Recouping Days

I'm not the warm, fuzzy, "mothering" type of mama. Though I have mellowed as I've aged. ::wink:: 

I'm known for quarantining my children when they are ill...and they are fine with this....school continues for the rest of us...the ill child gets the DVDs in his/her room....all are happy...they have a bell to let me know if they need anything....it works. It works so well Zander dreams of being sick, "No school, movies, and you get a bell!" 

I am, however, a bit more nurse-like with a husband home from surgery. And so....today was filled with pain meds, cooking bland food, trying to entice an appetite, sitting and chatting.....


The day also included enough good friends to satisfy an extrovert's need to socialize.  

Christina and Lacey came over to finish our romp through Ephesians. It's been timely, challenging, fruit-producing. Christina leaves Japan in a few days. It was a bittersweet session. I am blessed by their gentleness with my silly driving inadequacies....they even brought lettuce, broccoli and ice out. 

Akiko-san came over and showed us how to make Soba the "cheater way"...tomorrow we will venture to a farm and learn to make soba noodles from scratch.  Michael insists we go. 

Jim and Marvie stopped by and brought some yummy cranberry bread, real nursing advice and a sweet touch of friendship. 

It's been a good day. I'm thankful for much as the day ends. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Quick Post Surgery Update

We are home! Michael had hoped to come home yesterday afternoon...but the big gun pain killers make him sick....so we spent a night in the hospital to work on pain control and nausea control. 

He's WAY better on Day 2 than he was on Day 2 after surgery in March.   I've been thankful friends are giving kids rides to places they need to be. We'd thought we'd put them in a taxi. To be clear, this is NOT because of my driving history...this is because Michael needs me to be here with him and I don't want to leave him alone with kids until I'm sure the pain and nausea are things of the past. Sometimes you need a wife more than a son or daughter. 

We  had a good Skype with Jared this afternoon. Kids - be aware Dad is home and down for a couple of weeks....it would be a good time to catch him on Skype. ::grin:: ::hint:: 

Things I'm thinking:

It is a blessing to be married to a man who lives with integrity. What he is in the good times; he is in the bad times. I love that. 

I loved getting to know the others in our multi-patient room....and it was fun to be there as Michael prayed for them as we left.  I do love our life. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Low Fat Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes (Happy Herbivore)

This recipe is from Lindsay Nixon of Happy Herbivore. I really NEED her cookbooks for Christmas. ::snort:: Note, I got 9 smallish cupcakes from this recipe. 

YUMMY -  I didn't frost - still consumed

Ingredients:
1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
1/2 c. raw sugar
1 c. chocolate nondairy milk (or plain)
1 tsp mint extract (or vanilla)
1 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease muffin tin or spray paper liners with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine applesauce, sugar, nondairy milk and extract. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt together. Add flour mixture to wet mixture in 3 to 4 batches, until almost combined. Add chips and stir until just combined. Spoon batter into cups 3/4 full and bake 15-25 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the icing. Combine 1 cup confectioners sugar with a few drops of food coloring, 1/4 tsp vanilla or mint extract and a splash of plain nondairy milk or water, and mix until a nice paste-like icing results. (Add more sugar for thickness, more liquid to thin it out) Adjust food coloring. Once cupcakes are cool, slather icing and garnish with holiday candy.


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Day Before Surgery

Michael needed to work today as he has "ends to tie up," before surgery. 

The kids and I prepped for tomorrow's PCOC Birthday Party for Jesus. I know I'm going to sorely miss the advance team in the a.m.  We cut, laminated, baked and I think I'm set. I even made VEGAN Chocolate Cupcakes so I'd have a treat at the party - and the trick is keeping my kids out of them. I also made more peanut butter balls.  

Michael came home about 30 min early....and snapped this photo (which isn't great of either of us - but we tried). Yuuki in her "new" coat. Richard and Susi gave us a box of some of her things which we'd left behind.  The kids feel MUCH better about her being outside in the winter with a coat. 

I see myself at approx 200 lbs... note the UofO dog tag. 

 Michael suggested he and I run to the mall and buy the gift for our 17yo from the Chapel's angel tree. He'd requested a "Gundam model." Some of you may know what that is -  a friend helped us.

Several rows of models to choose from. We picked one up for Zander too. He'll love it.

I love that Michael remembered one of my favorite produce markets is in the mall. He suggested we stop by and we got all this, squash.....

...and a case of deliciously sweet Satsumas too.  Check out the funky mushrooms. This is the first time we've seen them this season....Apples go, Satsumas arrive....

10 minute dinner....I put lots of whole cloves of garlic, 1/2 an onion, some of those funky mushrooms from above, herbs and spices in the middle and YUMMO! Nutritious fast food.  The others had salad, fruit, and peorgies too....but I was full. 

 

Stacia helped decorate the cupcakes for tomorrows PCOC party

 We talked about Jesus being the vine and we the branches, how to remain connected to Jesus, the fruit of the spirit which is to be expected as we ARE abiding in the Vine....and we prayed for all the crazy details of this unsettling week.

Clue: "You always walk by it but you never look under it." 

 Team-work 

Zander was hoping for iPads.....4 mini's and 1 normal sized original iPads or etch a sketches

We had a few rounds of a drawing contest.....lots of fun...something that says Christmas to you, something that says peace....

J for Jesus 

It's about the cross...

I worked on a PWOC project - trying to get small gifts out to my Presidents. I thought it was DONE this a.m. but Michael brought them home and said I had to fill out custom's slips. ::blech::

I packed a bag "in case." 

We're off to bed...must leave for surgery at 05:30 tomorrow.  Praying the roads are clear when it's time to bring Michael home....surgery goes as planned and we're home tomorrow afternoon. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Second Sunday in Advent

A very busy Sunday indeed! Michael preached at three services. The children attended two services and Religious Education. I went to all three services.  I found cause to chuckle as I went through the day and heard three different labels for the second candle of Advent. I loved that no one was bent around the axle over it....

Finally home and we had the once a week ice cream which Gherkin tradition dictates......and we did NOT read or do an Advent clue....BUT since this is my blog...I figure I can recreate history if I want too.....

"Tonight's" clue was - "Ai yai yai yai..."

The kids needed a bit of help but eventually found the gift nestled in the Sombero Krista brought home from Mexico.  It was a new deck of cards and Stacia was ready for a rousing game of, "Go Fish," immediately.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Names and Memories

Michael spent the day at work, Arielle spent the day in bed, the others raced around in the snow. I spent the day putzing around.

BUT this evening!

We all gathered to discuss a Name of Jesus - one we don't often consider in connection with Jesus...

It's right there in Isaiah 9:6. 

Clue # 8 "Who is the fairest of them all?" Yes, the gift was hidden behind a mirror. 

Years ago the only gift we purchased the four older kids for Christmas one year was the fishing game....and they loved it. We thought it would be fun to reintroduce the game...but  the boards are much smaller now, no strings for fishing line and no little magnets....wind up instead of battery....

Ham of the camera....then play

It was still fun....we thought it funny than the one Nolan and Arielle were playing didn't even have fish - it had TIRES - redneck fishing? 

Tomorrow will be a long day as Michael preaches 3x....then one more day of work and 2 weeks off.  ::grin:: I seriously think this will be the most laid back Christmas we've had in years. Things are not done...but with Michael have surgery and me not driving they just aren't going to get done...and I'm o.k. with that. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Unauthorized Version

Via Google Images

Stacia is the lead angel in this year's Christmas Play. This means she needs to say a LONGISH passage of verses....quite frankly, the words are getting tangled. 

Tonight with great gusto she said, "Don't be Afraid...I bring you good news....born this day in the city of David XAVIER (a savior)....you will find the child  lying in a manger, SWALLOWING PAPER!"

We've got one more week to nail this! 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...