Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates . . .

Last week was PT Conference, followed by Fall Break.  Everyone was ready for a break from school, teachers included.  (Blessing #977)   It came at a good time for us, because Jenica needed to make a return trip to Mayo Clinic for a follow-up appointment.  Being in HS now, Jenica really appreciated not having to take time out of school (#978) because it's so hard to get caught up when you miss a couple days in a row. 

Jenica's tests went really well, and she got a great report from her doctor.  (#979)  As you can imagine, we were a little bit apprehensive, because back in July we went to Mayo for a 2nd opinion, not expecting the news that we got.  This time, all was well.  According to Dr. Ackerman, Jenica's now on "Cruise control." 

While we waited for her appointments, a volunteer was in the waiting area teaching all the kids how to make a paper spinner craft thing (using colored strips of paper, straws, and a couple rubberbands), and the girls had time to make a couple while we waited.  Mayo does a great job at keeping kids busy and distracted from any tests they may be waiting for. (#980)

After Jenica's good report, we headed up towards Minneapolis so Jillian could be reunited with her friend Izzy, who moved with her family to a suburb in August.  Izzy & Jillian were SO excited to see each other and spent a couple hours playing in the pool at our hotel.  (#981)  

It was sad when they had to say "goodbye . . .  until next time."  The good news is that Jenica will have annual appointments at Mayo, so Jillian and Izzy will most likely be able to see each other once a year.  (#982)

We spent a few hours at Mall of America walking around, playing Miniature Golf at "Moose Mountain" inside the mall, along with a challenging "Mirror Maze" that Jenica and I were brave enough to explore while Chad & Jillian went to the popcorn shop to get a snack for the long ride home.  That mall is amazing! "Mall on Steroids" might be a better name for it.  We didn't buy much, but we did get a start on some Christmas shopping, which is tax-free in Minnesota.  (#983) 

Jenica and Jillian also spotted Justin Bieber and One Direction at a store, and they got them to pose for a quick picture.  Hee hee . . .

 

A quick story . . . When leaving the Mayo Parking Lot, Chad answered the parking attendant in a British accent!  Jenica and I had a lot of fun with that one!  (#984)  Chad must have been listening to too much One Direction in the car on the long drive up. 

Even though we had already left when it snowed in Nebraska, we didn't have any snow on our drive to MN (#985).  I love snow, but not when we're driving on unfamiliar roads.  We made it there and back safely (#986) and ate at some fun restaurants that we don't have around here. (#987)

Jenica had never heard of the movie "Forrest Gump", so we gave her a quick overview while eating lunch.  Here's one of my favorite clips . . .

It's really true.  Life really IS like a box of chocolates.  And I'm thankful for the life I've been given.  (#988)

I'm glad we don't have to return to Mayo for another year.  Even though it's only a day's drive, it's still a long way to travel for a doctor's appointment.  But when it comes to your children's health, you do whatever you have to.  And we are so blessed that God led us to our new doctor.  (#989)

The Runza Guy

Dustin, you had a great suggestion to put Chad's Runza commercial on my blog.  Well, I couldn't figure out how to do that . . . until today!  (Blessing #974)  He'll probably throw me a "look" when he sees that I figured out how to give his commercial a little more publicity through my blog. 

 

Chad's little bit of fame continues to follow him today even though it's not part of the TV commercial mix any more.  People still call him "Mr. Runza" and it frequently continues to come up in conversations with people.  It was fun when he filmed it back in 2006, and the fun continues today.  (#975)

 

Here's the Runzatic in action:

 

"Fresh Bread . . .

An abundance of meat . . .

. . . it helps us win football games."


Maybe it helped back in 2006, but not so much this year.  Football season is over for us with a 2-7 record.  But that's okay.  Athletes can learn a lot about character when they have a losing season.  

And the best part is this:  Chad & I still enjoyed our Runza "dates" every Friday.   (#976)

Yankees

My dad had back surgery last week, and is on the long road to recovery. He's also on the road to being pain-free again (Blessing #969). I'm so glad he had it done, because he's been living with the pain for a long time. I'm also thankful I could go over to Kearney each day he was in the hospital (#970) and that my neighbor was actually part of his medical team in the recovery room (#971). What a special blessing that was for my mom and I.

Backing up just a smidge. . . Jenica and I went to Omaha a couple weeks ago for a special mother-daughter weekend, (#972) and while we were there, we looked for some fabric for an apron she was going to make in Creative Living. We happened to notice an extremely large selection of fleece fabric, including a New York Yankee's fleece. The sweet blessing in finding this fabric is that it's my dad's favorite baseball team. (#973) That's when Jenica decided to make her grandpa a Yankee's tie-blanket as a "get-well-soon" surprise. She got it finished, and gave it to him yesterday.

Jillian's New Joy Ride

The beautiful fall weather we're having is reason to get the bikes out again. (#966)  I got quite the workout yesterday.  Especially with Jillian's tag-along bike attached to mine.  That added 40 pounds on the back gives me quite the thigh burn, especially when she decides to stop pedalling and lollygags along.

 



 

She has a bike of her own, but where we live, we end up biking on roads with lots of traffic as we make our way into town.  So, a couple months ago, I set out on a quest to find a "tag-along" bike we could borrow, making it safer and not quite so difficult for her.  And I found one!  (#967)

We can't quite figure out how the flag's supposed to attach, hence the goofy angle.  But it still works.  However, if we hit too many bumps, it falls off and we have to turn around and go get it.  Jillian is a little commedian and always makes me laugh, even when I'm huffing and a puffing.  (#968)  She's so silly.

Jillian gets distracted easily, so I do more of the pedalling than she does.  There's so much to look at as we make our way past the cornfields, pastures, houses, and finally arrive at the park in town.  She could bike for hours, I think.  But of course she could!  She's just along for the ride . . . until I remind her to start pedalling again.

Why I Love October

October is a great month!  For many reasons. . .  

 

It's when fall colors are in full force.  (Blessing #958) Nights are cool, and days are just perfect.  (#959) I can sleep with the windows open and throw an extra blanket on the bed.  (#960) October brings weather, for the most part, that is mild and free of bulky coats.   I don't like being hot and sweaty, and I dont like being so cold that I have to wear multiple layers.  Once the first freeze hits, it brings relief from my allergies.  Ahhhh. . .  (#961)  Of course, October brings lots of football!  Not necessarily because I love it, but because the man I love does.  (#962) October brings bright colored mums in all the yards of my neighbors, (but not mine - my green thumb is lacking).  But it also brings. . .

 

Mary!

 

Kendra, Mary, Janet

 

Have you ever had a friend, whom you don't see very often, but when you do get together again, you can just pick up where you left off?  (#963)  As if no time has separated you at all?  Somone whom your heart is connected, even though miles separate you?   Even though Mary moved to another state, God continues to bring her back to the Heartland for a short visit every October, for which Kendra & I are extremely grateful.   (#964) 

 

Our time together always goes by too quickly, but it's never short on laughs, stories, coffee, or food.  (#965)  We never say "goodbye."  Just "see you again soon."

Great Day For a Picnic

Since we no longer get together with Chad's extended family on his dad's side during the Christmas holidays, we decided to have an annual picnic/BBQ during the summer instead. Well, summer was too busy for everyone so we waited until now to get together.

Today, we met at aunt Gloria and uncle Lamar's and almost everyone made it. (Blessing #954). It was an absolutely gorgeous day (#955) and the kids enjoyed lots of fresh air outside. Here's a picture of all the kiddos that were there today. It's such a blessing that there are so many close in age and that we make a point to all get together once a year.

 

Jenica, Erica, Kaylee, Chase, Haleigh, Harlie, Brody, and Jillian.

 

Jenica had some algebra homework to finish, and as soon as her Grandpa Ken saw that she was working on math, he was instantly drawn to it and sat down to help her work through many of those problems. (#956) His memory isn't what it used to be (I feel the same way some days), but he could still remember how to do those algebra problems.

 

I think we should have grandpa check over all her algebra homework. He really seamed to enjoy it, which was also a blessing to him that she brought her algebra assignment along today. (#957)

A Surprise Inside

I made a german chocolate cake this morning for a picnic we're having tomorrow. And the german chocolate frosting recipe I like to use calls for 3 egg yolks. That meant I needed to find something to make using 3 egg whites. Hmmmm . . . . what should I make?

And then it hit me!

Surprise Meringue Cookies!

My mom used to make these, and when I was old enough to start baking (under her supervision), it was one of the first recipes I learned how to make. They're so yummy! The "surprise" are the chocolate chips inside. (Blessing #953)

Surprise Meringue Cookies
2 or 3 egg whites, beat until stiff

Then add:

3/4 c. sugar
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Beat until sugar is dissolved. Stir in 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. Place scoops of cookie on brown paper and bake for 25 minutes at 300 degrees. Cool before removing from paper.

 

The Best Apple Muffins Ever

This 5-star recipe popped into my inbox from Food.com, and with it being apple season and all, I decided it would be a perfect snack for Chad on his Birthday Eve. That's right, tomorrow is his Birthday. (Blessing#952)

 

 

This recipe is a keeper! It's A-MAZ-ING! And after we each had a taste of them tonight, half of them are already gone. The other half is for Chad's birthday breakfast. I hope he shares!

 

APPLE MUFFINS

3/4 cup + 2 TB packed brown sugar

1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour (I used white whole wheat flour)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup canola oil

2 large eggs

1 cup natural applesauce

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 golden delicious apple, peeled, cored, and chopped into tiny pieces

In small bowl: mix 2 TB brown sugar + cinnamon + pecans

In medium bowl: whisk together flours, salt, and soda.

In large bowl: whisk together 3/4 c. Brown sugar + oil until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in applesauce and vanilla.

Which flour mixture into egg mixture in 2 batches, alternating with buttermilk. Whisk just til combined. Gently stir in apple chunks.

Pour into greased muffin tins. Sprinkle with sugar/pecan mix. Tap pan on counter to remove any air bubbles.

Bake at 400 degrees, for 20 minutes or til toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 15 minutes. Loosen edges with knife. Remove from pan. Finish cooling on wire rack.

 

A Taste Of . . . Winter?

Fall officially began 2 weeks ago.  But today we got a taste of winter.  Look closely . . . see the snowflakes? 

I've been telling people that I'm not quite ready for winter and snow yet.  I want to enjoy the fall season for a bit longer before it turns cold.  However . . . . as the snow started falling this morning, I couldn't help but get excited.  (Blessing #951)

I absolutely LOVE snow!  And it was so pretty as it fall to the ground and quickly melted.  I just wish I had a couple mountains in the background this morning.