Archive for December, 2009

Save $ on Meals in 2010!

December 31, 2009

Have you ever heard of www.e-mealz.com?

Are you tired of spending $80 at the grocery store and getting home without anything to cook?

Are you tired of just going out when you look in your pantry and can’t find anything to make that night?

Do you dread meal planning and therefore only do it every few weeks?

If so, E-mealz is for you!

I first heard about this program when a good friend,Rebecca,  gave it to me as a gift when we first moved back from Central Asia.  4 years of only having a handful of cereals to choose from, instead of hundreds, only a few strange cheeses, radiated milk, a handful of  canned goods, and whatever fruit and veggies were in season, made a trip the American grocery store quite overwhelming. In fact, upon our return, I cried the first 3 times I set foot in the store, despite my sister going with me the first time!

Rebecca had also lived overseas and knew that E-mealz would really help my transition. And help it did! This thing is amazing!

You pick either a 5 or 7 meal plan per week. Then, you pick whether you are cooking for 2 or 4. The ingredients for all the meals are kept under a certain price based on which plan you pick. The price caps are something like $35 for 2 people and $75 for 4. I can’t remember exactly but they are certainly lower than I would spend if I planned 7 similar meals on my own.

All the recipes have minimal ingredients and are kid friendly. You can even enter what store you shop at and they will send your ingredient list by isle. The program is $15 for 3 months and $12 if you enter DAVE into the coupon code blank because it is endorsed by Dave Ramsey. If you click here to register, my friend Kara will get credit for your registration. You really would only need to sign up for 3 months, print all the plans and then re-cycle them 3 months later. Definitely worth it if you want to get into the habit of cooking at home and saving money.

Now that I’ve given the big plug, I have to also say that I don’t do it anymore. It was really helpful when we first moved back. Then, I wanted to branch out and  make things that we had particularly missed during our time in Central Asia. After that season, I would have switched back but then came our unemployment months and we were eating for way less than even this plan. Go chick peas, lentils, legumes  and navy beans. I keep thinking about switching back but I think we are now used to eating on less.

Even though I myself am not benefiting from E-mealz, I wanted to share it with you as the new year is so often a time for new habits! Go create a new habit and some yummy E-mealz!

White Christmas

December 30, 2009

A Fun Christmas

December 28, 2009

We had a fun Christmas with J’s family. We both got sick but still managed fun visits with extended family, lots of presents and an all round good time. We are always exhausted after trips which doesn’t leave much time for blogging tonight. We’ve unpacked, started to put away Christmas presents and started the loads of laundry. The new year awaits in just a few days!

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2009

Leaf Fort

December 24, 2009

Here’s an activity for those afternoons with family. Save a few Christmas boxes and get ready for some outdoor fun!

My cousin and brother-in-law made this really cool fort for N and J. First, they taped two large boxes together making a tunnel between the two. They cut out windows and even taped a chimney on top.

 

Next, they raked mounds and mounds of leaves to pile on top. The even hung tape down from the opening and put leaves on the tape strands creating a camo effect.

The fort was a big hit and was enjoyed by all. Well, those kind enough to humor N and J at the invitation to ‘come on in’! Thanks Matt and John!

On the way to Bethlehem; anticipating Christ’s birth!

December 23, 2009

Christmas goings on

December 22, 2009

I don’t have one superior story for today but here are a few laughs about our month of December:

A couple of weeks ago, N announced that he wouldn’t be praying again until Christmas. Even through gentle probing and explanations at Jesus’s desire to hear from him, N has remained firm. Throughout the day, at mealtimes and bedtime, we give him the opportunity sometimes saying, “How would you feel if I decided not to talk to you until your birthday?” But, to no avail. The answer is always the same. “I’m not praying till Christmas.” This Christmas prayer should be interesting.

N’s preschool Christmas pageant was last week. The cast was all 3 and 4 year olds and I am utterly amazed that the teachers were able to organize, teach and execute such a great program. The one thing they couldn’t prepare for? Joseph projectile vomiting front and center stage, just after saying one line of the evening. Well, actually maybe he was supposed to have more lines; we’ll never know. The audience erupted in whispers of “oh my gosh” and “poor kid” as the teachers scrambled to remedy the situation. Someone ushered Joseph off as everyone watched his every move to make sure there wasn’t a round two on the way. Another quick thinker grabbed baby Jesus’s swaddling clothes and threw them over the splatter of throw up now at center stage. The show went on, kids stepping around the blanket to come forward and do their part. Until a teacher came on stage who had somehow missed the vomiting portion of the show. She just saw naked baby Jesus and his clothes on the ground and thought she too should fix things fast. She ripped the blanket off the ground much to the dismay of the audience and the program director as the gasps began again. The show stopped while she, along with a couple of other teachers, once again arranged Jesus’s clothes. Despite the excitement, N did a great job as a shepard. He was so excited about his role and practiced looking frightened at the angels all week. At one point he said, “I think I’ll use my staff and beat up the angels to protect the other shepherds.” Fortunately, 3 and 4-year-old teachers are smart enough not to give their shepherds staffs so the angels were safe.

The Shepards before the show.

Lastly in news around our home, our fish Nemo (also previously known as Bluey and Mrs. Debbie but most currently known as Nemo) has been on a 13 day fast. This is one spiritual fish, preparing for the coming of our Lord. Or, he may just have an eye infection since one eye is swollen, puffy and huge. We’ve looked for Beta eye drops at the advice of our animal loving friend, Cliff , but had no luck. We’ve debated putting him out of his misery and doing a secret switcharoo  but can’t bring ourselves to do it. Mainly because our motives are selfish: we don’t want the kids waking up one morning and asking why Nemo is doing the backstroke. This doesn’t seem like a good enough reason to kill a fish who is still swimming, even if he isn’t eating. Maybe he’s just waiting till Christmas to eat like N is waiting to pray.

7 Years

December 21, 2009

Today is our 7 year anniversary.

7 years is a long time- if you’re in prison or in school.

But, this seems like yesterday.

This is moment is more precious now than it was then.

And in 7 years, these friendships have only grown sweeter.

We have traveled to 9 countries together.

Lived in two.

Sea kayaked in Hati. Scuba dived in the Cayman’s and Mexico. Snow skied in Chile. Hiked in Austria.

Experienced the birth of two amazing children.

We’ve risked together.

Walked through amazing highs and deep lows.

Grown in intimacy. Grown in maturity.

Laughed together. Cried.

 I really can’t imagine what the next 7 years will hold.

I can’t wait to find out. 

One thing is certain: love and joy go hand in hand.

Intimacy Anyone?

December 18, 2009

Intimacy with God is almost cliché these days. We all know we are supposed to have it. But how do we go about getting it? I recently heard a speaker describing this very conundrum.

He recounted a dinner party where he said something extremely stupid. He got ‘the look’ from his wife from across the room and knew he was going to hear about his comment when they got in the car. No one else heard, saw or noticed their exchange. Intimacy.

Intimacy opens up lines of communication.

The bottom line is, the more time we spend with God, the more open these lines will be and the more clearly we will hear from Him. We were created for this very purpose. It is what He longs for. Don’t we all long for time with those we love?

At Christmas, we remember His gift to the world. The most perfect gift ever bestowed on mankind. In reflection, we give to others.

What do you think Christ would most want us to give back to Him? I mean, when that random friend stops by with a gift, we scramble to have something for them too. We search for that perfect gift for each of our loved ones. Shouldn’t we, with even more diligence, search for a gift for the guy who started this whole Christmas thing?

I wonder if Christ was writing His Christmas wish list, He would first ask for a deeper level of intimacy with each of us. More time.  He longs to have the depth of relationship with us that the husband and across-the-room-look-giving wife have.

Sometimes, I think it is easier for us to try to give back to Christ during this season in other ways.  A year-end tithe. Visiting those without family. Helping a needy family buy gifts. While these things are good, I venture to say He desires more.

What about a block of time on our Outlook Calendars devoted just to the Ultimate Giver during the most busy month of the year? It could mean slipping into a conference room and locking the door during that precious 8 to 5 time. Or, it could mean waking up a little early before the daily activities begin. However it happens, doing something out of the ordinary to set aside time to meet with God in an extended period of time, focused on thanking Him for the gift of His son. Praising Him for His goodness and blessing over our lives this past year.

He is Worthy.

I think this just might be the best Christmas gift we could give.

11“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
   for you created all things,
      and by your will they were created
      and have their being.” Rev. 4:11

Gingerbread Houses

December 17, 2009

Over Thanksgiving each couple made a gingerbread house together. It was fun to do this together and see how different the houses turned out.

I wish we had decorated the walls and roof before assembling the entire house. It would have been easier to add detail before assembly.

As things turned out, with the help of N and J, we really weren’t into much detail anyway.

Our final product. It won’t win any awards but it was made with the togetherness of family. And now, we are eating it together too, one piece at a time!


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