May 2014, Road Trip and Training Camp- we've arrived!

We've arrived at Training Camp in Pardeeville, WI. We have camped for 10 days now. Alice likes our tent. We have been setting up camp and doing work projects. The assistants got here this week and we've been having lots of meetings. There's a lot of fellowship and community. It's non-stop, but we love what we do!

Here's what we've been up to the past month:

Before We Left

 

 Peonies popped!

 

 

 Rainer spoke at the Senior Breakfast at First Pres

 

 

 Our church worked with Stop Hunger Now

 

 

 We packed 10,000 meals

 

 

 Nice hair nets

 

 

Mom and dad came to visit

 

 

Fun visit before we left

 

 

 

 Our wide eyed little girl

 

 

 

Just talkin'

 

 

 

Greenie was baptised

 

 

 

Cousin Ford's 1st birthday party

 

 

Alice loves her play mat

 

Bathing beauty

 

 

Getting organized and packed up!

 

 

Road Trip 

 

 St. Louis!

 

 

 GOOD ice cream at the famous Ted Drewes

 

 

 Cards vs. Yankees

 

 

Alice's first MLB game

 

 She's a big fan 

 

She loves baseball!

 

 We watched the fist half of the game the next

night at Fox Sports Mid-West - Cards vs. Giants

 

 

And then someone gave us free tickets,

so we went into the game!

 

 

 A fun two nights of baseball

 Alice enjoying brunch

 

 St. Louis City Museum is AWESOME!

 

 

 Coolest chair ever

  This is a MUST DO for ANYONE visiting

St. Louis - especially anyone with kids

 A surprise stay at a B & B for our 4th anniversary

Alice loved the little farm

 

 

Anniversary dinner a little different this year

 

 

Training Camp 

 

 There's 8 kids at camp this year

This is Sophia, she's 3 weeks older than Alice

 Laundry day!

 Daddy time!

 The onesie we bought in London last year on EQ 

 

 

Reign Ministries founder, Louie Inks

holding Alice

 

 

 Curtis and Grace

 

 

 Sunset over the food shack

 

 

Dinner ideas

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." John 6:35  As much as I love to cook, read menus, grocery shop and plan meals, it's Christ that is most satisfying. He alone fills spiritual hunger.

I know for myself it's not always easy to think of something to cook for dinner. However, I really enjoy coming up with new creations. Most of my dinner ideas start from looking through my Cooking Light magazines or seeing something on TV. I generally cook 5 nights a week and we eat the leftovers for lunch. I've found this to be a good money saver. I'm posting a few of our dinners from the past few weeks hoping it's encouraging and inspires some dinner ideas!

 Pork Tenderloin - Butter Beans - Sweet Potato & Onions

Slice potatoes into medallions and roast

 

 

BBQ Chicken Thighs - Steamed Broccoli

Skillet Potatoes and Onions

Boneless thighs in the crock-pot

 

 

 Roasted Chicken Quarters

Mashed Potatoes & Skillet Gravy - Green Beans

For gravy- pour chicken drippings in cast iron,

as it boils slowly whisk in butter/flour paste

 

Grilled Chicken Breast over Risotto & Cheese Sauce

Sauce- a combo of a béchamel & parmesan cream

 

 

New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp - Rice - Pineapple

Shrimp- Worcestershire, Creole seasoning,

lemon juice, garlic, pepper, butter

 

 Cheeseburger with Fried Prosciutto

Mashed Potatoes - Broccoli

Drop prosciutto in a thin layer of oil = flavor!

 

 

Breakfast for Dinner!

Pancakes - Skillet Potatoes - Bacon - Strawberries

Potato cut into squares cook fast in a cast iron skillet

 

Chicken & Rice - Bacon Green Beans

Cook bacon in skillet, remove & crumble,

cook green beans in bacon grease

 

 

Yum Sandwich!

Roasted Tomatoes - Bacon - Avocado Slices

Roast tomatoes in oven low and slow

 

Shrimp & Grits - Green Beans

Grits - cooked in chicken broth, half & half,

butter, cheese, seasonings

 

Skillet Chicken - Parmesan Fries - Creamed Spinach

I usually make my own fries, but sometimes it's

nice and easy to buy frozen... and jazz them up

by tossing them in parmesan while hot

 

Asian Chicken Meatballs - Rice - Edamame 

Meatballs & Sauce - ground chicken, basil, egg white,

sweet chili sauce, minced garlic, soy sauce, ginger,

orange juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, sesame oil

 

 

Linguine - Beef Sauce - Broccoli

Sauce - ground beef, canned tomato sauce, Italian

seasonings, crushed red pepper, crumbled bacon,

half & half, parmesan

 

 

 Beef Tacos - Mexi-Rice

BBQ Nachos - Broccoli

Chips, BBQ meat, BBQ sauce, cheese sauce

(butter, flour, milk, seasonings, cheddar)

 

 

 Sausage Spinach Penne - Green Beans

Sausage, onions, spinach, Cajun seasonings,

half & half, penne