The Tale of Elevator 44

I got a quick, yet funny, story for ya.

 

My parents, siblings, husband and I all went to see my grandmother in the hospital one night.  When we were done visiting with her, all six of us got on the elevator.  My little (ahem, 6 foot 3 inch) brother told everyone to jump.  I had always thought that that was how to make your stomach drop.   So when the elevator almost came to a stop everyone but my mom jumped.

And we essentially broke the elevator.  We hit the alarm button on the elevator multiple times and we even called the hospital to let them know.  Oh my word, it was hilarious. 

About an hour and half went by before the security team and Forsyth County Fire Department started talking to us about getting us out.  They explained to us that we were between two floors, so they couldn't just open the elevator doors.  

Next thing we know, a fireman is coming through the roof of the elevator.  He brought a ladder the width of a pencil (well, it seemed like it) with him.  One by one, we crawled out and thanked all the men involved in our "rescue".

Gracious, I love my family.  I love all the mischief we get in and how we laughed for a solid hour and half that night.

Recipe Challenge | 4 & 5

Don't worry, I haven't forgot about my reviews for the last two of my recipe challenge for November. 

Recipe # 4 was one I found from Pinterest.  Looks can be deceiving, ya'll.  I thought these babies looked delicious.. but I personally disliked them.  Colby liked them pretty good.  But I didn't eat more than two stacks of potatoes.. I couldn't.
 
 

Recipe # 5 was also surprising.. but in a good way.  It was November 30th, and I was dead set on completing my recipe challenge.  So, I decided to just make the recipe on the back of the lasagna noodles box from Food Lion.  I was skeptical, for no reason.  Maybe because it was genaric brand?  I'm not sure.  But it was a total hit.  It was easy and delicious.  Go Food Cat (as my mama, sister and me call it)!


I am currently high-fiving myself for completing the recipe challenge and already searching for my five new recipes for this month!  Happy Saturday.  Now go eat something delicious and text me the recipe!

December Goals

Fa la la la la!  It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year and I so excited to jump in full force into this beautiful Christmas season.  To get the most out of this sweet month, I decided to make some goals.

Decorate for Christmas + write a post about those decorations.
Take 20 minutes before bed to declutter house + do dishes.
Watch less television (okay, less Netflix).. except for Christmas movies.
Only wrap gifts when there is either jolly music playing or a Christmas movie on in the background.
Start talking to Colby about a stern budget for the next year, especially the next couple of months.
Write a personal note with every gift I wrap.
Make + eat gingerbread cookies.
Try five new recipes.
Wear a festive sweater.
Host a small viewing of the southern classic, Steel Magnolias.
Start packing for the next move.

New Recipe | Skillet Apple Crisp

So I tried a new recipe for the Scott's Thanksgiving meal.  I know, I know.  It is not good etiquette to bring a new recipe to a gathering.  But I did... whoops.

Thankfully, this recipe was delicious!  Recipe three of the five came from a fabulously southern magazine, Garden & Gun.

Meet our leading lady: Skillet Apple Crisp

When I was asked to make a dessert for Thanksgiving, Colby & I decided to go for a classic American dessert, apple pie.  But then this recipe came across my radar and I could not NOT make it.

The consensus?  All around delicious (plus, everything looks better in a cast iron).  I used only one lemon versus two and I would definitely encourage that to all my friends... I would also encourage a healthy dollop of vanilla ice-cream to ride shot gun with this baby.

Stuffing and Shoe Boxes

This past weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Scott's.  It was such a different family gathering.  Colby's cousin, Sarah, is very active in the ministry, Operation Christmas Child.  She also served over in the Philippines this past summer.  Once she came back this summer she was ready to hit the ground running with packaging and delivering shoe boxes full of goodies for her beloved Philippine babies.  So this Thanksgiving Sarah & her mama suggested we could pack boxes for OCC.

Meet Sarah & Mama Penny:

So after the Scott family did some serious grubbing... we started sorting toys, school supplies and hygiene products for the 25 shoe boxes we were going to pack.  Gosh, ya'll.  It was so sweet.  You would go into the living room and all the men where folding boxes and then you came into the kitchen and all the women (& twins) were sorting boy versus girl stuff.

Before we starting packing the boxes the entire Scott family came into the kitchen to pray over the toys, school supplies and hygiene products.

 

Then we started packing our boxes and each of us wrote a note to go in our boxes.

Ya'll.  I can't even.  We live in the land of pure abundance.  I am so encouraged by Sarah's desire to take all this abundance and give it away.. all the while, telling people that Jesus is strong and good and that he loves them.

Amen?


Amen.

Six Months of Marriage

Colby and I are celebrating 6 months of marriage today.  We don't celebrate "month anniversaries" usually.  However, today when I was talking to Colby, we were both in shock that we have already been married for 6 months.  It seems like 3 months MAX!  

Tonight we celebrated by simply living life together.  I cooked supper and we sat at the dining room table, decked out with turkey salt & pepper shakers, and mustard yellow candles.  We did our high's & low's of our days and then cleaned the kitchen together.   Now we are sitting in our freshly cleaned living room, folding laundry together in front of the warm fire that Colby built for me.  

Oh my, my.  There is joy in laundry, folks.  

 

Recipe Challenge | 1 & 2

The results are in.  Drum roll please....

My first two recipes in this challenge were Garlic and Lemon Roasted Chicken with Green Beans and Baby Red Potatoes along with a side of Zucchini and Squash bake.  I thought these babies would be definite yes's because we didn't really deviate from the foods we like.  Colby loves chicken, green beans and red potatoes.  So I was like.. yes, he will be on board with this challenge if I start out nice and slow.  And zucchini and squash?  What southern folk do you know that doesn't love these gourd shaped masses of goodness?

Garlic and Lemon Roasted Chicken with Green Beans and Baby Red Potatoes
Colby: Too much lemon, too much garlic (go figure!).
Courtney: Too much lemon.  I want to like green beans, but I don't.. and this recipe didn't flip my switch for them either.

Zucchini and Squash Bake
Colby: Pretty good.
Courtney: LOVED it!  Definitely a future go-to side!

So here we are.. I would consider us a 1 for 2 in our 5 new recipe challenge!  My next challenge is making a homemade apple pie for Thanksgiving with the Scott's this weekend!  I've made one pie my entire life, and let's be honest, I just tore off the plastic wrap off of it and threw it in the oven.  I'm going all homemade for this next one, baby!