Enchiladas Verdes

This really is nothing too special, but a few weeks ago I got a hankering for some enchiladas verdes so I purchased a big can of green sauce and made up some enchiladas. They turned out so delicious that I decided I needed to make it again and measure things this time! So here ya go, I'm sharing my Mexican restaurant-worthy recipe with you.

Beef Enchiladas Verdes

1-1 ½ lb roast (or whatever beef you want)
1 T lime juice
1 t cumin
1 t chile powder
1 ½ (15 oz) cans of green enchilada sauce
2 c cooked rice
Mexican blend grated cheese
10 medium-sized tortillas

Put beef in slow cooker and pour lime juice over it. Sprinkle cumin and chile powder over all sides of meat. Add about 1/3 cup enchilada sauce into slow cooker. Cook on low for about 5 hours, or until meat shreds easily. Shred beef. Meanwhile, prepare rice. Pour enough enchilada sauce into a 9x13 pan to cover the bottom. Place a spoonful of meat and a spoonful of rice on each tortilla, and sprinkle with cheese. Roll up and put in pan. Cover with more enchilada sauce and top with cheese. Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes.

This last time I used Carlita brand enchilada sauce. Burke and I are Carlita's biggest fans. So far we've tried her salsa, cheese dips, and now green enchilada sauce..... we looove it. I'm glad I had some sauce left over because I will definitely be using it. (You could probably just use 1 can of sauce, but I just like to err on the side of too saucy rather than too dry.)

You play basketball?

I can't even tell you how many times people have asked Burke if he plays basketball. He always says yes. Burke loves basketball.

Up until last week he'd been playing ball in shoes he got 4 1/2 years ago for $20 that had holes in each side where his toes were busting out. But not anymore! Thanks to this awesome Christmas gift from Bonnie, Burke once again has the sweetest shoes on the block! 

It took them a while to come once she ordered them, and he was anxiously awaiting them.  So this is excited Burke ready for his new shoe debut.

Thanks Bon!

In search of incredible

After hearing some more sad news tonight, I'm feeling it. But it just so happens that earlier today I was directed to the following videos, and I have since returned to watch them again because they are so inspiring.

Sometimes life is a hard thing. We often see sorrow from a distance, sometimes in someone close to us, and sometimes we get our turn at it too. No one's experiences are quite the same, so it can be easy to feel alone. Of course, we are never alone, and our Savior is the one person who truly has been through it. He truly understands. And He chose to experience those things so that He truly can help us.

Sometimes I think it can help to observe others who have gone through something hard and to try and get an appreciation for how they dealt with it so seemingly well. Maybe if they can handle that, I can handle what I'm asked to too. Maybe those that I love that are struggling right now will be able to find that same power and strength. This filled me with hope. Melanie and I worked at the same place for a few months in 2008, and I had heard bits and pieces of her and Daniel's story for the next couple of years. I was so touched by their words in these videos, and by the comforting spirit that I felt.



"Sometimes tests are not about passing or failing. Heavenly Father is not sitting up there with a checklist and pen while we're enduring a trial...I know that the purpose of coming here is to grow and learn."

Daniel was chosen as the winner of a competition called In Search of Incredible. It's a longer video, but I love it too. You should watch it.

Lovin' Love

Happy Valentine's Day! I love this day to celebrate love!!! What a happy thing to celebrate!

Growing up, Mom and Dad always made us cute little valentines and put them out on our plates in the morning and then we'd have a nice breakfast. Such a little thing, but it really helped me to feel loved and to learn to love this holiday. It's not just about the love between Burke and I... it's about all the many people in our lives that we love so much!

Our heart-shaped breakfast and the valentines we made for each other.

To our family and friends, we love you!!

New!

Burke got a new job! He was hired for another position within Thrivent, the company he's been working for. It will be in the finance department, and he will be managing lender relations(?). He will still be working from home, so we're not expecting much to change, besides the fact that he'll be doing a completely different job! It's a fantastic opportunity for him to learn more in the finance side of things and get more experience that will help him towards deciding what to do with future school and employment. Plus, it's a pay raise!! :) He really does not love working at home but it's amazing how well it has worked out for us...we are so grateful. He'll be going to the headquarters in Minnesota in a few weeks to do some training. In the meantime he will have a lot to do to get ready to leave his current position.

Congrats,  Burke! I am so proud of you!

I have fake patient exams again this semester, but now they are a bit more realistic, with a real complaint and a real potential diagnosis! Last week I was so nervous. My patient had recurrent nosebleeds. While I was "interviewing" him he showed me a tissue with blood on it as an example of how his nosebleeds have been. Then when I looked inside his nose I saw a bloody place that truly looked like it had been bleeding! I was pretty surprised..... Dude! I thought you were supposed to be faking!!!

He ended up having 3 potential causes of nosebleeds, all of which could be readily addressed. I did really well on it and it was fun! So I am hoping it will inspire a new-found confidence in me so that I won't be so nervous next time.

Oh and, I can't believe how much BYU basketball we have been watching lately! I don't know why, but we have been staying up til midnight and 1am fairly regularly to watch the games.... and we've been loving it! I think we are hooked. Every home game though, I miss the Marriott Center so much.