23 years and a look back

Our 22nd Anniversary date

Today hubby and I celebrate 23 years of marriage. It's amazing how the years passes by so fast.  Marriage is such serious business and lots of work. I often say it is not for the weak and faint at heart. Every day is not a cake walk like the fairy tales from T.V., books, songs, and movies would have you believe. To be honest you'll have times of rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty. Life will throw many curve balls. Stuff happens that's out of your control. Plans don't always go the way you want them to.

After saying all that I can still say I'm blessed with the man in my life. 23 years later and he still makes my heart skip a beat. I'm glad God created the institution of marriage. I've learned it's not about MY happiness. God has allowed both of us to marry someone marred by sin to help us grow in Agape love, Grace, and Mercy. Most of all it helps shape our faith walk.

We've had an abundance of happy times. There have certainly been some sad times. Yes we've had many many trying times.  We've been through a lot and seen one another through many life changes. Here we are 23 years later still loving one another much more than when we first met, sharing moments of laughter, and still acting like playful young adults. I love and appreciate how my hubby NEVER forgets our anniversary. He has blessed me with such thoughtful gifts through the years.

Looking back I remember this beautiful card he gave me on our 16th anniversary with a box of one of my favorite candies (even though it's dark chocolate because it resembles one of the things I love most about him...his dark skin *wink).  I love the words on the card. Since it's hard to see I'll write what it says:

Sorry for the bad pic. It's an old one.

On our Anniversary

I'm so thankful to have you in my life...

I can't imagine finding my way without you.

You are my best friend,

the only person in the world

that I trust completely and utterly

with my heart and soul.

I love you more with each passing day and

don't know what I did to deserve you.

Happy Anniversary My Love...

From Cleveland

 

More bad pics. Sorry u can't see that yummy box of chocolates.

Happy 23rd Anniversary to my Boo! Love you always and forever :-)


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Wordless Wednesday~ 1/30/19

Have you been enjoying National Hot Tea month like I have?

© My Life 0utside The Box 2016-2019. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Easy Pumpkin Soup

Easy Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. butter or EVOO
1 cup onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
3 cups chicken broth
2- 15oz. cans pumpkin (or 4 cups cooked pumpkin puree also see note below)
1.5 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (can sub with 2 tsp. curry powder)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground white pepper
1/2 cup evaporated milk (sub with heavy cream or canned coconut milk)

Optional toppings: 4-6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled and/or sour cream

Directions:
Heat up butter or oil on med.-high heat. Sauté the onion for 5 minutes. Add in carrots and cook until soft. Add garlic and saute for about 2 minutes. Add in broth, pumpkin, and choice of spices. Bring it all to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You may now put small batches of the soup in a blender or use an immersion blender right in the pot to get a very smooth soup. Add in the milk, salt and pepper. Heat it back up a few minutes. Serve with a swirl of sour cream and/or bacon on top.
Serves 6 or more

* Serve alongside a salad and with some buttered crusty bread for a tasty meal.

Note: You can prepare the soup in the crockpot on LOW for 6 hours or in the Instant Pot on Manual Setting for 10 minutes with NR for 10 minutes.

*You can try subbing the pumpkin with some cooked sweet potato or butternut squash puree.


© My Life 0utside The Box 2016-2019. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Crockpot Cranberry Chicken

Crockpot Cranberry Chicken

Ingredients:
4 chicken quarters (can replace with 8 thighs or 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts)
1 c. Catalina or French Dressing (I’ve also tried it with Russian and it was just as good)
15 oz. can of whole berry cranberry sauce (I’ve used the jellied one or homemade too)
1 package dry onion soup mix

Directions:
Wash and drain chicken (If using quarters you can cut them into legs and thighs or leave whole). Put in a gallon Ziploc bag with the rest of the ingredients poured on top.  Squeeze bag to make sure everything is mixed in good (Sometimes I get lazy and just dump everything into the crockpot).  When ready to cook spray crockpot with cooking spray and pour in the chicken with sauce.  Cook on LOW 6-7 hours for chicken with bones and skin or 4-6 hours for boneless chicken breasts.

*When I do not mix everything first in a Ziploc bag I ended up turning my chicken pieces halfway through cooking time to be sure meat is fully coated. I like to serve this with rice and a green veggie or salad. This time around I served it with rice as well as sautéed cabbage and spinach with onions and garlic.

*For a freezer meal leave in Ziploc bag. Press as much air out as you can, close, and freeze to use later. Thaw out in refrigerator overnight when you are ready to use.

*In Oven- This can also be baked in the oven in a roaster or baking pan of choice at 350-375 degrees for 1.5 hours.


© My Life 0utside The Box 2016-2019. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

TSW Daybook~ Jan. 2019

For Today: 1/7/19

_____________________________

Looking out my window

It’s cool and cloudy outside. Our high for today is 67 degrees.

I am thinking

About my upcoming anniversary this month.

I am thankful

For 23 years of marriage to my love.

One of my favorite things

Settling down at the end of the day with a cup of hot herbal tea :)

I am creating

A planner notebook for my blog. Hoping it will motivate me to keep writing on my blog at least weekly.

I am wearing

A blue and white shirt and gray pants.

I am reading

“Devotions for a Sacred Marriage” daily with my hubby.

I’m watching (want to watch)

I finished watching the whole T.V. series of “Downton Abbey” last year. Now I plan to start watching another series called “Pride and Prejudice”.

I’ve been listening to

Some Smooth Jazz.

I am hoping

I get around to giving my oven a good cleaning this week.

I am learning

To be content with where God has me at this point in life.

In my kitchen

Using some homemade cranberry sauce (from the freezer) to make
crockpot Cranberry Chicken. YUM! I plan to post that recipe soon.

Board room

I love chewy granola bars. Homemade ones are the best when it comes to creating your own flavors. Check these out https://www.pinterest.com/pin/61291244911034421/

Post Script

Do you make your own spice blends? I no longer buy the packaged taco, fajita, and chili seasonings. I often make up my own seasoning blends to save $$. Here are some great recipes to have on hand http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/diy-spice-round-up-9-make-your-own-spice-recipes/.

Shared Quote

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

-Jim Rohn

A moment from my day

Taking advantage of
National Hot Tea Month!

Closing Notes

Now that I’ve shared a little peek into my daily life with you, how about joining in or read other ladies Simple Woman Journal posts. Just head on over to our host site to learn more.

______________________________

© My Life 0utside The Box 2016-2019. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Marriage is about...

My husband and I was reading our couples devotion this morning and came across something very important that every Christian couple must understand.

God allows us to come together as two sinners, knowing we will be sinned against. Marriage is about learning how to respond to a sinful human being in a holy way.

 This is a quote from "Devotions for a Sacred Marriage" by Gary Thomas

© My Life 0utside The Box 2016-2019. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.