And Then Along Came Life..... or More than you want to know!

It was not my intention to go off and just leave you hanging after starting our journey way back in October, but life just got hectic.  In many ways life also has gotten better, but busy. 

Merry CHRISTmas!

The rest of this is probably more information than you want to know!  And my main purpose of writing tonight is to let you know I am praying for you….some of you have contacted me, and I am praying!!!  Also, I wanted to tell you Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and let you know I am praying the coming year will be a very blessed one for each of you!  We serve the God who can and will do the impossible!  Amen.

Now, if you do not wish to be bored to tears…..STOP reading now!  (Unless you want the wonderful Oatmeal Cookie Recipe near the end of this post.)  Yum!

 The Light of the World

Instead of having my normal three plus boys, I have been having between six and seven kids/grands for the last several weeks.   One weekend, the total number was eleven. 

 I always wanted a big family (be careful what you ask for). 

DD#2 passed her nursing boards!  Tremendous!  What a blessing, but now she is working two jobs.  Four days a week, she works as a councilor for a Family Crisis Center, after she gets off there and the other two days a week she works for a home health care company, seeing patients.  Her income has increased and she has paid off her land in the last few weeks.  But I have the baby a lot.  Love that grandbaby ……but, I’m tired.  She is just 15 months old and she is a climber!  And she has so much energy.  Her four y/o sister is also staying with us.  Hopefully, she will return to public school in January, as they will be in a new school district.  The boys are a big help, but they help me so much, I worry about their home schooling.  I try to console myself with the thought of how much life experience they are getting….hands on!  Then we have had two other grands visiting for about eight days and one step granddaughter this past week.  On weekends, the count goes up.  Yeah, you should see my grocery bill!

Even so, I have made some progress in the house.  At least I know what I have cleaned is clean, rather than a “hit and miss” job as my mother would have called it.  Several drawers and shelves have been cleaned out or off.  There is still much to do, but a lot of clutter has “left the building”.  I have become a woman with a mission and my mission is getting larger…..but that’s another story, when I have more time.

I have been going to bed earlier and getting up earlier (tonight is an exception because I wanted to visit with you).  For the most part I am feeling better, except when I get chilled.  Getting cold seems to be one of the things that cause my muscle spasms.  So if I take my medicine, keep warm and continue moving, they are more manageable.  This is good.  

(I'm learning, paying attention as I go.)

Earlier, I mentioned Oatmeal Cookies....this is a great recipe!  My husband's aunt calls them Dishpan Cookies, because it makes so many, she mixes them in her dishpan....do you have a dishpan?  I think they are becoming a thing of the past.

But I still have one...actually, I have two!

 (These are my son-in-law's favorite cookie!)

~ Oatmeal Cookies ~

2 cups shortening

4 eggs

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda

3 cups flour

4 cups quick cooking oats

1cup coconut

1cup nuts or raisins (optional) 

I mix the first 7 ingredients until well blended.  Then add the flour and beat once more.  Then stir in the oats and coconut.

Drop by spoonfuls on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray (or grease the pan).  Cook at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes.  Makes 10 dozen.  Enjoy!

We will be sharing these with the neighbors tomorrow, along with a few other goodies.

Have a wonderful weekend and be blessed!

Cheryl