Helpless

Yesterday our son had a basketball tournament, so my sister decided to come and watch a game.  She drove an hour to come watch him which we really appreciated.  During the game it had really started snowing and we were starting to hear that the roads were getting slick.  So, my sister decided she better start heading back because she had to go to work that night and didn't want to have to rush.  I told her to be careful and she headed out.  About 45 minutes later she called me crying and saying "I didn't make it.  I didn't make it."  I realized she had been in an accident and I felt so helpless.  I tried to remain calm while I was asking if she was ok, if she was hurt, etc.  She thought she was ok, but her head hurt.  She just kept talking about her car and how it was all over the highway along with her things.  Then I lost my connection with her and really started panicking.  My sister isn't married, and I didn't know what to do or who to call.  I have never felt so helpless knowing that my sister was all alone, hurt, and panicking and I couldn't do anything to help her.  All I could do was pray.  Then I started making phone calls.  I called our parents, and texted her 3 children to please call me.    Then I waited to hear what was going on.  Long story short....she was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.  She was hit from behind by an Expedition in her little Chevy Malibu car after spinning a circle on the highway due to the slippery road conditions.  She was VERY lucky!  She could have been hit head-on or T-Boned, hit by a semi, or by multiple cars.  Her car didn't survive the crash, but cars can be replaced.  Her only injury was a big bump on the head.  She was released from the hospital and treated for a concussion.  As soon as our tournament was over, we headed up to see her.  The snow had stopped and the roads were slowly getting better by then.  I was able to stay with her while she was in the ER.  The other car that hit her had 7 women in it coming home from a weekend shopping trip and thankfully they were all ok.

I guess my point is that no matter how helpless I felt, really the only thing I could do was pray and ask God to provide and protect, which He did.  Today my sister is ok, sore and tired, but alive.   As I type this, the news is talking about a possible 15 inches of snow coming our way over the next 3 days.  Tonight I am praying for protection on the roads as we have a lot of appointments and things coming up this week.  All it takes it one split second and everything can change.  Please be careful out there and make sure your family knows how important they are to you and how much they are loved.

Things I Love - Fleece

Things I Love...

This is my feature where I get to share something that I just love. Since you are my friends, I like sharing things I love with others. It could be anything from a new product, food, recipe, song, image, to a person and everything in between. This will be something I am completely doing on my own, without pressure or compensation from a company, author, PR/Marketing firm, friend, business owner, etc. This will just be something that makes me happy and I want to share it with you. Enjoy some love!

Today's love is.............................Fleece

Or more specifically, my Heavenly Fleece Jackets from Lands End.  I wear one nearly every night around the house to keep warm.  I love to wear them as a lighter jacket when it isn't quite so cold out.  These jackets are so extremely soft and when I wash them, somehow they get even softer!  They are just the right degree of warmth and comfort and are just part of my favorite winter wardrobe.  This time of year they are pretty much sold out, but put one on your list for next year, and as soon as those fall catalogs come out, snag one.  They are worth it.  I am definately going to be adding another to my collection next fall!


Lands End only knows me by printing off lots of shipping labels to me due to frequent orders!  I get no benefit from telling you about their jackets except from knowing that I might make someone happy and warm! :)

Review: The Recipe Club: A Tale of Food and Friendship by Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel

The Recipe Club
A Tale of Food and Friendship
A Novel
By Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel
Fiction
358 Pages

Lilly and Val are lifelong friends, united as much by their differences as by their similarities.  Lilly, dramatic and confident, lives in the shadow of her beautiful, wayward mother and craves the attention of her distant, disapproviing father.  Val, shy and idealistic - and surprisingly ambitious - struggles with her desire to break free from her demanding housebound mother and a father whose dreams never seem to come true. 

In childhood, "LillyPad" and "ValPal" form an exclusive two-person club, writing intimate letters in which they share hopes, fears, deepest secrets - and recipes.  The Recipe Club sustains Lilly and Val's bond through the decades, regardless of what different paths they take or what misunderstanding threaten to break them apart....until the fateful day when an act of kindness becomes an unforgivable betrayal.

Now years later, while trying to recapture the trust they've lost, Lilly and Val reunite once more - only to discover a shocking secret.  Will it destroy their friendship, or bring them ever closer?

I received this book through Librarything, but haven't gotten a chance to review it until now.  I was intrigued by this book because of the friendship storyline intertwined with recipes.  What I was delighted to find was the story was told through an epistolary journey, first as adults, and then flashed back to their childhood and back through adulthood again.  Reading the story through letters to eachother made the story move quite quickly and kept you wanting to turn the page.  Plus all the recipes mixed throughout the book really added to the story.  Each recipe was specifically chosen for the situation that the girls were in.

I really enjoyed the drama both Val and Lilly had with their parents. But, I did tend to get frustrated with the selfishness of all characters involved.  Without giving away the ending, I was happy with the way Lilly and Val's lives came around and how the authors ended the book.

If you like novels about friendship and cooking, this one is a must read for you.  Many of the recipes are ones I want to try.  Luckily I have the book to keep and do just that.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

ENERGIZER Keep Going Hall of Fame and a Giveaway

Do you or does someone you know have unstoppable energy?  Do you know someone with endless energy who is helping to change your school, your community, or even the world by making a positive impact?  If so, ENERGIZER KEEP GOING HALL OF FAME wants to hear about them!

From now through February 4, 2011, you are invited to enter your own personal stories or to nominate someone at www.energizer.com/halloffame.  Just like America's non-stop icon, the ENERGIZER BUNNY, nominees should embody the KEEP GOING spirit by making a positive impact on the world through extraordinary determination and couage.  Cal Ripken, Jr, who became the first memeber of the ENERGIZER KEEP GOING Hall of Fame six years ago, is once again helping lead the search for the next inductee.  Cal and the ENERGIZER BUNNY are looking for stories of not only those with endless energy, but also those who have helped change the world for the better.  This is part of ENERGIZERS NOW THAT'S POSITIVENERGY campaign to help everyday citizens channel their power to make a positive impact, whether in their local community or around the world.

To watch the video of last years inductee, check out this You Tube video:

Once the nomination period ends, a panel of independent judges will narrow the field to 100 Semifinalists who will be honored in their hometowns. The judges will then select nine Finalists, and Energizer Bunny® Facebook fans will have the opportunity to vote for the 10th Finalist at facebook.com/EnergizerBunny beginning March 17, 2011 and ending March 25, 2011. Each Finalist will receive a $1,000 donation to his or her charity of choice.

All 10 Finalists’ names and stories will be posted online at www.energizer.com/halloffame, at which point the public will be given the chance to select the 2011 Inductee through an online vote. Voting on the Finalists will begin April 4, 2011, and continue through May 13, 2011. Each Finalist vote will trigger a $1.00 donation from Energizer to the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, up to $10,000. Each donation will help connect kids in distressed communities with mentors, giving them the opportunity to learn life's critical lessons while having fun on the fields and off the streets. Now That’s Positivenergy™

So, be thinking about that person in your community who has unstoppable energy and nominate them today at www.energizer.com/halloffame. 

Now for the giveaway!   ENERGIZER also wants to reward a reader with 2-four packs of Energizer Max AA Batteries.  Now that you can make sure you electronics can Keep Going and Going!  Leave me a comment with an email address so I can contact you if you win.  Sign up by 11:59 PM on February 6th.  I will chose a winner with random.org on Monday, February 7th. 

Things I Love - Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Things I Love...


This is my feature where I get to share something that I just love. Since you are my friends, I like sharing things I love with others. It could be anything from a new product, food, recipe, song, image, to a person and everything in between. This will be something I am completely doing on my own, without pressure or compensation from a company, author, PR/Marketing firm, friend, business owner, etc. This will just be something that makes me happy and I want to share it with you. Enjoy some love!
Today's love is................................Spinach and Artichoke Dip
 

I first tried Spinach and Artichoke Dip at a TGIFridays and LOVED it.  Then I saw you could purchase it in little freezer trays to have right in your own home.  This is my favorite snack and I have no problem eating the WHOLE TRAY!  Now, I know that it isn't intended for 1 serving, but we won't talk about that! 
 
My Sister-in-law makes an AWESOME Spinach and Artichoke Dip that is even better than the Friday's version.  Whenever we have a family function, I am thrilled when she makes it.  My waist may not be, but I forget all that when she pulls that dip out of the oven. 
 
I believe that we need to treat ourselves once in a while and enjoy the decadent things or life just isn't any fun!  It isn't like I am eating this once a week or anything, even though I am sure I could!  You can find the TGIFriday's version at your local Target, Walmart, and grocery stores.  TGIFridays also sells their mozzarella sticks, potato skins, and other appetizers, in a frozen option, all of them delicious!

Strolling Through the Target Bookshelves

Yesterday, I treated myself to a 20 minutes stroll through the Target book aisles.  I found some of my favorites that I have read, some that I have been wanting to read, and a few that I hadn't heard of that I would now like to read.  Some of the ones that stood out to me were:

THE ELEGENCE OF THE HEDGEHOG By Muriel Barbery
New to my list.  The book states it is an enthralling international bestseller!

THE BOOKSELLER OF KABUL By Asne Seierstad

This one has been on my to-read list for 3 years was a reminder to me how much I wanted to read it.

HOW TO BAKE A PERFECT LIFE By Barbara O'Neal  This one has been getting a lot of press through blogs and book websites.  It has as sweet storyline and since I love to bake it peaked my interest.

UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand  This book has been recommended to me by several readers and I have been seeing great reviews for it.  Plus it is historical fiction which is my favorite genre!

LEFT NEGLECTED By Lisa Genova  Ever since I read her first novel, STILL ALICE, I have been waiting for this release.  The reviews have been fabulous and I may just have to download this one to my iPod!

CAKE POPS By Angie Dudley (aka Bakerella)  I am a huge fan of Bakerella's blog and her super cute cake pops.  I don't pretend to think that I can create these mini masterpieces, but it is defiantely fun to look through!

PIONEER WOMAN COOKS By Ree Drummond  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her blog and am also looking forward to the release of her first book, THE PIONEER WOMAN: BLACK HEELS TO TRACTOR WHEELS - A LOVE STORY.  The way she describes how to cook her dishes can make anyone feel like they can cook.  The photos are fabulous too!

A SOFT PLACE TO LAND By Susan Rebecca White  This was one I hadn't heard of before and it really peaked my interest.  In the story, the parents of two girls are killed and leave behind a will that shocks them.  It is also the story of two girls, now adult sisters who seem to have grown apart and something brings them back together.  This was the one book I actually purchased.  It was one of the books that were 20% off and plus with the Target card 5% discount, I made it a pretty good deal for a book.  At least that is how I justified it!

So, if you are looking for something new to read, I think any of these books would be a great start!  Someday, I will get to all of them.  Oh, if only I could just sit and read all day!

The Goodbye and The Good Job

THE GOODBYE
Today I had to let something that I love doing go.  It was a tough decision, but for my own sanity I decided I had to drop it.  I am not someone to quit things, especially things that I have committed to.  But, then I committ to other things, and then something else comes up, and then someone else needs me, etc.  So, unfortunately, because it was the one that needed me the least, the one that was the most time consuming, and the one that I was going to have to stop doing in March anyway, I ended it today.  It was sad to say goodbye to my friends there today, but as I left, I also felt a little relieved.  I am hoping next year I can get it back into my routine, but at this point, I had to make the decision for me.

How do you handle committments and yet maintain a balanced personal and family life?  I know that I need to learn to say "No" more, but when you live in a small town, go to a small church, and feel like you have God-Given talents to put towards something, it is hard to say "No". 

I saw a brief piece on OPRAH a few weeks ago and Wynonna Judd was on the show.  They were discussing Wynonna's life and she said she had started telling people, "That doesn't work for me right now." It was a light-bulb moment for Oprah and it actually was for me too.  It isn't a "No", and not a maybe or an I'll get back to you.  I may have to try that line next time I feel a bit over-committed. 

THE GOOD JOB
Tonight we found out our oldest son made the honor band.  Only two 5th graders from our whole school district were chosen and he was one of them.  He plays percussion and apparently does it quite well.  He will spend an entire Saturday with kids from all over the area and then put on a concert that evening.  He is pretty excited and we, of course, are very proud parents!  He has always been musically gifted, remembering lyrics to songs after hearing them one time, always being on beat, and picking up the piano very quickly.  He amazes us daily by going over to the piano after hearing a song on a commercial or on the radio and sitting down and playing it.  I have played the piano since I was five, but I can't do that.  I can read any music, but can't play a song by sound.  I have no idea where God is going to use his musical abilities, but I know that there can only be good to come!