535,600 minutes

As I was getting in the check out line at Aldi this afternoon I looked at Annie and thought to myself, "I can't believe its been a year." I took this photo a year ago today, the same day I went in to the hospital to have my contractions monitored, which began the longest 10 days of my life...

Look at what a baby Corrinne was! 

These are a few of my fav-o-rite things!

Today I had my windows open allowing the cool breeze to blow through the house, stirring up the delicious scent of Maple Pumpkin (thanks, Glade!) putting me in the mood to make some good ol' comfort food! In honor of this sudden burst of autumnal crisp-ness I have been encouraged to post a few of my favorite soup recipes. Without further ado...

White Chili (We had this for dinner and I can't take credit for the recipe.)

3 chicken breasts, cubed (or if you want an easier route, use a lb of ground chicken like me!)
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 med. onion, diced
1-15 oz. chicken broth
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 cans Northern beans
1-7 oz. can diced green chiles
1 can cream style corn
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Saute (or brown) chicken in oil with onion, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until fully cooked. Add all other ingredients and let simmer 30 minutes.

Add:
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup sour cream
corn starch to thicken

We like to serve this with corn chips and shredded cheese.

Crock Pot Potato Soup
1 bag frozen Ore Ida Potatoes O'Brien
1-8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1-15 oz. chicken broth
1 bag real bacon pieces
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

Mix together softened cream cheese and Cream of Mushroom Soup. Add to slow cooker. Add frozen potatoes, chicken broth, and bacon pieces. Cook on low 6-8 hrs. Easy Peasy!

Chicken Tortilla Soup (this is a new one and I can't lie - I got it from Pinterest!)
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cans diced tomatoes & chiles
1 can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 can kidney beans, rinsed & drained
1 can corn
1 onion, chopped
1-32 oz. chicken broth (I like the Fit & Active low sodium one at Aldi best)
1-2 cups water
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. dried cilantro (best invention EVER!)
tortilla chips
sour cream
shredded mexican blend cheese

Put chopped onion, beans, tomatoes, corn, chicken broth, water and spices into the slow cooker and stir to mix. Put chicken breasts on top, making sure they're at least partially submerged. Cook on high 7-8 hours or low 8-9 hours. Before serving remove chicken breasts and shred, if needed. Return chicken to crock pot, stir to combine.
We like to serve this with tortilla chips in bottom of the bowl, then ladle soup on top followed by some shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream, if you like! Seriously yummy!

Happy Cooking and Happy Autumn!

This time next week my baby will be ONE YEAR OLD. You know what that means... a sobfest recount of the first minutes/hours/days/YEAR of sweet Anniston Kate's life. Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!

Bedtime Prayers

Tonight's bedtime looked like this:

Mom: Ok, lets pray. Do you want to pray tonight?

(Cash nodded.)

Cash: Dear God, fank you for dis bootaful day, peas tell mom & dad to take me to see the avengers in the featers (theater), peas help protect us, and peas help Mrs. Roe come back to my school tomorrow. And dear Jesus, Amen
(his assistant teacher was sick today)

Mom: That was a very sweet prayer, Cash.

Cash: Yea, that was a good one. I'm gonna pray that one again tomorrow!

I love his honest heart. Don't we all feel like that sometimes?

In the words of our 10-days-shy-of-being-one year old, Annie, Ni-night!!

6 years ago...

On this day six years ago, I went on a date with a guy named Drew. We'd been dating for six months (minus the 4 weeks "we were on a break") and I had a feeling he was going to propose soon. From the beginning I'd kind of known Drew was The One. I didn't know how to explain it, I just knew. So cliche, I know. But true! 

Anyways, given a mysterious phone call made to my dad a few days earlier that week I had a feeling it was coming soon. And with my older sister, Ashley, coming into town that Friday with her 3 week old baby girl I thought for sure it was happening that night. I even went shopping and got a new shirt and matching accessories for the occasion. Drew had called saying he made reservations at this adorable house-turned-italian restaurant in Old Towne Greenwood. Our typical Friday nights were more laid back than that. My suspicions were high. 

Drew picked me up that night and we ate dinner outside La Trattoria on their patio complete with white lights strung around the top. Drew seemed totally chill and not nervous at all so I was completely thrown off by that. Assuming it wasn't happening at dinner I ate my ravioli and enjoyed the late summer's night breeze. After dinner Drew asked what I wanted to do. I was thinking, "Don't you know what we're going to do? You're going to propose! Shouldn't you have some kind of plan???" Obviously I didn't say that, I said something like, "Oh I don't care. What do you want to do?" He suggested going to Mrs. Curl's to get some ice cream. Now, for those of you who have been to Mrs. Curl you know its no place for a marriage proposal. Its good ice cream and lots of fun for kids but...not exactly what I had in mind. Perplexed, I went along with it trying to remind myself it didn't have to happen that night. As long as he proposed eventually. As we got out of the car he reminded me to bring the camera. "Aha!! Its totally happening tonight!" I thought to myself. After he got some ice cream, we walked down to a gazebo at a nearby park. I started getting really nervous. This was starting to look more like a proposal locale. We sat on a bench inside the gazebo while Drew ate his ice cream. He kept suggesting we take pictures. I was trying not to get impatient but I was thinking, "what the heck? enough with the pictures! If he doesn't propose tonight, this is really mean!" Moment after moment seemed like a great time to propose but each one passed without any ring or question. Sigh. I finally started walking around the gazebo reading the inscriptions on the benches. The benches were dedicated to random people in the community and after a few of them we were reading them aloud in the most obnoxious voices (we're weird). I was reading one, in an english accent I believe, when I turned around to find Drew down on one knee! My heart soared! Its HAPPENING!!! 

He told me that I had made him the happiest man, that he loved me and never thought he could love someone as much as he loves me. He said he wanted to serve the Lord with me, raise babies with me... and then a giant Mac truck drove over the railroad tracks right next to us and I completely missed the end of his awesome speech! So I did what any girl would do. I said, "Can you repeat that?" :) He did. He finished it with, "Bethany Corrinne Dunaway... will you marry me?" My heart squeals just thinking about it. Of course I said yes with the cheesiest grin on my face. Here is a picture of us right after we got home and told my parents. The cheesy grin was plastered on my face for awhile: 

Here we are a week later at a friend's wedding

At the engagement party his parents had for us in California that November. Cheesy grin still intact.

A few weeks before the wedding

When I said yes to Drew that night, I couldn't have known what I was agreeing to. I knew I was saying yes to marrying a man who had stolen my heart (even though I had tried to deny he had done so - stupid girl), a man that loved the Lord and me, a man that could make me laugh like no other, a man who had protected my heart and respected my feelings, a man I was crazy in love with. But what I couldn't have known was the depth of love I would feel for him each and every day from that day forward. We have been through some incredible high points, and some earth-shakingly low points. He makes me heart beat faster - sometimes with passion and sometimes with fury, he still makes me laugh harder than anyone else, he knows me better than anyone else, he's given me three beautiful babies. He provides for our family. He prays for me. He makes me a better person. I can't imagine a day without this man. And I can't imagine a more perfect love story than ours.

Andrew Morgan Hollingsworth, I'm so glad I said yes. 

I have a heavy Mommy heart tonight

Remember this little man? 

Well he started preschool a few weeks ago! 

He's in the 4 year old class 3 days a week at a local christian school and absolutely loves it! Our little shy guy has totally blossomed into this charming, well behaved, student. I love that he enjoys going to school so much (he seriously had a meltdown last Friday when he realized it wasn't a school day. Loves it.) But my heart does ache a bit knowing how quickly the last four years have passed. The next four will surely pass just as fast, if not faster. Not cool! 

 And sweet little 3 day old Corrinne? 

She's a sassy, spunky, ears-pierced, lip gloss loving, 13 year old in a 3 year old body! ;) 

My heart aches for newborn Corrinne tonight as she's laying in her crib for the last time. I remember her first night in her crib. And even though we've waited REALLY long to make the transition into a big girl bed, it seems like its here way too soon. 

Ohhh, sweet little Anniston! 

I knew from experience how quickly the days would pass, but it doesn't seem right that in a matter of weeks you'll turn ONE! This has, no doubt, been the shortest year of my life! I fear that my memories of you as a baby will be blurry because of everything else going on. I pray that God will somehow grant me supernatural powers to memorize every facial expression, every funny little thing you do, every sweet snuggle and kiss I get from your slobbery lips. You are such a sweet baby. 

I recently had a fellow mom tell me that the days are long but the years are short. Thats the best description of motherhood I've ever heard. I know too often I find myself feeling frustrated with the busyness of my days, the constant cycles of dishes, laundry, diaper changes, time outs, and bottles. But I'm not that anxious to trade that in just yet. I'm praying now more than ever that God would allow me to focus on my kids. To spend more time reading to them, playing make believe with them, and just laughing with them, being present with them. Who cares about dishes, right? Clean clothes are overrated. Right? 

Im off to snuggle Annie before she gets any bigger... 

The BIG 3!

 Oh, my sweet Corrinne. How did you go from this...

to this...

OVERNIGHT?! 

I can hardly believe my sweet little chubby cheeked girl is a big three year old complete with pierced ears and a big girl hair cut. You are such a bright spot in so many people's lives. I love the vibrance in your laughter, everything you say is with such conviction, and you are full of personality. 

You still love to sing and dance, and most recently you've added an imaginary microphone (most often used in when singing in the car) and you love to play air guitar. Your favorite songs are "Lord, I'm Amazed", "Oh, Happy Day", and "Young" by Fun. You're a big Coldplay fan and frequently ask to listen to Kari Jobe - your current fave is "Scars" and you LOVE "God's Not Dead" by the Newsboys. You love all things pink, ballet, and baby dolls. You usually have about 5 layers of lip gloss on and at least one tube in your hand, just in case you need a touch-up! Your nails are usually always painted and you are loving temporary tattoos! At your 3 year check-up both the nurse and Dr. Blanchard thought you had a bruise on your forearm and were so relieved to find out it was just your Strawberry Shortcake tatt. ;) 

Corrinne, as I always say - Your Daddy and I feel so blessed to have been given the gift of being your parents. You are always teaching us so much about parenthood. You are quite the strong-willed little lady...and thats ok! Frustrating at times, but ok because you also have the biggest heart and can be such a sweetheart. Never forget that God had written all of your days before a single one came to pass and He loves you more than your daddy and I ever could. Continue to pray to Him, continue to seek His will and learn His word. 

I love you sweet girl, 

Mommy 

And that's all I'll say about that

There are two sides to every story, every argument, every debate. I happen to stand on the less popular side, so it seems these days. And thats ok. Because I know not every person is going to agree with me. In fact, not very many do. The great thing about our make up as humans is that we were given a brain and the ability to choose for ourselves how to think, how to feel. We're not robots. So you can have your opinion and I can have mine. Add to that the fact that we live in a country that has given us the freedom to express those opinions... BONUS! We're all happy, right? Sure doesn't seem that way.

I stand for what the Bible says. I stand for what it says regarding lots of controversial issues including premarital sex, adultery, gossip, murder, abortion, and most recently debated but definitely not the least - homosexuality. But please understand me when I say this - just because I stand for something does not mean I hate, discriminate against, or will not associate myself with anyone participating in that lifestyle. I can't sit in a place of judgement so please do not assume thats what I'm doing when in fact, I'm just standing for what I believe in - just like you are - except perhaps on the other side of the discussion. 


We are called to love one another. It is possible to love someone without condoning their actions. I do it  daily with my own children. So please, please, please do not mistake my stance on this issue as hateful or discriminatory. As everyone has said, we're all entitled to our own opinions. You can have yours. I can have mine.