Notice crazzy has two z’s.
You may be worried about her
mastering of the English language,
but I assure you both z’s are necessary
for all the sleep I am losing
at the hands of this child.
Kristen is my kind of mom.
She’s fun.
She’s loving.
She’s involved.
She keeps it real.
and
She keeps things simple.
Kristen says,
“You’re welcome.”
I then found the laptop
and crawled back under my own covers.
I prayed earnestly last night
with many tears
that God would sustain me in my trials.
I begged him to help me get through
another day with a toddler.
And the other stuff I deal with.
I feel somewhat better this morning,
but I am giving myself permission to take it easy.
Funny, the toddler seems
harder than anything else right now.
I miss having the kinds of friends that
I can just call and say,
“Will you please take Caroline off my hands for a bit?”
I think I am going to kill her.
(not really)
It takes a while to make friends like that
and all of mine are out of state.
I need some breathing room.
I need a break.
But sometimes I have to wait
for the break I need
because there are too many duties at home..
Did you notice what Carolines’ shirt says?
Ship me to grandmas, special delivery.
Too bad grammy is out of state too.
And so I come to the blog
to work out my own misery.
It helps me so much.
I don’t know exactly why.
It may be because I find
an old post like this waiting for just the right words.
Or it may be that I think of my friends
who will read what I write
and I think of the one
who just lost another baby
and her husband is about to lose his job.
My other friend has
early onset Alzheimer’s
and is experiencing great confusion.
They say she could only have 4-5 year to live.
She’s only 38 and has a 6 month old baby
and three other children.
I have a friend who is struggling
with chronic illness
that she can’t find a diagnosis for.
I think of the lady
who I can’t write about.
And another friend close by
who just lost her father-in-law
unexpectedly.
There is a girl from high school
whose family hasn’t been able to find
her mentally ill adult brother
for months.
There is another church friend in TN
who has a little one pound baby
fighting for his life in the NICU.
I imagine what so many of my friends
are going through
beyond what I know.
I am sure so many suffer in silence.
I have many friends
who don’t know what I deal with.
I think about me and my shadows.
My secrets.
My friends.
My friends with secrets.
And then I laugh at the blog title
because it wasn’t written weeks ago
to refer to my mood,
but my sweet little two year old
that I need to appreciate and love.
God grant me the strength
and the selflessness.
And please help me find some time
for the break that I need.
P.S. I do know that in all trials
and all struggles and all the darkness
and the hard and the frustration and the tears
God has given us very many things to be grateful for.
I am going to start a list of mine
to pull me out of this mood.
God,
thank you for
my toddling tornado
who is so dang cute and energetic.
Modern medicine & doctors to help my suffering friends.
An eternal plan of happiness for families
that gives us the knowledge that
someday all suffering will cease
and all families can be together forever.
Thank you for my bed
so I can sulk.
The heat that comes
from the utility company
with an up to date paid balance.
And my laptop that allows me to
write until my mood is changed.
Thank you for the TV
and the milk in the bottle.
Thank you for
my husband’s job
and for all the years we suffered
without income
so I know that my friends
who lose jobs will also be provided for.
Thank you for a Savior
who suffered all things
so none of us have to suffer,
if we just call on his name.
See how that works?
Amazing.
I feel better already.
While I give a lesson about how
as members of
The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints
we worship our Savior Jesus Christ,
the boys will be keeping their hands busy with this project.
Thanks Aunt Rosemary for the great idea.
And thanks cousin Ryan
for making this so very lovely
twenty years ago.
Nothing better than a vintage art project.
I believe this would make even Martha proud.
Martha Stewart and Martha in the Bible.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sometimes I wonder where my brain is. It wasn’t until I sat down to write this review that I realized how the title Cold River reflects the subject of the book. I swear I am blonde sometimes.
The jest of the story-line in Cold River is a gutsy gal takes a job as a superintendent of schools in the small town in the upper mid-west of the US. She has never lived in such a small town and so when she ends up renting a house right on the river, the river and its surrounding landscapes are a comfort to her as she acclimates to the small town life. The river also has significance in one of the main plots, but I hate to give away spoilers in the reviews I write, so you will just have to read the book yourself.
This book was a fun read. It took about 100 pages until I formed any kind of attachment whatsoever to the story-line, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad book, it took me the same amount of time to love Harry Potter, and we all know how that turned out. I fell in love with the male co-leads, if that’s what we can call them. There are three cousins that are completely different yet equally hunky and mysterious. Once the story got going it was fast paced and intriguing and the suspense and romance only grew my interest up until the very end.
I loved how the relationships all twist and intervene with one another; the mere idea is so consistent with small town living, especially because everyone is related in one way or another. I didn’t guess the villain of the story until they were revealed and that is not easy for an author to do…I always guess what’s going on, so I appreciated the surprise. It was a great surprise and I love when an author can get me shaking my head at myself for not guessing what was really going on in the story-line.
I am personally connected to the three subplots of music in schools, literacy, and gaining emotional maturity and I agreed with the viewpoint of the author on them all and enjoyed how Adair wove them into the greater story.
The end of the story was magnificent. I have a real hard time giving a book a good review if I don’t think the end was spectacular. It has to be not only spectacular but real to life and feel-good. I know that limits me, but I don’t think I am going to change now, so all you authors out there, write good endings. I like setting a book on the shelf knowing that it left me with a greater expectation from the world around me and the end has to leave me feeling good for that to happen.
I highly recommend this book. If I had to describe it in one word it would be adventurous. Get the book, it will take you on an adventure physically and emotionally. You may even feel like finding that Cold River and staking out a home of your own.
Purchase the book here. When I last checked it was only $12. Great deal. Even better Christmas present
Say hi to author Liz Adair on her blog here.
Ask her to write more good stories for all of us.
I was compensated for this review with a free copy of the book,
but like always, I gave you my honest opinion.
I don’t think I am even capable of anything besides my opinion!
Thanks to Donna for doing a virtual cookie swap. How much fun is that?
Anyone can join including you, so go check it out.
I am honored to be her first feature
with a long-standing family tradition cookie called
Holly Wreath Cookies.
Oh the memories of buttered up hands and brothers grabbing all the red hots first.
I don’t know how my mom put up with all of us.
Before I give you the recipe, let me direct you to Donna’s funniest recent blog post about what not to ask black people. Donna is black just in case you were wondering what makes her the expert.
Here is the recipe for those of you who like your cookies made from dirty little fingers.
Holly Wreath Cookies
1 Cube Real Butter
1 Bag Large Marshmallows
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp Almond Extract
6 cups corn flakes
Lots of green food coloring
Red Hots if desired
First make sure you grease a few large pieces of wax paper prior to preparing cookies. We use Pam to spray the wax paper but mom always used butter or margarine.
In a large stock pot melt the butter. Add marshmallows, vanilla and almond extracts and stir until all marshmallows are melted. Be careful to not burn the mixture. Remove from heat and add green food coloring to bring mixture to a forest green color. It takes quite a bit but it definately looks better than avacado green when you use just a little.
When mixture is a good shade of green add the corn flakes. Fold the flakes into the mixture to avoid crushing the flakes. When flakes are sufficiently green scoop out approxiamtely 1 1/2 cups of flakes onto wax paper. Have kids rub their hands with butter and form the flakes into wreath shapes. Add red hots and let cool.
Remember my friend Lori who won the half-tee and I asked her to give me something free.
Well, she is trying her hardest to oblige.
You’re welcome everyone for putting the giveaway idea in her head.
This post is my 1 in 4 chance at winning one of her adorable and quite famous pillows.
I don’t usually do this much work so that tells you how much I want one for FREEE!
Go here for your chance to win.
I’m hosting a writing contest.
I used to love Scribbit’s writing contests
before Michelle went a-wall.
I even got an honorable mention once.
It was one of my most proud moments.
alice w. gold 
