a pinch for an inch..

Yesterday was "WellCare Check" day. All of you who have kids know what this means. The awful, dreadful "pinches" day. Also known as shots. The last couple visits, I've been combining their appointments. That way, we get it over all at once.

Our usual routine is that we will let Madie know anywhere from a day to a few days ahead of time that this day is coming, and it's just going to be a "pinch," so it shouldn't be a big deal since she's such a brave girl. She doesn't do well with the element of surprise, so we've found it easier to prepare her this way and we can avoid drama in the waiting room. Usually. Yesterday was the exception. Oh, how the tears flowed, and "Mommy, I don't want pinches!" Meanwhile, Adrie had no clue why Madie was crying and had not yet connected "pinches" with "shots."

By the time we got into the exam room, Madie had settled down some and had resigned herself to her fate. The visit went well, and it was determined that Madie would only need one shot.. not two. You would have thought that the heavens had opened and you could hear the angels singing the Hallelujah Chorus! One shot! All of a sudden, it was no big deal.

Adrie still had no clue.

The nurse came in to administer the "pinches," and Madie was trying hard to be brave. She still wasn't sure she believed us that it would be just one, and the nerves had returned. She was starting to protest quietly, and as I was trying to console her and remind her how brave she is, the nurse pipes in, "All done!" and quickly rewards her with a piece of bubblegum. The look of disbelief, followed by a huge grin on Madie's face, was a huge relief! Especially since Adrie was quietly waiting on Gramma's lap, and her turn had arrived. Thankfully, her experience was much the same as Madie's, and there were very few tears. What brave girls!

Let's return to that bubblegum. I think Madie has had gum maybe one other time in her five years. She was so excited, and couldn't wait to finish her lunch so she could partake in the gum-chewing. She chewed that gum.. and chewed it, and chewed it to her heart's delight.. Then it was time to rest. I told her we could put it somewhere so she could have it when she woke up. "No thanks, Mommy.. This gum has lost it's taste and I don't want it anymore. I don't think I like gum very much, and I don't want any the next time we go to the doctor."

"Okay..."

"But Mommy?"

"Yes, Madie?"

"I'm still going to be brave."

I think I was the one wiping a tear as I left her room. My little girl is growing up.

thansgiving day, or thanksgiving everyday?

A few verses to help us remember to give thanks.. and remember that Thanksgiving should be in our hearts everyday. The first two are prayers/songs that we sang every Thanksgiving, and at every family gathering, when my grandparents (maternal) were alive. How I miss them!

DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

THANK YOU, LORD
Thank You Lord for saving my soul,
Thank You Lord for making me whole.
Thank You Lord for giving to me,
Thy great salvation, so rich and so free.

---

Let us remember that, as much has been given us,
much will be expected from us,
and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips,
and shows itself in deeds.
~Theodore Roosevelt

---

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

---

Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal.
It's a way to live.
~Jackie Windspear

---

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
~Melody Beattie

---

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?"
~William A. Ward

---

And one funny:

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
~Author Unknown

Happy Thanksgiving!

beans, beans the musical fruit :)

The girls and I are just sitting here in the livingroom in front of the fireplace. They played outside for a little while, and now it's getting cloudy and cooler. A good time to come inside, and they are playing so quietly and nicely with each other. We have the Christmas tree up (with just the lights so far) in the corner of the room, and the ambiance is cozy. I'm sitting here thinking about Thanksgiving and our menu, and I'm getting hungry.

Obviously, there will be turkey and my mom's stuffing (the best!).. I think I'll ask my aunt to bring her cranberry salad. Sweet potatoes.. mashed potatoes.. mmm.. and green bean casserole! It's so good, I thought I would share the recipe. It was passed onto me by 'shini many moons ago, and it has become a tradition in our house ever since. A great recipe if you're not counting calories!

Before I share the recipe: if you have recipes to share, please pass them on! I love new ideas, and love the stories behind them (if there is one).

On with the beans:

The Best Green Bean Casserole Ever

2 - cans green beans
1 - can sliced water chestnuts
1 - can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 - cup milk
1 - 8 oz. bag shredded cheese (I use the Mexican style)
worcestershire sauce to taste (I use about 1/2 Tbsp)
pepper to taste

1 1/3 - cup french fried onions, divided

• Preheat oven to 350°F

Mix everything together except 2/3 cup french fried onions. Pour into 11 x 7 baking dish. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining 2/3 cup french fried onions on top and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes. This will be boiling hot when it's taken out of the oven, so let it rest for 5 minutes or so before serving.

• I usually double this recipe and bake in a 9 x 13 baking dish.
  
  
• You can cut down on the saltiness by using unsalted beans and low sodium mushroom soup. No worries, it will still be plenty salty (not bland at all!) from the french fried onions, worcestershire sauce and cheese.

Enjoy!

shameless plug.. for myself.

So I'm joining the ranks of many who are looking for a job. The thing is, I can't afford daycare (nor do I wish for this option), so it needs to be in the wee hours of the morning, very late in the evening, or from home (preferably). I'm in the process of searching online, but I really wish my fairy godmother would come and wave her wand and take care of it all for me.

I was reading some articles to "help you get started with your own online business," and they said I needed to figure out what I like and what my talents are. Well.. let's see. I pretty well-versed in using a computer, I'm good with Word, Excel, and Publisher. I can cook. I love to cook. So should I write about cooking? Doesn't everybody do that already?

Do you know any cooks who are looking to having their recipes typed up? I can do that.

autumn 2008 photo ops

Make a Smilebox photobook

God Bless America

It's voting day here - have you done your civic duty to this great country? I don't think I have really invested as much thought and concern for an election as this year. Yes, I certainly cared about the last elections that I voted in, but this one has been different for me.

The economy has been the focal point of this election. But what about:

• the war in Iraq?
  
• immigration laws?
  
• education?
  
• teaching "Creationism" in schools?
  
• prayer in schools?
  
• vouchers for education so you can send your child to the school of YOUR choice.. including private and charter schools?
  
• abortion? parents rights over minors seeking abortion?
  

What about all the other issues that usually come into play? Did we forget about all of those? Did you choose the best candidate to handle all these other subjects? Did you research where they stand on these things? (In case you want to do some last minute research - click here)

We have certainly spent a lot of time analyzing character, judgement, and associations - all valid and important points to consider. I think I would place those three above all the other points. But I still care about their opinions on those subjects that didn't seem to get much attention.

It boils down to this. Are you completely confident in the choice you made? Is the man you voted for truly qualified to lead this country. Are you confident in the choice they made for Vice President? Another key point to consider. A lot of time was spent crucifying Palin's qualifications to be Vice President. Should something happen to McCain, is she able to lead our country? What about Joe Biden? Should something happen to Obama, are you confident in Joe Biden as President of this country?

Thank God this is a country where we have a say in who leads us. My prayer is that we all search our conscience and despite pressures from friends, relatives, colleagues, etc., I pray that we all vote, and vote for the one we truly believe is the best to lead our country.

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "

God Bless America, Land that I love.

Stand beside her, and guide her

Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home.

mashed potatoes and milkshakes

I sat in the oral surgeon's office this last Tuesday... I sat there wondering what on earth I was doing. If I got up and left, would Dave follow me? Would anyone else notice? Of course, I had just given them my credit card and paid for the extraction of my three (yes, thank goodness it wasn't four) wisdom teeth, so I better have something to show for it I guess. My stomach was in knots - has anyone ever died from having their wisdom teeth removed? I should have done more research on this.

The nurse called my name. I couldn't even look at Dave for fear of bursting into tears right there in the office. I know.. dramatic, aren't I? To be very blunt, I feared for my life.

This nurse was good though. She knew my type. She didn't ask too many questions, didn't ask how I felt about the surgery. She just showed me where I could hang my sweater, asked me if I was warm enough, had me sit in the chair, and put the gas on me right away. Yeah. She's good. She didn't bother taking my blood pressure until I had breathed in several breaths of that nitrous oxide happy gas. The same fears of the surgery and the IV (The IV!!!) and all the pain following the extraction were still there.. I just didn't care.

The surgeon came in.. such a nice man. He went into the hall and came back with a fleecy blanket. I like fleece.. so comfy.. so cozy, and warm. Especially when you are full of happy gas. Then he helped strap my arms down. Nice soft straps. Now I can relax my arms. What a nice doctor. Then he sat down to administer the IV. The IV!!! Wasn't I supposed to be scared of that? So you missed the first time, nice doctor. That's okay. Take another stab at it. I don't care.. I have happy gas!

"Now we're going to slowly start the medicine that will make you go to sleep," said the kind nurse. Quickly followed by, "We're all done, Deanna.. You can wake up now." Then the kind nurse was helping me sit up. She helped me put my sweater on, and then slowly led me down the hall to where Dave was waiting. Oh the pain. Oh the misery. Why couldn't I just stay in the chair for a little longer.. the same chair I dreaded sitting in at the beginning.

Flash forward. After five days of healing so far, I'm still eating mashed potatoes and have to melt down my ice cream to milkshake consistency. The first couple days were pure H-E-double hockey sticks. I still wonder why one would call them "wisdom" teeth, when all they seem to do is cause trouble. I say we call them "misery molars."

Sidenote: Last night was Halloween (duh) and Madie and Adrie went Trick-or-Treating with Dave. This morning, Madie was looking for her candy and said that Mommy must have eaten it all. I just had to laugh..