A Special Visit

Today Ty had a very special visitor. The one, the only....Elmo!! I know moms of toddlers everywhere are screeching with joy and hearing the tune of Elmo's world in their heads already! I was even more surprised that Ty wasn't scared. This is a kid who thinks Winnie the Pooh at Disney was the equivalent of Satan in a bear costume!! He was thrilled, however, to get a visit from the big red tickle master himself. (Sorry Pooh-bear, no offense intended, really.) He even got a hug and kiss on the hand. Elmo tried to mess with Ty's computer, but he wasn't having that. You see, we Bonini's are very touchy about people messing with our computers....just ask the head Bonini himself.



He gave Ty his very own Elmo to remember him by. Wasn't that sweet!!



The nurses also gave Ty a surprise birthday party yesterday. They gave him a huge sign, a piece of chocolate cake, and lots of wonderful presents.



He has been enjoying playing with the magnadoodle and reading the books they gave him.



I guess having a birthday in the hospital isn't so bad afterall!

The Cat's away, but the Mice can still eat right!

In a previous post I mentioned that I was making some freezer meals to help hubby with the daunting task of supper. I hadn't made freezer meals in a long time, so I consulted the experts, i.e. anyone who has as many or more kids than I do!! The experts gave me a few suggestions and I took notes. I weeded out the ones that I knew my family would never go for, or those that hubby would have to force feed a certain daughter of mine, hey Erin, because they contained too many vegetables. Here's what I came up with:

Beef
2 Baked Ziti
2 Lasagna
2 Tator Tot Casserole
2 Sloppy Joe

Chicken
2 Enchiladas
2 Salsa, Chicken & Rice Casserole
1 Chicken Hotdish w/stuffing topping
1 Chicken Alfredo

I cooked the beef meals first. I began by browning 8lbs of hamburger meat. I divided two 1lb sections and placed them in a ziplock freezer bag and added the sloppy joe sauce. I always add a little extra ketchup & brown sugar the way my family likes it. Then I boiled the ziti and lasagna noodles. While they were boiling I made the tator tot casserole and placed them in a 9x13 aluminum pans and cover them with a double layer of foil. Once the noodles were finished, I assembled the ziti first, then the lasagnas. Again, I covered the dishes with a double layer of foil. Before I put them in the freezer, I label them with the contents and cooking directions. Most everything can go straight from the freezer to the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until bubbly.

On a separate day, I prepared the chicken meals. I began by boiling 2 bags of frozen, skinless, chicken breasts. While they are boiling, I add a little garlic salt to the water to season. In addition to the chicken, I cooked 4 packages of yellow rice, and one box of rotini noodles. After the chicken was cooked, I chopped it up into a little smaller than bit size pieces. First, I assembled the chicken alfredo. Just mix noodles, chicken, and alfredo sauce and top with with parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Then, I put together the chicken hotdish. Basically it's a chicken pot pie filling with veggies, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream topped with a box of stuffing mix. Next, I worked on the chicken and rice. I put enough chicken into two 9x13 pans to cover the bottom. Then I top that with rice and cover with 1/2 jar of salsa and shredded cheese. Last, I made the chicken enchiladas. I put the remaining chicken in the with the remaining rice and added a packet of taco seasoning and some shredded cheese. Then, I scooped some of the mixture into a taco size tortilla shell. After rolling the shell, I placed them seam down into 9x13 dish. I was able to fit 5 across for a total of 10 per pan. Then I topped it with salsa and cheese.

It wasn't as much work as I thought, and it's comforting knowing they'll have something to eat while I'm gone. Now, if I come home to 14 meals still in the freezer and they ate pizza everyday....at least I tried!! Here's a picture of the fruits of my labor! :)

A Successful Surgery

I am very pleased to announce that Ty's surgery today was a huge success!! He did a great job and the neurosurgeon was able to release his spinal cord and remove a cyst. They are sending the cyst out to get a biopsy, but they are fairly certain it is spinal cord tissue. We anticipated this surgergy to take 6-8hrs, but it was completed in less than 3!! Ty is resting now and we are doing our best to manage his pain. He has to stay flat for a few days...that's tough! His birthday is tomorrow, and I think he'll be having a few visitors to wish him a very happy birthday. To everyone who prayed for Ty and our family, thank you so much! We believe whole heartedly in the power of prayer, and God has answered!!

The Only Way is Jesus.

Today we had a very powerful sermon from a visiting pastor. The sermon was based on John 14:6 where Jesus answered the questions of a very confused Thomas. Thomas just couldn't grasp what Jesus was talking about when he said he was going to "prepare a room for you." Thomas wondered how they were going to get there, how would they know where to go. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," John 14:6. Jesus confirmed for all mankind that there is no other way to God but by Him, and Him alone. No good work will get you there, no good deed will secure your way. Only Jesus, He alone can save you.

This brings me to my next thought. Cheap grace. "But grace is free," you say. Yes, grace is free, we have made it cheap. There is nothing I could ever do to earn the free gift of grace that God offers through his son, Jesus Christ. But why do we as Christians stop there. Satan believes in Jesus. He shudders at the very name of Christ. Yet, we all know Satan is not saved. So how do you know you're saved? The Bible says that many will cry out "Lord, Lord" but few will be saved. How can we know we are staying the narrow course, walking the narrow path. John 15:10 says, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love."

I remember back in highschool taking Geometry with Mrs. Chancey. I like Mrs. Chancey! She was originally from Wauchula and had this very comforting way about her. But like I said, she taught geometry. I can almost hear the groans as you read this. You remember geometry...proofs and theorems. Is it all coming back to you? No! How about "if, then" statements. Remember those? If something is true then the opposite of said something must also be true. Let's apply a little geometry to scripture. If obeying God's commands = remaining in His love, then NOT obeying God's commands = NOT remaining in His love. Wow, how are your toes feeling? Mine are a little sore right now, that's for sure. So the Bible says if I'm obeying the commands of Christ, I'm in His love, I'm on the narrow path, my eye is fixed on the prize. If I'm not obeying, then I'm not "in His love."

Now, before you cast your "works" stones at me, really grasp what I'm saying. Salvation comes from God's free gift, I accept it, I believe on the name of Jesus, I obey His commands, I remain in Him. My good works won't get me to heaven, but they are a product of my love for Jesus. Jesus is the only way to heaven. There is an old hymn that I love to sing called "Trust and Obey". It goes like this...


When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Never fear, only trust and obey!!

Bedtime Prayers...

I'm off to say prayers with the kids before bedtime....and it reminded me of this video. Hope you get a good laugh!!

New camera, painting, and procrastinating....

I finally replaced my camera this week. My "not so old" camera was a Sony cheapy from wally-world and hasn't worked worth anything since the day I got it. I'm not a die hard photographer and didn't have the money to spend on something really flashy, so after a little research, this is the one hubby picked. It has some cool features that are probably too advanced for me to use, I'm a point and click kinda gal. One neat thing is the face recognition capabilities. Who knows what that does, it just sounds cool!!

I've been busy painting the boys' room these last two days. Biting off a little more than I could chew, I wanted to get their room in tip top shape before Ty's surgery. A while back we switched the boys' and girls' rooms. The boys ended up with a pink room with fairy border. Hmmm, not very boy friendly. I intended on painting it right away, but that just didn't happen. This week turned out to be the opportune time. We bought the boys new bunk beds, which should be delivered today, and gave my mom the old full size bed. With everything out of the room, I knew my chance to paint was now. Josh chose "Blue Splash"...it's quite a shocking blue, but after the Spider-Man 3 border, it toned down a bit. ;)

Procrastinating....why do I do it??? I have 6 chicken meals to assemble and freeze, 4 days worth of laundry to wash, dry, fold, and put away, and floors that haven't been mopped since I don't know when. I'm sure I could take some scrapings and donate them to research or something!! Oh yeah, I also have to schedule Ty's pre-op blood work, that's another trip to Orlando. Procrastination, you will not prevail! But first, I must try out my new camera.........

The Surgery is Scheduled

We just received word that Ty's surgery is scheduled for Aug. 4th. His birthday is Aug. 5th. :( What a pitiful way to celebrate his birthday. That's my flesh talking, I know deep down he needs this surgery, but who wants to be in a hospital when you're turning 4??? I'm feverishly trying to get the house ready for me to be gone 7-10 days. I made 8 beef freezer meals last night, and have 6 chicken meals to prepare and freeze. I'll save that for another post. ;) I want the boys room organized so Ty can come home to a neat and tidy space. Also, if Ty is in for the full 10 days, that will give me 4 days until school starts. So....I need to make sure the kids have everything they need to start school. I've already ordered and received their new uniforms, PTL for online shopping, now all I need is their school supplies. I'm sure my husband will do just fine without me, but you know, I'm the MOM!!! Please keep us in your prayers as this such a stressful time on more than one level.