1.  Something you need every single day.

Unfortunately, I can't make it without my cancer pills.        I also can't make it without God's Word!

2.  Something you once lost, but finally found.

                                   
                              I came across this picture of my grandpa, bought a frame for it,
                                                 and then couldn't find the picture. 
                                        It was lost for months!  I only recently found it,
                               then had to look for the frame I had purchased months ago. 
                                                               (rolling my eyes!)

3.  A peaceful or happy place in your house.

                  
             I've learned to love my tub.  It's not a particularly "happy" place, but it is peaceful and warm!

4.  Something you ate today.

                          
                                  Embarrassingly, I must admit, I ate German chocolate cake,
                                       something my friend (Emily) brought by late last night!

5.  A picture of a picture.

                            
                                   (stupid camera! everything with a flash looks gold these days!)
                                                                    My dad and me.

6.  A favorite book.

                           
                          I would be lost without my concordance!  It's one of my most prized books!

7.  Something "Fall-y"

                        
                                             The marble topped chest in my foyer. 
                                  This is what you see when you step inside my house.

8.  Your favorite colors.

                       
                            I have a lot of this color throughout our house or in my stationery.
                                             But, the truth is, I enjoy all colors.

9  Something from your childhood.

                                     
                                    My doll, Peggy.  I received her when I was two years old.
                                 The chair belonged to my dad's parent's dining room table set.

10.  Something from your To Do list.

         
                                   A photo album I bought as a gift for our oldest daughter. 
                          I have 3 boxes in the garage and one box in my closet to go through,
                                  fish out pictures, and put in the album by December 25th!

So there you have the answers to 10 questions.

=====================

Yesterday, we went to a few thrift stores looking for warm tops for Nikki.  She lives in Colorado (someone asked, yesterday).  I found about 6 things that were almost brand new.  Very pleased!

=====================

We ate lunch at a Chinese buffet restaurant - a treat, since we rarely eat out.

=====================

Then, we were on to PetSmart where we had a tag made with Little Bit's name and our phone number.

=====================

I ran in and out of Hobby Lobby.  I'm looking for an 18" doll made by Springfield that resembles American Girl dolls.  Annamarie had Stephanie's doll (from 1983) and she broke the leg off of the doll.  I wasn't happy.  She is rough on things as a rule, but I never dreamed she'd tear off the leg of a $100 doll!  So, I'm replacing it was a $15 version!  Hobby Lobby didn't have them, so my next stop will be Michael's.

====================

Last of all, we went to Wal-Mart.  By then, I was in a motorized cart/wheelchair.  We were in there for over 3 hours.  It was crowded, they were understaffed (maybe out with the flu???), and I tried to use coupons.  It was ridiculous.  Pure agony.  People in wheelchairs should NOT attempt to drive and navigate coupons at the same time.  Plus, we found the coupons weren't as good of a value as the Wal-Mart "Great Value" brand.  Our new resolve is to only use name brand coupons on stuff we don't substitute with Great Value brands.  We use Tide, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, and a few other things that are always name brand.

====================

It was so late when we got home (after 8:30pm) and I immediately changed and got on the bed.  I tried to not get up to get a drink, or anything else.  Just rest my spine for a bit.  Didn't even eat dinner.  I made a can of chicken noodle soup for the girls, Jesse ate some candy, and I ended up (right before brushing my teeth) eating a piece of Emily's delicious German chocolate cake.

====================

Today, we have the girls therapy appointment and we might stop at the store where we buy their winter shoes each year.  It's in the same vicinity as their therapist's office.  It feels like we are spending an extreme amount of money, these past few days.  Makes us both nervous!

Be Blessed  ~

Not only did we get a call from Nikki, we received email pictures of her family.

    
                                      Remember the zoo visit on Nikki's birthday?
                                                           On Sunday?
                                                        It was snowing!!!

Unfortunately, it looks like Jaiden and Nikki have the H1N1 flu.  The doctor told Nikki the biggest difference between the regular flu and H1N1 is the type of fever and the length of sickness.  She was sent home with Jaiden and told to manage Jaiden's fever, and that's about all that can be done, at this time. 

Like me, Nikki tends towards respiratory problems and I am praying she doesn't develop pneumonia.  The fact there is 4 (or more) inches of snow in the Denver area, doesn't do anything to warm them up!

                              
                                                Jaiden with "Star Re Night" - the cat!
                                                           Clever name, huh?!

Nikki said she mainly called so our family would pray for hers to get well.  Something we can easily do from afar!

My little ones were excited to see pictures of Jaiden and I was persistent enough to figure out how to save a picture (received in an email) to my photo list!  And then . . . here I am posting a picture on my blog! 

And they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks!    Pppppffffft!!!!

I never cease to amaze myself!!!

                             
                                                      Another zoo visit in the snow picture!

===========================

An uncomfortable subject came up on another person's blog.  I think she posted about it this past week. 

Someone had not only taken her pictures and blog site posts, to call their own; at some point the plagiarist announced she was pregnant with another child (not true of my friend's family).  This person, basically, stole my friend's identity! 

My friend made an announcement on her blog and I feel it important to clarify who I am on my blog.  Of course, she takes beautiful photographs, and I have no talent to steal, but . . .

If you see any of my pictures anywhere - I didn't put them there.  I have a Facebook account I RARELY use and it has the same profile picture that I use here.  I don't have a MySpace account.  I don't have any place I write about my life, except here on Xanga.

IF anyone sees my pictures or stories show up somewhere other than Xanga, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT ONCE!

I knew there could be identity theft with your name and financial connections (credit cards, bank accounts, etc.) but I never thought a person would want to steal someone's *LIFE* and pose to be someone else.  It's all a bit sad, I guess . . . that someone would want to be someone else to the point of adopting a stranger's family and calling it their own.

You may want to post the same type of warning on your own blog, if you don't have many accounts with different cyber journal places.

====================

It's raining cats and dogs today (but we won't be taking in anymore stray cats or dogs!!!) and the house is as dark as can be.  We slept a little late. Jesse won't be working.  We may try to go to Wal-Mart or Target to shop for Jaiden's birthday, which is in a few weeks.  Another box to pack up and mail!!!

===============

And last of all, Little Bit got out yesterday and ran like a field rabbit down the street.  I have NO IDEA how those short little legs carried him so fast!  I figured he was a goner, but the girls persevered and Rissy caught him.  I was about 2 houses away from my own and stopped, thinking to myself, "What in the world are you doing?  Go back home before you pass out and fall and hurt yourself!"

===============

Be Blessed  ~

I cleaned up the kitchen of the big pots and pans I washed by hand and left on the countertop to dry.  Also, threw a small amount of water into the dryer to REDRY the clothes Jesse had dried last night.  He does his own laundry now . . . in fact, he does almost everyone's laundry.  I have only used the new washer a few times.  Sweet of him, no?

 
He also made his own breakfast, a meat & cheese bagel.  I caught him in the act of cooking!
  I always manage to overcook his fried eggs.  He likes the yolk really runny and it's rare for me to get it right!

Last night, I set out a box of "Vanilla Wafers" and two boxes of banana cook 'n' serve pudding.  I'm not sure what has gotten into me at night, but I have a "hankerin' to bake" something . . . and, everything!

I made banana pudding and that was our breakfast: WARM banana pudding with sliced bananas and wafers!
  For some reason, my camera decided these pictures didn't need a flash.  When I pointed it into the den, which was dark, the flash went off - no problem.  I'm beginning to wonder (with the girls' skin showing up so dark and all) if my camera is beginning to fail me!  I've taken pictures for several years with it and hate to face buying something new.  But it's becoming finicky - kinda like an elderly person . . . kinda like me!

=====================

We are keeping the stray dog.  Jesse was calling him "Little Bit"  and it just stuck.  His Biblical middle name (we ALWAYS choose middle names from the "Book of Biblical Names") is Meshezabeel, which means delivered by God.  Appropriate name, I think. 

Annamarie let the dogs out during school yesterday and forgot to let them back in.  Little Bit was gone.  Annamarie's really been spacey lately and, I admit, I was pretty angry.  Sushi was clawing at the back door when I realized the dogs were outside. 

She denied letting them out and I reminded her that she had asked me if she could go outside and stand while Little Bit did his business.  I told her she couldn't because it was too cold and we needed to get on with school.  She denied the conversation ever took place. 

We looked high and low in our backyard and up and down our street, but he was gone.  I called Jesse.  He suggested I check the neighbor's backyard, because Little Bit has been trying to dig through our shared fence to get to the neighbor's dog (another male). 

Sure enough!  I opened the neighbor's gate and he came running toward me, ears plastered back and ducking his little bit of a tail.  He knew he was in trouble.  Actually, I was so glad to see him!!!!  We plan to get a name tag with our phone number on in this week.

====================

10 minutes later . . . Jesse drove up and saw the garage door open, and Rissy and Luci down and across the street talking to some boys.  He called the two back and proceeded to chew them out because their bikes were in the garage and they were several houses down.  He told me he talked to them at least 5 minutes and then he looked up and saw Annamarie FIVE HOUSES DOWN coming from between two houses - totally clueless that she wasn't with her sisters. 

I was as furious as Jesse.  I gave the girls a tongue lashing.  I reiterated that I had said 92 million times "STAY TOGETHER!"

I realize that Annamarie is developmentally delayed, but it's becoming more and more obvious how far behind she is with *everything* - very much like a 4 year old child.  It may be, that she will never be allowed to go anywhere unless the place is highly supervised. 

I told Luci and Rissy a few stories of how fast things could go wrong, etc.  I told them about the little girl in Florida who walked away from the group she got off the bus with and how quickly someone snatched her.  I HATE to scare my children with stories, and I told them so.  I would much rather they obey us, than us have to tell them scary things to MAKE them obey. 

We've had a recent problem with them not listening and obeying - especially Rissy.  I told them (several times this week) that I was concerned that if they couldn't obey their parents, how would they ever learn to obey God's voice when they are older????? 

Anyway, it will be a while before I trust them again to ride bikes on our street without supervision.  And, I will never trust Annamarie again.  She is so unaware of her surroundings and other situations.  If she CAN'T perceive danger or her own disobedience, I can't exactly punish her for her lack of awareness.  But, I don't have to put her back in a situation where she is expected to perform something she can't do.

===================

Getting back to "sweetness" and "sweet things" . . .

The girls caught me kissing Jesse this morning.  His skin was soft from being freshly shaved, he had on cologne (one of my favorites) and he was irresistible!

  
My fuzzy hair continues to grow.  Platinum and medium brown colors.

Pictures were compliments of Rissy.  AFTER she took the picture, we hugged and kissed some more.

I grabbed the camera and took a picture of THEIR reaction!!!

     
                                     I believe the title to this would be "Ewwwwwwwww!"

Daddy all cleaned up pretty with his pretty little girls. 
      

Be Blessed  ~

I got up early.

Fixed everyone "real" oatmeal with raisins and cinnamon for breakfast.

Took a bath.

Got a few things picked up around the house.

Played with the pets.

No problem finding Sushi!  She is our monster-sized dog (compared to "Little Bit")
                               

I even had time to upload pictures to go with this blog.

Last night, before bedtime, I made three trays of sugar cookies.  A sudden inspiration, you might say!  I'm happy for my new found energy.  I just have to be careful not to push it too far!

The girls are just finishing their chores and we will start school soon.  In fact, we will start a half hour early today.  What?!!!  Me???!!!  EARLY????????!  LOL!

I moved my homeschool books from the bins (like the girls each have) to a shelf in the kitchen.  I simply had too many books and they were becoming damaged by my cramming them in a Rubbermaid bin.  I sit next to the shelves and this is a lot more convenient for me AND easier on the books.
                   

My crew is almost finished with their chores. 

                              
                                Annamarie  (see my little piece of wall with my grandpa's pictures?)

                                   
                                     Rissy

                                   
                                    Luci

I'm blessed with lots of eager little helpers and that wonderful person who invented ChorePacks!!!

Rissy made taco's last night and tonight I will take the roast chicken leftover from Sunday's dinner and make chicken and noodles.

I hope the rest of my day goes as smoothly as the beginning!

Be Blessed  ~

Actually, I've had this on my To Do List for several weeks.  It was "work," in a way,  but still so relaxing, to me!  I guess it was relaxing because I enjoy fiddling with stuff and I enjoy the final product!

                        
I started with the kitchen table area.  We did some more cleaning of the homeschool bins, to make the area tidy.  Then, I took a leaf out of the looooooong kitchen table, which made the table short enough to hold this fall tablecloth!  The table area looks so cozy and inviting!  The girls ooo'ed and aaah'ed when they saw it! 

We've been burning Hazelnut and Mulled Cider candles in the kitchen, to add to the fall ambience. 

                      
We have to move this bouquet from the table to do our schooling, but it's worth the itty bitty effort!  The rich colors look like the neighborhood trees that are starting to change color.

Next, I addressed my grandpa's pictures from the meat packing plant he worked for in the 1930's.  While going through old pictures, looking for some of my dad, I found many old pictures (some dating back to the 1800's).  Since my kitchen has been gradually undergoing a transformation from cobalt blues and red apples/roosters, I have done away with the blue and replaced it with black.  Black and red is the kitchen theme. 

I bought black document (or award) frames from Wal-Mart for cheap, cheap, cheap!  Simple black frames with a white mat. The pictures fit perfectly and are pictures of sides of beef being hung to cure, my grandfather standing by a meat grinder (I think), and a cattle auction or competition from 1935, which my grandpa's company had entered and won. 

I had the perfect skinny, little strip of wall to hang the 3 pictures.

                             
The wall next to the pictures has a shelf (that I need to paint black) that holds some knick knacks & my aprons.

                              
The glare from the glass makes this picture "not so clear" but it looks fine in person!   That's my grandfather and what I believe to be a meat grinder.

                    
My grandfather is on the right, standing next to his boss (I think) and you can see the 1935 date on the banner above both of them.  I had to fold the picture under (on the left), as it was too wide to fit this frame.  The name of the packing company, etc. are out of view in this picture.  I wonder if the photo has any monetary value?   I have a duplicate, which is why I didn't mind folding the side of this one to fit into the frame.

After fiddling with the kitchen (and being satisfied, as well as motivated!), I moved to the dining room.  The tabletop needing dusting.  In fact, this isn't even the tabletop, it's a custom made pad that covers and protects the wood of the tabletop!  Since the girls occasionally split up to do their school work, I have opted to leave the pad on.  I wouldn't want a crayon mark or scratch put on the top of this table, as we purchased it with the intent of keeping it for the rest of our lives!

                          
                                  Rather than a horn of plenty, I've created a bowl of plenty!!!!

It's hard to see  exactly what makes up this arrangement, different squashes & gourds are under the bowl, on each side.  *IN* the bowl is a large pumpkin, small orange squash and oranges, autumn leaves, nuts and orange/fire red flowers.

I dug out some reading books and their accompanying workbooks for the girls to do as homework.  They LOVE the new assignments.  It's hard to keep children motivated at times, and giving new books and then withdrawing them for a while seems to break their learning monotony.  Speaking of books.  I finished my book last night (The Distant Beacon) and you can only imagine how thrilled I was to find the next book on my shelf was yet ANOTHER sequel in this series.  Jesse laughs at me - he doesn't understand my excitement!

I ordered a CD of patriotic songs and it arrived this weekend.  We put it in the TV's DVD player and "Your Grand Old Flag" and other such songs filled our house while everyone did their chores.  Since the girls aren't involved with a choir group, this was a way to familiarize them with different songs.

I drug out my breadmaker yesterday.  I haven't used it in years.  I made a recipe called "Sally Lunn" bread, one Nikki used to like.  I remember it being more yellow, but it was sweet and good, nonetheless.

Must get moving.  I'm having the leftover bread as toast while I type, but I need to get myself together to teach!

Be Blessed  ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Nikki-doodle-doo!!!!!!!

Her birth order in our family?  

                         
                                                       That would be daughter #2
                                                      (In the middle of the top row)

She is the daughter that lives in Denver and is the furthest away.  We sent her a few gifts earlier in the week and birthday cards in the mail.  It's not like being there in person, but it's the best we can do with so many miles between us.  We celebrated by giving her a birthday call this morning and then made her suffer through the family's "Birthday Song"  (some of you have also been tortured by the same song!). 

She was so excited.  She told Jesse her husband and daughter were taking her to the zoo.  They had opened the Denver zoo JUST FOR HER, today!!!!!  Of course, we were happy the zoo had obliged! 

She is the daughter that has reached out, from far away, to offer her love and support this year, while I've undergone all of the cancer garbage and such.  She's hugged me and cried with me.  She's shared her heart with me. 

She is the daughter that was such a delight to homeschool.  VERY bright and caught on, immediately, to almost anything taught - just so smart and absorbing . . . like a sponge.

She is the daughter who has inherited my love of writing, and she journals or writes for therapy!

She is the daughter who has a pioneering spirit (like me) and was brave (like me)  to move to a city far, far away, when she was still a teenager and survived without any immediate family support.  Boy, did I ever identify with her need for a new and fresh place and the feeling that comes from being so far from your family!  She continues to overcome adversities and hardships (the kind ALL young people endure) without quitting or begging for assistance.  Sometimes we wish she would ask for help more often!!! 

Why the nickname "Nikki-doodle-doo"?????

That's how I used to wake her up when she was a young teen and loved to sleep-in on the weekend mornings!  Nothing worse than hearing your mom cackle down the hallway, "Nikki-doodle-dooooo!  Wake up, yewwwwwww!"  Bless her poor little heart!  At least that memory makes her laugh, now that she is older!!!    Of course, I no longer call and wake her up.  I just call at a more reasonable hour and holler, "Nikki-doodle-doooooo!"

So happy birthday, sweetheart. 

Your family loves you. 

We miss you. 

And, we pray God blesses this day, and we pray you enjoy every minute of it.  We pray for God's protection, guidance, and blessings on your next year of life.

      
                                                                  We love you, SIS!!!!!

Jesse cleaned the house like a speed demon, today!  He accomplished so much!  He was going to clean the carpets (I purchased a Bissell carpet cleaner years ago) and I had to take time to show him how to operate the machine.  It didn't work the last time I tried to use it - something was clogged.  Anyway, due to lack of use, it has unclogged itself.  BUT, we had someone drop by the house and the carpets didn't get done.  Instead, he sprinkled Glade carpet freshener (Peach scent  - I think) and vacuumed that back up.  It may not *technically* be clean in here, but it smells good!

He took the girls to their appointment this afternoon and I finished up a few things, then rested on my bed.  My back was bothering me quite a bit today, so I guess I did too much . . . AGAIN. 

We had leftovers for dinner tonight - an easy solution for dinner and it cleaned out the refrigerator at the same time!  Two for the price of one, so to speak!  

The girls had a short school session today (they had NO school yesterday) and I gave some extra homework assignments for the weekend.  Their new Chore Pack cards are working VERY well and tomorrow will be their big chore day.  They have household duties, but ALSO their rooms need to be dusted and vacuumed.  So far, I'm very pleased with my purchased Chore Packs and would recommend them to anyone trying to teach their children how to do chores and how often those chores need to be done.

I'm going to head to bed and read a little bit in my book.  I'm reading it slowly because this truly is the last book in the series and I hate to part with the characters!

I pray y'all have a nice weekend with your families!

Be Blessed  ~

The stray dog . . .

Yesterday was a bust, as far as the dog is concerned.  Our neighborhood PetSmart scanned him (pretty much all over!) and said there was no embedded chip in him.  She also said that they have had MANY people in their store that have brought stray Yorkies (and she thinks he may be a Silky Terrier) and they have been from our neighborhood.    Others, like us, have tried to place calls and looked for "Lost Dog" signs to no avail.  Many people have paid for newspaper ads for weeks, with no response! 

She said many people don't like the maintenance of a small dog.  (He's so cute!  What's not to love????    )  She thinks he is about a year and a half to two years old.  Since he is so undernourished and has not been neutered, she believes the previous owner could have had him as a "last of the litter" that they couldn't sell and don't care about his return.  She said many people close a dog out and don't let them back into their house.     Some move and let the dogs loose in the neighborhood for "whoever" to take in.     (Makes me sick to think about it.) 

I told her I couldn't believe anyone would do that because I saw that local Yorkies went for $375 - $900.  She said she didn't think this was a $375 dog - more like a $1000 pure breed.  (Gulp!)     She thought he looked sturdy and, with love and care, would be a fine pet.  She commented that he was REALLY affectionate & friendly. 

We bought a collar and two sweaters for him today.  We aren't feeling very hopeful.  If, after one more week, there is no owner, we will take him to our own vet and start paying his little doggie bills. 

================

The oncologist's visit, today.

I think it went well.  I have an ultrasound scheduled for November 4th and that will tell a lot. 

She felt some breast lumps, today, but they don't resemble the previous cancerous lumps.  AND, they hurt.  She thinks I may have injured the little muscles between my ribs by lifting or reaching too much.  I was VERY tender along the chest ribs when she pressed.

We talked about maintenance and she said I will have to be on pain medication for the rest of my life because the cancer has done damage to my back that will never be repaired.      She gave me some muscle relaxers (2 kinds) to take along with Percocet.  Those are for the times when the regular pain medication (I take time released morphine 3 times a day) doesn't kill the pain.  She said I will always have to be careful about doing too much and no one can put pressure on my back - it could fracture.  Also, walking a long distance could damage my back because of the jolting of my steps. 

IF the cancer returns, the type of treatment will depend on where it is and how big it is.  She said a hip area might be treated with radiation.  An organ (I'm praying I don't' have that in the distant future!!!) might be treated with an injection weekly rather than IV's.  It just depends and we will cross that bridge at the time.  For now, the breast cancer is totally gone and the blood cancer is suppressed, as well as the bone cancer.     Scans in the future will reveal more about the bones.

The intense itching I have down the center of my back is due to radiation irritation.  It could be worse.  It could be painful like a horrible sunburn.     It's not.  But, it feels like a million mosquito bites down my back - the exact place we can't reach to scratch by ourself!!!      I've gotten really good at running a foot long, plastic ruler down my back to scratch!  She said it will eventually clear up!  

She is just a fantastic doctor.  I had over a dozen questions and she patiently answered every one of them, even though she was running far, far behind, this morning.  She did the breast exam.  THEN, turned to leave, turned back, and gave me a huge hug.  We think she might like our family!  

I think that's all for now.  That's a lot of words about two subjects!

Be Blessed  ~

Still no word (or signs posted) about Little Bit being missed or a run away dog.  It's starting to rain, which means Jesse will have to stop mowing, and this may be the day that we take him to PetSmart to be scanned for a microchip in him.

For some reason, he has taken a liking (or DISliking!!!!) to Stormy.  She stares down at him from a dresser or window sill and he barks at her so hard his little feet come up off the ground!!!

   
She remains still and just stares at him silently.  He can't stand it!

=================

I think I mentioned the wedding ring Jesse gave me years ago that was waaaay too big to wear.  I had been wearing a gold band, but it fell off several times a day, since I've lost weight and my fingers shrunk.  I think the diamond ring was a size 8 and I needed a 5.  He had it sized and I've been wearing it for about a week, now.  I finally took some pictures this morning.  Not very *good* pictures . . . . but, pictures!

There are little diamonds on the side of the band - you can barely see in these pictures
  Then, the top of the ring has a princess cut (square) diamond with 2 diamonds on each side embedded in the gold, just like the side diamonds are embedded between 2 gold bars.

I haven't figured out how to take good close up pictures with my camera.  There is a always a blurred result.  Sorry!

====================

Jesse and I laughed last night.  Stormy has suddenly decided to sleep on our bed.  I brushed my teeth and came to bed and she was on MY SIDE of the bed, looking at us like she got there first, which meant I got the sofa for the night!

She was in the middle of the bed this morning, again!  Fat, happy, and smug.

                             
                                She had no idea that another cat was stalking her!

       
                                                            Surprise!  It's Chirper!

Be Blessed  ~

The girls want to keep him and I had to ask them, "If Chirper, Stormy, or Sushi were missing, wouldn't you want someone to do everything possible to find us?  It's the same with this little dog.  It is our God given *DUTY* to try to find his owner.  It's the *honest* thing to do."

Tomorrow, Jesse will be off work (due to rain in the forecast) and we will take the dog to PetSmart, where they will scan (for free) to look for a microchip ID.

After 2 weeks, we'll take him to our vet (spend money on him) and have him checked out.  That gives someone on vacation time to return home and discover he's lost AND put up signs.  I figure after 2 1/2 weeks, we will have given the dog's owner time to find him.

I'm not much of a dog person (more into cats), and I've paid little attention to this dog.  Funny thing.  *I'm* the one he clings to and sits on my fuzzy slipper when I'm seated.  I don't even feed him and rarely let him out in the backyard.  The girls and Jesse do everything.  Can't figure out why he likes me so much!

========================

I made waffles yesterday for breakfast.  For some reason, they tasted incredibly good to me.  Every bit as good as I had thought they would be the night before!  I went to bed last night craving biscuits and bacon.  I'll save that for tomorrow when Jesse is home for breakfast.  I don't have much of an appetite for an evening meal and it baffles me as to WHY I think about breakfast before falling asleep at night!!! 

Rissy is making her muffin recipe today.

       
I bought her a recipe box last year and there were a few recipes included with the recipe cards.  This is called "Mystery Muffin" and she hides something different inside them each time.

==================

Yesterday, I got so many things done.  I had trouble falling asleep Sunday night (could it be because I napped for 2 1/2 hours Sunday morning???!!!) and decided to write my thoughts down in a spiral notepad I keep by the bed.  I had a whole page of thoughts.  No wonder I couldn't fall asleep!

I went through the list yesterday and knocked out quite a few things.  I worked a bit in the garage, putting more dry goods away.  I had to leave some for another day.  There were so many things given to us and my strength is still limited!

Anyway, I'm glad I wrote my thoughts down, because I had forgotten much of the list.  Many of the things on yesterday's list were things that I remember only at night in bed or when I'm soaking in the tub.  Times that are totally inconvenient! 

I read the "To Do List" and thought, "Oh yeah!  I'm glad I wrote that down.  I've wanted to do that for weeks!"

        
           What's going to be in the muffins this time????  Who knows?  It's a "mystery"!!!!!!!!!!

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I handed out reading/phonics books to the girls yesterday.  In addition, Luci got a beginning reader and Rissy got an advanced reader and workbook.  They were thrilled!  I'm glad my children enjoy learning and getting new books.  When Jesse came home, they ran to him with their new books and Luci proudly displayed a math paper with 100% correct!  He is good to encourage them and exclaim excited words over their successes.

            
                             I spy a bag of chocolate chips!  Yum!  Chocolate chip muffins!

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Today I'll continue crossing off chores from my list.  A few more things have been added to it.  My mind is always making lists.  I don't think I ever enjoy just resting.  I'm always thinking of something else that needs to be done!

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Back after a brief break.  My mom called.  It was good to hear her voice and chat for a bit.  Now, I need to get moving.  I'm munching my muffins and typing.  I need to start school - we're about 10 minutes late.

Be Blessed  ~