And so it goes.

I got this note from Daniel's teacher yesterday. Honestly, I couldn't stop laughing. We did discuss appropriateness and that he should never bite anyone whether he's a zombie or not.

School has been a real challenge this year for Dan. The bus has been, and continues to be, a real nightmare for him and a lot of the other kids in our neighborhood. There are a few mean kids and no bus monitor.

Dan got off the bus crying yesterday because two kids were very mean to him and called him bad names. I called the principal and he answered the phone, "Hello Mrs. Underwood. What happened on the bus today?" -Obviously it was not a good bus day for anyone!

I am glad there is no school today and I will be super glad when school is finished for this year!

It's Been A While...

It's been a super long time since I blogged here. I've been pregnant, found out my mom had cancer, found out my sister's marriage was ending, turned 40, left my church, began attending a different church, found out my dearest friend is moving far away, had a baby, and lost a grandparent since my last post. There were other things too!

Life can get so complicated! It's easy to get caught up in the minutiae and lose the opportunities to make life count. Time flies by and no amount of trying to slow it down will work! 

Here are my thoughts for today:

Remember that every word you speak has power.

Be a person who builds up rather than someone who tears down.

Tell the people who matter to you that you love them.

Kiss your kids and hug them every day.

Have fun!

Have faith.

Smile.

Current Project and Gluten Free Cookies

I am working on making paper flowers with two McGill punches. This and this. I will expound later, but wanted to show you a preview now! 

Today I made some cookies from a gluten free cake mix and a gluten free pudding mix! They are chocolate and light as air! Here is the recipe:

1 Box Betty Crocker Gluten Free Devil's Food Cake Mix

1 4-Serving Box Gluten Free White Chocolate Pudding Mix

1/2 Cup Butter, Melted

1 Egg

1/4 Cup Buttermilk

1/8 Cup Milk

1 tsp. Gluten Free Vanilla

Sugar (to roll cookie dough in)

Heat oven to 350°F. Mix dry cake mix and dry pudding mix. Add melted butter, egg, both milks and vanilla; stir until soft dough forms.

Shape dough into balls (I used the small end of my melon baller and my hands); roll in sugar. On parchment covered (or greased) cookie sheet, place balls about 2 inches apart. No need to flatten or retain perfect round shape...they flatten out all on their own!

Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cool a few minutes then remove from cookie sheet to a cooling rack. If they last long enough, store tightly covered.

Makes about four dozen cookies.

P.S. I didn't create this recipe! I found it here and altered it to my tastes!

Kidney, Hair, & Old Men

I had a big ol' kidney stone a few weeks ago. I had surgery to bust it to smithereens and it is all better now. I had my post-op visit today and the doc informed me that I am perfect. Ha!

I rode down the elevator with a man who must have been in his mid seventies. He and I exchanged smiles and he said, "I like your hair." I told him that I had decided to stop dying it last spring and he said, "And, you have a lot of it, I'm glad you didn't cut it all off."

I laughed all the way to the car. Today, I love my hair. (And old men who aren't too creepy.)

The end.

My Real Artificial Sweetener Platform

The other day a friend of mine gave me a cute kid cup with a really cute swirly straw in it. It came with a Pedialyte powder sample she got from her pediatrician. I was glad to have it. The cup is blue and it looks like a lot of fun. I thought my boys would really like it.

Later, I opened the cup and looked through the marketing materials in the cup. They were eye catching and presented something seemingly very appealing with the registered slogan, "Anywhere there's water, there's Pedialyte." Genius! A totable electrolyte maintenance drink.

As I read the documentation I was really disgusted that the children's powder had not one but two artificial sweeteners in it. I went to the web to dig a little deeper and discovered that all of the Pedialyte products (except the unflavored liquid) have Sucralose (splenda) and acesulfame potassium (acesulfame K).

Artificial sweeteners are dangerous to the health of humans and animals. There is not enough research yet to even know how dangerous they are. You don't have to take it from me, though I can tell you that if I ingest them they trigger a well controlled health issue that I have to the point that I could die within hours, or at minimum be very physically ill for many days.

What is the most frightening thing for me is that artificial sweeteners are being used in many pharmaceutical applications (some artificial sweeteners began as actual treatment drugs), in an overwhelming amount of regular foods, and almost all diet foods. They are in almost all chewing gum, many candies, many soft drinks, all diet soft drinks, toothpaste, and so many more places (seafood salad, crab cakes) that you just wouldn't think of. All of the artificial sweetener builds up in your system because our bodies cannot metabolize the chemicals and most of it is not expelled, but is stored in fat cells and who knows where else in our bodies!

If you are concerned at all (you should be), there are a lot of places to do research and get more information. Please read about the proven side effects and long term effects of artificial sweeteners. Remember, our medical doctors are often asked to promote new items to their patients for benefit to their practice. I would suggest asking your medical doctor where they stand on this issue, but also be your own advocate. Ultimately, you are the only one who can or should be in control of your health and the health of your family. *****Remember that artificial sweeteners are chemicals, not food.*****

Research these key names:
Sucralose
Splenda
Aspartame
Acesulfame Potassium
Acesulfame K
Saccharin

Here are a few sites to look at:
Women to Women Article
SweetPoison
Environmental Health Perspectives Article
WiseGeek Article

Sunrise

God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel. God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love. He doesn't endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we're made of mud. Men and women don't live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom, But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here. God's love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, Making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said.   Psalm 103:6 - The Message Bible

It's A New Year

Last year I didn't blog very much. Only eight times!!! There were so many changes in my life and in our routine that I just felt off kilter for a really long time. I wasn't depressed or sad. I wasn't angry or sick. I was just off my track. Here's a summary of what went on:

• In January we decided to stop trying to save our home from foreclosure. Ethan turned 12 and Walter turned 42.
• In February we got our finances in order and created a strict budget for our family.
• In March I quit a job that was very stressful.
• In April I stayed home and took care of my great nephew and also took my boys to Virginia for a week during spring break.
• In May we earnestly searched for a place to live. We packed up all of our belongings that would fit in our rental home, the shed behind it, and a small storage space. We sold or donated everything else. I quit dying my hair.
• In June we moved from our three story four bedroom, three bath home to a one story, tiny three/two.
• In July we thoroughly enjoyed living across the street from a small park, a large park, and a lake.
• In August we prepared for back to school and played a lot. Daniel went to a new elementary school. I turned 39.
• In September I began a very small in-home childcare full-time. We played outside and met our neighbors. It was just too hot all summer.
• In October my childcare charges went from one to two.
• In November we celebrated as my best friend's husband retired from the Navy and she had a baby girl on Thanksgiving Day. We had a huge reunion with Walter's family after Thanksgiving at the park by our house. Ben turned 5.
• In December we discussed a different kind of Christmas with the boys. We were thankful more and greedy less. We spent Christmas in Virginia with my family and reunited with my brother and his family after many years of not being close. Daniel turned 8.

It was a year of change, but through all of I think we were all happier, more free, and definitely more at peace than we have been for the past three years. I rewrote what wealth is to me and found that I am really quite wealthy!  : )

Though I don't make new year resolutions, I do want to get back in the routine of blogging (at least weekly). This has been a good start! Happy New Year!