Joy

This is the face that met me at the door after working my shift at the hospital:

Gabe wrapped his little arms around my legs, hugged me tight, and proclaimed, "I'm SO glad you're here, Mommy!" with such sincere joy in his sweet voice.

Man, I love this boy.

Many of you have never met Gabe, but I'm sure you feel that you know him after reading this blog. Truly, he is this darn cute every single day. Some days he exhausts me (those days are fewer since turning four). Some days he frustrates me (he will NOT leave our pets alone, even when they are clearly done playing). But every day he LOVES me. He wants a hug, a "snuggie", the reassurance that I love him and that I am, indeed, his "special" friend.

Hello, how could I not be? His zest for life is absolutely contagious!

Doing this Bible study has introduced me to some new scripture, and I found one that suits Gabe to a T:

"You shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

Isaiah 55:12

Can't you just picture this? I surely can. God blessed us with this bundle of joy in the shape of a boy, knowing that he would be exactly what this momma needs.

God is good like that.

Sixty-four

(Warning: tearjerker post ahead; tissues may be needed)

February 7th.

What would have been my dad's sixty-fourth birthday.

Four years ago, we celebrated with him for the last time. He had already been diagnosed with lung cancer and was getting ready to start chemo and radiation. He was feeling okay, and it was a good day.

I don't just want to dwell on the end, though.

I found some scrapbook pages that I wanted to share, so you could get a glimpse of the man who called me his "tiger". It's fitting, because the first two photos are pages from a scrapbook that I made for Dad on his birthday in 2001. It was a book filled with my memories of the two of us...


Senior year of high school. Love the big hair. Mine kept getting longer and thicker, Dad's kept getting shorter and gray-er. Good thing I was the last kid. Dad helped me buy my first car. It was no Corvette, but I loved it!

Fast forward four years. I graduated nursing school, got a job (much to Dad's relief, I'm sure, although he used to say I should join the Navy and be a Navy nurse...I don't know why), and met Joe. Dad was a quiet man, and he didn't usually give any advice, but he supported every single decision I ever made. I loved him for that.

The top photo is Dad surrounded by his two younger brothers, Dan and Tom. The bottom photo is one of my favorite, dancing at my wedding reception. I always did love how tall he was (6' 5"). Someone I could look up to, quite literally.


These next pages are from my family scrapbook. This was our last Easter together. Dad loved hiding the eggs for the kids, and the year before he even put gold $1 coins in each egg.

I love these photos for many reasons. Our last Easter together. Dad still feeling relatively good, despite the chemo. The way you can see just where Gabe got his olive complexion (Dad was this tan in March, folks, always). All three of my kids with both of my parents, smiling and content.


Finally, our last birthday with Dad, in 2005. I couldn't scan the whole page, thus the cut-off body parts...sorry. It took a long time for me to be able to make this page (a year), and I cried so hard that I cut my thumb with my paper-cutter and had to take a first-aid break. It was truly therapeutic for me, though, a way to deal with all the emotions of losing my dad. Kind of like this post.


Sixty is such a young age to die. I take care of eighty-year-olds all the time, and some days it makes me sad that we didn't get to have more time together. But you know, it was sixty good years, and I got to be there for over half of them. My dad was nowhere near perfect, but he was mine and I loved him.



Happy Birthday, Dad. I can only imagine what you're doing right now, but I know one day we will see each other again, and I can fill you in on everything you've missed, and you can do the same.



I love you.

Never say "never"!

When am I ever gonna learn?

I always thought I'd be a wise old woman by the time I hit thirty-five.

I'm still a young thirty-five. I have 8 more months 'til I turn thirty-six. Maybe I'll learn my lesson by then.

Which lesson is that, you ask?

The one in which you learn to never say "never"; you know, that one.

As in, I would never let my kids jump on a bed.


(at least it was a hotel bed)

Or how about this one: I would never be a runner. Me? Run in a race? *Scoff*.

(Um, yeah, just signed up to run the 15K (that's 9 miles, folks) with some work buddies. Been training for two weeks now; the race is March 29th.)

Oh, and here's one more: I will never get sucked into the world of Facebook. Never.

Well, after receiving "invitations" from my father-in-law and brother-in-law (who is in Iraq), I felt like I should do it, just to keep in touch with Joe's family.

Yeah, right.

Within minutes of signing up, I was finding friends I went to high school with, blogger friends, co-workers, etc. Jeez, the whole world has been on Facebook and I'm just now figuring it out. Oh, well. I'm on board now.

So it is with a sheepish grin and a slightly bowed head that I eat my piece of humble pie and try to learn my lesson.

I will never say never again...

Copycat sister (Happy B-Day Lizzy)

Michelle did such a good job on her cartoon art, I went and copied it. Help us all celebrate Lizzy's birthday by leaving her some comment love over at her place. Happy Birthday, Lizzy! We love you!

"Mom's Chicken Rice Soup"

One of my favorite recipes from my mom's archives is her homemade chicken rice soup. When I moved out on my own, this was the first one I had her write down for me, and I have made it countless times since. It is the one meal that every single member of my family loves, even asking for seconds, please!

I've had several requests to blog about it, so girls (and Matt), here it is. Photos first, recipe at the end...

First, gather your ingredients. Minus the Cuties.


Next, place your chicken in a pot of water with some extra celery. You really need split chicken breasts with the skin on, or a whole chicken cut up, to make a good broth.


I use frozen onion, chop the celery with the leaves, and use a vegetable peeler to grate the carrot.

Saute your veggies for the last 15 minutes of your chicken cooking.

The hardest (and messiest) part of the whole recipe is deboning the chicken. Is that even a word? Sounds kind of, sexy...

Where was I?

Oh, yeah, after you debone the chicken and put it back in the pot, I simmer it for another ten or fifteen minutes (while the rolls or biscuits are cooking).

For the kids, I pour their bowls at least five minutes before calling them to dinner, and they still need an ice cube. This soup really holds its heat.

Ladle up and enjoy!

"Mom's Chicken Rice Soup" recipe

Ingredients:

A.) 2-4 large chicken breasts (skin on); 8 cups water; 1 tsp salt.

B.) 2 Tbsp oil; 1 large carrot, grated; 2 stalks celery with leaves, chopped; 1 med onion, diced; 2 Tbsp flour (before adding to soup).

C.) 1 cup long-grain rice (not instant); 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1/2 tsp thyme; 1 Tbsp lemon juice.

Bring (A) to a boil in a large soup pot, then simmer for approx 50 minutes.

When (A) is almost done, saute (B). Do not add flour yet.

When (A) is done, remove chicken and let cool. Remove 1 cup of broth. Add flour to (B), stirring well, then add broth. Stir until thickened, then add to pot.

Add (C) to pot, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for at least 20 minutes. Debone your chicken and add to soup (careful of the little bones).

I usually add a dash of celery salt, extra salt and extra pepper to my recipe. If you are a salt-a-holic like me, you'll want to do the same.

If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, this soup is even better the next day.

Enjoy!

Groundhog's Day

Dear Punxsutawney Phil:

You suck.

Sincerely,

A sick-and-tired-of-snow-and-ice-and-school-cancellations-mom

(If you didn't see the news today, Phil saw his shadow. And then, like the woos-bag he is, hightailed it back into his hole for another six weeks of winter. What a wimp.)

Blog Bible Study

Thank God it's February.

(Oh, that's not in the Bible. Maybe it should be, 'cause just saying "It's February" fills me with hope...)

Okay, seriously, here is my verse for the blog bible study. Obviously, a lot of us have been dealing with a bad case of the winter blues. This scripture is meant for us:

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

My concordance says,

"Even the strongest people get tired at times, but God's power and strength never diminish. His strength is our source of strength. When you feel all of life crushing you and cannot go another step, remember that you can call upon God to renew your strength."

Um, was this verse meant for me right now or what?

Not only in the big things like making it through another day with my sanity intact (see previous post), but also in the little things like choosing which race to run (15K vs 5K). Shall I put my trust in God to the test?

I think I shall.

Happy Sunday, everyone.

(Please, God, hear my prayer also that the Steelers LOSE today. Amen.)