Bulk Taco Seasoning

Do you like tacos but dislike all the 'other' stuff listed in the ingredients list?  We do and being that we've been trying to eat healthier, less processed foods I was determined to find something other than the individual packets or containers that always were a little to potent for our taste. 

One day while perusing pinterest I came upon some of these homemade recipes for taco seasoning.  We liked that there wasn't all the junk but we didn't quite like the flavor so we adjusted some things and we want to share our recipe with you today...

Taco Seasoning 

1T Onion Powder
2t  Chili Powder
1t  Salt
1t  Garlic Powder
1t  Corn Starch
1t  Ground Cumin
1t  Paprika


 This makes about one serving worth (1lb of lean ground beef or meat of choice). If you'd like to make a larger batch, I've done that math for you below.  I also suggest if you're going to make it in a large batch, using some type of mixer or your arms will get tired trying to get it all to mix together well.

Taco Seasoning - Large Batch

3/4c Onion Powder
1/2c Chili Powder
1/4c  Salt, Garlic Powder, Corn Starch, Ground Cumin, Paprika

Standing for Truth and Righteousness

As I sit here, I ponder how to say this as to not hurt people’s feelings or upset anyone but in all honesty, I know there will be someone out there who is going to be downright upset with me and that’s just the way it’s going to be.

Yesterday there was many saying that same sex marriage should be legalized.  There were also many members of the church who I saw supporting this and saying that they support it because we all have the right to choose.  They’re right, we all have the choice to live our lives as we want but as a member of the church and a young women’s leader, I have something to say about that.  We teach our young women to “Stand for Truth and Righteousness” and yet by saying we support gay marriage because we have the right to choose our way of life, we are directly going against our Heavenly Father.  Yes people have the right to choose but we need to be standing for what is right in the eyes of our Father in Heaven, not the way of the world.  

Black is black and white is white, there is no gray and that is something I have come to know.  People argue that there is gray but the problem with that is, when you add black to the white you have removed the purity of the white.  There is no purity in gray. 

            
 At one point and time I was part of a group on facebook, LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, and Transgender).  When I first became a part of this group it was because I knew that we should love EVERYONE regardless of race, gender, or even their sexual orientation.  One of God’s commandments is to Love One Another and that is what the group was about, being kind and loving everyone for who they were.  There was a day that took a turn and I could no longer, in good faith, be a part of that group.  I could not stand in front of my church leaders while interviewing for a temple recommend and answer the following question with honesty and integrity as long as I was still a part of this group…

“Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?”

Does this mean I can’t be friends with those who don’t believe or live the teachings of our Heavenly Father?  No, it just means that I do not support or encourage the actions. In the Bible there are many verses which speak against same sex marriage.  God hasn’t changed the scriptures, nor have his principles changed, therefore mine will not either. 

To all of my friends, I will always love you.  You are each individual and uniquely created by our Father in Heaven, I don’t care what your race, religion, sexual orientations, etc. YOU are a child of God, we all are.  I’m sorry to any who feel offended or upset over what I have to say but I have spent many hours mulling this over and praying about it.  I know that Heavenly Father has wanted me to share my testimony on this topic because no matter how many times I push it aside and sit back to watch, he always puts it right back in front of me. 

Forever Grateful

The last six or so month have been rough.  Business dropped drastically about three months into this year and progressively declined.  About six months ago, one of our competitors moved just down the road from us but didn't move their google listing and we lost all our new customers.  Honestly I don't know how we survived but we were.  Thing are getting better since we moved but it takes time. 

Yesterday my Relief Society President called and asked if we could use a Thanksgiving dinner.  Since our plans had recently changed and we had been busy we hadn't gotten a turkey yet.  Yesterday afternoon she shows up to drop this 'Thanksgiving dinner' off at our home.  She grabbed a couple bags out of the pile in the back of her suburban, then few more, and a few more.  At this point I was trying hard not to cry.  I know with as few members as we have here in the winter they try to spend the budget so they don't lose it but this was about a months worth of food (if not more).  No one had a clue how we were doing but Heavenly Father did, and he blessed us. 

Often times we don't realize how our Heavenly Father is watching over us.  This morning as I laid in bed, I started thinking about all the trials we've had in these short three years.  Everyone says the first year of marriage is the hardest, if you can make it past that, things become easier.  Well I'd like to tell whom ever you are that started this rumor, IT JUST ISN'T TRUE.  Yes my husband lost his job one month into our marriage but we somehow did okay.  It wasn't till the second year that we his a few brick walls.  Both our marriage and our faith have been tested and yet, we have made it through.  Years ago I received a priesthood blessing, and in it, I was told that I would be given many trials, and as I bear the burdens faithfully, I would be blessed.  I am so grateful for these trials because they have made me stronger, they have made us stronger, and in the end, we have been, and will be blessed. 

Day 3...a little late.

Today I am thankful for a roof over my head.

There are some that have told us that living in a fifth wheel just isn't giving our child the best.  To me the best isn't about living in some fancy house, or having lots of money, its about being a family and loving each other in a home, no matter how big or small it is. 

Gratitude day 2

"God sees us as we can be, but loves us as we are."

Today I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father.

The above quote is one of my favorites and for many reasons.  First off, as mortals we make mistakes and we fall, and yet every time he is right there to pick us back up again if we will let him.  I know how much my earthy father loves me and to know my Heavenly Father loves me.

Day one of gratitude

While I'm still catching up on blog posts from moving I am going to start my 365 days of gratitude...or at least attempt.  I tried last year on Facebook and made it to January before I started forgetting.  Maybe this year I will make it through February. :) 

Today I am grateful for many things, especially our health.  After a spending a week with each taking our turn with the flu, I am grateful to say we're all healthy again. 

Little Catching Up...

Okay so we've been busy, and quite busy at that.  I will start with our second trip down here and go from there.

September 25th came and we headed back to our old house to pick up another load along with Luke's fish and our cat.  We spent that evening at the house and then loaded up the next morning.  While there was still stuff left, the house felt very empty and just didn't feel like home anymore.  It was the moment that it really sank in, "we've moved and this is NOT our home".  After spending the day loading what we could into the trailer we cleaned the house and put everything else in the garage so we could easily load on a future trip.  Once again, we got out later than we expected.  The drive was horrible.  We thought we'd loaded enough heavy items on the front but apparently not.  The trailer swayed any time we hit a pot hole or went down a hill jerking the jeep around.  If this wasn't bad enough we had the fish tank sitting on the back seat with Luke.  We had taken it down to only a few inches of water so when the jeep would get jerked around you'd get a swish, swish, swish, swish and the the cat (sitting in her crate on the floor) would start yowling. 

This went on for about an hour and a half before Luke tipped over his water bottle and it started dripping right down by the cat and started the yowling episode all over again.  I figured, no problem we were only short of our exit by a few miles and then we could pull over and make sure she didn't get wet.   We get half a mile from our exit and there is cones and construction barriers up along with a sign "EXIT 88 Closed"...well that's just great.  We start pulling up maps on the GPS and my phone trying to figure out if there is an exit closer than Olympia. We had no luck and had to keep driving. By the time we hit Olympia we were getting worried. We had no clue where we were and we were getting really low on gas. I sat back and did the one and only thing I could, I said a prayer. We passed exit after exit with no gas station in site and I kept praying. I got a little scared but that still small voice kept telling me "You will make it, I'm here", then the moment came where I felt comforted. I pulled up gas stations on the GPS and found one off in some tiny little town up ahead.

When we pulled into this little town, my heart kind of skipped a beat.  The gas station was dark.  I was very concerned that the only lights that were on was the little screen on each pump.  Thank goodness we live in Washington and can pump our own gas because we'd been in trouble.  We got done filling and realized that we only had a quarter of a gallon of gas left when we stopped.  It was that moment when I realized how far Heavenly Father carried us (because we had been sitting on that empty line for a while at this point).  We were grateful to finally make it home, even though it took us an hour longer than expected. 

At this point we were tired but we had to un-bury Ariel's crate and set it up which included unloading the whole trailer onto the front deck.  Once she was settled in we headed inside and hit the sack.