Monday Menu

Monday - Italian Hot Dish Recipe, green beans


Tuesday - Bacon Chicken Breast,  stuffing, turnip greens 

Wednesday -  Mexican Tator Tot casserole  Cheeseburgers


Thursday - Chicken Pasta Salad  Chicken Bake with Rice


Friday - Fish sandwiches, chips Flounder, macaroni & cheese, green beans

Saturday -Meatloaf, green peas, mashed potatoes


Sunday -Spanish Rice with Beans

Be Grateful For What You Have

I will be the first to admit that I sometimes get a case of "I wish I had that"!  I look at my friends who all seem to have bigger homes, nicer cars, more money,etc...  And, I admit, I am jealous at times.  Then, I have to stop myself and realize that I am blessed beyond all words.  I have a loving husband, 2 beautiful, healthy children, my health is good, a nice home and paid for cars!  I have a job that I love 90% of the time.  I have a God that is merciful.   I have good friends who love me.  We have enough money to meet our needs.  I have cats that give me unconditional love.  What more do I need?  Yes, I am grateful for what I have!

What are you grateful for?

Conversations from the back seat

 

Both of my boys are now ten and anything associated with underwear is a serious business.  I noticed there were lots of looks between them with giggling and I decided I needed to do some investigating.  We have serious talks while we are riding.  They tend to talk more freely when (1)  they can't see my face , and, (2) my hands are occupied and I can't reach them!   Today, as we were riding home, this was our conversation:

Mama:  Boys, did anybody get in trouble today at school?  (I always like to ask that so they will trick the other one in spilling the beans on their behavior!)

Nikolai:  No  (giggles)

Deniska:  Well, we didn't but ....

Mama:  But, what?  

Deniska:  Nikolai, tell her.

Nikolai:  Mom, you know Annie? (name changed to protect the innocent)

Mama:  Yes, I believe I have heard you talk about her.  Isn't she the one who likes you?

Nikolai:  Yes, unfortunately she does.  Well, today I had an eraser and it popped off my pencil and landed in the floor beside her.  She thought I threw it at her, so she took her BRA and threw it at me!  (This resulted in much giggling laughing from the back seat!)

Mama:  Why in the world did she have her bra off?

Nikolai:  She said things weren't in there right and she just took it off!

I remember the first few days that I wore a bra.  I came home, took it off, and threw it under my bed.  Than, I told my mom that I had lost "it" at school!  I guess some things never change from generation to generation.  I truly hope Annie will keep her bra on from now on and I hope that's the LAST time a girl throws her bra at my son! 

Monday Plan Menu

Monday –roast, turnip greens, rolls, applesauce

Tuesday – baked chicken, spinach rice casserole

Wednesday- Cabbage Beef Casserole

Thursday- CATCH-UP meal: chicken pot pie BBQ sandwiches, left over cabbage beef casserole and spinach rice casserole (edited 3/24/11)

Friday- Dirty rice (edited 3/24/11)

Saturday –Lunch:  Chicken and Stuffing Casserole, green beans

Dinner:  leftovers

Sunday- Lunch:  burritos, sour cream, salsa

Dinner:  homemade pepperoni pizza

Art Show and Conversation from the Back Seat

 

Deniska's art work was chosen to be displayed at our county's Art Council Art Show featuring the schools' young artists.  His painting is displayed "Peeling".  I am very proud of him!  

Afterwards, the boys enjoyed a nice cup of kool-aide.  While we were driving to the art show, this was our counversation:

Mama:  When I retire, I want to take art lessons and start painting again.
Papa:  Well, if you do that, I am going to take flying lessons.
Mama:  I don't know about that but we could give the boys flying lessons.
Deniska: (from back seat)  NO, NO, NO!  I do not want to be a pilot.  You have too many things to memorize.
Nikolai:  Not me!  If I am going to be flying an airplane, it's going to be remote control!

Menu Monday - a day late!

 

Monday – chicken fettuccini alfredo with broccoli

Tuesday – ham steak, biscuits, eggs, grits

Wednesday – BBQ chicken, rice, turnip greens

Thursday – vegetable soup, cornbread pizza (courtesy of my work)

Friday – fish sandwiches, chips, coconut cake

Saturday - roast, rice, rolls, green beans stew beef, rice, green beans (edited 3/20/11)

Sunday -  hamburgers, chips, brownies

I really like making a menu since it keeps me on track with my cooking.  Dennis and I gave up eating meals out or bringing anything home for Lent.  I started a week ago and have been pleased that we have stayed on track so far!  I am anxious to see if the extra money spent on groceries will be less than the eating out.

Bubblegum

I don't like despise loathe hate bubblegum!  There, I said it and I don't care. When we had the boys' braces put on, the orthodontist made it very clear - no bubble gum!!  Today, Dennis caught 1 boy chewing bubblegum and the other admitted to it as well.  Mama is not happy and you know the saying, "When Mama is not happy, no one is happy!"  This applies double to me tonight.  Early bedtime, no TV, etc....  Perhaps I over reacted just a bit, but honestly, they have got to learn that no means no!  Not sometimes, not maybe, not every now and then, not EVER!  Now, both are acting sweet and staying low - out of my seeing and hearing range....but I know they are there.  Plotting against me to get another piece of bubblegum.  I think I need a piece of bubblegum!!


Melanie asked where the bubblegum came from - their Halloween stash that they had hidden from me!

So Thankful My Family is Safe

I am a day late with my 6 word Saturday.  But, I was so busy yesterday that I didn't spend much time at the computer.  With so many tragedies this past week, I am thankful my little family is safe today.  We are saying many prayers for the 7 children that died in the Pennsylvania house fire.  I can't even begin to imagine their pain and grief.  Then, the tsunami that has affected the millions of people around the world.  All within a few minutes.  Prayers for the folks who are still looking for their family.  And, the fatal tour bus wreck in NY.  Yes, I have lots to be thankful for this morning.  

New Haircuts

 

Even Nicholas had to check out the new haircuts.  Deniska has gotten Bieber fever, while Nikolai chose a more militant style.  Both of them look so grown-up.  They are growing too fast!

Count Your Many Blessings

I love the old hymn Count Your Many Blessings. The refrain sings, "Count your blessings, name them one by one,  Count your blessings, see what God hath done!  Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."  What true words in this hymn.  This brings me to the 20/4/40 challenge.







Jenny, at A Minute Captured, is sponsoring a 20/4/40 challenge.  You must list 20 things a day for 40 days that you are thankful for.  I am going to give this a try.  One, because it will do me good to focus on my blessings, and two, I think it is a great Lenten exercise.  So, if you would like to join in, go check out her blog.

Litany of Humility

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

~Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930)

Flat Tuesday!

source

Fat Tuesday, nope, today was FLAT Tuesday!   Yes, it's that time of year again where I went in and had my mammogram.  I went to a new place today since my former office closed its doors in my county.  I really didn't want to drive an hour to have a mammogram when I could drive 10 minutes for the same thing.  It was a really nice office with a sweet technician.  (I wonder if she gets tired of doing that all day?)  I was very happy with my decision to transfer to this new office.  I am always anxious when I have my mammogram and wonder if they will find something.  Been there, done that.  Don't want to do it again!  So, if you are reading this, and have not had your yearly mammogram, pick up the phone and make your appointment.  A few minutes could save your life!

Monday - pork tenderloin medallions, biscuits, green beans, mashed potatoes
Tuesday - cubed steak, rice, gravy, cabbage (I didn't buy a cabbage head today), English peas
Wednesday - (Lent begins) - salmon patties, turnip greens, peas, macaroni & cheese
Thursday - Chicken pot pie Dirty rice, turnip greens, fruit salad (revised 3-8-2011)
Friday - popcorn shrimp, pasta salad or green salad grits, peas (revised 3-11-11)

Saturday - spaghetti, garlic bread, salad
Sunday - Oven baked chicken, stuffing, green beans or peas

A Sick Headache Is No FUN!!

source

This is how I felt today.  I had one of those migraine headaches - you know the kind that has severe, stabbing pain, accompanied by nausea, and lasting for hours with no relief.  It started this morning when I woke up.  It is now 12 hours later and it has only gotten worse.  I hope it goes away by tomorrow.  Nothing I have taken today has helped it ease off any.