Up date

As you know from my last post I had my mammogram.  I received a call from my doctor yesterday and they would like me to go in for a sonogram.  They see something on both sides.  They said they could very well be cysts but would like to check to make sure.  So something for me to stew about this weekend.  They set up an appointment for me on Monday at 2:00.  I will let you know how it all turns out.  Please keep me in your prayers.  Have a wonderful weekend. 

Blessings

Crystal

Have you made your appointment?

I finally did it about a week ago.  I made my mammogram appointment.  I don't usually talk about these things with others but for some reason I felt I need to.  I go today after school.  Insurance kept sending me letters saying this is a fully covered service and I am not taking advantage of it.  I was just lazy and did not take the time to make the appointment.  My appointment is even here in town where I live so I don't have to drive to the city.  It is breast cancer awareness month so what better time to take care of this.  No it is not fun and sometimes hurts just a bit but it only last a few minutes.  So what is your reason for not making your appointment?  Say a prayer for me that all goes well. 

Blessings

Crystal

Just Not Sure

Have not had much to write about lately.  I have been praying about this blog and the way God wants me to go with it.  I just don't know I would love to have a direction and I don't feel I really do.  On to what we have been up to.   

We went to Emporia yesterday to see the kids.  Alyssa is turning 21 on October 29th.  She has plans with her boyfriend and her friends so we will not be able to see her on her birthday.  We went yesterday and took her to dinner along with her brother and his girl friend.  We gave her diamond earrings.  I think she really liked them. And I made her cupcakes.  I forgot to take pictures.  Her roommates thought they were so cute.  I can not believe I am old enough to have a daughter that will be 21.  I think 21 is truly the age you become an adult.  When I was 21 I was married and about to have Alyssa.  Wow, she has definatly taken a different road than I did.  She is on a good track and I could not be more proud of her. 

Ryan seems to be enjoying his first semister of college.  We met a few of his friends yesterday.  And he says he is really trying hard to do a good job.  School does not come easy for him so I know he has to study a lot.  I just hope he knows that about himself.  Every time I see him he looks a little different.  Seems a little more mature.  He is just so handsome. 

Courtney decided not to try out for basketball this year.  She really does not like the coach and just did not want to deal with girl drama.  That makes me so sad.  She has told me that the coach who is also her gym teacher will not talk to her or even look at her because he is mad she did not try out.  I think that is terrible.  And he is teaching my kid.  Ugh. 

Mike works all the time to provide for us all and I find myself missing him.  I feel as though God is changing a lot of things in our life and I am having a hard time accepting it all.  But I am praying about it and I know in the end things will be great.  I have been starting to get my house holiday ready.  It feels so good to have a clean and organized house.  That is one thing I am able to get done with it just being Courtney and I all the time, Alyssa and Ryan at school and Mike always working.  Courtney is such a wonderful help.  She is definatly my little homemaker.  I love it. 

Well I guess enough of my rambling I will try not to stay gone so long this time. I love looking at all the blogs and I have been keeping up with everyone elses blogs.  Just not my own. 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Enjoy this great fall weather.  

Blessings

Crystal

And The Winner Is......

I picked the winner using Random.org.  For the life of me I could not get it to show up on the blog.  I am so sorry.  But the number was 31.  So the winner is:  Heidi (Tyson 2468).  She said she would buy her little guy the 100 piece colored block set.  Congratulations. 

I have sent you an e-mail Heidi. 
Thanks to everyone who entered.  It was so fun. 

Blessings

Crystal

CSN Giveaway

Last Day to Enter my CSN Giveaway.
                                              See below for details.
                     Good Luck

I Know Something Good About You

One of the toughest parts about working at a preschool is the parents.  We have 15 kids in the morning and then another 15 in the afternoon.  So that is a total of 30 parents a day.  60 parents a week.  It is so hard. It is not that I don't like the parents it is just hard being scrutinized that many times in a week.  Teaching the kids is the easy and fun part.  They are so eager to come and learn.  In my book, God's Little Devotional Book for Women, I read a good devotion.  It was just what I needed to help me with a few parents I struggle with.  I thought I would share it with you. 

NIV Version Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Wouldn't this world be better,

If folks whom we meet would say,

"I know something good about you,"

And treat you just that way?

Wouldn't it be splendid,

If each handshake, good and true,

Carried with it this assurance:

"I know something good about you?"

Wouldn't life be happiest,

If the good that's in us all,

Were the only thing about us

That people would recall?

Wouldn't our days be sweeter,

If we praised the good we see?

For there is a lot of goodness,

In the worst of you and me.

Wouldn't it be fine to practice,

This way of thinking too;

You know something good about me,

I know something good about you?'

Since we can never know or tell the whole story about any other human being, why not just skip to the good highlights? 

So those few parents I really struggle with I am only going to focus on the good I know about them.  Like they are doing something right.  Their child is absolutely wonderful.

Blessings

Crystal  

Church

We have been at our church for approximately 16 years. We have been there through 3 pastors and a few Interim Pastors.  When we started going to church there it had so many young families with children and over the years it has gotten down to maybe 1 or 2 kids now in the nursery.  I am not sure what is really going on. Is it the church we are attending? Is it that young families are not attending church as much?  But without many youth at church my daughter has been asking if we can try other Churches.  This is so hard for me.  We have been attending this church for so long.  But I am not feeling the connection with the church body either like I use to.  So I wonder who has moved, me or the church family?  I know it is not God that has moved.  I feel I am closer to God than I have ever been before in my life.  It is so on my heart and I pray about it all the time.  How do you know if it is time for a change?  Can you outgrow a church?

Blessings

Crystal   

CSN Giveaway

Hot Diggity Dog, My First Giveaway!!!!!

CSN contacted me and asked if I would like to host a give away.  Of course I would!!  What is better than giving someone something. 

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need whether it be a stylish handbag, a chic bar stool or even awesome cookware!

I saw a lot of things that I would love to have for Christmas.

They told me I could give away one $35.00 gift card to any of their stores. 

So this is what I am thinking:

First become a follower and leave me a comment letting me know. 

Second tell me if you will spend the gift certificate on yourself or someone else for the Holidays.  It is just around the corner.

Third tell me what you might buy at CSN if you win the gift certificate. 

How easy is that? 

This is my first giveaway so I need to keep it simple for myself. 

The contest will end on 10/15/10 at 10:00 p.m.  Good luck my fellow bloggers. 

Blessings

Crystal

Fresh Pumkin

I bought some pie pumpkins at the pumpkin patch last week.  I love fresh pumpkin and it is a pretty easy process.  I paid a $1.50 per pie pumpkin so it is also cheaper than buying can pumpkin.  I would not recommend doing this with a regular carving pumpkin.  I think the pumpkin turns out to stringy but not so with pie pumpkins. 

                                       These are the pumpkins I bought minus one. 

                                                            First you break the stem off.

                                                      Cut the pumpkin in 1/2.

Scoop out the pulp and seeds.

     Wrap the pumpkin in saran wrap and cut a little slit in it.  Place the pumpkin in the microwave for approxitmaly15 minutes.  Your time may vary I don't have a very good microwave.  Cook until the inside of the pumpkin is soft. 

It is so hot when you take it out so be careful.  Let cool a bit.  This is what it looked like when I took it out of the microwave.

                                         This is what it looked like when I started scooping it out. 

This is it when I was done.

This is what it looks like out of the pumpkin.  I did mash it a bit with a potato masher.  Or you can run it   through a blender or food processor.  I did not think it really needed it.

I measured out 2 cups and placed in a baggie to freeze.  I did 2 cup portions since that is what most canned pumpkin you buy at the store comes in.

                            The 4 pumpkins gave me 7 bags of pumpkins filled with 2 cups each. 
It is so worth it.  I think it taste so much better than the canned pumpkin.  Let me know if you have ever done this before. 

Blessings

Crystal

Making Your Home A Haven

I came across this wonderful blog Women Living Well.  She is encouraging everyone to Make Your Home a Haven.  I am always striving to do that so here we go.   I try so hard to make my home a peaceful home.  This weekend with the college kids home I think I failed to make my home peaceful by some words my oldest daughter had for me when she left.  As I look back I could have done some things differently but I can not take it back now I have to learn from my mistakes and move on. I have told her I was sorry and would never make her feel that way on purpose.  So this is really going to renew my spirit and hopefully help me start fresh.  

Here is what Courtney is asking us to do:    Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. I will be starting mine in the morning! But you can start yours at dinner time. Do what makes sense for your family. I will be placing mine in the kitchen - the main hub of my home. Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home.

Since I work outside the home I will be lighting it in the morning and then again in the evening when I get home.  What an easy thing to do.  I am so excited about this challenge. I hope you will join me with Courtney and all the other lovely women who are also taking on this challenge. 

I pray you have a peaceful and wonderful week.

Blessings

Crystal