Sunday, October 31, 2010

Sunday


Ecclesiastes 4:9:12
Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Wonderful Weekend Stuff

1. I-94 West across Michigan.
2. Lake Michigan.
3. Lighthouses.
4. New restaurants.
5. Wearing my L.L. Bean mocs.
6. Brunch at Schueller's in Marshall.
7. Jacuzzi.
8. Autumn in Michigan.
9. Relaxation.
10. The Mr.


Friday, October 29, 2010

Astonishing Extravagance

Happy Friday! I am working from home today and getting ready for our trip to the West Coast (of Michigan.) Getting my hairs did later this afternoon and then we have dinner reservations and nothing but relaxation ahead! I'm already feeling my muscles un-tense. Gonna do a home mani-pedi and enjoy every moment of the long weekend ahead. And boy am I glad I got my LL Bean barn coat and mocs, looks like the Lake Michigan shoreline will be brisk and beautiful. Not to mention my cream colored hat with the kicky little bill, got a charcoal gray one too! Can you tell I'm happy? Well I am!
I hope I never get used to God's blessings, that I am always like a little kid on Christmas morning...amazed at all of the wonderfulness. I remember very clearly anniversaries when we just barely had enough money to drop our little ones with my parents to go out to dinner. And worst of all, a few anniversaries when we just didn't love each other enough to celebrate. Then we progressed to going away overnight, bed & breakfast in Marshall and now looking forward to a few days in a hotel on Lake Michigan (with a jacuzzi!) How generous God has been to us! How abundantly he pours out good things. The word that always best describes him is extravagant.
Yesterday Daboyz asked me if I could go back to being 18, would I start over? My answer was absolutely not. Even if I could take the knowledge I now have with me and change my decisions? Still no. I can't possibly know what different paths might have led to but what I understand with certainty now is that God is a sustainer in poverty. I've had poverty of finance, of spirit, of hope, of joy. But he has always sustained. He has always held back the waves that wanted to crash over my life and drag my like an undertow into darkness. I wouldn't want to not know that. I love the astonishment I feel every time we go away for our anniversary at how far God has taken us financially as well as emotionally. I know the 18 year old me had smoother skin and a much better body. But this me has crow's feet, a thickening waist and a sexy rockin' gorgeous heart of gratitude.
So I gotta run. I gotta do some official work, gotta go get some new polish for my toes (thinking a very dark Autumnal plum, what do you think?) I'd like to pick up a sweater or two. Straighten the house and it'll be just about time to get my hairs did and then out to The Bone Fish Grill for dinner.
As for the celebration, that's perpetual. Image:http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4275638228_6bce554b52.jpg
Grace!

Update: My hairdresser who does a great job on my hair just called to say she's sick and not coming in today. Unfortunately, this is a regular occurrence. I think I'm done with her. So if anyone knows a great hair dresser, let me know. Luckily, I just need a little root touch up this time so I'm just going to do it myself. And this is NOT going to ruin my weekend!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Too Early for Eloquence

Yawn, good morning.
The Mr. left for work this morning shortly after 5 a.m. as usual. I snuggled back in expecting to sleep another hour and a half but it seems that a certain person named Donny decided that he absolutely had to go outside immediately and no two ways about it! If you've ever tried to ignore a dog intent on going outside, can't be done. So I got up, let Donny out and made a pot of coffee. May as well start the day. At this moment, my furry friend is curled up sound asleep and snoring and I am too awake to go to sleep and too sleepy to be awake.
At this point I'm just counting down the week until we go away for our anniversary. Of course when you do that, the week slows down to a snail's pace. I believe this particular week has been 4 months long so far.
That's about all I have to say at this tender hour of the morning. Have a blessed Thursday!
Stretch.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Damascus

Driving down the highway alone the other day I look up at the beautiful Autumn sky. The clouds were high and white against a brilliant blue that can really only be called "sky blue." The sun was slicing through the clouds to create prisms across prisms across prisms.
And from heaven into my heart I heard (I tell you I heard), "Love you."
And from heart to heaven, "Love you too!"
What a sweet perfect moment of wholeness and utter understanding. Not that I understood the structure of the atom and the small print on my mortgage and string theory. What I understood was what was real. And the atom, my mortgage and string theory do not compare to the realness of God and me.
There was a sudden break from the cloudy glass I squint through most of the time and the enormity of the sky above me was God, over around surrounding through ahead behind beside and within me. It was several minutes of absolute understanding. It was the absence of fear or worry or doubt. It was a timeline in my spirit showing me just how small this part of eternity is. It was the hearing of every prayer said and whispered and thought that God still remembers and continues to answer even I may have believed I have received the answer or forgotten I ever asked.
It was reality.
And the reality is that God is all powerful. He is always faithful. He is love and truth and justice. He is merciful. He smiles on his creation and adores us.
His word will not return void.
I have a determination from those moments on the freeway when I wasn't even seeking any kind of epiphany.I am determined to be foolish. I will believe in the fulfillment of every promise and celebrate before the trumpet.
I am going to forget to fear.




I come to the garden alone~

It sometimes seems to me that we are over-institutionalized. By that, I mean that we don't respect learning, supporting, thinking, growing or goals if they don't exist under a heading and a designated leader. How did we go for hundreds of years being close to God and schooled in his word before the creation of Men's groups and Ladies groups and youth groups and play groups and study groups and life groups and couples groups and and and and....
I am not opposed to organized fellowship and study. My frustration is that I see a great cloud of witnesses all about me who cannot function independent of it. I am not opposed to mentors and guidance, but I think it's a leap in the wrong direction when people call for help and direction without ever pausing with their own Bible and time in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I know this to be true because I have been called upon to lead someone through a challenge. I don't mind that, I feel honored. But of late I have started to begin those conversations by asking what work the individual has done so far, on their own, to find their answers. By a huge majority the answer is zero. "I don't even know where to start!" Well, cowboy up and figure it out. And I say that with love. If a person has known the Lord for more than a few months, they should be able to start the process of learning and growing to some extent on their own. I am not advocating living in bubble without support and guidance. I am comparing what I see in current culture to a child who is still being carried on their parents' hip when they are 8 years old because they just keeping getting carried and never try to stand. You know where that leads? To handicapped children whose muscles can't hold them.
All of my adult life, I have been in ministry on some level. I have held official positions of leadership and authority and I've given counsel and prayer one on one over coffee. I believe in this. It is Biblical and it is our duty to reach out, around and back to bring others forward in their journeys as we progress in ours. But I am saddened and alarmed at the loss of people sitting in the early morning or late night hours with a Bible in front of them searching and growing and finding God without an official group allegiance or person with a title assigning a study program. I have had a particular method to much of my mentoring over the years, it has been to teach others how to learn. In fact, during our years as youth leaders, every year we devoted several months to Wednesday nights we called "Learning to Learn." The kids would submit topics, prayer requests, questions and together we'd pull out Bibles and concordances and even go online as we searched out God's answers together.
I think we might be in trouble my friends. I see a generation of people who have never learned to learn. And I see an even more offensive trend, a generation of "leaders" who are growing fat and arrogant on the dependence of others seeking their help.
Finally, as that socially independent homebody free-thinker, I am an outcast. I'm fine with that. But still, I am sometimes the object of concern, of desperate pleas to join this or that group to prove my devotion. Yes, it is an invitation extended with love and it is not one usually spoken with judgement. But it is also a fact that my no thank yous are usually met with sadly shaken heads and remonstrations that I am missing out on the greatness of God by seeking him more often than not in empty rooms.
I have learned from those who went before me that without the determination to find God for myself, I cannot really become a Warrior.
Jacob wrestled with the angel and there is no record of the name of his life group.
God called for Samuel and did not allow Eli to be a part of the conversation.
Paul was struck blind and alone with a God who demanded his attention.
Jesus went into the wilderness leaving behind his friends as he faced death.
Don't walk away from organized fellowship if it feeds and encourages you.
But know this with certainty, your relationship with Jehovah God is found between you and him only and you are seeing just a glimpse of the reality of him if you have not yet learned to be alone with him.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Sunday


Proverbs 19:11
A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Saturday

1. Got cramps.
2. Is Autumn not beautiful? Yes it is.
3. One more week until St. Joseph, MI!
4. Saw "Hereafter" yesterday. Wow, was it slow-moving and pointless! And I usually love slow-moving and pointless movies! I mean, I love "The Remains Of The Day!"
5. I slept great last night. I know you were wondering.
6. I would really prefer not to work this weekend. Actually, I don't mind working but am praying for minimal drama.
7. Seriously, I have cramps.
8. Soup weather! I am making a pot of something on Monday.
9. Would the person who told politicians that these ridiculous ads and signs have an impact on intelligent people please correct that?
10. Tonight, campfire with the Mr. & Daboyz.

Image:http://www.soupsong.com/soupsong.gif

Thursday, October 21, 2010

My New Cream Colored Hat and So On

Tomorrow I am going to wear my new cream colored knit hat with the kicky little bill.
That is because it is 10:15 p.m. and I have done all of my housework.
As I shoved the vacuum at Mac about half an hour ago and finished sweeping the front end of the house he asked what in the world I was doing and why didn't I just sit down and relax? Well, I'll tell ya why. It's because tomorrow is my day off as once again the third weekend has rolled around (that keeps happening) and I'm working. Do you realize that the past two weekends, when I have not been working, I have come home from work on Friday night and not left the house again until Monday morning when I went back to work? And do you realize that I did not leave the house the entire weekend I was off four weeks ago? I'm not complaining, mind you! No siree, lock me up in my house and I am a happy camper. The last two weekends I have cooked and baked and cleaned and shined and worn no make up and had two birthday dinners, one for Mac and one for the Mr.'s folks. I lurved every moment. But today I decided that tomorrow I wanted to wear my new cream colored knit hat with the kicky little bill and leave the house on my day off. So tonight I did my housework. As I explained to Mac, a person needs to earn a day completely off by taking care of one's responsibilities first. To make a habit of thoroughly enjoying yourself without doing so is kind of not so great. I think he got it although all he really did was tell me my hair was crazy but the house smelled really nice.
Now it is quite past my bed time and I'm ready to crawl between my clean fresh sheets in my clean fresh flannel pajamas and sleep a well-earned sleep. I'm already looking forward to waking up tomorrow morning with a whole day in front of me to do whatever the Mr. and I want to do. I will have my morning coffee in my bright shining (good smelling) house, put on my new cream colored knit hat with the kicky little bill and then...who knows what might happen next.
Lunch in a deli? A matinee? A trip to the library or The Henry Ford? Whatever the day brings it will be with the peaceful kind of pleasure that accompanies a day off that is truly well-earned.
If you're looking for me, I'll be out and about in my new cream colored hat with the kicky little bill!

Seasoned

Here I sit when I should be getting ready for work because this pre menstrual headache and cramps does not inspire motivation. I took the regular Motrin which hasn't kicked in, and won't really eliminate the discomfort. This I know from many years of experience. Don't be alarmed, it's status quo for me and doesn't indicate anything other than the usual.
The other day on the radio I was listening to a talk show about women's health and menopause. And on days like today, I say bring it on. I know that menopause brings its own set of stuff with it, but still. Today specifically the headache and cramps seems to be the worst of the possibilities.
Yesterday I didn't listen to the radio because I had a guest with me, my co-worker's car is in the shop so she was riding with me. Usually, to be frank, that wouldn't really make me thrilled. I am a weird sort who really enjoys my driving to and from work alone. It's thinking, praying and focusing time. So as utterly silly as it is, it is something of a (very tiny) sacrifice to carpool. My friend has a 3 year old who has to be taken to the baby sitter in the morning so I have a carseat in my truck now! As I sat there talking away to "Angelou", which is what I call her daughter and no, that is not her name, while her mom strapped in the car seat; I found myself happy.
Not happy for the company during my morning commute.
Not happy for the headache and cramps which I was also experiencing yesterday.
Happy that this moment in life is imperfectly exactly what it is supposed to be. A season in life, a time in my life different than the time in hers. No more little ones in car seats for me but very clearly I can remember days of needing to borrow my mom's car to get my kids to pre-school. I recall my grampa and gramma having their own car seats as did my parents not only because I occasionally needed help but because they just plain old liked having my kids around. Hard times while they were happening, survived without scars by the grace of others. People who were older. People who had not had babies in the cars for a long while. People who had enough money to have a dependable car. And people, here is the lesson, people who acted like it was their pleasure to strap my little ones into their back seats.
I didn't enjoy those times. I was stressed out and embarrassed. I was sure I was a burden. Yesterday as Angelou was showing me her blanket and explaining to me that there were cherries on her pajamas I looked over at her mom who thanked me for the ride and apologized profusely for not having a car. And I had an epiphany. I liked seeing Angelou in my backseat. I was enjoying her little girl voice and beautiful face and her excitement at "riding in the big truck!" And I liked, loved, was amazed and overwhelmed at something I didn't expect. I realized that it was my turn. It is my season to have the car, to extend the hand. My season to have someone else's little one in my backseat and not resent it but just to enjoy the beauty of her life. My opportunity to be made aware at how far life has come for me. I received grace and now I give it. And in the giving I am relieved of that old old feeling of having been a burden. It wasn't failure so much as just the seasons of life passing, blessing flowing from hand to hand.
What does this have to do with cramps? Well, just this. I do not enjoy my current state of being. But it's a season too. I will probably not love every moment of menopause, but it's a season. And every season has its beauty and its ashes.
Pain lives beside grace. Sure, in my case it's PMS living beside carpool, pretty silly I suppose. But the lesson remains true.
Pain lives beside grace.
Grace reigns over pain.
All seasons are beautiful.

Monday, October 18, 2010

A Great Idea

So I had a great idea. Wednesday at work we are all wearing pink for breast cancer awareness/Bully Prevention Day. In order to show my appreciation to my staff, I had a great idea.
I was going to make sugar cookies and then put a pink candy in the middle of it! You know, like a breast!
And then I realized what might happen if my staff went to H.R. and said,
"My boss gave me a nipple cookie."
Another great idea bites the dust.

Image:http://www.erings.synthasite.com/resources/Breast%20Cancer%20Ribbon%20Paint.jpg

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Halloween

How should a Christian deal with Halloween? I've, frankly, never had much of a problem with it. My kids dressed up, did some Trick or Treating, took cupcakes to school and carved a pumpkin or two. So far there has been no progression to Satan worship and I do not personally know anyone whose child was kidnapped and sacrificed on October 31.
Yes I know that Halloween has pagan origins. Or Catholic origins. Or something like that. Depends on the current theory and shocking new information. Don't get me wrong, I don't like that Halloween seems to be neck in neck with Christmas and many streets glow with orange lights and the plastic undead. I'm just not afraid of Halloween. I don't feel the need to lock the doors and hide or spend the evening in church praying away the evil spirits. There are evil spirits, make no mistake. But they are not held within the 24 hour time frame of Halloween. I've seen too much of Christianity that has given a lot of power to secular issues by trying very hard to prove themselves set apart. One shouldn't be set so far apart one cannot see the very people we are supposed to be reaching. Public service announcement alert: do not give out tracts or Benny Hinn books for trick or treat. That's completely lame and it makes everyone go home and laugh at Jesus on behalf of his "followers."
What should the Christian do with Halloween? I don't care. Do whatever you want. Ignore it, watch The Great Pumpkin or go away for your anniversary (that's what I'm doing but I intend to hook up with Charlie Brown from the hotel room.) Carve a pumpkin and hand out Snickers. Wear a silly hat to work. Do the Monster Mash.
Just don't, don't, don't be more obsessed with Halloween than the world is. This is how I see Christianity vs. the world. Anything displeasing to God is only something satan twisted into a counterfeit. satan cannot create, he can only steal. So I pretty much spend my days taking it all back. I take back rock music. I take back dancing. I take back pride in my appearance. I take back enjoying life. I take back Halloween by having fun with it but keeping it maintained. I have a glowing pumpkin on my end table. It's not in honor of the devil or to signify my support of child sacrifice.
The little glowing pumpkin on my end table came from my Grandma Trent's house. Our Halloween is about little kids dressing up and doing something as silly as collecting candy. It's innocent and reminiscent. It ain't the world's Halloween.
It's God's.
Psalm 96:11-13
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.

Image: http://www.marciabaldwin.artspan.com/show-image/140046/Marcia-Baldwin/AUTUMN-TREE.jpg


Saturday, October 16, 2010

Misc

1. Making lasagna for Dean's folks and grandma tomorrow, all three of their birthdays in one week.
2. Determined to de-stress!
3. Reservations made for anniversary trip, St. John, Michigan overlooking Lake Michigan.
4. Finally had a good deep sleep last night and the Mr. woke me up early. Argh.
5. Contest at work is going great, my unit is winning!
6. Now that I'm awake, I'm hungry. I see waffles in my immediate future.
7. I officially have a pony tail, seriously this is tremendous news.
8. A local high school has voted in their 2010 Homecoming King, a young man with Down's Syndrome. Somebody in that community has been raising their children well.
9. My mom is with the Scarf Sisters this weekend, and although I hate traveling, I wish I was there. Love you guys!
10. Happy Sweetest Day!

Image (Lighthouses on Lake Michigan)http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/files/images/lake-michigan-lighthouses.jpg

Friday, October 15, 2010

Done

I really don't think I've had a bad week but it hasn't been the best ever. The week needs to end or it runs the risk of becoming an officially bad week. At the moment, I'm feeling a little bit prickly. There is some patience and good humor left, but it's running low. Finding myself struggling not to confront issues that wisdom might tell me to stay quiet about. Not really wanting to go the extra mile.
I am ready for the weekend I guess.
With two days to renew myself I need some ideas; what do you do when you know you're burned out and you need a refreshing?

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Sick?

Am I getting sick? Hmm, maybe. Been really tired today, aching muscles. Slight headache and around 1:00 I started getting chills. But I'm home, neighbors have a fire going and it smells so good; like Up North. Going to take a looooonngg hoooottt shower in a minute and hope my work phone stays quiet for the evening. Maybe a quiet night, bed early and a bowl of soup will set me right by morning. Regardless, it's a pretty day and the trees are changing color and it smells like Up North.
So it's not all that bad.

Image:http://www.gelsiga.com/images/sopa-soup-2106.jpg

Monday, October 11, 2010

Double Dawg Dare

Most hospitals have nurse educators, a nurse assigned to each unit whose job it to; you guessed it, educate. Providing the most current information is actually a full time job in the world of health care. At my hospital though, we don't have nurse educators. We're just too small for the expense. So the managers have to play the part of educator. My partner Natosha and I have created the Nursing Enrichment Team, NET. Which is basically just the two of us taking it upon ourselves to provide opportunities for learning and growth and hopefully some fun along the way.
Hospital need to have something called accreditation in order to get full payment from Medicare/Medicaid and most insurance providers. These accrediting organizations set standards for best practice and safe care and then survey (inspect) the hospitals who subscribe to them on a regular basis for compliance. Our health systems happens to use The Joint Commission. And our Joint Commission survey is due any time now. In order to prepare, the NET (Natosha and I) created about three months worth of silly activities and competitions to make the staff feel comfortable and confidant about the survey. The Joint Commission Run Ready Challenge started today. Challenge number one; I hid ten cards on each unit (3 units total) with questions that a staff person might need to answer if a surveyor was on the premises. One point per question. Unit vs. unit. I also made a handbook for each unit with the questions and answers because we don't want to catch people not knowing the answers, we want to teach them.
So one unit puts aside the packet I prepared and tells me they are too busy to "play." Were they busier than the other two units? Probably not. At the end of the day they were in third place, no surprise. Then a staff person from another unit actually saved them by going to their unit and helping them to answer the questions and tie the score.
My point? I've been that person who is too serious, proud, self-absorbed or whatever. But today I realized, that isn't a flattering way to be. In fact, if you're trying hard not to look silly this makes you look exactly that.
My advice? Take a chance in life and have a little fun when the opportunity presents itself. Hey, The Joint Commission is coming ready or not. So join in the games and stop taking yourself so seriously.
And by The Joint Commission, I mean life in general is coming ready or not. And by games, I mean laugh, cry, try, fail and join the rest of us. No matter the outcome, it'll be a lot less lonely.
I double dawg dare ya.

Image:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2543/3854385682_95f6644d1c.jpg

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Celebrate!


Psalm 145:6-8
They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Misc.

1. Tomorrow is Mac's birthday party! Family and Patprikash (I just made that up!)
2. Got new jammies.
3. Making birthday cake for a person who doesn't want cake, just more Patprikash.
4. House-cleaning today.
5. Is there anything more irritating than waking up to mess left in the family room after you went to bed? Well? IS THERE?
6. If I moved to the guest room at 1:00 a.m. to escape Sir Snoresalot, do I have to change the sheets?
7. Got my new Scentsy stuff, mmmmm. My house smells loverly.
8. Got my new L.L. Bean barn coat just in time for cool mornings. Also loverly.
9. Gonna make a pot of cabbage soup.
10. Happy.

Image: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4HiEp_z7lbI/SClEkH-5jTI/AAAAAAAAADs/QbwBmDqWb0U/s320/birthday-cake-with-candles-burning-200135647-001.jpg

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

HESI

Our baby boy (who is 6'3" tall) passed his HESI yesterday. What is this you ask? The Health something Science something. It's the test you have to take to get into nursing school. I took the NET which is the Nursing Entrance Test. That was many moons ago when dinosaurs ruled and darkness was on the face of the deep. Now it's the HESI.
He has one more class to take in January (Anatomy Phys II) and then he'll be in The Program in the fall of 2011, graduating in 2013 or as Dean likes to call it, the year the boy gets the heck out of our house. I am not sure he'll be moving out the day after commencements but one can hope. Jay is contemplating a return to school part time but unsure of the direction to take. I will be entering the University of Michigan's Health Policy & Law program whenever I actually enroll. Keep on me about that, would ya?
Mac will be nurse #3. Manda, Trish's daughter will be nurse #4 as she is working on her pre-reqs now. I think that's about all the nurses this family has to offer for a while. It's somebody elses turn. :)
Happy nursing to all and to all a good night nurse.

Image:http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/profile-ak-snc4/object2/218/8/n2399248080_7734.jpg

Monday, October 04, 2010

Today I come to you to honor the ROTISSERIE CHICKEN. Oh Rotisserie Chicken, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...




I love thee warm and fresh served with deli sides when I don't want to make dinner. I love thee chopped up in soup because cooking and chopping chicken is gross. I love thee shredded and added to casseroles because it's quick and easy. I love thee sliced on a sandwich. I love thee cold when I'm standing in front of the fridge at midnight when you are also calorie-free because I am eating standing up and no one sees me.




I love thee for around $5 at Kroger or The Westborn market.




And all God's people said...

Image:http://chicchickz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/rotisserie-chicken1.jpg

Sunday, October 03, 2010

Chicken Lemon Rice Soup

It has come to my attention that not everyone everywhere has had the pleasure of chicken lemon rice soup. It's a local favorite served at all the coneys, which are also local favorites. So in case you're interested, here's my recipe which I pretty much made up but it's a reasonable facsimile.

1. One rotisserie chicken, cut up
2. Some rice, however ever much you want or is left in the bottom of the bag.
3. 2 large cans of chicken broth unless you're Mrs. Mac in which case you can make it out of the chickens you raised from eggs. Not sure exactly how it's done, I think you squeeze them really hard.
4. 2 whole lemons
5. Flour to thicken if you want to.

Prepare rice per directions using one can of the chicken broth instead of water. When rice is cooked, add second can of broth and cut up chicken. Add zest of two lemons, juice of one. If you want it super lemony, add both. Add second can of broth and then water to top. Season with salt and pepper, thicken with flour and a little bit of cold water. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer, eat. Although it's not coney-approved, you can add some chopped spinach if you want.

And there you have it.

Isaiah 32:17
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Birthday Boy!

Happy 21st birthday to Mac! One of the funniest, smartest, deepest, most irritating, cute, loving, loyal people I know. AKA, The Hungarian Man.
We love you Mackadoo!

Friday, October 01, 2010

Smith B&B

Ahh Friday! Cool Autumn morning, cup of joe and a hound dog at my side. :)
Jay's surgery went really well, thank you Jesus! He's barely swollen and his pain has been really well controlled, in my opinion as a result of having a personal nurse. He was able to eat a little yesterday but it was mostly smoothies and soup. He couldn't handle the pancakes we had planned so those are probably going to happen this morning. Pumpkin pancakes to be precise! I might just bundle up and enjoy mine on the back porch. Jay said that if he ever lost his job, he'd be very comfortable moving back into our guest room. I informed him that our guest room would not involve turn-down service, smoothies at bedside and Vicodin every four hours if he lost his job.
All four of us are home today; Dean's day off, my day off, Mac doesn't have school on Fridays and Jay is in the Robert Gerhardstein Post Operative Suite. Bunch of nerds that we are, we are all excited to all be here together. I'm going to make an apple pie, although I think I'll prebake the apples so they are extra mushy for Jay. That's the cutting-edge life I live. Have a great day whatever your plans are!