Running The Race

Meatless Monday Meal

Last night's meatless meal was Addictive Sweet Potato Burritos. My sister shared this recipe with me a long time ago after making them for us once and I FINALLY got around to making them. 

They sound like a totally odd combination but they are SO good. Helayna practically inhaled them. Silas liked them and Jonathan and I thought they were delicious. We will definitely be making these again.

I used black beans and refried beans instead of the kidney beans as that's what I had on hand and Jonathan is not a fan of kidney beans. I also halved the recipe as it makes way too many for our family and we still had more than enough for lunch today.

I promise you won't be disappointed if you make this recipe.

For Today . . . November 23, 2009

For Today...

Outside my window...it's sunny.

I am thinking...about our future, trying to let go of worries and trust that things will work out.

I am thankful...for my cute kids, that they are healthy.

From the kitchen...leftovers.

I am wearing...jeans, a pink long sleeve shirt and a black fleece sweater.

I am reading...2 Corinthians and Mark.

I am hoping...that going back to work goes well.

I am going...to run to Superstore after Silas wakes up from his nap to pick up a couple things for supper.

I am creating...something for a Fabulous Friday post on the Scrap Shotz blog this week.

I am hearing...a little girl chattering away.

I am praying...for change in my heart.

Around the house...more cleaning (when does that ever end?), purging some toys, creating with the December kit, and finishing some Christmas projects.

One of my favorite things...warm baby cheeks after a nap - they are so kissable.

A few plans for the rest of the week...editing more photos, a chiropractor appointment, picking up photos from Costco and heading back to work!

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...

 

Now that Auntie Tamara's wedding is over, she could get a haircut. I love the bangs - no more hair in her eyes! YAY!

November Kit

This was by far my favorite kit I have ever worked with. It was full of so many awesome goodies. The Jillibean Soup papers, alphas and journaling sprouts were so awesome. I did more layouts with this kit than I normally do because I just couldn't stop (and I have another one sitting on my desk waiting to be finished). Sandy and Kathy at Scrapshotz seriously did the best job on this kit.

This one is a lift of the super talented Robyn Werlich.

 

 

 

Another layout inspired by Robyn Werlich and done for Challenge #36 at The Inspired Scrapper

I picked up my December Scrapshotz kit this weekend and I think I may have picked up my second favorite kit. It is gorgeous. I can't wait to start working with it.

For Today... November 17, 2009

For Today...

Outside my window...it's sunny but chilly.

I am thinking...about all the wedding photos I took this weekend and if they turned out.

I am thankful...for safe travels with all the driving we did the past few days, a CD full of photos in the mail and that DH has the week off.

From the kitchen...yogurt, blueberries from the freezer, cinnamon and flax.

I am wearing...a white t-shirt, fleece sweater, wool sweater and fleece pants.

I am reading...Matthew and 1 Corinthians.

I am hoping...that things get rolling on our house soon.

I am going...to edit some photos.

I am creating...a tutu, crown and wings for Helayna (thanks to Omy for a great little kit).

I am hearing...quiet - yay!

I am praying...for friends and family and some personal things.

Around the house...suitcases to unpack, meals to make, cleaning to do.

One of my favorite things...when Jonathan takes the kids so I can have some quiet time to work.

A few plans for the rest of the week...editing more photos, taking Helayna to a play for her birthday, some re-organizing, picking up my Dec. kit, some catch-up around the house.

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...

 

Taken by the lovely and very talented Rebecca Cooper - from the  CD in the mail. :)

If Children Could Talk

 

...here is what they might say:

My hands are small; please don’t expect perfection whenever I make my bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball.  My legs are short; please slow down so I can keep up with you.

My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely.  Don’t restrict me unnecessarily.

Housework will always be there.  I’m only little for a short time-please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.

My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to my needs.  Don’t nag me all day long…treat me as you would like to be treated.

I am a special gift from God; please treasure me as God intended you to do, by holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by, and disciplining me in a loving manner.

I need your encouragement to grow.  Please go easy on the criticism; remember you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.

Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself.  Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes.  Then someday I’ll be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me.

Please don’t do things over for me.  Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn’t quite measure up to your expectations.  I know it’s hard, but please don’t try to compare me with my brother or my sister.

Please don’t be afraid to leave for a weekend together.  Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids.  Besides, it’s a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.

-Unknown

I read this last week and it hit me so hard. I needed to read it and be reminded - maybe you do too.

Meatless Monday Meal

This week's meal was given to me by my very kind and generous friend, Kim. I am so lucky! She brought over a container full of her sweet vegetarian chili. I had a lot of leftover green rice from the night before's supper so I added it to the chili. It was delicious! Thank you so much for the meal, Kim!

For Today . . . November 9, 2009

Outside my window. . . it is dark, breezy and cold.

I am thankful . . . that God speaks to my heart right when I need to hear Him most.

I am praying . . . for my sister-in-law and her fiance as they prepare for their wedding this weekend.

I am thinking . . . that this new CD label software I'm trying to use is really ANNOYING.

I am celebrating . . . 3 sweet nights of sleep - the first 3 nights Silas has EVER slept through the night.

From the kitchen . . . sweet chili with green rice.

I am wearing . . . fleece pants, a striped turtleneck, a black hoodie, a black down vest, 2 pairs of socks and my new green puffy down slippers.

I am reading . . . the New Testament.

I am hoping . . . that I can finish up editing 5 shoots this week - wishful thinking?!

I am hearing . . . Jonathan and Helayna putting away toys for the night. There's a whole lot of whining going on during the process.

I am creating . . . just a whole lot of photos for people.

Around the house. . . cleaning, packing, applesauce to make.

One of my favourite things . . . little fingers wrapped around mine.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . hopefully a haircut, a day off with Jonathan, lots of reading, getting ready for the wedding and lots and lots of photo editing.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . .

Thanks to my Cricut, I was able to help Helayna make a crown to go with her princess dress from Gramma today. :)

And if you're interested in the reading guide that I'm following, I typed it up for you.
Download One WORD
There are basically 2 guides our church is doing. Reading the whole New Testament is intended for people who have been reading the bible for a long time but need to get motivated to be disciplined about reading again.
The other guide is reading the book of John in 21 days. It's one chapter of John a day.
The one thing that was very emphasized for this challenge was that you have to be willing to give up some leisure time. So you need to take a look at what you do in your leisure time and commit to doing your reading BEFORE you do whatever else it is that you like to do. So if you like to read the newspaper, or watch TV or surf the net, you have to give up some of that time to do your reading. For me, it's the computer. I just want to make that clear because I wholeheartedly agree with needing to do that.

Sunday's Seven

This week I'm grateful:

1. for 2 great runs this week (it's been a few weeks since I've gone).
2. for a kitchen full of dirty dishes because it means we had a great lunch, a delicious supper and 2 batches of fresh muffins to enjoy this week (and I'm also very glad we have a dishwasher too!)
3. for a playdate and visit with my friends Teresa and Rachelle
4. for a new challenge from our church that I decided to take - to read the entire New Testament by the end of the year and to give up being on the computer until I've done my reading each day. If anyone cares to join me, please let me know and I will send you the reading guide.
5. for my sweet little girl who says to me every night before bed, "Mommy, sleep with me!" and I can't resist and so I lay down with her and listen to her chatter away and ask me questions (tonight's were, "Mommy, what does W start with?" (she's learning letters and we read an alphabet book that talked about what letters words start with so we spent some time talking about that - super cute!)).
6. for fun new dress-up clothes from Egypt from Gramma.
7. for a very fun art playdate with Amyah (which meant I got a visit with Kim!) - more on that later this week, I hope

Here's to another great week!

Halloween 2009

This Halloween was so different than last. Helayna was right into it this year. She'd been asking to carve a jack-o-lantern since getting the pumpkin from Gramma and Grampa at the end of September.

At first she was all excited until she had to remove the insides of the pumpkin. She took about 5 handfuls out and then she figured it was too yucky and sticky for her fingers. So I finished the job.

Silas dressed up as a pumpkin this year - his first Halloween costume courtesy of his sister - and Helayna was an elephant.

 

This year Helayna wanted to go up to the doors all by herself. She'd say to us, "Mommy and Daddy, you stay here. I'll go by myself." Alrighty then. I'm not sure I'm quite ready for this level of independence but I don't think I really have a choice.

It was fun. We were only out for about half an hour and the weather was mild so that was nice. Now to get rid of all those treats so I don't eat them all.

Meatless Monday Meal

 

Monday's meal consisted of  Butternut Squash Risotto, Greek Salad and cooked carrots. However, I didn't have parmesan cheese so I substituted goat cheese and well, goat cheese has a very different and strong flavour. Silas loved it. I thought it was okay. Jonathan ate it. Helayna took one bite and said, "I don't like that, Mommy!" (and she's a really good eater). I've never made risotto before and I don't think I cooked the rice properly as it was very, very mushy.

I'd like to try the recipe again but actually use parmesan and see how it goes.

At least the carrots and salad were a hit.