I love Kim's idea of updating on how the theme thing is going. Wouldn't you know it, God gave me opportunity to work on the 'LOVE THEME' right away. My sis-in-law asked me out to coffee. This was completely out of the blue. Although we do not have a strained relationship, I would never describe it as close, so this invitation caught me off guard. it was a great opportunity to catch up on how she is doing and what is going on in her life, as well as update her on mine. God truly blessed the time together and I am so glad He did. I am looking forward to coffee tomorrow morning with some great friends that I don't get to see nearly often enough.

He has continued to confirm this week that LOVE is my theme for the year. I am also glad that Lori has also picked the same theme. It will be great to travel this LOVE road together and share what the Lord is teaching us.

On a little side note...this is my favorite song of the moment. It not only speaks of marriage but anywhere we find ourselves waiting on the Lord. I wish I knew this song while we were waiting on Ella. I was so excited to find I already had the John Waller CD at home with this song on it. BLESSING!!

Love is the theme

For the past week I have been thinking about a theme for 2009 thanks to this post. Kim pointed readers there last week. My first thoughts were rather corny. I started to think of the old hymn

Love is the theme, Love is supreme
Sweeter it grows, glory bestows
Bright as the sun, ever it glows
Love is the theme, eternal theme

As I look at last year God was preparing me for the next level or theme. Last year it was hospitality and being willing to open our home. I struggled in the begining and had lots of excuses. House was not clean enough, big enough, and too many unfinished spaces. I didn't know what to serve. Who would we invite over? Blah, blah, blah. But reading this book really opened my heart to hospitality. Now I really don't fret much about having people in my home, clean or not.

This past week the "LOVE THEME" has come up continually. Truly loving others. Investing in people. My hubby, my kids, my friends, my neighbors, my friends children, etc. Taking and making time to invest and care for other people that God has placed in my life. Over the past few weeks through many conversations I have been told over and over about someone's deep need for friendship. To really connect with someone else. As I look at the past 10 years I have been not so good at this. Again with the excuses. I am busy. I have a lot of kids. Our weeks are already full. Blah, blah, blah. If realationships and loving others is as important to God as "love others as yourself" then I think I need to give this my full attention.

So what is my plan of attack?

As it would be God has coordinated with our pastor to start the year off with the Love Dare. So starting today for the next 40 days I will be working through this book with the purpose of loving my husband better. I am sure it will also be good for all my other relationships too.

I have just about finished The Power of a Praying Parent and I may go on to either Power of a Praying Wife or the Power of a Praying Woman after that. I will have to see what the Lord leads me in.

I also want to make a purposeful effort to have more fun with people. Playing games, having dinner, going bowling, etc. Building relationships so when things get hard a real relationship is already in place. I do have some good friends, don't get me wrong, but we need to continue building. And we need to strengthen our bonds.

So there you have it. Love is the theme.

Early Monday Menus

Since I have a little extra time this morning I am going to be early on the menus.

Monday: Fall Harvest Chowder (didn't get to this last week)
Tuesday: Potato Soup
Wednesday: Dinner at Church
Thursday: French Toast Casserole (didn't get to this last week either)
Friday: Mac & Cheese
Saturday: Chili

Because you asked for it...here is the Taco Soup Recipe. So easy, so yummy! Serve with a little cornbread and/or salad and there you go!
1lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
3C water
2 - 16oz cans of stewed tomatos
1 can chili beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 - 16oz can tomato sauce
1 envelope taco seasoning (or 1/4 cup if you buy at Costco)
Brown beef with onion, drain and rinse, add all the other ingredients and simmer. Or leave in your crock pot all day on low. I usually double this recipe so we can have soup all week for lunch.
Crumble tortilla chips in the bottom of each bowl, add soup and then top with sour cream, cheese, and any other taco topping you like.

Icy fun

This is Emma (15)snowboarding this past weekend. She has icicles on her eyelashes!! Brrr!

Back to work Monday. So to start the week off right I am posting my menus. I know you have all been waiting impatiently to see what I will cook this week ;o)

Monday: Chicken Pot Pie
Tuesday: Taco Soup
Wednesday: Dinner at Church (Chili)
Thursday: Breakfast for dinner (French toast casserole)
Friday: Spaghetti
Saturday: Fall Harvest Chowder

Saturday Status Report

Sitting...in front of the computer, too much lately

Drinking...Vanilla Coffee

Enjoying...Watching Eden (10) and her friend enjoy the last bits of the snow

Wanting...to do something creative; paint, sew, knit, something. Maybe I will settle for coloring with Ella (2)

Reading...Still working on 'The Uncommon Woman' I have so enjoyed this book,every time I pick it up God speaks.

Looking forward to...my hubby and the two older kids coming home from the winter retreat

Obsessed...with watching Jon & Kate Plus Eight. It makes my life seems so do-able.

Thinking...I should be preparing for starting school again this week.

Happy...I did the grocery shopping last night

Living Rich for Less

Here it is January 1, 2009! People all over the world are making assessments of their lives. How do they want 2009 to be different from 2008. How do they want to better themselves.
*Loose weight?
*Read the Bible through in a year?
*Have a daily quiet time with the Lord?
*Improve some character flaw?
*Eat healthier?
*Live greener?
*Consume less?
*Charge less?
*Pay down debt?
I have read a lot of diet and excersise books, more than I care to admit. They all have the same basic premise, Eat Less. Move More. If you follow those simple rules you will loose weight. There are lots of different combinations of food and movement that you can use to help you attain your goal. Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, The Zone, Curves, Nutisystem, The Biggest Loser Club, Prism, aeobics, biking, walking, running, pilates, yoga, swimming, eliptical...the list can go on and on. The key is finding one that you can live with to help you attain your goal. What works for you may not work for me. If you can't find something that you can live with, you will fail.


Welcome to the Living Rich for Less blog tour!
I just finished this book by Ellie Kay. Ellie Kay has lots of tips to help you succeed in creating a rich lifestyle. The principals in her book apply to the average american household making $48,000 per year.

So what did I learn reading this book? Our finances are not as bad as I thought, but they still need a diet and excersise workout.

I have been encouraged to really work on my grocery budget this year and to learn how to use coupons (Jamie, I might need a personal tutoring session) and to make our savings account a priority (we have really let this go).

Just like trying to loose weight, to change our finances is going to take work and sacrifice. Argh. Not looking forward to that. But I am looking forward to some financial freedom in the future. By our estimates it will take probably three years to attain the kind of freedom we want...just in time for Emma to start college.