Glad I'm not my mailman

Over the past few weeks I have been seeing a number of doctors. No worries, it's not severe at all. I am just seeking out some second opinions. Anyhow, I had an appointment with a specialist last week. We were coming home early from the lake to make this appointment downtown, and the plan was that we'd swing by the house drop of boy and pug and then I'd head to the appointment. Well, no such luck a huge wreck delayed us by an hour so guess what the gang is coming with me.

I hop out of the car, say it should only be half hour tops. HAHAHA, no such luck. It truly turned out the be the longest wait I've ever had in a doctors office...can you say 2 hours? I was flipping out inside thinking about what a terrible wife I am to leave my husband outside with a dog in 100 degree weather. This was not happening.

Finally the doctor graced me with his presence. I thought of a few snide remarks to say about the wait, but thought to myself that Jesus would not do that so I bit my tongue. He did is doctor talk routine and I sat there pausing on ever big word looking for a dictitionary to fumble through for help. All I got was he will be doing some extensive labwork to examine the huffalumps, ompaloppas, and teletubbies in my system. Okay gotcha doc! So I feel very knowledgeable as I walk to check out. Mind you I am the only one still there because I enjoy my days at the doctors office where I have to wait the longest to get to read magazines.

I get to the check out lady and she says today's visit will be $180. What?? No no ma'am I have insurance. I only have a $15 copay. She then goes in to inform me that the $165 extra is for a pee test I have to take home. A pee test runs you $165 dollars now a days? There must be some mistake because you see I do not believe my toliet cost me that much. She glares at me so I fork over the money and walk out with my jaw dropped in shock of what I just spent $165 on.

I get in the car to my sweet and patient hubby and pug who kindly forgives the mishap and torture they just went through. He then asks how it went and what's in the box.
"Well apparentley this box is full of golden tickets because I just paid $165 to ship my pee in it"
"Do what????"
"Yes, the directions say I have to be pee in this cup then poor it in this test tube, freeze it and mail it off"
"GROSS your pee is going in our freezer"
"No the neighbors, yes our freezer"
"The one where we keep the hot pockets and ice cream?????"
"Yes! Right next to your vanilla ice cream"
"Well make sure it doesn't touch my ice cream"
"I"ll do my best baby...thanks for your concern"

And so dear friends, I successfully did my calling, which now sits in the freezer, which is now giggled out everytime boy opens the freezer, which I pray for our poor mail man which has to pick up such disgusting packages.

She did not wear an itsy witsy tiney winey yellow polka dot bikini!

Boy actually has a week off...hooray! We've decided to use the week basking in the sun at the lake house. Lots of peace and quiet and well deserved boating fun will be the game plan. Today I began a little packing and noticed that I really need to get a one piece swimsuit for water skiing. The past few times I've almost lost my bottoms when hitting the water, luckily I grabbed my drawers in time but oh the thought of getting in a boat without pants makes me have an anxiety attack. So, I needed a one piece.

It only took be 3 stores before I found a place that had a few bathing suit choices left. This is another blog in itself, but what is with the sweaters in August? It's a 100 degrees out at least. No one is buying turtle necks. Get with it Gap.

I found a rack with a few ugly ones and picked through reminding myself this is not a fashion show and who cares. I grabbed my selections and headed to the dressing room. You know you don't have your teenage body anymore when you're jumping around trying to get into a spandex nightmare and sweating at the same time. I finally found one that would do the job and so I headed out to put the discard pile up quickly.

It's an ugly black thing, but get this $19.00. Yes ma'am! Originally $68 too. Wow a good deal always make everything better doesn't it? So I checked out and made an oath to myself to never purchase another bathing suit again.

This one's for the Fabry Family

Suzi's sweet blog asked for some new receipes and although I am no Paula Deen in the kitchen I do enjoy good meals for just the 2 of us or entertaining family and friends. This is one of my new favorite recipes, I've made it numerous times and have received some awesome feedback. The receipe come from the wonderful fooks at Pillsbury. I had asked for Christmas this past year for the Pillsbury little monthly receipe books that you can get at the check out line. I'm very much about fast food that is hearty and delicious...this is perfect for that. Boy and I are no health nuts and especially love recipes that "hide" the veggies...so Suze I hope this is a crowd pleasure for you!

Night Before Taco Bake
From the Winter Entrees Edition


1 lb lean ground beef
2 cups frozen bell pepper and onion stir-fry (16 oz. bag)
1 can (11oz.) Green Giant supper sweet yellow and white corn (Walmart & Tom Thumb carry this)
1 can (4.5 0z) Chopped green chiles (sometimes I use this sometimes I don't. I did not for the pictures).
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 jar (8oz.) taco sauce
3 cups coarsely broken white corn chips
2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

1. Spray 12 by 8 glass baking dish and sheet of foil with cooking spray.
2. Cook ground beef completely then drain.
3. Stir in frozen stir fry, corn, green chiles and taco seasoning (don't use water). Cook 5 minutes and then add taco sauce. Remove from heat.
4. Spread half of mixture in baking dish.
5. Top with 2 cups of chips and 3/4 cup cheese
6. Spread the rest of the mixture on top.
7. Addd 1 cup chips and 1 cup cheese.
8. Cover and put in refridgerator for 4 hours. (Now I have cooked it without refridgerating and it's fine. Putting it in the fridge just makes it super flavorful. Not a huge difference.
9. Cook at 375 degrees for 20 minutes then sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese.
10. Enjoy


It makes great leftovers too! The recipe serves 8, but we have it for dinner the next night. It is also 370 calories per serving. Not bad.

For which I have been rather mean

Well I figured I should give you all an update on giving up my caffenine addicition. It has been 6 days and 10 hours since my last sweet and delicious sip of Dr. Pepper. I can honestly say that I have not slipped and had one, but I have not been nice either. Folks this is tough work giving up your one vice that made the world a ray a sunshine. I have had pounding headaches for days and let's face it you can only drink so much water and juice boxes in a day to fill the void.

So back to my meanness. The little things that really tick you off with caffeine just about multiply without it. On the way to the lake boy was insistent on talking the whole way and finally I snapped and said "PLEASE turn some music on!". Then on another road outing a women on a cell phone pulled out smack dab in front of us causing every item in the car to shift forward. She had no idea what she did so as we passed her I felt the urge to let her know by giving her the "hey what are you thinking" motion with your arms stretched out to the sides and palms up.

Then this evening at the grocery store around 10 o'clock a woman felt the need to return to the cashier while it was my check out turn and argue with her 3 babies in tow why they charged her a $1 too much. I'm by no means loaded that a $1 isn"t valuable, but is it worth ticking off 10 people standing in line at night? I don't think so. I kept my mouth shut although it took every ounce I had to not run out the doors screaming.

So, there you have it. The journey of girl coming off Dr. Pepper. I do promise for my positivity to return for a more eventful and enlightening post, however, thank you for the vent session. You all are great therapy!

Pay It Forward Book Giveaway

Overwhelmed with Joy is hosing an August Pay It Forward Giveaway. I think this is such a fun idea so do stop by and enter.

Do they make support groups for people like me?

Hi my name is girl and I'm addicted to Dr. Pepper.

I blame it on my mom really. She was never the coffee drinker in the house so her caffeine was a glass of coke each morning. I'd always beg for a few sips on my way to school each morning as a little kid. Then when I gained some freedom in childhood, soft drinks became my drink of choice at resturants, movies and stock piled in our fridge. When I started driving I kept the pop tradition and my breakfast consisted of a hearty ice cold glass of Dr. Pepper on my way to high school. If you haven't been able to tell yet, I'm not a health nut and I probably bleed Dr. Pepper I drink it that much!

Well my pop habits have only increased. I felt once you say "I Do" and are strapped to a mortgage payment you are free to guzzle down as many bubbly pops as your heart desires with anyone telling you "no".

I've been convicted dear friends, a recent news show hounded the horrible effects down my throat and boy and I really began praying about this luxury we cling too. Okay well my luxury...boy has more self control then me. We really have no total proof of a full and healthy lifetime of avid coke drinkers. Even if you ask your parents or grandparents, Pop was a special treat that was drunken only on rare occassions and way back when refridgerators were not manufactured with convenient pop storage built in. So it's a rather scary deal to be one of the first to drink cokes from a sippy cup and with such frequency. Therefore, I don't want to risk it. I want to be healthy and not consistently feeling the need to stop by Chik-fil-a or Sonic for an iced cold soda (they do have the best with the yummy ice and styrofoam cups that even keep them cold for hours in this Texas heat).

Today is the first day I have not had one. So far so good. Yesterday, I went to the grocery store and purchased 2 gallons worth of water botles, 4 liters of grape cranberry juice, 2 cartons of milk and 4 packets of kool-aid. On my way home I swung by Whataburger for my last drink...I ordered 1 large and 1 medium Dr. Pepper. You should have seen the glea in my eyes as the cashier handed them to me with such loving care. She even made the comment "boy you sure like dr. pepper". I responded back in tears, "you don't even know the half of it".

So, Dr. Pepper, it is time we part. I will miss you more than you ever know. We have spent some wonderful memories together!! Take care!

Jeremiah says it...

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my "come to verses". You know the verses you "come to" when you're hungry for His promises, our you "come to" when you are weak and in need of His strength or the ones you "come to" for a ray of understanding.

Well I have come to this verse A LOT this past month. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." AMEN to this verse huh?

I love how personal this verse gets. The Lord declares that He know the plans for me. I can trust in these plans because with them He's not going to let me fall flat on my face or fail at life. It's not a scam...it's a deal set at the cross. It's such reassurance to soak this up and be reminded that our journey's set...we just have to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Well I am learning how to sit back. It's not easy. I feel like it's handing a piece of white paper and some markers to a toddler saying you can color, but don't color over here, and oh please don't use that color it's no good, and while were at it stay in the lines! I'll be honest, my relationship with God can be the same in areas. Here's my life, don't mess with this part, do add in that, let's just keep it the same and I'll come to you if I need anything. Note to self...It doesn't work that way.

I had a huge decision to make this past week. I kept trying to go one way and God kept trying to show me another. I finally threw in the reigns saying " I can't control this anymore...I'm handing it to you for good".

I kept praying for the past month over this verse and while I waited patiently...He revealed the decision. He's so awesome like that, isn't He? I took His decision and now I am trusting in Him to provide the rest because it's not going harm me, right?

So I'm sitting back an enjoying the ride. I'm on His journey. Now I have to be patient and wait for His time to reveal the plan.

Before I go I wanted to share with you a portion of the Jeremiah 29:11 from The Message. I love having The Message on hand to pull verses up in. In this it says..."He knows what He's doing".

Hallelujah to that sisters!!