Recovery

Hi all!

Just an update on my recovery. It has been a horrible week. I've been in a lot of pain. But I think it is under control now with an increase in medications. My doctor said I could sit for a short time at the computer. So this will be quick! You do not know how much you miss something until you can't do it any longer. For example, last night was the first time I was able to sit at the dinner table with my family. It was such a joy, not only to me but my Husband and Children. Our 14 yo daughter has been so great through all this. She has taken over the cooking and even the cleaning. My 11 yo daughter has been doing the dishes. Our 9 yo son has been entertaining me...LOL.

THANK YOU all for the prayers and encouraging emails. I am so blessed to have so many praying for me. I pray all your families are well. Have a very Merry Christmas. Gotta run my time is almost up.

Word Filled Wednesday

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

I know I posted this picture on Monday, but I really like this picture for so many reasons. One it reminds me of a simpler time when this was the only source of light in your home. But the best reason of all is it reminds me that in total darkness Christ's light shines for you. It guides you along all types of paths. Even before you come to a personal relationship with Him. Do not let another day pass you by before asking Him to be your guiding light. If you are not sure how to do this please contact me or someone you know who has this personal relationship I am talking about. What a better Christmas gift to yourself, the knowledge that you will have eternal life! Best of all it is FREE!!

"The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:1

So this will be my last post for a while. As I have posted before I will be going in tomorrow (I can't believe it is here already) for back surgery. I will not be able to be on the computer for sometime while my body heals. I pray each of you has a very Merry CHRISTmas!

My Husband will be checking my emails and giving them to me. Just leave a comment here and it will get to me. God Bless and thank you so much for the prayers. I know God has me in his hands.

To see other Word Filled Wednesday posts stop by and see Amydeanne at 160 Acre Woods.

Gratituesday

Each and everyday I find more and more to be grateful for. I am so grateful for family and friends. We have received such an overwhelming amount of prayers and support during this time. I am usually the one doing the giving and it has been very humbling being on the receiving end.

My Husband has been such a blessing to us. There is so much that I use to do that I just can't do now (but I am confident I will) he tended the garden this year with the Children's help (although he doesn't like to garden), he mowed the lawn, started getting the house ready for painting (he doesn't like being on ladders) he is working full time and going to school part time. Now he is preparing to take over the housework, along with his little helpers.

The hardest part for me is going to be not to worry about him doing all this stuff and concentrate on me resting and recovering. He has never complained once about all his extra work. I thank God each and every day for my Husband.

So Thursday is the day I will be going in for surgery and this will be my last Gratituesday post until I am able to sit at the computer again. I pray each and every one of you has a very Merry CHRISTmas.

To read other Gratituesday posts stop by the Heavenly Homemakers blog.

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...

Outside my Window...it is bitter cold outside. It got down to 10 degrees here last night. I think we skipped right over December and went into the deep freeze of February! But it will be in the mid 40's tomorrow and Wednesday!! WOOHOO a heat wave.

I am thinking... about my surgery Thursday. I still feel like I have so much to do before it. The closer it gets the more nervous I become. I try to lean on God for the peace of knowing I'm in His hands, but sometimes it is difficult.

I am thankful for...my Lord and Savior to get me through and our many friends and family who are willing to help us out during this time.

From the Learning Room…many lesson plans. My Husband will be taking over the teaching in the evenings with the children while I recover. I'm so thankful we got the curriculum we did this year, My Father's World, it is all planned out for us. All we have to do is make copies.

From the kitchen... I am putting away the things I will not need for a while into storage. That way it will be easier on my family to find (and put away) things they need to use.

I am wearing... sweats and sweatshirt, socks, slippers, hat, mittens....oh just kidding on that part!

I am reading...my Bible, mainly Psalms and Proverbs.

I am praying...for a smooth surgery and recovery. I am also praying for my family during the 3-5 hours of my surgery that they will not worry.

I am hearing... Andrew and Hannah playing cars. She is so good to play cars with him. I hope he appreciates it...LOL. She is ALL about princesses and dolls.

Around the house...a few things left to do. I've been really going through things with a fine tooth comb. I know myself, I put things off so long then when I shouldn't be doing them I get the urge to clean or organize.

One of my favorite things...waking up to a clean kitchen.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...not much for the rest of the week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... Do not forget to keep Christ as the center of your Christmas. He is the light sent to us to guide us out of darkness. This will be my last Daybook for a while. I pray each of you has a very Merry Christmas!! I will be back when I am able.

To read other daybook posts visit Peggy at the Simple Woman daybook blog.

Be Still Sunday

Fphoto Friday

We went to the mall yesterday for our last family outing for a while. I used it as an opportunity to get some cute pictures of the children. If I would of thought ahead I would of had them take off their coats. But oh well. I love this one. They look like they actually like each other. LOL!! Just kidding, for the most part they get along great.

KATRINA

HANNAH

ANDREW

To see other FPhoto Friday pictures visit Married to the Preacher.

Slow Cooking Thursday

Welcome to slow cooking Thursday! To read other posts please visit Sandra at Diary of a SAHM.

Ingredients:

8 slices bacon
28 oz pkg frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
2 teaspoons EACH salt and pepper, or to taste
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, diced
2 cups ham, cut into cubes
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
12 eggs
1/2 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
2 cups heavy whipping cream
non stick spray

Directions:
Cook bacon, drain grease and set aside. Spray inside of crock pot generously with non stick spray. Press potatoes on bottom and 1-inch up the sides to form a crust. Season with half of the salt and pepper. Crumble bacon over potatoes. Sprinkle green and red peppers, onions, ham and cheese over potatoes. In a large bowl whisk the eggs, remaining salt and pepper, mustard and cream. Pour over potato mixture. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until eggs are set.

This is usually our Christmas meal. Especially this year since I'll still be recovering our 14 yo daughter will be able to make this.

This will sadly be my last Slow Cooking Thursday for a while. Next Thursday I will be going in to the hospital for back surgery. I'm not sure how long it will be before I will be able to get back to the computer. So for now....Have a very Merry Christmas to those who participate in this meme.

Word Filled Wednesday

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

God is the God of hope. With God you will have joy and peace all you have to do is trust in him. I have been thinking about this verse with my upcoming surgery next week. The closer it gets the more anxious I become. I know God is there with me through it all but Satan uses this to try and get me to doubt God.

To read other Word filled Wednesday posts stop by the 160 Acre woods.

Gratituesday

I have so many things to be thankful for! But this week I am thankful for the Lord leading us to such a wonderful Church. Each person in the Church has become a part of my family. Yesterday we had a cookie baking day and I got to know many of the women so much better. What a better way to get to know someone than over flour, eggs, and sugar!! We had so much fun.

Making candy. Katie is working very hard huh?? They were little snowmen covered in chocolate.

Andrew making his gingerbread house. It was so much fun.

Hannah making her gingerbread house. She was in her glory being there with us.

This is just a small portion of cookies we exchanged. There were many more still in the kitchen. I wish I had a picture of all the containers after we separated them. I had so much fun yesterday. My job was separating all these into 8 containers. You know how many times I lost count????

I was SO excited when my Mom called and told me my sister in law was going to be coming with us. Here she is with my nephew making the gingerbread house....notice...he is eating the decorations...LOL. My Mom was there also. We all had so much fun.

To read other Gratituesday posts stop by the Heavenly Homemakers.

Simple Woman's Daybook

We had a cookie baking day at our Church yesterday. I wasn't expecting to be there ALL day but you know how it is when women get together. We had 8 women baking. I was there from 9 am till 5 pm. But BOY do we have a lot of cookies for Christmas. Our Church is also having a musical on December 13 so many of the cookies were for that. But we each brought home bags and bags of cookies, candies, ect!!

For Today...

Outside my Window... It was cold and raining yesterday. Great for baking cookies.

I am thinking... I have so much to do before my surgery next Thursday.

I am thankful for... safety in traveling to see my Grandmother for Thanksgiving. We had a good time visiting with family.

From the Learning Room…we did nothing yesterday. But will be jumping in with both feet today to get caught up.

From the kitchen... cookies, cookies, did I say cookies? The children made gingerbread houses with a lady from our Church.

I am wearing... sweats and sweatshirt.

I am reading... 2 Peter for our inductive Bible study at Church. My Bible study has become so much more meaningful in these past few lessons.

I am praying... for my sister, on Thanksgiving she had another yelling "spell" and it was decided to send her to an assisted living facility about 1 hour from here. Although she doesn't even realise she is away from family we still miss her. This coming year she will probably be sent out near Albany to a facility. I know it is the best for her but we will probably never see her.

I am hearing... silence. The children are still asleep after all the fun they had yesterday.

Around the house... many things to do. I'm still trying to deep clean everything.

One of my favorite things... the smells of Christmas.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... cleaning the house, mid week Bible study, school, more cleaning.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... making the gingerbread houses. They did them all from the cutting out of dough to the baking and decorating. So much fun!

To see other Simple Woman daybooks stop by the Simple Woman.