Thankful Thursday~Feel No Shame!

Yesterday I was talking to a very good friend on the phone. She mentioned that she met a girl at church who seemed a little embarrassed to say that she met her husband at a club. This got me thinking. Everyone has a past. Some have "squeaky clean" pasts according to society, and others have "downright dirty" pasts according to society, but everyone has sinful pasts according to the Lord. There is not one of us that doesn't need forgiveness.

Once we have embraced that forgiveness, I feel we should let go of the shame. Past shame can hinder our walk with the Lord. It can cause us to not fully embrace His gift. Psalm 34:5 says, 'Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame.' So, once we are focused on Him, we need to learn to let that shame go. Feel no shame for what has already been forgiven!

I admit that it took me a while to do just that. I held onto my past sins, and therefore much shame, which was pure torture. It kept me from enjoying what Jesus has in store for me. Yes, I did many sinful things in my past. But guess what? I am a new person! I now have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and I long to please Him. The person I was no longer has a hold on me. I don't need to hide the person that I was, but I also don't need to wear it like a Scarlet Letter. This is true for all believers.

Thank you, Jesus, for sacrificing your life for my sins, as well as the sins of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for loving us enough to lead us to a better way of life. I am forever grateful!

If you are holding onto your past sins, or even a sin committed against you, let it go. Relinquish it so that you may fully enjoy your new life. A life that is eternal and glorifying to the one that created us in His image. :-)

Thursday Thirteen

I'm in a shopping mood. Of course, my husband would say I am always in a shopping mood. ;-) Here are some things on my "wish list." Some are much more easily attained than others.

13 Things On My Wish List

1. Bread Machine~I really want to learn to make different types of breads, and I think the bread machine might just be the way to go.

2. Westmoreland Milk Glass Plates~I would love to have a set of these plates. I love the simple look of them, and Jeff has many Westmoreland pieces. It is really more his thing than mine, but it is growing on me. You can't just walk into a store and get these dishes, which makes them more difficult to find, as well as pricey.
3. Sandals~Summer is coming, and I would love a new pair of sandals...or two.

4. Picnic Cooler~I have always wanted a cute, adorable picnic basket lined with red and white gingham. However, I am realizing that is not super practical. It can be extremely hot in the summer, and you want your food to stay cool for a decent amount of time on a picnic. With a cooler like this, my family could go on fun picnics and not worry about food poisoning.

5. Over-the-Toilet Cabinet~We truly need one. I need a place to store bathroom items in a bad way!

6. Fireplace Insert~Jeff and I have lived in our home for almost 8 years, and we just finally had our fireplace looked at last month. The man said that we need to get a fireplace insert, which sounds easy enough to me. So, I hope we can get this accomplished before this fall. I would love to enjoy some fires with my family this fall and winter.
7. Wood Floors~I would love, love, love to have wood floors throughout our house minus the bedrooms and bathrooms. However, that sounds expensive and unlikely to happen. So, I will settle for at least having wood flooring in our fireplace room.

8. Pajamas~Lately I have been feeling the need to have some jammies. I'll be honest. I usually just sleep in a t-shirt, which has always suited me just fine. But my kids are getting older, and they are going to want to start having kids over more often. So, I think it is time to make a change, so that I can walk around in front of others in my sleepwear.

9. Shredder~With all the identity theft in the world, not to mention that our credit card was recently used without authorization, I feel it is time to get a shredder. I should probably do that sooner rather than later.

10. Candy Making Gloves~These are the least expensive thing on my list. I think they would be useful when making cake pops.

11. Comfy Reading Chair~I love to read, and I would really love a place of my own to do that reading. I have just the spot in my hearth room, and this chair would be perfect!

12. Sofa~Speaking of furniture, we could really use a new sofa. Oh sure, ours can easily be used for a few more years. Of course, if you lay on it you will feel metal and wood poking your back. If you sit on it, you will sort of sink to the side a tad. Just not comfy. I would really like to eventually have one like this without all the pillows.

13. Light Fixture~We need a light fixture over our new dining room table. I really like the look of this one.

So, what is on your wish list? Do share!

Wordful Wednesday~Sleeping Beauty

Isn't my Sleeping Beauty just precious? Last weekend, while I was sitting in that chair, she crawled onto my back to sit. This isn't unusual, as she does this all the time while I am at the computer. What was unusual is that this time in just a matter of seconds my mom said to me, "Meghan is asleep." I so eloquently replied, "Nuh Uh!"

Sure enough she was asleep. So, I laid her on the chair. I checked in on her right before we ate dinner, and I just had to take a picture. She is all curled up in a fetal position. So big, but she is still my baby.

She was thankful that she missed dinner, which was meatloaf, mashed potatoes and creamed corn. She got to pick her dinner, and if I remember correctly, she picked bologna and crackers. That girl is going to turn into a big ol' piece of bologna. Don't worry! If that happens, I will be sure to snap a picture.

:-)

Love This Magazine

I recently purchased Yum Food & Fun for Kids at the store. It caught my eye, since it was geared towards mothers, and I was surprised to find out that it has just entered its second year in publication. How have I not heard of this magazine before?

This magazine featured many kid friendly foods. There were desserts, snacks, and main dishes that I would not only feed my children, but I would also have them help make. Scattered throughout the pages were many fun products that a mom just might want to purchase. I know I saw several cool things! But probably my most favorite thing about the magazine was that it had lots of fun ways to celebrate holidays. This particular issue offered up ideas for Dr. Seuss's Birthday, St. Patrick's Day, April Fool's Day, Passover, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, and Mother's Day.

I know this will probably sound corny, but flipping through the pages and reading the wonderful ideas made me giddy. Truly excited! If ever I created a magazine, it would be very similar to this one. If you too are a mom that likes cooking for your family, as well as celebrating holidays with them, you should check this out the next time you are at the market. I don't think you will be disappointed! :-)

Lesson Learned

Today, while grocery shopping, I got Meghan the new Crayola Colored Bubbles. Of course she wanted to use them as soon as we got home, and I told her to do so on our deck. Ohhhhhh, the mess!


She had bright blue spots all over the deck, outdoor furniture, herself and her clothes. Now, they are washable, but I didn't want to take the chance on our deck. It took a bit to scrub it off in some areas of the deck, and it also took a bit of scrubbing to get it off her feet. I haven't washed the outfit yet, but it is white so I am sure bleach will do the trick.

The lesson that I learned is that regular bubbles are just fine. Perfect as a matter of fact, and much, much cheaper. I'm not saying you shouldn't give these fun, colorful bubbles a try. I'm just saying you need to be prepared for the mess. :-)

Woot, Woot!!

I finally used our treadmill!! My mom got this for Jeff and I as a Valentine's Day present. You know, so we can keep our hearts healthy. We have had it put together for weeks now, but I haven't actually used it...until today.

Sure, I only used it for 15 minutes today, but that is a start. The fact that I didn't go back to bed once I got the kids on the bus is another miracle. Woohoo! Today is a good day. Rejoice with me! :-)

Our Menu For 3/28/11 Through 4/3/11

Last week was a rough week in our home. First the girls were sick, and then I was sick. So, the menu plan didn't go as, well, planned. That means I get to carry a lot of those meals over. The good thing about that is I don't have to buy as many groceries at the grocery store. Always good to find the silver lining in life. :-)

Monday~Corn Dogs, Mac 'N Cheese, and Fruit Kabobs
Tuesday~Fried Pork Chops, Edamame, and Mushrooms and Brown Rice
Wednesday~Chicken and Dressing Casserole, Peas and Yogurt
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes that look like cupcakes and Corn
Saturday~Cheeseburger Soup and French Bread
Sunday~Mustgoes

Things To Celebrate...3/28/11 Through 4/3/11

Celebrating is a way to embrace life. Some might say it is silly to celebrate these random, crazy, and sometimes wacky holidays, but I see it as a way to create memories with our children. During these celebrations you will have fun, and by exposing your children to many different random topics, you will likely have teachable moments. Teachable moments are those times when you can share something of value with your child. You don't need to celebrate something everyday, but try to do at least one a week for a while. I bet you will see that they not only enjoy these special times, but you will also start to see them learning more diverse things.

Monday the 28th~

• Eat Something on a Stick Day
  
• National Black Forest Cake Day
• Weed Appreciation Day
• Nathaniel Briggs patented the washing machine on this day in 1797~Have your children help with the wash today.
  
• The Salvation Army was officially organized on this day in 1885~Visit a Salvation Army store with your child. Purchase something there or donate something for them to sell. Talk to your children about helping others in your community.
  
• Sally Ride became the first woman in space on this day in 1983

Tuesday the 29th~

• National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day
• National Mom & Pop Business Owner's Day~Visit a local Mom & Pop Shop.
  
• Coca-Cola was invented on this day in 1886~Enjoy a nice cold glass of Coca-Cola while you sit and chat with your child.
  
• Mariner 10 became the first spacecraft to reach Mercury on this day in 1974~Research Mercury online, and learn something new about this small planet.
  

Wednesday the 30th~

• Doctors Day~Let your child be the doctor, and you be the patient.
  
• Grass is Always Browner on the Other Side of the Fence Day~Talk with your child about how the grass really isn't greener on the other side of the fence. We can't compare what we have with what others have. You can talk about jealousy, greed, and envy.
  
• Take a Walk in the Park Day
• Amelia Earhart became the first woman to make a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932~Read a book about Amelia today.
  
• The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million on this day in 1867~Research Alaska online. Look at pictures, facts, and bits of trivia about this vast state.
  

Thursday the 31st~

• National Clams on the Half Shell Day
• Oranges and Lemons Day~Have your child help you squeeze either oranges or lemons for some juice.
  
• Bunsen Burner Day
• Mule Day
  
• Eiffel Tower opened on this day in 1889~This monument was a celebration of the science and technology achievements of the age. What "monuments" do you or your children have of your achievements?
  

Friday the 1st~

• National Sourdough Bread Day
• April Fools Day~Serve your family a silly supper. I am planning on making "cupcakes" that are actually little meatloaves topped with mashed potatoes.
  
• International Tatting
• National Fun at Work Day
• Poetry & the Creative Mind Day
• Ruins of Pompeii were found on this day in 1748~Read 'The Buried City of Pompeii' by Shelley Tanaka with your child.
  
• Oliver Pollack designed the symbol for the dollar in 1778~Give your child a lesson in money. Give them one dollar at the dollar store. They will realize they can only purchase one item, which means they have to be selective.
  

Saturday the 2nd~

• National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day
• International Children's Book Day
• Reconciliation Day~Teach your child that life is too short to hold grudges. God wants us to forgive others, and here is a day where we can do just that.
  
• World Autism Day
• International Pillow Fight Day~Now this sounds like something all children will enjoy...a pillow fight with mom and/or dad.
  
• Hans Christian Anderson was born on this day in 1805

Sunday the 3rd~

• National Chocolate Mousse Day
• Pony Express began delivering mail on this day in 1860
• National Find a Rainbow Day~Learn how to make a rainbow or simply paint one, if you can't find a real one today. You could even decorate a cake with Skittles to make a rainbow.

It goes without saying that there is no right or wrong way to "celebrate" these holidays. The point is to be creating memories and learning moments for you and your children. However you choose to do that is just fine.

I hope this post inspires you to do some celebrating. If so, do share! :-)

He Is Excited!!

Josh is playing baseball this summer, and he just found out what team he will be playing for. Our teams are named after actual major league teams.
He will be on the Cardinals!

Josh loves the Cardinals, and he was afraid he was going to get put on the Cubs. I think we would have had a hard time getting him into a Cubs uniform.

Me? I don't care what team he plays for, but boys will be boys. He feels a sense of loyalty because he knows the Cardinals are what his dad likes, and I am personally just happy that he is happy. :-)

Me + Head Cold = Cranky, Tired, Miserable Mommy

Sneeze, Snort, Cough....I have a head cold. My nose is stuffed up, my ears itch, and I keep coughing. And best of all, my head feels like it may explode any second. I blame my girls for this lovely cold.

They have both been sick this week. Meghan has come in my bed every night and coughed in my face all night long. Ali has come in my bed most nights, and made it impossible for me to get rest. She tosses and turns, coughs, and whines. All of this makes it impossible for me to sleep and attacked by germs.

Ugh! So, if you are looking for me. I'll be in my bed...sleeping this head cold off.

Food 4 Thought Friday is Back!!

Breakfast...What is something that has changed about you recently?~Sadly, I have gained a couple of pounds. My eyebrows have also become unruly. I plan to work on both of these problems.

Lunch...What is on your mouse pad?~My mouse pad came with my Cricut Software, and it has their logo.

Dinner...What are you listening to right now?~My children playing MarioKart on the Wii.

Midnight Snack...What talent do you want to develop?~I would like to get better at making cake pops. So fun!

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)~Just keep on keepin' on! We have all been sick, so I have just been trying to get through the week.

Cake Pop Recipe

Above are the cake pops that I made for Valentine's Day, but I recently made some for St. Patrick's Day, and I gave those away at our Mom's Life meeting. I should have taken a picture of those yummy pops. Anyway, since then, I have had a few people ask for the recipe. So, without further ado...

Cake Pops

Ingredients

Cake Mix, baked as directed
Can Frosting
Candy Melts or Almond Bark
Lollipop Sticks

Directions

After the baked cake cools, put it in a large bowl. Crumbly with a mixer. Mix in frosting until your mixture is a consistency that will stick together...approximately 1 cup. Shape into deisred shape and insert lollipop sticks. Put in the freezer for a few minutes. Meanwhile, melt candy melts according to directions. Then take your cake pops out of the freezer, dip them, and set on waxed paper. Let harden and...ENJOY!!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Why does it have to get colder again? I am ready for Spring!

2. $1,000,000 is equal to 100,000,000 pennies. I really wish I had 100,000,000 pennies. ;-)

3. My favorite breakfast includes eggs cooked over-medium, bacon, and toast.

4. Clifford's First Easter was the last book I read to my youngest daughter.

5. I am SO glad the weekend is here! I am hoping to be able to get some sleep.

6. If my children, as well as myself, were healthy that would make me feel better right now.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending time at home watching some of Bones: Season 4, tomorrow my plans include relaxing at home with my family and hopefully napping and Sunday, I want to go to church and nap!

Thankful Thursday

My immediate reaction as I pondered this post was that there really isn't much to be thankful for. This is not true at all! There is always something to be thankful for, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

I wasn't being negative when I thought that there wasn't much reason to be thankful. I just wasn't really looking. See, sometimes it is easy to see things for which you should be thankful...birth of a baby, receiving a beautiful gift, having loving words lavished on you. Other times you have to look a little harder.

When we get out of the habit of looking, we really do ourselves a disservice. Being thankful during the good times in life is easy. Being thankful during the downright awful times can be difficult. Being thankful in all circumstances, well, that simply takes practice. When we do this, it helps us to become centered on Christ, and it brings honor and glory to Him.

Apparently I haven't been taking the time to practice being thankful. Ideally, we should take a minute or two each day to tell the Lord what we are thankful for, and in doing so we will honor Him and better ourselves. If you don't already to do this, try it this coming week and see if it helps stir up a more content and grateful heart. A heart that is focused on Him and living in a way that pleases Him.

After some observation, I realize I have much to be thankful for. I have a Savior that loves me at all times, a warm home to hunker down in during this dreary, windy day, and wonderful friends and family to share my everyday life with. I hope you all have much to be thankful for, and I pray that you know how to be thankful in all circumstances. :-)

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things On My Cluttered, Scattered, and Overworked Mind

1. Eyebrows~I am tired of eyebrows! Seriously!! Why do they grow so darn fast? I need to wax mine every two weeks, but I never do. I always wait 6 weeks or more. Hideous! Now you know I am a hairy beast.

2. Birthday Party~I am in charge of my son's teacher's birthday party tomorrow. I wanted to make the cake, but Meghan is sick. So, I simply need to pick up the cake, buy the gift, and get some balloons. Easy Peasy!

3. Japan~Japan is definitely on my mind. My heart just breaks for what they went through and are still going through.

4. Fatigue~I am trying to figure out why I am so darn tired all the time. I start to think I am just lazy, but I know that is not the answer. The tiredness consumes me and doesn't relent until I fall asleep. I detest feeling like this!

5. Allergies~Tree pollen has been crazy high around here, which is no surprise since it is Spring. All of my kids are struggling because of this though. So, while I am grateful for Spring, I am already reminded of one of the parts of Spring that stink.

6. Bowling Alley~My daughter has a class project that she hasn't started yet. She has to make the town's bowling alley out of a shoebox. This sounds like one of those projects that is going to require a lot of mom's help, and mom doesn't really like those kinds of projects. ;-) I vow that she will start working on this on Saturday!

7. Cleaning~I need to get some cleaning done. I don't remember the last time I dusted all of our bedrooms. I won't even mention how messy my office is right now. Ugh! I try to keep on top of things, but there is just too much to do. I really need a maid. A free maid.

8. Finances~Money stinks! Well, mainly it stinks because I am not swimming in it, but thankfully I can pay the bills...usually. I really wish I could make some money from home, but who doesn't wish that. I enjoy holidays, baking, and planning events for kids. Why can't I get rich off of those interests???

9. Ali's Birthday~Speaking of planning events for kids, Ali's 9th birthday is at the end of April. It is actually the day before Easter this year. So, I have to plan her friend party, which is going to be a Bingo party. I also have to let all the family know we are just going to celebrate her birthday at Easter. That will make it easier on everyone else...and myself. Sweet!

10. Libya~I don't even know what to think about this whole situation. Yet, it is floating around in my head like a dead fish. I really should read up more about all of this so that I can (hopefully) put that fish to rest.

11. Exercise~I need to get motivated to start exercising. In this area, I am lazy. I have never enjoyed sports or physical exercise. Well, that isn't completely true. I think volleyball is fun, and I used to like to go walking on trails, but that was just so I could enjoy the beauty all around me. Once I start to sweat, I am ready to quit. I'm horrible! However, I really need to start doing this to better my health, as well as set a good example for my children.

12. Summer Vacation~As a kid, summer vacation is all about fun and spontaneity. As a mom, summer vacation is all about planning and organization. I have to figure out who is going to do which activities, what educational things we will do, and what, if any, vacations or staycations we will take. Spontaneity used to be what it was all about, but now planning is the key.

13. Yard Work~It is that time of year. I have to start thinking about what flowers to plant, what areas need to be cleaned up from last fall, and how to best store the kids toys so we can still park in the garage. Planting the flowers will be my favorite part of all that.

So, what is on your mind these days? Do share!

Wordful Wednesday~Fairy Party

Meghan and I got invited to a Fairy Party, and she was all too happy to get all dressed up. Isn't she adorable?

At the party they played plenty of fairy games,

read a fairy book,

and ate some tasty fairy food.

A great time was had by everyone...especially the little fairies.

Our Menu For 3/21/11 Through 3/27/11

Monday~Cheeseburger Macaroni, Corn and Applesauce
Tuesday~Mushroom Beef, White Rice, and Green Beans
Wednesday~Chili with Cornbread
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Chicken and Dressing Casserole, Peas and Yogurt
Saturday~Grilled Marinated Steaks with Loaded Baked Potatoes
Sunday~Fried Pork Chops, Edamame, and Mushrooms and Brown Rice

30 Day Challenge

Last week at Mom's Life, a group for women with children of all ages, we had a marriage talk. An awesome marriage talk. I think I loved it most because we weren't just listening to a speaker. She had us answering questions and sharing things the whole time. At the end she presented us with a 30 Day Challenge, which can be found on Nancy Leigh DeMoss' website.

Here is the challenge...

* You can't say anything negative about your husband ...to your husband...or to anyone
else, about your husband.
* Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband...to your
husband...and to someone else, about your husband!

This isn't easy for many, but it is definitely a worthy challenge. Nancy has a little blurb for you to read each day that encourages you in this challenge.

So, I challenge you to do this 30 Day Challenge. Let me know if you accept this challenge.

Spring is Officially Here!!

Spring Song by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Hark, I hear a robin calling! List, the wind is from the south! And the orchard-bloom is falling Sweet as kisses on the mouth. In the dreamy vale of beeches Fair and faint is woven mist, And the river's orient reaches Are the palest amethyst. Every limpid brook is singing Of the lure of April days; Every piney glen is ringing With the maddest roundelays. Come and let us seek together Springtime lore of daffodils, Giving to the golden weather Greeting on the sun-warm hills. Ours shall be the moonrise stealing Through the birches ivory-white; Ours shall be the mystic healing Of the velvet-footed night. Ours shall be the gypsy winding Of the path with violets blue, Ours at last the wizard finding Of the land where dreams come true.

Southern to the Core

You know how I love my cookbooks, and when I get a new one, I just love sharing bits of them with you. I acquired the one above, Southern to the Core: An Evins Family Cookbook, at Cracker Barrel this past weekend. It was written by Karlen Evans. She is the niece of the founder of Cracker Barrel, Dan Evins.

This cookbook has many wonderful southern recipes. But that isn't all. Karlen is the creator of the "I Didn't Know That" series of books, and this cookbook has a touch of that too. She talks about the origin of the phrases 'Nest Egg', 'Just Say Cheese', 'Pot Luck', and many others. It adds a fun and interesting touch to this already wonderful cookbook.

There are numerous recipes in this book that I want to try, but I can't share them all with you. I can however share the three I intend to make this week. Here you go.

Chicken and Dressing Casserole

Ingredients

1 large fryer or 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 (10-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1 (5-ounce) can evaporated milk
1 (8-ounce) package corn bread stuffing mix
2 cups chicken broth
1 onion, chopped

Directions

Stew the chicken. (In case you don't know, this means you slow-cook it in water to keep it moist and tender.) Remove the bones and skin. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place your chicken in a 3-quart casserole dish. Pour on the soup, then the milk. Combine the stuffing mix, broth, and onion in a medium bowl, then spoon this mixture on top of the chicken. Bake for 45 minutes.

Yields 8 to 10 servings

____________________

Daddy's Own Steak Marinade

Ingredients

1 (15-ounce) bottle of A.1. Steak Sauce
1 (16-ounce) bottle of Italian salad dressing
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
Salt and pepper to taste
Parsley (optional)

Directions

Mix liquid ingredients in a bowl deep enough to cover your steaks. Steaks can be on top of one another, provided you alternate regularly, turning steaks every 30 minutes. For best results, marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Once on the grill, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic salt; sprinkle with parsley if desired.

This makes quite a bit of marinade, but it keeps well if you refrigerate in a mason jar.

____________________

Uncle Dan's Own Mushrooms & Brown Rice

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped onion
1 stick butter
1 cup whole or sliced mushrooms
2 (10-ounce) cans beef broth
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups brown rice

Directions

Place your onion, butter and mushrooms in a large skillet. Simmer on low heat for 5 minutes or until the onion begins to turn translucent. Check the directions on the rice package and see how much water is needed, but instead of water, add the same amount of broth to the simmering mixture. Add Worcestershire sauce. Increase heat and bring to a rapid boil. Add brown rice to the boiling mixture and cover. Reduce to medium heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the rice is tender. Fluff rice well with a spoon before serving.

Yield: 6 servings

____________________

Don't those recipes look tasty??? I sure think so! If you like those, you may want to pick this cookbook up at Cracker Barrel. You can also find it online at Karlen Evins' website. :-)

friday Fill-Ins

1. I love to go to the library because reading is one of my hobbies.

2. It's not the quantity, it’s the quality!

3. The last thing I had to eat was Dibs.

4. Mailing bills is no longer essential. You can do all of the bill paying online.

5. Please take a moment to pray for Japan. Such a terrible situation!

6. Your wits have brought you this far, but now you might want to find something else to rely on. Try Jesus!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to chillin' at home with my family, tomorrow my plans include taking Ali to her piano performance, make sure Josh gets to his baseball evaluations, and attend a Walk to Emmaus dinner and Sunday, I want to go to church, rest, and get organized for next week!

Laundry...A Poem By Me!

Laundry
by Me

I am a domestic queen,
and I must keep the laundry clean.

This chore is really not that easy.
As a matter of fact, it makes me queasy.

We simply can't run around naked as jaybirds.
Blame Eve for letting that snake tempt her with his words.

The upside is that clothes are cute,
and I'm kind of grateful she ate that fruit.

See, no one should have to see my flab,
of which there is plenty to grab.

So, I will simply do this duty
without complaints or getting moody.

;-)

Laundry is something you can't avoid. Well, unless your washing machine dies. Then you can ship it to your mom's house for her to deal with. That is what I have been doing for over a week now.

No more though. Our new washer and dryer were delivered this week. Take a peek into our laundry room.

This is our first time owning a front loader. I may never complain about laundry again. Oh, who am I kidding? While these machines are fun to look at and easy to use, it still doesn't make this chore my favorite. I will try to complain less though. I promise!

Thankful Thursday

Lately God has been helping me to be a better parent and wife. This is a journey that I have been on with Him for years, but He has really been speaking to me in the past few months. Maybe it isn't that He has been speaking more, but rather that I have actually been listening. Listening can be so difficult, but it is always rewarding when we follow what He says. Thank you, Lord, for helping me listen, and thank you for continuing to guide me in the right direction. I am so thankful that you have not given up on me! Please continue to help me serve my family daily, raise my kids in a way that makes you proud, and connect with my husband in this hectic world. I promise I will continue to work on listening. :-)

Thursday Thirteen~St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! In honor of this holiday, here are...

13 Facts About St. Patrick And His Special Day

1. There is no definitive information on when or where St. Patrick was born. The place of his birth was Scotland, but the exact location is unknown. Websites differ on his birth year, but it is always between 385 and 390 AD.

2. His father, Calpurnius, was a deacon and a civil official, as well as a Roman-British Army Officer, and his grandfather was a priest.

3. As a teenage boy (14-16), he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. His two sisters were also taken.

4. Ireland was a country of Druids and pagans at this time, and Patrick relied on God and prayed often.

5. After about 6 years in captivity, he ran away from his owner and traveled 200 miles to the coast, where he then escaped to Britain.

6. He later went to France, where he joined a monastery. He studied there for 12 years and became a bishop.

7. He had a dream and felt that he was being called back to Ireland. While there he worked to convert the Irish.

8. He preached, performed baptisms, wrote about God, and performed many miracles.

9. He was arrested several times, but he escaped each time.

10. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and it has been associated with him and the Irish ever since.

11. Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death. So complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.

12. A story says that Patrick chased snakes out of Ireland. However, it is stated that Ireland never had snakes, so this could simply mean that he chased Satan out of Ireland.

13. He died in his late 70's on March 17th. The year is said to be 461 or 463.

All of the facts above come from three different websites. 1, 2, 3

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Our Menu For 3/14/11 Through 3/20/11

Monday~Italian Chicken, Chicken Rice, and Succotash
Tuesday~Spaghetti Pie and Garlic Bread
Wednesday~Cheeseburger Macaroni, Corn and Applesauce
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Mushroom Beef, White Rice, and Green Beans
Saturday~Fried Fish and Cornbread
Sunday~Chili and Cornbread

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Oh gross! I thought it was a piece of rice, but instead it was a maggot. Ewwww!

2. After 34 years I finally went to Disney World, well THAT's off my bucket list!

3. No, I don't like that my hair started going gray in my early 20's.

4.I love my husband and children with all of my heart and soul.

5. And then my daughter, while praying, referred to her grandma, my mother, as the "old lady who comes over every day." She is a hoot!

6. I can't forget to set my clocks ahead this weekend.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to traveling to Missouri with Jeff and the kids to visit with my husband's great-aunts, tomorrow my plans include spending the day with the great-aunt's and hopefully enjoying some time out on their farm and Sunday, I want to take the kids to the St. Louis Science Center and then head back home!

Thursday Thirteen

March is 'National Caffeine Awareness Month,' so here are

13 Facts About Caffeine

1. Caffeine is a psychoactive drug, a central nervous stimulant.

2. Caffeine is the most widely used behaviorally active drug in the world. Yes, world.

3. Caffeine is naturally present in over 60 plants.

4. Caffeine is extracted by pressure cooking beans and leaves with CO2 to produce the drug in powder form.

5. Caffeine addiction, the bodies dependence on caffeine, can start in as little as 3 days.

6. Decaffeinated coffee and tea still have a small amount of caffeine in them. The decaffination porcess removes about 98% of the caffine, but their is still some there.

7. What happens to the caffeine that’s removed from decaf coffee? Most of it is sold to soda companies and put into soft drinks. (Cola contains some caffeine naturally, but they like to add even more.)

8. Over 450,000,000 cups of coffee are consumed in the USA every day!

9. The British, well known for their tea drinking, sip 196,000,000 cups a day!

10. In its pure state, caffeine is a crystalline white powder.

11. Darkly roasted coffee has less caffeine than lightly roasted.

12. How you make your coffee has a lot to do with how much caffeine you get. Instant coffee contains 65 milligrams of caffeine per serving; coffee brewed in a percolator has 80 milligrams; and coffee made using the “drip method” has 155 milligrams.

13. Consumed in liquid form, caffeine reaches all tissues of the body within five minutes, while peak blood levels are reached in about 30 minutes. Normally, almost all ingested caffeine is metabolized.