Getting To Know You Sunday

I think life around here is getting back to some sort of normalcy... whatever thats is. So I'm going to, again, play along with Keely's McLinky group for some...

Here are this week's questions:

1.If you had $5000.00 to spend on plastic surgery what would you have done?

I have cringed at the process & pain while watching this kind of thing on Discovery Health. But if I WERE to ever work up enough courage for plastic surgery, I'd definitely have a tummy tuck.

2. Do you watch Soap operas and if so what is your favorite and why? 
I used to a LONG time ago. But I haven't had time for Soaps in so long. I haven't a clue what's going on with them now and don't even miss them. Now my reality shows (The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Next Food Network Star, HGTV's New Design Star)... I hate to miss those! =)

3. Favorite clothing brand? 
I'm not a big fashion buff. I like what I like and don't follow "names" for the sake of the names. I do like my Levi jeans and I have quite a few casual and comfy pieces from Old Navy and Gap.

4. An afternoon shopping spree at your favorite store or maid service for a year? 
I'm not a big shopper (see above). I'd take the maid service for a year in the blink of an eye and not regret it!

5. Would you ever vajazzle? 
Okay, I had NO IDEA what this even was. I had to Google it to find out and NO WAY would I EVER! 

6. Favorite Disney Princess? 
Cinderella. I like the "overcoming huge obstacles" theme that brought her from nothing to everything.

7. Last movie that made you bawl your eyes out? 
I'm a BIG cry baby! I cry (big crocodile tears) at things most people would just 'aawwww" at. I can't remember the last one by name but I remember hubby's reaction. As I watched on the laptop with ear phones (while he was watching some boring cop/shooter show) he heard me sniffling and asked me what I was doing. When I said watching a movie I think his head might have bobbed a bit and his eyes MIGHT have rolled a tad. =)

8. Have you ever broken any bones and if so what? 
Nope! I've had 3 surgeries with some cutting and stitching but have never broken a bone.

Family Update - The Fat Lady is humming!

It's been a whirlwind of emotions in our family. My last post on Thursday last week was about my mother and brother both being hospitalized... same time/days but at different hospitals... 30 minutes apart. Talk about revolving doors. I thought for a few days there I had taken a new job at a hospital.

Thankfully they have both been discharged home! They were both supposed to be hospitalized until Sunday.

But to my surprise, when I showed up Saturday morning around 10am to check on mom, she was sitting up in the chair in her room (and wasn't even allowed to sit up in bed the day before) said they were talking about letting her go if she could get up and walk around okay. I had my doubts but watched her get up and take a short walk down the hallway with her nurse. Thank God for answered prayers! And this is even more miraculous to us because we got a little worse news after her heart cath than what I knew and had posted last week. Instead of the 'light heart attack' the nurse told me about upon arrival to the hospital, her cardiologist talked us immediately after the heart cath and said it was actually a 'pretty big one'. My heart sank at those words, not knowing what he would say next.

Dr Gill told us that she had 3 blockages. The worst was 90% blocked and he'd inserted a stent during the heart cath. He told us the other two were a little less and since her heart muscle was weak at that time (operating at 40%) he was going to have her come back in a couple of weeks to have the other two stents put in. Here is a visual if you haven't experienced anything like this in your family... we certainly hadn't.

So I got to surprise the whole family and bring her home on Saturday afternoon!.

Meanwhile, my brother was still receiving his steroid treatments via IV for 3 days (along with fluids and pain medication) in order to reduce swelling inside and keep down liquids and soft foods. He was able to do this for the first time (since he procedure last Tuesday) on Saturday, mid-morning. He texted me that he was going to be released to go home, just as I was going over mom's discharge instructions/meds at her hospital.

Through many prayers (thank you!) our family can rest a little easier.

"Cast all your cares upon Him, for he cares for you." ~ I Peter 5:7... we certainly had to do that and trust everything would be fine. And my favorite verse!...


For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11


Thank you all for your thoughts, well wishes, and prayers for them both! My mother will return to the hospital on July 12th for two more stents in the lower risk blockages. I would appreciate your prayers for strength regain and successful recovery from the next procedure and beyond. =)

Waiting for the Fat Lady to start singing

Sorry I've been away. It's been a crazy busy week for me so far, and it ain't over yet. That fat lady can start singing anytime now! Just a recap...


My brother, Dan had Lap Band surgery on Tuesday. I didn't know it in advance, but they also decided to do a hiatal hernia repair at the same time. He came home Tuesday night and all day Wednesday he was unable to keep down anything, including water. Therefore, no pain meds were staying down. You see where this is going, right? His wife had to drive herself 2 hours east for a follow-up with her surgeon from a procedure she had done a week or so ago. So my brother text be about an hour before I was off work yesterday, seeking a ride back to the hospital fore re-admittance last night. His doctor prescribed a series of steroid injections to reduce the swelling blocking anything from getting down where it needs to go. They were also hydrating him with IV fluids since nothing was staying down. Oh! And they got his pain under control with morphine via IV too. So he was feeling much better by the time I left him around 10pm last night (stayed until his wife got back into town and at hospital with him) and headed home to my WONDERFUL bed!


Today's update: tests show he is getting a little liquid through but still requiring steroids and pain meds and staying until he can keep something down. So more room service for him there tonight.

My sweet (though starving lol) brother and his wife, Amber.

My dad called me today at work to tell me my mother was admitted to the hospital today (different hospital than where my brother is). She was feeling "bad" last night and still this morning with chest pain and heaviness, and  in her arm too. NOT GOOD! He took her to the emergency room and they admitted her. Tests showed she had a light heart attack. :(


In addition they are treating high blood sugar (324 and she'd not eaten all day) and a UTI. They are rechecking her enzymes to see the level of damage. She has a heart cath scheduled for tomorrow morning so I'm taking the morning off of work to be there for that. She has a round of new meds (Plavix, Lipitor and can't remember the BP med). Of course she's concerned about being able to pay for all those new meds. If anyone has info on any medication assistance programs, please let me know. 

My beautiful mother, Barbara

My week isn't over. Today and tomorrow are payroll days at work. Needless to day I left work early after my dad's phone call about my mom and didn't get anything done today. I'm not planning on more than half day tomorrow (not that if anything comes up after the Heart Cath tomorrow morning). So looks like I'll be working this weekend doing payroll. 

If you pray, please say one for my brother and mother please. Thank you!

Excuse me now while I go in search of the Fat Lady and hold her at gun point until she starts singing, we've had enough here this week. =)

Getting To Know You Sunday

I'm linking up with Keely @ MannLand5 in this Sunday's edition of 

Getting to Know You. You can too by clicking below.

The questions this week... 

1. If you could have one of Superman's powers which one would you want? Superhuman strength..Flight..Superhuman speed..X-Ray vision..etc.

Okay... I googled this because none of the examples given really appealed to me and I knew he had more powers. So my choice from this site would be one of two. Since I have flaws in both memory and vision (new glasses coming this week and not soon enough!) I'd have to choose either Superhuman Vision or Eidetic Memory. Seeing farther and better than humanly possibly sounds great at this point. And having total recall - never forgetting anything? I NEED that one. =)

2. The best thing I ever won is....?

I've never really "won" much of anything. Some small prizes here and there. But winning my husband's heart - after 10 years and him saying all alone he'd "never marry again" was a BIG prize. And I'm so thankful I held out for it!

3. Have you ever skyped with a bloggy friend?

No I haven't. I only skyped once I think and that was with my niece. The one who calls me "Daddy" still... even though she's 21 now. =)

4. What is your favorite Summer month?

I love all summer months. But probably July. We celebrate the 4th and my son's birthday on the 26th. =)

5. Pool, Lake, or Ocean?

I like water so any. Although I've never seen the ocean (yet) so I choose that one over the others. 

6. One of my favorite Summer memories is.....?

I don't have just one summer that is my favorite over all others. I just love my childhood summers when we could get up early (yes, even with no school!) to head out and spend the whole day playing in the woods and under the rock cliffs with siblings, cousins. Life was so simple then. =)

7. What's your favorite secret bargain?

I don't really have any particular thing that stands out but I love shopping thrift stores and consignment shops. One man's trash is another man's treasure, right? =)

8. Do you plan on or have you been watching the World Cup?

No, I haven't been and don't plan on watching it. Just not my Cup of tea. 

Friendly - Friday Follow

Have you ever just sat and hopped randomly to blogs like I have? You see a button, or click on a link in a post and after a series of theses "hops" you stumble upon a blog you wish you'd found days, weeks or months ago! Most times I couldn't even re-trace my steps to remember how I got there but was so glad I did.

You can find some great blogs through the McLinkys below.
Link up by clicking on the buttons below to add your blog, and find other blogs of interest to you!

Hello and welcome to Friendly Friday Follow... a link-up meme which is hosted every Friday. The plan is to meet many new followers and make new friends each week.

The RULES to join in Freindly Friday Follow are very simple!

Grab the button above

Add your link to the list below

Visit as many other blogs as you can

Follow the ones you like (and comment on their blog to say that you are following)

Here’s how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

• Link up your blog name and URL using the McLinky here.
• Grab the Friday Follow button above and include on your Friday Follow blog post.
• Follow Friday-Follow.com so you can see the current things going on. If you haven’t checked out the website yet, please do so.  If you have any problems with the button, it’s a great place to get it.
• Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.  (One of the benefits of being a host/hostess).
• Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
• Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from Friday Follow.

Have a wonderful Friday and start hopping! =)

Video of the Week - by Kutless

This is one of my favorite songs these days. No matter what you're facing & dealing with... problems at home or work, maybe a rocky relationship, and even through sickness and the loss of someone... these words are SO true. This particular song portrays the message in the Book of Matthew, that if we have faith the size if a mustard seed, we can move mountains. And if we put our faith and trust in God, He will do more than we could ever think or imagine. I apologize for the quality of this video. The Official Music Video isn't available to embed here (not without cheating, so I won't), so just focus on the words (lyrics below). I hope you find faith to believe for whatever it is you need in your life right now.

What Faith Can Do

by Kutless

Everybody falls sometimes

Gotta find the strength to rise

From the ashes and make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache

You think it’s more than you can take

But you're stronger, stronger than you know

Don’t you give up now

The sun will soon be shining

You gotta face the clouds

To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard

Impossible is not a word

It’s just a reason for someone not to try

Everybody’s scared to death

When they decide to take that step

Out on the water

It’ll be alright

Life is so much more

Than what your eyes are seeing

You will find your way

If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds

You don't have a chance

(That’s what faith can do)

When the world says you can’t

It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

That's what faith can do!

Even if you fall sometimes

You will have the strength to rise

Housekeeping

Finally found a "theme" I LOVE and can live with for a long time now. I took all evening making my elements... background, header, button, post divider, and signature. Now after loading it I've screwed up some margins somewhere, somehow. Please bear with me while I get things adjusted.


It's off to bed now, past midnight. And tomorrow is a workday (YIKES!). This will be fixed tomorrow evening after work! Then back to regular postings and visiting my bloggy friends I missed this evening. =)

Getting To Know You Sunday

Time again for Getting To Know You Sunday with Keely @ MannLand5.

Click the button above to play along and link up with your answers to these questions...
1. If a person has a booger in their nose. and you can see it, do you tell them?
2. What are you passionate about?
3. How long have you been blogging?
4. What is your favorite "summer" drink?
5. What is your favorite type of music?
6. Something I do before I go to bed is......?
7. My Summer vacation plans are...?
8. My favorite must have, can't live without, beauty product is?

So, without further ado... 
1. If a person has a booger in their nose. and you can see it, do you tell them?That depends on the person, Family or Friend, yes of course because I'd want them to do the same for me. But if it's someone who just might deserve a little embarrassment  a total stranger then no, I couldn't make MY first impression be the announcement of a booger.
2. What are you passionate about?I have to say, next to family - because I'm a big family person - it would have to be CREATIVITY. Because I don't want to narrow it down to one or two things, like scrapbooking, card-making or digital creations... Sometimes I'll just see something new I want to try. Like the time I decided to 'borrow' hubby's power tools, on a whim,  and cut out some primitive star shapes and make my own Christmas tree ornaments. They turned out great and I'd like to try a new woodcraft project again soon.
3. How long have you been blogging?Well, I have some older stuff (2007 and 2008) that was done off of Blogger that I imported because, well it's my history. But this blog was started in September 2009.
4. What is your favorite "summer" drink?I don't have much variety in my drinks. I suppose it would be ICE. COLD. WATER, and that's actually a year round favorite. If I was to choose an alternate I'd say Margarita. It's my favorite "drink" but I only have maybe 2 in a year?? That's the extent of my drinking.
5. What is your favorite type of music?I don't have just one favorite. I like a variety... Some Country, Rock, Pop and I listen to a lot of Contemporary Christian music because it's good for what ails me. =)
6. Something I do before I go to bed is......?I don't have a regular "thing" like some people have a bowl of cereal or ice cream every night before bed. I don't "do" anything except what I do every night getting ready for bed... a.) I go to the bathroom - wash any remaining make-up off that has lasted the day, brush my teeth, go potty. b.) I go to the frig and get a fresh COLD bottle of water to have handy, within reach on the nightstand for the night.
7. My Summer vacation plans are...?Well not much of any. Today is the last day of my vacation (9-day stretch counting the weekend before Memorial Day this past Monday and this weekend). We originally planned to take this time off, go to Oklahoma and see the girls, but after a sudden, unexpected adventure to the garage with my car, and over $700 in repairs later... we opted to just postpone this visit until late summer or maybe even fall when the weather is cooler. So I still took my vacation because I was looking forward to it and really needed the break after we suddenly became understaffed at  the office when someone decided not to return from some time off. Say it with me... STRESSFUL!
8. My favorite must have, can't live without, beauty product is?Choose just one? It would have to be mascara. I wear more than that but that's one thing I would want with me, stranded on an island somewhere. Otherwise you can't really tell as easily that I even have eyelashes. =)
Those are my answers. I'd love to read yours. Link up and post yours too so I can "Get to Know You". 

Friday Follow Time!

It's time again for Friday Follow!

Here’s how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

• Link up your blog name and URL using the McLinky here.
• Grab the Friday Follow button above and include on your Friday Follow blog post.
• Follow Friday-Follow.com so you can see the current things going on. If you haven’t checked out the website yet, please do so.  If you have any problems with the button, it’s a great place to get it.
• Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.  (One of the benefits of being a host/hostess).
• Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
• Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from Friday Follow.

Today should prove to be a busy one for me (even though I'm on vacation and shouldn't have to be running so much HA!) I have to go to the store and pick up some paper goods because my hubby don't like wiping his hand on his pants because we ran out of paper towels and are on the last roll of toilet paper, YIKES! I have to go by the office where I didn't want to show my face again until Monday morning and drop off something for a co-worker and friend, who's last day is today. :(  THEN, I have to get myself ready for my niece's graduation this evening. So I'm off to check out a few Friday Follow Blogs, as I finish my morning coffee, then I'll start my busy vacation day. Have a great Friday Follow Day!

Creative Thursday & Expanding My Reach!

This is Day 6 of my 9-day vacation stretch. It's going WAY too fast!

I just thought I'd share a little bit of my activities the last two days.

I have been spending a lot of time the last couple of days finishing a Christmas gift project for some family members. I know it's not the time of year people think of Christmas shopping, or in my case, Christmas creating. But I received and email reminder on Monday from Shutterfly that June 2nd was the deadline to receive 75 FREE photo prints. So I was trying to think how I could use them. I try (these days) not to print photos just to be printing them. I have tons to scrapbook and they are safely stored digitally until I'm ready to print them.

So then I found this FREEBIE download and the light bulb went off! I'd make Flip Calendars with family photos and print multiple copies (since I could get 75 free, right?) and make these calendars as Christmas gifts!

The pre-made calendar templates were perfect and would make it easy to plug in my family's photos and be done! WRONG! I completed this one of my mother with the June template...

Then realized... these are 2010 Calendars! Grrr... Hubby got a chuckle out of my frustration. But I did realize that this creation was perfect as my June Desktop Wallpaper! So I will still use all of these templates for that. I'll have a calendar on my desktop each month now as well as family members highlighted for a whole month.

But I still had to come up with something printable that I could complete, get uploaded and ordered by midnight last night for my free 75 photos. SO... I decided I'd create my own 2011 Calendar Template with one of my digi kits I already had. I had two days to get them done. I worked and worked. I completed Jan - July on Tuesday. Then sit down last night to complete the rest of the month. I got them finished, uploaded to Shutterfly and my order placed at 11:57pm.... three minutes to spare! I can't wait to get them!

I'll show you a sample of what I made but Shhhh, don't tell my family. There are 6 females (mother, myself, 2 sisters, 2 sisters-in-law) 6 X 12 months = 72 prints. I only had to pay shipping and spent less than $5.00 for these. The calendar frames can be found at Ikea online (since I don't have one near me) for about $10. So for each gift I'll spend around $11 or $12 per person for a great gift they can use all year long! I know mine will sit on my desk at work. =)

This is July 2011 and my son, Adam. I chose photos for anyone with a birthday or anniversary in the month. Since Adam is the only celebration in July I used more than one photo to showcase him. =)

March has 3 celebrations, ALL on the same day! My niece, Samantha has a birthday and the other two photos are my brothers and their wives, who all celebrate their wedding anniversary on the 21st.

And it doesn't matter if you have a month without a special family celebration.

February is the only month of the year we don't have birthdays and anniversaries in.

I just chose a quote suitable for Valentines Day from Quote Garden. (You can find a quote for ANYTHING there!) This turned out a good as any other month with the digi papers/elements in the photo space.

So just a sampling of the project. And as you can tell, each month carries the same basic layout and colors. I only changed the name of each month, inserted new photos and then moved around the days of the month to the appropriate position, which turned out to be the most time consuming part. Just a hint though. - Be sure you have ALL the photos you plan to use in a folder and ready to plug in. I thought I had them all and was scrambling through my external hard drive LATE last night to find the last 2 or 3 I needed. =)

On a side note... I corresponded with Kristy @ Learning As They Grow a bit yesterday via email. Okay so I kinda stalked her getting info and having her help me test out some things with a NEW My Lifesong Twitter page (the background I made with a photoshop template turned out great huh?) I have a lot of my favorite bloggers following my personal twitter page but I'd love to have you click on my new blog's link and follow me there... pretty please! And I'll be sure to follow you back if I'm not already. =) Kristy really had to help me (a LOT - TY Kristy!) working on that Facebook page. I wanted to have it completely independent and in no way connected to my personal Facebook page. I still haven't figured out that part. I had to connect the Blog's page to my profile, then my full name was showing up on there. So if anyone has any ideas on separating the two completely, I'd love to hear from you! I did think I'd delete the page and could maybe create a whole new profile with a different email address but I'd still have to give a first and last name that way too. Any other ideas out there?

Digital Creations

I posted pics in a previous post of the recipe album and mini photo/journal album with some of my favorite females. I used photos I took that day as we worked and made a digital scrapbook page of our fun & creative day. I always have a great time when I get together with the women in our family and do something crafty.

In the top photo is my SIL, Amber and my wonderful niece, Nicole.

The bottom photo is my mother, working on one of her projects.

The sidebar showcases two of the projects we made that day.

Recipe Card Collection - 2

Today is Recipe Card Collection #2 - Herb Roasted Chicken with Vegetables

Start with your whole, roasting chicken.

I chose a Tyson with the pop-up button to be sure the chicken was completely done.

I like easy. :o)

Next I melted the butter with a mixture of all the herbs and seasonings.

 Chop your onions and vegetables.

You can use smaller red potatoes, halved. I used for large Idaho and quartered them.

Rub half of the butter and seasoning mixture all over the chicken. Then add onion, potatoes, and carrots around the chicken. Pour remaining butter and seasoning mixture over vegetables and chicken.

Bake as directed in recipe instructions and enjoy the aromas as you wait. :o)

The finished results were delicious! I normally don't do any real cooking when my son isn't home, since hubby and I would just have too many leftovers. This is something that I'll back to later though.

Previous Recipe Card Collections:

Card #1 - Enchilada Lasagna