New Dishes This Week

I am trying out a few new recipes this week. Here they are...click on the links to see the recipes:

 Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage bake

Chicken in Basil Cream

One Pot Tortellini and sausage in a Tomato Cream Sauce

Roasted Lemon Potatoes

Some Moments of Memory

Moments from 2013:

1) Added pets

We went from a family of 7 to a family of 10 this year. Well, 11 but one died. We added Molly (Mum's beloved dog) and Guinea. Then Guinea passed away and we added Daisy and Nori the guinea pigs. Yes, we are officially a zoo. Dama suggested today we open for a petting zoo. But I keep thinking about the kids, what they are going to look back on, the time when they will be gone and we can say we went the extra mile to have a big full family which includes our very loved pets. Maile turned 14 this year too and is doing really well.

2) I became a hardcore soccer mom

I bought the sleeping bag coat and fell in love with it. I have all the warm gear. I look forward to Soccer Saturdays. My life begins at 4pm shuttling the kids to soccer. Loving this sport has been a wonderful experience for me. The people that have been placed in my life and the kids' lives because of soccer have all been incredible. The coaches the kids have had that have made an impact on them and their dreams. We've done a lot of sports: track, cross country, swimming, skating, baseball, gymnastics, Aikido...and the soccer community are so real and so fun. The sport itself has inspired my kids to work hard in all areas. And I get front row seats!

 

4) I got glasses

What can I say? You turn 40 and things start falling apart.

3) Caring for and saying goodbye to my Mum

I look back and I did all I could. I miss her so much. The time seeing her decline was the hardest thing I have ever had to face. But I also know that the way she passed away, she avoided all of her worst nightmares. There is some peace in knowing that for me. She just slipped away. Many times over the years I have wondered how her life would end. I hoped that it would be in a way that she kept her dignity and did not drag out as those were her greatest wishes for the end. Thank goodness her wishes were honored by the universe.
Today I thought about how my husband will face the decline of his parents and it made me realize that this chapter of my life is done. In some ways, it is so peaceful to know I will never have to face the loss of a parent again. It was so painful. That chapter is closed. I miss you Mum. You were the greatest.