Here I am again - thankful on Friday. Guess I should be thankful for a busy week.
Today I'm thankful for so many things.
But at the forefront of my mind is home sweet home.
I'm SO thankful for the chance to head back to sweet home Chicago this weekend. I'm thankful for the wonderful family and friends awaiting us. And I'm thankful that the logistics of trying to see 17-ish people in 36 hours has mostly worked itself together...
And now we hit the open road.
For 9 hours.
Thankful for a car! and a husband and father-in-law to split the driving with.
What are you thankful for today?
Friday, October 7, 2011
Football
My brothers (in-law) play YMCA flag football.
They're on 2 different teams.
We've been to a few games this season.
Here are a few of my favs...
are you enjoying football season? :) i am!
They're on 2 different teams.
We've been to a few games this season.
Here are a few of my favs...
 |
| David usually plays QB |
 |
| such intensity |
 |
| i don't know these kids but it was a cute moment. the kid on the left just ran for a touch down |
 |
| Will usually plays RB |
 |
| everyone was surprised the YMCA scheduled a little league game during the husker game. fortunately someone was blaring it from their car :) |
 |
| get his flag!! |
 |
| teaching moment |
 |
| another teaching moment... |
are you enjoying football season? :) i am!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
friends
Here's a scene from last week's recess on the playground while I was subbing
Melanie (1st grader) is sitting alone, building mountains with the rock/sand/dirt.
Anna approaches Melanie, skipping.
Anna: "Can I play with you?"
Melanie: "Sure. you can build another mountain."
Anna: "ok."
1 minute later
Anna: "do you want to be my friend?"
Melanie (smiling): "yea. sure."
Melanie (1st grader) is sitting alone, building mountains with the rock/sand/dirt.
Anna approaches Melanie, skipping.
Anna: "Can I play with you?"
Melanie: "Sure. you can build another mountain."
Anna: "ok."
1 minute later
Anna: "do you want to be my friend?"
Melanie (smiling): "yea. sure."
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Random Tuesday
We are going home for Ben to run the Chicago Marathon this weekend. I wonder if Chicago will always be home for me...?
Even though we're only going to be home for like 1 day, I'm STOKED! [yeah, i said it]
I'm excited to see my family.
I'm excited to go to church.
I'm excited to see some girlfriends.
and I'm excited to see my husband accomplish his year-long goal of running his 1st marathon.
Yippeeeeeee!!!!! [insert happy dance]
I started trying to sell stuff on ebay and craigslist for some extra moola. Not much. Just dabbling in it. So far, I've made $36.92 (including shipping expenses and the couple things I purchased to resell.) What's your best sale so far? you ask... I'm so glad you asked! I bought a ladder bookshelf at a garage sale for $10 and sold it for $50. I was pretty excited. :) Worst sale? I lost money on shipping a CD through half.com. Woops!
I'm going to make this as a message board for my piano area. Click here if you want to make one too! It looks ridiculously easy.
My college roommate and I started a new Bible study together using A Woman of Hospitality, by Dee Brestin. By the 3rd question, God had already shown me the difference between entertaining and hospitality. And convicted me that I need to "entertain" less and serve others by being hospitable more. I think this one's a winner.
entertaining = for me
hospitality = for others
Made 2 recipes with the crockpot last week. (will share later) I.love.the.crockpot. I was scared of it but thank goodness I got over that. It's amazing!
true confessions - i'm on an NFL fantasy football team. i let the computer pick my players. i'm ranked 6th out of 10. wah wah.
we don't have t.v. well, we have A t.v. but we can't watch anything on it. no cable. tried a digital antenna thingy - didn't work in the basement. haven't gotten around to signing up for netflix. it's actually kinda refreshing. i'm not one of those "i'm-better-than-you-because-i-don't-watch-t.v." people... i actually like t.v. a lot. but we don't have tons of time together at nights anyway because of weird schedules so it works for us for now. we've discussed getting celebratory cable when we finishing paying my student loans... hopefully sooner than later.
happy tuesday,
ren
Even though we're only going to be home for like 1 day, I'm STOKED! [yeah, i said it]
I'm excited to see my family.
I'm excited to go to church.
I'm excited to see some girlfriends.
and I'm excited to see my husband accomplish his year-long goal of running his 1st marathon.
Yippeeeeeee!!!!! [insert happy dance]
I started trying to sell stuff on ebay and craigslist for some extra moola. Not much. Just dabbling in it. So far, I've made $36.92 (including shipping expenses and the couple things I purchased to resell.) What's your best sale so far? you ask... I'm so glad you asked! I bought a ladder bookshelf at a garage sale for $10 and sold it for $50. I was pretty excited. :) Worst sale? I lost money on shipping a CD through half.com. Woops!
I'm going to make this as a message board for my piano area. Click here if you want to make one too! It looks ridiculously easy.
My college roommate and I started a new Bible study together using A Woman of Hospitality, by Dee Brestin. By the 3rd question, God had already shown me the difference between entertaining and hospitality. And convicted me that I need to "entertain" less and serve others by being hospitable more. I think this one's a winner.
entertaining = for me
hospitality = for others
Made 2 recipes with the crockpot last week. (will share later) I.love.the.crockpot. I was scared of it but thank goodness I got over that. It's amazing!
true confessions - i'm on an NFL fantasy football team. i let the computer pick my players. i'm ranked 6th out of 10. wah wah.
we don't have t.v. well, we have A t.v. but we can't watch anything on it. no cable. tried a digital antenna thingy - didn't work in the basement. haven't gotten around to signing up for netflix. it's actually kinda refreshing. i'm not one of those "i'm-better-than-you-because-i-don't-watch-t.v." people... i actually like t.v. a lot. but we don't have tons of time together at nights anyway because of weird schedules so it works for us for now. we've discussed getting celebratory cable when we finishing paying my student loans... hopefully sooner than later.
happy tuesday,
ren
Monday, October 3, 2011
Marathon Weekend!
The Chicago marathon is in T-minus 6 days.
6 days of training left. (for Ben, not me)
6 days of extra water and vitamins. (for both of us, because it's our attempt to be healthy)
6 days for YOU to donate to WORLD VISION through BEN'S fund.
If you're lost and confused... read this.
If you have been waiting until the last minute to donate, it's the last minute. So, click here!
If you want to know more about World Vision to make sure it's a legit thing to give your money to, click here!
thank you, thank you, thank you!
love,
ren & ben
6 days of training left. (for Ben, not me)
6 days of extra water and vitamins. (for both of us, because it's our attempt to be healthy)
6 days for YOU to donate to WORLD VISION through BEN'S fund.
If you're lost and confused... read this.
If you have been waiting until the last minute to donate, it's the last minute. So, click here!
If you want to know more about World Vision to make sure it's a legit thing to give your money to, click here!
thank you, thank you, thank you!
love,
ren & ben
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Vegetable Beef Soup
This recipe is from my faithful red plaid Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. If you don't have one, order it immediately. Seriously. It has never failed me. I have this pretty bridal version.
Vegetable Beef Soup
Prep: 25 minutes Cook: 8-10 hours low or 4-5 hours high
Makes: 6 main dish servings
1 lb. boneless beef chuck pot roast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 Tbsp. cooking oil
4 C. water
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 c. frozen mixed vegetables
2 c. frozen diced hash brown potatoes or 2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped [I did the real deal. very yummy]
1 1-ounce envelope onion soup mix (1/2 of a 2-ounce pkg.) [yes, that's straight from the recipe book... at least they're detailed! haha]
1 tsp. instant beef bouillon granules
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced or 1/8 tsp garlic powder
-In a large skillet, brown meat pieces in hot oil. Drain the fat. In a 3 1/2 or 4 quart slow cooker, place meat and remaining ingredients. [mine is 6 quarts. still.]
- Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8-10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4-5 hours.
Vegetable Beef Soup
Prep: 25 minutes Cook: 8-10 hours low or 4-5 hours high
Makes: 6 main dish servings
1 lb. boneless beef chuck pot roast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 Tbsp. cooking oil
4 C. water
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 c. frozen mixed vegetables
2 c. frozen diced hash brown potatoes or 2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped [I did the real deal. very yummy]
1 1-ounce envelope onion soup mix (1/2 of a 2-ounce pkg.) [yes, that's straight from the recipe book... at least they're detailed! haha]
1 tsp. instant beef bouillon granules
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced or 1/8 tsp garlic powder
-In a large skillet, brown meat pieces in hot oil. Drain the fat. In a 3 1/2 or 4 quart slow cooker, place meat and remaining ingredients. [mine is 6 quarts. still.]
- Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8-10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4-5 hours.
I cooked meat and chopped veggies the night before and refrigerated those pieces. Then, popped it all in the next morning before work. SUPER easy.
changed
I never get tired of seeing videos like this.
of hearing how God is moving.
of hearing how Jesus Christ is changing lives.
society puts labels on Christianity. All sorts of labels ...fundamental, weird, evangelical, right wing, Jesus-freaks,
but really, it doesn't matter what you wanna call it.
or what you say about it. or what anyone says about it.
Jesus is real.
He is alive.
He is risen.
and that day changed history.
the day that Jesus rose from the dead, conquered death once and for all...
it changed everything.
He changed me deep inside my heart.
He gave me new life.
He gave me a reason to live.
He has lifted me out of the slimy pit and he set my feet upon the solid rock.
I am not perfect. and I do not claim to know all the answers. But I know that Jesus Christ changed my life.
And I will never cease to proclaim that.
This is what real change looks like:
of hearing how God is moving.
of hearing how Jesus Christ is changing lives.
society puts labels on Christianity. All sorts of labels ...fundamental, weird, evangelical, right wing, Jesus-freaks,
but really, it doesn't matter what you wanna call it.
or what you say about it. or what anyone says about it.
Jesus is real.
He is alive.
He is risen.
and that day changed history.
the day that Jesus rose from the dead, conquered death once and for all...
it changed everything.
He changed me deep inside my heart.
He gave me new life.
He gave me a reason to live.
He has lifted me out of the slimy pit and he set my feet upon the solid rock.
I am not perfect. and I do not claim to know all the answers. But I know that Jesus Christ changed my life.
And I will never cease to proclaim that.
This is what real change looks like:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)