Moving Along and Menu Plan

Although I haven't blogged much recently life has been moving along at a pretty steady pace around here.  Recently, we've been tackling a few projects that didn't get the attention needed during the last year.  One of those projects was completely redoing our strawberry bed.  It had gotten VERY out of hand, so this year we have just rebuilt it and started over.  I have some beautiful strawberry plants blooming right now and cannot wait to pick the first berries out of our "new" strawberry bed :)

My Dad also ordered some pecan, hazelnut, chestnut and apple trees that we were able to set out last weekend, as well as the usual mulching, weeding, trimming, rebuilding, etc. and so on that never seems to cease.  That's a good thing though, since I have been battling bouts of depression since my mother passed away.  It's nice to have something productive to focus on. 

Besides working on our little homestead, I have been caring for my Dad.  He broke his kneecap two weeks ago and has been having quite a bit of pain with that and since he is a very stubborn and independent man, he is definitely not taking care of it as he should.   I am very thankful that my children are all close by and able to help keep him company. 

I've also been working on trying to clean my house a little bit, since we are expecting a visit from Hannah this week.  Needless to say, Caleb is VERY excited that his "bride to be" is coming for a few days :-)   We are all looking forward to having time to get to know her better and to hear about all of the wedding plans she has in the works.    Since Hannah lives twelve hours away we haven't had time to get to know her as well as we would like, so her visits are always special to us as we learn to love her more each time she comes :-)

It's hard to believe that BOTH of my older boys are engaged and will be married by year end!  I am very thankful that God placed Godly young women in their lives and I am so excited for both of them. 

Heath's "bride to be" only lives a half hour from us so we have had the opportunity to really get to know her and she has been such a blessing to our family.   I LOVE the fact that she is willing to pitch in and help around the homestead and has great ideas to share. 

My boys are so blessed to have future mates that are so well suited to them.   As a mother, that means so much.

Well, I guess I have rambled on in a disjointed way long enough.  I guess I'll share our tentative menu for the week.  So here goes:

Menu plan for week of 3/11/2012 - 3/18/2012

Sunday - The band was in Arkansas so I didn't cook

Monday -  Taco soup with tortilla chips

Tuesday - Roast, potatoes, carrots, salad, bread

Wednesday - Chicken pilaf, salad, bread

Thursday - ham, potatoes, green beans, biscuits

Friday - chicken strips, crockpot potato wedges, baked beans

Saturday - Caleb's birthday so he gets to decide :-)

Sunday - Bar-b-que Chicken, crockpot sweet potatoes, peas, salad, and cornbread


Breakfasts - hot or cold cereal, fruit, smoothies, muffins

Lunches - leftovers, sandwiches, or soup

Snacks - peanut butter crackers, fruit, popcorn


Well, I guess that's it for now.  Hope everyone has a great week!

Goal Setting

In January of last year I made a list of goals for myself that I felt sure I could reach by the end of the year.  The fact is I did reach quite a few of them before things got so crazy around here, but there were others (not all of them posted) that I did not reach and I realize now that in the grand scheme of things the goals I set really were not all that important anyway. 

The only problem for me is, that without goals, I tend not to accomplish much.  So, although they be a little late getting posted, here are my goals (at least some of them) for this year.

*Continue to draw closer to God (He is my comfort and strength)

*Spend more time in God's Word

*Be sure to let the people I love, KNOW that I love them

*To be more compassionate to others that are facing trials

*Be more of an encourager to those I meet everyday whether they be close family or mere acquaintances

*Continue to exercise and try to lose the 10 pounds I wanted to lose, but didn't this past year

*Continue working on our little homestead (more chickens, bigger garden, etc.)

*Enjoy my family more every day, because we never know how long we will have them

I'm sure as time passes my list will grow longer, but for now these are the ones that I plan to focus on.  I haven't taken time to read many blogs lately, but I'm looking forward to "catching up" with my blogging friends.  Hope everyone is having a great week.

Back on Track

After a long and stressful eight months I finally feel as if I am getting back on track.  Ferrell has been able to focus on school a good bit the last two weeks, which is something that we have not had much time for in the last eight months.  Thankfully, he is disciplined enough that he has plugged along in spite of my absences and distractions. 

Today I am cooking big pots of dried beans for the freezer.  I had intentions of canning them, but decided this morning that I'm still not up to doing that.  I am, however, working on a few other things for the freezer which is something that I haven't taken time to do in months and I am really missing my freezer meals. 

Amanda and I went and took inventory of  Mama's freezer this week and found that there is quite a bit of stuff that we will be able to use for our families.  Daddy is thrilled that we will be using the things in the freezer, because he knows that he won't be cooking that much and really hates to see it all go to waste.  Since there were a couple of hams and a turkey in there I will definitely be including those items in some upcoming menus.  If I ever actually get around to planning a menu again :-) 

Well, I still haven't gotten back into the swing of blogging so I guess that's all for now.  Hope eveyone is having a great week.

Sheltered in the Arms of God

SHELTERED IN THE ARMS OF GOD
   by:  Dottie Rambo and Jimmie Davis

I feel the touch of hands so kind and tender
They're leading me in paths that I must trod
I have no fear when Jesus walks beside me
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God

Chorus:
So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise They won't worry me,
For I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God:
He walks with me, and naught of earth shall harm me,
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God

Soon I shall hear the call of Heaven's portals
"Come home, my child, it's the last mile you must trod";
I'll fall asleep and wake in God's new Heaven
Sheltered safe within the arms of God


This is a beautiful song and has so much meaning to me.  I guess I sort of claimed it as my theme song for the past several months.  Things have been tough around here since June, but it's such a comfort to know that God's comforting arms are holding me up and through each and every trial that we face.  There is NO WAY that I would survive without Him.  Praise God!