everyone likes macaroni

I decided that I wanted to get back into trying to eat more at home because 1., we are both trying to lose some weight and 2., we're wanting to re-do the budget and get our mortgage paid off. So to make this an easier thing to adhere to I thought that it was time to get back into meal planning. I did a little research on the internet and one site suggested taking 30 index cards, write down a meal on each card, and then choose 7 to make it a plan for the week. No problem, I thought. I got my index cards from the desk and sat down to complete each one. The issue came with I don't think we eat 30 different things- or at least we don't cook 30 different things. The 15 we came up with look like we are 8 year olds- macaroni and cheese with hot dogs, frozen pizza, grilled cheese. We also took everything out of the pantry to try to use up what we have already bought. I guess you have to start somewhere and we did accomplish a plan that starts tonight and runs through Friday. Here's what we got and I'm open to any suggestions for future ideas!
Saturday Dinner- Grilled Cheese/Soup
Sunday Lunch- Spicy Bean and Turkey Sausage Stew
Sunday Dinner- Ravioli/Soup
Monday Lunch- Leftover Bean Stew
Monday Dinner- Tacos
Tuesday Lunch- Ravioli
Tuesday Dinner- Chicken Wings
Wednesday Lunch- Frozen Meal
Wednesday Dinner- Brinner
Thursday Lunch- Betty Crocker Pasta Bowl
Thursday Dinner- Spaghetti
Friday Lunch- Leftover Spaghetti
Friday Dinner- church potluck

We communicate!

A few weeks ago Michael and I participated in the "Not So Newlywed Game" at our church and took home the prize. (Well, the prize was a coffee maker and we don't drink coffee so we technically left the prize at the church.) Here are the questions should you want to play at home:

Questions Asked to the Husband
1. Who would people say is smarter- you or your wife?
2. Which is bigger- you wife's shoe size or ring size?
3. If you were at home alone and had to feed yourself dinner, what would you make?
4. What chore does your wife not do often?

We got 3 out of the 4 of these correct. 1- Jaimee (answers matched), 2- Shoe Size (answers matched), 3- Frozen Pizza/Pizza rolls (amazingly, answers matched identically), 4- I said vaccuming and Michael said Picking up after herself.

Questions Asked to the Wife
1. Where was the last place your husband cut his toenails?
2. Which cartoon chacter does your husband most resemble: Batman, Daffy Duck, Charlie Brown
3. If your husband had an extra couple hundred dollars to spend however he wanted, what would he buy?
4. If the house was on fire, what would be the one thing he'd grab?

Again, we got 3 out of the 4 correct. 1- couch in front of the TV (answers matched), 2- I said Batman and he said Charlie Brown , 3- PS3 (answers matched), 4- TV (answers matched)

March Madness

The winter is passing ever so slowly. Today it is 44 and cloudy/rainy. We were teased a few weekends ago with weather near 70 but it quickly went away.

The past few months have been gearing up for 2009 and that time is now quickly approaching. We had 2 teams in last week, all from South Carolina, and 4 teams in this week from SC, MS, and KY. This is the exciting time when you see the work you've been doing come to fruition.

The team from University of South Carolina/Furman University/Spartenburg spent a day at a non-profit farm that grows food and then gives it away to shelters and other places that have feeding ministries. They did a lot of prep work on the ground for spring.

They also painted murals at one of our churches that is located in a business park. Here's some of the artists with their Veggie Tales/Jonah and the Whale mural.

The other team was from Charleston Southern University. On Thursday they helped at the Rec Center located behind the church. They helped the kids with their homework, played with them, and also hosted a block party with hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy.

I like to party

We are gearing up for the holiday's and are excited to be going to Ohio to spend time with the Johnson/Bogue family this year. It will be nice to spend a holiday together since we spent Thanksgiving apart. We had plans to go together to Ohio but Michael needed to go to Florida so he went there while I went to Ohio by myself. My sister, nephew, and I also went over to visit family in Indiana. I had a great time seeing relatives I hadn't seen in years. For Thanksgiving we went to my step-sister's house where I also learned how to help puppies go to the bathroom.








Michael and I went with a co-worker of mine to New York City on Saturday. I survived the cold and the crowds of people to have a great time. We saw the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park, Ground Zero, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, and Times Square. It really is cool to be able to make a day trip out of going to NY.

This week Christmas parties abound. We have the Baltimore Baptist Association fellowship tonight, the Embrace staff lunch on Friday, and then a Christmas party for our youth group Friday night. That's a lot of red to wear in one week!

I miss college

It has been a beautiful day in South Carolina. I have been here since Tuesday, November 4th to recruit collegiate students to come to Baltimore next summer. So far I have visited College of Charleston, Anderson University, Clemson University, University of South Carolina, and Winthrop University (saw them at Camp LaVida, not their campus). Next week I'll attend the annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and head to Charleston Southern before heading back to Baltimore next Friday.

We've finally made our Thanksgiving plans. We weren't sure what we were going to do but then Michael received a call from Jonathan Sennitt. Sennitt had surgery in September to remove a brain tumor and is back home now recovering. He called and asked Michael to come visit him so we booked Michael a flight home for Thanksgiving. I'm going to fly to Ohio to be with my side of the family. My sister, nephew and I are also going to visit relatives in Indiana for a couple days before having Thanksgiving with the Ohio family.

Tomorrow I'm visiting 2 churches- FBC Columbia and Hill of the Lord. It's also Michael's 30th birthday. Guess I better find him a present...any ideas?


Chad and Mel- missionaries in Canada


Anderson University


USC library- I hear it's has 4 stories below ground

Fireproof

Michael and I were able to attend a pre-screening of the new Sherwood Pictures movie Fireproof. Once again they were able to make a meaningful movie with church members (with the exception of Kirk Cameron) and one camera. Yup, one camera. Jim McBride, one of their pastors, was at the screening. You may remember him from Facing the Giants- he was the coach with the lollipop, Bobby Lee Duke. If you have not yet made plans to watch Fireproof in the theatre make sure to do so. If you're a Sherwood Picture fan you'll notice references to their 2 previous movies throughout.

Jim McBride aka Bobby Lee Duke sans Lollipop

free shirt!

i'm back

No wonder I'm getting in trouble with everyone... I let 2 1/2 months go by without updating- yikes! The summer just went by in a whirlwind and this is something that got put to the wayside. So I will do my best to re-cap and catch up but to get back in the swing of things for now, here is a picture of nephew Benjamin at 5 1/2 months. Note the 2 teeth that make him look so grown up.