Hmmmmm.... Just some random thoughts

      The last week or so has been very stressful.  Not sure what is going on with Tom and his job, wondering if we are goin to be able to pay rent, wondering if our family will have enough money to help us out with our finances. 

I guess Tom just got the call form Larry,(his original boss) and got the go-ahead to come back down to Corvallis to work.  He wll be takng a slight pay cut, but will be working full time.  I will have to get a job,(I already put in an application for Market of Choice,) I know that God will work it out.

The biggest task at hand now, is trying to find a place to live in two weeks.  With Toms criminal history, it is near impossible to get into any place that does a backround check.  We could work around all of that, but I don't want to lie about anything.  I know that we will find something, we always do. 

On a sunny-er note, I had a great night tonight with my niece. We watched Twlight, and New Moon, (I am toatlly hooked on the movies now) made brownies, and went for a walk to the grocery store.  I am so glad that she was able to come up and spend some time with me.

Please be praying for us.  We need it!!!

Spicy Lettuce Cups... This is sooo yummy, and healthy too!

Ingredients

1 tablespoons bottled chili-garlic sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

2 tablespoons sherry or Chinese cooking wine

8 ounces extra-firm tofu

2 teaspoons canola oil

2 tablespoons fresh minced ginger

4 scallions, greens trimmed and reserved, thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup each greens and whites - 3/4-ounce each)

1/2 pound lean ground beef (90 percent or leaner)

1/2 cup finely diced water chestnuts

1/2 Cup bamboo shutes

1 large head Bibb lettuce, outer leaves discarded, leaves separated

1 red bell pepper, finely diced

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Directions

In a bowl, whisk together chili-garlic sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar and sherry.

Slice the tofu into 1/2-inch thick slabs and lay the slices on top of paper towels. Use more paper towels to firmly pat the tofu in order to remove as much water as possible. This should take about 2 minutes and use about 3 paper towels. Finely mince dried tofu and set aside.

Heat the oil in a wok or extra-large skillet over medium heat. Add the ginger and scallion whites and cook until scallion whites are translucent and ginger is fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add ground beef and tofu and cook, stirring, until beef is opaque and just cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add reserved sauce. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring, an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Add water chestnuts and stir to incorporate.

Fill each lettuce leaf with the filling. Serve garnished with scallion greens, red peppers and peanuts.

Treasured Moments

      This past weekend was very exciting.  Skyler and I got to spend some time with the people that we love.  His Papa, and Grammy, Aunt Tiffany, Cousins Nikki and Aiden, and best friend Sera.  It was also kind of a sad weekend.  Skylers best friend of 3 years, Sera, is moving to Thailand on the 29th of this month, and won't be returning for a whole year!!  It saddens me, mostly because Skyler is losing a friend, whom he loves dearly, and I am losing a friend as well, Sera's mom Pik.  Despite the small language barrier between the two of us, we get along great, and I only wish that we were able to spend more time together.  Where we lose things, we are also gaining things.  I'm not entirely sure yet what I will gain, but I know that God has a plan.

      While Skyler, Caylee and myself were at Al and Sandy's house this weekend, Tom had gone down his brothers house in Redding, CA to celebrate a birthday.  While he was down there, Larry called Tom and told him that he knows a guy that does HVAC (heating and air conditioning) and will possibly hire Tom, full time, $15 hour starting, and raises after 90 days. (And we would be moving back down to corvallis.)  So please be praying that this will go through!

      On another note, later on this week I will be picking up my niece Nicole, to come and stay with me for a few days.  She has not spent the night with me in almost 2 years!  I saw her today for the first time since christmas.  She has gotten so big, I almost can't believe it.

      I remember when she was about 3-4 yrs old,(my sister and Nikki lived with my mom and I) and Nikki would come into my room, sooooo early in the morning, and ask "aunty, can we play dress-up now?" She loved to wear her aunties clothes!  Whenever she would spend the night at my house (after I got my own place) it was always dress-up and make-up, now make-up is more functional rather than fun, and dress-up is not dress-up, it's more like, "hey, can I borrow this shirt?"  It's things like this, that make me cherish the times I have with my babies while they are still young, 'cause in the blink of an eye, they are moving out and having babies of their own.  It's a scary thought, so I will hold onto this moment, this time, and this love, because nothing else in this world will EVER replace it!

New Beginnings

      Today, Tom called his old boss (Larry Hellesto) and spoke to him about possibly coming back to work for him. Larry told him that he needed to take care of a few things, and that he would be in touch.  If Larry takes Tom back, then we will deffinatly be moving back down to Corvallis.  In my heart, that is where I have wanted to be all along.  In the last week, I have just re-connected with my sister, with whom I recently had a falling out.  I am thrilled to be talking to her again (Tiff I love you!!) I will be close to my mom, and the kiddos will be able to see her, and of course be able to visit with Toms parents as well. (more often that is.)

      I truly believe that this is what God has wanted us to do all along. We have been unable to find a church up here that we REALLY feel connected to, and Cavary Chapel is our home.  I miss it so much, and the wonderful people that are a part of the body.  I want to be able to form real relationships with the people there. Not just a 'hi' and a 'hello' on Sunday, but accually connecting with people.  It is so important to have friends in Christ, that you can fellowship with and be growing together.  Its also great to have people that can hold you accountable as well.  When we were attending Calvary before, I feel like maybe Tom and I didn't really put ourselves out there enough, and weren't willing to let people in our lives, and maybe that was part of reason why we wanted to move, to run away from it.   We figured that we didn't have real friends, nobody really cared about us, so why not, nobody will miss us.  Well our way of thinking like that is over.  We are puttin' ourselves out there, and you if don't like us, too bad!!! LOL. I'm just kidding!

      I'm really excited to be moving back down there.  Please be praying that Larry will be able to take Tom back, and that we can find a decent place.  I cant wait to be near all of you!  I love you guys, and I will be seeing y'all very soon!!!

Work

      So Monday and yesterday, Tom worked really really long days. (yesterday he didnt get home until 7pm!) Today, no work! He wants me to find a job, but considering we only have one vehicle, and no one to watch the kids fr me so I go out and put in applications, it is a little complicated.  I try to look on craigslist, but what do I if I even get an interview?

      It is so hard living up here. I have no friends, no family up here. Nothing is what we have. We struggle harder than ever spitually because we are so stressed out. Our relationship is streched to its limits. We need an answer.          

      Tom needs a new job, and I need one, period. I love being a stay at home mom, but its just not practical. What do I do? I have no idea. I'm lost and frustrated. I wish I had the answers to our problems, but I am a human, and saying that, means I don't.

      I know, I know, this to shall pass, but not fast enough.  All I can do is rely on God to carry us through this, and I know He will.