So Thursday was just like any other day. We had a full, hectic morning – doctor’s appointments, music lessons, etc. By the time I got home, it was time to make lunch and then we got started on our homeschool.
I’ll say right now that last week didn’t go exactly as I had envisioned. I should have realized that since we had appointments basically everyday that I would not get much else done than the very basics!
Anyway back to Thursday… just before time to make supper my husband asked me if I’d walk with him down the street {4 doors} to visit his brother and sister-in-law. So I did. We had a short, but nice visit and then walked back home hauling their Christmas tree with us so that my husband could burn it.
Anyway, before I went inside the house, Mykal asked me if I would mind pulling the cover off of our outdoor water spigot. We wrap it in the winter to keep it from freezing. I’m not sure why he wanted me to pull it off, but he did. So, as I was walking across the yard, my special girl Caroline who is my favorite black Lab and means so much to me was behaving in a very rambunctious fashion. Overly playful. I’m used to that. I have been annoyed on more than one occasion because she’ll jump on me when she’s excited. But I love her anyway.
Well, this time, instead of jumping on me, she came up behind me very quickly {running} and I didn’t see her coming and I’m not sure if she meant to run into me or not {who knows what goes on in a dog’s head} but she plowed right into me and knocked me off my feet.
Literally knocked me off my feet.
My feet went flying upward into the air and my head, neck, and shoulders flipped toward the ground and I hit. really. really. hard.
In fact, I hit so hard that I screamed out and panicked in my head because the pain was so intense. Very few times in my life have I ever shouted or screamed in pain. My husband heard me and came running over. I was laying in a muddy section of our yard and he tried to grab my hands to pull me up as I screamed. All I could say was No!
The pain was so intense that I was sure I’d broken my back and I was afraid for him to move me. It also knocked the wind out of me which must have contributed to my fright. I just knew he was going to have to call 911 and have them haul me out on a board.
Well, I didn’t break my back. And my dog, who I still love with all of my heart has no idea that the reason I’ve been laying in bed or in the recliner with a heating pad the last few days is all because of her crazy antics.
Three things.
- I’m so grateful I fell in the mud instead of on our asphalt driveway.
- I am even more aware now how things can change in an instance and sometimes we just don’t see it coming. Which is why we need to live in the present moment fully embracing the gifts we’ve been given.
- And lastly, I’m so very thankful that I didn’t break my back or my neck.
I know it sounds melodramatic. I don’t mean for it to. But that’s what all went through my mind in those few moments before my husband pulled me to my feet and helped me hobble into the house.
I’m feeling some improvement today. Still incredibly sore and my neck doesn’t like it when I move around too much, but I’m trying to slowly get back on my feet and move around some so it doesn’t stiffen up too much.
Other happenings last week…
- Laura had an evaluation with the Orthodontist – he said to come back next January and she should be ready for braces. Sarah and Emily are currently sporting braces too. So we see the orthodontist a lot. Hannah was blessed with perfectly straight beautiful teeth.
- Sarah had a doctor’s appointment with a new doctor – loved the doctor! They scheduled an Ultrasound for this Monday of her gallbladder and abdomen and will be scheduling a colonoscopy and endoscopy soon. We’re hoping to get a solid diagnosis this time.
- Emily has joined the community choir and I’m thinking about joining. Also, Emily has her own guitar student now!
- Laura began working on a new song I’ve been dying for her to learn on the violin – Pirates of the Aegean by David Bruce.
- And, Hannah continues to work on her skills for Freestyle 2 in ice skating. I believe she’ll be ready to test at the end of February!
Free Mug Cozy Patterns
I thought it’d be fun to share some free Tea Cozy Patterns. You know. Just because.
My One Word
My One Word for this year is HOME. I really want to focus this year on doing something each day to make my home cozy for my family. I want to create a space that feels like home.
One of the things I’ve been buying a lot lately is really wonderful pillows for our sofas and chairs all over the house. I think they just add a sweet element of coziness!
Menu Plan for the Week
Menu Planning really helps me during the week. We stay so busy, but we rarely eat out. Which means I cook three meals a day most days. Without a plan, I’d be lost!
Breakfast
- Cream of Wheat and Toast
- Blueberry Muffins and Cheesy Scrambled Eggs
- Oatmeal with Brown Sugar, Walnuts, and Almond Milk
- Bread and Butter Pudding and Sliced Oranges
- Grits and Fried Eggs
- Vegetarian Sausage with Tea Towel Biscuits
- Cereal and Almond Milk
Lunch
- BBQ Sandwiches and Macaroni and Cheese
- Macaroni and Pea Salad
- Spaghetti and Garlic Bread
- Shepherd’s Pie
- Stewed Tomatoes and Quinoa
- Hot Dogs, Coleslaw, and Potato Chips
- Potluck at Church
Supper
- Pasta with Tomatoes and Italian Sausage {vegetarian}
- Salad with Feta Cheese, Dried Cranberries, and Toasted Walnuts
- Veggie Burgers, Potatoes, and Broccoli
- Honey Lime Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos
- Kim Bap, Pot Stickers, and Cho Bap
- White Lima Bean Soup and Cornbread
- Leftovers or Tacos
Snacks
- Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Apple Slices with Dip
Goals
In the Kitchen
Because last week was so hectic, I never got around to making my Amish Friendship Bread starter. So on Wednesday I’m going to do my best to put that together. If you’ve never made Amish Friendship Bread, it’s wonderful. You can read my full tutorial here.
I did make my favorite Sausage Cheese Balls last week and they were really good. We had them for snacks and even breakfast on the go one morning! These would be perfect for Game Day!
I also did not get around to making my homemade freezer hash browns – maybe on Wednesday or Thursday this week.
I have an alarm set for 9 pm every night to juice for my daughter. She drinks cabbage juice for her Chron’s Disease.
Cleaning
None of my Cleaning goals were accomplished last week. I know.
So guess what’s back on the list for this week? I was even seriously considering paying my daughter to clean the house. Surely it’s the back pain talking. I hope to be well enough by Tuesday to get some real cleaning done! We did get the tree taken down, but all of the Christmas ornaments are piled on the dining room table waiting to be packed away.
- Get the Christmas stuff organized and put away.
- Get my sunroom back in order.
- Get the laundry done.
Reading
- I’m just starting to read the The Love Dare. As I continue to to choose to love my husband more, it’s the perfect way to jump start my marriage this new year.
- I’m going to be reading the book of John in the Bible.
- Read aloud: Where the Red Fern Grows
Homeschooling
My homeschooling goals have not changed much since last week. In the middle of the week I decided I was NOT happy with our History book. Which would explain why I have such a difficult time finding time for History each week. So, we went back to an old favorite that my older kids used years ago – The Mystery of History Vol. 1. I don’t really like mid-year switches in curriculum, but I’ve don’t it before and I think we’ll just enjoy this book more.
- My main goal right now is to get us on a better schedule.
- Make sure the girls are diligent to get everything checked off their Daily Homeschool Checklists.
- Laura needs to spend more time each day practicing her violin.
Capturing Life, Laughter, and Love 2015 Instagram Challenge
Have you joined the challenge with me? I love Instagram and I’ve been really enjoying looking at all of the photo challenges daily! If you haven’t joined yet, you can do so in the box below!
Here’s a one of my challenge photos from this past week of the sunset:
What’s on your to do this this week?
Join the 5 Day Challenge
Homemaking is a ministry and whether you work outside the home or stay home full time, you are a homemaker!
I'm excited to share these ideas and more with you!
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