prayers, heros, recipe and reading

First and most important, I'm asking for prayers for my dad.  He called at around 6PM, from the hospital, following a minor stroke.  He sounded good, but they'll be keeping him at least one more day for tests.  I asked him if he wanted Liza and I to postpone our trip.  He was quickly adamant that we still come.  He said, "I may not be able to go to all of the graveyards with you two, but, I want you here whether I'm still in the hospital or not."  And so, we're counting down the hours!  36 to go!  Prayers for Dad would be greatly appreciated!  (His name is Jim Bell.)

This isn't something that I normally do, but this story is amazing!  Rather than posting the youtube video, I'm sharing the link to our local newspaper, which has the entire 14 minutes ordeal.  This took place just a few blocks from Denise's home in Logan.  Really, it's a must see.  (Scroll down and click play on the left side of the screen.)

Thanks so much for the crock pot recipes.  I'll share them on Tuesdays throughout the winter!  Soup day is coming and since I'm most excited for that, the recipe that I'll be trying first on Soup Day is the winner of this little challenge.  This recipe comes from Annie Hopper from Michigan!  Thanks so much to Annie!  I'm anxious to try this one!  I'm thinking with a pan of corn bread to go along side of it!

Sweet Corn Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
4 cups chicken broth
 1 15 oz can creamed corn
1 cup frozen corn
1 medium potato, shredded
1/2 cup cream
pepper
2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped

Sautee the onion and garlic in  olive oil over medium heat.  Put them in the crock pot and add the chicken broth, creamed corn and shredded potato. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Cook on high for 4-6 hours until corn is tender.  Serve soup topped with crumbled corn chips and chopped chives.

A Quayd story... Last night, the girls were doing their reading and I noticed that Quayd was playing with his Nintendo DSL.  I reminded him that he needed to read.  He went downstairs and returned with his Nintendo Manual.  "Here, Mom.  I'll read this", he teased.  After a little back and forth of more teasing, I sent him downstairs to get a "chapter book".  Quayd insisted that there was nothing to read.  (Mind you, each of them have book shelves full of books.)  So, I got specific and sent him downstairs to find Hatchet, a Newbury winning Classic.  We have two copies.  He came back up emptied handed three times.  I teased that he could have electronics and friend privileges when he'd finished reading Hatchet, cover to cover.  By now, it was dinnertime and I totally spaced the entire situation.

Fast forward to this afternoon.  Quayd came in from school and said, "Mom, I can tell you all about Hatchet."  He then proceeded to tell me, in detail, about the book.  I teased, "Alright, who told you all that?"  He pulled the book out of his backpack.  He'd checked it out at the school library this morning and read over half of it during school.  (This book was one that I knew he'd relate to and love.)  I asked him if he loved it.  He responded, as cool as any soon to be fourteen year old would, grinning, "Ish."  I asked, "Isn't it one of those, I can't put it down kind of books?"  He smiled his huge smile and said, "Actually, yes!"  Happiness!  Quayd has never been a big chapter book reader (other than Harry Potter).  He prefers "How to" books and reference type books. 

After he'd told me the entire story to the point that he'd read, I asked him what prompted him to check it out.  He said, "Are you kidding?!  You said no friends or electronics till I'd read it, so I'm reading it!"  He then told me that he'd gone to the library and read the back cover, thinking he could just tell me that much, but he realized that I'd ask lots of questions about it "like I always do", so he knew that he should just read it.  Then, once he read the first chapter, he was hooked.  We love good readers and honest kids in our home!

My to do list for tomorrow:

• 7:30 ~ get my nails done
• bake zucchini bread
• finish last load of laundry
• finish packing
• gather family history files for cemetery hopping
• charge all electronics
• double check travel and car rental arrangements
• go to the bank
• help ZJ with a report that's due while I'm away
• leave the house company clean
• pick up a few little travel items
• watch Survivor!!!
• pray lots for my dad!
• and lots more!

Life is good... even with all the little and bigger bumps in the road!

One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks.

Comments

[Nicole]

Praying for your father to recover soon and for you and Liza to have a safe trip. The story and the video of the rescue is amazing!

[Kim B.]

Coming out of "lurkdom" but I saw that story on our news here in Florida. Before we moved here, we lived down in Sandy for six years. I commented to friends when we were talking about this, that the nicest people live in Utah and I wasn't at all surprised that they came to the man's rescue. I've lived in three states and of them all, Utah was my favorite. I am so happy that my family had the chance to live in such a wonderful place.

Enjoy your trip!

[Katie]

I hope you have a wonderful time with Liza and your dad. I can't wait to hear all about it. Love you lots!

[Pamela K.]

Prayers sent for your dad. My son loved "Hatchet". Great boy book! Okay, I can see that on Tuesdays I'll be wiping drool off my chin with your crock-pot recipes. That corn soup recipe sounds yummy! I watched that rescue last night. Wow! That was a nail-biter! So glad everyone is okay.