Random Thoughts I don't Want to forget

Here is my patient son Davis... he really is so sweet with the little ones!
Meet Lesley, our new student from China. This our first time to host a student from China. She is very kind and sweet with Sophie!
This is our Jack! About 2 weeks ago we came home to find him with an enormous laceration on his back hip, about 6 inches long and very jagged! It was horrible. After rushing him to the vet he ended up having surgery and had to wear this cone for 10 days. He also had to be indoors for 10 days! a challenge for an outdoor dog. Well, all has healed well and he is back to normal.

Parkhurst

Over Fall Break we had the opportunity to go to the Pumpkin Patch with our dear friends Jillian and Kenley!!!

It's been so long...

since I last posted... except for the post I just did a few minutes ago. I was looking at all of my previous posts and there are very few pics, so I wanted to include a few of my kiddos. They are growing up too fast!!!

Some of my favorite people...

Since getting involved in Celebrate Recovery over 3 years ago, I have developed some cherished relationships. I love these people. I love spending time with them! They are REAL!!! Thanks guys!

Colt McCoy is "carrying the candle" to his teammates!

Since becoming a star QB for Texas I know Colt has had his fair share of challenges. I can't even imagine how difficult it would be to walk a Christian walk in the position he is in. Word has it that Colt is doing just that. I spoke with my aunt in Abilene today and she shared with me that he had been studying with some of his teammates and baptized 5 of them this past week. It brought tears to my eyes! I know this must have been very difficult to spark interest in the hearts of these young men and I am so encouraged and uplifted to know that he is "carrying the candle" to the Longhorn players.

The story and connection behind the McCoy family is such an interesting one. My mother and Colt's grandmother are first cousins. Therefore Colt is my 4th cousin. In addition to that Colt's father, Brad, took his first coaching job under my father-in-law in New Mexico. Colt was born in Hobbs while they were living there. Following their stint in NM they moved on to Texas. I first met my McCoy cousins when I was about 14, they had recently moved from NM... little did I know they were already friends with the Brown family, in which I would marry in to some years later. When I began dating David I mentioned that the closest relatives I had to Oklahoma were in Abilene, the McCoy's. We eventually realized the connection. That Thanksgiving of my freshman year in college I spent it in Abilene with the McCoy's. David dropped me off on his way to NM. They already knew him... perhaps better than I. Brad had nothing but great things to say about David; that was comforting. That same Thanksgiving I remember throwing the football with Colt on many occasion. I remember thinking "he sure is good for a little guy..." Little did we know what God had planned for him.

Since coming to Oklahoma I have had many more opportunities to spend time with the McCoy's. From family reunions to frequent visits to the Abilene area. They are an amazing family who has been a wonderful example to me in more ways than one!

If you want to be frugal try these! A.K.A. "Save a Buck Sunday"

One of my favorite books is the Tightwad Gazette. If you don't own it and you are striving to be frugal you must own this book. It is awesome! One suggestion that it has is using TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) as a meat substitute. I have wanted to try it for some time but have not had the courage to do so, until tonight! My SIL was over and we were trying the Millet I had made and then I brought out the TVP. We soaked it and then she so bravely tasted it first, it was not bad at all! We both agreed that it could easily serve as a meat sub in many dishes. Not that I am against using meat, I'm just always looking for ways to save a buck. It is about a dollar a pound and it is much healthier than actual meat. Less fat more fiber etc... I must add that she has texture issues and still liked it! We were trying it with a little seasonings etc... I think it will be much better in an actual recipe. If anyone would like to share your experiences I'd love to hear!


Now on to the Millet. This is a grain that is similar to wheat, yet is gluten free! Yipee! It reminds me of cous cous. It is prepared like you would prepare rice. Tonight I tried it with butter. Thats as far as I got. I am going to look for some good recipes to use it in. Once again very cheap. One bag cost $.99 at Cao Nguyen (Asian food store off Classen). I know it is possible to make a flat bread with it so I will be researching that. I'm starting to get tired of corn tortillas! I have yet to make a good gluten-free bread, even though I have a great recipe for one. I have a strange fear of making bread for some reason???

By the way, I have an idea of starting a "Save a Buck Sunday" post. Basically you would post a frugal idea that you have and use, on Sundays. Similar to the "Random Thoughts Thursday", "Flashback Friday", etc... join in if you'd like!

So blessed

Today was a great day! It all started with me actually being on time and leaving the house to be on time to church. We had a wonderful lesson focusing on reaching out to others. Oh, how I need to do this more. I often have great intentions of reaching out but do not always follow through... fear of rejection I presume. One more thing to add to my prayer list.

The service ended with my 10 year old nephew going forward to be baptized. What a special day for this Brown family. It seems like only yesterday he was born...just five days after my own son.

The afternoon was spent doing a few household chores and a nap of course. Following dinner we played several rounds of Apples to Apples with the family. Then welcomed David's family over for some Wii/Guitar Hero action. David did not get up from those drums for a couple of hours. He can really rock out! We keep telling him to join a band and relive his glory days :) Anyone needing a drummer let me know...

As I sit here yawning I am feeling so blessed to have such a wonderful family. Good night.