my miscellany sunday. with some updates.

I thought I'd do something new this week and write my miscellany monday post on sunday. I've always been  kind of rebellious, I guess. ;)

1 - the shoulder. Again, thank you for the prayers, and the cheers, and the "you can do its" and kind comments. This shoulder journey has been exactly that -- a journey. In the morning, like now, I feel pretty good. By the end of the day,  my arm is exhausted and simple motions are difficult. But, it's progress -- each time I drive, or start a load of laundry, or cook dinner (even though it's much slower) is a step forward. Sometimes I'd like to be like Elijah and really let those emotions show! Ha haha.

2 - the coffee run. Yesterday, I went to get my $2 latte from our local Caribou Coffee. Now, I live near an outlet mall and at Christmas time my Caribou gets overrun with all those shoppers. So I sat in line waiting to order for a good 15 minutes. Which is when I snapped that picture with my cell phone below.

3 - the coffee drive-thru move. Drivethru is out the left window, right? My arm cannot move well to the left and out so in order to pay and receive that $2 cup of delicious hot coffee I had to improvise. Meet the coffee-move: start sitting facing ahead. Greet the 18yo drivethru gal in the $10 over the top Christmas sweater with all the glitz (she told me the price -- at a consignment shop). Remove money. Be confident as you go into the full body turn and rotate to hand her your money. Smile and nod as she looks at you wondering why on earth you didn't just hand the money out the way most people do.  Be bold in your move. Receive your coffee and slowly rotate entire body back into normal driving position. And yes, always make sure your vehicle is in park.

4 - the e-book. Tomorrow I'll be talking about 31Days to Clean, the ebook by Sarah Mae. She was one of my sponsors, those last minute wonderful sponsors, that helped me to get to the Relevant Conference in late October. As days pass I become even more grateful for the opportunity that I was given to attend. So, tomorrow I'll talk a bit about her ebook (which I've read and is wonderful) and will be offering you a 50% off code. And, yes, it would be an excellent gift. :)



5 - the feed, google friend connect, and facebook. I've been hearing rumors that google friend connect (that little widget on the sidebar) will be going away in March. Now, I believe the goal is to get everyone to use google plus, but I don't know, and I believe it might only be for non-bloggerblogs.  So, here's my first little suggestion -- if you're a subscriber via gfc you might want to consider subscribing to the email (it comes once a day, around noon), grabbing the rss feed, or joining my facebook page. All of the options are on the sidebar. Facebook, by the way is super fun,and of course, there are questions about coffee.:)

6 - the baking. I'm going to start making Christmas cookies this week. If you remember from last year, this is a huge tradition in our family. However, now this year, they'll all be gluten free. I remember when Samuel was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease thinking that I'd just make some gluten free and some gluten full (that's our code word for stuff with gluten). Well, in the last 10 months as we've adopted an almost completely gluten free household I can't imagine doing it the half and half way. Plus, he's two, and I hate (yes, I'm using that word) the moments when I have to tell him he can't have something because it has gluten in it.

7 - the cookies. I'll be sharing them with you. Pictures and all. And, thank you for all the gluten free cookie suggestions on facebook and twitter (see, I told you it's fun over there). Now, if I could just find flour that was less expensive. And oh yes, please do tell me what your favorite Christmas cookie/treat is -- I'd love to know!

8 - back to the arm. I think the biggest frustration for me is the arm fatigue/weakness. I've been typing this for about 15minutes and already my arm is extremely tired. They told me this was to be expected - they removed one of the 2tendons that holds the bicep in place (which is why I have that popeye type arm) and as a side effect are muscle fatigue. I know, it's only been 13days, but oh my, I just want some strength back in that left arm!  It's better than it was when this pic was taken -- on post op day4 (that's why there's no makeup and I'm sporting hair that is a bit messy....hee hee hee)

9 - presents. I haven't bought one. Just had to put that out there.

10 - some more of our Truth in the Tinsel crafts. Just had to share. Because they are so cute. And my kids are learning so much about Christmas and Advent and the birth of Jesus. It's a beautiful way to set the tone, and align the posture of their hearts to reflect the true and real meaning of Christmas. Any of you doing it? If you're interested in getting it here's the link -->> Truth in the Tinsel

And that's it! Hope you enjoyed my Sunday miscellany. And, yes, of course, I'm still putting the monday button up. And I'll link up with my sweet and dear and awesome friend Carissa tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe I'll be the first link-up. Wouldn't that be cool. Who am I kidding...I'll probably be sleeping. :)


{affiliate disclosure: this post contains several affiliate links. If you click on and purchase I will receive an affiliate commission for recommending these products. Please know that I only recommend products that I love. Federal Trade Commission 16CFR Part 255}

some random (and possibly silly) facts about me

Alright my friends -- today I am doing something just a bit different.  Shocking? Probably not. :)

At the bottom of this post is an update on Samuel.  Thank you for praying for him. Thank you.

Anyways, I'm joining in on Lynnette Kraft's Thoughts of Spring Blog Party at Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground. I've known Lynnette for years -- and seriously -- she is balm for my heart, she gives me joy, and many, many, many times just makes me laugh.

And then you get to learn a bit more about me. That's good, right?

{and possibly humbling for me}

How would people describe your personality? (If they could only use ONE word.)

{do I look like a geographer?}

Seriously, Lynnette, one word??? I don't know how to do this one word thing.........okay. I'll try. I can't. You guys got a word? I'm thinking joyful. Or intentional. Hannah just told me -- geographer.  Nice. I guess my love of geography is trickling down. She did just come back and say joyful. Or planted. That's better.

What celebrity/celebrities would create a “Star-Struck” feeling if you saw them in real life?

{source}

Phil, from The Amazing Race. That's partially because I would love to BE on The Amazing Race. Can't you just see my blip under my name? Rachel -- homeschooling mom of seven. You know that's what it would be. And Phil in his voice-over would be stating, "Rachel, that homeschooling mom of seven...." as they would show me unable to solve a history problem or messing up simple addition. ha ha ha

Are you a hopeless romantic?

No. I kind of wish at times I were, but then I am kind of like Lynnette -- I just start giggling or feeling silly and then I have to make a sarcastic comment, etc.... I'm more of a lets go walk through the park and chat or let's do yard work together type of gal.

What is your comfort food/drink?

That would be COFFEE. Any kind. Any time. Decaf at night, please.  Since I'm constantly to and fro from ballet coffee has become the beverage in my hand.  Food? Anything Thai. Right now it's some gluten-free Pad Thai.

{mmmmmm.....coffee....how i love thee}

Do you have a strong desire to do something you’ve never done? What is it?

I've never been completely caught up with laundry for more than a week. I really would desire to keep up with it for at least two weeks. Speaking of this laundry -- I've just opened a giveaway for some wool dryer balls....shown below....here's the link! wool dryer ball giveaway

Okay, seriously, I'd love to go on a missions trip with my kids. No explanation needed.

Be brave – tell us something very random and weird about yourself.

If I get nervous I shake my hands out or fluff my hair. Fluffing the hair creates quite the eighties look, by the way. I think it's just a way to get energy out of me. Years ago, when I played the organ (how's that for random? who do you know that plays the organ) for church I'd shake out my hands in between hymns. I did NOT fluff my hair. Awkward.

What is your greatest fear or strange phobia?

I don't like elevators. At all. If others are with me than I'm better, but as soon as I'm alone in an elevator I'm always looking for my escape route in case I get stuck. Most often, I'll take the stairs.

What’s something you consider yourself to be good at? (Don’t worry, it’s not bragging, it’s acknowledging a God given gift)

I'm creative. Not afraid to take risks. I've played the piano since I was four -- and many times that is when I think or pray. I'm grateful for the years of lessons my parents payed for when I grew up. So grateful --they must have known I would needed to pray a great deal.

{my parents piano}

Okay....I need to teach my kiddos and start my day.  Mass chaos is starting to begin.

Click over to Lynnette's blog to check out more bloggers and thanks for reading my silly post. :)

** Samuel Update **

{At this point, we're going to keep watching the weight loss and we're thinking that it is because he eats no dairy.  Some Celiacs cannot have dairy when they first go gluten-free.  There is also no obvious underlying infection.  The next time he gets an atypical fever we go in for the labs to make sure that his body handles infections/fevers and to see if there is another underlying issue. Until then? We rest. And eat gluten free. He has croup -- so if you could pray for that as the docs do not want me giving him prednisone (which I don't like too much anyway) unless it is absolutely critical since it would mess up any labs that he could have drawn.  Thanks.}

the ABC's of Thanks Link-up

<a href="http://rachelmariemartin.blogspot.com/2010/11/abcs-of-thanks-link-up.html"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Finding Joy | The ABC's of Thanks" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/theabcsofthanks.png" align="center" /></a>
If you are here and it is November 2011 -- then you are in the right place --until Wednesday when the 2011 post will go live. For now, read the post, get ideas for your post and be ready to link up on November 23, 2011. Last year we had almost 100 participants -- so please spread the word! CLICK HERE to be redirected. 
~Rachel

Okay, as I was prepping for my Thanksgiving post I tried to imagine a creative way to list just some of the many things I'm grateful for.  As I pondered options my little Elijah kept singing the ABC's and next thing you know I made a list of ABC's attached with a couple thankful items.

Then Hannah and I talked and we decided to make it a link-up.  Well, I couldn't do it without her, since she made the button. :)

Anyways, here are my ABC'S of Thanks.  

a) angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream.  This is my favorite birthday cake.
b) Bible -- how easy it is to lose thanks for this gift. I am so grateful for God's Word.
c) coffee.  Any kind.
d) dinnertime with my family
e) energy -- really, really thankful for energy when I seem to have none.
f) family. My husband, Todd.  And my fabulous kids -- Hannah, Chloe, Grace, Brennan, Caleb, Elijah, and Samuel.
g) gardens -- where I can work the soil and see new life, new growth.
h) hugs from my little ones
i) instant coffee (sorry, couldn't resist, but sometimes it works out in the pinch)
j) joy.  This couldn't be my list without joy. (at first I listed jellybeans, but realized that joy had more impact and I realized that if I made the letter f finding it wouldn't make any sense until you got to j.  I think I might need some more instant coffee.)
k) knitting needles
l) listening friends, loving friends, loyal friends
m) my graphic designing daughter, Hannah, who made me my button. :)
n) new socks
o) optimism -- I've learned to look at the beauty and joy in life.
p) Philippians.  Anyone who reads this blog will know that I love, love, love to reference Philippians.
q) quietness (ha ha ha -- that's obvious)
r) remission.  Five years ago I didn't know if we would make it five years more.
s) summer vacations at the lake
t) Todd.  (want to hear something funny?  I couldn't think of anything for t -- besides Thai food -- and then Hannah says, I've got a super obvious one, mom.  Oh, yeah, that would be Todd.  My husband, second to Thai food.  I'm kidding.  He's awesome.)
u) USA.  It goes along with freedom.  We're blessed to live here -- we must not forget that.
v) vehicles to drive with -- especially ones that fit my whole family -- and they must have
w) windshield wipers
x) x-rays.  I know, seems obvious, but seriously, could you imagine if we didn't have them? As a mom I've been thankful for many x-rays.  Including the one that helped save Samuel.  See starstuck.
y) you all.  I am blessed beyond measure by the friendships made via the blogging world.  Blessed.
z) zoos -- which most days would be my home -- to which I am so grateful.

If you want to list your own ABC's of Thanks grab the button and link below.  I'm hoping you do -- as I'm kind of putting myself out there with this link-up-thingy.  So for all of you that link up, thank you, thank you, thank you!  Try to comment on a couple other blogger's lists -- and mention how thankful you are for them as well. The linky will be open till Saturday.  So you have time. I can't wait to read your lists! :)

Make sure to grab a button and include it in your post...and go ahead and write away.  I can't wait to read your answers for the letter x and z!

And feel free to comment with some thankful things -- I love the attitude of gratitude!

Have a Blessed and Grateful Thanksgiving my blogging friends!!

those little things

Have you ever wondered about things that might frustrate me?  They're not huge events, but are those little-itty-bitty events that leave me sighing and scratching my head.  Here's a small sampling for you to enjoy.

1) Unmatched socks.  Last night, I folded and sorted and folded again and sorted again, socks.  Baskets of socks.  And, now, this morning, I'm left with a huge laundry bag of unmatched socks.  Where are the socks?  I've done all the laundry.  I've cleaned the drawers.  I don't understand what happens to the socks.  Especially big, fluffy, green socks.  How could that my slipper sock get lost?

2) Almost empty containers put away.  You know what I'm talking about -- the gallon of milk returned to the fridge with barely enough milk on the bottom to get a sip.  Or a cereal box stuffed into the pantry with just crumbs and four pieces in the bottom of the bag.  

3) Empty containers put away.  Specifically my Keurig coffee box.  Went to make my coffee this morning -- opened the Keurig box -- found it empty.  That is just unfair!

4) People holding signs outside their business and waving as I drive by.  Every single time.    Okay -- some explanation.  There's a local oil change company right by ballet that loves to have an employee stand by the road and wave while holding a sign that states - no waiting.  I get so tired of nodding, grinning, waving back, ignoring, pretending to change the station, looking back at the kids, looking the other way, staring straight ahead, and sneezing while I pass them.  You'd think that they would recognize me and that their attempts to pull me into their shop for an oil change will not be met.  They've tried for 6 months.  And, between you and me, I won't be going there.  Just because I have to deal with the wave.

5) When I order a latte at the coffee shop and the cup is waaaaay to light.  Ever had that happen?  You know, when there wasn't enough steamed milk and the barista (love that word) just adds frothed milk thus making the latte more of a cappuccino/latte hybrid. Somehow I feel like I got cheated out of two-three sips of espresso ladened milk.

6) Grocery stores that have their own instore coupons for buy-one-get-one free.  I either drop one or forget one.  Then when I'm walking out of the store, as I scan my receipt, I'll notice that I've been charged for two cherry tomatoes or two porkchop packages or two boxes Ritz crackers.  The only reason I had two, besides having a huge family, is because there was a sign stating that it was a bogo with store coupon.  Come on!  Have mercy on me!  Wouldn't it be nicer for us, the customer, to simply ring the free one up?  Versus having me stand in line at the service desk asking for my refund as I rip out a coupon from the stack on the counter?  At least they don't have someone standing outside with a sign trying to compel me to come in and shop.

7) Crackers.  Why?  Crackers = crumbs.  Remember those Ritz crackers?  They create many, many, many crumbs.  Luckily we sweep about 20 times in one day in this home.  I'll have to go check with Grace, the official kitchen sweeper, how many times she sweeps. Once I check with her I'll update the official count....

8) Monday mornings.  After a weekend of sick children.  And now, a sick mom (that would be me).  Monday mornings where I have 2 laundry baskets full of socks -- that are matched -- waiting to put away.  Monday mornings where I know I need to get moving, and pull out the school books.  Sigh...

What I love?

My Caribou coffee, that I picked up this morning because I was out of Keurigs.  That I have baskets of folded socks.  That my Grace has already swept 3 times and is now knitting.  That we have crackers to eat.  That I don't need an oil change. That I can go to the store and replace those empty cereal boxes sitting in my cabinet.  Those are all good.  Oh, yeah, and that Samuel says -- momma.  That melts my heart.

It's time to get to work, my friends.  Enjoy your Monday.  Sip your coffee and think of me. :)

Miscellany Monday

Phew....what a busy weekend.

Wedding.

Birthday Party

Cleaning.  Massive Cleaning.

Baptism

Confirmation

Party

Gardening.
Re-cleaning (is that a word?)

Thank goodness it's Monday!

And with it being Monday comes another totally random edition of 

Miscellany Monday.

1. Chloe was confirmed yesterday.  My mother purchased 1/2 sheet cake.  I thought that it would be way too big.
I was wrong.  Terribly wrong.  Buttercream frosting paired with an exceptionally moist cake will not last in this home. 

start

10 minutes later

2) This is a picture of some of my favorite things. 

Iced coffee (it's close to 90 with high humidity)

Garden Trowel

Gloves

3) These are my irises. I used the above stuff to plant them.
(last year)
I love them. Love them.

4) Yesterday I put in a huge raspberry garden.  I'm talking over 30 plants.  Later that night I took a shower -- I was covered in mud.  Then with wet hair I went to bed.  This is what my hair looks like in the morning after sleeping with wet hair.  (This is not what it looks like after I straighten it.)

can we say curly?

crazy hair

I am not straightening it today - not with ultra high humidity.
The world will just have to deal with my
big hair.

 5) Samuel did not like me taking pictures of my hair.

enough pictures!!

5 seconds later

Thanks, Carissa, for putting together this meme.  As a random person -- this helps me get those thoughts out!

Link up -- be random!

Love the button? 
-- my Hannah designed it --
her momma's proud!

finally...my planting chums post

After six days of a  sick Samuel I can finally state that I think he's on the mend.  I did take him to the pediatrician yesterday, and they did run a bunch of tests...which we'll find out today.  The doctor seemed relieved once the first tests started coming back normal, as she didn't like how sick he was and was slightly concerned.  Praise God for His healing!

____________________________________

Planting Chums (CLICK HERE TO ENTER) for this last week is four random facts. I love this one.  Being a semi-random person this allows my creativity, aka randomness, to shine through.  So grab your coffee, tea, LaCroix water (that was for you Hanni), and enjoy!

1.  I never ever ever ever lose my patience. I am so calm all the time.  It's almost as if I have an extra dose of rational thinking.....okay...this might be a little eensy bit of a fallacy.  Truth?  I've got to work daily to not react, but to speak with intentionality.  When I'm reaching the end of my rope with craziness I've discovered several antidotes.  Which my kids know as well.  One of them?  Coffee.  Hannah or Chloe have been known to state, "why don't you quick go get yourself a latte?  We'll tidy for you...." They've got me figured out. :)

my birthday gift from Hannah and Chloe

2.  I've got a collection of magnets on the side of my fridge.  I don't like much on the front of my fridge.  Less clutter? Nah...I reserve the front for my Truth Magnets.  Ones like Never Ever Ever Ever Give Up or Prayer Changes Things.  The front is pretty empty.  The one side?  Full of magnets from destinations all over the world.  Most of which I have never gone, but a member of my travelling family has visited (the most recent?  New Zealand.)  I love them.  And I'm so glad that my mother convinced me at a young age to NOT collect mugs from travel spots due to space.  Thank goodness I heeded that advice.

my magnets

3.  I love to find the deal.Put a red Target clearance ticket on it and it's a beauty to me.  I used to be an assistant to the regional merchandiser for Pier 1 Imports and started coming across lots of deals while there.  In fact, when I worked there (waaaaay back then) my home probably looked like an add spread for Pier 1.  Now I'm content to scour garage sales and the back endcaps at Target.  Those pics below?  Made up from my finds.  I've got an entire wall of black and white prints put in my "find" frames.

my wall of finds

4.  I love yard work.  Love, love, love gardening and lawn care.  As a child my dad had this huge garden...and I mean huge.  I told him that I would never, ever, ever, ever have a garden when I grew up.  I didn't want to spend hours shelling peas or pulling weeds,  Until I grew up.  Now, I love my garden and my green grass.  I've got these weird concoctions that I put on my grass...beer with dishsoap with ammonia with xyzzz (thanks to the garden guru Jerry Baker).  I love to take my morning stroll and see what's growing.  It's about beauty, about putting my hands in the ground, about peace.  And yeah, going back to number one, if I don't get coffee the next step the kids take is, "why don't you go check your garden, Mom?"

see my garden starting?

new growth

my greening grass

I must thank my daughter Hannah for a) putting together the Planting Chums post and b)taking these fabulous pictures for me (which fyi I saved the wrong way...shouldn't have been saved as a jpg, but rather a png...they'd be even better).  It's amazing the pictures that I get when SHE takes them and I don't USE MY PHONE to take my pics.  I know it's late in the week, but seriously if you're reading this and haven't linked up to Planting Chums now is the time to do so.  All you have to do is list four facts and then you are entered in to win one of 10 amazing Etsy give-aways.  It's awesome.  And I'm not saying that cause I'm her mom. :)




Thanks again for all the prayers!!

Week 1 of 4....food loves

WOW.  One favorite food?  When I have so, so many?  I could list ice cream, or bulgogi (curious?), or strawberry shortcake, or chicken with artichokes, or CHOCOLATE.  All favorites.  Sigh...how to choose?

But then, I got thinking, also spurred on by Hannah over at Aspire, about my coffee.  Sure some could say that I was all in it for the caffeine, but for me, the coffee has a deeper meaning.  So, now with that intro, I will boldly state that coffee...specifically coffee at Startbucks, or Caribou, or Dunn Brothers...is probably my favorite food.  I mean, beverage.  Want to know why?  Well, I'll write about it anyways.....:)

I didn't start out as much of a coffee drinker.  Even when I was in college studying architecture and interior design, when I was up late creating scale models, I just didn't reach for coffee.  Specialty coffee was a newer phenomenon back then (notice I didn't say WAY back then).  There was a coffee house in the student union building.  So I'd get a mocha now and then...but SERIOUSLY...I was terrified to even order.  There were so many choices, too many, and it was just weird.  Too bad there wasn't wikipedia WAY, I mean back then.

So I got married, had Hannah (who came up with this fun idea), Chloe (my aspiring pastry chef...and man, is she good), and Grace.  Then we moved to San Diego for a while.  And let me tell you that Starbucks is EVERYWHERE out there.  And they had drive-thrus.  Now, that may not seem like a big deal, but when you are the mother of three young children a drive-thru can make or break the deal.  Especially when you used to live in Minnesota (which, by the way, is the current state of residence).  So I'd find my little green mini-van slipping through the Starbucks drive-thru.  And I became hooked.

ahhh...the drive-thru

Well, now by the time we moved home several Starbucks and Caribous began to get the idea that a drive-thru was a great idea.  I don't know how having a drive-thru when it's -22 degrees helped business.  Are you kidding me?  It's AWESOME.  Anyways, I learned to love my little treats.

But there's still something deeper.

Money was tight.  There weren't many luxuries that I could buy, and my husband, Todd, always wiggled in room for me to get a latte once in a while.  Then he got sick.  By this time we had Caleb (our 5th baby).   Caleb was six weeks old when we noticed something wasn't right.  And then it took another 5 weeks for Todd to finally have surgery, find out it WAS cancer and then begin treatment.  Well, the day he had surgery I was at the hospital alone except for baby Caleb.  I still don't know why I was there alone.  I cannot believe no one came with.  However, I've started to believe that it was critical that I was there alone.  I wept and poured my heart out to the Lord.  If there had been others I probably would have hid the rawness, the aches, the pain and the fear.

Ok...coffee connection?

When I came down the elevator after saying goodbye as they led him off to surgery I started to pray.  And I prayed and prayed and prayed.  I remember praying this quick, 2 second silly prayer, "and please Lord, let them have REAL coffee...like Caribou."  I'm not sure why that came out in my prayers, but it did.  Perhaps it was comfort, or security that I was wanting.  Well, I get off the elevator and I walk to the food area, and I see a sign that states:

Methodist Hospital PROUDLY serves Caribou Coffee.

I was blown away.  My coffee mattered.  My little, itty-bitty prayer mattered.  It put into focus what a caring God we serve.  Not only can He move mountains, but he loves me, and you, so much that those little details, the little quirks about ourselves, matter to Him.  And, how I love Him.

The four years since this date have been full of joys and struggles.  There have been really devastatingly hard times.  Our financial picture became trashed due to almost a year of lost work.  The economy crashed.  Pain.  And still joy.  My Elijah.  And Samuel.  And the amazing blessings of my five older children: Hannah, Chloe, Grace, Brennan and Caleb.  That we are still cancer free.  We have a home.  Amazing friends.

I still get my coffee.  The kids have discovered that without it it's like my kryptonite. So if they see me stressed, or anxiety-ridden, they'll tell me, "why don't you go get a cup of coffee mom?  We'll tidy up and watch the little ones."  Tidy up?  (my other trigger point) and Get coffee?  They've got me figured out.

I know coffee isn't all that I need.  The Lord is truly the number one.  There have been times where I've fasted from coffee.  But, I'll tell you the truth, that for me, coffee is comfort, relaxing and a fave food of mine.  And deep, deep in my mind I'll never forget the blessing of the dreary December 19th when I saw the Caribou sign  in the hospital lobby.

I can't wait to hear about all your favorite foods!  Link up.  Join in.  :)  

(oh, one last thing...one year I received $65 of coffee gift cards for my birthday.  Then this year I got a Keurig coffee maker which can brew Caribou coffee.   I think it's safe to say that my secret is figured out)

  

coffee