Love vs Hate

Wellll...a lot of you probably read my love dove Stacy's blog today about me. She is an awesome blogger and I'm totally impressed with her skills :) She challenged us to do a love/hate of our selves so I just kinda started thinking about it. What do i love about my life? What do I hate? How are these things related, if at all? Here we go.....



Loveee

-I love my Rylee Emily Watson. She is THE most precious, amazing, wonderful, silly, and loving little girl I have ever met. ( I know, I know...I'm a little partial :]) She literally makes the world go round for me. I'm loving the stage we are in (16 months), so much learning and growing happening right now. She literally makes my heart swell, just at the thought of her. I can't imagine life without her, I can hardly remember life before her. She is amazing :)

-I love my singing voice. I'm no professional, let me be the first to tell you. But, man do I love to sing! Especially to the Lord. I recently joined the praise and worship team at my church, and it feels like home sweet home. For me, it is something to be proud of, because there are a lot of things about me...that I'm not so sure about...

-I love my relationship with the Lord. It has taken on new meaning for me in the past year. God has always been a huge part of my life, ever since I was born. My parents are amazing Christians, and raised me in a loving, Christian home. I think I took for granted how important God really was. I made some mistakes...yes I had sex before I got married (this was a HUGE deal to me)...and kinda put other things before God for awhile. He was always there in the background, and I really missed Him a lot. After Rylee was born, I really wanted to start going to church again....I neeeeeeded it. When I moved back to CA, I started going to church, and Chance refused to go with me. This was heartbreaking for me, but I stayed strong and went alone, or with Casey. It was great for me. Now since moving home and going through all this crap, my relationship with Him has totally blossomed. I love my church (Faith Country) if you want to come with me, let me know :). I love that I found Him again.

-I love my family and friends. More than I can ever tell you. My family is amazing, and the bond we have is crazy special. I think us being, non-blood related makes us stronger. We love each other, because without each other we would be nothing. Its pretty awesome. We might gripe about one another, but we would stick up for one another in a heart beat. My friends are freakin awesome. Literally, I do not know how people get along in life without friends. I would probably die, lol. I miss my military friends like crazy...you will never know what I mean unless you were a military wife. We shared so many crazy hard times together, and so many fantastically fun times. My TX friends have given me fresh air in my lungs, and keep me going everyday. I love you ALL!!!!

-I love who I am. Even though I'm not totally happy with certain things about myself, I love being me, and being who I am. I love my laugh, I love my goofiness, and I love my love for life. I'm so happy with who I am, I know where I stand, who I believe in, and who I love.



Hate :/

-I hate being single. After eight freaking years of being with someone...being single is awful. I'm lonely a lot. I miss having a partner. I miss always having someone to talk to. I miss having sex...yep I sure did just say that, because its true. I miss being a family. Booo...enough of that one.

-I hate being fat. I hate that eating is such a struggle. I want to punch fatness in its ugly face. I know I'll never be perfect, but hopefully one day soon, I can be happy with my weight. Hopefully....

-I hate the devil. He has screwed up my life, but God has been there to pick up the pieces. I hate the control that the devil has placed on certain people in my life. Devil you can suck it...

-I hate being dependent on my parents. I don't really hate this...its just a transition period, and I'm very grateful for them. Its just hard after being on your own for so long, to come back and be so dependent on them. Luckily, they are more than happy to help, and so loving about it. I'm a very blessed woman.



Ok, so how do these compare? I think that obviously my love for God, and hate for the devil go hand in hand. I wish I was skinny so I could love ALL of me haha. Being single has led me to being dependent on my family, but I know both of those things will NOT last forever. I will be happily in love again, and I will not live with my parents forever :)

Thanks for reading this if you did...this was an I can not sleep blog (which is totally weird for me). Hopefully I can get over this and have sweet dreams the rest of the night :)

-Adell

Summa Lovin...kinda!

Summer 2010 has been crazy busy! I left my job the last week of May, and started going to school the following week on June 1st...full time!!!! I'm taking a total of 12 hours this summer which is a lot for summer. I am taking four classes, some of them spread out. I am taking statistics ALL summer long...it is a T/TH class at 8am! What was I thinking?? I was thinking that I just wanted to get it done lol. This is the last week of Summer I session, so I will be done with 2 classes...English 2328 which is American Lit. I was really nervous about it because typically I don't like reading stuff that somebody tells me to read (rebellious much??) but it was actually a good class. At first I didn't think the teacher liked me, but once I told her I was getting divorced and had a young baby, she felt we had something in common. Her husband just left her about 3 years ago after a long marriage. So anyways, I'm doing well in that class. Then I'm also taking a special education course. This is a required course, and after taking it, I really don't have any desire to teach special ed. It seems very stressful to me, and emotional. Anyone that knows me, knows I don't need anymore emotion in my life lol! Those classes have been everyday M-TH at 10:30 and at 3. So as you can see my schedule has been really full!

The school I go to, UTPB, is in Odessa which is about 20 miles from Midland. It isn't too bad, but sometimes I get tired of driving over here. I better get used to it though...2 more years of it everyday!

Rylee bear has been having a busy summer too! She goes to play with Lauren on Mondays and Tuesdays and she started Mother's Day Out on Wed/Thurs. She LOVES it! She is so stinking social and loves to play so it was just right up her alley. Fridays I am off of school, so it is usually Mommy-Rylee day! I'm loving spending more time with her and she has been really good about taking naps around the same time when I'm home with her....the first sign of a schedule and I'm soooo happy about it!

We went to a family reunion mid-June with all of our family on my mom's side. My mom's best friend has a HUGE...AMAZING lake house in Kingsland and we stayed there for 4 days. It was wonderful until Rylee got sick, and the AC went out in our room. But it was still a good time!

We had planned a vacation to Colorado in August, but Mom's new teacher in-service is that week, so it wasn't going to work out. She was bound and determined that we are going on a vacation so she threw one together for next week! lol...I suggested Austin and that is where we are going! We are staying at an RV park, but Rylee and I get to stay in a cabin with Mom's friend GG. We are going on a trainride, and a bat cruise (super excited about this) and just gonna have some fun! They are going on Wed, but I think I'm going to fly there on Thursday because I have class, praise and worship, and I really don't feel like driving by myself with Rylee. She screamed the entire way home from Kingsland because she didn't feel good, and I just don't think I can handle that all alone lol.

Well that is kinda what is going on with me right now. Life is good, can't complain...and I love it that way!

Quesadilla Casserole!

This is a recipe that we eat pretty regularly at our house! I found it in the Rachael Ray's magazine a few months ago, and we have probably made it six times since then. It is SO delicious! My aunt asked me for a few new recipes because she was tired of always cooking the same thing, and this is one I suggested for her! She asked for the recipe, so here it is!! I really hope ya'll try it, because it is easy and GOOD! Would also be great for doing dinners for people with new babies or sick loved ones! I really hope ya'll enjoy this as much as we do at the Curry-house! Yummm!



Ingredients
•3 tablespoons vegetable oil
•3/4 cup onion, chopped
•1 can black beans (29 ounces), drained, 1/2 cup liquid reserved, divided
•1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed
•1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
•5 10-inch flour tortillas
•8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
•1 cup store-bought green enchilada sauce

Preparation
Pre-heat the oven to 400˚F.

In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add half of the beans and mash into a chunky paste. Stir in the reserved liquid.

Grease a heavy, ovenproof skillet. In a bowl, combine the corn, parsley and remaining black beans. Place a tortilla in the skillet and spread with 1/3 cup of the mashed black bean mixture. Top with 2/3 cup of the corn-bean mixture and 1/2 cup cheese. Press to compress the layers. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, mashed black beans, corn-bean mixture and cheese.

Bake until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through, about 30 minutes. Transfer to the broiler and cook for 1 minute. Serve with the enchilada sauce.

Baked Mac & Cheese Recipe

About two weeks ago, I made some baked mac and cheese for my family and posted a picture of it up on facebook. Several people asked for the recipe, which I totally stole out of Southern Living magazine. But let me tell you...it was delicious!!! They also said you can cut the calories down a ton, by using low-fat milk and low-fat cheese. Probably won't taste as good, but with all things in moderation it might be ok to eat it regularly with a tossed salad and maybe some baked chicken on the side!! We ate it with baked chicken, salad, and bread...fattening but it was all delicious! I hope ya'll enjoy it :) **One hint for this to be so delish is to use a block of cheese and shred it yourself like they say, I'm telling you it makes ALL the difference!!!**

Ingredients:
1 (8oz) package elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (i used paprika for flavor & color but no hot-ness)
1 (8oz) block sharp Cheddar cheese shredded and divided

Preparation:
1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.

2. Melt butter into a large saucepan over medium-low heat; after melted whisk in flour and whisk it constantly for two minutes (you want it to look kinda like the color of peanut-butter) Gradually whisk in milk, and cook, whisking constantly for about five minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in salt, black and red pepper (or whatever you use for seasoning) 1 cup shredded cheese, and cooked pasta.

3. Spoon pasta mixture into a lightly greased baking dish (or into small greased ramicans *I did this for a more fun personalized twist!!*) and top with the remaining 1 cup of cheese! **yummmmy* :)

4. Bake at 400 for about 20 mins or until bubbly. Let it sit for about ten minutes before you serve it!

5. EnJoY!!

Been Lazy!

Sooo I've been a little lazy this past month..I haven't really had much to talk about honestly. Life has just been kinda ticking away, and the time goes SO fast!

This past month I made a huge decision. I decided, after talking it over with my parents, to stop working full time and go back to school to finish my degree. Last year, I finished my associates degree when I was pregnant with Rylee and I will receive my diploma in May. I decided not to walk the stage at Midland College, because I want to save the big graduation for my bachelor's degree. I'm REALLY excited about going back to school. It has taken me forever, but mostly because of all the moving around I have been doing the past five years. I'm excited to improve myself and have some direction in my life!

Most of you know that I really appreciate my job that I have now, but it is SO boring! I have learned a lot, but there is no room for me to move up here and I can't work a $12.00/hr job forever. I love living with my parents, but the only way I will ever be able to move out and be on my own is to marry "Prince Charming" or to get my degree and have a career that can support me and Rylee. I do not want to rent again, so the goal is to buy a house! One day....haha.

Rylee has been sick this past week. I was SO worried that it was going to be ear infections, but praise the Lord, it was a throat infection (horrible, but better than ear infections!!) She started feeling bad on Friday afternoon and was running a little fever. We had a garage sale of Saturday morning so I had no time deal with a sick baby. We were up late getting everything ready, and posting signs, and lucking my mom helped with Rylee.

Saturday morning she woke up running fever again. She seemed OK off and on during the day and then started running a pretty high fever (101.1). On Sunday she was miserable, really fussy and her fever got up to 103.1. I knew then that I would have to take her to the doctor on Monday. We woke up on Monday and she was SO hot! It went away for a little while after the tylenol, but she wasn't eating much at all, just drinking milk. I couldn't get into the doctor until 2:00, and when we got there she was running a 102.4 fever. They did a strep test, and thank goodness she didn't have that. He checked her ears and said they were good, and looked at her throat and said it was SO red. He suggested we give her motrin instead of tylenol because it really helps with the pain. Once we started the motrin she seemed better. On Tuesday morning, she was still running fever so that meant another day at home. Her fever broke that morning and she seemed better, but man was she one cranky girl! She refused to nap and fought sleep all day, even when it was 9:30 PM and she was so tired. I finally got her to sleep, but it was a rest-less night. Needless to say, she went to Lauren's this morning and slept until NOON! I'm sure she will be feeling much better by the time I get to her later this evening!

Lauren and Bryan's reception is coming up next week, and I finally found a dress for it. Callie's wedding is in less than 6 weeks!! AHHHHH!! I can't believe how fast time has flown! I remember the moment she called me to tell me she was engaged! I'm so happy for both of them, and I really hope both of their days turn out perfectly. I know they are both going to be tons of fun! I really need a date to both of them, since there is dancing involved, but I don't have anybody to ask :( sad day!!!! LOL...

I'm excited for the next step in life of going back to school and it absolutely proof that LIFE GOES ON!!!!

<3 Adell

Well, I haven't really had much to blog about lately! Its been pretty boring around our house lately because my family is on vacation. My mom's best friend Susan, aka GG, is staying at the house with me this week to help out with the doggies. It probably wasn't really necessary for her to stay since Mom took the two most needy dogs with her, but I appreciate the company. Those of you that know me, know that I hate being alone! Boringgg! I love just being around people. Sometimes I like quiet time, but usually not for too long! I spent the first two evenings of the week hanging out with friends, first on Monday night with Mary and Callie. We ate vegetable spaghetti and were planning on working out, but of course we ended up in Landon's room playing with the babies and talking away about everything under the sun! I LOVE those nights with my amazing friends. On Tuesday night I went to pick up Rylee and Lauren and Bryan's families were all there and invited us to join them for dinner. The men were working on a fence that they are building to hold their cow that they are getting. Yep, a cow! I am kinda excited that Rylee gets to see a cow and spend her time with all of those wonderful people that love her as if she were a part of their family. She loves being at Lauren's house and loves to play outside. She was absolutely perfect last night when we took the babies on a walk around the park a few times. I really think she just enjoyed being out in the sunshine. I know she loves to play out at Lauren's house, and on the weekends, when the weather is nice, she LOVES to be outside just walking in the grass and enjoying the sun. What a JOY she is! Its amazing to me how she doesn't even know the kinda crummy situation going on around her, because all she knows is that she is loved by so many, and she loves us back with everything she has! I miss her so much during the day, but I don't really have a choice in that...this is one of those things that makes me want to hate Chance. I know I can't hate him because he is Rylee's dad, but I want to. Maybe it would make it easier if I hated him. The Lord says to forgive, and I'm trying. Its gonna take me awhile....but I want to. Forgiveness has always been hard for me, because I am SO sensitive about everything. I take everything personally, but this is an issue that I"m allowed to take personally, because it is personal. Somebody fell out of love with me, and left me with our three month old daughter to just "move on." I know that his life is probably not all peaches and cream like he tries to play off, but still, I wish I could just forget about him and all the crap that has happened to us, but obviously that isn't going to happen. I guess I just have to wait and be patient with myself and give myself time to heal...one thing I know for sure....Life Goes On!

MoNdAy

Ugh, I'm so ready for today to already be over! I woke up late today...I think this is the worst way to start a day! I was just snoozing away when I heard my phone go off letting me know I had a text message. I thought, "Who in the world is texting me so early?" Well it wasn't early. I laid there for a minute, then realized it had been awhile since I had last checked the clock. My alarm had not gone off :( It was 8:05...I am supposed to be at work at 8:00. Seriously?!?!?! Luckily Lauren texted me asking if I was awake...my reply was "nope" and hers was "was that on purpose" and mine was "nope!" Well of course, today was the day I HAD to take a shower. No options there, so of course, Rylee wakes up when I do because I am frantic. So nobody else is home because my family is out of town, so I have to take Rylee into the bathroom with me, while I take a shower. She was grouchy and just wanted to be held. I jumped in the shower and Rylee was crying...and trying to pull open the shower curtain. I had to hold the shower curtain closed with my foot and try and wash my hair balancing on one foot with Rylee screaming in the background. It was super fun! haha! Finally got done with that and got ready as quickly as possible! I had to get Rylee dressed and out the door. I knew it was supposed to be chilly today and a chance of rain, but didn't look outside while I was getting ready. So as I am leaving it is pouring outside. My hair that I just fixed is now soaking wet! Grrr! Anyways, I rushed to get Rylee to Lauren's and made it to work about an hour and ten minutes late. What a way to start the week! AHH! Oh well, there is nothing I can do about it. I just hate being late and I being disappointing to my job. I know its just a job, and its not really that important to me. But I do try to always do my best and be on time. Its just been a frustrating couple of months with Rylee being so sick and I have had to take off way more work than I would like. I guess its just life!

Rylee started growling this weekend. It is SO cute! Helen and I can growl at her and she does it back. She is also saying Uh-Oh and Un-Un (like no). Getting so smart! I am going to order your baby can read and Lauren is going to use it! I'm pretty excited about that!

Well, its time for me to head to lunch, I'm going to go tan and run to the house to get my work out clothes so that Mary, Callie, and I can work out tonight at Mary's house. We usually do Zumba on Mondays but I don't have a sitter for Rylee. So we will probably have more fun this way anyways!

Hope everyone's Monday is better than how my morning started out!