Food...Camera is missing...Trip...God's Awesomeness

So, I was taking pics yesterday and now it (the camera)  has apparently vanished. I am really hoping I laid it somewhere and that I do not have to rummage through the trash to find it.

Yesterday, I was making Potato Soup (with chives, bacon, and cheese to top it). I made several gallons (I think like 4 gallons) along with banana bread, corn muffins, & apple cinnamon bread.

Today I made something new!

Slightly Spicy Chicken with slightly spicy rice! I am meeting with the Seniors Group today and I was kind of lost as what to cook. I found chicken on sale, so I knew chicken something. This am I took my standard spices plus Mrs Dash spicy seasoning and boiled my chicken breasts (boneless..they were frozen despite the night in the fridge, so they got boiled!). I added the spices to the water while they were boiling.

Then I took a cup of the broth from the cooked chicken and used it in my rice (I used one part broth to 4 parts water). I added bullion, more seasonings, canned diced tomatoes and green chilies. Then I cooked the rice as "normal" (the directions on the bag).  YUMMY. I have corn and green beans as my side dishes cooking in my crock pots as I type.

Off to the day. Tomorrow we are planning to go to Virgina for a quick trip & a tour of a museum we missed last trip, followed by a "home improvement" work day. Even in a small home, there are always projects to do!!

And I have to share the awesomeness of God! My van was acting up. I just decided there was nothing I could do about it right now. We had to many other financial "commitments." So I drove my husbands car as needed and tried to not drive the van too much. Well, we needed the van for an upcoming Singles Sunday School race thing the guys are doing, so I decided to not panic over the money and just take it in. I was pretty sure it was the same thing as last year I had repaired. About $350 -700 ...depending if they needed to replace one or two of the thingies.

Well, I woke up the other day and decided to trust God on it. I really did too. I had a peace about it. I did not even stress in my tummy! I took it and and waited. {Note: my kids were FANTASTIC waiting!} Then the guy told me it was the same thing, and even though the warranty expired a few months back, the parts store was going to just give me a new one anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yep, that was just the mercy of God. The total cost $77. For labor. Now, if the cost had been  $700, it still would have been the mercy of God. I had something priceless... The knowledge that the Lord would take care of our needs. And the reminder of the absolute truth...is not life worth more that what you eat, or what you drink, or the clothes you wear (or the car needing fixed).? Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. Oh, how we get caught up in so many temporal things, but with Jesus, we can fully trust Him to provide if we seek Him first!

Ladies Night Out

So I tried to take pics before anyone got there.The pics are not fantastic!  My husband pointed out I did not take any with the ladies there! lol! It went really, really well and we had tons of leftovers. There were some giggles and I hope each lady was reminded of the Love of God towards them!

This is a tutu skirt that I made for a table, but used it for the tv stand. It was super cute I think! The tv was a big focal point because we watched a dvd presentation.

There were "funnies" on the tables and there were funny sayings in the flowers for some chuckles.

A crockpot that MATCHED the theme! Gotta love that!

Yummy! My friend, Karen, made the cookies and brownies!!

I used a black cloth under the to ole....It really looked nice in person, in my view. I also elevated the platters are different heights to give some visual eye candy.

Little paper baskets held chocolates (pic is sideways!)

Ladies Night Out Planning

So, I have the wonderful opportunity to help do a Ladies Night Out thing at Church tomorrow. The theme is "Giggles and Grace" ....just a time for fun fellowship and a dvd presentation called Embrace Grace.

After doing many events, I have learned that I tend to go overboard on the variety of foods and quantity. So this time I really tried to keep it simple. And after making it through the grocery store today, I feel like I actually did it this time!

Our Menu:
Chicken Salad on Hawaiian Rolls
Turkey and Provolone Spirals
BBQ Smokies
Fresh Salsa, Queso Dip (in crock pot,)  and White corn chips
Veggie Tray w/ Ranch Dip
Fruit Tray

Punch

LOTS of desserts (One of my friends, Karen was So kind to make cookies and brownies!)

CHOCOLATE!

First off...I found a crock pot that MATCHES my theme!!!! Actually, I had bought it as a gift, but ended up with it in the trunk of my car! Pics to come of that in the future I hope!

Here are the invitations:

 

Goodie Bag Contents...I decided to not go with the zebra theme for everything...So there are polka dots and more! 

So the theme in our presentation I had put onto...Organic Custom Lip balms! I was so excited to find these! The lady did a fantastic job and I got them VERY fast.

 

I had some photo paper that came free with something, so I made these cute little prayer reminder cards.

 

Found the basket on clearance!!

 

I got the goodie bags in the primary colors of the event...I also got matching paper straws I ordered!

Plates. I love the square thing! 

 

 

Flowers: I was sooooo happy to find these roses today. They are so beautiful. And 24 roses for $22...it was a deal!

 

Make shift vases...Made out of Crystal Light plastic containers! I found the wraping paper at Target for $1 a roll.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Crock Pot Cookery In Mass

So......before I had spoken of Dinner Delivered meals I was doing. They were fun, but on a month when I had VBS, I did a freezer slow cooker meal to deliver. It turned out wonderfully for the recipient (as far as I know!). Now that is what I have been doing for a few months. It is SO EASY and then the families have meals when they need them. And I only spend one day a month delivering. Last month I made about 18 meals. It took about 3ish hrs to prepare, 1ish hours to go to the store to get the supplies, and about 2 ish hours to deliver. (For those interested in cost to do this, below is a chart showing what a value this is). It was SPLENDID!  I LOVE doing this, it is such a blessing to me! I am so thankful others allow us to deliver these to them!

How I "Roll"

               Preparation

I buy the slow cooker disposable bags found in the plastic baggie/ foil section of the store. We have access to a commissary, so my cost is about $2 a box. If they were too much I would use the large zip locks instead. They would then have to wash the cooker afterwards. I love the idea of NO scrubbing! I then make a list on the computer of the meals so they will know what they are eating! I then assign a number or a color to each meal. This paper is printed out and included with the meals.

I make a list of the meals. Then I make a list of who gets what meal(s). I use a handy dandy chart like this:

                         Chicken       Roast        Ham        Soup
Mrs. A                    x                                                x
Mrs. B                    x               x              x              
Mrs. C                                     x                   
Mrs. D                   x                               x                x

Then I tally up needed baggies and ingredients. I use a similar method as above to figure out the food quantities I need. I let the ladies know a few days ahead I am doing it on such and such a day.

               Shopping

I am NOT a list person, but to do this effectively, it is needed. So I shop with my list. On these days, I try to NOT buy anything for myself. Only the things for the dinners. I bring it home and promptly fridge the meats and perishables. Then I either get to work or I do it the next day.

               Assembly/Delivery

I CLEAN my kitchen WELL before I start..even the parts I will not use. Obsessive? Yes, but this is for others, so we should do our best. Then I get out the veggies and cut them as they will be needed in the recipes. I do all this on my little kitchen table in my little kitchen. Then I get the meat needed out and a mixing bowl for each meal (for example...in the chart above three people will be chicken dishes...so three bowls I get out and put the liners into them so I can do it assembly line style). I assemble, then either tag it by color or by number and then pop into the freezer/fridge. I do this for each meal, then I place them in a cooler or a freezer tote and take them to the recipients. Clean up is Quick, just some bowls, knives, and two cutting boards!

                Cost

I think this slow cooker thing is a b-a-r-g-i-n!! My family of 6 costs about $50 to eat at a mid range eatery, $100+ at a nicer establishment. Fast Food is about $30 for us (and YUCK!). Look at this below:

Fast Food Meal $30 each x 18 meals = $540! For Fast Food! **No veggies, no leftovers, not usually healthy!
Mid-Range Eatery $50 each meal x 18 meals = 900!!!

The meals I prepare (usually one crock pot meal feeds my family of 6, with leftovers sometimes too!) On the 18 meals I spent about $160.  For 18 meals for $160 = 8.88 EACH! That is a savings of  $21.12 PER MEAL over fast food prices. And 41.12 over mid range eateries! So really if we give up 5 fast food meals a month, it pays for 18 meals to give. Not much of a sacrifice there!!  (And fyi...I include some rice and pastas and drink mixes with the meals (not all the meals, but some).


Easy, Fun, and Fantastic!

How not eating out became a ministry!

So Friday we began to eat out again. I am now officially disgusted at how overpriced it is!  I really don't think I got it before, and I even would use my logic that by the time I made the meal, it was not all that bad of a deal to eat out. Not usually the case I now think.

So somehow this not eating out helped fuel a ministry! I am so thankful to the Lord for the opportunity He has allowed. Before we began our "eat-in" I had made some meals to take to some folks we know. But with having to cook, and with spending more time at home due to meals in house, it gave us a new area to bless others on a weekly basis with that I really believe was only because we made this decision (otherwise I might have thought I was too busy). I can tell you that making and giving meals to others is not as costly as our eating out was. So I asked my kids...would we rather bless others or eat out? And what did they say? Bless Others! They so rock!

And let me tell you, when you take time to try to be a blessing to others, you get SO VERY MUCH back in return. And in my recent past I battled deeply with depression. I know that the Lord alone brought me through it, but I do think that one of the things He used was service to others to help me. I recently told someone that to me "To Serve Is To Live" . That does not mean every moment is full of active service, but as His will is. Service can mean so much in so many areas and ways, but it begins in the heart. A love for God and then people. If you serve for a "thanks" or "that-a-boy" then you will be quickly discouraged or feel unfulfilled. But if what you really want is for Him (the Lord) to say "Well Done, Thy Good And Faithful Servant" then, you will find so much joy in it. I can tell you that every person who I have asked  has been receptive, though it is a bit nerve racking to ask and fear being "rejected"!

Also on the Ministry note (I use the term Ministry to denote something we do because we know Him, to bless or help others, to meet a need in the Body)...Last week began a Seniors Ministry. I was sooooo nervous . Like how about if these wonderful Senior Saints thought I was totally off base?!?!?! It went well and I am excited to see how the Lord uses this area. Glory to God!

In closing of this blog posting, I have to yet again urge us as women to use our time wisely. To keep our family time balanced with all the other things we want to do in Him. To make sure our Hubby's and kiddos are well cared for. To make sure we have time with Him & time with other believers. To make sure our time is not easily eaten up by too many earthly things, but that we may live our lives with purpose, making a legacy with the actions we show to our children, and that we keep running the good race, waiting to hear with eager ears "Well Done, Well Done!"How we spend our lives now will effect our eternity, and can effect the eternity of others around us.