Let It Go............

    My younger kids love the movie Frozen and as I find myself doing housework  the lyrics and songs come into my head LOL  .  Here is a cute little piece I found on the internet the other day ! Too funny but in a way I"m sure many parents can relate to this since the movie Frozen came out !

 

 

A FEW EXCERPTS FROM A DAD'S  DIARY:

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12/07/2013:  We took the kids to see “Frozen” today. It was a cute movie and the kids really seemed to enjoy it. There were even a couple of catchy songs in it. A pleasant day for sure.

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12/10/2013: I went ahead and bought the “Frozen” soundtrack for the kids on iTunes today. I think they’ll probably enjoy singing along with some of the songs from that movie. They’re cute songs, I have to admit!

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12/21/2013: Well, the kids definitely like the “Frozen” soundtrack - hahaha! Wow, they listen to it a lot. I guess we picked a winner with that one! Fun to see them so happy.

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12/31/2013: LOL - man, we sure do listen to the music from “Frozen” a lot. But, kids will be kids. I remember always liking the repetition of things as a kid. I’m sure that’s normal, no biggie.

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01/10/2014: Huh, “Frozen” again today. About 15 times in a row. I’m starting to wonder if they’re going to get tired of this? The songs are starting to be a little less charming than they were before.

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01/15/2014: It seems like “Frozen” is all we listen to anymore. It’s certainly all they request. Sometimes I wonder if they’ll ever listen to anything else?

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01/22/2014: Shocker - we’re listening to “Let it Go” again. Never heard that one before. And they’re also into singing it now. They know all the words. Every five minutes they’re singing it. And they each want a turn, so it’s always twice - twice in a row… always twice.

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02/02/2014: Seriously - they won’t stop. Make them stop. I think I need them to stop. At least some of the time, just listen to something else. Please, something else.

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02/13/2014: I had a dream last night. In my dream, everyone was singing “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” I kept yelling, “NO!” But no one would listen. They just kept singing. I’m starting to wonder if I might need help?

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02/28/2014: Tonight the kids put on a “talent show.” I was so excited to see their talents - but guess what - it just turned into a another “Frozen” sing along! I couldn’t believe it. They just…kept…singing. I think I really am losing it… Help me…

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03/13/2014: Went to see the doctor today, but was released with no diagnosis. Got in the car to drive home and “Frozen” was playing over the radio. Turned the channel, still “Frozen.” Went home and found the kids dressed up and playing “Frozen” - while singing “Frozen” songs. Scheduled another appointment with the doctor for tomorrow.

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03/26/2014: Sometimes I wish I was deaf. I think about that a lot these days.

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04/07/2014: The songs are driving me crazy. I guess I need to just let it go. “Let it Go” - see… there, I said the title of a “Frozen” song accidentally! It’s worked its way into my life. It’s in everything I do. Dear God, please help me - I am infected and I need intervention.

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04/16/2014: There is no other way out. I am on the floor, in the fetal position. My kids dance around me, singing songs from “Frozen” at the top of their lungs. Maybe if I’m still they’ll go away. Maybe if I make no sound, they’ll go to another room. Maybe… just maybe…

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04/23/2014: I lay here in darkness. It is late. But I lay here, thinking of my life, the lyrics of “First Time in Forever” going through my head. I lay here waiting. Patiently waiting and praying for the sweet release of death…

 

 

  Great movie for a fun family night ! Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did ! 

                                                            GIGI

Memorial Day

   Today is Memorial Day, a time when family and friends get together for barbeques , parades , opening day at their local pools, etc. People get a day off from work to celebrate. No matter what fun and enjoyable things you may find yourself doing today , Let us not forget the true reason to honor this day and the brave men and women who have given their lives for our freedom and the sacrifice they paid !

 As a family it has been our tradition to go and enjoy music and fireworks that our city offers every year in honor of our fallen heroes. As my son and I past pictures of hundreds of soldiers that had given their lives for our country I stopped and begin reading the names of theses local men and women and how they lost their lives in combat. 
  My young son asked me who they were and did we know them. I then explained why their pictures were displayed and what Memorial Day means and how we as Americans could show them honor and thanks for the sacrifice that they paid to serve our country!  He is old enough now and is beginning to truly understand what these men and women did to give him the freedom to play in the street or go to bed at night and not be afraid.
   As a daughter of a veteran I know that our soldiers risk everything on the front lines in the enemy territory and it takes enormous courage to do this . Today or in the weeks ahead if you see soldier who has served or is serving,  or if you know somebody that is serving and is home right now ,stop and Thank them for their service to our country !
  Happy Memorial Day ! 

                                                                   GIGI 

also offer my great thanks to all those who are serving now, those who have served in the past and all their families.
Read more at http://www.wral.com/giving-thanks-on-memorial-day/13674615/#MTJrToK4vP7vajUv.99

also offer my great thanks to all those who are serving now, those who have served in the past and all their families.
Read more at http://www.wral.com/giving-thanks-on-memorial-day/13674615/#MTJrToK4vP7vajUv.99

also offer my great thanks to all those who are serving now, those who have served in the past and all their families.
Read more at http://www.wral.com/giving-thanks-on-memorial-day/13674615/#MTJrToK4vP7vajUv.99  It takes courage for a soldier to risk life and limb for his country.

Movie Review

There has been alot of different reviews I have seen these past few days of the movie Noah ! I see that many people refuse to even watch it , but that being said my son Noah wanted to see this movie , so I had to watch it first to see if it was acceptable for a kid to watch !
  The book of Genesis tell us in the chapters of 6 -9 about a man named Noah who was the only  perfect and godly man in his generation ,who walked with God. God told Noah he was going to destroy the whole world with a flood due to the fact of the evil and violence that was upon the earth and that Noah was to build an Ark ( God gave him all the specifications on how to build it and how big it was to be),  and that Noah his wife and their 3 sons and their sons 3 wives were to enter the Ark along with 2 of every unclean animals and 7 of every clean animals, so they would be able to reproduce after the flood and start over .
  Noah builds the Ark , the rains come , they enter the ark along with all the animals that God said to take , God shuts the door and it rains for 40 days and nights! Every living thing that was on the earth or in the air ceases to exist. God brings a mighty wind and the waters begin to recede and go down , a few months later the Ark comes to rest on the mountains of Ararat.
    Noah sends out a raven during this time who comes back and forth while the waters recede he also sends out a dove to check if there is dry land yet, who comes back the first time with nothing , 7 days later Noah sends the dove out again and it comes back with an olive branch. Noah waits another 7 days and sends out the dove again, who does not return . Soon after Noah opens the door and they all leave the Ark along with tons of animals.
   Noah builds an altar to the Lord  and God promises never to destroy the WHOLE earth again with a flood and God tells them to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. God then puts a rainbow in the sky as a covenant and promise to us that He will never destroy the earth and ALL living things with a flood again.
  Awesome story from the Bible and if that is what you think the Biblical MOVIE Noah is about, well be prepared to go and watch a movie about a man named Noah , who supposedly dreams about a coming disaster/Apocalypse that will destroy the earth  ( first he thinks its fire and then finally figures out its a flood later on)  and sets out to protect his family to go find his grandfather Methuselah  to help him figure his dreams out. While traveling his family comes upon a little girl Ila who's family is all been killed by the wicked people of the land ,but shes just wounded,  they go to help her and see that Tubal Cain and his wicked people are beginning to descend upon them, this awakens the monster rocks  ( The Watchers )who soon takes Noah and his family. They are put into a pit full of bones and skulls and they cant escape but soon after one rock monster who are called The Watchers,  feels sorry for them and helps them escape and goes  along with them on their journey.
    You soon learn that  The Watchers  are fallen angels thrown from heaven . Ok at this point I see that this story is more like a Transformers/Lord of the rings  movie combined together into a story to make a movie . This is not about a Biblical Noah !
  From The Watchers soon befriending and protecting Noah and his family from the evil world and their leader Tubal cain  ( who killed Noah's father in the beginning ) , to helping them build the boat , Noah's sons not having wives and the one girl Illa that they rescued becomes Shems girl .
     Noahs grandfather Methuselah is like a wizard of magic and eventually heals Shem's girl Illa from being barren from her injuries as a child and she gets pregnant ! Ham is jealous that Shem has a girl and wants to take a wife , ends up going into the wicked city right as the rains soon come and then  coming back with a girl but she ends up trampled to death by the wicked people when the rains start to come, due to the fact of being caught in  a animal trap. Tubal cain becoming a stowaway on the Ark once the floods come and Ham helping him, Illa  letting Noah know that she is pregnant and he goes crazy and says God has commanded him to kill the innocent baby ( which turns out to be twin girls) . Noah is actually like a crazed zealot in this movie .
   In the end Tubul cain is discovered and killed , Illa has her baby girls and Noah does not kill them , but Noah 's family is very angry with him and at the end they are reconciled as a family.The Flood recedes and they leave the Ark. It makes for a good and interesting movie and there are tons of other things that you just have to see for yourself. So if you going to see this movie be aware that it's just that a Fiction story with SOME truth in it !
  I would not recommend this movie for kids if they have never seen Transformers , Or the Lord of the Rings movies  etc. Its quite much for a younger child to take in and they may be running to your bedroom for the next few nights , but otherwise I would take my 13 yr old to see this . Its quite entertaining, interesting and the cinematography in the movie is breathtaking and awesome.
   Please remember though this is my own personal reviews and thoughts on this movie and In the beginning of the movie it does give you the " In the Beginning " of how God created the earth in 7 days. Anyway I am glad that I got a chance to see and critique it for my family .


                                                                   Gigi

Spring Is In The Air !

   Spring is just around the corner , and we are hoping to say goodbye to ole man winter very soon! The weather is beautiful today and it makes for a walk in the park just perfect . Looking around me I see and hear the birds chirping and singing and all the little critters are coming out enjoying  the day and celebrating that spring is almost here. It's amazing the crazy weather we have had in Missouri this year , and I am so enjoying getting out and breathing in the fresh air and taking in all the beauty around me ! 

  

 

 

 

 
                                                                         GIGI

Moments in Time

 It's been a little while since I have blogged but life gets crazy busy and things in life happen that you don't take time to just sit , relax and write.  Life happens and with it comes the good and the bad.  Sometimes we are not ready for the bad.
 I received a recent call from my sister letting me know that my father who has cancer was not doing good and something had occurred. Since I live almost 7 hours away I knew  I needed to go right away. The whole drive down I prayed that he would be ok. We could not get there fast enough.
 Upon  arriving in the the very early hours of the morning, (1 am) I knew instantly  upon seeing my Daddy that he had experience a stroke . I immediately called 911 and  soon after the ambulance arrived. We followed the ambulance to the hospital.
 It seemed like a very long drive to the hospital which was 30 miles away and my husband and I talked about memories I had of my Dad and the thought of losing him was very hard to think about. Once getting to the hospital we waited and then finally were allowed back in to the room to be with my Dad. Sitting beside my Dad I saw how the cancer had just overtaken my Dad and was ravaging his body.
 I could not help it as the tears slowly rolled down my face as I held my Daddy's hand and stroked it. My strong Dad always ready to help others , ready to give of himself, always willing to be there for his kids, was laying there in pain and helpless. He could not speak much but even in his pain he slurred out the words Don't cry it's OK.
 I sat there and talked and shared with my Dad how much I appreciated him, and all the fun times we had growing up when he took me hunting and fishing with him. I was a little tomboy and loved being with my Daddy . Weather we were watching our favorite western movies together or fishing or hunting my Dad was my hero and will always be.  
 The doctor asked to speak with me and my husband outside the room and told us the results of test etc. The tumor had grown back along with another one in his face.One golfball size the other a little bigger. Daddy had a small stroke as well and the cancer had mastezied to his bones. The doc said due to where the tumors were and how main arteries
 ,muscles nerves were wrapped and growing in the tumors there would be no surgery done.
   The only thing now was to take him home ,make him comfortable and ease his pain as much as possible as well as get hospice care for him. The doctor could not give us a timeframe to how much time my Dad has left but we know that we will cherish every moment that we have with him.
  The Bible says there is a time to be born and a time to die and I have to say I love hearing about births of friends or family but I hate the thought of death and the pain and suffering that goes along with it sometimes. I hate the thought that my boys will not  get to spend a lot more time with their Grandpa, .They will miss  fishing, hunting, and  hearing his stories.
 Life is so short and I have to say that many of us take it for granted. We go about our lives and don't realize that at a moments notice our loved ones or friends could be snatched away from this earth just like that. God did not promise us tomorrow, only today. Each morning is a new day, every breath I take I will be thankful.
  Regardless of where you stand on religion, or weather or not you wish to contemplate the existence of God, we all will die one day,  and I know that when my Daddy leaves this earth , I will see him in heaven again .Take time to cherish the moments with your loved ones while they are here, because time passes us by so quickly.

             GIGI

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

 Here in Missouri , we are experiencing a beautiful snowy winter ! I prefer warm weather over the cold, but I truly enjoy the first beautiful snowfall before the snow trucks with their plows come out and rearrange the beauty of the snow into a ugly dirty snow! I dislike that when it occurs, but we have to have the roads cleared to get to our work or other destinations we are bound for.
     Anyway since it has been so cold and we have had almost 10 inches of snow here , school has been out for 2 days and tomorrow will be the third day. The kids have so enjoyed these cold snowy days and I have enjoyed capturing moments of it with my camera. Here are a few pictures .....

 

 

Happy Winter !!!!!!!!!!!!

GIGI

~The Bakery~

It seems to me that when I try new recipes and they turn out to be a hit, my family always wants me to make more of the yummy item the very next day ! Honestly it's like I am in a bakery when I'm doing this, but I enjoy it alot and love to bake and cook  for my family, especially when they LOVE it !
A new recipe I tried out was Pretzels. I actually have never made homemade pretzels , but I am sure glad I did! This recipe was a BIG HIT, and so far I have made it twice in 3 days ! :)

 

These Pretzels are so Yummy . My family says they taste just as good as Auntie Anns!

Another big hit in my home is Banana Bread and it always go fast! I usually double or triple the recipe when making this because of that , so it can be around longer than 2 hrs ! That is how it is when there are 5 guys in the house!

Fresh out of the oven is always the best !       

   

Banana Bread     

 I am posting these recipes and hope you enjoy them just as much as our family does

 

Soft Baked Pretzels

 

Ingredients:

DOUGH:
 6 teaspoons instant dry yeast
 3 cups warm water (about 105 degrees F)
 4 tablespoons granulated white sugar
 8 cups all-purpose flour
 2 teaspoon salt
CRUST:
 1 1/2 cup water
4 teaspoons baking soda
coarse sea salt or kosher salt
1 stick butter, melted

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the yeast, warm water and sugar. Add in the flour and salt and knead until smooth (you can use your hands, or you can use a stand mixer with the dough hook for this part).
2. Grease a second bowl with nonstick cooking spray/oil and place the dough into the bowl. Cover with greased plastic wrap  and let rise for 40 minutes in a warm place.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and grease your cookie/baking sheets.
4. Divide the dough into 16 to 20 equal parts. Roll each part into a rope about 24 to 26 inches long and form into a pretzel shape.
5. In a shallow pan/cake pan, combine water and baking soda. Submerge each pretzel in the water and then place on the prepared greased baking sheets. Sprinkle with salt. Let the pretzels rise for 10 to 20 minutes.
6. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush each hot baked pretzel with melted butter immediately after taking them out of the oven.

Banana Bread

Ingredients:
  1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
 1 egg
3 bananas
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cooking oil
 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1/2 raisins /dried fruit like diced figs or apricots

Directions: In a bowl or stand mixer combine egg, bananas, sugar, cooking oil,baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and mix well for about 2 min. Then add your flour. Once mixed fold in your nuts and dried fruit .

 Pour batter into the prepared greased pan.  Bake in a 350 degree oven 50-55 minutes (depending how hot your oven runs) or till a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove loaf from pan and cool on rack.

 Hope you all enjoy 

   Until next time ! 

                                                         GIGI