Saturday, December 31, 2005

Please pray for my friends!!!!

Our friends, Jim and Melanie Walenciak, and their family had their car stolen. Please read their story and pray for them...we know that Satan will be defeated and he will have to pay them back SEVEN times and that God WILL be glorified through this!!!! Hallelujah!!!

http://melaniewalenciak.blogspot.com/

Friday, December 30, 2005

New Year's Poem

Twas the night before New Year's, and all through the house
Everyone was partying, even the mouse
The snacks were all out, with people beside them
And drinks were being poured, as fast as people eyed them.

The kids were all playing Monopoly and cards
And some were outside playing tag in the yards
While Dad and I were snug in the den
Sitting around and talking to good friends

When in our conversation, such a topic arose
To frighten the women and curl the men's toes.
Someone had the audacity to bring the word up
And the rest of us just stared at the ice in our cup

RESOLUTIONS the word was, that caused us to groan
And as they searched for paper and pencil, more intense grew the moan
We all had been there before, with our intentions grand
Only to fail miserably, everything we had planned.

The lost weight, the exercises, pilates and tae bo
Were forgotten as our waists continued to grow.
The plan of time spent with God and kids and friends,
Lasts until the new TV Season begins.

What went wrong, we ask ourselves, as we avoid making more
Knowing that new resolutions are something we all abhor.
As we sit and we think, contemplating our downfall
The missing element comes to me, as I think and recall

We never asked God to give us His life goals
Instead, we thought we were the bishop of our souls
And leaving Him out, we let in defeat
And year in and year out, this we did repeat

Instead, let us Listen, this year to our perfect Lord
And let us with the Holy Spirit be in one accord
God has great plans for us, when we listen and obey
So before another year of broken resolutions…..let's take the time and pray.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Big plans!

Well I just got done accidentally waking up Kaedy by having too much fun with Tarry! It is so nice to have her come over twice a week and talk...oops, I mean work! LOL. We have a lot in common, so I really love talking to her, it is nice to talk to a like minded person and share our struggles and our triumphs! :-)

I have been working on my speech for the seminar coming up in January. I am so excited about it and I have been working THROUGH it as well (it is going to be a workshop on scheduling and organizing) and I have been learning so much about myself and my habits. It has been awesome. God is really opening my eyes to a lot of things right now and I feel like I am getting a much better handle on my life. I have been working on it with Sherria too, although she is a little harder to get a handle on. She is goal-resistant. LOL Well, at least that gives me something to practice with, in case I have some goal-resistant listeners!

I am getting back into the calligraphy business. I am going to offer a free class to my homeschool group (adults and/or children) and then I am going to advertise my services through the city-wide homeschool "magazine" we have and possible through continuing education as well. I used to teach calligraphy in Albuquerque from the time I was about 16 until I was about 25. I did it through continuing education and the technical institute there. I also did wedding invitations, name place cards, certificates, etc etc. I am going to get back into all of that. I really enjoy doing calligraphy and I want to share it with others as well as make some money at it! :-) I was never as artistic as I wanted to be, but maybe with some practice, I will be able to become a little more artistic. I will probably start selling my "Namelets" again, too! I haven't even thought of those in years. But those are two nice things I could do, being confined to the house a lot of the time. And extra money is always nice! :-)

God is planning and working and weeding in my life and I am seeking Him with all my heart. It is a wonderful time!

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven
A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.


I feel like I am going through most of these times right now....a little of each....and I will be more like my Savior when He is done with me. Hallelujah!

Things to do this week

Tomorrow I am having some sweet friends over for dinner and we are having a traditional "New Mexican dinner." (They are from NM too!) I am cooking tamales, posole, frijoles, calabacitas, tortillas and sopapillas. Susan is bringing flan over for dessert. I am making tamales today. Sherria is going to help me and we are going to cut the recipe in half and only make 5 dozen. It is great to have them in the freezer ready for whenever we are hungry! I cooked the pork meat all last night and the house smells delicious!!!!! Now I am going to let it cool until 'Ria gets here.

Most people are taking their trees and decorations down this week, but we are going to keep them up until at least the 6th of January (traditionally the 12th day of Christmas.)

We do need to write thank you notes this week, get all the way caught up on laundry, get chore charts done, write bills, work on seminar, send an update and pictures of Kaedra and put Christmas presents away.

Some praises:
Emily slept in her own room last night!!! WOOHOO!! That is her first time in years. I did stay in ther until she fell asleep, but I will be weaning her back on that.

My cold is going away and I can breathe through my mouth for the first time in weeks!!!

The girls have been doing much better on their chores.

Kaedra went down to 12 breaths a minute and tolerated it wonderfully! I also lowered her oxygen and she is doing great with that!

Kaedy has her four molars already cut through!! She has her first two teeth on top and bottom and then her four molars. I have never heard of that.

Brittany loves her Nancy Drew software I found for her online for Christmas!

Kaedy is able to support herself standing (by holding on to something) and is able to roll over to her tummy and move herself around. Not exactly crawling, but at least an effort! :-)

Okay, bye for now!

Country Vegetable Pies

I hope you all had a great Christmas!! What a blessing to have Kaedra Noelle home with us this year. I kept thinking it was "Baby's first Christmas," which, to us, it was! :-) We did things differently this year, but my favorite part was going to church on Christmas morning. I wish we had church EVERY Christmas morning! We took Kaedy to church with us, too, and it was wonderful. It was a prayer answered, to have her there, with her church family, able to sit through a service. (well, just barely, she was SOOO wiggly and busy!)

My parents are in Hawaii on a cruise and it was a little odd not talking to them on Christmas (they were in the middle of the ocean, away from phone service on Christmas day). On top of that, we have been talking more regularly now, so I have missed them while they have been "out of pocket."

I tried a new recipe the other night and everyone LOVED it. It was a HUGE hit! I need to type it in for Miss Linda and for my palm pilot cookbook, so I think I will share it with all y'all here!


Country Vegetable Pies
Yield: 2 pies to serve 6-8

2 prepared pie crusts
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
4 cups frozen vegetable mixture
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water to make an egg wash

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. LIne two baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with non stick coating.
2. Place 1 piecrust on each baking sheet.
3. Beat together the cheeses. Spread half on each piecrust, leaving a 2 inch border of dough.
4. Todd the vegetables with the vegetable oil, basil, salt and pepper.
Place half the vegetables on each crust, covering the cheese mixture.
5. Fold up the edges of the dough, partially covering the filling. Press the edges together to hold them in place.
6. Use a pastry brush to cover dough with egg wash.
7. Bake 20 minutes or until golden. Serve warm.

(I messed with the recipe a lot. I added chopped ham, used olive oil (instead of veg oil), used italian seasoning (instead of basil), used garlic salt (instead of salt) and didn't do the egg wash. You can use any kind of veggies and add any kind of meat. Michael also wants to try it with cheddar instead of swiss.)

Friday, December 16, 2005

Never back down from a challenge



I collected elephants for most of my life. From sometime in elementary school when everyone had something to collect and my friends asked what I collected and I had no idea but I really liked Snuffleupagus so I said "elephants!" Little did I know HOW many elephants I would end up with. And NOT ONE, NOT ONE....NOT EVEN ONE EVER looked like Aloysius Snuffleupagus. What kind of luck is that???? If I had gotten JUST ONE Snuffleupagus, maybe I would have kept collecting. I decided about 4 years ago that I couldn't handle ANOTHER non-Snuffleupagus elephant. I asked everyone to stop, and thankfully, we are free from elephants at the moment. In fact, if you check ebay in a month or so, you can start seeing my collection. ;-)

And, speaking of the Muppets, Steve, the guy from church that built our wheelchair ramp, said that Muppets in outer space is the best Muppet movie. I don't remember if I have seen it or not, but if My kids keep want to try any other Muppet movies I think I will get them that one!

I have Colby and Daniel today while the rest of the boys are at a play dress rehearsal. Kaedy loves having all the little ones over playing with her. I have a PRAISE! While writing this, I went in to help Renee with feeding Kaedy and Renee suggested trying Kaedy with a bottle again. We tried her and she did take a few sucks!! WOOHOO!!! I know this is late to start bottle feeding, but if she got down the idea of bottle feeding, maybe feeding her solid food would be easier! :-)

Okay, ta ta for now....I will check in later!

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Beaker and sick Maddi


I just LOVE Beaker (the one with the orange hair). He is my favorite Muppet. I am actually not a huge Muppet fan, although my mom is, but I LOVE Beaker. He is so cute and I love how he talks. Why am I mentioning this right now? Colby (Paula's son who I watch on Thursdays) and Emily were watching A Muppet Christmas Carol and he has a small part in it which is my favorite part. The crazy kids are now outside playing. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. It is cold!!!!

I just got done painting flowers on some jars that my friend Susan brought over. She had painted the jars solid colors and wanted me to put some designs on them so she can give them away. I had a great time talking to her and I had fun painting. I don't usually have an excuse to take time and paint so it was a lot of fun! Another person from church is coming over to build us a ramp today for our front walkway. That way we can get Kaedy and her Kart out to the car with fewer bumps and less muscle power. I am really excited.

ps...Madison (my dog) has been throwing up all day!!!!!! WONDER WHY????

Cookie Monster

I am FURIOUS!!!!
She did it again!!!!
I realize I have some culpability here, but I still can't believe her!
ALL OF MY COOKIES!
We made 3 kinds yesterday....
I can't say what kinds, because one of them is our cookie exchange cookie.
But we made about 8 dozen cookies and there are 4 left.
not 4 dozen.
4 cookies.
4

f o u r

1 2 3 4

4!!!

ARRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!

Those of you who know me well know which "she" I am talking about.
She is infamous for this.
So you would think I would know better.
I tried to put them out of her reach.
I told her no.
I caught her once and she got in trouble and then I put them somewhere else, where she couldn't get them.
She must have half climbed on the counter to reach these.
AND they were in a big bowl.


Bad bad dog....
How come I am always "talking" to my blog during the day, but when I sit down to write, I can't think of anything to write????

Well, for one thing, I went to torture, um, I mean physical therapy on Monday morning. It was AWFUL. My foot felt like a watermelon on fire for almost 24 hours after that. It is JUST starting to feel better and I have torture again tomorrow morning. I did not do any of the exercises he sent home with me. I could barely move my foot, much less exercise it!! As I was leaving, he hadn't given me an appt for another visit and I was SOOOOOO tempted to just leave without making one. But then I realized that I couldn't go back to the dr and tell him it was hurting...he would ask why I wasn't going to physical therapy. SO, I ended up asking for another appt. ARGH. Please torture me....no really, please. I am hoping since he didn't schedule me until Thursday that he is only going to have me go twice a week instead of 3 times a week. I am just claiming a complete healing...I don't need to be having ANY of this pain because I am redeemed from it by Jesus' blood. I don't need any more torture....Jesus was tortured for me and specifically for my foot and it's pain. I am so glad I am healed!!

Tonight was an AWESOME sermon by a member of our congregation - Ben. He taught about Isaac and Rebekah's beginning and how it was an allegory of the Holy Spirit and the church. It was wonderful and opened my eyes to things I have never seen in that story. He is moving down to South Texas to follow a call from God. I am so excited for him, although we will miss him playing the organ, teasing pastor, and preaching.

I am looking for a devotional for Britty. I want a spirit filled one. She just finished a great one, but I want to keep on going!! Anyone have any good ideas?? A friend suggested Kenneth Copeland's teen devotional - Extreme, which is fine, but it is out of stock everywhere until January and I want to give her one for Christmas!! Anyone, anyone??

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Code words from tonight

blog blog blog
handcuffs
duct tape
"what if I hit you?"
saran wrap
Happy Birthday!
Melanie's handprint on her face

That is all I can remember at the moment...I know there are more! Especially from the movie. I had a GREAT time, girls, thanks for inviting me!! It was awesome. I haven't had that kind of fun in a long time. Sorry we had to leave so quickly, but Kaedy needed her formula and I didn't want to stress the nurse out. We didn't get back to the house until 12:23am and I KNOW Tonya was freaking!! LOL.

Well I had better get to bed. I need to relieve Tonya at 8am and I should be showered and dressed by then, since my mother in law is coming to hang out with us tomorrow. Can't have a jammy day! Whoops, did I say tomorrow?...HAHAHA....okay, it is actually in 6 1/2 hours!

I am WAY too wound up to go to bed! I should do something productive...but am I?? Ohhhh no, I am blogging. Of course. After tonight's conversations, I had to! ROFL.
Maybe I will play some games on Yahoo. Or read a book. Or write a novel. Whoops, I think I got a little carried away there.

Once again, great time ladies...thanks and thanks and thanks.

And, Mel, I haven't forgotten, I am still watching my back.....

Friday, December 09, 2005

ADULT FUN (no...not R rated....LOL)

I just talked to one of my favorite movie reviewers - Timmy. (He is my friend Paula's oldest son. He's 14 years old and we agree on most movies we like or don't like, same with music) ANYWAY, HE went to see Narnia last night at midnight and he said it was awesome. He said it was very true to the book, as well. YEAH!!! I am so excited. I was really waiting to hear his opinion today, because I know I can trust it. ;-)

I am so excited about tonight!! I am going out with some friends to celebrate two of their birthdays. We are going to Zio's, an Italian restaurant, and then to a dollar movie afterwards. WOOHOO!!! A night on the town with my friends!!! I can't believe it!!! :-) :-) I was just looking at their menu and I have NOOOO idea how I am going to pick what to eat! One of each please??? Oh wait, I am supposed to cut my carbs in 1/2. Okay, I'll take 1/2 of each entree please! LOL!!

Today Melissa and I were on the phone together, both talking to Melanie on IM. That was too big of a coincidence, that we had to do something about it. We decided to start writing the exact same things at the exact same time. Melanie was QUITE freaked out for a minute or two. It was very fun....we were laughing sooo hard.

I haven't hardly gotten to see Ria lately. She did come over on Wednesday, but I took a nap during part of that time. She is coming on Sunday and I am looking forward to hanging out with her. Tonight with my hs friends and Sunday with Ria and next week Paula is coming to hang out with me....I am getting spoiled!! LOL. Actual adult conversation...what am I going to do with all of it?

Thursday, December 08, 2005

A Weekly Menu (for Brandi)

Okay, Brandi, I will give you a weekly menu. This is one we used about two weeks ago (I haven't had a chance to make a new one yet) However, just so you know, I took a lot off of one of your weekly menus for ideas!!! So, if this looks familiar, you will understand. ;-)

Monday:
B: Muffins
Snacks: Apple with PB
Lunch: Quesadillas, veggies with dip
Dinner: Garlic Roast

Tuesday:
B: Cereal
Snacks: Carrots with Ranch
Lunch: Sandwiches, pickles
Dinners: pork chops on the grill

Wednesday:
B: Bagels with Cream Cheese
Snacks: Granola Bar
Lunch: fish sticks, cottage cheese, fruit
Dinner: Chicken and Mushrooms in CP

Thursday:
B: Cereal
Snacks: Apple with PB
Lunch: B-sandwich at PE; Colby and Emily- Mac n Cheese
Dinner: Baked Salmon

Friday:
B: Popovers
Snacks: Carrots with Ranch
Lunch: Tortillas with filling
Dinner: Britty make dinner (she made cheese stuffed burgers)

Saturday:
B: Cereal
Snacks: Fruit Salad
Lunch: soup, crackers and cheese
Dinner: Roast Sticky Chicken

Sunday:
B: Bagels with Cream Cheese
Lunch: CP Mac n Cheese with Salad
Dinner: Mini pizzas

My Foot! And What to pray against!

Well I finally got to a doctor who could figure out what was wrong with my foot!!!! YEAH!!!! It is good to know what to pray against! I have been praying against a broken foot and lo and behold, I don't have one! LOL. Unfortunately I think that was a case of mistaken syndrome rather than a miracle. But now, for the REAL problem......

I have the symptoms of tendonitis in my foot and an entrapped nerve in my calf. The nerve is being squeezed every time I move my leg in certain ways. My doctor set me up for physical therapy 3 times a week for 6 weeks. He told me that if I was still having the pain after that time, we would talk about surgery. It is a very small surgery, from what I can tell, but also a surgery I won't have to have, thanks be to the blood of Jesus.

I haven't quite figured out how I will get to physical therapy three times a week but I am working on it. My mother in law is coming on Monday morning, my first day. After that, I don't know yet. Of course, now that I know what to pray for, I doubt I will have to go for 6 weeks!

The doctor also said I weighed too much. (surprise, surprise! LOL) Apparently my arches are starting to fall. He wants me to follow this diet:
1. Cut my carbs in half
2. Fill in the missing portion with protein
3. For lunch everyday have a protein shake. (btw, anyone know which ones taste the best??)
4. Exercise on a stationery bike or elliptical machine 30 min a day (or swim) (I don't have either of those things OR a pool!) I am supposed to get cardiovascular exercise without putting much weight on my foot....any ideas for that one??

I am DETERMINED to do it this time and stay on it and do it right. I am able to do all things through him who gives me strength. I am going to put a thermometer thingy up on my wall with the amount of weight I want to lose and I am going to watch it grow!!! WOOHOO!! I am EXCITED!!!! Anyone want to do this with me????

Saturday, December 03, 2005

What we're reading

Brittany: Brittany has been DEVOURING Nancy Drew books, lately. Reading more than 1 a day. Here are some of her recent ones: The Haunted Bridge, The Clue in the Broken Locket, The Golden Pavilion and The Quest of the Missing Map.


Kahri: Boo Hiss (sequel to Boo by Rene Gutteridge)
The nearly perfect crime : how the church almost killed the ministry of healing by Francis MacNutt.

Read Aloud: We just read "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry and we had previously finished "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and now we are reading The Life and
Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum. After this we will probably read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever....we read that one every Christmas. :-)

Wild Child and getting ready for Christmas

Kaedra is WILD right now!!! WILD! This started yesterday. She had been feeling bad for about a week and we finally went to the doctor on Wednesday to find out that she had an ear infection in both ears. He gave her an antibiotic and within two doses, she was already a brand new baby! She even felt like sitting up, smiling and kissing. Then, yesterday afternoon, she turned into WILD baby. Throwing everything, grabbing everything, pulling on hair (hers and others), pulling on her cords and her circuits, banging things together...just general mayhem. She is usually sweet and cuddly and soft, but she is getting a new side to her personality now. This very playful and ornery side! At least she is feeling better!!!

Brittany and I are home alone with Kaedy right now. My parents took Emily to the Annual Broken Arrow Christmas parade. While they were watching, one of our friends saw Emily and whisked her up and onto a float with some other friends. Now my parents are Emily-less!! They have to go find the float after the parade and retrieve her. LOL.

Linda called in sick yesterday (I think she got sick from Kaedy) so I had Kaedy myself and I had our new nurse, Renee, to train as well. Renee did very well and just had a few times she was nervous. All in all, I think she will work out fine. It ends up that she will not be working on Saturdays at all. Saturdays are her Sabbath (just like Linda). I am not sure, why, though, since she is Catholic. Oh well. Also, she calls herself a spirit-filled Catholic and she sure doesn't talk like a Catholic.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. The girls put all of our decorations out yesterday while I was taking care of Kaedy. My dad was nice enough to get the boxes down, out of the attic. We are going to put up the tree today. I don't really know when, since we have Kaedy today, too, unless she is feeling well enough to go into the other room.

Tomorrow is church...YEAH!!! I missed it on Wednesday night because Michael had to work late. My parents were both here, but they have no idea how to take care of Kaedy, so I couldn't go. Tomorrow morning I am going to go and hopefully tomorrow night as well!! WOOHOO!! I am so excited that we have church on Christmas this year. What a WONDERFUL way to spend Christmas. I am hoping maybe I can take Kaedy to church that day, too.

I am going to be part of my homeschool group's Cookie Exchange again this year. I LOVE it. It is so much fun, and such a great holiday event. It is one of my favorite holiday events. There are 12 ladies and we each make 12 dozen cookies. We bring them to the party location in special containers. The cookies, containers and the big container we take them home in are not labeled with our names. We each vote on the best tasting cookie, the prettiest cookie, the prettiest container, the prettiest take-home container, the best dressed lady and a few other things. Then we all have prizes that we get. Everyone ends up going home with some prize. The person who gets the most votes overall gets to be "Martha" of that year. I was "Martha" two years ago. This year the ladies were so sweet, they made a special effort to invite me and I was THRILLED. I am SOOO excited. I had picked out my container over the summer, now I just need to make them. I don't know what kind of cookies I am going to make, but it will be something easy. I am determined not to stress about it and to just have a good time! :-)

Okay, back to life...gotta go try to tame the wild child, spend some quality time with Britty and prepare for my parents coming back.