Un-Stressed Results -UPDATED!

First of all, thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts, I appreciate them so much!
I had a very long day at the Cardiologist.  My appointment was for 1Oam and I didn't leave until 4 pm! 
First I had my Doppler heart test.  Nothing to it, except it took quite a while.  Even had a nice conversation with the lovely Armenian lady who administered it.
Next I got set up for some sort of heart pictures which required an IV and some sort of radio active injection.  Had those pictures which took about forty minutes,  then was told to go eat lunch for a couple of hours and come back for the STRESS TEST.
I went over Sara's since she lives nearby and relaxed between my tests.  She fed me and sent me on my way when it was time to leave.
When I got back to the office, the Dr. was supposed to be there because they don't do the stress tests without him present.  He was late...almost 2 hours, so everyone waiting was pushed back for two hours.    It just so happened that all the people waiting in the reception area were so nice!  We laughed and solved all the worlds problems and the time just flew by.  The nurses said they have never seen their waiting room full of such laughter when the Dr. was running late.  It was a God thing.  I know it was.
Now it's my turn, and I'll tell you I'm very relaxed by now from two hours of fun with a room full of strangers!  I have my choice between the treadmill and injection.  I choose the treadmill. I figure if its impossible, then I'll get the injection.  My knees hurt just walking into the test room, but I got on that treadmill and ran like a 16 year old with bionic knees!  Another God thing!  I completed the test without breaking a sweat.  I could hardly believe it myself.  I ran at a 14% incline at 3.5 mph.  That may not sound very impressive, but for me and my bad knees it was a pure miracle.  When I got off the treadmill, my old knees were hurting just like before, but no pain at all while on it.  I finished up with more dye injected and more pictures and came home. 
If the results show something wrong he will call me tonight or tomorrow at the latest. Otherwise with nothing wrong, I will hear from the office in a few days.
Thank you again for all of your love and support!

~It is well with my soul

UPDATE:
The Doctors office just called and said my stress test was A-OK!  I'm cleared for take-off...I mean knee surgery!

Blessed and Stressed

Blessed.
Merry after Christmas greetings to all!  Every one was over for a wonderful Christmas celebration yesterday.  Our tables groaned with food and so did our bodies!  Such abundance and such a day of blessings.  Since we have gone to drawing one name for Christmas it has taken such a burden off of shopping -  and the pocket book, plus it has increased our fun in giving and receiving.  I highly recommend it.  Of course if there were little ones in the family they would still get a little something from each person; after all, you're only a kid once!  We have been so blessed to have our children and grandchildren with us for every Christmas.  I don't take that blessing lightly either, it is a gift. 
Today I've done nothing at all except unload the dishwasher from yesterdays festivities.  I read a bit, napped for a bit and fretted for a bit.
Stressed.
Tomorrow morning I have to go the the Cardiologist for a stress test.  Because of my knees, I can't do it on the treadmill, I have to have the IV injection that increases your heart rate.  That's what I'm stressing about.  On the treadmill, I can stop.  I'm in control.  When I have some sort of drug injected into my veins, my control is gone.  To add to my uncertainty, I've heard people who have had it tell me how horrible it is.  The only person who told me it didn't bother them was Hal.  Makes me wonder.  Makes me stress.
If I come to mind, it wouldn't bother me one little bit if you feel like saying a prayer for me.  I'll be getting it done at 10am EST Tuesday.  Oh, on top of this...it takes several hours!  I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.......

~It is well with my soul

Merry Christmas!

We wish you love and peace and the joy that comes  from the Father above!

Love,

Pat & Hal

~It is well with my soul

The Old and the New

My Mother always baked a lot for Christmas.  She never seemed tired or overwhelmed by all that she did, or at least she didn't let me know!  When I saw the picture above of the hand grinder, it struck a familiar chord in my heart.  It's so similar to the one pictured below.   

This was my Mothers that she used for as far back as I can remember.  When the time came that she no longer did much baking, she gave it to me, and I've used it every year ever since.  I'm sure there are more modern and easier methods now, but I still use it, it's full of memories.  When my grandsons were small they used to get excited to turn the handle and grind the walnuts.  Mac would try his best to out-do his brother - and Jordan gladly let him!

My brand new stove is one modern convenience I'm enjoying.  It has a setting to proof your dough.  I used it when I made the yeast dough for my Hungarian Kolach.

As you can see, it worked great!  It went from the picture above......

to this! 

The old and the new...we still need them both.

~It is well with my soul

Mix It Up!

I want one of these so badly my teeth hurt. I enter every time the Pioneer Woman gives one of these away.    Needless to say, I have not won.  I covet this fancy painted mixer.  OK, to covet is wrong, but I want it really, really bad - said in a high whiny voice for emphasis.  After I told Hal last night that once again, I did not win, he told me to just go out and buy one!  Apparently he is not aware you can not buy a fancy painted one like this, at least not with the amount that we are willing to spend.  But if he were a rich man, ---ya-da-da-da -da-da-dah! (Fiddler on the Roof reference not to be mistaken for Yabadabadoo which of course is a Fred Flintstone reference). 
I would not mind this one with it's beautiful cherry design.

Or this one with it's flower motif.  Or many others that this talented artist can create.

If you want to see more of these beautiful mixers go to www.un-amore.com.

I did take my husbands suggestion and went out and bought one of these mixers today.  Mine is red with no fancy painting, but I'm thrilled to to have it and my teeth no longer ache.  When I mentioned to Sara how much I love the fancy painted ones, she offered to fix me up.  She said to bring mine over because she could put scratch and sniff stickers on it and paint some designs with nail polish. I declined.

~It is well with my soul

Sunday Scripture

Matthew 2:1 & 2

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,

"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and come to worship him."

~It is well with my soul

Ready to Laugh!

I'm about to leave to meet Amy at the theatre.  We're going to watch The Muppets!  We feel like laughing and this might just do the trick!

If you promise not to tell any one, I'll let you in on a little secret.

I've always had a bit of a crush on the Swedish Chef!



Have a great day everyone!

~It is well with my soul



Pat's Perfect Shopping Mall

If I were to design my very own perfect shopping mall, one of the first things I'd do is eliminate all unnecessary stores, like men's clothing and sporting goods stores.  It would not be a strip mall, but all under one roof with lockers to store my coat and purchases along the way.  It would have many restroom, one in each store and available to the public.  It would only have stores that I like.  The big anchors on the ends would be Ikea and Home Depot or Lowes with an Orange Julius stand somewhere in the middle of the court.
Imagine if you will........
__________________________________________________________________________
                                             IKEA

JoAnn Fabric and Craft                                         Home Goods
Michael's craft store                                             Macy's Restaurant
Target                                                                TJ Maxx
Tim Horton                                                         Marshall's
Thrift/resale shop                     [Orange Julius       Hobby Lobby
Bed Bath and Beyond                     Stand]             Red Robin
Greek Restaurant                                                 Garden Ridge
Benches to sit & check credit balance                     Crate & Barrel
Mexican Restaurant                                              Coffee & Tea Shop
Williams Sonoma                                                      Arhaus (for inspiration)
Woolworth's dime store                                        Benches to sit & catch breath
  (with soda fountain)                                       

                                        LOWES OR HOME DEPOT
_________________________________________________________________________
That's all I can think of right at the moment...what would you add or make different? Would you add more clothing and shoe stores?  Daycare?  Jewelry? Or maybe, you just don't like shopping at all!  I really don't either except for things pertaining to my home...and an Orange Julius.

~It is well with my soul

Plenty of Bread, Plenty of Grace

I ran to Kmart today to pick up a few items, it's fast and although it doesn't carry a lot of items I buy, today was not a big grocery shopping excursion trip so it met my needs.
When the cashier finished my order and the receipt printed up, it also printed up coupon after coupon for free bread. 
Immediately, while they were yet printing, I recalled the verse in Psalm 37:25, I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread.  What a wonderful truth!
When we were young, and broke, we never went hungry.  He supplied.  Did we get those things which we longed for?  No, but our needs were met. Part of that learning process was to tell the difference between want and need.  There is such a difference between the two, and  the sooner that lesson sinks in, the more content life becomes.  
After leaving the store, with that verse still on my mind, I felt as though I was covered with mercy and grace and that cover was like a down filled comforter.  It was warm,  yet my covering weighed next to nothing.  It didn't weigh me down till I wanted to throw it off, but instead made me want to wrap myself in its warmth even more.  I felt totally filled with a quiet  joy, all from a free bread coupon that brought to mind yet one more of God's unfailing promises. 
Quotes from poets and statesment are wonderful to know, writers leave words that stay with us, but NOTHING compares to hiding Gods word in your heart.  Nothing.

~It is well with my soul

Positive Negative

When I thought about writing a post today my mind was on all the negative things around us that I'd like to see fade into the background, not honorable things like war, but little irritations like pants being worn so low the wearer must walk with legs spread apart to hold them up.  Ridiculous irritations that when given  time to stew over can become big irritations,  and make for a generally negative outlook.  Phooey on that news.
What changed my mind?  After I awoke this morning, I was so comfortable to just stay in my nice warm bed.  Such a luxury.  My sheets are soft and smell nice.  Nothing and no one is demanding my attention.  I've already done my time with that, raised two daughters, prayed for and worried about a husband who went to work to fight fires, and prayed with every thing within me when he didn't have a job.  I went to work when he retired after being a homemaker for 3O years...phew, that was stressful!  We all have dues to pay, and they are usually when we are young and able to fight the daily fight!
So today, I linger a little longer in my nice warm bed.  I will sit in front of my Christmas tree -decorated with love by my daughter- with a hot cup of coffee and pray for those who are brought to my mind and heart.  I will think on the positive -even the absence of snow so far!  My positive may be your negative, as far as the snow goes, sorry about that!
So let those who choose wear their silly looking pants, I've got more important things to think about, things to be thankful for.  I'm thankful no one in my family wears their pants like that.

~It is well with my soul

Sunday Scripture

~It is well with my soul

Cookin' Cookies

I think I'll bake a batch of cookies on Saturday, a recipe I've never made before.  If they don't turn out, I will send them with Hal when he goes to his Sportsman's Club on Monday.  Those guys aren't super particular! Give them coffee and something sweet and their happy.
I think I'll make Meemaw's Kitchen Sink Cookies.  It's something I saw Paula Deen make, so it should be good...I hope, I hope.  Click HERE for the recipe.  It just so happens I have all the ingredients, even the puffed rice, and I'd rather eat the cereal in cookie form then in a bowl of milk!
You're supposed to dip them in frosting then in crushed peppermint.  I'm leaving the peppermint off because:
A.  I don't have any
2.  I wouldn't want it on there if I did
Some of the reviews say the dough is hard to handle.  If that's the case, this will be a one and only try at making these.  Remember my motto...Simplify! That goes for baking too!

PS
I just finished baking these cookies and while the dough is crumbly, it's not that hard to work with and they are delicious. They really don't need icing, but I'm going to ice them anyway, just cuz I want too!

~It is well with my soul

Back From Whence It Came

Remember that Shark Steam mop I bought?  Well I have to take it back to....WALMART....ugh.
It doesn't work, and that makes me very aggravated.  Actually the word aggravated is milder then what I'm feeling, but I will use my indoor voice and  grown up words to illustrate how I feel.
It won't make steam, which if I'm correct is the reason it's called a steam mop.  I've filled the water tank, primed and pumped it, waited, and waited;  unplugged it, started all over and still nothing.
If there's anything that bursts my bubble, it's buying a new product, get it home, turn it on...and it doesn't work!
Now the next question is, do I buy another one with the thought that this one may just be faulty? Do I shop for a different brand, is there another brand?  Or maybe, and this is just a wild thought...I just don't clean my floors.  OK, that last thought was just crazy, or was it?

Crispy Computer

Hal has one of those little netbook computers for web surfing and emails.  He's not a big techno person, but has enjoyed his little computer.  Well, it is now fried, bit the dust, dead.
I went to buy him a new one today and got a nice laptop for the price of a netbook.  I just love a good deal.  The best part of the purchase was learning something new while the sales person was talking to someone else. Yes, I was eavesdropping, but I prefer to call it "wisdom gathering".    She said NEVER run your computer while plugged in unless you remove the battery.  We ALWAYS run our computers plugged in without removing the battery.  This is why we fry them.  I'm sure all of you already knew this, but I had no idea, and I'm just glad I found out before I fry a few more.  When I came home I immediately took the battery out of my own laptop.  If you remove the battery while it's plugged in you are assured of a much longer battery life, and your computer won't get as hot.  Why didn't someone tell me this?  OK, you probably assumed any one with the skill to turn a computer on already knew this.  The sales person said the ultimate use of a batter is 4 hours on, 4 hours removed.  I just plan to remove it permanently till someone tells me that is also a problem.
All this new info is exhausting.  I'm going to order a pizza for dinner. Bye.

~It is well with my soul

Sunday Scripture



Photo by Pat Trent - Prayer request wall near home of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, Turkey



Luke 1:37

For nothing is impossible with God

~It is well with my soul

Cheerful!

Sara working on the mantle

Just as she said she would, Sara came over yesterday to help decorate for Christmas.  Actually she didn't help, she did it all, and then Mac came over to lend a hand.  This mother and son went to town!  It was such a great day for me, those uglies that were hanging around vanished after my daughter and grandson came!  Here's a few pictures of their handy work!





tree, mantle and family room finished!

a few pointsettia on the kitchen shelf



some Christmas pretty on the kitchen table





Mac's here and it's on to the living room!

Sara added Christmas touches all over!

The wreath is hung!



Oh no, Mac's distracted with one of grandpa's instruments! Focus!

It sure was a great day.  Sara and Mac vacuumed, dusted, organized, brought lunch, decorated and even hung a picture or two.  Oh, and Sara also fixed the vacuum, no need to buy a new one!

I told Mac that I had a hard time sitting back and letting them do all the work.  In his 22 year old wisdom he said to me "Grandma, sometime you have to do that so that others can be blessed by giving too". How true that is.



Hung outside next to my front door

Oh No!  The garland fell down from the beam overhead.  No problem, Hal to the rescue! It's not Christmas if you don't fix a few "faulty" decorations here and there!!

~It is well with my soul