Sharing Moments at the Park

It was a nice day yesterday. We decided to walk to the shaded park in town (we have 3 total) and the kids had a great time.

Potato Soup

6 slices- bacon (cut into 1 inch pieces)
3 pounds (about 5 large)- russet potatoes
3 1\2 teaspoons- salt
1 cup - sour cream
1\4 pound (1 stick) - butter
2 2\3 cups - whole milk
1\2 teaspoon- black pepper
4 - scallions
3\4 cups - shredded sharp cheddar cheese

cook the bacon pieces over medium heat in a medium skillet until crisp.
Transfer bacon to paper toweling to drain and set aside.
Peel, rinse, and cut potatoes into thirds.
Place them in a large pot with water to cover.
Add 2 teaspoons salt and bring to boil for about 45 minutes.
Drain potatoes, discarding water and return them to the pot.
Mash them them with a potato masher until smooth.
Add the sour cream and butter stir until melted.
Add the milk, Pepper, and remaining salt and bring the soup back to a simmer.
Divide among 8 bowls and serve soup hot garnished with scallions cheese and bacon.

I can't remember where I got this recipe from but I did modify it a bit.
I didn't have bacon on hand so I used real bacon bits and added it to the pot after the milk. I added a bit of sweet onion because I did not have scallions. I also used red skin potatoes instead of russet. I used 2% milk instead of whole and I prefer my potatoes in chunks in my soup instead of mashed. Also I already had shredded Mexican cheese on hand so I used that in the end. Results delicious :) Next time I will use cut up bacon strips.

The Shack

I just finished this today. This is by William F. Young. It is about a man named Mackenzie and his spiritual journey back to The Shack where his young daughter was brutally murdered. A place where he can find forgiveness and freedom or his anger and hurt may intensify. His daughters demise also takes him back to his childhood secrets.

His life is changed from the moment his daughter is taken from his families campsite. Later as he struggles through his pain and sadness he finds a note from God in his mailbox telling him to meet him at The Shack. He wonders what he will find but his fear and anger is overridden by curiosity as he takes a short trip back to where his families pain and sadness started.

This was an entertaining book which seemed to add some insight to why bad things happen especially to good people. Who God, Jesus and the Holy spirit are and what their roles in our lives and the world is. This could be a life changing book for many or just a reinstatement of what the reader may already know. It is worth reading and a warning a lot of it may be just the author's interpretation of it all mixed in with Biblical truth.

My Birthday was yesterday

Well, We received our new at&t modem yesterday on my b-day and my hubby got the computer running. I will still be doing a yard sale this weekend so I am busy getting that ready. Yep I still blow out candles on my b-day. I turned 29 yesterday:) I have more pictures with me and my family but I decided to just put this one up for now.