A Special Christmas Present

As many know, Hubby was born in Africa. He lived in Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya. His parents were missionaries over there. Of course now, Africa has a very special place in my heart.

For Christmas, Mom and Dad Young gave me the most beautiful place mats and napkins from the Congo. Mom told me she bought them a friend of the family Dawn. Dawn is married to Sam, who happens to be like family to the Youngs. Sam's parents were also missionaries with Mom and Dad. Their son, Sam and Rob were like brothers.

Dawn is trying to help the women in Goma to sell their work. Sam and Dawn spent several years over there. I had the privilege of meeting Dawn and Sam this past summer. I happen to find Dawn's blog today, http://fromcongo.blogspot.com/. Please take a look at the beautiful work and their story. Also visit their on line web store, http://www.shonacongo.com.

I will post a pic of my place mats hopefully this week. ( Hubby is responsible of all posting of pics! I can do it but he is on the computer more than I am)

Week Two

Well we are week 2 in January! It has very cold but that keeps me in the kitchen. Something about cold weather makes me want to bake and cook!

I will post the pics of the new foods this weekend! The rice salad and herb pork chops were so yummy. I served it on my new china which happened to come in that day!

This week the new dish is honey chicken stir fry! I am making it tomorrow night! I am excited!

Rob and I have been trying to clear our schedules a bit and spend time at home! We were so busy last year I felt we never had alone time. This year will be busy but we are making sure we have free time to spend together and with God!

We are planning a few trips this year. We are thinking New York in June with one of my nieces, maybe sunny Southern California, a weekend getaway with a few of our close friends over Memorial Day weekend is in the works and a few other small weekend getaways. We will have other adventures I am sure. of course we will make time to visit our families!!!

New recipes Challenge

Well I am starting off this week by keeping one of my resolutions! I am trying a new recipe. I am back into my habit of making my two menu so I am not trying to figure out what to have!

This week on the menu

Monday- Oven herb fried porch chops with spinach-tomatoes rice salad! The salad looks so yummy in my Everyday Living magazine! This is the new recipe for this week

Tuesday- Beef with mushroom sauce on egg noodles. We froze the left over prime rib so I am using it! I am excited for this!

Wednesday- Sandwich night Probably tuna or chicken salad with carrots as a side. Wednesday nights are very hard for me.

Thursday- egg rolls and a salad!

I am trying to stick to a new recipe and I will post pictures later this week from the salad and herb pork chops!