The Joy Dare

If you read Ann Voskamp's blog or have read her books, you will know she is all about gratitude.  She is having a Joy Dare for 2012.  I am going to try and list my 1000 gifts this year.  It is only for myself, but writing it here gives me accountability!

1. Grateful I have a job and God helped me choose a resilient and flexible profession.

2. The health of my family, immediate and extended!

3.  I am so thankful I am married to my best friend.

4.  A remote car starter:)

5.  Kiddos who can run and play and love to!

6.  More than enough food

7.  Clean water to drink

8.  Unlimited water to bathe and wash in, readily at my fingertips

9. the energy of the kids I work with

10.  Music

Monday Menu

Monday
No school- therefore no formal meal.
I can't remember what day it is over break!
We had a big lunch at Hacienda- I'm counting that as 2 meals:)

Tuesday
Chicken and dumplings(freezer meal)recipe here ( I add 1 box of vegetable broth in crock and sometimes carrots and celery finely chopped)
apples

Wednesday
Pot roast in the crock pot with potatoes and carrots
rolls

Thursday
Meatloaf(freezer recipe)recipe here
This is an awesome recipe, I make them into personal meatloaves.
Boiled red potatoes

Friday
Chili in the crock pot

Saturday and Sunday are a hodgepodge.

My challenge in the coming weeks is cooking for the whole family when 2 of us are steering clear of sugar and carbs.  Most of the meals this week have the kids eating the carbs, because they need them, and Joe and I eating the protein and vegetables.

Missing the beautiful fall weather!

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