Handel's Messiah

If you are in Dallas on Sunday December 4th, I would like to invite you to come hear me sing in my church choir.  We are performing Handel's Messiah at 6 PM in the sanctuary of Highland Park Presbyterian Church.  It's a free concert and a great way to start the advent season.  Come and be blessed by this masterpiece!

Results!

I got my blood work back yesterday when I went to the doctor and got to fill out her little questionnaire again.  My blood work is near perfect and all my bodily functions have improved greatly.  She said she wanted to make a poster of my before and after.  I still am having trouble losing weight though, which is quite frustrating.  Ever since the time change, I haven't been working out.  Audrey gets up earlier and I don't get a chance.  Pretty sure the moron who thought up the whole daylight savings thing did not have children.

I am going to introduce goat cheese back in to my diet and see how I feel.  I am pretty sure it's okay.  Now that I know how my body reacts, I should be able to tell fairly easily.

The house had a showing today.  This was frustrating on many levels.  I know God must've been teaching me something.  First they called yesterday 20 minutes before they wanted a showing and Audrey had just gone down for a nap.  I try to be easy to work with, so I said it would be fine but they could not go in the back as I had a sleeping toddler.  They called back to reschedule.  Today at 10.  Okay, that gives me time to clean and set up the place.  This morning they call at 9:34 saying they cancelled that showing.  Grrr.  Okay, fine.  But THEN I get ANOTHER flippin' call asking to see the house from noon to 2.  Fan-freaking-tastic.  Audrey's usual nap time.  Alright.  So I fix the place up and keep my toddler up and I have no idea if they actually came or not.  Ugh.

Thanksgiving week

What a great Thanksgiving week!  We started out with my MIL coming in to town for a few days.  Audrey really enjoyed having her here and cried so much when she left.  Grammie got her a cozy coupe and I stepped on a plastic screw which caused bleeding and I was in major pain for days.  That's some thick  skin it got through!  After Grammie left, Aunt Nancy stayed with us through today, so Audrey has had such a fun week!  We got to make peppermint patties which were downright sinful.  I will have to post the recipe some time.  My first GF Thanksgiving went well.  Everything was quite delicious.  I wish I had made some croissants though.  It was the only thing I was really missing.  The service was great too.  Just a really great week and I am so thankful for so many blessings in my life.

Grocery Shopping

What was I thinking?  The grocery store on a Saturday?  And not just any Saturday, but the Saturday before Thanksgiving???  I think I went a little mental.

I really don't like grocery shopping.  Especially now, since I have to stop and read every label.  Not my favorite thing to do.  At least I didn't have my 2 year old with me.  She hates grocery shopping too, but she lets everyone know.

DH and I were planning to clean house today, but were forced to do an ultra-fast clean, because someone called to look at the house.  Of course, they wanted to come during Audrey's nap time.  So she went down earlier and we got to cleaning.  My mom helped too.  They thing that whomps is that we don't even know if they really came or not.

So for Thanksgiving, Brent will rotisserie a smaller turkey and I will make blackberry cobbler and sweet potato casserole.  I am glad we will be able to help out.  Hmm, maybe I should make GF rolls?  Ooh, or croissants!

I love this time of year :)

GF Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars :)

Ok, so the experimenting was a great success!!  Even better than the original, IMO.  So this is what went down, so you can see what I did differently from the blondies:

One 15.5 ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas) drained and rinsed
2 large eggs (I use egg substitute)
3/4 cup sugar (great place to substitute agave syrup!)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
handful crushed peanuts
Pre heat oven to 350
Grease 9 by 9 pan.
Place garbanzo beans in food processor blend till smooth and creamy
Add eggs, sugar, peanut butter, vanilla, baking powder, and salt. Process till smooth. 
Pour into pan and bake for 35-40 min
On stovetop, melt the chocolate.  Pour over baked peanut butter bars.  Add as much crushed peanuts on top.  Let harden.
Store left overs in fridge.

Nap, please?!

I hate it when Audrey sleeps in the car.  I don't care if it's 1 minute, she won't nap because of it.  Ugh.  I count on her nap.  Can you tell I am battling it today?!  I hear her on the monitor letting me know she's up. I put on headphones.  I figure she will eventually go to sleep.  I have a couple of projects I am working on and it's the only time of the day I get "me" time.  So sue me, I want to watch an episode of Dr Who in the near future!

I've been helping my mom remodel Peter's kitchen while he and his wife are on vacation with her parents this week.  We got quite a lot done, but it feels like it will never be done.  I got paint on my favorite pair of jeans.  *sigh*

So glad it's Friday.  Hope we can do something fun this weekend.  I just tried something different with those white bean blondies.  If they turned out good, I will let you know what I did in the next entry :)

One more week!

I can't believe it's a week until Thanksgiving!  I love that the weather is cold today and once more I have that wonderful Southwest Chicken soup in the crockpot, making the kitchen smell heavenly.

I wonder what I will contribute to the meal.  I think it'll be good to take at least a side and a dessert, so that I will get to have that.  And I know my bother Peter will bring something I can eat as well.  We're a pretty allergy-friendly family since Peter's had major food allergies for the past 20 years.  It does make it feel like less of a burden on my side since that's just the way we cook.  I think I might just be so frustrated elsewhere.  So now I am trying to think of ideas so I can get what I need from the grocery store.

Christmas shopping is almost done.  Just need to get my youngest BIL's.  Brent doesn't even know what to get him and he hasn't given any ideas.  Argh.  We're supposed to get some sort of settlement from our old electric company in Austin sometime in December, so that is a nice little surprise.  Every little bit helps! :)

Happy Birthday, Austin!

I can't believe it's my nephews 5th birthday already!  He is such a fun little guy and I just love this kid!  Here we are when I met him the week of Thanksgiving 5 years ago!

More blood work

I got to have my blood drawn this morning again, oh joy of joys.  My doctor wanted me to get the full panel again as well to check everything since identifying and taking out known food allergies.  I had to fast before hand.  Why is it that whenever you have to fast, you wake up extremely hungry?  I have had issues with borderline hyperglycemia, so it is just no fun.  I was glad that I didn't feel lightheaded after like I usually do.  The doctor should get the results tomorrow or Friday at latest, but she is taking off all of next week.  Poop.  There had better be great results though, otherwise I don't really see much of a point staying on this diet.  It's not like I am losing much weight.  It's just frustrating is what it is!   I will stop whining now :)  Hoping the day gets better.

Baptismal Birthday

Today is Audrey's 2nd baptismal birthday.  Here she is 2 years ago at a little over 5 months old:

Speaking of elephants...

Audrey's favorite movie right now is Dumbo.  I love it that she's getting in to the classics!  Disney is about to release the 70th anniversary edition of Dumbo.  I can't believe it's that old!

Her favorite part is "Pink Elephants on Parade" which is weird.  That always creeped me out as a kid.  But she "sings" along with it with her own lyrics and dances.

I used to sing her "Baby Mine" when she was an infant.  And yes, usually bawl during it.  Here are those lyrics, so beautiful:

Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine
Little one when you play
Don't you mind what you say
Let those eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear, baby of mine
If they knew sweet little you
They'd end up loving you too
All those same people who scold you
What they'd give just for
The right to hold you
From your head to your toes
You're not much, goodness knows
But you're so precious to me
Cute as can be, baby of mine

Girl friend's

Yesterday's speaker at Treasure Keepers really touched me.  I am touched every time I go, but I wanted to share one illustration that shows the importance of girl friend's.

I didn't know this, but I think it's pretty awesome...

Of course you know that elephants travel in a herd.  Did you know that if a female elephant is injured or sick and falling behind the herd, 2 other female elephants will go on either side of her and push toward her to help her keep up?

How awesome is that?!

WFB

Today I went to Wholesome Foods Bakery.  It's a local bakery that is completely gluten-free and soy-free and about 98% dairy-free as well as all-natural and organic.  They also do egg-free on some of their items.  Finally a bread that it palatable!  I've been wanting a freaking slice of toast, so this is divine!  Also got some pretty wonderful pumpkin walnut bread, WFB Mix (sorta like Chex mix) and as a little treat, a strawberry and an Italian Creme cake ball.  Everything is so wonderful.  Yes, it is pricey, but not any more than a regular bakery, IMO.  $2.50 for a cake ball, $10 for a loaf.  Everything I tried has been delightful.  They have Thanksgiving goodies out right now and I can't wait to see what they come up with for Christmas!!  So glad to have found a bakery that works with my special needs AND is yummy AND has super-nice people running the place :)

Instead of Sheep...

The other night, I was having trouble sleeping, so I decided to start listing things I am thankful for and praised God for them.  I fell right asleep thinking of the many ways I am so very blessed.  Made me think of Bing Crosby's song "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)" when I recalled it the next day.  Thought I would share the lyrics:

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings