Lately...

life has been kinda crazy for me. I'm sure it has been for alot of people. The uncertainty of the economy as well as the pending Election hasn't helped either. I just feel like I don't know if I'm doing all that I'm suppose to. I feel gray inside...

With that being said, I keep going back to a couple of posts on two blogs that I frequent. They both keep mentally nudging me to take action...so I am going to listen to my inner voice and take action. Here goes....

~~~

First off, I am participating in One Day To Give that is being hosted by We are THAT Family. There are so many times that I have that "little voice" telling me to do something...Call a friend...Offer to fix dinner for my parents...Invite my husband out for a Date Night...Or offer my lunch to a homeless woman. I have always tried to listen to what that "urging" tells me and so far, I have never been disappointed.



Secondly, I am also participating in The Challenge at Toddler Planet. As many of you know, my Aunt Mary Ann was recently diagnosed with Bone Cancer in her spine. She has been going to radiation Monday thru Friday for the past few weeks. Some of you may also remember that my mother-in-law died almost 10 years ago after a very long and courageous fight with Breast Cancer. I remember how much it meant to Ruby when someone called her just to chat and take her mind off of everything...and I have been trying to do the same thing for my Aunt.

Anyone care to join me? What's that worse that can happen? Who knows, you might even feel better afterwards.

This Has Been One Crazy Football Weekend,

let me tell you. First USC loses...then my beloved Gators...followed by Georgia. I am still just sick because of that loss...by 1 point! I was so grumpy after that game...and then I wake up today feeling awful! Seems as though I finally got what everyone else in the family has had. Spent most of the day sleeping and / or laying on the couch. Had to miss a football party because I felt so yucky...but do you know what I saw that made my weekend get better...the Bucs beat the Packers. And did you see who played...Matt Bryant...and he did a fantastic job...in honor of his little boy. I almost lost it every time that I saw him make a kick and then look up to heaven. I don't know if I could be as strong as him...

I also saw this, as well as this. Looks like alot of other people are feeling the same as me.

Go Rest High On That Mountain...

Son, your work on earth is done.



Rest in peace. Your many good works will go on and on.

Fill-In Friday

This week has been complete craziness for me. Too much going on and not enough time. Hopefully things will calm down over the weekend and I can get back into my zen-mama groove!

So that being said, enjoy this silly little quiz.

~~~

What State Should Scarlet O'Kara Live In?

~~~

You Should Live in Florida

If you don't want to live in Florida, you might also consider: Arizona Delaware Georgia Hawaii Ohio

What State Should You Live In?

So very happy that I live in the best state for me...but Arizona, Georgia, and Hawaii would all be acceptable too. Not sure why Delaware and Ohio are on the list...especially since this Southern Belle hate the cold and snow. Can you even find Southern Sweet Tea in either state?

This Hits Me Hard...

as both a mother and a Buccaneers fan. Today, the infant son of one of the Bucs players died unexpectedly. Here is the story link.



My heart weeps for their loss. I just want to wake my girls up to hold them close.

More Prayers For My Aunt Mary Ann...

Recently, I had made a request for prayers and warm thoughts in regards to my Aunt Mary Ann. Due to some recent medical results, I would like to make another request.


[This is a picture of her braiding Kyla's hair shortly after Bryleigh was born]

She has been undergoing a month of radiation treatment and just received the results of a recent bone marrow test. Unfortunately, there is cancer in her marrow. While this is not the results that we had all hoped for, it will not deter her from making a full recovery.

During our conversation shortly after she received the news, we talked about her situation. She said that she would only allow herself to be emotional over this news briefly. After that, she would pick herself up and continue to fight.

She has plans to continue with the rest of her radiation treatments, as well as to talk with her oncologist about the next steps in treatment. The goal is to have chemo and then be in complete remission within 3 months.

Please pray for her safe and speedy recovery as well as relief from the pain. She recently retired from her job with plans of relaxing at home, enjoying her grandchildren, and taking care of her mother (my grandma) who just moved in. Plus Kyla and her have plans to sew dresses and pot holders for really special Christmas Gifts...and to use my Aunt's words..."I can't let a little girl down"...

Again, I will try to post an update as soon as I get one.

Thanks in advance for all of your time.

The power of prayer is an awesome thing!

Wordless Wednesday - Lovin' Some Bubble Wrap!

A Wonderful Award From...

Christina at The Adventures Of Maverick & The Mrs. Thank you so very much for this...



She is just about the sweetest person that I know in the Bloggin' World. I just love reading about her fun times as a new Military Wife. Head over to her place and tell me if you do not agree that the two of them look like Barbie & Ken!

Besides being so sweet, she is one creative lady. Check out her embroidery blog...The Spotted Crocodile. I have purchased some items from her and cannot wait to post photos..but since they are Christmas gifts...I have to wait so that the surprise isn't spoiled!

~~~

So, now it is my turn to spread the Love...

Cancer Sucks Even With Lilly Pulitzer On Your Side - I just love to read about her latest goings-on...plus the fact that she is such a strong woman who won't let Cancer get the best of her.

Caffeine Court - Her's was one of the first Blogs that I had to read on a daily, if not hourly basis. I just wish that she was my neighbor.

Another Online Mom - She seems to be a kindred spirit, not just because we both live in Florida either!

Six Golden Coins - I found her through a recent Bloggy Carnival and was drawn to her posts. She has suffered some hardships in her life because of the untimely deaths of her parents and brother, but she honors them with the way she lives her life and loves her husband and their children. ( I haven't forgotten about the picture bracelets...I am just having a hard time deciding on what photos to use...;0} )

Tales From Oakbriar Farm - I can't remember exactly where I discovered her lovely blog, but I have become addicted to seeing photos of her beautiful little girl, as well as trying the yummy recipes.

Thanks to this lovely ladies for giving me something to read...as well as inspiring me with your words.

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Apple Crisp

In honor of Johnny Appleseed's birthday on Friday, I wanted to post a yummy Apple Crisp recipe.



Johnny Appleseed's Apple Crisp

5 cups apple slices
1 cup sugar
½ cup margarine (melted)
1 cup quick rolled oats
½ cup flour
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp cinnamon

Combine sugar and apples and place in 2 quart casserole dish. Mix rest of ingredients (margarine, oats, flour, brown sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon) and sprinkle on top of apples. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Serve warm topped with whipped cream or ice cream. Makes 6 servings

Is there a better way to enjoy the start of Autumn than a bowl of warm Apple Crisp topped with some good French Vanilla Ice Cream? I think not!



Head over here is you want to check out some other Tempt My Tummy Tuesday posts...

What A Great Sports Weekend!

First the Gators...





Then the Rays...





Now the Bucs...





And as an added bonus...



beat the



It is so very great to live in Sunny, FL!!!

Do You Know What Today Is?

It's "International Talk Like A Pirate Day"! Not sure about the rest of you, but the Scarlet O'Kara Family of Sunny, FL loves Pirates! As a matter of fact, we love them so much that our favorite NFL team is the Buccaneers...we enjoy celebrating Gasparilla Day...and Kyla had a Pirate Birthday last year!

So, in honor of this special day...



Aarrr!

[ Now try not to be too frightened of me! I was hugely pregnant at the time! Besides, aren't Pirates suppose to be scary?!?!? ]

Oooh...I almost forgot! What do you think of this?

You Are 60% Pirate

Garrrr, yer a true pirate down to yer bones. Yer an originial sea dog, an' ye certainly have earned yer sea legs. No one be goin' to accuse ye o' bein' a landlubber. Ye got yer eye on the prize, an' yer willin' to go pillagin' fer some booty.

Would You Make a Good Pirate?

Told you I loved Pirates!!!

How are you going to celebrate?

Wordless Wednesday - Lovin' Some Football

Head over to 5-Minutes For Mom for more Wordless Wednesday posts...

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Eva's Steak Milanesa

I was just rummaging through my freezer trying to find something for dinner when I discovered a package of frozen breaded palomilla steak. Not sure if many people are familiar with Cuban Food, but is is a favorite at Casa de Scarlet O'Kara...right up there with Thai, Japanese, Mexican, and Italian food.

One family favorite dish is Steak Milanesa...and my "super easy" recipe was given to me by a former co-worker.

Hope you all enjoy it on this "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday"...

~~~

Eva's Steak Milanesa

Breaded Palomilla Steak
Can of tomato sauce
Garlic powder
Sugar
Salt
Pepper
Hard Boiled Eggs
Frozen Green Peas

Mix the tomato sauce, garlic powder, sugar, salt, and pepper in a pan and simmer. Cook the steaks in Olive Oil.

Pour some of the tomato sauce over the steak. Crumble some hard boiled egg and peas on top. That's the recipe. Very simple!

~~~

On a side note, my family has a funny joke about this dinner. Every time I make it, a family friend always shows up. He says that the wonderful smells lure him to our dinner table. He says that this recipe is so good that it can "make a gay man propose marriage"...

Update On My Loved Ones -

My father was able to have a brief conversation with our loved ones in the Houston area. They are all doing well, but their neighborhood was hit pretty hard. Trees, cars, and houses were blown over...power is out for an unknown amount of time...but by the grace of God, they are all unharmed.

Thank you all for your prayers.

Please Pray...

For everyone in the Galveston / Houston areas of Texas...



We have family in the area who planned to "hunker down" and ride Ike out...

Now we are trying to check on them, but millions are without power...

So worried for them...

Do You Remember...

where you were 7 years ago?



I do...

~~~

I was sitting in my office at the Company I was working for at the time. There was an important conference call in an hour and I needed to prepare. The radio was on, providing the usual background noise that I need to keep focused.

During the usual every half-hour news break, the DJ casually mentioned some reports of a plane hitting one of the Twin Towers. The first thought that ran through my mind was that silly French daredevil that had be in the news for base jumping off of some other skyscraper as well as trying to fly his ultralight around the torch of the Statue of Liberty and getting caught.

I remember getting up from my desk and talking with my boss about it. Saying that that "idiot" probably got himself killed, but hopefully he didn't hurt anyone else.

When the news again reported that another plane hit the other tower...my blood turned cold and I knew that we were under attack. All other thoughts left my mind and I went into the Detailing Room where all of my co-workers were huddled around the TV. The Network News was on and the first chaotic pictures from NYC were flashing by.

It was then that I remembered that both my sisters, my brother-in-law, and my newborn nephew were in the Niagara Falls area of New York...due to fly back that morning. Sheer panic gripped me and I made frantic calls to my parents trying to find out what their flight information was....

My family was blessed that day. They all arrived home safely almost a week later. My husband, who was a Road Warrior at the time, was on one of his rare visits to his office.

We both left work and spent the rest of the day and the next few days afterwards walking around in a daze...trying to make sense of everything that happened. It was strange to not see planes in the air, especially since we live close to several major airports. When the planes did get back up into the air, I would find myself stopping to watch...making sure that they weren't going to crash into me...

Hard to believe it has been almost 7 years.



~~~

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan ..
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.