Here

It's funny...in kind of a crazy sort of way...that when I was here----

and Aaron was here----

We never would have imagined getting here---

Our first family photo with Noah! 

Or here----

Or here----

Mr. Abram when he was a baby.

And I am so glad we made it here---

Photo by Cassie.

Happy Anniversary Aaron...nine years and counting!  I love you!

My Rabbit

We have a rabbit of different sorts roaming around our house.  I noticed pea pod shells littered throughout our yard.  I could tell this rabbit suffered some disappointment after pulling out some of my carrots, seeing how little the orange root is, and then throwing them back into the garden.  He apparently does not eat the greens. 

Then, my eyes caught sight of tiny green apples---maybe picked from one of our apple trees--- leaving a trail on our front porch... like Hansel and Gretel trying to find their way home.  Some of these little green apples had nibbles marks on them.  Hmmmm....  I must have a rabbit.


Not just any old Peter Cotton Tail kind of a rabbit.  Not the kind of rabbit that a fellow blogger has been having some troubles with. A rabbit who has noticeable chocolate brown eyes, brown hair, and weighs around 35 pounds.  He bounds through the yard picking at the plants, nibbling on the vegetables and the strawberries as he goes.  Sometimes if I quietly watch him from afar... so he does not notice...he sings little made-up songs to himself about the fruits and vegetables that he sees.

It turns out that my little rabbit is really Abram.  And I am going to have a heck of a time keeping him out of the garden.

After

After so many busy days...one after another after another...I find myself already getting slightly burned out by summer.  But only slightly.  To many activities, packed into to few days, stuffed between rotating day shifts and night shifts at the hospital.  Already, I am running out of fun summer food to eat.  Granted, Aaron and I could eat a fresh lettuce salad with caramelized, slivered almonds and strawberries that came from a stroll in the backyard every meal... but that does not substantiate full tummies for my two growing boys.  But, at least the Long Boy Cheeseburgers that I made for supper were a winner.

Cousin Seth with us at the pool.  He had a blast!

It is sad that the summer, in reality, is already half over. Noah is well into swimming lessons, Vacation Bible School is sneaking up on us, and back to school sale ads have graced our mail box.  Abram will soon be starting a summer kindergarten program which will hopefully acclimate him to school so he does not spend the first months crying.

Our canning season also snuck up on us.  Aaron and I have stayed up late at night canning strawberry jam and freezing lugs of peaches. 

16 jars of strawberry jam and counting!  Next up, freezing strawberries (and this is our first year with this strawberry patch---how exciting!)

Although, this year was different.  Standing side-by-side in front of the sink in our kitchen skinning, slicing, and pureeing fruit for hours upon hours put more grimaces than smiles on Aaron's face.  Standing on hard tile, hunched over the sink was not as much fun as it has been in years past.  Every so often, Aaron would move in stiffness and pain---silently grimacing to himself.  But, he did not give up.  Even after me telling him countless times, "You can go lay down.  I can do this..."  He insisted on helping (which I will be eternally grateful for.)

Sometimes I still forget that Aaron broke his back.  I know it sounds silly...but it is true.  It has been months since his surgery and even though it takes about two years for his spine to fully fuse and heal...I think that right now we are at the "best as we can get" part of recovery.  It is hard to accept that he is going to be painful for the rest of his life----especially since he is not even thirty years old yet.  But we (and I do mean we) deal with it and keep on moving. 

Aaron has been back to work, working long hours like a mad man for months now.  He is in the best physical shape that he has ever been in.  Lifting weights everyday and walking on the elliptical and riding bike has kept his body and mind healthy.  He has lost twenty pounds since January and has managed to keep the weight off in a healthy way (which is more than I can say for myself.) 

Today, Aaron called for my attention.

"Amanda."  He said.

"What?"  I said, busying myself with dishes.

"Turn around and look," he commanded.   I could not believe my eyes.

He was holding Abram.  The first time since last January.  Amazing.  I did not think he would ever be able to carry him again. Honestly my first reaction was panic.  I said something like, "You should not be lifting Abram!"  Although he weighs all of thirty five pounds soaking wet.  I think that the look on both of their faces was worth it.

Cousins, Friends, and Family

We have had a busy long weekend with family and friends.  Cousins spending the night, two trips to our favorite pool, riding on miles and miles of bike trails, and just keeping up in everyday life.

There were strawberries that needed pickin'...

Pickin' berries turned out to be something that our nieces Alivia and Lily loved taking part in.

Abram ate as many as he picked.  They were delicious!

We took a trip to the pool with the blonde and brunette.  Even though we were stormed out, we still had a blast.

My family is always rolling their eyes at me taking photos.  I take my camera everywhere, fearful that I am going to miss capturing a life defining moment.  But, I am glad that the blonde and brunette are just as obsessed...if not even more obsessed...as I am.

Alivia and Lily absolutely loved the pool.  So, when I suggested that we go to our local "splash park"---I was out voted by the kids.  We ended up going to the pool two days in a row---which doesn't usually happen because it is kind of expensive and a half hour away. 

I am insanely jealous of Carsen's eye lashes!  Move over Aaron---I have another boy in my life---I absolutely love Carsen!

Letting Noah swim in the big/deep pool, by himself, with out me watching him like a hawk, waiting to pull him out of the water at any little motion of distress, was a big task for me.  It helped ease my mind that the other brunette swam with him and told me he did fine.  It is just so hard to let the nervousness go and give him freedom.

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The rest of our weekend was spent doing Aaron's favorite hobby...biking.

Sunday we I completely overslept and missed our 0900 church service.  There was no way we would have made it.  So our morning was busy with our weekly outdoor chores---mowing the lawn...weeding the garden...weeding the sweet corn...picking more strawberries...and so on.

Sunday afternoon we ventured to a neighboring city to ride on their beautiful bike trails.  And who, of all of the people on this planet do we meet on the trails?  Take a guess...  We saw our pastor and his family...right after skipping church. 

I felt so shameful for missing church and then to be found by our pastor gallivanting around on the bike trails... Oh the guilt!  I think that the Man Upstairs was trying to tell us something.  But, our pastor is a kind and gentle person and did not even mention our absence in church----which almost made me feel more guilt and shame.  I wish he would have chided me or publicly humiliated me or thru rocks at me.  Nope, he made peaceful small talk between his family and ours.  Between Aaron and the pastor----a future bike trip is in the making.

Abram did not want to go on the bike ride.  I can't say that I blame him... riding for miles upon miles in 90 degree weather...doesn't sound like much fun to me either!

And if riding for many miles on the trails was not enough, when we got home guess what we did... we went for another bike ride.  It was a beautiful evening so the boys wanted to take advantage of it.

On the way back, I was determined to leave the boys in the dust.  I was not going to get beat...again...by a bunch of boys.  So, I burned rubber and left them in the dust---or so I thought (I also wanted to quickly get my camera and take their photo riding on the road.) 

I raced home, parked my bike in the gravel and ran with jelly legs up the steps and in the house.  I whipped out my camera, ran down the stairs and outside (still with jelly legs) and up our driveway to take their photo. 

In the photo below, you can see what I saw.  They are the speck on the road.  Noah's chain fell off his bike.  So, my one and only win was not even fair.

Noah evading another photo op.

Oh, well.  It was still an awesome day!

A Quick Recipe

I am not a food blogger but I have had several requests for Grandma Bernice's Strawberry Salad Recipe.  My husband loves this recipe because it is reminiscent of those days when they had cattle.  Every time they loaded/sorted cattle, grandma Bernice would make this recipe.  Keep in mind that she never measured out anything and used what she had on hand.  So, you could make many variations of this salad.



So here it goes...

(It is also in the Apostolic Christian Cookbook---page 42.)

Strawberry or Raspberry Salad

2 pkg of Tapioca pudding
1 small package of Jello (Any type of red Jello will do---raspberry, strawberry, whatever)
2 1/2 cups water
10 oz strawberries or raspberries
8 oz light whipped topping, thawed

Combine pudding, Jello and water.  Cook over medium heat until thick.  Chill 1-2 hours. Then add berries and whipped topping.  Chill again prior to serving.

Variation:  I have also layered this in a trifle bowl...layering whipped topping, angel food cake, grandma's salad and so on ending with whipped topping and garnishing with fresh berries.  It is a beautiful and delicious summertime treat!

Have a great weekend!

Decisions Decisions

Life is full of decisions.  What am I going to make for supper?  My hopes for making a new recipe of  pot roast and garlic potatoes were foiled by an alarm clock that did not sound, a mom that did not get up early enough after a night shift.

BLT's. That'll do.  Grandma Bernice's strawberry salad.  A never fail recipe.  Even better.

Grandma Bernice's strawberry salad...mmm...good to the last drop!

Those are easy decisions. 

Do two moms brave taking four kids to the zoo? What if those children were itching from lake itch---well, only two out of the four were still itching and borderline miserable---do you still go?

Does the other brunette blogger cancel plans to sit at the lake on a beautiful day?  One of the few beautiful days that we have had this summer.  Well...heck yeah!  Nothing is going to stop these girls.

 

Who would have thought that this beautiful lake was infested with parasites waiting to burrow into our baby's flesh and complete their life cycle?  Who. Would. Have. Thought?

My grandma used to tell me that when you are young, you have little decisions...little problems.  Then, you grow older, the problems get bigger...the decisions get bigger. 

When Aaron was in the hospital and I had to decide if I should take him home or stick him in a rehab facility, it seemed like such an easy decision.  Even though it was one of the biggest decisions in my life that I had to make on my own, there were absolutely no questions in my mind.

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A decision that I have been struggling with for the past year is whether or not to stay at the current hospital that we doctor at for Abram.  I believe in continuity of care.  That is one of the blessings of working at a small town hospital.  Everyone knows everyone.  You cannot get the care that we offer at a larger facility.

Abram knows his doctor and his PA and he loves his TLSO specialist.  But, is that facility the best place for my son?  Is he a little boy to them or a science experiment?  Lately I have been feeling like he is more of a science experiment.

Wrestling him back into a back brace routine has shown me that we need a place closer to home that we can have adjustments made to his brace.  No more four hour car rides one way to sit for an entire day in an office having adjustments made to his TLSO.  We have braved this path for three, almost four years and I feel...well...just done with this path.

It was almost as if a light was shined on the answer for me. One event lead to another and then...as quick as a snap of my fingers...everything had been arranged to start Abram at a new facility. 

But it was a huge decision.  Will Abram be treated well?  Will the new people that we will be dealing with actually listen to us?  Instead of driving four hours...two will be the maximum.  And I think that this decision is what is best for my son and for our family.  This is best for us at this point in our lives.  His first appt is in August and I guess we will see if this was really the best decision.

I will write my worries in the sand and let God take care of them.

Aaron

I know that I am a little late to post a blog dedicated to Aaron for Fathers Day but this weekend was busy and I did not get a chance.  So, here it is...

Noah, Abram, and I badgered Aaron to tell us what he wanted to do on Father's Day.  "It is your day and we can do whatever you want to do!"  He was kinda quiet about it at first but finally spoke up and this his how he chose to have us spend his day... 

First we he mowed the lawn...then tilled/weeded the garden...then fertilized/mulched the garden...picked up his brush mower to mow the brush by the creek in our back yard...then bike rides...then work work work work.  Yep.  That is his dream day.  Working.  Sounds like loads of fun---I know.

But, it honestly and truly was an amazing day.  Aaron, Noah, Abram, and I worked side-by-side all day.  And we could not have gotten as many tasks completed without the help of our boys.  There was minimal fighting and complaining and parents noticing a big change in the boys from last year. 

It is crazy to me that the guy who I met in our little local grocery store parking lot is now my wonderful husband and one of the best dads that I know.  Our wedding vows have held true, keeping us strong in good times and bad...sickness and health.  The most trying time for him has been the past six months.  Since his accident---being broken and then repaired. 

He has made miraculous leaps and bounds in the past six months.  Defying the odds.  Proving doctors wrong.  Getting back on his feet.  Having to relearn life and adapting to a new normal.  Our old normal is now a distant memory.
   
 

Aaron is not only my husband but also my best friend.  He is my partner and I will always be by his side.  He was my rock and now I am his.  I honestly feel that God brought us together.  To be life partners. 

Photo taken by Cassie.

Happy Father's Day!  We love you!

(Happy Father's Day to some of my other favorite dads---Grandpa Dan, Ryan, Caleb, and to my own dad who I hope is watching from above.)