Angel Food Ministries

I have to write a little bit about the new adventure we have taken at our church. Last month our church started taking part in Angel Food Ministries. You can go to www.angelfoodministries.com if you want the whole story! There are different standard boxes you can order. For example, the Regular box has around 7 different meats, several veggies and fruit, grains, shelf-stable milk, a dozen eggs and a dessert for $30.00 each month. If you were to go to the grocery store to buy this it would be around $60-$70.
There is also a Convenience Meal box that has 10 T.V. dinner style meals with protein, starch and veggies and/or fruit. You get 10 of these meals for $28.00 and they are larger than a Lean Cuisine so for $2.80 each it is worth it! There are several other Standard Box choices each month. After you buy one standard box you can order any special boxes. There are all meat boxes...usually several choices! There is always a fruit and veggie box as well. The food is ordered during the first 2 weeks of the month and then on the last Saturday (or so) it is picked up in Lincoln by Pastor and Chad and then brought to Kearney to disperse it. Last month our church sold 68 boxes and this month we were up to 112...so with all of the current layoffs and job losses we expect this number to grow. The other place is Grand Island that is the closest to us that is doing this ministry.
There are no stipulations as to who qualifies for this program and no volunteer hours required either! Chad and I have been asked to be some of the main helpers with the distribution each month. It is so exciting to see how we can share HIS love for us through this much needed ministry. This is a nation wide ministry so if you are interested check out the website to see if you have a distribution site close to you or if your place of worship can start one. My Grandma Carolyn, in Missouri, has used this through her church and spoke great about the quality of the products! So far we have been beyond impressed!

Tonight we tried one of the recipes that was in our Servant Magazine we received with the distribution. I really wanted to share it with you all!

Sweet Apples & Sausage

1 1/2 large apples, diced
2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 tsp. cornstarch
2/3 cup cranberry-apple juice
1 lb mild Italian sausage

Cut sausage into one inch chunks. In a large skillet, add oil and saute sausage over medium heat until cooked. Add apple slices; sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until apples are tender. Combine cornstarch and juice until smooth; stir into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve over herb seasoned pasta or with mashed potatoes.

Herb Seasoned Pasta

spaghetti noodles (cooked)
1 Tablespoon (or so) olive oil
1 tsp. of Italian seasoning (or other seasoning of choice)
Parmesan cheese

Stir seasoning into olive oil and microwave about 45 seconds so that the seasoning is softened. Poor over drained, cooked noodles and stir. You can also add Parmesan cheese.

Calla gave it 2 thumbs up!!!

La La La La Calla's World

We really enjoyed the warm weather that was here last week. Everyday we were outside with the stroller or the ride on toys. This week we spent much more time indoors playing with the toy store inventory we have on hand. HA! Calla really enjoys telling her dad that he has "nasty feet" and calling him "Chad" rather than Dad! Since I left for a week in February she has decided that he is much cooler than she had previously thought and loves to spend time with him and I...that makes my life so much easier! She has been to Apple Market to shop with me several times over that last few weeks, now when she plays with her food she is "going to Apple Market!" She currently in the bathtub just chatting to herself about anything that comes to mind. It is amazing how much she interprets our interactions with others and tries them out herself on her toys. Last weekend we went to Hastings to see Grandma, Grandpa, Shane and Burlynn. The girls had their pics taken together...way cute! Today our Little B is 3 years old. Hard to believe that she is not the tiny baby with the basketball, but the big girl with the most charming personality! We love you B...Happy Birthday! We have some really exciting things going on the next few weeks so I am sure we will have more pics to share!

She sees the camera and says, "I cheese Daddy!" so then you have to take her picture!

They fell asleep watching "Cake" this afternoon!

After Daddy's birthday cake!

Another shot...yikes!!!

Enjoying eating/playing in the cake!

She had to have all 3 babies in the stroller!

Chad and I were making supper and she went to her room, got a book, sat in her chair, and decided to read to herself!

Currently she is OBSESSED with pockets! This picture shows when she found back pockets for the first time!

Playing outside with her car!

Our Life...

I'm sorry that I have not posted anything since Calla's party...not quite for sure where time has gone. :)

We have not done too many exciting things since I last posted, but I would like to share a few stories of my little Calla.

#1 One night she really wanted me to come and play in her kitchen with her. I was cleaning up the kitchen after we had supper and she kept asking me to come sit. Finally she came over to the kitchen and was walking around saying, "Mommy Jade, are you? Mommy Jade?" I just burst out laughing...apparently we use her middle name too often that she wanted to add it to mine!

#2 Last weekend we went to the Children's Museum here. Calla was in the Vet Clinic and picked up the phone. The following is her conversation. "Hello!" "Hello B!" "I Calla" "Playing, Children's Museum" "Poopy" "Nasty" "Bye B!" She then hung up the phone and walked away!

#3 Several weeks ago, after arriving home from daycare she was really crabby. I gave her the pink blanket and sat her on the couch to watch Dora. I was going to the kitchen to sit at the table and read my newspaper. She kept telling me "Mommy sit!" and would point at the couch. I said ok and brought my paper to the couch to read while she watched the show. She crawled across the couch and slapped her hand on the newspaper and said "No paper Mommy, Dora!" while she pointed at the television. I sat down my newspaper and started watching Dora!! Then several minutes later Chad came into the room and was asking questions about supper. I started having a conversation with him across the room. Calla once again crawled onto my lap put her finger on my lips and said, "Shhh, Mommy, TV!" So Chad walked out of the room laughing and I sat there and watched Dora!

Chad and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary this last weekend. It is really amazing to know what we have made it to the 5 year mark of marriage already! We both agreed that Calla is the best thing that we have accomplished and really could not find anything that we wish we could do over again. There are wishes we have for the future, but really we are so greatful for all we have at this point and know that HE is in control of our destiny, we are ok just coasting here for a while longer!
To celebrate our big anniversary we went to the big city of Omaha! We took Calla to my parents house on Thursday night and left Friday morning to spend some quality time together. We visited the SAC museum and learned some pretty amazing facts there. Friday night we went to a brewing company in the Old Market and spent time in the pool area of our motel. Saturday we went back to the Old Market and took in an AMAZING show at the Orpheum Theatre. We saw RAIN: A tribute to the Beatles!!! This show was almost indescribable. The looks and sounds of this group were almost like being at a real Beatles concert. We had 2nd row seats, right in the middle and had a great time with those around us. The age span of the audience was interesting to me as well...there were kids as young as Calla and people older than our grandparents. The Beatles really did have some controversial materials and some of it was represented during this show. There were big screens up that played footage of the Ed Sullivan show, to commercials from the time, to clips of actual Beatles movies. The whole experience was outstanding! Plus being at the Orpheum tops it all off!
I hope you have continued to thank Him for all the blessings you have in your life...we sure do everyday!

Chad and I before the show!

She was running away so her picture could not be taken

Riding the Daddy horse!

Once again...running from the camera

She loves to throw things out the top of the ball pit...this time it was Ming-Ming!

Feliz Cumpleanos, Feliz Cumpleanos!

Yesterday we had Calla's 2nd Birthday Party! It was such a good time!! On Friday night, Calla helped me make the chocolate cake and she just loves being on the counter and in the mess with me...I hope she continues her love for helping in the kitchen!
My parents, Shane, Burlynn, and Jed came out earlier in the day on Saturday, so we all got to play before the big party. We all got in our respective vehicles to go to lunch and Calla was bawling in our car b/c she wanted Burlynn and Burlynn was bawling in my parents' car b/c she wanted Calla...we seriously went 2 blocks is all! When we got there they both were smiling and so happy b/c the other was there...what funny girls!
We had a nice group at the party...I think there were 22 people here, a packed house, but so fun! Calla received some fun things and the first thing she said to me this morning was, "I wanna play balls and stroller!" She came to the living room and crawled in her ball pit and then grabbed the stroller and a baby and she keeps going back and forth between the two!
Calla also got a swing set for our back yard...I can hardly wait until it warms up so that we can put it together. In the meantime, we also got a membership to the Children's Museum so we can hang out there!
It really is amazing to me that we are at her 2nd birthday already. Amazing! That is how I will sum up her life so far. She truly is such a bright spot in our lives and we love to watch her mature everyday. She learns new words each hour some days and always is trying new things w/out too much coaxing. Enjoy all the pics from her fun party!

Modeling her new Minnie pajamas and slippers!

Playing with the Diego ball pit

Burlynn playing in the ball pit

Calla, Elly, Courtney, and Burlynn playing together

Calla with her Minnie cookie

Wonder Pets, Wonder Pets We're on our way!! Linny and Ming-Ming

She was so excited to open presents!

She loved the huge Minnie balloon too!

Mixing up the cake!

Intense baking!

In the meadow we can build a SNOWMAN!!!

Calla got to play in the snow today for the first time! She had played with snow in a bowl while in the house a few times, but never actually got to walk around and play...she had a great time!! We even built our first Ripp Family Snowman!!!
We celebrated a great Valentine's Day yesterday and got to spend some time together at the Children's Museum...it is so nice to have that available in our little town. Thanks for checking in on us and enjoy our snow pictures.

Styling with her snow boots and mini skirt!

She wore her swimming suit over her pajamas to bed one night!

Thanks for playing in the snow Daddy!

Our little snowman!

All bundled up and ready to go

Pictures!

We have nothing exciting to post, but thought I would share a few pictures. Enjoy your day!

We found this dress when going through her closet on Sunday and she insists on wearing it...along with the white shoes that are too big!

She had a little marshmallow cream on her face!

Having a carpet picnic with herself! She set this up without any help from us.

Didn't realize it had been so long...

Since I had blogged! Yikes...I guess we have been busy or something! Calla continues to be amazing. She has started potty training at daycare and so far has pooped once there and went potty once at home...I think it's going to be a while!
Today we went to see Playhouse Disney Live and LOVED IT! Calla can not get enough Minnie Mouse and this time Tigger and Pooh were also there. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the tickets! It was a great time!!!
Most of the pictures are from the show, we really have not had the camera out much since Christmas...I think we got burnt out! Thanks for checking in and we will update after our fun with Gina and Brenda (and their families) next weekend!!

Leaving the show...she was so excited!

At the show...this was the best picture I could get!

The whole gang at their Music Party

Daddy and Calla before church this morning. She handed me the camera and said "Cheese Mommy!"