Artichoke Intimidation

Well, it's true. 

I'm intimated by artichokes. 

I love artichoke hearts, dips, pasta's; anything that includes them.  I love them, but... I have never tried to make anything with them. 

There are several reasons really:

1.  I didn't know they came canned!  (Thanks, Amy for the info!)

2.  We (to my remembrance) never made them fresh growing up.

3.  Have you ever seen a fresh artichoke?  They have pointy ends and are covered in layers...

So, after having some fabulous dip my sis-in-law made, craving them for a while, having them again in dip recently (rinsing/sucking all the cheese off so Gracie could try it and loved them btw), I decided.  Enough was enough!  I am going to overcome my fear and learn how to prepare those scary looking greens.

Well, tonight's the night folks, I'm going on a Cooking Adventure! 

I found a website, SimplyRecipes.com, read over it (seems simple enough), and decided I can do it!

I'll let you know how it goes....

Gradual Changes

Well, it's another day over in the Carter house and I am planning out our day for tomorrow.

I need to edit Gracie's daily schedule for Granny, get the grocery list together for Luke so he can go to the health food store tomorrow, and lay out clothes for everyone for another day, a fairly nice on for January actually!

I am so grateful for my family, glad to have a job, and thankful for God's provision!

Today has been a good day! I did some "housekeeping" at work (started cleaning out my desk), organizing my memos/bulletins, and preparing my "training manual" to be passed down to the next poor soul who gets stuck in this job.

I went to take a typing and written test for state jobs, and passed both! By the time I was back at work (long lunch to apply for a new job :o), I had received 3 more pre-approvals for state jobs! Now, that just means they will actual review my app and I qualify for it.

I have been praying a lot about this lately and I am so excited about moving forward! I believe that God is moving and opening all the right doors!

It's so exciting! Keep praying for us!

Catch up!

To the people who actually read this (LOL), I just wanted to say that I'm sorry that it has been SO long since I posted anything.  I have been going through my changes in my personal life and I have been extremely busy.  AND if you include the holiday's in there too, well... an excuse is an excuse!

The changes in my personal life are all good, nothing major has happened, I have just made a few resolutions to do a few things better with my life. 

I am not going back to school this semester.  I am as disappointed, maybe even more so, than you.  But I have prayed about it and believe that this is the best decision for my family right now.  With the changes that are going on with work (we now have to pay for our own insurance which we didn't before), Luke working less hours, and Gracie's constinent need for attention (which I love), I felt that right now was not the time for me to take that adventure. 

I have made a decision to "... do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father."  I have started a few daily devotionals so that I can dive into the word.  I have not done well at this in my life and although I know scripture (thank you Grandpa and Papa), I need to read it for myself and apply it to my life.

I actually had an argument with Him this weekend, isn't that funny?  He won of course! 
I have also decided to "Pray for my enemies."  Not that I would really consider them my enemies, but that's what the scripture says.  I believe that with my obedience, He will take care of.
I have to be honest and tell you that I had a really hard time doing this.  I didn't really have any words to say.  I mean, my momma always told me "If you don't have anything nice to say..."  Well, I didn't.  Nothing.  I said their names and asked for the Lord to bless them, make them prosperious, give them Godly wisdom (even though they didn't want it), and then... prayed that those words would eventually be sincere.  Because believe me, when I said them, they were not.

I have also made a conscience desion to be a better wife, mother, and friend.  (This is not a plea for sympathy for you to tell me how wonderful I am, but please, feel free!)  I have already seen results of this and truly believe that I am a Blessed woman.  No, I know I'm a Blessed woman.  I have the best friends and the greatest family (blood/married-in/adopted, you are all on my list)! 

Speaking of adopted... I'm so excited for the Wells Family and their decision to adopt!  I get to enjoy the company of a new niece! 

So many wonderful things have happened it's hard to keep up with it all.  I'm sorry that I haven't kept up like I should, but hope you have heard through one source or another! 

Oh, and I have to mention this...
My favorite new quote from the funniest little girl I know, (said while looking into her potty chair) "Momma!  Alligator in 'near!!"

Loves to all!