Texas Beef and Beans

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 C. diced onion
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 16 oz. Can pinto beans, drained (reserve 3 T. liquid)
1 14.5 oz can sliced tomatoes (drained)
1 small can of sliced black olives (drained)
4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Brown beef and onion. Drain. Add taco seasoning packet and mix according to package directions. Spread in a 9x13 baking dish. Mash pinto beans with a fork or potato masher adding the 3 T. saved liquid. Carefully spread mashed beans on ground beef. Add drained tomatoes and olives. Spread cheese over all. Bake 350 degrees 25 to 30 minutes until bubbly and cheese melted.

Janessa made this for supper tonight. Yum! It was quite tasty. Our family thoroughly enjoyed it. (there weren't any leftovers...evidence of a good meal:)
I'm so sorry I haven't updated in...well...a long time. We've had our share of adventures lately. There was the mishap with the van (it almost flipped over...slick ice), Janessa jammed her toe going up the stairs (which has resulted in various limping and hobbling), and Jeremy fell through a ceiling at one of his job sites. Somehow he grabbed two beams and escaped any injury. We have been keeping our heavenly angels very busy. The rest of us are just holding our breath.
On another subject, our pastor preached a very moving sermon on Sunday. He preached for over an hour on the conscience. He explained how we as Christians become immune to certain sins because we allow our conscience to become seared. Needless to say, his sermon was really quite phenomenal. I will leave you all with a quote on this subject that I am seeking to memorize. One of Susanna Wesley's children asked her how to define sin. This was her answer: "Whatever weakens your reason, whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience, whatever obscures your sense of God, whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind, whatever takes away from your relish for spiritual things, that to you is sin, no matter how innocent it is in itself."