Mandy and Jace

If you know me at all you would know that I am a little high maintenance (ok, very high maintenance). I like my hair products and tools, make up and my Tempurpedic mattress. So when I was asked by my best friend, Jamie if I wanted to go on a missions trip to Kenya to do women’s ministry I initially laughed it off and went on my way. Then something got a hold of me.

The night before Jamie asked me to go, I was laying in bed thinking about how fed up I was with Christians who were quick to judge and tell people what they were doing wrong, but wouldn’t back it up with their actions. I was begging God to change me and to open new doors for me to act on my faith and really do something worth while. I was thinking he would open a window or something, NOT A GARAGE DOOR! A couple of minutes after Jamie asked me to go I felt God remind me of my prayer, and then this unbelievable desire to go to Africa washed over me. I am so excited to have the opportunity to do something few people get to do and bless others in the process.

I will be going with Firewind ministries to Kenya in January to minister to the women in the Maasai tribe. We will be showing them how to deepen their relationship with God and teaching them the Word. Also, we will be giving them some tips and tools on how to keep a clean and healthy home and village.

Here’s where I’ll need help. First, I need your prayers. Like I said this is something new to me, and I already have some doubts and fears that I know are not of God. Please pray for my peace of mind. Also, I need help financially. I know that this is in God’s will so I’m trusting that the money will come from somewhere. I will be doing quite a few fund raisers to get the money, also a big part will come from donations from wonderful people like you. Not only would you be contributing to my trip but you are also be pouring into these women that I will be ministering to. My prayer is that God will lay it on people’s hearts to help me raise the funds to go on this adventure. If you would like to help I would greatly appreciate it. If you need any more information I will be glad to let you know all that I know; also, if you need my contact information I can get that to you through email. You can email me at mandy (at) mandyandjace.com. Thank you all in advance and I will keep everyone updated on my entire adventure here on the blog!

If you are reading this in your google reader or something of that sort and have two posts today disregard the first post. I got button happy and hit publish too soon



Can you believe it’s already May??? It feels like it was just Christmas. It also feels like it is Christmas. Why is it so cold? I just switched my closet from winter to summer clothes and reset the thermostat to the AC. Welcome to West Texas.

I have a lot of exciting news that I’ll be sharing this week (no, I’m not pregnant! Don’t jump to conclusions people). I am embarking on a new opportunity that is very unlike me and I’m very excited to share it with all of you, so stay tuned.

Here’s this week’s meal plan.

Tonight: pinto beans, cornbread and fried zucchini
Tuesday: pork tacos with refried beans
Wednesday: chicken pot pie
Thursday: take out after practice
Friday: date night

Happy eating!

This sweet and colorful sauce is good on almost anything. You can make it with any berry you have on hand. We’ve made it with raspberries before and it was amazing. You can pour it over cheesecake, ice cream, brownies or do like I do and just eat it with a spoon.



Strawberry Coulis
1 carton of fresh strawberries (or any other berries), cut into small pieces
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons lemon zest
small pinch of salt

Put all ingredients into a pan. Stir together. Let it cook at a low simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep a close watch on it because it can boil over very quickly. I have to turn the heat up and down through the process. When it has cooked down to a thick syrup pour the mixture into a strainer over a bowl. With a spoon press the strawberry mixture through the strainer making sure you get all of the liquid heaven into the bowl. Discard the fruit and let the coulis cool. When cool move to a Tupperware or squeeze bottle. Serve on top of anything and everything.

We had an excellent Easter weekend. Jace’s family was in town so it was great getting everyone together for the first time in a long time. We are both blessed with the most amazing families and it always blows me away when we get all of any of the families into one room. I am blessed that I love my second family just as much as I love my first family.

Sunday was a roller coaster of a day. We started out the day saying bye to Jace’s family VERY early then going back to bed. I miscalculated when I needed to get up and we were running very late for church. After a couple of other small annoying problems we finally made it there. Church turned out great we had 36 salvations and a fun Easter egg hunt for the kids. We went home and napped and when I woke up my mom called and said our family dog, Lucky, ran away from home. We all drove around looking for him and we pretty scared. Then mom got a call from a lady accross town saying she had Lucky and was bringing him home! He had a little adventure and was found almost across town. We spent the rest of the night lounging and doing odds and ends around the house. It was a little bumpy but all-in-all a wonderful Easter.

Here’s this week’s meal plan.
Tonight: beef fajita quesadillas and tex-mex rice
Tuesday: baked ziti (recipe to come)
Wednesday: not sure yet
Thursday: take out night
Friday: date night

Happy eating!