menu plan-week of 01/10

Okay, I failed miserably at sticking to last week's menu. Several of our plans changed at the last minute, plus one son got sick, the other had a birthday, and Ted had to work a couple night shifts (on those nights I usually don't make anything too involved). Oh well, if at first you don't succeed... So I've planned this week to be very similar to last week, just a few tweaks in content and order:

Monday:

B-Cereal, fruit

L-Turkey & cheese sandwiches, chips/salsa, carrots

D-Soup, crackers, pineapple

Tuesday:

B-Ricemeal, bananas

L-Broccoli & cheddar nuggets, salad, oranges

D-Taco soup, tortillas

Wednesday:

B-Waffles, grapes

L-Grilled chicken salad

D-Chicken stir-fry w/broccoli & carrots, brown rice

Thursday:

B-Bacon, eggs, bagels

L-Pasta, peas

D-Chicken enchiladas, rice, beans, pineapple

Friday:

B-Banana muffins, apples, cheese

L-PBJ, Carrots, Smores brownies

D-Pizza (homemade?)

Saturday:

B-Cereal, fruit, hardboiled eggs

L-Homemade lunchables

D-Turkey burgers, vegetarian beans, Alexia onion rings

menu plan-week of 01/03

This is the first time I've blogged our menu plan. Confession time: I actually haven't done much any menu planning since we moved at the end of October. Yikes! My theme for 2011 is action, so we will see at the end of the week how well I execute this plan!

Monday:
B-Banana muffins, apples, cheese
L-PBJ, carrots
D-Chicken enchiladas, rice, beans, pineapple

Tuesday:
B-Ricemeal, bananas
L-Homemade lunchables, oranges
D-Chicken stirfry, brown rice

Wednesday:
B-Waffles, grapes
L-Bagel bites, salad
D-Chicken noodle soup

Thursday:
B-Bacon, eggs, bagels
L-Pasta, peas
D-Tacos, refried beans, corn

Friday:
B-Cereal, fruit, hardboiled eggs
L-Grilled chicken salad
D-Pizza (homemade?)

Saturday:
B-Oatmeal, apples
L-Sandwiches
D-Turkey burgers, vegetarian beans

Sunday: ???

Not exciting, but on Monday we are back to school, I'm starting the Bible in 90 Days, and Ted will be starting his P90X exercise and nutrition (part of which is eating 5 times a day=me making extra meals), so keeping it simple seems like the way to go.

out & in

out with the old...
2010 was a year of

• transitions--We purchased and moved into what we hope will be our 'forever' house. This was our 10th or 11th move in less than 10 years of marriage (I lost count 3 or 4 moves ago--ha!).
• travel--We took the kiddos on their first big trip, California. Ted and I went to Paris for a few days, our first European trip together and hopefully not the last! :)
• challenges--I read through the Bible in 90 days with Mom's Toolbox; Ted worked through the hardcore Insanity exercise program. We installed flooring, painted, and made our house company-ready in less than a month after moving.
• hospitality--We hosted friends at Thanksgiving, friends and family on Christmas Eve, and Chinese guests who were attending an area conference. We've also had neighbor kids in and out of our house throughout the year, which can be crazy at times but is a dream come true for me.
• epic motivational fail--We were so busy with looking for a house, buying a house, and fixing up a house that I was overwhelmed and let myself slack off on too many important areas. Menu planning, exercising, school routines, and many more got passed over way too often.

in with the new...

Looking for 2011 to be a year of

• travel--Well, okay, not so new. Ted works in the travel industry, so I guess the wanderlust is in his blood. He and I are taking a short cruise in February (our first--I'm wary, but he has wanted to take one for a long time); I'd like to do more mini-trips, i.e. go on daytrips around the state, visit local museums and sites. We might go someplace special for our 10th anniversary...we'll have to see what Ted the Travelmaster has up his sleeve. :)
• dedication--We are starting several new programs that require perseverance. I'm doing the Bible in 90 Days again, this time as a reader and mentor. Ted is going through P90X. Together we are going to take the next foster parent classes offered at our church. We plan on joining the YMCA, so we will need to dedicate time to exercise there. I also have several tasks as a home manager, mom, and teacher that I need to be diligent in completing daily, no matter what.
• action--I've decided this is my word for 2011. I love to research and plan but often fizzle out when it comes to application. I don't want to be all talk but no walk. Like in Isaiah 6 when the Lord says "Whom shall I send?", I don't want to think about it, consider my options, weight it out. Instead, I strive toward being like Isaiah who immediately calls out "Here am I. Send me!" I want to be spring into action, not just stand on the sidelines waiting for others who are more capable to fill the needs. I want to act, not based on my own skills (which in most categories are sorely lacking), but instead based on a reliance on God for the strength and know-how needed.

I fully realize these are pretty vague--the traditional pie-in-the-sky type of resolution that doesn't make it past January 12th. I hope to expand on each of these goals with specifics in the future. For now, they work for me as a placeholder and reminder of the direction in which I believe God is leading me this year.

sushi: for the love of love

I hate most fish and seafood. Long John Silver's is one of my only exceptions, but I think the malt vinegar is its saving grace for me.

My friend loves sushi. Yes, food made with all manner of fish and seafood and fish eggs and seaweed. *harf*

I hate fish and seafood, but I love my friend so some other friends and I took her out to her favorite sushi spot for dinner last night. I thought I would be brave and essentially go against the good instincts God gave me--I actually volunteered to eat sushi. As my meal. My entire meal.

I wish I could say it was a brilliant success, that I loved it and where had sushi been all my life. It was not like that, not a bit. Normally I eat with gusto, but I had to concentrate on the basic operations. Chew. Chew more. Don't breathe. Swallow. Repeat. Repeat?

I survived, yes I did. I will probably never eat sushi again. But it made for a wonderful, definitely unforgettable experience. I love that my friend got to enjoy some of her favorite food with her crazy girlfriends. I love that we moved to Perkins for dessert, where we laughed til we cried over the weirdest inside jokes, including what we would name our imaginary private homeschool academy (don't ask!). I love that we decided that trying new things is well worth the risk. I love love, way more than I hate seafood for sure.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.~1 John 3:18

A couple of us have never had Brazilian food, so that's our next adventure. I can handle that. But I might bring along some malt vinegar, just in case.

we interrupt this bubble bath...

Okay, I'm supposed to be taking a nice, relaxing bubble bath right about now. I sure could use it after the craziness around here lately. We just moved, which is a complete blessing, but it has worn me out--physically, mentally, and at times spiritually. So, my plan is  to continue working on our house slowly but surely and maybe even one day have a few minutes to beautify this blog. Most importantly, though, I'll be seeking peace and joy from the Lord during the days leading up to the celebration of His birth.

just because they make me happy

one of those days

Today was just one of those days...

In the wee hours of the morning I wasn't feeling well, so I couldn't sleep.

When I finally was sleeping soundly, my son woke me up because he had an accident in his bed.

After I'd cleaned him up and put his wet sheets and PJs in the washer, I once again couldn't sleep.

I read for awhile--Daniel 3 and The Road to Reality by KP Yohannan. Boy, I thought Crazy Love was convicting. Road to Reality had me thinking way too deeply for 6 a.m.

I returned to bed, only to be woken up shortly thereafter by my hubby leaving for work.

I went back to sleep, but was woken up for good by my children who were ready for breakfast.

I switched out the laundry.

I emailed my Good Morning Girls group and read my version of the daily news--new blog posts in Google reader.

I found out I would not be able to fly back home for the kids and I to see my mom this weekend as we had been planning.

I called my mom to let her know, talked way too long, and didn't get the kids ready in time for their ice skating lessons.

I checked our family email--mortgage guy said we will not be able to bind home insurance while there is an active hurricane around, which 'might present a problem.' We will probably have to push back our closing date yet again. Sigh...but faithfully giving it over to God and His perfect timing.

Then I opened my personal email and found out I won a Bosch Universal Plus Mixer from one of my all-time favorite cooking blogs.

I literally jumped with joy.

I don't remember much else about today after that...

I'm glad that today was one of those days.