menus

We are taking 60+ college students to Oglebay this weekend for our annual regional staff, leader and committee weekend. I'm heading up feeding hungry college students for the weekend. Not my strong suit. My sister made me a menu for a taco bar for dinner and then I've figured out the other stuff from years past.  This is my menu . . .  We'll see how it all unfolds.

breakfast: bagels & cereal

6 gallons of orange and apple juice

8 gallons of milk

3 large bags of apples

6 bunches of bananas

lots of coffee

coffee filters 

creamer

100+ bagels and cream cheese to go with it

12 boxes of cereal

lunch: soup and pepperoni rolls

5 crockpots of soup

12 dozen pepperoni rolls

5 boxes of crackers

3 jars of peanut butter

3 jars of jelly

6 loaves of bread

dinner: taco bar

20 pounds of shredded chicken

20 pounds of shredded pork

20 pounds of burger

45 servings of rice

120 soft shells/120 hard shells

5 pounds of sour cream

2 sam's containers of salsa

7 pounds of shredded cheese

7 pounds of shredded lettuce

crockpot of black beans

 7 bags of tortilla chips

10 1/2 gallons of ice cream

ice cream toppings

sam's size containers of:

dinner plates

bowls

plastic ware

cups

8 rolls of paper towels

1 box of garbage bags

1 bottle dish soap

hand sanitizer

serving utensils

cooler

lots of soda & water

Whew!  The best part is that 99% of this was donated and/or cooked by parents, committee and my friends! This could be super overwhelming but it hasn't been at all. I'm so thankful to be able to do this and serve our leaders this way. We'll see how it goes . . . pray for the loaves and the fishes if nothing else!

music mash-up

I love this kid and his love for all things music. This is the music mash-up from Ben's last program opera finale. It's a little slow at the beginning, but hang in there for the two step.

birthdays

I had such a fun birthday! I am not a big birthday celebrator, but I definitely felt celebrated and loved. It was such a blessing and I want to be aware in passing that along to others. A phone call, a card or even a text really mean a lot.

It started on Friday when Ben and I went to dinner and then to watch the movie Lincoln. Great movie! We went to see Argo not too long ago and The Hunger Games earlier in the year.  I've loved going to the movies lately. We used to watch movies (renting and going to the theatre) ALL THE TIME the first couple of years we were married. I think we got busy and Ben started seeing the late night movies with guys. I could really be an avid movie watcher if they weren't so darn expensive. I don't do well at home because I just fall asleep!

Saturday my parents came over to watch Ted's basketball game and then we had lunch and the Monster Cookie at Cheddar's. That is now the standard birthday place. Monday, Ben made a yummy dinner AND cleaned up the kitchen. He got me flowers and cupcakes from Coldstone. A friend stopped by with flowers and a gift. Another friend wrote me the sweetest message. Several friends called. I got a blizzard, apple pie and lunch from the SRC staff through the week- that was a particular surprise and blessing.

Ben got me a bike for my birthday! I am so excited. Since we moved to Morgantown I've really had a dream of being a bike riding family. With all the rail trails, there's no reason we can't be. Now that Ted has a bike and is a good rider, and Sophie can get a bike for her birthday or be pulled in the bike trailer, there's no reason we can't be. And it's something that we all really love to do, which is the best part. I want to be active together at something we all really love. I was riding Ben's old road bike. It's too big, requires me to be bent clear over and is not conducive to being aware of kids around me. This new bike is so great! I'm super ready for warm weather.

This is the only picture I have from my 33rd birthday. It was a darn good one, though! I'm thankful for the people in my life and want to be intentional about celebrating them.

this is a season

This is a season.

It doesn't last forever.

Live it well.

Do you ever look back at season's in your life and wonder how in the world you made it through?
Do you ever want to get out of the current season you're in as fast as possible?

I was thinking back and looking forward and this is something I'm really learning about. I was recently reminded of a sermon I listened to several years ago by Andy Stanley. He said that 10 years from now, our current trials and struggles will be about 1 sentence/paragraph in our whole story. And when we're telling our story, how do we want to be able to tell it? I've experienced enough in my short 33 years of life to know that things that consumed me so desperately will not last forever. I know that there are many, many, many more seasons to come. Whether it's a horrible season or a great season, I want to live in it and live it well. So when I look back, I can see the good and the growth. As we always said in River Camp, "I can trust God no matter what!"

This is a season.
It doesn't last forever.
Live it well.

a little bit of nothing

We are back into the swing of life after 2 weeks of awesome, much needed down time. Here's a little bit of nothing that is what we're up to . . .

We've been going to some WVU Women's basketball games. We joined Carey's Club for $5 each kid and they get into all the games and occasionally get free pizza and other cool things. I usually get in for $1. So, for our next to free entertainment, I let them get a slushy thing to share. It is the sole reason Sophie goes. Ted picked blue raspberry this time.

We also usually get cool posters and pocket schedules. Ted and Wyatt were carefully examining the girls and guys basketball team pictures on this particular day. Sophie is obviously engrossed in the slushy.

 Aunt Sara got us a Starbucks gift card after Sophie's escapes at Target before Christmas. So we had a hot chocolate date last Friday before grocery shopping.

 Ted with 10 pair of socks on - just for fun!

 I found this at Walmart. It's excellent for instant hot chocolate but definitely not the same. Add your own salt!

This is the devotional we've been reading in the mornings.  I really, really like it. I've gotten 6 or 7 different devotionals over the past year and they are either too abstract or too situation based instead or scripture. This is really good and I've been really happy with it. I'm not a huge Max Lucado fan in that I don't really read his stuff. I know he's got good stuff out there. So I wasn't particularly seeking this out. I saw it at B&N one day and, after reading through some of it, decided it might be what we're looking for. I give it a thumbs up!

I've been reading through this book with a girl from church. Good stuff. I didn't think I was much of an unglued person. But alas . . .

Ted's reading is really moving along and I LOVE it. Every morning he reads the scripture verse for us and the section at the end of the devotional called "grace for the moment." It has helped him want to participate more. This particular morning he was reading the book via my Kindle - hence the glow. The Kindle isn't so good for the emerging reader because you can't put your finger on it because it keeps flipping the page!

 This boy loves to play football. Everyday. Every waking minute. I'm ready for him to be able to play outside.

Ted is playing basketball again this winter. He loves it and shoots baskets in the back alley a lot in the freezing cold. His games are actually kind of fun to watch this year - instead of total comedy. He does well and really likes it. I LOVE basketball as a sport for him to play. Indoors. Time limit. He beat Ben this day in a game of "Around the World."

My parents came over today to watch his game. He was thrilled to have the cheering section. His cousin Wyatt is also on the team which makes it very fun for the adults, too!

Reading one morning. Sometimes his scar just gets me. 

So, as you can see. Nothing exciting or out of the ordinary here. Same old. Same old.