Menu Plan Monday

Better late than never, I suppose...

Monday: Tacos
Tuesday: Brinner (Breakfast for dinner)--bacon, eggs, biscuits
Wednesday: Slow Cooker Pork Chops (link to recipe here)
Thursday: BLT sandwiches (with leftover bacon) and pasta salad
Friday: Family Night Out
Saturday: Something on the grill...still trying to figure this one out.

For more menu plans and recipe ideas, head on over to Org Junkie.

"Me" Time Makes for a Happier Mommy

When I was single, I had a lot of time to myself. While I managed to stay busy between my full-time job, freelance writing, volunteer work, and social events there was still plenty of time for me and my thoughts...driving alone in my car, lying in bed at night, sitting alone in my office, etc.
Now that my second child is almost a year old, I'm realizing it's been a long time since I've managed to have a complete, uninterrupted thought to myself. I usually wake up to the sound of a child's chatter (which continues non-stop throughout my day). Nap times and evenings are filled with endless "to do" lists and much-needed conversations with Hubby. Then I fall into bed drift off to sleep before any coherent thought has time to develop. My girlfriends and I try to get together regularly for a fun and refreshing night out. But it doesn't exactly qualify as "me" time as it's also filled with endless chatter.

When I became a mother, I felt guilty taking any time for myself. After all, there were children to be tended to, a house to be kept, and a husband to be nurtured. But recently, I've noticed that my lack of time to myself is taking it's toll. I feel more irritable and less focused on what's important. I begin to snap at others over the littlest things. Not long ago, I read that every mother should take 15 minutes for herself every day, 1-2 hours every week, and an overnight getaway every six months. That sounded great to me!

So, I've taken some steps to make sure I get some "quality" time alone, realizing that it helps me be a better wife and mother. I've also tried to recognize those times that I'm running on empty and need to take an evening to refuel. Some of these things have required some sacrifices in other areas, but they are all well worth it. Here are some things I've tried to do recently to get some "me" time:

• Walk the dog. Although I have to sacrifice sleep by getting up 30 minutes earlier, it's proven to help start me day right. Besides great "me" time, it's great exercise, and very energizing to get outside as the world is waking up.
  
• Take a nap. When my children were newborns, it was easy to forgo the laundry and dirty dishes to catch some zzzz's. But now that everyone sleeps through the night I feel guilty taking a nap, no matter how needed it is. However, I'm learning that a quick 15-20 minute nap can get me through the remainder of my day.
  
• Soak in a bubble bath. Again, this usually means sacrificing something on my evening "to do" list, but it makes me so much more relaxed for the evening (and the following day!).
  
• Be still and know God. I'm ashamed to admit that when my children came along, but prayer and Scripture-reading routine took a major blow. But I'm discovering that I don't have to mark out an hour of time for personal devotion. Ten to fifteen minutes in God's presence and a few verses from His Word helps me keep my perspective and gives me strength to carry on.
  
• Go to bed when the kids do. I'm a night-owl by nature, so turning in at 8:30 or 9:00 goes against everything in me. But on those nights when my body is screaming for rest and I don't know how I'll go on, I've learned it's better to just go to sleep than try to "push through the pain." (That benefits no one in the end...it only delays the inevitable, sleep-deprived meltdown!)
  
• Hide. If all else fails, and I can't seem to even catch 10 minutes alone, I've been known to locking myself in the bathroom for 5 minutes of peace and (somewhat) quiet. My house is childproofed, so leaving them to play in their rooms for 5 minutes while Mommy regains her sanity (still within earshot in case of an emergency) is sometimes the best thing I can do for my children.

I was very blessed this last weekend to have the entire weekend to myself. Hubby took the kids to Grandma and Grandpa's while I stayed behind to work our annual Yard Sale. It was an exhausting weekend of wheeling and dealing on the hottest two days on record this year. But it was nice to have the evenings (and nights) to myself and reclaim "my" time. I missed them all terribly, but I know it was good for us all as they came home to a more rested and happy Mommy.

How do you make time for yourself to "recharge"?

Deep Thought Monday

I'm taking a hiatus from Menu Plan Monday this week to share something I came across. It's not really all that revolutionary, but it was a good reminder to me of a truth I sometimes forget. (If you had your heart set on a menu plan, head on over to Org Junkie...there are plenty to choose from!)

From time to time I've been known to react from emotion rather than logic, rationale, or even what I know to be true. You could say I've let my emotions get the best of me on occasion. (You can stop laughing and nodding your head now, Hubby.) That's something I've been working on lately...Choosing to be the best person I can be, no matter how tired I am, how discouraged I feel, or how much I just want to crawl in a hole and cry (or sleep!). I've discovered (yet again) that the strength I need to handle (i.e., control) my emotions doesn't come from within me...that was the mistake I had been making for so long. The strength to handle my emotions, my choices, my circumstances, my life comes from the One who created me, designed my emotions, gave me the freedom to make my own choices, controls my circumstances, and orders the steps of my life. That's why these passages I came across this week meant so much to me:

"'As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.' (Proverbs 23:7).
This meant that circumstances did not cause my emotions,

but my thoughts about my circumstances did."

--Erik Johnson in an article "Driving Yourself Crazy,"

from Focus On the Family (April 2008)

“We become what we think about all day long.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and
every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in
plenty or in want. I can do everything through
him who gives me strength."

--The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:12,13

Do you have a favorite passage, verse, motto, or exercise you use to manage your emotions?

Know and Tell Friday

A little Friday Fun...

1. What is your favorite mode of transportation (flying, train, car, boat, etc.)? Why?

Before kids, it was flying because it was fast. That might still be the case, but we haven't tried it with 2 kids, so I'm not sure. Now that we have the minivan with DVD player, traveling by car isn't so bad. But I'd probably have to say flying is still my favorite overall because of the speed (unless, of course, you get grounded somewhere!).

2. If you could fly like Superman, jump and swing like Spiderman, swing on vines like Tarzan or fly on an umbrella like Mary Poppins, which would you choose?

Hmm...that's a tough one. I think swinging like Spiderman or Tarzan would make me a little nauseous. It seems a little inconvenient to have to always have an umbrella when you want to fly somewhere, so I guess I'd go with flying like Superman.

3. You're driving down the road and you see a small cluster of people, all with their thumbs out hoping to hitch a ride with you. As you near the group you realize that the people standing there are Queen Elizabeth, Johnny Depp, Barrack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and John Grisham. You only have room for one person. Who would you pick up?

Um, hello...Johnny Depp! The Queen would make me too nervous. I wouldn't have anything to say to Barak Obama. Oprah would be fun, but doesn't compare to Johnny Depp. And while, it would be fun to pick John Grisham's brain on tips for writing a novel, Johnny would have so many interesting stories. Plus, he'd just be fun to look at. I mean, c'mon...it's Johnny Depp.

4. What was the most memorable trip you've ever taken?

While I've taken many fun and memorable trips with Hubby, I would have to say visiting Paris, France with my parents and sisters (May 2000) is the MOST memorable simply because of the awe-inspiring history and culture of the city.

5. If you were planning a road trip with your best friend, where would you start, what would you stop to see and where would you end?

We would probably start in Kansas City or St. Louis, MO because they are the closest cities. We would head toward New York and stop in every major city to see a broadway show, then end in New York and see any shows on Broadway that we had missed along the way.

6. You are able to transport yourself back to any time. What would it be and why?

I would travel back to the late 19th century....life was so much simpler and yet there was so much going on in our country. I think it would be interesting to get a glimpse of life in simpler times.

7. Would you have flown with the Wright Brothers when they first discovered air travel?

Definitely not. I'm a big chicken who's scared of heights.

Hope you enjoyed my answers. For more fun responses, head on over to Kickin' It In Crazyville.

Quote of the Week

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few

be well tried before you give them your confidence. "

— George Washington

Mellow Wednesday

It's a rainy, dreary Wednesday here, so I thought I would simply share some more photos from my talented brother in law to set the mood for you. To see more of "Omerad's" talent, visit his Flickr page here.

Menu Plan Monday and Fun Project

I wanted to share this Weekly Planner project I did with Little Miss this morning. It's great for preschoolers. She's just starting to learn the different days of the week and the fact that we do certain things on certain days. (For example, church is on Sunday, Daddy is home from work on Sat., etc.) Since we don't have a lot of recurring activities over the summer (lessons, preschool, etc.) we used our weekly routines (shopping, laundry, etc.). And since I didn't have any post-it notes on hand, I cut small scraps of paper and we taped them on. When we have something special coming up (like a visit from grandparents or a birthday party), I'll print a picture of the person to put on the day. Then we can count down to the special day. For more great, educational projects, visit PBSParents.org.

Do you have any special educational projects you like to do with your kids? Or any great resources for project ideas? I'd love to hear them!



Also, here is my Menu Plan for this Monday. For more great menus (and recipes), head on over to Org Junkie...there are hundreds to choose from!

Monday: Chicken Fried Rice and Asian Steamed Vegetables
Tuesday: Pot roast with potatoes and carrots (putting the slow cooker to use again!)
Wednesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, and garlic bread
Thursday: Leftover night
Friday: Family Night Out
Saturday: Grilled Tri-Tip, Pasta Salad and fresh veggies
Sunday: anything you can find in the fridge!

(Sorry no recipes or links this week...it's been a crazy weekend and will be a crazy week, so I'm doing a lot of "from the box" dinners and "off the top of my head" meals...thus, no written recipes. I hope to contribute more next time around!)