1 - Of the two children with leukemia I learned about last week, one's case is "the treatable kind," and the other is in remission though still proceeding with the treatment protocol.
2 - The 11-year-old girl I visited in Children's Hospital (& whose doctors are unsure what is going on) is slowly getting better.
3 - In the midst of so many reminders of this fallen world, a new Bible study group on Ecclesiastes is helping with my perspective ... and my longing for heaven!
4 - The winter-spring-winter-spring yo-yo at least gives me relief from allergies on the days it gets colder.
5 - I found the source of the dripping water I heard when I arrived home alone to a dark house the other night, and all of the stereo equipment right in front of that window was preserved.
6 - I made it home safely after driving home alone after dark on a narrow road during the most torrential rain storm I have ever experienced. I'd crawl to a stop, wait for lightning to light up the world, and then proceed a little ways until repeating the process.
7 - Although our sump pump decided to quit on the night of the torrential rainstorm (which was the first time we had needed it in well over a year AND I was home alone and didn't even notice that it wasn't running), the Lord was merciful, and the rising water stopped just below the basement floor, and Jim was able to fix it the next day.
8 - God has given doctors wisdom and great skill, so that elderly people with very painful arthritic joints can have hip replacement surgery.
9 - Jim did not get sick from eating the food I prepared in the slow cooker (for two meals) ... on a day when I was gone from home 9 AM - 9 PM ... and during which the electricity went off.
10 - My name is already on the "approved to talk with" list for both Jim's doctor and his insurance, so that I could smoothly take care of some red tape while he was at work.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Freezer Cooking
The internet is full of ideas for freezer cooking. Menu plans, shopping lists, checklists for a 30-minute, 1-hour, or 4-hour freezer cooking session, tips on how to plan a freezer cooking day with friends, and more!
I usually see those pictures or posts and feel very NON-Proverbs 31-ish.
Through trial and error and doing a couple very sporadic freezer cooking days (a lot of baking before Christmas 2011 and then storing up meals for my recovery), I might have come up with a good plan that works for us.
As I write, I have two slow cookers going, with a whole chicken in each. The oven is baking a large bag of sweet potatoes.
I think that's the perfect freezer cooking day for a Proverbs 31 wannabe who is cooking for her meat-and-potatoes man!
I usually see those pictures or posts and feel very NON-Proverbs 31-ish.
Through trial and error and doing a couple very sporadic freezer cooking days (a lot of baking before Christmas 2011 and then storing up meals for my recovery), I might have come up with a good plan that works for us.
As I write, I have two slow cookers going, with a whole chicken in each. The oven is baking a large bag of sweet potatoes.
I think that's the perfect freezer cooking day for a Proverbs 31 wannabe who is cooking for her meat-and-potatoes man!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Got books?
If you know us, you know our answer to that question.
And, it seems this flow chart describes us all too well.
Of course we make use of the library (FREE) and PaperBack Swap (free for the cost of shipping, plus we're getting rid of books at the same rate we are accumulating them!) and thrift stores (CHEAP, good books!). Our radar is always up for good sales (e-mails from publishers alert us to these) and my blog read feeder points out free Kindle books.
But there's always room for more free books, right?
Last week I signed up for Tyndale Rewards. It's not hard to accumulate points, and I've already earned enough for one free book. (It's easy to have your reward books shipped to a friend, too!)
If you're interested in checking it out or signing up, go here.
(Note: The link in this post is my referral link.)
And, it seems this flow chart describes us all too well.
Of course we make use of the library (FREE) and PaperBack Swap (free for the cost of shipping, plus we're getting rid of books at the same rate we are accumulating them!) and thrift stores (CHEAP, good books!). Our radar is always up for good sales (e-mails from publishers alert us to these) and my blog read feeder points out free Kindle books.
But there's always room for more free books, right?
Last week I signed up for Tyndale Rewards. It's not hard to accumulate points, and I've already earned enough for one free book. (It's easy to have your reward books shipped to a friend, too!)
If you're interested in checking it out or signing up, go here.
(Note: The link in this post is my referral link.)
Spotted on Main Street
A teenage driver...
... talking on his cell phone...
... while driving a John Deere tractor.
A few days later ...
A large mama skunk waddling across the road in broad daylight just before noon, stopping traffic in both directions!
... talking on his cell phone...
... while driving a John Deere tractor.
A few days later ...
A large mama skunk waddling across the road in broad daylight just before noon, stopping traffic in both directions!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Easter lunch
Last year I tried to be very creative for Easter lunch and start a tradition.
Turns out that the lamb cake of 2012 was not the First Annual Lamb Cake.
Although it was pretty ... in 2012. :)
Easter lunch 2013 was the slow cooker or make-ahead version:
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
We were blessed to celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior with my brother-in-law's brothers-in-law & father-in-law, enjoying being with other members of the Body of Christ who are also part of our family's family.
Turns out that the lamb cake of 2012 was not the First Annual Lamb Cake.
Although it was pretty ... in 2012. :)
Easter lunch 2013 was the slow cooker or make-ahead version:
- Roast beef
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes (To make the day ahead, I learned I had to use the good-tasting ~ albeit not so good for you ~ ingredients. Making it the day ahead was worth it.)
- Corn (Healthy version in Fix It & Forget It Lightly. Thanks, GCPC ladies!)
- Marinated Asparagus (Goal: another color for our plates & make-ahead.)
- Cranberry Jello Salad (Of course, make-ahead!)
- Rolls (Sister Schubert's)
- Lemon Coconut Cake (Of course, make-ahead!)
- Iced Tea
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
We were blessed to celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior with my brother-in-law's brothers-in-law & father-in-law, enjoying being with other members of the Body of Christ who are also part of our family's family.
The family doctor
I read an article in WORLD magazine about the state of healthcare in America, and came away thankful for my doctor!
The article said:
At times I have complained that my doctor is not part of a large group practice with a prompt care office open on nights and weekends.
But my doctor does know me and care about me. Twice I have used the phone option to page him on nights or weekends, and he has immediately called me back.
Before each of the three surgeries he has done on me, and sometimes after an office visit as well, he has prayed with me, going confidently before the throne of grace on my behalf, exhibiting a childlike trust in The Great Physician.
Thankful!
The article said:
... soon you will look in vain if you are seeking a personal physician who knows you, cares about you, and to whom you have ready access. You will find only systems, ...
At times I have complained that my doctor is not part of a large group practice with a prompt care office open on nights and weekends.
But my doctor does know me and care about me. Twice I have used the phone option to page him on nights or weekends, and he has immediately called me back.
Before each of the three surgeries he has done on me, and sometimes after an office visit as well, he has prayed with me, going confidently before the throne of grace on my behalf, exhibiting a childlike trust in The Great Physician.
Thankful!
Monday, April 1, 2013
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #52
531. the slowly diminishing snow field in our back yard, as the area covered by drifts (and thus the deepest snow) is all that remains from the March 24th storm
532. looking out across the miles and miles of farmland, as we drive to church, and seeing the seemingly random pattern of white and brown, as the same thing happens on a larger scale
533. watching the orange (and huge) full moon rise the Wednesday before Easter (looked like a harvest moon)
534. weekend with family - Saturday night concert, Sunday pizza lunch, afternoon birthday cake & ice cream, and making plans for upcoming events this summer
535. quiet
536. a new Bible study & getting to know 5 more ladies
537. eating fresh strawberries with a little fork (What are these called? I brought back a few from Japan; they're not quite 5" long.)
538. watching the full moon rise the Thursday before Easter ... semi-covered with a milky haze of clouds
539. in the middle of the night, seeing the moonlight reflect off the snow
540. covered dish supper & Maundy Thursday service at our church ... and Tenebrae Service at our once-a-year Lutheran church
532. looking out across the miles and miles of farmland, as we drive to church, and seeing the seemingly random pattern of white and brown, as the same thing happens on a larger scale
533. watching the orange (and huge) full moon rise the Wednesday before Easter (looked like a harvest moon)
534. weekend with family - Saturday night concert, Sunday pizza lunch, afternoon birthday cake & ice cream, and making plans for upcoming events this summer
535. quiet
536. a new Bible study & getting to know 5 more ladies
537. eating fresh strawberries with a little fork (What are these called? I brought back a few from Japan; they're not quite 5" long.)
538. watching the full moon rise the Thursday before Easter ... semi-covered with a milky haze of clouds
539. in the middle of the night, seeing the moonlight reflect off the snow
540. covered dish supper & Maundy Thursday service at our church ... and Tenebrae Service at our once-a-year Lutheran church
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