Birthday preparation

The invitation:

The treats for the party bags! Minecraft theme!

Jade 9th grade/1st quarter report card

Jade:

Tasha 12th grade/1st quarter report card

Tasha:

Megan 11th grade/1st quarter report card

Megan:

Skyler's 10th grade/1st quarter report card

Skyler:

Congratulations Tasha

Tasha took a 6 hour Red Cross First Aid/CPR class today!   She passed!!  She has also signed up for the Red Cross to do community service to fulfil high school graduation requirements.   

We are so proud of you Tasha!!!!  Keep up the good work!

Light the Night Walk

2 Weeks til my first "LIGHT THE NIGHT" Leukemia walk!! I'm pretty excited to be walking as a survivor with my husband, kids, my mom, my sis and brother in law!!!  Thank you to all that have donated to my fundrasising page!!  The donations have earned me to be a member of the "BRIGHT LIGHT CLUB"!!!  I will get special recognition at the walk on November 1st!!    Donations are still being accepted.  Log on to my team website here:

Team Mendenhall/LLS Light the Night Walk

If you don't want to use the website, just email me here at jewelsmendenhall1968@yahoo.com
I'll give you my address and you can send a check.

Doesn't matter the amount.  Anything will do.  

This opportunity to serve as an ambassador for LLS has shown me how special all of you have been through my journey and beyond.  I had a pretty amazing experience while some don't get the opportunity to LIVE through this awful disease!!  I want to make a difference here!

LLS (leukemia and lymphoma society)

This is my first mass mailing for LLS as their Advocacy Ambassador.  I'm pretty proud of myself.  Let the donations start rolling in.......

Megan and FFA

I Megan has found something she really enjoys-being apart of FFA (future farmers of America).  She is taking a class in high school called Ag Communications.  It's sort of like a speech class.   She spent time at the Kern County Fair this year getting to know the ins and outs of showing a pig.   She wants to raise an animal, show it at the fair next year and sell it.

Here are pictures of Megan at the fair with her best friend. Olivia's pig.  

She also earned her "green hand" award this week in FFA.  They made all the kids that were earning the award, dip their hands in green paint and put it on the poster to show off at the FFA award meeting the same night.  

Megan and her best friend Olivia

Tasha's First Job

Tasha went on her first job interview this past week and got herself her first job with a paycheck.  She will be working at Johnny Rockets at the Marketplace.  It is a burger place with a 50's like theme.  Her first night of work was a 3 hour shift on Friday night.   When it was over, she was so excited!  She said she was on her feet all night.  She is really excited to go back.  We are so proud of her!

Here is Tasha in her uniform minus the apron!

Quinceria

Bud was asked to be in the "court" with his girlfriend Grace.  The participated in their friends Quinceria.  It's was months and months of practice.  

Jade Drawing

My New Adventure Starts Today

Well, God is certainly opening a door, one year after being diagnosed with Leukemia.  I have been asked to be an Advocacy Ambassador for the Kern County Chapter of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.   I'm pretty excited about this new adventure.

Today, I will participate in a conference call with others just like me.  I will find out what my role will be in this position.

I am a Leukemia Cancer Survivor!

I am hear to tell the world that Cancer CAN BE BEAT!

Robin Williams Tribute

Week in Pictures: Sept 7th-13th

A week in pictures......

1) My hairstyle.   Not even a year yet and it getting long!

2). A much needed time out this week!

3) Flowers out at the coast.  

4). I love the ocean!

4) Crab cakes and a Cosmo for dinner at Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill.  

5). God's painting!

6) our deck at the beach house.  Almost done....

Milestone

As of last night, Briggor gave up his kikis (blankies) for a video game.  The game is called "Destiny!"   

Panda Express

Just sharing the news.....

Panda Express has an app for your phone!  Yeah!  

Great Book!

I read this book in 2 days!  Amazing story!  Anyone who believes in angels will enjoy this book!  It makes you think a little differently when you go out in the world.  We need to take little more time and really look around us-angels just might be a work!

Let me know if you read it!

Easy Chicken enchiladas

4 ingredients!  That's it! Super easy to make!

Prep time: 15 min

Bake time: 30min

12 Small taco/burrito size flour tortillas

Large can of mild or hot green or red enchilada sauce

Large brick Pepper Jack cheese shredded. (Use whatever you have on hand)

 3 cups Chicken (shredded).  I usually use the canned chicken because I have it on hand. 

Mix chicken, some sauce and some shredded cheese together in a bowl.

Pour some of the sauce in bottom of casserole dish.   

Take about 1/3 cup of chicken mixture and put in a tortilla.  

Roll up and place in casserole dish.  Do this until entire casserole is filled.   

Pour remaining sauce over the rolled enchiladas.  

Cover top with cheese.  

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min or until cheese is melted.  

NOTE:  

You can make this ahead of time and freeze too!  

Enjoy!

A week in Photos: August 31-September 6

Currently reading......

I'm currently reading, "Angels Walking", by Karen Kingsbury.   It is a wonderful book.   Wonderful, story, woven together of regular people who have been touched by God's grace.   It makes you think that angels DO walk among us.  

Here is a quote from her book that has moved me.......

"Perfect is God's job! You'll live your life happier if you stop trying to be perfect.   Do your best for Jesus.   When you fall short, He'll carry you!" -from Angels Walking page 282

Amen!

Thoughts from my husband......

Guest post from my husband, Mark:

Maybe I'm alone. (Here is why you can hate me) ......

1) I think the boarders should be closed, and illegals people kept out.
2) If you are here illegally, you should leave
3) I think abortion (in most cases) is wrong, (but I respect the law)
4) I promote traditional marriage. (but I respect the law)
5) I think you should have to drug test to receive government money
6) I agree and support the 2nd amendment.
7) I think money to countries that harm us, hate us, fight us should stop.
8) I think the current Republican party is failing and too divided
9) I think the IRS our current tax code need to go away.
10) I think the current Democratic party is a failure and harmful.
11) Bad leaders tax, shackle regulate the human spirit. (in the name of "fairness")
12) I think the military should be bigger, faster, stronger and make more money.
13) I think being in the USA means you signed on to our values, not us yours.
14) I think everyone should be trained and certified in fire arms.
15) I think overall unions have become bad, heavy handed and selfish.
16) I Like that Obama is black, but his inexperience has been exposed.
17) I think fair Capitalism (as it evolved) is a good economic model. (1950 - 2014)
18) I think foreigners should stop trying to make my country like the one they fled.
19) I think people mistake Americans tolerance for weakness.
20) I think if you are offended, you have the right to be.

...................Why politics will never win our hearts:.........................

1) Every candidate has a past, a skeleton to expose.

(WHICH THE OPPOSING PARTY IS TOO HAPPY TO SHOW US)

2) Welfare:
A) liberals will show the bad conservatives forcing a woman living in her car with her kids with strict rules.
B) Conservatives will find a healthy man abusing the system making more money than you because the rules are too loose.

(YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND AN EXAMPLE TO HOLD UP IN THE PRESS OF PEOPLE THAT SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS)

3) Liberals unite behind their guy and put aside their differences to win the vote! They say "We set aside differences to do a greater good", and usually win.

Conservatives remain divided, fight, don't fall in line behind their candidate. The division? "We stand with our values and don't cave to the parties pressure!".... and usually lose.

(THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR BOTH IDEAS)

.......................... My notes..........................

We will never find a common answer. We will never find a place we will all agree as a people. So all we can hope for is building a set of laws and rules (that some will hate) that allows Americans to be safe, grow and pursue happiness. Set guidelines that all people can work within. Stop catering to each ethnic group or religious group. Just set forth a plan, a framework that allows for everyone to carve out their own way in life. We get so hell bent on saving the little guy we do it at any expense. Even at our own expense sometime. And we allow our own demise because if we don't we feel guilty. I don't feel guilty for what I achieve or what I try and do. I can't save everyone, and I wont sacrifice my family trying to, but I will help others.

1) See? I left out God in this rant. So you can't dismiss me for being friends with him. Wouldn't it have been easier to lump me as a religious nut and walk away?

2) Don't worry, if you spin hard enough, talk about single issues to try you can paint over a whole issue.

Below is a video most of you have seen. At about 3:20 it turns to give me chills. Pride. Hope. I don't know if watching this is healthy or not. I don't know if I am alone or not.

But at least I'm honest...

Book Review

I finished this book in two days.  It was a quick read.  Nice story.  I really enjoyed this light-hearted book.  Now to pass it along .....

Starbucks thoughts.....

On our way to Starbucks, Mark asked Briggor if he knew any names of the drinks at Starbucks?    Briggor responded, "Crappichino!"    LOL

The Second Week of School......

Well, it's the second week of school and we have had 2 emails from Briggor's teacher already.   This year in 4th grade they are using computers at their desks to do school work.  I'm sitting on the fence about this, neither for or against it.  There is arguments for both sides.  But that is another blog post.

The teacher emailed us to tell us that Briggor keeps on talking during class.  That was a no brainer for us!  He is always talking about something at home.   When asked about this, Briggor responded that it was the girls he sits next to in class.  They always are talking.  LOL    I explained this to his teacher and she said she will address this problem.

The next problem was that Briggor always wants to leave class to go to the bathroom.  Very disruptive and she is trying to explain that recess and lunch are the times to go to the bathroom.  When asked about this problem, Briggor says, it is due to the water bottle that he takes to school everyday.  Problem solved....no water bottle to school.  Drink out of the drinking fountain son!!

But, here is the kicker!  Briggor has learned to use a computer at home and with that knowledge has lead to trouble at school.  He is far more advanced than most of his kids in his class.   So, on the first day of his troubles, Briggor figured out that he could communicate with the other kids in the class through the computer programs and was sending them messages during class.  LOL    (too funny! but not appropriate!)   That prompted an email sent home to us by the teacher.  She in turn took his computer away at school and we punished him from the computer at home.    The following day, after we had talked to him, his teacher talked to him, he was given his computer back at school.   We received a second email that stated that Briggor was not listening to instructions regarding his assignment on the computer.  Briggor was taking pictures of himself with his OWN computer!!! LOL  I was laughing so hard when I read this email.   It's funny beyond belief.  I had to keep a straight face and lecture him on WHY he is not suppose to be doing that while the teacher is teaching all the children!!!  I kept it together but when he left the room, I looked at Mark and died laughing.

Oh my!  Mark and I have our hands full and the year just started.......God help us!

My prayer for this school year!

Briggor

Last but not least is Briggor, our 4th grader!  Hope you have a fantastic year!

Betty is off to school.

Megan and Tasha get the privledge this year of driving to school because they are the oldest.   Off to school in Betty.....

Junior/Senior

Tasha, my Senior and Megan, my Junior

Freshman/Sophmore

Skyler, my Sophmore and Jade, my Freshman......

High School 2014-2015

Here are my high schoolers !  Another year and they are all together!  Have fun! Enjoy your high school years, it goes by so fast!

Tasha (Senior), Skyler (Sophmore), Megan (Junior) and Jade (Freshman)

Breakfast of Champions

Today is the start of another school year at our house.  I woke up early because I promised the kids pancakes for breakfast.  A crap load of pancakes!  Eat up children, it's going to be a long day!  

Mark and I have been talking about this year for a long time.  Our family has hit a milestone this year.  We will have a child in every grade of high school.  Tasha is a Senior.  Megan is a Junior.  Skyler is a Sophmore and Jade is a Freshman.  They all attend Independence High School.   I wonder how many families can say that?

Briggor will be in 4th grade this year.  Where has the time gone?

Vegas Getaway Day 3

We got up early to meet some friends from high school.  Chuck and Ronda.  We all gathered together to go out into the Nevada desert to a shooting range to watch the boys play with guns.  

Mark shot this little beauty, an AR-15.  Now he wants one!  Geez!

Then Andrew had to join in on the fun with a military stance.  

We all headed back to the hotel for a nap before we headed out for the night.  We were invited over to Chuck and Ronda's for a BBQ.  

During the day, Mark got a surprise text from another friend of ours, Damon Zavala.  We both have known Damon since Kindergarten.   So we are talking, 40 years now.  Wow!  Time sure flies.  He called to let us know he was at the Hard Rock Hotel for one night only and would love to see us.  We headed over there after the BBQ.  

I didn't know until we met this evening that Damon placed a crucial supporting role in my illness and hospital stay.  He was an encourager, supporter, doctor and friend when Mark needed someone the most.  It was great seeing him and recalling stories.  We all helped fill in gaps of my adventure which made things a bit more clearer and more real.  We sat around at the bar talking til 1am.  

We realized on the way back to the hotel that we missed our kids so we agreed to get up early and head home to beat the traffic.   

It was a great weekend!