Love Unconditionally

God loves us unconditionally
A mother loves her children unconditionally
A grandmother loves her grandkids unconditionally
This little guy "Brodie" is my youngest grandson and I love him unconditionally.

A Wild & Crazy Weekend

Saturday started with my great nieces 7th birthday party. I forgot what it was like with seven 7 year olds in one room my...ears were ringing for several hours afterwards. Jalena was excited with her glow in the dark art box and her other art toys she received. She loves to draw and this is just the beginning for her.
Bob & I went to Saturday night church and our spiritual souls were fed...we have an awesome preacher who definitely teaches Gods word. After church we decided to call our friends to see what they were up to and they were just walking out the door to go for dinner. We invited ourselves to join them and we met up at Texas Roadhouse. After great food and great conversation we left and stood outside to talk and just west of us we noticed the weather was  rolling in. The wind picked up and the air was getting cooler...we hugged and kissed and parted ways. On our way home became a challenge the wind was knocking our car all around, the rain was pelting the car and then we heard this horrific noise...HAIL. We slid under the awning at a gas station along with other travelers seeking shelter 10 minutes later the hail stopped but the rain picked up. We continued home and the temperature outside went from 87 to 64 within ten minutes. I heard later we had 77 mile an hour winds...AMAZING!
Our return home turned into tears & sadness :(  A freak wind gust at the State Fair turned into tradgedy as of this morning 5 people had died  and 40 others taken to area hospitals. 
So many prayer chains have been created to lift up the families present at the time of this tradgedy. I ask that you keep "ALL" in your prayers. The stage scalfolding, lights, screens and anything else attached fell ontop of the "sugarpit" the VIP folks there to see the band ...Sugarland. I know the people in charge were in the decision making of wether or not they should continue with an approaching storm and then a freak wind gust  of 70 miles an hour came in front of the rain and came down on all these poeple including children. The state of Indiana is still in shock of what happened and we are all praying for the comfort of all.

Sunday came and I woke to a beutiful morning of cool temps and cloudy skies. I caught up on news with my hubby and wrapped my other great nieces present for a party at 2 today. It was very relaxing and great to sit and read the paper and watch my favorite show "The Food Network" after the party and coming home I am now sitting once again and watching...you guessed the "Food Network".  School starts tomorrow and I have to ready myself for the traffic and the questions that every college student has...Where is my class?
Sweet Blessings!!

Peri-MEN-o-Pause

The other day I went to the doctor to have my cholesterol checked and it was the best ever, my diatician was so proud of me. So on my way out I went by Hardees to celebrate with a egg and cheese biscuit. I know its bad of me and I felt horrible after I ate it, but it was soooo good. I have been reading up on maybe becoming a vegetarian, I dont drink pop and there are alot of meats that I dont eat, so I dont think it would be that hard to switch over until I read you cant have hostess cupcakes...thats going to be a problem. I love anything that has the word cream in it...whip cream, cream cheese, cream pie, cream puffs...I think you get it. THIS is the problem. So now I have to have something to blame this problem on, so while at the doctors office waiting for the diatician to come back with my results I eyed some brochures on the wall that read; Diabetes (NO), Osteoperosis (NO), Menopause (oh no could this be my problem), so I sit there thinking should I get up and read what this information brochure has to say? I look around making sure nobody sees me taking it and then I go in for the kill...I snatch it up like a frog on a fly. I open it slowly and the first thing I see is.

Symptoms of Menopause

• Period changes  (hmmm...yup)
• Hot flashes or night sweats (hmmm...yup)
• Less interest in sex (yupyupyup)
• Vaginal Dryness (hmmmm)
• Trouble sleeping (oh yup)
• Trouble controlling your bladder (wearing a pee pad count...yupyupyup)
• Weight gain (oh yupyupyup)
• Mood swings (WHAT!! yup)
• Trouble concentrating or remembering things (
• Trouble concentrating or remembering things
• Trouble concentrating or remembering things  (YUP)

OMGosh! I have ALL these symptoms so I am having my mid-life crises and I didnt even know it. I head to work and brag to my co-workers on how AWESOME my cholesterol is and cant wait to go home and tell my husband. On my way home I'm trying to figure out how Im going to tell my husband about the discovery I made about myself. I finally get up enough nerve and throw the brochure at him and say, "see I told you it wasnt me...I DO have a problem and its called MEN-O-PAUSE see whats at the beginning of that word.
His comment, AND your point is?

Looks like there is no pulling the wool over his eyes he knows me too well. Looks like Im going to be praying my way through my womanhood. :D


Sweet Blessings,
Lodema

The wait is over

Some people wait for...
mail
telephone calls
marriage proposals
cars to warm up
a babies first cry
a babies first word
a babies first step
a job offer
the new IPhone
WHAT...the new IPhone...yep! I finally have a phone that does more than dial out and text. I was so giddy just waiting for the arrival...I tracked its every movement. When it arrived everyone knew it...I couldnt contain the joy I felt...ok...it was pertty pitiful...this was two days ago. So, my husband calls me this morning to burst my little bubble I'm in. Hon, dont say anything until Im done (this usually means something about me) I just talked with some guys at work and they said they have the IPhones too (I wanted to say something then, but knew I had to wait). Well, when the first bill arrived one guys was $400 something and anothers was $200 something, so you need to call them first thing and find out what you are allowed to use. Now I'm thinking oh great! So being respectful I still keep quiet. And he goes on to say, if we have a phone bill like that I'll take your phone and throw it as far as I can. Well...NOW I have to say something. Thats ok honey because my Defender OtterBox Case its in will protect it. Thinking now that he cant say anything to that...well I was wrong. Oh no, I'll throw it so far you wont be able to find it. Little does he know my case that surrounds my beautiful IPhone is PINK and I will find it! Looks like I need to make a phone call...I hear they dont tell you ALL the costs involved until its too late. Have a great day...love and blessings to all.  

Busy as a Bee

I always thought my life was busy when I was a stay-at-home mom. Meeting myself coming and going and waiting for the day my oldest son could drive. Reality is...you never "stop" going. Now that I have been an empty nester for at least 13 years I STILL find myself coming and going. For example...when all the kids were home it was basketball, wrestling, baseball, gymnastics, boy scouts, girl scouts, soccer, swim meets, doctors, dentists, school, and church. Now its...work, church, ministering to those in need, doctors, dentists, hospital visits, funerals, visiting children, spending time with grandkids, planning get-togethers, making phone calls, studying, school, taking care of my husband, making sure my grandma and uncle have what they need, taking grandma to appointments, and taking care of my house...oh yeah and finding time for me. Routines change but life goes on. I am happy with my life, where I am today. I have a great relationship with my husband, children, friends, church, work, and most importantly with God. I am blessed beyond measure, I owe it all to my heavenly daddy...GOD!!!

Today, I decided I was going to start eating healthy and exercise. I ate fruit for breakfast and a salad the size of a hubcap, and no I couldnt finish it all. I walked on the treadmill a mile in 30 minutes while watching the food network. It makes my time go by and I get a kick out of watching the Neelys, they make me laugh. I can daydream about owning my own restaurant and feeding people some great food at a rediculous low price with lines of folks out the door. Believe me it makes being on the treadmill worth it :D

Its Rev. Martin Luther King Day and we are off work today. I have to make a budget, read more in my Bible, do my homework, write a letter to my penpal, go to my nieces and help her with organizing her kitchen, call my friend in Mississippi, do laundry (working on now), treadmill again and spend time with my husband when he wakes up. He worked 16 hours and I miss him. I take my time serious when we get to be together so tonight I will get to see him longer than the 20 minutes or less that I usually get with him. I was supposed to spend time with girlfriends with movie night, but I need to be home to see my hubby its rare we get more than 20 minutes together. Sorry girls...maybe next time.

Something so little, means so much!

I actually slept in this morning...how did that happen? I think I am coming down with a cough so I took some of that "good" cough medicine and was out by 10:30p and woke at 8am...91/2 hours is unheard of for me. My body clock says 6 hours and thats all! I am so thankful for the rest.

I am still caughing...argh! Nathan (my youngest) called and was dropping by for a visit and then on his way to meet up with his dad to go to the COLTS game. I made tacos that hit the spot...Nathans words exactly...Mom that was the best choice Im gonna make myself sick eating them. I guess I still have it in me :D He thanked me for everthing I have done for him (smart kid) I do have the best kids!

Three o'clock came and Ella showed up...my little cupcake. We played baby dolls, went to church, and then met my niece and her boyfriend after church at Wendys for dinner. Stopped to get BobBob, thats what Ella calls my husband a frosty. When we pulled in the garage Ella wanted to know where the snowman was. She thought when I said frosty, I meant frosty the snowman...she is so darned cute! We shared the snowman (the frosty) had a bath, got her jammies on and then we sat down to watch the football game, well thats all she wrote...she was out like a light. Something about sleeping 3 year olds...they are so precious to watch. Earlier she melted my heart she gave me that dimpled smile and looked at me with her hands on my face and said, your my Nana...ok...so what do you want...my house...my car...name it. I love my Ella Bella! She is fast asleep and mommy and daddy will be coming to get her early in the morning! Good Night sleep tight and count your blessings!

There's always next year for our team "GO COLTS"!!

GET THE COBWEBS OUT!

The first week back after our Christmas break brings the cobwebs out. Our bodies and minds are still in vacation mode, Im just glad that the students havent started back yet. By Monday we should all be back in the groove and then our heads will be spinning with everyone wanting our attention. I went to my car at lunch time and the sun had warmed the inside up nicely. I slid my seat back grabbed my fluffy winter scarf slipped it under my head and took a short power nap. I never thought that I would be taking naps in the middle of the day. But naps do clear the cobwebs.

My niece and 3 year old great niece came over for dinner, afterwards we gave her the "tough love speech" the biblical side of being a single woman with kids. I just pray that she takes our advice. The best part of the night was when my great niece said, "sugarlips" I thought she said cigeretts. I said those are nasty and she looked at me kinda weird because I had kissed her on the cheek. She was actually complimenting me by saying "sugarlips"...that was funny. I love that age she is so funny, she acts and looks just like my neice did when she was that age and they speak from the heart. Her laugh is so contagious and it makes my heaart sing with joy.

I was so excited...one of my coworkers brought in friendship bread and it was yummy. She brought me a start of it today so Im all over it...I thought I would never see that bread again. remember when everyone was doing friendship bread and then it died out....WELL its back!

I hear we are going to have 2 inches of snow tomorrow so it looks like the snow boots are going to come back out.

As my great niece Jalena would say, "see ya later alligator".

Family

The call came at 4:30am this morning, my brother-in-law was moved to CCU and not doing well...the conversation between me and God became pretty serious. After a routine colonoscopy 2 days earlier and removong 1 pollup turned into a nightmare on Sunday afternoon. Rick collasped in the front lawn bleeding from you know where...lots of bleeding. The nasty culprit "blood thinners" he was taking from the heart attack he had several months earlier. He is now holding steady and the docs are trying to get his blood pressure to get back to normal. Prayers are needed, so if you feel led, lift him up. My first day back to work was pretty good, although I really like being at home. About 3p I started getting a headache and still have one...so after I finish this I am going to bed. My neighbor called to see if I wanted to watch Ella...ella is a 3 year old cutie pie who lovingly calles me Nana. She tells her parents that I'm her nana...on my desk I have a picture they gave me of little Ella with the title underneath "my little cupcake" and she is! She is precious and sweet. I am looking forward to this weekend...it will be fun and she loves going to church. :D Speaking of sweet, I want to share a great "little" dessert for one. ENJOY!

Chocolate Caramel Microwave Mug Cake

1-egg

1-T. caramel sundae syrup

1- T. oil

1/8 tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp. baking powder

4T. sugar

2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder

4T. all purpose flour

Coat microwavable mug with cooking spray

Mix the ingredients in a small bowl. Beat egg first then mix in other liquid ingredients. Then add dry ingredients and mix until all lumps are gone and batter is smooth. Pour batter in mug and ONLY pour halfway, smooth top with spoon. Thump mug 6 times to remove air bubbles.

bake 3-4 minutes...remove and run knife along outside to loosen cake. and turn upside down and put on plate...garnish with your favorite ice cream, frosting, or caramel syrup or eat right out of the cup.

Mmmmmm good!

HAPPY NEW YEAR YA'LL!

I hope this day finds you all well. Bob & I have had an amazing week...from visiting friends, having dates, going to the movies (saw more movies in 2 weeks than I saw in 1 year), sleeping & taking naps, visiting with family, our children and grandkids, and walking around the house knowing that there should be SOMETHING I need to do. I felt a little lost at the beginning of my vacation, but as the end of my vacation is here I think I could get used to staying home and spending time with family and friends. One thing I realized is that we don't spend enough time with the ones we love. Our days are filled with committments to things that dont really matter...things that are of the moment. This year I want to focus more time on God and my personal relationship with him (we can never give him enough of us and we can never get enough of him)...spending more time with my family and friends and praying for my neighbors. This year is going to be about relationships and not about temporary and instant gratification.

What can you/we do this year that will make a difference in someones life? Let's fill in that blank :D

What is on the menu today?

CHICKEN POT PIE

2-cups chopped cooked chicken

1-10 oz. can vegall or vegetable of choice

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup butter

1/4 tsp. ground sage

1/2 cup flour

1-1/2 cup chicken broth

2/3 cup milk

2 - single crusts for pie plate, top and bottom

Melt butter in sauce pan. saute onion and celery for 5 min. Add sage and flour. Stir well. Add chicken broth and milk. Cook over medium heat until thick. Stir in chicken and drained veggies. Pour into pie plate. Top with crust, flute edges, and slit top for steam to escape. Place in oven on cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes until done.

Ya'll will love love this...simple and delicious!!!