Filed under: Bargain Meal of the Week, Kroger Bargain Meals, Meal Plans | Tags: $5 Dinners, Bargain Meal of the Week, cabbage, chicken, Drumsticks, frugal, Kroger, Kroger Bargain Meals, meal plan, Payless, pork, salad
Welcome everyone from $5 Dinners!!! Bargain meal of the week will be a weekly installment on this blog, and I’m hoping to give you a few options each week.
Oven Fried Drumsticks, Steamed Veggies and Bread
2 lbs. Chicken Drumsticks (on sale 1.19/lb) $2.38
Parmesean Cheese $.35
Garlic Powder & Paprika $.25
Butter $.25
Steamed Veggies (frozen-in bag) $.99
Crusty Bread (on sale) $1.50 –or look for bread/rolls on the discount rack
TOTAL – $5.72 (or less if you opt for discounted bread/rolls)
Pork Steaks over Rice with Steamed Green Beans (or Veggie of Choice)
2lbs Bone-In Pork Steak (on sale 1.59/lb) $3.18
Green Onions (on sale) $.50
Butter $.25
Garlic $.10
Soy Sauce $.15
White or Brown Rice $.20
Green Beans (or other veggie of choice- frozen – in bag) $.99
TOTAL – $5.37
1 Chicken Breast, Diced, Cooked (on sale 1.87/lb) $1.50
Green Cabbage (2lbs – on sale .39/lb) $.78
Green Onions (on sale) $.50
Sesame Oil $.25
Vinegar $.10
Vegetable Oil $.10
Salt, Pepper and Sugar
(Fried Won-Tons optional–on sale at Marsh this week for $.99)
TOTAL- $3.23 (without Won Ton strips), $4.22 (with Won Ton strips)
Be sure to check out the other meal ideas and stores over at $5 Dinners’ Bargain Meal of the Week!
Filed under: Church Planting, Family | Tags: Church Planting, friend, friendship, pastor's wife
Last week, I mentioned that one of the goals I want to focus on more is investing in my friendships. I would say that generally, I’m a pretty friendly person. But one thing I have learned about myself over the years is that it is hard for me to make close friendships. In fact, there are times when I wonder if I would even want to be my friend. Wow…now that’s a ringing endorsement!
In all seriousness, though, life as a “pastor’s wife” can sometimes make investing in friendships difficult. Jason and I have lived in Lafayette for about 3 1/2 years now, and it’s the longest we’ve lived anywhere since we’ve been married. I do not regret a single part of the journey that God has taken us on since we said “I do”, but we have had a lot of transition. The first ministry we had, there weren’t a lot of women close to my age…and I didn’t really have any close friends. When we moved back to our hometown, I developed friendships with several women…but then we moved away two years later. I was very bittersweet, and a big part of me was hurt…crushed even, at the loss of those friendships. Sure, we still keep in touch–but of course it’s not the same as it was when we were geographically close.
I am now confident that we are placed right where God wants us for the long-term, yet I still find myself extremely guarded. It’s almost as if I don’t get to close to anyone, I won’t let myself get hurt again. But what I have realized is if I try to guard myself like that, God can’t use me to my fullest. Not only will I miss out on the blessing of true friendship, but He can’t use me for His purpose if I am not willing to “put myself out there”.
So this year, I am going to be more intentional about investing in relationships with those around me. Sometimes, being friends with “the pastor’s wife” can be difficult. Yes…our husbands have strange schedules that make getting together difficult at times because sometimes we just need “family time”. Other times we have to cancel because something has come up and our husbands need to be available. But beyond all that, we’re just women who deal with the same stuff…the same insecurities…the same fears…the same challenges…as every other woman and mother out there.
Those of you who visit my site frequently may have noticed some changes over the last week. I’ve been playing with new WordPress themes and blog banners all week. I need a change, but haven’t really found anything that I REALLY like. But one thing I know…time for a change!
When I started blogging over a year ago, I was rather obsessed with scrapbooking. I even remember one of my New Year resolutions being that I was going to complete an insane number of pages. So, when I launched my blog, I aptly named it “Scraps of Life”. Then life happened.
I still enjoy scrapbooking, but that has taken a backseat to other parts of my life…so I’m reconsidering renaming my blog. This is where I need your help!
I have thought long and hard about a new name and…nothing! That’s right…absolutely nothing! Perhaps I am in a creative slump, or the really “cool” names are already taken…who knows. But, that’s where you come in! We’ll run a little blog-naming contest. The winner will be announced at the end of the week!
So what would you name this blog??? The musings of a mother of 2, trying to balance life–work, motherhood and life as a church planting wife.
Comment away!
Okay, so my return to blogging got pushed back a week. But, I’m ready to roll! Here’s what our week of meals looks like…
Sunday- Weight Watchers Cheesy Chili Mac (lots of leftovers for lunches)
Monday- Baked Teriyaki Chicken with diced green peppers, onions, water chestnuts, snowpeas, and chunk pineapple over rice.
Tuesday- Mommy/Son and Daddy/Daughter date night
Wednesday- Chicken and Black Bean Tacos, Corn Casserole and Salad
Thursday- Ravioli and Salad
Friday- Honey Curry Chicken, Steamed Mixed Vegetables
Saturday- Mexican Chicken Skillet, Salad
Be sure to check out OrgJunkie for TONS of great meal plans!
Filed under: Family
In my previous post, I really meant discipleing my daughter…not disciplining my daughter.
While discipline is very important, I really want to be intentional about discipleing her. That’s what happens when your fingers work faster than your brain! (That’s probably not a good sign)
As much as I missed blogging, I must admit that it was nice to take a break. I know…most of you have probably stopped reading by now, but I’m okay with that. January was a nice regrouping and refocusing month for me. Of course I started the month with some new goals or “resolutions”–just like most people.
- Heating healthier and exercise more.
- Grow deeper in my relationship with God
- Be a better manager of my home and my resources
But beyond those “stereotypical” goals, I really want to focus on some specific things throughout the year.
- Focus on investing in my friendships
- Be more intentional about disciplining my daughter.
- Cut out some of the excess in our lives.
- Be a positive example to my children of health and balance in life.
So, welcome back to my daily musings! This week, I will go into detail a little more about each of these and why these goals have become so important for me to focus on this year.
Filed under: Family
Well, my blogging break is officially over! I am going to get back into the swing of things in February, and to kick the month off, I thought I’d let you know about some really GREAT giveaways over at Simple Mom. They end soon, so get in on the action quickly!
