Did I ask for it or what?

Come what may and love it? Well, I'm not loving the fact that I'm sick. :P And David too.

David's started on Friday night with him, out of the clear blue sky, "not feeling well". I went to give him a hug and he was burning up! 103.4!!! We dealt with that all weekend. Then Sunday night I started to feel a bit run down with a stiff lower back. Monday morning we took David into the Dr. and the poor kid has the good old fashion influenza. I told the Dr. how I was feeling and he warned me that if I spiked a fever call immediately and they would get me some meds to stop the spreading of the flu. Literally within 2 hours of our visit I had a 101 temp and felt like my back had been run over numerous times by a Mac truck. I haven't felt this terrible since I last took the flu shot. So Dr. Dickson wanted to get me on the antiviral med, Relenza. Now to find that available in all of Whacom County, he had his office call 7 pharmacy's. Of course, the worst customer service pharmacy, Walgreen's in Bellingham, was the ONLY place it could be found. They called in my perscription at 3:30 pm. Rob went in at 6:00 pm on his way home from work and it STILL wasn't ready. It took them 45 minutes to process and put a silly label on the box. But I have to tell you, this is a miracle drug. I felt SO much better by the 3rd dose. Now David, on the other hand, couldn't take this since we didn't catch it within the first 48 hours. He now has a secondary ear infection and is on antibiotics.

So as you can imagine both David & I have been couch puppies and sleeping A LOT! And we are so tired of eating popcicles, soup and smoothies. We both are ready fo life to return to our normal, busy, crazy calendar life.

So in the meantime, I've been tagged by Alicia. It's the photo tag:

• go to the place on your computer where you store all your pictures and open the 4th folder. open the 4th picture. post the picture and give an explanation of what it is. tag 4 people. do not cheat!! you cannot edit or crop the picture!!

Here's what I found. I have 2 photos because when I pull up the files on my computer they come up in alphabetical order. This picture comes up.

2006 Crazy times! I think it was a tickle fest on David since he's in the offical "tickle seat".

To get to the link, they come up in numerical order and this one comes up.

WOW! Christmas 2004. Our first Christmas without Robert being able to come home. Loooong story on that one. I find this photo very sweet opening the stockings. But notice what Amber has on her lap. That's Buddy. One of Robert's old stuffed animals his Grandma DeWees made for him before she died. Amber carried this around the entire day! Her way of having Robert with her. So Jessica, now you know a part of the story that I don't think we've ever told Robert.

Now to go make David a Strawberry smoothie. If you want to do this tag, feel free. It is kind of fun to see what comes up.

"Come What May and Love It!"

We ALL get so overwhelmed with life and our trials sometimes. In those moments when I just want to forget it all, something, someone or some message enters my life to just make me grateful for MY life and the blessings that God places in it for me.

Today it was Paul Cardall. I've mentioned him before and I'm a loyal fan of his and blog stalker. His entry that I read today just touched my heart. I am not looking death squarely in the face like he (and others with his heart problem) is each and every passing day. He is truly an inspiration!

http://mytricuspidatresia.blogspot.com/2009/03/and-what-of-dying.html

I read heard a talk titled Come What May and Love it. Some of the highlights of this talk are SO true.

• The way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life.


• trust in yourself, not blame others for your misfortunes, and give your best effort in everything you attempt.


• Seek for the eternal. You may feel singled out when adversity enters your life. You shake your head and wonder, “Why me?” But the dial on the wheel of sorrow eventually points to each of us. At one time or another, everyone must experience sorrow. No one is exempt. Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our grief. We experience hard things so that we too may have increased compassion and understanding for others.


• put our trust in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Just some crazy thoughts running around my mind tonight.

Moms!! Are you overwhelmed?

Please go take a look at this!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ17tutZtd8

I know some of you have seen this before and I talked about it before as well. But for some reason, we all need to remember that the temper tantrums, the fevers, the runny noses, the poopy diapers, the endless amounts of homework, the once every 5 year weekend getaway (for those not blessed with relatives nearby to watch the kids) won't always be the norm.

I remember feeling like the day would NEVER come when our oldest could babysit the rest of the kids (yes, he got paid). And guess what? It came before we knew it. And then this happens:

You're putting them on a plane for the first time by themselves!

You're watching them walk away to their dorm at college!

You go WITH them and watch them vote!

And then they get MARRIED!!!

And then they bless you with a new "title" of Papa & Nana :D

SO, enjoy where you are! Enjoy the "station"! Enjoy EVERY minute!!! Because truly it's the "circle of life" just the way God intended it to be.

Okay! All right, all ready!!!!

I'm posting!!!! I'm posting!!!! Know it's been 2 weeks since I last posted. But sometimes I just haven't felt like I've had much to say. Yeah, I know! That's hard to believe isn't it? So what have we been doing this entire time? Sometimes I wonder myself. I know we've had bassoon lessons for Amber, no voice lessons for Amber (Bob's been sick), David got a hair cut, went to a few extra help math classes for David (Rob did that!),

took Amber & David out to breakfast at Skylark's,

shampooed the family room carpet,

helped David with his homework, can't believe it's been a year since THIS, had a scrapbooking group meet here where these yummy things

became this

,

got a free hot chocolate at Starbucks (they asked us to name all 7 dwarfs!! No brainer for us Disney geeks!), had dinner at Tabitha & Josh's apartment

And Josh made us these yummy Dutch Babies

ate lunch with friends, went out to dinner with Bob and Diane where we heard the funniest story about Bob, got our rental car for Disneyland (Woohoo!!), had our taxes done with a small refund, did financial things for the Lynden Music Boosters, made LOTS of deposits for the Boosters (fundraisers & Disneyland payments from students), took Amber & David to the dentist ~ no cavities, Amber started being a student trainer/medic for the track team, thinking about getting one of these (thanks for the link Courtney) and added a Power Pump class just this week, to my step aerobic routine and finding muscles I haven't felt fo a long time. Oh yeah! And it SNOWED ~ AGAIN!!!! I'm done with snow and I SO hope it's done with me.

And we're starting a 4 day weekend ~ mid-winter break (State Basketball Tournament). It's going to be a pretty lowkey 4 days and that's okay by me. A few play dates, scrapbooking with Gracelyn and a hot date with the hubster ;D Maybe I'll even get to sleep in one of the days!

Life is good! Family is the most priceless gift. "And there's some good in this world." Be the first one to tell me what movie that quote came from and who said it and I'll give you a goodie! Maybe some chocolate if you're fast enough ;D

Artisan Crusty Bread

Okay, you have GOT to try this!!!! If you love getting your carbs in bread, this is for you!! My sweet friend, Janice posted this recipe and it looked oh, so good. But it's taken me months to try this. Janice promised me that it was a fool proof recipe so this fool took her up on that challenge. And guess what? It's the most amazing, easy smeasy bread recipe EVER!!! And as Janice said " you'll be addicted and your family will think you are a "bread goddess"! (Yes, Kaitlyn, I need to figure out how to post this on the recipe blog your started). So I'm stealing Janice's picture too because her's turned out nicer than mine ! (Thanks Janice) I need to get a different casserole dish as mine has a lip on it and the bread doesn't want to come out nicely. Oh, and we did eat it warm! I couldn't keep hungry peeps away :D

ARTISAN CRUSTY BREAD

• 1 5/8 c. warm water (just make it the same temp. as your wrist)
• 1 tsp yeast
• 1 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 c. flour

In large bowl, stir together water yeast and salt, then add flour. Stir until ingredients are mixed. Place lid on bowl and let rise 6-24 hours (it doesn't raise to be huge). 1-2 hours before baking, scrape dough out onto floured surface (it will be very sticky) and cover with flour and shape into ball. Let sit on counter 1-2 hours. Place glass casserole dish with lid in oven and heat to 450 degrees. The key is in heating up the dish before you put the dough in it. When oven reaches temp, take the dish out and spray w/oil and drop dough into dish, you will hear it sizzle. Put lid on dish and bake 30 min. (still at 450) with lid on. Remove lid and bake another 15 min. The hotter you bake the bread the crustier it is. It is best if you can wait at least 30 min.-1 hr. to eat. It is even better if you can have it done 1-2 hours before - then the crust isn't so hard.

10 days without a post!

Sorry!! It's just been wacky nuts around here. In 10 days we've had me down with a violent and ferocious case of food poisoning, David was sick missing an entire week of school, Rob had a sinus cold, Amber had play performances, and last week she caught the stomach flu that was accompanied by a nice 102.3 fever. She missed 2 days of school and actually missed one of the performances! There was no way the risk could be taken to infect any other members of the cast. Amber's stand-in did a wonderful job on Thursday night but boy was she happy with Amber's return. I will post some photos later from the play. All I have to say it they were "Amazing!!!"

But I have to share a blessing and watchful protection we were given. A week ago Saturday I was up before everyone else for about an hour or so. I went to start a load of laundry and smelled something odd. It smelled like cigarettes. Upon a lengthy investigation, Rob & I discovered this:


Our lint caught on fire!!!! YIKES!!!! So we made a phone call to our appliance repair guy, Scott, from On Call Appliance. He came out first thing on Monday.

He's SO awesome!!! He's so honest and his prices are reasonable as well. He discovered that the hose from the dryer to the wall was never screwed into the back of the dryer as it should have been. And because of the lint that was left over after we clean the filter wasn't going down the hose to the outside vent. It was being sucked in to the area with the motor and pilot light. As Scott put it "The good thing about lint fires is they burn out as quickly as they start. As long as you continue to keep your lint filter cleaned." All I can say is it scared me! He recommends that once a year you take off the plate cover near your motor/pilot light and vacuum the dust out. And best of all, there was no damage to our dryer. Because you all know you just can't buy a dryer without getting the matching washer! Truly a "Tender Mercy" in my book.

I got tickets!!!

But not for the Olympics!!! For this!!!!

They are coming to the Northwest Washington Fair in little old Lynden in August. This will be SO fun!!!!

I don't know, call me weird but would you?

...let SO much personal information be published about you and your family in regards to being a victim of a home invasion? Please, please don't call me heartless, because I am not. Having someone break into your home would be terrifying, especially while you are home with your 2 helpless children. This happened only 4 blocks west and 3 main streets south of me! It's down right frightening for Lynden! For anywhere, really!

Some background for those of you who don't know me very well. I'm a born and raised So. California city girl (and proud of it!). I grew up in the world of the Police Department. My Mom was a dispatcher for 12 years, took part as the secretary in a pilot program called "Neighborhood Watch" for 2 years, and then finished her 18 year working outside of the home career as the secretary of the Detective Bureau. I was a "cop kid" and so no one messed with our family. I was taught A LOT of "street" smarts from the cop side of things. And EVERYTHING in this article is wrong. The name of the victim, her children, AND her husband should not have been published. And we all now know that he works a night shift and she's home alone!!

I also have had some personal experience with the Lynden Tribune a few years back due to being the President of our Homeowners Association. They are not the most responsible or reliable at reporting news. In fact, we cancelled our subscription within 2 years of moving here. I have no respect for them in any way, shape, or form.

So who knows, is this an error of the PD or the Tribune?

For those who "teased" me (and there were MANY) when we moved to Lynden (15 years ago)because I lock my doors to my house and my car AND have a security alarm in our home, THIS is why!!! If someone is going to come inside my home, I want to know they are coming inside. We didn't always have a security alarm either. I grew up without one! It wasn't until our last home in CA that we had one from the previous owners. We fell in love with the security of it. Plus the fact, Miss Amber LOVED trying to go outside on her own when she was a toddler. We called our "ding, ding ding" sound our "Amber alert". :D

So take this article for what it is. Be careful! Be safe! Lock you doors! Even when you are inside!


Police: Lynden woman attacked, beaten
Submitted by the Tribune on February 11, 2009 - 2:27pm. News
Mark ReimersTribune reporter
  LYNDEN -- A Lynden woman was attacked by a man who walked into her family apartment while she was preparing her children’s formula on Saturday, Jan. 31. Lynden Police Chief Jack Foster said Stephanie Brooks, 21, was reportedly beaten by the intruder, causing black eyes and other injuries. The intruder also allegedly tried to pulled the victim’s pants down, but left after she kneed him in the groin. Foster said the woman claims no acquaintance with the attacker, but she described him as white, 20 to 40 years old with an average build and just over six feet tall. The man also had short dark hair, a goatee and a right hoop earring. Police were dispatched around 7:20 p.m. after the woman called her husband, Bob, who works a night shift, who then called police. Dogs used to obtain a track of the assailant failed to find anything, Foster said, which may simply mean the man drove a car to the apartment in the 700 block of Judson St. Police are continuing to investigate the incident. Area media reported in November that the couple has twin 18-month daughters, Halley and Avery, who doctors suspect have a mitochondrial disorder, which affects the body’s ability to convert food into oxygen. Attempts by the Tribune to contact the family have been unsuccessful.

The following article was conveniently published directly underneath.

Lynden business holds fundraiser for Brooks twins
  LYNDEN -- Jeremy’s Watch & Clock Repair is holding a benefit for the Brooks family. Five dollars will be donated to the family for every watch battery changed at the business on Saturday, Feb. 14. The business will also collect items for the twins, including toys, clothes and books. The business is located at 102 Grover St., Suite 104. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  E-mail Mark Reimers at reporter@lyndentribune.com.

No Luck :(

I just can't believe this!!! We (as well as our Olympic veteran friends, the Loveland family) were unable to get tickets for the Olympics! I don't get it, isn't there supposed to be a recession going on? Where are people getting all this money to buy these tickets up SO fast? It's getting frustrating. Really all we want are 4 tickets to the short track speed skating! This round of tickets were the pre-sale before the public sale. Of course, if I wanted to spend $1,200 a piece I wouldn't have a problem getting on of the hospitality packages. Um, I don't think so!! So here's hoping when the public sale opens up we can get some.

Here's the info Lesha ~ http://www.cosport.com/ this is where you get tickets. Here's where you sign up for emails for info in general.
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/-/32678/q0c15c/index.html

A Quiet Day and Wish Me Luck!!

Way too quiet for my liking!!! And that's because yesterday we put Jessica and Lizzie on an airplane to go back home. Sad, sad, sad!! But happy for them since they get to get back to their own bed, the other Grandma, Auntie Manda and Uncle Jake (comes home from Kuwait on Saturday!). The visit went faster than anyone of us imagined. It was pure fun even when we were doing nothing! I loved sitting around just talking with Jessica. And even changing Lizzie's dirty diapers weren't a bother. I was glad to give Jessica the break. What I miss most is this!!

This is what we would see when we come into the house from the garage! Lizzie SO excited to see ANY ONE of us!! And give us loves and kisses.

So back in November I blogged about putting an order in for Olympic tickets.

We didn't get any tickets in the lottery draw. So now we are going to try and get some tomorrow in the pre-sale "real-time" ordering process. If not, I guess we'll have to be content trying to get tickets for practice sessions and watching it on tv.