Before my surgery, I never realized how much it meant to have a meal brought in. After my surgery, I had no energy to prepare a meal. Most leftovers were eaten cold because I just didn't have the energy or desire to heat them up. I am so grateful for all my friends and family that brought me food over the first three weeks. It really meant a lot to me and it also cheered me up to see each one of you.
In the beginning, I wasn't taking pictures of anything. After Ashley came, I did take pictures of Paisley but that was all. By the time Jenna came I was feeling better and took pictures of Weston and some of the delicious meals that we had. By the time Charity came, I was overdoing it and didn't feel well again - as a result, there are no pictures of Charity's cooking.
I'm sorry that I don't have an assortment of pictures from all the yummy meals that I had. Misty made me a week's worth of meals that she put in my freezer. Those were great and I especially enjoyed my favorite Japanese pancakes. Misty knows what I like!
Unbeknown to me, Ashley wasn't feeling well when she came because she was in the early months of her pregnancy. I was so impressed that she managed to make delicious meals anyhow. She took really good care of me. My favorites from her menu were the chicken
enchiladas, the pizza, and the
talapia. I wish I had pictures to show you. Your mouth would water if you could see them.
Even Charity made a delicious mother's day meal of lasagna, garlic bread, salad, and dessert. It was wonderful and we all enjoyed it very much. She was so thoughtful to be prepared so we didn't have peanut butter sandwich instead.
Well, Jenna is a great cook also so I greatly enjoyed her meals and captured a few pictures to give you an idea of how blessed I was during those 3 weeks.
This picture below is a breakfast dish - it was
scrumptious!!! Fantastic presentation too!
Jenna and I both like to celebrate the holidays. Ashley and I went to Who Song & Larry's when she was here but I had to go again with Jenna for
Cinco de Mayo! We really enjoyed our celebration meal very much. It is also Casey's favorite restaurant in Vancouver so we were especially wishing that he was with us. Those corn cakes are my very favorite. One of these days I'm going to find the recipe and make some myself.
This pasta was just heavenly (see below). We'd have to ask Jenna what it was called as my memory is failing me at the moment. I loved it when she fixed it and I enjoyed the leftovers just the same.
I never thought I really liked pork chops until I ate this one below. Jenna has a great recipe and now I know I love pork chops. It was fantastic.
And then, last of all, I have a picture of my waffle - coconut waffles - they were heavenly! Oh, my belly wasn't big enough to hold all I wanted to eat. It was like having dessert for breakfast. Coconut waffles with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Jenna knows how much I love coconut so she made this special recipe for me. I have the recipe if anyone is interested. Charity was really lucky to get a bit of leftovers from this one.
So, bottom line, through the recovery period after my surgery, I learned how much it helps a sick person to receive meals while they are
recovering. I need to do a lot of paying it forward because so many friends and family were so good to me. I am so grateful! Thanks everyone!
All the gifts.................
The awesome birthday cake! Impressive and delicious!
Jenna sure knew what would make Casey happy for his birthday! He was very pleased! He always loves tools also. Jenna prepared an awesome dinner for him too - all his favorites! The rest of us were so glad to be there and enjoy the celebration!
I was so excited to look at my family reunion pictures and find so many of them with Charity smiling! It can be difficult to get a picture of her! Doesn't she look great? I am so grateful that I have her for my daughter!
Charity just loves to spend time with Paisley and Weston! She is the best aunt. I think she makes sure she sees them every week. They all look so happy together. I think I got Weston these cute pajamas for his first birthday.
Charity was a big help in the kitchen. Since I was still recovering from my surgery, I wasn't up to a lot of work yet. This is an amazing kitchen with a flat screen TV on the wall.
Charity spent a lot of time in this bunk bed - reading and resting!
This is Charity in her car - she shares it with her brothers. She's a great sister too.
Walking on the beach!
I even look pretty good in this picture above! Me and my darling daughter! I am so happy!
Charity in the lead - coming back from a little hike to the ocean! Actually Casey, Jenna & Weston had already made it to the car and, just like the pioneers, Casey went back to help those that were following!
She wrote "Gone with the Wind" while she lived in the house below which is in Atlanta on Peach Street. She was born November 8, 1900. The house is now a museum open for tours. She died at the age of 49 after being hit by a speeding drunk driver while crossing Peach Street at 13th Street.
Don't my teeth look great? Perfect smile? Adalei accidentally took this picture of me and as I was going to delete it, I realized that it shows my teeth. For those of you that don't know, I've had braces on my teeth for the last 30 weeks. I wasn't sure whether I should get the braces on or not. Now that I'm finishing treatment, I am so glad that I did it. It was worth every cent it cost. And the time went really fast. First of all, I want to thank my excellent dentist, Dr. Tanner that suggested I get braces before a mouth guard (for grinding my teeth). And secondly for referring me to an orthodontist that gave me a very nice discount.
I was so excited to have Charity come for the weekend. We had a great time together. Before she left, she cleaned my house. That was so wonderful to have it all clean. Charity - you did super! I managed to get a couple of pictures. As you can tell for sure in the last picture, Charity really didn't want me taking pictures. 
I am so blessed to have a wonderful daughter that loves me and cares about me so much. She even took two days off work to come help me. It was the best mother's day weekend to have her and Nate & family here.
I wasn't able to get Nate in the picture below but you can see Misty is expecting #3. The baby is a boy! We are so excited and just heard that weekend. He will be born near the beginning of October! I am so happy to have another grandson on the way. Adalei was the one that made the announcement! She seems to be very happy also.
This is my favorite picture of Brielle. She is quite the climber. We were having angel food cake, fresh strawberries, ice cream, and whipped cream. It was delicious and you can see that Brielle was enjoying it very much. (see below) Nate got her right away so I had to hurry and get this picture of the moment!
Misty and Adalei.............. I was so blessed to have everyone sit on the floor in the family room while I rested on the couch. There is nothing that makes me more happy than to have my family around me.
Jenna and Weston overlapped with Nate and Misty for a couple of days so they were able to see each other. Weston had a great time playing with Nate. The two girls and Weston were running around and laughing while Nate was playing with them. Weston loved to have his uncle Nate chase him. (The picture below shows a little bit..............)
Adalei is the reader and she was so good to let me read to her. She was really still so she didn't hurt my healing tummy. Misty did a great job of taking this picture below.
This picture of Brielle below is just so cute. Don't you just want to pick her up and hug her? That's what I want to do. I love her hugs. She is getting cuter all the time.
Another picture to show this little climber...... I just hope she won't decide to be a rock climber when she grows up! What a cutie!!!
I really enjoyed Nate's family visit and it was sad to have them leave again after just being home a couple of days. I sure missed them while they were gone.
Jenna and I both like to celebrate the holidays. Ashley and I went to Who Song & Larry's when she was here but I had to go again with Jenna for Cinco de Mayo! We really enjoyed our celebration meal very much. It is also Casey's favorite restaurant in Vancouver so we were especially wishing that he was with us. Those corn cakes are my very favorite. One of these days I'm going to find the recipe and make some myself.
This pasta was just heavenly (see below). We'd have to ask Jenna what it was called as my memory is failing me at the moment. I loved it when she fixed it and I enjoyed the leftovers just the same.
I never thought I really liked pork chops until I ate this one below. Jenna has a great recipe and now I know I love pork chops. It was fantastic.
And then, last of all, I have a picture of my waffle - coconut waffles - they were heavenly! Oh, my belly wasn't big enough to hold all I wanted to eat. It was like having dessert for breakfast. Coconut waffles with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Jenna knows how much I love coconut so she made this special recipe for me. I have the recipe if anyone is interested. Charity was really lucky to get a bit of leftovers from this one.
So, bottom line, through the recovery period after my surgery, I learned how much it helps a sick person to receive meals while they are recovering. I need to do a lot of paying it forward because so many friends and family were so good to me. I am so grateful! Thanks everyone!
