Sunday, February 28, 2010

Because of Layla Grace

I am sitting up tonight....stressing over the birth of my little Carly's puppies...or so far puppy. Stressing because it has been 4 hours since she had her first pup and so far no more. But I have been stressing a lot lately, over Layla Grace. A precious little girl in Houston suffering with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. For over a month now I have been praying for the miraculous healing of this baby's body along with thousands of others. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that is God's plan. As I read her parent's Tweet's and follow their blog; I cry but mostly I get up and look at my children....really LOOK at them and listen to their noises. I have quit getting angry or irritated when they pull on me to get something or just to be held which is often the case. Because of little Layla Grace.
Her parents are now at home listening to their precious child's breathing, helpless, scared and yet praying for her peace. Watching her die and yet the world goes on, it seems cruel. But they seem so strong, clinging to every second that they have with her and letting the world in by updating their twitter page/blog/facebook. That is strength. That is love and that is what is going to let Layla live forever. I can imagine that her Sister's will look at their children differently because of their sister. I know I am seeing my life with my kids a lot different. Little Layla Grace has changed the lives of so many......
I still pray, pray for miracles, pray for her peace, pray for her families healing and pray that little Layla and her family knows how much they are loved by so many that have never met them.

Monday, February 8, 2010

"miracle of the five loaves and two fish"

My husband and I have lived paycheck to paycheck for the last 3 years. Always behind, always stressed. But he has always seemed to come through for us. Because of my immigration problems I haven't been able to work for the last 3 years. Now don't think that I am lazy or don't want to work, I have worked since I was 15 years old and at times I had two or three jobs going. I never saw myself as the stay-at-home Mom but this is where fate has put me and I am trying to do my best at it. However; I have realized lately that I had the wrong mindset. I am not sure of how to explain that more thoroughly. I believe now that God wants me to not only succeed at this job but excel, I am supposed to learn something here.

Jason lost his job at the beginning of January. The place he worked just didn't have the business coming in and needed a reduction of force. This is a problem for people like us who, as I said before, live paycheck to paycheck. You would think, this being the beginning of February, that we were drowning.....we're not. Now, the phone bill is due and so in the utilities but we have the money to pay that. I have prayed from day one giving thanks for the blessing we have and to bring us through this and so far God has. I have no reason to believe that it will end anytime soon. It brings to mind the Miracle of the five loaves and two fish.... We have brought to God our meager finances and placed them in his hands......and our basket is not empty yet.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Things I have learned about cooking...


There are many little tidbits I have learned since I started cooking. I have always liked cooking and trying new recipes but learned early that it is best to cook in my Mother's kitchen when possible, because then she cleans.....
Anyway, probably the funniest situation happened when I was newly married, to my first husband, and trying out an enchilada recipe from my handy dandy Pilsbury Cookbook (if anyone has it I would love to get it, I lost that page years ago). One of the many ingredients it called for was 12 ounces of green chiles. Well, being a novice Tex-Mex cook I wasn't sure what to look for but thought certainly it would be by the pickled jalepanos...right? As a paroused the jalepano aisle I found what I thought I was looking for! They were green they were chiles (well, peppers) and Wala! The jar was 12 ounces exactly!! PERFECT!
Back at our apartment I started cooking the meal. The recipe called for me to chop up the 'green chiles' and add them to the pan 'with juice'. I opened the bottle that I purchase of cute little green peppers but found that getting the peppers out would be a little difficult since it had a shaker top on it and I had to pry off the top and get those suckers out!
I chopped them and added them to the pan at last and kept cooking my dish....
During this process I seemed to get a tickle in my throat and sneezed a few times....hmmm strange. I finished the cooking and baking and set the table. Needless to say I was quite proud of my dish! It looked wonderful and even smelled wonderful!
My husband and I sat down to have a wonderful Enchilada dish that smelled Delish!

We took our first bite and it was great!.......except a few miliseconds later our mouths starting burning!! Now I like hot stuff but this was CRAZY! We literally could not eat it, and neither could the dog....that HOT>
At that point my husband asked me what the HELL did you put in that? I showed him all the stuff and pulled the bottle that the chile's had been in out of the trash.
Tabasco Habenero Peppers.....the kind you just shake the juice on things for taste....like TWO DROPS is enough to burn you.
Come to find out if you go down the aisle with the Mexican products you will find a little can with these things called GREEN CHILIES (and they are not spicy at all).

Other things that I have learned:


  • There is also such an item called Chili Sauce, it is located with the ketchup (not the chili). And if you don't know this and use Wolf Brand Chili (with sauce) along with your meatballs....it just doesn't taste very good at all.

  • There is a HUGE difference in 1 teaspoon of Crushed Red Peppers and 1 tablespoon. Trust me.

Monday, January 18, 2010

New Year, new year.

New Years Resolutions.....nah. No need. Well, not that I don't need to change anything or that things could get better (because they TOTALLY could) but because I believe that I can make resolutions anytime of the year. I mean, how is January 1st any different from January 20th? In 365 days it will still be a year later. So tomorrow could be my New Year. Yes....I like that.

My weight loss has come to a halt since before the Holidays. I would love to say that I am still doing the Fitness Program but at $189 a month I just can't swing it. Especially since Jason got laid off the Friday before last and there doesn't seem to be any job coming tomorrow. Whine, whine, whine....I'm really not. Considering all the things that I could be bummed out about I have been very at peace with it all. Very strange. I should be stressed out completely wondering where the money is going to come from or how we are going to pay the next bill but I'm not.
I really like what I saw on my Friends blog; she wrote all the new/big things that have happened in the last year to her and those she loves....I think I will do that for my past year....January 18, 2009 to January 19, 2010....lol