A Post for parents

One of the professionals that I have worked with in the past, Gerry Morgan, recently wrote a short article in our local newspaper... check it out http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.registerguard.com%252Fcsp%252Fcms%252Fsites%252Fweb%252Fliving%252Flifestyles%252F22761941-41%252Fstory.csp&h=739fb944321e11a29c3b49841430b2b2&ref=nf



I also came across this Cool giveaway....
http://yourtherapysource.blogspot.com/2009/11/holiday-soft-tee-giveaway.html

It's only Tuesday...

This has been a weird week, and it's only Tuesday!
yep, you could say we put the cart before the horse~
9 years ago, Jerry and I were living together and planning on getting married, but we wanted for each of us to be debt free before we got married.
Then... we found out I was pregnant, we decided to "fast track" the wedding-- We got married at the local courthouse-- which was really a great option at the time-- Other than the marriage licence and the flowers from the local supermarket-- it was free!

• My parents were nice enough to buy my dress(dark purple and pretty but more suited for a night out than a wedding)
• The first licence had my madien name spelled wrong, the second had the day of the week wrong-- so we usually celebrate the "weekend" that way I don't forget which day it was that we were offically married-- I am so NOT good with dates.
• I remember when we took the picture of all who had came, my parents, one set of my grandparents(my grandmother had already passed, and my grandfather was in a care home with Altimers) Jerry's Mom and Dad who were divorced and didn't/wouldn't stand together,my teenaged stepson Brandon, my best friend Terri, and Jerry's brother-- my grandmother refused to take the jacket she had draped over her arm-- off.
• It was also the first time I got to meet my cousin Lisa and her two daughters-- she had been given up for adoption at birth at the request of my grandmother-(because as a teen my aunt had gotten pregnant out of marriage)- When we were walking on the sidewalk I saw Lisa and I smiled, she smiled back-- I didn't know that she was family until we all walked to the same part of the courthouse!

I knew that my family and Jerry's family would not be, how shall I say this... uhhhh -- the best of friends? -- So, having the wedding at the courthouse worked for us--and while I was sad that I didn't have the white dress walking down the isle and all the trimmings--
When Jessica came along in May and there was a fight in the hallway between our parents about what Jessica's name was going to be--
Both Jerry and I were glad that we skipped a potential cringe worthy event!
Just this weekend my parents' had a family gathering, and when I got the call telling me about the gathering I mentioned that it was my Anniversary weekend-- but that piece of information must not of been important-- Jerry,the kids and I went to the gathering, I had gone to early service church and prayed that my mouth would have patience--
God was with me... Three times people remarked at how quiet I was, they all wanted to know why- I just tried to be passive-- I explained that I only wanted to say good things, and that I was kinda talked out... hummmm-- I don't think I really fooled anyone, but I was trying not to make my issues ruin the gathering.
Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer and I said to Lisa-- do you remember what you were doing 9 years ago? She stopped and looked at me...
"No-- oh,-- wait that was your wedding-- Well, Happy Anniversary! " and that was all that was said...
My parents were right behind me-- and the only thing I heard was my Dad saying WOW-- a moment went by and then everyone continued what they were doing, eating and talking.

I am still hurt and frustrated-- but I did my best to not let my anger and disappointment show-- I quit eating and turned to focus on Shane and Jessica-- who were being perfect little angels. Shane had gone to the bathroom once already with Jerry and then asked to go again, since Shane will no longer use the girls bathroom, we had Shane ask my father--Jerry and I thought that Shane would try to get Grandpa to let him play a video game. (he had already "convinced" Jerry to let him play a game)
Later in the hallway I asked how Shane was doing and Dad remarked, Well he had an issue but he's fine now. I took that to mean that Shane had been disrespectful or defiant in some way--. Thank God the gathering ended up about 5 minutes later-- Jerry went and paid the bill which was more than we had expected-- grrr
Then we walked out to the parking lot,my mom had some books for the kids, which they were OVER the MOON to read-- I left the kids sitting in the truck, happily reading and went to get Jerry -- he was deep in "man conversation" about Dad's new truck. As Mom and I walk over to the guys, the conversation turns to Shane and his trip with Grandpa to the bathroom-- Jerry and I confess that we suggested Shane ask to go with him to the bathroom-- then Dad starts talking about how Shane was taking a long time to go-- and Grandpa had kept asking if Shane was okay-- Shane told Grandpa--" I'm poopin' it's gonna take a while-- I got most of it out but there's still more!" While it was nice to hear my son being so clear about what was going on-- it was frustrating for me that Dad had lead me to believe something else.

Okay, that all being said-- I am moving on to what I hope will be a "happy ending"
This morning Jerry and I were both working with Shane to put his shoes on--for the last week or so Shane has not wanted to wear his shoes-- this morning Jerry and I finally figured out why...
His shoes were too small!
Jessica was nice enough to loan Shane a pair of her shoes-- that were all white.... so that he could go to school with a bit of comfort! Tomorrow is payday and so as soon as he gets out of school we will find him a new bigger pair.!

{my parents' do know about this blog but they don't read it so-- that is why I decided to write about them, partly as "free" therapy and maybe -- if they read it I might get an apology-- Thanks for reading and commenting I really do appreciate your input!)
{there really is more I was going to write,about other things... but I think that I have said more than enough!}

Good things to eat, and themes!

I think it's a conspiracy ?
I was hopping around in the "blog-a-sphere" and reading recipes--
I happened upon two that I liked. Pumpkin roll and Pumpkin Dessert
And then either my fingers,my computer,my printer or ... my lack of knowledge
caused me to print out 16 pages of which, I only needed two-- grrr... and then to top it all off I infringed on a copyright-- not my best day at the computer!
So, I wanted to link to the two blogs that had these GREAT recipes and then share one of my own.

Hop over if you will (please!) to LoudMonkeys and AntiqueMommy
leave them a comment if you will ? Comments, can make great amends! :)

This is a recipe that when I was a teen, my mom would ..."engage" my "help" to make .
My mom is a very sneaky and sweet lady-- she knew I wasn't much into kitchen work, but she also knew that I enjoyed cranberries.
I spoke with her today and she can't remember who gave her the recipe or even it's name-- and I do think that we never really made it the same twice!
(This is a trait that seem to I share with my family... make it, eat it, make it again, try and make it better-- eat it and then in the near future tweak the recipe and make it again! ...LOL)
So, hopefully my brain can remember the recipe correctly? or at least the best tasting version?

1 bag frozen Ocean Spray Cranberries
1 cup or so of plain white sugar
1 tub cool whip
diced apples, diced walnuts
Mandarin oranges, and maraschino cherries for garnish.

1. grind up the cranberries, we used to use a meat grinder-- what WORK! --



2. add sugar to cranberries put back in freezer overnight



3. dice apples and walnuts



4. fold cool whip into cranberries, then add apples and walnuts



5. garnish with maraschino cherries and Mandarin oranges...



6. This needs to stay cold -- so that the cool whip doesn't disintegrate.

I finished a Christmas gift ... but since there is a small chance that the recipient might read this... I can't show you it... darn it...(as I stamp my foot) I started the project in one way and then ended up doing it a different way-- I made 4 of these "things" and in the end the last two ended up -- almost like I wanted!

One day I will learn to stick to a pattern and FOLLOW the directions-- yeah right...This must me a theme for me.,... sticking to a plan and staying with the directions.?

how about you, do you follow directions with grace? or do you make it up as you go along?

Just two pictures

Shane and his shiner...

the kids created a "fortress" in the front yard with branches that have fallen due to our recent windstorm.