From: facebook: Childhood Cancer Awarness

EVER HAD TO WATCH YOUR CHILD SLOWLY DIE BEFORE YOUR EYE'S??
KNOWING THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP IT...

WHEN YOU THINK YOUR HAVING A HARD DAY REMEMBER THIS...


Hard is having to rush your child to the hospital...

Hard is having the doctor tell you your child is not going to make it...

Hard is having to come home to an empty house...

Hard is having to clear out your child's precious belongings...

Hard is having to live with guilt...

Hard is having to look back in the memories...

Hard is having to come home and see the last thing your child did before he passed...

Hard is having to bury your child....

Hard is not believing your child died before you did...

Did YOU have a bad day? Was it HARD??

The (Wo)Man Who is in the Arena

Theodore Roosevelt 1910:

"It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly... who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Tie-Dyed Red Velvet Cheesecake Recipe

Tie-Dyed Red Velvet Cheesecake Recipe

by Nicole Weston

... It has a red velvet cake layer at the bottom instead of a more traditional crust and once it has been baked, the cake is topped with a cheesecake mixture and baked again. The colors in the cake are all produced with food coloring, including the red velvet cake layer. The best way to start here is by using a boxed cake mix.

Here is the recipe:

Tie-Dyed Red Velvet Cheesecake
(adapted from 101 Things to do with a Cake Mix)
Red Velvet Crust:
1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix (or white cake mix with red food coloring), prepared according to box directions.

Pour 1/2 of cake mix into a greased 9-inch springform pan and bake according to the directions on the box for a 9-inch layer cake. Discard extra batter.
Allow cake layer to cool completely in the pan. Set aside.

Cheesecake:
16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
2 large eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
food coloring

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar,
vanilla and almond extract until smooth.
Beat in eggs one at a time, then add in sour cream.
Divide mixture into 5 small bowls and add the following
colors to each one: pink, yellow, blue, green and purple.

Pour batters onto cake base in the 9-inch springform pan.
Do not swirl too much, so the colors will be clearly visible.
Bake 35 minutes, until the center is just about set when you jiggle the pan.
Allow to cool completely and refrigerate before serving.
Run a knife the cake to release it before removing sides of pan.
Serves 12.

recipe from kathyeats.com

Baked Oatmeal Snack Bars

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 3/4 cup dried fruit (I used 1/4 cup cranberry trail mix, 1/4 cup raisins, 1/4 cup chopped dried "just banana" from TJ’s)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1.25 cups skim milk
• 1 egg or egg substitute
• 1 tsp vanilla

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350*
2. Mix dry ingredients.
3. Mix wet ingredients.
4. Pour wet into dry. Stir to combine.
5. Pour into a 9×9 baking dish either coated in cooking spray or lined with parchment.
6. Bake for 40 minutes.
7. Cut into 9 squares.

Makes 9 servings . Each bar is appx. 165 calories, 3 grams fiber and 5 grams protein.

You can double the recipe and use a 9×13 baking dish. While delicious, the only sweetness in these comes from the dried fruit. Add in 1/4 - 1/2 cup brown sugar if you like.

The variations are endless: cranberries, coconut, all kinds of dried fruit, nuts, etc.

Homemade Fiber One Bars (2pts)

Homemade Fiber One Bars (2pts)

14 oz fat-free sweetened condensed milk
7 oz store-bought marshmallow creme
4 oz white chocolate chips
3 cup Fiber One
1 1/2 cup Wheat bran, unprocessed millers bran
2 cup uncooked quick oats
2 tsp vanilla extract

Nutritional Info
Fat: 3.1g
Carbohydrates: 37.2g
Calories:177.9
Protein: 5.2g

Combine condensed milk and marshmallow creme and melt
on top of stove or in microwave and stir in chips until melted.
This could be done in a double boiler,also.
Add vanilla and dry ingredients and mix well.
Spray a 11X15 cookie sheet and press mixture down with dampened hands.
Cut into 24 bars. Cool then wrap and store in the refrigerator.

Number of Servings: 24

A Favorite Poem

To My Visiting Teachers

Emma Lou Thayne, “To My Visiting Teachers,” Ensign, Mar. 1988

I’m glad you came, my friends.
Today was not a day marked on my calendar
in red—or black.
It was just a day.
Until you came.

You came to me
and I was all I had for you to see.
My props and backdrops, even my supporting actors
were somehow unimportant on the scene:

Just you. Just me. We three
in good companionship.

Or maybe, yes, I’m sure, there was another
who talked and laughed and felt with us.

Because, here now, behind the door
that I just closed
as you two touched my arm and said
you’d come again

the day is new
and I’m not alone at all.

I See Your Face

I find myself looking in the faces of those around me...
hoping to find you there
Even though I know your gone.
even though I know you are gone...
for now
I miss you.
Every day.
I dream
of you
I see you there
I dream that I've had a terrible nightmare...
that you've gotten sick and died
but then,
I see you alive and well
and I hold you close...
and laugh that it was all a dream...
Then I wake
to the terrible reality...
that you have gotten sick and died.
And I don't see you...
alive and well
I can't hold you close...
It was all a dream...
A dream.
I fall back to sleep
hoping to dream again...
of you.
I find myself looking in the faces of those around me...
hoping to find you there
Even though I know your gone, for now...
I miss you Emmy

Spring!

I love spring.

The tiny buds

Dandelions

Birds

flowers

insects

Awakening

New beginnings...

Good morning, World

and Welcome

The Big 4-0!!

Well,it has finally come to this...






































The B I G 4-0!!

I've heard that 40 is the 'new' 30.

I'm assuming that it is a good thing...
that the best is yet to come.
Hope so.

I've been enjoying having all the kids in school.Ahh...the silence!

Nate's First Day of Public School!

Well, the day has finally come...we are all excited for Isaac. This is a photo of his school (Joe goes here too in 3rd grade. Elementary is K-3. It is right next door to the Middle school where Ammon and Ann are. Middle school is 4-7).

JD and I took him to school this morning to get him settled.

He's the biggest kid in the class...kindergarten...possibly the first grade too! LOL!

There is a bathroom in each class room.
(Hopefully Isaac will remember to shut the door!)

There are 21 kids in his class.

His teacher is Ms. Greko. She is seems very nice.

The teacher's aide is Mr. Stevens...who is also nice.

First thing ...kids line up at Mr. Stevens' desk and give him their folders
(the folders have any communication from parents or lunch money, homework and such)
Mr Stevens also takes the lunch orders to give to the lunch ladies to limit wasted food...good idea.

Next the kids sit at tables and play with Brillo blocks, Lego bricks and shapes.

The kids were excited to be at school today because they were just getting back from Spring Break!
They were also all excited to see a 'new kid' in their class. Most of the kids came up to Isaac and introduced themselves and played blocks with him. The kids seemed very nice too. (What a great place!)

Then came the drama.....
We got to be there for the fire drill.

Isaac didn't even seem phased...just part of the mysterious Public School!
I've never seen so many quite kids! No body made a peep out side.

Anyway, fire drill drama over and we head back into the class.
JD and I are following Isaac's class in...Ms. Greko is at the classroom door counting heads. 17, 18, 19, 20,.....20..... a look of fear in her eyes! Isaac! she looks in the classroom and calls his name...no answer! OOPS! Lost the new kid...while the parents look on!!! No worries though...he'd just followed another class into their room...They had him reading books with their class till someone came for him. He didn't even know he was lost!

Isaac's luck...falling in graves...getting lost the first day of school. What an exciting day for Mommy!

Came home to a quite house with just Beth...not really quite though, her tunes were playing when I got home! I think she is loving the alone time too!

I am planning on taking pics of him getting off the bus with Joe this afternoon. I am excited to hear how his day went.

Oh man!

What a pig I made of myself last night!

JD and I had Chinese food for our date night and watched Survivor.

Well, I ate, and ate, and ate...
Pork fried rice








General Tso's chicken -extra spicy!








Orange chicken







and last but not least...
Egg Foo Young!







I was up til 2am! because I was too stuffed to get comfy enough to even lay down to sleep.
My blood sugar was 300!!
Wow! That is insanely high.
I used almost a whole vile of insulin!

My tummy still hurts now and it is 3pm!!
I haven't been able to eat anything today!
I'm getting too old to eat all that high fat, spicy, saucy, food.

Finally...the bag (a large trash bag!!) of bills has been gone through!

With just a small stack of papers that needed to be kept.

Found: a check for $250 from our dental insurance, the title to the white van, car insurance cards, our new credit cards, a note from the city suspending JD's drivers license because of failure to appear in court (speeding ticket, multiple offers for more credit (as if we need more trouble!), tons of duplicate bills.

And JD just brought the mail from our P.O. Box...2 months worth!!!

Heaven help us!

Beth just made the most yummy rolls for our dinner!
She and I also made a pretty tasty soup. Ham, potato, and cabbage.
Quite tasty!

Bills, Bills, Bills

Ugh.

Not much more draining then going through bills and realizing that you don't have the coin to pay them!

We took such a pay cut moving to NY. To the tune of $20K! The cost of living is so much higher here then AL!

The heating oil is eating us alive!
Now that oil is $100 per barrel.
We have to fill up every 2 months in the winter.
Our first fill up this winter was $600, next it was $750, and yesterday...well we could only afford to get half the tank filled! I didn't even ask JD how much it was!

A lien on our house for the water bill...$1,400.25!

But hey, the good news... wait there is no good news.

You know if it wasn't for bad luck we'd have no luck at all.

No, not true...Heavenly Father's been good to us.
We have a safe place to live
Good food to eat
Nice clothes
A car to get around

We're Broke
But Not Broken!!

Hope you enjoy this!

Monday, Monday

Well, Easter's over and now instead of finding rooms filled with hidden eggs, I'm finding rooms filled with candy wrappers! Spit out jelly beans! Oh well.

Kids are still out of school until Wednesday.
At least the weather's good...and they can go outside...to take out the trash between turns on the wii!
No, they've actually been out playing this morning for a few hours before they came in to play vid games.

I got some cute videos of Easter and LB and I are going to put them on here later.

Excited for the new week!
Lots of great plans planned!
Thinking of Spring cleaning(Sorry Kids!)
And of course the diet!

Speaking of diet...I've gained back the 30 lbs I'd lost.
Up to needing 100 units of insulin per day!

Getting back the motivation!
So back on the old control wagon and now that JD and Aaron fixed my Gazelle
I can get going on the exercise.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

O Death, Where is thy Sting? O Grave, Where is thy Victory?

Easter is almost here!
I love this time of year.
New life everywhere!
Now if it will just stop snowing!

I love Easter.
Thinking about the resurrection.
I love thinking about it.
I like imagining what it will be like.
I can see in my minds eye Emily standing there in the cemetery, bare feet, holding our Adam.
Happy.
All the others there being reunited with their loved ones.
What a beautiful day that will be.
It is always spring time there.

I can hardly wait!

Waiting is a long time.
I miss them both.

Hoping for the resurrection...Dreaming of the day.

Happy Easter!
He is risen!

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(John 14:27)

...Ye shall weep and lament, ... and ye shall be sorrowful,
but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
(John 16:20)

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again,
and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
(John 16:22)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.
(John 16:33)

...If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain,
and your faith [is] also vain.
. . . . .
But now ...Christ is risen from the dead
(1 Cr. 15:13-14, 20)

JERICHO

Watched Jericho last night...Tivo'd it.
Wow! Can I just say Wow!

Stanley!
Shooting Goetz - the Ravenwood leader! And the boys of Jericho (the Rangers) giving the body over to New Bern!
(Saves Heather's skin from New Bern's resistance. She was told that New Bern has a bounty out on her head for helping Beck. They were ok taking Goetz instead of her.)

We did see it coming because of the shoot-out at the ranch which left Mimi wounded and Bonny dead. (Man, Bonny can shoot!!! Kicked some Ravenwood tush!! At least she took 3 down before she fell! What a girl!)
I was sure that Stanley would seek revenge for this one!

Robert Hawkins is so cool!
He could take over the Cheyenne Government and Jennings and Rall single handed!
Well I suppose he would need Jake...can't wait till next week!

The start of the Revolution??? I hope so! I think they are on the wrong side of the Mississippi!

Love this show!!!

LOST is on 2mro!!!!

Woo Hoo! It's almost time for LOST!!! I can hardly wait!!! I so hate Benjamin...I hope that we don't find out he is really a good guy...I don't think I could handle it emotionally.

Could you believe that Kate has Aaron!! Where is Clair??? Remember the physic told her not to let anyone else to raise her baby??? What is going on?

I am really starting to think that the person in the coffin is Ben. Jack is so desperate to get back to the island. And Charlie is trying to get Hurley to get back and help the survivors than evidently didn't make it off the island.


Interesting from last week that even the Others need a shrink!

And Ben pulling a King David on Juliette and sending her man (Goodwin- see picture) to the Tail Section folks...who then killed him! So Ben could have Juliette for himself. He is so very creepy!

What is John thinking letting Ben go and walk around
??? John is far too trusting! Ben is so manipulative!

It makes me so frustrated when the season is almost over and once again more questions have been brought up then have been answered!

I Love this show!
It is such a great mind puzzle!
What a great story.

The Ugly Truth

This is more what FHE is like...just with me yelling, praying, and I'm ashamed to admit it, swearing to get them to sit and listen. I'm proud of myself today...just praying and a bit of voice raising...not yelling, and no swearing (If you don't count vowing to make JD pay for leaving me with them alone on another FHE).

Tonight JD is at work and Seth having a nap. I only had Joe to tell me that he didn't care and that it is 'stupid' and over 20 time outs. Ammon only had two scowly-face moments and three eyerolls. Ann was great at keeping Isaac from doing summer saults off the sofa onto the coffee table.

Lesson was just learning the Primary songs for their program on Sunday. It is our Stake Conference and L. Tom Perry is coming (I believe). We only have about 10 kids in our whole primary...3 are ours, and about 35 in the stake so we really need to make sure the kids know the words well.

Little do the kids know we are going to do this song practice every day this week...can't wait for the 'weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth' that are sure to come when they hear the news.

Anyway it is late and I'm sleepy and heading off to hit the hay.
Recharge the batteries for 2mro!

Peace

Family Home Nevening

This picture is what 'they' make you believe family home evening will be like. Ahh, the love, peace and family togetherness. Even after 22 yrs I still am under that delusion. Please! I don't know about you, but at our house, it's not a family gathering with out someone yelling or in tears...and it's usually me! LOL!

This Little Piggy Goes to Market...

Ah, the weekly pilgrimage to WallyMart.
Got out of there with only spending 300 smack'roles!
Much better then last week!
Why is it all the kids seem to need shoes at the same time?
I found 2 pair on sale for Ann and Joe. Aaron and Ammon will have to wait a week.

It is such a zoo there! There were fewer people there today because of all the icy rain, I think.

I wish that I had the time and $$ to go look for some good deals at Target (pronounced Tar-jay). I have a lot of Christmas presents for this Christmas. Beth and Donny, and Marie already done and a lot of gifts for the boys and a few family games. I also have Joe, Ammon, and Isaac BDay gifts.

About a month ago I got a great deal on sheets. 1000 count set for just 15$ I only got one and I am now kicking myself for not getting more!!! Oh well.

Came home from the store to find the floor of the family room littered with bowls. Took me a while to figure out that the boys had to put them down 'cause the roof was leaking again. At least it isn't the leak in the basement.

Is it Spring yet?

The ice storms are not over. More to come tonight - Sunday. Flooding expected too.(Speaking of flooding...we discovered a leak in our hot water pipes in the basement...2 inches of water on the floor. No wonder why we had been going through our heating oil so fast! JD was able to fix it and still make it to the airport!)

You can see in the video of Danny that most of our snow is gone...thanks to all the rain/sleet/hail.
Oh, March you rascal, you.
In like a lion for sure...but will you go out like a lamb?
That is the question.

This morning I woke to the sound of a song bird!
Hopefully this is a sign of spring springing!
And not some sick taunting trick by Mother Nature.
I like spring.
Bright new greens, pinks, purples, and yellows!
Buds on the trees...no more naked branches!
And the birdies...singing and building nests.
Kids playing outside...bikes, scooters, balls, sidewalks covered with masterpieces in chalk.
Easter and also my birthday.
I like spring...not as well as fall but it is good!

Yesterday morning I woke to the sounds of Jacob screaming
that Megan had kicked him.
(Not as pleasant as a song bird!)
Meg said she was 'just tapping' him with her foot
because her 'hands were full'. He just wouldn't stop whistling!
The nerve!

No fights this morning.
Kids will be home in an hour...I'm sure they'll make up for it!
LOL. Seth is planning to sleep over with a friend and be gone
all weekend. (The bishop's boy) So that will be one less fighter
for the mele. Megan might also be at a sleepover so there will
be no 'tapping' either!

Have a Great day...enjoy your weather, whether you like it...or not.
It's all you've got.

Another One Rides the Bus

Danny does the cutest thing when he gets on his bus.
Every day he walks out straight, stops, turns back and waves, gives the 'I love You'
sign, finishes crossing the street then turns on a dime and
up on the bus.

The only time he's done it different was when he was mad at
me for making him wear a coat and then he didn't wave or
give the 'I Love You' sign. LOL.

Lori made this movie.
Enjoy

Impossible-Quiz.com

Impossible-Quiz.com - This quiz is impossible

Camera Found!

I found my video/photo camera the other day...or I should say that Seth found where he hid it. I have been trying to figure out how to get better resolution from my photos and JD discovered that the photo part of the camera stinks and doesn't take good quality pictures. They are so grainy...so I want another that takes better pictures.

But in the mean time...I'll be using this one.

Verdi - Traviata - Choeur Bohémiens

Verdi - Traviata - Choeur Bohémiens
Video sent by Quarouble

Décathlon / Pekin 2008

Décathlon / Pekin 2008
Video sent by nqtv

GYMNASTIQUE PEKIN 2008

GYMNASTIQUE PEKIN 2008
Video sent by nqtv

Dorinel Comivoci

Come Thou Fount of... by Sufjan Stevens

Come Thou Fount of... by Sufjan Stevens
Video sent by industrialbirds

Video for the beautiful Sufjan Stevens version of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.
The magnificent photographs were taken by Nick Brandt.

LOST!!!

Didn't watch LOST last night.
Waiting to watch it with JD. He was rocking out with Seth on GH3.
It is in TiVo and I am dying to see it.
What's the deal with the ghost buster vacuum?!?!? Did you notice that the dude didn't need it on the island to talk with dead Naomi? Maybe he just used it for show to make the grandma feel she was getting her money's worth. How come no proton pack? Anyone notice the reflection of the island at the start of the show looks like a city skyline? Does anyone know who Kate is with in the flash-forward? And WHO was in the coffin!?

I so bad want to go up and watch it and not wait! But wait I will, 'cause there might be another scary part with the cabin and 'Jacob' (who looks a lot like Jack's dad) and then I'll need someone to grab on to. JD knows the drill. (I scare easy!)

Must see movie...Cloverfield.
Still not sure how they got out of the subway...intense! Wish they would have told more about the creature. Love the scene where they were climbing on the rooftop to rescue the girlfriend. I really loved the ending...reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan. I had to look away a few times during the movie to steady my stomach, not from gore or scary parts (and they were there), but from the camera movement...very Blair Witch Project-y. Should have had a seizure warning on it....maybe it did, don't remember. Go see it!

Reading Lisey's Story by Stephen King only in the third chapter. Liking it so far.
This is my first time reading a S. King book.

A video of my niece Ella Sue

Meg and the Technicolor Yawn

I was up with Meggie Doodle most of the night last night, she was tossing her cookies! (Well, anyone who knows me well, knows that it was actually JD who was with her for the worst part, I don't do well with throw-up. I took over when JD needed to get some zzzzzzz's.) Yummy!

It was a funky green color (more then you ever wanted to know I'm sure!) and I asked her if she'd been eating leprechauns, she said, "Yup. They're magically delicious!" Nice to see she hadn't lost her sense of humor!

Now it's morning and guess what?

Now it's my turn with the tummy bug. Going back to bed.

All Greek to Me

Hello, world!
Trying to get the hang of this blog thing.
I'm a slow learner...with the help of Lori maybe I'll
be able to do this.

Contrary to the address of this blog it isn't about clowns, their virtues (yeah...whatever!) or vices (there are too many to list in one place!!!).
Sorry.
But I do hate clowns! They are not for kiddies or grown-up either!
There are two types of people in the world:
those who hate clowns and those who are clowns!

I was just thinking today about the Patrick Swayze song: She's Like the Wind.
It is the goofiest song ever!
She's like the wind in my trees?!!?
WHAT does that even MEAN?!?!?
It reminds me of that saying that I never could make sense of: Can't see the forest for the trees.
Both are about trees and both make no sense!
Taking about no sense or should I say Nonsense...
the line: I feel her breath on my face!!!
Come on! Hope she didn't have the shrimp scampi! Or at least had a mint!!
Wouldn't feeling her breath on the neck, ear, or even cheek been more romantic?
In my face?
Whatever!


Whew! glad to get that off my chest. I feel better already.

My sister lost her black pug, Cowboy, yesterday. He died having surgery to remove some skin cancer. He was such a cute puggy. He had such a hard time walking that she would push him around in a baby stroller. Poor unsuspecting passers by would come over for a look at the cute baby and then recoil in horror at the silly puggy face staring back at them...not quite what they were expecting! She is having him cremated. She is such a lover of animals (people too). Sorry Tess.

Kiddly beans will be home from school in a bit...and I will have to put to use all of my honed skills of arbitration, counseling, medic, cheerleading, teacher, and the one I'm best at nagging!


Happy Valentines Day!

The Red Balloon

One of the BEST movies ever!

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four