Menu Plan, March 18-24

We had an absolutely beautiful day on Saturday. It was sunny and about 70 degrees out the bulk of the day. It was a short but lovely taste of Spring. Today it's back to freezing rain...but I know Spring is right around the corner and my Florida-raised self can't *wait* for some more sunshine.

I'm really looking forward to a week mostly at home. Unless something changes, I think I'll only be gone for part of one day this week (besides Sunday). I don't know about y'all, but having children has totally turned me into a homebody. I used to try to get out every chance I could, but these days? A quiet day at home is usually my cup of tea. :)

Here's what I have on the menu:

Breakfasts: oatmeal, scrambled eggs, yogurt, and/or fruit; baked oatmeal (for Saturday and we'll have the leftovers on Sunday)

Dinners:
Rice and beans (with toppings), salad
Steak tacos, fruit salad
Sausage, bean, and greens soup (from he Everything Beans Book); grilled cheese
BBQ Meatballs, mashed potatoes, salad
Italian roast beef over pasta, salad
Sourdough pizza, salad
Dinner at the farm

What are y'all fixing this week?

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday.

Katie's Fourth Birthday Letter

Dear Katie,

I know I say this every year, but I just can't believe another year of being your mama has come and gone. If three seemed like a "big girl" age to me, how much more four does! Though we're planning to home school you, in just one short year, most of your peers will have already started going to school--that thought is so incredible to me! It still just doesn't seem like it's been that long since I first laid eyes on you.

Three was probably our most challenging year thus far as your parents. As your intellectual abilities have grown, your very strong will has showed itself in ways we'd rather it not. We know that as your grow and mature and come to genuine faith in Christ your strong will will be an asset to you and to Christ's Kingdom. So for now, we do our best to train you and pray that the Lord will bless our efforts with the outcome we so desire.

Strong-willed though you are, you add so much joy and sweetness (and all things pink and girly) to our lives. You love to spend time with mommy and daddy, and I think Benjamin is your best friend. You two play so well together, which is such a blessing to me--and has definitely made it easier for me to adjust to life with three little ones. You also love to help with Joshua and hold him. He loves the attention he gets from you and Benjamin.

Typical of little girls your age, you are totally into all things girly and princess. You spend a good chunk of your play time everyday twirling around the house in your princess costume, playing tea party and dolls. Benjamin is usually your willing prince, but sometimes he protests. You love wearing skirts and dresses and have also decided of your own accord that pants are for boys.

Thanks, I think, in large part to your Aunt Hannah's influence, you love art. She gave you an art set for your birthday and you make lovely creations every day. Mrs. Raymond [our pastor's wife] has also done an art class with you and you lovelovelove going to that. In another display of your artsiness, you gave yourself not one, but two haircuts this year (on the same day). Thankfully Miss Laura was able to make it presentable!

You are getting old enough that you don't always love doing chores anymore, but we are working with you to be diligent even when you don't love what you're doing. You are learning to pick up your toys, and you are good at helping empty the dishwasher. You also have a growing fascination with cooking and I'm looking forward to teaching you more in the kitchen over the coming months.

I love watching you learn. Your vocabulary grows daily and you're doing great working your way through the children's catechism. Your witty comments give us a daily dose of humor. I think you'll be learning how to read soon, and I'm looking forward to starting you with Kindergarten curriculum once you are a good reader. As the days go by, you seem to be absorbing more and more of what we teach you about the Scriptures and I'm so thankful our efforts seem to be paying off.

More than anything else I wish for you, it is my daily prayer that God will grant you repentance and faith early in life and that you will grow up serving Him faithfully all your days.

My sweet little girl, I am so thankful the Lord gave you to us. You add so much to our lives and I love you so much.

Happy birthday, Katie Lee!

Love,
Mama

Goals for 2013: March Update

March already. What?!

I made some progress on my goals in February, but not as much as I was hoping to on some of them. It was a busy month--the children--all three of them--got sick for a whole week which definitely threw my groove off. Honestly, though? It was partly lack of discipline and I intend to turn that around in the coming weeks, by God's grace.

Here's where I was at the end of February:

::Read through the Bible I am 8 days behind
::Memorize Psalm 119 I have memorized through verse 20; was hoping to be at verse 30 this month
::Lose my remaining baby weight plus 14 pounds by the end of OctoberI started with 30 pounds to go. After February, I have 22 pounds left. I have been doing Weight Watchers Online and exercising three times a week with Postnatal Boot Camp.
::Upload/organize photos each month and make a family photo book at the end of the year No progress to report here
::Go through 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life each quarter Haven't done this yet--need to start this week!
::Complete Family Herbalist Course, begin Certified Holistic Wellness Professional course I made progress here.
::Launch my new website (more soon!) I have content ready and am waiting on parts of the design, which I may not have until April.
::Have bi-monthly at-home "dates" with Ben Only one in February.
::Have a monthly "business meeting" with Ben Missed it this month
::Enter the Trinity Foundation essay contestNothing here yet.
::Start Kindergarten with Katie "School time" still consists of catechism and the Bible song. I think I've picked out a phonics curriculum--just need to order it.
::Get through Question 75 with Katie in the catechism We have made some progress here.
::Teach Benjamin 10 catechism questions. He is on Question 3
::Work with Katie and Benjamin to learn one chore each quarter. I changed this from one new chore each month for Katie to one quarterly for each of them. We weren't consistent enough here in February and I'm hoping they'll have toy pick-up down by the end of this month. 

I guess some progress is better than none--here's hoping for a better month this month. :)

Goals for This Week

 

Slowly but surely, by making weekly goals I've been chipping away at my goals for this year. I do so much better with them when I post them here for the whole world to see--as I learned in February when I was away from my blog. ;)

Here are my goals for this week:

Personal:
::Read 14 days of my Bible reading plan (two days per day to catch up)
::Memorize Psalm 119:21-28
::Do Postnatal Boot Camp three times (I'm finishing up Week 7 and starting Week 8!)
::Begin 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life

Marriage:
::Have our March business meeting

Children:
::Sing Books of the Bible song and review catechism daily

Household:
::Do tidy-up with the children daily
::Take at least one photo

Education:
::Finish up Units 17 and 18 of Family Herbalist Course

Blog/Work:
::Write next week's posts for Covenant Homemaking

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Menu Plan, March 10-16

I'm back! A little later than I initially planned because of some time we were able to spend with my parents this past week. What a blessing it was! I was sorry to see them head out today.

I always feel like I'm "re-entering" real life after my mama goes home because I get used to having her help with my everyday tasks while she's around. Here's hoping the week goes smoothly!

Here's what we're planning to eat this week:

Breakfasts (all served with yogurt and/or fruit):
Scrambled eggs with sourdough toast or breakfast potatoes
Oatmeal
Baked Oatmeal

Dinners (all served with salad):
Leftover Potato Soup (with sausage-seasoned beef instead of ham)
Roasted chicken drumsticks, baked sweet potatoes, green beans
Chicken Broccoli Rice casserole
BBQ Meatballs, mashed potatoes, green beans
Rice and beans with all the "fixings" (homemade salsa, sour cream, sauteed onions, etc.)
Sourdough pizza
Fellowship meal at church (I'm thinking I'll bring chili)

What are y'all making this week? If you need some inspiration, be sure to head over to OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday.

A break

I love these sweeties *so* much!

It has been busy around here lately, trying to get into the swing of things now that I'm emerging from the newborn daze. Add to that a broken washing machine, a broken oven (both of which are fixed now, thankfully!), a house full of sick children (all three), a mama who feels like she's coming down with whatever yuck the kiddos have, getting ready to go out of town for a family wedding, AND getting ready to launch a new site next month--phew!

I have just decided that rather than half-hearted blogging in the midst of the crazy, I'm going to take the rest of the month off 'officially'. During the next couple weeks, I'm going to try to take some time to write ahead, work on my new site, and make some plans for both blogs for the coming months. 

"See" you all soon!

55 Things I Love About My Dad

I have been so very blessed with a godly father who is not only my dad, but one of my dearest friends. Tomorrow is his 55th birthday. To honor him on his special day, here are 55 things I love about him (in no specific order).

1. His faithfulness to Christ. 
2. After over 25 years of marriage, he still adores his bride, my mama.
3. The way he laughs ("HA!").
4. He talks to my babies on the phone. 
5. He loves the Church. 
6. His generosity.  
7. He plays in the mud with his grandchildren. 
8. He gave me to an amazing husband. 
9. Growing up, he allowed space for me to become me while still guiding and protecting me. 
10. He's practical. 
11. His determination. 
12. He's handsome. 
13. He's smart.
14. He put up with me (really, that's saying something!). 
15. He is a good provider. 
16. He is diligent. 
17. He's thoughtful. 
18. He took me golfing even though I was awful not very good. 
19. He was always there for me (and still is).
20. He is wise. 
21. He's faithful in evangelism. 
22. He's fun to be around. 
23. He's humble. 
24. He's a great writer.
25. He is frugal.  
26. He drives Volvos. 
27. His excellent leadership. 
28. He prayed for me when I was apathetic towards Christ and didn't give up on me.
29. He taught me how to share the gospel with the lost.
30. He's a great boss (I work for his company from home).
31. He doesn't waste his time.
32. He is diligent in his study of Scripture.
33. He says what people need to hear even when they don't want to hear it.
34. He's quick to apologize when he wrongs someone.
35. He gets along well with my husband.
36. He respects Ben's authority in my life.
37. I never for a moment in my entire life doubted his love for me.
38. He provided me with excellent educational opportunities and chances to pursue my interests and grow my talents.
39. He submits to authority in his life.
40. He made me focus on my studies when my head was in the clouds during my courtship with Ben.
41. He taught me the value of studying something because it's good to always be learning--even if you won't necessarily use the knowledge (think: advanced math classes).
42. He isn't disappointed in who I've become even though he probably never imagined I'd get married at 18 and have three children by the time most of my peers were finishing college.
43. Dad is a good teacher.
44. He's a great radio show host.
45. He has good taste.
46. He taught me how to drive.
47. He tried to teach me how to ride a bike (a story for another day... *grin*).
48. He is friends with my in-laws (so thankful our families enjoy each other's company!)
49. He lets Mom come see me even though he misses her while she's gone.
50. He makes time for me when I call (unless he absolutely can't).
51. He is incredibly hospitable.
52. He doesn't think I'm quack-y when I talk about natural health.
53. He loves our [extended] family and makes every effort to spend time with them.
54. He is wonderful with my children.
55. He willingly changes his mind when he is convinced by Scripture.

See? He's an amazing guy, and I am so very blessed to be his daughter.

Happy birthday, Dad! I love you!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!