Painting it Forward #5

This will be my fifth "Painting it Forward" bidding event.   So far, $75 has been donated to charities through these events.  Wow!  Thanks to all who have placed a bid and helped a cause! 

Since the first four paintings were a success, I've decided to put another piece up for auction.  I've had requests for this painting to be the next one to bid on so here's your chance to have your very own original and support your favorite cause at the same time!

The name of this painting is "The Lorax's Truffula Trees".  This is an original painting by me on canvas using acrylic paints.  The dimensions are: 8 x 10.  Frame is not included. 

Estimated value is $14.

In case you missed my post about "Painting it Forward", you can read all about how I came up with the idea here. 

The bidding on this painting will start at $1.  The bidding will begin at 7:00pm Thursday night (12/6/12) and last for 48 hours on Facebook.  The bidding will close at 7:00pm on Sunday (12/8/12).  You may bid at anytime during this 48 hour period, but the amount must exceed the previous bid.  At the end of that time period, the person with the largest bid will get to keep the painting and will also get to choose a charity for the net profits to go towards.  If you are not Facebook friends with me and would like to bid, you may comment below with the amount you would like to bid.  If yours is highest, then you win the painting and the net proceeds will go to the charity of your choice.  Checks will be made out to me and I will then donate the net profits to the charity of your choice.  A receipt of your donation will be mailed to you along with the painting.

Questions?  Ask away! 

Happy bidding and thanks so much for supporting me in this venture!  Good luck!

A Day of Firsts

It's my day off!  So of course I want to make the best of it.  After sleeping in a little, I rolled out of bed and started in on some baking and cooking. 

First up: Tonight's dinner prep for Homemade Chicken Alfredo Roll Ups so I simmered up some homemade alfredo sauce & sauted some chicken.  This is what it will look like in just a couple hours...mmm.

Now onto my "firsts"...

I got to try out a new Pinterest recipe called Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies.  I've never tried to make any kind of pumpkin cookie before.  Pretty easy and healthy as far as cookies go.  Bonus: They are delicious! 

Combine:
1 c. canned pumpkin
1. c. sugar
1/2 c. applesauce
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

In seperate bowl, mix:
2 c. flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

**Dissolve 1 tsp. baking soda in 1 tsp. milk and stir into wet mix. 

Add dry mixture to wet and mix well.

Add 1.5 c. chocolate chips.  Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 365 for 10-11 min.
Note:  These are cakelike cookies and will be soft inside.

My second "first" of the day was making my own bread from scratch.  

My co-worker friend gave me a super easy recipe for crock pot bread.  I was really excited to try it out and today was the perfect day.  Plus, now I get to cross off another item from my 30 before 30 list.  YAY!

My third "first" of the day was what I ate for lunch. 

Ironically, with all my baking and cooking I didn't make myself lunch.  My partner teacher gave me a coupon for a free chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-a and since I had yet to go today was a perfect day to try it out.  I'm happy to say it was a success and I would definitely go back.

New Art

I've decided to do some of my favorite things to de-stress.  Painting is definitely one of my favorite things to do so I whipped out my painting supplies and dove into all those beautiful colors.

Here is Tom's favorite, which he thinks looks like the Truffula Trees from The Lorax by Dr. Seuss.  I hadn't thought of them as that, but I can totally see the resemblance.  

 

 "The Lorax's Truffula Trees"

$14

I've been doing a lot of praying through the Proverbs and this is one that has touched my heart the most.  Painting words proved to be tricky, but it was a good challenge for me.

"Trust"

$15

If you would lke to have either one for your very own, please leave a comment below or comment on my Facebook page.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

Painting it Forward #4

This will be my fourth "Painting it Forward" bidding event.   So far, $60 has been donated to charities through these events.  Thanks to all who have placed a bid and helped a cause! 

Since the first three paintings were a success, I've decided to put another piece up for auction.  I've had requests for this painting to be the next one to bid on so here's your chance to have your very own and support your favorite cause at the same time!

The name of this painting is "Provision".  This is an original painting by me on canvas using acrylic paints and inspired by the colors of the season.  The dimensions are: 8 x 10.  Frame is not included. 

Estimated value is $18.

In case you missed my post about "Painting it Forward", you can read all about how I came up with the idea here. 

The bidding on this painting will start at $1.  The bidding will begin at 7:00pm tomorrow night (11/16/12) and last for 48 hours on Facebook.  The bidding will close at 7:00pm on Sunday (11/18/12).  You may bid at anytime during this 48 hour period, but the amount must exceed the previous bid.  At the end of that time period, the person with the largest bid will get to keep the painting and will also get to choose a charity for the net profits to go towards.  If you are not Facebook friends with me and would like to bid, you may comment below with the amount you would like to bid.  If yours is highest, then you win the painting and the net proceeds will go to the charity of your choice.  Checks will be made out to me and I will then donate the net profits to the charity of your choice.  A receipt of your donation will be mailed to you along with the painting.

Questions?  Ask away! 

Happy bidding and thanks so much for supporting me in this venture!  Good luck!

Stress much?

Yes. 

The answer is yes. 

I have allowed myself to get so overwhelmed with life that it has negatively affected my health, both mentally and physically. 

I have started counseling.  I have been to the E.R.  I have seen my doctor. 

Migraines, liver lesions, female issues, not getting pregnant, anxiety, depression.

The common thread...stress.

It's time.  It's time to take care of me.  I have to take care of me before I can even begin to take care of others.

So I need to take some time to figure out exactly what I'm going to do and how I'm going to cope.

I have to let others help me and understand that I do deserve to get help.

I do not understand why I am going through this or how I'm going to get through this, but I am comforted by this truth...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. 
-Proverbs 3:5

Liver Ultrasound Results

I heard from the doctor's office today and after much calling and them returning my calls and then me calling back, etc. etc. I finally got the results from my ultrasound.  I have multiple benign lesions on my liver.  I asked what that really meant and they didn't give me a clear answer except that there's damage from excessive toxins in my body, possibly from medications I have taken.  My friend looked it up online for me and found that it won't effect pregnancy so praise the Lord for that.  I'm supposed to get bloodwork again in 2 months.  If it still comes back elevated, then they will do another ultrasound to monitor the lesions. 

I also asked the nurse what could be done about the 10 migraines I've had in the past 20 days.  I would really like to be referred to a migraine specialist or clinic for treatment because this is getting absolutely rediculous.  My body feels like its been run over by a truck trying to fight and then recover from these migraines.  I am supposed to get a call back on that tomorrow.  So that's the deal right now. 

Despite these health concerns, I am still incredibly blessed.  I have countless blessings raining down on me constantly and I need to remember how blessed I truly am to have a caring husband, God-centered church, loving family, cozy house, reliable job, supportive co-workers, dependable friends, a body that can run and jump and move, and much, much more.  Thank you Lord for your love and mercy and grace that you pour upon me every single day even when I don't deserve it.

Liver, behave yourself.

This past August, I got my regular blood work done and everything came back with flying colors except my liver function was elevated.  I didn't think much of it, which is very uncharacteristic of me.  Normally, I worry at every chance I get.  I was told to come back within 6-8 weeks.  So Tom reminded me to get an appointment and I just kept thinking oh it's going to be fine.  Once again, no worries here.  Well I got a call a last week saying that my liver levels are still elevated (Bilirubin is what is elevated for those of you in the medical field) and I would need a liver ultrasound.  WHAT??  Worrying whirred into high gear at this point.  So I promptly "Googled" elevated Bilirubin levels.  POOR CHOICE.  Do not.  I repeat DO NOT Google elevated Bilirubin levels.  So my ultrasound was scheduled for this past Thursday.  I was instructed not to eat or drink anything after midnight so when I awoke at 2:30am with the start of a migraine I groaned and rolled over to awake again 4 hours later with a full blown migraine.  Crap.  Too bad I'm such a rule follower.  Also, I was afraid that I would have to reschedule another sick day to redo the ultrasound if I drank water and took my pill.  So I suffered through.  My grandma took me to the hospital for the test and was able to finally take my medication around 10:30.  The migraine kicked my butt and I slept most of the day.  Praise the Lord that I didn't just take a half day because there was no way I would be able to keep up with 25 students while recovering from one of these things.

These past weeks have been full of migraine horribleness.  I've had 9 migraines in the past 19 days.  Oh my goodness.  I finally broke down Friday night and wondered if we should stop trying to get pregnant for a while because I am so stressed out and my liver is not functioning and I keep getting these migraines.  What would I do if I couldn't take my medication and I keep having these migraines even when I'm pregnant?  I won't be able to work.  I won't be able to fuction.  So many worries going around in my mind.  Ugh.  I'm sorry this is a negative post, but it's the truth and I want to be completely honest. 

So I'm supposed to get my results from the ultrasound tomorrow.  Prayers that it is just elevated from the excess of medication I have had to take for these migraines.  Only time will tell.