taco soup

I have read that it is lucky to eat beans on New Year's Day so . . . .


{photo shows kidney beans but we prefer black beans}

Taco Soup
A family favorite
serves 6-8

2 lbs ground beef
1 red onion chopped
2 - 15 oz cans tomato sauce
2 - 15 oz cans of corn (undrained)
1 - 15 oz can of diced tomatoes
2- 15 oz cans black beans (drained)
1 pkg taco seasoning
black olives

Brown beef and onion in skillet. Put all other ingredients into crock pot and add beef. Cook on low for 6 hours. Serve in bowls - garnish with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream and black olives.

engaged

We hoped that this young lady
would someday be part of our family.
Now it is official, he has proposed.
We are overjoyed.

merry christmas

the moment in the middle

Hold your breath.
Here it is.
Christmas Eve.
My favorite time of the Christmas Season.
The perfect moment between all the preparations and all of the celebrations.

All is done yet all is yet to come . . .

"It was a moment of perfection he would probably not find again this year, and he sat without moving, almost without breathing. There was the upside of a garden, when one was digging and planting, heaving and hauling, and then the downside, when it was all weeding and grooming and watering and sweating. One had to be fleet to catch the moment in the middle, the mountaintop, when perfection was as brief as the visit of a butterfly to an outstretched palm.

From the book Out to Cannan (the fourth book in the Mitford series)
by: Jan Karon

homecoming

On Friday
these kiddos will arrive
for Christmas
driving from Fort Collins, Rochester, Philadelphia . . .
{I pray for them ~ safe traveling!}



A true blessing that we will all
be together on Christmas.

a baby for Christmas

Today
this little family will arrive
for a two week visit
{after a 27 hour journey from Cambodia}



A Christmas blessing that brings tears to my eyes
every time I think about holding this sweet little fellow.

the perfect gift

For the last several years Mr. Corners and I
have not exchanged Christmas gifts.
We have a wonderful time shopping for our family
and now don't worry about the perfect gift for each other.



He is such a blessing to me ~ the only gift I need.

happy birthday

Happy Birthday Amanda


Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I pray for her to have a joyful life.
I hope she knows how much she is loved.

celebration

I have a friend from my childhood that is
having a big birthday this year as am I.

To celebrate we are visiting the
"happiest place on earth" with our younger spouses.



As you read this we are enjoying
a fun-filled week at Disney World.

right lid ~ right now

My only "black friday" purchase this year were these
{$6.88 @ Walmart}



In fact I bought two!



I am pretty excited to get rid of all my old containers
{containers that I can never match the tops to}



a simple pleasure indeed . . .