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Monday, March 29, 2010

1st Time Playing Soccer

My #3 has never participated in any sports.  I think because he is the youngest and his brothers are so active in school sports, this was on over sight on DH and my part.  So, this year we asked him if he wanted to play soccer.  His oldest brother plays soccer and so #3 knows a little about the game.  We signed him up with our local YMCA.

This is #3 at practice.  The weather was COLD for me, that is why he is wearing a sweatshirt!  Yeah, I'm his mama!

This is him in his uniform.  He looks so cute and yet so big!

Getting warmed up on game day with his team.  He is #2, but you can't see it in this picture.
This is one of the better moments in the game.  Can you see him? Almost, right?!?! This is his first time playing so he really doesn't understand and really doesn't care.  But the coach said he has "heart" so I guess that is a good thing!  I hope as his team practices more, he will understand the game and really try to play right!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

New Glasses

My #2 recently got glasses.  This is a long time coming and I felt very guilty that his eyes were kinda bad due to me not taking him to an Eye Doctor when the school first told me to.  Boy, I felt like a bad parent.  This time, I got a note from the school again (last time he was in the 2nd or 3rd grade and now he is in 6th) so I told him I was going to take him.  The last time we had this conversation, years ago, he was VERY opposed to getting glasses but thankfully this time, he was excited.

He came home from school early due to a headache (he is my headache child and has always had more than my other two! Go figure, that should have told me to get his eyes checked, duh!) so I decided to make him an appointment that day.  The doctor was very nice and told me she went through the same thing with her daughter.  I told her about the notice from the school years ago but I figured he wasn't doing bad in school so he was ok.  She said the same thing went through her mind with her daughter. 

Anyways, he is near sided and has a stigmatism, a little bit from both his Father (near sided) and myself (a stigmatism) and she wants to see him again in 6 months.  She thinks his sight will improve within that six months.  When he picked up his glasses, the Eye Doctor asked him to look at the back of the store (we were in Wal-Mart) and then to take his glasses off and look at the back of the store.  He was amazed at how bad his sight is!

Ok, here is the big reveal.....
Isn't he handsome?

Monday, March 22, 2010

Menu Plan Monday


Well, last week didn't exactly go as planned.  We only ate about 3 of the 7 meals I had in my plan.  I guess that means there is more food for later and that I can save money on grocery shopping!! 

My boys had a sports banquet on Friday night and on Wednesday I got home too late to cook before going to church.  I really need to work on my Wednesday night meals since I only have a few minutes at home with the boys before either I take them to church or we all go. Any ideas anyone?

Once again, the menu's below may not be eaten in the order listed but we will try to eat them this week :)

Monday - Fajitas, Beans, Mexican rice
Tuesday - Ravoli w/ alfredo sauce, salad & bread
Wednesday - Tamales, corn, beans
Thursday - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, veggie
Friday - Beef roast, pasta, veggie
Saturday - Teriyaki port chop stir fry, ramen
Sunday - Breakfast

For more menu ideas, visit http://orgjunkie.com/

Friday, March 19, 2010

I Feel Safe

During Sunday School last week, we had a discussion about whether or not you would truly rely on God if you were in a tight spot, like losing your job. We often have discussions in Sunday School and although we have been going a while and I am getting to know the other couples, I am still guarded. You see, I attended a woman's small group at another church and on more than one occasion would leave feeling like I wasn't a "good enough" Christian after opening up during a discussion.


On Sunday, one of our leaders expressed how when we, as Christians, are faced with trials, will we really take God at his Word? She said that it's not that we don't believe what the Word says; we just think that we may be the exception to the rule and therefore will not have the faith to rely fully on God. Others agreed and no one chastised her for not having enough faith. It was so refreshing and I was uplifted to know that I can be real here in this class amongst these real people and God can do amazing things in all of our lives. I felt safe!

I sent her an email thanking her for being real and allowing me to feel comfortable in this environment. Because really, isn't that the point of coming together anyways? To uplift and help each other in our walk with Christ? She responded with gratitude for my comments and then told me she was glad DH and I are in the class.

I feel blessed in be involved with a group of people, a body, a church that is here to help this hurting world with love and encouragement. I know that I plan on being more open in the future and look forward to God teaching me and helping me to receive from others while I grow closer to them because of it!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Menu Plan Monday


DH and I went shopping at ALDI late last week and got a lot for a little :)  This was our first time shopping there and we liked what they had to offer.  We will definately go back.  Tonight we sat down and mapped out two weeks of meals so I can be prepared and ready to cook every night!

Monday - Ravoli w/ red sauce, salad, bread
Tuesday - Asian Meal: Tsotso chicken, egg rolls, fried rice & lomein
Wednesday - (church night) Fish Po Boys, seasoned fries
Thursday - Smothered pork chops, flavored noodles, veggie
Friday - Spaghetti & meatballs, salad, bread
Saturday - Beef roast, rice, veggie
Sunday - Hamburger Helper, veggie

The meals may not be eaten in the order above but we will be eating these meals this week! If you would like to see other menus, visit http://orgjunkie.com/ .

Friday, March 12, 2010

Home Schooling, Should I?

Home schooling has always been close to my heart. I believe in the concept and think it is great. However, I do not think it is for everyone. I have tried it once and after meeting a wonderful lady a few weeks ago that home schools her 7 children (she currently has a couple that have graduated), it has come into my mind and I cannot get the idea out!

I talked to DH about my desire to be more available for my boys and that the stress of relying on others (and they are truly a blessing!) has been hard on me. We have decided that we would pray about me quitting my full-time job at the end of the summer. I will still need to work to purchase food and gas but DH's paycheck would pay for essentials. I may have the opportunity to nanny a little one but if that doesn't work out, I will look for work outside the home a couple days a week during "Mom" hours.

What does this have to do with home schooling you ask? Well, I have brought up the subject to my boys and we have agreed to attend the Curriculum Fair here in Chattanooga in late July. DH isn't sure if this is a good idea since the last time I home schooled, it was very stressful! I explained that there were many, many, many factors that contributed to that stress. It was my FIRST year, I was miles away from my friends that were home schooling and didn't have the funds to meet up regularly; I did not know the intranet could be such an information outlet as well as a network through blogs, and on and on. Oh, and I was pregnant!!

So in light of all this pondering, I have been asking myself why I want to try this again. The first thing that comes to mind is that home schooling would be convenient. I know, this is NOT a good reason to home school and I am working that out in my mind!! The next thing is that I will be able to focus on my boy’s spiritual growth more. I would be able to schedule structured time for them to study and worship and pray. I will be there to help them when they have questions or are in situations that are confusing. Another reason is the flexibility for them to be involved in activities including volunteering. We recently volunteered (DH and I) at the Creative Discovery Museum and learned that they have a youth volunteering program for home schoolers as well as those in school. I have researched the local home school organization and see all the opportunities that are available for kids and it excites me.

The cons for my boys include being able to participate in sporting activities since they are very involved. But, the local home school group offers sports, just not all of them. They want to see their friends but I know they will have the opportunity to make new friends through scheduled get together’s with other home schoolers. They will miss out on school trips but I see that they will have the opportunity to be more involved in church activities where they can take mission trips which to me is more important anyways.

Ok, I think I'm done for now. I needed a place to write down my thoughts before they drove me crazy. What do you think?

[Oh and Mom if you are reading this, I was going to talk to you about this at some point but I guess now there's no time like the present :)]

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Breakfast for Church

DH and I voluntered to cook for our Sunday School class.  I had fun spending a day baking! Here is what I did!
I made a blueberry sour cream pound cake  a puff pastry filled with eggs, sasuage, potatoes and cream cheese.  I made two of each and froze them for my girl's get together the next weekend (which I posted about before this, sorry!)

This was the star! I made a sugar cookie as large as a pizza.  I covered it with cream cheese and sugar combined and then placed the fruit on.  It was great!  I will definately make this again!

Blueberry Sour Cream Pound Cake
from "Don't Panic: Dinner's in the Freezer" by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell, & Bonnie Garcia

nonstick cooking spray
3T dry bread crumbs
4 C flour
1/3 t. salt
1 1/2 C light sour cream
1 t. baking sod
3/4 c butter, softened
2 3/4 C sugar
2 t. vanilla
3 eggs
2 T. fresh lemon juice
1 C blueberry, fresh or frozen

Yield: One 10 inch tube cake or two medium loaf pans.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat a 10 inch pan or two medum loaf pans with cooking spray and dust with bread crumbs.  In medium bowl, stir together flour and salt and set aside.  In a separate bowl, combine sour cream and baking soda; stir well.  Place butter in a large mixing bowl and beat until light and fluffy.  Gradually add sugar and vanilla, beating until well blended.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.  Add lemon juice and beat 30 seconds.  Add flour mixture alternately with sour cream mixture, beating at low speed.  Begin and end this process with flour mixture.

Fold blueberries into batter.  Spoon batter into prepared pan.  Bake at 350 dgrees for 70 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 10 minutes on a wire rack: remove from pan. 


Breakfast Strudel
from "Don't Panic: Dinner's in the Freezer" by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell, & Bonnie Garcia


4 frozen puff pastry sheets
11 eggs
2 T. fresh chives or green onions, chopped (optional)
2 T. unsalted butter
1 C frozen hash brown potatoes (I used fresh potatoes)
1 C red and/or green bell peppers, diced (optional)
1 C sasuage, browned (turkey, pork or beef)
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 T. water


Yield:  4 strudels

Thaw pastry sheets to room temperature, about 30 minutes.  In a large mixing bowl, wish eggs and chives (or green onions) together. Set aside.  In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat.  Add potatoes and peppers; saute 5 minutes.  Add sasuage and blend.  Add egg mixture to the skillet and scramble just until set.  Season with salt and pepper.  Take egg mixture off burner and stir in cream cheese.  Cool.

Unfold each pastry sheet onto a piece of waxed or parchment paper that has been lightly dusted with flour.  Trim the pastry on the left and right corners in a downward angle.  Make up to 10 slits at a downward angle on the left and right sheets.  Spread the egg filling down the center, dividing the mixture between each pastry sheet.  Braid the pastry sheet.  Mix remaining egg and water together.  Brush each strudel with egg mixture.  Wrap each strudel in a layer of plastic wrap, then a layer of foil, and freeze.

On serving day, thaw strudel.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place strudel on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 - 30 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool 5 minutes before serving.

Sugar Cookie Fruit Tart
From Cooks.com

Make a cookie tart from recipe below
1 8oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1/3 C granulated sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
1 1/2 C fruit

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a small mixter bowl until smooth.  Spread evenly over cooled cookie tart or crust within 1/2 inch of edge.  Arrange fruit as desired on top of cream cheese mixture.  Refrigerate for 1 hour.  Slice into wedges.

Sugar Cookie Recipe
by allrecipes.com

2 3/4 C all-purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1 C butter, softened
1 1/2 C sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Gradually blend in dry ingredients.  Roll dough into a tart pan or onto a pizza sheet Bake 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on a wire rack.

I hope you try these recipes and enjoy them as much as we did!!




Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Girl's Saturday Get Together

I am so excited to say that my idea for a girl's get together finally happened!  I organized a time of food, fellowship and God's Word and although I invited around 6 women, only 2 showed up and it was amazing.  I am so glad that God is in control when I try to do something!

This was the table setting. I wanted to put a table cloth and place mats but I didn't have any so this is the best I could do!  I think it turned out well! 
  
Here is the food!  I baked two of each of these for our Sunday School class the week before (gotta love the cook it and freeze it cookbooks!).  I made a blueberry sour cream coffee cake and a puff pastry filled with eggs, sasuage, potatoes and cream cheese.  They were DELICIOUS!

 Here were the gifts.  I had so much fun sewing these totes and the girls were able to choose the one they wanted. They were excited which made me happy!

I decided to do a devotion on Friendship since this was our first meeting and I knew I was meeting with women I really didn't know that well yet.  I decided to open with a candy ice breaker. It was fun and we learned new things about each other.  Then we did a "friendship" survey to find out what kind of friend we are.  Then I referenced a devotion from the Faith Lifts devotion site about the relationship that Mary and Elizabeth had and how Mary ran to Elizabeth's house when the angel told her she was pregnant with the Lord in Luke 1:38-56.  Then she stayed with Elizabeth for three months.  The relationship they must have had for Mary to choose Elizabeth to go to at a time when she was even unsure of what was happening tells me that she trusted Elizabeth.  I want someone who I can run to when I need a trusting ear and heart.

I believe God has opened a door for the women in this group to grow closer to each other and God.  To keep each other accountable and encourage each other in tough times.  To celebrate with each other.  I am so excited to see what the future holds!!