Potluck Ponderings

Does anything ever really stay the same? Are we not in a state of perpetual change and growth? Hubby is preparing for his last day of work at the Plant...his last day of full time employment for as far as we can see down the path... He will register for spring semster of classes at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte soon...he will begin his part time job (with full time benefits!!) next week...what an amazing adventure this continues to be! I have detailed in my other blog all the ways that God has worked, the amazing tapestry that He has woven to assure us that this is His plan...we will look to those stones of remembrance when the way becomes rocky and the road is so very long... and so we go forward...at the very top of the roller coaster...too late to turn back now...with no control of our own...but only the faith God continues to grow in us...trusting and obeying...with hands high in the air screaming at the top of our lungs, knowing life will never be the same ag...

Nate and I wrapped presents this evening while at home alone. Joe went out in the world to do some secret shopping, Emily is having a sleepover tonight with ice skating tomorrow. I got a phone call from Bobo that Pappaw McNeil has passed away...he was in the hospital at Thanksgiving so it's not unexpected, but there is no way for me to get to TN for the funeral. Lots of things to be in prayer for there...safe travel for all the families...family dynamics...stress and grief always make tensions magnified. I had a longer than expected crazy day at work, but am very thankful Daddy has taken a few days off and is home with kiddos. He'd wanted to take kids shopping this morning but I had both booster seats for Nate. No family advent devotions tonight...I missed them, I've REALLY enjoyed the scripture reading, candle lighting and hymn singing that we've done consistently during this season. It really has helped me keep the focus where it should be this season.

Robert (Bob) Franklin McNeil, age 85, 200 Fagan Rd., Johnson City, passed away Monday, December 21, 2009 in Johnson City Medical Center Hospital following an extended illness. He was a native of Butler, TN and a son of the late Wesley and Mae White McNeil. Mr. McNeil was a member of the Cedar Grove Baptist Church and retired from Texas Instruments. He played in the semi-professional baseball leagues in Tennessee and South Carolina as a pitcher. Mr. McNeil was a member of the Unicoi Masonic Lodge # 681 F&AM and Jericho Shrine Temple. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers: Jessie McNeil and Paul McNeil. Mr. McNeil is survived by his wife Juanita Buchanan McNeil, three daughters and two sons-in-law: Marqita and Keith Tittle, Unicoi, TN, Letta McNeil, Elizabethton, Margaret and Harrison Bradley, Bristol, TN, three sons and daughters-in-law: Ricky and Vickie Buchanan, Unicoi, Steven and Betty McNeil, Butler, Spencer Jim and Becky McNeil, North, Virgi...

Nate's been facinated by our bones...wants to know if Bella (the dog) has a skeleton under her skin. We told him that she did. He's been feeling everyone's ribs. A few nights ago Daddy told him that I have a machine at my work that I use to look at people's skeletons. He thought that was pretty cool. Tonight...after sitting looking at the few presents under the tree...he came into the kitchen and asked, "Mommy...can you look at presents at your work and see what's in them?"

Nate's Christmas Program at Preschool:  Starring as a shephard ;)

Where did it go? It's truly a blur. Here's some of the things happening while I was obviously NOT blogging: Halloween: Supergirl & Spiderman, local community Halloween event then our usual trick or treating in the neighborhood. (I promise to post pictures as soon as I upload them) an A- accomplished by Hubby in Biblical Greek I a report card from the girl with all A's except a B in math. a Thanksgiving play by the Third graders, with very poor quality photos. Continued acclimation at my new job...my first 90 days of employment were fullfilled yesterday. Friday night small group--which has been awesome! Awesome people...awesome discussion...awesome topics. A wonderful Thanksgiving with a family meal at Granma's...and a visit from Bobo, Uncle Chris & Austin (and two puppies) for several days... Black Friday shopping with some of my favorite people...and success for a few items we were looking for...

These are in reverse order...too tired to fix it tonight! Nate opening presents Nate and His Buddy Ethan...preparing to protect & defend wassup ! the "magic" candles kept relighting...enough is enough! Blowing them out again! Ms. B delivered his cake and we got pics before friends arrived! This year she used a great recipe substituting bananas for the eggs... with a cream cheesy type of icing...yummy!! Another delectable morsel from " Deckerated Delights" I can hardly believe he's four...and seeming like such a little boy. No longer a baby, but a preschooler who seems to be soaking up the world. He makes my heart melt with his smile, skip and hop when he giggles...and something stirs in my soul when he talks about God's love, being a peacemaker instead of a troublemaker...and that soft words turn away wrath. When he belts out all the words to "We are the Body" or asks if he can pray and proceeds to say, "heavenly Father...thank you for...

it's been a week! Influenza Type A (yes, that would be the dreaded swine flu) invaded our home and reared it's ugly head first in the girl. I knew the jig was up when I arrived at church Sunday night for our new pastor's installation service. She had gone early with her Daddy for children's choir (all exposed by the way!) and stayed while he had to be there with the other elders for the commissioning service. When I got there...there she was, curled up soundly sleeping. She was cool to touch, but I probably checked her every five minutes during the service. I finally woke her up. She complained of a headache, barely ate any of the sweets at the dessert fellowship afterwards so I was NOT surprised when I went to tuck her in and she was burning up with a fever. She's better, her cough is still horrible. She was quite pitiful and spent 3 days in bed...I mean IN THE BED! Last count one half of her class has gotten it as well. She's got a pile of school work to catch...

He truly listens...he is rarely trying to form what he's going to say before you get finished talking. It causes his answers to come more slowly (which drives me crazy sometimes)--but he's truly being thoughtful about it. He loves me...unconditionally...and I'm really not sure why, cause really, I'm a mess... He doesn't mind when our house is a wreck and could care less if I ever dusted. He rarely complains about the "little stuff" He says Thank you...for all the things I really don't think he notices He works hard and rarely reminds us of it... He laughs...alot...and it always makes my heart smile... He's smart--really smart, a Master's in Mechanical Engineering w/Professional Engineering License...and it all came relatively easy from the studying I saw...he's a good "engi-nerd" He can fix anything...really! Even if it's complicated...if there is a maintenance book/repair manual...he will read it and figure out the right way ...

Looks like a great way to organize meals to bless others: Linked to this: http://www.foodtidings.com/ From here http://www.blogher.com/groups-forums/juice-tropicana-trop50/bless-others-food And will be investigating this more....

The end of my fourth week of work...feeling comfortable, like I'm getting the hang of the routine...remembering what I used to know without even having to think...IV sticks...weinkebach...12-lead EKGs ...ace inhibitors...beta blockers...statins...calcium channel blockers...nitrates...it's all coming back to me. The Girl learned an important thing this week...not a good idea to gesture or point with the middle finger... uugghh ! And about another hand gesture that led her to ask the question, "what does gay mean"...still waiting for some wisdom to answer that last one... Hubs has all kinds of Greek stuff lying around---and I think it's starting to really make sense to him! He made a 94 on his first exam, has to take his second one this week I think. Two shots and a prednisone dose pack and my rash is much less itchy (but still present)...weird, still don't know what caused it. Homesick for the mountains and the people we love there...melancholy and wanting to...

You really can't make some of this childhood stuff up. Nate wants to be the " cuba -diver like on Memo" when he grows up, he wants a new snorkeler and a breathing tank for his back. In the meantime, he's making due with the equipment he has on hand. Today he put scotch tape on the eyes so they look dark like the guy on Memo.

at my new job and I got to do some clinical stuff...started an IV, gave some drugs...seems like a long time since I've been in this saddle, but it's all coming back to me. I distracted the patient as I started my first IV in about 3-1/2 years...hard stick, first try...pay dirt. I used to be "good" at starting IV's but was worried it would take me a while to get that skill back... Everyone at The Clinic is nice, seems to appreciate that I'm there--which is always good. Nursing, has always been a good security blanket for me...a job that I've mostly loved and has been easily accessible. Time to go...more later ;)

at my new job was spent doing computer training. The lady and I got a kick out of each other...and went down a few bunny trails. One of which included talking about the good 'ole days of nursing...back when we charted on paper...wore white starched uniforms...support hose and nurse mate shoes and some of us (me at my very first job) wore nursing caps...and even the not-so-long-ago time when we wore color coordinated scrubs for each floor. This stemmed somehow from a conversation about when we each got the Hepatitis B vaccine and trying to remember when it came out. I am sure that I received my first series in 1992...shortly after the vaccine was approved for health care workers. Followed by a titer that was positive. I remember vividly my very first orientation at my very first health care job. It was a small 100 bed hospital...I worked on 600 Hall, where the surgical patients were, as a unit secretary during the 3p-11p shift on Friday. Saturday and Sunday I often worked 7am to 7pm...

Anxiety...worry...stress...security...changes...have been driving me to my knees and to the Word for the past few months. These verses in Matthew have been a source of comfort and conviction...one of the few sermons that Joe has prepared and delivered over the years came from these verses. How appropriate on the day before reality truly strikes my heart--in the form of beginning working again outside our home...that the sermon was on these verses...and not being "anxious about anything". One of the meditation quotes that I will continue to ponder, I wanted to share: Anxiety is a sin also because it is a lack of acceptance of God's providence in our lives. God's providence may be simply defined as God's orchestrating all circumstances and events in His universe for His glory and the good of His people. Some believers have difficulty accepting the fact that God does in fact orchestrate all events and circumstances, and even those of us who do believe it often lose s...

Frances A. HarkessFrances Atkins Harkess , of Aberdeen, formerly of Albany, N.Y., went home to be with her Lord Tuesday morning, Aug. 25, 2009. She is survived by her husband, Harold Harkess , of Aberdeen; son, Robert Frost, of Southern Pines; daughters, Diana Frost, of Cross River, N.Y. and Catherine Bogin , of Brooklyn, N.Y.; cousin, Betty Jo Johnson, of Martinsville , Va.; four grandsons, two granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren. Frances Atkins was born April 2, 1931, in Martinsville , Va., the daughter of Robert Greene Atkins and Nettie Noel Atkins. Frances and Harold Harkess were married for 36 years. They made their home in Albany, N.Y., until August 2006 when they relocated to Aberdeen. They built a new home in Forest Hills, Aberdeen, in 2008. Frances was a member of Alpha Omicron Fraternity (sorority) and had served as a chapter adviser to the chapter at the University at Albany (Albany, N.Y.) for several years prior to moving to Aberdeen. She had been a child protect...

All ready to go Getting ready to get in the car... didn't ride the bus the first day! Teacher's assistant Delightful Daughter at her desk Teacher... Delightful daughter putting away supplies

There is a rumor in the internet world that Harris Teeter will be doing super double coupons in just another week...possible??? I'll be saving up my coupons over here!

will always be my momma's birthday, though she's not been here to celebrate the last 18. She was a few weeks shy of her 65 th birthday when she died. I have now officially lived with sweetie pie as long as I was in momma's house. (19 years of marriage in January ---I went to live with momma when I was 2, got married when I was 20...). The reality of that amazes me. I continue to talk to my children about her as if they knew her too...they didn't. Sometimes I suspect they think I'm making her up. Sometimes, I wonder if I am too... She's missed a good bit of my life...I think the most important parts. The milestones, the things she would have been proud of...the becoming of who I think she hoped I would become. I know she would have been full of advice (much of which I wouldn't have wanted to heed and I would have had to concentrate hard not to roll my eyes), been a loving Granny to my children(even though she wasn't always able to be to me...she was so...

Nate and Bella are hilarious sometimes. Nate plays with her like he's a dog and she plays with him like he's really a puppy. She nips and tugs and plays...but never hurts him, it is amazing. Nate gets down, nuzzles her, bites her etc. It really is funny...

and I'm getting weary of this routine. I couldn't even get on blogspot from the dinosaurus desktop. So, I'll be busy uploading blog posts previously written. By the way, the lawn mower, the Cuisinart coffee pot and the cell phone have been on the fritz as well over the past few weeks--perhaps there is a bigger more sinister issue at large, perhaps we're being overtaken by some sort of strange magnetic field that is affecting all our stuff....

while BB went to school...DD and I had a date in Down Town SouthernPines...we went window shopping and then had hot chocolate and coffee...chatted, laughed and just enjoyed Boy Free Time!

Ready for school...been ready for 2 hours ;)

In Loving Memory Irene Frances DeMoss "Aunt Irene" 5/24/1926 -8/2/2009 Irene Frances DeMoss, 83, a 40-year resident of the county died on August 2, 2009 in Loma Linda, California. She served the area over 20 years as a real estate broker and professional, including ownership of DeMoss Real Estate with her husband following his retirement from military service at Norton AFB. As a devoted wife of a 25-year career USAF officer and a loving mother of two sons, she willingly traveled throughout the U.S. and Asia; and in each place, she provided a godly and hospitable home environment for her family and countless visitors. She was a wonderful cook, combining country-cooking learned while growing to adulthood in West Virginia with Asian dishes she learned while attending cooking school in Tokyo. Her passion for teaching the Bible to adults and children over many years provides her a spiritual legacy that will long survive her departure for Heaven. She was a long-time, active memb...

The Recipe: BBQ Beans & Smoked Sausage The Results

Wish I'd gone on to Sanford for our Walmarting---they're remodeling and ours is a mess right now!! I got what I needed though---and will now make a menu based on what's in my pantry & freezer and stopped at SCCC for farmer's market stuff & spent the 10-ish dollars in my wallet for 2 lbs of roma tomatoes to make salsa...green beans...and a watermelon...and some red & orange tomatoes for salads and wraps. I'm gonna make a bean and polish sausage crock pot meal one day this week... Our very first trip to the orthodontist was today. The first opinion is that Emily has impounded teeth (not the right word--impacted teeth) that aren't going to be able to come in if we don't make some room---also has a cross bite in the back which will mean when those molars fall out/if they fall out---those could also be impacted too. Apparently impacted teeth will grow in horizontal or destroy the roots of the teeth next to them---and permanet teeth could be lost or de...

Birthday dinners for family (auntie J celebrating a 40-something birthday) Having great long-time friends over for a great visit and dinner--and kids who let us have meaningful conversation. A visit with my hair chick...long overdue! Camelot park! With friends! Kids who love to run and play...and get real sweaty... A new baby safely delivered into the world...welcome Zachary Savage Wilson! Baby Samuel Harrison Arnold...who is no longer a baby and today we celebrate your five years of life...sharing with us a different perspective on hope, living, and joy. May we continue to learn so much more from your presence in our lives than we could ever hope to teach you. So many opportunities to meet and spend time with our new pastor and his family...worn out from all the activities, but an awesome glimpse of God's glory...and timing...and grace...and mercy... Bible studies...and being real with some neat ladies!

passed in a frenzied blur...did I mention that Emo attended an evening VBS with a neighbor, who also attended our VBS ? This resulted into kids taxied back and forth between the two families, meals eaten quickly...a sleep-over...tired kids...and lots of VBS crafts (what do you do with those??) Add in a Nate- ster who was not feeling well, very clingy and had to be carted to the pediatricians office a few times this week...then as thrilling as it is that our Pastoral search committee is on the home stretch with their work, that results were a harried me (read: not at my best to meet and impress new people...this is all about me, right??) involved in lots of meet-n-greet festivities with our pastoral candidate and his lovely family. Oh, there is all the husband-turned-seminary-student-drama at our house. The result is one "me" with her head screwed on crooked!! I know you're probably getting tired of hearing how busy things are around here, but quite honestly, that ju...

120+ kids and bathroom facilities that went out about mid-morning ;) Check out details here . There's an excitement in the air and even w/the broken potties things are going quite smoothly. I'm working in the kitchen with great funny women...they just make me laugh and I quite enjoy hanging out with them. Nate's a little better...maybe...poor guy has an infection and cruddy lungs on top of the croup. We ate dinner outside tonight...with music from our neighbor and his bluegrass band filling the cooler night air, they finished w/Rocky Top to our delight (okay, maybe just my delight--I clapped and woohoo'd and Joe was worried the police would be showing up). Picked two Roma Tomatoes and 2 cucumbers from my "garden"...made a great salad to go with our grilled chicken tonight!

~I finished up treatments yesterday and had the PICC line removed without any complications !! What a blessing! It's the end of a long and a eventful week. ~Nate had to go to the doctor yesterday for croup...yuck, he still sounds horrible. ~ I finished a lot of paperwork today... ~spent a few hours today just getting started on the house (yes...a few hours...yes started) ~ VBS next week, WOOHOO ! ~Lots of reading for pleasure this week, finished a Beverly Lewis series (makes me want to quilt and can) and started a new one... Yada Yada Prayer Group, looked fun! ~Nate & Emo spent a good bit of the day playing with a big box they turned into a rocket, a remote control for a car (steering for the rocket), and an aluminum foil/duct tape/box space helmet ...complete with sound effects and a great outer space adventure! all for now...

and three more Venofer infusions more to go! All the things I worried about the most - who was going to take care of the kids-- has gone so smooth. I'm so thankful. Today, while I was at the Outpatient Oncology Clinic where I get the infusion, sitting in a comfy recliner...with a warm blanket fresh from the blanket warmer...getting hooked up...I looked around. I remember last time, two years ago, feeling humbled by the circumstances of the lives that surrounded me as most of the patients there are in the midst of battle...not just for more energy or to feel better...but the battle for life. Most of the patients are receiving Chemotherapy. Yesterday, one such couple came in...she armed with notes, bottles of medications, questions about how to get nourishment in him, tricks to try to get rid of GI disturbances...I overheard her tell their nurse, "He's what I do now...". He sat in the chair, cracked jokes and the only time he even grimaced slightly was while getting his...

Well, it's Monday...what a wonderful weekend we had!!! Friday, Sweet Hubby got home from Due West earlier than expected. He finished up his class work, talked to the professor for an hour and then hit the road. He beat us home since we did some late/after nap errands, thinking he wouldn't be home until way after the kids bedtimes! What a great surprise he was home when we got there! I came home from Wally world with new deck furniture that I've been watching like a hawk. The price dropping was occurring as they were beginning to put stuff on summer clearance...and it finally hit my target price! Just in time for a hot dog roast Saturday night. We did spend all our quality time Friday evening, talking theology, pondering what God is doing in our lives (I swear, I think my head is literally spinning), & sharing all the funny things the kids have done this week, while putting in screws and washers...re-reading directions...and fighting with that little hex thing they give...

warning...this post is unfinished, I will be completing and adding the rest of our pictures... Saturday June 13 th : Arrived! After over 12 hrs in travel time, due being delayed by a thunderstorm we finally got there about 7 o'clock. Late check in. Had dinner at the All star Movies cafe and played in the Mighty Ducks pool. When we walked to our room, Nate saw the three story white duck hockey mask and asked if it was cheese (it did look like Swiss cheese)...and proceeded to identify our particular part of the hotel (there were two entrances w/hockey masks) by saying, "is that our cheese?" the rest of the week. Sunday June 14 th : Breakfast at Cinderella Castle at 9:45!!! Arrived by bus from our hotel in plenty of time to see the show and see the characters arrive (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, Daisy!!!) via steam engine. Immediately felt like we'd arrive in an alternate universe where everyone was happy and "having a magical ...