5-10-11

Today I am trying to not panic about some test results I will get on Friday. I had to have a colposcopy and they took 12 pieces to biopsy. I keep trying to remember everything is in God's hands. 2 weeks to wait for test results has been hard. sometimes I convince myself there is no way it could be cancer. Other times my thoughts get away from me and I forget God is in control and it could be cancer.

"If God has shown us bad times ahead, it's enough for me that He knows about them. That's why He sometimes shows us things, you know - to tell us that this too is in His hands."
— Corrie Ten Boom (The Hiding Place)

A busy few months

Gosh, I haven't been here is so long!!!! So much has happened. But to nail things down....

#1...I have a new granddaughter...Katherine Marvel Parker
#2...Our new business, Gianni's, is going strong. We have 3 distributors who are awesome! And very funny. We are looking at getting a warehouse in LaGrande soon to manufacture from. John has been asked to be a demonstrator, special guest, at the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertainment Show in Houston in September. He is listed as a Featured Presenter under Personalities along with Paula Deen and Tara Wilson. Funny thing is..we haven't even finished paying for our booth yet. LOL. I am so proud of him. I googled his name and discovered he really is rather famous! giggle...
#3 Kate and William got married
#4 Obama Bin Laden was taken out by our Navy Seals
#5 Family is #1. Special times with family..a new granddaughter and a perfect family reunion.
#6 Have become extremely close to my cousin, Linda. So good to have someone to talk to about certain things. She does like to mother.,....but man, is she funny! We talk almost eevery night and she is a good friend.
#7 Ashley has a new boyfriend...Zane. He is a youth pastor in LaGrande.
#8 Eric in love with the girls at every coffee shop that make his coffee the way he likes it.
Life is full of blessings.

Last night we went to a wedding for some friends of ours. I wasn't very happy about going since I know so much about their relationship, but if Jen is happy then I pray the best for her. They need a lot of prayer. She was so beautiful. Jen just has this natural beauty. And she is also a hairstylist....so she is double lucky! The wedding was outside in her parents yard and it was pouring down rain! So they had a lot of people bring tents to cover the chairs and it turned out really lovely. I saw my former classmate, Tad Woosley, since it was his sister, Terry's, daughter getting married. 45 degrees and all. We now have snow capped mountains again! And you know what that means.......................

Autumn!! Pumpkins! Apple Pie!!! Crisp evenings and mornings! Leaves turning color! OH! I seriously can't wait!!!

JT and I have started a Gourmet Chocolate Sauce business. So far for flavors we have Creamy Coconut, Cafe Espresso, Original, Mint Chocolate, Hazelnut, Orange Brandy, and Caramel.
Wer launched the new business in California because JT had a class reunion to go to. So everyday we did a Farmer's Market. Some days two. It was exhausting. Now we are looking for famers markets here and shows. Thought the fairs are very expensive to get a booth in. Today I just cooked chocolate sauce all afternoon. About $2,000 worth, so I am not complaining. besides, who can complain about being up to their elbows in chocolate? The only thing is, I don't sample it anymore. When we had to add acidic value to it, and had to add 1 tsp. of vinegar to each gallon, well, I just couldn't get past that. Vinegar in my chocolate. Ick. It doesn't change the taste, it's just the very notion of it.

In the depths of winter, I finally found there was in me an invincible summer.

This was posted by a friend on a message board and it just "hit the spot" of my life for so many years. But I am happy now and so glad that winter has passed. But I know that hard times will come again and I pray that thru God's grace and His love and protection, I will someday see Spring, and then Autumn, and then last of all...summer!! Those who know me know I don't like summer....;) Oh how I long for Autumn!

In the depths of winter, I finally found there was in me an invincible summer.

- Albert Camus, author

Stepping closer to the light at the end of the tunnel

Hard times are inevitable--death, financial struggle, family problems, the loss of a job, depression--all of these tough times are just seasons. Abraham Lincoln once said, "This too shall pass," and you can apply it to both the good times and the bad. The thrill of a new relationship won't endure forever, just as the grief of losing a loved one won't either. So endure the hardships of life, knowing that time will eventually heal your wounds and you will make it through. Think about what struggles have occurred in your life and what they taught you. No matter how dim the light at the end of the tunnel seems, it is still a light. Each day is an opportunity for that light of hope to get closer and closer, until eventually the clouds above your head part and you feel the forgotten sunshine on you again. Overcoming pain makes you stronger and better equipped to handle the next valley. 

Tuesday

Today I am going to take Sue to OHSU in hopes that she will get her neck brace removed. She also has more skin cancer so they will be removing that. She and I plan to stay thru Thursday to have some much needed time together.
Work has been so stressful. My boss's husband is under investigation for theft and sexual harrassment. His sister is one of the county commissioners. Everett is also the union steward so no one felt safe to contact the union over the troubles we have. We would have to go through him. The city police chief told Kenny that Everett is going down big time. So many women have complained about the sexual stuff. I am glad is isn't just Anne and I that have complained. But working in his wife's office as our boss is difficult at best. She is more mean to Anne though. Not sure why.
I have broke up with my boyfriend. Eric gave me bad news over the weekend. He needs so much prayer. And yesterday one of the pastor's son commited suicide. Such a difficult time for so many. It is as though the grief echos off the mountain like thunder and the county is so heavy right now. I am so glad to go away for a few days. I am tired.

Learning to Breathe ...again

Life has had a such a turn of events lately. I am dating my best friend's son. I have known him quite a few years and it certainly is an adventure. But sometimes I am not really sure if being in a relationship is right for me. Am I ready? Why are all the old worries coming back? I do believe I have unresolved "issues". Ashley loves to practice her psychotherapy on me. She's so funny.

The biggest worry I have right now is a family we are close to. They have 6 kids and the father is pretty abusive. The mother is planning a divorce, but if he finds out, he could hurt her and the kids. So I offered my home so she and the kids would have a place to stay if needed. I think she is afraid to leave, but it is getting really bad. She has no money. Actually she has nothing at all but the clothes on her back. For the last year the oldest daughter has had bags packed in her car for all the kids for when they have to run, which is often. What a way to live. So I just keep them in my prayers. I try to help when asked. I have found an apartment for them based on income, about $5 a month. Then we would have to gather household items. But mostly I worry about her...I know that horrible feeling in your stomach. The heartache. The worries. Not being able to think straight. I told her I am first praying fo reconciliation, but also for God's comfort and peace. The fear she lives in day to day makes me sick. I can't imagine. I am so thankful Pat never raised a hand to me.

Ashley is getting her voice back, stronger each day. She is trying to make sense of all the college stuff and where to go, how to do it, what needs to be done. She is considering a community college to start with because the expenses would be less for her basic classes. Or possibly getting those basics done online, and maybe challenging a few of the courses so she won't have to take them. Her world is stressful now. I need to sit down with her and go over it step by step. I have a graduation meeting today. We still have not set a date. So much to do!

It's fun to see each day what God has. So many amusing days. So many things to learn. yes, life is an adventure.

Apple Pie

Hmmmm...I have been thinking about Apple Pie. It is the only pie I really know how to make. Well, I can make a pumpkin pie with rice milk. Ick. My father taught me how to make apple pies. Using the old Betty Crocker cookbook. there were a few rules he told me I MUST abide by to have the perfect pie. The #1 rule is : Only use Granny Smith apples. They stay firm and are a little tart. #2...Do not use store bought crusts. That is really the most tempting part, buying those blasted crusts. But he is right, the store bought ones have a taste to them that will ruin your whole pie. SO this Saturday I am suppose to bake pumpikin pies made with rice milk for Ashley, so I just might have to bake an apple pie for myself!


Grandpa's Apple Pie
Grandpa Mallon says "Only use Granny Smiths!"


Ingredients
Pastry for 9" 2 crust pie
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
dash of salt
6 Granny Smith apples, peeled, pared, and sliced

Instructions
Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Mix in apples. Let sit while you prepare your pastry. This is important because the juice from the apples will dissolve your sugar.
Turn into a pastry lined pan, then dot with butter. Top with crust, seal and flute. Add slits, sprinkle with sugar. Cover edges of crust with foil and bake 45 minutes. (Remove foil last 10 minutes to brown edges).