Pneumonia

That would explain why I have been feeling so bad for so long. It is funny - I have hardly done anything over the last two weeks and our house is still standing - people are still happy...It just goes to show how easy it is to fill up our time with things we think we have to do - when really the things we NEED to do our much less...hmmm...simplify... What a novel concept!

Prior to this, I was actually in better shape than I have been in in several years. I had even lost a few pounds. Now I haven't exercised in almost 3 weeks! Yikes - it is hard to start over...Oh well - I have enjoyed my quieter lifestyle and just pray that the rest of the family stays healthy!!

love, me

The Ferris Wheel

Have you ridden on one of these lately? Do you know how high they are?

I took my girls to a county fair and allowed them to ride on three rides. We walked through the area where all the kiddy rides are and I asked them "Which ride would you like to go on first?"

Yep. They said "The Ferris Wheel." My 3 year old and 5 1/2 year old daughters chose the grown-up (not the kiddy) ferris wheel! Completely expecting them to freak out and change their minds at the front, I said okay...Nope - they did it. I was terrified when we stopped at the very top and the girls kept trying to look over the edges...I imagined us freefalling to the ground! AND - the older I get, the less I can handle moving rides...

The girls had a great time though!

My fairy tale...

I have felt so crummy for the last two weeks... Since being a mom, I hardly ever get sick - I mean really sick. The kind-of sick where you lay on the floor or couch or whatever is closest by and don't talk to anyone, don't read, don't watch tv, don't eat - don't do anything except be miserable and rest. Which - I should be resting. But when I lay down, I feel like an elephant - a really heave one - is sitting on my chest. Like I am going to suffocate. Do you think there are any invisible elephants in my house?

Thankfully - this is currently the worst of my worries. There are so many other worse things to deal with...So - this has been on my mind lately:

My FAMILY...and the huge blessing they are to me! I could add our parents and siblings too... I have so much more to add to this, but you get the gist ~ THIS is my fairy tale! Thank you Lord!

These Three Qualities - Group Writing Project

MommyZabs is hosting a writing project! Her topic is "These three qualities make me a better..." (student, blogger, athlete, reader, mother, etc.) You can write three words or elaborate such as I have. She is offering a prize to one person and it is a great way to get more links to your blog. If you want to participate, go HERE.

These three qualities make me a better wife:

1. Student
2. Servant
3. Christ-follower

There are plenty of other qualities that I could include - but I will stick with these three for my husband. In my opinion, every husband needs a wife with different qualities to help complement him. I chose these three because:

STUDENT - A student is any person who studies, investigates, or examines thoughtfully (dictionary.com) As a student, I am constantly learning. I am open to criticism and willing to learn from my own mistakes, from people around me. I seek advice. I want to learn to be a better wife - I want to work on this consistently. As long as I remember that I haven't obtained "perfect wifeness" and always have more to learn, I will also remain humble.

SERVANT - I want to lift my husband's needs above my own. I want to serve him and live unselfishly. Again - promoting humility and thinking of Him first.

CHRIST-FOLLOWER - Jesus Christ is the ultimate model of love. To love my husband fully and unconditionally, I need to be more like Christ and study His Character.

Fear of Failure

Fearing Failure - This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. Ever since I was in middle school and probably younger, I have feared failure. Or maybe it would make more sense to say that I have feared letting people down (I am a die hard people-pleaser) and that is what I consider to be failure. Do you know that I have never danced at a wedding b/c I am so afraid of what people will think that it makes me feel sick?

We are going to fail. We are going to disappoint people - it is inevitable. So, for me - it is crucial to not seek other people's approval as my main goal. I am completely imperfect. I cannot keep everyone happy. And I do mess up - This week I had quite a humbling experience which has just driven home the fact that I am going to fail. No matter what my intentions or what my effort - it is humanly impossible for me to not fail.

So how do we live daily knowing we are going to screw up? FOCUS ON CHRIST. Seek to please Him in all that we do. (Colossians 3:23-24 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...It is the Lord Christ you are serving".) He has already forgiven us and continues to - daily, moment by moment ( Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." ). He knows we aren't perfect. He will give us strength and He will extend grace and mercy. Focus on those truths - and bathe in His unconditional love for you.

MENU PLAN MONDAY

This website is a great resource of menu ideas. It has links to people who post their menus for each week! I am trying to do this at home this year, so when I can, I will post it here with a recipe or two. Have a great week!


Monday: Walleye lightly breaded and lightly fried, steamed broccoli, rolls, jello

Tuesday: Dinner Out (Every Tuesday is :)

Weds: Italian Baked Shells, salad, bread

Thursday: Chicken Ceasar Salad, canned soup, bread

Friday: Date with hubby (hopefully)

Saturday: Fruit crepes with yogurt and cream cheese for breakfast, camping at night...hot dogs and smores:)

Sunday: Crescent Chicken Squares and Orange Mousse jello, salad

Italian Baked Shells Recipe - super easy
1 box shells
1.5 jars of spaghettis sauce
1 16 oz container of cottage cheese
2 c. mozzarella cheese
2 c. cheddar cheese
Parmesan Cheese

1. Boil shells and drain in cold water.
2. Mix cheeses and stuff shells.
3. Cover bottom of casserole dish with a little sauce and place shells in dish. Cover shells with sauce.
4. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake for 30-45 min. at 325 degrees.

Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe
Marinate 1-1.5 pounds of chicken in Italian Dressing or Garlic Expressions or some type of marinade.

Mix:
2 bags of romaine lettuce
8 oz. cooked penne pasta
some croûtons
some grape tomatoes cut in half
1/2 c. Asiago or Parmesan cheese

Dressing is 1/2 bottle of Ceasar Dressing and 3-4 T. of red wine vinegar.

One of those days

I knew yesterday was going to be one of those days - because it started out with me doing the laundry...more specifically A LOAD OF TOWELS. Some women may know what I mean by that (I know my good friend Colleen will:). That means that I have neglected the laundry for so long that the only way to make it look like there is less laundry is to do a load of towels. Towels are bulky and towels are easy to fold and put away.

Yes - the day got worse...BUT I wanted to share an awesome quote with you. I am not sure who said it but here goes:

"The deeper and darker the valley, the higher and more glorious the mountaintop."

Praying with you today that you will seek the mountaintop and focus there instead of your troubles today! and Praising God that He is with you every step of the way!

Thank you Lord

I woke up to my alarm at 5:58am this morning. I have a print project I need to start and finish:) today. Without consciously making myself be thankful, my mind just started thanking God as I made my way downstairs (or maybe it was the Holy Spirit's prompting).

Thank you God for a mind to imagine.
Thank you Lord for hands to create.
Thank you Lord for legs to walk.
Thank you Lord for water to drink. (I am not a coffee drinker normally)
Thank you Lord for quiet mornings and sleeping children.
Thank you Lord for my own room to work in and be inspired by....

Honestly, it just kept going. We have so many blessings and I am thankful that God brought them to the forefront of my mind today.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3