THANKFULNESS & BEING FRUGAL

One of the things I am thankful for about our Thanksgiving holiday is all the left over turkey and the good eating we get afterwards!!! Yesterday at lunch we had a wonderful turkey sandwich. Nothing like it!!!

For the past several years I have always made turkey soup out of the left over turkey frame. I am amazed at the wonderful broth and the large amount of turkey meat that is obtained. I must admit that I am ashamed of the fact that for years and years I just tossed the carcass into the garbage can and didn't take advantage of the bounty that it held. Not so once I fixed my first pot of turkey noodle soup :o)

This year, when I opened my Bet*ty Cr*oc*ker cookbook to the page where I had inserted my handwritten recipe for Turkey Noodle Soup my eyes fell on another recipe which called for adding tomato's. Now that was different. At first it just didn't sound "right" to me and then Mickey said, "Well we like tomato soup so I bet we'd like it." I decided to give it a try and am I glad I did.

Here are the yummy results and the recipe.

This is truly a super, healthy, rich wonderful soup!

Turkey Frame Soup

1 meaty turkey frame

2 large onions, quartered

2 stalks celery, sliced

1 tablespoon instant chicken bouillon granules (I omitted this)

2 cloves garlic, minced

Chopped cooked turkey

1-14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, basil, marjoram, or thyme, crushed (I used marjoram)

3 cups (any combination) sliced celery, carrots, parsnips, or mushrooms; chopped onion or rutabagas; or broccoli or cauliflower florets (I used celery, broccoli & cauliflower)

1 1/2 cups dried medium noodles

1. Break turkey frame or cut in half with kitchen shears. Place in an 8 to 10 quart kettle or Dutch oven. Add 8 cups water (I added 10), onions, celery, bouillon granules, and garlic. Bring to boiling, reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 1 1/2 hours. (I simmered mine 2 hours)

2. Remove turkey frame. When cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones. Discard bones. Coarsely chop meat. If necessary, add enough turkey to equal 2 cups; set turkey aside. (I actually had 3 cups of chopped turkey meat so I saved one cup to use later in another recipe)

3. Strain broth, discarding solids. Skim fat from broth. (I actually put my pan of broth in the freezer for awhile so the fat would rise and firm and was easy to remove)Return broth to kettle. Stir in undrained tomatoes, spice, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir in vegetables. Return to boiling, reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in noodles. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes more or until noodles are tender, but still firm and vegetables are tender. Stir in turkey, heat through.

Have to add this note: Friday Tar*get had cauliflower & broccoli for $1.33 a head. I had two $1.00 off coupons on cauliflower & broccoli I had printed out on line....YEAH

so I paid $.66 + tax of $.06 for a total of $ .72. What a deal!!! Ordinarily I wouldn't have driven over there to get it because the gas and drive would have cost me that much since it's in Tul*sa but we were going that direction anyway so I pulled in, ran in and got this wonderful buy.

I am so thankful that even though we lost 2 large trees to the December 2007 ice storm and another to a lighting strike (the one the wind just blew down) that our back yard still blessed us with the beauty of these two colorful displays this fall.

We have two other large trees in our back yard but they don't turn pretty colors in the fall. One just turns brown and drops it's leaves and the other (pin oak) holds on to its brown leaves until the new growth next spring pushes them off. As I wrote this the Lord reminded me of just how varied His creations are and just how VARIED we each are.......I hope I'm one who displays His creation in a lovely way and not drab and dull!!

Here's to wonderful, tasty leftovers and ALL of God's wonderful creations!!!!

AND to the GOD to whom we owe ALL our thankfulness.

THANKSGIVING & 2 BIRTHDAYS

Thanksgiving......one of our favorite holidays because of celebrating with our family and then Mickey & our son-in-love, Dave, share a November 24th birthday and we always combine it with Thanksgiving making it is a very special time.

Of course we have MANY things to be Thankful for and we are....but this year we have a very special Thankfulness that Mickey's bi-pass surgery is behind us, that we have just celebrated 50 years of marriage, and that we have a close-knit family unit.

Thankful we live in America, and even though we have a lot of problems in our country it still offers us all kind of opportunities to those who are self-reliant and industrious. I am thankful, at this time when the economy is in such question, that all of ours have good, stable jobs. Actually the economy in our area is still holding up pretty good and we have $1.539 gas prices!!!!!

I especially am thankful that I have a Loving God, Savior & Holy Spirit and that I am saved. I am thankful for the wonderful Body of Christ that we attend locally and the BODY of CHRIST that we are a part of globally. I am thankful I have a soon returning Bridegroom coming back for us, His spotless Bride. I am thankful for the movement of Prayer that is springing up all over and am thankful for the pray-ers who have joined with me in Hearts In "1" Accord.

I am thankful for the world of blogging and the wonderful friends I have made during this wonderful adventure of which all of you reading this are a part of.

Here is our Thanksgiving spread!!! and granddaughter, Oksana.

I fixed the turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potato's, and home made yeast rolls.

Suzette brought sweetpotato's, cranberry salad & canned gravy.

Jacque brought the vegetable salad, croutons, & ranch dressing. We also had my homemade vinaigrette dressing.

Benny brought his wonderful Amish green bean dish.

and Marc brought large Carmel apple pie & pecan pie and cool whip. I also baked a store bought pumpkin pie.

Tea, coffee and white & red sparkling grape juice to drink.

It was truly a delicious FEAST and we ALL ate too much.

Here are the delicious pies!!! The missing piece of Carmel apple pie is thanks to 9 year old grandson, Aric!!!!

My gift to Mickey was a black leather bible cover for the 10 year old large print KJV bible that Jacque gave him for his birthday in 1998. The cover was beginning to get worn but he loves the bible and wants to keep using it for the one he takes to church each Sunday.

Here is Dave opening his gift from Jacque & Benny. I wish I had known what was going to be in the box and had gotten a picture the minute he saw this PINK Bass Pro hooded sweatshirt. As you can tell from Oksana and Benny's laughing it was sooo funny. A PINK anything is the last thing Dave would EVER wear.

(in small print......this was Dave's 55th BD)

Another shot of the obligatory picture of holding up this treasure and Oksana & Benny still enjoying this moment.

Mickey opening his gray hooded Bass Pro sweatshirt and Dave saying, "I think these packages got mixed up, Mickey. I think this one is yours."

By the way, this is Mickey's 76th birthday. I think he is as handsome as ever and just so glad he is my husband and FRIEND.

Dave receiving his Navy Blue Bass Pro hooded sweatshirt. Jacque had bought the pink one for herself and couldn't resist the temptation to pull this fast one on Dave. As you know, our family is great about pulling these stunts on each other. Check here to read about Marc's "Betty" bowling ball for his BD.

Our son, David, called during the time of dinner and dessert, (we had to wait to even have room for dessert!!) so it was perfect timing. I answered and then the phone was passed around to everyone and ended back with me. An added treat for Thanksgiving and something else to be thankful for!!

MIDNIGHT RENDEZVOUS

Now what in the world would Mickey & I be rendezvousing about at midnight?

I'm sure you are asking this question!

Well, it isn't the "what" but the "who".

The "Who" being my wonderful blog friend, Ginger, her wonderful husband, Dave,

their lovely daughter, Alicia, and new son-in-love, Alfred. Yes....ALL of them!!!

Ginger is one of the earliest blog friends that I made. We were trying to remember last night how we first "met" and I went back this morning and looked. I began my blog on January 21, 2007 and on February 9, 2007 I had this comment from GingerGinger said... Thanks for stopping by my site. Are you Amy's mom? I'm excited to read more about you!! Please stop back to my site any time. I love your profile. We have MUCH in common. It's NO secret....it's ALL God! February 9, 2007 12:22 PM

Now I remember, Ginger: Amy was one of the first to comment on my blog and when I followed her link I found you and read your post and commented and then you visited mine on February 9th and we've been building this wonderful friendship ever since.

Ginger & Dave have made several trips to Texas to visit their daughter during this time. Each time we have tried to put together a meeting and it just never worked out. This time we were both determined and sweet Dave said he was going to do everything possible to make it happen!!! Thank you Dave.....you did:o)

Here are Dave, Alicia and Alf right after they arrived at the Mc*Don*alds where we meet. McD*onal*ds????? Yes!!!! When they first found out their time schedule they were to be coming through Wa*gno*ner about 11 p.m. That is a small town about 15 miles from our house. So it being late at night we set up for them to call from Pry*or and we'd meet them there. Then Mickey thought we'd better check and see if Mc*D's was open that late. We called and "No, they closed at 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday". Another trip to see if we could find any place that stayed open until midnight. This is a small town and NOTHING!! Then we drove to the next town, Mus*ko*gee and located this Mc*D's right on the highway.

Alicia & Alf. What a sweet young couple and so co-operative and pleasant while their parents met us on this trip. Alf even gave me a big hug when they left. That was so sweet and pleased me so much :o)

Bless their hearts......they had been on the road already for about 10-11 hours and had 3-4 hours left to travel but took time to meet us.

We got to visit for about an hour and it was wonderful. Ginger is the sweet, gentle soul I knew she would be and Dave was a pure delight. We talked and talked and could have talked for hours.

As we departed the 6 of us joined hands in the Mc*D's and Dave prayed a wonderful prayer. He spoke of this meeting being just a taste of what Heaven will be like when we get to meet up with many wonderful friends.

Ginger, commented that I was shorter than she had pictured me. As I looked across the table at Ginger & Dave's beautiful blue eyes I knew for sure where those 3 beautiful daughters of theirs came from.

Thank you guys so much for taking the time and effort to meet us. You have made
this part of a Thanksgiving that we will always remember and cherish!!!!

This is my 7th blog friend to meet. Number 7 - the number of perfection!!! I am believing for the Lord to let me met many more of my blogging friends. What a joy.

Addendum:

I "snatched" this picture from Ginger's blog to show that my dear, sweet, precious Mickey was indeed along and present!! Thanks to two wonderful, special husbands, Mickey & Dave, for making this happen. Ginger & I are indeed blessed beyond measure with them. How many men would do all this for their wives? Ours will and DID :o)

THE SECRET

I received this in an e-mail recently. It has been around before but I thought it would be a perfect message for us to meditate on this Sabbath morning.

THE SECRET

One day one friend asked another,

'How is it that you are always so happy?

You have so much energy,

and you never seem to get down.

'With her eyes smiling, she said

'I know the Secret!'

'What secret is that?'

To which she replied,

'I'll tell you all about it,

but you have to promise

to share the Secret with other.'

The Secret is this:

'I have learned there is little I can do in my

life that will make me truly happy.

I must depend on God to make me happy

and to meet my needs.

When a need arises in my life,

I have to trust God to supply

according to HIS riches.

I have learned most of the time,

I don't need half of what I think I do.

He has never let me down.

Since I learned that 'Secret',

I am happy.'

The questioner's first thought was,

'That's too simple!'

But upon reflecting over her own life

she recalled how she thought a bigger house

would make her happy, but it didn't!

She thought a better paying job would make her happy,

but it hadn't.

When did she realize her greatest happiness?

Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren,

playing games, eating pizza or

reading a story, a simple gift from God.

Now you know it too!

We can't depend on people to make us happy.

Only GOD in His infinite wisdom can do that.

Trust HIM!

And now I pass the Secret on to you!

So once you get it, what will you do?

YOU have to tell someone the Secret, too!

That GOD in His wisdom will take care of YOU!

But it's not really a secret...

We just have to believe it and do it...

Really trust God!

BILLY GRAHAM'S PRAYER FOR OUR NATION

THIS MAN SURE HAS A GOOD VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY!

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; clease us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story', and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called "One nation under God.'

FRUGAL SHOPPING - Sweet Potatoes

I am very careful with our food budget. One of the ways I save it to take advantage of the current items on sale. Wa*lm*art had these on sale for 25 cents a lb.

I bought 7.01 lb of them for a total cost of $1.75

Peeled them & cut them up.




Here they are boiling away and it didn't take very long for them to be done and ready for mashing.

I put 1 cup in a baggie and sealed it. Result: 11 cup baggies. $1.75 divided by 11 = 15.9 cents per cup. The cheapest canned sweat potatoes were 2/3 cup for 92 cents. To purchase my 11 cups canned would have cost $15.18 vs $1.75 (11 cups divided by 2/3 per can = 16.5 cans @ 92 cents). $15.18 - $1.75 = a savings of $13.43.

Note: I placed the individual baggies on cookie sheets and froze solid before I stacked them up on the freezer shelf.

Then I went back to the store & bought 5 more large sweet potatoes for $1.14. I am going to bake these today and freeze them individually. I will be able to feed us baked sweet potato on 5 different occasions for only 23 cents (11.5 per Mickey & 11.5 per me). I had bought a sweet potato just a few days ago at my local market for $.99 a lb. My one sweet potato weighed .68 lbs @ $.99 = $.67 vs the $.23. A savings of $2.20.
($.67 - $.23 =$.44 x 5 = $2.20)

The other plus. is having my oven on 1 time at 400 degrees for 60 minutes instead of
5 separate times so saving on energy, too.

Taking advantage of this one sale item saved me $15.63 ($13.43 + $2.20 = $15.63. That's being frugal.

I may go buy some more before next Tuesday when the sale ends!!!!

CARRYING THAT BURDEN.....

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience,
Raised a glass of water and asked
'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter,
It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.

If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued,

' And that's the way it is with stress management.

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,

As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,

We won't be able to carry on.'

' As with the glass of water,

You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.

When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.

Don't carry it home.

You can pick it up tomorrow,

Whatever burdens you're carrying now,

Let them down for a moment if you can.'

So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now,

Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

Remember: "Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon,

And some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet,

Just in case you have to eat them.

* Always read stuff that will make you look good

If you die in the middle of it.

*Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be

recalled by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,

It was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.

*Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

*The second mouse gets the cheese.

* Birthdays are good for you,
The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world,
But you may also be the world to one person.

* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

* A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Have an awesome day and know that someone thought about you today...

I did.....

WHAT IS FOLLOWING?

All of you know how totally unsavy I am with most of bloggers features. Leigh Ann has spent much of her time helping me from time to time to figure something out that I want to do. Thanks yet again, Leigh Ann!!!

When the new Following features came out Diana posted about it and I jumped right on board. "I" was even able to do it without any outside help. A real boost for my ego!!!!

I am plugging this feature because it has so simplified my blog reading and blog life. I think it's the neatest thing since sliced bread :o)

Here is the official link: http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=104226/

I would encourage all of you who want to make reading blogs and being able to comment on the spot so much easier. It is saving me so much time. You just list the blogs you want to read "Followers". You can even follow anonymously if you desire. Each time that person on your followers list posts, it automatically pops up on your home page. Now how much easier could it be than that?

Just my 2 cents worth!!

FRUGAL TIPS - Organization

I am a very organized person. One who believes "everything has it's place and everything should be in it's place". I find life so much easier that way and you save so much time not having to "find" or "hunt" for something.

When I buy multiple items on sale I put them in the bottom of the closet in our computer room. I keep just 3 or 4 cans of various vegetables in the kitchen cabinet and refill from the "stash" as needed. This helps rotate the items by first in, first out process.

I keep a shelf and a plastic basket full of spices, plus my new 20 spice rack. Some of the spices on my new rack were duplicates of what I already had. That is where the basket comes in. I have a list taped to the front of the basket. The additional different spices I keep in one of the kitchen shelves. When I need a particular spice...I first look at the list on my duplicate basket, if not there I look on the spice rack, the last place to look is the list, taped to the cupboard door of the cabinet shelf. I will eventually use up the duplicate spices in the basket and use the basket for another purpose.

When a bill comes in the mail I immediately write out the check to pay for it. I seal the envelope and put an address label in the left corner but I don't stamp it. I write the date for the bill to be mailed (not the due date but the mail date) where the stamp goes. I keep all these "pending" envelopes on the top of the desk in my computer room in date order; earliest on top. I check this stack and if the date comes up to mail an item I remove it from the stack, place the stamp on it and put it in the mail box. This way I never forget to pay a bill on time or mail in a payment but I have use of the money in my checking account for a longer amount of time and the amount is already removed and my balance shows it paid.

************

A frugal tip and recycled item:

I use baking soda as a primary cleaner around my house. It is amazing how many things you can clean with baking soda.

I store it in a empty Parmesan cheese bottle and have one it both the kitchen and bathroom.

One side opens to get a larger quantity out.

The other side can be used as a shaker for a lesser amount.

Please leave me a comment. I'd love to hear some of your organizational, frugal or recyclable tips. I have learned so much from this blogging community.

IT ALL FELL DOWN

Back in April I posted about Mickey & our son-in-love, Dave, chopping down 2 large trees in our back yard that had been destroyed from the December, 2007 ice storm that we had. You can go here to read about that adventure!!

When spring came this year we had a Tulip Tree that the leaves looked like they were dying. We took several of them to the nursery and were told he thought they would be okay and just in shock from the ice storm. Well, the tree was not okay and was actually dead and began to lose all it's leaves. It was a huge tree that was one we had brought back as a a seedling from Alabama when we returned in 2002. They are pretty rare here and we loved it. It grew to about 30'-35' and had huge leaves.

Saturday was a really windy day here. Mickey & I were sitting in the living room and we heard this loud "Popping" sound and said "What was that?" When we looked out this is what we saw.

(pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them)
The tulip tree snapped completely off at the base. Right where Mickey would have cut it down!!!

Another shot showing more of the height of the tree as it was laid down.
Here is the stump. You can see how cleanly it snapped. Looks like it had been cut with a saw!!!

Now, how great is our God?!!!!! This was a tree that needed to come down and it was going to be some time and a huge job for Mickey to try and get done. So, it was done for us. Praise God.

Not only did it come down in the first place but it fell the perfect direction where not one bit of damage was done!!! Had it fallen the other direction it would have taken down part of the privacy fencing and might have caused damage to our neighbors property. We of course also have our 5th Wheel and David's Mustang parked in our back yard which "could" have been damaged, plus a storage building and the arbour.

Mickey thinks the tree was struck by lighting.....so we lost 2 huge trees from ice and 1 from lighting!! Glad we had other trees in our back yard.

This picture is hard to see but what also came down was my clothes line!!!! that had been tied between this maple tree and the tulip tree.

See the clothes line tied around the trunk?
SO, not only the tree came down but so did my clothes line :o( We will have to figure some way to get it back up when Mickey is able to tackle the job.

We are just praising God for a job well done!!!!!!!

UBER Award

I recently received this lovely award from Bobbi, Great Adventures II. Thank you so very much, Bobbi.

About the award: Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who: ~ inspire you ~ make you smile and laugh ~ give amazing information ~ are a great read ~ have an amazing design ~ and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

The rules of this award are: * Put the logo on your blog or post, * Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing! * Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog, * Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.


I'm going to do mine a little different in making my choices. I'm doing it by category.


INSPIRES - Meredith at A Mother Singing with her inspiring posts of her adopted daughter, Jane and her grown children. Her mother love is evident in each and every post.

MAKES ME SMILE & LAUGH - Linds of Rocking Chair Reflections. Linds writes with such a sense of humor even when faced with very difficult situations. Many times when reading Linds blog I am literally laughing out loud. I think it is a wonderful gift to be able to laugh at ourselves and see the absolute humor in so very much of life.

GIVES AMAZING INFORMATION - I picked two for this award because each blog is from such a different perspective of information.

Barbara of Ramblings from an English Garden . Barbara blesses us with many lovely tours of interesting places around England where she lives. I get to share in these places, through her camera and narrative, that I will never see with my eyes in real life.

Shirley of Alabama Times. Shirley & her husband and 2 children recently moved from Pennsylvania to Alabama and are building their own home from the ground up!! She is sharing with us each step of the process. It blesses not only me, but my husband, Mickey, to get to follow along on the very intriguing process that her husband has designed and how they work together in this great undertaking.....even the children.

A GREAT READ - Maxine of Nanna's Reflections. I especially appreciated the Godly approach that Maxine took when posting her thoughts and concerns about the Presidential election we just had. She caused me to think even deeper than I already was.

AN AMAZING DESIGN - Susie of A Pink Carnation in Bloom. Since I am so much more a "word" oriented person I have picked Susie for her header design because it so fits the wonderful story of how that name came to be and about Susie. If you aren't familiar with it......go to her blog and click on her side bar and read it. It will bless you. Susie is one young woman I have followed almost from the beginning and I love her "heart" for her Lord and her family.

ANY OTHER REASON YOU CAN THINK OF - ALL OF YOU who I read and comment on a consistent basis. Realize, I think you are all UNER or I wouldn't be coming around!!!

I'm also going to name two more bloggers who don't blog any more and who I miss terribly!!!

Both of these gals blessed me with their wonderful Spiritual insight. They were truly Proverbs 27:17 to me – “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Karen of Karen's Ramblings, who lives in New Zealand with her husband and young son & daughter & Carin of Folded Wings, who lives in England. It is my prayer that God will bring these two voices back into Blogland because they always lifted our Savior high and I miss them so. In case either of you happen by to read.....WE NEED YOU!!!!

NORMAL

Normal....... adj. - conforming with an accepted standard or norm; natural; usual ....what a wonderful word!!!!!! I am so happy that our life and home are getting back to normal.

We were able to attend our wonderful Church services Sunday morning. We had been the previous two Wednesday nights but hadn't tackled the longer Sunday morning services before. It was so wonderful to be there.....Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more, as ye see the day approaching."

Our Church had a 3 meeting revival Sunday a.m., p.m. & Monday p.m. It was totally awesome!!! I wish it could have gone on and lasted more than the 3 services. The Evangelist really spoke to all of our hearts....at least I know he did to ours.

We don't get a lot of the beautiful fall colors in Oklahoma that so many of the N.E. areas of the country do but this beautiful maple tree is one we planted in our backyard and it blesses us each fall with its beauty.

Some more of normal this week: I made another batch of my home made laundry soap. I kept track of the number of washes I got from the first batch and it was 40.

I am back on my weight loss project!!!! Yeah.....Thanksgiving and Christmas...oh well I'll do the best I can.

I baked 3 loaves of wonderful Whole Wheat Bread. Not only good for us but YUMMY.

I mixed a batch of prepared ahead Oatmeal Pancake Mix. I got the recipe from Lynn. It is made with white & whole wheat flour plus the oatmeal. Not only very healthy but very good and made without any preservatives....win-win.

Mickey & I made a batch of Fondant for his bees. Yes, he feeds his bees a candy mixture for the winter!!!! This was our first effort and it didn't turn out 100% but it is usable.

We have walked at Wal-M*art the past 2 days because it has turned colder here. Fall has finally made its very late appearance. We walked 25 minutes Monday and 28 yesterday. We will make it to our 30 minute goal today. He gains a little in strength each and every day and even though his appetite isn't great it is getting better.

So.....normal is very good and we are glad to be getting back to it!!!!

MY WEIGHT LOSS WEEKLY UPDATE

I began this weight loss journey on August 4th

Thanks to Sarah I now have a ticker where the lady bug moved.

My little lady bug (which has turned into a butterfly??) moved 2 lbs the wrong direction!!!

Holding myself accountable and posting every week on Monday...

good, bad or indifferent.

Monday 8/11/08 - Weight Loss 4 lbs - Exercise 6 days walking 15-20 minutes

Monday 8/18/08 - Weight Loss 0 lbs. - Exercise 5 days walking 15- 20 minutes

Monday 8/25/08-Weight Loss 2 lbs-Exercise 4 days walking 15-30 minutes

Monday 9/1/08-Weight Loss 1 lbs-Exercise 3 days walking +added weight exercises

Monday 9/8/08-Weight Loss 1 lb-Exercise 6 days walking most 30 minutes

Monday 9/15/08-Weight Gain 1 lb-Exercise 2 days walking 30 & 39 minutes.

Monday 9/22/08-Weight Loss 2 lbs - Some walking.

Monday 9/29/08-Weight Loss 0 lbs - No walking.

Monday 10/20/08-Weight Loss 2 lbs - Much driving!!

Monday 11/10-weight Gain 2 lbs-Much stress!!

Weight Loss after 12 weeks - 9 lbs and 11 to go!!

Waist measurement down 1 inch.

We do not plan to walk on Sunday, the Sabbath and a day of rest.

The walking is so much easier since Mickey has joined me. He certainly does not have any weight to lose but the exercise is good for him, too.

This process is SLOW, but as long as I can lose 1# a week, or at least not gain anything I consider it successful. After all 1# a week is 52# in a year!!!!

Well, I am reporting about 3 very challenging weeks here. As you know, we have been through one of the most stressful times of our lives and I AM A STRESS EATER! Anyway, I am determined to get back with the program beginning today. Back to actually planning our meals and I am going to begin by making some whole wheat bread today.

I am not VERY happy about the backward movement but it is what it is.

I said Good, Bad or Indifferent

This one counts as BAD - But it is not going to way-lay me from pressing on.

Have a blessed week!!!

I measure my waist the 1st of each month, and since I won't be by a computer on October 1st or on schedule November 1st but I measured today. My waist it the same.....a total of 1 inch in the waist. I am very happy about that!!!

BFF GOLD CARD

Finally, I am getting around to a blog award....Blogging Friends Forever. I received this from my English friend, Barbara, back a little while ago. With my husbands surgery and the election taking priority on my blog I'm just now getting around to doing this.

The idea behind this award is that you send it to three bloggers who have regularly commented on your blog and also to one new blogging friend.

The 3 people that I have chosen to pass this award on to are bloggers that came and commented on my blog right at the beginning almost 22 months ago and have continued to comment ever since.

I have many regular blog friends now but these 3 have been here from the very beginning. Leigh Ann, Ginger and Jen. These 3 have truly passed from blog friends to "friends" and people I would stay in contact with even if I quit blogging. They are also 3 people I want to get to meet in real life so badly!! We ALMOST made it Jen :o)

For a fairly new blogging friend and regular commenter I award it to Brenda. I am so happy I not only got to meet Brenda on blog but in real life!!!

I very much appreciate all who visit and comment. You really add joy to my day.

I especially appreciate all the wonderful woman who pray daily with me on Hearts In "1" Accord . What an honor and blessing it is to know we are praying with others from all over. If any of you would like to join this 24/7 prayer group just click on the button on my side bar.

WE BETTER BE CONCERNED

As you know, if you follow my blog, my husband was in 3 different hospitals in 3 different states, within a period of 6 days.

We have NOTHING but praise for the facilities, care, treatment, staff, equipment, knowledge, everything that was given to us in our time of need.

Compare this to one of my blog friends, living in a different country, who's husband had a stroke on Sunday.

A) After rushing him to the hospital they waited 8 hours before he was seen by a Doctor!!

B) He was sent home after 2 days, even though they have not pin-pointed what is causing the problem because they had no beds!!

I contacted her and asked if I could use this private information in a post and received this answer.

C) "You are most welcome to use that information in my posts and please add if you like that he had a bed in four different rooms two rooms were ladies wards and the older ladies in their 70plus had him in the ward and did not like it for about 5 hours. The men look like they get moved from this spot to that all their stay in Hospital. We have private medical benefits and still it has not helped."

4 different beds - 2 of which were ladies wards - moved after 5 hours !!

Now I am telling you......I would have been frantic had these things happened to us. Especially, waiting 8 hours for help to a very serious, life threatening, situation.

Signs of the times??????

I want so badly to get off the political agenda and posts......but I'm telling you.....with Health Care being on the top burner for both Obama & Hillary we better be vigilant in fighting heath care "reform" that puts us under even a partially socialized medicine because this is the story we will be telling here. I remember in 2000 when we were touring Canada the Doctors in New Brunswick were on STRIKE!!!!

Surely this is not what we want for this country .

MICKEY UPDATE

We made the 130 mile trip back to Oklahoma City VA on October 31st for Mickey's

follow-up on his double bi-pass heart surgery. We left the house around 6 a.m. and were there by 8:30. First to the lab for blood work, then to EKG , and then for an x-ray of the heart. We also had an appointment with the Heart Rehab person who we were suppose to see before he was ever released from the hospital but since he was discharged on Columbus Day which was a holiday we didn't get it. We were happy to learn that the care and things we had been doing the past 3 weeks were correct :o) !!!After these tests were done he had a 10:30 appointment with the Heart surgeon.

Here he is with the adorable PCA, Bethany, who was the first person to talk to us on our first visit, back on September 12th, about having the surgery and was the person today who read all the reports and examined him.

Everything was perfect!!! The picture of his heart is perfect, his EKG read just as they wanted it to, his lungs are clear & healthy, and his blood work was all good, except the kidney was a little high but nothing that concerned them.
This isn't a very good picture, due to the sun glare, but this shows him leaving with his newly repaired heart and a clean bill of health. HALLELUJAH

Yesterday he had an appointment with his Primary Care Physician here in Tulsa. Another GOOD report. All is well. The only thing now is for the healing to continue and for him to build back his strength.

This is Mickey as we began his first outside walk. We were to start walking at 5 minutes a day and gradually add to it each day until he is walking at least 30 minutes. Yesterday we walked 14 minutes. We are adding a minute or 2 a day. The weather here has been delightful and making it very easy for us. As it gets too cold we will begin going to Wal-M*mart to walk.

Thanks again to all who prayed for us, and especially with us, during this path. We are only 2 days shy of it being one month since his surgery.

JESUS is our healer...and He uses Doctors and He supplied us with the very best!