12 Days of Turkey #6

It finally happened tonight. "NO MOM!! ANYTHING but TURKEY" but once I put it on the table, there were NO complaints!! I took cream of chicken soup, evaporated milk, green chilies, corn tortillas, cheese, and of course, TURKEY and made an enchilada casserole! Served with some refried beans and my little men were THRILLED!

Tomorrow a much needed break while we go and fellowship with our church family.

12 Days of Turkey #5

This meal idea couldn't have come at a better time, seeing as I have found one of those nasty cold bugs this weekend. So bring out the crocks and the crusty bread tonight I'm cooking Turkey Noodle Soup.

Saute a little onion. Toss in the leftover broth and some turkey bits. Chop some celery and carrots. Bring to a boil and toss in a half bag or so of No Yolks noodles cause I love them and it's easy.

12 Days of Turkey #4

So I'm totally in love with Pinterest.com - WHAT AN AWESOME way to link up creative people!! I found this recipe on Pinterest and immediately knew I had to try it and when we did, it was extraordinary!!! It was then I knew exactly when to make this again - turkey leftovers!

http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2011/02/17/chicken-parmesan-wraps/#comment-19264

That's right! I make Turkey Parmesan Wraps today. It felt like a whole new turkey, with an italian twist. No one complained "Awww turkey again?" - in fact, the only complaint I got was "Ugh, you mean there's no more??"

12 Days of Turkey #3

by special Alex request.... another perennial favorite is on the menu for today...

TURKEY POT PIE

Hot flaky crust outside, gooey gravy inside, a just right blend of veggies and turkey.... oh yeah.... bake faster, baby, bake faster.

12 Days of Turkey #2

LEFTOVER DAY!!! ('Cause, let's face it, no one is tired of it yet!)

So today is the perennial favorite - HOT TURKEY SANDWICHES!

Oh and we still have mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes.... yeah, pretty much EVERYTHING that we had yesterday.

12 Days of Turkey #1

Traditional Thanksgiving meal all the way!!!!!!!!!

In just a few short hours we will be enjoying:

Turkey
Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Stuffing
Baked Corn
Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole
Cranberries
Deviled Eggs
Pickle and Olive Tray
Crescent Rolls
Strawberry Fluff

and

3 (yes 3!) kinds of pie..... yum!!

The 12 Days of Turkey - The Pregame Show

As a joke I have been commenting on Facebook that we are "avoiding all things poultry" in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Tonight, for instance, it was burritos, because let's face it, one family can only stand SO MUCH bird.

Tonight however, I added as a further joke that tomorrow would start the 12 days of Turkey. It was kind of a joke, but it got me wondering.... how long could I make this turkey last before my family plans a kitchen coup de'tat.

So tonight it's game on -- The 20lb turkey is slow roasting in the oven with a fine bouquet of celery, onion, garlic, and spices. The stuffing is in the crockpot, and countless other dishes sit in the refrigerator waiting for our noon gametime tomorrow. With 5 of us eating, it seems completely possible to stretch this food for days on end.... ;) We shall soon see...

Thankful 11-8-11

Today I'm thankful for lazy afternoons on stunningly beautiful fall days. The puppies and I lounging around - even though one of them thinks my hand is her chewtoy!

Thankful 11-7-11

Today I'm thankful for doctors who listen and do what needs done.

Thankful 11-6-11

Today I'm thankful for my wonderful men. They are completely willing to let me just veg out on the couch today wrapped in a nice warm blanket, puppy by my side. They're warm, loving, giving boys that are quick with compliments! I love you, Russ, Zach, Josh, and Alex!

Thankful 11-5-11

I have to say today, of all days, I'm thankful for Mike Foy, Heather Traylor Foy, and Kimberly Crawford and Fit For the King gym. Without the steady help and support they've given me over the last 2 years, someone would have had to come pick my sorry behind up at the bottom of Trail 8 in Clifty Falls Park.

"A little hike" turned into 5 miles (4 hours) and within the last mile was 300 yards of nearly straight uphill hiking. I almost didn't make it. I was huffing, puffing, and hugging trees almost the whole way up, but in my mind, I thought "2 years ago, without the gym time I've put in, they would have had to send an ambulance, helicopter, or undertaker to get me out of those woods."

I'm not sure I EVER want to do that again. Now, safely at home, back in warm DRY clothes (cause yeah, I fell in the river slightly) with a yummy dinner in my tummy, I'm plain exhausted. If I took a hot shower now, it would be ALLLLLLL OVER. zzzzzzzzzzz.

Thankful 11-4-11

Today I'm thankful for memories. While making awesome new memories with great friends tonight at the bonfire, Gary and Jeff reminded me of a long ago memory of my daddy smoking a pipe. I hate to admit how nice it felt to smell that after all these years. I think Daddy quit his pipe when I was about 6.

Funny truth: I think that was the very FIRST time I've ever eaten a fire-roasted hot dog. YUMMY!!

Thankful 11-3-11

Today I am thankful for friends. I am blessed with many special friends.

I could not function without my Itybibith; she's like my morning coffee, my day doesn't go right without her. Kim - I wouldn't be on the path I'm on without you. You helped bring us here, and you've helped me in so many ways since arriving. Bunco Babes, you all are the funniest, most wonderful group of women a chick could have!

I'm blessed to still have friendships from elementary school, high school, and college too. One of my kindergarten classmates is this very week visiting my grandmother to show Cess her beautiful kiddos. That is something special right there. It's a testiment to my grandmother, and Heidi. One of my friends from High School has become a nurse, and without JJ, I don't think my youngest son would still be alive. JJ gave me the information I needed EXACTLY when I needed it. He was there for me!

I'm a blessed, blessed lady. So today I'm thankful for YOU! because if you are reading this, YOU are my friend!

Thankful 11-2-11

Today I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for scholarships, anonymous donations, and freely given gifts that have gotten us this far through Russ's seminary degree.

Without those wonderful people and organizations, we would NEVER make it. We're almost there!! Looking toward MAY 2012!!!!!!!

11-1-11 GIving Thanks

It's November. That means that Thanksgiving is this month, and then the Christmas shopping and festivities begin, but this year, like so many others, I'm DETERMINED to be thankful every day of November.

So today being the epitome of Day 1 (11-1-11) is the perfect day to start!!

Today is simply GORGEOUS weather. A wonderful gift from God on a fall day. It is in the low 70s and sunny. It is absolutely breathtaking. I have to admit this makes me feel guilty. My parents in PA are still dealing with the effects of a rare and severe October snowstorm and were without power for several days, but I am thankful for the weather we have right here today.

Fall Break

This week is exactly the kind of breath of fresh air that I've been desperately needing! FALL BREAK!! No getting up early to take kids to school, no stopping in the middle of my afternoon activities to go get kids from school, endless flexibility and opportunities!!! We're going to take a Zoo day, a swimming trip, and a seminary chapel service!

Then it'll be on to getting this place fixed up just the way we've wanted just in time for family to visit. It's going to be great!! I can't wait!

I'm So Blue

Maybe we watch a few too many VeggieTales around our place, but today I can't help but walk around humming "I'm So Blue" as sung by Madame Blueberry. I'm not jealous, envious, or covetous of other people's stuff from StuffMart, but I'm blue.

It comes and goes. This time it feels like just hanging around like a nasty little stormcloud. No one looking at me would know, but I know, and my family knows. (Sorry guys, I know I've been a little snippy lately.)

I'm going to find my way out of this hole I'm stuck in, but I'd sure appreciate prayers and patience. THANKS!

2000 Today - Tomorrow the Moon!

http://promisesoftherainbow.blogspot.com/2011/04/right-kind-of-proud.html


Looking back at this old post prompts me to make an update to it.

I did 1000 dumbbell presses and 1000 squats yesterday!!! It may have taken me 2 hours, but that's okay with me! (Mike might disagree, but I did at least get a smile and a high five!)

Housewarming Present... to myself!

Last spring I order a LOT of flowers and bulbs for the yard from Michigan Bulb Company. I was disappointed at the time to learn that over half wouldn't be shipped until "the proper planting time" which was this fall.

I planted what few I had received and didn't think another thought about them until today. The other bulbs (some 50 of them) arrived here at the new house!!!

SO I'm blessed with tulips, pink daffodils and lilies for my new yard!! YAY!!!

MOVED!!!!!!!!!!

There are no more toys in the old house.


There are no more clothes in the old house.


There are no more dishes in the old house.


There is no more "old house". We have turned in the keys. Done!

Progress Report 5.0

ALSO KNOWN AS THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE POST

So it came down to a decision of timing ...
and we decided to let our phone/internet/cable provider tell us when to move our services since they needed a 5 business day lead time. So tomorrow at 1pm we will have TV/phone/internet at the new house. Too bad we jumped the gun on having everything else ready! WHOOPS.

SO we're not ignoring your calls. They're just ringing over to the wrong address for a while. We'll try to keep up with the answering machine, and we can grab internet services from the church's wireless router.

Progress Report 4.0

We are moving BOXES of stuff!!!! I anticipate less than 2 weeks before I can say "MOVED!"

On the flip side, I hate cleaning up all the mess moving leaves behind. Oh wait. No. I just hate cleaning. ;)

Serenity

Imagine with me....

Temperatures of mid to high 70s and low humidity in mid August.
Walking under decades or even century old elms, oaks, and magnolia trees.
A sweet little breeze playing across your skin.
Silence. peace. ... serenity.

I took a big breath of peace today by going along with Russ to Southern Seminary. It was exactly the kind of calm I needed. I spent some time in the pool, and some more time in the hot tub, and then just took a walk with me, myself, and I. Eventually I met back up with Russ and saw some friends from last semester that we hadn't talked to all summer, got treated to a yummy calzone from my favorite little restaurant in St. Matthews, and finally ended with a little window shopping at a flea market in Jeffersonville.

Aaaaahhhh. I needed that!

Progress Report 3.0

Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards....

Today marks the day where I look backward in order to make forward progress. The painting at the new house is all completed. The work order is in for some plumbing repairs. The refrigerator and stove are on order for future delivery. SO ... back to the "old" (current) house to start cleaning and packing because any day now. This blog will pop up with the title "MOVED!" instead of "Moving part 3,457,389"

In other news.... Russ joins the little boys in going back to school on Monday.

Progress Report 2.0

My hand may never be the same again.


I have another reason to love my dear friend, Angie. She is a WORKER!


My kitchen was already DONE!
My master bedroom is DONE!
My home office is DONE!
My bathroom is all primed and has at least 1 coat of topcoat.

SO ... what are we waiting for? Well we have a final spray for the flea issue on Tuesday, there's a small plumbing issue that needs looked into, and we need to paint half a bathroom.

I think that's everything!!! (then comes that oh so irritating and stressful moving of all our accumulated "junk" LOL!!!)

Progress Report

The master bedroom used to have hideous navy blue and baby pink floral paisley wallpaper. Gone! Walls are ALL primed and one even has top coat of a nice khaki.


The bathroom wallpaper used to have forest green wallpaper with tiny little flowers which wasn't bad, but some necessary electrical work damaged it so down it came. It is being cleaned, holes patched, some priming done, and soon to be "moon sail" blue which is a dreamy, serene blue/lavender/grey color.


The kitchen is .... DONE!!! It's Bonsai Green. Think a nice cozy sage.


The unexpected twist is that I'm going to have to do something with the office following all the electrical and consequential drywall work. I just don't yet know WHAT I want to do there. I really kind of wanted to leave it white, but ... what fun is that? ;)


Then my friend Angie and her 2 little ones came over and helped me clean up ALL the demo debris!! It looks like a home again! THANKS ANGIE!


and with that... I think I need a shower and a LONG nap!

Moving Again ... Update 1.0

I live in Flea Central. Never before anywhere else I've ever lived have the little pests been such a HUGE problem that it feels nearly insurmountable. That being said, they're in our current home AND in our future home, so everything is at a stop until they're dead... oh yeah, and until the new house gets updated electrical. Yeah, that might be a big problem too.

So in the meantime and in between time (I think I got that phrase from Toby Mac) I've been cleaning, organizing, pitching, and donating nearly every room in my home. I've had graph paper and measuring tape out planning the new home! I've had paintbrushes out painting the kitchen, master bedroom, and bathroom. (There was some HIDEOUS wallpaper in all three rooms!)

HOPEFULLY there will be photos and an open house in no time!!

We're Moving!!! .... AGAIN!

but no worries... we're moving EXACTLY one house to the left. :) for those with our address change the 163 to 175, BUT we're not moved yet! SOON!


Stayed tuned for further updates....

Payback ... AKA Consequences

Oh I hurt. I hurt in many, many ways, in many, many places.

The Right Kind of Proud

Proud is a word that is thrown around a lot these days. I don't always agree with the uses, and I was raised not to show it. My mom had a misguided sense of humility. She's not alone, but that's not what I want to discuss right now. I'm going to enjoy a moment of pure pride.

18 months ago ...I didn't like myself, and I convinced myself that if I was just thin again everything would be better. So I joined a gym and got with the trainer there. He's a patient man, but will NOT accept "I can't do that" as an answer. It's exactly what I needed. I started SLOW. I couldn't do much. 25 pushups sounded like Mt Everest. Mike didn't care, he just helped me find what strength I did have and just a little I didn't know I had.

12 months ago ...I didn't like that I wasn't losing weight at the gym and I got discouraged, but Mike wouldn't accept that. He quietly waited for me to come back to my senses. I was starting to be able to do pushups, crunches, lift weights. Mike pushed me toward 50 pushups in the course of a workout. Even a month ago, I struggled terribly to get 100 push ups. They were even broken up in many, many sets. So today when Mike said "500 pushups, 500 squats." I caught myself thinking THERE IS NO WAY. I *might* get to 100. There is no way I'll get 500.

I got 500! Proud of me?

Bullying...

As an elementary student, I was the object of a young man's anger and frustration. I was the object of a bully. I was teased and tormented emotionally for 6 years. I lived my life scared of what would come next. Even though he never touched me physically, it was still bullying. I tried talking to teachers who would equally try to manage the situation. He would only get worse the more he would get into trouble. He would find sneaky little ways to get around teachers and administration. I got so desperate that I finally sought out the school counselor. My plea? Please help me learn to cope. I can't change him. I can't change what's happening. Help ME. The counselor called the bully into my session and proceeded to interrogate him right in front of me. My trust was broken. My spirit was broken, and I was more of a target than I had ever been. Thankfully, I have come a LONG way since then. THANKFULLY, education has come a LONG way since then. I do not ever take my experience for granted and continually teach my boys about respecting others and their feelings. Please talk to your children.

Learning Curve

I know it sounds simple. I'm a pastor's wife. It's SO not simple. I feel like I'm on a major learning curve.... maybe it should be a LEANING curve, but I'm just not altogether with it yet. I guess that's not completely uncommon....

I'll let you know if I ever catch on.

It's 1-1-11

Stayed up til midnight...

Heard wailing children at 3:30am because they had "missed it all" despite our best efforts to wake them...

Was already awake when the alarm went off at 7am...

So the extent of my musing on this very binary day is.... hey... look... it's 1-1-11.