Bible Study

I am so excited... I'm getting ready to start a new Bible study, and I can't wait to dive in! It's an inductive study by Kay Arthur, and if anyone else is interested, it is called Opening the Windows of Blessing - a study of Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi.

I'd love to hear your feed back if you begin studying this book, and I want to know how God is blessing you through this study!

And you can be assured that I'll be sharing my own opinions!

You can find other Kay Arthur inductive Bible studies here:

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=62693&sp=1025&event=1025SBF241435

It Aint Easy Being Cheesey

It just aint.

Someone at my job ... I'm not sure who ... went out and purchased a wholesale club size package of Cheetos cheese puffs, and poured it into one of those huge clear empty pretzel tubs, and set it by my cube.

Frankly, I'm pretty ticked off about this. So are my hips.

I would gladly thank whoever placed those here, to MOVE them before I am forced to EAT them all.

Oh, my stars, but they are delicious. And, since they are mostly made of air, they can't be all that bad, can they!?

Does anyone know how to remove the orange cheese stain from your finger nails? Someone here was asking, that's all... thanks!

Happy Birthday, Son!

Today, Hunter turns 4, and we are just amazed at all the changes we see in him. He is becoming a big boy so quickly!

This weekend, we took Hunter to Lancaster for a fun-filled weekend. We had an awesome time, and really enjoyed every moment we had with our wonderful, joyful son. It is amazing to think that in a blink of an eye they grow so fast... but they do. And it brings a tear to both our eyes!

We can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for Hunter. Everything he does, he does with amazing zeal, and we pray that he continue to capture his relationship with Jesus with that same zeal!

We love you so much Hunter! Happy Birthday, little stinky-boy-buddy!

Love Daddy and Mommy

What a Discovery!

Hold the phone!

I think I've made an earth-shattering, mind-blowing discovery.

In fact, I’m certain that NO ONE has ever connected the dots and these thoughts are original and come after years and years of my own proven scientific research. Therefore, I present to you, that these findings should be published in the New England Medical Journal of Medicine… by me, GiBee, Google Doctor of Medicine!

Ehem. Here it goes…

Aspartame is addictive.

Silence… crickets chirping…

Okay. Maybe I didn't say it loud enough…

ASPARTAME IS ADDICTIVE!

Or maybe GiBee has an addictive personality? Sadly, that could very well be!

Anyway, at first, I thought it was Diet Coke that was addictive. I blamed it all on the caffeine in the soda. I couldn't go one day without the stuff, and if I did, I’d be jonesing like a junkie trying to catch a score. Or score a catch. Or something like that.

But for numerous reasons that will remain unpublished, after I had my Gal Bladder removed, I found that I was no longer able to tolerate caffeine. It came to a head when I had my ankle surgery and had to rely on easy-to-fix-and-carry drinks (like a bottle of water).

Have I mentioned how much I hate water? Yeah. I know its good for you, but I still hate it.

In comes Crystal Light on-the-go packets. Oh, my word. What a revolutionary twist for water. I know I’m slow on this, but as I mentioned before… I was addicted to diet coke.

Then I discovered that I no longer needed caffeine to function, but now I find that I consume vast, VAST quantities of … Crystal Light, which has no caffeine. Just Aspartame.

Coincidence?

Maybe.

But I’d say it’s pretty suspicious, wouldn't you?

Oh, all right - so maybe I'm not the first to discover this... but for heavens sake! I think manufacturers put it in their product on purpose!

I need to detox.

School and Modesty

So far, the fourth week of school is going very well, but the first three??? Not so well.

Hunter cried and cried and cried when I left him in the gym for before-school care. He ran out of the gym numerous times after me when I walked down the hall to leave. For two weeks this was my struggle. I was a half hour late to work every day.

The turning point was when the teacher that sat at the table checking children in came over and took him by the hand and suggested they play. That made him feel welcomed.

Now he whimpers a little and begs me not to go, but once someone engages him, he's off and has a great day at school. Praise GOD!

On another topic, I wanted to discuss modesty. A friend and fellow blogger, Jules from Everyday Mommy, was interviewed on Crosstalk. She was discussing Moms for Modesty. Jules originally began Mom's for Modesty back in 2006, and continues to move forward with this all-important topic. She did a fabulous job, and you can listen to the whole talk show here (and I encourage you to): http://www.crosstalkamerica.com/shows/2009/09/modesty.php

Like Jules, I don't have a daughter, and while the modest attire mostly impacts the way females dress and the inappropriate styles that designers create for the young girls, I must say that it also crosses over a little to the young men as well. The school my son goes to does have a uniform, but while Hunter is in pre-K, he is allowed to dress in "play" clothes. My husband and I have made a conscious decision to dress him in a "uniform" of sorts. I will only put him in long shorts or long slacks, and shirts that are either "polo" shirts, collared shirts, or turtle necks. Basically -- modest church clothes that mimics the school's uniform. The school doesn't allow the kids to wear shirts that have logos or sayings on them. I must say, that there are so many shirts with sayings on them that I will not put on my child because they are inappropriate. I have found, however, that I can purchase "uniform-like" clothing at Lands End at a fairly affordable price (solid shirts - long and short sleeved, slacks, shorts, sweat pants).

But when it comes to boys, the way you dress them isn't what I think is most important. I think it is more important what you teach your son about modesty. My husband is what I'd call my "modesty police," in that he always looks at my outfit and will let me know if he things it is too revealing or low cut. Needless to say, I'm my own hardest critic. I'm overweight, and shy about my figure. I would never, ever wear anything that I felt was inappropriate. But one thing I'm fully aware of is: My son looks at me and how I dress, and he will remember the examples that I'm setting now as to what is or isn't acceptable and/or Godly when he is considering dating a young girl in the future.

It is no secret that men are visual, and my husband and I need to teach my son how to avert his eyes, how to be polite but avoid girls that are immodest or provocative, and how to address it directly and immediately. But more importantly, I need to "practice" it... and fervently pray a hedge of protection around my son's eyes!

Each day I pray for my son's future wife. I pray that she be a Godly young woman with a firm foundation rooted in scripture, lovely in spirit, caring and loving to my son and their children, and modest and honorable.

Jules stated that "Modesty starts with the inward foundation," and one quote that Jules shared from her friend Elle really resounded in me: "When a woman takes the time, diligence and investment of will to properly attire her spirit with the strong spiritual foundations of God's truth, then her outward life and its example evidentially display those disciplined choices."

Very well said.

Whether you have a son or daughter, modesty matters.

Make a statement today. Please hop on over to Moms for Modesty and sign the petition!

Texting and Driving

If you don't do anything else today, please make sure you watch this video... then show it to your kids that drive... and their friends... and their friends. Then send the link to all of your friends that have kids that drive. Its only 15 minutes long. Fifteen minutes that will change the way you think about texting and driving. Please make sure you enlarge the video for the whole screen.

Then... for the love of Pete -- STOP TEXTING AND DRIVING.

My life is at risk.

So is yours.

Here's the link to the website: http://ut.zerofatalities.com/texting.php

Edited to add: I've had to remove the video because it continuously plays and was driving me NUTS, as I'm sure was doing so to everyone else. Just follow the link above. Thanks!

Fall Fever

I have really got a fever for the fall. I love everything about it... the crisp and cool days, the blue of the sky, the colors of the changing leaves, the apples, the pumpkins, the food and awesome recipes... Yep. I love it all. But nothing beats the delicious smell of wood burning in some one's fireplace!

So in honor of the official day of autumn being just around the corner, I'm going to share with you a delicious, out of this world recipe.

It is for my famous Apple Pie Bars. They are a hit each and every time I make them. I've made them for Dinner for a Dollar at church, pot lucks, our Church Thanksgiving dinner, holiday celebrations, and for neighborhood gatherings ... and let me just tell you ... the plate always comes back empty. Now, THAT'S the biggest compliment and acknowledgment of a "sure thing!" I got this recipe from Taste of Home -- ohmygoodness they are yummy and have a rich apple taste. The recipe yields a lot, but none will be left! I originally posted this last fall but thought I'd share them AGAIN -- yep. They are THAT good.

Prep Notes: The dough is a bit tricky, as it is very crumbly, so if you are a novice baker, might I recommend the pre-made pie dough they sell in rolls? Otherwise, you will want to use the dough recipe provided as it has a nice texture-flavor thing going on! Also, I used a small pizza dough rolling pin to roll it into the pan because I found it to be so crumbly. You might want to try rolling the top crust out in several pieces to make it easier to handle. Finally: this is a forgiving recipe, so if you "forget" (ehem!) certain ingredients (like the crisp rice cereal) it will still work. The rice cereal is a thickening agent, and I don't recommend you skip it on purpose. Only if you're slightly distracted by a three year old that has been screaming in the background for over a half hour.

Ingredients:

Crust:
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups shortening
4 egg yolks, lightly beaten
2/3 cup milk

FILLING:
1 cup crisp rice cereal
8 cups sliced peeled tart apples (about 9 medium)
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon apple pie (or pumpkin pie) spice or all spice
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 egg whites, lightly beaten

Topping:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt; cut in the shortening until crumbly. Combine egg yolks and milk; gradually add to crumb mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide in half. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 15-in. x 10-in. rectangle. Spritz some Pam in a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in baking pan and place one rectangle in the pan; sprinkle with crisp rice cereal (see prep notes above).

Arrange apples over cereal. In a bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon and apple pie spice; sprinkle over apples. Top with remaining pastry; cut slits in top. Brush with egg whites.

Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. In a bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and enough milk to achieve a thick drizzling consistency. Drizzle over bars. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 3-4 dozen.

Enjoy!

HomeGoods Quiz and $5,000 Giveaway

I haven't been a very good blogger lately.

Maybe it is because I needed a break, even though I was just home for 6 weeks after ankle surgery. I need a BREAK. Not pain.

Maybe it is because I'm tired from our new morning schedule. Tired from waking up at the crack-of-dawn, lack of sleep in the middle of the night when my son wakes up crying, and tired from long days at work.

Maybe it is because I'm burned out... ?????????

Maybe it is all of the above. I'm inclined to believe that. Are you?

So to help break my silence, I've taken a quiz that Sandy at Reluctant Entertainer, and PK at Room Remix featured on their blogs. It is a HomeGoods StyleScope Quiz. The results? Well... I'd have to say -- eerily on target. Eerily. (I just wanted to say that again). It's an easy test - point and click. Anyone can do it. Especially people brain dead like me!

Here are the results: I'm Country Casual. Here's what they said about me...

Your home expresses your open, easygoing approach to life. You love unique finds, and can turn a few mismatched garden chairs or floral teacups into a charming arrangement. You appreciate a pretty mix of relaxed pieces, like painted wood or weathered furniture, lovely florals and other patterns, lots of throws and pillows, mementos and bunches of fresh flowers that give your home a unique sense of breeziness and charm.

You value comfort. Your home is a warm and open friendly place, and you feel happiest when everyone is cared for and relaxed in your space. Elements like pillows, throws, overstuffed furniture, and good lighting set the mood. You may also enjoy layering different fabrics or mixing patterns to create a cozy effect.

Hmmmmmmm ... Pretty accurate on most of it. But what I thought was even MORE accurate was this from their "Putting Your Style to Work!" section:

Your Design Challenge: ORGANIZE

Ummmmmmmm ...... DUH. YA THINK SO? My front hall is a revolving MESS. Mail on the dining room table, shoes on the floor, bags on the table... It does NOT set a good mood. I hate it. So now... I'm in search of an inexpensive console or possibly a used dresser with nice trays and bowls for mail, keys and sunglasses. That was their suggestion, and I'm gonna try to do it.

Fortunately, I have a place for hats, gloves and scarfs (a shoe organizer that I hung on the inside of the closet door), and I have a bin for Hunter that he should drop his shoes in, and hooks for his coats. So I'm half way there.

I will say this: My current home is more contemporary than my style is. My style is a mix of Contry Cottage, French Country, English Garden Bungalow. It doesn't go in my current home, and it makes me miss my old home so much I feel sick. It was a bungalow home with a picket fence. I had beautiful painted murals in the kitchen, powder room and bathroom that were like a garden, and it was so cozy. Like one of those places you go to have tea. One of these days I'll have a home like that again. One of these days.

Anyway -- enough pitty party!

Hop on over and take the quiz, then let me know what you are!

Don't forget to enter for a $5,000 weekly shopping spree drawing!

I Will Not Fear, Stress or Worry

I just won't.

My baby is going to Preschool... Pre K-3... all day long. Today's his FIRST DAY! Woohooo!

He'll be 4 0n October 5th, but he's still in the three year old class because he missed the birthday cutoff by one week. It's not a bad thing, though... because he definitely has some maturing to do, so I'm sure he'll be just fine.

But I will not fear, stress or worry over the following things that may or may not happen while he is in school:

1. He may or may not remove all his clothing and walk around naked.

2. He may or may not ask someone to "pull his finger." We have Daddy to thank for that.

3. He may or may not take his pants and underwear off while going to the bathroom, then put them back on inside out or backwards, totally neglect to put his underwear back on, or stay in the bathroom screaming at the top of his lungs: "I need HELP. I need HELP. I need HELP."

4. He may or may not spit at someone or say "shush up" (his way of saying shut up -- these are things he learned in day care - joy!).

5. He may or may not miss his mommy and daddy so much that he cries all day.... waaaaaaaaaa!

6. He may or may not insist that red is really green. Yes it is! (unless, of course, he's color blind or "challenged")

7. He may or may not walk around humming the theme to Jeopardy. (picked it up at day care)

8. He may or may not break his neck performing super kamikaze stunts, somersaults, cartwheels or dive bombs from the classroom furniture.

9. He may or may not make accept the fact that there is indeed an "S" in the front of certain words, such as: S-nake, S-pot, S-top, S-care, S-pank, S-tare, S-cale, S-crewdriver, S-pider, S-poon, S-oft, S-ofa, etc. It's cute now, but I'm sure it won't be at age 18.

10. He may or may not pee outside behind the building when they go out for recess (crossing my fingers on this one).

All-in-all... I know he will have a wonderful time. He will be stretched to learn, and will enjoy playing with all the children. It will be different from the normal in-home daycare we've had him in. His provider has been absolutely wonderful and has treated him like one of her own grandchildren, and we are forever grateful to her for watching him.

Our little boy is moving on to a new chapter in his life and I can't wait to see all the changes it will bring! He's got his back pack ready, his new fall jacket hanging on the hook, his lunch box and thermos, and he's sooo exited. So, I will not fear, stress or worry, because this is a good thing. A very, VERY good thing.

Interesting Morning... and a Survey

Well today is turning out to be an interesting morning.

First, I was running 15 minutes late for work.

Then I reached into my purse to get my cell phone so I could call my boss and let him know I was running late ... only to find that I have no idea where my cell phone is!

Finally, the morning was topped off with a half-hour "stay" in our building's elevator. It got stuck between floors. There were two of us in the elevator, and the other chick was freaking out. Plus -- there was no air conditioning.

And now my hair is all frizzy. I hate it when that happens.

But, even though I'm claustrophobic, I was able to remain calm, and was able to calm down the young girl who was with me, and was able to share the reason why I wasn't afraid or freaking out. Praise God!

Regardless ... I really feel like I need to start the day over - with the exception of sharing the Gospel part.

Also ... I'd really like to point you over to a real-time friend's blog: Wretched Sinner. He's doing a survey and I'd appreciate it if you'd help him out with it. Basically, he's looking for your perspective on 10 terms commonly used to describe Jesus. It asks you to rank them from 1 to 10 with 10 being the most likely term you are to use, and 1 being the least likely. It takes a little bit of thought, but it is an easy, anonymous survey.

Can you hop on over and take a minute to complete the survey?

Have a crazy-blessed day! And share the gospel with someone!

Changes in my life...

I hate change.

In fact, I hate it so much that I would prefer to stay in a job I sort of like with a boss I hate than move to a job I'll sort of like with a boss I'll love. Trust me when I say... it isn't because I love to live in misery. In fact, no one treats me better than me. Except for maybe my husband. But, for whatever reason, I hate change.

And next week marks huge change in my life.

My son begins preschool. Pre-K-3. And I'm already dreading all the change. Because again, no one treats me better than me (or my husband). And I'll no longer be able to treat myself to waking up at the last minute.

For instance, I'll now have to wake up every day at 5:30 instead of 6:15, and folks, I am NOT a morning person. 45 minutes is HUGE to me! This means my alarm will now have to go off at 4:45 just so I can be awake enough to get out of bed by 5:30. To some, that's plain silly, like my husband, who can hit the alarm clock the first time it goes off and roll out of bed running. I hate people like that. And yet, I chose to spend my entire life with someone like that. I'm finding that "ironic."

Anyway, next change is that I'll be having to make lunches every day. That may be a good thing, because if I'm making one, I might as well make two -- one for him, one for me!

Of course, another change is that I'll be waking up TWO people and getting them both washed, brushed and dressed instead of one. Fortunately, only one of us uses makeup.

THEN ... oh, heavens. I'll have to fix BREAKFAST every single day. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. And encourage a sleepy 4 year old to actually eat it, because it is, after all, brain food.

Finally, I'll have to drop Hunter off at before-care by 7:00 so I can make it to work by 7:30.

Did I mention I'm not a morning person?

Yeah. Changes.

Hate 'em.

WFMW: Sandwich Ideas for Peanut Allergies

When my son was in daycare, there was a child who was deathly allergic to tree nuts, so we were not able to send any peanut butter sandwiches, trail mixes, granola bars, or anything containing nuts.

As you can imagine, that makes packing lunches less than ideal, as most kids love peanut butter and jelly! Fortunately, I only had to pack his lunch one time each week. I fell back on a good old standard: cream cheese and jam sandwiches.

As a result, to this day, Hunter does not like peanut butter. And while he loves peanuts and nuts of all kinds, I haven't been able to figure out if it is the texture or the flavor that turns him off. He just wont eat it. He does love tuna, hard boiled eggs, ham, turkey and other standards, but now that Hunter is going to pre-school and I'll have to pack lunch every day, I wanted to find some new cream cheese based sandwiches for him.

Here are nine recipes I'll be using this school year. Hopefully, I'll be developing more as the year goes on. If your child has peanut allergies, you might enjoy mixing these sandwich ideas up! Measurements are strictly for an idea. You know the consistency that your child would like, so use these recipes as a guide.

Cream-Cheese Banana Sandwiches

4 oz. cream cheese (room temp.)
1/2 ripe banana, mashed
1/4 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 c. raisins
2 slices canned pineapple, chopped

Combine cream cheese, banana, lemon juice, raisins, and pineapple. Spread on raisin bread.


Cream Cheese Cucumber Sandwiches

4 oz. cream cheese (room temp.)
1/3 med. cucumber, grated and well drained
1/4 small onion, grated
Pinch of salt
Mayonnaise (enough to make mixture spreadable)

Mix all together. Spread on bread.


Cream Cheese Veggie Sandwiches

4 oz cream cheese (room temp.)
1/4 carrot, shredded
1 green onions (chopped fine)
2 Tbsp green and red bell pepper (chopped fine)
Pinch of celery seed
Pinch of chopped dill
1 tsp lemon juice

Mix ingredients together in bowl. Spread on bread.


Fruity Cream Cheese Sandwiches

4 oz cream cheese (room temp.)
3/4 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
2 medium strawberries, sliced, diced or slightly mashed (more or less, depending on how much fruit you want in the sandwich)

Combine cream cheese, honey and orange zest in a bowl. Add diced strawberries (or blueberries, diced apple, raspberries, crushed pineapple, etc.). Spread on bread.


Thanksgiving Cream Cheese Sandwiches

4 oz cream cheese (room temp.)
2 Tbsp whole-berry Cranberry Sauce
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
Turkey or ham slices leftover from Thanksgiving dinner

Combine cream cheese, cranberry sauce and orange zest in a bowl. Spread on bread. Add leftover turkey or ham slices.


Pumpkin Bread Cream Cheese Sandwiches

4 oz cream cheese (room temp.)
chopped dried cranberries (optional)
chopped pecans nuts (optional)
1/8 tsp. pumpkin-pie spice
1/8 tsp. orange zest
orange juice (enough to make it spreadable)

Mix all together. Use thinly sliced pumpkin bread for sandwiches.


Peach Cream Cheese Sandwiches

4 oz cream cheese (room temp.)
1 peach, diced
A few drops of milk if necessary

Mix ingredients together in bowl. Spread on bread.


Mexican Cream Cheese Sandwiches

4 oz cream cheese (room temp.)
Salsa (add enough for desired consistency)
Shredded cheddar cheese (enough for desired consistency)

Mix ingredients together in bowl. Spread on bread.


Mandarin Orange Cream Cheese Sandwiches

4 oz cream cheese (room temp.)
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
Mandarin oranges, juice drained (save juice to make a smooth consistency)

Combine cream cheese, honey and orange zest in a bowl. Add Mandarin oranges. Spread on bread.

Our God Reigns Here!

I'm going to open up and just be honest here, because I know I'm not alone.

Once in a while, I hit dry spots in my walk with Christ.

I've been a Christian for over 30 years (I know! And I look so young!), and it is easy to acquire the "been there, done that" attitude when reading scripture and walking your faith walk.

But even as a mature Christian, I face issues on a daily basis that leave me feeling like I just can't face them. They can fill me with fear and doubt. Praise God that I DON'T face them alone! I have the power of the Holy Spirit in me that help face trials and temptations.

But I am human, and many times (like now), I have trials that really leave me feeling afraid of what the outcome may be.

And then ... well, then something comes along my path – a little gift from God – that renews my spirit of faith, my strength, and reminds me that GOD REIGNS, and even if the outcome of my trials are not what I want, OUR GOD REIGNS and the battle is won.

Praise God!

And here is the powerful God Gift that came my way today that blessed my socks off. And I'm not even wearing socks today! I've listened to this ALL.MORNING.LONG – literally, and my spirit is renewed, and I'm ready to continue fighting this trial my household is going through. (Note to husband: Honey – you need to listen to this song ... claim the words and get a good night sleep tonight! I love you!)

And even after the gazillionth time of listening to this song, I’m STILL getting goose bumps. This was an answer to a prayer – no, really a CRY OUT TO GOD, that I sent out early this morning for courage and ENCOURAGEMENT.

I hope it blesses YOUR socks off too. Have a listen... again, and again, and again. There is power in these words!

Spirit of doubt and fear... depression, anxiety, addiction and infirmity ... I command you to leave in Jesus name. You’re not welcome here. MY GOD REIGNS here. I claim this ground in Jesus name because OUR GOD REIGNS. The battle's won. I have no fear, because God reigns here!
I claim it, I accept it, I believe it. Thank you John Waller! (he performed this song)

Go forth and worship!



p.s. -- It may not happen in MY timing, and the outcome may not be what I want… but the issues we are struggling with and the prayers we’re sending up will be answered!

This is getting ridiculous!

Last night, I went into my son's bedroom for prayers and to tuck him in.

Low and behold, I find him standing behind his fan.

Smelling his curtains.

Because his daddy let him spray Febreze into the air behind the fan.

A four year old. Loving Febreze.

And he looks at me and all excitedly says, "smells so good, mommy!"

Would someone stop the insanity ride and let me off, please?

I should be paid for living my life. Honestly, I haven't seen Febreze used so frequently in my household as I have this past 5 weeks where I was home recovering.

Makes me wonder what these boys do behind my back.

I think my husband has an addiction...

I’m in desperate need of some good Godly advice.

You see – I think my husband has a problem. An addiction that I've just uncovered.

When I confronted him about it, he broke down and said it started off as an occasional use (recreational?), but then quickly escalated to a more frequent problem. In fact, now he does it just because "he can." Isn't that an addiciton?

He is a strong, Godly man with outstanding morals and ethics, and I can't help but wonder how something this tragic could befall my family! And think of the example he’s setting for my son! It frightens me.

Ladies … if this can happen to my good Christian husband, it can happen to anyone. I've gone through my home to try to eliminate all temptation for him, but still … he manages to get his fix.

It's gone from hidden use in the laundry room, to behind closed doors of the bathroom, to now - anywhere he wants. He's become openly brazen about it, and I feel as though I really need to draw boundaries immediately, because I suspect he’s trying to get me to be a willing partner in this addiction, just so he can "feel good" about it. Why, just last night, I was lying in our bed when he walked into the room and took a huge snort of the stuff. I was shocked!

In fact… he sprayed it right into the fan and it blew all over me. I was so disgusted. It's becoming a problem in my home. My husband's addicted, and I’m now at my wits end.

I curse the day I ever brought Febreze into my home. Lavender Vanilla Comfort FABRIC freshener. He doesn't even bother to use AIR freshener!!!

What to do???

A CRAZY Time was had by all...

Oh, yes. I must say -- I hate a boring life. After all... how, well, boring would it be if life was calm, and went as planned on a daily basis. Right?

So, why would I have expected a normal healing time, no problems, bumps or hiccups along the way? In fact, I LAUGH at the thought of normal. Our lives are anything BUT normal.

My healing is going well. My ankle is starting to look better and better as the days go by, but, my doctor extended the time in which I could not bear weight on my foot by another 3 weeks, which means I'm home for another two weeks. Like I said... boring, right?

However. Last week, my husband decide liven things up by getting a nasty, nasty flu that landed him in the urgent care on Friday, and the emergency room on Sunday. Extreme muscle weakness and pain to the point that he couldn't press the buttons on the remote control and had to cancel... CANCEL ... two fishing outings. Now, THAT is a serious case of the flu.

Fortunately, my in-laws and my husband's brother and his sweet wife jumped in to help out (she's the one I refer to as SBee -- Hunter calls her Zia which is Aunt in Italian). Uncle D and Zia picked Hunter up Friday night, drove him three hours to the beach where the rest of the family was vacationing, and he had a blast. He got attention poured on him from his Mawmaw, Pawpaw, aunts, uncles, and one of his cousins. My husband's parents (have I mentioned they are saints?) are "entertaining" Hunter today, and doing some grocery shopping for us, because our house is empty of all things resembling meal-appropriate food (not to mention chocolate, and I didn't even add that to the list!).

So you see... nothing can be boring in this household. But then again, God promised us he wouldn't leave our sides during trials and tribulations. Praise God for that!

Feeling Guilty ... Sort of...

So, the other day, I was sitting comfortably on my chair with my foot propped up, watching my husband cooking in the kitchen, then vacuuming the family room, picking up toys, back to the kitchen, entertaining Hunter... All while I'm comfortably sitting on the chair. Doing nothing.

And I'm feeling guilty that I can't help.

Sort of.

Ok. Yes. I am feeling guilty. I am. Really. No. I'm not. I mean... YES. Yes I am.

What can I say. It's an internal struggle I'm having.

I feel bad just sitting around doing nothing while my husband slaves around. My house is a mess, the laundry is in two piles: clean vs. dirty, and the dishes pile up in the sink. It has been very hard on my husband juggling all the Sunshine-family balls in the air. But I am feeling a small sense of satisfaction that my husband can actually experience everything I do. It is hard being a mom with a full time job. Cleaning, laundry, child, job, husband... it is hard to balance everything.

And sadly, I suffer from the "perfect mom" syndrome. I want my son to have the perfect "Leave it to Beaver" life experience. Perfect home, perfect meals, perfect activities, perfect everything.

But fortunately, this terrible syndrome is tempered by my "we're not perfect" husband. He doesn't mind living in a home that looks "lived in" ... his priorities are always in the right place... spending time with our son.

He grounds me ... brings me back to reality. A dear friend once said that I'm the gas in our relationship, and my husband is the brakes. I always want to go, go, go, and he always wants to slow down. Slow, slow, slow.

It's a good balance. I love my husband. He rocks. And... he's an amazing dad. What more could a woman want?

A clean house? All the laundry washed and put away? All the dishes washed and floors swept?

Yeah. Maybe.

But I think I'll just slow down, sit back and relax. And NOT stress that the house isn't perfect and that there are all sorts of things hanging from the banister.

I'm okay with that. I am. Really. Twitch, twitch, twitch.

I owe my husband big time, don't I?

Hospitality Outside the Home

I'm sorry -- I had some technical difficulties today, and am just now able to post!

Today, I'm guest-posting at Reluctant Entertainer about Drop and Run Meals -- in other words: sharing hospitality outside the home. In that post, I mentioned two different meals, and wanted to share one of the recipes today.

Pop on over to Sandy's place and see what I wrote about, then come back and write these recipes down for the next time you need a meal idea to take to some one's home. They are very tasty and very simple to make -- even the least experienced in the kitchen will be able to put these recipes together.

Basil Chicken Pasta "To Go"

1 package fresh pasta (found in the deli section)
3-4 chicken breasts, cut-up in strips (about the size of your thumb)
Olive Oil
1 stick butter
1 jar Alfredo sauce
1 cup frozen Sweet Peas
1 red pepper, chopped
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
1 hand full of fresh basil
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 disposable foil pan with clear lid

In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the linguine per instructions. Drain and set aside.

In a large frying pan, add half of the butter and a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Season the strips of chicken with salt and pepper, then cook until brown. Strain on a paper towel and set aside.

Melt the rest of the butter. Add the onions and red peppers and cook until tender. Add the peas, chicken, garlic and basil and cook until peas are warmed through. Toss with the noodles, Alfredo sauce and Parmesan cheese. Toss well.

Place pasta and chicken in a metal foil disposable pan. Sprinkle top liberally with Parmesan cheese and cover with clear lid.

Options: You can add any of the following veggies: broccoli, asparagus tips, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, sliced zucchini or squash, brussels sprouts. You can use any veggie combos, the key is to cook them until tender in butter and/or olive oil. In this particular dish, the butter gives the veggies a richer flavor.

Substitutions: You can substitute the chicken for left over diced turkey or ham, or crab and/or peeled shrimp. Cook the crab and shrimp in hot butter with garlic.

ENJOY!

Ewwww -- yuck!

For those of you who are ... how should I say ... "medically curious" ... here are some pictures of my ankle ... for those of you who are NOT medically curious... click away now. Click far, far away.
This is what I started off with after surgery. It was a "splint" fashioned from cast material wrapped in fluffy cottony casty stuff and then tape. It was huge, but brilliant. The doctor is a genius, I tell you. It was far, FAR more comfortable than a full hard cast, which other doctors would have done.

















Then, today, I got it off! WOOHOO!!! It felt so good. I still can't bear weight at all for three more weeks because they had to scrape the bone, and drill holes around in the bone so marrow could leak out and heal the cartilage properly. They said it was sort of like laminate that had peeled away and was hanging like a flap. I warned you! Yucky! But the ligament should be healing nicely!



They branded a smiley face on my toe. Doctors are so... FUNNY. Ha Ha.

Ok. I'm off to put my leg up. Have a good one!

Home Made Ice Cream

THAT'S IT... I've had it. If I have to read one more blog about home made ice cream, I think I'll scream. It's just WRONG, people!

I can't stand it, and because of that... I'm ordering an ice cream maker TODAY.

I don't care that I can't walk right now or bear weight on my one bad foot... I must sacrifice and take one for the team. So we can have delicious ice cream. Because I'm a good and generous mom like that.

It's all for the love of my family, you know.

Now... rush on over to Reluctant Entertainer and Pioneer Woman and snag their ridiculously delicious ice cream recipes. And I promise... these are women you'll love to hate to love. You'll love them so much you'll hate yourself for loving them but you can't help yourself. Whew. It's a split personality thing.

Reluctant Entertainer's Vanilla Ice Cream
Pioneer Woman's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Ice Cream
Part 1
Part 2

Never mind. I can't get to my wallet.

FOILED AGAIN.