All for YOU

Have you ever heard a song a million times, but you really don't know what the words actually say. (I am really bad about this) Well, this video is an amazing song that I have heard several times, even could sing along with, but never realized what I was singing until today in church. They had the words up on the screen and I was brought to tears. As I was reading the words, "How many kings would step down from their thrones, how many greats have become the least, How many fathers would give up their sons, how many gods have poured our their hearts" I was thinking noone would, not one of us.. BUT, then the words say it all. There was only one that did that, only one that would and He did it for YOU & ME.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhYWMcjx8Yk

Follow the start to a place unexpected,
Would you believe after all we’ve projected,
A child in a manger.
Lonely and small the weakest of all,
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mothers shawl,
Just a child,
Is this who we’ve waited for?

Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have whether costly or meek
Because we believe
Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he’ll suffer
Do you believe, is this who we’ve waited for?
(It’s who we’ve waited for)

Only one did that for me

All for me, all for you

Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me



Do you believe this?

Peanut Butter Blossoms!

Love these cookies! They are an easy fix and great for any party!

Kisses!
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup Peanut Butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Granulated sugar

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.

2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

OR......

You can buy a package of Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookies.

1 Tablespoon water
1 Tablespoon oil
1 egg

1. Mix all ingredients together.

2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.



Thanks for the apron, Bethany & Nick! I love it! :)

Christmas Fun!

Bryan and I had a fun weekend enjoying a few Christmas festivities.

IMAX 3D - A Christmas Carol



Downtown Frisco (Pictures don't do it justice. The lights are blinking with music that is being played. Santa is there, carriage rides and hot chocolate ect.!)



You tube house! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szLmAPW39uE



Merry Christmas! Hope everyone is enjoying this Holiday Season!

Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!

Well, I have to admit that the Christmas season is my favorite time of the year. I definitely have an extra pep in my step through the month of December! I love sitting on the couch by the light of the Christmas tree drinking hot chocolate, while watching Home Alone!

We have been busy since Thanksgiving getting the house all decorated and ready for the Holidays. I am extremely excited, because as of this past week, I am officially done with classes and my internship. It was a great semester, and I had an awesome experience at the Children's Hospital in Dallas, but it is nice for a break. (And to know that I only have 1 more semester left of school- 4 classes and I will be graduating!!!) In the mean time I will be back working hard for my sister-in-law (Burns & Wilcox) and hopefully finding some time for stuff I have desperately been wanting to do.(scrapbook and read for fun!ha)

On that note, check out the pictures of some of the decorations. As always don't forget to remember the reason for the season. (yes dorky I know, but so true!)

Our tree



The awesome nativity scene that my mom gave us last year for Christmas. I hope to keep getting more pieces for it every year. I love it!



Advent calendar!! I have been searching high and low for one of these. Mom found me one this year! yay. It is just too cute too!



This is Bryan's homemade advent calendar. (I don't have enough discipline to have an advent calendar made of chocolate!)



a lil Christmas in the kitchen :)



Here are some close ups of a few favorite ornaments. It is so hard to pick just one. They all mean so much too me. I could probably tell you where each and every one came from. Each one is very special. The first one just cracks me up..It is a little gnome sleeping on the moon. I fell in love with all his hair! ha. He is from Norway in Epcot @ Disney world. The second one has a little bride and groom. Our anniversary is the 29th, during our favorite season! We had a wedding shower where eat guest gave us an ornament. So sweet. And the last is a picture of a cross. Bryan's mom has started giving each of the kids these special crosses every year during Christmas. Very neat. (Have I told you I love traditions!)








How could I forget!!! We had snow Wednesday!!!!! It was pretty much amazing! Here are a few pics from the morning. (Have I told you snow is one of my favorite things ever?)

Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble Gobble!

Once again it was another great Thanksgiving. We had so much to be Thankful for this year; friends, family, our home, school almost over, the break, our health, God's provision, bible study, and much more. Mimi cooked a great Thanksgiving dinner. (I just have to brag on myself a sec...this was the first year/holiday, probaly in my life!sad! that I was not miserable after eating lunch or dinner) I have turned a corner and I am on my way to my goal weight! Even with Holidays! We enjoyed the much needed break by sleeping in, working out, reading for fun, and playing a bunch of cards.

This year we made the looong drive to Marshall, Missouri. It took us 9 hours! Whoa! I haven't made that trip in a long time (not by car anyways!) We had a great time visiting my Dad's side of the family. Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Mimi & Papa and the grandkids! (Emily and me)



Mimi & Papa and Bryan & Lindsey



Aunt Susie and Aunt Debbie!



(had to get this picture...if you know Bryan this does not happen a lot...Bryan reading a book!)

I SPY

Look who was grabbing some lunch between checking his list twice.

Lone Star Huddle Up!!!!

Check out Rexanna's Foundation blog to see pictures from the event. It was amazing! Thank you so much to all of the sponsors and donors!

www.rexannasfoundation.blogspot.com

Texas Style

We had a great weekend in Austin. So tired, but a great weekend! Will share more soon about the Foundation...stay tuned! Check out these yummy Texas waffles we had for breakfast.

YEEHAW!!!!

Well folks it only took 447 days to break Bryan in!!! Today was a big day, Bryan got his first new pair of cowboy boots. (I think he likes them, he hasn't taken them off at home yet!) He's lookin pretty good!

We will miss you Papa

As most of you know earlier this month Bryan's Papa passes away unexpectedly. None of us expected this. It was hard getting that phone call, we couldn't wrap our minds around what was actually happening. Questions begin running through your mind..I wish I was there, just one more time to see him, one more phone conversation, one more hug. Why do we always want things even more when we don't have them or they have been taken away? When things like this happen I always seem to start questioning God...why? I am coming to the realization that sometimes we will never know why, but we have to have a peace that surpasses all understanding, find comfort in God, trust Him and know that His ways are best, and that He loves us no matter what.

At Papa's funeral the entire message was about Papa's legacy that he is leaving. The legacy that is left through his wife, his children, grandchildren and the generations to come. Papa left a legacy. His work ethic, love for God and his family many times overflowed to the people he met and his family.

Nicole Nordeman's song I Want to Leave a Legacy comes to mind.
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.

Papa left this legacy and this is something that we all should want to leave. Questioning God's ways never seems to get me anywhere. I always end up going around and around in my head...why..why.. Today is the day to stop questioning the maker of heaven and earth. Today is the day that we turn to you God, for strength, faith and hope. Renew and refresh our family with a new sense of purpose and hope to wake up each day and look to you first. We stop the voices in our heads that question your ways. Thank you God that you are the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. You comfort us in all our troubles. Thank you that you sustain us Lord. Thank you for fulfilling our lives. Thank you Lord that your mercies are new every morning. Lord I pray that this family draw near and dear to you in this time. Clothe us with joy, Lord. Help us to live a life like Papa, a life that leaves a legacy when we are gone.

Psalm 48:14; For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Pumpkin Challenge continues...

Well, I have to be honest. There have been a few bumps in the road with my Pumpkin Challenge. First, I have not been able to make something with pumpkin every weekend. Second, several of the recipes I have tried, have not been very good :(. I almost quit my own pumpkin challenge last night, but figured I could extend the pumpkin challenge to any and everything dealing with pumpkins! (Hey it's my challenge, my rules!)

So...the challenge continues. We carved our pumpkin last night. Bryan and I always make a good team and have a lot of fun making our pumpkins.









Pumpkin Lovin!

Pumpkin Freak #2 Post!

Hello everyone! Hope you guys have had a great week. Sorry it has taken me so long to post about my pumpkin journey. But here goes...

Pumpkin Dip!

(sooo sooo yummy!) a coworker brought this up to work, so I searched for the recipe and found it. You have got to try it out. It is pretty sweet, but good. It also makes a lot, so be prepared or make it for a party!

Ingredients:
1 8 oz package of cream cheese
2 cups of confectionary sugar
1 15 oz can of pumpkin
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

Blend cream cheese and confectionary sugar until mixture is smooth. (I couldn't get out all of the cream cheese bumps, but I thought it was ok)
Gradually mix in pumpkin.
Stir in pumpkin spice mix and cinnamon.

Serve with ginger snaps or graham crackers!




PUMPKIN FREAK CHALLENGE 2 FOR 2!

Work on Saturday.....

BOOO! Ha! I guess I was in denial all week about having to work from 7am - 7pm today. Hopefully this will be my last weekend having to work these type of hours, but who knows. And hopefully it will go by fast!

Right now we are very slow...or actually all morning it has been slow. Haven't done a thing. (I guess that's a good thing at least for the kiddos!)

Facebook is blocked, so that pretty much stinks. I could have definitely wasted a good couple or 5 hours on there!

But, I better use this free time wisely, considering I have a paper outline due Wednesday that I haven't even started and a take home exam due Wednesday. (but we all know that blogging and facebook is much more entertaining than homework)

Well off to work on my exam until the pager calls!

FYI I was given this awesome email that has tons of crock pot recipes. Basically the recipes are listed by chicken, pork, beef, ect. You click on the meal that sounds appetizing and then it opens the recipe. Let me know if you are interested send me a message with your email and I will get that too you! It's pretty cool!

Pumpkin Freak!

That is exactly what I have turned into. It all started with Starbucks carrying their pumpkin spice lattes again. (tall, non fat milk, no whip, 1 pump, extra hot) That's how I prefer it! :)

So, needless to say that has sparked this pumpkin frenzy! And to be honest, I am loving it! My goal is to become the ultimate pumpkin freak. To reach this goal every weekend bake/eat/drink/cook/try/or buy something that deals with pumpkins!! I will post this pumpkin journey for all to see and become a part of!! Please join in on the fun and let me know what pumpkin stuff you try out!!!

First pumpkin weekend = PUMPKIN BREAD! YUMMMMM
(for all you awesome weight watchers..3pts per serving)

Ingredients!

3 Cups Sugar
1 Cup cooking oil
4 Eggs (I use egg beaters)
3 1/3 Cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
2/3 Cup water (don't mistake for 2 1/3 Cups..just words of wisdom!ha)
1 15oz can pumpkin




Heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl beat sugar and oil w/ electric mixer. Add eggs and beat well.




In a different large mixing bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Alternately add flour mixture and water to sugar mixture, beating on low speed.



After everything is combined, beat in pumpkin.



Pour mixture in whichever pan suits you. I used a muffin pan, 1 loaf pan as well as a fun muffin pan.






Bake 55-65 minutes or until a wooden toothpick is inserted near center come out clean.

Then eat and enjoy!

WOW

Before...



(yes, all clean!)

After...

Sick Husband...

So Bryan woke up sick Thursday morning, worked half a day and has been home laid up ever since. We went to the doctor Friday. We usually wait till we feel like we are dying to go to the doctor. But not this time. We were going to do the right thing and go to the doctor right away in hopes this would help. The doctor did the strep. and flu test. (If you have to get the flu test be prepared..they stick a huge q-tip up your nose till it goes to the back of your throat {glad it wasn't me} !!) Well doc said both tests came back negative, but he said Bryan probably has the flu, but just caught it early! ha. So I guess that's a good thing, who knows! Hopefully the fever, body aches, sore throat, scratchy throat and headaches will go away soon and I will not be infected! Poor thing.

So Busy!!!

Sorry for not posting in a million years. We have been crazy, busy at the Vaughn household. Currently I am doing my 2nd field placement for grad. school. I am working at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. It has been amazing! I am loving every minute of it and learning sooo soo much! I am following/working with trauma, orthopedics, and urology kiddos. (Which I love) I am even more excited to do be done with school and working! So why so busy you might ask yourself...I spend a minumum of 35 hours at the hospital every week, have 1 night class in Arlington, and then work about 10 hours for Burns & Wilcox! Somewhere in between that I have to find time for blogging, homework, working out and of course my sweet husband. Good thing, maybe, he is just as crazy right now with schools starting back up. He is in charge of all of the class meetings for ring and senior presentations. (And does an amazing job!) But they have lots of parent nights throughout the week and they early mornings up at the school to sell rings right now! So needless to say when we do spend time together lately it has got to be quality! :)

This past weekend Bryan went to Austin with VCM for their fall advance. He was so excited and came back and shared amazing testimonies of the weekend and great things that God was doing in these zealous college students lives. It was so fun to hear about.

Besides that, we are just looking forward to getting involved with a small group this semester at our church. That should be starting really soon. We are hoping that Bryan's family will be making a trip out here soon to visit! And last, but not least, I have hit the -25lbs mark. Yes, it has taken me forever it seems like, but I am just taking it 1 day at a time and learning throughout this entire process. It has defintly been worth the process and I never want to be back at that weight again!!! I am so excited about where I have come from and where I am going! Right now my goal is 14 more lbs! I will keep ya posted on how that continues to go!!! By the end of the year I should be where I want to be! Yay!!! Think that is all the news right now.

Also be checking out this blog! :) Tell someone about it.

FUN TIMES!!!

Bryan and I had a great weekend with Bryan's brother, Lee and sister-in-law, Kasey. Their flights got changed so they got here Friday morning. Kasey and I had to work and Bryan took Lee to see his office and around Frisco. Friday night we introduced Lee and Kasey too La Hacienda! YUM! All I have to say is that we killed some queso! (This weekend was not very conducive for my weight watchers!!) Saturday we slept in. Man, did that feel good! We all slept in and spent the day in Fort Worth. We enjoyed walking around Sundance Square, and then enjoyed the Rodeo at the stockyards. Sunday we got to take them to our church, which was fun for them to see where we have been going and then did some shopping! oh yea! Basically our weekend consisted of a lot of eating, a lot of shopping and a lot of laughing! What more could we ask for.

We dropped them off at the airport this afternoon and we are already looking forward to their next trip out here. It wasn't our annual Labor Day New York trip (which we all will be doing next year :) But it was great!

Fort Worth Stockyards...





Lee & Kasey enjoying Texas BBQ! (I think Lee would have taken that sausage home with him if he could!)

What the ......

Work = good
Run = good
Weather = good
Bird pooping on me = disgusting

Happy Late Birthday!

On Sunday it was my amazing, sweet husband's birthday. We had a great time celebrating his birthday. He desevered a day all about him..He is always thinking of other people and putting their needs and wants before his. He is great and I am so thankful for him to be my husband.

Saturday night we went to the rangers game and had a fun time as always!







Cookie Cake!!! Enough said! :)





I love you Bryan. I hope that you had a great weekend!!!