Just checking in.....

Oh how I miss blogging.  And I miss keeping up with all of you!!  And soon I should be back at it!

 

  For now?!  Well in addition to saying goodbye to hubby and doing my best to help the boys adjust to all that goes along with that, I got to move our entire household!  Whew!  It has been a CRAZY couple of weeks of packing, painting, moving, unpacking, dealing with ridiculous issue after issue at our new house but we're getting there! 

 

I've been so incredibly humbled by the amount of help and work that our friends & church family have put into making this move happen!!  HOURS of help!  Asking for help is one of the hardest things for me but I am SO grateful for everything that so many people have done!

 

It has been a challenging, long, exhausting time for me but God has been so faithful to give me the strength to push through.  And so faithful to bless me with encouragement in so many ways when I feel like I can't go on.  Things are coming along at the new house and I will be back as soon as possible with some pictures and stories of our moving adventure!

 

Hope all is well w/ you!!  Be back soon!! =)

 

 

 

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

~Psalm 27:14~

Another No Menu Monday....

 

There is no menu this week. 

 

There is only me doing my best to hold it together for the sake of my family as we prepare to say goodbye to daddy this week.  We have been so very blessed to have John home with us for the last almost 5 years, but now?  Duty calls.  And so, its time to put my brave face on and be all that my family needs me to be.  To support my husband as he so bravely says goodbye to his boys and to me so that he can fill the role that the Navy needs him to.  To hold my boys, pray like crazy for them and do all that I can to reassure them of their daddy's love for them.  To remind them daily how blessed they are to have a real life hero for a daddy! 

 

 

The life of a military family is not easy, but we have been immensely blessed on our military journey and we are so so very proud of John!  We appreciate any prayer you can spare for our family as we work through the emotion and adjustment that comes along with these goodbyes! 

 

 

 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

~John 14:27~

Menu Monday

Happy Monday Y'all!!

 

We are slowly settling into a somewhat routine with our schooling around here and gearing up for some major changes for our family.  We've chosen to not share details here, but our family could use your prayers ~ we are facing an incredibly challenging transition in the next few weeks and then a very tough few years.  If you'd like to pray specifically, please email me and I would be happy to share more!  But for now, lets get to the good stuff!

 

Here's what will fill Miculka tummies this week.....

 

*Monday ~ Crockpot Creamy Italian Chicken & Rice w/ Green Beans

 

*Tuesday ~ Chicken Pot Pie

 

*Wednesday ~ Crockpot Swiss Chicken w/ Broccoli

 

*Thursday ~Breakfast for Dinner ~ Breakfast Burritos

 

*Friday ~ Make your own Pizzas

 

*Saturday ~ Chili, Cornbread, & Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake

 

*Sunday ~ Leftovers/Clean out Fridge in preparation to leave for VACATION!!! =)

 

 

Hope your week is off to a great start and that it is full of love & joy!

 

 

 

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

~Hebrews 3:13~

Menu Monday....on Tuesday ;)

Its Menu Monday time.....on Tuesday!!  I've got to keep ya guessing you know!  Ha!  In all reality life is crazy and I just got around to making a menu super late last night and I'm going grocery shopping today!  Better late than never right?!

 

First day of school here in our home was yesterday and it was a challenging day but I'm excited to work through the kinks and settle into the new curriculum we're using and make it work for us!!  A 7th & 3rd grader ~ I know I know ~ I don't look old enough to have a 7th grader!!  ;)  Totally kidding but it really does blow.my.mind that they are growing up SO fast!

 

Here's what will fuel our crazy this week.....

 

*Tuesday ~ Baked Lemon Poppyseed Chicken over Spinach w/ Strawberries

(have you tried this yet?!  if not then go to the store, buy the groceries & MAKE IT!  Quick....before summer is over!!!)

 

*Wednesday ~ Crockpot Asian Glazed Chicken over Rice w/ Broccoli

 

*Thursday ~ Breakfast for Dinner

 

*Friday ~ Crockpot Beef Stroganoff over Pasta w/ Asparagus

(see recipe below!)

 

*Saturday ~ Fajitas

 

*Sunday ~ Crockpot Potato Soup

 

I'm hungry just thinking about some of these and I'm excited to try the Asian Glazed Chicken for the first time!!  Here is the recipe for the Beef Stroganoff....it's super simple but sooo flavorful!

 

Crockpot Beef Stroganoff

 

2 - 3lbs beef stew meat

1 can cream of mushroom

1 envelope beefy onion soup mix

2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce (or more!)

1 C sour cream

 

Mix everything except sour cream in crockpot.  Cook on low 8 - 10 hours (or high for 6 - 8) until meat is very tender.  Do not open lid for at least the first few hours!  About 30-45 minutes before serving, mix in sour cream, & heat through.

Serve over pasta and Enjoy!!

 

**A lot of people like mushrooms in this....I'm not a fan of mushrooms, but by all means if you like them then throw those in too!!**

 

 

Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!!

 

 

 

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

~Isaiah 26:3~

 

Menu Monday ~ I'm back!!!

Well.  That was a ridiculously long and unexpected blog break but I'm back!!  I can't believe summer is coming to an end (even if the weather doesn't agree!) and that kiddos are all headed back to school.  The schools in our area start back today but I won't be starting with the boys quite yet.  I will, however, be getting us back into a routine this week so that we'll be ready to start!

 

Step 1 in getting back in the swing of things?!  Actually plan a menu and do real grocery shopping!!  Here's what will be fueling our week of summer recovery.....

 

Monday ~ Tacos

 

Tuesday ~ Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken w/ Jasmine Rice & Peas

 

Wednesday ~ Maple Walnut Chicken w/ Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes

 

Thursday ~ Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup

 

Friday ~ Grilled Cheese Sandwiches & Veggie Soup (daddy will be out for the evening so I'm keeping it super simple!!)

 

Saturday ~ We'll be grilling at a friends party and I'm making Asian Chicken Salad!!

 

Sunday ~ Skillet Sausage, Rice Pilaf, & Asparagus

 

There is so much to blog about from the summer but our lives are about to be turned upside down (in a hard but not necessarily bad way) so I'm sure I won't get to share about all of it, but I'm going to try to back track a little over the next couple weeks and blog some of it!  Hope everyone has enjoyed the summer!!  And if you're anything like me, you are ready to welcome fall with open arms! ;)

 

 



Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

~James 4:10~

Not so Menu Monday

A menu for this week just isn't happening for a couple of reasons!

 

A certain little someone in our home has a birthday this week and we are excited about celebrating him and all the joy he has brought our family the last 2 years!!

 

Also?  My mother in law is coming to visit this week and we are looking forward to having her here!  The big boys have been making all kinds of fun plans with her and she will get to be a part of Dylan's party too!!

 

And??  It's summatime.  We've been spending a lot of time at the beach and kind of throwing plans out the window!  For example, Saturday evening it had been rainy and stormy all day and was starting to clear up a little so we decided to head out to eat.  On the way, we changed our minds, picked up ice cream for dinner and headed to the beach!  The boys were all in regular clothes, we had no chairs, blankets, towels but ya know?!  We had so much fun!!  And in case you were questioning my standings in the race for mother of the year?!  My kids ate chips for dinner at the beach last night!  They did share with the seagulls so that counts as a lesson in sharing right?!!  ha!!  Ice cream for dinner one night and chips for dinner the next ~ whatevs!  I'm loving just being in the moment and enjoying time with family and friends!

 

This week will be busy and tons of fun and I have no idea what we'll be eating!! I'll figure it out as we go!!  Hope everyone had a great weekend and that you take some time to throw caution to the wind this week and just have FUN!!

 

I'll be back to my menu planning ways soon!

Menu Monday

This little blog of mine sure isn't getting much love this summer!  We've been so busy having fun that the week flies by and before I know it, its Monday again and I haven't blogged in a week! 

 

Our long 4th of July weekend was full of so much FUN!  We kicked off the celebrating on Wednesday night and didn't stop until we fell into bed last night!!  And this week we roll right into VBS at our church which the kiddos are super excited about!! 

 

Needless to say, several of the meals on this weeks menu are one's that I had planned for last week and they didn't happen!  (which just makes my job as a menu planner pretty easy this week!)  ;) 

 

Monday ~ Crockpot Potato Soup

 

Tuesday ~ Tacos

 

Wednesday ~ Grilled Carolina Country Chicken w/ Asparagus & Baked Beans

 

Thursday ~ Meatballs in Vodka Sauce w/ Green Beans

 

Friday ~ Creamy Italian Chicken & Rice w/ Broccoli

 

Saturday ~ Cookout & Swimming w/ friends!!

 

Sunday ~ Take Out or Leftovers

 

Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend and that you are enjoying lots of summer fun in the sun!!!

 

 

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

~Psalm 118:24~

 



Menu Monday

Well ~ we officially wrapped up our first year of homeschooling and had our evaluation done on Friday!!  The boys are excited and I'm so grateful for the challenge & blessing that homeschooling has been!  This week brings one of my favorite holidays and lots of fun planned with friends!!

 

Here's what we'll be fillin' up on this week....

 

Monday ~ Lemon Bell Pepper Chicken w/ Jasmine Rice

 

Tuesday ~ Crockpot Chicken w/ Green Beans

(this will be 1st time ever cooking a whole chicken....)

 

Wednesday ~ Tacos

 

Thursday ~ Happy Birthday America!!!  We're going to a BBQ w/ some friends and I'm making Broccoli Salad!!

 

Friday ~ Crockpot Potato Soup

 

Saturday ~ Grilled Carolina Country Chicken w/ Baked Beans & Asparagus

 

Sunday ~ We'll be at a bday party!!

 

 

Hope your week is off to a great start and that you all enjoy celebrating this amazing country we are so blessed to call home!!! 

 

 

 

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

~Proverbs 31:30~

 



Shark!!!

On Friday afternoon, when Dylan woke up from his nap, we loaded up and headed out to the beach to meet some friends!  Our friends were fishing and Tamra and Kyle decided to play a trick on Josh and make him think they had hooked something big!  Literally right as we were walking up, they realized that the joke was on them because there WAS something on the line!!!  So the excitement built as the guys slowly reeled in their catch, and as it got closer we could see the fins in the water....

 

It was a shark!!!  A 5'2" shark!!!  My boys were over the moon with excitement!!!  Can we say perfect timing?!!  We got there just in time to get to be in on the fun!

 

the big boys!

 

 

me & Tamra holding it!!

 

grrr...can't figure out why this pic is posting sideways but here's all the bigger kiddos holding the shark!

After the excitement wore down a little, the kiddos all played!

whats better than football?!  football in the ocean of course!!

 

lil man had fun playing in the sand w/ baby K!

 

 

This was definitely my first run in with a shark in the wild and I hope the only time I ever encounter a wild shark it will be on the end of a fishing pole!!!  We had such a good time ~ we're so blessed to live by some of the most beautiful beaches and have some of the greatest friends!! We are doing our best to spend as much time as we can enjoying both before we move!



The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
~John 10:10~


Menu Monday

I can't believe it's already Monday again!!!  The lack of routine in the summer is so welcome in some ways but it really does throw me off in a lot of ways too! (truth be told, I'm a routine kind of girl but I'm doing my best to just embrace this lack of routine and be in the moment w/ my sweet family) 

 

We had a great weekend!  You'll have to check back tomorrow to read about our experience with a shark at the beach!!  This week we will complete our 1st year of homeschooling and we have some fun planned too!

 

Here's what will fuel the madness in the Miculka home this week.....

 

Monday ~ BBQ Chicken w/ Green Beans

 

Tuesday ~ Crockpot Brown Sugar Chicken w/ Jasmine Rice & Broccoli

 

Wednesday ~ Breakfast for Dinner....Ham, Scrambled Eggs & Hashbrowns

 

Thursday ~ Enchiladas w/ Pinto Beans

 

Friday ~ Pecan Crusted Chicken w/ Peas

(i shared the recipe for this one HERE...last time we made it we used a mix of walnuts, pecans & almonds and it was even better!!)

 

Saturday ~ Lemon Bell Pepper Chicken w/ Jasmine Rice

 

Sunday ~ Baked Potato Bar

 

So...I'd love to hear what your favorite summer meal is!!  I'm always looking for new meal inspiration and tried and true recipes that you already love are the best!!  Please do comment and share!!

 

Hope your week is off to a great start!!

 

 

 

Therefore do no worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

~Matthew 6:34~