New Year's Prayer 2011

There are no resolutions, there are no goals, there is only a prayer for me this year. For me and my family and for you and yours..................

Dear God, I pray for health, happiness and God's will in everyone's life.May God show Himself and help us to remember that HE is real and He loves us!

Thank you Jesus! Praise your Lord! Amen!

Starting to Feel the Effects

I am beginning to feel the effects of this dreaded infection. Yesterday was an awful day. The boys are home from school this week and I felt so bad not feeling like doing anything with them. My head hurt so badly and the pressure in my face was almost more than I could stand. By 8pm when John arrived home from work my face and eyes were swollen and I was yellow. I am weak and lightheaded almost always now. By 8:30pm last night I was in the bed. My eyes are bothering me rather badly. They are tired, so very tired.

I go Tuesday the 4th to the infectious disease docto. I am so happy that I am not going to a oncologist!!!! Praise the Lord for all things! I will beat this with your prayers and the Lord's hand over things! Blessings!

Intentions

My intentions were for this post to be Part 2 of my Christmas series but I got the results today from the sinus culture. It could be so much worse and I thank the Lord it is NOT but nonetheless my heart is heavy and burdened tonight. I could use your prayers. I have staph infection in my sinuses. It is bad, very bad. Bad enough that oral antibiotics cannot treat it....we've tried. The words................ port, picc line (sp.), hospitalization, daily infusions (an hour each way to the hospital), infectious disease doctor and iv antibiotics were all mentioned. Very scary stuff. I thank the heavenly Father it is not cancer!!! I praise him for that. I just have a long road ahead of me...."months" were mentioned. Also, I will be seeing the cardiologist asap since there is risk that the infection could reach my heart through the bloodstream. With all my past heart issues it is a good idea to have things checked out.

Anyhow....I will keep you posted. In the mean time.....please pray!

Blessings!

Christmas 2010 (Part 1)

Here are the boys having a a cookie and cocoa party after their school Christmas program. Funny that they have a little girl sitting between them! ;)

The boys with their teacher after the program.

Mason on the back row, singing!

John singing in the program.

Just a larger pic of the program.

Boys Christmas program at church. mason is on the far left and John on the far right. The middle child is not ours! LOL

The boys in front of our tree! Their shirts say "Happy Birthday Jesus"!

Mason's letter!John's letter!

John showing his off!

Mason showing his off!

Here are the boys opening their letters FROM SANTA!!!!

This is my Daddy (the one of the top, far right, in the navy jacket) and seven of his brothers and sisters. One brother is deceased and one was sick on this night). This was the annual get together!

The boys got me this hand stamped pendant for Christmas. It says "two peas in a pod" and has the boys names stamped on it with the two "peas" attached! Love it!

This is my new washer and dryer. It is an LG and I am loving them! They were gotten a little early but still a nice present! :)

This is our new bedroom suit. We are loving it also. Our other one I had since I was 16 years old. I'm 34 now....you do the math. ;)

I love having two night stands!!!! :)

Having a king bed is awesome! We had a queen before and this is like an ocean compared to a pond! LOL

Part 2 coming soon!

Blessings!

Prayer Needed

The last few weeks have been hard and overwhelming at times. I knew it was coming but it hit hard. I saw the ENT today and I have a a major sinus infection. This is not for the faint of heart. Pictures were taken and there is white puss foaming. it is disgusting. It seems as though the infection has never cleared up....at least all the way (as it should have been). The catheter was very uncomfortable he used to look around and then he took a culture. Oh my! I thought I would come out of the chair. It is a swab on a metal spring! Ouch!!!! He put me on a strong antibiotic (oral) and an antibiotic nose spray. Should know by Tuesday what was grown and then what antibiotic was used to treat it in the petri dish. Therefore, what is needed to treat me with. If it does not clear up...all the way I will be admitted to the hospital to have an iv antibiotic treatment. And with all of that being said.........he is also concerned with my heart. I had open heart surgery at 19 and have been fine since. However, I have not had a check up in the last 5 years. So I will be having a check up soon to make sure the infection has not made it to or effected my heart. So if you could pray I would appreciate it. I feel really bad and the pressure is awful in my face. I am exhausted on top of everything else. Thank you for your prayers!

Christmas Traditions

Traditions are such an important part of life to me. I grew up making traditions with my own family and I want the same for my own little family. I am not sure if traditions played a large part of growing up for John or not. My parents always made a big deal out of birthdays and Christmas as well as Halloween and Thanksgiving.

I am going to list some of our Christmas traditions that we have started for our own family.

• Decorating a Christmas tree for the living room and the boys each have a John Deere tree in their own rooms.
• Going to our town's Christmas parade.
• Driving around looking at Christmas lights while rocking it out to Christmas tunes in our pajamas!
• Making gingerbread house
• Making Christmas cupcakes for their school ,party
• Making Christmas snack mix
• Watching Christmas movies, lots of them!
• Drinking hot cocoa after setting up our outside decorations!\
• Reading the Christmas story, every night!
• Making Christmas cookies
• Writing Santa a letter and this year we got one back from him
• Family reunion with my Daddy's side of the family
• Doing Christmas lace up cards
• Drawing and coloring Christmas pictures
• Painting and doing Christmas crafts
• Going caroling to grandparents homes
• Participating in our Christmas programs at church and school
• Reading God Gave Us Christmas
• Baking Cake for Baby Jesus and having HIM a birthday party
• Taking treats to special friends and neighbors
• Making special pancakes Christmas morning and opening gifts, spending lunch with my parents and supper with my brother's family.

So, do you have traditions, how do you celebrate?

Christmas Blessings!

Worked Out!

I am so thankful that things worked out with the mixes! I had a very dear blogger friend to take the mixes off of my hands and off of my sil's hands. I am so thankful for the dear people in my life. God just works things out!

Disappointed

I am very sad and diappointed as I write this! I took an order almost 2 weeks ago with my mixes; a very large order. I sent the person the total and told her she could pay when she picked it up. She messaged me yesterday onfacebook that she no longer wanted the majority of the $160 order. She is one of my husband's sisters and lives out of state. This is out of charcter for her. Apparently her husband's side of the family is not exchanging gifts this year and she just found out about it. I have been tunring people away and now noone else wants the stuff as it it is wrapped in gifts sets. I had to pay my helper to wrap and work on her order last week. The order has been sitting ready since before my cutoff date (12//11). I would only have 5 days to get rid of it and I have my won stuff to get done. Daddy just had surgery and I have to take he and Mom both to the doc this coming week as well as other things. I also have my children to take care of. When I told her I could not undo what I had done. she could not remember all of what she ordered when I sent her the original list she went me she left off some of the things off her current list but said it was the same and she didn't understand why I was charging her a higher amount but she would pay it!

I just want people to be responsible, do what they say and for now on. I will get paid in full, in advance! Lesson learned! I want to do the right thing but why should I get stuck with her mistake?!

What would you do? I have no use for the stuff myself and everyone that I have asked if they would want it said if I had known sooner....you told me you were out fo mixes and now I've already been shopping!

Just sad...........

Overload and Exhaustion

Wow, I don't even know where to start. I am just worn out, in every facet! I am blessed and I will tell you all that until the day the Lord takes me from this world. There are many that have it much, much worse than I and I do not mean to complain. I am going to petition for a little prayer though! :)

My Daddy is still having the trigeminal neuralgia episodes and on the medication to treat that. Now, he has developed shortness of breath. After weeks of going to the family doctor;it has been determined that he has fluid in his lungs. He is very swollen in the stomach and ankles. He had several tests done there and an appointment made to see his cardiologist. Many tests there-6 hours we were there on Monday. Tomorrow (Thursday) he will have a heart cath to see why fluid is there. His last cath was 9 years ago. He also had 5 bypasses 21 years ago.

My Mom is slowly coming out of remission and I hate for her. The pain is getting intense. She goes back tot the doctor a week from today. They will probably up the predisone again. She has Polymyositis (a type of Inflammatory Myopathy). This is an autoimmune disease that destroys the muscles. Daddy willhave an appointment that same day, but hours earlier. So I will take him first and drive the 2 hours and then take her and drive the 2 hours again that afternoon (an hour each way, each time).

I try to help out by cooking for them, writing checks (paying bills), running erranda, making appointments and such. I am so blessed to have them in our lives.

The boys have green runny noses and coughs again. The flu is running rampid around here. We are talking some school classrooms only have 7 or 8 students left at the day ends (most rooms have about 25). They are growing and learning so much! I love my babies!

John's Dad was admitted to the hospital again with chest pains. He was releaased yesterday after tests confirmed nothing. He has been to the er and/or been admitted 14 times since August! I think he is lonely and scared. It always seems to happen at night.

John's knee is giving him fits again and the pain has moved to his shin as well. He has had 3 knee surgeries thus far. 2 of those being in the last 12 years since we have married. We are suppose to go back to the doc today but we are expecting a small ice event in our area; which is rare in itself! LOL

I just cutoff orders for mixes and have 2 more orders to go out. I am so glad I am finished! I am so tired! I also am trying to get surgery scheduled. I have held off since October and am miserable. If you are of the male nature please stop reading now! My bladder virtually fell out in October (on my birthday no less) and I went to the ob/gyn and she temporarily "fixed" it. Anyhoo, I am having a new procedure done next month and hopefully today I will have a date. I cannot lift the boys or anything over 20# and I hate that! I mean I live on a farm for crying out loud!

The boys Christmas program at church was Sunday and they did a great job, excpet when Mason got "tired" and decided to just lay down admist the other 25 children on stage! LOL! They are having another program, but at their school this Friday with cocoa and cookies to follow.

We are getting behind with our "traditions" this year. John is working 6 days a week; there is only so much a Mama can handle! LOL I can only handle it with God's help and HIS hand guiding me! Praise HIM!

Hope you are blessed!

Those Moments

there are good moments and bad moments but they all create memories. Around our house we try to focus on the positive ones. When you have four year old twin boys there are days there are more bad than good. the boys tend to want to show their independence (sometimes too much for their own good). We are trying to create traditions within our home and that is difficult when you have many of those moments.

The day started off badly with one child and tonight by bedtime he was the one that was dressed in his jammies sitting in his doorway waiting on his brother to "do what he was suppose to". He was playing quietly with a toy just being. The other that had a great morning was screaming and fussing not wanting to do what he needed but rather what he wanted.

How often do we as adults do what we want and not what our FATHER needs us too?! HE will supply all of your needs! Phil. 4:19

I will write more about traditions in another post.

Blessings!

Day 30 Giving Thanks

As the day comes to an end so does the month. It is so hard to believe that another 30 days has passed and life just continues onto the next month and year and so on. Truth be told there are so many things that I am thankful for and blessed with. I serve an amazing God and I AM SO UNDESERVING!!!! Thank you Father for all things! I am thankful for my friends, the ones that I know here online and the ones that I know in "real life". Some of you have been friends for many years and some less than one. I love you each. You each are so very special to me. Thank you for being my friend! So my friends, what are you thankful for?

Blessings to you all!

Day 29 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for my health! I am so blessed!

Day 28 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for our church!

Blessings!

Day 27 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for my cooking talent. Hubby and I hosted a little brunch for his family this morning. I fixed my famous Ole Farm Breakfast Casserole and it was a hit. There were 11 of us. Several were missing but we still enjoyed the food and fellowship!

Blessings!

Day 26 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for great bargains that allow me to buy a few extra things that are wanted/needed! :)

Day 25 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for this wonderful holiday that I get to spend with family and friends to celebrate my freedoms and give thanks! I hope each and every one of you have a blessed Thanksgiivng!

Day 24 Giving Thanks

Today as I checked my hubby's paystub I was reminded of how blessed we are that he still has a good job with good pay and benefits! Thank you Lord! Blessings!

Day 23 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for my freedom to go to the grocery store and purchase what I need, when I need it! Blessings!

Day 22 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for my new washer and dryer! Yippee! It was delivered today and now I need to learn how to use it! LOL

Here is the washer : http://www.homedepot.com/Appliances-Laundry-Clothing-Care-Washers-Front-Load-Washers/LG-Electronics/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xt5Zbv6hZ21j/R-202017156/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

We also got the pedestals with the washer and dryer. I won't post a link to the dryer but it is the matching one.

I feel so blessed!

Talking Turkey

Thanksgiving is just a short few days away! We are having Thanksgiving at my Mom and Daddy's this year. John will have to work. It is our first thanksgiving apart and that makes me sad . It makes me even more sad that he will miss the boys and the boys will miss him on this special day.

My Mom's brother and sister-in-law are in from North Carolina and her niece and nephew-in-law will arrive Wednesday from South Carolina. All of those as well as her sister that lives a piece down the road will join us. I am not are of my bother and sister-in-laws plans. They usually have lunch with her family. There will be a table or two full nonetheless!

As far as the menu goes we usually have the typical smoked pecan turkey, a spiral sliced ham, brown and serve rolls, cranberry sauce (courtesy of Ocean Spray), Mom's delicious chicken and dressing made with cornbread, giblet gravy, hm creamed corn, home canned green beans, potato salad, sweet potato casserole, sweet potato pie and some type of cake....usually homemade honey apple cake.

This year I am going to make the green beans, creamed corn and apple cake. Maybe the sweet potato casserole......we shall see! We usually eat around noon. We usually go back home after the meal and let the boys nap while we watch some football. Then back to mom's for supper!

The boys are spending the night with her and Daddy this year and I am going Black Friday shopping like usual. John has to go into work early this year since Alabama plays at home and he will be traveling through there.

I am almost done Christmas shopping and have discovered once again that I have went a teensy bit overboard! More so with the boys. Some things I am putting up until their March birthday though. We need some pillows, a quilt and sheets for our new bedroom suite (arriving next week). So I will probably hit Kohl's for that. Booster seats are BOGO at KMART, so I'll be going there too and Target has their Wii Fit bundle for $67 and since Santa is bringing that as our family gift I need him to bring that to me! :)

So what is Thanksgiving looking like at your house? Are you cooking? eating out? Going shopping? Watching football?

Whatever you are doing here's to you and yours! Thanksgiving Blessings!

Day 21 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for time with family!

Day 20 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for a house full of food! (And the knowledge to cook it! LOL)

Day 19 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for hot water and warm homes!

Day 18 Giving Thanks

I am thankful for my husband. He is a hardworker and great provider. I am so thankful he is home everynight!!! I love him so!

Day 17 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for wonderful teachers at my sons' school. Mason busted his nose and had some other minor injuries while I was away at the doctor's office. They called me and handled it and i am so grateful. I am thankful for a great ENT to help me get well yet once again! I am thankful to go with my daddy to the urologist and the great news of NO cancer!!!! Thank you Lord! I am thankful that I ordered my new washer and dryer today and paid for it in full!

What are you thankful for today?

Day 16 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for the rain! Praise the Lord!

Day 15 Giving Thanks

I am thanful that today is my last day at the home market (job) until May. It will be nice to have some "down time"!

Day 14 Giving Thanks

Today I thankful for a warm home and a crockpot filled to the brim simmering with hot Chicken tortilla soup!

Day 13 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for salt water and a netti pot!

Day 12 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful, just to be. I am thankful that I can write and journal my thoughts and feelings and that I can just be me!

There is so much going on as of late.

I am thankful for my job but glad the end (of the season) is near....like next week.
Thankful to get our cable upgraded, get our back porch (deck) built finally (after 8 years). So thankful to have insurance (dental) and have yet another crown done (the permanent will be cemented Dec. 2). Thankful I have someone coming next week to put down our new flooring (that was donated to us), paint the boys bath, hang Mason's door and install a new kitchen faucet. I am thankful to have a clean house and laundry caught up once again. Thankful to order a new washer and dryer and have it delivered next week as well as the rest of the boys bedroom furniture delivered next week. The week of Thanksgiving our new bedroom suit will arrive. most of the things have been a to-do list for a few years! Thankful to get to mark off somethings!

We also have out of town company arriving the 20th and I am so thankful to have them to visit with us once again!

I am thankful for my favorite drinks; warm cider, hot java and cold ice water! What a combo, eh?! I am thankful for a wonderful husband who took off from work today to drive my Daddy to see his oldest grandson play his last high school football game tonight (as they lost in overtime but still made it to round 2 of the state playoffs).

Thankful for wonderful parents who God bless their hearts are enduring some struggles (with their health) and use some prayers right now. My Daddy had blood work today to check for cancer. He is still having some break through pains with the Trigeminal Neuralgia and is on high doses (300mg) of Lyrica a day. Mom is still on the predisone, ultram and immunosupressant daily. She is in constant pain from her muscles. Thankful for my brother who just had his 3rd surgery since the first part of October.

Most of all I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ! Without Him I am NOTHING!!! Thank you Lord for all of my blessings!!!

Day 11 Giving Thanks

I am thankful for my Daddy, not just because he is my Daddy but because he is a Veteran. I love him so very much. He is a Veteran of the Army. I am thankful for all of those that have served and that do serve for our freedom yesterday, today and tomorrow. Thank you Lord for these precious men and women!

Day 10 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for my sweet children and their complete innocence! I love those little boys so very much!

Day 9 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for a day off from work...............

Day 8 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for fresh fruit and veggies and the access I have to them! It is wonderful NOT to have to buy everything at the grocery store! I am also thankful for a great local grocery store that is locally owned and operated in out little town.

Day 7 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for the mundane things. Watching "Frosty" with my boys and hubby. Baking a cake in my warm kitchen with modern day appliances and hugs and kisses from sweet little arms and lips!

Day 6 Giving Thanks

Today I so thankful, for many things.

I am thankful for little things like Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale and grilled peanut butter and honey sandwiches (not eaten/drank together).

I am thankful for my parents, my brother and sil and nephews, great friends (especially Monica and Elaina-seeing them today was a bright spot in my day!), my husband and my children. I am so thankful my husband works so hard for us to provide. I am so thankful for the boys. As we were strolling the isles of Wal-Mart today they broke out in Silent Night and Jingle Bells and then mixed it together. How I love this stage of life! Boy, did we get the stares! LOL!

I am thankful for provisions to buy nice things that I have wanted for many years but were never in the position to have. (We bought a new bedroom suit today). I have had my bedroom suit since I was 16 years old. That would make it 18 years old. We got a king size and I am so thrilled! The furniture place was having a liquidation sale. The suit is all wood and is the headboard, rails, wrap around footboard, 2 nightstands, chest, dresser, mirror and we got Sealy posterpedic pillowtop mattresses to boot! They told us their price and we told them that was out of our league, he said $xxxx and I told him that was out of our league too. He said what can you do? I told him and he went and asked the store manager and he said YES!!!! We got a $7000.00 bedroom suit and mattresses for less than half price!!! I could not believe my eyes/ears! Thank you Jesus! We are so blessed! And the best part is it is paid for. No credit involved!!!!

We are so grateful to the Lord for so many blessings in our life!

What blessings are you thankful for today?

Day 5 Giving Thanks

Today, I am thankful for being healthy enough to work. Although surgery is on the horizon (January). With my Daddy sick and my Mom not doing as well as most. I am blessed to be able to step up for them. I have to stay off my feet as much as possible and no lifting over 20 pounds.

I am thankful for fresh fruits and veggies to bring home from our market too. I brought home fresh red potaotes, Golden Delicious apples. Rome apples, fresh green tomatoes and sweet potatoes too. I fried some of the green tomates (unbreaded) in a skillet with a Vidilla onion, butter, salt and pepper! So yummy!!!

What are you thankful for today?

Blessings!

Day 4 Giving Thanks

Today I am thankful for cooler weather, warm drinks and heartwarming words of sweet friends (thank you all for your comments).

Blessings!

Rough Days and Unofficial Giving Thanks Challenge

It all started last Wednesday. Hubby was sick with a bad sinus infection and went to the doctor. He was given a z pack and Flonase. Little John started with a horendous cough. I started giveing him prescription cough medicine at night to help him sleep better.

Thursday things seemed better. Hubby went to work. The boys at school and I had some shopping and housework to do. When I picked the boys up, Mason seemed down and out. He had been in trouble at school. We talked about it and he seemed better. After supper he said his tummy hurt. We had been weaning him off his reflux meds, so I decided to go ahead and give them to him that night. He seemed better and off to bed we all went.

Friday morning he erupted from his bed and headed to the potty. He dry heaved and then threw up some "fluid". I stayed home from work with him and sent John on to school fully dressed as a firefighter for their halloween celebration. Since a little girl had strep in their class the week before I took him to the peds office. NO strep! The doc thought he was fine, so we stopped at the school on the way home and let him join his classmates for their party. Then home we went. The rest of the day was good and well, normal.

Saturday, Big John had to work. The boys and I worked in the house and caught up laundry. Saturday evening we went to a few family members homes and trick or treated. Then we came home ordered pizza and wings and picked out a movie for the night (ELF). Things were good!

Sunday morning hubby was much more sick and had been up most of the night. Little John had the cough and we all decided to stay home. My sinus infection was worse as well. Late that evening we decided to go to my brother and sil's, my parents and my father-in-laws just for a few minutes each (while staying outside-not spreading germs in their homes). While at my bro and sil's the boys played with their new kitties and chased them around and around in the pinestraw. By the time we got to my fil's, Mason had swelling around his eyes. When we got home he was broke out head to foot. We figure either the pinestraw or kittie cats. Allergy meds and eyedrops administered to Mason.

Monday Mason was better, hubby was worse. much worse after work. That afternoon John's sister called to let us know that his Dad was at the hospital for the third time in less than a week. John headed over there after work. He was admitted with chest pains and his blood was low.......once again.

Tuesday the boys were much better, I was some better and hubby was worse, yet still. I went to the dentist while hubby headed tot he hospital to be with his Dad. While at the dentist my phone rang it was my Mom calling about my Dad. He has trigeminal neuralgia. He started having the attacks again. Two bad ones. I came home immediately after the first crown was cemented. Our friend who owns the pharmacy got his meds ready and Mom picked them up. He got started on them and the attacks subsided......for then. Mike (my brother) and I worked the market, taking turns.

Wednesday, John's Dad was released from the hospital, only to have to go next week to toher doctors and have more tests are a larger hospital in Birmingham. Daddy's meds were increased to 300mg a day (he takes Lyrica) and John (hubby) back to the doctor for the sinus infection. He was given a cough med and Avelox. I worked until 5pm at the home market after delivering a load of apples and picking up supplies at Sam's Club for the market. Daddy has had a couple of attacks today too. Hopefully the meds being raised will help. He is very lightheaded and dizzy (side effects of the meds).

We are thankful. Thankful things are no worse and that my Mom is in remission from the inflammatory myopathy (the type she has is polymycitis). Trying to takeone day at a time and live for HIM!!!

Today I am unofficially joining the giving thanks challenge for 30 days. I saw this somewhere but do not wish to link up.

Going back to day one Monday the 1st, I am thankful for medicines to treat my children when they are sick.

Tuesday the 2nd, I am thankful for having a great friend who is a pharmacist.

Today the 3rd, I am thankful my Dad is some better.

What are you thankful for today?

Blessings!

Talking Washers & Dryers

We are on the lookout for a washer and dryer. The front load kind. I think we want the pedestols since I am so tall. However, I still am unsure. What do you think? We are just beginning to really look. We knew the day was coming sooner than later since our Whirlpool set is almost 13 years old and saw the laundry of our premie twins with reflux and c. diff. My washer tub is beginning to rust and the dryer does not dry well. The cost to fix them is too much considering their age.

So what kind of w/d do you have? Where did you purchase it? What features do you like/not like about it. What features do I need? Any other suggestions? Thank you for your time! Hope everyone is well! Blessings!

Menu Monday

Here is my Menu Monday plan. This is hosted by Meredith over at The Ramer Bunch.

Monday: Rotisserie style lemon pepper chicken, green salad and mac & cheese

Tuesday: Chili dogs, fries

Wednesday: BBQ, potato salad, corn on cob, baked beans

Thursday: Beef stew, cornbread

Friday: Steak fajitas, cheese dip, homemade gucamole

Blessings!

Bygone Days

Here are some photos of our summer days! Hope to see lots of peaches and fresh goodies again next year!!!

Loads of peaches ready to hit the road!

This truck was fully loaded all the way to the back. That is one of my nephews (Peyton) helping unload.

All the photos below are from the Trussville Fresh Market!

Blessings!

Randomness

Things are still busy here but starting to slow. Markets are ending and peaches are at the end of their season. Apples are beginning to ripen and pears as well. Okra is still producing but slowing to a stillness.


The boys are good other than a slight sinus problem. They are thriving and amazing us every day! God is so good!


John is still working six days a week and it is getting old for us both but we are blessed and happy he has a job when many do not.


I have another staph infection (the beginning stages) in my sinuses. I have not been washing the sinuses out like I should and that is probably the culprit. The lower right side doesn't drain properly. I also have an absess tooth that will require a root canal this Friday and then a crown.

I take my Mom back tot he doctor tomorrow to hopefully get a diagnosis. She is better than she was weeks ago but on a lot of medication.

I have been doing so much canning and freezing. Here's a rundown of what I have done this year.

So what have you been up to?

• 14 bags squash in freezer (for casseroles)
• 7 jars of squash pickles
• 48 bags of okra in freezer (32 breaded for frying and 16 unbreaded for soup)
• 18 bags of frozen peaches
• 18 containers of fresh salsa in freezer
• 78 jars of peach salsa
• 16 jars of pickles
• 12 jars squash relish
• 16 jars pear perserves
• 5 containers pear freezer jam
• 8 jars pear butter
• 16 jars peach jam
• 13 jars strawberry jam
• 12 containers of frozen strawberries
• 16 bags of frozen blueberries
• 5 jars nectarine jelly
• 8 jars chow chow

I think that is all. I want to do some taco sauce, apple butter and apple pie filling and I will be finished!

August Randomness

Wow! It is so hard to believe another month has come and gone and summer is on it's way out the door!

My Mom is much better but we still do not have a diagnosis. She had a muscle biopsy last week....no results yet. She has rededicated her life and is back in church with my Daddy. We are just just thrilled! She gives her testimony to everyone and anyone that will listen! God is so good!

My cousin, Regina had her liver transplant last Monday and is recovering well....but slowly.
The ones with cancer are doing well. One is still doing chemo but the pet scan showing excellent improvement. One had a masctomy and is home doing well......no treatments needed! The other is doing radiation and has a ways to go but we are staying positive!

My Dad is doing well! We celebrated his 77th birthday this month. He got a new truck! He so deserved one. His other one is a 1997 and has over 240,000 miles on it. We are so blessed to have him with us!

The boys have been sick with the crud and Mason also had a stomach virus last weekend! No fun for any of us! They are loving school and progressing nicely!

The growing season is slowing, finally. We are short on rain and it was a hard year! We are very blessed though. We have been able to sock back more moolah than last year. We bought a new sofa (with recliners on each end) for the retreat and a new recliner for the living room since John's has been broken for over 3 months.

Went back to the dentist yesterday. They could do nothing until I have a root canal. The pain was really bad this morning. Ibuprofen has become my best friend! Not funny! After the root canal, there will be a crown for that one and a bridge as well as 2 more crowns and a filling and then the cleaning. Not looking forward to that!

I am looking forward to football season and the beach (next month). I still have 3 more Tuesdays for markets and 5 more Thursdays for markets. We are still picking lots of peaches and have 2 more varieties to work through after we finish the 4 we are in now. We are also picking pears (Orient, Asian and Kiefer). Then on to apple season!

I still need to make pear preserves, apple butter, apple sauce and a few other things. Oh and chow chow! I have filled the freezer up and done several hundred jars of canning as well. I need to can some more peach salsa for gifts.

John and I have started a lifestyle change. We started about A week ago trying to eliminate the junk food level in the house as well as cutting our portions and sugar back. Tomorrow is the official day though. My weigh in day is on Monday. I have lost 3 pounds in one week! Yay me! We are also going to incorporate exercise in there too! I think our family present this year will be a Wii. I have heard great things about those for fitness! What are your thoughts on the Wii? Do you have one?

Speaking of Christmas............I can't wait! I have most of our presents already bought for family and friends. I will be making several homemade gifts this year as well.

Well, I think breakfast is calling!

Hope everyone is well!

Blessings!

June and July

June and July have been quite busy. We have missed many things (VBS, swim and birthday parties) and other things have been postponed (swim lessons) since work has been so hectic. I am averaging about 80 hours a week.

My Mom has been sick (somedays not getting out of bed). She has an auto immune disease of some type and many tests have been run as well as many doctors have been seen. We see the specialist again the 11th and should have a diagnosis then. Her best day was yesterday, she is improving readily!

I have more pictures to post but I added some below to give a little insight. The boys planted their first veggies this year. We decided to start them out with roma tomatoes. They planted six plants themselves. They picked a total of 9 eight quart baskets (the white ones pictured below) themselves. We sold them in smaller containers and made a total of $90 from the tomatoes.It went in their savings for college. They were so proud of themselves and so was their momma!

They are well and have been going to the preschool and after program again this year. We have changed sitters for other times as well. The one that had been with us for 4 years left us very disaapointed and up and quit after she was repramanded for ruining a washer of clothes that she was NOT even asked to wash. She had washed grass covered clothes, with whites, good clothes, kitchen towels and tother things. We are much, much happier now and realize it was of the Lord!

I am good and survived the staph infection from my right sinuses. Made a complete recovery!

I will post more later this month! Hope all is well and I will be back to reading and commenting soon! Hope you enjoy the pics! Blessings!

2000 okra plants being picked by my Daddy.

First mess picked May 26! The earliest we have ever had okra!

Getting a Little Busy Around Here!

I went back to work this week and it has been hectic, as farm life can be at times!

Today will make two farmer's markets I have been to. All of the yard sale stuff in on a ton truck and a 24 foot trailer ready to be unloaded at 5:30am tomorrow, for the weekend yard sale. We cleaned out of family's market building yesterday and they are in the fields this morning harvesting crops for tomorrow's opening day there!

My Mom has been to the doc this week about the swelling in her feet and hands and is scheduled for tests with a specialist in the am at the hospital as well as a biopsy on her leg.

John is still working 6 days a week. The boys are liking school but with all of the hours we are working finding enough care to help us out seems impossible! We are very blessed though and that is what I''m keeping in mind!

All of the common household things are still taking place like laundry, cooking, paying bills, bathes, reading to the boys and doing devotions, menu planning, making lunches and so on so forth.

We have hired John's brother in law to mow our grass though. it is just getting to be more than we can handle. Summertime is always chaotic here.

This morning I will finish 2 hours of cleaning at my parents market and then home for a few minutes to eat and shower and then off to another market. The market is over at 6pm, then an hour's drive home, unload and then pick up the boys from my parents, home and eat supper, bathe them and me, story/devotion and them to bed, then dishes , laundry and such, John should be home by then (about 9pm), heat his supper and finish chores and then bed for me. Lovely day, don't you think? :)

So how is your summer going? What are your plans? Are you visiting your local farmer's markets?
Blessings!!!

Memorial Day 2010

Happy Memorial Day!! How blessed we are to live the land of the free!
Aren't we blessed to serve God? You know, he was the same God when this country was established and he is still here and always will be whatever kind of condition this country is in! Praise His name! Freedom isn't free though is it, I mean really, think on it for a minute.
So many give their lives for us to have freedom, what a blessing that is!
So thank you to our past, present and future soldiers! Please join me today in praying for them and their families!
John has to work today but the boys and I will be talking about our country and eating bbq and tonight we will have more ice cream, bbq and fireworks too!
What are your Memorial Day plans for the day?
Whatever they are I wish you and yours a day of happiness and fun, health, wealth and blessings!!!

Meeting New Neurologist

Yesterday I met with a new neurologist. The migraines have been off the charts and I have had a headache now for weeks and weeks. They were just getting worse. So I got wo shots in the new (a combo of cortisone and predisone). Yes, it hurt and quite badly. Then he started me a preventive and well as a new drug combo (Aleve and Reglan), he also gave me the same migraine med I have been taking to use if necessary (Treximet) and then two drugs to help me rest if needed (when all else fells) Vistaril and Phenegran.

I used the ones xceot the last two yesterday to "break" the headache cycle, yesterday and it worked!!! I started the prevenative last night as well. And guess what???? I am headache free!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!

My headaches are caused by so many things. Here is the list as I know now; smelling cigarette smoke (like just walking by someone smoking in front of a store), excess amounts of caffeine, certain aged cheeses, certain spices (cloves and some others), not drinking enough water, constipation, humidity (change in the pressure outside), stress, hormonal changes (around my cycle), nitrates (found in processed meats) and msg (susally found in chinese food).

I had tried some herbal remedies and nothing had worked. I have used every migraine ecedrine and other over the counter migraines pain relievers known. I have also used other prescription migraine meds.

When the neurologist looked behind my eyes he told me he could not believe the amount of pressure back there. He asked me how much pain I wa in and I told him not much, it was not as bad as it gets. I could still talk and carry on a converstaion like normal and I had driven myself the hour there. He said unbelieveable, that most people cannot function when he sees that much pressure there.

I am so glad to have something that works. I will keep a headache calendar for a month and then see the doctor again then. Please pray that this keeps working!!!

Do you have migraines? What causes yours? What meds do you use?

Garden Tidbits

The garden has been in the ground for awhile now and we are so excited! We also are picking our first variety of plums (MayRipe). We have had squash coming in for almost 3 weeks as well and a few cukes here and there. Today Daddy went over the 660 okra plants and got a mess to fry. It won't be long now!!! How's your garden growing? What do you have coming in?

Let's Try This Once More

Today is a new day, today is the day I begin the rest of my New Life. Today I am working out and do something for me. I hope to lose weight, maybe lose inches but most of all I want to be healthy! 31 pounds is my goal to loose. So, say a prayer for me and there I go!

Blessings!!!

Happenings

Well, there has been much but little to go on around here. We are just living life and to some that is just boring. Nothing outstanding has happened, just enjoying life with family and friends and my precious children.

I am doing well, very well actually! We had quite a scare a few weeks back thinking that I might have cancer, thankfully it was one really BAD infection that had taken a toll on my body and white blood cell count. I am much better and looking forward to the harvesting season!

The bys are still fighting allergies and it is bad enough they are using prescription meds and eyedrops. They haven't had any nosebleeds in a few weeks now and we are so thankful for that. AT one point they had 18 between them in a 36 hour period. The boys are growing and thriving so well! the peds office was so excited to see us for their well visit in march. The longest they have ever gone without seeing the doctor was 4 months and that was the four months prior to their well visit! John is now 35 pounds and 41 1/2 inches tall. Mason is 40 pounds and 41 inches tall! We are so blessed by them, everyday! They started back to "school" today at the center where they go while I work.

Hubby is doing well except for the allergies too. He is working 6 days a week. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday he works from 8-8, Wednesday 4am-8pm and Saturday 12pm-6pm. To bad he is not paid by the hour! ;)

The garden is going all just fine. We planted over 6,000 plants this time. There is 6 varieties of tomatoes, okra, cantaloupes, various types of watermelons, eggplant, various tupes of peppers, cabbage, different types of cukes, cauliflower, broccoil, zuchinni, yellow squash and other things I know I have forgotten. The peaches and all tree crops look very well for the minute as well!
I picked the first yellow squash Saturday before last and the first cukes this morning.

Two years ago we lost my mother-in-law to cancer at the age of 64. My father-in-law is 82 this year and now we have loearned that he also has cancer. We are waiting to see the oncologist the 27th of this month. We not know any details, not even where it is located. They found it in routine blood work. Please be in prayer for my husband and his Dad.

I hoep you all are haivng a great Spring and are looking forward to the Summer!

Blessings!

Strawberry Pie & Pics

My Mom and I took the boys to pick strawberries yesterday! We had a good time the boys were great helpers! Her are some pics below! I also am putting up the recipe for my strawberry pie (aka Shoney's Strawberry Pie). This recipe make 2 pies. Hope you enjoy!

PIE
1 1/2 c sugar
1 1/2 c boiling water
4 level Tbsp. cornstarch
1-3oz. box strawberry jello
2 cooked, cooled pie shells
2 cartons fresh strawberries, washed and sliced

Mix sugar and cornstarch well; add boiling water to mixture. Dissolve well and cook on medium heat until mixture becomesclear looking and thick. Add jello. Cool. (Sit opt in ice water in sink). When cool, add strawberries. Pour into pie sheels and refrigerate. Can serve with whipped cream. Yield: 2 pies.

Candied Pork Chops

I make these a good bit and they are always a hit!

6 pork chops
3-4 apples, sliced with cored removed (I also peel mine)
Brown sugar
1 stick of butter

Heat oven to 350*. In bottom of 13x9 baking dish place apples. Sprinkle apples generously with brown sugar. Dot with thin pats of butter. Lay pork chops over apples. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes; remove from oven and baste with juice from apples and brown sugar. Return to oven and bake 30 minutes longer.

Serve while warm. I like green beans and chicken rice a roni (sounds strange but it delish together!).

ENJOY!!!

The Albertville Tornado

Many of you know that a tornado came very close the other night. However, this is the same one only it touched down in this town (Albertville), about 35 miles from us. We are very blessed! I feel so sorry for these people. We have friends and family there. The Foodland store carries out peaches. You will see photos of it below. Please pray for all of those affected by tornados over the weekend!

The front of the Foodland store looks fine from the front (in pics below), just the front windows blown out. This is the back of it................