~It's Tuesday~

Outside my window...  The weather has been so nice.  We are experiencing our fall.  The temperatures range from 65-80 on any given day.  We've even had a day of rain.  It's beautiful.

I am thinking...  I am thinking about how far behind I've gotten in my blog.  But. . .life happens and the blog suffers.  

I am thankful...  I am always thankful for the provision, protection and wisdom of God that he so generously shares with me.  All I have to do is ask.

  Matthew 7:7  
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek,
and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you: 

In the kitchen... Salads and baked potatoes from the kitchen today. I may even get hubby to 'cook' for me

A quiche I made last week for brunch with Tonya and her girls.






I am wearing...  I am not feeling up to par today.  I am still in my nightgown and robe, sitting in my easy chair talking to you all.

I am creating...  A few things have been going on in the creating department recently.  Maybe not the creating that I have wanted to accomplish. . .

I DID make a few wedding gifts last week.  I framed a wedding invitation with a frame I found at the GOODWILL store.  I also made a Christmas basket (the basket was from GOODWILL as well)



I need to decorate #2 son's room with maps.   The windows around the house need cleaning.  I want to go out and attack the front yard with clippers and shovels.

From the learning rooms...  Adjectives and verbs, times tables and lots of writing practice.

I am praying...  Praying for my health, praying for wisdom.  Praying for my newly married nephew and his wife.  Praying for my children Maggie and Aaron while Aaron spends the next four months in Virginia at "A" school to receive his training to be an Electricians Mate.  (She stayed in Mississippi as the school is a bachelor school.)  Praying for far away family.

I am reading/watching... I have a couple books from the library, but they are not worth recommending, just time fillers.  I DO have the new Clive Cussler book, The Kingdom to read.  

We are watching a 'B' television series through netflix called~

 Okovango (The Wild Frontier)

I am looking forward to...  We joined a small Baptist church on Sunday evening.  Our hearts are happy and rejoicing.  It has been a LONG 2 years, without a church family, for us.  This church is an answer to our prayers.  We're looking forward to serving the Lord and having fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ!  

Around the house... The house is presentable.  The laundry pile is not too bad.  The dishes need put away, the toilets need cleaning.

What's been going on...  I had my 'lovely' Dr. appointment on the 31st.  My Dr. thought I was going to have a stroke right there on the exam table.  She wanted to know why my blood pressure was so high.  Had I ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure before?  Etc...
 
Ignoring the fact that I've put off this appointment for over a YEAR.  That I hate going to the Dr.'s.  I told her it was 'white coat' hypertension.  And that it happened before.  She was ready to prescribe me medicine right there.  Without follow up visits, change in diet, change in excersize etc.  So I have an appointment at the hospital on the 27th of Nov. to be fitted with a 24 hour blood pressure monitor.

For the reason I went to her to begin with, was pain revolving around my cycles.  She 'thought' she felt a cyst on my right ovary.  According to her the ONLY way to get rid of those is to go on birth control pills to shrink them and help with the pain.  She doesn't believe in hormone testing.  "Contrary to what Dr. Oz says, hormone testing doesn't work."  she says.  I told her I don't watch Dr. Oz   I have an appointment for an abdominal ultrasound, at the hospital, November 20th.

They drew blood to test my cholesterol levels.  It was just a tad high.

I came home from the Dr. appointment very frustrated at military medicine.   (welcome to OBAMA CARE!)  I am frustrated that they are sooo willing to prescribe drugs rather than treat the problem.  I wasn't offered a referral to see a nutritionist.  I wasn't asked at what doses I was taking my ibuprofen for my abdominal pain.  (Ibuprofen raises blood pressure.)  I wasn't encouraged to excercize regularly.  I wasn't counciled in the correlation to high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  I also wasn't told that blood pressure medication raises your cholesterol levels!
 
(my juicer)

We started walking as a family.  We're doing between 10-15 miles (or more) a week.  I bought a juicer and have been doing a modified juice fast.  I also bought my own blood pressure monitor and have checking my levels frequently at home.  They are all in a good range, go figure!

I tried straight juice for the first few days but ended up with other problems related to not receiving enough fiber.  So I drink juice 3 times a day and have a bowl of oatmeal or fruit in the morning and have baked potato or baked sweet potato and salads for lunch and dinner.
  I've cut out salt.  I've lost almost 10 pounds!

If I don't pass my 24 hour blood pressure test, I will ask for a second opinion and go see a Naturopath.  I feel that 42 years old is too young to go on that type of medication . . . for life.  And at 42, I really don't want to go on birth control pills either. 

Please pray with me that the results from the 24 hour blood pressure monitor will be favorable and that I will finally have answers to my abdominal pain.

 Recently...


A trip to the desert while the temperatures are cooler.

Passing by the Pacific Crest Trail

Waiting on my friends for a beach bonfire.

San Diego sunset.

Fall color in the desert.

  


Good buddies Tim and Sully.

 

A Wedding


Ian and Laura

A few plans for the rest of the week:  I have no firm plans for the rest of the week. 

Not even for sure what we will be doing for Thanksgiving.  I think we will spend Thanksgiving Friday with Tonya and her family.  Doctor appointment next week.

A peek into my days...



A sampling of family pictures.









Have a great week dear friends!!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

 
Happy Birthday Dad!






Give my love to Jesus.

Missing you today and always. . .

~No Tears in Heaven~
1. No tears in heaven, no sorrows given.
All will be glory in that land;
There'll be no sadness, all will be gladness,
When we shall join that happy band.

CHORUS:

No tears (in heaven fair)
No tears, no tears up there,
Sorrow and pain will all have flown;
No tears (in heaven fair)
No tears, no tears up there;
No tears in heaven will be known.

2. Glory is waiting, waiting up yonder,
Where we shall spend an endless day;
There with our Savior, we'll be forever,
Where no more sorrow can dismay.

CHORUS:

3. Some morning yonder, we'll cease to ponder
O'er things this life has brought to view;
All will be clearer, loved ones be dearer
In heav'n where all will be made new.

CHORUS:

Terrific Tuesday With A Recipe!

Please be sure to pop over to my dear friend Emily's blog and read her updates.  Her daughter Anna has just been diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.




It will be a long road, fighting this cancer.  I know the family, especially Anna appreciate your prayers.

Deuteronomy 20:4a  
"For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you. . ."

~~~Praying for Anna~~~

--------------------------------------------------------------

Cream Cheese Monkey Bread

3 cans Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls (or use store brand)
1 (8oz.) brick of cream cheese- cut into 24 cubes

Spray a budnt pan with non stick cooking spray.  Set Aside. 
Slightly flatten each cinnamon roll and place one cube of cream cheese in the center.  Fold the edges of the biscuit around the cheese.  Place the filled biscuit pieces in the budnt pan.

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 t. cinnamon

Melt sugar and butter together in small saucepan on medium heat until sugar is dissolved add cinnamon.  Stir well.  Pour this mix over the biscuits in the budnt pan. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes-until the biscuits look done and golden.  Immediately invert onto serving dish.

If your biscuits came with frosting, drizzle it over the cooked bread.  Or make your own drizzle with powdered sugar and a bit of milk.



Butter Pecan Cake with Butter Pecan Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
• 1 cup butter
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs

Butter Pecan Frosting

• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• reserved browned butter
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• about 1/3 cup milk
• remaining chopped pecans

Preparation:

In 2-quart saucepan over medium low heat, brown pecans in butter until butter is lightly browned; stir constantly. Drain browned butter into a measuring cup; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, and baking powder, salt, milk, vanilla, eggs, and 1/2 cup of the browned butter. Beat for about 2 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup of the chopped pecans. Pour batter into two greased and floured 8- or 9-inch round layer cake pans. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center. Cool for 5 minutes; remove from pans and cool thoroughly before frosting.
Frosting:
Blend confectioners' sugar with remaining browned butter, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 cup milk. Add more milk if necessary, a teaspoon at a time. Stir in remaining chopped pecans. Spread top of one layer with about 1/2 cup frosting; top with second layer. Spread remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.

Hello Sunday!

Outside my window...  Outside my window. . .it is blissfully cooler.  I awoke this morning to hear the pitter patter of rain.  It sprinkled gently all morning.  Our high temperature was 72 degrees.

I am thinking...I am thinking to the weeks ahead.  I am thinking about project lists.  Thinking about stocking up on a few craft supplies.  I wonder. . .do you think I'd make any money selling those Christmas baskets I make?

I am thankful...I am thankful to see the hand of God working in my life and of the lives of those around me.  I found out Friday evening that my neighbor knows our Pastor and his family.  It just tickles me to know the Lord placed us here.  It tickles me to see how He has his hand in the midst, stirring people and getting them to think about HIM. (My neighbors need to know about Salvation!)
 
In the kitchen...I should have taken a picture of our lunch today.  I didn't.  It was really good.  I roasted a whole chicken and made mashed potatoes and gravy too!  We have apple tart and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

I am wearing...I am wearing black and white today.  I curled my bangs and put a bit of make-up on for church today.



I am creating...My creating goal this week is to work in #2 son's room and work on his decorations.  I'll be sure to post photo's.I will also bake this week and put some desserts in the freezer.

I am reading/watching...Between books right now.

Bionic Woman in the DVD player

I am praying...  Praying for the desires of my heart, praying for far away family, for safety, for wisdom, praying for my children, praying for my witness.

Acts 1:8   "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

 I am looking forward to...  fire at the beach
 husband returning from training. . .
. . . the weekend!

From the learning rooms... It was a good week.  He seemed to grasp subtraction with borrowing.  We finished school on Thursday and were able to go to Barnes and Noble on Friday for a coffee date with Daddy.

As a reward for diligence in school, my student was able to have his friend Tim over to play this afternoon.


(Drinking tea and playing lego's)

Friday night was his first piano recital of the year.  He amazes us!  He appeared so calm.  He invited 3 friends to go. . .and they came!

(cool as a cucumber!)


(our friends from Left to right. . .Cammie, Grandma Sue and Grandpa Dave)


(Piano teacher extraordinaire, Shannon)



Cammie


Around the house... I need to get the hose for the vacuum out and vacuum up all the dust bunnies in the corners.  There are a lot of them. everything else is fairly clean.  

A favorite quote for today...

"Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy in your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties."

Helen Keller

One of my favorite things...


(Tastes a lot like movie theater popcorn. . .the secret is the sauce!)

A few plans for the rest of the week:  School,  housecleaning, baking, decorating, visit with friends, fire on the beach, piano lesson.

A peek into the past week...
We enjoyed a busy week.  It was field trip week again.  We visited a pumpkin patch.  It was held on a dairy farm.  There was lots to see and do.  Our students had such a fun time.  The teachers enjoyed the company of one another while watching the children play.





(Ethan)



(sliding down a pile of cotton seeds)



(the wagon ride)



(new Momma cow)

(baby calf)



(We played him out!)

My manly man has been slaving away around the property here.  Last weekend he prepared our back yard dirt for sod.  Yesterday he installed the sod.  It looks fantastic.  We're building a chicken house for the next project.

(the work crew)



(all done!)


Have a great week Dear Friends!