Time to Freeze.

Life is insane right now. I am officially a soccer mom. Now both boys are playing on teams and that consumes 3 nights a week. Add in school, events, friends, church, piano lessons my weeks are becoming so hectic, I am finding dinner to be a difficult task. Izzy doesn't get home from school until 4 and 4 days of the week we are going straight from one thing to another no time for me to prep dinner. The last two weeks we have just kind of "winged" it, with a few crock pot meals in between which were a complete life saver. Other nights it was a free for all. Boys ate "packed lunches" in the car and Hubby and I grabbed a sandwich after they were bathed and in bed. While it works, it leaves me feeling overwhelmed and unorganized. I. Can't. Like. That.

Izzy ready for a full night of Piano & Soccer, dinner in hand.

Mondays for me always bring me a fresh wave of creativity and organization. I like the feeling of a fresh week with a new plan. Today I sat down and wrote out my
To Do list for the week, updated the family calendar, updated Izzy's calendar, and made a list of 6 freezer meals that if I can carve out a few hours this week I plan on making to help - future me out.

Here are my ideas:
*Breakfast Casserole- Breakfast Burritos
*BBQ Pork Tenderloin- Pulled Pork Sandwiches
*Chili
*Spaghetti
*Beef Pepperocini Sandwiches
*Honey Garlic Chicken

After spending just a short amount of time making all of those PB&J's and prepping Izzy's lunch, I have found out how WONDERFUL it is! So dinner, that has to be even better, right?

The only downfall....this forces me to clean out the freezer (ugh) and organize it (double ugh). While I love organizing anything, it is cold in the freezer. I hate being cold. I am just going to suck it up and get it done so I don't have to rush our nights anymore than they already are.

My question to you... Do you freeze? Hit me with your best freezer meal ideas. Go!

Happy Freezing to me and hopefully a much happier family at dinner-time!

If I wrote a book...

I have a cousin, her name is Melissa. She is beautiful, sweet and has a heart for others like no one else I know. She also has a fabulous blog ----> http://melissaemma.blogspot.com, which you should totally subscribe to, she will bless your socks off.

My sweet Melissa is cousin by marriage, but it is like we are blood. We are two peas in a pod, a very organized pod. :) We are so similar, but Melissa is a lot of what I am not. I am not good at cards, thoughtful remembering of dates, surprise gifts just when you need them and loads of other thoughtful gestures. I can't tell you how many times I have thought, I am going to surprise her with _______, and then time gets away from me and I have failed. She, however, never fails to send me encouragement and inspiration and her timing is impeccable. She is an avid reader and knows of every book that I should also be taking the time to read, but haven't. Pretty much, it is like she has a piece of my heart and knows exactly when it is hurting and she does something beautiful and sweet to make it all better.

Her latest blessing, was this book.


I am a follower of Angie's blog http://angiesmithonline.com/, (as should you) and so I was beside myself when I received a surprise package on a very special day-Judah's Birthday. I got the box 1/16th of the way opened, when I peeked in and realized what was inside. I knew immediately what it was and who it was from and I stood in my entry way and wept. How does she know? I guess it doesn't matter, I am just so glad that she does.

Since I have been following Angie's blog, I know her amazing story. Reading it again, is a slow process for me. Not for lack of intrigue or amazing writing, but purely out of I can only weep so long mid-day without being questioned. I have literally put the book down after every chapter, taking a moment to really let her words sink in and then I weep. It is like she took the words straight out of my heart. If I were to write a book based on my sweet Judah and our testimony, well there is really no need. She did it much more beautifully than I could have done. This book is simply amazing and everyone should read it. Everyone should also get a Melissa, so that you can feel the love and thoughtfulness that I am so privelaged to enjoy.

Melissa, thanks so much for knowing my heart and caring enough to fill it. Just another reason we should be neighbors. ;)