Menu 4/15-4/19

Monday: Parm Salmon, Tortellini w/Creamy Pesto, Green Beans

The girls loved this salmon when I made it the end of February.  I'll boil some store-bought tortellini and sauce it with this delicious creamy pesto that Amelia enjoys making.  Finish the plate with some green beans. 

Tuesday: Turkey Chili, Cornbread, Peppers 

Turkey Chili from the freezer, cornbread from a Jiffy box and fresh peppers.

Wednesday: Beef Stew, Cheddar Biscuits

I've never made this recipe (though I think I've posted it before) and to be honest, I still might not make it.  I'm going to be looking at Whole30/Paleo stew recipes to see if I can find one that the girls will like and I might be able to eat as well.  

Thursday: Chicken Alfredo with Peas 

I marinate some chicken breasts, cook and either pull or cube.  Then, I make a homemade alfredo sauce from Julia Child's béchamel, I usually make one and a half times the recipe.  To that I add a bunch of fresh grated parm, some garlic and when it's ready I mix it into the pasta (whichever shape the girls pick) and stir in the pulled or cubed chicken and some frozen peas.

A Little Bit of Paris

Back in 2008 the two besties and I made a little jaunt across the pond and traveled around Europe for almost 2 weeks.  Our first stop was Paris.  Ok, it wasn't actually our first stop.  First, we landed in London, but then we took a bus to another airport in London where we hopped a plane to Paris...so then, we were in Paris.  Here are a few pics from our trip.  Next week, I'll post pics as our journey continued to Florence!

Our first night in the city we HAD to see the Eiffel Tower!

Getting sassy on the Champs-Elysees

Stained glass at the Notre Dame

Dear Mona Lisa

Venus de Milo

Leaving the Louvre

Van Gogh, The Doctor 

Last night in Paris...

Pinterest Thursday

My Pinterest has whiplash right now...these are my pins in exact pinning order yesterday:

Bacon and Eggs in an Avocado 

Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie

Fajita Seasoning

S'mores "Crack" Dip

put a few tbsps of olive oil in a ziploc with some salt and pepper
and broccoli and shake, then spread on a cookie sheet and spread
minced garlic over it and roast at 425 deg F for 20-25 minutes!"

Oatmeal Caramel Cookie Bars

Clearly my mind (and cravings) are flip-flopping between staying disciplined on the W30 (Whole30 board) and enjoying delicious baked goods (Sweet Tooth board)...May 1 might just kill me!

Click here to follow me on Pinterest and here to see my Whole30 blog.

The Least of These

The "Snack Bag"

I give food to the homeless almost every single day.  As I drive to the girls school I'll hand out pirate booty, granola bars, applesauce pouches, yogurt, etc without a second thought.  The girls are used to this now and have come to expect a slightly smaller after-school snack than they would normally like.  No squawking though-they know we'll stop at the store if they are too hungry or they'll just wait till we get home.

Today, I realized that I never give out fruits and vegetables.  I always have a full container of each nicely chopped and ready for snacking in the snack bag.  I never give them away because of the container.  "It's not mine-it belongs to my bosses.  It's their money.  How can I give it away?"  And if that weren't dumb enough..."I'd rather have the girls have veggies and fruit, its more healthy.  I'll give away the snacky stuff, they don't need that anyway."

Oh really, Linsey?  The girls, who eat fresh fruit and vegetables at EVERY SINGLE MEAL for their entire lives?  They can't go without veggies one afternoon?  Oh, please!  Isn't it more important for someone who might NEVER get fresh produce to have a healthy snack than it is for my well-to-do girls who have an endless supply of the best Whole Foods has to offer in the way of fresh, organic produce.

If Jesus was standing on the corner, you better believe I'd hand him the veggies, and fruit and everything else in the bag...containers and all...heck, I'd go to the store and buy more stuff...isn't that how I should treat anyone in need I come across?

The contents of the snack bag today, minus the veggies...

I make myself sick.

I think it might have to do with the book I'm reading.  It's called 7: Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, by Jen Hatmaker.  It's an amazing book.  You should pick it up.

Anyway...today, as I was realizing all of this I reached into the snack bag and handed out a full container of fresh veggies to the homeless man I always see at North and the Interstate.  I guess my boss will have to learn to deal with one less plastic container.  If she can't handle it, I'll go buy her another one.  And I'll pack fruits and veggies in ziplock bags from now on...

Positive, Encouraging

I know there are a lot of KLOVE haters out there.  Don't like the DJ's, don't like the music, blah blah blah.  Well, I've been listening to KLOVE pretty much exclusively for almost 2 years now.  Something about it just soothes my soul and when I listen to "regular" music I can almost feel my soul being sucked out of me.  I think it's because, just like my clothes, I tie emotions and memories to songs or artists.  Certain songs remind me of certain people, or times in my life I'd rather not relive.

The girls and I are in the car a TON and I just can't handle them listening to Rhianna and Ke$ha...that's not the influence I want these girls to have.  At first they fought it...complained about listening to KLOVE all the time.  Now, they sing along with a lot of the songs, listen to the stories, ask questions about what is being said and feel like they know the Dj's. (Here in Chicago, KLOVE broadcasts on 94.3FM)

Sure, the DJ's on KLOVE are pretty syrupy.  I sometimes even turn the radio down when they're talking in between songs, but sometimes, I don't.  And usually, they are actually saying something worthwhile.

Right now they are doing the pledge-drive.  Since they are listener funded they have to ask for donations a few times a year to keep the station going.  Just like your PBS station.  The stories that come out of the radio during the pledge-drive are crazy.  Here are a few of my favorites (please excise the lack of accurate names...I'm going form memory here)

A middle school teacher in New Mexico struggled to get pregnant, finally gave birth to twins and immediately was diagnosed with 2 brain tumors, one of which is inoperable sentencing her to chemo for the rest of her, what is probably now very short life.  The students at the PUBLIC school decided that because KLVOE is so important to her and they want to do something to bring her comfort, they set up a collection jar in the cafeteria and committed to putting all their spare change in it each day...donating $20/month to KLOVE to help keep it on the air for their beloved teacher.

A man walked into a UHAUL/Penske/Ryder rental place and rented a truck.  He got in it and drove away.  An hour later he returned the truck.  The owner of the rental place asked what was wrong with the truck.  Nothing, it turns out.  The radio was tuned to KLOVE, the man hear the song "Lead Me" by Sanctus Real and decided NOT to leave his wife and kids...instead of moving out he turned the truck around and went back to his family.

A 12 year old girl wrote in saying that she's struggled with suicidal thoughts daily and suffers from severe depression.  A friend from church told her about KLOVE, she started listening to it and though she still struggles and her depression isn't cured, she has enough hope to want to live.  She wished she could donate but she doesn't have any money.  Immediately, the phone lines were flooded with people calling in donations from around the country letting that girl know they loved her and her life is worth them donating so she can continue to hear God's word through KLOVE.

A man called in saying he was taking his 6 year old daughter Abigail to daycare when she asked what it means to be saved.  She told him she'd heard about people being saved on KLOVE.  He explained that it means giving your heart to the Lord and what it entails.  She said, "Daddy, I want to commit my life to Jesus."  He pulled the car over and they prayed together.  He said even though the day was just starting, it was the best day of his life.

Shortly after that, a woman called in and said her daughter heard the story about Abigail giving her life to Christ when they were in the car to school and now she wanted to do the same.

Are you kidding me?!  Crap, my eyes are welling up just typing this!  God is at work, everywhere.  Whether you like KLOVE of not, you can't deny that it is an amazing way to spread God's word and the message of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness to people who may never set foot in a church.  People who are hurting in ways others might not even know.

I love it.

If you want to donate to KLOVE click here.  Also, it's important to note that with a $40 monthly donation the organization "Shoes For Orphan Souls" will donate a new pair of shoes to an orphan right here in the US or somewhere else around the world.

Home Is...

This past week a few different people have asked me if I'm getting excited for my trip to Uganda in October.  Or maybe it's still too far away?  They ask.

Nope, I'm excited.  But I'm not frantic like I was last time.  I basically freaked out last time I went.  I mean, I'd never been to Africa, I had no idea what to expect and figured I wouldn't be prepared no matter how much I tried.

When I clicked the "register" button in 2011 I couldn't believe this dream was actually coming true.  That God was finally sending me to a place my heart had been for years.  My head reeled with everything that needed to be done and list upon list was made so I wouldn't forget.

This time, a calm washed over me when I clicked that same button.  The peaceful feeling of knowing you'll soon be headed home.  Yeah, that's right, I said it...home.

Yes, Sumner, WA is my home.  My family is there, I grew up there and my dad is buried there.  It's where I go for Christmas and where the majority of my thoughts and prayers get sent, where I wish I could be on holidays, weekends and when I'm lonely.  I also call Chicago my home, as this is where I've lived for the past almost 6 years.  I've only lived in my mom's house longer, never worked a job as long as the ones I've had here and this is where I do life.  But a large portion of my heart is in Uganda with my two beauties Florence and Specioza.  My family worries that I either won't come back or I'll decide to move to Africa for good.  And honestly, I'm not completely opposed to that.  I'd give anything to see my family on a daily basis, and watch my nephew grow up, but if God is calling me to a different life, I'll hop on the first plane headed to Africa.

It's almost harder being somewhere in the middle here in Chicago.  I have to remember that the work God has for me here is just as important as the work I'd be doing in Africa.  Souls are souls and the 5 I encounter on a daily basis here are wanted by Him just as much as the ones I'd be meeting in Africa.

I guess, yes, I am excited about Africa, and seeing my girls.  But not in a ants-in-my-pants kind of way. More of a content, I-know-that's-where-I'm-supposed-to-be-isn't-it-great-when-our-heart-aligns-with-God's kind of way.

If you are interested in donating for travel costs or towards the purchase of school/art supplies, hygiene items or clothing for the Compassion Sites I'll be visiting, please let me know.  Prayers are also appreciated.

Menu 4/8-4/12

Monday: Dijon Chicken, Rosemary Red Potatoes and Dill Carrots

This was on the menu last week but it got pushed to this week as the girls had a band concert one night so we ate out.  I've never made the dill carrots but since we hardly ever eat carrots at dinner I thought I'd give them a try. 

Tuesday: Crock Pot Lasagna, Bread, Broccoli 

The old stand by.  I'll pull some meaty sauce out of the freezer the night before so I can assemble the lasagna in the morning and get it cookin'.  I take the girls swimming at their health club on Tuesdays and we are all starving by the time we get home.  The lasagna will be ready, the girls will set the table while the bread warms in the oven and I steam the broccoli.

Wednesday: Chicken Soup, Bread 

I have one container of chicken soup base in the freezer still so I'll pull it out the day before, toss it in the crockpot that afternoon with a little more chicken broth and throw some of the bread reserved from Tuesday's meal into the oven to warm when we get home.  I usually don't serve a veggie on the side since the soup is so full of them.

Thursday: Sausages, Mashers, Green Beans 

 The meat market in the neighborhood has Thuringer sausages the girls love, this is a fast and easy dinner for me so it works for Thursday since everyone is tired and cranky...including me.  Paired with some homemade mashers and steamed green beans.  Done and done!