Menu Plan Monday

Yay for Mondays! My goal is to spend under $150 for groceries this week so I'm doing the best to economize the menu! Here goes nothing....

Monday:  Turkey Burgers

Tuesday: Carmelized Onion Chuck Roast

Wednesday: Tacos

Thursday: Asian Orange Chicken

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: OVERNIGHT Date Night for Anniversary!

Sunday:  Spaghetti and Meatballs 

Protein Packed Muffin Tins

Mac n Cheese

PB&Js

Pasta and Beans

I will also make bread, biscuits, cinnamon twists, cookies and brownies this week!  The only snack like food I'll buy will be pretzels and ritz crackers to make peanut butter crackers.  I *will* finish in UNDER budget this week!

Weekly Menu Plan 9/23

With all the stuff we've been going through with my mom, it's been a whirlwind month and I'm SO thankful for the dinners and freezer meals we received!  It is now time to get back on track and try to do some freezer cooking too!  I know it's a day late, but here we go....

Parmesan Encrusted Tilapia

Bubble up enchiladas

Crockpot Roast

Healthy General Tso's Chicken 

Pumpkin Chili 

Feta & Hummus Pita Pizza 

MNO

English Muffin Pizzas

Dinner Leftovers

PB&J sandwiches

Muffin Tins

Fruit, Nuts, Cottage Cheese Plates

We are *really* trying to get back on track!! LOL  We had a busy weekend that I'm STILL trying to recover from with the realization that I simply cannot keep the speed I once used to....it's CRAZY!  It took a few years of saying my word of the year was "Simplify".....well, 2013 has most definitely proved to be my year of SIMPLIFYING things, no doubt!

Testing out the Waters.....

Well it's been a little over a year since we left Resonate Community Church and I have felt the pull to go "back to church" but hadn't felt "led" to a particular one.  We tried our local Catholic Church, it's Chris's comfort zone, it's who we grew up as, Catholic, but we just didn't *feel* it.  The kids of course did not enjoy themselves so we decided it just wasn't the right time.

After everything my mom has gone through over the past couple of weeks, my heart yearned to be in the "word", sorrounded by it, listening and soaking it in.  Last night Chris and I were Googling away at all the local churches......which direction do we go?????  Methodist? Lutheran? Episcopal? Evangelical? Non Denominational?

We had no idea!  Then I saw this on  Facebook when I logged in to play Candy Crush (don't judge!)...

Apparently a church in Round Rock was beginning a new series today, a MOVIE based sermon!  Those that know my movie buff hubby, well I couldn't help but feel that was a TOTAL sign from God that THIS was where we were supposed to go, TODAY.  I clicked on the link that was shared by a Facebook friend I just met through a momswap board and it led me to Freedom Church.  I told Chris that I thought we should give it a try but left the decision up to him and went to sleep.  We woke up this morning and actually drove to a local church here in Hutto and sat in the parking lot realizing it just wasn't where we were supposed to be so he pulled out and drove over to Freedom Church instead.   I actually had a little attitude and didn't talk to him the entire drive over there because I didn't want to go where I didn't know ANYONE.  I said that's what I wanted but the truth is the thought of that terrified me!  Resonate was my first and only church as an adult, it was my comfort zone during the season of life I was in.  But I knew we were being pulled away, called away from that church.

God had something else planned and that in fact wasn't our "end point" , just a bridge from a certain life to, well, I'm not sure to what yet.  I do know though, that I listened, I lost relationships, I gained relationships and discovered a deep calling, the call to homeschool my children.  The LAST person you would EVER expect to be a homeschooling mom, yep, I was "Still" ,  I listened and I followed.  I never abandoned God, He never abandoned me.  But I had something to do, BIGGER than what I was doing,  And now that the dust has settled I was ready to get my feet wet and test out the waters.

We enjoyed the service. I smiled as I looked around and it all didn't seem "foreign" as it once had over 6 years ago.  I saw the greeters. I saw the hospitality group setting up.  I spotted the "band members".  I watched the sweet check in ladies smiling at the little kiddos while printing their name tags.  I grabbed the printed up fliers, the "get to know the staff" paper, their "programs list" and thought, wow, I know EXACTLY what goes into pulling a Sunday service off.  It's so much work! Bless them all for their hard work!  I also sat at the table with my coffee before service staring at their logo on a piece of paper...

all I could focus on was FREEDOM.

How great it feels to be FREE.  I am FREE from the past.  Each small journey has a beginning and an end.  I finally feel FREE to let go and move forward.

Today was a good day!  The kids loved it, Chris and I both enjoyed Pastor Benito and liked the vibe.  It was about double the size of our other church so not too big to be lost in but not too small that require everyone to "work".  My season of serving within the church has ended.  I have put all of my energy into my home, my family and am now ready to explore serving with my family to whatever degree WE feel we can handle.

I'm excited to see where this new road we are embarking on takes us.

Homeschool 2013-14 Week 1 DONE!

We made it through Week 1!!!  While I will admit, I was QUITE stressed about not starting the week before, not feeling completely prepared for week 1, Chris's travel plans for the week AND having a sick kid, this week actually went pretty great! HA! Go figure!!

The kids were thrilled for the first day of school!  I set up their breakfast table and when we I met them upstairs they jumped out and yelled "Surprise Best Teacher EVER!!" with an apple in hand and hugs all around.....so blessed!!!

Breakfast Table....Ice Cream Sundaes for Breakfast!

Quickly Laminated Bookmarks and stuck them in cups with some chocolate bars and pencils!

 Sofia was BEYOND thrilled to be included with the big kids this year!

PRE-K
Fifi 4 years old

5TH GRADE
Anna Bear 10 years old

2ND GRADE
Chris, Mr. Handsome, 7 years old

We worked on our Morning Meeting Board....

We began to learn/memorize our first Memory Verse: John 3:16, filled out Passport applications, wrote checks for them, and did our Backyard Habitat...

We worked HARD....

Fifi started Explode the Code

Little Man was struggling with Rounding Concept but THIS actually helped! Thanks Pinterest!!!

Sofia just sat with us during our MFW ECC Bible lesson and I did NOT think she was memorizing the scripture! While I was having the big kids recite their verse, she said "I know John 3:16"!!! WHAT??!!!! This child is NOT to be excluded from ANYTHING...HAHAHAHA!!!!

AND played hard....

We had some baking fun for our local heroes on 9/11 and for my little sweeties too...

I sat and planned Week 2 while everyone was quiet (that really did ACTUALLY last 45 minutes!!!)

Lesson Planning, Meal Planning, Grocery Lists, and COFFEE!

Yes, it was a pretty GREAT week when I look back on it tonight, sipping my glass of wine waiting for Chris's flight to land.  While in the thick of it, I felt more like this:

and while I forced a smile at moments, I really wanted to just do this:

and went in the bathroom a couple of times to do this:

BUT, at the end of the day and at the end of the week, the kids tell me I am this:

That makes EVERY SINGLE MINUTE, ups and downs, ALL worth it to me!  I am so thankful to have a husband who supports and encourages me, even when I am SCARED TO DEATH of screwing it up and even more thankful that I get to spend almost every minute of the day with these beautiful souls!!!

Now on to Week 2!

9-11

We just started school on Monday since last week was derailed with my Mom in the hospital for the week!  We were so very blessed by family and friends offering their time, food, coffee, and wine!  We made it through last week and still have a long road ahead for mom between the Emphysema, COPD, Lung Nodule and Congestive Heart Failure with a bad Mitral Valve.  Through it all, God's love was shown to my family and I couldn't be more thankful for each and every one of them!

We are "transitioning" into the school week (pics coming this weekend) but today, our focus was on the meaning of 9-11.....why it is all over the news and facebook. (yes he kids were asking me that!)  I was honored to teach them, listen to their thoughts and answer their questions!  I swear I have a couple future missionaries on my hands, their huge hearts amaze me!

Between a few hours of school, a trip to doctor's office for Christopher's DOUBLE ear infections in BOTH ears, we grabbed a box of brownie mix, ran to Walgreens for break and bake cookies, printed off something pretty and made a trip to our local Fire Station and Police Station to thank our Heroes, right here in our little town!

Today, I feel blessed beyond measure!

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

WOW!!!!!!  I just realized I have been blogging for 6 YEARS now, off and on of course!  I was looking through some old posts and am sad that the other blog I had hosted is gone....bye, bye! :o(  Boo!  RunGinaRun.com was dropped and I can't find it any longer. It makes me so sad because I had lots of photos and "life" written there since Fifi was born.  Lesson learned.  Do what I need to do MYSELF. Grrrr...


Anyway, I went back and read my very first post written August 12, 2007 and am just BLOWN away at how much my life has changed in only 6 years!!

I went from a "Non-Believer" to a woman with a heart for God, His message, His "way".

I went from a mom of 1 plus an infant to a mom of 3!

I went from a lonely girl living in a strange, VERY foreign place to a woman with lots of people surrounding me, living in a little town I call home.

I went from living in a small apartment to buying our first very small home to now renting that home out and renting a very large home, capacity full!

Over the 6 years my sister moved here with us and my mother followed not too long after as well.

I learned how to put my servant's heart to work out in the community around us.

I learned all about church politics and many, many, many, many lessons from it all. (remember, I was never a church goer!)

I've done all sorts of crafty things to bring in extra money from birthday invitations on little magnets to sewing!

I've witnessed all three of my babies go from itty bitty to beautiful "little people" in what seems like a FLASH! (How are they 10,7 and 4??!!!!)

I became a runner, a triathlete and a marathoner and have the medals to prove it! LOL  (I sometimes don't believe I even did any of it!  Haven't done more than 4 miles in forever!!!)

I developed a green thumb, while a little brown this season, LOL, and enjoyed many fruits of my labor over the past 3 seasons!

I guess what I'm getting at, is that at 37 years old, I've truly started to come into my own, especially the past year when I decided to just BE STILL.

What other reason could there be that I became a HOMESCHOOLING MOM!!!  It *must* be just me, figuring out "ME", taking a deep breath, being brave for just a minute to make the decision and jumping right in!

I am in my element.

The desires of my heart, fullfilled......even when I want to pull my hair out, I am JOY FILLED!

There is SUCH a difference between happiness and JOY.  I've always been a "happy" person, the "glass is half full girl", but being "joyful", well that is something so very different.

As I pull my school stuff together for the year and enjoy the last week of summer with my babies, family and friends, I'm FULL of JOY!

Morning Meeting Board

Well, we have had an AWESOME summer (collage pics to come later this week!), it is time for me to slowly get back into "School Groove"!  I've had all our curriculum purchased since July and have the school room "together" enough so now it's just working on details, the fun stuff.....first up....

Our Morning Meeting Board!

I'm thinking we will do this downstairs after breakfast, do Bible, and then head upstairs to move on with the workboxes! Again, I'm "thinking", we will play it by ear and see how it goes!  Planning in pencil, ALWAYS!

I got the idea from the homeschool mama that has helped lead me, encourage me and pour into me over the past year!  Funny thing is I reconnected with her hubby (same highschool graduating class....thanks Facebook!) and saw communication with her and another friend of mine regarding crafting, etc., etc.....well come to find out she HOMESCHOOLED too! Just wish she was here and not Massachusetts! LOL  This lady ROCKS!  She crafts, she bakes, she educates, she's a Christ centered, loving, giving, VERY special soul that I'm honored to call a friend!  It's funny how you can connect with someone and instantly become friends, God works in such amazing ways like that!!  Go check out her blog here!

When I first ventured into the Homeschool world, I had the guidance and support of ONE friend, now I'm surrounded by homeschooling mamas!  Even our little town is FILLING UP with them!  How cool is that??!!  I'll be blogging more about my excitement, my fear, and a day in the life of course!  I just wanted to put some links here to help support and encourage other moms.  These things are time savers which equal LIFE SAVERS to me! LOL

Everything I printed I found from the links on Di's page here.

I printed the shapes from here.

The other supplies I used are:

* Laminator, They also sell them at Walgreens for same price!

* Laminating Pouches, best deal is 100 on Amazon but I ran out and picked up a 20 pack at Walgreens for $5.99 today. (was NOT waiting to order or I would never have finished the board today! LOL)

* Hole Punch

* Generic Command Hooks from Dollar Tree

* Velcro from Dollar General

* Calendar, dates, months all from Dollar Tree yesterday

* Tri Fold board, $2 at Walmart

* Metal rings, picked up 8 pack at Walmart yesterday for $2. Should have ordered them online but again, didn't want to wait. 

Hope this helps save some mom a little time!