Between The Bread

     The Sandwich Generation.  Remember that term?  Aging parents, children who still need your care.  Caught between both generations.  I am living that reality right now.  Everything extra gets put on the back burner when you're in that place.  That means crafting, leisure, blogging and at times, your joy.  Now, I'm not complaining, mind you.  Many of us, have and will, survive through it.  It can be a tough space, at times.  But there can be great joy in that place, as well.
    Our family is dealing with this two-fold.  Both my mom and Caveman's dad have had some health problems recently, which have required us to juggle many balls in the air.  A couple of recent hospital stays and a surgery coming up soon for each of them have us on the run even more than we usually run!  With our own three cave sons at home we are spread pretty thin these days.
     As difficult as it is though, it is a privilege to serve our parents.  We don't know how long we'll have them so we do what we have to do.  Over the years I have had three family members fight and lose to cancer.    I have stitched next to their hospital bed or in their room in the nursing home.  Lord knows I have completed many a stitchery during those many months I have sat, visited, and supported.
     The coming months will be no different as I once again sit by the hospital beds and stitch, visit and support.  For me it's "Stitching Therapy".  I am preparing many new patterns to stitch during these upcoming hospital stays with our parents.   One of my joys, and I now realize, one of the callings of my soul.

Wordless Wednesday March 19, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

An Amazing Breakfast

Start your Monday with this amazing breakfast.  This came to me in an email from Martha Stewart.  I miss ol' Martha on TV.  You can sign up for her newsletter though and get some yummy healthy recipes in your in box. I gave this a try and really liked it.  Here's the basics.  One grapefruit, one banana and 1/2 of an avocado.  Cut this all up.  Enjoy.  Yesterday, I wanted to add just a bit of protein, some crunch and some dried cherries(just because I love them) and the result was divine.

Here's the quick recipe.

1 grapefruit cut up

1 banana sliced

1/2 avocado diced - for good fat

sprinkle with slivered almonds, pepitas(pumpkin seeds) and dried cherries

Try it and let me know what you think.

Change Your Life Sundays - WORD KICKS- Feb. 23,1014

It's Sunday, which means it's time for a kick in the seat to start your Monday.  Here we go...

In the end we only regret the chances we didn't take.

Go for it this week.  Do the thing you fear, the thing you have procrastinated on, the thing you are dreading.

Our Third Boy Scout

     My cavesons aren't the sportsy types.  Sure, they have all played a little t-ball and some flag football but none of them are very competitive.  It just isn't in their nature.  No surprise as neither caveman nor I am competitive either.  I did run track in HS, my only team sport, but I rode horses too.  More of a loner type activity.  Caveman ran track too, oddly enough, and he was a weight lifter, as well.  I have been a lifter for 30 years, that's how we met.
      Any hoo, guess that's how the guys inherited that non competitive spirt.  Not that I  don't think sports  aren't great.  On the contrary, I think every kid should be on a collection of sports teams growing up for all of the great benefits that come with that territory.   But alas, it's not meant to be.  Better yet, our boys are all  Boy Scouts.  They all went through Cub Scouts and the youngest crossed over into Boy Scouts last night.  Caveman and I have both been den leaders along the way so it was very bittersweet that the time has come to leave Cub Scouts behind.  Between the three boys we were with the pack for 10 years.  I was the foodista for most of those years  planning the food for the Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold Banquet, end of the year picnic and such.  Lot's of planning and work.  I think they are going to miss me as much as I'll miss them!
     One of the things that I love about Cub Scouts is the opportunity to be privy to the growth and maturity of the boys as they move up through the years, from Tiger cubs to Weblos 2's.   They are pretty mature (sort of - ah, we're talking about 10 year old boys here) by they time they cross over.  It has been fun to watch.  But all good things must come to an end.  But with that comes a new beginning, as well.  A third Boy Scout in the family.  I'm looking forward to watching them become Eagle Scouts.  It will be 12 year journey between the three of them.  A journey I am both pleased and privileged to take.