Once there was a snowman.......

We had a rare snow fall in March. Nicolas worked for 3 hours on his "2 sided" snowman. Elder on one side, cool dude on the other. Can't elders be both at the same time??? Just wondering. Anyway, it's absolutely beautiful today. I love the snow hanging all over the trees.

Health update for all who want to know.....my hearing is messed up. Everything sounds muffled, like I'm trying to hear through water. (probably some truth to that). My headache is unrelenting, painful, awful (have I described it enough?)!! Doctor put me on levaquin for the next 5 days. I don't know what's worse...my headache or hearing my own pulse through the muffled sound!

Tossing the Ole Cookies

I'm sick! My stomach is cramping, my body aches, I want to toss my cookies and toss the milk toast. Nicolas just called from school and he's not feeling well. It's the Attack of the Flu Bug!!! I've even thrown open all the windows downstairs to allow cool air in and flu out. Don't worry Tabb. I turned off the furnace!

Milk Toast and a Scary Photo

When I was little, my mom made milk toast whenever we were sick. It was a sure-fire cure to get you back on your feet!! Why??? Because it was disgusting! You'd rather pretend to be well than eat it. However, my mom always said it would cure "what ails you." So....some 40 years later....I made the call to my Mom that I thought I would never, ever make.....I called and asked for Milk Toast!!! I must really be sick.

Milk toast is a breakfast food consisting of toasted bread and sugar dipped in or covered in hot milk into which a small amount of butter has been melted. Cinnamon and raisins may be added. Milk toast was a popular food throughout the late 19th century and early 20th century, especially for young children and for the ailing, for whom the food was thought to be soothing and easy to digest. Although not as popular today, milk toast is still considered a comfort food.

Milk toast's soft blandness inspired the timid and ineffectual comic strip character Caspar Milquetoast, drawn by Harold Webster from 1924 to 1952. The term "milquetoast" has since adopted a new meaning: a timid, shrinking, apologetic person.

I Needed to Read this Quote

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven"--Orson F. Whitney, in Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, 98

Oh Daniel.....

Men and their machines! Daniel just had to ride a scooter through the neighborhood without a helmet, without shoes, and well...without thinking (I love you son). So...he ended up in the emergency room with a concussion, road burns everywhere and thankfully, no broken bones. We're all grateful that he's ok...and yes...the scooter faired better than he did!

I'm a skeptic

So I took this 2 hour personality profile assessment at work (as part of the Leadership Academy). I got the results back today. Somethings I agree with....but one part of it I don't. It was totally accurate on the following:
1) "Take advantage of coaching on some of the more complex numerical calculations you may encounter." Math is a four letter word in my book!!
2) "You have a highly positive attitude concerning risk, change and unexpected challenges." Bring it on, baby!!!
3) "You prefer direct and to the point communication and may avoid spending time on small talk and social amenities." - you should see me at Ward activities...I tend to run and hide!

Now for the "I totally disagree" part....
1) You tend to prefer solutions that are not risky and that have been proven to be effective in the past." Helllllooooo, can anyone say "trail blazer"??
2) You are careful in asserting yourself (true, but when I'm interested ...watch out), tending to be more of a follower than a leader " false, false false!!!

Okay...now for the final summary (which I think describes me perfectly)!
"Your interest results are focused in the Creative, Technical and People Service themes. This is the pattern of an individual who enjoys the creative aspects of dealing with people and technology or theories. One would expect such a individual to be drawn toward technical opportunities, especially as such technical information applies to the service and improvement of people's lives. You are likely to be attracted to the opportunity to use creative thinking toward such endeavors."

Maybe you all see me as the report does....why are my "little feelings" hurt??

By the way...the photo is from the other day...7 inches of snow....I had to work and missed it all.

30 Years down.....a lot more to go!!

I feel guilty about not posting much this month. I've been getting adjusted to the kids school schedules, and all of the following:
Church - and all that it entails---good of course
YMCA swimming with the kids
Basketball for Cory
The Scout Freezeout - Getting Nicolas Ready
The Youth Temple Trip - Cory and Nicolas
Homework - kids
Housework
Schoolwork - mine
The cat being sick
Work - the normal stuff
Work - the leadership academy
Work - the staff nurse council

I know I'm missing plenty of details, but sometimes my mind blocks out the weight of all of the above and I just plow forward with my blinders on. Bright spots....all of the above. Just wish I had a little more energy. I feel like our 14 year old siamese...all I want is a spot of sun and my food served to me!

The trip to VA Beach was wonderful. Tabb planned the entire thing. I loved his initative. I'm especially grateful to my dear mother in-law for letting us use the condo. Highlights from the weekend....we were alone, the beach was beautiful although very cold, we were alone! We ate at a restaurant we last went to 30 years ago.....Steinie's......very quaint, very expensive, but the food left alot to be desired. I made the faux pax of asking why my lemon was covered in a fabric with a pretty green bow. You can tell I don't get out much. Tabb politely,....okay....with hysterical laughter told me that the fabric was to keep the lemon juice from my hands when squeezing it on my too raw scallops. I also used the wrong fork. Oh ...the horror of it all!! We had a much better time the next day at a mexican restaurant with all you can eat chips and salsa. My kind of place!!!

On the way home, we stopped in Williamsburg to visit with Audrey...Tabb's Mom. We enjoyed the visit....it's always wonderful to spend time together. Upon arriving home, we were greeted by 5 excited kids, and a not too badly destroyed house. Mom and Marlin had a beautiful silver anniversary clock sent to us. It's beautiful! 30 Years......it's gone by a little too fast. The next day we celebrated Daniel's 25th birthday with dinner out and cake. My baby is getting old like me. So....2009....let the adventure's begin. Good health to all.....good choices to all....and a little fun mixed in. Enjoy the photos!!! Oh .... did I mention I finally achieved one of my "bucket list" items ..... a polar dip in the Atlantic Ocean. When I got out, Tabb ran away with my towel....how's that for love and devotion. To be honest...I started crying. I couldn't breathe. The polar dip is not as exciting as I thought it would be.