Yes, today was another day of cooking. I'm finding that with our new school schedule I am in the kitchen more. I'm baking, cooking and making more things from scratch. Truly that is an answer to pray as I strayed away from doing that a long time ago. We got caught up with family members that hardly ever baked and cooked, but bought everything pre-made and ate out a lot. It's hard, at least for me, when I got out of the habit of cooking every day, to get back into it again. Between that, all the extra, obsessive cleaning I felt I "had" to do when in the kitchen (if you remember a long time back I wrote about a germ fear), I just truly lost the desire to be in the kitchen. I have been praying a lot about the germ issue, asking the Lord to help me get back to where I was, and to take the fears away from me. It's been a process, but the Lord is always faithful. My husband has been such an encouragement through it all, and helps me see where I'm being obsessive and fearful. He goes out of his way to show me things are o.k. I love him so much. I'm not real sure where all that 'realness' came from, I wasn't planning on typing all of that, but it's out, and it will stay.
Anyway, so what did I make today? I made homemade salsa, creamy potato salad and I have simmering on the stove right now beans and ham to which I'll add homemade cornbread for dinner tonight. The creamy potato salad is for tomorrow. We are having friends over for lunch and we are having burgers on the grill and I made the potato salad. Then tomorrow morning I'll make a pudding and graham cracker dessert. The salsa I made on a whim for my hubby. I haven't made any in a while, and I know how much he likes it. I even bought green onions to throw in there. He really likes green onions. That's another thing the Lord is growing in me. I went shopping today with the kids and for the first time in years (and I'm not exaggerating) I wanted to buy lots of produce and make so many things from scratch. I couldn't buy a lot today, but I'm thankful the desire is back. Thank you Lord for bringing me through this.
The beans and ham is a recipe I got off the internet at the Pioneer Woman Cooks. (I have no idea if this woman is a Christian, and I'm not endorsing her site, I'm giving credit for where I got the recipe and I will say I like how she takes pictures of each step.) It's such a simple recipe of pinto beans cooked with bacon, which I didn't have so I used diced ham. It will turn in to a thick sauce, season to taste and serve with cornbread. We didn't have much food in the house today, so this seemed the best time to try it. It smells so good, I just hope it taste as good.
I had such a blessed time at woman's bible study last night. The ladies are so sweet, and the Lord has been challenging me through them all.
I haven't talked about it, but I do have an update on my laptop. We have found out it will cost around $200 to fix, which is a blessing that its not more. We even have the money to get it fixed with an unexpected amount of money that we got. But, and I know this will shock you, I chose not to get it fixed right now. Yes, I'm shocked with myself too. We got the money, and set some aside for Paul's truck. I started checking about where to get the laptop fixed and I was getting quite excited about it all. Then it happened, I went into the freezer to get something and what did I see? An empty freezer. We are down to one piece of meat, that's it. We might get a part of a cow this fall, though we are not sure. But for now, it's empty. And with our finances as tight as it is, truly I don't have enough money to get meat and chicken with all the other things I need to get with each paycheck. The way we usually compensate for that is doing stock-up shopping when we have the money, then all I have to do it get side dishes etc... Well, we have used up all of our stock-up, and now the freezer is bare. There was no way I could spend $200 on a laptop that is not a necessity, when our freezer is bare, and we have no money to get meats and chicken in there.
So I told Paul the other day that I wasn't getting the laptop fixed, and that we should spend the $200 on stocking up the freezer. He was shocked, and saddened for me, but he agreed it was the right thing to do. So we are going out tonight and get lots of different meats and chicken, plus stocking up on some baking supplies too. That's the reason the kids and I went and did our regular shopping this morning. That way we don't have to try and do both at once. I am sad about the laptop, but I'm blessed we still have a computer and high speed internet. And now, we'll have a stocked freezer, and I can get past the germ issues, and start cooking with meat and chicken again, like I use to do for over 20 years now. It's sad I allowed a fear to take over so much that it has stopped me from doing something I really enjoy, cooking and baking. I still get a 'nervous' feeling when I think about it, but I just keep giving it to the Lord. He is my strength. And I am blessed that with this extra money we can get Paul's truck fixed and stock up our freezer. And maybe, if we get a decent amount of money from the government this summer, we can get the laptop fixed then. We'll just have to wait and see.
Other than that, which I guess is a lot, not much else is going on. I'm really liking this time in the afternoon to blog. The kids are outside playing with the neighborhood kids, I have baseball on the tv, beans cooking on the stove, and time to blog. The Lord's blessings are overflowing in my life. I'm not sure how blogging will be this weekend. I know tomorrow we'll be busy, and Paul uses the computer more on the weekend, so I might be a bit more quiet then. But I've rambled so much this week I'm sure you're tired of hearing from me.
May the Lord's love be evident in your life today.
Tired of hearing from you??? Never!
I know the Lord is going to bless you for making the right choice about the money. You will be so glad to have a stocked freezer, too!
I hope more money will come along soon so that you can get the laptop fixed, but look at what the new routine has done. And you might not have changed your blog time if the computer hadn't quit charging.
Life is good when you are in God's will. Sounds like you are doing a great job laying down your fears and following Him. I am glad to hear you are enjoying being back in the kitchen.
Jenn
I dont remember being invited over for dinner?? Whats up with that woman. Although I am sad to hear about the lap top woes, I am glad that the decision to use the money wisely is working for you and that stocking up on your groceries is at the top of the list. I am sure you will be blessed 3 fold for listening to the Lord and having the trust in Him to do this for you, and you never know something wonderful can happen in regards to the lap top issue.
JoAnn, I will NEVER grow tired of your ramblings.
I appreciate your realness. I didn't know fully know why you fell away from making things from scratch but now I do. I am sooooooo glad that the Lord is seeing you through and healing you. I pray that the Lord sustains you in all this and I am encouraged in what you are saying that the Lord is doing for you .
That is sooooooo cool that you have found a groove in your routine. May it continue.
Sending you blessings and ((hugs)) my SSiC
In Him<><
-Mary
This blog is so I can share my journey with the Lord, my journey as a wife and mother, and my journey as a homeschool mom. I pray that you will see the Lord in my life through happy and sad times, and that this blog glorifies the Lord.
This is an award and tag free zone, thank you.
Yes, I'm shocked with myself too. We got the money, and set some aside for Paul's truck. I started checking about where to get the laptop fixed and I was getting quite excited about it all. Then it happened, I went into the freezer to get something and what did I see? An empty freezer. 
We are down to one piece of meat, that's it. We might get a part of a cow this fall, though we are not sure. But for now, it's empty. And with our finances as tight as it is, truly I don't have enough money to get meat and chicken with all the other things I need to get with each paycheck. The way we usually compensate for that is doing stock-up shopping when we have the money, then all I have to do it get side dishes etc... Well, we have used up all of our stock-up, and now the freezer is bare. There was no way I could spend $200 on a laptop that is not a necessity, when our freezer is bare, and we have no money to get meats and chicken in there.
