Menu Plan Monday for April 28

Another Monday... It looks like a dreary, rainy week up here, so I've planned some hearty meals as well as some lighter ones. As usual, my plan for this week includes some repeat meals that didn't get used last week.

MONDAY: Oven Fish Chowder, Whole Wheat Bread

TUESDAY: Hamburgers, Potato Salad, Vidalia Onion Blossoms

WEDNESDAY: Tuna Melts, Pasta Salad

THURSDAY: Treasure Island Chicken, Apricot Rice, Green Beans

FRIDAY: German-Style Potato Soup, Cornbread

SATURDAY: Broccoli Shrimp Pasta Toss, Salad

SUNDAY: (potluck at church) BLT Bow Tie Pasta Salad, Italian Sweet Bread, Rhubarb Cheesecake Dessert

If you would like to see menus which others have shared, head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie and check out the links. Usually well over 100 people share links to their weekly menus. You'll find some great ideas and often recipes too.

Continuing on God's Path...

I'm nearing the end of my study of Elizabeth George's book Finding God's Path Through Your Trials. It is simply an excellent study and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Because, even if you are not going through any kind of a trial at the moment, guess what? You will be. Trials are a fact of life. But the wonderful news is that God is with us in our trials and that He promises to bring something good out of them.

As with any study book that I recommend, I can't urge strongly enough that you do the actual study -- that you look up the Scriptures referred to and that you answer the questions in the growth and study guide. This will help you apply what you are learning to your own life.

I'm currently working through the final chapter in this book -- summing up what I've learned. As one of the exercises in this last chapter, I was to take some time to notice the growth in my life and to thank God for the work He is doing. I wrote out a prayer that sums it up:

"Lord,

"I do thank You for how You work in our lives through trials. I thank You for the lessons You are teaching me through my current trials. Thank You for helping me to understand that trials are a part of life and that I can count them as joy because You have a good purpose in them.

"Lord, I know that You allow trials to test the reality of our faith, and I praise You that my faith is passing the test. Help me, Lord, to develop greater staying power, as this is an area where I really need to grow. Help me to continue steadfast in my trials and to cooperate with Your good plan, no matter how long the trials last.

"I praise You, Lord, that Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Help me to count on Your power and draw on Your strength through every moment of each trial.

"Lord, I pray that you will help me to stay in my trials, walking through them in Your strength while I wait for You to work.

"I praise You for all that You are doing in my life!

"In Jesus' name, Amen."

Menu Plan Monday for April 21

Monday again! There's still a lot of snow up here, but lots of sunshine and some warmer temperatures remind us that spring is coming, so I've included a few lighter menus. As usual, my plan for this week includes some repeat meals that didn't get used last week.

MONDAY: (guests for dinner) Vegetable Lasagna, Lemon Romaine Salad, Italian Sweet Bread, Strawberry Lovers' Pie

TUESDAY: Warm Sausage Potato Salad, Whole Wheat Bread

WEDNESDAY: Rosemary Chicken with White Beans (leftover from Sunday); Salad

THURSDAY: Macaroni & Cheese, Green Beans, Coleslaw

FRIDAY: Apricot Beef Stir-fry, Rice, Spinach Salad

SATURDAY: Broccoli Shrimp Pasta Toss, Salad

SUNDAY: German-Style Potato Soup, Cornbread

If you would like to see menus which others have shared, head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie and check out the links. Usually well over 100 people share links to their weekly menus. You'll find some great ideas and often recipes too.

Menu Plan Monday for April 14

Monday again! There's still a lot of snow up here, so I'm still incorporating a lot of soups and other hearty meals into my menu plans. But warmer temperatures remind us that spring is coming, so I've included a few lighter menus as well. As usual, my plan for this week includes some repeat meals that didn't get used last week.

MONDAY: Ground Beef Spiral Bake, Spinach Salad, Italian Sweet Bread

TUESDAY: Oven Fish Chowder, Whole Wheat Bread

WEDNESDAY: Basil Chicken Sandwiches, Pasta Salad

THURSDAY: Treasure Island Chicken, Bow-tie Pasta, Green Beans

FRIDAY: Apricot Beef Stir-fry, Rice, Spinach Salad

SATURDAY: Baked Fish Chowder, Multigrain Bread

Saturday is also our ladies' spring luncheon at church. We always have a salad bar for lunch and everyone brings items for the salad bar. Quick, easy, and tasty. I am signed up to bring an appetizer, a pasta salad, coleslaw, and cookies. I haven't decided yet what specific recipes I'll use.

SUNDAY: (potluck at church) Rosemary Chicken with White Beans, Salad (yet to be determined), Dessert (yet to be determined)

If you would like to see menus which others have shared, head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie and check out the links. Usually well over 100 people share links to their weekly menus. You'll find some great ideas and often recipes too.

Show & Tell Friday for April 11

I'm happy about the prospect of being able to share something for Show & Tell today. Today I want to share some lovely hand-crafted items sent me by a special friend I met through blogging. I promised I will not mention any names, but did want to share the things this dear friend sent me.

This tea cozy is made from vintage feed sack material. The lining is a solid blue. Isn't it gorgeous? The bow is removable and can be used as a coaster to set the teapot on.

Along with the tea cozy, this dear friend also included a lovely little teabag envelope filled with teabags (more about this later) and knitted dishcloth. The card, with its stack of teacups, fits the theme so well!

Here is a closer-up photo of the teabags and little envelope, and also a cute little handmade pincushion!

The crocheted flower was a whimsical addition to the package, and how about this adorable tag with its vintage-kitchen theme. Just my cup of tea!

Later, my friend also sent along this spring-themed tag -- such an encouragement up here in the snow -- and this adorable "friend" charm. I'm sure you will agree that she is an amazingly talented craftsperson.

In addition, she has sent me recipes, copies of handwritten cookbook pages, and many other wonderful ideas for crafting and cooking. I am so thankful to the Lord for our friendship! He is so good to encourage us through Christian friends.

To see what others have shared for Show & Tell Friday, head on over to There is No Place Like Home

and check out the links. Happy Show & Tell Friday, everyone!

If you've been wondering where I am...

Don't worry. I'm right here, just busy as can be. There's a lot going on right now, not the least of which is my annual writing project -- producing a summer devotional book for the children's ministry in our church. I just haven' t had time to blog lately, as I'm trying to come up with three pages a day for the book. I have lots of ideas in mind and at least one post started, and I may even try and get something ready for Show & Tell Friday tomorrow. I'll be back to blogging regularly, Lord willing, as soon as I can possibly manage to do so.

Please come back and visit again soon! God bless you all!