scraps of me...

Farewell...

With a sad, yet lighter heart, I'm posting to let my blog readers (the few that still remain) know that this will be my last blog post.

For quite awhile now, my blog has just been another thing on my already too-long to-do list.

This year, I'm trying to simplify. Focus more on relationships...especially with my family. Eliminate the unnecessary.

I feel like lately, this blog is unnecessary...especially with facebook and skype and all the other ways that I/we can keep in touch with family and friends.

I want to say "Thank You!!" to all of those who have read and followed along the past (almost) five years. You've watched our children grow. You've laughed with (and at) me. You've cried with me.

Maybe someday...when life slows down (will it ever?)...maybe I'll be back.

But in the meantime...

email me...call me...find me on facebook.

I'd love to hear from you! :)

Thanks again!!

Tasty Tuesday

A super simple  yummy soup...pefect for these cold days we're experiencing.

 

Black Bean Soup

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. cumin
½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 T. oil
3 (15 oz.) cans black beans
1 ½ c. chicken broth
3 c. salsa
2 T. lime juice

Directions:

In large saucepan over medium heat, cook onion, garlic, cumin, and pepper flakes. In a small amount of oil until onion is tender, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat. In blender, puree 2 cans of beans with chicken broth, working in batches if necessary. (Do not drain beans.) Add to pot. Stir in remaining can of beans, salsa, and lime juice. Heat to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve topped with sour cream, if desired.

Monday Meanderings

Outside my window...
it's a winter wonderland...well...not quite. But we did get a light dusting of snow last night and it's still coming down.

I am thankful for...
sweet little daycare babies. good books to read. a warm house. our life group.

On my to-do list...
-create the template for our 2011 blurb photo book
-Five in a Row lesson plans for the remainder of the year

From the kitchen...
We are loving all the new emealz recipes we've tried so far! Fighting over leftovers is a good thing, right?
Mon - bbq burgers w/slaw, baked chips, fruit
Tue - spinach manicotti, ceasar salad, garlic bread
Wed - chicken & rice enchiladas, sauted zucchini, black beans
Thu - chicken & sausage jambalaya, cornbread, green beans
Fri - pot roast, peas, wheat rolls
Sat - baked chicken spaghetti, salad
Sun - taco pizza, apple wedges

On my bookshelf...
I finished "Like Dandelion Dust" and started "Unlocked" by Karen Kingsbury. Still working on the book by Chantel Hobbs though. I hope to finish it this week.

With the kids...
Creative writing didn't start last week, but this week it's a for sure. I bought a new book with two journaling prompts for every day of the year. I'm excited to start it today. We're continuing our study of blood in anatomy as well as "Stopping by Woods..." by Robert Frost in Five in a Row.

On the go...
It's a crazy week...
Mon - Austin: dr. appt to take out his stitches, Kaitlin: dance, Amy: daycare training
Tue - Troy, Meghand, and Austin: eye dr. appt
Wed - grocery shopping
Thu - Amy: women's Bible Study
Fri - our only night home together
Sat - Kaitlin & Daddy: fun day together, Meghan & Mom: going to Angelfire for the first time, Austin: hanging out w/Papa, then church
Sun - cousin b-day party, then life group and Konnect

On my desk...
I thought it was piled high last week...but there's even more this Monday. I've discovered that my desk is a dumping ground on the weekends and I spend most of Monday digging myself out of it. :)

I am remembering...
what it was like to be a "cowgirl". My family had horses from the time I was 7 until I graduated high school and we moved to Oklahoma. This weekend, we went shopping for cowboy boots for Meghan. I even triend on a pair. I couldn't resist.

I am pondering...
all the wise words that were spoken at life group last night. How to put God first...what does it mean to "take up my cross" and follow him...why is it so hard to give up control...what does it look like to incorporate God in ALL we do...how do I find the time to sit, be quiet, and listen to Him? I think the thing that hit me the most was a line from a Dave Matthews song that someone mentioned. "We're supposed to be changing the world, but the world is changing us." wow.

project 365

Here's the last of our daily photos for 2010...

Thursday, Dec 23rd: We spent the night out at Troy's Dad and step-mom's house on this day. Before gifts were opened, Audrey (Troy's younger half-sister), volunteered to read the Christmas Story from Luke chapter 2. It was a sweet time together. After opening gifts, we headed downstairs for some big laughs as most of us embarrassed ourselves thoroughly playing their new xbox kinnect!

 

Friday, Dec 24th: The kids were begging to open gifts on Christmas Eve when we got back to Grandpa and Grandma Freas' house. They each opened one and we saved the rest for Christmas Morning. We are so excited and thankful to be celebrating the holidays in Indiana this year!

 

Saturday, Dec 25th: Merry Christmas!! Sweet treats. Stockings overflowing. Too many gifts. A big huge mess! It was a lazy, snuggly, noisy, relaxing, playful, giggly, cozy, fun, family-filled, memory-making day! A Christmas we'll never forget!

 

Sunday, Dec 26th: Today, I had the priveledge of meeting an online blogging friend, Karyn, and her husband. She has lost over 70 pounds this year and is such an inspiration to me! We enjoyed having lunch together and visiting in real life instead of via our blogs and email. There is so much we have in common and I'm hoping we enjoy some time together every time we visit Indiana.

 

Monday, Dec 27th: This morning, Troy and I hit the road, back to Oklahoma. It's a good thing the kids were staying behind to spend a few more days with Grandpa and Grandma Manolovits, because there would've been no room in the van for them! Either that, or we would've been forced to leave a lot of Christmas gifts behind. It was a quiet 13 hour ride home...and we enjoyed every minute of it!

 

Tuesday, Dec 28th: What a busy day! Unpacking. Grocery Shopping. Bill Paying. Errand running. Lots of to-do's to do before the kids get home. We squeezed in a stop at Mardel's. I had a gift card to use and I've been wanting to buy a parallel (niv/message) Bible. We also picked up these precious figures of our "family". It kind of made me miss the kids...for just a minute or two. :)

 

Wednesday, Dec 29th: Enough play-time for Troy and I. Today, it was time to tackle the huge stack of boxes. Bedrooms needed organized and cleaned out to make room for all the new goodies the kids received. What a project!

 

Thursday, Dec 30th: The kids arrived home safe and sound. Fifteen minutes after walking through the door, Austin screamed! He was using his knife to cut a zip-tie holding his new socket set closed, but he forgot to cut away from, not toward, himself. A two hour trip to the ER and 5 stitches later, he's as good as new, and a lesson learned that I doubt he'll ever forget.

 

Friday, Dec 31st: This year, we celebrated the New Year by staying home. all. day. I came up with a list of activities, wrote them on paper, and put them in envelopes marked with the time to open each one. At noon, we ate lunch then went for a walk. At other times, we cleaned the house, played new board games, had a family meeting about goals for the coming year, and had a wii party! So much fun! Our final two envelopes had us watching a movie and making homemade soft pretzels. This just might have to become a new tradition.

 

Tasty Tuesday

This is one of our favorite ways to enjoy potatoes. Yum! They're great with some grilled steak or chicken.

 

Pesto Potatoes

8-10 red potatoes
1 pkg. McCormick pesto sauce mix
1/4 c. olive oil

Wash and cube potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Place them in a large ziploc bag. Mix oil and pesto sauce mix together in a small bowl or 1 c. measuring cup. Pour over the potatoes and shake to evenly coat. Place potatoes onto a large roasting pan. Bake in the oven at 375* for 30-40 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.