Info on Helping Joplin

Many people have been contacting me to see how to help the people of Joplin who have lost so much in the tornado.  I have been working with several groups and here are the things that I can tell you.

DONATIONS OF "STUFF"
With the exception of plus size clothing for men and women, there is SO much!  Churches and other help groups are currently struggling to manage/organize all the generous gifts.  Please wait to bring furniture or send a list with photos first and let it be matched with a need so the items can go directly to the persons new temporary home.  Send items like hand soap, diapers, BABY WIPES, big trash bags, plastic tubs with lids (to put found items like photos in, especially since it keeps raining) and work gloves.  There are several places to take these including the following:

• Missouri Southern State University,
• Forest Park Baptist Church/Samaritan's Purse,  
• College Heights Church,
• Mystery Church on 5th and Main (call them for specific needs list), and
• New Creation Church on 19th and Conner (needs volunteers to help organize donations).   

DONATIONS OF TIME
There are two main areas of need: clean-up and organizing/sorting donations.  College Heights & Forest Park/Samaritan's Purse sends out groups all day.  MSSU can only send out groups at 8am each morning.  MSSU and New Creation Church needs help sorting, but there are numerous others.  If you know when you want to come to the area, let me know and I can probably link you to a specific project.  For example, today our pediatrician's office needed help painting their new temporary location so they could move in faster.

DONATIONS OF MONEY
 Everyone is collecting funds and lots of funds will be needed.  However I recommend "Angels Over Joplin".  100% of the proceeds will go directly and quickly to storm victims.  It has been set up by volunteers and there is no administration fees.  Right now, the Schroeder family will match all donations up to $50,000. Their companies lost their headquarters & 300 apartments, BUT they are still giving generously during this time of need. I'm really impressed by their actions. I've worked for them on projects since 1996 and I've always liked what I see and hear at their low income housing properties. HOWEVER, their own loss is TREMENDOUS so this matching gift really makes me proud to be affiliated with their companies!



Senior Apartment residents of this property on
Rex Street will benefit from "Angels Over Joplin".

If you would like to be an Angel over Joplin, please send your donation to Arvest Bank of Joplin at 701 S. Main St., Joplin, MO 64801, Attn: Jackie Schell. Please make checks payable to "Angels Over Joplin", a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation, making your donation tax deductible. At least 50% of the funds will go to those who lost their apartments, of which most are low income and many are seniors.  It is my understanding that FEMA provides very little for those who lived in rented apartments. 

And do not forget to do good and to share

 with others, for with such sacrifices

God is pleased.--Hebrews 13:16

Jon & Blogging



Our Pediatrician's office (top floor) in Joplin.  They will have
a temporary office next week.  I cannot find a picture of
my doctor's office as there doesn't seem to be anything
left.  Our eye doctor's office is gone too.



Jon's hip surgery on Monday went well and he has only had one set back.  Today they had to give him a blood transfusion due to his blood count falling and his heart racing.  Originally Jon was expected to be in the hospital until Monday, but yesterday the doctors in St. Louis wanted him to come home and be monitored by our pediatrician. However, with the tornado damage in Joplin, we advocated for them to keep him and get him in a more stable condition.  We explained that our doctor's office doesn't exist anymore; she is working out of the Memorial Hall (a civic center) and the only hospital has enough to handle.  Daddy is with him this week and I'm ready for Jon and Daddy to be home, but I want Jon's pain to be controlled and for it to be safe for him to be here.

I have a general policy, not to blog unless I'm "basically" caught up on my "real" jobs....of course, I NEVER really feel caught up, but this month has been exceptionally bad.  I have overdue post-placement reports, invites to the family reunion that are still being returned to me, and more new work pouring in than I have time for AND then there was a tornado in Joplin....you may have heard about it :) We did not have any storm damage other than some water that got into the basement so we are very thankful.  However, just 11 miles north, there are so many needs, so much saddness and so much hope.....SO...I apologize for my blog absence this month, but maybe this weekend will help me "get on top of all my many irons sitting in the fire".  Please keep our family & our community in your prayers.  Pray that the Lord will guide us and allow us to be a real help to those in need around us.  

"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom:

She and her daughters were arrogant,

overfed and unconcerned;

they did not help the poor and needy."

~Ezekiel 16:49

Busy Week Ahead

This week is going to be a busy one and based on the price of gas, an expensive one!

Today, Nate has a check-up this afternoon and then I head to Branson to teach.  Before, I get to Branson, I have to grade some student  research papers and make final correction on the test that I'm giving them.  I'll get home around midnight, and at 7am I'll be on the road to St. Louis Children's for Jon.  My mom is coming to stay so Corrine can get to violin this evening and tomorrow.  Plus the boys can get their therapies.



A cute picture of the twins hugging taken by Anita at
In His Image Photography



Wednesday, I go see the attorney on adoption stuff and hopefully get a good nap.  I need to get three survey reports written as soon as possible.  Then Thursday is Grace's orthodontist appt in Springfield, but so far that is ALL that day.  Friday is the BIG day....4 eye doctor appointments, followed by a meeting for Hannah and a check-up for Corrine.

This weekend Mr. Workman has a debate tounament so it will seem like a long weekend for me.  Then next Monday is 3 eye doctor appointments and teaching in Branson again; followed by an early morning departure for Nate and I to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock.  Nate has an audiology and ENT appointment to see about getting a sleep study done.  THEN life settles down to its usual pace of teaching, a couple appointments per week, 3 therapists here on 4 days a week until May 23rd which is Jon's hip surgery.  Please keep Jon in your thoughts and prayers as this will be a tough surgery.

Many are emailing & asking:  Ecomom is working on the judging so no news there.  There were so many compeling entries that I expect it might take the judges a while to decide.  We appreciate your thought and prayers of support!

Awesome Friends

Today was such a nice relaxing, yet productive day!  My friends and their friends provided some wonderful amusement as they worked to get us votes in the Ecomom Facebook competition!  And as a BONUS everyone leaving comments made me feel even more overly BLESSED!

PRODUCTIVITY
I was able to finish a "bunch" of stuff for the Family Reunion since I was at the computer today.  I got invitations, check lists, and maps finished.  I finished adoption post placement reports on 7 kids AND had time to visit through instant messenger!  And if my Monday night students are reading this....yes, I finished writing your test...I know you are relieved that it will be ready. ;)

AMUSEMENTS
Friends provided much amusement today as they worked to get Facebook friends to vote for us.  Glenda sat the Allan children on the task and they take tasks VERY seriously!  I don't think it was accidental that we moved from 4th to 3rd place within an hour or so of their being on the job, but when your family runs an orphanage in rural Ecuador on a tight & creative budget, well...let's just say those kids have the skills to do any job!


Doesn't he look great without his Oxygen?
We want more "cordless" time than just pictures.
We're hoping a healthier home can help.



Other friends went above and beyond with emails, tweets and phone calls to friends.  A cousin (who has replaced her dad as "My Favorite Cousin") had it put in her church's youth announcements AND assured me that I am not old, just because I can only handle one instant message conversation at a time. 

However, my favorite message of the day said, "I'm having trouble voting, my wife says I have to be your friend."  Luckily, after he became my friend he was able to follow the link and vote.  I better enjoy having him as a friend now because he'll probably unfriend me on Monday! ;)

Truly I feel wonderful knowing so many people care about our family.

LEAVING COMMENTS
Also so many have said such nice things about our family when they voted, but I am most proud of the TYPES of comments everyone is leaving.  All of the comments are about our family's love, care & awesomeness!  NO ONE has hit my pet peeve by talking about what our family is "missing".  As you know, some folks in this world see our family and think things OR even SAY things like "That poor woman in a wheelchair and then to have all those kids with problems".  Of course, nothing sets me off more than pity!  My kids do not have problems!  My kids have diverse abilities and are perfectly beautiful children in every way!  BUT the impressive thing is that ALL my friend and family "get it" and shared it in their comments and in their Facebook statuses.

I would argue with everyone saying we "deserve" this, but I'm feeling so extra blessed that people feel we are doing a good job with what the Lord has already blessed us with!  There are SO many deserving families asking for votes and we have been blessed with such a lovely home and such amazing kids that I feel selfish asking to make it better!  I must say, no matter if we win or not, this experience has been such a blessing and a boost!  Thank you to EVERYONE!  Have a HAPPY and blessed Easter!  Please vote for us one last time and enjoy a great day with your family!

We are in 6th place!!!!!

Some people are having trouble voting or think they voted and were't logged into facebook so it did not count their vote.  Please make sure your vote counted by following the link again to make sure it says "I Voted", where it did have the "Vote" link on the lower right side.

The link is below.  People can vote daily, but it ends Monday at 3am!


http://apps.facebook.com/ecomomcontest/contests/107279/voteable_entries/19488337?ogn=facebook
 
Of course, feel free to "friend-me" on facebook and you can go to my wall for the link!
 
Thank YOU for VOTING!!!!!  This is AMAZING!

Problems voting from blog

Some people who have voted from te blog link do not have their votes being counted!  Please sign into facebook before voting.  On facebook you can go to my wall or to ECOMOM for the link to vote. Thanks!!!!

I stand...ummm sit....ummm U know what I mean...AMAZED!!!



Okay as of midnight, we are in 7th place, which is unreal! 

I cannot believe the number of people who have responded to requests to vote for us! 

We are truly blessed with supportive friends and family! 



Nate who would benefit the most.



So we need to stay in the top 10

until Sunday night when the

contest ends for a chance to win. 

I would say, "impossible", BUT

after going from 15th to 12th

to 7th place in 48 hours...

well, I'm not making any limiting judgements about our friends, our family or our God! 

REMEMBER:  EVERYONE with Facebook can VOTE every 24 hours. 

The link is below. 

12th Place!

For those of you who haven't heard, right now

we are in 12th place for a $75,000 healthy home makeover! 

The winner will be selected from the top 10 places and the voting ends Easter Sunday night.  I CANNOT believe that we are THIS close to qualifying as finalist!  Our friends, family and their friends are amazing me!  I feel so blessed just seeing such an outpouring of support!

As the contest goes on, we have learned more about the types of things that are included such as all new Bosch appliances (& some of you know how I LOVE my Bosch washer/dryer!), new dust mite resistant mattresses, the latest in allergy free flooring, and so much technology/advancements that we had never even heard of or dreamed existed.  Truly, not just Nate could breathe easier, BUT it would improve all our allergy and sensitivity issues.  Of course, we haven't qualified yet, but just the update information that we have received from Ecomom's has been VERY helpful in rethinking how to improve the air quality and overall healthiness in our home. 

So if you are a Facebook user and get a chance please go to Ecomom and vote for our family. When you click on the Ecomom link in my blog, it will take you right to our entry. You scroll down and clink on the vote link on the right side.  It is very easy!  Plus you can vote everyday through Sunday!

If you have not already, please consider posting this so your friends can vote for us too.  If you have Easter dinner guest invite them to log onto Facebook and vote....is that going too far?  Badgering Easter guest?  Probably, but this is an amazing situation...I NEVER dreamed we would be this close to qualifying...THIS IS REALLY EXCITING!

Contests & Cookie Sheets

Okay, I'm in a bit of a dilemma...I like to focus on being content and happy, not just with people, but with things too.  For example, just because I have only one old cookie sheet I don't go buy another because my bottom oven rack burns cookies and I can only have one cookie sheet in the oven at one time anyway.  I try to focus on repairing, not replacing and limiting expenses for things that I think are pretty or fashionable.  I figure that I have the prettiest of all fashion and decorations, in my ever-changing, growing children, AND nothing is more beautiful than them!

So when someone told me about a contest on FB to win $75,000 healthy home makeover, well, I just did what I usually do and said to myself, "Oh that's nice."  BUT then I started thinking about all the "stuff" on my wish list and all the good stuff it could do for my kids AND oh, I was so tempted to enter!  BUT I think contests make people--or at least me, discontent--I think it makes us change our priorities and we start thinking we "deserve" something....BUT oh, how wonderful it would be...SO I CAVED!  I entered. 

The contest only goes until April 24th and we only have a chance to win if we are in the top 10 for receiving the most votes on facebook so yes it is highly unlikely we will win.  Considering that I already CAVED, if you are on facebook and have a few minutes drop by this link:  Ecomom and vote for us.

This is our wish list if we win:

• New heating and air unit-The one we have now is too small for our house because when the previous owns built on, they did not increase the size of the heating and air unit.  The a/c freezes up about 4 times per summer and always on the hottest days.  Since Nate cannot handle the heat well, we retreat to the mall, the (non-smoking) bowling alley or other air conditioned family friendly places until it thaws several hours later.  Plus Grace's room is never as warm or cool as it should be so this would end her needing extra fan/heater.  (The heater always makes me nervous.)  We had priced fixing this before and it was $14,000.
• Air filtration system to improve breathing for Nate.  Others like Jon, Hannah and myself with allergies will benefit too, but Nate will notice this one the most! We price this before and it was $2800.
• Water filtration system would end our purchasing water for Nate.  We think this would be around $1000.
• Remove carpeting from the downstairs and replace with a dust free option.  We think $6500.
• Add a second w/d that is energy efficient.
• Enlarge my raised bed garden.
• Install a roll-in shower for Jon in the downstairs bathroom so he can get a "real" bath easier.  Right now he gets bed baths and a real bath 2x a month. We had gotten a price on this before and it was $5000.)*
• Install a lift between the upstairs and the downstairs.  This will make it much easier to get Jon, Vanessa, laundry & myself up/down.  (Varies $12,000 & up)*

*We don't know if they will consider these within the guideline, but these were already on our future expenses list anyway so I'm putting it on this list!

So now I just have to avoid the daily articles that Ecomom sends me on "stuff" that I "need" for my home until April 24th AND if I get too discontent, then I guess I can splurge and get myself a cookie sheet at a yard sale!  (Oh, see there...this is why I hate contests and sweepstakes...already has me thinking about another cookie sheet!)

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.--Psalms 23:1

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,

in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. --Philippians 4:11

Pain

Pain is a topic that most people do not want to hear about and it is a topic that only the most socially inept discuss at any length.  In fact we all frequently say, "How are you?".  But what we mean is tell me everything is fine, and rarely do we challenge a person for more details. 

So today's blog is about my pain so if you're asking "how am I?" well the answer lately is "not fine".  Since November, my artritis pain and joint swelling has been at an all time high.  I've caved into taking more than trusty Mega Red Krill Oil (which in my opinion is the best natural arthritist pain remedy in the world) and I'm popping a pain pill daily and sometime twice daily.  Yet the pain continues.  My hand, my foot, my hips, my tailbone and my stump.....yes, even my stump!  I cannot believe the "dumb luck" of having my foot amputated and having the doctor leave just enough of the joint to be able to have arthritis and swelling! So needless to say I've been to the doctor and I'm getting set up with a new arthritis specialist, but they cannot get me in until July. Hopefully, the new specialist will have an answer that I can live with and which I am willing to take.  The last specialist a number of years ago, gave me a drug previously used for chemo therapy which turned out to zap my energy and caused some dangerous side effects.

I have always had pain in my "bad" hip, and if that pain disappeared I'd probably panic and think I had died.  I'm not sure exactly why my "bad" hip always hurts, but it can probably be best explained by the fact that my hip was a playground for various "practicing" surgeons while I was younger.  HOWEVER, I'd definately be pinching myself if it stopping hurting.  I've frequently had pains in my hand and foot too, BUT  the "new" pain is a problem because it causes swelling, reducing my flexibility.  I hate to reach down to the floor.  I hate to stand or hop on my foot.  I hate to get on the floor, because I KNOW I'll have to get up.  THESE are all REGULAR stuff that I have ALWAYS done and suddenly I avoid them.  Needless to say, I've gained weight because I'm moving less SO I'm determined to find time to get some stretching in each day and maybe even some aquatherapy. However finding time with 10 kids is going to be tricky, but it has to happen!

Please keep me and my new aches, pains and swollen joints in your prayers.  I miss getting on the floor to play with the boys and I REALLY miss being able to ignore the pain, which was previously only my reminder and assurance that I was alive.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,

in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:

for when I am weak, then am I strong. --2 Corinthians 12:10

Blessings (Check-in)

Well, its been three months since the New Year and I blogged about our budget.  I talked about our hopes and our plans for the funds God gives us this year.  You may remember that our goals were the following:

1. to help us quickly pay off the $4500 in medical bills we accumulated in October 2010 (deductible & co-insurance time)
2. to put braces on Corrine's teeth
3. to pay into our emergency fund to bring it back up where it was when the boys arrived
4. to finish fencing the back yard and pouring a concrete patio
5. to install a new deck with a ramp into the backyard
6. and if all this is accomplished...then saving to fund our emergency fund by an extra 50%
7. and if God REALLY blesses, then a second washer and dryer hook-up and a super large capacity washer and dryer

I happy to report that the pay off on our original medical is down to $1,100.  Arkansas Children's Hospital gave us a Charity Grant for $2,025.  Then St. John's agreed to accept 65% on a $675 bill, and of course we've been making payments.  Since January 1st we also received an 80% discount from St. Louis Children's on the private pay portion of Vanessa's care.  With Vanessa having hip surgery, this is very important to help avoid new medical debt!

Number 1, 2 and some of 3 should be accomplished when our tax return finally arrives.  Oddly enough, we made progress on #7 because my cousin Brenda gave us a dryer.  I don't have a hook-up for it yet, but the dryer is here and ready! (I am so excited and thankful to Brenda!)

Food expenses have been on the rise (in case you haven't noticed!) and my goal of $1000 per month for all household (food, diaper, formula, cleaning supplies, clothes, gifts and shoes) has been reachable with the help of  ad matches and coupons.  Our family has 5 birthdays in April and May so there are some soup bean dinners in our future this month and next.  Sometimes I wonder how it is that our kids don't seem to notice that more beans, more pancakes, more grilled cheese sandwiches, more spaghetti, and more creative uses of tuna ALWAYS precedes holidays and birthdays!

I'm super thankful that we are only about 6 to 8 weeks away from getting to eat out of our garden (and our friends' and family's gardens).  With prices increasing, I cannot believe more people aren't planting gardens this year!  I had already planned herbs, lettuce, spinach and radishes.  Today David and I planted 8 tomato plants.  Tomorrow I'm hoping to get some green beans and peas out.

Dishwasher Soap & other failures

I have been trying since New Year's to perfect a homemade dishwasher soap (liquid or powder).  So far each batch is an improvement, but I'm still not yet pleased with any of them.  This last batch reminded me of the Palmolive Eco Friendly stuff at the store.  My dishes got clean, but some plastics had a filmy white coat on them.  I didn't like it when I bought it at the store and don't like it even when I can make 7 times as much for the price at home.  However, my search will continue and I'll keep you posted if I find an affordable alternative to Finish (R) dishwasher detergents.

In my quest for dishwasher soap, I discovered an old soap called Kirk's Castile Soap.  It's been on the market since 1839 and it is for hard water.  Plus its hypo-allergenic, all-vegetable based and it has amazing lather.  Its clean feeling like Ivory, but it is less drying.  I think someone with dry skin (like my younger kids) would still find it too drying, but normal to oil skin would enjoy this fresh clean soap.  The soap is very hard and it does not melt away if left on the ledge of the tub in a puddle of water by a spouse, for a tested example.  The link to buy Kirk's from Amazon is on my picks at the lower left of this page.  I think you will be impressed.

Now I must confess that there are homemade products out there that I love, like those I've shared this month, but there are others that unlike dishwasher soap, did not result in even finding a new, fabulous bath bar.  For example, making baby wipes is not for everyone.  I got icky, soggy, slimy, wet paper towels when I first tried it.  Plus in order for my "homemade" wipes to work, I had to use top of the line Bounty so 400 wipes cost me $3.50.  I can do almost as well with coupons and sales on brand name baby wipes so the budget is going to need to get tighter before I start making our own slimy baby wipes.

I must ALSO confess that I have some "dream" make-at-home-for-less recipes that I have not yet been able to find....things like scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner, disposable diapers, trash bags with the drawstring, tissue paper (Kleenex), and infants Tylenol....although I did make aspirin in Chemistry lab in college (BUT I wouldn't have tried it, even for bunches of money)....HOWEVER, if there was something that I could spin straw into, it would NOT be gold.  It would be Angel Soft Toilet Paper.  We use shocking amounts per month and I still have 4 in diapers full time!  This month I tracked our usage and this morning I put out double rolls 72, 73, and 74!  I am officially on a campaign to educate my family on how much toilet paper is actually needed to do the job.  If education cannot reduce usage of TP, then Plan B may be to encourage the family to use the restroom at school, church, friend's houses and not so much at home...if we lived closer to a city park, I'd close the home bathrooms from dawn to dusk! (Joking!...Sort of...NO, no, what am I thinking...well, its a good thing the park is a long ways away!  I don't have to be tempted! ) My husband is doubting that my efforts to conserve and shift costs will work so he is praying for a stock-up sale price tip from the Crazy Coupon Lady.  I, on the other hand, am hoping for a an April Fools morning with toilet paper still on the roll and with my Kirk's Castile Soap on dry "land" in the shower...I guess a wife and mom can dream! 

But who may abide the day of his coming?

and who shall stand when he appeareth?

for he [is] like a refiner's fire,

and like fullers' soap --Malachi 3:2

Carla's Recipes

My cousin Carla always had a new recipe to try out on us at family gatherings.  From her teen years (my earliest memories), I remember her always bringing a new recipe to reunions or when just visiting.  It was usually dessert and it was usually, unusual but delicious!  As a small tribute to Carla I am going to share a few of my favorite Carla recipes.  And yes, they are all desserts!

Apple Pie

Kneed together:

1/2 cup Butter

1 cup Flour 

And pat out in the pie pan.  (This is the bottom crust.)

Mix 6 cups sliced fresh apples, 1 1/2 cup sugar, 3 T. Flour & 1 t. cinnamon.

This is the filling.  Put it in the pie pan.

Mix 1 cup melted butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 cup flour. 

Pat out by hand and lay on top of the apples in the pie pan. 

(I pat it out on wax paper and then put it on top.)

Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. (About 35-45 minutes)

Zucchini Bread

3 cups raw grated, unpeeled zucchini

1 cup oil

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar (1 brown & 1 white)

1 t. salt

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. baking soda

1 t. baking powder

1 1/2 cup chopped nuts (such as walnuts)

1 1/2 cup coconut

3 eggs

2 t. vanilla  

Mix together.  For variations, add canned fruit or raisins. 

(I sometimes omit the nuts.) Put in small loaf pans.

Cook at 325 degrees for 60 to 90 minutes depending on the size of the loafs.

This is a VERY moist bread and freezes well.

Zucchini Brownies

Cream together:

1/2 c oleo

 1 1/2 c sugar

 2 eggs

Mix in 2 c flour

1 t baking soda

 1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 T. cocoa

Then stir in 2 c grated zucchini

1 c chocolate chips

and chopped nuts if desired

Bake at 350 degrees in 9X13 greased and

floured pan for 40-45 minutes. Frost if desired or eat as is. 

My kids like it with Hershey syrup drizzled over it.

Freezes well unfrosted.



Photo from 2009:  Grace & David eating strawberries
dipped  in sour cream and brown sugar.  Carla, Corrine
& Grandma are visiting in the background. 



Carla and our cousin Brenda taught my kids the "only" way to eat strawberries.  Hold on to your hats because this is weird and even weirder is the fact that ALL my kids like it.  Dip a fresh strawberry in sour cream and then in brown sugar and enjoy!  I don't agree with my kids about it being the "only" way, but it is a very delicious way to enjoy fresh strawberries!

What a week!

It all started Monday morning and the week has done its best to roll right over me.  So when I was trying to figure our what I made this week...well the only answer that came to mind was ..... MESSES!  Yep, it was that "good" of week! 


Pre-inflating the new MicKey button
to make sure it didn't leak before
putting it in Nate's side.



Monday morning 5am Mr. Workman went to connect Nate to his feeding tube while I was showering.  He soon discovered Nate's Mic-Key button (which is the part that goes through Nate's side and into his stomach) laying on the bed next to Nate.  It was dry so it had been out for awhile.  The hole for a feeding tube closes quickly, if the tube comes out...so needless to say PANIC ensued after this discovery.  We had some spare part such as a variety of sized catheters left from Jon's problems with his button, and we were able to get a smaller sized catheter in the hole to keep in from closing up more.  However, due to the awkwardness of the catheter and limits of what tape can hold, Nate kept pulling out the catheters!  Very stressful morning!  PLUS Ed's car was in the shop so he HAD to take a sick day so I would have a car to get Nate's new button.

So Monday was a wreck of a day,  Mr Workman and I got to put in Nate's new button ourselves at 2:30pm when the supplier finally found it.  We immediately hooked a VERY grouchy Nate to eat and he went to sleep.  We assumed our excitement for the week was over, but it was just starting!

To fast forward through the highlights, that evening we went to get the Prius from the garage and they would not accept our check because the check number was not printed in magnetic ink at the bottom of the check near the routing and account number.  The bank was already closed so we couldn't just go get cash.  No car until Wednesday afternoon!  Grace has the National Christian HomeSchool Basketball Championships playoffs in Springfield this week so I took her to grandma's before coming home and crashing in bed.



Anita at In His Image did take some
awesome new photos of Nate this week.



Tuesday:   Grace's team lost their first game of the Championship and the orthodontist found a cavity at her appointment today. Our babysitter for Wednesday had to cancel at the last minute.  A BIG thank you to Layna who agreed to babysit with less than 10 hours notice!  Saddest part of the day was my cousin Carla was transferred to the Hospice House in Omaha.  This is Mr. Workman's long day with college class so when he got home at 10pm, I was exhausted.

Wednesday:  Was THE immigration appointment for Nate.  It went well, but no answers were reached so time continues to tick on when we could be forced to return him to Haiti.  Everyone tells us not to worry because its being worked on, but nothing seems to be happening!  As a cherry on the top of the day, Mr. Workman messed up his substitute plans for the day!  I knew I had let home stresses get to him to have something like this happen!  BUT we did get our car from the garage with cash and Grace's team WON their game today.



Carla & I around 1975



Thursday:  My cousin Carla passed away.  When you have a large family, you have members who everyone knows because they are a friend to everyone, they value family connections and they are at reunions and gatherings.  Then you have others that only their immediate family know.  Carla is one that everyone in our large family knew and loved.  Her obituary written by her nieces does a great job of explaining the wonderful life Carla lived.  The sadness is overwhelming...  (Grace got her cavity filled today and her team WON again.  Mr. Workman had parent teacher conferences tonight & it was a half day at school AND 6 months ago I agreed to speak at a Springfield HR group luncheon today.  I ran behind all day, but got it all done thanks to Sis. Anderson's help with my kiddos.  Finally, got the kids to bed and worked on taxes until Mr. Workman got home.  Not my best work today, but the day is done and sometimes that has to be good enough.)

Friday:  The kids are out of school and I was exhausted already.  I made spaghetti & meatballs for lunch in hopes of leftovers for supper....wrong!  The kids ate 60 of 64 meatballs and 4 of the 5 pounds of pasta for lunch!  Overall fun day with the kids.  We played, but they also entertained each other so I could get some of my work caught up.  They were SO good overall.

Today:  This morning we learned that Hannah's special education teacher, Bonnie Gary, had a brain tumor discovered yesterday and it is being removed today.  We are asking friends to add her to their personal & church prayer lists.

For this God is our God for ever and ever:

he will be our guide even unto death.--Psalms 48:14

My Crock Pot Favorites!

I love my crock pots! Yes I said pots. Plural. It is not uncommon for us to eat 3 or 4 meals a week out of the crock pot. A couple years ago, after the tornado, I used a crock pot daily and our construction workers would say the delicious smells were very distracting. One worker said that he never let his wife cook in a crock pot because it all tastes the same. A bowl of roast & veggies later, and he was asking for some recipes to take home along with the crock pot that he said he would be picking up on the way home! It made me feel good to know that it wasn't just my imagination that crock pot meals are super flavorful.

Italian Chicken

4-6 chicken breast (frozen or thawed)

1 cup chicken broth or other liquid

1 block of cream cheese

1 packet of Italian Dressing Seasoning Mix

Toss all this in the crock pot in the order listed. Put on the lid and place on low for 4-5 hours if thawed OR 5-6 hours if frozen. Stir in some cheese (such as 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of parmesan) and serve over pasta or rice. I sometimes add broccoli and/or slice mushrooms or carrots to the pot at the beginning for variety. It’s ALL good!

Okay so the next 2 recipes involve cooking wine (salted) and
I know this is not acceptable for some people so a possible
substitute is chicken broth with meat tenderizer added.
Red cooking wine is found near vinegar in most stores.

Slow Cooked Beef Roast

6 or 7 celery stalks trimmed

3 to 5 lb. beef roast (thawed)

1 to 2 cup(s) of red cooking wine depending on roast size
1 can Campbell's Select Harvest French Onion Soup
1 can Campbell's Healthy Request Cream of Mushroom*
1/2 to 1 lbs. of carrots**
2 to 3 lbs. of sliced or cubed potatoes**
5 to 8 sliced or quartered mushrooms**

Place a single layer of celery on the bottom of the crock pot like a grate to keep the meat off the heat at the bottom. Add the ingredients in the order above. Put the lid on and set the crock pot on low for 8 to 10 hours (depending on the size of the roast). Stir before serving.

*Brand doesn't matter, unless you want it to be MSG-Free.

**Optional.  I rarely add the extra mushrooms.

Beef Stroganoff

2 lbs lean stew meat

1 lb mushrooms (washed & quartered)

1 cup red cooking wine

1 onion (chopped)

1 clove of garlic (optional)

1 bay leaf (optional)

1 t. cracked pepper

At the end:

    2 T. cornstarch

    2 T. Dijon mustard 

    1/2 cup of sour cream

Put all the ingredients in a crock pot and stir. Set on low and cook for 8-9 hours. After 8-9 hours, you need to thicken the juices and add two final ingredients. In a microwave safe dish, combine 2 T of cornstarch with 2 T of water and stir together. Then ladle off 1 cup of broth from the crock pot into the cornstarch mixture. Stir and microwave 30-45 seconds at a time. Stirring each time the microwave stops until the mixture boils. Then stir this thickened liquid into the crock pot and stir. Finally turn off the crock pot and stir in the mustard and sour cream. (I like to mix some dill weed into the sour cream before adding it.) Then serve over egg noodles. We especially like it with a slice of crusty hot French bread on the side.

Cake That Won't Make It to the Church Dinner

This past Sunday was our Pastor's Anniversary of 19 years of service to the Lord at our church.  I was intending to bring a dessert that is a crowd pleasing favorite, but as usual my crowd at home got to it first.  The cake is called Mexican Chocolate Cake and my Aunt Treva gave us the recipe years ago.  It is great for church dinners or other large groups because it bakes in a flat "cookie" sheet (mine is 12x17x1) so when serving a big crowd it makes at least 24 servings (20-3x3 pieces and 4-2x3).

When I was in college, a small Italian restaurant had a very similar cake that they sold for $2 per piece and they called it Texas cake.  It wasn't as good as my aunt's recipe, but it would help satisfy the craving (especially since this is not a cake to be baked and left sitting in an apartment with 1 or 2 people to be tempted to eat it all). 

Mexican Chocolate Cake

1 stick butter

1/2 C. vegetable oil

2 squares unsweetned chocolate OR 4 T cocoa

1 C. water

2 C. flour

1 t. baking soda

2 C. sugar

1/2 C. sour milk* 

2 eggs

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. vanilla

*Add 1 1/2 t. vinegar to "sour" the milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine butter, oil, chocolate, and water in a sauce pan.  Heat on medium low until fairly smooth.  Remove from heat.

Combine flour, baking soda, sugar, milk, eggs,  and cinnamon in a bowl.  Add the first mixture and stir.  Put the mixture in a cookie sheet (no oil, spray, etc) and bake until done (about 35 minutes in my oven).  Test doneness with a tooth pick.  Let cool for about 20-30 minutes and add the icing while the cake is still warm. 

Icing

1 stick butter

4 T. cocoa

6 T. milk

1 pound powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

1/2 c. chopped nuts such as pecans (optional)

Combine butter, chocolate and milk in a saucepan and stir over medium low heat until smooth.  Remove from hear and stir in powdered sugar and vanilla.  Ice the cake while the cake is still warm.  After it cools, garnish with pecans or other nut, if desired. 

AND last but not least, find a safe hiding spot for the cake until you're ready to serve it.

Laundry Soap Savings

With gas prices on the rise, I am sure we are all looking for co$t saving ideas.  So with my blog theme this month being "Made in March", I'm going to start the month with a new favorite inspired by Marie at Cottage Homestead.  About 2 months ago, I made my first batch of liquid laundry soap and I've perfected it now to the point that it is my FAVORITE fresh clean laundry smell.  Plus it only cost $.86 per 64 loads!  Yes, I'm sure I did the math right, and this meets the h.e. requirements for energy efficient front loaders!  I have featured the ingredients on the margin of my blog through Amazon, if you have trouble finding anything in your area.

You will need:

1 bar of Fels-Naptha Soap (if you don't have heavy stains, Ivory works fine)
1 1/2 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (NOT Baking Soda)
3/4 Cup Borax
Lemongrass or other Essential oil (optional)

It is also VERY helpful to have a funnel and a slotted spoon.

Pre-fill 5 one-gallon jugs 1/2 full of water. (I use distilled or pre-boiled water to prevent bacteria growth...most people use tap water.) If you are going to add an essential oil, then put about 5 drops in each jug with the water. I use lemongrass oil for a wonderful clean smell and it is an antimicrobal so it helps kill stuff like ringworm, athletes foot, etc.

Next grate the bar of Soap (I use a cheese grater). Put in a pan with 8 cups of water. Warm over medium heat until completely dissolved.  Turn down the heat if it starts to boil. (This is where the slotted spoon is helpful because the water gets really milky and its hard to tell when its melted. I always let it go a couple minutes extra after I think it is melted.)  

Remove from heat and make sure it is not boiling.  (It will look like the picture above.)  Stir in the Washing Soda and Borax. Add 2 gallons of water & stir some more. (I use distilled or pre-boiled water to prevent bacteria growth.) Then top off each 1/2 filled gallon jug. Put the lid on & shake.

Use 1/4 to 1/3 cup per load. (We have very hard water.) Shake the jug before each use & I usually shake each gallon once a week so the gel doesn't get thicker at the bottom.


BTW-It will gel, but not always to the same thickness. Using distilled water increases the thickness of the gel.

SAFETY NOTE:  Since you may be reusing milk jugs, apple juice containers, or other already labeled containers, it is important that kids know it is NOT food.  For a free sheet of Mr. Yuk stickers, go the the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for the address and directions.

Faith

I decided to finish February with

my own personal version of Hebrews 11

...not that mine is in anyway inspired, but it is a partial listing of modern heroes of faith whom I know personally and who have inspired and encouraged me in my Christian development. 

It was great fun to write

and I encourage you to consider documenting your own "heroes".

  _____________________________________________________

Faith is the foundation of hope and the proof of God’s unseen presence. For by it, people who I respected as a child taught me about our Lord’s power. Through their testimonies, I learned that the Lord who formed the Universe from nothing is just as powerful today as He was at creation.


By faith my grandparents learned about God’s gift of salvation, accepted that gift and sought to live by Christ’s example in the Word of God.

By faith during the heat of summer, my grandfather would turn off the church air conditioner when the preaching started so he and others could hear the message; by this action he showed me that I should respect the message of a pastor over my personal comfort.

By faith I was taught how to give to others, when funds were tight, my grandparents reached out with loving care and their limited means to help neighbors, showing equal compassion towards the saint as the sinner and with gifts often given in secrecy.

By faith, my parents taught me the importance of tithing on whatever you have, if it is money or livestock or garden produce, God is the giver and I must be a good steward to make sure 10% blesses others.

By faith, at age 5, I prayed for a little brother and by faith, my parents adopted, showing me that real families really love each other, no matter how God brings them together or the challenges they face.

By faith, Grandma Dee set an example of regular church attendance and insisted on attending church even on vacation because we need to learn from and encourage each other in the Lord.

By faith a church member named Velma demonstrated how to tithe on her talents as she made two beautiful new dresses a year for the pastor’s wife.

By faith a piano player named Ms. Morris, arrived every service to play the church piano for over 20 years, she was not discouraged by low attendance or impressed by high attendance, her example is the reason I can gain joy from singing hymns in my car and humming praises in the shower even if God is my only audience.

By faith a country preacher named George Taylor and his wife Hilda were called to serve as local and foreign missionaries, from limited earthly resources they received numerous opportunities to teach and to preach to small and large crowds in remote areas of Missouri, Arkansas and even Haiti.

By faith Hilda taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school so that a child like me could accept Christ as my Savior and begin to grow in knowledge of the Lord.

By faith, lives were shaped by Christian school principal Mr. Wass who set forth a bold vision of Christian service for the children under his leadership, who would become soldiers, firefighters, law enforcement, pastors, pastor’s wives, missionaries, teachers, Sunday school teachers, business owners, Godly parents and so much more.

By faith, Sunday school teacher Jane Meyer taught teenage girls about why Christian husbands were important, how a Christian man will act, and how to pray for our future Christian husband.

By faith, my first supervisors and co-workers Barbara Richardson, Bob Barker & Jim Harriger, who patiently showed me the complexities of Christian service, as they consistently demonstrated compassion and expected accountability, but without either action being dependent on the other.

By faith, families who had adopted children shared with us their struggles, their love and their passion for bringing orphans home. Their bold confidence in God’s plan for their families encouraged and helped sustain us during the toughest times of our first adoption.

By faith, my husband and I added more children to our home, having overcome challenges and having witnessed countless miracles of healing and providence; knowing friends would be fervently praying with us and for us as we stepped out in faith; and based on the testimonies of others, having all confidence that our God is more than sufficient to meet needs yesterday, today and tomorrow.

My brother

I've never talked on my blog much about my little brother Daniel.  Since he passed away in 2007, it has been hard to come to grips with his unexpected death.  My brother had a huge impact on my life.  Perhaps so huge that even almost 4 years after his death, I am still realizing and processing the full weight of the loss for me personally. 

Daniel (age 1) & I (age 6) 

Daniel was the most pesky little brother that you can imagine.  He came into my 5 year old world and turned it upside down!  I have tales of mean tricks, hair pulling, wrestling, arguing, and purposefully annoying me.  However, I'll only tell you my side of those stories...just like the ultimate fight where I had him pinned and he spit and squished gum into my very long hair so it had to have a chunk cut out of it....the result was not pretty.  However, once again you will only hear my side.  Let's just say Daniel taught me to love REALLY annoying people, and he taught me to ANNOY the people that I REALLY LOVE! LOL!

As we grew up, Daniel always thought he was big enough to do what I was doing.  If I went with friends to a movie, he thought he could too.  If I got to go to camp, to Aunt Jean's house or anywhere, then he begged to go on his own or with me too.  When he was about 12 and I had started driving, our age difference was REALLY starting to annoy him, but one day in a style that only Daniel could do, he let me know that he didn't care anymore that I was older, AND he truly SEEMED not to care!  I asked him why he didn't care, (I might have been enjoying irritating him with my new freedom with a car.) and he said very nonchalantly, "You're older, you're going to die first."   From then on when age difference came up, I was reminded that my expiration date was going to be before his...as we got older he would even adjust my expiration date to be sooner for the stress that my type A personality carried. 

Dad, Daniel (age 4) & I (age 9) 

Since Daniel's death, I've realized that only a pesky little brother will adjust your expiration date based on your stress levels.  I've also had to realize what life is like without someone to share your history.  Sure my parents were there, but they weren't in the back seat "pit" of the 1973 Chevy Charger trying to argue without getting caught!   There is a whole OTHER set of stories there!

So you may be asking, how else did your brother impact your life?  Well, he did teach me more than how to to love REALLY annoying people and how to ANNOY the people that I LOVE.  Daniel shaped my view of adoption as being just as "real" of a family as any other, even though I had no siblings by birth, I was sure I had the REAL deal for a brother!  We were a family forever, no matter what!  When Daniel was diagnosed with schizophrenia, it was a big adjustment for our family to realize that in many ways Daniel and I had switched expectations.  I as the "disabled" child was living independently, while Daniel the free spirit, super talented child would need help at various times taking care of himself while he battled with his own mind.  Through the toughest times of schizophrenia's episodes, mom and dad modeled again for me that "real" families struggle and adjust and struggle and adjust together.  I never doubted it.  I just hadn't yet realized how tough some family struggles could be! 

After Daniel's diagnosis, I mourned for the brother that I had once enjoyed such witty banter with, especially as he would converse about far off plans without logic, reason or reality to ground the conversation. However, a new side of Daniel emerged that was fun loving, but quieter. He enjoyed listening to others and just checking in for no apparent reason at all hours of the night and day. His calling my work to chat with me, the "executive director", during my workday was not real convenient and I never learned to fully appreciate or accommodate this new side to Daniel. I was simply too busy to think our time together might be short.

I appreciate the time he took with my kids. Daniel was a fabulous uncle. He connected with each child differently and perfectly for their personalities and interest.  He was especially good with Hannah who at that time could be very difficult to reach out to and get a meaningful response, but they spoke each others language...music and food.

On May 14, 2007, I stopped for my kids to give Daniel his birthday cards a day early.  He had forget that the next day was his birthday which seemed unusual, but he seemed to be doing well.  We had a nice visit and I hurried off to get on to something else.  The next morning mom called before 7am to say that Daniel got sick in the night and it was serious.  She had called an ambulance when his flu symptoms started including breathing problems.  He lost consciousness within minutes of arriving in the ER.  Later on in the day on Tuesday, on Daniel's 29th birthday, we would learn that he had a colloid cyst in his brain and recovery was unlikely.  By just after 4pm on the 17th, Daniel had passed away.   My parents seemed stuck unable to move and I laid out funeral plans for the brother who knew that I would die first.   He was buried next to our grandparents on May 19th.  It was exactly 29 years before that we had first held him and that he had made our family complete.

Grandma Dee

Grandma Dee was a VERY special lady in my life.  Her real name was Eulah D. Bailey, but we always called her Grandma Dee.  Although she wasn't my biological Grandma, our family permanently adopted her in about 1974. 

I first met Grandma Dee when I was a baby.  I do not remember our first days together, but apparently I was a huge fan of hers from day one.  However, my fondness for her caused some hard feelings.  Her sister Beulah had been babysitting me and had asked Grandma Dee to babysit me for a few days when she was not available.  Grandma Dee was always very honest with me about being asked to watch me.  I can still hear her saying, "Your mom asked me to watch you and I told her that I didn't know anything about taking care of kids like you, but she convinced me to try it.  And well, you just liked me a lot and we got along really well.  Your mom asked me to keep the job, and I had just retired from the shoe factory and my husband had died a few years before so I had time to watch you."  I would always ask with a smile, "What about your sister?"  Grandma Dee would always answer with a smile, "She never has really forgiven me for taking her job."

Grandma Dee had the best stories!  She was born in 1910 and was 63 years old when she began babysitting me.  She had raise 5 kids and worked at a shoe factory for decades.  The noise in the shoe factory had caused nerve damage in her ears so there was always "crickets" as she would call them.  Grandma Dee was one of the few surviving children after the 1925 tornado destroyed the DeSoto School.  She would tell of how loud the tornado was and how she and her sister just kept running until they were away from the building and the flying bricks.  Grandma Dee said about 30 kids died and a lot of their friends and neighbors died too.   She also had stories of how she met her husband at a Tent Revival when she was sitting in the car pouting about having to be there.  She explained how in 1927 at age 17, she walked along the railroad tracks with her few belongings to go get a marriage license with Tom.  She would laugh about how as newlyweds, they lived in her in-laws living room until after their first child was born.  They had been married 42 years when Tom passed away.

Grandma Dee was young at heart!  She was so young a heart that she was one of the few adults who remained "cool" and "smart" during my teen years.  Grandma Dee could make even a trip to Wal-Mart an adventure.  She loved to try new products from her small disc camera (a trend that didn't last long) to her lava lamp to a new nail polish.  She had young taste buds and loved pizza, specifically Supreme (hold the green peppers) Pizza Hut pizza, and she had a soft spot for good fried chicken.  For her 85th birthday, my mom took her to a restaurant that she had always wanted to go to, but she had never gone because the restaurant had a bar.  However, she really wanted to try their famed fried chicken.  She lamented, "What if I see someone from church?"  Her daughter Betty said, "Say hi." and laughter followed from everyone!  So at age 85, Grandma Dee entered a bar for the first time in her life to imbibe on fried chicken and she loved it! 

Grandma Dee was a devoted Christian woman.  She had more Sunday school attendance pins than one shoulder should ever hold.  No matter where she went, she was in church on Sunday.  There was no debate!  One of the things I still remember fondly was how much she loved a good storm.  It seemed unlikely that someone who lived through a deadly tornado would love storms, but Grandma Dee believed that Jesus would return when a lightening storm came out of the east.  (Based on Matthew 24:27)  Every storm, she would run to the window to check the direction.  As a teen, I would tease her that she just wanted to be the first to see Jesus. However, what impressed me was that her faith that was so strong and her desire to see Jesus was so real that she was at the window as soon as the clouds darkened for EVERY storm.

Grandma Dee babysat me while my mom worked in a gas station that my folks owned and operated while dad was in college.  She taught me to walk.  She went to doctors appointments in St. Louis with us.  She was a big part of our family by the time my dad graduated college and we were ready to move to southwest Missouri to be near my mom's family.  Each year she would come stay with us for at least a month and sometimes longer.  Grandma Dee vacationed with us, celebrated with us and was a big part of our plans for Summer adventures.   

My husband got to meet Grandma Dee and my daughter Grace got to meet Grandma Dee before she passed away in the Fall of 1998.  When her daughter Betty called and told us of her death, of course there was great sadness.  Grandma Dee had shared so many great memories with us.   She had literally encouraged me from taking my first steps to graduating college.  However, with the sad news, I couldn't help but smile as I thought of Grandma Dee finally seeing Jesus...needless to say, even now there is rarely a storm in life or in the atmosphere that doesn't make me long for the encouragement and love of Grandma Dee.