Running On Empty...No More

May 25th, 2012, marks the 29 year anniversary of the most terrifying day of my life, but also a day filled with future blessings that could not have been imagined at the time. I crashed a motorcycle into a tree going an estimated 90 mph (without wearing a helmet) and lived to tell about it. I didn't walk away from it, but I survived. I don't know what happened to the bike I rode, but it was huge just like this one. My friend, Jen, and I thought it would be fun. She was a good driver and a really good friend - we were friends since birth because our mothers were friends when they were in school. We were being typical teens and not thinking about possible dangers or consequences. It was only three days after my 13th birthday and I felt alive and happy to have finally reached my teenage years. I remember wearing a shirt that my aunt Pat sent me as a birthday present that day. I remember the wheelie I popped when I first attempted to drive the bike, while Jen fell off the back...

I tell myself that birthdays have long since lost their appeal, but deep down it's not true. I love feeling loved and appreciated and my birthday is a day that I really want to feel that way. The morning was a typical weekday morning - get up early, pack lunches, get everyone out the door. Until it was Gracie's time to get up. She remembered my birthday immediately and called me into her room to "help" her get ready (which she never needs). So in I go and she had these beautiful pink roses in a vase for me along with a special card which read "I love you Mommy because you shine." O-M-G...waterfall at 7:45 in the morning. She is such a sweetie.   Then came lunchtime. My parents picked me up and took me out to lunch at 4Brothers in Gap. It's one of my favorite local places to eat and the same spot I took Mom on her birthday. Dad was going for the first time and after eating there, he is also now a fan. But here's the kicker - they have a s...

Getting together with family and friends is the single best past-time around. I don't do it nearly often enough as I would like, and because I live in Podunk, PA, it usually involves me throwing a party. This is where Chris and I have a slight difference of opinion. Don't get me wrong, he likes being with people, too, but I tend to invite all kinds of people over all year long. I think he'd rather go out a little more instead of playing host so often. I cannot say I blame him - I've been known to reach out to strangers from time to time and invite them over, as well, and I'm pretty sure that doesn't thrill him. Take Chase & Chelsea, for example. I met them at a concert in Philly. Within the short span of an hour and a half, I invited them to our house for the annual Memorial Day pool opening party. They were very friendly college kids attending Missouri State and headed back to college that weekend, but they were coming home to Philly in time for my party, a...

My hat goes off to all of you single moms out there. I single-mom-it a few times a year and there are a few observations that I make each time Chris goes away, and this time was no exception. There are pros and cons, but I think the cons win, meaning I lose because there are way more negatives on the list. Dinner is much simpler (tacos and fruit salad tonight - and loved by all) The house is neater and quieter I am even MORE tired than normal since I did all the running so far this weekend I miss my husband and son so much it actually hurts I had to do almost all of the doggy duty solo My fuse is much shorter than usual Gracie was more skittish at bedtime than usual (probably because of my short fuse) I got less housework/yard-work done on such a beautiful day Gracie was sad that her daddy missed her awesome softball hit to right field I overcompensate on treats while shopping to make up for the softball disappointment I am going to a picnic tomorrow afternoon, with one les...

This weekend was another fantastic weekend with two celebrations - Gracie's First Holy Communion and Mother's Day. Friday night was a rat race; last minute prepping for the party on Saturday. The menu for the party was very simple, though, and (almost) gluten-free. I had been marinating flank steak in a French dressing for three days and that would be grilled on Saturday. I made a German potato salad (which turned out fantastic, recipe to follow), deviled eggs (NC's favorite), and the rest was supplied by my awesome mother (baked beans and fruit) and friend, Lisé (special raspberry salad). Chris' cousin, Haley, supplied her amazing layer cake which is pictured here - totally NOT gluten-free, so I only tasted the frosting. But she makes cakes look beautiful and taste fantastic.   The celebration was wonderful. Gracie was so happy and felt pretty in her dress. I did not finish the last stitch of her dress until Thursday night (more like Friday morning), ...

This week is one of the busiest I've had in a while. On top of an extremely busy work week, my kids have three or four "events" every day this week, and I'm knee-deep in preparing them for these events. Events include dance rehearsals, CCD, softball and baseball practice and games, school concerts, tutoring sessions, music lessons, and the grand-daddy of them all - First Holy Communion. (BTW, just typing up that list makes me tired!) My daughter is making her First Communion this weekend, and I decided a long time ago (like when she was born and I finally got the "girl") that I would make all of her dresses for such special occasions. Somewhere along the way, I must have TOLD her this, because she REMEMBERED that I wanted to do this for her. And that's why I'm up late every night working on her one-of-a-kind princess communion dress, not feeling all that holy as I prick my fingers on needles and let little curse words slip out. She has, as they say...

Chicken is one of my favorite things to eat, but boneless chicken breasts sometimes dry out. This recipe will guarantee moist juicy chicken and will please everyone in the house - even the picky eaters. My chicken looked just like this, but I didn't have a camera handy - so I shamelessly stole it from the food network. I made extra dressing and coated cubed potatoes with the dressing and baked them in oven at 400 for about 45 minutes. Together with the chicken, the potatoes were also fantastic. We also had steamed broccoli, which honestly did not make anyone excited. The rosemary is back in my garden from last year, but I'm going to plant a few more varieties. I just love to have fresh herbs available whenever I need them, and the aroma is to die for in the kitchen. Rosemary Ranch Chicken 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup (gluten-free) ranch dressing 3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 2 teaspoons sea...

It was 5 am when I heard it. That awful alarm clock. Even though I wake each morning to my favorite sound - the beautiful music of Mumford & Sons - I really hate getting up early, especially on a day like today. I jumped in the shower and went through the motions. I washed, rinsed, and shaved. I haphazardly dried my hair only because I knew it would be two days until I could do it again. When I woke Ben, he got out of bed rather quickly, got dressed and headed to the van. He even carried our overnight bag for us. He fell asleep almost instantly as I tried to wake myself up. The drive to Philly is never fun this early in the morning, but the drive to Children's Hospital is even less fun. Ben has had chronic GI issues since birth. We've bounced around from doctor to doctor and facility to facility hoping each time that THIS was going to be the time we'd find some healing for him. No one has been able to find a solution - or worse, a cause - for his problems. And yet he ...

This was one of the best weekends I've had in a really long time. Well, mostly just Friday night, but the good time feeling lasted all weekend. It began when friends, Lisé, Lisa, John and hubby Chris, gathered to drive to Philly for dinner and a show. It's been so long since we've done this type of thing with friends and I was really excited to go. It turns out I was more excited than anyone else in the group, but knowing that did not damper the evening. I've been following the band, NeedToBreathe, for quite a while now, and got some great prices on tickets for their show at the Electric Factory in Philly. There are four people in the group, but the below sample is just the two brothers, Bear and Bo Rinehart. Their songs move me in a way that I cannot explain. I have an example I'll share later and you'll see how special they are to me. Check them out - you will not be disappointed. The first treat of the evening was when John volunteered to drive. We all agre...

Don't you love those days, ladies, when you just want to graze? Not necessarily on anything in particular, but nothing seems to satisfy? Chocolate helps some of my female friends, but I never did well with chocolate. Wine and vodka, yes, but not chocolate. Every 21 days, a little friend who's not so friendly visits me (yes, THAT friend, and yes, I said 21 days). I'm not a pleasant person the day before, and frankly I could be nicer during the whole darn period. But since I've given up gluten, the snack craze has not hit me. I spent a weekend on retreat playing music for the youth of my church and running to the bathroom every two hours. Oddly, I noticed, I was not hungry nor was a craving snacks like I usually did. This led me to a conversation with a friend who asked, "What in the world do you eat if you are not eating bread and pasta? And what about snacks?" I think back to a few weeks ago and remember how hungry I was during my initial gluten-free days. N...

Remember that game? That's me as a mom (except I really don't hit my kids with a mallet, you get the picture, though). In the ever-challenging world of parenting, I'm constantly trying to find a balance between the three kids so that they each feel equally loved and get what they need from me. Often, I am lost in that process. So I'm making a real effort to listen to my inner-voice and quiet my thoughts. But I cannot put myself first most days. It's just a part of motherhood. This post is about NC and Gracie. That's the beauty of parenting, Ben's turn is surely right around the corner. Last week, my poor sweet Gracie was sick with a stomach bug. It was the typical run-of-the-mill puke fest which kept me hopping all through the night on two consecutive evenings. This child amazes me in how predictable she is when she gets these things, but because I'm awakened in the fog of slumber I do not recognize the pattern until it is too late. Every single time....

Today presented a bit of a challenge for me since giving up gluten. I've been wanting chicken fajitas for dinner and have not made it because the wraps are off-limits for me (until I find one on the market that has a decent taste - or learn to make them!) But today, I was pressed for time since my son has baseball practice early and needed to eat, early, so I made fajitas anyway. The filling is totally gluten-free, so I put mine in a bowl with shredded lettuce and it was really good. I'm glad I didn't wait just because of the wrap. And my kids just loved it. Chicken Fajitas Olive oil 4 boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 green pepper, thinly sliced and seeded 1 red pepper, thinly sliced and seeded 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced and seeded 4 cloves of minced garlic 1 tomato, peeled and diced 3 limes 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro Salt Pepper I...

Yesterday morning was the most wonderful morning I had in a really long time. I woke up and was not still tired, I had NO abdominal pain, and I felt fantastic! My waist was 2 inches smaller than last week to boot! Boot camp wasn't so bad since I had the energy to get through it. I was tuckered out by 8:30 with several gluten-symptoms coming out, though, so I'm certainly not back to 100%. I promised I would post recipes that I find really good and my first one is a doozy. I'm somewhat of a salad snob in that I only really like homemade dressing and I will only eat it fresh. Now that I'm cutting out gluten, homemade dressing is almost a necessity since gluten is in a lot of salad dressings. This picture does not do the salad justice - my taste buds were partying! It was so good that I had it for lunch today and I do not like leftover salad (I said I was a salad snob). Strawberry & Spinach Salad 2 bunches spinach 4 cups sliced strawb...

I love that saying, "You are what you eat."  Tonight, this is what I'm going to resemble: Ever since I started this journey, I've been more and more conscience of what I'm putting in my mouth, and am ever-so-thankful that my nausea has subsided since I've gone gluten-free. I cannot even put into words how awesome that feels. I've been sick for so long that the only comparison I can make is that I feel like a new person. I mean altogether like someone else. I'm still fatigued, but better than before, so I think the Vitamin D is beginning to absorb; I'm still achy in my joints, but better than before. I don't think I've actually lost any weight, yet, but I think that will happen. I'm so hungry since I got off gluten that it just HAS to come off. I don't think I'm hungry from lack of food, but rather a withdrawal from gluten. I've bought a few gluten-free cookbooks and will begin trying to convert some of my classic go-...

All things happen for a reason. I have always believed that. Maybe it's the optimist in me and that I actually spend time thinking about all the benefits of even negative situations. You can carve whatever beliefs you want out of any situation, and in doing so, it makes you think differently; and I love to think differently. I may be bent, but not broken, everything happens for a reason. Because if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. What happened that caused me to ponder this belief, you ask? I went to the dentist yesterday morning for a routine cleaning. (BTW, my dentist is awesome - check Dr. Jay out at Wardius Dental ). I passed with flying colors and really enjoyed hearing that I am not needed back in their office for six months. Given the problems my poor mouth has gone through at the dentist's office, this news is such joy to hear. While I was having my teeth cleaned, Nicole (my hygienist) was telling me about all the symptoms she'd been exp...

Today is supposed to be "Cheese Day", aka my last supper, but that is not going to happen today. It's only 9:00 am, but a lot has happened already, and buying cheese and ice cream will have to wait until tomorrow. I prepped lunches this morning and sent the boys off to school and work. Then Gracie and I snuggled a bit before she got herself dressed and ate breakfast. After helping her choose a snack, we got in the van as usual to make it to the bus, which was due to arrive within the next five minutes. Except we got about 50 yards past our driveway and saw the mess that was blocking our way to the bus stop. The driver of a horse tractor-trailer was attempting to back up and turn around. It's probably really tough to imagine what trouble that would cause, but we live on a single lane road that looks more like a driveway than a road. I really wish I had thought to take pictures, but I was riveted by the scene. Once the vehicle was done trashing my neighbor's yard ...

The first whopping dose is down the hatch, as they say. 50,000 IU's. When Doc first told me I'd be taking that much in addition to the 1,000 IU's over the counter, I thought I had to take 50 pills. That would take me an hour to orchestrate. Instead, it's one little tiny pill. I really hoped that I'd hear a choir singing when I woke up this morning, but no dice. No change, in fact. I'm not feeling any differently with my energy today than I did pre-abundance of VD (Vitamin D, people). I am going to wait patiently for the medicine to kick in, but not too patiently. I figured I'd give it two full doses before...not sure what, I'll figure that out in two weeks. Doesn't this cow look pretty harmless? When I was little, the first new life I witnessed being brought into the world was a mama cow giving birth to her calf. It was a magical and eye-opening day for me because I didn't understand prior to then how a baby ever came out of anyone (animal...

Why are people tired? Jack tells us in this energy and charisma-filled video. Get rid of that pooped out itis. I love it, Jack! You were awesome and such a pioneer for healthy living. I am following a good diet (not great, but working on it) and exercising regularly. Yet still have that pooped out feeling (love that one, will use it a lot now, thanks Jack). I cannot believe how difficult it is to keep my head up. I am going to have to catch a nap at lunchtime just to get through the day. If Vitamin D really is the culprit, the medicine better start working soon. I have people counting on me. I have to miss my daughter's field trip tomorrow and she is going to be so very disappointed. Chris is going in my place, thankfully, but it's not easy on him, either. He had to rearrange his schedule to make it happen. But still, Gracie wants mommy tomorrow and there is no way I can keep my head up all day as a chaperone to the aquarium. I have too many things to be healthy for, so ...

It is every parent's dream, to hear another adult say, "Your boy is a fine young man, you should be proud." Honored is more like it. She said it about my oldest son, NC, who has hated school since the 4th grade - ever since I transferred him from a small private Christian school with 9 students in his classroom to the public school with 25 students in his classroom. I remember how much he hated it, but he kept pretty quiet because he knew there was no other way at the time. He was being very grown-up by just dealing with the change. "Kids are resilient." "He'll adjust." "He's so bright, he'll be fine." So many people threw well-meaning phrases my way, because I couldn't bear the thought of my oldest son being unhappy. And thinking back on this very big change and how he coped, I am truly blessed that he is my son. NC in 2nd Grade You see, he's not the type of kid that fits in the mold expected for public school kids. ...

I love the word "anticipation". Most of the fun stuff in life is full of it. Every year, the anticipation for Gracie's birthday gets her all twisted up for weeks before the big day, and it always ends with a bit of sadness to see the excitement disappear. Holidays are the same way for all of my kids, especially NC. He gets so excited about the holidays and parties, in general, and will not stop talking about how much fun it's going to be. Then it comes and goes and he's kinda bummed that it's over. He gets that from me. That's how each of my week's end, with Friday even feels different because of the anticipation of the upcoming weekend. A time to let loose and unwind. I get so excited about the idea of the weekend, but then it comes and goes.  I'm a mom now, and that means the weekends are full of driving and cramming as much in to two days as possible. And now we are back at Monday. BLAH! I hate Mondays. But today is special. Today, with mu...