Ramblings

I am beginning 2009 by reflecting on 2008. What were my favorite moments and what did I learn from them?

My favorite moment of the year was when the kiddos and I were able to join hubby in our new town. Hubby accepted a job in another town so for we lived apart for a period of six months. I learned to appreciate hubby for who he is. When he was home I ended up taking him for granted (incidentally, I just realized I’m doing that again…) so the time apart gave me a chance to improve my relationship with him.

Another favorite moment I have is having the courage to move my kiddos from a bad school situation and enrolling them in another school. It was also during that time period that I found out one of my children had Asperger’s Syndrome. Both of those situations brought out an inner strength in me that I didn’t know I had.

I find it interesting that my favorite moments were also my most painful. They were all very painful situations when I was going through them but now that I am able to look back on them they are my most favorite moments of the year. The song Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns is coming to mind as I am typing this.

Were your favorite moments also your most painful? What were your favorite moments of 2008?

This is how I feel.

For the past few days I have had a migraine. They put a damper on things. I wish I could crawl in bed and not get up until the migraine is gone. But alas that’s not happening so I take my medicine and make it through the day. Today has been rough. I hurt. (Obviously since I have a migraine.)

By the way, check out Migraine Chick’s flickr page. Her work is beautiful and amazing.

Photo Credit: Migraine Chick

Peace

I hurt

and nothing eases the pain

I cry out

yet still I don’t feel

your healing balm

The words cut deep

and are still

resounding in my mind

What else was meant

by them if not

to hurt

To hurt me

The sly, twisted, cruel

words

all under the guise

of loving confrontation

Please Lord

Stop the pain

I take the thought

captive

Physically I hold it

up to you

Take it from me

I don’t want it

Change me

Heal me

Help me see

You have overcome pain

Help me overcome mine

Defeat my enemies

Fight for me as

I am still and

hold my peace

We didn’t go anywhere for Christmas this year so I figured I’d make a special Christmas dinner.

We had turkey breast, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, pecan pie (yuck but hubby loves it), chocolate cake (yum), green beans, black beans, rolls and I can’t forget cranberry sauce shaped like a can (double yuck). All were dishes I could easily whip up except for the dressing.

The only dressing I have ever liked is my mother-in-law’s dressing. When I decided to make something special for Christmas I was in the middle of Wal-Mart and called her up to see what ingredients she uses in her dressing.

Her list: celery, onions, 2 boxes Cornbread Stovetop Stuffing, box of cornbread (with two tablespoons flaxseed and wheat germ added), carton of chicken broth and 2 eggs.

Later when I was home I called her to see how to put it together.

• Saute celery and onions (whole pkg celery and 2 onions. both diced)
• make cornbread then use 3/4 of it. (crumble it)
• 2 pkgs cornbread Stovetop stuffing
• 2 eggs beaten first with chicken broth
• put together in pan
• bake at 375 for 30 min or so till it’s brown.

I’m not sure what I did but mine didn’t look or taste like hers. It was good but different. Plus, hubby liked it much better than his mother’s and begged me to blog the recipe and email the recipe to my friends. That way if I ever lose it then I have access to it some way or another.

What recipe can you not live without?

I heard this song the other day and fell in love with it.

When I first heard about Sudoku I thought it was ridiculous. I couldn’t see the point in it and wanted no part of it whatsoever. Then I rented Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! and in it was Sudoku.

I thought I’d try it. Why not? Why not indeed. I am now totally hooked. So much so that I went out and bought a Sudoku book so I could take it around with me. I love the simplicity and challenge of it. I even have my nine year old interested in it.

Photo Credit: Tim Psych

My all time favorite Christmas song. Christmas just isn’t Christmas if I don’t get to rock out to this song at least once!

I got this video in an email yesterday.