Golden Yellow Delicious APPLES

Tonight I made Golden Delicious Apple Pork Chops over white rice. Side dishes candied carrots and buttered green beans. It was extremely delicious! My friend whom I bring dinner to when I cook gave it 5 stars so fun! Anyway as I was chopping the apples up preparing them for the sauce I remembered a lady I used to take care of named Elizabeth she was 104 and in her right mind a lot of fun, very wise and intelligent! She LOVED I mean LOVED yellow apples as she called them. I would bring her one whenever I worked, thus getting in trouble for bringing a patient a gift. I did not care I took the write ups and eventually my boss got sick of or didn't want to pay unemployement to someone for serving yellow apples, who knows. At any rate when Elizabeth was dying I brought in a whole bag for her family to enjoy while they sat with her waiting for her to pass away. She watched those apples like a hawk. She eventually died and I attended her funeral in a very old church where they rang the bell 104 times one for every year of her life. It was one of the best funerals I have ever been too. I have taken care of thousands of people in my nursing career. I have bought soap, lotion, kleenex, yarn, etc etc for my patients if they needed it and especially if they had no family, always getting in trouble for it. I also prayed with my patients, held their hand while they were dying, kisses their foreheads, gave them hugs, shared my stories of my family and my many children that are in my life, especially my daughter Rachael who would visit with them frequently. This is all the part I love.BUT this is all the part you can get fired for. I have been told by several people in my life that this is my God given talent. Sometimes I feel my blessing is my curse. I no longer wish to be in nursing, to make sure I entered a nursing home and knew for sure that I can't go back, that time of my life has past. I can't do it anymore. IF my husband died and I had to support my family I would still probably try to avoid it. Some people think this is sad. It just is. I had a wonderful time and on to the next chapter. I love being a wife and stay at home mom with my 3 yr old son. I love helping my terminally ill friend. I love helping all my single mothers, all the babies and I love to cook and share as much off my cooking as I can. So I am still a caregiver just one who can't get fired for buying a gift, saying a prayer and a hug and a kiss. I am happy.

When you walked into my life
And knocked on my heart's door,
I never dreamed you held the key,
To a world of love and more,
And once that you stepped in,
How was I to know,
You'd decorate my life with love,
And make my heart your home.
When I see your smile,
Theres a view of all my dreams,
All my hopes and wishes,
And a love for eternity,
When you put your arms around me,
I've never felt so much,
Until the day I found you,
I never knew real love.
I'll stand beside you always,
And give you all my love,
I could never leave you,
Even when the times are tough,
To only you I'll make this promise,
And know you can always believe,
That for as long as I live,
You'll be all I need.


I first found this poem in 2006 January and posted it for my husband fast forward 4 and some years and it is even more true. I am a very lucky wife. We have been through so much in those years to still be absolutely totally in-love with my spouse is an absolute blessing.

Lord Byron

SHE walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that 's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

husbands

I had two experiences this week that made me appreciate my husband more than I already do and I appreciate him quite a bit.

ONE. My friends husband was diagnosed with multiple myleoma. Scary terrifying news. They had NO idea this kind of news was coming their way. It would take me out. I don't ever want to live without my husband. I am so very thankful he is healthy. Even though I am aware of this more often than most people with my best friend and her daughter both being young widows, this chain of events made me empathize the absolute fear my friend must be feeling.

TWO. While out at an event with women only I overheard a story of absolute disrespect of one woman for her husband and others chimed right in. ALL of them professing to be Christians. This really bothered me as others around them were not. I should have spoke up but did not. I hope I never ever ever disrespect my husband in that manner ever. It is degrading and a terrible thing to do. I hope that in the past if I have complained people realize I was either upset or hurt. I intend to never put him in a bad light even IF I get mad. Of course this does not cover the sarcastic nature of all of us including me, I mean the hurtful putting men in a bad light constantly thing. A little fun and sarcasm is okay with me. I am not professing to be perfect here just witnessed an event I never want to be accused of being like.

ONE.I love my husband he is the perfect person for me and for that I am extremely grateful.

TWO. I am glad my friend with her husband in the hospital did not hear the second situation.

MONDAY MONDAY...........

I am still loving this cooking thing I am doing! I however now have the need for more cutting boards, knives, measuring cups, spoons, cookbooks...........

I have decided that being a stay at home mom is the best job I have ever had. I love the cleaning, cooking, etc etc. AND most importantly I love the time with my child.

Now if only I can get on top of my health and no I am not complaining, just being human and wishing to not be so tired.

Life.Attitude.

Life is interesting. People are weird. My husband has told me hundreds of time the little attitude quote--" I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”(Charles R. Swindoll) I like the following "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."(~Herm Albright)Which probably shows the difference in us to some degree. Nothing ever bothers him. At any rate most times I did not want to listen to him because whatever it was that was upsetting me was too overwhelming or just too much for me to overcome. Lately I have found that I just don't care. Whether it is age or just learning that some people are just gonna be the kind of people they are, and that life just happens- some good, some bad, sometimes a lot bad, you just carry through knowing that in the end at our final destination none of this matters. 2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.