Recipe of the Week 11/29: Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This is a tasty favorite, but you better plan on using all of your Weight Watcher points for this cozy concoction. I borrowed this recipe from Stephanie G. at allrecipes.com

Ingredients
* 4 cups chicken broth
* 2 cups water
* 2 cooked, boneless chicken breast halves, shredded
* 1 (4.5 ounce) package quick cooking long grain and wild rice with seasoning packet
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup butter
* 2 cups heavy cream

Directions
1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine broth, water and chicken. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice, reserving seasoning packet. Cover and remove from heat.
2. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and flour. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in contents of seasoning packet until mixture is bubbly. Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by tablespoons, to form a roux. Whisk in cream, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, 5 minutes.
3. Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes.

To make it feel like you are at Panera Bread...serve it up in a delicious bread bowl. MMM...MMM.. Good!

Afflictions and Bandaids

I love Thanksgiving...I look forward to going to my aunt's house and seeing all of my family. Then, going with James and Joseph to pick out our Christmas tree the next day. Sadly, my Thanksgiving didn't turn out the way I had wanted it to.

On Monday, one of my eyes was a little itchy, a little puffy, and a little pink... but I was tired and came off of long weekend so I didn't think much of it.

Then on Tuesday, my eyes looked like this!


So... I went to the doctor and found out I had pink eye in both eyes. My husband said I looked like his bulldog Bert, so he affectionately called me "Bulldog Eyes".

Wednesday, I woke up with a bit of a sore throat, and some chills...and by the end of the day, I had a fever, and couldn't swallow without cringing...

On Thanksgiving I went to Urgent Care, and found out I had Strep Throat.

I was battling a fever everyday until this morning...and I have never had such a sore throat in my entire life...

Now for the important part...Throughout this entire week of sickness James and our parents have been so helpful in watching Joseph, checking up on me, and making sure that I am getting better. But even in the midst of that, I found myself praying to get better, and feeling so frustrated that I missed one of my favorite weekends in the entire year because of my illnesses. Then, James pointed me to part of a sermon by John Piper dealing with suffering as seen in the book of Job.

Piper reminds us that God allows afflictions and sickness to those he loves, to save us from evil deeds and our own pride... Quoting Piper, "Elihu does not picture God as an angry judge but as a Redeemer, a Savior, a Rescuer, a Doctor. The pain he causes is like the surgeon's knife, not like the executioner's whip."

So every time I get frustrated with the pain I feel when I swallow I am reminded that God has my best interest at heart...it still hurts really bad, but I am comforted to know that God has a purpose behind it.

Why I'm not good at blogging...

It has been about 3 weeks since I've updated my little blog...which I think in blog years...is pretty pathetic...but here are my excuses:

1. I'm not technologically savvy...and don't necessarily strive to be...so I don't do well with uploading pictures, which is half the fun of blogging right?

2. My little guy had a fever for 3 days...which left us home bound, sharing the computer to watch Baby Einstein video's over and over and over and over again...



It was hard for both James and I to see Joseph so sick, and to be able to do so little for him. I also learned a lot about myself this week as a wife and a mom. Patience is a virtue, and one that I am afraid I have a lot of room to grow in. I am thankful that my husband is a very patient man...otherwise this week could have been horrible instead of do-able. Even if it would have been a horrible week...I still wouldn't trade being able to stay home with my little man and take care of him the best that I can. I am so thankful for my husband, and his provision over our family...and how much more God provides for us, and thank goodness for his Grace...because I need it!


3. I confess that when I am on the internet I tend to look at websites for creative inspiration which is something that I love and hate at the same time. I'm not really sure what my "style" is...but I do know that I like color, and I like my house to feel happy and cozy at the same time. I started a new project yesterday. I decided to go through all of my magazines that I stuck in a tub that now weighs 100lbs, and rip out any ideas that I like whether it be for parenting, decorating, eating or wearing. It has been quite fun, and saves me a tub...



Thankfully, order has been restored in the Beecher home and we are looking forward to a restful weekend and a festive kick-off to the holiday season!

The Flash

James and I decided that we would take turns each year deciding who picked out the Halloween costume for Joseph. This was his year...and although I wanted Joseph to be a little lamb...he chose "The Flash". Here are a couple picks of him in his costume.