Monday Menus

My friend Stacie gave me an idea to post my weekly menus. I make out menus for the week to save time, money and whining by the kids and me. When we all know what we are eating, life seems better somehow. We picked apples, so they are a part of a lot of meals right now. I am working more than usual so a lot of the meals are in the crock pot or made ahead.
Monday-Amy's day
Pigs in a blanket
Mac and cheese
Caesar salad
apples

Tuesday
Tacos with all the fixings (meat made ahead)
salad or shells

Wednesday
Chicken and Rice
Steamed Broccoli
Apples

Thursday
Chili (meat made ahead)
cornbread

Friday
French Dip sandwiches
with au jus
fruits and vegetables

Funnest

"That was my funnest birthday ever, mom". Worth all the work. 6 busy little boys.

7 and 25

7 is the number of wins which are needed by the cubs over the next 2 weeks (starting on October 1st) in order to reach the World Series.

I am 22. Probably asked for fire insurance many times growing up in Community Gospel Church in Bremen Indiana. However a more appropriate life changing volitional choice by God's grace was done during the summer of 1986. So that would make me 22 as well.

I would think those 22 years will help me deal with these next 7 victories.... Atleast I hope so!

Go CUBBIES

joe

22

I am on a little bit of a numbers kick today. Janelle Prenkert was talking on her blog about the date she bacame a believer in Christ. Mine was August 14th 1986. Wow, I am 22. I think I should be more mature than I am. Can't use the excuse that I am a new Christian anymore, not that I have for long time. How old are you?

9

The number of books I have unfinished on my nightstand. It is very sad. I have a hard time finishing a book. I really want to, I really NEED to. Here they are:
Encouragement by Beth Moore
Praying Gods Word by Beth Moore
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Living What you Believe(bible study)
I'm glad Im a mom by Jill Savage
My Hearts at Home by Jill Savage
Shepherding a Child's heart by Tedd Tripp
Surviving the Teenage Hormone Takeover by Nisha Jackson
Jerry Bakers Terrific Garden Tonics
This is kind of an eclectic group of books, made me giggle to read them out loud!

6

My baby boy, Andrew, turned 6 on tuesday. He told me I can't call him my baby boy any more since he is 6 now. I promptly told him he will always be my baby boy. That led to a math lesson of addition by 32. "when I am 80 you will be how old?" "Dead" I said. Anyway, he had a good day and he is having friends over tomorrow for a little party. He is very excited.
As is tradition in the Bennett abode, the birthday child gets to choose the evening meal. He chose chicken parmigian, salad, garlic bread and raspberries. We had leftover chocolate cake from celebrating with Grandma and Grandpa Reaker on Sunday. He is having a baseball cake for his party tomorrow, and a pinata.

Istep...and other random things

As most of you know, This week and last week was ISTEP week!!! YIPPEE. Today was my last day of Istep, but not the last day for my brothers and sisters or for the 8th graders. HA. Anyways, Istep is the Indiana state test(and I have no idea what the E and P stand for. hee hee.)

My dad just walked in and read that and he was all like "The E and P stands for educational program." and I was like "Wow dad. You are such a nerd." :D :D

OMG. Ok, I brought my phone charger to my friends house when she was having her birthday party, right? Well I accidently lost it there. She looked and looked but its not in her house, so someone accidently took it. SIGH. Oh well. We learned my Dad's car charger works on mine. Which is good news!

Ok, I havta go get ready for bed. YAWNN.. Good Night!

Amy <3

Cubs

Its the first time the cubs have won the division in two consecutive years since 1907 and 1908. That's right that is also the last time they won the world series. The stars are lining up..... This could be the year.

If I were manager here is my rotation:
Zambrano in Game 1. Harden in Game 2.

if we win both games then go with Lilly for game 3. If we lose one or both then go with Dempster for game 3.

Playoffs begin Oct. 1st. I did sign up for the OUTSIDE chance of getting playoff tickets.

Go CUBBIES!!!!!

Joe

Adoption

Last night we met up with our Costa Rica group again. We have a fun group. One of the Missionaries was in town and we had dinner with him. He is in charge of the Childrens homes. They don't call them orphanages, because most of them are not truly orphans. He gave us an update on the project and on the children. 2 of the children we played with and that Amy and I taught got adopted by a couple in Germany. They are 6 and 7 years old. He had pictures of them with their "mommy and daddy". My heart rejoices for them. He said there was an instant bond and the kids were so happy. The family was unable to have kids on their own and had been working with the country for a few years. There are pictures of these kids in our scrapbook.
I thought of Dave and Shelly and baby Jessa and what they had just went through in China. It made me cry to think that this family had probably the same fears and apprehensions they had. But we were there and saw how these kids were loved with the love of Jesus and taught about Him. They were fed and well taken care of and loved. Their house parents miss them so much, he said.
God never forgot about them, even in Costa Rica. He took care of them, and continues to. Pray for Anita and Chris.
They were left behind by parents who couldn't or wouldn't take care of them.
But, He died for them, and loves them unconditionally.
What a great God we serve.

I need to defend myself

I am not convinced they will blow it. I am just a realist(sp). In the past they have gotten so close and then choked. Don't get me wrong, I have been a Cubs fan as long as my dear husband. Not many 12 year old girls take their friends to a Cubs game for her birthday, but I did. (it was a blast too!) I can honestly say I have never hit the TV with a wiffle ball bat though.
I also think Kerry Wood is overrated. If you are going to get paid that much money, strike someone out for heavens sake! That's as mean as I am going to get, I am sure he tries very hard, and his mother is very proud of him.
I hope they make it to the World series and Joe WINS Tickets so we can eat that month-hee hee!
Me and Amy's favorite T-shirt when were at Wrigley this summer said "World Champs'07" on the front, then on the back it says" who cares if it was 1907" That makes me laugh every time.

Way to go Zambrano!

destiny and cubs

rarely are the words "destiny" and "cubs" used in the same sentence. Usually the words frustrating, futility and failures are used to describe my beloved Cubs.

However... 2008 MIGHT be different...


Zambrano throws the first "no-no" which means no-hitter since '72...

Tia is convinced they will blow it eventually.. especially if they have to rely on Kerry Wood, "Why doesnt he just strike them out?" is what she asks and expects.

Notwithstanding my anger bursts as a kid at their lack of success (yes mom I did use a whiffle ball bat on the t.v. a couple of times...I promise I never broke anything!) I still believe in my cubbies.

GOOOOO CUBBBBBBBIEEEESSSSs......

At one point in my life I would have probably taken on a 2nd mortgage for a world series ticket. Not anymore, I have grown up and have different priorities but a trip to wrigleyville during a World Series game might be in my future. A good compromise.

Joe

Be thou my vision

This is my favorite hymn. For some reason, God has blessed me with hearing it a lot lately. I count that as a blessing, I feel like God does that just for me , because He loves me so. He shows me He loves me in lots of little ways too, especially in nature. He doesn't have to, He is the embodiment of love. He does though, because I need to see it, feel it, know it. My saviour loves me, just the way I am.
I hummed this song to the kids when they were babies. It was the only song that would really calm them down. Now, when I hum it when they are restless, they know what I am up too. It is cute, when Ann hears it she says " this is our song Mom". I can live with that.

Be thou My Vision
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me save that thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, thou my true word
I ever with thee, thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I thy true Son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Be thou my battle shield, sword for the fight
Be thou my dignity, thou my delight
Thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tower
Raise thou me heavenward, O power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only, first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, after victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Shameless

If any of you out there are in desperate need of some wrapping paper for ANY occasion, or chocolates, we are the house for you. Four kiddos selling the stuff. I want to know the connection between, wrapping paper and chocolates, why are they in the same catalog? Anyway, Andrew goes to school half day, he is the first one home. You know where this is going. He is my entrepreneurial one, and has already hit the neighborhood and called some of our friends. I have a feeling there will be a war when Aaron gets home. The girls want to sell the minimum to get the prize. My boys on the other hand are sure they can be top seller and win the ipod. I think God instills in them the provider role and that competitive spirit. Let us know if you have a gift wrap emergency in the next 2 weeks!

PureNRG

Is it so wrong for a 38 year old woman to enjoy dancing around the house while cleaning to this kids CD? Sad I know. Disturbing image as well. Sorry.

sports of all sorts (summary)

it was not one of those "golden" weekends...

Westfield's high school football team lost 33 to 21.

Aarons soccer team was winning 3-1 with about 15 minutes to play... then lost 4-3. However, Aaron scored his first goal of the season.

Notre Dame played poorly and barely beat San Diego State.

The Cubs were winning 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth and then Kerry Wood comes in and gives up 3 earned runs so they lose 4-3.

The colts looked horrible in a humiliating defeat to the hated bears.

ahhh well.... next weekend more of the same.

joe

sports of all sorts

Here is our weekend line-up:

Friday night: Aaron, Andrew and myself to local high school football game.

Saturday: Aaron soccer game in west lafayette 1:30. Notre Dame football at 3:30.. go irish!!!!

Sunday: Family to Chicago vs. Cincy Reds baseball game in Cincinatti at 1:15pm. Colts vs. Bears (on tv) Sunday night football.

If Aaron could fit tennis and the girls swimming in during this weekend.. they would.

I love this kind of "busy".... I truly do.

joe

Cookie Dough

Well, I am counting calories. I haven't done that one in a while. I figure, I have done most everything else, why not this one again. Or like Leann says, "Push myself away from the table". Or what my friend Lindsay at work advised "sew my lips shut, for more than one reason". So sweet, that one. Anyway, so I was counting those calories out today and I got to the chocolate chip cookie dough I ate. I was making cookies for my friends the Watts , who will be coming home from China soon. So, here is the dilemma. Does the cookie dough count? I was doing something nice, right? Well a cookie should count, but cookie dough? I know I know it can't count its not in my book, its not really a cookie yet! I'm sticking with that one. I wonder why I don't lose weight?hmmmmm.

St. Louis

For those of you who have not visited the show me state, it is quite an enjoyable experience. Seeing Buddy, Leann and Danny was, of course, the highlight. Their new rental home is nice, in a nice neighborhood, about 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis. They are always the most gracious of hosts. I am reminded once again why we do not have cable television. We would all have to pry ourselves away, or maybe just show some discipline.

We first visited the Arch. We even talked Uncle Buddy into going up with us. The kids did great. It was very busy, a holiday weekend and a rival footbal game in town. We hung out by the Mississsippi, had a snack and played some football. It was a beautiful night, fun with the family. Had pizza when we got back.
Joe and Buddy got up and played in a golf scramble while we relaxed at home, watched tv and walked the dog. We then went to the Science Museum. It was free, and it was very cool. Well worth the trip. All of the kids liked it. It was very interactive and educational. We came home and had a cookout and played around the house some more.
Monday we got up and Joe and Buddy played tennis and the kids played at the park with Aunt Leann. I stayed home with Amy. Very relaxing weekend.
For anyone looking for a cheap vacation, try St. Louis. Many free attrations, not too far from home. Just a nice city.
Aaron wrote a paper on it for school this week, precious.