Odd Sleeping Beauty

She used to sleep with just a sleeping mask...now it's a sleeping mask and a head light. Hey, whatever works for ya doll.

My little fish

Collin, 22.75 months : learned to swim all by himself (with the help of floaties) last week.

Landon, almost four : Loves to leap in the pool this year.

Kaitlyn, age 5 : is swimming on her own and has even figured out how to snorkel.

While I wait...

Crazy Boys and Tub Fun

Three blessings

My babies are growing up. It may not be that evident to me all the time, but they are doing it right before my very eyes.

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My princess is five.

She will be starting kindergarten in just two short months. Where has the time gone?

We have been spending time at Grandma's pool. She has learned to swim. Yesterday, we had some family time there. Dan and I stole a few kisses...okay more than a few...only to hear Kaitlyn in the background saying, "I've got my eyes on you," and giggling.

Last night, we dropped Kaitlyn off at her very first ballet/tap class (a birthday present from Gammy and Poppy)...just dropped her off. The night before she was so excited, but hesitated for a moment and added, "What if the other girls make fun of me because I am new?" I tried my best to calm every fear of hers. She was a little shy when we got to the studio at first. When I went in to pick her up, she was all smiles and couldn't wait to show me everything she learned. She's tall and slender...the perfect ballerina type.

****

My little man is looking older by the day. He will be four in a month and a half. Wasn't I just plugging his ya-ya in his mouth when I needed some peace and quiet?

He is ever so considerate...a peacemaker. He gets along with everyone. He has taken to looking out for his little brother and making sure he is happy.

He loves to swim. He's pretty good at taking giant leaps into the pool. Yesterday it was extremely cute seeing him climb up on the raft next to Daddy and try to mimic the way he was laying.

Yesterday evening he looked up at me and said, "When I grow up I am going to get married." I said, "oh yeah, who are you going to marry?" He replied, "A girl who is nice to me." That's a good place to start, but with those killer blue eyes I am sure he'll have them lined up.

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My angel boy has become not such an angel. I knew it was bound to happen. He will be two in August. Wasn't it just yesterday that I almost had this little fireball in the car?

A almost two year old should not be doing some of the stuff that he is able to do. He is a climber. He has also learned to swim around the pool by himself with the help of floaties...he is so little so it looks so hilarious to watch him kick around by himself.

He is in to copying...copying words, copying actions. I especially love it when I look over and he is copying the way I am sitting or the way I am moving my hands when I am talking.

He is social. My first to actually walk himself right into the nursery at church...or walk around the church with no care to where Daddy or myself are...pant-less for that matter. That's my boy, but he needs to remember that we save that for the privacy of our own home.

****

Thank you, Lord. How could I ask for more?

D-A-D

Flashback.

My wedding. After watching him run to the bathroom minutes before he was supposed to walk me down the aisle, he returned and I took his arm. I couldn't believe this was it. I held on tight as he walked me down the long staircase. I always felt safe with him. We got to where Dan was standing and my Dad stood between us. Life as Daddy's little girl flashed before my eyes. It was time already. He said the words, "Her mother and I," and gave me away. With tears running down my cheeks and the past twenty years gone in the blink of an eye, I hugged him with everything, going over in my head just how thankful I was for him.
******
He's my Dad...the first man I ever loved. He was the biggest, strongest, smartest man on the planet. He could beat up any other kid's dad. He was 7' 11" tall and could pick up a car. He knew everything and could fix anything. He was superhuman. Aren't all Daddy's?

God blessed me with a Father who was man enough to be called Daddy. Happy Father's Day, Dad! Thank you for showing me a Father's Love.

God also blessed me with another man who is man enough that my children call him Daddy. He is the first man they have ever loved. He is the biggest, strongest, smartest man on the planet. They think he is 7' 11" and can pick up our car. He knows everything and can fix anything. He is superhuman and I am finding out more everyday just how incredible he is. My kids call him Daddy and I am blessed to call him my husband.

Happy Father's Day, Dan. I am so very proud of you. God has taken us places that I would never have chosen for us, but it has moved our relationship somewhere that we could have never gotten on our own. It's insanely easy to become a father, but difficult to become a Daddy. Thank you for the way you care for our kids. I have watched you come such a long way in just the last couple months. I am certain they will never forget these special moments with you. You are a great man! Happy Father's Day.

Lacking Nothing

The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands.

He has watched over your journey through this vast desert.

These forty years the LORD your God has been with you,

and you have not lacked anything.

~Deuteronomy 2:7

Sweetest Things

The best things in life are nearest:

Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.

Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

My Ocean

Dear Lord,

I come before you thankful.

You have provided, even when I have doubted.

You have carried us much farther than we could have ever walked ourselves.

You have taught us more in these past nine months about loving, supporting, encouraging, trusting, giving that we have learned in our entire lives.

You have given us a better marriage, a better friendship, a better family.

Father, forgive me for all of the times this past week that I have doubted...that I have let myself slip back down and believe that there is no hope for us.

Forgive me for doubting your perfect plan...for being angry with You...for the jealousy I have had when it seems like everything is going right for everyone else but us.

I am sorry for my unbelief and lack of faith in all you have done and continue to do for us.

Lord, with you, anything is possible and you take even the darkest most discouraging circumstances and work them together for Your good.

You tell us to approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

I am asking that you provide Dan with this job. We want to do great things for You.

I thank you for allowing us to walk this road.

It's been harder than I have ever imagined...unbearable at times.

I have cried out, cried myself to sleep at night, but I thank you that you have seen every tear that I have cried and heard every cry for help.

I have never been a quitter...especially when I know I can win or at least finish.

This is something that has no end in sight.

I don't feel like finishing any more.

I just want to lay down...I just want to lay down.

I am tired, so tired of fighting...so tired of trying to stay positive, stay focused.

Please help me find my rest in You.

Help me to, everyday, give You the fight.

Thank you for loving me enough, us enough, to mold us into what you want us to be.

Let us only give you glory for it.

Amen.

Best Thing

Tonight while putting my daughter to bed:

Me : Okay Kate, what do you want a lullaby about?

Kaitlyn : What's the best thing that has ever happened to me?

Me: It's when you asked accepted Jesus as your Savior

Kaitlyn : Okay, what's the second best thing that has ever happened?

Me: Humm, how about going to Wiley's Hotel as a family for Daddy's birthday?

Kaitlyn : How about a third thing?

Me: Well, I don't know of a third thing.

Kaitlyn : We should get workin on a third thing then.

She settled on a lullaby about the second best thing that has ever happened to her in her short little life. I gave her sweet cuddles. She pulled my face close to hers and said:

"I know of the third best thing. It's when I got you and Daddy for my parents. I love you, Mommy."

It melted my heart...but wait a minute, we are number three...and a trip to a hotel is in front of us!!?? :-)

Good night, sweet girl.

Days like these...

It's days like these that I forget.

I forget that we are two months away.

I forget that life isn't as usual...as it was last summer.

I forget that my husband doesn't have a job.

We have had a wonderful two days. I have been off work. The weather has been beautiful. Grandma's pool has been loads of fun. It has felt like a mini vacation of sorts....carefree. I am thankful for these days...days that I can forget.

For a few summers now, we have been packing the kids up and heading over to grandma's pool. Summers were the best. The cold weather was over and that meant that work would pick up. I loved summers. I was a SAHM and life was carefree. This summer is different...unlike any summer I have ever had. It's hard to get used to...obviously, it's been a little over 9 months and I am still not used to it.

I could get used to days like these though....days that I forget.

Days that I forget what the dead of winter feels like.

Days that I forget that my babies are getting older.

Days that I forget about nap time.

Days that I forget that m&m's and jellybeans are not part of a well balanced diet.

Days that I forget that there are bills to be paid.

Days that I forget the troubles of this world.

It's days like these that I hope I always remember.

Little Wonders

I watched Meet the Robinson's last night for the first time with the family. Loved it! Made me long even more for "B".

Held

A little wet...

I remember running and playing in the rain. Jumping on the trampoline in a down pour. Those are great memories. It felt like we were breaking the rules for some reason. That we were doing something we weren't supposed to do, but our parents were fine with it. I want those memories for my kids.

This afternoon, we could see a storm blowing in. It brought a lot of rain...a lot! Toward the end of it, I suggested that my kids go out and run in it. They acted shocked but were more than willing. My youngest was more unsure and I walked him out there. A few huge puddles had formed in our back yard. Perfect for jumping!

Another 10K

What a difference a year makes!

Last year, I was running my first ever race. This year, I ran my 3rd 10K and my 5th race.

I had a lot of excuses when I woke up this morning that I wanted to use:

• I worked last night


• I didn't get to bed until midnight


• I was up two times with the kids


• I have a blister on my right heel


• I am tired


• I would have rather been in bed


• I haven't run 6.2 miles in a while

Getting there was pretty much everything. Once I was there at the race, I was glad I got my butt out of bed. I wasn't too motivated at the beginning of the race, but once the gun went off and I ran the first mile, my determined side started to come out. I was gonna finish this race and I was going to beat my two previous times of 1:06 and 1:03...I was going to beat the cute little girl in the green shirt too. :-) And I did just that!

I thought about a lot in the hour that it was just me and Forrest (my ipod). I did a lot of praying, thinking, reflecting, and thanking my God for all he has blessed me with. I prayed for many of you reading and dedicated my miles to you.

Mile one was for Dan and that God would be right on time with a job for him. I prayed for his test coming up in two weeks. I asked for that job for him.

Mile two was thanking God for my parents and in-laws...my husband and I have been truly blessed by the parents that God has given us.

Mile three was for a little boy, B that I am praying is ours one day.

Mile four was for a few of my friends and I spent it praying for things going on in their lives.

Mile five was for my kids. I am blessed to have them!

Mile six was for the parents of Joey, Olivia, Gabriel...babies that have gone to heaven and are whole and happy.

The last quarter of a mile was for me...all me. I kicked it up a notch and felt all I had take me to the finish line.

My watch said 60.23. My official time was 1.01.001. I shaved 5 minutes off my time from last year on the same course. I was happy. The 10K is my favorite race.

Next 10K will be under 1 hour.

Giving

Sixty percent of the population is medically eligible to give, yet only 5% of the population donates.

What you ask?

Blood.

It's been almost a year since I got my tattoos. So, for almost twelve months I have been unable to give blood. I told the people at Lifesource to give me a call when I was eligible again. They are on top of things and called me on Tuesday.

This time, I am changing things up. I am going to go in and donate platelets...a process that takes no less than 1.5 hours. I was told to bring a movie or a book while I lay there. I think I will just shut my eyes and rest. It will be pretty neat for me...interesting. They will hook me up to a special machine that will extract the platelets from my blood and put the rest back. How cool is that?! In 48 hours, my body will have made up for what was taken out. Amazing.

Facts (sorry, I just had to...things that deal with the human body, blood especially, are just fascinating to me):


What are platelets?


Platelets are the cellular component that stops bleeding.


Who needs platelets?


Patients with cancer or leukemia, transplant patients and people with blood disorders, such as aplastic anemia, benefit from platelet transfusions. During chemotherapy and radiation treatment, both cancer cells and platelets are destroyed. Many of these patients need platelet transfusions to prevent uncontrolled bleeding.


Why donate platelets?


Your healthy platelets can help a patient whose body needs help preventing severe bleeding or bruising because his or her own platelets are weakened or destroyed.


Is it safe to donate?


The apheresis kit in the cell-separating machine is sterile and is discarded after each donation. It is impossible to get AIDS or any viral disease by donating platelets. Each donation is closely supervised by trained staff who observe the donor throughout the process. The donation does not significantly decrease the number of platelets in the donor’s body, and the donated platelets are quickly replaced. Donors experience no bleeding problems.


Platelet Donation Procedure


Platelet donations are made through a process called apheresis
(ay-fur-EE'- sis). Blood is drawn from the donor's arm and channeled through a sterile, disposable kit housed in a special cell-separating machine. The machine spins the blood to separate the platelets, then returns the red blood cells and plasma to the donor. The body can actually replace the amount of platelets donated in about 48 hours.

A wonderful time...

My Mom and all of her girls.

The cousins (all a year apart in age)

The boys on Poppy's tractor

Poppy and my sister's son.

My nana, my sisters, and me

My Papa and me

Landon cuddling with my Papa...they had a lot of fun together.

The boys playing blocks with my Nana

Aunt Amber letting the kids feel their new cousin coming next month!!