I had an amazing weekend with my girls. It was so beautiful. Fall in Ohio is always so random, one day it's hot, one day it's cold. Either way it's a great time.
I spent the weekend with my family, now that I'm back to work I find it even more important to plan these excursions... This weekend we attended the fair, you know the one I entered an obscene amount of baked goods in... I ended on a high note, I placed second in a couple categories! Our oldest daughter rode the kiddie rides with her little sister and then decided that she wanted to ride some of the big rides... She scared the crap out of me... I HATE rides... she loves them.
Saturday I packed them up and headed to the pumpkin patch where they played on the slides, played with goats and rabbits and had an all-around good time. Later I took Josey to get her ears pierced. She looks so cute! :) My husband took off to watch our beloved Buckeyes...who neglected to show up for the game and I stayed home to sew, sew, sew... I am getting excited for my new business venture with a good friend. More coming soon on this.
You know I find it interesting how there are people in your life that you can loose touch with and then they come back into your life and you pick up right where you left off. That's exactly what happened with a couple of people from school. Sheena and Rickell they just sort of fell back into my life over the last few years and I'll be quite honest I am so glad that they did. They are people that I can talk to and our lives are very similar.
I makes knowing that "real firends" do exsist!
Sunday we did the morning scrammble to get to church on time... We were actually early for once... it was nice! Then we took the girls to the local high school to run around the track. My girls LOVE running!!!! (They get that from their father, who went to college on a track scholarship) Our oldest is definitely our runner! She ran a 400 in 1:37... she's 8! Woo Hoo, maybe she'll get a track scholarship too! We then headed over to the diner across the street, a little mom and pop diner. It is super cute and they were super nice as we were the only customers at that time. After that we headed home to drop daddy off and the girls and I headed to the Country Fair... one of the final outdoor fall craft fairs in our area. It made me really yearn for our own place again. I got some great ideas. I even found another house for us until the BIG military move in about a year or so. The house is cheap enough that we could keep it and rent it out while we are gone. It sits on a beautiful piece of land, 6 acres big for our brood to run and play... praying for a way to buy it. After the country fair I fired up the grill and made dinner... Then back to sewing I went. I didn't get nearly enough done though...
This morning I awoke with a migraine... Oh happy Monday.
Anyway, I hope you all are enjoying fall as much as we are.
God Bless,
Amanda
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Overwhelmed
I have to admit, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. It's my own fault, but it's still wearing on me. I really need to let myself fall into God's hands and accept that this is what HE has planned for me, easy or not, there is a method to his madness. I mean I can tell people over and over and over to believe that the Lord has a plan for you, but why am I not taking my own advice?
I also manage the website for our church, I've posted twice.
God’s Love says that I will protect you if: You know me, you walk with me , you trust me. If you do these things I will give you everything you need. 1 Peter 1:13-14.
The thing that gets me is that I feel so guilty for working all day and spend roughly 3 hours an evening with my kids, most of which is spent making dinner, homework, baths, cleaning, and preparing for tomorrow... There is such a lack of QUALITY time. In the same moment, as I've said before I love my job and I'm really good at it. There are things that reaffirm that daily.
I'm putting a lot on my plate and I know that, but that is my type A personality I suppose.
Financially things are a MESS... $20,000 in medical bills because the federal government can't get their crap together with our insurance, my husband who is jobless...which is getting to me a lot, the fact that I feel guilty for working because at least I have a job, the fact that I am blessed that I have so many kids when there are so many people out there that just want one.
I know what I need to do, I need to open my arms, open my heart, ask for forgiveness, ask for prayers, ask for guidance... and KNOW that through the loving Lord, HE will give me all that I need.
On another note, I heard something very disturbing today... a aquaitance of mine is getting ready to get a divorce. This after she turned her life around, became a devout Christian... Her words were so devastating. Really is this what "modern" churches are preaching?... She said: " It's ok for me to get a divorce, it's a way to fix a mistake I made..." Who is this person and where is she getting her knowledge of God's laws from? Anyway, please pray for her, and her husband...
God Bless,
Amanda
I also manage the website for our church, I've posted twice.
God’s Love says that I will protect you if: You know me, you walk with me , you trust me. If you do these things I will give you everything you need. 1 Peter 1:13-14.
The thing that gets me is that I feel so guilty for working all day and spend roughly 3 hours an evening with my kids, most of which is spent making dinner, homework, baths, cleaning, and preparing for tomorrow... There is such a lack of QUALITY time. In the same moment, as I've said before I love my job and I'm really good at it. There are things that reaffirm that daily.
I'm putting a lot on my plate and I know that, but that is my type A personality I suppose.
Financially things are a MESS... $20,000 in medical bills because the federal government can't get their crap together with our insurance, my husband who is jobless...which is getting to me a lot, the fact that I feel guilty for working because at least I have a job, the fact that I am blessed that I have so many kids when there are so many people out there that just want one.
I know what I need to do, I need to open my arms, open my heart, ask for forgiveness, ask for prayers, ask for guidance... and KNOW that through the loving Lord, HE will give me all that I need.
On another note, I heard something very disturbing today... a aquaitance of mine is getting ready to get a divorce. This after she turned her life around, became a devout Christian... Her words were so devastating. Really is this what "modern" churches are preaching?... She said: " It's ok for me to get a divorce, it's a way to fix a mistake I made..." Who is this person and where is she getting her knowledge of God's laws from? Anyway, please pray for her, and her husband...
God Bless,
Amanda
Monday's Meals (on Tuesday:))
I missed Monday's meals yesterday with so much chaos going on so I thought I would post our Monday meal here today. This recipe was inspired by a recent Olive Garden commercial. My husband kept saying man those look good, so rather than load up our brood and file into OG I decided I was going to make my own version.
Stuffed Meatballs and Spaghetti
1# ground beef (turkey, venison, chicken all could be substituted)
1/2 C of real mozzerella, you know the kind that is still in ball form
1 egg
1/2 C dry bread crumbs
1 T Oregeno
1 T Pepper (I like white, but black is just as yummy)
1 t Kosher salt
1 t parsley flakes
1t garlic powder
1 # of spaghetti noodles
1 jar of spaghetti sauce (or on occasion I make my own)
Mix meat, egg, bread crumbs, and spices. Cut mozzerella into small cubes, wrap cheese with meat.
Saute meatballs in olive oil until cooked, remove from pan. Prepare sauce, add meatballs to sauce, simmer for 15 minutes. Add to cooked Spaghteei noodles and serve with garlic bread.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Crafty Kind of Christmas
Ok I know what you are thinking... How can she be talking about Christmas already? Well, there is good reason! There is 78 days until Christmas. I have decided that our kids need to learn more what Christmas is "really" about and not the materialistic things that society has made it to be. I have decided that each child is going to receive one purchased gift other than clothing which I have already purchased from my recent Thrift store trip. I am not very confident in clothes yet so I will stick to repairs and fun things.
In addition to what Christmas is really about, there is always the reality that my husband lost his job to failing economic times, our insurance is a big MESS due to the military and their inability to communicate with each other, the mountain of medical bills that are coming in quite rapidly exceeding $15000 so far from when Drea was hospitalized, our Christmas club fund went to car repairs, and life in general, extravigant gifts just aren't in the mix... Which is OK!
So I picked up some fabric from a fellow Free-cycler today. I am on a mission to make as many items as I can over the next weeks in order to fill the tree. I think it will make Christmas extra special and fun!
I'll keep you posted.
In His Love,
Amanda
In addition to what Christmas is really about, there is always the reality that my husband lost his job to failing economic times, our insurance is a big MESS due to the military and their inability to communicate with each other, the mountain of medical bills that are coming in quite rapidly exceeding $15000 so far from when Drea was hospitalized, our Christmas club fund went to car repairs, and life in general, extravigant gifts just aren't in the mix... Which is OK!
So I picked up some fabric from a fellow Free-cycler today. I am on a mission to make as many items as I can over the next weeks in order to fill the tree. I think it will make Christmas extra special and fun!
I'll keep you posted.
In His Love,
Amanda
Monday, October 4, 2010
Monday's Meals
Previously I participated in Not Me Monday's... however, A.) MckMama hasn't been doing them lately, and B.) I can't seem to remember what I didn't do come Monday, SO over at A Love Worth Waiting For Lyndsie started Monday's Meals. I decided I would join, as I love food AND I'm always looking for something different to cook.
Today's Monday Meal will be somewhat simple because later this week I will be delivering 20 entries off at the fair in hopes that I might see a good return.
Creamy Hamburger Pie:
When I asked my husband what he wanted for dinner one evening he said smartly: "Hamburger Pie"
I decided to respond with "Hamburger Pie". It is a variation of a Shepards Pie, but is super YUMMY! :)
2-3 pounds of potatoes, peeled, diced, and mashed
4 oz cream cheese
4 oz of sour cream
4 oz of cheddar cheese, shredded
2 pounds of ground meat, we prefer beef, but you could definitely mix in some turkey or chicken if you would like
8 oz of heavy cream
4-6 white mushrooms, sliced
1/2 small onion, diced
1/2 pkg of bacon, diced
reserved bacon grease
1/2 C chicken or beef broth
1t cornstarch and water mixed until smooth
Make mashed potatoes mixing cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar cheese into potatoes. Set aside
Brown Bacon, reserve fat. Crumble and set aside.
Brown hamburger, season as you wish. I use kosher salt, pepper, and garlic. Toss in onion to carmelize with the meat. Drain and set aside.
Sauce:
Pour 1/2 of your reserved bacon renderings into pan, add mushroom, cook for 2-3 minutes. Add 3/4 of the bacon back into pan. Pour broth and cream into pan, bring to a boil and simmer for another minute. Add cornstarch mixture to thicken.
Now it's time to assemble.
I spray a 9X13 baking dish with Pam. Add hamburger, pour sauce over meat, top with mashed potatoes, sprinkle remaining bacon on top. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees... ENJOY!
I served with roasted carrots.
Peel fresh carrots, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes... DELISH!
Today's Monday Meal will be somewhat simple because later this week I will be delivering 20 entries off at the fair in hopes that I might see a good return.
Creamy Hamburger Pie:
When I asked my husband what he wanted for dinner one evening he said smartly: "Hamburger Pie"
I decided to respond with "Hamburger Pie". It is a variation of a Shepards Pie, but is super YUMMY! :)
2-3 pounds of potatoes, peeled, diced, and mashed
4 oz cream cheese
4 oz of sour cream
4 oz of cheddar cheese, shredded
2 pounds of ground meat, we prefer beef, but you could definitely mix in some turkey or chicken if you would like
8 oz of heavy cream
4-6 white mushrooms, sliced
1/2 small onion, diced
1/2 pkg of bacon, diced
reserved bacon grease
1/2 C chicken or beef broth
1t cornstarch and water mixed until smooth
Make mashed potatoes mixing cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar cheese into potatoes. Set aside
Brown Bacon, reserve fat. Crumble and set aside.
Brown hamburger, season as you wish. I use kosher salt, pepper, and garlic. Toss in onion to carmelize with the meat. Drain and set aside.
Sauce:
Pour 1/2 of your reserved bacon renderings into pan, add mushroom, cook for 2-3 minutes. Add 3/4 of the bacon back into pan. Pour broth and cream into pan, bring to a boil and simmer for another minute. Add cornstarch mixture to thicken.
Now it's time to assemble.
I spray a 9X13 baking dish with Pam. Add hamburger, pour sauce over meat, top with mashed potatoes, sprinkle remaining bacon on top. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees... ENJOY!
I served with roasted carrots.
Peel fresh carrots, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes... DELISH!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thrift shopping at it's finest
Wednesday I had the opportunity to spend time with my husband's family. As you know I love to thrift shop... In the words of Jim Bob Duggar: "Buy used, Save the difference." While there isn't much saving going on right now with my darling husband being laid off, buying used is still the way to go especially with kids! I have to say I found some AMAZING deals!
When I was asked to go I was thrilled! I LOVE thrift stores. Josh's grandma said I needed to be at her house by 7:45am... She lives 45 minutes away! So I proceeded to get up (er, earlier than I do for work) and head to Logan. I met up with his grandma and two aunts. We traveled to Columbus. WOW... Not only do these ladies mean business, but so do the customers. We got there a little after 9... like 9:03, they were already out of carts... People were WAY rude, but in their defense there were a couple hundred people in this store! I should mention on this particular day EVERYTHING in the store was at least 50% off the already low thrift price...
I acquired some really good deals so here you go:
At the first location:
1.) King size quilt. I bought it because I LOVE quilts and because this fabric was Toile...
2.) Two King sized fitted sheets for the new business
3.) 10 towels, these are going to be used to make bath dresses for the kids
4.) tap shoes for Payge
5.) about 15 outfits for the kids
6.) multiple baby blankets for the new business
7.) a knock-off coach purse
8.) several other items for the business
9.) Ann Taylor Dress jacket
10.) Saddle shoes for Josey's halloween costume
11.) Oodles of pillow cases for pillow case dresses
12.) Super cute fur boots
All in all 4 Extra large shopping bags FULL! $40.00
At the second location:
1.) Full size quilt for the girls
2.) Sheets to make the girls some curtains
3.) Ann Taylor jeans for me
4.) Michael Kors top for me new with tags
5.) Banana Republic shirt for me NWT
6.) Numerous Tank tops for me.
7.)10 outfits for Lybertei
8.)tennis shoes for payge
9.) stride rite shoes for josey
10.)abercrombie belt for me
All for less than $30.00
At the final location:
1.)more pillow cases
2.) TONS of clothes for Josey (all of our 2T and 3T clothes were ruined when our basement
flooded this summer)
3.) OSU jersey
4.)4 bread pans
5.)cookie sheets
6.) 4 more outfits for me
7.) and 10 prs of knee socks for babylegs... for the business.
All for less than $20
Theres plenty more, I just can't remember it all, and its still in the trunk most of the kids stuff is for Christmas.
Remember just because your are shopping at a thrift store doesn't mean you don't need to be causious. The rule of thumb I use is what ever tags are on sale that day is what we are shopping for!
Love,
Amanda
When I was asked to go I was thrilled! I LOVE thrift stores. Josh's grandma said I needed to be at her house by 7:45am... She lives 45 minutes away! So I proceeded to get up (er, earlier than I do for work) and head to Logan. I met up with his grandma and two aunts. We traveled to Columbus. WOW... Not only do these ladies mean business, but so do the customers. We got there a little after 9... like 9:03, they were already out of carts... People were WAY rude, but in their defense there were a couple hundred people in this store! I should mention on this particular day EVERYTHING in the store was at least 50% off the already low thrift price...
I acquired some really good deals so here you go:
At the first location:
1.) King size quilt. I bought it because I LOVE quilts and because this fabric was Toile...
2.) Two King sized fitted sheets for the new business
3.) 10 towels, these are going to be used to make bath dresses for the kids
4.) tap shoes for Payge
5.) about 15 outfits for the kids
6.) multiple baby blankets for the new business
7.) a knock-off coach purse
8.) several other items for the business
9.) Ann Taylor Dress jacket
10.) Saddle shoes for Josey's halloween costume
11.) Oodles of pillow cases for pillow case dresses
12.) Super cute fur boots
All in all 4 Extra large shopping bags FULL! $40.00
At the second location:
1.) Full size quilt for the girls
2.) Sheets to make the girls some curtains
3.) Ann Taylor jeans for me
4.) Michael Kors top for me new with tags
5.) Banana Republic shirt for me NWT
6.) Numerous Tank tops for me.
7.)10 outfits for Lybertei
8.)tennis shoes for payge
9.) stride rite shoes for josey
10.)abercrombie belt for me
All for less than $30.00
At the final location:
1.)more pillow cases
2.) TONS of clothes for Josey (all of our 2T and 3T clothes were ruined when our basement
flooded this summer)
3.) OSU jersey
4.)4 bread pans
5.)cookie sheets
6.) 4 more outfits for me
7.) and 10 prs of knee socks for babylegs... for the business.
All for less than $20
Theres plenty more, I just can't remember it all, and its still in the trunk most of the kids stuff is for Christmas.
Remember just because your are shopping at a thrift store doesn't mean you don't need to be causious. The rule of thumb I use is what ever tags are on sale that day is what we are shopping for!
Love,
Amanda
Back to reality
***It has literally taken 4 days to write this post!***
Finally, I'm back to reality. LIFE got in the way for a while "PHEW"
So much has happened and so much is going on... I have so many blog posts brewing in my head right now!
I don't even know where to start. First, do you like the "new" look? I am trying to learn how to create and modify templates... Bear with me!
The last few weeks have been a real blur. I was scheduled to return to work on the 20th, but as I said "LIFE" got in the way. All was good with the world, I was dreading coming back to work. Let me explain. While there was a point in my life I said I could never be a stay at home mom... That was then, and this is now! I spent 4 amazing months home with my kids... I LOVED EVERY minute of it! (Even the, er 110 degree days, 9 months pregnant with no a/c) I was even searching the internet for ways to be a WAHM... I just couldn't see leaving my babies (er, girls) we had so much amazing time together. Then, just after Labor Day our eldest began to get sick... little did we know what was in store for us. (Preface, while her illness was serious, so serious she could have died, I don't want anyone to think for one minute that I'm trying to make this bigger than what it was) Ahem, moving on (or rewinding back to September 10,2010) Drea came home from school with a headache, infact she was in tears it was that bad. (This is the child who has such the high pain tolerance that at three she was asking the doc for a Rocephen shot so she didn't have to take Amoxil)
We gave her the usual dose of Motrin and on we went... minutes later she was vomiting.The next 5 days she continue to have this dibilitating headache, vomiting, and a fever in upwards of 104. On the 5th day I took her to our local ER.... MISTAKE BIG MISTAKE!!! Although their claim to fame is that they are a Top 100 Hospital, I think not! After a lengthy (insert sarcasm here) 12 minute visit, she was diagnosed with Migranes and sent home on anti-nausea meds... REALLY? Even I know that migranes don't bring on 104 fevers for 5 days! The next day I took her to our family doc... She said sinus infection, I wasn't convinced, but it was something and we were on an antibiotic so I was a little at ease. Three doses of meds and 48 hours later her fever kept getting higher so we elected to go to Children's Hospital, THANK GOD! Literally, I have been on my knees thanking God daily, sometimes hourly! To think we were literally hours from loosing our first born just days before her 8th birthday. After a battery of tests the ER doc didn't know what was wrong, but wasn't sending her home either, so they admitted her. Another few hours and we had a diagnosis: Encephalitis and Aeseptic Menegitis.... While there isn't treatment for either, had they not provided supportive care through IV fluids, IV pain medications, and IV anti-nausea medications our 44 pound 8 year old would've slipped away from us... Like I said, definitely not terminal, but a few more hours and I'd be writing a totally different post. We have our little love back to normal and quite frankly that's all that matters now!
I am now back to work and actually loving it. While working from home would definitely be my preference. I have to say I love my job, and you know what I am really good at it! I have always had drive and that need for success... In whatever I do. That's just who I am. It's nice to walk into my office where everyone knows your name, and not because they "know" you, but they "know" who you are from the things that you accomplish.
The kids have returned to public school... a new public school and they are really advancing. This was definitely the right decision. Until my husband or I can knowingly be home full-time homeschool just simply isn't an option.
I have many upcoming posts. Please stick around because there is going to be a lot of information coming your way!
Finally, I'm back to reality. LIFE got in the way for a while "PHEW"
So much has happened and so much is going on... I have so many blog posts brewing in my head right now!
I don't even know where to start. First, do you like the "new" look? I am trying to learn how to create and modify templates... Bear with me!
The last few weeks have been a real blur. I was scheduled to return to work on the 20th, but as I said "LIFE" got in the way. All was good with the world, I was dreading coming back to work. Let me explain. While there was a point in my life I said I could never be a stay at home mom... That was then, and this is now! I spent 4 amazing months home with my kids... I LOVED EVERY minute of it! (Even the, er 110 degree days, 9 months pregnant with no a/c) I was even searching the internet for ways to be a WAHM... I just couldn't see leaving my babies (er, girls) we had so much amazing time together. Then, just after Labor Day our eldest began to get sick... little did we know what was in store for us. (Preface, while her illness was serious, so serious she could have died, I don't want anyone to think for one minute that I'm trying to make this bigger than what it was) Ahem, moving on (or rewinding back to September 10,2010) Drea came home from school with a headache, infact she was in tears it was that bad. (This is the child who has such the high pain tolerance that at three she was asking the doc for a Rocephen shot so she didn't have to take Amoxil)
We gave her the usual dose of Motrin and on we went... minutes later she was vomiting.The next 5 days she continue to have this dibilitating headache, vomiting, and a fever in upwards of 104. On the 5th day I took her to our local ER.... MISTAKE BIG MISTAKE!!! Although their claim to fame is that they are a Top 100 Hospital, I think not! After a lengthy (insert sarcasm here) 12 minute visit, she was diagnosed with Migranes and sent home on anti-nausea meds... REALLY? Even I know that migranes don't bring on 104 fevers for 5 days! The next day I took her to our family doc... She said sinus infection, I wasn't convinced, but it was something and we were on an antibiotic so I was a little at ease. Three doses of meds and 48 hours later her fever kept getting higher so we elected to go to Children's Hospital, THANK GOD! Literally, I have been on my knees thanking God daily, sometimes hourly! To think we were literally hours from loosing our first born just days before her 8th birthday. After a battery of tests the ER doc didn't know what was wrong, but wasn't sending her home either, so they admitted her. Another few hours and we had a diagnosis: Encephalitis and Aeseptic Menegitis.... While there isn't treatment for either, had they not provided supportive care through IV fluids, IV pain medications, and IV anti-nausea medications our 44 pound 8 year old would've slipped away from us... Like I said, definitely not terminal, but a few more hours and I'd be writing a totally different post. We have our little love back to normal and quite frankly that's all that matters now!
I am now back to work and actually loving it. While working from home would definitely be my preference. I have to say I love my job, and you know what I am really good at it! I have always had drive and that need for success... In whatever I do. That's just who I am. It's nice to walk into my office where everyone knows your name, and not because they "know" you, but they "know" who you are from the things that you accomplish.
The kids have returned to public school... a new public school and they are really advancing. This was definitely the right decision. Until my husband or I can knowingly be home full-time homeschool just simply isn't an option.
I have many upcoming posts. Please stick around because there is going to be a lot of information coming your way!
In His Love,
Amanda
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