Our Featured Mom for the month of September is Jennifer Boutte
What an honor and a total surprise to be asked to be “Angel Mom of the month….”and in the month of October…my birthday month, thank you for this birthday gift! It is truly a very special gift.I really have no idea where to start so here goes! My name is Jennifer Boutte, I am officially entering my 30’s, as I will be 31 on October 25th! I live in Dallas, Texas but grew up in a small, rural town in the middle of Kansas. I am the wife to Keith, and the mother to an Angel, Kiah Grace and an “M&M” on the way.
What do I tell you wonderful moms about myself…I am still trying to figure out who I am, I thought I had a pretty good handle on it before Kiah passed away, but now, humm..not so sure! I know some of you are saying, it will come again, the knowing of ones self…the skin we were in before our angels left us, it will grow back, but it will always be different. Thicker in parts, thinner in others. I look the same on the outside, but it is the inside that is forever changed. My heart, my soul, my being. So this is what I will tell you about..the change in me, how it happened, and the angel that made it so!
Kiah Grace will forever be my first child; she is the oldest of the cousins by birthdates but not age. How strange is that? She was born March 11th 2002, weighing almost 9 lbs! She was a big girl! Kiah was diagnosed inutero with a Congenital heart Defect, hers was Pulmonary Atresia. Her Pulmonary Valve, the valve that carries your oxygenated blood to your body had failed to open. It was serious and once she was born and she would require immediate medical attention and surgery. Several. I had a wonderful pregnancy despite the worries and fears and loved it when I would feel her move and kick me…it was the best experience. Kiah had her 1st surgery at 4 day s old, and we were in the hospital for 3 weeks. It was not what I had imagined giving birth and bringing a baby into the world would be like…my “dream” was taking on a different face.
We had several amazing months at home and then came an unexpected and not planned illness and surgery. Kiah had developed endocarditis, a bacterial infection in her heart and she had emergency open heart surgery to remove the growth. At this time they discovered the growth had caused her shut (1st surgery repair) to close off. She was not getting enough oxygenated blood in her little body. It was a torturous few months of surgery, hospital stays, feeding tubes, wires, and worry. She had her 3rd surgery right before Thanksgiving of 02, she was 9 months old. She did great! I had a “new” baby! One that could breath and felt great! We were discharged from the hospital the day before thanksgiving…..what a great gift!
The following year and half were beyond wonderful, they were, ARE what keeps me going on the days where I see no hope. I search my mind for the wonderful memories that will now have to last me a life time. The wagon rides to the “forest”…the little helper she became in the kitchen….her first birthday party, and her second…her graduation to a “big girl bed”…Easter egg hunts with Aunt Jessi…going to Grandma Bethies in Kansas and picking ALL her flowers!....reading to her at night before bed and she asking for “just one more story mom”…and I would always give in!... her barney panties, she was so proud!….sitting in the princess tent, playing tea party! ( I was way too big for the tent, but crawled in anyway..) These are what keep me going.
Kiah Grace underwent her 4th heart surgery September 7th 04, the doctors had discovered that her Pulmonary Veins had begun to narrow and that restricted the amount of oxygen that was carried to her lungs. The months of September and November were filled with worry, frustration, doctors visits and hope…We were hospitalized November 8th 04. For three long weeks we did tests and tests and tests. Finally on November the 29th via catherazation her doctors determined that her veins (the ones they repaired in September) had again begun to narrow and the left ones were closed all together. My baby, my daughter, my first child would need a heart transplant and al lung transplant. But Kiah Grace had other ideas….. She earned her Angel wings in the wee hours of morning on November 30th 2004.
The day I became a mother to Kiah I changed. The day Kiah passed away I changed again. It is a change that only an Angel mom knows. Others may not see it, or they may choose not to see it. But it is there, hanging on for the ride. Walking with you down the path of grief, lulling you to sleep on the nights where you just know sleep will never come visit you. Picturing Kiah Grace, seeing her in my mind, my heart and soul, living the memories I was given, that keeps my heart beating. I will forever be a better person for having been HER mother. Knowing that I will forever be changed because of Kiah Grace, that makes me smile. She is amazing and I will honor her by living, I will live for her.
So, you see, I am still trying to figure out who I am! As I know some of you are too…Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this extraordinary group of women where the price is high and who are treaded together by a bond that unless you have lost a child you don’t know about. What an honor and a privilege to know you all…to be among friends.
HUGS! Jen
Mom to Kiah Grace~heart angel
Kiah's Page
Each day each night
I cry for you
Inside my heart
I died with you
Each day each night
I long for you
I'm told just wait
you will pull through
Each day each night
I talk to you
I ask for you
to send a clue
Each day each night
I wish for you
I wonder why
Why is this true?
Each day each night
I dream of you
I wake..
another day to do
In loving memory of Joey
Lyndie Sorenson
copyright September 2005
I have been a fan of John Edward since before my son passed away and he was scheduled to be in Denver May, 2001. Several of us from work were going to get tickets to see him..... then the unimaginable happened... Scott died. My only son, my baby, my big old bear of a son and my whole world changed. Last thing on my mind was John Edwards visit to Denver until a week after Scott's celebration of life service, by then it was too late to get tickets. I continued to watch John Edward on tv and even recorded almost all of his shows. It seemed like every time I was struggling with a part of Scott being gone, low and behold there would be a reading that day that 'answered' my own question.
There was one day that I was concerned about whether Scott was okay with where we spread his ashes and on the show that day there was a lady who asked the same question of John. His answer was what I needed and I'm sure that Scott knew it too. John asked the lady where her first car was ... she looked bewildered at him, he asked again and she looked annoyed then said 'I don't know, that was a long time ago and I don't care'. John smiled and said that is exactly how they feel about their bodies they left here.... he said that the rituals are for us and they are glad they help us but that they have no concern for their bodies anymore. I cried and laughed and thanked Scott, then I told my son 'but that was the body I loved to hug' then laughed some more knowing he was hugging me still.
There were so many times that I struggled with things (as we all have) things that would seem silly to someone who has not lost a child.... The first winter I wondered if he was warm, did he need a coat? Everytime I was really stuck on one of these thoughts a show would come on where John would answer almost the exact same thing I was wondering. I started to know that Scott was using Johns shows to help me on my journey through this painful loss.
Time has passed, I talk to my son everyday... think of him most of the day but as everything comes full circle the day came that I saw John Edward was coming back to Denver. I was able to get tickets!! then I had to wait, wait for June. On June 12 I was priveledged to not only be at the show but my son & father came through....and with some amazing messages. The messages were short but so very very sweet, he brought through the 3 boys for a mom who was going with us, something I had asked for him to please do... guess what moms, our kids do listen to us from heaven :oD. And then he surprised us by bringing through Kristas little Zachary who had a wonderful gift of a blue rose for his mom, a sign that means so much more to her than I could have even imagined at the moment.
Then John Edward looked overwhelmed and said there was a whole bunch of kids there... like a parade! What a wonderful, wonderful way for our kids to be, all together and having a fun parade, can you think of a better image of heaven! The experience was amazing and electrifying, I had no doubt before going that my son is alive and well on the other side ... he has given us some great signs and this was just one more terrific way of him showing that! I pray that this gives you more peace about your child and how great Heaven is... Thank you John Edward for sharing your gift with us and thank you my sweet son Scott for still loving me so much!
Martha Whitmore Hickman wrote:
"It is rough going - this passage through grief. It is a time of soul-searching. We are driven to examine ourselves, to look at what we have lost. What from the loved one stays with us? What do we hope to make of the rest of our lives?
So it is also a time of growth in understanding - of our selves and of others. It is hard work, and it is done in sadness because we are sad.
But when the dust has settled, when the sharpest edges of the pain have eased, we will be wiser and more compassionate. We will be more self-assured because we have been through hard times and have prevailed. A security we hadn't known before may mark our life. We have looked death in the face and know that it is not all terror and confusion. As we learn to relinquish our loved one into the loving care of a Creator, we will feel a peace coming into our lives, a trust in the order of things, and a willingness to cherish one day at a time.
Through this experience I will find in myself new strength and wisdom - perhaps, even, new joy."
I truly believe this statement was sent to me by a very special Angel above, because I am at this place that she mentions in my grief now and it is time for a new change for myself.
Josh died in 1996. I am approaching my 9th year of his loss. My surviving children were 6 (Brittany) & 8 (Jake). Jake is now 17, going on 18 and is a Senior, the most awesome year for him. I never made it this far with Josh in life, so I am experiencing things that I am enjoying as much as he is. Brittany will be 16 in November. Ready to drive and date. More things I didn't get to experience with Josh. So, as my time of grieving has gotten to a different stage in my life, changes have to be made once again. Changes.....something we all have had to deal with in different areas of our life since Day 1 of our grief. Our whole life changed that day our Angel became an Angel. But now for me, my life is in a different stage. I have been in the online Grief Support area now for 8 years almost. I have seen many come and go. I have tried my best to make a difference in someone else's life, so they know they are not alone. Judi asked me years ago to help her when she started Angel Moms. I gladly accepted, I was excited and I am still amazed on how far this group has gone, and the outreach of love and support it has been able to achieve. This group has helped me as much as I hope I have helped it. I have decided to step back for a while, and enjoy my surviving children, my husband and my family and make I hope, some more precious memories with them. I have decided I want to branch out in some different areas for Josh, maybe volunteering. So, I will always be around for anyone that needs to talk in emails, I have a new email address of angeljoshsmom@gmail.com and I want to stay in contact with many of you. For the newer members, my heart goes out to you all dearly, for I so remember the first few days, weeks months and years, but maybe as you read this, you can see that there is hope that one day you will be able to go on, in a different way of course, but live again and enjoy life. I enjoy my life and my kids and I want to enjoy more of them and myself. I want to branch out in different areas to help others and I am now ready....:) Love to you all!
Debbie Mom to Angel Josh ^i^
www.joshginter.com
Thank you all for all the support, love and friendships that many of you have given me over the years.
October.....for me, October used to mean my daughter and step daughter's birthdays and Halloween, the beginning of fall. All of that changed for me in 1997 when Shane was murdered. Now, October also marks another year without Shane. This year will mark the 8th anniversary of Shane's death. It is hard for me to believe he has been gone for eight years, sometimes it still seems like yesterday.
A lot of people who have not lost a child, think I should be over it by now, but I am not and never will be. The first few years, I did not know if I could survive this pain or not or even if I really wanted to. After eight years, I have found joy in life again and know that I do want to live. The road has not been easy and there are still times I hurt as much as I did the day I lost Shane, there are days that I hurt and miss him so bad that all I can do is cry. But I know these times will pass just as I know they will come again because they will always be a part of my life, but I have learned to deal with them and get through them.
As October begins, I look back and see how far I have come and what I have accomplished. I know I have come a long way and still have a long way to go and a lot more things to do.
Some of the things I have found that have helped me get this far are: My family and their support. Being able to share and talk with others who know and share this pain, other moms who have lost children. Writing in a journal, writing letters to Shane and wiring poems. I have taken medicines for depression and anxiety off and on over the years whenever I am my doctor feels I need it. I have made a garden for Shane in my yard and find a lot of comfort working in it.
So I know as I mark another year without Shane, I know someday I will be with him again and each year brings me closer to that time. But until then, I still have a lot here to do and two daughters, two granddaughters, a husband and family who need me. I will continue to share Shane with others and keep his memory alive, I will help others to survive this pain and live life to the fullest and I hope Shane is looking down on me and saying "You're doing good Mom."
October.... this is a hard month for me. It is the beginning of all the holidays coming up over the next three months. It is also the beginning of the long dark winters in Alaska. This is also the first conscious month I remember after Valerie's death.
Halloween has always been a special holiday for me and my kids. Not so much for the holiday it's self, but for the special times working side by side with my children making the best costumes anyone has ever seen. We start the idea's and planing at the beginning of this month and slowly making their visions reality over the weeks.
That first October after Valerie's death, I decided I couldn't do this any more. I had no joy in doing anything that reminded me of Halloween's past. When I told the kids I wouldn't be making their costumes that year, I could see their disappointment, but they understood. It was my husband who said, "You will put these living children before your grief, and do what you have always done, because it is important to them." I knew he was right. I had been pushing my children to the back burner for months. I couldn't take their pictures, I couldn't play with them, I couldn't do all the fun things we used to, because I hurt too much. I made them dinner every night and kept the laundry done, what more did they expect from me? COSTUMES!!
I sucked it up, and faked my way through that 1st Halloween. I was not easy, but looking back it was a turning point in my grief. We did have fun, not the fun we used to have, because We all felt the absence of our little angel, but this was the first time I really enjoyed my living children since Valerie's death.
I used to say, My only reason for getting out of bed, were my surviving children, but I wasn't enjoying them. They were just a reason to keep on living.
Make a conscious effort, beginning this month, to enjoy your living children. See the Holidays threw their eyes. Take lots of pictures, do your past traditions, and make new memories with them. You will never get this time back. They grow so fast. It is not easy, and sometimes you will feel like you are just going threw the motions, but looking back someday, both you and your children will have these special memories to take foward.
Hello dear Angel Mom sisters. I was so honored when Judi and Debbie asked me to join the newsletter staff. For those who don’t know me, my name is Krista Salvati, and my angel is Zackary. Zackary was born on September 21, 2004 at 35 weeks gestation. During my pregnancy we learned that he had a heart defect and could have Down Syndrome, although we opted against testing to confirm it. We learned shortly after his birth that he did have Downs, but that was the least of our worries, as we knew that people with Downs have wonderful lives and do wonderful things, and we loved him without reservation. He lived for three and a half months in the NICU, earning his angel wings on January 7, 2005 due to a staph infection and liver failure. He touched the hearts of all who knew him.
Anyway, enough about me. I had a hard time trying to decide what to write about for my first newsletter entry. Then, as we honored Zackary’s first birthday a few weeks ago, and the first birthday without him, it came to me. Why not talk about all the “firsts” we go through during the year after our child becomes an angel. The first birthdays, the first holidays, the first day going back to work, the first anniversary of our loss. How do we get through them? The answer is different for each of us. Some want to be surrounded by the love and comfort of family and friends, sharing sweet memories. Some want to spend the day alone, letting our love for our angels rise up to heaven in the quiet. There is no right or wrong, and you will know what is best for you. The first day back to work can be one of the most difficult. At least it was for me. We might feel like we are being forced to stop grieving and return to “normal” life, when our life is now anything but normal. I remember feeling like I was leaving Zackary behind, and he would think I was forgetting him, and I cried in the car all the way there. Of course I realize now that we do not leave our angels behind at all, and that they are with us in all we do. Co-workers may not know what to say, or may avoid us altogether. We put on “the mask” and tell everyone that we are doing ok, when we really are falling apart inside. It helps if the boss is understanding, and will give you the time and space needed to catch up with things. It’s ok to put yourself on autopilot for awhile. Take your time. Most will understand, and you may even find another mom who is walking the same sad road. And for those co-workers who cannot or will not attempt to understand, try not to waste precious time and energy dwelling on them. You will get the comfort you need from those that matter.
The first birthday and angel day are very emotional, and many of us (myself included) start feeling a sense of dread or anxiousness in the weeks leading up to the date. Questions arise in our minds. Will it be as awful as I think it will? What should I do to honor my child on that special day? Will anyone else notice the date and remember my angel with me? The answers to these questions will come to you. For me, Zackary’s birthday turned out to be a very peaceful day. In the end, although my heart ached and the tears flowed, the pain of the day was not as horrible as I thought it would be. I have seen many posts from moms who have been through the “firsts” saying that the reality of the day is usually not as bad as our imagination makes it up to be. Whatever your emotions are on these days, it’s important to let them come, and to take the time to let ourselves feel them. In this way the hard days can also be healing. Set aside some time to do something special for your angel, whether it’s just talking quietly with him or her, or organizing a charitable event. I took baby quilts my mother and I made to the NICU where he was cared for on his birthday. I will be dealing with Zackary’s first angel day in a little over three months. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Of course in the next few months we will all be facing the holidays without our precious angels, many of us for the first time. It’s the season for giving thanks and taking stock of the wonderful blessings we have been given. But many of us may think “What do I have to be thankful for? My child is not here to open presents or get his or her picture taken with Santa, or make cookies.” The feelings of grief can intensify and emotions we thought we had dealt with can come crashing down on us again. We should give thanks for our angels, and the precious time we had with them, so matter how long it was. It may be a good time to do something in honor of your child. Make a charitable donation in your child’s memory. Carry on a holiday tradition that you shared with your angel by sharing it with someone new. Read holiday stories to children at your local children’s hospital. Do what is in your heart. Your angel will be with you. It will be another first for me. Should I still hang up Zackary’s stocking by the fireplace? Yes, I think I will.
Now that October is here, the time we think about Halloween, I wanted to share with you a few snapshots and my favorite home made costume because it is cute and easy. Dress in black sweatpants and sweatshirt. Make some ears out of felt and glue them to a plastic headband. Wear a ribbon with a bell on it around your neck. Attach a tail made out of black fabric or felt to the back of the sweatpants. Draw whiskers on your cheeks and color your nose black with eyeliner. Paint your fingernails black. You are now a cat.
This is Jill on Halloween 1989, the first time we used the cat idea. It’s been several years since I dressed her and her brother up for trick or treating. I miss that. We had some good times. I remember some of the costumes: Raggedy Ann & Andy, Batman & Robin, clown & karate kid, and the year we won a pumpkin carving contest with "Bert & Ernie".
Here are some other ideas to dress up your kids or in case you are going to any costume parties this year:
SPIDER: wear a black sweatsuit. For the legs stuff some cheap black hose with anything dark and light weight. Either sew or staple to keep stuffing from falling out. Pin to clothing, add a little make up.
AMERICAN TOURIST: Guys wear a loud Hawaiian shirt, shorts (weather permitting), large straw hat. Gals wear a bright, loud dress, flats or flip flops, big sun hat, straw bag. Carry a camera, maps hanging out and look like you are lost.
NERD: Slick back your hair, wear pants that are too short, white shirt, white socks, penny loafers, or lace up oxfords, pocket protector with lots of pens, dark rim glasses with tape on the hinge.
MISS AMERICA: Wear an old bridesmaid dress or formal, add a pair of gloves, a tiara, some oversized jewelry and heels. For the banner use a piece of wide ribbon and write "Miss America" in glitter.
STATIC CLING: Wear anything that is a solid color, all white or all black is good. Safety pin assorted articles of clothing such as a sock, underwear, and fabric softener sheets to yourself. Spray your hair straight up.
RECIPE FOR MAKE UP:
1 tsp cornstarch
½ tsp water
½ tsp cold cream
Stir together starch and cold cream until well blended. Add water and stir, then add food coloring
Everyone have a safe and happy Halloween!
Adversity
September has had its ups and downs. I am ready to embark on October, even if it means we are marching toward winter and the holiday season. The visions of the many displaced and grieving people, the destruction of lives and the disruption of normal life for so many as a result of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita have left me bruised. Add to the mix the fact that my office has been filled with loss-three people have resigned this month. They are warm and wonderful people and I am mourning their departure, though trying not to let it show. One long time colleague is about to have surgery for breast cancer and emotional upheaval abounds. My number three son is having his own trials and tribulations and is counting on my husband and I to be rocks. I am supposed to remain calm. People think of me as grounded, but I would like to scream. This is not a new situation for AngelMoms-we are all expected to be survivors.
I ran the Race for the Cure again this year. The 3.1 miles seemed short this year. My patience is uncharacteristically thin. I looked around at the number of people who were survivors, running in celebration of a survivor or like me, running in memory of a friend or loved one. One women who had helped start the race was there and crying. There were almost 28,000 runners and walkers this year. She was crying because she remembered the first year when there were a couple of hundred people participating. Her inspiration has been like a snowball rolling down a huge mountain in the winter. It was small when it started, but it has picked up steam!
Life is filled with all types of adversity-some man- made and some emanating from natural disturbances. It isn't the adversity but the way we react to them that makes the difference. Sometimes we all should remind ourselves that we are who we are because of the difficult times, not in spite of them.
Sometimes we all forget that! Save some candy corn for me!
Acts Of Kindness
Acts of Kindness for September were presented to:
Lori Corso by Marie Hennigar
The Act Of Kindness Award will be given to an AngelMom that was nominated for their kindness and thoughtfulness. It will not be a contest, it is "Thank You" kind of award. Anyone can be nominated. If someone has touched your heart by doing something special, please nominate them by emailing Debbie. There is no exclusions, everyone is included. We will list each member that has received an Award.
Angel Mom's Acts of Kindness
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.
Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?"
You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ...
"Paid in full with one glass of milk"
(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands."
There's a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?
Butterfly Candle Holder
By Rachel Paxton
Butterfly candle holders are easy to make and a great gift idea. The materials are very inexpensive, and you can use your imagination for a variety of designs. To get started, you will need:
Materials:
Small glass candle holders
Butterfly wrapping paper
Yellow tissue paper
Decoupage
Cuticle scissors
Small paintbrush
Damp paper towel
You can buy whatever glass candle holders you like (or use some you already have laying around). I bought mine at Walmart for about $0.59. You could also find them at thrift stores or yard sales.
I chose butterflies for my design, but you could choose whatever design you'd like--maybe keeping in mind the tastes of the person you're making them for. You can cut out pictures from anywhere, including calendars, greeting cards, magazines. Thin paper decoupages best.
After you have some pictures in mind, use cuticle scissors (the kind you cut your fingernails with) to cut out the pictures. These scissors work best on small pictures and cut rounder corners than regular scissors. If you're not going to use the pictures right away, store them in ziploc bags.
You can buy decoupage at any craft store. It is normally found with the glue. It allows you to permanently affix a picture to another object, giving the object an overall glossy effect. Make sure the glass you're working with is clean. Tear a piece of tissue paper into small (approx. 1 inch) pieces. Using the paint brush, brush some decoupage on to the back of one of the pieces of tissue paper. Position the tissue paper on the glass and then brush some more decoupage on top of it. Continue gluing on pieces of tissue paper, overlapping at the edges, until the entire candle holder is covered (including the bottom--set the candle holder on its top to dry). Brush one last coat of decoupage over the entire candle holder. Use damp paper towel to wipe off any excess decoupage.
After the decoupage has dried for about an hour (or more), position the butterflies (or other pictures) on top of the tissue paper. First brush some decoupage on the backs of the pictures and place them on the glass. Brush another coat of decoupage over the entire glass and set the candle holder on its top to dry again. After the decoupage has dried, add 2 or 3 more coats of decoupage after each coat has dried.
That's it! These candle holders are only limited by your imagination. Use different colors of tissue paper and a variety of pictures for different themes. You could make these with holiday themes, like for Christmas or Easter. They also make great birthday presents, hostess gifts, or party favors. They are very easy to make and you can make several of them at one time.
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer, mom, and owner of four home and family web sites. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit www.crafty-moms.com.
Creamy Chicken-and-Rice Casserole
1 (6.9-ounce) package one-third-less-salt chicken-flavored rice-and-vermicelli mix with chicken broth and herbs
1 tablespoon margarine
2 1/4 cups hot water
Vegetable cooking spray
1 1/2 pounds skinned, boned chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup presliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 cup nonfat sour cream
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can reduced-fat, reduced-sodium condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/4 cup crushed multigrain crackers (about 6 crackers)
1 tablespoon margarine, melted
1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
Cook rice mix in a large nonstick skillet according to package directions, using 1 tablespoon margarine and 2 1/4 cups hot water. Remove mixture from skillet; set aside. Wipe skillet with a paper towel.
Coat the skillet with cooking spray, and place over high heat until hot. Add chicken, mushrooms, and garlic powder; sauté 6 minutes or until chicken loses its pink color. Combine rice mixture, chicken mixture, sour cream, pepper, and soup in a bowl; stir well. Spoon mixture into a 2-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Combine cracker crumbs, margarine, and poppy seeds; stir well, and sprinkle over chicken mixture. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
Make-Ahead Tips: You can assemble the casserole ahead of time, omitting the cracker-crumb mixture; cover and chill in the refrigerator or freeze (thaw frozen casserole overnight in refrigerator). Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes; top with cracker-crumb mixture, and bake as directed.
Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 1/3 cups)
NUTRITION PER SERVING CALORIES 334(18% from fat); FAT 6.8g (sat 1.6g,mono 2.2g,poly 2g); PROTEIN 32.2g; CHOLESTEROL 68mg; CALCIUM 19mg; SODIUM 687mg; FIBER 0.2g; IRON 2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 30g
Colin's Pumpkin Patch
My son Colin loved to help his dad and his PaPa down at the farm. Anything from planting to helping with the grapes or asparagus. Two of his favorite Holidays are Christmas of course and Halloween. The pumpkins we carved at Halloween he always wanted to save the seeds. Most of the time we would bake them and eat them, others I would find in his room all dried up!
Not long after the accident that offered Colin to the Lord, one mechanism my husband used for healing was to plant. He planted three trees, and asked me to pick out tons of flowers. One day he planted all the flowers in the back of our house from perennials, annuals and one yellow rose bush.
One day we went out to pull weeds from the flowers and noticed what looked like a vine. We both looked at each other and said when did YOU plant pumpkins? Well neither one of us did.
This pumpkin vine thrived and multiplied until it completely took over our flower garden, part of our neighbors yard and ran over into the alley. We had to pull it back almost daily. Not only did our wonderful son plant pumpkin seeds, he also must have snuck seeds from a cantaloupe. We ended up with an assortment of pumpkins, the first three of which we took to Colin. The first cantaloupe I cut and took that to Colin also, I told him how much we enjoy his garden and shared a piece of his sweet tasting cantaloupe.
Colin is such a special young man at 7 and is so deeply missed by all who knew him. This to me and his father is his way of letting us know he is okay and also a way for us to every year have this special memory when they come back and bring us another wonderful pumpkin patch.
Pam (Colin's Mom)
Some Links To Share
Hidden Angels
Blessings Of The Dragonfly
You're Always In My Heart
Some people weave burlap into the fabric of our lives,
and some weave gold thread. Both contribute to make
the whole picture beautiful and unique.
- Anonymous -
Angel Moms Newsletter-October Printable Version
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Editor: Judi,
Staff: Debbie, Kelly, Krista, Lynn, Brenda, Laurie
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