Some Things Only a Mom Can Do!

I don't know about ya'll but there are certain meals that I remember from my childhood that just thinking about makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Nothing gourmet... nothing fancy... nothing really special at all. In fact, it's their simplicity and the memories they evoke that are comforting.

I remember fondly cream of tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches on cold snowy days. Mom would bundle us up like abominable snow men (so we couldn't move our arms) and send us out into the yard to play in the snow. No matter how hard she tried to bundled us up, it wasn't long before we were wet and cold and running inside to warm up. Mom peeled off our wet clothes and started warming/drying them. It's amazing how quickly we would forget how miserable we were being cold and wet, and we would start begging to head back outside! Once lunchtime rolled around, I knew that a warm bowl of Campbell's cream of tomato soup (made with milk - not water) and a gooey grilled cheese sandwich would be waiting. Of all the comfort food that I remember from my childhood, cream of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich is the only meal I continue to make for myself. Usually on cold, rainy days!

For breakfast on cold days, I remember a bowl of cream of wheat and cinnamon toast. The first thing I did was tip my toast over my bowl of cream of wheat so that the cinnamon sugar coated the top of the warm cereal. Yum! I can't remember the last time I had a bowl of cream of wheat?

Here's one that will "date" me...

Mom's tuna noodle casserole! I don't like anyone's tuna noodle casserole. Only my moms! It has to be made with a package of cooked egg noodles, a drained can of tuna, a can of cream of mushroom soup, an almost full can of milk, and then a layer of cheddar cheese on top before it goes into the oven. This casserole has to be served with blueberry muffins (made from the box that has the little can of blueberries inside) and peach or pear halves with grated cheddar cheese and a little dollop of mayo. I know... sounds disgusting but it's yummy if you grew up with it. Just the sound of this meal makes my mouth water and yet I have NEVER made it for myself. However, during a visit from my mom a year or two ago, she made this for me for my birthday dinner! Mmmmm-mmmmm-good!

Isn't it funny how many memories are associated with food? I remember certain specialties that each of my grandmothers made when we visited. I remember my NaNa's chicken and dumplings (I still can't make this favorite dish as good as she did), and my Nanny's Escarole soup (I have mastered this one).

I'm very sad to admit that Nick won't have any memories of favorite meals that will make him feel all warm and fuzzy inside :(

If you ask him what his favorite meal is, he'll say pepperoni pizza or steak. Neither one of these is exactly a "made with love by mom" specialty. There won't be any special recipes for me to pass on to his wife one day. He won't come home from college on the weekends requesting a warm casserole or "Mom's Famous ______ (fill in the blank)." How sad is this?

I'm suddenly craving a tuna noodle casserole! I'm depressed and I need a little bit of comforting!

Blessings,
LeAnn

P.S. I would love to hear about your favorite food memories!

Fire!

I don't know about you, but I take my quiet time where and when I can get it. This means that I talk to God while I'm in the shower and even when I'm on the potty. I guess the bathroom is one place that I'm always alone so I end up talking!

Yesterday morning I struck up a conversation with God while I was drying my hair. You know those conversations where your thoughts jump from one thing to another until you don't even remember what your initial thought/question/request was? That's what was happening to me. I had jumped all over the place with one thought after another until I had completely lost track.

Suddenly I realized that I was scattered. It then occurred to me that God probably has to listen to a bunch of jumbled up messes. Imagine hearing millions of prayers all at the same time. Then I started questioning whether or not He could understand my own ramblings since I couldn't even understand them myself. As I dried my hair, I looked at myself in my bathroom mirror and cried out loud, "Lord, how can you possibly hear ME?"

With that simple question of DOUBT, my hair dryer shot out flames of fire! The flames shot out onto my hair and out the back of the hair dryer. I dropped the hair dryer into the sink (thank goodness it wasn't filled with water) and quickly checked to make sure my hair wasn't on fire. There was smoke and sparks but no actual flame. I unplugged the hair dryer (just to be safe) and left it in my sink to be thrown away when it cooled down.

OK - lesson learned! How dare I question whether or not God can hear ME! It doesn't matter how confusing my prayers may be or how many bunny trails my conversation takes, or how many millions are speaking to Him at the same time. He created the universe. He breathed life into man. His Word is alive. He raised Lazarus from death. He gave sight to a blind girl. HELLO! Like The Creator can't hear or understand my thoughts!? What was I thinking? How could I have even a moment of doubt?

Friends, today I am a woman with a renewed fear of the Lord... and grateful for the "burning" reminder. Is this what they mean by, "on fire for the Lord?" 'Cause girls... me and my hair are smoldering (literally)!

Blessings,
LeAnn

Serving with Attitude!

Nick has to complete a minimum of 16 service hours each year for Bible class and for the Honor Society. (He can use the same hours for each.) After serving three times in our local Soup Kitchen, making Easter Baskets for children from low-income families, and helping tear down and load equipment for She Speaks, he was still two hours short. His Bible teacher volunteers at a local "on the street" ministry each Sunday and said that she would give credit hours to students who bake cookies for this ministry.

Of course we waited until the last possible week to bake these cookies and... of course I was sick! But, there wasn't any other way for Nick to earn his last two hours before his deadline so I trudged to the grocery store and got the necessary ingredients and then watched as my 15-year-old tentatively discovered THE OVEN!

On more than one occasion, I actually heard the words, "Mommy... It's hot... I'm afraid!" in his best little boy voice. Now how often does a 15-year-old boy say the word "Mommy?"

Nick can be very helpful... or so I've been told. He never actually helps me with anything unless I bribe or threaten him. However, others have told me that he is quick to help when they ask. They even say he's smiled on occasion so there's a chance they are talking about another kid!

While he can be helpful, Nick will only do the bare minimum. And... he'll usually give you attitude. You know... "When are we going to be done?!" "How much longer is it going to take?" "There must be another way of doing this?!" Get the picture?

Nick needed two hours of community service so, as I suspected, the moment he noticed that two hours had passed, he was ready to stop. It didn't matter that there was still cookie dough in the bowl. He had made about 80 cookies and he still had to package them in Ziplock bags which would take a while. As far as he was concerned - cooking baking was done!

Then he did what any honor-role but not a lick of sense boy would do... he created a cookie about the size of his head with the remaining cookie dough. He wanted the job to be done. He had his two hours. And... he wanted to eat the giant cookie for dessert that night.

I managed to take a couple of photos to document the occasion. You never know when I might need evidence that he actually knows how to use the oven!

Here he is trying to hide from the camera:


And here he is trying to keep from smiling:


Sweet Cookie Blessings,
LeAnn

Overwhelmed!

I am so overwhelmed by God's provision that I am about to burst!

I made the final payment of Nick's annual registration fee (for the next school year) this morning. This is money that isn't in our budget so I broke the registration fee into four payments to make it easier.

For my birthday in January, my sweet Proverbs 31 sisters contributed to two $100 gas gift cards so that Nick's registration fee would be easier for me to afford. For two months I have not paid for any gas! This allowed me to save a little extra and pay the registration fee of $500 more easily.

A short time after making the final payment this morning, I received an email from the school saying that I had a credit of $500. Nick's registration fee had anonymously been paid in full in January! I had no idea so I had been making payments.

I wish I could put into words what a tremendous blessing this is to me.

I stepped out in faith and had promised payment for services to someone else on behalf of my church. This is definitely not in my budget but I felt God pressing on my heart to do this. Not knowing where the money would come from, I had already started making payments.

I am overwhelmed because God has provided and it will no longer be a hardship for me to fulfill my commitment.

I am overwhelmed because God has blessed those that will receive this money. He has provided for them and for me.

I am overwhelmed because God took the time to make Himself known to several people through this amazing act of generosity.

I don't know whose heart He spoke to about paying Nick's registration fee but, if you are reading this, please know that God has blessed me and touched the lives of others because of your generosity, your heart, and your obedience and I am forever grateful and very overwhelmed.

Sweet Blessings,
LeAnn

A Tasty Tuesday Recipe

I am really bummed that I didn't take a photo but I had to share this with you anyway! I love quick and easy recipes that look like you've slaved over a hot stove. If you want to impress your family with an fast (less than 30 minutes), easy, inexpensive, restaurant-quality pasta dish... here's a recipe to add to your arsenal:

Chicken Pasta with Pesto
(serves 4)

1/2 pound bow-tie pasta, cooked as directed on package
1 package chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces
1 package sliced baby bella mushrooms
about 8 stalks of asparagus, cut into 2-inch strips
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
garlic powder
1/2 cup white wine or chicken stock
1 container pesto sauce from refrigerated pasta section
parmesan cheese

Prepare chicken while pasta water is heating and pasta cooks.

Place butter and oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and place in hot skillet. You only need to brown the chicken. Stir quickly to brown on each side and then remove chicken from skillet.

Add the mushrooms and stir and cook for a few minutes until mushrooms begin to brown. If the bottom of your pan gets too brown, turn down the heat. Add the wine or chicken stock and stir to deglaze the pan. Add the asparagus and the chicken. Cover and cook for about 10-15 minutes until chicken is cooked and asparagus is tender.

Drain cooked pasta and return to pan. Stir in the pesto sauce to evenly coat pasta. Using a slotted spoon, scoop out the chicken, mushrooms, and asparagus and add to pasta. Stir to combine. (You may want to add a little of the juice from cooking the chicken - if you want to thin the pasta a bit.)

Spoon onto a serving platter and top with grated cheese. YUMMY!

Bon Appetit!

LeAnn