Sweet Griffin

My middle child, Griffin, can be such a sweet and thoughtful little guy. Just when I think that my talking to the boys are just to hear my own voice...Last week during our bedtime prayers, Griffin says to me "Mommy, I really like saying prayers." Oh how that did my heart good! All the nights of saying prayers and not knowing if they are "getting" anything from it, and not knowing if I am having them say prayers just to make myself feel good. He gives me a little ray of hope...my words and feelings do get through.

Then just the other night as we are saying our prayers (which I lead and they usually just repeat what I say), Griffin stops me and says "Mommy, can we thank God for the army men?" I just about burst into tears and say "of course! Go ahead Griff you say it". So Griffin in his little boy way says "Thank you God for the army men, and please keep them safe". Oh Man! I just can't believe how sweet and thoughtful he can be. I hugged him extra tight that night and covered him with more kisses just so he didn't see the tears in my eyes. Tears of happiness, love and hope.

Excuse This House

Excuse This House

Some houses try to hide the fact
That children shelter there,
Ours boasts it quite openly,
The signs are everywhere.

For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges are on the doors.
I should apologize, I guess,
For toys strewn on the floor.

But I sat down with my children
And we played and laughed and read.
And if the doorbell doesn't shine,
Their eyes will shine instead.

For when at times I'm forced to choose
The one job or the other,
I'd like to cook and clean and scrub,
But first I'll be a mother.

Author Unknown

Mom

Yesterday was emotionally draining. I spent the better part of the day at the ER with my mom. Not that it was physically demanding, really I was just sitting there, but to see her so old and frail, tired and worn out, it was just another reality that my wonderful mom is passing away.

My sister called to tell me Mom was transferred from the nursing home to the ER. She couldn't make it up there and was worried that they might put her on a ventilator (something my Mom really does not want). Hearing that of course I think that she is very bad off, and I offer to go there to be with Mom and make sure the Drs don't do anything she doesn't want. I get a little teary telling my husband Jonny what is going on but hold it together. All the way to the hospital I am thinking..."this could be it. I could be the one making it possible for my mom to die". From what the nursing home had said my Mom could not breath and her O2 stats were very low. Of course I was not expecting her to be sitting up in the bed talking to the nurses when I walked in the ER room. Happy that she was...yes...relieved...very! They had her on some oxygen and she was doing very well. After the chest x-ray confirmed that it was pneumonia they gave her a diuretic and she started breathing better and her O2 stats went back up without the oxygen.

After sitting there and watching her Stats for about an hour they decide to send her back to the nursing home...Good. Better for her to be there rather than in the hospital. What made me upset was that the EMT's bring her in and place her back in her bed and no nurse is around to make sure she is all set, in need of anything, or even to help the EMT's (who, by the way, are fantastic!). I came in and my poor mom is wrapped up like a mummy in three blankets and looks at me with her weary eyes and says "I really have to pee!" Do you think I could get a nurse to come to her room? Nope! I rang the bell on her bed and then the little old lady next to her kept asking me to bring her to the bathroom. So, I rang her bell...still nothing...now the both of them are really needing to go to the bathroom. I walk down the hall to the nurses station. Three of them are standing around, chit chatting (about what I am not sure, it could have been a patient). I inform them that 2 ladies have to use the bathroom pretty badly, could we get some help. Instead of one of them coming to help, they look around for a LNA. Is it beneath a RN to bring people to the bathroom?! God I hope they don't think that way, especially working in a nursing home.

A Great Sunday

I am the first to admit that Sundays are not my favorite day of the week. For some reason (that we can not figure out and would love your input) my family has a very hard time getting along on Sunday. We are all a little grumpy, lazy, tired and maybe just a little sick of each other. Sundays in this house are know for being a day of disagreements and just generally annoying each other. Today was different and nice. The big boys and I went to Church. It was my turn to teach Church school. The class was a little rambunctious but we made it though what we needed to do. After Church we met some friends at play place for lunch and playing. It is always nice to spend time with other moms and dear friends. While the big boys and I were at play place my wonderful husband did some laundry and put the Zachy to bed. I think Jonny took a little nap also. The boys and I came home while Zachy was sleeping and we were sure treading lightly (knowing it was Sunday and anything can set us off). They wanted to go sledding but as I said I was treading lightly and did not want to upset Jonny by leaving him again with Zachy. But he was very agreeable. Ryan, Griffin and I packed up the car and headed to Church hill. Of course I sat in the car and knitted while watching them sled. We all got what we wanted today...I love relaxing with my knitting needles. Ryan and Griffin love to play with their friends and sled. Jonny got a break from us and some quality time with Zachy. As much as we love each other maybe our family was not made to spend the day at home with each other.

Words to live by...

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies;

succeed anyway.

If you are honest people may cheat you;

be honest anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the end, it is between you and God;

it was never between you and them anyway.

Written by Kent Keith and loved by Mother Teresa.

A couple of Chicken Dishes

We all are on the look out for some quick easy and delicious recipes. The last two chicken recipes I made were huge hits with the boys. So, I thought I would share them.

Chicken with French's Onions
I honestly have never used French's Onions before and only have heard of the green bean casserole using them. But my husband wanted the French's Onions and then he heard this recipe on TV (I think he was secretly watching Food Network). So I ran with it...and all the boys loved it.
Chicken Tenders (or chicken breasts cut into strips)
1 beaten egg
2 cups French's Onions (crushed)
-little flour in the crushed onions
roll the chicken in the beaten egg and then in the Onions (press the onions on a little so they stick). Put into a baking dish and in the oven. I did 20 minutes at 375. Make sure you season the chicken with pepper and/or poultry seasoning and/or garlic powder because it can be a little bland with just the onion coating. Really easy and quick...Ryan ate to big helpings and the other two ate without complaining. Meaning it was a hit.

The other chicken dish I made was Chicken breasts in Italian dressing. Which we have had a lot but then I took it a little further.
Chicken Breast marinated in Italian dressing (I am not sure how long...usually when I remember I am making the chicken in the middle of the afternoon and throw it together). Roll in bread crumbs (I buy plain and season them myself but you can used seasoned bread crumbs). Place in a baking dish and bake at 375 until done (again I really don't know how long). When the chicken was almost done I poured tomato sauce (jarred or homemade) over the chicken and topped with fresh mozzarella (not shredded!). Some of the chicken I did not put sauce on because Ryan claims he doesn't like sauce. Just covered it with the mozzarella cheese. Finished baking and done when the cheese is melted and a little browned. Everyone loved it! The chicken without the sauce was just as yummy as the one with the sauce. All the boys ate every last bite.
I know these are not the most creative or original recipes but when my boys clean their plates you know they are good.

"A Cup Of Comfort"

Today I have consciously taken a step to get myself out of this "funk" I have been in. I am not sure why or what started it...maybe my period, the weather, the let down after the holidays...Whatever the reason I really need to take responsibility to make myself feel better. Knitting has a way of making me happy. It must be something about making, producing, creating with my own hands or I just enjoy it. Either way I have started a knitting project and started to feel the clouds lift. While digging around in my yarn basket I see a book that I bought a while back. Back when I was still wavering about my faith this book kept popping up while I was a TJ Maxx. Everywhere I looked a copy of this book was there. So, thinking "Hey, maybe, just maybe this is a sign from God", so I bought the book. It has been a year or more and I haven't even cracked it open to read the introduction. Today I finally started reading it. With each short chapter the clouds are lifting and I truly am feeling better. The book is wisely called "A Cup of Comfort. Book of Prayers". On the front cover it says "Stories and reflections that bring you closer to God". I am not sure if that is really the case with me but to read these stories from ordinary people and their prayers has done my heart and head a world of good. It has been my Cup of Comfort. And has given me a few thoughts to ponder (which I love) and I can't wait until my dear friend Shar comes over so I can share these pondering thoughts with her. We have some of the greatest conversations about the Lord, our faith, and everything that goes with it.

Some of my favorite Photos from 2009

2009 has come to an end. 2010 is in full swing. I really try not to make any resolutions because I know I won't be able to stick to it so why set myself up for failure. I have been in a little funk lately so to try to come out of it I am looking back at our photos. Here are some of my favorite. Enjoy!

What a great smile!








Ryan being the great big brother.

Zachy loving the kitten.




Ryan and Griffin with Kate.




Me and Griffin















The boy in the box.



















Cassie is really the best dog!







And my favorite picture from 2009 is....