Weekly Blessing - Week 19

So I have the distinct pleasure of having the face of a 15 year old in my 30s, but not in the good "wow you look incredibly young" kind of way,  rather the "ummmm someone please pass the oxyclean kind of way". 


My face has many ups and downs of the zit / pimple / acneous variety. Sometimes it is manageable, sometimes it is not, always it is frustrating. Come on, HOW old am I now??? :-) 


My most recent battle is with this monsterous two-headed dragon on my forehead AND a yuck-o thing on my neck. The thing on my neck is what sparked yesterday's chain of events. I went to my aesthetician and while chatting about my face said, by the way can you look at that thing on my neck - is that a zit? or something else because I have never had one there. 


She looked and said, it could be but let me grab a nurse to come check it out (she is located within a dermatologists office).  Nurse enters, looks, says yeah that's a cyst, let's see if we can get you in with the doctor. Now, I try very hard not to be, but I do in fact have hypochondriac moments - I looked at Trish (my aesthetician) and said, ummm cyst?  She assured me it was fine - they'd check it out - then I would know it was okay and be on my way. 


In with the doctor I go - she checks out my face. It is agreed I have issues (of the face, we left my other issues off the table for now) ha ha. I also have a cyst - GROSS. She has some needles full of Kenalog steroid, which I am pretty sure is the same thing my old dog got for his allergies. Said dog allergy medicine goes in my cyst, and the two-headed monster on my forehead. It does not hurt terribly bad, I ask for a pain comparison, i.e. so, just wondering, is this what getting Botox feels like?? You know strictly for wonderment, not like I would ever inject my face in say like 10 years when it starts to sag on me. (dear face: please, oh please do not sag on me). 


Less than 24-hours later I have a new regimen of pills, and creams, and a whole lot of products I can no longer put on my face. BUT I also have a VERY reduced neck bump and my face seriously looks better - or maybe I just want it to so I think it does. Let's just say it does and call it good. :-) 


The blessing - well obviously it's not the yuck-o bump on my neck, or maybe it is because I would not have seen the doctor otherwise. For me, it was the whole chain of events though - a) they took my insurance, b) I saw a doctor in like 10 minutes with no scheduled appointment and I had never seen her before c) I got some face shots that seems to be working in an awesomely wonderful way and most importantly -  I have the MOST WONDERFUL aesthetician in the WORLD. Trish is seriously the nicest woman - I am SO SO SO grateful for her.  


So there you have it, a possible TMI post about my face. What can I say - blessings come about in not-pretty ways sometimes. :-) 

Xmess Weekend

The weather outside was frightful, but our this weekend delightful. This weekend we got our Christmas on, and in the process made a BIG "Xmess". But it was a fun mess :-)

Breakfast with Santa 

Went shopping for gifts

Stopped by the craft store to get some supplies

Got kitchy crafty with our cards*

Visited the Manger (and some donkeys and alpacas too) 

Baked and decorated some of our favorite Christmas cookies 

Tasted our creations 

Cleaned, and cleaned some more... AND then we rested!!

* Hopefully it is not so, but the postman at work thinks our cards might cost more than the one stamp of postage on put on them. Unfortunately, my cute little snowman may cause a thickness issue. Two things may happen, one I'll get the cards back and you will get them late. Or two, you'll get the card with a USPS note asking for .17 cents. OR the postal service will cut me some Christmas slack and just send them.  I hope it's the 3rd option. 

Morgan's Favorites

As promised - Morgan's favorites.

Song: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Tradition: Decorating the tree

Gift to Give: An art thing she makes

Gift to Receive: American Girl doll (this is what she asked Santa for this year)

Movie: A Christmas Carol

Cartoon: Rudolph

Book: Twas the Night Before Christmas

Dessert: Christmas cookies

Cookie: Sugar cookie with chocolate frosting and sprinkles

Ornament: Ballet slippers (our new ornament this year)
(she also had a 2nd - Rudolph / 3rd - White bear)

Christmas Favorites - The Mama

Another blog I follow posted a list of her Christmas favorites and I liked the idea of it.... I also plan to ask Morgan hers - answers to come. :-) 


Christmas Song: Carol of the Bells (click if you want to listen)... 


Tradition: I really love the whole Christmas Eve schedule of church, dinner, presents, preparing for Santa, etc... Although that tradition now fluctuates year to year so it's definitely one I miss the consistency of. 


Gift to give: The magic of Santa 


Gift to receive: Anything Morgan makes and yes, I cannot deny a lovely gift card now and again is always a wonderful thing. :-) 


Christmas movie: A Christmas Story  


Christmas Cartoon: Mickey's Christmas Carol (which is near impossible to find). 

Christmas Book for Children: The Sweet Smell of Christmas (it has scratch and sniff stickers on all the pages)


Christmas Dessert: Fudge


Christmas Cookie: Traditional decorated sugar cookie


Ornament: A glass ornament of two angels (it looks like a mom and daughter angel).  Morgan and I got it in Virginia City a couple of years ago. 

Scheels: A Review

Last night we went to Scheels - Morgan was quite impressed with the whole store; the fish tanks in particular. BUT she was equally impressed with their product offerings. As we drove away, she said "That place has excellent bubble gum" all while enjoying her new packet of Big League Chew. 


If you do not  remember Big League Chew or have never had any I encourage you to give it a go. It really is tasty and fun gum! 

Party Time

Yesterday was Morgan's class Christmas party.  I only had my iPhone camera and was also busy wrapping, wrapping, wrapping - but I did snag one photo. 

The kids had four stations - cookie decorating (pictured above), gift making, ornament making, and then a book exchange circle.  We also had a wrapping station - the original thought being that the kids could wrap their gifts and ornaments after they were finished, but in a class of 36+ kids with lots to be done, this just didn't happen. Insert parent helpers and the awesome fact that their desks were open for us to use as work stations and an hour (plus a tiny bit later) we had wrapped 80+ gifts and 40 or so ornaments (siblings joined in too).  So thankful for tiny gift bags and tissue paper!  


Morgan also wore her "fancy dress" to school. You can not see in this picture - but she also had her leopard tights and blinged out tennis shoes on. Finish her off with a stylish top knot and she was all kinds of fancy. :-) 

Weekly Blessing - Week 18

An actual working second bathroom (pretty much). Ok, so for those of you who know and those of you who don't - this whole after-house fire / water damage reconstruction has been a SLOW and I mean PAINFULLY SLOW process. But now thanks to a couple of phone calls from the padre, things are moving again.


It's hard to explain the process thus far, pre-phone calls. It was kind of just a hit and miss type plan. Some days they came in, some days they did not. Some days they painted a wall, and left. Some days they attached a piece of trim and left. Some days I can not tell you if they came in or not. I get it - they have much work to do, and walls to enclose before winter came.  But, I just really don't love the maybe / maybe not plan - more so because it's weird having strangers in your house all the time when you're not there and then there is also the transporting of mini-Kujo since she pretty much wants to lay in to all of them. She kind of despises the construction people (I mean the dog by the way, in case there is any confusion - ha ha).


Anyhow, this week progress was made. A new cabinet was installed. Which is good for two reasons, 1) we have an actual sink in the bathroom again, but 2) it is NEW. Brand new and SO much more attractive than the 1980's dark brown faux wood cabinet. 


She loves it and she loves her new purple!!!!  We originally had a mint green color but when visiting Atlanta Morgan saw a purple bathroom and fell in love. I told her if she wanted to change colors now was the time (because I would not have to actually paint it - heck yes!). Upon return I grabbed some paint swatches - she picked her purple (in like 20 seconds flat) - and now we have a purple bathroom. 


I have also decided I will consult with her over color choosing in future. She is so decisive. Sadly, I am not - but need to be. Perhaps she can show me the way. 

Going Polar!

Today is polar express day at school. They get to wear pajamas. Morgan took the polar concept to heart (she is a theme lover just like her mom!).  She has on polar bear pajamas, her white boots (because they look like polar bear feet) and her favorite polar bear animal - Snowball. 


She's all about putting the polar bear in polar express! 

House Beautiful

Currently we are in the midst of our 25 day advent calendar count down to Christmas. Yesterday' activity was:

Gingerbread House Day!!!

We went to a workshop at a local museum, we brought one bag of candy to share - they supplied the rest. It was quite fun and nice to have the "mess" at someone else's place. :-) Morgan's house is now stationed on a living room side table - it is a lovely addition!

Weekly Blessing - Week 17

Ms. Danielle.  Ms. Danielle is Morgan's swimming teacher. Ms. Danielle is an extremely patient teacher who really cares if Morgan does well and is comfortable. Ms. Danielle has had to employ many of her tricks and tools to help Morgan through a rough patch lately. Ms. Danielle definitely deserves a Christmas Gift (still trying to ponder what is ideal for a college-age person). 


Morgan as of a few weeks ago decided that she no longer enjoyed swimming lessons. The main reason being that they moved on to breathing. She has to put her head under, come up for a breath, and then re-submerge. This did not thrill her, in fact this made her extremely uncomfortable and turned on her stubborn switch - of, yeah thanks but no thanks people - this ain't happenin' anytime soon. It also turned on her sobbing switch. 


Over the last few weeks Ms. Danielle has gone back to the start with her. Helping her get comfortable again and to trust her as her teacher. It is working, Morgan no longer cries and she is starting to smile again and re-do everything she was doing before. 


The most amazingly wonderful part is this - after this week's lesson I talked to Ms. Danielle (they always have parents come out so the kids can show something they did that day).  I noticed Morgan was alone for class, but thought maybe the other little girl did not show up this week. Ms. Danielle told me that she had spoken with the deck manager and the owners and was given permission to do private lessons with Morgan for a few weeks. She noticed that when Morgan had to wait for her turn while she was working with other kids her anxiety built and then she had issues with returning to the water, however when they are one on one and can just go through class she does great. 


She also asked for any tips or tricks to help her ease her hesitation when it comes. She is trying SO hard, and I can not say how appreciative I am to her and the school for doing all of this to help one little girl.

Blessings (Weeks 15 and 16)

I was struggling to come up with something the other week which is not good. It may seem small but it meant I was clouded and blocked and not focusing on the right things. So in an effort to realign with better thinking I am making up with two weeks worth.

Numero Uno - 

(1) The week before last we went to the doctor - Morgan has been getting slightly sick, and I always worry about sinus infections. Turns out no sinus infection (yay) BUT - her symptoms are pointing to potentially having RSV. We were heading into the weekend and so comes the moment of does she get better / does she get worse? Luckily we have an amazing doctor who knows Morgan's patterns - she knows she is not a kid who gets sick slowly over the course of a week - no, once she presents symptoms it is a full-fledge congestion fest.  She also trusts parental judgement and understands what a pain it is to have to wait / come back, etc... When we left she sent us home with our "just in case Rx" - which luckily we did not need - but we had it if we did. 

We just love "Dr. Tammy" - she always takes the time to talk through any questions, lets Morgan use her light and stethoscope - and REMEMBERS important things about her patients. We are so thankful for her. 

Also, while sickness is not in itself a "blessing" - the fact that both of her medical issues happened during her break month is. What if she had her bathroom frequency problem, or this easily sharable virus (potentially) while  in school? First what a pain for her - but second, that days she may have had to miss. Not only that - but she is able to stay at home as well and get plenty of relaxation time and rest - all helpful in the getting better process.


.. And Then Number Two - 


(2) Knowing we may not have everything but we still have more than enough. Now I realize "enough" is arbitrary but for me enough is food on the table / clothes to wear / transportation to and fro / and a roof over our heads with beds to sleep in. We have all of that +. Even when I have days where I am aware that I may not have as much as other people - I still have a lot.


Morgan and I participated in Operation Christmas Child this year through church.  We filled a shoe box with little gifts and candy and basic grooming items to send to a child somewhere in the world. This child will have a shoebox full of gifts and that's it. 


I am thankful for the opportunity to share this experience of giving with Morgan and to be able to "have enough" to participate.

Blessing Week 14 - Thankful Turkey

This weeks blessing brought to you by Morgan and her "Thankful Turkey" 

I am thankful for all of the horses. 


I am thankful for all my friends.


I am thankful for the food God gives us.

An Amazing Ranch

Saturday (after our visit to Immediate Care Atlanta) we headed out to visit the Rock Ranch. On our way we stopped at Chick-Fil-A for lunch - which was so very good. A) The food is good. B) They say things like "yes, maam" and "it's my pleasure" - so lovely!!!!!  


The thing about Chick-Fil-A is that the same people that own that corporation also own Rock Ranch. When we arrived it appeared to be a standard pumpkin patch type ranch BUT then we boarded the tractor driven wagon and were dropped off at the start of this place. It was HUGE. And, there were so many things to do. 


They had bounce houses and a moon bounce type thing, pumpkin launchers (think giant potato gun), paddle boats and cane pole fishing, a pedal car track, corn maze, petting zoo, face painting and magic show, a snow cone shack where you apply your own syrups, AND Tiny Town! Oh how I loved Tiny Town (the kids did too) - but it is the cutest thing. All these little air-conditioned play houses with things like a mini-jail and church, fire station, and dress shop, etc.... 


We were there for hours - there was just so much to do. My amazement of this ranch does not end there though. When it was time to leave Chris went to get his key and it was not there. He checked all pockets and the camera bag and then tried to back track as much as was possible in the dark. Staff was heard over their walkie-talkies "we have a family that has lost their keys - keep your eyes out and let us know if you find anything".  They tried so hard - unfortunately they could not find the key. BUT one of the management staff came over to us and said, I'm going to go home and get our bigger car - if we can't find your keys I'll give y'all a ride. 


This ride he was offering was 45 minutes away - 1 1/2 hours round trip for him. But just as he said he went home grabbed the car and met us down at the gate. The girls had left their sweatshirts in the car so a lady from the gift shop gave them each a sweatshirt from the lost and found (of items that she takes home and washes so  they are clean when claimed) and just said - just bring them back later on when you come get your car. 


It was such a heartening experience. Needless to say I am a HUGE fan of Chick-Fil-A and the Rock Ranch.

Blessing Week 13 - Time with Friends and an Airline that Acts Like One

This last week / weekend we went to Atlanta.  It was so nice to see the Burkett family as well as their new house / dog and spend time around the area. We went to the coolest family ranch - more on that later. Did some trick or treating without the need for gloves and a heavy jacket. Lost another tooth and had the fairy find us in our holiday location. And, I got to drive the golf cart - although Anna does not consider my golf cart skills the best when it comes to managing road bumps. ha ha It has been a couple of years since we were last able to go back east and I am glad we had the time and airline miles to do so. 


The airline - American. When I traveled all the time they were my favorite and they keep that standing after this trip. Before we left Morgan (literally the day we left) started having an "issue". She was needing to go to the bathroom every 20 minutes. I walked up to the counter remembering my days of being a sardine in the plane thinking - will they be able to move us??? But yes - they could and they did. In fact, they gave us our own row on every flight to and from Atlanta, right near the bathroom. So, not only did we have immediate access without the need to seriously annoy another passenger with our up / down routine - BUT we also got to spread out and be as comfortable as it is in first class. :-) 


Morgan is fine - two doctor visits later (one in Atlanta and one back at home) she is medicated and on the mend. Luckily she is on break this month from school - so she has lots of rest / relaxation / and repair time. 

Santa May Have His Helpers... But So Do I

It all began at sign up. Sign up for helping in class. My first assignment was to cut spider bodies and assemble some bags with legs and such for a project. Easy enough - all completed with little problem whilst watching "crap" TV. Actually I correct that I was watching Knights of the South Bronx - I recommend it, it's a cute feel good film. 

ANYWAY - while that was easy enough - the real mission came later because I also was signed up with caramel apples to bring. My first thought - ok I will make some apples. My second thought - okay I will bring some cut apples and dip. My later thought - oh hey look at the list, that is already on there and I did sign on for caramel apples not dip, so I will again make some apples. :-) 

Making apples would not seem terrible, except, she has 40 kids in her class. So just start adding up 40 apples + 40 sticks + at least 10 bowls of caramel + + +....  I entered the store with a mission - find the stuff I need, make my way to the preparation area (AKA Grandma's House) and get to dipping. All done in an hour or so right?  

Well - yeah, not so much in an hour - but we had a system by end of night. First the washing and the sticks - quick and painless, except I had to ban grandpa because he stuck them in the wrong end of the apple. I am anal - I can't help it.

Then into the freezer (this works - the caramel sticks instantly to a cold apple). Then on to the caramel -  oh hey wait, they are all individually wrapped. FABULOUS. Enter 8 working hands (grandpa was allowed back in-ha ha) and a couple of hours later - 40 CARAMEL APPLES.  They unwrapped, I melted and dipped and sprinkled and chilled - so on and so forth until we were done. 

I was SO thankful for the extra counter space / fridge space / help. I am not quite sure I could have completed such an undertaking by myself in my counter-deficient space, unwrapping bags of caramels (well at least completed and still slept last night).  

Today was Morgan's Halloween party at school. The apples went over well. I did learn a couple of things though: 

(1) Waxed paper on bottom may seem a good idea, but when the caramel softens the paper doesn't want to come off. Guess I should have sprung for the non-stick tinfoil for $2 more. Apologies to the children who may or may not have ingested some extra wrapping today.

(2) Caramel apples are like magnets to each other. Next time (if there is one) I have to figure out a better spacing system.


(3) It's always worth it when it's for your child. :-)

Blessing Week 12 - Sheet Rock Barricades

Spiders. I hate them. They are gross and creepy and I just don't like them at all. Winter is coming, I have openings all over the place because of the construction - like a big ol' come on in y'all it's nice and warm in here.


Today I saw one in the heater vent - it went back in when I tried to scrape it off to kill it. It did not want to die - I do not want it to live in my house - I also do not want to breathe chemicals through an air filter the rest of the season so I did not attack with brute force as I should have. I banged on the heat vent to send it a message - I hope it receives it. I hope it knows it's time to move on.


Morgan pointed to the towels in our kitchen - Halloween towels with button spiders on each (ironic I know) anyway, she mentioned that perhaps these served as a welcome sign. She could be right - I might just tuck them away. OR rough them up in some way to show my hatred, OR just write NO above the spider button. I wonder if this somehow could work.


The blessing - some men are due to arrive tomorrow with sheetrock. Lovely sheetrock that will enclose these openings. AND, I recently met an exterminator - she said to give her a call, I think her number will be dialed sooner than later. Between this beloved wall barrier and some good old fashioned poison, they should get the message LOUD and clear. 

Gallery Post - In a Dark, Dark Woods (A Halloween Story)

Blessing Week 11 - Thoughtful Pictures

So... I cannot lie - this weekend was a weird one and I was struggling with what I would write about this week??? (yes, I hit my momentary Eeyore moment)


Then an email arrived. An email with pictures of Morgan from her field trip Friday. I was unable to go and a little sad to know I would not see her on her first big outing with the new school group. BUT a wonderful mom-friend took some photos and sent them to me. I just think that was so awesome and such a nice thing. So, while I couldn't be there I still get a glimpse of her trip - which she said was GREAT.


Unexpected thoughtfulness and seeing a trip even though you weren't able to make it = definite week 11 blessing.

Costume 2010 - The Winner Is....

As is the case every year - it has come time for the ever exciting costume choice. I remember being a kid - this is a BIG deal. You think and think on what you want to be - because it's a major decision in the life of a grade schooler. :-) 


This year was clear cut from the start. She never entertained the thought of anything else. In fact, when we went to the store (where I knew they had exactly what she wanted) we grabbed the costume, she tried it on and said yep, this is it and had absolutely no desire to look at anything else. I guess if nothing else, it was fairly easy and I know she is certain. 


With that I present this years choice..... 

Vampire - with purple and black dress to be exact (and I seriously think this is about the only one with purple instead of red in the dress)..... 

Glad it exists! 

Blessing Week 10 - Hidden Away Gift Cards

Oh this weekend! I cannot tell you how excited I was by my shopping this weekend. Why? Because I seriously was out a good portion of the day and spent only $17.00. How? and why is this so magical? 


Because with a whole day and only $17 I managed, a new pair of jeans from a "nice" store with lots to choose from, a shredder to keep my mail stacking at bay and my hand not hurting from scissor operation, a new to us and very nice columbia wind breaker and brand new fleece jacket for Morgan, AND a power strip and new lunch boxes for Morgan.


The how... gift cards and the awesomeness of a new-to-you clothing store in town. First, I decided to clear out Morgan's closet and sell some of her nice but too small things - between the sale of these items and my stellar light jacket find - I came out with them giving me money! :-)  


Then on to the gift cards, oh precious gift cards that allowed me access to the golden door of Macy's (which come to find out - on sale, their jeans actually are not as outrageously priced as I thought) and leftover office store gift card that gave me this fabulous new shredder, even with enough left over for the lunch box and power strip. 


The fleece jacket - that I had to shell out some cash for - BUT it was on sale to 16.00 from 40.00, so I still felt like a winner on  that one. 


To some this may be no big thing - but to me, oh what a blessing! Just when I needed them, for just what I needed - they were there. :-)   


I do kind of really enjoy the art of thrift. It's always nice to conquer the expensive world now and again.

Make New Friends...

I just had to share that this morning I felt so happy... I watched as my child waited for a friend from class to cross the crosswalk at school and then the friend took her hand so they could walk together to the line. 


She also just received her first party invitation (not first ever, just first at this new school). While it may have taken a little longer than I thought - it's happening for her, she's building new friendships and I am so glad. I knew it would happen - I guess just another lesson in patience. 


As I drove away I thought - of course she is making friends, she is fabulous - I know I am biased but I just really think it's true! :-) 

School Picture - 1st Grade

Blessing Week Nine - Frequent Flyer Miles

Frequent flyer miles + $20 processing fee = us flying to visit friends!!!!  


I am SO thankful for my bankroll of frequent flyer miles. I have been saving them since I changed jobs - knowing they were precious, and knowing I would no longer be earning them at the bountiful rate I had been.  


I am blessed that I have the ability to take a trip without the worry of not being able to afford the plane tickets.  I also LOVE the experiences for Morgan - traveling, seeing different places, people, etc... AND of course seeing the wonderful Burkett family - it has been far too long...

How to Ride a Pony.....and a Fire Engine.

In addition to our great church visit of Saturday, we also filled it with some other BIG activities. 


First, we started the morning with Morgans very first riding lesson. Oh yes, the horse obsession is still well and alive and I wanted to give her the opportunity to do something she really really loves. We found a farm close to our house and went for a visit about a week ago to meet the trainer(s) and horses. It is the most beautiful place - the whole area back there is and seriously reaffirms how much I too would love a farm of my own. 


She got to retrieve the pony, brush and saddle him, and of course ride -  her favorite part. She also learned her two-point position and did her first "jump" (the pony went over a poll on the ground). :-)  She is still in love and this week gets to promote to a horse to practice trotting. I love that she loves it and laugh at the fact that only a few years ago she would not go near a horse. And, I don't mind taking her because I love being around those awesome animals just as much. 

We had a lunch break and then were off to her Girl Scout troop fire station tour. They got to see the whole place, watch the fire"persons" slide down the pole, go inside the fire engine (and learn the difference between a truck and engine - I never knew either), and see one of the firemen dressed up in his uniform so they can see and hear what he would sound like if they ever see one in an emergency. 


I liked seeing fire"persons" at their station much better than at our house I must say. ;-)  And my use of fire"persons" is that our tour leader was a girl - named Sara too. She said it was fine to say firemen - but it still just feels wrong. 

ps - still wondering what the difference between a fire truck and fire engine is??? 


The fire engine holds water and the truck does not. Now you know (if you didn't already).