Thankful Thursday

1 Thessalonians 1:9-12 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

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Today I'm thankful that my unexpected need was unexpectedly meet! I'm fairly certain it involved sacrifice on another person's part for me. And if so I'm truly grateful!

Here's some back story, This week I've had an appointment every day! Very much out of the ordinary for this house bound disabled. But on Wednesday last week I went to my dentist and had my teeth cleaned. My dentist's office is half a block away from my aunt's hair salon, and it's been ages since I've seen her. A real shame too since we live in neighboring towns. So I stopped into her shop to visit with her a little bit until her next customer was coming in. We chatted a bit about how damaged my hair had gotten from still having some old hair color on it, and now with regularly swimming (thanks to my parents who bought me a Y membership so I can attend the 3 times a week arthritis swim! Hey, another thankful post can spin off this one! Hmm...) so we made plans for me to come in Monday and get a trim. Monday came and 4 inches of damaged hair came off. Also on Monday, I skipped swim class because I've some bad rashes under my arms. And it's fairly raw. So instead of swimming I called my dermatologists office, only to find out that they won't be able to see me for a month, and suggested I see my GP. So I called my GP and was scheduled to see him the next day. So Tuesday happens and I'm off to see my GP. We talk about how dry I am, and how I probably have Sjogren's syndrome considering a few symptoms I have, and that goes along with my RA, so it's a very likely diagnosis, but he's leaving that for my Rheumatologist to determine, and he wants me to make an appointment with my dermatologist anyway in case the rash is still there in a month. So that's now two more appointments I need to make! I really should be on the phone planning those except today I just got back from the dentist office (AGAIN!) and feel the need to blog about THIS and save the phone calls for just after. See, on Tuesday night I chipped a couple teeth. We were having a pasta casserole for dinner, so I honestly have NO idea how it happened. But, for whatever reason, all of a sudden, two teeth chipped, and one so badly my tongue has been rubbed raw on the tip from the sharp edge of the tooth. So yesterday I was able to be squeezed in to be seen for an estimate of work. As I was leaving they were scheduling me for when the fillings could be done. The soonest was an entire month away! And the first date available happened to be one I'm already booked on, so it was going to be even later than that! I literally started praying for an opening as soon as possible as soon as I left the office door! Then, as we were eating dinner last night the dentist office called and asked if I could be seen today at noon, that there was an opening then. I jumped at the chance, at this point being agitated with the sting on the tip of my tongue I wasn't going to say no no matter what time it was, so long as it was sooner.
As I was waiting for the dentist to come in the room I glanced around the room. On the wall nearest the door was the days schedule, and that time slot was blacked out as his lunch time. As best I can tell he took an early lunch if their was a cancellation before his lunch, but my guess is he sacrificed for me and squeezed me in. He was very polite and friendly, but I heard him quietly burp a few times during the 40 minutes he was working on my mouth, and his stomach was making all sorts of sounds. It reminded me of my retail days when I'd have 15 minutes for a break and had to cram down my lunch quickly. I believe he ate as fast as he could to fit me in between appointments. When he was done he thanked me for being available so quickly, and I said I was just thankful to be seen so quickly! He said, well, I felt bad sending you off with a broken tooth yesterday and I'm glad we could fit you in sooner. To me that pretty much told me what I was already speculating, that he squeezed me in for my comfort, knowing a month would be far too long of a wait. If I'm right, I'm thankful for his sacrifice of indigestion to put my comfort before his! If I'm wrong in my speculations, I'm just thankful that my unexpected need was unexpectedly fixed so expediently!

Since I'm blogging, I should probably mention now that my dropping out of NaBloPoMo back in November was a much needed thing. I honestly thought it would be fun to push myself to write daily, but I ended up finding it didn't allow for the natural flow of my creativity. Some people can write under pressure, I'm not one of them. Which may squash my dreams of being a published author someday, but I'm not going to dwell on that.

By mid November I was in a frenzy trying to prepare the house for my families Thanksgiving visit. And then before they even left I was off to Montana to be with my cousin and her family for a few weeks before Christmas because she just had a baby and named Kevin and I God-parents. So now we have a second God-son, and it was a joy to help them transition to their new life as a family of 4 and to spend so much time with a newborn! Kevin joined me for the last week. He rode out on the train. Our friend (and great author) Tricia Goyer picked Kevin up from the train station, had him hang out at their place for a bit, and then dropped him off on the bus to catch the last leg of his trip. Then he rode back with me in our truck. We're thankful for Tricia's kindness as it really helped us save on the trip, and I know it was a nice break for Kevin to be with friends on the way out.

At Christmas we were in Oregon visiting Kevin's family and so we were literally home only a couple days before leaving again. By the time all my traveling was done, it seemed like I hadn't been home for over a month, and as a result many of my personal routines didn't happen, including blogging. But I'll gladly trade my simple daily routines for time with all those family members again!

So, hopefully I'll be able to blog again a bit more regularly, and work on some of the topics I started rough drafting back in October. I'm excited for what this new year holds, and amazed that a month and a half is already gone! I guess unpacking and catching up on doctors appointments and so on has just really kept me busy. I still plan on editing my photos from Thanksgiving and since and posting some, but for now I need a nap. I started the week only expecting to visit my aunt and get my hair trimmed, and now I've had something every day. And tomorrow is grocery day so I don't even get a break tomorrow. I'm sure their are plenty who have errands and jobs everyday, but for me this has been a big deal. I'm thankful I've had the endurance to keep going all week, and I know that's a gift from God. I did have a hard time getting out of bed today, so in the interest of not building up a huge sleep debt and running out of spoons for the weekend I'm going to nap until hubby gets home, and save the phone calls for tomorrow.

Today is Tuesday, here is an update, but I can't think of a title.

I was told that I haven't made a post in a while. Yes, I'm not sure what to write about these days. The comments that made me consider closing my blog had brought tears to my eyes. I cried a lot, and it's been hard to want to write since then. The things I post on here are things I spend lots of time considering, so I do take things personally. I am thoughtful, some commenters are not.

I've also been at a loss of what to write about because mostly I'm just writing about my symptoms. I'm so thankful to be over physical therapy, but I still feel worn out and sleepy a lot. It seems like after therapy I started getting cold after cold and with feeling sick and tired a lot I don't really see much to write about. I've spent a lot of time reading. I finally finished the first Harry Potter book, and am now in the second book. I loved it! I love reading, especially this time of year where the cold just makes me want to stay covered up and with my nose in a good book.

I'm working on my Thanksgiving list. I should post it soon, probably on Thanksgiving. That'll be another post from me soon too.

My family visited last week. It was OK. Dad was sick for the most part, it seemed like he slept a lot. Everyone did lots of chores for me, which was appreciated, but also overwhelming. I'm still waiting for a photo CD from my mom from their time here. I'll probably post some pictures once I get it. While they were here my arthritis wasn't horrible, which was good. I was afraid because I was mostly stuck in bed even up to a day before they came. I was finally over the colds I had, only to catch the cold they had about halfway through there visit. This cold has been the worst of the 4 I've had in the last 2 months. But it seems to be moving fairly quickly. I came down with it Wednesday, and already am feeling a lot different... not quite better yet, but MAYBE in a week or so I'll feel well enough to get back on my injections! I pray so, I feel so much inflammation in my body. The worst being my ability (or lack there of) to move my back. And pain that surprises me when I do try to move.

My mobility has been an issue, even with the help that physical therapy was. I've really found that my mobility is tied so much to my inflamation. When it's worst I can't move hardly at all, when it's better I can move around fairly free, though that's been rare lately.

While they were here we visited a museum and I used a wheelchair there. It was actually rather freeing to have a chair available, I'm glad the museum had that available. It reminded me of the words of an on-line friend of mine. She has A.S. and she told me the best thing she ever did for herself was to buy herself a walker so she could keep moving on her bad days. I'm grateful for my cane, but sometimes I need support on both sides of my body. About half of the rest of the time I was using my cane. There where a couple of times I didn't use my cane and this confused my sister. She didn't quite understand that I don't need it all of the time. And that I try not to use it when I don't need it. I think this is one of the hardest things for people to understand about my arthritis, just because I'm doing good one day doesn't mean I'm better, and just because I'm stuck in bed another doesn't mean I'll always be stuck. It also doesn't mean that I've given up, or given into my disease. Just because I need my cane sometimes, and would truly benefit from a walker doesn't mean I want it, it's just tools for better living. It's not something about attitude, but realizing what I need to do to have the best life possible.

I'm really saddened sometimes by the lack of understanding some people have. I try to be very open about what I deal with, and sometimes it's hard for people to understand that this is not something I'm doing to myself, or allowing to happen to me. There is no cure for it, just some things that help. Believe me, if there was a cure-all for this all of my on-line A.S. friends and I would be talking about it and shouting it from the roof-tops. No one wants a cure for this more than the person dealing with it. False hopes, and advice that (falsely says) there's a cure out there are very discouraging. God alone can deal with this. Medications and exercise CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH! Even if I'm someday blessed with total remission, I would still live with the reality that it could pop up again. Even if I someday get my hip replaced to fix my O.A. that still won't change the R.A. or A.S. it's complicated, and my life is even more complicated since I live with multiple things.

The first day my family was here (actually on our way home from the airport) we went to the mall and they bought us a stationary recumbent bike. It's great. I think it's even nicer than the one I was using in physical therapy. Siggy has already started scratching on it, which makes me mad. He's a good cat for the most part, but everything looks like scratching posts to him. Very frustrating. I've put a towel over the seat to help prevent his scratching, so far so good... I'm just wondering how long that will last.

The weather has been cold, and I'm surprised we haven't had snow yet. Any time we do get moisture it seems to head up from the south, so it's fairly warm.

My dear friend Juliet called me yesterday because I missed church last Sunday and she was wondering how I was doing. I sounded like a grumpy frog on the phone. Stupid cold. I've been half asleep most of the time, and my voice sounds funny. But getting her call was a ray of sunshine. It's so encouraging knowing I have such loving and caring friends. It truly blessed me.

stuck at home again

So the road out of our neighborhood has been closed over since yesterday morning. I just saw a neighbor drive off only to return 10 minutes later.
The county website still shows our drive out closed in several spots, so we are stuck. And all when my parents and sister will be here tomorrow. They may have to stay with someone else for a night, I don't really know. November rains are always crazy.

Kevin worked from home yesterday, and is again today. I prefer it so much more over not knowing when we'll be back together, and being alone. I like being able to give him a decent lunch since he's home too. And the no commute this is nice. Too bad it can't be a regular type thing. Oh well, at least I know he's safe right now. We all are. The waters are 4 miles down the road from us, and we're much higher up where we are. It's the trade off of living at the end of a long country road. It's peaceful and quiet where we live, but every great place has it's trade offs.

Here's hoping the roads dry up soon and that it doesn't cause anyone issues while my family is here to visit.

My latest photo albums.

Here are the links for the latest photo albums.


John and Nadine's wedding



John and Nadine's wedding reception



2008 Tallmon Family reunion photos from my camera.



2008 Tallmon Family reunion photos from my mom and sister's cameras

this n that

I wish I could got to Colorado in a few weeks. My High school there (where I went for Freshman and Sophomore years) is having it's 10 year reunion. I only just now got the notice about that! Way too short notice. Since it's the only HS I went to for more then a year it's the one I'm most curious about. Still, I don't see any of my reunions as that big a deal. I only know a handful of people from each school, and all but two people who I'd like to keep in contact with are either on Myspace or Facebook, or I have addresses or e-mail addresses for them, so I've been able to keep up with people pretty well. I'd love to find my friend Cat from Sequoia, and my friend Kelly from Thornton and Lindsay from Woodside. I keep holding out hope that they'll join one of the sites, or that someone who does go to reunion (if they go) can help me get back in touch. Who knows, maybe it'll happen someday, maybe it wont. As far as I know I haven't heard of a reunion for Sequoia, it looks like that'll be sometime in the school year, so more like an 11 year reunion. And Woodside will be having theirs soon... But I really don't want to make any more trips to California this summer, and the price is 3 times as expensive then the one for Thornton! Maybe I'll go to my 25th reunions or something. It's just weird to think of having three different HS reunions I could go to. But I did go to that many schools.

Switching to a different type of reunions... Family reunion last weekend was loads of fun. I've been working on trying to get my pictures up too, but because the file sizes are so large I"m having to take time out to make web ready sized versions to post. Time consuming. It was wonderful having three babies there to hang out with and cuddle. And my nephew Ethan kept hugging and smooching me, it made me feel like very loved aunt. I think I spent more time with kids then grow-ups! Camping was OK, but the first night a skunk slammed into the side of our cabin and sprayed. We have no idea why, but that night the smell was so bad I could barely sleep. The next night the smell blew away with the breeze for the most part, and the last night we had a different cabin altogether. That one was at a slant because of the tree growing behind it, but that didn't bother me at all. Staying at that particular KOA didn't feel too much like camping though, all the sites are so close together, seemed more like a tailgate party! But it was nice. And it did feel like camping when we were at the family reunion site. It's under a giant oak tree at the ranch property of some in the family. There is a stream there, and lots of trees, it felt nice. I wish we could go every year! Maybe things will improve for us financially soon, Kevin's boss is trying to get their groups status raised to a higher tier. Don't know if that'll make summer vacations any easier though... Since Kevin works the tech support, his department tends to be needed the most in summer and his boss is always hesitant to give time off. The only reason Kevin gets a day or two in August is because that's when my birthday is. So we'll be camping once more in August. Again at a KOA, but the Leavenworth KOA is a bit more like camping, and has access to the Winatchee river! That'll be fun, I can't hardly wait! There's also great antique stores, and apple and pear farms in short driving distance, I so look forward to my weekend coming up! I just hope I won't be too sore to enjoy it...

Yesterday was my first physical therapy and I've been worn out and sore ever since. I was worn out and sore before the appointment too, so I just didn't have a chance to recover, and then Kevin and I went to Costco afterwards so all that walking and pushing a heavy cart didn't help either. I do feel like my PT knows what she's doing. She does agree that I probably have AS, that I do have OA and has now added bursitis to my list. Yeah, my hips are messed up in probably 3 ways. She encouraged me to make my appointment to meet with an orthopedic surgeon. That scared me a bit. From what all I've read on-line I'm not sure what good surgery would do on an non-displaced labral tear. The things I've read have only said it's worth it when the tear starts to stick out of the joint, and for now I don't have that. But who knows, I might in my left hip, they still haven't scanned it yet. And we still don't know what's going on with my back. I was able to walk without my cane to my PT appointment, but felt like I needed it afterwards, maybe I should bring it just in case next week. My homework is pretty easy, it's exercises I do for the most part already, I think the pain was mostly from the examination part of the appointment.

Not much else to tell for now. I'll be sure to make a post when the albums are ready.

5 sentances

This is an interesting idea that my brother in law told me about during family reunion. I'm not too sure what I think about it. I tend to sometimes do this and yet at other times write novels in e-mails. I do also tend to write posts here that are more meant to be seen by anyone of my friends and family (and random internet visitors) reserving other types of communication to be either e-mail or social blogging.

The content of the site reads...

The Problem

E-mail takes too long to respond to, resulting in continuous inbox overflow for those who receive a lot of it.

The Solution

Treat all email responses like SMS text messages, using a set number of letters per response. Since it’s too hard to count letters, we count sentences instead.
five.sentenc.es is a personal policy that all email responses regardless of recipient or subject will be five sentences or less. It’s that simple.

Just thought I'd post this as it's a curious proposition. Honestly though, I think my main problem getting through e-mail is wadding through e-mails from companies I am interested in hearing from when I'm looking to use them, but at the moment trying to find the personal messages. As a result we've set up addresses we give to businesses and different ones to individuals. This has helped us a bit more than this commitment might. It also doesn't really change what I'd RECEIVE in my in-box, those people who all ways write long messages will continue to unless they themselves become compelled at some point to make such a commitment. Just thought this was all something interesting to think about.

Best wishes Nadine and John

Today we're in Salem,OR for a wedding! The daughter of one of Kevin's cousin is getting married today. Kevin's cousin's husband was one of our two pastors who married us 8 years and a month ago. It just feels neat to be going to a wedding for a family member. And to recal our joy of our marriage as a newly married couple celebrates their love together.

Nadine is a kind woman, her love for her husband is sweet and I'm so glad for her, that she has someone who loves her dearly as God would have her be loved. What a blessing the commitment of marriage can be!



Best wishes Nadine and John, may the Lord our God bless your marriage for many years to come!

With our Love,
Crystal and Kevin




Colossians 3:14 (ESV)
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Ephesians 5:33 (ESV)
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV)
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Mark 10:9 (ESV)
What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."


Proverbs 31:10
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels...

Gothic Arches - Family

I found another paper art group I want to participate in. I really like the look of the gothic arch. I think it adds a lot of character to the composition.

This is my first gothic arch and I really like how it turned out. The photo is of my grandmother and my great-grandparents. Family was a nice theme.


Here is the original photo...

Thank you!

My Grandparents bought me an even better version of the doll I put on my birthday wish-list! I'm so amazed at how pretty the doll is. She has a porcelain face and hands, none of my other Moravian dolls have that, they are all made out of vinyl.
I'll post a picture of her soon. It's just such a wonderful gift. The little girl in me will treasure her forever, especially because she is so much like that special one I messed up when I was really little.
I know it may seem silly to some that someone would want and appreciate getting a doll for their 28th birthday, but to me these dolls are a piece of history, a piece of my genealogy, and a piece of art.

Missed my grandpa tonight.

Get More at COMMENTYOU.com


When I saw this it reminded me of my grandpa Juett. When he would say thank you, once was never enough. He always repeated it several times, and meant it too. With my hubby, the family I.T. guy, we ended up hearing that from him a lot. I guess I'm being sentimental, but seeing this little comment image reminded me of one of the gracious characteristics of his that I always admired and miss him for.

MIA, and thoughts on infertility, sick cat and other things...

Sorry I haven't posted anything in 3 weeks! I do have stuff to post too; like the pictures from our Portland trip, and the fiasco with a very sick kitty when we got back. I just haven't blogged and I think a lot of it is just being tired (and sick). I got super sick myself after Portland and Kevin had a business trip so for most of the week when we were back I was alone. That was awful. I was so sick I texted my mom her birthday greetings because I couldn't talk, and later I had a horrible sinus infection! I just hate blogging when I feel like I don't have anything good or interesting to say, when it's all complaining and sickness and stuff, I just close up.

I also close up when I hear about other couples expecting. I REALLY want to be happy for them. I AM happy for them, but I always close up because my infertility is a wound easily reopened. I can be fine for days, weeks, months even, but then something that should be one of the biggest joys for a loved one is a painful reminder that I will most likely never get to have that experience and joy, and if I were to try it would be at great risk, huge expense and well, I'm just wanting to adopt so I don't talk about infertility treatment.

The last few weeks I've been very depressed. I want so desperately to be a mom. It's a dream I've wanted all my life. To be a wife and mom, I'm only halfway there, and the first part has been so easy and the last part is so hard! I feel so horribly left behind. I'm hard pressed to come up with many friends who are married that don't have more then one kid already! I just hope that when we do have kids that we will know someone who will have kids our kids ages, at this rate I think we'll be so behind that everyone will have much older kids then us. These are things that bug me to no end! And lead me to midnight blogging!

In the matter of 2 and a half weeks I heard 4 pregnancy announcements! I screamed every time. I have a hard time wanting to spend time on-line because I'm afraid that everyone else's joy will just make me sad. I went to a "support" website only to be told I should pray about my own jealousy and just be happy for them. But what that ignores is I am happy for them, it's my own situation that causes me such sorrow, and while I'm able to cope most of the time, their joy reminds me of my own sorrow, brings it up again and then I grieve again. It doesn't just disappear. My hopes and dreams are not something to just ignore. And I know they are Kevin's too.

I've missed parties, or church (and we even left a church in San Jose), or waited too long to go shopping and missed out on other things simply because I don't want to be constantly reminded of the gifts other families have that I have to continue to wait for. Seeing pregnant women in the grocery store saddens me. I wonder sometimes if they can read "Infertile" on my face when I look away in sadness, or if they even notice.

I'm grieving again. A really good friend of mine is loosing her baby and all I can think of is that she's living the hellish nightmare that keeps me from trying infertility treatment. See I know what my odds are, I know that there is more of a chance of loosing a baby then ever having a baby, and I know that my chances of conceiving in the first place are so slim considering my body. It is one of those things that makes some women explore absolutely every avenue and option out their, but the pain and risk along the way seems to great a sorrow considering everything else I've had to live through, why add more pain. But that leaves me with the struggle of a heart of a childless mother. I have a niece and a nephew, and my cousin made me her son's God mother, and for these joys I'm grateful. They still don't fill that whole in my heart though. Someday an adoption will happen and these things will change a lot. Holding hope in that day, somedays is the only thing that keeps me sane.

I'm not trying to gain sympathy. And I know I'll be a good mom someday, I just needed to let you all know what's been rattling around my head for so long. Why you haven't heard from me. I've been trying to come up with what to write, but stop because I don't want to complain.

On to Tony... When we got back from our trip (we were only gone 3 days) we had found that he had developed a bad case of the runs. It sucks enough when a person is dealing with that, but cats are a whole 'nother thing. He left surprises in every room, as well as streaks and stains. He lost 4 pounds which considering his size is a good thing, but still drastic. And he slept like crazy. For about a week straight he wasn't himself. Then we noticed his fur was missing on his backside, but he was better otherwise. It seemed like everything was behind him and he was going to be a healthy kitty again! Then the next day we noticed the fur-less patch was raw and a bit bloody. We were getting concerned. It was seeming like he wasn't getting better and so we somehow had to take him to the vet with no money! The day after that he had a huge open wound. We both felt faint looking at it and had no doubt, we were taking him to an animal ER. We ended up paying for the visit with the money my mom and sister gave us to buy a convertible crib/bed for when we do have a kid. So now purchasing that has to wait. Which bums me out because I've been back and forth with nesting. I have this crazy idea of having a room all ready for when we start our home-study. Anyway, back to Tony. So the doctor said he was doing very well and that it looks the way he wants it too! And we're thinking "WHAT? this is a lot worst then when he had the runs." Apparently he got a gland clogged with all his unpleasantness, so even though I was bathing him, wanting to vomit as I choked on my own illness at the same time, he still ended up not getting clean enough to stay healthy. And we kind of wonder if Tony didn't do it to himself since it seemed to us like he was over cleaning on top of us cleaning him as well. To make a long story short his horrible wound is an abscess that got infected and ruptured. And wow was the wound gross. I'm thinking, I've had pimples and boils and none of them have ever made a wound like that. Poor kitty. It was reassuring being in the ER vets office because they explained that it's not that uncommon this time of year with all the warmth and considering his previous illness. They comforted us telling us we were good cat parents and sent us home with a round of antibiotics to give him. All in all he's been such a good cat. He normally is. I'm so proud of my cat. Both the people in the ER loved him.

So here it is July 3 and I'm finally writing again. Sorry it's not much fun. But an interesting factoid is the last time I wrote was my mothers birthday and today is my dad's birthday. Happy Birthday Daddy! Oh, and my brother in law too! Happy birthday to you too!

I'm just waiting for some good news. Which seems silly considering so many dear loved ones are expecting. I am happy for them for that, I'd just like for things to work out a bit better for my house too is all. Eventually they will. I hope.

I'll try and post some pictures soon from our Portland trip. We went to Portland and met up with Kevin's parents there. We sat in the rain most of the day Saturday (three weeks ago) watching the parade. I'm not much of a parade person, but it was a lot of fun. And even though I got sick (I know I was coming down with it before the trip) I'm so thankful it was rain and not blaring sun while we sat outside. I guess that proves I'm a north-westerner or something.

In positive news, Kevin and I recently finished our introductory classes on the OPC and are placing our membership at the church we've been attending (as best we can given MANY trips and illnesses this year) for almost a year now. On sunday an announcement will be in the bulletin that the church plans to receive us as new members and then the next week if there is no opposition then we'll be accepted, given our reaffirmation of faith. We are very excited as this has really become a wonderful place for us to worship God, to grow our faith and to fellowship with great new friends. The support structure we are discovering there is awesome and we feel blessed to be lead there. We both hope that everyone we love can have the same kind of joy in their own church home.

Have a safe memorial day!

To my grandpa Juett who served, and for my dad, uncles and cousins and any other family I may have missed who has served I salute you!

For all the men and women currently serving this nation I am proud. And for everyone who has served may they be honored today!

Today isn't just a day for us to relax and stay home one more day, but to reflect on the sacrifice others have made to preserve this nations freedom and security.

Give me a cookbook for my birthday!

My favorite cookbooks have always been community cookbooks, like from churches, schools, families, etc. There is such uniqueness to them, the recipes are always eclectic and the feel is so much different than your standard kitchen cookbooks.

This morning I woke up with the single thought of I want my own community cookbook! I want recipes from my friends and family and I want to see what I’d get in the end from that. I’ve gotten some recipes from some of you over the last few years, and I’ll probably use some of those, but I really want to make a book worth with all the quirks, love, and uniqueness of those I know.

I really want to make (at least for myself) a personal cookbook. I want recipes from friends and family. I'm not sure of any title right now; I just know the art of a good community style cookbook seems like a dying art form. I'd love to be able to give each participant a copy too. Maybe that'll be Christmas presents, I don't really know just yet.

Anyway, I'm looking for three types of recipes from everyone...

1. Kid friendly ones; ones the kids can work on themselves and are things kids are willing to eat, while still being (relatively) healthy choices.

2. Main dishes, side dishes, soups... Your basic recipes that are great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

3. Desserts - Sweets, breads, cakes, cookies, puddings, no bakes, etc. This part of the book might be called carb-fest.

If you have stories to go along with them I'd REALLY love to have that too! Tell me when something is someone’s favorite or a funny story from a time you served or made it, etc.

You can e-mail them to me (along with your current address so I can give you a copy later) at CWilson at getright dot org

If you have photos of when you've made it please send those as an attachment too. My birthday is the deadline for when it's included in the cookbook, so be sure to get back to me before August 23. That's a day shy of three months; I think that's a good amount of time.

Have fun and lets get cooking!

My dollies.

These are my Czech dolls! I actually have quite a collection of little ones in storage but these are my favorite and biggest ones.


This next set are very simular ones available on-line, the one in the middle is very much like the first one I used to have.

I'm not a very avid doll collector, and I'm no where skilled an artist as my friend Mica, but as a gal I do have a certain fondness for some dolls. In particular my Moravian dolls, of which I was recently floored by their value, I didn't even know they were sold here in the states, but I guess everything now is sold online.


I'd love to buy this one!




Anyway, a few weeks back Mica had a dollie story contest and I shared some of my special stories on her post but thought I'd share them here as well.


Here is what I wrote:
"I still to this day have a few of my very special dolls that my Grandmother would bring me from Czech. They are each dressed up in traditional clothes and every little detail is hand sewn on. Each doll is slightly different to reflect the different towns and what ribbons and patterns they'd use.
As a child one in particular was my very favorite. She had a delicate garland atop her head with little white flowers and beads. I must have been very little because the value of the doll meant nothing to me, I now know these days that it cost grandma a pretty penny for each doll. However, I was very sick and felt so lousey nothing consoled me. I remember I slept in my parents bed during the day and had to have a walkman and my dolly and that was the only thing that made me feel OK. I remember just laying there so sick and staring at the little flowers and little beads and thinking it was so pretty, I wanted to be a Moravian doll too! Unfortunately the doll wasn't quite the same after that illness. Aparently at one point I had such a bad fever that I was tossing and turning all over the bed and most of her outfit got pulled out of place and the garland all messed up. It was such a sad loss to me that I've never let anything happen to my other two big dolls and I keep my little ones in storage (for now). I guess it really was my first lesson in keeping nice the things I value.
There is one other memory I wish to share, it's not of my dolls, but for my dolls. For Christmas when I was 5 my grandpa crafted by hand a doll craddle for me. Because I got it at Christmas and it was the biggest thing that year I used it to carry all my other little presents to my room. That has since become a personal tradition for me, for every Christmas I've had at home I've used my little doll craddle to carry my things back. Every Christmas Eve I pull the craddle out of the bedroom and put it under the tree. I guess you could say it's a gift my grandpa gives me every year. I really miss him, when he was alive he was one of the most meticulous and caring men I knew. He always had a way of keeping people happy and making things personal. I will forever treasure the simple doll craddle he lovingly made me years ago."
Here is my craddle I love so much!


I know in the picture it's a little hard to read the inscription, it says: "To Crystal from Grandpa and Grandma Juett, Dec. 1983"

And then I went on to post...
"I just saw something interesting...
The poem you posted is written by a person whose last name is Jewett. That is the same family name as my grandfather who built me my dolly craddle. Actually in my family tree it's spelled Juett, but records coming through Ellis Island and such show that those different spellings are often from the same family tree. This is all really interesting to me!"


I don't know why it's taken me so long to post this here. I invisioned this post as soon as I made those comments, well, anyway here it is now. A slight correction too. In 83 I wasn't 5, I'm not sure how I got my math wrong. I was 4. Anyway, I know that wasn't as important. Just goes to show that the tradition of the craddle has been even longer than I thought.

Cinco De Mayo weekend

This is probably going to be our photo for our adoption papers. Yup, that was our big focus with taking pictures over the weekend. Having something where we both have our eyes open and smiling. I really like this one!

Kevin and I in San Jose.

With Grandma K at her place.

Susan, Kevin, and I at Grandma's house.


My uncle Pete and my cousin Karly

They started wrestling, it was pretty funny!

When they started settling down Karly's hair was all messed up and I laughed saying if only it was 1985 her hair would have been perfectly in style. When I showed her the picture she thought it was funny.

Uncle Pete made some of the best tacos I've ever had! He's such a good cook! I heard the fish was pretty good too.

Mom and Uncle Pete at Pete's for Cinco De Mayo

Grandma Juett came by to Peter's for a bit even! It was good to see her too!

Kevin and I with Grandma Juett and my dad.

My parents.

Kevin was standing in the hallway at grandma K's. Grandpa has animal trophies on the walls and I just started cracking up when I looked at Kevin. I didn't say a word to explain except to ask for the camera, and then I took this picture! I love it!

Susan showin off Grandma K's Moravian dolly.

While we were in CA we went to Kevin's parents church. It was a good service and I was glad that my family and grandma came with us all!

Here is my mother in law, Venita, she plays the organ at her church.

After church we went to the mall for lunch. Here are my in-laws, Bob and Venita.

Our friend Mark was able to meet us for Lunch! That was great! It's been too long since we were able to last get together!

We spent some time taking pictures together. The sun was overwhelming to Kevin and I. We're Washingtonians now, were just not used to that much sun!

Same pose, but with grandma K instead of mom.

Easter week 2007 slideshow.

I do plan on fixing the pictures and adding some more, but just to show some of what we did you get a look here now.

Grandma K's visit & roadtrip!

Before Easter week Grandma Koleckar came up to visit, see our new place and she spoiled us. She taught me some Czech dishes, bought us every little thing she thought we needed, and my favorite... she bought me this gorgeous bar to display things, store my cookbooks, wine glasses and bottles. Thanks so much grandma! (as with all my photo blog posts, to view a larger version of an image simply click the image.)


She also spent a good amount of time working on my garden. I felt bad because I really was going to do it, but while she was here was the first time it wasn't completely muddy and rainy. I really like what she did with the flower bed by the pond.

She also got me more bulbs to fill up the wine barrel.

Grandma came also so I'd have a driving buddy coming down to California. She paid for Kevin and I to come so we could be there for Easter. Grandma and I had a great time driving down. I've never been on a road trip with her just the two of us, it was really fun! We drove through the redwood forest that was so beautiful, and it was fun driving the truck through trees!