Warming my Heart and Day

Last Thursday was a very cold winter day.

And the 33rd anniversary of my birth.

When it is 12 degrees outside, you appreciate these in a whole new way!

Thank you, Josh. I love you!

Watch out-I'm Ranting...

I'm getting frustrated with the Facebook updates that say something like,

"am saddened by what happened in Haiti, but shame on you America: In our country we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment - yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations. 99% of people won't have the guts to copy and repost this."

I would like to ask these people and those that click the "like" button a few questions.

1. Name one person you have known to die and not have a funeral or burial.

2. Name one person you have known to wait for over 2 days with a broken bone.

3. Name one person you have known to have flies lay eggs in their open wound.

4. Name one person you have known that went without food or water for more than a day.

Or perhaps, I should ask: Are you just mad you are missing your favorite show tonight??

Sorry, but our problems here DO NOT compare with those of the Haitian People. If you are without food, it is because you are either able to work and choosing not to, or you are not going through the process of receiving food stamps, or you are selling your food stamps for cash for drugs. (In which case, sadly some children suffer because of their parents in this country.)

I have been "poor" I've spent 30 dollars a week on groceries for weeks during our medical school years. I've also had to ask for government assistance. Imagine my surprise when our budget went from 30-50 a week for groceries to 120 a week-for our small family!! No, our country takes great care of its poor. (plus I got free milk, eggs, and cheese and formula!)

Certainly things are not perfect here. More should be done to help the mentally ill. But isn't that a big part of the challenge-they are ill to the point that they don't always make good decisions for their health. Having help and people using it and accepting it are two different things. Non-compliance to medication and doctor's orders will continue to be a challenge with this group.

I happen to love hard working Americans. Who deliver pizzas with degrees and wait tables at night to go to school.

Heaven help us if we become so self-centered that we cannot give to a country that just lost 60% of its already poor economy.

and courtesy of CNN

THE TOLL

150,000: Latest estimate of the death toll, from the Haitian Health Ministry. The European Union and the Pan American Health Organization, which are coordinating the health-sector response, have estimated the quake killed 200,000 people.
194,000: Number of injured
134: Estimated number of people rescued by international search teams since the quake

THE EFFECT

9 million: Population of Haiti
3 million: Estimated number of people affected by the quake
1 million: Estimated number of displaced people
800,000 to 1 million: People who need temporary shelter
235,000: People who have left Port-au-Prince using free transportation provided by the government. The number who left by private means is undetermined.
At least 50: Aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or higher that have hit Haiti since the January 12 quake

Oh, and by the way-they can all NAME-by NAME someone in my above questions.

A mom describes her feelings when son looses a tooth..

Orlando has lost his first TOP front tooth.

And I am feeling very sentimental.

And I'm not going to apologize for it. I just am going to add it to my list of things I didn't know would happen when I took on motherhood.

No one warned me that when your six year old looses a top tooth, that the mom feels like she looses her baby- and gains a BOY!

He is my oldest, but he was my first baby. Come on! I can't believe how he looks so much like a BOY--a real, true, BOY! My baby days are gone forever with him. And I miss my Landino-Bambino.

and I am in mourning.

Orlando was a colicky, difficult baby. But he was the most beautiful one I had ever seen. And I was determined to protect him and love him. When I gave up teaching it was hard. No one warned me how hard it would be to become a mother. I thought often on how I just wasn't good at it. I had no natural talent it seemed.

But I've grown.

I'm still not good at it always, but I understand more. I understand that the joys I find in motherhood ARE sweeter than any other. That time spent with my children IS precious.

And I am also learning this week, with the help of a tooth, that YES they really do grow up fast.

So I sound like the old ladies in the supermarket.

And I sound like my mother-in-law.

And I sound like (gasp) my mother.

And these women are right.

And so am I! So to all of you who have a baby tonight, I say:

Love your babies, they grow up so fast!!

My Speedy Oatmeal Cookies w/ White Beans!

I know, I know it sounds gross. Or at least weird. But my kids and their friends love these cookies, and honestly have no idea beans are in there, so try 'em!

First, take 1/4 cup of white beans and mix them in a blender or even just with a fork. Make 'em mushy, you don't want to think beans when you eat your cookie! You can drain them first, but a little bean juice will help mix 'em.

STIR UNTIL SMOOTH

1 C Brown Sugar

1/4 C Butter Flavor Shortening (Crisco)

1/4 Cup mashed White Beans

1 Egg

1/2 Tsp. Soda

1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder

1/4 Tsp. Salt

1T Vanilla

ADD

1 C Flour

1 C Oatmeal

1/2 C Nuts or Chocolate Chips (or both!)

Stir Until Smooth, Drop by spoonful on a cookie sheet. Bake approx. 10 minutes at a preheated 350 degrees.

Recipe makes 2-3 dozen.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Personally, I like this fat substitute (beans) better than applesauce. They aren't as spongy or moist "sticky" as when I make cookies with applesauce.

A Great Compliment

My son's friend commented while eating dinner with us, "these meatballs are good!"

Orlando quickly explained:

Ya. My mom makes really special meatballs.

Friend:

How?

Orlando:

Well, first she gets them out of there (gesture to freezer) and they are cold. Then she puts them in the microwave until they are warm and then they go on the table!

LOL!!

Later, the friend said he liked my cookies.

Orlando said, ya my mom makes special cookies.

This I can't deny, since they have white beans in them (and the kids have no idea!)

Ask, if you're interested in the recipe.

Decisions, Decisions

Help me dear readers!

So, I haven't started my new years goals-yet. New Years day was met with a BBQ Dinner, the second with a huge Wedding Dinner and the 3-5th traveling and eating to stay awake on a long drive.

Speaking of drive, I don't have much this year. So, I'm asking for some help. On the 28 of this month I will be (drum roll...) 33!! So, I would like to challenge myself to 33 days of one of the following:

1. No whites: no sugar, flour, potatoes (honey and sugar subs allowed)

2. Commit to running 33 miles in those 33 days. ( haven't really ran since that 5K last summer, so this could be interesting).

3. Wake up at 5 do my exercise video, and then basic calorie counting and comparing to my Body Bugg. Go under 500 calories a day.

So, my question, dear readers, is which one would you like to hear about. Because I will be keeping you posted, sharing my ups and downs, etc.

Please let me know. I'm, game for any of 'em, I just need to commit, and hopefully blogging my successes and failures will help me do that. If you read this--please give me your 2 cents!!

Haiti

Wishing there was more to do to help those in Haiti. Times like this make me reflect on my many blessings.

like water

shelter

and

life.

Wish we could send Josh to help. Maybe in the future that will be more of an option.

Just for the "Hail.a.but."

I made fish tonight. I don't make fish. I don't like fish. But in an effort to eat a bit healthier, I tried it once again. I made the marinade, baked it to perfection, and served it on the plates. I tried to talk the kids into eating it. I tried to eat it. About the 3rd bite I got that distinct "fishy" flavor.

Anyway, long story short, Josh is bringing home a pizza. And the upside, the salad I made is fantastic!

My only exception to the non-fish thing is fried Catfish. I guess I'm a land-locked state kind-a girl. Texas being the exception, but even then I was only a few miles to Oklahoma (and I've never seen the gulf of Mexico.) I remember going fishing in Texas for catfish when I was 8 or 9. You drag big nets accross muddy ponds. Really quite disgusting. And I fell into the net, getting cut up in the process.

Ya, me and fish we don't get along.

And I'm okay with that!

I Could've Danced All Night. .

Madeline, is my little niece, and Ammon my son. They are cousins, and they are in love. They danced and danced after the ring ceremony. Beginning with the first dance for the bride and groom when they were removed numerous times from the dance floor!! Of course, Ammon has already spilled something on his shirt, but no bother. Seriously, these two danced and danced and then bear hugged the entire night-until they both fell asleep. Precious.

I also had fun dancing, my hair had a mind of its own that day, and I looked a bit like Cindy Lauper. It was true. And quite funny, except that these pictures will be around forever. (notice none on my blog, but you might come across one somewhere). Any way, I hear that the next song was going out to Lara from my brother in law Jacob?! What ...what could that be?

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!! by of course, Cindy Lauper.

We (the girls) danced like crazy!

What a fun night!

Congratulations!

John-David and Kristin were married on January 2nd in the Dallas Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Everything eventually came together, and our family made the trip. They were married in the same room as Josh and I. This made us a bit nostalgic, and happy. Have we really been married 8 years? Do we really have three kids? But, I digress.

The wedding was beautiful.

And, I'm excited to have a new sister-in-law! Welcome to the family, Krisitn. And don't forget there really IS a "So I married a McElderry" support group.

Bride and Groom

Josh's Parents

The Wedding Party: 2 Sisters, one Sister in law, 2 friends; 5 brothers with the 6th on a mission in California.

Close Up: Kristin, John-David, Josh, and Robert.

Welcome, Felicity Jane!

I have a new niece!! Born in October, Felicity Jane is my sisters fourth baby and thrid girl!!

On our trip for John David's (Josh's brothers) wedding, we were able to stay with my sister. My mom and brother came to her house as well, so it was a great time for me to get to see both sides of the family. Also, she was blessed the Sunday we were in town, perfect!

She has the cutest cheeks, and if I could have caught her smiling for you, you would see the smile goes from the eyebrows to the chin. Adorable!!

an Ivan Update

For those of you who follow my blog and have been worried about Ivan (as I have)-I want you to know we have great news!!

He has gone over 10 days without symptoms, and it is believed that the virus just took longer than usual to leave his hip. So, no bone scan is indicated right now. Of course I'll keep watching him.

Josh gave him a nice blessing which sounded very positive. And many prayers have been offered. His name was also on the temple prayer roll.

Thanks everyone!