Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - May 30, 2022

Good morning! I trust that you and yours are enjoying a lovely holiday weekend and that your Monday is off to a great start! Happy Memorial Day! 💓☆💙

Memorial Day Parade

The past week has been busy, but full of family and fun. The first part of the week was spent working around the place. I worked Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday evening, daughter-in-law, Nicole, went into labor. After a long night at the hospital, labor was stopped and Nicole was sent home. They're hoping the baby stays put for, at least, another week. 

Thursday morning daughter-in-law, Angie, rode to town with me. We had lunch together and went grocery shopping. Thursday evening daughter, Amanda, and her girls came down. Amanda was only able to stay one night, but the girls are still here.

Friday we went to the state park. We walked the picnic and campground area and played in the water at the low-water bridge. 

Granddaughters Alysia and Kayla

After we got home, we built a fire and watched the sun go down. The girls started nature journals and we played several games of Splendor. We also managed to burn up a tiki-torch! It was blazing, but not where it should have been! LOL! 😅

Saturday morning I took the girls geocaching, but their experience was not a good one. I'm hoping to take them again before the weekend is over to an area where they might have a better chance of enjoying it. We will see.

Saturday evening we had supper at Patrick and Amber's. The girls spent Saturday night there and went to church with Patrick and Amber and their family Sunday morning. They played with their cousins in the afternoon and were back at my house for the night last night. Before dark we ran out to the park to look for bison (which we found) and enjoy a prairie sunset.

Now, we're getting ready to relax and enjoy the holiday with family and friends. It is the first time in 34 years that I've celebrated Memorial Day, and remembered the many that have fought for, bled for, and died for our country, without my husband. I pray alone now for those that serve today and for those in leadership that they would wake up and remember the high price that has been paid.

My Great-Uncle, Milton Fox

What about you? How do you and yours celebrate Memorial Day? What memories and symbolisms of it do you hold dear?

Let's get on with this week's post, shall we?

White Spiderwort and Cardinal by Birdbath

This week's master to-do list...

- celebrate Memorial Day with family 💖🤍💙

- clean house 

- do laundry 

- answer a couple of letters

- visit with my friend, Carla

- figure June budget and bills 

- go to the bank and post office 

- pay bills 

- take a food inventory

- plan June menus based on what's in the house

- get the yard and garden back in shape after all the rain

- harvest and dry chives

- work

House Finch

This week's menu plan...

Monday - Hamburgers, hot dogs, and other traditional holiday foods with the fam

Tuesday - Broiled salmon, baked sweet potato, and fresh asparagus

Wednesday - Turkey tetrazzini with peas and carrots

Thursday - Homemade pizza

Friday - Cheesy Chicken Pasta with fresh asparagus

Saturday - Fish filet on bun with oven fries

Sunday - Leftovers

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

That's it for today, Ladies! I'm wishing you and your family a beautiful Memorial Day and a great week ahead!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Memorial Day Memories

Memorial Day Memories

I must admit that my spirits seem much higher today than they did when I first posted the following post three years ago. And, while we have no plans whatsoever for today (as of yet anyway), this Memorial Day weekend has been one of the fullest and best that I can remember. We got to get away for a day of fun, food, and fellowship with extended family on Saturday. Then, Sunday was just spent relaxing with family here in town. I have no idea what we'll end up doing (or not doing) today, but, whatever it is (or isn't) spirits are high and God is good. :) 

Happy Memorial Day to you and yours! And may God richly bless all those who have served our nation and fought to keep it free!

All My Love,

~Rebecca

Written three years ago on Memorial Day 2011...

'Memorial Day Parade'

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

Growing up Memorial Day was always a special day! When I was real little my mom and dad and I would load up early in the morning and make the round of cemeteries to decorate the graves of loved ones that passed on before us. At that time there were only a few graves to decorate, so the rest of the day would be spent with family. Usually, we would gather together for a day of fun...a game of horseshoes, homemade ice cream, and fun with the cousins as we rolled giggling down the grassy bank at Grandpa and Grandma's house in the country. At the time that bank seemed so huge, but, looking at it as an adult, it was hardly anything.

In later years we continued to do the cemetery rounds, but, due to reasons unknown to me...finances, perhaps, or, maybe, a shift in values...my parents stopped decorating the graves. Oftentimes, after a morning of visiting the cemeteries, we would end up at a place that was historically important, not only to those interested in local Civil War history, but, to us, personally, as a family...the Anderson House in Lexington, Missouri. We had family members that were caretakers there at one time and my grandmother had spent many delightful days there as a child. We would often end up there on family outings and she would share her memories, as well as the secrets of the old house, with me, as together, we would explore its every nook and cranny. You could do that back then, but not now.

As time went on and older generations passed away, our Memorial Day traditions changed and, for the most part, fell away. We stopped doing the cemetery rounds altogether and usually just settled for a cook-out at the folks house. When my mother passed away that pretty much stopped, too. Memorial Day became a day of much-needed rest more than anything else. Last year Memorial Day was spent at the hospital by my uncle's bedside after he suffered a massive heart attack, endured emergency surgery, and, later that afternoon, died. It was not a good holiday weekend!

Fast forward...this morning...

After a particularly trying week and weekend, I woke up this morning in tears. I was feeling dull, depressed, and anxious. I felt physically and spiritually ill. I did not want to face another Memorial Day Monday.

While sitting at my desk later in the morning...pondering my day and the week ahead, my son, who...I still don't know if he realized what he was doing or not...I don't know if he was subconciously drawing on past memories of Memorial Day at his own grandparent's house, or if he was simply trying to brighten my day...but whatever the reason, he came in and asked if we had any hot dogs or hamburgers. I told him that I thought there might be a few turkey burgers left in the freezer, but there weren't any hot dogs...why? He said that he was just wondering...was thinking of maybe grilling something. Next thing I knew the old, familiar smell of good times past...the smokey smell of a charcoal grill...came wafting through the house. With the smell came a flood of happy memories and, before I knew it, my own spirit began to soar as it wafted heavenward...filled with praise to my Saviour...as gratitude flooded my soul! 

At that moment, even though I had, neither time, nor inclination, to prepare anything special for today's holiday, thoughts flooded my mind! I had one more pan of baked beans in the freezer! I had one can of potatoes left! Mix that with a couple green onions from the garden, a little Miracle Whip, mustard, and spices...and viola! Instant potato salad! A quick trip to Casey's for a small bag of chips and a bottle of soda...serve it all up on the traditional Memorial Day paper plate and...how about that? Despite all the hoopla and weariness...we had a little celebration of sorts after all! I thanked my son for getting the ball rolling, and I praised the Lord for picking up my weary soul and ministering to it as only He can!

The only thing missing today was homemade ice cream! Hmmm...I wonder if there's not something creative that I can do about that??? (smile)

Have a Happy and Blessed Memorial Day!

All My Love,
~Rebecca

One Thousand Gifts - #56 Memorial Day Weekend, #60 sweet clover, #61 "I love you"