Making Lemonade out of Lemons!
Seven treatments down and thirty seven to go! This is how we are keeping up with time at the Eubanks’ home these days. My precious dad, Gerald, moved in with us on October 13th to begin his raidiation treatments for prostate cancer. The “c” word in my opinion is the sourest of lemons. So how do you make lemonade out of these kinds of situations? First, you stop and thank God for the wonderful time you have already had with your dad, husband, papa, brother, etc… Then you decide that no matter what the outcome the rest of the time you spend together is going to be precious. At least that is what I am doing. Because of the advanced equipment at CARTI in North Little Rock, it was better for dad to come and live with us to receive his treatments during the week and then he would be able to go home, as long as he feels like it, on the weekends. The only one really nervous about this plan was my dad. He was and still is very concerned about disrupting our everyday routine! I keep trying to tell him we don’t really have a routine, I think after a week and a half he is discovering that for himself. I love having my dad here. It is so strange but somehow my dad being here brings more purpose to my life, order to the chaos, and I feel like this time with him will be something I will cherish forever! Each week I am taking at least one day and he and I spend it together exploring something in central Arkansas. Last week led us to the IMAX to see “Country Music, The Spirit of America” we both enjoyed it very much. He has already told mom to check and see if it is on in Branson, which is close to where they live, and he wants to take her when he is finished with treatments. I know these nine weeks will go by quickly and God willing dad will return home and continue to live a full life with my mom and his wife of 50 years. For me and my family we are going to cherish these weeks and make as much lemonade as possible….
My dad, Papa Gerald – AAHHH….Sic’em Bears
A Fresh Idea
I love to cook! I love to read cookbooks and find recipes that I think would be delicious. I especially love to try new recipes and as weird as this may sound – I love to try them when I am cooking for large groups. I have been lucky enough to only have a few things that I would probably not cook again (don’t worry I won’t share those recipes). So my first recipe to share with you is a salad that I made last week while cooking for a group at my church. It was a big hit and I was so glad that everyone liked it. For those of you who really know me and the kinds of things I like to cook, you are probably thinking… she is posting “a salad” for her first recipe! I promise I will share more recipes later – in fact I am more excited about sharing recipes with you than anything else. I am not very good at remembering to bring people recipes (or anything else for that matter) so I am hoping that sharing them here will be a great way to share with lots of people. As I share this recipe I can’t help but think about Alexanne who would always ask me to make her what she called a “rhonda salad” which usually had some sort of fruit in it along with feta or blue cheese and nuts. This salad qualifies as a “rhonda salad” so I can’t wait to make it for her the next time she comes home. I hope you all enjoy.
Apple-Pear Salad with Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing
1 16oz package spring mix
1 6 oz block Swiss cheese, shaved
1 cup roasted, salted cashews
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 large apple, thinly sliced
1 large pear, thinly sliced
Toss these ingredients in a large bowl; serve with dressing (see recipe below)
Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing
2/3 cup light olive oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice or bottled lemon juice
1 1/2 TBSP poppy seeds
2 tsp finely chopped onion
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
Process all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week. Serve at room temperature.
Happy 25th!
Today is my 25th wedding anniversary! I mean, August 14, 2008 was my 25th wedding anniversary and since it is now August 15, 2008 I guess you can say – the SILVER ANNIVERSARY is officially over! Today, started out like many other anniversary years - each of us teasing the other about opening our cards this morning -just trying to catch the other one without having one -and one of us making excuses as to why we should wait until later in the evening. Even though the players in this little game have rotated through the years it always seems to be a sweet way to say, “I’ve you a card so you better have me one.” I mean why not – it is a celebration where you can focus solely on each other and a small token of love can be shared through a wonderful Hallmark card that amazingly says exactly what you want it to say! Have you ever noticed that? If you look and read long enough in your local Hallmark store that somehow, someone knew exactly what you wanted to say to the person you love! Today was no exception, after about 15 minutes I found 2 perfect cards for my husband for our 25th anniversary! ( You notice I said today) 
Tonight we celebrated together with Bryan and Sarabeth Jones who happen to share the same anniversary date with us – just 10 years later! It was a great night, dinner, swimming (well at least the kids swam), Bryan and Sarabeth helping me set up my new website, we ate watermelon, ice cream, and strawberries with cool whip. Ending the night, with an episode of The Twilight Zone, and watching the USA girls gymnastics all-around competition take home the Gold and Silver medals. It just doesn’t get any better than that!
Bobby and I celebrating our anniversary, earlier in August, in Dana Point California at the famous Chart House restaurant! What a beautiful place California is – I can’t wait to go back!
