Thick and Creamy Potato Bacon Soup

We love to eat at Cheddar's restaurant in Mansfield.  When Baeleigh was little, she used to like to sit in the middle booths so she could watch all the fans whip around. (See cute picture below of her when she was 3!)

  Our favorite food at Cheddar's is their potato soup.  IT is very thick and creamy; not the least bit watery;  and it has BACON!! (Can't you just hear the Beggin' Strips Dog commercial??) I love bacon. The only thing bacon related that I haven't tired yet is the bacon sundae at Denny's.  But I have tried to concoct the Cheddar's soup recipe for years and I think I finally have it down to a science! 

Recipe for Thick and Creamy Potato Bacon Soup (Better than Cheddar's because I can have as much as I want, when I want.)

Ingredients
8 slices of bacon.
1 c. sauteed onion or 1/4 c. dried minced onion (have used both and it makes no difference!)
8 potatoes - chopped
1 c. water
1 3/4 cup whole milk (or if you use 2% no one will know but you!)
1 c. sour cream
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
2 - 10 3/4 ounce cans of cream of chicken soup
1- small can of cream of celery soup

Directions:
Put large stock pot on the stove and bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Clean and chop potatoes into squares with the skins left on (or you can take the time to peel them).  I cut mine in half, then fourths but the chunks can be smaller if that is your liking.

Add spuds to boiling water and set timer for 17 minutes.

Meanwhile, grab a cookie sheet WITH SIDES (or you will have a mess) and line with foil.  Put the bacon on the foil. Set oven to 400 degrees and immediately put in the bacon. Do not preheat the oven. Bake for 15 minutes and let it cool in the pan until you are ready to cut them into bits.

If you are sauteing your onions, use some bacon grease in a small pan and saute until clear. I deleted this step and just added minced onion because I hate it when my hands stink like onion (I'm not an onion lover).

In a separate large mixing bowl, (I use a pancake batter bowl for easy and transfer) combine onion, water, milk, sour cream, salt, pepper, cream of chicken soup, and cream of celery soup.  Use kitchen shears to cut the bacon into fourths.  Reserve 2 pieces of bacon for garnish. Add quartered bacon to the pot.  In a small bowl, cut remaining 2 pieces into bacon bit sized pieces. 

Drain potatoes in a colander in the sink. Leave them there for a few minutes.  Carefully wipe out the pot for skin residue if you wish. Return the potatoes to the pot.  Add the soup mixture and stir well.  Simmer for 2 hours.

OR simmer for a half an hour, add to a crock pot, and put it in the fridge for the next day. Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours. (I also take out 4 servings and put in a tupperware container and put in the freezer. But there are only 3 of us...so if you have a big family, you probably can't take any out!)

Garnish your delicious soup with a few fingers full of triple cheese blend and your bacon bits.

**Note to self** Next time, try adding some garlic. Hubs bought a HUGE tub of garlic and it just might go well in this soup!**

Until the next time I cook,

Natalie
XOXO

Grilled Garlic Shrimp & Pasta Recipe under $10 by J.P.

Oh.
My.
Golly.
I think this is the best dinner we have had in a long time. AND it was under $10.  Our Family Chef aka J.P. (aka Hubs & Daddy) is on a cooking kick. We (mostly me) are/is so sick of restaurant food. Especially...I hate to admit it... EVEN PIZZA. 

My very close and wonderful friend Wendy Lou and I had a discussion tonight and we compared some good recipes, including but not limited to, BBQ ribs, laundry detergent, and fabric softener.  She turned me on to Pinterest, which I think should have an add-title that reads "Pinterest...the reason we don't need college anymore."  Can you imagine all the $$ people would save on college loans?????

Seriously. Between Pinterest and Google, I don't know why I keep thinking I need to finish my Bacherlor's degree.  The Internet is much cheaper. And I can find an answer to EVERYTHING.

So, to celebrate my blog hiatus (almost 2 years of not blogging) let me include J.P.'s recipe that is WAY better than Red Lobster or Olive Garden, I promise, and costs under $10 for the both of us.  (My 10 year old has yet to try shrimp but when she does...we will be buying 2 pounds of shrimp I'm sure!)  

Ingredients for Garlic Shrimp: 
1 pound of uncooked shrimp (about 30 count)  ($7 at Gerwig's White Barn)
Skewers (.99)
1/4 cup Olive Oil
1/4 cup Lemon Juice
1 TBS. dried parsley (more if it's fresh)
Black Pepper to taste

Directions: In a gallon size ziplock, combine all ingredients and marinate the shrimp for 30 minutes.
Soak skewers in water in a shallow baking pan if they are wooden.
Put the marinated shrimp on the skewers. You should have about 5 or 6 skewers full of shrimp.
Cook on a preheated grill until the shrimp are pink and no longer opaque.

While the shrimp are marinating,boil 8 oz. of angel hair pasta.

Ingredients for Butter Garlic Sauce:
1/4 olive oil
3 TBS Butter
7 cloves of mined garlic.
Sea Salt or Kosher Salt (it DOES make a difference than regular ol' table salt) 
Parmesan cheese

Directions: Saute in a skillet and sprinkle parsley and salt to taste.  Top with Parmesan cheese.

When the shrimp are done on the grill...add them to the top of the pasta... sprinkle with Sea Salt...H*E*A*V*E*N

It's Sunday and I have to do some meal planning for the week but watch for my laundry concoction recipe made from several other recipes and I have finally come to a recipe that is what I need it to be! After two weeks of making a million batches, I have a version that I like BETTER than Gain. I would have never believed me had I heard me saying this a few weeks ago!

Have a good week!
Blessings, 

~ Natalie~ 

Pizza Baked Spaghetti

My Pizza Baked Spaghetti starts with Jamie's sauce:

In a crockpot, add 1.5 lbs. of extra lean ground beef (raw)
a large can of Hunt's tomato puree
a large can of Hunt's tomato sauce
2 packets of spagetti seasoning
1 small can of mushrooms

Cook on low all day. The ground beef will cook on its own - get extra lean if you are worried about it being too greasy.

Make the spaghetti and add sauce, it's wonderful. With the left over sauce, I put it in a plastic container and freeze it. That's where the baked spaghetti comes in. Of course you can use jar sauce but it is not as near as good as homemade.

So here's the recipe for the casserole:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Defrost spaghetti sauce - enough to break up the frozen chunks but it should still be cool. Meanwhile, cook about a half a box of spaghetti for 7 minutes. Do not overcook because it is going to get gooshy after it goes to the oven. Drain spaghetti.

With cooking spray, lightly spray casserole dish. Add a very thin layer of sauce. Layer half of the spaghetti on top and use half of the sauce you thawed. make sure you cover the past completely. Add the rest of the pasta and the rest of the sauce and cover pasta completely. Use finely shredded mozzarella cheese and make a think layer. Sprinkle a thin layer of grated Parmesan cheese. Add deli pepperoni (it's cheaper and really big!) and then cut 2 slices of sliced mozzarella cheese in triangles and spread over the top. It should look like this:

Cook uncovered for about 45 mins. in a 350 oven or 30 mins. in a 400 degree oven. If the cheese starts getting too brown cover with a glass lid or foil.


My thoughts on my devotions today:   This morning in Isaiah 64:8 (AMP) it said: "Yet, oh Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand." How encouraging to know that God is my Potter. He is making pieces of pottery out of every one. I am pottery. You are pottery. God is our Potter. How awesome to know that my imperfections will become perfection in His time. Today He molds me little by little. Sits me on the Potter's wheel and smooths out all the bumps in me. The round and round makes me dizzy and sometimes it's hard to see the purpose in it all, but the Potter is at work on the pottery.

As I read Isaiah's words, I felt his pain. He was a prophet - God spoke directly to him and told him to warn the others of what was to come. How often do we hear God's word and think, "Well, it could happen... I guess...but I'm going to go on about my way because I'm too busy to do what I know I should do. Tell me again later, Lord, and hopefully I will have the house clean, toilet scrubbed, laundry done and dinner cooked and then I'll do what you say."

Isaiah reminded Jerusalem of the relationship they USED to have with God: "Our holy and our beautiful house, [the temple] where our father's praised You, is burned with fire, and all our pleasant and desirable places are in ruins." The chosen people had a sanctuary with their God, a place of worship and fellowship with Him. And because they drifted away from God, they lost it all. When we drift, we lose that close intimate fellowship with God.

Isaiah 53:4 speaks of Jesus: "Surely He has borne our griefs (sickness, weakness and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains of punishment, yet we ignorantly considered Him stricken, smitten and afflicted by God [as with leprosy]". Isn't it sad to think that we take Jesus for granted - what He suffered for us we continue to treat Him like He has some kind of disease?

Isaiah died by being sawed in half by King Manasseh. Manasseh didn't like what Isaiah had to say ~ much like there are times when I am in the middle of sin and don't want to hear God say that I am wrong ~ I sever God's Word from my heart and my mind because of my stubbornness. Lord, I pray that you soften me to Your Word and Your Presence in my life. Help me not to turn a deaf ear to You. Help me to love You more than the sin that I am participating in. Lord, make me like Isaiah, that I would not be ashamed of Your Word and that I would be willing to die for Your truth like Jesus died for me. Amen.

It's been awhile...

It's been awhile since I posted a blog...I believe it was winter time...and now we are right smack dead center in the middle of summer, which I happen to LOVE LOVE LOVE.

What has happened since January somethingish... (at least I think it was January...)

February ~ Celebrated Jamie's birthday and my one year Collins & Lowther anniversary on the same day. Bae and I gave him an iTunes giftcard that is still sitting on the kitchen table because he bootlegs all of his music. Yes, I am married to a thief. I guess that is why I am strategically employed as a Paralegal.

I don't remember much about March, April or May, except that Jenny finally made it through her chemo and radiation and she is doing wonderfully. Her scans have come back clean and I cannot praise God enough. Another vague memory ~ I can sorta recall that we had several Court trials - like 3 which is insanely insane. Won one, lost one and one is still being decided, so our batting average could go either way at this point.

For Easter this year we went to New York to see the Jarrell's. We took Flat Stanley, sent to us by my nephew Izak Darling.


We had a great trip...we stopped by the Hudson River...Niagara Falls...took lots of pics...its was really fun.

I'm going to conclude my blog to a part two later...I'm all of the sudden extremely exhausted. And remind me to tell you about my washing machine...

xoxo

Just the Good Ol Boys...

...Never meanin' no harm.
Beats all you never saw
Been in trouble with the law
Since the day they was born.

Staightnin' the curves
Flatnin the hills
Someday the mountain might get 'em
But the law never will.

Makin' their way
The only way they know how
That's just a little bit more
Than the law will allow.

I had a Dukes of Hazzard experience this morning on my way to work. The roads were a complete mess until I got to Crawford County. It looked fairly clear. I was driving through Galion, going about 45 (the speed limit was 50 thank-you-very-much) and the mini van in front of me started fish tailing. I tapped my breaks and bing bam boom I started to slide all over the place.

Quick decision: A. Go left of center and hit the oncoming vehicle. B. Straighten out the fish tail and hit the van in front of me because I ain't stoppin'...or...C. Hunker down, grip the wheel, and jump the ditch like Bo Duke.

I chose the Bo Duke option.

The ditch was probably 4 feet deep. I soared through the air, too petrified to yell "Yee Haw" like my mother would have.

I landed over the ditch and hit a snow bank. The car was covered in snow but still running. My rear wheels were too far buried in snow for me to just drive away.

After doing the "put it in reverse" "put it in drive" series, I decided I wasn't getting out and called Anita and asked her for a number for a tow truck in Galion. She couldn't find anything...

...and as I looked up 3 very fine gentlemen in carhardts and work boots came walking towards my car... Thank you Jesus! These Good Ol Boys just saved me $100 towing fee!

I am going to make some cupcakes tonight and drop them off at that place on my way in tomorrow morning...provided we don't have another snow storm...

Yee. Haw.

xoxox

Is it Summertime, yet?

I don't care about Christmas this year. Which saddens me, because I normally LOVE this time of year. But seriously, things have just become too busy and I'm tired of all the mania.

It's fine on Black Friday...Jenny and I shopped from midnight on Thursday until 3:00 p.m. on Friday. I got TONS of good deals. I do my shopping and dad's shopping for the grandkids so I definately have a lot to buy. My best deals were at Target this year. We hit the Polaris location after the came from the Jefferson Outlets with Sammy and Brittany.

Since then, I have not cared much about Christmas. I think it is because I gone from home 11 hours a day and when you calculate in the 3 Christmas programs Bae is in, (school, daycare and church) and laundry on top of all that, I am just plain old tired.

I can't wait to go to Michigan next year. Ty and Jenny came up last Saturday and all talked about it. I love not having any responsiblities. I love not having to do laundry for one whole week (even though it takes me two whole weeks to catch it back up when we get home...) . And I LOVE supporting the Kewadian Community! But most of all, I love spending time with the family that helped raised me - the Russell's. Ralph and Patty are second parents to me and it's great to hear them them tell stories...like Patty hiding the Ho Ho's because she knew I was on my way over... True story.

Jamie desperately needs a week off of work. He freezes to death during the winter. Why they make him work in a building with no walls in the wintertime is beyond me.

We did finally get the tree up last night.

The only thing I am looking forward to is the stockings that Santa does every year. They are stuffed over the rim, full of my favorite usuals: chapstick, Andes Mints and the best thing...scratch off lottery tickets!

Grandma Shoup started the Santa Stockings and now Deb has kept up the tradition. We get some really unique things too and stupid me, every year, "Deb, where in the world did you find that!?!" Deb: " I don't know, Santa picked it up somewhere..."

I tend to forget that the kids still beleive in Santa.

I am also looking forward to staying home for Christmas. We are doing dinners early this year starting tonight...so we will be home for the entire weekend. The only thing missing will be my friend Schwen...I wish she was coming home this year. Then maybe I would be excited about Christmas~!

xoxox

New Phone ... Yippee!

FINALLY...I have a new phone! My old one was JuNk!!! To be fair, I am extra rough on the equipment, just ask my mother-in-law. She gave us a car and I've dented in the side, (twice), knocked a piece of the muffler off (so it's loud...gets louder by the day), I got hair color on the console (it's purple) and I've burned up the brakes (they are clanking at every stop sign). But all of the sounds are okay because the stereo still blares over top of them. So I'm not whining at all...until I blow the speakers up like I did in the Jeep...

Yes, I'm taking full blame for my Samsung Alias turning in to junk after only 9 months of use. I wore out the piece that takes the charger so I had to buy an external battery charger. Then the battery wouldn't hold a charge for more than a few hours so I bought another battery. I guess I talk too much (or text too much rather) and burned that baby up too. Needless to say, when Verizon sent the email to upgrade 6 months early I couldn't get online fast enough! I got an LG EnV3 and so far, I really really like it. It is maroon. And it has a keyboard which I like. The Alias was a flip phone and I liked that but I wanted a change.

Change is good, although Jamie would disagree with me. I can prove this because I offered him the Alias but he declined. He still has Lesi Jarrell's FIRST EvEr phone from 5 years ago. That phone has made it through the washer and dryer. The flash wouldn't turn off so Jamie just poked it out with a screwdriver. That phone looks like it did it's tour of duty in Vietnam. He hates change. Me, not so much.

Here are the only pictures that I saved from the old phone... (plus the one at the top...)


Isn't she beautiful? I am a proud Ma Muh that's for sure.

So, next time you call me, or I call you, I will not have to say..."Shoot, I have to go, my battery is..." and then it dies.

Have a great weekend.

" ¹¹Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, ¹²so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 Thessalonians 11-12

Love,
Natalie

It's a Rhinestone Cow Girl...twang twang...

We had fun trick-or-treating, as always. Bae walked around for about a half an hour with Grandma, and then she decided to come back and pass out candy for the last half hour. Itwas quite chilly outside but she was cozy in her cowboy boots, thermal top and furry vest. Her light-up pink hat was the hit of the neighborhood.

Of course, her favorite accessory to her costume was her blacked out tooth. She thought that was just so funny. We used to do that all the time at Halloween when we were kids. We would use Brenda's mascara. I was a Dallas Cowboy's Cheerleader every year and then to change it up a little bit, mom blacked out a tooth or two. Grandma Adams made me a real blue cheerleading skirt with white pleats. I wore that thing to death.

After work on Friday, we all headed down to The Olde Well for our weekly staff meeting at 4:00 p.m. I made the comment to Dave that the Fonz turned 64 years old. That brought up the conversation of Halloween costumes. He said, "Yeah, I had the leather jacket and my sister put Vaseline in my hair... I was the Fonz for about 3 weeks!" What really makes that funny now is that Dave is bald...

Doug couldn't remember at all what he was for Halloween...until it struck him..."I remember being a grandfather clock, once." I am laughing out loud writing this. A grandfather clock, seriously? I guess he won the creativity award in Stuebenville that year.

Kevin said that he was a super hero one year and his mother made him a special cape. He was so excited about it and his mom kept carrying on about making sure the door was locked. Everyone took off and left him behind and he, being the last one, locked the door and then slammed it shut ...only to lock his cape in the door. He struggled with it for a while and then decided...he had to take off the cape...it was a near tragedy. What kind of a super hero roams the streets of Millersburg without a cape? Lol.

Then Dave proceeded to us that he dressed up as Frankenstein last year and super glued a bolt directly to his neck. Ouch.

These guys I work for are quite the craziness...but that's what makes this job so much fun. I like the concept of work hard, play harder. Because life is too short not to enjoy every aspect of whatever is thrown your way. We deal with a lot of tragedy each day, but to get through it, we have to laugh at the funny things and be thankful for what God has given us.

I wouldn't trade these times for the world. Thanks my Lord, for always taking care of me and putting me right where I belong.

xoxo
N.

Kettle Corn, Wisdom Teeth and Sleep.

Anita, the office manager, bought a new fangled gadget that makes kettle corn. And boy does it ever! She brought me in a big ol bag today and it is wonderful. It makes me teeth hurt but still is ti so good.

Speaking of teeth...I get two wisdom teeth pulled on Saturday. Then, a lower molar also. My face will be the size of Texas. But I have to recover quickly because Jenny is having a "Last Chemo" party at Red Lobster on Tuesday! Ty just confirmed my reservation. I am pretty sure I will feel like NOT going but dear girlfriend has been out and about with me two to three times a week in her baldness. So if I have to go to Red Lobster all fat-faced, I can handle that for one day. I will probably see every ex I have ever had but G.G., you are worth it.

Tonight is Trick-or-Treat at Grandma Debbies house. I wish someone would let me just take a nap before hand, I am sooooooooo zzzz.......zzz... see, I fell asleep typing again. This is proof positive that I am under nourished when it comes to sleep.

Bae is going to be a cowgirl. This all came about this summer when we were at Dollywood with the Mullins clan. She wanted this big pink cowboy hat that lights up in the front. I said, very clearly, "No." She said, "Well, it can be my halloween costume!" Oh, alright. I guess if it has more than one use, why not.

She is insisiting on freckles, pigtails, and one blacked out tooth.

Atta girl. Nothing like making a costume all your own.

Hopefully the batteries do not run out on the hat...

xoxo
N.

Barclay. Fred. Petey. Whoooo?? Whooo??

Last night, Jamie and Bae came home from church and Bae saw "something that looked like an eagle" flapping across the road. Of course, JP had to get the flashlight and I had to run and get the bird book and the binoculars!

It was a barred owl, aka screech owl. He was bEaUtIFuL!!! He was dark brown with white and grey lateral markings. He didn't make any noise, but his poor eyes turned red when shined the light in his eyes.

Back when we first moved in, I heard him, but never saw him. It was a haunting whoooo sound and I loved it! I named him Barclay. Then, last night, Baeleigh decided his name was Fred.

Fred? C'mon kid, you are more creative than that.

Okay. Petey.

Petey it is.

Why do I constantly give in to my 7 year old diva? Exactly right. Because she is 7 and she's a diva. (Granny, diva is a nice word for "spoiled brat." ha ha!)

xoxo
N.

To free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves–there lies the great, singular power of self-respect. -Joan Didion

I saw this quote the other day and it just really stuck with me.

I have a crazy horrible problem with people pleasing. I hate it when I do not meet the expectations of others. But come to think of it...when my expectations aren't met, I don't hear anyone beating down my door to apologize or to try harder or to try to make me happy. Sometimes I get "I'm human, I made a mistake" or "my family or my friends or my dog or insert whatever here... comes first". Which, incidentally means, I'm at the bottom of the list so take a number.

Self respect is a great thing ~ I have noticed that when there were times that I was too busy catering to other people that I let my self respect take a back seat to what they wanted/needed/expected.

I'm over that now.

At my class reunion, my very dear friend Amy said,
"I'm not dating anyone because i can't find anyone that treats me as well as I do."
Wow. She treats herself well and doesn't put up with anyone not treating her well. She is smart, confident and overly concerned when it comes to her family and friends. She and I had a talk about loving yourself enough to take care of yourself.

Since then, I have been making an effort to treat myself nicely. I have a list of things that I do to take care of me:

1. Put my clothes (socks and under wear included) in a warm dryer on high...this is awesome at 5:30 in the morning.
2. Read Psalm 139 even though I have it memorized.
3. Sing in the car regardless of my mood.
4. Wave and smile at the person flipping me off for reasons that I probably deserved.
5. Check this website: http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html . It's seriously life changing.
6. Pray with the girls in the car ~ every morning I drop Bae and sometimes if we are on time, Haley and Alexis jump in and we chat for a few. I pray for them and their day and that no one will pull a clip that day...
7. Text Jamie. My favorite ones are about what he is cooking for dinner. Yum.
8. Rockin' out on Bae's stage. We have wayyyy tooo much fun at our house.
9. Call Grandma. It's the best form of unconditional love and I always feel so much better.
10. Remember where I was a year ago and be thankful to God for where He's put me today.

Be nice to you today. You deserve it.

xoxo
nrp

Last Weekend

Are these not the cutest rug rats you've ever seen?? Birthday girl, Maddie Mae is on the left, Baeleigh "I want to be a Mae" is on the right. Baeleigh feels like she has been short changed because Mackenzie and Maddie have the middle name "Mae" and she got stuck with "Quinn".

We had so much fun on Saturday at Maddie's Pumpkin Patch Birthday Party. This is the 6th year running and it is the only party I look forward to, because if you know me at all, you know I hate birthday parties. The only other exception is Allison's party because they had a huge sound system and Steph made me do the electric slide. It was fun once I forgot that I was 38 years old dancing with a bunch of 13 year olds. Poor kids.

Maddie was excited to see Mackenzie. Weren't we all??!! I must have hugged her 15 times! Her family went out to eat after the party at Logan's Steakhouse and we crashed their party! I didn't want to miss out on all the fun!

I do hope that Bae goes to Christian college...however...I'm not sure what I think about them locking up the television from the girls. I guess at least they HAVE television. Wendy Lou said that at Word of Life there was no music listening or t.v. watching whatsoever! I do like the idea that she has a Dorm Mom that lives just upstairs. That's nice to have an adult that can be around if they need them. Because really, 18 is still a kid in a lot of ways.

So until Thanksgiving, we have to go back to missing Mackenzie again!


Hugs.
N.

Missing Mackenzie

We have been missing Mackenzie a lot lately...she is in Pennsylvania away at College. She sent Baeleigh a birthday card and a scarf as you can see from the picture. It was so much fun getting mail from her but made us miss her more! I am excited that finally today she is making her journey home for the weekend!

It's funny because every morning when I pass the Lex-Springmill Exit, I see the Target sign and I always think of shopping which makes me think of Amber and Mackenzie. So then I pray for them.

I have just really been blessed to have these girls in my life. The first time I met Mik, she was 8 years old and we were on a group vacation in Myrtle Beach. She was so sweet and I remember hoping that if I ever had a daughter, that they would listen as well as she does! (That wish didn't come true, LOL, my daughter doesn't take orders very well...)

When I got pregnant with Baeleigh, Mackenzie made me a Congrats card that said "I will babysit for free". She was 11 but so mature for her age. Then to find out that Maddie was on the way too, that put that girl in hog heaven! A few years later, I talked Mackenzie into Teens-N-Talents and she has been a star ever since. One of my favorite skits that I wrote especially for her was called "Cool Crowd or Cool Christian?" and she was the lead role. Adam Bennette gave her a hard time about it, made her cry, so I kicked him out of there. My favorite part in teh skit is where Steven Gamble got down on one knee and sang "My Girl" to her. It was so cute but hilarously funny. All of her friends were in the skit (I did that on purpose too): Katy, Mark, Allie and Andre'.

Amber headed up the other group of teens. She and I would stay up for hours at night trying to write her drama so it would be ready for the first practice. She always memorized her lines immediately, so she could beat everyone else. Yes, my girl was just as competitive as I was...guess that's why we won the Drama Competition every year...for six years!

If nothing else ever came out of my ten year drama coach reign, I would hope that the kids learned that they were capable of doing something great. Even the kids that hated speaking in front of people and I let them off easy by giving them a wordless part, they were still part of the group and their contribution was important even though small.

Isn't that what life is all about? Regardless of how "big our part is", or how glamourous or non-glamourous our lives may be ~ as long as we are part of the team, we are important.

I try to explain to Baeleigh that it's okay to have a small part in Jan's plays at Crestview because all of the kids can't have big parts, and if you want to be a part of the team, you have to go where you are needed.

So any contribution, be it big or small, really doesn't matter. It's how well you contribute, and what condition your heart is in and what attitude you bear that makes a difference.

As I look forward to hugging Mackenzie to death on Saturday, I look at her and see big things in her future. She is always willing to take back stage to help someone else out or to sacrfice what she really wants to help someone else. Coaching Upward with her was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, and as her shoes are getting filled by someone else this year my heart aches...but I know that she is spreading her wings and flying in God's direction...which is the only place to be.

Happy Birthday to Jack IV, Maddie, Payton & Jaydyn.

xoxo
N.

I'm a train wreck. Toothache. Headache. Earache. Neck ache. Seriously. Every day this week save one I have taken a nap over lunch hour because I am so miserable.

The note above is from Baeleigh, of course. This is why I am against the phonetic teaching of words. She spells things phonetically rather than from memory. That's why it's "Hay" and not "Hey".

I remember when I was the exact same age as Bae, I was in second grade and my mom found a note that said "I want to be President of the United States." Nothing was spelled wrong because Teachers back then were ruler whackers! You had to be proficient in reading and writing by 3rd grade or your knuckles would pay the price.

Speaking of third grade, at my 20th year reunion my friend Jeremy and I were in the same 3rd grade class. We talked about "Klep" aka Mrs. Kleppinger. She was mean and hateful. I was a straight A student until I walked her dreadful path...I still have the grade card: Straight A's and one C. It might was well been an F. I didn't get C's and rarely B's. I was LIVID with anger. Yes, it was her fault that I got a C in READING of all subjects (I am an excellent reader - have NEVER had problems with it) and she told my mother the reason I got a C was because I was in the top reading group and I did just enough to "get along." I was "average". I still loathe that woman. How could I be "average" in reading, if I were an A student in writing and language?? Good question. She just didn't like me because I talked too much.

So about my aches and pains, I went all to heck in one week. Started out with a head cold that traveled to my lungs, then my tooth started hurting from the crown leaking, which I think led to my ear ache. My neck hurts from holding my jaw. When it all starts hurting at the same time, I am a mean woman.

I go to the dentist on Monday.

Regardless of the outcome, I am hoping for good pain killers.

xoxo
N.

"To be a butterfly, you must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar..."

I was getting ready for bed and the text came in from Ty. Before I opened it, I was like, oh no, something is wrong with Geege.

Nothing is wrong. The stinkin' crazies were having a party! Yes, you read right. A PARTY. The whole fam damily got together to shave mom's head. Madi started it...Gage mohawked it...and Ty finished it. Then they made Jersey Mud desserts to finish off the party.

What's a Jersey Mud?? I had to hear about Jersey Mud's for years from Jen ~ every year in Michigan they would all go to the little dairy bar and get the world famed "Jersey Mud" It consists of one scoop of vanilla icecream, one scoop of chocolate ice cream, malt, marshmallow cream - all topped with whipcream and a cherry. I finally got to eat one for myself this summer. It was delicious.

I stared at the picture above and laughed out loud. Then the pic of her completely bald, I smiled so big ~ she looks ADORABLE. Cute as a button, I swear.

And then I laid in bed and cried all night...and really haven't stopped yet.

Me: You look so cute! Do you keep rubbing your head?!?
G.: Yes! But it feels so good! I just couldn't handle pulling it out.
Me: YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE PULLING IT OUT. is what I thought, but I said, "Bae said Awesome Mohawk!
G: Tell her I know where she can get one!
Me: We laughed and then had a good cry about it.
G: Oh! It's only hair! Hopefully by March I will be wig-free!
Me: WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S ONLY HAIR! IT SIGNIFIES THAT YOU HAVE CANCER! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T DIE! DON'T LEAVE ME! EVER! EVEN THOUGH YOU AND MY MOTHER WOULD HAVE ONE HECK OF PARTY, I STILL WANT YOU HERE WITH ME is what I thought, but I said, "I love you Geege. You look adorable. Call me tomorrow. G'nite."
G: i Love you too. Goodnight.

On that note, please continue to pray for G.G. She has another round of chemo coming up.

N.

Stop Pulling Your Hair OUT.

The coolest thing happened last night; I met Patti for dinner and then I stopped to get gas at Meijer. I was driving past Julie's house on Pole Lane and I was thinking about Jenny, wondering if Madi had practice for Cheerleading or what was going on..if Jenny was resting at Julie's or whatever, and then right in front me...There she is! I was so excited to see G.G.

She pulled over at McKinley Park and I got out and sat in her car for ten minutes so she wouldn't be late getting Madi from practice. I hugged her and said "You have no idea how much I love you" and then I heard something rustle in the back seat and it scared me TO DEATH. I screamed. Ahhh! What is it??!!

It was just Gage! I am a paranoid freak anymore. So then, G.G. had to show me her latest development with her hair...as she pulled out a handful...I cried the whole way home.

I have other issues going on as well, but I think I am more upset about her hair falling out than she is. I wish I had her mental clarity and toughness. I guess that's what you get when you grow up on a dairy farm where you have to work from dawn to dusk every day in the barns. I always loved doing chores and Geege hated it. I guess if I had to to do it every day too, I would hate it.

Imagine how messy my room was...can you imagine if my parents owned a barn?? Not a good thought.

I hardly get on Baeleigh for her pig pen of a room, I just close the door...

Steph called me this morning and said "Hey, I'm not going to keep you" and then we both started laughing. We don't know why that was so darn funny. But we laughed because the other one was laughing and finally, after ten minutes of laughing and remembering that Steph's not "keeping me" she finally says: I want you to speak at my funeral when I die.

DIE??? Is there something YOU'RE NOT TELLING ME!??!

I said, I can't watch you die! I thought all of us girls would live together at the nursing home, where we can sit around and do group therapy and then partake in Jack Kevorkian's group euthansia! Then we all go at the same time!

We laughed and laughed and then she had to get all serious on me again.

"Seriously. If I die, you have to stand up and tell everybody all the great stories."

What the heck!!?? I thought I was the funeral singer? Now I'm the funeral singer and the funeral talker??

Good grief. How do these people expect me to pull this stuff off.

My friend Gigi (not to be confused with G.G.) said something that is sticking in my brain: "It is what it is. You have to accept it." I hate acceptance of anything that i don't want to accept. Why can't everybody just act and do as I say and love me all the while? Why do people have problems and issues and baggage and drama and all that nonsense??

It is what it is.

We all die. We all have problems. We all fail in some area of our lives. We are ever changing every day.

So, okay, Stephanie Norton Rayburn aka "Information Station" I will do your funeral. But I hope more than anything, that I go first...because I can't stand the thought of losing one more person in this life that I love.

On that depressing note...I'll make sure at your funeral that I tell everyone about the night we went to the popcorn festival and you laughed so hard water came squirting out your nose! And then you tried to wipe your nonsense on me and I said "Don't get that on my shirt!" What a good friend I am! Friend of the Year for Natalie Powers! I accept this award with humbleness and great honor!

You guys keep me around for free comedy, admit it.

xoxox
N.R.P.

Another Underwear Post

Okay, I couldn't find a decent pic to post of the new Victoria Secret BioFit bra (I didn't want grannie's panties in a wad) BUT! it is AMAZINGINGLY COMFORTABLE! I ordered it a size smaller than usual because it has lift in it and Lord knows I don't need anymore lift.

What is so great about it that is has MEMORY FOAM in it. MEMORY FOAM. Like your pillow. Well, like my pillow, I guess if you are still in to feather pillows like JP.

Anyhoo ~ I had to tell you about this because it's my duty as your friend and your sister and your grand daughter.

Gran, I know you hate "talkin' about under duds" but seriously, I love you.

So, until next time, may your shoulders not ache, your back feel good...and may your chest be cradled in memory foam. (There, I said 'chest' instead of boobs. Happy?)

:)

Natalie

Bucket List Update

Summer is coming to end and I did get a good start on my Bucket List. Here is the latest:

5. Visit the Statue of Liberty ~ Patti and I have planned a trip for November. We are going to do our Christmas Shopping, catch a Broadway show and head out to the Statue of Liberty. It's going to be an awesome birthday this year!

14. Go to MI with Jenny & Kattie ~ well, Kattie didn't quite make it, but I spent a week with Jenny in the Upper Peninsula, so I am counting this as completed.

43. Go to Gatlinburg w/ Grannie ~ we did this and it was amazing to spend 5 days with her and my family! AWWESOMENESS

44. Vacation in the Florida Keys ~ well, it just so happens that Jamie's cousin, Farrell, sent us an invitation to her Wedding in the Florida Keys on April 11! Woo hoo! It's on a Sunday so we will go from Friday to Monday I'm guessing.

That's it. Nothing overly exciting, but if I don't hold myself accountable I won't do all the things on the list.

Happy Monday...next week is the fair...which means more "heart attack waiting to happen" food. So I better accomplish more things on my list in case my heart gets all clogged up. LOL

Much love,
Natalie

To My Beautiful Daugther...

You are the greatest gift ever given to me. You give give give every second of every day. Your sweet voice gives me hope for a future generation of kind, compassionate and empathetic people.

Your child-like faith reminds me that when we see only one set of footprints ~ God is carrying us.

And when we are sitting in the sand, it's not because God dropped us...it's because we flopped out on our own. And we always have His warm, loving arms to crawl back in to.

You remind me that life is only life if it is lived for today...not yesterday or tomorrow...but NOW.

I need you to know that my lap and my arms will never be unavailable to you. I hope when you are 30 you still sit with me under a warm cozy blanket and watch movies.

The curls in your hair remind of me of my own...we have Brenda's eyes...we have her free spirit...we have her lovely voice...but you have inherited your best traits from your Daddy...your giving heart, your long eyelashes and your strong, intelligent mind.

I write these things because we never know when Jesus is going to call us home...and as long as it's written down somewhere, you can read it whenever you want to.

So, whatever you do...

Never stop...

...Reading your bible ~ it is the road map for your life.

...Singing ~ it will quench the ache of a thirsty soul.

...Appreciating your grandparents... they offer a deep love like no other.

...Encouraging others ~ you will make a positive difference in someone else's life.

...Giggling...your belly laugh brings me more joy than you will ever know.

...Writing Stories...it makes your creative mind think and empathize with others...

...Loving people...even when they are different from you ~ God created us all ~ and regardless of who or where we are in life, everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. Should they not return the favor to you, do not compromise your behavior but do not tolerate theirs...being respectful does not mean that you have to be friends with everyone.

...Investing your time and energy into those people who love you and care for you. Don't waste your time trying to change people...it's their responsibility. You are only responsible for you.

...Being nice to old people ~ you will be old some day too.

...Talking to me...I will be true to you and protect you the best I can...I am always on your side...and I will always be your biggest fan.

I love you!

Forever and ever.

Mama

If Underwear Embarrasess You, Do Not Read This Post.

Things may get a little personal on here today. If you know me, you know that I am sitting here laughing out loud at myself...Luther and I (my birdy) are having a great day. I needed to take a break from a HUGE GIGANTIC domestic case I've been devoting all of my time and energy to the last 48 hours.

So about the personal issues... Schwen, Remember when you used to come to Crop Night with your Victoria's Secret bag?? I wonder if Kerri and Gigi remember that??


It was way back when you were saving money to buy a Creative Memories tote. I think I had an Old Navy bag for awhile. I am still giggling...

Anyhoo...awhile back, Victoria was having a big brassiere sale so I stocked up but now that I've lost some weight...what a wonderful reason to shop more!! I had a $15 off coupon and the internet store didn't give me my coupon credit at the check out. Makes me crazy ~ they try to gyp me out of the darn coupon every month and it is making me mad. The people at customer service probably all fight over who has to answer my disgruntled emails.

But darnit, times are tough, and bras are expensive and $15 is a lot of money to me.

In my mind, (and this is how Jamie says "they get ya") I think, Okay, I was going to spend the whole amount BEFORE the coupon, so I might as well get some matching underwear! You know, the underwear they charge $15 a pair for that only costs them .50 cents because they pay some poor puerto ricans a whopping .10 cents an hour. But! They put the panties on SALE for 3 for $30. That's more savings! I can't pass up a sale!

Did I get the most out of my $15 coupon???? Well...no, because I spent $30 more dollars on under duds!!!

Expected delivery date is Sept. 12. Jamie and I just talked last night how broke I am but he mistakenly made a snide remark: "Hey, your bra and your underwear don't match today" Ha!Magic words! I'll show him! I decided to make my under-roos match and spent $63.00 on undergarments! I am so spiteful. Well, actually, it is $78 because the idiots forgot to take off my coupon AGAIN. Which brings us back to my original gripe that started this rant.

Thank you for listening to me obsessively rage about my underwear problems. I appreciate it.
After all...that's what friends are for...right?

xoxo
Nat.

P.S. Sorry Grandma, I know you are dying of humiliaton, but seriously, it's going to be okay. Only 3 people read this anyways (if I'm lucky) and all three of them have seen my underwear. And hopefully when they did...I matched...

Oh, and P.S.S. I just got a text from Gee Gee ~ she just finished her first round of chemo. She feels pretty good so far...but they told her that she would be out of hair in ten days....below is her "new" hair and I truly LOVE it! I love the high lights and it looks really real. When she came home from shopping, the kids didn't even know it was fake! So keep praying for our girl. She is tough, she'll do fine I'm sure. xoxo