Home with Tracy

I have written about my experience with Zaycon Fresh previously, but I wanted to share with you a little more. We recently picked up our order of ground beef. This is my first experience purchasing the ground beef and just like everything else I have purchased from Zaycon Fresh in the past, I was very pleased. Here is the description of Zaycon Fresh's ground beef: Comes fresh, never frozen! The beef cattle have a grass diet which is supplemented by grain after they reach approximately 700 pounds. 100% grown in the USA. There are no chemicals, additives or water added to meat during processing. Processed at a USDA-inspected, state-of-the-art plant employing strict operating protocols (including HACCP) and the highest in food-safety standards. Prior to processing, inspectors from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service randomly sample cattle under a monitoring plan and perform testing for antibiotic residues. USDA nutrition labeling standards defines "extra ...

I stand in the kitchen making my coffee and my daughter comes in to join me. I must confess, when I hear her coming, I envision her in piggy tails. I envision that I am going to need to look down to see her. I envision that I am going to need to kneel to get down to her sweet little face and look into her beautiful bright eyes. What I envision, is simply memories. She now stands up tall to my shoulders. There is no longer a need to kneel down to her level. She is almost eye to eye. She asks if she can make herself some toast. As I watched her moving around the kitchen as if it were her own, I couldn't help but remember when I used to make her toast for her. I couldn't help but remember when I first started teaching her how to prepare her own foods. Those moments flew by so fast. There is no longer a need for me to tell her how hot the toaster gets. There is no longer a need for me to help her get things out of the cupboards, she simply has to reach up to get them h...

Dear Adoptive Mom Who Didn't Adopt, It is difficult to express the loss of a child through a failed adoption. It is difficult for people to understand. But I am here to let you know that I understand. I understand your pain. I understand your loss. I have felt your heartbreak. I have cried your tears. You don't start the process of an adoption thinking the end result would be a bed that is still empty. You don't think that there will be a seat at the table that wont be filled. You don't think of all the goodnight kisses that will never be given. You don't think that you will never give comforting hugs, letting your child know you will always be there mommy. You don't start the process of an adoption thinking you will come out at the end without your child. It is difficult because the people around you may not respond to your loss. They may not realize that you are grieving the loss of that child. Your child. They may not realize that even though you never ...

Growing up, my absolute favorite side dish at Thanksgiving was stuffing. My mom would make Sage stuffing using her grandmother's recipe. It was delicious. Throughout the years that I have been preparing the Thanksgiving meal, I have added to the recipe to make it my families favorite. My husband used to like my grandmother's stuffing because she added sausage. And since I really like mushrooms, I decided to add mushrooms and sausage to the recipe. This year, I started my stuffing only to realize I could not find my Sage. Since we recently moved, I still have boxes to unpack and it is hiding .... somewhere. I told my husband that I couldn't find my Sage and he responded "It's okay. We probably wont even notice." Fast forward to dinnertime. After my first few bites, I told my husband that I thought the stuffing was good, but I could definitely tell there was no Sage. He said "I didn't want to tell you, but I can tell a difference too." Oops. I...

Let me start by saying that this "salad" is not healthy in any way, shape or form. Not. At. All! Which is why I only make it three times a year, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It may not be healthy, but it is delicious and a family favorite. It used to be that my husband was the only one who really ate the Cranberry Salad. The kids would eat a little bit when they were younger. Now, there is a race to see who gets the most. I actually have to ration it and remind everyone to share! Prepare night before - ground up cranberries, sugar and mini marshmallows The next morning, add in the rest of the ingredients. Add in cut up apples and grapes and fold in cool whip Child approved! (She loves wearing hats) Cranberry Salad 1 package cranberries 1 cup sugar 3 cups mini marshmallows 1-2 apples, cut in bite size pieces 1 cup grapes, cut in halves 1 container of Cool Whip The night before, grind up cranberries in a food pro...

As they woke up on Thanksgiving morning, they were blessed with a gift. A simple gift that was provided by God. Snow! Until recently, we have lived in Tennessee. We would get a dusting of snow, but nothing they could really play in. This is the first year they have snow pants and snow boots. When we bought their snow pants and boots, you would have thought we gave them the world. So excited! My oldest son noticed the snow and shouted with excitement. The rest of them ran to the door and more excitement ensued. They didn't want to eat breakfast, they just wanted to get on their snow gear and head outside. Yes, I told them they had to eat first.  I watched them play. I watched their simple joy. Their overwhelming joy. My youngest daughter came in and asked for a small carrot. There was not a whole lot of snow, but she managed to make a snowman (snowgirl, as she calls it, complete with a dress) and wanted a carrot nose. To her, it was amazingly fun and exciting to make her ver...

My children have been asking to put up our Christmas tree for a couple weeks. I kept saying no, it is too early. Then I came across a post on Facebook from another mother that changed my mind. She said that they put up their Christmas tree and then she explained why. She stated the she knew it was early and there would be people who disagreed with her decision. She stated that her children were young and excited. That they would only be young for a short amount of time. That post changed my thinking. My children are all now at the age where they are becoming more and more self-sufficient every day. I am already past half my time with my son and quickly coming to half my time with my other three. They will all be grown and out starting their own families quicker than I want to realize. I only have a few more years of this amazing excitement that fills our walls. I only have a few more years to fill their minds with joyful memories. They gathered the storage totes full of ornaments. ...