Baked Potato Soup Recipe

My favorite type of soup has always been potato soup, but this baked potato soup recipe tops off my list as my all-time-favorite potato soup! This is a recipe that my mom found several years ago from a magazine, and we've been enjoying it ever since.

Ingredients:
2/3 C. Butter
2/3 C. Flour
7 C. Milk
4 large Baking Potatoes (baked, cooled, peeled & cubed)
4 Green Onions, sliced
12 Bacon Strips, cooked & crumbled (I use packaged bacon pieces instead of frying it myself.)
1-1/4 C. Shredded Cheese
3/4 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper

In a large pot, melt butter and stir in the flour. Turn heat down after the butter is melted. Stir until creamy. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thickened (no lumps).

Add potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Fry bacon, and then add remaining ingredients. Top each bowl with shredded cheese and bacon.

Bon appetit!

Prep Time: 1-1/2 hours
Serves: 8-10

The Changes of Fall

Well, my fall travel season at work is ALMOST done! I survived my two weeks in Illinois and Wisconsin and am now just wrapping up some local travel. Things are good. To top it off, Luke and I didn't have a lot planned this past weekend, so I was able to get a lot of things done around the house, which I've neglected from being gone so much the past couple of months. Now, our house is clean and our refrigerator is fully stocked again! Time away always makes me appreciate being home and realize how blessed I am to have Luke in my life! I missed that man!

I came home to a beautiful surprise in our yard...our tree! While I was away, its leaves transformed into a beautiful, vibrant orange! My brother, Andrew, even said that he thought it was the prettiest tree in town. Check it out--

We have really been encouraged with youth group this fall. There are so many students who are seeking to grow closer with Christ. It's awesome! Even though we're the leaders, it's amazing how the students are the ones who actually spur us on in our faith. I'm constantly amazed at how God works. In a corrupt world like ours, with the economy suffering in so many ways, it is encouraging to me to know that God is still rising up a new generation of believers!

A Cozy Cup

If there's anything Luke has learned in our marriage so far, it is that I LOVE to be cozy! In fact, it is a word that I probably use a little too frequently. However, fall always seems to bring it out even more in me. Summer is definitely my favorite season, but once I am finally able to get over the fact that the cooler weather is here to stay, I am able to really enjoy the comfort of fall. I love the smell of pumpkin spice candles and burning leaves, the taste of pumpkin pie and the mixture of candy corn & peanuts, the sound of leaves crackling under my feet and Sunday afternoon football, and, yes, the taste of a warm drink or soup!

Unfortunately, this time of year is also one of the busiest times of year for us. For the most part, busyness, does not equal cozy for me. Youth group started back up for Luke on the 18th, and I started my work travel season the day after. Youth group started out with a bang this year, as we had about 140 middle & high school students show up that first night of youth group. Many of them had never come before. The best part is, most of them came back the second week! We've been really encouraged so far.

I always love the start of my work travel season because it's a change a pace from being in the office all of the time, but by the end of it, I am usually burnt out and ready to be back in the office--funny how that works! What I love most about travel season aside from meeting some great students at high schools and college fairs, is being on my own, discovering new places, and having time to shop in some great places like Chicago! I always love an excuse to window shop at Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, IKEA, and TJ Maxx Home Goods! During the next two weeks, I will be in the Chicago area Monday-Thursday. After that, my travel season will almost be complete!

To complete this "cozy" blog post, I thought I would end with a warm drink recipe since I enjoyed my first cup of the year tonight:

Warm Cranberry Wassail
Recipe from Aunt Aimee Fry
Makes about 14 cups

1 (5.65 oz) container Aspen Mulling Spices (can purchase at Hallmark, Rustic Hutch, Das Essenhaus, etc.)
1 (64 oz) Apple Juice (100%)
1 (64 oz) Cranberry Juice (I used Oceanspray Cranberry Juice Cocktail.)

Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pan. Heat to boiling. Simmer 10 minutes.
Optional Garnish: Orange slices & whole cloves

Riding Down Memory Lane

At Luke's grandpa's funeral on Saturday, all of the grandkids, their spouses, and great grandkids rode from the church to the cemetery on Wendell's Oliver 88 tractor and wagon. Wendell bought his Oliver new in 1954 for $2,000. A couple of the grandkids washed it up before the funeral, and another grandkid drove the tractor, pulling the rest of us. The trip to the cemetary was a few miles, right through downtown Decatur. For the grandkids, especially, the slow ride was a trip down memory lane. They remembered the many times Grandpa had taken them on hay wagon for Easter Egg hunts, or for just pure enjoyment.

Grandpa Abbott

In my last post (Remembering August 22nd), I wrote a special tribute to my Grandpa Harrold, who died 11 years ago, on August 22nd. Little did I know, the very next day, August 23rd, Luke would bid farewell to his Grandpa, Wendell Abbott, just one day after Wendell turned 85 years old. Wendell has been battling Parkinson's disease for about five years now, and has fought a long, hard battle with his health ever since then. We knew the end was drawing near, but it was still hard to face the reality when we learned he had passed. As Luke has said, his grandpa really died about five years ago when he sold his farm--where he had lived with his wife, Imogene, for 50 years. From that day forward, things changed for Wendell, and life never really was the same.

Wendell happens to be the first grandparent that Luke has lost. He left behind quite the legacy. He shared life with Imogene for nearly 58 years. They have four children (including Luke's mom, Deb), 15 grandchildren (including Luke), and 13 great-grandchildren. It's so great to see and be a part of such a strong Christian family that blends together so well. Wendell and Imogene have left behind a wonderful, godly heritage. In fact, if Luke and I make it to that age, I hope we can say the same about our family.

I've included some of my favorite Grandpa Abbott pictures below:


Imogene and Wendell Abbott, on their wedding day: November 7, 1953



Wendell and his grandkids (Luke is the one on the top left, in the black shirt.)

Luke with Grandma & Grandpa Abbott (May 18, 2009 before Luke left for California)



Fortunately, we had a family gathering a couple weeks ago, on August 14th, so all of the grandkids were able to spend some time with Grandpa Abbott before he died. Luke and I arrived later than most, so we actually spent some one-on-one time with Wendell and Imogene in their home. As Imogene put Wendell in his hospice bed before we left, Luke prayed over Wendell, with tears in his eyes, and asked God to bring him home. There have been many teary eyes since then, but we are so relieved to know that he is now free from pain and spending time with Jesus in Heaven.

(Grandpa Abbott's Obituary)

Remembering August 22nd

Today marks 11 years since my Grandpa, Maynard Harrold, died. It's hard to believe that it's been that long because I can still remember that day just as vividly as if it were yesterday. That day was my first day of high school. Grandpa had been suffering from leukemia for awhile, and we knew the end was drawing near for him. I remember getting off the school bus, walking through the front door of our house, and having Dad tell me that Grandpa had passed. What a heart-wrenching day. Grandpa definitely left a huge hole here on Earth when he left. He was always the life of the party and would tell stories that we still try to tell today (about Hinshaw and the Honeyboogers), but somehow we just can't tell them quite the same. I feel truly blessed to have known him. In fact, I wish that somehow Luke could have met him. Even though he never had the chance to meet him, Luke has heard many "Grandpa Harrold stories," and almost everyday when we eat dinner, I know that it's a good meal if Luke says, "Mmm, good stuff, Maynard!" I've taught him well. When we were on vacation this year, during one of our meals, we were eating sweet corn. I told Luke how Grandpa used to put all of his eaten ears of corn on one of our plates and how he would try to get everyone to believe that we had eaten that much. I don't think these stories will ever fade with time, at least in my mind. Even though we were all sad on August 22, 2000 when Grandpa left us, we are SO looking forward to seeing him again in Heaven. I'm sure, even now, he is entertaining others up there with his stories.

It's odd how much things change in 11 years. Anne was only 8 years old at the time, and today she's starting her first day of classes at college! Life is moving quickly. Each August 22nd brings new experiences and memories, but I will never forget August 22, 2000.

Blessed with Mentors

Last night, Luke and I had dinner at Johnny & Sherrie McCallister's house with them and their kids. What a wonderful night. We talked about our lives, shared many laughs, and talked about life in ministry. As we were talking, I realized how much of a blessing it is to learn and grow with each other.

However, it wasn't just last night that I enjoyed. It was the confirmation that God is working in us and around us, orchestrating something greater than we can even imagine. A few years ago when Luke and I started dating seriously, I knew that he was planning to be a youth pastor and that ministry would be a part of our lives, so I started praying that God would lead us to a church where we could develop a relationship with the senior pastor and learn from him and his family. Not only that, I prayed that I would be able to connect well with the pastor's wife. I knew that Luke and I were going to have to live like sponges, absorbing advice and learning from those who have been doing this for years. Little did I know, that those prayers would lead us back to the church I grew up in. I cannot even describe to you how blessed we are to know Johnny and Sherrie and their kids. They have been in ministry (primarily youth ministry) for about 20 years, which is a lot of experience for Luke and I to draw from. God also answered my prayer in connecting well with the pastor's wife because Sherrie and I have very similar interests--we love to decorate and entertain, we treasure our time with family and hold that as a priority above ministry events, and we like things CLEAN! :)

In a couple months, Luke will be starting year two of full-time youth ministry. The first year has flown by, and we greatly looking forward to all that God is going to do this next year.