Playing catch up!

Tune in because I have many things to catch up on for this blog. It's going to take a lot of work so bear with me!

Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup

I know, I know, it feels like an oven outside and who wants to eat soup this time of year. But it's the only thing I've cooked recently that I actually took a pic of and at least as far as soups go, its pretty refreshing thanks to all the lime. Lime is a favorite around here and instead of that little garnish, you actually squeeze quite a bit into the soup, delish! And this doesn't have huge chunks of random veggies like at some restaurants. Don't you hate when you order Chicken Tortilla soup and there's huge pieces of carrots and celery and none of the good stuff? Well, here is the recipe:

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:
- A couple of marinated and grilled chicken breast
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 4 cans chicken broth
- 1 15-oz. can petite diced tomatoes
- 2 jalapenos
- 1/4 c. fresh lime juice- must be FRESH!
- salt and pepper
- tortilla chips
- grated cheese
- avocado
- a handful of cilantro

Marinate and grill your chicken- can be done ahead. I put a couple breast into a big ziplock bag with lime juice, crushed garlic,and a splash of vinegar. Then before grilling sprinkle with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. In a large stockpot (or your beloved Le Crueset pot like mine), heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and saute 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and minced jalapeno and cook a few minutes more until pepper is softened and garlic is fragrant. Add chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer 20 minutes.

While soup is simmering, juice the limes and set aside. Start preparing the toppings: grate the cheese, chop the cilantro, and cut up the avocado(sprinkle with lime so they don't turn brown). Right before serving, add lime juice and chicken to the soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle soup into the bowls and add desired toppings. Enjoy!

And after eating healthy soup that night we treated ourselves to these yummy desserts!

Key Lime Tarts!

Love,
Apes

Book Review: The Screwtape Letters

Our homegroup started our 2nd study a couple months ago. We finished up Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas and decided to work through The Screwtape Letters. I've always wanted to read this book but honestly C.S. Lewis has always intimidated me. I've attempted Mere Christianity before and couldn't make it past the first couple of pages. Well we had to work through the book pretty fast to stick with our meeting schedule which I think actually helped me get through it. This book was quite the eye-opener. Basically it is letters written between two demons, an uncle to his nephew, trying to educate him on the manipulation of humans. They are writing to a man who just became a Christian and they call him their "patient". It is an intricate portrait of the evil forces working against believers at all times and really makes you reflect on what is really going on around us. Each chapter is only 3-4 pages and typically covers one subject- family, friends you surround yourself with, sex, time, fear/anxiety, church, etc. It is crazy to think that your mind can be controlled by evil whether it be distractions, manipulation of thoughts, or temptations. This was probably one of my favorite books just because of the knowledge and insight I gained from reading it. It forces you to rely on God even more for protection and strength. After reading the book our leaders asked us to write our own letter between two demons with ourselves being the "patient". Wow, what a process. The letter almost became half testimony and half analysis of sins we struggle with and how the devil can tempt us. It forced me to work through my past and then associate that with what I struggle with now. I was able to pinpoint my weaknesses where I am most likely to be tempted. Each week our homegroup gets together, we split up in guys and girls and share a couple of letters. It allows us to get to know everyone's backgrounds and where we can step in as a family in Christ and help each other, whether it be encouragement, prayer or anything one would need. As we call it on our group, it's "going deeper" :) Anyways, definitely pick up a copy of this book and stick with it, it won't disappoint!

Friends and Lakehouse

Our homegroup decided it would be fun to have a weekend retreat. Drew and I thought my parent's lake house would be perfect for a getaway. Drew and I headed down Friday night to have one night to ourselves, well not completely, we brought our puppy Jovie. I couldn't wait to get her down there to run free on 13 acres. Well it turned out to be more stressful than I thought. She wanted to take off to chase all the critters down there and the property isn't fenced. But she had the time of her life and slept for 2 days straight after we got back in town. Only about half of our group was able to make it but we still had 5 couples down there. We cooked for each other all weekend and our friend Caleb brought his brand new boat for all of us to enjoy.

Some of the group on the dock getting ready to get on the boat

Caleb getting the boat ready

The girls enjoying the boat ride

The boat had an amazing sound system and we listened to music and enjoyed good food and good company!

Bethany and I sat at the front of the boat and got soaked from all the waves we hit

The Williamsons!

The boys throwing around the football

Joves enjoying the property

After grilling out we played games and then the boys fished while the girls chatted all night

Some of the guys

The next morning we ate some yummy breakfast made by the Rydbecks and enjoyed the view from the porch.


Drew playing Rock Band

It was a great way to relax and get to know our friends in homegroup a little better. They have all been such a blessing since we've met them and Drew and I are so thankful for such a great support system to have.

H-Town

About a month before my birthday Drew told me that my gift was a trip to Houston to see 2 of my favorite girls down there, Lauren and Haley. He booked the flight and planned the whole weekend! My plan was to fly in on Friday to see The Hanegans, stay the night with them then Lauren and I would meet up with Haley on Saturday, do some shopping and then he even booked us a hotel room that night to have a little girls getaway. Don't I have such a great husband?! He is so thoughtful to think of all the details. I had been complaining that I wasn't able to see my out of town friends enough and I had been wanting to spend time with their kiddos too. So it was perfect!

My sweet hubby who made this all happen!
I was so excited I didn't have to make the 4.5 hour drive to Houston. My flight was supposed to take off at 2:00 on Friday. HA! If you know my flight record, it's awful. We probably have one of the worst Honeymoon stories mostly because of the terrible delays, cancellations and missing flights. Well this one hour flight turned into landing 9 hours later. Due to bad weather, the flight was initially delayed 2 hours, then we circled Houston for 2 more hours before finding out they closed Hobby airport and we had to land in San Antonio and stay there for 4 hours. I was pretty frustrated to say the least. The sweet Hanegans were finally able to pick me up in Houston at 11pm. I was so sad because I missed a whole day of loving on their baby Harper! But after catching up that night, the next morning I was able to enjoy coffee and cinnamon rolls and play with sweet Harper!
Isn't she the cutest?!

Me and Harper

All the ladies!


After shopping all day we got to the hotel and got ready to go to dinner!

Our great room!

Enjoying a great Italian dinner

Back at the hotel we got some gourmet cupcakes for dessert, chatted and watched a movie

The next day we went to brunch and then I headed to Haley's house to spend time with her Brad and Gray!

Grayson playing in their new house

The next morning I headed back to Dallas. It was such a great weekend!

One year wiser...

I wasn't really excited about turning 26. I'm officially in the second half of my 20s and not a big fan of how that sounds. But I am hopeful that 26 is going to be a great year for me. My husband and friends helped me celebrate and it turned out great. Missy, Cliff and Brady were still in town so weirdly enough I went to a Ranger game on my birthday. But I didn't mind because we had a great time. Drew took me to dinner before the game and we enjoyed some good food, always a must in our book. We then headed to the Ranger game!

Missy brought me a cookie cake, one of the only kind of cakes I like!

Me and my main squeeze:)
After the game we went back to the Four Seasons with The Pennington's and some of their friends. We sat out on the patio and me and Mis enjoyed a glass of wine while the boys talked baseball. It was a great night!

Brady was such a trooper. He truly is a baseball baby and enjoys the night life!

The next day Missy came over to spend the day and night with us. I took her to Watters Creek, my favorite area. It is a cool shopping place with good food, good stores and pretty scenery. We ate at the Village Burger Bar then I took her to my favorite jewelry place where we bought all kinds of fun stuff.

Afterward we went to Red Mango to enjoy some yummy froyo!

That night we ordered pizza, vegged out and caught up on some of our favorite TV shows. I was sad that our time together ended because we had so much fun together! Here is a cute pic of Jovie and Brady meeting each other.
Love,
Apes

Meeting Brady Boy

There are times when I really like Major League Baseball. I love watching my man Ian Kinsler play for the Rangers, and I love when it brings our friends, the Penningtons, to Dallas. This is the 2nd time that Cliff has come to play against the Rangers and it was a fabulous time again. Except this time they brought their sweet Brady Boy who is 6months old and it was the first time I got to meet him! Missy and Cliff got here Monday night and they were so great to come straight from the airport to meet Drew and I for dinner at Taco Diner- delicious by the way. The first thing I had to do was get my hands on Brady!

I had to come straight from work so ignore the awesome scrubs and rough look I'm workin'. I met Missy in college through my great friend Lauren. We didn't get to spend a lot of time together then because I left A&M shortly after to go to nursing school. But I would always get to spend time with her when I would come back to visit my girls. Love this girl, down to earth but so much fun. Drew actually didn't meet Cliff until a couple years later at a game in Frisco we came to watch him play in. We went to dinner after the game and Drew and Cliff hit it off immediately. My husband loves the game of baseball and knows way too much information so they had plenty to talk about that night. They have since become great friends which is so great! Drew has grown to love babies and was also excited to meet Brady.

Missy and I had the week planned to get to see each other as much as possible. Tuesday she invited me out to their hotel at the Four Seasons for a pool day. Her wonderful father-in-law watched Brady so we could enjoy a girls day. It was fantastic. We ordered food and drinks, had towel service and soaked up the sun. We got to chat all day and catch up. We can always pick up where we left off.

Back at the hotel. Love these pics of Brady, he is at such a fun stage!

We acted like teenagers that day and assumed since it was cloudy half the day we weren't getting any sun, but we definitely did. We took our burnt selves to the first baseball game that night and were able to enjoy it from a suite with A/C, which is genious in Texas.

Cliff at bat!

Had to get some pics of Kinsler....

The week was off to a great start. Next up.....turning 26!

Mama's Day

After church we went to Mattito's in Uptown for a Mother's Day Brunch! The buffet was ridiculous....every Mexican and American brunch food you can think of. I'm usually not a big fan of buffets because the food tends to sit in grease and not taste as good- plus the food gets cold. But this food was really good. My brother's fam couldn't make it because they were busy at church that day, they were missed!

Me and my mom on Mother's Day


My mom is such an inspiration in my life. She is the most loving, encouraging woman I know. She is a great prayer warrior and I can always count on her to support Drew and I! Love you mom!

Mason and Dad enjoying dessert. They both appreciate food and let you know it with their mmmm's....

Mom opening her birthday and mother's day presents. She got lipgloss, lotion, scarf, cookbook, fiction book, and jewelry from Drew and I.


My Dad insisted he get a pic with me too!

Mendy enjoying her yummy plate of food!

The Williamsons

Uncle Drew and Garrison

All the boys had chocolate all over them....here is sweet Graham!

My sis and her boys on Mother's Day


That night Drew cooked an amazing meal for his mom and Mimi for Mother's Day. His Dad and brother were also invited :) He made lasagna bolognese, lemon-garlic kale with mushrooms and espresso chocolate mousse with homemade orange cream. Delish! Yes I married someone who can cook, be jealous. His mom and Mimi are huge chololate fans and they both loved the dessert, so he considered it a huge hit. Sad I didn't get any pics but here is one of Drew's parents I found.

Love,
Apes