Thankful Thursday

I have to do thankful Thursday this week too!! There are a couple of main things I am thankful for this week:

1. TAKS IS OVER!!!!

2. My family and friends that I get to interact with on a daily basis that enrich my life!!! They make my life so much happier and enjoyable!!!

Keith's 40th Birthday

My sweet guy turned 40 yesterday! My how the time is flying by...I swear it only seems a few years ago that we were going out to eat in Houston for his 21st birthday!! So many fun years together and looking forward to so many more to come!! Here's a couple of shots from the gathering.

Marriage Mondays

I saw this on another blog and thought it was a good idea! A time to reflect on our marriage: the joys, the trials, and the struggles. The blog is listed above in the box for those of you who want to check it out.

For today, I will fill you in on how I met my husband. We actually met in elementary school during the 4th grade. We sat by each other in our 4th grade class and our teacher will still tell students to " be careful who you sit by, you could end up married to them!" Well telling that to a bunch of 9 year olds always makes them squeal!! It is rather funny! I can remember Keith making me laugh in elementary and jr. high, but I got to know him a little better in high school as we hung out with the same people. It wasn't until jr. college though that we started talking more. We both dated other people that were out of town, so we would hang out more on the weekends! I loved being around him because he was always so fun and made me laugh. And of course, I thought he was so cute!! For several years we would go out with groups and friends and talk a lot, but still dated other people. I can remember specifically many times being out with someone else and thinking, "ok, I need to get home or check my cell phone because Keith should be calling me soon." Or I'd would be out and wishing I was out with Keith instead. I looked forward to talking to him each day. He had become one of my best friends, so there was that nervousness of messing up a good friendship. Well, finally one day we were at a crawfish boil and then went out afterwards and we finally smartened up to the fact that we really liked each other and the rest is history! We got married in the summer of 1996. He is still so funny, makes me laugh, so considerate, and of course so cute!! I am so blessed to be married to him and he is still the one that I can hardly wait to talk to each day!!!

Weekly Menu

Sunday- Steaks, corn on the cob, and peas

Monday- Salisbury steak with mushroom and onions, mashed potatoes, and veggies

Tuesday- Santa Fe Chicken, brown rice, tortillas and the fixins

Wednesday-Keith's 40th Birthday celebration catered by Luna's Mexican Restaurant

Thursday- Sour Cream Chicken, brown rice, green beans

Friday- Bison Burgers (bison meat is supposed to be better for us) I am interested to see what it tastes like! Hopefully we all like it and will use it more often!

Weekly Menu

Monday- Mexican Chicken and Rice with black bean salsa

Tuesday- dinner at the Estes' home

Wednesday- Fajitas with peppers and onion, whole grain tortillas, and pico

Thursday- baked chicken with zucchini and squash with pesto

Friday- Relay for Life

Saturday- date night

Sunday- spaghetti with turkey meatballs

Clean Eating

I'm on a new mission this week! I've been reading up on Clean Eating and have decided to give it a shot! One of my goals this month is to eat healthier and work out more, so following the Clean Eating looks like something I can do. It isn't a diet, it is basically eating all the things that are good for us and getting rid of the stuff that isn't!! I KNOW my downfalls are: ice cream, chips, and dip...I have to STOP or eat very rarely!! It also calls for drinking A LOT Of water which we already know, but the book reminds you of all the important reasons. I'm getting closer to turning 40 and I really am determined to get in the best shape I possibly can by then. ( the big day is in July) I've had fun planning out the menu and making the grocery list...I'll keep you posted on how I do this week!! Here's to clean eating!!!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

a nice visit with mom and dad !

my fresh haircut and highlights...always makes me feel good!

tomorrow is Friday and the weekend is almost here!

great classes at school!

my sweet husband helping around the house!

the conversations I've had with my kiddos this week!

quiet, unrushed evenings!!

Truthful Tuesday

I've seen some of my blogging friends participate in this so I wanted to give it a try. Something has really hit me lately and it fits perfect with this label:

The truth is:

watching your parents age and their health decline is depressing!! I know I am blessed to have had them for this long because not everyone has that opportunity and I am grateful, but the truth is it doesn't make it any easier as I watch their struggles!

I've been blessed with the best parents any girl could hope for! My mom is a small woman and she was always full of life, spunk, and a fiery personality. I knew that I could count on her for anything and that no one would do anything to me because my mom would take care of it!!These days she is weak and doesn't have a lot of spunk left, but has the most beautiful blue eyes and sweetest smile. I still love the way she looks at me and holds onto my hand with her fragile hand before I leave each time. The truth is...that always brings tears to my eyes!

My dad is amazing. He is a big man and the sweetest, most humble man I have ever known. He has loved me unconditionally and made me feel like the most important person in the world my whole life. When I walk in their house or talk to him on the phone, he acts like it is the best thing that has happened all day! He takes great care of my mom and always says what a pleasure it is for him to do it and that God has been so good to them. The truth is...he is tired, but he wouldn't admit it.

I hope I've told them enough how much they mean to me and what a wonderful life they provided for me. I hope they know how thankful I am for them and their love!!

The truth is...I'm going to keep telling them for as long as I can!!

Weekly Menu

Monday- out to eat at El Toro's -Ashlyn played two tennis matches so there was no time to cook!

Tuesday- Chicken and Rice and green beans
This is easy, but so good!
1 cup uncooked rice ( I use brown rice)
6 chicken breasts (salt and pepper)
1 can cream of mushroom
1 envelope Italian dressing
2 cups boiling water

Spread rice out in 9x13 pan, mix soup, dressing, and water together and then mix in with the rice. Layer chicken on top. Cook @ 350 for one hour covered and then 20 more minutes uncovered.


Wednesday- Grilled tilapia with steamed veggies

Thursday-Stuffed pasta shells and charro beans

Friday- Grilled pork chops and broccoli

Saturday and Sunday- leftovers or out to eat

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

The Easter celebration I enjoyed with my family!

answered prayers!

my niece, Jeana, bought me a ticket to see Wicked for my birthday!

my wonderful husband who helps cook and clean without even being asked!

Ashlyn and how she loves going to Bible study and working on her relationship with God!

Reece's story and expressions that make me laugh!

my fabulous sisters that listen to me, give me guidance, and make me laugh!

my friends that also listen to me and enrich my life!

wonderful in laws that are such a big part of our life!

Crockpot recipes

Diet Dr. Peppers

Blue Bell ice cream

this beautiful morning

and finally that it is THURSDAY!!

Weekly Menu

Monday- Hamburgers with mushrooms and onion and tator tots

Tuesday- Grilled chicken and red potatoes

Wednesday- Amazing Race night with Estes

Thursday- Beef Tips, rice, and green beans
Crock pot-spray with Pam
1 1/2 pounds stew meat
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup
1 can cream of mushroom
1 cup Sprite
Mix all together an cook it on low all day.

Friday- tilapia and mixed vegetables

Happy Easter !

What a great day we've had today! We started it off by going to church and celebrating that we serve a risen Savior! Then back at home, the kids enjoyed what the Easter bunny brought and we spent the day with family! I love having such a big family and that we all live near each other so we can get together so often. We ate plenty of food and had plenty of laughs! Each year we have our annual egg toss competition! It is always hilarious to listen to everyone's comments and excuses we use when we drop our eggs! I've included a few photos from our day. I hope you all had a Happy Easter! I am blessed!

Ladies Retreat 2010

As I've said, the Ladies Retreat is one of my favorite weekends out of the year! God always blows me away with how He works through this ministry! Many of us spend several months in prayer and preparation for this weekend and when I'm up in front of all those ladies at the end of the weekend and hearing them share their stories and how God has changed their lives or worked something out for them, I can't explain how I feel! There were about 160 ladies in attendance this year. That is more than we've ever had before! I have the honor of being over the retreat and have an incredible team of helpers that help me with the weekend. We have several sessions of praise and worship and listen to speakers who have a message to share with us all. There are also a few sessions available just for fun. This year we heard about Organizing from Asha Kenebrew and skin care from Michelle Hightower. Since last year, we have incorporated our own version of the Amazing Race. It is a BLAST!!! One of my good friends, Dena Horne, is over it and she does an incredible job!! My team is team LOL and as you can see from the pictures, we like to have fun, BUT want to win!! (okay, I especially want to win-I am very competitive) Well, last year we got beat by my sisters and nieces (I will never hear the end of that) and this year we just knew we would win. In fact we were in 1st place for many of the events until we got to the Sleeping Beauty one. Notice the pictures of us on the cots. Yeah, we had to lay there 2 MINUTES and 3 other teams go to pass us since we were already on the cots!!! NOT GOOD!!! You'll notice the picture of Liz and I with our bodies partially up and scowls on our faces. We weren't happy! And let me just say, that was the longest two minutes ever! LOL!! So, we ended up in fourth place, had a blast running the race (except the cots) and ended up winning a 30 minute massage. So, we were very happy! Each speaker at the retreat brings a wonderful message with great points to remember. We have a couple of speakers on Saturday and then one on Sunday with a section called Wit and Wisdom. Sunday is always a favorite of everyone! The ladies have so much wisdom to share and also add in humor. We were reminded the important points of how we should treat our husbands and also checking our hearts. Are we in a close relationship with God? Are we giving him everything or do we have idols that we are holding onto that are more important than our Savior? It really made me think and spend a lot of time in prayer. Sadly, there are some things I am clinging to too tightly, but I am letting them go. God really spoke to me in that session and I know He is still molding me into what He has planned for me! I hope I don't disappoint Him.

Thankful Thursday

Already Thursday again, so here's the list:

Ladies Retreat was awesome!

quiet time with God

4 day work week

Shopping sprees with my girlfriends

Keith being off with us a few days

time with my family

I serve a Risen Savior!!

parents that ran my Easter party

Spring!

Friday night fun

watching movies with my kiddos

my comfy bed!