I read several blogs...quite a few. And realized other than one friends I was the only one who had not posted a year end or new year post. So here it is. My blog manager over down under must be quite the busy fellow. I worried about this getting posted before midnight so asked Craig to see if he could figure it out. He did! Adding a month is not as easy as adding a day. But that doesn't mean that David if fired. Just that he did a lousy job of being at my beck and call today! He is forgiven.
So, 2013 was a good year in some ways and a not so good year in other ways. I would say that for me and Craig our health is not as good as it was starting 2013. Our own fault. We like our junk food way too much. We found out about Liam's allergies and how to treat them so that was a good thing! I also figured out what is probably causing my anxiety and making me not the most pleasant person on the planet. Aren't I way too young for the M word!!??.
I am continuing the use it up challenge that I started in 2013. I was just ending up with way too many science projects in the fridge and freezer. And, in case you haven't noticed, groceries are not getting any cheaper! Tonight's dinner was left over pork roast stir fried with onions, carrots and pineapple (also left over) and put over mung bean noodles or inside spring roll wraps. Liam loved them both ways! He didn't like the pork roast but loved it turned into something else. Craig was not so impressed. But who am I trying to impress here anyway!? There is still a good sized chunk of that roast which will become fried rice for Friday's ladies night out.
There were no major breakdowns in the house. Except of course the leak in September that led to almost $500 in carpet repair and a total now of just over $500 in vet bills. Had the leak not happened I would not have found out the cat was so sick. But now she no longer will eat the special diet food. Two weeks straight she ate only about 1/2 a can of the food a day at best. I can't afford to throw away $1.25 a day in cat food! So yesterday I made the decision that she will go back to eating food that is recommended on several sites regarding natural health care for cats. I am just thinking that $100 monthly for blood work and a special food that is $2.50 a can and $25 for a 4 pound bag of dry that she MUST eat to bring down the thyroid level numbers might be a little excessive for a 15 year old cat. So, my vet will probably tell me to find another vet, but I will no longer buy the special food or do the blood work. I will feed her the best diet I can and use the supplements that I haven't been able to get in her because she hates the food I put it in (quit that about a week after I started!) And just pray. I know that God hears the prayers for our animals also.
I had a really good garden year despite the weather, bugs, soil the list could go on! Over 500 pounds of produce! It was a great apple year! And of course I was still stuck on the no spray/organic kick with the trees. Well, no more! I will now do the minimum amount of spraying I need to do to keep the bugs away...my biggest bug problem?......earwigs! Oh those are a nasty thing! They scare me for some reason! And they did the most damage. I will be planting a lot more dry beans this year and less cabbage. Each year I plant so much of some things just knowing that I am going to use it ALL! Well, at least my sister enjoyed all that cabbage:) I had acorn squash from who knows where volunteer and was told it was the best they had ever eaten. Of course I never got around to eating one myself. I am going to do some research and treat the soil for the tomatoes this year. I have had a few really bad years in a row...big enough yields but plants that struggled every day to stay alive. I got 163 pounds of tomatoes last year. Off bushes that were marked Roma but were more like Plum.
We should have made the Christmas card list at the mechanics. My van once again proved to us it probably came from Katrina. And Craig's truck spent a night at the mechanic as well. Fortunately none of these visits amounted to a whole lot. In fact I think the cat cost more than the mechanic combined! Though now almost every night I dream about the power steering pump going out on my van and I am generally near a cliff. Fun times!
Austin and Amanda got married and Craig had the honor of walking her down the isle. It was a special and fun day for a special and fun couple.
David came in January and left in July. It was sad sending him off. We had really hoped he would find a job and be able to stay in the states. Liam loved having him here. And it was nice having an extra pair of hands helping around the place...I think I need to adopt a 30 something! April 26 is hug and Aussie day...who will we hug this year? Liam's half sister, Grace, came for a visit during the summer and it was so precious to watch the two of them. Liam had a hard time letting her go when it was time for them to leave. He doesn't understand the relationship yet. But he loved the attention she gave him.
We had a lot of play dates with our friends. Lots of fun times. And I had lots of time to visit with other mothers several of whom homeschool. Speaking of homeschooling, we started that last year. He likes school. We also started piano lessons. He is not quite so gung ho on that. But today he shocked me by saying that he wanted to do piano before school!
I am sure when I post this and walk away I will remember a ton of stuff that I didn't mention. Like the wonderful game nights I had once a week over the summer and fall with my Bible study ladies. Like the wonderful monthly visits to see Auntie Pam and how special she makes us feel. Like the monthly play dates with our church group and all the rounds of Mexican Train we have played! Like getting to know a couple ladies so much better and truly valuing their friendships. Like watching Liam grow and change and become more of a little man and less a toddler. Though I was thrilled the day in October he dressed himself all by himself and thrilled the next day when he wanted me to dress him and every day since. Don't want him to grow up too fast! Like seeing God answer so many prayers for friends and even those I don't know but prayed for. Like loving my church and the people in it more each year. Wow! I may not forget anything at this rate!
So now I look forward to a new year. A time of new beginnings. I will persevere and read through the Bible in a year this year. No stopping half way through again! I will be slightly less stubborn about seeing a doctor or a dentist. I will work at eating more at home and from scratch. I will work at healthy treats and less sugar and processed junk. I will try to be patient and kind and gentle with the men in my life. Tall order...but with God's help I can do it! "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."
I will leave you with a Liamism:
In the school room "mommy, I have to sanitize my hands before we start" as he gives himself a liberal pump from the hand sanitizing bottle. And yes...he used the word sanitize.
So, 2013 was a good year in some ways and a not so good year in other ways. I would say that for me and Craig our health is not as good as it was starting 2013. Our own fault. We like our junk food way too much. We found out about Liam's allergies and how to treat them so that was a good thing! I also figured out what is probably causing my anxiety and making me not the most pleasant person on the planet. Aren't I way too young for the M word!!??.
I am continuing the use it up challenge that I started in 2013. I was just ending up with way too many science projects in the fridge and freezer. And, in case you haven't noticed, groceries are not getting any cheaper! Tonight's dinner was left over pork roast stir fried with onions, carrots and pineapple (also left over) and put over mung bean noodles or inside spring roll wraps. Liam loved them both ways! He didn't like the pork roast but loved it turned into something else. Craig was not so impressed. But who am I trying to impress here anyway!? There is still a good sized chunk of that roast which will become fried rice for Friday's ladies night out.
There were no major breakdowns in the house. Except of course the leak in September that led to almost $500 in carpet repair and a total now of just over $500 in vet bills. Had the leak not happened I would not have found out the cat was so sick. But now she no longer will eat the special diet food. Two weeks straight she ate only about 1/2 a can of the food a day at best. I can't afford to throw away $1.25 a day in cat food! So yesterday I made the decision that she will go back to eating food that is recommended on several sites regarding natural health care for cats. I am just thinking that $100 monthly for blood work and a special food that is $2.50 a can and $25 for a 4 pound bag of dry that she MUST eat to bring down the thyroid level numbers might be a little excessive for a 15 year old cat. So, my vet will probably tell me to find another vet, but I will no longer buy the special food or do the blood work. I will feed her the best diet I can and use the supplements that I haven't been able to get in her because she hates the food I put it in (quit that about a week after I started!) And just pray. I know that God hears the prayers for our animals also.
I had a really good garden year despite the weather, bugs, soil the list could go on! Over 500 pounds of produce! It was a great apple year! And of course I was still stuck on the no spray/organic kick with the trees. Well, no more! I will now do the minimum amount of spraying I need to do to keep the bugs away...my biggest bug problem?......earwigs! Oh those are a nasty thing! They scare me for some reason! And they did the most damage. I will be planting a lot more dry beans this year and less cabbage. Each year I plant so much of some things just knowing that I am going to use it ALL! Well, at least my sister enjoyed all that cabbage:) I had acorn squash from who knows where volunteer and was told it was the best they had ever eaten. Of course I never got around to eating one myself. I am going to do some research and treat the soil for the tomatoes this year. I have had a few really bad years in a row...big enough yields but plants that struggled every day to stay alive. I got 163 pounds of tomatoes last year. Off bushes that were marked Roma but were more like Plum.
We should have made the Christmas card list at the mechanics. My van once again proved to us it probably came from Katrina. And Craig's truck spent a night at the mechanic as well. Fortunately none of these visits amounted to a whole lot. In fact I think the cat cost more than the mechanic combined! Though now almost every night I dream about the power steering pump going out on my van and I am generally near a cliff. Fun times!
Austin and Amanda got married and Craig had the honor of walking her down the isle. It was a special and fun day for a special and fun couple.
David came in January and left in July. It was sad sending him off. We had really hoped he would find a job and be able to stay in the states. Liam loved having him here. And it was nice having an extra pair of hands helping around the place...I think I need to adopt a 30 something! April 26 is hug and Aussie day...who will we hug this year? Liam's half sister, Grace, came for a visit during the summer and it was so precious to watch the two of them. Liam had a hard time letting her go when it was time for them to leave. He doesn't understand the relationship yet. But he loved the attention she gave him.
We had a lot of play dates with our friends. Lots of fun times. And I had lots of time to visit with other mothers several of whom homeschool. Speaking of homeschooling, we started that last year. He likes school. We also started piano lessons. He is not quite so gung ho on that. But today he shocked me by saying that he wanted to do piano before school!
I am sure when I post this and walk away I will remember a ton of stuff that I didn't mention. Like the wonderful game nights I had once a week over the summer and fall with my Bible study ladies. Like the wonderful monthly visits to see Auntie Pam and how special she makes us feel. Like the monthly play dates with our church group and all the rounds of Mexican Train we have played! Like getting to know a couple ladies so much better and truly valuing their friendships. Like watching Liam grow and change and become more of a little man and less a toddler. Though I was thrilled the day in October he dressed himself all by himself and thrilled the next day when he wanted me to dress him and every day since. Don't want him to grow up too fast! Like seeing God answer so many prayers for friends and even those I don't know but prayed for. Like loving my church and the people in it more each year. Wow! I may not forget anything at this rate!
So now I look forward to a new year. A time of new beginnings. I will persevere and read through the Bible in a year this year. No stopping half way through again! I will be slightly less stubborn about seeing a doctor or a dentist. I will work at eating more at home and from scratch. I will work at healthy treats and less sugar and processed junk. I will try to be patient and kind and gentle with the men in my life. Tall order...but with God's help I can do it! "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."
I will leave you with a Liamism:
In the school room "mommy, I have to sanitize my hands before we start" as he gives himself a liberal pump from the hand sanitizing bottle. And yes...he used the word sanitize.