WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

Head on over to Joyce's and join in.

I decided to join in today with Wednesday Hodgepodge since I've missed it the last few weeks and I'm not organized yet to share my stories/photos from my trip. Also from our view here on the hill we saw at least 8 towns doing their fireworks. It was super clear outside and they were awesome.

1. What is the most useful book in your house?
Maybe my Fanny Farmer Cookbook. We seem to go to it often for answers.

2. What's worse-being too hot or too cold?
I am going with too hot after being in Italy a week ago! However I don't like being cold either but at least I can put on layers.

3. Share something that made you smile this past weekend.
My children here on Sunday. It was awesome to see them and share our trip with them, including a lot of laughs.

4. How do you like your hamburgers? Or don't you?
I like my hamburger cooked medium with cheese, nothing else!

5. What's your summer beach read? If it's not summer in your part of the world then tell us what book you're reading in front of the fire while sipping hot cocoa.
I hope to get to read Water for Elephants soon. Just finishing up with Heaven Is For Real which is excellent. Was so busy on vacation that I barely read at all.

6. How was your birthday celebrated when you were a kid?
I don't remember them but I am sure it was with family members and cake!

7. What's something that is totally uncool that you love anyway?
I am drawing a blank on this one.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

There is a young girl named Emily who I have been following who had been diagnosed with Leukemia in 2010. She has been so brave for so long. She has made a decision to stop all treatment and I just thought that maybe you would like to stop over and tell her how brave she is. She is a believer and has the total support of her family/friends. Life With Emily

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July. It is wonderful being back home in my own bed. We arrived late on Friday evening. It was easier to get into London, Paris and Italy then it was to get back home into LAX airport. First of all the flight was delayed (always after you board) so we were on the plane for 12 hours. That was a bit much for me. I watched 4 movies and stood at the back quite often. I wish I could sleep! Anyway we arrived later then expected and we were on a Virgin Atlantic flight.

Apparently that man who made it from NY to LA without any identification was on a Virgin flight so security levels were increased. There happened to be two flights that had just landed from London so you are talking about 800 people getting luggage and leaving the airport. Well they were doing double checks so we were wrapped around that area several times in a line. It took us 1 1/2 hours to get through but we made it (thankfully they opened up a new lane or we would have been at least another hour), got picked up from our limo driver and we were happy to see that there was no Friday 4th of July weekend traffic home.

Our trip was amazing. I have so much to share but it will be awhile before I get myself all organized to do that. Spent most of Saturday going through pictures. Having two camera I want to sort similar ones into new folders so I can pick the best of the best. Celebrated the 4th with the kids Sunday, shared all the photos through the TV and gave them all their presents. I actually did more shopping then I realized which is really kind of sad with the exchange rate!

I hope to get around to do some reading this week. I want to thank everyone for the prayers, I can't believe all that I did. I had to push myself daily but I was out and about everyday. I was on my feet daily, had some ankle swelling but the worst was in Italy with the humidity. I averaged about 4 hours of walking daily and didn't lose a pound! My lungs started to bother me just a few days before we came home. I started myself on antibiotics Saturday and will be resting the next few days.

I have something I wanted to share with you that happened while we were away. The kids never told us because they knew I would worry. Amber and Dylan spend time in the garage sometimes. Dylan will be in there cleaning guns after they go shooting, sometimes they smoke in there depending on the winds we get, anyway there were in there doing something. Often the dogs will leave the garage and go to the yard. No big deal, we go and check on them all the time calling them back to the garage. This is never done at night when the evil predators can be out. So it's early evening and bright as day. The dogs had just left the garage and within minutes they heard the sound of an animal screaming for it's life. It was Charlie! A coyote for some reason was out and tried to grab Charlie through the fence.

Thank God we have a nylon net fence woven through our open view fence with goes about 4 ft up from the ground. (did that was Skye was a puppy so she couldn't get through it) The coyote couldn't really get through the nylon fence but was able to grab the side of Charlies face (Amber was there in an instant and the coyote ran away) and pulled a chunk of hair out. The strange thing is that Charlie is the timid one and Skye is the one who chases every thing that moves. Skye was close to the house pacing but not near the coyote. Charlie was okay but the next day he was all swollen so they went to the vet and all was well. You can see from the picture that he is all healed now. The vet said that it was a miracle that he wasn't hurt worse and their were no puncture wounds.

I also want to ask for some prayers for me. I had a bone density test done the week I left along with a mammogram. I received letters on both that I have to have further testing done. Your prayers would be appreciated.

WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL THE COMMENTS I RECEIVED WHILE I WAS AWAY. I HAVE READ EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM :)

INNER PEACE

Inner Peace

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat plain food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs, ....

Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!

(GOT THIS IN AN EMAIL)

We are on our way home today (day 21) and I can't wait to see my baby! Of course I can't wait to see my children too!
New post over at Debby's Tree.

(This was pre-posted)