(I was thrilled to listen to Temple Grandin speak recently.  I have learned so much about how to teach children with autism from this gifted lady.  May God continue to bless her as she blesses others with her insight into autism!)

Monday: Chicken, steamed broccoli, corn
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Tuesday: Salmon patties, Kale & Romaine Salad, carrots
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Wednesday: Leftover salmon patties, carrots, and salad
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Thursday:  Herbed Quinoa – high in protein with 13 grams per 1/2 cup (dry) serving (I may just use fresh parsley, which is growing in a pot on our deck.  The other two herbs will probably be dried unless I make it to the store.) 

* Info about quinoa

Friday:   Leftover Quinoa and salad

• His only son died at the age of four.
• About that time, the great fire in Chicago in 1871 destroyed him financially.
• Later, Spafford planned a European vacation in 1873 with his wife, Anna, and four daughters, Maggie, Tanetta, Annie, and Bessie.  Business kept him behind and he was to join them in Europe.  However, the ship on which he sent his family sank in the Atlantic Ocean and only his wife survived.  All four of his daughters died along with 222 other passengers!  Anna cabled her husband, “Saved alone!”

On his way to meet his grieving wife, Spafford said these words, “It is well; the will of God be done,” as his ship passed close to where his four daughters had died.  Later, he wrote the words to this song based on those words.
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Here is a young teenage group, all siblings, who do a beautiful job of singing this amazing song, It is Well With My Soul:

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend.  Our son came home to spend the weekend with us.  I told him that was the best gift, him coming home.   We got to talk to our daughter and my mother-in-law on the phone which was great since we couldn’t be together in person.  I received thoughtful presents, beautiful cards, and my husband took us out to eat after church today.  It was a wonderful weekend!

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My thoughts went back to my own mother who passed away 12 years ago.  I remember how she helped me with all the many reports I had to do in fourth grade.  Writing was not my favorite thing to do, but she would edit my papers and have me do them over again until I had them correct.  She taught me things about verb tenses and correct grammar usage, things I use nearly every day in blogging.  I think she would be happy to know that I use those writing skills today.
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I also remember how my mother was always a room mother for my class at school, made the most delicious cut-out sugar cookies with icing for school parties, made the best pie crust I have ever tasted, always had ice cold Kool-aid for me and my friends on hot summer days playing outside (the brother of one of my friends called her “Mrs. Kool-aid”), and how she would read Luke 2:1-20 often at bedtime, and that was my favorite to have read to me before going to sleep.  I feel blessed to have had her for a mother.
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Here’s our menu for the week. I still haven’t decided on Tuesday’s main dish but will have to soon since I’m running out of time. Dessert was easy!
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Monday: Morey’s “Fish Creations” Wild Salmon, marinated & ready in minutes  (from Wal-Mart’s meat section), corn and green beans

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Tuesday:  Dessert – Strawberry & Blackberry Shortcake (Haven’t figured out the main course yet.  Our son and three of his friends are coming for dinner)
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Wednesday: Chicken, yellow squash, Kale & Romaine Salad, carrots

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Thursday: Salad with raw veggies & “turkey bacon”
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Friday:  Eating out

INGREDIENTS:

• Artisan Fresh Lemon Crunch Bundt Cake, 50 oz. (from Sam’s) or any large, moist lemon bundt cake
• 2 pints fresh strawberries, cleaned

Place the cake on a large, pretty plate.  Fill the center of the bundt cake completely with fresh whole strawberries so that the strawberries are overlapping onto the top of the cake a little bit.  Place remaining strawberries on the plate, completely surrounding the bottom of the cake.  Enjoy!