Oh and the blueberry bush we planted last year has flowers this year! They are also really cute if you can see them in this picture.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Growing up so fast
What? How has everything already gotten so big?
We only planted about 2 weeks ago and the sprouts have already started. The potatoes are going strong, but everything else we planted has baby sprouts. They are so cute.
I guess the constant Nashville rain is helping.
Oh and the blueberry bush we planted last year has flowers this year! They are also really cute if you can see them in this picture.
Oh and the blueberry bush we planted last year has flowers this year! They are also really cute if you can see them in this picture.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
McKay's
Today started out as a reading/book store kind of day...rainy and cool and gross. It turned into a decent day, but I decided I would make a trip to McKay's. When Dad and I were hiking (pics to come soon) we were talking about great books and I decided I wanted to re-read a classic that I had enjoyed in high school. Which one?
Les Miserables. I thought about getting the unabridged version, but it is 1187 pages long. I am not usually one to turn something down based on length, but that is a bit much. And it may be abridged for a reason.
I picked up a few others...never read Prayer for Owen Meany so I thought I would give it a whirl and the book on the end was a last minute pick up...stories from several different children around the world, mainly Africa, and how their hope survives in the midst of tough situations (or so it says on the back cover). And yes, that is the Babysitter's Club. It is a gift, for my sister (who I don't think reads my blog, so the secret is safe). Adrienne picked one of these fine pieces of literature up for me a few weeks ago as a joke/gift...she never read them growing up but of course, I read almost all of them and had told her how wonderful they are (ha!). I actually did read the one she gave me and I will probably at least start this one to see if I remember the story. Best part is, they are selling them for only 35 cents down there...what? I know, don't everyone go and start a collection at once.
I picked up a few others...never read Prayer for Owen Meany so I thought I would give it a whirl and the book on the end was a last minute pick up...stories from several different children around the world, mainly Africa, and how their hope survives in the midst of tough situations (or so it says on the back cover). And yes, that is the Babysitter's Club. It is a gift, for my sister (who I don't think reads my blog, so the secret is safe). Adrienne picked one of these fine pieces of literature up for me a few weeks ago as a joke/gift...she never read them growing up but of course, I read almost all of them and had told her how wonderful they are (ha!). I actually did read the one she gave me and I will probably at least start this one to see if I remember the story. Best part is, they are selling them for only 35 cents down there...what? I know, don't everyone go and start a collection at once.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
Hope everyone had a happy Easter!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
My new friend
Here is my newest medicine friend:
It is called Humira and hopefully it is going to get my RA under control for me. It is essentially a Tumor Necrosis Factor blocker. What does that mean? Well, TNF is an inflammatory signal that helps mount an immune response in your body. In a normal person it helps fight an infection...to rally all the troops that need to come in and kill a bug. In my case it is running haywire and attacking the fluid around my joints. So this medicine will keep that TNF under control, thus hopefully stopping the joint attacking and the also the pain.
This medicine is called a biologic and there is a whole class like this. They are expensive because they are all injections and for whatever reason are expensive...I am not really sure I don't understand how insurance works, but I am thankful for it because it made this over $700 dollar medicine only $5. What?? I know, insane. Thankful that I don't have to pay a second mortgage for my monthly medicine. But how do people afford these things? Don't worry, I won't digress to health care issues.
My fun new medicine comes with this cool carrying case that you can fit an ice pack in as it is refrigerated. Woo! Got to get excited about something here when you are in the business of giving yourself shots.
Anyway, me and Humira have been friends for almost a month and hopefully it is starting to work its magic in there. Fingers crossed!
This medicine is called a biologic and there is a whole class like this. They are expensive because they are all injections and for whatever reason are expensive...I am not really sure I don't understand how insurance works, but I am thankful for it because it made this over $700 dollar medicine only $5. What?? I know, insane. Thankful that I don't have to pay a second mortgage for my monthly medicine. But how do people afford these things? Don't worry, I won't digress to health care issues.
My fun new medicine comes with this cool carrying case that you can fit an ice pack in as it is refrigerated. Woo! Got to get excited about something here when you are in the business of giving yourself shots.
Anyway, me and Humira have been friends for almost a month and hopefully it is starting to work its magic in there. Fingers crossed!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Palm Perspective
Sunday at church one of pastors preached about Palm Sunday. And I guess I have never really thought about it too much. Growing up this was just the day that somewhere during the service there were palm leaves waved.
But this week Russ walked us through all the events leading up to that day and eventually Easter. He brought a profound meaning to it for me: he said, Jesus is always doing more than you think. He knew so much more than all the people involved in the story and the details and how everything needed to happen at what time. All the people welcoming him with palm leaves wanted him to save them from the political situation of their time. And later in the week when he couldn't, they turned on him. The showy entrance Jesus made that day stirred up the people and as the people were believing and following, the priests and other authority figures were trying to figure out how to kill him. They were afraid of what he meant and how he would disrupt their world.
As I have been thinking about all this since then and reading more scripture about the week (or really mostly Sunday and today because the past 2 days at work I have mostly only thought about work and sleep) I have thought how much I am like all the people in the story. They are afraid and selfish and act out of those places...they want their situation to change or to follow the in person, or to kill him, or for their externals to be fixed, whatever it is, they are all acting out of fear and what they think they need. Fear and selfishness are the driving forces behind a lot of my thoughts and sadly actions.
But Jesus knew and was doing so much more than they thought or than I think. I like sitting in that hope.
But this week Russ walked us through all the events leading up to that day and eventually Easter. He brought a profound meaning to it for me: he said, Jesus is always doing more than you think. He knew so much more than all the people involved in the story and the details and how everything needed to happen at what time. All the people welcoming him with palm leaves wanted him to save them from the political situation of their time. And later in the week when he couldn't, they turned on him. The showy entrance Jesus made that day stirred up the people and as the people were believing and following, the priests and other authority figures were trying to figure out how to kill him. They were afraid of what he meant and how he would disrupt their world.
As I have been thinking about all this since then and reading more scripture about the week (or really mostly Sunday and today because the past 2 days at work I have mostly only thought about work and sleep) I have thought how much I am like all the people in the story. They are afraid and selfish and act out of those places...they want their situation to change or to follow the in person, or to kill him, or for their externals to be fixed, whatever it is, they are all acting out of fear and what they think they need. Fear and selfishness are the driving forces behind a lot of my thoughts and sadly actions.
But Jesus knew and was doing so much more than they thought or than I think. I like sitting in that hope.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Green Smoothie
I know I eat weird things and strange combos of foods. So I have decided to embrace it in a new way. I have tried to make green smoothies.
Mine did not look quite this green, mine have been more a purpl-ish color because I use strawberries too. However, they are pretty tasty, better than I thought they would be. And I (of all people) had my doubts.
I looked at a few recipes and websites before I journeyed down this trail and watched a video of some lady called the green smoothie lady make one. First of all, her blender has a horse power of 3. I am not sure my car has that much horse power, so it takes awhile to blend mine all up. But I think you can change it up and try different things in it and do less or more of the greens. But one of these guys is packed with most of the fruits and veggies you need for a day depending on what you put it with.
I have stuck with the basics: 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup water, 2 cups spinach, 1/2 banana. Not bad at all, but I plan on experimenting a little and perfecting it more. If you aren't a big fan or not sure about this, I would start with less spinach and more fruit and you can work your way up.
Yum!
I looked at a few recipes and websites before I journeyed down this trail and watched a video of some lady called the green smoothie lady make one. First of all, her blender has a horse power of 3. I am not sure my car has that much horse power, so it takes awhile to blend mine all up. But I think you can change it up and try different things in it and do less or more of the greens. But one of these guys is packed with most of the fruits and veggies you need for a day depending on what you put it with.
I have stuck with the basics: 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup water, 2 cups spinach, 1/2 banana. Not bad at all, but I plan on experimenting a little and perfecting it more. If you aren't a big fan or not sure about this, I would start with less spinach and more fruit and you can work your way up.
Yum!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Coming up
Dad and I will be returning to our hiking and camping together. In a few days we will be out on the trail and I can't wait! Hopefully the weather will hold for us. Today I got our specialty camping meal: rice sides with pasta and tuna. I can already taste how delicious it will be after a day of hiking!
Here we are a few years ago...that year it was really cold at night and in the morning.
Here we are a few years ago...that year it was really cold at night and in the morning.
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