Living In Grace

OK! It's the BIG! Announcement!! Right HERE! Right NOW!

Although I don't talk about it much, music is a huge HUGE! part of our lives around here. For the most part, we all like the same stuff around here.

From teen to adult ... from 60's to to's to 80's to .. well, let's just forget the 90's music scene and pretned it never happened ...

One of our favorite's around here is Tobymac. He's on everyone's mp3 player around here.

So becasue of that, I was thrilled to pieces to receive an email from his PR firm asking us to help promote his upcoming MOVIE! in THEATRES! of his new album ALIVE AND TRANSPORTED.

For the First! Time! Ever!! TobyMac has decided to record a live performance of his show. If you've ever seen any of his videos, you know it's a fast paced, high energy, musically energetic, wonderful wonderful thing featuring some of his best stuff like ... Catchafire (WhoopsiDaisy), Boomin'  Love is in the House and Jesus Freak.

This is ONE TIME only event happening on June 9th. It's a show not to be missed! You can go here to find a theatre near you - then grab the kids, grab your frineds and high tail it over there June 9th!

But wait! There's more!!!

I've been given the opportunity to give a FREE DVD and CD of Alive and Transported to one very. very lucky winner!

To enter, simply leave a comment below.

Crazy simple, don't you think?

And, just cause we want to get the word out - if you post about this and link back?  I'll throw in 5 extra entries in your name! Just leave the link to your post in a comment.

And now, the lawyers.

Well, not really, but there are a coulple of stipulations.

You can live anywhere. US or other.

No duplicate entries (unless your coming back to leave your link - then you get 5 more).

You must be blonde, brunette, re dhead or gray. Natural or not.

Taller than 2 foot and shorted than 10 feet.

And lastly, because we need to get them to you - you must be willing to share your physical address with me and with the PR firm. They will be doing the mailing direct to you.

That's it!

So, comment away then go get your tickets!

(Comments will close at 12am PT Sunday June 7th)

And  just for the fun of it ... here's a sneak peek!

 

And now - MORE! GREAT! EXCITING! NEWS! Living in Grace has agreed to host a MONTHLY! MUSIC! EXTRAVAGANZA! GIVEAWAY! Each month, we will team up with EMI CMG to introduce artists and music through a MUSIC! GIVEAWAY!! Isn't that exciting! Music, music, music ...

Prayers Please

There is an urgent need for prayer over at Heather's.

If you could click here and let her now you're standing with them.

And school was out. The cries of freedom rang out. - Oh. and the kids were happy, too.

It started at 7am this morning. With a deadline of 3pm to get everything in and submitted, both kids were feverishly committed to finals.

Jonathan spent several hours doing his Algebra 1 final- all essay questions. Essay questions? in Algebra? Geesh. Things have changed.

The kids are required to write out every step of the problem, correctly and get docked points if one thing is amiss. Even if the final answer worked out. Their teacher is a former university mathematics professor and very exacting.

Did I mention they'll have him for Honors Geometry next year as well? They're thrilled beyond tears.

Or in tears.

Whatever.

Kati spent 5 hours on her Algebra, while I was out running errands. I got home to her panicked voice.

"Mom, I'm not going to get my Physical Science final done in time."

"Uh, why not?"

"I finished my Algebra final and hit the wrong button to submit it. It's all erased. I have to start over."

Yikes.

Now, understand two things. This kid has worked her self ragged this semester brining her grades up after dragging her feet first semester. And she's done an excellent job. All A's except Algebra and Physical Science. She got within 2% of an A in both of these, so finals are critical.

Second, the school has made it abundantly clear that under no circumstances will any work by accepted after 3pm today. No way. No how. No matter what.

And it's 1:30.

I did what any mom would do- I picked up the phone and called her teacher. Begged for more time.

Success! Kati got a reprieve!

A whole day, in fact.

She was so determined though, to end it all today she got it all done this afternoon.

That's my girl!

So - school. is. over.

Done.

Finissimo.

And now, my baby boy is in high school.

And my baby girl will get her driver's permit in 4 weeks.

And their father is old.

hehe

Me? I just get prettier as time goes on.

Yeah. that's it.

Lawsie, Lawsie ....

Hey interpeeps!

Just hopping in from under the fun and games of finals week to say I'M! STILL! ALIVE!

Barely.

The last two weeks have been full of getting last minute assignments done, science experiments (some still growing in my fridge), studying for finals, no internet (Lord help me!), and finals for both kids.

And mom having to tutor Algebra, kindof, again.

I'm about done.

Toast.

Craving chocolate.

And a diet coke.

Oh, and sleep.

So, hope to be back when this is all over.

If you don't hear from me by Sunday?

Send the Search and Rescue

Thank you.

(PS: I have an exciting announcement to make once all this is settled, so be sure to keep checking back!)

Transplant Timeline ....

we're beginning to count down the days til final evaluation for acceptance to the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale transplant list.  HOORAY! It's been a long, long road folks, and I'm sooooo ready.

(To catch up on the travel so far, just click here)

June 9th -

We make the trip to Scottsdale to meet with the assigned transplant Surgeon, Dr. Marek Mazur, and have a sit down. Because of distance, we will have to travel the night beofre, and then finish the drive in. Scottsdale is a beautiful place, but Holy Moly! it's not cheap :)

Also on the agenda?  A fun, filled two hours with the social worker for evaluation. And finanace.

Yippeee!

Then sometime between Jone 10th and the end of July, we will be presented before the Transplant Committee for approval. They will review all the tests and whatnot and decide if they all agree I'm a good candidate. If anyone says No, we will have to resolve the reasons why and then wait to be re-presented.

So, hopefully, by the end of July we start testing living donors.

And in that vein, I bring to you, once again, (could I use any more commas?!) ...

(For the code, click here --- Thanks again! Karla)

If you would be willing to put them on your site, or blog to draw attention to the need for living donors ...

I would be so very appreciative. The code will link people directly to the page I've set up with all the information needed to understand the process, and get involved if they so desire.

At the very least, would you consider becoming an organ donor on your driver's license?

So many people die while waiting for an organ ...

I promise to keep you posted on the details as we go along.

But YEAH! We're finally on our way!


 

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In Memorium

Tonight we number many but ride as one
In honor of those not with us, friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, sons
With helmets on tight and heads down low,
We ride in silence, cautious and slow
The wheels start spinning in the lead pack
But tonight we ride and no one attacks
The dark sunglasses cover our tears
Remembering those we held so dear
Tonight's ride is to make others aware
The road is there for all to share
To those not with us or by our side,
May God be your partner on your final ride.

On May 21, around the world, we will pay tribute to bicyclists

who have been injured or killed while riding.

It's called the "Ride Of Silence".

I invite you to pay tribute to those gone, but not forgotten -

and to remember them when you're driving and see someone on two wheels.

As a wife and a mother, neighbor and friend

Thank you.

Looking for a location in your area?

USA

International

Free Movies! In Contest Form! With Treats! *AND THE WINNERS ARE ...**

`

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After using our highly scientific methodology of entering everyone's entires on an excel spreadsheet, cutting them into little pieces, folding them up and tossing them in a piece of Tupperware...

The winners whose names were drawn are:

NeedaNap

Shalee

Carey

Mom2Rn

Congratulations!!!!

Please email me your physical address, so I can get your goodie boxes together and out to you!

Email me at:

jkbach (at) comcast.net

and put "MOVEI GIVEAWAY" in the subject line (just in case you get sucked into my spam filter)

(If for some reason I don't hear from you by next Saturday, alternate winners will be chosen)

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We lead a busy life around here. The kids homeschool 5-6 hours a day, the hubby goes to work FT 4 days a week and then comes home to work another 30-40 hours at his "work from home office" job.  With summer upon us, we now have one child old enough to get a job (Lord help me, I'm not old enough to have a child old enough for a job) and due to get her learner's permit in 52 days (No, seriously, no one in this house is counting the day. Really). There is volunteer work, church and a myriad of other things that I'm sure everyone reading this is totally familiar with.

Singing to the choir, I am.

Even though we are home together most of the time, family time though critical, is hard to come by.

To that end, we established two rituals:

Game Night and Family Move Nights.

Game Night is usually just the kids and I, becasue of John's schedule. we drag out old favorites like Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit. Last year we discovered a new game called Dread Pirate, and love it!
We play card games, and are currently looking for a Jenga game.

Family Movie Night falls twice a week, late, after John has finished working. The kids drag their stuff into our room, and we have a sleepover. It's great fun!

Living where we do, we only had one movie rental place.  Unfortunately,  one day it was just closed up and gone. I later heard they went bankrupt.

Fortunately, though, I had just won free membership to Netflix through a giveaway at Owlhaven! Waht a blessing it has become!

It's pretty simple. I went in and perused the listings of movies they offer (over 100,000 titles), added them to my "queue" with one click of the mouse and Voila! Movies were in my mailbox within  two day. There are no time limits, no late fees, and after we've watched them, they just go back in the prepaid envelope.

Once they get the movies back (normally the day after I mail them off), the next movies in our queue are pulled and shipped. We have not waited more than a couple of days for the next movies to arrive.

The best part is there ARE! NO! LATE! FEES!

Frankly, I don't see how the other movie rental place went bankrupt with the amount of late fees I paid to them.

So, now for the fun part.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To help you get a taste of the joy that Netflix brings, I giving away FOUR! FREE!  starter memberships to Netflix. You will get a one month subscription to Netflix, and can rent up to three movies at any time. So, if you play your cards right, you could watch between TWELVE! and SIXTEEN! movies FREE! at home.
Without loading up the kids, driving, or paying a dime!

But wait! there's more!

Netflix also lets you watch movies on your computer! Instantly!

But wait! There's even MORE!

The winners will recieve a  Movie Goodies Box from me, full of  yummy treats to indulge in while watching their movies! (To win, you will need to be willing to trust me with your physical address).

Here's how it works.

There are four ways to enter. (HT to BloggedIn for the inspiration)

1) Each comment left will earn 1 entry.

2) Subscribe to Living in Grace through your feed reader (Click Here) and earn 5 entries. (Please let me know in comments which feed reader you subscriber with).

3) Write a post, linking directly back here and earn yest another 10 entries!

4) If you don't have a blog, simply leave a comment telling me the names of the first 3 movies you will rent, and why. You'll get 5 more entries, and I'll get some new movies to add to my queue :) Win! WIN!!!

So, who wants some theatrical goodness?!

(Due to NetFlix restrictions, you must be a US resident to enter. I'll leave comments open until 8pm PT, Wednesday, May 14th and announce the winner on Saturday, May 17th. I'm thinking I'll need that long to calculate entries and all... sigh).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED! GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE! CHECK BACK SATURDAY FOR THE WINNER!!

Yummy Yummy Oggie Doogie!

Since the theme seems to be inedible things, I'll share this recipe with you (although according to some people who read my blog, but shall remain nameless- these are actually edible).

Yummy, Easy Banana Doggie Treats!

Makes 30 - 60 dog biscuits

5 cups flour
1/4 - 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups pureed bananas
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Water

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and set the rack on the middle level. Have one or two ungreased nonstick baking sheets ready.

2. Mix the flour, peanuts and baking soda together in a large bowl. Gradually stir in the remaining ingredients, except the water, until lumpy but blended.

3. Add enough water, a teaspoon at a time, to make a stiff dough. Knead by hand until thoroughly mixed. Or blend everything in a food processor.

4. For very large banana treats, form the dough into 2 logs, each about 2 1/2 inches high, and place one on each baking sheet. Flatten each log so that it is 6 inches wide and 1 inch high. For medium-sized banana treats, form 4 logs, 2 on each sheet, and flatten each into loaves that are 3 inches wide and 1 inch high. Bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove to wire racks and let rest for 10 minutes.

5. Leave the oven on. Transfer the loaves to a cutting board and slice into 1/2 - 3/4 inch pieces. (It's easiest to slice them on the diagonal, using a serrated bread knife.) Return the slices to the baking sheets and bake for about 20 minutes longer, turning once, until they are golden brown. Cool on racks. Store in a tightly closed tin at room temperature.

Note: If you have some cute cookie cutters, simply skip #4 and 6, roll them to a 1/2 inch thickness and cut away. bake for about 30 minutes and start checking them for the hardness you're desiring.

Your doggie-oggies will love these. They are great treats with no additives. And your dog will not risk the chance of ingesting something that could harm him. The list of recall items for pet foods and snacks is growing... no worries here.

ENJOY and BONE APPETIT!

For more great recipes, visit Saturday Stirrings over at Fiddledeedee's Place!

Could you, would you ...

... hop over here and leave a few words of comfort and encouragement?

Thanks so much.

Change.

Change sucks.

There. I've said it.

For years, I've spent my life preaching CHANGE IS GOOD! to my employees. totally bought it ot hte fact that change brings growth and  new opportunities. Embrace it! Love It!

Well now.

I'm tired of change.

I want things to stay predictable, steady and on course, I want to look at tomorrow, and not wonder what I'll have to rearrange. For the first time in my life, I just want to be complacent.

Sad. But true.

And because that just can't happen, change has again arrived at Cases do Living in Grace.

Changes that affect us in so many ways.

And so, besides trying to get everyone through the last 9 days of school, finals, summer plans, driving lessons, et al ... I've spent the last couple of days reworking sbudget, bills and plans for the future including evaluations at various clinics for transplant.

Realistically, Denver is out.  Mayo should be in by July. Phone calls are being made, plans changed.

I'm holding frustration at bay, barely, but my finger is in the dike.

More than ever, we are living in grace around here. Forcing oouselves to leave the details to God. Letting  let go of our plans,  and  trusting that His plans will work out.

It's a tough place to be. But, we are there and we will walk through. Crawl if we have to.

Reminding ourselves each step of the way that He is Jehovah Jirah - His Grace Is Sufficient For Me.