Where I've Been

I cannot believe it's been nine months since I blogged.  Life has been very crazy around here.  We have had serious health problems.  Katie is still struggling with Hashimotos Disease and Adrenal Insufficiency.  Josh has been battling intracranial hypertension/pseudotumor cerebri. He has had 13 lumbar punctures (ouch) and two surgeries, with another surgery on the horizon.  We are praying for his complete healing.  God's time is not our time, so meanwhile we trust in him.

This has been a time of difficulty for us.  Friends have rejected us because we haven't had time for them.  Family has rejected us because they don't understand what we are going through.  But, God is good!  Long time friendships have been renewed and we have grown closer to the Lord because we realize how much we are lost without him.  Some family relationships have been made stronger because of the worry and concern over Josh.

We were able to travel to see family back east this summer.  It was hard because Josh was on 10 days post-op so he was in quite a bit of pain.  He toughed it out so we could celebrate my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary with them.  What a wonderful time that was.  They are such an example of a respectful, loving marriage.

On the way home, we stopped in Kentucky at the Creation Museum.  I think I could have spent three days there, but alas, we only had one.  I highly recommend it to any of you who are near there.  Here a a few pictures of the museum.

Hopefully I will be able to blog more often.  I have missed it. 

Brain Power????

It seems like we have had so many injuries and illnesses lately.  Katie was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease in the spring.  She has not been able to get her medication under control so she has been miserable for many, many months. I'm so used to seeing her able to do all sorts of things and she used to have enough energy for two people but that's changed now.  We are praying that the Lord will completely heal her!  


Josh has had one head injury after another for a couple of years now.  He has been dealing with post concussive syndrome for over a year from a quad accident.   He also took a pretty hard fall back in September that gave him another concussion.  He ended up with something called "intercranial hypertension" which is a fancy word for too much spinal fluid around his brain.  He has has EEG's, MRI's, CT's, lots of lab work, and worst of all lumbar punctures to relieve some of the pressure from his brain and his optic nerves.  The pressure has begun to cause his vision to deteriorate, but we are hopeful that when the pressure is down consistently, his vision will return to normal.  I honestly hate watching the doctor drain his spinal fluid.  What a painful procedure!  We are praying that the Lord will completely heal him, too! 

I am trying desperately to learn the lessons God is trying to teach me through this really tough time.  I don't want to have to relearn them.  I want to be wise enough to see God's hand and acknowledge him in this.  Did He just want us to slow down?  Did He want to show us who our true friends are?  Maybe God just wanted us (maybe me especially) to see that even though we try our hardest to control everything around us, we are not really in control.  God controls our lives and we can trust him with it!!!  So, please pray for us when  you remember to.


On a totally different note, I am really wanting to get back to regular blogging!  I am going to try to start putting up my weekly menus again and some new recipes.  Believe it or nor, even with everything going on, we have tried some new recipes.  Families still need to eat even when it feels like everything is falling apart.  God has been so good to us and amidst the turmoil, He has enabled us to continue to live our lives somewhat normally.  We are still homeschooling, although I am the first to admit that it's been really tough this year.  But, we'll keep on keeping on;)

Spring

We have had the strangest winter!  We don't usually get a lot of cold days; our nights are freezing, but the days are almost always nice.  We had about five days in February that were the coldest I can ever remember around here.  Most of our town was without water for a couple of days and just about everyone we know had busted water pipes, us included.  Getting a plumber out here was just about impossible because of the high demand, so we learned a lot.  My boys would say we "hick fixed" the pipes, but I don't care what they call it.  I was never so grateful for water!  Boiling water on the stove (thank the Lord, we still has gas; a lot of people lost their gas, too) got old very quick.  We are so spoiled by our modern conveniences!  I have always said that I was born in the wrong century.  Now I think know maybe God knew what he was doing.


Anyway, because our winters are so mild, I don't really notice when spring comes around, but this year I did.  Spring weather doesn't last long around here.  It gets brutally hot way before we're ready for it, so I will do my best to enjoy the pleasant days while we have them.

I'm Still Here!

I can't believe it's  been nearly two months since I blogged!  I guess life just got in the way of blogging.  


We started school in early August and it has been going well.  I still haven't gotten used to only having two in school.  It's just too quiet without four kids around the table. But, on the up side, we do seem to get more accomplished quicker.




In September we took a trip to the mountains and enjoyed the cooler temperatures.  It is so beautiful up there!  If God ever provides a way for us to live full-time up there, I would go in a heartbeat.  I absolutely adore the sound of the wind through the pine trees.  It sounds like a creek is running.  And the air smells so fresh and clean.  Why, oh why, do I live in the desert???

The girls and I did quite a bit of canning when we got back from our vacation.  We canned pickles, banana nut bread jam, and lemon curd.  The lemon curd ended up not sealing, so it got stuck in the fridge.  I think I over-filled the jars.  We still have apples to can, and maybe pears.  

I've Been Tagged!

 FOUR THINGS ABOUT THE NUMBER 4


Four things in my bag:
1.  Lip Gloss
2.  Cell Phone
3.  Monkey Pen
4.  Money


Four things in my room:
1.  Books
2.  Kids
3.  Dog
4.  nine windows


Four things I am currently interested in:
1.  The book of Romans
2.  Herbal remedies
3.  My kids
4.  Cooking


Four things you may not know about me:
1.  I am addicted to my Kindle
2.  I love baseball, but I'm ashamed of my team this year:(
3.  I play the piano
4.  I write songs


Here are four blogs I enjoy:
http://www.shelookethwell.blogspot.com/
http://antsonafarm.blogspot.com/
http://afirefighterswife.blogspot.com/
http://www.likeawarmcupofcoffee.com/home/

Bad Blogger

I've been such a bad blogger.  I have recipes and pictures  in my head and on my computer, but I've been lazy about posting.

This week I have an excuse.  Well, last week too.  And the week before.  I threw my back out and was down for about two weeks.  Then, just when my back started getting better, I picked up some sort of nasty virus.  Today, I almost feel human.  

During this time of being off my feet, my birthday came and then Mother's Day came.  You know what that means?  Presents!!!  I got a pasta roller and a new lasagna pan; a juicer, a donut pan, and a twinkie maker.  I'll post pictures of the cool things I've been making when I get a chance.  The kids were so good to me.  Most of the stuff they gave me was for the kitchen; I think they had ulterior motives.  Gotta love 'em, though!

Things That Annoy Me

1.  Facebook; I'm not sure why I signed up
2.  Politics
3.  Grumpy dogs
4.  Arizona weather
5.  People who judge without knowing details
6.  Finding the 3 pounds my hubby lost
7.  Getting to the end of the puzzle to find one missing piece
8.  Being manipulated into going places
9.  Guilt-trips
10. My own insecurity
11. Losing friends over petty things
12. Christians acting like the world

Things I Have Done (and not done)

I found this on Candy's blog.  It looked like fun so I tried it.  Below is a list of things people have done in their lives. I bolded the ones I've done. There is a lot I haven't done, but there is also a lot I don't have any desire to do!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been inside an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee


I may not have done much to write about but the Lord has blessed me with the life he called me to.  I am forever grateful that God, in his mercy has saved me from my own sin.  He has given me abundant life and extended his grace to me. My greatest accomplishment will be to stand before him and hear him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Kindle

My kids gave me a Kindle for Christmas this year.  I had absolutely no idea they were buying it for me, but it was a great surprise.  I've already read several books since Christmas.  It's so easy to download books from Amazon.  I've actually found several books that were available for free!  The ones I did pay for were very reasonable, like 1 to 2 dollars each.  I bought one "new" book and paid about ten dollars for it.  This is a very economical way to read.  The print size is adjustable which is great for me.  I love large print books. I believe the Kindle that I have will hold about 1500 books.  I definitely don't have room for that many books on my bookshelves.  I would need a bigger house, so instead I have a Kindle.  Thanks Kids!

Pioneer Woman's new cookbook

I pre-ordered Pioneer Woman's new cookbook from Amazon yesterday. I briefly considered waiting and dropping lots of hints to my family that I wanted it for Christmas. But...I want it now!!! Christmas is like eight or nine weeks away. Nope. Can't wait that long.

If the recipes in the book are as good as the ones on her website, I am going to blow up like a balloon. But I'll be the happiest balloon you've ever known. Just kidding. Her recipes are worth an extra couple of miles on the treadmill.