Gratitude

Hey Friends -

Its been awhile since the last post, seems I always start my blog with those words. Life has been busy I guess I have the excuse I just had a baby!! I know, crazy, exciting, exhausting, wonderful, oh so wonderful!!! We had almost exactly two weeks ago, Taylee Milla Wilson, a little girl. Perfect as can be! We didn't know what we were having so having two boys at home, we were completely over joyed to be surprised with a little girl. Wow, all I can say is I still look at her in awe at what a blessing she is to us and how much love I truly have for this child and my boys. It can be so uplifting to look at them and feel so much gratitude. Have you ever just sat and thought about gratitude and you could literally feel it?

But what true love doesn't come with some sacrifice. Its hard to believe almost a year ago, we found out we were pregnant. We were due on our anniversary July 9th. We lost the baby in late November, life a year ago was a sad time for me. Having experienced a loss early in pregnancy is a very lonely beast. Its hard to express and I won't go there today that wasn't the reason I wanted to write. I don't choose to look at that time as darkness anymore but more as an enlightening experience. I wanted to write, because October is pregnancy infant loss awareness month. So many struggle with loss, and its hard to understand why God takes you down a path you never want to travel.

I wasn't going to write about infant loss with the birth of our new baby. But yesterday my mom offered the mass for our baby we lost, it was a surprise she did that as it was something I never thought to do especially now that a year had past. But it was a good reminder of remembrance,  gratitude and reflection about the road we had traveled. Have you ever experienced a tough time and looked around you and noticed different signs from heaven? The last year had given me countless works that lead me to believe everything was ok and in the place it was supposed to be. I believe its God showing us he is there. I understand now, the path God had in store for us and accepted it. As Taylee's very existence wouldn't be; have it not been for the loss. Its truly amazing to see how God works in our lives. Hope everyone finds gratitude in life's struggles and joys! I surely am counting my blessings these days!! As after the storm usually lies a beautiful rainbow of hope. Keep seeking to find and don't give up hope.

 

Meal Prep:

Last night I wanted to show my boys mom was still fun even with a baby latched 24/7 and healing up after a C-section. That they deserved moms attention too. I said, "I have a surprise" We cut up apples together, warmed up some caramel, and sat around a plate and shared caramel apple treats together!! It was fun and they were so excited to do that before bedtime!!

So today with gratitude on the mind, it isn't about meal plans, lists, schedules, etc. Obvious those have been far and in between here. Thankful for my mom, family and friends who have brought us meals so I didn't have to think about meal plans. So instead make a list and be grateful of your blessings and plan a fun family night. Date night. Plan a trip. Get away. Go to the park. Look at the beautiful fall trees.  Just appreciate life!!!! And BE GRATIFUL. Even through the struggles we have a lot to be thankful for.

Sweet Summertime!

Evening Table

Aw the smells of summer, hope everyone has been enjoying the summer. I realize I haven’t written for most of it. Our life has been rather hectic. I’m learning the art of organization, adversity, and reflection. I’ve definitely been utilizing my meal plans for the sake of time. We commute and life is so much less stressful when I get home and I know what’s going to be on the table. I value sitting down together as a family, I think its important for our children to learn to eat what is made, not choose what they want for dinner. It’s such a challenge with toddlers because they do learn what they like and dislike. Many meals are left with full plates and it leaves me angry they don’t want or like to eat what I spent time preparing for them. I guess that is all part of it and it’s also that life lesson, to let go of the small stuff. This week made me reflect on how short life is, a sweet coworker of mine sudden passed away. I remember just the day before talking with her scanning items in the workroom and the next day, she was gone. Life can change in a blink of an eye. It made me think all week about life and how it’s so short and just not fair sometimes. That we worry about things we don’t have control of and the things we do we complain about. So my new motto is to make changes in my life that I do have control of! Make a list for yourself; if you didn’t have tomorrow or ask yourself if the person you loved was gone tomorrow what would you have done today??? So what are you waiting for……… get out there and DO IT!!!!! Check out my meal plan to help with your week planning and make life just a bit less stressful, and spend more time with the people who matter most!!

 

Weekly Dinner Plans

Sunday – Grilled Pork & Potatoes   

Monday – Walking Tacos

Tuesday –Rotelle Pasta with sausage Alfredo & fresh green beans   

Wednesday – Jambalaya & Corn Bread w/ honey

Thursday – Left Overs

Friday – Take Out

Saturday – Burgers, Fries, & Malts

Grocery List

Check your cabinets for ingredients you may already have!

·         2 lbs Ground Beef

·         2 packages of Kielbasa cooked Sausage

·         Bag of frozen diced grilled chicken

·         Pork Chops

·         Bag of Potato’s

·         Garlic Clove

·         Onion

·         Frozen Fries

·         Frozen bag of fajita peppers

·         Fresh Green Beans

·         Lettuce

·         Alfredo Sauce

·         Rotelle Noodles

·         Rice

·         Taco Seasoning

·         Dorito Chips

·         Salsa

·         Can of Diced Tomato’s

·         Tomato Juice

·         Chicken Stock or Bullion cubes

·         Jiffy corn bread mix

·         Honey

·         Ranch

·         Shredded Cheddar Cheese

·         Sliced Cheese for Burgers

·         Buns for hamburgers

·         Vanilla Ice Cream

·         Malt Mix

·         Milk

·         Chocolate Syrup

RECIPES

Sunday – Pork & Potato’s      

Marinade your pork chops on Saturday. Dice some potatoes put in foil with butter, salt, pepper, & parmesan cheese. Grill potatoes and pork on grill.

 

Monday – Walking Tacos

             Ground Beef (Brown 1 lbs of the Hamburger)

            Taco Seasoning

            Doritos

            Salsa

            Cheddar Cheese

            Lettuce

            Top with your favorites!

Follow the directions on Taco packet, cook your meat. Chop up your lettuce. Add lettuce, cooked taco meat, salsa, crunched up Doritos, and all your other favorite taco toppers!!

 Tuesday – Sausage Alfredo w/ Green Beans

Cut up sausage

                1 jar Alfredo Sauce

                 Rotelle pasta

                Basil, Salt, Pepper

Dice up the smoked sausage and throw in skillet. Boil Pasta as directed. Add Sauce to sausage. Season Sauce with basil, salt and pepper. Strain noodles when complete and dinner should be ready! Put the green beans in steamer microwave until soft, add butter and salt and pepper. This was so easy and delicious!

 

Wednesday – Jambalaya & Corn Bread

One Bag of Frozen Fajita Veggies (red pepper, onion, yellow & green peppers)

            Use the ½ of the bag of frozen chicken

            Large can of diced tomatoes

            1 Cup Rice

            1 garlic clove

            ½ tomato juice

            2 cups chicken stock

1/2 tsp (or more!) of hot sauce

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp oregano

½ tsp onion powder

½ tsp dried thyme

¼ tsp garlic salt

1 bay leaf

Box of Jiffy
           

Throw your bag of the frozen fajita veggies in the skillet with a little oil. 5-7 minutes or so. Preheat over for jiffy corn bread. While that is cooking cut up the polish sausage into small pieces, toss the meat into the skillet with the veggies by this time they should be soft. Open your can of diced tomatoes throw in un-drained. Add one garlic clove. (I use a garlic press).  Then add your seasonings & rice and cover and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes. While this is simmering mix up your jiffy and put into muffin tins and bake! Top Muffins with butter and honey!!

 

      

Thursday – Left Over’s Night

You should have plenty of left overs to feast and eat up what you have in your fridge or freeze what you don’t eat.

 

Friday – TAKE OUT

Saturday – Burgers, Fries, & Malts

Make hamburger patties with salt and pepper. Preheat the oven as directions for fries. Blend up your ice cream, malt mix, chocolate, and milk in blender.

 

 

Live with Less

   

So my family is learning these days to live with less. We sold our home, that was brand new when we moved in, we lived there for almost 8 years. We sold it very quickly and are living in a 1920's bungalow family rental with one bathroom, no dishwasher, no garage, I have to use keys to unlock my door, this will be home until we find our place. Its a temporary situation, but I have to say I'm enjoying the peace of small town living and simplicity. The things I thought and cried about not having are nothing to me anymore. For example; my new hobby is putting cloths on my cloths line. I love the smell of my sheets fresh off the line. The plant from my grandma who passed away in October now sits by the sink in the kitchen so when I want to stress about all the dishes to wash, I think of her. I think of her simple life and all the dishes she once washed for her 8 children. I look at my home we are living, with beautiful 1920's trim, windows that run the course of the house. Literally I've counted 26 windows that surround the main floor of the house. Its amazing the beauty of sunlight, and how that makes you feel when you open up the windows and wake up to the mornings light. Simplicity has caused us to look at life differently. I went through a house mourning time where I thought I would miss all the glories of "new" but what is new? Its just materials. Ultimately a home is where your people are. Its the time you spend with them in a place and space in time. I'm learning to enjoy the little things and let go of the things that didn't matter. I feel its given me a new appreciation for life and focus energy on the things that do. Not to say once we find our home, I might want a dishwasher, for now I am taking this time to live with less.

Menu: 

Monday: Ham, Cheese, and Lettuce Wraps with fruit

Tuesday: Jambalaya with cornbread muffins

Wednesday: Enchilada's & Black Beans

Thursday: Pizza and Salad

Friday; Burgers & Potato

Saturday: EAT OUT

Sunday: Pork Chops on Grill with Asparagus


Grocery List: 

2 lbs Ground Beef
Pork Chops 
Deli Ham
Ring of Smoked Sausage (already cooked kind) 
Package of Pepperoni 
Mozzarella Cheese (Shredded) 
Mexican Cheese (Shredded)
Head of Lettuce 
Asparagus 
Bag of Potato 
Favorite Fruit of Choice 
Soft Tortillas (Large Burrito size) 
Hamburger Buns 
Can of Enchilida Sauce (Old Elpaso)
Can of Pizza Sauce 
Italian Dressing & Ranch Dressing
Box Spanish Rice 
Corn Bread Jiffy Mix
2 packages of Pillbury pizza mix 
Large Can of diced tomato 
Corn (I use up my frozen farm sweet corn) Canned will work though
Can of Black beans 
Bag of favorite Chips 

Monday: Ham, Cheese, and Lettuce Wraps with side of Fruit 
     This is super easy and a go to quick meal especially come the summer months when its hot and you don't want to turn on your oven. Put tortilla on plate, layer with Mozzarella Cheese, deli ham, lettuce, and dressing (ranch or italian "let the family member pick") heat in microwave for 30-1 minute depending on your microwave. Serve with fresh fruit!

Tuesday: Jambalaya with Corn Muffins 
 This is my favorite meal and I alter the recipe every time I make it. I made it less spicy and used Spanish box rice to be quick. Cut up your Ring of smoked sausage (remember this is already cooked). Throw in your skillet pan. Next put your large can of diced tomatoes in with sausage, add Spanish rice with the mix then I added drained corn to this as well, along with one cup of water. For seasoning: Add a couple chicken bouillon cubes; paprika, basil, salt, pepper, (if you want some spice: hot sauce & pepper flakes). While it simmers covered on medium or low about 20 - 30 minutes (you will know as the rice will be done.) Bake up your corn muffins; follow directions on the jiffy box. I like to put in the small muffin tin, just grease up with pan and bake for like 10-12 minutes (if you bake the mini's you will want to do less time). Top with honey, my kids love those mini corn muffins!!

NOTE: Before you go to bed put out your freeze hamburger, if you didn't buy it store bought. We have a quarter of beef so I always think about tomorrows meal so you don't have to defrost when you get home.


Wednesday: Enchilada's with Black beans 
Brown hamburger, but save about 1-2 cups for your pizza tomorrow and put in fridge. Then honestly I just follow the recipe on the Old Elpaso can. Drain black beans, and heat in the microwave and put a little cheese on top!!

Thursday: Pizza with Salad 
Follow the directions on the pillsbury dough mix. Roll on pizza pan. Add your sauce. Next grab your left over meat you cooked yesterday in fridge, layer on top of sauce, then add cheese and pepperonis. Bake as directed on pillsbury package!! Serve with side salad

Friday: Hamburgers on grill with potatoes 
Make supper easy and grill some burgers on the grill. Have a couple beers. If you are tired just have some potato chips or dice some fresh potatoes with Parmesan cheese and butter on the grill in some foil.

Saturday: TAKE OUT!!! Or eat out at favorite restaurant. You deserve to take the night off. 

Sunday: Pork Chops with Asparagus 
Make supper easy again and grill some chops on the grill. Season them up, even with butter and salt and pepper. Put your asparagus in foil with olive oil and salt/pepper on the grill. Supper easy but Delicious meal!!!

Be Mine

Happy Valentine's Day friends. Do you have romantic plans with your loved one? I think most importantly on Valentine's Day is that we let each other know we love them and appreciate their presence in our lives. And with Lent here, maybe its a time to have God be present in our lives as well and acknowledge him through daily prayer, maybe even practice it together as a family.

What was Valentine's day derived from anyway?

Story of St. Valentine

"The story of Valentine's Day begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian Martyr.   The emperor was Claudius II.   The Christian was Valentinus.

Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods, and had made it a crime punishable by death to associate with Christians.   But Valentinus was dedicated to the ideals of Christ; not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his beliefs.   He was arrested and imprisoned.

During the last weeks of Valentinus's life a remarkable thing happened.   Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might be brought to Valentinus for lessons.   She had been blind since birth.   Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind.   Valentinus read stories of Rome's history to her.   He described the world of nature to her.   He taught her arithmetic and told her about God.  She saw the world through his eyes, trusted his wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength.

"Valentinus, does God really hear our prayers?" Julia asked one day.

"Yes, my child, He hears each one."

"Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night?  I pray that I might see.   I want so much to see everything you've told me about!"

"God does what is best for us if we will only believe in Him," Valentinus said.

"Oh, Valentinus, I do believe! I do!"  She knelt and grasped his hand.

They sat quietly together, each praying.   Suddenly there was a brilliant light in the prison cell.   Radiant, Julia screamed, "Valentinus, I can see!  I can see!"

"Praise be to God!"  Valentinus exclaimed, and he knelt in prayer.

On the eve of his death Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God.   He signed it, "From your Valentine."  His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory.   He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxedes in Rome.   It is said that Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave.   Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship.   On each February 14, Saint Valentine's Day, messages of affection, love, and devotion are exchanged around the world."

 

 

Weekly Dinner Plans

Sunday – Meatballs & Cheesy Potato’s

Monday – Philly’s & Ramon Slaw Salad

Tuesday – Polish Sausage, Sauerkraut, & Dumplings

Wednesday –   Tacos & Black Beans

Thursday – Spaghetti & Corn

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Pork Chops & Green Beans

Grocery List

·         3 lbs of Hamburger

·          Pork Chops

·         1 Frozen section pepper jacks philly meat

·         Smoked Sausage

·         Hash Browns

·         Cheddar Cheese

·         Provolone Slices of cheese

·         Sour Cream

·         Evaporated Milk

·         Hoagie Buns

·         Tortilla’s

·         Taco Mix

·         French onion soup

·         Cream of Chix Soup

·         Salsa

·         Sauerkraut

·         Asparagus

·         Corn

·         Black Beans

·         Spaghetti Sauce

·         Spaghetti Noodles

·         Hoagie Buns

 

RECIPES

Sunday –Meatballs & Cheesy Tators

            Meat Mixture: 1 lb hamburger

                1 Cup Oatmeal

                1 egg

                ½ t. pepper, ½ t. garlic powder, ½ t. salt, ½ t. chili powder

                Chopped Onion

                ½ Cup evaporated milk or milk if you don’t have any!

                SAUCE: 2 Cup ketchup, 1 ½ Brown Sugar, 2 Tbsp. liquid smoke, chopped onion, garlic powder

Mix the meat ingredients. Shape into balls, place in dish. Pour sauce on top. Bake 350 for 45 minutes. Find your favorite Cheesy potato recipe and throw in the oven with the meatballs.

 

 

 

 

 

Monday – Philly’s &  French Onion Soup

            Philly Meat

            Hoagie buns

            French onion soup

            Provolone Cheese

Heat up your philly meat on stove top as direct on package, once completed. Place hoagie buns on baking sheet, butter the bread, scoop meat on bun along with cheese. Heat oven to boil. Put in oven but watch closely shouldn’t take but a few minutes. As bread is heating, put your French onion soup in cups (I like to use little tea cups) with a little mozzarella cheese and microwave for a couple minutes. Cut your sandwiches and place French onion soup on plate. Garnish with pickles. Don’t forget to dip your sandwich in soup!! So yummy!!

 Tuesday – Polish Sausage, Sauerkraut, and dumplings

Polish Sausage

Sauerkraut

Simmer the roll of sausage and sauerkraut on stovetop to heat.

Dumplings are super easy this is my Aunt Rita’s recipe. 2 C flour. 2/3 C milk. 1 egg. ¼ t. salt. 2 t. baking powder. Add all the dry ingredients. Add egg, milk, and stir. Knead the dough and start forming nice balls. Boil 2 inches of water, and put the dumplings in cook for 10 minutes but DO NOT LIFT THE LID. After 10 minutes take out and put in with your sauerkraut and meat dish! Who doesn’t love a little ketchup and mustard to go with!

 

Wednesday – Taco’s & Black Beans

                Ground Beef (Brown 2 lbs of the Hamburger, you’ll use the 1 lb for tomorrow spaghetti)

            Taco Seasoning

            Tortillas

            Salsa

            Cheddar Cheese

            Top with your favorites!

Follow the directions on Taco packet, its super easy! Throw black beans in microwave while cooking. After dinner is finished save the remaining taco meat for tomorrow’s meal!!

 

 Thursday – Spaghetti & Corn

                Spaghetti Sauce

                Spaghetti noodles

                Meat

                Corn

Throw your meat and sauce to simmer. Boil noodles. Microwave the corn!

Friday – TAKE OUT

 

Saturday – Pork Chops & Asparagus   

Grill Pork chops & Asparagus