A Week in the Life

Good morning, bloggers!

This morning I was up early enough to do my devotions before I left for work. Love it! Admittedly I haven’t been nearly as faithful with that as I want to me. I am NOT a morning person, and actually staying UP after my hubby leaves for work doesn’t usually happen. Yes, I get up with him, make sure he has everything he needs for the day, kiss him goodbye when he leaves, and promptly crawl back into bed until I have to start getting ready for work.
But this week I am going to try NOT going back to bed. I’m sure I will still be craving the extra sleep, but I want to start trying to make better use of my time and the hours in my day when I’m actually not in the office.

•  Good use #1: daily devotions 
• Good use #2: extra gym time 
• Good use #3: catch up on dishes 
• Good use #4: clean bathroom 
• Good use #5: meal prep 
• Good use #6: tidy up house

 Those are just a few things that came to mind if I have an extra time before I have to start thinking about getting ready for work. As the Chris Rice lyrics say:

“Every day is a bank account 

And time is our currency

So nobody's rich, nobody's poor

We get 24 hours each

So how are you gonna spend

Will you invest, or squander

Try to get ahead

Or help someone who's under 

Teach us to count the days

Teach us to make the days count

Lead us in better ways

That somehow our souls forgot

Life means so much

 This week I purchased a devotional on Amazon.com called “The Daily Sacrifice”, written by H.A. Ironside, published in 1948.

The daily readings start with a text of Scripture and are followed by a paragraph of insightful expounding. Today I read through the 3rd chapter of Colossians and was reminded that “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

It is a great blessing to start the day focusing on the Lord, and with His words in my heart & mind.

Tomorrow morning I am going to attempt an early-morning workout at the gym, be headed home by the time I'm usually thinking about getting up, hit the shower, throw on some makeup, grab breakfast, and be out the door in time for work. I’m feeling ambitious at the moment…I only hope that ambition is still there when the alarm is going off at some awful hour and I’m warm & cozy under the blankets while the wind is gusting and the rain is pouring outside. Have to see how that one works out.

Here is a rough outline of my week:

• Sunday: AM Church, birthday dinner @ the in-laws (Ribs!), PM church
• Monday: Work, sewing machine shopping w/ Mom, movie (“Julie & Julia”)
• Tuesday: AM Pilates workout, work, dinner, laundry
• Wednesday: Work, meet hubby for coffee @ lunch, out for birthday dinner
• Thursday: Work, dinner
• Friday: Work, birthday dinner @ my parent’s (Pizza!)
• Saturday: WEEKEND!!! YAY!!! AM Pilates workout, menu-planning, cleaning, laundry
• Sunday: 1 year anniversary!!!! Church

Are there any tricks you have learned for getting out of bed early, having daily devotions, or weekly workouts?

Happy Monday, ya’ll.



 

In Every Moment

Today my dearly beloved husband met me at Starbucks for our first taste of Fall by enjoying their Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Ahh, seasonal bliss. Tantalizing to the taste buds and invigorating as it warms your hands and your insides.  Oh course I also had to enjoy a Pumpkin Cream Cheese muffin while I was there, seeing as those are also only around this time of year and are usually gobbled up by early-morning-coffee-goers who can’t fathom a day beginning without their high dose of sugar and jolt of caffeine.

We sat outside, the low 70-something breeze blowing around us, the sky overcast, trying to ignore the spits of rain we felt. It was lovely just being together, even if it did feel like Seattle. Having a break in the middle of a work day simply to sit at a café and be together was wonderful, relaxing, and a breath of fresh air. Just being together is the best. The A.B.S.O.L.U.T.E. B.E.S.T.

It’s the small moments that sometimes bring the most joy. I sat there and silently thanked God for the blessing of those small moments and the amazing husband that I get to share them with.  The everyday life is ten-times better because we're together.  What a gift.

I returned to work, and had an email waiting for me. A friend of mine was just diagnosed with breast cancer; her surgery is this afternoon. It was so fast, so unexpected….”Not her, Lord!” were the first words I wanted to utter. But my God is not only a God of small moments, He is the God of big moments too. It hurt to read the words on that page, but I was reminded that God was greater than all this.

Where are words in the midst of pain? How to you reply to an email like that, or even find the right words to pray for them? But God knows.

I crept away to an empty room to pray. Prayed for the surgeon, prayed for my friend, and prayed for her husband. These people don’t profess an active faith in the Lord, so maybe God will use this to draw them to Himself. I am praying that He will. I am praying He will guide the hands of the surgeon and grant them knowledge in how to best deal with this situation, and that He will grant strength to this couple. This couple who loves each other more deeply than most, and that would never leave each other no matter what. I prayed that they would come to know the Great Physician and the true Healer, and that though this He would be glorified…and that she would be healed.

God is there, in the sunshine and the shadow, in the quiet blissful moments, and the moments of pain and tears. How I praise Him for His faithfulness and the hand that guides me and He who walks beside me each step of the way.

Running through yesterday into tomorrow
Don’t let it just drift away
Forget about tying the hands of time
Give every minute to the One who gave us today
-- Joy Williams

Dancing

Dancing.  Musicals.  Theater.
I love it all.

Here are a few video tributes to what are some of my favorite dancers and dances.

Enjoy!

Singin' In The Rain - "Good Mornin'"
Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Conner


Tribute to Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers


The King and I - "Shall We Dance"
Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr


Jamie Salé and David Pelletier - "Love Story"

Watcha Been Doing?

In the past few weeks :

• 
  
  I went to my first Pilates class.
  And stretched muscles I didn’t even know existed.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I fell in love with Norah Jones all over again.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I renewed my delight in drinking green tea in the morning.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I realized what a nightmare it can be shopping for bridesmaids dresses that look good on three people of varying sizes and shapes.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I discovered that if you puree squash you can mix it in just about anything for extra nutrients and no taste.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I learned that people think we’re strange for installing a clothes line. ...and I think our neighbors are groaning because they think we're hillbillies in the city.
  
  And last, but certainly not least, in the last few weeks:
  
  
  
  My husband took me on my first rollercoaster ride.
  ….and I screamed the whole time.
  So much so, that everybody else on the ride,
  and those waiting in line on the ground, were laughing.
  Loudly.   At me.    Never again.
  
  
  
• What have y'all been up to lately?
  

Recipe Requests

Since some of y'all have been putting in recipe requests (okay, maybe it was just Meg, but that works for me!), I thought I'd post them today. The problem with me sharing my recipes, is that I never follow what's in the cookbook...and sometimes I don't use an actual recipe at all. That being said, below is my best attempt to copy how I made these dishes. Use your imaginations, spice up the dishes with your favorite seasonings, or toss in some leftovers from the refrigerator! That's the way some of the best dishes are created! :)

Pizza Casserole

1. 1 lb. ground beef (I used Ground Turkey)
2. 1/2 onion, chopped (I used some minced onion)
3. 1 28-oz jar spaghetti sauce (Bertolli's Tomato & Basil is our favorite)
4. 8-oz spiral pasta, cooked
5. 1 8-oz package of shredded mozzarella (I used mexican blend to add a bit of extra pizazz)
6. 4-oz pkg of sliced pepperoni
7. Seasonings (We like Italian Seasoning, Cumin, Sage, Chili powder, and whatever else suits your fancy!)

Preheat over to 350. In large skillet, brown beef, onion & seasonings over medium heat; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce, pasta, pepperoni, 1/2 the cheese. Mix well and transfer to a 9x13 greased baking pan. Top with remaining cheese, and I like to add a bit of grated Parmesan for extra flavor. Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes.

Cheerio Breakfast Bars

1. 1 stick butter
2. 3 c. miniature marshmallows
3. 1/2 c. peanut butter
4. 1/2 c. nonfat dry milk
5. 1/4 c. orange instant drink (like Tang)
6. 1 c. raisins or craisins
7. 4 c. Cheerios

In large pan, melt butter and marshmallows over low heat, stirring frequently. Stir in peanut butter until melted, then add powdered milk and orange powder; remove from heat. Fold in cereal and craisins, and press into a greased 9x9 pan. Cool completely before cutting. **I started using a tablespoon or two less than a stick to cut down on a few calories and it still turns out fine. With the drink mix sometimes I also mix in some protein powder to boost the protein count. Coconut, nuts, chocolate chips, and just about anything else can be mixed in and is simply delicious!

Tortilla Soup

1. 1 can Chicken Broth
2. 1 can diced Tomatoes w/ garlic & basil
3. 1 can black beans, drained
4. 1 can corn, drained (frozen is fine too)
5. 1 can chicken (or cooked of if have some to use up)
6. Olive oil
7. Seasonings

In a large pan, heat a bit of olive oil and toss in the can of chicken with some garlic and other seasonings. Saute it up a bit and add the corn and beans. Heat and season them and then add the rest of the ingredients. Let it simmer, taste and season as needed. Top with cheese, crushed Fritos, and a dollop of sour cream. **Anything can be added to this soup -- bacon bits, pasta, veggies, etc. Let me know if y'all have any questions!

Bon appetit!

Menu Plan Monday!

My hubby and I feel so much better eating home cooking rather than eating out. It’s really amazing. The more we eat healthy stuff, the less other stuff sounds good (with the exception of brownies, of course, which always sound good!). This past week I experimented with adding vegetables to my normal dishes, hoping to gain the vitamins and disguise the flavor – it worked! I snuck pureed squash into Oatmeal muffins, Macaroni & Cheese, Quesadillas, and Corn Chowder. You couldn’t even tell a difference, except that I think the food was actually more filling, but it didn’t alter the taste at all. My excitement to cook continued to be fueled when I stepped on the scale and had lost 1.5 lbs this week! Ok, so it’s not a lot, but every ounce helps! Does anybody else have any good way to disguise veggies in their food?

• Sunday: Potato Corn Chowder, **pumpkin bread
• Monday: Leftovers
• Tuesday: Creamed Crockpot Chicken, brown rice, sautéed green beans
• Wednesday: Tortilla soup
• Thursday: Veggie Lasagna, homemade applesauce
• Friday: Taco salad
• Saturday: Bacon Cheddar waffles

** The Pumpkin bread recipe was compliments of Heather at Mrs. Southern Bride This week also included a batch of Cheerio breakfast bars to cut up and take with us to work this week, an assortment of smoothies for hubby’s hour drive to work at 5:00 AM, and who knows what else will strike my fancy between now and Saturday! Happy cooking y’all!

Have You Forgotten?

Have you forgotten how it felt that day?

To see your homeland under fire

And her people blown away

Have you forgotten, when those towers fell

We had neighbors still inside

goin’ through a livin’ hell

And you say we shouldn't worry ‘bout Bin Laden

Have you forgotten?

Breakfast was over and I was walking down the hall toward my bedroom… I was 16, just starting my senior year in high school. Suddenly I heard commotion in the family room. People were yelling, I heard the TV running, Mom was gasping in horror. When I looked at the TV, all I saw was flames, terror, and buildings starting to crumble. Then we were all hit with the realization that dad was supposed to be in that building for a 9:00 AM meeting, on the 87th floor. But due to the divine hand of almighty God, his meeting had been canceled on short notice and he was safely working at his office in town. Where were you when the world stopped turning, that September day?

It's the Small Things

Did I mention that when life gets busier, posting on my blog seems to be the first thing to go? Or maybe another reason not to post is that who wants to hear about another long day at work, a sink full of dishes, a dead lawn, another unfinished book, high grocery prices, or another cooking disaster? But really, it’s all the small things that help to make life special. The small things that I would miss if I was spending my waking moments (while not at work), scouring the Internet or writing uninteresting blog posts. Small things, like an impromptu walk in the rain, a late night drive, an unexpected movie & popcorn, or just a quiet conversation that was long overdue. It's rather hard for me to blog about such things. How do you find the words to convey the inner joy and contentment they help to bring into our everyday lives? That being said. . . . Tonight my hubby & I are celebrating my sister’s fifth birthday with my family. There undoubtedly will be great joy around the dinner table…as well as mounds of spaghetti, probably a glass or two of spilled milk, much laughter, and a very happy & adorable birthday girl. Catch ya later folks; I have a party to get to.

Menu Plan Monday! ...errr Tuesday :)

• Monday: Baked Asian Chicken, Brown Rice & Zucchini casserole, homemade applesauce
• Tuesday: Taco Salad
• Wednesday: Chicken Parmesan, sautéed Asparagus
• Thursday: Veggie Lasagna (if I’m feeing ambitious)
• Friday: My hubby usually surprises me with bringing home pizza or some other such yumminess because he knows how much I don’t feel like cooking by the time I get home from work on Friday night!
• Saturday & Sunday: To be determined

My dearly-beloved & I are trying hard to eat healthier and be more aware of what goes into our mouths (…and stomachs). Portion control, better ingredients, lots of fruits & veggies, plenty of water, and exercise (when we can squeeze it in) all play a roll. But let me tell ya, it’s a lot of work! Making stuff from scratch instead of just pulling out Cream-of-Mushroom soup to dump over some chicken, or a container of Cool Whip for a dessert takes time, planning, and energy. But it’s SO worth it because we end up feeling better, have more energy, plus the satisfaction of knowing what actually went into our system was good for us. In addition to the above menu, I’ve been experimenting with healthy energy smoothies, easy-but-healthy breakfast foods (muffins, bars) to grab while we’re running out the door for work in the morning, and trying to make sure there are healthy alternatives to chocolate & chips in the house! So far so good. This has whole endeavor has been a work-in-progress for me over the past year but every once in awhile I get reenergized with inspiration and I set to work on it full-force again. What really surprises me is how good you can make healthy stuff taste! The Rice & Bean casserole I made last night was delicious and completely healthy! It had carrots, zucchini, beans, rice, and seasonings, and although it looked healthy, it was amazingly good! “Healthy” food has been stereotyped as being boring and either flavorless or icky. This doesn’t have to be the case! Don’t get me wrong, I love Ranch dressing, sour cream, cream cheese, brownies, ice cream and Doritos as much as the next person (maybe more so…LOL), but there are things that are more important and that I love more than those things. Like taking care of my husband, giving him the best start to his day that I can, and helping us both look better, feel better, and trying to care for what God has entrusted to us – each other. That does not mean that I never eat those foods I enjoy – quite the opposite actually. Did you see the Friday menu…that it often includes pizza? Yeah, I adore pizza, but I try to only have two slices. I might enjoy a brownie or cookie out, but I rarely make them myself so there isn’t a whole pan sitting around. Portion control is a big part and learning not to be controlled by the food. I am a work-in-progress, ever pressing forward on this road of life, striving each day to do it a little better, make improvements in the areas I fail, and trusting God for the strength in all things, for I can do nothing on my own. What do you do to avoid the temptation of “favorite” foods that you know you’ll end up eating more of than you should?