Menu Monday

Week of October 20

Monday: Roasted Shrimp and Orzo; salad

Tuesday: Potato Soup; Raw Veggies

Wednesday: Tangy Pineapple Chicken; Rice

Thursday: Roast Beef Swirlwiches; fruit

Friday: Out of Town with Friends and They're Cooking!

Saturday: Out of Town with Friends and They're Cooking!

Sunday: On the Road

An Invitation To Look At My Rear - Tell Me, Do You Like What You See?

Well, yesterday, I finally did it. I invited everyone and their brother to look at my rear...I put a bumper sticker on my car. A friend of mine had a clever political sticker and I complimented her on it. She offered me a second one she had. With some hesitation, I took it. Actually, I had no problem taking it. It was applying it on my car that caused me some angst. It actually took me about a week to work up the nerve. I worried about what everyone would think of me. After all, I know what I think when I see folks sporting "that other candidates" sticker! Besides, I have to go to my church 5 days a week. What would they think?
I suppose I should explain. See, I've held my political views since I can remember. They differed from those of my family (the one that raised me; not the one I raise) so I can't say I was born this way. And over the years, I've seen a shift in the views of many who now cloud religion and politics. To them, somehow being a Christian means you can only vote for one party. Well, I will tell you I am a Christian and I don't vote for "that" party. I've learned that God has always given us choices. He hopes we make the right ones; he loves us regardless; and he never takes our choices away. His son spent a lot of time with folks who were less fortunate as well as those who were, shall we say, undesirables. He treated them like He did anyone else. He fought for them. I apply this to how I live and that's why I vote the way I do. Unfortunately, I believe many people have taken their own morality and tried to impose it on everyone else. Taken away their God-given choices and tried to make one way the only way. I believe that if you choose to live a certain way or make certain choices that's your right. Just because something isn't a law doesn't mean you will change the way you chose to live.
So, with the explanation out of the way, I can tell you I had a few other drivers smile at me today. And, I got a good feeling when I passed someone who had a sticker for "my" candidate. There aren't that many days left until the election. So, my sticker won't be on for long. But until then, make no mistake, I'm a CHRISTIAN MAMA FOR OBAMA.

Guess What's Finally Here?

Three things:

1. Those cooler temps are finally arriving. Why just today, the second day of Fall, Charleston was a brisk 78 degrees. By all accounts, this does beat the heck out of the 90-some degree weather we had last week. But, truth be told, we don't get Fall here. The leaves don't turn pretty shades of red, gold, or orange. They just die and fall. They go from green to brown. And I mean the crunchy brown, not the pliable brown. But, alas, it has arrived. We wake to temps in the 60s that climb to the 80s by lunch. That makes it a bit hot for jeans or jackets. So you have to decide between the two. Jeans with a sleeveless top or a jacket with shorts? Conundrum, I tell ya. Hope you're enjoying Fall wherever you are.

2. Darius Rucker's Learn to Live album is finally for sale. I must tell you, I have loved Hootie for, well, ever. I don't miss a Homegrown concert, except this year due to poor, poor planning on my part. Earlier this year, Darius, gone solo, entered the country music scene with Don't Think I Don't Think About It. (Number One on the Charts!!!) Well, it was love at first listen for me. The tone of his voice is perfect for this genre of music that has somehow found its way into my soul. It isn't that he's really changed anything. I think country has changed to meet him. If you listen, and I dare you, to a country station, you'll see what I mean. For crying out loud, Kid Rock has a country hit right now! So check our Learn to Live on iTunes.

3. Maddie is home! My friend Loreen and her husband finally have their little girl. Loreen and Maddie touched down in Charleston today after a very long flight from Vietnam. Keeping up with her blog over these past two weeks brought back so many memories of our trip to China to unite with our daughter. I imagine right now, Loreen is trying to get her boys to start thinking about going to bed. She may even think she's going to get Maddie to go down. But, the time change will play a big part in her plans. It may be a week before Maddie realizes she shouldn't get up at 3 AM to play. Ahhh, the memories of those things that we thought would kill us. But now that they are memories, we kinda miss them.

Weekly Menu 8/22

I believe all recipes this week, other than the Shrimp Fajitas, can be found in previous posts. It really isn't like me to cook something more than once. At least we'll know it's gonna be good!

Monday: Chicken Coleslaw Wraps

Tuesday: Pizza Night

Wednesday: Red Chile Pork Tacos w/Caramelized Onions; Salad

Thursday: Shrimp Fajitas

Friday: Happy Hour

Saturday: Taco Meatball Ring

Sunday: CORN (clean out refrigerator night)

Weekly Menu 9/15

Monday: Chicken Wings Waikiki; Cole Slaw; Fruit Salad

Tuesday: Baked Ravioli; Salad; Garlic Bread

Wednesday: Overnight Casserole; Rolls

Thursday: Fiesta Wraps; Chips with Bean Dip
(repeat of last week because things got so hectic that we ate out instead of fixing these)

Friday: On the Road Again Until Sunday

Weekly Menu 9/8

I've finally gotten up the nerve to restart my Weekly Menu Planning. So far, this school year has proven to be quite difficult as far as the Rices sitting down for a meal together. Last year, we had one night a week that nothing was going on. This year, we have none. On Mondays, Jonathan has soccer from 6:15-7:30. Tuesdays, there is Jonathan's student council and guitar until 6. Wednesday is another soccer practice for Jonathan, this time from 5-6:15. On Thursdays, we struggle with yet another one of Jonathan's soccer practices from 7:30-8:45 and Porter's football from 5:30-6:30. The weekend finally arrives and we get a breather. Saturdays and some Sundays are chock full of soccer and football. Add to this church service, youth group for Jonathan and yet another Football practice for Porter on Sunday and we're finally done!

Because of our busy schedule and that of the other families we do our MR2 dinner with, we have decided to change it from Sunday night to Friday night. Making it a bit more casual and instituting a Happy Hour/Appetizer feel. This first week will be my turn and I can't wait! In the meantime, here's what I've got cooking this week...

Monday: Shrimp and Grits Casserole; lima beans

Tuesday: Chicken packets; broccoli

Wednesday: Sloppy Joes; fries

Thursday: Fiesta Wraps; Chips with Black Bean Dip

Friday: (MR2 Happy Hour) Mini Chicken Kabobs; cheese and crackers; Mambo Margaritas

Saturday: Spinach Calzones; fruit

Sunday: Leftovers

Weekly Menu 8/18

Monday: Five Guys (This is a treat because tomorrow is the First Day of School!)

Tuesday: Chicken Casserole; snap peas; rolls

Wednesday: tacos; spanish rice

Thursday: Sandwiches; veggie sticks with ranch

Friday & Saturday: We're on the road again...