1 Week

I have learned that a lot can change in just 1 week! Last Wednesday my husband was let go from his job. It was pretty much a shock when he called me to tell me the news and that he was on his way home. At first I pretty much lost control (thankfully the kids were napping so I was able to have a little cry time alone. ) Once I got a hold of myself I prayed. Just prayed and prayed. Once I settled down even a bit more I opened the Bible and God just spoke softly to my heart. He told me to Trust, to have Peace, and to know that He will Provide.
It is truly amazing how God is with us through every up and down in life. Having just lost our only income you would think that I would have been stressed beyond belief, but that isn't what happened. I really felt peaceful.
We did what we had to do: budgeted, asked  friends and family if they knew of anything and for their prayers, and applied to MANY jobs. And, Praise the Lord, we were only jobless for exactly 1 week. This last Wednesday God provided us with a job and we couldn't be more thankful! Not only because God provided, but because in that short week He showed us a lot of things...about our future, about some changes we need to make, and how to trust Him and feel content in every circumstance.
So, actually I am grateful that we went through this and look forward to what the future holds!

BBQ Chicken Pizza

I just wanted to take a moment to share another one of my family's favorite recipes. It is so simple and delicious!
BBQ Chicken Pizza (Of course feel free to change in and out toppings you prefer or don't really like, this is just what we enjoy).
As a mom to 2 little ones I don't have the time or desire to make homemade dough, so I buy the Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough. Just spread the dough out on a greased 13x9 baking sheet. Then spread 1/2 -1 cup BBQ sauce onto dough. Top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Then get your toppings ready. Saute spinach, mushrooms, and sliced green bell pepper in pan until cooked. While that is cooking, grill 1 chicken breast and 3 pieces of bacon (I just do this on my panini grill). Cut up into bite size pieces. Then sprinkle all of your toppings evenly on the pizza. I then season everything with a little garlic powder.
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 13-18 minutes.
Yum!

Are You Okay?

My son turned 2 this last Saturday and on his birthday he started something new. He started asking people if they were "okay." It started with him asking my younger brother during the party. He said, "Trent, you okay?" That night while I was rubbing my itchy eyes (I'm recovering from a cold) he came up to me and said, "Mommy, you okay?" I was touched and thought it was so cute. Ever since he has asked me a couple of times each day if I am okay.
I wondered if he could sense that something might be wrong or if he was just thinking about me and wanted to ask.
It made me also wonder how often do I ask others if they are okay. Not just asking the question, like in the sense of 'how are you today?' But really looking at somebody and really caring to know if they are okay and taking the time to listen to the answer.
We all go through hard times- big and small- and it can really make a difference if just one person noticed and one person asked- are you okay?
I want to make the effort to care. I want to be a listening ear, an encouraging smile, a shoulder to cry on. I want to live a life that reaches out to others and doesn't just think about myself.
That is the lesson I learned from my 2 year old this week and I am thankful for it. :)

His First Love :)

My little guy LOVES sports. The ones that involve a ball anyway. He will sit and watch golf for an hour on a Sunday afternoon and he is only 2 years old {May 5th he'll be 2}! When he wakes up in the morning the first thing he says is "Ball!" He won't ride in the car without one in each hand and he won't go into church without one as well. He is obsessed you could say.
I am excited to see how this love of balls will develop as he gets older. As his mama I want to help him grow his natural abilities and harness the talent he has into something productive and useful.
Now, don't get me wrong I am not one of those pushy moms that is going to force anything on him. And I realize he is very young, but why not start early if he wants to?
I found a soccer class in our area that is for kids ages 18 months - 3 years and I signed him up as soon as I could! The class will only be one hour every Saturday morning from the beginning of June to the end of July. But I think it will be great for him. There is a high level of parent participation at this age, so Garrett is going to do it and they are going to make it "Daddy and Son Time." :)
Caden, also, doesn't interact with other children too often. Just on Sundays in the nursery at church. So, I think this will be a good way for him to spend some time with other kids that have the same interests as him (Balls. haha!).
I love watching Caden grow and learn and develop. I love seeing him show us what he likes and what he doesn't. What he is naturally gifted with and what he needs to work on. Even though he has parents that don't know a whole lot about sports I want to be the kind of parent that if he loves it then I will love it and I will become one of the biggest sports fanatics you know! :)

Lasagna Cupcakes

Well, I finally got the break I have been longing for! Both of the kids went to my in laws today and it has been so nice. I was able to run some errands and then, get this, eat my dinner in silence! Woah! :)
While I have the time I wanted to pop on and share one of my family's new favorite recipes! I found them over on Fabulessly Frugal's site. They are LASAGNA CUPCAKES. So delicious and easy!

Ingredients

• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 3/4 pound ground beef
• 12 wonton wrappers
• 8 ounces shredded mozzarella

• 3 ounces Parmesan cheese
• 4 ounces Ricotta cheese
• (optional) basil for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. Brown beef and season with salt and pepper. Drain.
3. Cut wonton wrappers into circle shapes using a biscuit cutter or using the top of a drinking glass. You can cut several at a time.
4. Reserve 6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and 6 tablespoon mozzarella for the top of you cupcakes. Start layering your lasagna cupcakes. Begin with a wonton wrapper and press it into the bottom of each muffin tin. Sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese, Ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese. Top with a little meat sauce and marinara sauce. Use around 1-2 teaspoons of all the ingredients depending on your personal preference.
5. Repeat layers ending with marinara sauce. Top with reserved Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
6. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. To remove use a knife to loosen the edges then pop each lasagna out.
7. Garnish with basil and serve

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! This has become a regular in our household. Happy Monday! :)

Where is Mommy's Time Out?!

It seems like life has a good way of taking my attention from things that I want to focus on. I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted! So much has changed, one of which being the birth of my daughter! When I started this blog I had every intention to keep up with it regularly and I am sad that it hasn't been the case.

Anyhow, I remembered this little blog today and decided to post.

It has been a rough couple of days for me. I am not sure why exactly. It is just one of those things where it seems like nothing is really going the way you want it to and you just feel emotionally wiped out.

I feel like I need a break. Just a little time out to feel renewed again.

That is a very hard thing to come by when you have an almost 2 year old and a 3 month old to care for.

I am starting to realize that although I desperately want a break, it might not actually be the best thing for me. If every time that things didn't go my way I escaped to a better place or 'fled the scene' then what does that do? It sets myself up for disaster the next time something goes wrong or gets difficult.

God sometimes wants to take us through hard times in order to shape us into the people that He wants us to be. There are more times than I know of that God prevents me from going through hardship that I deserve. He rescues me, shields me, and delivers me time and time again. But sometimes I need the heat, I need to hurt in order to once again see how totally desperate I am for His love and grace. And through the fire I pray He will refine me. I want to handle hard times with trust, peace, and patience and right now He is giving me the opportunity to practice those qualities and grow them!

So, do I want a break? Yes. But I think that right now I would rather have a breakthrough.

Made For People

No one likes to feel alone. Loneliness is a very real and powerful feeling. I think it can be defined best by a lack there of. Loneliness is the lacking of feeling like you belong.

We all have a very real need for people, love, belonging, and community.

We weren't made to be alone, hence why God made Eve. It was not good for Adam to be alone. Whenever I feel my very best it is when I am surrounded by other people who love and understand me.

So, why do we go through so much of life by ourselves? In our own little worlds? A lot of times people try to get in, but we push them away. We live in a time and culture that says, 'I am too busy for friendships,' 'I am an independent person,' 'I don't NEED anyone.' Are we buying into these lies? I know that I have and ultimately it has left me feeling lonely.

We need people in our lives who love us, encourage us, and continuously pull us back to the Gospel. Not only that, but we need people in our lives who we can serve, love, and encourage as well.

I will say it again, we were not meant to do life alone. I really encourage you to take a step, a small leap of faith to become a part of a community. Join a small group at your church, a book club, a music or art class, join a work out group for moms...something that brings you together with people who you will let into your life. You won't regret it!