Tis the Giving Season!

As the title of this post says Tis the Giving Season!!!! Really, I think that the giving season should be all year round, but this time of year people are just more predisposed to feelings of generosity and it's lovely to see in action. Also I love to give gifts! I know a lot of energy and negativity is centered around the massive Black Friday (now spilling over into Thanksgiving) sales, and it's not without cause. But there are cases where I think that people not just wanting a good deal for themselves, also know that the gift that they are giving is truly going to be blessed to the recipient. And for that reason I suppose it's worth the crowds to deal with, but I draw the line when brawling or thievery is taking place. Here are some recent pics of a gift that myself and a friend gave to another dear friend of ours. Dear people that love the Lord and deserve an extra special something...just because.

Keep in mind that she's preggers right now...and she also just got her long awaited ceiling fan installed. So it was an emotional overload all over the place. It was so cool!!! I know what it's like to go without and then to get something special. So I know the feeling on both ends of the spectrum of being provided for and providing. I love the feeling of giving a little more I think :). I enjoy making presents and finding them as well it's always fun to hunt. It's the little things that seem to bring pleasure to people. Whether it's a laptop or a little tin mug that brings back childhood memories, the value of the present is relative to the recipient not on the actual cost of what is spent. Remember that going into this giving season...

Howeveras much as I like giving...it's always fun to get something that you weren't expecting either!

Here are just a few more of the things I love about this time of year...

Our Jr. Girls Christmas Tea

The girls are so creative

This year I found a book of Christ centered Christmas poems at the local thrift store. That was some of the best 89 cents that I've ever spent. One of my faves, so far, is as the end of this post.

My Christmas Tree

Somehow this year it ended up being red, white & blue. Totally not intentional, but pretty just the same.

The Lights of Christmas

Bruce the Talking Spruce
(Nicki asked him for Firewood LOL)

Fun with Friends

(Jeff, James, Me & Nicki)

 

Every year a local organization puts these lights together and it's amazing! This year was marked by our frequent stops at the fire pits LOL. The warmth that they offered was much needed. Cold brings it's own variety of fun, but I'd rather be warm. Obviously I'm horribly conflicted, since I'll soon be travelling up to the snow in a couple weeks. Anyway, I'm hoping that next year I can get it together to do the dinner theater there.

As promised here is one of the poems I read at the tea. It's hard to choose a favorite so maybe I'll post another as the Christmas season continues.

Christmas Presence

by Margaret Allen

"What do you want for Christmas Mom?"

My son John asked today.

I thought of all I have, and found

There wasn't much to say.

The Lord had blessed me greatly.

And all my family.

The Source of music fills my heart

With glorious harmony.

What do I want for Christmas?

I would ask the Lord above

To please restore to perfect health

Those precious ones I love.

Oh yes, and I need patience Lord,

And wisdom for each day.

Forgiveness too, for all the times

I want to have my way.

And I would share God's special gift,

The joy his promise brings:

The Holy Child of Bethlehem

Is still the KING of KINGS!

Black Friday Giveaway

Black Friday Contest to enter...


Could help many who home school.

The real vote of 2012

In the absence of a conservative win this past election season, it's easy to become jaded and think that the votes were not fair. However, never fear because the voting can still continue. How??? You may be asking yourself. Well no the vote is not for the POTUS, the Lord and voters have already spoken on that account. The real vote for 2012 is in regards to a contest that the Navy Exchange is holding. I have a couple friends that have entered it, but I'm choosing to post this one in voting for it because one, it can easily be make to be GF with Betty Crocker's GF Yellow Cake mix and two, Jenn (my friend that has entered) is planning on doing some gift giving with her prize, which for me makes a potential win all that much sweeter. What's at stake you ask? A mixer from the Navy Exchange! There's stiff competition to be had.

The Bible talks a lot about giving. The verse that pops into my head while I compose this is Luke 6:38.

~ Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. ~
Luke 6:38

In case you don't know, that was the Lord speaking those words. And in getting to know Jenn, she's one of the biggest (not literally because she's pregnant) givers that I know. She has such a generous spirit about her. So click on the link below to vote for her Cinnamon Butter Cake, and help spread the giving spirit this holiday season. O and you also get the recipe when you click on the link, seriously giving! You give a vote and she gives you a new recipe. The giving circle continues.

The best part it that it's a simple popular vote too, no electoral college to contend with Praise the Lord! So you know that you're vote will be counted, no matter where you live.

Cinnamon Butter Cake

http://m.facebook.com/11466589572/timeline/story?ut=44&hash=-240107091867774293&wstart=1351753200&wend=1354348799&pagefilter=2&ustart&__user=100001028800815
(You must have Facebook to vote)

Good Luck Jenn!!!

PT has begun.

PT, as in physical therapy, has started for me...finally! Really, unless you've been through something like that yourself, there really is no describing it. I literally am learning to walk again. And since I've been walking since I was 7 months old this is a very odd process. Yesterday was my second therapy session and it took every once of energy I had to concentrate on balancing my walking in a straight line, without falling of course. That exercise was to focus on the fine muscle movement of my heel. And then my therapist had me work on weight bearing exercises so that the right side of my body would stop over compensating for my lack of mobility on my left side. It was so weird to have to concentrate on not letting my left heel move and making sure that I got my weight evenly distributed. There are so many things about our bodies that we take for granted everyday, I know I did before this summer. In case anyone has been counting I'm at month 3.5 in this odyssey. I'm hoping that by Christmas, or New Years, that I'll be able to get back on the elliptical machine for some real exercise.

Through this all my friends have been very accommodating and encouraging to me. I'm still using my friends car, which may change soon. At least until I use it again to drive to CA for Christmas. Yeah, that's going to be so great! And then my Secret Prayer Sister this past month totally surprised & spoiled me this month as well. Things are looking up and every day I am thankful for what I have, even if it takes me a little while to think about what it is that I am blessed with. I know that the Lord does all things well...Psalm 139.

Why I don't celebrate Halloween

I've been given a lot of grief over the years by people I know about why I choose not to celebrate the holiday known as Halloween. When I was a child I did, I didn't know anything different. But after receiving a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ it's not on my heart to celebrate what is basically a pagan holiday. Rather than go into the history of Halloween and it's pagan roots, I'll simply allow the below Bible verses to enlighten you as to why I don't celebrate it and why I don't think that anyone proclaiming the name of Christ as a Christian should have any part in this holiday.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

If you are interested in the origins of Halloween here are some links to go to:
http://www.history.com/topics/halloween
http://www.allaboutgod.com/history-of-halloween-christian-perspective-faq.htm
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/halloween.html
http://www.montney.com/inspire/halloween.htm

A Giveaway

I love anything that encourages women to be modest and The Modest Mom has now launched a new endeavor that is very exciting! Go over and check it out on her bog to enter as well.

Dinner

Today I woke up to the sound of rain pelting my roof and the roll of thunder in the distance. That all quickly changed as the thunder closed in upon Coupeville as the rain turned into hail and the thunder. Which was then followed by lightening and the first power outage of the season. Fall in the Pacific northwest is never boring and far from predictable. I therefore declared it pajama day for the Pivarnik household and proceeded to commence the washing of the laundry, the purging of the bookshelves and the playing with the dog. I also had enough time to cook a simple and scrumptious fall feast...for one.

It's been a long time since I've posted a recipe and this one I used for dinner was super simple and now my house smells amazing!!!!

Brown Butter Sage Chicken

with Sweet Potatoes

It really doesn't get much easier than this. Sage is my favorite herb too! It's a little slice of fall without a big ol' bird to cook. You can really make any side you want with it, but the sweet potatoes added a nice pop of color to the plate, they have more vitamins then your basic white potato, and they are completely seasonally appropriate (if that matters to you). 

Because the link only takes you to the chicken recipe (which I found on Pintrest BTW) I'll tell you what I did for the potatoes, in case there is a novice cook out there. 

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg.

2. Skin the potato & chop into even pieces

3. Coat with olive oil (any olive oil will do)

4. Season with salt & pepper to taste

5. Put into pan & roast until they are done 

The cook time really depends on how many pieces you have & how big they are. For me it ended up being about 45 minutes, but if u have big pices it can be up to an hour. Check the done-ness of the potatoes and when they are close to done start the chicken so that all items are done close to each other (I'm a stickler for this because I hate anything being served cold if it's supposed to be warm). Enjoy all!!!

Ankle update

Here's what the doctor said yesterday...4 more weeks in the cast and then physical therapy. Doc wants me to start trying to walk around my apt. at night w/o the cast in a couple weeks so I can gauge my pain level, since I don’t really have any pain in my cast because that will gauge the healing process for her since she’s basically trying to keep things as cost effective for me as possible. She did say that she was impressed with the taping job I was doing on my ankle by myself though and that felt nice because, if you've seen my last post on the topic, she was very insistent that I have someone else do it for me. She also gave me the names of a couple island associations that may be able to help offset the cost of my PT, which I hope will be able to help. Also...on the plus side, the doc did say she wanted me to go & buy some boots to help support my ankles when I do start walking again. You gotta love a doc that prescribes shoe shopping as part of the healing process! Just saying. SO all in all that's where my healing stands for now. I'll be very thankful come Thanksgiving this year if I get to walk on 2 unassisted feet.

Weather Update

Well after my post last week I decided to check the weather report for this coming week. It all looks good until Friday, where there is a 20% chance of rain, increasing to 40% on Saturday & Sunday & the Monday the 15th is about a 50% chance of rain.

Dear Lord let it rain in Seattle all you want, but please keep the droplets of moisture away from Coupeville until Monday afternoon...Amen.

It's the Little Things

It really is the little things right now that I'm learning to appreciate. The Lord has shown me a lot in the past two months and is showing me more and more every day. It really is hard to articulate the lessons in their entirety because as with so many things that the Lord does in our lives, in order to understand the "lesson" you have to go through the "class". While going through it though God has been very gracious to provide the little things...friends to listen & help without passing judgement...the right sermon at the perfect time...a parking spot right at the front of the store and Starbucks. Now you've probably all had that moment, you know the one. It's probably Christmas time & the store/mall parking lot is packed and you really hope you get a spot near the front and you do, now that's great. I've had those moments too, but what is better is that ever since my injury 2 months ago, any time I need to go to the store God provides a parking spot for me at the front of the store so I don't have to hobble very far. No lie, I got one Sunday afternoon at Walmart, which is almost unheard of on a Sunday afternoon! So tonight when Shannon and I rolled into the parking lot and I moved forward to look for a parking spot I saw one that was close & it was OK, but then I looked and saw a better one. The one that was right next to the handicapped spot. I smiled/laughed and told Shannon to look as I rolled into the spot that was saved just for me (I say that because I was not the only car moving around in the lot at the time, but yet I was the one that got the spot). Seriously, Shannon must have not really thought I was serious when I initially told her of my recent gifts, but there she was to see it in action & just laughed along with me as I pushed the button to lock the car door as we made out way into the coffee haven.

Another small thing, but pretty big for me right now, is the weather. Thus far in western WA there has been no measurable rainfall for 2 months. That's right since my injury it's been dry as a bone up here. Now do we need the rain? Yes, we do especially in the places that have been affected by the wildfires. But my request, nay my plea, over the past few weeks, especially ever since I realized what a gift the weather has been, is that it won't rain until the doc clears me to wear normal shoes again. Now I know where I live...I'm no stranger to the weather here, but I also know that I just can't handle having to additionally wrap my foot in plastic in order to keep it dry, whereby I can then add the added "fun" of sound to my hobble and so far God seems to be in agreement with that sentiment. And even as I type Steve Poole at KOMO is giving the weather report on the 11 o'clock news and though it shows clouds in the coming days, it's also showing the all clear from rain until next Tuesday...so far. My next doctors appointment (the one where I find out about wearing shoes again) is on Monday October 15, that's 13 days from today. Don't believe me here is the weather according to the KOMO website:








Below is just a portion of Psalm 104, which shows just a fraction of all the Lord is in charge of concerning the elements. If he can do all that then I'm sure that the rain can be stayed off for a little while yet. After all He was the one that caused the rain to cease for 3 years during Elijah's ministry to Israel (1 Kings 17:1-18:1). All I can say is that I'm going to keep the prayer going and I'll let you know what happens when the Lord decides to open up the heavens.

Psalm 104:10-20

Psa 104:10  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
Psa 104:11  They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
Psa 104:12  By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
Psa 104:13  He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
Psa 104:14  He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
Psa 104:16  The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
Psa 104:17  Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
Psa 104:18  The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
Psa 104:19  He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
Psa 104:20  Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

Yes I'm still alive

I've been gone from my blog for a while, but not without due cause. It's mostly been due to me not wanting to use this forum to whine about my current health issue. After today I'm hoping that I'll be on the mend soon. *Caution the below photos might not be for the faint of heart. You've been warned*.

I wish there was a more epic story to share. You'd think so after all the random adventures that I enjoy. Think about it I've been bungee jumping...sky diving...whitewater rafting...horseback riding...hiking on Mt. Etna...and at the time of this event I was training for my first 5K. Well all that came to a halt and all those events happened without any major harm coming too me, well I did fall out of the raft but I didn't drown...but that's another story. However, this injury happened simply because I was walking. Go figure. Gravity held me down that day, but it pulled me far lower than I wanted to go.

I had to park my car up the hill from where I work because it's been tourist season where I live and the parking lot was all full. I got out of my car...started walking towards my office...took a drink from my water bottle...stepped down on the asphalt and BAM!!! Rolled my left ankle and then subsequently fell in the opposite direction turning my right knee into "knee pizza" (it wasn't pretty).

Here is my ankle right after the fall...

Brutal right?! I can't even explain how painful it was. And since I don't have insurance I tried just getting the necessary rest and elevation for a week, until my Dad, who was visiting the following week, told me to go to the Dr. & that he would pay for it. Well it's a blessing that he did because the night before I went I was in the most wretched pain that I'd ever experienced. It's really indescribable. Lets just say it's been the only time that I've ever cried solely because of pain, no other emotions were coming from me just pain. So the following Monday I was in the ER and they gave me this stirrup brace (as seen below). Which felt good because of the compression taking place, but really didn't do a whole lot to keep it from moving. But I was headed to MD for a wedding and I needed something to help make it better. Ironically a few days after my 

I was watching the Doctors TV show and Dr. Travis Stork said that the #1 reason for ER trips were people falling...go figure.

So the ER docs orders were wear it for 2 weeks (I actually wore it longer) and then it would be OK to start wearing tennis shoes and try to start walking around. Well that wasn't going so well. My ankle was popping, yeah not fun, and when I came home on Wednesday night from church my ankle had re-swollen up to the size of a tennis ball. That really concerned me, as well as my other friends, that thought the joint might have actually gotten infected. After a month the swelling should have subsided more than it had. And I knew that, but was chicken to find out that my ankle could be worse off than I thought. But yesterday, after a lot of coaxing, I went to the ankle doc in town after work and was able to get into see her today...at 930 in the morning...because someone had cancelled just 5mins before I came in. Yeah...that's kind of a sign right?! So here is what the doc said as she was showing me how to tape my ankle up for compression purposes. But what she also told me was that when I sprained my ankle all 3 of my ligaments were involved, making it a class 3 sprain and that the ER should have put me in a boot to begin with. She also reiterated what everyone has been say, which is that this is going to be a long recovery and that my ankle may not ever be the same again.

I'm not sure this type of compression is working for me at the moment, but it was nice to hear, and more importantly I know I can't do this taping on my own because of the angle that my foot needs to be taped at. I need someone else to do it for me and at this moment in time that person isn't in my life that can tape it up at 7 in the morning. So I'm going to probably just wrap it in an ace bandage before I put it in my boot. And below is finally the boot that I had to go and get today. It's not the ankle size boot, I have to go and get that on Monday when they get more in, but this is better for now.

So here are a few things that I have been thankful for during this time...
First, that I have a friend that has been allowing me to use his car while he's on deployment. Seriously....I can't say it enough. I would be in such trouble if I didn't have a car right now since my vehicle is a stick shift and his is an automatic. So if you're reading this a thousand times thank you!!!! I'm taking it in for an oil change soon since I noticed on your window that it's due for one.

Second, that my friends have been available for me to call on for all kinds of help. They've helped with everything from dinner making, to dog walking, to yard work and house cleaning, and making me go to the doctor. I truly would not have been able to get through this past month without you.

And three that the Lord has used this to slow me down, a little bit. Even if this injury is irritating. I'm sure that there will be a clearing through this forest at some point.

So that's the update, hopefully as I start to get better I will feel like writing more.

P.S. As I was dealing with a leg injury Riley got a Hot Spot behind his ear and had to get a cone put on him. Don't we make quite the pair?!

Riley is all better now and no scaring from
his Hot Spot. Thanks Susan for taking care of him!

July pic day 25

Today's pic is supposed to be of a heart.

This one was kinda easy because I've been holding onto this rock for 7 years now. I found it out at Bowman Bay here on the island. It was my Dad's first trip up to the island, and just after dinner time. He took a risk crossing the bridge as he doesn't like heights, but the sunset and time was well worth it. The boys, my younger brothers, were trying to skip stones and walking down the rocky beach and it was just he & I sitting enjoying the water splashing up on the rocks. I forget what we were really talking about, but what I do remember was he looked over at me and told me that he was "proud of the person that I had become." Then I looked down and saw this rock. It was meant to be mine. I like to think that my heavenly father put it there just for me...just for that time.

Heart Rock

July pic challenge day 19

Thursday was day 19 and this pic was to take a pic of a pet. YAY!!! I love taking pics of Riley & this one I got to take with my new smart phone using Instagram. If you don't have this app yet what are you waiting for?!

Riley James

Yes...my dog has a middle name

He also goes by...

RJ
Stinker dog
Fluffer dog
Good boy dog
and whatever else I come up with on the fly

He's great company, and in his eye (and only his eyes) I can do no wrong. Now who doesn't want a pal like that. I'm so happy that I didn't give up on him when training was challenging and that Nicki found him for me at the shelter. I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world!

July pictures days 15 & 17

A little behind here but day 15 was a picture of a building

This is where the SPGs minister to the elderly on Sundays

Now today day #17 is a picture of my "addiction". Yes, My name is Carolyn and I'm a "Pinnaholic"

Pinterest...a wonderful mecca of ...

DIY projects, positive affirmations & workouts I think I'll do...one day!

July photo day 13

Today's photo is of something open. So I chose the sky. We've been having a pretty intense set of thunder storms today and I was driving near the water I saw the sky open for the last bit of sunset. I love thunder storms so this is great! But the sky opening was pretty amazing too.

Open Sky