Word filled Wedesday

"Looking at barriers in a spiritual way makes the walls fall down, the barriers begin to crumble and the mountains fall flat."

This was a line in my devotion this morning. It spoke volumes to me.
Sorry about the boo hoobies yesterday....life is a challenge and for many reasons, that challenge hit my heart. I know that this is just a part of my life...not who I am or a definitive of my life.

Awaking to a divine morning after a nights rain fall in the desert is a hot humid beauty that is reminiscent of a relaxing sauna. It is so comforting in a strange way. My skin is moist and breathing in the freshest air a treat. It is 7:15 and the second load is in the washer, the dish washer is empty as is the kitchen sink except for the cookie sheet from last night. Dove made a simple supper. She is very sweet. I sat with the ice bag she retrieved for me, after our errands I was in a hurt. I took them to "Big Lot's" to get a few school supplies. Dove had prayed for the back pack that we found there. I saw it the other day and asked God to hold it if he would have for me to gift her with it. It was $8. a great price, however we had purchased a book bag last week. She has been concerned the book bag was a bit too small. When I showed her the back pack she beamed, it was really just what she had prayed for color and all. We were all dressed in yellow yesterday. Do you ever have those days where everyone just happens to dress in the same color.

When we got home from buying the dog food (no I did not lift it) I needed to get my hand pain tended too. Dove brought me a nice glass of ice water and the bottle of the pain pills and an ice pack for my hand. Such a sweet caregiver. I delegated supper to my 11 year old and she was so good. I gave her step by step instructions. Funny how good it is to see independence fill her up with pride of accomplishment. She put the tatter tots on the tray with the chicken tenders. Heated the oven and Dash was her runner. He set the table and tended to the freezer errands for her. They worked together as I sat there with the ice on my hand. Funny sorta like sitting on my hands to delegate. It was a good exercise in letting them grow. Daddy Man came home and supervised while I just took it easy. WOW sorta like being spoiled.:)

I tossed the flower seed into the gravel front yard in the evening. With the wonderful rain storm it was well rained into the rock. Perfect timing!

This morning, I draped my clothes over the line, I can not find the box with the clothes pins in it.
Nice to hang my things out again. I really miss using a clothes line. I love the quiet of hanging the laundry out in the early morning. When I opened the patio door there were over 40 birds that took flight . Many sparrows, dove and tanagers. They have found the new feeder. I think I may of heard another rooster this morning but I did not see who it was. Jasper perhaps. Well my second load just beeped at me and Dash is at the kitchen table playing and sneezing. I'll get his eggs going.
Have a fabulous day!

Wordless Wendsday

We are having a great thunderstorm here!

The storm left a good inch or so of rain in an hour and a half. It was awesome!

Tackle It Tuesday

Good Morning!
We Had a wonderful play date yesterday.
The flower fairy came for me.
This morning the tooth fairy had come for Dash as he lost his other front tooth yesterday.
I got a bit of hard news at the end of the afternoon. The report on the xray was called in. There are no breaks in my hand and in this I rejoice, however the news was that there is minimal (it has begun) degenerative joint disease, Osteoarthritis has now hit my hand. It is in my knee, stinosis in my low back and hip now it is showing itself in my hand. I am trusting once the sprain cleare that I will not have this pain as a constant. I am so young for this. All of my sibblings (I am the lsat of 8) have the same challenge for it is a familur type. I was pretty upset for I use my hands so much. The thought of this pain now in my hands and not just my knee and my low back is disterbing. I remember my Mother crying saying "why does it have to hurt so bad...?"
Sad memories of my Mother suffering.
I went to the bead group from our chuch hoping for some fellowship and discovered thta the young woman (an only child) simply needed an audience. Nothing I shared had any value.
I do not think I will return and I am so disappointed, I really wanted to have a place to share that passion with like minded. She just wanted to make money off of me. I am grieved.

So My tackles today...
To enjoy the wonderful flowers my sweet friend gave me.
Thank you Trishia.
Clean my kitchen.

Be very gentle with my sore sprained hand.
Grieve a little and then go on. :)
Call to make the appointment with the guy for my knee. I think that the Synvisk injection are worn off I got a good 11 months out of the injections. That is good. Now I need to see what is next.
Enjoy the last few days with the young ones for they start school next Monday.
Buy Dog food.
Enjoy the wild birds at my window.
Cry a little.
Clean the kids bathroom if I can.
Play the rest of the Monopoly game with the kids. We started it yesterday.

Dash won after so many hours...Dove really had a melt down.

Comfort the kids for they are upset about my hands too.
That surprized me, Dash is angry at the radioligist for telling mom that her hands are not o.k.
He is really angry that someone upset me.
He is also upset that the tooth fairy did not give him what he wanted. Tooth fairy does not give out $10. toys!
Oh! Life!
I will tackle the turn of this day into the strength that is the joy that is the force to get this day in line with the beauty that is my life.
Challenges and all.

Marriage Monday *Recreation*

Join us over at Chrysalis

Daddy and kids made a film this weekend.

click on picture to watch video

We seldom do Dates just the two of us.
We were married 16 years before we adopted the children.
We spend our time together as a family.
We are the support for one another and the children.
Once and a while we get to be alone together. We wold most likely go for a drive.
Having fun on a tight budget.
We are creative, using ideas rather than money.
We found some mitts and baseballs (t balls).
We go to the park and play together.
Friday night is our family movie nights. We do series, presently we are doing "The Young Indiana Jones". We have done the Walton's, Little house on the prairie, Chronicles of Narnia.
All movies with a moral to the story. We talk about it and the children will play it out. We make props or costumes for them and they internalize the lesson by playing it out.
History is also a big one at our house.
We invest in the DVD'S. Rarely do we go out to the movie. We like the food here and being able to pause it. It is often cheaper to wait and own the DVD.

We have little funds for travel. Our daughter gets very car sick, our son does not like travel much either. Everyone here loves being home.
During our first 16 years we traveled Arizona almost every weekend. We camped and such.
We do not have dates very often, yet we are in love and enjoy time together in each others arms..
We (as a couple) hide out in his office when the kids are asleep and watch "The Office". We would love to travel and go on dates a lone, but we count it loss while we spend this time raising the children and taking care to meet their special needs.
We enjoy building and creating, drawing with and for the kids. History is a real important hobby for both of us. We often watch travel shows together.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday:

Lunch:variety sandwiches. We have a play date so I will offer meat or PB&J

Dinner: Miracle Cajun rice...with steamed cabbage
On Friday last our evening meal was delayed for a left over meal...We all went out to play baseball. Two hours later we walked in to smell...I LEFT THE BURNER ON! It was O.K.! A bit singed on the bottom ,but the double batch was *not* burned. This dish had a pound of my home ground beef in it! I am going out for the evening to bead with a church group.

Tuesday:

Lunch: Pasta for the kids, rice cake, soy butter and cherry preserves for me with green tea.
Dinner: Chicken Noodle soup for Dove (as per her request)and I. Bean burrito for Dash and nachos for Beloved (as per his request)

Wednesday:

Lunch: Chicken soup Dove and I, Dash gets meat burrito rolled
Dinner: Roman Pasta with Ezekiel pasta, (as per Dash's request) bacon, spinach and tomato. We watched a cooking show together.

Thursday:

Lunch: Egg salad with dill pickle rellish on cracker for Dove, bread for Dash and rice cake for me. Fresh veggie sticks.
Dinner: Sweet brown sugar Chicken Jasmine rice (Polynesian style), Broiled chicken tenders with pineapple, fresh cucumbers, Mandarin oranges for desert.

Friday:

Lunch: Tuna Salad cracker or rice cake for Dove and I, Dash gets a bean burrito.
Dinner: Porcupine meatballs (rice in them) in a savory tomato sauce. Fresh celery. Sweet potato steamed.

Saturday:

Lunch: Chicken soup for the family, Dash gets a burrito (he does not like soup texture it gags him) Sensory stuff.
Dinner: Steak, Tater tots, green beans and bread.

Sunday:

Lunch: Hot dogs for them and a salad for me? or soup
Dinner: Left over time Mom time off.

Prep foods: make re-fried beans (thaw butter), chop and dice celery (soup and tuna salad) and carrots., clean veggies and grapes.Thaw chicken tenders, thaw burger 1 pound and steaks,Cook rice for porcupines, fry bacon and crumble, boil eggs, bake cake and lemon bars, bake cookies. Thaw hot dog buns Friday.

Snacks: upside down pineapple cake,lemon bars, chocolate chip cookies for the kids, Apples and nut butters, grapes,celery sticks, crackers and meat or cheese for Dove.

Lunch is a problem for me...I feed the family and all the pets and neglect a healthy lunch for myself.
It is time to remedy this and have a plan if action. I did this for a couple of months last year and weight loss was progressive.
Mom's Lunch (this is a plan to take better care of myself):

Sunday Smiles

I hope all of you are having a great day. I type this one handed a bit out of it from the pain medication. The sprain in my hand being the culprot.
We are having a great day,. Church service was awesome! we had a supper service abouy atonement and repentance and forgiveness, Wonderful worship. The old songs of hymns are mt favorites. I used to read old hymnals in the wee hours years ago. I love the "old Story". How fun it is to fellowship again in a baptist congregation. I love the worship.

Daddy and kids made a film this weekend.

click on picture to watch video

He so rarely takes a weekend nap, but when he awoke with a brain storm (an idea) for a short film. They finished the filming and he is editing now.
He will post it on u tube and I'll be able to post it in here. It is so funny!


I slept a while. rested most of the day due to the pain medication/anti inflammation I am very sleepy. It is really helping my hand feel better. The middle finger is now turning blue a bit, I so seldom bruise.
I have so many things I want to do..clean the kids bath so I can start the drapery and start the compost...Oh I am chomping at the bit to have free rein. Lord slowed me dow though. I will pray for many and think and rest.
loving all of you

I think of you often, a side bar of soul that touch my heart.
Do you know how very loved each of you are.
Each and every care you have does matter,
Each and every challenging trial you go through matters,
know that you are loved by your maker more than you can fathom.
Things that occure to you and around you are not due to that love faltering or leaving you.
I need to rest my shoulder...one hand typing is tirering to that one arm :)

A full life!

I had a Day alone with Dash.
We took Huck to the feed store and got a bail of straw for composting (the hens are peaceful).
Dove had a girls only play date.
Dash and I went to a map store. It was fun to look at the globes, he is pretty good at geography.
We then went to a store that had a rack of jokes.
most of them were mean spirited and Dash noticed. I taught him about jokes that are fun for both sides are alright, mean jokes were upsetting to him (ya!).
We Went out to lunch together.
A child near us was behaving badly and I made a comment to Dash About it.
Dash replied "I would rather just focus on the good food Mom, I want to just focus on our blessings and enjoy them".........I sure like this kid.
I told him that most adults forget to even do that, I thanked him for the good reminder
Daddy and I took the kids to play some baseball last night

Dash greeted us with a nice card this morning.
He awoke before us and wrote us both a poem.
He read the Lego catalog and talked while I began the morning chores.

When my Darling awoke he went straight to work on the mixer (aptly named by Dash...Mixie).
He fixed it! It is now a working tool for the kitchen. He used the mill ( he used to me a machinist, still is) to make a new part. You can not buy parts. Yipee I have a new mixer!

My left hand and middle finger was hurting me badly this morning. Yes I am typing one handed.
When it kept swelling and the pain continued to get worse I went to get it x raid. It is a hyper extended sprain, it appears it is not broken! :) I hit a ball with the t-ball bat and did not have a firm enough grip on it. Goodness it hurts! He gave me a prescription for pain/anti inflammatory, and I dropped it off at the drug store. I just took some Tylenol to see if that wold just be enough.

Daddy and the kids are listening to a comedy radio show. The laughter is so beautiful!

Heat Composting and Worm Composting

Well we are going to start our next process.
We are going to grow our own soil.
It is our heart to create life upon this estate.
We are making my dream come true right where we are.
I have always dreamed of living in a forest land and tilling the earth and becoming self sufficient.
Well, the forest is not a possibility and I have realized that I do not have to let go of the whole dream.
Chickens, a healthy plot of land to grow foods starts with composting our kitchen scraps into earth.
My Sweet father-in-love gave me a big bag of newspapers with some ingenuity I found a great use for them. I can only use the non glossy news print but it will be a great help in the process.

composting (if you scroll down to page 21 it is the three bin one)
I had the idea of using it as a fence for the garden , at lease it would take up 9 feet of the 16 ft width. Less expense for us right now. We will not be planting for a while until the soil gets healthy. It will keep the dogs out of the garden plot.
After we amend and reclaim the garden space we can move the compost against the east wall of the yard. Meanwhile the compost system would be right there at the garden plot.

We have a Rooster! Huckleberry Finn is out a here!

Good Morning!

It is official this morning Poor Maud the Duck Wing above is being picked on by Huck below. Huck shook himself and ruffled his feathers and stretched out his neck and let out a little crow. Sorta like a teenage boy trying to sound like a man. Very cute! However Huck is going to have a ride to the feed store.

You see City code = No roosters.
Even if not I really like my Maud, she is the coolest of the chickens and you mess with Maud your out a here! :)

I put up a new feeder and I have dove and sparrow and tanager not two feet off my left shoulder just on the other side of the glass. A hummer just visited me. A feeder for them would go nice on the eave of the porch. This is what I love. I love birds and all the beauty they offer. They are so calming and happy to me.

Finding Courage through blogging

Join us.
Gaby's World

This month was open topic.
I have thought a lot about what I have to share. This has been a month with each child being put to sleep for medical procedures. Dove had surgery to remove two teeth and Dash had to have three fillings. They both amazed me.
What I experienced encouraged me. They are gaining maturity. They are pracicing better self control. They are being ABLE! Able to do what they can do, and able to do what I have taught them to do to handle the difficult chalenges that life will throw at you. Beloved and I both stand pleased to see the development progress. The prognosis of the phyciatrist being disproved and the hope for a better future being instilled and played out.
My Sweet Daughter turned 11 this month. She is so small for her age and behind her aged peers by two years. She is just perfect a small child who will fit in perfectly and be more mature now going into 4th grade. She will be a bit more savy (I trust). If she were in 5th or 6th grades she would be a victem of bullying or manipulations. God has kept here right where she needs to be. I do not know if by mid year I will need an Indivisual Education Program for her or not. She is doing well. Math and memory issues a problem but trusting God for this dear child is choice.
She sailed through the surgery and the recovery. I did not tell you of how God provided a doctor who let Both of us be with her until she was a sleep. God has a special provision for our special needs kids. People and places times and seasons of HIS intervention.
Dash did so well this week. I was so worn of the week that I had his Daddy attend. The last time they gave him vicodin and he fought us so hard that I got hurt holding him (both physically and emotionally) just to do a filling. This sweet son of mine halusonated that we were hurting him. The memories of Russia thought the attendant. I grieved for months after that. This time however we were able to use a different medication coctail and he fought sleeping so hard. He did however want to show his Dad how well he could do. I never saw anything like it!
He did so well!
I have to get him wearing his hearing aides again, he is not happy about it.
Dove... she even sat (FOR THE FIRST TIME )
in a room by herself (we were two open doors down) without a panic attack!
I am so relieved to see that the wounds in their hearts and minds are healing.
That the disabilities and delays are evening out.
Time is healing.
Maturation is setting in.
All the hard work and years of tremendous effort is paying off!
My children are becoming ABLE more than disable to do and to be.
They both feel real good about the efforts they make indipendantly to overcome and to effort to do and be their best.
My courage did not halt or faulter.
I was so tired so many times over these long years.
Now...Now the payoff.
Healthy children.
Able.

Thursday Thirteen...My day

A full day here.
1.
I made Syndromes control pad (from the movie "The Incredibles" for each kid.
Using elastic and safety pins. They drew out little bombs and such.
Scanners and all the extras. I cut them out for them from a shoe box lid, and they colored them

of course once Dove had one Dash needed on too...

Imagination! I love it!
2.
I called the dogs for a bath ...well I think they were both ready and eager!
I bathed the lab and had an Epiphany!
I filled the tub as I bathed him and his paws soaked in the water, then
I TRIMMED HIS SOFTENED NAILS!
IN THE CONFINED TUB!
It worked so well. I used the same technique on the Golden

Now the golden was to be brushed first. She ran and dove into the LEGO drawer in the room with the kids.
To Funny, the kids were playing Lego and here comes the dog and sits right in the box.
I brushed her and then went to give her the bath and she did the same thing again!
Total saving $190.
tip $20.
Nail trim x2 $15= $30.
dog bath x2 $60. = $120.
special shampoo and cream rinse 2x $5.= $10.
Gas for traveling back and forth four times. (my truck can only hold one dog at a time) $10.

moments like these
PRICELESS :)
3.
Well now this is just after the Lab.
I can now clean and detail the kids bath and get ready to make my new shower curtain.
I purchaced fabric well over a year ago for 70-90% off and the fabric is beautiful! I showed it to you before. I'll do a post on it soon.

4.
While I was bathing the Golden the kids were gleefully drawing mustaches on every picture in a travel magazine from AAA. I gave them the O.K. to do so. They were laughing so hard. Signing the pictures one by one. Too cute!

They stayed at this for over an hour!
5.
The kids then set up a book store while I was in the shower!
They gathered their comic books and made a few more.
I had a library card put under the bathroom door. I had to teach them the concept of a book store verses a library.

I was called into the store, there was the cashier and the attendant.
Books .50 cents each. I grabbed $2. of my egg money and bought four. They were astonished that I did so. I was so moved by the gratitude.

That is my library card. They call them selves (the pen names) Harold and George

This was my selection of magazine comics to purchase.

Cashier is scanning the items.

Autograph form the Authors...
6.

The kids worked hard all day.
They did the chores that I did not even ask them to do and then some.
This being the goal.
They had to wait all day for this moment. They had misplaced their money box. They thought that it was in the car with Daddy Man. They found it in a drawer. They hid it too well.

Dove gifted the toy to her brother.
She used her birthday money and then gave it to Dash.

They have another three to earn.
Beloved had tears of joy in his eye and he watched all this unfold.
I have a chair ( comfy chair) in the kitchen now.
He sits and visits while I cook.
I love it.
7.
This vegetable is a leek.
It is a member of the onion family (I believe).
It has a very sweet savory flavor.

slice it length wise and wash well.
It is usually grown in sandy soil so it gets it in the leaves.

I cut up the florets of the broccoli, the stalks can be used for stew pot, dogs or peal for a snack.


Hot wok cold oil.
Stir fry, and then add the seasoning, water and soy sauce.

The savory beef/onion sushi rice was made this morning as was the beef.
It was heated in the micro wave (in a glass bowl).
I cut up the beef into bite size pieces.
Heat the meat up last moment in the mixture.

There are two more ample servings left over. The children raved!
Beloved cooed and spoke very appreciatively over this dish.
"Wow hon...This is great" ...Said he
8.
Daddy Man took the kids to the park to play ball.
I stayed home alone in the quiet.
9.
I had him help me move the coop before he left and I sat in clean grass and played with the chickens untill they climed the ladder. Sunset is ingrained within them. A time to rest.
10.
I hosed down the grass that was the former spot of the chickens and raked up the left over lettuce, cleaned the water jar and refilled it.
Came in to rest and catch my breadth.
11.
Worked on this post until I greeted the children and Beloved home.
They have had the bath and story time.
12.
A clean lab rests at my feet.
I am tired!
So is he.
13.
Day...
Day is done 9 p.m.
I just got my good night kisses, soft and tender from Dash...
Forehead and cheek then other cheek.
My hug and firm kiss on the cheek from Dove with a " you smell good"...
Good night.
Big Hug!

Thankful Thursday

Good Thursday to you.
I am thankful for God's provision.
One way to rejoice in God's provision is to respect it.
We have "Time of use" for our electricity.
If I use my utility before 1p.m. I get the energy for less cost.
Today I am doing so by...
I wok fried the beef I made up on Monday, It has been marinating in the soy and vinegar .
I used arrow root powder (a corn starch alternative) to dust each slice.
Heat pan, Hot pan cold oil then when out heats (this happens quickly) place in the sliced beef fry until the browned side is ready to be turned. Remove to white paper toweling and drain.
This is set aside to cool.
When it is cool you can then refrigerate it for later.

Your oil must be hot! Then the meat does not obsorb it.

Brown it well for the crunchiness.

I will later clean my leek ,broccoli and stir fry the vegetables audinte'.
Add an arrowroot/soy sauce mix with spices to the mix as it thickens I will add micro waved beef and all will be served over rice.
The rice was cooked at the same time right after I cooked the burger up for the meal tomorrow and taco meat pre cooked for the weekend.
One pan two jobs (saves dish soap and labor and water) the pan still hot
(saves electricity) from cooking the burger boils quickly for the rice water. I added slivered dried onion and Susi rice with Braggs Amino Acids and Kitchen Bouquet' it is like a french onion flavor rice.
all cooked before 1 p.m. and will need very little heat to finish it up tonight. I have the meal half (or more made). I also have tomorrows cooked half way.
One pan to wash and the wok.
I am glad of doing this and being able to rest in the late afternoon when my energies are low and I am hungry.

I am most thankful to take the responsibility to teach my kids to take more responsibility to do what they are able. I set up a towel each and laid out the bread and the meat and clean lettuce for them. They got out the mayo, pickles and I plated the fixing for them. They made the lunch for them selves. They really enjoy eating the foods they make for them self. I then had them put all the fixings away and the towel was used to wipe off the knife and clean off the counter. Not perfectly done of course, a begining. I had them put away what they did not use.
Being thankful that my energies are up to do what is right. I am humbled that I am being who HE made me to be. I really love my carreer.
Yesterday I was very lonely and took time off for the evening. I was blessed with several items that we had asked for at a very redused price.
I spent a great deal of time on the phone with a sweet friend. She edified me, built up all the asualted places. Shared the joys of life the thrills of God's provisions in our lives.
For that friendship I am so thankful.
Fellowship where we ..."think on these things. The things that we have heard and sean and known in Him". I am brighter and the light is refreshed. My wick trimmed.

Call a friend today.
Trim a wick and help them to shine brighter.
All of hell is trying to snuff out the light within and around us.