MercyMe - Greater (Official Lyric Video)

So today is my birthday!  Yeah!  So I decided to pick a song from one of my favorite groups - Mercy Me.  This takes me back to the concert I attended with Nate last year.  The concert was amazing and attending it with Nate was even better!  So enjoy :-) 

Our Weekly Snapshot

 Te problem with this post happening on Saturday is that sometimes our Fridays are busy so it doesn’t happen on time … … like this week!  🤪

Better late than never!  Here’s a look back at our week.  

Last Saturday we planned to go to my in-laws to celebrate Easter but I was fighting a tough cough so we stayed home and decorated Easter eggs instead!  

Sunday was just a beautiful Easter Day!  Church was wonderful and then we had a great dinner and Easter Egg hunt. 

Monday Nate took part in judging some TKD testing. 

Tuesday morning I started at the Secretary of State and then went to the clinic!  My cough and wheezing was getting pretty annoying.  I ended up with a breathing treatment which helped a lot. 

Thursday Nate had a TKD class. 

Finally on Friday we started with a teen brunch.  

Then, for my upcoming Birthday we headed to the other side of the state to stop at my dad’s spot, eat dinner at a long time favorite and then we headed to a We Are Messengers concert.  

That’s all! 

Weekly Menu - It is officially my birthday!

 I love my birthday month and have enjoyed some extra "treats" this month - and not just food!  Attending movies, getting coffee, and yes, eating out for lunch a few times thanks to gifts/gift cards have all brought me joy.  This weekend brings my actual birthday weekend and there are a few fun things planned as well. 

Friday - Two things today!  First, we have a teen co-op meet up for brunch at a local café.  Then our family is taking off for the afternoon/evening for a Christian Concert in the Flint area.  I think we are going to head over to Linden to eat at Mega Coney Island which is a favorite of mine and Darryl's and some place we don't get to very often anymore. 

Saturday - I really debated about what to do on this day.  The past few years I've been able to go scrapbooking on my birthday weekend which I really loved.  BUT my scrapbooking lady hasn't had any crops lately so I'm having my own HA!  I'm also not planning on cooking.  We are going to my mom's for dinner and to celebrate. 

Sunday - Today IS my birthday.  I’m not even sure what we will do.  

Monday - It is back to reality today HA!  Nate has TKD and I have choir so I have to have a meal that can be eaten in shifts.  I'm going to do biscuits and gravy - I did this a few weeks ago and it worked perfectly.  I am able to make the gravy and then put it in the crock pot to stay hot. 

Tuesday - baked ziti (since I didn’t make it last week!) 

Wednesday - Youth group night! 

Thursday - Crockpot BBQ Ribs, fried rice, and green beans

What I've Been Reading

 Years ago I used to write a lot of posts on my blog about the books I planned to read as well as the books I read each month.  I haven't done that in awhile but thought I would do it today!  One of my goals is to read at least 70 books this year.  Not all books are winners and I just stopped reading one book that was not my favorite and am about 1/4 of the way into another book that I am highly debating giving up on because, again, it isn't my favorite.  

Where do I get my book recommendations from?  A few sources.  One is connected to my favorite Christian Book Store in Grand Rapids - Baker Bookhouse.  The book buyer there has two different Facebook pages that I follow and on both she posts new books that she recommends.  I take those titles and plug them into "Libby" (the app I shared last week) and either put them on hold or put them on my "wish list" to read.  The two I mentioned about that aren't my favorites - come from that list.  She shares all types/genres and I just add them  without looking at what they are about.  I also get recommendations from friends.  Most of the time the books are pretty good - they sometimes have more language then I would normally chose but if the book is really good, I'll still read it.  Then if I see new things out from a favorite author I'll add those to my list as well.  Yes, I ready 95% fiction books and most of those are historical fiction.  I do have stacks of great non-fiction books to read too I just have a harder time getting into those at this stage in my life.  

I do a Facebook Album with all of the books I read each month.  I try to give a simple "review" in case others want to read them.  

As to  not repeat what I just posted in that album I'll share what I am currently reading: 

I have been a fan of Ina Garten for a long time - I really enjoyed her show on Food Network years ago (Barefoot Contessa).  She cooked and baked such beautiful food.  A friend of mine recommended this after reading it herself so I added it to my Libby list.  It became available this past week so I have just started it.  As I read it, I can hear her voice and it is written just like she speaks and fits her personality.  I am enjoying it so far.  I have been surprised by how difficult her childhood was as well as the fact that she worked at the white house before buying her store.  

This is the book I mentioned above that am about 1/4 of the way through and I'm not sure if I will finish it.  It is an odd mystery based on an inheritance but the three cousins have to earn/win the house and all it includes.  The Uncle was odd and was a creator of lots of odd mechanical things.  I'm trying really hard to keep reading it and understand the people within the story instead of getting lost in all of the odd, mechanical things throughout the house. 

I thought I'd share this one as well - this is the book that I stopped reading.  Here's the thing, it is not a bad book at all I just don't get into books written in ancient times - more Biblical times.  I prefer more modern historical fiction --- probably 1700's and on.  So, if you enjoy reading books set in ancient cities and ancient times, I think you would really enjoy this particular book.  

So, currently those are the two books I'm reading (and the one I'm not) .  I have a good size stack of books sitting on the end table but I have yet to read those HA!  

I won't promise a post like this every month but maybe just here and there - or maybe when I read a book that is exceptional and worth sharing about! 

You Saved The Day by Phillips, Craig & Dean

I think I share this every year on Easter because it is probably my all time favorite song for this season.  Yes, it is old school . .. but sometimes going old school is some of the best way to listen to music! 

Our weekly snapshot

 We had a much quieter week!! 

On Sunday we were able to attend a great Mercy Me Concert thanks to the gift of tickets from a friend.  

Then on Tuesday we celebrated my dad’s birthday with ice cream for dinner.  

On Friday, my mom, Josh, Nate, and I attended a Good Friday service.  

Finally, Nate went to a birthday with friends where they all line danced.  

Weekly Menu - It is Easter!

Easter to me always signifies spring.  New grown, new life, and the reminder of what Jesus did for each of us as He was crucified and rose again - so new life.  This year I am hosting Easter dinner which will be fun too! 

Friday - Pork Roast, Rice, and Green Beans (this got bumped to today because we had Ice Cream for dinner one night last week HA) 

Saturday - We are celebrating Easter with Darryl's family today. 

Sunday - It is Easter!  So dinner will be - Ham, Cheesy Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole, Smothered Green Beans, Deviled Eggs, and maybe a fruit salad.  My mom is planning to make dessert. 

Monday - Since we will have leftover ham it is a good time to Ham and Scalloped potatoes and asparagus. 

Tuesday - It is "Taco Tuesday" so I think it calls for Nachos and Salad. 

Wednesday - It is youth group night - there are only a few more weeks left and then I will once again have to plan dinner every. single. Wednesday. night. HA!  

Thursday - Now that Nate is attending TKD on Thursday and I stay the whole time (it is a little further away than the Monday night class and isn't as long so it isn't worth it to come home.) I have to be strategic with dinner.  I either need to eat before hand or have food ready for Darryl and Josh and then eat when I get back home.  So, this week I'm planning Baked Ziti and Garlic Bread.  It is something easy to warm back up when I get home. (Plus leftovers are fabulous on Friday for lunch!!)