The musings of SandK's mom:-)

2011-04-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

2006-11-20T20:39:00.000-08:00

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The South
The West
Philadelphia
Boston
The Northeast
The Inland North
North Central
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

2006-11-19T21:35:00.000-08:00

Not-so-extreme home makeover :-)
At least we're making *progress*!.. We worked on the house all afternoon - oh MY I am tired!.. But I am determined to get the kitchen done by Thanksgiving... We worked on the sanding and patching today...when we removed the last of the nasty wallpaper (you know, the wallpaper that originally was a light beige, but had turned a nasty gray from the oil-heat produced soot), some of the wall came with it... Gotta LOVE that 50 year old plaster! We also began painting the cabinets... It's not going to be gorgeous when we're done, but darn it, it's going to be about 500% better than the truly awful mint green that's there now.

Some pics:.. This is the before - can you see the mint green loveliness? Oh it's so awful! I cannot wait to make it ALL begone! Second pic is the color the cabinets will be when we're done..

Here is the wall color - my flash made it look like a pumpkin, but it's really more like a dark paprika... The second picture is closer to the real color - don't mind my liquor bottles LOL. Those particular ones have actually lasted us for all 7 years of marriage:

Oh, and the floor! I totally forgot that this makeover also included pulling up the hideous GREEN carpet that was in my dining room... There is hardwood underneath the carpet - it's not in very good shape, so we won't be sticking with it for the long term, but for a stop-gap it is more than adequate, and Lord help me, *anything* is better than that disgusting carpet!:

And last but not least - the bathroom project... The shower is ready to be tiled, and then we can put the doors and faucet on and that part will be done!..It doesn't look like much at the moment, but it's an amazing difference... I wish I had a "before" picture on this one - the place where the shower is right now was actually a closet... Mikey tore out the closet and the wall between it and the bathroom..to make it one big room... Also adding a pic of the plumbing - cuz I'm so proud of my handyman who did it all himself!

2006-11-14T21:06:00.000-08:00

Ramblings of a failed perfectionist

I'm a perfectionist, I've discovered. I used to think there was no way I could be a perfectionist, as I am SUCH a mess - how absurd! What I've learned though, is that often it's my perfectionism that feeds into my lackadaisical-ness. I get discouraged by the fact that I can't *possibly* do it as perfectly as I think I ought, so I don't try at all. I get overwhelmed by the sheer thought of the task, knowing I won't be able to live up to my own standards, so I find it nearly impossible to even begin.

Now, isn't that just silly? I know, really I do. I fully understand how ridiculous this way of living is, but I can't seem to figure out just HOW to overcome. I have this cycle - go for a few days like a rabbit on Jolt cola, and I complete my to-do list like a champ, my kids are schooled, I'm a patient, consistent, creative parent.

Until.......I mess up. Or something happens to upset the equilibrium even the slightest bit. Or the kids don't cooperate, despite my calm and creative consistency (nice alliteration, eh?). And I get SO frustrated with my failure that I just throw my hands up and quit.

Until.....I get disgusted enough with my own slothful ways that I become willing to try again. And the cycle continues.

I thought for a long time that this whole roller coaster was a result of depression, but darn it, it's just a character flaw and my medication doesn't cure those!!!!! :-)

I think I need a 12-step group...Or maybe a stiff drink...wait, those don't go together! Ahhh, I'm delirious - time to go to bed!

2006-11-14T14:17:00.000-08:00

2006-11-07T21:07:00.000-08:00

2006-11-07T21:06:00.000-08:00

Election day

I did brave the deluge to go vote today - even took my kiddos with me! I am really thankful for the handy-dandy computerized touch-screen voting machines we have in my area. Makes voting while holding a restless 3 year old very easy:-)
Ya know, I get discouraged with our officials just like everybody else from time to time. It seems like MY values are never represented in Washington, or Raleigh, or heck, even downtown right here! But I try to remember what a privilege it is that little 'ol me IS able to have a voice. I can cast my vote, and if I don't like my representative's performance, than I have the right to try to get 'em out of there the next time. We take so much for granted - let's try to remember, even when it's frustrating, MUCH has been sacrificed to give you and me the freedom to do what we did today.
(and looks like only 3 of the bond referendums passed - maybe my property taxes won't be raised *quite* so much. WOOHOO!)

2006-11-07T21:05:00.000-08:00

Monday's Mahvelous menu-on-Tuesday

Not terribly exciting this week, but I did make a GREAT roast chicken last night, so I thought I'd go ahead and post, so I could share the recipe. My 5 year old said "Mom, this is the BEST dinner I have *ever* had". :-) Course, he has been known to say that about McDonald's Chicken nuggets too, so perhaps I shouldn't let my head get too big, huh?
Monday: Oatmeal/Leftover BBQ Chicken Sandwiches/Roast chicken-corn on the cob-mixed veggies-french bread
Tuesday: Sausage Biscuits/Pizza Rolls/Roast pork-mashed potatoes-mixed veggies-biscuits
Wednesday: Scrambled eggs-toast/Pigs in a blanket/Taco Salad
Thursday: Muffins-Yogurt/PB &J Sandwiches/Mexican chicken corn chowder-salad-cornbread
Friday: Cereal/Grilled cheese-soup/Meatloaf-broccoli casserole-honeyed carrots-crescent rolls
Saturday: Waffles-grits-sausage/Leftovers-snacks-clean out the fridge LOL/Veggie lasagna-salad-garlic bread
Sunday: Mom McMuffins/Out or Turkey subs/Jambalaya-green beans

Here's the recipe for the roast chicken - easy and SO, so good! (I did not refrigerate mine at all beforehand, just rubbed the mixture on and roasted that baby - it was fantastic!)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (4 pound) whole chicken
5 cloves garlic, crushed
--> -->--> DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, mix the salt, sugar, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Rub the chicken with the mixture. Cover chicken, and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
Stuff the chicken cavity with the garlic. Place the chicken, breast side down, on a rack in a roasting pan.
Roast 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce heat to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C), and continue roasting 15 minutes. Baste chicken with pan drippings, reduce heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C), and continue roasting 30 minutes, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Let stand 20 minutes before serving. --> -->--> NOTES

2006-10-31T21:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween - now let's move on to Christmas!

Just kidding:-) Does it drive anyone else crazy that the stores are SO quick to gloss right over fall, and go directly from summer to Christmas? Sure, they have a quick Halloween display - gotta sell those ridiculously priced costumes, right? And yeah, they *might* have some harvest or fall decorations to sell. But they seem to have a short shelf life, and if you don't catch them in that small window of time, away they go to make room for all the Christmas JUNK:-).

Now, I love Christmas, don't get me wrong. I just think it's so silly how very commercial it has become. If you walk into nearly any store right now, you'd see aisles of wreaths, decorations, toys, you name it. If they can slap a Santa or a reindeer on it, they'll sell it! Let me quickly clarify - I see nothing wrong with gift-giving, wreaths, decorations, and toys for Christmas - in our home, we enjoy all those things. What I do have a problem with is this almost manic feeling that seems to come over everyone this time of year. What is the point of gift-giving if it only leaves us exhausted and in debt? Why decorate if we're merely worried about keeping up with the Jones'? Is there a way to enjoy Christmas, and all the things that go along with it, and stay sane while doing it?

Boy, I sure hope so. I'm fighting for it in my family this year - I want this to be the Christmas of PEACE for us. I'm making a plan for ways to make that happen, and I probably will post them here so I don't forget them:-). Enjoy! LOL

One thing our family has found adds so much meaning and focus to our Christ-mas is the celebration of Advent. I didn't grow up celebrating Advent, and I had no idea Protestants "did" Advent at all until just a few years ago. But I so love it - I love looking back and seeing the plan of Christ's birth woven throughout Biblical history. I love spending time each day quietly bringing our focus back to the reason for the season - and I love passing that rich heritage of tradition on to my children.

Lindsay at Enjoy the Journey has created a blog about this very subject - I think it's going to be a *fantastic* resource this holiday season. I encourage you to visit Advent for Evangelicals - it will be "official" starting tomorrow (um, today actually - it's midnight *right now*!), and I think it is going to have some great ideas and resources for celebrating Advent as a family.

2006-09-05T23:26:00.000-07:00

Moms for Modesty?

http://www.everydaymommy.net/everyday-mommy/2006/9/5/moms-for-modesty.html

Check out the above link - Jules at Everyday Mommy started a fantastic thing (IMO), the Moms for Modesty blog team. In a day when it is nearly impossible to clothe my 10 year old in non "hoochie mama" wear - I appreciate any stand for allowing our children to be *children* and not a miniature version of a sex symbol.

Now, I want to clarify the meaning of modesty - this doesn't mean I think women/girls ought to be covered from head to toe. It doesn't mean I'm out to make myself or my children look as if we belong in the 1800's. (although, I always thought that'd be kinda fun:-) Well, except for the corsets LOL) It's not a word we say a whole lot in our culture, but it's an important concept to be taken back. Our society at large has lost any sense of modesty - there is no more leaving *anything* up to the imagination, and this sexualization of our culture has become so pervasive, it's difficult to find clothing for my 3 year old, let alone my 10 year old, that allows them to look well, like the beautiful little girls they are. Key words there - LITTLE GIRLS. Not that I just love the fashion choices out there for teens or even for adult women, but I find the growing lack of modest, cute :-) clothing available for girls to be particularly despicable. Now....do ya wanna know how I *really* feel?

Here's the Moms for Modesty mission statement - kinda speaks for itself:

As a Mom for Modesty I believe in common-sense modesty for girls and young women.

I believe in refraining from sexualizing our girls and young women.

I believe that it is unwise and unfair to taunt boys and young men by permitting my daughter(s) to dress in an immodest manner.

I believe that true beauty comes from within and I strive to teach my daughter(s) this truth.

I will loyally shop at retailers that provide girls' and young womens clothing that is modest, affordable and stylish.

2006-09-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

I have thus survived my first year of homeschool!!!! Yes, I know it's already the start of the second school year - BUT, yesterday marked the day that SusieQ officially finished 4th grade. WOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!! We survived 4th grade. She actually *learned* something. And we didn't kill each other! I count that as a rousing success:-).
In all seriousness, a year later, I have *no* doubts that the decision we made to pull her out of school-building school after 4 years was the right one. It has NOT been easy, I'm not gonna lie about that. We've had many a conflict. I had my own struggles to deal with early on. But the goals that we had for this year have been met - she is caught up in math (after 4 years of never getting beyond counting on her fingers to do simple addition and subtraction...my baby is multiplying with the best of them!) and her social skills and self confidence have improved tremendously. Does she still have some issues to work on? Yes, but truth is, she's her momma's girl - she might *always* have issues to work on:-) However, I'm no longer terrified at the thought of her returning to school-building school someday - I think she'll be ready to hold her own and be successful. I'm just thrilled that she has moved forward this year in so many ways - Thanks only to God, cuz I think it was in *spite* of me sometimes LOL!

2006-08-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

Some family favorite recipes

These are not your typical family favorite dishes - our family's favorite restaurant is a small family run Vietnamese place. Even my 2 little ones who are oh-so-picky LOVE Asian food of all types. And if you know my 2 little ones - who think "french fry" is a food group, that's pretty unusual! I've missed several Succulent Sundays - but I am finally feeling back on track after being sick, so here's a couple to make up for the ones I missed. All of these are from allrecipes.com - that is my number one source for recipes!

1)Peanut Butter Noodles - I make a lot of small variations of this recipe. Don't be afraid to add chicken, or cut up pork, or some other kinds of veggies. You can also substitute angel hair pasta for the Udon noodles.

1/2 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root (I use dried)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons hot chile paste (optional) (I usually do NOT add this - I might do a dash of Thai hot sauce, or some red pepper flakes)
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces Udon noodles
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water until done. Drain.
Meanwhile, combine chicken broth, ginger, soy sauce, peanut butter, honey, chili paste, and garlic in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until peanut butter melts and is heated through. Add noodles, and toss to coat. Garnish with green onions and peanuts.

2)Pad Thai - this one is not quite as kid friendly as the above, but my kids still love it (as long as I make sure to add enough peanuts to the top, that is)

1 (12 ounce) package rice noodles
2 tablespoons butter
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar (I've used apple cider or regular white vinegar as well)
2 tablespoons fish sauce
3 tablespoons white sugar
1/8 tablespoon crushed red pepper
2 cups bean sprouts
1/4 cup crushed peanuts
3 green onions, chopped
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Soak rice noodles in cold water 30 to 50 minutes, or until soft. Drain, and set aside.
Heat butter in a wok or large heavy skillet. Saute chicken until browned. Remove, and set aside. Heat oil in wok over medium-high heat. Crack eggs into hot oil, and cook until firm. Stir in chicken, and cook for 5 minutes. Add softened noodles, and vinegar, fish sauce, sugar and red pepper. Adjust seasonings to taste. Mix while cooking, until noodles are tender. Add bean sprouts, and mix for 3 minutes

3)Chicken Papadoris - This one is more Indian tasting than Thai or Vietnamese, but it is sooo good. Not your typical Indian curry, but fantastic. My kids ate this, asked for seconds and cleaned their plates! We ate this over steamed jasmine rice.

1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup butter
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite size pieces
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 (14 ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add pine nuts, and cook stirring frequently, until evenly toasted. Remove from heat, and set aside.
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the chicken, and cook 5 to 10 minutes, until no longer pink and juices run clear.
Stir onion and garlic into the skillet, and cook until tender. Stir in the pine nuts, soy sauce, and coconut milk. Season with paprika, cumin, and curry powder.
In a small bowl, blend the cornstarch and water. Mix into the skillet. Stir constantly until a thick gravy has formed.

2006-08-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, switched out the keyboards!
Now, I can type wwwwwwwwww all I want LOL. It is *amazingly* difficult to type when you are missing one letter.

Now, on to more interesting things than my keyboarding woes. My pastor has been going through the Lord's prayer, phrase by phrase. VERY interesting for this former non-denom girl; I didn't grow up saying the Lord's Prayer. In fact, I only really memorized it in the last year since starting with our new church. This week's phrase was "and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors".

Now, I'm sure we've all heard a gazillion sermons on forgiveness right? Forgive, or you won't be forgiven...God's forgiveness...our forgiveness, and on and on. For some reason, the message of forgiveness never hit me quite the way it did on Sunday. (and I had a MASSIVE migraine, so it's kinda amazing that anything made it through my pounding brain. Must have been God, huh?)

The text for the day was from Matthew - it was a familiar story. The one about the king whose servant owed him a huge debt, one he could not possibly repay, and the king forgave the debt. Then the servant turned right around and found a man who owed him a very small debt, in comparison, and would not have mercy. For the first time, I saw this passage through my "mommy" eyes.

There are several folks out there in conservative Christendom (so-called parenting experts) who propagate the teaching that as parents, we have the responsibility to punish our children, in order for them to be cleansed of their own sin. And I quote: "A spanking (whipping, paddling, switching, belting) is indispensable to the removal of guilt in your child. His very conscience (nature) demands punishment. The parent holds in his hand (in the form of a little switch) the power to absolve the child of guilt, cleanse his soul, instruct his spirit, strengthen his resolve, and give him a fresh start through a confidence that all indebtedness is paid." These quotes are from a little book written by Michael Pearl. It's not just him, though, that believes and teaches others this particular little doctrine of parenting. Gary Ezzo, probably best known as the author of Babywise, also furthers this belief in the parenting classes his organization, Growing Families International, distributes. I unfortunately, have firsthand experience with this one. Much was made in our Growing Kids God's Way class of the *necessity* of punishment, in order for our children to have clean consciences and be able to be restored both to the family and to God.

Now, you might be thinking that this makes sense...I thought so too, at the time. But the more understanding I have of God's grace, and His forgiveness - well, it just doesn't match up. We are that first servant. We have a debt that we could never hope to repay, no matter how long and hard we work to do it. God, by His grace, has made a way to forgive us of that debt. He no longer calls us servants, but friends. But see, here's the thing that hit me, when our children sin, they don't "owe" us as parents. Where in the Bible does it say that we are the ones to forgive sins anyway? Last time I checked, that was a God thing. By punishing our children in order to "cleanse their souls", we are appointing ourselves God in their lives. We are not leading them to the cross, and letting the redemptive work of Christ have it's way - in fact, we're putting ourselves on the spiritual throne and making the grace of God unnecessary. Most of all (and saddest of all), we become that wicked servant, who has been forgiven so much, and yet turns right around and demands payment from a debtor of our own. The Gospel applies to our kids, folks. Just as much as it applies to us. Teach them, yes. Let them experience the consequences of their actions, absolutely. But let's leave the forgiveness of sin up to the Lord - the only one who truly CAN.

2006-07-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

Succulent Sunday-on-Monday

okay, yeah, I'm slack. Forgive me:-), please? Last Sunday, I totally spaced on Succulent Sunday, so to make up for it, today I'll post 2 recipes, kay? The first, Hawaiian chicken, is one I found online quite a few years ago - it is very kid friendly and delish! The second, Apple Yam casserole, is a side dish that goes great with the Hawaiian chicken. It also goes great with many other things - it's fabulous, period! Enjoy, and have some great family meals together this week.

Hawaiian chicken

Ingredients: about 1 lb or 1.5 lb chicken(can use breasts/thighs whatever - I like boneless skinless, up to you);
1/2 cup soy sauce(I use low sodium);
1/2 cup sugar;
1 tsp ground ginger;
1 tsp minced garlic(I use the kind that's already in a jar:-),
1 can pineapple chunks drainedD

Directions: Place chicken in baking dish; pour soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic in blender, blend until smooth; pour sauce over chicken; Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 45 minutes(I am pretty sure that mine didn't take this long, but I might not have baked it that hot either...experiment with this, but that's the original directions from the recipe). When there are 10 minutes left, pour pineapple over chicken and continue to bake until done. Great over rice!

Apple yam casserole

For a 3 qt casserole: Take 3-4 sweet potatos(depending on how large); you can cut them up raw or goahead and steam them. I steam them in the microwave, and then cube them - cutsthe cooking time for the casserole in half!
3-4 Granny Smith apples; peeled, cored and sliced

In the casserole, layer the sweet potatos and apples. In a small saucepan, mix together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup water, 1/4 tspground cinnamon, 1/2 cup raisins(or cranberry raisins are really good too:-), 2 TBSPbutter, and 1/4 tsp salt. Simmer for a little while, until slightly thickened.

In a smallbowl, mix together 2 TBSP flour and 2 or 3 TBSP water, add to brown sugarmixture...pour over sweet potatos/apples. Thinly slice a lemon and place 6 or solemon slices on top. Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20minutes. (If the sweet potatos aren't steamed, add 20 minutes on to the beginningof that, and cover it for the first 20 minutes.)

2006-07-20T18:13:00.000-07:00

"Daddy will fix it"...this is the refrain heard in my house any time something gets broken. My 3 think that Daddy can fix anything:-), even something that is obviously beyond repair.

This beautiful example of childlike faith got me to thinking today - do I take my "broken" things to my Father, trusting that "Daddy will fix it"? If I'm being totally honest, often the answer will have to be no. I whine, I complain, I stomp around and pout, call a friend, post on a message board, even blog:-), but I don't take it to my Father to be fixed. My children reminded me today of my need for childlike faith. Amazing how they can humble ya:-)

2006-07-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Succulent Sunday!
Reformed mama is hosting Succulent Sundays - a great chance for us to share our favorite recipes, and celebrate the importance of families gathering around the table together.

I have 2 versions of the same recipe today - Spinach mushroom quiche. The first one is the actual "recipe", you know, with exact amounts and all. The second one is how I usually make it :-) Even my picky toddlers will eat this one!

Version #1:

2 tablespoons butter
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
2 cups torn spinach leaves
6 green onions, chopped
1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
1 (1 ounce) package herb and lemon soup mix
1/2 cup half-and-half
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------DIRECTIONS:Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Melt margarine in a skillet over medium heat and cook mushrooms, spinach and onions for 5 minutes or until tender, stir continuously. Remove the skillet from heat. In a 9 inch round pan or pie plate coated with non-stick cooking spray arrange crescent roll triangles in a circle, with narrow tips hung over the rim of the pie plate about 2 inches. Press dough onto the bottom and side of the pie plate to fill in any gaps. In a medium bowl stir together the soup mix, half and half cream and eggs. Stir the cheese and cooked vegetables into the egg mixture until blended. Pour into the prepared crust. Fold the points of dough that are hanging over the edge back in over the filling. Bake the quiche for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Version #2:

Frozen pie crust - deep dish
6 eggs
1 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach
1 small can mushrooms stems and pieces
1.5 cups?? (I didn't measure) cheese ( I think I used a combo of cheddar and jack, but I'll bet mozzarella would be really good too)
3/4 cup milk?? Again I just poured till it looked good.
Garlic and onion powder to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Crack the eggs into a medium mixing bowl - whip just a bit. Defrost spinach and drain as dry as you can get it. Drain the mushrooms. Add to egg mixture. Add milk, cheese, and spices and mix all together. Pour into crust. Bake at 375 until done in middle

2006-07-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

Mikey and i watched a really interesting movie last night - it's called Proof. I hadn't heard of it before (but I live under a rock, so it could be completely popular and I'm just clueless:-); but it had quite a line up - Gwyneth Paltrow (looking absolutely stunning as usual), Anthony Hopkins (not a huge role, but I think he's brilliant in whatever he does), and Jake Gyllenhaal (who I did NOT like the first time I saw, but he's growing on me a lot lately).

Basic premise of the film is this: Daughter has put her entire life on hold for years taking care of dad, a genius mathematician who becomes mentally ill. He dies, and she is now having to face her fears, learn to love, etc.

Anyway, I recommend it. It's a good, make-you-think, kind of movie.

This movie also gave me flashbacks to high school geometry LOL and Mr. Schenkel our principal telling me I ought to be a math major when I went to college. HA! I abhor math!! I'm not awful at it, but I so, so hate it. I was thrilled to discover that my major in college only required me to take one math course - I took Math for you and your dog:-) (aka Statistics 101)

2006-07-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

Reformed Mama has started a wonderful thing (at least *I* think it's wonderful LOL)...Succulent Sundays. A day for bloggers to post their favorite recipes and focus on renewing the importance of family togetherness. Sunday dinner, anyone?

Now, I LOVE to cook, but I often cook all week, and then bag out on the weekends. We wind up spending way too much money on food that I could either duplicate at home for SO much less, or that I could make better than the restaurant does! Did ya ever notice that restaurant food just isn't all that good most of the time? I mean, sure, go to Ruth's Chris and you won't be disappointed, but at regular run of the mill establishments, the food is just that...run-of-the-mill. NOT that I don't love to go out to eat, I sure do (Binh Minh - aaaah, nothing like it!). I've just been rather convicted lately about the wisdom in going out so often.

So, on to Succulent Sundays! Obviously, it's not Sunday - I didn't get a chance to post this yesterday, so I thought I'd start today, and pick up next Sunday. I'm going to post a recipe for my favorite chicken casserole - my mom has been making it since I was a little girl, and now I make it for my family. I've yet to meet someone who does not love it.

Chicken Divan

2-3 cups cooked shredded chicken
2 10 oz. packages chopped broccoli, thawed and drained
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2/3 cup mayonnaise
2 TBSP lemon juice
1 bag seasoned croutons
2 cups grated cheese (I use sharp cheddar)

Preheat oven to 350. Spread broccoli in the bottom of a 9x13 casserole; spread chicken on top of broccoli. Mix together cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, and lemon juice until smooth; Pour over chicken/broccoli. Sprinkle croutons over sauce mixture.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes; Remove from oven and sprinkle cheese over croutons; Bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese and melted and casserole is bubbly. Enjoy!

(This casserole makes GREAT leftovers; it also can be frozen, just layer all ingredients except the cheese. When you are ready to bake, thaw the casserole, then bake as directed.)

2006-06-05T22:16:00.000-07:00

Back in the saddle again... Current mood: busy
Well, not *quite* the image I was looking for, but we'll go with it. I'm going to TRY to blog more faithfully from now on. Summer's here, and even though I don't think my life is going to slow down a whole lot, I should have a few less plates to spin, and thus, actually HAVE some time on the computer! (and maybe brain cells enough to put 2 coherent sentences together LOL)
What's going on here:
Mom's still laid up. She goes this week for her post-op to hopefully get cleared and start moving the knee. After 8 weeks in an immobilizer (and of course, all the hardware in there), I am sure that is going to be *painful*. Prayerfully, recovery will continue to go well, b/c she has to go back to work pretty soon.
We are taking a 2 week break from homeschooling right now, then SusieQ is going to be doing some summer school for a few weeks due to an excessively long Thanksgiving and Christmas break:-) (I will NOT make that mistake again next year!) My wildman is done until August. Curriculum is chosen, just waiting to be ordered. I'm really excited about that! :-)
I don't want to jinx this, so knock on wood, but Kattygirl seems to be potty trained!!! She all of a sudden decided that she was NOT going to wear diapers anymore, and that was that. She is even staying dry at naps and all night long. I had *one* diaper left, and I am really stoked about the idea of never having to buy diapers again, so hopefully this is it.
We are hatching baby chicks! Well, they aren't hatched yet, but we do have about 30 eggs in an incubator right now. If all goes well, we'll have some baby chicks in about 2 weeks. We're keeping them at my mom's and mine and my sister's kids are taking turns rotating them, etc. We're going to raise them, and have fresh eggs eventually. Yeah!
I'm still doing the Grocery Game, and I'm really happy with it. I can't tell you how NICE it is to be able to shop at Harris Teeter, but for Walmart prices. SO, SO nice.
Chris Daughtry - well, I am SO out of the loop. I didn't even *know* until today that he was going to be in town yesterday. What kind of fan am I??? I have to admit, I don't love him as much as my Constantine (and yes, a year later, Constantine still just is IT for me...something about those tall, dark, handsome, bad boy types:-), but he IS pretty hot, no?
I think that's about it in Amanda-land! Not terribly exciting, but awfully busy, it seems!

2006-05-21T22:38:00.000-07:00

Triple coupon weekend :-) Oh yeah baby!

Soooo, wanna know how much money I saved this weekend at the Tajmah Teeter, while taking advantage of their wonderful 3 days of *triple* coupons up to 99 cents? Do ya, huh, huh?

Shelf price (meaning, what I would have paid) - $125
Actual price (yeah, what I shelled out LOL) - $26
Savings - $99!!! :-) Um, that is 79% savings! :-)

Yes, I'm a happy girl today. Getting stuff free is SO MUCH FUN!!!

2006-05-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

You gotta try this!
Stopping in quickly, b/c I felt compelled to write about my newest venture in being a thrifty housewife:-) I had heard about The Grocery Game a few years back, and thought it was an interesting idea, but they didn't have anything available in my area, so that was that. Well, recently, they started publishing a list for stores in this area, and lemme tell ya - it's AMAZING!!

What in the world am I talking about? Here's the website: The Grocery Game. What you do: Every week, a list is published online of the deals at the particular store of your choosing. The list coordinates the in-store sales with the coupons from the Sunday paper, so you get the lowest possible price. I plan my menu and grocery list based on the sales of the week, then gather my coupons and go shopping!

I started the Game a few weeks ago, and I'm kinda stoked. See, I've been a Wal-mart brand shopper for years now, due to a pretty slim grocery budget. I now say I will NEVER shop at Wal-mart for groceries again! :-) I'm paying way less at Harris Teeter than I every did at Wallyworld. Examples:

2 weeks ago - bought $80 worth of stuff, paid $30 for it.

This week - Shelf price: $57.95....Savings: $35.33 (um, in case you're calculating - that's 61% off)....Money out of my pocket $22.62. And yes, that's food/toiletries/paper products for my family of 5 for a week. Crazy, no?

There's a 4 week trial offer for $1 - a buck! :-) (and if you decide to try it - you can put me down as your referral and I'll earn some free weeks too)

2006-05-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my absence

"Real" life is just taking a priority over my virtual life at the moment. Between taking care of my mom several days a week, keeping up with my own house, homeschooling the kiddos, and all the other craziness that comes along with May (end of year recitals, programs, etc.) - well, I haven't had much time or energy to write about anything. Hopefully, I'll have more time soon!

2006-04-28T23:39:00.000-07:00

And here we all are:-)

2006-04-28T23:34:00.000-07:00

Who is this angel, and HOW in the world did I produce such a gorgeous creature???? ;-) My 2 year old on Easter Sunday.

2006-04-28T23:31:00.000-07:00

I'm in a whirlwind:-) Current mood: grumpy
I feel like so much is going on. It's probably not as nuts as it seems, but man, I sure feel like I'm caught in a whirlwind. My mom having surgery this week; ongoing frustrating financial stuff; business/career decisions for Michael; and just the day to day spinning plates of house, homeschooling, sanity:-), church stuff, etc.
SO, if I have nothing exciting to say over the next week or two - you'll know why! I think this hymn needs to be my theme song for the next few weeks...Jesus I am resting, resting

Jesus, I am resting, resting,In the joy of what Thou art;I am finding out the greatnessOf Thy loving heart.Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,And Thy beauty fills my soul,For by Thy transforming power,Thou hast made me whole.

Refrain

Jesus, I am resting, resting,In the joy of what Thou art;I am finding out the greatnessOf Thy loving heart.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,Vaster, broader than the sea!O, how marvelous Thy goodness,Lavished all on me!Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovd,Know what wealth of grace is Thine,Know Thy certainty of promise,And have made it mine.

Refrain

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,I behold Thee as Thou art,And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,Satisfies my heart;Satisfies its deepest longings,Meets, supplies its every need,Compasseth me round with blessings:Thine is love indeed!

Refrain

Ever lift Thy face upon meAs I work and wait for Thee;Resting neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,Earths dark shadows flee.Brightness of my Fathers glory,Sunshine of my Fathers face,Keep me ever trusting, resting,Fill me with Thy grace.
Refrain

2006-04-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Have a good Easter? Current mood: rejuvenated
We did. The weekend itself started off kinda rough, but ended up good by last night. I had a mini-meltdown over the state of life and the state of the house, etc. on Saturday morning LOL, so we spent some time cleaning. Then got a call that my mom had fallen and really hurt her leg, so we headed over there early. (we were headed there anyway for our family Easter thing) Yep, she had fallen, twisted her leg and banged the side of her head. She refused to go to the hospital or urgent care (can't *imagine* where I get my stubbornness LOL), but finally called a friend who had been in orthopedics to look at it. He determined nothing was broken or torn, thank God. It was really swollen and she couldn't put ANY weight on it.
So, that left my sister, sister-in-law, and I to finish lunch:-) That was pretty fun actually. We all got in there (neice Courtney included - Hey Court! when you read this), and got 'er done. Had a great early dinner and fun visit with my bro, sis, in-laws, and all the (many) cousins. Between the 3 of us, we have 12 kids, so it was VERY fortunate that it was nice weather, and all those children could be running outside. The kids spent their time in a grand caterpillar collecting adventure (remember those, Jenna?). We grown-ups spent our time complaining about the heat LOL. Oh mercy - my parents' AC was just not working, and it was sooooo hot. Finally, my sis and I escaped outside to sit in the cool breeze. Nice.
So, other than our wonderful DODGE van's transmission falling apart (gotta love those American cars, huh? especially the GM ones.), Saturday was pretty good.
Sunday was great! We slept pretty late, Mikey made us French toast, then we dyed eggs with the kids. Got a Star Wars egg dying kit, and that was a hoot! Then ate Easter candy until we couldn't anymore, got all dressed up, and headed to church. Have I mentioned how *wonderful* it is to have church at 5pm Sunday? No mad rush in the morning, no fights on the way just b/c you're so blooming tired. Now that's what I call a day of rest:-) Anywho, after church, headed over to the pastor's house for a cookout, and that was that. A fab time was had by all.
Ahh, and now it's Monday. Today, we get back in the swing. This week is shaping up to be really busy. Today won't be, but we've gotta get schoolwork done and house stuff done before the craziness begins.
Oh, and I didn't mention the doctor's visit I will be making later today. Wildman, age 5, had a little fall on my pastor's trampoline last night, and he's still complaining of it today. Given that he is my one child who doesn't really feel pain, unless it's REALLY bad - I think we're going in, just to check it out.
That's it!! HE IS RISEN, INDEED!!!

2006-04-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

Homeschool update Current mood: excited
I haven't talked about what we're doing in school lately, so just for my own enjoyment:-), in the words of Simon Cowell, let me be a little "indulgent" today.
With SusieQ, we are currently studying Africa, Kenya specifically. We have read books about Africa, cooked African food, learned the names of all those countries (which, by the way, are LOTS different then when I learned geography - amazing how the map changes in just a few years), made our own versions of African art, etc etc. Next week, we'll move on to Asia. Can't wait! I tell ya, I've learned more this year about geography than I ever did in all my years of school.
We are also pressing in to finish up with grammar, spelling, handwriting, and math. I understand a little bit the end of the year panic that school teachers seem to feel. We too, slacked off during the holidays, and it has left us scurrying some. Fortunately, it's my school, so we get to finish when I decide we're done :-) How great is that!
Overall, it's been a great year. My goals for this year have been accomplished. My daughter has built a much more firm foundation in her knowledge of math. She has rediscovered some of her love of learning, and is building confidence. She also has friends, that love and accept her for who she is. That alone makes all the hard stuff worth it for me. I'm excited to see what next year holds for us.
Little guy is doing great as well. He is soaking up the knowledge faster than I can teach it. This week, we are learning about Kangaroos. You should have seen his look of amazement yesterday when we measured how far we could jump, and compared it with how far a kangaroo can jump. :-) We've read lots of books, both fiction and non, about kangaroos and other marsupials. We've made some art projects with kangaroos. We've looked at maps of Austrailia and learned some geography terms. So much fun. He is also doing great with reading. He is getting better and better at blending vowel sounds with consonant sounds and reading them as whole words instead of sounding out each letter. He has started trying to read words EVERYWHERE we go. Signs on the highway, restaurant menus, you name it. I am so thankful to have had this year to teach my son. I cannot imagine his wiggly and somewhat out of control body in a classroom, sitting in a desk. His mind is definitely ready to learn all these things, but I tell ya, his little body is NOT ready for that yet.
Next year, we're pretty much sticking with the same curriculum. We use My Father's World as a base. It's a unit study curriculum, beginning with a year study of geography, to provide a framework for the following years' study of chronological history. We'll be doing the first grade program with little guy, and the ancient history (creation to the Greeks) with SusieQ. Math is Math-U-See all the way, baby! :-) We're going to try Latin with Latina Christianaagain and see if we like it better next year. Language arts is where we're switching things around quite a bit. I'm going with Intermediate Language Lessons, which is a Charlotte Mason type grammar/composition book written and used in the early 1900's. We'll be doing writing with a book called Writing Strands, and spelling will be Spelling Power. I can't wait to get new stuff! The day curriculum arrives for a homeschooler is better than Christmas. :-)

2006-04-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm going to try and make this my last blog on the Pearl's, but this one was so good, I just couldn't pass it up. Ann V. is one of my very favorite bloggers out there. Many times her writing has brought me to tears, or caused me to hit my knees:-) Here she expresses more eloquently than I will ever be able to some of the subtle issues with the Pearls. It's good stuff, so go read it LOL.

2006-04-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

Monday, Monday Current mood: crazy
Aaaah, the joys of Monday morning. The kids are wigged out from a crazy weekend, the mom is irritated and short fused from NO sleep all weekend long (and whose fault was that but her own?), the house is a WRECK.
You know, there was a time when Monday was my favorite day of the week. It just seemed like a fresh start. I seem to have succumbed to the "oh, it's monday" blues - perhaps directly correlating to the number of children in this house LoL. When I had one child, maybe even 2, Mondays were great. Now with 3, this mommy starts the week ready for the weekend again!
~sigh~Off to stop delaying the inevitable. Clean the house, educate the children, feed the family - Amanda's life in a nutshell:-) So sad, aren't I?? LOL

2006-04-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

My story Current mood: jubilant
A few weeks ago, my pastor asked me to share my story with the congregation. Wow, I said yes, partially b/c I don't know how to say no, and partially b/c I really wanted to do it. But I was SO nervous. Thank goodness, there are only about 40-50 people in our church - that made it seem a little easier. Since this is the only time I think I've ever stood up and told my whole faith journey in front of anyone - I wanted to write it down. For posterity? LOL Maybe just so I don't forget. Here goes:
When Jim asked me to share today, I said yes, almost without thinking - but then, when I thought about it, *that's* when I got nervous! How in the world do I condense what God has done in my life into 5 minutes? But, I've given it a shot, so here goes.
In the past year, the Lord has done some "interesting" things in my life. I kinda laugh when I think, "how on *earth* did a born and bred charismatic girl, who never even SANG a hymn in church until I was 23 years old, wind up here, and loving it?" If you had told me 5 years ago, this is where I'd be today, I would have told you that you were crazy. But let me back up for a minute.
I can't tell you what God is teaching me right now, without explaining at least a little bit about what He has done in my life up until now. I was raised in the church, in a "good Christian" family. I was mostly a good girl. I looked, acted, talked like a Christian. I knew LOTS about God, but the problem was, I didn't know God. It's a pretty typical story really - I spent all my growing up years with this huge void in my life, trying desperately to fill it, by gaining the approval and love of friends, family, and later boyfriends, and not so much family anymore:-). Along the way, there were some events that rocked my world - my parents' divorce when I was 13, my good friend Amy's death when I was 16. These were times I had the opportunity to turn to the Lord for help and comfort, for the stability and equilibrium I had lost. I'm sad to say that instead, I got more and more angry with God, and became convinced that He would never (or maybe could never?) love me, or give me the love I so desperately needed.
But the third time my world was rocked, when at 17 years old I was pregnant with my beautiful oldest daughter, I had nowhere else to go, but to the Lord. I had been *running* down the path to destruction, but about 2 months before SusieQ came into the world, I turned around and ran to Jesus. Now, almost 10 years later, I still am amazed at the incredible grace of our God, who while I was yet a sinner, stuck in the mire and muck of sin and death, chasing it really...even then, Christ died for me. Just like He did for each of you.
The first 5 years I was a believer, I did grow in the Lord. I think maybe I went from a "baby" to a toddler. But it wasn't until about 5 years ago, when I joined my first Bible study that the Word really came alive for me. Remember, I "knew" lots of Scripture, tons of Bible stories, but it had never gone beyond that, just knowing them. It wasn't until I began to really dig into the Word and study it that it truly changed my life. The past 5 years have been a transformation for me - all because of the Word of God.
From then until now has been a bit of a wild ride. God has blessed my life over and over, with Michael, wiht my other 2 munchkins, with his faithfulness through many trials and ups and downs. He has taught me more than I ever conceived of. He's led me so far out of my comfort zone, I don't even think I *have* a comfort zone anymore. He keeps calling me to do things like lead a women's Bible study - and I just am like "Lord, are you kidding? ME?
I feel a little bit like Paul - "oh wretched woman that I am"..."the chief of sinners". But one thing the Lord teaches me as I study the Bible is that He chose all kinds of folks who were a mess. A couple of years ago, I heard a wise minister say "It's not about YOU" - and it's just so true. It's all about Christ - His work in my own heart, in my marriage, in our family, and in this church. And the more that I learn to get myself out of the way and let God do His thing, the better off I am.
I want to close with a Scripture that pretty much echoes the cry of my heart today - from 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness". Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

2006-04-09T21:42:00.000-07:00

Did you ever get that kick-ya-in-the-gut feeling when you are at church? That sense that "oh yeah, this is *definitely* for me today". I got one of those today.
I have been in nostalgia mode for about 2 weeks now, which inevitably leads me down the road of all my regrets. Unfortunately, I have kind of a lot of them. Whether it's regret over how I treated people, or the outcome of some of my actions, or maybe how certain relationships ended. Here's the rub: I have been a believer for 10 years now - I KNOW that I am forgiven. I really do. But for some reason there are certain regrets (a,k.a. GUILT) that I can't seem to let go of. A lot of the time I tend to ignore all that - my dear husband says I am the master of stuffing my feelings. But every now and again something will happen that will bring the whole load of cr...junk back up, and there it all is again. I get overwhelmed by my own sin; my own utter inability to love anyone, much less love God; my own unworthiness.
Aaaah, and here's where I got my but kicked today. The sermon was on the cross. Rather an appropriate topic given the time of the year. Specifically Christ's final words - it is finished. Of course, i can't remember the Greek word (and I didn't write it down - I really need to start taking notes); but it's this one word in the Greek that means all that. The gist is, the work - Jesus' purpose on this earth; MY salvation; MY forgiveness. It...is...finished. It...IS...finished. And if I'm hanging on to all that guilt and regret - well, what am I saying about what Jesus did for me on the cross? Do I accept the fact that HE did it, and it's not about me. Or do I keep going through my life trying to be better, or be more, or earn something that I already have?
Let me sum up my feelings in the words of a great song.
No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me. From life's first cry, to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand. Till He returns, or calls me home, here in the power of Christ, I stand.
Here's the entire song, if you care to read - it's called In Christ Alone.
In Christ alone my hope is foundHe is my light, my strength, my songThis cornerstone, this solid groundFirm through the fiercest drought and stormWhat heights of love, what depths of peaceWhen fears are stilled, when strivings cease My comforter, my all-in-allHere in the love of Christ I standIn Christ alone who took on fleshFullness of God in helpless babeThis gift of love and righteousnessScorned by the ones He came to save'Til on that Cross, as Jesus diedThe wrath of God was satisfiedFor every sin on Him was laidHere in the death of Christ I liveThere in the ground His body layLight of the world by darkness slainThen bursting forth in glorious dayUp from the grave He rose againAnd as He stands in victorySin's curse has lost its grip on meFor I am His and He is mineBought with the precious blood of ChristNo guilt in life, no fear in deathThis is the power of Christ in meFrom life's first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destinyNo power of hell, no scheme of manCan ever pluck me from His hand'Til He returns or calls me homeHere in the power of Christ I'll stand'Til He returns or calls me homeHere in the power of Christ I standHere in the power of Christ alone

2006-04-04T21:53:00.000-07:00

This has been a crazy week so far. I mean, I haven't done anything that out of the ordinary, but for some reason, I'm like Friday-tired. What is up with that?

Some good stuff from this week....I got to have dinner with my 2 bestest friends growing up Sunday evening. It was really fun. SO nice to just talk and catch up. Our food was good, but for the first time ever at the Village Tavern, our service REALLY stunk. Hmm, other good stuff. OH, found out that my sis, after 4 boys in a row is having a GIRL!!! :-) Yippee for yay!
I think that's about all the extra-good - everything else has been fairly routine. School with the kiddies, soccer games/practice, cooking, cleaning, yada, yada, yada.

So let me move on to something SO much more exciting than *my* life...American Idol!! Tonight was a strange night. First of all, was I the only one who did not even recognize Kenny Rogers? He has had some serious construction done on that face. I should know, cuz Mikey has forced me to watch the Lonesome Dove movie with him in it about a million times. And that was NOT the same face as the Lonesome Dove LOL.

Now, I love country music. Really, I do! Is that a surprise? Maybe - I don't think I look like the country type. But I really enjoy it, it's my second favorite radio choice after KLOVE Well, unless Dave Ramsay is on AM 830 LOL. But I digress...country music. I love it. So tonight was a pretty big disappointment for me. I thought most of the kiddies did a really bad job - average at best. Mikey says I'm worse than Simon though, so I might be a TEENY bit critical :-) Here's my rundown...

Good:
Kelly - I really liked her song. I love that song anyway, and she did a good job. Not just GREAT, but good.

Elliot - I was surprised by how much I like this. I think Elliot's voice is awesome.

Ace - Shocking, huh? I *really* don't like Ace at all, but I have to give him credit - tonight's song was really good. He was killing me with the nasty falsetto at the end. I HATE it, oh so much. And I have my doubts about his sexual orientation, but that's a whole 'nother blog LOL.

Chris - Of course. The man - I thought he showed that he really CAN sing, even if he's not belting out the rock stuff. Loved it.

Just "okay" (to quote Randy):

Bucky - I wish he would have picked a more "country" country song. He did all right, but I'm not sure it's enough to keep him here. I LIKE Bucky personally, but I think he would have been smarter to pick a more upbeat song.

Katherine - The girl FINALLY covered up LOL!! I absolutely love Katherine's voice, but I didn't think this song showcased it much at all. I was suprised to see her in the bottom 3 last week, but I would not be surprised to see her there again tomorrow night.

Boring/Forgettable/Blah;

Mandisa - Whhaaaaa???? I LOVE Mandisa, now, so I was shocked to find that I really really did NOT like this song. I know she has a better voice than me, but I've done a better job singing that song in a karaoke contest. I don't think she has anything to worry about, b/c she has the fan support, but girlfriend needs to get back to something she does well next week.

Taylor - I was soooo sad about this. Mandisa *and* Taylor, really stinking it up on stage. What is with that? I know that this was totally not Taylor's style of music, but I thought he could have found a better song than THAT to show off his voice and showmanship. I was bummed.

Paris - The golden girl is showing some cracks in her perfect veneer. I have not enjoyed Paris the last few weeks. She has seemed really fake and "put on" to me. Tonight was no exception. YES, she has quite possibly the most amazing pipes I've ever heard, but quite honestly, she looked bored singing tonight, and who wants to watch some bored soul up there just singing?

Well, there's my opinion...I honestly have no clue who will be in the bottom 3 tomorrow night, and I couldn't venture a guess on who will go home. That's a first for me I think.:-)

2006-03-26T08:39:00.000-08:00

Obviously, I guess. I've decided to bring this blog back to life and see how it goes. I've been blogging regularly on my Myspace.com site, but for those who are not Myspace members, it's kind of a pain to join just to see a blog. We'll see. Hard to believe it's been 2 years since I touched this one! Life has changed quite a bit since then! :-)

2006-03-26T08:34:00.000-08:00

101 tasks in 1001 days Current mood: energetic

Okay, I got this from Lindsay - and I live in my own little bubble, so I don't really know where it came from. But I LOVE lists, and I am in need of some motivation lately, so thought this would be a good thing for me. :-)
The Mission:Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.The Criteria:Tasks must be specific (no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (represent some amount of work on my part).Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities. Need help figuring out your ending date? GO HERE . The Reward: Personal satisfaction of a job well done...and lots of things accomplished you really needed or wanted to do!
Amanda's List:
Starting date: Monday, March 27, 2006
Ending date: Monday, December 22, 2008
1. Read the entire Bible, start to finish
2. Go on an Emmaus walk or other spiritual retreat
3. Get a Message Bible
4. Go to a Catholic Mass
5. Study and celebrate some of the Jewish feasts as a family.
6. Read The Well Educated Mind
7. Read 5 non fiction books (no parenting or marriage allowed)
8. Learn to sew
9. Make matching dresses for myself and the girls
10. Read all the books from the 100 great books list at classicaleducation.com (no, not the 1000 great books :-)
11. Take a class at my local community college, doesn't matter in what.
12. Study my genealogy.
13. Join a gym
14. Work out 3 times a week for 6 months
15. Try Pilates
16. Take a yoga class
17. Take dance lessons with Michael
18. Establish a family night and stick to it every week for 3 months.
19. Pray together as a family every night for a month.
20. Turn the tv off for an entire week
21. Do not use the internet for a month.
22. Have a consistent date night with Michael - once a month at least.
23. Take the family to Disney World.
24. Read 10 "classics" to the children
25. Plant a garden
26. Grow watermelons and pumpkins.
27. Learn to bake my own bread from scratch (without the breadmaker)
28. Learn to bake a really good cheesecake.
29. Cook every meal for 2 weeks - no going out!
30. Organize all my pictures in some reasonable fashion
31. Make a scrapbook (digital or otherwise) for our family
32. Have a family portrait taken by a professional photographer.
33. Have each of the kids' portrait taken.
34. Take a family trip with all my siblings, their families and our parents.
35. Start a journal for each child.
36. Get the last child (that'd be Katty, 2.5:-) potty trained!
37. Sponsor a child through World Vision or Compassion.
38. Take SusieQ to the American Girl place
39. Go to a Broadway play in NYC
40. Go visit Michael's family in PA, see his parents' hometown.
41. Get a massage. (really, I've only done it once when I was pregnant)
42. Get a manicure and pedicure and maintain it for more than one week.
43. Finish Killian's room redecoration.
44. Finish the floors in the house. (that'd be all of them)
45. Finish the downstairs bathroom.
46. Start building the garage/addition.
47. Establish $1,000 emergency fund
48. Pay off all credit card debt.
49. Buy a new (new to us anyway LOL) car
50. Join the local pool.
51. Go on a girls-only trip with my best friends from high school.
52. Call a friend on the phone every week for a month.
53. Go see an American Idol live concert. :-)
54. Go to a professional sporting event (the Grasshoppers doesn't count)
55. Start a ministry for teen moms in this city.
56. Keep my house clean for 2 weeks straight.
57. Keep my laundry completely caught up for a week.
58. Learn how to fish
59. Wear lingerie instead of sweats for a month :-)
60. Get living room furniture.
61. Paint outside of the house.
62. Build a deck.
63. Build the kids' playhouse outside.
64. Visit a new state.
65. Host a game night for our friends
66. Host a cocktail party.
67. Play trivial pursuit with someone other than Michael.
68. Learn to make Vietnamese fresh spring rolls.
69. Visit an Asian market.
70. Call my brother on the phone once a month for 6 months.
71. Stay home every day for 5 days.
72. Visit the museum of natural history in Raleigh.
73. Go to an art gallery or museum.
74. Plant new shrubs in the front of the house.
75. Get my ears re-peirced.
76. Get a tattoo.
77. Get my navel peirced.
78. Buy all new clothes for the upcoming season.
79. Lose 10 lbs and keep it off.
80. Grow my hair out to my waist again.
81. Color my hair.
82. Cut my hair off after successfully accomplishing #80
83. Donate all that hair to Locks of Love.
84. Start a college fundfor the kids.
85. Do Once a month cooking at least once.
86. Get a chest freezer.
87. Visit Dream Dinners and buy 12 dinners.
88. Go to Washington, D.C.
89. Cook a different ethnic food every week for 6 weeks.
90. Get a magazine subscription.
91. Cut coupons and use them each week for 3 months.
92. Buy a ridiculously expensive pair of shoes just b/c they are cute.
93. Have a spending-free month - except for necessary groceries and household bills. No extras at all.
94. Take the kids to the beach for a week.
95. Host a family Thanksgiving dinner, and cook it myself.
96. Read through Proverbs in a month with my children.
97. Drink only water for a week.
98. Make or buy curtains for all the windows in this house.
99. Clean off screen porch so it's useable.
100. Learn to dive (like in a swimming pool - I already know how to scuba dive LOL)
101. Make a new 101 things list when I'm finished with this one. :-)

2004-04-03T19:32:00.000-08:00

Hmmm, I just have *no* motivation tonight. I ought to be busting my hind parts painting my kitchen, but instead I'm in here vegging on the 'net. The realtor came today, walked through, and made some suggestions of what we need to do to the house. Most of it we already knew, but it just kinda brought home the reality of just *how* much we have left to do. And no money or time to do it - ugh. I think at this point we're both just overwhelmed, which seems to only paralyze us both LOL.

Anyway, tomorrow is church, and then in the afternoon they are having an Easter egg hunt/family picnic there. We are trying to decide if we can go or if we need to just press in and work on the house. Then Monday, the lady from Joyner is supposed to call Caldwell and get the ball rolling on Susannah's evaluation. Not quite sure how I'm feeling about that.

2004-04-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

Let's see - what's up with me today? Not a whole lot new...still getting the house ready to sell. Painting the kitchen(will it *ever* be done?), packing up some clutter, trying to make this 1100 square feet look like more! Our friend the realtor sent us an email of listings to look at, to see if they are comparable to our house. Well, the houses were fairly similar, but the values were wayyyy less. The tax values alone were $40,000 less than ours!
I've been doing some reading on discipline lately - gentle discipline to be specific, also known as positive discipline or grace-based discipline. I'm really beginning to rethink some of the views I've held these last 4 years since we took Growing Kid's God's Way. And no, not just b/c the Ezzo's have proven to be the latest in "Christian" leaders who seem to have zero integrity(you can read more about that on www.ezzo.info). But also been doing some reading on the Biblical meaning of things like "the rod", etc. and it seems that what I've thought most of my life, and accepted as truth, really *isn't*. Anyway, an interesting site with lots of info on this is: www.gentlemothering.com.
All 3 kiddos are doing well: The "educational consultant" from Susannah's school called me a week or two ago and basically told me we need to have her officially evaluated for ADHD. So, now that her teacher, principal, *and* the consultant all concur, I guess we're having her evaluated. I have a call in to Joyner, and we're starting whatever process we have to go through to have her evaluated through the public school system. (we certainly can't afford private testing!) Hopefully, they won't make us jump through too many hoops, since she's in a private school.
Killian grows more aggressive by the day - but hopefully this new perspective on discipline will help things. I'm counting on it anyway. He's also sweet, and compassionate, and smart as the proverbial whip. I think he's going to be the genius of the bunch!
Katrielle is developing more every day as well. She is now crawling, *and* pulling up on things! I realized today that I need to put all the outlet covers back, b/c she was crawling all around the living room and seemed to find all the uncovered outlets. Why do babies have this radar for stuff that isn't safe?

And me? Well, I'm just mommy, don't you know? Sometimes I wonder if the kids weren't here if there'd be any "me" left. I guess every mom goes through that now and again.

Well, that's all for today!

2004-03-12T12:34:00.000-08:00

Just an experiment to see what this "blog" thing is all about! And so you know - (not that you couldn't figure this out already) my title is based on my username almost anywhere you find me on the web...S(meaning Susannah) and K(meaning Killian and Katrielle)'s mom:-)