I've realized that blogs are much more interesting to read when there are pictures! Kinda like a children's picture book - ya know! I don't think I have any faithful readers, but if you are the one and only who checks out my blog - I promise to get back in the groove during November. We've had a busy weekend. Friday evening, we went to my brother's trick-or-treating. I think super-son had more fun handing out candy than actually walking around the neighborhood. Saturday, Super-husband and son went to the Duke vs. WFU game. It was a close game, but in the end Duke fell short and WFU took the Victory.

I'll post my menu later this evening. I think I'm going to start posting the past week's menu. So, I don't have to go back in and edit the current week due to unforeseen leftovers and invitation out, etc.

Anxiety

By definition, anxiety means 1 a: painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill b: fearful concern or interest c: a cause of anxiety2: an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it.

Geesh - just by definition it seems like something we would want to steer away from huh? So, why do we get ourselves tangled into the mess? I've had several anxious moments over the past 6-8 months. For some reason, this week a couple have weighed exceptionally hard on me. Last night at church, imagine my surprise when the pastor spoke on -- you guessed it? Anxiety! If there was every a time that I felt like a message was prepared for no one else but me - that was it! I was on the verge of tears for the timeliness of the message - I almost talked myself out of going last night. "I needed a mental break." Imagine the blessing I would have missed had I stayed at home.

The message centered around Phillipians 4:6-7. There was no exceptionally profound theological message - just some basic nuts and bolts. I pray that God will help me stay focused on the message last night and what I need to do, so HE can do his work in me.

Menu Plan Monday (arrives a day late)!

Believe it or not, I really do like to be on time! Things went somewhat according to plan last week - dealing with various life "stressors" threw a couple of dents in the plan, but overall we did well. To be completely honest, I haven't completely mapped this week out.

Monday - Chicken Broccoli Ring (modified Pampered Chef recipe); peaches

Tuesday - Spaghetti

Wednesday - fellowship meal at church

Thursday - meeting friends for dinner

Friday - sandwiches

Saturday - will update later this week!

Sunday - depends on what's on sale this week!

I wish I was better organized so when the stress of life hits - I'm not frantically trying to get meals together!

The Spirit of a Child

Things I've Learned from my "Spirited" Child

I wish I had the care-free spirit that washed the stress of the world away

I wish I was so comfortable in my own skin that I could "beat to my own drum"

I wish I could speak as honestly as he does without worrying about what other people think

I wish I could be as happy playing with a empty paper towel tube and big box

I wish I was as imaginative and creative

I am so thankful that he is our super-son. I am thankful he has a teacher who doesn't see children as "cookie-cutters" - they are each unique, special and individual in their on way. I pray that God will teach to me be the loving mom he needs with a "spirit" that will harmonize with his.

Watchin' What We Eat Wednesday

Bacon Cheeseburger Roll-Up

1 lb lean hamburger (93/7 or less)
4 oz Velveeta Light (cut into small cubes)
3 TBL Hormel Real Bacon Bits (I buy the large bags at Sam’s b/c I use them for lots of things)
1 can Pillsbury reduced fat crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 400. Cook beef until browned evenly. Drain meat and return to skillet. Add Velveeta and bacon bits. Cook until Velveeta completely melted, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and set aside. Unroll crescent rolls onto baking sheet sprayed with Pam. Press into a 15 x 8 rectangle. Top evenly with meat mixture. Roll-up dough starting with the long sides. Bake seam side down for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Serving size = 1/6 of roll. (1 serving = 7 Weight Watcher points). I usually serving with Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans (which are low fat and low in points) and applesauce.

92 Days until Christmas...

Seriously? Only 92 days - wow... I saw the sign posted on a doorway here in the office. So, I started thinking - what can we do differently this year? I'm voting for a cash-only Christmas. Ok - let me explain - that sounds like I'm asking for cash only gifts! No, no, no! Actually, I don't need a thing my family's health and happiness are good enough for me.

BUT, we have decided to buy with cash only this year - no plastic! I realize for most people that's not a big deal, but we are trying very hard to adhere to a budget and move toward being debt-free. So - this is a BIG baby-step for us. (I'm waiting on the library to call and tell me the Dave Ramsey book is ready for me to pick-up!).

This next question - where will the money come from? Well, super-husband started a new job in July. We are having money from each paycheck put into a Medical Care Expenses account (they take the money out pre-tax; we submit receipts and are reimbursed for what we've spent). If we hold all our receipts until the end of November, we will be able to submit a little over $300 which will be back just in time for holiday shopping. "Santa" has a Best Buy gift card that he will be using to pay for most of super-son's BIG item.

Do you have money-saving tips for Christmas? I'd love to hear about them!

Menu Plan Monday

This is my second week of menu-planning. What did I learn last week? Well, it was great to come home from work and have a plan. A couple of days, I made something other than planned, but it was with ingredients already on hand (so no extra money spent!). And, I was able to move the "planned" menu item forward to this week.

Monday -
Salmon patties, "mashed" potatoes, sweet peas

Tuesday -
Breakfast for dinner - scrambled egg beater omelets, bacon and toast

Wednesday -
fellowship meal at church

Thursday -
Oven-fried chicken, corn on the cob, applesauce, wheat rolls

Friday -
Sandwiches (super-husband has a ballgame, so we'll eat and run)

Saturday -
Birthday Dinner for a friend's mother

Sunday -
grilled chicken, pasta salad, sliced tomatoes, wheat rolls

Tasty Thursday (but was supposed to be Wednesday!)

So I'm new at this bloggin' stuff and a day late, but that's okay right? The theme this week is cookies, but since I don't have a favorite cookie recipe I'm going to post a dessert recipe.

Fluff

1 container Fat Free Cool Whip
1 dry pkg sugar free Jello (I use cheesecake or white chocolate flavors)
1 can mandarin oranges
1 small can crushed pineapple
1 container Fat Free vanilla yogurt

Mix all ingredients together until well-blended. Refrigerate immediately. Serving size equals 1 cup. (1 cup = 2 Weight Watcher points)

This is a great recipe for breakfast or dessert. The variations are endless - be creative with the pudding and the fruit.

Walk for Your Heart

In May of this year, our family faced a life-changing event. Super-Husband went to the doctor for what we thought was indigestion. It had been bothering him since Monday evening. On Friday morning, he went to the doctor. By noon that Friday, he was being whisked away by ambulance to a local Medical Center. The first report that I received from his primary doctor indicated a mild heart attack. By the time I arrived at the hospital, super-husband was being taken into the Cath Lab. Forty minutes later, the cardiologist informed me that he had an artery that was 100% blocked and they were unable to get a stent through the blockage. Wow! I quickly realized that this "mild" heart attack was in reality a "massive" heart attack, and I was very fortunate that my husband was joking with the nursing staff, breathing, and simply ALIVE!

He spent the next 3 days in the Cardiac ICU going through a battery of tests to determine how much damage had been done to his heart. They concluded that this was likely a second heart attack, because the heart had tried to repair itself by making spider veins around the blockage to get to the heart. Bypass surgery was ruled out at this point because the damage has been done to the heart (from the prior heart attack we did not know about) and was not reversible if blood flow was to get back to that area of the heart. His doctor has been confident with lifestyle changes and medication that Super-husband will be able to have a good quality of life.

Fortunately, Super-husband has a very laid back personality. Did he ever imagine he would be going through this at THIRTY-NINE years old - No! But, he's taken the steps to make a healthier life. We believe family history/genetics is likely a huge factor, but because he was adopted as an infant we know no family history. He was not obese and stayed relatively fit playing spring, summer, and fall church league softball. However, now he is more active exercising at least 3 times a week and playing softball one night a week. He avoids the fast-food drive-thru at lunch and doesn't getting a second helping at home. He takes his medicine diligently - we joke about the "old man" pill box that sits on our bathroom counter.

All of that to stay - GET MOVING!! :o)

We've decided to participate in the Heart Walk at Tanglewood http://heartwalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=258325 in October and hope that you will join us or support us! He is my reason for walking ...

Menu Plan Monday

I've ran across so many great blogs (many of which inspired me to start posting). Last week, I discovered Menu Plan Monday and thought - what a great idea! So, here's my plan for the week...

Monday -
Fresh Grated Parmesan Alfredo Fettucine, Tossed Salad and Wheat Rolls
Recipe Review: The Parmesan Alfredo Fettucine recipe was a new one. It was supposed to be lower fat. It was still high in calories. It seemed like there were way too many noodles and not enough sauce.
Tuesday -
Salmon Patties, "Mashed" Potatoes, Sweet Peas (moving to next week) - Rainy weather caused a change in plans so we had chili and grilled cheese sandwiches instead!
Wednesday -
Fellowship Meal at Church
Thursday -
Oven-Fried Chicken, Corn, Applesauce (moving to next week) - using Tuesday leftovers to make Chili-Mac with corn muffins
Friday -
Homemade Pizza and Salad
Saturday -
Grilled Chicken, Pasta Salad, Corn
Sunday -
CrockPot Roast, Brown Rice, and Green Beans

I hope menu-planning will help us save time and money by simply planning ahead!

Faith, Family and Friends - Take One!

So, I have been pondering whether or not to start a blog for quite sometime. Today's the day! This is my first official entry and part of new learning curve I'm sure! I hope to include daily entries on things that are very important to me - Faith, Family and Friends!