Monday Menus

Monday- Amy's meal
Tortellini with marinara
breadsticks
green beans

Tuesday
Baked chicken breasts
baked potato
cauliflower
apples

Wednesday
Beef tips
mashed potatoes

Thursday
Crock pot chicken- new recipe
rice
fruit

Friday
pizza

Saturday
chili

Sunday
Small group at our house

A low grade fever of sadness

That is what(Pastor)Dave Rod calls it.

You know, where we stay in tune with what grieves God. Thinking of others and not just our own selfish needs.

I am not a good writer. Never have been, never will be. But I had an experience today that begs me to write about.

I went out to pick up the kids and saw an ambulance in our neighborhood. For those that know our neighborhood, know that we get little to no traffic. I followed the ambulance to our elderly neighbors house, and followed the EMT's into the house.

The couple that lives there is 80 years old and have been married for 55 years never having any children of their own.

He has Parkinson's and various other age related ailments along with severe back pain.

The Mrs. was standing in the corner crying as they asked the Mr. some questions. He had taken too many sleeping pills last night, and she had a hard time waking him up.

Upon further questioning, it sounds like he did it on purpose. He just kept saying, "the pain doesn't let up" , "I can't get a break", "I didn't want to wake up". His speech was slurred and his head bounced as he talked, as only someone with Parkinson's can.

My heart broke.

I stood with the poor Mrs. and hugged her and helped her answer questions to the fire and police officers at the house.

She wouldn't let me drive her to the hospital, choosing to drive herself, she is independent like that.

My heart is still so heavy for them. The hopelessness and desperation he had to feel last night. The hurt and helplessness she has to feel for him.

My point is; I had no idea it had gotten that bad. He calls for medical advice frequently, we take food down, shovel for them etc. He always calls me "kid". But I didn't know it had gotten that bad.

Sometimes I am so "busy" being "busy" that I forget the pain around me.

"Father God, help me to be aware of those around me who are hurting. To think of others before myself, to be a blessing. I pray for healing, peace, and comfort for Mr. and Mrs..They are so precious in your sight, Lord. Amen."

Menus

Monday
Amy cooks-
Tacos

Tuesday
Pizza with Andrew's Basketball team-woohoo!

Wednesday
Chicken Parmagianna
Salad
Bread

Thursday
Quiche
fruit
bread
salad

Friday
yoyo
Weekend
Fort Wayne Basketball Tourney with Aaron's team

Monday Menus

Monday
Chili in crock pot

Tuesday
Quiche
Salad
Homemade bread
banana bars
strawberries

Wednesday
Chicken Enchiladas(freezer meal)
chips
fruit

Thursday
Asian Chicken salad
Homemade bread
fruit

Friday
YOYO(Your On Your Own)Meal

Saturday
Soup

Sunday
Crock pot meal(whatever we have left in fridge)

Menu Monday

This is how we spend our weekends nowadays!
The kids and I are off for Presidents day(I am not really off, just switched days to be home with them.) We have cooked, baked, cleaned, laundered and went to wal mart and out for ice cream!
I thought I would start up Menus again, so here goes for this week:

Monday
Beef tips with mushrooms
noodles
green beans
choco chip cookies

Tuesday
Chicken and vegetable Angel hair pasta
garlic bread

Wednesday
Quick chicken and dumplingshttp://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-and-Dumplings/Detail.aspx

mashed potatoes

Thursday
Chicken enchiladas(freezer meal)
tortilla chips
fruit

Friday
Pizza

Saturday
Chili with fixins

Sunday
Small group

I found this in blogworld and thought it was post worthy.

20 Ways to Make a Good Marriage Great
by Richard W. Linford
1. Night and Morning Prayer … to say thanks, to ask for help in your marriage and family, to worship together.
2. A Weekly Planning Meeting … to discuss the calendar, talk over needs and problems, decide priorities and next steps.
3. A Daily Phone Call or Personal Conversation … to say “I love you,” to touch base, to discuss the day, to show you care.
4. A Weekly Date … to a favorite park, a concert, the library, the gym; or staying home for a candlelight dinner, a game, or a mutual hobby.
5. Patience Regardless … of missed meals, tardiness, forgotten favors, a thoughtless remark, impatience.
6. Daily Service … helping with house or yard work, mending a piece of clothing, taking a turn with the sick baby, fixing a favorite meal. (Write it down. Do it!)
7. A Budget … to tie down income and expenses, help set financial goals, and give you control over your finances.
8. Listening … not only to what is said, but also to what is meant.
9. Regular Attendance … at church—and where possible—the temple.
10. Daily Scripture Reading … to learn the gospel, to receive inspiration for yourself and your marriage, to become more like Jesus.
11. Working Together … caring for a garden, painting a bedroom, washing the car, scrubbing floors, building a piece of furniture, writing a poem together, team teaching a class.
12. Forgiving Each Other … always learning from each other, trying a different way, being the first to make peace.
13. Courtesies … like saying please and thank you, not interrupting or belittling, not doing all the talking, continuing the niceties of courtship.
14. Soft and Kind Words … of tenderness, compassion, empathy.
15. Learning Together by … reading to each other, discussing ideas, taking a class.
16. Respecting … opinions, ideas, privacy.
17. Supporting Your Spouse’s … church service and righteous goals.
18. Caring for Your Spouse’s Family by … enjoying their company, praying for them, serving them, overlooking differences.
19. Occasional Gifts … such as a note, a needed item—but mostly gifts of time and self.
20. Loving with All Your Heart. “Thou shalt love thy wife [thy husband] with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her [him] and none else.” (D&C 42:22.)

Beauty- peace in the midst of the storm

I worked today, instead of yesterday. Kids were out of school for MLK day yesterday.

We saw some really sick people today. One struck me especially. She has cancer and had a stem cell transplant a few months ago. Her look was strikingly similar to my late sister-in-law Jane's in her last months. Very sick, very frail. Shaking, pale, bald and weak.

I talk a lot to my patients. Partly because I try to put them at ease and decrease white coat syndrome. And partly because I like to talk a lot :). As I was talking to her in depth about her condition and recent treatment. She said something that shook me.

I was telling her that Jane had told me that going through her stem cell transplant was like "walking through the valley of the shadow of death". She agreed, and said "I am so glad I also have the Peace that passes all understanding."

Brought me to tears.

Peace. It is a thing of beauty.