SOUTHWEST CHICKEN DIP

My friend Lisa gave me this recipe. It is so easy and so yummy. I've shared it with my family, but I figure with it being football season, you just can't have too many dip recipes. Happy dipping!

2-8oz. cream cheese
1 lg. can chicken
1 jar salsa
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix cream cheese and chicken together. Spread in bottom of a 8 x 8 dish. Layers with jar of salsa and top with cheese. Bake 325 degrees for 20 minutes.

RAIDERS VS. STEELERS

The Raiders-Carson is #85, fourth in from the top right

Last night we played the Steelers. It definitely wasn't our teams proudest moment. The score was 0-26. I didn't realize how attached to these players and this game I have become and it was hard to watch the little guys loose and to be so disappointed. Carson did his best though. Dave was out of town but gave me a pre-game pep talk to give to Carson knowing they were playing a good team. He let Carson know that even Superbowl champions don't go undefeated and that it has actually only happened one time in the history of the NFL and that was the Miami Dolphins in the 70's. Mom is learning lots about football and a little trivia at the same time too. Carson has fun and loves the game, his teammates, and his coach, and that's all that matters.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REILEY HOOPER!

Today my brother Reiley will celebrate his last birthday in the mission field. He has done such a good job and has been such a great example to the people he has touched in Houston. I can't wait to see him next month. I'm counting down the days. I think there's just something about him being the youngest in the family that has got us all so excited for his homecoming. I don't really have a recent picture of him, just this one of him getting ready to leave the MTC but he hasn't changed much. This other picture is both my brother Aaron and Ryleigh. This is where my sweet, little Ryeligh Erin got her name from. She was named after her two uncles. I love this picture because it totally tells their personalities. Very humble, can't you tell? LOL. Reiley Happy Birthday. We love you tons.

TIME FOR A NEW CAMERA

So I was sitting on the couch yesterday enjoying what the home teachers had to say, when I got a knock at the door. I noticed it was my neighbor and she had a Ziploc bag in her hand with lots of little crushed pieces. Yep, you guessed it. It was my camera. She noticed it on the side of the road and was able to save the memory card. Thank goodness. She went home, loaded it up to her computer and the first picture she saw was of my girls. I'm not sure how it ended up on the side of the road, but I'm very grateful she saved the card. I can always replace the camera but not the memories on the card. So, note to self and to those of you reading this, update your records often. If I wouldn't have downloaded all of my pics the day before I would have been sick to my stomach at all of the memories I could have lost. I guess I'll be making a trip to Best Buy soon. Like Dave will have any complaints of that outing. Any excuse to get to Best Buy. Thank goodness for neighbors with good eyes and thank goodness for Best Buy, I guess!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLLIN!

Happy first birthday Collin. We're so glad that you're healthy and happy and things are going better for you. As many of you know, Collin is my sister Natalie's little boy who was struggling with some health problems for a while. They're still not sure what the diagnosis of his conditions were but I know through fasting and prayer, Natalie and Matt are both very blessed to have a healthier little boy. Collin is a tough kid, and has the cutest little face on him. Keep fighting Collin, and know that we love you and wish you a very happy birthday.

Ryleigh with her cousin Collin

B.A.D.

I hope this doesn't come across as sac religious, but as many of you know living in the South, we get the great opportunity of being reminded that we live in a Christian community and are surrounded by others who feel very strongly about their beliefs also. One of my favorite things to do is read the quotes that the many different churches have posted out on their marquees. I am a christian woman, but I do have to admit that most of these quotes give me a good reason to chuckle in the morning as I go about my day. I found my favorite quote the other day though. I was heading into Memphis and as I was driving past a church of which religion I will not name, I saw in black letters really big "WE BAD." With the location I was driving in it wasn't surprising, but what the quote read was "WE BAD, Blessed and Delivered." I had a small laugh to myself and knew I had to share this with those of you who don't get the great opportunity of being reminded daily how lucky you are to be a Christian.

WHERE HAS MY MONEY GONE?

So when we first bought this house there weren't many things I wanted to change right away except for the shiny,green fireplace and the terracotta(salmon) walls. Just weeks after we moved in the walls were painted and then the dreaded fireplace came next. It wasn't awful but it just didn't match the furniture that I wanted. So after a year of waiting for our anticipated pay raise we finally got moving on redecorating our home. I had a tile man come out and give me a bid on my fireplace of almost a thousand dollars so with the help of my Mom and her friend we decided I could fix it on my own. I started by priming, puttying, and painting, and I think it turned out pretty good. It's a cheaper version to tile but it does the job for me. I do have "before and after" pics but the before were taken with a disposable camera so I don't have those on my computer. There is a huge difference though. Thanks to my Mom for all of her great ideas. She is so good at what she does that I never question her I just write down a "TO DO" list, save up for it, and buy it. Dave is actually very patient and accepting too because he knows from experience that she always makes our home look very nice. Thanks Mom, and yes, I love the chair!