Moments By Meg

Changes begin from within oneself....

2011-10-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

I started working full-time at a local newspaper/printing company 3 weeks ago. I have to admit I am very use to being the happy cheery person that most people warm up to quickly. That is how it was the first week or so at work... then I began to feel uncomfortable. I was feeling judged harshly for my typos... Most of my family knows I am the typo queen. But at this paper it's not just my regular typos that were under the microscope... it was the paper's own typing standards. For example in an auction the first letter of every item is capitalized but NOT the descriptive words... the first letter of all the farm machinery... but NOT the words that describe it's features. Which sound very easy until you get Farmers who type back asswards, and there are 20 million different types of farm equipment.. and I was raised in SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA... and I could give a rats ass about what is the name and what is a description... of a flipping stupid tractor... Did you know there are farm machines that are have or are disks and others that use discs... do you know the difference... well I sure don't... Well the proof readers are making my life hell and making me feel like crap... I am doubting my abilities to design my own name... Oh and this one proof reader takes JOY in taking ALL my work to my supervisor so SHE can tell me what a dunce I am... Yesterday was horrible... I wanted to just melt into my chair... BUT I have a secret weapon... when I am feeling down and pretty worthless... I pull out my trusty iPhone and ear buds... and I listen to a conference talk... and EVERY TIME by the end of the talk I am feeling much better about life and myself... I have 2 wonderful co-workers who I can vent to and they always make me feel better... They see what is going on too... so I am not being paranoid... The hardest part for me is that I have a real hard time with someone NOT liking me. So tonight I shall pray for my enemy at work... and NO I won't pray something bad will happen... I will pray that she her heart will soften towards me... and she will be more patient with me... and I will pray that I will have the discernment to know one tractor from another... ugh... but I think for that I will be praying for a miracle... if things don't get better I plan to have a fast over the whole issue... because I also am not use to hating my job... even when it's not the most pleasant place to be I usually can find something I enjoy about it... So we shall see...
But in the mean time... I saw this adorable picture of my great-nephew, Dean and I could not help but scrapbook it... I have been working on making elaborate clusters... with junk all over them...but this picture called for simplicity... so after dragging and deleting about a million items... I finally caught on... and kept is very simple... enjoy!!

Oh Lord, forget me not!

2011-09-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

Oh Lord, FORGET ME NOT!!... I am blessed ALWAYS have the RS General Meeting fall on my birthday weekend... This year I didn't watch it when it was broadcast..., but better late than NEVER!! So, forget NEW YEARS resolutions... I decided I am going to make BIRTHDAY resolutions... not to be skinnier...or more organize.. but to just be the best Meg I can be... to follow the Gospel... and to work on doing the things that are going to make me happy from the inside out... This inspiration came from a talk from the RS General Woman Meeting... and could be for any woman any where in the world... not matter what religion she is... what culture she is from... it is written to and for woman who want to BE HAPPIER!! here is the LINK to the talk... if anyone is interested in reading it or hearing it...

I am very INTERESTED if you listened to the talk... if it INSPIRED you... and if it did.. HOW SO???!!

Missed

2011-09-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

My M..Me...Meg Page WON the challenge at My Memories... I won $10 worth of digi scrapbooking art!! Woot!! This weeks challenge was Remembrance... so I spent some of my earning on a kit called Morning Hush and I created a page remembering my Mom.... The word remembrance instantly brought to my mind Mom and how she is missed. To keep the pain at a distance I didn't want to write a bunch of flowery words so missed is all I let myself think of....

Oh and BTW the My Memories Software is just amazing...If you are wanting to create digi scrapbook pages or even create one of those neat bound books... then this is the software to invest in... it's only $40 or you can win it free over at Craftberry Tree... :) One of these days when I feel I have enough excitement over there I will have my give-away!!

I had a job interview at Oriental Trading Company last week... and this week I received my rejection letter. I am not sad or disappointing at all... I know exactly why I didn't get the job... I have a brain and I disagreed with an answer to a computer assessment test. They had 2 right answers and I picked the wrong one and I let them know it wasn't fair. Ok I know you are wondering what the question was. How do you highlight text in document. A. click and drag your mouse across the word. <---- that is the answer they wanted you to answer. I answered C. Double/ or triple click on a word in the sentence. Steve said they didn't hire me because I have a brain and I am not a robot. I am waiting for the call for the 3rd interview for Accu-Quilt. I received a call last Friday letting me know they are very interested in me...but they had concerns with my relationship with Provo Craft. Since I have not submitted any new art to them in years.. I told them... What relationship? and I had just signed up with My Memories to handle my artwork... so I have no idea what the hold up is now... But in the mean time I have an interview at the Plain Dealer a newspaper out of Takama, NE... just a hop..skip and jump down a 2 lane hwy!! Ehhh I am not too excited about it... but it is designing...

Me Challenge...

2011-08-31T07:17:00.000-07:00

I know 2 blog posts in one day... I needed to create a ME page for My Memories... I like it!!

Colorado Vacation. page 1

2011-08-31T06:34:00.001-07:00

I have 12 days to get my vacation album done!! I will be using the MY Memories software!! learning curve is rather small... so far I like it A LOT!! :)

EXCITING NEWS...

2011-08-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

I have found a new home for my digital designs!! I am still in the baby stages of getting them designed and uploaded to the new site... MYMEMORIES Digital Scrapbooking is where I will be!! Keep posted to my Craftberry Tree Blog because I will be hosting a giveaway to some of the My Memories software!!

My Memories Suite is rated #1 by amazon and TopTen Reviews for digital scrapbooking software and a $40 value.

Abby Turned Three (3)... Can you believe it??

2011-06-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

Her party theme was Pink Flamingo... or as Abby says it... "Pink Amingo".... too cute... Here is her birthday celebration
invite... getting ready for the party was a little stressful... Tory and Abby came home from a 10 day vacation in Southern California... and tired. I was in the middle of my move to Nebraska and trying to get the group home closed...but we got it all done and it was a great party!!

Tory sent me shopping the week before, while I was up in Omaha... and I picked up some metal pink flamingos and some glass jars for the candy bar. I got that done... I got the idea to take a huge ugly black picture frame and spray paint it BRITE pink... and use it as a prop for party pictures... It turned out really cute!!

News.. News.. News....

2011-05-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

Bitter-Sweet-News...

After much thought and prayer... I have decided to close my group home and move to live in Nebraska 100% of the time.... I have had to work thru many of my issues to come to this decision and feel 100% EXCITED about it!! You never know what your issues are until you confront them face to face... and what I learned this past month is that I love much easier than I trust... and for my marriage to work I have to be willing to trust again!! I feel like I am on the edge of a stage getting ready to crowd surf... I am willing to jump because I know that Steve will be there to catch me when ever I fall... not to save me or keep me from pain... but to love and support me as I struggle to regain my footing... I have learned I never wanted to be "saved" from my life... I just wanted to be supported in whatever I decided I want or need to do!! Thank you HF for linking my life with a man who loves me and supports me in the way I can feel it!!

With the closing of the group home means I will be unemployed and starting over in the work force... I have decided I would love to work in a creative field where I can use my graphics talent and I will be going back to school!! I think I will start with taking some web development classes. My portfolio is slacking in this area... I can do it... but I don't know flash or dreamweaver... I am excited and yet a little scared... Nah... I am just excited!! I get to get back to doing the thing I love most... my graphics!!

So May 31st is the last day for the group home!!

Abuse is abuse... it's that simple...

2011-04-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

As a read a friends blog last week... I found that I was looking thru her blog trying to find the BIG blow up... the ONE good reason for her to divorce her husband. Isn't that what society tells us...? we have to have concrete evidence that our husband was bad to us..before we can file for divorce... I never found that post... but I didn't find that she endured a lot of verbal and mental abuse!!! Something we have in common....

Since the beginning of my current relationship/marriage with Steve... There are times I am in such awe of the way he treats me...He treats me so amazingly well.. such a huge difference from my first marriage, the only other relationship I have known... I have found that I need to talk about the differences... to verbalize about how nice it is to be treated so sweetly, because I am use to being treated like crap.... and I would explain to Steve, what I am use too... Several friends and family members have suggested that I STOP comparing my 2 relationships... and for a few weeks I did... but after reading my friends blog and thinking about what I lived thru I have come to the conclusion that I am NOT comparing... I am verbalizing, acknowledging and accepting that I was ABUSED!!

I was not physically abused... I was never hit... I was never physically forced to do anything I didn't want to do... I don't have bruises or scars that the world can see!! I was verbally and mentally abused... the abuse went on for so long I didn't even realize I was abused... Towards the end of the relationship I knew I was a victim and I was tired of being one... I just didn't know how to break the cycle of abuse!! Except for end the marriage... but how?

The scars from verbal and mental abuse last for as long as you let them torment you... By acknowledging the abuse and by talking about it I am able to free it... I can let it go... I can say that is no longer my life... and I can move on!! This is my process... and it's working... once I talk about a certain situation... the memory turns to dust and I am able to just blow it away!!

Etsy Customized Set...

2011-03-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

Stefanie asked me last week to design her a logo for her business... Took me a few days to get the inspiration and get the design going... but yesterday everything burst out of my head!! I personally love it... but I still don't know how she is going to like it... and with the birth of this design is also the birth of my
Etsy Gourmet Banner Set!!
1 Round Logo, 1 Square Logo, 1 Banner, and 4 Avatars...
$24.95

My New Logo....

2011-02-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

I just love it... so versatile

I do LOGOS!!

2011-02-11T14:42:00.001-08:00

I think they have to be my favorite thing to create... they are fast and easy and can convey so much in such a small space...

Crockpot Mac and Cheese

2011-02-09T13:41:00.001-08:00

1 1/2 cups milk
1-12 oz can evaporated milk (skim if you have it!)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, cooled to room temp
3 large eggs
1/2 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tsp yellow mustard
3 cups (12 oz) shredded cheese (I used cheddar)
1/2 pound elbow macaroni or mini penne, par cooked. (this means cook them for about five minutes until tender but not completely
cooked)

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Bread Crumb Topping
1 cup plain bread crumbs
2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp garlic salt
2 tbs Extra virgin olive oil
* Spray the inside of your slow-cooker with cooking spray or grease it with olive oil. Combine milk, evaporated milk, eggs, butter, and salt & pepper in slow-cooker and whisk until until well mixed.
* Add the shredded cheese (not the Parmesan) and the par cooked pasta, stir until combined. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top.
* Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to LOW and cook for 2 to 2 1/2hours, until custard is set in the center and the pasta is tender. The macaroni and cheese may sit in the cooker on the KEEP WARM setting for 30 minutes before serving.

Directions for bread crumb topping:
Mix all the crumbs and spices together.
Add the olive oil to skillet and heat on medium heat. then add the bread crumbs. Stir until bread crumbs are golden. Only takes a few minutes to don't stop stiring and don't walk away!

Craftberry Bush...

2011-01-26T07:04:00.001-08:00

After months and months of trying to come up with a name for my Etsy Shoppe... I finally did it!! I came up with a name... I must have sent Tory 100 text with name ideas!! I didn't even ask her about this one.. I just DID IT!

The Logo was another challenge... This is the first one I came up with... so 80's...ehhh?

It is cute... but like I said VERY 80's!! I knew what I was wanting for my logo... but my brain wouldn't function to create it... I guess I had to sleep on it! Because on Tuesday I woke up and created the new one!! Funny how the mind works...

Back to School.. seriously what do I want to be when I grow up?

2011-01-04T16:16:00.000-08:00

So which degree do I go for?

1. Graphic Communication Art & Design
Graphic Communication Art & Design, or more commonly referred to as "graphic design" by industry professionals, is a career that combines creative thinking with visual, technical and artistic skills, for the purpose of communicating ideas and messages to a specific audience. Graphic designers help deliver their clients' message by giving it a visual form appropriate to the message and audience. A graphic designer can find employment in advertising agencies, graphic design studios, in-house design & marketing departments and printing establishments.

or

2. Phtography
The student in the Commercial Photography program learns to solve photographic problems through the skillful use of camera, lighting, laboratory, and electronic techniques. Included in the program are experiences in commerical, general and digital photography. This program articulates with UNO's College of Fine Arts and with Bellevue University.

.... do I really have to choose just one?

sometimes i wish...

2010-12-29T20:14:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wish I didn't care about people's feelings...
Sometimes I wish I could be selfish....
Sometimes I wish I didn't love so much....
Sometimes I wish I didn't have that still small voice telling me what is right...
But all the time.... I am glad I am me!!

the busy cook

2010-11-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

One of the effects of watching cooking shows is that you want to cook.. or bake... or just create something good to eat... so that is what I did today...

I have heard over and over about how delicious brioche is. So I did a search on google for brioche and found an easy recipe on the Epiqurious website... Brioche is a wonderfully light, butter and eggy bread. Hopefully mine will turn out.... If not I can always try again next week! The next thing I decided to tackle was to use up some of these end of the season tomatoes Gene brought over for me so I made some cooked salsa. I have made fresh pico de gallo all summer long but I have never made cooked and bottled salsa so I put a batch on the stove.... It turned out pretty good! Not spicy like I like it but it is for the group home so I can't have it too spicy. I then turned my sights one lunch and tried my hand at homemade chicken nuggets... well that recipe can be deleted they tasted horrible... We all ate them for lunch so they weren't that bad!! I must admit I was missing a few of the ingredients, so to be fair I will have to try it one more time when I have all the ingredients on hand!!

Tomorrow I think I may just attempt baking powder biscuits... not something I have made from scratch since I was in 7th grade home ec class... if I remember correctly I did get an A on my biscuits!!

Today I must admit I am putting poor Suzie Homemaker to shame!! The kitchen is even all cleaned up!! I need a nap... but no time.. I have to hit the shower and off to see client!! Woot!!

giving thanks is not just for thanksgiving

2010-11-07T10:44:00.000-08:00

Give Thanks. Start Today. It's Every Day

1. I am thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. I am thankful for my amazing best friend and the man I love... Steve

3. I am thankful for children for the joy they bring into my life

4. I am thankful for friendships with people I have met ALL over the world thru the Internet... I have made some amazing friendships with people I may never meet in person... but who I will always call my friends...

5. I am thankful for the talents that have been blessed to me and how they help me make it thru this earthly life...

6. I am thankful for you.

One more day to serve. One more hour to love. One more minute to praise. For this day I am grateful. If I awaken to the morning sun, I am grateful. ~Mary Lou Kownacki

Alderwood Quilts October Giveaway- AccuQuilt GO!

2010-10-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

Alderwood Quilts October Giveaway... An ACCUQUILT GO!!

Go check out her blog.. and sign up to win!!

Alderwood Quilts October Giveaway- AccuQuilt GO!

megan and brian pigg... wedding announcement and invitaion to reception

2010-08-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

kaitlynn graduation announcement....

2010-08-16T14:16:00.001-07:00

You will need to click on picture to see full version...

melissa graduation invite...

2010-08-16T12:09:00.001-07:00

You will need to click on picture to see full version...

my mood is...

2010-08-01T06:23:00.000-07:00

clouds....

2010-06-18T09:03:00.001-07:00

Yesterday evening as I was pulling into the Hangar... the movie theater... I noticed the clouds reflecting in the window... I liked what I saw.. grabbed my iPhone (why did I spend all that money on my big camera? ) and snapped this shot... I edited it and placed it on Facebook and a friend asked me where the great quote is to go with the picture...So I opened the edited photo and began to look for a quote. I could think of the tune.. of the song I wanted but not the lyrics...except it had to do with clouds.. so I did a google search and found... IT!! The perfect quote... well I think it is...

In creating this piece...it made me wonder how many clouds have kept me from my goals... not the clouds per-day but what is on the other side... I had too much fear to fly through them to see.. so instead I flew in circles... because I thought it was safer...

What clouds are blocking you from moving forward?

Think about it...
Meg

Happy Easter.... better late than never...

2010-04-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

I spent Easter weekend in Salt Lake City... I went to meet many of the friends I have made on line in the past year... My bestie Lynda who has been with me with ALL my ups and downs in the past year!! It is amazing to me that you can have such a bond with a person that has lasted a year and have never set eyes on their living being... I know that I knew Lynda in the pre-existence... She is just one of those people that I have met and BANG... instant friendship...instant bonding!! I love her like a Sister...

I met Lynda at her work and then went and had lunch with her new hubby, Criss.... They are so cute together and so much in love... ahhh*wipes tear... At first I think Criss and I were sizing each other up... making sure we each had Lynda's best interest in mind... But soon we realized that we are both good for her and accepted each other... I think Criss is an amazing man and the perfect man for Lynda.... and trust me I was worried... their whirlwind courtship... engagement and marriage was so dang fast... but I am now at total ease... Love Criss like a brother!! Welcome to the family..man!!

Friday night I went on my first offical double date... Rafa and I went with Criss and Lynda to eat Italian at Criss' favorite restaurant... Don't remember the name but it was good! Then it was off to Midvale and to the LDSMingles Conference Dance and Bash... I was able to meet many of the people I have been chatting with on and off over the year!! It was so great to put 3D faces with the 2D pictures I have been looking at as we chat... A few I have met before and it was good to see and connect with them again!!

I spent Friday night up in Tremonton at Lynda and Criss's home... It was cool I felt so realaxed and comfortable... It felt like I have been in Lynda's home many many times... and actually with all the time we have spent on the phone... I have...but just not physically!! Saturday morning Criss made breakfast YUM!! I had to hit to road to get back down to SLC too meet up with Rafa and head on over to Conference....

Conference... Rafa and I went with a few others from his Branch!! Conference was amazing... I loved Pres Holland's talk... After Conference Rafa and I walked around Temple Square it was packed and I was wearing high heals... so that didn't last a whole long time.... So we went and changed clothes... and went over to the mall at Dinner at a texmex grill place... very Bobby Flay and VERY VERY good!! I had heard that there was a singles dance down in Orem so we went to look for it...Finally found it... but, the rumor was wrong no dance... so instead I went to Jeff and Nicole's... Poor Tave was sick and so Nicole got him up out of bed...partly cause he heard me... the not so quiet Aunt Meg... Tave was not so happy to see me either... UNTIL.... I pulled out my handy dandy iPhone and let him play with all of Abby's apps I have downloaded for her (well Tory has found some too!!) Well the iPhone was a hit and soon Tave was warmed up to Aunt Meg...

On Sunday morning Weston was a little shy of Aunt Meg...but not Tave... once I pulled my phone back out... Oh then Weston was right there with him... playing on my phone... Travis, Sharlene, and girls; Rob, Chelsea and kids; and Shawn and Abby all came over to Nicole's for lunch and an Easter egg hunt... Due to the 3" of snow outside...the egg hunt was held indoors... We had great food.. family... fun... and even a little conference... (to be honest I fell asleep)...

Sunday night I headed over to Travis and Sharlene's... it was fun to sit and talk with them and hear all about their plans for their future. BTW... my iPhone was a hit with Travis too... While we talked...Sharlene and I got on our computers.. and Travis played on my iPhone...With little sleep for the past three nights... I was pooped and was ready for bed early (mid-night).... Oh how I slept.. I had been warned that the bed I was getting to sleep on was the most comfortable...and it sure was... I closed my eyes and out I went... I woke to to little Kapria's voice in the kitchen... but I was not ready to get up so I rolled over and fell back to sleep...When I did get up Kapria and I sat on the couch and she played on my iphone... while Travis and I watched TV and talked... Dang I just realized I never got to see his studio!! Sorry Travis... Monday morning was such a lazy morning... I was suppose to meet some friends at the SLC temple to do a session... but my body would not move... so I took that as a sign to take it slow....

The last few things I wanted to do was find Mormon Handicrafts and go to the distribution center... so late Monday morning I packed my bags and with the escort of Kapria I loaded my car... she was so cute.. I blew my kisses and back to SLC.... I met up with Rafa and together we went in search of Mormon Handicraft... Dang it so wasn't what I remembered... but next door was a distribution center so we went there... I went ahead and bought my temple clothes so now I can go to anytime I want... and not have to find out if they have rentals... Right now my closest temple is in Omaha and they don't have rentals.... so YIPPEEE.... I am locked and loaded!!

For lunch I found a Der Wienerschnitzel!! ...and yes I ordered 2 chili cheese dogs.. it has been almost 30 years since I worked at the one in Vista... but oh how yummy those dogs tasted... The very last thing I wanted to do was find a Mexican market and buy some dulces (Mexican candies) so back to State Street and up towards S SLC... I found one!! I bought my favorite tamarino, and watermelon lucas suckers...

For Dinner on Monday night I ate at Chelsea's... I felt so bad that I got lost and was late... so I had a speed dinner and get to know her kiddo's... But it was fun to have some one on one time with Chelsea and her kids...

Hopped on a plane in a snow storm... headed back to Missouri... Home sweet home.. and back to work...

We are FAMILY...

2010-03-28T21:04:00.001-07:00

Some of my kiddos and ME...
Abby & Tory, Joshua, me, Eric and Melissa!!

How Many?

2010-03-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

I really really enjoy getting to know people. I draw serious satisfaction from finding countless details out about people. So here are unimportant details about me.

My real name is Mary Margaret... and Meg is short for Margaret... just like Meg from the novel "The Little Women".
I love Mexican food.. good Mexican food
When I was in 8 I had my own Shetland pony.. his name was Shane
I mix up my right hand from my left hand... but then again so does Oprah Winfrey!!
I can french braid my own hair!
I still remember my very first address and phone number. My address was 519 Ava Ave, Rohnert Park, CA... I am not going to share my first phone number cause I use it as a password... I also can still remember my Mom's California drivers license... K0480329 Don't ask me why.. I guess I listened to her give it at the grocery store just one too many times
My first real job was at Der Wienershcnitzel. Yes I worked and weeny world flipping hot dogs and hamburgers... and pushing french fries... My friend Karen and I had the best time in the drive thru... she was on register and I was her bagger!! Sorry if I mess up your order!!
My dogs names growing up were Peanuts (wiener dog), Popcorn (Australian Sheppard) and Pretzles (Poodle mix).... I don't know why... but we had a food fetish!!
I can gleek!! Don't know what gleeking is.. just ask and I will show you!!
When I was a sophomore in High School I received the "Most Promising" award from the Speech Team... Duh! I love to talk!
In 7th grade I won second prize in the Science Fair... and all I did was graph a comic then redrew it larger... who knew I could draw!!
My maiden name is Coppa... which means cup in Italian and Spanish
My favorite ice cream flavor is Baseball Nut from Baskin Robbins.. and I can only get it in the spring during baseball season :0(
I look like my Mom...
I learned to drive in a stick shift Toyota truck.. Thanks Mike! I passed my first time with a score of 85. I have never failed a written drivers test!
I am the youngest of 3 children.
I have been to 5 foreign countries and 2 continents
I want to learn to play the piano... I taught myself to read music
I love to learn and try new things... meet new people and visit new places
I was not born Mormon.. I was baptized Jan. 1982

How many did you know already?

...meg

Make it and Love it... cool blog

2010-03-19T10:10:00.001-07:00

I found this cool blog and she is having a cool give-away!! Go check it out!!

MAKE IT & LOVE IT

BUT YOU CAN'T ENTER
THE CONTEST
BECAUSE...
I WANNA WIN!!

Mrs Gump (Forrest's Mom) Got it WRONG!

2010-03-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Life is not like a box of chocolates.... It's like strawberry jam!

Why? Because...

Life is always sweet.... sometimes just too sweet!
Life is sticky
Life sometimes is turns out and sometimes it doesn't... but it still tastes yummy on ice cream!!

Yes I made strawberry jam this week too.... it has been over 10 years since I made jam. I only made one batch but it turn out rather yummy!! I purchased some apothecary jars for another project but I bought the wrong size... but I did buy the perfect size for jam! And making jam is like riding a bike... well with the instruction on the pectin are like training wheels!!

You may be wondering where I got strawberries in early March... from the freezer section at Wal-Mart... where else would I get them... you silly!!

Oatmeal...cranberry...white chocolate chip... toasted walnut cookies

2010-03-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup dried cranberries, cherries, or raisins

1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts toasted and chopped

To toast nuts: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and toast nuts for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop into pieces. Set aside.

Directions: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), cream the butter and sugar until creamy and smooth (about 2 - 3 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and apple pie spice. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and beat until incorporated. Stir in the nuts, oats, and dried cranberries or chocolate chips.

For large cookies, use 1/4 cup of batter (I like to use an ice cream scoop) and space the cookies about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Then wet your hand and flatten the cookies slightly with your fingers so they are about 1/2 inch thick. Bake the cookies for about 12 - 15 minutes at 350* or until light golden brown around the edges but still soft and a little wet in the centers. Remove from oven and let the cookies cool a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool.

Makes about 20 - 24 large cookies. If you can keep your and your loved ones fingers out of the dough!

1.2 Project 752... Toes

2010-03-12T06:07:00.000-08:00

Week 1 Picture 2
I baby sat (Nana sat) Abby last night... she was sitting on the couch playing with a new app on my phone... her little toes were so cute... as she played with the game her toes would curl then flex... I just couldn't resist her adorable toes.

1.1 Project 752

2010-03-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

Picture 1 Week 1
Meet Garrett... a graduating senior from Albany High School! Great Kid!! Doesn't like to get his picture taken.. but will let me take it on occasion... Isn't he just a handsome young man!!

i {heart} to cook....

2010-03-07T15:43:00.000-08:00

Has anyone tasted canned refried beans lately...? NOT ME!! I won't eat them anymore.... I've been making homemade refried beans (frijoles) ... They are so good and so so simple to make...

Frijoles (Refried beans)

Ingredients

1 lbs pinto beans
6 ups of water
1 tsp minced garlic(I used bottled)
1/2 medium onion diced
salt and pepper to taste

Place beans and water in crockpot and cook on high for approx 4 hours. When beans begin to soften add garlic and onion. Cook approx another 4 hours. Use potato masher and mash the beans to the consistency you like... if the beans are too runny dissolve 1-2 tbs of cornstarch with 1/4 cups of water and add to beans and they should thicken up... add salt and pepper to taste.

Crockpot Salsa Chicken*

Ingredients:

1 cup salsa
1 can cream of chicken soup
3-4 regular size chicken breasts
1 cup minute rice

Spray crockpot with cooking oil. Mix salsa and cream of chicken soup together. Layer small amount on bottom of crockpot. Lay chicken breasts in crockpot and layer rest of soup/salsa mixture on top. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 7 to 8 hours.

During last ten minutes: Take chicken out and shred it. Add 1 cups minute rice to salsa and soup mixture in crockpot. Let cook for 10 to 15 minutes until done. Add shredded chicken.
Put onto of flour tortilla shells with sour cream, cheese, and homemade frijoles!! YUM!!
* Credit goes to the blog recipes between friends..

The BEST dang banana cake with cream cheese frosting!!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups bananas, mashed, ripe
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/8 cups sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups icing sugar

Garnish

Chopped Walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 275°. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan. In a small bowl, mix mashed banana with the lemon juice; set aside.In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 tsp vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in banana mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.

For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth.Add icing sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed until frosting is smooth. Spread on cooled cake. Sprinkle chopped walnuts over top of the frosting, if desired. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla.

VOTE for Karen's QUILT

2010-03-05T10:42:00.000-08:00

My bestie, Karen made a quilt for her grand-daughter Kapria and entered it in a contest! Please go vote for me! thanks!

Quilt Name: BRIGHT AND SASSY

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!!

patience

2010-03-02T20:05:00.001-08:00

I will pray for forgiveness... I will pray for the softening of the heart... I will pray for love... I will pray for peace... I will pray for courage... I will pray for an open heart... I will pray for a contrite spirit... I will pray for thanksgiving... I will pray for hope... I will pray for healing... I will pray for strength... I will pray for thy will be done... I will pray for you... but....

I will not pray for patience... nope I won't and no one can make me... I have seen what happens when you do... I have plenty of patience... I do! I do! I do!

Meg

...project 7/52

2010-02-27T16:22:00.000-08:00

..... okay I am going to attempt to take and upload 7 pictures per week for 52 weeks... will they all be good.. I hope so... but I am going to attempt to improve my photography skills as I work on this goal for the next 52 weeks... comments are welcome.. good and ...ummm lets just say the constructive criticism

Meg...

being creative...

2010-02-26T07:47:00.000-08:00

I found this quote while blog hopping and I couldn't help it I had to make it my own!!

...a game of tag

2010-02-25T06:59:00.000-08:00

My bestest of friends posted this 'tag' on her blog and I thought it would be fun to join in:

You just open the first picture folder on your computer, and pick the 10th photo. Then tell us a little bit about it.

Here's mine: Not a fun or exciting picture... but this was taken right after I received my NEW Nikon D80... my very first SLR camera... I was having so much fun just taking pictures of all types of things... this is a volunteer Hollyhock plant sitting next to an old brick

if I could have picked the picture to post it would have been this one... with the caption reading....

...ever feel like you've just piddled your day away?

...my view of missouri

2010-02-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

.... these were snapped all over the country side of nw missouri... some are from my backyard and some are from my travels with work... I am blessed to be able live in such beauty and have a camera to capture it!

i have FEARS... i have BLESSINGS

2010-02-20T08:40:00.001-08:00

This week was the week to face and to conquer some of them... I have been so stressed out I actually got a sore throat!!
my fears...
financial disorder (working on the Financial Peace Course)
paperwork disorganization ( pretty much caught up)
being alone... (picked my self up and dusted myself off and put on my big girl panties)

when my fears got me down... I prayed continually to give me the strength to face them and get past them... and then I counted my blessings...
my blessings...
my friends (all of them...)
my family
my children
my creativity
my spirituality
my love for my Heavenly Father ('cause he loves me back)
my home (well it will be a home soon)
my ability to work out my problems
my work (i love it so much and it loves me too)
my calling.. (i love seminary)

Well that is just the beginning of a long list that resides in my heart!!

Meg

Chocolate Decadence in 2 minutes....

2010-02-13T12:55:00.000-08:00

OH MY!

Chocolate Cravings...

I think I have found and I have perfected the perfect chocolate fix in a pinch!! But... I actually think it would be the perfect dessert for a romantic dinner for two...

Chocolate Decadence

in 2 Minutes

Ingredients

2 T Vegetable oil

2 T Water

1/4 tsp. Vanilla extract

dash salt

2T Unsweetened cocoa powder

4T Granulated sugar

4T Flour

2T Chopped nuts (optional)

2-3 T Chocolate Chips

Directions

In a 12 oz coffee mug, add water, oil and vanilla. Stir well.

Add cocoa powder, Stir well.

Add sugar, Stir well.

Add flour & salt, Stir well.

Add nuts, stir well.

Microwave:

1000-Watt microwave*

90 Seconds for slightly molten center Brownie.

2 Minutes for uniformly done brownie

1500-watt microwave

60 seconds makes a molten center brownie

75 seconds make a uniformly done brownie.

Right after removing from microwave sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let cool. enjoy with spoon... brownie is extremely hot right after coming out of microwave so be careful!

* To find out what wattage your microwave is just.. open the door and read the label. It should say it somewhere on there!!

Meg 2010

2010-02-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

This is my motto for the new year!!

i AM listening...

2010-01-28T09:19:00.001-08:00

i AM listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost...

I love how the Holy Ghost can guide you through your day... from the smallest minor things to the BIG challenges and decisions in your life....

The more I work on being a better person the clearer his promptings are to me... the better I hear and recognise that they are promptings and not just my own thoughts in my head...

I challenged my Seminary students last night to pay attention to those promptings and heed them.. ALL of them... even the ones that they feel are inconsequential... Practice makes perfect... we need to practice and exercise our faith by heeding to each and every prompt we get...

Those promptings... to pray... to make a call... to pick something up off the floor as you walk by.... to send a letter.... to take care of a small detail...

New Day... New Year... New Life

2010-01-01T19:01:00.000-08:00

My first day of my new year started with a delightful nights sleep. I worked at the group home and I was contently sound asleep shortly after 10 pm. Melissa woke me up at 2 am to wish me a Happy New Year... I made one short phone call to wish a dear friend a Happy New Year and to send my love... and I was able to roll back over and go right back to sleep... until 7 am.

My day consisted of wonderful conversations with tears and laughter... talk of things of the past and the adventures in the future... lovely... lovely day!!

I watched the movie Julie & Julia... what a wonderful movie about 2 amazing women. I must admit I am not a huge fan of Julia Child... she always seemed like a big pompous oaf to me... but since my mother loved her... I put up with her!! But after seeing the movie I do have a tad bit more respect for her and her accomplishments... I am more inspired by Julie in the movie to take on the daunting task of cooking thru Julia's cookbook... It has made me wonder... what will I accomplish this year? What will I take on and complete? What will be my challenge this year...? I could lose a few pounds... but I want to make myself a better person on the inside not just on the outside... I want a project to accomplish....one I can say I did it on my own!!

I will be pondering and praying about this the next few days... I have and idea... but I would like to get confirmation from above... so that I have the support I need first..

Meg

Personal Prayer Project Day #3

2009-09-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

Morning prayers said without any PROCRASTINATION.... yipee!! But once again... right in the middle "tinkle" "tinkle" goes my cell phone... but hey... baby steps...

Life is good what can I say.... with each prayer I am feeling more relaxed and comfortable. I sometimes have so many thoughts running thru my head that I don't know what to say first... I guess having too much to say is better than nothing at all... I am eager now to get on my knees and share my day with my Heavenly Father... thinking about all my many many blessing is also a good way to start and end a day... hard to have a bad day when you list all your blessings!! I am still having a hard time remembering to say night prayers...but I have not forgotten yet.. so there is still hope for me...

Last night went dancing... LOL this old lady can still bust a move!!

Personal Prayer Project Day#2

2009-09-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day.... I feel good about myself because I am being obedient in doing what I should. I did procrastinated in saying my morning prayers... But I DID get them in...

*Note to self: TURN CELL PHONE to quiet... hard to concentrate on prayer when you have a text message waiting.

I will have to admit that I almost... well I did forget to say my prayers. Thanks to a late night call from a friend... and during our conversation we talked about prayer... and right in the middle I remembered... Oh I felt bad. When the phone call was over I jumped out of bed and said my prayers...

I need to work on feeling more comfortable when saying my personal prayers... I feel I need to relax and just say what is in my heart... No one but Heavenly Father is listening... When I think about it... I am just so happy when my kids come to me and tell me about their life. I don't care in what order they tell me... or the words they choose to use... and I am sure that Heavenly Father is just happy that I have finally come to him to share my daily thoughts with him

I just need to relax and talk... Like that is difficult for me.

Day tow = Successful

Meg

Personal Prayer Project Day #1

2009-09-17T10:05:00.001-07:00

Last night while I was teaching Seminary... I had the great idea... to challenge the kids to say their prayers twice a day and journal about it... I even gave them the option to SKIP doing the Seminary homework if they did the Personal Prayer Project... When giving your class a challenge.. there is usually a double reason... they students need it... but the teacher needs it MORE!!

Day 1... has started out fantastic... the day is full... but I am on top of it with a smile and giggle... I can feel the spirit with me my heart is just so full!!

The blessing of day One was my heart stayed full all day long... I just felt so blessed!! I have good friends that are always available for a laugh and pick me up... I also had a VERY productive day!! I worked constantly on getting things done and caught up... I have a long way to go to be all caught up!!

Day One = Sucessful

Meg

Calling!!

2009-07-06T06:40:00.000-07:00

Last month I was asked if I would like to be the 2009-2010 Seminary teacher for my Branch. I accepted the assignment... But I was never called... I went to the Stake Seminary Training meeting. I started to attend the special classes that were taught by our area CES teacher... and I had yet to be officially called... When I asked out Branch President about it... he told me that he had been told by the Stake Presidency for me to go ahead and attend all the classes... that when the Stake comes back up to our Branch it will all be taken care of...

So yesterday... and hour before Church I get a call from out High Council man asking me to please come to Church a few minutes early... which of course I said yes... and had no idea how I was going to make it on time ...let a lone early... but I was able to get Angie (my client) up and going and some how... I made it to Church 10 min before starting... To be honest... I had been prompted to get up and get going early.. and I rolled over and ignored it and went back to sleep... dang I hate it when I ignore promptings... I always regret it...

So I meet with the Bro. Fowels our High Councilman... and he officially calls me to the calling I have already accepted... verbally and in action.. but I am relieved that the time I have invested was well spent... I am then sustained in Sacrament... After Sacrament I was set apart.

I have been set apart for every calling I have ever received... I am a very picky about that! I always feel I want all the help and blessing I can get from a calling... with feeling so inadequate for being a Seminary teacher... I made sure I was going to get set apart!! So after Sacrament Bro. Fowels set me apart... and like I said I have been set apart for EVERY calling I've had... and I have to say that the blessing I received from Bro Fowels was the most poignant blessing I have every received... he asked that I have assistance in EVERY area that I feel so lacking... as Bro Fowles gave me the blessing ... I just sat there and weeped.. then on to crying... and I felt so loved and I felt so strongly that Heavenly Father really knows me... the good and the bad!!

So... now is the count down to the first class... the studying begins... and the many many hours of prayer!!

Changes...

2009-07-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

In the past several years my life has gone through some dramatic changes... I know my friends and family know that Kevin and I separated 3 going on 4 years ago. And, I know many of you wondered why aren't we divorced yet... I have asked myself that many.... many times... The best answer I can come up with is... with Kevin living in California... I didn't have to deal with him, and I wasn't even considering getting into another relationship.... so living in limbo was the easiest.

Then back in January when I had a mighty change of heart and reactivated myself and went back to Church... many things changed inside me... I let my anger towards Kevin go... and once I did that... The damn broke... all the emotions the anger had been blocking came flooding in... the sorrow.. the loneliness... the fears... and I was actually able to look towards my future with an adventurous spirit... and now I am anxious to see what lies before me...

After several conversations with Kevin about divorcing... some went okay...many didn't. We had a hard time with the property settlement. After a few months... I went ahead and hired an attorney and filed for divorce. Kevin was not happy that I did... but that is a whole different conversation!! I know for me I did the right thing... to I was hoping to hear from my attorney this week about a court date..but nothing yet....

Since January I have been working towards being worthy to once again hold a temple recommend... I have been going to Church every week and really enjoying it.. I've had a few issues to work through... I was recently called as the weekly Seminary Teacher... I have NEVER had a calling that I have felt so fully unprepared and unworthy to do... But I am keeping the faith pressing forward... and I will do my best... I need the blessings and I know I will get tons more out of this calling than my students... Back to my temple recommend... At the end of May... the Stake Presidency gave me the okay!! So I had my recommend interviews and I have my temple recommend... and on July 22 I will be going to the the Nauvoo Temple!! Yipee!! I can't wait!!

Meg

Confessions of a Chat Addict...

2009-04-01T04:32:00.001-07:00

What happened to the month of March? The last date I remember was around March 6th and I joined an LDS Chat site...

When you work all day with a non-verbal client and you go home to an empty house or to a teenager... talking to adults is such a blessing... even if it is thru typing...

Alas... the other night I realized that March had come and gone and I was a month behind on everything... paperwork...housework... so I have grounded myself from Chat... I tried to just cut back... but the addiction was too strong. I would log in just to see if anyone was chatting... then I was going to just pop in and say hi... hours later I am still chatting... One night I even stayed up until 2 am just chatting... I just love to meet new people and hear their stories... I am a chatter'er what can I say!!

Yesterday was the first day that I didn't chat... I went to the website and looked to see who was chatting and how many people were in the room... but I didn't log in until 10:45 pm and logged out at 11:00 pm sharp... And, I actually got some work done besides chat!! I watched Twilight and I got my client's OB notes caught up... at home I went with a friend to help measure high school students for prom tuxedos... and I picked up my bedroom did some laundry!! I even designed a logo for a new local restaurant that my friends are opening... Oh and I did some stuff on Facebook!!

Thru Chat, I have made some terrific girlfriends on chat and will keep in touch with them!! Just not all day every day!! So... Pinkie, Mappers, Fordruby, Ojen and Happymom I will miss you!!

A Creative Mess

2009-03-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

A creative mess is better than tidy idleness...That is what Grandma B always said...

...and I had to remember that when I walked into my kitchen this morning at 7 am... I will always support my children in their creative endeavours... but my poor kitchen was a mess!! I didn't even ask Tory what time she went home... She called me several times while I was at the group home....I know about midnight I asked her not to call again...I wanted to get some sleep!!

I think sacrificing my kitchen for the sake of creativity was worth the price... Tory did clean up 98% of the mess... she will argue this... but she did leave me some to clean up and a whole dishwasher to empty!!

Meg

Settling Down

2009-03-06T17:37:00.000-08:00

I am happy to report that things are settling down around here..

Heater - FIXED
Computer - FIXED
Client - Much better
Melissa - Back to normal
Water Heater FIXED
Mini Van - Still DEAD... with no replacement yet

After a week of feeling like I was never going to get enough sleep... and always having a nagging headache... This morning I woke up feeling like myself again!!

Meg

Taking it ALL in STRIDE!!

2009-02-21T19:56:00.000-08:00

Did I learn my lesson about my adversities... I can say that I have passed the test!! Friday night I go into the kitchen to clean it up... I turn on the hot water... and hmmmm no hot water... no big deal I go down to the basement and I am going to relight the pilot light... I get it lit... and go back upstairs to wait for hot water so I can take a nice long hot bubble bath... About an hour goes by... and still no hot water... so I go back down to the basement and re-light the pilot light again... this time I stay and see what happens... it is only stays lit for a few minutes, before it goes out again... I try several times to get it lit and to stay that way but no such luck... Okay the water heater is dead...

I call the heater repairman that was just here at 3pm to replace the heater part... and get the heater working... I ask him if he works on water heaters... I tell him what is going on and he thinks he knows the problem and that he will be right over to see if he can fix it.

He comes over and guess what... he can't fix it. It is a problem with specific water heaters... I am able to call the company and have the parts shipped... they will be here Tuesday!!

So with ALL the other things going bad and/or breaking.... how did I handle the water heater going out! I have to report that I did take it in stride... I think it will be Melissa that will suffer more than I will... I am at the group home all weekend... so I will take my showers here!! Melissa said she will just go to friends houses....

I have learned one lesson this week about adversity... I think I have another one still yet to learn... I am up for anything that happens!!

Meg

I am thankful for my adversities...I am thankful for my adversities...I am thankful for my adversities...

2009-02-19T16:18:00.000-08:00

Since Friday and the accident my stress has been building... and more and more things keep going wrong... So, I begin to count them...

My car is dead (Friday)
Melissa has a concussion and I worried about her health (Friday-Wed)
The house heater isn't working right. I purchase and install a new thermostat... no help so I call repairman. He comes figures out the problem... has to have part shipped. Weather is going to get frigid again... and I am out of wood. (Tuesday)
My client has some health issues Tuesday night and we are at the ER from 11pm to 3am. We come home and she is awake most of the night... not feeling well... since she is awake so am I....(Tuesday thru Wednesday)
Melissa has to have a CAT SCAN and I have to be at the hospital. I have to call in staff to be with client. (Wednesday)

So I have 5 things broken or breaking down... if things happen in 3's... I am starting to wonder what is next... I am feeling like I just can't take one more thing.... it's just too much. Why am I being tested like this? What did I do to deserve all this? I am trying so hard to improve my self and my life... it just isn't fair!!!

Melissa and I get good news from her CAT SCAN... she is fine!! No damage to her head or brain.. I could have told the doctor that... she is an Abreu...RIGHT!! I get my morning shower at 3 pm... I have Divorce Care group tonight... should I go? I have a good excuse not to go...no sleep. I decided that I need to go, because once I find a good excuse not to go... it only gets easier to find other excuses... I get dressed and ready to go... I am able to take the most uncomfortable mini nap I've ever taken... wake up and head to Maryville...

As I am driving to Maryville I am thinking... I am running right on time. I have to stop at Tory's and drop off my camera so she can use it... and some ranch sunflower seeds. I will only have enough time to give Abbers a quick kiss then off to class... I then start having a my own little pity party because of all the things going wrong! Poor little me...I am looking up the road and I see a car cross the yellow line, then I see it swerved to miss a truck, over corrects and hits the ditch and rolls.

I can't believe what I just saw. I just watched a roll over accident. I pull over. Grab my cell phone. Run towards the car while dialing 911...It was a lot harder to do than it sounds. The driver is conscious... and talking. She is upside down with her head in the passenger seat and her feet in the drivers seat and her butt up in the air. She wasn't wearing a seat belt. The 911 dispatcher asks me where I am located... and you know what? I didn't have a clue to what highway I was on... I know the way I need to go to get to Maryville... But, I don't know the numbers of the roads... the dispatcher runs the GPS on my phone and gets our location... by this time more people have stopped to help.... I wasn't much help because the 911 dispatcher wanted me to maintain contact with her... so I kept the dispatcher updated on the condition of the lady in the car. The accident victim wanted us to move her to make her more comfortable... being upside down, must have been miserable. But, we all knew we couldn't move her... it took forever to get the first responders there...I have never heard a sound so welcoming as the sirens... I knew she was hurt pretty bad as there was a large puddle of blood on the floor under the passenger seat. Once the EMT's arrived the decision was made to have Life Flight come in to transport her out. So, she was hurt pretty bad.

When I got off the phone with 911... I looked at the accident scene and I felt so ashamed at how I had been having they pity party. I felt so blessed to have MY trivial little problems. I decided that I will try never to complain about what I am having to face and I will welcome my adversities as growth potential... and because I now know how quickly they can get worse.

Meg... feeling pretty humble right now

Mini Vans... DO NOT OFF ROAD!!

2009-02-19T15:25:00.000-08:00

On Friday the 13th... The weather man was calling for a horrific snow storm to hit NW Missouri... we could have received up to 8" of snow. Melissa had a doctors appointment in King City about a 20 minute drive from Albany... she made it there fine. The weather changed while she was at the doctors office... on the way home she hit a slick spot and went off roading.... my mini van didn't survive... it's DEAD!!

Melissa is just fine... The air bags went off and gave her a mild concussion and she has a tiny mark on her neck where the seat belt rubbed... and it is maybe only a 1/2" long.

I was working at the flower shop... do you know how busy a flower shop is the day before Valentine's Day? The phone rings non-stop. I receive the call from Melissa... and getting a call from one of your children crying is not good. She explained to me what happened and I figured out where she was.... I made sure she was OKAY!! I called the Sheriff, who Melissa babysits for, and told him about the accident and the location... as soon as I hung up the phone I left the flower shop to go to the scene... the road were slick so I had to go slow... When I got to the scene and I saw the van... I was so grateful I already knew Melissa was okay... because it didn't look good... The Sheriff and the paramedics were all ready there!! I felt so blessed to see so many people that know us... Tim, the Sheriff; Noah and Becky the EMT's. It felt so good to know that Melissa was in loving hands... That is one reasons why I LOVE living in a small rural town....

Now I have to find a new car... not new NEW... but new to me!!

Meg

F A I T H

2009-02-16T18:14:00.000-08:00

Since I have re-directed my life back on to the right path... God... Christ... and Church... I've had a lot of spiritual experiences... Recently I feel that my faith is being tested. On fast Sunday I had an issue that I needed confirmation on. I made my decision of how I felt it needed to be handled. I decided to take the path of least resistance... the one I felt would maintain a sense peace in my life and the lives of those I love! Well, I began my fast with a prayer asking for confirmation on my decision... I was so sure this was going to be a piece of cake... NOPE... The next morning I got an answer that totally floored me!! My answer was... NOT to take to take the easy road... but to confront, to hold firm and to stand up for myself. I was so stunned... I was so confused. Did I hear right? Did I get the answer from the right source? So, I went to my Branch President and told him what I was feeling. He then confirmed that when I first told him about the situation that he knew then that I needed to stand up for myself... So... a week goes by and I am still struggling with what I am suppose to do... The next Sunday comes around and I still have not done a thing... so again I go to the Branch President and I ask for a blessing... Monday comes around and I don't do anything... I am so full of fear... Tuesday comes around... and I finally decided that I need to face my fear... so I faced the person I needed to talk to... and it wasn't bad at all and I can't believe I wasted so much time and energy worrying... I should have gone by faith and did what the Lord asked me to in the first place!!

This past Sunday in Sunday School... the first scripture the teacher asked to be read was D&C 8:10. The one I needed most the past few weeks... The scripture is so plain and so simple. That is why I didn't give it a fancy graphics treatment... plain and simple... it's faith!!

A few of my favorite things...

2009-02-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

Tonight as I was making my dinner... BLT's. I was thinking how much I really love a good BTL... Lots of tomatoes and lettuce, the bread toasted just right, loads of (turkey) bacon, mayo on both sides of the bread... and just the right amount of mustard to give it a nice tang... mmmm. That first perfect bite, where you taste all the flavors... and before the sandwich falls apart in your hands... oh that is a little bit of heaven. I also started thinking of other things I really love... but many might not know about me... so I compiled a list... How well do you really know me?

BLT Sandwiches

Walking in the rain and splashing in puddles

Smiling at people, just to see them smile back

The Carpenters

Eating frozen Ding Dongs

Watching old black and white movies

Exploring new places with someone or alone

Picking wild flowers

Gardening in my barefeet

Holding hand... with my kids, loved ones or someone special

Meg

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

2009-02-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

The words her coach said are pretty cool too!! I am a very proud of my daughter and all that she accomplishes... Not only does she play sports... she has straight A's and she works part time!!

Meg

I miss being....

2009-02-05T18:44:00.000-08:00

Oh I miss being "Super Mom"... when the kids were all little they would bring home colds and the flu. They would pass it amongst each other... I would hug.. kiss and love on them and I rarely got the flu... How could I.. with 6 kids in 10 years... I was just too busy to get sick... When one of the kids would say... "I can't kiss you Mom, I'll get you sick!"...I would smile and reply back..."No you won't I am 'Super Mom" and she doesn't get sick". And I do have to admit... I rarely got the flu... Do you remember the Asian Flu back in the 80's... I do, becasue that one I did get... it was 1986... Oh I was sick with that one!! Then in the early 90's Christmas Eve... I had 2 kids on the couch already with the flu... Santa was waiting for them to stop throwing up so she could bring the presents out... She waited as long as she could... She brought out the presents... and poor Christy found out who Santa really was... in the wee hours of the morning...as I made my bed on the floor and I was getting ready to lay down and go to sleep... I felt my stomach... oh I had the flu too... I didn't get any sleep that Christmas Eve...

So that brings me to today... I woke up feeling just fine... went to work for just 4 hours. I was feeling like yea...extra time off... I'll get some stuff done... Came home... made lunch... ate lunch... then the pain started... ooohhh it hurt... my stomach really hurt... I took some tums... no relief... Christy called to tell me about her fantastic day... I couldn't concentrate on the conversation... I hurt when I stood up... It hurt when I laid down... I took some more tums... no relief... I couldn't read.. I couldn't watch TV... I couldn't even lay in bed and suffer... So I grabbed my phone and made some work calls...

I was beginning to think I was having an appendicitis or something... it really hurt... BTW...I am a big baby when I get sick... so I may be over exaggerating... well to finish this up... I ended up getting rid of everything in my stomach... I fell asleep for several hours... woke up pain free.. but stiff and ached all over... Tomorrow I will stay home and rest and fell get 100% again!!

I think one of the worst things... now that the kids are grown and gone... I didn't have anyone to take are of me... that is until Melissa came home from school... she went and bought me a 7-up!!

Alone

2009-02-05T05:31:00.000-08:00

Everyday I am amazed at how many feelings anger can block. The past couple of weeks I am learning what it really feels like to be alone. The first week was not fun at all... for me I felt like I wanted to cry...and my chest felt hollow... like a piece was missing. I wasn't in the best mood... a good night sleep was only had when I was finally exhausted enough to sleep all night long...

This week I started to read a book that my friend Tammy told me about called, The Peacegiver... It is a novel with some deep messages within the story. It's made me think a lot about me, my life and the choices I've made. Some I am happy with, others...hmmm not so happy with. As long as I keep trying all will be okay! The book is about forgiving others... but I am hearing another message about being alone and that I am not alone... even when I feel alone I am not. I am learning to lean on Heavenly Father when I feel alone and lonely... I am also learning that I need to base my decisions on my conversations with him thru prayer... and not based on a poll of my friends :) I need to let Heavenly Father lead me and guide me and teach me what I need to learn... Hey!! I know that song!!

Last night was Divorce Care... I am always excited to go and learn more. Each week we watch a DVD with a message from several experts in the field of divorce. Therapists and counselors mainly... The topic was going to be on depression... but the DVD player quit working so we are going to be behind one week... which also gives me another week to work in the workbook about anger... my ex-best buddy :) ... My new best buddy is HOPE...

I did get to go and see Little Miss Abby... She is such a doll!! We sat on the floor and played with her toys... Tory got to play on the computer and Brent watched TV...

Meg...

Memories.....

2009-02-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you & I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
Next, re-post these instructions on your blog & see how many people leave a memory about you. It should be funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing the game & I'll come to your blog & leave one about you (or if you don't have a blog I will e-mail you my memory!) I am following Karyann Hoopes who posted this, it looked like fun, I hope you'll play along!

Meg

WEIGH IN DAY #1

2009-02-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

Eating very healthy for the past two weeks and drinking plenty of water has paid off!! For the first weigh in I have lost 5 lbs!! Yea!! I wanted to lose 8 lbs... but I am not complaining... For the next two weeks I have to step up and exercise... That is going to be the key to losing weight this time around!!

I do have to admit that eating healthy sure does make a person feel better... I am not doing any sort of diet... my plan is just to eat HEALTHIER... Lots of fresh fruits and veggies... cut way back on the simple carbs and eat more complex carbs... I am going to try to cut sugar and dairy completely out of my diet... I already eat only lien meats... I can tell you the last time I ate a steak was on my birthday back in September... I don't even buy hamburger anymore... I buy ground turkey... lots of chicken... and some pork (only when Melissa isn't around).

There is a show on the BBC... don't remember the name of it and the dietitian on the show recommended cutting out dairy and all processed foods... She goes into the home of REALLY fat people and shows them all the food they consume in a week... then she shows them how to improve their diet and how to get more exercise... I might have to start watching it every Saturday to get some ideas.... The thing I picked up on one show was that eating azuki bean (red beans) is really good for you!! Do you think I can find azuki beans around here anywhere.... heck no!!

A little information on these magic beans...

azuki bean = adzuki bean = Tiensin red bean = aduki bean = asuki bean = field pea = red Oriental bean = feijao bean = red chori

Equivalents: 1 cup dried yields 3 cups cooked beans Pronunciation: a-ZOO-kee Notes: The Japanese use these small red beans to make sweet red bean paste, but they're also good in rice dishes or salads. Azuki beans are sweet and relatively easy to digest, so they won't make you as gassy as other beans. They also don't take as long to cook. Substitutes: black azuki beans OR red kidney beans OR Tolosana beans

If anyone has any good recipes that uses azuki beans... please share.... I will share with you too!!

Meg...

Hasta Luego

2009-01-31T06:36:00.000-08:00

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same.

~Flavia Weedn

Meg

Anger

2009-01-30T21:19:00.000-08:00

Did you know that anger in it's self is not bad...? but it's what you do with your anger is what makes it bad... that is what I learned in my counseling group, divorce care last week. Our lesson was all about the different types of anger and the good and bad ways to express your anger...

When I went to class I knew what the topic was about... and since I have been working on letting go of some anger that I have been carrying around... and doing pretty well. I was thinking that "oh I have this one in the bag..." What is that quote... " Want to see God laugh, tell him your plans!!" So I was tested... and I have found that I have a ways to go..

Then today... I got so angry with myself. I am so mad for sitting these last couple years and being stagnant...not moving forward with the issues in my life. Most of the reason why I was just sitting because I was living with my anger... and letting it dictate what I did. I knew back last May that I was being emotionally stunted by my anger... When Tory gave birth to Abby... I was so happy, but I didn't cry tears of joy and that isn't like me at all. I was also was holding on to the anger because knew I had a lot of pain that I wasn't ready to feel. So, I just sat back and let life pass me by... and now that I am ready to move on... I have to go back and take care of the things that I didn't take care of... I have to go thru the emotions that I've surpressed... this isn't going to be fun. But I know it will be worth it!!

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
~Psalms 31:1-5

Thank goodness for prayer and for a Heavenly Father that is loving and forgiving... He has so much patience with me... and, I have learned from him to have patience with myself and take one day at a time and one issue at a time. I know I will come thru all of this with my smile intact... I promise....

Speaking of promises... I was given the following poem from Nila who got it from Nicole.... I did some research and found that it is the Optimist Creed written in 1912 by Christian Larson

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.

To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Christian D. Larson
1912

Love ya...Meg

Hope

2009-01-28T13:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I woke up way before dawn and was having a rough time...I sat in the dark and pondered and prayed as I watch the night turn to day... ... I was feeling a wave of emotions just under the surface and afraid to let them out. It felt like I just needed to have a good cry... but what if I did? What would be next... what was behind this first wave... was it just one good cry or was it more... I didn't know and I was afraid to find out....So I walked around yesterday in a weird place... all day I guarded my feelings and temperament... Not an easy thing to do!!

I went to bed feeling the same way... this morning again I woke up before dawn and this morning I was ready to tackle what ever I needed to face... I grabbed my ipod choose some of my favorite inspirational music.... turned it up loud... and let the what ever emotions the music evoked come forth... as I cried.... I listened to the message ... and I learned...about how much Heavenly Father loves me and cares about me. And, I was able to walk away smiling, with the knowledge that....

Hope in myself and in my future....

Meg

For the beauty of the earth, For the Beauty of the skies...

2009-01-25T16:27:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up to my world covered in a fresh blanket of white. It was so beautiful and peaceful. I grabbed my camera, put on my snow boots and my heavy jacket and went for a walk around my house and tried to capture the peacefulness I was feeling.

I love snowy days like today... Not too much snow. Not too cold. No wind. And, before the rest of the world wakes up and before the snow plows come out... there is such a quiet peacefulness that I just can't pass up. I am amazed at the beauty that Heaven Father has created for us to enjoy.

I was able to capture the peace not only in pictures but also in my heart and carry it with me all day.

Meg

My Top 10 Favorites of Winter

2009-01-22T06:59:00.000-08:00

1. Cold pink noses and cheeks... with happy warm smiles

2. Wood heat making my floors warm and toasty

3. Christmas

4. Watching it snow... from inside

5. Warm woolly sweaters

6. Snowmen

7. Hot cocoa with marshmallows

8. Home made soups and fresh baked bread

9. Snuggling to keep warm

10. Jack Frost painting beautiful designs on my widows

With more than several weeks of winter still to come... I thought I would remind myself of the things that make me smile about winter... BYW... the pictures are NOT from me... I got them from the internet

Meg

Goal for 2009

2009-01-22T04:53:00.001-08:00

Back in 2003 my niece, Shar came up with a mantra for her goal ... I took her example and did the same for myself... Looking forward too meeting this goal!!

Meg

TOP 10 of 2008

2009-01-20T08:07:00.000-08:00

1. Abrielle Jean
2. group home opening
3. moving to new home
4. losing almost 30 lbs
5. Jolene coming home
6. Angel coming home
7. Tory and Brent graduation
8. Seeing and spending time with Curtis and Stefanie
9. thanksgiving dinner around MY dining room table
10. Never forgetting I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and never gives up on me!!

I know this is late... but as you can read in previous posts that things have not been real calm since the New Year. 2008 was great... and I am expecting 2009 to be even better. I can say that I am happy with where I am at... I love my family and especially my children and my grand-daughters... they all are the light of my life... If I could have one wish granted I would wish to have all of us together for just one day... to play together and have some fun and make some fresh new memories.

My kids who are around me... we are all so busy with school and work that we don't take the time to play together... and those who live far away... we don't get to see each other often enough... I love you all SO much...

This year we will PLAY!! and Play often...

Meg (AKA MOM)

Completly

2009-01-17T19:24:00.000-08:00

Completely,
wanna give my love completely
I'd rather be alone than be in love just half the way
I want to find someone that I can trust

Completely,
wanna give my heart completely
To someone who'll completely give their heart to only me
And when I find that one
That's when I'll fall in love

Completely,
Not half but whole
With heart and soul
Completely
Not in between
But everything

Completely
That's the way it's gotta be
The way I want someone to fall in love with me
Forever wanna feel the word forever
And know there'll be somebody there forever by my side
And when that feeling comes
That's when I'll give my love

Completely,
Not half but whole
With heart and soul
Completely
Not in between
But everything

It's all or nothing at all for this heart of mine
And I won't give up this heart till the day I find
Someone who needs me

Completely,
Not half but whole
With heart and soul
Completely
Not in between
But everything

The way I need someone to fall in love with me

Biggest Loser... Starts again...

2009-01-15T09:11:00.001-08:00

The Albany Community Betterment is once again sponsoring The Biggest Loser.... We weigh in next Tuesday and then every other Tuesday until May 26th. Last year I lost 30 lbs.... I admit I have gained some back... I am still in my skinny jeans... they are tight... but I can still zip them...

Anyone willing to make a lifestyle change with me? You don't have to live in Albany to do this with me.... All you have to do is have a scale available... every other Tuesday!!

This year...

I WILL exercise at least 3 times a week!

I WILL drink 32 0z of water a day!

I WILL enjoy eating more fruits and vegetables!

Meg

A Whole Day OFF!!

2009-01-14T17:28:00.000-08:00

I got off work yesterday at 3 pm and I don't have to go back until sometime tomorrow... I was so excited to sleep in my own bed... all snuggled down in my queen size bed... with Goober down at my feet. I went to bed thinking I was going to read for a little while... fall asleep and sleep all night long! Heck no!! I slept horrible... I kept waking up all night long.. at three I had to make a bathroom run at around 3am then I couldn't fall back to sleep so I read some more... I finally fell back to sleep, only to wake back up at 6am...and there was no way I was going to start my day at 6am... so I made myself go back to sleep... this time to wake up at 8am... feeling horrible and the beginnings of a headache....

I went and put wood on the stove... and grabbed a blanket and a cup of herbal tea... and watched Third Watch that I Tivo'd... so what did I do with the rest of my day....

Melissa made sure I knew what needed to get done.... she made me a to do list... gotta love her!! As you can see I did get a few things done... I did get the basement floor swept... but bringing in wood always makes it a mess again... and with single digit temperatures... I've been bringing in the wood... I also got a short nap in today too!!

Meg

Choices...and the choice is mine

2009-01-13T07:43:00.000-08:00

I met a new friend the other day... and for only having a couple of conversations with them... and with what I call their quiet widsom... they have helped me to open my eyes and heart to a whole new perspective... I asked them what their favorite parable was and their response was the 10 Virgins... because they had just read it and it was fresh in their minds... my reply was I didn't like that one because I am so disorganized I will never be ready for my prince when he comes... their response was...something like... it's all in my choices....

Their reply wasn't telling me what I need to do or not to do.... it was simply "it was all in my choices". what a profounding thought... Oh I didn't not like the sound of that one... the choice was mine... that thought has rolled around in my head for days...

When I went to Church on Sunday... I went with a whole new attitude. Yes... my poor lamp has been neglected... it has taken a few tumbles and it has a few chips in it... and my oil is way low ... way too low... but with some time(faith), some polish(prayer) and some work(obedience)... my lamp will be worthy to hold all the oil I put in it... I feel so GOOD!

Now... this morning I wake up and feeling low... I am at work again.... I love my work... but I love my own bed better... I am feeling defeated... I think about my New Years Resolution for the past 2 years... I want control back of my life... I feel like it is going faster and faster and I am losing control and there is going to be a terrible crash... we me hurt!! Well this morning I had a "Well Duh" moment... I don't need to take control of my life... I need to turn my life over to the Lord! I know how simple that sounds... but it was such a difficult concept to see when I was in my slump... I know those who really know me and love me know exactly what I am talking about... thank you so much for all your prayers and good thoughts that you sent my way!! I sure can feel them now.... and I'm Back!

And to my new friend... good luck to you in all that you do...and may you always pass on your quiet wisdom to those you meet.

Oh! and the picture collage are pictures I took last year of the St. Louis Temple... when I drove Gene and Nila to see the specialist for Gene!! I am so glad Ittok the time to get out in the horrid heat and take them... they mean so much more to me now that they did when I took them... I kept wondering why I was taking them... They sure give me such joy and hope now...

Meg... feeling more hopeful than I have in a long time.

Okay! Okay!! Okay!!!

2009-01-09T08:45:00.000-08:00

I call "UNCLE"... I will BLOG!! Life has been more than just the usual CrAZy around here... My client's Mom called and told me that she would be coming to get her on the 23rd and keeping her until the 28th... Christy flew down to Florida to spend time with Joshua... I think the 80* weather had a lot to do with her decision to go...

On Christmas Eve I got busy and finished up Christmas stuff... I sat at home and watched chick flicks and wrapped presents... I cleaned the house and got all I could get ready completed... We went over to Nila and Gene's and had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner and reading of the Christmas Story... We all laughed and remembered the fights and tears of who would get to put baby Jesus in the manger... Angel got to do it with no fights... Maybe in a few years she will have to share the honor with Abby... When we were done reading we opened the traditional Christmas Eve gift... Pajama's!!

I have some fun memories of celebrating Christmas eve... The time we had the cousins act out the characters... The time at Thanksgiving each cousin was assigned a manger scene character and had to use their artistic abilities and create there character then share it on Christmas Eve... My fondest Christmas Eve was in 1996 right after my Mom passed away.... I had lots of family surround me with their love and support... I had 26 people over to my house and we laughed and rejoiced in the spirit of the holiday!!

Back to this year... On Christmas morning Melissa had me up so she could open all her presents... She told me she had waited her whole life for these 2 years where she would be an only child! And she would be spoiled. The rest of the family was scheduled to come over at 10:30am for the continuation of the presents... We had fun!!

I made Christmas dinner.... Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberries, ham, corn and green beans... and home made rolls!! For dessert Jolene made pumpkin pie and I made cheesecake... we were as usual too full to eat dessert...

At some point during the day we played "Trouble" ... I quit early because Abby needed a bottle. After everyone left I cleaned up so I could sleep in on 12/26... and sleep in I did... I got up and was a couch potato... I didn't even get on the computer... I might have but the lap top was at the group home and I was to lazy to get up and go into the office and get on the desk top... about the only thing I got up to do was to go to the basement and stoke the wood stove.. or get something to eat...In the late after noon I got a call from my clients mom asking me if we had fed her something different...because she was having an itching reaction and Benadryl was not working...
I didn't know of anything...

After being a literal bum for 2 days... I get a call from clients Mom and they are headed to ER because She is in such distress... They gave her more meds and sent us on her way... On Monday a her condition didn't improve... I took her to her regular Dr and she didn't know... Monday night we were back in the ER because we could not get the itching to stop... more meds and back home. Tuesday we had appointments at her Neurologist and Dermatologist... more meds again... this time they say she has a skin condition. She has to have all her clothes washed in fragrance FREE detergent... Wednesday she seems better and I am a laundry hag... I washed ALL her clothes and blankets... Thursday she is bad again.... but we can keep her comfortable... Friday she is getting worse.... Friday night we are back at the ER... The fill her full of antihistamines and sedatives... She sleeps Friday night... They are just keeping her doped up to keep her comfortable... Saturday night I have a talk with her mom and we decided she needs to be under the care of the Dr who has treated her since first diagnosed with Rett's... I call the Dr and we get it set up to have her transferred down to St. Joe to Heartland... Monday I go with her by ambulance to Heartland and we get checked in... They decide to change her seizure meds... She stops itching... but she is a totally different girl... for being non-verbal she sure was verbal Tuesday morning... some words you can understand... like pizza... she said pizza over and over again. Since she was no longer on IV we went for a walk down the halls and she was just talking to anyone or anything... it was so fun to watch her... she had miserable for so long!! Her euphoria lasted all day... and all night long... I finally climbed into bed with her to get her to calm down and go to sleep...and of course just as she falls asleep the CNA comes in to take her vitals.. .I asked him.... "Do you HAVE to do that now? I just got her to sleep!!" He left and didn't come back until she was awake... When I asked the Dr about her euphoria she said it is her coming off the old medication and her getting use to the new one... Each day when I wake her up I wonder who will she be today.... On Thursday she was once again verbal and active.... she was up and down off the couch... and talking to the TV.... yesterday she had an attitude and spit breakfast on me and tried to hit me... I just grab her and give her hugs... that always calms her down... This morning she is just happy and calm... Whew... what a week!! I am glad she is home and back on track!!

Meg

BLOG Design is FUN!!

2008-12-20T19:06:00.000-08:00

On Friday I was stuck at my group home, with no place to go and nothing to do...because of the ice storm staff could not relieve me... I got my client all warm and toasty.. and content taking a nap and I set off to work...Being blogger and an avid blog hopper...probably more blog hopper than blogger... but I always love to look at all the creative backgrounds on the blogs... the really cute once usually come from one certain website... Well I started thinking what if I used Aimee Asher clip art... I could have the cutest blog on the block!!So I sat here and did my research... the html code I needed and the size of the images and such... I created posted...re sized or recolored and re posted until I got it just right!! And I did it!!If you'd like to check it out...CLICK HERE to check it out!!I am so excited I am ready to make another new one...

Meg

GRINCHED

2008-12-11T19:41:00.000-08:00

Here is one of the fun shots we took last week!! I just love it!

Meg

Don We Now Our Gay Apparel....

2008-12-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.

Tis this season to be...just adorable....
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.

Isn't this picture of Abby just too cute...?

I know Abby is going to hate this one when she is a teenager...

Abby is now 6 months old!! And sitting up...well almost that is.. she will balance for a few minutes then over she goes!!

Our Thanksgiving was nice... We had Eric, Jolene and Angel, Christy, Tory, Brent and Abby, Nila and Gene, Angela and myself... Melissa had to work... so she had gone earlier in the day and ate with Tory, Brent and Abby at Brent's family dinner... We had lots of yummy food and I wanted to play games...but after dinner I was too tired... so I plopped my bum on the couch and watched TV... Everyone was tired too... so it was fine....

Saturday we had a photo fest... I set up the black back drop in the basement and I took over 700 photos... of what you ask... several shots of every configuration of people and pets... Christy and Melissa & Angel, Christy and Angel, Melissa and Goober, Christy and Duchess, Tory, Abby, Angel, Melissa and Christy... you get the idea... Then we did Tory, Abby and Brent.... I have not even had the time to look at ALL the shots... I obviously looked at the ones that popped out at me!! During the week I had to create 5 Christmas cards for family and friends, so that kept me a bit busy... Those creations will be posted on my meginmo blog!!

If the weather stays like it has been the past week, we should have a white Christmas... It can get as cold as it wants to this year... I have a wood stove in my basement and it keeps my home so warm and toasty....My house temp on the average is 73*... sometimes it gets too warm!! I have a good friend that supplies me with firewood... We are trading family photos for fire wood... works for me!! I just have to get Melissa to help me keep it going... She is getting better at it!!

Meg

Puthing the "thanks" back into Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T06:23:00.000-08:00

For a fun activity this Thanksgiving see how many different languages can you say thank you in......Match as many countries with the correct thank you...

Country
1. South Africa
2. Syria
3. Ghana
4. Afghanistan
5. Greece
6. Israel
7. Iceland
8. Thailand
9. Madagascar
10. Vietnam
11. Zimbabwe
12. Philippines

Thank You
a. Cám ón
b. Mamnuun
c. Salamat
d. Ngeyabonga
e. Meda wo ase
f. Takk
g. Toda
h. Khawp khun
i. Dankie
j. Tashakkur
k. Sas efharisto
l. Misaotra

If you need help the answers are below... if you want to get the pronunciation correct here is a website that will help you... "Say Thank You"

I want to take this opportunity to say tasjakkur to everyone in my life, my friends, my family, my staff, my clients and their parents... Thank you to each and everyone who is a part of my life!!

Have young ones that need an activity... click on the turkey and it open the pictures large enough for a coloring page!!

Love You All!!
Meg

ANSWERS: 1.i, 2.b, 3.e, 4.j, 5.k, 6.g, 7.f, 8.h, 9.l, 10.a, 11.d, 12.c.

The Oprah Show!!

2008-11-22T13:40:00.000-08:00

Yes!!! I ran away from home again. Before I had even left for Houston Beth had called me to tell me that she had acquired tickets to the Oprah Show for the middle of November. I was so excited to go... Who knows it could have been her "favorite things" show... Right!!!!???

The rough part for me was that on Friday, Nov. 14, the State of Missouri was scheduled to come in and inspect my group home. So the whole previous week and a half was spent cleaning and organizing the home and the mass of paperwork required to have for each resident. I had NO idea of what to expect, and that was nerve wracking. I wasn't sure how clean the house needed to be... I was knew the home needed some of the cleaning done that doesn't get done regularly like under the stove and fridge... Cleaning the cobwebs that magically appear when you aren't looking.. Then early on the Wednesday before I am to leave, Beth calls me to tell me that the Oprah Show had called her and they had to cancel taping on the day we were scheduled to go. After discussing the options with Beth, we decide that if I can cancel my flight and come in January I should do that. Later on in the day while was up to my elbows in deep cleaning, I see that my clients bed was literally falling apart... I quickly make a phone call to Gene and he comes right over and saves the day and the bed. In the middle of me helping Gene fix the bed Beth calls all in a panic about how the Oprah Show had called back to see if we want to go to the taping a day earlier and to see if I had called to change my ticket. I hadn't so all is good and we now are scheduled to see a taping of the Oprah Show!!!! Now I can get back to getting ready for State. After several long days of preparing and longer nights of worrying, Friday arrives along with the State inspector... He was here for 3 hours... checking documentation and finding errors that were not found during my medical audit done last month. I made a few minor corrections while he as here. So in the end I only had 3 minor infractions keeping me from getting my 2 year license. The three minor things were all taken care of by Monday. Jolene went ahead and made the copies and faxed everything to the inspector... My client went home for several days to spend some quality time with her family... so I was really able to relax and have fun in Chicago....

I was up and out the door to the airport by 6:30 AM, Sunday morning. I made it just the right time to the airport... enough time to get my shoes back on and reorganize my stuff after getting thru security... and relax for a few minutes before they started boarding...I love flying out of KC it is such an easy airport... The plane was full and I sat next to a really nice elderly man and his wife sat behind us... I told them I would move so his wife could sit next to him... but they said it was okay... His son is a pilot for Southwest so they fly for free and they fly a lot. Beth was there outside baggage claim when I arrived... we don't greet the plane anymore... it is much faster this way... We headed off to go SHOPPING...the sad part it that I love to go the food stores while I am in Chicago....I bought some pretzel bread and some brie cheese because I was hungry... yummy it was so good!! We also went to Cost Plus World Market... and Ikea. I found lots of fun things for Abby in Ikea... I always find all sorts of fun things for Abby where ever I go... Abby is very auditory... she loves things that make noise... so I got her a duck that goes, quack,quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack. I also got her one of those toys that make the mooooo sound when you turn it upside down then right side up.... I got her some bibs, 2 different eating sets.... now that she is on solids...

Beth's mother-in-law and her friend were driving in from Indiana, so we had to be back at Beth's house before they got there....we made it! So that night we ate dinner...visited and headed to bed because we had to be up and out the door by 5:00 am... we had to be at the Harpo Studios before 7:00 am... and Chicago traffic is much like S. CA... you NEVER know how long it is going to take you to where you want to go... We arrived at the studio at 6:15am... and we sat for a few minutes and then I got bored and we went to go check things out we found that we could get in... We all left out cell phones in the car, because you can't take ANY type of recording device into the taping... they even search your purse. Then they send you into a room to wait with the other 300 people. Right before they send in the main crowd... they will call people they pick... Beth and I think they just pick the pretty people to sit down close to the stage... I got stuck in the nose bleed section, behind a camera on an electric boom... so I could only see 1/2 the stage.I could see Oprah and she really is pretty... Her butt is really is HUGE. I was surprised on how big it really is... During the taping, I just about fell asleep a couple of times. The topic was spirituality... which HEY I get it! I don't need any help in that area... so I was not really happy with the topic... the show will be aired on 1/7/2009.... I want to go again because the next topic has got to be better. You are only suppose to go once a year... but Beth registered me as Meg and herself as Beth... we are going to register as Mary and Elizabeth.... who knows it may work!! After the taping we went across the street to the Oprah Store... Now I know how she made all her billions... it's by selling over priced things in her store... I did break down and I bought myself a long sleeve T-shirt for $24!! When we were done shopping we walked around the neighborhood and found a cute little Italian restaurant and had lunch... it was delicious... When we got back to Beth's her mother-in-law and her friend left to drive back home...right after they left it started snowing really hard...almost white out conditions..thankfully they made it home okay... I was so tired I had a hard time keeping my eyes open... I finally gave up and went to bed around 8pm. Tuesday I got up and Beth and I went and did some more shopping... we went to the Crate and Barrel outlet store.... the Tiger Direct outlet store... and my favorite Chicago store Caputto's... a very large grocery store that carries food from all over the world... I got my favorite bocaccini's little balls of fresh mozzarella cheese balls... I got some other yummy foods to bring home. I had bought a "green" bag from Trader Joe's and it was full of food stuff... fresh baked breads, my cheeses, and other things.... We went home packed bag and I headed to the airport... The plane was packed... and it was announced that every seat was full. So I decided the first open spot for my backpack in an overhead bin... I would take it. About the 4th row in I find a spot for my backpack... and this really nice looking man helps me and then asks me to sit next to him. He told me that since the plane was so full he wanted to pick who he sat next to.... He as very good looking and nice too. We talked the whole flight... and he was married with 4 kids... bummer!! Nice to know I still got it!!!

Few Words

2008-11-18T06:50:00.001-08:00

I saw this on Nicole's blog and thought that it would be fun... Each question must be answered with only ONE word... for someone who like a lot of words... can I do it?

1. Where is your cell phone? upstairs
2. Where is your significant other? gone
3. Your hair? up
4. Your mother? missed
5. You father? missing
6. Your favorite thing? technology
7. Your dream last night? avocados

8. Your dream/goal? artist
9. The room you're in? family-room
10. Your hobby? creativity
11. Your fear? pain
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? relationship
13. Where were you last night? sleeping
14. What you're not? mean
15. One of your wish list items? sewing-machine
16. Where you grew up? california
17. The last fun thing you did? oprah
18. What you're wearing? jeans
19. Your TV? off
20. Your pet? home
21. Your computer? sleeping
22. What do you think of tags like this? interesting
23. Your mood? relaxed
24. Missing someone? family
25. Where would you rather be? here
26. Something you're not wearing right now? shoes
27. Favorite store? ikea
28. Your summer? busy
29. Love someone? looking
30. Favorite color? blue
31. The last time you laughed? lunch
32. Who will participate? family

This concludes my Few Words blog... it isn't as easy as it looks. Give it a try!

Meg

SER-EN-DIP-I-TY Saturday

2008-11-08T08:10:00.000-08:00

ser·en·dip·i·ty (sěr'ən-dĭp'ĭ-tē) noun
Etymology: from its possession by the heroes of the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip Date: 1754
1. the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for ; also : an instance of this

The sky is overcast... the temperature outside is very COLD... in the 30's... Today is the perfect day get a load of laundry going and then sit on the couch and watch a romantic comedy... one of my favorites is Serendipity staring John Cusack and Kate Beckensale... The perfect romantic comedy. I have been wanting to watch it... land just last night as I was heading to bed I happened to click on the TV guide button and happen to see that is was coming on at midnight... so I clicked the record button and went to bed knowing that in the morning I would have a fun movie to watch!! Now that was serendipitous!!

Meg

Better Late Than NEVER

2008-11-06T09:43:00.001-08:00

Happy Halloween!!

Here is Abby... our precious little lambkin....

I'm Home from HOUSTON!!!

2008-11-06T06:22:00.000-08:00

I had a blast!! For ya’ll that don’t know why I went…. Last Christmas Frank, my bro-in-law, gave for Christmas Beth, my sister, airfare for us BOTH to attend this years International Quilt Festival in Houston!! The funny part is that I don’t quilt…I have tried and failed… I enjoy fabric and stitching so this it was tons of fun… We flew in on Wed, Oct 29th… and thru better luck than management Beth and I met up at the car rental terminal… Houston’s airport is HUGE… trains from terminal to terminal…. Beth flew in to Terminal A and I flew into Terminal B. So we were very luck to meet up quickly… Once we got on the road we checked into our hotel…dropped off our bags and made a b-line for the show….

Wednesday (Day 1) - For 5 hours we walked the isles and checked out the vendors….there were approximately 900 vendors…. The first day we got thru 2/3d’s of the vendors… As I was checking out the vendors and I found one that had TONS of Tammy DeYoung stuff... Hmmm could this be Tammy's booth.... could Tammy actually be here at the show.... I look over at the gal running the booth... could she be Tammy? OH my... my heart starts racing and my palms get sweaty.... I wait for the booth to empty... I ask the gal... Are you Tammy? She replies, "Yes I am", (add a cute Texas twang when reading)... I was so proud of my self I didn't jump and down and scream.... I did let her know that I am one of her biggest fans and have been for years....and I did ask her to take her pic with me... see below...I have been a fan of hers since I first started borrowing her patterns from my sis-in-law.... then I fell in love with her clipart at PCcrafter...
I have to say that Tammy is one of the nicest (previous) PCcrafter artists I have ever met...okay she is the only one I have met....But honestly she is so sweet... I think she may think I am a stalker because I did go and see her 3 times while I was at the Quilt Show.... each time she was extremely nice...and I didn't even buy anything.... opps I forgot too. We left the show ate dinner and came back. We both wanted good Mexican food… we found okay Mexican food at Ninfa's, at the Houston Center….a mall in the bottom 3 floors of a skyscraper. Yes I brought my camera and I have been taking pictures…. After we ate we went back to the convention center and continued shopping…. We closed the place down!!
Thursday (Day 2) – We first finished checking out the rest of the vendors then we headed over to the quilt show. WOW!! There are some amazing quilts… there are some pretty ugly ones too. When I could take pictures I took some pictures of the ones I liked…. I also took close-up shots of design elements that I could see as digital art…. For lunch/dinner we walked back over to the Houston Center and went to the Long Horn Café and had a GREAT hamburger. The soda cups were Texas size… like as big as ½ quart!! HUGE!!... Man was I full when we left… I was glad we went back to the show and walked some more… we finished the quilt show and then we went back to the vendors…. When we left the show we were diving back to the hotel and I see Rice’s Epicurean Market… (Gourmet market)! Beth and I have found that we both LOVE poking around gourmet markets… When we were done at Rice’s and headed back to the hotel…I noticed across there was another market… so we headed there…OH MY!! This market was fabulous…. It was called Central Market and we spent 1.5 hours going thru each section… the produce section alone was the largest I have EVER seen… it had every type of veggie or fruit you could think of…they even had miniature summer squash and zucchinis… When we came to the bakery we sampled so many types of freshly baked breads…the number of samples made Sam’s Club look cheap!! We decided to pick out a dessert from the dessert side of the bakery!! I picked Crème Brule…and Beth pick Chocolate Raspberry Truffle… I loved mine… Beth ate the whole thing, but won’t get it again…. When we were done…we fell into bed and crashed…

Friday (Day 3) – We headed back to the quilt show to poke around the venders again… Hey there is approx 900 vendors… we might have missed a few… and we did. We would ask each other do you remember this booth… I purchased a few more items. I went into Little Stitches and the owner, Debbie, reads my name tag and she asks, “Do you have any relatives in CA!” I smile big and reply…”Karen Abreu is my sister-in-law!”. I knew she would know Karen from all the time she spent at Calico Station in San Marcos. She asked me to share with Karen that she misses seeing you!! I also went into Bit’s and Pieces by Joan…love her stuff too!! I have decided the next quilt I attempt, the key word being…attempt, will be a woolie quilt. With the hand appliqué squares… I saw several that I really loved…. Today we actually left the show before it was closed… we headed back to Central Market to buy food for our dinner tonight and lunches for Saturday… We spent another 1.5 hours making decisions… We got some apples, and a loaf of sour dough bread, some REAL butter, some nice dry salami, some really delicious thinly sliced Montreal seasoned rare eye of round roast beef, some tomato boccachini & basil salad, some couscous with mint, spinach and goat cheese, brie cheese, peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies… that was for lunch. For dinner we got salads from the salad bar, I got some baked potato soup… a crusty Baggett to eat with my soup… and of course dessert again… This time I chose a lemon meringue cupcake… and Beth got a slice of Italian Cream Cake… both were yummy… We also found a $3 insulated bag to keep all our yummy food in….we rolled out full tummies into bed early…. We have a long day tomorrow

Saturday (Day 4) – We had to be up and out the door early this morning… Today is CLASS DAY! We are both signed up to take full day classes. I am taking the “Market Basket” class and Beth took the “Photos, Fabrics and Words”. The morning part of my basket class was very frustrating… at the beginning of the class the teacher says to relax that this class is not for those who are perfectionist… I sigh a big sigh of relief… because I am NOT a perfectionist… but as the class goes on I sure wish I was a tad bit more of a perfectionist… I am stringing the bottom of my basket and it is too loose… so I start to go back and tighten it… moving the looseness to the ends… then POP the round reed breaks… I have to take extra time and fix it…. Now I am behind and getting more and more frustrated…. The bottom of the basket has these cute little feet that are part if the design… and I am thinking my basket it NEVER going to turn out looking like the example… I continue to weave and created….My tablemate… Kaitlyn is from Houston and is a CPA and a very encouraging person… we hit is off right away… and we talk and talk and talk…. Early on I see that I forgot my towel… she tells me no problem she has an extra… Since she was so sweet I invite her to come and eat my gourmet lunch with me and Beth… I tell her it’s from Central Market and she doesn’t hesitate and says “Yes! Thank You!”. It’s finally noon and we break for lunch… We enjoy a nice lunch out in the open air patio… the weather here has been just beautiful. Beth brings another friend she has met up with to have lunch with us too… so we all just sit and chat…. After lunch Kaitlyn and I head back to our class and get back to work… I am feeling much more confident in my basket making… I can see my little basket legs starting to form… I am chatting and weaving… The day progresses fast… and it takes me an hour longer than the class to get my basket completed… We help the teacher clean up and decide where we want to eat dinner… Kaitlyn suggests a restaurant called Tortilla Lupe… and I invite her and her husband to join us… I ordered Cheekin Lupe … it was so good. Beth had Carne Asada and she wasn’t happy with it… I told the waitress it was Beth’s birthday and they came and put a sombrero on her head and sung Happy Birthday to her in Spanish… I don’t think she really enjoyed it!! She was good about it anyway!!

Sunday (Day 5) – No specific plans today! We get up slowly and decided that we want to head over to Galveston to see the beach and the devastation from Ike. We were very surprised that we were able to get over to the island. The devastation was amazing, there are still sailboats sitting next to the highway. The beaches are strewn with debris… We were able to walk along the shoreline. But you would see doors, and other items deposited there by the storm. We drove up and down the strand just looking in awe at what Ike did… By late afternoon we were ready to head back to Houston. But on the way back we saw a Ross Dress for Less. I had forgotten how much I love that store. I found a toy for Angel and 2 outfits for Abby. We also saw a Garden Ridge store and made a run thru it to see what it had… We quit shopping because we decided we were hungry… we hadn’t eaten so we found a Mexican restaurant, Poppasita’s and had dinner… I had fish tacos and Beth had fajitas… we were so full when we were done… we rolled back over to hotel and started getting ready for the crack of dawn departure…

Now I am home and right back into the everyday grind!!

DON'T FORGET TO...

2008-11-04T06:38:00.000-08:00

I did...did you arememner to vote?

Unexpected Good-byes are HARD!!

2008-10-24T16:36:00.000-07:00

This morning I was awoken by a phone call that a high school classmate and friend of Christy and Tory had been killed in a car accident last night... The young man that was killed was Christy's first boyfriend when we moved to Missouri... they remained friends thru middle school and high school. Christy also had the opportunity to tutor him in Algebra in high school. Since graduation they have kept in touch with each other... I was worried about telling Christy. She took the news fairly well this morning... But, I was not surprised when I received a call and when I answered my phone I heard my daughter at the other end crying, saying..."It's hit me Mom...", we talked for a few until she felt better...

All day long I felt the strongest urge to reach out to each of my children... and let them know that I love them... it made me think about my relationship with each of them. Do they know I love them? Not just love them because they are my child... but I love the person that they are? I did speak with most of my children today.... I've had a hard time focusing on my daily duties today... My mind would wander to the young man's family and all the things they would be having to do and emotions that they would be going thru. I thought about Christy and would wonder how she was doing...

This afternoon I was blog hopping and I stumbled on a very special blog... as I read the entry I didn't under stand what it meant... Here is what it said...

Escape....
Grab your kleenex. Send the kids outside. Open your mind and your heart and
go here for a very uplifting experience.

At first I didn't notice the link... then I clicked on it. Wow!! What a message!! The perfect message for the day I am having!! Oh how I cried.... then I felt a peace come over me!! I remembered what I have been taught!! I feel so much better about the whole situation!!

Meg

Softball... Christy.... and... Abby

2008-10-22T05:46:00.000-07:00

SOFTBALL

This past week has been busy... Melissa had a traveling softball team tournament down in Overland Park, Kansas...that she participated in. Her team, the Cobras, played in 5 games. 3 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Melissa played center field... her all time favorite position. She loves to catch fly balls... especially if she has to make a diving catch... one of these days I will get a picture of her doing it... I usually get caught up in the game and forget to take the picture... Melissa really has some talent. She's already had a college scout come and look at her and another girl on her school team. Melissa is getting known for her arm... She can catch a ball in center field and from center field thrown the ball home and make the out! This weekend she caught a fly ball and threw the ball home and hit the runner in the head... good thing the runner was wearing her helmet... it was an amazing throw!

CHRISTY

Christy drove over from Columbia to watch Melissa play softball... Watching the young girls play softball made Christy feel old. She played on a traveling team when she was Melissa's age. The first couple of innings she just sat and watched... then she really got into the game!! Christy brought Dutchess with her... The sign at the park entry says NO PETS... But we brought her in with us and just kept her right by us. Since having her 2 litters of puppies and then getting spayed... she really is a VERY good dog... One park employee told Christy that she had to take her out... But Christy talked him into letting her keep her in the park.... Melissa and I really enjoyed having Christy with us at the games... During the games I just take pictures... I go inside the fence and stand in the press box they chalk out, so I can get good pictures. During the first game I almost got his by a foul ball that went by so fast I didn't even see it... the first base coach did the get out of it's way dance so I followed his lead... I was told that the ball missed my rear end by maybe an inch.... whew... that would have hurt!!

and....ABBY (5 months) All Dress up for HALLOWEEN

Tory had called earlier in the week and asked if I would watch Abby while she went to a lecture Monday night... Since I would all ready be in Maryville I told her I would. Christy drove over later to help me... While I was there Tory wanted me to take some picture of Abby in her Halloween costume... she looked so adorable... We were having so much fun just the 4 of us Tory decided to ditch her lecture and stay home with us... I made stuffed pasta shells, spinach salad and garlic bread for dinner. Yummy!! Tory and I had to go shopping so I could make dinner... Abby had gone down for a nap so Christy volunteered to stay at the apartment while we ran to Wal-Mart... When we arrive at Wal-Mart Tory notices that she has 2 cell phones... She has hers and Christy's GREAT!! We hope Abby does not wake up while we are gone!! We get what we needed and head home... as we walk in the door we hear Abby crying... and Christy is walking out of her bedroom with her... Christy did GREAT with Abby... she figured out how to change her diaper and everything... and Abby only has 2 legs and no fur!! Christy was NOT happy when she figured out she didn't have a cell phone... Tory made Abby a bottle and when she was in a happy mood she put her in her Halloween costume and we started taking pictures.... We had so much fun with her!! Tory says that I can not postthe pictures until Halloween... So I am bein good and not posting them on my blog!!

After dinner, Tory looked thru the pictures and picked out some that she wanted to get some prints of... and this time we all packed up and headed to Wal-Mart, good thing it's very close to Tory's apartment. Christy and I walked around keeping Abby happy while Tory got her prints... When we got back to Tory's, Christy and I had fun playing with Abby... We would talk to her in these really deep voices and she would just laugh at us... so then we would laugh at her... We did this for a long time. When it got late I headed home because I had to sleep at the group home. so ... Christy spent the night at Tory's. Christy said that Abby laughed at her deep voice in the morning too... so now we know how to make her laugh... at least this month!!

Okay I have a question to the Mom's and Grandma's what do you think I should do? Should I buy Angel the "Hanna Montana Costume"... that is $20 at Wal-Mart or should I spend a few more dollars and get her a pair of sparkly jeans and a cool Hanna Montana long sleeve t-shirt that she can wear all winter long? I keep vacillating on being a fun what the heck grandma and being the thrifty grandma... While Christy and I were walking around Wal-Mart and I showed her the costume vs. the outfit and she was NO help at all!! The really hard part is that I know Angel needs some winter clothes and it would be helping Eric and Jolene out.... with Halloween just around the corner I need to decide!! HELP!!

Meg

CK Convention in Kansas City !!

2008-10-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I saw that Creating Keepsakes Convention was coming to Kansas City...on October 10-11th!! Since I don't have a friend that is creative in the same areas that I am... in fact I don't know a person in Albany that actually scrapbooks or does a paper crafting.... I knew I would be going alone.... and I was okay with that... I know my moto is the more the merrier... but I also like to spend time alone with myself... When I went to the CK website to find out the details I noticed they were looking for volunteers... Cool... idea! VOLUNTEER get in for FREE and the get inside scoop!! But wait! As I scrolled down the page... an announcement from vendors looking for HELP!! Even better.... get in for FREE... work the convention and get PAID!! I emailed several vendors... and Suzanne from the Eyelet Outlet answered first.... and I am so glad she did.... I had a GREAT time. Suzanne did not come to the show... she sent Lisa. I really had an enjoyable time... I spent 2 days showing ladies and a few gents... how to set an eyelet with just a ball point pen... if you are a crafter you know that you usually have to use a hammer and eyelet setter to set an eyelet. Suzanne has created a new type of eyelet called Quicklets, that only needs a ball point pen to set it... Go to her website and check it out... Not only does Eyelet outlet have cool eyelets she has a TON of cool brads....

One of the best things about going to the Convention is all the deals you get... I got my Score Pal, Bind it All and a ton of brads and eyelets below cost...

I was so tired Friday night... I went to a Mexican food restaurant and ordered my dinner to go... I was so busy all day long I never ate lunch... so I was STARVING... I went back to my room... got comfy... and devoured my dinner.... then I just went to bed!! Saturday I demonstrated Quicklets all day long... Helped Lisa pack up the booth and headed home...

My New Toy

2008-10-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

I am so excited!! Today while at work... I took my client... (I have to change her name... HIPPA rules...) Justine to exercise, then we went on a little adventure to a second hand store... and on the way there I took a wrong turn had to circle the block and when I did I found a new pawn shop. When we were done at the second hand store we went to the pawn shop... Justine loves to look around at stores... as long as we make it to Wal-Mart so she can look at the DVDs that is... And there sitting on the shelf was a Classic Kitchen Aide Mixer... looking BRAND NEW and under $50... I grabbed that puppy and took it up to the counter and asked the clerk to plug it in so I could have a test drive... Oh how she purred like a kitten, from the lowest speed to the fastest!! I pulled out my debit card and bought my new toy... She did not come with 2 of the mixing attachments... but I knew that I had some from my old kitchen aide that has been dead for a number of years and sitting in storage...Some would not call this a toy... but to me it is!! I get to go out to MY kitchen... which I am still so GRATEFUL to have and create a culinary yummy!! My fist run with my new toy was the Abreu Family favorite cookie... the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie... The recipe I make I received from Marilyn Bowers.... back in the early 80's. This recipe makes a ton of soft chewy delicious cookies.... a true classic

Soft Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

From the Kitchen of : Marilyn Bowers

2 Cups Salad oil

1 1/2 Cups white sugar

1 1/2 Cups light brown sugar

4 Eggs (one at a time)

2 tsp Vanilla

3 Cups All purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

4 Cups quick cooking oats
1 12oz Pkg of Chocolate chips

1 1/2 Cups chopped nuts (optional)

Put oil in vary large bowl, and add sugars. Mix well. Add in eggs one at a time, add vanilla and blend well. Sift flour, soda and salt together in separate bowl. Add to wet mixture slowly and mix until well blended. Add oats and mix well, stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by spoon fulls on to greased cookie sheets. bake at 375* for 8-10 minutes

Meet Our Angel!!

2008-10-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

Meet our Angel... Angel belongs to Jolene and Eric. I went to her soccer game last Saturday and took pictures of her playing. For this being her first year in soccer she is doing rather well... She is so cute every time the ball goes out of bounds she throws her hands up in the air... no need for a ref to blow a whistle...just watch Angel she'll let you know!! I actually got a picture of her doing it... I sometimes for get to lift my camera up when watching the game, but this time I GOT it!!... She is a little scrapper qwhen she plays... she got right in there even with the big boys!! When she is older and really understands the concept of the game she will be quite good...Angel is a joys to have around... she is 6 going on 26.... very articulate and smart too!! She is in 1st grade but reading at a higher level... I need to take some more time with her and get the Nana bonding time going... time... any one a spare cup that I can barrow???

Little Miss Abby Turns 4 Months

2008-10-04T20:34:00.000-07:00

I made a little video of the pictures I like that Tory and I took last week in honor of Little Miss Abby truning 4 months old!!

Enjoy

A Few of My Favorite FALL Things

2008-10-04T18:15:00.001-07:00

Caramel Apples

NEW crop of crisp apples

Warm cozy sweaters
Cool crisp mornings and warm afternoons

Smell of leaves burning

the brilliant colors of leaves changing
Scarecrows decorating yards

Mums

Pumpkin patches

Pumpkin Rolls...yummy

Hot cocoa in the evenings

Craft fairs

Halloween decorations

Thanksgiving
My birthday
Baking goodies

This is a few of the things I love about fall... There are a few things I still miss about living in So CA... and one is going up to Julian in the fall. I can remember piling the kids into the van and having to scold them into getting on long pants and to bring a sweater... because when we would leave home it would be hot outside... but when we got to Julian the temperature would be much cooler... I loved going into all the little shops and looking around... We would always have a piece of apple pie before we left Julian... If any of my kids read this... What is your favorite memory of going to Julian? I'd really love to hear about them!!

My New BLUE Table....

2008-09-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

After a busy birthday week... wish it was full of R&R, but it was full of work and softball games!! For my birthday I did get 2 FULL days off in a row!! Ange went home on Sat morning and won't come home until this afternoon... After I dropped Ange off at her home on Sat morning I spent the rest of my day at a softball tournament... watching Melissa. The weather was HOT! The first 2 games it was okay because there was shade and there a nice breeze... the third game didn't start until 3:30pm and the breeze was all but gone and the shade had moved so you couldn't see the game if you sat in it... so for 1.5 hours I sat in the hot sun.... That evening Nila and Gene made a birthday dinner for Jolene and me. (Jolene's b-day is 9/26 - same as Curtis') It was really nice to eat a meal that I didn't cook or have to pay for!! I was suppose to go dancing with the girls at band night... but after dinner I came home and fell asleep waiting for the dryer to dry my clothes... does that mean I am getting old?

Sunday was pretty quiet... but I was still in the exhausted mode... that is what happens when I have time off... I have a HUGE list of things I want to get done... but I end up getting NOTHING done... but R&R that is... I sat on the couch and watched chick flicks... I kept telling myself as soon as this movie is over I will get up and work on some project... never happened... until Tory , Brent and Abby showed up.... They brought me my Bday present... a little history first...

My favorite color is blue.
I collect blue and white china
Tory and I stopped at a garage sale last week and I saw this beautiful old table painted blue...

Well....Tory and Brent bought me the blue table... I let is sit in the living room until I decided where I wanted it... I finally moved it to the dinning room last night to try it out... this morning I brought in my spider plant from the back patio and dug out some of my nick nakcs from the old house and set up my table... in it's permanent home.... THANK YOU so much Tory and Brent I really.... really love my table... doesn't it look good where it is at... I really am having fun turning my house into MY HOME!!

This morning is nice and quiet.... I was sitting here on my couch contemplating all the things I have to get done today... watching a rerun of 3rd Watch... I looked up and noticed the beautiful scene out my front window... as I sat here looking out the window... I thought that is just so pretty I should snap a picture... and there on my coffee table sat my camera.... so I grabbed it and snapped.... the fall colors of the leaves is what first caught my eye. The breeze was blowing the leaves so the colors were all convoluted together to make the beautiful shade I call FALL!

Okay.. gotta go!
Love....Meg

27 things I love about you!!

2008-09-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Curtis!!
In honor of your 27th Birthday I decided to compile a list of 27 things I love about you!

You are Smart

Very good looking

You love your wife

You are very talented with computers

You are very responsible

You are very helpful when I call with my "Computer Issues"

You survived CANCER

You are honest and have integrity

You are a hard worker

You support your wife in her endeavours

You love your fireworks...

You have GREAT taste in women (I love you too Stef!!)

You are helpful when you visit me

You are an awesome Uncle to Abby

You are an awesome brother... to all your brothers and sisters

You babysat A LOT when you were a kid!!

You're and Indigo Child

You were such a good baby... and a fun little boy!

You are a math whiz...

You are easy going

You love rock and roll and always have!!

You love your gaming...

You have wisdom and patience

You answer your phone when I call... and you know all I have is a computer question!

You drive while you are visiting me... to give me a break!!

You love your Mom!

And, mostly because... You are You!!

I'm a BLOG JUMPER

2008-09-19T16:37:00.000-07:00

BLOG JUMPING is my new past time!! I love it!! Here is how you do it... go to one of your regular blogs... jump to one of their links... and continue on... and on and on....

This week while BLOG JUMPING I have:

1. Found a friend I have not talked to in over 32 years...

2. Met a gal who just lost her best friend Burkitt's Lymphoma... that's the same cancer Curtis had...

3. I have left little notes on other people's blogs...letting them know what I liked about their blog... Passing it forward!!

Meg

Welcome Fall

2008-09-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

The days are growing shorter.... the morning air is cool and crisp... the golden rod is blooming and I am sneezing A LOT... Besides the sneezing I do love Missouri in the fall. The sky becomes so blue against the colors of the changing leaves... it's just so picturesque. The scarecrow is in my front yard... I just planted the mums and I can't wait for them to bloom... I have a yellow, a purple and an orange. I have some pumpkins I painted I need to dig out and add the my little fall display. For those who are interested there are some pictures of my living room. I painted it a calming but friendly green. The old winds against the wall are going to be picture frames for pictures of my kids and the big leaded window will be hung above the couch. Melissa keeps bugging me to get the pictures hung.... I think she wants the house to look more like our home.... I need to get an area rug for the living room too. But they are expensive so I will have to wait for that... Since the previous tenants FINALLY moved all of their stuff out of the basement I have been busy cleaning and and organizing the basement. The other day I went into the scariest spot in my home... under the basement stairs... The cobwebs were thick. I got the shop vac and they all disappeared... along with several crickets. During the cleaning I found an antique oval frame with an antique picture of a little girl. The frame and picture have been under there for a long long time.... The house is only about 35 years old, so the picture was put there by a previous tenant... I know the family that moved into the house when it was brand new. I will ask them first if the picture is theirs... Okay here are the pictures of my living room...

This view is from the dining room looking into the living room. I want to find an antique or vintage dresser to put the TV on. The floors are lighter than they photographed...

This is the front door and entry area... I need to recover those chairs...

This is the view from the front door...you can see my large leaded window. The window was pulled out of an old house in Darlington, MO before is was distroyed. I just love it. Just think of all the stories that window could tell if we could look through it and see what it witnessed... That sounds like the beginning of a good book or movie... hmm. Anyone know a writer?

Meg

#1 KC Chiefs FAN

2008-09-09T06:16:00.001-07:00

Isn't she just too cute!! Tory came by on Sunday with Abby in her KC Chiefs cheerleader outfit. Tory and I set up a quick shoot. We grabbed her boppy and placed it in one of my wing back chairs, threw a black cloth over the whole thing.... and with Tory making a fool out of herself to get Abby to smile... I snapped pictures.... I think this was the 3rd or 4th shot!! Again... isn't she just too cute!

Photography Challenge

2008-09-09T06:07:00.000-07:00

I found a website that has photography challenges every 2 weeks. I jumped in on this weeks challenge... to me it was a tad bit difficult to find the right shot. Here is the challenged "Contre-jour is a french term meaning "against the light". Take a photo that exploits lighting and plays with under and over-exposed areas to dramatic effect - in other words, the opposite of HDR approaches, which try to compress the range of contrast." This challenge was harder than it sounds.... I looked for days. Then yesterday afternoon, the rain stopped and the sun came out... I looked out the window and saw this bright green spot on a tree... I grabbed my camera and went outside... my initial idea didn't work out. But, I found this one before the sun was gone again. I have uploaded it to the website forum, I have not heard if I got the assignment right or not... I will let you know as soon as I do....

I think I got the right idea with this shot.... see how the sunshine makes those few leaves pop while the shade is hiding the other leaves?

3 Months old.... Allready!!

2008-08-26T05:09:00.000-07:00

BOY! How time flies.... It seemed just like last week that spring was finally here and school was coming to an end. But it's been three months and and school is back in session and we've had Abby here that long. Each day she continues to get more and more adorable... I love the picture with her tongue sticking out... a little girl with attitude... hmmm I wonder where she gets it from?

Tory had "Advantage Week" at school. Freshman orientation and such... so I picked up Abby on Thursday. Kept her all night and of course while I had her I took her 3 month portraits.... It's was hard trying to get the perfect shot by myself... Last week was fun when I was taking her pictures because I was just goofing around... I did get some cute shots this week, how could I not when Abby is so cute... Do I sound like a deranged Nana or what... I have noticed a pattern that all I have been posting are pictures of Abby. I do need to get a life don't I? Besides work and Abby that is all I do... Tonight I am going to Melissa's 1st school softball game of the season so I will take some pictures there of Mel!!

I am actually reading a book... I have had a pile of them sitting next to my bed for years waiting for me to take time to read them.... well I think I finally decided that I MUST read a book for my own sanity... When I was at Wal-Mart last week I saw the book Twilight in paperback for $8.88. Since the book is all the rage right now I decided to buy it and make time for me to read. I started it on Saturday and I actually could not put it down... I was at work so I had to, to take care of my client.... But when she was watching TV or taking a nap I was reading. No I didn't finish it in 1 day...I am taking my time. Yesterday was my 3rd day reading and I am on page 224 of 498, so not quite half way done.... I went to St. Joe on Sunday and I had to work in Maryville on Monday... so my reading time has been limited... and last night "The Closer" was on and I HAD to watch that.... I will get more reading in today...just watch!!

Nana Time with Miss Abby

2008-08-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Everyone has GOT to know that Abby can NOT spend any amount of time with me without getting her picture taken. Tory didn't feel well one day last week so I had Abby for a while.... I was nice I did share her with her Nana Sonya!!

Abby was such a happy little girl when I snapped all of these. I recently got a GREAT deal from eBay on a new to me, but used speed light for my camera... Oh what fun am I going to have now!! I use to hate to take pictures indoors with a flash because the flash would wash out your subject especially if you go too close... I still need to play a little more to figure the whole thing out... but so far I just love it... Abby does too because the new flash doesn't quite blind her so bad... I usually have it bounce off a wall or the ceiling so it's not right in her face!!

Her profile is just adorable.... I know I am prejudice...

Can't wait for all the giggles to come from behind all her smiles!!

Even grunged up she is adorable!!

I was trying to get a shot of her holding up her head... but just the eyes works!!

Okay I know I am a bad Nana for plugging her into the TV... But hey I got my shower and she didn't cry at all while I was gone!! So there!!

Kellie Pickler Concert

2008-08-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

Last night Kellie Pickler was in St. Joseph.... I went down with a group of 20 or so people with disabilites... I took my gal AP.... we had such a great time.... We..... well I... hooted and hollered.... and I wasn't going to just let our group just sit there and watch the concert... If it was a good song and the crowd was up and clapping anyone from our group that wanted to get up and dance or clap well I was up with them... Ashton Sheppard opened up the show and she was great because she really got us up and going.... I am a fan of Kellie, don't get me wrong, but I was somewhat dissapointed in her performance... I thought it would be more up beat... she sang a lot of ballads... Did did sing her new single "Don't You Know You're Beautiful", I really love that song... Her last song was "Red High Heels", I wish she would have opened with that one because it is fun and up beat!!