Completing Him Challenge~His Vision

It's week #7 in the Summer Completing Him Challenge! Here's this week's challenge: Support his vision. Discuss his vision for your family. Where does he see your family in 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years. Share with us how you let your husband lead.

I'm a bit late in posting to this week's challenge. Things have been busy here, and dh and I have had very little free time to talk about his vision. When I asked what his vision was for our family, he said that his current vision is us living in our new house, without going broke. He said that at this point, it's hard to see any further than that. We're taking it one day at a time. As many of you know, things have not been going smoothly with this project. It is taking more time and more money than anticipated. Many things that we had planned for the house have been cut and more work has been piled on dh in the process. John has been the leader in this project, while I take care of the household and kids.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings and peace,

Lisa

Thankful Thursday, July 29, 2010

It's Thankful Thursday, hosted this week by Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage. I am so thankful for so many things, people and places this week.

I am so thankful for our beautiful children, that we've been blessed to love and care for. I'm so thankful that they are healthy, happy and loving children. I'm also thankful for my job, which enables me to feed them, provide them a home and many experiences that I didn't have has a child. I am in awe of the number of Americans who cannot feed their children, and am so thankful that we can feed our kids. As a family we are really working on not wasting food from the table. The kids are eating what they take and we're eating leftovers for lunch the next day. I'm also planning on doing a food drive for a local food pantry in the near future. I am thinking that when we have our house warming party, that we'll ask each guest to bring a non-perishable food to donate to the local pantry instead of a gift.

I'm also thankful for a wonderful husband and marriage, my family and that our house building project is finally under way! I can't wait until it's ready to move into!

Thank you for stopping by today!

Blessings and peace,

Lisa

Idlewild 2010

This free photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Yesterday we made our annual trip to Idlewild Park. We had a great day riding rides and enjoying the Soak Zone.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Lisa

More excavation photos....

This photo shows where the excavator left off on Tuesday evening. It's hard to tell, but there are different depths within the big hole. The gravel shows where the main drain is buried. This is looking down the hill.

You can really tell how deep the hole is, because dh is about 5'10" and he looks really tiny. This is the opposite end of the lot, where the drain starts.

This photo shows the five dump truck loads of stone that was delivered yesterday. We still need about five more loads to get the right depth.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings and peace,

Lisa

Excavation has resumed!

After about a month and a half delay, our site is back under construction. This is a photo of the main drain that will run under and around the house.


This is the middle part of the lot where the drain runs through the site.


The excavator in action.

This is the top of the lot, where the drain will begin.

The kids are on the hillside watching the excavation below them.

If all goes well, the site will be ready for the foundation walls by the end of the week. On August 5th, the walls will be set. On August 11th, the house will be set upon the foundation. Then it will be another few weeks until we can move in....can't wait!

Blessings,

Lisa

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday~July 27th

I am taking part in Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays hosted by Lisa at Blessed With Grace. Be sure to visit there for more taste tempting recipes! I saw this recipe on Paula Deen's show and just had to try them. So yummy and perfect exactly as they are...no tweeking necessary.

Sweet Potato Chili Cakes with Cilantro Lime Sauce

4 cups peeled and grated sweet potatoes
1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup whole milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Olive oil for frying
Cilantro Lime Cream Sauce, recipe follows
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, jalapeno, flour, baking powder, salt, chili powder, cumin, and black pepper.

In a small bowl lightly beat the milk and egg until well mixed. Add to the sweet potato mixture, stirring, until all the ingredients are well combined.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add enough vegetable oil to cover bottom of skillet. Drop the sweet potato mixture, by rounded teaspoonfuls, into the hot oil. Press lightly to flatten the mixture to the size of a half dollar. Cook until the cakes are golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Transfer the cakes to a serving platter. Top each cake with a small amount of Cilantro Lime Cream Sauce and garnish with fresh cilantro.

Cilantro Lime Cream Sauce:
1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro leaves
1 lime, zested and juiced
Pinch salt
In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice and a pinch of salt. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Blessings and peace,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday 7.26.10

Welcome to this week's Menu Plan Monday, hosted by Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

We had a great weekend with no cooking involved. *Smile*. Friday night was pizza night. On Saturday, dh and I went to see Hairspray with Drew Lachey and Jim J. Bullock at the Benedum in Pittsburgh. Thank you to my friend, Kathy, for the tickets! On our way home, we stopped at a nice restaurant for dinner. On Sunday, we attended our parish's Seafood Festival. This week will be filled with cooking....

Sunday~Seafood Festival

Monday~Weeknight Lasagna Toss, Tossed Salad and Garlic Toast

Tuesday~*new*BBQ Chicken Quesadillas with Tropical Salsa and Corn on the Cob

Wednesday~Best Grilled Pork Chops, Rice Pilaf, Grilled Vegetables

Thursday~ Idlewild Park Day....eating there.

Friday~Turkey Club Sandwiches, Baked Chips and Watermelon

Saturday~Cheeseburgers, Potato Salad, Baked Beans

Have a week full of blessings!

Lisa

Thankful Thursday, July 22, 2010

It's Thankful Thursday, hosted this week by Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage. Today I am thankful for so many things. God is so good to us. I'm thankful...

• For my husband and his love and committment to our marriage and family.
• For window air conditioners, on a hot day.
• For our landlord, who has provided us with a temporary home until our house is ready.
• For the kindness of family and friends.
• For healthy, intelligent children.
• For my online friends

Thank you Lord!

Blessings,

Lisa

Patriotic Ribbon Flip Flops

DD and I wanted to make some footwear to wear to our Red, White and Blue Family Reunion on August 14th. Here's a picture of her flip-flops. I think they came out nicely!

The flip-flops were on sale at Michael's for 1.00. Then I bought four spools of different Americana patterns of ribbon, cut the ribbon into 5 inch strips, and knotted them around the top of the flip flop. Cute and easy! They would make a neat favor at a little girl's (or big girl's) spa party!

These are my flip-flops....now to find a top for me and tees for the guys to wear.

Blessings,

Lisa

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday~BLT's

This is my first week taking part in Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays hosted by Lisa at Blessed With Grace. Be sure to visit there for more taste tempting recipes! Nothing says summer to me, more than BLT's for a cool dinner. Here's a recipe that I just tried from Semi-Homemade magazine. I love that there is bacon in the mayo too!

Grandma Dicie's Double-Decker BLTs

1/3 cup mayonnaise

2 Tablesppons, chopped, cooked Bacon

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

12 white bread slices toasted

1 cup mixed greens

2 tomatoes, sliced

1 (2.1oz) box fully cooked bacon

1. In a small bowl, stire together mayonnaise, chopped bacon, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper.

2. Spread one side of 8 bread slices with mayonnaise mixture. Layer 4 bread slice, mayonnaise mixtures sides up, with half of mixed green, half of tomato slice, and 4 bacon slices. Top with 4 bread slices, mayonnaise mixture sides up; layer with remaining mixed greens, tomato and baon. Top with remaining 4 bread slices. Secure with wooden picks, if desired.

Enjoy!

Blessings and peace,

Lisa

Completing Him Challenge~July 19th~

We are to week #6 of the "Completing Him" Marriage Challenge and this week's challenge is: Make your husband a priority. Ask him what his favorite dinner, dessert and drink are. Be sure to serve him all three one night this week. Bonus: cook his favorite dishes all week long!

This challenge is simple for me. As Courtney mentioned, there are Five Love Languages shared in the book of the same name by Gary Chapman. I show love through service and gifts. I cook and bake for my dh to show him my love, to nurture him and to please him. Our weekly menu generally consists of meals that are pleasing to my husband.

John's favorite dinner is Chicken Cutlets in Cream Sauce over Linguine. He loves that served with a nice glass of wine. He also loves Molten Chocolate Cakes for dessert. I hope to prepare this meal this week for dh, if I can find those custard dishes that are in storage....somewhere!

Blessings and peace,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday 7.18.10

Welcome to another Menu Plan Monday, hosted by Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie. This week's menu plan will be mostly simple, grilled meals. We are settling into life in an apartment, with an apartment sized stove. I'm getting the hang of cooking on electric, which is good prep for when the new house is done since the new stove will be electric. Here's the plan for this week:

Sunday~ Herb and Garlic Pork Tenderloin, Angel Hair with Garlic and Olive Oil, Cucumber Salad

Monday~DH has a late meeting, so we'll have leftovers

Tuesday~Grilled Kielbassi, Macaroni and Cheese, and Baked Beans

Wednesday~Ham Steaks, Steakhouse Potato Salad, Green Beans

Thursday~Philly Cheesesteaks, Homemade Fries, and Veggies with Low Fat Dip

Friday~Pizza and Wing Night

Saturday~Date Day and Dinner Out~DH and I are going to see Hairspray with Drew Lachey then out to dinner afterwards. Thanks to my friend Kathy for the tickets!

Have a week full of blessings!

Blessings,

Lisa

Despicable Me

The kids and I went to see Despicable Me today. Here's a synopsis of the movie:

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon! Gru delights in all things wicked; he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.

We all give this movie 2 thumbs up! It was funny and sweet!

Blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday on Wednesday 7/14/10

I am a few days behind on the blogging. We moved from our home of 10 years to a temporary apartment over the last few days. It's been emotionally and physcially draining. I haven't had the time or energy to devote to sit and blog. Things are finally calming down for the most part. Our new home is set to be delivered on August 5th. I have decided to hire movers when it is ready. It will save time and stress for my family.

Here's the plan for the week:

Sunday~DH and I had take out while the kids were at a family party.

Monday~Sandwiches

Tuesday~Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce over Spaghetti, Veal Parm and Breaded Zucchini

Wednesday~Lemon Basil Chicken, Rice Pilaf, and Green Beans with Bacon

Thursday~ Tacos, Fiesta Rice and Salad

Friday~Mountain Pies for dinner at camp

Saturday~Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Olive Oil and Garlic Penne, and Veggies and Dip

Hope your week is filled with peace, love and happiness!

Blessings,

Lisa

Completing Him Challenge~July 5th

This weeks Marriage challenge is to share what you admire about your husband. My husband is a special man for so many reasons. I admire so many things about him:

~He is very intelligent and knows how to do so many different things.

~He works hard to take care of our family...at his job and at home.

~He is a good father to our children.

~He is committed to our marriage.

~He loves me even when I'm having a crazy day.

~He supports me in all that I do.

~He is a caring man.

~He is prayerful and involved in the church.

~He is a leader.

On Thursday, we'll be married 15 years.

Happy Anniversary to my husband, my lover and my best friend!

I love you John!

Blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday 7.5.10 on Tuesday

It is Tuesday, I know. I missed out on posting my menu plan yesterday because of the holiday weekend. By the time we got home yesterday, I just wasn't up to thinking about what I was cooking for the week. This is the week we start our move to the apartment until our house is completed. I have so much packed, but there is still so much more to do. It's a bit overwhelming, to say the least. Here's the plan for the week, how closely it will be followed is another question. The heat wave calls for easy dinners.

Sunday~ Fourth of July at the Lake~ Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Pasta Salad, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Watermelon and Patriotic Cupcakes for dessert

Monday~ Pizza

Tuesday~Marinated Grilled Pork Chops, Rice Pilaf, Steamed Squash and Zucchini

Wednesday~BBQ Bacon Cheese Hot Dogs, Homemade Fries, Watermelon

Thursday~Our 15th Wedding Anniversary

Friday~Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce over Rigatoni and Salad

Saturday~ Moving Day

Check out more menus at I'm An Organizing Junkie , hosted by Laura.

Have a great week!

Blessings,

Lisa

Fourth of July at the Lake

We spent the holiday weekend at the lake. The weather was beautiful! Here are some pics of our day on the water.

Blessings, Lisa

Some Random Pics (and Thoughts)

June sure did fly by for us. We've been so wrapped up in solving site issues, that when we aren't dealing with that we're left with little energy to do much else. DD has been enjoying the summer, dressing as a fairy most days. :0)

It's hard to believe that we have a middle schooler in the house. He started cutting the grass for us this year. He is very excited about getting a riding lawn mower at the new house.

Last weekend, this little bunny was trapped in our window well. DH freed her and now she is a resident in our yard. I've seen her every day this week. Isn't she sweet?

We're moving to the country and that means a rural style mailbox. Here my guys are putting it together. I've been spoiled for most of my life with to the door mail delivery. We have a mail slot here, so I don't even have to open the door. lol This will be quite a change for me!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Blessings and peace,

Lisa

Peanut Butter Bars

Peanut Butter Bars

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 sticks butter, melted
1 cup all natural peanut butter, I used Smucker’s
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
4 T. more peanut butter

In a food processor pulse graham crackers until super fine. I used 14 whole Honey Maid Graham® crackers. But be sure that you have exactly 2 cups of whatever brand you use. To the fine crumbs add the melted butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. Pulse until mixture is blended and smooth. Press the peanut butter mixture into an ungreased 9 x 13 baking pan. Melt the chocolate chips and 4 T. peanut butter in the microwave in 25 second increments until melted and smooth. Pour over peanut butter batter and spread evenly. Chill for 30 minutes or until set. Remove to room temperature for at least 15 minutes then slice into bars.

Enjoy!

Blessings,

Lisa

Happy Fourth of July!

From every mountain side Let Freedom ring.
~Samuel F. Smith, "America"

Blessings and peace,

Lisa

Small Successes~July 1, 2010

Here are my small successes for this week:

1. I'm doing very well praying for my husband several times a day this week as part of the Completing Him Challenge.

2. We found an apartment (actually two apartments!) to rent for the short term until our house is completed. I'm so thankful!

3. I have packed up several more boxes of stuff for the move. I've decided that we have too much stuff. I have also donated about 5 bags of stuff to Goodwill this week.

Blessings,

Lisa