Parking lot of grace

Last week I stopped to fill up my car with gas. Side note: to me, the gas light comes on to tell you it is time to  stop at the nearest gas station and fill up, obviously. To my husband, who never lets it get below a quarter tank, it is a ticking time-bomb just waiting to blow up and put me, on the side of the highway, stranded with no gas and no hope. The fact that I let it get so low drives him crazy, which is partly why I continue to do so (cue evil laugh...muahahaha). Anyways, I stopped to fill up, watched the numbers tick by way too quickly on the price side and way too slowly on the gallon side, and was prompted to decide whether or not I wanted a receipt. Although I always say "yes", they inevitably end up somewhere in the car only to be thrown out with other trash (no..."treasures") that collect in the crevices of the dear Rav4. This time, like many times, the words "Please get receipt from inside" or something along those lines flashed across the screen and this time, like many times, I decided that required way too much effort and instead got in my car and left. How many of us do that?? When a slip of paper requires a short walk across the parking lot rather than being handed directly to us where we stand waiting, we decide it is just not worth it. I had a moment when I pulled out of that parking lot when I realized not only my own laziness but how grateful I am the Lord does not treat us like that receipt! He waited for generations for His people to come back to Him. He was right there. And yet people were difficult. They were rebellious. They were sinful and disobedient. They didn't come right to Him like a receipt shot out of an automated machine. And yet the Lord didn't decide to just leave when it required too much effort. He decided to rescue us the only way possible - by sending His perfect and only Son to the cross where every other person should have hung instead. He not only walked across a parking lot for me, He picked me up, washed me clean, and saved my life. And the best part...He wants that for every single person that lives and breathes on this earth.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8

A couple weeks ago I tried out this recipe from Skinnytaste.com. It was really taste and share-worthy. Plus no matter what comes from that website, since everything is "skinny", I feel the ability...nay, the obligation, to eat twice as much. Does that negate the point? Not in my logical world!! And of course, my versions are never quite as "skinny" due to the fact I have normal ingredients.

Lighter Baked Macaroni and Cheese

From: skinnytaste.com

12 oz high fiber elbows (I used whole wheat penne)

1 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp light butter (I used 2 Tbsp of regular, good ol' butter)

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup minced onion

2 cups skim milk

1 cup fat free chicken broth

8 oz. cheddar (she used reduced fat...who are we kidding? We eat regular cheese. Amen.)

Salt and Pepper

4 cups baby spinach (I gave mine a rough chop)

1/8 cup grated Parmesan

1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Cooking spray

1. Cook pasta in salted water according to the package directions. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a large skillet, melt butter. Add flour and cook over a low heat, stirring with a whisk. Add onions and cook another 2 minutes. Add milk and chicken broth and continue whisking, raising the heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil and becomes smooth and thick. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Once it becomes thick, remove from heat and add cheese. Mix well until cheese is melted and adjust seasonings if needed. Add cooked macaroni and baby spinach.

4. Pour into baking dish. Top with grated Parmesan and bread crumbs. Spray a little more cooking spray on top. Bake for 15-20 minutes, then broil for a few to get the topping golden.

Well my attempt at organization with meal planning last week actually paid off! And we actually ate all those meals listed! Although, we did have a leftover night so I moved the tacos to Cinco de Mayo which worked out perfecto...ole! Okay that was really cheesy...moving on. The BBQ Beer Chicken in the crockpot was an instant fave and we will definitely be making that again! The Mexican Stuffed Shells were also awesome as were the Pioneer Woman's meatball sliders. I am going to do the same this week and plan out ahead of time. How many times do you have to do something to make it a habit? Let's hope two.

Monday - Cheesy Tortellini Spinach Bake  (I pinned this then had the sneaky feeling I may have made this before...obviously it's been too long!)

Tuesday - Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken

Wednesday - Perfect Potato Soup (perfect way to use up some potatoes before they sprout eyes and creep me out)

Thursday - Spicy Bean and Rice Burritos