Saturday, February 28, 2009

The Hunt is on...



It's official--we had our home visit from the MN Boxer Rescue and we passed, so we can now officially start looking for a dog to adopt. The one we are interested in is not ready for adoption. We will continue to pray that we find the right dog. We don't want to be impatient and choose a dog that is not right for us.


Thursday, February 26, 2009

Corvette follow up

Well, the Corvette idea was met with laughter from my husband. "T" told me I already drive fast enough. They aren't any fun at all! I guess I need to come up with another way to meet my need for adventure! :o)

Off to the doctor...

"E" went to the doctor today. She is doing well. The X-ray showed that the bones were aligned properly. She has two pins, they remind me of the pins we used in Biology class to pin down the poor subject we were dissecting. At least that is how they look on the X-ray. The doctor decided to leave her in her soft cast until next Friday since is was still in good shape, rather than risk moving the bone out of alignment. Poor Emily, she still doesn't have that promised pink cast (though now she thinks she might go with pink/purple/green camouflage). The doctor also doesn't want her using the sling all the time, so she isn't real happy about that. The sling has become her security. The doctor doesn't want her dependent on the sling.


Well, I need to go, I need to get to planning all those wild and crazy risk taking adventures I can now undertake since Emily has graciously allowed us to meet our insurance deductible so early in the year. I hear if you buy one of the new Corvettes that is as fast as a Ferrari, Chevy will pay for you to go to High Performance Driving School. I think I'll start there...Shouldn't be too hard to talk my hubby into the Corvette when I explain it cost 1/3 of what the Ferrari costs AND it would help out Chevy AND the economy. What's $110,000 when you can go 200mph in about 13 seconds??? :o) I guess no more reading Motor Trend in the doctor's office, huh? BTW, not all Corvettes start at 100,000, the basic model is about 45,000, but this one has a little extra horsepower. :O)

Don't you think I'd look great behind the wheel, though? :o)

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Update

We are doing well, just a little busier in the morning with dressing a child again. :o) I'm not sure how often I'll be posting in the next week or so. I don't want my blog to become a matter of stress in my life, so I'll post as I think of something and have the time. :o) Right now my brain isn't coming up with much in the way of deep or creative things to post.

I did want to say thank you to all who have been so helpful and made "E" and her family feel loved and cared for. Everyone has been wonderful. Thank you so much.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Update on "E"

"E" is doing really well, some pain, but not too bad. She doesn't like to have anyone move or near her arm. :o)--Wonder why. She went to church yesterday morning. My mom arrived and she decided to stay home last night, which made me feel better since her fingers were swelling quite a bit and I wanted her to keep her arm and fingers elevated.

I'm just so thankful that God has been with us and given us great peace. This could have been much worse--she could have a brain injury or any number of MUCH worse things. Also, modern medicine is such that she will probably have a complete recovery. 100 years ago, she would have probably ended up with little to no use of her arm and probably constant pain.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

E is home

"E" is home from the hospital. We came home around 10:00am. She is doing well, all things considered. She took a nap this afternoon.

A Loooooooong Night/ E earns 4 new titles

I was in the midst of recreating my blog page when "K" came downstairs to say that she and "E" had fallen out of bed. "E" followed behind and said her arm hurt. Her arm bent ABOVE the elbow instead of at the elbow. We quickly threw clothes on her and I got her to the Cloquet ER. She had fractured the bottom of her humerus bone off. The Cloquet on-call Orthopedic surgeon felt she needed a Pediatric Ortho Surgeon, so after two shots of Morphine and a splint, hubby and I headed for the big town nearby with X-rays in hand. Thank you so much to the friend who we woke up so she could come stay with the other kids.

"E" came through surgery fine and will hopefully get the pink cast she was counting on soon. Right now she has an ACE bandage one. She is a little proud of her four new titles that no sibling will be able to take away!
  1. First kid to break a bone
  2. First kid to stay in the hospital
  3. First kid to get stiches
  4. First kid to have surgery.
Thanks for all your prayers!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

We passed...

Woohoo, we passed the application part of the process to adopt a Boxer!!! Thanks to all those who lied on our behalf so we could pass the reference part. ;o) We still have to have our home visit, which I am not too worried about. After 6 years of homecare, I happen to know that my house is better than a lot of homes out there, including many with numerous pets. :o)

I can't believe how quickly the boxer rescue approved our application part. I have to admit, I would have been pretty disappointed and a little embarrassed if we didn't pass being allowed to have a dog. If you don't pass the application process to have a dog, does that mean someone should take away your kids? Just something to ponder...

All are well, hopefully we'll stay that way...

Right now, everyone in the family is over the stomach flu. Hopefully we'll stay that way. "E" has managed to keep her title of "Only one to aviod the stomach flu" :o). I spent some of my "sick" time looking for a dog to adopt, learning about dog training, and the evils of puppy mills. Do you detect a theme? I sent in our application to the Minnesota Boxer Rescus this morning and received a reply e-mail within 15 minutes and they had called my vet within half an hour (before I had read the reply e-mail that I should call the vet to let them know they'd be calling)! Hopefully we'll pass. They have a dog that looks adorable and is good with kids. We are leaving the dog adoption in God's hands. The kids are still praying for the "right dog to come along". :o)

You can see the dog we are somewhat interested in below. She isn't ready for adoption yet, but we aren't quite ready either. We wanted to get our application in, though so we can be ready when the right dog is.
http://www.mnboxerrescue.org/pages/Adoption/chapa.html

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Search is On...

We have decided that after the pugs go home, we will get a new dog, probably a Boxer. After thinking and researching a breed that would work for us, I thought that a bigger dog might be nice since our kids are getting older and within a couple of years may stay home alone at times. I wanted a dog that while nice and friendly, would make someone stop and think before approaching it and the kids. A boxer is big enough to do this, but isn't really known for being a ferocious guard dog. :o) They also are shorter haired and known for liking to keep themselves clean and are considered to be fairly intelligent.

We are planning to adopt an adult dog, probably around 2-4 years old. We hope to get one that is fostered with kids so we know that it is okay with the little human types. The kids are already praying for "the right dog to come along." :o)

Mike and the kids have rejected this dog as a potential dog. Can you imagine? But seriously, what were the people thinking who allowed this to happen, it is a pekingese, chihauhua, schnauzer, shitzu mix.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Kitchen Tip Tuesday


Homemade Noodle Tip:
After rolling out your noodles for homemade noodles, use a pizza cutter to cut them out. Works great--much better than the knife or scissors I used to use. :o)


Humor

Diary of a new wife:

  • It's fun to cook for David . Today I made angel food cake. The recipe said beat 12 eggs separately. The neighbors were nice enough to loan me some extra bowls.
  • A good day for rice. The recipe said wash thoroughly before steaming the rice. It seemed kind of silly but I took a bath anyway. I can't say it improved the rice any.
  • Today David asked for salad I tried a new recipe. It said prepare ingredients; lay on a bed of lettuce one hour before serving. David asked me why I was rolling around in the garden.
  • I found an easy recipe for cookies. It said put the ingredients in a bowl and beat it. There must have been something wrong with this recipe. When I got back, everything was the same as when I left.
  • David did the shopping today and brought home a chicken. He asked me to dress it for Sunday. I don't have any clothes that fit it, and for some reason David keeps counting to ten.
  • David's folks came to dinner. I wanted to serve roast but all I had was hamburger. Suddenly I had a flash of genius.. I put the hamburger in the oven and set the controls for roast. It still came out hamburger, much to my disappointment.
  • GOOD NIGHT DEAR DIARY. This has been a very exciting week! I am eager for tomorrow to come so I can try out a new recipe on David . If I can talk him into buying a bigger oven, I would like to surprise him with a chocolate moose.
For more great kitchen tips, visit: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/node/3174

Monday, February 16, 2009

Valentine's Day



I hope you had a great Valentine's Day. We started celebrating Valentine's Day early. Hubby sent me flowers at work, picked out by "E". We also went out to eat with some friends from church on Friday night. We spent Valentine's Day at home, which has become a huge treat for Mike and I, we must be getting old!


"Love" from the mouth of babes:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca- age 8


'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4


'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7


'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6


'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4

Friday, February 13, 2009

Contentment (Part 3)


How much do you need to be content? Answer--as much as God has given you!

God has promised to care for us. Therefore, we need to rest in the assurance that He IS taking care of us. There may be seasons in our lives of plenty and seasons of little. We can learn and grow in each season.

If you have needs or even wants--pray and ask God for them. He tells us over and over againg to ask. He also promises to answer our prayers. He may say "no" or "wait", but then we know that what we were asking for was not in our best interests!

Luke 11:9-13
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Contentment (Part 2 of 3)


Remember God's Promises

To be content, we need to remember God's promises to take care of us and provide for our needs. If we don't have it, we don't need it. Many times we get our wants and needs confused. The Corvette I've always dreamed of would really probably only get me into a heap of trouble and traffic tickets (not to mention give me a swelled head for owning one when YOU don't!) There are times when the cupboard may look bear, the bank empty, but God has promised to take care of us! David said in Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread


Matthew 6:31-34
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Contentment (Part 1 of 3)


Contentment is basically satisfaction with God and all He has done for you.

God has promised to take care of us and provide for us.
Contentment is so important to a joyful, happy life!

I Timothy 6:6-8--But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

So, how do we become and STAY content?


  1. Choose to be--Contentment is a mental decision. We decide to be content or discontent. Discontentment usually comes because we are looking around at what others have or listenting to what others have to say about our boss, family, etc.

  2. If you seem to be feeling discontent, ask yourself what has changed? Many times nothing has, we are looking at or listening to the wrong people.

  3. At times, our circumstances may have changed. Maybe you or your spouse lost their job, illness comes, etc. God is still with us and His promises are still true! He will take care of us through the trials and we need to be content with His care.

  4. Isaiah 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Philippian 4:11--Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Paul wrote these verses and he certainly did not have an easy life; he was imprisoned, beaten, stoned, hated by many, and poor. Yet he had learned to be content!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Meals to Go

Tips for taking meals to someone in need:

1. When planning the meal, think about their likes, dislikes, and any diet they follow. No pork, vegetarian, gluten free, etc. If someone has to follow a certain diet, you can always find information on the internet.
2. Try to plan a full meal, including vegetables, dessert, etc. Fix all the fixins you would eat with the main dish at your house.
3. Try to use dishes that do not have to be returned. It is often difficult when a family member is ill, someone just had a baby, etc. to keep track and return dishes. I buy gladware and disposable pans to use. The disposable pans can be somewhat flimsy, you can use one of your own pans to put the disposable pan in until you get to their home and then take theirs out and bring yours back. Cookie sheets also work well to put on top so you can stack them (only put light pans on top or the bottom pans might collapse!) I realize this is not frugle, but I see it as part of the gift to the person. *If you use dishes that need to be returned, put an address label on them so the person can remember who the dish belongs to.
4. You can pick up cheap pieces of china and pretty serving dishes at Goodwill, garage sales, or Salvation Army to take parts of your meal in. I frequently find china dishes for a quarter. It is fun to give them to others filled with treats. I let the person know that they can pass it along if they don't have a use for it.
5. You can decorate the disposable dishes if you are creative. :o)
6. It is nice to include a nice card letting them know you are thinking and praying for them.

For more great kitchen tips, go to: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/node/3172

Monday, February 9, 2009

Can Someone Please...

Invent a Lysol Bomb that would disinfect your entire house, including the occupants??? I now have 2 more sick kids. Yuck. On a brighter, but gross note, I found a good use for the pugs, apparently (according to "T") they clean up vomit. YUCK!!!! I'm not letting them near me for a very long time!

Answer to Prayer

My friend who was so sick after having her baby is doing better and is now home from the hospital! Continue to pray for her and her family as she regains strength and settles into the joys of having a newborn.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

A fun website

In looking for a pretty, feminine apron, I stumbled upon this website. It was great fun to look at!

Hope you enjoy it. Oh for just of little of that creative talent!

http://roses-and-teacups.com/aprons.php

Saturday, February 7, 2009

"E"s letter


This was written to her aunt who is due to have her first cousin in June and who, according to the ultrasoud is going to have a boy.

Dear Aunt Kim,

Too bad we're going to have a boy cousin, I really wanted a girl cousin, but it may be a girl. Although doctors are almost always right, they're sometimes wrong. I don't care if it's a boy even though I really want it to be a girl. I can't wait till we can see our cousin!

Yours truly,


"E"

Friday, February 6, 2009

Adventures in Parenthood

"Z" told me on Wednesday night that he had the "puke burps". Yesterday, his tummy didn't feel well, so he stayed home from school and according to daddy was a little less rambunctious than usual, but didn't seem too sick. This morning, he said his tummy didn't feel good at first, but then decided he could eat breakfast and go to school. He said he did not feel like he would get sick.

On the way to school however...
Yeap, you guessed it and in the car!!! "T" also got sick in sympathy, I guess, but thankfully, I had pulled over and he was able to just redecorate the snow. My wonderful hubby didn't want to change vehicles with me--can you imagine???--So much for true love!

So, the neon has been redecorated again by the kids. Poor thing!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Prayer Request

Please remember my friend, Dee in your prayers. She had a baby last Thursday and was just readmitted to the hospital due to a high fever and infection. She will be there until she is fever free for two days. She has a 2 year old also. She is able to have her baby at the hospital with her. Please pray for the rest of her family also.

Diary of a Newcomer to the North!

December 8: 6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
December 9: We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled snow for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.
December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. l don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man I'm glad he's our neighbor.
December 14: Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. l didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish l wouldn't huff and puff so.
December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.
December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.
December 17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.
December 20: Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of snow last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Doggone snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.
December 22: Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white stuff fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to go to the bathroom. By the time I got undressed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the idiot is lying.
December 23: Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What?...is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.
December 24: 6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the guy who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow by his nose. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for that stupid snowplow.
December 25: Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an idiot. If I have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to kill her.
December 26: Still snowed in. Why did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.
December 27: Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze.
December 28: Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. THE WIFE is driving me crazy!!!!!
December 29: 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?
December 30: Roof caved in. The snow plow driver is suing me for a million dollars. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.
December 31: Set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.
January 3: I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed? ~Author Unknown

*I actually love the North, but I've been hearing moans and groans about how long our winter is, so I decided to post a little humor about it. :o)

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

People


We must accept people as they are, rather than wishing they were as we would like them to be.
Paraphrased from George Washington (when writing about his rather rag tag army)

People come in all shapes and sizes. So often we spend a lot of time and energy wishing and even being irritable about the people in our lives and how we would like them to change to make our lives easier or just so they "fit" into our ways of thinking more. We wish that our husband were more_______, our children were more like ______, our family member didn't do ________ so much and our coworkers more hardworking, less noisy, less annoying, smarter, etc. Really, if we think about it, moaning and groaning about how we wish someone would change accomplishes nothing, accept making you and others around you miserable! Basically, we need to accept people as they are and go on with our lives and make sure we are doing what we should be doing! If someone needs help with life, we can pray for them, encourage them and mentor them, but we need to make sure that WE don't have our own agenda and that our goal is to help THEM (they also need to be a wiling participant)! If you have someone who you have a really difficult time dealing with pray for them at least once a day and before/during your interactions with them. It is amazing how God will change your heart and even help you to see their good qualities that were there all along, you were just focusing on the wrong area!


Ephesians 4:31-5:2

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Yummy Cheese Bread

Pizza Crust:
1 pkg. (1/4 oz) active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (110-115)
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
2 3/4 to 3 1/4 c. flour (I usually use whole wheat pastry flour or 1/2 all purpose and 1/2 whole wheat)
2 garlic cloves minced (optional)
1. In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add oil, salt, sugar, garlic, and 2 cups flour.
2. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
3. Turn onto floured surface; knead until elastic and smooth (about 6-8 min.).
4. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and place in a warm place for 10 minutes.
5. Place dough on a floured surface. Roll out to a 13 inch. circle. Place in pizza pan.
6. Cook in 350 oven for 10 minutes.
Topping ingredients:
2 tbsp. butter
2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 c. parmesan cheese
1 cup (or more depending on how cheesy you want it) mozzarella/cheddar cheese
*These are approximate, I don't actually measure, I just "eye ball" it.
Melt butter and spread over cheese bread. Sprinkle rest of ingredients over top. Cook in 350 oven for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
ENJOY!!!!!!
For other great kitchen tips, visit: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/node/3162

Monday, February 2, 2009

A brother's Perspective on Sisters

We have a new baby girl in our church who joins three older brothers in her family. Her brothers are excited about having a sister and one of them was telling "Z" about her. His reply was, "You may like her now when she's a baby, but when she gets bigger she'll be bossy!" I wonder if he speaks from experience.