It is written in the stars above

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope Santa brings you all kinds of goodness!!
Love,
Astral

I went to E's school to get her homework and art projects. Her teacher put oatmeal and glitter in a bag and called it Magic Reindeer Food. You sprinkle it on your lawn to let Santa know there's a kid in your house. Guess who thinks he's a reindeer?

I have to make more. E would be devastated to know Logan ate the reindeer food.

After praying to St. Jude for nine days one is to publish your request. My request is I want to get pregnant with a healthy baby boy. Funny that this blogger, Iambossy asked what I really wanted for Christmas.

Imagine my surprise and excitement when I came home from Lancaster and found a package! I opened it up and found my presents from my Secret Santa: JJ!! I loved all my goodies and the bag is perfect for keeping my supplies for doing crafts!! Thank you JJ!! I can only knit scarves but I will show you how. It's very comforting and relaxing. When things slow down here I will learn how to read patterns so I can make really cool things.

P.S. I messed up my gift for my Secret Santa. I signed my card Secret Santa instead of my name. I thought we would be doing the reveal on our blogs. I'll be looking for my recipient so I can tell her it was me.

This weekend was alot of fun. We went to Lancaster to see a show and take in the wonderful Dutch food and sights. It was nice for us to do because we don't get out much due to me being in school and working on the weekends.
The show was called Voices of Christmas at the Living Waters theater. A collaboration of Christmas carols and songs complete with the history behind them. There was dancing, acting and live animals. I especially liked the donkey. He was very sweet and looked so soft.
Being in Amish country there were plenty of horse and buggies. I loved seeing them. The click clock sound of their shoes on the pavement announcing their presence was music to my ears. E wanted to take a ride but it was very cold and she's getting over being sick.
Our hotel was very nice too. We stayed at a Country Inn & Suites. They had hot tea and coffee available whenever you wanted some, a lending library and a room where you can read or play checkers. I highly recommend it. There was something funny about our room: the toilet. Whenever you flushed it, the power of the flush was so great you thought you were going to get sucked in.
I was on a hunt for a Mission buffet or sideboard. I wanted it to have doors so I could store my linens and liquor. We went to four or five places before finding a Mission hutch. We asked if they would just sell us the bottom and they said sure. It is beautiful! Eventually I want to get a Mission dining set, bookcases, end tables and a bedroom set.
I am going to look up online about the Amish and Mennonite cultures. Their simple lives interest me. Does anyone have a good site or book to read about them?
We're definitely going back when the weather is warmer for a buggy ride and a tour of a working Amish farm.









Logan and buffet.










I put a nice Christmas runner and decorated
with our Nativity scene and antique Christmas
trees.

I got my grades from Bloom-all A's. I maintain my 4.0. And because I carried a full load this time I made Dean's list. This from a person who never cared about grades since the 5th grade. Now I make myself sick if I don't get an A. How crazy is that?
I'm almost done Christmas shopping. I got alot done today. I shopped today for my family and E's teachers. T.arget had some stuff as did Ba.rnes and Nobles. I love those stores. I had a chai tea at B & N. It makes meandering around the store so much better. Are you done or close to being done with Christmas shopping?
I'm still down about my friend's news. It makes me sick that soon she will be feeling the baby and I'm dealing with Aunt Flo (how about them apples? and she was 3 days late). My dream is her nightmare. I bought a card to send to her. I'm going to tell her that I'm happy for her and that I'm there for her as always. I just keep thinking soon it will be me. Soon. I just really, really want a baby. So bad it hurts.
We've decided to take out enough money to cover one cycle. Next year, when I (hopefully) have my teaching job we'll have money to do a f.et if needed. I hope we won't have to.
I had my pain management appointment on Monday. Four needles filled with steriods into my spine. The needles hurt but I did okay. In 7-10 days I should know whether or not it worked. If it did work I wouldn't need to take the muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories.
I'm going to watch tv for a little bit and go to bed. I didn't sleep too good last night.
I started reading David Sedaris upon recommendation from a friend. He's really funny.
This Christmas book contains six essays. I almost peed my pants during the one about his job as an elf at a department store. It will lift your spirits!

I called a friend of mine, a close friend, about the bar schedule. I had some questions for her. And after we chatted about that she asked me, "Guess who's pregnant?" Now, we all know how much I hate this question. I don't wish any ill will toward the pregnant person but I get so upset and mad and angry. I said I don't know. She told me it was her. I asked if she was sure. So sure in fact, that's in her fourth month. She also told me that she didn't want this pregnancy. She's 38 and her two children are much older (one is in 3rd grade and the other I believe is in 7th) She told me she was done after she had her second. She also told me that she was afraid to tell me. That made me feel bad. This friend is terrific and she's seen me through some really rough times and I would never say or do anything to hurt her feelings. She's a wonderful person. But it was nice that she considered my feelings. She asked if we were pursuing i.vf and I told her yes. I had to get E for our dentist appointment so I couldn't talk long and I told her I would call her tomorrow.
Fast forward to the dentist's office (after me crying in the car all the way there). There are two hygienists there. One comes back to get E. A little bit later the PREGNANT one comes to get me. God sure has a sick sense of humor. Thank goodness E was done with her checkup because that hygienist did my checkup. She asked me if I was okay and I told her about my friend. She already knew about us trying to have a baby.
Anyway, my Dad said him and my Mom have been praying for us. When they were in Md they even put a note in the St. Jude shrine I get upset also that I'm going to have to pay out of pocket at least $15k for something I don't even know will work.
Thank you for listening to me. Only you understand.

I have been on the anti-inflammatory and mild muscle relaxers for two days and I feel great!! It doesn't hurt when I cough or sneeze. I can roll over in bed and it's pain free. I feel like a new woman. I could shout from the rooftops I'm so happy!! Who knew? I believe the pain management will go just as well. That's Dec 15.
I.v.f news--M is going to schedule all of our appointments (sonohystegram, i.vf sperm analysis and financial planner) during the week between Christmas and New Years. We'll both be off. It would be great if we can do them all on one day (the fertility clinic is over an hour away). I'm getting excited. I'm so grateful that I'm getting better and we are getting our ducks in a row. I.vf seemed so far away and now it's within reach.
I must go finish studying for my cumulative math final. Egad it's 24 chapters. The final is on Monday. I have one other final--Learning and Assessment--on Thursday. After that it will celebration time!!

As per request here is the yummy dressing recipe:

Cornbread & Apple Dressing

Makes 16 servings
Working time: 25 mins Total time: 2 hrs

1 lb sweet Italian ( or any sweet sausage)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
2 cups finely chopped yellow onion
2 cups chopped celery
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 cups cornbread, crumbled (I buy it in a bag. I think Pe.pperridge Farms makes it.)
4 cups fresh bread crumbs (from a bag or 10 slices country bread)
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage (I use dried Sage as I can never find the fresh. A rule of thumb when using dried: use a third of the amount of dried as you would the fresh)
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 cup low sodium chicken broth (use more if you need it)

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the casings and crumble and brown the sausage in a large non stick skillet over medium high heat--about 10 mins. Remove and set aside the sausage and reserve 1 tablespoon of fat. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the fat, add the peppers, onions, celery, salt and black pepper, cook over medium low heat until vegetables are soft--about 15 mins. Toss in the sausage, cornbread and bread crumbs, apples, parsley, sage and thyme. Transfer to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish (I use two), pour the broth over the dressing and dot with remaining butter. Bake until the dressing is heated through and golden about 1 1/2 hours.

Everyone enjoys this dressing. When we started to have Thanksgiving at our house with all of our family I wanted to put my own stamp on holiday favorites. This recipe came from one my favorite magazines Country Living.
Enjoy!