Friday, April 30, 2010

TWIN BING CANDY BAR

I love Twin Bing Candy Bars! Iguess I don't know if I love the taste of them, as much as I love the memory from where it came.

When I was younger, much younger, my dad and I were going somewhere in the car together. Just that memory alone, is a big one. I never, ever remember me and my dad being alone together in the car, or anywhere for that matter. There may have been many reasons for that, the major one I am sure of, is the fact that we had 7 children in my family. But on this day, for what ever reason, we were in the car, me and my dad.

My dad passed away when I was ten years old, so I don't have many memories of him. Some of the memories I do have are of his physical features. I think he stood a little over 6' tall, broad shoulders, and dark hair. I always thought his hair looked like Elvis Presley's hair! ha I thought my dad looked handsome and smelled good. I can still smell the Cornhusker lotion that he put on his big, manly hands. He was always clean shaven and dressed nice. I remember the tatoos on his arms. I remember his deep dark eyes.

The thing I don't remember about my dad is him spending much "one on one" time with me. But then again, remember, we had 7 kids, and that is why this memory of us in the car is so dear to me. I even remember what kind of car we were driving...a blue car with 4 doors...and I believe it was a Pontiac!

Anyways, we were driving somewhere and pulled into a gas station to get gas. When he came back out, from paying for the gas, he had a candy bar in his hand!! Now this was a big deal!! Not that we were health consious and didn't eat candy, but because we were dirt poor and we did not buy candy, pop,or anything extra. These were considered "frivolous" and we knew not to even ask for them. So when I saw my dad bring out that candy bar my mind went through a million different thoughts......

first We are going to be in so much trouble if mom finds out.
second Does this mean we are rich now??
third Did he steal that candy bar??
fourth I hope he got me one too!

I looked at him and he looked at me. I remember distinctly smiling at each other. I was a little nervous, because this was unfamiliar to me. I didn't say anything...he didn't say anything. He just opened up the Twin Bing candy bar and broke it in half. He got one half and I got the other! I felt kind of quilty, but not to much, becasue I ate the whole thing before we got home!!

I have told Rod this story many times.....and many times he has stopped at a gas station and gotten a Twin Bing Candy bar...and we always breaks it in half! I am convinced that a Twin Bing Candy bar tastes better when shared! Try it!

Share a favorite memory of yours with me!

Friday, April 23, 2010

A Funny Grandma Story......

I was going to title this post "home remedies" because me and some friends were talking about that earlier in the week. The more I thought of the home remedies the more I thought about MY GRANDMA! And so I thought I would share a little sneak peek about my Grandma.

Grandma Coot, as she was so affectionately called, was not your typical Grandma. But then again, none of my relatives would be considered "typical." I don't think Grandma coot ever said she loved me or hugged me...or anyone for that matter, but she was always "there." She was definetly one of a kind in many ways.

She did have her home remedies, which she swore by. One example that she believed in was to carry a potato in her right pocket to help with her arthritis. I can't say as it ever helped because she was always hobbling along and grunted and groaned everytime she would have to stand up from a sitting position, but then who knows, maybe it would of been a lot worse had she NOT had the potato in her pocket. The other remedy, that I cringe to tell you, was for small children that had an ear ache. Now remember, this was her remedy, NOT mine. When the child would say they had an earache she would set them on her lap and blow smoke from her cigarette into their ear!! I know.....I know.....but see?? these are my ROOTS as to which I grew up in.

Grandma Coot was always cooking....always. She was also always smoking....always! So the two of those things always went together....always! She even worked in a restaurant and cooked with a cigarette in her mouth!! It didn't seem wierd back 40 years ago! Grandma use to make the BEST GRAVY! Everybody loved Grandma's gravy. One day I happened to be sitting in the kitchen while she was cooking gravy....and smoking...at the same time. Her sweet chubby arms were whisking the gravy just as fast as she could to get the lumps out. She never made lumpy gravy! I noticed that the ashes on her cigarette, that was hanging from her mouth, was gettting longer and longer. I kept watching....she kept whisking....and smoking....I watched....she whisked...she smoked....ashes grew....then PLOP! The ashes fell right into the gravy and I am here today to tell you that Grandma never missed a beat....she just whisked those ashes right into the gravy!! I said "GRANDMA THAT IS GROSSE". To that she just looked at me like "what??, nothing happened"? I don't remember much after that, but I am sure we all sat down and ate a good portion of mashed potatoes and gravy for supper that night!

I think I need therapy......

Please make me feel better by sharing a funny Grandma story......

Thursday, April 22, 2010

I Don't Have Time For This.....

Have you ever heard yourself saying "I don't have time for this?" I think most people are busy with life in general, families, work and extra curricular activities. Oh sure there are the few that lead a non-chalant life and have an abundance of extra time on their hands but not to many that I know.

The other day I thought "I am to busy to write a blog", but then I found myself on face book, stalking other people....just to see what they were doing! I found myself looking at pictures of people I didn't even know, and reading peoples status's that I didn't even know!! haha And that started me thinking of all the things I didn't have time for....and for all the things I did have time for!

I didn't have time to go for a walk....
I did have time to go to ZEST'O for ice cream!

I didn't have time to make supper at home....
I did have time to drive to Arby's, order supper and eat it there!

I didn't have time to clean my bathrooms....
I did have time to make dirt, rock soup outside with Haylee!

I didn't have time to vacuum out the car....
I did have time to watch the first 20 minutes of "The View"! (love the hot topics!)

I didn't have time to iron my clothes....
I did have time to throw them in the dryer for a while while I checked my e-mail!

Oh and the list goes on! The way I see it, there may have been a lot of things that I didn't have time to do, but when I look back over the week, there was a lot of important things I did do....like making dirt, rock soup!

So, tell me....what is it that you don't have time for, and what do you have time for?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Never underestimate the power of.....

Never underestimate the power of a BLOG!! That is what my friend Becky said to me, a few weeks ago and I can't get it out of my head! By the way, if I knew how to "link" people to a blog, I would "link" you to hers, but I don't, but try this and I think you will get to her blog. http://www.beckynovacekphotography.com/ She is a wonderful photographer!

Back on to the power of a blog! I am going to see if what she says is true. Now I understand I have only been doing this blog for a few weeks, so I won't expect a miracle, but then again maybe........

Last summer, a friend, Mary Goodwin, and I went to training to start a ROYAL FAMILY KIDS CAMP. It is a camp for abused, neglected and abanded children. At the beginning of the week, we thought there was no way we would be able to do this camp, once we looked at the financial cost of the camp, the time involved and all the volunteers it would take. But by the end of the week, after being with the kids, we thought "there is no way we can not do this camp."

Throughout the summer months, I will be giving updates on this blog about Royal Family Kids Camp. It takes a lot to start a camp....let me stress a LOT! Lots of prayer, lots of money and lots of people!! Today, I will simply let you know what we are in need of and if you would like to help in anyway, please let us know. You can comment here or e-mail me at khowerton@neb.rr.com

Kathy's Royal Family Kids Camp Wish List!
Prayers
Financial Support
Dress up clothes ...looking for old suites and prom dresses
4 plastic dolls...preferable the ones with no hair : )
Easels to paint on (maybe 2) 1" -2" brushes
Colors, Markers, Sidewalk chalk
Stickers and scrapbook supplies
Beads
Hoola Hoops
Jump Ropes
Basketballs
Beachballs
Footballs
Old bikes that kids can take apart

If you, your family, church or organization would like to become involved I would love to hear from you. We have lots of opportunities available and you would'nt have to be at the camp all week. There are some activities that you could come out for just a night and participate in.

If you would like to volunteer each applicant must be at least 19 years old, complete an interview process, background screening and twelve hours of training provided by professionals in the field of Social Work.

Thanks for reading my wish list, I will keep you posted through the months ahead!
kathy

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Do you blame me??

Dear family and friends,
It seems like I will be with you all for awhile still. After my scary, over dramatized, dizziness on Saturday, I think I am going to LIVE!! I am feeling so much better and so I decided against the brain scan....but I think you would have decided against it too...let me explain.

I was suppose to get the brain scan done Monday. The Dr. office was to call on Monday and schedule the procedure. They never called me, so I finally called them at 12:30. I told them I was feeling much better and was wondering if the test was necessary, and (the real reason I called) could I PLEASE EAT SOMETHING? The said they would call me back.....they lied....they didn't! I went ahead and ATE...lots!

Next day I called them about 9:30 am. Explained again that I was waiting to hear about the test.....again they said they would call back...i think I see a pattern happening here. I waited, again without eating. Just an FYI...I have been known to get grumpy when I don't get to eat at regular intervals! Around 11:30 my phone rings and the person on the other end, says "Hi Hope, this is doctor _________! (Rem. names have been changed to protect the innocent) I said huh? I am not Hope...this is Kathy.
L-O-N-G P-A-U-S-E and lots of sounds of shuffling papers. "Uh ummm ok.. who is this again?" "Kathy Howerton" I reply. More...uhhh's and uummmm"s. Then she asked "could you just fill me in, as to the reason I am calling you"??

Oh dear.....

So do you blame me for not wanting to get a brain scan that particular day???
Things could of went terribly wrong!

Here is to the medical profession and getting to eat at regular intervals!!
Kathy

Saturday, April 10, 2010

I'm so DIZZY........my head is spinning.

Remember that song?

I woke up dizzy this morning.
I am prone to nauseousness.
This was different.

Thought maybe it was my diabetes.
Then I thought maybe a stroke.
Then I thought maybe a heart attack.
Then I thought I am over-reacting!

Thought maybe it was inner ear infection.
Then I thought maybe sinus drainage.
Then I thought maybe I slept wrong.
Then I thought I am not a doctor!

Went to the doctor.
They took blood tests and done an EKG.
Then I really thought I was having a heart attack!!
But I wasn't...and that made me happy!

More tests are to be done Monday....
on my brain!!!!??? Seriously??
Now I think THEY are over-re-acting!
I am better now, just a throbbing headache.

I have had that song going through my head all day...
I'm so dizzy / Like a whirlpool it never ends
I sang it to Rod in the car.
It made us laugh.

Here is to singing and laughing...but NOT to being dizzy!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

What is yours??

This post was inspired by my friend's daughter, Nikki. Nikki is so sweet and I think the world of her, but she did something yesterday that wasn't common for her. She sent me an e-mail! I love her...but she never sends me an e-mail! I was so excited to read it!

I opened the e-mail only to find that it was one of those silly forwards that asks you questions about yourself...you know the ones that you neve reply to and then you hit the delete button?? Well, that is exactly what I thought I was going to do, but then as I scrolled down the e-mail, there was a part that said "who is the person most likely to send this back?" Aaaaghhhh to my great horror she had put my name there! I couldn't disapoint her....I adore her! ( I now realize it probably was some other Kathy she was talking about.) Now I felt compelled to fill the little survey out and send it to her.

The very first question was what got my attention. The question was what five names are you known by? So I started to fill them in.......
1) Kathy (of course)
2) Kathy Sue (family and childhood friends)
3) Ms. Kathy (by children in the church)
4) Fat Kat the Sewer Rat (by my mean brothers)
5) Kathy Suuuueeeeeeeee (like your calling for pigs....again by my mean bothers)

So I finished the e-mail and sent it on it's way. Then last night as I was laying in bed, I thought "how could I have forgotten the one name that my mom called me until the day she died"? This nickname was a name that I felt loved when she called me it. I felt the warmth and nurturing in her voice, when she called me it. Do you want to know what it was? Do you promise to tell me your nickname?? Promise? Pinky swear?? Please leave a comment and tell me your nickname! Mine was "little turd"!!

And people wonder why I am the way I am............

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

I knew I was in trouble..........

Yes, I knew I was in trouble when most of my comments,for the PB&J post, started out with...Sorry Kathy.... NO YOU ARE NOT!! You do not know what you have done to our marriage! And then good ole 'Howie" himself has to comment! Oh great....somehow this blog is not working out how I had planned....

Well, without further ado....drumroll please.....dadddadaddadadddddddd (how do you like the sound of that drumroll) I guess the majority of the world (all 7 that voted anyways) thinks Rod's way of making a PB&J is the rightway! I only have one thing to say about that....you are WRONG!

I am not a sore loser.....I just know when I am right...it doesn't happen often, but this time I AM!
darn it!

Thanks to all of you who voted!
kathy

Monday, April 5, 2010

Waiting with baited breath.....

Waiting with baited breath? What exactly does that mean anyways? I don't know, but it makes a great title! I know that you are all waiting on the edge of your seats to find out the winner of the famous PB&J dilemma, but sorry, I just can't give the tally just yet.



Yesterday was Easter, and so I thought instead of mentioning that silly little vote, I would give you some insights to my spiritual side. As some of you may know, I have been in children's ministry for about 25 years, doing everything from nursery to Sunday School, to Children's Church, and I absolutely love it. Over the years, I have heard some of the funniest stories and I thought you may enjoy hearing them also. Remember...the names have been changed to protect the innocent...



One morning I was teaching Sunday School and a little girl with pig tails came in with a rather hurried looking mother. The mother quickly apologized for being late and turned around to go out the door. The cute little girl proceeded to tell me and the whole class why they were late. "We are late because mommy and daddy had to take a shower together to save water"!!! The mom just kept walking out the door.........



During children's church we were learning about how Jesus was our friend. We sang songs about Jesus being our friend, we played games about Jesus being our friend, we had a puppet skit about how Jesus would be our friend all the time, no matter what we did or what we looked like,

we had a bible verse about Jesus caring for the children. It was toward the end of class and I reminded the children, that no matter what, Jesus loved them and wanted to be their friend. Just about that time, the parents came to pick up their children. I was telling one parent what their child had learned that day, so the parent starting quizzing the child, asking him "who is your friend"?? After the child named off several school age children, I thought I would prompt him, so I said "remember Jesus is your friend?" And to that, the child answered "who is Jesus??" Oh all that preparation........................



Now I honestly don't know if I should post this next part, I worry I may lose all 3 readers! I guess I will live on the edge and see what happens!



Once again it was toward the end of service and I was asking if the children had anything that they would like to pray about. We had the usual, grandma's sick, I want a puppy and I want to get an A in school. Then a small hand came up in the back from a rather shy child that didn't often participate in the prayer requests. I called him by name and asked him what he would like us to pray for....he very loudly said "I eat my boogers!"



So I will leave you with that thought today! Oh and that silly little voting thing....I will post the results.....as soon.....as I am.... winning!!!

Friday, April 2, 2010

Call all your family and friends......

Get ready blog world! Today's post, unlike the last post, will be life changing, thought provoking, deep....REAL DEEP! That's just the way I am.

I need to take you back a few years, well more like about 26 years....Grab a cup of coffee, tea or a Diet Pepsi and let's chat shall we? My eggs are on the stove boiling to dye later, so let's get right to the intellectual conversation.

Me and my hubby had been married only a short while, when one day we decided to have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. I jumped up and said "I will make them for us honey" (I don't cook much or very well, but PB&J is one of my specialties). As I was beginning to make them, my sweet little husband came in and proceeded to ask me what I was doing?

"What am I doing? What am I doing? Making you a lovely PB&J sandwich darling!" And that is when things got ugly! And I do mean ugly! In all the sweetness that man has in his heart, he told me that I was making it wrong! HUH?? Making a PB&J wrong...WRONG?? He began to show me the "correct" way to make a sandwich. Now dear people, we have been married for 27 years, and have had our share of arguments, 98% of them we do not even remember what they were about and we are usually quick to forgive and/or apologize, but not this one...NOT THIS ONE! I think I am right and he thinks he is right! We need closure, we need help we need to know who is right!

This is how you can help. Below I will tell you how Rod made his PB&J and then I will tell you the correct way....I mean my way, then I need you to comment on who is right.
Please call your family, friends and distant relatives to get their input, we need to have this settled. I will give you all weekend to vote and let you all know the results next Monday.


ROD'S PB&J
Take one slice of bread and carefully, or so carefully and smoothly put on the peanut butter. Careful to get to the edges and spread evenly. Then you go and take a different slice of bread (see this is where it gets weird) and then you put the jelly on that piece of bread...carefully, smoothly....evenly....yadda yadda yadda. THEN carefully put the 2 pieces together. Weird...right??
KATHY'S PB&J
Take one slice of bread and blop the peanut butter on, then take the SAME piece of bread and smear the jelly ON TOP of the peanut butter and mix it together! (mmmm makes me hungry thinking about it!) Then you go and get another piece of bread and mush 'em together!

So there ya have it folks! Start voting!! This will settle the age old argument of "who makes PB&J the right way"! I warned you this post was going to be thought-provoking! Hit the comment button and vote now!

Oh jeepers I forgot about my eggs...........