Getting Ready

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My husband and I have planned to be foster parents for quite sometime. We began our training about a year and a half ago but put it on hold due to his active duty military status, not because he was active duty but because he was away from home during the time we needed to finish our training. Now that he's home, cross your fingers, we'll be able to begin our training again. We have learned that we need to get some things taken care of first though.

Item #1
Neuter the d.o.g. - don't tell him. He's a wild man and he's a high jumper. Not so much fun for the little ones who come to visit. So, we've been told that he could be mellowed out this way. Poor little brat.

Item #2
Register the d.o.g. - I know, I know.

Item(s)#3
Household check-ups
Make sure all the smoke detectors work.
Child proof cabinets that have cleaning supplies (or get rid of all chemical cleaning supplies).
Child proof outlets.

Item #4
Re-start foster parent course!

Easy stuff huh?

Could anyone help me decide where to take the poor pitiful doggie woggie?

Mmmmm, coffee!

I mentioned this on facebook today but it didn't satisfy me. So I will mention it here. It might help.

I am drinking the first of many cups of Starbucks coffee, given to me by my dear sweet husband in the form of a delicious gift card. Even better than the espresso machine he wanted to get.

Have I ever told you about my thing for espresso machines? Well, they don't work when I buy them. I can use my brother's, I could use my mother's (if she had one), I can whip up a cuppa from any one's machine, but the machines I buy for myself never, ever, work.

They don't brew, they don't steam, they blow up (might be my fault), they fall apart.


I need one.

To The World's Greatest Husband, Captain America!

I love you.

I have loved you from the first time we kissed, right after I schooled you in basketball in my driveway, On December 28, 1996.

I love those crinkly crinkles you have at the corners of your eyes.

I love the sparkly silver hair that you let the barber buzz off twice a month.

I love your broken collarbone bump.

I love that scar on your head, the one I always have to ask about because it happened when you were young and I can never remember how.

I love your skin.

I love your lips.

I love your son and that freckle on his top lip.

I love you, your patience and your impatience, your smile and your frown, your scalding hot shower and freezing cold house and the combination of the two that steams up the bathroom and frizzes up my hair.

You're the answer to years of prayers and I'll love you forever.

Happy Anniversary.

Harvest Skillet

Oh man. Dinner tonight was stinkin' awesome.

I thought we were going out for HOT WINGS but I guess that was supposed to be last night and I blew it because I thought it was tonight! Both nights were early anyway since our anniversary isn't until Friday (yes, we're eating hot wings for our anniversary, I can't help it, it's the only thing I want).

So, Captain America calls on his way home talking about how starving he is and I'm like "uhhh, no hot wings?" and he's like "you blew me off last night I thought you didn't want to go out to eat with me". Dang it!

So, I pulled out some chicken and a sweet potato that I baked earlier today while something else was in the oven. I sat the two items next to one another on the counter and said "hmmmm". Then I poured some slurpalicious coconut oil in my pan, tossed in the chicken, chopped it up right in the pan, tossed in the potato, chopped it up right in the pan, and voila!It needed something.

Salt.

Still needed something.

Something SPICY! Powdered red pepper, the cayenne kind.

Bingo!

Delish.

For good measure I threw in about 1/4 of an apple, diced small. At the very end we agreed that corn sounded really good and I had some of that already heating. Perfect addition. It was great!

Sweet and spicy.

Happy Ending.

Okay, Confession Time

I have switched out a few shirts for the Summertime.
I also bought a dress the day before yesterday! Whoa, that was a great feeling! I still don't have the nerve to wear the dress but I'm planning to!
I have made a few exceptions to the rules and pulled a top or two from my closet now and then. Maybe 5 times.There are four months left though and I have to say it's been a good experience. I am sure I've saved a load of money by not buying things I think I need. I've been making do with the pants that I have on hand and have switched out 2 pair for Summer shorts, which I'll switch back in the Fall. I fell like that's cheating but it is my rule and I am the only one doing this.
Overall, I am happy with the way this has gone. I do feel like I could have been doing a little better job on it. I'll stick with it until Thanksgiving though and not beat myself up for my failures though. I like to take it easy on myself. :)

I had S'mores last weekend. Captain America put peanut butter on our graham crackers before we added the chocolate and marshmallow. Talk about delicious!
Speaking of Captain America, have you noticed he has a movie coming out?? Yep, that's my man!

Ladies, Get Your Check-ups

I am talking about those check ups. The kind you avoid. Stop avoiding them and visit your doctor. HPV (Human papillomavirus) is everywhere. It has no noticeable symptoms unless it turns into cancer. Many times (even most times) it clears up on it's own but 5%-10% of the time it causes cancer, and that's worth preventing.

I know a beautiful young woman who found out that she has HPV and will need to have another check up in 6 months to find out if it has cleared up, and to watch it in case it develops further. If it develops, she'll have to have a biopsy and then, if needed, the cells will have to be burned off. This is a very painful process. She would like to give a message to all women: Get a Papanicolaou (Pap) test. Find out if you have HPV so that you can do something about it. Anyone can have it.

Money Can't Buy Happiness

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows... which is kinda the same thing.

Saw a sign for this while eating Frozen Custard in Farmington, MO. I'll think of the name and get back to you.
Pics soon!

PS, Hi everyone.