In Sickness and in Health

For the past few weeks, I have been fighting off a sickness... coughing, aching joints, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, etc etc etc. And, some things I have learned through this time are:

~ Don't complain about going to work. It's a blessing to work, and working really isn't so bad, especially if you aren't working while you are sick!

~ Be thankful for each breath you take. A few times I had difficulty breathing, and it was really scary. It just made me realize how important each breath is and made me thankful that God sustains us each moment.

~ Trust in God, and lean not on your own understanding. I struggle with this a lot anyway --- I want to be in control of my destiny, but it becomes apparent that God is in control of every breath we take, every beat of our heart, and even waking up in the morning.

~ Laughing is really hard, when you don't have very good lung function :)

~ I have the sweetest husband in the world. He is so loving and caring, and even though he doesn't show it any more when I'm sick, I tend to believe that's because he already shows it so much the rest of the time, that he can't top it, rather than he has no sympathy. Nah, just kidding. He really is the sweetest... and I'm so blessed to have him.

~ Don't take your health for granted. Good health is a blessing and it should be noticed and appreciated every day!

Catch Phrases

I took this idea from another blog that I read occasionally... I thought it was a great idea, and would be fun to read in a different time and place :)

Things I say on a daily basis:

I love you, my schmoopiest!

Puppiiiiiieeeees --- booooo booooooos, beeee booooos! (That's my secret dog language!)

Everybody find a blue chair. No you can't sit in my chair. No that's my chair. Find a blue chair. If you want a prize, you need to find a blue chair and sit in it!

Nicky Picky Wicky!

Stinky Pot! Oh Stinky Pot! (What, Pinky Stot?)

Will you massage my feet?

 Nicky, you are my favorite! You are the best husband in the whole world!

I wish I could just tickle your beard! (when we aren't together)

If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all...

GLOOM, DESPAIR, and AGONY on me!!!

Seriously, my life seems like one bad thing after another right now. Thankfully I have made it through, and God has given much grace to sustain me, but it's been rough. So first all, Nicky and I were going to be apart from each other for 5+ weeks, while I came back to the U.S. to work, and he stayed in Canada. That right there, was difficult enough! When I got home, I had to drive his car since my car was still in Canada with Nick.  And...it starts, Nick's car's A/C quit working. I had to drive for a few days without it working in 90*-100* heat, and it was miserable. Then I noticed that the car wasn't cranking well. So, I finally took it to the shop, and they estimated about $1,500 in repairs that his car needed, and the car is only worth about $3,000 anyway. So, we had to decide to trade it in, or keep it, or sell it and buy something else. I spent all last week shopping for new cars... getting in and out of dealerships, being haggled and pushed to buy, in the 100* heat, after a full day of work! I finally found a new car, and it's wonderful. Just in time too b/c the steering column in the old car started smoking the day I bought the new car. Seriously.

OK, so now that we are past the car drama and I'm cruising around in air conditioned bliss, I notice that my dog Jada Belle isn't looking 'right'.  But, it was all very vague, so I just kept an eye on her. Sometimes she would look shaky and in pain and sad, and then later she would be up running around. I called a vet friend and she said it could be back pain, so I was going to take her to the vet on Monday. Well, Sunday night I went into the kitchen and found her lying in a pool of blood.  So I rushed her to the emergency vet, and she had to have emergency surgery for a giant abscess in her abdomen that had ruptured. They called me at 8:00 that night and let me know she was out of surgery and was doing ok, but she would need lots of love and care for the next few days. And of course I'm home alone, and don't get paid if I don't go to work!  And of course her emergency surgery cost $1,500!!!  Thankfully on Monday, she stayed at the vet, so I was able to go to work, and all was well. I went to pick her up Monday evening (last night), and she was weak and tired, and wouldn't eat, but doing ok. While she was resting inside, I went out to play with my other two dogs, and decided to brush them. Well, when I started to brush Banjo, giant tufts of fur and dead, bloody skin started falling off of his back. I called my vet friend again, and she said it sounded like a bacterial infection, but no emergency. So, I was going to take him to the vet this afternoon when I got home from work, and my mom was going to come down from Asheville to watch JB and make sure she was ok all day. But, this morning I got a phone call from my mom saying that my dad had been up all night in pain and they were going to the hospital! So, of course she couldn't come help out.  I called in to work, loaded up Banjo and JB in the car and took them to the vet, got them all fixed up for another whopping $200, and now I'm lying on the couch resting. Oh, and thankfully Nick told the church in Canada that he really needed to come home early, so he's on his way home!!! That is so exciting on so many levels.... mostly so I'll have someone to help me administer all the doses of medicine to the dogs! Oh, and just to top it off, our other dog Hank, just started limping!

New Car!

So, Nick and I are excited. We now both have nice cars!!!  Up until now, we had been saving money, because both of our cars were paid off. Then a few "little" problems kept cropping up with Nick's car, and we had some of them fixed, and then a few more 'tiny' problems would surface.  So, we decided that we should at least start looking for a car, and what better time than when they are coming out with 2011s so we could look for a 2010. Well, since Nick is still in Canada, guess who the lucky person was that got to shop for this new car? Moi.  And, I thought it would be fun, but it sure wasn't. Car shopping is stressful, and I hate bargaining, but I learned through this that I'm just 'naturally' good at it b/c I seriously won't pay too much for a car. I'll walk out if they won't come down to my price. Which must be fairly effective, since I came back for 3 days and left 3 days, and they kept dropping the price each time. Oh, and I should mention that the car we ended up with (Hyundai Touring) is not the one that I was even shopping for. We were shopping for a small hatchback, and that is the one I went in to purchase last night. But, out of the corner of my eye, I kept seeing this car, and thinking... that car is a better buy for us overall. Even though it's a little more, we would just have to keep paying on it for 10 more months or so to have that one, if they would come down 7,000 off the sticker price, which they did! I whittled them down, and worked it out! I'm so excited. It's a beautiful car, rides well, has tons of cargo room, and enough room for *hopefully* future kiddies :)  So all in all, I am fairly pleased with myself. My parents came with me to do this, since Nick is out of town, and my dad couldn't believe what a good job I did bargaining, and he thinks I got a good deal, so I think I really did! And, even after reading reviews on Kelley Blue Book, it appears I did too :) So yay! Now, I just can't wait for Nick to get home so he can drive his new car!!!

Ode to my Husband

OK, this isn't really for anyone but myself, and if you are someone that gets grossed out by mushy-gushy lovey-dovey stuff, then quit reading right now! But, I was just watching a tv show about middle/high school kids, and I was thinking back to that time in my life, and I just realize now how God has blessed me with more than I could have ever dreamed of in a husband. And, I was thinking back to all those goofy, lame diary entries that I used to write about guys, and I realized --- I need to write a sappy sweet 'diary' entry about how much I love my husband, and how wonderful he is!!!  Nicky is the sweetest husband --- he always cares about how I'm feeling and talks me through down times. He sends me the most thoughtful cards and e-cards weekly! He loves me despite my flaws, and I can't believe how he doesn't even seem to notice my flaws sometimes... he definitely seems to see me through rose-colored glasses. He is the most godly husband --- he truly lives what he believes and what he preaches (literally :)  I remember, before we got married, I was nervous about being married to a pastor b/c I was afraid would ruin my high opinion of pastors ---I knew he had to have flaws. And I'm sure he does, but I honestly don't see them! He is honorable, honest, respectful, thoughtful, sweet, caring, handsome (!!!), adorable, sensitive in all the good guy ways, compassionate, laid-back yet not too laid-back, helpful, servant-minded, funny, loving, and I don't know how I ever lived without him.  When I was younger, I would pray for my husband daily, and I am so happy I was praying for him. We were connected through prayer, even back then. When we first met, we felt like we had known each other forever and we just 'knew' we were meant to be <3.  He is my best friend, and I could never imagine my life without him. My only sadness is that a lifetime with him doesn't seem like enough... I think about that everyday, and pray that God will give me joy in each moment.  And, He has blessed me so greatly... through giving me Nick as my husband!!!!

Psalm 98a

 Every year at the Greenville Presbyterian Seminary "Spring Theology Conference" (that was a mouthful!), they sing this song. And, I spend all year looking forward to the conference because I have never been to a church that sings it with this tune. Of course, that's not the only reason I look forward to the conference, but it is a highlight. Anyway, I wanted to share on here because it is beautiful and I think everyone should love it as much as I do :)


Psalm 98a... my favorite Psalm to sing! Listen to this tune --- it's beautiful!

Vacation Bible School

We just finished a week of VBS here in Sydney, Nova Scotia. I mentioned that I would like to help at the beginning of the summer, but once the time came around, I have to admit that I wasn't really looking forward to it. (Yeah, the truth from a pastor's wife).  I mainly wasn't looking forward to it because my job is working with kids all year, and in the summer, I like to have a break.  I was also skeptical about the week because we have zero children in this church, so we were relying completely on posters that we hung up around town to bring the kids in, and I just wasn't hopeful that that would happen. However, it turns out that this week was one of the best weeks of my summer. I had 5 kids in my class (ages 7-9), and it was a joy to teach these children about God and salvation. Three of my students had little to no knowledge about the Gospel, and it was a learning process for me to introduce these kids to the Bible. Because I have lived in the "Bible Belt" most of my life, I was amazed at how these kids didn't even know the "Sunday School" answers, and it was exciting to teach them and see their eyes light up when I gave them a Bible.  I was also amazed at how these kids got up, got dressed, and wandered to our church on their own to learn --- they were so eager! I was blessed beyond measure this week, and for that I'm thankful!

Books I Am Reading...

Re-reading this after visiting PEI this summer. It's good, as all Anne books are, but I feel that LM Montgomery changed Anne's character a bit, starting in this book, which disappoints me because it's not the Anne I 'know'.

I am always surprised when I read a popular book, and I like it. And, I have been pleasantly surprised by this book by Tim Keller. I find it very thought-provoking, and it answers a lot of 'questions/skepticisms' I have either heard or thought myself. I recommend it to other Christians, as well as those simply interested in a well-written, well-thought-out book about Christianity and it's truth.

This is the 2nd time I've picked up this book. Normally, I love Fannie Flagg books. Love love love them. But, this one just isn't doing it for me. I don't know why. I have a sneaking suspicion it is the font. Seriously. I am one of those people that likes the feel and the look of a book, and that plays a part in how much I enjoy reading it.. I'm trudging through it, but if I get the chance, I pick up another book first.

I am working on reading through the Bible, bouncing back and forth between Old and New Testaments (eg. Genesis, Matthew, Exodus, Mark, etc). I have made it to John, which as you can guess, means I made it through Numbers!!!! Whew. I'm just kidding though, as it is all inspired by God, but some of those "begats" just overwhelm me. Originally I was planning on finishing the whole Bible this summer, but it appears it will take longer than that. I should be able to finish the Bible in less than a year, though, at this rate, so we'll see how it goes.  It has been amazing being in God's Word more than just a chapter or two a day. I am amazed and how my relationship with God grew exponentially, and my prayer life now has a fullness to it that it has lacked for a long time. God has blessed me this summer by allowing me to spend time with Him each day, and for that I'm grateful!

Another Food Review

I made this recipe last week, and it was a hit. Plus, it was a good way to eat spinach, which even though I like it, I rarely eat it. And, it was even better as leftovers! Bon appetit :)

Chicken and Rice Florentine

INGREDIENTS

1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 box (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 4 cups water 1 package Knorr® Vegetable recipe mix 2 cups instant rice 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken or cut-up cooked chicken 1 can (15.5 oz.) cannellini or white kidney beans, rinsed and drained 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (about 8 oz.)

PREPARATION Preheat oven to 375°.
Heat olive oil in 4-quart saucepot over medium-high heat and cook garlic 30 seconds. Stir in spinach, water and Knorr® Vegetable recipe mix and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in rice and let stand covered 5 minutes. Turn into 13 x 9-inch baking dish or casserole. Stir in chicken, beans and 1 cup cheese; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake 10 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.
FREEZING/MAKE-AHEAD DIRECTIONS: Prepare as above but do not bake. Let cool, then wrap in heavy-duty aluminum foil and freeze. To bake, preheat oven to 375°. Remove from freezer. Bake covered 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove foil, then sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Food Review

I am by no means an official critic of foods, but I always like to try recipes that others have tried and liked, so I think it's important to recommend good recipes to others. This recipe was very easy to make, and a one-dish-meal, which was easy for cleanup! And it was fairly tasty too :) I have to admit, it sat kind of 'heavy' afterwards, but I think a lot of that had to do with it being really hot here, and we have no air conditioning! So here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 lb (500 g) lean ground beef
1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped onion
1 cup (250 mL) tomato pasta sauce
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup (125 mL) sour cream
1 can (235 g) Pillsbury* Crescents
1/3 cup (75 mL) grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp (25 mL) butter or margarine

Method:

• Heat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• In large skillet, cook beef and onion until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain well. Stir in pasta sauce; cook until heated through.
• Combine mozzarella cheese and sour cream.
• Pour hot beef mixture into ungreased 10-inch (25 cm) glass deep dish pie plate or 9x13-inch (23 x 33 cm) rectangular baking pan. Spoon cheese mixture over beef mixture.
• Separate dough into 4 rectangles and place over cheese mixture. (If using pie plate, separate dough into 8 triangles: arrange points toward center over cheese mixture.)
• Combine Parmesan cheese and butter. Spread evenly over dough.
• Bake for 18 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown.

Dying words...

I have recently become fascinated with dying words or last words of people. Is that morbid of me? I hope not. I just think there is much profoundness (is that a word?) in these words, so I thought I would post some of the most meaningful ones to me, here:


See in what peace a Christian can die.
~~ Joseph Addison, writer, d. June 17, 1719

It is very beautiful over there.
~~ Thomas Alva Edison, inventor, d. October 18, 1931

Let us cross over the river and sit in the shade of the trees.
~~ General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, d. 1863


I would rather be a servant in the House of the Lord than to sit in the seats of the mighty.
~~ Alben Barkley, former Vice President of the United States.

Trust in God and you need not fear.
~~Jonathan Edwards

Pictures of our Canadian Adventure

1) Welcome to Nova Scotia

2) Nick studying in his study

3) Our house (the yellow one)

4) A moose sighting

5) Cabot Trail

6) On Prince Edward Island

So... it's been a year...

So, you can tell what kind of blogger I am. I'm not one. Not that anyone is reading anyway, and I'm not really doing this for ppl to read. I want to do this now, because I see what a great way this is to track 'life', and I'm a much faster typer than handwriter. So, here goes nothing... I'm going to try to be a dedicated blogger, and sadly I'm starting a little late because this summer would have been a blast blog about, being in Nova Scotia and all. Oh well, I'll start now... or tomorrow :)