SRKindredSpirits

My 12 year old was to take either a pink or red snack for her Sunday school class. No problem.  Most ' normal ' moms would go buy a snack or make a snack.  And that would be the end of the story. Easy.  Oh, but not me.... You see, I am about the farthest thing from normal you'll ever find! (I really don't mind being "not normal"... I just don't enjoy stressing over every little detail, and all the what ifs make me exhausted on a daily basis).  I live with Chronic Stress ( along with multiple autoimmune diseases and cancer ). I know most people say they are "stressed out". But for me, the term "stress" has a much different meaning. My body is actually unable to process stress.  There are medical terms - but the easiest way to understand it is simply know what the effects of stress can do to a normal person - then multiply it by 100 - that's what stress is like for me. When my body is stressed - it attacks my cells and literally tries

Ok, so thought I'd post some pictures of what's been happening! Only problem is, I don't really know much about tractor parts or rebuilding one. Wyatt had a great week! He received a $100 check in the mail to use towards rebuilding his tractor from a wonderful, generous couple! Wyatt was so excited, he said, "mom, I think I'm getting spoiled!" Stephen is keeping track of the spending... so I don't have the exact numbers, but as of now, we are about $2,000 into it and haven't started putting it back together yet. Parts are hard to find since it's old (1974) and wasn't super mass produced... (the tractor was built in Japan and was only built for 4 - 5 years) and when we do find parts, they aren't cheap! We are trying to keep it as original as we can, but somethings we simply can't find. It means the world to us that folks are willing to help Wyatt with this project! We appreciate you! If you want to help Wyatt with his project, you can do

Today has been hard for me.... there were alot of tears.  I don't like getting old, and I don't like that people I care about are dying... our friend and neighbor passed away this week.  Brooklyn_speaks  went home to be with Jesus today....  another friend of ours is losing his battle with ALS and got his feeding tube put in this month... I feel overwhelmed that for me, I know my place in that line will come sooner than later.  My death sentence makes me angry... I have kids that need me. I want to travel and see the world. I want to watch my kids grow up... to see my grandkids and great-grandkids. I want to enjoy retirement with my hubby. I want to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary together. I want to do something good with my life. I get tired of fighting with doctors, getting pricked with needles and the ever changing doses of medication. I'm tired of being exhausted every single day. I feel guilty for just about everything I do, and everything I don't do. I fee

  I decided it was about time to show you all some more of my cakes.... I have a love- hate relationship with making/decorating cakes. I think its fun and absolutely love trying to make exactly what the kids or I want to make.... only problem is they never turn out nearly as good as the image in my head and I hate that.... I know some would turn out better if I'd use fondant or gum paste instead of butter cream, but I don't like using fondant (I've tried a couple times), I don't like the taste of it, so I use butter cream for all my cakes... it makes them taste better... especially since I use my a perfect secret frosting recipe! My dad passed away 3 weeks before Wyatt's birthday and left his little Kubota B6000 tractor in his will to Wyatt. You can read more about it here... This cake had a camouflaged interior... Barbie cake for an 7 yr. old - every layer of cake was a different color - purple, pink, blue and green inside. My daughter's graduation cake  - simp

Happy Heavenly Father's Day, Dad! I know you were never big on holidays, hugs, and all the mushy stuff... neither am I, but I'm laying in bed wide awake, with thoughts running through my mind, so here goes.... I sure wouldn't wish you back from heaven, but I miss you more then I ever thought I would. I heard this song on the radio the other day, driving home from Cleveland for work, and I couldn't help but think of you... "Better Off There" -by The Browns  Its no secret that we weren't close before you got sick, but those last five to six months, we had some of the best talks and the time spent, just me and you, gave me some of the best memories of us together!  I loved the fact that you kept your humor... Our trip to the Nurology center in Middletown (you getting your way with the truck, getting lost, eating corn chips and cold lunch meat sandwiches, and shoping at Walmart), and driving home from the hospital (even though you kept saying I was driving sou

  I know just about enough to be dangerous.... that right now is my whole take on religion.  You see I was raised very conservative ( think Amish, without the buggy ), and was taught conservative beliefs my whole life.... and there was alot of good that came from being raised that way. But, there was also alot of bad.... as my husband says, "if he wasn't already a Christian, seeing the way my conservative family and churches I was raised in act, he wouldn't want anything to do with God if that's how he was introduced to Christianity." Which is sad, but I agree with him 100%.   I joined an Independent Fundemental, KJV Baptist church ( which is pretty conservative ) and though I would say my belief aligns with a conservative Baptist, I am tired of the church politics, rules, and people acting one way on Sunday and another through the week.... the 'whatever' attitude of the Christian faith is off putting to me...... On the other hand, I was rebellious in my

Today, my son, Wyatt is 14 years old! Wyatt is a special needs kid . He has multiple learning disabilities and is on the spectrum. He can only read and write at a 2nd grade level. He tries very hard , but still has a difficult time understanding and fitting into this world. He is however, the sweetest kid you'll ever meet! Wyatt had brain surgery in 2017 where his skull was removed for 5 weeks. He has been through lots of testing and struggles in life. He has had 4 surgeries, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and audio therapy, and more... Wyatt has always had a unique relationship with his Grandpa Frick ( owner of Frick Sales ).... when he was little he'd call him 'junk grandpa'! His favorite place in the whole world was to go to Grandpa Fricks. He'd wander through the junk yard and would find treasures that he'd talk about to anyone who'd listen.... his favorite was his Grandpa's little B6000 Kubota. My dad had purchased/traded

Our oldest daughter moved out this month.... it really wasn't a surprise, I knew it was coming, and although I wanted her to wait for another few more months, I think deep down, I knew it was time. She is 19, has a full-time job at a busy Vet hospital, is enrolled in college, currently working towards a graphic design degree. She graduated school 2 years early, is a hard worker, a good employee, and managed to save a good sized nest egg. She has always paid for her own phone, insurance, and paid cash for her car, - and she did it all on her own.... she never got an allowance and we didn't spoil her with money or things. She worked hard to get where she is..... I'm proud of her.... And although I think I knew it was time she spread her own wings.... I had a tangled up mess of emotions. Somedays I would cry over everything. Somedays I was sad.... it was almost like all my dreams and plans that she and I had for years had died and were being buried. Sometimes I was angry..