four in four

Within four months of each other, these four little tots were added to our small group…

Anna, Jeremiah (J.J.), Samuel (Sam), and Nathan

Our small group also has a Micah and a Moriah, which brings our small group total to… four prophets, one prophetess, and one holy mountain!

home for the holidays…

Sam and I are in Texas right now visiting family and friends for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Joe will join us in Houston on Friday evening when the annual ETS conference wraps up in New Orleans. 

Since being in Houston, my parents have spoiled me by taking care of Sam in the mornings so I can sleep in.  I have even finished two books since arriving here on Saturday evening!  I’m not the only one getting spoiled though…Sam is getting plenty of love and attention from his Papa and Sassy, and I plan to take full advantage of the wonderful (free) babysitting that my parents provide so that I can catch up with some dear friends! 

We love coming home!  We love coming home so much that Joe and I are spending a total of five out of the next eight weeks in Texas for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years combined!

On Monday, we will make our way down to Rockport, Texas to celebrate Sam’s 1st Thanksgiving and Joe’s 27th birthday (which happens to be on Thanksgiving day this year!).  Joe grew up going to Rockport every summer with his family since Joe’s grandparents have a home there.  We are so excited about sharing this special “Rigney” tradition with Sam.  We are especially excited about introducing Sam to his great-grandparents, Daddy Jim and MaNaynie, and his Uncle Robby and Uncle Danny for the first time. 

Christmas will be even more special this year.  We will have a full house in both Houston and Midland for the holiday season.  Just thinking about this makes me so thankful for our families this Thanksgiving.  We love our lives so much in Minneapolis, but it is such a blessing to be able to come home for the holidays to two wonderfully loving and supportive families.  I am so glad that Sam will be able to celebrate both holidays with both families this year!

Pictures and posts to come of our time here in Texas!

Molly in El Salvador…

My good friend, Molly, is in El Salvador right now serving as a blogger for Compassion International.  In the weeks leading up to her trip, my excitement grew every day as I anticipated hearing about what the Lord was going to do in, and through, her this week.

Opportunities like meeting her sponsored child and working with the Child Survival Program have led me to crying pools of tears on our living room couch in the evenings.  I feel like I am vicariously living through my friend!  Multiple times this week I have found myself just thinking about and praying for her…and then again the tears come.

My heart has been so stirred this week to sponsor a child, something I have never done before, due to the accounts that Molly has been giving on her blog about Compassion.  Earlier today, Joe and I sat down and looked through the list of children that are in need of sponsorship right now.  We wanted to find a little boy named “Samuel” to sponsor…and there just happens to be three!

If you don’t already read Molly’s blog, I would encourage you to check it out and read her posts from this past week in El Salvador.  And if you are interested in sponsoring a child or supporting the Child Survival Program, Molly links to both of these ministries throughout her posts.

Molly returns home tomorrow night and I am sure she is a mixed bag of emotions right now.  It will be bittersweet for her to leave, I’m sure.  But I have a feeling she will be returning one day…

 

soup, soup, soup!

It’s that time of year again here in Minnesota, fall turning into winter much sooner than I would like!  In order to stay warm and creative with our cooking, the girls in our small group met together one Saturday morning for a soup exchange.

Joe and I have enjoyed these soups so much, so I thought I would share the recipes in case you are looking for a way to stay warm and feed your family this winter.  For all you Texans out there, these recipes will come in handy in case the temperature ever drops below 65…

Tomato Bisque: from Jenny Rigney

1/2 C chopped onion
1/2 C butter
3 T flour
1 t dill seed
1 1/2 t dry dill weed
1 1/2 t dry oregano
1 can condensed tomato soup
4 C canned crushed or diced tomatoes
4 C chicken stock
2 t salt
1/2 t white pepper
1/4 C parsley, chopped
4 t honey
1 1/4 C heavy cream
2/3 C half and half

In a large pot, saute’ onions in butter along with dill seed, dill weed, and oregano for 5 minutes, or until onions are translucent.  Add flour and stir.  Add tomato soup, tomatoes, and chicken stock.  Add salt and pepper.  Bring to boil over medium  heat, stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.  Add chopped parsley, honey, cream, and half and half.  Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.  On low heat, bring to serving temperature.  Do not boil.

Notes:  If you don’t have both heavy cream and half and half, try using evaporated milk or 2 C of half and half.

Chicken Tortilla Soup: from Haley Scharf

5 c chicken broth
1 can pinto beans
1 can black beans
1 can sweet corn
1 can Rotel chiles & tomatoes
1 chopped onion
1 diced green pepper
Diced cooked chicken (~3 breasts)

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for about 4 hours.  Alternately, saute onion and pepper with a little olive oil in a large saucepan, then add remaining ingredients and simmer on medium-low for 20-30 minutes.  Serve with tortilla chips!

Butternut Squash Soup: from Colleen Kniffin

2T butter
2 small onions, chopped finely
1 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
5 cups chicken stock
8oz of potatoes, cubed
1t paprika
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 1/2 t snipped fresh chives, plus a few whole chives for garnish
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in large pot. Add the onions, and cook for 5 mins, until soft but not browned.  Add the squash, stock, potatoes, and paprika, Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer for 35 minutes, or until all the veggies are soft.  Pour the soup into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Return the soup to the pot and stir in the cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Reheat gently without boiling.  Stir in the snipped chives just before serving. Garnish each serving with a few whole chives.

Italian Ground Beef and Veggie Soup: from Kristin Tabb

Simmer for 30 minutes:
1 lb ground beef or turkey, cooked and drained
1 medium onion, diced
2 14-oz cans Italian-style diced tomatoes
1 can tomato soup
4 c. water
2 minced garlic cloves
2 tsp basil
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 T. chili pepper

Then add:
4 c. water
4 boullion cubes
1 can kidney beans
1 large diced carrot
1 large potato, diced
1 bag frozen mixed vegetables
1/4 c. barley or small pasta (like orzo, shells, or cavattapi)

Cook another 30 minutes or so until veggies are tender and barley (or pasta) is cooked.

White Bean and Ham Soup: from Mandy Jabbour

3 cans (15oz) Great Northern beans (rinsed & drained)

2 medium carrots, diced

1 small onion, chopped

2 TBSP butter or olive oil

2 1/4 cup water

1 1/2 cup cooked, cubed ham

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp white pepper

1 Bay Leaf

Mash 1 can of beans & set aside.  In large saucepan, saute carrots & onions in butter or oil.  Stir with the water, ham, seasonings, whole & mashed beans.  Cook over medium heat until heated through.  Discard bay leaf.

Notes: You can use any white bean for this soup.  I usually ask the deli to thickly slice a half pound of ham and then cube it at home.

This is a pretty thick soup.  I usually end up adding a little more water at the end.

sam’s first trip to TEXAS…

Sam here!  I just got back to Minneapolis from my first trip to the great state of Texas!  I had a wonderful time meeting more of my family and some of my momma’s friends.  Here I am on my very first plane ride, my momma snapped this picture of me with her phone.  I love Southwest Airlines and Southwest loves me!  (Before you judge me for the outfit that I am wearing, just know that I had one on that matched until I got a little airsick!)

My momma let me sit in the window seat while everyone boarded the plane.  This served two purposes: 1) I got to look out the window, and 2) No one sat down on our row, this way my mom could change my diaper and let me nap during the flight.  We didn’t feel bad about this because the flight wasn’t full!  Both me and my mom recommend this little trick for moms flying with young children!

I got to meet SO many new special people…

Here I am with my great-grandparents, Pop & Mee-Maw from Mississippi…

I also got to meet my Aunt Melinda and cousin, Colin.  I love Aunt Melinda for several reasons, but I really love her for making sure that Colin didn’t sit on me or poke me in the eyes!  And here I am without any pants…

My Aunt Melinda bought me my first Houston Astros outfit, very fitting for my first trip to Texas!  I LOVED it!

Here I am with my mom’s oldest friend, ‘Aunt’ Becky…she is pregnant right now with a little boy, my future best friend!

I also got to meet my ‘Aunt’ Marian and her four little kids, Antonella, Jeremiah, Samuel & Augustine… we were instant friends!  I can’t wait to dress up in costumes like Jeremiah and Sam did…

Here I am with Jeremiah.  I know I look scared in this picture, but I wasn’t…I really do love this kid.

Here I am with two of my momma’s friends, Emily & Betsy.  My mom has been friends with them since she was a little girl…

I also got to meet Betsy’s little boy, Pete!

My momma also introduced me to her life-long friend, Regan…

…and Regan introduced me to her daughter, Maren.  We hit it off!  See…she is already trying to hold my hand!

What a cutie!  I think I have a crush…

I also got to meet my Uncle Ryan…I love him and want to play baseball just like him one day…

I also got to meet my ‘Uncle’ Emory and Su-Su…

and my great uncle Shaun…

…and Miss Joy, one of my Sassy’s best friends…

One of my most favorite parts of visiting Texas for the first time was getting to spend lots and lots and LOTS of time with my Papa and Sassy…

they LOVED me!

My Sas bathed me every night…

Papa and Sassy have the most comfortable beds in their home…best naps of my life!

Papa even let me sit in his “big boy” chair…it was pretty much amazing!

I’m so glad that me and Colin got to be with Papa and Sassy at the same time…

I had such a wonderful time!  So, I decided that I would go back to visit in November, December, January and March!

subscribe to molly’s blog!

My good friend, Molly, is giving away three copies of one of her favorite books if you subscribe to her blog!  If you don’t now how to subscribe to blogs, she will link to an explanation in her giveaway post.  Molly gave me Peace Like A River for Christmas and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.  One night while we were in Texas, Joe stole the book from me and read the entire thing in one night.  It is a good book!

Even if you don’t win a copy of Peace Like A River, you will definitely enjoy being subscribed to Molly’s blog!  She is a wonderful writer, well worth your reading time!  Hurry, today is the last day for a chance to win!

why do I want friends in every profession?…

…because I benefit from their free services!

My best friend, Becky, is a dental hygienist.

Becky and I have been best friends for almost 27 years.

We are close enough that we didn’t have to spend a lot of time catching up during our Christmas break, maybe just an hour or so.

We focused on the important stuff- a free teeth cleaning for me and Joe!