Everlasting Love

The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued to extend faithful love to you.
Jeremiah 31:3


Lord, I praise you for loving me always and for drawing me toward you with your faithful love.



I praise you for giving us a heart that craves love for your to fill.

Your love is bigger than I can understand and much more than I am capable of giving to others without your help.



Please allow me to feel your love today and show me how to pour that love on others.


Thank you for all your blessings...

Amen

Need to Re-Think the Menu Plan

We made our first visit to the orthodontist last week and it seems as though life as we have known it is about to change. Both youngsters will be in braces next month. Luckily the orthodontist uses payment plans, but I have a feeling that this is going to take all the "fun money" out of our budget. Exactly HOW much is yet to be seen.

Regardless, the little man is overly excited about this new adventure and very proud to be one of the firsts in his class to wear braces. The sweet tween is not happy to say the least.

I am in search of ways to save on the grocery bill. For the past year or so, I have not been restrain ted by a confining grocery budget. But I need to now! On average, I spend $150 on groceries and the goal is to knock it to $100 or less. Coupons do NOT work for me as I have tried to use them on and off during the years, so I am trying to just cut back the old fashion way. Budget friendly meals, homemade snacks, shop from what you already have on-hand.

I am proud to say that I have made this goal for 2 weeks now even on a restricted diet!

Sunday - Nana's homemade vegetable soup and grill cheese sandwiches ( all ingredients at home already)
Monday - Spaghetti with rice noodles (noodles on hand, buy sauce and meat) I already have Parmesan cheese too!
Tuesday - Chicken Stirfry and rice - bought a frozen pack of stirfry vegetables ( I like to make my own seasonings and rice to add so I buy vegetables only). I added fresh broccoli and canned water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. Chicken tenders were also purchased for this meal.
Wednesday - Black Beans and rice. I already had 2 cans black beans. I bought some celery, carrots, onions and smoked sausage.
Thursday - Chicken sandwiches and roasted fresh veggies. I marinate the chicken overnight ( all ingredients for marinade were already on hand) I bought chicken breasts, tomato and lettuce. I all ready had buns. Andy I bought a pack of fresh cut up veggies to roast.

For school lunches I added lunch meat, bread, yogurts, chips, granola bars, grapes and strawberries. Carrots and celery will be used here too. I eat left-overs for my lunches.

Breakfasts will include cereal, oatmeal and homemade muffins.

Add in couple of cleaning supplies and my total was $93.00!

Don't forget to visit Organization Junkie for more ideas!

Envelope System Wallet

After a very busy holiday, I am slowly cranking out more of the Envelope System Wallets! I will be listing 3 wallets today with a varying price range to accommodate different budgets! After a year, I am still using AND loving my wallet. I would like to take a moment and answer the most frequent questions I receive.

1. How many envelopes will fit in the wallet? My listings show 3 envelopes. You can request additional envelopes for $3.00 a piece. The wallet will realistically fit 5-6 envelopes. I actually have 6 envelopes that I use, but they are rarely all in my wallet at the same time. WHY YOU ASK? Because I would "dip" and spend out of them!! This is one of my favorite features about this wallet....THE ENVELOPES ARE REMOVABLE! The 3 that spend most of the time in my wallet are groceries, gas, and other. The other envelope usually has about $40 in it for incidentals like field trip $$ the kids need or haircuts. My other envelopes are only inserted when I am planning to use the money, like school clothing shop or Christmas shop.

2. Can I order additional envelopes? Yes, please see answer above.

3. Can I order special order my wallet in a certain fabric? Currently, my time does not allow me to do special orders. I have tried this before only to get really backed up in orders and I regretted the delayed shipping time. All wallets are pre-made.

4. How long before I receive my wallet? Within the week! Since all wallets are pre-made, I will add your customized labels and additional envelopes and ship using Priority Mail.

5. Will the labels come off? Not even if you wash them, which is what I managed to do accidentally (luckily not $$ was in it!).

6. How large is the outer wallet? This is an important question because we all want it big enough to suit our needs but still fit into our purses! The wallet is approximately 8.5 inches by 4.5 inches. If only 3 envelopes are in the wallet, you still have plenty of room for your checkbook, receipts, and whatever else you throw in!

7. My budget can not handle this purchase And I know how to sew. Will you be making a pattern for this wallet? YES! Well, eventually. I have been doing some preliminary work, but will probably not have a completed pattern ready for purchase until summer.


Thanks again! And be sure to visit my etsy shop!

Gluten Free Casseroles

Yes - you read it right! Going gluten free does not mean that you have to give up your creamy comfort foods! Below is one of our favorites!

Vegetable Casserole - this works well with carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and/or potatoes! I sometimes buy the bag of vegetables mix of these three that are already cut up and ready to use!

1 head of cauliflower/broccoli cut into small florets (or a bag of those baby carrots)
Cooking spray
3T. butter, divided
1/3 cup rice crispies cereal, placed in a baggie and crunched up using the back of a spoon by an overactive child!
1/2 cup grated swiss cheese (or Gruyere if your feeling adventurous)
1 small onion finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 cups of milk (use low fat if you are watching your waistline, use whole milk if it has been a long day!)
1/4 cup rice flour
salt and pepper to taste!

Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray. Place vegetables on foil and lightly spray again. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in oven for about 15 to 20 minutes or until fork tender. Meanwhile, melt 1T butter in a small bowl. Stir in cereal and cheese (this will be the topping). In a skillet, melt 2 T. butter and saute onion and garlic for a few minutes. Stir in rice flour and cook for about a minute. Slowly add milk and bring to a boil. Stirring often, milk mixture will slowly get thick and creamy. This may take 10 minutes or so.

Taken vegetable out of oven and place in a casserole dish. Pour milk mixture over top then sprinkle cereal mixture on top. Broil in oven under high until top is golden brown. YUM!

Cash Only!

Even CNN is noticing the Cash-Only budgeting system!

Judge

It is late.

I have been falling in and out of sleep for hours. Not like the gentle rolling hills of the countryside but like the crashing, choppy ocean waves before a storm.

The phone rings again all too loudly and my stomach tightens.

I hear the man next to me sigh and let the phone ring one more time before answering. It is too dark to see his face.

“Hello?”

That is all I can make out of the hushed conversation. But I know. Quiet tears roll slowly down my face. Emotions flood my heart as we wait for morning light.

He is gone. His job was done and the Maker called him home.

The next few days are a tornado of extended family, church services, emotionally draining decisions, laughter, sick children, tears, well-wishing friends, cards, flowers, baked ham and brownies. The Christmas tree stands only partly dressed with white sparkling lights.

I look at the photograph of him from two Christmases ago. He was reading the Christmas story from the Book of Luke. A family tradition that took place before the mad ripping of paper and flying of bows. You see my son, who was about 5 years old perched on the back of the recliner reading over his shoulder. My sister-in-law artfully shot this photograph. You cannot see any faces as it was photographed from the back, behind my son. I don’t even know if he knew my son was back there.


…but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Deuteronomy 5:10


Precious Savior, thank you for our family ancestors who kept your commandments. For a thousand generations have been blessed and continue to be blessed for their faith and example set before us. May my children pass on the Christian faith to our future family for a thousand more generations. Amen

Thank you to everyone who has prayed with my family these past few weeks. “Judge” was an inspiration to many and he will be missed.
"Judge"

My First Award!

How exciting! A new reader friend, Wanda at WandaStricklinRoberston awarded me the honor of the Superior Scribbler Award based on my post about our new role in life as my in-laws caretaker. Thank you Wanda!

The award rules:

Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List.

That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

I am still searching for my favorite reading blogs so I will post those hopefully tomorrow!

Multitude Mondays

I praise and honor You as my Mfather God and give thanks always for all things especially Your Fatherly love. Eph 5:20

I am thankful that God is my Heavenly Father!

27. He is not a distant or remote Father, but a close and loving one.
28. His love for me is unconditional and everlasting
29. He provides for me
30. He teaches me
31. He makes plans for my future
32. He supplies all my needs
33. He gives me security
34.He gives me a special home to live in for eternity
35. He gently guides me
36. I have been predestined to be adopted as Your child through Jesus Christ becasue it gives You pleasure and it is Your will for my life. Eph. 1:5

Thanks for reading! See A Holy Experience for more Multitude Mondays!

Gluten-Free Rachel Ray Supper!

Mexican Lasagna - modified from original Rachel Ray version

3 Tbsp EVOO
1.5 to 2 lbs ground meat (we have used ground chicken, turkey and beef in the past - all work beautifully)
2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14 oz)sweet corn, drained
1 can (14 oz) fire roasted tomatoes
8 (or so) corn tortillas ( make sure they are GF!)
2 c. shredded quesco ( can also use cheddar or a pre-shredded mexican blend)
1 container salsa verde - optional

Heat oil in skillet. Add next 7 ingredients and cook until meat is no longer pink. Taste your developing creation as you may want to add a little salt at this point. Line a baking dish with tin foil (this will help with clean up and can be omitted if you enjoy scrubbing dishes). Cut tortillas in half to make layering easier. Build lasagna by layering meat, tortilla, cheese. My dish usually makes 2 complete layers ending with cheese. Bake at 350 until cheese is bubbly (15 minutes or so). Serve with salsa verde on the side.

Enjoy!! By the way, this freezes wonderfully too!

He gives...

He tries to see it as just ...life...responsibility. The kind of responsibility you were warned about when all you could think about was life void of imposed curfews. Only you found that once you achieved this level of maturity, your own folly came at the end of a long list of tending to the needs of others.

He tends to two families. One he chose and the other he was born into. One in the depths of age and one in its prime. It isn't easy. Is it really even possible? That question doesn't really matter, doesn't need to even be asked, because it is his responsibility. There are no other choices. He can only hope that his absence at one dinner table to is appreciated at the other.

You can find him cleaning and preparing breakfast for one family, then cleaning milk from a spilled cereal bowl for the other family. Putting wool socks on old tired feet, then settling an argument between mother and daughter over what is appropriate attire for school. He reads short stories by Ferrell Sams under fluorescent lights, then calls out spelling words on a Thursday night . He helps one stand and walk on wobbly legs, and then teaches another how to swing a bat.

His siblings muse about how sad it is to see their father this way, but he doesn't have the luxury to take time and reminisce.

So I try not to complain when I pick up the water towel off the bathroom floor each morning; a new phenomenon that has only presented itself in the last few months. I try not to huff when he interrupts my thoughts and chores with his own. I try not to do a roll call from my own to-do list when he complains that I need to pick up his work clothes from the cleaners. I ignore it when he leaves his supper dishes on the table, something he expects his children not to do.

Because someone needs to care for him too.

Lord, please help me to fill his cup, so that he can in turn give more of himself to others.