Nervous breakdown, anyone?

Yeah - I guess that it's about that time. Things have been going super well - too well? you say. Well, maybe. But here is a bump in the road. My cousin, Big John, died this weekend. He was more of an uncle than some of my biological uncles and we saw him and his wife in church every Sunday - it was actually him that got the kids going on carrying up the gifts right before the consecration - and they LOVE to do it! Always a smile for everyone....you will be missed dearly.

And then, today. Harrumph. More unexpected news. More testing tomorrow. About 99% certain of the outcome. To quote Rhett Butler: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." Yep....that's me today - I don't give a damn and I'm just going to hug my kiddos close and pray for the best outcome possible. Our life IS in God's hands after-all, and he will see us through.

8-9-11

To Do:
~hanging out ALL bedding today/tomorrow, so just cycling that through the washer (as much done as I can, the last will be washed and hung out tomorrow.)
~Dishes
~PB & J game finished (started yesterday)
~More sewing!
~fold clothes from yesterday
~Kids put their own clothes away
~Make kids clean ALL of their bedrooms
~Menu plan for rest of week (lost without it!)
~Start studying for Nursing Fundamentals
~OCD me will be watching Amazon all day to make sure my school books get shipped!
~Find appropriate funeral attire for hubs and me - a cousin (more like an uncle though) of mine passed and the funeral is later this week.


Menu plan:
~Chicken on the grill with sweet corn and potatoes
~Tacos
~Chili
~Spaghetti with breadsticks
~Roast
~Summer sausage sandwiches

VBS

Last week was VBS. I "made" all the girls go on Monday. They liked it ok, but the older two decided not to return. But the two younger ones - LOVED it!! We went every day 9-11:30. It was a hard week, for sure, as it left me with little time at home. But with a little planning (crock-pot meals and lists) hubby had lunch ready for us when we got home at noon.

We had LOTS of loose ends to tie up this week: nailed down the next tattoo party to Aug 20 and 21. Got hubby's pedometer for work registered and going ($600 year LESS in insurance for wearing/tracking it), health appts for said insurance taken care of, birthday party for the (almost) three-year old planned (have to make the cake today!) and tons of other little, miscellaneous items done.

Today though, will be spent getting things back to normal around here. It amazes me how the house goes when we aren't home - it's like sliding down a slippery slope - it's time to stop and get things back in order!

Tonight we'll go to a family get-together hosted by one of my son's new classmate's family. Apparently they get an inflatable movie screen and have a popcorn stand, etc...and host a movie/family fun night for the class every year. Whoa, do I feel a little out of my league! BUT, everyone is SO friendly and nice and supportive - a HUGE family-centered environment!

Anyway....lots to do today, I best get off the computer!

Meals for the Week - UPDATE

Here are the meals that I had for the week:

• French toast casserole
• taco salads
• grilled chicken
• hot dog casserole
• baked spaghetti
• chicken fajitas/quesadilla's
• calzones/pizza
• grilled chops
• grilled “deli” sandwiches
• Chalupa dinner bowl
• pudgie pies over the fire
• Homemade burger and fries
• Make your own sub night
  
  We used some -but not all. One day, I took out a ham....so that made enough for that lunch as well as leftovers (which I used today for scrambled omelets). One night the kids just wanted cereal for supper and one night (or two?) we just had leftovers. Soooo - all-in-all this went really well. I'll take this list and use some if it for the weekend as well as add to it for next week.

Meals for the Week

• French toast casserole
• taco salads
• grilled chicken
• hot dog casserole
• baked spaghetti
• chicken fajitas/quesadilla's
• calzones/pizza
• grilled chops
• grilled “deli” sandwiches
• Chalupa dinner bowl
• pudgie pies over the fire
• Homemade burger and fries
• Make your own sub night
  
  
  While we may or may not use all of these meals, we'll have a base to go off - whatever doesn't get made this week can be saved until next week - sometime the kids just want to make a quick sandwich or just have a bowl of cereal!

Peace

I know. I entitled this post as "peace." While I in no way feel peaceful about everything in my life. Today I feel it. STRONG. I feel like I am right where God put me, doing what HE wants me to do. I think that going to Mass really helps pull me in and make me feel a closer, more spiritual bond. It pulls me back to Our Lord and helps me to refocus my energy.

Lately, I have been ready an Amish series by author Beth Wiseman. I like her books because they are PG - maybe a little kissing and hugging - but a whole lot of emotion and faith-based life. Much better than some of the books that I used to read when I was younger!

Things to do this week:
-meal plan - for the WHOLE week (I MUST start doing this!)
-re-arrange and organize all freezers
-finish two library books
-exercise daily - even if it's only 20 minutes on stationary bike
-sew my nephew's apron
-sew another rag quilt
-put all clothes away
-weed garden
-sweep/mop all floors
-get together with a friend


There will be more, I'm sure, but I'll add to this list later! ;)

An awesome prayer

I found this "prayer of surrender" here. I loved it - rather than bookmark it (or lose it) I thought I'd share it.

Loving Father,
I surrender to you today with all my heart and soul. Please come into my heart in a deeper way. I say, “Yes” to you today. I open all the secret places of my heart to you and say, “Come on in.” Jesus, you are the Lord of my whole life. I believe in you and receive you as my Lord and Savior. I hold nothing back.

Holy Spirit, bring me to a deeper conversion to the person of Jesus Christ. I surrender all to you: my time, my treasures, my talents, my health, my family, my resources, my work, relationships, time management, successes and failures. I release it and let it go.

I surrender my understanding of how things ‘ought’ to be, my choices and my will. I surrender to you the promises I have kept and the promises I have failed to keep. I surrender my weaknesses and strengths to you. I surrender my emotions, my fears, my insecurities, my sexuality. I especially surrender ______ (Here mention other areas of surrender as the Holy Spirit reveals them to you.)

Lord, I surrender my whole life to you, the past, the present, and the future. In sickness and in health, in life and in death, I belong to you. (Remain the Lord in a spirit of silence through your thoughts, a heart song, or simply staying in His presence and listening for His voice.)

Amen