Anniversary Trip

Because I know you need need need to know about our mini-vacation; here is the much anticipated Smith 2010 Anniversary Trip in review!

To your left, 24 years of marriage! Us on Lake Michigan.

I think I took roughly 200 pictures of our get-away but I won't bore you with all 200! Mostly scenery and the rest all of those fabulous Facebook shots (you know, holding the camera at arm's length for your own picture.) I took a lot of scenery because I want to make a grouping for our bedroom wall. If I ever actually do that, I'll take a picture of the finished product. I will just share the highlights of our trip and really, there isn't much exciting to say. We have always enjoyed our anniversaries as time to be quietly together; relaxing and appreciating all that God has given us. So... On Sunday afternoon we checked in to the Holiday Inn Express in St. Joseph. It was directly across the street from Lake Michigan up on a bluff. Let me insert a little Holiday Inn shout out here; we always reserve king jacuzzi rooms and we are never disappointed. Beautiful room with a kitchenette, giant jacuzzi, flat screen television and king size bed. During the late afternoon we took a leisurely walk along Silver Beach and were amazed at the breath-taking sight of Lake Michigan. I mean, we knew and yet you can't really know fully unless you are standing there how awesome God's creation is. It was windy and the waves were choppy and foamy. And on the beach it was cold! Still worth a slow walk to take it all in and feel those muscles relaxing.
Monday morning we had a small breakfast before heading out to Holland, MI. We traveled up the Michigan coast taking in the Autumn colors and then spent a few hours wandering in and out of galleries and small shops, finishing up with lunch before heading to the Holland State Park for more time on the Lake Michigan shore.

Back to St. Joseph in the evening we stopped for a jacuzzi warm-up and then to the beach again to watch the sunset. Are there words to describe it? Can a photograph even begin to capture it? No and no.

After the sun finally disappeared below the horizon, we went to Schu's for dinner. Steak for the Mr., grilled salmon for me. And then a stop at The Chocolate Cafe where the Mr. ran in to get us some hot cider to sip on our way home.

Tuesday we reluctantly checked out and drove east, away from St. Joseph and possibly the best anniversary trip we've ever enjoyed. Although I think I say that every year. Anyway...

Another stop in Marshall on the way back home for lunch and a stroll along main street including a stop at The Mole Hole to buy our annual Radko Christmas ornament. Every year the we get an ornament that reminds us of the year past. Here is the 2010 ornament choice. I'll tell you more about the reason why on another day.

The Mr. also picked this out......for the top of our electronic tower.

And that is the 2010 Smith Anniversary Trip. We had a great time and are happy to be home in a blessed and happy house where we continue to stand amazed by grace.

Home

Ah, home sweet home. Although if you wanted me to spend a few extra days in St. Joseph, I wouldn't have argued.I'm unpacking and laundering and still to make an apple pie promised to my staff tomorrow when I'm back to work. Glad to be home, rested and refreshed and happy. Hope all is going well with all of you, I'll post something more substantial in the next few days.

Grace!

Top: Snuggled up on Lake Michigan waiting for sunset.

Bottom: Lake Michigan sunset.

St. Joseph

Good morning from St. Joseph, MI on Lake Michigan!

We arrived yesterday afternoon after stopping in Marshall, MI for brunch. Schueller's no longer serves their Sunday brunch! Still a great meal but disappointing, another tradition lost.

Anyway, it is amazingly beautiful here. Everyone who has ever stood on this shore must believe in God. We had dinner in a little beach side restaurant and walked along the lake yesterday evening. Back to the hotel to warm up in the jacuzzi and a good night's sleep.

This morning we are getting ready to head out to drive along the Lake Michigan shoreline and see the Autumn colors.

In the mean time, here is a photograph of a lighthouse I took during our walk.

Have a wonderful day!

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.

Painting from our wedding invitation: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/collections/graphics/large/theweddingmorning_large.jpg

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.

Image of a Lake Michigan sunrise:http://soul-amp.com/pics/Pics_to_post_Lake_Michigan_at_minus_11/Lake_Michigan_ice_January_19_2008_6__soul-amp

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!

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.

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

Proverbs 19:11

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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.

Image:http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/1-blakes-birthday-party-catherine-amendola.jpg

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: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6CXFiioaCuw0Fer2_UndnadoTDkIsQd9uAuya512xUggB3ak0-avDxR9HYpULWcx3rJN3nrL1x3A9uNf5hnfazFPi_cejrmiUKUePc7jQs3AzCQ9KAf2OW5h0mr1v_p6JFn3/s320/birthday-cake-with-candles-burning-200135647-001.jpg

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

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

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.

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!

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!

The Whole Tooth

UPDATE: Surgery went well, Jay is home (at our house) resting. Hungry, can eat and drink in about 15 minutes. Making him some iced coffee and pumpkin pancakes with a side of Vicodin! Thanks for your prayers!

Pray for Jay tomorrow? Our oldest boy is having oral surgery in the morning. Four impacted wisdom teeth. He'll be staying with us for a day or two as he recovers for a little old-fashioned home care. Surgery is at 9:00 a.m. Thank you in advance! http://www.dentistkharbandrasantacruz.in/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/wisdom_teeth1.jpg

Testify! When I started my job, I didn't know anyone and I was nervous to be leaving behind a place where I knew everyone and had support close at hand. I was sitting at a table outside of an office filling out new hire paperwork when from behind the closed door I heard, "This is the air I breathe..." The message? God is never not here. It was like Jesus had taken the chair next to me and said, "I've been waiting for you to get here!"

Expected Grace

A few months ago I went out on a limb for something I wanted. I didn't get it. Denied. This morning I was ruminating on my way to work; why didn't I get it? I see no reason why this didn't work. Maybe I should go back and try again. Then the Holy Spirit dropped the answer into my heart...
"If you were to write the story of your life, its title would be, Living On Expected Grace."
Wow. Living on expected grace. Is that really what I am doing? Or rather, do I realize the difference between living on grace and living on expected grace. Do I expect good, glorious and anointed things? Am I so faith-driven that I can let go of the things I count as losses and thank God for expected grace? Do I live continuously excited and joyous about the days yet to come because I trust completely that unmerited favor is on its way?
The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I expect grace all the days of my life.
I am living with great expectations.

Testify! This year when we filed our income taxes we were hit with the news that we owed almost $2,000. Yikes! Well, yikes and ok because owing money indicates having made money. Not alot to complain about. Mac went to our tax guy a few days later and in doing Mac's returns, the guy realized that he hadn't claimed Mac's tuition as our dependent. He sent an addendum, the IRS said the first return was right, the Mr. called, the IRS reviewed the review of the addendum. Guess what? We recently got a check for $800 from the IRS. Which helped pay for new sewer pipes which have resulted in a dry basement. Which we didn't realize we needed to pay for when our taxes were first submitted. Had we received that money in the "right" timing, we would've spent it on a patio which would've had to be broken up for the sewer pipes. Hallelujah!
Image:http://throughanewlens.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/desert_flower-1.jpg

Help

I have a dear friend who has honored me with the opportunity to pray for a need in her life. God has impressed me along two lines, that He will provide and that while we wait I am to pray for her to be encouraged and sure that He will exceed her expectations. I'm asking you to claim the abundance of the Lord's provision for her with me. I'm also asking you do something very basic, remind yourself, the enemy and anyone else who runs across your blog that God is the keeper of His people. Please think about, no change that, please do one of these.

1. Post a link to your blog where you share the testimony of an answered prayer or
2. Share your testimony in the comment section on this blog any time or
3. Make the testimony of God's answer to your needs your Facebook status.

Here's the thing, I want a collection of testimonies. I want everything from the stunningly miraculous to the everyday hand of God. I want the internet flooded with Jesus. Make it a one-liner on the end of your blog posts, make it a top ten list, make it a daily Facebook status or change it every hour. The more testimonies in the most places is what we need. Let's encourage those who are waiting for their answers, let's catch the attention of the unbelievers and let's remind ourselves that we do not ask in vain.

Several years ago we returned from vacation in the middle of July, turned our air conditioning back on and ...nothing. The temps were in the 90s and our house had been shut tight for a week. One the one hand, we knew that people everywhere lived without air conditioning. On the other hand, it was dang hot!
I couldn't seem to let it go that I had a right to air conditioning. Not some kind of arrogant entitlement but a feeling that God had provided a house with central air and how dare that air conditioning not work for us. Silly or faith; you decide. So while Dean puttered and called people for advice and starting thumbing through the phone book for a heating and cooling company, I went into our bedroom, knelt down and put my hand over the air vent. You got it, I prayed over the air conditioning. Then I took silly faith a step farther...I told my family I had just laid hands on our air vents and it was just a matter of time until the cool was restored.
Silly faith is the best kind, that air kicked on within and hour and worked beautifully for the remainder of the time we lived that house. So often, we have not because we ask not.

James 2:23

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Image:http://www.davidpott.co.uk/art/wp-content/gallery/seascapes/whitby-friends-seascape.jpg

Favorites

1. Giant measuring cups that double as mixing bowls.
2. Speaking of mixing, my Kitchenaide stand mixer.
3. My camera that refuses to transfer my photographs. It's a complete mystery why but there are lots of great pics trapped inside the camera. Maybe it isn't my favorite.
4. My cement chickens. There is a picture of them...
5. Donny.
6. Autumn.
7. Fresh herbs.
8. Pasta.
9. Green Acres.
10. My farm table, of which I have a photograph...

Image:http://www.hermann-uwe.de/files/images/leave.preview.jpg

Photography

Frustration!

The Mr. bought me a new camera last Christmas and I have been determined to do a better job of taking pictures. And more or less, I've done a better job. I even started a daily pic blog stealing the idea from Kelly. That didn't last. Then I decided the better idea was to merge my own blog with pictures taken myself. So I started taking even more pictures. Specific pictures of an event or to illustrate a point. Pictures that inspired blogs or blogs that inspired pictures.

And just about the time I figured out my grand plan and captured a few charming photographs (for instance the bird perched on the head of my cement chicken-adorable); the transfer photograph to the computer part of the process went kaput.

I was using the actual Nikon transfer program that came with the camera. Then I tried to bypass the transfer program and transfer directly. I've tried everything I have ever heard of and it isn't working!! I'm sure my substantial ignorance isn't helping matters but why would it work before and suddenly not work? Ugh!

The Mr. can't figure it out. Daboyz can't figure it out. Donny has thrown up his paws.

So take my word for it; inside of my Nikon Coolpix L100, there lives a world of photographs.

In the meantime...

Image: http://www.mostphotos.com

Purging

I'm on a quick break from purging. Purging stuff, not food. In fact, if I purged food I wouldn't need to do the other purging. I am purging my dresser and closet of the clothing that I have outgrown. Yes, I've gained lots of weight. I've hung on to clothes for a while now hoping, praying to lose the weight. And I intend to lose the weight, but I'm still purging. I'd been dreading this (which is why I haven't done it) but now that I'm knee deep in size 10s, I feel strangely liberated.

Holding onto to my goal weight was never natural for me. I had to maintain about 1600 calories a day and be aware of food constantly. I was never near anorexia weight, I had an anorexia brain for sure. I don't regret that but I don't need to be that person any longer. I did need it, coming from morbid obesity and working through nursing school it was a part of a rebirthing of a me I could be proud of and I am glad I accomplished it. But now, I don't need it.

This has also been a day of God revealing his goodness to me. Because as I pick up the medium and too small clothing and try to let go of it, he doesn't accuse me of the fatness that prevents me wearing them. He tells me not to worry because I will be able to buy clothes again when the ones I now wear are too large. In other words, I am rid of the shackles of poverty. They stayed wrapped around my heart much longer than they did my bank account. If I get rid of something and need it...I'll be sorry. No more. If I lose weight and need a pair of jeans, I will be able to afford a pair of jeans. Let someone else be blessed with the ones I am discarding for now.

I don't like my weight. It's not ok aesthetically but it's really not ok for my health. I know what happened. A variety of life changes came upon me over the last year and a half and I fell off the wagon (and onto a pile of Lay's potato chips apparently.) I reverted to my old friend, food, to cope. But now I feel my body reacting with more than fat, I hurt in ways that point toward fibromyalgia. I don't sleep well. I have headaches all of the time. And of course, the weight brings about it's own toll on aching knees and sore feet and poor stamina.

Don't let this be a sad story though. It's just another season to learn and grow and I will walk through it all the better for God's loving hand guiding me. I'm not depressed, which itself is evidence of healing in my spirit. I am accepting of this person I now am and mature enough to see the signs of needed change.

So I purge with joy. Thankful for the season of size 10 when I needed it. Aware by the four garbage bags on their way to the Salvation Army that I have been well provided for, no reason to think I'll not be provided for in the future. Listening to my body and mind and the Holy Spirit who speaks into my thoughts, I will learn about this season.

Peacefully purging...

Image: http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com

Genesis 8:20-22

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Autumn & Weekend Stuff

1. Ordered a barn coat & mocs from L.L. Bean.
2. Going to get an orangy rug for the bathroom for fall.
3. Also going to get pumpkin spice candles for the bathroom.
4. So glad it's the weekend, you don't even know!
5. Got a Scentsy plug-in last Christmas from the MIL and despite my doubts, I love it. Ordered some Autumn scent fragrance bars and a second plug-in.
6. Gonna bring out the Autumn/Halloween decorations today.
7. Today's agenda-closet cleanout. No happy exclamation point.
8. I see a fire or two in our evenings.
9. Have to make oatmeal scotchies for a co-worker. I'm taking orders now?
10. Happy Autumn Saturday!

Hot Mess Martha Cookies

This evening I made "Martha Stewart Oatmeal Lace Cookies." Or as I like to call them, "Hot Mess Cookies." Actually, I initially called them something else but I'm a bit calmer about the whole thing now.
The recipe is basically an oatmeal cookie minus the flour recipe, the intent being crisp, flat, lacey cookies. I followed the directions, baked and vee-o-la...hot mess cookies. I mean, I even had the requisite parchment paper! Do you realize how astounding it is that I both have and used parchment paper? This is true progress for me. And basically the 9 cookies lovingly measured (yes...MEASURED!) onto the parchment melded into one giant hot mess of a cookie that became one with the parchment paper. It was like those dot candies that you peel off and no one seems to mind that you always eat a little bit of paper? Except this was quite a lot of paper stuck to very sweet oatmeal. Not sure in exactly what part of the world this is a delicacy but I have confirmed that it is not Dearborn, Michigan.
So I took a pic and texted it to my mom with my original name for them.
Having a pot (because Martha explicitly instructed me to use a pot) of hot mess batter, I figured I may as well try again. So I added more oatmeal to thicken the mess up, parchment in place, measured one table spoon each, three inches apart, flatten with the back of a spoon this time only putting six cookies on the cookie sheet, cook for 15 minutes and and and and...
Vee-o-la! Slight less hot mess. Cookies one and two did not successfully part with the parchment but cookies four through six (six cookies per batch, ridiculous) were quite cookie like. Let's recap: Batch one is one giant paper hot mess cookie. I did scrape it and eat it. I did.
Batch two, cookies one and two did not part from the parchment successfully. Cookies three through six were delivered to the cooling rack without incident.
Lessons learned: Fewer cookies per batch, more oatmeal for a thicker batter, remove parchment from cookie sheet and cool parchment paper with cookies on cooling rack, move cooled parchment paper onto counter and gently spatula cookies back onto cooling rack to complete cooling process. Which brings to the present...
Batch number three, six cookies baking. Hear dinger and think, "That was a fast 15 minutes!" Walk to oven and the timer says 10 minutes remaining. Wonder briefly what the dinger was and return to computer so as not to miss a detail of the riveting saga of these cookies.
Hear dinger and return to oven only then remembering you had put tea into the microwave and that was the original dinger. Tea now cold. Reset timer on microwave, remove hot mess batch three. Gingerly lift parchment paper from cookie sheet and place on cooling rack. Put honey in tea. Scrape another bite of hot mess paper cookies off parchment paper and feel slightly nauseated. Call Jay to bring over Crave Case because you need to eat something substantial. Think that you should throw batch one away and stop scraping them off and eating them. Think very carefully, don't be rash.
Decide that with batch three and all six cookie parchment paper resections complete without any complications you are in the home stretch.
Decide you hate these cookies and will never make them again. And you also hate Martha Stewart because she probably did this on purpose. Not really.
Sip your tea, load the dishwasher, and light a candle instead of cursing the cookie darkness.

http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/1991//la_0791_lace_cookie_l.jpg

I neeeeeed

There is a certain breed of people in the world, of which I am not one. People who need to be needed. I mostly want to be left alone.
People who love to do and to serve and sometimes, to be depended on. Like every other potential personality trait, this one can go awry. Under the Holy Spirit's influence, these people are servants. They really are the hands and feet of Jesus. They find their life's purpose and identity in doing for others. On the other hand, without the Lord's guidance, this can become an issue of control. The motivation isn't to serve others but to make others completely dependent on them.
So I need some advice. When someone willingly takes over a task that you could do but doesn't do it well; how do you take it back? In my life there is a person who walks that line between servant and control freak and leans toward the latter when they are challenged. They do a few things that could rightfully be considered my responsibility. I never asked this person to do these tasks, they took them over before we met and things have remained status quo. However, things are not always done the correct way and often there are errors. I am willing, able and ready to step back in and relieve them of the job. But they get defensive, loud and sometimes even start to cry. This makes many people back away and try to soothe the person just to stop the firestorm. And the cycle continues.
I believe that God has called some people to need to be needed. But how do you firmly and gracefully say, "Thanks, but I just don't need you."?

Chuck

So. Jay's Chucks needed to be chucked and he needs a new pair. I tell him I think I have some rewards $$ on my Famous Footwear rewards card. Turns out I had a $25 off reward! I offer it to him. He goes to the website to order his new Chucks and sees there is a buy one/get one half off deal going on. Mac needs running shoes and finding the size 14/15 he wears is usually an online only opportunity. So we order the running shoes and the Chucks.

And this is math according to Jay...

Chucks originally $44 with $25 off makes them $19. BUT! there was half off the cheaper pair (Size 14 running shoes are substantially more than $44.) So they were only $22 in the first place leaving me owing him $3.00.

Yeah. Nice try Jaybird.

Loverly Monday Morning

Ahh, the weekend is over! Every third week I pray for a fast weekend and I look forward to my day off on Monday. The Mr. took a vacation day (he has tried to take as many vacation days on my Mondays off as possible.) He's still asleep and I'm enjoying the cool air and of course my friend Joe. First load of laundry is laudercizing (I stoled that from Trish.) On today's schedule is Beef Stroganoff for dinner. I've never made it but I've been recipe surfing on the web and thought, that looks purty good! Looks fairly simple. I asked the men if if sounded good to them and Mac said, "I'd eat the crap out of that." That's what I'm going to name my cookbook.
I'd Eat The Crap Out Of That. I hope the Pioneerwoman doesn't steal it.
Speaking of the ever charming Mackenzie, his girlfriend of 2 years, Lexi, has moved in with my sister Amy and her husband. Lexi had been living with her dad but he's moving and the Rennies generously opened up their spare room to her. They even painted the room to suit her fancy! Lexi is a girly girly girl so we bought a pale pink and green shabby chic set from the Target. She is so excited and thankful and so are we. However, Target only had one of the shams to her green & pink quilt set so if you run across another one, let me know!
I'll leave you with a thought I just gleaned from a sermon broadcast I watched this morning from California. "The world is always gambling for what you already have in righteousness." He gave the example of the stock market. It's a gamble, you put money in and hope that it will increase. Only in righteousness, in God's promises, is there a sure thing. For example, tithing, offering and sowing into the lives of others. How profound is that? He went on to speak about every good thing the world pursues by hoping for the best has a God's way method in the Word that makes it a sure thing in him. I'm going to be meditating on that for a long while. And I am inspired to dig into the Old Testament as an Autumn study.
I'm going to enjoy my second cup of coffee on the back porch so I'll say good bye for now. I'm going to spend some time with Jesus reflecting on the things I don't have to gamble on because He already made the way through righteousness. Train up your children in the way they should go, God will not give you more than you can bear, the children of the righteous will be blessed, honor your father and mother, love one another...
Amen.

Psalm 9:20
Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men.

1. I don't want to go to work, my everything hurts.
2. Please Lord, let this be a relatively quiet weekend with enough staff!
3. So thankful for my family.
4. I did a bit of yard clean-up yesterday, hence number one I'm sure.
5. The day after getting my hairs did means a very bad hair day. Don't want to wash it yet and my girl Monnika feels super deep conditioning is just the thing so I'm rocking the too soft flat head.
6. Inherited my mom's apple peeler/corer/slicer. Miraculous!
7. Can't decide if I want to repot my ferns to bring in or let them die. The Bostons ferns are obnoxiously large and the asparagus fern looks like it might shed during the winter months. Hmmm.
8. I'm drawn to ornamental pepper plants at the Westborn Market. I didn't buy one but all signs point to me going back to get one.
9. Can any one tell me where I put all my Autumn decorations last year?
10. Got to get going. Hope your Saturday is lovely and mine is short.

Friday's Child

I'm feeling rested this morning and the pain is less. If I'm not markedly better Monday I'll go to the doctor. Off today and working this weekend. On today's schedule, getting my hairs did and bringing my plants inside before a sneaky overnight freeze gets 'em. The question is, where to put them all? I'll need to re-pot a few. That should be the day for me.
Autumn is definitely settling in to our neck of the woods and I'm happy to welcome it. I spent some time with the L.L. Bean catalog and think I'll treat myself to a few items, a jacket and shoes to be exact. I might just break with tradition and order them now so when it's really cold, blowy and wet I'll be ready as opposed to running to Target in the cold, blowy wetness to get what I need. I was going to order a few fleece pull-overs as well but those are cheaper at Old Navy. A pair of jeans and a few bags of Gold Toe socks and I should be good to go! Oh, and I need underwear but I'll spare you the details.
Time for me to get this day started, finish my coffee and hop in a hot shower. Enjoy this beautiful Autumn day wherever you are!

Back to Work

Feeling on the better side today. When I first awakened I thought I'd call in again but by the time I've had my coffee now and moved around a bit, I'm feeling like I am ready for work. Still those aching muscles...what in the world? I slept really well again which is so strange. I usually don't sleep well but the last two nights I have been wonderfully rested. Which is part of why I'm pushing myself to go to work, I need to save those call-in days for when I'm sick enough to not be able to get out of bed. Sick days are definitely more "fun" when you're hunkered in during a snowy freezing winter day. Who wants to lay on a couch during nice weather?
So it's time for me to hop into the shower and get moving. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes. The worst pain remains between my shoulder blades and in my right knee.
And don't say fibromyalgia!

A Trailer and A Heating Pad

I'm home with muscles aches. I started last week with aching knees, blamed it on weight and a change in the weather. Right knee quite a lot worse than the left. Then a few days ago, sore neck. I attributed that to sleeping wrong and needing new pillows. Got the new pillows but several days later my neck hurts as much as ever and it is radiating down my shoulder and into my shoulder blades and upper arm.
Yesterday it seemed I was aching all over. Then I thought, hey! Maybe my Vitamin D level is low. About a year and a half ago I had some bad muscle pain and it turned out to be Vitamin D. A few months of supplements and I was good as new. So I started back to taking Vitamin D. But this morning I was so sore when I woke up I didn't feel like hauling myself downstairs into the shower. So I crept out of bed and walked around like Quasi Modo for a bit before I surrendered to the couch and a heating pad which I'm moving from aching spot to aching spot...knees, back, neck, other knee, arm...
Yes I have tried Motrin which takes the edge off but doesn't ever seems to completely get rid of it. In fact, it's worse day by day. Yes, I've made sure to drink lots of water. I'm eating healthy. Getting rest, stretching (of course, only the stretching when I started hurting.) Last night I slept really well and I was sure when the alarm went off that I'd be feeling better. And I was, until I stretched my arm out to shut off the alarm. Ouch.
So here I am watching The Long Long Trailer on my DVR and drinking my coffee from a semi-reclined position. Heating pad is currently under my left knee. It was on top of my left knee but the underside was still sore.
I'm hoping that a few days of the Vitamin D and some heating pad therapy will give me some relief. I wish I was tired so I could nap the day away but I'm not at all. I'm sure a hot shower would help but the idea of getting off the sofa is a little overwhelming right now so I suppose I'll pace myself.
If you have any ideas, let me know. I'm ready to try anything!

My Mom's BFF

My mom pointed me in the direction of a blog that has become a daily stop for me. It's not a Christian Woman's Devotional, so I liked it very much...wink. It's the Pioneerwoman. The author is Ree Drummond and it's all about home with a twist of all kinds of other goodies I love. Her writing is fun and although it's not in the inspirational category as we often identify it, I find inspiration there just about daily.

Ree loves loves loves her husband and kids. She loves her home, simplicity and a smattering of the good life here and there to keep it interesting. I've purchased her cookbook for my mom as well as a bottle of her recommended Sugar Lemon body wash because according to my mother, Ree is her BFF. I'm not entirely sure Ree would confirm the relationship but so far, from recipes to her favorite lipstick (Maybelline, $5.04 @ Target), she gets it right in my book pretty much all the time.

Her blog has recipes which are consistently good and photos of her home and decorating projects. Oh, and did I mention she lives on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma? For no other reason, the cowboys and chaps are worth a daily look-see! She's also a fantastic photographer and some day when I'm feeling particularly inspired, I might actually read her how-to tips. In the meantime, I just look at the pictures and ooh and ahh.

So there's my tip for the day, go visit the Pioneer Woman. Tell her that her BFF Pat sent you.

Fed Up!

Warning, whiny butt post to ensue...
I worked today and that's fine. It's part of my job, take my turn covering the holidays. Fine. However, there were four people given vacation time (not by me) and then a volunteering of my staff to assist another department for an hour (not by me) and some very sick patients admitted to the hospital (not by me.) What I'm saying to you, is that I am downright fed up with working short-staffed due to actions taken not by me.
Then after leaving, I get a message...an afternoon shift staff did not show up. Why? Because he states he was not supposed to even be on the schedule. An error apparently. And guess what? That's right, not by me.
It's not the working on a holiday that I'm whining about. But much like working on a weekend, I am eternally aggravated by errors and short-sightedness by people who don't actually work the holidays or weekends themselves. On bad days like today, it feels very much like perhaps it's not such an important matter to do things correctly if the person doing them won't pay the consequences for a job not well done.
In truth, I don't think that. But right now, today, as I have tried to stretch people farther than they can stretch to cover holes that shouldn't have been there, I'm pouty whiny sorry for myself. So I'm venting. This is a conversation that needs to be had, but I need to do it with wisdom and graciousness and not whiny butt anger. I'll hold my peace until I get there.
In the meantime, I'm going to stew for a bit and then have some diet 7-UP/cranberry juice cocktail and trial to unfurl my eyebrows.
Harumph.

Labor Day, Comfort Food, Etc.

Good morning! Getting ready to go labor on this Labor day, I'm working. Hoping for a quiet and maybe even a short day but there are no guarantees, I'm on 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. My parents are having a fish fry so if all goes well, I'll make it there in time for dinner.
The Mr. is spending a little time with his parents and daboyz are probably going to sleep much of the day away. Jay had rather a rotten week at work last week so he's been thankful for a long weekend and praying for a better week ahead.
I made greens for work and a giant pot cooks down to approximately a tablespoon full. I guess that is what comes of a recipe that starts with "get a mess of greens." Maybe I underestimated the volume of a mess. Although you could still call what I created a mess. I'm taking in my tablespoonful of greens and will deal with the mockery. I also made a delicious pan of banana bread so if people aren't nice to me, I won't share that!
Speaking of goodies, I made a loaf of apricot walnut for my mom, craisin raisin nut for Dean's parents and 2 loaves of a new experiment of mine-trail mix bread. I may have overcooked it, it seems a little dry. But such is the way of experiments. I took a basic quick bread and zested a large orange and then juiced it to divide between two pans. Then I added a bag equally divided between the two of Target brand trail mix (cranberry/pecan/white chocolate.) It tastes good, could use some tweaking but worth making again. The banana bread was a recipe from allrecipes.com (cathy's banana bread) however, halfway in I realized I didn't have enough sour cream. So I dumped in a 6 ounce container of pineapple greek yogurt and added an extra banana. It is delicious! It makes a 9x11 pan. I'm keeping half for the family and taking half to work.
Finally, I made crumbly lemon squares from the Pioneerwoman blog. I usually make classic lemon squares with a cream cheese based crust and powdered sugar on top. These are heartier. Oats in the crust and then sprinkling the crust mix on top as well. The lemon layer is a can of sweetened condensed milk whisked with the zest and juice of two lemons (I added extra zest, only the zest of one lemon was required in the recipe.) They are wonderful. Not the more delicate version I'm used to so it's a matter of taste. Jay preferred them because he liked the crumbly top and felt they were more substantial.
A bit pot of chicken and noodles and a pot roast yesterday rounded out a weekend of baking and comfort food. Speaking of comfort food, we got a fire pit and enjoyed the cool evenings around a fire making s'more. Too much more comfort and I'm never going to be able to snap my jeans!
Well, better get myself in gear and face the workday. Maybe the sooner I get there, the sooner I can come home? Wherever you are today, have a wonderful day!

The Pioneer Woman's Crumbly Lemon Squares Recipe!

Hebrews 13:15
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

My Life in 10

1. Headache-hormones-I enjoy being girl.
2. Cool breezes, mmmmm. Even makes coffee taste better.
3. Got a new work bag at Target for $12 and I'm very excited!
4. Almost due for new eye glasses and for the first time in my life, I am going to spend the extra money and get a pair I like instead of taking the freebie/insurance ones and look like Dorothy Hamel. And for the third time we will ask the eternal question; do I need readers yet?
5. Had an incredibly busy day yesterday but got a lot done for Mac and Lexi so it's all good.
6. Speaking of the Mac, he got 100% on his first pharmacology quiz and will take the nursing entrance exam on October 4!
7. Jay has requested lemon bars, I'm on it. His favorite!
8. For some reason when the seasons change, I look around my house and realize all over again how much I love it. Why is that?
9. My hair is just barely long enough for a stub of a pony tail that looks ridiculous. Therefore I am wearing my hair in a pony tail every day.
10. I need a new tea pot, the handle broke off of mine. Can't find one I want because basically, I don't know what I want.

Green & Stretchy

I'm working on Labor Day and like hospitals everywhere, we are planning a potluck. If we must work, we will at least eat our way through the day. This job has really stretched me, sometimes to the point of being pretty sure I was going to snap. I left a Monday through Friday hourly position for a salary job that requires 60 hours a week of responsibility and rotating weekends. I went from being in charge of my shift and my team to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a bunch of direct reports. I had mastered my domain, a 38 bed unit. Now there are days when I am the only administrator in a 100 bed hospital. Strreetttcchhhh!
I've had to step up my game in a lot of areas which I expected. Learned lots of new stuff, also expected. Make mistakes along the way, guaranteed. But one of the most surprising lessons has been the part not where I work harder or take on greater responsibilities. I've also learned a lesson or two about boundaries.
For instance, I'm on 24 hour call and have to carry a Blackberry. For the longest time every time that phone rang I'd grab it on the first ring and then do my darndest to solve the problem on the other end of the line. Three years later, that's not how I handle it. After I get home, the Blackberry goes to voice mail. I retrieve my messages immediately after they are received and then I decide if the matter needs my immediate attention. For a while I would return every call, now the staff knows my expectations. No detailed message, no call back. Do NOT leave me a "Call us back." and expect me to call you back. My time, my life are important too. I get to decide how much of myself to share. And I'm comfortable drawing those lines. It doesn't mean I don't do my job, it means I will be the one to dictate how I do it.
I've also stretched by learning to do the things that go against my personality without resenting it. Salary means from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., I'm the supervisor. So if I've been there eight hours at 4:00 but there's something going on, I'm there for the duration. That used to make me nuts. I'd clench my jaw and watch the clock and be aggravated for the rest of the evening. Not any more. I recognize the perks as well as the demands so on those late days, I just make myself a cup of tea and take a deep breath and move on.
But maybe all of the stretching and learning can be expressed in the most recent challenge. I work in Detroit, in a predominantly black area with a predominantly African American staff. I have been awarded an honorary black card in case you're wondering. Back to Labor Day and our potluck. My assignment? Greens. Seriously, greens. My first question was, what exactly is a green?
The old un-stretched me might have been silly enough to ask for a different assignment, something familiar. This one? I had one of the staff call his Granny and put her on speaker phone and I got her recipe for greens. I'm not promising anything, but I'm stretching again.
Did you know the more you stretch, the less you ache?
It's about more than muscles, it's about life.