Here we go again!!

Pondering life.  Pondering why I am living in this gargantuan house with a 21 year old who is supposed to be helping with the bills and rent, yet isn't.  Maybe time to move!  I love my children, all of them.  Never am looking forward to Empty Nest Syndrome, or am I?  Life would be so much easier in an empty nest, but I would not give up my kids for anything.

My Youngest son is in College at Christopher Newport.  It seems that although he had surgery last Month, he is getting around well.  Crutches are helping!  But He seems to only be needing the fun of classes to be standing alone!  Here he is with his lovely friend:

Ewww

This is a raccoon he skinned.  Road Kill?

As for me, I am enjoying my job:

And My surrogate Daughter:

She helps make the day fun.  

 Every once in a while, I get to go to Starbucks- But Gracie enjoys it more:

Well, that is it for tonight.  Back to studying.  

Enjoy Folks

Ellen

Balloons, Pies, Cheer, And The Chaos

Wow!  Who knew!  School is back in, both for me and my children.  I also have taken on a job.  actually....3.  I am exhausted, but mostly happy.  I am so busy I can barely see straight.  But my  bills are paid, my kids are happy, and I feel determined to get thru this part of my life!

Little Girls started Cheer This year: 

The oldest Son is dwelling in the basement (not for much longer if he doesn't change his ways). and the Youngest son is Back at Christopher Newport.

We have the absolute privledge of every few days having a balloon or two or three take off out of the backyard.  It is noisy but beautiful.  

I've taken up selling Mary Kay - allows me to give my friends a great deal as well as myself!

I am embroidering alot right now!!  I love it, but trying to get it all done is exhausting!!

Plus working at the Mt. Airy Farm Market is great too because I get to interact with people!  We all know I am a social butterfly.  I love Baking and Cooking for them.  Mmmm

My house is my priority today (putting off that homework til the last minute!) As between working over 40 hours a week, carrying the load of classes, homework, cheer, 4H, Girlscouts, Games, yardwork, laundry, and every other thing calling for my attention, the house is not getting any!! WHY!! just had to throw that in there.  If just 1 child would help in this department somewhere what a relief.  

So head on out on a Sunday and enjoy your Families.  I will clean my house, put away my laundry and yes, do my homework.  Oh, and study for a test.  
Have a blessed day my dear friends!!
Elly

Long Time Coming

Wow, it seems I have neglected my Blogsite.  My life has just been Uber crazy.  Let's talk about Summer.  What did yours consist of?  I didn't get to go home to Oklahoma and Kansas, but it was still filled with fun and friends.  My grandbabies and Daughter have moved so much closer to us and we get to see them so much more.

My Girls went to 4-H camp. That was so fun for them.

Having all my kids under my roof at once has been wonderful!  Giving my girls the experience of camp this summer was very very rewarding.  Although I really didn't take much of a vacation, The summer has been eventful and wonderful.  Hope to chat again in a day or so........

Today it Snowed

School Snow Day!!
I started my day (after an entire night of insomnia) with phone calls from the school cancelling school.  Yay, snow day.  So, got up, and took some pictures of the place.

Then I came in and lit the fireplace, and made some coffee.  Started Cheeseburger Potato soup, a taco roll, and am thinking of making some tarts.  Looking out on the beauty of the world this morning had me reflecting on everything around us and the fact that we take it for granted.  Do we enjoy the Snow so late in March or Complain about it?  The Moisture will help our trees, grass and flowers grow.  Yet we complain about it.  I complain about it.  But then, I took my coffee out onto the porch and rethought my complaint.  Peaceful and useful this snow is.  Our lives are much the same way.  We Take how we feel for granted.  I wrapped up in a blanket, put on my slippers, grabbed my bible and sat in the cold and read to myself.  Focusing on the thoughts from the night before.  Breathing in slowly and exhaling just as slow.  Watching my breath, feeling my heart beat in my chest.  I complained on Facebook about no sleep and A friend told me "Ellen all you really need to do is remember. Remember holding your children the day they where born. Remember the sparkle in there eyes on Christmas morning. Now place both your hands on your heart and feel it beating and think of all your friends and family and remember you are loved and prayed for. That's your blanket "
It was the best advice I ever got.  It helped me put a few things in perspective.  What am I complaining about snow for?  Look at my blessings, Look at my life.  is it really that bad?  


So, onward and upward.  Into the Kitchen I went:

Coffee and Tarts.  That will help put it all into perspective!!  

Vegetable Pasta

Yummy low carb dinner:

Today I am making Pasta with Turkey Meatballs, but this is not any regular pasta.  It is completely made from veggies.  No flour.  Using different squashes.  It Should be Yummy.  So come along on this venture with me.  Here goes nothing:

First I am using a Spaghetti Squash.  cut it in half rub a little olive oil on the meat and place it face down on a foil covered baking sheet.  Put it in a 350 degree oven until it is cooked and comes out looking like spaghetti.

  Mine I left in for 45 minutes because I like mine a little softer, but not mushy.  While this is cooking I am on to the Zucchini and Yellow squashes.  I am going to julienne these.  Here goes.  This is looking incredible.  My camera is not charged Dang it....  I will take a minute to plug it in...

Now lets get the ingredients together:

• 1 clove garlic, minced 

• 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained 

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 

• zucchini, spaghetti squash, Summer Squash

• Salt and pepper, to taste 

• Pinch fresh basil, optional 

• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 2 ounces

• Turkey sausage Meatballs.

In a large skillet, brown the sausage meatballs with the garlic; drain off any excess grease. Add the tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Simmer, uncovered, for a few minutes. Add the squash and cook just until it is tender but not mushy. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the basil and Parmesan cheese to serve.

Delish!!  Enjoy My Minions!!

Love is Patient

I love this verse.  It is one of my favorites.  I think we should all learn it and live by it.  Sometimes we falter, but we should show our hearts as often as possible.  I wear mine on my sleeve personally.  I ask myself regularly what I can do to be a better person.  So I am revisiting this verse and going to try to live each line.  I want it to become second nature.  I want to always treat people with Kindness and Patience. Listen to them, help when I can.  Do for them the things I can.  I want to not Brag about the good things and Never be jealous of the worldly things or other people.  Love openly and share my love with others and hope they share theirs.  Never be rude and hateful to people.  Try to talk kindly to them, even if there is a problem, talk it out without dishonor or rudeness.  I  don't ever ever want to be self-seeking.  I have not ever looked at another human and thought "what can I get out of them?"  And I never want to be that person.  I think Anger can always happen in our lives, but we should be very slow to get there.  Compassionate towards others.  Always forgive, never hold a grudge.  I have beat people up with their wrongs before and I will NOT do this anymore.  ALWAYS forgive.  Always accept the truth and be happy that I was told the truth.  Never Lie.  There is no reason to embellish or lie about a situation.  It brings untrust and hurt.  I will always protect the ones I love.  With all my love and all my heart I will watch over those in my life. Trust those I love to a fault.  Yes, it needs to be earned, but give that opportunity.  I will always always hope for the best and hope for love and life to be the greatest gift.  And I will always preserve this love.  I will not let love become ugly and hurtful.  It says love never fails.  I have allowed love to fail in my life.  I have failed love.  But I will from this day forward, work my hardest to never fail love or those I love again.  If we do not allow our hearts to harbour this kind of love, then we are greatly missing out.

These two smallish Humans are my reasons for wanting to be a better person.  I want to get up in the Morning, Every Morning, look in the Mirror and be able to say: "See that Girl right there?  She is AWESOME!  She loves her family and friends and shows it every day!"  I want my Children to be able to look at me and say the same thing.  Not only about their Momma, but themselves.  I want them to see the world with love in their hearts and shining out their eyes and their smiles.  I want their older siblings to want to be an inspiration to them by watching me.  I feel if I live my way in a manner that is Loving, Kind, and always as positive as possible, they will grow up knowing they are of great value not only to me, but to the world.

I know that I am of great value to my parents.  They love each other and My Brother and I more than we could ever ask.  They want nothing in return from us.  Just our love.  And we give it.  My Folks have taught me to be who I am.  I realize that without them, I would be a fraction of the person I am.  They have taught me kindness, love, faith, hope, loyalty, and empathy.  As I get older I realize that these were important.  My Morals were important.  Still are.  I just hope I can show my  Children the same things they showed me.  Being a single parent it is much harder to show them how great love between their Parents can be.  But I do hope they will learn that I love.  Oh my how I love.  When I share my love with someone, it is a great gift.  I give away that love freely and no strings attached.  I only  ask it back in return.  Like my parents, that is all I need from people.  Love.

The view from my eyes

After my recent Medical scare, I have started looking at the world in a new light.  It cost me my vision for a while, my boyfriend, my ability to live freely without constant medical treatment.  At the same time it opened those momentarily blind eyes to what I was not seeing in my life.  So, the other day I decided I was going to start this blog.  I want to share my thoughts, my visions, etc.  So much to tell and share.

A few days ago, I had lunch with a wonderful true friend.  She has been here for me thru thick and thin.  She is an inspiration to me.  She is going thru alot of her own trials and tribulations, but has always made time for me.  I love that we can not see each other for many many days, sometimes weeks and months, but we fall back into that same old routine when we are together.  I love her.  I didn't realize how lucky I was until I was sitting with her in the lobby of the hospital.  I only hope I can give back to her as she has helped me.

Hopefully my life will only improve.  We all have trials and tribulations.  It is how we deal with them.  I want to learn to deal with life like a big girl.  Learn to hurt gracefully, learn to be the friend I should always be.  Learn to be the best parent I can possibly be.  I need to find that Peace we all need.  I need to find me.  Be quiet with myself and hear who I really am.  I want to Make Peace and grow from it.  Get out of that pit.  I do not want to force a smile onto my face, I want to Smile from my heart, through my Eyes.  I want This medical scare with my eyes, to open them.  Find my faith in Me again as well as my faith in God.  

God Bless, and please..... find that Smile