A month gone by---

Wow! I can't believe!!!! it has been almost a month! In that month, we have moved, (STRESS!!), we have celebrated my BEAUTIFUL daughter's first Birthday!!, my husband turned 30! I went on one date, with another one on Friday(yay, cuban food). And we have endured a two week long run of sickness that has circled through the house! SO glad there is light at the end of the tunnel on that one!!

Currently, I am making my Thanksgiving Dinner food list. I am cooking this year for about 16 people. You know what, it is my first year in my new home(1st month actually, but you get the point), and I want to make the dinner. One of my in-law's is pregnant and sick, (and she happens to be my next door(well 2 doors down) neighbor, and she and her family are coming. My MIL will be living with us, my other SIL and her family are coming, and adding our 6, makes 16!. What I decided is this... I am cooking, so I get to decide WHAT I am cooking. Now, if you have ever cooked a holiday meal(one that is STEEPED in tradition) for anyone, you know that there will be alot of "Where's the....insert common holiday food?" Well, I won't change everything up, but you know what??? I don't like Green bean casserole...I am not going to make it. I will make creamed spinach, and possibly roasted asparagus. IF someone needs to have a bowl of green beans with disgusting canned mushroom soup and fried onions on it, then, by all means, make it and bring it with you!! That is all I have to say! I also grew up having the BEST Thanksgiving dinner ever!! There were NO mashed potatoes--*GASP*. THere were however, the best darned sweet potatoes with marshmallowy goodness, ever, and well, friends, that is what we are having! See note about green bean casserole if you want mashed potatoes! I will also be having Waldorf Salad, another Tonini Tradition. It is yummy. I like it. I also want to have a little creative freedom, and by golly, I will have it! I am cooking and I think I can do it pretty well, so I will take liberties where I see fit. I am not cooking the stuffing in the bird this year, really because my turkey will cook faster and more evenly, but more importantly, my SIL is pregnant, and want to keep all potential bacteria at bay! And my other SIL will be stuffing a 2nd bird, so all palletes will be pleased! She is a great cook too!  There will of course be yummy yeasty rolls, Sage stuffing(hey I may throw a chopped up apple in there...who knows!), the aforementioned Sweet potatoes(this will be an all out carb fest people). I am also making(I think) a pecan pie, and A pumpkin Cheesecake...sounds so good, I may practice this week! Oh, and homemade cranberry sauce...a request of my dear husband...who, bless his heart, likes the idea that I like to change things up a bit(as long as I don't mess with the sweet potatoes!) Yes, my dear MIL, there will be that "thwap" of canned jellied cranberry sauce so that you can eat it to your heart's content! Ohhhhh....how could I forget, the corn pudding!! It may sound gross, but it is oh so yummy...if--I can get my Mayme's recipe for it...mmmmm. Okay, so that is all! Have a grand day!

Crazy times!

First and foremost, I need to request prayers from all you readers. My Aunt and Uncle and Cousin just lost their house to a fire last night(along with their possessions) and did not have insurance(as they are renting between homes). They really need prayers right now. 

In other crazy news, we are moving in UNDER 3 weeks. AHHH. Unfortunately, we are not packed yet, and my husband will be unavailable this weekend. (Okay, Lord, I know you have a plan here...please let me pack well!!) I also have other super crazy news. Well, our housing plan WAS to move into our new home when it was finished being built, BUT....our builder "went under" and all construction has been suspended. This was, of course, a shocker, considering we had 3.5 weeks till our house has to vacated. So, monday we were told by our realtor, that our house was not going to be built and that we QUICKLY needed to find some other thing to do. I, in true "me" style, freaked out a tad bit. It was all very overwhelming. Although, I do indeed, know that God has a good plan for us. We decided to find a rental so that we have some time to consider what we want to do long term. We are hoping to save some money over the next few months(although with 2 moves in the plan, we may not). But we really need a place that will "fit" our things so we dont have to store items. There are several options right now. We saw one place yesterday that was size-wise perfect. The paint job left ALOT to be desired. WOW! But I can deal. The other one I am going to see this morning, is also nice, (online at least) but is about 10 minutes further out than the other. The first was like 2 second from our Parish. But either way, we will still be pretty much "local" to what we are used to. And close to my one sister-in-law who we are close to now. AND, this second one is vacant right now. That is a plus too!! ANyway, I am currently asking for St. Jude to intercede. I really want to be open to God's plan. It was disappointing to find out about our "dream" house, but easy come easy go. right? I mean, in light of the sufferings of so many, it is a very small thing.