New and Different Things

Last weekend, Taya spent three days at a youth leadership event for church.  She was signed up to go to the event not so much by choice but because she had missed the big retreat required for Confirmation because she was visiting her aunt in California.  This was an opportunity to make up for that time.  She was not super excited, especially given that she knew none of the other people going along.  A few days before, it occurred to me that she would be spending two nights in a motel without any family or certified diabetes educators in sight.  This made me a bit uncomfortable since it was 100 miles away!  I sent an email to the Youth Pastor with cautions and concerns followed by a text message to my friend, who happens to have a T1 child, to let her know that Taya would be in town and might need to call.  I got reassuring responses from both so the following afternoon, we took our little girl to church.  She did not complain one time, but that sad look on her face was tough to see.  That day we got some texts from her, some phone calls and a Facetime call that night.  She was not having fun.  Luckily, I was already asleep when she Facetimed or I am pretty sure I would have jumped in my car and picked her up.  The next day, I sent her a text in the morning wishing her a better day.  I did not hear from her until 2 pm.  This was a text saying she had been cleaning up the zoo and today was going better.  Then, we heard nothing until 2 pm the next day, letting me know when to pick her up and asking if she could go hang out with her new friend later that night.  Wow, what a turn around!  She ended up having a really good time and even mentioned next year's event.  She was most impressed with all the work done in Minot, having toured it a few months ago.  While nowhere near restored, progress is being made.  I am very proud of her.  I know that when I was her age nothing in the world would have gotten me into that car to travel that far not knowing what was ahead.  Now, she has to present in church.  I think for her that is even more traumatic!

Another good thing that happened recently is I found a recipe for making Gluten Free Cheese Crackers!  And, better yet, TJ likes them!  As does Tylie.  She ate all the crispy outside edges before they had even cooled.  The best part is- they are easy!

GLUTEN FREE CHEESE CRACKERS:
4 oz Cheddar Cheese
4 TBSP butter
3/4 C Corn Starch
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp Xanthum gum
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp Milk

Melt the butter and then add the cheese until both are smooth.  Then add dry ingredients until a crumbly mixture and well mixed.  Add the milk.  Spread out in 1/8 inch thickness on a greased cookie sheet.  I cut into squares and then poke a hole in the center of each square.  Lightly salt the tops and bake at 400 degrees for about 8-10 minutes.  



Tessa and I got to spend some quality time together as well.  First we got our hair cut and then we made cookies.  That part didn't go super smooth, but the end result was very nice.  You will see in the picture that TJ is also eating a cookie.  His is a decorated chocolate chip cookie since we didn't make the others gluten free.  They are for Tessa's demonstration speech at school.

Troy- with some help from the kids and a lot of help from his dad- got the boards up for our backyard rink!  For the first time in awhile, people in our house are looking forward to some cold nights so they can start flooding.  However, after writing in our winter schedule, I hope we have time to use it!

           And, to end with something funny, just in case anyone reading this thinks I have it all together all the time!  Today, at home it was a morning like any other- scurrying around, packing lunches, checking for warm enough coats, meters packed,etc. Nothing unusual at all.   I arrived at school and went down the hall to check on something and realized my shoes didn't seem quite right.  I looked down to discover that I was wearing two different ones!  Seriously, how does that happen?  They weren't even the same color!  So, quick phone call to Tylie, who saved the day by grabbing me a matching pair and dropping them off on her way to school.