99 Random Facts About Me

1. I have been married for 19 years.
2. My middle name is Lynne.
3. I'm 5 foot 3 inches.
4. I have two boys named Nathan and Joshua.
5. I love living in the country but hate having to drive so far to get anywhere.
6. I am a licensed teacher.
7. I went to Jamaica on my honeymoon.
8. I've never worn braces.
9. I wish I owned a better camera.
10. My favorite movie is "It's a Wonderful Life".
11. I'm a Christian.
12. I have two sisters.
13. I was once in the Air Force Reserves.
14. I have a sweet tooth.
15. One day I'd like to vacation in Hawaii and take my family to Disney World.
16. I'm an adoptive mom.
17. I waitressed for 17 years before becoming a teacher.
18. I could eat beans, rice, and cheese almost everyday and not grow tired of it.
19. I hate the dentist.
20. I floss in the morning, not at night (I know its gross, but at least I do it everyday!).
21. Bright, tall zinnias are my favorite flowers.
22. I love tomatoes - I even love the smell of tomatoes.
23. I get obsessed with picking blackberries on our property.
24. The happiest days of my life were bringing each of my boys home, my wedding day, receiving my bachelor's degree, and getting my first teaching job.
25. I like corny humor.
26. I only yard-sale now for my boys. I'm tired of junk for myself - I want new things now.
27. As soon as I can afford plastic surgery, I'll have a neck-lift.
28. I have the most wonderful husband in the world. He still thinks I look 26!
29. My husband is blind (just kidding!).
30. I drive a mini-van.
31. I never paint my fingernails but always have polish on my toenails.
32. I don't "text".
33. My favorite holiday is Christmas.
34. I can't stand hot weather.
35. I like to collect rocks.
36. The one thing I miss most about "regular" food is the flour tortillas.
37. If I could do things over again, I would have gone to college sooner and worn more sunscreen.
38. I'm proud to be an American.
39. I look more like my father than my mother.
40. I love birds and always have a hummingbird feeder full.
41. I like to know my neighbors.
42. I am a combination of a very shy and outgoing person.
43. Really functional things around the house make me happy.
44. For the last three years I've been without a dishwasher.
45. My hands are always dry for some reason.
46. I've never eaten eggplant.
47. I love to smell a baby's scalp.
48. I have extra time on my hands right now (which is why I'm sitting here writing out this list!)
49. Decorating with bright colors doesn't appeal to me, but I do like splashes of red.
50. I wear glasses now to read.
51. My elderly in-laws live on the property with us.
52. I live in a fish bowl:)
53. My sister has a low thyroid and so do I.
54. I used to make cards for others in my spare time.
55. Did I mention I have two small kids and don't have spare time anymore?
56. I love coffee.
57. I compulsively check to see if my keys are in my purse before getting out of the car.
58. I am most thankful for God's goodness to me and faithfulness.
59. I wish I could meet some of the blog authors that I like.
60. I buy Trader Joe's rice noodles, but prefer Tinkyada.
61. I love to shop at Costco.
62. Pie is my favorite dessert - especially a la mode.
63. I get easily distracted.
64. I get easily distracted.
65. Spring and fall are my favorite seasons.
66. I like to watch emergency room TV shows, Antiques Roadshow, Good Eats, and Mystery Diagnosis.
67. I have one dog, two barn-cats, and two goats.
68. There's a wood stove in my house.
69. I was born in Torrance, California.
70. I like to play cards.
71. I'm left-handed
72. I was 28 when I got married.
73. I suffer from sensitive, dry eyes.
74. My least favorite chore is cleaning out the fridge.
75. I eat dessert almost every night.
76. I hate ironing.
77. History is my least favorite subject.
78. I want to have a couple of steer and chickens one day.
79. Modern furniture does nothing for me.
80. I highlight my own hair.
81. Jazz makes me feel irritable.
82. I used to work out with weights (used to!)
83. I can sew but don't like to.
84. After my parents divorced, I attended 8 different high schools.
85. I eat my oatmeal with raisins, brown sugar, and milk.
86. Genesis is my favorite book in the Bible.
87. I used to play the flute.
88. My birthday is May 18th.
89. My favorite candy is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
90. I only buy cotton sheets.
91. I like to wear bright colors.
92. Right now I'm reading "A Land of Sheltered Promise" by Jane Kirkpatrick.
93. The only ticket I've received is for fishing without a license.
94. I love denim dresses and skirts.
95. I like to organize things in baskets.
96. I plan out out a monthly dinner menu.
97. I'm a natrally good speller.
98. I wear my gold hoop earrings almost every day.
99. I like to make lists!

Get Your Dogs!

Okay, just got a comment on a previous post about the Costco hot dogs. So...once again I am writing about them. I just called the Costco Corporate Office and I was told that their Kirkland Signature Hot Dogs which the representative said are sold in all food courts ARE gluten free. I know that the last time Nathan and I checked at our local Costco, I was told by a food court employee that they were not. I know I looked at the list of ingredients at that time and the only thing it could have been hidden under was the "spices" listing. So...did they have a different dog between the Sinai brand and this one or did they change the ingredients in their Kirkland Dogs? Anyone else care to chime in? I'd love to be able to eat a hot dog there with my boys when we go.
Thanks!
Debbie

Shrimp and Lemon-Herb Chicken Kabobs

It's time for "What Can I Eat That's Gluten Free?"

hosted by Linda at

The Gluten Free Homemaker.

Click the link and play along!

While I was at Costco a few days ago, I saw they were selling small peppers by the bag. I don't normally fix peppers for anything. My husband can't stand them. He says it's because of the many years he ate in the chowhall while in the military and green peppers were a filler for everything.

Despite my dear one's taste buds, those peppers gave me the urge to buy some shrimp and make kabobs. I suppose you can skewer just about any meat or veggie. I'm personally not fond of tomatoes cooked in this fashion so I limited my "victims" to peppers, lemon-herb chicken, shrimp, onion (ooo, I love cooked onion), and pineapple chunks.

This is what I needed for about 24 kabobs:
3 large chicken breasts, cut up in small cubes and marinate in lemon-herb sauce (recipe below)
If you can cut the chicken when it is still a little frozen it is SO much easier!
40 or so large, raw shrimp
1 can of pineapple chunks
15 small peppers
one onion cut in wedges
Skewers

Before "skewering", thaw out your frozen shrimp and marinate the chicken pieces 1-2 hours before grilling.

Lemon-Herb Marinade: (This is what I needed to coat the chicken pieces. Make up at least 2 times this amount if wanting to cook 4 whole chicken breasts)

1 large lemon squeezed into a bowl (yes, fresh is really better!)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon minced onion

Cook over a low-heat grill. I can't stress this enough, because overdone kabobs aren't real tasty. I served these tasty Bobs with rice and a salad of spinach leaves and fresh tomato.
Enjoy!
Debbie

My Little Corner of the World: Good Things

Let us remember to crave the simple, good things in life...

...and to share with those in need.

Blessings,

Debbie

Fish and Teeth

I love being a mom to boys. Sure, I would take a girl too. However, I've learned many new things about the world of testosterone. For instance, I can tell the difference between a backhoe and an excavator. I also know how to identify a Deinonychus or Brachiasaurus dinosaur should one ever come stomping across the field. I've also learned that boys are little men wanting to find their place in the world of guns, knives, and fire. Being a mom of boys requires me to overlook what might seem a scary situation. I remember the day Nathan quickly opened the kitchen door and asked in an out-of-breath fashion,


"Mom, where's Dad?"

"I don't know"

"I need to find him. I'm going to shoot and kill him."

"Why would you shoot your dad?"

"So I can marry you!"

"Can't we all be married? That way you don't have to shoot your dad."

"Oh, okay. I'll go shoot something else."


Okay, I know some of you are alarmed at this exchange my boy and I had. I'm not, however. He still claims he is going to marry me and I'm still charmed by it. (If he continues to say that when he hits puberty then I'll call the psychologist). Still, his dad asks with a chuckle, "Why do I always have to die in his little scenarios?"


This past week was a fun one. Our church had a campout over the weekend. I'm sure we'll go next year, but it didn't work out for this one. Victor still was able to take Nathan to the fishing derby held on Saturday morning there. Nathan caught one of the few fish that were biting then.

Is this a cute boy, or what?

He also noticed a loose tooth on the bottom rack for about a week. While he was eating his lunch at summer school it fell out. He actually spit it out on the grass because he thought it was "a nut that wouldn't chew". I quickly fished it out of the grass. After all, it is his first one. He's rather proud of that hole in his mouth. I've noticed he spits on me more now while he's talking...

...and, he's always talking.

What moments do you especially remember in the lives of your kids?

Blessings,

Debbie