It has been a lil’ crazy here the last week or so.  We went to my dad’s Sunday after the morning service at our church and we got back to town just in time for the Wednesday night service.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip (It’s so good!)

We pulled into the motel down by my dad’s and realized our car was leaking radiator fluid (always a good sign, or NOT).  On a positive note, we knew going down that we were coming back with a new (to us) Honda CR-V.  My dad decided to give my step-mom’s van to my brother and sister-in-law because they have been looking for another vehicle and he thought that would work great for what they needed. And because he did that, he thought he needed to get us a vehicle too.  I assured him he did not, but he was having none of it (Thanks Daddy, you’re the best).  So, immediately, he started looking for a suitable vehicle for Buster and I.

Find This:

• 1 stick butter, room temp
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, room temp
• 1-2 cups powdered sugar, depending on how sweet you want it
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chips + some for ‘garnish’ (or more depending on how many you like)

Do This:

1. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture starts to bubble. Set aside to cool, and whisk in vanilla.
2. Cream together cream cheese and powdered sugar for 60 seconds. With mixer on low-speed, add in brown sugar and butter mixture. Mix until combined. I added the chocolate chips at this time so the mixer could break them up into pieces. You can do that, or just fold in the chocolate chips.
3. Garnish with additional chocolate chips. Serves with fruit, cookies, crackers, pretzels or a spoon.

This stuff is really good.  I think I found the original recipe on Pinterest but I didn’t stick to the original recipe because, well…. I’m me!!  Of course now that it’s the new year and I am now on a mission to lose another 40 pounds in the next 5-6 months, sugar (and flour and anything processed) is the enemy and I can no longer eat yummlies like this.  Sigh.

So my dad got online and searched for an all-wheel or 4-wheel drive car that would get as good or better gas mileage as we were getting with our neon.  He and my brother actually looked a couple of Honda CR-V’s, but ended up getting the one we drove home. It’s a black ’99 Honda CR-V with 91,000 miles on it.  It’s in really good shape and even has a remote starter on it! It’s an awesome little truck/car.

When we left my dad the reality of his loss was setting in, but he seemed to be doing well.  I texted him this morning to see how he slept last night and to make sure he had a good breakfast this morning.  He said he had a rough evening but slept well once he got to sleep.  He had fed himself a healthy breakfast and was having a fairly good day.

I just hate the thought of him being lonely.  He is going to take the rest of the week off I think and go back to work on Monday.  He could take Monday off and have it paid, but I told him to be careful not to sit around and stew too much and he agreed.

He has a good support system in place.  He is already plugged into a Promise Keepers group through his work and He is a member of a church and has a good Pastor who will look after him.  I wish I lived closer so I could be there more.  But I will just have to pray a little harder! He will be fine, I know God will take care of him!

I didn’t really make any New Years Resolutions to speak of, but I did decide I needed to work harder at keeping my home uncluttered.  I live in a very small house and it’s very easy for it to become cluttered in a very short amount of time.  I also have decided to get more exercise this year.  Even with my heart murmur and breathing difficulties, I want to lose weight and be healthy and SOME exercise is a must.  So, I have decided to do what I can and call it good.

This morning I went in for the 24-hour Heart Monitor test.  Last week I had a Pulmonary Function test and my Dr.’s office called and said they got the results and want to see me so they scheduled an appointment for Monday.

I haven’t heard anything from my Dr. about the Echocardiogram yet.  I will ask about it when I see him Monday.  I still laugh every time I think about the lady’s reaction when I asked her if the sound I was hearing was the murmur I wasn’t supposed to have anymore.  She said, “A murmur means you have a leaky valve and that’s a loud one!” LOL I knew what it meant.  I was told years ago that I had Mitral Valve Prolapse and that eventually I would probably have to have that valve replaced.  but a few years ago before having major surgery, I had a physical and they told me I didn’t have the murmur anymore.  I guess they were wrong.

Anyway, that’s what’s going on here.  What’s going on with you? Are you well? Did you have a good New Years?

Depending on what goes on here in the next few weeks, I may be closing up shop here at blog-diggidy.com and I may be blogging only over at Jo-Lyn’s Cup Cakes N’ Candies.  Nothing is final yet, we will see what happens.  Whatever it is, I hope to see you around!