Here is what we've been eating this past week:
Wednesday: Orange chicken and rice (the orange chicken from Costco, from a box, GASP)
Thursday: Ruebens and pasta salad
Friday: Flank Steak Fajitas
Saturday: Tortellini with tomato cream sauce and salad (recipe below)
Sunday: Mexican Corn and Bean soup with cornbread
Monday: Calzone with Salad
Tuesday: Pulled Pork Sandwiches, baked beans, salad
The tortellini was wonderful! I got it out of my Taste of Home Simple and Delicious magazine this month
Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce ( don't have a picture, too busy)
1 pkg (16oz) frozen cheese tortellini (I used buitoni's fresh cheese tortellini)
1 small onion, chopped
2 T olive oil
3 garlic cloves
1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Additional cheese for sprinkling
Cook tortellini according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add the tomatoes, spinach, basil, salt and pepper. Cook and stir over medium heat until liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Stir in cream and cheese. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 8-10 minutes or until thickened. Drain tortellini; toss with sauce. Sprinkle with additional cheese.
So on to bigger things than food. Once again our family has been reminded of how cruel this world can be. This week we found out that Case's identity has been stolen. Someone is using his social security number. I was sick. I was angry. I questioned why this happened on top of everything else. Isn't it bad enough that our baby died, now someone steals his identity to make money? Well, we can't let it go on. Reese made a lot of phone calls and filed a police report, we will see what comes of it.
Today my devotional really hit home, especially after finding all this out. The author of the book had two infants die because of a fatal genetic disorder. I am going to type the whole thing out because I think it is the best way I've seen someone describe why it is we suffer.
"Many people have asked David and me if we believe God "chose" us to have two children with a fatal syndrome, sometimes adding that they believe "God knows whom he can trust with these things." But that has never rung true with me. All I have to do is look around and I realize that human suffering surrounds me- regardless of whether or not those who suffer are people of faith.
While we firmly believe that nothing comes into our lives that does not pass through the sovereign hands of God, we don't believe that God picked us out for this. The fact that we have had two children with this fatal syndrome is the natural result of two parents who have the genetic predisposition for it. We live in a world where sin has taken root and corrupted everything- even our genetic code.
Death, disease, destruction- much of the evil that happens in this world, in your world, in my world- are the results of living in a world that is under a curse. And so some of the suffering that you and I experience is the natural result of living in a fallen, broken world. Faith does not insulate us from this. Romans 5 :12 helps us understand: "When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned."
This world is broken, and we regularly experience that brokenness in the form of suffering. So we should expect natural disasters, deadly viruses, defective genes- because this world is broken and will continue to be broken until the return of Christ. he will usher in a new era with a new heaven and a new earth that is no longer cursed like the one we are living in now. In your search for a cause for your suffering, could it be simply that the brokenness of this world had touched you personally and painfully?" (from the One Year Book of Hope by Nancy Guthrie)
I think this answers all my questions as to why has all this happened. I live in a broken world. But....I have this verse on my refrigerator, it sums up what we as Christians have to look forward to.
"And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4
And because I can't post without a picture and because Estelle is so adorable, here is a picture of her :)
