Still living in Limbo

So I got a letter informing me I did NOT receive the full tuition scholarship I applied for at AMBS. I guess there were 11 applicants and only enough funds to grant two scholarships. Now I'm waiting to hear back on my financial aid package which should be awarded sometime towards the end of June. So we're still living in limbo. I'm not ready to just say it's not going to happen. Although without full tuition covered it does complicate things. A few more positions have opened up in Elkart Co, and Mark has applied. So there is still chance for him to find a job. Although with the economy there will be tons of applicants fighting for these positions. So we have both continued to take a wait and see attitude. As summer quickly approaches, I realize how much I really do want this to work. I'm sad and even scared at the idea of leaving my friends, family and community. But I'm so much more excited at the new possibles to come. I know I have an opportunity to start taking classes here at the extension site. But somehow that idea doesn't excited me as much. I want more than just the chance to take seminary classes. Plus somehow the idea of taking night classes just isn't as appealing. And the move would signify a new step in my life; a step forward in my own personal purpose. Staying here and taking classes just doesn't have the same effect. Not that it doesn't mean I'm not starting on the journey towards something new. Just doesn't have the same symbolic meaning. So for at least another month or two I'll continue to wait and see what happens. I'm not ready to give up hope just yet.

Menu Plan Monday

Well last week seemed to go fast. And something tells me this week will too. I just hope I have a few less power struggles this week. The Asian chicken wraps went over ok. I really liked them. Mark thought it was good, but it didn't make it on his must repeat list. And Ian, well wraps are tricky with Ian. He ate a few bites, so I won't complain too much. Didn't get to the baked chicken on Tues. We went to Wichita so Mark could work. He does contract computer work for my mom's church. Then we picked him up a bicycle listed on Craig's list. We have already gone on a family bike ride. On Saturday we rode down the bike trail by the river that is just newly done. It goes right through our friend's back yard where we were going to celebrate his birthday. Ian had a great time. Our friend J and M bought a house and it's been in need of major repair. So they are living in a trailer parked next to the house and are renovating it. J has done most of the work himself thus far. Currently they have the house jacked up and have been digging a basement underneath. It's all dug out, just needs to be leveled after all the storms we've had. There is a huge pile of dirt in their yard. So Ian and several other little boys at the party had a great time digging, running up and down, and just playing in the dirt. I still need to clean all the mud off his shoes. :) Well here is the dinner plan for this week. Looks like the end of the week I won't really be cooking at all. We're going to grill at a friends house on Thursday. I always love when T invites us over. Friday we'll be heading to Hays. I'm going to hang out with an old high school friend of mine. Saturday I'll attend her college graduation and then in the afternoon head over to my step-sisters reception for her high school graduation. I'm pretty excited. Excited to hang out with K. And also very excited to see my father who will be coming in for my step-sister's graduation. :) Although I know the whole weekend is going to be filled with stress. Wish me luck!


Monday: Green spaghetti, potato salad and leftover spinach and strawberry salad
Tuesday: Broccoli and bacon quiche, maybe muffins?
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Grill at T's, I've offered to bring brownies
Friday: Out to eat (hopefully with my brother on our way through. If he's not working )
Saturday: Reception and/or dinner with Dad and Step-mom
Sunday: Breakfast dinner

Check out more menu ideas at Organizing Junkie's website

Menu Plan Monday

Well this last weeks menus got completely shuffled and even changed some days. This last week Ian was very needy, mostly for attention, and unfortunately he has figured out that misbehaving gets him attention. Even when I try very hard not to give negative attention it still comes as I have to spend time putting him in timeout (we are currently making a game of getting up and running around the house while in timeout). So Mark cooked twice this week. I'm always so grateful when he cooks. Monday he made homemade hamburger helper. So we had the groundnut stew on Tuesday. Friday was suppose to be chicken pot pie. And Mark had planned on making that for me. But Ian asked for eggs. So we had eggs, bacon and toast. It turned out to be very nice. But since I bought chicken, I still have lots of chicken in the house. So I think this week will be a chicken week. All but Thursday when we grill out at the park with our small group :) I'm looking forward to that. The weather that day is suppose to be in the mid 80s. While I'm not understanding why we can't have 70s (we seem to jump from 60s straight to 80s), I'm excited to grill.

So here is the plan.

Monday: Chicken pot pie (since we didn't get to it last week)

Tuesday: Baked chicken with veggies and potatoes

Wednesday: Asian Peanut Chicken wraps (Organizing Junkie has this on her menu. It looked so good I thought I would try it)

Thursday: Hotdogs and Hamburgers on the Grill at the Park

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday:Dinner with friends. Celebrating J's 30th birthday.

Sunday: Church Mother's Day meal following church then we'll have dinner with my friend C. Her son K and Ian are good playmates. K is turning 3 and wanted Ian to come to his party. I can't believe Ian's friends are turning 3!!! We'll be celebrating Z's 3rd birthday later this month. That means Ian will turn 3 in just a few months! AHHHHHHH

For more menu ideas check out I'm an Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday

This last weeks meal plan went over well. The rice casserole didn't get cooked all the way. Thus we had sorta crunchy rice. But I thought it still tasted good and Ian devoured it. The quesadillas were also very nice. It was also good to pull out the grill for the first time this spring. Although Mark tried something different with the hamburgers and added barbecue sauce which tasted odd to me. And they ended up crumbling so much he had to finish them in a skillet on the stove. Oh well, trail and error makes perfect. :) There will be lots of chances to try again. This week looks like lots of rain days. It will be interesting to see how Ian adjusts after a week of constant outdoor play. Wish us luck.

Here is this weeks menu. Mark requested Groundnut stew and chicken pot pie which actually should fit perfectly with the rainy, cooler weather. Hopefully I can bake some bread as well.

Monday: Groundnut stew
Tuesday: East Indian Spinach and Lentils
Wednesday: Church meal
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Chicken pot pie
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Church Pot Luck (bring another chicken pot pie as the recipe makes enough fillings for two)

For more menu idea visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Confirmed Admissions and other exciting happenings

So it's official. I got my acceptance letter (or in this case letters) in the mail yesterday from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. For those confused, I have been planning on applying for seminary for more than a year now. But I knew I wanted to wait to start classes till Cai was about a year. Well yesterday I got a letter from the Director of Enrollment stating that the admissions committee had unanimously voted to grant my admission! I also got a letter from he president confirming this admissions and congratulating me. It's exciting news. But unfortunately it doesn't mean I will actually get to start classes on campus in the fall. Mark still has not found a job. Although he has now applied at Notre Dame in the IT department, and been told about a few other opening by family and friends in the Elkart area. I'll hear back about the full tuition scholarship I applied for in May. Depending on the financial package I receive from the school and government we may be able to head up this summer. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. I'm excited at the idea of attending seminary, while be saddened by the idea of leaving my friends, family, and community here. I'll update you more as we know more.

Other exciting things around here: I got a bike! I'm so excited about this. Last summer I picked up a kids bike trailer at my mother's church garage sale. We have it hooked up to my bike and this morning the boys and I rode around town to do our weekly shopping. It worked so very nicely. Well once I put a blanket under Cai to make him taller so the shoulder straps would hit in the right spot. :) The only thing is now I'm still exhausted and my legs are sore. But if I keep this up I'll be in shape before long. Plus the boys really seemed to enjoy themselves. Ian gets very excited about riding in the trailer. He and I took a short ride on Sunday after we hooked everything up. And Cai seemed to like it as well, just not as much as Ian.

Well I guess my list is actually short. The weather is gorgous around here. We have been spending lots of time outside, both in the morning and afternoon. Cai is pulling up onto any furniture he can and getting into everything. Ian is pretending more and more every day. Just last week he got upset because the lego person wouldn't fit into the digger and he was certain the digger needed a driver. Life is full around here. For those interested I posted Easter weekend pictures yesterday on Picasa web. Feel free to go check them out. The boys look very nice in their Easter outfits. Well guess that's it for now. Got to go help a crying baby.

Menu Plan Monday

So last week's menu didn't get followed very well. Well actually I guess it did. The curry was really well. Mark and I both agreed alittle sweet. I'll need to cut back on the cinnamon and maybe add more turmeric next time. Tuesday, instead of pasta we had the egg breakfast dinner planned for Friday. Thursday it turned out nice that I had planned leftovers b/c I was sick and not up for cooking anyway. Then Friday we did popcorn, apples and cheese. Which again worked nicely as I was still drained by my cold. Here is this weeks meal plan. I'm feeling better, but the boys are dragging a bit. In fact Cai is more cranky than normal so I think he is fighting what I have been fighting. :( I'm hoping no major sicks day.


Monday: Cheezy Broccoli and Rice with turkey .
I saw this link on Little Home and thought it looked really good. The recipe calls for chicken, but I still have just alittle turkey left that should go nicely in it.

Tuesday: grilled hamburgers, maybe homemade baked fries (we'll see how my potatoes look)
Mark has been wanting to grill, and it is supposed to be so nice.

Wednesday: Church meal

Thursday:leftovers (so we can head downtown for the Art and Music Festival earlier rather than later)

Friday: Black bean, zucchini and tomato quesadillas

Saturday: leftovers
Sunday: youth meal at church

Dessert: I have strawberries in my fridge that hopefully I can turn into a cobbler or something. Last week I saw a great recipe for fruit cobbler that I'm excited to try out.

For more menu plans visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday

Well last weeks dinners went really well. I ended up making bread with the chowder rather than muffins. Which turned out great. I made two loaves and froze one to bring to Easter dinner. Which everyone seemed to enjoy there too. The asparagus pasta was really good. I made a strawberry spinach salad to go with it. This week I'll be trying to include the ham and turkey Easter dinner leftovers my mom sent home with me.

Monday: Turkey curry
Tuesday: pasta and tomato sauce (leftovers send home from the weekend)
Wednesday: Church meal
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: ham eggs breakfast dinner
Saturday: leftovers
Sunday: leftovers

For more great menu ideas check out Organizing Junkie