sunshine...on a cloudy day.

flickr favorites...I can't get enough. go here for credits.

It's cold and gray and dreary here today...threatening rain...maybe snow some say. That would be fine by me. 

I am not sure how I'm feeling today...not as good as yesterday...but better than last Friday...slightly more wheezy...and a little more coughing...again. Woke up twice last night, coughing...which I haven't done in a few nights. I'm attributing it to the steroids...they helped, but now I'm done taking them...but do I need more? Waiting on a call from the Dr. to see what she wants me to do. I wish she'd hurry up...the waiting is making me a bit anxious.

I am tired of this...

Browsing beautiful photography on flickr.com is a nice way to pass the time when you're under the weather...

{I think I am in need of some Vitamin C...what do you think?}

(Maybe when I go to Costco for my inhaler I'll buy a big box of oranges like the one my beautiful friend Mandy brought to me when I was first sick...oh, were they good. Thank you, Mandy! Do you know that she and I have known each other since were 13...that is 30 years! How can that be? And now...our sons hang out together now and then. Crazy.)

Speaking of my son, Seth is home sick today...and yesterday, too. Sore throat, stuffy nose, aches...yesterday a fever, but not today. We are a pair...

Other than that...not a lot going on around here...still. Ready to be well...prayers would be most welcome...for healing, clear airways, wisdom for the Dr. to treat this once and for all...patience and calm for ME. Thank you...xo

Wednesday in the Word

Please continue to pray for this sweet boy...precious Siliman.

He is a very sick little guy...and he needs our prayers.

Look at that sweet face. What a love...

* * * * * * * * * *

Psalm 34:7

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

~

Isn't it funny? You just never know when God is going to place something...or someone...on your heart with such a heaviness that you can't do anything but pray and pray. For whatever reason, God has placed little Siliman on my heart. I am feeling the urgent need to pray for him...and to ask others to join me. Pray he can keep warm. And that God provides the blood transfusion his sweet little body needs so desperately. Pray that God delivers Siliman...His will be done.

Until then...we can know...and believe...that the angel of the Lord is encamped around Siliman. God is SO good.

But that's not all...the angel of the Lord is encamped around me...and you...

What a comfort to know that I am surrounded and protected by the angel of the Lord...takes my breath away.

Pray for Siliman...

Pray for little Siliman...

You can read his story here...

He's beautiful...and he needs our prayers...

Where two or more are gathered...

xo

one thing leads to another...

Well...I hope you'll forgive my silence. While I thought I was on the mend from the flu-turned-pneumonia/asthma it turns out I was not. Thursday night my coughing got worse...as did my ability to breathe. I sat in the easy chair all night coughing...not sleeping.  At 8am Friday morning I had Chris drive me to the dr. where they took my vitals...gave me a breathing treatment...xrays...and another breathing treatment.

3 hours later...and talk of a possible hospital stay to get my breathing regulated...I was sent home with two inhalers, another antibiotic and more prednasone...along with orders to stay in bed until Monday.

Turns out I was having a pretty good asthma attack. And I don't normally have asthma! I have had it only one other time years ago...it was brought on by the use of one of those chemical-filled plug in air fresheners. Yuck. That thing about killed me...and I didn't even know it until weeks later!

After much bed rest and good TV movies...food deliveries by amazing, generous friends (thank you SO much Jesse and Irvina!...delicious homemade chicken soup delivered by my mom (which was just what the dr. ordered, I might add...thank you mom!)...house cleaning by my sweet hubby and sons (thanks guys!)...and prayer from friends and family...I am feeling a bit better. I am still a bit weak...and wheezy...and get winded easily. But...I am on the mend. Thank goodness. Not being able to get enough air is SCARY.

I have decided to continue to take it easy for the next week. I think part of the problem is that each time I felt a tiny bit better I felt compelled to get to work...cleaning and laundry and cooking and shopping and errands and running kids all around. You know...my JOB. But...I think doing too much made me get sick over and over. So...this time...I'm going easy...and I'm not going to feel guilty about it.

I learned something along the way...in regard to natural remedies. While there may be a natural or homeopathic remedy for asthma...I didn't find it. And while I believe there is a time and place for home remedies...and natural healing...it's not always the answer. Sometimes modern medicine is the way to go...and I am so, so grateful for it.

What's cookin'?

What's cookin'? Not a whole lot! Being sick for almost three weeks really puts a damper on kitchen activity. Between no energy and no appetite...it's been all I could do to keep some food in the house for my family. There has been the occasional energy burst in which I took full advantage and cooked a healthy meal for us to sit down and enjoy as a family. But for the most part? Not a whole lot of cooking going on...

Before I got sick I got in the habit of making homemade granola at least once a week. My family LOVES it...and not a morsel goes to waste.

I think I am going to use some of my energy on this gloriously rainy day to make another batch. It's good as cereal...mixed with dried fruit as a trail mix...and my favorite, sprinkled over blueberry yogurt. Heavenly.

This is how I do it...based on a combination of probably 5 recipes I'd read!

Homemade Granola

5 cups oats

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup coconut

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup real maple syrup

1/4 cup honey

1 T cinnamon

Pinch salt

Preheat oven to 300'. Place oats and coconut in a large mixing bowl.

Chop nuts and add to the oats.

Then add cinnamon and salt to oat and nut mixture.

Stir to combine.

In a separate mixing bowl add brown sugar, oil, syrup and honey

and stir to combine. Pour combination over the oats and stir thoroughly,

making sure all of the oats are covered in the liquid mixture.

Spread evenly onto a cookie sheet with sides and bake for about an hour

stirring every 10-15 minutes to ensure even browning.

Remove from the oven when oats are a golden brown.

Let the granola cool completely then stir in the dried berries.

Store in an airtight container.

I'm sure this lasts quite a while when stored properly...but it's not going to matter as it won't last more than a week, anyway!

This recipe is so forgiving...and you really can add whatever you want and it will be delicious. Add any kind of nuts...any kind of dried fruit...you really can't go wrong. The only thing I recommend, and learned the hard way, is to NOT bake the dried fruit. It gets TOO dry and doesn't taste good.

Enjoy!

Wednesday in the Word

photo credit

2 Corinthians 4:10-11

 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

It's all about Jesus. That's it. God gave His one and only Son for our sins. For mine...and for yours. All God wants us to do is to accept that...to acccept Jesus into our hearts...to love Him and to have a relationship with Him.

It's not about religion. Or going to church. Or following rules.

It's about Jesus.

And having a relationship with Him.

That's all.

He loves you...so much. And He wants to spend time with you...

What are you waiting for?

the greatest of these...

Happy Valentine's Day...

I'm not a romantic...love is for every day, not just one.

* * * * *

1 Corinthians 13:13

 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

homemade Elder Berry cough syrup..

A few weeks ago Ian had a cough. And since I had recently been doing some reading about natural remedies, I decided to try my hand at making my own homemade elder berry cough syrup. I purchased dried elder berries at my local nutrition shop and then I followed this recipe. I gave it to Ian for about three days, and ran the humidifier (which is like the miracle cure, in my opinion) and he was better in no time!

Now...while it was cool and interesting making my own cough syrup...I feel I have to tell you about a few of the realities of this endeavor.

First of all...simmering dried elder berries STINKS. Oh my gosh...it was bad. A combination of wet, dirty dog and...oh...maybe dirty socks? Yuck. Very bad smell. Very bad.

Second of all...regardless of what I had read, it does not taste good. At first you're not sure...does it taste bad? Or good? I can't tell! But then you realize...it does not taste good. Berries or not...no..ick. Someone went so far as to say it was like "drinking candy". Um. No. Not even close.

BUT, it was effective for Ian's cough.*** And the smell was easily masked once I fried up some bacon for BLT's. Thank goodness.

So...wanna give it a try? Here's the recipe:

Elder Berry Cough Syrup

•1/2 c. dried elderberries or 1 c. fresh elderberries
•3 c. water
•1/2 c. honey
•1/4 c. cherry brandy (optional)*

Place the water in a pot on the burner and bring it to a boil. Turn down the heat to a low simmer and add elderberries. Simmer for 20 minutes. Strain the elderberries, reserving the juice, and pressing down firmly on top of the berries to drain all the liquid. Rinse out the pot and return the juice to it over a low heat. Simmer for a few more minutes, until the liquid has reduced to 1 cup. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Pour into a glass container and add the honey and the brandy. Stir well, until the honey is completely dissolved.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will keep for 2 months if the brandy is included, or 2 weeks if you choose not to use brandy as a preservative.**

Take 1 to 2 Tbsp a day as a maintenance dose and 3 to 5 Tbsp a day when you’re just starting to feel a cough or cold coming on.

*I did not use brandy.
**I read elsewhere that this will keep for up to 3 months in the refrigerator. Use your judgment.
***This was NOT effective for my cough, as mine turned out to be a combination of pneumonia and asthma. While there may be an effective homeopathic remedy for these things, I didn't know about them and turned to modern medicine to help me get better.

Wednesday in the Word

Jeremiah 29:11-14

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

It's been a long couple of weeks. I finally went to the doctor yesterday and found out I have pneumonia and symptomatic asthma. I got the appropriate medications and am finally on the mend. I'm still tired and need to rest and stay hydrated....but I've missed you and didn't want to miss another Wednesday in the Word. I pray this scripture blesses you today...xo

M is for...

• Mosaic...of lovely photos...favorites on flickr...can't get enough. Go here to see who did what.
• Mend...I think I may be feeling better today. The fever is gone...the cough is not...neither is the fatigue. Slowly...on the mend...
• Miracles...praying for those who need them today... xo
• Messy....as in my house. Yikes.
• Makeup...haven't worn any since last Thursday. (Or a bra either, for that matter!)
• My Man...he has taken good care of me while I've been sick...cooking, shopping, tending, tidying...xo
• Motivation...I need some. Maybe tomorrow?