We had a different sort of Sunday. We didn’t have RE (Religious Education) this past week at the chapel, due to spring break. I wonder if most churches take off for this. We have found that so many in the military travel during these breaks that it is very common to take the week off.
ALSO – this Sunday was the one year anniversary of the start of the Gospel Service. We skipped the service we normally go to and went to this one instead. It was a great service. They had a pastor from down town here and he was so REAL. He spoke on the verse from 2 Corinthians that says to “examine yourself and see if you are in the faith”. Wow – he was good. He shared what he personally found when he examined himself. His level of honesty was refreshing. I have been examining myself since yesterday afternoon and realize that I need to keep a close rein on “apathy”. There is really no excuse for apathy. Sometimes I feel like I should be excused for it because we are ministering in a setting that has unique services, blessings and challenges…but we all serve the same God and I dare not let apathy take root in my spirit and heart. Even if we don’t have all the facility and programs that some off base churches have.
Sunday night we sat out on the patio together watching a thunder storm. We are still new enough to this area of America to love the storms. The little ones and I huddled under a blanket on the porch swing and the big ones just sort of toughed it out. The rain began to really come down hard – I love that. I love a gully washer over incessant drizzle any day of the week.
Mike helped me figure out why I could NOT get the SAGE order to agree. The Composite order was $150 higher than the totals from individual orders. It turns out that I had somehow messed up the formula in one column on one order (happened to be OURS) and so the order total was reading $150 instead of $300 and something. Mike downloaded the software from the Shop Natural site for me to be able to order via the internet. That was cool…and much quicker than setting up the Composite order each month. I need to read the book that will get here eventually and figure out how to set up accounts for each of our members. Then THEY can input their own order and I will simply put them all together into one big order.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Whooeeee!
I have to share with you, my dearest friends, that I woke up this a.m. and my whole house smells like onions. {G} I filled the dehydrator with onions before bed last night. It's not a bad smell, just a strong smell. I much perferred the "apple pie" smell from the past week. Yum. I have done several batches of apples...sprinkling them with cinamon and leaving them until they become CHIPS....removing some earlier for those who like the traditionally chewy dried apples. {G}
That's all for now....Nolan is wanting some fresh waffles....which means grinding some flour.
That's all for now....Nolan is wanting some fresh waffles....which means grinding some flour.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Updates!
FRIDAY – Stacia finally got her first tooth to pop through. She’s been fussy this week with the impending arrival of said tooth. Maybe things will settle down now.
De’Etta’s Dr. Appointment – thumb nail still in tact. I opted for “wound cleansing” rather than a tetanus shot. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? It turns out they clean with hydrogen peroxide and salt water. Ah well…I avoided the needle once again. {G}I’m to keep it wrapped. It only bleeds and throbs when Stacia grabs it or I bump it. While in the office I took the opportunity to ask for a new migraine prescription. I now have a new med and hopefully will NOT have to use it. Dr. Woods loved Stacia’s sling. She was the belle of the clinic for that brief moment.
Mike took Nolan to speech while I was at the doctor.
PRODUCE – lots of fresh produce. I had to laugh when I received 11 heads of Green Leaf Lettuce. We didn’t order any the time before. I REALLY wanted some. It keeps longer from the wholesaler. I DID tell Heather that she could add to my order because I wanted the lettuce. I think it will last. We’re eating lots of salad – but we usually do. I’ve never been in a produce co-op like this. We all get to say exactly what we want and then she tries to make cases. You don’t always get what you want – but we seem to the majority of the time. The choices are so nice….but I feel for Heather because I know the incredible amount of work it has to be to figure out these cases every two weeks. Invariably the wholesaler will be out of the variety you order or the size you need. I think the Natural Foods co-op will be easier for me to organize….things won’t go “out of season”. {G}
My sweet husband bought me a Belgian waffle maker. It’s like the ones we saw at the breakfast buffets in hotels along our trip. I have wanted one but have been patiently waiting for the $5 maker to die. Last week I dropped the lid and broke the clip that holds the top and bottom together. I told Mike this and he was ready to buy the Belgian one. THEN Jamin remarked that he’d fixed the $5 maker. Aw MAN. Mike said to go ahead and buy the Belgian maker anyway! Yippee!
Stacia was up ALL night long. I discovered Saturday a.m. that her second tooth had popped through.
SATURDAY – I made wonderful waffles this a.m. {G} with fresh ground flour and honey….and maple syrup to top it off. YUM. I made a quadruple batch (not really impressive I need a double batch for one breakfast anyway) and made up the rest to freeze for breakfasts next week. Arielle, Nolan and I also made “healthy” cookies. Shoot - the Nestles, Wal-Mart and Sam’s brand chocolate chips all have artificial flavors in them. We chopped up some semi-sweet Bakers chocolate. We are determined if nothing else. We made a batch for now and put balls of dough in the freezer for the next time Zander needs an Oreo or a treat to take somewhere. We will take some cookies to church tomorrow for him.
Mike began rearranging my pantry. It is currently in the garage. We’ve been trying to come up with a way to move it inside. I hit on the idea of using the entry closet (currently our game closet) for the pantry. We moved the craft supplies, games and school games etc out to the garage pantry. We’ll need to get some sort of lock on it so that Zander doesn’t have free access to the supplies and game pieces. I headed out to buy shelving while Mike continued working on the move. We took the opportunity to sort through the food in the pantry and kitchen and pull out everything with synthetic flavors, colors and BHA, BHT and TH…something or other. Shoot….our refried beans had both BHA and BHT. I nearly cried when I had to put the giant box of graham crackers in the give away box….and all the chips, almond bark that I bought on sale a couple of month’s ago had to go. I wonder HOW to make Christmas goodies without almond bark. All the food dyes etc – gone. I did keep the Gatorade and I have no idea why. Its Mike’s favorite. It’s full of yellow dye. Zander loves it. I think Mike will take both giant cans to the office. The shelves look bare but I have a co-op order coming on the 27th. I bought 5 more buckets while out yesterday for things that are coming. I think I need to buy one of those bins for storing potatoes and onions and put it in the kitchen. Having the food in this closet will make things easier and will also keep the food cooler with summer coming.
In my spare time I worked on the first SAGE order. I have it all compiled now and only need to double check it and then enter it all onto THEIR form.
Late in the evening, Mike and Jamin moved several things up to the attic and we sorted through a couple boxes of books that were in the garage. I’ll have several new ones to post to my Paperback Swap bookshelf. OH - go the 8 minutes in the morning book – guess I’ll soon be loosing 2 lbs a week. {Vbg} I also got notice that *Patches of Godlight* is available for me. YES!
That brings the blog current. I've been asked to make waffles....think I have some red wheat I could use....
De’Etta’s Dr. Appointment – thumb nail still in tact. I opted for “wound cleansing” rather than a tetanus shot. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? It turns out they clean with hydrogen peroxide and salt water. Ah well…I avoided the needle once again. {G}I’m to keep it wrapped. It only bleeds and throbs when Stacia grabs it or I bump it. While in the office I took the opportunity to ask for a new migraine prescription. I now have a new med and hopefully will NOT have to use it. Dr. Woods loved Stacia’s sling. She was the belle of the clinic for that brief moment.
Mike took Nolan to speech while I was at the doctor.
PRODUCE – lots of fresh produce. I had to laugh when I received 11 heads of Green Leaf Lettuce. We didn’t order any the time before. I REALLY wanted some. It keeps longer from the wholesaler. I DID tell Heather that she could add to my order because I wanted the lettuce. I think it will last. We’re eating lots of salad – but we usually do. I’ve never been in a produce co-op like this. We all get to say exactly what we want and then she tries to make cases. You don’t always get what you want – but we seem to the majority of the time. The choices are so nice….but I feel for Heather because I know the incredible amount of work it has to be to figure out these cases every two weeks. Invariably the wholesaler will be out of the variety you order or the size you need. I think the Natural Foods co-op will be easier for me to organize….things won’t go “out of season”. {G}
My sweet husband bought me a Belgian waffle maker. It’s like the ones we saw at the breakfast buffets in hotels along our trip. I have wanted one but have been patiently waiting for the $5 maker to die. Last week I dropped the lid and broke the clip that holds the top and bottom together. I told Mike this and he was ready to buy the Belgian one. THEN Jamin remarked that he’d fixed the $5 maker. Aw MAN. Mike said to go ahead and buy the Belgian maker anyway! Yippee!
Stacia was up ALL night long. I discovered Saturday a.m. that her second tooth had popped through.
SATURDAY – I made wonderful waffles this a.m. {G} with fresh ground flour and honey….and maple syrup to top it off. YUM. I made a quadruple batch (not really impressive I need a double batch for one breakfast anyway) and made up the rest to freeze for breakfasts next week. Arielle, Nolan and I also made “healthy” cookies. Shoot - the Nestles, Wal-Mart and Sam’s brand chocolate chips all have artificial flavors in them. We chopped up some semi-sweet Bakers chocolate. We are determined if nothing else. We made a batch for now and put balls of dough in the freezer for the next time Zander needs an Oreo or a treat to take somewhere. We will take some cookies to church tomorrow for him.
Mike began rearranging my pantry. It is currently in the garage. We’ve been trying to come up with a way to move it inside. I hit on the idea of using the entry closet (currently our game closet) for the pantry. We moved the craft supplies, games and school games etc out to the garage pantry. We’ll need to get some sort of lock on it so that Zander doesn’t have free access to the supplies and game pieces. I headed out to buy shelving while Mike continued working on the move. We took the opportunity to sort through the food in the pantry and kitchen and pull out everything with synthetic flavors, colors and BHA, BHT and TH…something or other. Shoot….our refried beans had both BHA and BHT. I nearly cried when I had to put the giant box of graham crackers in the give away box….and all the chips, almond bark that I bought on sale a couple of month’s ago had to go. I wonder HOW to make Christmas goodies without almond bark. All the food dyes etc – gone. I did keep the Gatorade and I have no idea why. Its Mike’s favorite. It’s full of yellow dye. Zander loves it. I think Mike will take both giant cans to the office. The shelves look bare but I have a co-op order coming on the 27th. I bought 5 more buckets while out yesterday for things that are coming. I think I need to buy one of those bins for storing potatoes and onions and put it in the kitchen. Having the food in this closet will make things easier and will also keep the food cooler with summer coming.
In my spare time I worked on the first SAGE order. I have it all compiled now and only need to double check it and then enter it all onto THEIR form.
Late in the evening, Mike and Jamin moved several things up to the attic and we sorted through a couple boxes of books that were in the garage. I’ll have several new ones to post to my Paperback Swap bookshelf. OH - go the 8 minutes in the morning book – guess I’ll soon be loosing 2 lbs a week. {Vbg} I also got notice that *Patches of Godlight* is available for me. YES!
That brings the blog current. I've been asked to make waffles....think I have some red wheat I could use....
Friday, March 17, 2006
Indians, Co-ops, Parks
Hmmm….what did we do WEDNESDAY? We did school. We continue to study the Plains Indians and the transcontinental railroad. One legend told how the Sioux nation came to be. Seems there was a god who had 5 sons. He named the North, South, West and East and the youngest one was Whirlwind. I could relate. {g}
After school we went to the park. I worked on setting up Excel for the new natural foods co-op that I’m organizing – or trying to organize. Back at home I began to slice and dice a pile of veggies for a stir fry dinner. The young boys were watching me and I began to show off the ability of my new knife to quickly chop….doing the Ginsu thing. That’s when I chopped my finger. I had been complaining that my butcher knife disappeared during our move. I finally bought a new knife. It certainly was sharp enough. {G} We waited an hour for the urgent care on call doctor to call us back. She thought I’d be fine to wait and see the doc Thursday a.m. I went to sleep at mid-night with my thumb still bleeding. I cut the top ¼ th of the nail off – damaged the nail bed, shaved the top of the rest and the tip of the thumb. Ouch. I KNOW I had a tetanus shot in San Antonio. During the accident time I realized how different it is to have an accident surrounded by 5 boys and a husband…with no GIRLS around. {g} If Mike ever leaves the chaplaincy these guys can take their act on the road. From Josiah, “You know it’s going to be a bad dinner when the cook is beside herself”. From Mike as he holds pieces of my former thumb came a SONG “I wanna hold your hand”. Nuts. We laughed hard. I can’t remember the rest of the comments. Zander stole my heart by grabbing a towel and joining me to moan about his hurt finger. He kept saying “you should NOT cut fingers, Mom”. (Picture later - won't upload).
THURSDAY bright and early I called Tri-care. The gentlemen told me that they had no appts for Thursday or Friday. I told him that the urgent care doc had wanted me to be seen. He told me that it wasn’t “acute” and asked if I could call back Monday. I asked if I could make an appt for Monday and he told me I could call back to see if they had an opening on Monday. Keep in mind that I really did NOT want them to 1. Give me a shot or 2. Remove the remaining nail (a possibility). Mike was quite upset when he heard what they’d told me. I was once again told that I had to be more forceful when dealing with tri-care. I should have insisted that they find something for me THAT DAY. He emailed the doctor who is our PCM. That doctor called him and said this was totally unsat. He says that he is looking into it and will get to the bottom of it. That someone on the appointment line is NOT qualified to be giving medical advice. I was told I needed an appointment and they should have given me one…not told me that it wasn’t acute. I HATE confrontation and I hate my name associated with this sort of thing. I know that someone is going to get their tail chewed…I THINK he was active duty….and I have no idea WHO he is…so there will be someone out there who I don’t know who dislikes me. UGH. I have an appointment for 1:00 TODAY. I realized that my records were lost when we moved and so they will have no record of my tetanus shot. YIKES! I will do all in my power to dissuade them from the removal of said nail….it’s feeling better and I do not want to go back to all that blood and pain again.
In other news on Thursday – we finished school. Read some really gross stuff, read some interesting stuff, ordered an incubator and 4 quail eggs from Home Training Tools, mailed packages to my parents and the girls, took the little ones to lunch and Josiah to work. THEN we headed to the park again. {g} We needed to give Adrienne money for Friday’s produce co-op. Yippee…more fresh produce.
Zander had a hard day in the park. This month he’s gone from being totally anti-social to thinking that every child at the park should want to play with him. This led to a big brawl in the sand box when one little boy did NOT want to play with him. Being this is my 9th child, I don’t tend to get real worked up about these things, but other parents do. Enough said. Walking out to the van I was talking and fell off the curb. Now I was just thrilled that I’d twisted my ankle…there was a reason for this fall and my leg didn’t just give out. {G} I did have Stacia in the sling and she got a scratched up finger. I got a twisted ankle, scraped knee, hand and elbows….to go with my bandaged thumb. I’m a sight. Heather offered me the chance to stay home and she’d bring me produce to the house in the a.m. but I really enjoy visiting with these ladies.
The night ended with a PWOC board meeting.
After school we went to the park. I worked on setting up Excel for the new natural foods co-op that I’m organizing – or trying to organize. Back at home I began to slice and dice a pile of veggies for a stir fry dinner. The young boys were watching me and I began to show off the ability of my new knife to quickly chop….doing the Ginsu thing. That’s when I chopped my finger. I had been complaining that my butcher knife disappeared during our move. I finally bought a new knife. It certainly was sharp enough. {G} We waited an hour for the urgent care on call doctor to call us back. She thought I’d be fine to wait and see the doc Thursday a.m. I went to sleep at mid-night with my thumb still bleeding. I cut the top ¼ th of the nail off – damaged the nail bed, shaved the top of the rest and the tip of the thumb. Ouch. I KNOW I had a tetanus shot in San Antonio. During the accident time I realized how different it is to have an accident surrounded by 5 boys and a husband…with no GIRLS around. {g} If Mike ever leaves the chaplaincy these guys can take their act on the road. From Josiah, “You know it’s going to be a bad dinner when the cook is beside herself”. From Mike as he holds pieces of my former thumb came a SONG “I wanna hold your hand”. Nuts. We laughed hard. I can’t remember the rest of the comments. Zander stole my heart by grabbing a towel and joining me to moan about his hurt finger. He kept saying “you should NOT cut fingers, Mom”. (Picture later - won't upload).
THURSDAY bright and early I called Tri-care. The gentlemen told me that they had no appts for Thursday or Friday. I told him that the urgent care doc had wanted me to be seen. He told me that it wasn’t “acute” and asked if I could call back Monday. I asked if I could make an appt for Monday and he told me I could call back to see if they had an opening on Monday. Keep in mind that I really did NOT want them to 1. Give me a shot or 2. Remove the remaining nail (a possibility). Mike was quite upset when he heard what they’d told me. I was once again told that I had to be more forceful when dealing with tri-care. I should have insisted that they find something for me THAT DAY. He emailed the doctor who is our PCM. That doctor called him and said this was totally unsat. He says that he is looking into it and will get to the bottom of it. That someone on the appointment line is NOT qualified to be giving medical advice. I was told I needed an appointment and they should have given me one…not told me that it wasn’t acute. I HATE confrontation and I hate my name associated with this sort of thing. I know that someone is going to get their tail chewed…I THINK he was active duty….and I have no idea WHO he is…so there will be someone out there who I don’t know who dislikes me. UGH. I have an appointment for 1:00 TODAY. I realized that my records were lost when we moved and so they will have no record of my tetanus shot. YIKES! I will do all in my power to dissuade them from the removal of said nail….it’s feeling better and I do not want to go back to all that blood and pain again.
In other news on Thursday – we finished school. Read some really gross stuff, read some interesting stuff, ordered an incubator and 4 quail eggs from Home Training Tools, mailed packages to my parents and the girls, took the little ones to lunch and Josiah to work. THEN we headed to the park again. {g} We needed to give Adrienne money for Friday’s produce co-op. Yippee…more fresh produce.
Zander had a hard day in the park. This month he’s gone from being totally anti-social to thinking that every child at the park should want to play with him. This led to a big brawl in the sand box when one little boy did NOT want to play with him. Being this is my 9th child, I don’t tend to get real worked up about these things, but other parents do. Enough said. Walking out to the van I was talking and fell off the curb. Now I was just thrilled that I’d twisted my ankle…there was a reason for this fall and my leg didn’t just give out. {G} I did have Stacia in the sling and she got a scratched up finger. I got a twisted ankle, scraped knee, hand and elbows….to go with my bandaged thumb. I’m a sight. Heather offered me the chance to stay home and she’d bring me produce to the house in the a.m. but I really enjoy visiting with these ladies.
The night ended with a PWOC board meeting.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
OUCH
i cut the end of my thumb off - cy is running to the store for steri strips and gauze. mike is racing home from work - sure that i must go to the er. yuck. ouch.
Momentum
It’s been a fairly momentous Tuesday – so busy that I didn’t blog. {Sarcasm here folks}
I set up an account with Shop Natural. I wanted to be SAGE but both the other groups in town are SAGE – SAGE Buying Company; SAGE Co-op…..so I told them our name was S A Groceries Etc – and I’d think of ANOTHER name. The lady asked if I didn’t have ANY other names that I’d considered. I admitted I had considered GASEOUS – she laughed at the name but did not find my motto humorous at all: GASEOUS – if it gives you gas and tastes like dirt – it’s good for you! BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. She offered to send me software that will allow each member to upload their OWN order and I’ll compile them all and send them in. That way the company will make invoices for each member and I just have to add the splits and $1 fee. This month I’ll have to do it the “old way”. She was surprised that more clubs aren’t using the software.
Arielle, Nolan, Zander, Stacia and I went to the lake today with Charly and her children. This was a first. Charly and her family attend the chapel. We’d wanted to do this before but both Mick and Zander are “handfuls”. Both have been on Feingold for 3 weeks so we tried it. I thought it went fairly well. Sure – they were boys and there were discipline issues…but Zander was actually SOCIAL – playing WITH Mick and not having melt downs when Mick touched him. Both boys responded when disciplined. We were able to visit a bit. This was cool.
I lost one more pound this past week. OK – so not incredibly momentous – but in my life it is fairly significant. Ah but what IS momentous is that I fit into the jeans a size smaller!!! These are the ones I wore when I got pregnant…so they aren’t my all-time-skinny-jeans…but I’m working my way back into the depths of my closet.
I suspect Stacia has a tooth under the surface. I got a glimpse when trying to get antibiotics in her mouth. She’s on to us. I used to wait for her to scream and shoot it down the back/side of her mouth – causing her to involuntarily swallow the nasty stuff…..but now she clamps her mouth shut the minute you put her in the “medicine hold”. {bg}
Bible study was good. Beth Moore was talking about God’s unfailing love. She talked about Mark 12:28 – 30; my life verses. I do enjoy Beth’s lectures.
At home I was already getting orders and splits for SAGE. SO….I had Mike teach me how to use excel while we waited for Josiah to get home from work. I think we may have to tell Chick Fil A that he can only close 2 or 3 nights a week. They have him closing 5 nights a week….and that is getting tough for a kid in high school. When they hired him they said they “hoped” to give him 15 – 20 hours – the amount he wanted. He’s been getting 20 – 30 each week….probably 35 this week. We KNEW once he got a job the employer would realize what he had and he’d get lots of hours. {G}
That’s Tuesday – now on with Wednesday.
I set up an account with Shop Natural. I wanted to be SAGE but both the other groups in town are SAGE – SAGE Buying Company; SAGE Co-op…..so I told them our name was S A Groceries Etc – and I’d think of ANOTHER name. The lady asked if I didn’t have ANY other names that I’d considered. I admitted I had considered GASEOUS – she laughed at the name but did not find my motto humorous at all: GASEOUS – if it gives you gas and tastes like dirt – it’s good for you! BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. She offered to send me software that will allow each member to upload their OWN order and I’ll compile them all and send them in. That way the company will make invoices for each member and I just have to add the splits and $1 fee. This month I’ll have to do it the “old way”. She was surprised that more clubs aren’t using the software.
Arielle, Nolan, Zander, Stacia and I went to the lake today with Charly and her children. This was a first. Charly and her family attend the chapel. We’d wanted to do this before but both Mick and Zander are “handfuls”. Both have been on Feingold for 3 weeks so we tried it. I thought it went fairly well. Sure – they were boys and there were discipline issues…but Zander was actually SOCIAL – playing WITH Mick and not having melt downs when Mick touched him. Both boys responded when disciplined. We were able to visit a bit. This was cool.
I lost one more pound this past week. OK – so not incredibly momentous – but in my life it is fairly significant. Ah but what IS momentous is that I fit into the jeans a size smaller!!! These are the ones I wore when I got pregnant…so they aren’t my all-time-skinny-jeans…but I’m working my way back into the depths of my closet.
I suspect Stacia has a tooth under the surface. I got a glimpse when trying to get antibiotics in her mouth. She’s on to us. I used to wait for her to scream and shoot it down the back/side of her mouth – causing her to involuntarily swallow the nasty stuff…..but now she clamps her mouth shut the minute you put her in the “medicine hold”. {bg}
Bible study was good. Beth Moore was talking about God’s unfailing love. She talked about Mark 12:28 – 30; my life verses. I do enjoy Beth’s lectures.
At home I was already getting orders and splits for SAGE. SO….I had Mike teach me how to use excel while we waited for Josiah to get home from work. I think we may have to tell Chick Fil A that he can only close 2 or 3 nights a week. They have him closing 5 nights a week….and that is getting tough for a kid in high school. When they hired him they said they “hoped” to give him 15 – 20 hours – the amount he wanted. He’s been getting 20 – 30 each week….probably 35 this week. We KNEW once he got a job the employer would realize what he had and he’d get lots of hours. {G}
That’s Tuesday – now on with Wednesday.
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