Please Pray for MeMe

As many of you already know, we have had a very hard month. My grandmother, MeMe, had been having some problems with her stomach all summer that the doctors were trying to "fix" with medicine. Thank Goodness...she took control and made them do a colonoscopy b/c she knew something wasn't right. My parents were in Alaska at the time so I gladly took MeMe to her dr. appt. to get the results from the test. Well, I have to say it was worse than the worse case scenario. They found out that MeMe has a tumor the size of a softball in her pelvis which was been causing all of her stomach pain. She has had an MRI, CAT scan, and several other tests done since then and they said that they are 98% sure that it is ovarian cancer. To make a long story short, she is having surgury today at Chapel Hill. They are removing the tumor, most likely giving her a complete hysterectomy, and possibly removing some of her colon. They will know what is REALLY going on when they get in there today. Please pray that this is contained and will be removed from her body today free and clear. MeMe is being so brave...she always has been a tough cookie! During this very unnerving time, I have gotten to spend a lot of time with my grandmother with has been such a blessing. She is truly a special woman. All she wants is to get back on the golf course as soon as possible! Let's pray that those people at Chapel Hill aren't as bad as we usually say they are...Ha Ha...(we are NCSU people and my uncle is the soccer coach at Duke!)

Great Father, Excellent Businessman

I just have to brag on Tony for a second. I never say enough good about him, even though he deserves so much praise! Obviously he is a GREAT father but he is also soo good at his job! This is a picture of his latest accomplishment at work. This is Mid-State Petroleum's first "Pop Shoppe" store. Yes, their other stores are Pop Shoppes too but they are CITGO gas. This is all Tony's creation. It is in Salisbury and is so good looking. Hopefully we will see several more of these stores popping up around NC. Congrats Tony!

Let the games begin!

Oh boy! My first graduate class has started (Development across the lifespan)! Wow, a lot of work packed into 8 weeks then I start my second class (Childhood Psy.) of the semster right after that! All of the material is so interesting so I know I am in the right field. I'm so excited to get started and to learn about being a family/marriage counselor. I don't know the first thing about it. Clean slate, I guess you could say! Wish me luck and pray that I can do this! Yikes!

Momma and her sweet angel!

I love this child more than words will ever describe!

i HAD to....2 funny

Ha...This is a rare Barry Bonds collectors card from when he was a rookie....worth a ton of $$$ Ha...I love it! Congress meets about steroids in baseball with all of the trouble in the world...unreal!

Children's Museum

This Sunday we all went to the Greensboro Children's Museum! Amazing! Caroline had the best time! They had a huge area for children under 2. Everything is so soft and plush...tons of things to crawl on and through! She had a wonderful time! AND then...yesterday, here comes the 102 temperature. I tell you what...do you stay at home and stay "well" or do you go out and chance getting sick? Hopefully she will be 100% today and it will be worth it!

EASY Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

VERY VERY EASY!

Ingredients: 1 cup All purpose flour, 2 tbsp veg. oil, 1/2 cup milk, whole chicken, 2 cartons of chicken broth

1. Get a big pot and fill it a little over half way with water
2. Cut up some onion and put it in the water (optional)
3. Get a whole chicken and "gut it" (This might be the yuckiest thing I have EVER done...if you have never done it...just turn the chicken upside down over the trash can and try to shake all of the stuff out....get it out one way or another)
4 .Put the whole chicken in the pot of water and cover with a lid
5. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer (slightly boiling) for an hour or an hour and 215-20 mins.... Just make sure the meat is practically falling off of the bone...yum.
6. Now, the water that you have just cooked the chicken in is now "chicken broth" and maybe it's just me...but I don't use it...But you can :)
7. Shred the chicken to whatever size you like and set aside
8. Making the dumplings: Mix one cup of all purpose flour, 1/2 cup of milk, and 2 tablespoons of veg. oil.
9. Knead into dough...may need to add a little more flour to thicken
10. Roll or pat dough into desired thickness and then cut into strips
11.Bring two large cartons of chicken broth(or use the broth from cooking the chicken) to a boil in a large pot
12. Add dumplings and chicken to the broth, boil for 15 mins. (Everything will thicken)
13. Great to eat then or the next day!! Enjoy!