Today I am HAPPY... WHY NANCY you ask? WHY ARE YOU SO HAPPY TODAY? Well I am glad you did I am going to tell you hehe. Have had a lot going on. Bella is growing like a pasture weed she is getting sooo tall. Dunno what I am gonna do with that kid. Put a brick on her head? This growin' up stuff? I don't like it. Nope not one bit. Doesn't matter she will always be MY BABY even when she is 60. The weather here has been so strange. Kinda freakish here for January to say the least. I mean 70's come on really? I am not complaining. I just won't be shocked when in March it is 20 and we are all sick and saying "Boy, this sure is unusual weather for March, usually it is in the 70's" I will have to refer back to this post then. Hard to even pretend anymore I just gave up today and put on t shirt and my flip flops and said whatever. If you live down here.. you may as well. So we have had some good news in our family. I will post her post so I don't mess it up: Britney::"The doctor finally called me!! And it is good news, not the BEST ever, but still good!! My blood work came back lower than it was in October which is a good thing!! So she wants to look at it again in 6 weeks and see if the growth gets any bigger and if the blood work changes.. So I go back at the end of February! I strongly believe in the power of prayer!! Thank you all so very much!! :)" WONDERFUL NEWS. We STILL NEED to keep praying for her over the next 6 weeks and the dr's PLEASE. Thank you all so very much. For the ones that do not remember or aren't familiar Britney is my cousin Steve and Jan's youngest daughter. Jan is the very talented one that scrapbooked and sews all those amazing things you see on facebook all the time. YAAAA herrr now you remember. Wanted to remind you guys that L.O.A.D. Starts up FEB the 1. so there is still time to sign up! If you are unfamiliar that is LAYOUT A DAY where you make a scrapbook page a day and we are doing it for FEB. Hopefully I will get to do it this time without fail. I will get you the link to sign up for that. My insurance is finally paying for my meds again (YAHOOOO) so I am back on my REBIF interferon for MS so let the good times roll (not) actually it makes you feel pretty crappy but that outweighs not being able to swallow or breathe or walk or stand without balance. The other downfall .. the stinkin shingles. I immediately started breakin out. So on the list tomorrow call about refill of those meds geesh. more meds more meds more medsssss AHHHHHH!! Bella bug has been fighting a battle of sickies this week. she has croupy cough sinus drainage and yucky tummy (upchucks)I know sorry for sharing. She made it through school yesterday when I just knew we would get a call. She is a trooper. She said her throat felt like yuck but she didn't want to miss because they were out Monday. (what logic for an 8 year old?) She said they had a lot of school to cover ha ha. Other good news (least she thought so and I have to agree!) WE HAD THIS FOR SUPPER!!!

(this is not MY PICTURE IT IS THIS PINNERS PICTURE THAT I LOVINGLY BORROWED ALONG WITH THE RECIPE THAT I AM SHARING WITH FULL CREDIT TO THEMMMM WITH YOU) THis recipe is sooooo gooooood. Only thing we did not do is use the fresh basil or the olive oil we just cooked it in our pan without oil. I added 2 more cans of diced red tomatoes and used more chicken stock (it wasn't very soupy) also we used crushed up lasagna noodles instead of these noodles and it was FANTASTIC!!!! HERE IS THE LINK (click on the word link) or just follow this recipe with the alterations above) Lasagna Soup INGREDIENTS for the soup: 2 tsp. olive oil 1-1/2 lbs. Italian sausage 3 c. chopped onions 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp. dried oregano 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes 2 T. tomato paste 1 28-oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes 2 bay leaves 6 c. chicken stock 8 oz. mafalda or fusilli pasta 1/2 c. finely chopped fresh basil leaves salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste for the cheesy yum: 8 oz. ricotta 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 tsp. salt pinch of freshly ground pepper 2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese PREPARATION Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking up into bite sized pieces, and brown for about 5 minutes. Add onions and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and stir well to incorporate. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the tomato paste turns a rusty brown color. Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add uncooked pasta and cook until al dente. Do not over cook or let soup simmer for a long period of time at this point, as the pasta will get mushy and absorb all the soup broth. You may even want to consider cooking the noodles separately, and then adding some to individual bowls before ladling the soup over them. This would be an especially smart move if you are anticipating any leftovers. Right before serving, stir in the basil and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the cheesy yum. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. To serve, place a dollop of the cheesy yum in each soup bowl, sprinkle some of the mozzarella on top and ladle the hot soup over the cheese. Servings: 8 Source: adapted from 300 Sensational Soups by Carla Snyder and Meredith Deeds, as seen in the February-April 2011 edition of At Home with Kowalski's magazine Printed from: a farmgirl's dabbles (www.afarmgirlsdabbles.com) It got the SEAL OF APPROVAL from all of the Jones family. So anyway hope you all have had a wonderful week. Talk sooooon....

Happy New Year

Hope everyone had a Happy FUN and SAFE New year. We had soooo much fun. I told you in the previous post that we were going to Tammy and Jims with Tara and Greg with the kids. Oh it was such fun. We gathered up all these fun dress up things and took silly pictures.

We ate goood fooood. Had lots of conversation. Lots of laughter fun music it was awful foggy so foggy you couldn't really see the fireworks but we knew they were there.

It felt good to be able to go. I don't get to do that often. Since I am not taking the interferon right now (thanks to the insurance company) I thought ok we will venture out... and I felt better. I am so glad we went. It was so fun. Bella had fun too. Got to meet Veronica.She is a lot of fun.

Tammy and Jims house is so beautiful. They are such fun people also. Even though I have decided they can never come to my house unless she is helping me decorate, then well, ok maybe. Because o m gosh WOW. I fell in LOVE with their back porch patio and yard. OH it is so pretty. Like something out of a magazine. Bella had a good time keeping those boys in line.

They were so cute and so funny. Bella was fussing at us for keeping her out so late. It was so past her bedtime. We told her well Its New years and this is a special occasion you know we don't do this often at all dear. She said I KNOW. I am just tired. SO FUNNY felt kinda role reversal there huh child? John woke her up this morning and made her come get in bed with us and watch cartoons. FUNNY HUH? she is usually the one diving in bed with us waking US UP! Funny the things we treasure. Sunday early morning in pjs watching cartoons. Then today we had to WAKE HER UP and MAKE HER come watch cartoons with us. sigh... our baby is growing up! I see it now...us going and waking up our teenager... "COME GET IN BED WITH US AND WATCH CARTOOONS! NOW!" "awww dad seriously??? IM 17!" "I don't care! Its a tradition." "UGHHHHHH" ::deep sigh with eye roll for drama:: "fineeee! Just quit yelling!" ::stomp stomp stomp:: Ya that is our angel. That is sorta how this morning went but she is 8.

We had another reason to celebrate today well besides it being New Years. It was also MY BIRTHDAY! YAY ME! YES I was born on NEW YEARS DAY. oh before you start saying OHHH COOOL. don't its not really. It kinda stunk as a kid. Most of my friends were not home. They were out of town during Christmas Break. It was always cold, Several birthdays I remember having the flu, Cheap people that always say "OH YA, this is your christmas present AND YOUR birthday present" OK well same goes for you I don't care IF your birthday is in June! gonna wrap your present in Christmas paper too :P~~ hehe. Doesn't bother me as much now at 42 as it did when I was 6. yes years of therapy gotten me through, Thank you to the fine staff and support system we contribute cash to. So MY SWEET baby girl. Brings me THIS:

oh my gosh! IS THAT NOT THE CUUUUTEST BROWNIE CUP CAKE EVER???? she and her daddy made those for me. SHE MADE THE LITTLE BANNER ON TOP ALLLL BY HERSELF! my baby! so love that girl. I would like to congratulate (AND THANK) AUBURN FOR WINNING THE CHICK FIL A BOWL! WARRRRRRRRRR EAGLE!!! AWESOME GAME!!! I didn't get to post much on fb or chat yall through it. The battery on my phone was dead. I am sure yall were probably happy about that hahahaha. We played babies today actually we played Miss Melissa beauty shop. WE worked on her babies hair. See they needed some help. Her dolls were a big hot mess. Whoopie would have said whew lawd when she saw jojo. She looked like she had some deeeeep down dreads that needed work. And kitkat needed... Well she just needed somethin. So I was lookin on pinterest and omg you can find anything on there. LITERALLY I think you could find out how to print money. They have literally everything on pinterest. LOVE IT! SO I found the recipe for how to make those American girl dolls and well any baby dolls hair look like new again. (WHO KNEW) instead of sending them back to the doll hospital (pricey and you have to be without your baby for 2 whole weeeks oh the horror) So I figured WHY NOT! I mean what worse could happen. She already looked like she walked straight out of a cave with that hairdo. All she needed was a bone through her nose and she would have looked like captain cavemans wife.

I don't think they have a captain cave man American girl doll. This one was close. So I proceeded. (worse case scenario... have to send it to doll hospital and that was what we were having to do anyway) SOOO I started and what do you know got one section done! BOOO YAH!

pretty soon I had it all brushing through easily. Bella was amazed and thought I was just super mom with magic skillz (and she should! Cuz I am)

So ya we spent a relaxing day at home today. We were all worn out from last night but IT was so much fun and I thank Tammy and Jim for having us over. It was fun to get to go somewhere I don't get out often. I would like to get out more some when I feel like it. Is good for the soul. So did you all eat your black eye peas today? Do you eat any special foods or have any special traditions for New years day? WE ate black eye peas and pork tenderloin for supper tonight with rice. Hope it brings us some good luck this year (since last year pretty much el suck o'd) I pray you have a wonderful 2012 that your family have health happiness, love,lots of laughter, Joy, peace and gratitude also , the ability to recognize each. Happy 2012 Lets make this a WONDERFUL YEAR!!!!!

2011 so thats the end of that...

This year has flown by. We often say that but this year has. It has been a strange year. Things have felt "off" hard to explain. Like something is freakishly wrong in the universe. Time just seems to be going so fast. My kiddo is growing up so fast. Some days I wish I could just freeze time and live in the moment for ever. I know not possible. We have had some fun times this year, some sad times along with difficult times as everyone has, A lot of changes taken place. So many things different. We lost some family members that were very special to us. I don't deal with death that well at all, I know no one deals with it great but since my dad I really have to prepare for funerals. Ya I'm a mental case. but you knew that. So maybe that is what is so "off" both of them being close with my dad brought back a lot of pain and memories I do not like. It was good to see family that I have not seen in a while. Sad the reasons. Bella started a new school this year. 3rd Grade. UGH! hard to imagine. I KNOW.

She was so excited to be a cheerleader. She carried on the family tradition of the McCrary girls before her (me and Kasi were both cheerleaders GO DRAGONS!!) So it was just fitting that she wanted to. I was surprised since she is so timid when she is first around people. She didn't know anyone at this school but she went in like she knew them all and joined the cheer squad. I was so proud of her. By the time school started she had a few friends already.

She did a great Job. She had to miss one game because she had to have her baby teeth take out and the wires put in. That was tough on her. She missed almost a week of school. The anesthesia was rough on her. BUT she was a trooper and did well. Her 8th Birthday she didn't want a big party this year. She missed her bff Bailey so much. Sooooo she wanted her to come spend the night and them have a party. Soooooooooooo

ya look at the clock they were still goin strong! John and I... not so much. Since she didnt want to have a birthday party. We went to see RIO then to Cheeburger Cheeburger (one of her favorite places to eat) and she got LULU

SHE LOVES LULU. She goes everywhere with her just about if not her then her American Girl doll does. She is all about The matchy outfits and stuff. (it gets crazy sometimes)

How can this not make you smile in the morning? We had a nice Easter She hunted eggs with Eva Caroline and We made cards with Grandma

Had a scary flare in May with Multiple Sclerosis. It messed with my swallowing as well as chest and right side. As soon as the steroids were in I could swallow better but lost my voice. was so strange. THEN I had weird side effects from the steroids got terrible yeast inf even in my eyes. was horrible took loong time to get through. Seems every May I end up in hospital. Am really really scared this year since insurance is being a butt and I am off my meds. VERY scared what will happen. I also discovered I DESPISE GREEN JELLO!

LEAF blower man vacuuming the shrubs... Yall really didn't think I was serious did you? I know hard to see because of screen on window but look close. THAT IS A SHOP VAC! THIS IS MY BEDROOM window. YOU SEEE how close that is. YES its LOUD! WHen your sick and have shingles in and on your ear it makes the nerve make everything hurt and that sound and the leafblower vibrate everything and not in a good way. the sound and the vibration o m g. you cannot escape it. I have wanted to just DIEEEEEE on many occasions. People often wonder why I get so grouchy and irritable. THIS is alot of the problem. TRY waking up to this at 7 am and NOT get a single day off. (IT HAS gotten a lot BETTER I HAVE TO ADMIT) he waits till 8 30 some days now. Fourth of July Johns parents were here. Lala was so cute.

Was a peaceful restful time. ahhhhhh!

We spend alot of time with Tara and Gregg on some holidays. They are good friends of ours. We usually do Halloween and New Years with them. It has kinda become a tradition so to speak... well sometimes New years Depends what is going on. We have added more people as the years have gone by to the crew at the get togethers we have a lot of fun and the kids enjoy it. We get to be silly and not worry about anything since we are right here in our little neighborhood.

Tara with sonny and cher singing I GOT YOU BABE! Bella and Eva Caroline went to the Fall Festival at St.Elmo Baptist Church. We all had a great time.

For Johns Birthday we went to Cheeburger Cheeburger. John ate the BIG ONE and got his picture up on the wall.

For our anniversary we went to our Favorite place The Japanese resteraunt!!

Afterwards we had to stop at Marble Slab for some dessert! Guess who had that idea!!

Bellas Third grade teacher (she is so awesome) Mrs. Overman did the coolest thing. The had a Renaissance medieval Feast. It was so coool. The girls talked about saving your love and kisses and being princesses of God. The boys talked about saving their love and kisses and being Knights of God. They worked on self esteem, purity, and are laying the ground work for the future. What an amazing day this was. Im such a sap I teared up during the speech Mrs. Overman gave. I wish I had it recorded so I could put the words down for Bella.

Greg was our court Jester. how cute is this?

Had a few bad weeks the beginning of Dec. Insurance company is messing with my interferon and it ran out so I had to cold turkey just stop taking it. So you can imagine. It did horrid things to my body. A lot of symptoms were messing with me. I still am having a lot of tiredness and mind fog. Am trying to play a few games (words with friends) to try to help with thinking but it is just showing me what I don't know I think. haha. My dr is trying very hard to convince them that I NEED this medication. Not the others. (Due to where my lesions are on my brain stem and the progression of my symptoms) I still have good days and bad days. Winter is better Summer is horrific. Heat melts me. I cant walk when I get hot I cant swallow I cant breathe. still get those horrific Hiccups that then make my chest contract and squeeze that feels like you are having a heart attack but you aren't and you have to take slow deep breaths and push in on your rib cage and take muscle relaxers to get it to stop if you can swallow at all during it. Makes your heart beat weird. no rhyme or reason to it. It just happens. Sometimes for a few seconds sometimes minutes. But mostly things are good and have been doing better since its cooler after I got over the sudden withdraw of the meds. Shingles aren't as bad. Still kinda leary. Christmas Kinda snuck up on us this year. Bella did her traditional pink tree in her room.

Bella got a letter from Santa! She was soooo excited. I loved hearing her read it. Just watching her facial expressions and hearing her little voice pronounce all the words. I wished I had video'd it. Yes I got teary eyed.

Bella and Brayden (her boy)playing the Kinect. SOOOOO CUTE!!!

Those are all the photos pretty much, I have on my laptop and Im sure you are asking "Holy wow Nancy. How many pictures are you going to put on this post?" WEll I haven't updated in some time. So was catching you up. JOhn is working and fighting with the insurance co. on my behalf and is my biggest support and advocate. I am grateful for him. Without him I wouldn't be alive today. That's the honest truth. He pushed and pushed to help find out what was wrong with me to get answers when no one would listen. HE KNOWS what we go through. So it gets frustrating listening to things sometimes. I hope you all had a fabulous 2011 and 2012 is even better for you. If I can get on my desktop there may be better or more photos of 2011 so Check back.

St Elmo Fall Festival

We had a lovely time at the yearly St Elmo Fall festival. It was A G-GORGEOUS day. PERFECT WEATHER.

These two were so excited to get to go have some fun getting treats, hay ridin', cake walkin and seeing friends!





They were pumped! singing and talking about what they were going to do first.








one of Bella's really sweet friends from her previous school. She has missed. Was really fun seeing her and spending time with her.


HAY RIDEEEE!


My little buddy that helped me hijack the hay ride (so he could driveeeeeeeeee!! the tractor! he was sooo adorable)



A beautiful ending to a wonderful day!