Basketball season is over and Christopher's team from "Frist Christian" won 2nd place!!! He made some incredible shots and was the 2nd highest scorer beat out by just 1-2 baskets.
Now we are into soccer season, Saturday is the first game for both of them. Christopher's first game is against the team that always comes in 2nd to us, so it will most likely be the hardest game of the season...what a way to start!
Cat's practice was last night-or so I thought-we got there and no one else was there-don't know what happened and I don't have the coaches number. She is excited about playing but now I wish we didn't sign her up, it makes for a lot of running around on Saturdays plus both of them practicing on the same night too...oh well, we'll make it through and have fun too!!
My tutoring is going well. My student is very sweet and works hard for me. His mom/dad run Iron Man triathalons...she has motivated me to walk/jog. This week I have walked everyday so far and even jogged a bit yesterday!! Yay for baby steps!!
My parents come in today and my dad will install 1/2 of our windows!! I am very excited about that. We ordered all the windows for the bedrooms and will do the rest at a later date.
Poor Chessie she is losing so much hair. I washed her with anti fungal shampoo thinking that might be the reason, we'll see in a few days if it helps. I've been taking her on walks with us on campus and she loves it!! I let her swim in the pond on Sunday but, she then ran away and we had to chase her down. I don't know what that is about she didn't do that before but now I'm afraid to let her off her leash-the neighborhood nearby has lots of pit bulls-there is an area of the fence that she can escape under. Maybe the more we go the better she'll be?!
Christopher has his big speech meet on Friday in Tyler. He recited his poem for one of the highschool teachers and she didn't have any suggestions or changes for him. So maybe he'll bring home a medal this year-but you never know how stiff the competition will be!
Oh I have so much to get done today-I'd better get to it all!!

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.
Psalm 86:5-7

Ok, I forgot that Calixto would be out of town for the weekend, so our menu changed again this week. The kids and I ate frozen pizza on Fri night and a Wal-mart pizza on Sat night and leftover pizza on Sun night! Enough pizza I do believe!

Monday: Ranch crispy chicken, sweet potatoes, broccoli
Tuesday: Spaghetti and meatballs, homemade french bread
Wednesday: Parmesan Chicken, rice, green beans
Thursday: Marlboro man's favorite sandwich, fruit salad (these don't really go together, might have to change my mind on this!)
Friday: Carmelized garlic chicken, baked potatoes, salad
Saturday: probably out to dinner with my parents

I'll also be making Frosted cinnamon rolls at some point

If your looking for new recipes to try out check out Laura's site!

The kids and I recycled our broken crayons last night and this is the result!

I have been tagged by Dana...Here is what is on my fridge. I take a minimalist approach!
Front:
1. "To do list" pad
2. A note card of blessings for children from fathers
(Notice the smears-which are actually scratches that I made when trying to get Christmas stickers off that Christopher had decorated our fridge with...I want to buy a dry erase calendar to cover them up.)

Left side:
3. Calendar from our realtor friend, Nancy
4. A timer

Right side-which is usually covered by the door into the dining room
5. Some of Cat's artwork
6. Library magnet
7. Sonic toy

John Piper is bad...

My conversation with Cat this morning as I was rushing to get dressed and get to an admissions meeting at school...

Me: "I am frustrated b/c my pants are too tight...I've gained weight...ugh!"
Cat: " Well, just don't eat dessert Mommy."
Me (trying to be sweet): "That's a good idea honey"
Cat: "And maybe don't eat so much food at dinner...or lunch!"
Me: "Thanks Cat...that is easier said than done, but thanks"
later
Cat: "Mommy, you just need to buy new pants cause yours are too small and I need to buy new ones cause mine are ripped...or you could just wear daddy's pants!"

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Eph 4:26

This is my verse for the week I haven't done so well with last week's verse which was really for the week before...it's not that it is such a hard verse but I have heard it in a different version so much that I get confused on the wording! Anyway, how appropriate this verse is!! I think this one is easy enough to learn...if only it were as easy to actually "do"!

ok, I didn't get to a few of my planned meals last week...opting for b'fast one night and chinese food another. I am trying to use up a surplus of chicken in my freezer and shop very frugally this week, we'll see how that goes...

Monday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas
Tuesday: No-fuss chicken, rice, green beans

Wednesday: ranch baked chicken, some kind of potato dish (?), mixed veggies

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: Taco casserole (I make this as a salad instead of a casserole-by not baking the chips in but instead crushing them on the plate with lettuce, tomato etc)

Saturday:parmesan chicken, baked sweet potatoes, broccoli

Again...check out Laura's site to get tons of menu ideas and recipes from women everywhere, even someone from Thailand...mmm...

Catherine's "Balistime's" gift from her Daddy! She is very proud of her beautiful rose!

God is so good and faithful!
This week was in-house registration for CHS. If we didn't pay the reg. fee on time we would have to pay an additional $300 per child. We didn't have the fee necessary to register and so prayed that God would provide it. On Wed I was getting a bit nervous since Thu was the deadline. I received a call from school reminding me of the impending deadline and explained our situation. The administrator said she would be praying with us too.
That morning (Wed) Calixto had already picked up the mail on his way out to work, I didn't know this and went to check it myself. Inside was a check from a client, enough to register Christopher. The envelope was all crumbled, nearly ripped in half and put in a plastic bag from the post office...I guess the post man delivered it later than the other mail?!
When Calixto came home from work I explained that we had half the money and the fact that someone had so kindly offered to loan us the money until we received it. As I was telling him this he pulled out another check and enough cash to equal the amount needed for Catherine's registration. God had provided the exact amount needed...with $5 to spare!
We testified to God's goodness and provision at dinner that evening and the kids were so very excited and thankful!

I realized that I haven't updated on our family happenings lately. Last weekend we went to Glen Rose to meet with team members for our upcoming trip to Mexico. We had a wonderful time of fellowship with friends and heard a great message at church on Sunday. On our way back we pulled over on the side of the road b/c Cat had spilled some Sprite, when we did we ran over a long, huge nail...it was stuck in the side of the tire. Calixto changed the tire and we were on our way in no time but, the tire had to be replaced the next day as you can not fix a hole in the side of the tire! We arrived home in time to watch the superbowl...disappointing as the game was!
My parents were here and we didn't really have work for my dad to do, well we have plenty of work, just no money to spend on it. We did ask him to look at the tub/shower that were plugged up, thinking that would be something simple but, of course it turned into a big project! There is no access to the pipes in that bathroom. The crawl space is only a few inches under that part of the house. We are assuming there was a trap door in the floor of the bathroom closet but the previous owners turned that into a shower. Our only option was to cut a hole in the floor of the living room closet (thank goodness that closet is there!). After some work the clog was removed...I'm sure Cat's hair was to blame! He also fixed the "handicap" toilet that seemed to leak all the time. Wow...what a savings for us...thanks to a dad who is a "jack-of-all-trades". We also decided we "have" to replace our windows, we ordered them and my dad will install them before they leave for NJ at the end of the month.
Christopher had a great game on Saturday, he scored several times and seemed to finally find his groove! They had to turn the scoreboard off the score was so high...28-0! They have lost to the 2 hardest teams but, they played very well and the scores on both of those games were close.
I have just finished reading a biography of Helen Roseveare, a missionary to the Congo. The book is He Gave Me This Mountain Her life story is amazing. She readily admits her failings and shortcomings as a missionary and as a christian and still God used her mightily! Now, I am onto another of her books Digging Ditches This book is required reading for our missions trip. Her books are truly inspiring!
I have to get my house organized...it is so messy that I can't get anything accomplished...

Take 5 minutes to be inspired and encouraged...

Monday: No-fuss chicken, rice, salad
Tuesday: hamburgers and fries
Wednesday: Turkey biscuit stew (made w/ leftover chicken), applesauce
Thursday: Chicken Spaghetti, french bread, salad
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, zuchinni

Click on orgjunkie to see hundreds of menu plans and get some great recipes.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10

Trying to keep the grocery bill low this week, hope this menu helps to do that. Happy cooking this week

Monday: Potato soup (from Paula Deen's magazine), honey buttermilk bread
Tuesday: spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, salad
Wednesday:Easy chicken casserole, peas, fruit
Thursday: redbeans-rice-sausage, corn bread
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Ham, baked macaroni and cheese, green beans

This is hysterical!!! If you haven't heard the country song "Jesus Take The Wheel" you may not think it is so funny! This guy-Tim Hawkins-is a christian comedian and has some really funny videos on youtube...Hope it makes you smile!

Christopher had blue tongue disease!!

He is better now and is at school today. Ok, the tongue color is from a blue raspberry snow cone. He had tons of work to make-up after his 2 day hiatus from school, he was only able to get about 1/2 of it completed and that took hours! I guess he can just skip the super bowl to finish the rest! We are leaving for Granbury/Glen Rose to have a day of orientation with the Spring break Mexico team. Christopher is going to stay here so he can play basketball on Saturday...they have their toughest game against St. Mary's...hope he is physically up to the challenge! He'll stay with friends tonight and then my parents will be here on Sat. to watch him until we get back Sunday. Catherine is so excited about this weekend...she just loves going to the condo. The only problem with the weekend is we might be driving home during the Super bowl,hope we don't miss too much...Go Patriots!