My Playlist - Good Good Father

I heard this song quite a few months ago for the first time at our church.  It was one of those songs that I had never heard before the praise team sang it but then I heard it like 10 times a day for the next week.  (For real) Apparently the guy leading the praise team that week knew the song was going to hit the radio or something!  It's a simple song, with a simple message. 

Weekly Menu

Several months ago I mentioned that I had found a blog that posted a monthly meal calendar that I really liked.  Not only was it recipes that were similar to what we already enjoyed but I also found it saved me money.  Instead of searching through recipes that ended up just providing me with a super long grocery list, these menu ideas were simple and kept that list much shorter.  I'm still loving it and still using it and that is what this weeks menu is based on too.  This coming week is a pretty simple week with just swimming lessons and time at the campground.

Friday - Stir Fry Beef Lo Mein and Salad

Saturday -So, my kids are staying with my mom at her camper so, I doubt I'll cook ;-)  (Just keeping it real)  Darryl and I can enjoy a quiet dinner in honor of our anniversary this past week.

Sunday - Biscuits and Gravy, Cheesy Potatoes, and Fruit Salad. 

Monday -  Teriyaki Chicken tacos with Grilled Pineapple Pear Salsa, Rice, Beans, and Chips and Cheese

Tuesday - Chicken Strips and Fries

Wednesday - Darryl has practice so we always go to the campground.  We'll pick something up for dinner.

Thursday - Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad and Garlic Bread

I'm kind of in awe that we are just about half way through the month. 

Happy Anniversary

Fifteen years. 

August 4, 2001

Our path through the years took turns we didn't expect but I wouldn't want to take this trip with anyone else than my incredible husband.  

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A Good Read

Have you checked out the new feature that Facebook added awhile back?  It's called the "Save" button.  Or at least that's what I call it.  There is an option in the drop down arrow on each post to "Save for later" and then, there is a place where you can check all of your saved items.  They don't get lost on your page anymore and the world doesn't know every single thing you save for later! 

As I began the journey through the dark valley with my dad, people would be well-meaning and utter those famous words, "God won't give you more than you can handle" yet I would silently scream at them in my head while pasting an agreement smile on my face," HE ALREADY HAS!!!!"  So when I came across the post I'm going to share here, I felt it in my heart because I already knew it was true.  God will give you more than you think you can handle because HE wants to carry you when you cannot walk another step.  Honestly, I'm still walking through those dark valleys wondering when God will make this journey a little easier to bear.  So maybe you are at the beginning of that valley or coming out the other side or, maybe you just need to understand that those mis-spoken words aren't really true.  No matter where you are in that journey, this is a good read.

The Day God Gave me More than I Could Handle

 

Summer Fun - July 25th

Last weeks fun revolved around water.  Lakes, Kayaks, swimming . .  you name it and they did it!

Josh and Nate spent the first part of the week at my in-laws house where they did lots and lots of fun things:

They started with some fun at the fair - this time at the Barry County Fair where their cousins had some animals . .doing whatever animals do at the fair.  (What?  I did not grow up doing the whole fair thing, unlike my husband's family!) The boys had fun.  I know Nate's face might not show it but he just didn't want to smile because, well, his tooth fell out earlier in the day and he did not want to smile! 

They also did some fishing and both caught fish.  Nate ended up catching a 19 1/2 inch Dog Fish.  He was SUPER excited, jumping all around and screaming but did NOT want to hold it HA!

They also learned to Kayak.  My mother-in-law taught them both how to paddle and control their kayak in a matter of minutes.  Nate needs about another 1-2 inches of growth to really be able to handle the paddle without a ton of work.  Josh just loved it.  He would kick back and relax in his kayak and then paddle up and down the area in front of grandma's house.  I think they have a new hobby :-) 

The second half of the week they spent with Nana.  On Wednesday the boys and I headed to the campground to swim and eat dinner.  After dinner, I headed home while the boys stayed at the campground.  On Thursday, the boys had dentist appointments (no cavities yeah!) after which we grabbed lunch fixin's and returned to the campground for lunch.  I left the boys with Nana and headed back home to work on some stuff.   The boys convinced her to take them swimming before Darryl and I returned with dinner and, you guessed it, we went swimming again!  Finally, on Friday, the boys had doctor appointments for check-ups (they are both perfectly healthy and both are tall and skinny!) before the boys headed back to Nana's for dinner, a trip to the play ground and, yep, more swimming. 

What a fun busy week! 

My Playlist - If We're Honest

I fell in love with this song the very first time I heard it so much so that I went right out and bought the soundtrack to start working on it to sing at church eventually.  My favorite line in the song is, "I'm a mess and so are you."  Because its true!  I've felt that more over the last few months than ever before yet people still ask "How are you doing?" and expect an "I'm fine" answer.  What if.  Just what if instead we WERE honest and said, "well, I'm a mess right now but that's ok because deep down I know you are too."  I can already see the shocked faces yet . . it's truth isn't it? 

Family Fun - Sledding Fun

After a very warm start to the winter, we finally got some snow in January - enough snow that the boys went looking for a sledding hill.  We found one in the neighbors yard just around the corner from the house that was the perfect size for the boys for this year.  I know that next winter, we will have to  venture out to some bigger hills because, well, they are boys and the love to sled.

On the last run of the day, one of those sleds hit a pretty big rock and literally shattered.  So, before the week was done we picked up some more heavy duty sleds to have ready for the next big storm, which never really came!  At least we got one good sledding run in this past winter.