Monday, November 30, 2009

Menu Plan Monday



Here's the plan:

Breakfast:

Chocolate chip Coffee Cake

Yogurt w/ mixed berries

cereal x2

oatmeal

breakfast burritos x2

Lunch:

Bean n cheese tacos

Sandwich's

Ramen

Hot dogs

Frito Pie

Potato Soup

Dinner:

Baked Ziti (x2 for a church family)

Black Beans w/ Cilantro lime rice

Homemade Mac N Cheese w/ smoked sausage

Roasted Red Pepper Chicken and salad

Chicken Soup

This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps118:24.

Today this is my verse. I am so blessed and my riches abound. So although I have a very bad case of the Monday blah's I know the Lord has great things in store for me today.

Being the last day of November I am planning our budget and our menu. Is that really ever fun? But I am encouraged by the Lord's provision in our lives. As always, I am amazed every month as I sit down with my calculator and pencil and see where our money actually went. It seems every month somehow, someway our budget was able to stretch more than planned. I especially love to see when it was divinely stretched to provide for others. We struggle as any family with worldly desires, and it's not easy to always think of what the Lord would have us do. Especially when I want nothing more than to go home and rest and chick-fil-a has my name in it's neon sign. But, over all I'd say we are slowly working toward our goal of debt freedom.

With the holidays upon us, I am slightly discouraged. We, like so many families did not plan for this 6 week spending extravaganza. So creativity is in order. I however have a sneaking suspicion that we will be even more blessed by a Christmas with presents from the heart, more than those from the store. I look forward to seeing our little ones serving others and their creativity in gift giving. I also look forward to some special moments with each of them as we plan and prepare for the holidays together.

I pray each of you find blessings in this season, and remember our biggest blessing of all. The birth of our Lord and Savior.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Our holiday plan of action

So today begins our whirl wind weekend. I'm so excited. Thanksgiving is such a fun time for our family. Tomorrow we start with our trip to the dentist. I know, how in the world can you be excited about the dentist. But I love it. Both of the children look forward to seeing our hygienist, Amy. I could not have asked for a bigger blessing. Children that enjoy the dentist. They giggle and laugh and have complete control of their suction tool. How awesome is that. Oh, the simple things in life. They get to watch each other and even try to engage me in conversation while I'm being cleaned. The whole office is always jovial and so willing to make the experience enjoyable for the kids.

We will spend the afternoon making turkey cookies. I don't remember when we started this tradition, but the children always remind me when it's time. And I was informed this year, my my princess, that there will be no exceptions or substitutions. These precious cookies are so easy, and it's always a fun time to spend with the kids. Then we will spend the evening and early morning playing board games and watching movies. This is also one of our children's favorite times. They are allowed to stay up as long as they like. What they don't realize is the joy we have of children sleeping on a long car ride. So we will awake Thurs. am and make the trip down to family. Then eat until we can't walk. Ahhh, if only we could guarantee no weight gain in the process.

Friday I am hoping to make a few black Friday ads. I don't start until around 11. I am by no means am brave enough to battle the crowds. Then we are off to my sweets 1st employer's gathering. I so appreciate the Ownsby family. Not only were they willing to work with a young teen, but even 15 yrs later, they are still ministering to us. What a glorious example of the body of Christ and the love of thy neighbor. This sweet couple have hosted this gathering of all employees (past, present and now future) every year and we look forward to it. I absolutely love seeing how the Lord has blessed them in life and in business. All of the families that have been impacted by the simple love of these two wonderful people. Following this much anticipated event we will try to meet with some family that will be traveling here for the holidays.

And finally them my goal is to rest. I don't know if will happen, but I think a good long will be in order.


Monday, November 23, 2009

Meal Plan Monday



I am not an avid menu planner, but I know I need to.Yes, I can create this beautiful menu, but will we stick to it is the question.

We do have several engagements, and still have not made our decision for the Thanksgiving holiday. So I'm planning for some possible travel this week. Either way, we've gotten off pretty easy this year. We'll be taking pumpkin pie and our famous turkey cookies this year.

Wed. is our dentist day, so I'm keeping my oldest out of school. We'll make turkey cookies together and just enjoy the day with the 3 of us.

Sun. I am planning on trying a new recipe from Cooking During Stolen Moments. Kate is a genius in the kitchen.

So are week should look something like this:


Breakfast:
PB toast and oranges
cereal w/ bananas
breakfast burritos
bacon/eggs/biscuits
breakfast casserole (our turn for SS breakfast)

Lunch:
Grilled ham n' cheese
Bean N cheese burritos
make your own sandwich (traveling)
supper at friends
Ramen
chicken n' rice
leftovers

Dinner:
Roasted chicken, salad
Chili
Soup n Sandwich
Turkey day!! (pumpkin pie, turkey cookies)
Supper at friends/ leftovers
leftovers












Friday, November 20, 2009

The Maiden Voyage

Today I begin our journey. I have been so richly blessed with 2 wonderful children and my very own Prince Charming. I couldn't ask for more. We may have a seemingly ordinary family, but our lives are full of antics and humor, as well as trials and tribulations. Welcome to the journal into our crazy lives. Enjoy and I pray you are all richly blessed. Or at least get a smile or two.