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Elizabeth Shue or Shoe? :)

Beaver Glands Bear "Natural Flavoring"

While I've often read labels, I'm doing more research.  Here's my findings:
Castoreum is the exudate from the castor sacs of the mature beaver. Within the zoological realm, castoreum is the yellowish secretion of the castor sac in combination with the beaver's urine, used during scent marking of territory.
Castoreum is also used in small amounts to contribute to the flavor and odor of cigarettes.

In the United States, castoreum has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a food additive, often referenced simply as a "natural flavoring" in the product's list of ingredients. While it can be used both food and beverages as a vanilla, raspberry and strawberry flavoring, the annual industry consumption is only around 300 pounds. bon appetit

18 Months Old

I cannot believe the changes I've seen in this little girl this month.  She has found her voice, blows kisses, climbs & descends stairs, says minor 2-word phrases (all done, sit down), can 2-legged jump, walks backwards, gives mama kisses through the slats in her crib & says "bye" and waves.  She even learned to cross herself before our mealtime prayer last night, which set me into a bout of tears. This month has been full of changes.  She's learned to throw a tantrum, yes Grandmas...believe it or not. But also how to change her babies diapers and put them down to nai-nigh.  Her sweet little voice & babbling are music to my ears and the pitter patter of her feet put a skip in my heart.  What a blessing. 

Elizabeth: sitting on the pot. ROR

Gluten Free Me?

I try not to whine or complain and am generally a private person.  Those who know me personally may beg to differ, but really...it's how I feel, yet maybe not the persona I tend to display.  Don't correct me...I did say, bold, & underline the word "try". :)
That being said, my health has wavered for years; including heart issues, fatigue, increased anaphylactic allergic reactions to the most common foods, skin sensitivities, and more.  I've gone to the doctor, tests done, "normal results" return, and a pill is recommended.  I'm not big on meds & currently don't take any prescriptions.  I want answers, not a bandage.  I don't want a beta blocker, I want to know what is causing my rapid heart rate.
Finally it got to be too much.  I was fearful of eating, drinking, & was often getting sick.  I typed up my whole medical history as best as I could recall & went to see a doctor friend of mine on Friday.  There's no complete conclusion, but she believes it's gluten intolerance.  Tests were taken and I am waiting the results.  After researching it, it makes sense & it would cause all my symptoms.  So I am trialing the gluten-free lifestyle.  With my husband supporting me, I'm hoping this journey ends in good results.
Back in the 80's, antibiotics were used, and used a lot, and  I was a sick kid who got them a lot. Those antibiotics reek havoc on the good flora in the intestine.  The small intestines cannot work when out of sync like this and inflammation starts - sometimes affecting many parts of the body.  I am not blaming anyone - this is why doctors "practice" medicine.  I just hate being the guinea pig.  Here's hoping that my new high fiber & protein diet with OTC probiotics aide in the healing process and I learn what its like to be normal again.
Have you ever spoken with someone who has been sick for a while and they finally find out the diagnosis, and while the diagnosis isn't the best, there's a sense of relief on their face in knowing what it is?  That's how I feel.  This isn't a "for sure" diagnosis, and I may not see results for months or more, but there's hope, and that's what I want at this point.
PS: Gluten is everywhere.  It's actually quite depressing.  But if it works, it's a lifestyle I'm willing to accept.

Happy Cinco de Mayo to mi Hubie

For our wedding anniversary, I asked to go to the circus.  Little did I know that Cirque Du Soleil was showing locally.  So we bought tickets, 4th row, and watched a professional circus.  It was nothing short of amazing.  Later that weekend we went to the one showing here in town, but it was overshadowed by what we saw just a few nights before.

For presents, I bought David a gift certificate to Lowe's (I don't dare pick out a saw for him.  Lord knows what I would come home with!).  But he sent Elizabeth into the master bathroom while I was getting ready with a little blue box wrapped in a silk ribbon.  My jaw dropped as I recognized the signature blue box.  Happy 5th Anniversary to Me!  Elizabeth enjoyed my squeals of delight too & joined in the excitement.

Where is America Headed? (videos from 1965 & 2012 - interesting!)

1965: 2012: I believe Dad would have found this interesting. Happy 65th, Dad.

Smart "Cookie"

Cute: We taught Elizabeth how to sign, "more", "all done", & "cookie".

K, so we're grocery shopping the other day & I'm singing & pushing the cart while she's doing the hand motions to "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" & "Twinkle, Twinkle". (Passers by get a chuckle out of this and it keeps her entertained & avoid crabbiness.)

I run out of songs and start "Open, Close Them" & she does the hand motions - which we've never taught her. I finish the song and tell her with glee, "You are one smart cookie!" And she signs "cookie". I get a fit of the giggles and praise her for being so literal. Yep, she's my little Smart Cookie.

Death of an Talented Artist...Thomas Kinkade on Good Friday 04/06/2012

Thomas Kinkade, who died unexpectedly on Friday at age 54, was an artist whose paintings of idyllic landscapes and biblically themed scenes garnered a huge popular following. How unexpected, but how awesome to die on the same day as our Lord. It just reminds us once again how short our lives are here on earth. May God bless this very talented man who touched so many lives in such a short amount of time.

Winter Projects Completed

It's been a busy winter for indoor projects. Not only did we re-do the bathroom, but also our master bedroom.

Before starting the project (note the smile)
Gutting and re-doing electrical & some 2x4's. New insulation in the whole room.
Closet

Mmmmm...fluffy.

Mmmm...sheetrock.

Finished closet - new walls, paint, super-duper shelving & racks. (still needs more re-organizing)

New carpet, walls, paint, door & hardware, & DB made his own door frame (easier said than done, but he did very well.) We still need to add trim to the windows & doors, & new furniture, but it's comfy-cozy and beautiful.

Now, with the indoor projects done, you're hard pressed to find him indoors. Here he's already started on deer-proofing the garden.

Happy Easter

Trying to get a toddler to hold still for a pic is like trying to hold back an ocean wave sometimes.

Adelynne & Papa chillin' in the kitchen
Playing

Saint's Cone - he picks up better reception this way.

"Grandma, phone's for you."

Yeah! Ady Mae can walk!

Ahhhh, cute Parks fam pic.

Easter "ham"

"I come over for dinner & you make me do yard work?"

So pretty & ready for church!

Matt 5:5: How blessed are those who are humble, because it is they who will inherit the earth!

Hmmm...well. What if you are humbled, but not by choice?

I went shopping today at Wal-Mart. I had a $1 off coupon if you bought two Puffs Tissues & since the HUGE multi packs were also on sale, double bonus for me (a lot of tissue, but I have the storage space). I get to check out and the cashier says I can't use it because the computer won't accept the coupon. WHY? The date is good. The quantity is good. What's the deal? Do I blow it off or request him call his manager? We'll, I had the day off and was shopping alone - so manager it up. She comes and says it all looks good, and tells the cashier to just ring it in by hand. I wasn't smug, rude, demanding, or snotty. I said "thank you" and went on my merry way, knowing the rules as an ex-cashier would, right? Ok, so maybe I had a "I told you so," thought cross my frontal lobe before I could help it.

Well, logging my purchases into the computer tonight I notice a discrepancy. Only one of the jumbo multi packs rang up. Not two. The computer was right and I am wrong. So what do I do? Blow my nose into stolen goods? Or go back to Walmart and show them the receipt and honestly pay for my $9 tissues. Well, you already know the answer.

This has happened to me in the past and I've gone back to pay. The looks on the clerk's face is always worth the time, effort and car gas when you say you that you owe them for being under charged. "No one ever does this." So, humbly I will go to pay for my tissues, because if I'm about to inherit this earth, I want it to be a kind & generous one like I'm trying to make it to be, even if it starts with something as small as a tissue.

Forgotten "Thank You"

"Thank you to my two wonderful Grandmas for watching me while daycare was on vacation. I sure enjoyed our precious time together and thank God for you! Love, Elizabeth Angel"

Moms Make the Best Forts

An Afternoon with Auntie Kitty & Cousin Mark

I picked rocks & Mark skipped them in the pond. David downed a birch tree by the road as we watched. Kids blew bubbles & drew on the sidewalk. We enjoyed the beautiful & very early spring day out in the sunshine. Elizabeth was pretty pooped by days end. Mission accomplished. :)

What a Difference a Year Makes! (Videos)

Two Thumbs Up Mr Coffee!

I bought a really nice Mr Coffee coffee maker a couple of months back. Loved it. Unfortunately it started leaking from the bottom every time it brewed. I had no warranty & none of the packaging, but I still had the manual - so I called. I had to give them a few #'s from the machine, and then they shipped me a new one & a prepaid UPS label to send back the old one. NO CHARGE! Two thumbs up Mr. Coffee! I am a proud owner of Mr Coffee & will share your great customer service, timely response, & great products with many. Good job!

Steve Jobs February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011

Pro-life Corner: How different our world would be if Joanne Simpson had chosen to abort her unintended pregnancy. Instead she gave birth to a boy who was adopted by a loving couple. That boy was Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, Inc. and the creative genius behind the iPhone, IPod, and IPad and creator of tens of thousands of jobs.

“Before embarking, he’d looked at his sister Patty, then for a long time at his children, then at his life’s partner, Laurene, and then over their shoulders past them. Steve’s final words were: OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW.”

So there...

Grandma & Grandpa home from Tx

Elizabeth & I went to welcome Grammy & Papa home from their vacation in Tx. Short but sweet visit. It's so good to have them home! Here's a couple of pictures of the ice sculptures we stopped to see during our visit.