Is High Fructose Corn Syrup making us Fat?

Interesting article my dad found:

http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/

or read this one:

http://www.thefitshack.com/2007/03/15/what-is-hfcs-and-why-is-it-so-bad-for-my-body/

May Days of Thanks: Day 31

On this Memorial Day, I am grateful for all those who have gone before me. For my grandparents and other family members who have paved the way for me and my family. I am grateful for those who made our country free and who continue to support its freedoms. I am grateful to live in an incredible land and be part of a wonderful family.

May Days of Thanks: Day 30

I am very grateful for my neti pot! What a great discovery this was. I used to have perpetual post nasal drip and had frequent colds. Since I've been using my neti pot, I've had almost NO problems. I got my hubby to use it and am always telling others about it.

As for the water in the nose thing, it really, truly wasn't that bad. Really! I hate water up my nose-- it makes me feel claustrophobic. I haven't had that problem with my neti pot. Give it a try. They are about $15 at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and most pharmacies.

I am very grateful for mine. You could be too!

Poppies at Sunset

This is what happens when you have to replace an intake manifold in a truck

I think I lost count after 8 hours of working on it. Just think, I tell myself, of all the money we are saving! And only 4 more hours and then he's done. . . . .

Just so you know: I haven't complained or whined at all despite the fact that it's been a difficult body day for me and I have a migraine. Two gold stars for me.

Spring Clouds

this is the view from my front porch

I think this could looks like a plane

this is my favorite cloud pic

Scenes from a Pretty Spring Day

more poppies on my plant

sunshine basking for Hermy

my feet

the start of our garden

My grapevines

A good day for a popsicle

My first columbine flower

the flamingo my grandpa welded from a shovel

Parents: Never Underestimate Your Importance

Stay-At-Home Moms Need Praise!

May Days of Thanks: Day 29

I'm grateful for a long, long weekend. I'm grateful the weather says the sun will come out tomorrow (hee, hee). I'm grateful that my hubby will not be able to spend ALL day fixing his truck. I'm grateful that I'm still in my pajamas and my kids are playing nicely together (I haven't told them to do their chores which is the point when they start crying and being mean to each other & me). I'm grateful I have a dog sitting on my feet (even if he's continually licking his paw).

It's a good morning for gratitude, me thinks.

The Feeling Company and my Latest Shirt

This is my latest shirt. It's my sister-in-law's brother's company and it has fabulous shirts! They are having a sale right now too. I bought this one because I felt confident enough to pull it off.

Check them out on Facebook or on their website: www.thefeelingcompany.com

"Are you pondering what I'm pondering?"

"Pinky and the Brain" tongue twister

a little joy for your Friday morning....

Then again, maybe not

Moments before we sat down to eat our celebratory dinner on Tuesday night, the hubby noticed antifreeze pouring out from the engine of his truck (never, ever a good sign). So he ate dinner and we made a family run to the autoparts store (technically 3 stores). What was supposed to be a quick fix has become a major ordeal. The truck has been sitting dead in the driveway since he pulled in Tuesday night. The rest of celebration plans (and all our evening plans for the week, for that matter) were shanghaied. He's taken this morning off to work on it, and it will take all of Saturday to replace the intake manifold.

Ay yi yi! I've been flexible and patient and accommodating, but boy am I not liking the truck much. Thankfully he rented a little car so that I didn't have to drive him to and from work like I did on Wednesday.

And just when we thought it was going to be nice to have him around at night! ha! Life loves to ruin well-crafted plans, doesn't it??

May Days of Thanks: Day 28

I am grateful for the sunshine that is pouring through my front window. I love sunny days! Especially since May has been mostly a gloomy, rainy/snowy month. I love it! I'm grateful to see it-- especially since it's supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow. Blah. I'll be grateful for the sun as much as I can today.

Patience finally Blooms

Three years ago (or was it two?) I planted 2 oriental poppy plants in my front yard. The only thing that happened was that one of the plants died.

Last year the plant had a few small flowers-- maybe the size of a walnut.

This year the plant went crazy. Look how big the first blossom of the season is! It's bigger than my hand. The whole plant is bigger than Bruce, our spruce tree we planted last year (bought him at Costco for $13!) Plus, there are at least 2 dozen buds ready to pop open in the next few weeks. I can't wait until it's covered with bright orange blooms!

It's so exciting to see the plant doing incredibly well. You would never have known it from the first year when it was small and sickly. Some times in the short run things look dreadful. All you need is patience for the blooms to come.

Patience.

Trying to look on the bright side

if the hubby isn't home for dinner then I can rock out to the BeeGees on Pandora radio while I'm cooking dinner, cleaning the kitchen, and eating. Something about their falsetto helps ease the pains of loneliness that invade my heart and soul when the hubby is away. Their depth and agony conveyed through their artistry stirs a passion and drama in me. You don't know what it's like.

to love somebody.

to love somebody.

the way I love you.

(don't worry: I'm fine. A bit fruity, but fine. )

(never fear, a Michael Jackson song just came on. I think I'll close the front curtains so I can dance to it. )

So for now, I want to rock with you. All night.

May Days of Thanks: Day 27

I am very grateful for my friends (and family members who are also my friends). I'm grateful for all the people who "have my back" and keep their eyes open and prayers going for me and my family. I'd be lost without my friends. I'm grateful to have them in my life.

May Days of Thanks: Day 26

I am grateful I was blessed with a sense of humor. It runs in my family-- if you think I'm funny, then you should see my brothers & my dad. They are fantastic. Life is easier when you can laugh and find the irony.

Doctoral Dissertation

Years of study, hundreds of hours of research and writing, collaborations with professors and fellow students, conferences, sacrifices of time, energy, sleep, and family time, my husband has produced a dissertation of over 273 pages that.....

I have no earthly idea what it says.

That can only mean one thing:

He has EARNED his PhD! He knows so much in this field as to be incomprehensible to those outside of it.

I am bursting my buttons with pride for him. I was SO proud of him at his dissertation defense. Oh, he was so amazing. He looked great (new suit) and spoke like an expert. The ladies on his committee, who actually knew what he was saying, were completely impressed. I was impressed in a not-in-the-know way.

I LOVE THAT MAN!!!!

An Issue of Fairness

My daughter has exceedingly long, beautiful eye lashes. I have exceeding long, um, long eye brows.

Personally, I think she got the better end of the gene pool.

May Days of Thanks: Day 25

I am grateful that today is the hubby's dissertation defense! Woot! Woot! He will be done. He will be finished. He will NEVER AGAIN go to school! (;o)

"Tit for Tat" or My Babysitting Dilemma/Guilt/Drama

Years ago I had a friend (X) who had another friend (Z) who was incredibly "user friendly" when it came to babysitting. Z would frequently (daily?!) drop off her child at X's house because she didn't want to take her shopping (the child was not yet in school and was her only child). At first, X didn't complain too much; instead she just smiled and completely changed her plans when Z showed up unannounced on her doorstop asking her to babysit. The "drop-offs" (without pay) continued for months and took an emotional toll on my friend X. She was too nice to tell Z to stop it.

The whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth and a firm commitment to never take advantage of friends for perpetual babysitting. Of course, given my personality, that commitment evolved into a belief you should ask people to watch your kids in cases of death, blood, or mass chaos. I go to great lengths to avoid having to ask people (besides my hubby) to watch my kids so I can go do something.

Until now I've always done a "tit for tat" babysitting swap: you watch my kid(s), I watch yours. That has worked well for me because I feel like I'm returning the favor and not just asking, asking, asking. But now that I'm teaching a weekly writing class at the juvenile detention center, I can't do that. It's been SO hard for me ask my friends to babysit my toddler for a legitimate reason (OB/GYN appts, graduation, etc) without immediately feeling obligated to pay them back. And now to have to ask for a weekly thing. It's almost too much for me and my propensity to feel guilt!

I've resorted to paying my friend to watch my toddler every week for two hours. She grudging takes my check every month. I feel like she's benefiting me and I'm benefiting her back with the money-- no guilt! (sorta) It kills me some days to have to rely on someone else to watch my kids. I value my friendships too much to want to risk ruining them by being "user friendly."

When I start getting myself worked up about this (oh, and believe, I can get worked up!), I hear my friend's voice echoing in my head: Geez, Sarah, let someone serve you.

Gasp!

I am SO willing to watch people's kids when they need a sitter. Not a problem here. Need a meal? I'm there. Need a visit? Under control. Need anything in a crisis? I am your go-to-woman, can-do, want-to-do, have-it-done-right-away woman. But when the situation is reversed? AGH! I. C.A.N.'T. D.O. I.T.

But she's right. If I expect my friends to not feel bad when I help them out, then it's okay for them to expect the same thing back. So I'm working on this feeling-- this idea of being gracious while being served and being willing to ask for help when I need help (without choking or feeling ridiculous or being overwhelmed with guilt). I am working on it. Slowly and painfully. I am learning to be gracious about receiving.

How about you?

Misery LOVES Company

If I have to suffer, then you must too! This is my kids latest & greatest song.

It gets stuck in your head like you wouldn't believe. Life goes on as normal and the next thing you know you're thinking: "scoop it up, dig, dig, dig it" or "nail in the wall, mish, mash, mosh." The lyrics make no sense! But my kids love it. Sigh. Now it will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day.....

May Days of Thanks: Day 24

I am grateful for the large fluffy flakes of snow falling all over my newly planted garde---- oh who am I kidding?? What is up with it SNOWING on May 24th??? Are you kidding me???? And it's STICKING?!?!? Blach!

This will help me appreciate the warm sunshine when it returns. When it does....

Smiling Chihuahua

Turn the sound off/down. The lady's voice is annoying! But the dog is so stinking cute! It made me smile!

I was there!

This was one of the best songs of the night!!! I'm so glad I was there in person.

May Days of Thanks: Day 22

I am very grateful for having my hubby home on the weekends. It makes it more relaxing and more fun to be together as a family instead of trying to balance all our regular chores/requirements with 4 to 8 hours of schoolwork.

May Days of Thanks: Day 23

I am grateful for my neighbors. We are blessed with really good neighbors are not only our friends, but look out for us. I am very thankful we live in a great place.

the Mommy Rhapsody

Mommy Rhapsody from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

May Days of Thanks: Day 21

I am grateful for a project that stretches my mind to focus on what I'm grateful for (that I haven't already mentioned). It's getting tough! Or maybe I'm just too sleep-deprived to think creatively. Hmmm. I am grateful I've spent more time so far this month on what I have instead of what I don't have or what I wish I had.

The Mom Song

May Days of Thanks: Day 20

I am grateful for good music. I love to listen to music that makes my heart light. Here is one of my most favorite songs:

And it's finally going to be available for release this summer! I'm so excited! I can't wait to put it on my iPod.

This is Mindy Gledhill and she is AMAZING!

A Great Visit

My friend came over to chat this morning (and to visit-teach me), and we had a great time. I didn't even flinch about the Little People strewn all over the floor or the squishy diaper sitting on the front rug or the dishes piled up/in/around the sink. I was good with the mess/disaster and didn't even pay it any attention.

Until.... she dropped her cellphone and it slid under the couch! Eew! She had to reach under the couch into the layer of dust and old bird seed to pull it out. Man!

"Oh, great," I told her, "now there will be a clean spot! I'll see your finger tracks in the dust."

She laughed and I shook off the discomfort quickly. Love me, love my house. But try not to make tracks in my dust! Then I feel obligated to clean it! ;oO

Craving Light

You know what it's like to have a food craving? Those times when you are just desperate to eat something (like chocolate)? I've been having "light" cravings lately. Not just sunlight, but God's light. I think, as children of God, a fundamental part of our being is made up of God's light. I think, also, that light needs to be replenished frequently.

Lately, I can't seem to get enough of the light that comes when you read the scriptures or listen to uplifting music or pray or serve others. I'm so tired of the darkness from the news and the difficulty in the world around me. I want light and lightness and hope. I used to mock my hubby for listening to classical music in the car. Lately, though, that seems to be the only station worth listening to. It's "garbage-free!"

This morning, my kids ate breakfast to the songs of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir instead of the latest news every 5 minutes. I don't know if it will make a difference in their day, but it sure will in mine. I think that peaceful music is helping me be a more peaceful mother, and I think my kids need that right now (and my hubby too!).

Hope you have a day full of "light."

May Days of Thanks: Day 19

I am SO grateful that I've actually slept well the past three nights. Not great, but not terribly. I feel semi-decent for once.

To the Editors of Chadwicks magazine

To whom it may concern--

I really enjoy your clothing and am grateful to receive your catalogs each month. Unfortunately, there is no one here that is built like a pre-pubescent teenage boy with chest enhancements. Will you please send pictures of models who have waists, thighs, hips, and stomachs? That will give me a much better idea of how the clothes will actually look when they are worn.

Thank you.

Sarah

May Days of Thanks: Day 18

I am grateful for my pets. I love all of them-- my dog, my birds, my tortoise. They add joy to my life and a mess to my floors. It's great! :o) I am definitely an animal-talent fairy at heart.

Books I'm currently reading

"Spoken from the heart" by Laura Bush

"The Bronze Pen" by Zilpha Keattey Snyder

"The 13th Reality: Journal of Curious Letters" by James Dashner

Using a Flashlight in the Dark Places

I had an Upper GI scope today. I told my kids the doctor was sticking a tube and a flashlight down my throat. That's basically what it was. The worst part? no eating or drinking. The best part? the valium.

Everything checked out good. He took a biopsy and we'll see what that says-- in TWO weeks. Oh well. It's nice to know it looks good down there.

May Days of Thanks: Day 17

I am feeling very grateful for indoor plumbing. So nice to be able to flush! This is why I'm not enamored with the idea of camping. Hole in the ground versus a porcelain toilet? Hmm, toilet hands down.

May Days of Thanks: Day 16

I am grateful for my garden. I love planting veggies every year. I love eating fresh tomatoes and zucchini out of the garden. I love forcing them on my children! (bwa ha ha ha). I love canning the extras and storing them for the dead of winter. I love my garden!

May Days of Thanks: Day 15

I am grateful for SPRING! Blue skies, warm weather, flowers everywhere, leaves on the trees. I LOVE SPRING!

May Days of Thanks: Day 14

I am grateful for my internet connection. Especially when it's not working. It's fast, it's dependable (not this morning), it connects me to the outside world. I'm grateful to have it (except I don't think about it until I don't have it).

ah, it's m.o.r.n.i.n.g.

I woke up this morning with a headache and a 70's boogie/disco song stuck in my head. It's hard to say at this point which one is more painful. Of course, the headache could have come from being kneed in the mouth by the toddler who crawled in bed with us again some time in the middle of the night. In my Ambien-induced fog, I did nothing to try to get him back in his bed. I just rolled over and made room. The Ambien did seem to lessen the mental awareness of the pummeling I got as he rolled over and over and stretched and kicked and practiced karate in bed this morning.

Unfortunately, the hubby didn't take Ambien before bed. He was far more aware of the beating he was getting.

Now we are left with the process (again) of convincing the toddler that his bed is more fun, more comfortable, and more lovely than ours is. He'll be a tough sell. Perhaps instead my hubby and I can just take turns sleeping in his bed so we can actually get some sleep without being karated. I just keep reminding myself that it's highly unlikely that our son will crawl into bed with us after he returns home from, say, the Prom. So there is hope.

Sleep deprivation does really weird things to your dreams too. Like trying to find picture books at a library that has an ice skating rink in the middle of it. That made it tough to find some books. Sheesh!

I need sleep......

May Days of Thanks: Day 13

Today I am feeling especially grateful for my dear, sweet friend H.M.. H and I met through my hubby's work (God bless SLCC for that introduction) and she's been my friend ever since. I'm grateful that H believes I can fly/walk on water/parent appropriately/do everything right. It's nice to have someone like that to believe in me.

In return, I pretty much feel the same way about her. Except I think she's MORE amazing because she has way MORE challenges than I do. I'm grateful that she's always there for me.

Stress

Friend: You really need to get rid of some of the stress in your life.

Me: That's a great idea..... which one of my children would you like?

Sinus Facts

I went to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor today. And guess what? I have no left frontal sinus and a very small right sinus. And the good news? You don't even need them! Your sinuses and your ethmoidal cells are rather useless. The less sinus cavities you have, the better.

Plus, your nose switches sides every 4 to 6 hours. So for one shift the left side of your nose has more air intake (and swelling) and then it shifts and your right side has more air. I didn't know that! Isn't that cool? My CT scan of my sinuses showed that the right side of my nose was taking a turn. It was very fascinating.

So all is well from my ENT. Plus, I learned some awesome party facts. I can impress my friends now.

(....are you impressed?.....)

May Days of Thanks: Day 12

I am grateful for the medical coverage I have for me and my family. I have the ability to go to good doctors who care about me and who take care of my health needs. I feel very blessed. It's not perfect-- my prescription coverage drives me nutty!!!-- but it is so much better than the coverage millions have/don't have. I am grateful.

An Excellent Book Resource

If you or someone you know is dealing with Secondary Infertility, this is the best book out there:

Wanting Another Child

by Harriet Fishman Simmons

Create

A Father Indeed

The Little Things that Spring Brings

The toddler brought up a tube used to pump up my exercise ball. It was filled with ants. So I set out our non-toxic ant bait on the bricks around our fireplace in the basement. This is what I found less than an hour later. Eeewwww!!!

The Terro mixture contains boric acid; the ants eat it, take it back to their nest, and it kills all of them. So at first it is disgusting, but it eventually wipes out the whole colony instead of just the ones you see. It works great and is non-toxic which is why we use it. But it isn't pretty!

Sing, sing, sing

I love this canary. He sings his heart out every morning. If it's raining and the wind is blowing it against the window (like this morning), he sings. If it's snowing, he sings. If it's sunny, he sings.

He sings his heart out regardless of the world around him. He was born to sing and so he sings.

Smart little bird, huh?

May Days of Thanks: Day 11

I am grateful for my in-laws. I had a wonderful weekend with my mother & father-in-law here for their son's graduation. I'm always grateful when they are around me and the kids. It's nice to have them be a real part of our lives. I'm grateful for the great work they did as parents in raising their son/my hubby.

Celebrity Embarassment

I had the opportunity to attend an Awards Ceremony for the Community College where my hubby works last Wednesday night. I was waiting for him to park the car when I spied Paul Cardall walk up the stairs towards me.

WOW!

He, unfortunately, managed to make eye contact with me. That was all the invitation I needed.

Me: What are you doing here?
Paul: I'm looking for the ballroom. (I thought he said bathroom).

Me: I'm a BIG fan of yours. I follow your blog and am your friend on Facebook.

Paul: (shakes my hand) What's your name?
Me: (tell him)

Paul: (no recognition)

Me: It's SO good to see you here. I'm glad you're okay.

Paul: (about to speak when he gets interrupted by an old friend).

Me: (stands there dumbly while I watch them catch up. Two minutes later they walk to the ballroom.)

Oh well. He did glance over his shoulder as he left me. I made sure to look casual as I stood there and waited for my hubby.

But hey! I met him and shook his hand. Love his music!

The Next Survivor Series-- from an email forward

(from an email) THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men

will be dropped on an island

with one car

and 3 kids each

for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports
and take either music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must

take care of his 3 kids;
keep his assigned house clean,
correct all homework,
complete science projects,
cook,
do laundry,
and pay a list of 'pretend' bills
with not enough money.

In addition,

each man
will have to budget enough money
for groceries each week.

Each man
must remember the birthdays
of all their friends and relatives,
and send cards out on time--no emailing.

Each man must also take each child
to a doctor's appointment,
a dentist appointment
and a haircut appointment.

He must make one unscheduled and
inconvenient visit per child to the Emergency Room.

He must also make cookies or cupcakes
for a school function.

Each man will be responsible for

decorating his own assigned house,
planting flowers outside, and keeping it

presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television

when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

The men must shave their legs,

wear makeup daily,

adorn themselves with jewelry,

wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes,

keep fingernails polished,

and eyebrows groomed

During one of the six weeks,

the men will have to endure severe
abdominal cramps, backaches, headaches,
have extreme, unexplained mood swings
but never once complain or slow down
from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings

and church,

and find time at least once to spend

the afternoon at the park or a similar

setting.


They will need to read a book to the kids each night

and in the morning,

feed them,

dress them,
brush their teeth and
comb their hair
by 7:30 am.


A test will be given

at the end of the six weeks,

and each father will be required to know

all of the following information:
each child's
birthday,
height, weight,
shoe size, clothes size,
doctor's name,
the child's weight at birth,
length, time of birth,
and length of labor,
each child's favorite color,
middle name,
favorite snack,
favorite song,
favorite drink,
favorite toy,
biggest fear,
and what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.

The last man wins only if...
he still
has enough energy
to be intimate with his spouse
at a moment's notice.


If the last man does win,
he can play the game over and over and over
again for the next 18-25 years,
eventually earning the right
to be called Mother!