Just in Time

As the storm raged and the hail fell, I was relieved that I had already gone out earlier today and finished harvesting what was left in my winter garden.

This is my first time growing cauliflower.

Just look how beautiful it is.

We ate it this very evening for dinner.

You can't imagine how much better it tastes

when you grow it yourself.

This weekend we will finish planting

our spring gardens.

The Master List

Remember when I mentioned last month that all of my tests came back negative? Well guess what?

During what I thought was a routine visit to the doctor after my surgery I was informed that they found cancer cells in the uterus. The pathology report from my surgery had just come in the day before my scheduled appointment. I was in a bit of shock because the initial reports came back negative. My first thought was: BAD TIMING! I don't have time to go through this, I just started back to school, I am in the middle of home-schooling my children and preparing them for AIMS , I am directing a choir that will be performing next month, etc........ I had a million reasons running through my mind of why this can't happen now. But really, is there ever a good time?

The doctor is very optimistic and so am I. This is a very curable cancer when caught early. I will be going in for surgery in March at which time they will perform a hysterectomy and access the situation. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't a tiny bit nervous, but I am going forward with life as usual.

My married children held a council just after they received word. Of course, I wasn't invited. They sat down and planned out the entire month of March to make sure I stay down and recuperate. They know me well.

Here is the MASTER LIST

Aimee and Michele and the rest will be coming over daily to watch my younger kids, home school them, and help me keep up with things. Mar-Kell's mother-in-law, whom I refer to as my new 'sister' will be coming over to teach my piano students for me so that I will not lose any income during this time. When you are self-employed you don't have sick leave.This is a great sacrifice for everyone. Everyone has their own lives, work and families, not to mention that both Aimee and Michele are VERY pregnant, and yet they are willing to sacrifice on my behalf. Words cannot express my heart-felt thanks.

I am so richly blessed to have such a wonderful family who supports me in all that I do or have to endure.

Thank you for your love and support.

Now you know why I haven't blogged for a while. I just haven't known what to say. Not to mention school is taking up much of my extra time.

Things are different now. My perspective on life is more focused and I am moving forward with a smile on my face, grateful to be in the caring arms of my family.

I Am Exhausted!

Going back to school full time with my already busy schedule.....

What was I thinking???

San Francisco Sourdough Starter

While visiting my sister at Thanksgiving I was so excited to find this:





I love Sour Dough and have always wanted to try some from San Francisco. I finally found a moment two weeks ago to get started. The instructions asked for the contents of the package to be mixed with "bread flour" but I used freshly ground whole wheat flour instead. I could not bring myself to use bleached enriched flour on it. I am so pleased with the results. Yesterday was my first trial using it and my family requested their favorite, Sour Dough English Muffins. You can find my recipe for it HERE.

Look how healthy this sourdough starter is.

They turned out absolutely amazing.

The taste was tangy and the texture light.

It had a distinct hearty aroma and they melted in your mouth.

For those of you who live close by

and would like some sourdough

starter give me a call.

I have plenty to share.

Time

I had a funny experience when coming out of surgery last week. Once I was coherent enough to hold a conversation, the attending nurse in the recovery room asked me if I had an appointment later that evening. I told her, "Of course not, I just got out of surgery. Why do you ask?" She then informed me of my first few utterances while coming out from under the anesthesia. "What time is is?" and "Am I going to be late?" Apparently I asked her this several times.



I admit it freely, I have always been obsessed with time. I cannot stand to waste time and I abhor being late; therefore I am always early. It all stems back to my childhood. When going anywhere with my mother, we were ALWAYS late. I don't know if it was because of her seven children or what, but it was difficult. As I got older I realized that in order to be on time to important functions I would have to be give her a much earlier time than required to avoid being late. This worked for a while, but she was smart and soon caught on, especially when we were there before anyone else.



My time is extremely important to me and I try to use it wisely. I often play on the clock. In other words, I will set tasks for the day with time limits attached and then try and beat the time. It is rewarding when I can beat my time, however I allow for emergencies which often arise and change my plans.



When I see my children sitting around I ask them, "Are you being anxiously engaged in a good cause?" They know that that means they had better get up and find something worthwhile to do. Time wasted is gone forever!



I love this quote about time:

"Time is the property

which we inherit from God,

along with the power

to choose what we will do with it."

Henry B. Eyring

Time is a precious gift that each of us enjoy. We each have the same 24 hours a day, 168 hours a week to do with as we desire. However, it passes at a fixed rate and we can’t store it. All we can do is decide what to do with it—or not to do with it. Even a moment’s reflection helps me see that the problem of using my time wisely is not a problem of the mind but of my heart. Where my heart is, there will my time be spent.



My heart is with my family and my God. That is where my time is spent, hour after hour, minute after minute, day after day.



I never want to be responsible for these final words:





My time is even more precious to me now. My lists have even grown a little longer, and while I might not get everything accomplished that I would like, I feel peace in the choices I have made in how I spend my time.

I'm Back....

...and feeling so much better. I am finally ready to start the New Year! It has been a difficult month. I had a bit of a scare when medical problems arose the week of Christmas. My doctor suspected cancer and worked with me to get through the holidays and the wedding. Talk about ultimate stress! Just the word "cancer" has a way of bringing one to their knees. On Monday of this week the pathology reports came back NEGATIVE. We were all so relived. Tuesday I had surgery and now I am back on my feet and ready to go. Of course I am being urged by family to take it easy, but I am not one who has ever been able to just sit back and rest. Too much to do and not enough time.

I was so blessed by my married children during all of this. They were there helping all along the way. They watched children and brought over meals. What a joy is it to have them so close. Thank you for everything!

A special thanks goes to Kendrick and Brigitta. Kendrick held down the fort once I got home. He made sure the house was clean, watched his nieces and even put meals on the table. He was my lifesaver. And then there was Brigitta, she was my personal nurse, always at my side wanting to help in any way she could.

• "Would you like a drink of water?"
• "Can I read you a story?"
• "Would you like to watch a movie?"
• "Can I just sit by you and hold your hand?"
• "I colored this picture for you."
  

And where was my husband during all of this? He was constantly at my side watching over me, and tending to my every need, except when he had to go back to work.

As you can see, I was in the best of care.

What more could anyone wish for?

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Mar-Kell Petty

They couldn't be happier!