Mother's Day 2014

My husband is talking in church and asked me to send him a little about how being a mother has blessed my life. Of course I got long winded and it ended up being much longer than "a couple paragraphs." Sorry Dal! After I wrote it, I thought I'd share it on my blog :)

Becoming a mother was a life changing experience for me, for the better. Learning to put someones else's needs completely above my own and sacrificing my time, talents, body, sanity, and more to try and be a good mother has been one of the most rewarding processes of my life. It's made me less selfish, more patient, more kind, more loving, and an all around better person. In losing myself in motherhood I have truly found myself and realized who I am and why I am here on this earth. Motherhood has blessed my life in thousands of ways, but I wrote down three ways in particular I have been blessed.

First, it has blessed my relationship with my husband. He made me a mother and has supported me every step of the way, even when that support is long distance. The best part about having my oldest daughter was watching the wonder on my husband's face and seeing him become a dad before my eyes. When I met Dallas and decided I wanted to marry him, I knew that I would be giving my future children an amazing dad. There was no doubt in my mind that he would love them, play with them, sacrifice for them, be patient with them, and be exactly the kind of dad that they needed. Seeing him be exactly that kind of dad has made me love him even more than I did the day I married him. I feel so much closer to Dallas because he is my partner in the biggest project of our lives--raising our children, and he so amazing at it. 

The second way motherhood has blessed my life is with my relationship with my parents. I didn't truly appreciate or understand just how much they loved me or how much they sacrificed for me until I had my own kids.  I look back on my own childhood with "kind sight." When I think on the times I was being selfish or was mad at them, I see it through the lens of a parent and realize that they were doing their best to be good parents and that they loved me SO much. I appreciate that even though I've left the home and have kids of my own, they still love me that much and would do anything for me, including taking care of me when I'm sick and flying across the country just so they can drive with me the 1700 miles back to their house.

My dad taking a nap with Oaklie

Mom 1991

The third way motherhood has blessed my life is my relationship with my Heavenly Father. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I know the love a parent had for her children, and it amazes and overwhelms me that God sacrificed His son so I can return and live with Him again. I love my children more than seems physically possible, but Heavenly Father loves them and me even more than that. I want my children to love me back, to talk to me, and to listen to me because I truly want what's best for them and want them to be happy. Heavenly Father feels the exact same way about me, but while I am an imperfect being that makes mistakes, He is a perfect God with perfect wisdom and understanding. He wants me to love Him, pray to Him, and listen to His guidance because He knows what's truly best for me and wants me to be happy. Of all the names of God, He has chosen to be called Father because He loves us, cares about us, and would do anything for us, even sacrificing His Son for us. 

Motherhood is hard. It's frustrating and dirty and makes for long days and frazzled nerves, but it is so worth it. I feel like for every drop of sacrifice I give, I am given a gallon of blessings. The love of child is one of the sweetest blessings life has to give, and watching them grow and develop and be happy brings me so much joy. President Kimball said something that is so true of parenting, "As we give, we find that 'sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven' and in the end, we learn it was no sacrifice at all."

Freezer Meals

After many requests for my freezer meal list I decided to just put it on my blog for anyone who would like it. I am a freezer meal JUNKY! I love spending a day cooking and then not having to cook dinner like 10 times. We probably have a freezer meal twice a week. None if my meals are very fancy, but I think they all taste good and are pretty easy. I have a bunch more easy recipes and freezer meals on my recipes pinboard http://www.pinterest.com/carissaabrams/recipes/

A couple of tips: 

• Don't freeze raw potatoes. They turn gray and mushy 
• I prefer Italian, Mexican, and Chinese food frozen. It holds its flavor better. Some things turn really bland when frozen.
• I really like to freeze crock pot meals over casseroles. The casseroles will sometimes dry out or taste bland, but it really depends on the recipe. 
• I usually cook 8-10 meals in a day. I try and pick ones with similar ingredients, I go to the grocery store, and then make all if them    
• Pretty much every time I make soup or anything in the crockpot, I put half in the crock pot and the other half in a ziploc bag for the freezer.  

 Here's some of my go to meals. I have some more that I really like, I'll put links to those at the bottom. This list is always evolving, so if you find some you like, be sure to send them my way.

My favorites:

BBQ Sauce and honey with frozen chicken for the crockpot.

Chicken, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 8 oz cream cheese. Add to the crock pot with one package italian dressing and serve over noodles or rice.

Chicken enchiladas: Mix 1 container sour cream, 1 can cream of chicken, one can diced chills, and cooked chicken. Fill and roll taco shells and place in pan. Top with grated cheese and extra cream sauce. Thaw in refrigerator before baking @375 for 45 min or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Hamburger stew: uncooked hamburger, carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, etc. Freeze. Add water and beef stew seasoning packet. Allow extra time for meat to cook in crock pot.

Chicken pockets: Buy canned crescent rolls and roll out. Seal two together to make rectangular dough. To make filling, mix cream cheese, chicken, and green onions. Put filling inside and seal pockets together. Freeze on a cookie sheet. On day of baking, after pockets have thawed in the refrigerator, top with melted butter and breadcrumbs. Bake @ 375 for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with chicken gravy. 

I also make spaghetti and meat sauce and freeze it, then heat it up in the crock pot the day of. I do the same with taco meat. 

This is a great post on super easy chicken marinades to be frozen. I've tried a few and they were good. 

Forgotten Chicken is also a good meal to freeze. I add brocolli and seasoning because it's a little bland

I've made almost all the recipes from this post, and they were all good; it was a good variety. I haven't made the maple dijon chicken or french dip sandwiches. 

I've made Broccoli Supreme before and froze it. I just added the crackers the day I baked it. I add a little extra seasoning and it is so yummy. 

Santa Fe Chicken is one I make every time I do a batch of crock pot meals because it's so easy. I just omit the chicken broth and put it into taco shells. You can also sub the taco seasoning for salsa and it is healthier. 

Chicken tortilla soup is also one I always make as well.. 

Pasta Fagoli is really good and super easy. Instead of adding italian seasoning, tomatoes, and tomato sauce, I put a jar of spaghetti sauce in and it's really good. 

Chili Crock Pot Burritos are yummy, but they're more time consuming than I like. I cook all the meat and make one for dinner on a night I'm not busy and freeze the other one. 

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole is Dallas' favorite freezer meal. It's more work (of course!) so I usually make two or three to make it worth the effort. 

This is my favorite go-to freezer meal list. There are five parts to this series and they are all really easy and good. When I do a day long freezer cooking session, I always pick some from this list. 

Here's a new article I found with some really good crock pot meals, they're not freezer meals but I think most could be frozen. http://www.iheartnaptime.net/slow-cooker-recipes/ 

Family Pictures 2013

I'm so far behind on my blog (again). I wanted to post some of the family pictures we took in Idaho before I forget. :) Hoping to update my blog soon!

Katelyn Wray took our photos again. I love them so much!

Meet Me in St. Louis

Dallas' cousin Bracken and his family are our nearest family, since they live 8 hours away in Arkansas. :) St. Louis is about half way for both of us, so we met up their for Labor Day weekend.

We were late getting up there because of Dallas' work, but we caught the tail end of a Rams game. I'm so ticked I forgot to get a picture of our family!

 Bracken and Katie were nice enough to watch the kiddos for us so we could go to the St. Louis temple on our 5th anniversary. 

This is what I said on Facebook, "Five years ago I was sealed to the most amazing man in the Idaho Falls Temple. Today we were able to spend the day at the St. Louis Temple. I'm so thankful I get to spend forever with him. He has held my hand through childbirth, kissed my bald head during chemotherapy, supported me through multiple surgeries, and comforted me through a computer screen when we were 7000 miles apart. He has made me smile through my tears and multiplied my happiness. He has seen me at my worst but always thought the best of me. He has always supported my dreams and helps me see my own potential. He brings out the best in me and makes me want to be a better person. I love you forever Dallas!"

 The St. Louis Zoo was awesome! All the animals were so close and, even better, it was FREE!

Bracken and Maverick

The (other) Abrams

Amaya was freaking out in the penguin house because it stunk so bad. Later she told me it was her favorite part. Figures.

Oaklie didn't seem to mind the smell

She is the queen of photo bombs! All the world's a modeling shoot.

This is probably my favorite picture of Dallas ever. 

The kiddos

I took this picture. It's definitely Christmas card material, huh?

What Oaklie came to see, the bears.

This huge butterfly's wings were the most gorgeous blue on the inside, but I wasn't able to catch a picture of it.

Union Station in St. Louis

This fish were all trying to get fed. I so wanted to go buy a net and just start scooping them up.

Don't drop the baby!

Inside the St. Louis arch is a little tram that takes you to the top. We went up in these little pods. 

Checking out the view from the top.

We had a great trip and can't wait to see Bracken and Katie over Thanksgiving!