An Oldie, but Goodie!

I'm not sure if I posted this recipe on my blog; I may not have. But it is so yummy, and with the season changing, I would love to sit down with a huge serving and some fruit & gingersnaps!

Pumpkin Dip

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon frozen orange juice concentrate

Directions
1.In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Gradually mix in the pumpkin. Stir in the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and orange juice until smooth and well blended. Chill until serving.


Please note, this makes about 4 cups of dip!

I love to eat this with sliced pears or gingersnaps. You can use vanilla wafers, graham crackers, etc. Other fruit is yummy, too, but there's something about the combination of pumpkin and pear that is great. You can make a pretty presentation by serving this in a hollowed out sugar pumpkin.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

So Monday was not terrible. Except for the mean person from church who blasted me in an email. Apparently, the email was sent Saturday night, but for whatever reason it didn't show up until Monday. Probably a good thing.

We started back into schoolwork. We're starting up slowly. Baby is cruising through, and Little Boy has had some good days. I'm thinking we'll start adding subjects one at a time.

Monday night DH had a union dinner to go to, so our cleaning friend came over and watched the kids and ate supper with them. We had a good time; I talked to a lady whose son was diagnosed with leukemia 2 days after Little Boy was dx'd with Type 1 Diabetes. They were at the same hospital at the same time we were. She was really sweet, and we shared the feelings we went through. Her son finishes his chemo treatments in April.

Tuesday was a quietish day with Baby going to ballet in the evening. We went to Denny's like we usually do, and our cleaning friend was our waitress. Baby was thrilled.

Today we worked on school work, but I was definitely dragging. I've been up way too late the last couple nights. My lower legs are pounding already. I should go put them up.

Tomorrow's a whole new day. And Little Boy and I are going to therapy. Should be good.

Looking forward to Monday

It's been a hectic couple of days here. Friday morning our cleaning friend came over. God bless her. It's so nice to have help.

I got an email the other day with an attached spreadsheet. First, let me say that just because you put numbers and words into a spreadsheet, without headings on your columns, I have to guess what you're saying. I needed to stop by church yesterday morning to get the attendance and offering numbers for the bulletin. So I was able to see first hand what the spreadsheet was saying.

Instead of taking inventory of what we have received for putting together boxes for Operation Christmas Child, the people I asked to inventory the stuff went ahead and packed the boxes. I wanted to cry. And I was perturbed. We have very generous members, and have about 40 boxes of stuff. I knew there would be disappointment among some of the people who have been looking forward to having a packing party. And Baby cried. She wanted to pack a box. I was sad for her.

I came home and shared with my husband my feelings. I don't want to take away from the work those people did. That was a lot of work, and I know they thought it was easier to just pack the boxes. But it wasn't what I wanted. I sent an email (that I forwarded to our pastor) thanking them for all the work, but that I had not intended for them to actually pack the boxes. I shared that there is a joy one gets from hands-on ministry that we should make sure everyone gets to experience. And that "next time" we need to make sure we do that, especially for the children in our church who wanted to pack boxes.

When I mentioned it to the pastor today, he told me that when people came in on Wed. night, people right away assumed I had done it. That makes me a little sad. Now that he knows the truth, I hope he tells people.

So I got home and started lunch. DH mentioned that he needed to get going to work. I thought he had traded, and would be going out on last shift. I had not done the bulletins. Grr. He had arranged trades for this weekend, and he and the guy changed the days and I was confused. I wasn't about to go to the church at midnight to run bulletins, so they would have to wait until the morning.

Last night I was irked at family members who irk me pretty much all the time anyway. I won't go into details, but I was irked.

This morning I lolly-gagged around until I remembered the bulletins. aaaaaaahhhhhh Oh well. I haven't had any kids in my Sunday school class. I just needed to pray no one showed up so I could run off the bulletins. (That's sad.) This afternoon was the local JDRF walk. I picked out the kids clothes Saturday night. I made sure they had socks and shoes, a jacket, and then I found my own clothes. I had them all ready to go. We got out the door and realized Little Boy needed his "big" shot. We had to run back home. We were half-way to church and DH realized he had not brought his tennis shoes. bleh

It started raining. bleh bleh

We got to church, I ran the bulletins and all the other things I needed to do. I sat down upstairs and tried to get in the right frame of mind for church, but realized I didn't have my Bible. I taught children's church, and the whole time Little Boy kept mentioning that it was boring. Nice.

After church, I just wanted to gather everything and get home. We had planned to change at the church, go out to eat and then get to the walk on time. So now we had to run home, get lunch on the way, change clothes and drive all the way there. We stopped to get gas on the way, but all the pumps were full, and cars were waiting. So we went to another gas station. We got there at the time the walk was supposed to start. We got our shirts and changed. The walk was nice. Baby fussed about everything. The walk had brought in $5K so far. Very cool.

We got home, I threw a frozen pizza in the oven, we ate and then we went to church. And Baby was a complete brat. I had thought the other girl was teaching tonight. I checked the schedule real quick, and nope. It was supposed to be me. I grabbed a couple games. When I got there, the pastor encouraged me to keep the kids in the Bible study. There would be video clips. So I sat there with Baby throwing a fit just about the whole time. I was miserable; I just wanted to cry and then drag my kid out and beat her butt. I don't think I got much out of it.

And then the church lady came up and started complaining that everyone keeps asking her what they should do, and complaining that no one is getting involved and she has to do everything. I just had to get out of there.

Baby threw a fit all the way home. When we were getting in the car, she told me she had to pee. I told her she should have gone when we were in the church, and that now she could wait. I ended up turning up the CD so that I didn't have to hear her.

I think she's just become a complete brat, and I've about had it.

So I may be one of very few people who are looking forward to Monday.

Sad faces all around

My brother, sister-in-law and their 3 boys have been here for a couple days for a quick visit. Baby cried for a good half hour after they left. I felt like crying, but I held it in. But the kids played well together, and the adults had a nice visit.

September 11th

MY cleaning lady

So I humbled myself, and allowed my friend into our messy house. She's been so great; helping without criticism which is exactly what I needed. She even told me it wasn't that bad. I wanted to laugh out loud, because it is THAT bad. But we've cleaned the living room, dining room, kitchen, both kids' bedrooms and we're 2/3 done with the bathroom. She's definitely earning her pay. I have sorted through multiple piles of junk - papers, office supplies, bathroom stuff, JUNK - and we've filled a half dozen or so huge trash bags with trash. I have a couple piles and a box of things to sort through, and I'd be ok with company.

It's still raining; the grass is really getting green. But we're supposed to get between 6 and 10 inches in the next couple days. All I have to say is it's good to live on a mountain!

Rain

It started raining yesterday, and it's still raining. We have really needed rain. The grass is looking green again; it's so much nicer than looking at brown grass. But rain means 2 naughty, arguing children are cooped up in the house. And like most children, they feel the need to occupy the same 2 square feet of property. sigh So one is watching cartoons, and one is playing legos in a different room. It's the first time this morning there's been peace. Now if we could just find something other than Dora; that girl's voice gives a chalkboard a run for its money.

Where ya been?

My 2 readers might be asking that question. LOL

My husband was on vacation last week. We spent the week working at the church, trying to get things cleaned up and in order for the new pastor (who we still love, btw). DH and another man, along with the pastor, put in the new flooring in the offices. And then DH went back and did the thresholds and trimwork. And he went this week and helped the electrician run phone lines and electric to the office.

I am excited, impatient and exhausted when it comes to church. We have more kids coming on Sunday nights, and I want to go to church then, too. But while we have more kids coming, we have fewer people willing to help out with the nursery and with teaching kids' classes. So, I'm trying to be patient and hang in there a little longer. Last Sunday Pastor handed out surveys, hoping to find out what people would like to get involved in. I'm hoping there will be some pew-warmers who get off their... pew.

Baby had a birthday. She's 6 now. Wow. I tell her all the time that she needs to shrink. We had a party at the lake last week while Daddy could be there. I think she had a great time; she wanted a horse party. And she wanted a horse-head cake. She told me this like 2 days beforehand. I didn't have time to find a pan, and I wasn't up to freehanding it. I told her we'd do cupcakes for her lake party, and I'd make the other one for her actual day. Thankfully she was pacified.

Monday was her birthday. And I forgot that the preceding week when I made plans and commitments for this week. Oops. Monday morning, my friend Julie came over to help me clean. My house has gotten out of control. We cleaned Baby's room so she'd have a place to put her new presents. Love it.

After Julie left, I ran 40 minutes+ to get the kids signed up for homeschool for this year, and came home to decorate the cake I finished baking at 2:30 Monday morning. I got it done just as Daddy had to leave for work. And then I crashed. Until I woke up with horrible abdominal cramping. I ran to the bathroom, and while I was "going", I thought I was going to pass out or vomit. It was terrible. Between episodes I was lying on the bathroom floor.

Little Boy ran in the front door and hollered that Baby was going up the hill 3 houses to talk to the lady who lives there. He was all freaked out; I was so sick, and so mad. She knows better. The kids put on a little parade for the neighbor lady while I stood on the porch with my head on the railing. It was bad. I don't know if it was just stress? Bleh.

Today Julie came, and we cleaned our living room. I still have a couple of piles to deal with, but it looks really good. DH pitched in and helped, and the kids were in and out. Tomorrow we'll tackle the dining room. She's between jobs right now, so I am giving her money to help us. We'll do the kitchen next. That might take us into next week. And if she's still up for it, we can tackle the den, the basement, the garage, or my room? We'll see. We might go broke. LOL But I feel some of the depression lifting.

So, I hope to be back more often. Progress, just a little at a time.

Relief!

Our new pastor and his wife were at church yesterday. I've been teary for a couple days. It feels like I've been single-handedly keeping people on track. That is probably not the truth, but I know that few people even think ahead past Sunday dinner. But our pastor seems to really be "with it". Maybe I can relax my grip on the dashboard a bit.

Counting the Days

So it's been 10 months since our pastor resigned. I'm looking forward to August 7th like you wouldn't believe. But between now and then...

Tomorrow DH and I need to get the carpet fixed in my classroom before VBS starts on Wednesday. I need to get the rest of the flyers ready to go. I have CAUTION tape that I'm stapling to each one as a loop to hang from doors. Tuesday, the mission group is coming in. We have a meeting at 4, and then Wednesday VBS starts. From there, the week will fly. Next Sunday, the group that's coming is going to "run" the service. And the following Sunday our new pastor starts.

And then HE can stress about the logistics. Or whatever.

Tweet

"Churches rise no higher than the spiritual maturity of its men."

This is from our new pastor's twitter page.

I wonder if he's ready to teach kindergarten.

Permission?

If you've ever watched Dr. Phil for any length of time, he says all the time that we teach people how to treat us. So I'm wondering, if people act like idiots all the time, does that mean I can treat them like they're idiots?

Probably not, but in my smart aleck mind it kinda sounds right.

Our new pastor cannot come soon enough. DH has been struggling with his feelings about our church. He is tired of the morons - 3 of them in particular who call themselves "the leadership". "The leadership has decided...." I think they are going to have a little wake-up call when the pastor comes. He has shared with Mike that he feels like committee recommendations and congregation input are vital, especially at the beginning of his ministry here.

The next 3 weeks are too busy.

Anticipation

Or irritation.

The SS meeting tonight was ... interesting. The man leading the meeting spoke to us for about 15 minutes about teachers needing to be at church at least 5 minutes early. But then he danced all around the issue that one teacher who teaches in the church sanctuary needs to be sure to end on time. aaaaaaaargh

I told him after the meeting I wished he had just said what he didn't say but clearly wanted to say. He pretty much knew what I was talking about.

I also was ticked at some of the rude things that teacher said. Whenever he feels like someone is saying something negative about him, he lashes out with rude comments. (That's real mature.)

I was talking to the head deacon after the meeting about the VBS stuff I was sent. I wanted to make sure there weren't any issues beforehand so that things could be changed now if needed. This rude guy walks up and says, "Maybe you could make copies of these to give to the "leadership"." I wanted to say that as far as VBS goes, I AM the leadership, you big JERK. But I didn't. I said I could make copies of the daily schedule, but that it wasn't necessary to hand out copies of the the lesson synopses that they sent. He didn't say anything. I picked up the papers and put them in my purse. It's not that I feel good being snotty, but I've just had it.

I emailed the incoming pastor today. I recommended the CPA our last church used when I was the church treasurer. I copied the email to our current treasurer b/c I don't want anyone getting upset. But it's almost to the point of doing what I need to do and not worrying about who gets upset about what. I mentioned in my email that I've done accounting/payroll stuff in the past for a couple places I worked. I know there are people who do not know half of my job history who are going to just scoff. I half feel like I need to hand out my resume in order to get any kind of respect.

DH was mentioning that he feels like he doesn't get respect with his family or at church. That makes me pretty sad; he's got more insight and integrity in his little finger than some of them have had their whole lives. I just hope the pastor reads people for who they are. Poor guy.

Sunburn

I've been sitting at Little Boy's baseball camp. I've used sunscreen on my neck and arms, but forgot my face. I use foundation that has a small amount of sunscreen, but the sun has been really hot.

VBS is coming up. I got the signs today. They look good. I haven't heard back from the place at the main intersection down the street yet. I called and asked if we can hang a VBS sign on the fence. The business is actually closed, and the management company hasn't responded. It would be a great place to hang our sign.

There is so much to do and I'm not even in charge!

Our pastor's first Sunday is August 7th. I'm looking forward to it so much. Especially since I've about had it with people who can't figure out anything unless their hand is being held.

Tonight is the quarterly SS teachers' meeting. I really want to ask why we all have to end our class at 25 min before the hour, but the adult SS teacher doesn't quit until 20 or 15 min 'til.

My son has been a complete brat lately, and then Baby responds the same way. I seriously don't know what their problem is.

Sick and Tired and Depressed

So I started out depressed, and then started feeling sick, and now I'm tired, too. I stayed home from church this morning; it's the most peaceful nap I've had in a long time.

I guess sitting with your head in the toilet takes your mind off depressing things for at least a little while, huh?

3 am

It's 3 am and I should have been in bed hours ago. I did get a 2 hour nap - yesterday, now - but this late night is cancelling it out.

I have been dealing with a lot of spiritual things for some time. I realize that denominations serve a purpose. And I think it's easier to fellowship when you have like beliefs. But the reasons for separating completely from a group of believers are getting fewer. I don't think I'll ever be best friends with someone who is far from my doctrinal stand. But there are people in my denomination that are wicked. They are mean-spirited, and I think I Cor. 3 calls them carnal for glorying in their divisions.

I just needed to get that down on paper; maybe I can sleep now.

Here

That's about how I feel right now. "Here." I remember answering that when class role was called in college. I'm tired. Too many nights staying up too late. Something going on every day. And those are the easy days. Lately, it seems we've had multiple things going on each day.

I know our schedule is light compared to many people's schedule. But we really prefer to not run too much.

I haven't posted in some time. I got distracted during Diabetes Blog week, and never finished. Update on Little Boy's #s. Last night I had a ladies' meeting at Denny's. Little Boy and I talked about what he'd like to eat, I figured it up from the nutrition chart I downloaded. I gave him his shot to cover dinner, and last night before bed he checked. Over 300. bleh I had to give him a shot to correct, and at his 2 am check he was 130. DH told me and I vaguely remember holding up a thumb in my delirium.

I've been learning and thinking and questioning a lot lately. My new network of survivor friends on SFL have opened my eyes to many things I've questioned for years.

Baby had her ballet recital recently. She was adorable. And even though I stressed myself out both nights and had to run home - first night she left her shoes at home, and second night I left the big flash at home - she did a great job.

Admiring Our Differences

I think what I've learned and appreciate about reading the blogs of other T1 Moms is that my son's sugar is much more regulated than I thought. I read of kids dropping drastically without warning. My son's numbers are not always in the acceptable range, but rarely does his number surprise me. If it's low, it's when he hasn't eaten recently. If it's high, it's because he just came home from his grandparents' house. (Don't get me started.)
When I read the blogs of T2's I realize that they face the same problems and health issues as T1's, even though their "treatment" is easier/less painful. But I wonder if their control is less effective?

2nd Annual Diabetes Blog Week

My blog isn't specifically about my Type 1 Diabetic son. I was writing my blog before he was diagnosed. But occasionally our battle against this disease makes into my writing. I think most days I feel like I'm treading water or just going through the motions to keep us all afloat. There are days I can't think about it too much, because it just kills me.

Beginning tomorrow, for a week, my posts will be about Diabetes and our daily journey, specifically my son's trials.

Rollercoaster Ride

It's been awhile since I was on a real rollercoaster. I pushed myself to enjoy the ride above the fear in the pit of my stomach. This past weekend I had to do that same thing getting onto 4 different planes. All four planes "experienced turbulence." We had one landing that made me very nervous. I was very glad to see my friend Gina, and it was good to see her family. We ate and shopped, shopped and ate. And then ate some more. It was so nice to sit and talk to someone who knows me - knows what I've gone through - knows that once upon a time I wasn't this fat. Someone who shares history with me. And I think we didn't have enough time to get on each other's nerves. That makes the visit a success.

And now I'm home. And my kids didn't magically become angels, and the housework still exists. And our schedule didn't change. So it's like coming off the rollercoaster back into the daily grind. Which isn't a bad thing. It makes the rollercoaster ride a fond memory, and I get to spend time with my 3 favorite people in all the world. But it sure is nice that it's already bedtime for babies, as we say in our home. :)