ambulances, tornados, and God's protection
/Yesterday I got through the day SOLELY on God's grace. But reflecting back, I can see His divine protection, provision and grace. And I'm so thankful for that.
Bare with me and keep reading to the end, because I want to share all of God's SUPERNATURAL provision for me through all we dealt with yesterday.
Abigail has really never hurt herself, never had a big fall or injury, never had anything bleeding.
But yesterday morning she was running to the back door, excited to go to story time at the library, and I didn't see her coming so we bumped into each other.
She fell face first into the leg of our TV table.
Blood just started pouring from her nose and mouth and she was screaming for a good 20 minutes straight.
It was horrible to watch her in so much pain, and feel so helpless.
(thankfully no teeth were broken, and she just busted her lip and scraped up her nose and face pretty bad)
Little did I know, this was just the start to the day.
A little later, after she was calmed down and we had played and distracted and gotten the bleeding to stop, we headed up to the city to return some of her shoes and stop by Babies R Us.
(oh my heart aches just thinking about this again)
I was speaking with someone in Customer Service about a return, and I looked over right as Abigail was falling out of the back of the shopping cart, head first.
(I think she had stood up for a second to look at a toy she had dropped on the floor.)
I did what I could to catch her but was too late.
It was seriously like I saw her falling in slow motion.
head. first.
Right into the concrete floor.
she SCREAMED and and I scooped her up, looked at her and she had the biggest knot I've ever seen right on the front of her head.
She screamed and cried and screamed more...louder than I have ever heard her.
The woman behind me in line came over, told me she was a doctor, and recommended we call the paramedics to come take a look since she had hit her head so hard.
as you can imagine, I was just SHAKING with fear.
Long story short (well, kind of)...the paramedics came, evaluated her and said she seemed to be ok, but just to keep a close eye on her over the next 24 hours.
Having a stretcher brought into Babies R Us, with people staring, was very traumatic, but not near as bad as taking my screaming toddler, and now screaming 3 month old, into the ambulance to be evaluated.
Abigail would not calm down and I did what I could to ease her fear and pain but it took about 45 minutes until she finally calmed.
it was awful. just awful.
But she finally calmed down when i got her to listen to baby's "heart beep" with the stethoscope...
she loved doing that and it really helped to distract her.
Daddy finally got there (he was 30 min away at work) and she was MUCH better with him there...while I did paperwork in the ambulance, he took her to get a Jamba Juice.
When I pulled up, she was like her normal self, playing and drinking her smoothie.
SO so thankful.
Of course having to call 911 for your child is not exactly easy.
ooooo, but this wonderful day did not end there my friends.
As we drove home from dealing with all this, it started raining and became dark very quickly.
About 30 minutes after we got home, the tornado sirens started going off and we hunkered down (yes, I am from Texas so I can say that) in our stairwell closet with a bunch of cushions and a tiny lantern.
Our small city made national news yesterday as a tornado swept right through town.
As we hid in the closet with the TV turned way up to listen to reports, we literally heard them saying that the tornado was now crossing the intersection which is about 1/4 mile from our house. SO scary.
We are obviously okay, and our home is okay..thank the Lord!
But the roof of Parker's office building was ripped off, and it basically just rained right into the building.
He spent a lot of the evening there trying to salvage and cover things.
They had just moved into this new office 2 weeks ago.
We are still praying that they did not lose anything that cannot be replaced for clients.
(btw, keeping a toddler and a newborn in a dark closet is a WHOLE other blog post!)
but. BUT.
I want to tell you ALL the ways God met us in this crazy day yesterday.
I've been trying to "wean" Abigail off of her Paci this past week, but I had let her have it yesterday morning because she was throwing a fit and I just didn't feel like dealing with it.
But that paci probably prevented her from knocking teeth out when she fell.
When Abigail fell from the shopping cart, I had NO idea what to do. Like I was sitting there holding her just clueless.
I've never even imagined in my head how I would handle something like this.
But the lady behind me in line was a doctor. She told me what to do. She was there with her own kids but stayed with me the entire time.
Abigail fell head first right into the concrete floor. I can't even think about all the possibilities of what could have happened. (head injury, broken neck, etc)
But she only got a huge knot on her head, and it already looks much better today.
When she fell, she was screaming for a paci but I didn't have one with me (remember, I was trying to wean her). I was so upset bc I knew it would help her feel more secure.
But the manager at Babies R Us, who had already brought me ice for her head, asked me what kind of pacis she used, and went and got me a pack of them, and gave her one. He even brought her a stuffed animal when we were in the ambulance.
Sweet Bethany cried the whole time we were in the ambulance, but I could not help her because I needed to hold Abigail who was still screaming.
But one of the paramedics rocked her, gave her her paci, distracted her and helped her calm down. He later shared with me he has 6 kids of his own.
A tornado touched down very close to our home, and caused damage all over town.
But we are safe.
I had LOTS of moments yesterday where I could have completely lost it, been angry, been scared, been totally crazy.
BUT.
God's grace got us through. He protected, He provided, He showed up.
{If you need to find us, we might be hunkered down again, as more tornados are expected tonight}
I finally had a good cry about everything last night as I climbed into bed, but I woke up this morning thankful and hopeful for a new day. Thanks for yalls prayers and concern for us!
and thanks for listening to me process all this today.
Basically, I am just overwhelmed today at His goodness towards us.
Meal Plan Swap...coming soon!!
/
all you gotta do is come up with a week's meal plan, blog it, and come link it up!
Carina from A Punk, a Pumpkin, and a Peanut and I will be hosting this interlinked swap next Friday April 20th!!
We could each literally have MONTHS worth of meals planned.
Ill take that!
The more we have link up, the more weeks of meals we get...
So, spread the word, grab a button, plan some meals and link up!!
(these can just be simple meals, you don't need to be a chef...Lord knows I'm not!)
never done a meal plan before? thinking about doing it?
well, now is a great time to start!!
here's some simple tips:
-Get your computer, or a pen and pad of paper if you are old school like me
(I have a minor obsession with legal notepads)
-Find 6-7 meals you'd like to make for the coming week either from cookbooks, your mom's old notecard recipes, pinterest or wherever you find your recipes from.
-write down ALL the ingredients needed in one big list
-now go "shop your pantry" (Ashley taught me this, thanks girl!) with your list and cross off anything you already have...this prevents over-stocking and saves money
-now you have your shopping list! (and I try and break the list down by "sections" of the store to save time since I usually have both little ones with me!)
*I find it really helpful to put the week's plan up on the fridge so I can look ahead
(especially for the days I need to get the crockpot out...so I don't forget the next day, and then its too late!)
What are YOUR meal planning tips??
oh, and guess what?
here's a week's meal plan for you!!!
feel free to use it as an example for the link up, and def feel free to copy it and use it!! :)
Blessings friends, Happy Cooking!!
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THE "PLAN"
Monday:
B: oatmeal or cold cereal and milk, with cheese slices
L: sandwiches and chips with fruit
D: Shredded Rio Chicken (crockpot)
Tuesday:
B: scrambled eggs with shredded cheese on tortilla
L: leftover chicken on a taco or salad
D: Turkey Goulash
Wednesday:
B: omelet with diced ham and cheese
L: sandwiches or soup (or Turkey leftovers)
D: Steak and Zuccini (crockpot)
Thursday:
B: oatmeal or cold cereal and milk, with cheese slices
L: turkey and cheese roll-ups with jello or yogurt
D: Sloppy Joes
Friday:
B: simple skillet pancakes (with pancake mix) with sliced cheese
L: Sloppy Joe leftovers with fruit cups
D: Spicy Honey Chicken
Saturday:
B: scrambled eggs with cheese, toast
L: sandwiches, PB&J with fruit cups
D: Pizza Bar
Sunday:
B: yogurt and fruit tortilla rolls
L: (grill day)
D: (grill day)
* you can always add salad, bread, fruit, or veggies to the dinners,
I just didn’t include them here!
*as you can see, we aren’t too creative with breakfasts or even lunches…
so do what you want for those! ☺
THE MEALS
Shredded Rio Chicken
(crockpot)
2 lbs chicken breasts
½ of small bottle of zesty Italian dressing
½ TBSP minced garlic
1 pkt dry ranch dressing (mix with ½ cup water)
½ TBSP chili powder
½ TBSP ground cumin
Put all in crockpot…cook on high for 5-6 hours
Chicken should shred easily with a fork at end of cooking.
You could put this on tortillas, chips with sour cream, cheese, etc.
Also good on a salad!
*this freezes well if you want to double or triple the recipe!
Turkey Goulash
Egg noodles (I use wheat) – about 8 oz uncooked
Onion powder (just a few shakes), or 1 onion chopped if you like onion
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 zucchini, sliced (keep skin on)
1 lb ground turkey
2 cups tomoato sauce
2 TBSP fresh basil, chopped
(optional) 2 TBSP red wine
cook noodles according to directions
sauté bell pepper and zucchini (and onion if you use it, or sprinkle with powder) in a skillet with cooking spray. (medium heat)
Remove veggies from skillet and set aside.
Cook ground turkey in skillet.
Return veggies to skillet when meat is done.
Add tomato sauce, basil, and wine.
Cook and stir for about 5 minutes until heated through.
Place a portion of noodles on each plate and top with the turkey mixture.
Serve with a small salad and garlic bead!
Steak with Zucchini
(crockpot)
2 lbs round steak (cut into 6 pieces…I just get 2 3-piece packages at walmart)
2 TBSP Olive Oil
2 (7 oz) cans sliced mushrooms, drained
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp rosemary
1 TBSP dried minced onion
1 TBSP minced garlic
2 TBSP red wine
2 lbs zucchini (about 3-4), but into ¼ in slices
1 pint grape tomatoes (about 10 oz)
(sour cream and parsley optional for garnishing)
Grease crockpot with olive oil and leave the excess in the pot.
Add all ingredients except the beef, tomatoes and zucchini,
Stir well.
Add beef, tomatoes and zucchini, toss with the mixture
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours
Can garnish each portion with sour cream and parsley.
Sloppy Joes
1 lb ground beef (lean)
½ cup chopped onion (I use onion powder instead)
1 cup chopped celery
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 can tomato soup
½ tsp chili powder (I use about 1 tsp!)
salt and pepper
wheat hamburger buns
brown the beef, along with the celery and onion, drain often
add the tomato sauce and soup
add chili powder and salt and pepper
let simmer on low for about 20 minutes.
We scoop it on top of the buns and eat them open-faced!
You can also add a little grated cheese on top!
{on my blog here}
Spicy Honey Chicken
8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (and I cut off any skin or fat left on there to make them really lean)
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp ground red pepper
6 Tbsp honey
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
preheat broiler (mine is on the ‘high” setting)
combine the honey and cider vinegar in a small bowl, stir well
combine all the spices in large bowl
coat each piece of chicken in spices
place chicken in broiler pan (I just use a dark baking pan bc I don’t have one)
broil chicken for 5 minutes on each side
take chicken out and brush one side with honey mixture
return and broil for 1 minute
take it out, flip the chicke, brush that side with honey, and return
broil 1 more minute
*this is pretty spicy, so beware if you don’t like that! Abigail actually loves this but it is too hot for me. Parker LOVES this!!
*serves well with just a simple green salad!
Spicy Honey Chicken
8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (and I cut off any skin or fat left on there to make them really lean)
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp ground red pepper
6 Tbsp honey
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
preheat broiler (mine is on the ‘high” setting)
combine the honey and cider vinegar in a small bowl, stir well
combine all the spices in large bowl
coat each piece of chicken in spices
place chicken in broiler pan (I just use a dark baking pan bc I don’t have one)
broil chicken for 5 minutes on each side
take chicken out and brush one side with honey mixture
return and broil for 1 minute
take it out, flip the chicke, brush that side with honey, and return
broil 1 more minute
*this is pretty spicy, so beware if you don’t like that! Abigail actually loves this but it is too hot for me. Parker LOVES this!!
*serves well with just a simple green salad!
{on my blog here}
Pizza Bar
Whole wheat pizza crust
Pizza sauce
Fresh mozzarella, sliced as thin or thick as you like
any toppings, but we use:
tomato, chopped
Pineapple pieces
Pepperoni
Fresh basil
(And sometimes grilled chicken pieces if we have it)
You know how to make a pizza…
And just follow the baking directions for the crust.
This is fun to set out as a “Pizza Bar” and just let everyone get their own toppings on their own pizza or on their half!
Pizza Bar
Whole wheat pizza crust
Pizza sauce
Fresh mozzarella, sliced as thin or thick as you like
any toppings, but we use:
tomato, chopped
Pineapple pieces
Pepperoni
Fresh basil
(And sometimes grilled chicken pieces if we have it)
You know how to make a pizza…
And just follow the baking directions for the crust.
This is fun to set out as a “Pizza Bar” and just let everyone get their own toppings on their own pizza or on their half!
{on my blog here}
“Grill Day”
we usually do this on Sunday afternoons, esp right now while the weather is great!
(and I don’t know if you ladies grill or just your hubbies do, but if you don’t…you should! I LOVE grilling…its super easy, quick, and the kids can run around outside while you grill)
and if you don’t have an outdoor grill (maybe this is just a Texas thing?) you could just use a George Forman!
Things we usually grill:
Chicken, lean beef (just burger patties), shrimp, zucchini, carrots, asparagus
Meats: just do a little Worcestershire, seasoned salt, and pepper
(shrimp: some lemon juice and parsley)
Zucchini: kosher salt and pepper
Asparagus: a little olive oil, kosher salt, and cracked pepper
*you could grill whatever you want, and just have a ton of stuff to choose from…this also makes us several meals for lunch (or a day I don't want to cook) for the coming week!
“Grill Day”
we usually do this on Sunday afternoons, esp right now while the weather is great!
(and I don’t know if you ladies grill or just your hubbies do, but if you don’t…you should! I LOVE grilling…its super easy, quick, and the kids can run around outside while you grill)
and if you don’t have an outdoor grill (maybe this is just a Texas thing?) you could just use a George Forman!
Things we usually grill:
Chicken, lean beef (just burger patties), shrimp, zucchini, carrots, asparagus
Meats: just do a little Worcestershire, seasoned salt, and pepper
(shrimp: some lemon juice and parsley)
Zucchini: kosher salt and pepper
Asparagus: a little olive oil, kosher salt, and cracked pepper
*you could grill whatever you want, and just have a ton of stuff to choose from…this also makes us several meals for lunch (or a day I don't want to cook) for the coming week!
THE SHOPPING LIST
(just go through your kitchen and cross out what you already have!)
spices (you prob have most of these):
chili powder
salt
pepper
kosher salt
dried minced onion
onion powder
garlic powder
ground cumin
dried rosemary
minced garlic
paprika
ground red pepper
fresh spices:
basil
parsley (optional)
meats:
2 lbs round steak
1 lb lean ground beef
2 lbs chicken breasts
1 lb lean ground turkey
chicken thighs (about 8)
(and then any additional meats for “grill day”)
veggies/fruit:
pineapple chunks
mushrooms
zucchini (about 4 large)
grape tomatoes (about 10 oz)
tomato to chop
1 red bell pepper
celery (about 4 stalks)
canned:
tomato sauce (1 8 oz can, 1 2-cup can)
1 can tomoto soup
pizza sauce
other:
olive oil
red wine (optional)
light sour cream (8 oz)
small bottle Zesty Italian dressing
1 packet dry Ranch dressing
honey
apple cider vinegar
whole wheat pizza crust
fresh mozzarella cheese
pepperoni
egg noodles
tortillas (wheat) or chips
salad
**I did not include here things like bread, eggs, cereal, milk, peanut butter, jelly,
sandwich meat, and snacks…
***I got this whole week’s meal plan at Walmart for just over $100! Yay!
(keep in mind I already had some of this stuff)
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special thanks to:
Danielle, for being an exhausted newborn mommy like me and requesting via Twitter that someone plan meals for her (she was only kindof joking)...and i totally jumped on that too!
Carina, for stepping up and making a meal plan...just because she's that cool.
Ashley, for inspiring with great tips about meal planning and shopping
love yall.
diva girl
/just my cute little diva...that's all.
PS come back tomorrow to hear about an interlinked Meal Planning Swap next week!
its gonna be awesome!! :)
Letters to Littles link up!
/Today is our first Letters to Littles link-up!!
the heart behind this:
I desire for this blog to be a beautiful gift for my children someday,
and really want to start writing TO my little ones, and not just ABOUT them all the time...
what a precious gift to share with them someday!
So if you'd like to share a letter for your little one, please link up below and join us!
It can be to your little bitty, your big kid (or even adult), your grandbaby, or your baby-to-be.
This link up can encourage us to remember to write to their hearts,
whatever you want to share...
how much you love them, the cute milestones they are doing now, the way they teach you,
even about your struggles in mothering them, or just something you need them to know.
From your heart to theirs.
April 11, 1012
My Sweet Abigail,
you are GROWING!!!
Each day you get bigger and smarter and prettier and even more loving!
And also a little more sassy... but we are working through it, with God's grace each day! :)
In your Easter basket last weekend, you got a pretty little Hello Kitty necklace, and also some nail polish.
It makes my heart swoon to see you growing into a GIRL and not just a baby anymore.
It makes me sad too, because it has gone so fast.
As I see you treasure your new necklace and even when you play dress up,
my heart is so full as a watch this tiny woman become who she is.
It makes me want to press into the Lord even more so that He can show me how to mother your heart, as you learn about and confront things like physical appearance, comparison, jealousy, and all the other things that go along with being a girl.
I want to teach you that you are BEAUTIFUL, inside and out.
And I want to affirm you about EACH one...that the Lord has made you physically STUNNING,
and that He has also made your HEART just beautiful.
There's a lot more I need to learn about these things myself.
Im honored to go before you in this journey of becoming a woman.
Love,
Mama
Link up your letter below!
and PS...Happy "Ring Day" to my hubby!
cannot believe it has been 9 years since I said yes...
love you P.
