"The Warrior is a Child"

Several years ago, when I used to sing specials in church, this was one song I tried to sing a lot. I say "tried", because I rarely made it through without crying. I always choked up at the same place.

"People say that I'm amazing, never face retreat
But they don't see the enemies that lay me at His feet"

Can I get an "amen"? The words to this song are so moving, I don't know how Twyla Paris got through it every time she sang it. Very beautifully too, I might add. :-)

This afternoon I heard this song on the radio. I hadn't heard it in so long, and the second it came on I immediately knew what it was. I turned it up and began to sing. I remembered ALL the words, and then the part came. And I choked up. Praise God. :-)

So, I decided that since I probably won't be posting for a week I would leave y'all with this video. I pray that it blesses you as much as it blesses me. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Can we say, "Overload?"

I seriously think that my brain is going to explode, y'all. Is anyone else so tired of hearing the words "bail out", "Presidential election".... that they could just scream?

I mean, I KNOW that it is important. I know this is a critical time in our country, and history is literally being made, but at the risk of sounding cynical, I just don't know how much more I can take.

We leave for vacation in 2 days, and it is starting to feel more stressful than relaxing. SO, I have vowed that for the next week I will do all I can to avoid the news, debates, magazines, etc. that have anything to do with the previously mentioned words or phrases, or anything even closely related.

I will record the Vice-Presidential debates and watch them next week. But, beginning on Wednesday there will be nothing but relaxing, learning, and enjoying my family. That's it. It may not be responsible, but believe me it is NECESSARY!!!

Love,
Wendy Darling

Recipe Swap Friday...


Today is Friday, and that means it's time to post a recipe. I had several I wanted to post, but I decided to go with this one. Some parts of the country are starting to experience the cooler weather of fall. Not neccesarily here in east Texas, but some places in the country. ;-) Cooler weather means it's time to make SOUP. So, I'm posting my recipe for home made vegetable soup. You'll need a BIG pot. You can change the amount of any of the veggies, or omit/add if what you like. These are just the ones I prefer to use. I have used others things as well if I had them on hand. Enjoy! :-)

Homemade Vegetable Soup

2 cups of frozen corn
2 cups of frozen peas
2 cups of frozen green beans
2 cups of fresh baby carrots (those tiny ones you can buy in the little packages. OR, you can just use the big ones and cut them into coins. Just try to make sure they are about the same size.)
1 large onion, diced small
1 cup of chopped, fresh celery (or more if you like.)
2 cloves of garlic, diced tiny (or you can use the jar stuff already diced for you)
3 cans of tomato sauce
3 cans of stewed tomatoes (obviously if you can your own you can use those, and it would probably be better)
at least 2 cartons of vegetable broth, or more if you like your soup with more juice. You can also add some water here if you don't want to use so much vegetable broth. I use the sodium free/organic broth)
1/2 tsp thyme, fresh or ground
1/2 tsp rosemary fresh or ground
2 bay leaves, whole
salt and pepper to taste. I use a lot of fresh ground pepper.

Put everything into a big old pot and heat on low to low-medium heat for several hours. I usually get mine started about 8 am and just let it go until 4:00 pm or so. :-) Be sure to stir and taste every once in awhile. Remove the bay leaves and serve with fresh bread, cornbread or crackers. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers. It's even better the next day. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

It's the big 4-0...

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I turned 40 years old today. :-) So, I decided to do one of those lists about myself. Of course there are 40 things, but it is more of a "Hodge Podge" about me. Not one specific theme. Some of you may already know, some you may not. Hope you enjoy it. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

1. Sometimes, I really do want to be a kid again.

2. Everything I REALLY needed to know I learned from Sunday School, and Mr. Rogers

3. I like blogging.

4. I can be in a leadership position, and be successful.

5. I love Beth Moore Bible Studies.

6. I know WAY TOO MUCH TV trivia from the '70s and '80s.

7. Despite the horror of the pixies, Tenilles, and Dorothy Hamill haircuts of my childhood, I like having short hair. :-)

8. Fireworks on the 4th of July still rock!!

9. Christmas music sounds just as wonderful in July as it does in December.

10. OK, I like the Jo Bros.

11. I do like the soundtrack from Hairspray

12. I enjoy going to the gym and working out. (We have started back.)

13. "The Family Circus" is still the best comic strip ever written.

14. My favorite candy bar is Milky Way.

15. I also like Skittles.

16. My eyes are hazel.

17. I am a "big, beautiful woman."

18. I like to watch the Food Network.

19. Ace of Cakes rocks.

20. I enjoy homeschooling.

21. My favorite book in high school was "To Kill a Mockingbird."

22. The first book to ever make me cry was "The Outsiders."

23. My favorite movie soundtrack is "American Graffiti."

24. My favorite holiday is Christmas.

25. My favorite colors are different shades of pink and purple, but not together. ;-)

26. I love to bake.

27. I learned Power Point this year.

28. I get to meet Eric Dodge and FlyLady while I'm on vacation!!!! :-)

29. I would really like to learn more about photography, perhaps as a profession.

30. I like 4-H, and wish I had participated when I was younger.

31. I would like to learn to play the piano.

32. I still would like to have my children's books published.

33. I like to do one stroke painting like Donna Dewberry.

34. The first dance I ever learned was "The Stroll."

35. I was in college before I went on my first date, and now I do not date by choice.

36. My favorite subject in high school was home making.

37. My favorite subject in college/now is history.

38. My favorite hymn is "Blessed Assurance."

39. I like classical music.

40. I still do not know what I want to be when I grow up.

Back to our regularly scheduled program...

It's been a nice break, but I'm ready to get back to our normal routines. :-) I haven't posted in exactly one week, and as you can see I missed the Recipe Swap today. I'll post one next week though. I'm already looking for it. :-)

"Little Mark" went to stay in Dallas when Gustav was supposed to come this way. We got a little rain, but that was about it. Then, just before it was time to go and bring him home Hurricane Ike decided to make an appearance. And what an appearance he made!!

We got quite a bit of wind and rain here. We actually only lost a lot of branches and such, and 2 wooden post off our fence, but nothing major. We did lose power, but only for a few hours. Just a few blocks away people had trees uprooted, and tossed on their houses. Some people were without power for 3-4 days. So, we are not complaining at all. We realize how blessed we were. I actually do have pictures, but I will have to post them another time.

So, "Little Mark" and the younger nephew will be coming home tomorrow. School will resume as normal on Monday, and 4-H will be back in full swing as well. ;-)

Then, we leave for VACATION!!! :-) OK, so we are only going to Dallas, but it is still vacation. ;-) We have lots of things planned; the "King Tut" exhibit among them. :-) I am very excited. :-)

I am EXTREMELY excited, because on Saturday I will be attending FlyFest, and I will get to meet FlyLady, Marla, in person as well as Eric Dodge! :-) I'm so excited I could just scream. ;-) But, the rest of the family is in bed, so that would be very wise to do right now. ;-)

I have had a nice "break", but I got very little accomplished. I did get everything "up and running" for 4-H, and lesson plans are made for the next week or so, and vacation plans are made. I did rest, as well as fight allergies for several days. It's funny, but it seems that I get more done when I am super busy than when I have LOTS of "free" time. ;-) I guess it is the adrenaline rush. :-)

I am excited about next week, because the nephews and I are going to make our own chewing gum. Has anyone used the chewing gum kit? I can't wait to try it. It really looks like it will be fun, and neat learning experience. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

The Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap



With all of the hype about "Ike" I forgot to post a recipe today. So, I ran through my cookbooks and found a quick, easy one for you. ;-) I made this one not too long ago for a meeting I had to attend. Everyone really liked it. I hope you enjoy it. :-)

Roasted Red pepper Dip

8 oz Sour Cream
7 oz jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
4 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 t chopped fresh or frozen chives

Blend sour cream, peppers, cream cheese and chopped chives in electric blender or food processor until well mixed. Refrigerate until serving time. Serve with crackers.

Makes 2 cups.

Love,
Wendy Darling

"Ike, the 'Cone of Uncertainty' and coughing"

How is that for a title? Yes, here in East Texas we are preparing to get a lot of rain from Ike. IF the "Cone of Uncertainty" is correct. I like what Big Mama had to say about that today. We are prepared, but NOT panicked, for the storm. We have water, non perishable food, batteries, etc; but after seeing Big Mama's picture of her supplies I realize I need to go back and buy M&Ms and Skittles.

But, instead of enjoying the "Hurricane Hoopla" I am trying to hack up a lung. Seems all of the rain we have had lately is REALLY wreaking havoc with my sinuses/allergies. Come to think of it, I may need to go back to the store and stock up on decongestant. That would be bad to run out of this weekend.

In all seriousness, we are praying for everyone on the coast and in the path of Ike. I wanted to share with you this "Plan of Preparedness" that I got from Fly Lady. It won't help those in Harris County who are being forced to leave NOW, but those it MIGHT come to still have time. As a matter of fact, we actually did all of this to prepare for Gustav, and since he changed direction we were not affected, but we are still packed and prepared. ;-)

FlyLady's 11 Points to Preparedness for Evacuation

"We can FLY in the face of Danger and Emergency if we are prepared. Don't wait till you are being asked to evacuate. Everyone thinks that it could not happen to them. Well it could and it is up to you to make sure you are prepared. Don't wait! DO IT NOW!!" -- FlyLady

1. PEOPLE: Have a plan for getting out of the house and make sure everyone knows it. Have an emergency bag of food and water for your family. Include wholesome snacks and treats for the children: dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, crackers and granola bars.
   
   
2. PETS: Keep pet carriers and leashes readily available to lead pets to safety. Also take pet food with you.
   
   
3. PICTURES: Keep negatives or CDs of pictures in a lock box or at a family member's home. Have picture albums in one place ready to grab and go at a moments notice.
   
   
4. PAPERS: Have all your important papers in a lock box at a bank and only keep copies at the house. This keeps you from panicking. If you have them at home then put them in a folder that you can easily grab if you have to move fast. Color code it so you can find it!
   
   
5. PRESCRIPTIONS: Take your medications with you. Don't forget the ones that have to be refrigerated like insulin. Have small ice chest and cold packs readily accessible to pack and go. If you have babies; remember their formula or medications.
   
   
6. PURSES and PETROL: This is where you keep your identification, credit cards and cash. Keep a stash of cash for emergencies and grab it. You may not be able to use an ATM in the event of a power outage. Make sure your car always has a half a tank of gas.
   
   
7. PROPER CLOTHES and COMFORT ITEMS: According to the weather conditions; gather up a change of clothes along with outer clothing: coats, rain gear, boots, gloves and hats. If you have babies remember diapers. Remember to grab your children's favorite blanket, stuffed animal or toy. A game or a deck of cards could keep them occupied and calm too.
   
   
8. PLANNER/CALENDAR/CONTROL JOURNAL: These documents have all the information you will need from phone numbers, insurance numbers and important dates. They are small and filled with things you don't have to try to remember.
   
   
9. PERSONAL PROTECTION: Many of us still have that time of the month. Be sure and grab a box of your preferred protection. It may be hard to find if you have been evacuated. Stress can cause our bodies to do strange things too. So be prepared. Take medication for cramps too.
   
   
10. PHONES and RADIOS: Many of us have cell phones now. Always keep them charged up and have a charger in the car or an extra battery. They may not work in the event of power outages, but then they might. Know which local radio station has emergency bulletins. Keep your battery powered radio tuned to that local station and have plenty of batteries for it.
    
    
11. PATIENCE: This is one of the most important things to pack. Keep it inside of you so that you have a clear calm head. Having your P's to Preparedness list guiding you will keep you patient. In the event of an evacuation there will be lots of displaced people. Being patient will make things less stressful. Your children need to see you calm and collected. This will help keep them calm too.
    

An amazing woman...

I promise that I am not going to turn this blog into just posts with videos. :-) However, I began a new Bible study tonight, "Walk By Faith," and this woman is so amazing that I wanted to share her with you. If you have never heard of Jennifer Rothschild, then you need to get acquainted with her and her story. The following is taken directly from her website:

"For Jennifer Rothschild, these words are much more than the lyrics from a familiar hymn; they represent a foundation upon which many life lessons have been learned…in the dark

At the young age of fifteen, Jennifer was diagnosed with a rare, degenerative eye disease that would eventually steal her sight. It was more than a turning point for the Miami, Fl, native. Her dreams of becoming a commercial artist and cartoonist faded. Words and music have replaced her canvas and palette for more than 25 years.

Known for her substance, and a down-to-earth style, Jennifer weaves together colorful illustrations, universal principles, and music to help audiences find contentment, walk with endurance, and celebrate the ordinary. Through her signature wit and poignant story-telling, audiences are prompted to look beyond their circumstances to find unique “gifts,” in unusual packaging."

Of course, me being me I wanted to share videos of her with you. I found two that I really wanted to share, so I am posting both. They are not long, and believe you will truly be blessed after seeing them.

"No Limbs, No Limits"

This young man is simply amazing!! Take the time to watch it, and you will be truly blessed.



Love,
Wendy Darling

Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap





It's Friday, and that means it's time to post another recipe. :-) Once you read this one head on over to Gayle's to see some more wonderful recipes. :-)

Are there times when you just sit around and think about the food you ate when you were little? The stuff that people ALWAYS brought to family parties and holiday meals? Surely, it's not just me. ;-) I was actually doing that just the other day. Our family had "staples" at most parties. The things you could always count on being there. Like Nana's fudge, or chocolate pie. One of the things my Mom always brought was "Cottage Cheese Delight."

Now, don't scrunch up your nose and say "Ewww, cottage cheese..." This is not the typical cottage cheese. This stuff ROCKS! And I have been craving it for days. :-) So, just give it try, and I am betting you will like it. :-)

Cottage Cheese Delight

1 carton of small curd cottage cheese
1 large box of Jell-O (any flavor)
1 can crushed pineapple (about 15 oz)
1 carton of Cool Whip

Melt the Jell-O and pineapple in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Pour in the cottage cheese and whipped topping. Mix together well and pour into a 9 X 13 dish. Chill for 1-2 hours.

This can be made low fat, or fat free just by using the LF or FF cottage cheese and Cool Whip. Also use the sugar free Jell-O. See? It's healthy. :-) Another fun thing is to use the use a color of Jell-O to co-ordinate with your holiday. For instance, use the lime or strawberry/cherry for Christmas. Or Orange for Halloween. It's fun, and even the kids can make it! :-)

If you try it, let me know what you think. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Fireproof!!! :-)


I have been waiting for months for "Fireproof" to be released. ONE theater near me will be showing it, and I would love to be there opening night. :-) Here is what IMDB has to say:

Lt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. Inside burning buildings, it's his natural instinct. In the cooling embers of his marriage, it's another story.

After a decade of marriage, Caleb and Catherine Holt have drifted so far apart that they are ready to move on without each other. Yet as they prepare to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's dad asks his son to try an experiment: The Love Dare.

While hoping The Love Dare has nothing to do with his parents' newfound faith, Caleb commits to the challenge. But can he attempt to love his wife while avoiding God's love for him? Will he be able to demonstrate love over and over again to a person that's no longer receptive to his love? Or is this just another marriage destined to go up in smoke?

It is made by the same people who did "Fly Wheel" and "Facing the Giants." Both were fantastic movies, so I am really looking forward to this one. :-) Also, I really enjoyed Kirk Cameron's acting in the "Left Behind" movies, so I am sure his performance here will not disappoint.

The release date is September 26th. Perhaps this could be a "birthday present" to myself. ;-)
Is anyone else planning to see this movie?

Love,
Wendy Darling

She has spunk!!!

I like her. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Music Meme:

I stole this one from Cleggy. :-)

1. List 10 musical artists you like, in no specific order (do this before reading the questions below). (Only 10?) :-(
   
   1.George Strait
   2. Eric Dodge
   3. Rosemary Clooney
   4. Casting Crowns
   5. The Temptations (The ORIGINAL)
   6. The Carpenters
   7. Michael W. Smith
   8. Harry Connick Jr.
   9.Mandissa
   10. The Jonas Brothers (okay, I admit it... their good. Don't tell the nephew)
   
   
2. What was the first song you ever heard by 6?
   
   Oh goodness, I don't remember... I want to say we sang "Sing a Song" in elementary school, but I didn't know they sang it. I also learned "On Top of the World" at church (changed a few lyrics), but again, I didn't know it was a Carpenters' song.
   
   
3. What is your favorite song of 2?
   
   OH DON'T DO THAT TO ME!!! I love a lot of Eric's songs. Oh man, if I HAD to pick just one.... "That's Who I Wanna Be". NO, "Why Not Today." NO, "The Dash".... Can I just say, "Grab both CDs and point to one?" :-)
   

4. What is your favorite lyric by #5?

I really like most of the songs by The Temptations, but I really like "Just My Imagination". The reason why I love this part of it, is because of the way Paul sings it. He puts so much passion into it, and if we are honest we would all admit that we have felt this way about a guy/girl at least once in our life. Right? :-)

Every night, on my knees I pray,
"Dear Lord, hear my plea...
don't ever let another take her love from me
or I will surely die.."
Ooh, her love is heavenly;
when her arms enfold me,
I hear a tender rhapsody...
but in reality, she doesn't even know me

Just my imagination -- once again --
running away with me.
It was just my imagination
running away with me.
I never met her, but I can't forget her.
Just my imagination..
-- ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah --
running away with me

5. How many times have you seen 4 live?

Just once, but I would love to see them again. That was just one huge worship service!! It was awesome!

6. What is your favorite song by 7?

Oh, that's another hard one. I really like most of his songs, but I have always liked "Picture Perfect."

7. Is there any song by 3 that makes you sad?

"County Your Blessings" always makes me cry. It depends on the mood or circumstance if they are happy or sad tears. It is just a very moving song if you really think about it.

8. What is your favorite lyric of number 2?

Man! You're doing it to me, again!! Okay, I'm going to say these from "The Dash."

Someday they're going to carve two dates beneath my name in stone,
One for when I first arrived, one for when I say, "Goodbye".
I can't change when I got here, or when I'm going home
But there's still a little time in the middle that's mine, all mine

The dash between the dates the gift we've all been given.
That little line that takes us from the cradle up to heaven.
You're born and then you die.
Life goes by so fast, and it's all riding on the dash...

9. What is your favorite song by #9?

This is a tough one too, but I am going to have to say "Shackles." Mandissa can flat out SANG that song!

10. When did you first get into #1?

The first time I heard him sing "Amarillo By Morning." It was on the Country Music Awards in the early 80s, and he was so cute, and did a wonderful job. He is still very good looking, and the man can SING! And do I really need to mention "Pure Country?" Hello????

11. How did you get into #3?

I have always like the Standards, but I guess I really got into her after seeing "White Christmas." I just love her voice. :-)

12. What is your favorite song by #4?

OOOHHH, that is a hard one!!! Umm..... if I HAD to choose, "East from the West", from the "Altar and the Door" album. Although every one of their songs are amazing.

13. How many times have you seen 9 in concert?

None, but I would LOVE to. Especially if it was joined by a Beth Moore Seminar! :-)

14. What is a good memory concerning #4?

The concert that the nephew and I attended together. I worked getting the dressing rooms ready to get free tickets, and just being able to share that with him was awesome. And, of course the concert/worship was amazing. The night was a lot of fun, and I got a lot of joy from sharing it with him.

15. Is there a song by 10 that makes you sad?

No. Not sad.

16. What is your favorite song of #1?

Oh. My. Goodness. I have no idea how to narrow that one down. Ugh.... how do you choose a FAVORITE George Strait song?!..... I can't do it.... I'm sorry.

17. How did you become a fan of #10?

The nephew playing them ALL THE TIME wore me down. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

I'm resorting to a Meme...

No, I have not been playing the highly addictive game "hammer head" so much that I haven't been posting. :-) I've been TEACHING. "Little Mark" and I have made this "crunch week" to finish our last 2 subjects so that we can begin 6th grade next week. :-) We are almost finished, praise the Lord! :-)

So, while I am waiting on him to finish an assignment I thought I would do a meme, so you would at least know I am still around. :-) I stole this one from Kwizgiver. :-)

Random Meme...

What’s the greatest thing that happened to you today?
I got up and did my Beth Moore Bible Study.

How many TRUE best friends do you have?
I have several.

Would you rather get up early or sleep in?
Get up early.

Tell me about the shirt you’re wearing?
Short sleeve, red, t-shirt

What are you excited about right now?
That we are ALMOST finished with our curriculum, AND that I found the Language Arts curriculum we need, and I get it on SATURDAY.

Would you rather smile over a lie or cry over the truth?
I think the truth is always better

What’s on your bedroom floor right now?
There are a few boxes under the bed

Who’s the last person you got into a argument with?
"Little Mark"

Do you trust people?
Most of the time.

If you could move away, no questions asked, where would you move?
The country.

Your favorite number?
7.

Could you go a day without eating?
I have, several times

How much do looks matter to you in a guy/girl?
Integrity and character are more important

Do you like anybody right now?
Not romantically, no

When was the last time you had your hair cut?
three weeks or so ago

Would you rather be mad or sad?
Mad at least shows passion, and then I get over it

Does it take a lot to make you cry?
Yes.

What's the best feeling in the world?
Love and happiness.

Are you close with your mom?
Pretty close

Are your parents strict?
I thought they were growing up, but I find that I am more strict than they were

Do you tell your parents everything?
No.

Name some fears you have:
Being homeless, the rest I don't eve want to think about. It's all in God's hands.

Does the thought of marriage scare you?
No.

How many kids do you want?
none of my own.

What’s your favorite season?
autumn.

What’s your favorite color to wear?
Pink and purple, but not together :-) .

Who was the last person in your bedroom?
My mom

What are you doing today?
School and church.

Do you get bored easily?
Not really. I don't have time to be bored.

What’s something that someone can do that really bothers you?
lie, disrespect, be negative most of the time.

Did you ever want to change your name when you were younger?
Yes.

Do you wish you were famous?
No not really.

Do you make a wish at 11:11?
No

When you go to the beach do you swim or lay out more?
I haven't been to the beach since I was a child, and I swam most of the time.

Who’s the last text message you received from and what did it say?
It was from Terry, and I don't remember the message.

What are you freakishly obsessed with?
I can't think of anything.

What’s your favorite song at the moment?
"Every Head Bowed, Every Eye Closed" by Randy Travis.

Do you like going to the mall to shop or just shopping online?
I really like both.

Can music affect your mood?
Definitely

What piercings do you want?
Just my ears, but I haven't worn earrings in so long I am pretty sure they are closed up.

Have you ever been in a cave?
yes, it was cool

Ever eaten a bug?
No

Are you in a good mood?
Yes :-) .

Would you rather skydive or bungee jump?
Uh... that would be a neither.

Do you like snakes?
No.

What’s one place you would like to visit?
New England.

Do you like waffles?
Occassionally

Does the number 23 have any significance to you?
Yes

Be honest, do you like people in general?
Yeah.

What color are the walls in your bedroom?
Light Purple.

Do you think starbucks is expensive?
Yes.

Are you named after a family member?
Yes, but I have never met her.

Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass or fail?
I would pass it.

Wanting to tell someone something?
I would like to tell "Little Mark" to STOP WASTING TIME

Last restaurant you went to?
Jalapeno Tree.

What is the weather like today?
Looks like it will be sunny

What happened yesterday?
We did school work ALL DAY

What would you do with five million dollars?
Tithe, give to charity, pay off family debts, fix up current home and give to the church, build a home in the country, buy a car, start trus funds for the nephews

How many hours did you sleep last night?
9:00 pm - 5:00 am, so that is 8 hours. I woke up a few times though.

Any upcoming concerts you want to attend?
Not that I know of.

Who’s the last person that you felt was stalking you?
No one.

Have you ever been on your school’s track team?
nope

Have you cried today?
Yes, out of joy when doing the Bible Study

Do you think that someone is thinking about you right now?
I don't know

Does it annoy you when someone says they’ll call, but never do?
Depends on who they are, and why they are calling.

What did you dress up as for Halloween?
Nothing

Cable or Satellite?
Cable

Favorite video game?
Does the evil, addicting "Hammer Heads" count?

Do you have to sleep with a fan on at night?
Usually

Your feelings on global warming?
I don't believe it is man made

Do you still have a VCR somewhere?
Yes.

Been on a sailboat?
No, but I've been on a speed boat

Two of your best friends are fighting. Your reaction?
I try to be a peacemaker, and if that doesn't work I stay out of it

Home Depot or Lowes?
Home Depot.

Beer or Hard Liquor?
Neither.

Best movie you’ve seen recently?
Journey to the Center of the Earth- 3D

Would you walk across broken glass for $100?
No.

Your feelings on dolphins?
they're cool

Would you ever rob a bank?
No.

Do you plan out your day before it begins?
Yes, but I'm still flexible to changes.

What kind of digital camera do you have?
Canon.

Can you fall asleep with your eyes open?
No

Winter or Summer?
Winter.

Your ex’s car breaks down and they ask you for a lift. Your response?
I give them a ride

Do you go to the gym regularly?
Not as much as I used to, but my routine is beginning to get back to normal.

Internet Explorer or Firefox?
We have both, but I prefer Firefox

Favorite sport to watch?
When I watch sports it is Ice Skating or Football

You see someone running around naked in the street. Your reaction?
Oh My Goodness!

How much syrup do you put on your waffles and/or pancakes for breakfast?
A little

Do you have a lot of candles in your room?
No, but I'd like some.

Are the files in your computer well organized or all over the place?
Pretty organized

Are there dogs barking in your neighborhood right now?
Nope.

Where would you most like to be right now?
At the movies.

Do you own a sleeping bag?
No

Favorite reality show?
I don't really care for reality TV

What was the first CD you ever bought?
I honestly don't remember. I am sure it was probably George Strait though

Are all infomercials completely pointless?
Not all of them. But, I miss Mike, the guy from the 80s - 90s infomercials. He had nice sweaters. :-)

If money was no object, what car would you drive?
I would like a nice sized mini van, a hybrid

Was this survey random enough for you?

Yes

That's probably more than you ever wanted to know about me. :-)

Love,

Wendy Darling

I may need to search for a 12 step program...

I am addicted y'all. I can't help it. I am obsessed with a computer game. I need help.
Have y'all heard of "Hammer Head Deluxe?" OH. MY. GOODNESS. Addicting is not even the word.

"Little Mark" downloaded this game a couple of months ago. I saw him playing it once or twice. I wasn't really interested. But, earlier this week I gave it a try. HUGE mistake. I am now addicted to trying to make it to the next level. It is so bad y'all, that I was finally at a level where I could "save it", so I didn't have to start all the back over. The trouble is that when you get to that point, and move up, it's harder but you only have the power that was left from the last level to work with.

It's maddening. Y'all want to know just how bad it is? I have spent the last hour or so trying to get to the next level with only about 1/8 power. I get a little here and there, but nothing significant. Nothing that I can really work with. Each time I attempt the next level I only last about 30 seconds or so, but I immediately hit the "try again" button. I can't stop myself.

It is aggravating, frustrating, and I am determined to beat it!! So much so that I can't stop. It is fun too, but the best part (or worse) is the challenge. I am pretty much at a "no win situation", but I won't give up!

Help me.... ;-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Inspiring!

I just read the most inspiring blog post over at Big Mama's, and I just had to share it. Thank you, Melanie. I needed to read that today. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Homemade Hair Detangler

"Angel" has been less than diligent when it comes to brushing her hair. She showed up a few weeks ago with a terrible "rats nest" in the back of her hair. She would NOT let me comb it out. So, out of desperation I thought about buying some "No More Tangles" stuff. But, then I thought "Why not make it myself?" I poured some conditioner into a spray bottle with some water. Shook it up, and sprayed it on.

I told her it "works like magic. If you stay VERY still while I comb your hair the tangle will come out, and it will not hurt." She bought it, and IT WORKED. :-)

I did an Internet search to see if there was a recipe, and there are plenty. This is how I made mine.

1 C water in a spray bottle
about 1/4 conditioner
shake to mix

I use the same conditioner I use when I make my own fabric softener. It works great. Once it dries it doesn't look "wet/slick" or anything. Her hair looked and smelled great.

I don't really get into the whole "break down to the penny" thing, but it cost me around 25 cents to make this, and it will last a long time. :-) MUCH cheaper than the name brand. ;-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Sing, Sing a Song...
"Little Mark" had a hard time doing it, but he finally admitted that he likes some of the songs on my MP3 player. ;-)

Every so often I take my mp3 player in the car with us, and I put it in. (One can only take some much Raven, Hannah and Jonas Brothers...) I tell him he can play any song, as long as it is off of MY mp3 player. I have noticed that he will put on one song, and then he will change it and say, "I know you want to hear this one." He always puts on the same 3 songs. Then, he will say (with a huge sigh) "I don't really like it, but I know you like it." (Insert violins here) ;-)

Today, he did the same thing on the way home from church. I told him, again, "You don't have to play just those songs. I like all of them on there, so play what you want. He responds, "No, it's okay." Then I few minutes later he admits, "OK, I do like them." :-) You could tell it just killed him to admit it. ;-)

The songs in question? "Amazing Grace", by Chris Tomlin; "Every Head Bowed" by Randy Travis; and THIS ONE:









Yes, my friends. That is the theme to the "Greatest American Hero," and it IS on my mp3 player. ;-) In all of its cheesy, 80s glory. ;-) And, I figured if I'm going to share it, I'm going to do it right. Here it is in a LIVE Solid Gold performance, complete with the SG dancers. :-) And "Little Mark" likes the song. ;-) The day he replaces a Raven, Hannah and Allie and AJ song with these 3, I will be one happy Aunt. ;-)

Change is good... :-)

Well, I made a lot of changes the last couple of weeks. The first one was, I cut my hair. Short.
Actually, I paid to have it cut. If I had done it they would have had to shave it, because the best hair dresser in the world would not have been able to fix it. Y'all it had become so long and so unruly that I was actually hot rolling it, and had the whole "80s big hair" thing going on. Yeah, it was scary.

After it was cut "Little Mark" said, "It's very short. That's not how you usually get it cut. I don't like it." Well, thank you for the boost of confidence, and remind me to teach you about TACT later. ;-)

I was a little nervous about it, because it is much shorter than I am used to having it, and it is layered all over, instead of just the bangs. But, I figured, "It's hair. It'll grow." The next day we had an activity at church, and I fixed my hair and walked in like any other day. OH. MY. GOODNESS. Y'all, there were compliments. MANY compliments. I was happy. ;-)

Since then I have gotten used to my hair, and I really like it. It is much easier to keep, and actually suits me for my age. :-) However, "Angel" didn't recognize me when she came back this week. She stared at me for a long time, trying to figure out what was different. She finally said, "You don't look like my Aunt Wendy." :-)

I pointed out that I had my hair cut. She looked really hard at me, and then proclaimed, "NO, you are a FAKE Aunt Wendy." All righty then. She has since gotten used to it, and says she likes it. "Little Mark" decided it was "Okay" after about the 3rd or 4th compliment he overheard me get. :-)

The other change is, I am taking a class on "Power Point" at the public library. Now, you may be thinking, "Power Point? Where have you been that you don't know that?"

I've been AT HOME, or CHURCH. So, to get out of the house, and because I want to learn it, I have been taking a class. One of the things I have been trying to teach "Little Mark" is that you never stop learning. You should always be trying to learn something new. Find something interesting, and learn all you can about it. So, this would be an example to him as well.

My sister is also taking the class, and that helps. But, I thought I was going to be in trouble the first night when the teacher, a friend of Cleggy's, opened by saying, "You will do just fine if you took the Introductory Class, because this is actually an ADVANCED class."

What?! Holy Moly, I am in trouble. He then followed that up with, "Or, if you are a fast learner." My sister, who also did NOT take the first class said, "We'll be fine." Uh... sure. OK. We'll give it a shot. I am a note taker. I have about half of a small legal pad filled with step by step notes. And you know what? It's fun. I really have learned a lot, I caught on fast, and I am looking forward to using it.

"Little Mark" wanted to take the class too, but I think I am just going to let his other Aunt teach him that. ;-) So, when I get my first solo Power Point presentation put together I'll share it with you. ;-) I like learning, growing, and changing. I guess you really can "teach an old dog new tricks." LOL... :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Grocery Cart Challenge



It's time for Grocery Cart Challenge, again. :-) I like participating in this each Friday. :-)

I actually posted this recipe back in May, but I wanted to post it again. Why? Well, 1) It's a good recipe, 2) I don't have to type a brand new recipe. :-)

Be sure to hop on over to Gayle's to see all of the other great recipes! Her Breakfast Parfait looks great!! :-)

We got this from the "Kraft: Food and Family Magazine" last month. If you are not familiar with this magazine please visit them here, and sign up to receive this free magazine. They really are full of great recipes y'all.

Anyway, on with the recipe. This is an awesome recipe. Little Mark LOVED them. He ate 4 that night at dinner. FOUR! Even after he declared "that looks nasty; I'm not eating it." Yeah, bud, try saying that with your mouth full of tuna cake. :-) Before posting the recipe let me just say that when we made it we doubled the recipe and only made half of the recipe for dinner that night, and then the rest at lunch the next day. It worked wonderfully. :-)

TUNA CAKES
prep time: 10 minutes Total: 26 minutes, including refrigerating.

2 cans (6 oz each) of light tuna in water, drained and flaked
1 pkg (6 oz) Stove Top stuffing mix for chicken. (we used the "off-brand" cornbread stuffing and it worked just fine.)
1 C Kraft shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/2 C shredded carrots
1/3 C Kraft Mayo Real Mayonnaise
2 Tbl. Sweet Pickle Relish
3/4 C water

Mix the tuna, stuffing mix, cheese, carrots, dressing, relish and water in a bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Heat a large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat. Scoop tuna mixture, using about 1/3 C for each cake, into skillet in batches. Try using an ice cream scoop to make evenly portion batches. (We did and it worked great!)
Gently flatten cakes using a spatula. Cook 3 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown on both sides, turning cakes over carefully. Makes 6 servings, 2 tuna cakes each.

I am sorry that there aren't any photos this time, but believe me when I tell you that these are AMAZING, and healthy. :-) Enjoy!

Love,
Wendy Darling