random info

10 years ago:
I was 17 years old and a senior in high school. Glad those days are over.

Things on my to-do list today:
-Work out
-Bible study
-Look up ideas for Lily's b-day party
-House hunt with Missa
-Dinner with Faith and Evan
-Laundry
-American Idol

What would I do if I suddenly became a Billionaire:
-I would love to carry on the legacy of my grandparents (my grandpa passed away a year and a half ago). Not that they're billionaires, but they live humbly and then bless the socks off their families, churches, ministries, communities, missions, pretty much anywhere they see a need. And I know that I can do that even with what I've been given now, but it would be fun to do it on such a grand scale. :)
-Laser hair removal. Summer, I'm with you. oh, to have smooth legs all the time! I'll especially be wishing for this when I'm nine months prego!
-Travel the world. Stay in NICE hotels and eat AMAZING food.

Three of my bad habits:
-Sweets.
-Leaving laundry in the washer so long that I have to rewash it.
-Running late.

Five jobs I have had:
-Golf cart girl/cocktail waitress at a country club. Tips were great...dirty old men weren't.
-Counselor at CrossCamp. Josh and I did this together. Best two summers ever.
-Receptionist at an oral surgeon's office. Got to see lots of crazy things when people came off their anesthesia.
-Ann Taylor. Pretty much spent everything I earned.
-Elementary school music teacher. Loved those little munchkins.

Five things people don't know about me:
-I always have a hair band on my wrist just in case.
-I had a mole removed from my right elbow when I was younger.
-I had lasik a few months before I got married. Before that my vision was BAD.
-I'm always afraid that something is going to fly up out of the disposal and poke my eye out when I turn it on. Does that make me crazy?
-I haven't painted my toenails in several years. Josh prefers the natural look on my feet.

Ok, so I tag Barkley, Lauren C, Andrea H, LB, Sarah.

Happy Valentine's Day to My Man

About two and a half years ago on our church's women's retreat, I sat in a room full of women (though we carried on like little junior high girls) laughing, sharing stories, and pigging out on junk food. The night took a semi-serious turn when someone suggested we make a list of "twenty things we love about our husband." I'll admit that I was not the least bit excited about this exercise, but as I reflected on my hubbie, my heart warmed at the many little things about him that have captured my heart. We then went around the room and shared our lists with one another. Even though our husbands were miles away, probably sound asleep, we all were a little more in love that night after our list-making. The other day as I was cleaning out some boxes, I came across this list and thought it would be perfect for V-day. 

Things I Love about my Husband:

1. people person

2. natural leader

3. loves to sing but he can't

4. his "dad" jokes

5. he lets me cry about nothing (and everything)

6. his "braces" smile         *yes, at this time Josh had braces! this pic is from his seminary graduation (though it could pass for his high school graduation too)*

7. he loves to pose in front of the mirror

8. he always tells me he loves me before we hang up the phone

9. he always has the right thing to say

10. he lets me watch sports with him and explains it to me (ex: hockey-can NEVER remember the rules)

11. the way he plays with my hair

12. every night in bed he tells me, "I'll be right here if you need me."

13. he is anal about everything (clean freak)

14. puts 110% into everything he does

15. his sideburns    *a little tamer now than they were then*

16. his competitiveness

17. he loves being active and working out

18. he always reaches for my hand during prayer

(I ran out of time before I could get to 20) :)

 Our first Valentine's Day together, six months into dating, he mustered up the courage to say, "I love you" to which I denied him with, "Woah, I'm not ready to say that." Well, this Valentine's Day, nine years later, I want to make it very clear that I do love him with all my heart. Not just with that gush of emotions that we felt those first six months, but with a deep, committed, ahava love that will continue to grow and mature for our lifetime together. 

I love you, Joshua Rice. 

Happy Valentine's Day.

beds are overrated

Tonight we went to our sweet friends, Cassie and Eric's, rehearsal dinner at Blue Mesa. It was such a sweet time of encouragement, hearing friends and family bless them and praise God for His handiwork in their lives. Lily missed out on the great food (whatever that corn cake was- it was amazing) but instead got to play at Evan's house with Evan, Rebecca, Brooke, and the wonderful Miss Kourtney. We returned to a quiet house at 9:30 and found that Lily had refused the pack'n play and settled for a nice stretch of carpet in the living room. She was out! Bleecker took these shots of her fast asleep. 

Thanks, Miss Kourtney, for being such a trooper!

creamy mushroom chicken

Wanted to pass along a good and easy recipe I used last night. And the best part is....it's for the crock pot - probably the easiest form of cooking known to man. We got this cookbook as a wedding gift almost 5 years ago, and sadly, yesterday was the first time I've used it. There are tons of recipes which made me a little nervous about picking one at random. But, thankfully, I found a good one. All three of us liked it!

CREAMY MUSHROOM CHICKEN

Makes 4-6 servings

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup milk

8-oz. pkg. of cream cheese, cubed

4.5 oz. can chopped green chilies

1 pkg. dry Italian salad dressing

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 6 hours.

3. Serve over noodles or rice.

How could you not love a recipe that has only 3 steps. I was planning on serving it over brown rice, but we didn't have enough, so I used rigatoni pasta instead. And I made it using 98% fat free soup, fat-free cream cheese, skim milk, and it still tasted great.


oh, and if you haven't discovered the greatness of the Reynolds slow cooker bags, you are wasting your time scrubbing. When we were done, Josh literally lifted the bag out of the crock pot to find that there was NOTHING left on the sides or bottom. The less clean up, the better.

Happy cooking!