Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  By the time you read this, Thanksgiving will be here, and may be already gone for another year.  I have so much to be thankful for, and I'd like to share a little of that with you.

When my girls were toddlers, we started a family tradition.  Starting November 1st of each year, once a day  I would take down our kitchen calendar and ask each daughter what she was thankful for.  Some days they would all be thankful for the same thing, maybe chocolate cake we had for desert.  Our maybe one daughter would be thankful for her favorite book every day for a week.  It didn't matter, I was just trying to get them to notice their blessings and be thankful.  What ever they said I would write down, until Thanksgiving.  Then My husband and I made a list also, and I would combine the lists and read them at dinner. 

Now our daughters are grown.  They write their own lists, and sometimes they don't chose to share them.  But we still record our thankful lists each year.  I remember one year my Aunt was with us, and she said, "you didn't tell us we had homework!"  One year after Thanksgiving, my sister gave me cute little Thankful cards after Thanksgiving to use the next year!

We also always invite others to share our meal with us.  This year I'm not sure who all will be at our table, since my daughters are grown and can invite their friends.  And even though I won't be able to eat what the others eat, I know we will have a wonderful time together.

Now, what I am thankful for this year.  I am thankful for having such a wonderful husband.  We have been together 30 years, and will be married 29 years next month.  He is always supportive of anything and everything I try. He is a wonderful provider and planner for our family.  He is a wonderful man.

I'm thankful for my three daughters.  We both really miss the three little girls who loved us and were so close.  But our girls are now grown.  I'm thankful they live near or with us.  I'm thankful they have jobs and are pursuing educations if they chose.  I'm glad they are safe and healthy.  I pray they continue to grow "in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man".

We are so thankful for our GrandBoy.  After raising three girls, this little boy is so different, and keeps us laughing all the time.  Today he didnt' want to do something Pappy told him to do.  So he told Pappy he could get a "new" boy.  When I got home, he told me, "Pappa going to get a new boy.  You tell him "NO", K Honey?"  I thought that was so cute! I hope this enjoyment continues for a long time.

I'm thankful Daughter # 3 and GrandBoy live down the road and are near enough that we can see them every day.  And I'm thankful that GrandBoy can start 3 year old kindergarten in our public school this fall.

I'm thankful Daughters 1 and 2 are in school, and pursing fields they will enjoy.  One in Nursing, and one in Criminal Justice.

I'm thankful to still have my parents, and my sister.  Some many people my age have neither parent, and so lucky to still have both.

I'm thankful for my job that I enjoy and go to each day. 

I'm thankful for our Church family, in our neighborhood church.  It is such an honor to study with people who are diligently seeking the Lord's truth.

I'm thankful that I am healthy.  And I'm thankful that after the medical scare I had Sunday evening, that I will be able to easily take care of this health problem and work on getting well quickly. 

I'm thankful for the friends I've made on the Internet, and the ladies that pray with me when I request it.

I'm thankful that we live on a farm and can easily produce a lot of what we eat.

I'm so thankful and blessed.  I can honestly say that there is really nothing that I need.  God has been good to us, and for that I am thankful. 

I hope you all have a wonderful day with your family and friends.  Happy Thanksgiving.  Honey

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Surgery Scheduled

I saw my surgeon today.  My surgery for removal of my gall bladder and stones is scheduled for Friday at 1:00 p.m.  I have to be there at 11:00 am, and should be able to go home the same day.  My surgeon said the most important part is not to get overly tired in the first 7 - 10 days, or it will take me longer to heal and get well.  I'm a little concerned about what I will be able to eat afterwards.  But I'm so glad that what I have will be simple to fix.  Honey

Monday, November 21, 2011

Monday - My trip to the Hospital ER

Well last night was an eventful night for us!  It started out to be a normal Sunday.  We went to church.  After church, I was busy putting up the groceries for Thanksgiving dinner.  I ordered our Christmas cards and some business cards for Pappy and I.  I needed to go to the drug store to put some money on my "credit card" so I could pay for the order.  I decided that because we were so busy, I would pick up dinner on my way out.  I asked Pappy what he wanted to eat, and he said McDonald's was fine.  It is the closest to our farm, and has a drugstore next door.  So I went to the store, and then to the McDonald's drive through.  I got double cheeseburgers and fries for everyone.  Off the dollar menu, you know.  Then I went home to do more paperwork.

We ate, and I started the evictions.  I had 7 to get ready to post Monday.  That means the month is almost over, and 7 people haven't paid.  So I got my paperwork finished and wrote some cards to mail out.  I was starting to not feel so good.  I decided to take a bath, that would surely make me feel better.  Things really start escalate from here.

I thought I had indigestion.  I wondered why I was the only person who felt bad, when we all ate the same food.  I took 2 tums and got in the bath.  I stayed in the bath a total of about 5 minutes - just long enough to wash my face and rinse off.  I was so uncomfortable.  I decided I needed to lay down.  I was up and down, moving from room to room, and pacing.  At one point, Pappy said I could either get dressed, or he was calling an ambulance, but I was going to the hospital.  I had started to cry.  He had never seen me in so much pain.  I kept telling myself that I couldn't be having a heart attack.  Every time I have a check up they tell me how good my heart is, and my blood pressure.  I couldn't have a bad heart.  But I still thought I was dying!

My #1 Daughter helped me get dressed.  I couldn't lift my leg high enough to put my pants on.  I had a bra and shirt on, but had to take my bra off, because I was in so much pain, and couldn't breath!  My daughter said, "You aren't going to wear a bra to the hospital?"  I told her that I couldn't, I hurt too much.  My daughter has probably never seen me without a bra.  She knew I was sick.

So we get to the hospital and head into the ER.  There was a sign that said 4 hour wait.  The clerk asked if he could help me.  I said I don't think we can wait 4 hours.  Pappy said "she's having chest pains",  and the circus started.  Forget the four hour wait and the lobby full of people.  They rushed me around the ER, and called to report to someone that there was a "chest pain" in the chair.  People were grabbing my arms and doing different things and tests.  One person ran a thermometer around my whole face.  The guy doing my triage grabbed my shirt, pulled it up to put sticky things all over my chest, and was stunned!  I don't guess I looked like a person who wouldn't wear a bra.  His eyes got big as plates, and he jerked my shirt back down.  Then I guess he realized he had to get those sticky pads on my chest, so he hesitantly raised my shirt again.  My eyes rolled back in my head, and it was all I could do not to burst out laughing.  When it was all done, and they decided I was not currently having a heart attack, I announced that my daughter TOLD me not to come to the Er without a bra.  She's in nursing school, so I guess she knows those things.  You only ever hear about clean underwear, not bras.  But now I know.

In case you are wondering, I have gall stones.  I guess I have several, and a large one is blocking my duct.  The doctor wanted me to stay last night for surgery, but I asked to come home to schedule.  The surgeon agreed with me, so I am off to meet the surgeon tomorrow.  I will keep you posted on that development. 

And if you end up sick and have to go to the hospital, just pray that you hadn't just eaten McDonald's.  They will never believe that you rarely eat it any other time!  Trust me on that one.  Have a blessed week.  Honey

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Sunday Promises

Today for my Sunday Promise, I would like to post a scripture reading that meant a lot to me when i was young.  This scripture reading is from 1 Corinthians 13.  I must have mentioned this story to my children once, because everytime they see something that references this scripture, they think we should have it!
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New International Version (NIV)

1 Corinthians 13

 1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Have a blessed week!  Honey

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Friday: Proverbs 31

I have been thinking a lot recently about the examples of women in the Bible.  There are those who try to follow the Proverbs 31 example.  And Titus is another book that has several followers of Biblical womanhood.  Today I was reading, and saw a family that based their family life on Deuteronomy 32:46-47.  Of course, I had to stop what I was doing and look this verse up.

Amy at Raising Arrows says a lot of things about being a Godly wife.  Things I catch myself pondering at different odd minutes in the day.  I wasn't raised in a church-going family.  My husband isn't a believer.  So my views and ideas of what a Christian wife and mother might look like have changed over the years.  When I was young,  I worked outside the home.  I enjoyed my job and have worked for many years.  I remember thinking that the Bible didn't say that I couldn't work.  I did not see that addressed anywhere.  But as I aged, I become more mature in the Word.  I collect life experiences, and now I see where these examples would probably make life easier and better for everyone, but especially for my family. 

Last night I was aggravated about something.  Then my husband came into the kitchen and got a spoon.  He preceded to get spoonfuls of peanut butter to eat as a snack.  I know I said something to him, complained that he should find another snack, one that hadn't gone up in price 40% in the last few weeks!  Now normally, I am trying to keep him away from the sugar and sweets, because he is diabetic.  So this was a healthy snack, and he really was trying to please me.  And all the time I'm having this bad attitude I'm thinking, "Amy would think he should be able to eat peanut butter if he wants.  She probably would say he works hard and pays for it".  So Amy, if you see this, and you wouldn't have felt that way, I'm sorry.  But I am starting to stop what I'm doing to notice my husband and to think about how to honor my husband and show my appreciation of all he does.

I'm trying to be like those wives in the Bible.  But I know I have a long way to go.  We will be married 29 years next month.  That is a long time.  My husband retired last year, and my children are grown and really don't need me now.  So I need to invest time in this marriage of mine now that I have the time.  We have the opportunity to get to know each other again, and spend time on each other.  I think that sounds nice! 

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Thursday

Hi friends. It is really windy here right now.  I hope things calm down before bedtime.  Today was a busy day.  Next week is Thanksgiving, and only about six more weeks in this year.  How depressing!  Time really flies.  I guess I need to get ready for next week.  Make a plan and a shopping list.  Decorate and clean.  All those things.  We invite lots of friends who we think my appreciate an invitation.  Singles, people who have family that lives away.  All kinds of different situations.  We always have a great time.

When I got off work, I picked up the glass order.  I went to Daughter #2's office and took her some snacks I had for her lunch.  Crackers and peanut butter, fruit, and water.  May not have been what she would have chosen, but she didn't starve!

I met two of my tenants to pick up rent.  I delivered the glass to the rental where Pappy was working today.  It was starting to get late.  I went to the two post offices that I go to daily.  I was on my way to the farm, when I got a call.  Someone wanted to pay their rent.  Daughter #1 needed to go to bed, so I stopped at the farm and picked up GrandBoy.  On the way home I stopped to pick up dinner.  Before we got home, GrandBoy had fallen asleep.  He has been asleep ever since.  This has never happened before.  I hope he is not getting sick. 

Tomorrow we are going to the dentist.  Pappy and I are having our teeth cleaned.  GrandBoy is having his looked at for the first time.  He has Medicaid.  It is hard to find a dentist for Medicaid.  Last year when I took him to see his dentist, he wouldn't open his mouth.  This year he is 3.  Right before his appointment, I get a call that the dentist has retired and the new dentist won't accept Medicaid.  So our dentist will just look at GrandBoy's teeth (for $20).  If there is a problem, I will need to find a Medicaid dentist.  But for now, this will do I think.

Daughter #2 planned to come to church tonight, but she had a flat tire.  Daughter #3 picked her up.  Maybe next week.

We have had a cold front come in today.  Yesterday I had the air on, and now it is cool outside.  Hello Autumn!  I will see you all tomorrow!  Honey!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Wednesday

I don't know why it is, but Wednesdays seem so busy lately.  It is really a busy day for me.  I have to pick up GrandBoy, if Daughter #1 doesn't have time to.  He comes to go to church and stay the night.  I try to go to the bank and post office each day to check for rent.  Tomorrow I have appointments at the insurance office at 2:30, I have to pick up some rent at 3:00, I need to pick up an order of window glass for one of the rental homes Pappy is working on.  And there is dinner to prepare and church at 6:30.  I guess it doesn't help that it gets dark earlier too.

Daughter #3 asked what I wanted for my birthday.  I told her I wanted her to come to church and spend the day with her family.  She said I could pick the day.  I chose November 20th, because I thought the congregation would have Thanksgiving dinner that day.  But it appears they are not going to do that at this congregation.  I haven't told daughter though, because I still want her to come.  So this morning when I got up, she had texted me to see if we could go to a nearby flea market after church.  I guess she is a little excited to be coming too.

Tonight for dinner we had lamb roast made in the crock pot with carrots, potatoes, and onions.  We also had rolls with butter.  The lamb was ours, and the potatoes.  It was delicious.

I'm starting to plan a little bit for Thanksgiving.  We always invite several friends, and any family that wants to attend.  I have to see what we need to purchase and make a big shopping trip this weekend. 

I love to read, and do so all the time.  I always have a book with me, sometimes more that one.  My favorite is mysteries, and a lot of non fiction.  When I was a little girl, ( I mean pretty little!) I remember that my Mom would take me to the local Salvation Army Thrift store.  There was a little stool in front of the book cases, and the ladies would place a brown paper bag on the floor beside me.  I would sit on the stool, and push it along while I looked at all the books.  I placed the keepers in my bag, and when it was full, I was done for that trip.  My Mom would pay and we would go home.  I have always loved to read.  I know books at the thrift store back then were probably only about a dime a piece but that was a lot to me.  Such a treat, and I loved to go to that store!  Now I take GrandBoy, and he loves books too!  So thankful that my Mom let me develop a love for books. 

See you tomorrow.  Honey

Monday, November 14, 2011

Tuesdays News

Welcome to my farm!  I'm so glad you stopped by to see me today!  Around here, we are getting ready for the stormy weather that is suppose to arrive tomorrow.  This involves putting the last of the bell peppers into our freezer, packing up items to donate or sell that are currently sitting on our carport, and picking up patio cushions to pack away for next year.  It is almost Thanksgiving, so I guess it is time for those things.  Today it was 77 degrees.  Still hot for November.  But that will change tomorrow with the rain.

Daughter #1 bought me a dress for my birthday.  But I needed to exchange it.  So I went to do that today.  I looked, and looked.  I bought one home without trying it on.  I had tried on several that didn't work.  If this one doesn't work, I'll be back at the store, I guess.  I hope it fits and I can wear it during the holidays.

Daughter #1 is sick.  She has been in bed most of the day, and may go to the doctor tomorrow and ask for a shot.  I don't know if she has a cold or the flu.  I hope no one else gets it.

Daughter #3 got a call today from the police that her items that had been recently stolen, have been recovered.  She went to claim them.  She was so excited.  She said they had many items that they didn't know who they belong to.

I have re-started my health program to try to control my fibroid tumors without surgery.  I was doing well until the tornado last spring.  So yesterday, I began my supplements again, and will make a more diligent effort to keep processed food out of my diet.  I need to cut white sugar also, but that is hard.  Most of the white sugar in my diet falls in the category of coffee and tea.  Neither are as good without white sugar!  One new change that I added is iodine.  I started with 4 drops a day in a drink.  I believe the goal is to work up to 40 drops once a day.  The iodine helps balance hormones (which I need) and it kills tumors from the inside out.  That would be nice.  More and more people are commenting on my "baby bump", when my due date is, etc.  I have developed those blue veins on my stomach.  It is impossible to find clothes to fit.  So If I don't do this, I may have to wear a mu mu!  The other new thing I'm trying is drinking "probiotic juice"  in the morning.  You get it in the organics section of the grocery store.  I drink just a small juice glass each morning.  I'll let you know how it goes!

GrandBoy Swinging at the Park!  Photo and moment by Daughter #2

Tonight for dinner, we had stuffed shells in tomato sauce, lima beans, and corn.  The lima beans, corn, and tomato sauce were all from our garden and canned by me!  You can't get much less "processed" than that!  See you tomorrow.  Honey

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Monday - Life on the Farm



Hello friends.  Let me catch you up on farm life lately, while I have been unable to be here.  In the last 10 days, Pappy said we have had four calves.  We will be having more, soon.  Today Pappy loaded up four cows to take to the sale this week.  I think later in the week he plans to take some sheep to the sale. 

Today I did a little around here for food preserving for the winter.  To begin with, I harvested the rose hips on my rose bushes.  I know some use these to make tea.  I haven't studied up on that, and I'm not sure if I will try.  But I saw them used in a craft instead of holly berries.  So I thought that might be nice for the holidays.  I also picked up dogwood berries.  I canned 4 quarts and one pint of grape juice to try.  I put the last pint of tomatoes in the freezer.  All of our green ones turned, and I took down the hanging rack they were in.  Next weekend our wine will be ready to bottle!  Pappy picked a big basket of bell peppers today.  They are the last of our garden harvest for this year.

Our oldest daughter is sick in the bed.  Some type of flu I guess.  Hope she is better tomorrow.

We are taking some items to the thrift store tomorrow to donate.  We also cleared our a house this weekend. 

Well, I guess that is all the news from around here.  At least on the farm side.  I'll be seeing you again tomorrow, I hope!  Honey

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Sunday Promises

I really am back this time.  My Internet and computer have been up and down in the last month.  But I got some new equipment, and finally everything seems to be working.  I had to wade through my email, and now I am caught up on everything excepting getting started again here.  I think I am going to make some changes to my blog.  Cover different topics on different day, etc.  But the first thing I am going to do is start posting scriptures on Sunday.  These scriptures will be special to me, and I hope that they will speak to you as well. 


Matthew 6:33

"But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."


God will give us everything we need.  He promises this, if only we seek Him first.  How often do we forget that part?  I know I do.  I get so distracted with life in general, with my family and job responsibilities.  But God wants to be first in our lives.  The last few years have taught me a lot.  I have really tried to start doing this in the last couple of years.  Nothing else matters, if you don't seek Him first.  And everything is easier when we do.  Join me in trying to prioritize this week.  Let's put God and His kingdom first, and see how our week ends up!  Honey

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Ten Things That Happened in My Life While I Was Off The Internet

Hi friends.  I told you I would be back today, and here I am.  While I was gone off line a week, a lot of things happened in my life.  I'm going to highlite 10 of them today.

1.  I turned 48!  Yes, I did.  I had a wonderful day.  My parents were also married 49 years, the same exact day!

2.  We (mostly Pappy) finished the mobile home we were making ready for our Daughter #3.  She and our GrandBoy moved in today, just down the road from our farm.

3.  I canned sliced apples for pies and dinners this winter.

4.  I put quart bags of turnip greens in our freezer.  I found out that this is very hard work when done alone.  I have never put up turnip greens by myself before.  When my girls were little, they would help our elderly neighbor, Emma, to prepare the turnip greens.  She would always tell me the greens had been through "5 wash waters".  She would wash, the girls would sort the leaves and pull out the bad ones.  Then they would remove the stems.  She would blanch, and we would put into freezer containers.  This year, Miss Emma passed on.  My girls are all grown and  too busy to help their Mama put up turnip greens.  So this was the first time I've done it alone.  And I decided that it is a lot of work!

5.  I had a tooth pulled.  It was NOT fun!  The tooth had broken about three times during the last four years, but this time, there was very little left.  I was afraid it would become painful before I could get in to see the dentist.  I was lucky.  But the extraction was not pleasant.  This tooth was only suppose to have one root, but it had three.  A normal extraction takes about 10 minutes.  This extraction took about 40 minutes.  I never developed much pain, so that was a blessing. 

6.  Someone stole my pain pills. 

7.  My Dad had his birthday, and turned 70!  Everyone says he doesn't look his age, and he doesn't act it, either.

8.  I got a hair cut.  Actually, I got about 6 inches of hair cut off.  I thought about doing the "locks of love" thing, but I think Pappy was a bit afraid, that I would end up with no hair left.  So I didn't try that this time.

9.  Daughter #2 received an award at school "Most Ethical" or something.  She is in Criminal Justice, and was very honored.  She hung it in her room for inspiration on the days she wonders why she is there.

10.  Daughter #1 will find out in January if she gets in the LPN program.  We are