Menu Plan

Here's what we will be eating this week:

Sunday: Threw in a frozen pizza for lunch

Monday: Chicken kabobs, stuffed potatoes, Caesar salad

Tuesday: Potato soup, grilled cheese

Wednesday: Burritos, carrot sticks

Thursday: Chicken and rice casserole, green beans

Friday: Firecracker salmon, rice, sweet potato fries

Saturday: leftovers

The Little Things

I serve a God who does big things. He can make the blind see, the lame walk, and heal the sick. My God does big things.  He spoke the heavens into existence and created the whole world. He restores broken marriages, broken relationships, and broken people. He forgives sin and gives people new hearts.

I have seen my God do big things. 

I have also seen my God do little things. 

I have been praying for sleep, that my kids would sleep so that I could sleep. Many of you read my post For the Weary that speaks of how I have been struggling lately.  Last night my kids slept for 7 hours in a row. It has been months and months since I have not had to get up multiple times within 7 hours. A little miracle happened last night, and I am reminded how God cares about little things.

Praise the Lord who calms the storm, heals the sick, and sees each sparrow that falls. Praise the Lord who hears the prayers of a weary mama and gives her sleep when He knows she needs it.

Praise the Lord who does the big things and the little things.

2 Years Ago Today

November 16 is a date that stands out for our family...an "anniversary" of sorts. It's the day our dear Elianna had her bone marrow test done. It's also the day we were told the results looked bad...very bad. Read my post 2 years ago here. That week was officially the hardest week of our lives to date. Living in the "unknown", thinking the worst case scenario (ie: your one year old daughter had a terminal illness), because you have just been told the worst is likely and now you have to wait for the "official" word. What a very, very, very hard week that was. It gave us only the tiniest of tiniest glimpses into what parents who have a child with a terminal illness might feel like.

The official word came about a week later when our pediatric hematologist called and said something very close to this, "Mrs. ____ I just wanted to ease your mind. Your daughter does not have cancer. When I first saw the results, I saw leukemia. She has a very high number of blast cells that indicated leukemia. That is why I called your husband right away. However, when we did the complete study, we did not find any cancerous cells. There is no cancer." Diagnosis: chronic benign neutropenia, though the high number of blast cells was unexplainable and something he had never seen before. What I wrote about the diagnosis. When we received this news, I scooped her up and danced around the house. I really did. We were told she had a very good chance of growing out of it sometime during childhood.

And she did. :-)

This past March (a year and a half after her initial diagnosis), a very late night run to the emergency room with Elianna due to her having a fever (standard procedure for her condition) turned out to be a night for celebrating and praising the Lord for healing her. After all the usual blood tests were done, we waited, anticipating an overnight stay in the hospital for monitoring. Instead, we were told her blood work was normal. Normal. We went home, praising the Lord the entire time. I'm sure no one ever walked out of that ER with grins as wide as ours. Our daughter was well again.

Elianna means "The Lord has answered."

He answered with "yes."

To God be the glory,



*Read the post I wrote  One Year Ago .

For the Weary ...

I have been feeling very unlike myself lately. Not every day, but many days. I am finding this particular season of life (especially the last 2 months or so) very difficult most days, and I feel guilty for the lack of enthusiasm I have lately. I feel like I am being a terrible witness because many days I am just so...I don't know what the word is exactly. Weary? Unmotivated? A bit depressed even, perhaps?

My children don't sleep. I don't sleep. It's driving me crazy. How pathetic is it when the first thing I think when my eyes open for the morning is...I can't wait until nap time...bed time..anytime... when I can just sleep. Lately I've been feeling like my brain is so tired that I can't even carry on a normal conversation with anyone; I nearly panic at the thought of going somewhere where I'll be forced to carry on a conversation since I feel too tired to even talk.

Do I desire to be a joyful Mom? Yes. Do I try to be a joyful Mom even when I don't feel like it? Yes. The truth is, though, that lately being a joyful, enthusiastic Mom is hard most days.

Today I was thinking about the passage from Isaiah...But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

They that wait upon the Lord...

Isn't it amazing how the Lord cares for us? I haven't been having much computer time lately because I am working on being less distracted and "being all here" for my family. There is no facebook or blog reading unless the kids are asleep. And lately when the kids are asleep, I am also trying to sleep rather than be on the internet. Yet, in my very limited time on the computer, I've read these few articles, which contain some great Bible passages regarding rest and sleep.

When you feel weary and tired: embracing God's sweet gift of sleep. 

I think the Lord knew I need to read this last night....

Permission to Rest

I also like this article I read awhile back: Caring For Yourself (The Me Time Myth Revisited). 

Waiting upon the Lord,

Homemade Flour Tortillas

I made these the other week and they turned out great. I had tried a different recipe for homemade tortillas that didn't work at all and needed butter to be cut in and things (kind of a pain), and they turned out more like tough flat pancakes. This recipe was much quicker and produced the type of soft flour tortilla I was hoping for. Sorry...I've been a bad blogger lately...no pictures this time. Maybe next time I make a batch!

Homemade Flour Tortillas - Yields 6

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup very hot water
3 tbsp oil

In a large bowl, combine flour,  salt, and baking powder. Stir in hot water and oil. Turn onto a floured surface. Knead 10-12 times, and add a little flour or water if needed until you have a smooth dough. Let rest for 10 minutes. Divide dough into 6 portions. Lest rest a few more minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a fairly thin circle, about 1/4 inch thick. In a large greased skillet, cook tortillas over medium heat for approx 30 seconds on each side or until lightly browned. Keep warm.

Menu Plan Monday

We are trying something new around here in an effort to become less distracted. No computer while the kids are awake. For the most part, no tv either. So, I'm whipping this blog post up Sunday night since the kids are in bed and then scheduling it to post tomorrow morning. Being less distracted has been good, but I am surprised at how little I'm still able to accomplish during the day. Sigh. Still struggling with little Ellie. Prayer needed. Thanks :-)

Sunday - Invited for lunch after church, Supper at my Mom & Dad's

Monday - Broccoli Cheese Soup & Oven Toasted Ham Sandwiches

Tuesday - Baked Penne with Marinara Sauce, Caesar Salad

Wednesday - Leftovers

Thursday - Beef Stir Fry over Jasmine Rice, Stir Fry Veggies, Egg Rolls

Friday - Italian Bread & Pizza, Veggies

Saturday - Leftovers

*Alternative Meal: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup & Biscuits