joy

24.  redemption

25.  Music, especially worship music!

26.  Heated seats in our van!

27.  Watching my boys play basketball.  It gives me so much joy, often reminds me of their daddy.

28.  Aaron's smile that couldn't be wiped off, after he played a great game to win the championship.

29. Watching Amy swim.

30.  Warm blankets on cold days

31.  Dinner made and ready to put in oven.

32.  a little boy who told me I remind him of his Mom today :)

33.  chai tea

34.  a restored marriage

35. finishing my application for El Salvador.

Monday Menu and recipe

Monday
Cowboy Casserole- recipe here.
fruit
rolls

Tuesday
Chicken Parmesan
Garlic bread
Green beans

Wednesday
Crock Pot chicken and dumplings
fruit

Thursday
Aaron's basketball awards dinner at school

Friday
Chili in the crock pot.

The Bennetts favorite Chicken Parmesan
Tyson frozen, breaded Chicken fillets (in the red bag)
Bake as directed.
Add a spoonful of spaghetti sauce over each one and then a handful of shredded mozzarella or provolone.
Place back in the oven for a few minutes until cheese is melted.

I know, not very fancy or healthy for that fact.  I have tried numerous homemade recipes and never get a good reaction.  This is Aaron's favorite meal!

Monday Menu and recipe

Monday
Bacon Cheeseburger Buns- new recipe here
Strawberries

Tuesday
Chili in crock pot

Wednesday
Chicken noodle casserole

Thursday
Lazy cooks Chicken
Beans and Rice
green beans

Friday
Leftovers

Lazy Cooks Chicken
4 large chicken breasts
1  cup barbeque sauce
1/2 pkg onion soup mix
1/2 stick butter or margarine
Place chicken breasts in sprayed baking dish.  Mix last 3 ingredients and pour over chicken.
Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes until chicken done.  
We shred this and serve with beans and rice just like our friends in Central America eat it!

Winter Mugs

A new and helpful idea I came up with this winter has been to have Winter mugs. 

Each child picked out their own mug and this is the one they get to use all winter. 

The 4 mugs are cute and colorful and sit on the counter.  When they use it, they clean it afterwards to use again. 

I felt like I was constantly filling the dishwasher with mugs from hot chocolate, hot cider etc.  Now they each have their own mug and seem to think it is kinda fun, and my cabinet and dishwasher isn't overflowing!

Joy continued

11.  Life, and my childrens.

12. Eating dinner together as a family last night( at 7:30 but hey)

13.  Having more than enough

14. Clean and organized under sink cabinet

15. Beautiful january weather

16. a walk with my husband

17. yummy spaghetti and meatballs in the crockpot.

18.  the book I wanted was in at the library

19.  curly hair :)

20. a young persons passing- knowing his eternal home

21.  hugs from kindergartners

22. my coworkers

23. a full moon

Monday Menus and a recipe

Brooke is back in Haiti this morning!  Missing these sweet giggling girls who sang for us at the village.

Monday
Spaghetti and meatballs (freezer meal)(recipe below)
salad
garlic bread

Tuesday
leftover roast and chili
potatoe soup

Wednesday

Italian Baked Chicken
Green beans
red potatoes

Thursday
Hamburgers on grill

Friday
pizza

Recipe for Meatballs:
Tia's Meatballs
2 pounds ground chuck
1 pound ground turkey
1 pound ground sausage
1 cup bread crumbs
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 t Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c minced onion
 2 eggs
Mix altogether and form into balls.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
This recipe makes 2 meals.

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