Menu Plan Monday--November 2, 2009

Monday: TBD
Tuesday: Crockpot Applesauce Chicken
Wednesday: Italian-Style Rice & Beans 
Thursday: Baked Pork
Friday: Southwestern Pie

We Have Some Real Stars In Our House

It's WOODY and BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!

To INFINITY...AND BEYOND!!!

Despite our recent sickness, Sunday the boys had some fun in their costumes and enjoyed sunshine and getting in some trick-or-treating at a local outdoor mall. (relax. It was before they were really sick, and before we knew what Aidan had).

Since then Brennan has asked to be Buzz Lightyear every single day.  :)
Saturday is trick-or-treating! I am glad our little men are on the mend.
Hopefully it will be a Happy Halloween!

It's been a long week, and it's only Wednesday

Where have I been?!

Aidan started to not feel well Friday after school, and sure enough by 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning he had a fever. He's been home from school all week, but thankfully tomorrow he can go back. He is feeling almost 100% again. :)

Brennan is on and off with a cold, including the green snot running everywhere. He's in pretty good spirits, though, not letting any snot slow him down! Typical Brennan. :)

Last night Patrick started to feel poorly, and today he actually stayed home from work. That never happens, so you know he's not feeling well. I hope it passes quickly for him.

I'm not sick, but I am feeling tired and worn down from trying to take care of everyone else.
We had enough stress before this, and it's just topping it all off not-so-nicely.

But hey, I do have something good from this. I made homemade chicken soup for the first time!
It went much more smoothly than I expected, and oh my goodness, the house has smelled delicious all day. :) I hope the soup tastes as good as it smells.

Want the recipe? I'm guessing it's pretty basic, but sometimes the basics are just what you need. Oh, except I added some garlic to the recipe. Garlic is pretty good for your immune system.
If it's not good, I'll hurry back and delete this post. (hee-hee)
Here it is:
Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup (source: Better Homes and Gardens)

ingredients

• 1  3-1/2- to 4-pound chicken, cut up, or 2 1/2 pounds meaty chicken pieces
• 8  cups water
• 1/2  cup chopped onion (1 medium)
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1/4  teaspoon black pepper
• 1  bay leaf
• 1  cup chopped carrot (2 medium)
• 1  cup chopped celery (2 stalks)
• 1-1/2  cups dried egg noodles
• 2  tablespoons snipped fresh parsley

directions

1. In a 6- to 8-quart Dutch oven combine chicken, water, onion, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 1-1/2 hours or until chicken is very tender.

2. Remove chicken from broth. When cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones. Discard bones and skin. Cut meat into bite-size pieces; set aside. Discard bay leaf. Skim fat from broth.

3. Bring broth to boiling. Stir in carrot and celery. Simmer, covered, about 5 minutes. Stir in noodles. Simmer, covered, 5 minutes more or until noodles are tender but still firm. Stir in chicken and parsley; heat through.

4. Makes 8 servings (10 1/2 cups)

nutrition facts

• Calories 152, 
• Total Fat (g) 3, 
• Saturated Fat (g) 1, 
• Monounsaturated Fat (g) 1,
• Polyunsaturated Fat (g) 1, 
• Cholesterol (mg) 73, 
• Sodium (mg) 684, 
• Carbohydrate (g) 8,
• Total Sugar (g) 1, 
• Fiber (g) 1, 
• Protein (g) 22, 
• Vitamin A (DV%) 0, 
• Vitamin C (DV%) 8,
• Calcium (DV%) 3, 
• Iron (DV%) 7, 
• Starch (d.e.) .5, 
• Very Lean Meat (d.e.) 3, 
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

If it's not good, I'll hurry back and delete this post. (hee-hee)

When You Can Feel God Working

I don't very often feel I sense when God is talking to me, or shouting at me "do this!".

I have friends who are like "God told me to do this...".
I usually stare blankly because I don't experience that very often.

I'm more the type that if God is trying to tell me something, He needs it on a huge billboard, then played through the song I hear on the radio, then to send HIMSELF to me in a dream or something.

But...Every once in a great while, I do feel God sending me a message. I do feel Him working on me, even through me. Those rare moments are such a blessing. They catch me off guard, and almost overwhelm me to a point.

Well the lightbulb went off, and I've had a moment where I've felt God working through me. Looking at it, it's amazing the way He connected pieces of my life together.

Remember how I participated in the 40 Days for Life campaign? I've gone twice to downtown Toledo and prayed outside the abortion clinic there. The first time it was a very moving experience for me. The last time, it wasn't as moving. However, the last time, as I was noticing a street guy (assumed homeless) walking by, I noticed he was talking to himself, not making sense, as if he was in an argument with someone we couldn't see. He was not presentable looking. He was not clean. He reminded me of my brother Kevin.

Once we were driving away, I realized he must have come from the shelter around the corner. The Cherry Street Mission offers shelter and food and warm meals to the needy.
My brother, Kevin, has often relied on such shelters.
 He is schizophrenic.
Since he was 18 or 19, he has spent so much of his life roaming about, going from one shelter to the next. He is alive truly because so many good people on earth have helped him.

That man I saw walking when I was praying at the abortion clinic, he really reminded me of my brother when he is unstable and off his medication.

Fast forward a few days.

Thursday at school, Aidan and the rest of the school made hundreds of pb&j sandwiches for the hungry.

The whole school worked together on this service project, and Aidan really enjoyed it. I am proud he understood what he did. I am proud he is in a school that does such things.

Guess who they were giving these sandwiches to?
Cherry Street Mission, the same shelter mentioned above.

When I realized this, I had another lightbulb moment. I realized there was a very real chance my brother may have relied on this shelter. He lived in Michigan for many years, and during that time left home and went God knows where. Toledo is a place he would have passed through.
I realize this is a small chance, but it gave me some perspective.

I found the shelter's website and looked at their list of Urgent Needs.
How could I not?

I kept it in mind when I was grocery shopping the other day, and I picked up a few things from their list.
I am excited to show the 2 bags to Aidan, and for us to all drive there and drop them off. I think it's so important for young kids to see this as they grow up.
The world is so much bigger than we are, and we need to do our part to help.

I not only feel like we're helping the needy that come to this shelter, but in some small way, I feel like we're helping my brother. Or at least returning some of the kindness he has received so much of.

God connected pieces together: my prayer time at the clinic-->the homeless guy walking by--> the shelter-->Aidan's school donating sandwiches to this shelter-->it making me think of Kevin-->finding the shelter's list of needs-->God connected these things in my life, and I feel like He wants me to help out, even if it is in a small way.

I don't feel it often, but when I can feel God working, it's quite the feeling. Humbling.

Have you ever had an experience where you've felt God working through you?

2 months!

Amy posted recently about Christmas, and it inspired me to write this post.

Christmas countdown at FlashBannerNow.com

Ha! You might be thinking "It's not even Halloween YET!", but the reality is, it's 2 months until Christmas. 2 months from today is Christmas Eve, people! Scary? I think a little.

But this year I am prepared. As of yesterday, I am probably 90% finished with my Christmas shopping!

(translation: the "big" gifts the boys ask Santa for are bought).

I have never had so much of my shopping done by Halloween. Heck, I don't normally even start until around Thanksgiving.

But I like this. It feels good. :)

For Aidan (my 5yo), it's the Imaginext Dragon World. I was skeptical, but if nothing else, I do have 90 days to return or exchange. I don't think he'll change his mind, though. He says he "very wants this!".

Brennan wasn't hard, either. He loves the Little People toys still, and I'm thrilled because so do I. We bring out all of our Little People toys and make Little People World. It's actually a lot of fun. On creative days, we even line up the Hotwheels through Little People World and pretend it's a parade. :)

So for Brennan (our 2yo), it's the Little People Fire Station:

We already have the fire truck that their Aunt Sue gave them Brennan's first Christmas. It's perfect.

A few other things I picked up back in August, when Meijer had a huge clearance event.

That included this Frogger DVD game, the Imginext Safari Vehicle (I bought for half off), a foam hopscotch play mat (similar to this, but for a super cheap clearance price), and a wooden jump rope for both of them, similar to this one from Potty Barn (on clearance for $1.78, and theirs is a snake).

I'm excited! Every Advent I think "I need to do my shopping earlier so Advent can be more spiritual, etc". And this year we'll have that opportunity.

Plus, my husband doesn't know it yet, but those nights we'd normally be out shopping, I plan to coerce him into watching endless Christmas movies with me. Including the ones ABC Family does as a part of their 25 Days of Christmas. :) I'll even let him rub my feet while we drink hot chocolate. See why he's glad he married me?

2 months. Two months, people.

How many have started their shopping?

How many know what they plan to buy?

Tis the Season...

Flashback Friday: BUST IT!

I seriously loved this from Glee. 

A little more clean from the original version I grew up hearing:

I admit: I had the cassette. I owned Young MC's album in cassette form. 

I remember warming up to Bust a Move during dance class, at Anita's in Michigan.

Why the heck I knew those words when I was 9 years old? Who knows. Thankfully I didn't know the meaning at the time. LOL 

Good times, though. I really enjoyed the Glee performance of it.

Wordless Wednesday: Kindergarten School Picture

Mommy Confession: I Hate Potty Training

Does anyone enjoy it?

I've not been the best about potty training. Honestly, I'm lazy about it.
I hate doing it. It's so time consuming, incredibly boring. Necessary and essential, yes, but I am not motivated.

I'm making attempts to get more on it with potty training Brennan.

With Aidan (our oldest), I was all "Yeah! Time to potty train!".
Ha! Only possible with the first kid.

I need to embrace this.
But you know what? It's kind of hard to happily embrace a task that results in (temporary) peeing on the floor, getting peed on, having to clean up pee, probably poop, too.
Tears, possibly from both of us.

You wanna encourage me to potty train this kid? Or better yet, come and do it for me?
I think I might be just fine letting him stay in diapers another few months. But the fact is, most of the other kids his age (2.5) are already trained, and have been for a while.

I suppose their mothers aren't lazy and actually care about the issue.
Yikes.
There's my mommy confession.

(by the way, I was reading this link and I think I may try it. Trying to motivate myself here)

Menu Plan Monday--October 19, 2009

Monday: Soup & Sandwiches or leftover Lasagna (just made yesterday)
Tuesday: Crockpot Chicken & Noodles
Wednesday: Tex-Mex Casserole (never did last week)
Thursday: Pasta Night
Friday: Pancakes, fruit (boys cook) OR ??? (Trick or Treat at outdoor shopping center)

Yes, you read that correctly: Trick-or-treating! Halloween is just 2 weeks away. Isn't that crazy? This month is flying by.
There is a nice, semi-upscale shopping center very close to us. My husband's office is actually there.
They host a trick-or-treat party, and all the shops give out candy to the little kids. We've gone every year that we've lived here so far, so it's become a tradition. Dinner is normally something fast & easy, like make-your-own-pita-pizzas, or mummy dogs. We'll see for this Friday.

I welcome the chance for the boys to wear their costumes more than once. Get my money's worth! ;)

For you, Dorothy Grace

Because you didn't have a chance at living.

You, like others, were not given the chance to grow up, to take your first steps, say your first words, or play with your big brother. We didn't get to hold you, hug you, love you on earth.

The difference?

Your chance was not taken away deliberately. 

You were wanted. You were deliberate. You were on purpose.

For all of those reasons, we still love you. And even after 3.5 years, we still miss you.

The others? 

Many, many babies are denied the chance of life on purpose. 

Their mothers or fathers convince themselves they aren't a real person, and proceed to hurt their bodies and kill their baby. 

Those others are suffering an abortion. 

Abortion is murder.

God chose to take you from us. I still don't understand why, but I have peace in knowing we did all we could to provide you a loving, healthy home, albeit only 16 weeks in-utero.

Others, perhaps babies you greet in heaven, were deliberately denied this. Maybe God had planned for them to live, blessing lives around them. But someone selfishly, frighteningly interrupted God's plan.

What was it Mother Teresa said? "Don't put a period where God intended a comma". Amen to that.

I did one hour at the abortion clinic a few weeks back. It's a prayer vigil called the 40 Days for Life.

Something changed within me. Ever since then, I feel spiritually renewed. Recharged. It is easier to pray.

From that change I felt the urge to do more, so I signed myself up for another hour tomorrow, and I hope to do even more.

I am doing this in honor of you, Dorothy Grace. You are with me in my heart.

Your life ended by God's will. Today we especially pray for those babies whose lives are ended in ungodly ways.

Remembering you, Little Dottie. 

You are my inspiration.

Inspiring & Uplifting

I love this song! (By the way, I agree with those that commented. He does kind of sound Like Nick Lachey)

Financial Peace & Dave Ramsey: Updates

First, let me throw something out there for you to think about as you read.

Grocery budget: what do you think is a reasonable amount?

We're a family of 4: 2 adults, 2 kids, one of those being in school (school lunch prep).

The grocery budget has always been the easiest to cut for me, but this month I had a hard time keeping it at that amount, and the month isn't even over yet!

I HAVE made some awesome progress in planning and using coupons. Today, for instance, I bought almost all sale items, then saved $9 in coupons! Woo-hoo! Go me! ;)

I take advantage of the stores that double or even triple coupons.

And not to disappoint some of you, but I am not an Aldi's fan.

First of all, it's mostly processed foods sold there, and we are pretty health-conscious in what we eat (Weight Watchers).

Secondly, I have found several occasions where it's NOT been cheaper, due to a store doubling a coupon, or from buying locally at a farmers' market. (example: Giant Eagle doubles coupons up to a dollar. I had a coupon for Bisquick for a dollar off, which was doubled, so I paid 59 cents for the big box of Bisquick!)

I plan out meals, we are pretty good about sticking to that, but I am not willing to sacrifice fresh or healthy for canned or processed.

Since I'm putting it out there, let me tell you what I've normally aimed for. $150 each pay period, or roughly every 2 weeks. $150 for 2 weeks' groceries.

How do-able do you find that to be?

Moving on....

I'm enjoying the Dave Ramsey videos shown during FPU.

Dave is a funny guy!

His plan is broken down into Baby Steps.

We're working on Baby Step 2-paying off all debt except for the mortgage.

This will be a long step for us, but it's exciting at the same time.

We are pretty close to having our lowest debt paid off, which is our Odyssey.

Once that is paid in full, the next 2 lowest shouldn't take too much time at all. I am super excited about that.

I love how Dave said it. When you borrow, be it from a friend, family member, bank, or other finance-enabling company, that means your money you earn each month has someone else's name on it before you even get it.

Heck yes.

Is that smart? A good feeling?

I understand the various reasons people use credit cards. But heck, study after study has shown that the majority of cardholders are getting ripped off.

This week we made it a goal to earn an extra $100 to pay towards our Odyssey for the month of November.

Our biggest plan of action is to clear out the old laptop and try to sell it.

I also plan to consign some things, or maybe even have a garage sale.

I've never done garage sale and it intimidates me. (there, I said it)

Now that I've rambled on about nothing in particular, it's your turn to speak up!

Leave me a comment and share what you think is a reasonable grocery budget for a family of 4.

GO!

Lemonade, anyone?

Life has handed us some lemons.

Would you like some lemonade?

By nature I am more the "glass if half empty" type. I don't enjoy pessimism, but I've always been more the pessimist.

I am fighting it, though, and holding on to hope that God has good things in store for us.

We found out my husband's company is reorganizing departments, which simply put means there will be cutbacks. There will be 5 positions opening, and 8 people who will have a great need for one of those positions.

My husband is one of those people, and since I stay home with our kids and don't bring in an income, this is a pretty big deal. His position is being eliminated.

Job being eliminated = the lemons.

Here is the hopeful part, the lemonade. 5 new positions are being created, and there is a very good chance he will obtain one of those new positions. God willing.

We will know a lot more over the next 3 weeks. I am praying they fly by and end with good news. Join me in prayer?

I'm trying to make the best of it all over the next few weeks.

For instance, this past Tuesday we had to have our washing machine serviced. Thankfully it was still under warranty, and a very minor problem, at that.

But when I got to thinking about it, this time last year, had this happened, I would have been all lemons. NO lemonade.

We were still renting. We were using our landlord's washing machine. Had this happened before, I would have not only felt stressed from a washer problem, (plus the inconvenience of those crazy service-hour time slots they give), I would have had a lot of added stress because I would have also had to answer to the landlord. I would have felt the stress and need to justify that I didn't break his machine.

Simple things like that. Lemons turned into lemonade. Example 1.

Example 2: it's rained and been gloomy all week. Very icky outside.

It does kind of stink, but then I thought about the rain when we first moved into our house.

We bought this house knowing the roof needed to be replaced. When we had heavy rain after moving in, we had drips. Leaks. I had a husband taking my good towels into the attic to blot out water. Water that is now outside, where it belongs, because we have a good roof over our heads.

It may be a small roof. It may be a roof that only covers 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, and a single car garage. It may be a roof that only covers older appliances, not energy efficient ones, etc. But you know what? It's a dry roof over our own home. Over our own washer, our washer covered by extended warranty that we paid for.

Our roof is solid and dry. It's protecting our four walls, and 4 precious people inside.

I have much to be worried about right now. I have concerns. I am stressed, yes. But who isn't?

I know I have been praying for my husband's job since he started grad school over a year ago.

I've been praying that St. Anthony will help find a job better suited to our needs.

Lemons? No thank you.

I choose to turn those lemons into lemonade. I'm choosing to believe that God will provide, take care of us, and maybe be answering my prayers during this whole thing.

Have some lemonade.

Happy 1st Birthday to Miss Addie!

Such an adorable little girl, turning one!!

"Little girls are made of daisies and butterflies and soft kitty cat purrs

And all the precious memories of times that once were.

Little girls are made of angel's wings and giggles and a firefly's glow
And all the happy feelings, deep inside, that we all know.

Little girls are made of cinnamon and bubbles and fancy white pearls
And snowflakes and rainbows and ballerina twirls.

Little girls are made of sunshine and cupcakes and fresh morning dew,
And these are the reasons, little one, why everyone loves you."

It's hard to believe it's been a year since you made your entrance into this world. You are so adorable. We love you and miss you!

Pumpkin Patch Time!

Yesterday was such a fun family day. It was a cool, almost cold fall day (with the wind), and we spent it going to the pumpkin patch!

My husband's side of the family met us there, so Aidan had his cousins to play with.

We went to the same place as last year (where we went with Aidan's preschool), loving it just as much. The family that runs it is such a good family, and it shows throughout their farm.

It also shows in their donuts.

Yeah. Let's just say they were so good, so so good, that I wound up eating four during our time there. FOUR. Oink oink, says me.

We enjoyed the hot cider, donuts, a pumpkin train ride, hay ride, picking our own pumpkins, and I know I, at least, enjoyed watching other people chase my kids around. ;)

Brennan in the hay play-area

the adorable pumpkin train

Patrick & I

Aidan amidst the pumpkins

This cracks me up! All the kids. No one is looking, and poor Luciano (the baby)...

4 of the 5 kids

Menu Plan Monday--October 12, 2009

Monday: leftover chili and corn muffins

Tuesday: Tex-Mex Rice and Bean Casserole

Wednesday: Breakfast for dinner (boys cook)

Thursday: Sticky Teriyaki Chicken, brown rice

Friday: Vegetarian Lasagna, salad, bread rolls

Be There or Be Square

Tonight! Jim & Pam's Wedding!

I can't wait. :)

Wordless Wednesday: Brothers

Menu Plan Monday--October 5, 2009

Monday: Noodle Soup & grilled cheese

Tuesday: Crockpot Chili w/ corn muffins

Wednesday: Hot Dogs , Baked Beans, raw carrots

Thursday: Balsamic Pork Chops, potatoes, green beans

Friday: Crockpot Chicken Tacos