Dear Daddy



I've always been a daddy's girl

 To my dearest Daddy,

I love you. 

I know I told you that many times when you were alive, but I wish I could have told you just one more time how much you meant to me.  You were my inspiration on bad days, my encouragement to keep going when I didn't think I could take one more step, and as the song that we danced to at my wedding said, "You are the wind beneath my wings."  You really were.  I'm going to miss you so much, but I know you would want me to keep going.

Even now, I can almost hear you laughing and making a joke about something.  You never let anyone take themselves or anything else too seriously.  Even when you were diagnosed with cancer seven and a half years ago, you never let it get you down.  For seven years we heard, "You better give me the good Christmas presents this year because I don't know that I'll be here next year!" with a twinkle in your eye.  The doctor gave you 3 years...guess you showed them!

Fishing at the beach -
daddy's favorite thing to do

Your upbeat spirit and unswerving faith in God has inspired not only me but many others throughout the county and beyond.  The lack of seating at your funeral was definitely proof of that.  You were a much respected man; you still are respected by many.  My prayer is that I can live up to the legacy you have left me.

I will never forget your words to me when you saw me crying over your cancer diagnosis. "Why are you crying?  I haven't wasted a tear and neither should you.  If God wants me here, He's going to leave me here.  If He wants me Home, He'll take me Home.  It's out of our hands so why waist time worrying about it?"  I hope that I can be as brave and as strong of faith as that when my time draws near.



Relay for Life 2009 (I was pregnant)

 The way you left was hard on us, but I know that it was easier for you that way.  The cancer would have taken it's toll eventually and made you bedridden and miserable.  This way, you were able to spend every last minute doing the things you love like fishing, golfing, working for the American Cancer Society and getting ready for another Relay for Life, and getting a final visit with your granddaughter the weekend before your death.  I wish we had had more time, but I'm thankful for what time we had. 



Dancing to "Wind Beneath
 My Wings" at my wedding
2004



When I heard the message on my phone that mom left saying that you had to go back into the hospital so soon after getting out from the bout you had with pneumonia, I knew something wasn't right this time.  I never worried (too too much) about the times you had to go to the doctor or even go to the hospital because you had been such a fighter and had proven doctor after doctor wrong with how long you could fight.  However, this one gave me a chill and a nervous shake.  I knew it wasn't good...but I didn't know why.  Unfortunately, even if I had dropped everything right then and there, left school and driven straight to the hospital, I wouldn't have had time to say goodbye.  It happened so fast, the way you would have wanted, quick, painless, nobody fussing and crying over you.  You never wanted to bother, inconvenience, or worry anyone else.  You were always looking out for others.  A trait I hope I can emulate.

Daddy, you will be missed, but you will never be forgotten.  I know that right now you are up there playing basketball with your old coach from HS (who passed away only a week after you), having a good ol' time with Grandma and Grandpa, and talking to Jesus about finding a cure for cancer.  Do me a favor and look in on my student who passed away earlier this year...you know the one.  Make sure he's still smiling and is in good hands!

I love you Daddy, and I will see you again.

Love,

Sissy

My daybook

FOR TODAY



I am thankful for...
All the time I got to spend with my dad.  Seven years ago, the doctors told him he only had 3 years to live.  He made almost 7 1/2.  That's 4 1/2 more years than we planned for :)
From the kitchen...
I can't wait to try this one!

Tropical Kielbasa
Ingredients
2 lbs kielbasa

2 cups ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks (undrained)
Instructions
1 Slice Kielbasa into 1/2 inch slices and place in crockpot;.
2 Add ketchup, brown sugar and the can of pineapples;.
3 Stir until thoroughly blended;.
4 Cook on low in crockpot for approximately 4-5 hours.
I am wearing...
One of my daddy's Relay for Life shirts and a pair of cargo shorts

I am creating...
(another) new workout schedule.  I've been a couch potato too long.  I've got to beat this depression that has been trying to creep in since daddy's passing.  I need to get those endorphins going.  Daddy wouldn't want me to mope!
I am reading...
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel.  I read these when I was in HS but I just started re-reading them on my Kindle.

Around the house...
I just got my AC fixed today!!  When I was pregnant with Baby Girl, our AC went kaput.  We got a new one installed and all was great...for almost a year when the condenser had to be replaced (after much hassle from the manufacturer since it was still under warranty).  Then the day after Daddy's funeral, I walk back into my house to find it had broken AGAIN!  Luckily the distributor, rather than the manufacturer, was fabulous and after getting fed up with the manufacturer, decided to replace my entire system with a new brand.


Here is picture thought I am sharing...


Baby Girl trying to clean up the mess she made
with her peas at dinner


The Simple Woman's Daybook

I found a new site that has really helped me plan my meals!  It's myfridgefood.com   It's fantastic!  You click on what you have on hand and it come up with tons of recipes made with things you already have!  Loving it!!  So I will be trying out 3 new recipies this week from this site.  I still have to go grocery shopping to pick up a few things but at least I won't be wasting by ignoring food that I already have!

Monday : Chicken Quesidillas.  Unfortunately, my Valentine won't be here so it's just me and Baby Girl for Valentine's Day dinner.
Tuesday: Quick Chicken Mex
Wednesday: Easy sandwiches (It'll be a late day for me!)
Thursday: Apple Glazed Pork Chops
Friday: left overs/ CORN
Saturday: Tropical Kielbasa in the Crockpot
Sunday:  My mother in law will be here.  I think we'll go out :)

Meal Plan Monday - on a budget!

This week I am having to clean out the fridge/freezer/pantry and eat what we have without going to the grocery store - or with getting only bare minimum.  

We have had a few unexpected expenses this week, as well as an added WHAMMY! of having to go without a paycheck due to Hubby's crazy military schedule (he wasn't at his civilian job because he was on military orders so no paycheck from there...but the military pay hasn't kicked in yet so no paycheck from either yet!  ARGHHHHH!!!)  Anyway, with all of this, it means that we have to tighten up until it all gets ironed out.

So...(running from the fridge to the pantry and back again to see/compare)...it looks like we will be dining on...

Sunday: Chicken Pot Pie (I bought the stuff to make this last week and never got around to it)
Monday: Left over CPP
Tuesday: Quesidilla (cheese, chicken, and green peppers), maybe a can of green beans too
Wednesday:  I have parent/teacher conferences at school so this one is up in the air - maybe just a bowl of cereal after all is done.
Thursday: Broccoli and Ham casserole

Friday: Frozen Chicken patties (maybe in a sandwich, or with some motz cheese and tomato sauce?) one of the many cans of veggies we have in the emergency store (this is an emergency, after all!)

Saturday: Frozen corn dogs for lunch, left over casserole for dinner.

Sunday: Cereal for lunch after church, frozen pizza and corn for dinner.

Which means that if all goes right, the only things I have to pick up at the grocery store is some milk and green peppers (for the quesidillas as well as the broccoli casserole)

Image via Wikipedia

Menu Plan Monday

Well it's just me and Baby Girl again most of this week so the idea is...SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE! I'm trying to clean out the fridge/pantry a bit so in looking at what I have in there, here is what I'm planning for the week:

Monday: Left over Pork Chops, corn

Tuesday: Pizza (Thin crust, lots of veggies)

Wednesday: Chicken Cordon Bleu (frozen)

Thursday: Fish Sticks (frozen) and Mac and Cheese

Friday: Broccoli Ham Casserol

Saturday: Lunch: Left over casserol;   Dinner: Hamburger Helper

Sunday:  Lunch: leftover casserol OR Hamburger Helper;   Dinner: Chicken Pot Pie

All of my recipes are HERE

But OrgJunkie has a lot too!!

If you plan your meals for the week on Monday...Hop over to OrgJunkie's site and add your link!

New Years Resolutions

I haven't been able to write much lately - being the working mom of a 1 year old has it perks...but lots of free time isn't one of them!

However, I did want to quickly record my resolutions for this year for the world to see so that hopefully it will give me a bit of accountability

1. Read through the Bible using "The Daily Bible: New International Version: With Devotional Insights to Guide You Through God's Word."  I've started several "read the Bible in one year" plans before but this Bible has it all laid out for me with commentary after each reading to help me to understand what it is I just read.  It is also arranged so that the reading are put into chronological order so it will be easier for me to follow the whole path of the Bible.  If this is the only goal I make this year, then it will be a good year.2. 100 Days Challenge with John "The Penguin" Bingham.  Intentionally move (exercise) for at least 30 minutes DAILY for 100 days in a row
3. Complete the 200 sit-ups and 200 squats programs.  I've attempted these before and failed to complete them.

This is going to be a rough year for me.  Hubby deploys again soon, leaving Baby Girl and I to fend for ourselves.  Hopefully the daily Bible devotions and exercise will help keep the stress down!

I think I did OK with last year's goals.  I managed to run a half marathon so I am in fact physically ready to train for a full marathon...however... with the above mentioned deployment as well that that cute little one-year-old, I don't know that I will have the TIME to train for a full marathon in 2011 (this is why it isn't a goal for this year - but I will keep running and perhaps do a few halves).  I also think I am better at asking for and accepting help from others.  I've made a conscious effort to not let myself get overwhelmed and frustrated when help is just a phone call/doorway/e-mail/etc away.

Monday Menu Planning

I haven't done a formal menu planning in a long time because Hubby usually does most of the cooking and/or things have been busy and we don't know what we are doing until we actually do it.  However, this week it will just be Baby Girl and I on our own, so it is up to me to get back into the kitchen!




Monday: Broccoli, Ham,and Cheese Casserole
Tuesday: Happy Birthday to Me!!  My friends are taking me out - Yum! :)
Wednesday: Salsa Chicken, Cucumber Salad
Thursday: Pita Pizzas, salad
Friday: Sweet and Spicy Sausage, veggie and ranch dip
Saturday: C.O.R.N*
Sunday: Probably grab something on the way home from the airport after picking Hubby up.

Way back when (When I actually kept up with my blog), I would reflect not only on my food choices but also my exercise for the past and upcoming weeks...so here goes:

Last week I didn't do much throughout the week with Thanksgiving and all -- plus I was tapering for a half marathon that was yesterday.  So I only did 2.5 miles midweek... then ran 13.1 on Sunday!

As for my workouts this coming week...I'm going to play it by ear.  I want to make sure my body has plenty of time to recoperate and heal from the half marathon yesterday.  I may do a few short, easy runs later in the week.  Once I feel back up to par, I want to start with my 100 pushups, 200 situps, and 200 squats programs again.  But that may have to wait unil next week!

*C.O.R.N. = Clean Out the Refridgerator Night

Space Coast 1/2 Marathon

 

This morning I did my first running event since finding out I was pregnant almost 2 years ago.

At the end of last school year, my friend and co-worker LeAnn came up to me and told me that one of her "bucket list" items was to run a half marathon and asked if I could guide her.  I did one better, I told her I'd do it with her...

and so our training began!

I started her off with the Couch to 5K program, and since I was so far out of the running loop as well, I did it too.  Then we progressed on to an actual half marathon training program....but I went and got SICK SICK SICK for 3 weeks leaving me only 2 weeks until race day.

Race day = TODAY!

It was a beautiful...albeit EARLY... morning!  LeAnn and her husband picked me up around 4:45am (Hubby and Baby Girl were going to meet us up there a little later) so we had plenty of time to stretch and get psyched up for the big blastoff (It was space themed for the SPACE coast...what do you expect other than a "3...2...1...BLASTOFF" kind of start?).

We were feeling fantastic and hit the halfway mark before we even knew it!  We even saw some dolphins jumping in the river which we took as a good luck sign :)

We were doing great until the last mile and a half...then all of a sudden my calf seized up on me in a massive cramp!!!  OUCH!!  I slowed to a walk for the first time just before the 12 mile mark, then stopped outright to give it a good stretch before toughing it out for the last mile.  LeAnn never stopped but did slow down enough for me to catch up to her (she was afraid that if she stopped, her legs would refuse to start again -- I can't blame her!!)

At the very end she and I broke into an all out sprint (which after 13 miles isn't very sprinty but we felt like it was!).  She finished seconds ahead of me (which I will publicly say is because of my calf, however the truth is I think she had more in her than I did at the end, plus she had the adrenaline of knowing her first marathon medal was waiting on her!).

It was an awesome run and I am so proud of LeAnn!!!  We have decided that we want to sign up for another one in late February!!

LeAnn and I with our new bling

Baby Girl and I after a sweaty reunion

Ten on Ten November

I took these on the 10th ...then got sick and didn't get a chance to post them so I am posting them now...On the 12th :)


There was a boil water warning in the area that my school is in so I took some of our Hurricane water to school for my kiddos to drink (Hurrican season is almost over anyway - only a few more weeks!)




Getting Dressed.  Since there is no school on Veteran's Day, we are celebrating today so of course I had to wear my Navy Bear pin! :)




The beads I wore (and played with) all day too.




In Social Studies we were talking about the Incas who used runners to deliver messages over long streaches of land.  To demonstrate it (and to just get outside for a while) I took my class outside to do a running telephone game where they all streached out and carried a question from me to the last person and then returned the answer to me.  While outsied one of my boys found a feather.




My husband, a Navy Vet, came to school to talk to the older kids about what it is like to be in the service, some of his experiance, and what Veteran's day and the flag mean to him.  Here, he is letting on of the girls try on his body armor.




Home again :)  And I wondered why my glasses always have little fingerprints on them!




One of the cute little birdies on one of my daughter's pillows




Dinner time!  Yummy cheesey chicken and noodles with peas




I love cheese!!



Bathtime!



Happy Veteran's Day

Please remember all the vets who have made our way of life possible. Without these brave souls, we wouldn't have may not have many of the simple pleasures we take for granted every day.