Wow, another busy day has begun. I’m finishing up feeding Iz her breakfast, Melody is coming over on her lunch break for a cut and highlights (and fyi I am not a hairdresser, it’s just a hobby)…
I was watching “little people, big world” while feeding iz, if you watch it… did you see the little guy Matt helped get adopted, he has so much expression in his little eyes that it brought tears to my eyes. I’ve noticed since Izzy’s accident, because I have to really look for her cues and gestures so closely that I am in tune more with children. I see moms at the store with their kids being “bratty” and can see what they need, while their moms just look so aggravated with them. I want to scream, he’s tired, or he just wants a cookie. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a ’softy’ (too much) with my other kids… but, it is interesting what you can read in a persons face when you really look at them rather than past them. I cannot wait for Izzy to just simply tell me what she wants, although I’m getting really good at guessing and working with her body language… She’s a doll and I love her very much. I can’t believe this is day ten on the diet devos. I think I’m doing pretty well. I weighed this morning and I think I have lost a couple of pounds. That’s good. I even walked again last night. I want to make it a habit to get up and walk after Matt leaves for work, especially while it is summer and the kids can sit with Iz and maybe one can go with me? But, there is always something going on. There is a 24 hour gym locally I have though about joining. I joined curves for a year and we were out of town so much doing hyperbarics with Iz I didn’t get to go as much as I wanted. I did enjoy it and felt like I gained a lot of strength and I know I lost a lot of inches. I want to be fit, like I am visualizing breaking out of this shell that is around my body, does that make sense? Maybe not, it’s hard to explain… well, here’s the devo for today.
I picked a copy up for Mandalyn yesterday and I got an extra so if you are interested in it leave a comment telling me why you want it and I’ll randomly send it to one of ya’ll!

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

The stomach is a spoiled brat. When we miss even one meal, it kicks up a fuss and makes us feel as though we’re going to starve. Of course, we’re in no danger whatsoever, but once our stomachs get started, it is hard to ignore them. To diet means to engage in mind over matter. We need to realize that we can get by on a lot less food than we actually eat. We need to renew our mind, change our thinking, and decide that we’re not going to be made a slave to our stomachs. We resent it when someone else tries to control us. Why should we so easily succumb to our own stomachs? When we refuse to be ruled by anything but the spirit of God, then we truly please Him.

Today’s thought: God can liberate us from slavery to the stomach!

You know I’m always open for suggestions for our travel on Tuesdays… well, this week Barbara H. suggested we go back to our first cooking experience. Good idea Barbara H.!

So, how about it… do you remember your first cooking experience, or if not, do you have a memorable cooking experience… how about the first time you cooked for your hubbie?

I have two memories that come to mind for this topic… they both involve Matt!

Once when we were dating, I must have been maybe 17, mom and dad had left earlier in the morning and he came over so I decided to make him a proper breakfast like mama makes. This of course would have to include gravy. Well, I thought I was doing it just right until I went to pour it into a pretty dish for serving (I was so trying to impress him)… It came out of that pan like a jello mold. Matt walked up behind me to witness this mess. I then tried to pour it down the drain to erase my mistake and it clogged the drain. What a mess. I now make the best gravy around fyi :o)…

Another memory is when Matt always bragged about his grandmother’s cream cheese brownies. I thought, that’s simple enough … I’ll make them. So I made brownies and added some cream cheese to the mixture and voila, light brown cream cheese brownies. I was so proud. Until he looked at them and said, “these aren’t what Jackie makes.” Well, he never told me that the cream cheese was marbled in the brownies - HELLO. So, I called her the next day and got the official directions. I was from then on the cream cheese brownie queen.

I’m sure I’ve goofed up so many more times than this, but these two memories are the first to come to my mind. I can’t wait to hear about all your fun cooking firsts, I’m sure they are a ‘hoot.’