This week I reached my goal of walking 10 miles! I had to walk 5 miles on Sunday, but I did! WOOHOO! Hopefully that will be a goal I can continue to reach 
Ok, for this week:
Monday: Snack Dinner
Tuesday: Chicken and Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday: Breakfast for dinner
Thursday: Burgers
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Sloppy Joes
Sunday: Easter- Eating at the MIL’s
I created a new frosting yesterday as I prepared my post for Tuesday, which I do hope you’ll come back for…. I frosted both sugar cookies and snicker doodles with this frosting. I would also be good on yellow cake, or even carrot cake in place of cream cheese frosting.
Cinnamon Vanilla Frosting
Ingredients:
2 Cups Shortening
6 Tablespoons Water
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1 2lb Bag Powdered Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
Directions:
Cream shortening, water, and vanilla in a mixer until liquid is incorporated with the fat. Add powdered sugar and cinnamon. Mix on low speed until combined and then med-high speed for 6-7 minutes.
I have some friends who are getting ready to say good bye to two family members. This song is for you! God will restore you to better than before.
Beauty Will Rise-Steven Cutis Chapman
It was the day the world went wrong
I screamed til my voice was gone
And watched through the tears as everything
came crashing down
Slowly panic turns to pain
As we awake to what remains
and sift through the ashes that are left
behind
But buried deep beneath
All our broken dreams
we have this hope:
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning, beauty will rise
So take another breath for now,
and let the tears come washing down,
and if you can't believe I will believe
for you.
Cuz I have seen
the signs of spring!
Just watch and see:
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning...
I can hear it in the distance
and it's not too far away.
It's the music and the laughter
of a wedding and a feast.
I can almost feel the hand of God
reaching for my face
to wipe the tears away, and say,
"It's time to make everything new."
"Make it all new"
This is our hope.
This is the promise.
This is our hope.
This is the promise.
That it would take our breath away
to see the beauty that's been made
out of the ashes...
out of the ashes...
That it would take our breath away
to see the beauty that He's made
out of the ashes...
out of the ashes...
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of this darkness... new life will shine
and we'll know the joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning...beauty will rise!
Oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, Beauty will rise
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Phew! Are you tired yet? I am! Why is keeping up with the house so hard? If anyone has an answer I’d love to know! I’ve got a hodge podge of stuff this week for us to do…. Ready?
Ok- have a great week!
This week has been a weird WW week for me. I haven’t stayed in my points range and I haven’t journaled well. I haven’t met my goal of 10 miles of walking either. Basically, this has been a crazy busy week for me and I need to learn to plan ahead for these types of weeks and not soothe myself with bad food. I need to learn from this experience that it only makes me less productive, thus furthering the cycle when I eat bad food. My energy gets zapped and I feel downright cruddy. It just plain isn’t worth it on any front. This is a lesson I’ve been trying to learn for YEARS…. The time is now. 
The week coming up is also going to be weird, another busy week with two trips to Austin for me. As I plan out my menu for the week I have last week in mind. I need to be on the top of my game this week. I am going to set another goal of 10 miles of walking too. I’ll just keep setting that goal until I make it. I’ve also decided to track my monthly miles as well. It sort of motivates me
Ok-
Monday: Rotisserie Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Fruit Salad
Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner, left over fruit salad or fruit smoothies
Wednesday: Tilapia with Garlic Roasted Tomatoes and Corn, Rice
Thursday: Cauliflower Mac and Cheese, Hot Dogs
Friday: Taco Soup
Saturday: Snack Dinner
Sunday: Buddig Beef Kabobs, Fruit Kabobs
This was a favorite meal for me growing up, and my parents made if often because it is such a cheap meal. I’m not sure how healthy it is, but it is good, kids like it, and it’s very inexpensive 
“SOS”- S’tuf'f’ On Shingles
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
2 packages Carl Buddig Beef (the cheap bags, usually around $.050 each)
1 loaf bread
Directions:
Using scissors, cut beef into strips about 1/4 inch wide and set aside. Melt Butter in a large sauce pan over med-high heat. Sprinkle with flour and mix well to form a roux. Allow to cook for about a minute to cook the flour. Add milk slowly, mixing with a whisk the entire time. You may not need all of the milk, or you may need a little more. The end result (after thickening) should be a nice cream gravy texture. Once the rough and milk are combined add beef strips, salt and pepper. Cook a couple of minutes longer to incorporate the tastes. Serve over toast
This song pretty much describes my week
In The Hands of God-Newsboys
We have raised our hopes and our cities high
We have followed fragile dreams
But only One could take the measure of our goals
And we've stumbled over the trials of life
And we've wrestled the unseen
But only One can calm the storm inside our souls
In the hands of God we will fall
Rest for the restless, and the weary
Hope for the sinner
In the hands of God we stand tall
Hands that are mighty to deliver
Giving us freedom
When our strength gave way to the weight of guilt
'Til we strained for every breath
Only One could lift our shame and make us well
And when all is finished and we face
The fearsome power of death
Only One has overcome the gates of hell
You're amazing
You're amazing, You are
And we praise You, Lord
For what Your hands have done
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I have just one task this week, because it’s kind of a biggy… Well, at least it’s a biggie in my house!
This week, clean out your junk drawer!!!! And find a home for the items that really shouldn’t go in there!
That’s it! This will either be a VERY easy week or a not so easy week! LOL!
I recently received a copy of “The Faith of Ronald Reagan”. I was very excited to read this book, because Reagan is someone who I find very fascinating. The book goes through different points in the President’s life and recalls parts that impacted his life, through his faith. It is based on personal accounts either through Regan’s writings or close friends’ recollections.
While I did find the book very interesting, the writing style was not my favorite. I could tell the writer had a deep affection for the President, but it came across as more of an admiration as a child admires their elders. I learned a lot of interesting facts about the president, and was very encouraged by the recounts of the assassination attempt, and how Reagan’s faith sustained him.
I would recommend this book, because it is full of interesting facts, but the reader needs to be aware of the writing style. It is more of a conversational style than informative.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
Our local zoo offers free admission on the first Tuesday of the month after 2pm. I’ve wanted to take the kids for a while, and so, we’re going today! I’m pretty excited, because this will be the first time to the zoo for my little ones 
As I get ready for this I am so thankful that we homeschool and I’m able to take advantage of things like this. There are so many opportunities available to homeschoolers in our area, and I’m very very thankful to live in such a homeschool friendly area.
I’m also extremely grateful for the ability to spend this time with my children. The other day we were at a friend’s house and my youngest was squatting down to pick flowers for me and I had a brief flash back of my 11 year old doing the same thing in a picture I have of him. I was reminded of how quickly they grow up. I was moved to tears as I watched my baby pick flowers, because I know he won’t be little for long. I’m so glad I get to spend this time with them. Do I miss out on “me” stuff? YEP. Would I trade it for anything???? NOPE! These days will only be here for a short time. There will be plenty of “me” time when they’re gone.
This week on WW I weighed in and my March total is a total of 15 pounds lighter! WOOHOO! THAT was very exciting! Of course, then I didn’t journal worth a darn this week 
Ok, here’s the menu for this week!
Monday: Rotisserie Chicken, Mashed Potatoes
Tuesday: King Ranch Casserole
Wednesday: Mexican Beans and Rice
Thursday: Baked Tilapia and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Friday: Stuffed Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries
Saturday: Breakfast for dinner
Sunday: Snack Dinner
Fish Tacos
WW Points + =6 points for 2 tacos
First, let me apologize for the picture- my phone is currently dead, and the memory card for the camera went home with another teenager, leaving me with only my son’s phone, so the quality of the picture is pretty bad LOL. Don’t let that stop you from making these, though! Super yum and low in points and very filling. I had them for breakfast this morning
Ingredients:
About 1 TBS Oil in pan for frying (more if making more than one serving)
2 corn tortillas
1 4 oz Tilapia Fillet
1/4 cup Flour (I used Whole Wheat)
1 TBS Southwest Seasoning Mix (I used Pampered Chef, but you can use whatever or even make your own mix).
Directions:
Heat Oil in frying pan. Add Tortillas, one at a time, and cook on first side until beginning to crisp, then flip and fold in half forming a taco shell. Cook on this side a few minutes until crisp, then flip to other side and cook until crisp. Drain on a paper towel on a plate. Cook second tortilla.
Mix seasoning mix with flour. Lightly coat tilapia fillet in flour. (You will NOT use all the flour) Place in hot oil and cook about 3 minutes on each side until done. (If you’re unsure or unfamiliar with cooking fish, it should flake with a fork).
Place half of tilapia fillet in each taco shell (you can break into bite sized pieces if you want. Top with shredded cabbage. If you want tartar sauce you can add it too, but be sure to add the points
As we get ready for Easter, I thought this song was appropriate 
I Believe- Natalie Grant
In a land far away
Time stood still
Long ago
There were shepherds in fields
Or at least this is how
The story goes
The story goes
Woman with child
And an inn with no room
Born in a manger
For telling a tomb
This is how
The story goes
But it is more than a fable
And it’s more than a fairytale
And more than my mind can conceive
I believe
The Wiseman saw
The baby boy the angels
called the son of God
Heaven’s child
The great I am
Born to take away my sins
through nail pierced hands
Emmanuel has come
I believe
Two thousand years
Still the story lives on
God’s gift to us
Sent to earth
Wrapped in flesh
His only son
His only son
And the heartbeat of heaven
Confounded our wisdom
But it’s still the simple truth
That sets me free
I believe
The Wiseman saw
The baby boy
the angels called the son of God
Heaven’s child
The great I am
Born to take away my sins
Through nailed pierced hands
Emmanuel has come
And I believe
Precious child
How can it be that
God’s great plan
For history
Would send you to
The lonely tree
That you would come
For one like me
I believe
In a cross
I believe he came For one,
He came for all
Heavens child became a man
Gave his life for me
In spite of all I am
I believe
I believe
O I believe
Christmas lives in me
I believe
I have been thinking about my older kids’ use of text messaging lately. I know I should be watching it and I am- watching the astronomical number of texts they are sending and receiving! But, I’m not sure there is cause for concern, because they are still functioning and accomplishing their tasks. I also know that the majority of those texts are one word LOL…. But, in thinking about that and thinking of ways to connect with my older kids I came up with an idea that I hope to implement sometime soon.
I was thinking back to the time when they were littler and it was easier to do things to excite them. A simple treasure hunt was SO EXCITING to them! Well, I thought, what if I took that idea and built on it….. A Text Message scavenger hunt!
Here’s my thought- go through the neighborhood (or whatever location you choose) and map out a treasure hunt or sorts. However, instead of leaving notes everywhere note landmarks at each stop. They have to find the landmark and text you something about it to get their next clue!
You could do it at a party and divide the kids into two teams….. It wouldn’t matter if they were in the same area because they have to figure out the answer to the clue and text it to you…..
Doesn’t this sound fun? Let me know if you try it, and I’ll let you know when I do it with my kids!
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Well, we made it through March and the Spring Cleaning Challenge! I hope you are beginning to find some order in your home. For April we’re going to focus on ourselves. I firmly believe that if you don’t take care of Momma, the house isn’t taken care of either! So, with Easter upon us it is a good time to focus on the people God wants us to be. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, yes, but you have to be clean in your body, inside and out too
So, for this first week of April:
That’s it! Hope you enjoy this week’s tasks!
