I am SO excited to begin bible study with a group of ladies from my church. It's been over a year (I think?) since I was a part of this group. I took time off as I took classes at Calvin Sem, and although I'm taking a class now, it's not too much work so hopefully I can swing it. I have really missed the fellowship and community this group offers.
I'm very thankful for my dear friend who leads the group, meaning that I don't have to. It's AMAZING to be a part of something at my church that I have NO part of leading. :) I do fear that sometimes in groups like this I talk a bit too much, so I have to try and restrain myself. I need to discern the fine line between trying to get discussion going by offering a thought and dominating discussion. I just have a hard time when people don't actively participate, and leave the leader hanging, so I always jump in.
Anyhow, I'm looking forward to getting to know some new ladies, reading and discussing a thought provoking book, and spending time in prayer together.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Meatless Monday
Another easy, meatless recipe.
Grands Biscuits (5 pointsplus value per biscuit) & cheese is all you need for these delicious sandwiches!
Take a biscuit & flatten it out til it's quite big. Place 2 pieces of cheese on them. Place another flattened biscuit on top. Bake according to the directions.
I made these tonight along with some V8 Tomato soup (2 points per 1 cup!) and a salad. I used reduced fat cheese to lower my weight watchers pointsplus value. You could also just use one biscuit with cheese, and not make a sandwich out of it for a lower pointsplus value. I am still stuffed & dinner was almost 4 hours ago!
Grands Biscuits (5 pointsplus value per biscuit) & cheese is all you need for these delicious sandwiches!
Take a biscuit & flatten it out til it's quite big. Place 2 pieces of cheese on them. Place another flattened biscuit on top. Bake according to the directions.
I made these tonight along with some V8 Tomato soup (2 points per 1 cup!) and a salad. I used reduced fat cheese to lower my weight watchers pointsplus value. You could also just use one biscuit with cheese, and not make a sandwich out of it for a lower pointsplus value. I am still stuffed & dinner was almost 4 hours ago!
Monday, March 21, 2011
More Monday Musings
* Marc has Mono. At least that's what they think. He went in last week for bloodwork, BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE MONO, and guess what they FORGOT to test him for? Yup - MONO!!! Can you feel my frustration? Good thing I didn't go with him. So, more blood work today to confirm it, but that's the unofficial prognosis.
* I hit the 10lb weight loss mark today! 4 weeks, 10.2lbs down. Down 1.2lbs this week. Not bad this week considering I had a shamrock shake, a bowl of ice cream, and whatever those delicious cheesy, yummy triangle things are that JS makes, all in the last week. :) Amazingly I still didn't use all of my weekly points!
* Had an AMAZING youth group last night. We had between 90-100 people come for our combined youth group, and it was so exhilarating to have such a large group. It reminded me of my 'normal' size youth group at Sunshine. There are certainly pros & cons of having such a large group on a regular basis, but it was wonderful for last night, and really gave me the motivation for the rest of the year that is sometimes hard to find when you're this close to the end.
* In less than 2 weeks, Marc, Kerri & I are heading to Chicago to go hear pastor Mark Driscoll at this event. We're staying with friends of mine who are providing child care while we go, and we get to visit a few other friends who just recently had their second child. I am SO excited to get out of GR for a weekend, to have a Sunday with zero responsibilities, to relax and be filled. Working in a church is wonderful, and I love what I do, but there are certain aspects of it that can be negative at times. Church staff (and their families) don't really have a pastor. There is a dual relationship that takes place for the staff and the pastor, and it's much different than being a lay person. Also, it's hard to actually go to church to worship on a Sunday. For me, I'm constantly thinking things church related during the service, then often bombarded with church related questions after the service. It's hard to even get to my kids in nursery & Children's Worship without being stopped about 10 times. I don't mind it at all, it's just a different church experience than what I think is 'normal'. I have never been in a church that I'm not working at as an adult. I don't honestly know what it's like. There is a small part of me that is excited about that possibility if Marc & I are to move. It would be kind of fun to get to 'church shop' and find a church together, find a ministry to volunteer in, become involved in different ways, and learn how to actually 'go to church'. I would have so much fun being a volunteer youth leader! Ha! What fun that would be!
* I hit the 10lb weight loss mark today! 4 weeks, 10.2lbs down. Down 1.2lbs this week. Not bad this week considering I had a shamrock shake, a bowl of ice cream, and whatever those delicious cheesy, yummy triangle things are that JS makes, all in the last week. :) Amazingly I still didn't use all of my weekly points!
* Had an AMAZING youth group last night. We had between 90-100 people come for our combined youth group, and it was so exhilarating to have such a large group. It reminded me of my 'normal' size youth group at Sunshine. There are certainly pros & cons of having such a large group on a regular basis, but it was wonderful for last night, and really gave me the motivation for the rest of the year that is sometimes hard to find when you're this close to the end.
* In less than 2 weeks, Marc, Kerri & I are heading to Chicago to go hear pastor Mark Driscoll at this event. We're staying with friends of mine who are providing child care while we go, and we get to visit a few other friends who just recently had their second child. I am SO excited to get out of GR for a weekend, to have a Sunday with zero responsibilities, to relax and be filled. Working in a church is wonderful, and I love what I do, but there are certain aspects of it that can be negative at times. Church staff (and their families) don't really have a pastor. There is a dual relationship that takes place for the staff and the pastor, and it's much different than being a lay person. Also, it's hard to actually go to church to worship on a Sunday. For me, I'm constantly thinking things church related during the service, then often bombarded with church related questions after the service. It's hard to even get to my kids in nursery & Children's Worship without being stopped about 10 times. I don't mind it at all, it's just a different church experience than what I think is 'normal'. I have never been in a church that I'm not working at as an adult. I don't honestly know what it's like. There is a small part of me that is excited about that possibility if Marc & I are to move. It would be kind of fun to get to 'church shop' and find a church together, find a ministry to volunteer in, become involved in different ways, and learn how to actually 'go to church'. I would have so much fun being a volunteer youth leader! Ha! What fun that would be!
Meatless Monday
One of the easiest & best recipes I make that pleases both carnivores & herbivores alike is BBQ biscuites.
You can make your own biscuits, or just simply buy some in the refrigerator section of the store. Press them into a muffin tin, so that they cover the bottom & sides and reach the top. Take some red kidney beans (drained) and coat them with BBQ sauce, and take 1/4 c. or so and place into the biscuit. Bake following the biscuit directions. A few minutes before they're done, sprinkle some shredded cheese on top, and there you have it, BBQ Biscuits.
You can also brown some hamburger & mix it with BBQ sauce to add into the cups.
You can make your own biscuits, or just simply buy some in the refrigerator section of the store. Press them into a muffin tin, so that they cover the bottom & sides and reach the top. Take some red kidney beans (drained) and coat them with BBQ sauce, and take 1/4 c. or so and place into the biscuit. Bake following the biscuit directions. A few minutes before they're done, sprinkle some shredded cheese on top, and there you have it, BBQ Biscuits.
You can also brown some hamburger & mix it with BBQ sauce to add into the cups.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Philippians 2:1-11
This is the first passage of Scripture I am choosing to memorize during Lent. I've memorized it in the past, so it's actually quite familiar, but there are are a few words/phrases that I mix up. When I was in Mission Year (2001-2002), I had a goal of memorizing all of Philippians. I got bits & pieces of it down, but never quite accomplished my goal. I'm taking it on again. Not necessarily with a time frame in mind, however.
Are you going anything for Lent?
Are you going anything for Lent?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday Musings
Haven't updated in a while, so here are a few bullet point updates to life at the Driesengas!
* 3 weeks of WW and I'm down 9lbs. Feeling good!
* Marc has been sick for a week. He's exhausted still, although feeling better besides that. I made him go to urgent care today, because I'm fearing it could be mono or something. In almost 6 years of marriage I have never seen him so tired. Strange considering his work/school schedule for the past 5 years. Something's not right. He'll get results of his blood work back on Wednesday.
* So far application have been sent to Missouri, Florida, & Hudsonville. In process are more Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Hopefully Marc can get some energy back to work on them!
* Hope is 6 months tomorrow! We have her doc appointment and I'm anxious to see how much she's grown!
* I'm SO excited about youth group this Sunday. We've invited a few other churches to join us and we have Dr. Ron Nydam from Calvin Seminary coming to speak on "Romantic Radar". It's going to be great.
* My son is obsessed with the Black Eyed Peas. aye.
* Trying to live in peace through this transitional time in life. I want to go through this well, trusting in the Lord to lead us.
* Lent: not giving up anything, but trying to memorize a passage of Scripture each week. If you get the Banner, I really enjoyed this article in there about Lent. I'll post more on this later.
* 3 weeks of WW and I'm down 9lbs. Feeling good!
* Marc has been sick for a week. He's exhausted still, although feeling better besides that. I made him go to urgent care today, because I'm fearing it could be mono or something. In almost 6 years of marriage I have never seen him so tired. Strange considering his work/school schedule for the past 5 years. Something's not right. He'll get results of his blood work back on Wednesday.
* So far application have been sent to Missouri, Florida, & Hudsonville. In process are more Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Hopefully Marc can get some energy back to work on them!
* Hope is 6 months tomorrow! We have her doc appointment and I'm anxious to see how much she's grown!
* I'm SO excited about youth group this Sunday. We've invited a few other churches to join us and we have Dr. Ron Nydam from Calvin Seminary coming to speak on "Romantic Radar". It's going to be great.
* My son is obsessed with the Black Eyed Peas. aye.
* Trying to live in peace through this transitional time in life. I want to go through this well, trusting in the Lord to lead us.
* Lent: not giving up anything, but trying to memorize a passage of Scripture each week. If you get the Banner, I really enjoyed this article in there about Lent. I'll post more on this later.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Workin' the WW
I'm officially on board with Weight Watchers. Hope is almost 6 months old, and I've got a bit of baby weight I just can't seem to shake. I'm in the middle of my second week and it's going great so far. My first week I was down 4.8lbs! I know I won't always have big weeks like that, but what a motivating way to start. I truly appreciate how WW is something you can maintain throughout your lifetime, it's not just a fad diet. I'm eating healthier foods, healthier portions and feeling more energy already.
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