What’s for Dinner…? – Week 8

What' for Dinner

As we are in the midst of a crazy week leading up to Christmas, I am dipping into my supply of freezer meals. I am all about keeping things simple. Earlier this week we had sloppy joes and potato casserole. The best thing was there was little clean up.

Here are our meals for this week:

Thursday:  Homemade Chicken Patty Sandwiches (I use the recipe from Heavenly Homemakers)

Friday:  Pizza

Saturday:  Leftovers

Sunday:  Slow Cooker Roast Beef and mashed potatoes

MondayChicken Fajitas

Tuesday:  Christmas Eve Dinner at my parent’s house

Wednesday:  Christmas Day dinner with family

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365 Day of Blessings: Days 75-78

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Day 75 (Saturday)

Praising the Lord today that my little guy is feeling so much better. He’s eating again, running and jumping inside the house, playing with his toys and laughing. I have to admit I was getting a little worried, especially since yesterday he spent the entire day sitting in my lap. I’m so glad he’s almost back to normal!

Day 76 (Sunday)

I am so blessed with my husband’s willingness to stay home from church this morning with our son so that I could go to church and lead the music for the Children’s Christmas Program.

Day 77 (Monday)

Tonight I had fun watching my husband and son play in the snow. Okay, okay! I’m using the term “play” loosely. My son still isn’t so sure about the snow, and it doesn’t help that he can’t move very well once all his snow gear is on. And when my husband put him down in the middle of the yard he had snow up to his knees, so he couldn’t move much if he wanted to. These memories for me just make my heart glad!

Day 78 (Tuesday)

Today we had the blessing of answered prayer! My grandma has been in the hospital and then a rehab facility since before Thanksgiving, and today she was able to go home. There is no place like home – especially for the holidays!!

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Adoption Update: Application Process

Waiting for You Adoption

Many people are always asking my husband and I about where we are at in our adoption process. Finding an agency this time around has not been easy.

In November we attended an information meeting for an agency. Currently the agency is not taking in new families who are waiting to adopt. However, they are accepting “pre-applications.” Yep, that’s right. An application to see if you’re eligible to even fill out the big application.

After a couple weeks of waiting, we received an email response saying we were eligible to complete the actual application. Sadly, this does not mean we can begin the adoption process quite yet.

Completing this application just means we are put into a pool of applications. When the agency has four to five openings available, they will look at these applications to see who they will move onto their “profile list”. Unfortunately, it could be anywhere from 6 to 18 months before we can even begin a home study with this particular agency.

In the meantime, I will actively be looking for an alternate agency that might accept us sooner. We are also praying that perhaps God would provide us a baby through word of mouth.

Though it can be difficult at times, we are trusting God for His timing and provision to grow our little family. Thank you to all who take the time to pray for us! I will soon be sharing specific ways you can pray for us as we wait. Stay tuned!!

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365 Days of Blessings: Days 71-74

God's Mercies

Day 71: Tuesday

Today I had the tiny little blessing of seeing my 19 month old son watching me and waving to me from his bedroom window as I was shoveling the driveway. He was suppose to be taking a nap. I sure did get a kick out of it!

Day 72:  Wednesday

I am so blessed that my husband is able to work from home occasionally. Today was his work from home day and I was able to do my grocery shopping while my son was napping. Since we have had really cold weather and my son has been sick, I took this as a double blessing.

Day 73:  Thursday

God’s Word is always such a blessing to me. Lamentation 3:22 and 23 remind me that God’s “mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning“.

Wednesday was a long, grueling day with my son who is sick. Nothing on my “to-do list” got done. I felt defeated and exhausted.

I woke up thankful for a new day. My energy was renewed and refreshed. My son took good naps and I got much done.

Day 74:  Friday

Today I’m so thankful for my husband texting me to say he’s bringing home dinner. It’s another exhausting day with my little guy who is still under the weather. My usual Friday Homemade Pizza was turning into frozen pizza. I cannot wait until we are all healthy again!

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365 Days of Blessings: Day 69 & 70

Day 69 (Sunday)

Today we were blessed with our first snowfall that covered the ground. It was a beautiful sight to drive into our subdivision tonight with its unplowed streets, snow-capped trees and Christmas lights on the houses.

Day 70 (Monday)

 Christmas PresentsWe are blessed to have contact with our son’s birth family. While it’s not always easy to take the time and energy to share pictures, videos and stories or send emails to multiple people, it is always a blessing to know they appreciate. It helps them know that the right decision was made.

This past week we received a box of gifts in the mail from the birth father and his mom for Gavin. We have sweet letters, pictures and gifts from the birth mother, her mom, the birth father and his mom that one day we will be able to share with our son. It is a blessing to know that the decision they made to place Gav for adoption was a decision made out of love.

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365 Days of Blessings: Days 66-68

count blessings

Day 66 (Thursday)

What a blessing it was to attend our church’s Ladies Christmas Dinner tonight! We were blessed with music and a message from the Sampson family. And as always, it is an encouragement to fellowship with other woman.

Day 67 (Friday)

I am thankful for “Free Friend Friday” at the fitness center where my parent’s work out.  I was able to join my mom and sister for a great workout while my son and his cousin played in their childcare.

Day 68 (Saturday)

imageI am so very blessed with a husband who got up at 1 am to change the battery on our Carbon Monoxide Detector that started chirping. Okay, so maybe he got up because I kept calling his name and tapping his arm and saying, “Can you please make the beeping stop?” But he did get up and he didn’t complain it. Oh how I LOVE my husband!!!

Today we also did one of my favorite things. We went out for breakfast to our favorite local restaurant. It is always such a joy to spend quality time with my favorite two guys.

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What’s for Dinner…? Week 7

What' for Dinner

Thursday – Dinner Out

Friday – Homemade Pizza Bread with salad and fruit

Saturday – Leftovers

Sunday – Grilled Chicken Salad

Monday – Turkey Pot Pie

TuesdayPork Taco’s

Wednesday – Crescent Hot Dogs with fresh veggies and fruit

 

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365 Days of Blessings: Days 52-65

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After a couple weeks of one illness after another for me and my son, many sleepless nights, long days, Thanksgiving festivities and time with extended family, I am glad to settle back into a routine this week. At least that is what I’m hoping to do. But I have not forgotten my 365 Days of Blessings. So here is me catching up…

Day 52 – Thursday

I am so thankful for the Word of God. It gives me hope and strength. It teaches me and guides me. It gives me encouragement when I need it most.

Day 53 – Friday

I am blessed with a husband that takes care of me when I’m sick!

Day 54 – Saturday

Well, I never thought I’d say this one, but I am very, very thankful for the song, “What Does the Fox Say”. Last night I put my son to bed. After an hour of him crying uncontrollably I picked him up. He continued to cry and cry.

He had worked himself up into quite a sweat, so I took his pajamas off and attempted to change his diaper as well. But every time I tried to lay him down he cried harder, arched his back, kicked and turned. After several LONG minutes, I finally gave in to one of my husband’s tactics and pulled up the video to “What Does the Fox Say” on my phone. As soon my son heard the first notes, he calmed down enough to let me change his diaper. Isn’t technology great?

Day 55 – Sunday

Today I am thankful for the energy God provided me so that I could attend church and serve the Lord today. Yesterday due to abdominal pain that I get and a fever for most of the day, I did not move from the couch. Today, though moving slower than usual, I was able to be up and moving

Day 56 – Monday

I am blessed with a sister who spent the day taking care of my son while I filled in for the day for the church secretary. I don’t work outside the home often, but when I do I am glad I have family willing to watch my little bundle of energy.

Day 57 – Tuesday

child bakingI have to say that I am blessed with a mom who has taught me how to be a “keeper of the home”. Out of all the things she has taught, I am so glad she brought me alongside her in the kitchen. I know this wasn’t an easy thing to do. It is so much easier to just do things yourself. My little guy likes to “help” me in the kitchen too. It sure does take a lot of patience. But the memories are so worth it!

Day 58 – Wednesday

Tomorrow I am hosting my first Thanksgiving! Today I am blessed with a husband that so willingly pitched in to help pull our house together.

Day 59 – Thursday (Thanksgiving Day!)

This past June we moved from a 2-bedroom duplex into a 4-bedroom home. Today I am feeling so blessed to have the space to host my family for Thanksgiving. I am also thankful that my first turkey I have ever cooked was delicious. I admit, I was a little worried!

Day 60 – Friday

I am truly blessed with a big, close family who loves to do things together. Today we gathered at my mom’s to make gingerbread houses. While this “cousin time” gets a bit crazy (to say the least), I treasure the memories that our precious little ones are making.

Day 61 – Saturday

Christmas TreeAfter a crazy week, I am thankful for a day at home to clean and get organized. My husband took my son out of the house for a couple hours, which gave me uninterrupted time to get things done.

By the end of the day I was even able to put our Christmas tree up. I love seeing it through the eyes of a child that is learning to talk. When Gavin saw the tree all lit up he walked up to it saying, “Oh wow! Yeah!” So I think it’s safe to say he likes it.

Day 62 – Sunday

Today I was blessed watching an excited group of Freshman girls learn the Bible. This is my third year teaching these girls and I just love it. One of the girls today put a game together for our Scripture verse. I loved seeing her excitement about it, and the excitement and encouragement from the other girls as they played the game.

Day 63 – Monday

Words can not express how thankful I am that my son is finally going to bed without crying. For the last several weeks bedtime has been so heartbreaking. As soon as we would go into his room and turn on bedtime music, he would begin to cry. He’d let me pray with him, and as soon as I’d finish he would wrap his legs around me and hold my neck as tight as he could.

While these extra tight cuddles were nice, I missed the sweet kiss he would give after I finished praying. I am so glad bedtime is back to a normal routine and that my son is crying for several minutes after we put him down for the night.

Day 64 – Tuesday

We are blessed with a king size bed, especially on nights that our son ends up in bed with us. These nights are rare, but last night was one of them. Usually I will only let him in our bed for a little bit, but he was a bit congested and his breathing sounded off. Me being a little paranoid wanted to make sure he continued to breathe, so he ended up with us from 1 am to 7 am.

Day 65 – Wednesday

I just love the excitement my son has when my husband gets home from work. As soon as the outside garage door opens, Gavin will stop what he’s doing and go running towards the garage door. He waits there saying, “Daddy! Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!”

My husband got home from work today just as we had to leave for church, so father and son didn’t have much time together. On the way home, my little Gavin was so tired, but oh so determined to stay awake to “talk” with his daddy. He couldn’t even hold his eyes open, but if daddy coughed, he coughed. If daddy laughed, he laughed. If daddy asked a question, he “answered” as loud as he could – all with his eyes closed.

These precious moments just bless my heart!

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Note: This post contains affiliate links. We will receive a small commission for your purchase. All proceeds will help fund our second adoption!

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