Pioneer Woman at Heart

The kids accident has put everlasting memories on all of us.  After we regained our sanity, we can now have a conversation without tears,.  However, I am drowning in medical bills.  Aftern numerous phone calls, calling and calling and sitting on hold, I am now a firm believer of getting everyone in shape and staying that way.  Keeping the doctors visits down to a bare minimum will save us money, and we will live healthier and longer lives.  Although the medical bills are from an accident, I am seriously looking at my health, and everyone else's health (kids, husband) differently.  Now, don't get me wrong.  That doesn't mean I am running out and getting a physical, mammogram and everything else that's required at my age.  It means I am faithfully exercising daily, watching what we eat more than ever, and drinking more water than juice and pop. Then, just maybe, after I lose weight and get in shape, will I consider getting my physical.  May...

I took my laptop to the library to observe people while the two younger ones were in a program.  About a half hour of typing "boring" and "no juicy action" there was a huge rumble.  My 13 year old was sitting at a table with me and we both looked up at each other. "What was that?" "I don't know?" she answered with raised shoulders. "Sounded like the roof was coming down!" I continued to type, and after getting frustrated with no one to "observe" I put the computer away.  I read a bit of my Bible and soon we had to leave. After we arrived home, I got a text from Mom.  There was an earthquake in a town 10 miles from our house and further from where we were at the library.  An earthquake.  I couldn't believe it. My son was home, and after sharing the news, he said that the dogs went crazy about that time.  I guess they started barking when it happened.

Well, I gave it a try anyway.  I figured what do I have to lose?  Well, time is what I really lost.  I registered with www.toluna.com and found it to be a disappointment.  For the first seven surveys that were e-mailed to me, that I did complete, only one earned me points.  These points go towards cash pay out or shopping.  Either way, each survery I received stated that it rewarded so many points when completed.  After I completed them, it stated that I did not qualify and I received one entry into a drawing.  After earning about 16,000 points, and needing 60,000 for my first pay check, I lost my survey mojo.  I'd rather be throwing snowballs with my kids.  There are better ways to spend my time.

How to Find Your Inner Child While Parenting in Your 40's eHow.com

Oh I wish I had a camera that video taped constantly around here.  Not that I would want my life on the Internet, but these cats of ours are hilarious!  I wish I could have gotten a picture of video clip of Jasper running through the house carrying a tissue paper flower attached to a chenille stem.  The girls made tissue paper flowers over the weekend, and I fell in love with them.  Immediately I stole two of them, and the vases they crafted, and placed them in two kitchen windows.  It was like bringing spring into the house early. However....yep there is a however in the story.  The flowers disappeared during the night.  Vases were toppled and we soon found out what happened. "JASPER!"  Or could Tiger have helped? The girls removed the flowers to a safer place, or so they thought.  Ha ha ha! Just minutes ago, Jasper, tailed by Tiger, went flying through the kitchen with his prized possession - the chenille stem with the tissue pape...

Although, my daily e-mails from the challenge stopped showing up in my inbox, I am still reading my Bible.  Can you believe it's day 53 already?  I had to catch up on it yesterday, but I am staying on task with this.  Even with laundry, floors to clean, dishes to wash, library books to return, bills to pay, straightening to do, chickens to feed, dogs to play with . . . I am still on task.  Pretty amazing I would say.

Sunday was a hoot!  The kids ran back to my bedroom, where I was eating my breakfast in bed (made by my husband), and asked "Is it really true today is Pajama Day?" "Yes, it's true!" After eating my delicious farm fresh egg omelet, I decided to make my mother's homemade zucchini bread.  I had frozen shredded zucchini last summer (from our garden) and used farm fresh eggs again.  Yum.  I decided to make mini-muffins so the kids could take them in their school lunches today.  I love baking, and if the garden is involved I love it even more.   This morning the kids had a school delay, and some of the kids wanted to eat these for breakfast.  They also asked me to make more!  They are not low fat or low calorie, but I did use my bountiful garden, even during the winter. I cannot wait to get the spring garden growing again.  There is so much to appreciate and be thankful for.