Life, Anyone?

Does anyone else have this problem? 

Just wonderin'. 

Love to all.

trials

I read something in the Bible so unbelievably encouraging today.  I think I've read it before, but I might not have paid attention.  I paid attention today, though.  It really struck a chord with me, and I thought I would share. 

To begin, let me start by saying that I was reading in Exodus...chapters 13, 14 and 15 (Day 34 of the Chronological Bible in a year plan). 

At this point in Exodus, Moses had done all that the Lord asked him to do.  Pharoah was being stubborn, and despite all the nasty plagues that He kept sending to the Egyptians, Pharoah would not let the Israelites go.  He was still holding them captive.  Finally, he does indeed let them go.  And then changes his mind.  (What a drama queen, right?  I can just picture what he must have looked like.)

At the time when he changed his mind, Moses had been warned by the Lord about what was going to happen.  Moses was instructed to guide the Israelites to cross the Red Sea.  So, Moses held out his staff and the Red Sea parted.  My translation says that an east wind blew and turned the water into dry land (chapter 14, verse 21).  With Pharoah and his Egyptians hot on their heels, they crossed. 

So did Pharoah and his peeps. 

But guess what happened? 

The water that had parted suddenly rushed into a normal ocean again and swept them (the Egyptians) all into the sea. 

I love all the excitement and action. 

But what caught my attention this morning was this: back when the Israelites were afraid of being captured again, the Lord was right there to reassure them.  Let me just share the verses that jumped out at me.

Exodus 14:13, 14 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

The Lord will fight for you. 

The Lord will fight for me. 

And those pesky Egyptians?  Well, rest assured that He is greater than them.  Those Egyptians can be any trial you're facing today.  My prayer is that you will take encouragement that the battle you fight isn't yours, but God's.  And He will fight it for you.  He will fight for YOU. 

Isn't that simply beautiful? 

Love to all. 

A Few More of My Favorite Things

Wednesday's are awesome, because we are halfway through our week!  I don't rush through my life, normally, but during the school week I am always counting down until we're all together again on the weekend.  :)

My electric griddle.  It's a plug-in thing that Todd bought four years ago on one of our vacations.  I make so many things on this thing!  Sausage, bacon, grilled sandwiches, French toast, pancakes, hamburgers, hot dogs, fried eggs are just a few.  I love it so much that I'm on griddle #2.  It's easy to clean (it has a nonstick surface) and I store it in its box behind our kitchen table.  I use it too much to put it away.

Moroccan oil.  Click here if you want to see what it looks like.  I put it in my hair to tame the frizz, and I rub it all over my neck and on my hands.  I could drink this stuff it smells so good.  The kind I'm using right now is not actually this brand, but it's similar.  It smells heavenly.

Cerave moisturizing cream.  I'll give you the link to this is well.  Just click here.  My mom had bought this for herself and didn't care for it so she gave it to me.  Since using it, my dry skin has not been so dry and itchy.  I have horrible dry skin all over my face and my hands.  I wash my face with hot water and then use this moisturizer.  Simple, easy, and for me, it works. 

Time with Graham and Drew in the mornings.  I love being able to pray with them in the car before dropping them off.  Today's request from Drew: all of middle school has a writing assessment today.  He's writing about his role model, and he's unsure of what he's going to write about. 

Unfortunately, this is all I have time for...gotta run them to school for FCA.  Happy Wednesday and love to all!

Tuesday Night Edition of What's For Dinner

Ahhhh.  I love a good meal, don't you?  There is something so comfortable and relaxing about sitting around the dinner table with all your loved ones, bonding over a lovingly cooked meal.  (Maybe not always lovingly cooked.) 

Tonight's menu was thanks to Big Daddy.  Chicken Marsala.  I used to make this all the time before kids came along...and back when the wine I had in the house wasn't the cooking variety.  Nowadays, things are different, and I was forced to buy a cheap bottle of cooking wine.  I know, I know...this is a cooking faux pas!  Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) says you should never cook with a wine you wouldn't drink.  What's a non-drinking gal to do? 

So, here's to using the cheap, undrinkable stuff. 

And yes, I totally take pictures of things now with the intention of posting them on my blog.  The quality might be bad again...these are usually taken from my cell phone camera. 

The recipe was wonderful.  I'm going post the link to it, in case you would like it. 

http://www.cooking.com/recipes-and-more/recipes/Chicken-Marsala-with-Basil-Mushroom-recipe-6586.aspx?_mid=1103020&_rid=1103020.34100.1666642&ref=http%3a%2f%2fnews.email-cooking.com%2ftrack%3ftype%3dclick%26enid%3dzwfzptembwfpbgluz2lkptexmdmwmjambwvzc2fnzwlkptixnjkwnizkyxrhymfzzwlkptm0mtawjnnlcmlhbd0xnjc4mdy1nyzlbwfpbglkpwiyz2fycmlzb25abmv0c2nhcguubmv0jnvzzxjpzd0xxze2njy2ndimdgfyz2v0awq9jmzspszlehryyt1ndwx0axzhcmlhdgvjzd0mjiy%3d%26%26%262022%26%26%26http%3a%2f%2fwww.cooking.com%2faff%2fa.asp%3fa%3dcknwrdne01310a%26s%3ds2014229615s%26_mid%3d1
103020%26_rid%3d1103020.34100.1666642#axzz1l4t31Zz1

Hope that works since it looks strange on the posting screen. 

Anyway, if you're reading, thank you, Bill!  I did leave out the basil on the occasion that I could not find it anywhere in Kroger yesterday.  And I had nothing to improvise with except parsley, and it was looking a little wilted. 

Here are the fragrant mushrooms:

I was trying to blow the steam away so the picture would be more clear, but was unsuccessful.  You get the drift. 

Here's the seasoned chicken:

The recipe calls for chicken breasts, but I like to use tenderloins.  They're just more kid-friendly. 

Speaking of kids, once again, they all loved it.  I served this main dish with salad and homemade dressing, buttered noodles and garlic bread.  We had to stop eating in order to save some leftovers for Todd.  Since he's working tonight, he missed dinner and was a little upset that I was making this without him here to enjoy it with us.  He can now have this tomorrow night, while the rest of us enjoy hot grilled sandwiches. 

A couple more random photos:

This is Jonah's new backpack.  It's bigger than he is, but he loves it.  I had to send back their LL Bean backpacks because the zippers were broken, and this is one that they replaced it with.  Noah didn't get his picture made because he was in the backseat. 

Have I told you that Drew enjoys origami?  This is one of his creations.  He sat in front of the computer last night and this is what he made.  :)

And lastly, in case you need to remember God's promises:

This one's for you.  Look right under the loop hanging from the telephone poll (on the left side, almost at the middle of the photo).  Graham spotted this on the way to Lacrosse practice this afternoon.  :)  I love little visuals of God, don't you?

Since it's past my bedtime, I'd best say goodnight.  So, goodnight.  Love to all. 

Mama Bear

So, I had a little run in with another teacher from the middle school yesterday.  :-(  Unfortunately, sometimes I have this problem of going into Mama Bear mode.  I'm not a confrontational person, but here lately...oh my goodness.  I hate that I am like this sometimes.  And I asked a friend (who also had a run in with this teacher over the same issue with her son) to please remind me to NOT do that again. 

Sometimes I have a hard time remembering this.

I think I also forgot to pray before I sent the email. 

So, I had to go back and apologize for jumping to any conclusions, and though I do not like the outcome, at least it's just one little moment in time. 

I don't really want to post what it was right now...maybe next week when I've cooled off a little.  I think my feelings are still hurt. 

Isn't it funny, how that works?  I am so pouty sometimes!  Somedays it stinks being a girl. 

Are you like this with your kids?  I think we all have to be this way a little...because if we don't stand up for our kids, who will?  But still...I should have prayed first. 

Thank you to my friends who've been leaving comments!  It makes my heart so happy to see that little number in that section.  Feel free to keep sharing the love! 

Love to all. 

Dinner...Monday Night Edition

I told my Mom tonight that it's a joy cooking for people who love what you cook.  And it is.  I love cooking, and always have.  I've just had picky eaters.  It's easy to start disliking to cook when you have little people that won't eat what you make. 

That being said, everyone in my house has done a great job of trying everything that I've made.  They haven't all loved every little thing, but they've all tried it and admitted that it was better than they thought. 

Even tonight's recipe. 

Which was Simple, Perfect Chili.  By The Pioneer Woman.  Click here to see her blog.  To get the recipe, click here. 

It was amazing.  Every last slurp of it.  Even down to the lime wedges.  Ahmaazing!  My Mom and Bill (my food critic) agreed.  :) 

How was your dinner?  Our was fantastic!  And yes, I did make Southern fried chicken strips for the few picky ones that were protesting the chili.  Because even though they tried it, it had a definite kick to it.  But it was oh, so good!

Sorry I don't have any pictures...I was so hungry by the time I got the food in the bowl, that all thought had flown out of my brain.  Love to all!

Happy Monday!

Okay, so the pictures in my previous post are horribly blurry.  They were taken from my phone, but so were many of the others you've seen on here.  I don't know why these were any different.  Oh, well.  If they made you feel cross-eyed, I'm sorry.  They made me feel that way. 

I do not love getting up early on Monday mornings.  I kept on pushing the snooze button this morning, and finally decided to get up.  The dogs are so funny, especially Crash.  Andy waits on me to come downstairs everyday, but the minute I turn on the upstairs lamp in the hall, Crash starts whimpering.  It's like he's been waiting so patiently, and he is done.  It always takes a minute to get to him, because I take all the dirty clothes to the laundry, turn on a living room lamp (because it's still dark) and turn on a kitchen light.  Andy just stands and waits patiently, Crash on the other hand...not so much. 

I desperately need to go to the grocery store.  I have my meals planned out for the week, but I'll post about that later.  I need the dinner items and I need lunch box items.  I'm so low on things in my pantry that Graham and Drew are buying today.  Pitiful.  Do you make your kids' lunches every morning?  What do you put in them?  I'd love to know...I try to switch things up some, so I love new ideas. 

I started my latest book last night.  I'd been putting it off because I was excited about it.  I always do that with the Janet Evanovich books.  I love them and always read them in a couple of days.  The one I'm reading now is Smoking Seventeen.  So far, so good!  If you read her books...I have a question?  Morelli or Ranger?

To not have a lot of food in my house right now, I was impressed with what I could come up with for Graham's and Drew's breakfast.  Cheese toast and turkey bacon.  :)  They love it. 

One of my favorite things to do in the mornings is to catch up on the blogs I love.  Which ones do you like to read?  Most of mine don't write often enough. 

I'm going to get started on my laundry.  What I can, anyway, since I'm all out of detergent.  Seriously...who (with four kids) runs out of laundry detergent???  Me, apparently. 

Happy Monday and love to all.