Cora. Praying for this baby’s family tonight.  Diagnosed with cancer less than three weeks ago at ten months old, now in the arms of Jesus.

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. 

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…

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!

Please pray for baby Wyatt…

He is a friend’s baby and was taken to the ER a few weeks ago. They thought and maybe still do think that he had an infection in his heart. He was released from ICU and had to come back. Now they are saying he needs to be careflighted to St. Louis and needs a heart.

Here is the latest update from carepages:

The care flight team from St. Louis will be coming in this morning and will access if Wyatt is in any condition to fly out today. Please pray for God’s will as he needs a heart to get better his lil’ body was slightly cold and pale yellow color last night when i visited. Psalm 29:11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Having your child in a situation where his life is threatened is like having the rug pulled out from under you. Please pray for his parents, grandparents and family. He is the great grandson of the minister that passed away recently, Louis Thompson.

Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest child died Wednesday evening after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family’s Williamson County home. I pray God surrounds them all during this tragedy.

I don’t know how many of you keep up with sweet little Parker and his mom Tammy? Little Parker is having another surgery May 16 and I was checking in on bloglines when I saw that Michelle (Big Blueberry Eyes) is having a toyraiser for Parker. She sells Discovery Toys and this is what she had to say…

I decided to have a “toyraiser” for Parker. I’m a consultant with Discovery Toys and I would like to donate my commissions to Tammy and Parker.

Parker’s next surgery is scheduled for May 16 (which is also my dear husband’s birthday, so I’m guessing this is a good date for a successful surgery!) I’ll donate commissions from any sales from now until May 10th (so I have time to send them the funds before his surgery).

You can shop at my online store … and check out the great Spring Break Sale – 50% off select items until Apr 26th. If you don’t have a need for any toys, books, board games, or music CDs right now you might consider purchasing something fun and educational for Parker to have while he recovers from his latest surgery.

If you feel like spreading the word on your own blogs that would be great!

Above anything else though, please keep Parker in your prayers for his upcoming surgery. Thanks!

I also noticed over at Parker’s site there is a link to his wishlist for toys to keep him busy while he is recovering from surgery. I love when bloggers join together to make a difference.

The national week of prayer and fasting is this week, Jan 6-12. There is a specific list of things to pray for during the week, but we are also using this time to be still and listen to God for instruction in regards to Isabelle.

There was a guest speaker/musician at church tonight. She was from Louisiana. She sang in a very folksy way, and I enjoyed it a lot. I also enjoyed the truths she shared and the many verses we read. It was a very uplifting service.