So Thankful!!

Tonight my heart feels full of gratitude.

God is so very good and forever to be praised!!!

Nothing serious was found wrong with Bethie. She was diagnosed with Functional Abdominal Pain at Riley. All of her tests came back normal. They told us that ten percent of teenage girls have this. The pain can be severe at times, but so far she is better since going to Riley. She is taking two new meds and has made some changes in diet.

Gabe is doing well with his treatments in Indy, Praise be to God!! Keep up the good work Gabriel!! I do love those precious babes Nik and Madi Gail!!

Jess is busy with wedding plans even though her wedding is a year away. She will be a beautiful bride!! We are so happy that Nick is so willing to get married in the Church. What a good guy!! Nick you are special to us!! I will always treasure the way you asked Daddy on his deathbed for permission to ask for Jess's hand in marriage. That means so much to me, and then to ask Mark's permission as well.

Jacob is quite the trooper balancing school and work, AND is the perfect Confirmation sponsor for Bethie. Keep up the good work Jake. I love to sneak up to the college library when you are in class.

Jon just walked in from taking a shower. Sure does smell good!! Jon is so sweet and does everything I ask him that he is able to do. Thanks a million Jon!!

I gets lots of calls about sweet sissy Karen, but thankfully none of them have been anything serious. I do love my two sisters!! I love my Mamma too. And Mom and Dad S. too!! And of course Jean Ann!!

I was blest with a wonderful BIG shelf this week for all of my canned goods, and it even holds my canners. Daddy, you have quite the sense of humor. Not only sending me lots to be canned this year, but a nice big shelf to store it all. I LOVE IT!! I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU DADDY!!
Thanks my dear Mark for thinking of me with the shelf. I would rather have it as a new diamond ring!
I hope Louis, Chris, and Nathan are doing well in school. I just bet they are. :-)

A BIG HELLO TO THEIR MAMMAS, lINDA, CLAUDIA, AND MELISSA!! I LOVE YOU DEARS!!

I do love my doggies!! They are so much fun!! They can be annoying sometimes when they bark at company, (and Peyton shows her bad side to company), but they are well worth it!!

Dear Lord I thank you for so many blessings that you have bestowed upon me. I feel so thankful. Thank you for this nice cool weather. Thank you even for the walnuts that I found and collected today. Help me always to strive to be in the center of your divine will. Thank you for the gift of Holy Mass.

I love you so much Dear Lord.

In Jesus Holy Name I pray. AMEN

Happy Birthday Mother Mary!

A Big Happy Birthday today to you Dearest Mother Mary!!! Thank you so much for all of your prayers and love. I am so thankful for your love and for being my Heavenly Mother.
Brenda Preusz, I am thinking of you today. Also Cathy N., Jane Bean, and Jo Ann. I love you all and so does Our Blessed Mother. I am thinking of other dear friends too. Claudia, Monica L., Melissa N., Sissy Linny, Deborah S., Karen Sue Miller, Sandra C., Becky L., Traci Y., Toni M. Margot, Sarah Stadolka, and the list goes on and on. I love you all!! Oh yes, I love you Dears Patsy and Lilly!!
I LOVE YOU MY MOTHER MARY!!!

A recipe that sounds so yummy!! Chicken Enchilada Dip

I haven't tried this yet, but plan to do so! It sounds like something some of you might like. Becky L. , perhaps you? Maybe Monica L. and some of my other dear home school mom friends?? Maybe Sherry? It comes from dear Karen Sue Miller over on the My Catholic Kitchen yahoo group. Love that group! I also love other yahoo groups that I belong to. Trouble is finding enough computer time. Oh well, I tune in to them when I can. Also I have to limit my computer time due to neck pain :-(
If you choose to try this recipe, I hope you enjoy! If you get a minute let me know if you tried it, and if so, did you like it?

CHICKEN ENCHILADA DIP

1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts (2 breasts)
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese - softened
1 cup mayo
1 (8 oz.) pkg. mild cheddar cheese
1/2 of 1 (4 oz.) can diced green chili peppers (I use the whole can)
1 can Del Monte Zesty Tomatoes - do not drain
Tortilla Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place chicken in casserole dish with about 1 cup of water in bottom, season
chicken with salt and pepper, cover, cook about 10-15 minutes in microwave.
You can prepare it the same way using a pan on the stove as well, remove, cool
and shred.

Mix all ingredients.

Place mixture into a medium baking/casserole dish.

Bake uncovered for 30 min. at 350 degrees until edges are golden brown

APPLES!!

Apples!!
Lots and lots of apples!!! I feel so blest!!! Free apples for the picking, (also picking off the ground as well as the trees!) and now its busy in the kitchen making apple butter and applesauce for canning. I have discovered a new website from dear friend Karen Sue Miller with an awesome looking recipe for apple pie filling that I intend to try, and can as well. Hopefully my headaches will stay away and I can get lots of canning done over the next few days with these apples. I already have applesauce and apple butter in the fridge to can. Also the crockpot is all ready with another load of apples, cinnamon, sugar, and red hots to turn on in the AM to cook into more apple butter. Dear Cathy, (Niese) I wonder if you have been able to can this summer. I hope so!!
I bet you dear Sandra C. have been canning at your Minnesota homestead.
Well, its off to bed soon so I can get up with Elizabeth in the AM to get her off to school, and then turn on the crockpot that will fill the house with the wonderful aroma of apple butter cooking!!! Poor Mark is sick with a cold :-(
I just gave him some Tylenol and cold medicine. Friday we head up to Riley with poor Bethie to try to figure out this stomach pain thing :-(
Tomorrow dear friend Connie has heart surgery. Connie we are praying for you and holding you close in our hearts. Dad S. you are in our hearts and prayers too with your dr. visit tomorrow. Goodnight little Nik and Madi. You are mamma's sweet babes!!
Linda W. I bet you really miss Louis. I know I do. I miss Nathan and Chris too. At least I still have Jake and Jon here! And Garrett is close by although I haven't gotten to see him for awhile. Hopefully soon....
Goodnight all! Goodnight Jess, Nick, Gabe, Kelley, Mommy, Jean Ann, Bethie, Jake, Jon, Mark Randall, Uncle George, Aunt Norma, Aunts Anna and Libby, cousins Rita and Dolly and all the family and of course Brenda, Claudia, Jane Bean and so many dear friends! I love you all!

Poor Sick Elizabeth and Tidbits

Poor Elizabeth has been having stomach problems for quite a while. She has undergone an ultrasound, upper GI, gallbladder hide a scan, all showing nothing conclusive as to the cause of her pain. Tomorrow we go in for her to have a CAT scan, and then next Friday its up to Riley to a gastro intestinal specialist. Poor baby...
Thank you to all who are praying and to Claudia for offering to help in any way we need it!! I am thankful for all of our friends.
Beth has also started Columbus North, but poor thing has missed quite a bit due to illness and tests. But she keeps steadily working away at it and even did cross country for a few days. But due to stomach problems, had to stop.
Little Niki is in second grade now. That doesn't seem possible. It is great that he and pappa are at the same school. Pappa is blest with little Nik hugs while at work! What a blessing!
Canning continues! Was blest with lots of carrots last Friday and Mark chopped quite a few of them for me, which made the canning much easier!
Now I am working on tomato juice.
Jess, I am looking forward to trying the salsa that you and Nick made!! Don't forget I have the canning book to give to you.
Jacob is in his second year of college. How did that happen? He is doing well so far. John William Luckmann is also in his second year. So far, he and Jake have not had a class together :-(
Also Garrett, Nathan, Louis and Chris are all in their first year of college. Courtney and Kayla as well. It sure doesn't seem possible. Years just fly by too fast :-(
It doesn't seem long ago that the boys were doing Conquest. How thankful I am for that opportunity for the boys!! What awesome days those were!! Fr. Matthew is such a wonderful influence and blessing for the boys.
Jake and Jon stay busy too with their Walmart jobs. They both work in the same department and can ride together.
God is soooo good!!!!! Forever to be praised!!!!!!!
I wonder how Sissy Linny is doing? I need to sit down Sissy and write you a long letter. I promise to try to do that very soon!
Well, its off to the shower. God bless you all and I hope you all have a blessed autumn.