I was at a friend's home the other day, talking to her husband while she was out of the room. We were discussing her lack of the ability to say, "No," when her 4 year old son piped up,
"I know how to say no!"
His father replied that indeed, he was very good at saying, "no."
To prove it, the little man proudly showed us.
"NNNNOOOOOO!"
Yup, he's pretty good at it! Maybe he should give his mother some lessons!
It's been over a year since I wrote about the Steven's family and the loss of their son, and our dear friend, Josh Stevens. I thought today would be a good day to share more.
It has been almost two years now. Up until I became sick a few months ago, we continued our monthly tradition of Steven's Soup. During that time, my sweet friend, Barb, was grabbing the Drama Queen and taking care of her (including feeding her, which is hard with all of her food allergies!), and helping us out tremendously! Now that I am better, my kids (and Shelbie) are ready for soup again. So today, we make soup!
These days, a gigantimous pot is needed. It involves 20 lbs of potatoes, and lots and lots of love! I thought I'd re-post the recipe in a larger quantity for anyone who might want to make it for their family and share it with another family! You can still find the original recipe, in smaller quantities, on the link above.
But first, let me share a little of what has happened in the past several months. The Steven's family has started the Josh Steven Foundation. Here is a small quote from their web site:
"Josh was always doing something kind for someone else. We believe that
when he was kind to others, seeing how it made them feel, it inspired
him to pour out more kindness. It was a necessity to him. And when a
person would say “thank you” to him, it filled him so full, that it
would make his day. This is how and why we came up with The Josh Stevens
Foundation and the Kindness Card.
It’s a simple way to “catch” a child and let them know that their
genuine kindness can change the world. Our hope is that children being
“caught” will be inspired to be more kind, more often."
I'd like to encourage you to check out their site and see how you can be involved in passing on some kindness!
Ingredients
Love, as much as you can put into it
1 cup butter (I use earth balance to keep this dairy free)
6 qts
organic chicken broth
2 diced sweet onions
20 lbs red potatoes,
peeled, chopped
1 1/2 tsp cayenne
2tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tsp sea
salt
3 12 oz tub sour cream ( I use tub Tofutti Better Than Sour
Cream)
3 8oz tub cream cheese (I use tub of Tofuttie Better Than
Cream Cheese)
3 heaping tsp dill (fresh is best)
1 tbsp minced
garlic
1 bunch of fresh chives chopped up
Place onions and
potatoes into a large pot. Add chicken broth, garlic, cayenne, pepper,
and salt and bring to a boil. Continue boiling until potatoes are
tender. Mash potatoes with a potato masher (or a larger spoon thingy)
until there are small little chunks of potato mixed in. Add butter, sour
cream and cream cheese, chives and dill and simmer for about 15
minutes. If soup is a little watery, you can add in a bit of potato
starch to thicken it up.
Here's a little added tip: the broth should just cover the potatoes, giving enough liquid to boil; add a little more, add a little less. The soup is much better if the spices are added in while the potatoes are boiling, but you can add them in later if you forget.
For those who can have dairy, top off
your bowl with colby jack or cheddar cheese and enjoy. the Smart One likes bacon bits added to his!
But before
you take a bite, please remember Barb, Drew, Shelbie and Sammie in your
prayers…and if you knew Joshi, share a few memories as you sit around
your table eating the Stevens Soup!
Today's Just for the Joy of It is a bit different then my others. I say this, because though my heart is saddened, I will have joy.
A very dear friend of our family is in his final stages of living here on earth and on his way to be with our Maker. And as I sit here, wondering if the call will come soon, I smile as I remember his smile, and what he has meant to our family.
We met Vern and Lois many years ago. I honestly don't know how long, but we were immediately drawn to them. They have that wonderful sense of humor that doesn't come along too often. Vern is known for wearing his silly t-shirts with saying on them that are meant to make you laugh. I remember when my hubby turned 40, I wanted to get him some t-shirts like our *old geezer* friend. I call them the Vern t-shirts! To make hubby's celebration even better, it was Vern that lent his wheelchair to us so that we could wheel my *Over the Hill* husband into his home. These days, I wear my husband's t-shirts a lot…and I always think of our old geezer friend when going to put one on. (He even has Geezer 1 on his license plate.)
Things about Vern that have brought us joy:
The way his face lights up when he sees us. Seriously, nothing makes you feel better than knowing that someone is thrilled to see you.
The way he could talk your ear off.
Knowing that he adored my kids as much as they adored him.
As we pray for Vern during these last hours, we rejoice that He will be free from his pain and dancing at the feet of Jesus. I came across this song tonight. I've never heard it before, but it touched my heart. I hope it brings you joy.
About an hour after I posted this, Vern went to meet his Maker. You were loved, and we'll miss you much.
Life has certainly been busy this past week! However, a blog is in order because I promised the Twin, so here goes!
For those of you who don't know, the Twin is the Talented One's best friend. They bowl together every Saturday morning.They've been friends for years. The Twin is like one of my own and has even been mistaken for mine. His mom is a very special friend to me. 🙂
Anyway, Saturday he came home with us after bowling to help the Talented One babysit, only hubby's meeting fell through, so it didn't happen. And the Talented One crashed fell asleep on him. That left him with two choices: watch Nacho Libre with the Smart One and hubby, or go with B-boo and I to her dance car wash fundraiser. He went with us…and spent three hours as the only guy washing cars/trucks for a girls dance team! That's just the kind of friend that he is.
And a funny one at that. Some of those trucks were big…and being short not very tall, we had to be smarter than the vehicle. We laughed as we told him to climb up on the tires and he looked at us as if we were crazy. And we applauded when he finally made it up. 🙂 And washed those windshields.
And after all was said and done, we headed back to his house, to find his poor mom standing outside with a sick little girl and a ton of wet towels. I asked her, "Are those all from vomit?"
Nope. They were from trying to dry the house out after a pipe burst and flooded it.
More water for the Twin? Perhaps.
And on Sunday morning at church, he came up to me laughing. Someone had asked him if he was the Talented One. Nope.
"Oh, well, are you a Vivas?"
Yah, we think so!
For other blogs on the Twin, see below:
Actually, it's been 154 days. (I'll warn you now this is going to be a long post. But probably the most important one I write this year.)
154 days ago, I went in for a simple mammogram. 8 days later, my niece went into the hospital. 2 days later, I went in for a second mammogram. 3 days later, I was told by a not very smart concerned nurse, that I was being scheduled for breast surgery. 3 days later, I had a biopsy instead. And all during this time, I'd had a different medical issue I was having tests for and preparing for a simple, routine surgery. That had to be postponed while we awaited the news of did I, or didn't I, have cancer.
The past year had been pretty tough for us. We'd taken on two children with a lot of issues. No problem. We have to deal with the state. No problem. My husband lost his job. No problem. But then…I started with that feeling…you know, the kind that just doesn't go away? Maybe it was the kids. Maybe it was the hospitals. Maybe it was that I had cancer. I didn't know, but I do remember finally talking to my hubby and telling him, "I know that something big is about to happen that is going to change our lives. I don't know what it is, but I know God has been preparing us this past year for what is about to happen."
A week later, I found out I did NOT have cancer! My surgery was re-scheduled and the *something* had not happened.
129 days ago, I went in for a simple surgery that would take 6 weeks recovery. Not as simple as we thought; it took 2 1/2 hours instead of the routine 45 minutes. One procedure had to be done the *old fashioned way* instead of the new way, but it was done and I looked forward to recovering and having a bladder and bowel that worked the way it was supposed to!
24 hours after my surgery, I came down with an infection. It was just a little white blood count, the insurance said, give her a antibiotics and send her home. So they did.
36 hours after my surgery, I woke up feeling funny. I had two of my children in the room with me, just being with me while I dozed off and on. And then, my head started to really hurt. The lights were really bothering me and the window had to be shut. Soon, I could barely open my eyes. I started to care less about even trying to get up or the fact that I couldn't seem to function. I started to shake and become slightly alarmed. Something was wrong; I had enough sense to know that whether I wanted to move or not, my kids could not see me like this. Alarmed, I called the doctor. An hour later, I received a call back. Was I running a fever? Yes. I was told to get to the ER immediately. Only, by now, I couldn't move. I was shaking so badly, I could not hold myself up. My brain seemed to stop functioning and I felt really sick.
Hubby and B-boo managed to get me in a robe and down the stairs. I vaguely remember our neighbor helping to get me in the van. I remember being in excruciating pain as hubby rushed me to ER. I remember sobbing, because I was so miserable, and then vomiting continuously all over the van, hubby and myself.
And that is how we landed in the ER that Monday afternoon. One look at us, and they knew it was serious. The next 24 hours were a rush of tests, IV's, and medication. I was admitted because I had an abscess at the surgery site. In the wee hours of the morning, I remember having to change gowns because I was a higher level patient. An Infectious Disease doctor was called in. I was told I was septic. I remember not caring, but called hubby to let him know what I'd been told. All I wanted was sleep, no pain, and complete darkness.
The next few days were a blur of visitors, sleep, medication, and more tests. I was lucky to be alive, I was told. But I hurt so bad. Sometimes I'd shake so bad, I thought I'd shake myself right off the table. But there was always someone there to take care of me. I don't think I was ever left alone.
Meanwhile, at the home front, meals were being brought in, kids were being taken where they needed to be and God made sure that everything was taken care of.
I made it home and cried. I'd never hurt so bad and I had such a hard time sleeping. I could barely move. The home health nurse came out and explained to us how to give me medication through the picc line. Hubby and B-boo became my nurses. I cried when my dear friend who'd flown out to help had to leave. God has seen us through some tough times, but He's always seen fit to bring us together when it is needed.
20 days after my surgery, I discovered why I continued to hurt so bad. By then, my parents had come out to help. Mom was so worried for not having been out sooner, but again, in God's perfect timing, they came out when I needed them. My niece went back into the hospital, and Dad spent time running me around to the several different doctors I had to see. I had a pretty nasty wound that wasn't going to heal anytime soon. After a fight with the insurance, I was finally approved to start seeing a wound doctor. (Who knew of such a thing?) I cried that first day, miserable, shaky, and in so much pain. He said the average wound took 14 to 16 weeks to heal, but I was young and healthy, so he was hoping for 8 weeks.
Week after week, I continued to go in, and he'd encourage me and tell me he hoped the next time he saw me it would be better.
And I did, slowly, but surely. I finally was able to shower by myself. I was able to attend church by Easter. I was able to drive after a few more weeks. It was long, and slow, but steadfast.
Week after week, month after month. Some days were good, some were bad, but…
Today,18 weeks and 3 days after my surgery, I was finally told my wound has healed. There is still pain, and I have a long way to go to get my energy back. But, the wound is healed. I don't know what I expected. I think maybe to jump for joy. Instead, I cried. I just cried and cried. More from relief, probably. The tears just came and wouldn't stop. And that was before I got home, and told hubby, and started crying again.
So, what I have learned from all of this?
I've learned to appreciate my family a whole lot more. We are definitely closer these days.
I've learned just how amazing our friends are; and how much our church family loves us. When mom would worry, I could tell her, "It's ok, we are being taken care of; just take care of yourself."
I've learned that sometimes, you just have to stop. And that is ok. I don't have to be supermom; really.
I've been to the lion's den while God was there with me. He has His hand on everything.
At one of the visits with my surgeon, he told me that had he done the surgery the way he planned instead of the *old fashioned way,* it would have killed me.
God is good. He knew. He knows. And He has a plan for me.
I was once asked, how do you get through it all? By faith, I replied. I have to have faith. And hope.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 12: 1b-2
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have
been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through
whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now
stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and
character, hope. And hope
does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our
hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Rejoice in the hope of the glory of
God.
I hope that you all will rejoice with me today, and offer up prayers of thanks, because God is good, and He never fails us. We could not have made it through the past several months without each and every one of you. Thank you so much!
Hope