Sunday Update

It's been a great weekend.  Lots of family time, a little bit of friends...the perfect amount.  Friday night, my Mom, sisters, Tricia and Lisa, and I went to see One For The Money.  My Mom, Lisa and I have been reading Janet Evanovich's books for seventeen years.  We're up to reading number seventeen right now, although number eighteen was just released.  So, of course, we had to go see the movie.  

I liked it, although, I'm seeing on Facebook that most people didn't.  It's a movie that was made from a book, so my expectations weren't all that high.  But I was pleasantly surprised, and let's face it...I don't see many movies, so most movies I see, I like.  :)  In my opinion, they cost too much.  I love seeing them, but I do not love spending that money.  

After the movie, I came home and did this:

I went back to being brunette.  This is very close to my natural hair color, judging from the two inch roots I had showing.  I had gotten WAY too blond, and although I loved the highlights at first, I am tired of keeping up with them.  I think I'm ready to stay one color for a nice long while.  We'll see.  It actually looks a little darker than this in person, so it's a little shocking, but I like it.  I am counting on kids asking, "Mrs. Goodwin, why did you paint your hair???" tomorrow.  Gotta love kids!

Yesterday, Todd, Graham, Drew and Nate (my 5th son) went to Lacrosse practice.  I sat around and did laundry and read.  So much for cleaning the upstairs.  Hmph.  The good thing is that the mess isn't going anywhere....so why the pressure to clean right away?

Jonah and Noah did a lot of this:

I love when they use their little imaginations.

When we started getting hungry (around eleven), we were watching a cooking show, my new fave, The Pioneer Woman.  I was inspired to make French toast.  As I went into the pantry to get the ingredients, I found this:

(Yes the shelf paper is from the eighties, and no my entire pantry does not look like this.  This is the chip/cookie shelf.)

Jonah lost his little puppy dog and I found it in the pantry.  Makes sense, right?

Lunch was yummy.  So was the dinner we had at my mom's house.  It's been a good weekend.  It's almost time to get back to the real world.  Tonight, Drew has to finish writing about his science fair project.  It's due Thursday, and the only thing I want him to have to do is to assemble it to the project board.  I think he can handle that deadline.  Why on earth they feel the need to make a science fair project a requirement is beyond me.  Most kids can't do it all alone...although Drew is.  And Graham did last year.  I am all about them being independent for school.  We don't help much, unless it's to explain something.

How has your weekend been?

Enjoy what's left of it!  Love to all. 

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm

Sounds like a song, huh?

I wonder if my dog is teething?  He is rolling all around on the dog bed, gnawing on a rope.  And on the rubber end of it.

I wonder if people could observe themselves, would they act differently?

I wonder if Andy the Wonder Dog hates me.  This might be why he randomly get a pb&j sandwich every once in a blue moon.  :-)

I wonder if the maid is ever going to get caught up on all her laundry and house cleaning?

I wonder if I'm addicted to carmex?

I wonder if we all just smiled more, what in the world would this place be like?!

I wonder if Frito Lays knows how amazing their cheddar sour cream chips are?

I wonder if people know the power of their words?

I wonder if they DID, would they change them into a softer, non-accusatory tone?

I wonder if I have always known the meaning of being (and having) a friend?  A true one?

I wonder if people know how amazing Jesus is.  And how He, when we pray, replaces our fears with calm, our upset with peace, and our troubles for joy?  But you have to ask.  And you have to believe.

I wonder if each one of us continuously poured into just one person, what would happen?  (Our church is offering a challenge similar to "each one, reach one".)

I wonder if anyone reads this?  Because I don't get very many comments.  :-(

Love to all.

What's For Dinner, Tuesday Edition

Well, there will be other stuff than just dinner on this blog post.  Just wanted to warn you.

This morning started off bright and early at the middle school.  I had to park far away, so as I was walking, I was thinking how much I will miss seeing this building everyday.  (The kids will have a brand new middle school next school year.)

I am such a sucker for historical buildings.  I never had the privilege of going to this school back when it was Collierville High School, but all my sisters did grace the hallways with their presence.  I have several pictures up on Facebook for them, because I know they like to remember what those days were like. 

Yes, I was standing in the middle of College Street.  There were no cars coming, though, so no worries. 

And yes, I took these pictures with this blog in mind.  Crazy, huh?  It seems nowadays I have lots to say about lots of different things, and my friend Shari would be proud to know that I enjoy using pictures. 

So, after awards were presented this morning for honor roll, we got to eat donuts and have milk.  :)  Poor Todd can't drink milk anymore, so he had to have water.  God love him...milk makes his sinuses go crazy, so he doesn't drink it anymore.  After we ate, we got to sit around and visit. 

I love these middle school kids.  :)  These two guys came to sit with Graham as we sat around the lunch table and chatted.  Isn't this a great picture??  Todd had just taken my picture with Graham and Thomas (the one with his head thrown back) was making fun of him.  (All in good nature.)  I told him to keep on doing it.  He did.  So I took this picture.  :)  And now it's on my blog.  Alex is the boy next to him.  I love their expressions...makes me happy to see happy kids.  We also go to church with Alex. 

Me and my Graham.  :)  He took this picture with a good attitude.  Somebody is just like his daddy and does not like to have his picture taken. 

Lastly is dinner!  It was yummy.  We had pork chops, salad (with homemade ranch dressing), roasted broccoli and cauliflower and bread.  I marinated the pork chops in Italian dressing, then seared them in a pan with olive oil until they were nice and crusty on the outside.  I finished them in the oven, at 375 for 30 minutes.  I scraped the pan that I seared them in and drizzled that on top of them, then poured the leftover marinade over them. 

Success!  Once again, everyone loved it.  Nobody had anything left on their plates.  I even have enough leftover for one person to have it another night this week.  Awesome!

What was for dinner at your house? 

Love to all!

Inspired By A Friend

Is it hard for you to trust God?  When His plans aren't quite what your plans were? 

What does it mean for YOU to trust God?

To me, it reminds me of playing the game Spades.  In the game, a team member can opt to go "nil" or "blind nil", which means they are going to try to NOT score (mess up).  You have to trust that your partner will carry your weight.

One friend on Facebook said that for her, trusting God would be like walking a tightrope with a blindfold on.  When all that can get you to the other side is quietly listening for that small, still voice. 

What does trusting God mean to you? 

Share some love and comment.  Love to all!

Tuesday

I know it's going to be a good day when I wake up before my alarm goes off!  It's a good thing, too...since today is hair-washing day.  (I don't wash my hair everyday...sometimes I go three or four days without doing it.  Washing curly hair dries it out really bad, and since mine is already very dry...and colored...well, you get my drift.) 

I have decided that I have a love/hate relationship with Evil Knievel/Crash.  I think that dogs just have bad days sometimes.  Goodness knows I do...it makes sense for dogs, too.  Thank you to my sweet friend, Kathy, that told me this yesterday at work.  She works in our school's front office, and she almost always has some kind of wisdom for me...whether it be for my kids or my dogs.  She is a foster parent for golden retrievers...so she knows a lot about our furry friends.

Today is awards day for seventh grade.  I am glad that Drew is okay with Graham getting one and the fact that he didn't.  I just stopped writing to tell him how proud of him I am.  I don't need an award with his name on it telling me how smart he is...I already know that he is smart.  Unfortunately, a C in reading in the first nine weeks messed it up for him...but he has since pulled that way up.  I am proud of them both.  :)

I love making lunches for my kids.  Today I packed an amazing lunch for Graham and Drew.  Salad, chicken tenders for the salad, croutons to go in it, chips and a dessert.  They are so excited about lunch today.  (And dinner tonight...my kids LOVE pork chops!)  I am finding out that the saying "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is true. 

I have given in and started taking Graham and Drew to school everyday.  I am glad, since I found out their bus driver was suspended for cursing a student out.  (Not judging her, because I couldn't put up with some of those kids...just thankful that my kids have a nice, calm environment riding to school now.)

I am starting to LOVE Thursdays!!!  I never thought I would say that, but I do!  Our afternoons are insanely busy, but I love them.  We go from picking JUST Jonah and Noah up from school, to lacrosse practice, to the chiropractor, and then to my in-love's house for dinner.  I am sucker for traditions...and this one is becoming one of my favorites. 

I have to go...must wake up Jonah and Noah and get Graham and Drew off to school.  Happy Tuesday!  Love to all!

*Lord, I pray that today you clothe me in gentleness, kindness, patience and humility.  All for Your glory.  Amen.

Goofin' Around & What's For Dinner

:)  I sent my sweet Christa a "helluuuur" picture today of moi.  Wanna see it?

I miss that girl.  We haven't talked in like fourteen years, so after this picture, she sent me one back and then we scheduled a phone date.  :)  And proceeded to talk for 45 minutes.  I don't think we've talked that long since before she got married.  It was loverly. 

We were able to talk because I was at an elementary school while Graham's lacrosse team practiced.  And all the other kids were out playing on the playground.  It was heaven.  We decided to end it when my kids started getting back in the car. 

So, this week is week TWO of being prepared for dinner every single night.  And tonight was a success.  :)  Wanna see?

This was slap-your-mama good.  The fish is tilapia.  I baked it at 375 for seventeen minutes.  I think the package said 12-14, but I started at 12 and had to add five more.  I let it marinade in olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice.  Right before putting it into the oven I squeezed more lemon juice on it.  Yummmmmm.

The kids devoured it.  In fact, Noah and Drew had two pieces. 

The veggies and cheese you see are oven roasted potatoes and broccoli.  I saw Giada do some veggies this way yesterday and thought I would try it.  I sprinkled olive oil on the tops of the potatoes and broccoli, then added a little salt and pepper.  I roasted them at 425 for fifteen minutes.  At the last minute I added cheese, hoping that my picky eater(s) would try it.  He did.  And said, "I kinda like it.".  I'll take that.  He also tried some salad and said the same thing.  Progress!  Can you guess which one is picky?

The other sides are black beans and rice.  I don't usually fix two starches, but the potatoes were a last minute add on...and who eats fish without rice?  Well, not us.  Not since we met our little friends from the Children of the World choir a couple years ago. 

Dinner was a hit.  I had to take a picture, because I thought it looked pretty.  :)

Tomorrow night's menu is pork chops, and oven-roasted broccoli and cauliflower.  I might take another picture...but I'll let you know how it turns out.  I don't know how I'm going to do the pork chops yet...any recommendations on what you do to them?  I don't want them to be chewy and rubbery.  Feel free to share the love and comment. 

I'll end with a picture I saw on Facebook posted by Women After God.  I really like this saying...it's close to what my old pastor used to say.  "Attitude is the most important thing you put on everyday." 

Enjoy your family tonight.  Love to all. 

Oh, and the picky eater would be this little guy.

Jonah.  Not Nana.  I love this picture of her, though, so I thought I would post it. 

storms

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you; don't be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

Lord, keep us all safe tonight.  In Your name I ask this, amen.

Love to all.