Taking One for the Team

Alternate Title: Why it's not always a good idea to bring men to yard sales.

It's no secret that my man loves football. Since college football has ended, Chase has been watching more NFL games. We don't really have a favorite team, but Chase has followed it more closely this year as he and some of the guys from church made a Fantasy Football league.

Now that I have confirmed his love for football, you can probably understand his rationale for buying the helmet/snack holder below. (The top of the helmet lifts off as a lid.)

Chase found this beauty at the Junior League of Birmingham "Bargain Carousel" a few years ago. I lamented about his choice and even pleaded with him to put it back. After all, we didn't know any players for the Vikings, and never followed their season. I lost. We bought it.

Fast forward two years and duhn duhn duhn duuuuuhhh ....Brett Farve suits up this year as a Viking. No one saw it coming. All I know is that it gives Chase ultimate satisfaction to say, "Good thing we bought this Vikings helmet." He is particularly proud of this purchase as I'm typing this entry and watching the Vikings playoff game right now.

Thanks.a.lot.Brett.

..."little is much when God is in it..."

Can I just praise my Jesus for a while?! He is so good to me, to Chase and I, and we are so undeserving. I have been completely humbled this week as God has done great things in answer to earnest prayers.
Since several of you have agreed with us in prayer for these things, I owe you all an extra large THANK YOU, and a progress report.

CHASE PASSED HIS DENTAL BOARDS!!!!!!!!!!

This is SUCH an answer to our prayers. Chase had invested hour upon hour pouring over these 'Dental Deck' study cards in preparation for this test. Aside from the large chunk of time spent studying, the boards were a large financial investment for us - and one we didn't want to have to pay again. Chase had literally been on pins and needles, barely sleeping well ever since his classmates began receiving their scores.

And when God had already sent us to our knees in gratitude, he hit us again the next morning! This morning at Dental School, Chase received a $1,000 check for a Scholarship essay we (yes, we) wrote several months back. I had completely forgot about it, thinking the award had been handed out a long time ago.

We're considering doing several costly home improvement projects in anticipation of putting our house on the market this year, and I also need some dental work (terrible, I know - I'm married to a dentist). We're already doing all we can to be faithful stewards of what God has given us, but the student loans are mounting. I have earnestly prayed our 'verse' for this year. (Psalm 109:27) ...... "How Big Is God!"

And while I'm at it, I should mention that God has sent some absolutely wonderful patients to Chase while he's in the clinic everyday. Several of his routine patients sent him home with wonderful home-made goodies over the Holidays, and several gave us gift cards and money so we could go to dinner. What a blessing those sweet people were!

"Little is much, when God is in it......"

Post Christmas Post

As promised, here's a picture of a few of us at our Young Married Christmas Party. I thought my outfit was certainly the most tame, although I was frequently told, "I love the homeschool look!".

Happy New Year!!

Comfort Food

In my pursuit of domesticity (if that's a word), I try ALOT of new recipes. Luckily, I have a husband who will eat almost anything. One of my favorite websites to grab recipes from is ThePioneerWoman. I have yet to cook one of her recipes that we didn't like.

My absolute FAVORITE Pioneer Woman recipe is Apple Dumplings, which I could/would eat every day now that the temperatures outside (and inside my house, ha) are chilly. They are basically fool-proof, and the recipes is so forgiving I hardly ever measure ingredients anymore.

The picture below is from the Pioneer Woman website...because every time I make these they're gone before I can think about where my camera is.

Apple Dumplings

Ingredients

• 2 whole Granny Smith Apples
• 2 cans (8 Oz. Cans) Crescent Rolls
• 2 sticks Butter
• 1-½ cup Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• Cinnamon, To Taste
• 1 can (12 Oz.) Mountain Dew Soda (I use 4-6 oz and it's plenty)
  

Preparation Instructions

Peel and core apples. Cut each apple into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan.

Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour entire mixture over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.