Stronger by Mandisa

I heard this song on the radio this morning as her new single!!  The song is on Mandisa's new album coming out in April, 2011!

All I can say is...AMAZING!  It is amazing to me how the Lord loves to put different songs into my life at just the right time!  This song definitely spoke to me today!

Stronger
Artist: Mandisa
Album: What If We Were Real?

Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain't right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
And you're asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather

Oh, don't hang your head
It's gonna end
God's right there
Even if it's hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you ...

Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let Him hold your hand
And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
Oh, lift your head it's gonna end
God's right there
Even when you just can't feel Him
I promise you that He still cares

'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger

WFMW: What Doesn't Work for Me---Plastic containers in the freezer!!

I do a lot of batch cooking or once a month cooking and so that makes for needing lots of plastic containers being placed in my freezer on a regular basis. Well that was until recently when I found that they do not as good of a job as a ziploc bag!

I want to be environmentally friendly when it comes to putting the food in the freezer so I was working my way towards using all plastic containers and ridding my house of ziploc bags.  I have a variety of plastic containers from Tupperware to Rubbermaid to Ziploc brand containers.  I don't have much in the way of plastic containers but enough to use some in the fridge for those dinner leftovers to use for lunches the next few days and then the rest to use for my freezer cooking. The Rubbermaid plastic containers are a bit heavier of a plastic than the freezer containers so I thought it would help a bit with freezer burn and just overall easier to stack the same type of containers together in the freezer. However, when they get bumped and slide out of the freezer when I am getting something else out of the freezer and drop to the floor and crack it does not matter which type of plastic container I use in the freezer.

Since switching to containers from bags, I have dropped many plastic containers both the freezer type containers and the Rubbermaid/Tupperware containers!  Needless to say, I have had to pick up food that has scattered all over the floor more than once from the container dropping to the floor and cracking in the process!  Or I have found that a container was dropped and it wasn't realized that it had cracked a little bit and it put back in the freezer for me to find at a later date. I never had a problem with ziploc bags being dropped and splitting open with food going all over the place. Just so that I have covered all the bases, the contents in any of the plastic containers that I have put in the freezer have been totally cooled in the fridge before placing in the freezer.

I have come to the conclusion that plastic containers in the freezer just do not work for me! I need to switch back to all Ziploc bags for the freezer so that I do not end up breaking all of my plastic containers in the freezer and I can fit more ziploc bags into the freezer anyway!  Besides I need my plastic containers for leftovers in my fridge and for lunches. :)

This post is linked to:

• Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family!

Menu Plan Monday 1/2-1/8

I really have been doing menus over the last several months, but I haven’t taken the time to post them due to life getting busy on me and reducing my time spent on the computer.  Now that a new year has started, I am working very diligently to getting some resemblance of order and schedule in place so that a routine can be in place for the whole family.

Last week I did a big grocery shopping trip! I have been working at a new system of shopping over the last few months and the new system is working for our family!  My grocery shopping system is I shop the stores within the 5 mile radius of my house and make a trip to Sam's around the 15th and the last day of each month, which coincide with hubby’s paychecks.  The system allows me to cash in on the good deals and then have some time away from the stores so I am not burning myself out chasing deals every week.  I am finding this plan to be working very well!  I can get the good deals on the weeks I shop and get creative in the kitchen on the weeks where I just swing into Aldi for our weekly supply of 3 gallons of milk and 2 dozen eggs.

This week’s meals are simple and using what meat I had in the freezer and pantry items leftover from before my big grocery shopping trip.   We have had sickness in the house, so the menu might change to accommodate those who are on the mend.

This week’s lunches that are listed below are for the kids and me! Unless we are having leftovers, our lunches are served with apple slices or carrot sticks along with fruit juice or water.   Hubby and oldest son usually take a dinner leftover along with various snacks for their lunches so I don’t take the time to really plan their lunches. I just take the next container of leftovers in the stack in the fridge that I have prepared ahead of time.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 300 other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site or look down in my right sidebar for my menu suggestion lists!

Sunday (1-2)

Breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage and cinnamon rolls

Lunch: mini pizzas and pizza rolls

Dinner:  creamy chicken over noodles, peas and crescent rolls

Snack: snack basket

Monday (1-3)

Breakfast: cereal and leftover cinnamon rolls

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  oven fried chicken, fries and corn

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (1-4)

Breakfast:  waffles and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  spaghetti(from freezer), and garlic toast

Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (1-5)

Breakfast:  bagels and cereal

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner: roasted chicken, mashed taters& gravy, corn and biscuits

Snack: snack basket

Thursday (1-6)

Breakfast: Pancakes and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  roast, carrots, and potatoes served with homemade bread

Snack: snack basket                                                       

Friday (1-7)

Breakfast: cereal

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  saucy pork chops, rice and green beans

Snack: snack basket

Saturday (1-8)

Breakfast:  Your Choice

Lunch: sandwiches & chips

Dinner: ????? not sure yet.

Snack: popcorn or snack basket

Spartan Owned Stores--Family Fare, VGs, Felpausch

3 day sale--Thursday, Friday, Saturday!

Bakery Fresh Iced Cinnamon Rolls 6 ct. $2.88

Pepsi Products 24 pk $4.88 (limit 2)

Spartan Sliced Bacon $1.77 (limit 3)

Philadelphia Cream Cheese 97¢ (limit 4)

Pillsbury Grands Biscuits $1.17 (limit 4)
30/2 cpn
30/2 cpn

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls $1.17 (limit 4)
50/2 cpn
50/2 cpn

Pillsbury Cinnamon or Orange Rolls $1.17 (limit 4)
50/1 cpn
40/2 cpn
40/2 cpn

**The Pillsbury products above are also printing out Catalina coupons at the check-out for $1 off your next shopping order! I purchased the Pillsbury products above plus 2 boxes of Pillsbury pie crusts and received a $3 off next shopping order Catalina coupon at the check-out.

All Week Savings:

Spartan Milk- gallon 2/$4

Spartan self-basting turkey 49¢/lb with $20 purchase

Butterball Frozen Turkey 99¢/lb
$1/1 cpn

Fresh 81% lean Ground Beef $1.98/lb

Eckrich Meat Franks ~~ Buy One @ $3.29 Get One FREE!
55/1 cpn 10/17 S

Freshlike Vegetables 10/$10

Edy's Ice Cream 2/$5

Cool Whip Topping 8 oz 99¢

Mrs. T's Pierogies 2/$4
$1/2 cpn 10-3 RP

Stove Top Stuffing Mix ~~ Buy One Get One Free!
$1/2 cpn

Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce 99¢

Spartan Butter Quarters 2/$5

Nestle Toll House Morsels $1.88
50/2 cpn

Pillsbury Pie Crusts 2/$5
50/2 cpn
50/2 cpn

Spartan Apple Juice 64 oz 3/$5

Campbell's Canned Gravy ~~ Buy One Get One Free!

8# Baking Potatoes ~~ Buy One @ $3.99 Get One FREE

Nestle Toll House RTB Cookies 2/$5
$1/1 cpn

Carnation Evaporated Milk 10/$10
50/2 cpn

**Buy 10 Select Items, Get 1 Gallon of Spartan White Milk FREE** Check ad for other items, the ones below are ones that have coupons available.

Wolf Brand Chili 3/$4
50/1 cpn 10-24 S

Orville Redenbacher's 6-10ct Popcorn $3.49
40/1 cpn from 11-14 S

Pam Cooking Spray $2.49
35/1 cpn 11-14 S

Chef Boyardee 10/$10
B4GBig Pasta Free cpn 10-17 S

Uncle Ben's Full Line ~~ 20% off
75/2 cpn

Banquet Fruit Pies 3/$2
35/1 cpn 10-24 S

**Save $5 Instanly when you buy 10 Participating Unilever Products**
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter 3/$5
75/2 cpn 11-14 RP

Lipton Tea 2/$7
60/1 cpn 11-14 RP

Hellmann's Mayo 2/$5
50/1 cpn 11-14 RP

Suave Lotion 18oz 2/$6
50/1 cpn 11-14 RP

Suave Body Wash 2/$4
75/2 cpn 11-14 RP

Suave Deoderant $1.79
75/1 cpn 11-14 RP

**prices may vary a bit based on location and store. All printable internet coupons should print twice, just use your back button.

Daystar

Daystar by the Gaither Vocal Band Lily of the valley, let Your sweet aroma fill my life. Rose of Sharon show me how to grow in beauty in God’s sight. Fairest of ten thousand, make me a reflection of Your light. Daystar, shine down on me. Let Your love shine through me in the night. Lead me, Lord, I’ll follow, anywhere You open up the door. Let Your Word speak to me. Show me what I’ve never seen before. Lord, I want to be a witness. You can take what’s wrong and make it right. Daystar, shine down on me. Let Your love shine through me in the night. Lord, I see a world that’s dying, wounded by the master of deceit. Groping in the darkness, haunted by the years of past defeat. But then I see You standing near me, Lord. Shining with compassion in Your eyes. I pray, Jesus, shine down on me, Let Your love shine through me in the night. Lead me, Lord, I’ll follow, anywhere You open up the door. Let Your Word speak to me. Show me what I’ve never seen before. Lord, I want to be a witness. You can take what’s wrong and make it right. Daystar, shine down on me. Let Your love shine through me in the night. Daystar, shine down on me. Let Your love shine through me in the night. Jesus shine down on me, Let Your love shine through me in the night.