Kevin's Day

Yesterday was Kevin's birthday, he turned 53. Because Lance had physical therapy at 7:00 p.m. we decided to wait until today to celebrate. I asked him what he wanted for his bday dinner and he told me he wanted spaghetti like our friend Jan makes. Well this is a challenge...Jan married an Italian and learned to make this meat sauce from his mother. I have never made the stuff because it is so involved. I found an old recipe and looked up another two online and meshed the recipes together. I started this last night and it is now cooking away in my kitchen. It has ribs, meatballs and Italian sausage with fresh herbs and garlic, blah, blah, blah. Well I have to admit it smells out of this world and since I don't have an Italian bone in my body, I am hoping for the best.

I asked Lance what he wanted to get for his dad, he told me a tool. Kevin is the tool king and I am sure the last thing he needs is another tool, but Lance wanted to do this. We drove to the hardware store and Lance picked out a hammer. (Kevin must have eight of these!) It made me smile because it shows he pays attention to what his dad enjoys doing. For a guy with special needs he is quite intuitive with those around him.

I have been looking for a championship locker room Red Wings cap for months for Kevin and have struck out every time. He really wanted one. (We are huge Wing nuts) I finally found one on Ebay and won it, he will be so surprised.

I think he will have a wonderful evening with us and his parents. I am so happy to do something special for this amazing man God gave me. He is faithful, loyal, has incredible integrity and is so loving and helpful. He has been a great father and husband and I pray God will bless him with all he desires.

Fun With Chicken

We worked on the front of the house all afternoon. Washed down the siding, overhangs, light fixtures, railings as well as the windows in and out. It needed to be done on the balcony as well as the front porch. We couldn't ask for a better day, sunny, temps in the 60's and no wind.

Around 5:00 I began to think about dinner. We didn't have enough in the budget to go out again and I had some thawed chicken in the fridge that needed to be cooked. What to do? I get so bored with chicken, it's always the same.

I decided to pull out an old cookbook and started to look for a recipe that calls for ingredients that I had on hand. The problem is I need to go shopping and each recipe had some ingredients I had and some I didn't. So now what? I started to play and in the end I came up with a Caribbean style chicken that my family loved. The sauteed chicken was topped with a topping that consisted of lemon juice, brown sugar, coconut, raisins, onions and butter and then baked. (Okay, so it wasn't low fat)! I served it with brown rice and a mixed green salad with pineapple.

I am not a photographer but this is sort of what the chicken looked like. Need less to say, I ended up being creative and had fun in the process.

Going Deeper

Our Church has initiated a new series call RE:FORMATION. It is taking place over a period of 100 days and challenging us to deepen our walks with God. Now to be honest with you I am only in the very beginning and already feel like I have failed the task. We are encouraged to read 1/100th of the Bible every day, I haven't. In fact I was a part of a Bible Buddies group who were reading through the Bible in a year. I haven't followed through with that either. (Just to let you know, I have read the Bible through many times but not recently) I read the Word everyday, okay if I am being honest, not every day but most days, but sometimes I just read one chapter and that may not be in the books that I am suppose to be reading. I do tend to stay in the New Testament most of the time because I love reading what Jesus tells us...

I really want to move closer to the Lord but find I am so weak. So this is my challenge to myself. I will read a portion of the Word everyday and write it at the end of each post on this blog. If I don't have much to say (blog) I will at least post my reading. That way I will feel accountable.

So off I go on another journey. I will report what I am learning along the way. I will also share some of the other books I may be reading at time.

More Favorite Things

Mr. Handsome, Noah



The little sprite, Olivia



The Little General, Lily




The Young Lady, Emma (You are growing up too fast Missy)

Ode to Autumn

In my younger years I was much more optimistic, but time and life have changed me and not for the better I will have to say. I now lean to the pessimistic side. (Thanks mom!)

Yesterday was the first day of Autumn and I read many poems written in honor of it. Words and pictures devoted to the fall time of year, crunching leaves, russet colors, cooling temps, apples picked, cider made, pumpkins ripened and of coarse the donuts. Okay, I will give you the cider donuts, but I can't help to think that all this is just a prelude to the cold and snow.

I came to love the warm winters down south while we lived there. I think the four of the five Christmases that we spent there had temps in the 60's and 70's. Last year, back in Michigan, Christmas day was dingy and cold. Burrrr...

My son loves to plan. He has autistic tendencies and one of the problems he faces is compulsive planning. He plans his breakfasts, lunches and dinners days ahead, this also goes for holidays. He has been talking about Christmas for several months now. I have been thinking of Christmas for months now. We will be going to Charleston, SC for the holiday. I will get to spend it with my girls, bask in the warmth, walk along the shore and of course go into the city and forget the frigid weather up here.

So here's to you Autumn! Come on in and lead us to the cold and snow, Lance and I are planning our escape. Until then I will drink the cider and eat the donuts and even crunch some leaves under my feet, but you will not get me to write an ode or two to you.

...of mice and men.

I worked Sunday afternoons holding open a model home until four weeks ago. There are people moving in now and I no longer have a job. The problem is I need a princess job...my son leaves for school at 6:30 a.m. and returns home about 2:30 p.m. four days a week. Who is going to hire me for those hours? I can work nights and weekends but the economy is horrible here in Michigan...

In the egress window at the model home lived two frogs, an assortment of spiders and a very small, furry mouse. It was great to go down into the basement every week and see my own little eco system. The last time I was down, I saw that little mouse all curled up in the sash of the window sleeping contentedly. I began to related to that little mouse. I am very content living in my own little world, not willing to try to escape from my small surroundings. I love just being in my home cleaning, cooking, reading, watching TV...not venturing too far.

I use to live and work in the Carolinas and miss it terribly. I long to go back. I guess that is why I curl up and sleep. It is time to venture out and move on, what ever that means.

I found a part time job at the Disney Store and I am still looking for other work. I need to get more involved at church and get to know more people. I am just not sure how to do it, it has been so long.

Help me Lord not to be too content and sleepy and also help me to trust you to move me out of my little window.

The Best Laid Plans...

Tuesday afternoon I decided that since my knee is much better (still not 100%)and I am feeling pretty good now, I will start my diet and workout at the gym. I walk with Oliver for about 20-30 min. everyday but that is a slower walk and we are beginning to bike again but not everyday.

My brother had given be a recipe Sunday and told me it was to die for. Peanut butter popcorn. I know it has been around a while but he and I have never made it before. Anyway, I decided to make it Tuesday night for the one last hurrah. Okay...that wasn't a good idea, I couldn't stop eating it!!! I finally got up and threw out the last half. Yes, I know me and knew I wouldn't stop eating it, so out it went.

Wednesday was an okay day as far as the diet goes, but I didn't go to the gym because I was so busy. Thursday was another okay day but I made quesadillas for dinner, again no gym. Thursday evening my brother called and asked if I made the popcorn...I told him what happened and he had the nerve to laugh.

Now the thought was planted...AGAIN!!! Yep, I made the peanut butter popcorn. I didn't throw it out this time, I set it on the counter and every time I walk by I grabbed a piece. Now I want you to know that I cut the recipe down by half and only ate half of that last night. It is still calling me.

I think it will end up in the trash again. And today I am going to the gym, oh wait, I have to clean the house and go to the pharmacy and stop at the library and do a couple loads of laundry and...okay, I'll go to the gym tomorrow.

Peanut Butter Popcorn:

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup or honey
Bring to a rolling boil; remove from heat

Add:
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter or you can use creamy peanut butter and add some chopped peanuts
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Drizzle over 2 quarts of unsalted popped popcorn (1/3 to 1/2 cup of unpopped popcorn)
Stir to coat