YOUR Gonna Miss This… Moment… Week 38

Welcome to Week 38 of YOUR gonna miss this…moment!  This is YOUR chance to post YOUR gonna miss this moments and link them up to MY blog!!  YOU don’t want to miss that now do you!!  Looking for some new bloggers to join us this week (ahem, Tim)!  Won’t you join us too!! 

Summertime is a perfect time to join in!  The moments are so many we hardly know where to start or stop!

Today I am choosing… WATERMELON… kids & watermelon to be more exact… take a peek…

I call that one, “hide my over stuffed mouth behind the lettuce leaf”!

Add a little grilled chicken… ala Zach…

 

And just so we are really, really clear on how clean up works round these parts… the 4 year old… she does it all…

While her siblings…

… they run outside & jump on the tramp…

Carefree summer days… I am going to miss this… I am going to treasure this…

Pam

If you are new to this carnival, you can read more about it here.  And don’t forget to grab this button for your post…

Grab My Button<a href="http://pramom26.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://assets.blogaliciousdesigns.com/clients/Pam/Blog_button.png" /></a> 

You asked about our meals?

Okay, maybe you didn’t ask! But, Tonia did!  So, I’m gonna answer!  Here is Tonia's question…

“How did you and your sister plan meals for a trip where you have to drive so much? I don't know where you live, or where you were going, which shore that is, but you stated you stay overnight at hotel so how do you pack food for that many? What did you make? How did it work out?”

Let me start by saying that we have had lots of practice at doing this!  And that my sister is the organizational-savvy one!  She planned the meals.  She had the list.  I just did what I was told.  (Yes, I am older, Yes, I am okay with that!)  (My third sister does the organizing when we go to the lake for a week in the summer, now what is an amazing accomplishment!)

On the way down, we had lots of snacks along.  I had done that part.  Purchasd lots of different snack items and split the bags up into baggies.  Each van (3) had a nice variety of snacks to pick from.  We stopped at gas stations with fast food in them and got some sandwiches a few times.  We drove 10 hours to south of Atlanta & stopped for the night.  Woke up and drove the remaining 8 hours on Friday morning.  We had a cheap hotel with a pool that night, but in Tampa, about 45 minutes from the beach. 

We ate out that first night before we got to the condo.  Us eating out…

We ate at a restaurant called Stingrays (used to be Shells).  Family oriented seafood!  What a crew, huh!?  Ever the seafood lover… Leah and I split the grilled chicken dinner.

Hallie got a drink called a shark bite… (see the shark in the glass?)

Jadon didn’t…

On Saturday we got up and ate out again.  Then Lana & I with my two girls went to Walmart.  The rest of the crew packed up the hotel rooms and headed for the condos.

I had purchased our meat at home.  Mom & Dad have one of those plug in coolers so the meat stayed nice and frozen. 

At Walmart we had our list that Lana had created, and we took a couple hours (and a couple temper tantrums) and filled 3 carts with groceries!!  It’s an amazing site for sure!  I did take some pictures with my cell phone, but they were awful. 

Our meals were…

*sloppy joes, homeade fries

*hamburgers, mac & cheese

*steaks, loaded baked potatoes

*taco & fajitas with fresh guacamole

*chicken & rice.

*brats, mac & cheese

*fresh fish, fried potatoes.

Always a fresh salad, fruit, & DESSERT!

Dad, Ben, & Colton went on a fishing charter one day and that is where we got the fresh fish.  After much prompting I took a bite.  Guess what?  Fish still has a texture I don’t like.  Oh well… there was still plenty of dessert for me to enjoy (along with potatoes, salad, & melon of course)  (see what I mean about that 20 lbs)

Those who enjoy fish… enjoying fish…

They actually grilled the fish you see them eating.  Then dad fried the rest.  Don’t ask me how it is done.  :)

Desserts were lots of ice cream, brownies, cheesecake (we bought at the deli @ Walmart), Lana made her homemade Key Lime Pie & Strawberry Pie.  I made Coffee Ice Cream Pie & Banana Split pie… ummm!!!

Did you know that Starbucks is now making a Carmel Macchiato flavor ice cream… ummm… put a scoop on a brownie… your coffee won’t need any cream!

We also had nice hot breakfasts, eggs, potatoes, biscuits & gravy, pancakes, sausage, bacon… fruit.

We learned something on this trip.  Seems that Walmart’s everywhere get their fruit all at the same place.  I was very disappointed with the quality of the fruit we got at Walmart in Florida…

eeeewwwww…. if only you knew how bad those kids wanted to eat those peaches, and how many times we told them no they weren’t ripe yet… then they looked like that when we opened them!! YUCK!

This is the inside of a papaya…

 

Neat to see the star shape inside, but again very poor quality from Walmart.

The fruit salad was still very yummy in the end though…

Ben & Lana bought a Coconut at Publix, when they went back for a few more things… James had been joking about wanting to climb a certain coconut tree outside the condo and see what a coconut was like… this seemed the better option.

We didn’t think they’d be able to open it without a drill or saw… but two very determined boys, Zach & Colton got it done!

I am not sure anyone tasted it… I did though!  It didn’t have much flavor.

Guys grilling…

Our lunches were a variety of cold meats, cheeses, fruits, chips… same thing each day, make your own…

And then clean up… we went by age and 2 kids at a time took turns cleaning up…

Brilliant idea!! 

Some fun ice cream shots yet…

‘Well Tonia, I think it worked out really well!!  If we could get someone to actually cook for us yet, we’d really have it made!!!  :)

Pam

Menu Plan Monday #3

Well… We have another very busy week ahead of us!  LOTS of Football, ISTEP testing (Indiana’s statewide tests), the Street Fair… I would love to pretend the Street Fair isn’t going on.  Doubt my kids will let that happen.  But, I am not sure where it fits into our week!

Here’s my best shot at a meal plan… we will see if any of this actually happens.

Monday:  Frozen Stouffer’s Meal.  Carrot sticks. 

James has an away football game.  I want to go to it.  I shouldn’t go to it.  I should stay home and be mom to the 5 other kids.  But, I really want to go.  I am planning a simple meal that the older kids can take care of themselves, if I travel to James’ game.  They need to stay home and get to bed early so they are their best for their tests.  Will this happen if I leave for the evening?  Maybe if I take Jadon with me??  Maybe.  I doubt it. 

Tuesday:  So You Forgot To Defrost, (slow cooker chicken).  Rice, Peas, Muffin.

Wednesday:  Hearty Beef and Potatoes, Pineapple, dinner rolls.

Thursday:  Mom’s night out with friends for MEXICAN!!  WHOO HOO!!  (no guilt this time!!)  Pizza casserole, green beans.

Friday:  Another AWAY football game.  I am helping with the foot to feed the team again.  So we are planning to go.  We’ll eat out this night.

Saturday:  BBQ Muffins, Homemade Fries, salad.

Sunday:  Reunion:  Crock pot of Mac and Cheese. 

Recipe for So You Forgot to Defrost.  pg. 172 Fix It and Forget It

Makes 6 servings

6 boneless, skinless, frozen chicken-breast halves

2-10 3/4 oz. cans cream of chicken soup

4 oz can sliced mushrooms, or 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

3/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp.  pepper

1.  Place frozen chicken in slow cooker

2.  Mix together soup, mushrooms, salt, and pepper and pour over chicken.

3.  Cover.  Cook on Low 10-12 hours.

4.  Serve over rice.

I really like this recipe for days when I am going to be gone all day and want dinner to be ready when I return.  I have added milk and rice to the crock pot in the past.  It is better if you cook the rice separate, but it works if time is really an issue!

At least I have a plan!  Now, we’ll see what happens to it!

Click here to play along with Monday Menu Planning or to read more menus!

Pam

Menu Plan Monday #2

YES!!  Two whole weeks in a row!! 

Monday:  Left over Hamburgers and Hot Dogs from last night’s birthday party.  Mac and Cheese.  All eaten before or after Football Game #1 of the week.

Tuesday:  Football Game #2.  Away.  Eat out.  Take 30 baggies of Grapes to feed the hungry 8th grade team after the game.  (my part in the meal the parents provide after away games)

Wednesday:  Wet Burritos.  This is the recipe I will post today! 

Thursday:  Chicken/Noodles, Mashed potatoes.  Salad.  Muffins.

Friday:  Frozen Pizzas, salad, (Football game #3)  HOME!

Saturday:  Throw together some leftovers for whoever is home with me.

Sunday:  Pour in a Pan Pizza that we never got to last week!

Recipe for Wet Burritos

1 lb. hamburger

1/4 c chopped onions

1 pkg taco mix

1 med can refried beans

1 c. sour cream

1 can cream of mushroom soup

5 tortillas

shredded cheddar cheese

optional:  green olives, jalapeno, lettuce, tomatoes, rice, chips

Brown hamburger with onions, drain.  Add taco mix and refried beans.  Mix sour cream with mushroom soup.  Put 1/2 of the soup mixture in the bottom of 9 x 13 pan.  Wrap meat mixture in tortillas and put in pan.  Put rest of soup mixture on top of tortillas.  Bake until hot.  Sprinkle with cheese and green olives or jalapeno (OPTIONAL, but if you like green olives my kids love it, I like the jalapeno, but my kids don’t)  Bake until cheese is melted.  Serve with lettuce, tomatoes, rice and chips, or plain is still very good!!

Pam

Monday Menu Plan #1

Okay, time to officially share a menu this week… because I need extra motivation to do this and sharing it gives me that.  Clicking the picture link above or Click here to play along with Monday Menu Planning.

Monday:  Grilled chicken, Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice, Salad, watermelon.

Tuesday:  (a crock pot meal to eat when we get home from the JV football game)  Chili and Cheese on Rice, salad, corn bread.

Wednesday:  Minute Steak, Rice, Peas, Grands Biscuits.

Thursday:  (boys will be eating at home alone, while me and the girls go to a wedding shower)  Chicken Nuggets, French fries, carrot sticks.

Friday:  Eat out on the way to hour away Varsity Foot ball game.

Saturday:  Chicken BBQ fundraiser tickets.  Make cake for Kiahna’s birthday party with the family.

Sunday:  Pour in a Pan Pizza, salad.

I know many people share their recipes.  Seems like too many recipes to start out with!  I think I will choose one to share.  One of my families favorites,  Pour in a Pan Pizza.

Pour in a Pan Pizza

from a long ago edition of Quick Cooking.

1 cup flour

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp pepper

2/3 cup milk

2 eggs beaten

1 lb bulk Italian sausage (or hamburger)

1 pkg. (3 1/2 oz) sliced pepperoni

I cup pizza sauce.

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Opt:  2 Tbs. chopped onion, chopped green pepper, green olives, or mushrooms

In a bowl combine the flour, salt, garlic powder and pepper.  Stir in milk and eggs.  Pour into a greased 9 x 13.  In a skillet cook sausage and drain.  Sprinkle sausage over the crust.  Top with pepperoni and other optional toppings.  Bake uncovered at 425 for 15 min.  (toothpick test).  Spread with pizza sauce and sprinkle with cheese.  Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving or cutting.

Happy Cooking!

Pam

Fun things I found while blogging today…

As I was reading some blogs today, I found these interesting things.  This is an interview with my first blog writer, Dawn (The one who saved my children's lives via blog last year)

5 Minutes for Mom Interviews Dawn Meehan from Because I Said So from 5 Minutes for Mom on Vimeo.

I just found the sites called 5 Minutes for Mom and 5 Minutes for Parenting.  5 Minutes for Mom is the one that featured Dawn and did this interview.

I’ve added both of these blogs to my blog roll on the sidebar. 

The most exciting thing that I found today is that Beth Moore and her daughters have a blog!!!!!  I’ve added hers to my blog roll too!  I think I just found that IV of Beth I’ve been searching for!  LOL!!

Oh, and I just had to share this too.  When I was searching for that video clip from Finding Nemo and Dory (seems I have been spelling it wrong!)  Which do you prefer?  Dory or Dorie?  Dorie? 

This clip is another of the reasons we call each other Dorie.

Just keep swimming Dorie!  Love ya!  (I think I’m gonna keep it with the “ie” I like it better!)

How about this, if FLYLADY, doesn’t float your boat, it totally floats mine.  But, many people complain about too many e-mails.  Here’s a blog that may be a better option for some.  mom24 left this idea in my comment box today, I'm an organizing Junkie.  They even have links to people’s weekly menus that you can steal, borrow use!  Flylady has a simple plan for meals too.

By, the way.  I heart you commenters!!  Thank you for your thoughts and encouragement! 

Blessings,

Pam

Try Living.

Last weekend when we were watching Beth Moore, Live Via Simultcast from Louisville, her worship leader spoke at the beginning.  His name is Travis Cottrell.  I just found this on his blog!  You will hear Travis singing, and see pictures of the people who were at LIVE, Live in Louisville!

Living Proof Live Louisville KY Simulcast from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

As Travis spoke, he told us of a time he was leading worship, and someone was wearing a T-shirt in the audience that said “TRY LIVING”. He said that during the whole performance he was convicted about that statement.

I am sure we can all be convicted about that statement.  It’s what we do with our conviction that counts though isn’t it? 

As much as I’ve hated and not wanted to just barely function and live in survival mode over the past almost 3 years since HSSH left, there have been so many days that have been just that.  A friend will call and ask how I am, and my answer would be “I’m breathing”.  Living one moment at a time, not able to look beyond this moment without the overwhelm  setting in.

I would grow tired of living that way and resolve myself to functioning.  And I could do it for awhile.  Until some circumstance would hit and send me tumbling back into that oblivion that I’ll call the pit.

Recently, I’ve set that resolve again, but this time with the honesty that there is no human way I am capable of stopping these circumstances from coming and putting me into these barely functioning days.

I watched my friend, Dorie, return to her life after being here and get hit with depression and despair all over again.  We have fought this together for so long, and as I listen and try to encourage her along the way, a part of me is gripped in fear for knowing that at any moment I could be back right where she is.  It is a very familiar place. I’ve visited there often.  And the more you visit the easier it becomes to return.

I’ve fought these circumstances that I find myself in, divorced-single-mom, for so long.  Even typing them now, an anxiety builds.  That can’t be me!  How did this happen?  How do I live like this?  I want to be restored, but this isn’t what I want for my life.  So how do I live? 

I honestly don’t know how.  All I can say is that as I learn to be honest with God over these things and as I learn to surrender them to Him, somehow He seems to be doing it (gasp) without my efforts.  I have failed too many times to think that I could do this on my own will-power.  It’s taken 3 years of digging my muddy fingernails up out of pit of slim and despair repeatedly to finally understand that.

And even today, I type with hesitation, short term memory loss could set in at any time…

Last night I took a major step in the healing process!  PTL!  My sil, Judy, came over and I was telling her about a dilemma I have.  Cooking. 

I’ve never enjoyed cooking.  At least not nearly as much as I enjoy eating.  Ahem.  Anyway, I’ve learned some things about survival and cooking.  First of all, buying those frozen casseroles from Stouffer's is still cheaper than going to McDonalds with 6 kids.  Cardboard pizza and chicken nuggets, hot dogs and nachos.  They all get old and expensive and fattening over time.

This has been life in survival mode for me.  I used to cook.  I used to plan.  I used to have lists.  I used to have menus.  Now, I can’t seem to put the thoughts together to make a list ahead of time, so I muddle through Walmart with my children and end up buying only snacks, frozen meals (because in reality I know those are what I will end up making) and 1/2 the ingredients for a meal or two that I won’t end up making because I won’t have the right ingredients when I get home!

Quite honestly, part of me didn’t even really care.  Without a husband to cook for much of the pleasure was gone.  And I also found some pain there coming from another source.

It’s hard to describe.  There are parts of who I was before HSSH left that I really don’t like about myself.  I’ve had a hard time letting myself be anything like that person at all, because then I might become that person. 

And that person got left. 

As much as I know in my mind that none of this was my fault.  Who I was didn’t cause him to make the choices he made.  Who he was did.  My decisions didn’t cause him to lie.  My lifestyle didn’t force him to cheat. 

As much as I know these things, there is still pain.

As I pulled out the recipe books and recipe cards with Judy last night, there was an anxiety in me that was trying to choke and stop me.  We pushed through together, though and came up with enough practical ideas to fill 4 weeks of meals with 5 meals per week!

After she left, I was tempted to just shove it all back into the cupboard and deal with it later. 

That “later” would have turned into, never (or the next time someone “helped” me along).  And we would have started the busy school year and ball game schedule eating frozen meals and carry out, and the meat I’ve been given would have rotted away in the deep freezer.

I put the little ones to bed, and tackled those menus with grace and strength that were definitely not my own.  I now have 4 weeks of menus complete with grocery lists!  This is 3/4 of the battle for me!

I’d still like to type out the lists and save them so I can keep reusing them, but at least I can use these for now if I don’t get that done soon!

Healing can be much like peeling and onion I’ve heard.  I guess that is true.  Another layer was peeled off last night, and VICTORY was won!

TRY LIVING!  I really want to.  Help me Jesus!

Pam

The week rolls to an end…

Hello!  Our house is still teeming with activity and children!  Yes, more than the normal!  Today is the last day that Dorie and her 3 children will be spending here with us.  It has been so much fun for all of us.  A little hard at times with so many children around the same age.  Mostly, it was us two with our 3,3,4,5,10,10,11 year olds.  See.  Fun. 

Arguing.  But, many sweet times.

The wonder of toads……………………............the dismay of "time-out"

Dorie's son, Josh, who is 3, had never seen a toad.  We found one at the neighbor's pond.  It became his new best friend!  So cute!  He took it in the van with us, and we were loading things up.  All the sudden everything fell out of the back of the van and out popped his little head, yelling, "it's okay!  I lost my toad, but I know where it is!"  We did find the toad, eventually, and all was well.

A week just full of precious moments like that.  Seeing the wonder of the country in the eyes of good friends.  New appreciation for things you take for granted is always a blessing.

We've been enjoying good food along the way too!  YES, WE cooked!!  Which is an accomplishment for both of us and we are very proud of ourselves!  Of course we had fresh meat from my friends who dropped off their extras!  We enjoyed a steak dinner last night, with grilled steak, zucchini, tomatoes, sweet corn, and mushrooms and onions on the side!  And for dessert coffee and banana split pie!

Another night I made key lime pie!  The 5 minute kind that you find on the back of the light graham cracker crust package.  May I suggest that you buy more than just 2 yogurts, just in case someone eats one or two before you get to the pie making business!?! 

My little pie (yogurt) lover, displaying her delight...

No one seemed to have any problems finishing this off... and it is also solid enough that if it slides off the plate onto the floor you can pick it right up and no one is the wiser!  Of course you had to have just swept the floor so there is no dirt, and always obey the 10 second rule!  LOL!  Mom's need to know these things!! 

We do own a whole drawer full of silverware.  I promise!

We were so blessed to be able to get away to hear Beth Moore, live-via-simulcast, Friday night and Saturday.  We were both very ready for a break from our kids.  Not to mention that they were very ready for a break from us!  They had a blast with three babysitters who came over and played with them!  What a blessing it all was.

If you read my posts often, you know how much I adore Beth Moore.  If you've known me over the past 3 years, you may be concerned that I have a Beth Moore addiction!  I am sure that I do!  I absolutely love hearing her speak.  I have said on many occasions that I need an IV of her!  If she could just follow me around in my daily life speaking all that life and truth AND ENERGY into me!  I am just sure life would be better!

Of course, I was not disappointed this time either.  Beth spoke on the parable of the sower.  The theme verse was Luke 8:8

"Still other seed fell on good soil.  It came up and yielded a crop a hundred times more than was sown."

She spoke of receiving our 100 fold blessing.  The average yield in Palestine was 7-15 times.  She spoke of treasuring the wonder, not allowing satan to come and steal away your seed, by protecting our hearts.  Of expecting the tests.  Digging roots.  Stopping the choke.  Retaining the Word.  Pressing forth to your 100-fold.

Each point hit me in a different way.  I could see how I have been victim of each one.  How many times God has spoken to me and the enemy has come and stolen away the Word.  The circumstances have made me believe that what God had said couldn't possibly ever be true for me.  And the Word, and the Hope, was stolen yet again.

In testing, Beth said, "Here is where we find the break down in our Christian system.  Believe until life gets hard"  It is so hard, life that is.  And it is also hard to believe that God is going to bring good, joy, peace, love, back into your life, EVER, when you are in those hard, testing spots.

From my notes on that... "God had given Joseph a vision.  We are tried until it was proven true in us.  The Word is used for refining and purging us.  To give us the integrity and character we are going to need.  To prove us genuine.  It's showing that you really were the right choice.  Burns out the fake in us."

When the third session had begun, Beth was praying.  One thing that she said struck me and I rushed to write it down (before it was stolen from my heart) as soon as she finished.  She said in the prayer, "We need to know if we should still Hope for something Lord, or if there is something we should set aside."

That has been the cry of my heart for so long.  Am I hoping for something that will never be?  Am I making up the things that I think You have said to me?  Am I crazy?

My hope still lies in seeing HSSH's life restored to fullness.  I don't really know what that means.  I know what I would like that to mean, and I have to work on letting go of that. 

Is it time to let go of that hope and move on?  Is that what you are saying to me God?  Is that what You want me to do?  Because the circumstances sure back up that idea. 

As Beth finished up she talked about "Pressing towards that 100-fold".  How things take longer than we think they should.  She said "Anytime God has called us to do something, we get in the middle of it and wish He could start something else!  We think, I wish I'd never started this thing! You've got to finish.  Persevere for it.  Harvest doesn't come quickly.  It will take time.  It will demand perseverance out of you."

I don't claim to understand.  I don't claim to know what the finish looks like for us.  I do know that this isn't finished yet.  I don't know why it isn't.  It sure looks finished.

I SURRENDER TO YOUR WILL FATHER.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.  BUT I DO KNOW THAT I WANT TO FINISH THIS THING.  I WANT YOUR PLANS TO PLAY OUT.  I WANT YOUR WILL FOR MY LIFE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.  I WANT MY CHILDREN TO RECIEVE THE BLESSING OF HAVING A MOTHER WHO WAS GENUINE AND REAL.  WHO LOVED HER GOD AND EVEN IF SHE HAD IT ALL WRONG, THOUGHT SHE WAS DOING WHAT HE SAID.  HELP ME DEAR FATHER.  I CANNOT TAKE ONE STEP ON THIS ROAD WITHOUT YOU.  IN JESUS NAME.

****************************

In the morning, Dorie and I will be headed out for a couple days on a little road trip!  Then she will go her way and us ours.  Meet you back here on Wednesday.

Pam