25th Anniversary of a terrible disaster

Today is the 25th Anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster.
Do you remember where you where when this happened? I know different generations have different tragedies that they will always remember.
Jan. 28th 1986 @ 11:38 am EST.
I was living in Spring Valley, CA. I was in the 8th grade sitting in homeroom at La Presa Jr. High. We were watching it on televsion.

Seven lives were lost that day. Something that was supposed to be so amazing ended so terrible.




Tuesday Feb. 1st will be the 8th Anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster.
I was standing in my kitchen watching the shuttle on television while my 4 yo played.


Another seven lives lost.



Please take a moment to remember the families of these fourteen heroes from our space program.



Edited to add:

Yesterday was the 44th Anniversary (so before my time) of the Apollo 1 Disaster where all three crew members were killed in a fire in the cockpit.




Here is a nice interactive link I found that allows the viewer the chance to learn more about these 17 people.

NASA Day of Remembrance










"To God Be The Glory Great Things He Has Done!"



JMFK 11/27/2010 Gone but never forgotten

My friend Sylvia over at ChristianHomekeeper does a Homekeepers Journal. She gives the prompts and anyone can answer them on their blog. She has a McLinky on her site so anyone who participates can add their blog and we can go read it!




This week’s Journal is all about HOME

In my homey kitchen …..
There are dishes in the sink that need to be done and dinner ingredients on the counter

My thoughts on being at home ……
I love it. I love being home when my hubby gets home from work and I love being able to be here when dd leaves for school. It also gives me the opportunity to pick her up from school and be with her every afternoon. I also love being able to take the time to make meals from scratch.

A constant habit I have of making my home comfortable is ….
Making it smell nice with candles (I almost always have a candle warmer going) or food cooking. I always open up all the windows when the weather allows. This way there is fresh air.

If I could change the decor of my home ….
I would love to get matching furniture. Furniture that matches the decor and each piece.. LOL

What I want my children/spouse/other family to remember about my home is …
It always smelled nice and was a great place to bring friends over to. I want them to remember it as homey.

Home …
To me home is more than just a house. It is somewhere where love grows and families make memories.






"To God Be The Glory Great Things He Has Done!"


JMFK 11/27/2010 Gone but never forgotten

Today I did it.. I actually pulled out one of the work out DVD's and did a 1 mile walk with Leslie Sansone. The DVD I used was Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds: 5 Day Fit Walk. I was able to do the 1 mile walk with out having to take a break. I was pretty pumped about that... I also did a 22 minute workout with the Wii Fit Plus. I was so excited when I stepped on the balance board and saw that I had lost 7 pounds since Thanksgiving. I did a workout that was equal to 3.98 mile bike ride, a few minutes on the "stepper", and a couple of yoga poses. I felt awesome!

I have gotten my butt in gear and also gotten back on SparkPeople. I think it will help to record what I am eating and doing for workouts. It will be easier now that there is an app for my phone so I have NO excuse not to keep up with it..

I was so full of energy (believe it or not) after the workout that I attacked my desk. I actually got it 98% cleaned. Frankie came home so that ended my cleaning. But it is all nice and neat and I was able to find my food/workout journal that I started last year (gave up after a month of trying to track ww points.)



"To God Be The Glory Great Things He Has Done!"


JMFK 11/27/2010 Gone but never forgotten

New Start New Year

Sorry I haven't been on in awhile. Things have been weird for me lately.

A big change we made was enroll The Monkey in public school. I am not overly fond of this decision but I really wanted her to have a diploma and she REALLY wanted to go to school and make friends.. How could I say no. She has completed 2 weeks and LOVES it.. But to me it is really really weird. Her first day of school she came home and told us about other students in the school. Other students (ages 11-13-maybe 14) that had dyed hair, (ok now big as anyone who knows my family knows that The Monkey has Bright Blue Hair) TATTOOS, and PIERCINGS! I almost fell out of my chair... What are middle school students doing with piercings (Other than ears) and tattoos??????? Wow! Have times changed since I was in middle school...

The weird thing for me (other than the piercings and tattoos) is being home for hours a day alone. But my house is loving it. I have made a routine for myself- Up between 4am and 630am (depends on how I slept) sweats, t-shirt and shoes on. The Monkey up at 7am. Breakfast for her and we sit and listen to music before she leaves. Pup goes in the kennel (she LOVES chewing electric cords) and Monkey and I head down stairs to meet friends for her ride to school. Then it is back upstairs for house work. Bed made, dishes done, sweep, go through the house and clean up any messes. Then it is shower and dress time for me. This usually takes me a couple of hours... Then I sit and use the computer a little. Lately facebook has bored me so I am not usually on there. If it wasn't for some family and some great friends I would leave facebook.

I plan on completing my course for Hotel and Restaurant Management this year. I also plan on finishing up a quilt I started for Little Man before he was born (14 1/2 months ago! LOL)
As of Wednesday I will be the official Secretary of the Board of Directors for our condo complex. YAY! I have been a Director at Large for 6 months now.

I also have made a couple of goals for myself. Goal one- planned to reach by the end of the month- is to rely less on pre-packaged food and make 90-05% of all meals by scratch. I also plan to employ me crock pots (all four of them! LOL) more. Goal two- lose weight again. I lost some a couple of years back and unfortunately the weight came back (and brought some friends). Goal three- we have implemented a new family night. Saturday nights is family movie and popcorn night.


I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a great New Years.




"To God Be The Glory Great Things He Has Done!"


JMFK 11/27/2010 Gone but never forgotten

Baby Samuel- Updated on 1/19

Baby Samuel and his family could really use our prayers.

It is such a shame to see such a little one going through so much. I don't personally know this family but I have been praying for them for about the last week. (It hits close to home having lost Jamison only 4 weeks ago tomorrow.) This family has amazing faith. Please say a prayer for them.


Update-
I am sorry I didn't update this sooner. I just wanted to pass along that Baby Samuel went home to his Heavenly Father on December 24. They took him off all the machines and he passed away. Please remember this family in your prayers as they are now trying to heal after the loss.












"To God Be The Glory Great Things He Has Done!"


JMFK 11/27/2010 Gone but never forgotten

Here is my first try at Homemade Gifts in a Jar. One is for PB Chocolate Chip Loaves and the other is Merry Banana Candy Muffins.



This is what happens when an unknowing 13 year old sits next to her mum and hands her mum a marker...




The Monkey and I have been enjoying BBC tv. The funny thing is that we actually enjoy the BBC America channel more than American TV. The Catherine Tate Show is then newest one we are watching.. It is pretty funny. We first came to "know" Catherine Tate as "Donna" in Dr. Who Season 4. Dr. Who is our favorite show. Coming in second is Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. We are anxiously awaiting the premier of The Doctor Who version of A Christmas Carol. It comes on Christmas night.


I am thinking of trying to make a Vegetarian or Vegan Cream of Broccoli soup. I am hoping this comes out good as I love Cream of Broccoli and could eat it all year long.

I hope everyone has a wonderful blessing filled day.



"To God Be The Glory Great Things He Has Done!"


JMFK 11/27/2010 Gone but never forgotten

Wow.. I can't believe that 1 week from today is CHRISTmas eve.. That is insane how fast this year flew. So many changes. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your year? Me I would rate it a 7.

Great things that happened this year-
-Got married
-Bought a condo
-Moved
-Little Man turned 1
-Reconnected through facebook with some very old and dear friends.
-Got my little Pup.
-The Boy and his gf moved down here.
-Expecting a new grandbaby


The bad thing this year-
-Moved to Florida (I am a cold weather - ice and snow- type of girl)
-moved away from my fantastic in-laws
-The Boy was sick in the hospital
-The Boy and his gf moved back to MA
-New grandbaby passed away.


I wonder what God has planned for my family in 2011...
I do know that one change is that The Monkey will be attending public school. Now more homeschool. This is a bittersweet change for us. Ok actually it's bittersweet for me... I am already having separation anxiety. Monkey has decided that she wanted to go back to public school (she never wanted to leave in the 7th grade). Frankie wants her in public school for high school. So ok. She starts public school mid 8th grade in January and dare I say high school in August.... Geesh.. High school.. Man, I can not believe my baby is going into high school. It is funny how the fact my baby is turning 14 and some of my friends are just having their first or second babies makes me feel so old (when my friends are the same age!) But I love my friends and wish them all the years of happiness I have had with my kiddos. They are so much fun!


Well, I should get off the computer right now. The Pup needs attending to, the bed needs making and coffee needs drinking.




"To God Be The Glory Great Things He Has Done!"


JMFK 11/27/2010 Gone but never forgotten

CHRISTmas is fast approaching. I still have yet to get into my kitchen and start my baking. I was Wal*Mart twice yesterday and still forgot to get eggs. I bought sugar and mint extract and flour but forgot the eggs! Grrr.. Now I need to hit the store again tonight and hopefully remember eggs (I know write a list.. But this doesn't help me at all!)
I was surprised yesterday when my husband said "You go shopping and I will fold the laundry." WOW! If anyone who reads this knew "Frankie" you would know that he is not domesticated. He can't run the washer or the dryer. As for cooking.. Lets just say when I went up to MA for The Boy, when he was in the hospital, The Monkey cooked. "Frankie" doesn't know how to even turn the stove on.. But that is ok. I am of the old school thought that it isn't his place but mine to be in the kitchen. But back to the laundry... LOL So when The Monkey and I came home "Frankie" says "I can't believe how much laundry I had to fold." I laughed and explained to him that he had it easy. He only had to fold 1 load of clothes and hang half a load (5 pairs of scrubs)and 3 sheets. The Monkey's clothes don't get folded they all are hung up (usually she does her own laundry) so he put them on her bed. I then told him that I do laundry only every two weeks (and have about 5 loads unless there are sheets and blankets and then it is more.) Scrubs are done every Saturday or Sunday. He almost fainted.. LOL.. But don't get me wrong. I am not complaining and not making fun of him. I am very thankful that he did that for me.
So, CHRISTmas shopping is almost done. Some of the gifts are wrapped. Well, gifts we are shipping out are wrapped. The Little Man's box is packed. All set to go. My mother in law and father in laws box is almost ready. A couple of gift cards need to be added then it is all set as well. Finished Frankies shopping. I think. There is one more thing I would like to get but I am not too sure if I will get it.. His presents will be fun to wrap. We need to find alternate ways to wrap them so they don't look even close to what they are... Last year he guessed just about every present by picking them up and shaking the boxes... Wait until this year. All I need to say is I have two bags of shipping peanuts that are going to be coming in handy!
I am thinking that for friends and family that live in our area will be getting baked goods. Maybe gifts in a jar. IDK yet. But then that takes me back to the need for eggs! LOL

So, now that CHRISTmas is 12 days away that makes New Years Eve 18 days. Have any of you made New Years Resolutions? How many make these every year and always find that come the end of the year that "Dang. I never did get that done."? I do this every year.. LOL. So my plans (yes, now I say plans- doesn't help any though) for 2011. Finish my Hotel and Restaurant Management Course. Save money for our trip to Key West for our Anniversary in June. Work out on a regular basis. Lose 50-75 pounds. Eat out less. Use my crock pot a lot more. Try at least 2 new vegetarian recipes a month. Plan out and execute my changes for my kitchen (nothing drastic yet. Just some paint color and new hardware.)


I hope everyone has a blessing filled day!





<3JMFK 11/27/2010 <3 A moment on Earth. Always in our hearts!

Lola