Sunday again already???

Man, where does the week go?

This week, I started something new, that I am going to continue until it just gets too cold...I started walking early in the mornings before the rest of the family gets up. I live in a beautiful neighborhood, and it is a great place to walk in the mornings. I have always been one to get up before the sun, but this past week, I have gotten to watch it rise every day. I say my morning "Thanks" to God while walking.


One more shout out to the Divine: Thank you for the opportunity to walk every morning!

Remembering 9/11

I am sure that every American remembers where they were, what they were doing and how they felt on this fateful day. I know that I do.

I was washing the breakfast dishes while the girls were watching "Blue's Clues", when my dad called and asked if I was watching the news. He told me to turn it on, so I did. I was in shock. A plane had crashed into one of the "Twin Towers." As I was watching, I saw a second plane crash into the other tower, and all I could think was "What in the hell is happening?" I don't think my brain was comprehending what my eyes were seeing. I remember watching the top of one of the towers fall and no one reported that it fell for a what seemed like 5 whole minutes. I actually thought to myself, "Maybe I did not see it fall." I have never before or since felt so helpless. That is the only way I can describe what I felt. I cried for the families who lost loved ones that day. I cried for those who were supposed to be there, but by some miracle they weren't.

So, for me, today is not a "National Day of Service". For me today is a day of REMEMBRANCE.

Back On My Spiritual Journey

I have been off this journey for a while. I got married, got pregnant, had baby and is just too tired to do anything but what I have to do.

Several years ago I started on this journey because of everything that was going on in my life. (And this is not the blog for it now.) I needed answers and help. I started on a journey to find those, and on this journey, I found my way back to God.

He was not the same God of my youth. God, when I was a child, was scary. If I did not obey, then He was going to punish me. And if I were too bad, then off the Hell I would go. When I prayed, God did not answer them.

This is not the God that I discovered on my path for TRUE HAPPINESS. This God, he did answer my prayers. They may not have been answered in the way that I wanted them to be answered, but they were answered. The God that I discovered was no longer scary, but a friend. He was someone that I poured my heart out, and very often, He answered with advice.
Well, I do have to say, that God has not spoken to me in a voice all His own, but through the voices of others. Through things that I am open to seeing.

I have been off the road for a while. I have taken a break to play so to speak. I still see my road up there, so now it is time to get back on it.

It's Sunday, and I am in Heaven

Even though I am on a diet, I will sacrifice for my Gran. She made pumpkin bars. They are sooooo good.

Here is the recipe:

PUMPKIN BARS:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional, and I do not use them because I do not like walnut, but pecans taste great in here)

Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and sugar. Stir in beaten eggs, oil, and canned pumpkin until thoroughly combined. Stir in chopped walnuts. Spread batter into an ungreased 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan.

Bake in a 325*F oven for 30 minutes. Cool and frost with Cream Cheese Frosting, if desired. Cut into bars

Cream Cheese Frosting:

2 (3-ounce each) packages cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons butter OR margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine frosting ingredients in a small bowl; mix until well blended.

OK, so I have cut some to go to my MIL and I am going to freeze some, and the rest is Miss Hannah's. So, hopefully, I will not gain too much weight.

My Summer Favorites (stolen from Marianne)

In my sister-in-law's blog Haven and Home, she wrote about her summer favorites, so I think that I will do the same.

Favorite Summer Movie: Dazed and Confused!!!

Favorite Summer Drink: Pisco Sour. I will post the recipe for this next week. In my house, we drink Pisco year round, but there is something super refreshing about it in the summer.

Favorite Summer Song: I don't have one.

Favorite Summer Outfit: Tank top, shorts, and flipflops

Favorite Summer Moment: I have a few.
1) Mine and Patrick's first trip together...We went to Savannah, GA


2) Our Wedding! It was perfect!



3) Our Honeymoon was WONDERFUL!!


4)Taking the kids to DisneyWorld!



Favorite Summer Reading: The Harry Potter Series. I am not sure why, but I read this series every summer.

Much Better.

Today is better. I really do hate it when I throw myself a pity party. I don't do it often, but every once in a while, I just get down. Usually it only last a day, and by the next day, I am over it.

Over the last few day/weeks I have made a lot of decisions, and today I made one more. I am going to buckle down and write one of my books. I am going to write the Meliah and Patrick story. I will change it a little and write it as fiction, but the main points will be there.

I also made the decision today to go to the gym everyday...well, Monday- Friday. I feel better when I go and work out.

Well, I am done for now...I have to continue to educate America's youth!

I hate it when...

I throw myself a pity party. I really don't like it. I am upset for a very stupid reason. I can not even tell Patrick. I don't want him to think that I am selfish and stupid. I tried talking to Goldie, and she has the same problem, so she really did not make me feel any better.

UGH!

Another day in Paradise.

Paradise: a state of supreme happiness; bliss.

That pretty much sums up my life. My life could also be classified as Crazy or Screwy . Some people would definitely not call is Paradise, but my life is so blessed.

I have 5 wonderful children. One had nephrotic syndrome as a baby, but grew out of it by the time he was 6. He really has not been sick since.
One of my girls has had an attitude since the day she was born, and the other is the sweetest thing that God ever put breath into.
One of my younger son's has Autism. It is a crazy "issue", but it is a blessing to me.
And the baby, he is the squirmiest baby EVER.

I have a great husband. He helps with the kids. He goes to the store when I need him to. He is passionate about what he believe is right. He can grill, but do not ask him to cook on the stove. He likes doing the laundry. And the best thing...He buys me books.

I know that some people would not classify books as gifts, but if you could see our house, you would realize that WE are BOOK COLLECTORS. Not really, we actually read for FUN. Weird, I know, but whatever.

So, while I have to fix a lunch for number 4 and get him dressed, take number 3 to the Dr for Strep, help number 2 with her schoolwork (she is home schooled) and get number 5 ready to go to the Dr with me, IT is just another day is the beautiful, wonderful, blessed PARADISE for me.