Random Thoughts

Did you know.......?

• According to a 2004 University of Texas study, today's fruits and vegetables aren't as nutritious as they used to be.  When compared to 1950, what is in our grocery stores now are from 5% to 40%  LESS nutritious in about 43 types of produce.  The study showed that one reason is because of a "relentless, century-long focus on increased yield that has helped to feed an exploding population".  How's that for a positive spin?  Shocking, I tell ya, shocking!
• Apparently, there is a "truckload" of research showing that a small plot of land is a smart purchase for someone perpetually in need of stress reduction.  Studies link gardening to lowered blood pressure and lower levels of stress hormones.  And people who garden have lower rates of obesity and higher intakes of healthy foods.  Good to know!
• A one-third pound stalk of broccoli contains more vitamin C than 204 apples!  So I guess this means if I'm feeling a cold coming on...I should eat broccoli???  Not a chance!
• Blueberries have more antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable!  I guess this is why the call blueberries a "super food".  For an excellent Blueberry Crumble recipe, click HERE!
• The Hershey chocolate bar was advertised in the early 1900's as a health food!  Also, that it kept children's stomach full so they wouldn't want to eat as much.  Hmm.  I'm going to need to ponder that tidbit for alittle while.

All of this jaw dropping information comes to you courtesy of several old Cooking Light magazines I read while in the waiting room of the doctor's office on Tuesday.  My only other choices were Golf Digest and a 2004 issue of Elle.  What is with these doctors?  Are you telling me that they can't afford a couple decent magazine subscriptions?  For goodness sakes, if you're going to keep me waiting, at least provide a current issue of something!  I ended up resorting to a few games of Words with Friends on my "dumbphone".

OK, here is one last bit of useless information that may or may not make you laugh.....

The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Aussies, British or Americans.  Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Aussies, British or Americans.  Africans drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Aussies, British or Americans.  Italians drink large amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Aussies, British or Americans.  Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and suffer fewer heart attacks than the Aussies, British or Americans.  CONCLUSION:  Eat and drink what you want.  Speaking English is apparently what kills you!

Ba da bump!

Happy Friday to you!

She's Alive!

I thought I would post an update.....for the two or three of you that still read this blog!  I'm sorry I've been so bad about posting, but, our lives are very busy right now.  Just to quickly update you....

1.  The girls are playing soccer!  Their practices are at different times...and different days!  Thankfully, their games are on Friday nights so Dan and I can each watch a game and have them covered.  Nathan has choir practice on one day and they all have Rosary Club on Wednesdays.  It's been a chore to keep up with shin guards, cleats, song sheets and rosaries.

2.  We are still getting used to the homework situation.  Nathan and Amelia have homework every night!  Olivia (Kindergarten) only has it about 3 nights a week.  I have to make sure that I check each back pack every night just to make sure I'm not missing something.  Also, if there is a school notice that goes out...I usually get the same notice THREE times!  Therefore there is lots of paper flying around here!

3.  I've had a set back at Weight Watchers.....but I'm working on it!  Enough said!

4.  Dan's Godmother passed away recently.  She was 80 years old but in bad health.  While her death was expected, she and Dan were very close.  RIP, Jule!

5.  While I hesitated for several months, I finally gave in and read "The Help".  It was a good book but it seemed to drag on and on.  I'm told the movie is really good and so I plan to see that as soon as I can.

6.  Dan gave me my Christmas/Birthday present a few months early!  I am now a proud owner of a brand new Nook!  I mulled over the Nook versus Kindle thing for several weeks and finally decided on the Nook.  So far, I'm very happy with it!  Since I can read magazines and newspapers (as well as library books), I've decided that by purchasing this new gadget...I'm also decluttering my house!  If you could see my bookshelves....you'd know what I was talking about.  Anyway, it was very reasonably priced, although, I did not purchase the one with all the bells and whistles!  It's less bulky than carrying around a book and so far, the machine itself keeps track of what page I'm on....so no more bent, shredded, folded or missing book marks!

7.  Spiritually, I've been in a bit of a dry spell lately.  It's funny how sometimes I feel like an outsider looking in on my life.  I could give anyone advice on what to do during the "desert" experiences that all of us inevitably have......but I can't seem to think of a single thing when it's actually ME in the arid dryness!  My wonderful friend, Judy from Benmakesten, had some words of wisdom for me recently and she really helped me to see how the enemy can slip in...unnoticed!  It is during these times when I truly identify with the Footprints in the Sand poem!  I know that right now, when He seems so far away from me, it is the time when He is holding me the closest!

I promise to be better about posting!  I have lost of pictures that  need to upload and I have some homeschooling materials that I'd like to put up for sale!  I hope to get back to regular posting soon!  Thanks for hanging in there...I miss you guys!

Dreams

I had an interesting dream last night.  I was in a HUGE church.  It must have been St. Peters because it was full of Cardinals, all dressed in red.  They were standing in a circle celebrating mass.   The altar was in the center.  Each of them had their own chalice and they raised the cups during the Consecration in unison.  As they were holding them in the air, a small white Host rose from the cups and hovered over them.  Then, at different times, the white Hosts turned a dark red and began to pulsate!   I was speechless.  I began to tingle all over and I realized that I was witnessing a miracle.  There were other people around me except they could not see what I was seeing!  I kept saying, "Don't you see what's happening?" but I got no response from the people around me.  Then, it was over and I woke up.

I've been thinking about it all day, replaying it in my mind and trying to figure out what it means.  I used to have a book about dreams that gave quick explanations about what certain things meant.  For instance, I read that when you dream about weather, it usually means "change".  I used to dream a lot about tornadoes.  I still do sometimes.  They aren't recurring dreams, just different scenarios around the same topic...tornadoes.

I find it interesting that in my dream last night, I was the only one who could see this miracle as it was happening.  There must be some significance to that.  But, whatever the dream meant, I enjoyed dreaming it and I plan to pay special attention at mass tomorrow during the Consecration!

This and that!

• I played Bunco for the first time tonight! For whatever reason, I've always been intimidated by that game. It was so much fun! I filled in for somebody who was unable to make the game. I ended up winning $22 and I won the door prize (Coconut Body Wash and Lotion)! I'll definitely play again!
• Only about 22 hours until Nathan comes home! I miss him so much! I pray that he had a wonderful time and that that Our Lord touched him in a special way.
• Sometimes, I can fly off the handle so quick! I need to show more self control! I received an email today that really rubbed me the wrong way. I spouted off an email back too soon. I should have waited until I cooled off. Is it possile to get kicked out of a parish??? If so, I could be in trouble.
• I'm not sure what all the fuss is about with Twitter. I've signed up, but I'm not impressed. I'm happy with Facebook and my blog. Plus, between work and home, I have too many passwords to remember!
• I started yet another novena to St. Joseph on Sunday...and then I promptly fell asleep last night and missed Day 4. Can I just do the prayer twice tonight or do I have to start all over? Sigh....
• I've been watching some old episodes of Mother Angelica Live on Youtube while I'm at work! I enjoy listening to her so much. Today, she talked about Purgatory. I may be spending more time there than I thought (see bullet point #3). She is somebody that I wish I knew personally.
• Have any of you read the Obamacare bill? You should. It's very eye opening. All I can say is that if you are old or have a serious disease......you could be in for some surprises. Please call your representatives. Don't just sit by and let this happen. Do something!
• I have a headache. I'm going to bed.

Official Definitions...

Hot Flash (n): a sudden brief flushing of heat caused by dilation of skin capillaries usually associated with menopausal endocrine imbalance----called also hot flush.

Night Sweats (n): profuse sweating during the sleep that is sometimes a symptom of febrile disease.

Short Fuse (n): a tendency to get angry easily; quick temper.

Swell (v): to expand (as in volume, size or numbers) gradually beyond a normal or original limit; to become distended or puffed up; to form a bulge or rounded elevation.

Emotional (adj): markedly aroused or agitated in feeling or sensibilities.

Temperamental (adj): marked by excessive sensitivity and impulsive mood changes; unpredictable in behavior or performance.

Why yes! This does describe me perfectly! Just ask my family....on second thought....don't!!

Things on my mind....

Amelia couldn't find her uniform sweatshirt for school this morning. So, I did what I swore I'd never do.....fumbled through the dirty clothes hamper to find one she could wear. By the time I got it out, spot cleaned the toothpaste stain on the front and hand pressed the wrinkles out....she found the clean one...in her backpack (although she swore she looked there). Sigh.

"It is only government that can break the vicious cycle, where lost jobs lead to people spending less money, which leads to even more layoffs."--Barack Obama 2/9/08....Spoken like a true socialist I'd say.

I have to have pre-op lab work and xrays today. I also have to do my pre registration for my hospital stay. The appointment for all of this is at 1:00pm. The kids are out of school at 2:50pm. I need to leave that hospital by 2:30pm (at least) to be able to get to school on time to pick them up. What do you think my chances are of this happening?????

As I sit here typing, I'm trying to think of all the ways I could reasonably use to get out of this surgery. Does being abducted by aliens sound plausible to you?

I was reading laurathecrazymama's blog post this morning and it's got me thinking....is Facebook a good thing or a bad thing? The jury is still out for me. Clearly, I've been back in touch with some old friends who I've missed terribly. This is a good thing....at least for me. While this will sound more dramatic than I mean it to, my physical immortality has been an issue lately and I guess, being back in touch with some people just feels right. On the other hand, like Laura, I've been faced with some, ahem, interesting re-acquaintances. I was worried that "de-friending" this person would be offensive and so....I didn't do anything. Turns out....she "de-friended" me! I guess it just goes to show you that people change....I change....and some of my past is meant to stay that way. I'm sure I'll write more on this as issues come up. I'm not willing to abandon Facebook just yet though.

I love that show "Jon & Kate Plus 8"!! Dan and I watch it together every Monday night! We crack up! It's a very encouraging show. On the days when I feel like I'm losing it.....I think of Kate and I figure...if she can handle 8.....I can surely handle 3!

Friday Favorites and some Random Thoughts....

Today's (actually...tonight's) Friday Favorites are about a couple of magazines that I just love!!


1. Family Fun Magazine: I get a lot of my crafting ideas from this magazine. For two years in a row, I handmade our gifts for the family!

For Christmas 2006, I made these decorative napkins.

And for Christmas 2007, I made these cute Nativity scenes!

Several years ago, I made this chore chart for Nathan. I tweeked it a little to make it work for us...but it was a great idea! It's hanging in our kitchen.

I can't say enough about this magazine. Yes, I know it is a product of Disney, and yes, I know all the hoopla about Disney....but I said my peace about that subject here in this post.


2. Mater et Magistra - Educating the Heart and Mind in the Catholic Home: This is a wonderful magazine for Catholic families. It's perfect for home schoolers. Now, I am not a home schooling mom...at least not yet! However, it doesn't matter. This magazine is just full of spiritual nuggets for educating your children about the faith. After all, parents are the primary teachers of their children and I am so impressed with this little magazine. I got an email recently stating that my next copy is on its way and I am so excited!


3. Cure: Recently, I found a complimentary issue of this magazine in my Oncologist's office. I recommend it for anyone who has faced a cancer diagnosis. It is full of cancer updates on research and treatment as well as education. To me, it has been comforting to know that there are people out there who are tirelessly working to find a cure. We have come so far, but we have lots more to do.



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I thought I would add some "random thoughts" to this post. These are just things I've been thinking about and wanted to share with you.

• Why is it that every time I get into the car with the kids, they ALL try to talk to me at the same time, trying to talk over one another? I don't get this! I think the US Military should use 3 children under the age of 8 in a car...with all of them talking at the same time...as torture! You don't actually need water boarding!


• Olivia informed me this morning that when she grows up...she wants to be a ballerina and a doctor. I told her that I thought that was great and that she could be anything she wanted to be! However, I was curious as to why she didn't want to be a mommy, so I asked her. She replied...."Oh, cause I'm going to be that tomorrow, not when I grow up!" Okie Dokie!


• My hysterectomy has been scheduled for February 17th at 7:30am. It has to be an "open" procedure as a opposed to "laproscopic" because I've had three C-sections. Apparently having my babies this way created a lot of scar tissue which will make it necessary to open me up all the way! Lovely. This means 2 to 3 days in the hospital and a 4-6 week recovery period. Sigh! I hate hospitals!


• Yesterday, I caught Amelia scratching her hiney. Normally, I would overlook this but it appeared to be a true problem for her as she kept doing it for several minutes. I asked her what was wrong....she informed me that her "bottom is trying to eat her panties!" Well now, isn't that special!


• And lastly, I wanted to show you a picture of my very first camellia of the year! Isn't it gorgeous!!!