Monday, November 09, 2009

Thanksgiving Challenge 09

http://southbreezefarm.blogspot.com/2009/10/2009-giving-thanks-challenge.html


Last year I participated in South Breeze Farm's Thanksgiving challenge. I had forgotten about it until this morning and went looking for it again.  I am going to participate again, even though I am a little late. It is NEVER too late to cultivate thankfulness!

So, here are nine things I am thankful for, to get caught up!

1. I am thankful for my Heavenly Father and that he cares for me, day in and day out.
2. I am thankful for my loving husband who adores me and always tries his best.
3. I am thankful for my husband's job.
4. I am thankful for Brittany and her wonderful, sweet spirit. I am thankful for her heart towards God and others.
5. I am thankful for Emily and her compassion. She is so empathetic and always wanting to help others.
6. I am thankful for Kaedra and her miracle story. I am thankful that she is healthy and such a bundle of energy!
7. I am thankful for Ethan. I am thankful that he, too, is healthy and energetic and full of imagination!
8. I am thankful for my parents. I am where I am, in part, because of them.
9. I am thankful for the church we have been going to and their youth program and kids' program. Our kids are able to make friends and connect with people there. 

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Encouragement for Weary Mothers

I read this great article today. It is very encouraging for weary mothers. Not that I would know any of those!! ;-)

I am working on nurturing my soul right now. Feeding it, stuffing it full to overflowing, so I have something left at the end of every day. 

Bible Reading; encouraging books or blogs; worship and praise music; an inspiring talk with a friend....all these things help nurture me right now. As well as hugs and kisses from the kids, time outdoors, counting my blessings, and writing. 

And praying....always praying. 

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Hubby doesn't like soup very much (neither do I, for that matter) and I was determined, for some reason, to add some soups into our eating repertoire.  I knew he liked Olive Garden soups, so I thought I would try something Italian-y.  This is what I created....it was delicous!

1 lb. polish sausage, cut into slices
1 large onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
a bunch of italian seasoning
48 oz. beef broth
14.5 oz Diced Tomatoes
28oz Cut Italian Green Beans
9 oz cheese tortellini

Saute sausage, onion, and pepper in a bit of olive oil until vegetables are soft.  Add garlic and saute for about 30 seconds.  Pour in spices, broth and tomatoes and simmer for awhile.  Bring to a boil about 10 minutes before serving, add in tortellini and green beans. 

Friday, October 30, 2009

More about me than you ever wanted to know!

Susan posted this on Penless Writer


I needed something to jumpstart me blogging again, so I thought I would try this!


The phone rings. Who will it be? Michael, Tarry or Kimberly

When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? Yes
  
In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? Depends on who I am being social with. With FAITH and my friends I am a talker/listener. Most of the rest of the time I am a listener. 

Do you take compliments well? Hmmmm....Sort of well?

Do you play Sudoku? yes, love it 

If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive? I'd like to think so 

Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Yes 

What was your favorite game as a kid? Rummy-O

Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? No, but I really ought not to be dating. I am married, y'know. ;-)

Do you like to pursue or be pursued? neither, see above...

Use three words to describe yourself? at the moment: weary, frustrated, lonely....in general: blessed, joyous, forgiven

Do any songs make you cry? yes

Are you continuing your education?
Not in the "formal" sense but yes as far as viewing life as an education! (I like Susan's answer) I am constantly trying to learn more and learn new things! It can actually be very frustrating...I am a jack of all trades, master of none.

Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth? yes

How often do you read books? Constantly, I am a chain reader. :-) and actually, I usually have more than one going at a time.

Do you think more about the past, present or future? the present and future.

What is your favorite children's book? hard to say. I like a lot and am growing tired of a lot.  I love Shel Silverstein.

What color are your eyes? Green

Where is your dream house located? around my family, preferably by water and/or mountains.


If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed? our lock box.

When was the last time you were at Olive Garden? In Overland Park, KS meeting Michael's childhood friend. I think that was September last year. I didn't get to talk to him, however, because my littles kept me quite busy on my side of the table. 



Where was the furthest place you traveled today? Tinker Federal Credit Union

Do you like mustard? sometimes

Do you look like your mom or dad? neither. I am adopted. However, I do look like my birth mother. At least how she used to look.


How long does it take you in the shower? 5 minutes

Can you do the splits? nope, not even close, not even in the same county as the splits. Never have been able to. No flexibility.


What movie do you want to see right now? I have a huge list.  Next one up is "Up"


What did you do for New Year's? I don't remember

Do you think The Grudge was scary? Never heard of it

Do you own a camera phone? yes, not just that, an IIII phone. :-)


What's the last letter of your middle name? "a"

How many hours of sleep do you get a night? at the present time I am lucky if I get 4

What do you buy at the movies? popcorn and pop

Do you know how to play poker? in theory. :-) However, I am not good at it at all.


Do you wear your seat belt? Yes, always. well, always in the car. Sometimes I wish I had one for the chairs at home, too, especially when I inexplicably fall off. 


How many meals do you eat a day? 3

Do you like funny or serious people better? I like both, but am usually drawn to funny people with a serious side.


Ever been to L.A.? yes...many a time

Did you eat a cookie today? yes

Do you hate chocolate? nope. I have a healthy like for chocolate.


Are you a gullible person? I don't think so


Are you easy to get along with? I like to think so! 

Join in the fun if you want. Please be sure and let me know if you participate so I can come learn more about you.

Friday, October 09, 2009

Decisions, Decisions


We decided that Kaedra will NOT go back to the Children's Hospital here in town. We cancelled all the exchange of information and we will be going back to Kansas City in February or so. Kaedra is far too precious to leave her in the hands of people who aren't experts at what they are doing. 

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Appt with new Surgeon for Kaedra

The quick version is we did not get warm fuzzy feelings from either ortho surgeon we saw at the local Children's Hospital. Neither one addressed Kaedra at all and her only exam was a peek at her back from about 3 ft away. They never asked us abt her history or looked over the page I brought in with her detailed history. They never mentioned the removed rod, even though the hook is still attached and obvious in photos. Really, honestly, they barely talked to us at all and Kaedra not at all. We both got the feeling they were not very familiar or comfortable with VEPTR or the kids that may need them. We were very disappointed.

We are awaiting some records from KC and have another appt with them in 2 weeks. We will give them one more chance and then make our decision from there.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Great Quote

"People gravitate to where they are celebrated not merely tolerated..ensure you celebrate the people God puts in your world today..they are a gift to you" ChristineCaine

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Okay I lied

I know I just said a few posts ago that I was integrating all my blogs into one since it's all one life. However, I have decided to start a new blog and I also decided to keep it separate from this one.  It is a very specialized blog....talking about Kaedra's journey toward eating.  It is really just a journal of what we are trying and how it is working. If you are interested, here is the link.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Conference

I am so blessed to be able to go to a conference in this area about transitioning g-tube fed children to oral eating. It is being given by the expert in this type thing...Marsha Dunn-Klein. It is a two day conference and after only one day I feel as if I have a plethora of ideas! I can't wait to start! I had felt at a bit of a loss lately as to what to try next and now I have to pace myself not to try too many things at once. I talked to her this afternoon, after the conference and she gave me some specific pointers for Kaedra, too! What a blessing that is!! AND, She said if all my questions weren't answered by tomorrow afternoon that I could come ask her more!


As you may remember, Kaedra's speech therapist until she was three, Amanda, is now one of my closest friends. She arranged this whole thing so I was able to go and I am so thankful! I also am getting to see her and Nicole, another friend, as they are down here for the conference too.



It has been a great day!

Friends,

Knowledge,

And help for Kaedra.
 
Here is a great site we heard about today for children learning to eat:
Popsicle.org

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Rudderless

I have been working on this post for awhile. Trying to figure out how to word it correctly. To speak my heart, be authentic and not offend. There comes a time to just spit it out and go on.

This is about me.

My struggles

My thoughts.

I am not attempting to tell anyone else what to believe. In chat lingo, ymmv. (your mileage may vary)

This is my mileage:

I have recently gotten out of a bad relationship. And, with that relationship came many rules and doctrines and beliefs that I went along with, because I wanted to please. I wanted to please God and I wanted to make the relationship work. I thought the two were intertwined. As I get farther and farther from the relationship (it has been about 7 months) I have come to realize that they were not one in the same. Pleasing my Father had nothing to do with this relationship.

Because of my confusion in this relationship, it has been an interesting 7 months. I am having to redefine my relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I have so many questions but I can not look to man for the answers. I have put away all my books about God or the Bible, many of my bibles (the ones with commentaries) and have cancelled my subscriptions to certain magazines. I have gotten rid of podcasts and no longer listen to certain CDs. I don't want to follow man.  Any man. Even great men.

Only Jesus.

I am questioning everything....how to pray; what is faith; what are God's promises, exactly; what does the Bible really say, where is the authority. What do I believe?

And for the first time in my life, I am feeling a little lost about God.

Not a crisis in faith, only a crisis in doctrine.

I do not doubt for a second God's presence.
or his love
or Jesus dying on the cross
forgiveness
redemption
rapture
that is all as real as ever.

However, when you don't know how to pray, it could make it hard to talk to God on a consistent basis.  Thank God he doesn't mind. He listens to me babble. He listens to me pray one way, then another, then apologize and ask Him which way. I know He doesn't mind. I know He doesn't judge. And that is something I didn't know 7 months ago, so I am definitely progressing in the right direction.

It's like I have been the captain of a boat. My course was laid out by God but I had the rudder in my hand. As I was growing up, I was going in one direction and in the last few years, I switched direction and headed somewhere else. But now, I have lost the rudder.  I am in the boat, in the ocean, not only following God's course, but relying on Him to get me there.

Rudderless is not a bad place to be.