Beauty day 32- menus

I obviously can't count, since I did 25 twice, so now I am a day ahead.

I don't usually do resolutions, but I do try and have goals.

As a family, we sat down and made some goals for this next year.  They involve some trips, so we decided we are going to have to cut some money from other areas of our budget.  Food is one area that I am going to try and cut some money from.  I have been working on this for the past year and have decreased it, but I think I can do more.

Saving money this way involves less convenience foods and more cooking from scratch.  This will take planning on my part, since I work part time and run kids all over full time.:)

Here is  next months menus: 
I am just listing all of the meals that are available, not which night for which meal.

Beef stew in crock pot/ bread or rolls
Spaghetti and homemade meatballs/ garlic bread
Tacos
Beef enchiladas
Beef tips with noodles
Breakfast casserole
Chicken/turkey pot pie
Lasagna
Quiche- ham and cheese
Baked ziti with sausage
Potato soup
Beef and noodles with mashed potatoes
Kielbasa with black beans
Chicken penne pasta
Poppyseed chicken

I am trying a new recipe book out called "The Great American supper swap" by Trish Berg. I found it at half price books and it has some good, easy and kid friendly recipes. The whole supper swap is a great idea, and I have done it with other groups in the past.  My kids were not always fans of other peoples food though.  I would like to try it again.  The idea is that you find 4-5 other families(similar sized families) and swap a meal with them.  You make 4-5 of one kind of meal and bring it to the swap location.  You go home with 4-5 different meals for your freezer.  It is always nice to have food ready made in the freezer.

Saving money and having healthy food for your family on hand is a beautiful thing!

Beauty day 25-30

25. Ornaments.  I have been putting Christmas stuff away this week.  I love looking at all our ornaments.  Special memories attached to these little ornaments.
We buy an ornament on every trip we take, it is easier than you would think.  Here are a few.

26. Change of plans.  We had planned to be in Florida this week.  Issues with Joe's work kept us here.  I have been able to get a lot done and we have spent a lot of uninterrupted time together. 

27.Purging.  With the extra time at home, I have been cleaning out rooms and the basement.  A trip to Goodwill is in store for today!  I love purging.

28.  Sound sleep.  I slept through another earthquake.  Amy was the only one who felt it here at our house.  4.1, she said the house shook.  I never woke.

29.  Dishwasher.  With us all home this week, the dishwasher has been getting a work out.  Our first house didn't have a dishwasher, so I am always thankful to not have to wash so many dishes!

30.A healthy extended family.  2 Christmas's and everyone is healthy, no major health crisis this year.  Let's hope the same thing for 2011.

Beauty day 25 babysitting

Amy is babysitting for 2 little ones at our house tonight.  It is fun to see her in charge, and being a good 'mom' figure.  They are one of her teachers kids, so it is really funny to hear them talk.  Especially when they asked why our bsement was so messy! haha(in my defense, I am putting the Christmas stuff away)

Watching your kids grow and mature is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 24-one on one

We put in the movie "Letters to God" last night about 8.  It was a good movie, bring tissues if you watch it though, it is a tearjerker.

Aaron was at a sleepover, Ann was up in bed reading, and Amy went to bed early due to swim practice.

It was just Joe, Andrew and I.

This doesn't happen often enough.

We had fun snuggling, all 3 of us on our couch, talking about the movie, cancer, and anything else that popped into my 8 year olds head.

It was a thing of beauty.

Day of Beauty-day 23 A day at home

Christmas day this year was a quiet laid back day at home.

We didn't open gifts until 9am, after birthday cake and the Christmas story being read.  We have never really been a rushed early morning Christmas family.

The kids each get 3gifts and  their stockings.  Joe and I just did stockings for each other.  It didn't take long to open all of our gifts, and the rest of the day was spent enjoying them.

Watching movies, playing games, playing indoor basketball, and eating.  We had no where to go.  I didn't even get out of my PJs all day. 
It was wonderful.

We spent today at home too.  I really think our family needed this time to reconnect and just decompress.

A catch up-Beauty

I know I am behind.

A few things of beauty I have noticed this past week
1. dry clear roads-I don't like ice

2. Deer on the fresh clean snow

3.Plans that are changed- God knows the future not me!

4. a night home, alone with my husband. We have had a rough week.

5. Truth and light- where there is truth there is light.  It can be so hard to get to this point for some couples. I am glad we are there and have stayed there  for nearly 9 years.

6. Being able to say with conviction-"I have been there and God was faithful and saw me through." amen

7. God, not letting my past pain be wasted.  He is so good and merciful.

 Colleen's wedding

 You might not want to eat our cookies!

Haley and Annie- handing out cookies to our neighbors.

Beaty day 15- location

We have lived in many areas of Indiana.  There are good and bad to each, at different times of the year especially.

Christmas in Indy is fun though.  We are so close to big events, like concerts, plays, ballet.

I went on a field trip with Annie's class yesterday to the IRT's production of "A Christmas Carol".  Honestly, the story isn't one of my favorites.  I love redemption though- so that makes it OK.  I just like Gods redempting(is that even a word?) love better! 

Her class had read the book recently, and I also got to hear how much they differed.  Annie loves details.

Anyway, we took the bus downtown to the theatre.  The downtown is decorated so well, with the snow it was so pretty.

The production was fabulous, they did a superb job, very professional.

We then went to Circle Center mall for lunch and to walk around a little.  Being there with 10 year old girls was a lot of fun.

Being close to the arts is a thing of beauty for me!

Beauty day 14- 2 hour delay

I heart 2 hour delays!  They are a thing of beauty for this momma who likes to sleep.

Beauty day 13 pets

I know its crazy and my husband would so disagree with this post.

Kelsey is our 10 year old dog who brings us much joy. 
She brings me much strife sometimes, but for the most part, she is a joy.

I took her to the vet today and watching her all nervous and acting like a real kid just cracked me up.

So today having pets is a thing of beauty.

Beaty day 12-Corporate worship, personal God

As I mentioned earlier, we had a great day of worship yesterday.
Worshipping with a large group of people can seem impersonal to some. I felt God speaking to my heart as if I was the only one there!
One of my favorite songs of the morning was "Your Beautiful" by Phil Wickham.
I love it, but it brings me to tears every.single.time!

Worshipping with others is a thing of beauty, as is the God who speaks to each of our hearts independently.

Beauty day 11- family worship

We attend a large church with over 4000 members.  We usually attend on Saturday night with 800 others.  This week, though, we had to attend on Sunday morning with over 1500 other people.

The service was quite the production.

But..... what was more beautiful was worshipping with the whole family.  Seeing the kids sing and worship was great.  Nothing brings me more joy than knowing (and seeing) that my kids worship the King of Kings.

Family worship is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 10- teenagers

People like to scare me and say how BAD teenagers are or they  say "wait until they are teenagers"  like it's a bad thing.  I think the group in general gets a bad rap.  (I know that there are plenty of really bad kids out there)

I have never been a youth leader, or really wanted to be.  Joe was good with that age of kids, not me. Right?

But I am loving having a teenager.  She and her friends are full of life and love to laugh.  A group of them were going to see the new Narnia movie tonight and wanted to watch Prince Caspian at our house first. 

They know they are always welcome here. 

In they walk.  Right to the pizza, opening the fridge like its their house to get a drink.

We have a long way to go, and many more teenager to have in our house. 

I will keep the fridge stocked and the pizzas on hand.

Teenagers are a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 9-quality time

My ten year old daughter Annie loves crafts and her love language is quality time.  We combine the 2 when we do crafts and scrap booking together.  Time for just the 2 of us is hard , so I have to be intentional about it.

We made this knock off last night from an old bulletin board we had.  It is a cheap and easy way to show off those pretty Christmas cards.

                                        Quality time with my sweet daughter is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 8-the written word

It happens every year.  I start making my cookies and open up my cookbook to this page. 

And, I cry.

My late sister-in law Jane wrote this out for me 14 years ago in a letter she sent to me.  She was encouraging me to go forward with a cookie business, so I could continue to stay home with Amy.  She sent her most complimented recipe and I make it every year.  Honestly, they are not my favorite.  This recipe is though, it is in her handwriting and I can't get that anymore. 

We lost her 12 years ago to breast cancer and I still miss her.

Handwritten messages from those we love are a thing of beauty.

Beauty Day 7-chaos

I am a simple gal.  I really don't like loud noises.  I have trouble when all 4 kids are talking to me at the same time, or even just talking /yelling/singing at the same time.  This is probably due to the fact that there is usually music on too, while I am making dinner/cleaning up/doing laundry/ yelling at the dog all. at.the.same.time.
And, don't even get me started on the running around I do taking kids to lessons, games, friends etc.  Granted this chaos is by choice. ( I could always say no, and we could hole up in the house for days.)

This chaos is my life right now, a season really.  A season that will be gone all too soon.

 I know this because my firstborn is in high school and I went to a college preparation lecture last week for her.  What?  my baby going off to college?  OK it isn't for 3 more years but, still.  I digress.(and cry a little!)

Our chaos is a thing of beauty for me, and I have to remind myself of this daily.  I always wanted a big family, with lots of kids to run around and raise.  God blessed us with our brood and my mission right now is to raise them.  While it is hairy at times and I am exhausted most of the time, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

The chaos of a big, active family is a thing of beauty for me!

Corkboard turned Card Holder

Corkboard turned Card Holder

This is a great idea Ann and I will be making this week.

Beauty day 6- leftovers

Lunch today was made from pasta leftover from another recipe, sauce leftover from spaghetti, sausage and cheese leftover from homemade pizza night. It was actually yummy too!

       Leftovers mean we have more than enough to eat and that is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 5- a mess of a yard

This is our neighbors pretty snow covered yard.

This is our front yard.  4 kids sledding down our front yard, really messes it up.

But  3-4 hours of play and memories made are a thing of beauty.*

*hopefully, they are good memories. The neighbors may disagree, Andrew was in crying 3 times and I was yelling at the kids to stop arguing more than once.

Beauty Day 4 - a grandparents love

I attend many youth sporting events.  Many.  As I sat watching Andrews basketball game today I sat behind a Grandma.  Her teenage grandson saw her and gave her a hug, and then sat with his arm around her for awhile.  I went to The Nutcracker later in the day and watched grandparents hugging their dancer granddaughters.

 They were so proud of them, even if they didn't dance or play well. Just being their grandparent is enough!

My parents love, loving on their grandkids.

My grandparents are all in heaven, but they sure loved me.  I knew it too.

A grandparents love is a thing of beauty.

Beauty Day 3

Joe and I went on a double date last night. We saw Sara Groves in her "O Holy Night" tour. She is a gifted musician. This video of hers is one of my favorites. I love lyrics, songs with meaningful lyrics are my favorite. A beautiful voice is a wonderful thing.
A voice used to glorify God is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 2

These won't all be about Amy, but the first 2 I thought of are.
 Beauty in an orphanage in the poor country of El Salvador?
 This picture is (blurry) of Amy at Exodo Orphanage in El Salvador.  She is playing with the infant/ toddlers during a break.  The little girl, Millie, is hiding her watermelon slice from Amy.  This was our last day at the orphanage and Amy had a very hard time leaving.  She cried as our bus drove away saying " how can we leave them here?"  The country of El Salvador does not have agreements/rights for adoptions out of the country right now.  Believe me, if they would have, we would have had a few in our suitcases for the ride home.
 Amy has decided that she wants to go into medicine and travel allover the world helping kids like these.  She can do it too!
Watching your child find their passion is a thing of Beauty.

60 Days of Beauty

Watching  a child face and overcome a fear is a thing of beauty.
Derry's 60 days of beauty. Derry is doing a series and I am going to try and get back to blogging and join along.
Hiking the gorgeous Grand Canyon was fun, but so very scary and a bit overwhelming.  Amy was very scared, and didn't want to hike down.  It was scary, no railing and at least a 300 ft straight drop down jagged rock. 
What did she do?  She prayed out load and quoted and sang scripture.  We all sang along (Steve Green's Hide em in your heart is priceless).  She walked as far as anyone, past Ooh Ahh point.(or ohh lala point as Joe kept saying)  She sat out on ledges and took risks.
Watching your child face a fear and conquer it is a beautiful thing.