changes are a coming!

So I have been perusing blogs lately, trying to find blogs that are full of good recipes, ones that will keep my attention, and ones that well just interest me. I like to hear about peoples battles with disease and injury, maybe it's because I am a sicko, or maybe it's because I am 29 and dealing with a chronic disease of my own. So tonight I came across the blog "Use Real Butter", which is a blog I had heard about but never ventured over there, man I don't know why. I love her, I love her blog, I love her pictures, but most of all I love her take on the world. We all have our demons, we all have our battles, but it's all about how you face the world every day. She had one post specifically that is all about why she will continue to come back to a blog, and I have to say I have been guilty of several of her cons. I have let my blog go by the way side way to many times, and yes I know my friends have called me on it and so I commit to you, my reader, to not do that again, even if it's a horrible week, I will post. My goal this week is to post everyday, maybe then it will become a habit and I will continue to post for a couple weeks, a month maybe even a year.

I want you to know me, I want to reach out to others, maybe gain a few readers that I don't know IRL that will come back time and again, maybe find a few others who are in this fight against Multiple Sclerosis.

Many of you know why I filed for disability, many others don't. I have Multiple Sclerosis. I was diagnosed in Feb. 2005 at the age of 25. An age when you shouldn't be worried about shots, about being able to walk when you wake up, and not finding a person to love you despite your diagnosis. I was lucky and I did find that man, and he is a wonderful man, and he loves me.

At 25 you are worried about weddings, starting a career and babies.

In the last 5 years I have had gotten married, gotten my beloved dog, and had to stop working a job that I loved. A job that made me complete. A job that I was happy to say I did. I was an Emergency Dispatcher, I helped people, I got yelled at, and cussed at...but I helped people. The day that I cried on the phone with a dad who's daughter had just been life-flighted was the day I decided I was no longer cut out for it, this also came after a week when I forgot the codes on the computer and I couldn't tell the guys, MY guys, what they needed to know because I couldn't pull the words out of my butt. I decided to walk away, so that's what I did.

A large part of my life that comes with MS is depression and so that may be the reason that I let my blogging slide, but that is just an excuse. So I say to you, please don't let that happen to me again, bug the heck out of me, get me back in here, because the one place I always feel happy is the kitchen!

We fought for a year to get my disability to go through, it was a long, hard year. But with the love of my parents, my hubby's parents and some friends that I would be lost without (you know who you are). We made it through.

So after reading through "Use Real Butter" and crying at some of her posts, and knowing that sometimes it doesn't matter if anyone is listening or reading, just getting it out into the universe is all that matters.

So even if it's a day that the fatigue (and yes it's different that being tired) has it's hold on me, I will share. I will share something funny that has happened, a small treat I have made or I will just let you know that yes I am alive.

P.S.
Plus you will notice some changes to and around my blog. The fonts and colors have been changed and the name Crystal's Creations is for anything I do so I will start to show more of house things, and crafty projects I do!

Stolen Quiz

Stolen from "Be a Hip Chick", a very cute little blog I came across today.

8 Things I’m Looking Forward To:

1. Our BBQ on the 8th.
2. My sister and grandpa coming in to town in the next week!
3. cooking dinners. I need to get back in to planning meals out!
4. Picking back up some crochet needles, as I'm wanting to learn how to crochet afghans!
5. Kevin's parents and hopefully siblings coming in to town this weekend.
6. My fast approaching 30th birthday.
7. Getting a trip planned to Texas this fall!
8. Having the rest of my disability go through.

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. played on the computer
2. watched t.v.
3. made dinner
4. cleaned up the scrapbook room
5. finished one book and started another
6. played with my puppy
7. watered my plants on the deck
8. having some quality time with my hubby

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. be as energetic as i was before MS entered my life
2. craft something new everyday
3. shop everyday
4. make a perfect wedding cake
5. have everything that I put in my yard grow
6. worry less
7. love all vegetables
8. see a cure for MS in my lifetime

8 Shows I Watch:

1. Hell's Kitchen
2. Project Runway
3. Top Chef
4. Next Food Network Star
5. Real World
6. Big Brother
7. Survivor
8. Design Star

8 Favorite Fruits:

1. peaches
2. grapes
3. apples
4. blackberries
5. blueberries
6. plums
7. strawberries
8. raspberries

8 Places I’d Like To Travel To:

1. Greece
2. England
3. Jamaica
4. east coast
5. Italy
6. Texas
7. Alaska
8. Montana

8 Places I’ve Lived:

1. Belton, MO
2. Mesquite, TX
3. and Belton, MO...yep pretty much born here, live here
4
5
6
7
8

8 People I’m Tagging:
Nobody, just feel free to steal it from me!

For Today

As I grow and evolve I am learning more about myself and what I want my life to be. I am so much more than just a cook, I am a bargain hunter, a scraper, a crafter and a reader as well as a decorator, a lover of colors, the "hostest with the mostest", I am also a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt and a friend, and you can't forget a mommy to an 85 pound lab mix who is my best bud.

As I was going through some blogs to find new recipes today I stumbled across a wonderful site that is all about living the simple life, which is something I strive for. I am going to start participating in "The Simple Woman's Daybook" and will have new posts every Monday.

(and I promise to get back in cooking, I made an enchilada casserole last night that my hubby just loved!)




FOR TODAY July 28, 2009...
Outside my window...it is a rainy, rainy day.

I am thinking...how can it by July and be COLD in the house, temps in the 70's what is going on!

I am thankful for...a wonderful husband who makes me smile everyday! oh and makes my life a lot easier.

From the kitchen...I made some easy chocolate chip muffins this morning to have with my morning coffee, it was lovely. For dinner it's breakfast for dinner as I am not going to the store until tomorrow.

I am wearing...cotton shorts and a tee shirt as I had to finish some touch up painting and clean the wood floors.

I am creating...a beautiful home. Our front room is almost done, we have a few finishing touches and it will be ready for the big reveal.

I am going...to lunch with an old friend tomorrow that I have not seen in like 8 years and I'm really excited about it!

I am reading..."A Three Dog Life" by Abigail Thomas. So far it's great my BFF let me borrow it thinking it would be a book I would like!

I am hoping...everyone can make it to our BBQ as it has been such a hard long year and it will be nice to be surrounded by our loved ones.

I am hearing...my dogs paws on the hardwood floors, and her lapping up her water.

Around the house...I am feeling accomplished, I have used Murphys on our woodwork/floors, painted, cleaned the kitchen, and worked on the scrapbook room.

One of my favorite things...is shopping! I am so looking forward to my sister being home and getting to introduce her to the awesomeness that is Good JuJu in Kansas City!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Lunch, grocery shopping, finishing up the house, cooking/baking and getting ready for family being in town the next 2 weeks.

Here is picture that I am sharing...Picture of me and Kevin from our summer vacation to Branson!

This was found on "The Simple Womans Day Book" to see others day books click the link!
If you want to do your own click this link.

Thank You!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone out there who follows my blog and has prayed or crossed their fingers for us, we have known for a couple of weeks and had the money actually come through last week, but my Social Security came through. This is so bittersweet for me as it means I am officially disabled, but man it's sure nice to be caught up on bills and be able to go shopping! We also got to start on our re-do of our living/dining room now that we have the money to do it! Here are pics of it!

This is also giving us the opportunity to go on a mini-vacation this weekend. It will just be to Branson for a couple of days but it will be a nice getaway. Once everything else works out we will plan a big trip to Texas to visit family in Waco, San Angelo and South Padre. A few days on the beach in Padre sounds like the perfect end to all of this mess, oh and seeing my papa!

So to everyone out there, thank you and much love!
xoxoxo