It Was Her Time

Great Grandma Sweetie passed away this morning.

My family is headed up to Illinois tomorrow morning.

Please be in prayer for the entire family for understanding, coping, and for safe travels.

PLEASE rejoice over her life with us and PRAISE God that such an AMAZING, WONDERFUL, LOVING, KIND, and AWESOME lady ever lived! 

If you never had the chance to meet her, you truly missed out...and no...I'm not being bias. It's just a true fact of life. Grandma Sweetie truly lived up to her nickname of "Sweetie." (Her given name is Juanita, but she hated that name.) 

Grandma Sweetie, we love and miss you already! I know I am a better person because I knew you. Thank you for all those years of swinging on the porch. Thanks for letting us swim in your pond. Thanks for all the RC Cola. Thanks for letting us sleep in the heart room with you when we visited at your old house. Thanks for always ALWAYS singing a song...especially Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which I love the best. Thanks for always being full of life, even when you were in pain, tired, or not feeling well. Thanks for ALWAYS giving me a reason to laugh. Thank you for the wisdom you've bestowed on me. Thanks for calling my husband Ryan. We crack up about that often...most recently as of last night. Thanks for always listening, always being patient, and most of all, always being an example of Christ. I love you infinity! 

xo,

A

Organizing The Apartment Pt. 1

It's been a while, but I promise we've just been super busy getting ready for the whole foster care thing! (So exciting!!!) I plan on sharing some before and after pictures as we get things accomplished, but they may be slow-coming as it requires money to keep things going! :-) For now, take a gander of an easy project I tackled in 30ish minutes...and $5!

The Guest/Vance's Bathroom Linen Closet

Before:

Everything's thrown/stuffed in there from when we moved in. It seriously needed a makeover and some organization! Even though people wouldn't see it...unless they're nosey...it still makes me feel better! Wanna see the changes? Check them out below!

After:

Isn't that SO much better? All it cost me was $5! I bought the top shelf basket, the two pack of small baskets, each level of the staking shelves, and the third shelf basket to make this project a success! $5 + tax! An easy, inexpensive project made possible by Dollar Tree! (These items also come in hot pink and lime green at my Dollar Tree.)

Top Shelf (L to R): Heating pad, basket w/light bulbs, extra wallflower room freshener bulbs, etc., cosmetic bag with extra hair product, seasonal soap, lotion, and body wash.

2nd Shelf from Top (L to R): Bubble bath/nail polish remover/aloe/Vance's hair trimming kit, 1st small basket w/nail polish, 2nd small basket with razors/waxing kit, stackable shelves have first aid items (bandaids, neosporin, anti-itch cream, bandages, burn gel, ace bandage, etc.) in bottom shelf and medicinal (ibuprofen, excedrine migraine, thermometers, nyquil, nettie pot, nasal spray, etc.) in the top basket.

Middle Shelf (L to R): Vance's towels (some were in dirty laundry), hand towels, basket w/wash cloths.

2nd Shelf from Bottom (L to R): Beach towels, guest towels, extra towels.

Bottom Shelf (L to R): Extra pillow cases/shams, flannel sheet set (one more sheet set will go on top of them once they are washed.)

So there you have it! My much better organized linen closet!

All it took was 30 minutes, motivation and around $5!

What do ya think??

xo,
A

I know. I suck.

I know! I KNOW! It's been too long since I've posted. I've just been so busy! Between working both jobs, organizing our apartment, taking care of foster care stuff, and budgeting/meal planning/trying to sleep more than 5 hours a night, I've just been too drained to blog.

I honestly don't have a ton to say right now...except that I have a whole lot to say. I just don't know how to say most of it. There's just...so...much! Here's my attempt...

1. My great grandma, Sweetie, has been ill and progressing more and more so. Hospice has been called in. Please pray for her situation. She told my grandparents (when they were in IL visiting a few weeks ago) that she's ready to meet Jesus. While I admire her faith and her peace, I am having such selfish thoughts of not wanting to let her go and also about the timing when she does die! Foster care classes start September 11th and are every Tues/Thurs until October 11. If she dies at the "wrong" time, I probably won't get to go to Illinois for her funeral...which would crush my heart. See? I'm being totally selfish in this regard.


Update: Please continue to keep Great Grandma Sweetie in your thoughts and prayers. The end is near. Please pray that her pain is minimal, her spirits remain high, and that those of us who know and love her remember to mourn like those who have faith and not like those who have no hope! 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (The Message) "And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus."


2. Foster care stuff has my mind CONSUMED and swarming!!!! We applied, but are STILL waiting to hear from our social worker about our "interview" home visit. Vance has called several times and she is so kind, but there isn't anything they can do to make the background check people move faster. FRUSTRATING, but understandable. I have no doubt that it will all work out, though. I have a million and two questions about things though! Some things, I ask one of my managers at work since she and her husband adopted three kids through foster care last year. Some things we ask Vance's mom since his siblings are all adopted through foster care. Some questions, neither know the answer to, since they didn't apply to their situations. I trust God has all of this in his hands. We've been praying for all of this. Can't wait to get rolling!

Update: We should hear from her tomorrow. She's not in the office today, Monday, so if our background checks are back today, like she was expecting them to be, we should hear from her tomorrow!

3. We have been super busy organizing and cleaning the apartment! We've gotten a lot done, but haven't gotten everything that needs to get done, finished! We've been working hard, but it's a work in progress! Stay tuned this week to see some of our project progress! (Tomorrow's post is about our linen closet! I know, right??? Exciting stuff!!)

Stick with me folks. I promise I won't disappear forever. Thanks to those who have stuck by me for so long and have been faithful readers/pray-ers! Keep it up!!

xo,
A

My Heart Aches For Them

So much heart ache has happened this week...for other people.

If you know me in person or if you've read my blog for a good while, you know I am a sarcastic, in your face, opinionated sweetheart. What you might not know, though, is that I am super sensitive, especially to other people's pain. I tend to take on what other people are feeling and bear the burden as if it were my own. It has made me into a better pray-er, but it doesn't do good things for my migraines.

Anyway, I say all this because the last few days have SUCKED in relation to other people's heart-breaking news. SUCKED BIG TIME.

Wednesday, the people I nanny for had a doctor's appointment. They hadn't told me directly, but I knew they were pregnant. When they got home, I knew they were no longer pregnant. I looked at this couple and saw sadness in both of their eyes. Then M (the wife) started crying in the living room. S (the husband) obviously was trying to keep it together as Max, their 2 year old son, was just happy/surprised to see them home so early. I gave M a hug and she cried and said, "Thank you." I didn't say much to her except, "I am so sorry." There really isn't anything you can say to someone who just lost their last chance of having another child. (According to something M said previously, this is their last round of IVF.) Please pray for them, if you're a praying person.

Then yesterday, I read a blog post of a wonderful woman named Ashley. I've posted links to her blog Feigning Fertility, before, but this link isn't as wonderful. Please read it in it's entirety. (Seriously. Do it.) She is currently pregnant with a "miracle" baby, but there is something "wrong." There may be nothing but a scare, but she doesn't seem to think so. (Make your own opinion by actually reading the blog post I linked to.) Either way, this is an incredibly scary time for her and her husband, Mike, so please keep them in your prayers as well.

xo,
A

So Much For That Heart Attack

I just heard from Vance who just had a conversation with DCS, that Foster Care classes don't start until September 11th now. They've reworked the schedule and didn't update the website.

In some ways, that's really good! It gives us more time to better prepare for what's to come. It also gives us more time to have our preliminary home visit and fill out our initial paperwork.

Whew. That takes a little stress off my shoulders, that's for sure!

Please pray everything goes quickly (ha!) and smoothly so we're able to get started in September. If we don't take the class in September, the next one isn't until January! AH! I don't want to wait that long, nor do I feel like we should wait that long!

Isn't it kind of funny (or odd) that my gut said September is when we should take the class...and September is when we can take the class?? I do believe that God is in this!

xo,
A

I Almost Had A Heart Attack!!

I just had a conversation with Vance about starting Foster Care classes this September. I wanted to confirm that this is still what he wants to do. I definitely still want to, but I wanted to confirm with him. He agreed. So...I went to the website to find the phone number to Social Services here, so we can call and make sure we're prepared for the classes.

This is where the heart attack sets in.

The classes do not START in September. They END in September. Classes BEGIN NEXT MONDAY!! Holy cow!!! I am SO glad I double checked the dates! Holy snot! I would be so sad if I had to wait until October to start the classes!

I still feel like we NEED to be doing this and we NEED to be doing this now.

So...apparently I got my dates mixed up. No biggie. We're just rolling with the punches of life...as usual!

Besides...who wouldn't want US as {foster} parents? That's right...no baby/kid out there!

Asian Chicken with a Twist

Hello friends!
   I have a self-created recipe to share with you today! (By request of a couple people who saw it on Instagram/heard about it on MFP and by my mom!)

Vance and I "created" (I use created loosely since it isn't difficult, but we didn't follow a recipe, so we still kinda created it) this recipe based off of Wal-Mart's newer "Wholesome Goodness" line of products. We found an Asian marinade in that section and decided to give it a try. Our first attempt was good, but not amazing. We continued to slightly adapt it each time. Last night, we hit the jackpot!! (Please note: the "with a twist" part is mainly because I use Cumin, which is traditionally, a non-Asian spice!)

So...without further ado...I give you....Vance and Angela's Asian Chicken with a Twist!

Asian Chicken with a Twist
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

• 8 oz Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 4 T Wholesome Goodness Asian Marinade
• 1 T Low Sodium Kikkoman Soy Sauce
• 1 c Long Grain White Rice (Dry)
• 1/4 c Sweet Peas (Frozen)
• 1/4 c Golden Corn (Frozen)
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Cumin
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder 

Directions:

1. Place chicken in a square (or rectangle) baking dish. 
2. Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and cumin sprinkled on top. (This is not an exact science. If you like things spicy, make sure to be generous with the red pepper flakes. If not, use sparingly. Go easy on the cumin no matter how you like your food. It's a strong spice. Use garlic powder according to your tastes. Go easy with the salt, but it is necessary to use at least a little!) 
3. Measure out the Asian marinade and dribble over top of the chicken. It's good to have some around the sides of the chicken in the baking dish as well. 
4. Cover the dish and store it in the fridge for at least 4 hours. (It can marinate longer or shorter depending on your needs, but the longer it sits in the spices/marinade, the more flavorful it will be!)
5. When ready to make dinner, preheat the oven to 350 degrees (or don't preheat...I rarely do) and bake chicken for 20ish minutes.
6. While the chicken is baking, cook the rice according to the directions on the package. (I use a Pampered Chef microwave rice cooker that works excellent! I put the cup of rice and two cups of water in it, stick it in the microwave for 20ish minutes and tada! It's awesome!)
7. After the rice and chicken are done, add the rice, soy sauce, peas, and corn to a deep skillet or pot. Cook for a few minutes, stirring it constantly so it doesn't burn or stick. Let it brown the rice a bit and cook the peas and corn. 
8.  Dice the chicken into small chunks. When satisfied with rice mixture consistency, add the contents of the baking dish (chicken, juices, spices, etc.) to the rice mixture and continue to cook/mix together for a few minutes, letting the flavors combine.
9. Divvy it up into two bowls (we use measuring cups) and enjoy!!

Nutritional Info.

390 calories (not factoring in the spices) per serving! 

If you could take 2 seconds and give this a click, it would mean so much to me! Thank you!!

Happy 33rd Birthday, Turtle!

Happy 33rd birthday to the most wonderful husband a lady could get! I love you infinity and 'yond!

xo,
Your Sweetpea

If you could take 2 seconds and give this a click, it would mean so much to me! Thank you!!