His power works best in our weakness...

That sure was the truth today.

We had it all planned--our lunches made, our bags packed, our clothes laid out. We were in bed by 10, ready to accomplish one of our New Year's resolutions of getting up at 5:30 so we could actually enjoy our morning.

Then she happened. Maggie happened. 1:45 a.m. She started pooting loud poots that woke her up, freaked her out, and STUNK. Worse smell ever. She started chasing her butt, sniffing the air and crying, crawling up my back, then down, then over Patrick to do the same. He took her out, and she evidenced her stomach ailments. And she was so emotional about it--freaking out all over the place. We called the emergency number at our vet's office, and Patrick was at Walgreens at 2:53 a.m. while I tried to keep the poor girl calm. A dose of benadryl and pepto bismal later, she seems to be back into the swing of things...

Not us. Sleepless night. Poor Patrick--his first day of his new job was today, and he hardly slept. As for me, it was my first day of the 2nd semester, and I hardly slept. For Miss Addison, it was her first day in the big girl room at school, and she hardly slept because of some emerging teeth...and then was upset all day today. Rough all around.

We had big plans for tonight--to go our to dinner with friends to celebrate a 30th birthday, to celebrate P's first night of being officially back. It didn't happen. We were wiped--emotionally, physically, psychologically...

So we bailed, came home, and in my sheer exhaustion and thankfulness that His grace sustained me through the day, made my husband another supper--this time turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes--a recipe from Real Simple last February. I'm not a meatloaf girl, but this one was made with spinach and mustard, and I scarfed it down. In addition to using my les creseut again for the potatoes, I also used these sadly often overlooked kitchen utensils:

First, my vegetable chopper. I took a cooking class at Williams-Sonoma, was mesmerized by this gadget, and have used it ever since. I used it last night to chop my carrots and celery, today to chop my spinach and onion.

Secondly, my egg separater. I received this as a wedding gift from my Pampered Chef shower. I have only used it one other time in my 4+years of marriage, but it sure came in handy tonight since this recipe called for 1 egg white.

After a long day, it was enjoyable to come to my house and cook in my kitchen with my little helper so excited to stand on her stool and help her mommy. Her daddy liked his dinner too!

I'm off to bed to make up for last night.

That sure was the truth today.

We had it all planned--our lunches made, our bags packed, our clothes laid out. We were in bed by 10, ready to accomplish one of our New Year's resolutions of getting up at 5:30 so we could actually enjoy our morning.

Then she happened. Maggie happened. 1:45 a.m. She started pooting loud poots that woke her up, freaked her out, and STUNK. Worse smell ever. She started chasing her butt, sniffing the air and crying, crawling up my back, then down, then over Patrick to do the same. He took her out, and she evidenced her stomach ailments. And she was so emotional about it--freaking out all over the place. We called the emergency number at our vet's office, and Patrick was at Walgreens at 2:53 a.m. while I tried to keep the poor girl calm. A dose of benadryl and pepto bismal later, she seems to be back into the swing of things...

Not us. Sleepless night. Poor Patrick--his first day of his new job was today, and he hardly slept. As for me, it was my first day of the 2nd semester, and I hardly slept. For Miss Addison, it was her first day in the big girl room at school, and she hardly slept because of some emerging teeth...and then was upset all day today. Rough all around.

We had big plans for tonight--to go our to dinner with friends to celebrate a 30th birthday, to celebrate P's first night of being officially back. It didn't happen. We were wiped--emotionally, physically, psychologically...

So we bailed, came home, and in my sheer exhaustion and thankfulness that His grace sustained me through the day, made my husband another supper--this time turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes--a recipe from Real Simple last February. I'm not a meatloaf girl, but this one was made with spinach and mustard, and I scarfed it down. In addition to using my les creseut again for the potatoes, I also used these sadly often overlooked kitchen utensils:

First, my vegetable chopper. I took a cooking class at Williams-Sonoma, was mesmerized by this gadget, and have used it ever since. I used it last night to chop my carrots and celery, today to chop my spinach and onion.

Secondly, my egg separater. I received this as a wedding gift from my Pampered Chef shower. I have only used it one other time in my 4+years of marriage, but it sure came in handy tonight since this recipe called for 1 egg white.

After a long day, it was enjoyable to come to my house and cook in my kitchen with my little helper so excited to stand on her stool and help her mommy. Her daddy liked his dinner too!

I'm off to bed to make up for last night.