Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms who have given up-

Sleeping in, sleeping late and sleeping at all.

Who have eaten after everyone else, eaten cold food, eaten over the sink, eaten only the leftovers of others while you did the dishes.

Who washed clothes, bed sheets, the vomit off the floor but is still wearing the same clothes from 3 days ago.

Who stays up worrying that the baby isn't sleeping, then is sleeping too long, baby moves into their first bed,  is out for their first overnight, is on their first date, is learning to drive, is going away to collage, is getting married and moves out.

Who tears up when her child cuddles, coos, laughs, talks, cries, is scared, plays make believe and dresses themselves for the first time.

 Whose heart melts when they hear "I Love You Mommy" and breaks when they hear "I Hate You Mom". 

Who everyday the one goal is to take this precious gift they were given and to help them learn to fly on their own then cries when they do. 

You are a Super Mom and Sunday is your  Special Day so enjoy it, relish in it. I hope you get spoiled and treated like a queen - Because you are one!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY'S!

Recipe of the week: Cauliflower Soup

Wednesday it was cold today - only in the 60's - windy - wet - gray - rain. The perfect day for soup. Here is a great one - and its easy.

Cauliflower Soup

Start by browning either a head of cauliflower or use a full bag of frozen cauliflower with some onions, and peppers - your choice of colors of course. I like the red and green peppers for added color. When done, toss into a crock pot.

Then in the same pan, fry 3 think slices of bacon (or ham).

Slice up the bacon (or ham) and add it with some of the bacon drippings into the crock pot with the cauliflower that is already there. If you are counting calories, do not put the bacon drippings but instead drain the bacon on a paper towel first.

Add 3 cups of either chicken broth or vegetable broth and let it cook on low 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours. I usually have home made chicken broth in the freezer so I used that.  I am cooking for just 2 of us so if you have a lager family, allow more time for it all to season and cook.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  

Enjoy!  We sure did!

Wednesday Hodgepodge: May Edition

Click the button and join us for some May fun!

1. Have you ever been served breakfast in bed? Do you enjoy that? If someone were serving you breakfast in bed this coming weekend what would you hope to see on the tray?

Boy I had to think about this one...the last time I had breakfast in bed must have been when the kids were little and they made me toast or something like that. I do not wake up hungry so I would not enjoy it but if they made me toast, I would eat it with a big smile. I wake up thirsty and really want coffee but I never wake up hungry. That was the hardest thing about the new low carb lifestyle - getting use to eating in the morning. Luckily I have up to 3 hours before I have to eat something. So if someone were to serve me breakfast in bed, it would be a giant cup of coffee.

2. What is one piece of advice you would give a new mother?

Hang in there, you will make it, just listen to your inner voice and smile!  OK so that may be more than one piece of advice but it all goes together.  Many times new moms feel overwhelmed and I want them to just relax.

3. When was the last time you wanted to scream? Explain.

A few days ago but I kept my mouth shut and didn't. I did do a lot of praying however.  I can't explain.. Sorry.

4. Can you hula hoop?
Yes but not very well and it's not pretty but I can keep the thing up on my hips! 

5. What is something people do in traffic that really bothers you?

They do not use their directionals!! I am not a mind reader and yet some people will cut in front of me. If I could only see their directionals I would make room for them, really I would. I'm a nice person. It's even worse if I am following someone - I mean really, if I knew where I was going I wouldn't need you up front!!

6. What do you do when people don't admit they're wrong?

Depends on the person. If I know them, then I will tease them about it, if I don't then I blow it off.  It's not worth loosing sleep over after all.

7. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'fun'?

Playing with our grand daughters, playing in the garden, relaxing in the heat of the sun and of course hanging around with Hubby - I know that is more than one but hay they just popped in my mind at the same time and I couldn't decide which one was first. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I went to give blood today. After 20 minutes of paperwork and digging into past records because I did donate blood in the 90's. The man taking all the information printed this and gave it to me.

I called the number and they don't know why I am not eligible so they have to dig into the old records to find out. This could take months!!! Really!! Oh and to top it off, they have me down as MAN!  You can't make this stuff up people!  I am on a mission to straighten this up.... Wish me luck.

Life is Blooming Around Here!

Finally Spring has showed up and I am so thankful for what I see around me. The ground has warmed and like magic, the earth has given up what for so long has been waiting to bloom.

Without the cold, there is no appreciation of the warm. Without the hard, no appreciation of soft. Without the winter, spring has no real meaning.

God has planted in each of us the seed of what we will become.  It is through trials, tribulation, coldness and hardness around us that we experience, that the bloom of what He is making us to be can be shown.

When we think we failed, we can ask for His forgiveness and move on. When we wonder if we will ever become what He wants us to be, remember we are still a tender shoot. We are still growing, reaching for what we will become.  

What was planted, will not look like what comes out of the ground. What God has planted in us, will come out looking different to. The body we will get in Heaven will look nothing like the body we have now. It will be better, stronger, - perfect.

As I look around my yard and see some of the flowers in full blooms, others still shooting up out of the ground. And others- still others- just breaking free of the soil - I wonder, "Which one am I like Lord?"

As I see the rock garden with the flowers, chickens and hens growing, I wonder- "Am I a flower, the chicken, the hen, the ground or the rocks?" Sometimes I fear, I am all of them it all depends on the circumstances.  

Life is blooming all around me. I want to bloom as well.  How about you.

Weekend Review: 400/800 Mile Challenge

This weekend I I met my fitness goal again!  The original goal was to move a total of 400 miles in the year 2011! Ellie over at Books, Fitness, and Other Stuff, created the challenge and started the ball rolling. I met the 400 mile goal back in On March 14th  so I doubled it to 800 miles and this past Friday I met that!! I was so excited that Hubby took me out for a Dairy Queen Mini Blizzard!  No it is not Low Carb but I was celebrating and knew that I could work it off. I had asked you all what reward I should give myself for reaching the 800 mile mark and many of you told me to go someplace warm!  Well gas being what it is, I opted to use the gift certificate that I had gotten for my birthday from Hubby and scheduled a "Spar Day".  Yup, a 1 hour massage with most of my body covered by heated sheets with one body part sticking out at a time, followed by a 1 hour facial and I was "butter" trying to drive home. I wanted to sleep so bad.  I was warm all over! Oh my!!! That was just heavenly. Have you ever had a massage and facial? If not, mothers day is coming and you should really leave hits that you would like to go.  Believe me, you will feel wonderful after they are done with you.  Heated sheets, heated towels, it was really a real treat.  Now, just in case he's reading this, I would love a pedicure.....Just saying.

Well what is a girl to do who has met the 400 Challenge twice now??? I added another 400 miles to the challenge and so I'm working towards 1200 miles.  Any idea what the reward should be for that one???
You can see my Miles To Date on the side bar if you want to know how close I am to the 3rd goal of 1200 miles.

Other than that, I raked the yard (all done finally), shopped, and made an appointment with the Red Cross to donate blood.  I don't know how things work with the Red Cross where you are but up her you can't just walk in and give blood. The state is small and so the same people that conduct the blood drives in different locations also collect blood at there base office so they have really odd hours. I had to call the 800# and give them my contact information and they will call me back to set up the appointment.  I found that odd but completely understand. I am waiting for them to call me back and then I will roll up my sleeve and let them take whatever they can get. Have you ever given blood? What was your experience?    How was your weekend?