Jealous Hands

our week in a nutshell :: 1/2 - 1/6

2012-01-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

This has been a very bizarre week! It has definitely seemed to drag by at times, but it has flown by, too and I am SO thankful to be at he end of it!

Brian started his new job with the public school system, and we could not be more thrilled! The drive is shorter, and he is loving it so far!
Cade had his normal therapy appts. on Tuesday & Thursday.
I spent a lot of time on the phone confirming appointments & getting instructions for Cade's MRI next week. Also spent a lot of time filling out insurance forms - this will be the first time in our married life we've had insurance.
Tuesday night, we took Ryan to the ER. A couple of weeks ago, he stepped on some glass, which we {thought} we'd removed. Tuesday evening, out of the blue, his toe was swollen with a BIG pocket of puss & red streaks running to the arch of his foot. The ER x-rayed it, and that's how we found out there's still glass. We didn't see the x-rays. He also prescribed antibiotics.
We saw the PCP on Thursday, and he was concerned that the infection was growing; he cut the toe to drain the infection, and told us to make an appointment with a specialist.
We saw Dr. Shaffer today, and were able to view the x-rays... The glass is indeed still in the toe... And it it large an right next to the bone. Now Ryan is scheduled for outpatient surgery next Friday to have it removed.

Add all of this to our old sweet dog who can't walk, and 2 Christmas gift puppies who STILL aren't housetrained.... it's been a hectic week to say the least. We still have not started back to school after Christmas; although they are un-decorated, most of the Christmas trees are still not in the attic, and my laundry is out. of. control. I took a picture at the beginning of the week thinking surely it would look better at the end of the week. Yeah. It doesn't.

Forget the former things... do not dwell on the past. - Isaiah 43:18

Moving on!

miracle

2011-12-29T13:53:00.000-08:00

The child must know he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.

My sweet Cade, you are growing so much! I cannot believe it's been SEVEN years since you surprised us by coming 2 months early! You've been a surprise since the beginning, and you continue to surprise us and make us laugh every day!

We cannot wait to see what God has in store for you this year - we are so blessed to have you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET BOY - WE LOVE YOU!!

books I read in 2011

2011-12-28T09:21:00.000-08:00

photo credit

Nester is having an impromptu Linky party! I love to read, and I DO keep track of the books I've read {and want to read}, so I'm linking up!

One Thousand Gifts {more than once, and oh! how I love it!}
Voyager
Drums of Autumn
The Girl She Used to Be
The Pact
Complaint Free World {on Ann Voskamp's recommendation}
The Fiery Cross
A Breath of Snow and Ashes
Cost
The Pillars of the Earth {twice}
Pigs in Heaven
The Bean Trees {I did not like either of these}
The Man With a Load of Mischief
American Fuji
You Belong to Me
Shem Creek
The Butterfly's Daughter
Queen of Broken Hearts
An Echo in the Bone
Ladder of Years
Keeping Faith
Sing You Home
Heart of the Matter
The Hand That First Held Mine
As Hot as It Was, You Ought to Thank Me
Harvesting the Heart
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
My Hands Came Away Red
The Wise Woman
The Kitchen House
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Book of a Thousand Days
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

I also read some non-fiction {but not much}, and some "homeschooling" books. This list also doesn't include read-alouds with the boys. Some books were fill-ins when a requested book wasn't ready. You'll also see that I read several by the same author{s} - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Outlander series {Diana Gabaldon} and I am a HUGE Jodi Picoult fan as well!

A lot of the books I read this year I found through Amy @ MomAdvice - great book suggestions {& a lot of other great content as well!}.

Books I want to read in 2012:

The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mocking Jay
The Book Thief
Remarkable Creatures
Still Alice

Also, I'm starting the book list from The Well Educated Mind {thanks, Edie!}, so:

Don Quixote
The Pilgrim's Progress
Gulliver's Travels

Of course, that's by no means all-inclusive! I know I will read more than that, but those are ones I definitely want to get to.

What a great idea for a linky. Thanks, Nester!

our Fall so far...

2011-10-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

The end of September & so far, October has been extremely busy for us. We are usually not so busy, so it's hard for me to adjust. Really, I don't think I ever adjust, but just keep running full blast & slightly behind!

Our Fall baseball season is almost over, & I am so glad! I'm usually sad to see it end, but not this year. There have been several weeks when we've been at the field e.v.e.r.y. night - and that's just too much. The end of October will also bring the end of travel ball which I WILL be sad about, but we all need the break!

So:

We are on Day 33 of school. So far, so good. Ryan's "core" is World Geography, and so far he LOVES it! Cade is doing MFW's Kindergarten again, with Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. It took us a little while to get into it, but I really believe that the key is just to keep doing it. Persistence.
Cade has started occupational therapy in addition to his normal speech therapy. It is hard for him, but he is working hard & making improvements! He is scheduled for an MRI next month, & hopefully we'll finally be able to get to the bottom of things!
We have played almost 30 baseball games & 5 men's softball games between the boys & Brian.
Ryan's travel ball team, Newton County RAGE, has played 4 tournaments, taking 2nd place in one & finally winning the championship last weekend. To say they were excited is a major understatement!
We are enjoying the cooler weather, and the rain we're finally getting! It's supposed to warm up again over the weekend, so we'll enjoy it while we can!

I am really looking forward to the slowdown the end of this month will bring, and trying to settle in before the holidays come around.

This is normally my favorite time of year, but this year for some reason I seem to be a bit melancholy. Truly, I think the reason is because both the boys' birthdays are right after Christmas. They will be turning 9 & 7; you'd think I would be used to this by now, but the days seem to speed by so quickly now and they're growing up so fast!

another week has come

2011-08-18T04:06:00.000-07:00

and almost gone. It is amazing to me how quickly the days are flying by! We have less than 2 weeks until we'll be starting the new school year.

We're stuck at home for the end of this week, due to a car problem. Which means no therapy for Cade.

Baseball teams have been drafted! Cade is playing for a new coach, and Brian is coaching Ryan's team. Both teams will be light blue!
Baseball practice for rec ball (both teams) starts Friday night.
Ryan is playing in the RAGE's first tournament this weekend. He has surprised everyone (including the coaches!) at playing catcher. How is ended up behind the plate is a mystery to me; he is so small back there, but he is good!

So, this weekend will be filled with BASEBALL - 2 practices on Friday, and 4 games over the weekend!

our summer in lots (& lots!) of pictures

2011-08-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

up to her old ways

2011-08-08T10:09:00.000-07:00

I started listing them here, just ten at a time. Thinking if I listed all I'd already written, I'd have nothing for the next week. Thinking surely the weeks would catch up and I would run out of moments that I had already written, leaving nothing to type out here. But the moments keep coming so I'll be bold this week.

Update: the last paragraph was written in February, & now it's August. I've kept counting all this time, & it's become second nature. What a blessing. What a gift!)

libraries
snow that melts quickly
magazines in the mail
Zyrtec
rumble bumble & Friday Night "wack-down"
enough
antibiotics
sunshine after long days of rain
salt air
finally getting to the bottom of things
CLEAR PATHOLOGY REPORT - HALLELUJAH!
itchy skin that means healing
seeing friends regularly
learning to let. it. go.
hearing them sing "Jesus" songs
Bible school, & memories that come with it
seeing them run to the waves
bellies full of fresh fried shrimp
fishing at dark
night swimming
salty boy sugar
Cade's hermit crabs
hearing waves crash

"The trick is to enjoy life. Don't waste away your days wishing for better ones ahead."

summer update

2011-08-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

So wow... it's been almost 6 months since I've posted anything! We had a busy Spring as usual, filled with baseball (Ryan on 2 teams & Cade on 1), planting flowers, & building a garden.

Our summer has been so fun this year; we've especially enjoyed a long break from baseball, & a trip to the beach. It was the first time my boys have ever been, and predictably, they LOVED it. Everyone was sad when it was time to come home.

(Brian would like me to point out that the spot is something on my lens, not on his face!)

In other news, Brian FINALLY got THE job we've been waiting for - for about 4 years. The one we have prayed for, begged & pleaded with God for, and held out hope for, for so long. And how it finally came about was in a way that I never would have expected, but finally, here it is. Having him gone every (week) day has been an adjustment, but we would never go back! We are so thankful!

We've also had some unexpected news for Cade & for myself. Cade's therapist suspects that he may have a very mild cerebral palsy, which would explain a lot of his issues. We have an appointment with a pediatric neurologist in September to either confirm this, or not.

I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma and had surgery to have it removed this past week. I was very surprised, and would not even have gone to the doctor had Brian not continued to insist, and if I hadn't blistered my back (yes, I know) at the beach and caused the place to get really irritated. You never know! If you have a strange or changing spot, even if it doesn't look that bad, you really need to get it checked out.

Now we're heading toward the end of summer (though not the hot weather!), and we're looking to Fall already.

Baseball is starting back up. Ryan is playing on a travel ball team, and both boys will play fall ball with the recreation department. That league starts the end of this month.
I have finished purchasing our curriculum for school this year, and I think this will be the best year yet! We'll be starting school on August 29th. The boys are excited, but Mama's not ready yet!
Cade continues to go to therapy twice a week, and is really making huge progress, which makes me so happy!

Hope your summer has been wonderful!

will I remember?

2011-02-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

Last week was a hard week for me. I wonder why I'm so fickle; why one thing happening sends me directly back into despair.

I wonder if I'll remember - looking back at my list some time from now - I wonder if I'll remember what was going on in life when I wrote these things down, or why I wrote down something in particular.

numbers 32 - 42 of my One Thousand Gifts:

the birds flying in
him filling my feeders because he knows I love them
crackle of fire
boys gathering wood
baking bread
hearts
friends who remember me
who pray just for asking
dark chocolate
silly woodpecker
good books

this post is linked to A Holy Experience

and kept on going...

2011-02-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

I started this counting with a skeptical eye {remember my fear of looking the fool}, and truly I'm still a skeptic. I'm still amazed that the more I count, the more I find to write down. Sometimes the things that come to mind seem silly, and I hesitate; they seem insignificant and my writing is not beautiful. But I've decided that everything - anything - that enters my mind to give thanks over, that made me smile, or was somehow otherwise appreciated makes the list.

I'm waiting for my life changing moment - because haven't I been told this can change lives? I'm waiting for that life changing moment, and thinking that maybe it's not a moment, but lots of little ones. I want that confirmation, though, to know it in my bones, and shamefully I am still more ungrateful, un-thankful, than full of thanks.

But I'm counting, still counting... and one by one, the list keeps growing - it really does!

Number 21 - 31 of my One Thousand Gifts...

clean kitchens
the smell of lemon
click of the thermostat
rumble of dryer
that Nana is a saver
Nana
family resemblances
buckeyes
little boy imaginations
big appetites on skinny boys
forgiveness

what gifts have you been given today?

this post is shared with a holy experience

and so I started counting...

2011-02-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

I've long been a reader of A Holy Experience, and lover of sweet Ann's encouragement in thankfulness. Especially since reading her book One Thousand Gifts, I started counting myself, to count it all joy, to be thankful for everything...

1 - 20 of my endless gifts

bed head boys fresh from sleep
swirl of white through dark coffee
friends making family
fresh outside smell on flushed-cheek boys
coming home
community
unexpected laughter
candles' warm glow
telling of nighttime dreams
habit
daffodils poking through
Mammy memories
Candi Carson
generosity - Callaway who made me cry
"Mom, did you call me?"
those who don't give up
the smell of ink
5 Good Things & little boys sharing
"Remember Whens" & our years of yesterdays
patience & persistence

What are the gifts you've been given today?

shared at A Holy Experience

all lit up

2010-10-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

Last night, Brian & Ryan went on an overnight camping trip, so Cade & I finally lit the jack 'o lanterns. This is probably the first year he remembers doing this. He loved it - and they looked great - except for the blurry picture!

carving JACK!

2010-10-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

Last night we carved our Jack O Lanterns! We skipped it last year {too much going on}, and before this year, they've never really wanted to be involved; they have always refused to touch the pumpkin "guts".

This year, they were ready!

It's been raining here for 3 days, so we didn't get to light them up last night. The boys are very excited to see how they look tonight!

still blessed - our perspective 1 year later

2010-10-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago, I wrote a guest post at Nesting Place about contentment. Since then, we've moved into the "new" house, lived on & off without jobs, lost and/or sold almost everything we had.

So, the question is: am I still content?

I wish I could say that the contentment, the peace that I fought for then was mine every day. But that would be a lie. Most days, I do fine.

So many things are out of our hands, my hands and I can feel the old worry creeping back in. It is disconcerting how quickly I fall back into negativity. (It is, after all, the way I roll. ) I want to know all the answers, the end result, that it's all been worth it.

I feel like there's always something new. Some new thing that we never expected coming around to knock us off our feet again. And I think that we won't get through this, that it's too hard, that our lives will never be right again. And I find myself starting to live in fear again, dreading what the next day will bring. Because there have been a lot of bad ones. But there is more good.

Life is still being lived. School is getting done, meals are getting cooked; our boys are being loved, and we're busy being a family. We are blessed with a home, food to eat, family & friends. The thing to remember, like I said before, is that the blessings still outnumber the bad. By FAR. And joy is a CHOICE.

Happiness is a symptom of circumstances but joy is a product of perspective. God is still good, so I will be grateful.

"What if I allow myself to put the outcome in God’s hands and just live intensely in the present, absorbing and embracing life as it happens?"(Don't remember where I saw that quote. If it's yours, sorry! And, thanks!)

Oh, to just leave it with Him! Things are not as we would have imagined. This is not what we planned. We still don't know what will ultimately happen, which is something that never occurred to me before all this started. I really never worried for tomorrow, because I never entertained the thought that things could change. Now I know not to take today for granted. And not to waste time on things that just don't matter.

What I want to remember is that it's all about the thanks.

handsome husband, who has proven time & again it's only me - forever - as we passed 17 years together (12 married)
brown eyed boys, innocent and sweet and true
unexpected friends
acceptance
peace that passes understanding
full bellies & warm beds
hugs from Nana
willing hearts & hands
smiling pumpkins on our front porch
almost every evening around the outside fire
memory making & catching
making this house our HOME

This post linked to:

A Holy Experience

what's on the menu: Week of 10/24

2010-10-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

It's supposed to be a little cooler this week, so I've planned some cooler weather favorites. Brian has been doing the actual cooking (supper) most nights over the open fire outside - great for me, since it means I don't have to cook!

Sunday: Beef Stew (with carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, potatoes & green peas) & garlic Parmesan bread
Monday: bbq pork chops, homemade mac & cheese, broccoli
Tuesday: beef enchiladas
Wednesday: salmon patties, cheese grits & ???
Thursday: homemade chili (leftovers will go in the freezer)
Friday: Fondue with the boys (we always do fondue for Halloween, New Years & sometimes Valentine's day)
Saturday: we're hosting a Halloween party - everyone will bring a Halloween themed appetizer
Sunday: steaks & French onion soup (another Halloween tradition)

our 4th of July weekend

2010-07-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

{flags over baseball fields}

Since we were at the baseball tournament, our 4th of July was spent... playing baseball! That night after our game, we all went swimming back at the hotel. After a pizza party, we shot "fireworks" in the hotel parking lot. All the boys {and a few girls, too} thought that was just fine! We did try to find some local fireworks, but we couldn't find any.

{ready for fireworks}

{the brothers}

{buddies}

Hope you enjoyed your holiday!

June, in lots of pictures {and a few words}

2010-07-01T03:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's July 1st!

June this year was all about baseball. Lots and lots of baseball! We had end 0f season parties for both boys' teams. We also had practice E.V.E.R.Y. day - unless there was a game.

Our boys played in their District tournament, and won 3rd place - which secured their place in the State tournament. {As an aside, we've caught a lot of flack for our level of involvement in ball, the whole "there's more to life than winning" thing, and all of that. And, we agree that there is more to life than winning. But these boys are 12 of THE BEST in the whole STATE OF GEORGIA. To be 7 years old and make it to this level of competition is remarkable, and I don't know why we shouldn't be proud of that. In our county alone, there were 221 players in the league. If there were that many players in just OUR county, think about how many played PeeWee statewide. So, Ryan made it - one of 36 that are playing All Stars. That's awesome! It really is quite an accomplishment, and speaks to the dedication of these boys AND the parents. Rant over!}

{not Ryan, but I love this picture}

{standing on the line}

{handsome boys}

{Ryan & Daddy}

{Daddy's truck}

{best friends}

In our last game, we were down 10-5 when we came up for our last at-bat. We all pretty much knew we'd lost. But they rallied and ended up winning 11-10, and now we're going to Albany this weekend for the State tournament. And that will be it for the season. As much as we love baseball, I'm glad it's going to be over for a little while!

We've also done lots of swimming & hanging out with friends, a quick trip to the lake, and celebrated Father's Day. Cade lost his 1st tooth{and is about to lose the 2nd}. We've eaten lots of slushies in the afternoons & read lots of books & played outside & made plans for a short but sweet trip to the beach at the end of July. {Can't wait for that!}

{Cade lovin' him some ice cream}

{sweet girl Carley got to go to the lake, too}

Now I'm packing, getting ready to go to the tournament this weekend. Looking forward to some more baseball this weekend!

"God bless you and keep you,

God smile on you and gift you,

God look you full in the face

and make you prosper."

Numbers 6:24-26

May in a Nutshell

2010-05-28T07:47:00.001-07:00

May flew by in a flurry of activities and changes for us! I cannot believe it's already the end of the month. We're looking forward to summer, and we have a lot of fun activities planned.

Here's some of what went on in May:

First and foremost, Brian started a new job. A blessed, prayed for, totally unexpected in the way it came about REAL, paying JOB!! After approximately 2 years of unemployment, this is a dream come true and a HUGE change for us. I'm almost scared to believe it's true. It's still very early in the game, but it does appear {at long last} that we will be able to keep the "new" house. This is such a tremendous answer to prayer, and a testament to seeking the Lord's will and just hanging on. There's more to write about this, but it'll have to be another post!
The boys were both sick with Strep throat and ear infections. Fun.
We finished up school and began some intense {everyday} speech therapy with Cade. It is hard and time consuming for all of us, but it will be SO worth it in the long run.
We played 17 baseball games in 29 days; we were at the ballpark a lot!
We made some new friends, and we're so excited about these new people in our lives!
Ryan has really taken off with his reading. Honestly, I was beginning to think he'd never get there. Teaching reading has been SUCH a struggle. But we're there, and getting better!
We took a short trip to North Carolina - Franklin and Cherokee. My family has a 2nd home in Franklin, right on the river, and it was so nice to get away - we haven't been away even overnight in almost a year. Cade caught his first trout all by himself, from the baiting & casting to the hooking & reeling in. Although the picture isn't great he was very excited - but not as much as Daddy. Ryan was bored quickly with the fishing, especially since Cade caught the first fish, so after a while, we left Daddy and spent our day touring Cherokee on foot.

We went to the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, the Oconaluftee Indian Village {we got in for free!}, and then walked around downtown & took pictures with ALL of the bears from the Bears Project. Some of them we did have to drive to, but we got them all! This is a really cool project, and the boys loved reading about & looking at each bear up close.
We started recycling in a major way. Before we moved, we never had a place to set up containers for recycling. Now we have a mini "recycling center" in the garage; I just used some plastic bins we already had. The boys are in charge of taking out the recycling. I'm impressed with the change I can see in the amount of trash we're throwing away! We toured a local recycling center, and the boys have loved learning more about this. {They've been trying to get us started for a while.} They even convinced Mees {my mother} to start her own recycling - now if we could just convince Nana!
Finally, we are so proud of and thrilled for Ryan! He made baseball All-Stars again, which is quite an accomplishment because he is one of the youngest in the league, and this is his first year playing Pee Wee. So, as if regular season weren't hectic enough we will start everyday practices and tournaments.

Whew! We had a busy month, and June is going to be busy as well. We're looking forward to summer!

hold the phone - I'm actually posting something

2010-04-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

I looked at the "date last published" on my Blogger dashboard, and I can't believe it's been 2 months since I posted ANYTHING.

It's not for lack of having anything to say. There's lots I want to talk about and share but, it feels like life has been moving at breakneck speed - especially since baseball started at the end of February. I have lots of drafts saved, but I've just not gotten around to actually publishing them.

So, this is a "hello" post, and I'll share pictures from our baseball season Opening Day, which is basically like a holiday around here!

Now that things are finally getting into a rhythm, I'll have time to post more. For those of you who have, thanks for sticking around. And to new friends - thanks for stopping by!

eating from the pantry challenge - week two

2010-01-12T10:27:00.000-08:00

Last week went pretty well, and this week is off to a good start as well. Lunch today was chicken & cheese quesadillas, made with canned chicken breast. The boys had olives with theirs; I had pickled jalapenos with mine. So good!

Our menu for this week:

{Sun} pork roast, potato salad, deviled eggs, fresh bread, green beans {Nana brought apple pie for dessert}
prime rib, baked potatoes, French bread {Note: this wouldn't have ordinarily been in my freezer. Nana brought it with her when she came Sunday}
bean soup & kielbasa, served with salsa verde shredded cheese
fried chicken, cheddar mashed potatoes, coleslaw
pepper steak & rice
loaded nachos
{Sat} having combined birthday party for Ryan & Cade, so it's hotdogs & chips

Week two, and we're still eating from the pantry. Have you joined yet?

chicken and dumplings

2010-01-05T05:01:00.000-08:00

Y'all, this is the easiest recipe ever. It's not even really a recipe! I used part of a leftover {frozen} turkey carcass in the ones I made Sunday, but obviously it's usually chicken.

First, boil your carcass/meat. It really is better if you use something with the bone - that's where all your flavor comes from. We purposely left a little more meat on the turkey than normal, but you'll be surprised at how much comes off when you're cooking it. I add salt, pepper, onion powder & garlic powder. Hint: Don't be shy with your seasoning. It needs more than you think! {You can also add in any herbs you'd like. This is one of those foods that's comfort food for me, so I want it just like I ate it when I was little.} Then, let it simmer away all day. If you don't have all day to let it cook - put in in your slow-cooker. Works like a charm.

About 30 minutes before I'm ready to serve it, I pour the whole pot over a strainer {catching my stock in a large bowl} and then set the strainer with the meat/bones aside to cool enough for me to handle. Then I pick through it to get out all the bones. {When we were little, both of my grandmothers served it with the bones still in it. I'm sorry, that's just yuck to me. I have to pick them out!}

Add everything back into your pot, then add a little milk. I used canned {evaporated} milk for this because it makes it a little richer.

For the dumplings mix together:

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
2 T. oil

When the soup comes up to a simmer, drop the dumpling mixture by the TEASPOON full into the liquid, and let them simmer 10-12 minutes.

Easy as that!

This is one of those recipes that it's very easy for you to be creative with - I know lots of people who add various vegetables to this, or herbs into the dumplings themselves. But for me, that's when it becomes something different than chicken & dumplings. Like I said, I want it to taste like it did when I was little!

This post linked to:

Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty & Bedlam

eating from the pantry challenge - week one

2010-01-04T04:40:00.000-08:00

This month I'm joining FishMama and Crystal {and lots of others!} in eating from my pantry & freezer.

Ordinarily this wouldn't be that big of a challenge for me, as I'm well versed in eating from my pantry. The problem is, since I've been doing so much eating from my pantry - there's not a whole lot left.

We started week one last night with turkey and dumplings with 1/2 of the leftover Thanksgiving turkey carcass. I don't know how {or if!} you make dumplings, but my recipe is so easy - and delicious!

For the rest of this week, our dinners will be:

meatloaf, sour cream & chives mashed potatoes, green beans & fresh bread
bean soup with kielbasa, salsa verde & shredded cheese
homemade chicken fingers, macaroni & cheese, corn
black bean chili {made with dried beans} with toppings {and enough for the freezer} & cheddar beer bread
chili dogs & french fries {"regular" chili, from the freezer}
appetizer night with things from the freezer - cheese sticks, onion peels, spinach dip

Breakfasts are usually some kind of eggs, toast & sausage or cinnamon rolls - and fruit.

Lunches are usually catch-as-catch can, meaning we eat whatever I feel like fixing. It is usually sandwiches, pasta salad, cheese quesadillas {with meat if there's any leftover} or something similar. I've a feeling that I may have to get a more specific idea of this as the month goes on.

What are YOU cooking this week? Have you joined the Eating From the Pantry Challenge?

this post is linked to Menu Plan Monday, where you can find LOTS of menu plans & inspiring ideas
and, Pantry Challenge Progress Reports

one little word

2010-01-01T05:21:00.000-08:00

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

I have always loved the start of a new year. It always seems so fresh and full of possibilities, and January is a nice slow-down after the rush of the holiday season and birthday celebrations. I love looking forward to things that are to come, and also reflecting on the year that's passed.

2009 was another big year for us: loss of loved ones, foreclosure, and unemployment among other things. But as always, blessings abound. We learned who and what really matters in life. In fact, I learned A LOT in 2009 - but that's for another post.

Instead of making resolutions, I choose words for what I think the Lord wants me to focus on for the year. Ali Edwards was my original inspiration for this, but one word just doesn't do it for me! Also, I do have "goals" for this year, and I'll talk about those in a different post. But these things are what I'll be focusing my life on this year.

My words for this year are: consistency, family and intention. {And after reading Ann's post, I'm adding YES.}

One of my favorite quotes, that I use every year:

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do. Mother Teresa

Really, this is what it's all about. What it boils down to for my life. We are facing a lot of changes again in 2010, and we are finally excited about the things that may be in store. We have no idea what those things may be - but we've learned that you might as well enjoy the journey. If we are in turmoil at home {and this usually stems from MY attitude - OUCH}, it clouds everything. Our attitudes are a choice, everyday - and it's really worth it to have a good one.

So, my words. I chose my words after a lot of prayer, thought and reflection on the past year.

Consistency

I have been known my entire life for starting things with gusto, and then fizzling out. I tend to work in fits and starts. When I have managed to be consistent with anything, I've seen the benefits of working diligently - the days and small parts add up to something bigger if only I'm consistent. In particular I'm thinking of schooling, meal planning and um, laundry... yeah. Like I said, I'm not known for my follow through.
Another meaning of consistency for me this year is as it relates to my family - particularly the boys. With all of the chaos that 2009 brought, I saw how important it was for me to keep our daily life as "normal" as possible. When I am stressed and things turn upside down, it negatively affects the boys. Especially Ryan, who has never done well with change. The regular routines and familiarity of daily life are so important. I do think it's important for children and adults to be adaptive, but home is also supposed to be a safe haven. No matter what is going on, home is always safe. Familiarity lends that comfort that we seek from home.

Family

This weaves together with consistency, as mentioned above.
For me this year, focusing on family means putting my focus where it belongs. I want my family to know that they are my priority. I can say that all I want, but until I walk it out the words mean nothing. I want to focus less on the distractions and noise from the outside world.
I also want to focus on being a dynamic family - close to each other, making memories together, having our own special family things. That sounds pretty basic - duh, isn't that what everyone wants for their family? - but I think that we tend to get caught up in the ho-hum of everyday life, and I think it's easy to take our loved ones for granted. I don't want to do that anymore.

Intention

I want to be intentional with my time, doing what matters. I really just want to be present in my life. I want to embrace this day, not sometime off in the future. I want to spend my days doing the things that create the life we want. I want to spend less time thinking about doing. I spend a lot of time plotting and planning, making lists - thinking I'll get around to living when everything is perfect. This year, I want to spend more time IN my life LIVING it- and not just thinking about it. {I have said this for the last two years, and it still applies. I don't think this is something one arrives at; it takes living it out day by day.}

Yes

When I read this line from Ann Voskamp's post {link above} I had tears in my eyes:

In her eyes, I can see mine and I am known for no.

And then, this:

Or the ones I try to veil, the ones I shamefully stomp at God? No, I don't want this! No, I'm not doing that! No, don't change this, no, leave that alone, no, don't muck this up, no, no, no! (Oh, but You said yes to me before time began, yes to me in Christ with the arms nailed wide...)

Oh, this has been my mantra for most of the last year. No, God!

How I long to be known for YES! To embrace life, all of life - YES! To embrace my family - YES! To embrace the Lord - YES!

Happy New Year! I'm so looking forward to everything 2010 holds!

Please, go read the whole post at A Holy Experience. It's a great read for the start of the New Year.

New Year's tradition ideas

2009-12-31T07:10:00.000-08:00

There seem to be a lot of these posts out there this year. What we're doing is definitely not original, but I thought I would share just in case you haven't seen these particular links.

This is the first year we've tried to do "traditions" for New Year's. Honestly, I've never thought far enough ahead to have anything pulled together. With Christmas, and then Cade's birthday it's just never been something I've gotten done. This year, though - I'm ready.

For supper, we'll be having fondue. I'm using this one from Rachael Ray - but obviously we're not calling it Cauldron Fondue. My boys LOVE anything they can dip, or eat from skewers and this combines the best of both. Fun!

EveryDay with Rachael Ray

Here are some more ideas I'm planning to do:

Make a time capsule. I read about this fun idea at Scribbit last year. When I read Amy's (Finer Things) post last night, it reminded me I had this bookmarked. Obviously, you can customize this for your family. I know we're planning on putting in small video clips of the boys, notes that they write, a favorite toy (which I already know will be a G.I. Joe) and anything else I can think of or that they want to include.
New Year's Interviews. Just one of many great ideas from Let's Explore. I love the idea of recording favorites and facts about each family member and seeing how we change in a year's time. We'll do this tomorrow on New Year's day.

Here's a fun link to New Year's traditions from around the world. And here are some more fun ideas your children might enjoy.

Whatever you do (or don't do) this year - we wish you the happiest of New Years!

Happy 2010!

Happy Birthday, Cade!

2009-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

Cade, today you are 5 years old!!

I say this every year, but I can't believe it's been 5 years now since you surprised us by coming into our lives 2 months early.

The last year has been a big one for you: starting "school", playing baseball for the first time, starting therapy, learning to ride a bike.

You are such a happy boy, and very thoughtful of others. I love seeing your precious face every morning!

I hope this year is the best year ever for you! You always meet each day with passion for whatever the day may bring. You are precious to me!

Merry Christmas, from our home to yours...

2009-12-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

We're signing off the computer until after the first of the year. Christmas is coming you know, and then we have a sweet boy's 5th birthday just 5 days later.

{tree in our breakfast room}

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let Earth receive her King!

Wishing you all the joy, hope and peace of Christ this Christmas!

secret places & little boy faces

2009-12-10T14:04:00.001-08:00

We are finally making some progress with getting settled in at our new home. No time like the present, right - since Christmas is only 2 weeks {!!!} away.

This is the first time since Cade was a baby that the boys haven't shared a bedroom. I kept the bunk beds that they used before in Cade's bedroom; Ryan got a bed from Nana's house. Ryan is loving his new room & having a big bed. You know, since he's big. Cade is one of those who is just happy regardless of his situation, always easy going, meets life with a smile. So much to learn from him!

One of Ryan's favorite things about his room is his built-in desk & bookshelves. He was most excited about having shelves for his trophies & game balls. But he also thinks he's pretty important since he can work at his own desk. We all got Christmas cards in the mail today, & he wanted to write a letter to Mees {my mother} to let her know that he got her card. Here he is hard at work on his letter:

I LOVE having him write letters - complete with his 1st grade spelling. He doesn't think it's "school" but it is the perfect practice for handwriting, punctuation and spelling {phonetic spelling, anyway}. Clearly, he needs all the handwriting practice he can get! Plus, it encourages etiquette and thoughtfulness which - lets face it - the world simply needs more of.

One of the things I am most excited about in this house is Ryan's secret room. Since the first time I saw Nester's secret reading room I've wanted to do this. Even though we never planned to live in this house, I convinced Brian to finish that space under the stairs. And I hoped wherever we ended up would have a little closet like this. Well, I got what I wished for didn't I? Here's Ryan's Secret Room. He is THRILLED with this! He's still in the process of finding things he wants to use in there; I told him he could put anything he wanted on the bulletin board {cringe}, but he needs approval for anything he wants to put on the walls. Still looking a little plain:
Cade has his own special place, too. I don't know where I first saw this Woolrich tent, but I love it. I found mine on eBay for super cheap & I've been saving it for the top bunk. This link is a different version than ours, but it's the same idea. We put it up over the weekend while he was at my mom's so he was surprised with it when he came home. He's already spent a lot of time playing up in it! It was also a hit when we had friends over to play on Wednesday.

Little touches like this really seem to make things special for them - and they're inexpensive and easy to implement. Do you have any "secret" places for your kids {or yourself}?

Cade

2009-12-03T05:04:00.001-08:00

We would appreciate your prayers today as we have a meeting with the cranio-facial specialist to discuss Cade's treatment and/or surgery options.

This is our first meeting with this doctor, so we are a little apprehensive. Well, the parents are - Cade, of course, is fine.

If you feel led, please pray.

Thanks!

i heart faces

2009-12-01T04:57:00.000-08:00

This week at i heart faces, it's not about faces. I don't usually enter this contest, because - who am I kidding - I'm not a photographer. But I LOVE this picture of Cade, and when I saw this challenge I knew I had a picture that would be perfect.

Can't believe it's been 2 years since this was taken! He was only 2 then, and now he's almost 5. Time really does fly.

this week, in a list

2009-11-30T03:58:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week with family. The first thing we hosted in our new home. My mom came on Saturday & we were able to make some real progress on getting the house in order; all of the bedrooms are done, which is HUGE! This week is going to be a busy one. We got the tree up last night, but it still has no lights or decorations - so that will be done this week, as well as getting out the rest of the decorations.

Also, Advent started last night so we're doing our Advent devotions/Jesse Tree in place of our regular devotions this week.

Monday: this is the only day we really don't have anything planned. I'd like to finish decorating the tree today.
Tuesday: Cade has therapy, and then our town is having the downtown Christmas Parade/lighting of the Christmas tree that evening. We have an invitation to decorate gingerbread houses before the parade, but I don't think I'll be able to make that!
Wednesday: Friends coming over to play; we'll serve lunch here.
Thursday: Cade's meeting with specialist at Egleston to determine whether he's a candidate for surgery and/or what type he needs
Friday: friends coming over for coffee in the afternoon

And then the week is done!

Hope you have a great week!

disjointed

2009-11-23T12:23:00.000-08:00

Edited to add: my pictures are cut off on the right side. So you can't see all of everything I meant to show, but I'm too lazy to go back & edit the descriptions.

Chaos reigns supreme in our home at the moment.

Our move was a whirlwind 3 day event, and I'm tired even though it was a little over a week ago. I took these pictures on Saturday morning, so it actually looks a little better now than it did then. For instance, everything that doesn't belong in the kitchen is not in the kitchen anymore. The same for the dining room. And my laundry is caught up & mostly put away, but the laundry room floors etc. haven't been cleaned yet.

Like I said, chaos. A disclaimer: please ignore the windows that still have stickers on them, my FILTHY hardwood floors {I'm trying to keep them swept, but I'm not cleaning/mopping them until everything else is done}, and the piles of junk everywhere.

These are random pictures of the house, and don't include the bathrooms or bedrooms because I got tired up uploading pictures. Also doesn't include the upstairs, mudroom or garage - which OH MY WORD. If you think these rooms are bad, the garage would give you a stroke. It's for your own health I don't show things like that.

{This is looking into the family room from the foyer. Those bins are not full of magazines as it suggests - they're actually Christmas decorations.}

{The laundry room {duh} - see the cute little hole Brian made? The other side is the master closet. He's so proud of that silly thing!}

{One side of the school room. I don't think I have a picture of the other side, but it's equally piled with stuff.}

{Looking into dining room from foyer. Note the lovely 1980s componet system speaker. Yeah. That's Brian's. And soon to be in a yard sale.}

{The breakfast room & French doors leading onto the deck. The table was not where it belongs - it's in another part of the house. I don't know why. And, my temporary shelves in my pantry. Should've shut those doors.}

So there you have it - a mini tour of our new home. Like I said, chaos.

Hopefully I'll get it together in the next couple of days... I'm hosting Thanksgiving here on Thursday, and even though it's only my inlaws {and my mother-in-law was here this weekend & saw the chaos} I'd really like to have a more peaceful setting for that day.

One day at a time.

up and running

2009-11-20T07:23:00.001-08:00

finally! Hopefully I'll have a chance to post this afternoon!

God is still good

2009-11-09T09:32:00.000-08:00

We're finally moving.

We've had several delays, some fits and starts - but it's finally time. We were advised {after we were supposed to be moving} that we should wait until after the foreclosure so that it couldn't be considered "abandonment". Then - you won't believe this - our mortgage company didn't know they foreclosed on us. And that's for another post.

And now it's Monday. We're moving everything besides furniture and kitchen stuff {that I'll actually be using to cook} during the week. Then Saturday all furniture will be moved, and we'll be done.

It's Monday, and hardly anything is packed. And I'm blogging.

It's Monday, and I know it's only next door - but I don't know how I'm going to get all this stuff moved with some semblance of order so that it won't be too hard to get back into the swing of things next week. You know: school, work and just life. Not to mention that I'll be hosting Thanksgiving in 2 weeks.

It's Monday and even though I've known for a long time that we were going to be moving, I've procrastinated about getting things done. I've been kind of frozen, afraid to make that move in my mind and my heart. I've been afraid to move forward, to let myself love this place we're moving {and, it is a great house - though just a house}. Because, you see... I've been afraid that we'll end up losing it too.

I've spent a lot of time this past year afraid to be happy, for fear of looking like a fool.

Reality is that the way things are now, we can't afford this house. It seemed so backward to move my family into a house that may be gone in a few months. I've been afraid to commit, to move toward doing anything. I've been thinking that once we moved I would just leave everything in boxes except what we absolutely needed on a daily basis. Stay ready for the other shoe to drop, I always say.

But this weekend I started thinking - what kind of faith is that? What kind of message to my boys?

When thinking that way I'm basically saying that I've got it all figured out, that I know just what God's plans are for us. I had decided that I already knew His answer to the prayer I've mumbled to Him so often, "Please don't let us lose this house, too". In my mind, He had already told me, "Too bad". Delusional, I convinced myself that I knew His answer/His ways, and lived in fear.

So I decided this weekend to step out in faith - to live TODAY and not worry about the future - afterall, tomorrow will worry for itself. To step out in faith, and unpack all the boxes {that aren't packed yet!}, put all the pictures on the walls and make a home with my family. I will not spend the coming days miserable and anxious, making life hard for my family. I've done that in the past, and it's just not worth it.

Either we'll get to keep this house, or we won't. And God already knows the outcome. I've asked to be able to keep it, and now it's time to walk the walk. I still pray that the answer is yes. But now I'm believing, and acting out my faith... putting my faith in action.

Happiness is a symptom of circumstances but joy is a product of perspective. God is still good, so I will be grateful.

I will be grateful. I have a choice every day {you do too!}. And like I've said before it takes conscious effort some days. We have what we need for today, what right do I have to waste it?

I will be grateful. He is still good.

this post is linked to Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky

Join the 30-Day Giving Challenge

2009-10-31T11:12:00.000-07:00

I came across this today at Amy's Finer things. Alyssa at Keeping the Kingdom First has come up with a challenge for the month of November.

30 Days of Giving

My family is joining, and I'll be mentioning it to our extended families as well. I've also invited my "friends" on Facebook - and I'm encouraging you to do the same!

This year has been an extremely difficult one for us, full of uncertainty and worry. But it's also been full of the generosity of others and God's abundant blessings. Everyone has something to give be it money, time or possessions. Even if you truly don't think you have anything to give I challenge you to come up with a list of just 5 things.

Amy has a list with some great ideas, and I'm adding the following:

donating blood {we have always donated blood, but we try to make a special effort to donate during December to mark the anniversary of Cade's birth and the 2 blood transfusions he had. Had someone we didn't know not donated, we wouldn't have our precious boy.}
Holiday Mail for Heroes {a card program for service members and their families}
Coupons for Troops
Advent Conspiracy {buying one LESS gift a year can save lives through gifts of water}
this fun idea I've been saving since last Christmas - great idea from Denise Jones

In addition, I'll be praying for God to show me ways that I might give. Often, I think I overlook {or ignore} needs that might be very plain if only I paid attention. I know there are people in my community who would benefit from some unexpected kindness.

I've begun today, and I'll be sharing my experiences & some of my journal entries here. Why don't you grab a journal and join in?

things I've learned {or remembered} this week

2009-09-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

I don't like to paint. Nor am I any good at it. And although my entire house {besides the dining room} is Tobacco Road & I previously loved it - I'm rather tired of looking at it. I'm sure I'll love it again soon enough. It was true love. But still. Blech.
I know why builders pay for professional cleaning crews. Construction is messy.
Things *always* take longer than I anticipate. Not sometimes. ALWAYS.
Just because someone tells you it can't be done, doesn't mean you can't do it.
I love Fall days. Wow, this weather! It's been a long time since we've had pleasant weather.
Single parenting is harder than it looks. This is our first week with Brian at his new job, where he's gone for 3 days at a time. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it, when life is not complete chaos. God's timing amuses me.
I really should write things down. I simply won't remember if I don't.

Song I've been singing lately: Savior Please by Josh Wilson

I try to be so tough, I'm just not strong enough. I can't do this alone, God I need you to hold on to me.

God has plans that are WAY bigger than what I can even comprehend, ever imagine. Things that I would not even think about or consider. And sometimes I'm scared of what those plans might be. But I LOVE, LOVE it when I can look at what's going on and SEE how He's weaving things together.

Less than 2 weeks until we move. And I'm still not packed.

overwhelmed

2009-09-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

I'm amazed at the speed of days going by.

We are supposed to be moving in two weeks, and I have nothing. packed. Sure, it's only next door. But still. And I've never moved with kids. Is it harder? Should that be alleviated some since it's only next door?

The idea of moving this entire house full of stuff and getting it set back up is overwhelming to me. Ever get stuck like that, and it keeps you from moving forward at all? I don't know where to start, so I don't do anything at all.

Fortunately, I know exactly where things will go once we move. Oh, I'm sure there will be some adjusting here and there but since I know that house like the back of my hand I've long since decided where everything should go.

It would be so convenient if I could put regular life on hold until after this move. No more schooling, baseball games, co-op, therapy, etc. But what would that accomplish? Then I'd be more behind on those things, too.

I'm not one who is normally too busy. I'm usually pretty good at balancing obligations and outside activities. But there's just no way to avoid it in this season, at least not until after the move.

Have any practical ideas for getting in gear? How do you make your move go smoothly?

wow

2009-09-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

Can I just say that I have been completely humbled by you, by this opportunity, by knowing that there are so many out there that are in this {or similar} situation.

Nester shocked my socks off when she asked me to guest post. Like I've said before, I have never really known how to talk about this. Thrilled as I was to even be asked, I had my doubts when she told me she felt like it was a story that could reach other women.

We've felt embarrassment, shame, disgust, frustration, heartbreak and defeat. But we've also felt HOPE, determination, blessed beyond measure, strength, forgiveness, and renewed passion for our family.

I still have trouble with what I struggled to say needing to be heard by so many. I'd like for you to know that this is still a journey for me - still a struggle - remembering what I've said in this post. But we have lived it, and it was/is hard and I know for a fact that when I'm relying on Him, I am in a better place. I don't feel like someone who's got it together in this respect. I truly have to take it one day at a time, or I'm in full-fledged panic mode again.

I have always been a rather negative person by nature, you know, a half-empty kind of girl. I have not always relied on Him. Even in this, like I said, it took over a year before I got to this point. Coming to Him with anything besides an angry glance or exasperation was a last resort. I hope I remember to come sooner rather than later in the future. And still, it's very easy for me to fall back into taking things into my own hands. Waiting on the Lord's perfect timing is not something that comes easily to me.

I've received so many questions in email, and I will do my best to get back to you individually if there was a specific question. Some things are topics that will be in upcoming posts.

Nester, thank you so much for this opportunity. You've blessed me so many times, and this is another one of those times. I continue to be amazed at your ability to encourage, inspire and get to the heart of the matter.

2009-09-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

I'm guest posting today over at Nesting Place {can you believe!}.

If you're here from Nesting Place, welcome & thanks for stopping by!

it was a busy week

2009-09-14T14:10:00.001-07:00

last week! Cade had his {very first, ever} baseball game, Ryan had a baseball game - a baseball practice, therapy for Cade & homeschool co-op. All that in addition to what normally goes on in the running of the home.

Some pictures from our week:

He looked so cute in his uniform! Don't know why he picked number '3' but that is what he wanted on his jersey. Had to get dressed at the ballpark because uniforms weren't back in time. Times like this I wish I *always* remembered to check if he has on underwear!

This is his first at bat - didn't hit anything this game, but had a great play at left field throwing it in to 2nd base for an out.After the game, the teams give each other high 5s - this part Cade calls the "good games" because they all walk by & say "good game, good game".

He said he had fun, and liked his team - and wanted to come back for the next game, which is *huge* knowing Cade. I loved watching him be part of a team, and doing something without Ryan.

These next pictures are of the boys swinging on their "Indiana Jones" swing, which is a rope tied to a tree limb with a handle tied onto it. They swing out over a hill in the front yard, so it really looks like they're high flying!

Just figured out that the games from Ryan's first game are still on the camera! Oh well, for another post.

love life, not stuff

2009-09-09T04:38:00.000-07:00

"Realize that life, not stuff, is what matters. Objects are just objects — if you lose them, if they get stolen or destroyed … it’s not a big deal. They’re just objects — not your life. Your life is the series of moments that is steaming through your consciousness right now, and how you use those moments and what you fill them with is what truly matters, not what you fill your home with. At the end of this short journey, you’ll look back and remember your experiences, the people you loved and who loved you back, the things you did and didn’t do. Not the stuff you had."

From Zen Habits

Love this!

photo of the week delivery

2009-09-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am a big believer in correspondence. I love to send little notes and cards - just something to tell the person I'm thinking of them. And I admit, it is a HUGE pet peeve of mine for someone to say that they're "just too busy" to make that small gesture. It takes less than 5 minutes to get the card written and addressed, and you can put it in your mailbox the next time you're leaving home. You don't even have to make a special trip to the post office for stamps! Upon request, your mail carrier will leave an envelope in which you can enclose your check for stamps. The next day, it will be returned to you with whatever you've requested.

So, in keeping with this mission and looking for ways to be consistent in getting pictures of the boys to my mother-in-law I've decided to take a lesson from Meredith. As always, her intentions are delivered with style and grace.

This is an old post, but it reminded me to be as intentional with these notes for my mother-in-law as I am with my friends. I print my pictures at home, and since I have a stockpile of ink and photo paper I don't have to include that figure in my monthly amount. When I have to purchase those again, I will recalculate. I still think it's doable on $8/month, which is Meredith's figure from two years ago.

These notecards are lovely, and they came from the Dollar Spot at Target {8 in a package}. I also bought these a long time ago, but even if buying them new, they're only 12.5 cents apiece.

My mother-in-law doesn't live that far from me, only about an hour. We see her fairly regularly - usually once a week or once every two weeks if she's working. But, who doesn't love to get something just for them in the mail?

Being thoughtful is always in fashion. Really, no one has an excuse not to be!

gratitude

2009-09-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, and confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

menu planning - September 2009

2009-08-31T03:00:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it's {almost} September already! We've actually been having some fairly cool weather here which is great - I'm definitely ready for Autumn & done with summer!

I've put together our menu for September. I normally assign a specific day to each meal, but I haven't done that for this month for a few reasons.

Baseball games start this month, and we don't have our game schedules yet.
We will be moving the first part of September.
We will be starting our homeschool on Labor Day

You'll notice that there aren't 30 meals in this menu.

On nights we have baseball games, the time of the game usually determines what we eat for supper. If the game is 7:30, we usually have time to eat at home before leaving for the game. Sometimes I'll cook a whole meal, and we'll eat early about 4:30. Sometimes we just have grilled cheese sandwiches or quesadillas. If the game is early we don't have time to eat before we leave, but it's too late to cook when we get home. We usually end up going through the McDonald's drive-thru for Happy Meals. However, this season I've got a plan which I'll tell you about in an upcoming post.

On to the menu {these are the main dishes only}:

porcupine meatballs
meatloaf
chicago style pan pizza
bean soup
roasted chicken
porkchops
homemade sloppy joes
chili
crockpot pork roast
tacos e burritos
salisbury steak with onion mushroom gravy
grilled burgers
beef roast
fried chicken
spaghetti
pepper steak with rice
fiery cajun shrimp
fried trout
chinese stir fry with takeout eggrolls
salmon patties
patty melts
cubed steak
chicken quesadillas

Breads and Desserts:

Pepper Cheese Bread
Italian Herb Bread
Peanut Butter/Oatmeal Cookies {I'll also explain my cookie system in another post}
Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits
Applesauce Spice Bread
Peanut Butter Brownies

I'd also like to mention that this will be my first month shopping at Aldi. I've wanted to shop at Aldi since I started reading MomAdvice, 3 or so years ago but there has never been one convenient to me. Now there's one in the city we play baseball in & Cade has therapy in 1x week. I'm anxious to see how shopping at Aldi will impact my grocery budget. If you have an Aldi near you, and you haven't given it a try yet, go read up at Amy's blog - TONS of great information there.

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday

teamwork

2009-08-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Teamwork is a word we use a lot in our family. Family is very important to us, and we try to instill in the boys how important it is to work as a team - for common goals & for the health of our family. Especially in light of what we've been through the last couple of years (& it ain't over yet!), teamwork has received a lot of focus.

A fun way I've found to reinforce teamwork is by working puzzles together. But not just any puzzles:

Super cool DINOSAUR puzzles! Once we punch out all the pieces, I have the boys find the numbers on the diagram (on the back of the picture), and find the right pieces. I will say that I have to do most of the actual assembly... the pieces are really tight, and it's easier for me to do it. That's why it's teamwork!

Here's our dinosaur completely assembled. It took us probably 30 minutes from start to finish. There are several of these to choose from at Michael's for $1.00 {and that's something else that works for me!}

Fun ways to build teamwork? Works for Me!

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family

our boys

2009-08-17T04:44:00.000-07:00

This is week 3 of the Not Back to School Blog Hop at Life With My 3 Boybarians! Time to share pictures of our students.

{Ryan}

{Cade}

{one more together because they're just so darn cute!}

This post is linked to Darcy's Not Back to School Blog Hop. Thanks, Darcy for a fun idea!

happy birthday

2009-08-15T04:55:00.000-07:00

to me!

where I've been

2009-08-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've been away from this space for a long time. It's a symptom of what's been going on in our lives. You know, I was kinda absent from my life for a while too. You see, I've spent the most of the last year unable {or unwilling} to be happy - and making everyone else around me miserable, too.

Not knowing how to talk about this, I pushed people away. I'm not sure even now that I'm writing it what I'm trying to say. Some of you might remember way-back-when we started building a house to sell. Well, as you might imagine - it never did. And, at the end of this month we're moving into it because the house we live in is going to be foreclosed on the 1st Tuesday in September.

This is what I spent so much time fearing - losing one house or the other. We have been so broke. {Guess that's what happens when your husband is a builder and the market tanks.} What I feared for so long is finally happening, and you know what? I have complete peace about it.

It took me a long time to get to this place. And please don't think I'm advocating just throwing up your hands, or walking away from something that you've a responsibility for. But we just couldn't do it anymore. The money simply is not there. And what I've learned is - it's okay. We haven't done anything wrong besides choosing the worst time ever to build a house.

Finally, after lots of anger and tears I got back on my knees and I know that's where I should've been all along. I was so caught up in what might happen in the future, that I couldn't be happy with the day I'd been given. I wasted a year worrying about a day that hadn't come yet. I couldn't see how to be happy, when I "knew" misery & uncertainty were lurking right around the corner.

Now that we're here, though - it's not what I thought it would be. I've already gone through the heartbreak and misery. We've had to work together and get creative to carve out a new normal for our family. There are amazing opportunities ahead of us, and I'm finally excited thinking about the possibilities. We're still living a blessed life.

It takes courage, faith and hope to step into the unknown. I wanted to run away, but He kept calling me back.

What encourages me? Knowing that I'm never alone. That though I don't know how yet, this will be good.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.

I have my family and a home, though I still don't know quite how we ended up here.

I'm thankful that I'm forgiven and redeemed.

This post is linked to (in)courage. Go check it out!
This post is linked to Beautiful Life Friday @ The Inspired Room

lewa's designs

2009-05-28T05:30:00.001-07:00

I've always wanted to try the vinyl wall decals/words, but I've never gotten up the nerve to order any.

What perfect timing - via Kimba at A Soft Place to Land, Lewa's Designs is offering a giveaway! Everything is cute, but the baseball will be PERFECT for Ryan's room in the new house, and I can find a spot for a bird anyway.

Thanks, ladies for this awesome giveaway!

project procrastinators party

2009-04-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

Over at The Inspired Room, Melissa is hosting a Project Procrastinators Party. I've got a list a mile long of projects I want to complete before moving into our new house. Fortunately, none of them are huge!

First, I want to turn this bulletin board:

into this bulletin board I saw at Cherry's Jubilee. So cute! I've had this bulletin board forever, just hanging around with no purpose. It'll look great in my new kitchen (or mudroom, I haven't decided yet).

Next on this list is making these:

I fell in love with this idea I found at Dukes & Duchesses/Mad About Martha a long time ago - I've had the frames since just after Christmas. I've had the handprints for longer than that! Good thing I didn't procrastinate tracing their little hands; otherwise this project would be impossible.

So many more things to do on my list. I also need to:

*spraypaint 2 wicker chairs
*frame antique fishing lure for Cade's room
*decide on pictures I want to use, have them printed and frame
*oh, I'd also love to make this for our learning room:
We have a constant & abiding love of birds (and bird study) going on here always. I am so sorry to whoever (whomever?) I filched this from off the internet. Love your bulletin board!

I am trying to get all of this accomplished in 2 weeks. Officially, though, I am only going for the bulletin board & hand pictures.

And now, in keeping with the theme of this party, I've procrastinated on this post until mid-morning.

times are changing around here

2009-04-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

and we'd love to have you join us for the ride - especially if you live in Georgia or a neighboring state.

We've been working our tails off getting our new business off the ground. We've poured our hearts & souls into this, along with a lot of hard work and HUGE amounts of faith. We believe He will provide!

Please visit our new website for our business Sporting Families. Be sure to read the note from Brian, as well as click the button to find out more specifically what we're about. And for more details on membership, click the Family membership button at the top of the page.

We're so excited and can't wait to see what all is in store!

cornbread fococcia

2009-04-21T05:13:00.000-07:00

{image: my recipes via Southern Living}

I originally saw this recipe in Southern Living while waiting in the doctor's office. I had planned to make bbq ribs that night. Since we have bread with most meals (and I'm always looking for a new recipe) I came home & searched for this one. It was a hit! The only thing I changed was to add a little bit of fresh garlic.

1 (1/4-oz.) envelope rapid-rise yeast
1 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup plain yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 (14.5-oz.) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, drained
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Preparation

1. Combine rapid-rise yeast, warm water, and sugar in a small bowl, and let stand 5 minutes or until mixture bubbles.

2. Stir together 2 cups flour and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in yeast mixture and 2 Tbsp. oil until well blended (dough will be sticky). Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic (about 3 to 5 minutes). Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover with plastic wrap, and let stand 15 minutes.

3. Sprinkle cornmeal onto a baking sheet. Place dough on baking sheet, and roll into a 12-inch square, sprinkling with flour as needed to prevent sticking (about 1 Tbsp.). Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 45 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 400°. Brush dough with balsamic vinegar. Gently press end of a wooden spoon into top of dough, forming indentations. Top with tomatoes and cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil.

5. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden and cheese is melted. Cool 5 minutes, and cut into squares.

This post is linked to:

Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty & Bedlam

Be sure to visit Jen everyday - there's always something great!

as always, I'm a little late

2009-03-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

but I fell in LOVE with Nester's toile egg.

And so, I made some for myself. I've had these eggs for years, but I've never been able to come up with something to use them for. They've just been sitting in a cabinet. And I've had this toile tissue paper for a while too; it was on clearance one day at Michael's & I bought it without knowing what I'd use it for.

{please excuse the poor quality of these pictures - I was in a hurry to post - I'll post better ones when I'm finished with the table}

I made four red and four blue, and I'll use them in these cute little egg cups on my Easter table. After that, they'll be relocated to other parts of the house where I can see them every day. {HEART} them!

This post is linked to:

Decorating Spring Fling at The Decorating Voice

starting the week with a plan

2009-03-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

This week will be fairly busy for us. I admit that I don't function well when we're super busy - especially if I don't have a plan in place for the week. We have a lot going on this week with last minute details on the new house, some things for the new business, doing school, baseball and then just the general things that go along with life. So this really motivates me to get my week in order on Sunday evening.

This week's menu:

Monday: beef roast, cornbread, pinto beans, mashed potatoes and gravy
Tuesday: sloppy joes w/homemade buns, oven fries, brownies {baseball practice}
Wednesday: sticky chicken drumsticks, green beans, cheesy grits, fresh bread
Thursday: pepper steak and rice {I kinda just throw it together, but it's based on this}
Friday: beef and bean nachos {baseball practice}
Saturday: wait-and-see

This post is linked to:

Menu Plan Monday {check it out for LOTS of great menu ideas} hosted at $5 Dinners this week

y'all are just gonna have to indulge me...

2009-03-01T11:24:00.000-08:00

while I share pictures of our "big" snow. I think we got about 6 inches, which is about 6 years' worth.

What is this white stuff falling from the sky? Our boys (and our birds!) only know about snow in theory.

Sweet girl Carley - she doesn't know what snow is either. {What's that in the background, you ask? Why it's a picture frame I had just spray painted the day before... when it was over 70 degrees.}
The muddy mess that IS snow in Georgia, especially when it follows 5 inches of rain:

The snow on our new house, that we're not living in. Still. (Don't worry, we didn't brave the weather to get this picture - it's just next door).I just liked this picture.

Our woodsRyan trying to catch snowflakes
Cade making a "snowball"
All was fun and games, until the power went off at 4PM - just as I was getting ready to cook supper. So, we had no power (which also means no HEAT) until 10AM Monday morning.

Welcome to snow in Georgia.

I love her, she loves me

2009-02-28T05:40:00.000-08:00

My family would appreciate your prayers today if you feel led, as my Grandmother passed away last night at about 8:45.

{This post was originally written in August, 2005}

My grandmother's birthday is today. She is 80 years old. When did it happen?

It seems like only yesterday we spent summers with her & my Papa. She was so young, for a grandmother it seemed. She always had something fun for us to do, although that mostly involved letting us just be kids. We killed lots of time running in the woods, playing in the creek, having our own "garden", playing in mud puddles, going to the mountains - just hanging out.

She loves flowers. She particularly loves irises and daylilies; well, she loves everything that grows! I remember sitting in the garden on a cement block watching "Night Blooming Jasmine"... bloom. I was amazed every night when the sweet smelling flowers opened after it was dark. When I was little, she had lots of gladolious, which is the "flower" for August... the month we share. I always liked the fact that our birthdays were in the same month. Noone else in the family can lay claim to that.

She can piece a quilt like nobody's business. By hand, mind you. And every stitch is exactly the same distance apart. I have a puffed heart quilt she made for me, and I love it. I also have yo-yo quilts for each of my boys. I am still amazed at her talent, as at 80 years old, she's still making quilts.

For a while when I was very little, we lived in a trailer next to their house. I still have faint memories of that... being so close. I remember how she would make me "cunchy toast". I've never been able to do it the same. Oh, and that goes for her biscuits as well. Yum - what a treat! I've recently discovered how much my Ryan loves her strawberry jam. And, she always has a jar waiting for him when we visit, which isn't nearly enough. I love watching her with my boys, and knowing she loves them, and that Ryan loves her - and Cade will, too.

She's always been a sounding board for me, an encouragement to me, and one of my favorite people. There's so much more to tell about her, but it will have to wait for another day. She's awesome - my Mammy.

She loves me, and I love her.

playing games

2009-02-25T06:30:00.000-08:00

Like most families with children, we love playing games around here. We've got all the classics, but we love to play card games as well. Some of our favorites are War, Go Fish and Slap Jack.
Playing card games, especially War and Go Fish really works for me for number recognition and counting & addition skills. Ryan, learned to count and do simple math at a very young age, so this worked well as opposed to a "formal" curriculum. Cade, who is a reluctant learner shies away from anything that resembles school - so this works well because he always loves to play games.

Remember, WFMW is now at We Are That Family.

something from nothing - French onion soup

2009-02-24T14:24:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up, my mother was a single mother. She worked full-time {and sometimes more}, and raised me & my brother on her own. She always managed to have a home-cooked meal on the table, and she taught us the importance of family, positive attitudes, working together and thrift.

One of her favorites to cook and serve was French Onion Soup. I didn't know until I was much older that it was a something-from-nothing type meal. I always thought it was really something special when we had it - so rich & buttery, made extra special by the cheese melted over the bowl. I am so grateful that I have a mother who knows what really matters in life!

{Below is Rachel Ray's recipe for French onion soup, from Food Network. I included it so you could see it in recipe form since I don't really use one. I feel compelled to say, this recipe makes it seem harder/more expensive than the way I make it. I use bouillon cubes instead of the beef broth (unless I happen to have beef broth), and I use regular sliced Swiss cheese. I also leave out the thyme unless I have some from my mom's garden. Even though this is a something-from-nothing recipe, I still usually only make it when I have had French bread for something earlier in the week, and/or Swiss cheese that was left over from something else.}

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
6 medium onions, thinly sliced {very thinly sliced, emphasis mine}
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, picked and chopped or poultry seasoning
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
1/2 cup dry sherry
6 cups beef stock
4 thick slices crusty bread, toasted
2 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese

Heat a deep pot over medium to medium high heat. Work next to the stove to slice onions. Add oil and butter to the pot. Add onions to the pot as you slice them. When all the onions are in the pot, season with salt and pepper and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme. Cook onions 15 to 18 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender, sweet and caramel colored. Add bay leaf and sherry to the pot and deglaze the pan drippings. Add 6 cups stock and cover pot to bring soup up to a quick boil.

Arrange 4 small, deep soup bowls or crocks on a cookie sheet. Preheat broiler to high. Once soup reaches a boil, ladle it into bowls. Float toasted crusty bread on soup and cover each bowl with a mound of cheese. Sprinkle remaining fresh thyme on cheese and place cookie sheet with soup bowls on it under hot broiler until cheese melts and bubbles.

This post is linked to:

friendship

2009-02-22T15:54:00.000-08:00

One of the things I'm passionate about is friendship - what it means to be a friend, what it means to have friends. I also think a lot about my boys having friends and what types of friendships I want for them; since we've started homeschooling, honestly, I've felt left out and left behind as far as the friend thing goes.

And {in the interest of being honest again} I let my heart get bitter about this, and kind of got a chip on my shoulder. And oh, how the Lord has been speaking to me about this. Have I been the friend that I should be? {No.} Have I done what I could do to keep friendships strong? {No.}

So, I am issuing myself and my friends a friendship challenge. It's so easy these days to say we're busy, too busy, so busy. BUT, I believe that everyone has 5 minutes! I don't care how many things you have going on, you have 5 minutes to think of someone else. It's not hard to be thoughtful. It doesn't take a lot of money, if any.

{take 5 minutes today to be a better friend}

I'm starting with candy-grams this week, using things that I have here already.

image from According to Kelly

Isn't this a cute idea? Mine will not all be gumballs (I'm delivering to 4 friends tomorrow) because I don't have that many gumballs. I'll be using different things for each.

My efforts won't always be something like this; it really is just as simple as making a phone call or dropping a quick note in the mail. {Doesn't it make you feel awesome to get something in the mail, or for someone to take the time to call to chat, even just for 5 minutes? Think about how it makes you feel, and then about making someone else feel that great!}

So my challenge to you today {and what I'm hoping to motivate you to do!} is to be a better friend. Take that 5 minutes and let someone know that you're thinking of them, that they matter to you, that you're there for them, that you care.

It will make your day as much as it makes theirs!

A friend loveth at all times... {Proverbs 17:17}

my menu planning - the hows and whys

2009-02-18T00:55:00.000-08:00

It costs a lot of money to feed our families these days, doesn’t it? Especially with the business that so often accompanies our lifestyles! But your grocery budget doesn’t have to keep you in the poor house – and you don’t have to eat out every night, either! My grocery budget is only $125/mo for a family of four, and I don’t use coupons. In this post, I'll talk about my grocery budget, how I shop and how I go about structuring my menu plan.

My grocery budget, every month, is $125. I've only recently raised it from an even $100 to incorporate more fresh fruit and vegetables. I get lots of questions on whether or not that is my REAL budget, whether there's something I'm hiding or not including and I answer honestly that $125/mo. is my real actual budget. {This post was originally written 1 1/2 years ago. My grocery budget is no longer that low due to the rise in grocery prices AND the bottomless bellies of my skinny boys. Now, I spend $225/mo.} I don't use coupons, which some find hard to believe. Keep in mind; this budget is for food ONLY. No other goods are included in this amount. I've seen some of you out there who are doing even better than I am. Some of the ways that I'm able to accomplish this include the following:

• I cook from scratch, almost exclusively. Very few prepackaged things. The few prepackaged things I routinely buy are store brand beef Rice-a-roni; Prego spaghetti sauce (I just prefer the taste of it) but only when it's on sale for $.89 - $.99 per jar. I also buy store brand onion soup mix (for recipes) and bouillon cubes. One jar of those lasts a long time. And Brian prefers Sunbeam bread for sandwiches - we use homemade bread for everything else.
• I don't do junk food. The only time we really have junk food is when Nana brings some down with her. It started out that way because we could never afford it. It continues that way because my boys are really good eaters; especially Ryan who actually prefers fruit or a green salad to anything else. I do buy pretzels, and the boys both love dry roasted peanuts and beef jerky (I buy a HUGE bag from Wal-Mart). I also buy juice (Wal-Mart brand) and water it by 1/2. I could just give them water, and save even more, but Brian would probably draw the line there. Along those same lines:
• Desserts are homemade. Further, I only make dessert about twice a week. I usually make one to go with our Sunday dinner, and then another one about Wednesday. Of course, everyone would love it if we had dessert every night but I just don't care to do it. If Brian has a special request on some night I'll make whatever it is then.
• We have a meal with meat as the main dish 95% of the time. One way I'm able to combat the cost associated with meat is by using venison a lot of the time. Anything that calls for ground meat (except for actual hamburgers) I use venison in. In addition to being low-cost for us, it's far leaner than anything you'll buy at the grocery store. We also eat cubed steak a lot, and I use venison for that as well. We usually keep the tenderloin and a few "steaks" for things like fajitas or pepper steak but other than that, if it can't be cubed I'll have it ground. I don't like the larger cuts; for those I prefer beef. But that's just personal preference. I know lots of people who don't use beef at all until their venison runs out.
• We usually have a few tomato plants, and all of my family gardens as do most of my neighbors. This year we'll have a small garden ourselves. So in the summer we're never lacking for fresh produce. I don't can, so I freeze everything we can't eat when it's fresh. Last summer an older gentleman down the road brought over yellow squash, zucchini and green beans by the bucketful; he was bringing something at least every other day. I still have a few packs of squash left from last year, and a few bags of tomatoes from our plants. I LOVE my freezer - it's another money saver for me.
• I round out most of our meals with a bread of some sort. I know, I know - it's not the trendy thing to do anymore. But we're healthy, we enjoy it and it really helps with the grocery budget. One of our favorites is Greek Farmer's Bread. It's so quick and easy.
• Menu planning has been a HUGE help to me. All of you here from MPM know how much it helps already, but I can't stress it enough. I never menu planned (and usually ran out of groceries although I'd spent all of my money) until I became friends with Candi several years ago. She was telling me about what she had planned, and it finally hit me. Duh! Menu plan!

Those are my main money-saving tips for groceries. As for how I make my menu plan, there's really not that much to it. I plan for a month at the time (although I'm working on a 6-month plan that will also allow me to do a 6-month shopping trip. But that's a post for another day.). I start by filling in my meals for Sundays. Then, for Friday nights since that's always something quick and easy. From there I look at my calendar to see what we have going on with baseball to decide which nights I'll need something easier or something in the slow-cooker. After those criteria are met, I basically just alternate days between something more time-intensive and something easy. I actually write mine in on a calendar; I have to assign a specific meal to a specific day or I have the same problem of trying to figure out what to have as if I hadn't done a plan at all. I usually do my plan the last week of the month for the following month, and go shopping on or about the 1st. I do all of my shopping at one time because I don't particularly enjoy going to the grocery store.

I hope I’ve given you some practical ideas for menu planning and reducing your grocery budget. It takes a little time and effort, but it's SO worth it! It definitely works for me!

it's that time again - Menu Plan Monday

2009-02-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

Is it Monday again already? My days have kind of run into one since Cade tested positive for flu last Thursday. I've been very slack in the past year about planning menus - well, about a lot of things - and this is the week for getting back on track!

Monday: Italian Rosemary Drumsticks, pasta salad, roasted zucchini
Tuesday: BBQ Pork Chops, cheesy grits {they're awesome!}, stewed zucchini & yellow squash {freezer}
Wednesday: my version of Queso Fundido with tortillas {my version is much simpler, & basically just involves melting some of the abundance of mozzarella cheese we have & adding in some leftover roasted chicken from the freezer, along with peppers & onions also from the freezer}
Thursday: Meatloaf, roasted potato salad and vegetable to be named later
Friday: Homemade pizza (I'll be using Amy's recipe for the crust, although not in the bread machine)
Saturday: Fondue {this is our Valentine's Day celebration since Cade has been sick}
Sunday: Pork Roast, mashed sweet potatoes, peas and cornbread

Need more menu planning ideas? Be sure to check out Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

excuse the mess...

2009-02-12T07:43:00.000-08:00

So, I have a new design - and I'm still working on some of the issues, making the links work & updating my sidebars.

And now, my little Cade has the flu.

So, pardon the interruption - I'll keep working on the links, updating my about me and such.

Thanks, Candi for all your help!

clean

2009-01-29T11:41:00.000-08:00

We have a family that is interested in renting our house coming tonight at 6. I quickly jumped into "straighten up" mode, thinking it wouldn't take long to pull everything together.

Whew! I have always been under (apparently) an illusion that I was a good housekeeper, but trying to look at it as someone else would see it has proven otherwise.

The clutter is always picked up, but clean? I think not.

What are your best suggestions for staying on top of things?

help!

2009-01-20T05:15:00.001-08:00

This is our first year homeschooling; Ryan is is Kindergarten, and we've been using My Father's World. While I like it on the whole, I've felt it is a little slow. It uses a phonics-based reading program, and I just don't feel like it's progressing as fast as I would like.

SO - my question is - does each sound really need to have an entire week devoted to it?

I've read about so many having great success with The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading that I'm considering trying that, but I'm concerned about jumping track to start something new. Would it be worth it?

I'd love to hear from some of you who have used TOPG, and what you think about changing mid-year.

blessing

2009-01-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

::busy today:: ::going out with girlfriends tonight::

::did school::

::put supper in the oven::

::taking supper to my mother-in-law, who lives an hour away::

She's sad because it's been a while since we've seen her, and she hates to cook. She also hates to go to work, which she had to do today.

::made Brian's favorite dessert::

::cleaned house:: ::post office:: ::laundry::

I started this day attempting to be a blessing. I thought hey, I'll do something special for my mother-in-law (who lives an hour away), get home in time to finish up a (favorite meal) for my family, and be feeling oh-so-relaxed when it's time to meet my friends.

Know what? I sure have yelled at my boys a lot today. I will bless my mother-in-law, supper will be enjoyed, but what message have I sent them today?

Balance is so elusive to me. I really wanted to do the things I've done today. I think it's great to demonstrate how we can bless others. But, it always seems that something has to slide and today it was patience and self-control.

How do you find balance?

i Heart Faces

2009-01-12T13:40:00.001-08:00

I Heart Faces is a new photography blog focusing on capturing faces and their various emotions. There is a weekly contest (you can enter this week until Wednesday), and categories for both pictures of children and adults.

I love taking pictures, especially of my boys - although I'm quick to admit I have little to no talent. I rarely pay attention to lighting or composition or things like that. So whatever comes out of my camera is a happy accident! But I still manage to get some good shots. Here is my entry for this week:

This is one of my favorites of Ryan. He is baseball through-and-through, and this picture perfectly represents that for me.

ht: Heidi at Mt. Hope Chronicles

back in the saddle

2009-01-05T03:56:00.000-08:00

This is the first time I've planned my menu in quite some time; I'm finding it kind of hard to get back in the swing of things. BUT, I'm gonna give it a go. This week is easy, because two of the nights are using leftovers.

Monday: Porcupine Meatballs, greens, peas & bread (leftover greens & peas)
Tuesday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches w/homemade buns, potato salad, carrots & celery w/ranch dip (leftover pork roast)
Wednesday: Chili in Cheddar Bread Bowls
Thursday: Sticky Chicken, broccoli rice casserole, breadsticks
Friday: Upside-Down Sausage & Mushroom Pizza
Saturday: Chicken & Cheese Quesadillas, chips & salsa, sour cream

All of my bread (except the bread bowls for the chili), I make using this recipe and just changing the shape to what I need it to be. It is the EASIEST ever, and comes out great every time. It's great because you don't need a bread machine (I don't have one) and it has a very short rise time.

coming up on Jealous Hands...

2009-01-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

The New Year is finally here! I've got so much in store for 2009, as we are deciding where we'll be living, homeschooling the boys, and transforming a home without remodeling.

I hope to chronicle most of this here at Jealous Hands!

I will leave you with some of my favorite reads to start off your New Year:

A Soft Place to Land
MomAdvice
Nesting Place
Simple Mom
Like Merchant Ships
Pink & Polka Dot

Here's to all that's to come!

the new year

2008-12-31T08:09:00.000-08:00

I love the start of a new year. At the end of every year, I so look forward to the start of the next. As always, I'm anxious to get down to business this year.

As much as the new year is a time for looking forward and moving on, it's definitely a time of reflection too. 2008 was a big year for us. Lots of firsts - Ryan played baseball, lost teeth, learned to read & tie his shoes, and we started homeschooling. Lots of changes, lots of changes! There were a lot of hard times; we almost lost my dad when he was hospitalized with an e coli infection and subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer. But as always, we were met with blessings untold - new beginnings, new friends & family members, new rhythms in our life.

I've been thinking a lot about the kind of person I want to be - the kind of Christian, wife, woman, mother, friend. As we are facing big, scary changes in our lives right now we've been spending lots of time reflecting on what we want our life to look like and how we want to live. While we're determining what we want out of life, we are trying to go where we feel the Lord leading us, and determine what He wants for our family.

I used the quotes last year, so some of you may remember them. They still apply; I didn't do as well last year as I would have liked to. Here's to new starts!

She decided to enjoy more, and endure less.

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do. Mother Teresa

I really just want to be present in my life. I want to embrace this day, not sometime off in the future. I want to spend my days doing the things that create the life we want. I want to spend less time thinking about doing. I spend a lot of time plotting and planning, making lists - thinking I'll get around to living when everything is perfect. This year, I want to spend more time IN my life LIVING it- and not just thinking about it.

I want to get rid of the unnecessary in my life. I want to get to the heart of the matter, whatever that may be. I want to be gentle, kind - a blessing to my family and to anyone else the Lord places in my path. I want to live from my heart; I want to enjoy life and teh gifts the Lord has blessed me with. What reason have I to complain?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2nd Corinthians 5:17

sound mind, sound mom

2008-12-31T05:14:00.000-08:00

I'm joining Simple Mom this year, as she starts the Sound Mind, Sound Mom book club.  For the first selection, she's chosen Your Money or Your Life.  The first discussion is on January 1st - go check it out!

happy birthday, Cade!

2008-12-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

Cade, today you are 4 years old!

You are such a fun & happy boy - high on life, a precious love!

You've grown so much this year; it's hard for me to believe that it was 4 years ago when you surprised (and scared!) us by coming into our family 2 months early!

You continue to delight and surprise us every day. What joy you bring to us!

We LOVE you, precious boy!

joy to the world

2008-12-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let Earth receive her King!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful, blessed Christmas!

our list of meals

2008-12-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

***this was originally posted in March, 2007 - with the original Jealous Hands blog***

When I asked for help a couple of days ago with new menu ideas, my friend Candi pointed out that with 49 meals already listed, I was probably doing better than a lot of people. She suggested that I post my list of meals. There are actually 50 listed here. So here goes! Please note: these are in no particular order. This is not my current plan for the month, just the list of meals we routinely eat. Oh, and these are the main dishes only. I'll list the sides we normally eat at the end of this, or maybe in another post.
  -fried pork chops
 -bbq pork chops 
-mexican pork chops 
-pork roast
 -beef roast
 -baked spaghetti
 -fried cubed steak -hamburger steak
 -meatloaf -meatball subs
 -sweet & sour meatballs
 -bbq meatballs
 -tacos/burritos
 -beef enchiladas
 -fajitas
 -quesadillas
 -pepper steak
 -fried chicken 
-bbq chicken 
-kielbasa 
-sweet & spicy kielbasa 
-chili
 -spaghetti 
-chicken parmigana 
-chicken cacciatore
 -pork wraps 
-roasted chicken -sticky chicken (I usually use drumsticks instead of a whole chicken) 
-italian rosemary drumsticks
 -brown sugar baked drumsticks
 -sloppy joes 
-hobo burgers 
-chicken thighs/beans 
-jambalaya 
-sausage & peppers 
-chili dogs 
-breakfast 
-porcupine meatballs 
-sweet/sour chicken 
-shepherd's pie 
-burrito casserole 
-bbq sandwiches (from leftover pork roast) 
-Carol's french dips 
-salmon patties 
-bean soup with kielbasa 
-baked ziti
 -patty melts
 -french bread pizza 
-hotwings
 -chicken pot pie  

There are some meals that we have a couple of times a year, like french onion soup or lasagna, that didn't make it on to this list. There are also some nights that we just forage for what we feel like eating, or just have sandwiches or hot dogs. That rarely happens, because my husband usually will want a "real" meal. Also, there are times when I have a taste for something that he doesn't particularly like, such as potato soup, or some sort of casserole and I'll make that for myself and he'll eat a sandwich. That also happens very rarely although it did happen last night. I usually save that for hunting season when he's usually gone on Friday nights.

  Although I have almost 2 months' worth of meals, we don't necessarily eat all of these within two months, nor do we eat all of them only once. For instance, we'll probably have fried pork chops once or twice every couple of weeks. It works the same for some of the other items as well.  

And one more note. These are (obviously) our supper (or whatever you call your evening meal) dishes. I'll explain how I do breakfasts, lunches & snacks in another post because this one has already gotten impossibly long.   In my next post, I'll outline my menu planning strategy - the hows and whys.

Here's the new part: I'm always looking for new recipes in our quest of eating well. So, I'm continually adding to this list.

hands

2008-12-14T08:32:00.000-08:00

Have you ever given much thought to your hands? Are you mindful of them, or do you take them for granted? This may sound kinda silly, but think about this. Our hands are in constant use - always there, always busy. You don't have time to sit and think about them, right?  

My hands are not particularly beautiful, but I love them just the same. Think of all the things my hands do! My hands create in lots of different ways - scrapbooking, cross-stitching and painting just to name a few. They capture life through my camera, and then document it in our scrapbooks, the record of our family. They keep our home clean and organized, with all that entails. They do the shopping and cook our meals which nourish our bodies. They drive us to the places we need to go. How good they are at patching up boo-boos on little guys and the big guy alike. They're perfect for what I'm doing now - typing away on my keyboard.

  Sometimes they're clasped in exasperation. They are at times folded in prayer and raised in praise.  More importantly, they're made for holding hands with my husband. They wear a ring that is the symbol of his love for me, our life together, our commitment to each other, and God's love for us. They comfort my loved ones, especially my boys; they're always ready to give a hug, pat on the back or wipe a tear away. They are ready to be filled with "treasures" every little boy is sure to find.  

I'm thankful for my hands. They help me love those who love me.

everyday unwrapped

2008-12-08T05:16:00.002-08:00

This morning I'm participating in unwrapping the every day, hosted by Emily at Chatting at the Sky.

This has been such a busy season for us already, and we're just getting into the holiday part of it. I'm schooling the boys, trying to get ready for Christmas and finishing up & moving into a new house as well. Busy. And on top of that, Cade has been sick for a month.

As Emily says:

It's time to celebrate the moment: not what will be or what is to come. But what is real and true this day: the messy, the lovely, and the unexpected.

So here is my everyday:
I've been spending my time sitting on the couch with a sick little one, and thinking about all of the things that are coming up as soon as we get done with all of the breathing treatments, antibiotics and steroids.

But we've had some pretty precious moments in there too, and that's what I want to remember.

Being present in the moment is something I've always struggled with. Thanks for the reminder, Emily.

Greek farmer's bread

2007-01-01T13:10:00.000-08:00

Greek Farmer's Bread

16 ounces unbleached white flour
4 teaspoons instant yeast
2 teaspoons sugar
2 cups lukewarm water
1 tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons salt

Put the flour in a bowl. Make a well in the middle. Put the yeast and the sugar in the well. Pour water over. Mix slightly. Cover and put in a warm place for 15 minutes.

Knead, adding the salt and oil, to a smooth elastic dough. Cover and put in a warm place for 15 minutes.

Knead thoroughly and place on a baking sheet. Cover and put in a warm place for 15 minutes. Put in a cold oven and turn oven on to 375F.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown. Let cool 20 minutes before slicing.

what we're about

2007-01-01T12:52:00.000-08:00

I'm Christi, wife to Brian and stay-at-home (schooling) mama to Ryan (6) and Cade (4).

I've been blessed to be Brian's wife for 11 years, and we've been together since 1993. We live in small-town Georgia.

We love our life. We don't live by an alarm clock - neither of us are traditionally employed; we don't believe in debt. We try to be intentional in our lives and our relationships. We cherish our children; we believe that home is the best learning environment for them (even though I have no idea what I'm doing!). We include them in pretty much everything we do. WE LOVE BASEBALL - a lot! We try to live simply, frugally - and we're living a blessed life!

I am passionate about lots of things - about my faith, my husband, our boys and our life together. I am passionate about homemaking, and homeschooling our boys. I am passionate about my friendships - so I'll be talking about all of them here. I am a Christian, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. I am the keeper of memories for my family, which is the reason for this blog: I want to document our version of this blessed life. I'm trying to live in the moment, enjoying my family and our life.

I think too much, question too much, and I'm learning day by day to hand it all over to Him. I fail more that I succeed.

{I love and live with all of my heart, because at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is this: have I loved well?} - The Reflective Life

So, there you go - more than you could have possibly wanted to know about me!

Any questions? Click 'email me' on the main page.

cheesy grits

2007-01-01T08:56:00.000-08:00

From Cooking Light magazine.

4 cups water
1 cup quick grits
1 cup reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese {I use regular cheese}
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme {I omit this}
1/2 teaspoon salt {I also add cracked black pepper}

Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan, and gradually add the grits, stirring constantly. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes or until thick, stirring occasionally. Remove grits from heat, and stir in the shredded cheese and remaining ingredients.

{These cheesy grits are DIVINE - and we use them with chicken, pork and fish. Yummy!}

Spicy Honey-Brushed Chicken Thighs

2007-01-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

I found this recipe in Cooking Light, which my mother thoughtfully recycles to me!

2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon ground red pepper {I omit this, the chili powder makes it spicy enough for us}
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
6 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons cider vinegar {I usually use apple juice}

Preheat broiler. Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Add chicken to bowl; toss to coat. Place chicken on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil chicken 5 minutes on each side.

Combine honey and vinegar in a small bowl, stirring well. Remove chicken from oven; brush 1/4 cup honey mixture on chicken. Broil 1 minute. Remove chicken from oven and turn over. Brush chicken with remaining honey mixture. Broil 1 additional minute or until chicken is done (ours took about 4-5 more minutes - check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to be sure). Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 chicken thighs)

{I don't use boneless, skinless thighs - I use them bone in, and usually just remove the skin before seasoning & cooking.}

old-fashioned poundcake

2007-01-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

2 cups butter, softened {I usually use margarine}
2 3/4 cups sugar
6 large eggs
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg {I omit this}
1/2 cup milk

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears.

Combine flour, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

Mix at low speed after each addition just until mixture is blended. Stir in vanilla. Spoon batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan.

Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

This works equally well divided into loaf pans.

I don't remember the cookbook this came from, but I think it was Best of Southern Living.