Wordless Wednesday - Censored!

Rico was very relaxed last evening!

Laying low

I have nothing spell-bounding to tell today.

Nothing funny.

Nothing eloquent.

No pictures.

I've just been laying low for a few days, trying to rest. My headaches and migraines have increased, my breathing gotten worse. I'm pretty certain I have a sinus infection. My rash has faded, but the itchy phase has set in. (Is that how yours is, Kimmie? Itches when it starts fading?) The only thing the doctors can do is IV's, because none of the oral abx help anymore. I can't do IV's right now because of our insurance situation, but the doctor did call this morning and say Jan. 28th is just too long to wait for a PICC line put in and IV's started. They are working me in for the first week of January when new insurance has started.

So I'm trying to stay inside all I can, taking lots of naps, doing less work, but also trying to prepared for Thanksgiving Day, too. And a few times a day I get on the computer and read my favorite blogs and that just brightens my day.

Of course the sun is brightening my day today, also. Yesterday was cold, damp and rainy all day - yuck. Didn't help with the pain factor at all. But today is around 50 degrees and sunny - so much better!

Blog Award

Thank you, Amanda, for passing along this Blog Award to me. I feel honored by your friendship and your encouragement, and for sharing this award with me.



Now, am I to answer all of those questions? With just one word answers? Yeah, right! I'll TRY!

1. Where is your cell phone? counter
2. Where is your significant other? driving
3. Your hair color? blonde
4. Your mother? home
5. Your father? church
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? unknown
8. Your dream/goal? financial stability
9. The room you’re in? office
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? homelessness
12. Where do you want to be in six years? alive
13. Where were you last night? sleeping
14. What you’re not? sports-crazy
15. One of your wish list items? socks
16. Where you grew up? NE
17. The last thing you did? dishes
18. What are you wearing? lounge pants/t-shirt
19. Your TV? off
20. Your pet? sleeping
21. Your computer? on
22. Your mood? tired
23. Missing someone? no
24. Your car? died. Borrowing dh's Avalanche
25. Something you’re not wearing? bra!
26. Favorite store? Walmart
27. Your Summer? great
28. Love someone? yes
29. Your favorite color? blue or yellow
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? yesterday

Now I will pass this Award on to 7 other Blogger Friends:

1. Misty, Wind Beneath My Wings

2. Cara, CaraMonster

3. "MamaBear", 4 the Love of Family

4. Megan, Hold it Up to the Light

5. Hope, Taking A Deep Breath

6. MamaBelle, The Bayou Bells and Their Beau

May I stop at 6? I have other ones I'd name, but they just received it a few days ago and I'm not sure they'd be into passing it again...Carrie, Jackie...

Fit Friday - Week 5

Not much to report this week, but I'm keeping with the goal of posting my progress, or lack thereof, in the HFTH.

When I weighed in this morning, there wasn't any change. At least I didn't gain, but more loss would have been nice. I shouldn't be surprised since I never did any treadmill or Total Gym this week. Each day I couldn't do it first thing and would plan on after school, then something else would come up. Sound familiar to anyone?

----------------------------

My right side of my chest has terrible pain today. Not sure what it is. Coughing is just extremely painful, but I'm wheezing more and that makes me cough. My Combivent ran out, which doesn't help at all! I had to pay $322 for my Advair the other day because COBRA hadn't kicked in, and now my other inhaler is out. Wonder what that will cost, or if COBRA will be entered into the system by then.

I also have my "family rash." My dad, sister and I get this weird rash each time we are getting sick. We know we're in for it if we get the family rash. It's at the "hot points" like behind my neck to the front (like a necklace), armpits, below my breasts, leg joints, sometimes more places. Between my rash and my chest my mom is worrying about pneumonia, but those are my only symptoms so far.

Biscotti, anyone?

I found this recipe last year on Allrecipes.com. I thought it would make great gifts and be cheaper than buying it commercially (is that the word?). This Biscotti was such a huge hit. Not only did my family eat it like crazy, but it was a favorite by so many people I gave it to. It is very easy to make, makes the house smell yummy and is oh-so-good! **I did not take this photo. It was taken by Lisa D. who added icing to hers. Some also substituted 3/4c. dried cranberries for the almonds. I like it just the way it is!**




ORANGE-ALMOND BISCOTTI

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 pinch salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 tablespoon orange zest
3 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon almond extract


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a baking sheet.
In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, almonds, and orange zest. Make a well in the center and add the eggs oil, and almond extract. Stir or mix by hand until the mixture forms a ball.

Separate dough into 2 pieces and roll each one into a log about 8 inches long. Place logs on prepared baking sheet and flatten so they are about 3/4 inch thick. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly, and remove from baking sheets. Slice diagonally into 1/2 inch slices with a serrated knife. Set cookies on side back onto the cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 15 more minutes, turning over after half of the time. Finished cookies should be hard and crunchy.

Nutritional Information
Orange Almond Biscotti II
Servings Per Recipe: 12

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 220

Total Fat: 4.6g
Cholesterol: 53mg
Sodium: 130mg
Total Carbs: 39.9g
Dietary Fiber: 1.1g
Protein: 4.8g

Wordless Wednesday

(I did not take these pictures. My husband read a story about this guy and how he raised this bull as a pet. When it was older it couldn't walk places with him, so he took it in a car!)

Where have you been?

Yesterday, late in the afternoon, I asked R if he wanted to play the Ungame. He loves that game and it's a great way to keep up with what's going on with your child. It gets them opening up and talking.

It was getting chillier as the sun was going down, so I suggested we turn on the fireplace and move things so that we could play the game in front of it.

Here we are...well, I'm behind the camera, but you know what I mean.


It was so cozy and fun. I could tell he really enjoyed the one-on-one time, too. A lot of time we are in the same house, but not connecting as we move about doing different things.

I got to thinking this morning of how we're kind of like that with God. We know Him, we go to church, but how much time do we spend in special one-on-one time, sharing our feelings and thoughts with him? And listening to what He has to say? Building our relationship?

There's a beautiful song Larnelle Harris sings: I Miss My Time With You.



"there he was just waiting,
in our old familiar place
an empty spot beside him,
where once i used to wait
to be filled with strength and wisdom
for the battles of the day
i would have passed him by again
if i didn't hear him say

(chorus)

i miss my time with you
those moments together
i need to be with you each day
and it hurt's me when you say
you're too busy
busy trying to serve me
but how can you serve me
when your spirit's empty
there's a longing in my heart
wanting more than just a part of you
it's true
i miss my time with you

what do i have to offer
how can i truly care
my efforts have no meaning
when your presence isn,t there
but you will provide the power
if i take time to pray
i'll stay right here beside him
and you will never have to say..

(chorus)"

Just thought you'd like to know

::I like Mondays. My cleaning is nearly up-to-date, I don't usually need to go out so I can stay in PJ's or whatever I want for the day. It's my grubby day when I don't do my hair or makeup.

::I met C. Everett Koop once, when he was Surgeon General. I was a restaurant Hostess and chased after him because he didn't pay his bill. I couldn't help it that I didn't recognize him because he was in "every day clothes." He assumed I knew who he was and when I caught up to him he said "Just charge it to my room!" (In a very impatient voice, I might add!). I'm thinking "Well, I WOULD if I knew your name and room number!!!", but I politely just asked him to sign his bill. I was mortified when I read the signature!

::One year we moved just a couple of days before Christmas. My parents were visiting to help us move. My mom and I took off to get a Christmas tree. The place had an honor system where you just helped yourself and left money in a box. Once we got the tree in the trunk I realized I hadn't planned ahead and had nothing to tie the hood down with. I didn't want to lose our tree, so I reached up under my coat and sweater and removed my bra. It worked great and my mom nearly pee'd her pants laughing and wondering if all of the people following us were because of the bra holding the trunk closed!

::That popular book, The Shack, was kind of weird. I just can't picture God as a black woman, I'm sorry!

Well, I wanted to post something kind of light-hearted today. I didn't have any Not Me's, so I thought this would do.

Fat Friday Week 4

Whoops! I'm supposed to say Fit Friday, as in the Hot for the Holidays Challenge, but I'm feeling more like Fat Friday today.

I feel very bloated and uncomfortable. There is no way I'm stepping on scales this morning. I did step onto the treadmill, which is quite the process I might add. I have to string my oxygen to it and put that on my face, then plug my cordless headphones into the audio and put the headphones on over the O2 cannula. You don't think I'm using the treadmill without listening to something like a book, do you? Listening to a book helps time past faster. I need my water, my cell phone, the ceiling fan on...

I will be vacuuming later today, so that will count as exercise, too.

But I've been junk eating the last few days. Nacho chips, hot fudge pudding cake- not the thing diets are made of.

My jeans will never fit me at this point. Very discouraged.

Well, today is a new day and I have days ahead where I can turn this thing around.

Declaring His Goodness

It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.

Psalm 92:1-2

Wordless Wednesday

Things I Love

1. Okay, before I forget...This blog I read today. The Kimmie Files. It was the best laugh I've had in days!

2. God. He never gives up on me. He loves me no matter what I do or say. He knows what's best for me. He sent his Son to die for me.

3. My family. I'm not going to expound on that one because I'll never get to publishing this.

4. Rico and Raini

Raini


Rico

5. Our church. It is so hard to find a good church. There is so much to take into consideration. When we moved here nearly 2 years ago, it was about the hardest part of the move and it took us nearly this whole time to find a church that felt like..."home".

6. The area where we live. Okay, I'm prejudice, but I think we live in the most beautiful area in the country. Not to mention the weather here...

7. Fall. Spring was my favorite until we moved here, but you can't beat fall here. The comfortable weather that I can be out in, the beauty everywhere you look. Okay, school starts in the fall and I homeschool, so that's kind of a bummer, but still...I love fall.

8. Baking. and Cooking. What can I say? Just look at the weight I've gained since I've been married!

9. Christian music. It is so uplifting. I need to add music to my blog soon.

10. Reading. I LOVE to read! To lay in the hammock with a good book is just the best thing to do when the work is done!

There are so many more things I love: hearing my son laugh, seeing him succeed in things, taking pictures, reading the blogs of my blog-friends...but I need to get off the computer so I can always continue this another day.

Not Me! Monday

It's time for MckMama's Not Me! Monday blog carnival once again. The weeks roll by so fast, this gives me a chance to look back and review it...and confess.

You know that we CFers cough a lot. Well, I did NOT let loose a little trickle when I was coughing this last week. Not me! I'm too sophisticated for that! Nor did I not cough up way too much that would even gross my 14 years old son out!

On Wednesday I was so depressed over the state of my husband's attitude at his new job and the state of our marriage and the state of our finances and...oh, that should be another more private blog, sorry!...anyway, I was not so depressed that I stayed in the same clothes all day long and when school was over I did not crawl into bed and sleep away the afternoon!

I did not skip church supper and church that night because I didn't want to answer people's questions on how my husband is adjusting to his new job and how things are going. (I can't lie and didn't want to share the truth!)

I did not, in my depression, leave the house twice this week wearing the makeup from THE DAY BEFORE! It's better than no makeup, right?

I did not look into other options because my son's 8th grade (homeschool) work is getting so hard that I can hardly help him with it! (But I AM smarter than a 5th grader! Tee hee!)

I did not invite my mother to lunch, only to have her show up with bags of groceries for our family. They are so sweet and giving!

I did not skip quite a few of my medicines this week in order to stretch them out and help with finances! My doctors would have a fit! And along that line, I did not pick up a generic prescription and have to pay $64.99 because our insurance has been terminated and Cobra not set up yet! Ouch!

I did not wake up sad one morning, only to find that I had a beautiful new blog to look at and enjoy.

I did not eat 2 slices of my homemade lemon meringue pie yesterday! Not me! That would be terrible for my goal of losing weight!

I did not get up at 2:30 this morning to drive my husband over to his big truck to leave. Yawn!

Let's see, these are getting entirely too serious and you will never come back...Please come back. I just love reading your comments and knowing I have some new friends out there in blogland!

Don't forget to go to MckMama's to follow links to more Not Me! Mondays! Some of them are very funny!

God is so good to us!

We went to S.S. and church this morning, but came home partway through church because my head was really hurting. It feels like it could go into a migraine and I only have 2 Imitrex left and insurance isn't covering my meds. right now.

Anyhow, since I've been home this verse has been on my mind:

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

It is so good to know that no matter how far we slide, no matter what we do, that God is waiting to forgive us, that he gives us a clean and merciful start each day. He loves us so much more than we deserve. He is always there for us. He is compassionate and merciful. His mercies are new EVERY MORNING.

Promise, Hope, Encouragement

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

This is such a great verse. Who am I to add anything here?

Have a good weekend!

Hot for the Holidays - Week 3?

I'm losing track of where I am in Hot for the Holidays. Week 3 or 4. I could go back and look, but that seems like so much work now that I'm into posting!

So, do you want the good news first or the bad news?

Okay, let's start with the bad news...this is what I look like. (Ha! Ha! Gotcha, Jackie! Now it's YOUR turn!)


And if you haven't eaten your breakfast yet...my friend took this glorious shot of me this past Monday. Ick!


She tells me "Oh, don't doll all up with makeup and hair! Let's just go as we are. Don't you know we look younger without the makeup?" And what does she do? Takes my picture! (My hair is darker because I haven't been afford to have the hairdresser highlight it again.)

I would like to at least get rid of a couple of those double chins. Let alone some of the bulk. Do you know that I weighed 115 when I got married 21 yrs ago and around 120 at age 34 when we adopted R? There's some incentive for you young mothers to work out each day and watch what you eat! lol

I haven't been able to do much exercise this week because of my knee. It's still swollen and bruised and painful.

But the good news...I lost another 1.5 lbs! With all of the stress I wasn't sure if I would lose or gain this week. But that makes a total of 3.5 lbs so far. Because I have so much to lose I can't tell a difference with my clothes yet, but there's always next week.

Woooo-hoooo! Look what Jackie did for me!

Wow, was I ever surprised when I got on here this morning! My friend, Jackie, always has such beautiful blog pages that she designs all by herself. She offered to do one for me and here it is!!! Doesn't she do a beautiful job? I think she should do this as a part time business online! Her sweet little Savannah might not want to share her with something that timeconsuming, but Jackie sure has the talent for it. Thanks, Jackie! It looks great!

Lots of pictures! and our eventful weekend.

It seems like forever since I've been able to read my favorite blogs and do a little blogging of my own. Here's what's been going on this weekend:

Sat. AM: My son passed Karate belt testing on Saturday and now has his blue belt. Woo hoo!

That's him, tying his new belt at the end of the presentation ceremony.

Sat. afternoon: Husband got home after being gone 6 days. Can you say LAUNDRY?

Sat. evening: My son had a youth group activity involving a bon fire and hayride. The highlight of his evening? When the tractor hit a skunk and they were all sprayed in reflex! (Our pastor was walking around the front of our church yesterday morning with a clothes pin on his nose! What a riot!)

Also, Sat. evening: My long-time dear friend from PA arrived for a short visit. More on that later, with pictures!

My friend

ALSO, Sat. evening: The transmission went on our van, which is what I drive all of the time. What horrible timing! No job recently, now he's started a new job, Cobra payments for a couple of months, bills we can't pay and our main transportation dies and costs over $900 to fix.

Sunday: a great day starting with S.S. and church and introducing my friend. Showing her around in the afternoon and running errands for hubby, then making about 4 meals in the evening and packing him up to leave again. I was EXHAUSTED!

Monday: Relaxed on our deck with Irene. The weather has been beautiful and the trees show God's imagination and handiwork. We ate on the deck, then toured our historic town. Then made grilled supper and at on the deck under the lights.

After which my husband called and told me he didn't think he could stay at this job and we had a big argument. I cried and cried and Irene consoled me. We stayed up talking until 1:30, which was the 3rd night in the row I was up that late and rising at 7AM each morning, so I'm worn out. Just the stress could wear me out, let alone the hours and the pace I've been going.

Irene left this morning. I'm going to miss her but am sooooo glad she came to visit for a few days. It was just wonderful.

**Full disclosure: Two of these pictures were taken by my friend. **

Down on my knees - in a painful way

Okay, so Jackie fell off her treadmill and hurt her knee. But she had her very sweet daughter administering her sympathy and prayers.

I fell out of bed this morning and landed on my knees. An accident, not a prayerful intention, I might add. Yow! (I really need to tell you my "Christmas Night Terror" story because it's actually funny and my knee still hurts from then, but I don't have time right now.) I had leaned out of bed to pick up something off of the floor to pull on and fell out. I was only half awake, which is probably why I hadn't just swung my feet to the floor as I usually do.



Dear, sweet Rico, my beloved Golden Retriever,


my guardian and compassionate friend, came running to my aide. But he seemed to think I was on the floor to play with him and got all in my face with his nasty breathe. He did lay down next to me, then, until I could get up off the floor. Now my already sore knee is even more sore and swollen. I had been getting up to get onto the treadmill, but wasn't up to that right then. Probably as well. I would have probably fallen off the treadmill as my friend did!