Olive Garden's Chicken Gnocchi Soup

(from copykat.com) I made some changes to the one I found.

1lb chicken breast cooked and diced
1-2 Tbsp butter
4 Tbsp olive oil
4 Cups fat free milk or any kind
14-32 ounces chicken broth
2 stalks celery, sliced
1/4 cup flour
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 carrots or a 10-15 baby carrots diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup fresh spinach or Swiss chard, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1tsp parsley
salt and pepper to taste
16 ounce package gnocchi

In a large stockpot, saute the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic in the butter and olive oil. When the onion is clear, add the flour and form a roux. Stir and cook a minute. Add the milk. Meanwhile in another pan, cook the gnocchi. (I cooked mine in the chicken broth). Add the chicken to the stockpot. Stir often and when it gets thicker, add the chicken broth, gnocchi, spinach and seasonings. Cover and heat through. (Mine simmered while my garlic bread was in the oven)

Our little people

I am so grateful for Collin and Abby! They are so loving with each other and I just love watching Collin be a big brother! When we told Collin I was pregnant we were not sure what to expect. We know he loves babies but the reaction that came was better than I could have imagine:) Collin screamed so loud with joy and was smiling from ear to ear. While we were at the dentist yesterday the staff would not stop talking about what a great big brother Collin is. He really is so helpful and sweet! It brings so much joy to my heart! We were headed up to the kids grandparents house and Collin said to me, "I am so glad I am the oldest child. I can not wait to tell Abby all about how cute she was when she was a baby." We love our little buddies! I pray that they will always love each other and get along. I pray this new little babe will be a sweet addition to the gang:)

Baby Kinley #3

Brian and I found out yesterday that we are pregnant! We are so excited and very thankful to God! We were not really expecting this wonderful news. It is so fun to think of our family becoming the five of us and having three beautiful children in our sedan:) I had been having heart palpatations again the last week and not sleeping well which was my first indication I might be pregnant. Brian was in Orlando all week so it was fun to have him come home and find out that evening that we are expecting again! I took four tests just to be positive:)

15 months old

Today our little girl turned 15 months old. Where to even start with describing our little girl who is so full of personality and life. Growing up your parents always say someday you will have a child like you. Well that is what I got. Abby has a lot of my personality... that is not always a good thing. Abby has been getting disciplined for the last month or so because she will look at us and say, "no, no" then point her little finger back and forth telling us she should not be doing something and then she goes on to do her naughty, sinful acts. It's hard for us not to laugh because the way she say's no can be really funny. She is still nursing a lot! But we are starting to nurse less and less. Abby is still not sleeping through the night but we are hoping that changes soon! Momma and daddy need rest! Abby is a talker and try's to repeat everything we say. She makes all kinds of funny animal sounds and say's so many words. Our favorite word is turtle! She is up and walking everywhere. I absolutely love the walking stage! It is the best. Abby is super picky with food still. We are eating lots of yogurt, oatmeal, blueberries, scrambled eggs with cheese, and her new favorite food is hot dogs. It's so bad but that is the only meat she eats. I bought her hormone free turkey hot dogs, she even loves dipping it into ketchup.
Abby loves her brother and daddy so much! I love watching them play together. She loves watching veggie tales when she is sick. It's pretty cute! Abby can be really challenging at times but for the most part she is the best little girl and so so fun! We praise God daily for this sweet little girl! 

Christmas In Pictures:)

Sick baby after Christmas Eve church service but cute as a button

24lb Turkey! Heavier than Abby!

Happy kiddos!

His favorite present:)

We do a scavenger hunt every year with the best present:)

My family made it for Christmas Day

Cousins!

My brother in law is funny!

I love this picture my bro took!

Beautiful mom!

My niece knows how to eat a turkey leg!

Our friends from church made it over too!

My best friend!

New Years Eve with my sweetest friends!

We took a trip to the snow with our little sicky! Poor baby!

She loved our ten minutes in the snow!

These boots are the best! Lake Murray with  mommy and daddy!

Early Morning Memories

 This was such a sweet blog! I really want to follow in this example! I do not do this right now but really want to start this practice! Oh Lord help me to seek you daily and allow me to be an example to my children!

2013 at 8:04 am   |   by Carolyn Mahaney 
~Found this one in the archives the other day. From a grown up daughter of a mom who rose early to see God. Hope it encourages all of you in the 5 O’Clock Club!

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For almost thirty years now, my dear friend Nancy has inspired me by her passionate, faithful, practice of meeting with God each morning. So I wasn’t surprised when, last week, her daughter Anna sent us this testimony to encourage moms with young kids.

I keep seeing these posts with emails of moms of young children who are hoping that their children see their example of rising early to seek the Lord in his word—I want to say, keep it up, your example really can be pressed onto the hearts of your children. I cannot remember a time when I didn’t get up every morning and find my mom reading her Bible, praying. Not only did I see the habit, but I also remember that she was always filled with joy when she was done. Some of my earliest memories was getting up before all my siblings (I was an early riser when I was really little…it’s a little harder now!) and my mom making an extra cup of tea for me, and playing on the floor while she read her Bible. (I was a talker, so she also had to train me that Bible time was No Talking time)

One of the biggest ways that I was motivated to read my Bible was seeing this example—and my mom always encouraging me that it was a friendship, a delight, and not a task. Because of this, I had an interest to know Jesus through his word at a young age. I have journals of consistent reading and prayer from age 10 on. I cannot tell you, now as an (semi-)adult, how much of a blessing this has been. It has given me a history of love for God’s word and a confidence in prayer. It has taught me the habit, and the value for God’s word. So, if you are seeking to set this example, don’t give up! You might not see fruit now, but Jesus has promised that we will reap (Gal 6:9).

Your example makes a difference—but if you feel like you have failed as an example, take heart. If you have fears for your children’s souls, fears that they will not come to be satisfied in Jesus, let your heart take courage. Remember the promises of our Lord:

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25) and “The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:3-6)

Moms: May the faithfulness of God strengthen you as you strive to faithfully seek Him. I pray that the little ones who watch you sit at Jesus’ feet will one day seek Him too!

2012 in words

What is our only hope in life and death? That we are not our own but belong body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ. As 2013 begins I want to constantly be reminded that this life is all about serving our Lord and living for His Kingdom purposes.
Brian has our family going through and memorizing the City Catechism. It has been hard for me but I am so thankful for it. 2012 spiritually was not one where I felt I was growing and spending the time I needed with God. Looking back through the year this is a disappointment. I want to grow in Christ more and more as each year passes. Pray with me that 2013 would be one where Christ is magnified and God is glorified in All things.
This year has been so sweet seeing our family grow so close. I love Brian so much. He is such a wonderful Godly example and leads our family in the ways of the Lord daily. He is a true blessing and gift. His time in seminary has been wonderful and I am so thankful for that. Collin and Abby are such a joy to see together. They love each other so much. I love my kids and find great joy in being a wife and mother full time. I am so thankful God has allowed me to stay home and has blessed Brian with such a wonderful job. We pray Gods will in expanding our family as He wills. Pray with me that I will be content even if we are not able to have more children.
We have everything to be thankful for this last year including the hard times. God has allowed the trials for my good and I want to rejoice in them as Paul is always reminding us of his joy through every trial and tribulation he faced. I am a very negative person and anxious a lot. I would love to see a major transformation in 2013. I want to thank God in everything and trust Him in all things. I will never suffer as Christ did and because I am in Christ there is nothing more exciting I can rejoice in. I want to daily thank Jesus for calling me to Himself and allowing me to suffer in order to grow. I want to find joy as Brian is on vacation for two weeks and everyone is sick and unable to function normally. I want to trust in God when my baby is coughing so hard and crying because she is in pain.  I want to trust God in EVERYTHING.
What is very exciting for us in 2013 is February marking a month that will mean paying off our last car loan and another bill. 2013 is our year we pray to get out of debt as much as possible so we are able to give more. Pray for Brian and I to manage our finances and to be good stewards of what God has given us.
Brian and I rang in the New Year with our sweet, loving friends Luke and Julia. We some how managed to stay up till 1230am considering we have had barely any sleep and half of our house is still sick. I am so thankful for the time we had with those two last night and cherish our friendship.  We love your family and miss you!
I pray 2013 will bring Godly relationships for Brian and I and our kids.
I look forward with excitement to all God is going to do. I pray 2013 will mark a year of obedience to the Lord and growth in Him for myself and my family.

    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:4-7 ESV)