Vegetarian Vegetable Soup

I made a lovely pot of vegetable soup this week, and we have enjoyed it so much.  Since the weather has been chilly, we find ourselves craving warm, yummy things for supper.

This is how I make my soup:

  • I start with one large bottle of tomato juice
  • Add 2-5 T of Better-Than-Bouillon vegetable base (according to your taste)
  • Add 1/2 head of cabbage, shredded (do not skip this step…it adds SO MUCH flavor!)
  • Add diced veggies of your choice (I do an entire onion and 3 or 4 potatoes)
  • Add canned veggies of your choice (I put in organic carrots, baby peas, large butter beans & great northern beans)
  • Add any frozen veggie of your choice (I add 1/2 bag of yellow corn)
  • Salt to taste
  • Simmer all day

That's it!  You can put in whatever veggies your family likes, and add any seasonings you prefer.  It really is important to add that cabbage, though; and if your family doesn't like cabbage very much, don't worry, it cooks down to almost nothing.  But the flavor it adds — YUMMO! :o)

Now, for you meat eaters (hehehe) I will tell you this:  this is Doug's grandma's recipe, minus two ingredients. 

  • She browns a roast, then cooks it until tender; shreds it; and adds the beef and all the drippings to the soup.
  • She adds a small amount of sugar to taste.

We thought we would really miss the meat, but we don't.  We love this soup with just the veggies, because, really, who needs more sugar in their diet?

I'd love to hear from you if you give it a try!

So, Bullets It Is!

Otherwise I will never remember to tell you everything! 🙂

  • Our Anniversary Sunday at our church was a wonderful day!  We had over 3700 is attendance, and over 400 professions of faith.  The first time visitors and those who accepted Christ will all be followed up by various members of the congregation.  The really exciting thing to me was seeing so many families that attended together.  You could see them everywhere after the service as they enjoyed the huge carnival that is put together for the children and teens every year.  It was SUPER cold that Sunday – so rare for Florida – but lots of fun!  We even took Isaac over for a little while, and he (and Daddy) managed to snag a rubber ducky with the winning mark, and came home with a cute stuffed duck! 🙂
  • Doug and I were able to go out Saturday by ourselves, a real treat for us.  We found a used bookstore, that only carried hardback books.  I came home with a couple of new (to me) mystery books.  We enjoyed lunch together and then bought groceries at the Wal-Marts. ;)  Such a nice day!
  • Grammy and Isaac had a nice time together, while we were out.  She brought over his Valentines Day card and gift.  Here they are, along with the balloon we bought him (and paid TOO much for!), and a little Valentine from his little friend at church who was so sweet to remember him.
Ikesvalentine

  • We took Isaac for his first visit to the Dentist yesterday.  And get this, his dentist name is Dr. Bopp!  Isn't that funny?  He had no cavities, and no issues at all.  We were so glad!  He does have plaque that is building up because he doesn't eat by mouth.  They suggested to brush his teeth 3 times a day, and that would help to prevent it.  We are going to do our best to keep up with that.
  • We found a HUGE Goodwill store, and had so much fun looking around.  We found some books, and a few shirts – one for Isaac and two for me.  $4 for a plus size shirt is a good deal, and Isaac's was only $2.  Gotta love Goodwill!!!
  • It is cold again in Florida…has been for several days.  I've just learned to dress in layers and have been comfortable in the house.  Our electric bill was astronomical for last month, but the Lord is good and provided the extra that we needed!
  • I am making vegetable soup today.  It smells really yummy, and I can't wait for the boys to get home so we can dig in. 🙂
  • OH!  I got a new garbage can.  Here she is…she is bee-yoo-tee-full!

DSCN0292  Altview

Doug's uncle Roger made this gorgeous creature!  We had one just like it for years, but when Isaac was in the hospital for a month, a sweet friend cleaned out our frig, but forgot to empty the trash.  We were never able to get the smell out of the wood, and so had to throw the trashcan out with the trash.  We were heartbroken!  Uncle Roger finally relented to get his tools out of retirement and make us a new one.  We LOVE her!!!

I guess that's it for my bullets.  I'm going to have to allow myself to post shorter blogs, so that I can post more often.  I always want my blogs to be ju-u-u-ust right, and so I put off blogging until I have more time.  It seems like that "more time" almost never happens.  So, I'm working on how to rectify that situation. 🙂

Blessings to you,

Alesha

Believe Him and All Will Be Well

Life is exhausting, isn't it?  I know that sounds silly, but that's how I feel today.  I am physically tired and the bad news has just rolled in all day long, it seems:

  • Friends just starting their battle with cancer. 
  • Other friends in the midst of their battle with cancer who are so weakened by the cure that they cannot care for themselves right now. 
  • Precious friends struggling in their marriages, trying to find relief from the pain of unmet needs and unfulfilled dreams. 
  • Friends trying to determine God's will for their lives – choosing between ministry or marriage. 
  • One friend keeping vigil by her sick child's hospital bed, while trying to figure out just what is making her special needs kiddo even sicker than usual right now.

And I have a headache. 

Yeah. 

I was going to complain on FaceBook about that…

Until I read all the other emails, and statuses, and texts that brought all of the above info…

Now, I'm just counting my blessings and praying for my loved ones.

The best medicine for the "woe-is-me's" is a good dose of reality; and then a spoonful of the tonic of a "gratitude attitude".

God is so good to me!  I know He will meet my needs, and that He will be a Mighty God to all of my friends, as well.

It's ok for us to be troubled some days by this life that we are living…as long as that causes us to turn our eyes to our wonderful Saviour…as long as we "look full in His wonderful face".  We will find that "the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."*

Blessings to you,

Alesha

*Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Look What I Found

This is especially for my cousin, Joy, and she will totally understand why I am so excited!!!  But I think most of you will enjoy this video:

How To Tie A Scarf by Jennifer at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Just a note, she promises that this is just Part #1 of scarf tying!!!  I can't wait to catch the next video, too!

Blessings,

Alesha

Learning to Read

Do you ever feel inadequate?

I'm not talking about the

"Oh, my!  I didn't get the laundry finished today!"

deficiency ;

but the

"I don't even know what thoughts to think today!"

kind of inadequacy.

Some days I just feel overwhelmed with the lack of ability that I exhibit.  Inevitably, though, I connect these feelings to my lack of time spent with my Heavenly Father.

When I am in the Word, I get instruction for my daily life; but I also find more than that.  I am taught how to deal with emotions; I learn the thought processes of God; I find wisdom in His dealing with others; I see how He leads in ways that aren't always clear to His children; and I find peace knowing that He is in control.

All of these things give me comfort and guidance.  The Holy Scriptures sift through my own selfish thoughts, and the Water of the Word washes away the grime of the world that has lodged in my mind.

Oh, how I need the Word!  I cannot even think the right thoughts without the wisdom of God.

Do you feel inadequate today?

Run to the Word.  Read it.  Then read it some more.  You will find the thoughts that you need to think.  You will find His guidance there.

God bless you as you read!

Alesha