Life is full of choices, take your shoes off or clean my floors!!

That's right!  Today was the day that April and I made our shoe bench, thanks to Ana White.  We decided after much deliberation to make the the "Entry way bench/shelf system.  This time we just made the bench and plan to do the shelf when Dave Ramsey approves.  While making the bench, April and I decided that we were a couple that is able to do DIY projects together, which made us very excited.  Something else that made me VERY excited was being able to use my tools, in particular my air compressor and nailer.  Here are some of the pictures of today's event.

Intimidating or what?

Step 1: The base

It's starting to look like a bench

Safety first!

Oh yeah!

You may call me Bob Vila

Not to shabby if I may say so myself.

All in all it was a very fun day and April and I learned a lot.  First, we learned to communicate more clearly and succinctly.  If you are married you may relate to this comment.  Second, measure twice, cut once.  Third, tools are fun especially when you can use your nailer and then air up your tires with the same air compressor (love it). And fourth, March definitely feels like summer in Texas.  This was a really fun project and took us a little while to do it.  We still need to fill the holes, stain it, and buy the shoe baskets and then we will be able to move it into the house.

Reliance

For some of you that do not know, I am a thinker.  I never thought I was a thinker, but apparently I am.  I am curious, if you have to think about whether or not you are a thinker, would that not make you a thinker by default?  No my mind does not race at 100 mph, like some you are prone to do.  My mind just thinks...a lot.  Lately, I have been thinking about the economy and people's lives, especially mine and April's.  For some that do not know the Texas Legislature is cutting the Education budget by billions of dollars, which translates into many thousands of people loosing their jobs.  This particular post is not about me ranting and bashing the economy, but maybe a slight glimmer of hope.

I titled this post "Reliance", because that is the only thing that we as Believers have.  Yes, we have money or not.  Yes, we have clothes, food, and shelter or not.  Yet, these things are just that...things.  They are things that will break down and ruin.  I guess this whole thing started with a moldy piece of bread.  This seems to prove that I am a thinker, seeing as I just looked at a moldy slice of bread and now have my inspiration, or "Muse" for those avid "Castle" fans, to write this blog.  Going back to reliance.  Our Father is the only one that we can rely on.  For those of us going through a rough time, can you look back at the those times when He was there?  Can you see all those times you thought to yourself "How can I make it just one more day?"  Whether that is physically, spiritually, or emotionally.  My point is this, that He is in control.  He is the provider.  Most importantly, he is the Savior, the Rescuer, and the Almighty.  For those of us who might be going through some doubt, scary times, addictions, secret sin, etc.  God is the Creator and the I AM.  He is with you today and he is already with you six months down the road.  

Social Security Card Party

As many of you know, I received my social security card in the mail a couple of months ago.  So, in January we decided to have a little party to celebrate.  Thanks to everyone who has been praying for this moment.  Please do not stop praying and thanks to those to were able to make it to the party.

My amazing and very talented wife made this cake for the party

(No this is not my number)

Isn't she beautiful

My friends sing "Happy Social Security Day" to me

Thanks to everyone who was able to make it.  We had a great time!






No these pictures do not have anything to do with our party, but we bought curtains and a new chair for our living room and they made into the same picture album for some reason.

  

This is our guest bedroom...the cleanest it has been since we moved in.  We are very proud.

Longest day of our lives, but totally worth it!

A few months ago, David and Stephanie Prysock came over to have dinner with us.  Leading up to this day, Stephanie and I had the awesome idea that we were going to make tamales together from scratch.  Let me just explain that making tamales from scratch is very rewarding, especially when you have good friends helping you, but it takes a VERY long time to do them.  With that said, let me further go on to explain all that Stephanie and I had planned that day.  We were going to get together around 10am to begin this day, this included buying the necessary items.  Somewhere in this day, we were going to make our own pasta, bake bread, and make cookies for April's classroom.  During this time, we thought that we might get bored so we might need to watch TV, play around on the computer, etc.

Though we did do most of the things we set out to do, we were busy the entire day.  We didn't get to make any pasta or watch TV.  The entire day was spent on making the tamales.  We had a lot of fun making them, but by 9pm (that's right, 9pm--11 hours later) we were finally done.  From boiling the meat, soaking the corn husks, to making the masa and finally steaming the tamales, it took 11 hours.  Never again will we decide to make tamales in one day.  If you ever decide to make tamales, please help yourself and cook the meat ahead of time.  It will make your whole day much more enjoyable.

Here are some pictures from a very fun day.

The tamale trinity:  corn husks, masa, and 11lbs of shredded pork and chicken

Stephanie and I wondering what we just got ourselves into  

Step 1: Apply the masa to corn husk

Step 2: Fold corn husk and if necessary tie corn husk strand around tamale

Step 3: Look at finished product and marvel that it actually looks pretty good

Stephanie: "Why are we doing this again?"

Our full (though you cannot see it) steamer full of tamales!

This is the result of 11 hours of making tamales

David however does not seem to be phased and is still going strong with his tortilla chip making

PS: He was not part of the tamales making and thus not affected by its energy zapping powers

April being crafty

One batch of the finished product

Finally we get to eat and man were they worth it 

The end!

We had a great time making these and are planning to make them again soon!

It's been too long...

Well it definitely has been too long since I have added a new post to this blog.  Since that is the case I am just going to add stuff is major themes.  That's right, themes.  It has been that long that I now can just add multiple sections.  First off all, since most of you know that since living here in Denton I have been a dutiful house-husband.  What I have realized with doing this is that I REALLY enjoy cooking.  Not only that but I have taken on the art, and yes it is an art, of grocery shopping.  For those that are just getting into cooking and, especially, learning how to grocery shop I would definitely recommend "The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook" by Erin Chase.  This book has been transformational for me in my appreciation and confidence in traversing the dreaded aisles of the supermarkets.

So back to my main point.  I have really loved learning how to cook better.  However, buying groceries on a Dave Ramsey budget has been the most rewarding thing.  I have loved buying my meats and vegetables on-sale and learning how to batch cook.  For those that do not know what I am talking about, which I am assuming most of those who read this blog probably do, batch cooking is cooking large batches of food and freezing them for later use.  The following pictures are some of my endeavors in batch cooking and baking.

Typically for me I go through the week's circulars and find the deal and cut some coupons...

Circulars and Coupons

Of course the coupon organizer

(Yes, I know it is girly, it was free, get over it)

 Once I have bought the food I prepare my food, so I can put it in the freezer till I need it...

Blanching my broccoli before I put in the freezer

Cutting my potatoes and sweet potatoes to mash and put in the freezer

Bagged and ready for the freezer 

Freezing my bell pepper!

Bagged and ready to put in the freezer

I LOVE SWEET POTATOES!!

As you could tell I like freezing things.  Another thing I have come to love is baking bread.  There is just something about kneading bread that is very relaxing.  The next few pictures are of me making Chocolate Bread, French bread (with a bread maker), and Honey-Wheat bread (from scratch)

My ingredients for my chocolate bread

Of course what chocolate bread is complete without brown sugar on top

Pretty sweet don't you think?

My ingredients for my French bread

Looks pretty good

However, I didn't realize just how small the bread pan was and yes it did rise all the way.

Delicious!

My favorite...the Honey-Wheat bread!!

Well I hope you all enjoyed reading this.  Thanks for letting me go on about some of the things I have learned to love doing!!