In sickness and in health....

                                       In sickness and in health....

Yes, those are the words I spoke so very long ago. The understanding of their meaning so far from the moment. Yet...I spoke them anyway! If given the chance to do it again I would say them with greater understanding....because I love him so very much!

He has served me in sickness far more than I have ever had the honor of loving him through his. Mine...1 para sail accident, 9 babies, 1 skin cancer and reconstruction and 1 very glad it's gone gallbladder! He...my husband,friend, love of my life never complained....just served and loved me to health!

Ephesians 5:25-27

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

You never really understand how much you love someone until they are unable to be their good ole healthy selves. Yesterday's two hour surgery to repair torn tendons has rocked my self-centered world. It's my nature to want to fix whatever might be broken or hurt. These next several weeks may be harder on him than me...but I hurt. I hurt watching him hurt. I hurt watching him get frustrated at the lack of being mobile. I hurt at watching God get him to a place of stillness. I'm overjoyed at what God might be up too! I smile at the end result and the beginning of a new journey as we are squeezed and molded by the inconvenience of this part of the journey. Time will tell. Will tell if we heed His calling and obey. If we are still and tune our ears to his voice. Surrendering all that we are and ever hope to be. Only to be His child and do His will.

And in six weeks...we do this all over again! Another surgery...same foot! My oh my...My God is good and greatly to be praised! Praising Him for a great place of employment with great sick leave and all this time I will have with the man that I promised to love and serve through this sickness!

As we have so many times before....One day we will look back on this time and smile. Smiling at the hand of our great Father who loves us so much and works everything out for our good!

Raising daughters...A real circus!

This is a great book...not just for a father...but a great tool in teaching a mom how to best support or understand her husband in his journey of fathering his daughters. 7 daughters...we need all the help we can get!

There are days when I am just blessed to keep my head above water. I look at my life and think... God what were you thinking?! I am in no way capable of raising this many girls and remain sane. I can see him smiling and saying...Yes you can!

Tonight I posted phrases that I catch myself saying alot...I should have joined a circus! Anyone need a juggler? Oh wait...I created my own circus! I'm ready to retire!

A few months ago a dear friend recommended a book to me....Strong Fathers Strong Daughters
By the title you would think it's for your partner in crime. I must admit,  I set out reading this book to help me have a better understanding of my husband's role in the area of parenting our daughters. You know....so I can better support him in his calling as a dad!  Support...An area that I fail at miserably!

I have always struggled with knowing what a true father looked liked. Having lost my dad at the age of 13...I feel in someways I have missed out on a very critical area of life. Many fathers don't understand what a very important role they play in the lives of their children...especially for a daughter.

I remember days after my dad's death, my mom saying to my sisters and I....God promised in His word that He would be a father to the fatherless. It's in those days when I would watch other girls interacting with their dads...I knew there would always be a disconnection in my understanding of that father daughter relationship. An area in my life that God would have to continually bring reassurance of His great love for me!

As I read this book I was amazed at how important the little things that we (especially their dad) say and do can impact our daughter's journey to womanhood. I know we will never be the perfect parents. My husband will never be the perfect father. Only one man can have that title. That would be MY dad!

 It's never to late to continue learning to be a better parent. Our sons are 26 and 24. The girls are 23, 21, 18, 15, 12, 9 and 5. I don't see retirement anytime soon. I love this circus! This is a lifelong commitment! But with my Father's help we can raise these girls to be strong women who truly understand the love of a father.

I am blessed..........and yes I can do this! We can do this!

10000 days and counting..........

10000 days or

864,000,000 seconds

14,400,000 minutes

240,000 hours

1428 weeks (rounded down

Numbers...that's a whole lot of them!

Psalms 90: 12 tells us ....

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

and that's a whole lot of lovin wisdom! I'm really not sure how wise I have become. All I know is I love my Saviour and I love the fact that He knew exactly who I needed in my life to love me the way I needed to be loved. For that I am very thankful!

10000 days ago I said "I do" to my love. 10000 days ago, at the age of 18, I married a man whose love for me has filled my heart with life. Filled my heart with love. Filled my heart with a lifetime of learning to follow the one who planned the life we share. 10000 days of really living....some good....some bad. All to gain a heart of wisdom. All to walk this journey hand in hand...never alone.

I am thankful that my love has encouraged me to number my days. Each one a gift. Each one an adventure. Each one sharing with the one who promised to always hold my hand.

My love for old things....SHMILY

My love for old things has made it's way into the burlap world and my Etsy shop. The first time I read this SHMILY story  was several years ago. There is something so intriguing about a life long love that has seen years of tears, joys and dreams. A friendship that has lasted through the fiercest of storms and somehow manages to find joy in the midst of that storm. The depth of a love that permeates every minute of their lives.

As we grow older I hope one day our grandchildren will be a witness to that same SHMILY love....

Help me! I'm being sucked into the sea of Pinterest!

Photo credit

I remember when my years of homemaking began and just thinking of the simplicity of it all sets my mind at ease. Of course at the age of 18 how did I even know what all homemaking entailed? I remember someone asking me what style I liked....Country, contemporary,eclectic etc.?  Is smorgasbord a decorator style? I was so young...very young...and newly married, decorating was the last thing on my mind! Little by little I began to discover what styles interested me and my list along with torn out dreams from magazine pages began to fill a little corner of our home. That 1 ziplock bag of recipes suddenly became 5! If I only had 1 place to keep them. Too bad we didn't have the internet way back then!

Have you ever seen something you liked and thought...."I'd like to have that" or "I could make that" ? Only minutes later forget about it or forgot where you saw it.  For years I have said I should take my camera with me everywhere and photograph things that I really like...My camera if full right along with my computer! Then there is the good ole favorites list! Yes, I am the one who painstakingly clicks on each item I had saved looking for that one thing I know was on that very long list!

Then My daughter introduced me to Pinterest !  It's like an online picture book! This is the most ingenious website out there! Why didn't I think of something like this?  The only problem now....I get sucked into this sea of  dreams and ideas! And they are all in ONE place! How cool is that?!  No more corner filled magazine pages in our house. No more out of order favorites list...a much shorter list!

I love that I can share my dreams with this sea of Pinterest friends! I have seen more cute ideas than I will possibly be able to complete in a lifetime...but I continue to pin away!  There are so many great recipes posted.Warning....do not get on Pinterest late at night! Every time I do my taste buds start salivating and then the hunger pains. It's like being pregnant....I am NOT though!

I use to say I would love to have my house look like it was from out of a certain magazine. Now the question is when someone walks in my house...Have you been on Pinterest?!  

Pinterest....the woman's new Facebook! If you would like to join in on all the fun, message me if you want an invite!

Yummy... Old Mill Restaurant's Signature Corn Chowder

 Photo Credit

Have you ever eaten at the Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge Tennessee? They have this signature Corn Chowder that is out of this world! I first had this at a friend's house. She had purchased their chowder mix from the gift shop to make at home. I was instantly hooked! I immediately went home and did a search for a recipe. Here is what I found.... Corn Chowder recipe . I did add a can of green chilies for a little extra kick! A few times I have added some chicken for a more hearty soup. However you choose to make this recipe you won't be disappointed! But if you don't like to cook chowder then head on up to Tennessee...well up if you live below Tennessee!....for a genuine bowl of chowder goodness!

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter , divided

3 cups onions , diced

3/4 cup crumbled unsalted oyster crackers

1/4 cup flour

2 cups water

1 cup clam juice ( You can find this on the top shelf  on the isle above the canned tuna )

2 cups chicken stock or 2 cups beef stock or 2 cups ham stock

3 cups potatoes , diced (I buy the frozen hash browns...not shredded)

2 cups half-and-half

2 cups frozen corn (defrosted)

1 green bell pepper , chopped

1 red bell pepper , chopped

garlic powder

onion powder

white pepper

Directions:

1. Mix liquids and 1 tablespoon butter, add potatoes and onions, cook until done.
2. Mix cracker crumbs, flour and seasonings. Add to potato and onion mixture.
3. Sauté chopped bell peppers in remaining butter till tender.
4. Add to potato and onion mixture.
5. Stir to mix well, bring to boil; add half and half and corn.
6. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
7. *Seasonings are to taste. Taste often and add extra as desired.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/old-mill-restaurants-signature-corn-chowder-206847#ixzz1iu6tQsjp

Nothing left....An empty cake plate!

I think the vote is in and the Layered Peppermint Cheesecake was a success! I wanted to show you the inside of this delicious cake...but nothing was left except the sugared rosemary. So I guess I'll leave you a before photo and you'll have to just imagine what the inside looked and tasted like! Trust me ...it was really good! The link for the recipe is in my previous post.  I suppose I may just have to try this recipe again..... I would love to hear your thoughts about this cake!