are baby showers.

Next up....My surprise bestie!!

Years ago I would never have guessed that this girl & I would be soooo close. We saw each other every Sunday in church (i'm not sure we even spoke), and our families always knew each other. One Sunday we left our normal Sunday School classes both looking for something different...and thankfully we ended up in the same class. God knew exactly what he was doing. We now call her our adopted sister! She's the Skipper to my Barbie!!

Now this girl....She's super special ;)

She tried to get away from us one time, but we got her back. Melba started out being Beka's enemy, then best friend, then ex-best friend, and now best friend forever! Since she's stolen the hearts of the WHOLE family....she & Beka don't really have an option to not be friends. They just have to be. Besides...Beka can only do things when "Melba says so"....So i'm not really worried ;)

Now that you know everyone...we can move on. We all try to get together at least once a month for girl's night. Sometimes we go out, sometimes we have pizza night, once we did fondue, & no matter what we always try to include Edward Cullen. Is any girl's night complete without him?? Just sayin'. Last Thursday night I hosted the girls for pumpkin carving! First we had snacks. The menu included....mini pizzas, pumpkin cream cheese spread, snickerdoodles, spinach quiche, cherry dump cake, ice cream, & lots of Coca-cola!! Once we were good & hyper we covered the floor with newspaper and carved away. Who knew how much of a chore this was?? Oh you did?? Thanks for telling me!!

We had a blast...(except Beka :( her punkin was rotten)

Time for a picture!!

January carved tiny holes all over hers...looked like stars...beautiful!

Mine was casper or maybe the scary brother...either way it was a ghost

Melba carved a happy pumpkin face

Jenn J. did a kitty cat with cool green eyes

Jenn B. did a traditional face...with star shaped ear holes..kinda odd, but typical ;)
Beka carved a new pumpkin the next day...I don't have a picture but it was an owl on a tree branch...sooooo cute!! Maybe she'll post it on her blog.

AND JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS...NEXT GIRL'S NIGHT WILL TAKE PLACE NOVEMBER 20TH AT 12:01AM. WE WILL ALL BE WITH EDWARD AT THE PREMIER OF NEW MOON!!!!! ARE YOU CRAZY JEALOUS???? YOU SHOULD BE ;)

Cook this! Right now...go cook it!

So thankfully things have gotten a little better since last time I blogged. Brad is still hanging on at work. I've been a little more layed back about the house. Overall things are good! After an extremely busy weekend, and a busy start to my week...things slowed down a bit. Last night I finally got to cook dinner. Now I cook pretty much every night, but busy nights usually go like this....open freezer, read the back of the box, cut slits in the plastic, and throw it in the oven. I love that convenience, but I despise that I can't REALLY cook every night. I love fresh garlic, I love mincing and chopping, and I love trying new things. I don't love when Brad is looking over my shoulder because he's starving. I can't cook under pressure....something burns or I get measurements wrong...it's torcher. Last night was perfect....it was full of the things that I love and free of the things that I don't love so much. Cheese Ravioli was on the menu! YUM!

Here's whatcha do...
pour some olive oil (a tbsp or 2) into a large skillet...let it heat up..about 1 minute
finely chop 1 jalapeno pepper...if you want it really spicy leave in the seeds. If you want it spicy free gut it (that sounds gross I know) scrape out the seeds..better? :)
Throw the jalapeno into the olive oil and cook it until it's tender - 1 or 2 minutes
Next press 3 or 4 cloves of garlic into the skillet....let it cook...now sniff really big...do you LOVE that smell?!! So good! ok give that about 20 or 30 seconds
Now you're ready for the tomatoes...I used 2 cans of undrained diced tomatoes w/oregano & onions...Dump'em in.
Get that good and hot...let it simmer for a few minutes....
While it's simmering you could put some garlic bread in the oven...just remember bread goes straight to your butt...clearly I don't mind that so much!
When it's good and bubbly pour in a bag of frozen cheese ravioli. I had 2 12oz bags so i just used both of those...It was a good amount.
Let that cook for 4 or 5 minutes..until the ravioli is soft
then stir in 1/3 cup of heavy whipping cream....it just thickens things up a bit.
I threw in some fresh spinach leaves which I liked & Brad picked out...to each his own I guess..cover the skillet and let them wilt
Remove from the heat....dump in some cheese (I used grated provolone) put the lid back on and let it melt all over.
Don't forget you have BREAD IN THE OVEN!!...Otherwise it will burn, and even though you just slaved over the stove to make the world's best ravioli you will suffer a few smart remarks.
Now make your family eat it (maybe not the black bread)...and if they pick out the spinach just throw it on your plate. It's good for you!

You're probably a bit exhausted from all of my babbling...just say this after me...
"If Beth Davis can cook this..I can certainly cook this" have fun!!

Cleaning out my closet! My "thought closet" that is...

I have the worst history of worrying about things. I make myself physically sick. On a few occasions i've found myself sitting in a doctor's office waiting for an answer....all I get is that I must be stressed. Over the years i've learned to recognize some of the things that get me all worked up. Other times i'm already covered in hives, and nauseated before I even realize anything was on my mind. Last week was one of those weeks.

Recap....

Sunday - I got pulled over by a state trooper and got a $101.00 ticket for my expired tag. (I won't go into all of this, but this has a long infuriating story to go along with it).

Monday - Layoffs were annouced at PCS (For those of you that don't know..Brad works at PCS) We would find out about his job in 2 to 3 days.

Tuesday - Before the layoff announcement I had planned to meet a realtor to look at a home. I have been home searching by myself for several months now. I looked at the house and fell in love with the potential it holds.

Wednesday - We found out that it may be the middle of November before we know anything about the security of Brad's job. I had hives in my mouth and had been sick for 2 days.

Wednesday night - I was completely broken. I soaked in the tub with pumpkin scented candles surrounding me. I met with God and I sobbed.

Thursday, Friday, & Saturday were filled with prayer....otherwise uneventful with no change.

Last night (Sunday) I was reading my Bible. I pulled out my summer bible study..Our small group had completed the study, but I had missed a few days so I went back through to see what I had missed. I'm so glad I did!!!

The whole lesson was based on how we fill our "thought closet" with worry. Worry is focusing on the "what if" instead of the "what is".

The entire week I had filled my mind with worry. What if Brad gets layed off? What if we have financial hardships? What if this sets us back and we can't get a house? What if? What if?

Right then I grabbed a pen and wrote a list of WHAT IS....

We have the money to pay my ticket.

Brad currently still has his job.

My job is secure.
We have a nice place to live with a roof over our heads.

God will provide.

That's the bottom line...GOD WILL PROVIDE

There were a few verses that really stuck out to me...I study with The Message Bible, and I love the way it states this...

Psalm 94:9 - Do you think Ear-Maker doesn't hear, Eye-Shaper doesn't see?

Phil 4:6-7 - Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

God knows my thoughts, and he hears my prayers. I still don't know the plan, but I am trusting God. I am waiting & listening for his answers. I'm learning slowly but surely to give my worries to him.