Broken & Beautiful by Mark Schultz
Is there anyone in need of prayer
Jesus wants to meet you here
’cause we all fall short
We all have sinned
But when you let
God’s Grace break inIt’s beautiful
Beautiful
Come as you are
Surrender your heart
Broken and beautifulCause there’s nothing more beautiful to God
Than when his sons and daughters come
Broken
Alleluia
Alleluia
Come as you areWhat’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
Last week had a few unexpected events pop up including a full day with one child in the doctors office and hospital doing tests. Jake was in Charleston part of the week, we had appointments, events, and activities throughout the week. We have several busy nights this week again so the menu is going to be pretty simple. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Seafood Entree): Roast, Mash Potatoes
- Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Homemade Pizza, Fresh Fruit
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Special Event
- Thursday (Pasta or Pork Entree): Pasta Casserole, Steamed Vegetables
- Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting
I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth). It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned. I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.
Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family. On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home. As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes. If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).
As a family of four our life can get busy. What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget. Our family typically eats 6 to 7 dinner meals at home a week. We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat. Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family. Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day. Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends. The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety. We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.
Photo by Liz
Free Audio Book: “Choose Joy” by Kay Warren
For the month of March Christian Audio is offering a free download of an audio book . This month the audio book is Choose Joy by Kay Warren.
Ever wonder why some people seem to experience joy in their daily lives–even in the tough times–and others can’t seem to find it no matter how hard they search? Is a joy-filled life really possible? The answer is yes! And it’s possible for every woman, no matter what her circumstances may be. (information from Christian Audio)
If you have been wanting to a book to listen to throughout the day or while driving then this is a great opportunity to get a book for free when you download it from Christian Audio in December. Make sure to submit your order by March 30, 2013 to get your free audio book. Thanks Christian Audio!
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week was crazy with Jake being out of town part of the week and having a sick little one complaining of right side and shoulder pain which resulted in us going to the pediatrician followed by a visit to the hospital for an ultrasound to see if something was wrong with her appendix. The actual ultrasound itself took over an hour with two different people trying to get a good picture of her appendix. They never did get a good picture, but they didn’t see anything abnormal either. Thankfully she is starting to feel better now. I am really ready for the warmer weather and praying for healthier weeks ahead! Despite all the busyness I was able to get some items done this week.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
- Read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 6) – working on it
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – last was so busy we didn’t get a chance to start it yet
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesPlan one special Activity with the FamilyCelebrate at Girls Birthday PartyVolunteer One Day at Girls School
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t get it done
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayContinue my YouVersion plan(s)- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – its been so busy this one’s been on hold
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – got through more of it
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attention- Work completed for clients – had to put some on hold because I had a sick little one a couple days this past week
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4 – honestly with the week being so busy and various visits to the doctor, hospital, pharmacy, and store I didn’t keep track, but I am pretty sure we went over this week
- Payoff the Van – working on it
- Pay medical bills in full – making payments
- Complete 2012 Taxes – making progress
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 6)
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Volunteer One Day at Girls School
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
- Complete 2012 Taxes
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
Someone Else Is Happy…
By The Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I just finished reading By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The girls loved this book and hearing more about Laura’s adventures. By the Shores of Silver Lake is the fifth book in this series. The story continues as Laura and her family move from Plum Creek to the Dakota Territory. Through family Pa found a job working on the railroad which helps makes ends meet until they can file their claim on their homestead.
Once the girls who were sick with scarlet fever were well enough to travel they took the train to meet Pa in the new area. Their first winter in Dakota was cold but they were able to stay in the surveyors house that was stocked with supplies without anyone around for many miles. At the first sign of Spring many men started coming through so they could file a claim on their homestead. Ma and the girls cooked many meals for men traveling through while Pa was away hoping to get the piece of land he wanted to start their new homestead. The town of De Smet started popping up right before their eyes and even Pa built a building in the new town that he could rent or sell later.
The girls enjoyed listening to another story about Laura and her family. After each chapter they always want me to read another one. They thought it was neat that Laura got to spend some time with their cousins and they especially loved reading about Laura riding the horse. It was a cute book and the girls have loved these books so much that they are already planning on reading the series again after I finish reading them.
Chicken Pasta Bake
The other day I had leftover items that I needed to use up so I came up with this Chicken Pasta Bake. I don’t like letting leftovers go to waste and this casserole turned out really well. You can play around with this recipe and add various ingredients depending what you have in the refrigerator that needs to be used up.
Chicken Pasta Bake
- 1 lb sliced, cooked, and season Chicken Breasts
- 16 oz Noodles (any type, I used Rotini)
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Mushrooms (optional)
- 1 cup Pasta Sauce (optional)
Grease an 9×13 pyrex dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. If your pasta has not already been cooked, go ahead and make it according to the directions on the box. While the pasta is cooking if your chicken is not already sliced and cooked go ahead and slice your chicken and cook it in a skillet, bake or fry it (add whatever seasoning you want to it). Layer drained pasta noodles on the bottom of the pyrex then mix a cup of pasta sauce in with the noodles. Layer the chicken and mushrooms (if using mushrooms) on top of the pasta. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until the cheese has melted completely.
Travel & Vacation: Leaving on a Jet Plane
Leaving on a Jet Plane! Jake took this picture of an airplane flying over the ship earlier that day
We spent most of Saturday morning on the boat enjoying breakfast, walking around, and reminiscing before heading to the Fort Lauderdale airport. Our flights didn’t leave until later that afternoon so we had plenty of time to get to the airport, relax, and have some fun before parting ways and getting onto the planes. Half of us were heading back to South Carolina and the other half were going to Kansas. We ate snacks, read books, played games, slept, and were entertained by the wildlife that came to eat the crumbs the kids dropped on the floor. Probably the most entertaining game we played was Bean Boozled, we had some good laughs with that one (a couple times we even had the couple sitting next to us laughing).
Nicko enjoying his candy bracelet from Brina Bee!
Nicko enjoying his candy bracelet from Brina Bee!
Zach could sleep anywhere….here he is sleeping soundly on Grandma Penny’s lap at the airport
Reading books in the airport
Another form of airport entertainment in Fort Lauderdale, watching the pigeons come in and pick up the crumbs that the kids dropped on the floor. This one was right next to my foot! The birds came several times within inches from us. The kids would eventually get so excited watching them that they would scare the birds away but in a few minutes they would come back again. Although it was kind of gross the kids were entertained and fascinated by the birds (they kept wanting to feed the birds more).
This guy was right next to Amber’s boot and backpack. He wasn’t very scared of us, he was more interested in getting the crumbs off the floor.
Travel & Vacation: One Last Trip Around the Ship (Part 2)
One last walk on the track around the ship – Daddy and Brina
Since we had a little extra time after breakfast we decided to go for a walk around the ship one more time to soak in all the memories and the girls wanted to take a few extra pictures. We were one of the last few people off the boat (we weren’t in a rush anyway because our flights didn’t leave until the afternoon) so we didn’t see a lot of people mostly just workers cleaning and prepping for the next crowd to come aboard later that day.
Another view of the kids pool area. This one has a better picture of the “circle” pool that the kids enjoyed. It looks like its currently being cleaned.
Brina walking on the track of the open deck
Brina soaking it all in one last time!
Karlie loved cruising!
Travel & Vacation: One Last Trip Around the Ship
Karlie and Brina hanging out by the dolphin
On the last day after eating breakfast our family took one more trip around the ship to soak in all the memories before getting off the boat and heading to the airport. We had a great time on our cruise with the kids. It was hard to believe Saturday was here and it was time to start heading home again. So many memories were made during this fun week. Thankful for a great time with our family.
Last stop by the Adventure Ocean club before heading to the airport. Karlie’s giggling at Brina displaying the sign for the picture.
Karlie snapping a picture
Karlie is mesmerized by the view
Brina shivering while Karlie takes another picture
