Witnessing, Belief, Answers

This past month has been delightfully strange to say the least... this blog entry is 'my story' that I thought needed to be shared, because it is just that AWESOME... so to give fair warning... it may be a bit wordy and long... but... stories tend to be like that... so either grab a cuppa tea/coffee, prop your feet up for awhile and continue to read on... or... click off and go on your way... I totally understand if you bail here.

My story begins with my Orkin man coming to do my scheduled maintenance bug spraying.  We have lived in this house two years now... and as always... whenever we move into a new home, one of the first things I do is to call Orkin to begin regular bug spraying to keep our home bug free... I've used them for 20 years and am very pleased with their service.  Any hoo... I digress... my bug man "Stephen" is from Scotland, and has a very heavy brogue accent, making it difficult to understand him... therefore I have always been polite, but never encouraged conversation with him, only because I could not understand him, and didn't want to keep saying to him "I'm sorry I didn't quite get that".

On his first visit 2 years ago, we were discussing what had brought my husband Joe and I to this new home, and we chatted about our families.  He shared with me on that first visit that he had recently lost a child, but he didn't elaborate on the cause of his son's death, and I didn't ask, I felt if he wanted me to know more he would have shared his story with me then.  Fast forward to 4 weeks ago, when he came to do his regular spraying.  I recently had foot surgery and have been laid up since September 5th (2012), Stephen stopped to chat with me and ask about my surgery when he was finished with his spraying.  What made us begin this particular conversation... or rather "witnessing" session... I have no idea other than he asked about my surgery... which turned into an hour long conversation... that for the first time in 2 years, I totally understood every word he spoke in his Scottish brogue.

Our conversation turned into our personal faith and beliefs.  His story is AMAZING... it would take another very long blog to tell it all in detail... which would be totally worth the read... but... to be concise... basically this man is just like Job in the bible.  He has had misery after misery, he has lost everything, picked himself back up and restarted many times... all the while holding tight to his faith and a positive attitude.  Personally, I truly believe God put this man in my path on that particular day for a reason.  Stephen was not looking for pity... he was just sharing his story from questions I was asking him.  I was laying on the couch with my foot propped on pillows, Stephen stood across the room, and for an hour (which seemed like only moments) he poured out his personal story, and the story of his son's death... which led me to share my own story of my families heartache, and loss of my sister when I was just a 3 year old child.

Stephen (like Joe and I) met his first wife at the tender age of 13, they married young, had children... a daughter and a son... and life was good.  One day his wife decided she had married too young, had children too young, and had missed her youth.  She told him she wanted a divorce so she could go find and enjoy her youth again.  He was devastated and totally blindsided... he 'thought' they were a very happy family.  His wife told him he could take the children as long as she was allowed to keep all government money alloted for them.  She then became the town drunk and whore, while he began to rebuild his life.  Years later he met his current wife and they moved to the United States to begin their lives together in the land of promise.  They too had children... a daughter, and then girl/boy twins.

One night two years ago he received the phone call that his son had died in Scotland... he had drowned while taking a bath.  At this point I asked how old his son was... 11 was his answer... so without thinking... I ask him if he had fallen in the bathtub... he replied No... Stephen was told the boy had been sick with a cold, had taken cold meds and must have become dizzy from the meds and drowned... however... the autopsy revealed the child had not been sick, and there were no signs of any medications in his system. The next day a blizzard hit Scotland... 4 feet of snow made it impossible for him to get back to Scotland for his son's funeral.

As Stephen continued to share and witness with me about his son, he told me his son was a very Godly boy, and had remained behind in Scotland with his mother to try and save her from her drunken and whorish ways.  Stephen believes the boy committed suicide because he was unable to help his mother and could no longer tolerate, or be forced to live with her life style, as man after man came in and out of his home to bed his mother.  At this point I was completely silent and in tears... Stephen spoke all of this to me in a very calm and steady voice... like a blanket of sorrow that he alone would bear.  I shared my own story of my sister's death, and how much I wished I had known her... how I have always wondered if I had been a good big sister to her during her short life... would I have been a good big sister to her had she lived?  I shared with him that I have ALWAYS known she is, and always has been with me, and to this day I KNOW she still watches over me.  To digress a bit again... my Grandmother had a special gift of premonition, and spiritual awareness that she passed on to myself, my youngest daughter Lauren, and my cousin Nancy.  While we appreciate her gift, at times it is hard to explain to others and understand.  Either you believe or you don't believe us... we are ok with either... we don't ask, or expect everyone to understand or believe, we just share/witness to those who do.  We have all had visions in such detail about things we could never possibly know about, that when shared with other loved ones, and then told them about the details... they know we could never have just made this up.  To those who do believe, they find great comfort from what we share.

After Stephen left my house that day I started to get several prayer requests from loved ones, both friends and family, or I heard several things of concern that were on the hearts of my loved ones.  I never mentioned this witnessing with Stephen to anyone, only because as life does, things got busy and I honestly forgot about it... but... I did find myself often in deep prayer that week of Stephen's visit.

Fast forward again to the week after Stephen's visit.  Rarely do I ever include myself in my prayer requests.. but in times of great need of spiritual guidance I do ask for it, making sure to ask for clear answers that are so obvious I will know what God's plan is.  When most of us pray... we already have what we think the 'perfect' solution is in our minds, and we want/expect for those solutions to happen.  Each and every time I have found myself on my knees asking for answers, whatever they may be, I am always totally open to anything... believing that when I give it to God, I have to let it go... God ALWAYS gives me my answers and they have NEVER been anything I could have dreamt up in my wildest dreams... then I KNOW for sure that is what I am supposed to do, and it is amazing how perfect his answers are.  I truly blindly trust when this happens and I have never regretted it.

My personal prayer request occurred when I least expected it.  I had gone to the basement to fetch a soda out of the beverage refrigerator when I literally, and suddenly became overwhelmed with the need to get on my knees on the cold basement floor and just pray.  I had been praying for my concern for awhile... but it was more like a daily prayer of guidance vs the deep gut releasing request that occurred in the basement that night.  It was a Monday night at 10:30 p.m., Joe was out of town and I was all alone in the house.  Joe and I had not been able to attend church here for the past 6 months due to a terrible split of our church over the new pastor... and I still can't believe one man could completely destroy a congregation like he did.  At the time the split occurred, Joe and I were in the process of becoming members, and the split forced us to put our membership plans on hold.  At no time during this 6 months did we entertain the thought of just going to another church... this church was worth waiting for the resolution.  That night on my knees... all I was asking God was for guidance... were Joe and I doing the right thing... were we supposed to begin the search for a new church, or continue to just wait?  What did God want us to do?  After pouring my heart out to God, I continued on my knees to pray for some loved ones who are really going through a hard time, and how could I possibly help, or make a difference.  Out of no where... completely unexpectedly, and without her being on my mind... my sister appeared to me, and I instantly knew God had my ear, everything would be Ok, and a peace I can never come close to explaining came over me.

After my prayer session that night in the basement... I forgot about my soda and just went up to bed... waking up the next morning, going about my business, and never mentioning my experience from the night before to anyone.  And then... prayers began getting answered... in ways I could never have imagined.  Since the prayers for others are personal and private, I can't and won't share those prayers or answers... and at first, even I didn't realize what was happening... until... my own prayer request was answered 3 days later on Thursday afternoon.  Our church sends out a bulletin each Thursday before church on Sunday.  For that past 6 months I have been so upset about the circumstances at our church, that as soon as the bulletin arrives in our mailbox, it goes instantly into the trash without me even glancing at it.  On this particular Thursday Joe collected the mail (he never collects the mail, except for when I'm out of town)... as he went through the mail he handed me the bulletin not knowing I never read it anymore... and... as I was tossing it in the trash an insert fell out... as I picked up the insert to toss in the trash, something caught my eye causing me to actually read it.  It was written by the new Interim Pastor!!!!!  He was writing about how the problem Pastor had been given severance and was gone... and then he continued to write about how the church could now move forward, reunite, and heal.  I instantly fell again to my knees in prayer of Thanksgiving... and it was like connecting the dots to all of the other answered prayers that week, and how each of those answered prayers were every single thing I was requesting of God that night on the basement floor.

For the next two weeks random, and amazing things continued to happen... each one with such clarity that I knew God truly had had my ear that night... and because I truly let go of each and every concern on my heart that night as I gave them to God, I also knew without any doubt what God's plan was for me to do for each of my prayer requests... and thus began my witnessing of these events to others... including the night in the basement that I had not spoken about to anyone.  I did not plan, or set out to witness so much, or to so many people this past month... but each witnessing session (whether it was I doing the witnessing, or I was being witnessed to) was completely spontaneous, but so rewarding!

That Sunday I returned to church.  Every single word the Interim Pastor spoke during his sermon, and every single lyric to every song we sang resonated in my heart as if those words, and lyrics were meant only, and specially for me.  I quietly wept thru the entire service... which was an outdoor, by the lake service... the only outdoor/lakeside service our church holds each year, with a cookout after the service.  It felt like a movie version of my prayers... with my head wanting to scream this doesn't really happen in real life, while my heart was loudly praising... yes it does, when you pray, believe, and trust in the LORD.  

This story, and this journey all began the day Stephen witnessed his story with me, completely out of the blue, and completely trusting me with his faith.  The purpose of this particular blog entry is continue my witnessing that I feel God wants me to do, to reach as many people as possible who have their own deep prayer requests, and to help them believe prayers ARE answered.  When you experience the kind of AMAZING things I have witnessed this past month, it is impossible to keep it to yourself.  I feel VERY Blessed to have been chosen to not only have this spiritual experience, but to feel compelled to share it.  I continue to get prayer requests, and I continue to pray for them.... May God Bless you all!

Front Stoop Sitting

Geez... I've been front stoop sitting as far back as I can remember.  Things to be done on the front stoop are... mostly chatting (if you are with someone)... mostly pondering and relaxing (if you are alone).  I've been doing a lot of front stoop sitting this past Spring and Summer because of the new home construction going on behind my house, and wanting to be outside but away from the noise and dust.  

Our house is nestled in the woods on a cul-de-sac street, in which we are the only house on the street.  I LOVE THIS!!!  Our neighborhood which has big wooded lots, only has 16 homes in it... thus... it is very peaceful and quiet.  We get all kinds of wild life that roam around our yards... such as deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, and all sorts of bird life.  I can go out in the morning with my cup of tea and just sit quietly and watch as these animals go about their daily lives... and if I am real still and quiet they don't see me or know I'm there... but you let me so much as blink and off they dash back into the woods... so I usually try to stay really still and just watch.

My Dad has always loved just watching nature, and NEVER EVER wants to kill a thing... not even a spider or a snake... he would rather observe them from a distance and leave them alone.  But since I grew up in the country and lived on 8 woodsy acres... my Dad has had to kill several mice, snakes, and spiders (which I'm sure each one broke his heart) just to make sure I knew he would always save me and take care of me whenever I needed.  Heck... I remember very clearly one fall morning when my cousin (Debbie) and I were walking down the stone wall of my driveway and encountered a cow/barn snake who was really minding his own business... my cousin steps right over it and keeps going... I come to an instant stop and SCREAM as if I had actually been bitten.  My Dad... who is a night owl and a late sleeper... did not appreciate being awaken at that early hour by my piercing scream... the kinda of scream that terrifies the heart of any parent... but bleary eyed and barely dressed... out runs my Dad to save me from that totally harmless snake!  I also remember sitting on our front porch with my Dad watching a spider spin it's web in the corner of the porch.  My Dad would get so absorbed in watching that spider... that he would actually throw flies and bugs in the spun web just so he could watch what the spider would do... and I believe he checked on that web everyday until it was blown away by the wind.  So nature watching is one of my favorite past times to do on the front stoop.

Front stoop chatting is one of the best places to just solve all the problems of the world!  When my girls where in elementary school, my neighbor (Kim) and I would sit on our front stoops every afternoon with a glass of iced tea and chat while we waited for the school bus to drop the kids off after school.  We would hug our kids, hear about their day, give them an after school treat, and then we would continue to stoop sit and chat while the kids played in the yard together until time to go in and start homework and begin making dinner.

But as I stated earlier... new home construction has been going on behind our house since this Spring, and because it is noisier and dustier out back, I started going out on the front porch for the peace and quiet.  I enjoy reading, talking on the phone, sipping my tea, or just laying on the concrete to absorb all the warmth stored up from the hot sun.  It is a very relaxing place to spend a few reflective moments, or an hour reading a book.  When my Mom and daughter (Lauren) came to care for me after my bunion surgery a few weeks ago, we all spent lots of time sitting on the front stoop visiting... my mother worked on her hand sewing, Lauren and her 19 month old son (Henry) played in the yard, and we just talked, laughed, and soaked up the warm rays of the sun.  It was sooo nice to share one of my favorite spots with them during their visit.

Fall has arrived and Winter isn't far behind, so my front stoop sitting for this year is almost to and end.  But I will continue to front stoop sit while I read, think, chat, or just observe nature for as many warm days as I have left before the first snowfall... after that I will stay inside and huddle up to the warmth of the fireplace and watch nature from inside, counting down the days until I am back outside on my front stoop next Spring!

40 Years of Joe

Our story began on a beautiful summer day... June 22, 1972 to be exact (it's in my diary!)... when a 14 year old boy (Joey) took off on his bike with his two brothers to gather the neighboring kids to play a game of field baseball.  Joey and my cousin (Debbie) lived in the country... so to find enough bodies to make two teams for a game of baseball, meant all the kids in every nearby family was invited to play... which meant you had kids from the ages of 5 to 14 all outside, in the neighbors field, playing baseball until the parents called them all back home for lunch, chores, dinner... etc.

On this particular June day, I was visiting with my cousin at her house... we have been best friends and playmates our entire lives... I'm 3 years older and was/am a girlie girl, Debbie was/is a tomboy who could, and does play any sport as well as any of the guys.  So of course she was ALWAYS the first neighbor who would be asked to play baseball with them any time a game was getting put together.  Joey knocked on the door expecting Debbie to answer it... but... Debbie left to go to the bathroom, leaving me to answer the door, which I did... and there he was... sooooooooooo darn cute that I was instantly smitten... I may have only been 13 years old... but... I was TOTALLY SMITTEN!!!

Fortunately for me, I also lived in the country, just 2 miles down the road, and because there just weren't many girls in the area my age, I didn't have competition on trying to win Joey's affection.  Joey was always a nice, sweet and funny boy, our personalities matched perfectly and we just hit it off from "I reckon" (my answer to him when he asked me if I wanted to play ball with them).  Even though I spent a lot of time with Debbie before I met Joey... you can only imagine how much more time I was at her house after meeting Joey.  It was a FABULOUS summer, and by summer's end I was in LOVE!!!!

Joey was a year ahead of me in school, but we had several classes together and we quickly became High School Sweethearts, we would stay sweethearts all through High School.  After graduation, Joey left for college 2 hours away.  He broke up with me before he left for college... not because we had a disagreement or weren't still in love... it was because his Mom insisted he have the freedom to experience college without any ties back home.  In her eyes, this was his chance to really see what the world had to offer.  At the time, I was broken hearted and knew he would find someone else and I would lose him forever.  But... I quickly learned that even though we were 'officially' broken up... we really weren't.  He wrote me letters several times a week, we called each other long distance when we could (at the time long distance was a luxury most of us couldn't afford), he came home for the weekends whenever he could, and our relationship continued to forge and bloom long distance all the same... he never dated anyone else, nor really did I.  Now that I am a parent, I totally understand sending your child off to college and encouraging them to be unattached so that they would be available to enjoy all of the college experience.  I have always had a great relationship with my Mother-in-law, and I knew her wanting him to be 'free/available' at college wasn't about me... it was about her wanting her son to know he would always have options.  And it was at college that Joey grew up and became Joe.

I was ready (or so I thought) to get married and have babies the moment I graduated High School... I had no intentions of furthering my education, I wanted to just get a good job, work and have a family of my own.  Now that I am in my 50's I see the silliness of my thinking... but all I knew was I was in love with this wonderful guy and I wanted us to be a family forever!  As it turned out... after 5 years of dating, Joe and I did marry young... I was 19, he was 20... and two years later we started our family.  It hasn't always been blissful... we were young, dumb, and dirt poor... but we found our way all by ourselves... and we have had fun all along the way.  When we didn't have a penny to our name... we sat and played cards, board games, and backgammon and listened to albums... when we had some spare change we would get a neighbor to watch the girls and we would go to the movies, or out for a cheap dinner (we couldn't afford to do both)... when we had a bonus, we took the entire family out to celebrate.  With or without... we have just always made it work, and have always had fun along the way.  I remember and cherish the early days that were hard because it made us grow strong together... Joe and I have always been "We" and/or "Us"... 40 years strong and hopefully 40 more years to go!

I am blessed to have found the "Love Of My Life" at the tender age of 13!!  Joe and I just celebrated our 34th year of marriage this summer.  He continues to be the "Love Of My Life", my Best Friend, my Partner, my Soul Mate... "the bread to my butter, and the breath to my life" (to quote Paul Child's toast to Julia)... Joe makes me laugh every day, he makes me a better person just by the example of goodness he sets... Joe really is, always has been, and always will be my Everything!  I am blessed and I am grateful!

Here's to all of you as you celebrate your own Love Timeline!... Here's to Love... May Love always rule strong!

The First Day of Fall 2012

Today is the first day of the Fall season for 2012... and it indeed does feel like fall, smells like fall, looks like fall... and therefore, my taste buds have begun to switch over from the tastes of the fresh fruits and vegetables of Summer, to the heavier and heartier tastes of Fall.  Isn't nature funny in how that happens??  No matter how much I enjoy eating certain foods of any season... when the season has passed and the new one has begun... my taste buds change right along with the seasons.

I'm a devout Summer lover... it truly is my favorite season... I enjoy Fall and Spring... I endure Winter! I'm really trying hard this year to be a good sport and not be a pouty pants whinning about the end of Summer like I usually do.  All of my friends and loved ones know... I start my pouting and whinning over the end of Summer soon as Labor Day ends.  This year may be different because my situation is different... but either way I'm gonna try hard to appreciate the beauty of Fall and not mourn the passing of Summer.

My situation this year is different due to the fact that I had bunion surgery 2 weeks ago and am pretty much under house arrest for the next 3 months... which means... I can't be outside swimming, gardening, golfing, or enjoying any of my other Summertime pleasures, so I will stay propped up inside and watch as the colors change and the leaves fall.  

Don't get me wrong... I don't dislike Fall... it's just that... Fall isn't Summer.  I do like the crispness in the air that Fall brings, I like watching the leaves change color and fall into a Monet like blanket all over the grown.  I LOVE caramel apples, and they only taste good in the Fall, I love the soups and stews that warm the belly and soul on a cool crisp day, or even better on a cold rainy day.  I like huddling up to and warming my hinnie by any fireplace or firepit.  I love pumpkin patches and all the yummy treats that can be made from pumpkins.  I love corn mazes, hayrides, art/craft fairs, and the festivals that Fall brings.  

There really is sooo much to enjoy in the Fall season and I welcome Fall 2012 with arms open wide!  In fact... I think I will go put on my first pot of chili for this very first day of Fall!

The Olympics 2012

The Olympics have been a "MUST SEE" event for as long as I can remember.  I can't remember a single Olympics that I haven't been glued to the TV to watch.

Although our family enjoys watching ALL of the events of the Olympics... we all have our favorite sport/event we like to watch.  For the Summer Olympics my husband likes beach volleyball, and track and field the best, but also likes the swimming and diving... our daughters and I like to watch gymnastics, swimming, diving, synchronized swimming/diving as our favorites.  For the Winter Olympics my husband enjoys the skiing events the best, while our daughters and I like the skating events the best.  

Watching and cheering the USA attempt to win medals... particularly the GOLD of course... can be a breath taking experience.  At times I literally find myself holding my breath to see if the USA competitors accomplish a win in their events... especially when the competitions are soooo closely matched, and the finishes are soooo closely contested.  

Watching Michael Phelps obtain the unbelievable feat of winning the most Olympic medals of anyone in the whole wide world has been a wonderful experience.  I LOVE watching history being made as it is being made.  But that he is a USA Olympian is of course the BEST!!!

As I continue to watch and enjoy all of the Olympians from all over the world compete, I will cheer the longest and loudest for USA... but you just can't help getting caught up in the 'underdog' stories and wins... no matter what country they represent.  In fact I enjoy the 'how they got there' stories from all Olympians, from all over the world.  It takes sooo much training, devotion, commitment, determination, and sacrifice to make it to the Olympics... how could you not get caught up in their personal stories!  I'm proud of all who 'give it their all' to accomplish the physical feats they put their bodies through to jump higher, run faster, or whatever the event requires their bodies to do.  Watching these athletes bodies do what they do, watching their defined muscles.... WOWZERS, WOWZERS, WOWZERS!!!  

I love the tears of accomplishment, the looks of pride of achievement as they represent their countries, and stand on the podiums to accept their medals... and I personally think that a medal is a medal... GOLD is the most precious... but... to win a medal amongst the greatest athletes of the world, to me is something to be proud of forever!  I understand the tears of defeat as much as I understand the tears of joy for winning... I'm also proud of those who have given it their all, and just didn't quite make it to the medal podium... but still... are a gracious loser, knowing they did indeed do their best.  Having said that... I have little pride for those who win ungraciously, as well as those who lose ungraciously.  You can be proud of your accomplishment and still maintain graciousness.  I'm just not a fan of cockiness period... and there IS a HUGE difference between confidence and cockiness.  

Gabby Douglas was my girl from the start of the Olympic trials to not only make the USA team, but to win GOLD for USA... I'm sooo very proud for her for what she did, as well as for how she did it, and how she has handled herself since her win... YOU GO GIRL!!!!!  

Now... back to watching the Olympics... GO USA!!!!!!  

OOPS and OUCH!!

This week was not what you would call my best week... but I managed to survive it despite myself... and now... it's a brand new week... fresh start!  YAY!!!!

My bad week started last Sunday (July 22nd) as I was watering my patio flowers that sit in pots at the edge of our pool.  I was chatting on my cell phone to my youngest daughter at the time... hands free I might add, as I had my cell phone in my pocket, and earbuds in my ears... my cell phones have been known to enjoy a swim in pools and toilets... so thus I was trying to make sure my cell phone stayed nice and dry... but in doing so... I tripped over the pool cover rope and fell quite hard on my left wrist... I fell so hard that my husband (Joe) heard my fall (he was inside the closed garage, about 50 yards away, and he ran out to see if I was OK), and the fall actually knocked the wind out of me for a moment.  OOPS and OUCH!!!#1  I was absolutely sure I had broken some part of my body... but once my breath returned, I stood up, brushed myself off and realized I was OK.  I have always been a clumsy goober... my parents can attest to this from all the ER visits during my childhood... but it has been years since my last clumsy episode.  It was a scorcher day anyway, so Joe and I finished up the day relaxing in our recliner chairs as we watched the British Open Golf Tournament... and that was that for Sunday.

Monday my bad week continued.  As I was backing out of my garage... ever so slowly and cautiously, as ALWAYS... and just as I cleared the garage, I began to turn my car, and then... BAM... I backed into a car parked in my driveway.  My car was fine, the car I hit has a sizable dent in the front quarter panel.  I knew the car was there... I saw the car sitting in my driveway when I opened the garage door... but I did not realize how close it was parked to my turn around area... I was concentrating soo hard on NOT hitting the sides of the garage... I just did not see the car behind me until I hit it!!! OOPS and OUCH!#2
I immediately told the car owner, then drove to my insurance agency, and the process has already begun to repair said hit car... but still... signs were pointing to me that I should just stay put, wrapped in bubble wrap, safe and sound in my home this week!

Tuesday came and went without incident... only because... I did stay put inside my house all day.  Wednesday I ventured out for a luncheon and had a lovely time, but my left wrist had begun to ache a bit... making me wince at times when grabbing, or lifting things. By Thursday my left wrist was starting to throb quite consistently... and you would think I might have told myself that... 'maybe'... I should go get it checked out... but... I just kept telling myself it was just jammed from the hard fall... I saw no swelling or bruising.

Friday when I went to my pilates session... my instructor, who is also a physical therapist, took a look at my wrist and did see some puffy swelling inside my wrist, but I still had full range of movement.. only hurting when lifting or grasping... I continued to think it was just jammed.  Saturday I had a massage and my masusse worked on my wrist, asking me to describe the discomfort I was experiencing... after doing so, she thought it did indeed sounded like a hairline fracture... so... I finally took myself to get my wrist x-rayed... but because it is now a week post injury, and it was the weekend... I wont know for sure if it is indeed fractured or just jammed until Monday (tomorrow)... but the ER Dr. splinted it, and that has helped... however... when I take the splint off to bathe... I can't bend the wrist at all.  OUCH #3  REALLY!!! I have 'been there, done that... and got the tee shirt' with this wrist before when I was 8 years old!

Good news is... 'IF' my wrist is just jammed... I can get it manipulated and popped back out, wearing a splint for just another week... but "IF" it does have a hairline fracture, it will be casted for 2-4 weeks.  I must say typing this blog one handed has been quite the challenge... but I feel so accomplished 'gitten-er-done"!!

But the thing that BUMS me out the most is... I have been begging for new golf clubs for years, and I started playing golf quite regularly this Spring, and Summer to convince Joe that new golf clubs is a 'need' vs just a 'want'... which I finally did convince him... I ordered the new clubs... and they arrived the day AFTER I hurt my wrist.  I have bunion surgery coming up the first week of September... so... I have been getting as much golf time in as possible these past couple of months, knowing my golf season was quickly coming to an end this year.  Now... thanks to my clumsiness... I'm out of the game for the rest of the Summer... not getting to play with, or enjoy my new clubs until next Spring!!  GEEZERS!!!

We all have 'those" days.. and occasionally, 'those' weeks... it's up to you to decide if 'those' days or weeks will define you, or make you stronger, encouraging you to just get through them.  I learned a long time ago (Thanks to the good example Joe always sets) that a positive attitude will make the worst of circumstances more bearable... after all... tomorrow is another day... a 'do over' so to speak.  Each day you are blessed enough to wake up, is a new fresh day!

My wrist will heal... I will get to enjoy and play with my new golf clubs... but until then... life is still good and I am blessed!!  And in the end... it's just one more story to tell, and share of me being a Ding Dong!!

7/30...
Addendum to yesterday's post (of 7/29)... Wrist NOT broken!  WHEW!!!  Dislocated and popped back in place... getting it popped back in place about made me puke... but I DID get through it, and it is MUCH better now!  Just remember to' breathe in, and breathe out' on bad days/weeks and things WILL be OK in the end... if things aren't OK now... it's just not the end yet!

Homemade Butterfinger Ice Cream

This homemade ice cream recipe is the BOMBDIGGIDY-EST of all home made ice creams!  We have been making this recipe since 1987... and it has been a HUGE hit every single time we have made it! YES!!!  I will share this recipe at the bottom of this blog... it is just tooooo good not to share!

I obtained this recipe from our Minister's wife at an "Ice Cream Social" our church (Symrna Presbyterian Church... in Smyrna Tennessee) held one evening in the summer of 1987.  There were at least 6 different flavors of homemade ice creams at this particular social... it was our very first "Ice Cream Social" we attended... the line for the Butterfinger ice cream was instant, and constant, until the ice cream ran out in less than 10 minutes.  Our family considered ourselves quite fortunate that we had arrived early, and were among those attendees that 'scooped' (pun totally intended!) up a bowl of this DELISH treat.  Our Minister's wife (Jimmy Threlkeld... her husband, the Minister was Gayle Threlkeld... truly!!! this is typed correctly... she was Jimmy, and he was Gayle!) was besieged with requests to share her recipe... which... THANK GOODNESS she indeed did, by handwriting out this recipe for every single person who asked for it!  In fact... the recipe I have is still her hand written version on a 3X5 index card.  I cherish it dearly... not only for the recipe itself, but for the memories it evokes from a very special lady, and a very special evening, every time I see this index card.  I can guarantee we have never missed an "Ice Cream Social" invite since that evening in 1987.

As far back as I can remember my family has enjoyed making homemade ice cream every single summer.  I remember actually sitting on the ice cream maker in my Grandparents driveway as my Grandfather, Father, or Uncle cranked away!  All of us kids would take turns sitting on the ice cream maker while it was being churned by one of the men... we were rewarded with a very cold hinnie... and lots of giggles!  I also have many lovely memories of being at my Aunt and Uncle's home in the country, drooling while waiting for the ice cream churning to be complete and the ice cream ready to eat... my Aunt made lots of different flavors... I vividly remember peach and strawberry in particular... but other than this Butterfinger recipe... my all time favorite is just plain ole vanilla!   I know!  I know!!!  Some of you might think that drab and boring... but... I only prefer vanilla ice cream if it is homemade... it is just so simple, and sweet, and well... it is like the oreo cookie... it is just special as it is... wholesome, fresh, and perfection!

I hope I have inspired you to go dig out your ice cream maker... or go purchase one... and to make a batch of homemade ice cream, plain, fruity, chocolate... or give this Butterfinger recipe a try.  It is just part of the magic summertime brings.  Yes... ice cream CAN be made any time of the year... but for me... it truly tastes best on a summertime evening, with family and/or friends gathered around sharing in the fun of both making it, and eating it!

Here my blogger friends is the most delicious homemade ice cream you will ever eat!  And... it is SUPER easy to make... takes less than 10 minutes to prepare this yummy concoction for the ice cream churner!

BUTTERFINGER ICE CREAM (Jimmy Threlkeld)

1 - gallon whole milk... it's hard to say how much you need... it depends on the size of your ice cream freezer... you want to make sure you have enough milk.
2 - eggs
2 - cans Eagle Brand Milk
2 - tbsp sugar
1 - can carnation milk
2 - tsp vanilla extract (DO NOT use imitation!)
2 - heaping tbsps peanut butter
4 to 6 - Butterfinger candy bars... chopped... (place candy bars in freezer at least 10-15 minutes before placing in a plastic bag and whacking with a hammer)... 4 - Large candy bars... 6 - Small candy bars

Beat eggs until fluffy, then add all other ingredients... mix well.  Add whole milk to the 'fill' line on the ice cream freezer... and churn!  Simple as that!