Kristofer and I came across the COOLEST thing EVER!! So we have secret recipes and one of which is for Wendy's spicy chicken fillet. So, I was looking at the recipe and wanted one of the ingredients. Then, Kristofer googles it. Low and behold it is sold at Sam's club... then the news gets better. You can SHOP ONLINE... you put all that you want into your "shopping cart" and once your done you specify when you'll pick it up. I love it, you can even do produce, and freezer stuff. So instead of the hour, hour and a half it takes to go through Sam's; we go pick up our cart, pay and leave!! YAY!! 10 minutes max. This also keeps us from spending more than necessary. Those with small children... this is a wonderful and quick way to shop. HALLA!! This is the only way for us from now on.

Estimated Times:

Preparation - 15 min Cooking - 10 min Yields - 4

Ingredients:

• 2 large or 3 medium baking potatoes, baked or microwaved
• Cooked and crumbled bacon (optional)
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 can (14.5 fl. oz.) chicken broth
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated Milk
• Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
• Sliced green onions (optional)

Directions:
MELT butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour. Gradually stir in broth and evaporated milk. Scoop potato pulp from 1 potato (reserve potato skin); mash. Add pulp to broth mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes just to a boil. Dice remaining potato skin and potato(es); add to soup. Heat through. Season with salt and ground black pepper. Top each serving with bacon, cheese and green onions, if desired.

VARIATION: For a different twist to this recipe, omit the bacon, cheddar cheese and green onions. Cook 2 tablespoons shredded carrot with the onion and add 1/4 teaspoon dried dill to the soup when adding the broth. Proceed as above.

This was the most amazing event EVER!!

I have had a VERY stressful week. I was sick all week and had tests, homework, housework, tutoring, and not to mention being a wife. I really wasn't sure I was going to get it all done and go and enjoy this. I kept thinking there were others who needed this more than me.

I am so glad I went! It was so uplifting and spiritual! Kenneth Cope was there and sang. He is so amazing. I listened to him my whole mission, his songs are so soothing and loving. Mercy River was the guest music and they were AMAZING too, and Jennie Oaks Baker came also. There were so many Speakers, Emily Watts, Sharon G. Larsen, S. Michael Wilcox,Jason Wright,Chris Stewart, Wendy Watson Neslon, and the famous Sheri Dew. To review who any of these people are click here.

As promised...


So for Valentines my family did something new this year for V-day. We drew names and which ever name we got we were to make a card. So Kristofer got Brittany and I got Seiler.

So on Saturday night Kristofer and I made our cards. And they turned out SO CUTE!!

Beyond the roses, chocolates and historical ties to a pagan fertility festival, you'll find the real meaning of Valentine's Day. It's the true love that compelled a young Christian to give up his life rather than stop sharing his faith.

Valentine's Day

When we think of Valentine's Day, we often think of red roses, candy in heart- shaped boxes, mushy valentines, and winged cherubs flying about shooting starry-eyed lovers with arrows.

But did you know that the origin of Valentine's Day, or Saint Valentine's Day, comes from the life and death of a Christian martyr? According to author Martha Zimmerman, the date traditionally celebrated as St. Valentine's Day finds it origin in the Roman festival of romance called Lupercalia, when the gods Juno and Pan were honored. It was a fertility festival or a lover's holiday looking forward to the return of Spring. In the fifth century, in an attempt to abolish the pagan festival, Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia and its February 15 date to February 14 and called it Saint Valentine's Day. Even though the names and the date were changed, the emphasis continued to be on love.

Who was the real Valentine, and why did he have a day named after him?

Some authorities credit Geoffrey Chaucer with originating the custom of linking Valentine's Day with lovers. No link between the day and lovers exists before the time of Chaucer, thus leading some to conclude that it was this famous English author who connected the day with lovers. The fullest and earliest description of the tradition occurs in Chaucer's "Parliament of Fouls" composed around 1380. Since that time it has been traditional to connect St. Valentine's Day with love.

But who was the real Saint Valentine? St. Valentine was a Roman Christian who, according to tradition, was martyred during the persecution of Christians in the third century by Emperor Claudius II. The only thing certain about the day we remember as St. Valentine's Day is that it commemorates a martyrdom. Claudius II declared all Christians illegal citizens. By his definition, they were guilty of treason because Roman citizens were required by law to worship the Emperor by declaring publicly, "Caesar is Lord!" Of course, this no Christian could do.

The real Valentine was a Roman Christian martyred during the third century A.D. by the Emperor Claudius II. Prior to his death, Valentine continued to minister in prison by witnessing to his prison guards. One of the guards was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked Valentine if his God could help his daughter. Valentine prayed and the girl was given her sight. The guard and his whole family, 46 people, believed in Jesus and were baptized. When the Emperor heard about this he was furious that Valentine was still making converts even in prison, so he sentenced Valentine to death.

Just before being led out to his execution, the young Christian wrote a note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine." The first valentine was really a Christian witness. Growing out of this story we participate in a custom of sending cards to people we love.

Given that the tradition of sending love notes grows out of a letter written by St. Valentine to his jailer's daughter on the eve of Valentine's execution, it's ironic that the card we send has received the emphasis, instead of remembering the content of the original Valentine's card: a message of unconditional devotion to Christ, even upon pain of death.

Over time the word "Saint" has been dropped from St. Valentine's Day, further obscuring the origins of this holiday. Instead of a negative reaction to some of the pagan origins of the day, why not celebrate the true love that compelled young Valentine to give up his life?

Remember that the day we know as St. Valentine's Day actually commemorates the death of an early Christian martyr, Valentine, who was put to death for refusing to renounce his faith in Christ.