I think you can boil down our Christmas festivities to...eating. We've had soup, chicken, turkey, chili, spaghetti, all manner of starches, and plenty of sugar.
Of course, if you knew what our kitchen looked like, you would know most of this eating has gone on in other people's houses. I think I may have forgotten to mention that less than 12 hours after coming home for his Christmas vacation, my husband decided to have the kitchen remodeled. At first, this just meant taking down the ugly wallpaper border, texturing the few walls we have, and painting.
Within 24 hours of beginning the remodel, it turned into texturing and painting our bathroom, fixing cracks in our bedroom walls then repainting, and having the kitchen cabinets painted inside and out.
Oh, that last detail? That requires putting the entire kitchen into boxes, which are now sitting all around our family room. Thankfully you can still sit on the furniture in there. Except, you'll just be looking at cardboard boxes if you do that.
One and a half more days until the cabinets are cured enough to put the kitchen back together.
I am practically counting the hours.
Can you tell I might be going a little crazy?
And that my husband might have a little bit of a problem with the concept of relaxing on a vacation?
So, amidst all the family holiday activities (aka eating), we've been working on the house...and buying and decorating a Christmas tree at the last minute.
This Christmas holiday is not at all what I imagined it would be. But neither has this entire year been what I imagined it would be.
My imagination is obviously faulty.
Somehow I managed to make a bunch of Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup for the family on Christmas Eve. It probably all worked out because that was between the texturing and the cabinet-painting, with just John in the kitchen painting walls. And what with the unprecedented SNOW we got that day, I think soup was a great call.
I stole this recipe from the Big Mama blog, doubling it for our large family gathering. And making it in crock pots instead of on the stove because it's less time-consuming that way...just chop it all up, cook the meat, throw it in the crock pots, and let it cook. You can compare this recipe to the original to choose which one you prefer, but this is GOOD soup!
Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup
2 pounds sweet chicken Italian sausage, casings removed
2 large onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
10 cups beef stock
2/3 cup water
1cup red wine
56 oz. canned diced tomatoes
8 carrots, chopped
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
16 oz. can tomato sauce
5 zucchini, chopped
16 ounces cheese tortellini (mmmm, maybe more like 24 oz.)
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 tbs. chopped fresh parsley
Grated parmesan cheese for topping
Brown the sausage in a large pot. Drain all the grease except for 1 tablespoon, then add the onions and garlic and sauté for 5 more minutes.
Add all ingredients, except tortellini, to the crock pots. You'll need two big crock pots for this much soup.
Cook tortellini ahead of time according to package directions. Add tortellini to soup about 10 minutes before serving to warm up the pasta in the soup.
Serve with some parmesan cheese. (I forgot about this part, and it tasted good without the cheese, too.)
Serves: about 16 (You can just half the recipe for a normal 6 - 8 serving portion.)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Gelukkig 2de Kerstdag!
Merry Christmas!
Or should I say, Happy Second Christmas! That's "Gelukkig 2de Kerstdag!" in Dutch. There is such a thing. Kind of like Boxing Day in Canada or Africa, except I've not lived in either of those places and can't speak to that particular rendition of 2de Kerstdag.
So since it's still the Christmas season, and since I did mail out Christmas cards, but did not include any type of personal message/greeting/letter, I figure maybe I will just post a type of "Christmas letter" here on the blog.
Although, really, if you've been reading the blog, you should already know what's been going on with us. However, if you haven't kept up with the blog this would be a good way to gain a summary view of our adventures over the past year.
But obviously not a fantastic way to do so. After all, there were many random, weird, funny, happenings posted on here throughout 2009 that will not be included in the recap.
When I ambitiously began writing a draft of a Christmas letter about a week ago (with vain hopes that I could finish it, print it out, and stuff it into addressed envelopes with signed Christmas cards to get them mailed before Christmas - ha!), it was challenging to come up with a theme that was not depressing or sad. In fact, there was a Wall Street Journal article about a week ago pointing out that Christmas letters this year are not all about your travels to the far east, your big promotion at work, and your kids prosperous jobs with a big international company. What do you say in a Christmas letter when the economy's bad, you've been out of work for ten months, and your kids graduated college and are living at home because there are no jobs to be had?
Humor is definitely one way to approach it. I, however, decided to really try to focus on some positives, without completely ignoring the difficulties we've faced this year. It turned out to be easier than I imagined.
In the weeks and days leading up to Christmas life can sure get busy and hectic. (Which is why this letter never got sent out in Christmas cards and is just now appearing on the blog.) As we have been reminded throughout this year, times of calm and patient waiting need to be recognized and consciously experienced. Waiting is so hard. Waiting for Christmas, waiting for a job, waiting for the answer, waiting for the right time, waiting for a child.
While we have experienced an emotionally and physically difficult year, the waiting and hurting have also brought about tremendous growth and stronger faith in our lives. After being diagnosed late last year with endometriosis, I have spent the past year undergoing various infertility treatments and surgeries. After months of attempts to become pregnant, we bid the unsuccessful medical treatments farewell last month. The medical part of this journey takes such an emotional, physical, and financial toll. I will continue with alternative medicine treatments to improve my health. Through all this waiting and disappointment, our hope in God's perfect plan has been renewed. I know it sounds strange, but we trust there are better things than we could ever imagine in store for us. We are grateful for friends and family who have prayed for us and encouraged us this year. We don't know what the next step in the journey to add to our family will be, but we have faith that God will show us the way one step at a time.
I am still employed with a crisis pregnancy center nearby. After waiting more than a year for the right job, I am still grateful every day for the wonderful ministry I get to be a part of. It is a joy to share practical resources, counsel, and Jesus' good news with women facing unplanned pregnancies.
After our trip to Africa last year with Compassion International, we spent several months waiting to see how God would use our experience after we returned home. Amazingly, John was able to use his experience with Compassion in Africa and his accounting knowledge to help organize a mission trip for accounting students at Baylor University. Baylor and Compassion International worked together to allow a group of college students to minister, educate, and encourage pastors, entrepreneurs and children in Uganda this past May. Several Compassion children were also sponsored as a result of this trip! We hope this becomes an annual trip for Baylor accounting students.
While we may not have become pregnant this year, we did add to our family in another way. We have sponsored Ronnie, a 12-year-old from Uganda, through Compassion International for five years. This year, we added a little girl, Martha, to our "family". Martha is also from Uganda, is seven years old, and lives with her grandparents. What a joy to receive letters and drawings from these two and to witness them growing physically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually!
John is still with Ernst & Young. With the economic downturn, he spent some time this year waiting to see if he would gain enough clients to stay employed with the company. Several months ago he was put on a couple big jobs, both, unfortunately, out of town. The travel is ongoing, and he is just waiting to see how this will all pan out and what the next step in his career should be. We continue to tell ourselves to take one day at a time.
Christmas is a great time to remember the value of waiting. God declared He would send a Messiah to save us...and then nothing happened for 400 years. Now THAT is a long time to wait. But in His perfect timing, Jesus Christ was born in a stable, not exactly the King we expected but definitely the perfect Savior we needed. In your waiting, may you always cling to the sure hope that comes in trusting Christ. Merry Christmas!
Or should I say, Happy Second Christmas! That's "Gelukkig 2de Kerstdag!" in Dutch. There is such a thing. Kind of like Boxing Day in Canada or Africa, except I've not lived in either of those places and can't speak to that particular rendition of 2de Kerstdag.
So since it's still the Christmas season, and since I did mail out Christmas cards, but did not include any type of personal message/greeting/letter, I figure maybe I will just post a type of "Christmas letter" here on the blog.
Although, really, if you've been reading the blog, you should already know what's been going on with us. However, if you haven't kept up with the blog this would be a good way to gain a summary view of our adventures over the past year.
But obviously not a fantastic way to do so. After all, there were many random, weird, funny, happenings posted on here throughout 2009 that will not be included in the recap.
When I ambitiously began writing a draft of a Christmas letter about a week ago (with vain hopes that I could finish it, print it out, and stuff it into addressed envelopes with signed Christmas cards to get them mailed before Christmas - ha!), it was challenging to come up with a theme that was not depressing or sad. In fact, there was a Wall Street Journal article about a week ago pointing out that Christmas letters this year are not all about your travels to the far east, your big promotion at work, and your kids prosperous jobs with a big international company. What do you say in a Christmas letter when the economy's bad, you've been out of work for ten months, and your kids graduated college and are living at home because there are no jobs to be had?
Humor is definitely one way to approach it. I, however, decided to really try to focus on some positives, without completely ignoring the difficulties we've faced this year. It turned out to be easier than I imagined.
In the weeks and days leading up to Christmas life can sure get busy and hectic. (Which is why this letter never got sent out in Christmas cards and is just now appearing on the blog.) As we have been reminded throughout this year, times of calm and patient waiting need to be recognized and consciously experienced. Waiting is so hard. Waiting for Christmas, waiting for a job, waiting for the answer, waiting for the right time, waiting for a child.
While we have experienced an emotionally and physically difficult year, the waiting and hurting have also brought about tremendous growth and stronger faith in our lives. After being diagnosed late last year with endometriosis, I have spent the past year undergoing various infertility treatments and surgeries. After months of attempts to become pregnant, we bid the unsuccessful medical treatments farewell last month. The medical part of this journey takes such an emotional, physical, and financial toll. I will continue with alternative medicine treatments to improve my health. Through all this waiting and disappointment, our hope in God's perfect plan has been renewed. I know it sounds strange, but we trust there are better things than we could ever imagine in store for us. We are grateful for friends and family who have prayed for us and encouraged us this year. We don't know what the next step in the journey to add to our family will be, but we have faith that God will show us the way one step at a time.
I am still employed with a crisis pregnancy center nearby. After waiting more than a year for the right job, I am still grateful every day for the wonderful ministry I get to be a part of. It is a joy to share practical resources, counsel, and Jesus' good news with women facing unplanned pregnancies.
After our trip to Africa last year with Compassion International, we spent several months waiting to see how God would use our experience after we returned home. Amazingly, John was able to use his experience with Compassion in Africa and his accounting knowledge to help organize a mission trip for accounting students at Baylor University. Baylor and Compassion International worked together to allow a group of college students to minister, educate, and encourage pastors, entrepreneurs and children in Uganda this past May. Several Compassion children were also sponsored as a result of this trip! We hope this becomes an annual trip for Baylor accounting students.
While we may not have become pregnant this year, we did add to our family in another way. We have sponsored Ronnie, a 12-year-old from Uganda, through Compassion International for five years. This year, we added a little girl, Martha, to our "family". Martha is also from Uganda, is seven years old, and lives with her grandparents. What a joy to receive letters and drawings from these two and to witness them growing physically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually!
John is still with Ernst & Young. With the economic downturn, he spent some time this year waiting to see if he would gain enough clients to stay employed with the company. Several months ago he was put on a couple big jobs, both, unfortunately, out of town. The travel is ongoing, and he is just waiting to see how this will all pan out and what the next step in his career should be. We continue to tell ourselves to take one day at a time.
Christmas is a great time to remember the value of waiting. God declared He would send a Messiah to save us...and then nothing happened for 400 years. Now THAT is a long time to wait. But in His perfect timing, Jesus Christ was born in a stable, not exactly the King we expected but definitely the perfect Savior we needed. In your waiting, may you always cling to the sure hope that comes in trusting Christ. Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
See the picture up there?
I probably should have mentioned this weeks ago when I changed the picture up there on the blog header. I decided that snow is a much-desired component of December and Christmas even though I have spent most of my life living where this is not reality. In fact, chances are one in a million that I will actually see snow in this part of Texas on Christmas day...or really on any day.
Ice, maybe. Snow, probably not.
So I chose to add some Christmas cheer to the blog with a nice reminder of the days when I lived where it snowed: Amsterdam.
Yes, in case the tiny European cars and myriad bicycles didn't give it away, that's a view from our apartment in Amsterdam.
It must have been one of the three days during the winter months where the sun actually showed itself.
The snowfall in Amsterdam is pretty ideal: enough to cover ground and trees; large pretty flakes falling from the sky; yet not enough to be any hindrance to driving or biking around the city.
OK, maybe it is a bit of a hindrance to face going out when your bike looks like all those in the photo - covered with a layer of snow - and then having to pedal through falling snow (it's pretty much like riding through the rain; you're gonna end up wet).
Ahh. The memories. I wish Christmas looked like this here!
P.S. John was home for a few hours/overnight and is unfortunately back in another state by now. However, I forced him to take 10 minutes to sign Christmas cards, SO I will be attempting to purchase stamps from an automated machine this afternoon in hopes that I can actually mail the cards tomorrow! No Christmas letter, but holiday greetings BEFORE Christmas Day. At least for most of the recipients.
Ice, maybe. Snow, probably not.
So I chose to add some Christmas cheer to the blog with a nice reminder of the days when I lived where it snowed: Amsterdam.
Yes, in case the tiny European cars and myriad bicycles didn't give it away, that's a view from our apartment in Amsterdam.
It must have been one of the three days during the winter months where the sun actually showed itself.
The snowfall in Amsterdam is pretty ideal: enough to cover ground and trees; large pretty flakes falling from the sky; yet not enough to be any hindrance to driving or biking around the city.
OK, maybe it is a bit of a hindrance to face going out when your bike looks like all those in the photo - covered with a layer of snow - and then having to pedal through falling snow (it's pretty much like riding through the rain; you're gonna end up wet).
Ahh. The memories. I wish Christmas looked like this here!
P.S. John was home for a few hours/overnight and is unfortunately back in another state by now. However, I forced him to take 10 minutes to sign Christmas cards, SO I will be attempting to purchase stamps from an automated machine this afternoon in hopes that I can actually mail the cards tomorrow! No Christmas letter, but holiday greetings BEFORE Christmas Day. At least for most of the recipients.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
I am almost speechless.
Dear (insert my husband's company name here),
We so appreciate you providing my husband with a job. One that allows me to do ministry with no financial concern. I just have one little question.
Is it too much to ask that my husband live at our house? You see, I was at once dismayed and amused to receive this particular Christmas card in the mail yesterday:
Apparently the staff at the hotel in which helives stays in Wichita now consider him family. Ummm. Should I laugh or cry? This is all very disconcerting.
Again, thank you for the employment but not so much for the travel.
Sincerely,
A wife who might need to send her husband a Christmas card at his hotel
We so appreciate you providing my husband with a job. One that allows me to do ministry with no financial concern. I just have one little question.
Is it too much to ask that my husband live at our house? You see, I was at once dismayed and amused to receive this particular Christmas card in the mail yesterday:
Apparently the staff at the hotel in which he
Again, thank you for the employment but not so much for the travel.
Sincerely,
A wife who might need to send her husband a Christmas card at his hotel
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
I do intend to wish you a merry Christmas.
We've gotten a mother lode of Christmas cards in the last two weeks. I can't help but think, as I check addresses on my Christmas card spreadsheet against envelope return addresses, "Wow. I bet all these people for whom I asked addresses a month ago are wondering where in the heck their Christmas cards are."
All I have to say is: if I asked for your address those many weeks ago, at least you know I had every intention of sending you a Christmas card.
And for those of you who have stayed put over the past year and didn't receive an address request from me, let it be known right here in front of the whole world that I intended to send you a Christmas card as well. I still love each and every one of you!
(So much so, that I really wanted my husband to actually sign the cards rather than obviously printing both our names in the closing which would announce to everyone that John neither saw the cards nor knew who was getting a Christmas card this year. Which, at this point, he doesn't.)
Assuming my husband will be returning to town soon (as in, before Christmas), I still have every intention of mailing out Christmas cards.
Although, apparently good intentions mean only slightly more than nothing around here.
And I come by it honestly, seeing as my mom enjoys sending out the New Year/January "Christmas" cards/letters. Right about now that seems like a fantastic idea!
I truly hope each of you are enjoying the season, celebrating the joy of having a Savior, and focusing on the reason for Christmas. And thank you for all the holiday greetings!
All I have to say is: if I asked for your address those many weeks ago, at least you know I had every intention of sending you a Christmas card.
And for those of you who have stayed put over the past year and didn't receive an address request from me, let it be known right here in front of the whole world that I intended to send you a Christmas card as well. I still love each and every one of you!
(So much so, that I really wanted my husband to actually sign the cards rather than obviously printing both our names in the closing which would announce to everyone that John neither saw the cards nor knew who was getting a Christmas card this year. Which, at this point, he doesn't.)
Assuming my husband will be returning to town soon (as in, before Christmas), I still have every intention of mailing out Christmas cards.
Although, apparently good intentions mean only slightly more than nothing around here.
And I come by it honestly, seeing as my mom enjoys sending out the New Year/January "Christmas" cards/letters. Right about now that seems like a fantastic idea!
I truly hope each of you are enjoying the season, celebrating the joy of having a Savior, and focusing on the reason for Christmas. And thank you for all the holiday greetings!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Priorities
'Tis the season to stand in line way too long to buy one item...or groceries so you can eat dinner.
On the upside, standing in line that long gives you time to chat it up with the people also waiting in ridiculously long lines to buy those "must-have" items.
Speaking of "must-have" items, while waiting in line to check-out after picking up some groceries and batteries, I witnessed the lady in front of me purchasing the items in her shopping cart. Or, should I say, some of the items in her shopping cart. It turns out she didn't really have enough money for everything, so she proceeded to have the cashier ring up one item at a time and check the total price. This lady decided to buy each and every toy she had picked up, leaving behind those "non essentials": light bulbs, multi-purpose cleaner, and cereal.
I guess it doesn't matter if the house is clean when there's no light to see the dirt. And maybe the kids won't notice there's no food for breakfast when they have new toys to play with.
What has happened to any rational sense of priorities?!?
Of course, I also realize the tremendously long lines to check out in a store in the middle of the day during the week, bumper-to-bumper traffic everywhere you go, and and the inability to steer a shopping cart around a store because of the sheer volume of people does a number on your sanity.
If it weren't for the pesky need to eat, I would totally avoid the stores for the next couple weeks.
Now, on the more positive side of Christmas preparations, you can visit The Nester's blog for a cheerful Christmas Tour of Homes!
P.S. You will not find my home in the tour because, well, we've slacked on the decorating this year. Which is why I choose to just go look at other people's craftiness and Christmas decor!
On the upside, standing in line that long gives you time to chat it up with the people also waiting in ridiculously long lines to buy those "must-have" items.
Speaking of "must-have" items, while waiting in line to check-out after picking up some groceries and batteries, I witnessed the lady in front of me purchasing the items in her shopping cart. Or, should I say, some of the items in her shopping cart. It turns out she didn't really have enough money for everything, so she proceeded to have the cashier ring up one item at a time and check the total price. This lady decided to buy each and every toy she had picked up, leaving behind those "non essentials": light bulbs, multi-purpose cleaner, and cereal.
I guess it doesn't matter if the house is clean when there's no light to see the dirt. And maybe the kids won't notice there's no food for breakfast when they have new toys to play with.
What has happened to any rational sense of priorities?!?
Of course, I also realize the tremendously long lines to check out in a store in the middle of the day during the week, bumper-to-bumper traffic everywhere you go, and and the inability to steer a shopping cart around a store because of the sheer volume of people does a number on your sanity.
If it weren't for the pesky need to eat, I would totally avoid the stores for the next couple weeks.
Now, on the more positive side of Christmas preparations, you can visit The Nester's blog for a cheerful Christmas Tour of Homes!
P.S. You will not find my home in the tour because, well, we've slacked on the decorating this year. Which is why I choose to just go look at other people's craftiness and Christmas decor!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Simple Christmas
I've never had all my Christmas shopping done before Dec. 1. I've also never NOT hosted a Christmas party at my house in any year past.
So, I kind of have no motivation to finish decorating the house for Christmas. Even getting Christmas cards addressed and mailed seems not very urgent or necessary right now. With no looming deadlines...except for the actual day and even then there will be no company coming over...I'm in serious procrastination mode when it comes to any regular Christmas preparation activities.
And, can I just say, as much as I absolutely love hosting guests and parties, it is really nice to have other people hosting all the festivities this year!
So, thank you, other people!
I think it's enough to listen to Christmas music, drink hot beverages, wear Christmas pajamas, and enjoy the unseasonably COLD weather we're having this week. We even had actual snow drifting down from the sky the other day. It didn't stick, but what an appropriate welcome to the month of December! Snow really is beautiful, especially when you live in a region that hardly ever sees the white stuff.
Know what else is beautiful?
These flowers the girls in my small group sent me.
I am so blessed to have these ladies in my life! Ya know, with the end of the infertility treatments, a negative pregnancy test, the holidays coming up, and a husband who is constantly traveling, it was a bright spot in the day to get flowers and read a note letting me know there are people praying for me and loving me.
Thank you, ladies!
And now, I shall take a hot shower, put on some Christmas PJs and my Sock Monkey slippers, and crank up the Christmas music. Happy December!
So, I kind of have no motivation to finish decorating the house for Christmas. Even getting Christmas cards addressed and mailed seems not very urgent or necessary right now. With no looming deadlines...except for the actual day and even then there will be no company coming over...I'm in serious procrastination mode when it comes to any regular Christmas preparation activities.
And, can I just say, as much as I absolutely love hosting guests and parties, it is really nice to have other people hosting all the festivities this year!
So, thank you, other people!
I think it's enough to listen to Christmas music, drink hot beverages, wear Christmas pajamas, and enjoy the unseasonably COLD weather we're having this week. We even had actual snow drifting down from the sky the other day. It didn't stick, but what an appropriate welcome to the month of December! Snow really is beautiful, especially when you live in a region that hardly ever sees the white stuff.
Know what else is beautiful?
These flowers the girls in my small group sent me.
I am so blessed to have these ladies in my life! Ya know, with the end of the infertility treatments, a negative pregnancy test, the holidays coming up, and a husband who is constantly traveling, it was a bright spot in the day to get flowers and read a note letting me know there are people praying for me and loving me.
Thank you, ladies!
And now, I shall take a hot shower, put on some Christmas PJs and my Sock Monkey slippers, and crank up the Christmas music. Happy December!
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Early Christmas
It gets cold at night in the arid West Texas desert.
And that so happens to be where my parents live.
It might also interest you (or probably not) to know I prefer to wear slippers, rather than regular shoes, around the house to keep my perpetually cold feet warm. Normal shoes are not comfortable to wear around the house when you're kicking back, and socks just don't do the trick.
Since I flew to my parent's place for Thanksgiving, space was limited. We exchanged Christmas gifts while we were all together, so much of my luggage space was taken over with DVDs, toys, kitchen utensils, obligatory dress shirts (must be the #1 gift given to male family members), and pumpkin bread. Therefore, I did not pack any slippers.
Thankfully, my mom let me borrow hers the first night we were there and the temperatures dipped into the 30s. My sister happened to see me returning the slippers right before I went off to bed and asked, "Oh! Do you want some slippers? Right now?!?"
I understood her excitement to bestow this gift on me early when I saw the slippers.
Sock Monkeys!!! They are the cutest little slippers! And appropriate...to wear sock monkeys on your feet! I just had to share.
And they do keep the feet toasty warm.
And that so happens to be where my parents live.
It might also interest you (or probably not) to know I prefer to wear slippers, rather than regular shoes, around the house to keep my perpetually cold feet warm. Normal shoes are not comfortable to wear around the house when you're kicking back, and socks just don't do the trick.
Since I flew to my parent's place for Thanksgiving, space was limited. We exchanged Christmas gifts while we were all together, so much of my luggage space was taken over with DVDs, toys, kitchen utensils, obligatory dress shirts (must be the #1 gift given to male family members), and pumpkin bread. Therefore, I did not pack any slippers.
Thankfully, my mom let me borrow hers the first night we were there and the temperatures dipped into the 30s. My sister happened to see me returning the slippers right before I went off to bed and asked, "Oh! Do you want some slippers? Right now?!?"
I understood her excitement to bestow this gift on me early when I saw the slippers.
Sock Monkeys!!! They are the cutest little slippers! And appropriate...to wear sock monkeys on your feet! I just had to share.
And they do keep the feet toasty warm.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Soul Food
Thanksgiving was good medicine for me. Well, except for all the overeating, sugar, and lack of physical activity.
We spent five days with my family. And that happens to be a good thing! It seems like we haven't all been together in forever, so all the laughing, shopping, eating, game-playing, football-watching, cooking, and conversation made for a sweet time. (So did the apple pie that Mom always makes just for me when we visit for the holidays because it is my FAVORITE! How does she make it so delicious?!?)
My sister refuses to allow pictures of her sweet little boy on the internet (which I respect), or else I would plaster his cute face all over this post! He is the cutest, happiest, funniest little two-year-old out there. He LOVES music. I think I sang the Turkey song and "Pop Goes the Weasel" about 87 times each over the four days we were together. One night at dinner we all got to hear him "say" what might be considered his first attempts at mimicking our words - "good job". He hears that phrase a lot. (Although, to be fair, he already says "da" for Dad and "ba" for bath.)
Over the holiday, I learned that my mom beats everybody when it comes to Trivial Pursuit (the Christmas Edition), and my dad is the hands-down master of Rack-O. Those giant cardboard building blocks are fun for all ages. Nobody knows why Bouncy Bee is described as "bouncy" when he's really "buzzy" and "roly". (Of course, "roly" is a word!) Baylor cannot win a football game, and homegrown tomatoes are the best.
I am so thankful for the blessing of my family, my Hope and my faith! I hope your Thanksgiving was just as wonderful!
We spent five days with my family. And that happens to be a good thing! It seems like we haven't all been together in forever, so all the laughing, shopping, eating, game-playing, football-watching, cooking, and conversation made for a sweet time. (So did the apple pie that Mom always makes just for me when we visit for the holidays because it is my FAVORITE! How does she make it so delicious?!?)
My sister refuses to allow pictures of her sweet little boy on the internet (which I respect), or else I would plaster his cute face all over this post! He is the cutest, happiest, funniest little two-year-old out there. He LOVES music. I think I sang the Turkey song and "Pop Goes the Weasel" about 87 times each over the four days we were together. One night at dinner we all got to hear him "say" what might be considered his first attempts at mimicking our words - "good job". He hears that phrase a lot. (Although, to be fair, he already says "da" for Dad and "ba" for bath.)
Over the holiday, I learned that my mom beats everybody when it comes to Trivial Pursuit (the Christmas Edition), and my dad is the hands-down master of Rack-O. Those giant cardboard building blocks are fun for all ages. Nobody knows why Bouncy Bee is described as "bouncy" when he's really "buzzy" and "roly". (Of course, "roly" is a word!) Baylor cannot win a football game, and homegrown tomatoes are the best.
I am so thankful for the blessing of my family, my Hope and my faith! I hope your Thanksgiving was just as wonderful!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sufficient
We did our final IUI procedure a couple weeks ago. Today we got the results. Negative.
It's odd to feel so disappointed, angry and sad on one hand and so relieved on the other hand...even excited. I know I don't need to explain the disappointed, angry, sad part of the emotions. But the relieved, excited part is strange...and honestly, right now it is a smaller part of what I'm feeling.
I'm relieved that I never have to go to that doctor's office again. Relieved I don't have to sit in a waiting room hearing couples talk about their "other kids" or endure sitting in a room with a toddler in stroller or see twins being shown around to the office staff after a(n obviously) successfully IVF. Relieved that I'm removing myself from this situation that apparently makes me judgmental and mean-spirited.
I'm relieved that I can stop pumping myself full of hormones, injecting myself nightly, and putting my husband through the stress of giving me shots in the behind. (Although, I have to brag he does a great job...better than most of the times the nurses give me shots.)
I'm relieved that the STRESS of the infertility treatments is over.
I'm excited that I don't know what is going to happen next. And I'm not even going to imagine what it could be because I haven't a clue. I know it's in this place of being hurt and grieving, letting go of dreams, that God provides "a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:3)
I have so many friends and family members who love me so much. And I am blessed with real reminders of that in times like this when I get emails, phone calls, and hugs. So, in a way, it's appropriate that this is all happening in time for Thanksgiving. I think God is reminding me of the big picture and all the many blessings He has given us for which I need to give thanks.
And, as my boss reminded me today, (again, I am blessed to be working in the place I do with these fabulous people) one of my biggest blessings is God's sufficiency in all things.
Interestingly enough, someone else wrote a blog post today about these very emotions and thoughts. "I've Got You" is a song in the making by Shaun Groves.
I think I like it.
It's odd to feel so disappointed, angry and sad on one hand and so relieved on the other hand...even excited. I know I don't need to explain the disappointed, angry, sad part of the emotions. But the relieved, excited part is strange...and honestly, right now it is a smaller part of what I'm feeling.
I'm relieved that I never have to go to that doctor's office again. Relieved I don't have to sit in a waiting room hearing couples talk about their "other kids" or endure sitting in a room with a toddler in stroller or see twins being shown around to the office staff after a(n obviously) successfully IVF. Relieved that I'm removing myself from this situation that apparently makes me judgmental and mean-spirited.
I'm relieved that I can stop pumping myself full of hormones, injecting myself nightly, and putting my husband through the stress of giving me shots in the behind. (Although, I have to brag he does a great job...better than most of the times the nurses give me shots.)
I'm relieved that the STRESS of the infertility treatments is over.
I'm excited that I don't know what is going to happen next. And I'm not even going to imagine what it could be because I haven't a clue. I know it's in this place of being hurt and grieving, letting go of dreams, that God provides "a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:3)
I have so many friends and family members who love me so much. And I am blessed with real reminders of that in times like this when I get emails, phone calls, and hugs. So, in a way, it's appropriate that this is all happening in time for Thanksgiving. I think God is reminding me of the big picture and all the many blessings He has given us for which I need to give thanks.
And, as my boss reminded me today, (again, I am blessed to be working in the place I do with these fabulous people) one of my biggest blessings is God's sufficiency in all things.
Interestingly enough, someone else wrote a blog post today about these very emotions and thoughts. "I've Got You" is a song in the making by Shaun Groves.
I think I like it.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Snapshots of Life
I feel like I should have so much to catch you up on after a month-long hiatus from the blog.
Sadly, I think the energy of getting through one day at a time while pumped full of various hormones has completely wiped away any memory of...well...yesterday, much less three weeks ago.
So, you'll have to settle for a list of random snapshots of life around here.
1. John discovered that sometimes when he puts his Blackberry through the security x-ray machine at the airport it comes out set to display everything in Arabic. Hmmm.
2. No later than November 1, our neighbors set up every piece of Christmas yard art they own ensconced in approximately 72 strands of holiday lights. What's even better is that, just a few days after setting up, they began turning on the display every night! Makes me want to pull out the Christmas decorations this weekend because every time I drive home from work I feel like I must be way behind.
3. I can't decide whether it's the recipe or buying a high-quality, grain-fed, hormone and antibiotic-free (read: expensive) cut of meat, but I made This Brisket last weekend, and it was good. Thank you, Pioneer Woman.
4. I have been doing acupuncture for a couple months now and have made two observations that seem to indicate this type of medicine really does work. First, ever since I've started the acupuncture, my infertility doctor has observed that my uterine lining looks good. (Ever since I started going to this doctor, I have had to be on estrogen patches to help thicken my uterine lining appropriately. No more estrogen patches.) Secondly, I have noticed that immediately after the acupuncturist puts the needles in and leaves, I will close my eyes and start feeling as if my entire body is tilted to the left. I have actually opened up my eyes to see if I am, in fact, on some kind of an incline only to see that I appear to be lying flat. After 10 or 15 minutes of acupuncture, I notice my body feels as if I'm lying down in a balanced, normal way.
5. Please take a few minutes to read about The Fishermen's Field on Shaun's website. I especially enjoyed reading about C.S. Lewis' definition of a miracle: "C.S. Lewis believed that miracles are God doing up close, small and in focus what He’s always doing so large that it goes unnoticed by us." Life is a miracle; it's just such a big one that I think I don't notice it often enough.
6. "Giving sacrificially" is a hard concept for me. When you see the good your giving does, and feel the joy you're blessed with when you give, it no longer feels like a sacrifice. Other people could look at my life and tell me how much they admire me for sacrificing so much, but they're just comparing me to...someone else. And I can always find another "someone else" to compare myself to and feel that I'm NOT giving sacrificially enough. And really, I'm not supposed to be comparing myself with other people at all! It's just one of those things I will probably always be striving for and struggling with.
7. If you are in the shopping mood (Christmas is just 5 1/2 weeks away!), here is an opportunity to purchase a cookbook with all proceeds, about $5/book, going to the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center, a crisis pregnancy center in Dallas.
8. The city gives us big, green, plastic trash bins for our garbage. I'm pretty sure we're not supposed to put brush in the bins because there's a separate collection for that kind of stuff if you just set it out by the street. However, when raking leaves, it is sooooooo much easier to just throw the piles into the trash bin than it is to stuff them into plastic garbage bags. So, here I am admitting that I have just been dumping leaves into the trash bins and wheeling them out for the garbage people to pick up. This requires us to rake in installments, but I can't even think about what a pain it would be to stuff those leaves into trash bags and then tie up the bags.
9. I saw onion and garlic sets at the feed store a couple weeks ago, bought some, and planted them in our garden. I now believe I should have planted seeds, not sets, at this particular time of year. Green leaves are already shooting up, and research tells me the onions will be small and need to be used right away because they'll rot quickly. On the other hand, I've conquered the cabbage worms on my broccoli (though, there's still no actual broccoli appearing on the plants), and I have tomatoes and peppers growing really well.
10. I do not usually like anything sweet in my coffee, but I had to buy coffee creamer for some guests and found this chocolate toffee creamer to be great in small quantities when you want a more dessert-like coffee. (And just in case you're wondering, no, no one has ever or is currently paying me to promote their product. They probably would feel a readership of eighteen people would not be worth the money. This blog is all about my subjective opinions.)
Sadly, I think the energy of getting through one day at a time while pumped full of various hormones has completely wiped away any memory of...well...yesterday, much less three weeks ago.
So, you'll have to settle for a list of random snapshots of life around here.
1. John discovered that sometimes when he puts his Blackberry through the security x-ray machine at the airport it comes out set to display everything in Arabic. Hmmm.
2. No later than November 1, our neighbors set up every piece of Christmas yard art they own ensconced in approximately 72 strands of holiday lights. What's even better is that, just a few days after setting up, they began turning on the display every night! Makes me want to pull out the Christmas decorations this weekend because every time I drive home from work I feel like I must be way behind.
3. I can't decide whether it's the recipe or buying a high-quality, grain-fed, hormone and antibiotic-free (read: expensive) cut of meat, but I made This Brisket last weekend, and it was good. Thank you, Pioneer Woman.
4. I have been doing acupuncture for a couple months now and have made two observations that seem to indicate this type of medicine really does work. First, ever since I've started the acupuncture, my infertility doctor has observed that my uterine lining looks good. (Ever since I started going to this doctor, I have had to be on estrogen patches to help thicken my uterine lining appropriately. No more estrogen patches.) Secondly, I have noticed that immediately after the acupuncturist puts the needles in and leaves, I will close my eyes and start feeling as if my entire body is tilted to the left. I have actually opened up my eyes to see if I am, in fact, on some kind of an incline only to see that I appear to be lying flat. After 10 or 15 minutes of acupuncture, I notice my body feels as if I'm lying down in a balanced, normal way.
5. Please take a few minutes to read about The Fishermen's Field on Shaun's website. I especially enjoyed reading about C.S. Lewis' definition of a miracle: "C.S. Lewis believed that miracles are God doing up close, small and in focus what He’s always doing so large that it goes unnoticed by us." Life is a miracle; it's just such a big one that I think I don't notice it often enough.
6. "Giving sacrificially" is a hard concept for me. When you see the good your giving does, and feel the joy you're blessed with when you give, it no longer feels like a sacrifice. Other people could look at my life and tell me how much they admire me for sacrificing so much, but they're just comparing me to...someone else. And I can always find another "someone else" to compare myself to and feel that I'm NOT giving sacrificially enough. And really, I'm not supposed to be comparing myself with other people at all! It's just one of those things I will probably always be striving for and struggling with.
7. If you are in the shopping mood (Christmas is just 5 1/2 weeks away!), here is an opportunity to purchase a cookbook with all proceeds, about $5/book, going to the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center, a crisis pregnancy center in Dallas.
8. The city gives us big, green, plastic trash bins for our garbage. I'm pretty sure we're not supposed to put brush in the bins because there's a separate collection for that kind of stuff if you just set it out by the street. However, when raking leaves, it is sooooooo much easier to just throw the piles into the trash bin than it is to stuff them into plastic garbage bags. So, here I am admitting that I have just been dumping leaves into the trash bins and wheeling them out for the garbage people to pick up. This requires us to rake in installments, but I can't even think about what a pain it would be to stuff those leaves into trash bags and then tie up the bags.
9. I saw onion and garlic sets at the feed store a couple weeks ago, bought some, and planted them in our garden. I now believe I should have planted seeds, not sets, at this particular time of year. Green leaves are already shooting up, and research tells me the onions will be small and need to be used right away because they'll rot quickly. On the other hand, I've conquered the cabbage worms on my broccoli (though, there's still no actual broccoli appearing on the plants), and I have tomatoes and peppers growing really well.
10. I do not usually like anything sweet in my coffee, but I had to buy coffee creamer for some guests and found this chocolate toffee creamer to be great in small quantities when you want a more dessert-like coffee. (And just in case you're wondering, no, no one has ever or is currently paying me to promote their product. They probably would feel a readership of eighteen people would not be worth the money. This blog is all about my subjective opinions.)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Oh Yeah! I have this blog...
Hello strangers!
Oh wait. That's me who's a stranger. I have no exciting explanation as to why I have pretty much abandoned the blog. I'm currently working full-time and going to doctor's appointments. That pretty much sums up my life.
It seems things were much more exciting a few years ago when I could blog about riding my bike around the Netherlands in the pouring rain and making the 12-hour drive from Amsterdam to Geneva when I thought it was only going to be an 8-hour drive.
Actually, between work and doctor's appointments, I have probably driven 12 hours in the past week, but that is not at all interesting or exciting.
I have added yet another appointment each week to my doctor's office repertoire: the acupuncture doctor.
Acupuncture is a mystery. And it's a bit expensive. And it's not covered by our insurance (so what else is new?). And it just might work. Time will tell.
Also, the acupuncture makes me feel either extremely happy or super relaxed depending on the day. So I do believe I will keep going. Especially while all the medications are making my hormones go up and down like a yo-yo.
And while I'm giving health updates, I might as well let you all know I'm having yet another minor surgery done this coming Thursday to drain a cyst that's been hanging around for a couple months now. I do not like hospital trips or anesthesia, and, although the procedure is very quick, this minor surgery does involve both.
I am so disappointed to have another cyst that is acting an awful lot like the endometrioma I had just a year ago. However, after this cyst is taken care of we will try IUI one more time. I definitely feel like I'm coming to the end of my emotional rope with all the infertility treatments. So, I will keep updating, but with this procedure in a couple days, it may be a while before I write again.
Oh wait. That's me who's a stranger. I have no exciting explanation as to why I have pretty much abandoned the blog. I'm currently working full-time and going to doctor's appointments. That pretty much sums up my life.
It seems things were much more exciting a few years ago when I could blog about riding my bike around the Netherlands in the pouring rain and making the 12-hour drive from Amsterdam to Geneva when I thought it was only going to be an 8-hour drive.
Actually, between work and doctor's appointments, I have probably driven 12 hours in the past week, but that is not at all interesting or exciting.
I have added yet another appointment each week to my doctor's office repertoire: the acupuncture doctor.
Acupuncture is a mystery. And it's a bit expensive. And it's not covered by our insurance (so what else is new?). And it just might work. Time will tell.
Also, the acupuncture makes me feel either extremely happy or super relaxed depending on the day. So I do believe I will keep going. Especially while all the medications are making my hormones go up and down like a yo-yo.
And while I'm giving health updates, I might as well let you all know I'm having yet another minor surgery done this coming Thursday to drain a cyst that's been hanging around for a couple months now. I do not like hospital trips or anesthesia, and, although the procedure is very quick, this minor surgery does involve both.
I am so disappointed to have another cyst that is acting an awful lot like the endometrioma I had just a year ago. However, after this cyst is taken care of we will try IUI one more time. I definitely feel like I'm coming to the end of my emotional rope with all the infertility treatments. So, I will keep updating, but with this procedure in a couple days, it may be a while before I write again.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
When it rains, it pours...and trees fall down.
So, the last couple of weeks have not been especially great. Last week we were down to only two of us working in the office, and one of us had to be on our mobile unit. That left me to run the office...because I cannot drive a huge RV, nor can I do sonograms.
It was a little crazy.
Monday I found out I had a negative pregnancy test, so this last IUI did not work. John was not in town for that news, and sharing over the phone is not exactly how I wish things would be. Thus, a lot of crying ensued for about two days.
Have I mentioned that it started raining last Friday and it hasn't stopped? We've not had flooding of Biblical proportions or anything, but the rain is steady and continual. Mostly what I want to do is take a nap or curl up on the sofa with a good book or a movie and eat lots of chocolate.
(The eating chocolate might not have anything to do with the rain.)
So, this morning it actually wasn't raining (at the time, it has since commenced) so I felt free to put out our recycling bin. It only gets picked up every other week and we somehow forgot to put it out two weeks ago. So, we create a LOT of recycling in four weeks!
At 7:45 this morning, I put the trash and recycling out. All was quiet. And wet.
Seriously, an hour and a half later I go out to change some laundry in the garage, happen to glance out the windows of the garage door and see this:
Almost fifty years ago, when our little house was built, somebody thought it would be a good idea to plant sycamore trees in the two-foot space between our sidewalk and the street. In the last seven years we've watched the trees bend further and further over the street, hoping they will miraculously remain upright and strong...at least until we move to another house.
Because, let me tell you, we had to cut down one tree already and the price tag is way on up there.
I see the tree laying there across the driveway and, of course, call my dear husband. Who happens to be in another state at the moment. You see, I cannot lift half a tree and I will be needing to leave the house, in my car, which is in the garage, in a matter of hours. Our young and healthy neighbors are all at work by this point, and the ones who are home are either elderly or have cancer. Hmmm.
I decide to waste some time taking pictures of the tree and emailing them to John so he would realize my drama is truly based in reality. While doing so, a guy in a truck comes to point out that half our tree has fallen off into our driveway.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
He then lets me know he works on trees and wonders if I want to hire him to "fix" the tree.
Ummm. No. I am fairly confident I can at least remove the limb somehow from the driveway to extract my vehicle. Plus, the only way I see that we can "fix" the tree will involve removing it. And that will cost thousands. No, thank you.
(Also, somehow I doubted his little pick-up truck and some tree trimmers and a ladder were going to help "fix" the tree much, but I don't know. Maybe he had a chainsaw hidden back in the truck bed somewhere.)
My decision was a good one. Not five minutes later the brush and bulky pick-up comes by. Now, I figure between our neighbor's huge trailer parked across the street, what remains of the sycamore tree, and the large arm that the brush people use to pick up pieces of tree, the limb is in an awkward position for them to get at it.
But they did it! The brush and bulky trash employees saved the day! Thank God this happened on trash day! It is completely worth it to pay tax to the city when they help me take care of things like this.
I'm still not certain what caused half of the tree to fall down. It hasn't been extraordinarily windy. I guess the excessive amount of water falling from the sky might have weighed down the tree, so the slightest breeze pushed it over the edge. Or maybe the trees are just not so healthy leaning over the street like they are.
I think it's supposed to stop raining tomorrow. Maybe life will settle back down when the sun comes out.
It was a little crazy.
Monday I found out I had a negative pregnancy test, so this last IUI did not work. John was not in town for that news, and sharing over the phone is not exactly how I wish things would be. Thus, a lot of crying ensued for about two days.
Have I mentioned that it started raining last Friday and it hasn't stopped? We've not had flooding of Biblical proportions or anything, but the rain is steady and continual. Mostly what I want to do is take a nap or curl up on the sofa with a good book or a movie and eat lots of chocolate.
(The eating chocolate might not have anything to do with the rain.)
So, this morning it actually wasn't raining (at the time, it has since commenced) so I felt free to put out our recycling bin. It only gets picked up every other week and we somehow forgot to put it out two weeks ago. So, we create a LOT of recycling in four weeks!
At 7:45 this morning, I put the trash and recycling out. All was quiet. And wet.
Seriously, an hour and a half later I go out to change some laundry in the garage, happen to glance out the windows of the garage door and see this:
Almost fifty years ago, when our little house was built, somebody thought it would be a good idea to plant sycamore trees in the two-foot space between our sidewalk and the street. In the last seven years we've watched the trees bend further and further over the street, hoping they will miraculously remain upright and strong...at least until we move to another house.
Because, let me tell you, we had to cut down one tree already and the price tag is way on up there.
I see the tree laying there across the driveway and, of course, call my dear husband. Who happens to be in another state at the moment. You see, I cannot lift half a tree and I will be needing to leave the house, in my car, which is in the garage, in a matter of hours. Our young and healthy neighbors are all at work by this point, and the ones who are home are either elderly or have cancer. Hmmm.
I decide to waste some time taking pictures of the tree and emailing them to John so he would realize my drama is truly based in reality. While doing so, a guy in a truck comes to point out that half our tree has fallen off into our driveway.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
He then lets me know he works on trees and wonders if I want to hire him to "fix" the tree.
Ummm. No. I am fairly confident I can at least remove the limb somehow from the driveway to extract my vehicle. Plus, the only way I see that we can "fix" the tree will involve removing it. And that will cost thousands. No, thank you.
(Also, somehow I doubted his little pick-up truck and some tree trimmers and a ladder were going to help "fix" the tree much, but I don't know. Maybe he had a chainsaw hidden back in the truck bed somewhere.)
My decision was a good one. Not five minutes later the brush and bulky pick-up comes by. Now, I figure between our neighbor's huge trailer parked across the street, what remains of the sycamore tree, and the large arm that the brush people use to pick up pieces of tree, the limb is in an awkward position for them to get at it.
But they did it! The brush and bulky trash employees saved the day! Thank God this happened on trash day! It is completely worth it to pay tax to the city when they help me take care of things like this.
I'm still not certain what caused half of the tree to fall down. It hasn't been extraordinarily windy. I guess the excessive amount of water falling from the sky might have weighed down the tree, so the slightest breeze pushed it over the edge. Or maybe the trees are just not so healthy leaning over the street like they are.
I think it's supposed to stop raining tomorrow. Maybe life will settle back down when the sun comes out.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Bits and Pieces
Why is it almost halfway through September? I can't believe how time is flying!
While I've been maybe a little crazy busy at work, John's also been working extremely hard on three different clients in three different states at the same time. Impossible? Well, we'll let you know in few weeks.
We did get to make a quick trip down to visit my sister, brother-in-law and sweet nephew over Labor Day. I might have only mentioned it once or eighteen times: my nephew is the cutest, funnest, smartest little boy! We had a blast reading, playing chase, stacking blocks, and going to the playground.
There is one book, "A Surprise for Nutbrown Hare" that is my nephew's absolute favorite book. He will ask you to read it over and over and over...despite the fact that there is one page of no particular consequence that makes him start crying. The story is not sad or frightening in any way, but when you read this one page, the tears start flowing. Then 30 seconds later when you finish the book, he closes it and hands it back to you to read yet again.
I think my sister told me that yesterday she decided to retire "A Surprise for Nutbrown Hare". No need for all the random crying.
(There is no appropriate segue here, so just pretend.)
I was perusing photos today and came across this:
Someday I'd like to go to there. (For those of you who don't watch, that was a 30 Rock reference.) (30 Rock, by the way, will not start up again for another 5 weeks or so. Alas.)
That's in China, by the way. You can read about it here.
Nighty-night.
While I've been maybe a little crazy busy at work, John's also been working extremely hard on three different clients in three different states at the same time. Impossible? Well, we'll let you know in few weeks.
We did get to make a quick trip down to visit my sister, brother-in-law and sweet nephew over Labor Day. I might have only mentioned it once or eighteen times: my nephew is the cutest, funnest, smartest little boy! We had a blast reading, playing chase, stacking blocks, and going to the playground.
There is one book, "A Surprise for Nutbrown Hare" that is my nephew's absolute favorite book. He will ask you to read it over and over and over...despite the fact that there is one page of no particular consequence that makes him start crying. The story is not sad or frightening in any way, but when you read this one page, the tears start flowing. Then 30 seconds later when you finish the book, he closes it and hands it back to you to read yet again.
I think my sister told me that yesterday she decided to retire "A Surprise for Nutbrown Hare". No need for all the random crying.
(There is no appropriate segue here, so just pretend.)
I was perusing photos today and came across this:
Someday I'd like to go to there. (For those of you who don't watch, that was a 30 Rock reference.) (30 Rock, by the way, will not start up again for another 5 weeks or so. Alas.)
That's in China, by the way. You can read about it here.
Nighty-night.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
I remember Athens, Greece.
Three years ago today we were in Athens, Greece - one of the ports of call on our Mediterranean Cruise. I remember it was HOT.
And everything was in Greek.
Mostly I remember the cruise as the best vacation we ever took. I am torn between feeling so grateful that John and I have had so many fun, exciting experiences to remember together and really wishing I was on that cruise again right now!
On the up side, it may actually be cooler here in Texas today than it was that day three years ago in Athens.
Don't get me wrong, it's still hot enough to break a sweat while doing nothing more than walking around in the shade, but it is definitely about 10 degrees cooler than it has been. The northerly breeze doesn't hurt either.
Sometimes I'd like to go back to how things were three years ago. Only because that was before I even knew about my infertility, an issue which is making life a lot more emotional and difficult than it used to be. (And maybe a little bit because four years ago we were living in Europe.)
But then I realize there are so many more things that are better about where I am in life now. Since that cruise, we've traveled to some other really beautiful places. We've gotten to meet the little boy we sponsor with Compassion International in Uganda, Ronald. I am now working in a ministry I love; I seriously could not think of a better place to work. We have so many different and wonderful friends now that we didn't even know four years ago. We have a sweet, cute, miraculous two-year-old nephew. We've gotten our little house fixed up pretty much the way we'd always wanted it. John is generally happier in his work than he's been in a long time. I have a vegetable garden that actually produces (some) vegetables.
It sure is good to take some time to think of all those things I'm thankful for, ways my life is fuller and even better than it was three years ago.
Not that I wouldn't totally take a Mediterranean cruise again in an instant!
And everything was in Greek.
Mostly I remember the cruise as the best vacation we ever took. I am torn between feeling so grateful that John and I have had so many fun, exciting experiences to remember together and really wishing I was on that cruise again right now!
On the up side, it may actually be cooler here in Texas today than it was that day three years ago in Athens.
Don't get me wrong, it's still hot enough to break a sweat while doing nothing more than walking around in the shade, but it is definitely about 10 degrees cooler than it has been. The northerly breeze doesn't hurt either.
Sometimes I'd like to go back to how things were three years ago. Only because that was before I even knew about my infertility, an issue which is making life a lot more emotional and difficult than it used to be. (And maybe a little bit because four years ago we were living in Europe.)
But then I realize there are so many more things that are better about where I am in life now. Since that cruise, we've traveled to some other really beautiful places. We've gotten to meet the little boy we sponsor with Compassion International in Uganda, Ronald. I am now working in a ministry I love; I seriously could not think of a better place to work. We have so many different and wonderful friends now that we didn't even know four years ago. We have a sweet, cute, miraculous two-year-old nephew. We've gotten our little house fixed up pretty much the way we'd always wanted it. John is generally happier in his work than he's been in a long time. I have a vegetable garden that actually produces (some) vegetables.
It sure is good to take some time to think of all those things I'm thankful for, ways my life is fuller and even better than it was three years ago.
Not that I wouldn't totally take a Mediterranean cruise again in an instant!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
A Short Hiatus
It's funny to me that I felt a desire to blog (and actually even missed it greatly) last week, yet even if I had time to sit down and type, the words just wouldn't come.
Maybe I was trying too hard. Trying to say something meaningful, amusing or funny with no luck. I have a feeling I had stories to tell and interesting observations to impart, but sitting in front of the computer, my mind was blank.
Last week was a rough week. Tuesday I got the results of my pregnancy test following our second IUI attempt - negative. After a hugely successful surgery a few months ago that fixed a couple of the things we thought might have been contributing to infertility, I admit I was really optimistic about our chances this time.
I know for sure that the more I get my hopes up, the harder it is to be let down. Right now I'm struggling with a spirit and body that are sad, frustrated, and a little angry. At the same time my brain and heart know and believe that God is good and sovereign. God has a plan. His timing and ways are perfect.
And I don't have an answer today for how to live well in this state. We have already started the next process when I don't even know what to think about the last journey we've taken.
I have been surprised by the genuine compassion and love I receive from friends who also are in love with the Lord and trust God. I have so many friends who, without ever having gone through what I am experiencing, have said and done the right things and refrained from the cliches and nonsensical advice I also receive quite often. I have people in my life who absolutely know how I feel, and I am so grateful for them. More people than I can count are praying for us.
And I don't take prayer lightly. All those prayers may be the reason I still love and cherish my relationship with God. All those prayers may be the reason I can keep going to work, hanging out with friends, being with family, and taking care of things around the house with energy, focus, and joy.
So, in case I don't write much here, it's just because the words sometimes seem to fall straight out of my brain. I promise, there are still really funny and adventuresome goings-on in our life...amid such mundane tasks as ironing and cleaning the toilets.
Speaking of ironing...I think there might be some shirts waiting for me right this minute.
Maybe I was trying too hard. Trying to say something meaningful, amusing or funny with no luck. I have a feeling I had stories to tell and interesting observations to impart, but sitting in front of the computer, my mind was blank.
Last week was a rough week. Tuesday I got the results of my pregnancy test following our second IUI attempt - negative. After a hugely successful surgery a few months ago that fixed a couple of the things we thought might have been contributing to infertility, I admit I was really optimistic about our chances this time.
I know for sure that the more I get my hopes up, the harder it is to be let down. Right now I'm struggling with a spirit and body that are sad, frustrated, and a little angry. At the same time my brain and heart know and believe that God is good and sovereign. God has a plan. His timing and ways are perfect.
And I don't have an answer today for how to live well in this state. We have already started the next process when I don't even know what to think about the last journey we've taken.
I have been surprised by the genuine compassion and love I receive from friends who also are in love with the Lord and trust God. I have so many friends who, without ever having gone through what I am experiencing, have said and done the right things and refrained from the cliches and nonsensical advice I also receive quite often. I have people in my life who absolutely know how I feel, and I am so grateful for them. More people than I can count are praying for us.
And I don't take prayer lightly. All those prayers may be the reason I still love and cherish my relationship with God. All those prayers may be the reason I can keep going to work, hanging out with friends, being with family, and taking care of things around the house with energy, focus, and joy.
So, in case I don't write much here, it's just because the words sometimes seem to fall straight out of my brain. I promise, there are still really funny and adventuresome goings-on in our life...amid such mundane tasks as ironing and cleaning the toilets.
Speaking of ironing...I think there might be some shirts waiting for me right this minute.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Falling Cockroaches
The title should about sum it up. I mean, do I need to elaborate? Do you not already have the chills of disgust running up your spine?
Of course, we all know I'm going to elaborate anyway.
There's not a lot to this story, really. I went to the library earlier today to return a book and see if any movies struck my fancy (they did not). I might also have been lamenting the fact that our neighborhood library - that was literally in our neighborhood - closed late last year and now I have to drive a whole four miles to another library.
As I was exiting the library out the automatic sliding doors, a cockroach smack dab hit me on my nose on its way from somewhere up above me to the ground!!!! I heard it plop onto the ground, thought "Whatever that is, it's a pretty big something", glanced at the ground, saw a giant cockroach skittering away, and walked swiftly away while brushing at my nose and shivering in disgust despite the 100-degree temperatures.
Somehow I managed to not go into hysterics until I got into my car, where I might have screamed "Ewwwwwwww!!!!!!!" a few times and then left a screechy, dramatic voicemail for my husband on his cell phone.
Honestly, there was a ROACH. Falling from the sky. Hitting me in the nose! Rest assured, upon arriving at home I immediately washed my face and thoroughly disinfected the entire nose area.
I will never be the same person walking through those library doors again.
Of course, we all know I'm going to elaborate anyway.
There's not a lot to this story, really. I went to the library earlier today to return a book and see if any movies struck my fancy (they did not). I might also have been lamenting the fact that our neighborhood library - that was literally in our neighborhood - closed late last year and now I have to drive a whole four miles to another library.
As I was exiting the library out the automatic sliding doors, a cockroach smack dab hit me on my nose on its way from somewhere up above me to the ground!!!! I heard it plop onto the ground, thought "Whatever that is, it's a pretty big something", glanced at the ground, saw a giant cockroach skittering away, and walked swiftly away while brushing at my nose and shivering in disgust despite the 100-degree temperatures.
Somehow I managed to not go into hysterics until I got into my car, where I might have screamed "Ewwwwwwww!!!!!!!" a few times and then left a screechy, dramatic voicemail for my husband on his cell phone.
Honestly, there was a ROACH. Falling from the sky. Hitting me in the nose! Rest assured, upon arriving at home I immediately washed my face and thoroughly disinfected the entire nose area.
I will never be the same person walking through those library doors again.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Necessity of a Cold Dinner
Since it is approximately hotter than the surface of the sun around here, it is the time of year to cook and eat with as little heat as possible. I made a recipe the other day that was good enough to share with this blog-reading population.
Now, the recipe I made is loosely based on this recipe, found in the August issue of Southern Living. However, as I pretty much changed up the whole thing, I cannot attest to the quality of the recipe as printed in the magazine. John found it quite amusing when he asked what we're having for dinner, and I told him the name of the recipe, and then followed that up with a list of about eight different things I did differently.
Here's the recipe I actually made from the things I actually had in my kitchen the night I decided we needed something cold for dinner:
Pasta with White Beans and Arugula (aka "Spaghetti with Chickpeas and Spinach Among Other Things" of maybe just "Cold Dinner Salad Delight")
Makes about 3 - 4 servings, I think (we each ate it for dinner then each of us had it for leftovers the next day)
8 oz. corn spaghetti-style noodles (if you can eat wheat, feel free to just use regular spaghetti or even bow-tie pasta as originally called for in the recipe)
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
about 2 Tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes with herbs in oil, chopped
2 medium sized tomatoes, chopped
2 handfuls of spinach, washed, drained and chopped into strips
3 oz. crumbled basil & tomato feta cheese
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Stir together chickpeas and all other ingredients. Add the cooked pasta and toss. Either serve room temperature, or put salad in the fridge to serve cold.
P.S. For those of you inclined to eat hot foods during the summer months (I admit I do it occasionally), Southern Living's recipe for Black Bean-and-Chicken Cornbread Casserole is tasty. I modified the recipe only slightly by using maybe 2 1/2 cans of beans instead of 4 (really?!? 4 cans of beans?!?), making my own self-rising white cornmeal mix with gluten-free flour, and actually 1 1/2 times, or even doubling, the buttermilk/cornmeal mix quantities. Let's face it; everybody knows the cheesy cornbread on top is the BEST part!
Now, the recipe I made is loosely based on this recipe, found in the August issue of Southern Living. However, as I pretty much changed up the whole thing, I cannot attest to the quality of the recipe as printed in the magazine. John found it quite amusing when he asked what we're having for dinner, and I told him the name of the recipe, and then followed that up with a list of about eight different things I did differently.
Here's the recipe I actually made from the things I actually had in my kitchen the night I decided we needed something cold for dinner:
Pasta with White Beans and Arugula (aka "Spaghetti with Chickpeas and Spinach Among Other Things" of maybe just "Cold Dinner Salad Delight")
Makes about 3 - 4 servings, I think (we each ate it for dinner then each of us had it for leftovers the next day)
8 oz. corn spaghetti-style noodles (if you can eat wheat, feel free to just use regular spaghetti or even bow-tie pasta as originally called for in the recipe)
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
about 2 Tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes with herbs in oil, chopped
2 medium sized tomatoes, chopped
2 handfuls of spinach, washed, drained and chopped into strips
3 oz. crumbled basil & tomato feta cheese
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Stir together chickpeas and all other ingredients. Add the cooked pasta and toss. Either serve room temperature, or put salad in the fridge to serve cold.
P.S. For those of you inclined to eat hot foods during the summer months (I admit I do it occasionally), Southern Living's recipe for Black Bean-and-Chicken Cornbread Casserole is tasty. I modified the recipe only slightly by using maybe 2 1/2 cans of beans instead of 4 (really?!? 4 cans of beans?!?), making my own self-rising white cornmeal mix with gluten-free flour, and actually 1 1/2 times, or even doubling, the buttermilk/cornmeal mix quantities. Let's face it; everybody knows the cheesy cornbread on top is the BEST part!
Monday, August 10, 2009
The House!
OK, I really should be making myself some dinner right now, but I couldn't wait to show you all:
That's Ronnie's house - the one we helped pay for that his family built! Looks like there are some pretty adept construction workers in the family because, dang, I sure couldn't build a house like that!
(Sorry it's not the clearest picture. It's actually a picture of a picture. Ronnie's the tall boy in the yellow shirt.)
I'd also like to share just a few of Ronnie's words to us from the letter he sent with the picture:
"Dear friends, thank you so much for the gifts you sent us as a family. We were able to build a three roomed house and soon we are shifting to our new home. All of us don't have right words to express it. May God bless you for that great love."
It is most definitely great love we have for our Compassion kids, Ronnie and Martha. It will never be possible to make these kids know how much their words, drawings, pictures, and prayers are changing our lives and making our hearts smile. I'm afraid they will always think they have received so much more from us than we have from them, but that's simply not true.
Sponsored children and sponsors alike are changed through this deal. Can you imagine how an amount of money smaller than your monthly cell phone bill, a letter of encouragement now and then, and prayers can completely pull a child...even a family...out of poverty forever?
If you can, then you're probably already a sponsor. I encourage you to keep in touch with your kids - they'll enrich your life!
And if you can't imagine it, then go on over to Compassion and experience the truth for yourself!
That's Ronnie's house - the one we helped pay for that his family built! Looks like there are some pretty adept construction workers in the family because, dang, I sure couldn't build a house like that!
(Sorry it's not the clearest picture. It's actually a picture of a picture. Ronnie's the tall boy in the yellow shirt.)
I'd also like to share just a few of Ronnie's words to us from the letter he sent with the picture:
"Dear friends, thank you so much for the gifts you sent us as a family. We were able to build a three roomed house and soon we are shifting to our new home. All of us don't have right words to express it. May God bless you for that great love."
It is most definitely great love we have for our Compassion kids, Ronnie and Martha. It will never be possible to make these kids know how much their words, drawings, pictures, and prayers are changing our lives and making our hearts smile. I'm afraid they will always think they have received so much more from us than we have from them, but that's simply not true.
Sponsored children and sponsors alike are changed through this deal. Can you imagine how an amount of money smaller than your monthly cell phone bill, a letter of encouragement now and then, and prayers can completely pull a child...even a family...out of poverty forever?
If you can, then you're probably already a sponsor. I encourage you to keep in touch with your kids - they'll enrich your life!
And if you can't imagine it, then go on over to Compassion and experience the truth for yourself!
Friday, August 07, 2009
Jumping Giraffes! Is that shower tomorrow?
I need to finish writing a post that summarizes the remainder of our trip to Portland - which took place over a month ago!!!
But right now there are more pressing things I want to share with the world, one of which is the
Gift Registry Frustration.
I know I'm not the only one who procrastinates when buying baby shower gifts. I can't be! I estimate there have to be at least 75% of us who do not rush out to Babies R Them as soon as the baby shower invitation comes in the mail. And then there must be at least 15% of us who, with the passing of days...or maybe hours, forget there is even a gift to buy until we realize we have a baby shower to go to in a couple days. And then, sadly, it is way too late to order anything online.
(Those percentages are rough estimates, mind you.)
I always have good intentions. Things just never seem to pan out. (Maybe it has something to do with my less-than-pleasant past experiences at the mega-baby stores.)
When I do finally get to the store it is only to discover the items left on the registry are either a $400 audio-video, high-tech baby monitor or the $2 diaper cream.
Nothing says, "Yes. Yes, I waited until the last minute to go buy your present" like a gift bag consisting of silicone nipples, baby nail clippers, and socks.
OK. I'm kidding. Actually what they'll end up with is whatever I think is cute and/or practical regardless of its inclusion on the registry list.
And a nice gift receipt. (That is, if the employees at Babies R Them can figure out how to print the gift receipt.)
Wouldn't you think just having knowledge of the Gift Registry Frustration would push me into early action? Yeah, I would think so too. Strangely enough, it just doesn't. So, guess what I'll be doing tomorrow.
Wish me luck.
But right now there are more pressing things I want to share with the world, one of which is the
Gift Registry Frustration.
I know I'm not the only one who procrastinates when buying baby shower gifts. I can't be! I estimate there have to be at least 75% of us who do not rush out to Babies R Them as soon as the baby shower invitation comes in the mail. And then there must be at least 15% of us who, with the passing of days...or maybe hours, forget there is even a gift to buy until we realize we have a baby shower to go to in a couple days. And then, sadly, it is way too late to order anything online.
(Those percentages are rough estimates, mind you.)
I always have good intentions. Things just never seem to pan out. (Maybe it has something to do with my less-than-pleasant past experiences at the mega-baby stores.)
When I do finally get to the store it is only to discover the items left on the registry are either a $400 audio-video, high-tech baby monitor or the $2 diaper cream.
Nothing says, "Yes. Yes, I waited until the last minute to go buy your present" like a gift bag consisting of silicone nipples, baby nail clippers, and socks.
OK. I'm kidding. Actually what they'll end up with is whatever I think is cute and/or practical regardless of its inclusion on the registry list.
And a nice gift receipt. (That is, if the employees at Babies R Them can figure out how to print the gift receipt.)
Wouldn't you think just having knowledge of the Gift Registry Frustration would push me into early action? Yeah, I would think so too. Strangely enough, it just doesn't. So, guess what I'll be doing tomorrow.
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Kisses!
My sister and I are best friends. I know that's not the case for a lot of siblings, and I feel sorry for them. Unlike anybody else, my sister knows my history and has witnessed me grow and change first-hand. I can always be completely honest with her and neither of us ever feels the need to give answers or make the other one feel better. Sometimes you just have to live without answers or perfect words, but just being able to talk to her is comforting enough.
And as much as I love my sister, I'm accordingly very attached to my sister's son. I've written a little about D on the blog before, and now he's already two years old! I haven't seen him in a couple months so I'm sure by now he's like a new person three times over.
My sweet sister called me today just before our IUI. She put D on the phone for me to talk to him. (D has some developmental delays and isn't talking yet, but there is no doubt he is a smart little boy. He does some signing and apparently now knows where different body parts are, including his chest which my sister discovered he knew about accidentally just the other day when she was talking to someone else, mentioned his chest, and then noticed him patting his chest.)
One of the other things he understands is when someone asks him to give them a kiss. Only, D believes kisses should always be given to him on his forehead, so he hears "kiss" and immediately pushes his forehead up to the person's lips. I think this might have happened when my mom was "playing a game" with him one time where he did something (I can't remember what...something cute I'm sure) and she kissed him on the forehead, then he'd do it again and she'd kiss him on the forehead again, and on and on it went. He got quite excited and loved the game, so I think that's what he remembers most about kisses.
So, usually D doesn't babble or say anything when I'm talking to him on the phone. My sister has to come back on and explain to me what faces D was making while I was talking to him. This morning, she came back on the phone laughing and said he heard me talking and was just smiling and smiling (not that he doesn't smile about 95% of the time as it is!) and then near the end of the conversation he pushed his forehead against the phone - his kissing motion. It made my day! I sure do love that cute, smart, happy, fun little boy!
It's a good thing I don't have other siblings with kids because I'm pretty sure my sister's son will undoubtedly be my favorite always and forever!
And as much as I love my sister, I'm accordingly very attached to my sister's son. I've written a little about D on the blog before, and now he's already two years old! I haven't seen him in a couple months so I'm sure by now he's like a new person three times over.
My sweet sister called me today just before our IUI. She put D on the phone for me to talk to him. (D has some developmental delays and isn't talking yet, but there is no doubt he is a smart little boy. He does some signing and apparently now knows where different body parts are, including his chest which my sister discovered he knew about accidentally just the other day when she was talking to someone else, mentioned his chest, and then noticed him patting his chest.)
One of the other things he understands is when someone asks him to give them a kiss. Only, D believes kisses should always be given to him on his forehead, so he hears "kiss" and immediately pushes his forehead up to the person's lips. I think this might have happened when my mom was "playing a game" with him one time where he did something (I can't remember what...something cute I'm sure) and she kissed him on the forehead, then he'd do it again and she'd kiss him on the forehead again, and on and on it went. He got quite excited and loved the game, so I think that's what he remembers most about kisses.
So, usually D doesn't babble or say anything when I'm talking to him on the phone. My sister has to come back on and explain to me what faces D was making while I was talking to him. This morning, she came back on the phone laughing and said he heard me talking and was just smiling and smiling (not that he doesn't smile about 95% of the time as it is!) and then near the end of the conversation he pushed his forehead against the phone - his kissing motion. It made my day! I sure do love that cute, smart, happy, fun little boy!
It's a good thing I don't have other siblings with kids because I'm pretty sure my sister's son will undoubtedly be my favorite always and forever!
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Second Attempts
There are two ways to go into a Second Attempt.
Most of the time, a Second Attempt means the first time failed, or didn't go perfectly. So, sometimes it's easy to focus on that: "Here we are again. If only the first time had worked out we wouldn't be doing this all over again."
Another way to look at the Second Attempt is with gratefulness that second chances are an option. God knows, better than anyone else I expect, that I am far from perfect. (Often, third, sixth, even seventy-second chances are in order!) And, with God, there's always the sure hope that one day things will turn out just the way they are supposed to.
I prefer the latter viewpoint.
That said, (and for the few of you who read this blog on a regular basis and do not just stumble upon it while searching the web for "cicada killers" and "Rick Steve's favorite castle"), we will be doing a second IUI (intra-uterine insemination) this Wednesday morning.
Our family, and how it grows, and when it becomes larger, is all in God's hands.
But I sure do pray that this next IUI will be successful. If you're joining in that prayer, you might as well pray for me to have some peace with this process, too.
Because, even though I'm grateful for second attempts and hopeful that the ultimate plan will be perfect, I would like some children and all this infertility stuff can be nerve-wracking, frustrating, and emotionally painful.
We'll know the results of all of this in a few weeks. Until then, we'll continue working, visiting with friends, going to the lake, cultivating the garden, getting the tires on the car rotated...you know, normal life.
And normal life...really, life at all...is such a gift!
Most of the time, a Second Attempt means the first time failed, or didn't go perfectly. So, sometimes it's easy to focus on that: "Here we are again. If only the first time had worked out we wouldn't be doing this all over again."
Another way to look at the Second Attempt is with gratefulness that second chances are an option. God knows, better than anyone else I expect, that I am far from perfect. (Often, third, sixth, even seventy-second chances are in order!) And, with God, there's always the sure hope that one day things will turn out just the way they are supposed to.
I prefer the latter viewpoint.
That said, (and for the few of you who read this blog on a regular basis and do not just stumble upon it while searching the web for "cicada killers" and "Rick Steve's favorite castle"), we will be doing a second IUI (intra-uterine insemination) this Wednesday morning.
Our family, and how it grows, and when it becomes larger, is all in God's hands.
But I sure do pray that this next IUI will be successful. If you're joining in that prayer, you might as well pray for me to have some peace with this process, too.
Because, even though I'm grateful for second attempts and hopeful that the ultimate plan will be perfect, I would like some children and all this infertility stuff can be nerve-wracking, frustrating, and emotionally painful.
We'll know the results of all of this in a few weeks. Until then, we'll continue working, visiting with friends, going to the lake, cultivating the garden, getting the tires on the car rotated...you know, normal life.
And normal life...really, life at all...is such a gift!
Friday, July 31, 2009
In Which Universal Healthcare and Organic Produce are Correlated (a non-scientific, non-study)
There are many more important issues I could be attending to at the moment, yet I find myself sitting at the computer reading through a scientific study done on food.
There are two reasons for this.
One, since being diagnosed with infertility and endometriosis I have tried to change my eating habits: no more wheat, no meats with added hormones, and more organic produce when studies have shown the man-made chemical content to be significantly higher in certain conventionally produced fruits and vegetables (among other things). As you might imagine, eating this way has caused the grocery spending this year to soar to astronomical heights. Did you realize it is possible to buy a red bell pepper for $5? Yeah, for ONE bell pepper! I think I once had to buy a (as in ONE) medium-sized tomato for $3.
Two, my husband somehow has some extra time I don't know about to read news articles...nah. He must have heard it on the radio in the car. So, last night he informed me that a study was done showing there's no health benefit to eating organic versus conventional foods. This declaration has floated around for a few years now, but apparently yesterday it was important enough to be addressed on talk radio.
So I just found the research study...done by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Tropical medicine? Really? Yes. I have no idea.
Admittedly, I then thought, "This from a country who is fast becoming as obese as America and has a universal healthcare system that ensures equally useless and poor medical care for all? (A situation that America seems intent on emulating shortly.) Does it really make sense to dissuade the populace from eating the expensive organic vegetables?"
(By the way, has anyone in our government taken a gander at the UK's health system? I mean, because that's where we're headed. But that's an entirely different post.)
And you know what I learned from the study?
Nothing that makes any difference to me.
OK, here it is: organic produce does not have better or more nutrients, vitamins, and minerals than other produce. Not adding pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or fertilizer to plants will not just make the produce have super doses of vitamin C or iron or what-have-you.
This, I already knew. And this is what the London group researched. They specifically did not study the contents of pesticides, herbicides or fungicides in various produce. I figure those chemicals may have negative effects on me and the environment.
Even if they don't, much of the organic produce I buy just tastes so much better.
(Incidentally, the hormone-free meat also has better texture and flavor. In my humble opinion. Which is really mostly what this blog is.)
I guess I'm willing to pay a lot more for groceries that have even the tiniest potential of keeping me healthy for longer.
(Because goodness knows there will probably be no medical care that's worth anything available to me by the time I reach old age.)
P.S. I have been diligently trying to solve the $5 for a red bell pepper problem by growing my own. Trouble is, they just won't get very big before something eats them or a disease of some sort rots them. Now I know why those darn organic red bell peppers are worth $5 apiece!
There are two reasons for this.
One, since being diagnosed with infertility and endometriosis I have tried to change my eating habits: no more wheat, no meats with added hormones, and more organic produce when studies have shown the man-made chemical content to be significantly higher in certain conventionally produced fruits and vegetables (among other things). As you might imagine, eating this way has caused the grocery spending this year to soar to astronomical heights. Did you realize it is possible to buy a red bell pepper for $5? Yeah, for ONE bell pepper! I think I once had to buy a (as in ONE) medium-sized tomato for $3.
Two, my husband somehow has some extra time I don't know about to read news articles...nah. He must have heard it on the radio in the car. So, last night he informed me that a study was done showing there's no health benefit to eating organic versus conventional foods. This declaration has floated around for a few years now, but apparently yesterday it was important enough to be addressed on talk radio.
So I just found the research study...done by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Tropical medicine? Really? Yes. I have no idea.
Admittedly, I then thought, "This from a country who is fast becoming as obese as America and has a universal healthcare system that ensures equally useless and poor medical care for all? (A situation that America seems intent on emulating shortly.) Does it really make sense to dissuade the populace from eating the expensive organic vegetables?"
(By the way, has anyone in our government taken a gander at the UK's health system? I mean, because that's where we're headed. But that's an entirely different post.)
And you know what I learned from the study?
Nothing that makes any difference to me.
OK, here it is: organic produce does not have better or more nutrients, vitamins, and minerals than other produce. Not adding pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or fertilizer to plants will not just make the produce have super doses of vitamin C or iron or what-have-you.
This, I already knew. And this is what the London group researched. They specifically did not study the contents of pesticides, herbicides or fungicides in various produce. I figure those chemicals may have negative effects on me and the environment.
Even if they don't, much of the organic produce I buy just tastes so much better.
(Incidentally, the hormone-free meat also has better texture and flavor. In my humble opinion. Which is really mostly what this blog is.)
I guess I'm willing to pay a lot more for groceries that have even the tiniest potential of keeping me healthy for longer.
(Because goodness knows there will probably be no medical care that's worth anything available to me by the time I reach old age.)
P.S. I have been diligently trying to solve the $5 for a red bell pepper problem by growing my own. Trouble is, they just won't get very big before something eats them or a disease of some sort rots them. Now I know why those darn organic red bell peppers are worth $5 apiece!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Watermelon and Things More Satisfying
You know those little seedless watermelons they sell for about $4-5? I refuse to buy them because, even though they're the perfect size for me and I'm the only one in the house who eats the watermelon, I will not pay $5 for a tiny watermelon.
BUT, if you have a Sprouts near you, I'd just like to announce that they have these little watermelons for the low, low price of $1.49. Although, I have to admit, I never think the seedless watermelons taste quite as sweet or crisp as regular, seeded, full-size watermelons.
But really, for $1.49, who cares?!?
(And also, the boneless, skinless chicken breasts with no hormones are on sale for $1.79/lb. Can't beat that. OH! And the halved walnuts are only $3.99/lb.)
This has all really made my week. I am apparently easily delighted this week!
I understand all this advertising for groceries is not the cleverest, most entertaining reading material. Luckily, today I happened upon a document on the computer of good quotes I've run across. Here are some of them for your reading pleasure:
“Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.” - Swedish Proverb
“When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.” - Indian proverb
"I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I do not feel it. I believe in God even when He is silent." - inscribed on cellar walls during the Holocaust in Cologne, Germany
"When we walk to the edge of all the light that we have, and take that step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen - there will be something solid for us to stand on, or God will teach us to fly." - author unknown (to me)
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." - Mother Teresa
"A woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water." - Eleanor Roosevelt
"A room without books is like a body without a soul." - Cicero
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
"The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares." - Henri Nouwen
Now, don't forget to put cheap watermelon, walnuts, and chicken on your grocery list for this weekend!
BUT, if you have a Sprouts near you, I'd just like to announce that they have these little watermelons for the low, low price of $1.49. Although, I have to admit, I never think the seedless watermelons taste quite as sweet or crisp as regular, seeded, full-size watermelons.
But really, for $1.49, who cares?!?
(And also, the boneless, skinless chicken breasts with no hormones are on sale for $1.79/lb. Can't beat that. OH! And the halved walnuts are only $3.99/lb.)
This has all really made my week. I am apparently easily delighted this week!
I understand all this advertising for groceries is not the cleverest, most entertaining reading material. Luckily, today I happened upon a document on the computer of good quotes I've run across. Here are some of them for your reading pleasure:
“Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.” - Swedish Proverb
“When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.” - Indian proverb
"I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I do not feel it. I believe in God even when He is silent." - inscribed on cellar walls during the Holocaust in Cologne, Germany
"When we walk to the edge of all the light that we have, and take that step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen - there will be something solid for us to stand on, or God will teach us to fly." - author unknown (to me)
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." - Mother Teresa
"A woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water." - Eleanor Roosevelt
"A room without books is like a body without a soul." - Cicero
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
"The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares." - Henri Nouwen
Now, don't forget to put cheap watermelon, walnuts, and chicken on your grocery list for this weekend!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
A Million Little Reasons
One of the projects in a study I'm doing for our small group asks me to list a bunch of (like, in the neighborhood of 25) reasons I "need" my husband.
(I realize discussing the definition of "need" can be a whole other conversation, so if you have trouble with it, just think "reasons I like my husband to do life with me".)
I have to admit that within the first ten items I wrote down were some monumentally important reasons such as: "to kill cockroaches" and "to take the trash out".
Men, (as if there are any of you reading this) do not underestimate the importance of taking out the trash. I'm not sure why I hate it so much, but I do.
After noting my complete lack of depth in some answers, I then filled my list up with more substantial, emotional reasons that I need my husband.
But it got me thinking. There sure are a lot of practical reasons I "need" my husband.
• To water our (large, corner-lot) lawn by moving around multiple sprinklers because we refuse to pay the money for a sprinkler system.
• To go out to get the mail at night after I've forgotten to get it earlier. Because there are ugly, albino lizards on the front porch that give me the creeps.
• To negotiate with the credit card people and have fees removed when I accidentally, ONE TIME, forget to pay my bill on time.
• Actually...To negotiate with anyone about anything in order to score free or cheap services/products. My husband is a master at this.
• To hang his work shirts up on the top rack in his closet. This saves me pulling a chair over to do it myself (because "myself" is too short to reach the rack without aid).
• To periodically use the plumber's snake to clean out our shower drain. (The hair? It accumulates. And it is disgusting.)
• To dig up grass and till around in the vegetable garden, reconstituting the soil in a matter of hours. That task would take me days...or forever. I'm pretty sure it'd be closer to forever.
• To put the Christmas tree straight in the stand.
• To help me flip our mattress a couple times a year. Even though he thinks it's ridiculous and useless to do so, I am a little particular about my sleeping environment. (And don't we all know it's not useless? It really does make a difference. I think Oprah says so.)
What are the silly little...er...practical ways you need your spouse?
(I realize discussing the definition of "need" can be a whole other conversation, so if you have trouble with it, just think "reasons I like my husband to do life with me".)
I have to admit that within the first ten items I wrote down were some monumentally important reasons such as: "to kill cockroaches" and "to take the trash out".
Men, (as if there are any of you reading this) do not underestimate the importance of taking out the trash. I'm not sure why I hate it so much, but I do.
After noting my complete lack of depth in some answers, I then filled my list up with more substantial, emotional reasons that I need my husband.
But it got me thinking. There sure are a lot of practical reasons I "need" my husband.
• To water our (large, corner-lot) lawn by moving around multiple sprinklers because we refuse to pay the money for a sprinkler system.
• To go out to get the mail at night after I've forgotten to get it earlier. Because there are ugly, albino lizards on the front porch that give me the creeps.
• To negotiate with the credit card people and have fees removed when I accidentally, ONE TIME, forget to pay my bill on time.
• Actually...To negotiate with anyone about anything in order to score free or cheap services/products. My husband is a master at this.
• To hang his work shirts up on the top rack in his closet. This saves me pulling a chair over to do it myself (because "myself" is too short to reach the rack without aid).
• To periodically use the plumber's snake to clean out our shower drain. (The hair? It accumulates. And it is disgusting.)
• To dig up grass and till around in the vegetable garden, reconstituting the soil in a matter of hours. That task would take me days...or forever. I'm pretty sure it'd be closer to forever.
• To put the Christmas tree straight in the stand.
• To help me flip our mattress a couple times a year. Even though he thinks it's ridiculous and useless to do so, I am a little particular about my sleeping environment. (And don't we all know it's not useless? It really does make a difference. I think Oprah says so.)
What are the silly little...er...practical ways you need your spouse?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Good Old Days
There is a little-known movie that is my ultimate favorite summertime film. It is this film that puts me in the mood to take a road trip during the summer months. It just plain makes me laugh and think of simpler times. It is Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss.
And I would recommend it to each and every one of you except for one little fact.
It seems there may have only been five of us on the planet who knew the joys this movie brings, because long ago (apparently even before the advent of the DVD) they stopped producing copies of the movie.
So, you can sure watch it...on VHS...if you have $40 lying around to spend on a VHS tape...and if you still have a VCR...or a way to convert the VHS to a DVD.
Oh, and the $40 price tag? That's for a used VHS tape.
The new copy on Amazon is going for a cool $150.
And now you all know I still own some VHS tapes...and a VCR...and I actually use them.
I am feeling older by the minute.
Next thing you know I'll be telling you they just don't make films like they used to and how back in my day you could buy a car for what they're charging for used VHS tapes nowadays.
And then I might as well inform you of all my bodily ailments. (Actually, I do have a weird pain in my left elbow.) But it's 10:30 now and this body needs to get to bed, so I'll spare you the details.
And I would recommend it to each and every one of you except for one little fact.
It seems there may have only been five of us on the planet who knew the joys this movie brings, because long ago (apparently even before the advent of the DVD) they stopped producing copies of the movie.
So, you can sure watch it...on VHS...if you have $40 lying around to spend on a VHS tape...and if you still have a VCR...or a way to convert the VHS to a DVD.
Oh, and the $40 price tag? That's for a used VHS tape.
The new copy on Amazon is going for a cool $150.
And now you all know I still own some VHS tapes...and a VCR...and I actually use them.
I am feeling older by the minute.
Next thing you know I'll be telling you they just don't make films like they used to and how back in my day you could buy a car for what they're charging for used VHS tapes nowadays.
And then I might as well inform you of all my bodily ailments. (Actually, I do have a weird pain in my left elbow.) But it's 10:30 now and this body needs to get to bed, so I'll spare you the details.
Monday, July 13, 2009
If it wasn't so hot I promise I could come up with a great title.
When I was a little girl, I used to love going on summer vacation to visit our grandparents.
OK. Well, the long car ride wasn't my favorite part even though I have vivid memories of it. To this day, if I leave on a car trip before the sun comes up I am reminded of summer vacations to visit the grandparents. It's a combination of climbing into a hot, stuffy car, looking out at an ink-black, starry sky, and smelling coffee (my dad always brought a thermos of it for the ride).
The memories turn a little sour when it comes to three hours into the drive and my sister and I are fighting over space in the backseat and asking "Are we almost there yet?" every half an hour.
However, an even more purely pleasant vacation memory recently came to mind when my mother-in-law brought over some peaches she bought at a nearby farm where she and my sister-in-law went to pick blackberries.
Being in northwest Arkansas was always such a relaxing, fun part of our vacation as a kid. (That's where I came to realize Texas has no trees and there is such a thing as beauty in nature.) One activity we sometimes took part in was going to a pick-your-own-blueberries farm. There's just something fun about picking your own berries. Maybe it's my imagination, but they taste sweeter.
Now, don't get me wrong. It was HOT. And I do believe we fought the bees and mosquitoes, but it sure kept us entertained for a morning.
We also would just walk around the area where my grandparents lived and pick blackberries. Or, bring back a handful and eat the rest right off the bush.
Now, if you live in the south where it's hot as blue blazes all summer, the time to go to a pick-your-own-anything farm is straight away in the morning. You can enjoy the nature, feel like a pioneer, entertain the kids, choose your own fruits (or vegetables) and pay a LOT less than the stores charge for the same thing. Really. What more could you ask for?
And in the fall, there's pick-your-own-pumpkins. In the winter you can go chop down your own Christmas tree. It's an event for all season really.
I found a perfect website that lists, by state and counties, various options for these very activities. They even mention which farms grow organic produce.
It's getting late in the season for berries, but we took a gamble and drove out to visit one of the farms advertised on the aforementioned website. Can you believe we picked all these...
For only $16?!?
And now that I've taste-tested quite a few of our blueberries I can say without a doubt that they really are sweeter than anything you get in the store...it's not just my imagination.
OK. Well, the long car ride wasn't my favorite part even though I have vivid memories of it. To this day, if I leave on a car trip before the sun comes up I am reminded of summer vacations to visit the grandparents. It's a combination of climbing into a hot, stuffy car, looking out at an ink-black, starry sky, and smelling coffee (my dad always brought a thermos of it for the ride).
The memories turn a little sour when it comes to three hours into the drive and my sister and I are fighting over space in the backseat and asking "Are we almost there yet?" every half an hour.
However, an even more purely pleasant vacation memory recently came to mind when my mother-in-law brought over some peaches she bought at a nearby farm where she and my sister-in-law went to pick blackberries.
Being in northwest Arkansas was always such a relaxing, fun part of our vacation as a kid. (That's where I came to realize Texas has no trees and there is such a thing as beauty in nature.) One activity we sometimes took part in was going to a pick-your-own-blueberries farm. There's just something fun about picking your own berries. Maybe it's my imagination, but they taste sweeter.
Now, don't get me wrong. It was HOT. And I do believe we fought the bees and mosquitoes, but it sure kept us entertained for a morning.
We also would just walk around the area where my grandparents lived and pick blackberries. Or, bring back a handful and eat the rest right off the bush.
Now, if you live in the south where it's hot as blue blazes all summer, the time to go to a pick-your-own-anything farm is straight away in the morning. You can enjoy the nature, feel like a pioneer, entertain the kids, choose your own fruits (or vegetables) and pay a LOT less than the stores charge for the same thing. Really. What more could you ask for?
And in the fall, there's pick-your-own-pumpkins. In the winter you can go chop down your own Christmas tree. It's an event for all season really.
I found a perfect website that lists, by state and counties, various options for these very activities. They even mention which farms grow organic produce.
It's getting late in the season for berries, but we took a gamble and drove out to visit one of the farms advertised on the aforementioned website. Can you believe we picked all these...
For only $16?!?
And now that I've taste-tested quite a few of our blueberries I can say without a doubt that they really are sweeter than anything you get in the store...it's not just my imagination.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
My Apologies
I feel a little guilty. You see, there have been many people directed to this particular blog after using various search engines to find information on cicada-killers.
The problem is that there is nothing I would exactly call "information" on this blog.
Unless you wish to be informed on the random minutia of our everyday lives here in Texas. (We're having pork ribs for dinner and John's new office parking garage will not take credit cards for payment.)
Or unless you want a description of what 104°F (40°C) feels like. (Imagine standing in a wet sauna in front of a blazing bonfire wearing a wool coat and cap.)
So, I deeply apologize to all those studies, serious researchers combing the internet for scholarly findings on the cicada-killer. As you are now well aware, this is not the place. (Those cicada-killers are, however, the biggest dadgum wasps I've ever seen in my life!)
And I'll just end this post now before I accidentally change the fact that this blog is an absolute dearth of scholarly information or objective fact.
Do have a good day. (And if you're in Texas, please do not venture out of doors except in the case of extreme emergencies.)
The problem is that there is nothing I would exactly call "information" on this blog.
Unless you wish to be informed on the random minutia of our everyday lives here in Texas. (We're having pork ribs for dinner and John's new office parking garage will not take credit cards for payment.)
Or unless you want a description of what 104°F (40°C) feels like. (Imagine standing in a wet sauna in front of a blazing bonfire wearing a wool coat and cap.)
So, I deeply apologize to all those studies, serious researchers combing the internet for scholarly findings on the cicada-killer. As you are now well aware, this is not the place. (Those cicada-killers are, however, the biggest dadgum wasps I've ever seen in my life!)
And I'll just end this post now before I accidentally change the fact that this blog is an absolute dearth of scholarly information or objective fact.
Do have a good day. (And if you're in Texas, please do not venture out of doors except in the case of extreme emergencies.)
Friday, July 10, 2009
Blazing Fire
While on our most-enjoyable vacation in Portland, I was a wee bit consumed with worry about scheduling an appointment on the appropriate day of my cycle for a fluid test to see if all was well in the healing process after my surgery two months ago.
(Only other women going through all this infertility stuff will understand the waiting, the counting days, the wondering if spotting constitutes day 1 or not, the question of whether a short or long cycle means something bad for the next treatment, etc., etc., etc.)
Turns out I need not have worried. (As is almost ALWAYS the case, but it is sure to take me a sweet FOREVER to learn that lesson!) Earlier this week the test showed that I have healed much more quickly and fully than even my fertility doctor had imagined! Plus, the doctor finally came out and said that since he corrected such a large septum in the uterus, our chances of achieving pregnancy with IUI are a little better than he had at first thought!
I praise God for this!
And then I started thinking about what my reaction and relationship toward God would be had I not healed so quickly. Or had I needed another minor surgery to correct things after the major surgery. Or if it ends up that I just won't ever get pregnant. Or if nothing we do ever allows us to have children.
Well, I would like to think I would still praise God. I hope that my purpose in life is bigger than getting pregnant and birthing children.
I love the story in Daniel about Daniel's friends who refuse to bow down and worship the golden idol that King Nebuchadnezzar constructs. (I also really like that name: Nebuchadnezzar. But, not to worry, I don't like it enough to name a child after him.) The king tells them they face being thrown into a blazing fire (the likes of which are approximated rather well by stepping outside the door of your air-conditioned dwelling in Dallas today) for their disobedience..."and what god is there that can deliver you out of my hands?"
This is the response that means so much to me:
"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
"Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (That's Psalm 73: 25-26.)
When you experience a relationship that enriches your heart and spirit, you begin to realize that other stuff, even outcomes of situations, can't compare or bring any better contentment than what you already have in that one great relationship.
And I praise God for that!
(Only other women going through all this infertility stuff will understand the waiting, the counting days, the wondering if spotting constitutes day 1 or not, the question of whether a short or long cycle means something bad for the next treatment, etc., etc., etc.)
Turns out I need not have worried. (As is almost ALWAYS the case, but it is sure to take me a sweet FOREVER to learn that lesson!) Earlier this week the test showed that I have healed much more quickly and fully than even my fertility doctor had imagined! Plus, the doctor finally came out and said that since he corrected such a large septum in the uterus, our chances of achieving pregnancy with IUI are a little better than he had at first thought!
I praise God for this!
And then I started thinking about what my reaction and relationship toward God would be had I not healed so quickly. Or had I needed another minor surgery to correct things after the major surgery. Or if it ends up that I just won't ever get pregnant. Or if nothing we do ever allows us to have children.
Well, I would like to think I would still praise God. I hope that my purpose in life is bigger than getting pregnant and birthing children.
I love the story in Daniel about Daniel's friends who refuse to bow down and worship the golden idol that King Nebuchadnezzar constructs. (I also really like that name: Nebuchadnezzar. But, not to worry, I don't like it enough to name a child after him.) The king tells them they face being thrown into a blazing fire (the likes of which are approximated rather well by stepping outside the door of your air-conditioned dwelling in Dallas today) for their disobedience..."and what god is there that can deliver you out of my hands?"
This is the response that means so much to me:
"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
"Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (That's Psalm 73: 25-26.)
When you experience a relationship that enriches your heart and spirit, you begin to realize that other stuff, even outcomes of situations, can't compare or bring any better contentment than what you already have in that one great relationship.
And I praise God for that!
Saturday, July 04, 2009
5 Things to Love About Portland
This post is tardy seeing as we got back from Portland Tuesday night, but since then the days have been filled to overflowing! How is there so much to be done - even on days off?!?
Of course, a lot of the "stuff to be done" isn't really work - calling up friends I haven't talked to in a while, playing shuffleboard, hanging out with family. I guess I should more accurately say: naps, sleeping in, and blog posts are apparently at the bottom of my list.
We were in Oregon a week. While we stayed in Portland(for free, thank you very much Marriott), we made multiple day trips from there so we got to see the coast, the Columbia River Gorge area, the Mt. Hood area, and Mt. St. Helen's. This gave us a couple days actually in the city.
There are tons of reasons to like Portland so, rather than bore you to death, here are my top 5.
1. The city is big in a small way. Portland offers museums, arts, night life, restaurants, rivers (thus, water sports), and parks - plenty to do. But it's small enough to get around in easily and the city centre is especially pedestrian friendly. Mass transit is easy and convenient, and biking is a main mode of transportation. Portland felt a little like a mix of Amsterdam and Prague to us.
2. It is soooo easy for me to find food to eat in restaurants and grocery stores in Portland! (Because of the endometriosis and infertility and all, I'm trying to eat healthier: no wheat, less dairy, no red meat, hormone-free poultry, organic produce, no caffeine, etc.) The northwest U.S. is, for some reason, more health-conscious than the South, so organic food is abundant and the list of restaurants catering to wheat- and gluten-free diets is quite long, especially compared to Dallas. There are even a couple bakery/coffee shops that make wheat-free baked goods! And we got a wheat-free pizza the first night we were there!
3. The temperatures in the last week of June in Portland were approximately 30 degrees cooler than those found in Dallas. I think the hottest it got was maybe in the upper 80s and when you go up in the mountains it stays in the 60s all day. Yesterday in Dallas it was around 103 with a heat index of 180. OK. 115. Seriously! I wish I could have boxed up some of that cool, sunny weather and brought it back with me. (I think maybe this reason to love Portland should be listed as number one!)
4. Saturday Market. Maybe it was the perfect weather, or the abundance of interesting stalls to look at, or the fact that a market will always remind me of life in Europe, or the sweet smell of "elephant ears" and roasted corn, but this is just a fun, enjoyable weekend activity!
5. Rose bushes grow in abundance on the sides of the highways going through the city! Most cities I can think of line the highways with the ever-attractive, definitely cost-effective, concrete walls. Or maybe hills of weeds. The sloping hills surrounding the edges of the highways in Portland are green and planted generously with rose bushes. The red, pink, and white roses were out in abundance in June. I think roses love Portland, too! (The picture is actually from the International Rose Test Garden, but the roses on the side of the road looked just as great.)
Why do we live in Dallas? Oh yeah, jobs. Portland does have the second highest unemployment of any city in the country (it's over 10%). So quitting our jobs to move there in hopes of making a living might be a bit on the foolish side right now. And we might need some financial resources to buy wheat-free pizza, ride the public transportation, and support the Saturday Market vendors.
Of course, a lot of the "stuff to be done" isn't really work - calling up friends I haven't talked to in a while, playing shuffleboard, hanging out with family. I guess I should more accurately say: naps, sleeping in, and blog posts are apparently at the bottom of my list.
We were in Oregon a week. While we stayed in Portland(for free, thank you very much Marriott), we made multiple day trips from there so we got to see the coast, the Columbia River Gorge area, the Mt. Hood area, and Mt. St. Helen's. This gave us a couple days actually in the city.
There are tons of reasons to like Portland so, rather than bore you to death, here are my top 5.
1. The city is big in a small way. Portland offers museums, arts, night life, restaurants, rivers (thus, water sports), and parks - plenty to do. But it's small enough to get around in easily and the city centre is especially pedestrian friendly. Mass transit is easy and convenient, and biking is a main mode of transportation. Portland felt a little like a mix of Amsterdam and Prague to us.
2. It is soooo easy for me to find food to eat in restaurants and grocery stores in Portland! (Because of the endometriosis and infertility and all, I'm trying to eat healthier: no wheat, less dairy, no red meat, hormone-free poultry, organic produce, no caffeine, etc.) The northwest U.S. is, for some reason, more health-conscious than the South, so organic food is abundant and the list of restaurants catering to wheat- and gluten-free diets is quite long, especially compared to Dallas. There are even a couple bakery/coffee shops that make wheat-free baked goods! And we got a wheat-free pizza the first night we were there!
3. The temperatures in the last week of June in Portland were approximately 30 degrees cooler than those found in Dallas. I think the hottest it got was maybe in the upper 80s and when you go up in the mountains it stays in the 60s all day. Yesterday in Dallas it was around 103 with a heat index of 180. OK. 115. Seriously! I wish I could have boxed up some of that cool, sunny weather and brought it back with me. (I think maybe this reason to love Portland should be listed as number one!)
4. Saturday Market. Maybe it was the perfect weather, or the abundance of interesting stalls to look at, or the fact that a market will always remind me of life in Europe, or the sweet smell of "elephant ears" and roasted corn, but this is just a fun, enjoyable weekend activity!
5. Rose bushes grow in abundance on the sides of the highways going through the city! Most cities I can think of line the highways with the ever-attractive, definitely cost-effective, concrete walls. Or maybe hills of weeds. The sloping hills surrounding the edges of the highways in Portland are green and planted generously with rose bushes. The red, pink, and white roses were out in abundance in June. I think roses love Portland, too! (The picture is actually from the International Rose Test Garden, but the roses on the side of the road looked just as great.)
Why do we live in Dallas? Oh yeah, jobs. Portland does have the second highest unemployment of any city in the country (it's over 10%). So quitting our jobs to move there in hopes of making a living might be a bit on the foolish side right now. And we might need some financial resources to buy wheat-free pizza, ride the public transportation, and support the Saturday Market vendors.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Ready for a Science Lesson?
I wrote something about a certain slime mold on our lawn almost one year ago. It was so riveting that I started thinking it's about time to write another "science" post. (I use the term "science" loosely.)
Maybe this will become an annual blog post: "Science Lesson of the Year" I'll call it.
Except that would suggest these little musings on science are award-winning and spectacular when they are really just my own observations from a layman's perspective.
Perhaps "Annual Strange Observations on Science-related Kinds of Things Around My House" would be a more suitable title.
While watering my garden and attempting to water certain other flower beds in our yard this morning, I ran into one of these:
That, my friends, is a 2-inch long wasp that flies at lightening fast speeds in zig-zag motions as if it's drunk. It's called a Cicada-Killer. Please agree with me that it looks menacing. It does, doesn't it? I mean, it even has the word "Killer" in it's name!
These giant wasps nest underground, and I guess the females (which, by the way, are the only ones that sting) come out in full force in early summer to lay their eggs...underground. The females also hunt cicadas to put in the nests for the larvae to eat when they hatch the following spring.
I guess larvae like roasted cicada because it is already 100 degrees (100 degrees! That's 38 degrees celsius!) here so I can only imagine the ground temperatures will be at least that hot for the next four months.
So, I read all about these killer wasps and was pleased to find that "Cicada Killers rarely sting humans. Only the females have the ability to sting, and they only sting in defense if handled."
Whew.
But, really, I prefer not to test that theory.
And speaking of 100 degree!!!! temperatures and even higher heat indexes, we are shortly going to be on our way to Portland, Oregon where the temperatures will only reach the upper 70s for the entire week we'll be there!
So, stay tuned for our adventures in Oregon.
While we're gone I think you should go see the movie "Up". It is one of the best movies I've seen in a while. (OK, now that I think of it that's not saying much since I've seen approximately three movies in the past five year at the theater.) It is a heart-warming, funny, entertaining film with a good message.
Maybe this will become an annual blog post: "Science Lesson of the Year" I'll call it.
Except that would suggest these little musings on science are award-winning and spectacular when they are really just my own observations from a layman's perspective.
Perhaps "Annual Strange Observations on Science-related Kinds of Things Around My House" would be a more suitable title.
While watering my garden and attempting to water certain other flower beds in our yard this morning, I ran into one of these:
That, my friends, is a 2-inch long wasp that flies at lightening fast speeds in zig-zag motions as if it's drunk. It's called a Cicada-Killer. Please agree with me that it looks menacing. It does, doesn't it? I mean, it even has the word "Killer" in it's name!
These giant wasps nest underground, and I guess the females (which, by the way, are the only ones that sting) come out in full force in early summer to lay their eggs...underground. The females also hunt cicadas to put in the nests for the larvae to eat when they hatch the following spring.
I guess larvae like roasted cicada because it is already 100 degrees (100 degrees! That's 38 degrees celsius!) here so I can only imagine the ground temperatures will be at least that hot for the next four months.
So, I read all about these killer wasps and was pleased to find that "Cicada Killers rarely sting humans. Only the females have the ability to sting, and they only sting in defense if handled."
Whew.
But, really, I prefer not to test that theory.
And speaking of 100 degree!!!! temperatures and even higher heat indexes, we are shortly going to be on our way to Portland, Oregon where the temperatures will only reach the upper 70s for the entire week we'll be there!
So, stay tuned for our adventures in Oregon.
While we're gone I think you should go see the movie "Up". It is one of the best movies I've seen in a while. (OK, now that I think of it that's not saying much since I've seen approximately three movies in the past five year at the theater.) It is a heart-warming, funny, entertaining film with a good message.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Heat, it is oppressive.
I am being forced to prepare for a vacation an entire WEEK before the trip will actually take place! What with work and a rather last-minute weekend trip to Arkansas for a wedding, I am actually thinking about packing, doing laundry and getting the house cleaned an entire seven days before departure.
This is just WRONG. In fact, when it comes down to it, I'm pretty sure all the shock of preparing entirely too early for a trip will cause me to become paralyzed until I end up just staying awake half the night right before we leave for Oregon doing all those things I have on my list for today and tomorrow.
Speaking of my to-do list, John and I did get one thing done last Sunday (of all things! that's about a week and a half too early!). Central Market has a delightful assortment of wheat and soy-free snack bars and bulk trail mixes - perfect for days of hiking or driving around.
Oh, I am looking forward to being in a place where the heat index is not 110 degrees!
It is most unfortunate that soup and crock-pot recipes are the easiest, cheapest things to cook up at home. Because who wants to have soup for dinner when all you want to do is sit in a tub of ice cubes while munching on a half-gallon of chocolate, coconut, pecan ice cream?
No one. That's who.
I confess I have forced the issue several times already this summer, but the money I'm saving in a pot of soup is, in all likelihood, being replaced (or exceeded) by the extra money spent turning the air conditioner down to 70 in order to enjoy the soup. There are only so many salads you can eat, you know?
Maybe we'll just start having ice cream for dinner. Or, in my case, some Coconut Bliss frozen dessert.
P.S. With the heat and humidity come the mosquitoes. In some strange defiance of logic, I have a mosquito bite on the bottom of my foot! There is no getting around it: if you have to walk, it's going to itch. And it is nigh impossible to scratch the bottom of your foot. Come to think of it, it is not really that improbable to have a mosquito bite the sole of my foot seeing as I run around barefoot outside much more than my mother would approve of. It is just too hot to put anything on my feet. (Or I'm too lazy to go find my shoes when the need to go outdoors arises. Whatever.)
This is just WRONG. In fact, when it comes down to it, I'm pretty sure all the shock of preparing entirely too early for a trip will cause me to become paralyzed until I end up just staying awake half the night right before we leave for Oregon doing all those things I have on my list for today and tomorrow.
Speaking of my to-do list, John and I did get one thing done last Sunday (of all things! that's about a week and a half too early!). Central Market has a delightful assortment of wheat and soy-free snack bars and bulk trail mixes - perfect for days of hiking or driving around.
Oh, I am looking forward to being in a place where the heat index is not 110 degrees!
It is most unfortunate that soup and crock-pot recipes are the easiest, cheapest things to cook up at home. Because who wants to have soup for dinner when all you want to do is sit in a tub of ice cubes while munching on a half-gallon of chocolate, coconut, pecan ice cream?
No one. That's who.
I confess I have forced the issue several times already this summer, but the money I'm saving in a pot of soup is, in all likelihood, being replaced (or exceeded) by the extra money spent turning the air conditioner down to 70 in order to enjoy the soup. There are only so many salads you can eat, you know?
Maybe we'll just start having ice cream for dinner. Or, in my case, some Coconut Bliss frozen dessert.
P.S. With the heat and humidity come the mosquitoes. In some strange defiance of logic, I have a mosquito bite on the bottom of my foot! There is no getting around it: if you have to walk, it's going to itch. And it is nigh impossible to scratch the bottom of your foot. Come to think of it, it is not really that improbable to have a mosquito bite the sole of my foot seeing as I run around barefoot outside much more than my mother would approve of. It is just too hot to put anything on my feet. (Or I'm too lazy to go find my shoes when the need to go outdoors arises. Whatever.)
Friday, June 05, 2009
Ramblings on Empty Promises and Frozen Dessert
Oh, it has been a good long while since my last post. Every other day I promise myself I will think of something insightful or witty to write about. Or I think of something entertaining and then promise myself I will find the time to sit down and type it out soon...very soon.
As you can tell, my promises to myself are empty.
In fact, the last two weeks, after returning from our fabulous trip to San Antonio, I have pretty much felt like I'm just keeping my head above water.
I've decided that just cleaning the house before a trip is not enough to make the homecoming an easy transition. (And OF COURSE I clean the entire house and get all the dishes washed before we leave town because, my word!, my head just might explode if I returned home to a dirty house with no clean dishes!)
(Sadly, I don't know for sure that my head would explode because I've never been brave enough to leave a messy house behind me while I vacation. And just for a little more insight: I like to get the dishes put in the dishwasher and the kitchen cleaned up after dinner BEFORE eating my dessert. Dessert is the best part. Why ruin it with some cleaning hanging over my head?)
I might have a neurosis.
What was I saying?
Oh yes. The cleaning before a trip. Well, even so, I tend to get home after a trip with about thirteen loads of laundry to do. So, then there's also ironing and dry-cleaning that needs to be done. And there's usually no food in the house, so a trip to the grocery store (let's be realistic - stores, plural) is in order. Going through all the mail and attending to whatever bills or whatnot that have accumulated is quite a lengthy process. Phone calls need to be returned, and it will take at LEAST a day to go through all the emails at work. Not to mention the actual work that needs to be caught up on.
So, all this to say, THAT is what I was doing last week.
Then this week my parents, sister and nephew (who is the cutest little boy in the world) came for a couple days on their way through town. So, I was busy playing and talking and cooking this week. Thus, no blog.
And after all this rambling, you are now probably grateful.
But wait! There's something else. I have news I must share. You can get free chocolate on Fridays through September. And I can't think of much right now that would be better than free chocolate.
OK. Maybe a free trip to Australia or Disney World. Or a free swimming pool with free maintenance in my backyard (oh yes, it is now becoming much like an oven when you step out the door here). But free chocolate is right up there.
AND I found some wheat-free, soy-free, sugar-free organic frozen dessert (think ice cream) in the store the other day that is the best non-ice cream I've ever tasted! In fact, I'd venture to say it's BETTER than ice cream while being better for you. Luna and Larry's Coconut Bliss. They use agave syrup as sweetener instead of sugar (don't ask me exactly what agave is...it's a plant). And coconut milk instead of dairy cream/milk. The chocolate hazelnut fudge is delicious. I dream about this stuff. If you can get it in your area, try it!
The downside is that it comes in pints and they're $5 a piece. So, it's a bad idea to pull it out of the freezer when I'm stressed out because I end up eating way more than I can afford. But this all just reminds me how tasty fresh, natural, organic food is. Why are there preservatives, hormones, and chemicals in all our food in this country?
That's mostly a rhetorical question. Perhaps I will rant about this another day. Right now I might need to go have a little Coconut Bliss. And start cooking. (This is the weekend-o'-cooking around here. The get-togethers, parties, and pot-luck lunches are coming out the wazoo.)
As you can tell, my promises to myself are empty.
In fact, the last two weeks, after returning from our fabulous trip to San Antonio, I have pretty much felt like I'm just keeping my head above water.
I've decided that just cleaning the house before a trip is not enough to make the homecoming an easy transition. (And OF COURSE I clean the entire house and get all the dishes washed before we leave town because, my word!, my head just might explode if I returned home to a dirty house with no clean dishes!)
(Sadly, I don't know for sure that my head would explode because I've never been brave enough to leave a messy house behind me while I vacation. And just for a little more insight: I like to get the dishes put in the dishwasher and the kitchen cleaned up after dinner BEFORE eating my dessert. Dessert is the best part. Why ruin it with some cleaning hanging over my head?)
I might have a neurosis.
What was I saying?
Oh yes. The cleaning before a trip. Well, even so, I tend to get home after a trip with about thirteen loads of laundry to do. So, then there's also ironing and dry-cleaning that needs to be done. And there's usually no food in the house, so a trip to the grocery store (let's be realistic - stores, plural) is in order. Going through all the mail and attending to whatever bills or whatnot that have accumulated is quite a lengthy process. Phone calls need to be returned, and it will take at LEAST a day to go through all the emails at work. Not to mention the actual work that needs to be caught up on.
So, all this to say, THAT is what I was doing last week.
Then this week my parents, sister and nephew (who is the cutest little boy in the world) came for a couple days on their way through town. So, I was busy playing and talking and cooking this week. Thus, no blog.
And after all this rambling, you are now probably grateful.
But wait! There's something else. I have news I must share. You can get free chocolate on Fridays through September. And I can't think of much right now that would be better than free chocolate.
OK. Maybe a free trip to Australia or Disney World. Or a free swimming pool with free maintenance in my backyard (oh yes, it is now becoming much like an oven when you step out the door here). But free chocolate is right up there.
AND I found some wheat-free, soy-free, sugar-free organic frozen dessert (think ice cream) in the store the other day that is the best non-ice cream I've ever tasted! In fact, I'd venture to say it's BETTER than ice cream while being better for you. Luna and Larry's Coconut Bliss. They use agave syrup as sweetener instead of sugar (don't ask me exactly what agave is...it's a plant). And coconut milk instead of dairy cream/milk. The chocolate hazelnut fudge is delicious. I dream about this stuff. If you can get it in your area, try it!
The downside is that it comes in pints and they're $5 a piece. So, it's a bad idea to pull it out of the freezer when I'm stressed out because I end up eating way more than I can afford. But this all just reminds me how tasty fresh, natural, organic food is. Why are there preservatives, hormones, and chemicals in all our food in this country?
That's mostly a rhetorical question. Perhaps I will rant about this another day. Right now I might need to go have a little Coconut Bliss. And start cooking. (This is the weekend-o'-cooking around here. The get-togethers, parties, and pot-luck lunches are coming out the wazoo.)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Happy (late) anniversary to us!
We had a fabulous long weekend in San Antonio, and, since we've been there multiple times already we felt no pressure to run here and there filling up our schedule to the brim so as not to miss anything.
It helped that this time we stayed in a really nice hotel with beautiful grounds and a lovely pool/hot tub area.
(We stayed for free, because why would we ever pay full-price for any vacation? This is just part of John's reward for practically living in Oklahoma City for five months.) Because let me just tell you, last time we took a little getaway to San Antonio? We stayed in a little place called the Alamo Inn (not anywhere actually near the Alamo), and when you stay someplace like that you pretty much cram your weekend full of anything that involves NOT being at the motel...with the bugs and the stained carpet.
So this weekend, there was swimming, reading on the balcony, napping, plenty of walking around to see beauty (the grounds at the Alamo, the non-commercial parts of the Riverwalk, the King William District, parks), and gourmet dining. Because, doesn't everyone know the most important part of vacation is the eating?
OK, I admit we went to one very touristy locale for dinner one night. It had been ages since either of us had been to Mi Tierra. While it's a San Antonio institution, flamboyantly decorated, and always has about 200 people eating there, the food is not anything out-of-the-ordinary. It's really good, just overpriced for what you get.
Although... and I don't know if I should really be sharing this little secret...we inadvertently found a way to order fajitas for two (normally priced at $27) for only $19. It really had a lot to do with the fact that the waiter didn't ask John whether he wanted beef or chicken fajitas, so when it came with beef (which would have been fine with him, I was the one who wanted chicken - because we were supposed to be sharing!) John asked if he could just get a side of chicken. So the waiter brought him a little plate of wonderful grilled chicken and charged it as a chicken taco for $3.95. (I know, who would pay $3.95 for a chicken taco? I guess someone who would wait an hour to be seated at the most crowded restaurant in San Antonio...and us, inadvertently of course.) Needless to say, between the "fajitas for two" and bean and cheese nachos, we had more than enough food.
And because I hate to see anyone waste their money and calories on bad food while on vacation, I will share the names of the other really wonderful places we ate: Azuca, Rosario's, The Guenther House, San Antonio Botanical Gardens restaurant, and Schilo's. Warning: none are on the Riverwalk. There are a few supposedly fantastic restaurants on the Riverwalk - all very high-priced. The ones we've eaten at in the past are just good and maybe a little pricey for the food you get.
One other totally unrelated snippet of the weekend continues to make me laugh. On the way back to our hotel one evening, we overheard a man at a bus stop telling a fellow passenger, "When we used to raid villages, we'd look for the pigs, sheep and oxen." I have no context for that comment, and really, would there even be a legitimate, realistic context in which that comments would make sense? It is not 1870. And the man was not 139 years old.
I have the post-vacation blues today. They are especially bad after such a relaxing, fun weekend. (And maybe they are a bit worse because I have been on extra doses of hormones following that last surgery I had.)
Or maybe I'm addicted to travel. I'm having withdrawal and am already thinking about our next trip. I can't wait!
So, I think today will be rather unproductive. I'm already preparing for that possibility. I think I'll just blame it on the hormones.
It helped that this time we stayed in a really nice hotel with beautiful grounds and a lovely pool/hot tub area.
(We stayed for free, because why would we ever pay full-price for any vacation? This is just part of John's reward for practically living in Oklahoma City for five months.) Because let me just tell you, last time we took a little getaway to San Antonio? We stayed in a little place called the Alamo Inn (not anywhere actually near the Alamo), and when you stay someplace like that you pretty much cram your weekend full of anything that involves NOT being at the motel...with the bugs and the stained carpet.
So this weekend, there was swimming, reading on the balcony, napping, plenty of walking around to see beauty (the grounds at the Alamo, the non-commercial parts of the Riverwalk, the King William District, parks), and gourmet dining. Because, doesn't everyone know the most important part of vacation is the eating?
OK, I admit we went to one very touristy locale for dinner one night. It had been ages since either of us had been to Mi Tierra. While it's a San Antonio institution, flamboyantly decorated, and always has about 200 people eating there, the food is not anything out-of-the-ordinary. It's really good, just overpriced for what you get.
Although... and I don't know if I should really be sharing this little secret...we inadvertently found a way to order fajitas for two (normally priced at $27) for only $19. It really had a lot to do with the fact that the waiter didn't ask John whether he wanted beef or chicken fajitas, so when it came with beef (which would have been fine with him, I was the one who wanted chicken - because we were supposed to be sharing!) John asked if he could just get a side of chicken. So the waiter brought him a little plate of wonderful grilled chicken and charged it as a chicken taco for $3.95. (I know, who would pay $3.95 for a chicken taco? I guess someone who would wait an hour to be seated at the most crowded restaurant in San Antonio...and us, inadvertently of course.) Needless to say, between the "fajitas for two" and bean and cheese nachos, we had more than enough food.
And because I hate to see anyone waste their money and calories on bad food while on vacation, I will share the names of the other really wonderful places we ate: Azuca, Rosario's, The Guenther House, San Antonio Botanical Gardens restaurant, and Schilo's. Warning: none are on the Riverwalk. There are a few supposedly fantastic restaurants on the Riverwalk - all very high-priced. The ones we've eaten at in the past are just good and maybe a little pricey for the food you get.
One other totally unrelated snippet of the weekend continues to make me laugh. On the way back to our hotel one evening, we overheard a man at a bus stop telling a fellow passenger, "When we used to raid villages, we'd look for the pigs, sheep and oxen." I have no context for that comment, and really, would there even be a legitimate, realistic context in which that comments would make sense? It is not 1870. And the man was not 139 years old.
I have the post-vacation blues today. They are especially bad after such a relaxing, fun weekend. (And maybe they are a bit worse because I have been on extra doses of hormones following that last surgery I had.)
Or maybe I'm addicted to travel. I'm having withdrawal and am already thinking about our next trip. I can't wait!
So, I think today will be rather unproductive. I'm already preparing for that possibility. I think I'll just blame it on the hormones.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
