Happy Birthday to my amazing mom, Barbara.
We love you so very much,
have a fantastic birthday!
Category Archives: Nico
Pray For Joplin
My heart aches for my hometown… As you know Joplin MO was hit with a terrible tornado on Sunday evening, and the entire town was almost completely torn apart. I haven’t been able to go yet, but my mom is there, and thankfully she is safe.
I know you’ve seen the terrible images, and possibly watched the stomach turning videos in you tube, it is just unbelievable. Joplin was an amazing place, let me share with you a few of my Joplin memories…
When I was just 14 we moved to a neighboring community, but Joplin was always the place to be. It had it all, a booming community filled with activities, shops, things to do, beautiful parks, just everything.I begged my Mom to take my brother and I there whenever she could. When I could finally drive I spent most of my weekends there, and even a little road trip up and back on school days. My brother and I would be up there late nights just hanging out, it was such an amazing place. When I was 19 I landed a good job in Joplin, and even bought a house there. I was really happy, living on my own, and finally in Joplin.
Joplin is where James and I got engaged, Joplin is also where we were married. I was really sad when we were transferred out of Joplin, and I hoped and prayed that maybe one day, we could move back home…
Joplin has always been home to me. I go the same route every time I visit there, so I can see one of my favorite sites. I travel south, and make sure to pass Landreth park, go up Dover Hill, and just inside the city limit sign you see the beautiful downtown skyscrapers on Main Street. That is home, and I know I am home as soon as I see that skyline.
We were there just a month ago. James and I had a night away, and we visited Joplin. Everywhere we went I couldn’t help but smile, I was home, and for a brief time, I was happy. Again, I told him this was where I wanted to be, and I pray that one day I could be home again, to stay.
The kids and I were going to go on Sunday, I wanted to visit my mom, and I wanted a day out of the Fort. James said he didn’t want me to go, the weather was supposed to be bad. I’m glad I listened to him, many of the places that we would have visited exist no more.
I was on the phone with my mom as the tornado hit… She said the sky was pitch black, and there was a bad hail storm. She asked me if it was going to get bad, I told her I though it was, she said she was going to take cover, and I told her that I loved her, and I would call her back in fifteen minutes. We said good-bye, and I prayed for her safety…
The minutes that ticked by seemed like an eternity, and I was truly scared for her. We are only an hour away, but watching the local news and hearing of the early destruction in Joplin, I have never felt so far from her.
When we finally got through to her, she said that it looked like a war zone. There were downed trees everywhere, and she just didn’t know exactly how bad the damage was. She was safe, and I was grateful.
We stayed up most of the night constantly calling her with reports. The images were unreal. I was on the phone with my brother too relaying information back and forth. We were trying to contact friends, and keep in touch with mom. Seeing the sites and destruction was just overwhelming. I wanted to go so badly and get her out of there, but we were told to stay…
I am so grateful for all of those brave first-responders, Physicians, Nurses, and volunteers who bravely tore through the storms to help Joplin. Please pray for my beloved hometown. Pray for those who have lost loved ones, pray for the survivors who will rebuild their lives, pray for all of the volunteers still working to find survivors, and pray for survivors to be found. Pray for families to be reunited, pray that Joplin can find peace and hope that tomorrow will be better. Joplin really needs all the help it can get right now, if you can donate, but please keep praying.
April’s Tasty Treats
I tried a few new recipes, and brought back a few old favorites. There were a lot of tasty treats going on in the kitchen during the month of April. Here are some of our faves.
I made a Peach Crescent Roll bake, and served it for breakfast for dinner night. I made the peach filling from scratch, and it was sweet and tasty.
I love to bake biscuits, and luckily the family likes them too. I served these alongside fried chicken.
We had just a few strawberries in our garden. Then some squirrels hopped the fence, and ate them all up.
I tried out a recipe for Cream Cheese Sweet Rolls, and I really liked them. The family didn’t care for them too much. When will they learn that cream cheese is awesome…
Super sweet Corn Bread Muffins. Agnes loves these. She loves baked goods, just like her momma.
Cookies, cookies, cookies! I made some treats for a buddy of ours, and some went to my hubby’s workplace, and a few stayed home for the kiddos.
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla Glaze. I love to make cinnamon rolls, but it takes all day. It is worth it though, the homemade rolls are delicious.
When it was time for Easter, I wanted to make a pie, but I wanted to make something different. I decided to bake a Cherry flower topped rectangular shaped pie. It turned out great, and it made James fall in love with Cherry pie. Now to win over the kiddos.
Lastly Homemade Bread. From scratch, and kneaded by hand. I think this was the first time that I made homemade bread (without the breadmaker) since I had Agnes. It was good to get back to it, and the bread made a delicious side to Easter dinner.
It’s May already, and I’m ready to get started on some more tasty treats. Today we are headed to the store, I’ve got to make birthday cupcakes for one of my hubby’s co-worker’s. This month I hope to make some handmade candies, and bake lots of cakes too. Stay tuned for the May sweets pictures.
Writer’s Block
Maybe it’s due to lack of sleep, or possibly no free time, but I’ve been in a bit of a writing slump lately. So I’m turning to you NicoStuff readers for inspiration. What do you like to read, what haven’t you liked so much, and what would you like to see more of on NicoStuff? Thanks in advance for your helpful comments, and for reading along all these years too.
May’s Monthly Dinner Menu
It’s that time again, time for another monthly menu. I have to start off by saying that I am so happy that it is finally May! The kids only have 4 weeks left of school, and the garden is almost finished. Time to make some fun dinners to celebrate the Springtime. Happy May, and here is my monthly dinner menu.
- 5/1/2011: Panko Chicken, Home Fries, and Apple Slices
- 5/2/2011: Chili and Saltines
- 5/3/2011: Grilled Hot Dogs and Kettle Chips
- 5/4/2011: Salmon Cakes, Corn, and Rice
- 5/5/2011: Hamburgers and Kettle Chips
- 5/6/2011: Breakfast Ham, Pancakes, Juice, and Coffee
- 5/7/2011: Beef Stew, Homemade Bread, and Chocolate Bundt Cake
- 5/8/2011: Homemade Pizza
- 5/9/2011: Chicken Chow Mien, Rice, Chow Mien Noodles, and Sugar Dumplings
- 5/10/2011: Beef Stew and Homemade Bread
- 5/11/2011: Hamburger and Kettle Chips
- 5/12/2011: Chicken & Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, and Homemade Bread
- 5/13/2011: Breakfast Sandwiches, Breakfast Potatoes, Juice and Coffee
- 5/14/2011: Ham & Beans, Cornbread, and Macaroni & Cheese
- 5/15/2011: Panko Chicken and Home Fries
- 5/16/2011: Bean & Cheese Quesadillas, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, and Cheese Dip
- 5/17/2011: Hamburgers and Kettle Chips
- 5/18/2011: Salmon Cakes, Corn, and Macaroni & Cheese
- 5/19/2011: Chicken Fajitas, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, Re-fried Beans, and Cheese Dip
- 5/20/2011: Bacon, Pancakes, Juice and Coffee
- 5/21/2011: Chili, Saltines, and Brownies
- 5/22/2011: Homemade Pizzas
- 5/23/2011: Pulled Pork Tacos, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, Re-fried Beans, and Cheese Dip
- 5/24/2011: Chili, Saltines, and Brownies
- 5/25/2011: Beef Stew and Homemade Bread
- 5/26/2011: Nacho Bar
- 5/27/2011: Biscuits & Gravy, Sausage, Cinnamon Rolls, Juice & Coffee
- 5/28/2011: Ham & Beans, Cornbread, and Macaroni & Cheese
- 5/29/2011: Panko Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and Green Bean Casserole
- 5/30/2011: Grilled Hot Dogs, Kettle Chips, and Cherry Jell-O Cake
- 5/31/2011: Tacos, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, and Cheese Dip
Time to make some shopping lists, clip some coupons, and get to the store.