journal entry: 2.16.12

Today was a day I will never forget. I can finally breathe because Shar is resting peacefully in the icu with new lungs and a new heart!!!! Last night I didn't sleep hardly at all, today I couldn't stop thinking about it all day. All day I was by my computer waiting for updates. It was the most exciting day of my whole entire life I think! So many different emotions, I'm exhausted! But we truly witnessed a miracle unfold today. Sharlies surgery went better than expected and she will take her first breath on her own in the morning. Today was honestly one of the most spiritual days of my life, I felt heaven opening up today, I felt that Angels were taking charge today. Prayers were being offered from all over the world! And I know that they were heard and answered. I was running today with bays and as I was running I read the update that they had successfully taken out her well used/loved organs and that the new ones looked beautiful. And then at the end it said "all is well....all is well".. While I was reading this and running, I was SO overwhelmed. Looking at the beauty of my surroundings, thanking my father in heaven, grateful for my body and my health that I was able to run, knowing angels were with Sharlie, and I just threw my arms in the air and expressed out loud my gratitude for this day and this miracle. Then tonight bays and I went to the temple to close out the day, then again, I felt such peace. I feel shar's strength, she gives me so much.  I just can't wait to see her and love on her! WHAT a day!!!!! Thank heavens, it is here and gone and she is breathing easy! 

11.11.11

when i was a little girl I used to look at the clock at 11:11 quite a bit.  I remember thinking to myself, this date is going to be significant in my life. (or SOMETHING). Today as i was walking around the neighborhood in Southern California with these cute kids that I am tending for the week, it dawned on me that today is 11.11.11.

and because nothing WAY exciting is happening today, or happened today in my life.. I started thinking..

who am I today.

am I happy with myself.

am I at the place that I want to be.

could I be better, of course, but am i on the path that i want to be on.

???

these questions started flooding my mind.

I am not perfect, I am not near as good as I would like to be, but yes, I am happy with the person that I am trying to become.  I am more than happy with my life. 

so that was the cool thing that happened to me on 11.11.11

I was just happy to be me today. nobody but me.

that's a good feeling.

I hope you are happy to be you.

love, cheeseball me

oh yeah, and one more thing.

today i am grateful for THESE things

nail polish

hand soap

popcorn

sisters

christmas music

love

zycam

skype

socks

best friends

prayer

hot chocolate

mom+dad

laughter

my bed

...

these help

HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYY TO YOU!!!!!

My little BAY is all grown up.  TOMORROW she turns 18.  She is officially an ADULT. she loves to say that.  I still think she is a baby though.  A little about bays....

I just want to start by saying, I SCORED in the little sister department.  I could not have asked for a more amazing little sister.  I don't even know where to start.  Bailey is the type of sister that will have just cleaned up the kitchen from making herself some lunch and I will walk in the door and she will ask me what she can make me for lunch.  She always is making sure everyone else is happy.  Bailey makes me laugh till I cry.  She is so stinkin hilarious and she doesn't even try.  Bailey is so responsible.  I can count on her for everything.  She is SO good with kids.  even better than me sometimes ;) . Bailey is seriously the best little sister I could have ever asked for.  She has always been there for me and I want her to know that I will ALWAYS be there for her.  

hope you have a happy birthday knowing that you have an older sister that loves you to pieces.

xoxo

r.i.p.

so much is going on in the world today

......does anyone even care about CASEY?.....

bye baby.

girls just wanna have fun(ds)

girls night.

chocolate

face masque

Dear John(i love you)

fingernail painting

cheesy music

no boysDUH

just a lotsa girl talk

oh&photo booth.

I always love my girl time.

ps. this is hayley. my new found friend. we work together&are about to live together. she's great.

the end

yummies.

I was just typing up some recipes for a cookbook.  I thought I would share some of my favorites with you guys! I always love when people share recipes and what is more fun on a Saturday then making something yummy in the kitchen.... so here you go!

• 
  
• Better than (S) cake
• 
  
• Ingredients
• 1 package devil's food cake mix
• 1/2 can sweetened condensed milk
• 6 ounces caramel ice cream topping
• 3 bars chocolate covered toffee, chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

Bake cake according to package directions for a 9x13 inch pan. Let cake cool for 5 minutes.  With the back of a wooden spoon, poke holes all around the cake making sure not to go through to the bottom. Heat up the carmel and pour it over the cake, then pour the sweetened condensed milk over it as well. then sprinkle the crushed chocolate toffee bars across the entire cake while still warm. Let cake cool completely, then top with whipped topping. Decorate the top of the cake with some more chocolate toffee bar chunks and the carmel/condensed milk topping. Refrigerate and serve right from the pan!

.....................

Banana bread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups mashed banana
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

Directions

combine margarine and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs, then bananas. Add flour, soda, and vanilla. stir until it is all combined. Pour into greased pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes-1 hour (or till toothpick comes out clean). Remove from pan and let it cool.

....................

Chocolate chip cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 package chocolate chips

Directions

Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes.  They will firm up as they cool

............................

Carmel corn

Ingredients

8 cups popped corn

3/4 cups brown sugar

6 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Heat the sugar, butter, syrup, and salt (heat until mixed (stir) stir until it boils.  Then take it off burner.  Add vanilla and baking soda.  Pour it over the popcorn and bake it at 300 degrees.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Take it out and stir it and bake it for 5 more minutes.

............................

Tortilla soup

Ingredients 

2 onions

4 garlic cloves

bunch fresh cilantro

2 cans black beans

2-3 cans stewed tomatoes 

1 teaspoon ground cumin

8 cups chicken broth

cooked chicken

avocado (chopped) monterey jack (shredded) limes and tortilla chips

Directions

cook chicken with celery and salt over medium heat.  Saute tablespoon butter, olive oil, onions, garlic, and cilantro. blend tomatoes with saute. Pour back in sauce pan and add cumin.  Boil chicken broth then add tomato, chicken, and black beans.  Simmer all together

...........................

Crepes

Ingredients

4 eggs

2 cups milk

2 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

4 tablespoons oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

blend it all together in blender.

hunting season

yesterday I get a text from my dad....

"Dane (my little 5 year old brother) said that he doesn't need to go to school anymore because they got to 'Z' today in the alphabet!"

silly kid.

wouldn't it be nice if we could all be kids again for one day? When all that mattered was selling lemonade and playing house.

& getting all the easter eggs on EASTER.

oh wait. we still think we are kids.  or at least MOM still thinks we are kids.... but I tell ya, Easter is quite the little party at our house. & it gets pretty competitive! 

......................

I would love to be my neighbor on Easter. watching all of us OLD KIDS runnin around the yard.  Sometimes even pushing each other over for some jelly beans. just kidding. There's more than just jelly beans in them.  CINNAMON bears this year!

:) my fave.