Menus

Monday
Spaghetti and meatballs(freezer)
garlic bread

Tuesday
Chicken Pot pie (freezer meal)
fruit

Wednesday
Potato soup
bread
fruit

Thursday
Lazy cooks chicken
rice and beans

Friday
Leftovers
Saturday
Chili
Sunday
Pizza

Missing these sweet boys who greeted me on our first day of Medical clinics in Haiti.  They live in the biggest tent city in Haiti- blue and white tarps as far as you can see!
Missing Haiti weather too this week!

$2 a day Challenge

Did you know that over half the world eats for less than $2 aday.  This website has a challenge, for people to try to feed their whole family on less than $2 for the day.

Read about it here.

I will not be doing it.  Figuring out the exact amount of every ounce of food is too much for me.  And, Honestly, I don't think we can do it.

Beans and rice would have to be our meal with a little fruit and oatmeal thrown in.  My boys would have a fit!

Monday Menus

Monday
Salad
Baked Chicken breasts

Tuesday
Meatloaf(freezer meal)
steamed red potatoes
Grean beans

Wednesday
Parmesan Chicken(freezer meal)
garlic bread
Rice

Thursday
Chicken and Dumplings in the crock pot(freezer meal)
I add carrots and onion to crock

Friday
Leftovers or pizza

Lots of Freezer meals this week, I am tired of going to the grocery store.  I am baking so much, that I feel like I am running into the store all the time. 
Ann and I have made over $400. for next summers trip to El Salvador with our baking this holiday season.

Monday Menus

We have a super busy week with basketball games and swim meets.  Mix in church, piano lessons, meetings and homework, and Mom has no time to cook good meals.  The crock pot to the rescue- good, healthy meals on a budget.  They are great for eating in shifts and also for the budget.

I have to admit, I LOVED Thanksgiving break this year.  It is the first year in a very long time that I didn't have to work on the friday after.  I felt like I had 3 saturdays.  Laundry, cleaning, and all the Christmas stuff got done.  It make going into this busy week a little better.  Now 3 weeks of FULL weeks before Christmas break.  We are hoping for some 2 hour delays at our house!

Monday
Leftover turkey day food- thank you Grandma!

Tuesday
Crock pot Potato soup
apples

Wednesday
Beef stew in crock pot
rolls

Thursday
Chili in crock pot
corn chips

Friday
Leftovers

Joe's whole family on Thanksgiving.  A lot to be thankful for.  After losing Joe's father last April, we realize the importance of pictures and time together.

Monday Menus

Well, I did have to go to the grocery this weekend.  I didn't need as much as usual though.  Mostly lunch stuff and I realized I needed 10 dozen cookies for this morning at about 5 o'clock last night.  I was out of flour, sugar, eggs and I got some milk too.  That sounds like a Little House on the Prairie grocery list.  Luckily I didn't run into Mrs. Olsen :)

Monday
Lime marinaded chicken on the grill
salad
baked potatoes

Tuesday
Spaghetti and meatballs
garlic bread

Wednesday
Lone star Enchiladas
tortilla chips and Cilantro dressing

Thursday
Chili in crock pot

Friday
Leftovers

Monday Menus

I spent 2 hours at the grocery store yesterday buying groceries for the next 2 weeks.  It is a challenge I gave myself.  $250. and another $97. saved with coupons, that's $347 total!  I came home to make 10 meals in the next 3 hours along with some chocolate chip cookies. Because the oven was on and if mom is in the kitchen and the oven is on- she must be making cookies. They were quickly eaten up by the kids and their friends.  I cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher and declared they would have to fend for themselves for dinner. 

Here is what I made:
2 recipes of meatballs for spaghetti and meatballs. (the BEST meatballs)
1 recipe of barbecue meatballs (new recipe)
2 recipes of Lone Star Enchiladas(new recipe)
Lazy cooks chicken
Lime herb marinated chicken breasts
chicken pot pie
Taco skillet pie with cornbread
taco meat

Lets hope this lasts us a while.  Fruit and breakfast food are what get me mid week. Thankfully we have an extra freezer in the garage, and a deep freeze in the basement.
The garage freezer is filled with drinks and the kids lunch foods, they take their lunch every day.  It  is cheaper and better for them. Westfield has the most expensive lunch in the county.  Over $2 for the main entree lunch.  Multiply that times 4 and it gets pricey! They also get more time to "socialize" since they aren't waiting in line.
Happy  Monday!

Menu Monday

Monday
Shredded beef creamy Taquitos
strawberries and raspberries

Tuesday
Taco Bake
Salad

Wednesday
Lone star Enchiladas

Applesauce

Thursday- Joe's Birthday
Friday- Fall Break- we are headed to Brown County!

A Timeless Lesson

“If humility is a Christian duty, then the everyday life of a Christian must show forth humility.




If we are called to care for the sick, the naked, and the imprisoned, these expressions of love must be a constant effort in our lives.



If we are to love our enemies, our daily life must demonstrate that love.



If we are called to be thankful, to be wise, to be holy, they must show forth in our lives.



If we are to be new people in Christ, then we must show our newness to the world.





If we are to follow Christ, it must be in the way we spend each day.”





~William Law (1686-1761)

Old advice- timeless lesson!

Monday Menu

We are back from Haiti and back to the reality of cooking for my family again.  We had great food in Haiti and were taken care of so well.  I will post pictures soon.

Monday
Leftovers from Grandma! yeah
Beef and Noodles and mashed potatoes or
Potato soup
Homemade apple sauce- we are headed to the apple orchard after school today.

Tuesday
Barbeque chicken breasts
Beans and rice- Haitian style
apple pie

Wednesday
Chicken and dumplings with veggies
apples

Thursday
Lone Star Chicken enchiladas
Apples

Friday
Leftovers and a dessert night at our house for our prayer partners on our trip to Haiti!
Brownies
Apple dumplings
Chocolate chip cookies
Sugar cookies
mmmm ... I'm hungry already!

Saturday
Broccoli Cheese soup
bread
apples

Sunday
Small group

Follow us as we follow Him

You can follow us on Haiti journey at :  http://aweekinhaiti2011.blogspot.com/

Easy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

1 1/4 c peanut butter
1 1/2 sticks butter or margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
Melt and mix together.  Press into a 9x13 pan. Refrigerate.

Melt 2 cups Chocolate chips(milk or semi-sweet)
3/4 cup peanut butter.

Frost the bars with this mixture and refrigerate until cool.  Cut and enjoy!

Yummy and so easy!

Desert Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=79055I6o-NQ

This is one of my favorite songs right now, preparing for our trip.

Menu Monday

Monday
Kielbasa with black beans(we didn't get to it a couple weeks ago)
Apples

Tuesday
Spaghetti and Meatballs(freezer)
Garlic Bread

Wednesday
Chicken Parmesan(different recipe)
(uses leftover spaghetti sauce)
Salad

Thursday
Beef Stew in crock Pot

Friday
Haiti!
Joe and I are leaving Friday for a week long mission trip to Haiti with our home church, Grace Community Church-Noblesville.
I originally told the kids they were going to be eating beans and rice all week while we are gone so they will be in on the experience too.  They said "yeah, we love beans and rice".  Yesterday Andrew said, "do we really have to eat beans and rice ALL week?"  I told him I was just joking, but they could have it one day if they wanted!
I have a freezer full of meals for my mom to fix, but I am sure she will fix some of their favorites like, beef and noodles and mashed potatoes, and maybe even some fish!

How to Make a Menu Plan

Menu planning can be overwhelming to some, but if you start out simple it won't be.  Here are some tips I have learned along the way.

1.  Look through your pantry and freezer and see what you already have on hand.  I freezer cook with a group of friends, so I usually have a stash of ready made meals in my freezer.  I also double recipes and stick one in the freezer for later a lot.

2.  Ask your family what "sounds good" and what they would like for dinner.  Sometimes I get the same responses all the time, but other times I get "we haven't had .... for a long time".  Since it is fall, we eat a lot more stews, soups and crock pot meals.  In the summer we grill out more, so marinated meats are better.

3.  Try something new.  I try to attempt a new recipe once or twice a month.  If I have planned for it then I know I will have the ingredients on hand.

4.  Checkout the grocery ads.  See what is in season or on sale.  I stock up on things and put them in the freezer too. 

5.  I also try to balance meats.  A couple beef, a couple chicken, a pork, a meatless etc. 

I have found that having a menu helps me so much in a few different ways. 
      I go to the grocery less, because I have the meals planned out. 
      I am less stressed about dinner in the evening.
      The kids complain less, because they are helping in the planning, and they know they will get their "favorite" soon, if it isn't today.
      It reminds me of how grateful I am that I can feed my family and buy food for a week or more at a time.  A lot of moms around the world can't say that. 

Don't be a slave to your menu. Mine is just a guideline. We don't always eat what it says on a certain day. A lot depends on our schedule. I was at the grocery last night and found a cut of meat on clearance for the crock pot, so it needed to be used up soon. So that is what we are having tonight instead of spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs are in the freezer, so it can wait.

I also like to have a list of available meals on the side of my fridge, so I don't forget and let something go to waste.  Luckily I have a big freezer and can store a lot of extras.

Monday Menus

Monday
Pulled Pork Sandwiches(freezer meal)
Leftover potato soup
apples

Tuesday
Chicken Parmesan
salad
applesauce

Wednesday
Spaghetti and meatballs
breadsticks

Thursday
Chili in crockpot
fritos
cheese

Friday- Homecoming game
Pizza

Haiti Elliotts: Medical Team Video

Haiti Elliotts: Medical Team Video: This is a video from a medical team from Genesis Church in Noblesville, IN that recently served here at NVM for a week. Watch it! But beware...

Here is a glimpse at what we will be doing in 2 weeks. Can't wait, but scared to death!

Gifts

"God’s will for my life will often be found at the intersection of someone’s need and my ability"-Shaun Groves


This is just a simple reminder to me that I can't, and God doesn't want me to try, to do everything!  We all have different gifts and talents and God uses each one in a special way, for His purpose!

Owlhaven has a great article about this today!

15 days and counting......... boy do I have a lot to do yet!

Menu Monday

Monday
Keilbasa with black beans
apples

Tuesday
Orange Chicken
Rice
broccoli

Wednesday
Chili in the crockpot
fritos
cheese

Thursday
Ham and cheese quiche
apples, raspberries

Friday
Andrews Birthday!
Papa Johns Pizza
Oreo cookie dessert

Saturday
Potato Soup
fruit

Sunday
Stromboli- new recipe I tried over the weekend.  Everyone liked it.

Yummy Morning

Our small group met today, always one of my favorites.  We had brunch, so yummmy!
This is what I brought for breakfast- super yummy! Super fattening, lets not talk about that though.
Pumpkin Pancakes with Caramel syrup

1 cup  Flour


2 teaspoons Baking Powder

½ teaspoons Salt

1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

½ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg

¼ teaspoons Ground Allspice

⅛ teaspoons Ground Cloves, Scant

2 whole Eggs

1 cup Buttermilk( I add vinegar to milk)

3 Tablespoons Applesauce Or Vegetable Oil

1 Tablespoon Honey

½ cups Pumpkin Puree

1 cup mini chocolate chips

 1. Preheat skillet until water drops sizzle and disappear, or 350ºF on an electric skillet. In a batter bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and spices. Whisk together.


2. Add eggs, buttermilk, applesauce, honey and pumpkin puree. Whisk together until combined. Do not overbeat. Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk if the batter is very, very thick.

3. Pour batter onto the skillet and flip when small bubbles form on top. Cook another 3 minutes or so until the other side is golden brown. Do not take off the griddle too early—these  pancakes tend to take longer to cook than regular pancakes, but watch them they burn easy.
I doubled this recipe for our family.


Caramel Syrup
1 cup Butter
1 cup brown sugar
4 T corn syrup
2T rum(optional) I didn't use.

Boil 1 minute.


 
Not the greatest picture, but oh so yummy!

22 days and counting....

photo courtesy of Ecosalon
Joe and I will be leaving for a week long trip to Haiti in just a short 22 days!  I am both scared and excited.


Worried about how the kids will do with Grandparents and our hectic schedule! 


Worried about doing, seeing, feeling the unknown.  I have never done medical care in a 4th world country, how will I know what to do?  Will I be able to do it?  Will I be able to tell women "NO" when they offer me their babies, since they can't take care of them?  I want to take them all home in my suitcases.


Worried about the oppressive heat.  I like me some A/C.  Hopefully there will be some working somewhere while we are there.


Worried about forgetting something, getting sick or injured, getting lost.  These are the things that run through my mind at 4am. 
Why 4 am?  I have no idea, but that is when God wakes me and reminds to pray and give it all to Him- the one who can handle it all.
1 Peter 5:7
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."


Ahhh... that feels so much better :)


*If you would be so gracious to join us in prayer for our trip, we would be forever grateful.*

**If you would like to donate to our mission fund, please let us know.**
photo courtesy of nzpost

Menu Monday on wednesday?

I know, I know, I haven't been on here forever.  Summer fun was too much fun to be on the computer.  Since I am working full time now, menus are a must.
Sunday
Chicken Pot pie

Monday
Spaghetti and meatballs in the crock pot.
garlic bread

Tuesday
Cheeseburgers on the grill
fruit smoothies

Wednesday
Taco salad
apples

Thursday
Chicken on the grill
rice and beans
applesauce

Friday
Tailgating at the football game
Pumpkin choco chip cookies
brats
hot dogs
apples

Love it!

“I see women who are doing their absolute best in every way – but they keep track only of their mistakes. They make lists of things they haven’t done instead of the phenomenal amount of things they’ve accomplished. No matter what mountain of achievement they’ve just climbed, they stumble over molehills, saying things like, “But it’s not enough,” or, “I didn’t do it well enough.” The good news of the gospel is that who we are is okay. Our best is good enough. The Savior came for us –just as we are.




…perfect people don't need a Savior. He came to save his people in their imperfections. He is the Lord of the living, and the living make mistakes. He's not embarrassed by us, angry at us, or shocked. He wants us in our brokenness, in our unhappiness, in our guilt and our grief."
--Chieko Okazaki

Rocks Baseball 2011

Look at his cheeks! Ha! What a cutie!

This is after his 2nd Homerun of the year! He hit it for Amy's Birthday!

Way to go Aaron!

30 day Challenges

I saw this on Revive our Hearts. Great ideas!

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/challenge/

Menus

Menus have been weak these past few weeks. Our life is normally busy, but we have kicked it up a few notches with rain make up games, basketball tryouts, and other meetings. I like being somewhat busy, but this is crazy! School will be out soon and hopefully we can get back to a "normal crazy" for us! Honestly, that is wishful thinking! Mission trips, camps, baseball and vacation will fill it up fast. I pray I can be intentional in my relationships with family and friends.

Monday
Amy soccer game and Mom at a meeting at church.
Subway giftcard meal!
Tuesday
Lemon chicken
beans and rice
strawberries
Wednesday
Shredded crockpot beef
baked potatoes
green beans
Thursday
Chicken pockets
salad
friday
pizza

Women of Faith

I went to a Women of Faith conference with 2 of my dearest friends, in Columbus Ohio this past weekend.

We laughed, we cried, we ate ice cream for breakfast one day, ate other yummy food, slept in, shopped and listened to some awesome worship and speakers.

Here is a recap:

Worshipping with 11000 women is incredible. I couldn't help but cry singing Holy Holy Holy with them-amazing!

Natalie Grant, Mary Mary, and Laura Story gave us mini concerts on top of the great worship team.

Sheila Walsh

She taught us that the Shepherd always finds us. Even if we aren't looking for him or are unable. He always wants to save us, and bring us back, even when we don't think we are worthy.

Henry Cloud

He taught us that we all need a "monkey" in our cage. Research shows that having a companion to come along side us decreases stress and helps us handle situations better.

He also taught us that there is always a way out of sin patterns, it takes hard work, but we can do it.

Angie Smith

She told her amazing story of fear and loss. She had everyone laughing and then crying with her. She told us of crying out to Kudios- our Lord, our all.

Luci Swindoll

She challenged us to live for meaning and not more. She is a very wise and funny woman!

Lisa Hartman

She taught us to live a life untamed for God, whatever your situation in life.

Nicole Johnson

She is a gifted actress and performed a few skits for us and then told of her own painful journey through her parents divorce. How pain that is not dealt with correctly can lead us into angry outbursts and our own "fuel dump". Her skits were about the many hats of a mom and to not get them mixed up. And also the feeling that we as moms feel sometimes invisible.

Good stuff- I highly recommend a weekend with girlfriends to refresh and re energize. I am so thankful for a husband who allowed me to be gone on a very busy weekend for our family. And also thankful my parents were able to come and help him out!

Menus

Monday- Amy
Pigs in a blanket
strawberries
double stuff oreos for dessert

Tuesday
Lazy cooks chicken(bbq chicken)(freezer meal)
rice- made with vegetable broth and cilantro lime
(I am trying to replicate Chipotle's rice !)
apples
green beans
rolls

Wednesday
Grilled Lime chicken(freezer meal)
salad
baked potatoes

Thursday
Chicken and dumplings in crock pot(freezer meal)
mashed potatoes
Fruit

Friday
Leftovers

As you can see I am cleaning out the freezer! I am trying to make due with what we have and not buy so much. Also trying to eat less and lose weight. Eat healthier and get healthier.
It is a lot of TRYING. Here is hoping for some actual Getting there.

Lessons-Family Traditions

Family traditions

“Whatever its biological inheritance from its parents and other ancestors, the child receives also from them a heritage of attitudes, sentiments, and ideals which may be termed the family tradition, or the family culture”.

Social scientists now agree that effective family traditions promote a sense of identity and a feeling of closeness, a sense of security and assurance in today’s fast, hectic, and ever-changing world. William Doherty, a social scientist has explained in his book “The Intentional Family” that as family bonds are weakened by busy lifestyles, families can stay connected only by being intentional about maintaining important rituals and traditions.
(source: Wikipedia)

Easter was yet another reminder of a big parenting lesson we have learned along the way. Having traditions, rituals, habits, that you do every holiday etc. is so comforting to kids. No matter what their age.

A friend of mine who has college age kids told me this week that she couldn't find her kids Easter baskets this year. She thought, "no big deal, they are older and won't care." She was wrong. They scoured the attic looking for them and were genuinely upset that they were not going to be hiding them.

Our kids remind us of traditions we have, and insist on doing them every year, for every holiday, vacation etc.

Some fun traditions we do:
Hide the Easter basket
Birthday cake for Jesus as breakfast on Christmas morning
Pictures with signs on their first day of school
"Survival kits" for all long road trips
Kids' Date nights on vacations
Daddy gives only the girls a Valentine
New Years family goals for the year
12 year old mission trips
Blessing kids before bed
Birthday dinner choice
Christmas treats for our neighbors
Christmas ornaments from vacation spots
Many more that I can't think of.....

Menus and more

I know its Wednesday, but thought I would post anyway!

Monday
Amy' meal
Ekrich skinless turkey sausage
mac and cheese
bananas

Tuesday
Taco's
Strawberries
mexican rice

Wednesday
Baked ziti with sausage
bread

Thursday
stromboli
fruit
garlic bread

Friday
chili in crock pot


I wanted to tell you about what our small group ladies did today. The 6 of us got together and cooked 12 meals for each of us to take home to our freezer.

It took us 5 hours of cooking and putting together meals, but we had fun and it will save us so much time in the near future.

Here is what we made:
2 Crock pot chicken and dumplings
2 Beef tips
2 Stromboli's
2 Chicken Packets
2 Baked ziti with Sausage
2 Tia's meatballs

We then chose one meal to give up and we gave it to the Agape House. This is a house for foster children. One sweet lady takes care of 8 kids right now, there is always a bunch coming and going. She was so thankful, made me want to give her all my meals! (Especially, since they were all running around crazy while I was talking to her!)
We will hopefully cook together and donate every month to 6 weeks.
If you have any good freezer meals, pass them on.

Hilton Head days 1-3 by Andrew

We left friday morning at 8:15. The first day we went on a walk along the beach.Then my mom and I went on a date and it's not the date your thinking it's the other one. so first we went and did a do it your self car wash. We went to PIZZA HUT my favorite at least now. Then we came home and played tennes and swam and amy and dad went on their date. The next day it mosly the same thing. The next day we went to the beach and had lots of fun but mom and amy were realy lazy but my favorite was when my dad came and throu the football realy far into the ocean and we had to get it.Then went home and swam.

Monday Menus

Joe is out of town this week, and I am working extra. Kid friendly meals prevail!

Monday
Amy's meal
Sausage amd mac and cheese
Apples

Tuesday
Chicken strips
Salad
strawberries

Wednesday
Soups
bread
fruit

Thursday
Leftovers, and clean out the fridge and freezer meals.

Friday
Leave for Hilton Head Island!

Lessons...

Another lesson we have learned is to always be a student.

Be a student of your children.

Learn what their "Love Language" is and/or just what they like and dislike. Learn what they are good at, and what frustrates them. Learning these things helps you know when something is bothering them, or has gone awry.
I always thought this would be easy, I live with them, right? It isn't that easy. It actually takes being a student of them, lots of time and questions.

Be a student of parenting. Read books about what you are struggling with. Pray and read what the bible has to say about parenting. Memorize those scriptures.

Be a student of parents you respect. We try and "watch" and learn from those parents whom we respect. Seeing first hand how other parents handle conflict etc. can be very helpful.

Be a student of yourself. Know where you are lacking and work on it. Areas like, patience, anger, and conflict management cause me to read, watch and learn. They don't come natural for me. A constant prayer that comes from my lips for these things.

Parenting lessons we have learned....

I am starting a new series on parenting. For the 3 of you who read this!haha
We are not perfect parents(just ask our kids:). This is just some lessons we have learned along the way.
1.Be active

Be active in the kids life. Sometimes just by being present, sometimes being intentional and sacrificial.

Being active in their school and education is crucial. Our kids go to a very large school system. Especially, compared to where we went to school. We make a point to volunteer, attend field trips etc., so that our teachers and administrators know us personally. When asked to be on boards, focus groups etc, do it. We feel the more our face and name is "in there", for good, the better. Teachers love knowing who a parent is. It gets harder the older they get, but still there are ways. I volunteer on hospitality committees, bringing in food and lunches for the staff at all three schools our kids go to. PTO, focus groups, and classroom help are other ways. Teachers rarely say no to help! Kids behavior improves too, if they know you are on a first name basis with their teacher, or that mom may walk by any minute!

Being there for concerts, games, competitions. Kids love to see you there, even when they say they don't care if you come. My boys even ask, "how did I play Mom?" "how did I do?" Just begging for the affirmation.

Being there at home. Just being present, is all that is needed sometimes. Andrew stayed home from school yesterday, sick. I think the one on one time was needed as much as anything. What I struggle with is not JUST being present, but available too. I am always busy doing things. Laundry, meals, cleaning etc.
Example:
Tuesday is laundry day at the Bennett house. Aaron came home from school and then piano grouchy. He was even borderline disrespectful to the piano teacher. All very uncharacteristic for Aaron. He got out of the van and went to shoot baskets. I really needed to fold laundry and get dinner going. Instead I went and rebounded for him. He was quite shocked, which speaks poorly of me. We talked and played for 30 minutes and his mood lifted. He never told me what or if something was bothering him, but the quality time was worth it.

One on one dates are another great way to be active in our kids life and speaks value to them. The more kids you have the harder it gets. Amy and I had fun going to Kroger the other night. It was only 30 minutes, but we laughed and joked and was good for both of us.
Ann likes doing crafts with me and now going to goodwill with me too.
Andrew loves games and puzzles, especially if he can beat me! Each kid is so different!
These things are sacrificial of our time, and are not always fun for us, but the kids need it. It also takes being intentional and not just "getting by", planning and doing is so important.

Parenting is a process and we are learning as we go.

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.

Beauty- a few

-watching a group of high school girls knit headbands to sell. Their proceeds are to support an program to end human traficking in India.

- I love a list with lots of check marks, a true thing of beauty for this task oriented girl

- a house full of giggling 10-11 year old girls, Ann's slumber party is tonight with 8 girls here for the night.

- my baby girl is growing up and maturing. Seeing her with friends, interacting and having fun is a thing of beauty.

- a 14 year old girl growing up, mature beyond her years. Making good choices and dealing with some hard stuff. Watching God mold her is a thing of beauty.

- Joe's interview to lead a trip to Haiti. Seeing how God has brought him out of the pit to leading a mission trip is a thing of beauty.

- watching God lay out a plan for my possible future employment before I even knew it is a thing of beauty.

- seeing God give physical confirmation to a reluctant adoptive parent is a true thing of beauty and their Christmas miracle. http://http//heartheldhigh.blogspot.com/2011/01/our-christmas-miracle.html

Beauty a change of plans

I love how God knows so much more than we do. 

With Joe's job so unstable, a full time job for me may be in order. 

I really have been hesitant to go back to working full time.  I love being a wife and mom and homemaker so much.  I have never been able to wrap my head around doing both.

God had the perfect plan for me. 
Waiting and trusting.

There is beauty in waiting.

Beauty- spoons

We played a family game of spoons tonight. So fun, so many laughs, a thing of beauty!

Beauty-I am way behind

So far behind, that I am no longer put day numbers on them!

Yesterday was Annie's birthday.  She turned 11.  My baby girl is 11.  It seems like just yesterday she was born.  I wouldn't trade the 3 kids in 3 years time, but I am not sure I would go back.  I like where we are.

One of my favorite parts of the kids birthdays is talking about the day they were born and all that was going on in our lives.

Annie had an exciting start to life.  My water broke right before Joe was to start a basketball game against CMA.  A neighbor had to go to the gym and tell him to come home.  As I was cleaning the kitchen up before leaving I looked out the kitchen window and could see Joe running home! We lived right behind Triton High School at the time.
We headed to the hospital after dropping off the kids at my brother's where my mom was living.  She was helping my brother after his wife had died of breast cancer at just 33 the past year. 
Once at the hospital we got a message from the athletic director saying that if we could have the baby before the end of the game, they would announce it! Ha I would do my best, I thought.  As my doctor sat in my room and watched the IU basketball game, we walked the halls while Joe talked on a cell phone with people about the game.  The nurses laughed at us, saying they had never seen anyone walk so fast before.  Stress I guess.
Annie was born at 11 pm, after the game was over!  And after a few scary minutes of her cord wrapped around her neck!  Our sweet little girl 8lbs. 14 oz. and only 19 1/2 inches long. She has always been our best sleeper and our most vocal child.  She says it like it is, and stands up for herself.  She has a passion for reading and for justice.


God has big plans for her!  and I can't wait to see where He leads her.

Beauty - a new morning

Haiti2010

As I lay in bed this morning, I am tired, poor sleep, sick husband, "woe is me"ing.  I stopped and prayed and thought over yesterday.  A self reflection act we learned last night at church.  I really fell short in many ways yesterday.
Thankful for a forgiving God and family, today is a new day.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.

His mercies never come to an end.

They are new every morning, new every morning,

Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord. Great is Thy faithfulness."



Lamentations 3:22-24 says "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

Beauty- kids laughter

There is a "3 Stooges" marathon on tv today. 

Personally, I am not a big fan of these stooges.

Aaron, Ann, and Andrew have been giggling and all out laughing at the tv  on and off all day.

I truly love hearing them laugh!

It is a thing of beauty.