31 years ago....

How do you write about something that happened 31 years ago and keep it fresh and interesting, especially to those who know my story. Here's the latest version of how my world was turned upside down in a 30 hour period. When I was first married, I wanted oodles of children, at least four or five. However; God had other intentions in mind for me and after 8 years of marriage, I still wasn't able to have children so I applied to an adoption agency in Oklahoma. Now, having a husband in the military, the average time spent in one place was 3 years. After waiting two years and six months, and a home visit that failed terribly (our then dog jumped up on the social worker and I had coffee grounds in her coffee), the social worker called and started a routine conversation. She wanted to know if I was working, how my attitude was and if there was anything new in my life. I could hear take a deep breath on the other end of the phone and she said there was a baby girl for me. "What??" I said. "Are you sure?" "ME?" The social worker then asked if I wanted her to call back after the screaming had died down and give me all the particulars. I said, "Don't you dare hang up! I want to hear everything: How much does she weigh, how old is she, what does she look like and when does she get to come live with me?" Calmly the social worker gave me all the information and told me to appear at noon on Wednesday to pick her up in Tulsa. Now, being a Monday evening at 5 pm, it didn't leave much time for me to prepare for this new baby coming into my life. After the social worker hung up, I just sat thinking, "God, my heart is overflowing with love for this new baby girl and I can't believe this is happening to me." Long story short.....A daughter by the name of Sarah Elizabeth came to live with me on a stormy Wednesday afternoon. She was perfect in every way!! What an amazing experience to know in less than 30 hours, I would become a mom. Yes, there was a bit of a meltdown the night before we went to get her, but my blessing from God has been worth all the joys, love and tears a mom feels for a child. I have watched this baby grow from a small baby to a young woman who has a child of her own. She is beautiful inside and out and I can't wait for the next chapter in her life as she continues to grow in God's grace and love. I am blessed beyond measure and I'm sure she feels the same way when she looks at her own son with that knowing smile indicating,"God loves me, and my love as a mother is something to be treasured and valued through all the days of my life." Nothing is beter than that!!!! My story hasn't stopped and later in life, I received another gift from God in the form of my husband. He had several children so in the long run, my dream of having lots of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren has come true. But that's another story for another time..... Recently when my daughter came for a visit, she requested a meal of meat loaf and baked potatoes. So here is the basic recipe for meatloaf. 2 pounds ground beef 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt shakes of a pepper shaker 1/4 cup finely chopped onion a handful of oatmeal 1 egg 1/4 cup ketchup for the top Blend all ingredients together except the ketcup. Place the meat in a pie plate and shape in a round loaf. Pour the ketchup over the top and use a fork to spread the ketcup all over the top. Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour. Place foil covered potatoes in the oven with the meat loaf and the meal will be done all at one time.

Happy New Year

I've been lazy in updating my posts and the beginning of the new year is a good time to get back into the habit and reflect on what God has done in our lives this last year. I can honestly say this last year has been a challenge for both Mike and myself. The challenges we had were dealing with a serious illness for Mike and plus all the doctor, hospital and chemo appointments needed in order to deal with the illness. Remembering the first week we found out about the cancer, God rocked our world and we felt like we had been hit with a freight train. In the course of four days, Mike had 3 surgical procedures, numerous blood and lab tests plus his first chemo treatment. Sitting in our recliners during the evening we first came home from the hospital, Mike said, "I have cancer". I think it finally sank into our brains at that time. Throughout the summer months of chemo treatments, more tests and lots of doctor visits, we saw God's hand in Mike's life and how we were able to share our faith. We shared our testimonies countlessly, prayed with others who were experiencing challenges in their lives and saw positive changes in those lives. Mike's Oncologist is a Christian and during Mike's last visit asked if they could pray at the end of Mike's appointment. Now, how many doctors do you know who are willing to pray with their patients! Mike and I also were able to share our lives in a class on Sunday mornings called, "Honor begins at Home." We had a total of 24 people in the class. Our prayer through this class was that God would touch the lives of those attending and make a difference in their lives. Mike and I are hearing periodically from those who were in the class and how their lives were changed by the Holy Spirit. We were on vacation one Sunday and we gave the couples a "Homework" assignment that required couples spend a date night and do a "check-up" on their marriage and what they were doing right and what needed fine tuning. One couple told Mike the date night would never happen because the relationship was so strained and hostile. Just this last month, this same couple approached Mike and told him on their vacation to Arizona, they started walking in the evenings and talking. They eventually talked about their marriage and did the "check-up". The husband told Mike their relationship was the best now than it had ever been in the past. This is just one story we heard. There are a few more, but time and space preclude me from sharing the other stores. Mike and I are blessed that the Holy Spirit was present in the lives of those attending our class and the class had a positive outlook on their lives. This glory goes to God alone! Christmas was a highlight this year too as we had a lot of family here at the house and I love to just sit and watch the kids and grandkids visiting happily together. What a blessing it was and I'm sure I had this funny smile on my face all afternoon long. All the work, cleaning and baking was worth all the smiles, giggles and hugs. I want to thank our friends, family and those who know us who have stood by us and been prayer warriors this past year. Mike and I feel so blessed by you all and I can't think of a better way to end this post than by thanking you all. With the new year upon us, our prayer is for continued healing and good health for both Mike and myself, and continued fellowship with those we hold so dear. Again, thank you all!!! PS: No recipe this time, just a thank you to you all.....

Where did the summer go?

Whew!!! Where did my summer go? This year, I felt like summer didn't exist. With my husband's cancer treatment, doctor visits, and chemo, our summer went by all too quickly. When I think back, we spent our time at home hoping for the best outcome of Mike's cancer. What I did accomplish was finally getting my new closet put together with all my clothes hung up in one place. Plus I was able to continue to make cookies for the gun club. In fact, Mike decided we needed to take our vacation trip to Hawaii and the money I've been saving for our trip is becoming a reality. Mike decided he wanted to stay at a Bed and Breakfast the whole time we are in Kona and I gave in (even though I would have loved to spend time on the beach.) So we leave on Halloween and return on November 9th. We are looking forward to just spending time relaxing, reading and enjoying the scenery. The Bed and Breakfast is in the hills (Waimea) near Parker Ranch and has been touted as having the best views in Kona. As for Mike's prognosis, the cancer has shrunk by 60% and the doctor is happy with Mike's progress. He will receive one chemo drug every other month for two years which is called maintenance by Mike's cancer doctor. The cancer won't be gone, but we hope for no growth. The doctor says if the tumors grow by 25%, we will have to look at other options for chemo or transplant. We will cross that bridge when it arises. We have been fortunate to have a doctor who is a Christian and he and Mike get along so well together. Next summer, we will take this doctor plus part of his staff on a rafting trip to thank them for all their help with Mike's illness. Through all the treatments, and doctor appointments, our faith has remained strong and we both look to the future and to spending many more years together. We are excited to see what God is going to do in this next "chapter" of our lives and how God is going to use Mike's illness for His glory and honor. In keeping with the summer fun, I'm going to give y'all a recipe we make in the summer and one that Mike and I have enjoyed on the grill. It's a recipe I developed as a marinade and uses interesting ingreidents. Enjoy Sweet & Spicy Pork chops 4 bone in pork chops 1/3 cup olive oil 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 clove garlic 1/3 cup Worschestire sauce 1/3 cup soy sauce pinch of red pepper flakes Marinade the pork chops in the above mixture and let sit in the fridge for 4-5 hours. Grill the pork chops until done (be careful to not let them dry out). Cover with foil after removing from the grill and serve with your favorite condiments and side dishes.

The adventure continues....

So much time has passed since my last post I thought I'd better write an update to what's been happening in our lives this summer. Most of you know my husband was diagnosed with cancer and he has had four chemo treatments and this week, he will have his fifth. Meaning only one more chemo is left which we are looking forward to. We've also found out a bit more about the type of cancer we are fighting and how it will affect our lives in the future. The type of cancer Mike has is a "low grade" cancer meaning the cancer is harder to get rid of and not as fun to deal with. In fact, the tumors will probably stay with my hubby forever. After the sixth chemo treatment, Mike will have to undergo additional maintenance chemo treatments for the next two years. The drugs won't be as toxic as the R-Chop chemo but he will continue to get one drug, the Ritoxin. The goal for the cancer is to stop the growth and actually decrease the size of the tumors in his abdomen. A cat scan was done four weeks ago and the scan showed the tumors had decreased some but they are still there. Hence the need for "maintenance" chemo for the next two years. We don't know what God has in store for us, but we are confident He will be by our sides as we continue the adventure. In fact, we are scheduled to teach a new Bible Study class for our church in the fall called, "Honor". The study is taken from the movie "Courageous" and we are excited to see how God is going to use this study in the lives of couples at our church. Joshua 1:9 keeps croping up and we are relying on this verse a lot. (Do some research and read it). Now for some fun stuff... chemo has changed my husband a bit. His taste buds have been "skewed" a bit and I'm having to revamp some of my recipes to adapt to his taste buds. One of the things he loved was my take on a spicey bean soup. Spicey Bean Soup 1 pound of navy beans - sock them overnight 1 pound of chopped ham 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 cups of diced potates. 12 cups of water 2 teaspoons of salt - or salt to taste Combine the beans, water and seasonings with the ham and cook until the beans are tender. Add the diced potatoes and cook until they are done. Once the beans and potatoes are done, use an immersion blender and blend the soup only partially - this will thicken the soup and give it some body. Serve hot with a dollup of sour cream and your favorite bread. This soup also freezes well and like any soup is always better the second day around!

God is in control. Join us on our adventure....

In the last few weeks, my husband and I have been blessed by our family, friends and church family. Knowing we have these kinds of friends has made an impact on both of our lives we will remember forever. What started out as a normal week the week of May 7th, turned out to be a week we will never forget. Mike was having stomach pains and we thought he had an umbical hernia and would need surgery. The surgeon noticed something else was going on and ordered the CAT scan. The day after the CAT scan, our general practitioner called Mike into his office and went on to explain, "The news isn't good and I think you may have cancer." I got a one line text from Mike that said, "They think I have cancer." Ok....breathe....breathe...This wasn't happening and all I could think of was.....well, I couldn't even think period. This began a week long hospital stay where we learned Mike has Non-Hodgkins Follicular Lymphoma. Within a 30 hour period, Mike had a stent put in his left ureter, had a biopsy and a Power Port installed plus his first chemo treatment. Whew!!! even writing this, the events seem surreal and a blur, but when we came home from the hospital. Mike was sitting in his recliner and I was sitting in mine and he looked at me and said, "I have cancer". Just like that....being at home we felt like nothing had happened, however, everything was changed. Now, Mike and I are givers and when someone is in need, we love helping out by visiting, preparing meals and just being there for others. The tables have now been turned and we have been overwhelmed by our family, friends and church family who have been so wonderful in visiting, sending cards and praying for us. Mike and I found ourselves on the receiving end of the giving and knowing we were being prayed for has been a humbling experience. We are so thankful for each and every one who has sent cards, visited, and prayed for us. I'm learning to say, "yes", and "thank you," although it is still hard for me to do. Mike and I have been able to share our personal testimonies with so many people including the doctors, nurses and hospital staff. What's even more amazing is we are calm in our faith in Jesus Christ and He is taking us on this adventure for a reason. We just don't know where the adventure will lead. Yet, when people ask us how they can pray for us, we tell them, "Not our will but Thine O Lord." Yes, we are still adjusting to this diagnosis, but we are firm God is in control and we are following the path God has set for us. Julie, one of our daughters gave us something to put on the fridge and it is simple but so true: WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO: Cancer is so limited..... It cannot cripple.......LOVE It cannot shatter.......HOPE It cannot corrode.......FAITH It cannot destroy.......PEACE It cannot kill..........FRIENDSHIP It cannot suppress......MEMORIES It cannot silence.......COURAGE It cannot invade the....SOUL It cannot steal.........ETERNAL LIFE It cannot conquer.......THE SPIRIT (author unkn) Mike and I encourage you to join Mike and I on our journey. We appreciate every one of you. God has blessed us by you all. Simply, "THANK YOU."

Spring has sprung!

Finally warmer weather is making it's appearance known in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. What makes the warmer weather even better is the fact our back yard has been revamped by a good friend. The yard looks new with fresh bark dust, nicely mown grass and no weeds to be seen. What a difference a little hard work makes in making a back yard presentable.

The warmer weather makes me want to spend more time outside reading a book (yes, even in the cooler weather) with a glass of wine or soda sitting on the table. Or even tossing the tennis balls for the Tori dog to play with.

With Spring comes allergies, the desire to do some deep cleaning and finally putting away of the Christmas decorations and taking down the Christmas tree. Yes, mine is still up with all the decorations in the lower living area. Since we don't use this room, it was logical to just leave it up.

Also with the Spring comes the desire to make new things in the kitchen and I'm ready to try and make some of those new recipes I've been wanting to make for quite some time. Developing new cookies has become kind of a hobby especially since I supply the gun club with cookies for sale. I've been working on my molasses cookie and think its finally perfected and ready for publishing. So here it is.

Have a great Spring and don't work too hard cleaning. Take time to enjoy the warmth of the sun and the glorious surroundings God has given us to look at.
Molasses Ginger Surprise cookies
3/4 cup softened butter
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Cream the above until light and fluffy.

Add 3/4 cup molasses and incorporate this into the creamed mixture.

Add 4 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal
1 package of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix until all is incorporated. Drop by spoonfuls or use an ice cream scoop. After placing the cookies on cookie sheets, refrigerate until firm. This takes a few hours. I usually put all the cookies on one sheet and then when they are firm, move them to parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10-12 minutes until the centers of the cookies are set. This makes about 22 very large cookies or about 4 dozen normal sized cookies.

Happy Easter!!!! Growing up, my mother had a habit of dressing my sister and I alike at Easter time. She also did that to my two younger sister. We'd get home sewn dresses in different colors, wear wristlet gloves and hair bands in our hair. In the mornings, we'd get up to find a small chocolate rabbit waiting for us. We'd then troop to church in our finery. After church, it was time to go to my grandmother's house for a big banquet consisting of ham, potatoes, salads and all the fixins. My grandmother would then hide Easter Eggs around the house and if nice outside around the yard as well. Then all the kids would go hunting for all the Easter eggs. What fun we had finding those eggs. When we reached our teens, we got to hide the Easter eggs for our smaller siblings and then watch them as they hunted for those elusive Easter eggs.

Times certainly have changed. I still try to get a chocolate bunny for my kids or whoever is staying with us and then the last few years, I've been making a big breakfast for our church crew consisting of the singers, production crew and staff. I pull out all the stops and make it special. These people are giving of themselves to serve our church and so I make sure to give them something special by serving them. This year, I'm making egg enchiladas and oatmeal.

When I was younger, I served my church by playing keyboard, but now I serve in a different way by cooking for the staff and crew. The egg enchiladas are a new recipe and one that looks good so this is what I'm sharing with you. It doesn't matter whether you have a big banquet or breakfast, or even go out to dinner, as long as you celebrate Easter by serving the One who gave His life for us - Jesus Christ.

May you have a blessed Easter and put your trust and faith into Jesus who gave his life for us.

Egg Enchiladas

12 eggs
2/3 cup half and half
1 pound sausage
1 cup diced onions
1 Jalopeano pepper
1/2 cup diced red and green pepper

3 cups whole milk
2 cups shredded cheese
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour

12 enchiladas

Cook the vegetables until tender. In a separate bowl beat eggs with the half and half and add to the vegetables. Cook on low heat until the eggs are set and done. Add the cooked sausage.

Make the sauce by melting the butter and mixing in the flour. Cook out the flour until the raw taste is gone. Add the whole milk and cook until thickened. This is a basic rue. Add the shredded cheese and take off the heat.

Assemble the enchiladas by putting some of the scrambled egg mixture on the enchilada with 1/3 cup of the sauce. Roll the tortilla and place in a 8 x 13 baking dish. Once all the egg mixture is gone, cover the tortillas with the remaining sauce and bake until the mixture is heated through. Serves 12 people. Of course use salt and pepper to taste.