Happy Belated Birthday S!

This is my sister S and the love of her live F. I missed posting on S's birthday.. but I did call her! Anyway; late is better then never as she would always say. So it is almost fitting that her birthday post is late, as she jokes that she is always late and like Elizabeth Taylor will be late to her own funeral. S I love you!

S is the oldest of my sisters and I, in many ways with both parents working as much as they did S looked out for all of us ( at least those of us that would let her). At the young age of 20 S became a Mom. I watched as she struggled to do the best she could with what she had for her son and later her daughter. I learned many things from S. Allot about myself, and allot about those around me. S is smart and quick. Through everything she has kept not only her sense of humor, but also her thirst for life and a lust for the finer things it can have. Sure it wasn't always affordable to get the finer things, but S always made sure that she was treated like a princess (Queen now, lol). S sends me notes every now and again telling me that she doesn't know how I do it with the three that I have. I can honestly say, that it is from watching her.

S raised her kids on her own, worked two or more jobs to make ends meet and always seemed driven to do better, for herself and her kids. For a while she gave up on love, then F came back into the picture. S and F had been high school sweethearts. I can't remember what drove them apart back then, but from what I remember from then.. they were ecstatically happy. Now they are again and are getting married! I am speechless! After all she has gone through S still opened herself up to love again and because of that has found the love once again she has been so desperately deserving. I don't think I will be able to make it down to their beach wedding, but I am certain that it will be memorable. Happy Belated Birthday S. May your happily ever after have already begun and may it continue into eternity. You more then deserve this happiness, I love you and am honored to be your sister!

Kindness, Pretty Faces and Blind Trust..

So working at the joy that is a fast food restaurant on the night sift is always interesting. Each night has its own dose of drama and hard as I may try.. I seem to get caught up in the mess of it. I will start with kindness. Kindness is not to be mistaken for being nice. If you are nice ultimately you are naive ( look it up if you don't believe me). However if you are kind, it is a choice despite the situation or because of the situation around you. Basically there is someone at work... oh the privileges of youth. She has no clue who I am, what I stand for, what I have been through or anything. Yet she makes it a point to joke around behind my back about my kindness. Yes, I use manners at work.. I think I may be the only person who says please and thank you to the guy running the grill or whomever is working the fry station when I need something. I also try to point out good things that others do. No I am not a manager.. I do try to let others know that I appreciate the job they are doing. So this one individual is making snide comments behind my back and laughing (literally) at me. I am certain  I haven't done anything to them except point out in general that the thing that irks me the most is when someone who is getting paid to do a job doesn't do it and leaves the work for others to do. I did not point any fingers.. and if someone was offended by my words it was their own conscience.One day she like so many others is going to grow up. She will realize that  she is not the center of the universe and life indeed is hard. So live it up now you privileged youth.. reality will set in..

Pretty faces these days are everywhere. Some people are hired for jobs because their physical appearance is appealing to so many. Others are looked down upon because they don't look like a cover model. Some (on both sides) struggle with self esteem issues, others on both are content with who they are on the outside because they understand the outside is superficial.. the inside is what counts. A beautiful woman is nice to look at, the same can be said for an attractive man. However, if you take those beautiful people and pair them with blunt, selfish personalities they no longer are as attractive as before. I heard it best said this way: " You can be as pretty as the good Lord made you, but if your words and attitude are ugly.. so are you" Just think about that one for a bit. You can spend all the money you have to get all the latest fashions to look your best.. but if all you are is a pretty face.. you may leave others wondering where the rest of it went.. or what is wrong with this picture. Just sayin'.

As I was cleaning up I couldn't help but overhear a conversation between two friends. One was consoling the other on her relationship. The latter had aparently been in a long distance long term relationship with someone she met only once. The young man promised to come and see her on his spring break, but instead went somewhere else with someone else..this left the poor girl in a bit of a state. Her friend I could tell wanted to talk some sense into her, but was not getting anywhere. So the nosey Momma in me stepped in. After hearing her say that the only way to have a long distance relationship was to have blind trust in the other person. I told her that from my experience a long distance relationship or any relationship is not about having blind trust, it is about having a knowing trust. With blind trust you leave yourself open to all kinds of disappointment and pain. With knowing trust on the other hand you take in to account all the things that you know about the person and the situation.. couple that with what you know about your relationship with them. Then make a decision. With knowing trust you are at least keeping your eyes open and making yourself aware of the situations.. with blind trust, well it is blind! She did thank me and let me know that I gave her some things to think about.
Well dear readers.. It is late or early, how ever you choose to look at it and I am now ready for sleep. Be Blessed.

Easily Forgotten.. so it seems.

I go weeks at times without talking to any one of my sisters. I also go it feels like years without talking to some of them. I mean really talking. Not just the surface stuff. I mean the real stuff. I admit I don't live physically close to any of them nor do they live all that close to me. We all try to get together once a year for a reunion. It is really just an excuse to get those of us who live out of the home state to come back for a few days. There have been two sisters who have made the trip up north to see my big little family, one made a valiant attempt, however surgery is a pain (literally) to get over. My parents come up to visit twice a year sometimes. When they are here it is a ray of sunshine. I feel as if just for a little while the weight slips off for a bit and I can enjoy them.. and my big little family. Over the years (almost 9 now) I have grown accustomed to the solidarity that is my family life outside of my big family. There have been days of loneliness, restlessness and all out despair. But when one of my sisters call.. it is as if the clouds parted on a rainy day and the sun was allowed to peak through.. even for just long enough to say " Hey I was thinking of you and I just wanted to call".

I remember thinking that they had it better then me because they all lived so close to each other. I imagined them all getting together one Sunday a month, to catch up on the goings on and share a meal.The cousins all playing together and if not playing then certainly making things interesting for everyone there. I still think they have it better then me.. at times. The ones who live less then an hour away from each other know they have someone to count on if there is ever a situation. When we do go down to visit we try to stay with a different sister each time, to foster that relationship.. help it grow. I couldn't imagine living close to everyone and not getting together with them. Alas, they tell me that it is not always the case. Sure there is family drama, all families have it (no worries.. I won't air any of it here). But they all have each other, and that is something.

At times I feel as if they all forgot me. Living so detached from all of them I don't get the "latest" of anything. With some if I don't initiate contact.. there is none. That's okay. I understand, things get busy and life gets in the way. I love my sisters regardless. I must admit that it would be nice to take my truck to a mechanical brother-in-law rather then a shop, trade off watching kids with my sisters rather then look for and pay a sitter, just know that there is someone I can call and ask if I can hang out with.. and drop off the kids at their house in the case of an emergency and not feel like I am taking advantage. I can see many benefits to living close to family.. it is just not in the cards for us.

I know that with the ARMY dictating to us where and when we live somewhere it isn't always easy to live close to any family. Admittedly we are closer now then we have been.. ever! So we try to take advantage of that fact. Truth is that I would like to make it North to see Hubby's family and South to see my family more often.. gas prices are the biggest thing holding us back (and it doesn't look like it's getting any better).
I guess my whole point in this is just to say that it is very easy to feel forgotten and left out. I know that those in my big family aren't trying to hurt my feelings.. nor I theirs, when there is a lack of communication. It is just the way things are sometimes. When I first moved away from family I had the idea to call each of my sisters once a week. Well, that didn't last long. Then it was email, myspace or facebook status comment.. none of the ideas lasted as long as I thought they would.I learned something last week.. intimacy is intentional. To have intimacy in any relationship whether a sibling, parent/child or spousal.. you have to be intentional. so in the case of families.. at times your feelings of being forgotten are in fact unintentional. I have learned that even if they don't call, write, text, message on facebook or what have you. I know that I matter, that they love me.. easily forgotten, no just unintentional business. ~~ Until next time dear readers be blessed!

Seven Quick Takes (vol.7)

I know that I have been away from the Internet for sometime. I can honestly say I have been concentrating on my course work.. and learning a few things. So here is a quick run down.

1~ It has been almost a year (a year this summer) that Hubby will be drug free. He was addicted to prescription medication for the first seven and a half years of our marriage, but no longer. He is wonderful! And I am learning that I no longer have to do it all. There have been many things I have had to take on over the years, because of the medication.. now I can let some of those things go. Hubby is a wonderful cook, he is even better with the kids and we have a system with the house... I am no longer doing it all alone. I tried explaining this to him last night, but all I ended up saying was that he is more the man I met in the first week, then he has been in a long time.

2~ After waking up this morning and hearing the news of Hawaii and Japan.. I have been praying. I have no words for this.

3~ I bought Hubby Call of Duty Black Ops.. and he has a new addiction. At least he waits until the kids have gone to bed.. well at least mostly. LOL! I am just glad to see him enjoy something. Now if we only knew more people with the game and a Wii system.. he would be set!

4~ I passed my midterm.. now to finish the course! I fully admit that I am an easily destractable person.. hence the reason I haven't been online. I need to concentrate and finish! Only nine chapters until the final! Whew!!

5~ I will try to never again take advantage of the network of friends I have.. you guys are the best! This past Monday Hubby came home from work.. in pain. He assured me not to worry and told me to go about my day; so I did and then after dropping Miniman off at school.. Hubby called. He was headed to the ER. 

The pain was getting worse instead of better and he really needed to be seen.I said a quick prayer and started on the phone; after just a few phone calls and in the space of 10 minutes I was able to get the rest of my schedule cleared for the day. N picked up Miniman, H came and got Bubbles and my neighbor L picked up Goosie from school. Each of these wonderful ladies agreed to keep my children for as long as I might need them to or until other plans were made. Hubby and I weren't sure what was going on. Was it an appendicitis, kidney stone.. or something worse?? A few hours later we had an answer. Kidney stone  2 mm in diameter. Big enough to hurt like heck, but too small to break up they said. Pain meds and bed rest for two days. Hubby is slowly getting better, it still hasn't passed. The regular Dr is giving it until Monday.. then they will go in and do something about it. Prayers are appreciated.. and so are my wonderful friends!

6~ Even after years of making these enchiladas.. they never get old! If you haven't tried my recipe yet.. go ahead, I dare ya!

7~ Thoughtful Moment ( I know that usually this is a laughable Mommy Moment, but bare with me) ~ Today in California my Aunt B is being remembered. She passed away a week ago. I can see her in my minds eye, she was laughing the last time I saw her so that is the way I think of her. Aunt B is the first of either of my parents siblings to pass into the painless.  Both sets of grandparents have already gone on. I cannot begin to imagine how difficult this is for my Mom and her remaining siblings. When I spoke to Mom I reminded her to dance. We are not able to set the tone, pick the music or even choose what shoes we have on (if any). What we can do is dance. With our arms held high and heart abandoned to the Lord in an act of sacrificial praise. In that praise there is healing for whatever hurt we have, what ever burden we carry.. no matter what. In the dancing you can also find joy in the midst of sorrow, and comfort where you thought there was only pain.

~~~ Until next time dear readers.. be blessed

Beautiful Rainbow.. what a merciful gift!

In Sunday School this morning a query was poised:  " Where there is sin, is/can God still be there?"

To me the answer was a no brainer! Of course he is there, he is everywhere.. at all times! How is he there? His grace.. it is everywhere in any situation no matter what. The fact that there are some who do not have a relationship with Him.. is not his choice, but theirs. God's grace is sufficient! A little bit after the discussion had moved ahead to other subjects I recalled something I had learned months ago. It is in Revelation chapter 4. The part where the throne of God is being described. I have to stop you here and let you know how visual of a person I am. When I hear or read something I can sometimes see it in my head. This is how it was with the description of the throne. The part I got really excited about.. (and I hope you do too) is the emerald rainbow that encircles the throne. A long time ago (probably when I was Goosie's age) I learned that the rainbow is a sign of God's promise to never flood the earth again because of sin. When I then read years later that a rainbow encircled the throne I got goose bumps. When I read that passage I see a picture of a magnificent throne, and a rainbow encircles it's base (where the bottom of the legs are). Now other scripture passages tell us that God never leaves the throne.. the seat is never empty, it moves to different places, but he never gets off of it. So in my head I have this picture of God sitting on the throne and while he is moving around from place to place looking down on all creation, he is looking through the rainbow. In other words he sees all of us, sinner and saved through the same promise of grace ( How exciting is that! Do you have bumps now??) . My thought process went a step further to those of us adopted into the family of God. Having been "washed in the blood" ; God looks at his adopted children not only through a rainbow, but also through the blood of Christ. While the rainbow promise will give you grace.. the blood promise wipes away your sins (all of them). 
I shared this with a few people after class today and let them know if they wanted they could share it also.. what good news, what an AWESOME God!!
I partly want to put on rainbow tinted glasses so I could see those around me the way God does.. how different we would all live our lives?! I am once again left to barely grasp the infinite ocean of his love for us. In all other world religions.. you must do something to win favor, but when you have a relationship with Christ.. you have the comfort of the knowledge that there is nothing you can or could do. All that is required is that you accept his love and grace. It is humbling, yes, but it is also fulfilling. Until next time dear readers.. Be Blessed!

March Meals

So here is a meal plan for the month. I know we are already a few days into it. I took stock of both my frozen and dry pantry's before making it, so use what you have before you go out and buy any more. Enjoy if you happen to use it! I get most of my recipes from this website if not from there then the Joy of Cooking cookbook is a great standby in my house!

1st~ Tuna Noodle Casserole (back of Campbell's soup can)
2nd~ Pizza and Bread sticks (it's not delivery!)
3rd~ Spaghetti, flat bread and broccoli
4th~ Pizza and salad ( its not delivery again)
5th~ Pulled pork BBQ sandwiches
6th~ Enchilada Casserole ( I am sure I posted my recipe for this before)
7th~ Pot roast, roasted potatoes and carrots, homemade rolls
8th~ Spaghetti, flat bread and sweet peas
9th~ Pancakes, lil'smokies and fruit
10th~ Chicken and rice with sweet peas
11th~ Pizza and salad (we don't do delivery)
12th~  Chicken Lo Mien and spring egg rolls
13th~ Steak, shrimp scampi, roasted potatoes and steamed mixed veggies
14th~ Chili and cornbread
15th~ Roasted turkey breast, macaroni and cheese, sweet peas and rolls
16th~ Pancakes, lil'smokies and fruit
17th~ Spaghetti, flat bread, grean beans ( I am thinking of making this out of green tomatoes and finding some green noodles, just for fun!)
18th~ Pizza and salad (yes pizza Friday is a pattern)
19th~ Bourbon chicken, coconut rice steamed broccoli
20th~ Post roast, macaroni and cheese, steamed mixed veggies
21st~ Pork fried rice, spring egg rolls
22nd~ Spaghetti, flat bread, green beans
23rd~ Pancakes, lil'smokies and fruit
24th~ Roasted turkey breast, whipped potatoes, rolls, steamed broccoli
25th~ Pizza and salad
26th~ Chicken Barley chili and sweet corn bread
27th~ Spinach lasagna flat bread
28th~ Chicken Cacciatore with egg noodles and steamed mixed veggies
29th~ Soup and Grilled cheese sandwiches
30th~ Pancakes, lil'smokies and fruit
31st~ Spaghetti, flat bread and green beans

I remember growing up I wished we would have my favorite once a week..! As the kids get older I would like to do this for them as things allow. So there are repeats in our menu. Pizza is Hubby's, Spaghetti is Goosie's and Pancakes are Miniman's. I don't know yet what Bubble's favorite food is, right now she is a human garbage disposal! She can and will eat everything if you let her!  Well, I hope you enjoy and maybe get some ideas for your meal plan. As always check what you have at home before you make one up so you shop less and save more! Leftovers are great for lunch so don't throw anything out and if there is a lot left over freeze some and you will have an easy reheat meal later. Until next time..Be Blessed!