happy Friday everyone!

YAY! it's finally here: FRIDAY!! I'm really sorry that i have been conspicously absent this week. I blame it on the fact that yesterday i turned in a 20 page paper! Aahh, a sign of relief! You know that when i hear people tell me how lucky i am that i am still in school, or that they would go back in a heartbeat, etc. I want to tell them, ok go ahead and do my next huge research paper and we'll see how you feel. I know it's just the 'grass is greener' thing going on, but still everyone's life is really stressful in different ways.

really i love being in school, i definitely like the flexible schedule, where i get to sleep in some mornings and get afternoon naps, but that is counterbalanced by the allnighters, finals that make me have nervous breakdowns, etc.

So yeah, the paper i turned in was all about john wesley (the founder of Methodism- for you non-methodists) and his theology of financial stewardship. He was a crazy man about this issue. people now discribe him as a socialist, and he really wanted to bring about a different society of people who helped one another with thier financial issues. he literally lived off of only 20 % of his income and gave the rest to others in need around him. what a high standard!! it really humbled me to think of how intense and passionate about living out the gospel he was! inspirational!

So now it is on to the second largest paper of the semester, 12 page exegesis (a theolgical explanation) on a passage of scripture of my choice. It's for my gender and race in Paul, so i guess not 'any' one that i want, it has to be from Paul's letters in the New Testament and it has to have to do with gender or race. So i choose to do it about Ephesians 5: 21-33. It is a household code, where Paul talks about wives and husbands being submissive to one another, like the church is to Christ. I haven't formed an opinion about it yet, the research just started, but I think it will be at least interesting to talk about. And after i turn in the paper i have to write a 20 minute sermon on the same passage, using what i have learned from all my research and exegesis.

so that's my life for now! really interesting to me, but probably boring to anyone else. i'm definitly stretching my brain these past few, and next few weeks! Hope you are also a learning alot in your life! Here's to being a lifetime learner, even when you aren't in school!

ttfn,

Julia

two posts in a row!!

ok i know ya'll are proud!! but i went to one of my fav blogs and she was having a give away! so this post is dedicated to Lauren at www.gigglepotomas.wordpress.com IF the link doesn't work then just go to my blog reel on the side of the page to get there!

i first found her blog through her hubby at Poop and Boogies. His blog is totally the funniest i've ever read, and her's is great. It's nice to see both spouses' views on the things that are happening. they have two cute little boys and one new little boy on the way, i know i'm excited!

Her blog is great becasue it gives out little tips and recipes all the time. She's a great seamstress, and she regularly posts the great things she makes herself. Also she has links to her esty shop so you can go buy some of her things too. great stuff for kids, and some REALLY cute purses for moms.

ok, so go there! i'm telling you that you have to!! GO NOW!

ok love and ttfn, and also- Thanks God it's Friday!

Julia

Taco Soup

Ok so it's been a week since my last post. I'm not sure if i even have any readers!! but here is a tasty thursday recipe:

Taco Soup


1 lb Groud Beef, Stew Beef or Chicken
½ cup chopped Onion
1 large can tomatoes, diced including juice ( or fresh tomato and I can of tomato sauce)
1 can dark red kidney beans
1 can light red kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can white corn
1 can yellow corn
1 can Rotel (mild, medium or hot)
1 package Taco seasoning
1 package of Ranch dressing mix
Optional toppings- Grated cheese, sour cream, crackers, etc.

• Brown meat in large pot then drain.
• Add onions and cook until they are tender
• Add remaining ingredients (including liquids from all cans).
• Simmer for at least 15 minutes
• Serve in bowls with toppings as wanted.


This is really a fail proof recipe, EASY, basically just dump a bunch of cans in a pot and let it cook! It is alot like a really watery chili. and you can basically leave out anything you don't like, i.e. a veggie version would be really easy, or in my case i take out a small pot-full before i add all the beans for Audie. or you can leave out the onions, etc.

So as for my life, not much is up, i'm bogged down in the end of semester goop. I have several large papers, and tests due in the next few weeks. but we foun out yesterday that we'll be able to be with my family in Alabama (9 hr drive) for thanksgiving, and Audie's for Christmas, but we will be here by ourselves for Christmas Day, which might be nice. Anyway i hope you enjoy the recipe, it's great for rainy, cool nights like this!!

TTFN

Julia

thoughts

So my candidate won, actually several of them did across the state/ the current state i live in. And overall i think that the country has been really wonderful about the results. I know that a little less than half of the people in this country are disappointed in how it turned out.

I want to be supportive of you in that disappointment. Just because you aren't the majority doesn't mean that you don't get to have a voice, that is what our country is built on. The fact that we ALL get to voice our opinions, vote for who we want to and change things when we disagree with how things are going.

Some of you have really passionate feelings about one issue or more things that you really wanted to occur. I want to encourage you to take those feelings to those who we have just elected! that's the point!! though your candidate didn't win, doesn't mean that you aren't represented. write/call your congressperson and tell them how you feel about those issues, and encourage them to vote with their people in mind! our political process begins, not ends, with elections!

That being said I have been really saddened and hurt by how some people have reacted. Just because your candidate won doesn't mean that you get to do a 'see i told you so' dance, or push it in other people's faces, or take out your feelings on those who voted other than you. Also just because your candidate didn't win doesn't mean that you get to be mean to those who voted for the winner. Or really get angry and take that out on others.

I want to share a story that hit close to home. My sister in law posted on Facebook in her status that "(insert her name) is disappointed." That is all, nothing more nothing less, and she apparently had people jump down her throat for voting the 'wrong' way! I think that that is stupid. i think that you need to go into the booth to vote knowing that it could go either way, and that if your person loses the election that the world is not going to be over.

I really think that we have turned a corner as a country, where political action has replaced political apathy, and that people have realized that anyone can do anything, and that we can change our country, by banding together and working for the good of everyone!

ok so i hope that wasn't too scattered and that you can at least understand where i'm coming from.

ttfn.

Julia

GO VOTE!!!

i think everyone who reads this blog has already, or will, but tell your friends, grandmas and neighbors to get out there and exercise their right!!

so for tasty Tuesday i have an EASY recipe!!!


Cheesy Chicken


4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
3-4 slices of cheese (any kind)
1 can cream of chicken soup
Seasoned breadcrumbs (optional)

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Lay chicken in bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish.
• Arrange cheese slices on top.
• Spread soup over chicken and sprinkle breadcrumbs over is desired.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
• Serve over rice or pasta, pouring sauce over.

SO EASY- actually audie and i may have this, totally one of our favs.

so cook this easy dinner with your family and then sit around and watch our president get elected!! And let's all pray that America gets the president we need and not the one we want.

AND don't forget to serve THE king and THE kingdom- while both are eternal, both are also in this world right now, and can make a difference! That is where my salvation comes from, not the politician that i voted for!

love and Ta Ta For Now.

Julia