A year of JOY!

This post was supposed to happen a couple of weeks ago, but life has been crazy, so here it is:

Eliza had her first birthday! I can't believe she is already one. I have to keep reminding myself that she is a whole year old. I have been so grateful for everyday we have been blessed to share together on this earth! I don't know what I would have done this last year without her. I think the good Lord knew I needed an angel to help me through everything I have been through this year, and this little lady has just smiled and slobbered (baby kissed) me every time I needed it.
Her first birthday dinner was spent at the new local splash pad with all of her cousins. We made homemade pizza on our little propane grill, and it was so fun! Eliza loved crawling around the kids picnic sheet and snatching other people's pizza, and we let her because she was the birthday girl.
For her cake I decided to make peanut butter bars, because they were a very mobile treat for all the kids to run around with. Due to the amount of peanut butter bars the children consumed, I am sure they were a hit. (I'll have to remember that for future park parties.) Well, there are a couple snapshots to remember the day. . . .
I am so lucky to have this little angel in my home. :) I love my boys a whole bunch, but she is such a little sweetheart, and I love getting to do her hair everyday. Girls are so fun when they are little. I'll have to keep you posted as to how much "fun" my girl is as she grows up.

Fifty-two weeks ago today

Dear friends and family,
Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of my accident. It has been a rather emotional day for me. Through out the day I have been looking at my watch and thinking, "At this time last year, I was _____(fill in what I was going through)____".

Life is good. I feel so blessed everyday to still have every thing that was left of my hand that day. I know that the only reason why I had such a great outcome from a horrible experience was from all the prayers and faith in my behalf during that time. So, I just wanted to say,

THANK YOU!

Thank you for all your prayers. Thank you to everyone who brought my family food. Thank you to everyone who stopped by for a visit. Thank you to everyone who watched my busy little boys for me so I could rest. Thank you to everyone who sent me something in the mail. Thank you to everyone who took time out of your day to take me grocery shopping or to a medical appointment. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to help me wash dishes, clean floors, fold laundry or do other house hold chores that I was struggling with. Thank you to my oldest sister who did all of this and more. I don't know what i would have done without her. She basically had three more children and a baby added to her family while she was pregnant and she helped me immensely. Thank you to my mother-in-law who slept at my house or came over at all hours of the night to help with my baby for those first few weeks, until I figured out how to do things one handed. Thank you to my darling husband who stayed by me through the whole experience and helped me with anything and everything I needed. He also was always there to reassure me when I was worried and held me when I needed him to. I am so grateful he did not leave my side that first week. Thank you to my little brother who did come spend a night with me when I was in the hospital so my sweetheart could have a short rest. I know that was hard too.
Most of all, Thank you to everyone for helping me with a smile on your face. I am sure it was very inconvenient at times to come and help me, but no one ever made me feel like I was inconveniencing them in any way. Thank you for helping me see the light throughout a dark situation. I love you all and am so grateful to have all the friends and family that I have.
Hugs and Kisses,
Sara

Blender Giveaway

I have a Vita Mix Blender and I love it! I have been using it a lot whilst making and consuming raw foods. On Fab Frugal Foods, they are giving away a Blend Tech Blender, which is a competitor to the Vita Mix. Check it out here if you are interested.

Carrot Juice

It has been so long since I have blogged I keep waiting for something I can post with pictures, but I am not going to wait anymore. I have done a lot of fun things this summer, all without a camera. Sorry.

I have been trying out some raw foods and I've been juicing stuff. . . Today I juiced carrot juice and I was surprised at how sweet carrot juice is. It is as sweet as apple juice! I recommend trying it, if you haven't yet.

A two year old's discovery

I have been. . . kind of potty training my two year old. Yesterday he was sitting on the toilet to go to the bathroom. He started feeling his bottom, then he gasped and said;

"Mom! There is a hole in my bum!"

I took a few minutes to explain a little bit about digestion and human anatomy. . . with a smile. He is still pretty amazed that he has a hole in his bottom.

Instructions to a four year old/Lesson learned

I have several herbs planted throughout my yard.

Under my fig tree, I have some peppermint, spearmint, and some dill. (Three very hearty herbs that could take over an entire planter area.)

Okay, so today we were working under the fig tree and this is a small conversation Brycen and I had,

B: "Ooooooh! I found a worm! I'm gonna squish it!"

M: "Sweetheart, worms are really good for the soil. Maybe you you should put it on the dill plant instead."

B: "Oh. Okay mom, I will."

Two minutes pass, I look over to check on him, and he is still trying to balance the worm on a small limb of the dill plant. He was literally trying to put in ON the plant.

M: "Oh, Brycen, when I said to put it "On" the ploant, I meant to put in on the dirt under the plant. This way it can aerate the soil under the dill plant."

B: "Oh. Okay, I think that would be easier mom."

Lesson learned--I need to be more careful/specific with instructions I give to my little ones. Sometimes, they do EXACTLY what I tell them to.