The orchard...

Who has the greatest husband in the world? I do! I do!

Honestly, does anyone have a husband that helps during canning season? Trav is amazing. He helped me get a few quarts done today which i am SO thankful for!
We went to the orchard a few nights ago to help pick peaches. I almost didn't go because I wasn't feeling well, but I drugged up and went, which I'm thankful for. We were able to pick peaches for free! We grabbed a bunch that night and then the next day Shelly, Angie & I went out and picked A TON of fruit! I came home with 4 recycling bins full of peaches, a huge bag of apples and 2 1/2 buckets full of pears. We had fun!!
The kids and I have made a TON of peach deliveries to friends and family the past few days!
It's been fun making jam too. I made 20 pints yesterday. 16 cooked and 4 freezer jam.

Sore, but feeling better...

I am really thankful to report my jaw is a lot better. Although still sore and really achy- it feels a million times better than it did before. Almost a month later, a 100 ct bottle of Advil and a ton of ice packs seemed to help, I think! I'll be glad when it is completely gone because it is still really uncomfortable- but I'm relieved the stabbing, painful pressure has subsided.

I've been to the chiroprator 4 times this week and they worked on it a little (Who knows if it did anything) but I am grateful to FINALLY be going because my head, neck & back have been messed up- FOREVER! One chirpractor I saw years ago asked when I had been in a accident, and I replied, "Never."
I did discover this week that my spine is seriously messed up, my neck is a joke and my back is super sad as well. My head is literraly not on right, my neck has no natural curve to it- it's completely straight, 1 rib is out of place, my vertebre are crazy, 1 leg is longer than the other and in some places my neck and back and are out so much that the other side is straining 6 times more than it should. Well,NO WONDER everything hurts! No wonder I've had horrible headaches for 21 years! It helps when your head is on right for goodness sakes!

The Dr. thinks after a zillion adjustments, I should feel 50% better. I was shocked. I was just praying for 1% improvement! It's crazy what we live with most of our lives and what we allow to become "our normal." I'm trying to take care of myself these days instead of stressing about every cent it will cost. The truth is I want to be around a long time, so I better start taking care of things, right?
Thanks for caring, and thanks christy for the referral! They are truely the greatest!

Still Here...

It started close to 3 weeks ago, the pain in my jaw. Before my G-ma came out we were both complaining about our aches and pains. At the time my ear was bothering more than normal and she gave me a few tricks of hers. I started having jaw pain right after that and assummed I had been grinding my teeth at night more than normal. There was a week of mild jaw pain and I kept rubbing them thinking, "what the heck am I doing at night?"
But then the pain became a million times worse and I litterally couldn't handle it anymore. Not only was my jaw in MAJOR pain, but the back of my head and neck, even my arms felt really heavy & weak. Poor Trav had been rubbing my head & jaw for a week and 1/2 and I was consuming more Advil than anyone should admit to- but nothing was helping. I missed church last week and finally couldn't take it anymore- I thought possibly I had an ear infection because the preassure under my ear was out of control and I thought that antibiotics would be the cure- so I went into Primary Health (my home away from home!) to get checked out. After he looked me over he said, I don't see anything wrong with your ears. He suggjested the dentist next. I thanked him and drove home in tears. I just wanted drugs to make the horrible pain stop!!
I made an appointment for the dentist and went in a few days later and learned it wasn't my teeth eaither. Really? I asked. "I don't need a root canal or anything? And he said, "no- they look fine." I told him I'd pay him a million dollars if he'd figure it out but he referred me to a specialist instead. Again, I drove home in even more pain from having to have my mouth open FOREVER at the dentist!
I called the Craniofacial Pain Center as soon as I got home and the next available appointment wasn't until Sept 19th. I made the appoint,ment and begged her to call me if there was a cancellation. I just cried. Someone make this horrible pain stop!
I had a blessing, I finished the huge bottle of Advil and have been in bed every moment I haven't had to get up for something, I've used ice packs for weeks and alternated heating packs too.I'm on my 5th book- which is incredible, but it's been awful. I thought it couldn't get worse until I realized the pain was also spreading to my left side. I couldn't believe it. Seroiusly, just cut my head off! So many of my problems would be solved if it were no longer attatched!
It's been days later now and the pain has now shifted to my lower jaw, near my cheecks and not as much under my ear like it was.
I'm just whinning, but if anyone has had anything like this- I'll pay you a trillion dollars to help make this go away!!

Annikan's Shower...

Last night we had Annikan's baby shower and it was a lot of fun. She recieved tons of super cute things, which is great, because after having 3 girls in a row and now expecting a boy in 2 weeks, she needed it!
Lara graciously let us have it at her house and we all worked together to get things planned. The food was yummy, the treats were great and it was nice to see everyone come out and celebrate her pregnancy. I'm thrilled for her to finally have her little guy. Good luck my dear- you will do great, how ever it turns out!

Annikan's Shower...

Yard Sale Treasures...

Last week my awesome yard sale find was the super cool traffic light whitch really works! Only .75 too! It goes with all my signs- love it!

This morning I found a full pack of Pull Ups for $3.00 and 5 pair of training pants! Love it!!!

A few treasures...

My Mom & step Dad recently bought a new house which was MUCH, MUCH smaller than their last, so Mom had to get rid of 3/4 of everything she owned. She asked me if I wanted her hope chest and I repled, "are you kidding me! Of course I do!" She's had it for over 25 years, so my whole life I've seen it, opened it up to get wrapping paper etc... how could I NOT want it?
I was so thankful when it fit in G-ma's SUV too! thank you a 1000 times Mama, I love it!

And then G-ma gave me a VERY OLD dish that was my Great, Great Grandmother's. What do you say to a gift like that? How special. How thoughtful. How meaningful. I wonder what she kept in it. I wonder what her daughter kept in it. What about my Grandma? And now me? (I can promise it will be kept WAY up high for a few years!)
It was so sweet of her. Thank you to my sweet ancestors for passing it down. It is a treasure.

Another WONDERFUL visit with Grammy & G-pa!!!

I'm not sure what has gotten into my Grandparents the past few months, but they've come to visit us twice in the past 3 months!! i'm not complaining, believe me. My entire world rises and sets around these two people. I simply adore our time with them. There is nothing more precious than sitting on a hotel room bed with them, talking forever about funny memoreies and listening to my G-pa sing. I seriously had to try not to cry, but he melts my heart when he sings. My earliest memories are waking up in their home to the vacuum and him singing at the same time, It's a sound that makes my entire being swell with love.

We had a great time while they were here. G-ma cooked up a storm every night, making ribs the first and salmon the second night. We went shopping, to the bank, played Sorry & yahtzee, G-ma permed my hair, the big kids went to school, Trav & G-pa went golfing, we talked, we laughed, made butter (kind of), went through about a 100 craft supplies G-ma & and Mom brought down to me and had a wonderful time.

it was simply Heaven having them here and I know the sacrafice they made to get here. It's been more difficult lately to watch my G-pa get older. He's slowing down a little and everything makes him really tired these days. He had to lay down a few times and take a nap. I couldn't help but watch him as he had done a million times with me when I was little. There is so much love and I want them both here forever. I am so thankful for every second with them. They are my world.

Ribs!!!

G-ma knows how much the kids adore ribs, so she brought them again this time. I think Grace ate about 7 of them the first night!