Easy Pasta Casserole

1 lb penne pasta, cooked
4 eggs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
3 cups Mozzarella
1 jar spaghetti sauce (we like Ragu's Mama's Special Garden Sauce)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat eggs and mix in Parmesan cheese and salt. Pour over hot pasta and mix until all pasta is coated. Pour pasta mixture into greased 9x13 pan. Pour spaghetti sauce over pasta mixture and top with cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes and broil until cheese is golden brown (about 2 minutes).

This recipe can be halved and baked in a pie plate and you have Pasta Pie. You can substitute any kind of pasta for the penne. I use penne because it coats well with the egg mixture and the spaghetti sauce gets down into the pasta better. You can also add 1/4 to 1/2 lb of pepperoni before topping with cheese.

Quick and Easy Chicken and Rice

1 to 1/2 lb chicken breast, cubed
2 cups Minute Rice (brown or white)
2 cups water
1 cup milk
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
1 package dry ranch dressing mix

Preheat over to 375 degrees. Grease 9x13 pan. Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Pour into greased pan and bake for 45 minutes.

This recipe is from my friend, Beth. She served it to us for dinner with a side salad and beer bread. I like this recipe because I usually have all the ingredients in my pantry and freezer. No special trip to the store. Yay!!

Sing a Song

Well, I'm back...and this time hopefully for good. When I started this I didn't really know what I wanted to get (and give) out of this blog and after reviewing several wonderful blogs (links to the right) I have come up with some things I would like to post:

* recipes
* frugal ideas
* my thoughts on Scripture passages and songs
* crafts
* any other ramblings I feel are worthy to share

I think that's it for now. I'm going to start tagging my posts as well. I love me some organization! So, I hope you enjoy and I hope I can stay organized!

Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?

Well, I'm not Carmen San Diego and I haven't really been anywhere. I've been at home with my little Asher and being pregnant for the second time is wiping me out. I thought I needed my thyroid medication changed because I've been so tired, but my test came back normal so I'm just tired. I guess I didn't realize that being pregnant and a mom is exhausting.

I need to make going to bed on time a priority. It's really hard when Asher goes to bed later in the summer. Jonathan and I want to have some time alone in the evening and it's usually after 9pm, so we want to stay up and talk or watch a movie and going to bed is around 11p or 12a. Then Asher gets up between 6 and 7a. So, the nights go fast.

I've also learned that I need a cat nap in the morning and a nap in the afternoon, if I can. I'm glad I get to stay home and catch up on sleep. It would be really hard to work all day at the hospital and then have "homework" to do also. I give moms who work outside of the home a lot of credit. I bet it can be difficult. But it makes it worth it if you love what you do. Like I love being at home.

It's great to see Asher learn new things...almost everyday. It's exciting experiencing things for the first time: swimming, running, rocks, airplanes in the sky, birds, bunnies, wooden spoons, toy cars. It's great and I'm learning to appreciate all of God's "little" blessings again.

We had our ultrasound done, and things look great. The baby looks good and it's so fun to watch that little heart click away. All four chambers pumping that blood. What an amazing God we have. The little one only weighs half a pound and has ten fingers and ten toes. It's fun to count them on the screen. And this time we got the ultrasound on DVD. Isn't that great!?!! I can't wait to show the grandparents. I just hope they're as excited as we are.

Be Still and Know That I Am God

Hashimoto's Disease

That's my official diagnosis. I went into the doctor because my hands were falling asleep at night (I tend to sleep in a little ball) and so my doctor gave me wrist guards (like when you're roller blading) to keep my wrists straight at night. And she drew some blood to make sure it wasn't anything else. In the process she found out that my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was high. That means that my thyroid needs more stimulation to do it's normal work. So I have hypothydroidism caused by Hashimoto's Disease (HD) which is the most common cause of hypothydroidism. You can read more about it by clicking on the link above.

The symptoms I have, that I didn't even think were symptoms, were fatigue...and I'll blame a little weight gain on this too. But I wasn't feeling sick. Some people can get really sick before they figure out that they have this. Actually, my sister, Andrea, was diagnosed with a goiter caused by a hyperthyroid. That's the opposite of an underactive thyroid. So who really knows...

I'm just disappointed because it's an autoimmune thing. That means my body is fighting against itself and that just stinks. I hate knowing that there's a "war" going on inside my body. I'm glad we figured it out early, but it's still hard to know that you have to be on medication for the rest of your life. Lots of people have this disease, so I know it will be ok. I just have to have a few freak out-crying moments and then I'll feel better.

Please be praying for me and for our family.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am GOD.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Easter is my favorite time of year. It's a great time to reflect on the love of God and the love of Jesus Christ. We praise Jesus for His sacrifice and praise be to God for Jesus' resurrection so that we don't have to fear death but rejoice in everlasting life in heaven!

Music is a passion of mine and sometimes a song can evoke such emotion because it speaks to the heart. There are some songs that really get me at Easter. Here are just a few of my favorites:

How Deep the Father's Love for Us
~ Stuart Townend

1. How deep the Father's love for us
how vast beyond all measure
that He would give His only Son
to make a wretched His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss
the Father turns His face away,
as wounds which mar the Chosen One
bring many sons go glory.

2. Behold the Man upon the cross;
my guilt upon His shoulders.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there
until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.

3. I will not boast in anything:
no gifts, no pow'r, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.


Man of Sorrows
~ Phillip P. Bliss

1. Man of Sorrows! what a name
for the Son of God who came
ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

2. Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned He stood;
sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

3. Guilty, vile and helpless we;
spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement, can it be?
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

4. Lifted up was He to die;
"It is finished!" was his cry;
Now in heaven exalted high.
Hallelujah, what a Savior.

5. When He comes, our Glorious King,
all His ransomed home to bring,
then anew this song we'll sing:
Hallelujah, what a Savior.

Let me know if you have any favorites! To God be the glory!!

Working 9 to 5

We made it to Asher's first birthday. It's amazing that a year has gone by so fast when some of the days seemed to last forever. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

I get asked by people if I miss working at the hospital as a nurse. And I always say that I miss aspects of it: the skills, the employees, the patients & their families. But I've just come to the realization that if I was working as a nurse and someone asked me if I missed being at home. I would say, "YES! Without a doubt!" I would miss being at home so much more than I'm missing being at work. I would miss out on so much. And I'll take those few bad days along with all the good days (and their little moments that make being a mom so worthwhile) any day. It's an amazing blessing to be able to stay home and raise my little boy. I love having a clean, organized home (most days) and I love cooking and having a meal ready when Jonathan gets home from work. Being at home with my loved one is so much better than being at work with other people's loved ones. I get to work on my loved one everyday and I never think, "I wish I could call in sick tomorrow and just stay home." I actually go to bed excited to have another day at home! I'm doing what I love and it's such a blessing!

Love Is In The Air

Next weekend Jonathan and I will be celebrating our 4th year anniversary. Our anniversary was actually December 31st, but we haven't had a chance to get away. And Jonathan's mom will be coming to watch Asher.

I'm excited to have Jonathan all to myself. No middle school kids, no high school kids, no email, no phone calls (except to check on our little Asher), no distractions. And we'll get to sleep in, go swimming together, and just be in love.

It's a great thing, marriage. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful, loving husband.