Bring Lily Home- Click for a Chance to Win

See that blinking button? There's a great reason for that blinking button. You know the blog world is a fascinating world. Sometimes when I follow a blog I feel like I am walking a long side a person in their journey. Even though I have never met them I feel like I have. The blog world is a place where you can be vulnerable about all things in your life. You can be serious or humorous about your trials. And sometimes on those rare occasions you can actually get a chance to help. I have been following the blog "Our Journey to Love" for awhile now. And in that time I have read about Adrienne and her life with her husband and her son Owen. I have also read about 1 miscarriage (she has had 6 in all) and 2 failed adoptions. Two adoptions that they thought were going to be reality only to end in the birth Mom changing her mind at the end. There are very few people that I know that have been through more heartache. And they are very few people that I know that have had the courage and faith that Adrienne does. Now they have some amazing news! They are pursuing the adoption of a baby girl they will call Lily. You can read more about her story on her blog which can be found on the right hand side. And if you click on the blinking button you can donate to enter for a chance to win some amazing prizes. And all of the money will go to their adoption fund to bring Lily home. Just click. I promise when you see the prizes you will want to enter. And just think you can be a part of bringing Lily home to her forever family.

Just Try

I just got back from a 2 mile run. No running life lessons tonight other than the obvious: you should not run after eating mexican food at Rosa's. It does not do good things for your tummy. But that lesson should be fairly obvious.
So lately I have been trying some things. Trying new things is not really my forte. I like to stay in a comfort zone. Same ole same ole is usually my mantra. But lately I have wanted to start trying new things. Maybe it's because I'm getting older and am caring less and less about looking foolish and more and more about experiencing life. Have you ever seen something and think, "I wonder if I could do that?" Well that's what I have done lately. I'll start with the least daring and finish up with the most daring (in my opinion of course.)

#1 I made a cake. Not just any cake. A cake made with fondant icing. Fondant icing is that smooth looking layer that you see mostly on wedding cakes. Well I saw one in a book and followed the recipe and roughly 3 hours later this is what I came up with. Not spectacular, but not bad for a first try.I call it the Monet Cake. Looks good from far away, but it's a mess up close. I had so much fun I will definitely try it again.


#2 I tried out for a gameshow. I just had to. I have always wondered what it would be like. This is the gameshow that I tried out for.

I went to an open call. There were a lot of people. That's when I realized that a lot of other people just like me had watched this show and thought, "Hey! I could do that!" Basically they herd you into a group and make you wait for about an hour. I chatted with the girl next to me who thought it might be fun to try out. She was just killing time anyway. She started her new job at Hollister on Monday. Nice girl, got engaged in Paris at the Eiffel Tower, went to Seattle on her honeymoon. Just as I was about to ask her when they were going to have a baby (just kidding, I never ask a newly married not to mention newly met person that question) they herded us into the room to take the test. That's when I realized there were ALL kinds of people there to try for the chance to be on the show. Everyone from dressed up professionals to the woman who was wearing a bright pink T-shirt with the phrase "I heart my boobs." Yes all of of God's children were there. When they got us all situated we took the test. 40 questions, 10 minutes. It was hard. It was all over the place.Every subject you can think of. "Where is Osama Bin Laden's oldest son from?" "Who bought out Bear Stearns?" "What did Michael Jackson call wine in his molestation trial?" "Where did the sport of free running originate?" See what I mean? All over the place. I was guessing up a storm. Needless to say mine was not one of the numbers called at the end but I felt ok because I felt the test was hard. I did have to laugh because one of the questions was "Which company launched the brand name Hollister?" Of course Eiffel Tower knew it was Abercrombie and Fitch. I picked American Eagle. I will definitely do this again, but be better prepared next time.

#3 I asked my boss to work from home. This would be a perfect set up for me. I would get a "raise" from not paying daycare and best of all I would get to see my babies! I tried to convince him that this would be beneficial to him also. I could work outside regular hours in addition to business hours. I have to say he didn't seem too enthused but he said he would think about it. He still hasn't given me an answer so I have hope. I had to try.......

Here's my point. If you ever wonder if you can do something just TRY! I want to show my kids that they can do anything and TRY anything they want. And although they will fail at some of their attempts (see #1, #2 and probably #3) they can always be proud of themselves if they try and give it their best effort. And good grief, you will probably have some fun along the way. I know I did.:)

Breaking the 30 Mile Barrier

Tonight I have run exactly 31 miles since I started my running program. I broke the 30 mile barrier with a good 3 mile run. That's just about half the distance I will run in just a little under 2 months. I can feel my body getting stronger with every step. Tonight was a true milestone because until now I had only been running about 2.25 miles. Tonight I pushed my body even further to run that extra 3/4 miles. It felt great and I felt accomplished. Tonight was difficult as I really focused on keeping my breathing steady and my running form not so hunched over (I tend to do that.)Two life lessons I learned from running tonight. For every uphill where you're really slugging it out making every step seem like eternity there is a downhill where you can breathe a little easier and it seems like your steps are lighter. Now granted, there may be be several uphills before you get to a downhill, but you'll get there eventually. The second lesson I learned goes back to last Saturday when instead of turning down the second to last street I thought I would mix it up and turn down the last street. I was half way down the street when I saw three dogs rushing toward me. They were barking up a storm. Now I don't know about you, but when I'm running down a relatively dark street and I see three dogs coming for me there is a fairly good amount of fear in me. And I love dogs. I had to start walking so that I could judge my situation. Upon closer inspection I realized that they were just 3 over zealous yellow labs. Nothing to worry about. As I picked up my pace I realized that life is kind of like that. Sometimes the situations you think are big deals and come at you head on fiercely are really just perfectly normal non dramatic happenings. Ok that's it for my nuggets of running wisdom. And to show that this post is not all about me I will post some pics of the dynamic duo.

My Little Fishies

I love to swim and I want my kids to love to swim also. So I have to say that my heart sank a little when we walked Kate into the little kiddie pool at our neighborhood pool and she seemed afraid of the water. We couldn't figure it out. Sure she was timid when we took her to the big pool last time but this was different. This was a holding tight to your neck for dear life kind of fear. I saw a look in her eyes that I have never seen in her short 17 months. It was definitely fear. I do have to say that Carson on the other hand was having the time of his life. When I took him in the big pool later he was splashing and kicking for all he was worth. It was great. A true water baby. He was actually trying to jump out of my arms as if to say, "Alright Mom, now I've got it. Let me go and see what I can do!" I told him I was pretty sure that he could not do the freestyle and at 6 months I was just not willing to chance it.Jared decided to take Kate to the big pool and she calmed down. Hmmm...small baby pool= freak out, Big Pool=calm. This girl always keeps us guessing. As you can tell by this video Kate is not going to have a problem with the water. I'm so proud of my two little fishies. If you'll notice when the camera cuts away to Carson that is not a look of pride for Big sister, it was a look of pure jealousy. He so wanted to go into the water again. Priss was in a bad mood when we started out, but I had to capture the cuteness of the swimsuit. And then there's Bubby, happy for any new adventure! Love those ears!

10 Inches

That's the number of inches I cut off of my hair today. I love it. It's lighter and a lot cooler. And I didn't chop off my hair in vain. I am donating my 10 inches of hair to Locks of Love, a wonderful charity that makes wigs for kids who have lost their hair. And now for the before and after. :)

Tell the Truth....

Are these not the cutest little pigtails you ever did see?

Kate the Sanitation Engineer

The other day Kate picked up a trash bag and started carrying it off. Jared was elated because he thought that he finally had someone to help him take out the trash. Until he realized Kate thought the bag was a purse! She loves purses and anything she can carry like that (in the crook of her arm) makes her pleased as punch!

Night Running and Josh

I have had to revise my running plan (as I knew I would have to.)Flexibility is going to be key here if I want to stick to my plan. Jared has been closing mortgage loans after hours to earn us some extra money so I have not been able to run after work. I had to switch my plan to running after the kids go to bed. When the sun goes down it cools off to a frigid 98 degrees. I really can't believe that it can still be 98 degrees with no sun out but that's Texas for you!When Jared gets home and the kids are all tucked in bed I put on my running gear and run in our neighborhood. It's perfect when you think about it. I don't have to miss any valuable night time with Kate and Carson and I get the experience of running outside which I love. Much better than a tread mill. Our neighborhood is a little bit raw in some parts so I get to enjoy nature also. I have seen little frogs, birds, and lizards. Although I think if I were to see a snake (like the one that decided to camp out in our driveway a couple of years ago) my love of nature would take a dive. And when the sky is a little clear I can even enjoy some stars. The other night God was putting ona lightening show in the distance. It has been surprisingly easy to stick to and I have made all 3 of my schedule runs for the week. Something about being able to just step outside of your door makes it an easy solution. So I am up to 2.25 miles for each run. The .25 is thanks to a wrong turn I made the other night. I feel my endurance building and that is very encouraging.
Did you happen to catch the homerun derby the other night? Josh Hamilton was injured so he did not participate this year. Although they were eager to interview him because of the show he put on last year (28 homeruns in a single round). The lady who interviewed him asked him what was the best thing about hitting 28 homeruns last year? He said that the best thing was that it gave him the opportunity to share Jesus Christ with others. The lady who was interviewing him tried to press him for something more dazzling but he stuck to saying that it was all about Jesus. What a true example of someone who is using his talent and fame for spreading the gospel. I just wish there were more athletes like him. Sadly he is an exception.

Sweetest Boy in the Whole Wide World

Remember Us?

Jared and I went to Arizona this past week end. It was a great time of rest, relaxation, and reconnection. It was good to talk about something other than poopy diapers or that missing 7th bottle that we can't seem to find (the great mystery of our lives right now.) We talked about our hopes for the future, for our marriage,and our kids. We talked about his Dad and how much he would have loved this trip. I showed Jared where I went to high school and the house that we lived in.

We even got some great ice cream at the Sugar Bowl, an ice cream place that has been a Scottsdale tradition since 1958.




But the main idea of this trip was golf! And lots of it! Unlimited golf for 3 days.We played 54 holes of golf in all. One round each day. It was awesome and I now know why Jared loves this game so much. It is both frustrating and fascinating all at the same time. It is a roller coaster of a game. I am still learning but I love every minute of it. Jared is a great teacher and so patient. We enjoyed our first two days when we played McCormick Ranch Golf course but I think we would both agree our last day was the best. We played Silverado Golf course and it was so beautiful and scenic. All of the tee boxes were set up high off of the fairway. We also both had our best scores of the trip. I broke 100 with a 98 and managed to get 5pars (a big deal to a novice golfer like me :)) And Jared shot his all time best score of 78. For those of you who don't golf, that score is really incredible. I love golf. Mainly because I get to be with my most favorite person in the whole world for 4 straight hours with no interruptions. The trip was wonderful and relaxing. We ordered room service every night and slept 10 hours every night. Practical bliss to parents of young ones. But we loved coming back to the kids. We missed them so much we caught an earlier flight back so that we could be with them before they went to bed. Our friends Jodi and Derek took care of the kids for us. I am recommending them both for sainthood. Hudson and Kate are 10 days apart so they basically had twins and Carson for the week end. They gave us the best gift: peace of mind. Although we missed our babies we never worried about them because we knew they were having fun and being loved.That made us relax and enjoy our week end. We are so thankful to God for blessing us with this time together this week end. It blessed our marriage beyond measure.

What a beautiful swing!

Going through the tunnel to the back 9

Novice golfer

The sunrise from our hotel balcony


A view from McCormick Ranch- 18th green

Yes that's his follow through, but he didn't miss the ball. It was a practice swing!

Jared showing off his 78 scorecard. It was so much fun to watch him, he was like a kid on Christmas Day!

A view from the 14th tee box of the Silverado course

A view from the Silverado Course

This is Going to be Tough

Today as I was running I struggled. Maybe because it was after work or maybe because I'm just starting out or maybe because the gym didn't have anything good to watch on TV (I just need one good Law and Order to zone out and it was nothing but sports!) Anywho! I was having a hard time getting into a running rhythm. I still ran 2.5 miles though. That's a personal best so far.Someone told me a long time ago that once you get past the initial beginning phase running is all mental, mind over matter. It seems to be that way. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other because well....I'm on a treadmill and if I don't put one foot in front of the other I'll fall and give everyone around me a great story to tell at the office the next day. As I was running I was thinking that that is a good metaphor for my life right now. Putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes you just don't feel like it but you just have to keep going, putting one foot in front of the other or you'll fall. Something to chew on...I'm sure I'll have more of these little nuggets as I keep running. I tend to let my mind wander when I run. That's a good and bad thing. Stay tuned.......Sidenote: WHY OH WHY did Dairy Queen have to introduce the new Girl Scout Cookie Tag Alongs blizzard just as I start a healthy eating plan? So many injustices in the world!

Carson at 5 Months

Our boy is 5 months old and boy oh boy is he exploring everything around him. This wonderful boy that we affectionately call "Bubba" because that's what his sister calls him is our chubby boy of cuddly love. He weighs 6 lbs less (16 lbs) than Kate and is gaining on her. His new tricks include starting to stand supported and sitting for a little bit with no support. He uses a funny "four legged" approach when he gets tired and doesn't want to sit up all of the way. He resembles a cute little chubby monkey. Carson loves to be read to. He will sit there with excitement while I read to him. We were reading a book about firetrucks and police cars the other day. He was bouncing around with so much excitement I thought he was going to jump right out of my lap! He is still bald except for a little fringe of hair in the back. I noticed today that he is growing some new hair on top. Very exciting. His eyes are still big and blue. His chubbiness is beyond compare and we all love tickling him as he screeches with laughter. He is still waking up to say Hi at least once a night. But there are times like last night when he sleeps right through. He is a smiley boy and still loves to cuddle. Nothing is better than coming home from a long day of work and holding him close while he snoozes away. It is very relaxing for both of us. His bedtime is around 8:30 to 9 and he wakes up at 7 almost on the dot usually talking in his crib. And usually when I go into get him he flashes me a big "Good Morning Mom!" grin. Very soon I am going to start him on some rice cereal. I know that he probably should have already started judging from his appetite but he's my baby and I just don't want to rush it! It just seems like he is hitting his milestones quicker than Kate did. I can tell that he is on the brink of some very exciting things this next month. Sitting up for a longer period of time, standing supported, and maybe rolling over (if he wants to of course).Stay tuned for the sixth month update......

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Bubba!



Our little Monkey







Working the table

Memories are Made of This

Here are some memories from the past few days. They seem to come fast and furious and are never ending. Jared and I are endlessly blessed.

1. Kate removing the bottle from her mouth turning to her brother and saying, "Hi Bubba!"
2. Looking over to see Kate rubbing Carson's head to comfort him as he's crying
3. Kate tickling Carson on the tummy and saying "Dipa dipa dipa" (tickle, tickle, tickle)
4. Carson sitting up all on his own for a long extended period
5. Carson standing supported on the activity table
6. Kate showing Carson all about the activity table until she realizes he is getting too familiar with it and shouting "No!"
7. Giving Kate a bath and hearing two plops only to look down and realize that she has pooped in the bath tub. So ladylike. I couldn't stop laughing!
8. Carson wrapping his chubby little arm around my neck as I was putting him down the other night. As you can imagine we cuddled a little while longer.
9. Kate grabbing both of my hands (has to be both hands) so that I can sing twinkle twinkle little star while she moves her hips back and forth like a hula girl
10. Carson squealing with glee all the way to daycare and all the way home that same afternoon
11. Smiling at Carson and him shooting me that fantastic sideways grin
12. Kate sharing a bowl of cherries with her Daddy. As she is saying "mmmmmm" cherry juice running down her chin
13, Kate giving out big sloppy kisses before bedtime and in the morning when she wakes up
14. Kate blowing kisses to her teachers at daycare when she leaves
15 Carson intently staring at kate watching every move she makes
16 Teaching Kate the word apple and when I point to the picture of an apple she says, "Appo!"
17. Cuddling with Carson as he takes his "right before I get ready for bed" nap
18. Carson staring at his Daddy to get his attention and smiling huge when he does
19. Kate giving Carson a kiss with out us prompting

So many sweet memories. I just needed to come here and write them down. Living and loving in the moment!