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?