Menu Plan Monday

This is starting to become a regular thing for me again, and I LOVE it!  Today's dinner, Crock Pot Italian Chicken and Potatoes, is already in the crock pot.  That means no fuss and no frustration for me around dinner time! 

Before I share the rest of this week's menu, let me just say that muffins for snacks and breakfasts have been a huge hit here lately!  I have to say, I never knew it was so easy to bake my own muffins from scratch.  I don't know exactly how healthy they are, but they've got to be better than your typical boxed kind, right?  (And cheaper.)  The favorite this week was blueberry muffins with orange glaze.  I have to give credit for these delicious muffin recipes to Tiffany, over at Eat at Home.  In fact, I get a lot of my favorite recipes from there, so if you need some menu planning ideas, hop on over there and take a look around! 

Monday: Italian Chicken and Potatoes in the Crock Pot
Tuesday: Green Salsa Chicken Enchiladas
Wednesday: Sweet and Sour Meatballs over Rice
Thursday: Baked Potatoes
Friday: Homemade Chili
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Waffles (Will make extras for breakfasts next week.)

I'm still working on apple chips.  They are a big hit with the kids and my dehydrator only fits 7-8 apples at a time, so I've been making a batch a day.  I'm also going to make apple cider with my MIL this week so I'll let you know how that goes!

Have a great week all!
~Melissa

The Fruit that Grows out of Discipline

"When you get home from school, you're mine," I said very firmly to my son this morning as we were getting into the van to go to school.  He knew that not getting his chores done before school meant that not only did he have to do them when he got home, but I was going to give him a chore or two extra of my choice.

Today being the first day of fall, I decided it was weeding time.  I haven't really had a chance to get to the back yard since we moved in so I handed him a pair of gloves, pulled the garbage can around to the back yard, and put him to work.  

I showed him exactly what area I wanted cleared and was ready to leave him to his work when I spotted a little yellow flower.  A closer look revealed that under all those weeds there were two pear tomato plants struggling to survive.  Just goes to show what you can find when you pull away the weeds and dead foliage.

Hmm...  I suppose my son is not the only one getting a lesson today.

Lately I have been reading a lot about the Lord's discipline in our lives.

Proverbs 3:11-12 says "My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, or loathe His reproof,  for whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights."

Paul quotes this scripture to the Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 12:5-6, reminding them that the Lord's discipline is a GOOD thing.  He goes on to say "Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."  (Hebrews 12:9-11)

How does this relate to my son, our back yard, and weeds?  Remember the pear tomato plants that we found?  If I had not decided to discipline my son with the task of pulling weeds, we would not have found the tomato plants that were there, which currently have two tomatoes growing from them.  Perhaps now that the weeds have been pulled away, they will produce even more fruit.

The lesson that God taught me is this: Sometimes before "the peaceful fruit of righteousness" can be produced in our lives, we must first be disciplined to pull a few "weeds," or the sins that prevent us from growing more like Him.

I discipline my children because I love them, and I want them to grow into responsible adults with excellent character.  In turn, I accept the Lord's discipline in my life because I want to reflect His character and "share in His holiness."

Blessings,
~Melissa

Menu Monday

Last week worked out so well that here I am again, menu planning!  The favorite dish last week was Pizza Chicken over Rotini.  As my DH would say, it was "a keeper."  Here's my plan for this week:

Monday: Turkey, BLT Quesadillas (Carried over from last week due to leftovers night.)
Tuesday: Goulash with home made bread
Wednesday: Pizza Night!  The school is having open house and providing the pizza. :)
Thursday: Pulled BBQ Beef Sandwhiches (crock pot)
Friday: Meatball Subs
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Breakfast

Things I'm baking for snacks and breakfasts this week: Bagels, Muffins, and apple chips in the dehydrator from the leftover apples.
Of course, now we have all kinds of peaches and applesauce for sides and snacks too! :)

If ever I get organized enough, maybe I will post recipes and grocery lists here too.  For now, I'm keeping it simple.

Have a great week!
~Melissa

A Pantry Filled With Love

Labor Day weekend we went over to my In-Laws and canned sweet pickles.  It is actually a three day process, and let me tell you, I'm glad that we did it at their house instead of mine.  Mostly because it stinks!  Her kitchen smelled like vinegar for hours!  I gladly endured the smell for a time though, in exchange for 16 beautiful jars of pickles. :)

After pricing out what a jar of peaches cost now a days, I talked my Mother in Law into helping me can some for my pantry.  I'd done it once before with my Sister-in-Law while living in Spokane.  There's something satisfying about grabbing a jar of fruit from the pantry that you know how much hard work went into it, and exactly what ingredients! 

The three boxes of peaches we bought on Tuesday were ripe enough a day early on Thursday to peel and can.  Luckily, my MIL was willing to change her plans and come over to take care of things!  We used the small kitchen in the basement to work.  I'm told that it's the perfect "canning kitchen." 

Originally my Sister in Law had planned to come out and can applesauce with us, but she was unable to make it. That left us with 4, 40lb boxes of apples to make into applesauce!  We gave one to a friend of mine and set to work on the rest yesterday, bright and early.  My MIL arrived at 8:00am, ready with the supplies needed.  We set up the kitchen and recruited everyone to help.  The kids removed stickers from the apples while my MIL and I sliced them for boiling.

Once we got the first pot boiled, my MIL taught me how to use the "Victoria."  It was a very impressive machine!  You put the boiled apples in the funnel, core, seeds, peels and all.  The sauce comes out one end, while the waste comes out another.  We took turns cranking the handle...even RL and JS gave it a try!  It was definitely a family event. :)

After we had enough applesauce, we poured it into jars and began the processing.  I would have to say, one of my favorite parts of the day was celebrating when we would here the "popping" noise of a jar sealing.  It was a very fun filled day and I am so thankful that my MIL is willing to come over and take the time to teach me the art of canning.  It is a very useful skill to have, and very cost effective.  

Cost of peaches including fruit and supplies: Just under $1.50/jar.  In my local grocery store right now, a jar of Dole Sliced Peaches goes for $3.59!

Cost of applesauce per jar including fruit and supplies: $0.58!  Yes, that's 58 cents per jar!  I don't know what applesauce is going for in the store right now, but it's not that!  It would have been even less, but we left some apples for slicing and dehydrating as snacks this week. :)

Time spent with family learning a valuable skill: priceless!

Now that I have all these wonderful jars of pickles, peaches, and applesauce, I needed a pantry space to store them.  I decided to make over a room at the bottom of my stairs that already has built in shelves.  It originally had paint in it, but it serves much better as a pantry!  Now, I have the perfect pantry filled with lots of love! :)

Before

After

The Other Side of After

Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 18!

There's something really poetic about this verse that really stuck with me so I thought I would memorize it.  I continue to be in awe at the beauty of God's Word.

Psalm 65:8 "The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy."

May you be blessed by His Word,
~Melissa

Walkie Talkie Prayer

Yesterday my husband brought home some walkie talkies from our store.  They were the hit of the evening, but before the fun began a few kinks had to be worked out.  First we had to explain how you have to be on the same channel in order to hear each other.  Then we had to teach them to press down the button when you want to talk, and let go when you want to hear someone else talking to you.  Once they figured out how to use them, the kids all split up and thoroughly enjoyed the new-found ability to communicate with each other all over the house and outside in the yard.

Later that night, when I was tucking my kids into bed, I joked with the younger two as I spoke into my hands and pretended to have my own walkie talkie.  "Breaker, breaker, is anyone out there?"  (Insert fuzzy noise.)  "Can you hear me God?"  They giggled and said "Nooooooo mommie!  You have to PRAY for God to hear you!"  I laughed too, but that one little comment really got me to thinking.

How do we view our prayer life with God?  Do we see it as a two-way communication time, or do we forget to "let go of the button" and wait for His response?  Do we know that we can reach Him at any time, any place, night or day?  Are we on the same channel as Him, or do we just hear silence at the other end of our prayers?

All good questions.  Here's just a couple of answers from the Bible on the matter:

God listens when we call -  "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." -Jeremiah 29:12

God speaks to us when we call - "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." -Jeremiah 33:3

I have to admit, sometimes I'm better at the calling part than I am the listening part.

In the introduction to her book He Speaks to Me, Priscilla Shirer says "The Lord doesn't speak in a whisper or in a dark corner somewhere where people can barely hear; nor does He try to trick us because He knows we can't understand what He's saying... God doesn't have a case of cosmic laryngitis, and nothing is wrong with His transmitter.  Our receiving equipment, however, often leaves a lot to be desired."

I don't know about you, but I want to make sure that my receiving equipment is in tip top shape, ready to hear from God!  I will say to the Lord the way that Samuel did when he was a child "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1Samuel 3:10)

What We're Eating this Week

As a part of my new-found motivation, I decided to record my menu here, at least for the time being.  Something about publishing it on my blog keeps me accountable.  Everything I'm making this week is already in my pantry.  (Aside from fresh fruits/veggies) What a great feeling!

Monday: Pizza Chicken over Rotini
Tuesday: Cheesy Ham and Hash brown Casserole (Crock Pot)
Wednesday: Pork Chops with Potatoes and Gravy (Crock Pot)
Thursday: Stroganoff
Friday: Skillet Chicken and Rice
Saturday: Turkey BLT Quesadillas
Sunday: Teriyaki Chicken and Rice

Here's what I'm making for snacks and breakfasts:
Muffins: Banana, and Blueberry w/orange glaze
French Toast for the Freezer (Need to use up some bread)

What's on your menu this week?
~Melissa

Where I Find My Strength

This is such a beautiful song and the prayer that has been rising from my heart lately.  Just thought I would share it.  The name of the song is "Please Be My Strength."  Their new album "Ghosts Upon the Earth" comes out September 20th if you like their style.

I've tried to stand my ground
I've tried to understand
But I can't seem to find
My faith again

Like water on the sand
Or grasping at the wind
I keep on falling short

So please be my strength
Please be my strength
'Cause I don't have any more
I don't have any more

I'm looking for a place
Where I can plant my faith
One thing I know for sure

I cannot create it
And I cannot sustain it
It's Your love
That's keeping me

Please be my strength
Please be my strength
I don't have any more
I don't have any more

And at my final breath
I hope that I can say
I fought the good fight
Of faith

I pray your glory shines
This doubting heart of mine
And all would know that You

You are my strength
You are my strength

You and You alone
You keep bringing me back home

Oh, You are my strength
You are my strength

You and You alone
Keep bringing me back home
It's You and You alone
Bringing me back home

Company Girl Coffee - The Vine and The Branches

There are many things I love about my new house, but one of my favorite things this Summer has been caring for the grape vines that have gradually wound their way up the lattice to my second floor deck banister.  Part of caring for them has been carefully pruning them and guiding them as they grow.  They will not produce fruit this first year, but I am told that next year they might. 

When I was researching what to do to bed them down for the winter I noticed that expert gardeners recommend pruning them back 90% in their first year.  That seems rather extreme, but in order to help them produce healthy fruit in the years to come, that is what is necessary. 

It is just as necessary for the Lord to also do some pruning in our lives from time to time.  In John 15:1-6 Jesus explains why:

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

There is a relationship between the vinedresser (The Father), the Vine (Jesus), and the branches (us).  God the Father does His work, or "pruning" in our lives so that we can be even more fruitful.  We also cannot live without being connected to God the Son.  For apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.  We must both be pruned by the Father, and also Abide in the Son.

There are definitely times when I attempt to do things in my own strength.  Those are usually the seasons where I become weary and dry, badly in need of some TLC from the Great Gardener.  The good news is that Living Water is always available from the Father, flowing freely through His Son.  When we are tapped into the vine, abiding in Him, we are nourished, and able to produce good fruit.

I am reminded of this picture of love every day when I look outside my kitchen window to see the growing grape vines.  That is why I have chosen John 15:5 as my memory verse for the first part of September.

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

We are headed into a new season here.  I will take the necessary steps for my grape vines to survive through the winter.  I pray that God will do the same for me in the many seasons of my life.  Prune me Lord, that I may bear much fruit in Your Name!

From one branch to another - have a blessed weekend,
~Melissa