This past week I did not get around to planning meals for the week. Thinking of winging it, this is what our dinners looked like.
Sunday: Leftovers
Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Eat Out
Wednesday: Leftovers and/or Sandwiches
(The sandwiches were because the kids had eaten, what they called, "the good leftovers". Yes, that was a lot of leftovers.)
Thursday: After a trip to Costco, where my original list was for 3 items and I ended up with 10, we enjoyed shredded chicken sandwiches.
Friday: Having just picked up an order for a flat of strawberries (12 pints) we enjoyed strawberry crepes for dinner.
Saturday: ???? Whatever it is it won't be leftovers, our fridge is looking a little bare.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Sorry, What Were You Talking About?
Communion at our church is not a regular occurrence, and therefore it is a little stressful.
Stressful, because of the absence of a regular routine it usually throws our children into left field. Young children are not going to remember, from 6 months ago, that their parents (and all the other adults sitting around them) will file up to the front of the church to partake in Communion, leaving all the children behind, unattended, without adult supervision.
See where I am going with this?
Heavens to betsy, one Sunday, several years ago, I looked at all the children (boys) sitting in our section (because we sit in the family section, it is harder to pin any noise on our family). I was certain, when we returned, we would find several swinging from the lights, performing acrobats on the chairs, and the remaining boys putting each other in headlocks.
Recently, the children have been invited to sit up front during Communion. Up front, as on the stage, facing everyone in the congregation.
I guess I can't call it a stage, being that we are Mennonite, that seems too ostentatious. The platform? The platform, which is the size of a small stage.
Anywho, with the children gathered on the stage like platform, our pastor will talk to them about Communion, which is think is a great Christian education moment, and then they will pass out grapes.
However, as the mother of two boys (i.e. they on each other), one of which has ADHD, I find myself holding my breath throughout the whole Communion service.
Did I mention our congregation is between 350 to 400 attenders on any given Sunday? That is a lot of people to move and serve.
One Sunday, during Communion, the kids were upfront, the adults were waiting for the sacraments (do we call them that in the Mennonite church?), the pianist is playing, and there is whistling.
Oh My Sweet Loving .... JT is whistling with the music. Thankfully, he was whistling "with" the music, and somewhat on key, or as "on key" as one can be when you whistle.
Fast forward a couple days, and we are back at church on Wednesday night.
A friend came up and said how GL appreciated watching JT, during the Communion service Sunday. He presented such a reverend attitude while the pastor was talking to them, and then during the prayer.
Ahhhhhhhhhh
Have no doubt, I probably blurted something out about him whistling during the service. Apparently, I can't take a compliment, even when it is about my children. The friend didn't remember hearing any whistling.
Which goes to show, though you may be fixated on a negative behavior by your child, others may only see the positive. I thank them for bringing those positives to my attention, because I need them.
Stressful, because of the absence of a regular routine it usually throws our children into left field. Young children are not going to remember, from 6 months ago, that their parents (and all the other adults sitting around them) will file up to the front of the church to partake in Communion, leaving all the children behind, unattended, without adult supervision.
See where I am going with this?
Heavens to betsy, one Sunday, several years ago, I looked at all the children (boys) sitting in our section (because we sit in the family section, it is harder to pin any noise on our family). I was certain, when we returned, we would find several swinging from the lights, performing acrobats on the chairs, and the remaining boys putting each other in headlocks.
Recently, the children have been invited to sit up front during Communion. Up front, as on the stage, facing everyone in the congregation.
I guess I can't call it a stage, being that we are Mennonite, that seems too ostentatious. The platform? The platform, which is the size of a small stage.
Anywho, with the children gathered on the stage like platform, our pastor will talk to them about Communion, which is think is a great Christian education moment, and then they will pass out grapes.
However, as the mother of two boys (i.e. they on each other), one of which has ADHD, I find myself holding my breath throughout the whole Communion service.
Did I mention our congregation is between 350 to 400 attenders on any given Sunday? That is a lot of people to move and serve.
One Sunday, during Communion, the kids were upfront, the adults were waiting for the sacraments (do we call them that in the Mennonite church?), the pianist is playing, and there is whistling.
Oh My Sweet Loving .... JT is whistling with the music. Thankfully, he was whistling "with" the music, and somewhat on key, or as "on key" as one can be when you whistle.
Fast forward a couple days, and we are back at church on Wednesday night.
A friend came up and said how GL appreciated watching JT, during the Communion service Sunday. He presented such a reverend attitude while the pastor was talking to them, and then during the prayer.
Ahhhhhhhhhh
Have no doubt, I probably blurted something out about him whistling during the service. Apparently, I can't take a compliment, even when it is about my children. The friend didn't remember hearing any whistling.
Which goes to show, though you may be fixated on a negative behavior by your child, others may only see the positive. I thank them for bringing those positives to my attention, because I need them.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
What I've Learned So Far
Last week was one of those weeks. By Tuesday I began to reflect on the lessons from that week, and it was only Tuesday. It is now Sunday, and I am just now writing them up.
It was one of those weeks.
Do not finish your workout by the gym's cafe. What ever she was cooking smelled GOOD. My workout ended early, I went home and made a grilled provolone cheese and ham sandwich, on rye bread.
When washing the Christmas tree skirt be sure to shake out the needles and branches.
(Yes, I am just now washing the Christmas tree skirt, don't judge.)
No one really wants to sit on the gym floor to watch a 2 hour movie. Offer the same movie to the kids, with a few extras, in the comfort of your own home, and everyone is happy.
An extra day is not always a good thing. Thankfully, Leap Year only comes once every 4 years.
A washing machine can leak water, 24 hours after its last run. (See, "An extra day ...")
It is a new week; new lessons, or fewer lessons.
It was one of those weeks.
Do not finish your workout by the gym's cafe. What ever she was cooking smelled GOOD. My workout ended early, I went home and made a grilled provolone cheese and ham sandwich, on rye bread.
When washing the Christmas tree skirt be sure to shake out the needles and branches.
(Yes, I am just now washing the Christmas tree skirt, don't judge.)
No one really wants to sit on the gym floor to watch a 2 hour movie. Offer the same movie to the kids, with a few extras, in the comfort of your own home, and everyone is happy.
An extra day is not always a good thing. Thankfully, Leap Year only comes once every 4 years.
A washing machine can leak water, 24 hours after its last run. (See, "An extra day ...")
It is a new week; new lessons, or fewer lessons.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
A Wednesday, That Felt Like a Monday
My alarm went off, at which time I turned it off and went back to sleep.
It is raining.
Everyone is running late: waking up, getting breakfast, getting organized, getting to school, getting to work.
The (brand new) washing machine has a puddle of water in front of it. I haven't done laundry for 24 hours?
The school car pool line is congested, considering the bell just rang 30 seconds ago.
It is raining.
The garbage truck, I'm following, stops right in front of the driveway I need to turn onto in order to arrive at work.
What am I forgetting? As we set up the classroom for the kids I know I am forgetting something.
WAIT, photocopies of coloring pages are needed.
It is raining, and now it is thundering.
We are missing 3 kids, we fear the stomach bug has reached our students.
Everyone is grumpy. No one is happy. Whine, whine, whine.
It is raining.
Oh wait, now that school is over I remembered what I was forgetting earlier.
Oh look, did it stop raining?
It is raining, again.
Trying to upload pictures to Facebook, is it just me who has problems?
Everyone is tired, grumpy, and whining. Let us all head to church with our wonderful attitudes.
So the day has been a long one. I am ready to go home. It is now 5 minutes, 10 minutes after children and adult activities were supposed to end at church. The kids are done, WHERE ARE THEIR PARENTS!
Melt down in the car, on the way home. "Look kid, I'm sorry you feel this way, but I do not have the emotional capacity to care until tomorrow morning."
Today was Leap Day. Sometimes an extra day is a good thing. Today, not so much. Then again, it was an extra day, so it doesn't really count. Tomorrow is a new start, to a new month, with no extra days.
It is raining.
Everyone is running late: waking up, getting breakfast, getting organized, getting to school, getting to work.
The (brand new) washing machine has a puddle of water in front of it. I haven't done laundry for 24 hours?
The school car pool line is congested, considering the bell just rang 30 seconds ago.
It is raining.
The garbage truck, I'm following, stops right in front of the driveway I need to turn onto in order to arrive at work.
What am I forgetting? As we set up the classroom for the kids I know I am forgetting something.
WAIT, photocopies of coloring pages are needed.
It is raining, and now it is thundering.
We are missing 3 kids, we fear the stomach bug has reached our students.
Everyone is grumpy. No one is happy. Whine, whine, whine.
It is raining.
Oh wait, now that school is over I remembered what I was forgetting earlier.
Oh look, did it stop raining?
It is raining, again.
Trying to upload pictures to Facebook, is it just me who has problems?
Everyone is tired, grumpy, and whining. Let us all head to church with our wonderful attitudes.
So the day has been a long one. I am ready to go home. It is now 5 minutes, 10 minutes after children and adult activities were supposed to end at church. The kids are done, WHERE ARE THEIR PARENTS!
Melt down in the car, on the way home. "Look kid, I'm sorry you feel this way, but I do not have the emotional capacity to care until tomorrow morning."
Today was Leap Day. Sometimes an extra day is a good thing. Today, not so much. Then again, it was an extra day, so it doesn't really count. Tomorrow is a new start, to a new month, with no extra days.
Monday, February 20, 2012
I Respectfully Request ...
Yes, it is true, I have a small competitive streak.
You can stop laughing now.
So, as I was going through boxes one Saturday afternoon, imagine my dismay when I discovered a discrepancy in my college diploma, compared to Hubby's.
Especially, since he spent his senior year playing pool and building an electronic bug.
I spent my senior year holed up in the archive library, researching, and the computer lab, writing, my senior paper. (Mennonite Women's Dress Through the 20th Century, in case you were wondering.) Driving to my education practicums, and reading 100 Years of Solitude for a class; and by the way, it felt like 100 years to read it. Oh, and fighting off, what the campus nurse called, "a spot of mono", so I could start, and finish, any other papers, practicum reviews, case studies, and ... before graduation.
Just sayin', a diploma of similar size is really all I'm asking.
You can stop laughing now.
So, as I was going through boxes one Saturday afternoon, imagine my dismay when I discovered a discrepancy in my college diploma, compared to Hubby's.
Especially, since he spent his senior year playing pool and building an electronic bug.
I spent my senior year holed up in the archive library, researching, and the computer lab, writing, my senior paper. (Mennonite Women's Dress Through the 20th Century, in case you were wondering.) Driving to my education practicums, and reading 100 Years of Solitude for a class; and by the way, it felt like 100 years to read it. Oh, and fighting off, what the campus nurse called, "a spot of mono", so I could start, and finish, any other papers, practicum reviews, case studies, and ... before graduation.
Just sayin', a diploma of similar size is really all I'm asking.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Suggestions Needed!
At a recent retreat my music selections were the topic of ridicule.
Hubby and I brought along Mp3 player and speakers, and hit play. We warned people, told them to bring their own music. We were not being polite, now you know why.
Let me say that my most recent music purchase was the Glee soundtrack, and that was a year or so ago. Any music purchases before that would have been made a good 10 years earlier, and usually fell under the compilation category, or movie soundtrack.
Wham came on, those in the room said "let us make fun of Erin." The Top Gun soundtrack came on, and all the women swooned as we talked about the volleyball game. ABBA began to play, and I stood my ground. After all, you can't disrespect the classics.
I've talked about this before, I am not big on music. Pandora is my DJ of choice, I even choose from one of the present channels. Unfortunately for our retreat group, there was no wifi.
Seriously, next time someone else can bring their play lists if mine were so bad.
Anywho, Christmas rolled around and I inserted several iTunes gift cards into my, and Hubby's, stockings. The other day I ventured onto the site to do a little shopping.
What are all the kids listening to these days?
Justin Bieber? Umm, no. A 39 year-old purchasing Bieber songs, that is just wrong in so many ways. Hmmm, those Black Eyed Peas look so hip. That cute Katy Perry seems to have some cute songs.
You can see the problem here. I have idea where to begin.
So, what did I end up purchasing?
Two songs from Adele, and two more from a Glee soundtrack. (Not that I've bothered to sync my Touch with the updated play list.)
:::sigh:::
Hey, I hear REM is breaking up, I wonder if they came out with a new compilation CD.
Hubby and I brought along Mp3 player and speakers, and hit play. We warned people, told them to bring their own music. We were not being polite, now you know why.
Let me say that my most recent music purchase was the Glee soundtrack, and that was a year or so ago. Any music purchases before that would have been made a good 10 years earlier, and usually fell under the compilation category, or movie soundtrack.
Wham came on, those in the room said "let us make fun of Erin." The Top Gun soundtrack came on, and all the women swooned as we talked about the volleyball game. ABBA began to play, and I stood my ground. After all, you can't disrespect the classics.
I've talked about this before, I am not big on music. Pandora is my DJ of choice, I even choose from one of the present channels. Unfortunately for our retreat group, there was no wifi.
Seriously, next time someone else can bring their play lists if mine were so bad.
Anywho, Christmas rolled around and I inserted several iTunes gift cards into my, and Hubby's, stockings. The other day I ventured onto the site to do a little shopping.
What are all the kids listening to these days?
Justin Bieber? Umm, no. A 39 year-old purchasing Bieber songs, that is just wrong in so many ways. Hmmm, those Black Eyed Peas look so hip. That cute Katy Perry seems to have some cute songs.
You can see the problem here. I have idea where to begin.
So, what did I end up purchasing?
Two songs from Adele, and two more from a Glee soundtrack. (Not that I've bothered to sync my Touch with the updated play list.)
:::sigh:::
Hey, I hear REM is breaking up, I wonder if they came out with a new compilation CD.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Turning Around the Left Overs
As I wrote that post I could feel convicted to write another post, but this time turning around the tongue and cheek griping of lost instructions and wayward toy ties.
All the stuff I complained about was just that, STUFF. Items we bring into our house, and lives, during Christmas, and none of it has to do with the true meaning of Christmas. None of it has to do with Christ's birth and the fulfillment of God's promises.
Bottom line, why am I complaining? I did this to myself.
And, instead of complaining, let us turn it around. Instead of rolling our eyes when we find torn up pieces of wrapping paper between the sofa cushions in March, or lost Christmas cards now found in your tax folder, let us take a moment and think on what Christmas truly means.
Instead of complaining about it, make it into a devotional moment.
A reverse Advent if you will. Meditate on peace, and hope, and love, and grace. Oh my, don't we all need to show a little more grace? Let us first start with thinking of the one who showed us the ultimate grace.
With Easter soon making an appearance on our calendars,
Common' don't groan at me, it is already February.
let us do the same thing when we sweep up Easter grass from under the sofa and find that last dyed egg in the back of the refrigerator, at the end of May.
Take a moment and reflect on God's love. On the relationship he wants with you, and not with all the stuff we bring into our lives.
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