Meal Plan Monday

I have been a meal planner and usually throw in one extra item in my grocery cart, like a few frozen pizzas just in case I have to change up a night that was planned or something out of the ordinary happens and we need a quicker meal. I always have over stock of non perishable or frozen foods in the house, since I am a sale and BOGO shopper when it comes to groceries. It's easier to grocery shop for the vegetables and meats when I plan out a weekly menu.
So here goes.

Monday: Cowabunga Beef Burgers with Yummy Yammy Fries
Tuesday: Kid Pleasing Spaghetti
Wednesday: BBQ Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn
Thursday: Homemade French Toast, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs with cheese
Friday: Pasta Alfredo with Mushrooms and Broccoli
Saturday: dinner out (going to the Budweiser Shootout in Daytona)
Sunday: leaving this one in the air because it is February 13th and the day before Valentines, possibly Grilled Ribeyes, Pierogies, Grilled Shrimp, Salad and Bread

Writer's Workshop- This Woman's Worth

I am sure I have said this or written this before but I fully
believe that God puts you in places that he wants you
in and with the free will he has given us we choose where to
go from there. We might not recognize it right away
maybe even after we don't pass the test.
So this morning I am click into Mama Kat's and found
a prompt that is exactly what was on my mind.
What is the message that God is conveying to me?

The Prompt I chose or was led to today was

2.) You’re not always right…no you’re not…no you’re not…no you’re not….tell us about a time you were wrong.

I am not always right, even if I swear and be damned that I think I am right, I still could be wrong. Number one thing is, I don't like to be wrong. It's one of my downfalls and I'll admit it but usually after it's too late. I'm not perfect and I know that, because NO ONE is perfect. We all strive to be like Jesus, our Christ and Saviour but we fall short. We are sinners.

I was wrong yesterday in posting my PYHO. I probably should have waited to post such a post for a later date once I had cleared my thoughts and feelings. I chalk this up as another learning experience because I have no choice but to reflect on where I stand now. The Lord has given me this time to think and pray about what actions I took in the heat of the moment. I should know better than to react when my emotions are raw. My emotions get in the way of my brain and I don't think clearly.

I'm not going to solely blame this on my chemical problems and having to depend on medicine to control my anger, stress and emotions but it's partly to blame. I'm lapsing and the meds aren't working like they should. I find myself getting irritated again and getting upset over stupid crap.

But honestly, I was hurt and sad about the situation with my friend and I can't apologize for being upset. But I should have left it at that and confronted the situation differently. I handled the problem callously and I was wrong. I forget that not everyone is like me. I told my husband that I blame my way of dealing with situations is more like a man than a woman sometimes, one of my downfalls to growing up a tomboy who had more guy friends than girls. I'm still learning how to be a woman's friend without causing strife.

Men get mad, make accusations and argue, then they're done. They make up and the fight is done. Women do not. They argue, it festers, they get hurt, they hold grudges and when it's all said and done it's too late. Me, I'm like a combination. I get all upset, I hash it out and then I want to make up and it be all better.

I don't like being wrong but I can't always be right.

Kate Bush - This Woman's Work

Simple Woman's Daybook

Wow. I needed a de stresser for the day.
I thought that something simple that I could
just Q&A would be good to get my
mind off of things.
It's a nice quiet evening and I have nothing to do.

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...it's dark and not cold out. the Groundhog did not see his shadow so it looks like winter is closing up.
I am thinking... about a friend.
I am thankful for...my sweet little boy, who asks me to read him a book every night even when
I'm too tired, I still do.
From the kitchen... an empty bowl of raspberry swirl ice cream.
I am wearing...Tampa Bay Rays baseball t-shirt. #13
I am creating... a scarp with my halfwitted attempt at knitting.
I am going...to finish my 52 week Organizing chart for www.orgjunkie.com
I am reading...End of Days by Sylvia Brown
I am hoping... that I get my tax paperwork organized soon so I can get my refund. I need a new carpet steamer, the rugs look awful.
I am hearing... the fish tank water gurgling because my husband has let it run low again. Funny, this was the same last time.
Around the house... I washed the rugs again, thanks to muddy dog feet. I washed some laundry, emptied the fridge of leftovers (garbage day tomorrow) and vacuumed again today.
One of my favorite things... is listening to the quiet and reading my weekly devotional for church.
A few plans for the rest of the week: grocery shopping on Friday afternoon, Saturday night we are celebrating my dad's birthday and Sunday is the Superbowl. We are going to a friend's house that I have not seen in years to grill out and enjoy some football.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing... My sweet nephew TJ who is the cutest little guy. He is an exact replica of my little brother when he was little. It warms my heart to look at him because my brother and I were so close while growing up. I miss seeing my brother, it stinks he lives 7.5 hours away.

PYHO: Hold the Glass, Give me the Bottle

Thank you Shell for creating this meme. It's easier to open
my heart when I know that I'm not the only one pouring it
out and spilling my soul on the blogsosphere today.

Again, just a brief reminder that everyone linking is pouring their hearts out and we should all be respectful in our comments. ;)

Do you know what it's like to be a 10 year old shy kid who invites a dozen girls to your birthday party and only two people show up? And then at your own party you become the third wheel. Then many years later as a grown up you throw a candle party and one of your close friends come? Two of the others say "yes I'll be there" but then you see their Facebook update and they're going out for the night with friends. It sucks.

You should be able to grow up and not harbor those inadequate feelings from your childhood but it's pretty hard. Experiencing being the wallflower, the kid who got ignored at slumber parties or picked on makes you very reserved. You make sure that you don't put yourself in situations that will make you feel like that kid again. But will you ever learn.

I had been wanting to have a girls night with some friends. The hubs said I deserved a night without the kids ad he was more than willing to be sole parent for a night. I planned a girls night at my house to have dinner and play cards. It was going to be a potluck meal with me preparing the main dish. I called my best friend and she was more than willing to come and she would ask her friend J to come along too. I asked two other friends to come and one said sure thing and another one hemmed and hawed. She wouldn't give me a definite answer and when I decided to ask a few more of my girlfriends I realized that they were all going to another event (that I had decided not to pay to go to this year). So I was down to four girls including myself.

Then a day before my best friend tells me that her friend J won't be able to make it. Bummer. Not it was down three. It was falling apart. I called my friend who wouldn't give me a yes or no and tried my best to convince her to come. The problem for her: no sitter and hubby was working and wasn't getting home until at least 3-4 hours after my party was to start.

Saturday morning, the day of the GNO I decided to cancel it. It was going to be a bust and I figured I would just reschedule it for another weekend. I had already purchased my main course and the hubs was slow cooking it in the crock pot. I called my best friend and asked if we could just have a combined family dinner with her kids and mine. It was a date. I wasn't feeling too bad about not having my girls night. Until later.

If you tell some one that you cannot go to their event and you change your plans and go with some one else with your said husband who was working, don't post it on Facebook. And if you do, expect everyone, including the person you said no to, to read it.

That is exactly what happened. I was mortified! My husband was checking FB and told me what my friend wrote as her status. I could not believe that my friend did this to me. I could have let bygones be bygones and learned from this lesson, but nope I was pissed and hurt. Why is that people feel the need to stomp on me? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to learn from this but I know that I will not let things other people do tear me down.

Monday Minute: Just me

I'm trying to start the week of on a good foot and maybe actually get some posting done. I was such a slacker last week and once I missed two days of posting it just all fell apart at the seams. I really don't like when that happens. Especially by the time I was going to write my post for PYHO at Shell's Things I Can't Say it was already Wednesday night and I completely lost track of time and missed all of Thursday blog memes. Boo! So instead of focusing on what I didn't do, I'm going to look forward to a great week! Starting on Sunday with another amazing service by my awesome Pastor James. I love how going to church on Sundays sets the tone for the week. It's so uplifting. Now for some Monday Minute!

The Questions:


1.What's your favorite time of day? The evening. It's quiet in the house, the little ones are sleeping in their beds and it's time to enjoy company with my hubby. We sometimes watch some television if there's a program on that we both watch or I'm catching up on emails, reading blogs or reading a book. If I'm busy with that then hubs is either hanging with his best friend, playing his computer games or "jammin" in his car. ( he loves his mid life crisis sports car)

2.Do you and your significant other send sexy texts? hmmm.maybe. maybe not. I never kiss and tell.
3.
If you got a dream job anywhere in the US and you had to move, where would you choose to move to? I would move to Colorado! I'm sure my cousin is reading this and saying "yes, yes!!". My husband LOVED, absolutely LOVED Colorado when we went to visit this past December and the kids have already asked when are we going back. I hope to go again in the next few years and continue to do so as a regular vacation spot every 3-4 years. Yes, my cousin QB if it makes you happy I could always stay at a hotel next time.

4.What are you wearing? I am wearing one of my favorite pairs of Levi's jeans, and a cute button down dark blue shirt that my hubby picked for me and white socks.

5.If given a choice to skip work for a day, how would you spend the entire day? Well skipping work would mean that I am not spending my day with Little E and running Miss K all over creation. So I would start the day with a mani, pedi and eye brow wax. (well I don't get mine waxed, I get mine done by plucking with strings..forgot what that is called) Then I would go shopping with a friend at the mall, followed by a "grown up" lunch at Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill. Then I would go shoe shopping because shoe shopping is no fun with kids in tow. Then I would hit Border's book store to browse the latest books and pick up a coffee while I'm there and enjoy the peace and quiet of a good book. My day off would be ending soon and it will be time to head home to cook dinner, because I know the hubs will be waiting for me to relieve him of the parenting duties.

Silence is Golden

We were running late to church this morning for the 9:00 am service and I figured we would walk into the sanctuary during praise songs. But as we entered the hallway we were greeted by the sound of Pastor James welcoming everyone to the morning service. We quickly found our seats and I shoved my purse under the pew in front of us, then I remembered that I needed to silence my cell phone.
I was pretty wise about turning mine off which I always do for church. After our praise song and Pastoral prayer the lights were dimmed and the video screens went black. The word SILENCE flashed white on the screens. Followed my many different scriptures talking about silence and listening to God. Meditation. Being still. Prayer.
It was quite uplifting to listen to only the sound of your heartbeat as these words flashed by. I felt more connected and was intrigued how the quiet can be so reassuring and comforting. The sermon that Pastor James gave really spoke to my heart today.
In today's world we are always distracted by the noise of the world. Whether it's the television, radio, cell phones or people. Then we wonder why we can't hear God. Our Lord is always speaking to us, but how can we hear him amongst all that noise? You have to set aside the time to be in silence when asking and praying to him and wait, meditate and be still. We might pray to God and he hears us, but we're not giving him the time to answer us. What kind of conversation is that?
It touched me because in some small way I know what he's talking about. This past Friday evening during dinner, we ate without the television on. It was an enjoyable quiet. Miss K asked me " aren't you going to turn the tv on? Maybe watch Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune?" I told her "nope. not tonight. We're enjoying dinner together without tv." She smiled. That was so amazing. We enjoyed family conversation and Miss K was telling us about her day and had to be reminded a few times to eat her dinner. Silencing the outside noise was beautiful. I was reminded of my blessings that evening and God spoke to me.
That will not be the only night of no television during dinner. I suggested recording those shows we usually watch during dinner but the hubs said "no. we watch enough as it is. It's more enjoyable listening to the kids and what they have to say." God is reconnecting us during dinner and it's only the tip of the ice burg.

Do you think that you could give up something that is noise in your day to day life to reconnect and listen to God? You never know, you probably won't miss it.




Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10