Apples2

Hey Guys.... got home about 1/2 hour ago. Had a wonderful day but still had more family missing again today because of the stomach flu...came down with it during the night. Was a small group of us..only 9 but we had just a great day. "Mom's" DS and DIL gave me a beautiful handmade quilt. She makes one for every family member. It is all the right colors and just the kind of quilt I like. Already at the foot of the bed. I was just floored that she would make me one. Glare ice on all the roads here. Just so bad to drive on. To think, I did a 180 mile trip on those yesterday. Crazy woman...what was I thinking? Great...can't believe how active you are so soon after surgery. I wish you did not have to go through what you do with your family. Wish they would just turn and be accepting of you but from the sounds of it most likely not. You've said many times you wish for the Norman Rockwell family. I don't think that's even out there. Just ask each of us. LOL Phyll....sorry for DS issues....a swift kick in the A$$? Why do they always play on Mom's emotions? Hang tough! Linda...hope you make it to FL. So happy you are still considering. Julie...know what you are going through with the snow, etc. What a rotten, crappy, snowy, icey week. I could pack up and move tomorrow if we weren't so tied to this farm. The older I get the more I detest MN winters. Beginning to feel like a pent up animal. I guess we are fortunate we can go missing for a couple of months in the winter. Only thing that keeps me sane. (Yes, I am sane...I think?) Well gang..heading to bed with a book. Had such a combo of foods today, it's going to take a couple of days to feel right again. Just a bloating, puffy, just not right feeling. But, came home and made the three bags of popcorn anyway. One for DH, me, and the dog. Old habits die hard. Laura...hope you are soaking up the family time with parents...enjoy the rest of your visit. Gotta go...reading a great book and hated to put it down last night. Sleep tight!

Yup...counting down cuz I cannot wait to spend some "real" time with all of you. About ready to pack up the truck and head over (2 miles) for a good day with the family. I so look forward to the little ones. 4 childen ages 7, 5, 3 and 2. Each have little personalities of their own and so well-behaved. I have my little favorite (the others would never know). Sophie...white hair that stands straight up on her head even though it is long hair. Her eyes are wild and she is forever on the run and full of mischive. She'll be eying that Christmas cake just waiting to demolish it. :smile: Put your feet up, Eva, and have a good day!

Good Morning All...been up since 5am and DH is having a little sleep-in this morning. Needed to get up because I have some things to prepare for our get-together today. This is the party we were supposed to have on Christmas day but got canceled. Not everyone can make it home for today so I will host another next weekend. Today is with "moms" family (my fake family who are like my own). Last night I made my Baby Jesus Bday cake. Now, I have baked cakes from scratch since I could stand on a chair at the kitchen counter but I am far from decorator. (Homes, yes, cakes, no). It actually turned out nice. I can just see their little round eyes taking it in and waiting to take the candies off of it. Made white chicken chili as an alternative to their traditional oyster stew, three different kinds of bread. We will also have dinner over there and is also their traditional ham dinner. I will be bringing a few items for that. Now just have to take a look at the gifts I packed up and pull out the ones that are not making it today. Not sure how much snow we have gotten in the last few days...I know it is well over 12 inches. I so wanted to post some photos but tech man did not show up to take a look at my card reader. I was going to do photos of my trees and Santa collection. I will shoot the photos and you guys might just get them late. Linda...hope you are sleeping in after your restless night. Laura...happy you are with your family. Will look forward to the update on your dad. Eva...Nice to hear your Christmas meal was a hit (and that it's done and cleaned up). Meredith...looking forward to you catching us up on your trip. Janet...thanks for posting photos...nice looking family. Linda...Cute photos Lori...take it easy on that knee. Get some rest today. Phyll...have fun with the fam Everyone else that I forgot...hope you have a great Sunday 46 Days till FL meet!

Hey Gang...just stopped in to say "hi". Left the house this morning early...extremely crappy roads...ice, slush and snow the entire 180 mile round trip. I was white-knuckling it. Now gotta hit the books. Year end will be here soon and need to fine tune some things. I'll be smiling again once this is completed, off my desk and tax appointments over with. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Yep, Charlene, toad and bloated fits how I feel. I am so used to never putting crap in my mouth anymore. Decided today would be different...same as I did on my birthday. Felt crappy that day too. I think it will be very easy for me to go back to healthy tomorrow. Makes me feel so much better. A Christmas Story...my favorite! Watched it with DH today. Cheri....sounds like you found unique gifts for everyone and had a good day.

Oh yeah...ate nothing but crap today and thus feel like crap tonight. Was fun though!

Sorry about your accident, Melissa. Make sure you watch for signs of whiplash and see your doc if worried. What a thing to happen on Christmas. Hey Charlene and Phyll....sounds like you both had good days. As for me...took a three hour nap. I cannot remember the last time I had a nap...I am thinking maybe last year??? Not sure. Woke up cranky. Now heading to bed to read a book. We have quite the wind and everything is layered with ice. Don't think I will be able to venture out tomorrow unless this ice melts. Too dangerous. Will be hosting a Christmas party next weekend for everyone due to the fact that some did not make it home. Looking forward to it and already planning menu. Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Great...quite the Christmas loot you made off with this year! Nice to hear you so happy. Just take a couple of your loopy pills you stowed away to get through your family event. LOL. Hey Deb...sounds like we are doing about the same thing today...just hanging. Did catch younger DS (26) this morning who lives in Atlanta to wish him a Merry Christmas. Feel better cuz he did go visit some friends last night and had a great time. A momma likes her cubs home for Christmas but doesn't always work out. We had a wonderful Christmas dinner. DH had leftovers and I had a chocolate protien bar and high fiber cereal. I was lazy and decided no cooking today. Janet...sounds like the kids were good to momma this year. Enjoy your new screen. I got mine a few months ago and really appreciate it. A little bit to get used to but so nice. Well...I have an oatmeal date bar and coffee calling my name. DH is watching Chrismas Vacation. We watched "It's a Wonderful Life" last night. DH said it was the first time he has ever seen it and he enjoyed it.

Good Morning Julie and Jewel and Merry Christmas. Julie...congrats on the weightloss and just be happy....I spent a year confused wondering why I lost when I really was not trying. Take it as it comes!!! Nice Christmas gift to yourself. Drive safe. Tons of snow here. Blowing but snow is too heavy to get the poor visiablity like they said. We'll take it. Housebound. DH still in his jammies and reading atlas figuring out the route to FL. I am going to spend the day packing for our trip. What to take for 6 weeks? And starting a list of things to bring for the cabin that I really missed last year...crockpot...cookie sheets...my own saute pan, etc. Good way to spend Christmas, huh?

Love ya, Laura! Have a very Merry Christmas. Christmas, kids, snow....doesn't get much better than that!

Janet....you could be my twin. I cry at that Kleenex commercial where they are crying about crying. DH and I were watching Oprah today and we were both crying. Our storm is so hit and miss. Bad roads but good visibility right now. Will see what tomorrow brings. Part of the family is not going to make it home at all for our Sunday Christmas. Sad...but would rather have them safe. Will host a party if they can make it next weekend. If not, gifts will go in the mail. I so hope they can make it then. Janet... you gave me an idea with the cake. I have a Wilson Christmas tree cake pan that I have not used since the boys were younger. It was Baby Jesus' cake each year. I am going to make one on Sat of the little ones. We have four under the age of 7. I will put candles and we will sing Happy Birthday. Thanks for mentioning it. I kind of forgot I have that pan. Hey Deb...Merry Christmas. You fit right in here...so happy you have joined us. OK gang...back to the livingroom to watch DH and the puppa sleeping. (Catching up from the long harvest). They always wake up when momma makes popcorn though. We each get a bag every evening...if not, the dog comes and nudges me almost off of the couch.

Merry Christmas Eva and Melissa!

A DH in the cleaning mood????? Now that's a way to have a very Merry Christmas! Mind is so good about helping in a pinch. I usually leave the bathrooms till last when we are expecting company cuz then they are all nice and fresh and clean. Well, there have been many times when I am running around here like a chicken and time is getting away from me. He will step in with a toilet brush and cleaning supplies and scrub up the three bathrooms. Much appreciated by me. (Pretty soon he is going to catch on that maybe I don't really like scrubing toilets and I might be just acting too busy LOL). Anyway, when the boys were in highschool and they would see him run with the toilet cleaning supplies they renamed their daddy. (No one be offended please). They called him "Piss Pot Pete":tt2:

Here I am again...junking up Janet's thread. OK Janet...take over.

Oh Great...that's so nice to hear that you have got it figured out that you have done what you feel is right when it comes to sisters and mother and that you value the family you have. Extended family does count to you but you, DH and your kids are what counts most. You do know that there are some ppl in this world that do not even know when they are hurting someone else. I am sure they love you but sure don't have a very good way of showing the love you deserve to be showered with. I am truly happy to hear you are working towards that inner peace. I think a person gets there when they KNOW in their own mind they have done their work. I guess all you can do at this point is leave it in their lap and, if it's in them, they will do their own work that needs to be done to repair relationships. The most important love that needs to be shared is right at home and you've got that.

Jewel...wishing you the best Christmas ever. What a good mommy for making it special for your son. Enjoy and take in this special time with your family. Don't have to apologize for posts written about you. (Sometimes it's just all about ME....). We want to hear about you, the progress you are making and how you are dealing with your upcoming surgery. I wish for you all the best in you personal life and also the best of results in your lapband life. Looks to me like you are already working towards making life changes and your attitude towards food and exercise. Looking forward to you keeping in touch with us and going along with you on this journey. Hope you will be able to swing some time off of school to meet up with us in FL. Looking forward to meeting you. (Sorry, Janet, this post was directed at you)

Would you guys knock it off? Good thing I have permanent makeup or I would be reapplying b/4 leaving to deliver to the shut-ins. I can feel the love amongst us and I am truly breathing it all in. Janet...your comment on "you envious of ME?" on the food issues and not obessessing...well, I think the answer to all that is my love to cook. Yep, what got me obese in the first place, has helped me recover. Now to explain in a senseible manner...I don't remember I time that I was not cooking or baking. It is truly my passion. I got obese from making a batch of something and HAVING to have that taste to make SURE it tasted OK. I wasn't going to serve something that did not pass the test. Well, I would taste and not be sure...sooooo....another taste and not quite sure...and on and on. I made a pact with myself that I would never cut back on what I love to do. I just would trust my cooking abilities enough to not have to taste and retaste. I still taste but only once. Does that make sense????? For me now, it's more about the joy of cooking and not eating. I don't think it was really ever about the eating. I think it was an insecurity and obsessing in how things tasted. I wanted to do my best and never thought my best was good enough. We all have stories on how and why we got to the breaking point. Mine was insecurities. When I look at that now I think I was "certifiably nuts". Why did I ever doubt myself and my abilities? Don't know, don't care...all I know is that I am at peace with food...no struggles going on in my head. I love peace. Julie...hope you make it to church. If you get there, make sure your camera is with you and send us a photo. Would love to see your little church with the snow, etc. OK...I cannot top everyone's posts on the love. I just want to say ditto, ditto, ditto, etc...................

Great...relieved to see that you did not take my post wrong. Did not want you to think that I was insinuating that you have not tried. It just makes me angry to think that your sisters and mother continuallly hurt you and are not there to support you when you need them. You will figure out where you want to be with it all and what kind of a relationship you can have with them...even if it is a limited one. You will know when you get there.

Charlene...sorry you are having issues and aching. Hopefully it will subside and you can enjoy your Christmas pain free. (We can always hope, right?). As Janet said, your attitude to keep going is admirable. Also, I need to 2nd your statement about the support Janet had provided for us by starting this thread and continuing to be an inspiration. We are having the calm b/4 the storm right now. We have an icy rain late yesterday and then followed by snow in the evening. Supposed to expect blowing and drifting soon. Have 9 loaves of apple/banana/cinnimon bread cooling. When DH gets back from picking up some machinery in the field he is going to deliver to some housebound elderly neighbors. We put the Christmas tree head gear on the puppa and he goes along to spread the Christmas cheer. Today will be a work day (don't mind cuz it will ease the stress) and then plan on making a shrimp scampi dish for DH and I tonight for supper and WILL watch a Christmas movie. DH will most likely watch it from behind the eye lids. Him and the 100lb lab in the recliner...snoring in unison. It really is so cute. You all have a good one. Sending you love accross the miles.

Ahem...............missing a state?????????????????

Linda...if you are unable to come to FL, let's make a pact to meet some Sat at the half way point between us. I think you are about 8-9 hours from me. We won't be back from FL until mid-March so it would have to be sometime in April.

No, No, No, Linda! You have to come to FL. I was so looking forward to meeting you! (Yep, it's all about me). I do understand and it will be very disappointing if you do not come but you just do what you need to do and it will all be OK. A BIG CONGRATS on your 100lbs lost! What a great Christmas gift.

I know you struggle with your family, Great, and I am sorry for what you have to deal with. I would be the least likely person to ever tell you to cut ties. It's the most difficult thing I have ever had to do. It affects me daily. But, in order for me to live somewhat of a normal life, it had to be done. No guilt and I know it was the right decision for me and a way to protect my children. I am one to tell people to work really hard to repair relationships, especially family. I never had the option. I am going to be brutally honest and I hope I don't offend you. As I see it, you need to take steps to correct this problem. I do not know your entire history with your sisters and mother. I take it that they somehow get a kick out of abasing you or whatever they do to get your goat...You need to approach each of them (separately) and tell them that this needs to stop. In order to have them respect you, you need to be firm with them and let them know you will no longer take what they are dishing out. (The holidays are maybe not the best time to approach them). Give them some time after letting them know what you expect. Time will tell if they have it in them to change. It's time that you stood up to them and let them know the "new you" is not going to take it anymore. It might make all the difference in the world in the dynamics of your relationship with them. It is too devastating for me to explain in this post why I am without my birth family. It was extreme and I had my own family that I needed to keep from harm. My point, Great, don't ever give up if you think there is something to salvage from a relationship with family and a chance to make them see how they are hurting you.

Arlene...what a wonderful story. The front of my sweater would have been wet and tears running down my face. What a way to make the congregation take notice. Janet...I think you so right on the acceptence thing. We don't have enough acceptence in this world. Yup...we all have stories of things that have happened or had to endure in our past. I don't share mine much because it is so dark, deep and depressing. I am full-on open about it...I just think that no one else has to take it on and I have dealt with it. But, there's is no greater feeling of accomplishment than dealing, learning how to handle what has happened and turning that corner to the other side of life. Janet...admire you for hitting the gym the way you do..even when you have things going on during this busy time. Couldn't find a Christmas movie on tv and DH is watching Kellys Heros (1970 Clint Eastwood), so I think I will pick up my book and crawl between the quilts (4)...cold here. Hey Phyll...the book I am reading tonight is based in Everett, Washington. It's an Ann Rule book (true crime) about a guy named Chuck Leonard that was murdered by his wife. Rule is my favorite author and when I know I have a book coming from Amazon, I run to meet the UPS truck. I order her new books as soon as I can. I'm almost behind the game...only one more of her books sitting by the bed to be read.