Remembering...

This blog will likely be quiet for a few weeks.  It turns out that I am going to have a full hysterectomy early tomorrow (Friday) morning.  It will require an abdominal incision so my recovery will take a bit longer than I might like.  While I am not looking forward to the surgery, I am very much looking forward to my improvement!

I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

Things have moved pretty quickly this week so I have found myself in a whirlwind of preparation.  That is probably just as well since it has not allowed me much time to dwell.  However, the mind does do funny things sometimes.  More than once this week I have found my mind slipping back 11 years and thinking about "what if".

For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but my kindness shall not leave you.  

My promise of peace for you will never be broken, says the Lord who has mercy upon you. 

Isaiah 54:10

Some of you might remember that fateful night in February 2003 when I had emergency surgery following the rupture of my ectopic pregnancy.  The trauma of that entire event was pretty deep.  To be honest, though, most of the time I am able to go about my life without thinking about it anymore.  However, this week, I have found myself thinking about it a lot.  That precious baby would have turned 11 this month.  Perhaps around this very date.  How very different our lives would be.

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Even though our hope of having a larger family effectively ended that night in 2003, this hysterectomy sort of puts an exclamation point behind the idea.  Perhaps that is why this is dredging up all the old memories and feelings.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you all of his blessings, 

and great peace of heart and mind.  

1 Corinthians 1:3

Then, as now, I was surrounded by the very real blessing of the prayers of family and friends.  I am overwhelmed by the love and compassion shown to me and my family now and always.

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy 
that we feel before our God because of you?
1 Thessalonians 3:9

We have been, and continue to be, incredibly blessed beyond measure.  Just typing that sentence brings happy tears to my eyes.  Life is not always easy, but then, that isn't the point.  My heart is so full of gratitude.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  His love endures forever...

Psalm 136:1

Sunday afternoon

What beautiful Sunday afternoon!!  This was the kind of fall day that just makes you smile and sigh and want to take it all in.  Daddy and Jonathan were checking out the remnants of the garden.  There are still a few squash and etc to be found.  Sorry to see the end of the harvest!

As I turned to walk toward the house, I was just struck by the beauty!  Magnificent sky and clouds, and we are still 'green' this far into September!

I love this place so much.

Jennifer's Pork Fried Rice

Let me just begin this post with a lament...

I MISS JENNIFER!!!!!

Okay.  Now that I have that off my chest, I will move on to posting a recipe that she gave us.  Jennifer spent a semester teaching in China and came home with some pretty awesome culinary skills that we all benefited from.  The only thing better than making Jennifer's Pork Fried Rice is to have JENNIFER make it for us!  :D

P.S.  For those who don't know who Jennifer is, she is my cousin's daughter who went to college here for several years; actually living with us for a period of that time.  She became like a daughter to us and a definite sibling to the boys.  However, she now lives and works a great distance from us so we see her only a couple times a year.  But, oh, the memories.  :D

Jennifer's Pork Fried Rice
Assorted vegetables and meat of your choice... choices can include
oil
rice
garlic
carrots
cabbage
peas
green onions
eggs
peanuts (or cashews)
pork
soy sauce

Cook rice (not instant, prefer jasmine) while preparing other ingredients.  Toast the nuts being careful not to burn them.  Also, it is a good idea to marinate the meat in a soy sauce concoction of some sort. I used soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and teriyaki sauce in a 3, 2, 1 ratio.

Start out with a lot of oil in the pan (should be enough to cook everything throughout this process.)  I used a combination of canola and sesame oil.  Heat oil then add garlic and green onions.  (Can also add ginger at this stage.)  Remove green onions before they get too done.

Next, add the meat and remove it when it gets close to being done.  Then cook the vegetables individually in the seasoned oil.   Remove veggies when they are somewhat tender.

Finally, fry the eggs in the pan and then add the rice plus everything else back in (except the nuts) when the eggs are close to being done.  Stir and keep cooking until the rice begins to slightly brown (you may wish to add more soy sauce at this point for more flavor).

Serve with the nuts on top of the fried rice.

Hannah visits Willis Creek Ranch

We recently enjoyed a visit from Hannah here at Willis Creek Ranch.  Her Mom, Christy, let me know that Hannah is interested in getting a horse but needed to know more about what that might entail.  Marvin was happy to visit with her and introduce her to a couple of our horses.  We hope you find the perfect horse for you, Hannah!

Marvin and Shadow

Hannah leading Shadow

Random September

The beginning of the school year brings structure and order to our days.  I kind of like that, and kind of don't like that.  In September I am more apt to like it than in March.  :)  One thing I definitely like about the start of the new school year is the start up of the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series at Truman.  In years past we have enjoyed performances by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, various dance troupes, stage plays, symphonies, choruses, and even ice ballets!  What a marvelous opportunity for quality entertainment that comes right to our community each year!

Last Friday evening we attended the first performance of the 2014/2015 season; The Golden Dragon Acrobats.  Wow!  They were unbelievable!  I have to say that I was at once enthralled and also slightly afraid for their safety!!  Watching them also serves as a reminder of how UNflexible I am!  :)

Upcoming performances this season will include the incomparable (and local!!) bluegrass singer, Rhonda Vincent, The Great Gatsby performed by the Montana Repertory Theater, the musical production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and the play, "Much Ado About Nothing" presented by the incredible American Shakespeare Center 'in the round'.  Looks like it is going to be another stellar year!  

We are working on updating and redecorating Jonathan's bedroom in time for his birthday in late October.  Saturday we made some huge steps toward that goal by purchasing the paint for his walls and the new flooring.  No photos yet, but hopefully we will remember to take some photos throughout the process.  And hopefully we won't find ourselves in over our heads!  

Brianna was trying to convince Jackson to wear his snazzy new suspenders the other afternoon.  Although he tried on the outfit she wanted him to wear, he just couldn't bring himself to go out in public wearing it.  It's okay, though... I took a photo for posterity!  :D  ha!  Love my  "lumberjack crossed with Urkel"!  

Jonathan participated in a fun scavenger hunt as a part of his youth group.  I was so thankful that Dana took photos of the kids in her group (I was the driver for a different group) and shared them with me.  Great kids!

Brianna's birthday present

Jackson came up with a great idea for Brianna's birthday present and spent quite a bit of time working on the project to get it finished in time.  I think it turned out so nicely!  Brianna loved it as well.  :)

Marvin looking on as Jackson finishes up the project.

Isn't this neat??

The clear bottles can be vases for flowers, or colored stones, or etc.

He put a hinged lid on for easy access to the bottles.

Great job, Jackson!  

Jackson and Brianna 

He also got her a movie, "The Fault In Our Stars".

Presenting it to Brianna

Happy birthday to Brianna!  

:)

Birthday celebrations

We gathered with the M. family to celebrate several September birthdays.  Matthew, his grandmother Linda, his great aunt Susan, and his cousin, Mo, all celebrate birthdays in September.  After a fun day at Red Barn Festival we headed out to the M. house to enjoy a meal and celebration time together.

There were many opportunities for laughter that evening.  As Mike said at one point, "this party is off the rails!"   ha!   I mean, we had scarf tying demonstrations, John Travolta dancing, and woodcock imitations.  How crazy can you get??   ;)

Wonderful evening spent with people so near and dear to our hearts.  What better way to spend a Saturday?

I was excited to finally get a photo of Matt's delicious Broccoli Salad.  I actually blogged his recipe years ago, but never got a photo of the salad to go with the post.  Now I have one!!  :)

Time for their world famous homemade ice cream!!!

singing Happy Birthday to the birthday celebrants

blowing out their candles

Matthew

Matthew, Brenda, Matt

Matthew, Anna, Brenda, Matt

Mo and Melina

Megan, Jeff, and Melina

love these three!

Linda, Bill, Bonnie, Tyler, and Susan 

Julie and Elizabeth

Okay... so here is where the evening got crazy!  ;)  Scarf tying, John Travolta imitations, and woodcock walking.  Luckily, I got it all on video.  :)  (excuse my crazy cackling on the video!)

Anna demonstrating one way to tie a scarf

My camera was too slow to capture Matthew doing his Travolta move this time...

Matt and Matthew preparing to do their woodcock walk.