Experimental Dinner Success!!!

Last night, I made something new for dinner.  I just made it up as I went along.  Everybody liked it!!  Of course, I forgot to take a picture, but I'll tell you the recipe:

Ingredients:
3 Tbs butter
4 chicken breasts
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
paprika (to taste)
regular size can of kidney beans
regular size can of corn
1 clove of garlic (pressed)
1/2 box of penne noodles
1/3 box of Swanson chicken broth
a bunch of kale (about 8 leaves ripped up)


First, I trimmed and cubed 4 chicken breasts. 
Then, I melted 3 Tbs butter in my wok pan, and added the chicken.
When the chicken was cooked, I added a can of red kidney beans and a can of corn. 
I seasoned with salt, pepper, paprika, and 1 pressed garlic clove.
Then, I threw in 1/2 a box of penne noodles and 1/3 of a box of Swanson broth. 
I cooked it for a while, then added a bunch of ripped up kale.
When the noodles were cooked, it was done!
It's really yummy! 

Let me know if you try it!  :o)

My Guy

Matt. . .   I met him the first day at college.  He and I became friends after a while.  I could tell he liked me, but I wasn't interested at that point.  So, he backed off.  We never could stop being friends, though.  We would even sit and talk about girls for him and guys for me.  You know, giving each other the inside scoop like best friends would do.  There were a few times we formally discussed how it would never work out between us.  He dated girls. I went on dates with guys (one time it was his roomate. . . after I had told him no!  I didn't know, really!!).  After a date with a really great guy, I sought out my girlfriend who was working on campus at the time.  I cried and told her that the whole time I was out with the one guy, I was only wanting to be with Matt.  She sweetly took my hands, and said, "You love him."  Of course, she was right;  but still it took another few weeks before it happened. 

Then, after the final discussion about how we would never work out, it happened.  We began talking about guys and girls.  He started talking about this one girl he was interested in, and I couldn't take it anymore. 

"You know," I said.  "I'm kinda jealous."
"You're jealous? he asked.
"Yeah.  You're supposed to like me. . . "

At that point, Matt said he no longer thought of that girl.  We spent the evening walking around campus just hanging out.  It was so not just friends anymore!  The next day, he called my dad and asked his permission to officially date me.  My dad was all too eager to give his blessing.  He had known that Matt was my guy for months! 

That was over 11 years ago now!  This summer, Matt and I will celebrate 9 years of marriage, and then in the Fall we will add another little one to our happy home, our fifth child.  He is still my best friend.  Oh, we have our moments!  But, we love each other.  We've been through a lot together. 

Our Family picture Easter 2010

Sometimes, you know that you made the right choice.  Saying yes to Matt was definitely a right choice for me.