Treasured Traditions

     It is once again the holiday season.  We began our season last night by watching one of our favorite Christmas movies: Christmas with the Kranks.  What a fun movie!  The Krank's try to shake things up a bit and break free from their Christmas traditions.  Can this really be done?  You will have to watch the movie and see!
     Tradition is very important to us.  Hubby and I have many traditions that we have continued.  In addition to watching a vast library of Christmas movies, we have traditions of decorating, celebrating, shopping, and of course culinary specials.  Our families have come to look forward to these festive treats.  It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's without these special delicacies. 
One of my most favorite recipes came from my Grandma, Paula Clyde Montgomery.  My grandma would prepare Cranberry Fluff every year and my family would travel to West Virginia to share the thanksgiving feast with our extended family.  Grandma passed this traditional recipe on to my Mom, who passed it on to me.  I have in turn passed it on to my Son.  Without our treasured traditions, our holidays would not be the same.
     Cranberry Fluff is so simple to make and has that melt in the mouth kind of goodness that keeps you looking forward to it every year.  This Thanksgiving, we share our recipe with you.  After all, what would a Thanksgiving blog be without food.  Happy Thanksgiving friends!

    Cranberry Fluff

1.     Use the chopping blade of the food processor to grind up 2 cups of raw cranberries

2.     Combine 3 cups of miniature marshmallows and 1 cup of sugar. Stir into the  ground cranberries

3.     Chill the above mixture for several hours

4.    Core and dice 2 cups of apples

5.     Slice into quarters 1 cup of red seedless grapes

6.     Mix the fruit into the chilled sweetened cranberries

7.     Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 cup Cool Whip.

8.     Fold together and Chill

9.     Spoon onto Lettuce leaves to Serve

For Inquiring Minds

Now, for a modern day love story!  In February of 2009, my Mom suffered a heart attack which resulted in her unfortunate demise three weeks later.  It was during Mom's illness that Paul and I became facebook friends.  We posted our comments on this semi-public forum revealing our friendship to friends and family.  When the curiosity could no longer be contained, my dear Aunt Jean wrote me asking to "tell us more about Paul."  This is a copy of the letter I wrote as an answer to her request:

Hi Aunt Jeannie!
More about Paul....Well....I met him 27 years ago at my church while Dad was the Associate Pastor. Paul was a youth worker. When Mom died, Paul started writing me letters on Facebook and we started talking. He has lost his Mom also.
He drove all the way from Charleston, SC to Greenville,SC to take me and Kyle home (Wake Forest, NC) after Kyle and I were involved in a head on collision on the interstate.
Paul is "courting " me.....sending me sweet cards, beautiful flowers, planting plants in my yard, treating my grass/weeds, changing the burned out lightbulbs. He is taking great pleasure in just spoiling me and taking care of me. ETC,ETC,ETC......
I think when Mom went to heaven she went to the pearly gates and said," before I enter there is one unanswered prayer that we need to take care of. I have been praying for God to send someone to love and care for me daughter." So, God searched the world over and sent me Paul!
Paul is so much like my Dad, and treats me so kind and respectfully. It is just like Dad always treated mom.
What a miracle!! What an unexpected surprise in life!
:)
Love you,
Jana

(by Jana Montgomery Moen on Monday, April 6, 2009 at 11:18am)

A few days later on April 17, 2009,  Paul and I were married.  We had a 25 day courtship, planned a wedding, became engaged, and married all in the course of one week.  When you know he is the one, why wait?  Today, Paul is still spoiling me and loving me! Without a doubt, I know that my Godly mothers' prayers were answered.  When God answers the prayer of saints, He answers it precisely and the answer is beautiful.   I am blessed and favored by God !

Happy Birthday X-Ray

November 8, 1895



Today we celebrate the 115th birthday of the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen.  He was conducting experiments with a Crookes' tube and produced a radiograph of his wife, Bertha's, hand.    These early exposures were reported to take 15 minutes of exposure.  When contrasted with today's exposure time on a hand measured in milliseconds, we can be greatful for all the advances in technology to increase radiation protection. 
We also want to remember Clarence Daly.  He was the first known fatality due to xray exposure.  Clarence worked as an assistant to Thomas Edison.  They repeatedly exposed themselves  to xrays while conducting experiments.  These prolonged, excessive exposures resulted in Daly developing radiation burns, skin carcinomas, amputations, radiation poisoning, and death.  Edison immediately stopped all his experimentation following his colleagues death.  These "radiation martyrs", as well as many others, helped pave the way for our current radiation protection standards. We can thank these men for our safety today!
Happy Birthday X-Ray!!
Jana Montgomery Moen, B.A., R.T.(R), ARRT, ASRT

Bertha Roentgens' Hand

Thirty Years

     Last night in Shelby, NC some of my high school classmates got together for our 30th reunion.  Therefore, today I am dealing with my imminent mortality and age.  Lol.  On one hand, I can't believe it has been 30 years already since high school.  I certainly don't want to admit I am "middle aged".  On the other hand, I CAN believe it has been 30 years since high school.  When I replay the past years, it is amazing that I have done all I have in JUST 30 years. 
     There are two areas of great pride in my life since 1980,  I have given birth to 3 big strapping boys that are now 24 years, 22 years, and 15 years old.  This week on November 11, I will celebrate my oldest Sons' birthday along with mine, he was born on my 25th birthday.  He was the best birthday present ever. My children are definitely my greatest joy in life.  It is true when they say children are under your feet for a while, yet forever on your heart.  I have followed in my parents and grandparents legacy in praying for my children daily.  My deepest heartfelt wish for my children is that they love God and be responsible adults who give of themselves to help others in their community.  I also have the privilege of helping to raise my 8 year old step son.  I have to say, it is nice to have a little one in the house again. 
     Also,  I have earned two college degrees that total up to 7 years of learning.  I worked as an xray technologist for 5 years and have taught radiology for 10 years and counting!  Graduating from xray school ranks up there with one of the most difficult things I have accomplished and one of my proudest achievements. Teaching students brings a lot of joy into my life.  By teaching, I have the opportunity to reach out to many patients through my graduates.  They are able to extend the patient care skills and technical skills that I alone could use to reach only a few patients.
     Of course, there were rough patches along the way.  I have experienced loss, death, divorce, financial strain, sickness, injury.  I have come to expect bumps along the road of life.  Without speed bumps, I would not have slowed down enough to learn the lessons that God was trying to teach me.  Romans 8:28 says "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose."  At times, I didn't see the good in what I went through, yet later I could look back and say , "Thank you God.  You knew what was best for me better than I."  I like the following verse :  1 Peter 1:6-12  ⁶Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  ⁷That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  ⁸Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  ⁹Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."   One of my dearest friends would say to me, "Your crown in heaven will have lots of jewels.  You won't be able to hold your head up!"  I say to her that your crown will be full too!
     Having good and bad times are good for the soul.  As I look back over the past 30 years, I am thankful for both.  Along with the mountains and valleys of life comes wisdom that that can ONLY be learned by crying through the bad times, laughing through the good times, achieving my goals, and reaching out to give back what I have learned to those around me.  Not everyone will want the benefit of my wisdom and experience.  Hopefully, they will find other mentors along the bumpy path of life who will guide them along the way.  My parents were my mentors and gave me wonderful guidance throughout my childhood and adult life.  I am very thankful for their loving concern and support through the happy and sad times.  They were there for them ALL! 
     The past 30 years have definitely been eventful.  Would I want to turn back the clock and go back to 1980?  No Way!  Today, I am blessed to be married to my wonderful hubby who loves me dearly and  spoils me rotten.  I am very proud to have my two older sons' serving in the military & beginning their careers.  My oldest son is married and I have a granddog and two grandcats.   My hubby and I  have two boys still at home, our dog Bella, and many years of experience under our belts.
     I am looking forward to the next 30 years!
    

 My military men!

 The boys at home!

   My love and I

"Just a Minute"

     Who doesn't love a rainy day at home?  Thank God for today's drizzle and clouds.  When I awoke this morning,  it was so dark in our room that I had to ask my hubby, "What day is it?"   He immediately knew that it was going to be one of those days that my blonde moments would rule my world.  I thought it was Saturday because how else could I be sleeping this late.  Don't misunderstand,  I had already been up at 5 a.m. to get our high schooler off for his day.   However, I made the mistake of lying back down for "just a minute."  How many times have I thought "just a minute" and was thrown off track with my plans?  In my efforts to do many tasks at one time, I sometimes lose the fervor to do one job well.  This multitasking is such a well sought after commodity in our society today. 
     Everyone fancies themselves to have the ability to do many things at once and do them well.  As an Xray Technologist and Instructor, I have taught students that multitasking is a neccesity for our field.  You must take care of the patient, plan your exam, do math, set technique, and position all at the same time.  Sounds great, doesn't it?  Yet, is it entirely possible to do many jobs at once well and to the best of your ability?       When I am talking to the patient and giving them a warm blanket, I am providing excellent patient care.  As I place the patients' body in correct positions and align the Xray equipment to the body part, I am performing with excellent positioning skills.  While I shield the patient with a lead apron and concentrate my Xray beam to only the part needing an Xray, I am providing excellent radiation protection.  These are all necessary skills to do the job, however if I allow myself to become overwhelmed with the complexity of performing multiple tasks, job performance will falter.  If I allow myself to become distracted for "just a minute", one of these necessary parts will fail and the entire job performance will decline. 
     A well seasoned technologist gave me some great advice during my first year as a new technologist, she said "You can only do one thing at a time."  You will never know the freedom this bit of wisdom afforded me.  I was one of three technologists staffing a busy trauma center on a night time weekend shift.  We staffed the operating room, the emergency room, the inpatients, and the trauma room.  Clearly, there were more than 3 areas to work in.   Most nights, there would be no lunch breaks.  When the patients came rolling in by the car loads, as they often did,  we would make do with what we had.  It was during a night such as this that in the midst of the frenzy, and my obvious sense of overwhelming responsibility to do everything all at once, that I recieved such sage advice. Thank you dear wise co-worker for giving me permissin to do only one thing at a time.  By learning to pace myself and do one thing well, then move to the next, I became better organized and adept at performing the many facets of my job.  I was less likely to say, "just a minute",  then forget necessary tasks. 
     We battle this tendency in our children to say, "just a minute".   They use this to express frustration when overwhelmed.  Children also use this as a means to control their environment.  However, if we accept this pushing back at our authority,  kids learn to disrespect the importance of their responsibilities and ultimately may gain control of the home.  Our children need to learn to follow directions and take personal responsibility for their actions.  When they are playing a video game and have been told to stop playing by 6:00, and they don't obey, we will challenge them.  Typically, the response will be, "just a minute".   If we wait for these "minutes" to pass, the entire schedule for their day can be spoiled.  Essentially, they are cutting into family time, dinner time, bedtime rituals, and eventually sleep time.  If we apply this to our kids homework asignments, the children will put off for later what needs to be done today.  The results  of their actions can mean failure in their school work due to a lack of personal responsibility and a positive work ethic to get the job done one task at a time. 
     So, this morning when I chose to lie down for "just a minute", what did that cost me?   I got up and cooked a  breakfast of grits and toast and eggs for the hubby and myself.  Then fed our Bella dog her medicine and morning treat.  My housework was waiting for me to do:   dishes, dusting, vacuming.  However, I still haven't taken the time to get dressed for my day!  I spent that time sleeping . Thank God for the rainy pajama day !

    I love a rainy day!

Butterflies' Creations

     One of my Mothers' favorite statements was, "If God can make a beautiful butterfly out of an ugly caterpillar, just think what he can do with me!"  Mom was known by her friends and family as the butterfly lady.  Wherever she would go, she would wear one of her many broach's in the shape of a butterfly.  This gave her an ever present opportunity to share Gods' grace and love in her life.  She thought of this as her ministry.  Mom was to be an extension of the hand of God in peoples' lives.  People loved her and looked forward to talking with Mom.  She was a listening ear for those experienceing the many trials of life.  She would rejoice with those who celebrated success.  People would come to her for advice, but before she would give an answer, she would say, "Now, are you sure you REALLY want to know what I think?  If you do, I will tell you."  Her advice was swift and blunt, always to the point.  Mom would chuckle and say, "God broke the mold when He made me."  I am sad to report that Mom passed away last year, but her legacy lives on through her children, family, and the friends who loved her and remember her. 

     I am privileged to be her only daughter.  God created my Mom.  God created me.  With loving care and guidance,  I was molding into the woman I am today.  Who I am is largely due to the foundation of faith and security given to me by my parents.  Recently,  I was asked where home is.  To me,  home has always been where the Mom is.  Yes, I have a home with my husband and children.  However, when I think of going home it has historically been to wherever my Mom was.  With this in mind,  I am heaven bound to once again see Mom someday. 
 

Pop Pop, Granny, and I