Answered Prayers

It has been a LONG time since I took the time to sit down and write on my blog but today I just keep thinking about my Father who answers prayers and feel Him gently nudging me to my computer to pour out my heart ;)

As most of you already know I am the proud auntie of a new baby boy who goes by the precious name of Tuck. And let me tell you, he is precious in every way. He has been such a blessing in everyone's life. I first want to thank everyone who has reached out to help the Aldrich family. You have all been so wonderful in helping out my sister, Ryan and the boys! My heart is full of gratitude for each and every one of you.

A couple week prior to Tuck's birth, I discovered the magical world of Narnia. If you have never read "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis....friends, you are missing out ;D As I read, Aslan the lion (who is the Christ-like figure of the series) completely captivated me. I kept thinking about it and how powerful the imagery was for God to be like a lion. It's perfect. With the beautiful stories of Aslan swarming around in my head and capturing my heart, I began to love lions. I just kept thinking of them and I really began to love the song, "My God's Not Dead"...you know the one, "My God's not dead He's surely alive, He's living on the inside roaring like a lion" (sorry if that's stuck in your head now, haha!) It felt great when my husband and I would belt it out at church or in the car. Aslan had put into perspective for me a beautiful new look on my savior. I was enamored by it :)

fast-forward - Then my honey decides he wants to come join us in the world on September 19 when he wasn't due to arrive until late December. Immediately I come home to help take care of all my Aldrich little boys. About 2 weeks or so into Tuck's arrival, things were just like a roller coaster. He was up and down at the beginning, doing really great then not so great. It was heartbreaking at some points. I prayed constantly for the Lord to be with Tuck and to surround him and strengthen him.

On one particular day I went up to see him with my sister and when I walked in was floored when I looked into his incubator. What did I see as I looked down to admire my little honey? A sign from my Father telling me everything is going to be just fine. I teared up and choked back tears of relief as I saw this...my treasured Lion resting  upon my nephew's precious resting tummy.

“I have come," said a deep voice behind them. They turned and saw the Lion himself, so bright and real and strong that everything else began at once to look pale and shadowy compared with him.” Aslan

"...you have laid your hand upon me." Psalm 139:5 "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you...I will strengthen you and help you." Isaiah 41:10

I kind of did that thing where you close your eyes and shake your head for a second. It hit me like a ton of bricks. This was God's way of telling me, "Your prayer is being answered, Katurah. I am here with him, do not fear for I will never leave this baby boy, He is going to be ok for I have my healing hand upon him!" From that point forward I knew he was going to be ok. I couldn't wait to get back to the car so I could tell my sister all about how Tuck was going to be ok :) Days turned into weeks and weeks have turned into months and just look at this little miracle baby now...

And I just have to say, I have been noticing lions around him often since then. They are on his blankets and he sometimes has this little stuffed lion in his crib. I love it because I see God in those lions ;) Last week when I paid him a visit he had gained 3 ounces over night!! Praise Yahweh!! God is so good to answer our prayers. Big like this one He has faithfully answered for Tuck, and even the not so big ones. 

This past Sunday morning, I was due to return home to my husband in Texas. As I was about to get ready for bed the night before I had a late night snack of chips and I'm telling you, my veneer, the cherry on top of my brand new smile I've been so excited to show my husband since I got it 4 weeks ago (that he hadn't seen yet) popped off without me even realizing it and I can't believe I'm telling you guys this, but I ate it along with my huge bite of chips, uuggghhh!!! It was awful!! Then the realization hit me that I'd be either, a.) headed home without my beautiful smile I so looked forward to showing my husband or, b.) having to stay behind to get a new one put on....*sigh. It was a total bummer. So first thing Monday morning I called the dentist office at 7:59 (they opened at 8, haha!) And asked if they had my new veneer in yet. (They had fitted me for a new one because the one I had on had cracked so they made a new one two weeks prior) Right before I called, I said a prayer to my Lord saying, "God, I know this is so selfish of me and I feel so bad even asking because there are so many other important things going on that need prayer but will you please, PLEASE have my tooth ready for me so I can put it back on before I go home to my honey?" 

The secretary picks up the phone and informs me that no, they do not have my veneer ready. 

:'(

I was deflated. I kept repeating to myself, "His ways are higher than mine, this is happening for a reason." And I get ready to leave Oklahoma without my new smile :p 

As I finish up getting ready about 15 minutes later, my phone rings and it's my dentist...?? "Hello?" I say. "Kat, guess what?! The UPS guy just got here and delivered your new veneer!"

WHAT?! YAY!! Ahhhh! I was so excited, I'm pretty sure I did a little dance of excitement! And I just have to say, the fact that the UPS guy arrived first thing in the morning is a miracle in and of itself because I always have to wait till the end of the day to receive my packages, haha! So on my way out of town I was able to get my tooth back on and I got home safe and sound, new smile and all :D 

The point of this whole post is God cares about the things that I/WE care about. He delights in showing us His love for us! Whether it be the big things (Tuck's strength and growth) to the seemingly not so big things (my smile). Shame on me for ever thinking that something I care about is something that He would not care about or have time for. I am so in love with God and thankful for His answered prayers in my life! He continues to remind me daily of His great love. 

"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 Thank you, Father, for hearing my prayers. Even when I sometimes think the small things aren't worth your time, YOU think they are and you are faithful to hear me and help me. We are SO grateful! Especially for answering our big prayers concerning our little happy, growing baby boy :) We love you, Jesus! Love, Aunt KK & Tuck

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Hi guys! Are you looking for a super easy, cheap and DELISH recipe? If you're anything like me, you are always on the lookout for a recipe like this one! I'd like to give a shout out to my girl Nat for passing this recipe along to me! Thanks, Nat! We are always swapping recipes and trying to find delicious ones we can't live without and this just happens to be one of them so I just have to share! Pretty much every time I ask my honey what he wants for dinner, this is what he wants. It really is so yum! Don't let the simplicity of it fool ya!

1 - 16 oz large jar of salsa (our favorite is Guy Ferrari's Original Old Skool Salsa from Walmart, I think it's like $2 and is perfect for this soup!)

1 - Small can of mexican corn

1 - Chicken bouillon cube

Water - Fill the empty salsa jar with water and pour it into the pot

1 - Rotisserie chicken; shred the whole thing (or to your liking) and put it in the soup, yum!

Put all ingredients into pot and bring to boil. Once it boils, turn heat down low and let simmer for a few minutes.

That's it! Can you believe it? You won't until you try it, it's amazing. 


Now for the fun part, add anything and everything you like to enhance your soup! Our favorites are fresh squeezed lime and chips with my daddy's famous guacamole on the side (I'll save that recipe for another day!) But you can add cilantro, sour cream, cheese, whatever you like! I have to be honest though, it's so good all I add is lime and hot sauce.

Enjoy!!

Do You Think I'm Beautiful?

Ok, ok I'm not really asking you if you think I'm beautiful. That's not what this post is about, haha! The reason I entitled this post "Do you think I'm beautiful?" is because the other day after I finished up my previous study on the women of Genesis, I excitedly made my way up to Life Way to pick out a new study...it's the little things ;) I almost walked out with a study on being brave, the one my sister and her precious friends just finished recently that I've heard so much about, when another one caught my eye.



So I put down "brave" and picked up "beautiful". I wanted to learn more about being brave but I guess my Father wants me to know how beautiful I am to Him. Looking back it's perfect really because a lot of the time I don't feel beautiful. I get impatient, and am pretty stubborn. It's not fun to look in the mirror anymore because of my "pizza" face! I hate it when I go to the mall to poke around and I see myself in those long mirrors because I instantly feel nerdy and hate my clothes. Ridiculous really ;)

So yeah, I'll admit it...lately, I haven't felt very beautiful.

My Father hears my silent cries that I don't even notice myself, He is so good to lovingly point this out to me. A couple days ago my study asked me to journal a prayer asking our Father, "Do you think I'm beautiful?" I thought, this is crazy! I shouldn't ask Him that, I felt kind of uncomfortable because I already knew the answer to that question. I felt like I should be learning new and different things! Not things I already knew. It was kind of weird for me for whatever reason, I guess I felt like I was fishing for compliments in some way. Silly me. My entry was something like this...

"Hey Papa, I feel kind of silly asking you if you think I'm beautiful? I mean, I already know the answer, I'm just being honest. (I like to keep it real) but I'll go ahead and ask anyway...do you think I'm beautiful? I know you delight in showing your love so it's my heart's prayer today that you'd show me how beautiful I am to you."

*side note-by saying I already know the answer, it's not because I think I'm beautiful. I just know how much He loves me ;)

My study suggests I date my letter, when He answers me and write down how He answered me and what He did. Ok, I wrote my letter June 6, 2012 and here I sit four days later with a heart overflowing with joy at my Father's love for me. First off, ever since I wrote my letter I keep seeing this verse...



Just so ya know, this is not me seeking out answers or verses on love and beauty. I like to sit back and let Him come to me which is the whole point correct? He delights in showing us His love, we don't have to seek it out. It's already there! This verse has literally been popping up in random places. Anyway, I after I kept seeing this verse I thought, "The King is enthralled by my beauty?!" Enthralled means "captivated, smitten, fascinated, spellbound, and delighted". So beautiful but for whatever reason, after I kept seeing it, I wasn't totally moved just yet. I didn't feel that heart pounding "this is IT!" moment that I normally do when I know for sure without a shadow of a doubt it's my answer so I waited...but not for long.

My answer, June 9, 2012

It's a bit of a trail, but when I put all the pieces together, it makes perfect sense.

"You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well...When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."Psalm 139:13-16

From there I read 1 John 4:7-18, a section completely devoted to God's love. Then I close my study and pick up my devotional, "Jesus Calling". It was so beautiful and matched perfectly along with what I had just read. Then I notice the verses at the bottom, at this point my spirit really perks up because anytime my devotional has the same verses as my study when the two have absolutely nothing to do with one another, I know God is trying to get my attention. The timing is perfect.



"...focusing on His immeasurable love for me, it allows Him to love others through me. His love will quiet my fears and give me confidence." 1 John 4:18 Life Application (I changed a few us's and you's to me's to make it my own)

Ok Papa, I hear ya, you LOOOVE me very very very x's infinity much! I know He's at work but I haven't quite grasped the fullness of it yet so I close my eyes and just meditate and spend precious moments with Him. As I pray, it hits me like a ton of bricks.

"KK, I have put you together piece by perfect piece. Don't you see? I made you the way I see perfectly fit (wow, I am truly having that heart pounding moment as I write this, as He speaks through me at this very moment. Be still my heart!!) Everything about you, from the top of your head right down to the very tip of your toes, I created and put you together myself. You are my perfect little puzzle that I put together. Do I think you're beautiful? Let me count the ways! Everything about you, I created you to be, my child! I think you are a most beautiful creation because I created you and I love you more than you will ever comprehend! Quiet your doubts sis, you may be stubborn and impatient at times but guess what? I created you that way! So do not fear or doubt and be so hard on yourself but have confidence in these truths."

Do I feel beautiful? Well, for one I feel floored! And yes, I feel beautiful. I feel joyful and LOVED. Everything about me that I don't' care for...my crazy hair, those extra pounds, all my insecurities, He sees me as perfect. Perfectly beautiful. Now I grasp the full concept of Him being enthralled by my beauty, he is "captivated, smitten, fascinated, spellbound, and delighted" by me! Lil' old me, because He made me ;) Wow. I feel like I've just unearthed this great and glorious treasure! Thank you Father for helping me to understand and for showing me how beautiful I am to you!

I'd like to encourage you sisters!! Ask your Father how beautiful you are to Him, let Him show you! He delights in showing you these things if you only let Him ;D

World's Best BBQ Meatloaf!

Alright people, my sister gave me this recipe and it is hands down my most favorite recipe of all time! It truly is that good, I'm tellin' ya!

BBQ Meatloaf

2-3 carrots
2 celery stalks
1/2 onion
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 large egg white
1 lb ground chuck or sirloin
1/2 cup of favorite BBQ sauce (Head Country is my FAVE!)
salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 450. I like to combine the carrots, celery and onion in my food chopper, it takes literally seconds. Then combine those with remaining ingredients in bowl (S&P to taste) and mix it up. After shaping the loaf, I pour the remaining BBQ sauce on top. Bake for 30 minutes.

That's it! I hope you guys enjoy it as much as my honey and I! ;D

Easy Crockpot Italian Chicken

Hi friends! I found this recipe online and gave it a go for dinner and it is MMM-MMMMM good! And oh so perfect for those of you on a budget like us. This recipe cost me a whopping $11, SCORE! I was so excited to show Tiger how much I had spent for our dinner that will easily last us two nights. That's $2.75 a piece per meal AND I even have plenty of chicken left over in the freezer, yay! *patting myself on the back* :D Anyway, I'm excited to share this and I hope you enjoy it as much as us! And I'm sure you'll enjoy those extra dollars in your pocket too ;)

Easy Crockpot Italian Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 packet Zesty Italian dressing seasoning
1-8 oz. cream cheese
2 cans cream of chicken soup

Cook on low for 3 hours. If sauce is too thick you can add a little milk. I used light cream cheese and chicken soup, so delish. Serve over pasta with your favorite veggies and crusty hot bread, YUM! Viola, easy peasy!

Encountering Jesus

Hello all! Feeling inspired today to share with you a fun story out of a super awesome book called, "Beautiful Outlaw" by John Eldridge. If you have yet to read this book, I urge you to check it out. It is THE coolest book ever! It's all about the personality of Jesus and his true, honest and cunningly playful character.

People in my life who have known me forever who I don't have the pleasure of visiting with everyday are probably wondering what's with my sudden lifestyle change over the last year or so. Well, I'll just get right to it, I myself had a very real and life changing experience with Jesus a week before my wedding that changed me forever! Some people might think I'm crazy or choose not to believe me because it's not realistic to have supernatural experiences but I'm here to tell you, it is very real and it truly happens! Don't take my word for it, experience it for yourself and see what I mean ;) That's the best way if you ask me...experience it for yourself! And I guarantee without a shadow of a doubt there are millions of people out there who would back me up on it! Just ask me and I'll tell you how to experience it too!

Back to the story I'd like to share, I just love this because it shows the hilarious-ness that is Jesus ;)

"I was going to call this book Jesus of a Thousand Hearts, because of the ways he continually breaks into my life. He "speaks" to me through hearts. I'll find stones in the shape of hearts in the rivers where I'm fishing. I've seen them almost step by step up a mountainside when on a grueling climb. Praying in the morning I'll look out the window and passing by will be a heart-shaped cloud. Dinner rolls, seashells, stains on my jeans. I've won the lottery when it comes to hearts from Jesus. But I am ashamed to admit that last summer, I grew a little impatient with them. I was going through a trying time and seeking God for the answer to many questions. Often, he would simply give me a heart in reply. I'd be walking down the sidewalk, and there in the cement see a heart-shaped hole, made by a bubble when they poured the sidewalk. I actually grew a little dismissive of them. I didn't want hearts- I wanted answers.
So, Jesus stopped giving these treasures of our friendship.
Last fall, while walking through an alpine meadow bow hunting, I was asking him, How come you don't give me hearts anymore? I asked it in a pouting kind of way. At that moment something gray caught my eye. I looked down midstride, and there in the grass, about as big as a dinner plate, was a dried piece of cow manure-in the perfect shape of a heart.
If I didn't know Jesus adored me, if I didn't know he is playful, and if our relationship didn't allow me to recieve a playful tease, I might have misinterpreted the icon. But I loved it. It was both, Oh, so now you want a heart? and, I adore you still. A cowpie heart. That is so Jesus."

"Let him be himself, friends. He'll come. He'll come."

(Eldridge, 195 & 196)