My friend Huck.

So here's the thing. It is a beautiful day in the cove. I have worked hard all morning and decided to treat myself to a cup of coffee, a good book and a chair in the sunshine.  I collect all my items, head outside, sit in the prepared chair, pillows and all and then WAM. The neighbors dog, which is as big as a house comes over and starts licking my head!!!!  This dog is so big you can't just push him away. I start laughing and the more I laugh the more he thinks I'm playing!!! Had to take the shot looking up at him because I couldn't stop laughing. Turns out, that was the best part of my day! There you go Kasey, Its in large view and not sent on the cell phone :).

Just wondering.....

What are these for? No, they are not for guardrails because they ran them along the guardrails as well. They are not mile markers. That would be pretty pointless so close together. Hmmmmm. Surely not of fence. That would be like bumper cars on the interstate if it were....any suggestions?

Pleasantly surprised

The first time this year I ate lunch at my sons school was in October.  I had to check it out since this was his first year in a new school.  I arrived about 11:15 for the 11:25 on the dot lunch time.  We proceeded through the lunch line and I obediently  followed my sons lead like he was an old pro at the practices and procedures. What I noticed at this school that struck me as odd was that you grab a tray and then you continue along the line choosing the individual items you want to eat.  This is in contrast to what I would expect like giving the child one plate with a little of everything they served that day.  My child of course chose two servings of chicken nuggets and fried potato cubes. I was so proud (sarcastic). The small bowls of salad were piling up and the veggies were left untouched and the whole display of greens looked like the line of adoptable sad face puppies that nobody wanted. I felt so bad for them, I just had to get some. We sat, ate and got through the meal catching up on my sons day so far.  I left there heavy hearted and discouraged as to WHY my child gets to choose.  If I had a choice at age ten to pick a Hershey bar or a plate of greens, I would go chocolate in a minute.

That was then. Back at the beginning of the year.  My son again (dreadfully) asked me and Grandma to join him for lunch one day when she was visiting last week.  This time I insisted on bringing some Subway sandwiches.  I asked my mom to do a little experiment with me and proceeded to tell her the situation and what I had experienced last time I had lunch there. We agreed to look around to see what the kids were actually choosing since I didn't feel like that was appropriate for elementary school.  When we got there we skipped the line since we had our own food and the both of us quietly sneaked peeks at the items on the trays of the other young children in the room.
"Did you see that?" I asked.
"I think I know what you're talking about." mom replied.
"I KNOW. Just look at it!!!  Fruit and salad on every tray! Some even had two servings of fruit!"

Ok, I dont know what's been happening in this school since October, but those kids are actually eating the fruit and salad! That was one time I was glad I was made a fool.
PS. I would still like to see just one plate and grown ups serve out the food to be sure the option to eat it after they sit down is there.

You are being abused

I have so many thoughts on this food thing that I just couldn't write one post and let it go.  Whether we realize it or not, its not only our choices that can keep us healthy but those who influence those choices.  If you are unaware of how you are being manipulated, you should research it and make better choices based on your information.  Here are a couple some things for starters that I have learned to always keep in mind when trying to make good food decisions:

Processed (the yucky stuff) food is cheaper. Simple supply and demand. If we keep buying it, the distributors make a ton of money and then they can easily compete with that body healthy food. You may have to pay a few dollars more now but you will benefit a bunch in your medical bills later.

Just because its written on the box, doesn't mean its healthy.  There is a very thin line being walked on by our products labeling and many are dancing around the nutrition for marketing purposes. I about fell over when I saw a pop-tart box (one thing I am trying to rid my house of) that said in really large letters: "20% FIBER" Ok, so does that mean that pop-tarts are now good for me? And because everyone says we need fiber? Did you know there has always been fiber in pop-tarts? And in every other food item that involves any type of wheat bread.

Bottom line is be smart when you plan meals and go to the store. Eat a good salad or snack on carrots before going shopping and that should get you primed for making good choices.

Tomorrow I have got to tell you about my lunch experiences at my sons school.  Lets just say, Shock and Awe!

Food Revolution Update

The first blog I ever wrote was after the first episode of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution about a month ago.  I reported my thoughts about the whole thing. Great idea, kind of expensive, don’t know if it’ll fly. Since that day I have done more research on this food thing Jamie was trying to sell.  I have put some of these recipes, costs, and likeability to the toughest test. The test of my family which ultimately includes a 10 year old chocolate eating chicken nugget, pop tart addict. 

To start with, I did have to buy the book (which I love) because the recipes on the internet have measurements and some stuff I don’t comprehend.  I started cooking recipes a few times a week.   You have to remember, I’m a chef of hot dogs, chicken and rice and that’s about it. The thrill of this for me was going to the store and buying things I have never heard of.  What isle do you look in for something you have no idea what it is or even if it’s in a jar, in a can, is a spice or a veggie.  I felt bad for the other shoppers at the supermarket as I was constantly in need of weird things like capers,  garam marsala(?), and tandoori.  After I got past this, the rest was pretty easy.  The recipes really don’t take that long and taste fantastic. 

My latest adventure tonight was Quick Salmon Tikka with Cucumber Yogurt. I decided to actually go to the store and price all the ingredients for this. It totaled about $20.00 for the meal that fed three (and I had leftovers )plus a salad.  Once you have ingredients in the cupboards, the expense isn’t that bad. 

The bottom line is this; I can buy good affordable healthy meals.  I can get my child to eat ceaser salad and asparagus and like it and best of all, we all spend time in the kitchen together laughing, working on the recipes and enjoying each others’ company .  This Food Revolution has been more than just an awareness of what we eat, its actually made some good changes here that will last and we really love it.

Its not you, its me

I love America. I am so glad you are nothing like me. I am so glad I don’t have to go through the day encountering a bunch of people who think like me, act like me, and do what I do or wear what I wear. That would be a fate worse than death. I just love the fact that we can all be so human and all be so unsimilar. I was on Facebook this morning and noticed that all my friends have a passion. Not the same passion but all different passions, opinions, things that are important to them, things they want to educate others on and things that matter deep in their soul. That got me thinking of all the people I know. They are all so vastly different that I have no idea how we were all placed together in this big puzzle called “my life” and each of them I love for their differences and not for what they can agree with me on. I have friends that are workaholics, stay at home moms, been to Iraq, never been anywhere, sun worshipers, Jesus freaks, city dwellers , country folk, American born, foreign raised and the list goes on to infinity. We don’t go on vacation to see places we already have seen. We enjoy learning about things we either don’t understand or don’t know about. I think we should spend more time embracing each others’ differences and less time being offended by each other. What a wonderful opportunity we have in this free country to learn cool stuff about other people. To me, this “melting pot” is a pretty interesting and fun place to be.

Newest Member of the family

There is nothing in this world more beautiful in my eyes than a new born baby. Meet Haylin Looper pictured here with her mom and brother. Born April 23rd 2010. I had the chance to hold her when she was only a few hours old and as I did I looked down into that face and saw such peace as she slept. They told me her eyes were open when she was born and she would look around everywhere. I wonder what she was thinking? Was it a happy feeling or a distressed feeling? Were the lights too bright? Did she recognize her moms voice? I also thought about how she is so new that she didn't have any of the scars we have or the pain we have or the hurt we've been through and she hasn't even sinned yet. What a blessing it is to look into the face of such perfection. There is a definite feeling between every person on the planet and holding a new born baby whether you have had one or not or if it is your own. I'm not sure what that is but I am sure that it's a true miracle every time. No matter how I feel or what I think, I just can't wait to watch this little princess grow and change and work this thing we call life.

Election Time......

I really think election day is a good day. A happier day than average I would say. It wasn’t always like that. I have always voted because I am very strong willed about getting my voice heard and no matter how loud I speak during the year, my vote speaks the loudest. But I dreaded the voting process. The lines were forever for 2 booths. The schools had to close just to accommodate the in pouring of people as determined as me and the lines ran on average 2 hours long. Then I moved to Grassy Cove and experienced a whole new kind of voting. I pull in to the Community Center, which used to be the old school house, to cast my ballot expecting lines, waits, ornery workers and just plain hassle. I walked in and first confronted my in-laws and for me that’s a very good thing. My mother in law asked for my drivers’ license and I just look at her like “are you serious? You don’t remember me?” She recorded the info then onto my father in law who asked me my name and to sign a piece of paper….what?...really?. Protocol. I was really getting a kick out of this. I looked around the room and saw a couple neighbors from up the street I haven’t seen in a while, my son declares there are cookies in the back and of course mamaw says yes. There was coffee there if I wanted any and the whole crew was carrying on with neighborhood talk. I didn’t think places like this existed in America anymore and I felt privileged to be a part of it. I hope it will stay like this forever so my kids can experience it. Yeah, election day is a good day and no, I have never taken advantage of early voting.

The Girl in my Heart

There is a girl who has been in my heart and prayers. I want to dedicate this to her.

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than just what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You do have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)

-Kutless

Flip Flops on the beach in Jacksonville. I love flip flops. Does anyone know where the foam comes from? I don't remember that much when I was a kid.

The Road Taken

Do you ever feel like you need to “Be a better person”? I notice that people go to many lengths to try to find the areas where they can improve themselves. Try to be more patient or more focused or more tolerant? Well I have decided that the best way to find out where you lack is to leave. Leave home and just go somewhere else. Get out of your comfort zone a little and see what comes up. I did that. I left home last week for a trip and I was surprised to find that area of my personality that is lacking. The one area that needs a lot of tweaking and fine tuning is… road rage. Hi, my name is Cheryl and I have a road problem. It started the minute I hit the interstate and to make matters worse I was driving in a rental car with New York plates so sometimes I took advantage of my situation. I think God created cars just to test us. I think he put that woman who can’t STOP hitting her brakes in front of me to teach me tolerance. I think He put that crazy guy in the pinto weaving in and out of lanes to keep help me practice focusing on my task at hand. I then finally concluded that He put the man on the cell phone driving in the fast lane going 60 in a 70 in front of me to teach me that life is about the journey, not the destination. I really think if I can get a handle on the road thing, than learning the life lessons will be a walk in the park.

Coffee Talk

Saturday morning at our house belongs to the farm. Before Bill gets out and starts going wide open with fence, cows, tractors and gardens, we always make time to sit on the front porch together with a cup of coffee and solve the problems of the universe. Not about what we hear in the news or who’s doing what to whom for how many chocolate chip cookies, but more importantly, the condition of the human psyche. The conversations usually revolves around how we were raised and the morals we had versus our kids today. This mornings’ topic was manners. We bragged on our parents for the great job they did teaching us please and thank you, respect your elders and always look at someone when they speak to you. Our focus seemed to veer off in the direction of why kids are more focused on material things than treating other kids right with manners and respect. We then ventured through the hoops of priorities and whats most important. Finally, we decided that if parents spent more time instilling values of love, honor and being nice instead of the façade of money, power, and looking like you’re all that, the world would be a better place. The coffee was finally gone and time to get the day started. Austin announced that his friend was on his way over and we needed to be ready. Bill and I had never met them before so off we go to straighten up and get dressed. Bill walks out of the bedroom appropriately dressed for the day ahead in overalls and a T-shirt. I turned to him and said very seriously, “You’re not wearing THAT, are you?”
I guess we don’t really know that much about the human psyche…….

Burn by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy

I recently read this book by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. My disclaimer is that I am already a big Ted Dekker fan and love his writing and subject matter. He teams up again with Erin Healy to write this great story .
“Janeal who has always felt trapped in her fathers Gyspy culture. Then one night a powerful man named Salazar Sanso promises her the life she longs for—if she will help recover a vast sum of money tied to her father. When the plan implodes, Sanso attacks the gypsy settlement and burn it to the ground. During the blaze, Janeal is faced with a staggering choice. That moment changes her forever.”
This was a really good read. Suspense and shock value I would say was a 9. With the of stories that pitch good versus evil, this one can actually blur the lines and really make you think. One minute you are taken to a place that you think is good, turns out….well…I can’t give away the story but I highly recommend the read if you are into good vs. evil and human desire. It only took me two days to read it, I couldn’t get myself to lay it down for more than a few minutes.

 
 
 
 

Spring means.....

I have millions of pets. Literally. Millions. They keep me company all spring and summer and sleep all winter. Perfect. Most people appreciate my pets. They don’t love them or even wish they had any but they are appreciated. My honey bees.
Honey bees are like all other pets, they need to have plenty of food and water and need to be medicated to stay well or they die. It is a lot of work to keep up with them. It doesn’t surprise me at times when in the first warm days of spring I trod out to the field to find a hive or two dead of starvation, mites or even unknown things that baffle me. But I try my best to keep these little fellers going so our hay will grow tall, our fruit and veggies will be more abundant and we can get honey for our tea .
But bees are fickle. One spring they are swarming and causing chaos in the neighborhood, then the next spring they are the perfect obedient lot, pollinating and making lots of honey. There is no rhyme or reason to their inconsistency.
So if you live in a three mile radius of my house, please don’t step on or squish my friends; they are in short supply and without them we could not feed the world.

Farms and Flip Flops

As a suburbanite, I have this love /hate relationship with rural America. Grassy Cove is a 3 square mile of God created beauty. Farmland and four wheelers, mountains , silos and combines. The mountains completely surround about 8 or 9 farms like a wall of protection from the world. I know this sounds like absolute paradise but the day I got here 11 years ago, I wasn’t so sure. My first night here, the scream of sirens and loud cars were replaced by the howling of coyotes and screech owls. Did you know screech owls sound like a child screaming in the woods? The first time I heard one, sheer terror ran up my spine and I skipped two front porch steps in my flip flops on a heroic mission to save whatever was calling for me. It was after that in which I was finally educated on all the strange things in these parts that I know for sure only belong in the zoo. There have been rattlesnakes in my driveway, packs of coyotes and wild hogs running rampant in the mountains behind me, and calf killers everywhere. What the heck were those created for? Those things look like giants ants, classified as hornets, can’t fly but can sting so bad you wish you were dead. Oh, and, nothing kills them except cutting them in half with an army knife. This is just the tip of the rural iceberg but as I descend down the mountain after dropping my son off at school, I look around and breathe a sigh of contentment. This is my place. My place to be safe and snug, warm and happy with history and friendship. Rural America...

The Mouth of Babes

Some of the most informative, introspective conversations I ever have are with my 9 year old. We are driving home from ball practice this Good Friday and I decided to start a conversation about this holiday. My hidden agenda being to test him like all us parents do to our kids to see if they are paying attention to what we say. I started off by asking him about Good Friday. In his confidence he educates me “Jesus was crucified today and the third day he rose from the dead and that would be Sunday and that’s Easter”. What a proud moment for me. My child actually pays attention to what’s going on around him! I was beaming. Then I had to throw in “But I wonder what the connection is between Easter eggs and Easter?” Without missing a beat he says, ”That’s simple. All the people were happy when Jesus rose from the dead and colored Easter eggs make me happy. Something all you grown ups don’t understand.” When I looked at him totally baffled and asked “What don’t we understand?” He said, “The ‘happy’ part.
If we could only see the world as a child sees it………..

The City Mouse

I was raised in suburbia America. I had my neighbors. My 1.2 acres of grass lawn, mowed and manicured. Some people may have called that lifestyle the American dream but I believe they were grossly misinformed. I loved where I lived and my family was great but as a 10 year old, the days I lived for were the weekend road trips to the place in the “country”. I will never forget that first step that hit the driveway on the farm of my aunt and uncle. The smell, it was always first, the smell. First trees and air, then grass and animals. I would only linger there a second and my eyes would wonder to the creek behind the house. Thoughts of the rocks I could jump, downed trees I could balance across and special treasures I could find to bring home in a jar to display on my dresser for all my “city” friends to see. Oh how proud I would be. About a five second run from the creek stood the old barn , mostly gray from wear and tear, filled to the brim with cool gadgets, piles of hay for forts, and weird things I’ld never seen before but could imagine their usefulness in a game of spy vs. spy. This was like heaven where I could do and create whatever I wanted and the day would never end. Then it happened. I took my second step away from the car and heard my mom’s loving but stern voice say “Honey, don’t get those shoes dirty, they’re new!”