Friday, November 25, 2011

My Turkey Trotting, Thanksgiving Meal Cooking Update

Dan and I traveled to San Antonio this week to spend Thanksgiving with Mom and Dad.

On Thursday, we ran our first 5k, the Gruene Turkey Trot. I wasn't nervous at all.. mostly. The gun shot and we all took off. It was so great to do this first race with my Man! He's the best. We actually kept a decent pace for ourselves. I spotted a couple about our ages that were ahead of us and suggested that we keep up with them. About three minutes later, Dan said, " Ok, let's back it off babe." I was secretly glad, they were scootin' right along! Clearly, they were younger and
more fit than we are! The last few yards were the best part of the whole race. Two seconds before the finish line, Dan says, "let's blast it out!" It turns out that his blast is faster than mine. He finished at 32:21 and I finished at 32:26. We were happy that we finished and weren't last!

After regaining our composure and beginning to breath again at a normal rate (as in able to breath and talk at the same time).. We rushed home to get Thanksgiving dinner ready. I'd prepped some dishes on Wednesday, but still needed to warm several and
make a few. No pressure on my first solo Thanksgiving... Girls, if you are still able to glean cooking wisdom from your Mom, Do It! Don't take her suggestions for granted. My sweet momma helped me as much as she could, but I needed some major help with this meal! A few dishes were too dry and I learned that adding Splenda to your cranberry sauce, in place of sugar, will make it bitter/sour/gross. I guess all in all it turned out well.. What I mean is... No one got sick.

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all! Shop 'til you drop!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Giving Thanks

Sometimes I feel the need to cry everyday...

Sometimes I feel like the storm that we are enduring will never end...

Sometimes I feel weary and weak, like I can't endure one more battle...

Sometimes I wonder what I could have done to deserve my current circumstances...

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever walk in the purpose that God has created for me...

Sometimes I wonder if He knows my name, knows my heartache, knows that I want to throw in the towel and lose faith...


Then I remember that He has given me promises like these:

2 Corinthians 12:9  - "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."

Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength."

Psalms 71: 21 - "You will restore me to even greater honor and even comfort me once again."

Then, I step back and look at the good in my life and the many blessings that God has given me. I am not going without when it comes to my daily needs. HE has provided.

My family took part in an outreach yesterday. We served our community with our church and helped to deliver Thanksgiving dinners to families in need. We were so overcome with blessing by being a blessing to others. We wanted to keep going and delivering, even after we had completed our assignments. There is such healing in reaching out to another family in need. 


Happy Thanksgiving Week! Give thanks for all that you have been blessed with, even if all you have is your next breath.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Observations From The Scrapyard

As I type this, I'm sitting at the scrapyard, watching what used to be very useful and very expensive objects be discarded like they never had a purpose.

There are cars, furniture, parts of equipment.. All things that were once used on a daily basis, but now sit broken and discarded. It makes me a little sad. But then I remember that all is this "junk" will be recycled and put back together and have a purpose once more.

I feel like our lives sometime parallel this experience... We are thriving and productive, moving through life. Then along comes a trial that knocks us out of productive life and we are broken and feel like we might never have a purpose again.
This verse came to mind:

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:5 NIV)

So when it seems like our life has become nothing more than junk and pieces that no longer fit together, remember, He promises to make us new again.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

You Win Some, You Lose Some

Well.. I made it for 13 days. I blogged every day for 13 straight days, until  yesterday. I just didn't have one extra second to post anything. So I guess I am out of the running in the NaBloPoMo.

Life is VERY busy for me these days. Too busy. I am having to work at prioritizing and not really succeeding at that like I need to. It seems so difficult to cut anything out because my obligations are all important.



I haven't been communicating with those close to me as well as I should be...
My home isn't as clean or organized as I'd like...
I missed blogging yesterday...
I haven't run in almost a week...
I only have about 10% of my Christmas shopping done...
I am in charge of Thanksgiving dinner next week and I don't have any of my recipes printed...
I still don't know what I am wearing for our family pictures and they are THIS SATURDAY...

I feel like I'm failing to meet the goals and expectations that I set for myself. But some days I feel like I am running from one task to the next with NO rest or break. Then I fall into bed and remember all of the things that I didn't accomplish that day. I know that I'm not the only one who struggles with this .. But some days it does seem daunting and OVER whelming.

I wonder if anyone else out there is struggling and what you do to get things in order?? Help.. Please!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

What's In Your Dryer

Don't ya just love the treasures that you find when you do laundry? This weekend, I collected five one dollar bills and some  change.. a pinecone.. a handful of candy wrappers.. AND a bouncey ball.. 

What's in your dryer?

Saturday, November 12, 2011

No Regrets


Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

Friday, November 11, 2011

Friday's Frenzy

These days I feel like life is going at warp speed... Friday is almost always my busiest day of the week.  


9am -  leave the house and drive to Colorado Springs
10am -  drop off one of the boys at a weekly appointment
10-11:30 - run errands (which include buying birthday and baby gifts @ Recess, one of the best children's stores in Colorado Springs ) 
11:30am -  pick up from my sweet boy 
12pm - grab quick lunch date with my sweet boy
12:30pm -  shop for snow pants and boots for the boys
1pm -  swing by Hobby Lobby for gift wrap and craft supplies
1:30 - drive back up the mountain with stops to get gas and pick up dry cleaning
3pm - finally back home
6pm -  birthday party for our sweet neighbor who turned 6 years old today
8:30pm -  drop off boys back to their mom : (

I always used to wonder what life would be like as a stay on the go at home wife and mom. I think I might have envisioned long days that I would have to work hard to fill with activity.  These days, I long for days of minimal activity.. with no plans or duties. I have become the hermit who is completely at peace with pizza and a good movie on a Friday night. Living so far away from town, every trip in is an effort, so we have to get everything checked off of our lists when we're in town.  Fridays are so full for me, but I love that I get the one on one time with one of the boys. It's special and I try to make it count. These are the days that we have our "deep" talks and he shares his heart with me. I listen and only give advice when he asks for it.. he needs me to hear what he's saying and he wants to know that he's going to have the bubble of that time with me and that what is said in the car stays in the car. I know that one day, he'll remember our weekly journey to town and I hope that it will be a bright moment in his memory.. because it certainly is in mine.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

I Never Imagined

I never imagined that I would live in Colorado...on a mountain



I never imagined that I would drive thirty minutes, one way, to go to the grocery store.. 


I never imagined that I would wear winter clothes for all year nine months out of the year...



I never imagined that I would warm my home with only firewood, or that I would be really good at starting fires on a daily basis..


I never imagined that I would marry a man that really loves me, just the way that I am, no matter what...



I never imagined that I would love this man more today than the day that I married him...



Our love and commitment to one another, no matter the challenges, is why I am happy in a place that I NEVER imagined that I would call home... 


And finally, I never imagined that I would love this life more than I would have ever loved the life that I imagined I would have.. Never limit your dreams, God always gives you more than you deserve.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Keep Going

Recently, I had a conversation with one of the men in my life. We were discussing how hard it is to keep going when something gets really hard... His issue was math, mine was running. He was telling me that he just wanted to give up when he wasn't able figure something out.. but someone encouraged him to dig in, take a deep breath, and how this showed him that if he just didn't give up, he could catch on.

I told him that I really understood that process... for years, I always admired those who called themselves runners. When I was younger, I could never keep up when we ran in PE. But about a year ago, I decided to attempt running.. I'd give it a try... I've been slowly working at increasing my speed and distance. I'm still not going very fast or as far as I'd like. But I keep lacing up my shoes and getting out there, as often as I can. 

I shared this with my little man and I told him.. I never thought I'd be running at this point in my life. I asked him if he knew what had changed in me.. He said no. I told him that I used to think that I just wasn't a runner. It was too hard to catch my breath and too hard to keep going. But now, many years later, when I'm now much older.. I've learned that if I just keep breathing and keep going.. then eventually I will reach my goal. 

So whether it's math, running, or whatever your challenge is.. just keep going.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Pressed, Not Crushed

Yesterday, I was struggling with some issues in my life. They are issues that just seem be to resurfacing over and over, each time with more intensity... and I try to stand strong in my faith, but some days, I just feel weary. 

As I was driving down the road, this passage came to mind,  I Corinthians 4:8-9, 
Verse 8  We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed andunable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;
Verse 9  We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;

I was instantly overwhelmed with God's goodness and that while I am questioning why He isn't working as fast as I think I need Him to.. He shows His love for me by reminding me that the trials I am enduring won't be the end of me. Don't you love how the end of verse 9 says NEVER STRUCK OUT AND DESTROYED! I know that I can withstand this time in my life because God will never leave me orforsake me. He will carry me through.

Monday, November 7, 2011

'Tis The Beginning Of The Season

Ahhh.. it's Monday. A new week full of tasks to accomplish and goals to achieve. Due to my schedule for the last few months and for the weeks coming up, I am determined to get my Christmas decor up and to attempt to make or recreate some of my Pinterest,  holiday pins. I do have my tree up..yes, I know that it's a tiny bit early, but hey, my honey has been playing Christmas music since July. He's crazy like that. 

How lucky am I??

Plus, we've got snow on the ground with more on the way.. so I think it's just appropriate. Don't you??


We love the holidays at our house.. I got it honest, from my Dad, he LOVES Santa. Isn't that the greatest.. I love everything about this time of year. Well, I don't like that we live so far from our family. Mine in 16 hours away in Texas and his even farther away in South Carolina. Distance does make the holidays a little bittersweet, but we are doing our best to make any time we spend with family, EXTRA SPECIAL. 

So Happy Monday everyone.. that's right, Happy Monday. We're alive and we are entering the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

More to Come

After being out of town for almost a month, I feel like I have been going non-stop all day long. This is the first time today that I've been able to stop and write. I am already struggling a little with my NaBloPoMo challenge (posting daily for 30 days and I still have 24 days to go!).. But I am determined to stick with it. 

I promise to be back with a much better post tomorrow.. bear with me friends!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Take Time to Listen

Sometimes we think that the ones we love need so much from us.. we suppose that need quality time, home-cooked meals, a sparkling house, empty laundry baskets... the list could go on and on. 

Tonight I spent time listening to one of the three men in my life. He said something very interesting "I just want to know that I can talk and that someone important to me will listen." Such a simple statement. He loved just sitting on the bed and sharing his heart. He just wants to be heard.. isn't that what we all want? 

It made me step back and think about all how much I pile on my plate,trying to keep my home clean, pantry stocked, and bellies full. Those are all very important and vital ingredients in a strong family.. but really if I can't take the time to stop and listen to my family, then how much of a difference will the other things that I do matter? 


Friday, November 4, 2011

What Day Is It?

After being in Texas for a little over three weeks, I am trying to adjust to being home. Today was a full one for me..


  • Drove one of my boys down to Colorado Springs (an hour drive) for a tutoring session.
  • Ran to a couple of thrift stores.. it's my guilty pleasure and I scored a pair of J Brand Jeans for $5.99. Thank you to the lovely girl who donated them for her tax write-off. Keep 'em coming girl!
  • Went to Hobby Lobby looking for wall hooks and some wooden/cardboard letters (thank you Pinterest). I realized that my beloved Hobby Lobby has cut back on the discounts. The last two times I've been, there haven't been as many 50% off deals. What happened? I am bargain shopper.. I need big discounts!
  • Quick lunch date with my boy.. love that bonding time!
  • Ran my car through the car wash to get the 4 inches of mud off. It is supposed to snow tomorrow and I wanted it to be fresh and clean.
  • Drove halfway back home and stopped at the grocery store.. Apparently my menfolk survived on Eggos, Cereal, and Nutella while I was away. We had almost nothing in our pantry and fridge.
  • Got home and hit the pavement to get my run in for the day. I didn't really have the energy, but if it snows tomorrow I will not be venturing outside! Plus, I'm signing up to do a 5k in Texas on Thanksgiving. Pray for me.. pray hard.
  • Finally, made dinner and cleaned up... DONE! 

I love my life.. love my boys.. it takes a lot of energy and it's sometimes thankless. But this is the life that I prayed for and I will do my best to see even the challenges as a blessing. The right man is worth the wait, girls, remember that. It isn't always a fairy tale, but it will be your love story. Make it exciting, romantic, amazing and also be okay with the boring, ordinary, same 'ole routine days that you cherish. 


Thursday, November 3, 2011

Blog Swap, NaBloPoMo.. and other ramblings

I participated in a Blog Swap this Fall.. it was such a very, fun experience and I really enjoyed getting to know some new friends. Check out my all of the great gifts that my new friend,Noelle, sent to me. The swap was so much fun.. the idea was to send your person gifts that represented the letters F-A-L-L. Thanks girls, for letting me be a part of it. Check out my post over at Blogger's Swap. Maybe some of my Texas friends might like to be a part of the next one??

Also, I signed up to be a part of NaBloPoMo,  that's short for National Blog Posting Month. The idea being that you post on your blog everyday in the month of November. I don't know what the heck I was thinking, because I have had the busiest year and the past six weeks have been hectic. But what the hay (or hey), whatever.. Here I am, on day 3. Please show your love and try to check back to see if I've written anything creative or astounding. Kidding, I'm kidding.. but I am posting for 30 days straight. 

Alrighty,  y'all.. I'm off to watch the end of Private Practice and then get some much needed rest. Adjusting to the altitude is not for the weak and it makes me very sleepy. Night.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Home

Home. Husband. Happy. I'm finally home and all tuckered out from my day of travel. I'll be a good blogger and post a good blog tomorrow! Night all!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Prayers, Please..

I have been in Texas for three weeks now... I spent a few days working in Amarillo and seeing friends and then I came to San Antonio to spend time with Mom and Dad. Dad has had to be out of town for work. Mom and I like to watch movies, window shop, and just sit together, doing nothing at all. I am so blessed to be able to spend this time with her. 

Tomorrow, I will head back to Colorado.  I've been told that a cold front is moving in there and that I'd better be ready to bundle up (it's currently 70 here in Schertz and the predicted high tomorrow in Lake George is 31, EEEKKK!) I'm ready to see my husband.. he's truly a saint for letting me stay gone for so long. I am really looking forward to seeing him!!  

I'd like ask that you pray with us.. My mom has been experiencing some pretty intense pain on her post stroke, affected side. I've done some research and most articles point in the direction of nerve pain, it's common after you've experienced a stroke. There really isn't rhyme or reason for what triggers the intensity or location. Tomorrow she will see a chiropractor and we are hoping for some relief.  We NEED to see relief. The pain has be almost constant for the last two weeks. We continue to trust God and have faith in His healing power.. 

Thank you friends.