Menu Planning

Well it is day three of the menu plan and all is well. Or should I say great! The stress of "what is for dinner" is gone. I made the plan and follow the plan.

DD#4 has volleyball practice every night until 5:15, to weird. Being alone during the day for that long.

Prayer quilts are flowing.This thing called "contemplative prayer" is amazing.

Blessings one and all,

Leslie

School has Started and so has "Routine"

This summer has flown by and I have not posted once.  First half of the summer was busy with softball practices and games. The last half has been consumed with canning the garden (salsa - lots of salsa, zucchini- even more than the salsa).   We have had several prayer quilts the last half of the summer also.  I was asked to quilt a t-shirt quilt a friend did for her daughter.  The biggest thing this summer is I decided to start a little business.  The name is "Quilted Memories & Embroidery".  I am offering services to make t-shirt & memory quilts as well as custom embroidery.

I can't believe that DD #4 started 7th grade - OMG!   Where has the time gone.  I am freaking out that in 5 short years she will graduate high school and go off to college.  I am very proud of her, she tried out for the 7th grade vollyball team and was selected for the Junior Varsity.  I am not sure where the athletic gene came from.  Must of been a recessed gene!

I have so enjoyed reading blogs, many many blogs.  I love the crafting blogs, the cooking blogs and the blogs that speak about their faith.  These blogs all challenge me.  I am now taking the challenge, one challenge at a time.  The first thing is planning menus for my families meals each week.  The thing that has frustrated me the most is at 4:45pm everyday I didn't know what I was making for dinner.  So last Saturday, August 22nd, I planned the meals for the week.

Monday - Grilled Lemon Chicken & Tabbouleh - Pampered Chef cookbook
                 Steamed Broccli and Yellow Squash (something else our garden produced in abundance)

Tuesday - Tacos, Spanish Rice, Applesauce

Wednesday - Bake Potatos, Carrots

Thursday - Chicken Fried Rice

Friday - Pork Chops, Mashed Potatos, Sauteed Asian Broccoli Slaw

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Talapia (not sure how I am making it yet), rice, green beans, rolls.

So this catches almost everything up. 

Blessing all, Leslie

PS It has taken me two days to post this. I am trying to post a slideshow of pics from Photobucket, but can't get it to work. I give up.

PSS Never give up! I got it. Yeah!

American Tears - Thank you Military Past & Present

The last week of school the 6th grade choir had a beautiful performance. One of the songs the choir sang was "American Tears" by Teresa Jennings. Before the choir sang this song the choir director asked all military past & present, police and firefighters to stand. Now I have tried several times to upload a video of the kids singing the song, but it is a no go. So I have copied the words to the song below.

Sometimes I think about America About her struggles through the years

I think of people who did what they had to do with struggles to act through their fears

Sometimes I think about America About her future and her past

I know I'm blessed to be living in liberty in a land where freedom will last

Chorus: For the heroes, for the patriots For the soldiers, For the pioneers I will always be an American And I'll always cry American tears

DD#4 is in 6th Grade. She really wanted to invite all those she knew that was or is in the military. Our neighbors grandson (who is in the Navy), my cousins husband (who is in the Kansas National Guard in Irag, now), and some friends of ours who are retired military. It was just not possible for any of them to come. So to these family and friends and all those who serve our country - here at home or away - THANK YOU!

Peace & Grace, Leslie

My Happy Mother's Day

My Mother's Day started early. Up at 5:20am, dress, get the 12 year old DD up, and off we went to the Mother's Day 5K at Corporate Woods.

We mostly walked, but we broke into a jog occasionally. It was a beautiful, but cool and cloudy day. Since the start of this was my daughters participation in a group called Girls on the Run. We had 20 of the girls from her school come today and participate.

There was over 2000 females of all ages walk, run, or run/walk in this event. The route was lined with signs of "momisms". For example, "Because I said so..", "Don't make me put down my Wine", "Wait till you have children...", and on and on. My daugher on the right and her friend decided to run across the finish line. Their time for the 5k was about 48 minutes, mine was 49, Oh I just realized that is my age.

Our church had a prayer quilt today for a 9 year old named Patricia. She will have surgery May 14th to remove kidney stones. Please remember her in your prayers.

Blessings, Leslie (Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.)

Husband's Birthday & Vacation

Dear Husbands birthday is on Cinco de Mayo. The family (4 daughters, 1 son-in-law and 1 boyfriend) came home Monday to celebrate DH's birthday. Chinese food was the theme. His choice was my Chicken Fried Rice and homemade pork & shrimp egg rolls, yummy! My DH loves Devils Food Cake with homemade icing, none of that store stuff. A friend gave me the most incredible "Almost Homemade Buttercream" I have ever had. It was wonderful and so easy. DH got toys that fly (Flash Gordon Glider), cast model airplane from WWII, book about airplanes (he loves airplanes), Neil Young Greatest hits, blueberry bush and the BIGGEST bag of Peanut MM's. He was happy! Yesterday on his actual birthday sweet daughter #4, DH and myself went to the Overland Park Arboretum. It was beautiful!

The flowers are blooming. The lilacs smell incredible. The setting is just wonderful.

DH is on vacation this week. Not getting enough sewing done. Maybe tomorrow will fare better than today, it is suppose to rain. We did plant some more peppers and tomato's today, but still have more to plant.

Peace & Grace, Leslie

It's Monday, Beautiful Monday

Yesterday was so pretty, weather wise that is. We had 2 prayer quilts in church. Two very beautiful ladies, each facing health issue.

Glenda is facing breat cancer surgery and treatment. Please pray for her.

The second quilt is for a very lovely lady named Marlys. A member of our church. She has very supportive and encouraging of the Prayer Quilt Ministry. She will be having back surgery tomorrow (Tuesday May 5th). Please lift Marlys up in prayer as well.

Peace & Grace, Leslie

Happy May Day!

Well, things are sure busy. Everything is coming down to the last minute, as always. I have 2 prayer quilts to have done by Sunday. Both had a sense of urgency. I will post the finished quilts Sunday. But for now:

These blues and yellows will become a quilt that will be tied with prayers for one lady.

These beautiful fabrics will become a quilt to give prayerful comfort to another lady.

Today is May Day! I had the great privialge of delivering May Day treats to some our church shut-in's . I assisted Debbie F. from church in making these cute little "potted" scrapbook paper flowers. I'll post a pic when I get one made.

This week I am also quilting a quilt on my Gammill for my friend Mary Kay. Her church is making quilts for foster kids that go to camp this summer. The black fabric has kitty cat faces on it, so I am quilting kitty faces and the word "meow" in those blocks.

So Happy May Day to one and all. Blessings, Leslie

Grandson Staying at Nana and Papa's

Well exciting things in our house tonight. Parker is spending the night at Grandma and Grandpa's. Oh yes, and Aunt Sam's!

Parker has turned 4 months old this week. He weighs 12 lbs 14 oz now. He gets really mad if you try to take his bottle before it is empty. He gets mad even when it is empty. Auntie Sam has now changed her first diaper.

So far everything is running smooth. Parker took a bottle around 8pm then he went to bed. I am ready for the night.

Auntie Sam has told everyone that Parker is here for the weekend and that he will be in church tomorrow.

Now for a moment of silence. (silence). The KC Chiefs traded Tony Gonzales to the Falcons this week. I have followed the Chiefs for a very long time. Thru the good times and the long dry spell (the bad times) I have been a loyal Chiefs fan. The last 12 years Tony G. has made the long seasons bearable. I know this is a necessary move to get the team where it needs to be. So, "Tony G thanks for the great catches, the great plays and your loyalty to the Chiefs fans".

Terrific Tuesday - Yesterday

Well Tuesday was quilting at the Civic Center day. I didn't accomplish a thing. Got there late and just visited. I spent most of the day getting ready for the United Methodist Women Salad Supper at my church that evening.

The salad supper was wonderful. Between 40 to 50 women came bringing salads and smiles. I made Dodge City Cornbread Salad. Yummy good! However it makes a "boat load". There was Frog Eye Salad, Strawberry Pretzel Salad, Fresh Spinach Salad, Curry Chicken Salad with Grapes, or the list could go on and on. So very good! I ate TOO much, but enjoyed every bite.

The "entertainment" or "blessing" for the evening was a wonderful group from the Ottawa First UMC. The group is called Hands of Glory. They sign contemporary praise songs. It was wonderful!

Hope all had a blessed Tuesday as I did, Leslie

Prayer Quilt

Yesterday in church our prayer quilt ministry had a quilt for a baby boy named Jack.

Baby Jack was born with a hole in his heart. Please lift up a prayer for Jack and his parents.

Blessings, Leslie

Complaint Free Week

I am taking up the challenge! I heard about the challenge from Ashley thru Twitter. The challenge was thrown down by To_Love_Honor_and_Vacum . I just recently started following Ashley at her blog Puttin_God_First . So for one week no complaining, none, zero. It can become a habit, and that is a good thing.



Blessings, Leslie

Thankful Thrusday

I am so thankful for my church family. How we have all come together to share our meals with our community.

And, I am thankful for our Praise Band at church. The hard work they put in to "make a joyful noise" every Sunday.



The Praise Band has done this song at church. A Great message!

Blessings, Leslie

WIP Wednesday

So many craft bloggers use their Wednesday post to show their WIP (or Work In Progress). So why should I be any different. At this point I have a lot of these WIP's. But I am only going to show three today.





This is a fall table runner I have been working way to long on. The quilting is almost done, then to the binding.





This is a baby quilt I started just for fun. Then I had a grandson and the motivation to finish went out the door. But I will finish this cute quilt.





This is a neat batik quilt. It is for a certain college graduate in the family. It is first in line to be quilted after I finish my nephews.





Blessings, Leslie

Civic Center Quilt Day

Well I took my camera to take of picture of all the fun folks that meet at the Civic Center in Spring Hill on Tuesday mornings to quilt or craft. But forgot to take it out. Anyone that wants to meets at the Civic Center starting at 9:30am and they work until that want to stop.



Today two ladies were doing hand applique, one was doing filet crochet, three brought their machine to sew on quilt stuff, one was cutting fabric, one had hand quilting and I was cutting paper to make favors for our UMW salad supper next week.




Last week i worked on my nephew Bob's graduation quilt. If you haven't guessed he is going to KU in the fall. Now all I need to do is quilt it.





Well Tuesday has come and is going. Mid-week is fast approaching. Have a great week!

Blessing, Leslie

Art Show in Lawrence, KS

Our daughter Sarah is planning a trip to El Salvador in September. The artwork was from El Salvador and about El Salvador. Sarah and her friend Jennifer used the art show to raise funds for their trip.




This picture is by a child age 10 to 12 from El Salvador. They were asked to draw a picture about their life in El Salvador. There were several wonderful pictures.












This next picture is some of Sarah's artwork. She did a series of pictures about life in El Salvador. Including the civil war.

A Wonderful Song

I heard this song this morning on K-Love. What an awesome song.

Finally a post

Today is Easter. A new beginning. Christ was put to death then made alive to bring us to God.

Well since July I thought having the blog would keep me accountable to post. WRONG! I have recenly started posting to Facebook and Twitter, now it is time to take care of my BLOG! So here goes.

My church has a Prayer Quilt Ministry called Prayers and Squares. Quilts (and prayers) are requested for people that are sick or in need or hurting. The quilts have ties that as you silently pray for the person you tie the tie. The quilt is then given to them and they are covered in prayers. The quilt today was for a young lady named Jessica. She has and again is struggling with an eating disorder. Please say a prayer for her for stregth and healing. Here is her quilt.



Blessings and Happy Easter.