December 17th

One year ago today

I was afraid

I prayed for peace all day

As I pushed and strained

When you were born

The strangest thing

I thought I loved you before

But the moment I saw you

I felt such a deep, shocking

Love

I knew that a new chamber

In my heart had appeared

That I’d never felt before

One year ago today

Everything changed

You brought such a newness

Your first smile felt like

A proclamation of light

Into the darkness of our world

The strangest thing

I couldn’t have foreseen

How important you would be to me

Sweet

And I know now what they mean

When they say that motherhood

Is the hardest and best job

One year ago today

Your little life ameliorated mine

You brought such sunshine

Your first laugh sounded like

The most beautiful music

Into my soul

The strangest thing

Nothing I used to think was funny

Compares to how funny you are

Boy

You are a little man

In all your antics and mannerisms

I see your daddy in you

One year ago today

I was blessed

With the gift of a beautiful son

The first time you kissed me

My heart melted and I knew

No matter where you go

Or what you do

I will always love and remember you

Child

Of my heart

Son of my soul

Happy birthday to my little love

Crock Pot Corn Chowder

1 onion, chopped and sautéed until tender

3 cans sweet corn (or 2 bags frozen corn)

3 red potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces

2 slices bacon, crisped and crumbled (optional)

1 32oz. carton chicken broth

¾ cup milk or half and half

¼ cup cornstarch

Put first five ingredients in crock pot.  Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 10-12 hours.  During last half-hour of cooking, stir cornstarch into milk or half and half; add to crock pot to thicken.

*** I should add a few notes to these recipes.  The corn starch in all my crock pot recipes really is optional.  I thicken my recipes because my husband prefers it that way.  Also, I do not like a lot of salt and find that the broths make the recipes salty enough for ME, however, my husband always adds salt to his dish so it might be a good idea to add a teaspoon of salt or so to the pot before cooking.  Again, totally optional.

Crock Pot Beef Stew

1 lb stew beef, cut into bite-size pieces

2 or 3 baking potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces

2 cups baby carrots

1 can French onion soup OR one pkg French onion soup mix

1 32oz. carton of beef broth or stock

1 bay leaf

Put beef, potatoes, carrots, bay leaf and broth in crock pot.  Cook on high 3-4 hours or low 10-12 hours.  Optional: To thicken the stew, mix corn starch into milk or water and add to crock pot for the last 20-30 minutes of cooking.

Crock Pot Potato Soup

2 lbs red potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces

1 cup baby carrots, cut in halves or thirds

1 stalk celery, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 32oz. carton of chicken broth or stock

¾ cup milk

¼ cup corn starch

Saute onion in 1 tbsp butter until tender.  Put onion, potatoes, carrots, celery and broth in crock pot.  Cook on high 3-4 hours or low 10-12 hours.  Mix corn starch into milk; add to crock pot the last half hour.