A Repeat Post - Foolproof Fudge (even I can't mess it up!)

This post was originally shared on December 23, 2010.  During the 2024 holidays, I gave the same Christmas gifts I do every year...Fudge.  Many people ask for my recipe so here it is!

Foolproof Fudge (even I can't mess it up!)

The recipe for microwaved Fantasy Fudge was on the back of a Kraft Marshmallow Creme jar many years ago and is to be used for the microwave only. I’m aware not everyone's microwaves are the same, so I think this recipe should only be used for those who have powerful microwave ovens. I love my Whirlpool and this recipe turns out perfectly every single time!  

I hope you'll enjoy this recipe. My Aunt Bernice Moore made Fantasy Fudge for many years but prepared hers on top of the stove. I was never very successful with the stove fudge, so was very happy to try it in the microwave.

 

This fudge freezes well when sealed in a plastic container.

 

EASY FANTASY FUDGE 

Prepare a 13x9 or 9-inch square pan by lightly greasing it before starting your recipe. You will need a 4-quart microwavable bowl for this recipe.

1 1/2 sticks margarine
3 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk (I use the smallest can)
1 package (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips (or peanut butter chips, plus 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter)
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Microwave margarine one minute or until melted.  
Add sugar and evaporated milk; mix well.  
Microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes, stirring after 3 minutes. Mix well, scrape bowl. Then microwave on HIGH for another 5 minutes and 10 seconds, stirring after 3 minutes. 
Stir in chips until melted. Add remaining ingredients, in order listed; mix well.
Pour into prepared pan. Cool at room temperature before cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container. Makes 3 pounds.

If you are making this recipe with peanut butter, the reason for the 1/2 cup peanut butter addition is that the peanut butter chips come in a  10 oz bag and the chocolate chips come in a 12 oz bag.  

One word of warning: I've always made several batches of fudge in a row. I learned the hard way that your spoon needs to be completely dry when you add and stir in the chips and marshmallow creme. I used to stir with my favorite wooden spoon and would wash it in between batches of fudge. The wooden spoon tended to not be completely dry when I'd work with it on the second batch. What happened is that the fudge would suddenly turn grainy and harden much too fast to work with. I learned my lesson...and in the process, realized that an introduction of another liquid such as vanilla flavoring should always be added right at the end of the recipe!

(Remember that if you have a pulse...you have a purpose! Make your life count!)

Common Scents

 A while back, I wrote about certain smells that evoke memories, basing it on my sister's "favorite flavor" candle still brings her to my mind when I burn it.

Our daughter, Hannah, mentioned recently that she remembers when she'd come in from school and smell the Pine Sol scent from when I'd mop my floors and wash my kitchen cabinets.  She told me it brings back nice memories to her.  

Yesterday, after an afternoon with lots of physical outside play, our granddaughter, Ophelia, ran over when she saw Grandaddy and I were leaving.  After a big hug, I kissed her forehead and tasted that salty skin from hard play and the scent from that same play outside.  It brought back memories of Hannah when she was just that age...and I couldn't help but smile for the memories it provoked.  

Our daughter is 39 years old, busy being a wife and mom of three kids - eight, six, and one - and doing contract work as a graphic designer.  Someday, she'll be the one thinking of these things and it'll bring a smile to her face or a tear in her eye.  I likely will be dead and gone but I wonder if she'll think about those long-ago scents and tastes that will have her mind going back in time.

Mother's special use for Dove...

When I was 19, I began using Merle Norman skincare. I'm now 71 and still use it. Oh, I tried different products but always went back to MN. I took good care of my skin because of my mother. Hers was beautiful and very soft even to her old age. She washed it every day with her Dove Beauty Bar and used Oil of Olay. That was even in her later years! You'd have thought she had some complicated beauty regimen, but that was it. I wasn't going to take any chances so I decided I'd count on Mother's good genes and Merle Norman!

My mother used Dove for more than just her complexion. I remember how she’d wash my mouth out after using a word I should’ve known better than to use! I learned my lesson after getting a taste of her Dove Beauty Bar!

Years later, I reminded her about washing my mouth out with soap. She insisted she never did that!! I told her I remembered distinctly how awful it tasted. She’d wet a washcloth, rub it all over the soap, then proceed to wash the inside of my mouth with it! But she would still say she didn’t wash my mouth out with soap!  

The very last time I ever brought it up, she said, “I never washed your mouth out with soap! It was Dove…and that’s not soap!”

Remember...if you have a pulse, you have a purpose.

Yankee Candle Company...thank you!

The fall before Vangie went to Heaven, she found a “new favorite candle ‘flavor’ for us” and bought two so she could share with me. Called White Christmas, it's made by Yankee Candle.  I fell in love with it just as she did.  

That fall, while in Ohio, my sister and I went to the Yankee Candle outlet and stocked up on big and small ones because we were just that crazy over the scent!  

After Sissie died, I felt a little closer to her each time I’d burn them.  Pretty soon there was nothing left but a little wax in the jars.  I froze them so I could easily pop out what wax was left, then break them into pieces to use in a melting pot.  

And then all of it was gone.  Looking for it, a Yankee Candle associate told me the scent had been discontinued.  Still, I would check stores to see if one might be on a shelf somewhere.

On the way to our nephew's home in Indiana, I shopped at a Yankee Candle outlet on the off chance that maybe they had that scent I loved so much.  They didn't, but the store manager made a call finding three in stock at the factory!  I paid and they mailed them to me!  Made me so happy!!  Now those are all gone and all I had was a little circle of wax to break up into a melting pot once again.  

I told a sales clerk at my Yankee Candle store in Knoxville about that scent. She smiled and told me it was back and it’s only sold at Christmas time, of course…but she called a store in Sevierville and found some still in stock! 

That night after a no good, very bad day at the office, Joe took me out for dinner in Sevierville and we then went shopping for Vangie’s ‘favorite flavor’ candle!!  I bought several and right now, that scent is wafting through the room and I’m happy!

All that to tell you this...

As you can tell, certain things can invoke lots of memories and I'm so glad my sister gave me something lovely to remember her by among so many other things!  This month will mark eleven years since she went away.  

Still miss the girl. 💚

If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

 

  

Is it time for Life Alert already?!?

Picture a narrow space between our bed and the wall it sits close to.  I sleep on that side of the bed and when I get up in the dark I'm very aware that the wall has always been there and it isn't going to move.  I must tread carefully.  (By the way, I just stopped composing this long enough to measure the space between the bed frame and the wall.  22½ inches.  Seriously.)

Now picture me finishing a phone conversation while stretched out on my stomach across the middle of the bed.  I hang up and begin to wonder where my glasses disappeared to last night.  I knew they'd been on the nightstand but I had knocked some things off about 3 a.m. and figured the glasses were under the bed where I found the other stuff.  Still lying on my stomach across the middle of the bed, I lean over to look for the glasses.  Can't see anything so I stretch a little farther.  And a little farther.  Farther still...

Now picture this grown woman who slid off the bed...head first...into the baseboard of the wall next to the bed that is 22½ inches away.  A big part of my body weight was pushing my head into the wooden baseboard and floor's 90-degree angle from the wall.  Yes.  That's a lot of weight.  And a lot of pressure on my neck which hasn't been in the best condition in years!   

I couldn't get out of that position!  I couldn't roll over on the bed.  I couldn't use my arms to push myself up from that awkward place.  I also couldn't use my arms to push myself back onto the bed.  That ship had already sailed!  I was stuck.  So I called out to my husband.  Several times.  He finally realized those muffled calls were coming from the bedroom and rushed in.  

First question.  "Hey, Beth!  Whatcha doin'?"  

It looked obvious what I was doing...or unable to do...but at least he was thoughtful enough to ask before laughing at me.

It took more than five minutes for me to get out of that position.  I couldn't let Joe help me because there wasn't enough room for both of us in those 22½ inches!  All this time, my head and neck are holding me hostage against that wall and the pain is getting worse!  But Joe explained that I needed to let the rest of my body relax and slide off the bed in the same direction my head was.  I still cannot figure how I got this figure folded up on the floor and on top of the throw rug so I could back myself out!  But I did!  Who knew a girl built like me could be a contortionist?!?!  

My neck hurts.  The headache lasted a long time.  But seeing my Osteopath in the morning should make everything feel better!  Sure glad I already had the appointment!

When I was texting with my daughter, Hannah, I told her a little bit about this morning's  adventure.  First thing she texted back was, "Oh my word!  Is it time for Life Alert already?"  

Could be, kiddo...because we both know your mom's just a few more moves away from becoming Lucy Ricardo!  

Remember: if you have a pulse you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

Best Ice Cream Ever

I believe it was introduced in 1985.  I was pregnant with our daughter at the time and needed my dairy intake for the day.  Not much for drinking milk, I relied on other ways to get my calcium.  The flavors of white and milk chocolate flavored mousse ice cream had me at "hello" when I walked into the ice cream shoppe.  The "hello" came from the person behind the counter, welcoming me to Baskin Robbins.  I tasted that particular flavor and have enjoyed it for 38 years now.  World Class Chocolate!!! 

Baskin Robbins...or BR 31.  What's significant about the number?  The number represents the number of flavors that are offered at most of those particular ice cream shoppes at any given time.  That day in 1985, an innocent young salesperson holding an ice cream scoop helped me embark on a lifetime commitment to find this flavor in every Baskin Robbins I entered.  No matter what state I was in, if there was a BR, I would check to see if my favorite flavor was there.  If it wasn't, I was more determined than ever to find it at the next one.  

There are no artificial dyes in this decadent treat.  There are calories.  Plenty of calories.  But with every bite I allow myself to enjoy of this heavenly taste, I tell myself I will do better next time.  I'll deny myself other sweets to make up for what I've done as I lick, pushing the last of the ice cream down to bite into the cone and finish it off!

And in the last few years...joy of joys!  Baskin Robbins ice cream is offered in my favorite Food City store!   And usually my World Class Chocolate is sitting in the freezer section just waiting for me to purchase and eat at home after it's had a few minutes to soften enough for me to enjoy.  

For two days in a row, I've enjoyed this creamy frozen treat.  Do you know how many promises I have to keep in my walking shoes just to work off the joy I've experienced?!?   Never mind.  I don't want to think about that.  I'll think about that tomorrow...(thank you, Scarlett O'Hara for that excuse)!

If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

Pretzel Legs

I found it in a meme and knew it needed to have some music to go with it. Here's the line I wrote into a song I use in my comedy show: 

"And when I sneeze or cough, my exhaust backfires..."

Way too many women understand this line better than any of us want to admit. I have contorted into more positions than a Barnum & Bailey acrobat when I feel a cough getting ready to erupt!  My nickname should be Pretzel Legs because I cough so much!  And the sneezes can be even more powerful, so I not only contort my body, my face looks like I'm giving birth to an elephant!

(Maybe I need to explain the reason for the pre-sneeze/cough contortion of the body to any of the males reading this.  Nah!  They understand, except they 'air' out their problems in a different direction. I don't think I need to explain that.)

As women mature, things change.  That's one reason it's called The Change. During puberty, people say, "you're becoming a woman!"  When you're going through the change no one tells you what you're becoming.  For a while, I thought I was becoming a man!  Okay, I'm kidding!  But those hairs on my chin?  Seriously?!?  

I'd like to leave you with this little tidbit of wisdom...    

Just know, when it comes to 'the change' and all that 'goes' with it - 'Always' have the 'Assurance' and 'Poise' to deal with those things.  And remember to relax and not worry about it.  Do you think I relax and don't worry?  Well, it all 'Depends' on the situation.  

If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

 

I had to do it. I had no choice.

There is no excuse. 

I had to do it.  I had no choice in the matter except to go ahead and order it.   Why?  Because I am that Grandma.  I have over a thousand photos on my phone and most of them are shots of my granddaughters.  I tell people about them...even when they don't ask.  It's my job as a grandma.  

Been there.  Done that.  Bought the teeshirt:

If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

Happy Mother's Day...every day!

My mother was so precious!  Everybody loved her!  I always knew I wanted to be a mother.  Just before my husband and I got married in 1974 we already had names picked out for a boy (Joshua) and a girl (Jennifer)!  

After a difficult time of getting pregnant and then staying pregnant, I had given up on motherhood.  But God had different plans and gave us an actual promise!  After 11 years of trying, our daughter was born.  She didn't get the name we picked in 1974 because a lot of time and experience caused her daddy to change the name to Hannah Elizabeth five years before she arrived!  (During labor, I even asked Joe if we could change the name if we had a boy.  Our son would have been named Joseph Sturm Green, after his wonderful daddy!)

Hannah is 37-years old, a wife and mother, and Sr. Creative Director, Global - Warner Bros. Discovery.  All the sketch pads, crayons, colored pencils and pens we bought when she was a kid turned out to be a pretty good investment!  She graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a degree in Graphic Design, was the managing editor of CityView magazine (a Knoxville publication) and went on to work for the company that brings you networks like HGTV, Magnolia, TLC, Food Network, Cooking Channel, CNN, HLN, Motortrend (one of my favs), TBS, TCM, and so many more!  Hannah came on board years ago at Scripps, Inc. and that company has grown and changed and is now Warner Bros. Discovery

Joe and I are proud of all the accomplishments Hannah has made and she'll go on to do so much more!  She has her biggest cheerleader by her side...her husband Andrew...and that is the best part of all!  Both of them are awesome parents to two brilliant and beautiful daughters who will welcome their baby brother this fall!  We are so excited to meet him in November!  

Before Hannah was conceived, God made a promise that Joe and I would have the desires of our hearts...that we would have a child of our own.  And we did!  She has several siblings in Heaven but we are so thankful God fulfilled that promise He made through a total stranger, who had no way of knowing all that we had been through!  That stranger told Hannah's daddy that she would come!  And I promised God that I would share that miracle with anyone who would listen.  In concerts I performed, in speaking engagements, I shared the miracle.  That's a lot for a kid to grow up hearing over and over.  God made a verbal promise of HER LIFE through one of his followers!!!  A total stranger!  

How much pressure can that put on a girl who is discovering the gifts and graces that God bestowed upon her?!?  Did this promise that God fulfilled in her birth mean she had to be a minister, a missionary, a biblical professor, or the next Mother Teresa?  No!  She doesn't have to be any of those things because she is busy being exactly the woman God created her to be!  We pray that she will always keep in mind who she is and WHOSE she is.  We gave her back to the Lord the day she arrived!  

Happy Mother's Day to all you women reading this!  Happy Mother's Day to Cindy, the woman who gave birth to our wonderful son-in-law!  And I especially wish a Happy Mother's Day to Hannah...with so much love and admiration I could burst!  (I love watching you be a mom!)

Remember this: if you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

My sister, Vangie...

It's now ten years since my sister went to Heaven.  She passed away unexpectedly a day or so after a medical procedure...on January 21, 2013.  I miss the girl.  I miss us...our daily phone conversations, the laughter, and even the occasional drama.  We weren't done.  Vangie's birthday is this week, on March 22nd.  She would have been 73.  I would have called her at a ridiculously early hour just so I could be the first to wish her a happy birthday.  We did that to one another.  (smile) 

The hardest thing 

is not talking to someone 

you used to talk to every day...

If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count.

"Tomorrow is another day..."

Granddaughters are ballerinas on Tuesday afternoons, so after their class they and their mom came to Grandaddy & Grandma’s house for supper.  As they were coming into our house, calling out our names, Hannah took a photo.  Now it is one of my favorites because when I look at it I can just hear them calling out to us, bringing laughter and fun through our front door!   

Ophelia asked what was for supper and I told her, “Breakfast!”  She asked about bacon and of course there HAS to be bacon!  A big smile came across her face!  Azalea got busy with a project I had put on their little table in the kitchen – coloring a wooden photo frame/ornament for our Christmas tree.  Soon both of them were busy coloring their ornaments.  

After dinner, while the adults were visiting, the girls went to their play area under the steps...a little space with a play kitchen, a stack of drawers for all their treasures, dolls, stuffed animals, doll clothes, etc. and books.  Lots and lots of books.  The place is cramped for two little girls, so they know it’s  okay to bring the things they want to play with into the sitting room.  Azalea asked if I’d come in and read to them, so the three of us cuddled together for some stories.  

 

Soon it was time to head home.  Hannah told the girls to pick up their things and put them away for next time.  But it was nearly their bedtime, so I told her I’d put everything away.  After hugs, kisses, and goodbyes.  The house was quiet again.  Little did Hannah know that I had no intention of putting anything away just yet.  All the things they pulled from their play space last night are exactly where they left them.   

 

I like seeing the evidence that our granddaughters came for another visit!    And I’ll put things away...eventually.  To quote Miss Scarlett, “Tomorrow is another day!”  

 

I have officially become the grandmother I used to make fun of.

Always remember: if you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

Most comforting thing I've read this week...

 

Remember me between the stitches...

I used to write a blog about sewing.  Since that blog is sort of gone with the wind, I decided to share just a few of my favorite postings from that blog on this one. 

December 26, 2009...

    I would like to share an email I got from a friend that I see once a year - at Camp Sychar in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. She and I grew up there, albeit many years apart! I am 56 years old and she's a spring chicken! 

    After looking at some of my pictures on facebook and reading the blog posting about my dear Mother, Kim Harmon sent this note: "I remember your Mother from when I was little and I was just telling my kids the other day (while looking @ your photos) how kind she was to everyone. She ALWAYS had such a sweet smile and sweet spirit about her that even though I didn't get to know her as much as I now wish I would have, I'm so thankful for the example she gave us during those short 10 days of the year that we spend together.  I also wanted to share with you a little quote my Grandmother DeLong wrote in my Diary when I was a small little girl. She died when I was 12, and the Diary is a "Holly Hobbie" one so I know I must have been like 8-9 years old maybe when she signed it.... she wrote: 'When you're old and mending britches ~ remember me between the stitches.'  Maybe you've heard that before but I loved what she wrote and through the years it's made me smile when I mend something and think of her. I have her old Sewing Basket, which I use as my own. It's extremely unorganized and still has most of Grandma's stuff in it! I just can't get the nerve up to throw stuff out!"  Thank you, Kim, for sharing that with me!

Reading that post again made me smile.  I had the sweetest mother and I'm glad other people knew that, too!  

Always remember that if you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

Definition of Marriage

Wish I could remember who sent this to me so I could give them credit.  Thought this would make you smile tonight...  

In our case...Joe Green's wife is the weirdo! 😁

And remember, if you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

Watching the Dodgers

Watching the Dodgers play baseball with my husband.  

Here's the scenario...

        announcers are announcing

        volume is turned up kind of loud so my husband can hear it clearly

        closed-captioning is on because he can't hear everything

        Joe is in his favorite chair and I'm in mine

        Joe gives me play-by-play while we're watching and the announcers                

        are...........announcing

        I'm trying to hear the announcers, read the closed-captioning, and listen to Joe

        I'm not doing any of that well

        Betts, Freeman, Lux, Turner and the guys are doing their thing and doing it well

        Urias or maybe Kershaw is pitching

        I ask questions and get explanations that help my understanding of the game

        Roberts is chewing gum and observing

        Joe either complains about Bellinger or says he's doing better

        Dodgers win - we celebrate

        Dodgers lose - we remind one another it's only a game

😁

 

...asking for a friend

Is there a deadline for when packing boxes should be empty, broken-down, and recycled after the move to another house?  I’m asking for a friend.

 

We both know I’m not asking for a friend.  I just want someone who reads this blog to make me feel better after having moved into a house one year ago this week with boxes still randomly sitting about.  Most things are unpacked, but my sewing room is a maze of boxes.  The sofa that belongs in there is in our neighbor’s garage.  The table with built-in lamp that belonged to my sister is still in a giant box.  I’m not quite sure when I’ll get around to unpacking that room.  Not all the pictures are hanging on the wall yet.  

 

I just celebrated my 69^th birthday and I’ve lived in 22 places.  

1.     Greensboro parsonage #1

2.     Greensboro parsonage #2

3.     Galax parsonage

4.     Woodlawn parsonage

5.     Abingdon parsonage

6.     McComb parsonage

7.     Sabina parsonage

8.     Columbus/rented a room from aunt & uncle

9.     Columbus/German Village

10.  Columbus apartment

11.  Wilmore trailer #1

12.  Wilmore trailer #2

13.  McClure parsonage, which was an apartment in the church building 

14.  Dryden parsonage

15.  Ft. Oglethorpe parsonage

16.  Radford parsonage

17.  Alcoa parsonage that we liked so much after 10 years we bought it!

18.  Cleveland purchased home

19.  Kingsport parsonage

20.  Kingsport purchased home

21.  Maryville purchased home

22.  Alcoa former parsonage that we bought from the man we sold it to!

 

My daddy was a minister.  The first seven moves in my life was with my family, growing up in the south, then moving north to Ohio.  My mother did most of the packing when I was little but when I was 9 years old, she taught me how to pack up my bedroom.  She didn’t help me, but sat down with me, making suggestions on how to keep things from being broken in the move.  Who knew that pajamas and nightgowns wrapped around lamps and jewelry boxes would protect them!  Underwear was good for my little breakable things on the dresser.  And rolls of toilet paper could make a great box filler!  

 

Now I’m a grown-up, married to a minister, and know how to pack really well.  I kept a list of numbered boxes on my computer, with the contents of each box listed there.  Each room had their own boxes marked with the rooms they belonged in for our movers to take care of.  Signs were hung above each door to each room and we did great!  My organizational skills were put to use and worked extremely well.  Most of our moves were done this way.  (Pre-computer, I used a notebook and lined paper for the same information.)

 

Those methods worked extremely well until this last move to our forever home.  

 

Because we lived in the next town...boxes were packed and brought over periodically.  Nearly every time we came to the house while it was being remodeled, we’d carry over some boxes and stick them in closets.  No numbered boxes.  No lists.  I’m really regretting that now.  Hard to find what I need out in the garage which is still FILLED with boxes.  

 

The next time I move, I won’t have to pack anything!  

Next time I move...it’ll be feet first!

 

 

 

 

If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

There may be a urinal mentioned in my blog...

I was recently tasked with the job of putting signs up in restrooms at Lake Junaluska where our denomination's Annual Conference is held.  I had no problem with getting the signs into the Ladies' Restrooms, but had to have my husband and a couple of his friends help me get signs into the Men's Rooms.  

After realizing that I missed a few of the men's rooms, I had to find gentlemen who could help me.  I suppose it wasn't a great idea to stand and watch for men going in and out of the restrooms I had missed.  And it probably wasn't the smartest move to ask a total stranger - as he was leaving the facility...

        Me: "Are there urinals in there?"

        Stranger: "Excuse me?!?"

        Me: "Did you notice if there were urinals in there?"

        Stranger: "I don't remember."

  (he doesn't remember?!?)

        Me: "If there are, will you go back in and hang this sign over one for me?!?"

        Stranger: "Okay..."

...he said as he walked back into the restroom with one of my signs that already had tacky stuff on the back to make it stick.  

I guess there was a urinal in there because he didn't bring the sign out!

If you think that was a weird conversation, remind me to tell you about the wet nuts.

I like to close my blog with this: If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!

Grands

 Joe and I enjoyed the afternoon with our two granddaughters Ophelia and Azalea.  (Aren't those just the best names?!?!?)  Ophelia is 5 and Azalea will turn 4 this month.  

I don't know if these blog postings are even read anymore now that I can't promote them on Facebook.  But if you're still reading, let my grands make you smile today...

💛

Ophelia is always very careful around Grandaddy and doesn't climb on him quite as much right now because "...he just got his heart fixed and we don't want to break it again."  

💛

Azalea has been dealing with an "ear confection" but seems to be better.

💛

Azalea was exasperated when her scooter kept rolling away from her when she'd stop and get off for a moment.  Each time it rolled, she'd yell, "this in in-acceptable!" before running to catch it.  The more it rolled, the more she yelled at the scooter!  "This is completely in-acceptable!"  I agree, Azaea, but it sure was funny!

💛

Always remember that if you have a pulse, you have a purpose...so, make your life count!

All better...

Joe had his surgery for aortic valve replacement May 2nd and did quite well with everything.  He's recuperating nicely and is right on track for what is expected during this time after his procedure.

I just have to tell you what he did post-surgery...

Joe was rolled back into the room where our daughter and I sat with him before the procedure.  The surgery turned out to be the one that is less invasive...thankfully!  His eyes were closed and I thought he hadn't truly awakened from this.  The nurse stepped up to his bed and started fiddling with the machines around him, then asked, "Mr. Green, how are you feeling?"  

His eyes still closed, he began to sing, "I feel pretty, oh so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and bright..." from West Side Story.  Joe once again cracked up everybody in the room!  The two pastors/friends got a kick out of it.  

Glad to know the surgery didn't hurt his sense of humor that day!!!

My husband is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you're gonna get!

If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.  Make your life count!