5 Minute Chicken Taco Soup

This is a great last minute go-to soup.  You can use leftovers if you have them but on those days when you find yourself so busy that you haven't had time to even think about dinner - this is your solution.  It's basically opening cans you have in your pantry, mixing them together and watching your family slurp up every last spoonful!

What you need:
1-2 large cans chicken
salsa
corn (cans or frozen)
chicken stock (a couple cups)
instant rice (a large handful)
drained beans (optional)
diced tomato (optional)

What you do:
Open the cans (or bags) and mix everything together in a stockpot.  Simmer over medium heat until heated through and rice is cooked. 










Open a bag of chips and serve. I like to sprinkle a little dried chipotle powder on mine for a little extra zing.  That's it - easy to fix but tastes like you worked on it all day. Go ahead and let your family believe this.  It's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

What I'll Miss When We Move

We have lived in Emory, where my husband served Emory and Alba United Methodist Churches, for 5 years.  A couple months ago we were notified of Kelly's re-appointment to a 2-point charge outside of Baytown, in the Houston area. 

While we are excited to see the ministry God has in store for us in our new home, we are saddened to leave behind the people and places which have made this a home.

We will miss the people who make up the Alba and Emory UMCs.

These are photos of some of our local 'haunts', including my nearly-daily Sonic Happy Hour stop, the Rains County Court House (yes, I even got a jury summons for less than 2 weeks before the move), Sunshine Acres Produce Stand, and Hooten's Hardware Store (which is hiding a wonderful kitchen department), and so much more.

Alba and Emory are located around Lake Fork.  This is a beautiful man-made lake which is renouned for fishing!

As we move forward in ministry, we pray that God continues to bless these churches and the faithful who worship in them.  We thank you for 5 wonderful years shared together.

George W. Bush Presidential Library - Part 2

This is the second part, sharing with you about our visit to the Presidential Library of George W. Bush.  In this posting, I will share with you the human side of our 43rd president.  State events, the personal causes of First Lady, Laura Bush, gifts, hobbies, campaigns, and life in The White House.

Before becoming President, George Bush was part owner of the Texas Rangers.  This display encases his vast autographed baseball collection.  He used his love of baseball to bring the sport to The White House with Tee Ball on the South Lawn. 

Easter Egg Hunts had dated eggs to commemorate each year!  If you look closely at the top of the invitation, you'll find it comes from Barney and Miss Beazley.

Who would have guessed they worked puzzles at Camp David?

Barney and Miss Beazley have their own exhibits telling of their exploits in The White House and reminding us that Barney (who passed in February of 2013) was a star in his own rights with his Barney-Cam Video Series. Barney was gifted with this stainless steel feeding dish which is personalized with his name and has paw print footings.  I loved seeing how Laura Bush incorporated their furry family into their public and private lives.  Like this Valentine she sent the President and this stunning portrait of her and the dogs.

The Bush family didn't take themselves too seriously. In fact, one event is hosted by their twin daughters and tells of their parent's humor. 

The Oval Office exhibit is really special as each person is allowed time to sit behind the desk of the President.  This exact replica (with the exception of the bronze bust which is reordered for being too small and the clock which is set to Central Time rather than Eastern) shows off the decorating skill of First Lady, Laura.  It is the First Lady who usually selects the carpet design, the artwork and furnishings.  The President shares a bit of himself in this office through the selection of a previous President's painting - one who influenced the current office holder.  Want to guess who George W. Bush selected?  Yep, Abraham Lincoln.  When asked why not his father, President G. W. Bush noted that Lincoln would be on the wall because his dad is always in his heart. 

I loved seeing the lovely textiles and jewels offered to The White House family.  These items are property of the United States, as the President and First Lady are in a position which represents us in events which lead to these gifts.  Besides, if they keep it then they have to pay tax on it!  Don't you love the patriotic display quilt sectioning together the headlines of newspapers around the country?

The museum offers insight into what life in the most public house can be like.  It does a great job of offering you a glimpse into the part that our 43rd President's faith played in how he lived out his call to this highest elected post.

Despite the serious nature of the office, this library never loses sight of President George W. Bush's philosophy that this is a position of and for the people of the great and wonderful United States of America. Photos of citizens are in every event, keeping the focus on the office rather than the one elected to hold the office - and that at the end of the term, he is just like us - a citizen of the United States of America.

George W. Bush Presidential Library - Part 1

Before moving away from the Dallas area (to the Houston area), my daughter and I took time to visit the new George W. Bush Presidential Library on the Southern Methodist University Campus. There is so much to see and do at the complex. We were told the average stay is around 2 hours but we did many of the interactive events, spending just at 3 hours. Time flew as we immersed ourselves in this historical presidency.  Because there is so much to see and do, I'll divide our visit into 2 seperate blog postings - the serious side of the position and another on the humanity of being Commander in Chief.

The building is beautiful.  The grounds include native Texas wildflowers and what is referred to as the "Texas Rose Garden" is positioned outside the Oval Office, just as the White House garden is truly positioned.

My daughter, Melissa, outside the Library Complex as we waited to go in.


As you prepare to enter the formal library rooms, you first encounter a 360 degree projection. While we waited, we experienced an ariel tour of Washington DC starting at the Lincoln Memorial, beyond the Washington Monument and up the Capital Steps.  Then came a series of photos of American leaders and the words of our Constitution. 

In the atrium is a lifesize statue of the two Bush presidents.

Interactive events are located in nearly every section.  Guests are encouraged to participate, putting into action the thought that #43 was a 'people's president'.

I was fasinated by this 'official tally sheet'.  I guess that in this age of electronics, I didn't really think such a document existed.

By far the most moving part of the complex was the information relayed about the 9/11 attacks and aftermath.  I wasn't prepared to see a mangled beam from what they believe was Tower II surrounded by walls covered in the names of those who perished.  Inset in the walls, surrounded by the names of those who were part of the particular incident, were monitors replaying the news reports of Tower I, the plane hitting Tower II, the Pentagon and the Pennsylvania Crash site. I was overwhelmed to hear the day, and the week, recounted in the words of President Bush as well as interact by hearing other's stories of the day.  I took time to sit at a monitor and write out my experience as I recalled where I was, what I was doing and how I responded to the horror of what our country was experiencing.  I wasn't the only one there in tears as we rubbed our hands over the mangled beams and relived 9/11.

We were fasinated to be able to interact with others as well as various situations, to experience without the pressure, the way in which a leader of our country goes about receiving information and making decisions.   Decision Points offers the gathered group four situations to choose from, hear video details and then see if collectively you come to a similar decision as the President.  It follows up with a video of Bush sharing the reasoning behind the decision he made.


The self-guided tour (enhanced by I-Pod technology offered to each visitor) concludes with a reminder that there is much to glean from each of these situations.  To that end, the Presidential Complex offers academians the opportunity and access to over a half million documents relating to this Presidency and our International relations.