Monthly Archives: June 2013

slow and steady

25 Tuesday Jun 2013

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I got a new boot. And my leg brace is at 0 degrees. Which means I can now straighten my leg all the way. If my leg would cooperate. Which it isn’t currently and it is hovering somewhere around 13 degrees. I have to stretch it every day. PAINFUL! The new boot is a walking boot. Which means…walking! Right now I can only put my toes down and barely put any weight on it at all, but my poor baby leg hasn’t had any weight on it in oh 68 ish days?? So it is a WHIMP! I started doing some muscle strengthening with it today and it was not fun. I can BARELY squeeze my quad muscle. It just twitches and dies. But I will keep working at it. Also, the best news, I don’t have to wear my brace to bed anymore! I still have to wear this huge puffy boot to keep my foot from flopping around, BUT no brace! And that is SOO much more comfortable for sleeping. So nice! I’m off all pain meds except for the nerve pain one, and I don’t have to wake up during the night anymore to take them. Also good for sleeping. I don’t notice anymore feeling in my leg, but as the doctors keep saying, it will just take time. So things are progressing, but slowly. I am anxious to be walking around like normal and not have to use crutches, but know I need to have patience. I was cleared to start swimming so I can’t WAIT to start doing some laps and water walking! I think it will feel sooooo good! Overall I’m doing great. I have lots of soreness/stiffness but I know that’s just part of the process. Next week I’m taking a class so I can start driving, which is awesome! Summer is here and I’m enjoying the hot weather and the sunshine. Can’t wait to get into the pool!

Just a quick update for you all. Thank you so much for your prayers!

perfect iced coffee

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

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I stole this recipe from The Pioneer Woman. It is amazing. It is smooth. It is delicious. If you like iced coffee, you will love this I promise. It takes a bit of work, but it makes a ton and it keeps really well. I only make half of this recipe, and it lasts me about a week or a week and a half. I don’t sweeten mine at all, but if you do put the sweetened condensed milk it in, it is heavenly. Try it once. I dare you!

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Mix coffee with cold water in a large container. Allow to sit overnight.

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I add some cinnamon powder to mine. Make sure you stir it all up before you let it sit overnight.

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Strain the coffee grounds into a pitcher. (I usually strain it twice to make sure all the grounds are out)

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Put some ice in a cup.

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Pour in the iced coffee…

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I add cream. And its ready to enjoy!

Perfect iced coffee

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Ground Coffee (good, Rich Roast)
  • 8 quarts Cold Water
  • Half-and-half (healthy Splash Per Serving)
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk (2-3 Tablespoons Per Serving)
  • Note: Can Use Skim Milk, 2% Milk, Whole Milk, Sugar, Artificial Sweeteners, Syrups…adapt To Your Liking!

Preparation Instructions

In a large container, mix ground coffee with water. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature eight hours or overnight.

Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set over a pitcher or other container. Pour coffee/water mixture through the strainer, allowing all liquid to run through. Discard grounds.

Place coffee liquid in the fridge and allow to cool. Use as needed.

To make iced coffee, pack a glass full of ice cubes. Fill glass 2/3 full with coffee liquid. Add healthy splash of half-and-half. Add 2-3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (can use plain sugar instead) and stir to combine. Taste and adjust half-and-half and/or sweetened condensed milk as needed.

Taken from The Pioneer Woman website:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/perfect-iced-coffee/

meant to be

14 Friday Jun 2013

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A girl who checked me out at the store tonight asked me what happened to my foot. I’m always so reluctant to say “I was in the boston bombing” It just sounds weird to say. Also, then people feel really terrible for asking you. But she didn’t skip a beat. Her eyes opened wide and she said “Well, there must be a really important reason you are still here. I’m glad you’re still here”

WHAT!?

What an amazing response!

NO ONE has said that to me since the bombing. There must be an important reason I am still here. I admit I have thought about this. I could have died that day. But I didn’t. God spared my life. God spared OUR lives. How humbling to think about that. So much more pressure! Whatever he has for me to do, I need to be able to do that with excellence. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me.

So humbling, but so, so exciting!

o happy day!

10 Monday Jun 2013

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Just a quick update to let you all know how amazing this day has been!

1. I can now wiggle my ankle. SO tiny. But I couldn’t do it before. That means stuff is working and healing and getting better and its super encouraging!

2. Peter walked across the living room without crutches! He can only do a weird hobble/shuffle, but he did it!

3. Rebekah is going home today! She has been in the hospital 9 weeks! SO thankful to God that she is getting out of there! Let the healing begin!!

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Only mostly dead

10 Monday Jun 2013

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Today I can wiggle my ankle. It’s really a muscle in my leg working as hard as it can to do anything, but I couldn’t do that before. I was showing Pete this morning and I felt like I was in the Princess Bride. “Look! You wiggle your finger! Doesn’t that make you happy?!” Haha I feel like I will have many more of those moments as time goes on. As my nerves hopefully heal. Some day I will have control if my ankle. It won’t just twitch awkwardly. Someday my toes will wiggle again… Someday!

Browned Butter Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

08 Saturday Jun 2013

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I made these cookies this weekend. Everyone loved them! I love cookies with oatmeal. And we love dark chocolate. The browned butter definitely adds something special. It enhances the flavor of everything!
Browned Butter Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
3 cups old-fashioned oats
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring as butter begins to simmer and foams up. Continue until butter turns a dark amber color and brown specks appear at the bottom of the pan (you will see them as you continue to whisk). Once browned (and be careful not to burn) remove from heat and let cool.
Meanwhile, mix flour, soda, salt and cinnamon in a medium bowl and set aside.
Once cooled slightly, pour browned butter into the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat in sugars for several minutes until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat for another minute or two.
Stir in dry ingredients with a wooden spoon. Add dark chocolate chips and oats. Spoon by heaping tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes, or until edges slightly brown. Let cool for several minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
I found this recipe at:

not for a moment

02 Sunday Jun 2013

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We sang this song today at church. I love my church and it has been so nice to be back worshipping with people I love. Brit did an amazing job singing this and I just took a moment to reflect on the words.

Listen to it.

Listen to the words.

“You were reaching through the storm and walking on the water even when I could not see”

“You were singing in the dark and whispering Your promise even when I could not hear”

It just made me think, sometimes we don’t know what God is doing or why He is sending trials our way. We can’t see, we can’t hear. But He is reaching for us, singing in the dark, keeping His promises. He can see. He can hear. He knows what’s up ahead. He will never forsake us. Not even for a moment.

Just one more truth to cling to throughout this storm.

You were reaching through the storm
And walking on the water
Even when I could not see
In the middle of it all
When I thought You were a thousand miles away
Not for a moment did You forsake me
Not for a moment did You forsake me

And after all You are constant
After all You are only good
After all You are sovereign
Not for a moment will You forsake me

You were singing in the dark
And whispering Your promise
Even when I could not hear
I was held in Your arms
Carried for a thousand miles to show
Not for a moment did You forsake me

And every step every breath you are there
Every tear every cry every prayer
In my hurt at my worst
When my world falls down
Not for a moment will You forsake me
even in the dark
even when its hard
you will never leave
after all