He loves me with a love that I have NEVER known before.  It is so unconditional and has no boundaries.

He is an amazingly engaged father.

He loves not only his kids but everyone else’s as well…and they usually love him back.

He is very passionate about his faith.

He loves his family.

He cares about his body and about how he looks without being vain…..I can’t stand a frump!

He is a BLAST to be around.  Just this weekend as we were having family night, I was ordering at the Chick-fil-A drive-thru

and he tickled me until I couldn’t breathe or order my food.  The lady asked me what was so funny and I just had to laugh and     tell her that my husband was a dork.

He is an AMAZING provider and works so very hard for us.

About a month ago, while in Orlando he said God was telling him to give some money to a family that we know.  He never    argued….he just obeyed. Not a lot of people see this side of him or even believe it exists

When he is laying on the couch or cuddling with me in the bed, he rubs his feet together like a cat.

He is good at EVERYTHING he does.  He plays drums, tennis, builds things, loves all sports…..it’s not even fair.  I would just      like to have ONE talent and he has like a million.

Sometimes, we like to harmonize to Southern Gospel songs or old hymns.

He makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the whole world and is constantly complimenting me.

He always asks our kids, “Don’t you have the prettiest mommy in the world?” and they just giggle…..so sweet.

Even though his frugal ways frustrate me on most days, I find comfort in knowing that he always does what is financially best  for our family.  And if I was in charge, I would spend it all on curtains and throw pillows.

I am very burdened by how many stories I’ve heard lately of divorce.  It’s almost become a shock when you hear of people staying married for 10 or 15 years.  I’m so blessed to be with an amazing man with whom I fall more in love with every day.  I’m not saying we don’t have our struggles because that would be crazy.  But at the end of the day, we are more in love than we were when we met and that says a lot.  I love you, Christopher and I love the life that God has allowed us to have together.

I usually use about 8 red potatoes for my family (cut into quarters or halves)

about 2 tablespoons of dried or fresh rosemary

3 cloves of garlic peeled (I usually give them a “whop” or two with a knife to expose the flavor but don’t smoosh it)

about 1/2 cup of Olive Oil

salt and pepper

Mix all these ingredients in a large freezer bag and shake what ya momma gave ya!  When coated, put on a baking sheet and place in a 4oo degree oven for about an hour.  I turn mine about half-way through because they get crispy.  These are yummy and full of flavor.  Serve with your favorite chicken dish or grilled salmon.  So lovely!

Dear Governor Deal:

We are writing to ask you to declare that the last day in February will be observed on an ongoing basis as Rare Disease Day in Georgia each year.  On that day, millions of people around the world observe Rare Disease Day as a way of raising awareness of these diseases, which affect nearly 30 million Americans, and the special challenges encountered by patients and their families.

Thousands of Georgia residents join in this annual observance.  Your pronouncement of the day as a recognized event in the state would be greatly appreciated by patients and caregivers, as well as medical professionals, researchers, public health officials, educators, social workers and others serving the rare disease community.

Rare diseases are those that affect fewer than 200,000 Americans, and there are nearly 7,000 such diseases affecting nearly 30 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Rare Disease Day was observed for the first time in the United States in 2009 and was a great success.  The observance was supported by entities such as the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and Social Security Administration, as well as many patient organizations and state and local agencies.

We respectfully ask you to consider designating the last day of February Rare Disease Day in Georgia on the basis that:

• Thousands of residents of Georgia are affected by rare diseases, as patients, friends and family, caregivers, physicians and other medical professionals, providers of social services, and researchers seeking to develop safe, effective treatments
• Many rare diseases are serious or even life-threatening
• Most rare diseases have no treatment
• About half of the people affected by rare diseases in the U.S. are children since many rare diseases are genetic
• Research on rare diseases is important because it often adds significantly to the general understanding of more common diseases

People with rare diseases experience certain challenges that occur as a result of the fact that their diseases are rare.  These include:

• Difficulty in obtaining a timely, accurate diagnosis
• Limited treatment options
• Difficulty in finding physicians or treatment centers with needed expertise
• Treatments that are generally more expensive than those for common diseases
• Reimbursement issues related to private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid
• A sense of isolation and hopelessness

Rare disorders affect the entire family of an individual patient. Caregivers endure ongoing stress and isolation managing the medical and financial issues that arise. When there is delay in the diagnosis of a rare genetic disorder, siblings may be born with the same condition. When a rare genetic disorder is diagnosed during adulthood, other family members may need to be informed that they may also be at risk…and this may lead to difficult decisions regarding genetic testing, if such testing is an option.

On the basis of all of the above, we hope you will join other governors around the nation in declaring the last day in the month of February to be observed each year as Rare Disease Day in the state.

With best regards,

Your name

Your organization

1 lb. of Stew meat

1/2 an onion finely chopped

3-4 stalks of celery finely chopped

1 small bag of baby carrotts

about 8 red potatoes

1 can of english peas

3/4 butternut squash (cubed)

1 package of Beef Stew seasoning

1 box of Beef Stock

about 2 cups of water

I put my stew in a crockpot but you could also use stockpot or a roasting pot.  I put my crockpot on the stovetop and pour a little olive oil in the bottom of the pot.  Turn stovetop to about medium-high.  While it’s getting hot, coat stew meat with flour, salt and pepper.  Add meat, celery and onion to the pot and cook until veggies are tender and meat is browned.  Then you add all the other ingredients.  Remove pot from stovetop and turn it on low for 8 hrs. or high for 4 hrs. Depending on your crockpot, times may vary.  Serve with cornbread and we usually eat the leftovers the next night over brown rice.  Super easy and it’s so yummy on a rainy day.  Let me know if you try it!!

Sorry, I took the pics with my computer so they’re backwards.  :)

BTW-I use mostly organic ingredients but that’s just my preference.

Homemade Pizza

Whole wheat pizza dough (I get mine at Harry’s but I think I’ve seen them at Target)

Organic pizza sauce

Mozzarella cheese

Applegate Farms sausage and bacon

Zucchini

Bell Pepper

Feta Cheese

It’s pretty much self-explanitory.  Brush the dough with olive oil then bake for about 10 minutes.  Take out and add sauce and mozzarella cheese.  Half of the pizza is mine and Chris’s and half is the kiddos.  On the grown-up half I slice zucchini and bell pepper then add crispy bacon and feta cheese…..YUMMM.  And the the kiddos’ I usually do just sausage or sometimes pineapple and ham.  Then place back in the oven for about 20 minutes and VOILA!  It’s dinner.  This meal is wonderful for the weekends or nights when I forget to defrost something.  The kids love helping roll out the dough and adding all the toppings.  So there you have it.  It’s nothing complex but it’s a crowd pleaser and it’s a healthy twist on a family fav.  ENJOY!!