Note To Self!

Put wax paper on the plate before placing candy apples on said plate!!!! OOPS!!!! Gooey + Sticky + Plate - Wax Paper = UhOh!!!! Re: previous post




Oh well!!



Like my new centerpiece!!! Hehe!!! The kids didn't think it was funny, either!!!

Candy Apples!!!!

Yesterday I really don't know what came over me but I decided that we needed to lighten up the mood a bit at our house. We have had a rough few weeks and I just needed to reconnect with what is important to me - my kids! While I couldn't talk the boys into participating (or should I say that I could not compete with a movie that they had just checked out of the library), the girls were ready!!! Boy were they ready!!! Last week Em's eagle eye spotted a candy apple making kit. The same candy apple making kit that my Mom used to buy when I was little!



Now while I used to cook for (barely) a living, I was never a candy maker so when I saw that you actually had to make the candy syrup with a candy thermometer and everything, I panicked!! I don't know what I was thinking? Maybe just put the convenient candy pouch in the microwave, push a few buttons and viola, instant candy syrup! I wish!! I could handle putting the sticks in the apples and dipping them in the candy syrup, but boiling the concoction to the perfect stage of brittleness was just too much!!! Well, after seeing the anticipation (drool) in my girls' faces, I decided to bravely forge ahead! The girls and I got out all of our ingredients and discovered that we didn't have enough sugar - ugh!! After a short detour to the convenience store we had sugar!! As we were assembling our masterpiece, I discovered that I didn't have a candy thermometer!! OK, is someone trying to tell me something??? Hehe!! Then all of a sudden I remembered! Water!! I remember my Mom testing the syrup by dropping some into a class of water and if it was brittle, it was ready!! Whoo Hoo!! I can't even remember my kids' names most days so this was a major feat!! So on we go armed with a class of water, now! We mixed and boiled and prepared our apples and waited - impatiently.





We wait!!


Very impatiently!




After a VERY long 10 minutes, we tested and sure enough, we got brittle!!! Wow!!



Then the fun part, we dipped our apples into the red, sugery, ooey, gooey, sticky goodness and then we waited - again!!




I don't think I have ever seen Lizzie eat dinner so fast. She could not wait to sink her teeth into those candy apples. As it turned out the only brave souls were the girls and their "Bubba" but boy did they enjoy those apples.





I felt good because I had spent some quality time with my girls, Lizzie was actually eating an apple and her mouth muscles were getting a great work out with that hard, sticky candy coating (an OT dream) and for a little while the sadness of the past few weeks were forgotten!! It was a good day!

Are there dogs in Heaven?

I know that this is a much debated question in the Religious world and I am certain that I may get blasted for saying this but, it wouldn’t be Heaven for me without my pets/animals. This question has once again come up for me because our sweet Tippy went to Heaven yesterday and I choose to take comfort in the fact that she is now reunited with our original “gang of five.”

In what seems like a lifetime ago, I was a single, animal lover (or crazy animal person as my friends and family liked to call me) living with 2 wonderful dogs (Maggie and Gracie) and many other foster dogs coming in and out of my home. I eventually turned my love of animals into a pet sitting business and that is how I met my Hubby! He was a, um, slightly younger single guy who was an untapped animal lover! All he needed was a little persuasion!! Hehe!! He hired me to take care of his 2 wonderful dogs (Dingo and Cricket) and the rest is history! Hubby still claims that I married him just to get Cricket, who was such a little snuggly, wuggly, cutie patootey – oh sorry!!! Anyway, we married, blended our doggie family and moved to Florida. One of the first things I did was to get involved in a pet rescue group down there so I could start fostering again. Little did I know that our very first foster was to stay forever, giving us 5 dogs and one very upset cat!! Tippy came to us with 3 legs and just the sweetest personality and never left. She could wrestle with the big dogs, swim like a champ and climb doggie gates like, well, a 4 legged dog!! So there we were, no kids (yet!) and 5 dogs, oh yeah, and one very upset cat! We never, ever, in a million years, ever (you get the picture) dreamed that one day, the kids would outnumber the dogs! After our first child was born and totally wrapped us around his beautiful little finger, we joked about needing to have a kid for every dog (5) and everyone would just laugh – nervously!! LOL!! These days, they just kind of shake their heads and shrug their shoulders and laugh (nervously) when we joke about wanting another (kid or dog – hum????)!! Anyway, this gang of 5 that brought us together, brought us so much love and laughter and vet bills!! They were our first children and then they became our furry children. The kids started coming and seemed to never stop and the gang took it all in stride. They got a few less walks everyday but a whole lot more love from each new child that came along. When Dingo was sick with cancer, Christian’s bed was where he wanted to be – all the time! When the kids would eat, Maggie was always right there to clean up the floor and sometimes the kids!! When any of the children were sick, Cricket was more than willing to sleep right next to them as long as they needed her to. Sweet Grace was their constant protector and nanny and would get in between them and whoever was silly enough to try and close to her kids! And sweet Tip, Tippy was always a calm silky head to stroke, a gentle soul who loved to be loved but was never pushy about getting love. She was also an amazing source of inspiration that taught the kids so much about overcoming obstacles. I have often wondered if that is part of the reason that Lizzie was so attached to Tippy. She was definitely Lizzie’s favorite and the two of them seem to have an understanding. As Tip got older she really didn’t want the kids to lean on her quite as much or hug her too tightly. However, she never seemed to mind Lizzie’s extra attention. She never pulled away from Lizzie’s hugs, however tight they were and Lizzie seemed to know how to treat Tip. I am certain the extra treats Lizzie would give her helped too!! It was a beautiful relationship and I am so thankful that they got the chance to be friends. As the years rolled on, the gang got older and one by one, they began to pass on. Maggie first, followed by Dingo and then one month later, sweet Grace. Cricket hung on a couple of years after Grace but she finally joined the others about 2 years ago. Tippy was the last of that wonderful “gang” of dogs that so beautifully blessed our lives and it felt like the end of an Era when she died yesterday. I know, however, that they are all together again, playing and wrestling and barking, while Maggie looks at them all like they are crazy as she enjoys her treats!!! That dog would eat ANYTHING!!

So, here I am back to my original question. Are there dogs in Heaven? I believe with everything inside me that there are and that I will one day be with them again. I cannot believe that God put this intense desire in my heart to help animals, for nothing, that all the dogs and cats that we have rescued, cease to exist after this life. I do not put animals above people (most people anyway) and my passion for helping children occupies a very large part of my heart too, but I just cannot believe that these loving souls that bring so much joy, do not earn a spot in Heaven. I would love to hear some opinions but please, please be gentle!!!

We miss you sweet Tippy, as do Tazzie and Goose and even Memow (in her own way). Your stepping stone is now with the others’ and your gentleness will always be remembered, my little 3 legged red dog!!! The first thing that Lizzie said when we told her that Tippy had gone to Heaven was that, “she is with Gada now.” Yep, sweet baby, that thought comforts me too

The Original Gang of 5


Buddies


A card for Tippy from Caleb


Tippy's stepping stone


Now it rests with the others'. Together again!


We love you and miss you all!!

Pumpkins and Dragons!!

The talk around here lately has been all about Halloween and Christmas. Nothing at all about Thanksgiving but if you are a 3 year old little girl, Thanksgiving is kind of a boring holiday. I mean no candy or presents?? What's up with that? Having to eat food you really don't like and getting kissed on the cheek over and over by well meaning relatives - nuf said. Anyway, the girls have been eagerly discussing the latest in Halloween costumes and the hot list for Santa (that is if Tonggu Momma doesn't do him in first - hehe). So the favs are (drumroll please), a pumpkin dragon and a dragon Caillou!!! Um, what????? Can ya please give your very non creative Momma a break here!! Whatever happened to cutting two holes in a sheet and throwing it over the kid's head!! Voila, instant ghost. Or how about wrapping your child in tin foil and declaring that he is an astronaut! Thank you Lisa!! That is an all time classic and one that my hubby will never let you forget - I mean will remember forever!! LOL! So I get stuck with a pumpkin dragon and a dragon Caillou!! So not fair!!! Lizzie did manage to pick out some other cute costumes in one of the bazillion catalogs that we get this time of year. The problem is that they are just a tad bit more expensive than an old sheet or tinfoil and she wanted ALL of them!! Sigh!!



Em on the other hand seemed to be more concerned about the Christmas loot!! She has poured over every single catalog that she manages to dig out of the trash and has finally decided that she just wants anything and everything that has to do with babies. Okeeeyyyy!!! The girl is obsessed with babies. Not just baby dolls! Noooo that would be too easy! She loves REAL babies and all the REAL baby stuff that goes along with REAL babies!! I had to break it to her that at the age of (gulp) 46, Momma is NOT having any more babies and at the ripe old age of 3, she is DEFINITELY NOT having any babies, so we compromised on baby doll accessories, cause a Mommie-in-training or MIT as we will hope for (as in graduate), HAS to accessorize!!!



So here I am with a pumpkin dragon and a Caillou dragon to figure out and no clue what to do!! I have never encouraged the Disney Princesses and have sometimes actively kept them out of the house but geez!!! Can I get one Princess this year, maybe a Ballerina?? I would even go for Tinkerbell - maybe!! Hehe!! As far as the babydoll stuff goes, I guess I should think about all the money Em will make when she starts babysitting!! College fund here we come!!! Whoo Hoo!!!

Proof!!!!!

I have proof - re: previous post!!

The Kiss!!!!

I got a kiss today. Not just a smooch on the hand or arm or leg but a real, wonderful kiss on the lips!!! No, I am not talking about my hubby because, well that would just be odd. I mean I know we have 5 kids and all but we still do mange to kiss on the lips these days!! I am talking about my Lizzie May!! For a long time now, Lizzie has not wanted to kiss me or anyone else on the lips. She really seems to have bonded with us in just about every other way so I have not been pushing this with her. She would give me the biggest bear hugs (as big as those tiny little arms can hug) and she would give me a smooch or two on my arm or leg or hand or sometimes (if I was lucky), I might get one on my cheek. But today, ah today, in the middle of a rain storm, underneath her Hello Kitty umbrella, she gave me a kiss on the lips and not just one, but two!! I admit, I was the one initiating the kiss but she did not pull away and definitely wanted another!! I don't know what has changed. It could be that I was gone for several days last week or it could be that she could sense my sadness at my Dad's passing or it could be that I caught her by surprise or it could just be that as everything with Lizzie's progress, it takes time and patience and understanding and baby steps!! Sometimes it is 2 steps forward and one step backward but it is always rewarding, sometimes challenging and always amazing!! On days like today I am reminded of how worried we were about our Lizzie that first day and the incredible progress she made just in a few days. I think about it every time I read about a family who chooses to disrupt in China. I am not one to judge but it makes me very sad when I know how much Lizzie changed and blossomed while we were still there and the remarkable journey since coming home. I just wish every family would go into this understanding what an intense and scary time this is for their new child and give that child a chance to "recover" before making that kind of devastating decision (for the child and the family). We had been looking at a picture of our daughter for 9 months but Lizzie had no idea who we were and I cannot imagine what must have been going through her mind. I can certainly understand why these kids seem to totally shut down after they are with their families. I just wish that every family that considers adoption would decide before they accept a referral or pursue a waiting child that this is their child no matter what and no matter what they might find in China or wherever their journey leads them. I wanted to post a clip of Lizzie on our first day and one from a few days later. You can just see her transformation and while she still had a long way to go, we knew she was ours, no matter what!!

Our first day with Lizzie


A few days later


This summer


It breaks my heart that we could have made that agonizing decision to leave Lizzie in China with what we saw that first day or two. Not that it ever crossed our minds but I think that this is what must happen with disruptions. I cannot imagine how many beautiful souls get left behind because they are simply scared and overwhelmed. I know what we would have missed out on!!

My Dad

My Daddy is home! In the early morning hours of September 28th, 2009 my beloved Daddy went “home.” Dr. Luke, as he was affectionately called by most was born on July 24th, 1926. His childhood was filled with all the joys that a small town can offer and I like to think that he did have (for the most part) a happy childhood. He was raised mainly by his Aunts and a very sweet Uncle (all of whom were not married) and his parents. Back then it was much more common to have several unwed siblings sharing their childhood home and that was my Dad’s situation. His Uncle was a doctor and my Dad decided that being a doctor was his calling as well. He graduated from Med school and after his residency, came back to practice with his Uncle and there he stayed until he retired in 1997 at the age of 70. To say that he was a great doctor seems so lacking. He touched so many lives and actually delivered a lot of my friends. I think he especially loved being able to deliver babies, treat them as their family doctor and as a special consequence, watch them grow. He met my beautiful Mother and they married in November of 1962. I soon followed in October of 1963 (yes, the Aunts were doing the math in their heads!!! Hehe!! ) and then my younger brother (who was to beautifully shape my life) came along in August of 1965. To say that he loved us would be quite the understatement!! We were his life and although he was not perfect and did have his fair share of “demons,” we never doubted his intense love for us. He was absolutely devoted to my Mother, thought she hung the moon and would have done just about anything for her!! I think that is one of the things that made the end of his life so incredibly hard. He suffered from (among other things) Alzheimer’s and that is one bad ass (excuse me) disease. As it progressed he began to doubt Mom, would constantly ask to go home and thought Mom was keeping him from his “home.” We tried and tried to figure out which home he meant and, of course, I don’t think he was speaking of an earthly home but we so wanted to be able to physically take him somewhere that would give him some peace, so we tried. That was so difficult for me. How horrible to want to go home and feeling as if you were being kept from that home. To not feel at home in the house that he had lived in and loved for so long, was heartbreaking to me. I know now that he was preparing himself and maybe us as well.

Daddy also suffered from glaucoma, another bad a__ disease. He finally went totally blind from it and would awaken each and every morning to the realization that the lights were indeed on, he just could not see - which meant he could not see his grandchildren anymore or his beautiful bride. He wanted nothing more than to be a Grandfather, which thanks to my oldest, turned into Gada!! We joked later with him about being careful what you wish for!! He longed for and waited for years for a couple of grandkids and ended up with 7 in 11 years!!! They were his pride and joy and he was always his happiest when they were around. The one thought that I am finding the most comfort in right now is the fact that Daddy can now finally “see” his beloved grandchildren’s faces again. I don’t think he ever was really able to see Lizzie well and he was so attached to her and she to him. Lizzie was always there to take Gada’s hand and gently guide him from chair to chair or to sit with him and talk to him even when he wasn’t really able to have a conversation. Well, he can finally “see” her now and hopefully hold her hand and guide her from time to time. The kids have their very own guardian angel watching over them now and I find comfort in that as well.

Dad sometimes had a bit of a tortured soul but he always had a big heart for his family and his friends and his patients and in his later years for animals! I love the fact that he eventually took up one of my causes. I give all of the credit to a scrawny, sickly, beautiful, rescued cat named Murphy who just wrapped himself around Dad’s heart and was with him in spirit up until the very end!! I think that was one of the things that tortured my Dad so, just desperately wanting to take care of everybody and everything, especially those in need. A trait that I am grateful for but struggle with myself. At least I know that I now have a “partner in crime” to aid me in my efforts to “save the world.” Hehe!!!

My Daddy was a remarkable man who was loved and respected and who is probably fishing right now with Murphy at his side. Your chair is very empty tonight, Dad, but I know your heart is full because you are finally “home

The Gorgeous Couple!!