Hello Sisters

Saturday's usually find me at the local park, drinking a Starbuck's, and reading some books while my children play. Because I have the 12 yog, 9 yog, and 7yob, they all keep an eye on Sophia so that I can actually read one whole page in it's entirety with me having to look up every 2 seconds!

I am working on a new menu for the next week which will feature no meat. I pull tried and true recipes from Allrecipies.com and copy out recipes from Nourishing Traditions and then put them in a plastic page protector to keep in my "recipes folder."

Up in kitchen I have 3 menus. One is listed M-Sun and tells me exactly what I am eating for breakfast each day. M, W, F we eat oatmeal with fruit and toast. T, Th, and Sat we eat fried egg sandwiches (from our own hens) along with smoothies. We have been going to a church on Saturday nights, so Sundays' are relaxed, long, enjoyable days at home in which breakfast casserole, homemade waffles, real butter and real maple syrup are essential to our family's happiness. :)

The other 2 menus (one lunch and one dinner) show what we will be eating M-Sun. If Sunday night we are eating Sweet Potato Casserole with a salad, then we will eat the same thing Monday afternoon. If Monday night we eat black beans, brown rice and a salad, then that is what we eat for Tuesday's lunch. The lunch and dinner menus change weekly, but not the breakfasts. I wanted to take pictures, but my camera is broken. :(

I shop once a week for everything I will be needing for the coming week and having a menu helps me save time and money not to mention it gives me relief knowing it's already planned out...which helps in keeping Mommy's joyful countenance! :)

A few weeks ago Eric and I celebrated our 19th anniversary enjoying Seal Beach, the same place we had our first date. The children stayed at home with the grandparents while Eric and I parked our van right up to the sand and enjoyed our "Hotel on the Beach!" We took out 2 rows of seats and the children laid down blankets, put in reclining chairs, put in a small coffee table and even hung up fresh flowers!

We had the beach pretty much to ourselves and we spent most of the time sitting in the van reading, praising the Lord, reading, sleeping, talking, eating, talking and we even made time to smooch...a lot!

We need to get ready for church. :) Have a great weekend! Remember...The Lord's GOODness and MERCY follow us every second through every minor crisis, every child's crying, whining, misbehaving attitude, every upset, angry non-compliant to our wishes husband !

Blessings,
Shannon