People always look at me weird when I mention making garbage. But - that's what the kids dubbed it when I first made it years ago. It's just a hamburger casserole (which is what it was called in the newspaper when I found it) - with macaroni and sauces, hamburger, onions, green peppers... and I don't remember what all - but it is so good. It started as a joke, calling it garbage, but it stuck. A friend who really enjoys the dish has told me many times that I need to change the name - but I don't know what else to call it - it's been garbage for nearly 30 years or more!
Anyway - that's what I will be putting together this morning to have later this afternoon, after the final Christmas gifts are opened. Yes, today is the day that we empty out all the gifts from under the Christmas tree. Hubby and I have 'opened' our gifts so it will be all about the youngest son and his family opening theirs - and that's ok. I hope they will like everything. I did put a couple things back for the great-granddaughter as she does have a birthday next month - and I did buy too many things. I don't usually buy a lot of toys but do try to get a couple things they can enjoy.
It's Monday morning and I'm off again today. I kind of really like taking all these extra days off work. I have had a couple days where I would think 'is this what it would be like if I wasn't working?' and I really did kind of like not having the stress of work... but knew that I would go crazy .... hubby and I would probably not agree on a lot of things.... he would start (I feel) pushing me into doing things he wants to do and we'd disagree because if it isn't MY idea, it usually isn't something I care to do. Does that make sense? LOL Surprisingly, although we had talked about going to the gym last Thursday, he has never mentioned it at all - nor has he gone. And I haven't either. He does have a training appointment this morning, and I start back on training tomorrow morning. I'm back to work on Thursday, but want to take off a few hours in the morning; got to send my boss an email and let her know. A friend's husband passed away just before Christmas and the funeral is Thursday morning. I could just take the day off - and just work Friday - or take Thursday and Friday off still... now that's a thought, and I can do it, I do have the time..... but for what? Taking the decorations and trees down?
The RV church service went well, and then we headed over the SA with our friends and had lunch with one couple afterwards. Once we came home, I talked to my little sister for a bit, then took a short nap. I finished another book!! Whoo hoo! I'm up to 47 out of 50 - and two days to go. No - I'm not going to push it cause when I read, I want to enjoy what I'm reading, not skim the book. I can start fresh counting in another day or so. I didn't tell hubby about Goodreads, I feel it may be too complicated for him, but suggested that he start tracking the books he reads, i.e., write down in one of his journals what book he starts and when, and then when he finishes it. Maybe that will get him reading more and watching his movies less. And the same for me - although I can use Goodreads - if the TV is off, I can read more. But that also means I can't crochet or knit - but then, I can listen to audible, right? And it still counts. I have a few books I've started on audible, but one needs to sit for a few hours to get through them so it's hit and miss - and then sometimes I don't remember what the book is about. That's what happens when one doesn't read a lot of novels, but books for Christian living - one is stories that draw you in; others help you understand how to live a Christian life. Lord knows I need all the help I can get!
I'm back at the RV church again next Sunday so this week I will be busy putting together another message to get. I've got a title and a scripture, now to pull it together. I will have more time to focus on it tomorrow. Need to get to the store and pick up ribs for Wednesday - lunch at the daughter's and I get to fix ribs. And of course we need black-eyed peas and coleslaw (with a coin). Just trying to pass on family traditions.... some will be lost once I pass, but for now, maybe they will remember them. Mama always called it a 'poor man's lunch'. Pork, black-eyed peas and cabbage. Mama usually fixed boiled porkchops and cabbage (together) with the black-eyed peas. I do like cooked cabbage, but oh the gas you can get from eating them! Once on my own I changed it to ham and coleslaw with the black-eyed peas. Then one year I changed it to BBQ pork ribs with the coleslaw and black-eyed peas. What's the deal with the cabbage/coleslaw and black-eyed peas? Well, you know the pork was used because it was at one time the cheapest (other than lamb) meat to get ahold of. Cabbage was something you could pull out of the garden. The coleslaw - and putting a coin in it - not sure where it came from, but mama had the tradition of putting a silver coin in it - and whoever got the coin with their coleslaw (could not dig around for it) would get to keep it to bring them good luck in the coming year. The black-eyed peas - I'm not sure what that symbolized, but mama always said you had to eat at least a tablespoon of it to have good luck in the coming year. So I have tried to have it every year - and this year is no different, although at the daughter's house. I'll bring the BBQ pork ribs, the coleslaw, and the black-eyed peas. Which reminds me, I need to get cabbage to make the coleslaw! Where's that grocery list??!
We still have leftovers from Saturday, and I will keep some of the garbage from today (I always make more than enough) so depending on how much is left over that I don't send home with the son, I may take some over to Ms. Vicky and Ms. Diane - both love it. I haven't made it for awhile. I've got to quit being so lazy. I've been craving my eggs ole' and need to make up a batch of that as well.
But then, January 5th is Sunday and we start our annual 21 day fast, which will be over January 26th. We haven't come to a firm decision yet on what we will give up. I'm still leaning towards the BBCD - beef, bread, chocolate and desserts. It really IS hard to do - I am addicted to bread and chocolate, and not only did I get a lot of chocolate for Christmas, I bought a lot of chocolate to set out for everyone. I will have to hide it so that I'm not tempted. We may do just fruit and veggies for 10 days, and then switch to BBCD but will see. Hubby wants 'us' to do it together. I can't get him to understand that it is a personal thing; he doesn't have to do everything I choose to do... he can make his own decisions. Sigh. In the meantime, I'm eating chocolate. Lots of it. I may never want to eat it for months by the time I'm done. HAH!
But we did receive Omaha Steaks for Christmas from the brother-in-law and hubby is craving his steaks! I will have to cook some at least once before Sunday, if he gives up beef. He is always so reluctant to do that! Me - not so much a big steak eater. I do like steak, just not as much as hubby does.
John 16:33 (NIV): "I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Aren't you glad to know that Jesus came to earth to show us the way to live, and He overcame the world by resisting the things of the world. He provided the way to our Heavenly Father, because we must go through Jesus to get to Him. Priests are of the past - each one of us can go directly to Jesus and ask Him to intercede for us to our Father. We have only One Father - and that is God. So glad I can run to Jesus with anything and know that He will intercede for me.
Think about this - when you are a follower of Jesus Christ - when you pass and are standing before the throne, the devil will be there telling God all the bad things you have done and that you need to be sent to hell for it.... but Jesus intervenes and tells our Father that we have confessed those things and they are no more, remembered no more, and that we belong to Him. Jesus over rules the devil - after all, He did overcome death. The devil has no control over you when you belong to Jesus - any thoughts contrary to doing good and right is from the devil - and you CAN tell him where to go!
Need to get my butt moving this morning and get dressed and try to get some things done before this afternoon. It's quiet right now but hubby will be leaving soon for his training. He hasn't been in to get his clothes; maybe I need to remind him he has an 8AM appointment this morning - or is it 9AM. Oh well. I'm sure he remembers. But I do need to get up, get dressed, and get busy. Figure out what I'm doing. Hope that you have a great start to your week!
Blessings!
