daily thoughts

summertime… and the living is_________

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It’s  summer!!! Okay, well… it’s been summer. Heck, it’s almost always summer (at least weather-wise) where I live. We have three seasons; warm, hot and Africa sauna hot. But…. summertime around here means I don’t have *as much* to do daily, and life takes on a relaxed vibe. Of course there’s always “life work”; laundry, dishes, diapers, and daily chores- but finding time to intentionally have fun because it’s summer is just grand. Last summer, it was peak Covid time, and I had a 1 year old, two year old and three year old, and my (then) 12 year old. […]

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daily thoughts

family update

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We started 2021 with four new additions to our family. Yes, FOUR. (No, they aren’t all puppies. ) Two puppies and a toddler, and a blue and gold Macaw rescue.  We decided to take in a stray pup that we had found , after nobody came forth to claim it at the shelter; we were offered the opportunity to adopt a sweet Chinese crested shitzu mix. AND: Our neighbors Labrador had a litter of puppies, and they blessed us by … GIVING us one of the females. Now, for the toddler. I can’t say too much about him because he’s […]

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daily thoughts

before and after …and in-between

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I am so bad, y’all… I used to write here every single day… it was my outlet. Then, life happened literally. New babies every few months for four years straight took a toll on my priorities here with this little blog. And, this “little” blog has seen me through a lot, good and bad. Remember Frito Lay? And that other video for Lactaid? Oh boy those were the days… getting glammed up for for food promos… nowadays, getting glammed up means putting on eyeliner. But, I wouldn’t trade it for a thing. So, as we move along I have a […]

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daily thoughts, fostering, homeschooling

overcooked and underfed

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I have a story for y’all. It’s a story about being tired, and waking up. You see, I got stuck. I got stuck in a pattern of catching up, which made me fall behind. Not making sense? Let me explain… When I first began this blog, things like Instagram and Pinterest didn’t exist. There was Facebook and Twitter, and a tiny skeleton of My Space. But then, the power of social media took over like the popular kid in a middle school, and there was almost an instant shift in the cyber world. Everyone was is competing. Who has more […]

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chicken, daily thoughts, main dish

cozy casseroles and happy endings

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Who doesn’t love a warm hearty casserole? It’s like a hug from grandma after a rough day…. Casseroles are up there on my favorite comfort food lists. Right next to tacos and sushi. Have you ever wondered why salads aren’t comfort food? What exactly makes food comforting? Hmmmm. Anyway… just a odd little thought that popped into my head. Anyway, the “team” here at this little blog feels the need to address a situation that has been brought to our attention, you see…

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daily thoughts, fostering, Uncategorized

Enlarging our tent

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Remember my posts about enlarging our tent? No, we don’t actually live in a tent. It’s an expression of expansion. Although, tent living is fine with me as long as there is mosquito repellent… and food. And fire to cook the food. A soap to clean up. And toilet paper. Got it? Okay, we’re good. So: if you caught up on the links above you’ll know that we began fostering, which also grew our family by adopting two little girls. But: we have one tiny problem… our bathroom. You see, there’s just one. And, a family of six with one […]

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breakfast, daily thoughts, fostering

vanilla chia pudding

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Who remembers ChiaPets? Terra cotta animals that you soak, spread chia seeds on, and they “sprout hair”making a small green topiary for you to enjoy on your windowsill. Who knew they were good for you? Well, they are. And, this creamy breakfast “pudding” is just the treat you need for Monday. Mondays are made for treats. It’s important to give  yourself something special to wake up to, and, when you do-  it may be a little bit easier to get out of bed. Somedays, I find it very easy to get up early. Especially if almost  everyone is still asleep… […]

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daily thoughts

this joyful season …or not

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Before I begin, I’m aware that this season is not joyful for everyone. For some, this season ignites pain and stress, resurfaces old memories and bitterness, sadness or despair. For me, I have my winter wounds as well, for it was on December 15 that my daughter and I found my father, which led to many months of hospital visits, nursing homes and,  finally hospice. For me, December 15 opened the doorway to a dark season of my life. But: that door has closed. And, I don’t let the memories of darkness steal away the light of the season. Because […]

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daily thoughts, Uncategorized

The boulder I live under

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You know the expression: “You must live under a rock!” Well, my friends… I’m pretty sure I live under a boulder. And, it’s gotten even larger having two toddlers and a baby.My boulder is filled with homeschooling, diapers, bottles, toddlers, chicken nuggets and laundry. Seriously: If it’s not on Peppa Pig, I probably will not have a clue about it. For instance, the lab technician at my pediatricians office had this conversation with me: “Oh! Her nickname is Kiki? Do you sing that song to her?” Me: “Ummm, there’s a song?” On another occasion a few years ago, a friend […]

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daily thoughts, fostering

enlarging our tent, part 3 another adoption!

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Do y’all remember when we first decided to become foster parents? Do ya’ll  remember our waiting on our first placement? And this happened? Now…. Last November we said yes once more to another NICU baby; this time : a preemie, and circumstances at birth required her to be resuscitated.. to put it bluntly, she had a rough start. She came to us, smaller than a football, thin, and with a transparent hue to her skin that exposed every vein as if she were marbleized. She didn’t know how to latch onto a bottle, and feeding times  were a hot mess […]

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appetizer/snack, homeschooling

brownie batter dip & back to (home)school

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It’s back to school season, which; for me is like a second “New Years”.  For a ton of reasons, I just love school supplies. The smell of new crayons and fresh pencils… they just give off that”fresh start” feeling.  It  also reminds me  that cooler weather is just around the corner, along with pumpkin spice everything. However: it’s not quite back to school for us yet. Public school has begun in my county, which means it’s “peak” summer for me and my little ones, with all the parks and museums empty. But: I know a lot of y’all are back […]

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daily thoughts, fostering

when the cup overflows

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Monday, at 5:52pm I found out there was a need for a home for a newborn baby girl. And,  at 8:31pm, she was in my arms. Foster care has a way of keeping you on your toes. So,  as I was preparing a meal of chicken divan, jasmine rice and corn, God was sending a baby my way. Of course, this now puts our family to four kids, three of them under the age of two; which required approval and a special waiver. I understand why- it takes a special kind of crazy to take on a crew like that, […]

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daily thoughts, fostering

enlarging our tent part 2; an adoption story

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Happy New Year! I know, we are already 15 days into the new year, but fifteen days is still pretty “new” so I’ll wish you the best for the next 350 days. I have kicked off this year with some pretty major life changes. We finally adopted our little girl that we have been caring for. I wrote about her here, and here. It still hasn’t “sunk in” yet. She’s ours. We get to be her parents for the rest of our lives. It comes in little bursts in my soul, explosions of love and joy and awe. For years […]

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daily thoughts, fostering, homeschooling

happy taco tuesday!

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Happy Taco Tuesday! Who-ever thought of food theme days, thank you. It helps us figure out dinner ideas when we are to tired to think. And, I know it’s been awhile since I have posted. Things have been happening, and y’all are way overdo for some updates. So: grab your beverage of choice (I’m currently loving Trader Joe’s pumpkin spice coffee pods) and let’s chat, shall we? IRMA This photo sums up my Irma experience: Yes,  we had a visit from Irma (I’m in southeast Florida) and she left a mess of downed trees and powerlines, debris, and loss of […]

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daily thoughts

festivals and fair days

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Our local fair comes into town every January. When I was a kid, my mom would tell the school that my sister and I had a dental appointment, and pull us out early. In our lunch boxes on “fair day” she would place a tiny note, with a happy face and a ferris wheel picture… and we would excitedly wait in class for the school secretary to come pull us from our class, for our “dental appointment”. As I grew up,  the days of going to the fair with my mom and sister ceased, and I began to prefer the […]

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