Day 1:COOK Isn't My Last Name for Nothing!

I love to cook! Do you know what I like ever more than to cook? I love to eat it. The problem is that I love to eat so much that sometimes it becomes a problem. My husband and I have decided to be more healthy. We have started calorie counting, and being better about exercising. I would like to do a thirty day blog. I want to blog about the recipes that I try. Some being healthier, some not so much, and my experience with calorie counting during that time. We both feel that we would prefer to keep all our favorite foods and treats in our diet. Taking away those things make me feel constricted, and not in a good way. Anyone who has ever dieted knows what I mean. If you do something you hate, then its not going to stick.

First recipe: Loaded Potato and Chicken Casserole. Ladies and Gents, this was a keeper. My husband really liked this one, and it was so easy to make.

Ingredients:

• 3 - 4 medium russet potatoes, scrubbed and diced
• (about 1.5 lbs. or 4 1/2 cups)
• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
• 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp, cooled and crumbled
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 green onions, sliced (green parts only for low-FODMAP/low-fructose)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9" x 9" baking pan or casserole dish.
2. Spread half of the diced potatoes in bottom of pan. Place the diced chicken breasts evenly on top. Season chicken with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Sprinkle with half the bacon crumbles, 1/2 cup of the cheese, and half the green onions.
3. Spread the remaining diced potatoes on top, followed by the remaining bacon, another 1/2 cup cheese, remaining green onions and another 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Pour heavy cream over top of casserole and then dot with the butter. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Uncover and bake another 30 minutes. In the last few minutes of baking, sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and bake until melted. Serve.

This one, was Actually pretty easy to count. I just added up the amount of calories per item and then divide it by how many cups of food are there. The bacon complimented the chicken and cheese. The potatoes were soft, and moist. Every bite was a burst of gooey flavor. I did add an extra half cup of  heavy cream.  If you are looking for an easy, pretty quick delicious meal, this is the one for you.

The count down

  Twenty-one more days until I get get to marry my best friend, in the Rexburg Idaho Temple. The wonderful thing is, we are being sealed together as husband and wife. This means that we are promised to have our marriage last not only here in this life, but after we pass on, for forever. That's right folks, I believe that we can have something so beautiful and pure last forever. I believe in happily ever afters.  I also believe that it isn't meant to be perfect or always easy. I believe that there will be ups and there will be downs in our marriage, but I know that there will be good times, happy times, and a life long of learning and growing together, and that those times if you let it, will triumph those hard times.

 I am so blessed to have the knowledge I have obtained through trial and error. I'm blessed to have the faith that I have to keep trusting in my heavenly father and his plan for each of his children. I am blessed to be apart of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am thankful for the priesthood that allows us to be married in the temple for time and all eternity. I love my fiance so much and would not want only our love, experiences and growth to stop in this life, but to continue on to the next.

There is so much to do before we get married, and again as we move across the country to our new home, in Moberly Missouri. I look forward for these times, though it is and has been stressful. The best part is being able to do all of this with my best friend. William signed a contract with a business in Moberly. It is a recycling company. He will be starting April 20th. I can't believe that it's only a month away from tomorrow.

It's a bitter sweet moment to be having to quit my job. I am excited to have a change of paste. I am excited for the adventures to come. At the same time, I am sad to move on from the friends, family and from my job. I have enjoyed for the most part, my job working for the Madison school district. These kids have a special spot in my heart. They have taught me so much, have mad me crazy and frustrated, but have made me laugh, and feel touched by their innocent minds and spirits.

WE DID IT!!

It's me again!

    Well I am sure if you know me or you know someone who knows me, then the cat is out of the bag. Which is fine by me. You see, it is pretty wonderful news, and it would be hard to keep something so big a secret. So for those who haven't heard....drum roll please. I'M ENGAGED! Yay I did it... well actually William did it, but I did say Yes.
     I know some of you have been wondering how did he do it! So I am going to tell you just that. It was on a dark cold tuesday in January. It was the 6th of January to be exact. That night I invited Will to come over for dinner. I made homemade pizza and a green salad. As dinner was coming to an end, Will said, "I am feeling like some Soda Vine tonight." (for those who have not read or heard, Will took me to the Soda Vine on our first date.)( soda vine is a retro sock-hop cafe.) We cleaned up dinner, afterwards he drove us to Soda Vine. We sat down, with our delicious italian drinks and sugar cookie. A Peach Italian soda for Will, and a Watermelon Italian soda for me. We enjoyed one of our favorite guessing games, while sipping on our drinks. The game is to guess what date number it is for each couple we see. Depending on their body language, you can tell if they are in a serious relationship, if its a first date, or if its in between stages- "the getting to know you better, I kind of like you stage." As we sat there playing our game, it occurred to me that it was our fourth month since our first date. I didn't let myself think to much into it... just that wow we have seen each other  everyday straight for almost 4 months. After our drinks.. He asked me if I wanted to talk a walk around Smith park. Another thing we enjoy doing together. It's January, dark, cold and snowy... but we make our way to the gazebo. The whole way down, I keep asking "are you sure you want to do this", " are you okay your shaking" , and other questions like that, totally oblivious to what he really is planning. We get to the gazebo and he asks me if I want to dance. He puts on a Rascal Flats Song ( the first song we had ever danced to.) while we are dancing he looks around which put me on edge. Then he just looks at me and he says " I LOVE YOU, AND ALWAYS WILL, I THINK ITS TIME TO ASK A QUESTION.. (gets on his knees  and asks).. WILL YOU MARRY ME?" Emotion surged to my throat and eyes, and my answer came out soft but sure YES! We were so happy, and it felt so surreal. We headed back to my apartment where we shared the news with family and friends.
    We are so incredible happy, and look forward to being able to share life together for ever. We are crazy busy with planning a wedding, with him finishing up his last semester here at BYU-Idaho, and with me working. The date is set for April 9th of this year.
  That brings me to my next subject. Will is wonderful, he is such a hard worker, and is so passionate about school and about his major. I am a lucky girl to be marrying someone who loves what he is doing.  I decided after all that I was not going to continue school right now. I know I cant seem to stick with the school thing. I knew I was stressing about it.. and the day before school I found out that my petition probably wouldn't go through for financial aide. At first I felt upset and like I had failed, but something that I thought wasn't so good brought about a wonderful blessing to my life. I made and took the next step...got engaged and I plan to take the next step.. that is, to seal the deal in the Rexburg Temple. Will has been so wonderful through all of this. I worried that he wouldn't be very happy I decided to not attend, but no.. he has been so supportive and loving.. and encouraging with everything I decide to do.  He is such a wonderful guy and I am such a lucky girl to have such a great guy.

well folks sorry for the sap, and sorry about the wait... also sorry this isn't much, but I hope it's not too hard of a read and an enjoyable one at that.

The Achsah Show

It's that time again to update my blog. I know guys I am terrible at blogging; I am practically a lost cause.

Whats new on the Achsah show? Well lets see I just reapplied to school here at Brigham Young University of Idaho. I was accepted for Winter/ Spring. I am so excited but so overwhelmed by this big change that is coming my way. I haven't officially decided what major I am going to go into, but I thought that I at least needed to go back and work towards some kind of schooling. This is probably crazy, well at least I've been told so. The plan is to work and go to school full time. I know it is absolutely insane of me to try this, but I feel that I need to stay with my job, and I feel that school is also important. You can't succeed or fail until you try. You also fail when you stop trying. I also have to juggle my calling, church functions, a boyfriend, family, friends, sleep and eating. I am ready though to rise to the challenge! Speaking of boyfriends though, that will take us to the next order of business.

I am not dating Steve anymore. Yeah didn't see that one coming. It's okay though because the lord watches out for all of his children. I know that he has a plan for each of us, and we need to have faith and hope in him and in the plan he has for us, even though we may not understand it. One of my favorite quotes is from this last general conference (Fall October 2014). It's a talk called Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence by Elder Jorg Klebingat Of the Seventy. He gives us six points to fixing our own spiritualness. The last one he lists is, "Accept trails, setbacks, and "Surprises" as part of your mortal experience." This talk has helped me so much, because it's true we are here to be tested, to experience life and different situations. Steve was a great guy, and I thought he was the one for me. The thing is we could have been good for each other, but we would have not been the best for each other. He needed someone to be at his level and I needed someone to be more at my level. I am dating a guy from Springfield Oregon. His name is William Cook. The funny thing is, I wasn't going to date anyone for a while, but I meet Will and he is very charismatic and very charming. Every person I see him interact with always seems like they are in a better mood. He has a way of making you feel better about life, about yourself. You will never feel sorry or that you wasted time talking to him. As we continued to see each other, we both came to the conclusion that we both enjoyed each others company. At first we talked about going slow. His roommates and my sisters both laughed at us. They didn't think that going slow, was going to work. Needless to say they were right! Only a week after talking about going slow, we had a date. we went out to the Parker Idaho Elementary school; we went star gazing and talked about anything and everything. When he dropped me off that night, we both agreed that we had fun and we enjoyed each others company. That night we decided to go steady.
  Man can I tell you that it has been one of the best decisions I have made. Not only is he handsome, but he is also very caring, very aware of me, sweet and kind to both my family and I and many other wonderful things. As noted above he is very likable:). We have been dating for a month and a half now, and we have both said it feels longer than that. I go back to thinking that if things would have continued with Steve, I would have not met Will, and what a shame that would have been. Heavenly Father loves us, he know us, he understands us, and can see the bigger picture.

I am still currently working for the Rexburg Madison School District. It is a challenge, but it is so rewarding working with the special needs' kids and the preschool kids. Some days are tougher and rougher. I wrestle a little girl usually once a week if not once a day. She is absolutely adorable, but so mischievous, and she knows it too. The days that she is happy but naughty, she thinks of it as a game. Sometimes it is very frustrating, but other days I can't help but smile and laugh. I taught her to say my name, so on the days where it has been a little more taxing, and she says hello or goodbye using my name, I can't help but smile and let go all the frustration . All of the children are so smart and amazing. They truly are special sons and daughters of God. I feel privileged to know them and work with them. I am happy to be apart of their learning. The preschoolers are fun and I have made friends with all of them. we sing songs, and play I spy a lot. This set of twins always wants to play. They will start out by saying "I spy with my little eye something that starts with the letter E or grass or green etc".. and sometimes its the very thing they spy and other times as I guess different things,they will tell me ,no silly its the sky not the grass. One of the kids gets on and says "hey i'm back I cam back to you, did you miss me?" Another pretends to wrestle/ box with me. They are all so cute, sweet and funny. Oh I sure do love my job, for the most part;)
well folks thats all for now.

LIFE.

        It's that time again! I don't have a whole lot to write about, but hopefully enough to keep your interest. I am officially ( well I have been for almost a month now) an adult. No more teenage years. How is this even possible you may ask? I just was this little girl with blonde pigtails the other day right? Wrong! I know this may be hard to grasp, but I am a big girl now. My nieces and nephews were talking to me one day about how cute my other niece Clara was and how much she has grown up. I told them that I was alive when all my nieces and nephews were born and have seen them grow up. Some of them didn't believe me and others just chuckled, as if they were trying to believe it but felt weird talking about it. I than told them that I was a baby at one time in my life. This was almost too much for their little minds to handle. One of them said no way you could have never been a baby you are to big to be one of those. It made me laugh, but also contemplate this awe moment. That nephew was right, it is kind of crazy to think about me being this little baby and needing someone to feed and change me, to burp me, to help me in everything. So many of us have grown up and have come to this stage at our lives were we are pretty independent. As I kept pondering on this subject, it made me aware that we are in a sense still babies to our Heavenly father some more  spiritually grown up then others, but he wants to be apart of our lives and we need him in ours. Maybe its just me but I think about being grown up now and living away from my parents, I still call often and ask for advice, I still need to hear my mothers voice and know that my parents are okay and are there for me.  I am independent for the most part but we all depend on someone wither it be our siblings, our aunts/ uncles, parents, grandparents, spouse or a friend/leader. We all started out as an intelligent, God took us and made us into something more. we all started out as an egg and grew and continue to grow. anyways enough on this I just though it was kind of cool to be reminded that we came from this place, where we trained for this life, and in this life train for our next life.

I am taking this next part of the post away from the spiritual thought. It has been a crazy last few months, of work,  and school for Steve. It's been kind of hard how busy he is. He finished his finals with all passing grades. He has worked so hard to do well in those classes and it has paid off for him. This next semester is going to be tough as well because this is his one shot to get into the nursing program. I know he can do it, it just means that his time with me wont be as much. He also just spent a week over by Boise ID, up in the mountains. He was volunteering at a cancer camp. It was a good experience for him and he also received a 5,000 dollar scholarship for school. I know he had fun but is glad that it is over. He current is on a trip with his family until this Friday. He has been sending me picture and text messages every day. It has been hard not seeing him all the time, but i know he is having a good time, and I have found that I have to find things to do. i have been practicing my drawing. I have been exercising a lot and trying to eat healthier and I have been reading and trying to find new adventures. Steve went to Vegas with his family. I know not the most exciting place, but they have found a lot of good things and stayed away from the bad that is there. In eight days I get to start making my way home. I am overjoyed to go see my family. That will have to be in another post. Steve and I have been dating 4 1/2  months now. can you believe the time it is crazy how time can fly.
 well readers my computer time is running out, so I will have to end my post here. I will try to post some pics.

:)

Lady's and Gentlemen.  I am here once again to inform you with the  facts, okay maybe the opinions of my life. For your sake I hope that you will be able to read and fine excitement in my blog. First on the list!
Summer has let out for the Madison school District. I was asked by my boss if I would continue to stay on for the duration of summer school. It's a love/ hate relationship. You see I love kids, I love working.. (for the most part anyways), I love to stay busy, but every person needs a break from the normal activities that fill our every day lives. Can I say that I am actually really excited that I am almost half way through summer school and can hardly wait for it to end? I am ready for camping, visiting, swimming, and most of all being able to do whatever and not be constricted to only a few hours before I have to go back to work.

I am still living in the burg. The other day my dear friend Sister Kailey Degraw wrote to me and asked me if I would still be in Rexburg in January. I told her that Unless I die, or Heavenly Father tells me to move I probably will be here a great portion of may years to come. I like Rexburg pretty well, and as most of you know... well if you keep up with my blog or with my facebook, I am dating a young man here. So as I see it if  our relationship continues to flourish I will be here for  many a year.

For those who have not read or heard the story of this mighty knight on his trusty stead, I will brief you, quickly. We meet in March 2014. He is in my YSA ward (young Single Adult ward). The first time I saw him if I may say, I thought he was not very attractive and his mannerism for some reason made me think of Mr. Bean. Weird huh? Well with a few days difference I found myself really liking this guy. I invited him to come watch Avengers with my Friend Jessica and I after Home Evening. The whole night I kept seeing his hand get closer and closer. By the end of the movie his hand was touching mine. We continued to see each other... at the library, at church, at Home Evening and institute. He than asked me to go on a date. Our first official date was to a musical play put on by BYUI students. It was the best date I have ever been on. That next week after our ward talent show, by the way he got me to sing at with him, asked me to be his girlfriend. From there we have had many laughs, many interesting moments, some tough times, lots of good times. He continues to amaze me and he treats me like the princess and future queen I am to be. I look forward to having many more experiences with him. He is an amazing guy, and I just love him to pieces.

As many of you may know I have two sisters expecting another child this year. I also have two sister in-laws expecting their first child this year as well. I have 18 nieces and nephews and I am excited to be having more added to our family. I also have a sister who is doing Chemo and Radiation and ask that you will keep her in your prayers. She just started her first treatment today. She went in for pretesting yesterday. I love her so much and I wish I could be there for all of her treatments, but since I can't I ask that any who read this pray for my sister Codi. Thank you.  Well folks I think that is all for now. have a great day and a grand week.

UPDATE:)

Hello Again. I think it is funny that almost every time I start my blog post or a journal entry it's hello it's been along time. Y'all can see that this is not my strongest point, but I feel accomplish If I get at least 2 posts a year in. What Can I say I get busy living life and enjoying it. It is kind of like those times, when you bring a camera to a reunion or function and you don't hardly take it out. That is because you are enjoying the function in and at the moment. It would be fun to always remember those moments, so I am going to try to be better about blogging and keeping a journal.

Well new updates need to be made. I am still living in the ice burg of Idaho. We all thought Spring was coming but I woke up to lots of snow and it is still snowing. I should have known that it was a possibility in Rexburg. I am trying to be thankful though for the snow, because we could use the moisture.

I still love my job working as an Special Needs Bus Aide for Madison School District. The kids get crazy sometimes, but that is normal. They are just being kids. I am getting more comfortable with them, as they are with me. I am getting to be their friends slowly but surely. We are on Spring break until Tuesday. It has been nice, but I think I am getting ready to be back to a schedule already.

I meet this boy named Steve Downs, Three weeks ago from today. He asked for my number and a date on a couple of Monday's ago. I agreed... since then... we have gone on many outings,  sent many texts, and had a phone call, and then one day he asked me to be his girlfriend. I said yes! He is amazing. He is the kind of guy I always wanted to date and possible marry. He is a true gentleman, and he is kind and loving. We can talk about anything and everything. He makes me laugh daily and he brightens my life so much. We talk about the Gospel daily, and I can see how important it is to him. I can see how much he loves Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Also I can see how much he loves his family! He makes me feel like a loved important daughter of God. He worthily holds the priesthood. I could go on and on, but this is just giving you an idea how amazing he is. My dad told my mom to tell me that August would be a good time for a wedding... I just laughed! I will keep you all posted if that is heading our way:)

Well Friends Family, acquaintances.. strangers That is all, This is me signing off.. Have a great Sabbath and a great coming week. Remember Heavenly Father Loves you and so does Jesus Christ Our elder Brother and Savior.