This Week's Menu Plan: 2/5-2/11

I thought I would post my menu plan again this week.  I don't plan on doing it every week, but it is good accountability for me and I hope to encourage you to give it a try!  If you haven't jumped on the menu planning bandwagon yet, give it a try.  Not only does it save $$$ on my groceries, but it also saves my sanity at the end of the day when I know what I am preparing and in many cases, I have already prepared it!  Tonight we had an enchilada casserole that I prepared during nap time and put in the fridge.  To make it even easier, I used pulled pork from a recipe I made last week.  Thinking ahead and having a plan is making my evenings go MUCH more smoothly.


Sunday
Breakfast: Blueberry Muffins
Lunch: Lunch in Laurel w/ Hal's parents
Dinner: Hamburgers & Chips for Super Bowl

Monday

Breakfast: English Muffins & Kefir Smoothie w/ Strawberries, Bananas, and Blueberries

Lunch: Leftover hamburgers and Veggies

Dinner:  Enchilada Casserole & Homemade Salsa (casserole made w/ leftovers from last week)

Tuesday

Breakfast:  Toast & Eggs

Lunch: Leftover Casserole (L&H)/ MMO (D)

Dinner: Zucchini Tomato Frittata & Salad

Wednesday

Breakfast: Cliff Bar/Luna Bar

Lunch: Cafeteria (H) Salad (L)/ Chicken & Veggies (D)

Dinner: Veggie Turkey Chili (Pulled from the freezer from a few weeks ago)

Thursday

Breakfast: Peanut Butter Muffins

Lunch:Cafeteria (H)/ MMO (D)

Dinner: Oven Baked Fried Chicken, green beans, & yellow squash

Friday

Breakfast: Eggs w/ Toast & Kefir Smoothie

Lunch: Peanut Butter and Jelly, veggies, and fruit

Dinner: Hamburger & Veggie homemade pizza

Saturday

Breakfast: Daddy and Drew donut date

Lunch: Out

Dinner: Chicken Quesadillas & homemade salsa

What is your family eating this week?

Date Box Valentine's Day Idea

Thanks to Rubies and Rewards, Hal was able to open his Valentine's Day present a little early!  While I was in DC, Sarah and I put together a fun surprise for our husbands.  We originally saw the idea on Desiring Virtue.  Jessalyn did an AMAZING job on her box for husband.  We took her basic idea and put together something similar. Over coffee and brownies, we spent time brainstorming.  We each came up with 11 fun and unique dates (since we are starting in February).  We also included a marriage challenge for each month.  

 Our Basket of date. A separate envelope for each month.

 We went to Michael's and picked up some scrapbook paper to fancy up the envelopes.

 Each envelope contained a marriage challenge and date night idea.  While we were shopping in Georgetown, we found a fun paper store that had a lot of card making supplies 1/2 off to use in our envelopes.

 For February, Hal and I watched Courageous.  I tried to come up with a good mix of at home dates and dates where we would get a babysitter.

 Our February marriage challenge is to pray together everyday.

 Each envelope also includes two prayer cards.  We can write prayer requests for the month on them and they are small enough to fit in a wallet or place beside the sink.

 I put his basket on his bedside table!  I can't wait for him to open the envelope for March!  It is something we have both wanted to do for awhile!

I looking forward to having something planned each month that is focused on just the two of us!  Jessalyn included some other great items in her box and I am totally jelous of her wax seals! :)  Maybe I will make this an annual tradition and invest more time preparing next year!

Learning to Crawl

It has been a long week around here.  I told a friend on the phone this morning that I am pretty sure this has been the most difficult week I have experienced since Brooks was born.

Getting ready to go

It was our first week back in our routine after a few weeks of craziness which definitely had something to do with it, but my sweet Brooks just had a rough week.  The little man is working on 4 teeth, but most of all he is trying so hard to crawl.  

 

I have seen him push up from his belly a few times and he has mastered going from sitting to all fours, but just can’t get going from there.  

He has figured out how to get both legs under himself but...

He falls to his belly :(

And this is how he usually ends up ... sweet baby!

He wants to pull up on EVERYTHING but isn’t quite stable when he gets up.  He is frustrated and ready to move on his own.  

Doesn't he look proud??

With both of my boys, I have noticed that right before they reach big milestones like sitting up, crawling, or walking, they experience times of frustration.  I can relate to their frustration.  It seems that I experience similar emotions as I face milestones in the process of sanctification.  Whether it is conviction of sin that I must rid my life of or learning and understanding a spiritual truth on a deeper level, the learning times are hard.  Often we can see a glimpse of what is ahead, yet we just can’t get there.  But the Lord is a gracious father who is patient with us and walks us through these times.  Just as Brooks will learn to crawl, if I preserve in the times of learning, I too will learn and overcome the sin or grasp the truth.

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me ... the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

Mom's Memory Book

I have mentioned that I might have done just a little shopping in DC! :)  I found a great deal on new black boots and I was also able to pick up a jean skirt and black pants that I had been wanting, but my favorite find was this precious little book: "Mom's One Line a Day, A Five Year Memory Book."

Before I started on R&R, I was much better about keeping up with milestones on my personal blog, but working on this blog combined with adding another child to the mix, I just haven't recorded as much as I would have liked.  I found this book in a neat store in Old Town Alexandria. It gives you just enough space to record one or two things you want to remember for the day.

I am looking forward to remembering the funny things they say and they days they reach big milestones like crawling or walking but I am also going to record the days we face challenges!  Lately, I have read more than one blog post that almost sound negative about what we face as mothers and want to tell you that it is okay to complain.  Yes, there are LONG days that I am grateful when I put them to bed and have quiet time with Hal, but I am convinced that scripture tells us to find joy in ALL circumstances.  Even the hard days ... we can experience joy. The Lord gives us the grace to experience joy even when we are still stuck in the circumstance. So, I am looking forward to recording the hard days filled with discipline and correction and the days filled with laughter!

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Random Friday

1) I can't tell you how much I enjoyed my time in DC with Sarah.  Sleeping without a monitor by bedside was a nice break! It was so fun to spend time shopping and have long conversations about anything from the funny things we did when we were roommates to menu planning!  As I left DC, I thought how timely it had been that the School of Fish post has been on (in)courage that week.  My friendship with Sarah is a huge blessing and I must admit that sometimes I take the blessing of friendships for granted.  I slept, shopped talked, and ate yummy food for 4 days, but I was very ready to get home to my boys!  

In front of the White House ... on a COLD and WINDY day.

2) This week we have been in Arkansas for me to spend some time at the bank.  This is one of those trips that makes me really wish that we lived here!  I was able to go to Bible Study with mom on Wednesday and I couldn't help but wish that it was something I was able to do every week.  In those moments, I must remind myself, that no matter what wonderful scenarios I can dream up in my mind, the absolute only place I want to be is right in the middle of God's will and right now for us, that is Mississippi, not Arkansas. I love that peace that follows when we submit our will to His will.  

The boys with their Great Maw Maw

3) I feel like my world is getting ready to change.  Brooks is oh so close to crawling.  His big brother was never really one who messed with things he wasn't supposed to.  Brooks will be different.  The day I walked into his room and found him pulling on his curtains (remember he isn't crawling YET) I knew that he was going to get into everything. I think that I better start moving things to higher ground as soon as I get home.
4) I haven't been on my computer all week.  No blogging. No blog reading. No Facebook. No Twitter. I must admit it has been nice.  I think I need a social media break every once in a while.

12:29 PM

Lunch in Old Town Alexandria

Dayspring Product Review

Yesterday as I walked out to get the mail and pulled out a big stack of junk mail and bills, I reminisced about my trips back to the house in December with a hand full of beautiful Christmas cards. Don't you just love getting a stack of Christmas cards or an encouraging note from a friend? As I walked in the door, I saw my fun Dayspring cards and couldn't wait to send a few of these great cards to some of my girlfriends.  I mean....who doesn't love getting fun mail???

I also tucked one in my suitcase to leave for Sarah (shhhh...don't tell her!).  I love that these cards look like watercolors and some even have fun glitter!  They are on super think paper and not the flimsy kind.  The pictures and messages on the cards are super trendy!  


Dayspring sent me this lovely set of cards so that I could do a review and I also get to give great Dayspring products to you!  I will be giving away a $20 gift certificate to dayspring.com.  How can you enter?