Sick Day

I had to call in sick to work tonight. Apparently they don't want nurses who have pink eye to work with patients. I don't understand it at all! ;) Oh and I also have a sinus infection. I can work tomorrow night since I will have been on antibiotics for 24 hours by then. This was not in my plan for this week.

Quick Update

I know it has been a while since I blogged last, but I have had a crazy schedule this last couple of weeks. Last week I worked all single days...in other words I worked Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Needless to say it took me several days to recuperate. Then this past week I worked Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and then tonight. (Our work week starts at 7 am on Monday.) However, I also work Monday and Tuesday. It's been a crazy couple of weeks, but after this week things settle down quite a bit...see you then!

Sugar and Spice? Puppy Dog Tails?

I am very proud to announce that my family is expecting a new addition to the family. My younger brother, Roger, and his wife, Alisa, are expecting their first child this Fall. They went to the doctor yesterday and everything looks great. Both families are thrilled and I am excited about being an aunt, yet again!

Congratulations Roger and Alisa!!!

More Than I Imagined

About a year ago I began searching for the perfect home, my first house. I have seen quite a few homes...more than I care to count and several that I do not even want to remember.

When I came to Tennessee in January I looked at a few houses, and found one I really like. However, by the time I was ready to make an offer, it had sold. I decided that I would find something after I had been here a while. I've only looked at one house since...of course I've looked at a bunch online. Anyway, yesterday my offer was accepted on this house.

View from front

Dining room

Living room

Kitchen

Master bedroom

Master bath

It is everything I dreamed for and more. It has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. There is a bonus room over the garage, which is fairly common here. There is a deck off the living room. It also in the same neighborhood as Jeff and Abbey and take just a few minutes to walk to their house.

There will be an inspection this week, which I am not worried about since the home is only 5 years old. The closing is schedule for the end of May...at the latest middle of June...my mortgage broker is a little worried about getting everything complete by May 30th.

Thanks for all your prayers on this long journey.

Will Work for Eggs?

A couple of weeks ago, I took care of a patient who owns a farm. When I went to work on Sunday night, there was a note on the bathroom door (all important information on our floor is posted on the bathroom door in the nurse's lounge!) telling me I had eggs in the fridge from a patient.

I honestly didn't know how absolutely wonderful farm fresh eggs tasted! Now, if you are wondering about the color of two of those eggs...

...they are actually green. I haven't tasted those yet, but if they are as good as the others, then there won't be a problem.

Happy Easter

She is getting soooo big!!!

Happy Easter!!!

Easter Lunch Preparations

I will be enjoying Easter lunch tomorrow with some friends. When we began making plans, it was decided that we will all bring some different dishes. I volunteered to make mashed potatoes and green beans. Then the issue of dessert was brought up and the vote was coconut cake. Coconut and I are not the best of friends, so I decided I would make something to take that I also could take to work Easter night when I went in for my shift. Since I haven't shared a recipe in a while, I will share the new cookie recipe I made tonight.

Chewy Double Chocolate Cookies

2 cups flour
1/2 cups cocoa powder
2 t baking powder
1 t salt
16 ounces semisweet chocolate (I used special dark chocolate chips)
4 large eggs
2 t vanilla
2 t instant coffee or espresso powder (I omitted this b/c I wasn't "feeling" the coffee tonight)
10 T unsalted butter, softened but firm
1 1/2 c light brown sugar
1/2 sugar

The directions say to sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt, but I don't have a sifter so I just threw it in a bowl.

Melt the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring once or twice until the smooth.

I also set aside some chocolate chips to mix into the dough at the end which I guess it made the cookies, triple chocolate instead of double chocolate.

Technically the recipe called for vanilla extract, but I typically use pure Mexican vanilla. Beat eggs and vanilla lightly with a fork. If you are using the instant coffee, you would sprinkle it over the egg and vanilla mixture and let it dissolve.

The butter was suppose to be soft but firm. This was not soft at all, so I threw it in the microwave for a few seconds.

Whoops...too much!

That's okay, I'll use it in the potatoes (that were on the stove) and try again...Much better!

Beat the butter until creamy and then add the sugars. The mixture will have a granular texture.

On low beat in the egg mixture gradually until combined.

Add chocolate in a steady stream until combined.

Add the flour mixture and mix on low.

Then I threw in the chocolate chips that I had set aside.

Cover and then let stand at room temperature until it is scoopable and fudge like, about 30 minutes.

You might wander what to do in the 30 minutes. I went from this....

To this....

(Now, don't pay attention to the fact that I have two coffee pots on the counter. The one to the left is my old pot while the one on the right is my new fancy coffee pot that arrived this week. I haven't decided what to with the old one yet.)

I also called my mom about the green bean recipe I will make tomorrow after church.

Then the recipe gave all these instructions about adjusting the racks in the oven, using parchment paper on the cookie sheets, and ice cream scoop....I couldn't be bothered with some many steps, so I just sprayed my cookie sheet with some cooking spray and spooned some cookie dough on.

Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes...you want the sides to be almost set and the center to be soft.

It did say to use a metal spatula to remove the cookies, which did seem to be key. These cookies are very soft and have a nice texture...almost cake or brownie like. I guess I'll see how everyone like them tomorrow.

Maybe tomorrow I'll share my mashed potatoes...They were yummy too!!!

A Word of Encouragement

The last several months of my life had been characterized by transition. I'll be honest and say that it is getting old and I have begun to become a little discouraged.

What's the opposite of discouragement? Encouragement!

I received a "good word" the other night when I took my "lunch break" at work. (Lunch break is in quotations because it was 2:30 am!) Tonight I feel compelled to share it.

"Cease striving and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10a

Just seven words, but so full of encouragement. And exactly what I needed to hear and meditate on this week.

Don't you just love it when you find the right verse at just the right time.

Quick Peek

I am on my way out the door, but until I can get other pictures posted, here you go.

To Do List

When I have a lot to do, I like to make a list that I can cross things off as I accomplish them. Here is the list I started off the day with:

• Pay bills
• Clean apartment
• Laundry
• Trip to Target/WalMart
• Trip to Kroger/Publix
• Mail check for painting class
• Buy Webkins for Jacob's Easter Basket
• Mail Jacob and Madeline's Easter Baskets
• Call Jeff about Abbey's birthday
• Test drive Hyundai Santa Fe/Tucson
• Haircut
• Look into the option of having a house built

Throughout the day as I accomplish different tasks I cross off each item. Here is what my original list looked like by the end of the day.

• Pay bills
• Clean apartment
• Laundry
• Trip to Target/WalMart
• Trip to Kroger/Publix
• Mail check for painting class
• Buy Webkins for Jacob's Easter Basket
• Mail Jacob and Madeline's Easter Baskets
• Call Jeff about Abbey's birthday
• Test drive Hyundai Santa Fe/Tucson
• Haircut
• Look into the option of having a house built

Then there are items that are added to the list, like this:

• Buy Hyundai Tucson

Oh wait, I am sorry:

• Buy Hyundai Tucson

It's silver, it's pretty, it's brand new!!! I guess sometimes plans change. It drove it home in a torrential downpour, so I'll try to post pictures tomorrow.

Spring in Mississippi

My weekend in Mississippi was filled with reminiscing and catching up with old friends. I had not been there since I moved to Florida three years ago. Over the years when I have gone back to Clinton, I have stayed with my college Sunday School teacher, mentor, and friend, Jackie. This time was no different. Since it had been three years, Jackie and I had a lot of catching up to do. On Saturday, my friend Jackie and I moved from one room of her house to another telling stories, talking about books, talking about what God has been teaching us, catching up on the mutual friends we have stayed in touch with over the years...and well, you get the picture.

Speaking of pictures, you would think I would have had one taken of the two of us, but like I often do I forgot. I did take a stroll through her backyard on Friday before Jackie came home from work and between torrential downpours. I forgot how beautiful Mississippi can be in the Spring.

I forgot how much I enjoy the Azaleas. Since it is only a seven hour drive, I have a feeling this will be the first of several visits back to my college stomping grounds.