Friday's Feast

Appetizer

How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?

Anymore I just wear my wedding rings. But when I am able to get out and about again I will put in my nose ring, my belly button ring and make sure all my tats are showing! ;o)

Soup

What is your favorite instrumental song?

Pachebel's Canon in D Major. I could listen to this ALL day long and never tire of it. My bridesmaids walked down the aisle to this beautiful piece of music.

Salad

Who has a last name that you like?

Uh duh, Donny's of course! I need to get used to being called Mrs. Osmond though! I think I can handle it.

Main Course

Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.

There's a lot of movies I have never seen like:
1. Gone With The Wind
2. Casablanca
3. The Exorcist - and never will
4. Citizen Kane

But I have seen Goin' Coconuts with Donny & Marie Osmond...hehehe!

Dessert

Fill in the blank:

Nothing makes me ________ like ________.

Nothing makes me happier than the sound of a baby belly laughing!!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Thoughts of Thankfulness & Randomness

1. My crutch went out from me yesterday and I slipped. Thankfully my card table was close and I landed on it. Bent the legs something terrible, but I didn't go completely down. Every inch of me is sore today, but PTL I didn't break anything!! Scary.

2. I'm thankful I missed Larry King Live with Paris Hilton last night!

3. I was curious to know if you are allergic to anything. I'm not allergic, but I get sick when I take codeine or morphine. I'm thankful I'm not allergic to anything.

4. Gas is down to $2.58 today!! Thank you, thank you. Keep going down!

5. I'm 42 and my wisdom teeth are finally coming in. Swell. What do you bet I'll have to have them taken out? I am thankful that I still have all my teeth. :o)

6. My dad's headstone was finally put up this week. I am thankful I was able to take my mother to see it.

7. I am thankful that my MIL got along so well with her knee replacement. She looks as though she never had surgery. She goes home tomorrow and I'm sure she is thankful too!

8. I've done pretty well this week on the weight loss challenge. I did have a few Starbursts though. Eight to be exact. But that satisfied my craving for them and I'm good to go. What's your favorite flavor? Mine is orange.

9. Has anybody watched Little People, Big World? I just love that show for some reason. I guess I identify with people facing challenges and like to see how they overcome it.

10. I have received so many cards this past week from people letting me know they are praying for my upcoming surgery and volunteering to cook meals or clean. I am thankful for their love and friendship!

11. I'm thankful that tonight's supper is already in the crockpot and cooking. Mmmm, roast!

12. Not really looking forward to my physical next week because of the stinkin' blood tests. I am a very hard stick and it can take up to six or more tries before they decide to get it in my fingers. For my surgery they will probably have to do a central line which is not a lot of fun either. If you think about it please pray that on Wednesday I will only get stuck a few times. One would be even better!

13. Barb and Rob drew my name for the recipe giveaway she was hosting! I am thankful to get some new recipes for my husband to try. I love winning in Blogville!

Childhood Memories

Kids. You gotta love 'em. I would think that as your kids got older they would understand time better. "Mom. Tell us what is was like in the olden days when you were a kid." They say this with a sparkle in their eye as they look at my ever greying hair. Sigh.

As I say with a straight face to my gullible children that we were the first on the block to have indoor plumbing I start remembering the good ole days...

Deciding between a bowl of Quisp or Golden Grahams cereal was the toughest choice I had to make back then.

Filling my new Trapper Keeper with my tie dyed pencils and bright colored loose leaf paper. Oh how I loved new school supplies! And the smell of a new box of crayons was almost as good as my yearly bottle of Love's Baby Soft perfume.

My mom letting me watch the Afterschool Special before I finished my homework.

Schoolhouse Rock

Being allowed to go to the Sunday double matinees all by myself. My mom always put my hair up in curlers on Sunday afternoon so I had to go to the movies with about a dozen pink foam curlers in my hair!

Going to the roller skating rink was considered THE place to hang out.

Inviting friends over to make snow cones on your Snoopy Sno Cone Machine. I think they still make them! Or how about Shrinky Dinks?

My dad won a television that had Pong built right in! We were the first in our neighborhood to enjoy such a luxury...lol! My brother and I would play it for hours. I can't even imagine doing that now.

Curling up in bed on a rainy afternoon and reading Charlie Brown paperbacks or Little House on the Prairie. Hey, I still do that!

Guessing which Brady Bunch episode within the first three seconds of the opening. Hey, I still do that too!

We had a bell as big as the Liberty Bell that mom would ring when it was time for us to come home. We knew that it was time for supper! Which during the summer always consisted of green beans, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob, fried potatos, and tea.

I carried the biggest colored comb in my back pocket when I feathered back my hair. Why oh why did I cut off that long beautiful hair?

Picking out a tv dinner was a real treat. So was getting to eat at White Castle.

I always wanted to break a leg so I could have a cast and let people sign it. Plus I thought crutches looked like so much fun! Little did I know...

VBS and cherry Kool Aid. The two go hand in hand.

4H sewing projects and tears. These too go hand in hand!

My first PG movie. I say Tommy with my brother. Didn't understand a thing!

I loved rolling down the hill just as fast as I could go.

Wax lips, candy necklaces, Freshen Up gum, Now & Laters, giant Pixy sticks!

The whole neighborhood used to wait on my front porch for the school bus to come. My mom would come out and talk and they all thought she was a cool mom.

Seeing Donny Osmond for the first time and wondering, "Who is that?!!!" Forget Steve McQueen, there's a new man in town!

Blue eyeshadow and clear lip gloss that tasted nasty. I thought I was so pretty. After all, it was blue!

Reading "Are you there God, it's me Margaret?" with my friends and laughing and giggling wondering when will I get my period? Ten years old is just too young to start.

Christmas was very special. Until the age of thirteen I always got a brand new baby doll. When I was going into high school I still had a baby doll on my wish list and my mother told me I was too old to play with dolls. Bah humbug! I still have alot of my dolls. My Thumbelina's are by far my favorite and then my anatomically correct little boy. I'm so juvenile!

Do you remember getting the book order forms in school? Oh how I would go over and over it and spend my money wisely. We didn't have a lot of money, but I was always allowed to spend three dollars each time.

My folks use to let me order the box of seed packets from the comic books so I could go door to door selling them. I was never able to sell very many of them and dad always ended up buying the rest.

My first computer was a Commador 64.

Family nights of board games and watching Charlie Chaplin or Ma & Pa Kettle movies were THE absolute best and still are!

Oh I could go on and on. This was fun reminiscing today. What's something about your childhood that brings back fond memories?

Answered Prayers

Laurel Wreath is our hostess this week for In "other" Words. I've never participated before, but when I read the quote she chose I knew I wanted to share my heart. Please stop by and see what she and the others have to say on the subject of prayer.

"When there is little awareness of real need there is little real prayer."

~ Donald S. Whitney ~

Spiritual Disciplines For the Christian Life

My husband was leaving for London in less than two hours. We live forty five minutes away from the airport. How could I have misplaced his passport? We had literally torn the house apart all morning trying to find it. Panic set in. My husband, naturally, was quite upset with me. I had promised him that I would have him packed and ready to go. I failed.

I could see the clock ticking away. I was in tears. He had to leave in less than fifteen minutes if he was going to make his flight. I knew in my heart that I had put his passport in the top drawer on the right. I knew it. But it wasn't there. I feared the worst. Would my husband lose his job because of me?

I felt helpless and hopeless. I was ready to give up. I threw myself on the bed crying. As I lay there sobbing I thought of Philippians 4:6-7.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I remember thinking is it really okay to pray about something like this? I knew He would listen, but I felt like asking God to help me find the passport was taking away from the real needs of others. I pondered over the verse again and then begin to pray.

Lord, I know you know this already and I honestly don't know if I should be asking for this kind of help. I'm scared Lord. I've lost my husband's passport and I have no where else to look. I know You know where it is. Please God give me direction. Amen.

I continued to cry. Mainly because I was feeling sorry for myself. I didn't want my husband to be mad at me. I was scared for me. It was my fault. I went to my husband and told him I was sorry. He hugged me and said not to worry.

I stood in the middle of the bedroom still not sure what to do. I walked over to the chest of drawers and took out the top drawer completely. I bent down to take a peek and what do you know~I see the passport! That's when I REALLY let the tears flow. I immediately cried out, "Lord, you are so good to me. Thank you for allowing this to happen. I see now that You care about all our needs no matter how big or small they seem to us."

To me it's a miracle. I was healed that day, not from physical ailments, but from pride. Who was I to think that I can do anything on my own? God knows every detail of every situation. I have a desire to glorify Him in all I say and do. How am I to reflect His glory when I didn't even trust Him with my need?

I consider it a privilege being allowed to call on God anytime. I don't want the focus of my prayers to be on my needs, but rather honestly talking to Him and asking Him to guide my every step. There's no better place to be, but in the center of God's will.

I Am Touched

I received the Blogger Reflection Award from my dear friend DeeDee yesterday. This is what she had to say about me:

"I correspond with Amy frequently. I don’t know that I’ve ever met someone who makes the phrase “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” more real. And she throws a great party doing it. She is very transparent about her struggles, yet holds onto her faith with ferocity. And I imagine that she has a very hearty laugh. She’s a breath of fresh air. And she is not ashamed to admit that she “hearts” Donny Osmond. Because of her, I’ve come out of the closet as well. I “HEART” DONNY OSMOND. So there. Amy, you are a sweetheart. And I’m glad you’re my friend."

I know many of you love Donny already, oops I meant DeeDee. But, if you have never been to her place you must visit her today. And be sure to take the time to read her archives. To me DeeDee is the best writer in all of Blogville. I can't remember how I stumbled upon her site, but am I ever glad I found her. Most of her posts will leave you rolling on the floor laughing. I'll admit I've learned to go to the bathroom before I read her in the morning. Yes, she is that funny! But more importantly DeeDee has become a true friend. When I am down I send her an e-mail spilling my guts and in no time she replies back with words of encouragement, scripture passages to read and tells me she loves me. Who could ask for anything more?

Please follow these rules. I am allowed to choose five (and only 5) who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted me in some way, and have been a Godly example to me. Five bloggers who when I reflect on them I get a sense of pride and joy… of knowing them and being blessed by them. Even though I would pick DeeDee again for this award I know she would want me to choose five others that are deserving as well. It is very hard to choose only five because I love all of you so much, but here in alphabetical order (lol!) are my choices:

Carol rocks. Literally. She plays bass in a christian band, which happens to be all female. How cool is that? She's gonna let me play drums when we all get to Heaven! She, too, has been a great source of strength for me, especially when I lost my father five months ago. She reminded me that no matter what I will always be daddy's girl. Those few precious words meant the world to me when I was in such sorrow. There's lots to love about her though. Her blog is beautifully written. She can be deep and share what God is teaching her and she can be light hearted and make me laugh, which by far is my favorite thing to do. I'm pleased to call her friend.

Christine is beautiful inside and out. She is the bubbliest blogger I've met so far. From the moment I peeked at her blog I felt welcome and at home. We have a lot in common such as our love of Mustangs, we both lost our father, and we think Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. But who doesn't think that? She's a wonderful, caring mother of four beautiful children. She's a loving, supportive wife too. She's always one to write encouraging words when I am not feeling my best or even when I am. She let's me know she's thinking of me and praying for me. She makes me smile everyday when I see her picture. You can't help, but smile back. I'm blessed to have her for my friend. We so need to go to Disneyland together!

Kimmy I felt an instant connection with her. We are still getting acquainted, but I knew we would be friends. She's fairly new to Blogville so be sure and stop by and say Hi! She's open and honest with her feelings. I like that. I feel comfortable sharing my struggles with her and know that she understands. I'm never judged by what I say, only encouraged. I know she prays and is concerned just like a friend would be. Just by reading her blog you can tell what a huge heart she has for others. She's a committed mom and I enjoy reading about her boys. She shares what she is learning from her devotions and books she is reading. You never know if one of her posts is exactly what God wants for you that day! I would love to meet Kimmy. I have a feeling I would be welcomed with open arms.

Michelle is the best. I came across her blog because of her beautiful daughter Kayla. I love children, even more than laughing. She posts so many pictures and videos of Kayla. We are invited into her world as she writes about Kayla. She shares from the heart and is real about life with her daughter and husband. Michelle writes the best Grains of Gratitude every Sunday. You can tell that she is truly thankful for the good and even the trials she comes face to face with. She's such a loving wife and mother too. She's a faithful friend and always leaves uplifting and encouraging words. Once you've visited them you'll never forget them. I would love to meet her, Joe and Kayla someday. I feel honored to have them in my life.

Southern Girl is my hero. She loves Clay Aiken like I love Donny Osmond. She's faced many challenges over the years, but shines through every trial. She's an encouragement to me because I am trying to lose weight while having a disability and she's been successful on her weight loss challenge while facing some tough problems. SG is thoughtful and kind. I know we all know how funny she is, but I see a softer side. I think her mom, dad, brother, sil and nephew are blessed beyond measure to have her in their lives. SG sees the positive in every situation and that's my kind of friend. I know we could sit together and not discuss our ailments because they're is too much else in the world to focus our attention on like Clay and Donny. Right friend?

Thank you to all these ladies for their support, encouragement, friendship and love.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Reasons Why I Am Happy, Blessed & Thankful

1. My MIL had knee replacement surgery yesterday and she is doing fan.tas.tic!! I've had both my knees replaced and it was a very painful surgery. Mom is one tough cookie bcause she has only used her morphine drip a few times! Can you believe that? I am thrilled she is doing so well. I couldn't have asked for a better MIL. She loves me like one of her own.

2. I've discovered a new blog this morning and I fell in love with her instantly. Kimmie has six children and wants more. She has a heart for adoption and is open to God's calling. She writes beautifully and I can't wait to go back for another visit and read all her posts. I give you permission to leave this post and go say hello and see her beautiful kids. Go on, I don't mind!

3. I got lots of hugs yesterday just when I needed them most! Thank you friends!

4. My SIL came to see me yesterday. She was in town for her mom's surgery. She's been fighting breast cancer since the beginning of this year. She's lost her gorgeous red hair but she looks really, really good. She's always been there when I needed someone to talk to and I had a chance to share my heart yesterday. She's a great source of encouragment to me and always knows just what to say. Thank you Jesus for sending her just when I needed it most.

5. I'm happy just because the sun is shining, my kids are all peeling wallpaper and we are talking and laughing and remembering funny things we've all done. It's good to be able to laugh at ourselves from time to time.

6. I'm once again thankful that the May Day challenge is not a challenge for me right now. It's been ever so easy to eat healthy and often enough. Food is my source of energy and when I eat right I feel stronger, my skin is prettier and I go to the bathroom a lot more...hehe! TMI.

7. Less than a month until I get my new hip and then maybe only eight weeks after that until I get my other new hip! You put your new hip in, you put your new hip out, you put your new hip in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey.................

8. I know, I know I say this all the time and I'm sure you are tired of reading it BUT...my Blogville friends mean the world to me. You really have no idea how this whole thing has been an encouragement to me. I have met so many wonderful ladies and I can't wait to meet all of you. It may not be on this earth, but boy what a meeting it will be! You'll know me right away because I'll be the one wearing my Donny Osmond concert tee shirt and doing flips and cartwheels and basically showing off!

9. Oh, and I will also be playing drums because down here I can't quite get the hang of it!

10. In all seriousness, I know that I will be on my hands and knees and praising God for all the wonderful things He has done for me. If it weren't for Him I would not survive another day.

11. I'm looking forward to my daughter's 19th birthday tomorrow! I can hardly believe it. She moved in when she was just 3 1/3 years old. She was the tiniest thing. She's only 4' 11" now so she's not that much bigger! She's my little nurse and takes great care of me. Happy Birthday Kara. I love you!

12. Even when I feel like I can't take one more burden I look at these three kids and just get that warm fuzzy feeling inside. I know it's corny, but it's true. God placed His trust in my husband and I to raise these children. I know I've made many mistakes, but the one thing they know more than anything is how much they are wanted and loved and appreciated for who they are. I am blessed beyond measure!

13. I am thankful for the trials that come my way. I'll admit I've been struggling a lot lately. It's not me and my health. That's nothing. I will get better. But I have had a long year of watching others suffer terribly. There are many things I don't understand in this world and maybe I never will, but I have to trust in God and remember that He does know what's best for us. He loves my kids, my father, my mother, my friends more than even me. And boy is that a lot of lovin'!!

What kind of things makes you happy, thankful and feeling blessed?

Ever have one of those days? Well, I am having one of those weeks. I need a hug. Anybody?


Thank you. I needed that.

May Day Challenge ~ :o)

I am thankful that it has been an easy week as far as food is concerned. Things are happening in my home that have caused some major stress. It would have been easy for me to eat my troubles away by consuming Dove chocolates with the little promises on each wrapper, or maybe a roast or two! Sorry, I'm a carnivore!

I have learned this week that food is just my energy source. It keeps me alive and ticking. Yes, I can enjoy what I am having, but in reality there are other things I enjoy more than food. My husband and kids. Spending time with my mother and being a comfort to her. Guiding my kids as they patiently get my house back in order. See? There's plenty that can occupy my time more than food!

I've been eating very healthy this week. I haven't had as many fruits as I need, but other than that I've done well. My precious mom is on her way to the store right now to buy me a variety of fruits. I'm keeping the fluids in and they are making their way out-mostly at night!

I don't know if I can have this make any sense, but I actually feel a little stronger. My pain level is still high, but I feel strong. Yeah, I'm sure that makes no sense to anybody, but oh well.

I go to the doctor on July 2nd for my physical before surgery and I know they will weigh me then. I'm curious to see if I have lost anything. Even if I haven't I won't let that discourage me because I know I am doing what is best for me.

Right now my goal is to keep eating healthy. Whether or not I have lost anything is not a concern to me at this point. My way of thinking is I need to keep all the nasties out of my body, stay feeling strong and keep eating right. Now I know this doesn't mean that tomorrow Daisy the Cow or a Snicker's bar won't be calling my name, but I'll stand my ground the best I can. I know this will make for a faster and easier recovery. And besides that I'm worth it!

Less than a month for my new bionic hip!!

Dear Dad,

I've been looking at photo albums this week. I love the black and white photos the best. The smile on your face as you hold me is priceless. I can see it in your eyes how much you love me. Did you know I was going to be a daddy's girl?

I loved being in your arms as a toddler. No wonder it took so long for me to walk! I insisted that I be carried all the time. And you happily obliged. I don't recall ever having to sit in a baskcart.

Your breath always smelled like the Doublemint gum you chewed. You always brought home a brand new pack of either Fruit Striped or Juicy Fruit gum just for me. And they were the big packs too!

And I can't forget about all my treasures from the vending machines. I still cherish the little black cat, the bouncy ball all covered in something sticky, the cheap spoon ring that made my finger turn green and the Scotty dog keychain. Is this where my love of simple things came from?

You and I went out on many dates-so to speak. Our favorite places were the dump (my personal favorite), the hardware store and the lumber yard. Do you remember the rocking chair that someone threw out as garbage? You knew you could fix it and paint it and make it brand new. I spent many days rocking my baby dolls in that chair.

Do you remember building the tree house for Jimmy and I? I was tickled to death to wear your tool apron with the big pockets and hand you nails when you needed them. I felt like we were a team. And I loved it that you would climb up and play house or cowboys and indians with us!

On Christmas Eve you and I would drive around looking for Santa as mom and Jimmy were putting the gifts under the tree. Your imagination was even bigger than mine! Funny how we always managed to see him right before we went home :o)

You were always soft spoken and gentle. You never raised your voice. I was never afraid of making you mad or angry. I always felt safe enough to come talk to you about anything. Thank you.

I so enjoyed going to the Ice Capades every year with you and mom. You always bought me a program that I would look at over and over until they fell apart. I still have them all!

You always held my hand tight as the technician tried to draw blood. You knew that was what I hated most. When I cried you cried harder.

Thank you for taking me to the Donny & Marie concert! That is a night I will never ever forget.

All the trips back and forth to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago made for long days. You made them special. I loved talking on the cb radio and people watching while we were waiting to see the doctor. Do you remember that little thrift store we would walk to in between appointments. I always managed to find a new treasure to bring home. And what a treat it was to eat at Red Lobster on the way home!

Family devotions were very special. All of us in our pajamas sitting on your and mom's bed. You both taught us His words and explained salvation to us. You led by example. You never waivered from your faith even in dark times.

Parkinson's came out of nowhere and took us all by surprise. You could have been bitter and ugly, but you were strong and brave. Never asking why. Never complaining. Always thankful for the care mom gave you. She loved you more than anything.

All the town's people loved you dad. Did you know that? I've never heard an unkind word on your behalf. Only words of high praise and adoration. Even from one of the men you had to fire once! He said it was the kindest firing he ever received.

As a grandpa you ROCKED! All the grandkids knew how much you loved them. You made time for them just like you did us. They knew you would listen and offer good advice. They miss you.

As a husband you were supportive. You always put mom's needs before your own. That one line speaks volumes in and of itself.

As a father I couldn't have asked for anyone better. I cherish every moment we spent together and know how blessed I am to have been your daughter. Thank you Dad.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of you and wonder what you are doing. It's only been five months since you left, but it feels like a lifetime ago. I miss you terribly. I am thankful you are no longer suffering! I look forward to seeing you again. I love you Dad and I am still your little girl!

This Is What I Need Right Now

There is nothing--no circumstance, no trouble, no testing--that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment. But as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no circumstance will cause me to fret, for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is--that is the rest of victory!

Sunshine Blisters

This post will be short and sweet. I'll explain in a day or two. Let's just say that the tops of my hands are sunburned and blistered which makes it hard to type right now. Love you all and I'll be back as soon as the pain and swelling are better!

P.S. I have done really well on my weight loss challenge this week!

Friday's Feast

Yesterday's post was about all about my precious Woo and I forgot to tell one of the funniest things she does. We adopted her when she was six weeks old and I guess I started doing this because I am a mom and this is what mom's do. When she would start to wander off or jump on people or just general naughtiness I would start counting...one....two... and for some reason when I would get to two she would stop! To this day if I want her to stop licking the floor or quit doing anything I do the one, two count and she stops. If only kids were that well trained!

Appetizer

What do you consider to be the ultimate snack food?

Easy question....hot buttered popcorn with fresh Milk Duds! I love salty and sweet things together and the stickiness off the carmel in my teeth is the best. Let's just say I have to spend a long time brushing and flossing my teeth if I ever eat this ultimate snack, but it is SO worth it.

Soup

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), about how popular is your last name?

My maiden name was Williams and of course that is a very popular name, but my married name is probably about a two. And that's only because my hubby comes from such a huge family!

Salad

Who is your all-time favorite sitcom character, and why?

Probaby Barney from The Andy Griffith Show. To me Don Knotts was so believable in that character. It's one of my all time favorite shows!

Main Course

Do you shop online? If so, name some sites you like to browse for goodies.

I like to collect unusual Noah's Ark items so when I have extra money I like to shop on e-Bay.

Dessert

Fill in the blank: I think ___________ should be ___________.

I think dessert should be eaten first.
I think gas prices should be lower.
I think my surgery should be sooner.
I think Donny should be my next husband!

Tricky Thursday Thirteen

13 Tricks, Phrases and Interesting Facts About WensleyDale

1. Woo can stand on her hind feet and twirl like a ballerina. Nothing funnier than a 5o pound bulldog in a tutu!

2. Wensley knows she gets fed twice a day. Even on days when she has had treat after treat she insists on eating at night. We've learned that we can put like a 1/2 cup of IAMS in her bowl and she'll be happy just because she's eaten twice.

3. This dog is a smart one. Just like the kids, she learned to make her presence known when we go to the bank. She knows that if the bank teller sees her she will get two dog bones!

4. When we pretend to make our hand into a gun and say bang she rolls over and plays dead.

5. She can do the easy stuff like high fives, shake, roll over, stay, speak, and kiss.

6. When we say get your baby she will find one of her stuffed animals and bring it to us. And when we tell her to get her toy she gets her squeaky ones and she also knows when we say go get your ball!

7. Being a bulldog she has a hard time giving herself a proper bath. When she sees one of us geting the baby wipes she immediately jumps on the bed and rolls over so we can clean her bottom. Poor thing. And when she is in heat she gets really gassy. She will by sleeping soundly and when she toots she gets up and leaves the room! Smart girl.

8. She tattles on herself. It rarely happens anymore, but if we forget to tell her goodbye she gets a little miffed and finds something to chew up. When we get home she greets us all and is happy to see us, but then she immediately runs back in the house and hides under the end table. That's when we know she did something! Once we find it we hold it up and ask, "Did you do this?" She always looks away from it and ignores us. We die laughing at that point.

9. She tell us she's sorry. When she has done something naughty she avoids us at all costs. If my hubby and I look at each other and say, "She's not even sorry." then she will run over to us and lick us to death as if to say she was sorry.

10. She LOVES to wear her bandanas. She gets all excited when we get them out and runs to us and stands still until we tie it on her. If we take it off she tries to stick her head back in the hole of the bandana. I personally think she feels pretty when she wears them!

11. My kids and I were bored one day and wrote down all the phrases she knew and understood. Our list was well over 100 when we got bored. I never knew dogs were so intelligent before we got her. I've always talked to her like she was a human and sometimes it gets creepy with what she understands.

12. Here are a few examples of the phrases she understood the very first time I said them. You'll understand why I got creeped out and wondered if she was reincarnated or something. But I don't believe in reincarnation so I just got the heebie jeebies instead. When I said these things I didn't yell, I just sorta said them casually.

A. When she was about 2 months old she was laying on my foot and I said scoot back and she moved about six inches away.

B. I used to pick her up and put her in the van. One day she was too heavy and I couldn't lift her anymore. I told her she was going to have to do it herself if she wanted to go. Then it was as if she took a deep breath and she jumped as high as she could. She didn't make it the first time, but she did the second. She also realized that my husband could still lift her and if we went anywhere together she still made him pick her up!

C. There isn't enough room in the hallway for me, my crutches, and her to walk beside me. One day I told her to back up and she did! If I say excuse me, she will step out of the way and let me through first.

D. She is used to going everywhere with us. Seriously. She's been all over the U.S. When we had to go to my father's funeral she was all happy because she could tell we were getting ready to go bye bye. I just looked at her and said, "Not today." She really did understand and she went off and laid under the end table without any begging.

E. She will eat absolutely anything that you drop and one day I accidentally dropped a pill. She of course saw it and instead of yelling NO at her I simply said, "That's not for you." And she didn't even sniff it. I tend to drop my medicine a lot and she just looks at it and leaves it alone. NOTE: I do not leave my medicine on the ground, I have a little grabber that I can pick it up with. She's well behaved, but I would never ever want ot harm her.

F. One afternoon she really wanted some treats. My husband said to her, "You know what to do." All of the sudden she is rolling over, trying to shake, twirling like a ballerina. She was going through all her tricks she had learned!! Needless to say she got severl treats for being so smart.

13. WensleyDale is the sweetest, most lovable dog you will ever meet. She loves people and animals all the same. She believes that we exist for her! She really is the most well behaved dog I have ever seen. She gets compliments all the time from strangers on her behaviour. She is loved like one of our own children and if at all possible she goes with us wherever we go. She provides me with love and laughter everyday. How could I not love her?

Recipe Exchange~Favorite Main Dish

Tales from the Scales is hosting a recipe exchange today. Ooooh, when I typed the word hosting I started thinking about Hostess products such as HoHos, Ding Dongs and Spice Cakes.......... yummers! I love salty and sweet things together, don't you? On road trips my SIL and I had to have a box of Ding Dongs and a can of Pringles. We would take a bite of the chocolate and then stuff a Pringle in our mouth. Slurp! In all honesty I know that if you put that in front of me this morning I would not eat it. To me that's good to know. Some old bad habits are no long desired. Yayness!

Around our home we love, love, love chicken! We buy truckloads of frozen chicken breasts so we never run out. We eat it practically every night, but after awhile our beloved chicken starts tasting the same. My creative hubby was in Kroger one day and bought several different marinades like lemon pepper, teriyaki, santa fe, caribbean jerk, bbq, you name it they got it!

He put about six chicken breast in the crockpot, added one bottle of marinade and cooked it on high for one hour and then low for another three to four hours. The chicken is ever so tender and tastes ever so good! We usually serve it over brown rice along with a couple of veggies.

With all the different flavors out there we found it just adds a little ZING and ZEST to our foul friend. Of course you can marinade just about any kind of meat you want, but this is our preference. Enjoy!

May Day Challenge~Week Four

I touched on this in yesterday's post, but since it was so enticing I'll share once again.

If you remember last time I was struggling with being on a higher dose of prednisone and feeling like I could eat all the live long day. And. I. Did. Even though I felt better I knew there was no way I could continue doing. I'm already a BIG girl and need help up from my family. I know they want to get muscular and fit for the summer, but I also realize they don't need to get a hernia either. I'm sweet like that.

I started taking my prednisone all at once instead of once in the am and once in the pm. Well, I do hurt more and my physical limitations have increased again, but I am not eating! Hallelujah! Now my trouble is that when my pain is increased I don't want to eat anything because I simply am not hungry.

My struggles this week are making myself eat several times a day and drinking water. I normally love water, but this week it does not taste good so I've been drinking a lot of Diet Mountain Dew. I know. I know. I shouldn't have allowed it in my house in the first place. I guess I justified it by saying it is diet, but it is still not good for you. Especially when you have bad bones.

But the good things I've done is resist kettlecorn which I would probably give my right arm for. Hey wait, I'm right handed so I change that to my first born! I've been good and sticking to about 7 ounces of meat a day. I've had lots of dark green veggies thanks to my hubs who keeps me eating healthy. Thank you Love.

I'm trying my hardest to do my exercises they have given me before I have hip surgery, but it is only making me hurt more. I have so much energy though and I don't know how to get rid of it except for bossing people around! Before you advise me to lift weights or things like that please know that I have arthritis in every joint and my whole body is in a flare up. I can make my shoulder hurt for days on end of I lift a glass that is too full. Is Diet Mt. Dew lighter than water? Just checking! What if I leave out the ice? Okay, fine.

Begrudgingly I vow this week to give up my Dew and drink lots and lots of water. When I want flavor I will have a glass of Crystal Light or a piece of Chocolate Mousse Cake. Gotcha!

I'm Baaacckk!

I'm sorry for not posting about my exciting life lately. I've spent much of my blogging time visiting y'all and trying to catch up on comments. Your lives are much more interesting than mine, but I do have a few things to share.

My baby girl graduated! She was 23rd in her class of 156 and graduated with an academic honors diploma. She worked hard and I am so proud of her. This girl knows how to study and will have no problems in college. I say this because my son doesn't have to do anything to make an A in a class and I fear he will be lost in college because of his study habits~or lack thereof. Right now my daughter is going to take her prereq. classes at Ivy Tech and get her CNA training this summer. She's still praying about where to go to college for nursing school. I am thankful she is going to be around for awhile I must admit. With me having surgery here soon she is a huge help when it comes to taking care of me.

Her open house was held at the church and it went over great. My daughter isn't in to all the thrills and frills so it was very simple. I was thankful for the simplicity of it all. My main concern was a yummy punch and another blogger gave me a great recipe but my daughter said let's just take blue Hawaiian punch, ginger ale and crush up ice and viola! And you know what? We got more rave reviews about that so-called punch. I'll remember this for when my son graduates in two years!

Let's see, what else? Well, I took my mom to the cemetery on Memorial Day to set out flowers for dad. They still don't have his headstone up. Because my mom did so well that helped me to not just break down completely. I, personally, am not one to visit a cemetery because I know that my dad is in Heaven and it is just his shell that is in the ground. But I always want to take my mother when she wants to go.

My hubby was in Pennsylvania for the weekend so I had the opportunity to keep my kids busy. They were a huge help and we cleaned out drawer after drawer and three closets. We managed to take two van loads of stuff to Goodwill! My son was very busy peeling wallpaper in our bathroom. Our home was built in 1976 and, ummm, yeah, we still have the same wallpaper up. Let's just say it was really ugly! Does anybody remember foil wallpaper? 'Nuf said.

Hows does a family of five manage to gather so much junk? It's ridiculous the things we have saved over the years. My kids are going Wednesday to the local thrift shop and opening up an account so they can start making a little money on some of their old clothes and things. I think when I'm back to moving I need to do that too. Hey, if it will help pay for a tank of gas then I guess it's time to sale my size 3 jeans that I will never ever fit in again! I just kept them so I could prove that I used to have no figure. I was so tiny people, but thanks to Chocolate Mousse Cake I've fluffed up a bit. :o)

Speaking of which, I was taking my prednisone twice a day and all I wanted to do was eat everything in the world. Seriously. Even the stuff I dislike sounded good! Anyhoo, I switched to taking it all in the morning and while I do hurt more at least I am no longer hungry!!!!!! This is a HUGE deal folks. Actually I am back to making myself eat every few hours. I guess I should have waited and posted about this tomorrow, but that's okay. I'm happy!

I'm really anxious to visit you guys so I am gonna hush and come say HI!

Works For Me Wednesday~Easy Donations

I have several pets of my own and I know how much food they consume each day! This past year I started signing up for any free sample of dog or cat food I could find. I clipped all the pet food coupons from the Sunday paper and watched for great sales.

It wasn't long until my box had about 15 cans of pet food, three rawhide bones, five sample sized bags of cat food and 6-4 lb. bags of dog food! I paid under $5 for all of it. My daughter then loaded it in the car and donated it to the animal shelter.

I asked my family and friends if they would be willing to sign up as well and donate the food and they all said YES! This month we've managed to gather more than a box full. ;o)

Here are a couple of sites I use to gather all the goods. If you are willing to do the same thing please visit them and start collecting!

Budget Helps

My Savings

If you know of another site I could get pet food freebies would you please leave the link in a comment? Thank you!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

Name a sound you like to hear.

MOM! From the time I was a little girl I always dreamed of having a family someday with at least two kids. I have been blessed with three! So when they call out my name I love it and get that warm fuzzy feeling. And then there are days when it's my least favorite thing to hear if they had a day of endless wants and needs! Hey, I'm just trying to be truthful here folks.

And a baby with a good old belly laugh has got to be at the top of my list too. I'm looking forward to making my grandbabies laugh until they spit up ;o)

Soup

What is your favorite kind of cheese?

For a gal that never liked cheese all her life I have become its #1 fan! One day my hubby had an gyro and the feta cheese called my name big and loud. I answered it's call and ate it all. Hubby had to order extra feta! Wouldn't you say that's a weird cheese to all of the sudden want?

Salad

Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not?

That would be a big fat no! Even though I am on the no call list I get calls all the time and when I answer nobody is on the other end! It drives me crazy and I don't know what to do about it. Any suggestions?

Main Course

When was the last time you forgot something? What was it, and how long did it take to remember it?

LOL! I came back and had to change this answer because I forgot to publish my Friday's Feast on Friday. I only remembered because I was going to write a small post about my daughter's graduation and noticed it then. Oops!

Dessert

Fill in the blank: I notice _____when I see_____.

I notice I drool when I see Chocolate Mousse Cake. Trust me, you would too!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Simple Things That Make Amy Just Plain Happy

1. I'm going to see Pirates 3 tonight with my hubs at 8pm! Plus my ticket is free 'cause I got wheels....yay!

2. My son surprised me with a pink rose he picked from our rose bush. It's big, beautiful and and makes my bedroom smell wonderful.

3. Jordin Sparks wins American Idol and Apolo Anton Ohno won Dancing With The Stars!

4. Receiving an actual handwritten letter in the mail from a friend. Nobody writes letters anymore. Why is that?

5. Free samples in the mail make my day! This is just a suggestion, but I try to get as many free samples of pet food that I can and when I get a small box full I donate it to the animal shelter. And even the local food shelters will take the sample sizes of shampoos and soaps. Just an idea!

6. Little House On The Prairie shows when Almanzo and Laura fall in love. Awww!

7. Sitting outside and the only thing you hear are birds singing and you can tell that even they are happy! The sky is a beautiful blue and filled with the whitest, biggest, puffiest clouds. You feel like a kid again and you see an alligator in that cloud and maybe an elephant in another one. Then you start remembering how you used to have contests with the neighbors to see who could roll down the hill the fastest!

8. Finding a kitchen gadget at the thrift shop or Wal-mart and you wonder how you ever lived without it.

9. Anything Blue, of course! I just get all giddy when I see anything blue.

10. Getting an e-mail from Bath & Body Works and learning that their new scent is Pineapple! *SNIFF* Mmmm, I can taste it already!

11. Our bulldog is a daddy's girl, but when he is at work Wensley has to be by my side ALL day long. If you're not an animal lover this won't mean much to you, but for those that are you know what it's like to feel loved, especially when you're having a bad day.

12. Finding a baby picture of my son at two months old. He is on cloud nine and so am I! For this to make sense you need to know that we adopted him at 3 1/2. All our pictures are from that point on. He and I just looked at that precious picture forever smiling and oohing and aawwing.

13. Cutting down on my prednisone and finally not being starved to death! My body knows it that's for sure because I am in a world of hurt today. But I think I would rather tough it out than have that feeling of hunger for the next two months and probably gaining a lot of weight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My daughter is graduating this Saturday so I probably won't get to visit or post for a few days. I have cakes to bake and cookies to make and I can't forget to decorate! I promise to watch the sweets this weekend ;o) I will miss you all and hope and pray that everyone is well until I return. Have a great, wonderful weekend!

Still Heavyweight Champ

Since going up on my prednisone all I have done is eat. I am starved day in and day out. I tell myself you can eat again in a few hours. I drink and drink to make myself feel full, but nothing is working. So I eat. And eat.

Again, I don't have a scale so I don't know how much I gained. I know I have lost a lot of water that's for sure! At least some of the water retention is gone :o) I'm starting to have ankles again!

I decided yesterday that I would go back down on the medicine to 10mg because I know how much it will help with the weight. But I also know that it means back to not moving around to well and someone having to help me up all the time. It's a vicious cycle really. But I know I cannot afford to gain weight before surgery. It will make recovery that much harder.

Please pray for me this week as I cut down on the meds that maybe, just maybe I won't return to as much pain as before. I only have less than eight weeks to go before the first surgery so I really need to do this right. And I WANT to do this right.

My family went to the store yesterday for me so my house is stocked full of all the right foods I need. All the cakes and pies are gone. No more temptations there. I know I can do this right.

Today is a new day with no mistakes in it yet.

Thank You Challenge!

Ladies, I have a new friend and I want you to meet her! Sandy is a new blogger so let's give her a warm welcome....Hi Sandy! Her post yesterday was about two little words that are so easy to say, and we love to hear them ourselves, but do we actually take the time to say them.

Please take a moment and read her post and then come back and I'll finish my thoughts. It's okay, I'm not going anywhere! I promise I will be here just for you. Please remember to leave a comment and say hi, hello, howdy or hey!

Thank you for taking the time to go over to Sandy's. Is she right or what?

I am blessed with awesome caregivers. You all know that. Right now I may not be able to take care of them or do things for them like I want too, but my lips and heart can easily say thank you to these special people. As I write this I am teary eyed. I have shared some details of my situation, but not entirely. No, there aren't any secrets or anything like that, but it is not easy to take care of a disabled person, especially when you're still kids. My children have readily accepted the extra chores and sacrificed their "play" time to be with me so I won't ever be alone. How can I not get all teary when I think of them?

And my husband you ask? He gets up early and works so hard running his own business. If any of you do that you know it is not easy. And when he comes home at night his first priority has been me. He makes me a delicious healthy dinner and spends his evenings doing whatever needs to be done. And the poor guy loses a lot of sleep at night when I have a bad night of hurting. I try my best to be as quiet as I can during the night if I am awake from the pain. It bothers me for him to lose his much needed rest. But now I'm off on yet another tangent. I'll just end with I am majorly loved by this man!

The challenge this week is to say thank you to three people and then stop by Sandy's place and let her know. Three (3) people is a piece of cake ladies! Saying thank you to that stranger who took the time to open a door for you may be just the little pick me up they needed because they are having a bad day. You just never know!

Here is my list and it's only for Sunday.....

Thank you Jordan for washing and putting away all the dishes, making me two delicious meals, mopping my bathroom floor, and for keeping me company when everyone else was gone!

Thank you Mom for going to Walmart and looking for the ingredients to make punch for Kara's graduation this weekend so I wouldn't have to try and get out. And thank you for the homemade beef and noodles, the corned beef, the chocolate cake and the lemon creme pie! The kids have eaten most of the cake already!

Thank you Kara for washing my hair, helping me shower and then help me get dressed in something other than pajamas. Thank you for helping me get in the van. Thank you for being so patient with me all the time. You are already a fantastic nurse!

Thank you David for all the phone calls and fun text messages while you were gone this weekend. We always have so much fun being silly and goofy together, don't we? I know you worry about me when you're away. I can see it in your eyes how much it hurts to see me in pain. I'm okay. Thank you for loving me and marrying me 22 years ago!

And thank you Sandy for this nice reminder and for being my friend. Welcome to Blogville, as I like to call it. There are some very special ladies out there to get to know and love!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

List 3 emotions you experienced this week.

Stressed-I just realized yesterday that next Saturday my daughter is graduating from high school and I have SO much to do.
Scared anticipation-In two months I will finally be having one of my hips replaced. I've been through nine other surgeries, but I always get scared and want to chicken out right before I go.
But then I know I don't want to be on crutches the rest of my life so....
Anger-When I was coming out of my doctor appointment my husband noticed a bush on fire beside our van. We noticed four people smoking in a truck and they were throwing out their cigarette butts without a care in the world. They realized that my husband was putting out the fire with our drinks and by stomping on it, but they never offered to help. And it wasn't a small fire. I was angry because they didn't care that they started a fire that had we not been there it would have grown and caused major damage. I thought most cars had ashtrays in them. Why not put the butts in their?

Soup

Name a car you’d love to have.

This is an easy question for me! My husband built this car for a customer, but because he is so busy he doesn't have time to enjoy it so he is selling it. Oh, how I wish I could buy this for my hubby and me! If you enjoy Mustangs at all go check out this site: http://www.dvsrestorations.com/salepage.html

Salad

Describe your typical morning routine.

I wake up when the kids are ready to leave for school around 7:30. I ask hubby to help me to the bathroom. I wash my hands and face and brush my teeth. He gets ready and leaves for work. I am sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for my daughter to get up. She's been rather lazy and doesn't get up until 10:30 or so, but that's another story. While I am waiting I love on my precious bulldog and tell her how precious she is! I also play a game on my cell phone and try to beat my high scores. When she finally gets up she brings me my card table and computer to start working or reading blogs. And if she's in a good mood she will bring me a wheat bagel with flavor on it! Okay, who's jealous? Ask me this in a few months because things will have changed drastically by then!!!

Main Course

Have you ever emailed someone famous? If so, who, and what did you say to them? Did they reply?

What about actually sending a hand written letter like in the olden days? Because I wrote Donny Osmond several fan letters :o) I never got an actual letter from him, but I received a couple of autographed pictures!

Dessert

Do you listen to podcasts? If so, which ones?

No, because I have teenage children and they always have something playing in the background. Enough said!

A Tag Turned Into A Thursday Thirteen

How's that for killing two birds with one stone?

The Queen Mother of Blogville, Barb, tagged me for the meme I did a week or so ago, but who am I to say no to the Queen...I respect her so much. If you have never been to her place you are missing out! You will be greeted with open arms and you'll feel like part of her family.

And speaking of Barb, please keep her 22 month old grandson, Cameron in your prayers. He has been disgnosed with Type 1 juvenille diabetes. He's doing better right now, but please check her blog and read the whole story. Plus you will get to see the handsome little guy yourself! Bonus!

You know what's sad? I've done the weird meme like three or four times and I never have trouble coming up with more weirdness! Maybe I'll throw in a few bad habits or two.

Let's get on with it....

Whenever I eat a 3 Musketeers bar I like to ear all the chocolate off first and then eat the yummy insides! I can’t for the life of me eat it like a normal person. I don’t do this with any other candy bar if that helps ease your mind!

I give myself an injection of Humira once a week and I’m telling ya that stuff burns! Brings tears to my eyes every week. So I distract myself I like to sing out loud the theme song from The Smurfs. What’s even weirder is that I never watched that show!

To ease my hunger pains I like to either watch the cooking channel (Paula, you’re my gal!) or look through cookbooks. I wish they made a scratch and sniff cookbook. Now there’s an idea!

I’m the only one I know that does this, but when I greet people I never say Hi or Hello. I always say, “Hey!” When I have said this some respond, “Hay is for horses.” That’s when I decide if I will ever speak to them again…just kidding!

I am no fashion queen that's for sure, but I need my socks to match my t-shirt for the day!

I sleep with the fan on everynight. Even when it's cold outside. The noise helps drown out my husband's and bulldog's snoring!

I'm a bouncer. You know the annoying one that sits beside you and bounces her leg up and down and shakes the whole table? Yeah, that's me.

My checkbook has to balance to the penny. I can't sleep unless it does.

I've been told that my laugh is contagious, but I think it is loud and obnoxious.

I CANNOT STAND FEET-not even my own. Don't want to touch them and please don't put your barefeet on me. Gross!

I love, love, love to have my back tickled when I don't feel well. When I had my kidney stones and was so sick, my dear precious children would take turns and spend a half an hour a piece tickling my back. Now that's love!

Even though you may think it is immature of me I love to grab the Highlights magazine in the doctors office and do the hidden puzzle, read all the corny jokes, and see all the artwork. Oh, and who can forget about Goofus and Gallant?

I know this is wrong and I did confess this to another blogger friend, but for awhile I had magazine telemarketers calling ALL the time. I finally got fed up and when they would call I had many reasons why I couldn't but their magazines. A few were:

I am blind and don't know how to read braille.
We are on the verge of losing everything so I better not buy any right now.
If I buy a subscription would you make a donation to my favorite charity? (He said nothing and hung up.)

I have before asked a telemarketer if I listen to your spiel would you listen to me explain the plan of salvation. And she said yes! She was very friendly and polite and said she wasn't sure yet what she believed, but she thanked me and I thanked her for taking the time to listen. You just never know.

Thank you Barb for the tag! I won't be doing any tagging since all my friends have pretty much done this in one way or another. BUT if you feel the need to do it again let me know!

May Day, May Day!

No Scales=No Idea! I honestly don't know if I have lost any weight or not because I don't own a set of scales. I can hear you saying~then go buy some. Honestly right now it wouldn't do me a bit of good because I wouldn't be able to step on them without cracking a hip or two.

Explanation~hips bad.no range of motion.stuck for time being

When you cannot function you rely on everyone else to do what needs to be done. That includes bringing me a sip of water when I look dehydrated and maybe a morsel or two of food when I pass out from lack of nourishment! You know what? As much as it stinks sitting in the same spot on the side of my bed day in and day out I know there is a reason for it. Like the name of my blog says-laughing through the tears. I definitely cry a lot more than I used too. I'm just in so much pain that's inescapable it gets to me before I even realize it sometimes. The joke around here is if I scream out in pain someone will ask what happened. I laugh and say, "I moved." So if it happens again they all yell out~stop moving Mom! I dunno. Maybe you have to be here to see the humor in it.

Okay, to get off my tangent now. What I was going to sat was my family is a huge help when it comes to feeding this savage beast. I eat about every two to three hours. Not big meals, but small ones. Sometimes it may be a piece of fruit or just a carton of yogurt, but still something. My kids do a terrific job of knowing what's allowed and what really isn't. And my husband, bless his heart, comes home from work every night and cooks me a hot home cooked meal that is always out of this world!

My biggest challenge is I crave MEAT! There have been plenty of mornings when I eat a turkey sandwich for breakfast. My dietitian said if that's what my body is calling for than go ahead. I allow myself 6-7 ounces of meat a day. Sometimes I do go over, but not crazy.

I drink lots and lots all day long. I do try to get a lot of water in, but I also drink a lot of Crystal Light. Mmmmmm, flavor!

I have had a hard time this week with feeling hungry ALL the time. I had to raise my Prednisone by quite a bit and until I get used to it again I will feel like I haven't eaten in weeks. My tummy growls non stop and I think I need to eat until I look at the time and realize I just ate a bowl of oatmeal 10 minutes ago! I know I have had enough food, but keeping busy helps me not think about it so I like to get on the computer and read, read, read your posts!

I know that it is possible to lose weight without any exercise. It does come off very slowly, but the key word is off! I am thankful for this challenge and being held accountable for my actions. I need to lose a lot of poundage for my health an easier recovery from surgery. Once I get my hips replaced I want to lose the weight not only for my health, but for my husband. I want to look beautiful again for him. He deserves it!

Ladies, we're all in this together! I don't know if I can be an encouragment to you with my situation, but I want to show that it can be done. Could this be one of the reasons I am where I am right now?

Happy Mother's Day!

I've been spoiled today by my husband's great cooking! We invited my mother over today as well and he made broccoli cheese soup with sourdough bread, lemon pepper chicken with brown rice, carrots (my fave veggie right now), and a vast array of desserts, which I have yet to try! My mom got full before she could finish so we sent home a doggie bag.

My girls had to work today, but it has been enjoyable spending the day with my mom and my two guys. After we ate we had a competitive game of Scrabble! Gggrrr, my son beat me by two points! I tried tricking him and saying I got a 50 point bonus for using all my tiles first. It didn't work. Didn't I teach this kid anything?

After my girls get home from church tonight we are going to watch Night at the Museum. It's a really cute movie if you haven't seen it yet. I'm saving room for a small bite or two of the desserts. After all I will be writing about my weight loss challenge on Tuesday...sigh!

If you happen to stop by today let me wish you a very Happy Mother's Day to all!

Friday's Feast, Friday Fill-In

Appetizer

Tell about a time when you had to be brave.

I suppose the first time I ever went in for surgery. I was only 22 and I had both knees replaced at the same time. It was pretty scary, but boy am I ever thankful I did it. I only wish I was allowed to have both my hips replaced at the same time, but they can't. Sadness!

Soup

Which upcoming movie are you excited about seeing?

I've seen Spidey 3 and enjoyed it, but I am looking forward to Ocean's 13 and Pirate's 3 next.

Salad

Name an item you try to always have on hand.

I drink ALOT so I like to have several different flavors of Crystal Light on hand.

Main Course

Imagine the most relaxing room you can think of. Now describe it!

Easy~just a room full of pillows of every shape and size and softness and firmness. All I need is someone to help me down and then up if I ever decide to leave. Plus there has to be lots and lots of blue!!

Dessert

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest), how spiritual or religious are you?

I, personally, don't think you can rate how spiritual or religious you are. To me you either believe in a high power or you don't. I believe that Jesus Christ in the Son of God and I believe that He died to save us from our sins. I know that when I die I will go to Heaven for eternity!



1. It's time for foodage~and I am hungry! Woohoo!

2. Only 13 more days til my daughter takes her final high school exam and graduates two days later.

3. It was a painful day yesterday!

4. I love my pillows!

5. Size is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a rather large person trying to sit in a tiny airplane seat.

6. Mothers:always bring extra love!

7. I'd like to do a little shopping and bossing others around this weekend.

Thankful Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Thank You's For My Mom

1. Even though your first pregnancy was so hard on you, thank you for wanting to have another baby~me!

2. Remember when I was three and you got me all dressed up to get my picture taken and I found your new tube of red lipstick and smeared it all over my face? Thank you for not yelling at me! Instead, you laughed and took my picture then you cleaned me all up and we went to Olan Mills. Wasn't I a cutie?

3. Even though you weren't a huge animal lover you always welcomed with open arms every stray animal I brought home. Thank you for allowing me to have so many pets growing up and thank you for cleaning up after them and paying for all the vet bills!

4. Thank you for making my birthdays extra special! You and dad made every effort to get everything we asked for and you made me feel like a queen every August 7th!

5. When you learned that I had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis you sobbed for days. Even though I was scared and wasn't quite sure what was happening I could see how much you loved me. Thank you for loving me so much it hurts.

6. Thank you for getting up early everyday to help me with my range of motion exercises. You made sure I did them three times a day even though I sometimes fought with you.

7. 4-H projects would have never been completed without your encouragment and help. Together we got a champion, reserve champion and many, many blue ribbons! Way to go mom!

8. Green beans, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob, fried zucchini and iced tea was our very favorite meal all summer long and you made it with love even though you grew tired of eating by July.

9. Thank you for loving my boyfriend and future husband so much! David thanks you too for all the lasagna and home cooked meals you provided him. He knew he could always count on you for a meal or a few extra dollars when he was running short!

10. Your support when we decided to adopt three kids was amazing! You never questioned or worried about what we were getting ourselves into. You were just as excited as we were to have them and you have been THE best grandmother ever! All the grandchildren know how much they are truly loved by you! I can't thank you enough for this mom.

11. Throughout all my surgeries and painful days I know you were on bended knee asking God to give me comfort and relief. You have always been a prayer warrior and taught me to trust God completely and rely on Him for all things. Thank you for your continued prayers on my behalf and others.

12. I know when you love somebody you do anything and everything you can to help them. You gave more than your all when it came to dad. I know he wouldn't have lived so long if it weren't for your love and constant care. Thank you for sacrificing your days and nights to keep him comfortable. I know dad thanks you too.

13. I have always known you to be the woman who would give up her last dime for anybody that needed it. You give and give and give without asking anything in return. Thank you for teaching me that God comes first, others second and ourselves last.

Wishing all of you a very Happy Mother's Day!

Thrice Tagged

De, Christine, and Carol have all tagged me for similar memes. I've done these before, but who am I to pass up a meme? I'm never shy for words so I will do a combo of the seven to ten weird habits I have that you may not know already!

1. I am not the most organized person in the world, but it drives me insane if my cds and dvds are not alphabetized on the shelf. I'm such a nag that when my kids borrow one of my cds they say, "Don't worry. I will put it back right where it belongs." I sense some sarcasm. Oh, and when it's a collection of cds they have to be put in order of release. That way when I go to listen to my guy, Donny, I know where Puppy Love is and where my Joseph cd is! Please don't roll your eyes~it really isn't too much to ask!

2. My husband makes fun of me because I can tell you exactly what episode of The Brady Bunch it is within two seconds of seeing the setting for the show. Sad, but true. And if you really want to pity me just know that if I see it on the telly I will stop and watch it and enjoy every minute of it. What's your favorite episode? I loved the Davy Jones episode and all the ones that they got to sing and dance in. Me Dork!

3. I have never ever liked cheese. Until recently. Now I can't get enough of it. I never liked eating a piece of any kind or even putting it on my sandwiches, but one day hubs was having a piece of feta and I asked for some. He LOVES cheese and isn't to fond of sharing, but I managed to tackle him to the ground and eat it! I fell in love instantly! Not with him, but with cheese!! Now I ask for string cheese, cheddar, havarti, almost anything except bleu. When I ask for cheese my kids ask, "Where is my mom and what have you done with her?".

4. I'm a flipper. I like to have the remote and I flip, flip, flip! It's drives everyone batty, but I keep flipping until I either find The Brady Bunch, Little House on the Prairie, anything Donny, Andy Griffith, or something that looks tempting like Paula Deen or Brad Pitt!

5. I'd rather eat at a dive than a fancy restaurant. I have been to several dives and the food has always been fantastic and the atmosphere is much more fun. I went to a dive in Pennsylvania once and as soon as I sat down at my dirty little table the man behind the counter yelled, "What do ya want?" I smiled and said, "I don't know. I've never been here before." He yelled, "Menu is on the wall. As soon as you figure out let me know!" So I checked the menu out and I yelled at him, "Hey, I want the corned beef on rye with mustard. And I want an extra pickle!" He smiled real big and replied, "That a girl!" I can't wait to go back again!

6. This isn't really weird or anything, but I love to do word search puzzles and I'm really fast at it too. Whenever the kids brought one home for homework I always did them! I know, I know. Bad momma. At least they always got an A+! I also love sudoku!

7. I am a secret Sanjaya fan......I am also a liar!

8. When I watch America's Funniest Home videos and they show ones that people have fallen or might have been in danger I tend to worry about them...even if it is seven years later. I always wonder what happened to them and if they were okay. I guess I shouldn't watch it anymore!

9. I have a dimple in my chin.

10. I've said it before, but I don't mind saying it again...I love my blogging friends! I have made so many wonderful friends and I keep meeting more! I haven't always thought of the internet as a good thing with all the weird stuff, but I have been so encouraged by all of you with your prayers and kind words and just getting to know one another! I really do love you guys...I hope you don't mind!

I won't tag anyone but if you want to share let me know and I'll come see what crazy things you do!

A Long Weigh To Go

The simple truth is I need to lose weight...and lots of it. My hips are begging to be replaced with some purty shiny metal ones that make the airport sensors go off! I just love being patted down and searched while everyone watches wondering what I am trying to smuggle into the U.S.

I was very thin in high school~a whopping 110 pounds. It wasn't until I started taking high doses of prednisone with a 2 litre of Mt. Dew that I started gaining weight. Seriously, I started bleeding a beautiful shade of greenish yellow because I drank so much of it!

Now I am not blaming the drug for my problem because let's face it, I've drowned my fair share of Oreos and I've murdered a few defenseless slabs of meat that didn't know what hit 'em!

I have learned this past year that by not eating enough you can actually gain weight. It got harder for me to eat anything when I was in so much pain and therefore I did gain about 75 pounds. Unreal, I know. But the good news is that this past year I have been working with a dietician and I have been able to lose about 22 of those pounds.

Except for church I am homebound. This week I have been bedridden. I now have a porta potty right beside my bed because without being lifted I cannot make it to the toilet which is only twelve feet from my beloved bed filled with my precious pillows. I tell you this not for sympathy, but for hope. I have been this way for close to a year. Even without exercise I was able to lose 22 pounds. It can be done!!

I have been following the food pyramid and eating about 1600 calories a day. I eat a little something every few hours up until bedtime. I had to force myself to eat at first because I just wasn't hungry. I am still on high doses of prednisone which can fool you into thinking you haven't eaten in years, but I just pray and ask God's help. Praise the Lord it is working for me!

I need to lose another 50 pounds. I know it is going to take a long time, but I am worth it! I am having a hip replaced on July 16th unless I can get in sooner. Then I'll have the other one done about eight weeks later. I'm going to work my hardest to lose another 10 pounds by then. Every pound lost will be that much more helpful in rehabilitation.

We are all here to encourage one another and I do ask for your prayers. Please pray that I can hold out until the 16th. It seems so far away, but I've been doing this for a year so I know I have it in me. And please pray for me too because I have been discouraged this past week. I'm trying so hard and it is so scary when you have to depend on others to take care of your personal needs. I praise God for my supportive, caring family. Without them I would be in a nursing home until July 16th. Please pray for them as well because they have a lot on their plates. I want to be able to take as good of care of them as they have me this past year!

Probably More Information Than You Wanted To Know!

Appetizer

Name something you would not want to own.

I wouldn't care to own a Corvette. I am a Mustanger through and through!

Soup

Describe your hair (texture, color, length, etc.).

My hair is really soft. It is short right now~just right above my shoulders. It is mostly brown, but I am getting quie a bit of gray hair now. Should I highlight it and try to hide some of it? I don't want to be completely gray at 42 years old!

Salad

Finish this sentence: I’ll never forget ___________.

I'll never forget the first time I saw a picture of my daughters! My husband and I both cried.

Main Course

Which famous person would you like to be for one day? Why?

I would like to be Ellen DeGeneres so I could dance all over the place and tell funny jokes and meet more famous people, but especially so I could give away all kinds of free stuff and then donate a ton of money to different charities!

Dessert

Write one sentence about yourself that includes one thing that is true and another thing that is not.

I won $80 one time on a $1 slot machine and then gambled it all alway!


FRIDAY FILL IN


1. I love sugar and milk with my coffee/tea/etc.

2. My surgery date can't arrive too fast!

3. My friend Karen is the opposite of me!

4. Days like today when the sky is the perfect shade of blue and the weather is on the chilly side are so awesome!

5. I am still playing with your dog. (Dumb, I know, but I couldn't think of anything else!)

6. Snapdragons are my favorite spring flowers.

7. This weekend, I'm watching my husband be Patch the Pirate at church and I will be his biggest fan!

Thursday Thirteen

My Thirteen Favorite Fruits To Eat With Some Combinations Thrown In Just Because I Don't Really Know How You Have Gone This Long Without Knowing This About Me! I Am Pretty Sure This Will Make You A Better Person. You're Welcome!

1. Pineapple

2. Bananas (but not real ripe, almost crunchy like)

3. Granny Smith apples

4. Strawberries

5. Banana with peanut butter

6. Bananas, pineapple (with juice) over vanilla ice cream

7. Kiwi

8. Red grapes

9. Strawberries, bananas over Cheerios

10. Oranges

11. Fresh peaches

12. Blueberries, but only in pancakes

13. And any fruit if it is covered in chocolate!!

Happy? Anniversary?

Not exactly the kind of anniversary I would celebrate, but I have been on crutches for one whole year! Today is a good reminder for me that I can keep doing this. I've done it before. I was on crutches for three and a half years during high school. Talk about F.U.N. I may start out kinda grouchy every morning, but I quickly remind myself that I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!

Tomorrow I go see about my hip replacements and how long the wait might be. I hate being in constant pain, but I am dreading having surgery too. I'll have to have one done and then like six weeks later I will have the other one done. Talk about F.U.N. Slap my hand for griping! I am blessed to live in a country where I can have the necessary surgeries to make my life better. I am ashamed of myself once again for complaining.

Okay, what else? Tonight two people are getting kicked off American Idol! I'm thinking maybe Chris, Phil and LaKisha. I really have no idea, but I hope Jordin stays.

Tonight is our last night for our Awana program at church. I am so sad to leave my girls. I teach the 3rd and 4th grade girls. They have been an awesome bunch this year and worked so hard on their verses and loved haring Bible stories. Many of the girls are unchurched so the usual stories were brand new to them. What a privilege it is to teach them!

My dear sweet mother just stopped by to rub my neck with Ben Gay. Sniff! Can you smell it? I'm weird, but I like the smell. And the heat feels so good on this warm sticky day too!

Don't forget about the scavenger hunt going on at Amy's! Lots of prizes to be won!!

Me and the hubs are going to the midnight showing of Spiderman 3 on Thursday/Friday! I love going to the midnight shows because thats when all the geeks show up dressed up! And NO we do not dress up. We are not that geeky. Go web go!

Question for the day! Do you and your family have your own language that only you guys know what you're talking about? We definitely do and sometimes I forget and use it with my friends and they just look at me like I am bizarre!

I'm passing out big hugs to everybody today!