What We are Eating - Shrimp Fajita Bowls

 These Shrimp Fajita Bowls were so yummy!  One, we love shrimp and two, we love Mexican food. This was a nice change from tacos and tortilla based dishes.  It was fresh and tasty.  

This recipe can be found over at SkinnyTaste. 

Where has Summer Gone?

 Back in May I wrote an amazing plan for my summer.  Like, amazing.  And then somewhere between the last week of May and the first week of June things kind of changed.  I didn't even touch my to do list until the middle of July.  Now, here it is the beginning of August and I know it will go quickly.  Blah!  I'm really not ready to think about school yet or all the fall things like music lessons and youth groups.  I still want to check things off of my list and prepare for another great school year that would start in three months, not in one month!  

Sometimes life hands us unexpected things and that is one thing that happened this summer.  Our Homeschool Co-op went a different direction so several friends and I started a new Co-Op.  That was hard.  It was hard to walk away from something we had known and loved for so long.  It was scary.  Scary to let "our" members know that our leadership team felt we could no longer support the old group.  Scary to start our own group.  It was time consuming.  Instead of checking things off of my list, I was busy checking things off the list of starting a new group!  I spent hours upon hours prepping and reading and planning.  Whew!  We are thankful that our quick, thoughtful, hard work is paying off though and we are excited for the fall.  It's still work to create something from nothing but we have great support to do so and are feeling ready for another semester. 

Sometimes scheduling doesn't go as planned.  Our June started with a tough push to finish all things related to school.  The last two weeks of school were hard and full of a lot of work.  We checked off boxes, finished projects, and still worked hard on every lesson as both of my guys were working towards straight A's again this semester.  Then we had a week off - our friends weren't here, no school, no plans.  We all kind of needed to recover.  That was followed by a week of my guys at camp.  Then, finally, a week with all of us here and that week is always hard - our friends are kind of stretching to see how far they can push; my guys are not loving the fact that now they have "no electronics" time twice a day.  Once we made it through that first week things fell into a pattern.  That's where we are now except, our friends have been on vacation and then Nate will be gone to camp.  There has not been much routine to our summer that's for sure. 

So where is this post going?  Very simple, Time is fleeting.  We all know time goes more quickly as we get older (or at least it seems to do so) but I've really felt it this summer.  That makes me stop and ask myself -- What am I doing to make a difference.  A difference in my kids lives, my husbands life?  What my friends and other family?  Don't let the passing of time steal the moments where you can show kindness, joy, or lend a listening ear.  Why?  Because those are the moments that last forever. 

Weekly Worship - Steven Curtis Chapman - Don't Lose Heart

Two weeks in a row!  Another new release from Steven Curtis Chapman's latest album.  Enjoy! 

Our Week at a Glance

 We had a pretty busy weekend followed by a week full of "things".  

Our weekend started with the Free Fair Parade!  Joshua and Nate got to participate by walking with the float for the Heart Beat Music Studio where Joshua takes drum lessons.  I think they had a lot of fun :-) 

Sunday:

Fair Day!  We always attend the fair one day and this year it was determined by the fact that Joshua was scheduled to play drums on Sunday Afternoon.  The school where he takes his lessons was providing the music Sunday afternoon and he was the one drummer chosen to play.  It was pretty cool! 

Of course, after the performance, it was time for rides!  This is one of Nate's favorite rides!  It goes super fast and he has a blast!  

Another favorite ride is the Airplane.  Both guys enjoy this one!  

This is an annual tradition - the photo before the Ferris Wheel ride :-)  The three of them go on it every single year at the fair :-) 

They are in the pink car :-) 

Another favorite "ride" are the Bumper Cars.  They both love them and it is fun to watch them smash into each other!  This was taken while in line - Josh hiding his face HA! 

I think this is Nate's favorite ride ever and it was finally working this year!  (The last two years it was not working the day we were at the fair).  He is in the very back seat and it goes SUPER high!.  He rode it twice back to back and I think could have ridden it more! 

The animals are a great part of the fair - but we never spend much time because we save it until the end and we are all so tired!  My mom made a friend though!  

On Monday I had to run some errands.  I treated myself to a Biggby drink thanks to my Mother's Day gift from Nate - a gift card!  It was super yummy on a very hot day! 

On Tuesday, Nate and I headed to Grand Rapids for his twice yearly visit with his pulmonologist. Part of the fun is walking across the bridge that connects his doctor's office with the Children's Hospital.  It has an amazing view of downtown.  (And his lungs/asthma are doing well!) 

On Wednesday I treated my guys to Taco Bell.  Our friends are here this week so it was nice to be able to do something special with just us.  A few years ago, Joshua and Nate challenged my brother, Kelly, to a hot sauce challenge.  They brought him all the levels of hot sauce from Taco Bell which he promptly ate like they were candy HA!  Well, they tried the "Fire Sauce" again today and it did not end well LOL  

 We have a big project going on here this week!  Nate is moving into his own room.  We started on Monday with moving stuff out of his room, then did some big furniture moves on Tuesday before finally moving his bed in on Wednesday.  He spent a lot of time the rest of the week organizing and cleaning things out.  To say he's excited to have his own room is an understatement!  Joshua is also enjoying his own space (but no pictures yet as we have work to do in there !) 

The final room!  Nate just loves his space so much! 

One last photo!  I saw this while out and about earlier this week and had to snap a photo.  I sing this to Josh almost every morning :-)  It is "our" song. 

Weekly Menu

 This coming week is a first - one of my guys is heading off to summer camp for the week!  Both Joshua and Nate have gone to a weekend winter retreat but this time one will be gone for the entire week!  I'm excited for Nate because camp is great but it will not be the same around here without him!  It doesn't impact meal planning much though :-)  We still have to eat!

Friday - Roast, Noodles and Green Beans

Saturday - Darryl will be with his dad today but my guys and I are still heading to my mom's for dinner

Sunday - Continuing with our grilling theme - Chicken on the grill, french fries and salad

Monday - Chicken Alfredo and garlic bread

Tuesday - Tacos, Chips and Salsa

Wednesday - Pork Chops, Scalloped Potatoes and Salad

Thursday - We will treat Josh to Domino's tonight.  :-) 

What we are Eating - Triple Berry Crisp

 

I'm always on the look out for easy but delicious dessert recipes.  This one took me back to the days of the pandemic when I would make fresh apple crisp every Friday.  I always did our shopping on Friday mornings.  Then, I would come home, unload and put everything away.  Then, I would put together the crisp to have after dinner and throughout the weekend. 

Well, this Triple Berry Crisp from Skinnytaste did not disappoint!  It was the perfect blend of fruits (and the blueberries popped in your mouth!) and crunchy topping.  I will admit that I doubled the sugar because I knew it would be super sour if I didn't.  It still had a bit of a "bite" to it but I love that sourness.  I served it with whipped cream (you know - the kind in the can!) but it would be amazing with vanilla ice cream. 

You can find the recipe HERE 

An Attitude of Gratitude

One of the groups I'm part of on Facebook is an accountability group with some Christian Ladies.  The group formed about 7-8 years ago and it has been a great group of friends.  I only know one in real life - the rest I've met through the group and we have all walked different roads together.  One of the ladies recently shared this and it is spot on so I thought I'd share it here as well.  It is a great reminder - Gratitude is really a mind-changer; a life changer; an attitude changer! 

 "Change my attitude, with GRATITUDE! The Lord has been dealing with me on the subject of being grateful/ thankful.

Philippians 4:6-8 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things."

We have the power through the word, the name the blood and our testimony to change our surroundings, relationships and even world situations by declaring the promises of God. Who wants to join me in a daily challenge of declaring the word over our lives and seeing the hand of God move?

What scripture(s) do you use to declare over yourself, family or others?"

I love those verses! What a list of things to meditate on! Do you realize that if we spent more time (or all of our time) meditating on that list of GOOD things we wouldn't have time to grumble and complain? Or that we can lay all of those requests; desires; hurts; questions at the feet of God and he will give us peace through him? Wow. What a great set of truths to dwell on this week.