2009 Scripture Art Number 7

Beth Moore posted on her blog asking if anyone wanted to join

her in memorizing Scripture, two a month, in 2009.

You can see all of my posts here.

* * *

This is from the March 16-31st period. I really, really enjoyed this one. The left page was done with watercolor pencils and different markers. The right was watercolor paint and marker.

Now. To pick a verse for the first half of April.

I had a thought that I should pick Jeremiah 29:11-13 and pushed the thought aside because I know the verses. So I asked on Twitter and @LisaReid said, "I'd have to go with Jer 29:11, or 11-13. It stands out like a gem against the rest of the book, always surprising me."

Uh-huh. Surprise. Surprise, eh?

So I told her I'd thought those where the verses I should do, but hesitated instead, so this was a "Here's your sign" moment. She said, "Ha! I almost didn't reply to you, but I really felt that I should. So yes, here's your sign. Dooo eeeet!"

So it looks like I'll be spending from now until Mid-May on this passage. I'll do one verse for each 2-week period.

For I know the plans I have for you—[this is] the LORD's declaration—plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Menu Plan Monday--March 30

Starting March 2nd, We're going to give this a shot. I used to be so good at planning meals and something happened--and then I found out by way of a food journal, my system doesn't tolerate MSG--so I'm making thing from scratch to avoid the nasty stuff!

And since we're moving soon, I also would like to need to empty out the abundance from my freezer and pantry. I'm going to try to GOING to spend less than $15 a week for my grocery budget in April and probably the first two weeks of May. WISH ME LUCK! LOL

* * *

Monday--Leftover (frozen) Chicken and Dumplings, biscuits

Tuesday--Leftover (frozen) Broccoli Cauliflower soup, grilled cheese sandwiches

Wednesday--Stuffed Peppers (Large--Once a Month Cooking-type Recipe), mashed potatoes, green beans

Thursday--Round Steak with Gravy, mashed potatoes, corn (See recipe below)

Friday--Grilled pork loin

Saturday--My belated lunch/dinner at mom's. :)

Sunday--Phil's day to grill. Most likely steaks from the quarter cow we bought.

* * *

Dessert? Blueberry Crisp (with blueberries from last summer's picking!)

Snacks? Homemade Yogurt!


* * *

Grocery list? Looks like I only need milk, bread, ice cream, butter and a yogurt starter.

Round Steak with Gravy

1 Round Steak cut in pieces (about the size of your palm)
1 stick butter
Salt & pepper

Melt butter in frying pan on low.
Add in round steak pieces. Salt and pepper to your liking.
Cover and cook on low for about 2.5 hours, flipping meat occasionally. If it looks dry, add a little bit of water.

Make either 2 packets of gravy (make sure it's MSG-free!) or mix your MSG-free beef soup base with water and a bit of flour to make your own gravy. Pour on top of round steak and cover, cook on low another hour.

Serve over noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice.

New Pet Project--Visual Prayer Sharing

When I first read Praying in Color I was hooked. I've since moved from doodling my prayer to doing mixed media art prayer and all sorts of neato stuff. So I'm calling it "Visual Prayer" now.

A Twitter friend was interested in the book and I offered to send my copy. But then an idea struck me. I'd send one of my own visual prayers along with the book and ask him to do the same. It took me way too long to fulfill my end of the bargain, but I did. Finally.

I put a little note in the book along with some instructions and included a small sketchbook and sent them before I left for vacation last week.

I'm hoping that everyone the book is passed along to will add their own visual prayer and email me with a photo of their prayer!

This is mine:

Wanna hear the weirdly ironic thing? If you know me at all, you know how God constantly works in my life with dates and times? Well...I ordered the book Praying in Color on March 18, 2008. I sent it to my Twitter friend on March 19, 2009.

Just like that time God picked me up to carry me on February 23 and put me down 12 years later on February 24.

His timing is impeccable.

You're A Jerk of the Highest Order Mr. Obama

MR. LENO: Now, are they going to put a basketball –- I imagine the bowling alley has been just burned and closed down.

MR. OBAMA: No, no. I have been practicing all –- (laughter.)

MR. LENO: Really? Really?

MR. OBAMA: I bowled a 129. (Laughter and applause.)

MR. LENO: No, that's very good. Yes. That's very good, Mr. President.

MR. OBAMA: It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something. (Laughter.)

This came just hours after meeting with Maria Shriver, whose mother started the Special Olympics.

There were no doubts in my mind that I didn't like the man, he solidifies my opinion when he opens his mouth.

Wordless Wednesday--Homemade Marshmallows

The Odds of Luck

They're pressed in many books I have no intention of ever discarding. Given to me on such a regular basis, I took for granted their rarity.

She'd tip-toe through my yard as if walking a tight-rope, even though the yard was nothing but weeds and rocks. She'd bend in half like a ballerina and go right to them, they must have been whispering her name.

She's been gone almost fifteen months now, but I still see her petite frame walking towards me, her small arm extended, her thin hand bent slightly, and between her long fingers--another four leaf clover for me, "Look! A 'prise!" she'd sing. Never a "suprise" always a 'prise. Always.

The odds of finding a 4-Leaf clover is estimated at 10,000 to 1.

And the odds of having such a best friend? There aren't enough stars in the sky. Love you Jill.

Flickr photo credit.

Tackle It Tuesday--Art and Boxes

Do you hate moving as much as I do? Is there anyone who likes moving? She should be banished to a life without chocolate. I decided instead of showing you the boxes I've packed over the past week I'd just tell you about them and post a fun picture!

So. This past week I:

• Packed 9 boxes
• Went through all of Zane's clothes
• Packed away Zane's winter clothes
• Gathered a bag of clothes he's outgrown
• Went through all of Phil's clothes (with his help)
• Packed away everything he's not wearing
• Went through the rest of my clothes and separated them by size
• Packed away everything I'm not wearing
• Packed Zane for Florida
• Packed Phil for Florida
• Packed me for Florida
• Arranged freezer and cabinet with foods my mom can eat while she's here watching the dogs while we're in Florida (she's diabetic.)
• Phil did all of the laundry in the house over the weekend, I've folded it and will put it away today.

Y'know. When I list it out, it looks like I've been busy. Why do I feel I've done nothing?

• Made a rough draft of our budget from now through the end of the year.
• Packed 11 packs of diapers and 12 jumbo packs of wipes I bought a Walgreen's for next to nothing for our grandbaby (due April 23rd!)
• Started to plan a trip to Walgreen's to use the $50 in Register Rewards from the diaper deal.
• Went shopping for shorts for Phil for Florida.
  

You people make me feel accomplished! Thank you!!

Now to the fun stuff. Every week for (how many weeks now?) my good friend Toni and I have got together one day to make note cards. Well, we switched to Visual Prayer this past week. I hope she posts photos of her beautiful art!

This one is called Wine Skins.
(Sorry if it's blurry)

Don't forget to enter the Rain-X Car Care Kit Giveaway!

Rain-X Car Care Kit Giveaway! Time's UP!

The Winner is TXPOPPET!! (or @cannedlaughter on Twitter!) Congrats!
Email me your home address and wiper blade size and they'll be in the mail soon!





Win a Rain-X Car Care Kit that includes:

• a set of Rain-X Latitude™ Wiper Blades specific for your car,
  
• a bottle of Rain-X Weatherbeater 2-in-1 Glass Cleaner & Rain Repellent,
  
• and a bottle of new Rain-X X-treme Clean.

Please leave a comment by Thursday March 19, 2009 at 5pm central time to be entered.
Winner will be announced sometime Thursday evening.

Thanks!

**for U.S. residents only, please.

Menu Plan Monday--March 16

Starting March 2nd, We're going to give this a shot. I used to be so good at planning meals and something happened.

And since we're moving soon, I also would like to need to empty out the abundance from my freezer and pantry. I'm going to try to GOING to spend less than $15 a week for my grocery budget in March (and possibly April.)

* * *

This week and next will save my $$ budget plans. We're leaving Saturday morning for Key West so we'll only need five meals this week and none until March 29. Sweet!

Phil made extra BBQ on Sunday so we'll have that for leftovers one day.

Monday--"Springfield" Cashew Chicken. We've been making this since we lived around Springfield, Missouri years ago. It made the NY Times! I'll be adding the recipe Monday afternoon.

Tuesday--Alton Brown's Corned Beef and Cabbage

Wednesday--Leftovers

Thursday--Leftovers

Friday--Leftovers

2009 Scripture Art Number 6

Beth Moore posted on her blog asking if anyone wanted to join

her in memorizing Scripture, two a month, in 2009.

You can see all of my posts here.

* * *

<--Scripture Art Number Five Final version

This is the second period for this passage, I chose to spend a session on each verse rather than fly through it as a whole passage. That means, I spend six full weeks on this passage.

God knows what He's doing.








The verse for Scripture Art Number 6, March 16-30 is: (in bold)

Luke 6:36-38

Be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Give and it will be given to you; a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over--will be poured in your lap.

For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Zane's Answers

Copy this note, ask your child the questions and write them down exactly how they respond. Tag me back if you have done this, I'd love to hear the answers.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
I love you

2. What makes mom happy?
Me

3. What makes mom sad?
Not sure

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Tickling

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Like me

6. How old is your mom?
36

7. How tall is your mom?
5 feet something

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Write

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Write

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Write

11. What is your mom really good at?
Write

12. What is your mom not very good at?
She is kinda good at everything

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Write

14. What's your mom's favorite food?
Steak

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
She's a writer

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Minnie Mouse

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Watch TV

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We are smart

19. How are you and your mom different?
Everything else

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
I just know

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
The Country

Wordless Wednesday--Visual Prayers

Tackle It Tuesday

I cleaned out my expired coupons (I'm not going to tell you when I did it, but I did it and I took a picture of it!) Now I have hardly any left because I didn't call the Post Tribune to give them my new debit card number after my old one expired, so I'm not getting the paper anymore. I should just call, but the coupons weren't all that good anyway.

Sorry I didn't take a pretty picture of the nice clean (empty!) coupon organizer. You'll just have to trust me this time.

I had a good week last week, organizing, cleaning, making appointments, doing budgets and paperwork, cooking, laundry, I can hardly remember everything I did.

This week, I just suck. Totally.

You can see all of my tackles here.

Pop Quiz

Pop Quiz.

1. Do you have a refrigerator? Oh. Yeah, of course you do.

2. Do you have cabinets that have food in them? Yes? Why sure.

3. How about a pantry? Maybe yes, maybe no?

4. A deep freeze?

5. A second fridge in the garage or basement?

Alrighty then. Take a minute will you--to realize just how fortunate you are. And stop moaning about the economy for a minute too. Because if you still have even half of the above mentioned items--you're better off than most of the world.

One child dies every seven seconds from hunger related issues and over three-hundred million kids go to be hungry every night.

The dry beans in my pantry, the ones I hardly ever use because they're such a pain in the butt? I realized today how many families I could feed with those beans I've wanted to throw away. I know, this is reminiscent of our parents who yelled at us to eat our food because there were starving children in Ethiopia. But I'm starting to get it.

What can we do that won't be a guilt-ridden torture ride?

• Donate to Compassion's Global Food Crisis Fund ($13 feeds a child for a month--a month. Forget the pizza, eat leftovers, and donate the 13 bucks.) And not only does Compassion help feed people, they also help with seeds and agricultural tools to help families with food and income.
  

• Take up a special offering at church or within your Bible study group and donate to the fund.

• Pray.

• Sponsor a child. We do.
  

WHAT DOES THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS FUND DO?

- Provides food vouchers to children and families needing immediate relief.
- Provides seeds and agricultural tools so that families can grow their own food as well as earn extra income.
- Provides supplemental nutrition services at Compassion-assisted centers around the world.

Menu Plan Monday--March 9

Starting March 2nd, We're going to give this a shot. I used to be so good at planning meals and something happened.

And since we're moving soon, I also would like to need to empty out the abundance from my freezer and pantry. I'm going to try to GOING to spend less than $15 a week for my grocery budget in March (and possibly April.)

* * *

Last week I was supposed to spend $15, I spent $30--we were out of toilet paper and something else. Oh well. This week, I told myself I'd try to spend $30 or less, I spent $50. I was out of stuff for Phil's lunches and breakfasts so--there goes my plan! I'm not going to complain though, I usually spend around $100. So at least we're half of normal. Hopefully next week I'll do better.

And. Because the power went out for 5 hours last night WHILE dinner was cooking, we had to eat out. A couple of the recipes from last week are getting moved to this week. We didn't eat at home Saturday, either, because my brother and sister-in-law invited us at the last minute to see Blue Man Group. The couple they were going to go with had to back out. I need to give a shout out to Cesar's on Clark in Chicago. KillerMargaritas.com If you know me, you know I HATE margaritas. At Cesar's? I had 3 frozen strawberry margaritas and could have had 3 more!

Monday--hoisin and honey pork (homemade hoisin sauce) with Crash Hot Potatoes.

Tuesday--Crockpot great northern beans and smoked sausage

Wednesday--Italian Beef (Portillo's recipe) from our freezer stash. If you're doing an MSG-free diet, make sure your packet of Italian dressing doesn't have MSG in the ingredients--or--even better, use this recipe to make your own Italian dressing mix.

Thursday--Easy Baked Manicotti

(Dessert with leftover Ricotta cheese also using up frozen blueberries that we picked over the summer--Blueberry Ricotta Squares.) OR Fried ricotta cheese balls.

Friday--Leftovers

Saturday--Beef Stroganoff--Make sure your bullion doesn't contain MSG. You can get organic bullion at some grocery stores and most health food stores.

Sunday--We're going to Grill something from the freezer, steaks probably.



Grocery list:

Egg noodles
Manacotti shells
Spaghetti Sauce
Eggs
Paper Towel
Sugar
Sour Cream
Mayo
Velveeta
Ricotta Cheese

The extras I bought?

Pistachios for Zane
Little Smokies for Zane
Hot dogs for Zane
Tortilla chips for Phil's lunch (to go with the Salsa I have)
Smoked Sausage (found out Aldi's carries MSG free!)
Butter
Economy sized yogurt
Cottage Cheese for Sunday

Zane doesn't like a lot of what we eat. This week it's the beans, manicotti, Italian beef, and Beef Stroganoff, so I had to have some choices for him. We don't force food issues. I make enough of what he likes to have leftovers (normally) and have hot dogs or Little Smokies or some other protien availave if he tries our and doesn't like it.