Groceries & Meals

Hello, dear ones!

We've had some requests for information regarding dietary restrictions and opportunities to support us with meals after our baby girl is born. We've compiled some ideas and information here since Rebecca's dietary restrictions make it difficult for us to safely receive homemade meals from family and friends. Thank you so much for your interest in serving us in this way! We appreciate you!

Love,

Tim & Rebecca

Gift Card Options

• Tim would appreciate gift cards for Chipotle as a treat for himself while he takes care of Mom and Baby.
• We eat some very specifically-ordered meals from California Pizza Kitchen and would love a gift card to order takeout in these first few months.
• We shop for groceries at Mariano's and we order some items from Amazon to keep our kitchen stocked.
• We would enjoy Starbucks gift cards as we like to take walks to get coffee some early mornings.

Rebecca's Dietary Restrictions

Here's the list of foods to which Rebecca reacts negatively. Please DO NOT purchase any foods containing these ingredients:

• Gluten (Wheat, Barley, Rye, Malt, Triticale, Semolina, Kamut, Seitan, Flour, Bulgur, Brewer's yeast, etc.)
• Most grains (Quinoa, Oat, Buckwheat, Teff, Millet, Sorghum, Amaranth, Spelt, Freekeh, Farro, Fonio)
• She eats White Rice and Corn!
• Reactions to these grains make many "gluten free" breads, snacks, pastas, and desserts off limits
• Nightshades (Tomato, Potato, Eggplant, Bell Pepper, Spicy Peppers, Paprika, Chili Powder, Other pepper-derived sauces and seasonings)
• Note: Sweet Potato and Black or White Pepper seasonings are okay
• Note: Ingredient lists may refer to nightshades as "Potato Starch", "Other Seasonings", "Natural Flavors", "Spice"

Bring Us a Meal

If you want to supply us with a specific set of groceries to make a meal, here are some ideas. If you bring the groceries, we’ll cook the meal!

Breakfast

• Rebecca's Breakfast
• Oscar Mayer Natural Bacon
• Kraft or Kroger Cheddar Cheese Block or Slice
• Eggs - Cage Free Brown
• Rice or Ener-G Classic White Rice Bread
• Organic Girl Baby Spinach
• Whole Bean Coffee - Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
• Tim's Breakfast
• Banana
• Cereal
• Apple Cinnamon Cheerios (family size)
• Chocolate Chex
• Honey Nut Chex
• Rice Chex (family size)
• Yogurt

Lunch

• Rebecca's Lunch
• Salad
• EPIC Bacon Bits
• Blueberries
• Cucumber
• Eggland's Best Hard Boiled Eggs - Cage Free
• Pearls Organic Pitted Kalamata Olives
• Lettuce
• Organic Girl Baby Spinach
• Option 1: Sandwich
• Hillshire Farm Honey Ham Deli Meat
• Kraft White Cheddar Cheese Slices
• Kroger Dill Hamburger Pickles
• Ener-G Classic White Rice Bread
• Sir Kensington's Dijon Mustard
• Sir Kensington's Vegan Mayonnaise
• Option 2: 
• Tres Foods Pupusas - Spinach
• Tim's Lunch
• Sandwich
• Kraft Swiss Cheese Slice
• Lettuce
• Mustard
• Ener-G Classic White Rice Bread
• Turkey Deli Meat
• Xótchitl Tortilla Chips

Dinner

• Chicken Wings
• Chicken Wings
• Sweet Potatoes or Rice
• Vegetable: Brussels Sprouts or Asparagus or Green Beans
• Pasta
• Eggs - Cage Free Brown
• Kraft Shredded Parmesan Cheese
• Organic Girl Baby Spinach
• Tinkyada Elbow Brown Rice Pasta
• Ribs
• Ribs
• Green Beans
• Rice
• Salmon
• Rice
• Salmon Fillet
• Vegetable: Mixed Vegetables or Brussels Sprouts or Asparagus or Green Beans
• Shrimp Fried Rice
• Eggs - Cage Free Brown
• Garlic
• Honey
• Lemon Juice
• Rice
• Shrimp (Fully Cooked, Tail On)
• Simple Truth Organic Tamari Sauce
• Steak
• Steak
• Sweet Potatoes
• Vegetable: Broccoli or Asparagus
• Stew
• Beef
• Celery
• Garlic
• Kale
• Onion
• Radishes
• Rice
• Sweet Potatoes
• Whole Carrots
• Tacos
• Avocados
• Beef Taco Meat
• Kraft or Kroger Cheddar Cheese Block
• Mission White Corn Tortillas
• Lettuce
• Limes
• Onion

Groceries By Brand & Section

Here's a list of the groceries that we typically buy arranged by the sections of the store (based on the Mariano's in Bronzeville, Chicago). We've included underlined brand names where applicable.

Produce

• Apples
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Celery
• Cucumbers
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Green Beans
• Kale
• Lemons
• Lemon Juice
• Lettuce
• Limes
• Lime Juice
• Onion
• Organic Girl Baby Spinach
• Peaches
• Plantains
• Radishes
• Strawberries
• Sweet Potatoes
• Whole Carrots

Cans & Jars

• Canned Green Beans
• Canned Mixed Vegetables
• Canned Pineapples
• Canned Peaches
• Coconut Oil - Refined
• Honey (squeeze bottle)
• JIF Natural Peanut Butter
• Kroger Dill Hamburger Pickles
• Kroger Sweet Gherkin Pickles
• Organic Raisins
• Pearls Organic Pitted Kalamata Olives
• Simple Truth Organic Grape Jam
• Tuna (wild caught)

Gluten Free Aisle

• Dandies Marshmallows
• Ener-G Classic White Rice Bread
• EPIC Bacon Bits
• Tinkyada Elbow Brown Rice Pasta

Beverage Aisle

• Welch's Grape Juice
• Tart Cherry Juice

Cereal Aisle

• Apple Cinnamon Cheerios (family size)
• Chocolate Chex
• Honey Nut Chex
• Larabar - Cherry Pie
• Larabar - Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
• Rice Chex (family size)

Condiments, Sauces, & Seasonings

Note: seasonings must be single-ingredient and pure. Look out for warnings that it may contain Wheat, etc.

• Cinnamon
• Cumin
• Distilled White Vinegar (small bottle)
• Distilled White Vinegar (gallon jug)
• Garlic Powder
• Italian Seasoning
• Olive Oil
• Onion Powder
• Oregano
• Morton Extra Coarse Sea Salt
• Sir Kensington's Vegan Mayonnaise
• Sir Kensington's Dijon Mustard
• Simple Truth Organic Tamari Sauce
• Sugar in the Raw

Other Dry Goods

• Mission White Corn Tortillas
• Pinto Beans
• White Rice

Baking & Coffee Aisle

• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
• Bigelow Chamomile Tea
• Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Whole Bean Coffee

Snack Aisle

• Almonds
• El Milagro Tortilla Chips
• Skinny Pop Microwave Popcorn
• Quaker Rice Cakes (plain)
• Xótchitl Tortilla Chips

Refrigerated

• 2% Organic Milk
• Butter - Unsalted Sticks
• Eggland's Best Hard Boiled Eggs - Cage Free
• Eggs - Cage Free Brown
• GTs Living Foods Original Kombucha
• Hillshire Farm Honey Ham Deli Meat
• Kerrygold Salted Butter (rectangle block)
• Kraft or Kroger Cheddar Cheese Block
• Kraft Cheddar Cheese Slices
• Kraft Shredded Parmesan Cheese
• Kraft White Cheddar Cheese Slices
• Oscar Mayer Natural Bacon
• Oscar Mayer Oven Roasted Turkey Deli Meat
• Yogurt (Unsweetened plain or vanilla)

Frozen

• Bubba Burgers
• Caulipower Pizza Crust
• Katz Glazed Donuts
• Organic Blueberries
• Organic Strawberries
• SoDelicious Strawberry Ice Cream
• Tres Foods Pupusas - Spinach

Meat

Note: We do not buy from the fresh meat counter because of an increased risk of cross-contact with pre-seasoned food.

• Beef (for stew)
• Chicken Wings
• Ground Beef
• Perdue Gluten Free Breaded Chicken
• Ribs
• Steak
• Taco Meat (Beef labeled as such)

Seafood (Pre-Packaged)

Note: We do not buy from the fresh seafood counter because of an increased risk of cross-contact with pre-seasoned food.

• Salmon Fillet
• Shrimp (Fully Cooked, Tail On)

Brand Photos

In case it's helpful as you shop for us, here are photos of some key brands that we know are safe:

Organic Girl Baby Spinach

JIF Natural Peanut Butter

Kroger Dill Hamburger Pickles

Kroger Sweet Gherkin Pickles

Pearls Organic Pitted Kalamata Olives

Simple Truth Organic Grape Jam

Dandies Marshmallows

Ener-G Classic White Rice Bread

EPIC Bacon Bits

Tinkyada Elbow Brown Rice Pasta

Welch's Grape Juice

Apple Cinnamon Cheerios

Chocolate Chex

Honey Nut Chex

Rice Chex

Larabar - Cherry Pie

Larabar - Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

Morton Extra Coarse Sea Salt

Sir Kensington's Vegan Mayonnaise

Sir Kensington's Dijon Mustard

Simple Truth Organic Tamari Sauce

Sugar in the Raw

Mission White Corn Tortillas

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

Bigelow Chamomile Tea

El Milagro Tortilla Chips

Skinny Pop Microwave Popcorn

Quaker Rice Cakes

Xótchitl Tortilla Chips

Eggland's Best Hard Boiled Eggs - Cage Free

GTs Living Foods Original Kombucha

Hillshire Farm Honey Ham Deli Meat

Kerrygold Salted Butter (rectangle block)

Kraft or Kroger Cheddar Cheese Block

             

Kraft Cheddar Cheese Slices

Kraft Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Kraft White Cheddar Cheese Slices

Oscar Mayer Natural Bacon

Oscar Mayer Oven Roasted Turkey Deli Meat

Bubba Burgers

Caulipower Pizza Crust

Katz Glazed Donuts

SoDelicious Strawberry Ice Cream

Tres Foods Pupusas - Spinach

Querétaro Mission Update #2

¡Hola de Chicago!
(Hello from Chicago!)

We've been back home from Mexico and New York for almost two weeks and we have some updates for you.

General Updates

• We're thanking God that we were completely funded to go on this trip. And we thank you for your prayers and financial support!
• Rebecca had a busy but successful work trip in New York following our return from Mexico. After completing work responsibilities, we had a great time celebrating her 27th birthday and exploring NYC.
• Rebecca did have some food reactions but is healing well and enjoyed our travels anyway.
• Tim did a great job working with the New Life Community Church administration team to manage the team money throughout the trip. We didn't run out of funds and he kept everything very organized to cover food, lodging, transportation, and a donation to the church and orphanage.

Mission Activities

• We helped to organize and operate a Vacation Bible School program at Pan de Vida for three days. There were about eighty children from the orphanage and neighborhood nearby who participated. Our missionary team, leaders from the church, and the staff at the orphanage all worked together to have each group rotate through four stations. The stations consisted of making crafts, playing games, drawing, and teaching Bible verses. Both of us served as team leaders and we went to each station with our assigned group each day. It was a joy to get to know each child and spend time with them consistently throughout the program.
• One of our goals was to train and support the leaders of the recent church plant (Nueva Vida Querétaro) as they prepare to continue VBS programs in the future with and without mission teams. We all learned a lot and we're confident that they're equipped to continue the work.
• We spent time with the orphanage staff and church members doing devotionals and Bible studies, sharing testimonies, worshiping together, playing sports and making bracelets with the kids. A couple of people on our team work as hair stylists and gave haircuts to many of the kids.
• We spent another two days doing a smaller Vacation Bible School program at Nueva Vida Querétaro with about thirty kids from the neighborhood and church. We also spent a day doing projects around the church such as cleaning, organizing, and doing yardwork.
• We enjoyed fellowship with some Nueva Vida members as we attended a church service that was followed by a potluck that the church hosts once a month.

Prayer Requests for Querétaro

• That the people of Querétaro would hear the Gospel and receive Christ.
• For God to raise up new and faithful leaders to serve in the church.
• That each child at Pan de Vida would come to know the Lord's love for him or her and that they would seek to know God in return.

Love,

Tim & Rebecca

Querétaro Mission Update #1

Hello again!

We leave for Querétaro in less than three days and we have some updates for you.

Our Preparation

• We're thanking God for bringing in the remainder of the money we needed to cover the cost for us to participate in this mission! Yay! As of Sunday night we're good to go.
• We are working on our packing strategy. Rebecca has to leave for a work trip to New York the day after we return from Mexico. Tim will join her in New York a couple days later. So we really need to pack for two trips at once!
• We're also planning snacks we can bring along that fit within Rebecca's prescribed diet.
• Tim is working with the New Life Community Church administration team to manage the team money throughout the trip.

Team Preparation

• The team is still short close to $3,000 of the money that we'll need to cover expenses. Please consider giving (the same way you gave to us) to help us meet this team goal! Our original mission letter with giving instructions can be found here.
• We are also seeking donations of 60 combs for children at the Casa Hogar Pan de Vida orphanage and 10 metal combs for removing lice. Please send us an email to let us know if you are able to help with this!

What are We Going to Do?

In case you missed it, we're going to:

• Play games and direct Bible-based activities with neighborhood children and orphans who live at Casa Hogar Pan de Vida
• Share Christ's message with members of the community
• Offer training and support to the leaders of the recent church plant: Nueva Vida Querétaro
• Tim will serve as the team's Finance Administrator which means he'll manage the team's money and report back to the church regarding all of our expenses.

Prayer Requests

• For team fundraising. Please pray that God will provide the money to cover everyone's team travel and expenses.
• That each of us on the team will seek God's kingdom first as we go and that we would be flexible and faithful servants.
• For safety as we travel and for unity within our team!
• That the people of Queretaro would hear the Gospel and receive Christ.
• For Rebecca to have access to sufficient and safe food. Eating while traveling can be very challenging due to her reactions to certain foods.

Keeping in Touch

We plan to continue to post trip updates on this blog while in Mexico and when we return. Feel free to reach out to us by email any time and also at our Google Voice phone number (872.588.1081) during the trip.

Love,

Tim & Rebecca

We're Going on a Mission!

Hi, everyone!

We're getting ready to leave for Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico next week (August 4) and we have some updates about our fundraising and prayer requests:

Updates

• Praise God for bringing together a team of thirteen eager servants for this work!
• We're thanking God for bringing in $1,680.00 in support for the two of us. We only need $520 more at the time of this post!

In case you missed it, you can read a letter about our trip and how to make donations here.

Prayer Requests

• For team fundraising. As of Sunday, we were short about $3,000 of the money that we'll need for team travel and expenses.
• That each of us on the team will seek God's kingdom first as we go and that we would be flexible and faithful servants.
• For safety as we travel and for unity within our team!
• That the people of Queretaro would hear the Gospel and receive Christ.
• For Rebecca to have access to sufficient and safe food. Eating while traveling can be very challenging due to her reactions to certain foods.

What are We Going to Do?

• Play games and direct Bible-based activities with neighborhood children and orphans who live at Casa Hogar Pan de Vida
• Share Christ's message with members of the community
• Offer training and support to the leaders of the recent church plant: Nueva Vida Queretaro 
• Tim will serve as the team's Finance Administrator (We'll let you know what that means when we find out!)

2017 Queretaro Team

Keeping in Touch

We plan to post trip updates on this blog while in Mexico (if there's time!) and when we return. Feel free to reach out to us by email any time and also by Google Voice (872.588.1081) during the trip.

Love,

Tim & Rebecca

Photo Book

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Hotel Information for Wedding Travel

We have reserved a block of rooms at the Ann Arbor Regent Hotel and Suites. There are other hotels near this one that would be suitable for your visit as well. Here's the information we've gathered:

Ann Arbor Regent Hotel and Suites
Phone: 734.973.6100
Rate: around $114 per night
Address: 2455 Carpenter Rd Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Comfort Inn and Suites
Phone: 734.477.9977
Rate: starting around $90 per night
Address: 2376 Carpenter Rd Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Days Inn Ann Arbor
Phone: 734.971.0700
Rate: starting around $60 per night
Address: 2380 Carpenter Rd Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Email Rebecca at rdrodgers21@gmail.com with any questions.

We hope to see you 2 months from today!