February Menu Planner

Here is what I'm cooking for the month of February.

1. Chicken salad on crescent rolls
2. Enchilida Casserole, mexican corn pudding
3. Spaghetti, salad, garlic cheese bread
4. Slow cooker oriental chicken, rice and green beans
5. Two step stroganoff, home frozen cream style corn and leftover green beans
6. Chicken tortilla soup, chips and cheese dip
7. Crock-pot hot dogs n beans, slaw
8. OUT for Pizza (Monkey has surgery that morning)
9. Ribeyes on the grill, salad and onion rings
10. Creamy italian chicken, buttered noodles, green beans, sweet potato casserole
11. Slow cooker layered enchildas, salad, mexican corn pudding
12. Throw together short ribs, ranch style beans, potato salad
13. Slow cooker lemon chicken, rice, green beans
14. Valentine's Day and My Mom's B'day. Pizza with my parents
15. Bacon wrapped fillet steaks, salad, twice baked potatoes
16. OUT (Top O' River to celebrate Valentine's Day)
17. Easy breakfast casserole, fresh fruit, hashbrowns
18. Chili, cornbread
19. Chicken n dumplings
20. Salisbury steak deluxe, stove top mac & cheese, green beans
21. Hot Dogs w/ special sauce, fries
22. Rosemary cashew chicken, sweet potato casserole and green beans
23. Corn chowder, cheese muffins
24. Chicken burritos, salad, mexican macaroni
25. Santa fe Soup
26. Phillycheese steak casserole, corn and green beans
27. Spiced Apple Pork roast, stove top mac & cheese, pink eyed peas, candied sweet potatoes
28. Brunswick stew, hoop cheese, popovers
29. Lasagne, salad, garlic cheese bread

Desserts: Minister's delight (apple dump cake), Chocolate chip shortbread cookies, Carrott cake w/ hm cream cheese icing, Strawberry pretzel salad, Strawberry cake w/ hm cream cheese icing

Hope you have have a blessed February!

How Will You Spend Your Income Tax Refund?

I have been thinking a good bit on this subject since I went to the accountant on Monday and found how what amount we will be receiving. The following is how we will be spending ours.

• Setting our emergency fund up again
• Tithes
• Loan to my parents (work on dh's pickup)
• A television (our main tv went on while I was pregnant 3 years ago)
• Open a savings account for each of the boys
• Finish the repairs on dh's pickup (fuel pump and reseal the backglass)
• Pay off 2 credit cards and cancel them!!! (we have 4 and want to get them all paid off and canceled this year!)
• Pay 2 hospital bills in full
• Pay off some books that I ordered
• Pay for the boys birthday party and makeover their nursery into a big boy room

I think that is all and I am VERY excited to get the opportunity to do this. Praise the Lord for these wonderful blessings! So, how are you going to spend/save your refund?

REAL

Today I had a several REAL things happen.

I took Tiger to the orthopedic specialist today and got a REAL(ly) wonderful report. His spine is completely straight and there is NO sign of any protrusions to indicate relapse!!! Praise the LORD!!! Monkey stayed with my Mom (Granny) while we went.

I also got a REAL pregnancy test as well. I went by my doctor's office while we were so close by. We are not trying to get pregnant due to health issues and I was on some antibiotics and thought, well you get he picture. Anyhow, it was a REAL negative. Later on my REAL visitor showed up to confirm the Negative. I am a little disappointed........

Then I took Tiger to eat at Cracker Barrel (just he and Mommy). It was so yummy. I love their breakfast. WE had pancakes and REAL maple syrup. I have never had the REAL stuff on my pancakes. This will be a REAL tradition with pancakes now at our house. I guess since Buddy ate it on spaghetti (and everything else) in the movie ELF I was grossed out.

I also got some real deals at Aldi before heading home. I got hot dog buns, Honey Wheat bread and regular white bread for a $.25 PER loaf! I bought about $7 worth to freeze and give away. I also got 1 pound packs of bacon for $1.79. I got some great deals.

It also REAL(ly) hit home about my mil. She went home by ambulance today and was met at her front door with a wonderful Hospice nurse. She can only get around her home in a wheelchair. It is so REAL and so sad. She will finally be pain free when she goes home to meet her maker. Blessings on you Maw-Maw. We love you.

Tonight we will make the 30 minute drive to my in-laws home after hubby gets in from work (my parents will keep the boys).

I wish you all many blessings throughout the rest of the day and night!

Honesty

You know (or most of you know) that I am a very honest person. I am quite real as well. These last few weeks have really been hard and quite daunting. God is supplying but I am just drained. Having one set of older parents to care for is difficult but 2 sets with a terminally ill one in the mix, is really hard.

I received an email from a "friend" ( blog reader) that simply wanted to 'remind" me of how "morbid" I had been lately. She seemed to be "worried" that I was detouring people from reading my blog. I was taken back at first and I really (still) am not sure what to make of her comments. So "friend" this is for you! I am a child of God, with a mortal's heart and soul. I am not perfect, nor profess to be. This blog was started a s a daily journal. For my life, to see where I've been and where I will go with Christs' help. The things I write about are VERY real and heartfelt in every way. I am sorry that you feel I am depressing you and making you down.

For those of you (or the one) that feels this way, I will pray for you. Please find someone's blog to replace mine for your reading enjoyment. These are the things important to me and that are actually happening in my life right now. I am so sorry that this lowly blog has brought you "down" and made you "so sad". Perhaps you could find comfort in the Psalms or other scripture of God's word.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me". Phil. 4:13. I gather a lot of strength from this verse. I am just a sinner saved by HIS grace.

I hope you all continue to read I hope you find something in my blog that touches you in some way or another. One thing I do want to reinterrate, is that God is awesome......all of the time. I am one thankful child as well. How blessed I am that he is in control and not us mortals. I am looking forward to meeting my Father some day!

Blessings!

Today's Agenda

This morning hubby is going for a job interview.
He will have to be back by 10 to keep the boys, while I go to the accountant.
We've got to then go to the post office and bank, as well as Dollar General and the local Piggly Wiggly. The boys also need all 40 toenails and fingernails clipped and to be bathed.
I've got to get ready and start laundry in the meantime.
After lunch he will head on to the hospital and I will stay home until 3. Then I will go get the sitter from school. She will stay with the boys until 9 tonight while I go join hubby at the hospital.
So, all in all.......... well, I just want to stay home!!!!!!!! Things must be done and my mil saw to. It will be a another hectic day. I've got so many more things I need to do here as well. Like balance the checkbook, download some new software for my business. Ironing (enough for a good 3 hours). Get stuff ready for in the am (I take my Dad at 7 to meet with the eye surgeon). Change the bed linens. All of that kind of stuff. It is just stuff and will still be awaiting my arrival later.

I hope you all have a blessed Monday!!!!!!!!! Blessings!

Good Evening!

It has been a whirlwind weekend. We have spent a lot of it at the hospital. My mil is not any better and only getting worse. She may get to go home tomorrow.
There was a luncheon at our new church today for new members. It was so nice and the boys were so very good. There was a lot to be done at home, that was neglected. I got started on the laundry and dishes. I finished the tax stuff for tomorrow's appointment. We are praying for a nice refund. Bulldog's work days have been cut from 5 1/2 to 4 1/2. That hurts!!!
I have cut coupons and need to get my part organized. I have my coupon's ready to mail out for the train tomorrow.
I even got a .............. are you ready for this?????????? a NAP!!!!! Yes, you heard me right. I got a 1 1/2 hour nap!!!! It was so nice. I am having female problems again and the anemia makes me so tired. Anyhoo, enough about that.
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Wishing you all a blessed week!!
Those of you involved in the coupon train, get those coupons mailed out tomorrow. :)

See you tomorrow!!!!

Choo-Choo!!!

Everyone that contacted me was put on the train. You should receive your info and directions via eamil today. If you have any questions please email me. We will be at the hospital most of the day today. I will answer any emails before Monday. Please have your envelop with your 50 coupons to mail out Monday. Thank you for your participation! Have a blessed weekend!