Three Bean Chili!

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced (1 cup)
1 red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
2 carrots, diced (1/2 cup)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 pound extra-lean ground beef (or use ground turkey)
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 cups water
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, seeded and minced
2 teaspoons adobo sauce from the can of chipotles
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15.5-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15.5-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

NOTE: We keep a can of tomato sauce on hand because it is not saucy enough. Also we use a few cloves of fresh garlic.

Heat the oil in large pot or Dutch oven over moderate heat. Add the onion, bell pepper and carrots, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the cumin and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the ground beef; raise the heat to high and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink. Stir in the tomatoes, water, chipotle and adobo sauce, oregano and salt and pepper. Cook, partially covered, stirring from time to time, for 30 minutes. Stir in the beans and continue cooking, partially covered, 20 minutes longer. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

This is dinner for tonight. I love it! So easy, makes great leftovers, and if you plan ahead, you can just throw everything in a crock pot overnight!

Duff is good... for now.

I love how close they are becoming! Duff will stand just about anything from Jairus.

Jairus' room.

Here you are Auntie Jess. So it is sideways, only part way through though. A little tour of his room.

Friday Mandatory Fun!

This weekend there was a picnic in honor of the anniversary of the chaplain's corps in the military. Mandatory Fun as Tim calls it. So we went and had a great time. Jairus got to play in the bouncy toy, he really liked that.
















Not sure of what to do.
















This picture looked differently in my head. Of course I am more critical of myself than people who see this are. However, I should have redone it. It is just that I am always behind the camera, and don't get to have many pictures of us taken.














Getting ready to go down the slide!
















He is liking slides more and more. At first, he wasn't sure what to think of them. He would stick his legs out to the side and accidentally stop himself. Now he is getting the hang of it.

















My boy loves to climb!
















LOVE THIS!!!!














All in all it was a GREAT DAY!!! We got to spend time together as a family. Then we took Jairus to Grandma and PaPa's house so we could have a much much MUCH needed and deserved date. Jairus spent his first night away from home! Tim and I went out for dinner at Black Angus (thank you Leah and Brian for the gift card!) Then we browsed around at Borders Books. There are so many cool books for boys! Plus they have new workout accessories and videos from The Firm (my workout system of choice). Tim said I have enough for now Firm stuff for now. Sad face...
After that we went to see Evan Almighty. GOOD MOVIE! Better than the first. It really addresses the views secular people have on Christians in a funny way. It brings to light the stress of following what God wants us to do, and how hard it can be for the family to trust. It really hit home how we fight and fight against God's calling, when it just would be easier to submit. Anyway, it was well made. I am sure God got a laugh or too as well. Awesome date! Tim opened the car door for me, and every other door too- really made it feel like a date! I am looking forward to having another one.... Someday.

A little naughty, a little nice.

The bathroom door was closed... Or so I thought. Little man was having a great time. Cleaning up the mess... Not so fun.



















Tim was on his was to shoot the bow in the back yard, but not before playing a little peek-a-boo with Jairus. What an amazing father Tim is! He always makes time to spend with Jairus. I know he is looking forward to taking him hunting and fishing, camping, and sports. And boy, Jairus sure likes his daddy!

Whistlin' Dixie

Jairus loves music, as you can see, he is holding a whislte to Tim's mouth. He really loves the sound of that thing. Jairus has firgured out how to do it himself, but his little lungs can't make it sound loud. For his first birthday, we are planning on getting him a youth guitar. He loves Tim's, but he is making it go out of tune.

Disappointment

Since Tim entered the military, we have been making plans- or rather not making plans because we are always in risk of not being able to do it. This summer's Reach Out (our church's "mission" camp) is no exception. Tim and I were going to do this as a team. Now, he can't get leave. So I am going to participate, but Tim can't. It is so frustrating making plans, getting excited about those plans, then watching those plans be destroyed.
We also were planning on going to Michigan this year. I have never been, and we want Jairus to spend time with family. That is not happening either. Between Tim not getting leave, we are also footing a huge bill for having some of our fence replaced. Praise Jesus we have the money in savings to afford having the fence fixed! It is just hard when that money was thought to going to do something fun. Our little family has never gone on a vacation. We didn't have a honeymoon, the longest trip we have been on was a weekend to the beach. I am thankful for that at least.
Next year my brother is marrying his beautiful girlfriend! I HAVE TO BE THERE!!! They live in Ohio, so we are planning on going to be with them, and then staying in Michigan for a couple days. I pray the Lord makes it happen for us. And gives us someone who can stay with the dogs..... Anyway, I just wanted to keep you all posted on the latest and not so greatest in out family. But Jairus is doing good, he is growing and is trying to walk a little more every day! Thank you Lord for those blessings. We love you family!

Daddy & Jairus

Daddy singing to Jairus.

Notice, Jairus is wearing a Michigan Tigers t-shirt. It was Tim's when he was little.

Hanging out with Dad.

Praising Jesus

We were over at our friend from church, Dave and Katie. They are the Youth Pastors. Dave is an amazing musician, and Jairus loves to watch him play. The other day at church, we had him in worship, and he was copying everyone raising their hands in praise. In this video, I was so excited!!! He raised his hands without prompting from anyone! God has been speaking to me that Jairus needs to be in worship with us, instead of putting him in the childcare center. Now, I am getting a glimpse of why. It is pretty exciting to see even a peek of the gifts God is giving Jairus. Kinda' funny too. Tim and I have a great love of music, but no particular talent; and I think God is using our love of music to give Jairus the talent!

Waiting

This week, Tim will be going in to see if his interim top secret clearence has been approved. Once this happens, his requested jobs will be sent out. We don't know how long that part of the process goes, but it feels like everything is taking forever. I just want to know what is going to happen. He really wants to get the counterintelligence job on his list. It would be good, when he gets out of the military, he would have a T.S.C.. and that is a total selling point for the kind of work he wants. So, we will see in the coming weeks what is going to happen to our family. If you think of us, pray that he has favor with the people who decide who gets what jobs-thanks.

New Blog

So this really bites. Some malfunction happened with my first blog (www.barnardlife.blogspot.com) I can't log in to add anything. So here I am starting a new blog. I am extra sad because I can't move those pictures or video over. So if you want to see the beginning, go to the above blog site. All further updates will be posted here @ www.barnard5.blogspot.com.