Skip to main content

Coconut Oatmeal for Dinner?

So many of my Facebook friends participated in the "gratitude" challenge. No one tagged me in it, and I was glad for several reasons that aren't relevant to this post. Despite my reluctance to jump in, I thoroughly enjoyed reading what everyone wrote and forced myself to privately count my own blessings each day.

As you all know, some days are easier than others.

I went back to work this week, grateful for the opportunity to have a regular paycheck again. However, I was under the impression that I would get paid Friday. I planned all my summer money around being paid Friday. Friday came and went, and my bank account remained exactly the same. So now I'm scrambling, frantically trying to finish some freelance work and making deals with relatives to borrow just enough to cover the bills that I must absolutely pay before I get my next check.

Fortunately, I'm resourceful, and my God watches over me. I have half a tank of gas, a $25 gift card, and food in my house.

I'm always amazed by people who are picky eaters. Sure, there are foods I don't really care for, but I've never been one to say, "I will starve before I eat that." This morning I cooked a cup of rice and added a jar of mushroom gravy. That became breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack along with a pot of coffee.

One of my friends and I were joking that "mushroom gravy is hitting the bottom," and I proceeded to catalog all the food in my house.

2 New York strip steaks
1 bag of scallops
1 box of quinoa
3 or 4 jars of canned beans
2 jars of canned spinach
1 bottle of V8
2 individual servings of applesauce
protein powder
grated coconut
oatmeal
chicken drumstricks
tomato sauce
garlic
onions
chia seeds
flax seeds
brussel sprouts
1 can coconut milk
olive oil
butter
2 jars Heinz chicken gravy
1 jar Heinz beef gravy

I stopped and thought, "You know, I think I'll be eating better this week than I normally do." I can make pollo guisado, steak and quinoa, oatmeal with applesauce and coconut, chia crackers, and beans with grains. If I find some serious motivation, I may even make my own bread rolls since I have flour and other baking ingredients.

I hope that even after I manage to climb out of the financial hole that plagues teachers at the beginning of each school year I can continue preparing and eating well. I'm also preparing myself to correct my finances so this doesn't happen again. It's time to actually rebuild the $1000 emergency fund that Dave Ramsey recommends we all have on hand.

And that gratitude thing? I'm grateful that I have a grandmother who impressed on me the importance of keeping on hand food at all times. You don't think about it until you need it, but when you need, it feels so good to have it.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Reflections on 2006

At some point near the end of December, I chronicle some of the major events of the passing year. I've been doing this since I was 13, and although it still seems a little hokey to me, I'll do this again for 2006. I started 2006 as a completely different person than the one sitting before my computer now typing these random thoughts. I speak my mind more (although still not enough). I've stood up for myself by saying no to people I love and refusing to eat potato chips just because they were "there". I actually purchased...and wore...and took a picture in a sleeveless shirt. I saw both the emergency room and Cancun during the middle of the night (and they both make fascinating stories). I started a whole new year of teaching and finally realized that it's not my calling. I learned that people are human just like me, and that it's okay to open up to them. In that vein, I've cultivated some amazing friendships with some truly wonderful women. I've se...

Running

Sunday night, after the sun set, I found myself in my front yard with Winnipeg. Something snapped under my feet, and I started running as fast as I could...wearing flip flops. And it felt so good to feel my legs push my body forward as my feet touched and lifted off the ground. My lungs filled with air. Good air that they have been craving. I felt like I was flying. Dogs are the perfect companion for such random moments, and she jumped right into the game. She's a faster runner than I am, and she can be a bit frightening to watch barreling forward because you think she won't stop. But she usually does. I'm still smiling at the thought of me and my dog running like maniacs in the front yard. As fast as we could. And laughing loudly. And not caring who might have seen it. Feet touch ground. Lift off. Pushes me forward. Flying. Lungs fill with air. Exhale. Pushes me forward. Satiated. Legs jump in the night. Dodges. Pushes me forward. Delight. Here there is no finish line. We ...

On Muchness

A dear friend confessed to me last night that he had lost his muchness and found it again. I confessed the same and even admitted the ridiculous series of events that recently sapped my own muchness. That little confession seemed to do wonders. It's so easy to fall out of step with myself. In fact, I do it quite naturally. Growing up in a Christian home, I took to heart the instructions to love my neighbor more than I love myself. Oh, wait! I just checked the scripture. "Love your neighbor as yourself." I may have been doing this the wrong way. I ended 2010 with the resolution that I would no longer make decisions out of fear. I am starting 2011 with the resolution to make decisions based on what I want. I've struggled with this because I've always believed that I should consider the needs and wants of others before my own. I'd like to think this is a valiant approach, but the truth is that it only leads to martyrdom...and I don't think I was given the opp...