Hello....

I really do love to blog...but it is like it has become a competitive sport....but I have decided to blog for me...I think I have said that before...I am going to blog about things I do, things I enjoy, people I enjoy and just whatever hits my fancy that day...that week...that month, whatever.


My one-year old grandson stayed with me Friday night..he is walking now and a HAND-FULL!!!! I could just watch him all day long...the look of wonder on his face with each new discovery!!


This is a pic of him when he was about 2-3 months old -







...this was this weekend...yes, he's a thumb sucker - mainly when he's asleep....or if he is really tired...he still has a "pacy" but if he looses it during the night...pop, that thumb is going in.






New Year's day I kept him while Brandi and her mother-in-law when to Canton...a very large flea market in East Texas...I cooked Corn and Crab Chowder, Bayou Apple Salad and Iron Skillet Apple Cake (from Pioneer Woman).



The recipe for the chowder did not call for potatoes or bacon...so I added those. I love to cook and I am very much a recipe cooker...but I use it for a guide and add or take away ingredients to make it "mine".




Cason has more toys than the law allows....but he would rather play in the pantry or climb in the dishwasher while I am trying to load it....I know why you have kids while you are young and energetic....I was exhausted!!!





This is my youngest daughter's Sr. year in high school...we just ordered cap and gown and invitations...it's really going to happen...she is going to make it out!!!!! She has done really well this year and I am very proud of her.




I am back on my low-carb diet...it just seems to be the only thing that works for me...so stay with what works...I have gained a few (translated, OMG, did the scale just really say that!!) pounds back and I need to get serious...2009 was a rough year...I gave in to a lot of pressures. But it is a NEW year and God is still on the throne and I am going to be victorious this year...


My focus this year is ME...I know that may sound very selfish...but for the last few years I have concentrated on people around me and tried to "change" them...and it has taken a lot out of me and no changes from anyone has been made...so I will work on changing things in me that I want and need to change...I will spend more time in prayer and just listening to what God has to tell me and let go of "how I think it should be done". I want to concentrate on my health...exercising, eating better, keeping doctor's appts and learning to want what I have and not always thinking...if I just had that..I would be happy...I have lived my whole life waiting on things to get better so I could be happy...when peace and happiness has been a gift that I didn't have time to accept.


Today I will think on this verse...Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Busy, Busy Weekend....

Don't ya just hate those - where you have to go back to work to get some rest!!!!

It started Thursday night with an excruciating tooth ache - we have plans to do a root canal on this tooth a week from today, but it decided to really act up last week - I called my dentist and they called me in some pain meds - they didn't touch it - I was up all night Thursday - I know I looked like one of those cartoon characters - where the sore place is throbbing and red and 4 times the size it is actually supposed to be - that's what I felt like anyway. Friday morning early, I called the dentist - got a recording - closed on Fridays - OMG!!!!!! ....how do I get through the weekend - luckily I have a dear friend who works for an oral surgeon and they helped me get through the weekend - now, I think I can wait until next Monday - but I am calling my dentist to make sure.

So I went to a little east Texas town to see a "friend" of mine who is a football coach at a jr. college. I haven't talked much about my "friend" on here - because I'm just not sure yet - how much you say on here - ya know!!!! Anyway, went to the game and I was just sitting down to lunch with his parents before the game and I get a call from 17yo daughter - she has just had her first car accident!!! Yes, try being 2.5 hours from home and hear that!!!! Stress level goes up just a tad!!!! She was hit from behind and her car is totalled - she and the two friends in the car with her are OK - banged up and a little sore, but OK. Now, comes the hassel with the insurance companies, other driver, no car for daughter, and on and on.

I got back in town yesterday and just kinda piddled around the house - it was a very pretty day and I opened all the windows and just let the house air out a bit - I sat out on my back patio - and just went through a couple of magazines that I had gotten in the mail and tried to breathe and just relax.

First thing this morning, I had a Dr.'s appt. with my thyroid Dr. We are still working on getting that on an even keel. Tonight I have my bookclub meeting. We just read The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall - it was a pretty good book. Tonight we will find out what our next read is.

Aren't you tired, just reading all that!!!!!????????

Thank you, Donna and Annie for the encouragement, bless you both!!!

Thursday...

It started out kinda rainy and hazy this morning - but the sun is trying very hard to break through the clouds - having the view that I do from my office - its actually looks like heaven is trying to peek through the clouds....it's just beautiful.

Pregnant daughter was at the hospital last night - her legs, ankles and feet are swelling a little more than normal and they wanted to do a MRI to ensure there were no blood clots - and there was none!!! She just needs to take it easy these last couple of weeks and stay off her feet as much as possible.

I had a recipe for some wonderful chicken that I meant to post today - but I forgot the cookbook at home - it is by Dana Carpenter - she has several low-carb cookbooks that I have gotten and they have great recipes - I have tried several of them and they have all been very good.

This morning I had sausage links for breakfast and 2 deviled eggs. I brought some chicken (baked and and basted with hot wing sauce) and more deviled eggs and I will probably go downstairs to the snack shop and get a green salad to go with it. I haven't been eating much at night - maybe a piece of cheese and a boiled egg. Just haven't been real hungry at night. I have lost about 13 lbs in about 6 weeks, but for the past few days, I have been in a stall - more like for the past 7 - 8 days - I will drink lotz of water today - that's usually helps.

Here is a site that I visit everyday without fail...The Pioneer Woman...she has the greatest site. She is sooooo funny, talented in so many ways, she has the greatest cooking section - step-by-step pics and just a great all-around site. She also has great give-a-ways regularly - today she will be having a drawing for a $500 gift card to Sam's.

Good Beautiful Morning....

This weather is just incredible - in Louisiana we have 2 seasons - hot and hot & humid - that's about it - but today it is about 72 degrees and low humidity - looking out the windows of my 22nd floor office - it could not be a prettier day.

Last night I got my hair colored - I have done it for so long - it is really easy - but it just takes a while -

I have been really tired as of late - I got off caffeine about 2 months ago and I don't know if this has anything to do with it - but this morning for the first time in a while I mixed my coffee..1/2 decaf and 1/2 full power....kinda got a buzz going on here.

I am listening to Michael Buble singing "Save the Last Dance for Me" on the internet...and looking at all this paper on my desk that I need to do something with....so I guess I will get started.

I have been reading a wonderful book series by Karen Kingsbury - it's called the Redemption Series and it's 5 books about this one family...I just finished the last one about a week ago and it has been a wonderful read....I highly recommend them.

Brandi and I had lunch today at her favorite Mexican restaurant - i think she eats there 3 times a week - a friend of mine and some girls she works with were there also - so we got a huge table and had the best time....Brandi is due in about 3 weeks - so we are in the home stretch.

That's all for today.....