Author Archives: patty

Happy 20-10 Boo!!!!

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Happy Birthday, Boo!!  It’s so hard for me to believe that thirty years have flown by so fast.  Why it seems like just yesterday I was rushing home from my morning bowling league to change clothes to head off to my afternoon Bridge Club.  Seriously.  It sounds like a sad, dumb drama from the 1980’s, but that was my life.  And I did not realize how unfulfilled it was until you came into my life.

Once I hung up the phone from the doctor asking if we were still interested in adopting I was bouncing off the walls, the ceiling, it was as if I could bounce from one cloud to another.  And the poor doctor?  I am sure he was rushing off to my Audiologist to get his hearing tested.  Pretty sure my screams of joy broke both of his ear drums.  The next twenty-eight hours flew past me in a huge, beautiful, pink blur.  I remember a friend taking me out to shop for supplies to get us through the first night.  But what I really remember was pushing two carts through Wal-Mart both loaded to the brim with bottles, brushes, bottle nipples, onesies, blankets, diapers, sheets, formula, nightgowns, wash cloths, towels, bibs, bath soap, baby lotion, baby oil, baby socks, petroleum jelly, nasal aspirator, baby shampoo, burp cloths, bibs, thermometer, diaper bag, diaper cream, wipes, changing pad, diaper pail, and that did not even start to include the car seat, crib, high chair, and the toys that I just knew you would want.

And then it was 4 p.m. that Thursday, about twenty-seven hours after your birth, and you were taking your very first plane flight.  Your birth parents placed you in the hands of the attorney and he flew you to us and placed you in my hands.  What a joy it was to drive you home, showing you places where you will go and things you will do as you grew up in our town.  Pretty sure I spent that first night (okay, I will admit it probably many more nights) just sitting in your room watching you breathe.  At birth you were only 6# 9.75 oz and 20 1/2 inches long.  Just totally precious.  From the time I was about twelve I just knew what my daughter’s name would be, however as I grew older I realized that when I first looked upon my baby girl it would be then that her name would come to me.  Imagine my joy when gazing upon your sweet face for the first time you opened your eyes, smiled at me, reached your arms up to hug me, and said “yes, my name shall be Megan Kathleen”.  Okay, maybe it did not happen entirely that way, but I do know that you just “looked” like a Megan Kathleen.  So be it – my dream came true in you.

I cannot thank your birth parents enough for all the joy and love they have given me by allowing me the honor of being your mother.  It was truly very courageous for them to admit that they were too young to raise a child and that they wanted something better for you.  They wanted to give you the opportunity of a future that they could not provide for you at that point in their young lives.  Adoption means love and I do love you.  From the time you were a wee one I always said the word “adoption” to you, so that you could understand that the word “adoption” meant love.  You were conceived in love and shared in love.  As you grew older I tried my best to be sure you understood what a great honor your birth parents gave to you and what difficult decisions they made along the way.  Perhaps some day I will be able to thank them for giving me this most precious gift of being your mother.  They gave me a treasure more precious than silver or gold.  I know that they must have a hole in their hearts that cannot be filled.  I know that God entrusted you into my caring arms that day, 20-10 years ago, and this is a gift I will never be able to repay.  I pray that they know that I am totally grateful for the sacrifice they made and how grateful I am that they did not take the easy way out.  This is a debt that I can never repay, but every day I pray that they are comforted in the knowledge that their sacrifice was not in vein.  You did grow up up in a family that loves you, that cares about your, and has supported you in all your endeavors.  My life would not be the same without you, Boo.

Now, I need to get myself busy making your Birthday Dinner.  We will have grilled ribeyes (from Leon’s Market), roasted asparagus and red peppers, your favorite potato salad and, of course, your Better Than Sex Cake for dessert.  When you were a wee one I made this cake for desert one night when we had some friends over for dinner.  You took such joy and naughty pleasure in telling your friends the next day at school that you had “sex” last night.  Your kindergarten teacher was a friend of mine, who dearly loved her students and their stories they shared with the class.  That day I was not sure who was crying more……….Mrs. F from laughter or me from embarrassment.  Since that time this has always been your requested birthday cake and since it is super easy to make and decorate I was always thrilled to oblige.  Today is no different!

Joy Rising!

Better  Than  Sex  Cake

Prep  Time: 20 minutes (excluding baking time)

Bake  Time: 30-35 minutes  at  temperature recommended on box

Source: Mary Scott

Ingredients:

  • 1 box german chocolate cake mix
  • 1 can evaporated milk
  • 1 small bottle caramel sauce
  • 1 large tub of cool whip, unfrozen
  • 6 skor candy bars

Directions:

  1. Prepare cake as per back of cake mix box.
  2. Once cake completely baked, remove from oven.
  3. Let stand about ten minutes, then using fork poke holes in cake (this will allow the caramel sauce and evaporated milk to seep into and throughout the cake).
  4. Pour over the cake the contents of the bottle of caramel sauce (I usually pour on half, let it soak in, and the pour the remaining half).
  5. Once the caramel sauce has basically soaked into the cake pour on the evaporated milk.
  6. Keeping the candy bars in their wrappers, crush into little bits (I use the bottom of a heavy sauce pan).
  7. Once the evaporated milk has basically soaked into the cake, spread on the Cool Whip.
  8. Sprinkle the crushed Skor candy bars over the cake.
  9. Cut into small pieces to serve (this cake is very rich).

Honey  Dijon  Potato  Salad

Prep  Time: 20 minutes

Cook  Time: 90 minutes

Source: Rachael  Ray

Ingredients:

  • 2  1/2# small potatoes, quartered   (I like to use Yukon Gold and I do not peel)
  • 1/4 c honey
  • 1/4 c dijon mustard
  • 2 T cider vinegar
  • 1/3 c extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
  • 3  ribs celery, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Cover potatoes with cold water.
  2. Bring to a boil and salt the water.
  3. Boil potatoes until just tender  15-20 minutes;  drain.
  4. While potatoes are still hot, combine the honey, mustard and vinegar in a bowl.
  5. Slowly whisk in the olive oil.
  6. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. To the bowl of dressing add the potatoes, onion and celery.
  8. Gently stir to coat the potato salad.
  9. Taste the salad to see if you need to add more salt and pepper if needed.

Enjoy!

Successful dinner……………..thanks to Leon’s and my Big Green Egg!!!  Love that Egg.

Gummy Bears Picnic at the Ballpark

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Dearest Boo,  last Friday I was thrilled to be able to have a new experience and I loved it!  Your Aunt Teri asked me to join her beloved family in attending the Husker Baseball game.  I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I have never been to one game.   I did join them, it was fun, and I will go again.  We sat in the General Admission seats, which means that we sat in the grassy area on blankets.  Except for the fact that it was still a bit cold, we had a good time.  It was so great to see all of the families that were there together supporting our team.  Sitting next to us was a young man and his wee little boy.  They were having so much fun together.  The little one had such joy on his face while he copied his father’s actions.  Dad stood up to cheer, wee little one did too.  Dad clapped when our right fielder made a great catch, wee little one did too.  One of our boys scored a home run and Dad picked up wee little one and spun him around in a circle celebrating.  Wee little one let out the biggest squeal of joy.  It was so tender to see the love on both their faces.

And I so enjoyed spending time with my baby sister and her family.  There are ten years between our ages, so I don’t know much of her childhood.  At that time I was too busy trying hard to be grown up and not wanting to be with family.  It was not “cool”.  How sorry I am for that, as I so admired the wonderful woman she has grown up to be and I love seeing what a great mother she is to her two young girls.

Going to the ball park reminded me of the times when you were younger and we would go as a family to see the Royals play in Kansas City.  You were so excited to go, but I was never sure if it was because of the game, or the fact that you were able to take along a friend or if it was because we were going to Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun.  You always wanted to ride all the roller coasters first.  You sure did not get that from me!  Just the thought of getting on a roller coaster would make me want to puke.  Just saying the words “roller coaster” makes me want to puke.

The very last roller coaster this old behind ever got into was during your eight grade Sunday School trip to Kansas City.  I can close my eyes and picture the cars slowly clanking their way up to the very first hill, anticipating the drop that was to come all too soon, feeling my stomach slowly creeping up into my mouth, wondering if what was in my stomache headed towards my mouth was going to come out in a “Exorcist-like” moment.  Oh my gravy!  There I was in the ride, sitting with one of your classmates and I was trying hard not to embarrass myself or you.  Just before the drop I recall my mouth being open and screaming out.  I looked over at the poor, sweet little girl that was sitting with me.  Here eyes were huge with what I interpreted to be total fear.  It was only when we got off the roller coaster that I overheard her telling one of the boys on the trip that she had never heard those kinds of words before, let alone those kind of words coming from my mouth.  Apparently, I was in need of a bar of soap and getting my mouth washed out.

All of this is leading to the treats that I brought to the game last Friday.  I had found a recipe for home made Gummi Bears and I wanted to try it out.  The hardest part is paying for the candy molds.  They were about $4 a piece at Michael’s, but I had a 75% off coupon.  Score!!  They tasted okay.  A bit too strawberry for my taste.  Next time I will try another flavor.  Perhaps there will be better success and then there will be Joy Rising.

Home  Made  Gummy  Bears

Prep  Time: 20 minutes

Cook  Time: 0 minutes

Source: Sadly I Cannot Remember

Ingredients:

  • 2  three oz. packages of flavored Jello
  • 6 envelopes of knox unflavored gelatin
  • 2/3 c of cold water
  • 1/6 c of cold water (I know, it confused me at first.  Just fill measuring cup to about half of the 1/3 mark)

Directions:

  1. Make sure you have your candy molds ready.  This made enough for five molds, this will totally depend on how large/deep are your molds.
  2. Measure the water into a glass measuring cup and slowly add all the gelatin the Jello.  Make sure to add it a little at a time and stir in completely before adding more.
  3. Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for 10 minutes.
  4. Put the glass measuring cup into your microwave for about 60 seconds.  You may need to go another 60 seconds.  You just want to melt the “goo”, not cook it.
  5. Pour the mixture into your molds, just is made easier because you were smart enough to use the measuring cup.
  6. Put the molds into the fridge for 5-10 minutes to help them set faster.
  7. Once they are set you can pull them right out of their molds.  I found it to be a bit easier to use a knife to help loosen up one side.  They pulled out much easier at that point.

Enjoy!


Better Late Than Never

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Dearest Boo,  once again I am late with my thoughts.  Your Uncle Mike’s birthday was ten days ago.  I did remember the date and I did get his gift to him in time, but I wanted to post this idea sooner.  It was a fun gift and I am sure that I enjoyed making the gift more than he did receiving the gift.  Fun, fun, fun for me!

“A friend is a brother who was once a bother.  ~Author Unknown”.  This sure does fit your Uncle Mike.  What a pain little brothers are and then I grew up and discovered what a charming young man he grew up to be.  Life was never dull when he was around and usually up to his antics.

Michael is a given name that comes from the Hebrew: (Mikha’el), meaning “Who is like God?” In English, it is sometimes shortened to Mike, Mikey, or, especially in Ireland, Mick.  Michael was a popular name among many royal houses of Europe for centuries; this was also the name of nine Byzantine emperors and a czar of Russia.  It has been in the top ten list since 1954 of the most popular names for boys.

Some notable Michaels – Michael is one of the Archangels, however, your Uncle Mike was not an angel.  Okay,  maybe when he was a wee baby he was an angel.  I remember that he had a horrible case of eczema all over his sweet little face.  His little cheeks were just so red and raw and so blistering and cracking.  It just hurt to look at this sweet face.  He was such a trooper during that time.  I remember that it seemed like he was allergic to everything.  We were always being reminded by your grandmother of things that he would have a reaction to if he ate it.  All I can remember is his being allergic to eggs, but I am sure that there were more things.

Famous sports Michaels – Michael Jordan in basketball and Michael Phelps in swimming.   I remember your Uncle Mike shooting hoops, just like Michael Jordan.  However, he was not your uncle’s favorite.  Magic Johnson was his “man” and I have to agree with him on this one.  The only thing better than Magic Johnson’s performance on the court is his performance off the court.  He is a true gentleman, both on the court and off.  His business enterprises are extremely successful and his is also a philanthropist and motivational speaker.   Uncle Mike picked a great sports hero in Magic Johnson.  Michael Phelps…what else can anyone say about this young man’s swimming accomplishments?  He has won fourteen Olympic gold metals, broken thirty-seven world records in swimming, and eight gold metals in a single Olympic.  Uncle Mike can swim, not Michael Phelps swim, but he can swim.  Aunt Charlotte tells the story of one time that Uncle Mike wanted to go swimming.  Only problem being that the swimming pool at the local park was locked for the night.  That did not stop him.  Somehow he was able to talk Aunt Char into climbing the fence and taking a midnight swim.  Another thing Uncle Mike has in common with Michale Phelps – they are were tall and lanky and had nicknames.  Michael Phelps was called “Gomer” in reference to “Gomer Pyle” a good natured, naive country boy.  Growing up we called Uncle Mike “Skeletor”, as he was so gosh, darn skinny.  He looked like all he had was his skin hanging on his bones.  Kind of a play on the character from He-Man.  You remember He-Man….one of your all time favorite cartoons.  Uncle Mike would eat and eat and eat and never gain a pound.   I was so jealous.  These two Michaels also had another thing in common, but that is a story for another day!  It involves “oregano”.

Then you have the fighter, Mike Tyson.  Mike Tyson has a temper and several of his assaults outside of the ring are well documented.  Your Uncle Mike had quite a temper growing up.  You could always tell when he was getting ready to let go of his anger.  His face would turn a bright red color, his body would stiffen, and his hands would start to ball up in a fist.  That was a giant clue for all of us to exit, stage right, get out of Dodge, make like a tree and leaf.  However, for some bizarre reason I felt that I could save us all by creeping up behind him and capture him in a giant bear hug.  What was I thinking????!!!  Lordy!  That was like waving a red flag in front of a bull!  He would start to struggle and I would hold on tight and be laughing.  Then I would realize that he was not laughing and I was in deep, deep trouble.  I could not let him get free or I would be in big trouble.  Not that I thought he would ever hit me – he was and still is one of the kindest, gentlest men I know, he would lay down his life for a loved one.  What I feared was that I would continue laughing, he would get angier, and I would laugh so hard at his frustration that I would pee my pants.  Nope, that would give me a nickname that I NEVER wanted to have.  So, what did I do?  I hung on for my dear life.  I remember having my arms and legs wrapped around him and we were on the ground. He was struggling so hard to get away and I was struggle so hard to make that not happen.  What was I thinking???

One of my favorite Michaels is Michael J. Fox.  Like your uncle, Michael J. Fox is a hard worker, compasionate and a dedicated father.  His compassion and dedication to his job is evident with the care he gives to all the disabled individuals he helps at the center.  He takes great joy and pride in his job and the work he is doing there.  And there is no one that can ever doubt the love and joy he has for being a father and the pride he has in his two sons.

So, for all of these reasons I decided that a rainbow to celebrate his birthday was appropriate.  Afterall, I wanted him to know that the was our “pot of gold” at the end of our rainbow.  Joy Rising!

Rainbow  Cupcakes

No real recipe for this one.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box white cake mix
  • red, yellow, green, and blue food color
  • your favorite frosting

Directions:

  1. Prepare one box of white cake mix.
  2. Once it is all mixed together divide it equally into four bowls.
  3. Into each bowl drop in three or four drops of one food color (you may need more to darken it to the color you desire).
  4. Place cupcake liners into your cupcake pan.
  5. In the bottom of each one place a tablespoon of red batter.
  6. Then add in spoonfuls of yellow batter, green batter and blue batter.   DO NOT MIX, keep the layers separate.  You do not need to add in equal amounts, although I did try to do so.
  7. Bake according to your cake mix directions.
  8. Once completely cooled, frost with your desired frosting.

Ta-da!

The best part, for me at least, was the presentation.  I placed the cupcake into an “unopened” tin can and put that tin can into a plastic, new and unused, paint can. Here is a picture of one cupcake inside of a tin can.  I could tell you how I did this, but why spoil the mystery???