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My Journey to Crohn’s Disease and how it won’t define my life

To begin lets backtrack a few years.... This journey started 7 years ago, My husband and I had been at the state fair a few days and of course had eaten all of the delicious fair food...then I started having stomach issues immediately. I originally thought I just got food poisoning or a stomach bug and that it would go away, and then it didn’t... After quite a few months and researching we thought maybe I had developed a Gluten intolerance so I changed my whole diet and was Gluten free for an entire year and even Dairy free part of that time, and yet again nothing changed, I didn’t get any better and in fact I just seemed to get worse. As time went on it wasn’t only stomach issues, I would get terribly sick, almost flu like symptoms and get so cold there was nothing I could do to warm up and after every one of these episodes it would take at least a day for me to recuperate and I would be stuck in bed or on the couch too weak and exhausted to do anything. After some more t
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Oven Baked Tacos

Oven Baked Tacos   This recipe is super easy and so perfect for a busy weeknight.  Start by browning your ground meat and onions. I used ground deer but obviously ground beef would work as well.  Once your meat is ground. add in water, taco seasoning, and salsa.  Simmer for about 10 minutes on medium low or until it looks about like this.  These are the shells I used.  Line a baking dish with the taco shells (the recipe could easily do all 10 shells but we didn't need that many. Sprinkle shredded cheese in the bottom of each one.  Fill til about half full with ground meat.  Add more cheese to the top  Bake for about 10-15 minutes at 400 degrees.  Serve with your favorite toppings and ENJOY!  Ingredients:  1lb ground meat  1/ 2 cup red onion  1/4 cup salsa 1 cup water 1TBS taco seasoning  10 taco shells  Shredded cheese  Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Chop onions  Brown ground meat and onion on medium high heat.  Add in water, salsa, and taco seasoning and simmer on low m
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Quick and simple everyday updo

As we go into summer and my hair has grown out, I find there are days I don't just want a simple ponytail but I really don't want my hair on my neck either. So I've been experimenting with some fun updos, when my hair was longer last time (7+ years ago) and I was still doing hair, I loved to play around with cute updos when I needed my hair out of my face.  I'll be real, I don't have the strength in my arms like I used to aand I've definitely lost my touch but the more I play the more it comes back and well, hopefully my strength will come back too. lol. As I continue to do these quick styles I'll start documenting them to share with you and hopefully give you some inspiration for yourself! Now remember, the biggest thing about these styles is its not meant to be perfect, this isn't a wedding or prom style (although they could be with a little polishing), so don't worry if your braids aren't perfect or its not perfectly smooth, that's the poi
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Homemade Bread

Feel free to save the photo or message me and I'll send you the file for it!  A few photos of the process... Wet ingredients Dry ingredients - It's very important to keep the salt away from the yeast, Its in the bottom right corner and then you make a little well in the middle of the flour to put the yeast in. How it should look when it's done in the bread maker. What it should look like when it's done rising. Right after I took them out of the oven, and getting ready to rub butter on the tops. Place on the sides to cool so the top doesn't fall. Cut, serve, and ENJOY!
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National Peanut Butter Day

In honor of National peanut butter day coming up this Sunday the 24th, I thought I would share my favorite  peanut butter recipes from the blog.  I don’t know about you, but I never need an excuse for peanut butter, BUT I do love using these National (insert whatever here) day as a fun way to celebrate some of my favorite things.  To start us off I’ll share my favorite first! This is a little generic and certainly not all about peanut butter but my favorite is definitely  Chocolate Nobake Cookies (with peanut butter of course). And now for the rest in really no particular order because I couldn’t possibly decide between them all🤷‍♀️. Peanut blossoms   Peanut butter cookies Peanut butter sandwich cookies Peanut butter bars -  Chocolate peanut butter bars   Chocolate scotcheroos  Chocolate peanut butter fudge  Peanut butter cups  Chocolate peanut butter pie  Peanut butter popcorn And lastly...if you want peanut butter but with a little healthier option, here are the energy bites I ma
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Chocolate Scotcheroos

  Chocolate Scotcheroos  I’m sure you’ve all had or at least heard of scotcheroos, I mean we’re from the Midwest right? Is it even a family get together if there aren’t scotcheroos and Rice Krispies there?? Not at any of my family gatherings😂. Ingredients: 1 cup of sugar  1 cup light corn syrup 1 cup peanut butter  6 cups Rice Krispies  Frosting  1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips 1 cup butterscotch chips  Directions  Bring sugar and corn syrup to a boil and remove from heat. Add in peanut butter and Rice Krispies and stir together. Press into a a 9 x 13 pan (I put parchment paper down first so it’s easier cleanup😉) Melt semi sweet and butterscotch chips together and spread over bars. 
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Peanut Butter Popcorn

  Peanut Butter Popcorn  I got this recipe from a family friend years ago and it is so delicious. Once you try it, you won’t be able to have just one handful! Ingredients: 1 cup popcorn 1 cup corn syrup  1 cup sugar 1 cup peanut butter 1 tsp vanilla  Directions: Pop your popcorn however you desire. Bring corn syrup and sugar to a bowl over medium heat, bowl for 2 minutes. (Be sure not to over boil) Add the peanut butter and stir to combine, stir in vanilla. Pour over popcorn and stir to coat. Enjoy!
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Peanut Butter Bars

Peanut Butter Bars  Years ago they served these at a bible camp I went to and mom got the recipe, it’s been a staple ever since! Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1 egg, beaten 1 tsp vanilla  1 cup flour 1/2 cup quick oats 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup (6 oz) semi sweet chocolate chips Icing  1/2 cup powdered sugar 2 TBS creamy peanut butter 2 TBS milk Directions  In mixing bowl, cream butter, sugars, and peanut butter.  Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt; stir into creamed mixture. Spread into greased 13 x 9 pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake at e50 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 10 minutes  Combine icing ingredients; drizzle over bars. Makes 3-4 dozen We had these while at Whispering Winds Bible Camp, July 2000
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Homemade Taco Seasoning

The other day I whipped up another batch of homemade taco seasoning that I’ve been making for years so I thought I would share it with you. It’s super easy, last a long time, and doesn’t have any of the icky preservatives, etc. Here’s the ingredients, 1/2 cup chili powder 3 Tablespoons cumin 1 Tablespoon salt 1 Tablespoon finely ground pepper 1 Tablespoon paprika 2 teaspoons garlic powder 2 teaspoons onion powder 2 teaspoons dried oregano Mix it all together and you’re good to go! To use, brown 1lb. hamburger,  then add 2 Tablespoons of the taco seasoning mix plus 1/3 cup water and simmer until liquid has thickened, about 1-2 minutes. I hope you enjoy! 
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In honor of Crohn’s and Colitis awareness week I thought I would finally share an update on my health journey.

Highlands (Song of Ascent) O how high would I climb mountains If the mountains were where You hide O how far I’d scale the valleys If You graced the other side O how long have I chased rivers From lowly seas to where they rise Against the rush of grace descending From the source of its supply In the highlands and the heartache You’re neither more or less inclined I would search and stop at nothing You’re just not that hard to find So I will praise You on the mountain And I will praise You when the mountain’s in my way You’re the summit where my feet are So I will praise You in the valleys all the same No less God within the shadows No less faithful when the night leads me astray You’re the heaven where my heart is In the highlands and the heartache all the same O how far beneath Your glory Does Your kindness extend the path From where Your feet rest on the sunrise To where You sweep the sinner’s past O how fast would You come running If just to shadow me through the night Trace my step
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Summer 2020 Recap

 I know I’ve been MIA for a hot minute...for personal reasons I was trying to keep posting to a minimum just because it got to be to much for me but I’ve really missed sharing with you guys so i thought I would do a summer recap and catch you guys up. Better late than never right...?🤪. We bought a camper project - we were thinking tiny home. Never again...😂 But then since we ended up with two more campers...joe traded it to his cousin for a boat.  "Helping" with the camper project.  The "new" camper we bought for $100! Crazy right!? We did a ton of remodeling to it but still have a lot we want to do over the winter for next year. I have soo many ideas for it but it really depends on how long we want to keep it how much work and money we put into it. We’ve had a lot of fun with it this summer though.  We made some delicious chicken enchiladas. You can find the recipe here! And had puppy cuddles of course. And Deegan is still doing his neighborhood watch. I was real
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