Swiss Chicken Recipe. Easy and delicious recipe (thanks to my friends, Ryan and Regan Haggerty who showed it to me years ago in Regan and my Ft. Worth apartment):

Ingredients:

4-8 pieces of boneless, skinless chicken (the official recipe calls for 8, but you can adjust it depending on how many you're serving)

1 can cream of chicken soup

4-8 slices of swiss cheese

1/3 c. water

1-2 c. Italian bread crumbs (again, you can adjust that depending on the number of chicken breasts used)

1/2 c. butter 

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees

2. Layer chicken, soup, and water.

3. Place one piece of swiss cheese over each chicken breast and cover evenly with bread crumbs.

4. Slice butter into pads and place over bread crumbs. 

5. Cook for 45 minutes or until chicken juice runs clear. 

I usually serve this with egg noodles because Nate prefers noodles to rice, but you could use either one! 

Happy MLK weekend... Enjoy.

Control Freak...

Last week I had the joy of visiting my cousin, Cimbrey, in New Orleans on a work trip. We had a great time going to the French Quarter, visiting her favorite chocolate shop, laughing and catching up on life. There's something special about family and the way they just "get" you. Cimbrey and her husband, Mark, have been married for almost eight years and are in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia. We talked a lot about our background and families, beginning a marriage and life together, and how we wanted to raise our children one day.

Something Cimbrey said that really struck me as profound is, "When we're trying to control things, it's really an issue with us and God because it means we don't trust God to handle them." You see, as much as I don't like to admit it, I'm a control-freak... I like to be in a routine, scheduled, and on the ball. Don't get me wrong, most of the time this isn't a conscious effort, it's just how I've learned to do life. Regardless, when I take inventory of my actions and how often I say and do things in an effort to control situations, I become aware of how often I take things out of God's hands and into my own. The ridiculousness and truth of that makes me thankful for friends and family that provide wisdom and insight to both challenge and encourage me. Cimbrey's advice reminds me of Proverbs 19:21, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that will prevail." Thanks cuz for sharing your wisdom as a woman who has walked the road several years ahead of me!

Creating Meaningful Memories with My Time

As I said in my last post, something I really want to do better in 2011 is experiment with creative and intentional ways to spend my time. I've been convicted recently about how much time I waste in front of the TV, computer, and all my other electronic devices (I know that's ironic that I'm saying that as I'm sitting on a computer typing this). Hopefully more will follow, but here's my first few ideas of this endeavor:

Creative Idea #1 - Game night

I know having game night is nothing ground-breaking or original, but I forget how much fun it is to plan opportunities to play games. This week, Nate and I played a game of Scrabble Monday night, played Boxers or Briefs for Chelsea's birthday Tuesday night, and last night we went over to the Porter's house for a "spades" night, complete with popcorn and delicious cider! It was great to be able to chat over a fun and mildly competitive game. Whether or not it's valid, after playing on someones team in a game, you feel like you've bonded with them. 

Creative Idea #2 - Building a Fire 

There's something so comforting about a fire. It makes you want to curl up and read a good book or drink a cup of good tea or cider. Living in Texas, there's not too many days when it's cold enough to build one, but today is definitely one of those days. 

What are some of your favorite creative hobbies or ways to spend your time?

Happy New Year!

Since I'm missing out on Canton with my friends because a stomach bug creeped over me last night, I might as well play on our new computer and post on the blog! I'm so excited for 2011. At dinner the other night Nate and I were talking about what an eventful year we've had: we got engaged, planned a wedding and were married, moved into a house (and several smaller moves in between), started hunting for a new church, and celebrated Nate's 30th birthday. These memories will forever be etched in our hearts and minds, and these sharing all of this with friends and family is what made 2010 such a special year for the Kotschi's!

As exciting as this past year has been, we are excited to welcome 2011! The first four months of marriage for us have been jam-packed and we're so looking forward to spending this year continuing to learn how to do marriage and enjoy the simple joys of spending time with friends and family. Nate's not big on "New Year's Resolutions", but here are my few:

1. Nate and I find a new church home and community.
2. Continue to learn about how to be a good wife and love Nate well; to pray for him instead of nagging him; and to learn to be wise with how we handle conflict.
3. Spend more time doing creative things (walking, crafting, cooking, etc.) and less time in front of the TV.

Thank God for a new year with fresh beginnings and a time and season of hope and joy! Happy 2011 everyone!