Weekly Menu - Half way through Summer

 And just like that it's July.  Now, if history proves itself true, July is the longest month of the year. 😄 There is something about those hot, humid days that just make it drag!!!  AND I still have to cook. 😱  It's ok, I'll survive just like I have for the last . . .well alot of years!  

Here's the plan for the coming week:

Friday - Homemade pizza using a recipe from a friend for the dough I've been wanting to try for months!  With the pizza we will have a salad too. (and be "we all" I mean Darryl and I HA!) 

Saturday - dinner at my mom's.  

Sunday- I've been wanting Darryl to grill for weeks and we just haven't had the chance!  So, today is it!  Marinated chicken,  Sweet Potatoes and Salad for the win!  

Monday - It's 4th of July!  My mom offered to host.  I think we are having burgers. 

Tuesday - Cod Fish Tacos with rice and beans.  (If you haven't noticed I've been trying various taco recipes so we can hopefully have a great rotation for "Taco Tuesday!" ;-) ) 

Wednesday - My mom comes over :-)  Oven Fried Pork Chops, Cheesy Mississippi Mud Potatoes (this recipe popped up on my Facebook feed and sounded good - don't worry there is no "mud" involved . . . I'm not even sure where the "mud" came from!) , and a salad.

Thursday Lazy Day Crock Pot Lasagna, roasted green beans, a salad land Garlic Bread

What we are eating - Beef, Tomato and Acini de Pepe Soup

I totally understand that it is not currently soup weather but this soup was amazing when I made it a few months ago!  It is hearty and has amazing flavor plus the itty bitty pasta is just plain fun.  It can be made in an InstaPot (if you have one of those new fangled things HA) or just on the stove top (which is what I did).  Serve this up with a slice of warm french bread and it is perfection.  Plus, it is even better the next day.  

You can find the full recipe HERE.  (And yes, it is another SkinnyTaste Recipe!) 

 

Rest

 Rest.

I'm not really big on the whole "audible voice of God" concept.

Don't get me wrong; I believe God speaks to us through His word. 

It's why we are taught . .. commanded to study the Bible; to live it; to breath it.

But the voice? Not so much.

Until.

A few weeks ago as I was caught in the mad, mad, race of life

Feeling slightly breathless and weary 

With two people down with Covid, gas prices going higher then ever before, and basic living expenses creeping up

I sat down on the couch trying to solve all the problems when I heard a whisper

"Rest"

I kinda looked around thinking one of my guys was playing a trick but there was no one.

My mind started to rework things again - I needed to run back to the store; I needed to clean that or pick up that. 

"Rest"

That second whisper is when I started to listen.  

Took a deep breath and just . .. rested. 

That become my theme for the rest of that day . .. that weekend . .. and now my summer.  

When I feel weary, overwhelmed, beat down. 

Just rest.  

Our summer will be a quiet one.  A summer of slowing down and maybe even being bored. 

We aren't signing up for programs or events. 

We aren't racing here and there and everywhere to find something to do. 

I'm not even planning crafts or activities because, well, my guys are old enough to figure things out on their own! 

Instead we will rest.  We will get rejuvenated and refreshed after a school year that was harder than normal for some reason. 

My guys felt it; I felt it.  So many others and their thoughts and ideas trying to pull us away from what we all enjoy

Just being home.  Together.  And doing what is best for our little family.

Weekly Worship --TAYA - For All My Life (Official Lyric Video)

Our Week at a Glance

 This week my guys had some fun at Worship Camp.  Our friends I babysit were back after over a week off.  My brother and sister-in-law were still in town too! 

On Saturday, Darryl, Joshua and Ken, my brother, got the opportunity to go up in a small airplane at an event here in town.  

Josh got to ride up front.  To say he enjoyed it would be an under statement.  Someday I might get a photo of him in the pilot seat :-) 

Sunday was Father's Day and I didn't take a single picture!  We had an amazing dinner at my mom's to celebrate Darryl and Ken.  Then we played a great game of 5 Crowns! 

The rest of the week went a little like this:

Monday-Friday - Joshua and Nate attended worship camp where they learned more on their instruments/learned a new instrument and worked with their band on their songs for the worship celebration on Friday night. 

Tuesday - We took Darryl and Lynnette to see Top Gun Maverick.  Yes, it is good enough to see twice!  I think it was more intense the 2nd time because I knew what was happening! 

Wednesday - We had dinner at my mom's with Ken and Lynnette and also had to say good bye for now.  They planned to pull out Friday morning and we won't have a chance to see them again.

Thursday - I (Jackie) met a good friend for ice cream.  She is in town from Florida.  Almost three hours later we headed to our homes :-)  We hope to get together one more time before she goes home. 

Friday - The concert.  I highly doubt I will get photos up before this posts so I will share them next week!

Here are some random photos from the week: 

A Facebook group I'm in challenged everyone to take a photo out there window one morning this week and this is what I captured.  I love my willow and how the sun breaks through the leaves each morning.

Weather is weather.  But, this is crazy for June.  We've had so many 90 degree days already.  I think we might melt in July. 

Just a couple random photos from Worship Camp that I grabbed from the Facebook page.  My guys have really enjoyed their week and I'm thankful for the opportunity they have to do something like this. 

Weekly Menu - Where things are "normal"

 This is a pretty "normal" week.  Family has returned home, there is nothing extra going on.  It's just "home".  I'm really working on cooking what is planned AND cooking at home.  As with so many, the prices of things are really forcing us to make choices.  When we could go out to eat for $25.00 before, it now costs $40.00 and that's just fast food!  (Man I sound old).  Anyway, we are trying to reserve the eating out fun for more special occasions or just "once in awhile".  

Here's the plan for the coming week:

Friday - Joshua and Nate have a concert to end their week at day camp and will eat dinner at camp so Darryl and I will grab something before heading out.  

Saturday - We are spending the afternoon with my Father-in-Law

Sunday - Today is a pot luck at church.  I'm not 100% sure what I'm taking yet.  

Monday - Balsamic Pork Tenderloin in the crock pot, crustless zucchini pie, and a salad

Tuesday - Shrimp Scampi tacos with Caesar Salad Slaw

Wednesday - My mom eats with us :-)  Chicken Alfredo, Garlic Bread and Salad

Thursday - Breakfast Enchiladas, Biscuits and Gravy, and asparagus.  

As I'm typing this I'm realizing that next week is the 4th of July!  Summer is flying by! 

What We are Eating - Spaghetti Carbonara

This recipe was an absolute homerun.  We inhaled it and all agreed that it was restaurant worthy and we could probably eat it once a week.  The sauce is made from a little bacon grease (how can you go wrong!!) and chicken broth that simmers until reduced.  The bacon adds just the right amount of saltiness but what makes this recipe is that poached egg.  Have you ever poached an egg?  I have not . . .well until I made this!  It was fun!  Dumping that egg in the just boiling water and watching it spin and wrap around itself!  Then, when you slice into it the butter yolk spills out and the soft white just almost melts into the pasta.  Mix it up so the yolk adds to the sauce and it is just amazing!  Just writing this makes me want to eat it again! 

You can find the recipe at Skinnytaste (of course!)