Kiss the Cook!

Yippee--it's the weekend! We started ours off with a date with Jaclyn. Ashley went to a sleepover and Caitlin went to a friend's house for a while. So we took Miss Jaclyn out for dinner, a little bit of shopping and ice cream. It has been so long since we've had a date with her! We had a great time. She picked the restaurant--Red Robin-- and then we went to her favorite store--Justice--and picked out an outfit. She then bribed her daddy into taking her to Cold Stone for ice cream--that girl loves some ice cream. I tease her and tell her that it is one of her daily food groups.

Afterwards, we went to the Super Walmart in Holly Springs to do some grocery shopping. I was armed with my menu for the month, my grocery list and prices of meat from other stores. Turned out Super Walmart was cheaper than all the other stores and I bought all the food I needed for a month of meals for $85.

I spent about 3.5 hours today preparing meals and freezing them. My freezer is stocked with 16 meals! That will last us about a month when you count the leftovers, the Wednesday night meal at church, and lunch out on Sundays. I am so tickled! I've been wanting to do this for years and finally did it! Got tired of looking in the frig at 5pm wondering "what's for supper?" I am tired of running to the grocery store every other day to get what we need for the next meal or two and tired of spending the money eating out!!

Now, we get to enjoy hot homecooked meals--just take them out of the freezer, let them thaw and pop them in the oven! Tada!! My family is going to think I'm magic!! You can't beat $85 for a month of meals either. We'll have to get some salad fixings a time or two and milk or bread. But boy, will we save $$ on groceries!!

We went over to Dale's parents tonight for a visit. It sure would be nice to have them closer to us. It takes about 40 minutes to get there--and over a quarter tank of gas! They need more help now and we are pretty much their only family they have here. We stay so busy and with Dale's night schedule, it is hard to get over there to help them. We are looking for a retirement community close by--but they think Fuquay and Garner are so far out...not anymore! Everything is building up so fast they'll have everything they need within a short drive. Anyway, wish us luck as we encourage them to move closer so we can be there more for them!

Tonight is my least favorite night of the year. We lose an hour sleep. I miss that hour for about a week or so while my body adjusts. I've already taken Tylenol PM to help me get to sleep faster, too. I was hoping to watch the last half of the Duke-Carolina game, but got home and evidently it is only on cable. I think we are the last ones in the country without cable but I just can't pay that much every month for it! Oh, well. I'll find out in the morning who won!!

Tomorrow we'll go to church and listen to the best preacher and the best music and once again leave feeling so blessed that we are at a church that stands on the Word of God and doesn't change what the Bible says to fit someone's wants or wishes. Hope you are in a church that abides by "Sola Scriptura"--Scripture Alone!

Okay, enough rambling. My Tylenol PM is kicking in! Night!

Beginning another Week...

I am just amazed and dismayed at how fast a weekend can fly by. Last week as I was driving to work, I was thinking of everything we had to do this weekend. Then a song came on the radio. A good ol' country song about rushing through life and one day you'll look back and realize that one day you'll miss this stage of life.

Well, by the time I got to the church where I work, I was crying like a baby and could hardly see to drive. While the busyness of life drives me crazy, I know one day I'll look back and miss watching Ashley play ball, watching Jaclyn learn to ride her bike or a horse, listening to Caitlin as she plays piano or French Horn at another concert. I'll miss snuggling with them while we read or look at their scrapbooks.

One day, I will just have the walls of my house to listen to. I will remember the our times together as a family. I will hear the sounds of little feet, their wonderful laughter, and their voices echo off the walls of their empty rooms.

OK, I sat here and made myself cry. Excuse me. I hate the thought of my girls growing up and leaving. I have to remember that God is in control and He knows. He knows what it is like to let a precious child go and fulfill their purpose in life, to make the world a better to place. He knows.

Going to go tuck my babies in and kiss them good night!