Hope

Hope.....is a beautiful word!

Hope is something I find in GOD's word, but is lived out and seen in many places.

I can't beleive it has been almost a week since I have posted but I have been busy with LIFE....

.......a life filled with HOPE.

So what do I hope for you might ask?

Hope, the way I see it is something that gives.....

It gives me JOY and a PEACE in what is to come.

There is not a pregnancy to announce as of yet but

 I hope there will be in the future.

I have recieved many of the answers I needed and am heading it the right direction.

Infertility is a rough road to travel.

Hope....

I did not think my small garden had much to give me this year....but I was wrong

I see new fruit growing and have hope for a few things to come...even though I have neglected my garden this year.

I have hope in so many things.

Hope has so much it wants to give me.

What do you hope????

Peace and Love,

Georgiann

A bit of Joy in the mail today!

It was a rough emotional day yesterday with medical test results and thinking of my baby Christian, lost to an early miscarriage back in January.....my due date would have been in just 4 days!

When I feel down something always comes along to pull me back up.
It was refreshing to check the mail today and find a package addressed to non other than me! 

It was an apron from Joy over at Artful Homemaking.

I won her blog giveaway last week!

A bit of joy from JOY!

Thank you so much!

The apron is just beautiful!

Your generosity really lifted my spirits!

Here is Olivia my one of my little kitchen helpers wearing the new apron!

We were making pizzas for lunch.....and my mini chef wanted to wear the new kitchen gear!

Excuse the bathing suit.....it is summer! lol

I hope to post some of the many healthy eats we have been gnashing on since

 joining the CSA farm co-op!

Thanks so much Joy!

The kiddos with shields as they walk up to the sprinkler!

My little summer warriors!

Peace and Blessings,

Georgiann

Feeling Down

My 3 youngest kiddos at Christian Alexander's grave.
We still need to buy a stone, but for now we just have a in ground vases to mark his spot.
He is buried at the cemetary.....it was FREE of charge.

I wasn't going to write this post till I was emotionally feeling better and well......I decided it might make me feel better to write.

My test results of my month long NaPro blood draws came in the mail today......and the tears seem to have found me this muggy afternoon. The hot weather and being tired is not much help to my raw emotions. Its been a long day of going up to the JR High for "get your stuff" day. The 7th graders had to go really early and the 9th graders had a later time. It was crowded and no fun. I got the results in between the 2 treks up to the school. I felt like bawling the whole time I was up there. It was a challenge to hold it together. My mind was esle where to say the least.

So what did the result say, you may ask?

THE RESULTS are:

low estrogen and low progesterone in my post ovulatory phase

The words that really make me cry was reading:

This could account for the miscarriage that you had and may put you at risk for further miscarriage or infertility.

WOW that hurts....I mean really hurts!
Due to low hormones Christian died!
I know it was not my fault.... I don't blame myself. I just want him back!
My due date was to be Aug. 28 in just 4 short days.....I remember the JOY and the feeling of carrying him. My clothes were getting tight......I had big dreams! I miss him so much!

Deep Breath..........

So the plan is to take 4 injections of HCG on peak +3 +5 +7 +9 then go in for a blood test.

The pharmacy that can fill my prescription is about a 3 hour drive, so they will mail me my 4 pre-mixed injections. It seems I was told that this HCG is hard to find because many diet pill companies have bought it all up! Crazy I know!  I was also told that I must pay for my meds in FULL before they mail them to me. I must then wrangle with my insurance company!

What I have is considered PMS. (that's how it is billed)

Post edit {there is hope of becoming pregnant soon, after my hormones are corrected}

You can read here about low estrogen .

I was also told I have a elevated fasting GLUCOSE of 111 and should be under 100.

It is recommended to lose weight,exercise and limit refined flour and sugar.
I have been working really hard the past few weeks to do all that!

I also need to make an appointment with my regular Dr. and see if he wants me to start checking my blood sugar at home. Though at this point I would not need meds for my pre-diabetes.

I feel drained......and hubby's home so I'm going to close this post for now.
I will eat some dinner and then go to bed early!

Peace and Love,

Georgiann

{more pics from the farm}

I was sifting through the pics on my camera and found many more I wanted to share. Spending time at the CSA farm with my kiddos really warms my heart. I try to stop time soak it all in by taking a ton of pictures!

What do you like to take pictures of?
What setting?

I love rain day comforts ,umberellas, and puddles etc.

I love a cute girl in rubberboots and a mudpuddle, don't you????

I didn't take to many pictures did I??? lol

I pray all is well with you all!

Now I'm off to do some cleaning and a possible bathroom redo.

(I might paint my vanity with some paint I have laying around and a few other things!)

I'm trying to get my mind off waiting for my NaPro Dr. to call with my blood work results!

He will call sometime this week!

It has been a long 4 weeks of getting poked almost every other day!

If you have time stop in and say hi,

introduce yourself.....I love to make blog friends!

Become a follower if you'd like!

I go through spurts of posting.....but I'm really feeling bloggy lately!

Its funner when people comment and day hi so come say howdy!

Peace and Blessings,

Georgiann

{notes from this weeks CSA co-op harvest}

We were warmly greeted this week by a girl conducting a strawberry taste test.

We sampled 6 kinds of strawberries and rated them on several qualities.

So fun!

This weeks sample share was:

1 head of cauliflower

1# of potatoes

.75# of squash

2 med. sweet onions

1 med tomato

.75# green beans

1 head of lettuce

1 bundle of greens

1 pint blueberries

1 pint cherry tomatoes u-pick

Herbs u-pick

Plus I buy a salad and u-pick flower share!!!! :)

All my kiddos came to the farm except Jarett whom rarely goes with us.

He is 17yr old and busy with sports etc.....

CSA co-op Farm Fun!

Down in the valley lies a CSA farm. Many of the locals go on their assigned pick up day with canvas bags and woven baskets to gather their share of fruits, veggies and herbs.

You could also opt to buy shares of eggs,bread, salad

(washed and bagged) and flowers.

The season began in March and goes through the end of October.  We just joined from August-October.

Our fee was pro rated and we can make it in 3 payments.

Last Friday it was just Noah and I (hubby joined us as we were getting done)

I ran out of camera space so I only got a few pics. I plan to take more today when we go!

Here is a list of what we got on week # 1!

We bought the sample share......

.75# green beans

3 cucumbers

1# broccoli

1 fennel bulb

5 green onions

1 bundle of greens (kale,Swiss chard or collards)

1 pint of cherry tomatoes (u-pick)

1 pint of raspberries

1 pint of blueberries

We were also allowed to pick fresh herbs!

I got:

cilantro

sorrel

mint

dill

We payed $18.00 for the share.

For $5.00 a week I added a large bag of washed mixed salad greens

For $2.90 a week I added u-pick flowers. (I can get 15 stems)

I can't wait to see what there is waiting for us today down at the farm!

What we get changes from week to week!

I did a good job eating all we had!

I made a real effort to make sure we ate ALL of what we had picked up last week.

The sample share ($18.00) is only 1/3 smaller than the basic share ($29.00)......we did good.

There was plenty for us. My kiddos though there are 6 of them did not eat to much.

Heres to a great weekend and healthy eats!

Peace and Love,

Georgiann

Enjoying God's Beauty In The Simplest Things!

Wow! Look at the craftsmenship! sigh****

What detail.

It was a gorgeous summer evening here in the Pacific Northwest.

Hubby and I sat on the porch and relished in the simple sweetness we were witnessing.

Olivia was just beautiful.......

the sun was shining down on our youngest daughter as she played in the sprinkler.

I must have snapped 50 photos of her as she played......unaware we were there.

I wanted time to stand still.

But as I ponder that thought.

Life is living.........life is movement.

Life does not stand still for anyone.

My kids are growing up, there is nothing I can do to stop that.

But want I can do is enjoy every moment I can with them, and see the pure beauty in our ordinary days.

Yesterday was pure joy to my heart.....

Watching the sun sift through my daughters hair at the end of an awesome day as she frolicked in the sprinkler, was just glorious!

God is Good!

Have an awesome day!

Peace and Blessings,

Georgiann

Honoring Mary~

Today as Catholics we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven.

Peace and Blessings,
Georgiann

Saying goodbye to a friend~

I have only seen my oldest son Jarett cry twice. Once when our dog died about a year ago, and then again last week when he read on face book his 17yr old friend/football teammate (LeVond) died in his sleep.

My husband and I comforted our son with a long embrace as he wept in our arms. Our son seems so big, nearly a man at 17.  This event reminded us that even though our son is very independent....he needs us. We are his resting place in this rough and tumble world. This encounter we shared was raw....pure and very specical.


It was reported that:
LeVond said, he did not feel good. He complained of a stomach ache said, he was going to lay down for a bit. He never woke up! A relative found him later that evening after he slept though dinner. He had already passed!  The autopsy showed he had genetic heart disease. Plaque builds up in the arteries at a rapid rate.....he had the heart of a 60 yr old man. No body knew he had this disease :(
(Sports physicals could not detect this sort of thing....it was not a defect it was rapid progressive disease.)

The funeral was yesterday. My son has never been to one....he was filled with so many emotions!

Jaretts friend T spent the night so I could take them both up to the school early to pick up their football jerseys. The whole team was going to wear them for the service.  The team ended up setting together a well.... it was moving.... very powerful to see these young men all together.

Before the service.....the boys wanted a hair cut. So off we went!

At the service.......

The entire football team shed a few tears as they gathered around LeVond's open casket in disbelief and had to say there last goodbye.  Its just not supposed to happen is way....having to saying goodbye to a friend that was only 17 years old. Dead just like that in his sleep none the less!

He was a good kid. Well liked and a youth leader in the community.

There was no drugs or alcohol involved. No fast car ride. No really dumb mistake.

Just a quiet sleep he never woke up from due to an unknown heart condition.

This group of boys got a dose if life at this young age.

Most thought they could concur anything.....but quickly realized you can't concur death.

It will come find you when it is your time.

They have learned......for a little while at least......you can't take life for granted.

Be loving .....be kind....embrace those around you!

*********************

Many of the team mom's (including myself) helped at the reception held at the high school in the cafeteria for the friend and family.

I made my favorite cheesy hash brown casserole. I will post the recipe soon!

I made a double batch in throw away containers so I would not have to remember to bring anything home.

So smart I know!! :)

Did I tell you that I had to carry the hot flimsy tins in on my very old beloved

( black, seasoned with many years of cooking love) cookie sheet?

Can you tell where this is going?

I forgot my cookie sheet.....I left it there! :(

I pray that someone has it and that I will get it back!

I will keep you posted as to weather I get it back,......not that any of you really care!

Just pretend to!......Thanks :) lol giggle sigh****

Have you ever left a dish or something at a potluck and never got it back?

On another note:::

Yesterday was a FULL day for me.......

Starting out at 5 am......I got up to to make lunch for hubby, my girls thought it was morning!

They thought it would be fun to play with the cat.......I never went back to sleep!

Then it was fix hot breakfast for Jarett and his sleep over friend.

Drive boys to school to get their football jerseys.

Home to start casseroles.

Pick up boys from the school and take in for hair cuts.

Come home to make lunch for kids staying home (only Jarett and I went to the funeral.)

and finish making casseroles.

Attend funeral and then stop by the house on my way to the reception to pick up hot casseroles. 

After the recepetion I head home to

pick up the 3 youngest kids and get Jarett's friend stuff so I could drive T home.

Only to find out......

 that when I was gone to the furneral Olivia held the cat ALL day and it finally pooped on her.....and 6 large blankets!!!!!!  I only had 5 minutes to "put a band-aide" on my smelly bedroom mess:(

What a mess!!!!!!

Then it was off to tin buck to......to drop of Jarett's friend T. home. I had a few seconds to drop Jarett back off at home before going to the girls VBS BBQ up at the local Baptist church were my girls are attend their 3 VBS of the summer. Hotdog and chip dinner for the kids at 5pm! Then the girls had VBS from 6-8:30 pm.

(parents needed to be there at 8:10 for the show)

While the girls were at VBS....

Noah and I drove down to the local CSA farm to get our first Veggie pick -up!

We needed to be there by 7pm! Hubby got off work and joined us!

I will share some picture soon!

I now must go and move the laundry along......this cat mess it taking a while to get cleaned up!!lol

EEEKKKK!!!!!!!

Peace and Joy,

Georgiann