It's hot

Okay, I know this is the fact around the world, but it's hot here.The heat coupled with, of all things-a SUMMER COLD, make one miserable and cranky. Yes, it's noticeable that I am cranky too. We are also getting ready for an insane road trip too. So, the intense heat of 78 coupled with a cold, add to that the packing and cleanup of my house so that when we get back, we will have guests have made me crankier than normal.

I am bathing myself in prayer and also Chloe who burned her hands on a bbq grill yesterday resulting in 1st and 2nd degree burns on her palms. Don't ask me how it happened- I was watching the other 3 children and playing a game of Pit and had left her in her fathers care. I just know there was a bunch of commotion and people running around then Darryl came up and was holding her. There was a bowl of ice water involved and I suggested some Aloe Vera gel which must have helped a little bit because her screaming went down a few decibels upon applying it. She also had a dose of Tylenol to help dull the pain. We were at a church bbq and I suggested taking her home would probably make everyone feel better at that time. He dropped me off at home and she cried/screamed for at least another hour and a half then promptly passed out. I finally called the nurse advice line and they suggested what I thought already- take her in to get it checked on. So after the other party goers came in, Spring Chick and Chloe and I went to the ER. Met a fantastic Dr, wonderful nurses and the best bunch of techs anyone could have asked for and was in and out of the door in about an hour! Yes, less than an hour! What a blessing!
She has some Tylenol with codeine for pain and antibiotic cream for when the blisters break open, also an appt for a follow up in 24 hours.
Keep her in prayer- the hands are a terrible place for a burn and especially on an active toddler, infection can set in quickly. And you know how little people like to touch things........

Our insane road trip begins here with a lovely drive to Germany to catch a hop to California. From there we will repair our old Volvo and drive it to scorching hot Texas where we will go to a juvenile arthritis conference in Houston. From there we try to catch a plane back to Baltimore and then over to Germany. Hmmmm, sounds like a great leap of faith, so pray for us on that issue also.
So for now, I am going to pack and sweat and pray and sweat some more.

Am I crazy or what??

It's been a week since I could collect my thoughts and write something on this blog.

I've been writing alright, but it's been emails flying back and forth to America and Canada. You see I have been granted (and blessed) with some funds from the Dept of Defense to further my education on any job that is portable. Yes, free money from the government to make me smart and able to work for someone else(or myself),and get paid for it! How could one say no to that? So, I have been debating on which school I would like to go to or which online program I want to do. So much to do- so little of me to do it with!

The catch is that I am cheap and don't want to spend it all in one place! So I have been asking around about all of these careers and which fits me best. I have a stake in all three of them and they all are dear to my heart. I just can't choose. Ummm, uhhh, ahhhh. This is driving me crazy!! I can't make a major life changing decision on an empty stomach. I have to go and eat a cookie or three.. Recipe to be posted tomorrow- I promise.
So what do you vote for me to do? Catering, etiquette and protocol or master herbalist??
I'm so confused..............

A lazy Sunday afternoon

It's 7pm on Sunday and I am pooped! Yep, I can actually say it and mean it. The littlest one has been crying, clingy and just really cranky. She was sick for the last week with a feverish cold and I had to cancel a couple of appointments to stay with her. I was in the house for nearly 4 days straight! I haven't done that since we lived in Maine and the wind chill stayed below -20. I wasn't crazy back then. I had just moved there straight from Texas and hadn't experienced that kind of flash freezing before!
Now another child isn't well. Poor Elise- she has had a fever for 3 days now and I stayed home from church with her. We did our Sunday school lessons and I worked on some laundry then started on dinner. Mr and the other folks went to church and came home remarkably early. Come to find out, they were late and didn't want to make a fashionable entrance so they went to Tesco and shopped. Now whenever Mr. goes shopping, you can count on something unique coming home with him. This time they came back with some "Fentimans Botanically Brewed Traditional" drinks. He takes such pride in being a "hunter" and finding these wonderful new things for us to try. Well, we had a lovely spread for our meal- Pork chops, mashed potatoes & gravy, Dads secret recipe cabbage, homemade macaroni and cheese and for dessert, peach crisp. Alongside that meal was dads selection of exotic drinks. We ate and he made sure we all tried some of these new tastes. He and science dude (our son) were reading the labels out loud so I would know what was in there and while they were reading the back, I was carefully scanning the front for anything unusual. Holding back my laughter, I read the fine print on the front where they both failed to read. "Are you sure this is JUST SODA?", I asked. "Sure it is, says Mr." And with that I read the tiny lines they did not see,"NOT MORE THAN 0.5% ALCOHOL BY VOLUME!"
Hope your Sunday was as lazy and relaxing as his was after that drink..