Family~

Tuesday was our appointment for castings that didn’t quite goes as planned, but thankfully God took care of it and we even had lunch free… you can read about that here!

Wednesday we saw Bear again. He did really neat things with Izzy and we are excited to have him working with her.

Thursday Izzy had a good day at school!

Bailey brought home all A’s & B’s. He’s been working hard to keep his grades up. Amanda has always gotten straight A’s and been in honor classes, she works hard! She has piles of notecards all over her room, and she studies late into the night for tests. Bailey on the other hand, never brings homework home and never really studies. We try very hard to stress the importance of good grades to him so he has been trying to keep his mind on his business. (He is so smart!)

Emelia has been my therapy helper all week, during assisted crawling in the evenings. Mom fell on the ice a few months ago and it hurts her knee to get on the floor so thankfully emelia is usually around!

Friday my friend Melody came over during her lunch hour so I could highlight her hair. She comes over about every other month and I do the foil highlights for her. (I am not a professional and basically do it for family and close friends). She wanted a lot of hair cut off this time and it looked really cute. I meant to take a before and after pic to post but didn’t …. I’ll ask her for a pic. Mendy who is another lifetime friend was in town for a funeral and wanted to come visit so she came while Melody was here and decided to have highlights and a trim too. We played beauty shop for a few hours. Everyone looked beautiful (‘cept me )…

Kitchen~

The chicken squares are evolving into a masterpiece )…. I added sun dried tomatoes this time and boy were they yummy. You might even see them again on this weeks menu, who knows what I’ll find to add next …

The fajitas in the crockpot turned out good. They were to liquidy. You just never know with individual crock pots how it will turn out. Next time I will know to put just a little liquid. They were still good, Matt loved them, and I will make them again.

I still haven’t made that Italian Wedding Soup! Everytime I say that is for dinner, Matt says, “Let’s have something else.” I finally asked him what his problem was with this and I guess the name made him think it was a little thin soup… so now it is called hearty italian stew and it is cooking right now in my crock pot.

Bloggville~

I was so amazed at the response to Heather’s Love Offering! I think the last time I looked the total was well over $15,000.00! That is so awesome and I am really proud to be a fellow blogger!

Sweet Linda over at Ribbon Rock Star gave me the thinking blogger award! Thank you Linda! I didn’t pass it on the last couple of times, but I think this time I want to send it to Sheryl who not only has a really cute blog, but is also very thoughtful; Irene-the green greek is always making me think and I love to hear all about Greece!; Karen, Irritable mother is a new blog friend and she has great posts! I’m loving reading her!; Haley, who makes me think about what it was like to be young and starting my family; and Jenny from Gus’ Gang who makes me think about all the children that need prayer and is so sweet to post updates on Izzy regularly. So, girls, now you can nominate five thinkers yourselves, and display the thinking blogger award in your sidebar.

There are a lot of fun parties still going on around blogworld… like Amy’s and Haley’s!

This has been a good week, there is so much to be thankful for! You can write your weekend reflection & go over to Judi~Mommy of Two to see more!

Ann, Elizabeth, Haley, and Kim took the challenge to be randomized.

So you guys and anyone else up for the challenge: Copy and Paste the questions below into your blog. Make sure you answer them! Then, ask who wants you to randomize them! Wait a few days and then create your own 5 random questions for the people who replied to your post.

Mark… Set… Go!

1. What is a holiday tradition that you always did growing up that is maybe a little different than how others might celebrate, but means something really special to you?

2. In your home, where is your favorite place to be and why?

3. What was the best gift you ever received, who was it from, and what made it so special?

4. If time and money were not a concern, how would you spend a free weekend?

5. Name someone who has inspired you in life and explain why.

Let me know when you’ve posted your answers!

Appetizer

What is your favorite kind of bread?

Wow, that’s tough… I love bread! Probably sour dough from Panera & mom’s hot rolls! I love dipping those sour dough rolls in their balsamic dressing~yum!

Soup
When was the last time you bought a new pillow?

Probably about six months ago. I need to replace the pillows again, I’m a germphobe and not a fan of old pillows. I spray them and my mattress with disinfectant each time I change sheets & vacuum the mattress…

Salad
Approximately how many hours per week do you spend surfing the ‘net?

Surfing the net~probably none… Blogging, reading blog entries, posting blog entries, commenting… that’s a different story. And reading emails… It just doesn’t feel like pointless searching the internet, these are my friends and I am simply checking on them. It really fills the time I am locked into sitting on the sofa, feeding Izzy or doing things with her. It’s nice to do that and also spend time with friends. Let me tell you too, my friends are good people and they really encourage me and lift my faith, so the reward is two-fold.

Main Course
What’s the highest you remember your temperature being?

I don’t remember, maybe 104.

Dessert
Fill in the blanks:

When I pray, I believe.

Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it. Mark 11:24 NLT

This is probably one of the easiest slow cooker recipes I have made, but it is always good.

6-8 pork chops (I use butterfly pork chops/the thick ones that are boneless.)

2 vidalia or sweet onions

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

salt & pepper

butter

directions:

I put a little butter on the bottom of the crock pot, slice the onions, lay them down next, then salt & pepper the chops and put them on top of the onions. Pour the soup over the chops and cook all day on low~or half a day on high. They are good served with rice or mashed potatoes.

I almost didn’t post a recipe for SCT because it is so late in the day, but I still wanted to participate! Thanks Sandra for hosting this each week!

We had another good day today, Izzy did well at school… her physical therapist Camilla, said that she was very quick to respond today. She put suction balls on a mirror and would tell her to stand to get a ball (supported) and she said she did almost instantly. I had a funny experience with her this morning too, Izzy doesn’t always look at people but she is more and more so this morning I was feeding her breakfast and I said, “Izzy, if I can tame my wild hair you might be early for school, did you see my hair?” She turned her head to look at me and smiled almost laughed at my hair which is getting too long and is naturally curly so I have quite the hairdo in the morning. It’s nice to give your family a reason to smile first thing in the morning. I’m always the giver ;o).

Mandalyn tagged me for this meme, it was a fun one!

1. Where/How did you meet?
We met at church camp, but camp wasn’t in session… it was a fourth of july picnic. I went with my mom because she was helping there and Matt came with my cousin from out of town. I had gone out with a guy the night before and didn’t want to be there. After a little bit of time with Matt I was glad I had gone.

2. How long have you known each other?
Forever! (well it seems like anyway)

3. How long after you met did you start dating?
We went out the night we met. Matt said, “You want to go out Saturday night?” and I said, “no, I have plans.”… so he said, “How about Friday?” and I said, “I have plans.” so he finally said, “How about tonight?” and because it was Thursday and who goes out on Thursday I said, “SURE.” He then wasn’t thrilled that I kept my plans the next two nights!

4. How long did you date before you were engaged?
About two years.

5. How long was your engagement?
Almost five years!

6. How long have you been married?
We will celebrate 18 years of marriage June 17, 2007

7. What is your anniversary?
See #6

8. How many people came to your wedding reception?
Around 150

9. What kind of cake did you serve?
I can’t remember, it was big and white! There was a chocolate groom’s cake too!

10. Where was your wedding?
Choctaw Church of Christ, Choctaw, OK

11. What did you serve for your meal?
We just had different types of party food

12. How many people were in your wedding party?
4 bridesmaids/groomsman, 4 candlelighters, 2 flowergirls

13. Are you still friends with them all?
Let’s see… Darla was my maid of honor. She married a man who became a Baptist preacher and moved away, we still talk occasionally and I enjoy catching up with her. Jane Ann was a bridesmaid, she is Matt’s sister and I just saw her last weekend in Dallas! Rachael was a bridesmaid, I saw her at Marshalls right after Christmas… we used to meet on her birthday to eat German food together but haven’t in a couple of years. Okay… I’ll move on because I will have to look at the picture to remember everyone else!

14.Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?
No, we laughed and chatted during the song where we were supposed to gaze into each other’s eyes.
My brother’s wife was adopted and her siblings came to her wedding to meet her. They took them in to meet her right before she walked down the aisle… she literally bawled all the way down the aisle!

15. Most special moment of your wedding day?
Standing at the open doors to walk down the aisle with my daddy. He looked into my eyes and said, “You sure? It’s not to late to change your mind.” Gotta love that!

16.Any funny moments?
Probably just the one I mentioned about Matt and I acting up during a serious song…

17. Any big disasters?
The person in charge of the video camera forgot to bring a spare battery. So we have up to the time I walked down the aisle and then blank!

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We didn’t really get a real honeymoon (yet)… We had just bought a fixer upper home and used all our $$ to put in new cabinets so we just spent the night in a nice hotel’s honeymoon suite and then went home to play house for a couple of weeks.

19. How long were you gone?
see #18

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?
I would have a small intimate wedding and skip all the fuss.

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
Right side

22. What size is your bed?
King size.

23. Greatest strength as a couple?
Facing adversity together. When I am weak he is strong… when he is weak, I am strong. It’s a balance.

24. Greatest challenge as a couple?
see #23 Our strength can also be a weakness at times.

25. Who literally pays the bills?
Me.

26. What is your song?
I asked Matt this question and this was his word for word reply, “Take on Me, or Fly me to the Moon… take your pick. Don’t ask me I wasn’t tagged.” This gives you insight into what I have lived with for the last 18 years!!!! (just kidding … kinda)

27. What did you dance your first dance to?
We don’t really dance.

28. Describe your wedding dress.
It was Ivory, the top was lace over a sweetheart neckline and it was full.

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?
Ivory long stemmed roses.

30. Are your wedding bands engraved?
Mine is. It was his great grandmother’s wedding band. She died in the 1919 flu epidemic. Their initials were in the band so we added ours and a setting.

31. How old were you when you got married?
A month shy of 20, too young!

Okay, I’m gonna tag Haley, Melody, Julie and Jenna I’m looking forward to learning more about you!! Anyone else who wants to do it, tell me so I can come read your answers!

Today has been another great day! It is again shortly after two and it feels like a full day.
This morning Izzy’s SE teacher Barbara (whom I LOVE!) called to check on the casts… to which I told her what happened yesterday and then she wanted to schedule her IEP. Now, IEP’s are always something I don’t love to do, but the team that works with Izzy are so amazing it really is painless. Anyway, Barbara said that Margaret (speech therapist)

pause… rewind…

Almost two years ago on enrollment night for Izzy’s first day in her special class, I went to meet the teachers and take her supplies. I met Margaret the speech therapist and said, “Oh, you’ll be working with Izzy?” to which she replied without a smile, “Yes, it will be a challenge.” Now this didn’t go over very well with me. I didn’t want her near my Iz with that attitude!

pause… fast forward…

said that Izzy really does take in a lot of information and that she needs more input… So… they are enrolling her in the normal Pre-K class for Fall! She will be scheduled to go back to her other class some if it is too hectic… but, isn’t it wonderful? Margaret has completely changed her attitude about Izzy and has become a champion for working to help her.
I am just mouth dropped open amazed at how God works things out when you give it all to Him. My prayer is that Izzy can walk into her pre-K class next Fall!

The session with Bear went very well and I am glad again that we didn’t have casts. He showed us a technique using Chinese acupressure that by pressing on a spot of her calf, her foot flattened naturally. I was amazed by this! We learned too much stuff and I hope that I can retain half of it to work on this week.

On another note, Carrie has sent out these random questions (how fun, right?) and I saw that Jenna and Melody answered them and I am just getting around to doing it.

1~ Look around!! Describe to me the very first handmade *gift* your eyes run by that was made for YOU from one of your children. Then, tell me why you have it displayed where you do.
Well, I have pictures on the fridge of Emelia and Izzy that they made at school. I can’t see anything else sitting around. I suppose I’m a bad mommy in that sense (.

2~ Looking back on our childhood, we all can remember something we *always* wanted as a kid, but just never got. What is the one thing you can still remember to this day that you never had the *joy* of receiving?
A swimming pool. I always wanted a pool in our backyard. My dad finally relented and we had help putting in an above ground pool that was built inground so it was deeper on one end. We left for vacation and I couldn’t wait to get home and finish filling up that pool. There was a freak tornado that came through the last night we were gone, the only damage done was that pool was destroyed. My dad took it as a sign and would not put in another one. (he got me a water bed instead)… Anyway, odd that my own backyard pool is what caused izzy’s near drowning. Maybe I should have listened the first time? The pool is still here. I take care of it, chlorine etc. It is hard sometimes because of what it represents to me. I have a hard time getting in it at all. We felt like it was an important lesson for our other children when the accident happened… they asked, “Are you going to destroy the pool?” And Matt replied, “No, we’re going to build a fence around it and keep it locked. The pool is not responsible, it was just an accident.” The kids still love swimming and are the first to ask if we can get it ready for the Summer.

3~ What is one phobia that you have that others may find silly? I’m not talking fear of snakes. I mean *silly*, as in, others just don’t get why on earth you’re scared of *that*?
This was easy… GERMS. I am a total germphobe. I carry antibacterial gel in my purse, car, every room in my house. I wash my hands a lot… My kids hold their hands out every time we get in the car for their squirt of gel. I rub it on the basket handle at stores… I am over the top freaky about it.

4~ Name one saying that you made up out of the blue. Nobody in the general public would know what you meant by it but your family is all too aware of exactly what you mean when the words spout out.
“My cousin came to town.” This is what I tell matt to let him know it is ‘that time’ of the month.

5~ You have the power to grant one miracle to someone outside of your own family. This miracle can not be frivolous. Who would you grant this miracle to. What would the miracle be? How would you go about granting it?
Since Izzy is in my own family and Jenna and Melody already used her )… I think my mind is on Heather right now. I would take that tumor right out of her brain instantly.

That was fun! The way this is supposed to go is for anyone who wants to be randomized by me to let me know in my comments. I will come up with 5 questions for you and you can answer them on your own blog. Join in, it’s fun! And let me know when you have your answers posted so I can come see! And thank you, Carrie, for the questions! I enjoyed it.

OH! One more thing… I checked the update a little bit ago and the love offering for Heather was at $5150 at 1:30 p.m. CST!!! Isn’t that awesome?

Whew, it’s only a little after two and it has already been a full day. Let me start first by thanking you all for your prayers on Izzy’s and my behalf this morning (and always). I wasn’t feeling great about casting Izzy’s feet for a couple of reasons… how would we do therapy, bathing, the new therapist? etc. Anyway, Matt and I had prayed fervently about this and felt like we should move forward with the appointment. When it was time to leave this morning I was delayed for a few minutes because after putting Iz in the car realized she needed a “change” “again” before we could hit the road. So I carried her back in as quickly as possible, and headed back on the road. We were 12 minutes late. The first thing I was told after almost an hour drive was, “We have a 10 minute policy, we can’t see her today.” Well, first fire came into me and I was praying instantly for calmness, but I really didn’t understand why it had to be so cut and dry. I mean we didn’t intentionally show up 12 minutes late and the last appointment there we sat for 70 minutes for our turn for the botox. Anyway, she said there was a chance we could come back in two hours (another door opened?) so I said, “sure, check.” She did and said that we could not be seen today. I left feeling like either screaming about the unfairness of it all, or crying about it… then I called Matt and he said, “You know, I just didn’t feel right about the casts to begin with. I feel like this is our answer. We will just use her foot splints like the casts, put them on all the time except eating and therapy (and bathing)… and it is our prayer answered. The feeling of peace took over and I knew he was right.

Okay, so I went to pick him up from his office to grab some carryout at chick-filet, since we were already out. I pulled up to pay at chick-filet and the cashier said, “The people in front of you have paid your ticket, they said for you to be blessed.” I am tearing up as I type this out right now as I did when she said it. It was a God moment for me and It felt so good. It so wasn’t about the money. I then couldn’t help but pay the person behind my car’s bill and tell them to be blessed as well. It was more fun giving than receiving! Gives me goosebumps!

Last night I read in 2 Kings 4:26 about a woman with great faith, “Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with they child? And she answered, It is well.”
This was a woman of great faith. Her only son had just died and when Elisha asked how it was with her, her husband, and her son, she said, “It is well.” How awesome is that?
This woman had shut the door on her problem and was believing God for a miracle. She hadn’t let the grief of the situation swallow her, because she hadn’t accepted it as being final. Because of her faith, all was well. Some people may look at confessions of faith like this as lies. They see it as denying reality. That’s not it at all. People of faith don’t deny what exists; they just aren’t limited only to physical truth. They realize the potential available through God and speak their faith. They supersede natural truth with greater spiritual truths.
If you ask how I am, I am well. If you ask about Izzy, she is well too!

2 cups chopped chicken breast
2 cans crescent rolls
8 oz. cream cheese
1 T. milk or cream
3-4 chopped green onions
1 T. bacon bits (I use real)
2 T. chopped sun dried tomatoes

I boil chicken tenders in water that has salt & pepper, chop with my pampered chef chopper, add other ingredients, stir well.

Take out rolls, take one rectangle (two crescents) and pinch seam shut, cut in half to make two small squares. I use one pampered chef scoop in the middle of each square and pull up the corners to make a pocket.

This recipe makes 16 small squares.

Bake at 375 until golden brown (about 20 minutes).

Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. we are scheduled to go have the first of four serial castings for Izzy. You may remember she had botox injections in her ankles a couple of weeks ago and it takes about two weeks for the maximum benefit of the botox. They will put the casts on her feet to stretch those muscles and each week tighten them up a little to get her feet into a better position for standing and using the walkable. Her left foot right now tends to be a little tight and it causes some difficulty. Shortly after Izzy’s accident they did casting, she was still having neurostorms and flipped completely out. We had to have the casts cut off while her heart rate was pinging 250 bpm. I know that she is in a different position, but I just hope she tolerates it well.
So, some specific things I would like you to pray for:

• For Izzy not to be in pain in the casts.
• For Izzy to not be upset by the casts.
• For the casts to do what is necessary to straighten her feet properly.
• For my strength as she will be gaining several pounds from these casts.

Thank you in advance, as a complete believer in prayer I feel so much more peaceful knowing we will be covered in prayer.

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.” Matthew 18:19

I saw this meme on Lauren‘s blog and thought it looked fun, plus I needed an excuse not to finish unpacking )!

When was the last time you….

1. kissed someone? I just kissed Izzy, I kiss her all the time she is such a little doll.
2. drank coffee? Probably months ago when Amanda tried to convince me it was good at Starbucks, but nope… still yucky to me.
3. read a book? bible, today.
4. cursed? I don’t curse.
5. had a nightmare? A week or so ago. I have very vivid dreams.
6. checked your email? Right before I started this meme.
7. had a crush? 10th grade, married him… )
8. drove a car? Earlier today, got groceries.
9. rode a roller coaster? It’s probably been a few years, but I love them.
10. took a nap? Can’t remember! Would love one now though.
11. went to the movies? A week or so ago when we took the kids and their friends.
12. drank alcohol? Matt’s family serve wine with dinner. I sometimes have a glass there… probably Thanksgiving?
13. went to a party? Mike’s birthday party at mom & dad’s house.
14. said “I love you”? When I got off the phone with Matt a few minutes ago.
15. cooked a meal? Last Thursday!!!! Can you believe that? We were out of town all weekend and then went to a birthday party last night for dinner. I am getting ready to start tonight’s meal though, does that count?
16. exercised? I wish I had time. Izzy gives me a daily workout though.

If you do this on your blog, let me know, and I will come read. Have a wonderful Monday!