Menu Planning

I want to start posting my weekly – monthly menu plans on my blog, so I can organize my plans and have a place to come back to.   I will be using these two icons to post my weekly menu and monthly menu plans.  I plan my meals monthly so I make sure I have the ingredients and supplies needed for the meals but then break it down by week on a dry erase board that is one my kitchen pantry door.  This helps me to see just the week at a quick glance.
  
I try to use themes in my menus to help in the planning department.  This makes it easier for me to come up with ideas that are easy and functional but not boring.

Monday- Meaty Monday (beef or pork – usually a crock pot meal)
Tuesday – Trusty Tuesday (meals that are tried & true)
Wednesday – Worry-free Wednesday (meals that are quick and easy)
Thursday – Treasured Thursday (meals  that are special or a new recipe)
Friday – Fiesta Friday or Freezer Friday (Mexican meal or meal from the freezer)
Saturday – Slow Cooker Saturday - Left Overs or Breakfast for Dinner
Sunday – “Souper” Sunday (Soup, Salads, Subs and/or Sandwiches)

This is my base plan – I will plan around this but some days I switch the meals around because of convenience, what is on hand and available, plans or because I just want to.

Recently I asked each family member what were their top 5 favorite meals and here was the list we can up with:

Chellsen Chicken
Potato Soup
Cowboy Stew
Baked Spaghetti
Hamburgers (homemade Fries)
Tacos
Sloppy Joes
Tater Tot Casserole
Beef and Broccoli
Orange Chicken (Chinese Chicken)
Ham Potato Casserole
Breakfast for Dinner
Pizza or Pizza Bread
Calzones
Chicken Stir Fry or Chicken & Rice
Sliders
Lasagna
Fettuccini Alfredo
Chicken Spaghetti (or Spaghetti Sauce with extras)
Nachos

These favorites are meals that will most likely be eaten up:  Of course some family members like some meals better than others but we know these are some of our tried & true and treasured meals.





I really like this menu sheet.  It is colorful and simple.  This can be printed and laminated or put in a frame. This way the menu can be reused by writing out each weeks menu plan with a dry erase marker for the week.  If you have a place to hang it on a wall the frame idea would be very cute!!!  Otherwise laminate it, place magnets on the back and slap it on the fridge.  I recycle old magnets that we get in the mail or from doctors offices, using my hot glue gun to adhere the magnet onto the back of the things I want to hang on my fridge.    You can download this form here:
http://coleybelle.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-menu-printable.html



Also a fun and creative way to  post your menus is by making a menu board:
Love the idea of being able to put your favorite menus on the cards and rotating them during the month.  On the flip side of each menu card is a list of ingredients and simple directions. Directions on how to make this board can be found here: http://clairsfairytale.blogspot.com/2012/01/ultimate-menu-board.html

Sample of my February Monthly Meal Plan

Menu Plan for week of 2/20-2/26

Monday – Cowboy Stew & Cornbread
Tuesday – Baked Potato Bar
Wednesday – Tater Tot Casserole
Thursday – Chicken & Veggies
Friday – Pizza
Saturday - Breakfast for Dinner
Sunday – Chicken Soup & Subs

I will start attaching recipes to some of our favorites soon. Pin It

Moments to Remember

Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember. The week may have been tough, there may have been more bumps than smiles, but in the end these are the moments that keep us going. These are the moments to remember.




 My missionary daughter surprised her three "silly sisters"  with a valentine picnic this week.  She made them cards as an invite telling them how special they were and gave them each one item to bring.  She made heart shaped P&J, and packed her picinc basket.  They loaded up the wagan and brought Pepper for her first trip to the park.  Warms my heart to see her love and dedication to her sister. They had a great time. Pin It

Crescent Chicken

  Crescent Chicken

Ingredients:

1 (8 or 6 jumbo count) package refrigerator crescent rolls

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can of milk (using soup can)

Preheat oven to 350

Prepare soup using milk and set aside. Separate crescent rolls. Spoon chicken and cheese onto each crescent; roll and seal to enclose filling. Place in a 9×13 baking dish. Pour soup over rolls. Bake at 350 uncovered for 30 mins.

Recipe From: http://comfyinthekitchen.com/2011/02/crescent-chicken/

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Discipline or Routine

I am not a disciplined person...
I am an organized person
… a planner …. a list maker … I love to plan… I love to make lists… I plan all day…
always making plans and lists.

But I am not disciplined…

I have these pretty, up to date, thorough lists with boxes to check off. If fact I am such a list maker that if I can’t check off any of those boxes, I will make a new list or add to that list what I did do, so I can check if off.

For years now, I have prayed… Lord makes me a more disciplined person.

So I decided to do a word study on the word discipline.
   (have you been able to tell  -yet  that I like word studies.)
For some reason the Lord really speaks to me through words.

dis·ci·pline

to train by instruction and exercise; drill.

to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.

to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.

I look at these words and I realize why I am not a disciplined person. I am not one that is motivated by exercise, drill, control. I am not one to like rigidness. Even when I make a schedule with time frames – I like to use the time frames for a guideline, but if I have to follow the time frames in a rigid way, I feel boxed in and confined.

So… I began to ponder this whole discipline thing… It is not a bad thing to be disciplined…
I admire discipline people… I still want to be more disciplined...

But I know for me I need something different… a different word … a different goal. What I have found to be more effective for me is Routine.

rou·tine

1. a customary or regular course of procedure.
2. commonplace tasks, chores, or duties as must be done regularly or at specified intervals;

Routine for me orders my day. First we do this and then this. I have found that the Lord is still working on me in the consistency of our routine.

con'sistently

consistently adhering to the same principles, course, form; in agreement or harmony

holding firmly together; cohering, fixed; firm, steady; even: consistent growth

I love that... adhering to the same principles - being in agreement or harmony... I strive for harmony and balance in my days.  Holding firm & stready, even.  Consistent growth - growth that comes from taking one step at a time. 

For precept upon precept, Line upon line, Here a little, there a little.          Isaiah 28:10

 In order for our day to flow in consistency I came up with the acronym FLOW as a tool:

                                                                           FLOW

                                                  We us FLOW as an order to our day.

                                                                   F – Family Needs

                                                                   L – Learning Moments-Center

                                                                   O – Ordered by Routine

                                                                   W – Workboxes

Above all, I know that I need to allow the Lord to order my day...

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.                                                        Proverbs 16:9

I still make my lists… I treasure my lists…
and who knows maybe someday I will become more of a disciplined person… one can only hope…



#75 a sweet valentine basket from my sweetie
#76 comments under his breath at group – he still makes be giggle
#77 daughter with such a huge heart to pour into her silly sisters
#78 routine getting back to some kind of normal
#79 friends that love and pray for you
#80 a clean fridge at the hand of missionary daughter
#81 patience to speak correction in love
#82 advise and encouragement to continue to work on speech issues
#83 passion of perspectives teacher
#84 week off from perspectives to get caught up
#85 tax return!!!
#86 pizza for dinner – break in cooking
#87 wild rice soup – sooo good
#88 watching older children enjoy one another
#89 hug box full of blank cards to use for card making
#90 two boys getting their permits – looking forward to having to more drivers
#91 more sleep for special son
# 92 wisdom in few words
#93 hearing heart of special mission friend – praying for healing
#94 walk & talk with walking buddy
#95 answered prayer – we get to keep the dog!!! Pin It

Moments to Remember

Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember. The week may have been tough, there may have been more bumps than smiles, but in the end these are the moments that keep us going. These are the moments to remember.

This week I have had my special son home us. We have been praying about bringing him back home to homeschool again. He has been in a county special needs program for the past 5 years. This has been a wonderful place for him, but we are seeing the need to change and cut way back on his medication because we have felt that he has been to withdrawn. I was working with him this week at home and this picture is a reflection of that:

He decided he needed to wear glasses to do his school work and "borrowed" a pair from his brother. (too cute!!!)  We were reading the book Patty Reed's Doll for our history studies. The little doll on the popsicle stick is Patty's doll.  Every time they heard the word "Patty" in the story, Jonathan and the girls would hold up the paper doll and get a skittle. This was a big hit. 

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Seasoning Mixes

http://selfreliancebyjamie.blogspot.com/2011/08/tis-seasonings.html

 Seasoning Mixes

Making your own seasoning mixes is very easy and can be cost effective when you purchase the spices at bulk or discounted prices.  Here are some mix recipes to try.

recipes from: http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/recipes-2/condiments.

Taco Seasoning:

1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/8 cup ground cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon sea salt

Put ingredients into a jar and shake.

 

Dry Onion Soup Mix:

2/3 cup dried, minced onion

3 teaspoons parsley flakes

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons turmeric

1 teaspoon celery salt

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

Mix all ingredients in a jar, then give the jar a good shake. I’d recommend shaking the jar to mix the ingredients well before each use.

Use 4 tablespoons in a recipe in place of 1 packet of onion soup mix. Store this in a dry, cool place.

 

Ranch Dressing Mix:

5 tablespoons dried minced onions

7 teaspoons parsley flakes

4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix together and store in an air tight container.

For dressing: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk or sour cream.

For dip: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 2 cups sour cream.

Mix up a few hours before serving, so the flavors all blend.

I would blend the ingredients in a food processer or blender so they are not chunky but more of a powder and then store in a container or jar.

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Battle

You are in a battle

there is victory in the battle (the battle has already been won)

But you have to be willing to fight.

These where the words the Lord spoke to me during Jonathan’s delivery.  I thought that these words were just for that day... the day of Jonathan's birth - when we were fighting for his Life.

...But that was only the beginning of a journey the Lord was taking me on to teach me how to fight.

When Jonathan was 18 months he had a horrible reaction to his 18 month immunizations. Over time Jonathan began to loose any language he had and started to withdraw.  ...Thus began our battle with Autism.

The Lord continues to bring me back to these three words:

Battle – Victory – Fight

A FEW of the things the Lord has taught me in this process have been:

The Battle belongs to the Lord -

Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.  2 Chronicles 20:15



Sometimes fighting means you have to stand still 
You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you…    
                     2 Chronicles 20:17

Even though the battle seems bigger than I am  -  I do not need to fear
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you…           Deuteronomy 20:1

There is victory -
The Battle has been won through Christ Jesus.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.                            1 Corinthians 15:57

Fight ~ I have to be willing to fight.
This one has been the hardest for me – there are many days I cry out to the Lord saying “but I do not know how to fight”

But He is always faithful to remind me that He goes before me, He will fight for and with me and He has not left me without weapons to fight with:


I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the LORD.       Jeremiah 15:20

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.       2 Corinthians 10:4

Some of these weapons are:



Prayer ~ especially with the Word of God

             Blessed be the LORD my Rock,Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle—  Psalm 144:1

 
    Worship ~

Every stroke the LORD lays on them with his punishing rod will be to the music of tambourines and harps, as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm.  Isaiah 30:32














Joy – the strength to fight comes from finding my Joy in the Lord –

Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10

    


Love ~ Just love Him
And now I will show you the most excellent way. If speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

WOW – I think it will take me a lifetime to walk in that one.


...and I have learned that the battle is not won overnight –
but one step at a time –

- just as Joshua had to go around the walls of Jericho day after day – Praising the Lord each time he circled  – before those walls came tumbling down...

These past few weeks we have been engaged in another battle for Jonathan (more on that another day.) 

But as a ponder over these past few weeks, the Lord has reminded me of all He has taught me so far… 

and I treasure the lessons I have learned… 

I treasure the steps we have made…

I treasure all that He still wants me to learn…

But above all I treasure this boy…

#51 cute comments by little one

#52 little ones smile

#53 Co-op mommies

#54 grace for all or nothing

#55 time with middle son

#56 hearing middle sons struggles and triumphs

#57 gratitude for knowing You were there when I wasn’t

#58 perspectives

#59 being stretched as a student

#60 being stretched and challenged as a child of God

#61 being challenged to look at some old issues again

#62 grandpa teacher at perspectives

#63 hearing your affirmation through “Grandpa”

#64 joy and love in being a mommy

#65 excitement in the prospect of bringing special son home to school again

#66 being able to laugh at serious issues

#67 favor over meeting with special son’s teachers

#68 you going before me in this meeting

#69 clear direction in the next step for special son

#70 opportunity to include him in our school day last few days

#71 seeing that special son can work without any meds.

#72 coffee and heart to heart talk with special sister in Lord

#73 renewing trust in some spiritual areas

#74 reconnecting with special missionary friend

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Moments to Remember

Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember. The week may have been tough, there may have been more bumps than smiles, but in the end these are the moments that keep us going. These are the moments to remember.

This weeks we were told by our neighbors that the dog was ours.  After weeks of us asking to play with her, they decided to let us have her.  We call her Pepper.  She is the sweetest, little dog, and so gentle.  So this weeks school suffered a little on the academics end to concentrate on "dog training 101."

I think I will write a course study for it... Pin It

He is enough

I have been pondering the word contentment for years…

more than pondering

… actually wrestling with

… dwelling on and desiring to know what true contentment looks and feels like.


The dictionary describes contentment as: 

con·tent·ment
  

1. the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind.
    peace of mind; mental or emotional satisfaction    

2. to be possessed of unfailing strength
    a) to be strong, to suffice, to be enough, to be satisfied, to be contented

Tucked away in the midst of these definitions is:
              ... to be enough

But sometimes, I admit that I am not satisfied, my life does not posses unfailing strength, I am not strong, where I am at - does not suffice, it is not enough...

… and then…

I go to the foot of the cross and I see my savior with His arms stretched out and I ponder his words...

He said " it is finished"
it is completed
... it is enough

I treasure these words...

because of what He did…
because of Him… it is enough…

He is enough … For I have learned that His unfailing strength, suffices, satisfies all my needs, all my concerns, all my longings, and all my desires…

…He is Enough

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

#35 not being good enough
#36 spending time with my oldest
#37 cuddles with my Angel
#38 provision... bills paid
#39 time away with middle son, to hear his heart to see how he has grown
#40 realizing I am not enough for them... but He is
#41 husband that runs our errands
#42 daughter back safe on US soil
#43 physical therapy for my shoulder
#44 hug and relief on special son's face to see me
#45 studing God's word together with a group of friends
#46 friends that pray, study worship and care for one another
#47 waking up to Larry Boy singing "worthy is the Lord God Almighty"
#48 joy worship music brings my special son
#49 listening to and singing worship music all morning with my girls
#50 having long talk with my missionary daughter... Pin It

A Patchwork...

Jesus got them all to sit down in groups of fifty or a hundred—they looked like a patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass!

  
     Mark 6:39 - The Message

The definition of patchwork is:

something made up of an incongruous variety of pieces or parts; hodgepodge:

But what does incongruous mean: 

incongruous - out of keeping or place; not harmonious in character; lacking harmony of parts.

Sounds like the Body of Christ

We are this patchwork of people that come from different backgrounds - different places with different talents and abilities - that when thrown together in a group would seem out of place, inconsistent or not in harmony...

BUT, when JESUS is the center of that group of hodgepodge people...

We look like a…

Patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass...

Visualize that for a moment...                    

Instead of being a mis-matched group of people

we become a work of beauty...

    a labor of LOVE.

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.                                Ephesians 4:16

#21 my boys having opportunity to spend weekend with their youth group
#22 hearing young men's hearts about their time with the Lord
#23 spending time with my oldest
#24 listening to my oldest desire to serve the Lord
#25 more important - hearing his heart
#26 children that are open to sharing their hopes, dreams and concerns.
#27 provision to take perspectives
#28 opportunity to see you moving in this world
#29 privilege to see you moving in our children
#30 quiet weekend with girls
#31 seeing special son's personality come out more
#32 grace - as we take special son of medication
#33 eclectic group of people we call family
#34 family that loves and accepts

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