Menu Plan Monday

This week I thought it might be nice to join Laura over at I'm an Organizing Junkie. If ever there was someone who needs organized it's me and Laura has all sorts of organized entertainment at her blog. Very pretty space too! I thought I could maybe slide into this organizing in the menu department without stress so here we go...

Monday’s Menu Plan
Monday—Meatloaf, Au Gratin Potatoes, green beans
Tuesday—make your own pizza
Wednesday— chicken strips, rice, salad, carrots
Thursday—goulash and doo doo bread
Friday—grilled chicken, bread, salad, mixed veg

Since we're working off a pretty tight budget (another lesson to learn) everything is already in the pantry. I am making myself do a pantry challenge on top of some organizing. For those who are wondering, "What the heck is "doo-doo" bread?" Well, let me tell you. It is frozen bread dough, thawed and cut into about a doughnut sized piece that is fried. Oh, yes--we are the height of health around here sometimes. My dad used to call it "Poor Man's Bread." My mother called it "Dough Dobbers." But my DarlingCaveGeek (DCG) had to go and call it "Doo-Doo Bread." So who do you think my sweet, innocent, little sons copied...Yup their Daddy.

There are several other ladies who visit Menu Plan Monday to share menu ideas. Some of them even share some great recipes!

Grains of Gratitude

I found this last week at Overwhelmed with Joy’s blogsite and thought it was a wonderful way to start the week. The originator of this meme is Christine over at Brady’s Bunch. Both ladies have beautiful blogs. Check them out!

Grains of Gratitude is a way to start the week with five things you are grateful for. Here we go:

I am grateful that my family went to church together last night. For possibly the first time in two years. All four of us. We haven’t had a church home in over four years so this was a big deal. I don’t know that this is where we will land—but we needed to go to God’s House for a bit. We’ve invited Him here in our home and He has met us, but there is something about returning the favor.

For the blessing of my sweet family, I am grateful. My husband (my DarlingCaveGeek) who is trying to be the anchor during this rough time and my precious boys who have given us motivation to keep moving forward.

I am grateful for my sister who has allowed me to say incredibly weird and stupid things on the phone just to vent and not told me how off-base I was. She is my twin—four and a half years younger, who is smarter, better looking and more mature.

For the friends the LORD has put in my life, I am grateful. There are friends who have been around for years and there are new people who have been willing to come alongside and listen and share their journeys and give me encouragement that I have so desperately needed, especially these last weeks.

And most of all, I am grateful to my Father in heaven who has held us in His mighty hand, who has reminded me that my focus must be on Him and the prize and not the trappings of earth.

What are you grateful for?

Psalm 46

1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Even though...

There is a sweet joy in feeling that God knows all and notwithstanding loves us still.
–J. Hudson Taylor

Habakkuk 3: 17-19

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music.
On my stringed instruments.


May your weekend be filled with blessings and peace. Lifting up prayers for those who are dealing with loss from the storms and accidents and events of this week. Keeping in mind and heart all those who need the touch of the Great Physician's hand to heal their bodies and spirits. Praying for all who have unmet needs that the Abundant Provider will bless you and fill your needs and your desires. And for those who do not know the comfort of the Father, the One who has all things in his control, I pray that you will allow HIM to meet you where you are and let HIM display his extravagant love for you.

In HIM who lives and moves and has our being,
Shalom, Peace, Joy,

joyfuldays

Hold Me Jesus

Hold Me Jesus
by Rich Mullins

Well, sometimes my life
Just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

CHORUS:
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

CHORUS

Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band
Is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

CHORUS

You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

Lent and Unintended Fasting

And I can't count...

Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak Matthew 26:41

—Well apparently the spirit is pretty resistant here. I don’t like to fast. I really don’t like someone telling me it is time to fast and I dislike even more someone telling me or giving good suggestions on how to fast. I have fasted. I am fasting—I know I am supposed to not tell anyone about it, but I am admitting to it here. I'm admitting I haven't been very joyful about it either.

But I think God knew I needed to fast more and I am sure HE knew I wasn’t going to “do” Lent until I got my spiritual journey figured out (I left liturgical church and traditions over 12 years ago, but am contemplating returning to a liturgical church). And while I don’t blame my DCG’s unemployment on God, I believe it has been used for His glory and our good. But in honesty I am not feeling it today.

DCG and I have talked about many things we have learned during this time. Many things we have given up in order to be frugal. Not necessarily bad things, but things that had potential to become idols in our lives. Some things I have given up because I know, I just know that is what I am being told to do.

HE has met and exceeded our needs. Our well has not run dry…although it might be getting uncomfortably low—but where does my trust lie?

I know I need to believe like the widow who allowed Elijah to stay with her. I hope my time in this desert will not be forgotten.

We’ve been through deserts before. I thought we had had more than our share. Why did I think we were so special??

I found this website to have some awesome perspectives on fasting. My heart has been so resistant to denying myself and that is so humiliating on so many levels. It is not hard to see at least a few of the area I need broken down.

Then I came here today… This blogger has blessed me before. Today she posted, again, words I needed to hear.

Oh…and the part about not able to count…I said here we were at almost a month of being unemployed…I can’t count…we’ve reached and passed 40.

Praying for some open windows today.

Wordless Wednesday

Master's Black Buttons--aka: Buddy Dog


Gone but never forgotten.

Visit the Wordless Wednesday List and find wonderful photos! Very addictive!

Works For Me Wednesday

Sending Cards to Hospitals Patients and Summer Campers

I can’t remember where I found this little gem, but it has proved useful more than once. When mailing a card to a patient in the hospital or camper at summer camp use the receiver’s home address as the return address and if it misses the intended recipient at the first location it will follow them home.

Works for me.

Works For Me Wednesday is hosted at Rocks In My Dryer by Shannon. Go visit and check out all the handy, helpful and smart tips and tricks.

Reading Recap

Lord Foul’s Bane—The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever

I talked about this here. Let me just say I finished it. I trudged through the first 200 or so pages and then flew through the last half. This was in no way a reflection of Stephen Donaldson’s brilliant writing. It could very well be due to my mood.

I am awful about spoiling books, so let me just say I was captivated by the story and Donaldson’s use of language is pure poetry. I highly recommend it and plan to continue with the series. I am still relating to the leper. Life still feels like a battle. But we go forward.

Brother Lawrence and I are still butting heads. I know, I know it is a small book. I am really struggling with it. I’ll write more about that when I finish.

I started Cynthia Harrod-Eagles The Founding last night and stayed up way past my bedtime and paid for it today.

Our Read to Me Mission 2007 was pretty successful last week. Hop over to Jennifer’s Snapshot and see who else is reading out loud. My goal is to read more this week than we did last.

Roo and I were early to ballet one night and are down to the last chapter in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The boys and I did read a bit of Peter Pan in the park and read some more for bedtimes.

It is obvious to a visitor in our home we appreciate the value of a good book by our collection. (I appreciate the 50 cent sales at Half Price Books that I stumble on sometimes!) I think as a family we read a lot. I read to the boys before they were old enough to chew on books. But one thing I think we failed at is bedtime reading. Perhaps because we homeschool and read during the day we’ve become complacent, or possibly because we are night-owls and I am mortified telling people my children’s bedtime.

But last month I got the BBC’s audio-book collection of the Chronicles of Narnia from the library. All 31 wonderful discs. (I wish that was in my budget to own!) and the boys listened to it at bedtimes and on our trip to visit family. When we were done both boys asked if I could find another audio-book for bedtime. They were surprised to hear that I would read Peter Pan to them at bedtime also. It has been a sweet time and they beg me not to quit. (I am sure staying up later would never contribute to their asking.) But lights out sweet princes and promises for tomorrow. I’ll be peeking back in to check on you.

It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage around in their minds and put things straight for the next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day. If you could keep awake (but of course you can’t) you would see your own mother doing this and you would find it very interesting to watch her. J.M. Barrie—Peter Pan


Technorati tags: Peter Pan, homeschool, children's books, books, reading

Oh yes I am very strange...

Amy tagged me to do this meme.

The rules—no re-tagging, write a blog with 10 weird random things, facts, or habits about yourself, chose 10 people to be tagged and list their names, leave a comment that says “you are tagged” on their profile, and tell them to read your latest blog.

If my DarlingCaveGeek got a chance to tell the truth here, he could really have fun. Therefore…I’ll begin myself.

1) I like to load the dishwasher myself. Most women would love to have their husbands help. Nope, not me. I have a persnickety way of doing it.


2) I have my own Crayola Crayons just for me. (Yes I have more than one box. Okay I have more than pictured here.)And they are organized into color families. My psychologist friend says this is diagnosable.


3) The imaginary passenger-side brake gets frequent use when I am not driving. I am an awful back-seat driver.

4) I collect collections. And hobbies.

5) I still play jacks.

6) My hair in college was supposed to look like Joan Jett’s.

7) I’ve seen Adam Ant in concert. And thought it was cool.

8) I still have my Raggedy Ann and my Green Giant dolls from when I was veeeeeeerrrrry little. That means they are veeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrry old.

9) I dance in the kitchen. (If you saw me you would know why that is weird. Scary sight—that’s all I am saying.)

10) When I used to go to Baskin-Robbins in college I would get a scoop of Mississippi Mud and a scoop of Daiquiri Ice. Together. I haven’t been in years—does anyone know if they still have those flavors? I just saw a Baskin-Robbins nearby the other days and that sounds good!

Now I know a couple nice people who visit me…but I don’t know if there are 10. So if you see this, consider yourself tagged and leave me a comment to let me know you played.

Othello and Desdemona

Painting by Theodore Chasseriau

That handkerchief
Did an Egyptian to my mother give.
Othello, 3. 4
William Shakespere


I don’t think they were old enough to totally comprehend Othello and yet this weekend the boys saw Jose Limon’s ballet The Moor’s Pavane, one of three ballets we were blessed to see as a family this weekend.

The dancer who portrayed the Moor was the perfect brooding, jealous full of angst Moor there could be. His innocent wife was ethereal, a pale and lovely vision. The Moor’s friend and the friend’s wife were conniving and cat-like. Costuming and staging well done. Strangely enough it was possibly Roo’s favorite part of the evening of three ballets we saw performed.

We do that sometimes. Drop them into things that are “above their heads” and just let them swim a bit. They have yet to disappoint with their insight and comprehension. Considering our circumstances, a night at the ballet might seem a bit odd, but the tickets were purchased early last fall and so all we had to do was get dressed and present ourselves at the door.

The boys have been going to the ballet for nearly three years. It started out with a gracious gift from a gracious friend and has evolved into a family tradition four times a year. Ballet is not just for the well-heeled society mavens. Blue jeans and matinees are compatible and tickets range from $10 to $100 in our neck of the woods. So if you have never gone to a ballet and there is a company near you I recommend you check it out.

If your children are very young or your family is very strict about attire, do check ahead for the show you plan to see. There are some adult themes and interesting costuming occasionally. But if you appreciate beauty and grace combined with athleticism, exciting music and action, you should really see a performance. Larger cities and companies often schedule family friendly performances at least once a season. Story ballets are often an excellent introduction for young children.

My goal for this year when we get “back to normal” is to see at least one opera—we’ve watched several on DVD, but live is so much better. And to try to find a deal on symphony tickets, they've been more pricey than I had hoped. This summer I know there are going to be Shakespeare freebies available. We will be there too.

Add the Arts!

Photo of the Limon Dance Company by Rosalie O’Connor

(The performance we saw was not this one but was another company's.)