A New Church Home.

As if things couldn't get any more trying over these past couple of weeks, we decided to leave our church and find a new one.

It has been difficult, though I must say my heart aches more for Shelby. We didn't change much, just the WHERE. We had no idea our new church was even there and found it after looking the day after we left our old one. I think it is actually closer to our house, but they are pretty much the same distance. We just needed a more conservative view for us and the kids. I think we have found it. One thing I do know for sure is that I have had complete peace about all of it. I truly believe we did the right thing and feel it was just time for us to move on. I am enjoying the fact that we are no longer the largest family there, in fact, we are probably the 3rd, maybe 4th, I still don't know for sure yet. There are other homeschoolers and the pastor is friendly and preaches a strong message. I brethe a sigh of relief as we go to church now and am so thankful that there was actually another IFB close by, I don't know what we would have done if there wasn't. God took care of things though and it all worked out well. We had a nice talk with the pastor last night and we will go forward to join the next service Mike gets to go to (remember, he is a shift-worker and doesn't make it to every one), which I believe is next Wednesday night. Here is our website if any one is curious: www.southwestbaptistchurch.info/page.cfm?id=8

So, the potluck is at our new church and it turns out that since they just built it, there is no fellowship hall yet. I was going to make a few refrigerated things, fruit salad and jello dessert, but due to the lack of refrigeration I am switching to corn casserole and a cake. I have two corn casserole recipes that I am trying to decide on and am making them both this week to try them out. Unfortunately, I had to make an extra trip to the grocery store, but sometimes those things happen. Also, I didn't know that the church is providing the meat, so I have an extra Chicken Enchilada Casserole that I can make for us soon. I have already deviated from my menu, as I usually do (we had the meatball subs last night), but I'll just adjust as we go along. I am still sticking to my main goal of not eating out, which is much more important to me.

Menus

I had a friend of mine ask for a copy of my planned menus for the next two weeks, so since I typed them up already I would post them here too. I have also been able to add on some more blog sites that I enjoy. I am really liking Starr's cooking blog, her recipes and food look so delicious. I am going to plan at least one of them in to my next menu. See Cooking with the Preachers Wife-at right.

I wish I had more time to blog, I am really enjoying it. Mike took the kids to the skate park this morning and Rachel and I stayed home.

I am starting to look forward to starting school again. I have already got the planned schedule posted and am going to spread it out over more of the year this year to see how we like it and to make Josiah's adjustment easier. We will not be having school in the month of October.

I don't know why, but for some reason I am getting impatient for this baby! I was like this with Jenna and Ryan, but with Jacob and Rachel, I was just content to wait until they arrived. I know there's nothing I can do about it, and really, wouldn't want to, as I want the healthiest babies possible, but wow, is this pregnancy dragging. Also, for some, probably hormonal, reason (yes, Mike, I can hear you laughing as you read this) I am ready for winter too. I just want to bake and wear warm clothes. I could stand a few inches of snow too. Well, all in "due" time, huh? LOL!

My menus for the next two weeks...

Fri 20th
Spaghetti

Sat 21st
Turkey & Rice Strata
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli
(from Saving Dinner Ckbk, by Leanne Ely)

Sun 22
Black Bean Taco Salad (from Taste of Home website)
Lime Jello Salad

Mon 23
Grilled Asian Chicken
Brown Rice
Corn
Yellow Squash and Zucchini
(Saving Dinner Also)

Tues 24
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
Red Potatoes (in the microwave)
Salad
Baby Carrots
(Saving Dinner)

Wed 25
Brown Rice Chicken Salad (Taste of Home)
This one is great because it is good cold and can be made ahead easily.

Thurs 26
Sausage and Penne (Taste of Home)
I may switch this one with yesterdays if we are sick of chicken by now. I wasn't paying attention very well to the amount of chicken I was planning in a row.

Fri 27
Frozen Lasagna (Sam's Club, Stouffers Kind)
Garlic Toast
Salad

Sat 28
Beef & Spinach Pitas
Salad
Carrots
Angel Food Cake with Strawberry Cool Whip
(Saving Dinner)
Sometimes I add a dessert

Sun 29 - Potluck at Church, I will be taking...
Chicken Enchiladas
Double Apple Fruit Salad
Dessert-Raspberry Delight
(All of these are Taste of Home recipes, but I have to sub Strawberries for the Raspberries in the dessert because I just can't find Raspberries anymore)

Mon 30
Meatball Subs
With salad and fresh cantaloupe
Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches (home made)
(Taste of Home)

Tues 1
Frozen Garlic Chicken and Pasta
our grocery store sells this in a 3 lb. bag for $10 and my whole family loves it and it's so easy

Wed 2
Sausage
Baked beans
Frozen bagged fruit with honey
Lime pie tarts

Thurs 3
Meatloaf
Mashed potatoes (I'm using instant here because we have them and they need to be used up)
Frozen green beans
Peach fruit salad

Fri 4th
Grill day since it's a holiday.
I kind of left it open since this is payday again and I can go to the grocery store and get extra stuff if I need too.
Hot Dogs
Sausage
Red potato salad
Cold fruit or jell-o salad

A Sad Day at the Coleman House.

Well, we had to get rid of sweet Shelby. She was a very good dog, but just couldn't get along with Bucky (our little Chihuahua mix). I thought that since I picked a more calm type of breed and a female that she would get along with him. Sadly she decided last Friday that she had to try and kill Bucky, so she went to the pound after two very troubling attacks. I physically couldn't do anything about it, so I knew right away we couldn't keep her.
Happily, after a full weekend at the vet, Bucky is doing just fine. Chipper and spunky and all stitched up, he is seemly missing Shelby, but is happy to be home and doing better than I would have expected.
In light of this incident though, we will not be getting any more dogs until Bucky is gone. I believe he is teaching other dogs to be mean and vicious. Unknowingly, he was brought up in a home where he was not socialized properly, so by the time he came to live with us he was already this way.
We all miss Shelby deeply and wish this didn't happen, I hope and pray she was able to find a good home. It's all in God's hands.