Good bye 2013! I Thank you for the ups and downs that I was presented with throughout the year.
Last year was an exciting one. our family road trips included going to Reno for the weekend. We hung out a Circus Circus, played in the arcades, then we went back to the room to watch movies until everyone feel asleep. On the way home we stop to have the kids playing in the snow. The boys have played in the snow once before when they were much younger, but they barely remember it. The girls have never been in the snow. The kids loved it so much that we plan to take another trip to the snow sometime soon. All of our trips were fun and exciting for the whole family.
My oldest turned 16. My next son started high school, my oldest daughter went to middle school, and this is baby girl’s first year at school with no siblings. A lot of changes, but everyone adjusted well.
One of the biggest accomplishments of this year was launch this site. I have taken classes at the local junior college on running a blog. I have started a couple of sites over the years but never really sat down and made them into something. I didn’t really have a plan when I started. I just had an idea and went for it. I love what I do, and wouldn’t be here if it was for the support of all of you who are reading this. I’e had over 50, 000 visitors since I started writing. That is an amazing number in my book, and I am grateful to my readers. I have made new friends, learned a thing or two about writing, enjoying a few events, and became an ambassador for an awesome company. I am truly enjoying this platform, and I am excited for what the new year holds.
Home Life Flipagram
I thought about writing about my goals of 2014. I would normally have a huge list of things I wanted to do better in my life. I often set myself up with high exceptions and don’t always follow through. I would end up second guessing myself or giving myself excuses as to why I couldn’t do what I wanted have been doing.
This year I decided to just be simple and continue to:
BELIEVE in God
BELIEVE in myself
BELIEVE that love is they answer
BELIEVE that I can do anything that I set my mind to do
As tradition, we start the new year out with some Black Eyed Peas! A sign of good luck in the south. They symbolize prosperity because they resemble coins. It’s almost like a new year’s resolution, just with food. Can’t go wrong with food. Who wouldn’t want to start out their year eating something delicious with a side of luck 😉
Growing up, my Mom would make this dish with tomatoes and ham hocks. Half the people in our household are not tomato fans so I have adapted the recipe to satisfy my family’s taste buds. I left out the ham hocks because I want less grease and fat in my dish.
You will need:
1 Pound dried black-eyed peas, rinsed, soaked overnight, and drained
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 (13- to 14-ounce) package of smoked beef sausage, sliced 1/2-inch thick (I used the spicy one)
1 large onions, diced
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
3 green onions, diced
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Cups long-grain white rice
Directions:
Soak your beans for at least 8 hours or over night. Rinse, drain, and set aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot medium-high heat. Add the Sausage and cook, turning once, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes; transfer to a plate.
Reduce heat to medium and add the onions and cook, until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for more 2 minutes.
Return the sausage to the pot and add the soaked peas, and 3 cups water.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the peas are tender, about 1 hour.
Twenty-five minutes before the peas are done, cook the rice according to package directions.
When done, top with green onions and enjoy!
Here is to the bright new year
And a fond farewell to the old,
Here is to the things that are yet to come,
And to the memories that we hold.
Hello 2014!