Just Our Thoughts

Okay, we just got home from our first dance lesson and I am happily exhausted! My feet hurt, my back hurts and arms and shins hurt, but I laughed so hard and giggled and laughed some more. We had a lot of fun.

My dear dear man had a day of concrete work today and was tired when we started, but he was a trouper and had "enough fun" to make it worth while he said. LOL. I guess concrete work is very physical and hard. So . . . I don't know, but he did awesome, even showing up late and not quite getting it at the beginning.

Some good dancing shoes are going to be key I think. I went sock foot and dh had his runners. Runners don't slide well and apparently neither do socks because my ankles hurt and dh's knee is a little sore.

I feel like J and I connected on a different level. Not deeper, but different. Maybe deeper, definitely good! I love that he has to lead. I love that he wants to lead and he wants to learn and that we are doing this together. It's so COOOOLLLLL!!!!

Can you tell I'm excited? Next week, more Cha-cha.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

I'm done! I did it! I posted 30 recipes in 30 days! It was a great idea; thanks, Amber.

I hope you enjoyed reading some and maybe even trying out some of our favorites.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Saucy Chicken

2 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp vinegar
2 tsp Worcestshire sauce
1 envelope dry onion soup mix (or one onion chopped small)
3 lbs chicken parts, no skin

Arrange chicken meaty side up in a single layer in the roaster. Spoon sauce over top being sure to get some on every piece. Cover. Bake at 350F for 50-60 minutes until very tender. (I usually double the sauce and serve with rice or mashed potatoes.)


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

I am pleased to say that I am doing well with staying away from the computer on Tuesdays and on other days of the week too. So, I'm not here most of today. I will at times come on in the evening if J is away and the kids are in bed, but I'm not generally on during the day on Tuesday. I think today we will be doing some harvesting / canning / freezing. Be back Wednesday!



This post has been scheduled to post.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Sweet and Sour Sauce
Joanne Barkman

1 cup ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
salt to taste
3/8 cup vinegar
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 cup water

Mix ingredients and heat until it starts to thicken. Pour over fried or baked meatballs. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. (I add the meatballs to the pot of sauce. I serve with rice.)


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Monday - Chicken strips and veggies
Tuesday - something with burger, maybe meatloaf and veggies
Wednesday - perogies and sausage
Thursday - ham and eggs and potato patties
Friday - salmon, I need to find a good recipe
Saturday - not sure.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Chocolate Chip Cookies - the ones my aunt Mar makes

1 cup softened margarine
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups flour
chocolate chips to personal preference

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Drop onto a cookie sheet. Cook for 8 minutes in a 375F oven.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

I am looking forward to this next week. I can't say that has been the case for a number of weeks now.

Today (Sunday) we went to church, followed by lunch with friends and then both couples went (kidless) to Financial Peace University class. Our babysitter was left with 8 children to look after. The age range was 10, 8, 7, 4, 3, 2.5, 1.5 and 1. Being the middle of the afternoon, a number of the little ones slept and the older three or four entertained each other. They had a busy and fun afternoon.

Monday morning has the children and I volunteering at one of the local seniors homes; we get to play ball with them. Then K has choir in the afternoon.

Tuesday is a free day. J potentially has some part time, potentially full time work starting this day. We'll know more after the first couple of days.

Wednesday is the day we like to go to the library. At the library we will look at books and use the computers. The kids love it because each of them has access at the same time!!!! Later that evening, babysitter (from now on referred to as B) will come so that J and I can go to our dance class! I. Can't. Wait!!! It is going to be so fun. I hope. I'm a little nervous being that I've never done anything like it before. I hope we catch on quickly.

October 1st is Thursday! The month of September gone for another year! In the morning we have Tumble Tots, which is an indoor play time in a gym-like room with riding toys and other large toys that most families don't have at home. My older two are little older than that age range this Tumble Tots is for, but if they get bored I will be sure to have brought some sit down school work for them to do! In the afternoon, the big girls have dance. They had their first class last week and they loved it! I hope they continue to love it.

Friday is another "empty" day. Not sure it will stay empty, but so far it has nothing written on it.

The first weekend of October has Fire Etc. training for my DH. He will be gone both Saturday and Sunday.

I don't know why I'm so hopeful and looking forward to the week, but I think it might be because we are getting back into the rhythm of things for the winter. It's still nice enough that we can get outside a little bit, but the day to day activities are coming into full swing. I like the routine of things.



Financial Peace University. This is our second time through the course. This year we are going as leaders, but I think we're more backup in case Seven and Tammy-Lee can't be there. And I'm totally okay with that. :) They led the course last year and did such a great job! We learned a lot. I expect to learn a lot this year too!

This week we did the first lesson called Super Saving. Something that I picked up from the lesson was that J and I might not be hitting "it" as hard as we could be. We are kinda of the mindset that we are living in an emergency and therefore we need to keep at just our four walls. However, when there is money at the end of the month, like this month, we need to re-think and re-budget so that we are putting more in an emergency fund and on our debts. We've been using our emergency fund as more of a sinking fund and in my opinion we need to redefine that and change it. We need to focus on an emergency fund, and start a sinking fund for things later. Something dh and I need to discuss more.



Television. The shows I are looking forward to this week are Dexter (premieres tonight); Lie To Me & CSI: MIAMI on Monday; the 2 NCIS', Mentalist on Tuesday; on Wednesday I like Criminal Mind. Thursday is SURVIVOR NIGHT!!! And CSI and Fringe and Bones. On Frieday is Numb3rs. I watch most of these programs (or rather listen to) from my desk while J watches them. The ones I always leave my desk for are Survivor, Dexter and CSI: Miami.

So, I hope you have a good week. I plan to!

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

The Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Homemade Mac and Cheese (modified but found in the "Family Table", page 94)

macaroni
boiling water
1 Tbsp oil
2 tsp salt
1 chopped onion
1 chopped green pepper
1 can of cream of mushroom soup (I like the cream of celery better.)
2/3 cup salad dressing (mayo type substance)
2 cups grated cheddar cheese (about half a 900g bar of cheese)

Cook the macaroni; drain; return to pot. Saute onion and green pepper in a frying pan. Add to macaroni. Put soup and mayo into a bowl. Stir vigorously. Add grated cheese. Stir. Add to macaroni. Turn into ungreased 2L casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 350F for 30 minutes. Serves 6. (I usually double and serve the leftovers for another meal.)


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

• Paperback: 126 pages
• Publisher: Hannibal Books
  
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934749532
• ISBN-13: 978-1934749531

This book gave me a new view of the Bible and the "characters" in there! I have sadly (in my complacency) come to view the Bible as just another story book. I didn't really think about the stories and the people and the things that they dealt with. The people weren't real to me; it's like I've been reading fairy tales.

The title of this book intrigued me and got me thinking. Even before the book arrived I was putting myself in the shoes of the Bible men and women and their unique situations. Only the more I thought the more I saw that their situations were so much like our situations. People today don't face anything new! The Bible tells us that in Ecclesiastes chpater one:

⁹ What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

¹⁰ Is there anything of which one can say,
"Look! This is something new"?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.

¹¹ There is no remembrance of men of old,
and even those who are yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow.

So then, I get the book and I start reading it and I'm thinking: "I know someone who's been in that situation!" or "WOW! I know how that mother feels!!" or "I can not imagine how that would have been for him; I've never experienced such a thing." It was a wake-up, kick-in-the-butt, the Bible-is-real moment that I really needed.

Some of the issues dealt with in the book include:

• Adam and Eve - murder
• Moses - adoption
• Naomi - facing tragedy after tragedy
• Joseph - mending family relationships

Some of my other thoughts about these topics: "WOW, there were some dysfunctional families in the Bible!" "Oh, another one is infertility - Hannah."

This book is in study format with questions at the end of each chapter.

Paperback copies ($12.95, ISBN: 978-1-934749-53-1) are available through online bookstores such as Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. Hannibal Books also offers the book through 800-747-0738 and www.hannibalbooks.com. Here is a direct link to Families of the Bible at Hannibal Books.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Favorite Muffins
(We ate these often growing up.)

1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Heat oven to 400F. Grease muffin cups. Beat eggs. Stir in milk and oil. Stir in remaining ingredients until flour is just moist. Batter should be lumpy. Fill cups 2/3 full. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 12 muffins.

We ate these with jam or honey, or just butter.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Hi ladies! (and any gents reading)

My friend, Christi, missed a couple of weeks and therefore so did I on the Date Night thing.

The last couple of weeks my hubby and I have been making a lot of time for each other just because we have been talking and working on issues. It hasn't been fun time all the time; it's been hard work and my head hurts. So we've planned a fun afternoon tomorrow.

Just over a year ago our arena burnt to the ground. In a small town, that's a HUGE thing. So there is a fund raising drive to get the money to build us a new arena / pool complex thing! One of the activities being put on is a theatre production - one showing is a dessert theatre and one is a dinner theatre. We don't have a lot of extra funds right now, so we chose the less expensive dessert theatre that is in the afternoon. My hubby does not like theatre, so this is pretty cool for me that he suggested we go.

Now after this weekend our (dh's and mine) regular weekly activities start.

We've been trying to start our Financial Peace University for a couple of weeks now, but it hasn't gotten off the ground; just trying to make connections. I think we are starting for real this week. No kids allowed. I consider this a date; we are learning and with others and it may not be "fun" but it's time together.

Then the ballroom dancing! I think I've mentioned it a couple of times already, so I'm sure you know how excited I am. J and I have talked about learning for years. This happens Wednesday nights starting the last day of September. We've talked at least two other couples into joining us. It's gonna be a fun group! I can't wait.

So from now until Christmas (and a little after, with the FPU) we will have two outings a week!!!

Go on over to My Chick Flick and leave a comment, link up, or just gather some ideas.

TIP: When considering taking a course like the ballroom dancing or the FPU, divide the cost by the number of classes. When I looked at the cost per person of the ballroom dancing, I was so disappointed; I didn't think we could hack it. Then I thought, let's look at this differently. If we went on a date every week, we'd spend $xx on a sitter and $xx on supper, plus gas. I took the cost of the dance and the sitter and I divided by the 13 weeks (or whatever it is, I forget now) and it came out to less than if we went out for supper once a week.

Just a thought.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Vanilla Cherry No-Bake Cheesecake
Rhea Wilcox

For the cake part:
1 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 lg pkg instant vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
1 pkg dream whip

For the crust part:
1 1/2 cup graham crumbs
1 Tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3 Tbsp melted butter

Cake: Put cheese and some milk in the blender; blend for 10 sec. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.

Crust: Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Preheat oven to 375. Pack into a pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool.

Pour cake mixture into crust. Add one cane of pie filling to the top.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Welcome regulars and Coffee Girls!

I've had such a tough week, but at the same time it has been a great week.

Saturday (19th) - we baked cookies; we haven't done that in a long time.

Sunday - a nice late evening visit with friends

Monday - I forget.

Tuesday - I wasn't around online.

Wednesday - great fun at the park; I fell in the water - including my cell phone. OOPS! Great fun though, pictures hopefully coming next week.

Thursday - cleaning, cleaning.

The tough part has been some emotional baggage issues. The good thing is that I think I am making headway to better emotional and mental health.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Creamy Lemon Chicken

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (or whatever chicken you happen to have on hand; or pork!)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon butter
1 can cream of chicken soup (I like celery better!)
Grated zest and juice of 1 large lemon
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) mixed peas and diced carrots, drained
2 tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley or dill

Sprinkle both sides of chicken with pepper.

Heat butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until bubbly. Add chicken and brown on both sides. Add soup, lemon zest and juice; stir to mix with pan drippings. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Stir in mixed peas and carrots and parsley and heat through. (I never add the veggies and very often leave out the parsley and dill. However, the dill adds a great "kick"! Use more or less pepper, depending on personal preference.)

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Banana (Nut) Bread

1/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, cream together shortening and sugar; add eggs and beat well. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture. Stir until mixed. Stir in bananas and nuts, blending well.

Pour into well greased loaf pan. Bake for about 50 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; cool on rack. Wrap and store overnight.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Chocolate Boiled Cookies - the recipe my aunt Marlene makes

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup milk
2 cups white sugar
4 Tbsp cocoa
3 cups oatmeal

(I usually double this recipe.)

Combine first three ingredients in a saucepan. Heat to boiling. Boil for approximately 2.5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop onto wax paper.

(These are so easy, so yummy and relatively inexpensive.)

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Katrina, over at Callapidder Days, is hosting Fall Into Reading 2009. I am going to participate and my goal is to read a book a week. Here's my list (in no particular order):

1. Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends


2. The Daughter-In-Law Rules


3. Every Thought Captive


4. Fallout


5. The Scorpions Strike


6. The Magician's Book


7. Fascinating Womanhood (ebook)

8. A Promise to Believe In


9. The Shack


10. Beautiful Mess


11. Sand Sharks


12. The Captain's Wife


13. The Blessing


14. Families of the Bible


I will try to update my progress monthly. The inspiration for me to do a book a week came from Nick Cernis and his book a week club. He wrote about how to read a book a week here.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

We don't have any big plans this week on Do Not Disturb Tuesday. Today is just a day that I turn off Twitter, leave the computer off and I focus on my real life and my real life friends.

Today I might clean more than normal (since I'm usually distracted by the computer) or I might visit a friend, or both. We might do more hands on homeschool or just go to the park. Whatever we end up doing, we'll do it as a family.

Oh, on second thought, this week is canning / freezing week. We gotta get the stuff put away before we loose it! So we'll be busy.

Any posts you see, dated today, have been written and scheduled to come up today. I'll be back either late tonight, after the kids are in bed or tomorrow morning.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Can you help her by picking your favorite photo? Please go to her blog to get the Facebook link to her photos. Pick your favorites for her wall. She wants to get the pictures printed by Friday (25th) so don't delay, click away!

Here's the link to her blog: What's TJ Thinking?

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Ranger Cookies (another of J's favorites)

1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs, beaten
2 Tbsp water
2 cups flour
2 cups quick oats
2 cups rice krispies
1 cup coconut
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup each of: nuts, smarties, chocolate chips, raisins, etc.

Cream sugar and shortening. Add beaten eggs. Beat until fluffy. Combine dry ingredients. Add to wet ingredients. Mixture will be really thick. Use hands or a dough hook. Drop on cookie sheet. Bake at 375. Do not over bake.

I like making these because you can really change it up. We love these cookies.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Today, at church, there was a prayer request about a job that J has been waiting for. He has wanted to become a peace officer for a long time. We were never sure when a position would become available. In a few weeks there are two positions going to be available in a neighboring county. And maybe more in our county. The prayer request - that God would bring godly men to these positions. The cool thing is that earlier this week, J called this peace officer to chat. There was no answer so J left him a message to call, but he never got the message. J wanted to ask him to pray with him about the job - that if God wanted J to have the job that they would both be lead in that direction, that they would both get a YES from God that this was the way to move forward. It's hard to say that this is a coincidence; I am thinking it's an open door. But the "downer" side of me (which is often the predominate side of me) says, "whatever, it's just another closed door that just looks open." I want to be excited and I really am, but . . . .

Then secondly, the service today was about how much God had to give up to send His Son to be our Savior and how He must have felt to have him die. We've always made a lot of parallels between our loss of Harvey and Jesus coming to save us. Now, saying it like that sounds really bad and I can't even defend myself because my mind is muddled with grief today and I can't think of the connections we've made in the past. Let's just suffice it to say that today is a hard day for me and for J. I can't shake it; I've been muddled all afternoon.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup raisins
1 cup water
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cloves
2 cups oats
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Simmer raisins and water over medium heat until raisins are plump; about 15 minutes.

Drain raisins, saving the water. Add enough water to equal 1/2 cup. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix thoroughly butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla. Stir in 1/2 cup reserved liquid. Blend in the remainder of the ingredients. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet. Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Makes about 61/2 dozen.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

John 17:13 (NIV)

¹³"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

John 16:22-24 (KJV)

²²And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,