Count to 10 backwards, and don’t make rash decisions.
There are solutions that can be found so that we can co-exist. Really, there are!
I think Victor is savvy enough to add some filters so that we can have a ‘censored’ area for touchy subjects and uncensored profanity.
I have to run… but I don’t want to lose my friends while I am gone either!

Well, after a whirlwind visit, I am praying even harder for the house to sell. I was sure that being able to come home, and knowing the next visit is only a few weeks away would curb the feelings of loneliness. I was wrong! I guess a positive outcome from all of our struggles is that we are getting to know one another better – and we’ve been married for almost 23 years! I am still puzzled. The emotional roles have been flip-flopped. I was the one who was going to fall apart, not him. He was the one who was going to feel like he was on vacation. His poor forlorn voice sounds as if he feels like he is in jail.
So, we’ve come up with a plan. First of all, he is going to make a list of all the reasons we decided to make this move. He is going to remind himself of why he was so impressed with this company. At the top of the list is the offer to give him two full weeks off at the end of the year when he has only been there less than two months! He is going to start looking at the houses we have selected as possibilities this week. We are developing a count down plan so that he can focus on small, short chunks of time. Our first milestone will be Dec 19th when he flies back home. We will also map out a travel plan so that we can fly him home every 3 to 4 weeks. Our first short-term decision point will be when he has been with the company for 90 days. Right now, he is struggling to even look at six months. We may have to drastically drop the price on the house, even though it would mean losing buying power on the other end.
I am open to suggestions ladies. If anyone has any ideas to help make this transition period easier, I am all ears! I did order him some books to help him focus on being positive. I am not sure if sending care packages would help or make him more homesick.
Thanks for listening to me ramble. I am just grasping for straws as to how I can help him deal with his feelings. *I* am the emotional one in our family. I even told him today – if it would help him, I could unmask my feelings. We tend to compliment one another perfectly. When I am weak, he is strong….and vice versa. I suggested that maybe my not struggling with it as much was making him feel as if I didn’t care. I reminded him (and myself) that God’s timing is perfect. Not knowing how the future will unfold definitely makes being patient much harder. LOL

Happy Thanksgiving!!!  

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!  

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  

I guess even though I have ‘arrived’ at 40, I am still a sucker at times. I am not sure how I got roped into it, but I am making bread for close to 100 people. I am still up because the croissants are rising. The first 5 pans are cooked, but I promised my SIL I would make some for their family get together too.
As I was rolling them out, I reminded myself why I haven’t made them in so long.
Actually, they are probably one of the easiest yeast breads I have ever made. You don’t have to knead the dough, and they mix up in less than 10 minutes. However, once the dough is stirred up, you have to let them rise for 2 hours. Then you punch it down, and do it all over again. Then you have to roll them out like a pizza, baste, cut, and shape them into rolls. Then… they have to rise again. It never fails that I have to put the dough in the fridge because of an interruption that prevents me from moving to the next step. Today was no exception. Add to that a quadruple recipe for which I don’t have enough stones to cook them all on.
So, here I sit, with the last 50 or so croissants rising to bake. This is when I ask myself why not rolls from the store. Everyone has grown to love my croissants. Actually, they are more like crescent rolls. They don’t quite have the flakiness of a french pastry. I have a recipe that creates that effect, but I decided after making them one time that it just wasn’t worth it. They are much more labor intensive.
I still have the Black Forest Torte to make. It will have to wait until morning. I am not feeling like pulling an all-nighter. The torte is to die for though. The chocolate cake layers are rich with melted chocolate and kahlua. Then there is a chocolate cream layer, and a real whipped cream layer that I normally flavor with almond extract. This year I’ll be using the Mexican Almond flavored tequilla I bought in Cancun. Also layered in are fresh sliced strawberries (in lieu of cherries) and toasted slivered almonds. It usually measures about 14 inches tall. Not the easiest thing to cut, but you feel like you are getting a small taste of heaven in every bite! :)
These will be my contributions to the family gathering tomorrow. I may find time to make our broccoli rice casserole, but I doubt it. We have to leave for the airport at 10am, and farm chores will have to be done first.  

I am off to check the croissants, and hopefully get a few hours of sleep. Hope everyone has a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving! Maybe while they are cooking, I’ll hop back on and post the recipe.

Not wanting to start a debate – so let’s don’t. :)
I just thought these were interesting quotes from Thomas Jefferson….

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.
Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. Thomas Jefferson

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Thomas Jefferson

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
Thomas Jefferson

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Thomas Jefferson

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. Thomas Jefferson

Very Interesting Quote  

In light of the present financial crisis, it’s  interesting to read what Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.

I just wanted to take a minute to thank all of you for your kind words of encouragement, and your prayers regarding our move/separation. Clay and I had a long talk tonight, and he seems to be coming to grips with us being apart for awhile.  

Tonight he called while I was out in the cold, in the pouring down rain, bringing the horses in for the night and feeding all the animals. Did I say it was raining and cold? My frustration was compounded. I was irritated because I was wet and cold, because I was doing chores my son had committed to doing, and because I had to leave supper in the oven for the kids to feed themselves while I was out in the cold rain taking care of all the farm chores. So imagine my state of mind. I was not a happymomma!  

To top it off, while I was forking hay off the round bale for the horses, I got not one, but two briars in my fingers, and one went under the nail. By this time, I am not cold anymore, and the smoke is starting to billow out of my ears. Okay, so it wasn't quite that bad, but I wasn't too happy with life when the phone rang. "Hullo"... to which Clay asks, "Am I bugging you?" Deep breath, "No, but I am bugged," I reply. He was bugged too. He had an appointment to look at an apartment, and the person was late. We only talked briefly. But he told me he had something he wanted to talk to me about later. It sounded serious.  

I went on with my chores and decided the lady must have shown up since he didn’t call back. Finally the phone rings. He took the apartment, and then he breaks the ‘news‘. His new employers are going to give him enough extra days at the end of the year so that he can come home for two whole weeks! I could sense that a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. We discussed a game plan regarding selling the house, and ‘mapped out’ the next six months.  

Your prayers are working ladies! After our talk, he sounded so much more upbeat. I think we are at a turning point. I reminded him that sometimes God needs to see us lay it as his feet and be content before he grants our desires.  

I am looking forward to spending time with my hubby this week, where before I was too worried about whether or not he was going to just be more homesick.  

I have so much to be thankful for. If you hear me whining over these next few months – give me a swift kick, okay?!