The Horseshoe

On Monday, after we had spent time with Jaylon at OSU Medical Center, Daniel drove us around to the Shoe, Ohio State's Football stadium. I had never seen it up close. AND gate 17 just happened to be OPEN. Soooooo, Daniel and Ed went in first to make sure it was okay and clear. Then Daniel came back and got me. Wow......I could hardly believe that I was going to have to opportunity to walk on such hallowed ground. *grin* Above are pictures of me and Daniel in the Shoe. I have more to share but I won't torture you needlessly. *grin* I was surprised at how much smaller it seems in real life than what it is on TV.

Another update

Below is a picture of little Jaylon one of the few times that he's had his eyes open. Here he is on daddy's lap, sleeping.

And here he is being watched over by Grandpa Ed. In this picture, Jaylon was hooked up to a c-pap, stomach tube, and IV, among other things.

And below is his little foot in his daddy's hand. See how long his toes are? *smile*

Jaylon has been diagnosed with Necrotizing Enterocolitis. You can read about it here. As of yesterday evening, a bit of infection had been discovered so they were going to move his IV into a more mainline vein, possibly in his little head. At this point, the doctors have told us that any change in his condition for the worse will mean an immediate transfer to Children's and surgery.

We are still trusting the Lord to heal little Jaylon, so that he doesn't have to go through all of that. We will be going to the hospital later today to see our little grandbaby once again after we have our annual New Year's Eve Day lunch at Red Lobster with my brothers, sisters and our spouses. May each of you have a blessed and Happy New Year!

Jaylon update

Little Jaylon has been diagnosed with a small perforation in his intestine. Therefore, he is being fed intraveneously once again, has a tube in his stomach to relieve any air pressure that might build up, and he is in an incubator.

Daniel and Erin may stay at the Ronald McDonald House for the remainder of Daniel's time off of work, so they can be close to little Jaylon. He is still in University Medical Center but a shuttle runs every hour from the RMH which is by Children's Hospital to UMC every hour.
I sang "Jesus Loves Me" to little Jaylon today and told him that Grandma was going to teach him all kinds of songs about Jesus. I told him that he has looong fingers which are perfect for playing the piano like Grandma. And I touched his little toes which are soooo long, like his daddy's, and told him that Grandma was going to teach him the "little piggies" story, too and he pulled his little foot up like he's ticklish on his feet....like his daddy. *smile*
I told Daniel and Erin that I would try not to make him too ornery. *grin* Oh, but I love this precious little gift from God so much....already!!
He sleeps most of the time but he did have his little peepers open just a little so Grandma could see his little eyes. The doctor said he is sleeping most of the time because he is so tired from going through so much.
Please continue to pray for Jaylon and Daniel and Erin. I felt so sorry for Erin today. Please pray that the Lord would comfort and strengthen her. She is doing great physically. You'd never know that she had had a C-section one week ago.
Again, I'll keep you posted as to how our little guy is doing. Thank you so much for praying.

Pray for Jaylon

Daniel just called and said that he had just gotten off the phone with the hospital. He had called to inquire about how little Jaylon was. They told him that blood was found in little Jaylon's stool in the night. They told him it could be serious They are running more tests. They may have to transfer him to Children's Hospital. Please pray. The kids are devastated. They were sure they would be bringing their little Jaylon home today. But we serve a great and awesome God, Who is full of grace and compassion, Who is our Healer. Oh, precious Creator, touch and heal our little baby boy, in Jesus' Name.
"My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty,
There's nothing that He cannot do......"
I'll keep you posted, everyone. Thank you for praying.

Jaylon update!

Little Jaylon may be coming home today!! Daniel and Erin have to take a CPR class today. They have to do this before they can bring Jaylon home. The little guy has been nursing and breathing on his own. Last night Daniel said, "Mom, he made his daddy proud!" I said, "How's that, Daniel?" "Well, Mom, Erin had just fed Jaylon and was holding him up, patting his little back and he let out an awesome burp! It came like from his chest. It was a good one!" "It must be a guy thing, Daniel....", I said a bit quizzically. I can see where burping his ABC's might be in Jaylon's future. *sighhhhh* Yep, it's a guy thing. LOL

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So, Ed called Daniel after we got out of church and asked him how they were doing. Daniel said they had been trying to get out of the house for fifteen minutes, but it seemed Erin just kept forgetting things and they had to keep going back into the house. Well, this just isn't like Erin. Like Daniel, yes, but Erin? No. Ed said, "Maybe she's got that post-mortem depression stuff?" "Edddddd!!!! It's POST-PARTUM, post-partum!!!! Hellloooooo!!" Sheeeesh!!! LOL But we did have a good laugh over it!! I don't think it's post-anything......I just think she's probably tired and there is more to remember and to take now than before little Jaylon was born.

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Anddddd, yesterday in our little valley, we had a high of 76 degrees in the afternoon. Today? 52 degrees but it feels alot cooler because it is windy and I am freezing!!!!! I'm going to go and bundle up in bed and get warm!! Brrrrrr.......

Craws possed?????

Ed had stoked up the woodburner this morning, so Ellie, the kitty of the house, came in and got all settled down in her box in front of the stove. Ed went over to check the stove a little while later and noticed that Ellie had her paws stuck out over the edge of her box right next to the heat. He said, "Look, she's got her CRAWS POSSED...." WHAT????? I about died laughing! He honestly didn't mean to say it like that. He just got his tongue all tangled up.

Jaylon update!

First of all, Erin got to come home yesterday on Christmas day. She is doing so great. Little Jaylon is still at University Medical Center in Columbus in NICU, BUT, as of yesterday when the kids left the hospital, he was almost breathing on his own! Thank you, Jesus. We are getting ready to go up and see him with the kids. Grandparents must be accompanied by a parent in order to see the little ones.
Erin and Daniel got home last night at about 6:30pm. I know it was difficult for them to leave their little one but I just know that he's going to be coming home soon. All week I've just felt like I've had this invisible cord attached to my heart tugging at it and the tears have been close to the surface, many times spilling over. Oh, and Erin did finally get to hold her little son yesterday for the first time! I can only imagine how she must have felt.
I had two or three pictures to share but SOMEHOW! managed to delete them from my camera before getting them transferred to my computer! Talk about a ditz! That would be me.....sometimes! *smile*
Well, I must be off to get myself ready to go see the grandbaby AND who knows......perhaps we'll be bringing him home!!!

Little Jaylon

We went up to see Daniel, Erin and little Jaylon again today. Jaylon is in NICU still because of his oxygen level. Erin explained to us that he has a little tiny pin hole in one of his lungs that is letting oxygen escape, causing his oxygen level to be to low. The doctor said it could heal up and close over at any time, so not to worry. They see this quite often in little ones who are born a little early. Jaylon was born about two weeks early. When I was in the NICU with Daniel and Jaylon, I was able to get this sweet picture of them. Isn't it precious. The nurse said Jaylon was a "belly sleeper". He loves to sleep on is stomach. As you can see, they have him in a little oxygen tent. Daniel said they put the little "napkin" on Jaylon's back because he didn't like the plastic of the tent rubbing on his little back apparently. We would appreciate your prayers so much for little Jaylon, that the Lord would heal his little lung so that he can come home with Mommy and Daddy on Christmas Day. As always, I'll keep you posted on his progress.

Erin is doing wonderfully. I am so proud of her. I know she was so concerned about the pain and all that she might have to deal with but it has been minimal and she is doing well. She looked so pretty today. She and Daniel said that she has gotten so many compliments on her hair, how pretty it is. Daniel has been staying at the hospital with her and watching over her. My, but we do love these two precious kids. We call them kids....*smile*......but they aren't. Or at least they don't think they are. *grin*

It took us almost three hours to get home from the hospital this evening. Freezing rain started falling at about four o'clock, so we left immediately. The traffic was horrible. We crawled along on 670, 71 , 70, and then 33 until we got just south of Logan. There were times we were barely going 15 miles an hour! And there were accidents every where. I am so thankful that we made it home safely. I was soooo glad to get home! I was impressed with the caution and safety that most drivers were using. I drove because Ed has some difficulty driving when it is dark and raining where there is alot of glare from headlights and the wet roads. I am worn out, so I am going to get ready for bed and get some much-needed rest.

Jaylon Daniel is born!!

Jaylon was born at approximately 9am this morning. He weighs 6lbs. 10oz. and is 18 inches long. Because he was born C-section, his oxygen level was a bit low because he still had quite a bit of mucous in his lungs and such, so they moved him to NICU until they get this taken care. It is normal procedure for most babies born C-section. We just want to hold him! *smile* Hopefully, tomorrow will be the day!! Daniel got to hold him as soon as he was born, but Erin hasn't held him yet and I feel badly for her. Her doctor was a Dr. Samuels and he was wonderful! So upbeat and encouraging. Daniel said he sang Christmas carols while he was delivering little Jaylon. Dr. Samuels said Erin should be the poster child for C-section births because she did so wonderfully.

I'm a grandma!! *smile* I can hardly believe it! What a wonderful Christmas present, hm?
Everyone had gone back to check on Erin, so it was just me and Ed at the nursery window watching them tend to little Jaylon and we just looked at eachother and shed a few tears of gratitude and thanksgiving. How blessed of God we are.

I'll keep you posted and will have more pictures to share, I am sure! *smile* The Lord truly is good!

Happy 3rd Anniversary, Daniel and Erin!

We took Daniel and Erin out to dinner last night for their third wedding anniversary. They chose Texas Roadhouse and off we went. We had a delicious meal and great time of just visiting AND watching NC cleanup on Evansville AND seeing Tyler Hansbrough #50 break the scoring record of former NC player Phil Ford.



Anywayyyyyyy......we had a wonderful time and now it is on to wait for Monday to arrive! Erin is ready to have this little babino! Though I'm not so sure that he is gonna be so little. I am estimating him to be an 8-pounder, at least! We will all be at University Hospital in Columbus where she is scheduled to deliver at 8am.
This picture was taken some time ago, so her tummy is quite a bit bigger now. I love this picture of Erin! It was taken at her Grandma Pullin's. We have been blessed with a precious daughter-in-love.

What movie is your Christmas most like?

I saw this at Barbara's blog and thought it looked fun!

Your Christmas is Most Like: Miracle on 34th Street

Sweet and caring, Christmas is about helping for you. While Santa may not exist, you try to share his spirit.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Catching up....so here's some old news!

Hmmm......I thought I had posted Friday evening saying or perhaps it was Thursday, saying that I was going to be really busy for the next few days so don't be surprised if you don't hear from me. Oh, well, so much for that, hm? *smile*

It was a busy weekend, indeed!

We had our annual family Christmas get-together Saturday at our church fellowship hall. We had a wonderful time!! I had been wondering if we would have enough food because not everyone had gotten back with me about what they were bringing BUT did we EVER have enough food!! And it was delicious! You see, there are five of us "mothers" and our kids have tended to let us bring the majority of the food while they bring drinks and easy things but tis year, they all came bearing gifts of delicious food, bless their hearts!! *smile* Believe it or not, my favorite dish was my oyster stuffing/dressing. I make it every year for me and my two brothers and sisters. We are the only ones that like it. Our dad ALWAYS made oyster dressing at Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas so I am trying to carry on the tradition. My brother-in-law got some really good pictures so once he passes them on to me, I'll post some here for you to enjoy! I was just too busy to be taking pictures! *smile*

We had a white elephant gift exchange. Now, I didn't expect to get anything lavish but a soy jar candle without a wick? Hello? LOL My niece suggested putting it in my candle warmer. That'll work! And something rather poignant happened.

One of my little, precious great-nephews got a really big wrapped gift. His younger brother wanted to trade him, thinking the big package HAD to have a better present in it than his little package. Well, the older brother didn't want to trade is BIG gift BUT, lo and behold, if the smaller package didn't have the better gift! Needless to say, Gabe was happy that he kept the smaller package.

This made me think of the birth of Jesus. All through the years, prior to His birth, the Jewish people had been told of His coming by the prophets. We read those prophecies now and wonder how in the world they missed it. They were expecting and no doubt desiring a king arrayed in majestic robes, wearing a crown, possibly carry a sceptor.....something flashy that appealed to the carnal nature of man, something or someone to be "proud" of, to brag about. But He came so unexpectedly, so humbly, as an innocent baby, in a stable, wrapped snuggly in a covering of some sort......(it makes me think of ALL the things parents have nowadays when they are expecting a baby....whew!)..... with just his mother and father present, surrounded by farm animals. Unnoticed. Just another baby.



But it wasn't just another baby born that night in Bethlehem. It was the greatest gift of all. Our Redeember. But because of the unattractiveness of the package He was delivered in and the humble way in which He came to His people at that time, He was rejected by most.......

....... like the "little, plain" gift on Saturday that was pushed aside for the "BIG, GAYLY" wrapped gift, which ended up being not so great after all.

Just a little perspective during this holiday season.

Paying the price

Going back to Tuesday......what a busy day it was!!! I always get up early. I am just an early-riser, by nature. So, by 6:30am, I was having my first hot, steaming cup of coffee and a cookie. I knew that I had to be up and at 'em because we had a health insurance seminar to atttend at 10:00am, once Ed returned home from transporting his students. After attending the seminar, we went to Walmart to pick up a few things, then it was back home. We had a lunch of chili and grilled cheese and then I needed to get some things ready for the ladies' meeting that night. Oh, and this being Tuesday, it had been four weeks since I had had my second (right) hip-replacement surgery. After being up early and going in town and all, I was pretty tired and feeling it BUT I pushed myself to get some things done before I laid down.....lunch, two games for the ladies' meeting, and I made a batch of seven-layer cookies. Finally, I laid down at 3:30 and died.....I'm serious. I barely remembered laying down and I didn't wake up until 5:00! I still had to make Teriyaki Stir-fry. So, I hopped up.....well, not actually hopped....you know what I mean. I got up and commenced to cooking. Finally, at about six o'clock, Ed helped me carry everything out to the car. Actually, HE carried everything out to the car. Oh, and I also took some Christmas decorations to decorate my portion of the tables. We do this every year, so the decorating doesnt' fall to one person to do. And we get to see some of eachother's decorations. Anywayyyyy......oh, and this was the first time I was attempting to drive anywhere by myself but I was pretty sure I could do it. Ed was fussing and fretting over me and telling me I should just stay home because it was cold and raining and the ladies would understand, but I told him I was sure I would be fine.
Sooooo.....I am fine driving and it actually feels kind of good to be out by myself for a little while. When I arrive at the church, a couple of the ladies come out just as I am pulling into the drive-through and they carry ALL of my things in for me so all I have to do is get myself into the fellowship hall which I managed to do without incident. But I do have to be honest and say that by the time I got inside, got all of my things situated...food, decorations, games......I was bone-tired, wishing I was home and in bed. *sighhhh* But I whispered a prayer and pressed on. We did have a beautiful time of fellowship, food, games, gifts, and memories but when we were finished, I very quietly gathered my things and kind of sneaked out and headed home.
Ed was waiting for me and helped me into the house along with the things I brought home. I headed straight for our bedroom and started getting ready for bed. I don't think there was a part of my body that did not hurt. I took a couple of pain pills and crawled in between the flannel sheets, Ed turned the ceiling fan on medium, told me goodnight and kissed me, tucked me in, that's the last thing I rememeber.
The next day......I just didn't feel well all day. I did get up and get dressed and did my hair, made myself presentable. But I laid down alot on Wednesday and rested.
Okay....I just tried to do tooo much on Tuesday. Entirely too much. I don't even know what I was thinking! So now we have our family get-together on Saturday and I have already made my mind up that I am taking it slow and easy. I've already got the nieces and nephews doing most of the work, so I just have to fix a ham and green beans and show up. Isn't delegating a wonderful feeling? *smile*
I don't know if I will ever be able to do all that I used to. I will just have to take it a day at a time, a week at a time, and so on.
I will tell you one thing: I so love my husband. He is my best friend in the whole world and he makes me laugh and he cares for me and takes care of me. What would I do without him?
One last thing: I bought a custom-made wooden cane many months ago before I got my walker, thinking it would help me in walking. At the time, it wasn't much of a help. I needed the stability of a walker. Well, I got this cane out today and tried it out. I can walk so evenly and well with it! Now, I don't feel quite as secure with it as I do with my walker, so I will just be using it here at home for short periods of time until I feel stronger and more secure with it. But I can walk at a more steady pace and more evenly with it than I can with the walker. I am sooooo happy about this new develpment! I'll keep you posted!

Christmas Bingo, anyone?

For the past few years at our Christmas family get-together, we have played Christmas bingo. The little ones love it! And alot of the oldersters, do too! :-) I found a great website where you can make free, printable, custom bingo cards/papers. I fill in the blanks with familiar Christmas words, songs and sometimes the names of the children. The kids love it when their name is called. This is only applicable for the really young ones. The teens? Not so much. *grin* Anywayyyyy......we have so much fun playing this! Last year, we ran out of prizes, so we all through our change and one-dollar bills into a pile and, of all things, our sister Debbie won it!!!! And the really neat thing is....she hadn't won anything up to this point AND she is on a limited income so this really was a blessing to her. We all just cheered and hoorahhhhed for her. It was a great ending to a wonderful time together!
My sister, Bev, and I buy ten "prizes" each at dollar stores and, I tell you, the way some people go after these prizes, you would think they were real treasures!!!!! It is so much fun!!!!
This first website has bingo cards with Christmas symbols on them. This second site is where you can make the customizable cards by typing in the words you wish to use. I hope this comes in handy for some one!!!

Busy, busy!!

Okay, so yesterday, I just wasn't feeling well. I think I may have overdone it on Sunday and paid for it somewhat yesterday. So today, I am feeling much better and have lots to do for our ladies' Christmas party at church tonight. BUT, after going to a healthcare insurance seminar this morning, then to Walmart, fixing lunch here at home and doing a few other things after getting home, I am sooooo sleepy! I HAVE to take a nap! Hopefully then I will feel like doing what I need to do to be ready for tonight!! It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!! *smile* Yesss!!!!

ANOTHER recipe!

Erin and little Jaylon's baby shower was this past Friday night (I'll post pictures later!). Erin's mother prepared a wonderful buffet table of food. One of the desserts was a white cake with white topping and toasted coconut. I thought it looked okay but not being a big dessert fan, I passed it by. Later, while Erin was opening her presents, I thought I would have a piece of this cake with a cup of coffee. Well....let me tell you.....this cake was scrumptiously delicious! It was rather surprising. I thought I was just going to get a piece of white cake with coconut on top but it was so much better than that! So I asked for the recipe and Erin's grandmother had made it. Enough said! She is a wonderful cook. So, here is the recipe and I plan to make it for our ladies' Christmas party at church which is on Tuesday night.

White Coconut Cake

1 White Cake Mix/ Prepared as directed in 9x13 pan or dish
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 cup of coconut milk
1 container of Cool Whip
Toasted coconut

Bake the cake as directed. Mix together the condensed milk and coconut milk. Pour over the cake while it is still warm. Refrigerate the cake till cool. Top with Cool Whip and coconut. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
The two milks poured over the cake end up making a luscious gooey layer on the bottom of the cake. It is wonderful!

Denise at Shorty Bear's Place, blessed me with this Christmas Spirit Award. We've just gotten to know one another through our blogs and she is a sweet person.

Thank you so much, Denise, for touching my heart. The rules are to tag someone with this award that I know loves Christmas, and has Christmas spirit. They must link back to my blog to indicate where they were tagged, and they need to add 1 to 45 reasons why they love Christmas. So here goes!

Why I love Christmas:

1. I get to celebrate and remember the birth of my dear Saviour, the Lord Jesus.

2. The sights and sounds of Christmas just seem to make the world a better place.

3. It is the one time of the year that all of my family gathers together and we have such a wonderful time. I get to see all of my precious great-nieces and nephews that I sometimes don't see except at Christmas.

4. I love the lights and decorations here at home especially when it is snowing and cold outside like it has been this year, since the beginning of November!!! Oh, but the house feels so cozy and warm and delightful!

5. The food. And the food. Oh, and did I say I looooove the holiday food!?!?!?!

Now, I take great pleasure in tagging the following people: Sis. Elms, Barbara, Sis. Smith, Sis. Hurst, AND Theresa!

Recipes

I thought I would share two more recipes with you that have proven to be favorites here in our circles of friends and family. One is a fruit cheeseball and the other is a dried beef cheese ball.

Fruit Cheeseball

1 8oz. pkg. of cream cheese
1 small pkg of vanilla instant pudding
1 regular size can of fruit cocktail/drained completely

After draining the fruit cocktail....I have even blotted it with paper towels to make sure I get all
of the liquid out.....mix the above three ingredients thoroughly. Then you can either roll the cheeseball in crushed cinnamon graham crackers or pecan pieces.
A couple of variations I've done is it to add pecan pieces to the cheeseball itself. Also, I have rinsed maraschino cherries and dried them to keep the red from bleeding into the other ingredients, then added the additional cherries to the cheeseball. I always add extra maraschino cherries to fruit cocktal or whatever else I'm using them in....*grin*. When I've added the pecans and cherries to the cheeseball, I haven't rolled it in anything because I think it is pretty just the way it is. Also, this year, if I make this cheeseball, I am going to use white chocolate instant pudding so as to keep the cheeseball nice and white. The instant vanilla pudding tends to color it a kind of creamy white color. Just some thoughts.
Oh, and I serve this cheeseball on a pretty platter with cinnamon graham crackers arranged around it.
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Dried Beef Cheeseball

2 8oz. cream cheese
1 pkg. of dried beef cut into very small pieces
1/2- 3/4 cup minced onion
1-2 tbsp. of Miracle Whip
Options:
1-2 tbsp. of Liquid Smoke
1 cube of beef boullion dissolved in just the smallest amount of water
1 envelope of Knorr's vegetable dip mix

Mix thoroughly the cream cheese, minced onion, Miracle Whip and dried beef. I have added all three of the optional ingredients and I have used only one of them at a time in cheeseballs I have made. So have fun and give it all a try!!! Oh, and I roll this cheeseball in parsley flakes sometimes, while at other times I don't roll it in anything because I think it is pretty as is, especially if I include the Knorr vegetable seasoning. Enjoy!

Smoked Tuna Cheeseball

Wow, I sure am putting alot of recipes on here lately, hm? But it IS that most wonderful time of the year, isn't it? Food, food, food! Parties, banquets, and get-togethers. Well, I make a cheeseball that many people have complimented me on and my friend Pat wanted the recipe so I thought I would share it with all of you. It is addictive, so you have been warned! *smile*
Originally, it was a recipe for a smoked salmon cheeseball but since I didn't have any salmon at the time, I used tuna and it worked out great so mine is now:

Smoked Tuna Cheeseball

2 8oz. pkgs. of cream cheese
2 heaping tbsp. Miracle Whip
1/2 - 3/4 cup minced onion
2 cans of tuna in oil/ drained completely
(I prefer tuna in oil because I think it has more flavor)
2 tbsp. Liquid Smoke
Mix all of the above ingredients together thoroughly.
Shape into a ball. Roll in parsley flakes.

Some variations I have done is to add a package of Knorr's vegetable dip mix. Also, I have added parsley flakes along with everything else and then rolled it in parsely flakes, too.
You can also roll the cheeseball in nuts or anything else you like, but I prefer the parsley flakes. Oh, I think I've also added a beef boullion cube, too, once or twice but with the Liquid Smoke,
I didn't really feel it was necessary. So, there you have it! My nephew, Troy, made these and sold them at Discover Card in New Albany where he used to work.....he is starting nursing school in January....yayyyy, Troy!!!.....he sold gazillions of them! I think to the point that he doesn't care if he ever sees one again in his entire life!! *smile*
I also maked a chipped beef cheeseball, so if you would like the recipe for that, let me know. Ohh, AND a fruit cheeseball. Oh my! I almost forgot about that one!! Talk about yummy!!!! Whew!!!
IT IS the most wonderful time of the year....as I sit here and watch the snow falling outside my window!!! *smile*

A Peters' family tradition recipe

My maiden name is Peters just in case some of you were wondering where the name fits. *smile* Anywayyyyy, many moons ago, my mother began making this dessert for family gatherings and then my sister-in-law Cheryl began making it. We can't have a family get-together...mostly, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.....without having Cherry Whip and no one can make it like Cheryl or as Mom did. Isn't it weird how not just anyone can make some dishes, no matter how hard we try?
Here is the recipe for you to try....it is worth the effort!


CHERRY WHIP
2 cups Graham cracker crumbs
1 stick of butter/margarine
3 Tbs. of powdered sugar
2 envelopes of Knox gelatin
2 pkgs of Dream Whip
1 cup of cold milk
2 tsp. of vanilla
1 cup of sugar
11 oz. of cream cheese
2 cans of cherry pie filling
Mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, powdered sugar, 1 envelope of
Knox gelatin and pat into a 9 X 13 dish. Sprinkle one
envelope of Knox gelatin over this and set aside.
Mix 2 pkgs. Dream Whip and 1 cup of cold milk. Beat until stiff peaks form.
It is best to beat the Dream Whip in a bowl that has been chilled
in the freezer for awhile. Add 2 tsp. vanilla and the sugar. Add
cream cheese that has been softened and creamed.
Put this mixture on top of the graham cracker crust.
Top with two cans of cherry pie filling. Refrigerate until thoroughly
chilled.
This is so refreshing. It is like a lite version of cherry cheesecake.
The filling is light and fluffy!
Enjoy!!

Super easy cookie recipe!

This is just about my guys' favorite cookie! And it is sooo easy to make!

CREAM CHEESE COOKIES


1 BOX OF YELLOW CAKE MIX
1 8oz. PACKAGE OF CREAM CHEESE
1 EGG
1 TSP. OF VANILLA
EMPTY THE CAKE MIX INTO A MIXING BOWL.
SOFTEN THE CREAM CHEESE IN THE MICROWAVE.
BEAT THE EGG AND ADD TO THE CAKE MIX.
ADD THE SOFTENED CREAM CHEESE AND VANILLA.
MIX THESE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER THOROUGHLY.
THE DOUGH WILL BE PRETTY STIFF.
YOU CAN DROP THE DOUGH ONTO A GREASED COOKIE
SHEET BY THE TEASPOON OR MAKE OUT
LITTLE PATTIES ABOUT THE SIZE OF A
FIFTY-CENT PIECE. BAKE AT 350 DEGREES OR UNTIL
BROWN ON THE BOTTOM. DON'T OVERBAKE.
THESE ARE SO EASY AND SO DELICIOUS!

Suggestions please

I have a dear friend that I would like to help in some way. You see, all of her children are grown and married and she now has several precious grandchildren. This friend's husband left her several years ago, leaving her to finish raising their three boys who were still at home, while her oldest child, her daughter was married and no longer living at home. My friend has been a teacher's aid in a local school system where she works with and signs for deaf students. She is a wonderful, compassionate christian woman and I cherish her friendship.
The difficulty is that she has does not have any money for Christmas. I'll be honest here and say that she does not do the best job of managing her money. She's talked to me repeatedly about this but in my efforts to offer her some sound advice, she usually comes up with reasons for why she does the things she does financially and so on.
Anywayyyyy.....the question.....what can she do for her children/grandchildren for Christmas that doesn't cost alot of money? Of course, the other grandparents involved DO have alot more money than she does and this always bothers her, making her feel like she HAS to do something, i.e. spend money on her kids and grandchildren that she doesn't really have.
We were talking yesterday and she was telling me that most of her grandchildren have need of nothing.......we all know how that is.......but they still expect things and gifts and money at Christmas and birthdays.
My friend is a wonderful grandmother. She spends time with her grandchildren and loves them to pieces. I just want to help her so that she doesn't go into debt getting things for her children and grandchildren that they don't need and she can't afford.
And, yes, I know I can offer all of the suggestions in the world and she may select to go ahead and do it her way, anyway, but I thought I would try to offer her some alternatives.
Any ideas, anyone? She has seven little grandsons under the age of ten. She has one granddaughter that is 2 and the other one is 16.

Looking back over the weekend past.....

I woke up on Thanksgiving morning with all intentions of fixing us the usual fare but I just couldn't do it. The body was not ready to cooperate...yet. BUT I did get us a turkey roasted! We went to Daniel's in-laws family get-together and had a great time. The food was delicious and we played games afterward. We played a new game that Erin's mother brought....Apples to Apples. It is so much fun! If your family likes to play games, this is one you need to get!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Friday, Ed took me out for lunch at our fave chinese restaurant and then we went to Walmart for just a little bit and I do meet a little bit, because I just couldn't it, even in a motorized cart, so we headed home. I spent the day at home Saturday, too, though I had hoped I was up to going to see the annual Christmas parade at three in the afternoon. Again, the body just wasn't cooperating, so I called my family and let them know that I wouldn't be there...maybe next year. One really neat thing: My nephew Brian took his three sons to the Christmas parade and they had a ball!! He has the most precious boys! I told him to make sure he brought bags because they would be getting gobs of candy thrown to them during the parade and, sure enough, they did! My sister Debbie said their bags were full when the parade was over! Here is a picture of Brian's three sons and then one of him and the boys!

Aren't they precious? And Brian is such a great dad!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't know why I was having such pain, but Ed prayed for me at different times during the day and my pain eased, thankfully. I am so thankful for a praying husband, for a husband that cares for me so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Come Sunday, I was able to go to church both services and do the music. Isn't that great? Sis. Pam and Sis. Courtney were praise singers and our harmony was so beautiful. I love, love, love beautiful, annointed harmony and the three of us seem to meld together so well, not just vocally but in every other way, too. So, though I wasn't able to do some things that I had wanted to over the holiday weekend, I am so thankful that I was able to go to the house of the Lord and to sing praises unto His name, and to worship Him, to feel His loving presence with the family of God around me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanksgiving

T..... is for our thankfulness for many joys and blessings...

H..... is for our homes so warm and bright...

A..... is for autumn, time for harvest and abundance...

N..... is for nature's beauty and delight...

K..... is for the kitchens where good food is cooked with love...

S..... for spicy fragrances in the air...

G..... is for the gathering of family and friends...

I..... for the inheritance we share...

V..... is for the vision that the Pilgrims held so dear...

I..... is for high ideals in all they planned...

N..... is for our native country brave and great and free...

G..... for God's great goodness to our land.~~~~~~~~

HOW TO OBSERVE THANKSGIVING

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;

Count on God instead of yourself.

~~Author Unknown.~~

To all of my friends and family!!

A wonderful recipe!!

I don't even really care for Peanut Butter Fudge but this is scrumptious!!! And so easy to make!!! Oh, and as you will see, it is not low-calorie, low-fat, low-anything!!! *smile* Oh, but it is oh so delicous!!
Peanut Butter Cheese Fudge
Prep Time:
10 min
Inactive Prep Time:
15 min
Cook Time:
5 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 36 squares
1/2 pound sliced easy-melt cheese (instead of Velveeta we used the Walmart brand)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts 2 (16-ounce) boxes confectioners' sugar
Lightly spray the bottom of a 9 by 2-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt cheese and butter together, then add peanut butter and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and add vanilla and nuts.
Empty confectioners' sugar into a large bowl and pour cheese mixture over sugar. Stir until completely mixed. Candy will be very stiff.
Using your hands, remove candy from the bowl and press evenly and firmly into the pan. Because of the amount of butter in this recipe, pat top of candy with a paper towel to remove excess oil. Place the pan in refrigerator until candy is firm.
To serve, cut into squares.

What is going on???

Would you believe that we have freezing rain here this morning and school is on a two-hour delay? I just don't know when winter has hit so early here in southeastern Ohio and it has been like this since the beginning of November. Brrrrr....We usually don't have weather like this until January or February. And there doesn't seem to be any end in sight.....at least not for this week! Double Brrrrrrrrrr!!!

Well, last Thursday, after blogging, I was walking in the kitchen, going over to get something out of my purse, when I slipped or tripped or did something equally ungraceful and fell against the counter at an angle, SO I was able to catch myself, sort of, so that I didn't completely fall, but I kind of jammed my right leg (the one just operated on) at an angle. Thankfully, Ed was home. He helped me up, checked me out and helped me lay down. I've had some extra pain in both hips and my back but I am sure that I didn't damage anything to the point that I need to go to the doctor to have things checked out. Today, being Monday and three days later, I feel that I am pretty well back to a normal post-operative level of pain and discomfort. *feeble grin*

We went to church last night because I just HAD to go seeing as how there isn't a service on Wednesday night. (Our pastor cancels the night before Thanksgiving, which makes it nice for ladies who are cooking and who have family and company coming in for the holidays and all). It was so wonderful to see everyone and to worship with the family of God. Is there any place like the house of the Lord and spending time in His presence with the precious saints of the Lord? I was so strengthened and refreshed afterwards.

Ed and I HAVE to get some Thanksgiving shopping done today or tomorrow. More than likely, it will be ED! *grin* I would just love to go into the stores and just browse but I am not quite up to it yet. It feels like it has been AGES since I've done any shopping. AND I don't even like to shop! I shop because I HAVE to! And now, here I am, whining a little about wishing I could go into the stores and look around. See? I HAVE been cooped up too long!!! *smile* But it will be worth it, when I am finally able to walk normally and get around. I'm still finding it difficult to imagine!

But, as I was saying, we don't even have a turkey yet!! Though we won't be home here for dinner, I always cook Thanksgiving food for us to have over the long weekend. Oh, and I'm cooking my turkey using this method, found at Sis. Tracy's holiday blog. We are going to our daughter-in-law's family dinner for Thanksgiving. It is always held at her Aunt Darlene's and we have a wonderful time. I always look forward to the time after dinner when we gather around the table and play games! I love playing games and that is one of the things I miss most about Daniel no longer being at home. We played games all of the time. In the winter, we always had a game of Monopoly going on....it never ended! Well, because we did the banking thing where you could borrow money and all. We had so much fun!!

Well, that is it for now! Have a blessed Monday, everyone!!

One week today

I have been home for one week today after having my second hip replacement. I've been kind of overdoing it, in all honesty. You see, I was in my 7th week of recovery from my first hip replacement. I was virtually pain-free on my left hip. I could hardly believe it. AND I was used to my left hip being the one that I had to favor. Then, all of a sudden, I had my right hip operated on and I had to switch to favoring my right side and all.
Well, for some reason, I've just been thinking that I should be recovering more quickly on my right side. I shouldn't be having so much pain. I shouldn't be needing to take so much pain medication. I should be able to get around easier and to do more. I don't know how my thinking got so disjointed.
So, today my pastor's wife called me to see how I was doing and SHE reminded me that I had only been home for one week, I had just had another major surgery and I needed to slow down and take care of myself. I really just had to kind of get hold of myself, shake myself and just back up a little. I just don't know what I was thinking.
Sooooo, today, I've rested more and taken my pain medication as needed and it's made a world of difference.
Even Ed has had a little difficulty remembering that it is my right hip that is now the sore one. I was standing at the kitchen counter and he came up behind me and hugged up to me and in the process, patted my right hip and asked me how I was doing! Wellllll......I told him that if he patted THAT hip one more time, HE wouldn't be doing so well!!! *grin* Seeee???? Even he has trouble remembering that it is my RIGHT hip that is healing now.
Anywayyyyy.......I don't know if it is having two hip surgeries so close together that has me all confused but I think I am getting my thoughts straightened out. Take my time. Take care of my body. Take my medicine. Rest. Move. Do my exercises. Rest. Move. Remember....it is the RIGHT side now. *sigh* AND my body needs time to heal.

A couple of tried and true recipes

Charity, whose husband has a blog here, asked for my dinner roll recipe the other day when I mentioned on my blog about making the rolls , sooooo I thought I would post it here for those of you who might like to try it.
It is from my trusty 1969 Betty Crocker Cookbook. As I told Charity, Miss Rigby, our Home Ec. teacher, purchased them, for those of us who wanted one, for $2.95 each way back then!!
I still have mine all of these years later and use it often!
Here is the dinner roll recipe:
Traditional Roll Dough

1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water (105 - 115 degrees)
1/4 cup lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled)
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/4 cup shortening or butter or margarine softened
3 1/2 to 4 cups of flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in milk, sugar, salt, egg, shortening and 2 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.

Turn dough onto lightly floured board, counter, or table; knead until smooth and elastic, about five minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Punch down dough; pull off pieces of dough about the sizes of walnuts. Place in greased baking pan or dish. Let rise 20 minutes before baking. Heat over to 400 degrees. Bake rolls 15-20 minutes. Brush tops of rolls with butter.
**************************************
Also, here is the recipe I use for making noodles.
Homemade egg noodles

2 cups flour
3 egg yolks
1 egg
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 to 1/2 cup water
Measure flour into bowl; make a well in center and add egg yolks, whole egg and salt. With hands, thoroughly mix egg into flour. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. (Add only enough water to form dough into a ball.)
Turn dough ont well-floured board, counter, or table. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Cover; let rest for 10 minutes.
Divide dough into 4 equal parts. Roll dough, 1 part at a time, inot paper-thin rectangle, keeping remaining dough covered. Roll rectangle around rolling pin; slip out rolling pin.
Cut dough crosswise iont 1/8 inch strips for narrow noodles and 1/4 inch strips for wide noodles. Shake out strips and place on towel to dry, about 2 hours.

I've come to find out that not very many people consider noodles a traditional Thanksgiving food. Well, our family certainly does! *smile* We wouldn't dare have a family Thanksgiving dinner without homemade noodles! *smile* Seriously. AND rolls. AND Cheryl's cherry whip. Those three things are a must. Well, besides the turkey and stuffing, of course. Oh, and now my oyster dressing/stuffing has been added to the list!

It once was lost.....

I took some pictures of the first snowfall of the season on Monday and had been unable to find my camera since. I looked EVERYWHERE! I tried to retrace my steps mentally but had a little difficulty. (that should come as no surprise...*feeble grin*) Sooooooo, this morning, I decided to bite the bullet and look through the trash. Yes, look through the trash because I have been known to throw things away accidentally. I just didn't know where else to look. Soooooo, I proceeded to sift through the trash. Yuck! Well, it wasn't in there AND would you believe that just a couple of minutes after I was finished cleaning up, here comes my wonderful husband with a silly smile on his face and my camera in his hand! I thought he had been keeping it from me but not so. He happened to be looking out the hallway window, looked down and there it was on the window sill right where I remember putting it!!! When I came back in the house the other day from taking pictures, I remember laying it down there while I tidied up my hanging plant that is in that particular window. Sheesh! I don't think I would have ever remembered putting it there but I probably would have found it this coming Monday because that is when I water my plants....on Monday mornings.
Now I'll share those pictures of the snow with you! And this morning it was only 19 degrees! Brrrrr!!!

A Big Bird Thanksgiving

We hadn't been married very long. Daniel was just a baby. I was so excited about cooking Thanksgiving dinner in our new home. It was just going to be for me, Ed and Daniel. Well, actually, we were going to be having a big dinner with my family at one of my sibling's homes but I've always cooked dinner for us so we have leftovers and all AND the smells of delicious Thanksgiving food fill the house!

Anywayyyy......we were shopping at Festival Food in Lancaster for our Thanksgiving food and they had turkeys for $ .19 a pound!! Wow! So I ended up getting our turkey for just under $5! What a bargain! What I didn't take into consideration.....until I got home....was that I had purchased a 26lb. turkey for the THREE of us and one of us was a little toddler!!! Oh my!!! Ed asked me what I was thinking when I bought such a big turkey and I told him that I was just thinking of what a bargain it was!! LOL He had to buy me a new roasting pan to cook it in because I didn't have anything big enough. I can't remember what we did with ALL of that turkey but we've certainly never forgotten it!

A Thanksgiving Meme

I found this meme at Barbara's blog, Stray Thoughts, and thought it looked like fun!

1. Which do you like better: cooking at your house, or going elsewhere?
I like both. You see, I always cook for us whether we are actually eating dinner here at home or not. That way, we have leftovers and all the trimmings for the rest of the weekend!

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen bird?
Frozen

3. What kind of stuffing?
Bread stuffing and I usually make a small dish of oyster stuffing for me!

4. Sweet potato or pumpkin pie?
Well, my guys don't care for either so I usually make fruit pies....peach and apple.

5. Do you believe that turkey leftovers are a curse, or the point of the whole thing?
Turkey leftovers are the point of the whole thing! Absolutely!!

6. Which side dish would provoke a riot if you left it off the menu?
Noodles or homemade rolls.

7. Do you save the carcass to make soup or stock?
No, I give it to our dog, after I've picked all of the meat off of it which I use to make soup.

8. What do you wish you had that would make preparing Thanksgiving dinner easier?
More energy!

9. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to have dinner ready in the early afternoon, or do you eat at your normal dinner hour?
I get up early and put the turkey in the oven. A tradition we had when Daniel was still home was that Ed and Daniel would have slices of hot, juicy turkey around 10:00am on Thanksgiving morning. This would hold them over until dinner.

10. If you go to somebody else’s house, what’s your favorite dish to bring?
I don't really have one.

11. What do you wish one of your guests would not bring to your house? What would you like them to bring?
I usually don't expect them to bring anything but if they insist, they could bring a beverage that they like.

12. Does your usual mix of guests result in drama, or is it a group you’re happy to see?
Oh, no drama here. Just a nice, relaxing day enjoying one another's company!

13. Is your cranberry sauce fresh or canned? Whole or jellied?
We don't do cranberry sauce at our house, whole or jellied!

14. What’s your absolute favorite thing on the menu?
Noodles and rolls

15. Share one family tradition.
As I said above, when Daniel was home, he and his dad would have turkey for a late morning breakfast snack. Also, later in the day, I like to go and visit each of my siblings and their families, if they are home, and have a little nibble of their Thanksgiving leftovers!!

Let me know if you do this as well and I’ll come by!
I am linking this to Kelli’s Week of Giving Thanks at There’s No Place Like Home — a festival of Thanksgiving posts — poems, quotes, decorations, crafts, recipes, etc. You can have fun there perusing lots of Thanksgiving inspiration.

I've been tagged!!

Barb at Just Between Us has tagged me to list 15 things that I'm not afraid to admit. Okayyyyy......here goes:

1. I am 57. I just turned 57 last Saturday! And I think I am doing very well for my age!

2. My drivers license are overdue to be renewed. BUT I can't drive for awhile anyway, soooo, for now, I'm safe! *Smile*

3. I'm one of those people who just doesn't care for Rachel Ray. *feeble grin* I know that she is no doubt sweet and adorable in real life but I just can't bear to watch her show. She just needs to turn it down a notch or two.

4. I am a big eater! I mean, like a really big eater. My friend, Kaitlin, and I have said that we would like to just sit and eat Big Macs until we just don't want anymore!

5. I eat because the food tastes good, not because I'm full. Like, you don't eat pizza...good pizza anyway....until you're full. You eat until it is GONE! *smile* Because it tastes soooo delicious!!

6. I've actually had people ask me if I am oriental because my eyes are so small. Hmmm....looking at my profile pic, I can kind of see why they would say that. What do you think?

7. I belong to the Over 200 Club. Okay, okay. I weigh 216 with my clothes and shoes on. Most people just can't believe I weigh that much. All I can say is that I must carry it well. I've been on every diet, lost lots of weight on every one, and gained it all back eventually. So now, I am trying my best to keep my weight stabilized and be active and healthy. Hopefully, after I recover from the hip-replacements, I will be able to at least get below 200, BUT if anyone would like to join my club (Over 200 Club), you are welcome to! *smile*

8. I don't have pretty hands. And though I play the piano, I don't have what you would call piano player hands. My hands are short, stubby and wrinkled. (It's from all of the hard work I've done through the years! *smile*)

9. I can't watch scary movies or fighting of any kind. I can't sleep if I watch a scary movie and fighting of any kind makes me kind of sick to my stomach.

10. I've never read my Bible all the way through, from beginning to end. *sigh* I still have my 2004 BREAD program schedule and just have a few books to read to finish.....maybe 6 or 7. I figure this is my best chance of reading it through, so I need to just do it! I read and study my precious Bible but I've just never finished reading it all the way through! Perhaps this will be the year!! I'll keep you posted!!

11. When we have a big family dinner and some family members go outside to smoke, I can still remember how good it felt to have a cigarette and a cup of coffee after a big meal BUT I would never light up again after the Lord so wonderfully helped me to quit! Thank you, Jesus!

12. I can fall asleep most anywhere. I am not kidding! My DH says I could sleep on a fencepost.

13. I love being an empty-nester. The first few months after Daniel married and left home were really rough, BUT then we got over it! *smile* AND they just live next door!

14. I hate to take a shower when it is really cold weather.

15. I sweat. And I'm a girl. *sigh* None of this pretty, lady-like perspiring for me. Oh no. The sweat pours off of my forehead, blinding me, runs down my back, soaking my clothes. Sooo, I do try to stay cool in hot weather, but just let me step outside and exert myself a little and I am soaked. They say a person is healthier is they "sweat". So, I must be like REALLY healthy? LOL Sure, that'll work!



So, there you have it! Fifteen things I'm willing to admit! That was kind of tough but I did it! Now, to tag five unsuspecting people!!! Here goes:



Chantell

Becky

Theresa

Stace

and

Sir Nottaguy

I'm home

...and recovering. They kept me an extra day because I was having quite a bit of nausea and vomitting but I am better. I got home yesterday, Thursday, at about 2:30. It is so good to be home. I'll be posting again perhaps later today. Hope your weekend is off to a great start!

Take Two

I am having my second (right) hip-replacement tomorrow at 12:45pm. Here we go again. *feeble grin* I know that it is going to be worth it all once I get through the surgery, recovery and physical therapy.
We've been busy today getting things done and ready for after my surgery, when I come home.
Daniel has been very sick the past couple of days with a pretty severe case of bronchitis. We've been staying away from eachother so I don't contract his sickness.
I'll be back blogging as soon as I am able to but for now, there will probably be a few days of respite. I covet your prayers for my surgery and recovery and for my DH as he helps me through all of this. He is a treasure.

Miracle Monday

Beth, at A Mom's Life, hosts Miracle Monday where we share a miracle that has happened in our lives or is in the making. I just had to participate in this meme. The Lord has done so many wonderful things for us, our families, our church families, and friends.
Now, what I am about to share may not compare to some miracles but to me, it was wondrous.
As many of you know, I have been dealing with debilitating back and hip pain since 2005. In order to continue walking, I had to start using a walker about two years ago. Also, my DH has had to help me with putting on my shoes and just taking care of my feet and lower legs also.
Well, I have always had a tendency to get ingrown toenails on my big toes. I have always been able to take care of them myself but with my range of motion now limited the way it is, I am no longer able to do so. Both of my toenails were getting ingrown and very tender. I couldn't bear to even think of having Ed touch them. I was sitting on the foot of the bed, wondering what I was going to do. I had never been to the doctor for this, because I had always been able to take care of it myself. And the thought of going to the doctor for something else, just seem overwhelming on this particular morning. I started talking to the Lord and asked Him to please touch my toes and heal them. I just felt as though I had reached the end of my rope. Dealing with the hip and back pain, being limited in so many ways in what I was able to do, becoming more housebound......after talking with the Lord and just pouring my heart out to him, I called to Ed and asked him if he would please come and help me finish dressing. Just out of a natural reaction, I told him to be careful with my toes, when I noticed that they weren't tender or sore anymore. The Lord had healed my toes! Right there, right then. We both started thanking the Lord and tears of gratitude flowed.

And, if that isn't enough.....about a week and a half ago, my left big toe started feeling tender again. Sure enough, I was getting another ingrown toenail. Well, with my hip replacement coming up I just couldn't see having to deal with this, too. I called my family physician to see if they could get me in to take care of the toenail but they couldn't but said if they had any cancelations, they would call me. They've never called. But this morning.....my surgery is tomorrow at 12:45pm.....as Ed was helping me put my hose on, I realized my toe was no longer sore!! Again!! Thank you, precious Jesus! You are the all-sufficient one!

I am so thankful that the Lord is concerned about everything that is a care to us. That we can cast ALL of our care upon Him. He is an awesome God!!! Please don't ever think that God couldn't possibly care about your little problem. He does!!

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
~I Peter 5:7~

The kitty of the house

Ellie likes boxes. Plain and simple. There's no need to buy her some fancy schmancy kitty bed. She likes boxes. Big boxes, little boxes. As evidenced here:

She'll squeeze her chubby little self into any box she can find. This is an old shoe box which I keep right by her food and water bowls. Oh, and inside of it is an old plastic grocery bag. She likes bags, too. Here's the proof:

When we get home from the grocery store, we always throw a bag on the floor for her to crawl into, and then Ed takes her for a swing and a ride.
Back to the boxes. Here she is sleeping in an old Aldi's macaroni and cheese box, in front of the wood stove, into which I've put a little blanky that I got for a quarter at a yard sale.
BUT, I've gotten her to the place where every morning, after I feed her, she stands by this box waiting for me to "make it"! Can you believe it? Soooo, I make a semblance of straightening up her little blanket and then she hops right into it. I didn't mean to start this thing of making her bed but one morning I was sitting in my chair having coffee and noticed her just standing by her box looking at me......You know the look......Staring...... Relentlessly. I noticed that her blanket was a rumpled mess. And she just kept sitting there. Staring at me. So I thought, okay, maybe she wants her blanket straightened up. I folded it nice and neatly and, as an added bonus, I laid it on the stove for just a few seconds and got it all nice and toasty warm for her. That did it. She laid down in that box so fast, it made my head spin. And that was the beginning of the whole thing. *grin*

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

Amy, at Signs, Miracles, and Wonders hosts a Saturday meme as shown to the left and, loving music as I do, I wanted to participate.

After giving my heart to the Lord 33 years ago, I was sitting in church one evening feeling the need to draw even closer to Him, when a ladies trio began singing this song and it just broke my spirit before the Lord. It has continued to be a favorite of mine and, as the Lord leads, I still play and sing it in church.

The title of it is "Whatever It Takes" and was written by Lanny Wolfe.

There's a voice calling me from an old rugged tree,
And it whispers draw closer to me,
Leave this world far behind there are new heights to climb,
And a new place in me you will find.

Chorus:
And whatever it takes to draw closer to you, Lord,
That's what I'll be willing to do,
And whatever it takes to be more like you,
That's what I'll be willing to do,
I'll trade sunshine for rain, comfort for pain,
That's what I'll be willing to do,
And whatever it takes for my will to break,
That's what I'll be willing to do.

Take the dearest things to me if that's how it must be,
To draw me closer to Thee,
Let the disappointments come, lonely days without the sun,
If through sorrow more like You I'll become.

I was 23 and single at the time, dating a rather unsavory young man but finding it difficult
to make the break with him. After talking with my pastor and really praying about it all, I went into service this particular night and this song was sung so beautifully. Oh my, but how the Lord spoke to my heart about needing to let go of some things in my life and draw closer to Him. I can honestly say that this was the first time that the Lord spoke to my heart so personally through the words of a song and I am forever thankful that He still does.

Hospital happenings

When I went in on the morning of Oct. 1 at 5:15am to have my first hip replacement, I was a bit unsure of what to expect but I wasn't particularly nervous because I felt that I was in a very good hospital with a very capable staff.

Sooooo, they took me back to the pre-op area, drew the curtain around my bed and told me to undress and put on my hospital gown and little cap thingy, got situated on my bed and all covered up. Danielle, my nurse came in, took my vitals, hooked me up to a thing or two and then proceeded to get an IV started in my left hand. A cute, young Dr. Reno came in and introduced himself as my anethesiologist. You know you are getting older when all of your doctors and nurses are young enough to be your children or, God forbid, grandchildren. Dr. Reno informed me that he would be giving me a spinal in a few minutes and helped me set up on the edge of the bed. Danielle was getting ready to put something in my IV and I asked her what it was. She said it was just something to help me relax so Dr. Reno could give me my spinal. That's the last thing I remember. Oh yes, it helped me relax alright! Whew!!

The next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery, sooooo groggy and my mouth soooooo dry. I heard this *beep....beep.....beep* and a nurse saying, rather loudly, I might add, "We need you to take nice, deep breaths, Jewel." Breathing deeply. Breathing deeply. I don't want to breathe deeply. I want to sleep. Drifting off again. "Jewel, we need you to breathe deeply. When you hear the beep, that means you're not breathing deeply enough." Uh-huh. N-k. Breathe deeply. Wanna sleep. Breeeeeathe deeply. So sleepyyyyy.......*beep...bee...* Breeeeeathe. Oh, please just let me sleep. "We need to get you awake, Jewel." N-k. Breathing deeply. Deep breath. Didn't know it could be so difficult to breathe deeply. *beep....beep...beep* Will someone shoot that beeping thingy? Drifting off to sleep.....*beep...beep....beep...* Okay, getting a little aggravated as much as I can get aggravated in this numb, groggy state. *deeeep breath....deep breath...* This went on and on until they were finally satisfied that I was coming out of the anesthesia sufficiently, so they took me to my room.

I don't remember caring about how I looked, where I was going, who was going to be there when I got there. I just wanted to sleep. Right. It was not to be. Except in pain pill-induced small increments. But it was good sleep, let me tell ya. They were constantly doing something to me, checking something, giving me something, asking me something. I have never and let me stress NEVER in my entire life been asked by so many perfect strangers if I had passed gas in my day and a half stay in the hospital. But I came to find out that this was a pre-requisite to going home. Really? LOL Oh yes. Now, this might be a little indelicate but it used to be that you had to have a BM but now they just want you to pass gas. My, but they have lowered their standards, hm? LOL

To be continued......

Friday's Fave Five

Though it is a bit late in the day, I thought I would still participate in Friday's Fave Five.

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Click on the button to read more of the details.

1. There were still enough leaves on the trees at the beginning of the week so that when I road with Ed to do his transport route, we were able to enjoy and savor some beautiful, breathtaking scenery as the evening sun shone through the trees.

2. We now have new president-elect and the campaigns are over. *big, deep cleansing breath* No more campaign materials in the mail or relentless phone calls.

3. I love seeing the fall and Thanksgiving decor and such in the stores and the roadside stands all decked out with pumpkins and mums. I was in New Albany last Friday and there were so many beautiful displays around the town.

4. The smell of autumn! How to describe it? Sweet, ripened apples, leaves burning, their smoke wafting through and filling the valley with their signature aroma, fresh, cold apple cider, the smell of cinnamon and baked goods as the first chill of autumn makes us want to turn our ovens on again and bake.

5. Helping my sister, Debbie, celebrate her 59th birthday. Talking and laughing with her, sharing thoughts and our thankfulness for all of the good things in our lives.

One week and counting

Ed and I went to the library yesterday evening and, once there, we realized we had forgotten my walker, but I was determined to get some books. Ed held on to me and helped me as much as he could but I probably should have just stayed in the car and went another day. It was painfully difficult for me to try and walk without my walker. I've paid a bit of a price for my little outing by having to rest most of the day today while still taking the time to do my required exercises. I am virtually pain free in my left hip now, which I find amazing. Of course, my range of motion is limited and will only improve after I am able to do physical therapy. It is indeed a process. We are endeavoring to get everything done and in place for my surgery next Tuesday....hip replacement #2. *sigh* I've had people ask me if I think this one will be easier because I've already had one done and I know what to expect and I said, kind of whiningly..."Nooooooo...." *feeble grin* Actually, I don't think it will be THAT bad. I mean, I know it is going to HURT. Like, helloooooo. LOL BUT, there are these wonderful things called PAIN PILLS! Thank you, Jesus. AND I have this wonderful husband who is an absolute angel. I do get concerned about him having to help me so much and especially when I've just gotten to the place where I can lay down and get up by myself and now we start all over again......AND we have to switch sides of the bed AGAIN. (Have I told you how patient and kind and helpful this wonderful husband of mine is?) Okay, I won't go on about it all anymore. At least not for this posting. *smile*
The chest muscle that I pulled is almost back to normal which is so great. I can now just about sneeze normally, and trust me, this is a good thing.

Bear turns Democratic

This photo below captures a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect wildlife in the US.

Animals that were formerly self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democratic Party... as they have apparently learned to just sit and wait for the government to step in and provide for their care and sustenance.

Halloween Candy and Thoughts

So, what was your favorite Halloween candy as a child or as a grown-up, for that matter. Like I said in the post below, I loved Sugar Babies, Sugar Daddies, Taffy, AND does anyone remember Milk Duds and Cowtails? I liked those, too. And if you have a Halloween memory you'd like to share, please do so in the comments. Another Halloween memory I have is of me, Debbie and Johnny going from house-to-house in Logan and we tired of WALKING up the sidewalk, then BACK down the sidewalk, so we started running across the lawns....for a short while, that is, because one of the yard-owners had put fine guage wire or string around his yard and we couldn't see it in the dark....ya think?.....we tripped over it, going thump, thump, thump all on top of Johnny! LOL Needless to say, we started walking BACK up the sidewalks. And, yes, our parents were following us in the car and Dad got out and after checking to make sure we were alright, reprimanded us for taking shortcuts and told us to stay on the sidewalks. *sigh* Okayyyyyyy, Dad. *smile*
If you'd like to take a trip down candy memory lane, just google "retro candy". You can actually buy gift boxes of candy by decade, like the 50's and 60's. Remember candy lips and those little parafin bottles with some kind of drink in them? *sigh* What memories!

Halloween Memories

I may have posted something similar before but this time of year always evokes fond childhood memories for me. The only costume I remember wearing is a mouse costume. It was red and made out of the windbreaker-type of material. It had a black plastic tail coming out of the back, a hood that came up over my head and a gray, plastic mouse face mask. I thought it was great. The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that my face would get all wet behind the mask from my warm breath mixing with the coldness of the mask. Yuck!!!

We always carried brown paper grocery bags to carry our treats in. None of these cutesy bags or carriers that they have now. Huh-uh.

I loved most every kind of candy, with the exception of sour or hot stuff. No fireballs or sweettarts for me, please. So, I usually traded those for something else. You see, after we returned home, Mom and Dad would help us get cleaned up and ready for bed. Then we...the five of us kids.....would sit down in the middle of the living room floor, dump our candy out and begin sorting through it, swapping eachother for our favorites and, of course, passing off the really undesirables to Mom and Dad, like apples, crackers, pennies, and the like.

Myself, if I am going to eat candy, I prefer for it to be chocolate or caramel and nuts are an added bonus! Some of my favorites were Sugar Daddies or Sugar Babies, most candy bars, and taffy.

I remember one Halloween, this little old lady had just made a batch of fudge. She told us to hold our hands out....we didn't know what was coming.....and she slapped a piece of this soft fudge in the palm of our hand. Yuck! Of course, we ate it because we didn't have any other choice. There were others houses to get to and more candy to collect!! Needless to say, we didn't offer our open palms for any more handouts.

Daniel was pretty ambivalent about trick-or-treating until one Sunday afternoon when we lived in Logan. He had a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and a Mickey Mouse mask. They weren't bought with the intention of going trick-or-treating nor were they bought at the same time. Anywayyy...this particular Sunday afternoon, one of our neighbors had told us to be sure and bring Daniel over for candy, so we dressed him up in bright blue sweatpants, his Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and we took the mask along. We took him next door, slipped the mask on his face, told him to knock on the door....he liked THAT! *smile*......and say "Trick or Treat". Well, when he saw that by doing so he could get FREE candy, he was hooked!!! *smile* We took him most every after that till he was about 10, though sometimes not because trick-or-treat here is done on Sunday afternoons and sometimes it just didn't work out with our church schedule.


Now, you talk about being a discriminatory candy eater, that is Daniel. Most years, I would end up throwing out most of the candy he had gotten or giving it away or taking it into work or to church for the SS classes. But he loved going out and getting it!! *smile* And we made some wonderful memories in the process.

The next two or three years, he was a clown. I made his costume from old material and yarn I had here at home and I had clown make-up from when I dressed up as a clown for Sunday School promotions and so on. Then he decided to be a pirate and I put his costume together with things here at home and added a couple of items that I bought. His last two or three years, he decided to be a karate/ninja guy and I made that costume, too.

Daniel always knew what he wanted to be like a year in advance and then he would want to be that particular character for two or three years, so it was easy to make him happy.