I'm Back :)

We had a fabulous time at the lake. It was so awesome to be all alone with my honey. It was nice to talk without a loud bass guitar and many stereos blaring different music lol.

The weather wasn't so wonderful and it was cold, but we still had a fabulous time.

Friday we loaded up at the video store and ordered pizza. Doug built a fire in the fireplace and we cozied in for the weekend. We watched 3 movies on Friday. Deja Vu with Denzel Washington. SUCH a good movie. Hide and Seek, which was not my favorite, and The Holiday! Doug fell asleep during that one. It was a chick flick and so so good.

Saturday we woke to more rain and cold winds. So we watched more movies in front of the fire. We watched Blood Diamond. It was gripping and very sad to me that it was based on true events. We also watched Night Listener with Robin Williams and I thought it was rather weird.

I took a nap in the afternoon and Doug went to visit with the neighbors. About 5 the rain stopped and the sun came out. We grilled salmon and I made salads and baked sweet potatoes. We ate and then took a walk down the lake road. Doug fished for a while and I sat on the deck drinking organic decaf looking at the lake and reading. I am reading Mary Higgins Clark's I've Heard that Song Before. Very good! We played some cards and then watched The Break Up. I was so disappointed in the ending.

We slept in on Sunday and woke about 8:30 (sad that is sleeping in, eh?) The sun was shining and I was so thrilled. We cuddled in bed and then were lazy in our jammies all morning. We played cards and then cleaned up and came home.

We had a fabulous time and the kids had a fabulous time with their grandparents. It is so much easier to find people to stay with them now that they are teens. They were busy all weekend so it was so easy for my Gramma!

How was your weekend?

Thursday, Thursday!

I love Thursdays. Right now we're doing a 4-day school schedule. So that means no school tomorrow! Except for those ones that didn't get their work completed this week. So Jordan and Isaac have things to do.

Doug and I are going to the lake tomorrow, alone, WooHoo! We'll be home Sunday afternoon. My lovely Gramma is going to stay with the boys while we are gone. I am so looking forward to it. I've already done the laundry, grocery shopped so the boys have easy foods to prepare, and packed all but my toiletries. I am set to go! Now I just need my honey to get home. I am looking forward to spend some much needed time with Doug. I feel like we've not even talked in weeks.

What did we do today?

~School
~Weekly house cleaning chores
~Laundry
~Grocery shopping
~Run kids to the bowling alley
~Went to Kohls before coming home from BA. I am in search of a black sleeveless blouse and am not having much luck. Still no luck at Kohls.
~Will pick boys up from BA
~Allen and I will watch Survivor before going to the BA

It has been an awesome day. The boys all did their work and chores quietly and without being reminded over and over. Isn't that a lovely thing?

Doug should hear about the job he applied for by Monday. So I am thinking about that. I am anxious to have him home more.

I am still praying about school next year. Jordan will do the cyber school, but I just don't know about Isaac. I feel like I should continue hsing him. He really needs a lot of one-on-one attention. I'm not sure how the cyber school would work for him. I don't know how hsing will work if I have to get a job, even a job from home. I know from past experience that my body doesn't function well if I overcrowd my schedule. I just am not sure. I want to do what is best for him, kwim?

OK....I'm off to chat with Allen for a bit before Survivor. Have a blessed weekend and I'll catch ya Sunday night!

Tagged!

I've been tagged by MuddyBoots This meme has me sharing my reading list. You will see what superficial fluff I've been induldging in :)

Read within the past week or so:

Miss Julia Strikes Back by Ann B. Ross. I love the Miss Julia series. This is just the latest in Miss Julia's escapades. It is a quick, light-hearted read.

A Playdate with Death by Ayelet Waldman. This is the 3rd book in the "mommy mystery" series. It is fun and light. I don't agree with or care for the main character's view on being a SAHM, but the series is fun otherwise.

Wildfire by Nelson DeMille. I love spy espionage novels and this one didn't disappoint. Nelson DeMille is one of my favorite authors.

The 80/10/10 Diet by Dr. Doug Graham. This book explains the raw vegan, lowfat diet. I am attempting to eat like this and it was a very good read about nutrition.

Read to the boys for school:

The Hiding Place the story of Corrie Ten Boom. I am really enjoying reading this book aloud to the boys! So glad I saved it for the end of the year. I am tired of WWII battles and such. This is a heart-wrenching book.

Hiroshima by John Hersey. We just started this book and are only a couple chapters in. So far it seems to tell the story of 5 (or 6 I don't remember) people and where they were before/during and what happened to them after we dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. I am really enjoying this one also.

We'll read God's Smuggler next. I'm also looking forward to that one.

I never know who to tag. So, if you want to do the meme, please put link to it in the comment section. I also enjoy seeing what others are reading. I get great ideas that way!

An Awesome Day!!!

We have been having wonderful weather! Such a nice change from the snow we had the beginning of April.

The lawn was in desperate need of mowing at the cottage. So we did most of our school, had lunch and off we went to tend to the lawn. Everybody must take turns doing their part.

First Allen mowed the front and side lawns. While he was mowing I raked leaves, Isaac picked up the sticks and Jordan tried as hard as he could to start the weed eater. It wasn't working! So we skipped the weed eating. Isaac also got out the ladder and fixed the downspout covers that were blown down during a wind storm.

While Isaac mowed, I took Jordan for his first fishing liscense. Can you believe he is old enough to need a license?? And I forgot to take the camera to embarass him while he got it??

Me raking....

Allen mowing....

The dock doesn't go in for a couple more weeks, so Isaac sat on a bench to fish. He caught 3 fish today. Jordan waded into the water and caught 1. The race is on!
Isaac mowing....
Jordan mowing....
While Jordan and Isaac fished, Allen played video games. I don't know what happened to that child. He doesn't like to be outside and the lake isn't quite as fun for him as the rest of us.

I sat on the swing and drank some decaf and read a Miss Julia book.

We also had dinner up there tonight. I had pineapple and a huge tossed salad. The boys had frozen pizza rolls. Yep, I feed them well lol.

While I was editing pictures for this entry, I saw a couple pictures the boys took that made me smile. I just had to post them!

I knew there was a reason we called Isaac "Cousin It". This picture just cracked me up!

Man's Best Friend! Tucker misses Doug now that he is working so much. He is driving me crazy. He follows me around the house whining. He really does love Doug. He thinks he's a lap dog!

In other notes. I just finished 7 days of 100% raw eating. Well, there were 2 instances this week where I did eat cooked food. I am feeling pretty good. I had 2 days where I didn't nap at all. Today I didn't even feel tired. I was amazed to look at the clock at 1:45, while driving to the lake, and realize that I wasn't the least bit sleepy or in need of a nap. It was an awesome feeling.

Also, Doug is applying, road testing, etc., for yet another job tomorrow. It would be a local job and he would be HOME and he would be on DAYS! I am so hopeful that this one works out. I'll keep ya posted.

It's Friday!!!

I love Fridays! The end of the school week and Doug is home all day Friday, all day Saturday and most of Sunday! And today the sun is shining and the temps will be in the mid 60s. Sunny all weekend and working up to the 70s by Sunday!

I'm finally feeling rested from my trip with Doug. And I'm on day 3 of eating a 100% raw, low fat, diet. I am feeling much better today than yesterday. Yesterday I experienced quite a few detox symptoms. Shakiness and a killer headache were the worst. I am reading a book about raw eating by Dr. Graham called The 80/10/10 Diet. It is quite interesting.

Goals for today:

~Guys will clean out garage and make a few trips to the dump

~School the children, correct their work (I am not doing that enough this year), and make their assignment books for the rest of the year. Yippee! I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

~Finish yesterday's laundry

~Make lunch. Grilling burgers and making homemade fries for the crew. I'm having some kind of fruit.

~Boys need to tidy the basement. They are having friends tonight. We'll make a fire, roast hot dogs and make s'mores. Then they're going to watch a movie. Doug and I will sit around the fire. I am so looking forward to that.

Our school year is so not what I envisioned it would be. Last year we had a tremendous year and I had planned that this year would also be tremendous. I think my high school expectations may be too high? How do ya'll handle correcting schoolwork in high school? Usually, I correct everybody's work every day. I sit down with that child and we go over all they've done. It was taking a LONG time to do that this year. I think that is part of what made me feel so burned out!

I think we are going to let Jordan and Isaac do the cyber school next year. Jordan will most likely graduate through the cyber school since he only has 2 years left. I am seriously considering continuing to hs Isaac after 1 year in the cyber school, and let Isaac finish 3 years of high school hsing, and Allen always hsing. I don't know. I just feel sad about not hsing. I also feel overwhelmed with schooling these boys al the way through.

So how is your school year shaping up??

I can't figure out how to post pictures IN the body of the text. They always pop to the top. Anyway, these are pictures from when we were driving around at 7:30 am trying to get from the hospital to the hotel. You can't really see, but those trees up ahead were lying across the road.

I'm home from going to work with Doug. It was not quite what I was expecting. I think it would have been much better if we didn't get stranded in a blizzard and be without electricity and up 24+ hours before getting to bed. But we're home. My fibro was horrible, which didn't surprise me. I'm in the middle of a big flare-up anyway. But Doug was disappointed and I felt bad. It was all I could do to function.

So we left Sunday about 5:45. We had to go to Ashland, PA. We should have been to the hospital with the coach set up (Doug transports a mobile MRI unit to different health facilities) and back to the hotel 8 miles from there by 2. All was going well until we were coming off of Rt. 80 to Rt. 81. As soon as he pulled onto Rt. 81, it was a total white out with huge amounts of snow falling and 50+ mph winds. It was scarry! He slowed down to about 25 mph. We finally made it to the hospital at 2:30 am. Doug had never been to this hospital and had no idea what the place was like. Well, he had to back up from a lower parking lot to an upper parking lot. There was so much snow and he couldn't get the coach to back up that hill. So the hospital called their maintenance workers out of bed to come plow. We waited 3 hours for that to happen.

While we were waiting, the power went out, but their generator kicked on. The power kept flicking on and off. Power in all surrounding areas was going out and transformers were blowing everywhere. It was crazy! This was a little, rural hospital. So after the 3 hours of waiting, Doug tried again and couldn't get the coach up the hill. So the maintenance people keep doing stuff, Doug makes phone calls to see if they want him to keep trying, etc.

Meanwhile, I'm sitting right by the receptionist. She keeps getting calls from people calling off work, trees are down, etc. It is 5:30 now. Finally, at 6:30, Doug was able to get the coach up the hill and able to start setting up. A man had come into the hospital to sit and wait. He was trying to get to work and couldn't get through. He turned around to go home and couldn't get back home. There are trees, power lines, and utility poles down everywhere. So he came to wait it out at the hospital.

Finally at 7:30, Doug was finished and we left to go 8 miles back to the hotel, or try to anyway. We spent an hour driving around on rural roads, back up down rural roads, and trying to find a way out. There was NO way out. I was never so scared. These roads were BAD and narrow, rural roads in PA...so very, very hilly! At 8:30 we were back to the hospital. They offered us breakfast. I was so hungry. I did eat many bananas and apples throughout the night, but nothing since 2:30. I was exhausted and hungry. Doug had been up since 7 am on Sunday and I got up at 8 am. We should have been long snoozing by then. So I split a breakfast sandwich with Doug.

The tech that was to scan on the coach was at the hospital we were supposed to get to. So at 9:45, he made it to the hospital. We scooted out of there right quick before anything else fell. While we were waiting, the hospital's generator gave out. They had no power. We were sitting in the cafeteria, which had a huge wall of windows. It was GORGEOUS! to look at all the snow. It was wet, very very very heavy, snow.

So we made it to the hotel and they allowed us to check in, even though they had no power. Ten min. after checking in, the power came on and we were able to shower before it went off again. We slept about 5 or 6 hours.We got up and I was starving, but still everybody was without power. The only food to be had was bags of chocolate covered pretzels lol. So we ate those and eventually were able to order a pizza; the most disgusting pizza I've ever eaten, but beggers can't be choosers LOL.

We were able to leave the hotel at 8:30 (Doug has to have 10 hours off), to go back to the hospital and get the coach and head to Reading, PA. I was never so glad to leave somewhere LOL.

The rest of the trip was uneventful, thankfully. It was very, very croweded in his truck. He only has a day cab, so no bunk and no leg room or anything. My legs were so so so so so so so sore from sitting like that for 10-12 hours on Sunday and again Tues-Wed.

I am very glad I went with him, but I don't want to go again any time soon lol. It made me realize how very hard this man works for our family. I am so blessed. I would not want to go out and do that every day. It was very boring to sit around in a hotel all day Tuesday. We were up by 8 and then he didn't leave again until 4:30. He stays in the same hotel every Monday night, so I met everybody that he always talks to. We did go to a restaurant I've never heard of before, Charlie Browns. I had the best hamburger I've ever had in my life! We also walked around a tiny, little mall. It was wonderful to have all that time alone to talk together.

A Busy Few Days!!

Once again I am posting how busy I am. Who isn't busy LOL? I am doing my best to stay off the computer Friday morning through Sunday evening. I do not want to spend time on the computer when my honey is home. I am having a hard time with him being gone this week. So I am kinda in a pity-party mood. It's better not to blog when I'm feeling sorry for myself LOL. So that's where I've been!

I'm still thinking about schooling options for next year. I know we won't be hsing Jordan or Isaac. I am torn over whether to send them to PS or to do the public cyber school at home. I just don't know. I am overwhelmed and burned out. One of the most desirable things about PS is that they will be gone for 5 hours a day. I am tired of single-parenting all week. I really would love a break. But, at what expense? There are the "what ifs". What if they get in with a wrong crowd. I'll be dealing with that alone, too! Not really a desirable option.

HSing is wearing me out. I am tired of making assignment sheets, hasseling kids to do their work, and correcting work every single day. The correcting of work wears me out. Not knowing how to help them with something they don't understand is wearing me out. I am just plain tired! How do you get past the tired thing?

I keep thinking if we take a year or two off, maybe I can pick back up. But I don't have all that many years left. Allen will be finished with school in 5 years! Isaac only has 4, and Jordan only 2.

I don't know why I'm posting this. I just need to talk it through with somebody I guess. Doug told me to go ahead and do whatever I want. I think he is getting frustrated with my waffling. So ya'll have to talk it through with me.

We finally! do not have snow today. And it was a whopping 37*F! WooHoo! We do have snow forecasted for Monday, again! This is the snowiest season on record. We've had 89" of snow! We didn't start getting snow until January! December was SO warm, record breaking warm! I would much prefer snow in December than April, thank you very much lol.

So that is me. I hope to be out of this funk soon. It usually takes me 5-6 weeks to adjust to a schedule change. This is week 3. I am wonder, "What the heck are you thinking God?" It's been a long 14 months and I would like my life to settle down!

Tagged! And I forgot about it!

My friend from over on the Sonlight Forums, TanyaRejoyce, tagged me on March 26th and I am just now getting around to it.

In accordance with “THE RULES” I must post said rules in my blog entry:
People who get tagged need to write a blog entry of their own 6 weird things as well as stating this rule clearly! Three people need to be tagged and their names listed. Finally a comment needs to be left on each tagged person’s blog…

I've put this off because I do not think I have any weird things about me LOL. I am a perfectly normal lady LOL.

I'll give it a good try though!

1) 80% of the food that I eat is raw fruits, veggies and nuts. I only eat 1 cooked meal a day. I do not eat any refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, packaged foods, ingredients I cannot pronounce or refined, white flours. I do eat healthy, whole foods that are mostly cooked from scratch.

2) I cannot relax if my house is a cluttered mess. If Doug and the boys are gone for the afternoon/day/whatever, I must first whip through the house and red it up, vacuum and have it be all neat looking. Then, and only then, can I relax and read, watch movies or just do nothing!

3) While I like (no crave) a clean, organized house, I do not like housework. I do it, though, on an organized and daily routine. The best thing about a schedule or routine is that, say, if you see a mountain of laundry on the basement floor on Wed., there is NO need to stress out. Monday and Thursday are laundry days, so plan accordingly! So, Wednesday = no laundry and no stress LOL.

4) I like to be in control and I pretty much think I am always right. This, sad to say, is a family trait. My maiden name is Broadway. There is a saying in the Broadway family (coined by the people married to Broadways) There is the right way, there is the wrong way, and then there is the Broadway! which is the only way! Those inlaws are so darn smart! They also have this little "club" called the Broadway Annonymous club. At any holiday gathering, you can find all the married-to-Broadway people in the room. My step-mom will say, in a rather dramatic voice might I add, "I've been married to a Broadway for 20 gglllooorrrriooouuuusss years! And then they have the nerve to ask questions, such as, "With a raise of hands, who controls the thermostat in your house?" Well, of course, only Broadway hands go up LOL. You never would have thought that meek, mild, little ole me, likes to be in control, eh? lol.

5) Next to being with my family, reading is my absolute favorite thing to do. Now, that isn't really weird, right? But, I love, love, love to read. If I find a new author I like, I have to read ALL their books, in order written, right then! I've been known to read while standing at the stove cooking, while waiting for kids to finish math, and while riding in the car at night. The little bitty book light is the best invention!

6) Six things, eh? What else could possibly be weird about me? I just asked my kids what is weird about me. Allen said, "Juicing". I guess he does not think cucumber, celery, spinach and apples are something that should be a beverage? Isaac (the middle, complient, likes everybody to like him child), shrugged and said nothing! I love that boys! Jordan said, "Everything!" Then went to list all the weird things such as, "Makes whole wheat bread when we much prefer white", "sing every song off key and really bad!", and I quit listening after that LOL.

Who to tag. I never know who to say! So, if you've read this and would like to reveal your "weirdness", go ahead and consider yourself tagged!

Is it Easter or Christmas??



Well, we were having gorgeous weather! Tuesday it was 77* and sunny and we were wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts. Today is another story. Here is my backyard around noon. The table in the second picture, it now has 3" of snow on it! We have snow showers in the forecast through next Thursday!

My backyard. Notice the huge, fluffy flakes of snow! Our firepit is almost completely under snow in this picture. Now you can't even see it!

My swing where I like to enjoy coffee and time with the Lord during nice weather (which we WERE having!). That table now has 3" of snow on it! I cannot believe this weather.

We did have a nice, relaxing day today. I was at Curves first thing. When I got home, Allen was up and ready for weekly chores. So I dusted the downstairs and he vacuumed the downstairs, stairscase and hallway then dusted/swept his room. Jordan got up and did his room and mopped the kitchen floor. Isaac came home from my Gramma's around noon, and he then did his room and scrubbed the bathroom. I completely forgot the laundry today LOL.

I made the boys omlets and bacon for lunch (I did not eat that lol). I slept all afternoon. Oh, my mom and gramma were her for a few while I was making lunch, so it was nice to see them.

My girlfriend dropped by for coffee this evening. Her daughter had to be at the church for 2 hours, and I am only 5 min. from the church. So I took the older 2 to bowling, came home to visit with Marla, watched part of Survivor, picked up the older 2, finished watching Surviver and took a bubble bath. Everybody is getting settled into bed and I aim to do the same really soon!

What is your weather like?

Wow, it's been a few days since I've blogged, eh?

I cannot believe it is April already, either! Where is this year going? It has been very busy here since I last posted on Friday. I'm trying to stay off the computer Friday-Sunday while Doug is home. And then Monday and yesterday were so busy! So, here I am with quite a few days between entries. What have we been up to you ask?

Friday

Friday during the day Doug ran a few errands, I did some housework and made a meal, the boys finished up school before spring break. I think I napped in the afternoon. The weather has been all over the place and my body is in so much pain, so I have been listening to that and resting as much as possible.

In the evening we went to my nephews' birthday party. On the way we stopped at my girlfriend's Lia Sophia open house. She became a LS advisor a couple months ago and was trying to get another party submitted, so she had an open house all day/evening. I was her only guest! I felt so bad. So I took a catalog to the party and collected orders and stopped by on the way home.

We had so much fun at my sister's house. It was rather chaotic! She has 2 boys ages 8 and 6 and a daughter 4. She also invited some little friends, so there were many littles there. My other sister is in FL, so her kids weren't there. It was loud and crazy! It is the first time I thought to myself, "Boy am I glad we don't have any littles right now." I was so glad to realize that. I've been mourning not having any more children for years, and it is nice to be at peace with it, at least this month LOL. I was at a PC party earlier this week and there was a 4 week old baby girl. I was able to hold her. I only held her for a few min. before she became too heavy for my sore arms. I enjoyed oohing and aahing over her, but did not feel that empty, wish I had a baby, feeling that night either. Hopefully I am moving past that.

Allen had a friend spend the night. He was at the boys' party with us and just came home for the night.

Saturday

Allen had bowling in the morning, Jordan went to the bowling alley for fun and Isaac went home with my Gramma Friday evening. So I was home alone. I went to Curves and then came home.

Our prayer group had an Easter egg hunt for the children along with a bonfire/picnic. I didn't go, but Doug took the boys. I stayed home and napped. It was either go to the EEH or go dancing with my husband that night, I couldn't do both. So I chose a date with my honey.

I got up and was ready to go when Doug brought the boys home. We had a great time dancing and talking with our friends. It was super duper crowded on the dance floor, though. Not my favorite thing! We did end up leaving about 1:20 instead of waiting for the band to finish at 1:45 and Doug help them tear down/load up. I was too sore and tired to stay any longer.

Sunday

Isaac and Jordan were in a bowling tournament. So Doug, the boys and my FIL left here about 8:30. Allen and I went to church, stopped at the grocery store on the way home, and rested all day. It was warm and rainy in the morning, but by 4 the sun was out and it was so pretty! After church I put stuffed peppers in the oven and took a long nap.

Doug and the boys came home about 4 and we had dinner. We ate outside on the swing. The boys don't like peppers so they had to fend for themselves.

Doug left for work and we just hung out. That evening we watched Amazing Race. It is getting down to the end now! It is going so fast!

Monday

It was absolutely gorgeous outside Monday! It was sunny and about 70*. The boys and I went to the lake to clean the lakehouse and get it ready for a season of fun and relaxation. I cleaned for about 7 hours. Allen helped me inside. Jordan and Isaac cleaned the porch and deck and all the patio furniture. The ground was way too wet for lawn work, so we'll go back in a couple weeks.

We came home and I ordered the boys a pizza. I was in so much pain from all that cleaning, so I took a long, hot bubble bath, put on my jammies and settled in for the night, at 7 pm!

Tuesday

Yesterday I was up and at Curves by 7:30. Came home and got myself presentable. Isaac was doing work for my great-aunt, so I ran him to her house. My FIL picked the other two up about the same time to help him load and haul some wood. They brought 2 loads here. It is wonderful, already split and dried, firewood! While I was out, I ran to the bank and grocery store. I seem to be at the grocery store a lot this week! I must not have planned well.

Jordan and Allen ate lunch and then I ran them to my Dad's house to help him with lawn work. I had the afternoon alone! I did laundry (about 8 loads) and spring cleaned my bedroom (minus windows). I read a book and took a nap. I was up by 4 and the boys were home.

Jordan had small group at church. So while he was getting ready for that, I sat on the swing and read some more and drank coffee. I took him to and fro church. While he was there I finished laundry and made bread dough and after the first rise put it in the refrigerator. We will be having sausage and broccoli stuffed bread with tomato soup today for dinner. It is going to rain/snow, so the soup will be warm and cozy!

That's right, SNOW! We're having snow forecasted for the next 7 days! I hope my flowering trees are OK because they are already blooming!

Today we are going to do nothing. Well, Doug is going to go apply for another job before he heads back to work. The boys are doing nothing. I will cook, clean the kitchen, and all that jazz. I have 1 load of wash waiting for the dryer still. I hope to nap and I may call the doctor an make an appt. I am having much shoulder pain and I am concerned it may not be fibro. It's been 3 weeks now and it feels like I have 50 lbs. of sand hanging on my shoulder. I have pain shooting down my arm and back and my hip hurts. It doesn't feel like "just fibro". So I am considering that.

I also hope to figure out why my ww bread dough does not rise! When I made white bread, the dough would rise to the top of the bowl. Now that I'm making ww, the dough barely rises. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I use the correct temp. of water. I sponge the bread for 15 min. before finishing. I knead it in the KA. But still the dough doesn't rise and it is so heavy. Any breadmakers out there have any ideas for me? I am not milling my own flour, but I am using freshly milled flour from a co-op.

Well, if you've made it this far, I commend you LOL. Have an awesome day!

I love my mother-in-law!

I have the best MIL in the entire world. She is a wonderful, sweet, caring Christian lady. She makes me smile!

She is really trying to understand this new way I am eating. She stopped by for a few minutes today and we were talking about Easter dinner. We always eat Easter dinner with my in-laws. So I asked her to let me know what the menu is, and I will fill in with what I can eat. We are having:

Ham
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Asparagas
Tossed Salad

She then asked me what I can eat. I told her I do not eat white flours, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or any pre-packaged food. So basically cook from scratch with whole ingredients. I told her I'd be OK with the salad, asparags and perhaps mashed potatoes if she uses butter in them.

So then, she asks me, "Well, I'm making jell-o pretzel salad for dessert. You can eat that, right?" It was really hard to not just start laughing. I had just told her I am NOT eating anything packaged, sugar, etc,. etc. She really does mean well.

I did tell her not to worry about me and dessert. If I felt the need for dessert, I'd make a pineapple upside down cake or almond coffee cake and bring it. I will definately be taking fresh fruit salad. I am just pleased that she is having tossed salad instead of 7-layer salad with Miracle Whip and bacon and asparagas instead of green beans with diced ham in them!

Yippee! It's the weekend!

Now that Doug is home on the weekends, I so look forward to Friday-Sunday! And a busy weekend we are having this week!

Today Doug has done many errands while I made dinner. We had vegetable lasagna, ww cheesy Italian garlic bread, and a tossed salad. It was SO good! After lunch we went for a short walk and sat on the swing. Oh yes, it is a glorious day here! I'm enjoying it to the fullest. It is 65* and sunny! We have snow forecasted for next week. Doug and Allen just walked around the block for a hair cut.

Tonight is my nephews' birthday party. One has a birthday in January and one in April, so my sister combines them into one party for some reason. And tonight is the night. I am looking forward to visiting with my family.

Tomorrow morning Allen has bowling league, the afternoon is our prayer group's Easter egg hunt/bonfire/picnic. They are calling for rain. I hope they are wrong! In the evening Doug and I are going dancing. Savoy is playing so we need to be there for load in and tear down. I am looking forward to it!

Sunday Jordan and Isaac are in a bowing tournament at noon. Doug and my FIL will take them to that while Allen and I go to church and rest and relax in the afternoon. My Gramma is visiting our church Sunday morning with a friend, so we will be on the lookout for her!

So that is our weekend. Someday we are going to relax on the weekend LOL. Although we are going to be relaxing, just running here and there to do it.

Our spring break has started today when everybody finished their schoolwork! Yippee!! I do have to correct Isaac's work, and then we're done. Next week we will spend a couple days at the lake opening the cabin for my Dad and Cay! Oh, we CANNOT wait for fishing season to begin. Open the cabin and next thing you know, put in the dock and the boats. Oh yeah...I'm looking forward to nice weather, family time at the lake, weekends alone with Doug at the lake, our family vacation at the lake (I especially love sunset boat rides with Doug while the boys fish on the dock!).

Oops, got carried away there for a minute LOL. So some of our spring break will be opening the cabin, some of it will be doing a few big household chores, and other than that, I plan to do nothing!

Terrific Thursday!

I've been having quite the week. I'm overwhelmed and trying to do everything I have to do without aggrivating this fibro, not an easy task! So today I am purposing to have a terrific day no matter what the circumstances look like!

Doug's work schedule has changed again. It takes me a few weeks each time it changes to get accustomed to it. Right now he has Friday-Sunday evening off, yippee! So I am wanting to move my Friday shopping errands to Thursday. I really should have thought of this yesterday, since I have yet to make a menu or a shopping list. I go to 3-5 stores, depending, so I really don't want to take up my Friday doing that when Doug is home. I also think we'll do very little school on Friday. So today is looking very busy and I pray I can get it all done! My to do list:

~Get these boys moving on breakfast and school
~Weekly housecleaning chores for all of us. I have to dust and do laundry. The boys do the heavy furniture moving and vacuuming, scrubbing the kitchen floor and scrubbing the bathroom.
~School
~Make a menu & shopping list
~Go to many places to do said shopping
~Take the boys to the bowling alley. They are practicing for a tournament they are in on Sunday. The BA is only 5 min. from me, thankfully. Most things are 5-10 min. from me and I love that part of living here.
~Cook something for these people lol

I also need to get in a better routine of cooking on the days that Doug isn't home. I am feeling quite unorganized, but in a couple weeks I should be adjusted and have a routine. Did I mention that I don't do change well?? God really is stretching me in this area the past year or so!

We're also trying to decide schooling options for next year. I am feeling so torn. In my heart I'd love to hs through high school. Physically and emotionally, I don't want to do it any more. I am exhausted and overwhelmed with the amount of work high school is.

I'm sorry to be so whiney, especially after I said today would be terrific despite the circumstances. So I am off to have a Terrific day in the Lord!

The Hairstyler

Have you ever used The Hairstyler? I tried this last night and it was SO much fun! You upload your photo and then can try on hundreds of hair styles. Allen and I tried bright purple with spikey hair. Not a good look for me LOL.

I was happy to see that most of what I liked is variations of what I already have. So that is good. I have been contemplating cutting my bangs (after months of growing!) and realized that I like them just the way they are.

So The Hairstyler gives you styling instructions, cutting instructions and suggests what type of hair a certain style would work with. I liked SO many more, but thick and dense hair is what they recommended. I have thin and sparse hair, so I stuck with styles that suggested that!

I am trying to grow my hair out longer. Doug loves long hair. It has been a LONG time since I've had long hair. So I'm trying to let it grow for my honey.

I somewhat like this one:

I really like this one and hope to get it to this point sometime:

I liked this one a lot. I think it looks very similar to what I have. I'm going to take these into my hair dresser next time and show her what I'm aiming for.

So what do you think?

OK, I need to wake boys and get a start on my day! I have much to do today and not a lot of motiviation. Good thing I don't have to work on feelings and I can just do the next thing!

It is beautiful here today!

Our weather the past 2 days has been absolutely beautiful! So sunny and warm. It was 77* today! So not the norm for March where I live. The atmosphere is very unstable and we are expecting storms. My body is reacting to this weather, and I did spend quite a bit of time in bed today and doing the least amount possible. But I did get things accomplished. On days like this, I need to remember what I did. So what did I do today?

~Got up and got the kids going on chores, breakfast and school
~Read aloud
~Planned dinner (leftovers from prayer, oh so easy!)
~Talked to Doug

About 10 I went back to bed. I heated a rice bag and put it on my hip and leg. After a while I did the other side. I wished I had more rice bags for my neck and shoulders. The right side of my body feels like somebody is pushing HARD on my shoulder and it hurts all the way through my back, hip and leg. So horrible. I know....if feels like I've carried a very heavy purse on my shoulder for a long time, you know that feeling?

So about 2 I got up and I have done more stuff lol.

~Sat on the swing with Doug before he left for work. It was SO gorgeous!
~Did 4 loads of wash
~Ran the boys to the bowling alley. They have a tournament Sunday and need practice.
~Helped Allen make fliers and business cards. He wants to walk dogs.
~Ate dinner
~Put away Doug's and my laundry. Even cleaned out the closet a bit. I was out of hangers and something had to go LOL.

I think that's about it. Oh, I was playing around on The Hairstyler website looking for a new do. It was SO fun, but the site went down and I can't get back. So I'll have to try again later. Doug wants me to grow my hair long, so I'm looking for an "in between" look while getting there.

Tomorrow I hope to feel better and head to Curves. I usually go on Monday, but decided my body needed to rest again today. Hopefully I can make it tomorrow. We are supposed to have rain the rest of the week, and I am praying that it doesn't kick my butt!

I have the GREATEST husband EVER!!

So today was very busy. We were out very late last night and didn't get to bed until about 3am. We woke up about 8am and got us all ready for church, put the taco meat in the crock pot and generally made sure the house was great!

After church people started arriving. We had a wonderful time of sharing and prayer. I just love having like-minded friends that we can laugh with, cry with and pray with. It was so awesome. While we adults pray in the living room, the teens generally go into another room and have a time of sharing and prayer. Well, the elementary aged kids were so upset that they didn't have prayer time. So we settled them at the dining room table and they shared and prayed. It was adorable the things they prayed for. The 4th grader wrote down all the requests and she also lead prayer. I just love what God is doing in all our lives!

We had dinner together. It is wild! Kids running here and there and everywhere. A couple of the men had to leave for one reason or another. A couple other husbands weren't here today. One was sick and one had other plans. So all together the women way outnumbered the men. After dinner there were 8 women I think and 3 men left. Our kids are having an egg hunt Saturday, so we all stuff candy in eggs. Well, somebody found a GREAT deal on plastic eggs. 250 eggs for $9. Well, there was a reason for that! The eggs were VERY hard to close. So a 20 min. job took about an hour or more. It was hillarious! We would jump and shout for glee when we finally closed an egg LOL. It took 5+ minutes to close some of these things.

So after all this, a few more people left and the ones left sat around for fellowship. It was a glorious day here and the kids were outside playing basketball. All that was left were women, so while we sat in the living room and laughed and talked, Doug cleaned up the entire kitchen! He put away all leftovers, washed dishes, loaded the dishwasher, wiped tables and counters. He is the BEST and I mean BEST husband in the world! I am so very blessed to have him.

One of the ladies went into the kitchen and commented what a good guy he was to help me. He told her that I worked so hard to get it together yesterday, and that not only did he want to help me, but he wanted to sit on the swing with me and talk after they all left. So he didn't want me in the kitchen. How sweet is that?? So I just had to brage on this wonderful gift that the Lord has given me!

Oh, it's the weekend!!

It has been a few days since I've had a chance to sit down and blog. Our weather has been horrible, rainy and cold and dreary. It is really affecting my fibro. Not to the point that I cannot function at all PTL! But enough that I am doing the least amount I have to and then resting. Thank God I've made great changes in my diet. I know that is helping me.

Yesterday my family had the opportunity to meet a Sonlight Forum buddy and her family. They were about an hour north of us. Her son is at Bible quiz. So we drove up there to meet them. It was great fun for Doug, me and her and her husband to sit around and talk while the boys swam.

We have prayer group here tomorrow. So today I've cleaned and tidied the house. I've also made 10 lbs. of taco meet and 2 lbs. of Venezulean black beans for tacos and burritos tomorrow. I also made 2 pineapple upside down cakes from a Sue Gregg cookbook. I hope they are good!

So I am about to take a snooze. Things are about finished for tomorrow. I'll cycle another load of laundry and sleep for the afternoon. Doug and I are going dancing tonight and I want to feel good for that. I am SO blessed that his schedule has worked out that he can have the weekends off! I sure missed our weekends.

Preemie Baby Afghan

Brenda from the Sonlight Forums had a preemie a few weeks ago. She posted this link for donating items to give to preemies. I made this preemie afghan pattern It didn't take long and doesn't use much yarn. So I am going to make quite a few more before sending it off. I am hoping to use up all my scrap baby yarn.

Here's the one I finished last night. It is SO tiny, only 14.5 x 14.5.

Red Sauce
2-28 oz. cans tomato puree + 2 cans water
3-6oz cans tomato paste + 2 cans water
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
salt
pepper
parsley
basil
oregano
1 whole onion, peeled

Mix the tomato products and water together. Drop in the whole, peeled, onion (we don't like to chew onion but love the flavor). Sprinkle the top of the sauce with salt, pepper, generous amounts of parsley and oregano and 1/2 as much basil. Add minced garlic. Simmer all day or just a few hours. Makes about 4 qts.

Meatballs

3 lbs. ground round
2 eggs
1/3 c. tomato puree from making sauce
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, basil
3 handfulls fresh romano or parmesan cheese
2 handfulls dry breadcrumbs (seasoned or not. I use whole wheat.)

Mix all that together. Form into balls and drop into sauce. Simmer with the sauce all day.

Creamy Spinach Tuna Casserole

5 c. uncooked egg noodles (whole wheat egg noodles)
1 c. reduced-fat sour cream (regular sour cream)
½ c. fat-free mayo (light miracle whip)
3 tsp. lemon juice
2T butter (oops, used 4T plus 1 large clove garlic squeezed in it)
¼ c. all purpose flour (whole wheat pastry flour)
2 c. fat-free milk
1/3 c. + 2T or more) fresh Parmesan cheese, grated (Romano)
10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
6 oz. package reduced-sodium chicken stuffing mix (left this out)
1/3 c. seasoned bread crumbs (ww bread crumbs)
2 6-oz. cans tuna, drained and flakes
I added a liberal amount of Italian seasonings

Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the sour cream, mayo and lemon juice; set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt butter and garlic. Stir in flour until blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 min. or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in 1/3 c. Parmesan cheese until melted. Remove from the heat. Add milk mixture to bowl with sour cream mixture and stir in spinach, stuffing mix, bread crumbs and tuna, and spinach; mix well. (I added Italian seasonings now).

Drain noodles and stir into spinach mixture. Transfer to a lightly oiled 9x13 baking dish (I used the PC deep dish baker and it fit perfectly). Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Cover and bake at 350* for 35 min., uncover and bake 5-10 min. longer until lightly browned. (I baked at 425 for 20 min. and uncovered for 5).

For recipe as printed:
1 servings = 346 calories, 9 g fat, 2 g fiber, 24 g. protein