Terri's Low Carb Salsa Chicken with Peppers

Here is an EASY, 5-minute recipe!!!!

Monday, my kids had the day off of school. I had to work part of the day, then rushed home to spend time with them. As we were about to leave the house for an afternoon of fun, I realized I had NO plan for dinner. But, I came up with this... it was absolutely delicious and couldn't have been any simpler. And, it's healthy and low carb!!!

Terri's Low Carb Salsa Chicken with Peppers

1 cup salsa (I use my yummy homemade)
1 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
5-6 frozen boneless/skinless chicken breasts

Put it all in the crock pot on low for 5-6 hours. Use two forks to shred the chicken when done. Serve over rice or quinoa, use as burrito or taco filling, or eat on its own as soup!

Note: This is a variation of another easy recipe using 1 cup salsa, 1 cup frozen or can of corn, 1 can beans, and chicken breasts.

Happy Mother's Day!

Praying that all the mama's out there are having a very blessed Mother's Day!!!

{We passed out about 300 of these little bookmarks today in Sunday school!}

Did I ever mention that I make Blog Books?

I have been in the business of helping people preserve their memories, save their pictures, and share their stories for almost 15 years! I do parties, sell albums and scrapbooking supplies, host workshops and retreats where my friends can have fun while preserving their memories, teach digital scrapbooking, and I help others start their own businesses. Plus, I do lots of projects for other people. 

When I first discovered blogging, I was in love. I think it is so great that so many moms are taking the time to share their photos and stories. This is just what my mission has been for so long! I love bloggers!!!

So what is better than a blog?

A Beautiful Blog Book!

I have had the joy of converting several blogs into colorful, unique, 12"x12" hardcover books that can be enjoyed and treasured forever. It is so fun to help my bloggy friends take their blogging to a new level by creating a Beautiful Blog Book that permanently documents all of their precious words and photos.

I lovingly copy each and every post, one by one, pasting it into this "newspaper" format so that you have a chronological record of your blog. OR, I can use selected posts... you may not want to have all your "giveaways" or diy's in your book, so I can include just the posts that you most want to save and cherish.

And then there are the photos! I actually do some photo editing, as needed, such as removing red eye and brightening up dark pictures. I do my best to include every picture, placing them where it makes sense, so that they flow with the story, just like you do on your blog.

Creating a Beautiful Blog Book is a labor of love for me. I am so honored when I am entrusted with this important task. I spend up to six weeks crafting each page, and placing each picture. You are able to choose from a wide array of beautiful digital artwork that complements your blog and style. But in the end, it is your stories and photos that are the star. Imagine holding your book in your lap, looking through the story of your life... who else might want a copy?

Isn't my sweet friend Jenny's family just the cutest? I loved making this book for her!

Caring Bridge Site for Marcus & Sue Cooper

From Sue Cooper: 

This past Thursday, Marcus was in a serious motorcycle accident. I have only been posting on Facebook but have now had the time to set up a Caring Bridge website. You can access it at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thecooperjourney/journal.

This will be the only email that I send out about the incident. This way those that want to stay updated or communicate with us can via this website. Please know that there is a "tribute" link. If you give any money it goes to keeping the website going, it is not asking for contributions to us or the his accident. The website is non-profit and it just helps folks stay connected through things like this situation. I just wanted to make sure everyone knew that, it is a little unclear if you have never used Caring Bridge before.

We love you all and just want to keep you updated as to what is happening and how we are doing. This is a whole new phase and a new way of life for us and no matter what happens, I pray we praise God through every step.

Another update from Sue

Gathered to pray before a potluck at our house, October 2010

I wanted to share another quick update about Marcus Cooper. I have tried to share just Sue's words, but there are a couple of things of note that I thought I should mention.

Even though Marcus has been on the ventilator and unable to speak, he has indeed been communicating. He is using sign language! He has known it for some time, but Sue is in the process of learning. This past year, the Coopers started a Sunday school class for the deaf community in our church, along with our dear friend Lyndi, who is an interpreter. What a perfect plan of the Lord to prepare them for this time.

Another amazing development is that at the Saturday morning men's Bible study yesterday, one of Marcus' coworkers told the group, my husband included, that everyone at work wants to donate their sick leave to Marcus! Their company has in place a process for that to happen. He told the men that it isn't weeks or months of sick leave, it is years. Years. Praise God.

Sue posted the following, around noon on Saturday, January 7th. 

Marcus continues to be stable and rested well through the night. Today is becoming rough as his body is coming out of shock and they are taking him off continuous sedation. He wakes up and is very anxious but yet can't move or talk because of restraints and the ventilator and I take comfort that I can be by his side to hold his hand, speak to him and help relax him. 

This will continue to be a rough day for him and it was very hard to see a tears roll out of his eyes as they adjust and wean from sedation, but each as hard as it is, they are all excellent signs that he is aggravated by the tube that would aggravate anyone normally. All is the same as yesterday and basically will be until Monday. 

Monday will be a very rough day. He will have the spinal surgery and they will finish cleaning up from the amputation. They will place a torso hard casting on him, begin taking the ventilator tube out, having him at a 30 degrees angle and work on getting him to cough and help his lungs. So he will have to do a lot and be aware of it all. Prayers for wisdom for the docs and staff and strength for him and I.
Love, Sue Herron Cooper

The LORD is near to all who call on him, 

to all who call on him in truth. 

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; 

he also hears their cry and saves them.

~Psalm 145:18-19

An update on Marcus

Marcus & Sue as I arrived at my surprise birthday party in November

I have to say that these smiling images made me cry when I looked through them this morning. But I have to share them because they so clearly portray the wonderful, loving, fun, funny, and sweet personalities of our friends Marcus and Sue Cooper. They have a wonderful, special marriage and a bond we could all envy. I have honestly never heard them say one cross word to one another, or have heard of any disagreement between them. They truly weather the many storms of life with few complaints. Saying that we love this family is an understatement!

It is times like these that I wish I was more of a poet than a reporter. I am having trouble expressing my heart in words, but my every breath is a prayer for this family. Yet, I am praising the Lord for his divine protection over Marcus, that Marcus is still with us. This family has been through many valleys, and this is absolutely the deepest. I am believing God for the high mountaintop to which He is leading them.

Sue is one of my dearest friends here in Charlotte. I have only been able to talk to her briefly since the accident Thursday morning. I am now in touch with her mother, who, as of suppertime last night has their children. Marcus' family has now arrived, so the family circle has tightened around Sue to support her, the children, and Marcus through this crisis. We friends are waiting in the wings, ready to do anything we can as soon as we are asked. We feel helpless and want to DO something, anything. But we all have to realize that the needs will be many and the timeline will be long. Our turn to help will come. So we continue to DO the only thing, and most important thing, we can: we pray.

Actually, here are Sue's words from this morning:

Thank you the offer, right now family is here to help but in the weeks and months of the beginning of this journey, I know I will need help.

I have been told that Sue will start a Caring Bridge site for Marcus' recovery. I will share that link when it comes and stop posting her updates here. But for now, here is what Sue posted on Facebook, Friday morning (24 hours ago):

Marcus has stayed stable thru the night. They had an MRI at 1:30am, pain but they have good meds. He is still considered critically ill and will be for a while. He has a fracture at his t8 and t9 vertebrea, surgery will be in 3 or 4 days. It is a good possibility that he will not get feeling from that part Down, but in my opinion only if that is God's will. It was not the hip socket but a break at the top of his right femur. That surgery may be today or tomorrow. We are not sure about any injuries in the neck they hope to test him today to find out more. He'll stay in a neck brace until they know more.

Posted by Sue, Friday night (last night):

Marcus is stable & resting remarkably well. For his injuries & status, he is at the top of his class & doing excellent. He has intermittent feeling from his mid-torso (the spinal injury area) down to about the top 1/3 of his thigh. One time he feels it, the next not, the next yes. So, still unsure if it is still trauma & just temporary or if he will loose feeling completely. Monday he will have back surgery to have a temporary fix to the spinal injury. 

He will continue on the ventilator thru the weekend and Mon surgery just to allow his body complete rest without having to work. They began a feeding tube today. God promises a peace beyond understanding when our faith is in Him, I have truly felt it since the moment I received the call yesterday. The realities & future began hitting me between the eyes today, but God in His grace continued to bring someone with right scripture to me and not allow me to worry about the future.

I have decided to stay at home tonight and pray for sleep. I haven't slept in 2 days. I have read all of my posts & texts, I have not heard all of my voice mails, sorry. Thank you for prayers, thank you for your love and thank you for not letting me be alone. Good night and I will post another update after speaking with the doctors in the morning.

My precious sister in Christ is an amazing woman. Her faith is carrying her, along with the prayers of so very many. I so wish I could give her this hug right now, but dear Sue, please know that I am holding you close in my heart.

You will keep in perfect peace 

   those whose minds are steadfast, 

   because they trust in you.

~Isaiah 26:3

Prayers for our Precious Friends

My dear friend Sue posted the following on Facebook at 11 last night:

All, today Marcus was in a serious motorcycle accident. The aorta coming out the top of his heart was severely torn, 80% of victims w/ this die at the scene. His right leg was lost from the knee down, his left leg is dislocated but the artery down that leg unharmed. He has mid spinal injury but we are unsure of how severe, he'll have a MRI in the night. I pray that you can already see God's mighty hand at work. I have been told by others, not the hospital, that he has the best surgeons and docs around. He was conscious the entire time from the accident to the ER to me getting to see him just before heart surgery. Very coherent, very aware. They repaired the aorta and he is stable and resting. His right hip socket pushed to the back and it will need surgery. He has more surgeries to come but we are unsure what or when at this time. We (I) have been incredibly blessed by all the prayers, support and love shown. I will try to read texts and email as I can, please forgive me if I don't reply. I'm exhausted and now need to sit still, breathe and process. Love to you all.

Please join many who love this precious family in lifting them up in prayer. Their two daughters, 9 and 4, are staying with us. They miss their parents and just want to see Daddy & Mommy. They don't know yet the extent of Daddy's injuries. Marcus and Sue are dear, dear friends of ours. Gil spent the day at the hospital yesterday, where many were gathered to support Sue and to pray for their family. 

I have no words, except that God is sovereign and He is faithful. We lift up praises to Him that His hand is upon Marcus and his family no matter what. Please pray for the Cooper family.