Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Cheesecake Brownies
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
26 Years
This Man
vacation photo |
Around the time I filed for divorce, I met Chad at work. We quickly became friends. While I dated another man over the summer, Chad was the person I confided in more than anyone else. A few months after that man and I broke up, Chad and I started dating. A month later, we started talking about getting married. A few months later, we were married. In hindsight, I can see how the timeline was a bit fast, but it just felt natural. We were meant to be together. Do we fight? Yes. I dare you to find a couple that doesn't. (I know there are some that say they don't, but I don't believe them.) Do we drive each other crazy? Of course! I work from home and he has three days off a week. That means we have too much time together sometimes. However, we love each other. We respect each other. We have the give and take I was missing in the last marriage. We both work. We both clean. This is what I wanted in a marriage!
Monday, August 29, 2022
How are the goals?
Things went horribly for my goals last week. Having two days off of work threw things out of whack to begin with. Then, one person in the household had a change in schedule which made them too tired to do things they were previously doing (being vague on purpose). Also, we had a lot of junk food left over from our trip, and I seem to think that the best way to get rid of it is to eat it. I know, that is not the best of plans. So...I ended the week with the house messier and my gut larger than it was at the beginning of the week. Seriously, Chand and I even fell behind on laundry (Sean and Noel do their own).
Good news is that I am ready to get back on track. I am starting to track my food. I cleaned when I got up to get me on the right track right away. In fact, I completed four of my main goals in the first few hours of my day. The part that makes me happiest: I am back on a running plan. By the end of November, I will be able to run a 10K again. I am currently looking for a virtual 10K that I can do around Thanksgiving. That way I can do it on the treadmill at the gym if needed.
I will keep this blog updated on my running progress. I am really excited to jump back in after not really doing it for so long.
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Mount Rushmore
Friday, August 26, 2022
I was Chosen
Crazy Horse Memorial
After making a few stops for items we needed (mostly water) and some ice cream (check out The Purple Pie Place in Custer if you ever find yourself out there), we made our way to the Crazy Horse Memorial. This was the one part of our trip that I had no preconceived notions about because it is not talked about as much, but I was ready to experience it. Of course, it was easy to find by following the signs and seeing the big rock with a face carved into it. By the time we got there, I was exhausted.( I had a hard time sleeping the night before and had gotten up early. Also, we had just done an hour and a half cave tour up and down stairs.) After paying to get in, we parked the car and headed into the museum. There were so many artifacts as well as modern art of the Native American people from all over. I was in awe at the intricacies displayed for the public. As we walked through, we could see clothing, dolls, pictures, and more including a copy of the letter written by Chief Henry Standing Bear requesting this memorial be made to celebrate his heritage and that of his people. In it he said, "My fellow chiefs would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes too."
As we looked out the windows and stood on the deck, we could see the massive undertaking happening across the way. In the large mountain, a face has been carved and more is being carved. This has been worked on for many years and is still far away from being finished. I am sure it will not be completed in my lifetime. However, it will be even more stunning when it is.
Over all, this was a good experience, but it was a bit overpriced. I understand what the ticket price goes to, and I will not say that it is not a good cause. It is a great opportunity to learn about this part of the heritage of this country. I really wish it was more reasonably priced through especially considering there is a restaurant, gift shop, and snack bar to supplement the ticket sales.
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Jewel Cave Tour
On the second day of our trip, we have three stops. The first of which was a cave tour. After having a relaxing morning at the cabin, we cleaned up, locked up, and headed out for the cave tour we had booked in advance. When we mapped it from home, it was about 45 minutes from the cabin to Wind Cave National Park, so we left about an hour before the scheduled tour. We entered our destination into the GPS and were on our way just to discover that we actually had an hour and a half drive ahead of us. As I sped down dirt mountain road at speedy 30 miles per hour, we had to resign to the fact that we were going to miss the tour. Disappointed, we decided to just keep driving to see what else we could do. Then, we saw signs directing us to Jewel Cave National Monument. Luckily, we were able to book a lantern tour about an hour later.
The tour we ended up going on because of a miscalculation in time ended up being amazing. We met at the historical cabin that had originally been used as quarters for the forest service member giving tours as well as the visitor's center. Then, we hiked a bit to the other side of the mountain and into the cave. We walked as a group from "room" to "room" with a guide who told us the history and geology of the cave while half of the people in the group held LED light lanterns. The stairs were steep and narrow. Some of the areas required us to duck. It was a bit chilly. Those things were all not important. It was an awesome cave and the guide was engaging. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone.
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
The Cabin
Monday, August 22, 2022
We Went on a Trip
Friday, August 19, 2022
Rise (movie review)
The movie Rise brought tears to my eyes. (I watched it on Hulu, but it is also on Disney+.) This is a movie about a family that wants more than anything to find a way to live legally in a country where they can feel safe and have greater opportunities. They worry about being deported and are always on the lookout for police. While living in their chosen county, four children are born. These children are considered citizens by birth but are not given all of the rights of citizens because of the questionable status of their parents.
As the older two boys become teenagers, they learn about basketball and decide to join an after school program. They have a natural ability and have recruiters watching them. When the oldest is recruited to a team in which he could be paid, the offer is rescinded when the family's past is discovered. Then, the second son has an agent interested in him. This son makes it clear that he will go nowhere unless his family can go with him in good standing. The solution the sports agent came up with was to have him sign with Spain in order to be eligible for the NBA draft.
This family had been living in Greece where they had better life than they had in Nigeria. They worked hard to make ends meet and tried to get legal status in Greece but were unable to do so. They were only able to have the life they dreamed of having when one was drafted by the NBA allowing him eventually reunite his family in the United States.
This movie is based on the true story of the Antetokounmpo family who worked hard for what they were given. I strongly encourage anyone to watch this movie. It is inspiring and eye opening. Of course, I cried at the end. (I do that for a lot of movies.)
I learned a lot from this movie about how good we have it being legal citizens in the country we love. We do not have to live in constant fear of being taken away from our family. We are able to have gainful employment that allows us to pay our bills. We do not have to rely on our children to help create income. I am so happy that I have been blessed in this way.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Ancestry Fun
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Goal Reset
Monday, August 15, 2022
Chad's Cooking
Saturday, August 13, 2022
Haircut
A few days ago, Noel asked if she could try cutting her own hair. This is not something foreign to her. She has been making attempts at this dice she was 4. Of course, it did not go well when she was little. Back then, she would get in trouble when she would do it. When she asked this time, I was reluctant but figured it wouldn’t really hurt anything if she tried. We had the money to take her to Supercuts if it didn’t work out. Plus, she has been doing the shaping pieces around her face for years (she thinks I don’t know this). After being given the green light, she went to work. When she came out of her room, we were pleasantly surprised. She had done a better job than a few “professionals” that has done it in the past. After taking a few pictures, I offered to clean up the few stragglers that weren’t that noticeable but would have bothered her. I was shocked when she brought me her scissors: school scissors from elementary school. I was and am still very impressed what she was able to do to her own hair with children’s scissors!
Friday, August 12, 2022
Need to Act
“I have looked upon thee and thy works. I have heard thy prayers, and prepared thee for a greater work.” - Docterine and Covenants 35:3
This morning, I listened to Elder Ciro Schmeil's talk, Faith to Act and Become, as I started my day. I liked it so much that I listened to it twice. I felt he was talking to me when he was talking to me in the "Talk to Become" section. He talks about Nephi and his brothers getting the brass plates. They were instructed by the Lord to go to Laban for the plate. Nephi said he would do so because the Lord had instructed him to do so. When his brothers questioned the wisdom in doing this because it was a difficult task, Nephi said that he would do as the Lord instructed him knowing he would have divine help. They were met with a lot of opposition, but Nephi did not give up. In the end, he was shown the way to complete his task and did so without the help of his brothers.
Growing up, this story was always relayed to show the faith Nephi had. Elder Schmiel relayed it as a story to illustrate how the Lord will help us as we earnestly seek for answers. He points out that we are not given an easy life with all of the answers just because we believe. We have to find our own answers as we learn from the struggles we face. (Sound similar to what I was writing about earlier this week?)
As he continued speaking, Elder Schmiel, talked about not comparing our life's journey with others around us. This is where it really felt like he was talking to me. I often compare myself to others who appear to be or I am told are better than me. I need to remember that my life has been different from theirs. No one has been through the exact same journey. About this he said, "We must keep in mind that this is not a competition, and we are here to love and help each other."
When we act in faith to be like our Savior, we can lose ourselves in His work. We are not going to be given an easy life, but He did not have an easy life either. We will be given help to overcome our obstacles as we search for answers and work to help ourselves and others. This may look different from those around us, but that is ok. That does not diminish our worth or their. It just means we are different people which is good.
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Mitten Progress for Today
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
I Love It
Eric moved our a little over a year ago, and I don't get to see or talk to him as much as I would like anymore. Yesterday, I realized it had been about three weeks since I had seen him and was about to text or call him when he called. I was so excited and answered right away. I am usually the one that has to call him, so I was a little worried about him. He actually had just called to ask if he could come over for dinner tonight. After assuring me that everything was fine, we set up a time for him to come over and hung up.
Tonight, he and his girlfriend came over for dinner. First, he wanted to show me the car he got, a 1989 Honda Civic. He was so excited to show it off! After dinner, they stayed for a fun conversation and played a game before heading out.
I love that my boy still wants to hang out with his mom. I love my kids so much and hope they all call just to have dinner and play a game through the years. I could not imagine my life without these wonderful humans!
Monday, August 8, 2022
"We Have NO Food in the House!"
The pantry today:
The cupboard last week:
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Reprieve From the Heat
Saturday, August 6, 2022
Memes
I have been collecting these, and I don’t really know what to do with them. Some of them have real meaning. Some of them are just plain funny.
Friday, August 5, 2022
As They Sleep
As I sit here working in an quiet house with my son and daughter sleeping away the day, my brain has been spiraling out of control. Memories of the past have come flooding back, and I don’t know how to deal with it. Maybe if I were to sleep better this wouldn’t happen.
I have experienced trauma in my life. I try to tell myself that since I haven’t been through as much as other people, it isn’t that bad. The reality is that this trauma has shaped who I am as a wife, mother, student, employee, and woman in the world. There are people who claim that I caused them the hardship instead of the other way around. There are people who claim nothing ever happened. There are those whom I haven’t seen or talked to in many years and don’t even know if they are still living. No matter what the circumstances are currently, many events that unfolded in my past still affect me no matter how much I try to push them aside.
I wish I could be one of those people who could move past these things. I wish I were as strong as I pretend to be. Maybe some day. For today, I will sit in my quiet house as my children sleep, trying to get my work done while on the verge of tears praying for this burden to once again be lifted from me.
Thursday, August 4, 2022
Creamed Eggs
The left overs I happily ate for lunch. |
When I was married to my first husband, I got some recipes from his mother that are very good. Some of them have become Thanksgiving traditions such as Cheesy Broccoli. Some of them have not been made much because I have children who are very picky eaters. Once of these recipes is Creamed Eggs.
I have a recipe card with the recipe for Creamed Eggs written on it just like I do for the recipes that get used the most as well as any recipes I was given by other people. Most of these cards sit in a box that my mom used to use for addresses, phone numbers, and birthday. This recipe sat in a beer stein I got for my high school graduation that I use for pens and markers. Last week, when looking for something for Noel to write with, she asked me what was on the card. I showed it to her, and she said it sounded good, so I agreed to make it on one of my nights to cook. Last night was that night.
As we sat down at the table with this mixture of mostly eggs and cheese with a can of olives mixed in, I was given mixed reviews. Sean ate only toast. (He knows not to say something looks gross and to just eat something on the table.) Noel happily grabbed a piece of toast and put the egg mixture over the top of it like gravy and ate it saying how good it was and how she wished we would have had it before (really she just doesn't remember having it when she was little). Chad kind of snubbed his nose at it but still took two pieces of toast and ate it. In the end, he said that he liked it as well.
I'm glad Noel found this recipe. It was well received and very easy to make. It will for sure make its way into our rotation!
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
More Mitten Progress
I worked up more of the first mitten today. After about an hour, I completed 7 more rows. Knitting with two hands is not easy. I have dropped stitches a few times, lost count more than once, and had to tink back three times. Even with these problems, I am still loving the process. If I had been told 10 years ago that I would be learning colorwork, I would have laughed at them. Look at me now. I'm doing it!
Decision Made (For Now)
I have decided I am not going to open my blog up all of the way. I'm also not going to make it completely private. What does this mean for me? Not much. I will keep posting as I see fit. I just won't post about specific people on here.
This blog will continue to not be searchable. It can and will be only found by those who have been given the link or found it on social media accounts. (That means people can’t accidentally stumble across it.) It's how it has been since about 2008 or 2009, and it has worked for me so far. I am not interested in becoming internet famous. If that were my intent, I would not be using a format that most people don't even bother with anymore. I am interesting in airing out my opinions and telling my story.
There may be a day when my kids will wonder as I have who their mother was and what she thought about as I have many times. I don't want my kids to have to wonder this. I don't have journals or recording of any kind from my mom. I can't even get her family members to tell me memories of her. When I die (hopefully many, many years from now), I hope my kids are given my blog, journals, pictures, etc.