no more excuses…

Matt returned to work this morning after almost two weeks of vacation time at home.  I have used having him home 24/7 as my excuse for not getting a lot done.  Well, I guess I have no more excuses but today is kind of a reacclamation type of day…

 I saved and froze ham from Christmas and have beans and ham cooking.  It is making me hungry, it smells delish!  BUT this day is also a day of the diet.  Beans are healthy, and we’ll have them for dinner.  JennaG mentioned trying the pizza crust and sauce and thinking it wasn’t crispy enough… Leigh Ann tried it and loved it… I bought a couple of those pans at Kohl’s (on sale!) that have the holes in the bottom for pizza.  I made our pizzas on those pans this week and they were very crispy.  I only bought two so two of the pizzas were baked in normal pizza pans.  I have noticed these hole-y pans are great for re-heating the pizza. 

pizza-pan.jpg

We spent the evening last night at my brother’s house.  We had dinner there to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.  Izzy really enjoyed the cake and ice cream!  We all went to church yesterday morning which hasn’t happened in a while since someone has been dealing with the cold bug going around every week.  It was nice to all be there.  Bev Barker (the lady who has visited and signs to songs … so amazing) came and at the end of church I was in the lobby with Izzy and heard her signing to my favorite song so we slipped in and sat in the back.  They had prayer and annointing and although I don’t take Izzy down often I felt called to take her down.  It was an amazing time of prayer and I am excited about the week to come.  The girls in my class did their daily bible reading, and one boy from matt’s class did his.  Another boy did most of the days… I got them those band bracelets from Mardels for their reward this week… and ressees sp? and chocolate chip cookies.  I guess I have to run somewhere to find a little something for next week.  I can’t tell you how much matt and I have enjoyed this schedule of reading.  I think reading from the NLT is so much more enjoyable for this type of reading.  It’s more like reading a book and when the text ends you want to keep reading. 

My SIL Terri had me over Saturday to do lots of hair!  I highlighted the girls and trimmed hers.  She wants me to paint a saying on her kitchen wall.  Her house is big and she likes it to look uncluttered.  She likes the pottery barn look and saw this in the catalog.  I like the saying too, but told her she had to sign a disclaimer in case I mess her wall up :) .  I did the whole wall in our front room with healing scriptures.  Everyone who comes over thinks it is wall paper or something but if you really look at it you can tell it is hand done.  I decided on her wall I am going to pencil it out first because she wants black on her beige walls.  I’ll have her take some pics while I’m doing it so you can see.

Another death.  Don Coffey, who we’ve know forever… died yesterday morning.  He was an elder at our church when I was growing up.  His daughter Lisa was my age and died several years ago of cancer.  He developed cancer and went pretty fast.  I am so sad for the family, there is so much loss.  His other daughter who is younger than me has had one kidney transplant and now needs another.  Please pray for the Coffey family.  Amanda was really great friends with his grandson Jacob and they both went on the mission trip to Montreal last year.  Here’s a pic of the two of them in Canada…

canada-079.jpg

Good news! Got the sheets that match my bedding!  And the other pillow.  I’m all set.  Jodi mentioned her hub doesn’t think floral belongs in the room since he sleeps there too.  Matt doesn’t know he has a choice… but he doesn’t complain bless his heart.  :)   As long as I’m there he’s happy.

I have gotten tons done already and it’s only 9 a.m.  Amazing what a change it makes having quiet.  I have a package ready to mail back that has been sitting hanging up for a month.  A cream colored wool coat I ordered and loved but said it the waist was at the natural waist and it is really high waisted… it’s even sized tall.  I’m not long waisted so I know it is meant to be high waisted and it’s not my style.  Anyway, I have debated keeping it because I got a good price on it but have finally decided to mail it back and it is all packed up with return shipping label attached!  I have a list for the store made and have balanced my checkbook…  Now I am going to put the new sheets on my bed and wash the tableclothes. 

Tonight we’ll have Beans & Cornbread!

We’re eating heathier.  Matt is doing awesome with the volumetrics.  We made a triple batch of burgers that have lots of veggies and bulgar in them.  I packed them in the freezer so he could take them to work for lunch.  I want to make this soup recipe one day…

2 cans organic black eye peas, rinsed and drained
About 2 cups vegetable broth…this can vary depending on how thick you want the soup.
1 14.5 oz chopped tomatoes…I like Muir Glen tomatoes.
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 cup of salsa
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 to 1 cup of cooked brown rice(you can buy frozen bags of this)…again depending on how much you like.
1 10 oz package of chopped spinach or some fresh spinach…I usually use fresh.
You can salt and pepper this soup if you like. To me it is great without it.

Add all of the ingredients(except the spinach and rice) to a large stock pot….simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the spinach and brown rice and cook until heated through and spinach has wilted.

and this one another day…

crockpot corn chowder

We’ll probably do pizza again on Friday.  Making four large pizzas is great because there are leftovers. 

My goals for the week are to keep up with my daily bible reading, walk every day, and do yoga on the wii fit at least three times.  What are your goals for the week?

Happy Monday!

10 Responses to “no more excuses…”

  1. Susan says:

    Man, you really got inspired and busy. Good for you. I need to!!!!
    Susan

    Susan’s last blog post..BACK TO NORMAL

  2. Kat says:

    The soup recipe sounds really good. Make sure you show us photos when you start painting.

    Hugs!
    Kat

    Kat’s last blog post..FEATURED TODAY….

  3. Jodi says:

    Cute pans! I have the stones from Pampered Chef, they let my crust get crispy too. Hope your Monday is going super!!

    Jodi’s last blog post..Monday Meme’s

  4. yvonne says:

    I love when you post about your meals–always sound so good.

    Congrats to your girls for all the reading.

    yvonne’s last blog post..Accountability List for 2009

  5. Suzi Searles says:

    My goals this week is to get the Christmas stuff taken down now that Amy is home, that was done today, thank you Amy and Natalie. Get caught up on some phone calls to the Insurance company about Luke’s Dr. appointments. Exercise at least 4 times this week. Stay on top of Zeke’s discipline issues, it’s “be nice to Zeke week” to see if that helps with his attitude. That’s a partial list, I hope to accomplish a whole lot more!

    Love in Christ,
    Suzi

    Suzi Searles’s last blog post..Here’s Lukie getting excited about seeing his sister Amy get home from Denmark

  6. Yeah, I can appreciate when you can stretch a meal for a couple of days.

  7. Gail says:

    Goals? I’m supposed to have goals? Guess that’s what’s wrong with me!

    I guess you’re glad vacation is over! Sounds like you’re busy and productive. That recipe looks good and how fun is that pan……so now you have lots of pizza pans I bet!

    Gail’s last blog post..The eyes have it

  8. Kari says:

    “Matt doesn’t know he has a choice”…see? I think that’s the perfect philosphy for a happy household. Randey goes along with just about anything I want to do anywhere in the house. The one time I decided to give him a choice, I let him choose the bed. I’ve regretted it ever since. Now I have a leather (yuck!) sleigh bed. (sigh) I’ve always wanted a sleigh bed, but I really don’t love that leather. But it just went to prove my point…while that leather drives me batty, Randey would have been perfectly happy if I’d slapped a old used door on the wall and called it a headboard. He adjusts very well to my choices. Me? I’m not so good at that whole “adjusting” thing. :)

    Kari’s last blog post..Christmas Pics Part Deux

  9. nancy face says:

    I’m so amazed that you hand paint sayings on walls! I would only be able to do that with a stencil! :)

    nancy face’s last blog post..Overheard at the store

  10. nancy face says:

    One goal this week is to color and cut my mom’s hair and to cut my dad’s hair. I also need to take my mom shopping to return some Christmas gifts and pick out something else. That will take HOURS!

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