I figured it out!!!

I don't know if my brother would appreciate having a super-large pic of him on the web but I just chose a random pic off of the computer I'm using at the present. Anways....I figured out how to enlarge a picture! Wooooooooooo! {And, it worked!}

one thing

One thing I really wish I would have done four years ago was start a blog when my Grandma moved up here to live with us.  She has dementia and it has been a long, hard, and hilarious road.  Oftentimes, things we have experienced with her have seemed so difficult and so impossible and so isolated.  But I have discovered that while no two persons are the exact same, some of the same things we have experienced are experienced by others with a loved one who has dementia.  It would have been interesting to look back over the past four years at all the ups and downs.  So here is my Thursday.

Ever since my Granny fell and broke her hip last June, she has been struggling with a skin condition.  First it was diagnosed as scabies.  But that was incorrect {thank goodness!}.  Then, it was finally diagnosed as an allergic reaction to morphine {much more tolerable}.  The other day, my Mom and I noticed another rash on her neck and chin. 

Into the doctor we went today.  It is shingles.  Boo-hoo!  And it's contagious.  The dermatologist said that it wasn't contagious except through contact.  But my mom called her oncologist today as a preventative measure because my parents are leaving on an overseas trip on Monday {!!} and the onc. doc said it is air-borne contagious.  Oh, joy!  {Sigh.}

One reason I firmly believe that the Lord has kept me in my present state {single and living at home} is to help my Mom with my Granny.  And I'm not regretting a minute of it.

I lurve this...{click on the link below}

Boden Outfit-maker

In honor of my 200th post...

...I thought I'd give you a list of 10 of my favorite sites to visit/read.

{Oh...and I'm not doing any personal blogs, especially of people I know, just in case someone doesn't want to be linky-linked - ha!}

{"I know that you know that I know..." --name that movie!  Being serious, though, I know you know that I don't endorse every opinion on every website...but I had to throw that out there for clarification.}

:: http://www.annamariahorner.blogspot.com/  ::
{crafty blog...beautiful colors and designs, plus she has published a few books}

:: http://www.ravenhill.typepad.com/
{another crafty blog; love the material she uses}

:: http://www.shabbyapple.com/ ::
{cute dresses...awesome}

:: http://www.bodenusa.com/ ::
{once again, I can hardly stand the awesomeness}

:: http://www.christa-taylor.com/ ::
{she's all about modesty}

:: http://www.bluelily.squarespace.com/ ::
{breath-taking photography...I don't endorse all their personal views but their photos are stunning}

:: http://www.mint.com/ ::
{online budgeting tool}

:: http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/ ::
{drool over the jewelry}

:: http://www.maggiewhitley.bigcartel.com/ ::
{unbelievable designs...and she's only been sewing for a few years...what?!!!}

:: http://www.picnik.com/ ::
{mostly free online photo-editing site}

a question for you!

I snagged this book from B&N several weeks and fell in love with it immediately.  It has awesome content!  This book has been an incredible help by giving me great ideas for my Etsy shop/small business. 

One chapter talked about craft shows.  I tucked the ideas away in my memory for later knowing good and well that there wasn't a craft show around here that I would be attending.  However, I bought a local paper last week and spotted an ad for a craft/vendor fair benefiting a Christian school in a town about 35 minutes from here.  That is perfect!  I put my application and check in the mail over the weekend.  Hopefully, I get a spot!

Here's where my question for you comes in.  I'm in desperate need of ideas for topics/portions of Scripture for my cards.  I have two orders waiting to be fulfilled and the topics for those are: diligence and the goodness of God.  Have you thought of a topic that you would like to see in my Etsy shop?  Does a portion of Scripture pop immediately to your mind?

I really need to beef up my inventory before this craft show!  Thanks so much for your input!

xxhugsxx

{this is my 199th post - whoop!}

Why does it seem like when I think I'm fully 100% surrendered, I realize there's still so much more to surrender?

But I think that is a good thing.  God wants all of my life.  If I want to please Him, want to have rewards in Heaven, want to be used by Him, I had better be 100% surrendered.  I think that may be why we're not looking forward to Heaven enough.  We're holding too tightly onto the things of this world.  We're not ready to meet Him because we haven't given ourselves to Him completely and we know we wouldn't hear, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."  At least, that applies to me. 

I have been shedding a lot of tears in the last 24 hours.  Good tears.  Surrendered tears.  Praise tears.  Thankful tears. 

I know in the past, I have under-estimated the value of "...pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." {Ephesians 4:11-13} 

I am so blessed by the teaching I have received in the past 24 hours!

Last night, I was reading Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot.  Excellent book!  It has helped me so much over the past 3+ years.  I could basically type out almost the entire book for multiple blog posts that's how much I heart it!

Then tonight's sermon in church was excellent.  It was about worry and discontentment.  The pastor who preached tonight called them "comfort sins."  I've definitely been struggling with worry.  And I know I have been struggling with it.  But I wasn't facing it as a sin but more as a character flaw.  But the Lord just used that sermon so specifically in my life.  Very specifically.  Very clearly.  Very instrumental, to say the least!

I don't know how surrender and worry tie into one blog post but it's just what's been on my heart yesterday and today.

Dear sunshine,

Hello, friend!  It is so nice to see you again after your not-so-brief hiatus over the past 1 1/2 months.  I have really enjoyed having you around two days in a row.  And your warmth allowed your friend, temperature, to reach into the low 40's on Thursday and Friday.  What a treat!

Yesterday, I dressed too warmly while out running errands.  I was hot.  But I was thankful. 

Today, I took a rare nap on our heat-less back porch because you decided to show up.  It was lovely. 

Spring has never looked so promising.  I know you may be hiding behind the clouds on Monday while we get more snow but please, please, please don't forget about us.

Love,

Rebecca

PS...You have made my Mom happy, too.  She is in her favorite chair soaking up the sunshine after teaching as I type this.

"noodle soup"

Last week, my Mom was fighting a flu/cold bug.  So I made our family's "noodle soup" recipe.  This is from my Dad's, German-side of the family.  I think that my variation is a mix between my Oma's and my Mom's.  Also, I think this is the perfect kid's soup because it is cooked with vegetables but the vegetables are taken out!

Put one whole, cut-up chicken in a large stockpot and fill with water.
Add whole carrots {probably 6-7}.
Add celery {probably 4-5 stalks}.
Add seasonings: two chicken bouillon cubes, pepper, Zehnder's chicken seasoning. {Oma and/or Mom, am I forgetting anything?}

Simmer on the stove until chicken is cooked through {about 4-5 hours depending on the size of the chicken}.

Remove chicken from pot and debone {now you have meat for at least one other recipe this week!}.

Remove carrots and celery.  Discard.

Strain broth and return to pot.

Add noodles.  We traditionally use small{er}, thin noodles but I have decided that I like medium egg noodles when I make soup.  We almost always eat this soup as an appetizer for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners so for those occasions, it would be best to use the thin noodles.  But eating this soup as a main course calls for medium egg noodles; it makes it heartier.

The great thing about this soup is that it's all up to you what you put in the main pot while simmering.  I try to add as many carrots and celery as I can for the nutrients.

PS...after making this soup, I finally had my AHA moment about the difference between a whole chicken and a cut-up whole chicken.  Now, I shouldn't make the same mistake again.  :)

PS...again...that is one funny lookin' chicken!

finally, finally, finally!

My weekend was great!

On Saturday afternoon, I went to hear a candidate speak in a town about 35 minutes away.  It was at this cafe:

Isn't that an incredible name?  I got hot tea {again} and sat in a crowded, hot room.  But it was oh-so-worth-it for little Miss-Concerned-Conservative-Me.  I'm not 100% convinced that I will vote for this candidate in the primary in May.  I agree with everything he said, I just personally think there may be a more qualified {as in...experience} candidate.  Anyways.  We'll see.  I had a fantastic time!

THEN....later on that night, I was talking to a friend on the phone and my Mom comes back to my room and says, "There are some people here to see you."  ???!!!  I walked out to the front of the house and some very sweet girls from my church were there with a rose dipped in gold, DD hazelnut coffee (!!), a bag of chocolates, and a card.  These particular girls + one that was not there are very special to me.  I spent a day with them last semester when they had a day off of school.  They are so sweet and CUTE!!  I do not remember being that put together in high school - haha! 

I put all of my Valentine's stuff together on my desk.  Here's everything from the girls, plus a card from my parents, a card from my Mom {so I received two from her}, a handmade Valentine from the girl who was not able to come over on Saturday night, and a box of chocolates & chocolate rose from my parents.  Awesome!  Enough chocolate to last me for a whole WEEK!  :)  {I'd better stretch into at least two weeks or I will have to cut back on some sweet tea!}

PS...the adorable latte cup on the left was not a gift but I included it in the picture.  I bought it at Target on December 26th...a little early for Valentine's but I couldn't resist CUTE!  And the glass jar is filled with yummy heart candy that I have had for....a while.  :)

I struggle a lot with inner doubts, feelings, turmoil, and in general, frankly, it is the sin of faithlessness. 

I heard this today and had to document it before I forgot.

Elisabeth Elliot always started each of her radio broadcasts with these words:

You are loved with an everlasting love

And underneath are His everlasting arms.

Isn't that great?!

pizza, Olympics, Granny, and Mexico

We haven't been going out to eat on Friday or Sunday nights and have putting the saved $$ away in an envelope for our family vacation in July {yay...more on that sometime}.

But tonight, my parents were the chaperones for a couple from the college.  So my brother and I went out to have a little fun.

First of all, we went to a pizza place in Valpo.  The son of the owner of the place we went tonight had a restaurant in our town but it closed a few months ago...bummer - it was our favorite pizza place!  The pizza was as delicious as always.  I love the town south of us.  Love. it. !!  The restaurant was downtown and the ceiling had old-fashioned tiles; it had great ambience!  Plus there were a lot of people streaming in and out...proof that there's good pizza there!

Then, we went to visit my Granny.  We watched a little bit of the Olympics and the Andy Griffith show.  My Granny continues to amaze.  She is almost always in bed at a very early hour and she was tonight.  But she laid in bed talking to us.  She couldn't see the tv but she kept making comments about the Andy Griffith show.  It was hilarious.  {Remember, she has dementia.}  So I would ask her, "Granny do you remember the Andy Griffith show?"  "I can't say that I can," but her commentary was dead-on.  Hilario!

Then, we went to a coffee/tea/soda shop in a new apartment complex on an upgraded, busy street.  I am not into hot tea.  But I had a cup recently when my Mom and I went for her dr.'s appt in Chicago.  I decided to try a cup.  I can't say that I would take it over coffee in the morning but it is definitely better than coffee at night.  Plus, I'm not a big hot chocolate fan.  I ordered a variation of mint tea.  {And I'm still sipping it!!}

Downtown Valpo is incredible!  There are several coffee shops and some very interesting restaurants.  After we get back from vacation and our hiatus of going out to eat is over, maybe we'll try a few of those restaurants. 

Then, to end the evening, Geoff filled up the truck with gas.  As he was doing that, I watched a kid ride into the gas station on an old, tandem bicycle.  Very weird, especially in our town.  It struck me as very odd.  Plus, it is only 18 degrees outside.  Which got a conversation going on the way home.  I think this kid {of course, I couldn't tell how old he was} was coming from the Mexican restaurant across the street.  It reminded me of when I visited my friend in Mexico several years ago.  Of course on every street corner, there were beggars.  It was incredibly heartbreaking.  We would give out pesos here and there but we couldn't give them out to everybody.  I remember this one guy in particular.  He was at a very busy intersection by a very nice mall.  I remember just looking at him and of course he saw us...two American, "rich" girls in a "nice" car.  We didn't give him any money and I know Andrea gave him a tract because she is very diligent about that.  We're not rich by American standards and her car was average by American standards.  But there, in that moment in Mexico, I realized how rich we really are. 

It was such an odd sight to see that person on an old, tandem bicycle in our town tonight.  Our "rich" town.  How truly blessed we are!  How blessed I am!!

because I can't seem to come up with a decent, chatty post

Here's a bullet list {again}:

:: I'm still having trouble breathing aka shortness of breath. It's getting really annoying {and scary}, so annoying I may go to the doctor next week if this persists. ::

:: Once again, it's really annoying and scary. ::

:: I had a friend offer to mention my Scripture memory cards in her ladies' Bible study.  So I sent her a free sample.  Don't we all love a free sample? ::

:: I'm making sugar cookies on a stick tonight for Master's Club tomorrow night.  They are heart shaped. ::

:: I had another, awesome cello lesson last night.  Jen is such an incredible teacher.  I started to practice on Monday night and my cello was terribly out of tune and I was not in the mood to tune it.  Our house is currently running on E in the humidity department.  So I knew any tuning would be for naught.  Anyways, saying that to say that I did not practice my main "exercise-type" book.  So when I got to lesson, I just told her I hadn't really practiced it.  She said, "Oh let's just skip it!"  Awesomeness! We did Vivaldi and my Sunday school song, instead. ::

:: I am currently in need of a weekend diversion. ::

:: I bought an incredible book geared towards starting a crafting business.  It is suited so perfectly for my questions/needs with my Scripture memory card business.  I've already gotten some incredible ideas and am stoked about the possibilities! ::

:: I am loving the snow but am really looking forward to spring.  Aren't we all? ::

:: I just discovered tonight via Twitter that a really mouthy morning host on the conservative talk radio in the big city got fired today.  Yay!  Now I can listen past 9am. ::

:: Here's a question for you:  Is it annoying that I have my feed shortened in the readers?  I will change it for you if it's annoying. ::

THE END.

this picture cracks me up on so many levels

In the middle of winter, it's fun to look through photos and realize that YES, we do wear short sleeves and flip-flops in Indiana at some point of time in the year.

I've been looking for a picture on this computer to prove my point and can't find one.

But this picture is close enough and it cracks me up.

First of all, just the fact that my brother David is in this picture makes it noteworthy.  I miss him like the dickens.

Second of all, the fact that he is wearing shorts and a sweatshirt definitely shows the fickleness of our weather.

Third, he's wearing a Sox hat.  Woohoo!  Hello, summer!  Hello, baseball!  Hello, Sox games...I plan to go with my family at least once this next year.

Fourth, he's squirting off the driveway.  It's gotta be a Gaus thing.  That's about all I can say!  :)

Fifth, he's squirting off the driveway with soap {or bleach?!}.  Once again, it must be a Gaus thing.

Sixth, there's green grass.  Proof that we do have warmer temps at some point.

Seventh, those hibiscus trees are beautiful.  But up to that point, we had been dragging them in and out of the garage because they couldn't be exposed to temps lower than 55 degrees.  Yes, even in May, it's still chilly.

I've been thinking a lot lately about being crucified with Christ, crucifying my flesh, and eternity.  A lot.  And I also am a very firm believer in the fact that I {we} put too much value in stuff and that we possess too much stuff.  I even think I depend too much on having certain things to entertain or enliven or evangelize the ministries that I am involved in rather than depending soley on our Heavenly Father.

I've really been enjoying reading through Luke.

Here's what I'm talking about written out in Scripture.

"Go your ways:  behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.  Carry neither purse nor scrip, nor shoes..." [Luke 10:3-4]

I don't think that it's wrong to use things to illustrate or tell a story or make Sunday school, Junior Church, or Master's Club more enjoyable but it shouldn't be the main focus.
Thoughts, anyone?!

ah, the life of a single girl!

------------------Girls-------------------------

------------are like apples-------------------

--------on trees. The best ones-----------

------are at the top of the tree.--------

----The boys don't want to reach------

---for the good ones because they ------

-are afraid of falling and getting hurt.----

Instead, they just get the rotten apples-

---from the ground that aren't as good,

but easy. So the apples at the top think

-something is wrong with them, when in

--reality, they're amazing. They just

---have to wait for the right boy to-------

----- come along, the one who's-----------

----------- brave enough to-----------------

-----------------climb all----------------------

----------------- the way---------------------

-----------------to the top--------------------

---------------- of the tree.------------------

 

I got this in an email from a long-time single friend of mine.  Totally made me laugh!

PS - Oh...and I hope you're not offended by this....it's not a Biblical perspective AT ALL...just something that made me {literally} LOL!

it's actually laughable

Today was my Mom's doctor's appointment. As I mentioned in a post yesterday, I planned to donate blood today.  It has been since March of '05 that I have donated blood!  I have attempted to donate since then but couldn't because my blood pressure and iron levels were too low.

Starting yesterday and continuing into this morning, I've been pumping and priming myself for donating.  I ate so much protein {at least a lot for me} and drank a whole lot of fluids.  I was rewarded with good blood pressure and my iron level was excellent!  Yay!

To get to the point of the story, the lady who was working with me stuck me in both arms.  And both attempts were unsuccessful for me to donate blood.  Bummer!

Funny part:  I'm a WIMP when it comes to needles.  It is actually laughable that I wanted to be a nurse.

a list of 10

Since none of these bullet points constitute an entire post, I'll just list some things I was thinking about today.

#1...I would love to adopt a child/{ren} when I'm married.
#2...I have been having a hard time breathing today; my hunch is that half of the problem is that I have to wear so many clothes to keep me warm because it's winter.
#3...{said in a whisper} I've been enjoying winter because of my new boots!  {Just think what a bonus my future husband will have....girl available, and she comes with boots!}
#4....I started to piece my quilt yesterday but something was not working well.  I had to take a lot of deep breaths + a lot of prayer to keep my composure.  Our simple conclusion is that the thread is too old.
#5...I went to get a few, last quilting supplies today.
#6....I went into Pier 1 and Target today and didn't purchase a thing.  It was intentional...I was looking for future gifts for other people and didn't find anything that struck my fancy.
#7...Do you visit the Google blog?  Oh brother...never mind the government taking over the world, Google is taking over the world!  Go check out their blog to see the awesome things you can do with their search engine.
#8....I found a sewing book last night at the library written by one of my favorite bloggers.  You can find her here. 
#9...My Mom has a doctor's appt tomorrow at the UofC and I am accompanying her because I don't have to work {that's a boo! and a yay! at the same time}.  I plan to donate blood tomorrow.
#10...Because it seems like I've been having low blood pressure lately + low iron, I have been drinking a lot of fluids and have been eating more protein today so I can donate tomorrow. 

xxhugs, everyone!xx

cupcakes

I made these cupcakes.

Y-U-M!!

The recipe for the cupcakes isn't as sweet as I'm used to in cupcakes.  However, don't we all eat enough sugar?!!  I drink too much sugar via sweet tea!  :)

Verdict: 

#1 - my brother said one word, "Phenomenal!"
#2 - I had a lot of frosting left over; it won't go to waste.  But next time, I still think I will use all six cups of powdered sugar.  I don't think I put enough frosting on each cupcake.  My Mom picked up the recipe and pointed out that Rookie Cookie put much more frosting on each cupcake - more than I did.  I will learn.
#3 - I used a pastry bag and tip - a first for me.  It messy and very fun!  After I was all done and cleaned up, I was re-reading what Rookie Cookie said and I should have put all of the frosting in at once.  There's always next time!
#4 - They were beautiful cupcakes. They were perked up and rounded so beautifully.  Delightful to look at, for sure!

Definitely a re-make!

Oh, and PS....I don't take credit for a recipe turning out good.  Whomever wrote and designed the recipe is the real genius in my mind.  I just follow directions.  :)

check out her HAIR!

Do you remember on my old blog I had a video up of this family? And I mentioned that I am related to them by marriage - woohoo! If my cousin Andrea {see this post here} still reads my blog, she is actually more related to them than I am. Her grandpa {my Mom's uncle} was cousins with this family. I love-love-love 50's-60's era stuff like this!



PS - this is where my "dixiegirl" comes in.  :)