8 Year Anniversary

Today we are celebrating 8 years of marriage. EIGHT years. Isn't that incredible? I told Matt the other day that we were celebrating 8 years but I was thankful for 7.. ;) I really am thankful for each year even though of course it isn't always fun or "easy". The hard year actually makes the celebrating more meaningful. I know when we first got married I had a very different perspective on marriage than I do now. I imagine that perspective is ever-evolving as each year brings new things, lessons, twists and turns. Someone told me when we were celebrating our 6th year "oh, it's not a big year like 5th or 10th, etc..." Well, in my opinion, every year is a BIG year in my book. These days, that is not common anymore. I can say with absolute confidence and certainty that we are celebrating today, and each year, because of the grace of God. How blessed am I!?

We got to celebrate in Atlanta two weekends ago just the two of us. It was such a great weekend! Tonight, I'm making one of our favorite meals - actually something Matt cooked me on our "anniversary" while we were dating. And the best part, it's called Anniversary Chicken! Haha. Seriously. It's delicious though.

Here's the recipe:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup teriyaki basting sauce

1/2 cup Ranch-style salad dressing

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

3 green onions, chopped

1/2 (3 ounce) can bacon bits

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and saute 4 to 5 minutes each side, until lightly browned.
3. Place browned chicken breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Brush with teriyaki sauce, then spoon on salad dressing. Sprinkle with cheese, green onions and bacon bits.
4. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear. Garnish with parsley and serve.