Oh My Stars . . . What a night

Boy have we had a night and a half ~~ so much fun!!!!!

Okay let me just start by saying that Halloween has never been a fav holiday of mine. I am always so glad when it's over and the media switches from the ghoulish to the sweet. But this year was actually a lot of fun. Our house was a buzz with teenagers and the neighborhood little ones coming to get a hold of some sugary loot, plus a little itty bitty one ~~ oh yes it was a good night :-)

And wow do I have some pics to share with ya'll. But they are not in order. I do not know what my problem is, but I can't seem to get the pics in order these days. So . . . . . . . . .

I'm just gonna roll with it :-)

Alyssa came over this evening to spend Halloween with us and hand out candy to the kiddos.

So she made herself and Dak up as vampires ~~ they were so cute.

Well, just take a look ~~ these are quite the little actors.

Look at this pose ~~ these two look good together, even as vampires!!

Okay so what happened to the days of dressing up as your favorite Saturday morning character? You know bugs bunny, or a Power Ranger . . .

Son, seriously your scaring me ~~

Glamour girl ~~ Okay A your scaring me too :o)

Rockin' the look!!!!!

I made a cookie dessert pizza ~~ mmmmm

I then made these ADORABLE mummy dogs ~~ stop it ~~ I Know!!!!!
(I even made a veggie dog wrapped up all mummy like for me too, but don't tell anyone ~~ shhhh :0) YUMMEE!!!!!

Oh and look at this cutie ~~ this is him from the back . . .

And here he is in all his Eeyore wonderfulness!!!!!

Such a cutie-pie!!!

This has been a VERY fun evening!! I have been so reminded of my blessings . . .

Seeing the kids having so much fun handing out candy and hanging out together . . .

Getting to spend a little time with the G-baby and his mamma and dadda . . .

And now I'm going to go get ready for bed and then crawl under those covers with my man . . .

I am a well-blessed woman!!!!!

WOO HOO ~~ Thanksgiving Post #2

Well are you ready to take a ride on the Thanksgiving Day train yet again ~~ oh yes I think we shall!!



Last week was all about the bird ~~ yep we talked some serious turkey :o) ~~ so this week let's focus on the side kicks. Because really what would the Lone Ranger be without Tonto? or Batman without Robin? or Clark without Lois (gasp!!!)? So what would Turkey be without Cornbread Dressing? or Sweet Potato Casserole? or Festive Cranberry Pineapple Salad? What I ask you? Well it would be just a lonely bird on a plate with some green stuff and an apple coming out of its proverbial cavity ~~ sad, very sad.



So we will give this bird a sprucing with all of the fixins' ~~ And let's start with the dressing, and not just any dressing either; Cornbread Stuffing. (You'd think I was from the deep south, but no I am a mid-western gal - I digress) So is it dressing or stuffing? I'm thinkin' dressin' when it puts on it's finest and hangs out next to the bird, and stuffin' if it's actually inside said bird, but you decide. For the sake of democracy (do not even get me started :0) I'll be using the term interchangeably :o)


So you will find my FAV beautiful dressing/stuffing of the cornbread variety here. (please scroll down on this link ~~ it won't go to indivual link) Oh be still my heart ~~ LOVE IT!!! Yes in all it's 2 sticks of butter goodness ~~ MMMMM.



And from there let's go on down to the next station and visit Sweet Potato Casserole ~~ STOP IT ~~ now I'm just showing off ~~ and you can find it right . . . . . here!! Okay so this is Dak's FAV!!!!! In his opinion don't even have a Thanksgiving dinner without it. It would never be the same!! Poor guy he does have his attachments to yummee dish ~~ but then again so do I. YUMMEEEEEEE!!!!!


Now the last recipe I want to pass along to you today is in the cranberry food group. Yes it is a group unto itself. And if you don't think so please try this next recipe. Now let me just say if you are a family that has to have the gelled cranberry that comes out shaped like the can that nobody even eats, please don't let me mess you up. You go right on ~~ but if you want a cranberry dish that you will actually eat and enjoy try this one. MMMM love this one too!!!!!



Okay so let me show you a few pics from last year and the year before. These first two are from last year (I think ~~ blogger is again messing with my pics ~~ back-off blogger back-off :-)

Yep this first one is us girls. Starting with me, Rhonda (big sis), mom, and Dena (lil sis)

Aren't they just the cutest things you've ever seen??!!!

And then this little bunch of cuties ~~ are they not the cutest ~~ I MEAN THE CUTEST THINGS EVER?

This is Adam, Donnie, Becca (hey girl) and Dak ~~ they are the sweetest!!

I dig these kids ~~ OH YES I DO!!!

And then I just thought I'd throw this one in for free :-)

This is from '06 when my sis Dena and I ran the Turkey Trot ~~ we had the BEST time.

Don't I look pooped ~~ yep there is a reason for that I was!! Dena looks so refreshed and I look like I've just run a marathon and it was just a 5K. Oh yes I was even in shape ~~ pitiful!! :-)

Okay so now to the lil pumpkin candles I was going to try this week and impress you all with my crafting savvy. Alas I couldn't find the stinkin' baby pumpkins ~~ hmpff!! But I'm gonna keep lookin' and when I find 'em ~~ I'll share.

But until I do, I wanted to share what I'll be working on for next week's post. Turkey cupcakes. These are the cutest things you have ever seen in the way of a cupcake. I went to the market yesterday and picked up what I needed to make these darlin' things. And then I put them up in one cabinet at the top and then set to threatening my son if he even thought about touching said turkey cupcake materials :-) He laughed that adorable laugh and asked if he could have the left over stuff I wasn't going to use to make the TC's. Always working an angle that kid.

Well I hope you have enjoyed this edition of the Day of Thanks posting. This is so fun. Thanks for playin' along.

Blessings to you, Dawn

PS I will put up a pic of the TC's in tomorrows post (hopefully) since blogger is being a booger. I'll show blogger I'll just post it tomorrow :o) Have a GREAT day!!!!!

For the Love of . . .

FAMILY!!!!!

Yesterday was Dak's MRI and might I just say ~~ Oh my stars!!! Why did it affect me this way? Could it be that my son, the brave boy (ok practically man) that he is, was just that: brave, and handsome and . . . oh my stars here I go again.

Let me back up . . . This child has had one medical test for a kidney malfunction thing at the age of 6 ~~ traumatic ~~ 1 trip to the ER because he was going into antiflactic shock from what we now know is a SEVERE allergy to Aspirin ~~ traumatic ~~ numerous ear infections and MANY bouts with strep throat and allergy related problems. So as you can see, when the boy does it ~~ yep he does it up right good!!!!!

So when we found out about this current injury I figured he boogered it up good (don't you just love that word ~~ boogered :0) Okay so let me just say right here and now that we did not get the results of the MRI last night, still waiting for those, but we did get to watch teenagerhood in action ~~ yes in beautiful action.

When we got there I hung on to my man, because let's face it, the knee, yeah is stinky, and Dak is in need of my crutches. So in he goes on crutches and then in I follow on hubs arm limping, severely limping ~~ oh yes it was a site to see.

When we got up to the counter to check in, the lady asked Dak if he'd like a wheelchair, to which he replied, "Yep that'd be great!!" What? I thought he'd be big tough guy, nope the child melts at the site of a pretty girl givin' him some love :-) So he hopped (literally) into the wheelchair and hubs put the crutches back down to my level (no I am not kidding) and we were set to have some check-in fun and MRI madness.

So we did all the paperwork and then they came and got Dak. And yes another pretty, pretty girl to wheel him around ~~ he was in teenage awe of the goodness that had just struck him ~~ yes not 1 but 2 pretty girls to take him back. He was all smiles and cracking me up.

So in the midst of waiting on him, they came out and told us that they would be doing the lower shots first and then if that didn't show what they needed to see, they'd do the upper as well, but was just going to start with the lower to save us money. I love saving money :o) But they wanted to let us know, so if it took longer than expected he was okay. That was so nice of you ~~ does my little heart good to see simple kindness in action.

So in the meantime to keep himself amused, hubs started playing with Dak's phone. Yep he changed the wallpaper from a pretty girl to himself and then changed his alarm time and turned it on. Oh yes we had a good time waiting :-)

And then in not too long here came the pretty girl pushing Dak and yes he was ALL smiles!!!!!

So we asked if they'd had to do the second shot and she said nope she thought they'd saw what they needed to see on the first view. So now we wait for the results.

Okay so now back to the way this affected me. If you've read my blog for very long you know that I am totally taken aback that God would entrust me with such a beautiful and smart child and such a wonderfully terrific hub. And as we were getting ready to leave yesterday it hit me: anxiousness and nervousness and I felt like I was going to throw up. It's an MRI, he's okay, calm down ~~ yep lots of self-talk going on. So I tried really I did, but I found myself wanting to go back there and take the test for him, and wanting to undergo all the treatment he needs on myself, and yes I know this is not a MAJOR injury (hopefully it's not) but I just love him so. My heart is so full that this is the family that God has so Blessed me with. I am Blessed indeed!!!!!

So many goings on . . .

Okay so there are lots of pics in this post, but none of them are where they are suppose to be ~~ Blogger what are ya doing to me??!! ~~ I have a system ya know :-)

So before I get to said pics, I wanted to let ya'll know of something going on with my sweet boy. Thursday after CC practice he came home and said I needed to take him to the doc. Well, I knew something was up, because that generally is the LAST place my child wants to go (at least as a patient). He said that his leg was really hurting and showed me where, it is on the side of his shin but not quite around to his calf, weird I know.

So when Dick got home he looked at it and said he definitely needed to go see the doc. So the next day (Friday) I called the doc's office and she was not in, and the nurse practitioner doesn't see injuries, so they gave us a choice of three urgent cares to go to. So we picked one and was off.

Well they x-rayed him and came in and said the x-ray looked okay (because we'd been thinking maybe stress fracture - although that's a weird spot for one but still). Doc did an exam and got to his ankle and spent most of his time there and on his heel. HUH? So he left and said he needed to look at the x-rays some more. About 20 mins later he came back in and said that just-so-happens (don't you love just-so-happens ~~ isn't God good?) there was an orthopedic surgeon on call at the clinic (the one we went to out of the three choices) that day and looked at his x-rays and said that he thinks Dak has torn his Achilles tendon :-( YUCK!!!!! Where it is hurting is where the AT starts ~~ he said it pools there ~~ so he thinks that is where it is tore.

Well, Monday evening he will go for an MRI to see the extent of the problem and go from there. So please remember my sweet boy. He is hopping around on crutches and is worried about school and so forth, not to mention will most likely miss CC Districts this coming up weekend. Bummed he is!!

Well now to these completely out-of-order pics. Blogger really ~~ work with me here!!!!!

Well this is our little G-babes foot ~~ I just had to show you the bottom of these incredibly cute shoes we picked up at a garage sale (.25 cents - get out!!!) this summer ~~ They say Old Navy on the bottom

SO CUTE ~~ and the foot they go in ~~ GORGEOUS!!!!!

Okay again the pics are backwards and missed up ~~ uggghhh~~ Dak made a cake this weekend because he was bored. And how many of you know when you're suppose to stay off your legs that is the one time you want to be up :-) YUMMEE Cake!!! MMMMM

Wannna bite???

Thank you I'll just eat the WHOLE cake starting here!!! heehee :o)

My sweet injured cutie with his white cake with sprinkles in a bundt pan with chocolate icing and more sprinkles ~~~MMMM YUMMEE ~~ and made ALL by himself!!!!! Good job son :-)

And then here is me and little guy ~~

I don't know what we're looking at, but I just love this pic ~~

He sure looks interested in whatever it is !!!!!

Sky loves the outdoors. We can't wait to take him mushroom hunting, and hiking, and exploring!! We're already planning!!!

And here he is sleeping ~~ mouth wide open ~~ love this shot too.

Okay and then I'll end with two shots of table pieces I've done this year.

This first one is currently on my table. I heart fall!!!!!

And then this one was a couple of weeks ago.

The pumpkins I got from my sis and BIL. So beautiful little sweet pie pumpkin wonders!!!

I'll be cooking these babies soon!!

Okay so that's all the goings on for 8:17 in the morning this fine Sunday.

Have a Blessed Lord's day!!

Love to you, Dawn

So without further ado . . .

I give you the first installment of the Day of Thanks countdown!!

So where does one begin?

LET'S TALK TURKEY!!!!!

How fitting it is to start by talking about the star of our Thanksgiving tables: yes the turkey.
I would like to share with you my tips and secrets to the almost-perfect bird.

I have made Thankgiving dinner for several years and there've been good, delish birds and there've been the dreaded dry - I need some water to wash that baby down with bird!! But I'm happy to say that I think I've discovered the secret to a juicy succulent bird (how Martha Stewartish that sounds :-) (I heart Martha) okay anyway, what's the secret? . . . BRINING!!!!!

Okay, so I can here you all the way from here . . . doesn't that take a long time? . . . isn't that hard? . . . is it really worth it? Well let me just say yes, no and OH YES!!!!! It is time consuming and it takes time and planning, but it is Thanksgiving after all and that alone takes time and effort, so I just threw all caution to the wind last year and took to BRINING the bird and oh were we ever happy ~~ happy I tell ya!!

So I'd like to give you my recipe. Although there are many out there, and I'm sure they are delicious as well. Since it is a lengthy recipe please go here to find this deliciousness!!!!!

Did you know that Thanksgiving is just 5 weeks from today? No I am not kidding!!! I am so looking forward to this countdown and sharing some fun ideas with each other. So if you'd like to post some Day of Thanks fun on your own blog, please let us know in your comment. I'd love to see your ideas.

As I was preparing for this post I did a little of that internet research yesterday (yep that still cracks me up ~~ me? research ~~ hahahaha, anyway) and wanted to share a couple of fun things with you.

I found this ~~ How cute is this?

So any cute thing that I put on here (for the most part) I'm gonna try. So I'll be letting ya know how that turned out, complete with pics. Oh and it will all be very cost effective. I think we could all use more of that in our lives.

So if you like this, you can go here and find the directions . . . very simple. (My link is not working ~~ so sorry!! I'll try to get the very simple instuctions posted soon!!)

And then I also found this adorable game: Thanksgiving hangman (I can't even make this stuff up) ~~ It is actually a lot of fun ~~ so be a kid for a few minutes and give it a try ~~ so fun!!!
Oh yeah, go here for that one.

So that is my hints and tips for today. I am having so much fun with this. I hope you do to. It is a great respite from trials and ya know, just stuff.

Have a Blessed day,

Dawn

By Way of Introduction . . .

Well, today is Wednesday (okay I know you probably figured that out all ready), and on this Wednesday I'd like to introduce you to Thursday, well at least the Countdown to the Day of Thanks Thursdays that will begin tomorrow.

I wanted to start this last week, but I just couldn't get it all together . . . but this week, look at me go. . . no busy week, you are not slowing me down this time, okay anyway . . .

What is the Countdown to The Day of Thanks all about you ask? Well I thought it would be fun to share with you some of our fun traditions, good food, maybe a story of two from Days of Thanks past and the like. I've also been doing some very intense internet studies on games and all manner of fun stuff for this particular day (isn't that funny "intense internet studies" for games ~~ I crack me up :0) and thought it might be fun if every Thursday until The Day of Thanks, or probably better known as Thanksgiving, if we shared a few fun ideas and traditions together.

I'd love to hear your traditions, recipes, games and the like. I'd love to adopt some new traditions for our fam (with your approval of course ~~ I'd never want to barge my way into your traditions, because that's just not cool :0) Now if I knew how to do a Mr. Linky dude I would, but since I don't and probably won't take the time to figure it out this week anyway, please feel free to play along on your own blog if you'd like (if you have one, and if you don't you really should ~~ really you should :-) and just leave a comment so we (yes you too) can come visit. I'm always looking for new ideas!!!

Oh yes and every Thursday leading up to it (except maybe for the one when we're gone to Mayo getting a tune up on the ol knee, and then maybe I can talk one of you into posting for me ~~ yeah we'd have to work out the detail ~~ but we can, WE SO CAN!! ~~ okay anyway :-) I'm also going to include some things I'm Thankful for and Thankful moments ~~ because after all it is The Day of Thanks and wow do I have a lot to be thankful for ~~ so please feel free to list your Thankful things on your blogs (if you have one and if you don't you should :o) so we can be Thankful together.

Let our hearts be turned toward the Lord during these times and all times and may we proclaim with David I Chronicles 16:8-11:

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name;

Make known among the nations what He has done.

9 sing to Him, sing praise to Him;

tell of all His wonderful acts.

10 Glory in His holy Name;

let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

11 Look to the LORD and His strength;

SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS."

Have a blessed day dear ones,

Dawn

Fun things along the way . . .

So I've started the count down ~~ 3 weeks from yesterday (Sunday) we leave for Mayo, 3 weeks from today are our pre-op appts with the doc and hospital, and then 3 weeks from tomorrow is the surgery to fix this knee o mine ~~ YAY!! God loves us beyond measure and there is such GREAT comfort in knowing that He has it all under control. I do not have to be nervous or anxious (yes I need to see this in writing and I'm sure I will need it even more over the next few weeks . . . just keeping it real ~~ sometimes the nerves kick in. . .)

Since we'll be gone from home for at least 6 nights that takes a little planning. You know making sure Dak is taken care of and all the stuff that comes along with being gone. So until then I will gladly and gratefully take any suggestions on how to prepare, what you might take along for such an appointment, what you might prepare food wise and freeze for when we get back, and relaxation techniques that doesn't involve folding myself like a pretzel while breathing deep from my toes :o) I need easy here people, easy!!

So let's talk about the knee for a minute. Saturday we had Sky (oh-yes-we-did!!!!!) and yes he is cute as ever and yes I could just eat him up, and yes I digress :o) Anyway ~~ we didn't get my knee cap taped over because if we don't do it early before it swells we can't get it over very good later. Well, I still tried to do some exercises (why did I do that ~~ honest I was trying to be a good girl :-) Along about 7:00 pm or so it started hurting, and then it started feeling weird and then I realized it must be locked. So hubs tried to take pressure off of it, which usually works, but it was not working. Well then it really started having a fit, it was not good folks, nope not good. Well we decided we'd ice and then try to tape the knee cap over and maybe it would help. Well, there was no taping it over, my knee was HUGE!!! YUCK!! But it was okay actually. I know that this is making me stronger ~~ and I will certainly need strength for the long road ahead with surgery, recovery and all.

So what does any of this have to do with having fun along the way? Well, I am determined to make the most of this time. God is really moving in my heart to study a particular passage in Scripture and I am pumped about what He will be showing me over the next several weeks. Also, I will be spending time with family and friends and reading and cutting out recipes (one of my fav things to do is look at cooking mags and books :o) ~~ We have our last two CC meets of the season coming up in the next couple weeks, and Dak's National Honor's Choir is also coming up. He is also working on a production he will be performing in in February which he will be MCing and singing in. So lots of stuff going on and lots to do. So with all of the preparation going on for our Mayo trip we will have lots of distractions as well to keep our minds occupied on other things as well.

And . . . . I have some fun posts starting on Thursday that will run through Thanksgiving . . . that's gonna be fun.

So let me just say thank you to those prayer warriors out there, we so appreciate.

Lots of love and Blessings and send those ideas to me,

Dawn

Random Friday . . .

So here are my ramblings for the week . . .

Randomness #1:

Okay picutre this: Thursday evening hubs has gone to ride his bike on the CC trail ~~ I love that man, workin' out a day after a migraine, you go honee!! ~~ so that leaves me and Dak at home hangin' out. I'm working on supper which looks like this: Pasta with fresh mushrooms, onions, olive oil and feta and mozz cheese (yummee) for Dick, 2 chicken hot sauce sandwiches on specialty buns for Dak, and Natural PB, honey and banana on whole wheat english muffin for me. So yes I was a busy girl.

Well in walks Dak and says, "mom you want to hear that song?" (I'm thinkin' the song he is singing for National Honors Choir in a few weeks. . . ) So I said, "sure" to which he lights up like an adorable 5 year old and says "Great" and runs off into his room (that is just off of the kitchen) and hooks up his I-pod to his stereo, and says "I'm gonna turn it up." Yeah, well, I don't even know what he's talking about and here he comes. He grabs my hands and starts dancing to "Jesse's Girl" yes Rick Springfield and yes kickin' it old school. I was thrilled. For a moment I was that 80's girl with the big hair and blue eye shadow ~~ oh the sheer joy !! ~~

Randomness #2:

We have our heat on ~~ I'm not even kiddin' ~~ heat!! It was cold this morning, like 38 something er other degrees outside cold ~~ burrrr ~~ time to be cuddlin' up I say. Thankfully Dak didn't have to run today.

And no to the not-so-random #3:

Today in CYC we talked about the Word of God. Oh one of my fav topics to discuss, and let me just say it is the BEST to be discussing it with teenagers. Their take on it is so beautiful. A breath of fresh air.

We talked about the Word being a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths and what that meant. We have a student who broke his wrist punching a cow in the face ~~ I can't make this stuff up :o) ~~ the cow was after him, so he punched it . . . slowed that cow down but broke this dear ones wrist.

We had the following conversation after we found out what happened:

C: What does it mean for the Word to be a lamp?
(Aforementioned) Teen: It lights the way.
C: What happens if it's not lighting the way?
Teen: You'll be in the dark
C: What happens if you're in the dark?
Teen: You might run into a cow.

See I LOVE teenagers!!!

We also talked about what it means to hide God's Word in your heart. I especially love this one, because it is near and dear to this girl. God has taught me so much about Him through His Word and the hiding of it in my heart. I've been in situations where God will bring a Scripture to my heart that I might not have even thought about for a long time, but He brings it to my rememberance at the appropriate time. I love having it hid in my heart ~~ LOVE IT!!

So then we opened up the floor to our young ones and asked them their fav verses, and John 3:16 was the first one to come up ~~ LOVE THAT!! So we talked about the gift of salvation given to us through Christ, and Dak said that "He (God) didn't have to do that. We could still be cutting lambs." See I love teenagers!! It is true, God didn't have to bring us salvation in this way, and we could still be sacrificing animals for sins, but PTL, Jesus came and bore our sin, this little girl is FOREVER GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR THE GIFT OF GRACE THROUGH JESUS!!

Yes my heart is for the youth of today; it so encourages me to get to spend a few moments with them on Friday mornings, just hangin' out and discussing the Word ~~ Hallelujah!!

Have a Blessed weekend. Word on the street is we get the wee little tike this weekend ~~ STOP IT ~~ I know ~~ get-out-of-town.

Love to you,
Dawn

Its the Simple Things . . .

It's raining a gentle cleansing rain today. I know this rain; this healing rain that washes away the complicated and leaves me relishing in the simple. I love this rain ~~ often it comes during a difficult season to remind me of my loving Father, who through the sacrifice of His dear Son Jesus, cleansed me by His blood and made me clean ~~ Oh yes it is cleansing.



The simple is on my heart today, not the profound. Like a simple knock on my door and standing on the other side waiting patiently for my ailing knees to carry me there, my neighbor, all smiles, with a BAG (WM size) full of fresh cut rosemary in hand and a warm heart asking genuine questions of concern.



The simplicity of my son inky out every last second before school begins on "late-start Wednesday" and opening the car door as I drive away just to say "I love you too mom!!"



It is the simple things that takes me aback. A smile from a stranger, a helping hand from a friend, a bag of rosemary from a neighbor. Over the weekend another neighbor sent her son over with a bag of Halloween goodies for the g-baby. She told me over the phone that it was "nothing much, just some things I picked up on the dollar rack at Target" (I love the dollar rack and Target). And oh the cutest little things were inside that little red bag; a "little monster" shirt, some mittens, a pumpkin blankie.



Oh yes it is the simplest of things that cause my heart to pause in Thanksgiving. And speaking of Thanksgiving. We have been trying to decide what we might do this year. My knee surgery is only 2 weeks and 2 days before the day of Thanks. So I've been discussing what we might do, since usually we have it here at our humble abode. I think my mom is thinking about having it at her apartment this year.



Well, I was talking this over with the boys (Dick and Dak) last night, and Dak made a sparkling statement ~~ just sparkling !! ~~ he said "I'll make Thanksgiving dinner." Simple. I love that kid!! So then I proceeded to explain to Dak all the intricacies of said dinner and how I really didn't think I'd feel up to having that many people over (usually 13 - 15), and then he said "I know mom, I'll make dinner just for us". Oh I get it. So I told him that was such a sweet gesture and maybe we could just have a turkey breast instead of the big bird, thinking we didn't need that much turkey (and he wouldn't have to prepare that big 'ol baby), to which he replied "Mom we have to have the big bird. We want all the left overs to chow on the rest of the week!!" Oh yes he is a cutie ~~ yep he really is that sweet.



So this morning I woke up and started thinking about his offer. His simple gesture of love toward his mama who loves the holidays ~~ and decided I'd take that offer. Now it may not be on the actual day of Thanksgiving, we've yet to work out the details, but I told him this morning I was gonna take him up on his idea. To which he just smiled that sweet incredible smile. Oh yes he is up for the task.



God has been speaking to my heart recently about the simple things. I've started cleaning out closets and cabinets, ever-so-slowly and just trying to tidy my house, so we can truly keep it simple around here. I truly think there is something to this.



I read this morning about the Proverbs 31 woman. Yes I have had an aversion to this woman in the past. My thoughts being "no one can be all that!!" But recently I've found myself drawn to this woman, to her lovely ways. So this morning I picked it up yet again and know what I found? Simplicity.



The things this woman does are simple. Prepare meals for her family, she's modest, she's trustworthy, she's prepared. ~~ It's simple things that she does that causes her family in verse 28 to say about her "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." She is not a complicated woman, she is a woman who loves; loves her God and loves her family. I no longer have even a remote aversion to this P-31 woman. I have a deep respect for her and her loveliness.



So what are some simple things that you enjoy? A walk with your sweetie, a smile from a friend, the mail (I know that last one was random, but you know I love me some good mail :o) So let's hear your lovely simplicities and maybe I'll get some ideas of more simple things to enjoy . . . .



Have a Blessed day full of simple joys,

Dawn

Let it Fade . . .

As I type, "Let it Fade" is the song that is playing and that is fitting for my mood. I need this flesh to fade. I'm having a moment, a struggle, a fight if you will, with myself this morning, and trying desperately to win. I woke just wanting to drown my pain and blahness in food. Now I know that this is not the right way to handle things and given the fact that it is definitely a problem for me, I DIDN'T ~~ OH NO I DIDN'T!!! And yes I wanted to BAD!! But God is faithful ~~ OH YES HE IS!!!!!


I'm thankful that He led me to post last week about my lifelong issues with food and weight, although not to glorify it in anyway, but to cause me to be accountable to you, my friends in this community. Odd as it may seem, I have a real connection to some of you out there and it helps to know that in some weird way I would be letting you down. (Yeah I know, no I wouldn't, and all that, but still. . . I feel like I would)!!


So I made my herbal tea and had my quiet time and IT hit!! The urge monster. I so wanted to eat, pig out, you know the one. The one that says I should I'm not hurting anyone . . . it'll be okay . . . oh boo, go away urge monster . . . See the flesh needs to fade!!!


Well, I resisted and went about my very busy morning with the most amazing teen on the planet and focused on the good and tried to squash the urge. Well, when he got to school and I got home, I fixed my yummy, good for me breakfast: Oat Bran with blueberries (I froze over the summer), a little honey, and a piece of toast from the Breadsmith and drank my water, and you know what? I'm glad I did. I feel somewhat back on track.


In my Bible Study this morning this is some of the reading we were to do:


Romans 12:9-10 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."


So this is my cure for the urge monster today. A hefty dose of love, and make it sincere, with a side of clinging to what is good. I'll have devotion with brotherly love with that and for dessert? Oh yes, (and this is worth the price of admission :-) I'll honor others above myself.

This is a wonderful cure for what ails ya. If you can't see beyond your circumstances today, look to the Lord. Jesus loves you so much dear one. And He wants to do good for you today. I'm so thankful this was our reading for today; God knew right where I would be.

Another great way to get rid of the urge monster is to start thinking about the blessings the Lord has so richly bestowed. For me it is these guys.

Yes Oh YES we had Sky this weekend. STOP IT!! I know too cute this kid. And the teen ~~ Oh yes WAY TOO CUTE!!

And the hubs ~~ get-out-of-town with cuteness ~~ I am surrounded with cuties. I am a well-blessed woman.

Look at this face ~~ don't you just want to smooch up on him?

Sweet baby doll ~~ you are precious ~~ OH YES YOU ARE!!

Have a GREAT day,



Dawn

Random Friday . . .

This post should really be titled:

The Retainer, Chicken Potpie, Toe Nail, and that's Weird of the Al variety!!

But I didn't want to scare you off . . . so I kept it Random Friday, because let's face how much more random does it get than that.

What you are about to read is a true story. The names have not been changed to protect the innocent, because let's face it, that wouldn't be any fun :o)

Well on Monday, I got the distinct privilege of going to Lowe's with my friend C. She and her husband are building a new house and she needed to pick out paint, and she wanted me to go along. Given the fact that I am pretty home bound (not complaining ~~ I like home, but still) right now, it was so nice of her to invite me along . . . thanks C.

So we went to a town about 5 or 6 miles from my house to pick out the paint, and we got almost to Lowe's when my phone rang and it was Dak and the conversation went something like this.

Me: (Answered phone) What do you want? (hahaha)
Dak: Can I wear my retainer?
Me: What?!!??????!!
Dak: Can I wear my retainer? I'm tired of crooked teeth.

Me inside in my Spirit: OH PTL!! PTL!!!

This retainer issue, and oh yes it has been an issue, has been going on for at least a year and maybe even two. Dak has a tooth that is very small and sits back behind his other teeth. So in order for it to come up to the front lines and do combat with the other teeth, he had to wear a special retainer with a spring in the back for a while. And when that didn't do it (stubborn tooth) he had to wear braces. So once the braces came off he got a new retainer that he is suppose to wear ALL THE TIME!!!!! Well for the first oh maybe month, he did. But then after that he decided since the tooth was straight that he didn't need to wear it. Well all mama's with retainer wearing kids know the importance of wearing the thing, but when they get so old they do need to make some decisions on their own (Oh do they have too? :O), and he started NOT wearing his retainer. Well, I tried griping, nagging, complaining, whining, anger, not talking . . . and on and on, and guess what NONE OF THAT WORKED!! What? Yeah I know shocking . . .

So I gave up and decided that it was a HUGE waste of A LOT of money and live and learn, and I would be a mom with a child with a small tooth that would never grow up (the tooth not Dak). And then Monday, out of the blue, Mom, Can I start wearing my retainer? And what was my answer . . . no you have to deal with a crooked tooth ~~ JK'ng ~~ YES OH MY STARS YES!!!!!

And every day AND NIGHT since, he has been wearing his retainer. I am really proud of you son. Does this mean I have to stop nagging if I want to actually make head way with my teenager? . . . moving on . . . :o)

So then on Wednesday evening I made Chicken Potpie for supper. It is one of my hubs favorite and perfect cool fall weather food. (I'll try to get the recipe posted here later today. It is the best recipe I found, adapted it and YUMMEEEE!!!!!) Well, normally I would make that for Dick and I and then Dak something else (yes I am one of those moms, don't judge me :-) But Wednesday, since I'm not eating things like pie crust right now, I modified mine and had veggies over brown rice. Dak had friends over and I didn't fix him anything else to eat. So when his friends left he asked, "hey mom what am i going to eat" (yeah I no I've spoiled him), I told him almost kidding, but secretly hoping, "Chicken Potpie". To which he replied, "I'm not eating that." To which I replied, "Then I don't know what to tell you." (look at me being all bold). I told him he could eat the CPP and just pick the carrots out. And guess what? Next thing I know he walks in with a "little" bit of CPP. The verdict? He loved it!!!!! What? I know ~~ so great!!!!! And then he went back and got a second plate ~~ full!! Oh we are getting somewhere with this teenageness ~~ Oh Yes We Are!!!!!

Okay then to the toe nail. Okay so take a deep breathe and maybe even a puff on your inhaler (if that applies to you), before you read this next bit of randomness.

On Sunday evening, Dak got a phone call (after we went to bed) so he got up to get his phone and has he was jumping (yes jumping) back into bed, he caught his left big toe on the heel sole part of his right foot and lifted up his BIG toe nail. Yep lifted it up!! How does that happen? He showed it to me on Monday morning before practice and seriously, gross ~~ it had blood all around the toe nail and it just looked well, GROSS!! So he went on to practice, yeah that was fun, and got it to bleeding again and I looked at it that night and then I didn't hear anymore about it until Tuesday night. During the meet on Tuesday he runs by me and is wincing, and after the race said his toe was really hurting. When he got home later that night I had him take his shoe off and show me ~~ YUCK!! GROSS!! BLAHHHHHH!!!!!!! OUCH!!!!!! ~~ It was not pretty. It was gray and dead looking to me. So I did what any child-lovin' mother does, calls her husband in to look at it. Well he came in and took a look and told Dak that it was going to have to come off of there. Well, I asked Dak if he wanted me to take him to the doc and have them deaden it and then pull it off (because it was still attached on the bottom sides and cuticle) or if he was going to give it a try. Well he didn't like the whole idea of the needle in toe thing, but he didn't want to pull it off either, so I think he decided just to wait for it to fall off . . . Ummm okay ~~

So on Wednesday evening hubs looked at it again and told Dak he needed to try and get that off of there. Well Dak started working on it. And let me just tell ya, it was not for the faint of heart. Have I expressed how gross this whole process has been? . . . okay moving on . . .
So he starts pulling, tugging and grossing his mother out. At one point I had him show me and then yes I backed off of that. So finally he got it off of there, but had to tear it at the bottom, and so it was still attached to the cuticle (is anyway spitting out their Sonic at this point . . .Heather :-) Then he gets the tweezers out to get that out of there ~~ I am not even kidding!!!!! Finally, S-U-C-C-E-S-S!!!!!

So now I am thinking this whole thing is over and we'll doctor it and watch it and make sure it doesn't get infected until the new toe nail gets nice and hard like, and the whole mess can get cleaned up and on with life . . .

uhhhh have I mentioned that fact that I am the only girl in a household of boys and that we just think differently. This next part if you are a girly girl like me will have you shakin' your head, just like me.

So I told him to throw away the old toe nail and get the tweezers picked up etc, and he looks at hubs. Well, I'm not sure what part of that was hard to understand, but hubs said, "Are you wanting to keep it to show your friends?" Okay seriously I thought they were joking. I said "The toe nail?" To which Dak replies "uhh Yeah" What? Boys I don't understand. Why keep an old toe nail ~~ gross ~~ So hubs said just wash it off and you can show it to your friends. Okay I must intervene, He is 16 and doesn't do show and tell anymore . . . breathe, just breathe Dawn, it's okay :o)

So yesterday I was thinking about all this and wondering if he really kept it, so I went in his bedroom and couldn't find it where I thought he might put it, so I breathed a sigh of relief, and then . . . oh the horror . . . there it is on his dresser of all places!!!!! Yep that will make a nice conversation piece, I guess I should just be grateful it's not on our family bookcase in the living room :O) Yes I am picking my battles, and this one is not one I'm gonna tackle :-)

So have you noticed so far that every random part of this post has been about Dak? Well the last part is no different. And the That's Weird of the Al Variety, yes also has to do with said 16 year old ~~ quite a week you've had son ~~

Last night he updated his I-Pod and a lot of times he wants me to listen to his music (I love it that he likes to share it with me). So I stood at his door and listened and he said mom listen to this. So he put on Michael Jackson's "Beat It" and was dancing to it. Yep kickin' it old school!!!!!Dak is very musical and is a really good dancer. So as he was getting his groove on he said okay now listen to this. And he put the Weird Al version of it on his IP "Eat It" It had been so long since I'd heard that version. Still cracks me up and now apparently there are many songs he's done this kind of a spoof too. So funny. So that was a funny thing to hit-the-hay too. Thanks for the great teenage fun this week son. You are truly a joy.

Well, I hope you all have a fun and eventful weekend. Hubs is picking-up Sky on the way home (be still Grandma's heart) and we'll get to play with him this weekend. So I'm sure more stories will come.

Blessings to you,
Dawn

Who is in control here anyway?!!

So here are some things on my heart today.

1. God is good ~~ oh yes He is!!!

2. I am loved beyond measure ~~ oh yes I am!!

3. And I am not in control ~~ oh no I am NOT!!!

So you've probably guessed it - it is the last one that is on my heart today and the last one that gets me in trouble A LOT!!

I try so hard to control my life, when really it isn't mine to control.

I relinquished control of it when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior ~~ Hallelujah!!

So why? Why do I want to control it and why don't I get it before it's out of hand?

Because alas . . . I am human!!!

So what am I talking about you ask?

Back in Feb I had the 5th knee surgery and prior to that I'd had to stop exercising aerobically because my knee cap was out of place.

So I now had an excuse not to exercise, problem is, I really like to exercise.

I used to be VERY overweight and exercise helped me lose 100 lbs about 12 years ago, and I've kept it off pretty well over that time.

Well, so now I was faced with what to do about the whole exercise issue.

I decided to eat instead.

Now those of you who have dealt with being really overweight for a long period of time

(for me from about age 13 to 30)

know the difficulties that come up as a result of letting yourself get to lax in this area.

Yep I was in trouble.

But instead of doing the hard thing and making myself exercise in ways I didn't want to,

I stopped all together. Bad, BAd, BAD decision.

I thought I had it all under control. . . I even told myself that. Ohh boo, I know better. But I didn't heed my own warnings and kept on.

So things continued to go downhill in the knee department, so I ate some more.

Yes still knowing better.

My psyche can't handle overeating. . . nope it just can't.

As a result of this I have gained approx 20 lbs since Feb ~~ FEB (dumb girl)!!

Well, we got the news that Mayo was accepting our case and travel prep began.

So I've already posted about the trip and the developments and how I am now preparing for surgery in November.

And part of that preparation is getting my knee out as straight as possible and bending it up as much as I can.

When we found out what I needed to do to get ready for November, God really started working on my heart in the area of food and how I was treating my body.

Of course I thought immediately, maybe I can lose 10 lbs before we go and started of course putting numbers to it and how I'd lose it and blah blah blah . . .

but then God (love that) put this thought in my swirling head,

"Every pound you lose will be one less pound your knee will have to carry around."
So, I recognized quickly what was happening and how I was trying to make this about losing weight, when really it needs to be about getting healthy and getting my knee and body as strong as it can be in the next 5 weeks.

There is so much more to say about this and perhaps I will in up coming posts.

But God has really laid something concerning this whole issue of control on my heart.

About 2 weeks before we left for Mayo I was in my car and "East to West" by Casting Crowns

came on my CD.

Now I have heard this song many times, but this time as I was singing, a line of this song just stuck out and God started working on this girl's heart preparing her for what

lay ahead. . .

"Time and time again Your Truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in"

Stop . . . Breathe . . . this is for you . . . YOUR DROWNING OUT MY TRUTH BECAUSE OF THE STORM . . . STOP IT CHILD!!!!!!!!!

I AM BIGGER THAN THE STORM AND I AM ABLE TO CALM IT!!!!!!!!!

I kept rewinding to that line in the song again and again. How true it was!!! The storm was drowning out the Truth!! Yes my knee has hurt every day for a long time . . . yes it gets tiresome . . . but yes GOD IS BIGGER THAN THIS OR ANY STORM!!

And He wants to be!!!!!

I was eating to numb the storm raging inside of me, even if it was just momentary relief.

I was eating, because for a moment, it eased my pain.

I was eating because I was being selfish.

Shame on me.

So today I am working out everyday to get my knee and body ready.

I want to be as strong as I can be for surgery.
I want to give my body the best chance of success in this surgery ~~

And my eating . . . yes back under control ~~ God's control ~~

Thank You Lord!!

So why do I write this?

If there is an area in your life, whether it be food or something else

that you struggle with to control . . . turn it over to God.

He loves you sooooooooooo much!!!!!

God brought to my mind the scripture in Matthew 14 where Jesus walks on the

stormy water and Peter wants to as well. Jesus told him to "come" and he did.

And for a moment he walked on the water why?

Because his focus was on the Savior ~~

Peter was showing great faith in that moment, but it didn't last. . .

As soon as his eyes were off of the Lord and on his circumstance he started to sink.

Oh how I am like Peter sometimes. I get my eyes off of my Jesus and on my circumstances and I start to sink.

The good news is that Jesus "immediately" grabbed hold of Peter, and He does the same

for us. . . when we cry out He is right there . . . picking us up.

Thank You Lord for reminding me of this passage of Scripture,

And Thank You for always immediately coming to my aide

when I cry out to You. You are God and You are good and

You are in contol!!

Amen

Home Sweet Home . . . and our Itinerary

It is always so sweet to come home after a few days away. I love home. It is the place where we lay our head and put up our feet . . . it is the place we laugh and cry . . . the place we love and are loved . . . the place where are hearts turn. And how great to know that as great as our earthly homes are, they pale in comparison to our heavenly ones. That is where our hearts should truly be turned.


Thank you so much for the e-mails and sweet comments, they've meant more than you know. I wanted to let you know our itinerary. The surgery is set for Tuesday, November 11th (no time yet). So we will leave here on Sunday the 9th and have two pre-op appts on Monday the 10th and then surgery the 11th. I will probably be in the hospital until Friday (could get out Thursday) either way we plan on traveling back on Saturday the 15th and it may take us 2 days to get back just depending on how the knee is holding up; it takes us about 9.5 hours to get back.


Until then I am on a strict exercise regime. I need to get my leg out straighter. The doc said that I will not gain anymore range of motion after the surgery, in fact, could lose a couple of degrees, so we are working hard on getting this baby straight. But let me just be honest here, it hurts people. Every time I do the strength part of the quad exercises (which is simply pushing my knee into the floor) OUCH!!! it pushes the arthritis into my knee more; not fun. But it is pain with a purpose. You don't get a rose without the thorn kind of thing. So I'm going for the rose here.

(This is one of our roses from a couple of years ago ~~ not that pretty this year)!!

Well it is 9:00 am here, so I gotta run. Training starts at 9:00 am for me. I'll try to post a little more later today.

Love, Dawn

Answers and heading home. . .

This morning was the x-rays and doc appointment part of this journey. They are just so organized here. The Gonda building that all of our appts were in was just opened in December of '07. When you have an x-ray in that building you get your own room to change in and lock with a tv and then when the x-ray tech is ready for you she opens another door (still in your room) and you go into the x-ray room and have your test and then go right back into your changing room and when your ready to go you push a button and they come get you. Very organized!!
Then when it was time to see the doc, first her assistant came in and talked with us, went over history, and did a mini-exam and looked at the tests. Then he said he'd give the doc the info and see if there was anything they could do for us -- and then she'd be in -- these were anxious moments.

Then she came in. She was such a nice lady, very knowledgeable and pretty :0) She told us that my kneecap is not in place and that is where a lot of the pain is coming from. So she told us what she suggested and gave us the option to whether we wanted to proceed.


Well, here is the option: patella femoral arthroplasty. This is a procedure where the doc removes all of the cartilage around the patella and then removes the bottom part of the kneecap and replace it with a plastic button and then she'll remove the grove and replace it with metal, so the kneecap will move on the metal. The up side to this is that the arthritis cannot form anymore under my kneecap -- hallelujah!!

This is a big surgery. I will be in the hospital for two or three days and then home for two weeks and then back to Mayo for staple removal and check-up and then back home and then back to Mayo at the three month mark for follow-up. I'll be on crutches for four weeks and then one crutch or a cane for two or three more months. The PT will be extensive, but the end result will be that I can hike again and walk for exercise. No more running, but that is okay. I look forward to being able to exercise again. I will not be pain free after this but she said that it should cut my pain by 50 - 80 %. .

Well I also wanted to leave you with a few more pics . . .

This is an outdoor dining area. This pic was taken from the skywalk.

The big back bldg is the Gonda bldg.
There are lots of statues here. These are on the side of the Mayo Medical Clinic bldg . . . so cool!!!
And here we are in a mirrored bldg . . . hubs and me in my sweet ride ;o)

Thank you all for praying. We love you all so much.

Tomorrow we head home.

Have a Blessed weekend, Dawn

We're Here!!!!

Hello from MN -- we made it to MN and the Mayo Clinic. We had a good trip --- long, but good.

This place is truly amazing!! It is hard to explain, but I'll be posting a few pics and more when we get home. Our motel is really nice, but parking is interesting. I am sooooooo glad for the subway system here. The only way to walk -- or in my case ride. Hubs is pushing me around in a wheelchair. It is just too much to walk right now, and normally riding around in a wheelchair is not for me -- but my husband has made it so fun. Yep he let's go of the handle, I know not for the faint of heart :o) and talks to me and points stuff out and just acts normal. That is big when your in a difficult season. He just treats me like he always has wheelchair or crutches or whatever the case is . . . he is just the greatest.

So this the view from our window -- so cool!!

And these are the "chandeliers" that hang in the Gonda building, where our appts are. So interesting!!!
Ahhhh and then these are my new slippers -- my friend K gave me a WM card to get some slippers before I left -- thank you so much K -- these are so comfy -- yep a vacation for my feet!!

Thanks for checking in with us. I'll try to post more tomorrow. We have an MRI at 3:15 tomorrow.

Love and hugs, Dawn