Bolete's Things

After Christmas Day

2011-12-26T22:50:00.002-06:00

We enjoyed today. Lazying around. Trying to eat healthy and resist that yummy candy that was in my stocking. :) Mylon worked on his 52' Ford pickup today in his shop. It was rainy and cold and cloudy and that was nice. Patrick came home today from Austin, from his moms, opened more presents, and seems happy. He has been up in his room mostly playing his new XBOX kinect.

Thanksgiving was shared at mom's and dad's in NM. It was wonderful. She had the home decorated so beautiful with Christmas. We ate a lot of good food, had lots of laughs with my siblings and sisters-n-laws and nieces and nephews. We went to White Sands one day and sled down the tall sand dunes. It is a very pretty place to see. I had been to White Sands back in in July. We shopped in Ruidoso. Mylon, Dad, Micah, Patrick and I went on a 4 hour hike up a mountain and it was challenging for me and tiring, but I am glad I did it, was very pretty.

There were laughs and a few tears, but we all made it a special week and we couldn't have done it at all without mom and dad. They were overly generous as always. Their love and their actions are so appreciated and I pray God blesses them continually for their self-less-ness. Thank you Mom and Dad.

Back to homeschooling January 3rd. Back to exercise and getting a new focus on God and life.

Growing

2011-12-22T05:17:00.003-06:00

A rose was born.
It grew.
It became scared.
It closed up it’s bloom.
Or had it bloomed yet at all?
One petal at a time would open.
From time to time.
The rose noticed other roses close by.
Were they all in this together?
Not wanting to be like all of the other roses.
Wanting to be like all of the other roses.
Not even wanting to be a rose.
Grew thorns and lots of them.
Creatures came and battered the rose.
People accidentally ran over the rose.
The rose used her thorns to hurt others.
Always ready.
First in defense.
Then to hurt others.
The rose did a lot of damage to others.
The rose felt as if it were the only one.
One day it took notice of the other roses around her.
How did they survive?
They did not mind the roughness all around them.
They did not mind the rain and lightening strikes.
They were beautiful.
She watched.
They only opened up their petals to the rain.
They only grew stronger after being stepped on.
To be like that?
The rose decided yes.
Now, open to rain, open to lightening.
One petal at a time.
Thorns used for good
Used only when needed.
Not used for bad.
Petals to love others.
Petals wide open.

A.Honea 2011

Christmas by Children

2011-12-21T11:27:00.002-06:00

I love this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kWq60oyrHVQ

Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

2011-12-06T15:01:00.002-06:00

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

Since last time.....

2011-10-15T17:56:00.001-05:00

Let's see. Since I wrote last.....

We went to our local fair (which isn't much, but oh well, it made Patrick happy)

My sister and her twin boys and Cecilia moved. :(

I cleaned the siding on the house. (got the mildew off, etc.)

I fixed up my front porch for Fall with pumpkins and things.

My niece India moved. :(

We decided to pull Patrick out of public school and home school, which we will get started soon. :)

My parents were here for awhile and we enjoyed them so much.

I watched Soul Surfer.

Mylon had a birthday and turned 46.

Mylon and I went camping to Queen Wilhelmina and we had a great time.

I watched The Grace Card.

I finished the classic book "Rebecca".

Those are just some things I did in between regular life and chores. Looking forward to the Fall and going to my parents in New Mexico for Thanksgiving.

Dr. Suess was (is) great....

2011-09-01T21:07:00.000-05:00

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!
~Dr Seuss

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. - Dr. Suess

Art Lesson Painting

2011-08-10T16:04:00.000-05:00

Here is Harleigh's second painting. I do not know how many more art lessons she will be able to take since
school starts really soon. I think she did a good job on this. :)

"Peace Out"

Copied Devotion from Streams in the Desert

2011-08-04T21:59:00.000-05:00

***********************

7/31/11

Classics: Streams in the Desert

God's Refreshment
Compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman

"The journey is too great for thee" (1 King 19:7).

And what did God do with His tired servant? Gave him
something good to eat, and put him to sleep. Elijah had
done splendid work, and had run alongside of the chariot
in his excitement, and it had been too much for his
physical strength, and the reaction had come on, and he
was depressed. The physical needed to be cared for. What
many people want is sleep, and the physical ailment
attended to. There are grand men and women who get
where Elijah was--under the juniper tree! and it comes
very soothingly to such to hear the words of the Master:
"The journey is too great for thee, and I am going to
refresh you." Let us not confound physical weariness with
spiritual weakness.

"I'm too tired to trust and too tired to pray,
Said one, as the over-taxed strength gave way.
The one conscious thought by my mind possessed,
Is, oh, could I just drop it all and rest.

"Will God forgive me, do you suppose,
If I go right to sleep as a baby goes,
Without an asking if I may,
Without ever trying to trust and pray?

"Will God forgive you? why think, dear heart,
When language to you was an unknown art,
Did a mother deny you needed rest,
Or refuse to pillow your head on her breast?

"Did she let you want when you could not ask?
Did she set her child an unequal task?
Or did she cradle you in her arms,
And then guard your slumber against alarms?

"Ah, how quick was her mother love to see,
The unconscious yearnings of infancy.
When you've grown too tired to trust and pray,
When over-wrought nature has quite given way:

"Then just drop it all, and give up to rest,
As you used to do on a mother's breast,
He knows all about it--the dear Lord knows,
So just go to sleep as a baby goes;

"Without even asking if you may,
God knows when His child is too tired to pray.
He judges not solely by uttered prayer,
He knows when the yearnings of love are there.

"He knows you do pray, He knows you do trust,
And He knows, too, the limits' of poor weak dust.
Oh, the wonderful sympathy of Christ,
For His chosen ones in that midnight tryst,

"When He bade them sleep and take their rest,
While on Him the guilt of the whole world pressed--
You've given your life up to Him to keep,
Then don't be afraid to go right to sleep."

Art Lesson, Shelling Peas, Birthday, Redecorating and more Nephews :)

2011-07-30T18:26:00.007-05:00

This past week my sweet art student finished her painting of her poodle , Bella..... She did a great job!

India and Cecilia spent the night Tuesday with me, Patrick and Mylon and we had a great time. We made these mini-burgers I found on http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/05/big-fat-bacon-sliders/ blog and they were delicious! Indy and Patrick and Mylon helped me cook, it was great. The next day we shelled peas. I thought that was something they needed to experience. :) I think they enjoyed it. Cecilia said "This is fun!" Indy wanted me to go ahead and cook the peas and I did and they were good. However, Cecilia decided she didn't like them.... she tried though!

Being Silly Cecilia :)

For my birthday I chose this book as a gift from Mylon. It is good......

My sister-n-law, Stephanie got this cool bag and magazine and a subscription to Disney Family magazine (not pictured). It has great craft ideas and recipes.

My mother-n-law got these nice stainless steel pots from
Giada's collection at Target.

Then my Aunt Linda gave me this wonderful book

And lastly, I was so tired of my dining room decor, so I was able to get this new rug and the curtains with money from my mom and dad for my birthday! I don't have it in me right now to repaint, but I wanted a more relaxed look. I moved some things out and tried to tone down from the bright colors I had in there, like wall hangings and my bright colored chairs. I painted the dining chairs all the same taupe color. I took my art off the walls and will probably get one nice piece for one of the walls. I think the sisal rug and the chocolate curtains gave it a natural, toned down look. I am happy with it. Also mom had bought me a set of the Yes To Carrots facial products. I LOVE Yes to Carrots.

Thanks everyone for all of the Happy Birthday cards and gifts. I love you. :)

Oh No!!! Wait, something really important! June 24th, my sister had her twin boys! Jaxon Cooper and Hendrix Lane............ Look at these angels :)

New Mexico and Mom&Dad

2011-07-30T18:08:00.004-05:00

Patrick went back with mom and dad to visit their new home in NM after he got back from church camp. He was there a week and then India and I headed out there. It was great having her company on this trip and lots of memories were made. We had a few little turn arounds going out there. ha! It was pretty funny. STAY ON 380 WEST!!! We stayed a week and then headed back home to Texarkana with Patrick with us. I had a great time. I met some of Mom and Dad's friends, enjoyed their beautiful home, I LOVED walking (it is so hot here to walk), but there it was great weather and temp., I feel good about where they are and now I have that connection to them knowing where they live and all. Watching the deer in their yard was great. One day I painted all day outside on their porch a piece of art for mom. We went to White Sands, beautiful. We went to The Valley of Fire, so pretty. We ate one night at the Inn of The Mountain Gods, yummy! Mom, Indy and I went shopping in Ruidoso one day. Mom cooked wonderful meals of course. Sleeping with the windows open and waking up to watching the sun come over the mountains, wow. Their home is so peaceful and it all was such a great trip.

Go Nana!

Lovely home and the sage is beautiful

One of the many beautiful rooms in their home.
Wish I could have added every photo.

View from side porch

Up the mountain behind mom and dads home

The road in front of their home
(above and below photo)

Indy just got stung by something on her foot at The White Sands :(

Looking out my window from bed

The porch art I did for her.

Valley of Fire trail

Copied Devotion from Streams in The Desert

2011-07-25T20:11:00.000-05:00

I read this today on Crosswalk.com devotionals. I love Streams in The Desert devotions. I wanted to copy and keep this one for future reading. :)

Trust and Rest

"Trust also in Him" (Ps. 37:3).

The word trust is the heart word of faith. It is the Old Testament word, the word given to the early and infant stage of faith. The word faith expresses more the act of the will, the word belief the act of the mind or intellect, but trust is the language of the heart. The other has reference more to a truth believed or a thing expected.

Trust implies more than this, it sees and feels, and leans upon a person, a great, true, living heart of love. So let us "trust also in him," through all the delays, in spite of all the difficulties, in the face of all the denials, notwithstanding all the seemings, even when we cannot understand the way, and know not the issue; still "trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass." The way will open, the right issue will come, the end will be peace, the cloud will be lifted, and the light of an eternal noonday shall shine at last.

***

"Trust and rest when all around thee

Puts thy faith to sorest test;

Let no fear or foe confound thee,

Wait for God and trust and rest.

"Trust and rest with heart abiding,

Like a birdling in its nest,

Underneath His feathers hiding,

Fold thy wings and trust and rest."

I love the part where it talks about "not knowing the issue", but trust Him anyway. It may not mean exactly the way I understood it, but that is what is so wonderful about God, that He can speak to you how you need to hear Him. Sometimes I get so confused in my head and I feel so many things are clouding my view and I am not even sure what the issue is exactly anymore, it gets so boggled. So I know to trust Him, and that is all I can do and what I can do and that is a big thing.

My dog skip

2011-07-12T20:06:00.001-05:00

My dog Skip left me, and Mylon and Patrick on July 11th, 2011........ he flew away. On Mylon's way to work he found him. He apparently wandered into the highway for some reason. Mylon picked him up to remove him out of the road, my father-n-law told Mylon to go on to work and he would bury him. I found out from my father-n-law what happened, only cause I asked if he had seen Skip. He then told me. He and Mylon wanted to wait and let me know later, as I was about to get on the road with my niece headed to NM to see my folks and to get Patrick. Patrick was at his Nana's and Papa's and had to find out from Papa. My heart is sad and I get a really sick feeling in my heart and stomach everytime I think of him, of what happened.

I had told people he was an angel sent from God. He just showed up on my porch and I feel I have failed greatly in not putting him in his pen. He had stopped chasing our car down the road, so we felt he was pretty safe. I still feel like a failure. I had a good thing, only for a few months, but a really good thing. I am sorry Skip.

I love you Skip. Forever.

Turks and Caicos

2011-06-23T10:00:00.001-05:00

Here are some recent photos from Provodenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. We went June 3rd thru June 9th and it was absolutely wonderful and beautiful. From the place we stayed (orchid villa at http://www.atlanticbeachfrontvillas.com/ , the restaurants, the beach, cracked conch (yum), the sunset sailboat cruise, our little rental geo tracker, exploring, looking at rich people's houses (heehee) and way too expensive groceries (I feel so bad for the locals!), meeting people and visiting, some rain, beautiful rain, beautiful sun, the church we went to Sunday morning, the ferry ride over to North and Middle Caicos, Daniel's Cafe!!!, the water, snorkeling, Mylon diving 15ft under to get me a conch shell :), our catamaran sail that took 2 1/2 hours and was supposed to be 1 hour! ha!, even missing our flight home (and having to wait 6 hours for the next, no problem, so back to the beach we went!), all of it was perfect!

"Boner" ??? Rented from Scooter Bob's.

"Piper" at the Green Bean Cafe.

Church we attended Sunday a.m.

"Somewhere" Cafe

"Daniel's Cafe" Middle Caicos
Oh My goodness, Best food ever!!!
(above and below photo)

In front of "Da Conch Shack" restaurant

Captain Mylon sailing the Hobie Cat

Mudpies

2011-06-01T20:18:00.002-05:00

Videos for Nana & Papa

Patrick and Cecilia

May 2011

Some of my onions. They are growing!

Biomes, Baby Shower and Birthday!

2011-05-24T09:34:00.002-05:00

Patrick had to do a Biome for Science class and he chose Grasslands. He did such a great job and of course I love helping. Projects like that are so fun to me.

I didn't get alot of photos from my sister's baby shower. I was busy doing other things, but I hope to get some great copies from other people that took pictures. She is having twin boys!

My sister-n-law, Brooke, made the wonderful fabric banners.

Amber opening gifts and Cecilia busy helping.

Then! Patrick's 12th Birthday party, full of pizza, gifts, friends and family, cake, football, gaming and a water balloon fight!

My great niece, Lexi and my niece, Cecilia

Saturday and Easter

2011-04-24T18:17:00.004-05:00

Mylon, his Dad and Patrick and the old truck

Fun with Easter Eggs

Patrick and I decorated them.

I helped work the EGGSplosion at church Saturday night with the 3 year olds. wow! :) Worked with 5 year olds Sunday morning. Patrick, Mylon and I went to eat after church and then home. Quiet Easter, that is good, but miss mom and dad.

Rainy

2011-04-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

It has been raining all night and this morning, but I am enjoying it. We needed rain. Of course, my animals hate it. :) Batman holds having to go outside til I think he is going to pop.

Patrick has been going to boxing class 2 weeks now. Right now he is going 2 nights a week, but possibly will do 3 nights a week when school gets out, or when TAKS tests are over next week. It is pretty close to our house, so it is not a far drive. I have stayed some and watched and then Mylon and I will go early and watch him before we pick him up. LOTS of cardio. Competitions start in October. Yikes. I am nervous.

Today I am hoping to meet up with Misty for coffee and a snack and hopefully make the final plans for Amber's and the twin boys shower. :)

I have recently been going through all of my fabric and seeing what I have and don't have. I guess it will stay straight for a little while anyway. I enjoyed appliquing the onesies and toddler t-shirts.

This weekend I am working at the church Saturday night for the Easter Egg dealy and then Sunday morning kid's church. Hopefully somewhere in there Patrick will want to dye and decorate Easter eggs at home, unless he is too big for that now. : / I am not too big for it though.

On to other things now, getting dressed, on to town to meet up with Misty, pick P up, take him to get new jeans, come home, eat, get ready for boxing, and then possibly go to a friends house this evening for awhile.

Bye.

New Etsy Items Listed

2011-04-19T19:19:00.001-05:00

Please visit my new items on Etsy..... My latest venture into Appliqued Onesies and Toddler Tshirts.

http://www.bolete.etsy.com/

ALSO, check out my other blog: http://www.handmadeandsuch.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

Things are looking UP

2011-04-12T09:28:00.001-05:00

Well, it has been one week since my parents have left to New Mexico. I talk to them almost daily. I still can't figure out SKYPE. Neither can they! ha. I signed up for the free video calls, but can't seem to figure it all out. Maybe it really isn't free, who knows. I guess India, my 15 year old neice, will have to guide me through it all. Thank God for young minds that are NOT technically challenged.

Since my Dad was just down the street from me before, he helped out by taking Patrick to school daily. Well, it totally spoiled me. I am so thankful though that he did that for me. Now, I take him daily. I pick him up about 3 days a week from school and his mom picks him up the other days, so that helps. I hate to complain about gas, but whoa! If he switches schools next year, he will be riding the old yellow school bus. :)

I have gotten quite a few things done around the house the last couple of weeks. Cleaning out closets and pantries. I took some things to Goodwill. Feels good to get rid of some things. Cleaning out things and giving things away makes me feel like I can take a deep breath and start over. It helps clear my mind.

Still thinking on substitute teaching starting this fall. I have been getting my information together and have turned in some of it.

Oh yea, and Patrick is starting Boxing training tonight. He is so excited. I mean, that is all he can practically talk about. I am excited too actually.

I plan to finish a baby hammock I am knitting for my cousin's wife, Misty. She is a photographer and wants to use hammocks in her sets with infants. I hope to finish it today. It has taken me long enough. : / I have got to get more organized in my crafts. My mind and hands go from one thing to the next. If I would just stick to something for once.

I have not been sleeping well at all and find myself up at 2:30 in the morning, laying there til 4:00am and then if I go back to sleep I feel like I am going to die trying to get up at 7:00! I think about everything, everybody, I pray, I toss and turn. I know it will change though. Just something that will pass I am sure. I find myself not trusting God like I should. I find myself wanting to take control and charge. I want to make things easier on others. I guess I try and "play" God and that is bad. So, daily I have to give it all to Him, or should I say minute by minute. I am so glad He loves me and forgives me. Wow, I am so stubborn! :o

Mylon and I take our trip to Providenciales, in Turks and Caicos, June 3rd-9th. We are staying here http://www.atlanticbeachfrontvillas.com/orchid-villa.asp . I found it on VBRO. Hope it is as nice as it seems. We will drive to Dallas, fly out to Miami, from Miami to Provo. I still need to email Gloria's Taxi, the local taxi service, with the info. to pick us up. There is a place there to rent a car. But there are also restaurants within walking distance. So, we plan to eat, lay on the beach, and sight see. Of course, if any of you know me, I do NOT like to fly, Mylon LOVES it. So, nerves will be edgy.... : / Patrick would more than likely be going with us, except we planned this trip before he moved in with us and he will still be in school. But I am going to try real hard not to worry about my family back home (my sister who is pregnant with twins) and Patrick, and Indy and Ceil, and and have a good time. After all, my husband is so gracious to give such a wonderful gift to us. Verizon doesn't work very well there, but we will have a phone in our room and we will also have free internet service.

Bye for now.

Change

2011-04-05T09:24:00.000-05:00

Today my parents, who have not only lived in the same town as me, but have lived down the road from me, are moving. They are heading to New Mexico. God has new plans. We are all sad, but God reminded me of one of my favorite scriptures and I know it is for my parents and my whole family.

Isaiah 43:18-19
DO NOT CALL TO MIND THE FORMER THINGS,
OR PONDER ON THINGS OF THE PAST,
BEHOLD, I WILL DO SOMETHING NEW,
NOW IT WILL SPRING FORTH,
WILL YOU NOT BE AWARE OF IT?
I WILL EVEN MAKE A ROADWAY IN THE WILDERNESS
AND RIVERS IN THE DESERT.

Skip

2011-03-22T05:28:00.002-05:00

Since I wrote last I sent Bandy, my largest goat, off to live with other goats. A really nice lady came to get him. It was a long time coming and it was hard, because he was one of my babies but he was too big for me and was being ugly towards my oldest goat, Berny. (Berny is so happy now).

That same weekend someone else came to our house...............
This is our new friend who appeared one morning on the back porch. He is still a puppy and couldn't be more sweet. We were not going to keep him, but Patrick wanted him and well I did too and I think Mylon did too. God sent him. :) Meet Skip.

Of course, Batman, my chihuahua, is trying to get use to him. Batman lives inside, Skip outside. Batman is still my love. All of my animals have special places in my heart. I felt I would be doing Batman an injustice if I didn't write about him today. :)

Planting

2011-02-23T08:46:00.001-06:00

It turned out cool yesterday, but the last few days before that have been warm and so nice. I planted lettuce and onions. I planted them in pots. I read up on pot planting vegetables and I hope I can pull it off. I have planted peppers and tomatoes before in pots and they didn't turn out so great. I started from seeds then though. This time I bought plants. I had some long planters and read that lettuce doesn't need very deep soil and neither do onions. I actually planted some of the onion in the ground. I will later plant tomatoes, squash, peppers and possibly cucumbers. I have gardened before, and used to have the nicest little gardens, but the last couple of times I haven't had much luck? :( The lettuce looks so pretty. My father-n-law on the spur of the moment built a bench for me to put my pots on so any rabbits that might be hungry would have a harder time getting to it. He had some old redwood he used and I LOVE my bench. That was very kind of him. I am very blessed.

Riley, our Music minister's son, has been staying with us while his parents are out of town. He and Patrick are good buddies, so they are having fun.

I have been throwing the idea around for quite some time now about subbing with the School district, but I can't seem to feel right about it. I am always looking for some way to make a little extra money here and there, but can't seem to find anything that is workable for me. I hope that doesn't sound "spoiled", but my husband and family come before a job and it has to work around all of those things that are much more important. I love home. I love "making" a home. That is what I really enjoy. I keep thinking I might find the right niche for my crafts and art and would love for that to lead to some extra money. I currently do not have any listings in my Etsy shop, because I am, well, I don't know. I am just "being" right now. Whatever God has for me, my ears are opened to hear. I just pray that I will have the "willingness" to do whatever it is. I haven't had the opportunity to go to the Women's rehab center to do my craft class for several Thursdays now. They do not have any residents as of right now. Hopefully I will get to minister in that way again soon.

My shoulder pain has come back. So, MRI Thursday. (sigh....) (grumble...) I just wanted the pain to go away and stay away, but I don't always get what I want. : /

I was looking at my Vision Board and I am keeping some of my goals, if that is what you call them. However, I am not doing so well on some of them. Well, try, try again. Or, just know that some things I may never achieve, and that is okay. Isn't it? Depends on what it is I guess.

On to new things...... :)

Snow again, flatbread, and pinched nerve

2011-02-04T18:58:00.001-06:00

Today we woke up to snow! Patrick was out of school :)! I enjoyed watching the news and waiting to see the school listings that were closed for today..........I love it as much as he does. Anyway........so we got snow again! Sad though cause Mylon had to go out of town for the ice storm down in Louisiana to work on the company's trucks that are working down there on electricity. Hopefully he will be home tomorrow evening. He was up next for a storm call..............so, he had to go. Patrick mainly played in the snow on a sled at Michael and Carissa's (my neice) house today with a friend of his. I stayed inside and finished knitting a hat and started another one.

Well, I saw this recipe for flatbread. It was almost a disaster, but I managed to turn it into a good thing. I used whole wheat flour, salt, and heated warm water. After you add enough water to form dough, you then knead it for about 5 minutes. (Patrick helped me with that part and he also helped me decide which spices to add) I actually added thyme and shredded cheddar and some more salt, even though the recipe didn't call for it. You divide that ball into 12 balls and cover and let rest for about 10 minutes. Then you flatten each ball and roll out to about a 6" circle. I wasn't actually rolling them out thin enough in the beginning, but got a little better at it, but they weren't a circle, they were a blob! ha.

So, you put some oil in a skillet, I love my iron skillet. I browned them on both sides and until they got a little harder. But when I took them out of the skillet, they just weren't really crispy enough. The first two I ate a little of and then threw away. The rest of them I cooked in the skillet, then cut them into cracker size and broiled them in the oven in my stoneware dish until crispier. Not sure why they didn't turn out exactly like I would have liked, maybe my flour was bad, or I didn't roll them thin enough? They were bland, could have added more seasoning. But it was not a total disaster. I put them in a bowl and salted them and shook the bowl so the salt would get all on them. They are good with sour cream and I bet they are really good with cream cheese. Anyway, they are a little healthier than white bread with yeast, right? Oh yea, and butter!

I started the week out with going to the doctor Tuesday after about 3 weeks of pain in my shoulder and down my arm and weakness/tingling. Yes, a pinched nerve. So, he gave me this 6 day steroid pack. I said "Dr. Gabbie, I don't want that. Doesn't that make you gain weight?" He said ,"It is not going to make you gain 10 lbs. in 6 days." So I am thinking "Oh yea, not 10, but 9"? ha! I have to lay off the salt though, cause he said it would make me puff up! Anyway, my shoulder and arm are alot better! Thank goodness. That was pretty painful and totally wears on you. But Thank You Jesus for a wonderful week. :)

My 2011 Vision Board

2011-01-25T09:50:00.002-06:00

I found this idea on Louise Gale's blog that I follow http://louisegale.blogspot.com/2011/01/whats-on-your-vision-board-for-2011.html

Thought I would give it a go. Fun and calming. :) Also, a great movie to watch "Is Anybody There?" Irish film, 2009 with Michael Caine. A great thought-provoking movie.

The Latest......

2011-01-12T12:14:00.008-06:00

So, I haven't written since November 30th? Wow, so I have alot to talk about. However, I think I may be too lazy to talk about it. : / I will try though.

After Thanksgiving, the days flew by. Days filled with going back and forth to Academy shopping for ski bibs and outer wear. Also the days were filled with Christmas shopping, preparations, decorating, all while getting ready for our ski trip and making sure all was cleared with Patrick missing a few extra days of school. I was so excited about Christmas this year and our trip. It was like I just knew I had so many days ahead to look forward to, and I did. I enjoyed every bit of it. I had the whole trip having fun and then looking forward to coming home to my brothers and their families coming in from Austin and spending time with my sister, neices, nephews, mom, dad, husband, everyone. It was great.

We left out early December 15th and drove and drove and drove. There was a caravan of cars, four to be exact. That evening we spent the night in Trinidad, Colorado, ate at a wonderful pizza place. Next day on to our destination in Buena Vista, Colorado. Days of snow, eating, skiing, shopping, knitting, visiting, playing games/cards.............fun, fun, fun. India and Patrick did great at skiing, and of course, Mylon did, as always. I mastered the Bunny Slope! I tried the green, but couldn't hang with it this time around. I have completed a green before though, mostly on my rear end. The snowmobile rescue came and got Patrick and I. : ) Got home December 22nd to Micah and Brooke coming in and staying at my house! hurray! It was literally non-stop fun and I loved it.
After days of opening presents, eating and sharing time with family, I enjoyed another week with Patrick being home from school and then New Year's. Of course, I was in bed way before 12 midnight. ha! Boring me.

The regular routine was setting in, with Patrick and school, Mylon and work and me and my usual chores, volunteer work, etc. and then............SNOW AND ICE!!!! It has been lovely. Patrick had 2 days out of school, but had to go back today. We made a snowman, did some sledding, took a looooooonnnng walk in the woods with my Dad and it was so nice.

Here are some recent photos:

Ava, Patrick, and Adi
opening presents

Batman after opening his presents.

My crazy wonderful Husband

Patrick, about to ski for the 1st time

Ava making music...

India, skiing in style

Dad with Franklin and
Snuggles

My precious mother, always putting others first.

Patrick at the Big Texan, Amarillo, TX

Cecilia, mad that I am taking a picture! ha!