Today, I'm Just Sad

I wanted to write something today but was having trouble getting in the mood. I'm just sad. A friend of mine that works at the hospital with me went through in-vitro to become pregnant. She was so excited to find out that she was expecting triplets. Not long ago, she found out she was going to be having 3 boys. Two days ago (at 19 weeks gestation), she found out that they had died. Not only did she lose all 3 babies, she had to be induced to deliver them. She delivered at 6:30 am today, but she won't be able to take home her babies. I just hurt for her. I know that God knows all and that He is completely sovereign. I believe that with all of my heart! My heart still aches for her when I think about what a loss she must feel.

Since I heard about this, I have thought about the blessings that I don't always remember...fertility and the ability to carry a baby full-term. So many women struggle with this and how, I know, they must ache for a child. The Lord has blessed me with two healthy babies! I can't thank Him enough!

Lord, bless the women (and their husbands), who are struggling with infertility. Work YOUR will out in their life because you are GOD and you know what is best for them. Give them strength, hope and, most importantly, reveal your love for them so that those that don't know you will learn what an awesome God you really are. I don't know how they cope with these situations without You!

No More Monkeys Jumping On the Bed

My oldest daughter just upgraded from a toddler bed to a full size bed. I ordered new bedding for it and, as soon as I put it on, both our girls decided it was the perfect time to have a little fun jumping on the bed!

Birthday Party Pictures from the Weekend

Here are some pictures from my MIL's 72nd birthday party this weekend!

My grandmother and MIL

Here is my MIL--stylin' and profilin'

My youngest--stylin' and profilin'

Chocolate icing is just too much temptation for my oldest daughter

My niece acting normal

My niece acting goofy

My good looking husband about to chow down

Weekend Reflection

I haven't done a Weekend Reflection in a while. We've been so busy! We've been blessed with health, family and friends! The Lord is good!

• Monday--This was one of my days off. My mother came over to help me take the girls to Sears to get their pictures taken. My oldest daughter did a great job but my youngest was scared and cried the whole time. We got a few good pictures. You can see a couple of the girls and I on my sidebar.


• Tuesday--Work day! I enjoyed my day of treating patients! At one point in my career, I had become so discouraged in my work and wasn't enjoying my patients. I prayed that the Lord would give me a heart to love them, see their potential and help them reach it. Since then, the Lord has really helped me build connections with my patients.


• Wednesday--Work day! The girls and I went to our home church. My oldest is loving her 2 and 3 year old class. I'm enjoying the adult class. Our pastor is teaching on the book of Judges.


• Thursday--Work day! I met my parents for lunch at a local restaurant that serves good Southern cooking. I enjoyed corn souffle, green beans and fried green tomatoes. For dessert, we shared a large chocolate chip cookie (cooked and served in a cast iron skillet) topped with chocolate chunks, vanilla ice cream, whipped topping and chocolate syrup! It was wonderful! My husband and I were able to put the girls down to bed and enjoy eating supper and watching a movie together. (My husband actually slept through the movie!) :)


• Friday--I'm off today. After my husband gets off work, we will be going to my parents house. My grandparents are coming over and we will be celebrating my mother-in-law's 72nd birthday tomorrow. She has requested fried chicken (and the fixings) and coconut cake. She is a special woman and we all love her very much!

3 Things I'm Thankful for This Week:

1. My patients and their families. I treat children and adults and have come to love and respect them. Whether it is a stroke, congenital condition or just a speech/language delay, most of my patients' families bring them faithfully to therapy and even work with them at home to help them make progress. They encourage me with their strength!

2. My mother-in-law--She is a wonderful lady! She raised my husband and sister-in-law by herself. (My father-in-law died when my husband was 6.) She never learned to drive and was only educated through the 7th grade. She always trusted the Lord to feed and clothe her children! She is a strong and faithful servant of the Lord!

3. My blogging friends--I've seen a few of my blogging friends actually get to meet IRL. I'm a little jealous (in a good way):) and hope to meet many of you in the future! I read your posts and am encouraged and blessed that the Lord has placed you in my life!

For more Weekend Reflections, visit Judi at Mommy of Two.

Putting Our Oldest to Bed

This is usually what happens when my husband puts our oldest daughter to bed! I love this picture!

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Thingies

I had planned to fix these for our monthly birthday lunch at work but figured I better try them out first. I fixed them yesterday and, boy, were they good!! I think my husband used the word "extraodinary"! However, I highly recommend using gloves when fixing them. I didn't use gloves but washed my hands afterwards. However, even after washing my hands, I touched my face and "OH MY WORD"--my face was on fire!!!!! My hands burned all night long!!!!! WOW! I actually had a paper towel with ice inside lying on my face!! To sum it up: USE GLOVES!

Ok, on to the recipe!

BACON-WRAPPED JALAPENO THINGIES

Fresh jalapenos, 2-3 inches in size

Cream cheese, softened

Thin (regular) bacon, sliced into thirds

Cut jalapenos in half, length-wise. With a spoon, remove the seeds and white stuff (leave a little white stuff if you want it HOT). Smear cream cheese into each jalapeno half. Wrap jalapeno with bacon. Secure with toothpick. (You can freeze them at this point, if you like).

Bake (I put them on a cookie sheet) at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. You don't want the bacon to shrink so much that it starts to squeeze the jalapeno. If the bacon isn't brown enough after 25 minutes, broil them for a couple of minutes.

Recipe and picture from http://www.thepioneerwomancooks.com/

Christmas in July

I'm looking way ahead to Christmas time in anticipation! This is where we will be spending our Christmas holidays with our family! This cabin is in Townsend, TN, which is close to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg -- all of which are in the Great Smoky Mountains! If you've never been, GO! It is beautiful!!