Peace Amid Chaos

No pictures tonight..... just wanted to say how grateful I am tonight. Grateful that though I maybe surrounded by chaos and confusion, I am being held by the one who knows no confusion of chaos. We have been struggling greatly this week with the faith that our loan will come through this week. We have been assured that we qualify and that it will be no problem ... BUT... they are backlogged and are having trouble guarenteeing us that we will be through processing in time to close on Monday.

Any move is stressful but this seems super confusing. We no longer own this house, we have no place to live if we don't close Monday, we have a need for child care while we move, and have furniture located in no fewer than 4 cities that all needs to end up in our new house. Not to mention to utilities and delivery of a major appliance. Those of you who know me in real life can imagine that I am not dealing the best with this.

Yet, tonight I am at peace. At peace that I am not in control, and thankful that I know the one who is. Thankful that these things are minor details and that my eternal purpose is assured and my feet are planned on the firmest rock.

So will you join me in praying for not just my loan but for all those who don't have the assurance that they are being held in the palm of the Hand that controls it all?

Crock Pot - Chicken Catchitori

So I've linked up with Smockity Frocks and decided to link up one of my favorite crock pot recipes. I've tried the crockpot MANY times in the past. It is such a great idea but I was never able to find recipes that actually were tasty. They always seemed to turn out like mush and not have much flavor. Recently though I found a few that I love.... below is my FAVORITE. It is oober easy and the kids and Jeff love it.

Chicken Cachitori

1lb chicken breast (it can be frozen of thawed)
1 green pepper (sliced)
1 onion (sliced)
1 package of sliced mushrooms
2 tbs of garlic minced
2 tbs italian seasoning
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can healthy request tomato soup

Add everything together. About 30 minutes before serving add a can of tomato paste to thicken.
Serve over pasta, rice, or with some good crunchy bread!

PS- If you have a large crockpot a double portion will fit and it freezes great!
ENJOY!

Hannah's First Snowman

Well it was 60 today but just last weekend we had a measureable snow. It was the best kind. Wet and heavy and gone by that night! This was the first time that the snow was the right kind to make a large snowman. We had a great time making the snowman together. It was even more fun to find the things that would be eyes, nose, mouth, and arms. Especially since most of our house was in boxes and our cupboard was bare. I think she did a pretty good job though. Definately worth taking a picture of.... even if it was only with a cell phone since the real camera was packed!

Sibling Love

Drew is standing up these days. He's very mobile... especially with the use of his handy little push cart. Not quite walking but it won't be long. Hannah is still getting used to his movements. Sometimes she loves it... other times she wishes he was strapped in his swing again. Puddles is a little confused by the movement as well.




Her they are checking out the snow outside. Drew loves this window... I can't keep it clean. I'm sure our realtor loves the handprints, nose prints, and lip marks all over the bottom panes!
When Drew fell down Hannah wrapped him up and gave him a huge kiss. She told him not to cry.
The hug however quickly turned into a tackle.....
And then just for good measure... to emphasis that she was still in charge.... she sat on him! Oh Hannah, in just a few short months this picture will be reversed. Watch out girl.... he's not gonna take it much longer!

SNOW DAY!

We finally got some snow! Now this was nothing compared to the fun that they have been having in the Northeast. I mean Uncle Paul would laugh at our snow fall .... but here in Raleigh.... it was amazing to see this much. all 3 inches of it closed down the schools for 4 days! It never ceases to amaze me.... even after living in the south for 14 years... that such minimal snow can reak such havoc. Then again... this time I must confess that the inch of ice that was under the snow did make road conditions (and sidewalk) conditions less than optimal!


Here is Hannah trying to get her footing for the first time this season.
Please excuse the mismatched hat.... it actually is mine. We had been having such a mild winter that all of our snow gear was actually packed in storage. Luckily the little lady has a big head!
This was Drew's first snow fall. Well last year he had some snow... but he was still in utero. My snowpants fit much better this year! A little less snug in the tummy for sure! I'm pretty sure that he was happier about the snow last year! He hated it.....

This is as close to a smile as we got with him. I have some hysterical ones of him screaming because he was so bundled he couldn't move. I dare not post them due to fear of being accused of child abuse! HA!
Drew trying to get away from Daddy!


Puddles LOVED the snow. She did laps around the backyard and attacked snowballs that were thrown her way. She then slept for about 2 days!

Picture of Hannah captured by Daddy and her begging to stay out a little longer.. We sure are jealous of all the snow that DC and Baltimore got... however.... I'm pretty sure that NC would be shut down until May if we got it. So I guess we will be content with what we got!

Not Me Monday

I've decided this week to link up with MckMama and participate in a not me monday. This week has been a whirlwind. Full of lots of stuff I would rather pretend didn't happen.


I was not the mother who let her kids miss naps for almost an entire week because we were looking at houses. I did not keep them out of the house for the entire weekend while we had 10 showings at our own home or cringe in disbelief when our house sold in 2 days! (I mean really who does that!)
I was not the one who actually skipped out on the dessert part of our night out and instead opted to come home and go to bed.

I was not the one who pretended that I had just stained my shirt while I really knew all along that there was a stain on it but was just too lazy too lazy to change it.

I also was not enormously happy that my son HATED the snow and therefore had to stay inside with him while my husband ventured out into the freezing cold with our daughter who didn't want to come in.