There's Always a Plan

Thomas and I used to joke about how we always seem to do things "the hard way."

We did the whole "highschool sweethearts" thing.

That was hard: balancing each other and friends and school and work, when all we wanted was to be together all the time. 

Then we did the whole long distance thing:

First through college, then when Thomas went on his mission for two years.

I waited. 

DEFINITELY did things the hard way.

We tried the easy way: breaking up and dating while he was gone.

But that didn't last long...

Then we did the wedding the hard way:

Civil ceremony first, then temple sealing.

If you're not Mormon, you probably don't understand.

But waiting that year to be sealed together for eternity was agony.

And suddenly, I realized doing things "the hard way" became less of a joke, and more of a serious thing for us. 

Pregnancy. 

First, we get pregnant way before we had planned: we were nowhere near financially ready. 

Heck, we were still in school and living in his parents basement: doing things the hard way.

But then we lost the baby...because we do things the hard way.

So we move out of the basement, because I need a change and to feel like we were still moving forward with life. 

And we start living paycheck to paycheck: ya know, living life the hard way.

And we get pregnant again, when we're broke living paycheck to paycheck. Because, you guessed it, we do things the hard way. 

Thomas lost his jobs 4 days after I found out I was pregnant again.

But then he got another job soon after, so for once, we didn't have to do something in too hard of a way...but then he lost that job weeks before Benjamin was born. 

Because life just likes to go the hard way for us...

Benjamin is finally born, and he's shipped to the NICU. 

But not just that, but then we find out he needs to be transferred to a different hospital.
And I can't go with. 
When Thomas came into my room to tell me the news, the first thing we uttered to each other was "always the hard way."

But Benjamin wasn't in the NICU long, and we came home and lived in bliss for a brief while. 
But it wasn't long before the burden of money started bearing down on us again, and we went back to firing up the resumes and throwing them out to companies like floats throwing candy to kids at a parade. 
I started hunting too, in the hopes that between the two of us something would pop up to help our situation.

We started to get really downhearted, frustrated, and feeling hopeless.
There was talk of us moving back in with one of our parents' once our lease was up in December. 
We were getting so tired of doing things the hard way.
I cried. A lot. 
Told Thomas how much I would love for life to just be easy for once. 
To just throw us a bone.
To make us not work our butts off or stress for something.
But it didn't seem like that was going to happen any time soon.

I was wrong.
Suddenly, there was a silver lining. 
A received a call one day on my maternity leave.
I never answer numbers I don't know, but for some reason, I answered this one.
It was a woman from a company named Mackin.
She was calling in regards to the position I had applied for. 
I'll be honest: I had no idea what she was talking about.
I had applied for so many that I couldn't remember which ones I had applied for. 
But as we talked, I became vaguely aware of the job description and started to remember.
I had a phone interview there on the spot
Passed it!
And scheduled an in-person interview.
I was so giddy with excitement! 
Maybe there was light at the end of the tunnel:
this job would pay a chunk more than I was making now, AND my family would get benefits AND it would mean no more 10+ hour work days away from my family. 

I went to my first interview and left feeling...disheartened.
I didn't feel like I was what they were looking for. 
I, on the other hand, LOVED the company and the position.
But I just didn't feel good about the interview.
BUT I was pleasantly surprised to get a call the next day saying Stephanie loved me and I was going to have a second interview with the director of the company!

My second interview went great. 
I felt like we connected well - most of the time we just talked about life, not even the work or company. 
And I was right: A week later I was offered the job.
It was a easy decision to make: I took it!

I am going to be a Project Coordinator for Mackin Educational Resources. 
I am SO excited for this opportunity. 
I will be able to better provide for my new little family, and, more importantly, I will have much more time at home with my family. 
My days will start at the same time, except instead of getting home between 6:30 and 7, I will get home just after 4:30.
(Once we move. Our new home is 5 min from my work). 
AND I won't have work to do once I'm home from work. 
Work stays at work. 
This means hours more every day with my little Benjamin. 
Plus, more income for my family.
I am ecstatic.  

As if this job wasn't a big enough answer to our prayers. 
Thomas got a job too!!
Just a few days ago: he'll be a customer service technician with Apple. 
He'll be making more than me, still able to work from home, also gets benefits, and Apple provides him with a phone, computer, and internet service. 
Benjamin gets to stay home with him still!
Can you say awesome?
Can you say miracle?
Technically, he's not hired yet. 
He's been offered the job, and we have to wait for his background check to clear, but that shouldn't be a problem!

Oh goodness, I can finally see the bright shiny light at the end of the tunnel. 
I thank the Lord every night for answering our prayers and blessing us with these wonderful opportunities after months of struggles and worries. 
It's such a relief, such a burden off our shoulders. 
It's proof to me that the Lord hears our prayers and answers them in His own time.
He always has a plan.
And everything always happens for a reason. 

Sometimes, we have to do things the hard way to understand the joy and blessing of when things go the right way. 

Six Weeks

My little peanut is six weeks old today.

Oh goodness, it brings tears to my eyes.

Didn't I just bring him home from the hospital yesterday?

*sigh*

I go back to work on Monday.

It breaks my heart.

Benjamin is starting to break of his shell, developing both his personality and a schedule, and now I have to leave him. 

He's slowly becoming "Benjamin Thomas."

He hates immersion baths - unless the temperature is *perfect* and he's completely submerged, except for his head.

He looooves getting his hair shampooed.

He loves light head scratches as he falls asleep.

He loves music.

He likes to be able to see the world around him - he likes to be facing outward, and sitting upward.

He doesn't like taking naps in his bassinet during the day, but he loves sleeping in his bassinet at night.

He is just starting to put himself to sleep, instead of being rocked to sleep. 

He [hates] having a dirty diaper, and will get very angry, but then stop crying the second you lay him on his changing table - he knows what's coming, I swear!

He is such a strong little guy, always holding his head up whenever he can, and loves standing on his legs. We can even stand him up, then take our hands a centimeter away from his body and he'll hold himself standing for just a second or two, all on his own! Such a strong little guy!

He truly is becoming a unique little person.

And now I have to leave him.

He's just starting to develop a routine too.

His day usual starts between 6:30 and 7:30.

He'll eat, get changed, and play for an hour or so.

Then about 9:30ish he'll eat again, and go down for a nap around 10.

He'll wake up around 11:30 and eat and play some more.

Then take an afternoon nap around 2.

Then he's up and eating and playing around 4 or 5.

Then back to sleep about 7.

Then up one last time about 9:30 or 10 for some more good eats, a bath (every other day), and some snuggles for bed time. 

His nights are typically very good, with him sleeping from about 10:30 or so until 7ish with him waking up once to eat in the middle of the night. 

He's getting so big!

And yet still so small...

He is still in newborn clothes.

The 0-3 month clothes are too big for him still.

At his one month appointment, he was 7lbs 11oz, so he's something over 8 pounds by now I would think.

Finally the size of a normal newborn. Ha!

Ahh, I love him so much.

He brings so much joy to my life.

I have no idea what I talked about, or blogged about, before Benjamin came into my life.

He's about the only thing I talk about these days!

He is my world. 

And he's six weeks old today. 

Macho man! 

Babies = God

It's been one month since we welcomed home Benjamin.

I'm still in awe with him every day. 

I watch him. All day.

I peek in on his naps frequently.

I take too many pictures.

I am in love. 

Having a baby is the biggest blessing.

I have been thinking so much lately about God.

Because when I look at Benjamin, I see God.

Going through pregnancy, and now having this beautiful baby boy in my home every day, has testified so much to me of the existence of God. 

After this experience, I don't understand how people can believe there is no God; how people believe it was an accident that we are what we are.

I remember seeing Benjamin for the first time, holding him for the first time, and not being able to wrap my head around the fact that he was inside me. I grew him. In my belly! It's just something I couldn't wrap my head around....and something I still struggle to wrap my head around!

This person, this itty bitty breathing, alive person was inside me. 

It's incredible.

How can people say there is no God?

God is real.

My Benjamin is not a miracle of nature - He is a miracle of God.

From his tiny toes to his fuzzy head, he has "divinity" written all over him.

Look at our bodies.

Look at the complexity of the circulatory system: our heart, beating over 100,000 beats every day. 

Look at the respiratory systems: our lungs systematically filling and emptying, inhaling and exhaling.

We don't even have to think about these things. 

Look at our muscles: our leg muscles contracting to make us move forward - again, something we don't even have to think about doing.

Look at our brain: oh my goodness, the complexity of the human brain! Just the fact that we can think and reason and more.

Look at our eyes: the way the eyes work is so delicate and intricate. 

No.
I do not for one second believe that we are an accident of nature. 

We are, without a shadow of a doubt, divine beings. 

And that's just us.

You want more proof of God?
Look at the world around you.

It is not an "accident."

It is divinity in all it's finest. 

It is God. 

There's a reason it's called: "The Miracle of Birth."

Birth is a miracle.

Babies are miracles.

We are miracles. 

Too Many Tangents

Three weeks.
That's all I have left.
That's all I've gotten so far.
I'm halfway through my "maternity leave".
It's not real maternity leave, let's be honest.
Six weeks is not nearly enough time with your newborn.
Not for me anyway.

Ugh, it just breaks my heart.
I'm halfway done already?! 
Didn't I just bring him home yesterday??
Isn't he still the tiniest, most vulnerable little peanut who needs his mama?

I knew going into this whole pregnancy thing I'd have to do the whole "working mom" thing, at least for a while. 
But I'm not ready for it.
It doesn't help either that I belong to a church where just about every woman in the congregation is a stay-at-home mom; I feel judged when they ask me my plans and I tell them I'm back at work after six weeks. They get that look on their face, ya know?
Um, can't help it. 
Don't have a choice.
Anywho, I'm going to be a hot mess my first day back at work.
I just know it..
Uuuuggghhhh.....

But it's okay, really.
I knew it was going to be this way.
Thomas and I have always said family is the most important thing in life; we've always wanted to start our family as soon as possible.
And if that means working while raising a family, and struggling with money for the first several years of having a family, well then so be it.
It can be done.
And it'll be worth it.
It's part of building a life together. 
We're young, newly married, newly-made family, and that means just getting started with life. 

Our lease is up in December and we can't wait to move out of this place.
It's a nice place, don't get me wrong, but man! It's pricey.
We went through the whole process of getting approval for a mortgage, started going out with a Realtor and looking at townhouses to buy, and then Thomas lost his job.
Soooo now no house hunting.
We're back to renting. 
Which sucks, because the houses we were looking at all had mortgages cheaper than our rent. 
But now we won't be able to get approval on my income alone.
Such a bummer.
We have been able to find a couple nice two-bedroom apartments and even townhouses with rents that are cheaper than our one-bedroom rent we pay now, but we'll see where we end up.
We haven't made any decisions yet, and it doesn't feel like we will soon.
Just haven't gotten "that feeling", ya know?

Anywho, I feel like I went off on a tangent...
Benjamin's been doing great!
He's growing and still the sweetest little guy on the face of the planet. 
Oh, I am so in love with him.
In less than a week we'll be making a roadtrip out to Milwaukee to visit my sister, his auntie, so he can meet her for the first time.
First road trip at four weeks old!
He had newborn pictures last week and I am DYING to see how they turned out!! 
We got some sneak peeks and they are adorable!
He also has another newborn session next week with another company.
I just couldn't pass up the groupon - $20 for a $250 value (two-hour session and prints!).
Yeah, couldn't pass it up. 
I love Groupon!
Anybody ever buy a vacation off Groupon? 
I've always wondered how that works...and if it's legit.
It has to be, right?
Mmm.
Maybe I'll find out some day...
Ooops. 'Nother tangent...

Aaaaanywhooooo.....

Ahh man, life is good.
It's a struggle, and frustrating so much of the time.
But even still, it's so good.
And I feel so blessed every day. 

Benjamin's Birth: Pt. 4

Benjamin arrived at the new hospital at about 9:45 that morning.

Thomas and I were finally able to leave our hospital at about 1:00, and got to North Memorial at about 1:30.

The nurses could tell I was itching to get to my son, so they just took me to my room and brought me down to the NICU right away - they waited to assess me and do my vitals until after I got to visit my baby boy.

Remember this picture: 

My sweet little Benjamin back at the Maple Grove Hospital, hooked up to all sorts of monitors, machines, and wires. 

But when we got to the NICU at North Memorial Hospital, we got to see our little peanut just like this:

Many less wires, machines, and monitors.

What a sight to see!!

The nurses explained to us that after Benjamin had been at this hospital for only ten minutes, they took him off the breathing machine to see how he would do on his own - and he did perfectly! Our little peanut no longer needed to be on breathing assistance.

The nurses explained he would still need to be a here a few days: he needed to be monitored, he was still on antibiotics, he was feeding through an IV so we had to introduce milk and get him to feed consistently, and a couple other things on the agenda.

We prayed fervently, and implored others to pray with us. 

Thomas and his dad gave Benjamin a priesthood blessing before he was transported to the second hospital.

The power of prayer is amazing.

The Lord heard our pleas.
Benjamin improved by leaps and bounds.

The nurses were so impressed. 

Originally, we were told he would need to stay in the NICU for about a week.

By day three, he was well enough to be out of the NICU and stay in our room with us.

On day four, he came home with us. 

And our life will never be the same...

It's incredible, this love I have for my son.

It's still weird to say that: my son.

I hold him in my arms, and my heart just swells.

It's such a different emotion than anything I've ever felt before. 

It's a different kind of love than I have for Thomas, or my parents, or anyone else.

I feel fiercely devoted to Benjamin.

I yearn to give him the world, to be his everything. 

His little hand wraps around my finger, and I cry tears of joy at this little miracle in my arms.

He looks at me with those beautiful eyes, and I feel he's looking at my heart - I feel so connected to him, and my heart swells with the desire to give him anything, to never let him feel any pain. 

He sleeps in my arms, and I promise myself I will never let him doubt my love for him.

I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. 

I have the man of my dreams at my side, and a sweet baby boy in my arms.

I feel captivated in this life, like I'm drifting in a dream.

Benjamin's birth did not go according to plan, and we had a lot of roadblocks.

There was heart ache, tears shed, and prayers whispered.

But the end outcome was the greatest blessing we could have asked for.

Thomas and I have a healthy, beautiful baby boy.

Our little family is together, happy, and overflowing with love. 

Life is beautiful.

Sure, we're exhausted.

Sure, we feel like we don't know what we're doing half the time.

But, we thank the Lord every night for this wonderful life, this wonderful blessing, our wonderful, beautiful little peanut...

Benjamin's Birth: Pt. 3

I had pictured and daydreamed about the moment Benjamin would come into this world forever:
Benjamin entering the world, the nurses putting him on my chest right away, skin to skin, with Thomas by our side, kissing my forehead, and all of us together - one little brand new happy family.

That's not how it went at all...

Benjamin came into this world so fast...too fast. 

His heart rate was in trouble and his lungs weren't working. 

He wasn't crying.

When I finally heard that beautiful cry telling me he was alive, it was a quick wail, then silence. 

I knew something was wrong.

I didn't get to experience my fantasy, my daydream.

Benjamin did not come to my chest. 

We did not get to do skin to skin.

We did not get to sit together as a happy new family, Thomas covering us with kisses, tears of joy flowing freely. 

They took him away from me right away.
I didn't get to hold him.
I barely even saw his face. 
They had him in my room a few minutes as they checked him over.
Then they broke the news: 
He wasn't breathing well, and they needed to take him to the NICU.

My heart sank.
With tears streaming down my face, they brought him to my bedside for a moment, and I got to touch his hand and tell him "I love you" before they whisked him away.
Thomas comforted me for a while, then went to the NICU to be with Benjamin.
He came back soon after with an update: 
Benjamin was needing help keeping his lungs open to breath. 
The nurses were going to hook him up to a machine and watch him for an hour. 
If he didn't improve in an hour, he would need to be admitted as a NICU patient. 

Thomas kept going back and forth between the NICU and my delivery room - the doctor was still working on me and I wasn't able to leave yet.
Our parents arrived in a matter of minutes.

Another update:
Benjamin needed to stay in the NICU.
But there wasn't room in the Maple Grove NICU - he needed to be transported to North Memorial in Robbinsdale. 
The worst part: They didn't have room for me at Robbinsdale - I would need to stay in Maple Grove.
I was a hot mess.
Are you kidding me!?!
You're telling me my brand new baby boy is struggling to breath, and you're going to take him away from me?!?!
I was livid - and scared, and worried, and anxious, and feeling like the most helpless person on the planet.

FINALLY, I was able to go to the NICU to really see my son for the first time.
Oh goodness, what a sight.
You hear about the NICU, you even see pictures of babies in the NICU, but nothing prepares you for when it's your own little peanut hooked up to all sorts of machines...

You never think it's going to be you sitting next to those little plastic beds. 

I sat with Benjamin as the nurses worked around us, and we waited for the transportation to arrive to take my baby away. 
They came, and I lost it.
I bawled as I signed the forms releasing my only hours-old little boy to be transported to a different hospital than me.
Thomas was going to be going with Benjamin, I would have my parents. 
All I kept thinking was, "This is not how it's supposed to go."
All I wanted was to hold my sweetie pie and let him know everything was going to be okay.

Just as they were starting to load him into the carrier, my nurse hurried into the NICU exclaiming: "We have a room for you!! You can go too!!"
If possible, I started crying even harder. 
I was going to get to be with my son!!

Benjamin was born at 6:45am. 
He was transported shortly after 9am.
I couldn't leave at the same time as him: after the craziness of the morning, my pulse and blood pressure were all over the place, I was feeling nauseous and dizzy, so I had to stay and get my vitals steady and eat a meal...but there was a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel....

Benjamin's Birth: Pt. 2

So. We decided to break my water. 

It was 6:00am.

It didn't hurt, really didn't even feel a thing.

Quick and painless. 

Dr. Mirau wished me good luck, and left, both of us thinking we wouldn't see the other again...

My next contraction came about two minutes after she broke my waters.

It was about 10 times more intense than any of my previous contractions. 

It caught me so off guard!

A minute later I was having another incredibly tense contraction.

I couldn't catch my breath, and doubled over in the bed. 

Within minutes, I moved from standing and walking through my contractions and having conversations with Thomas and Jamie (my nurse), to unable to breath or even sit up for the contractions. 

A few minutes after that, I was screaming.

Literally, SCREAMING, with each contraction.

And also crying.

I broke down crying to Thomas, sobbing about how I couldn't do it: I needed an epidural.

Then another contraction came.

I stopped crying for an epidural and began screaming for one. 
I said, "If this is the pain at FOUR centimeters, there is NO way I can go any more."

I couldn't breathe, I couldn't focus. 

The contractions were SO intense, so close together, and SO out of NOWHERE!

Thomas was fighting with me to get me to breathe (I was hyperventilating), the nurse was trying to help him, and all I could do was scream and cry and curl up in a ball on the bed. 

In the few seconds between contractions, I just sobbed. 

Poor Thomas started crying too.
When I asked him why, he said he was prepared for me to scream at him about how much I hate him - not prepared for my sobs of pain. 
He said he felt helpless and wanted to take my pain away. 
Have I mentioned before how much I love my husband?
He's such a sweetheart. 
Anywho...

They hooked me up to an IV - I needed to have an IV for 20 minutes before I could get an epidural. 
In the meantime, as the liquids coursed through me, I cried to Thomas and just about broke his fingers.
There was no letting up.

Then it happened.
I started screaming that I needed to push. 
Thomas and the nurse started frantically trying to calm me down - I was only at 4cm, NO pushing!!
I was screaming and crying, telling Thomas I was scared - I knew pushing would hurt the baby, but I couldn't NOT push. 

The nurse paged the doctor back, and she immediately checked my cervix: I was definitely not at a four - I had gone all the way to 9cm in a matter of minutes. 
No wonder I felt I needed an epidural and wanted to push...

In another minute, I was fully dilated to 10cm - and finally able to push.
And this is the point the anesthesiologist decides to come in for my epidural...
Too late.
Grrr....
The doctor needed to use the vaccuum because Benjamin's heart rate was dropping because the labor was progressing too fast, so he needed to come out as fast as possible. 

I pushed for 15 minutes before Benjamin finally made his debut.
And it's true what they say about labor: as soon as the baby is delivered, all the pain instantly goes away. Instantly.

I had pictured and daydreamed about the moment Benjamin would come into this world forever:
Benjamin entering the world, the nurses putting him on my chest right away, skin to skin, with Thomas by our side, kissing my forehead, and all of us together - one little brand new happy family.

That's not how it went at all...

(To be continued...)

Benjamin's Birth: Pt. 1

My oh my, what a whirlwind the past four days have been!

Such an exhilarating, exhausting, joyful, crazy, and wonderful experience.

Let's start with how it all began, shall we?

It was Friday afternoon, September 13.

I had been having my usual contractions throughout the day, although they were a little different; they were more "crampy" than usual.

I didn't pay much attention though, because we had an OB appointment in the afternoon, and they still weren't regular or anything. 

At our appointment, I was still only 1cm - the same as I had measured at Tuesday's appointment. 

Nothing had changed, I didn't think anything would change.

I headed back to work and then Thomas and I went to dinner with my parents after work. 

Throughout dinner I kept having those painful contractions and I noticed they were happening more frequently.

But I convinced myself they meant nothing and ignored them.

Once we got home from dinner, I mentioned to Thomas that I had been having crampy, painful contractions all day, and we decided maybe we better start paying attention to how often they were coming...

So we played some cards and watched the clock. 

At first they were about 30 minutes, but they quickly decreased to 20 minutes apart. 

After our card game (I won of course!) we decided maaaaybe we should pack the snack bag, gather our chargers & electronics, and have everything together juuuust in case...
We also had some fun taking pictures of my belly.

Just in case it really was my last night with Benjamin nestled in my belly...

I went to bed at about 11:00 with the contractions still about 20 minutes apart...

...It was about 1:15 when I woke up to a painful contraction. 

Thomas was still awake, sitting on his computer job hunting. 

I sat in bed timing my contractions that were becoming more and more painful, and killing the time on Pinterest. :) 

Thomas came in about 2:00am, surprised to see me sitting up in bed. 

I told him: the contractions were about 4 1/2 minutes apart!!!

Decided to time them another half hour before I called the doctor.

At about 2:30, I called and got the okay to head over to the hospital!

We arrived at Maple Grove Hospital at about 3:00am. 
We sat in the triage room for over an hour while they measured my cervix and kept me hooked up to a monitor to watch my contractions and Benjamin's behavior. 
I was 3cm!! I was shocked! I was just 1cm at the OB a few hours ago! 
Crazy.
FINALLY, over two hours after my arrival, the nurse said: "This is it. Let's get you to a delivery room!"
YAY!!! This was a moment I had waited so long for! We would be meeting our little baby boy in a matter of hours. 
Now, at the time, we were thinking some time in the evening after dinner...
...Ha. Yeah, right...

We got settled into a room, my contractions were about 3 minutes apart and growing stronger.
I was still in a great mood though, and able to have fun...so we decided to start taking pictures to document this wonderful experience!

 At 6am, the doctor, Dr. Mirau, had come by to introduce herself, stating, "I am off at 7, so I won't be delivering your baby, but I thought I'd introduce myself anyway and see how you're doing."
SURPRISE. She did deliver Benjamin.
But we'll get to that part later...

After talking a minute, she checked me and we learned I had only grown 1cm in 3 hours. Dr. Mirau suggested that if I wanted, we could break my bag of waters and that might help get the labor moving. She stressed "might."
I thought sure, why not?
It has to break at some point, right?
Bad. Idea.

(To be continued...dun dun dun...)

A Quarter of a Century

Yesterday I turned a quarter of century.

Did you know I cried when I turned 20?

Yup.

Cried because I was halfway to 40 and no longer a teenager.

So Thomas was waiting with bated breath to see how I would react to turning 25, halfway to 50.

And ya know what?

It's not so bad.

In fact, I am really excited to be 25.

I have so many things to be thankful for in the past 25 years of life.

I've met some amazing, incredible people.

I've created wonderful memories.

I've laughed, cried, grown, learned.

I've felt pure and utter joy, and endured agonizing grief. 

I'm slowly becoming an adult.

Life has been slowly molding me into the woman I am today.

And I am looking forward to the future to see how life continues to mold me into another aspect of my life: being a mother.

What was the highlight of my 24th year of life?

Becoming eternally sealed to my best friend, my amazing husband, my Thomas. 

Sealing our love and marriage for time and all eternity. 

Making the covenant to spend forever with him...and hearing him making the covenant to spend forever with me. 

What will be the highlight of my 25th year of life?

Easily, the birth of my sweet little boy.

Oh, how my heart aches with eagerness to hold him in my arms!

There is nothing in the world I want more than to be a mother, and my journey is finally about to begin.

I'm excited for everything Motherhood has to offer.

Ten years ago, if you asked me to describe what my life would be like when I was 25, it would be a lot different.

It's funny how we daydream and fantasize and plan our life out...and then it never goes according to plan. 

But then again, I think that's what makes life so beautiful. 

I love birthdays.

I feel like birthdays, not New Year's, is when I reflect most on my life. 

And what am I seeing this year?

Many beautiful things, both in my past and in the future to come. 

Life is good.

Here's to being a quarter of a century!

Freezer Meal Recipes!

Alright, so the freezer meal extravaganza went great.

Productive and I feel ready for busy days with my little peanut when he arrives! 

So below you will find all the recipes I used.

Along with a shopping list for everything needed!

Well, not quite everything.

The list does not include things I already had in my cupboard, like spices, sugar, and honey. So you may want to go through the recipes yourself and make your own shopping list. 

Don't forget to not only label your bags with what the meal is, but also the instructions on how to cook the meal.

Enjoy!

Crock-pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Ingredients

·         Chicken (I used four drummies and four thighs)

·         5 garlic cloves chopped (I have a big tub of minced garlic; I just scooped what I thought looked right)

·         1 tsp. oregano

·         3/4 cup soy sauce

·         1/4 cup ketchup

·         1/2 cup spicy honey bbq sauce

·         1/3 cup honey

·         pinch of salt

·         dash of pepper

Instructions

1. Mix spices, soy sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce, and honey.

2. Pour over chicken into bags (I split the chicken into two bags)

3. Freeze.

4. To cook: crockpot low, six hours

Crockpot Beef Tips & Gravy

Ingredients

·         1 1/2 lbs cubed beef (stew meat)

·         1 packet Dry Onion Soup Mix

·         1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup 

·         1 14 oz. can beef beef broth or stock

·         Salt & Pepper

Instructions

1. Combine soup mix, soup, and broth. Stir.

2. Pour beef into Ziploc, and add soup mix. (I actually used tupperware for my soups and chilis)

3. Freeze.

4. To Cook: Crockpot 6-8 hours.

White Chicken Chili 

1 onions, chopped
1/2 T. olive oil
3 c. chicken broth
3 15-1/2 oz. cans Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
2 5-oz. cans chicken, drained (I just used four chicken breasts)
1 4-oz. cans diced green chiles
1 t. ground cumin
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 t. dried oregano
1/4 t. white pepper
12-oz. container sour cream (for later, when you serve)
3 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese (for later, when you serve)

In a large stockpot over medium heat, sauté onions in oil until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients except sour cream and cheese. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until heated through. Allow to cool. Store in freezer. To serve: reheat on stove. Top with sour cream and cheese. 

Beef Stew

2 lbs Meat (beef, pork, whatever is on sale - I used beef), cubed
2 Onions, chopped
5 Carrots, sliced
3 Zucchini, sliced
2 Celery stalks, chopped
2 Red Bell Peppers, chopped
2 tsp Salt
.5 tsp Pepper
2 tsp Minced Garlic
1 14 oz can Canned Tomatoes
1 can Tomato Sauce

Put all ingredients in a large ziploc bag and freeze. Thaw bag and add contents to slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8. Stir occassionally.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 pound chicken
1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
7 corn tortillas
vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients into a Ziploc bag. Freeze. Thaw and put into a slow cooker add 2 cups water and one 14 oz can of chicken broth. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours. Shred chicken in crock pot after cooking is done.
Serve with:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet.
Bake in preheated oven until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. To serve, sprinkle tortilla strips over soup.

Simple Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients:

- 4 chicken breasts, pounded out to about 1/2 inch thickness

- salt and pepper

- 1 egg, lightly beaten

- a splash of milk

- 2/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

- about 1/2 jar marinara sauce (for when you serve)

- about 1 cup mozzarella cheese (for when you serve)

Directions:

1) Place chicken breasts between sheets of plastic wrap. With flat side of a meat mallet (or the bottom of a heavy pan or glass), pound chicken to about a ½ inch thickness.

2)  Sprinkle the front and back of each chicken breast with a pinch of salt and pepper.

3) In shallow dish, whisk together egg and splash of milk. In another shallow dish combine bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.

4) Dip chicken breasts, one at a time, in egg mixture, turning to coat. Allow excess to drip off.  Then dip chicken pieces in breadcrumb mixture, turning to coat.  Shake off the excess.

5) Wrap breasts (individually) in freezer paper and freeze.

6) To Cook: Thaw. Place breaded chicken in greased 9×13 casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes, until it is no longer pink in the middle or the juices run clear.  (Note: To check doneness, make a small slit in the middle of one chicken breast with a knife and pull open to make sure it is white, not pink.)

7) Top each chicken breast with a spoonful or so of pasta sauce. Spread sauce around the top of each piece of chicken.  Then, sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of mozzarella cheese over the top of each piece, as well.

8) Put chicken back in the oven for 5 minutes, until cheese is melted.  Serve warm over pasta.

Teriyaki Beef

Ingredients:

15 oz crushed pineapple (with juice)

¼ C. low-sodium soy sauce

¼ C. brown sugar

1 tsp garlic powder

½ t dried ginger powder

2 lbs skirt steak, sliced into strips

Make-ahead Instructions:

Mix first 5 ingredients in a small bowl with lid. Add steak strips to bag. Pour ½ sauce over steak. Seal the bag and shake to mix. Place in fridge or freeze. Reserve remaining sauce for serving (I freeze in another ziploc bag and nuke when I am preparing the meal).

Prepare Instructions:

Broil until desired doneness (you can also grill these). Heat sauce and serve over the steak. I like to serve this with rice. 

Breaded Pork Chops

Ingredients:

10 pork chops

4 large eggs

2 tbsp plus 2 tsp prepared mustard

2 tsp dried sage

1 container of bread crumbs

Salt and pepper

Make-ahead instructions:

Pour about 2 cups worth of bread crumbs onto a plate. Mix eggs, sage and mustard  in a bowl. Salt and pepper each pork chop (both sides), then dip completely in egg mixture on both sides. Dredge both sides in breadcrumbs. Stack, using waxed paper between each layer, or wrap in freezer paper and place in Ziploc bag, and freeze.

Prepare Instructions:

Pull out the pork chops you need. Melt ¼ cup of butter. Pour ¼ cup of oil in another small bowl. Brush both sides of each pork chop with the butter mixture followed by the oil. Broil for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until brown on both sides and cooked through.

Brown-Sugar Glazed Pork Chops
Ingredients:

5 pork chops

¼ C. brown sugar

1/8 t ground red pepper

½ t garlic powder

½ t paprika

Salt & pepper to taste

Make-ahead Instructions:

Add last 5 ingredients to a ziploc bag and shake to mix. Rinse pork chops and add to bag. Shake until pork chops are coated. Squeeze out all of the air and freeze flat (when frozen, you can set upright) or place in the fridge.

Prepare Instructions: 

Thaw completely in fridge. Place each pork chop on a foil-lined baking sheet and cook at 350 for 35-45 minutes. 

Freezer Meals Ingredients

*Majority of ingredients for: Teriyaki Beef, Beef Stew, Crockpot Honey Chicken, Beef Tips & Gravy, White Chicken Chili, Chicken Ceasar Sandwiches, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Chicken Parmesean, Breaded Pork Chops, Brown Sugar Glazed Pork Chops*

*Does not include spices, garlic, sugars, ketchup, bbq sauce, and honey.*

Ingredients	Amount	Store
Chicken Breasts	4lbs + 4 breasts
Pork Chops	12
Skirt Steak	2lbs
Stewing Beef	3.5lbs
Carrots	5
Eggs	6
Bread Crumbs	1 container
Red Peppers	2
Celery	2 Stalks
Zuchinni	3
Corn	1 10oz bag frozen
Onion	4
Crushed Pineapple	1 15 oz can
Soy Sauce	1C
Kethcup	1/4 C
Honey BBQ Sauce	1/5C
Dry Onion Soup Mix	1 Packet
Cream of Muschroom	1 Can
Beef Broth	1 Can (14oz)
Ceasar Dressing	1/2 to 1C
Mozarella Cheese	1C
Parmesean Cheese	1C
Chicken Broth	3C
Great N. Beans	3 15.5oz cans
Canned Tomatoes	2 14oz can
Tomato Sauce	1 can
Enchilada Sauce	1 10oz can
Green Chiles	3 4oz cans
Marinara Sauce	about 1/2 jar

*Also consider buying: freezer bags, freezer paper, Tupperware dishes, tinfoil pans, etc.*