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My Plea for Prayers

October 7, 2013 By 6 Comments

I have 4 babies, and 3 of them are girls.  Since the moment I saw the positive pregnancy tests, I prayed that any girls I birthed would be blessed with precious friends that would love them, encourage them, be kind to them, hold them accountable, and lead them closer to the Lord.  Especially for girls, my prayer was that they would be blessed with friends…as I have been blessed.

I can say with certainty that I have been blessed beyond measure with lifelong, amazing friends.

Well this weekend, two of these precious friends were in a horrible car accident.

I know so many of you can relate to this, but my college friends are irreplaceable.  Yes, I have made friends since college.  Amazing, wonderful, dear friends!  But there’s just something about the women that you spend 4 years of your life with, that bond you forever as lifelong best friends!

Of course we don’t see each other as often as we should.  We have a million children between the few of us.  But all it takes is a second and we jump right back into feeling like we’ve never been apart.

We get each other.

We know each other.  We know each others’ home towns.

We know each others’ maiden names…and not just because it’s on Facebook.

We know each others’ struggles and quirks.

We know things…because we were together 24 hours a day…for years.

We know who fills coffee mugs full of ketchup and mustard for a snack and who has night terrors that wake the whole house up and who must clean her ears out every single day and who pops backs and who pops pimples and who is messy and who slept on a tiny corners of their beds because the rest of their beds were covered with clothes and books.  We know who showers every day and who should shower every day and who has a little gas and who claims she has NEVER!  We know who is responsible and who should never be allowed to pay the bills, and who would fall hard and fast for boys and who was skeptical and picky.  We know who can cook and who can eat and who works out, who makes messes and who cleans them up.  When we are hurting, we know who will cry with us, who will make us laugh, and who will punch the fire out of the offender!

We know each others’ family drama, skeletons in the closets, and Jerry Springer issues.

We helped each other through regrets and projects and deadlines.

We owned a cat together…and a goat.

We know what makes each other sad and how to cheer each other up.  We watched each other make wise choices and sometimes we laughed at each others’ walks of shame.

We watched crushes turn into relationships and sometimes we held each other as relationships dissolved.  We did more “drive bys” for each other than I can count.

We talked through a lot of “what ifs” and “what might have beens” over Taco C, big gulps, gut packs, and cafeteria take-out.

We cried on each others’ shoulders when we fell or failed.  We celebrated each others’ successes and accomplishments.

We baked cookies and muffins and rice krispie treats and shared so many bowls of batter that we should all weigh 400 pounds.

We learned how to pray together and learned the value of prayer together.

We grew from little girls into women together.

We have seen most everyone meet their mate, have giddy first dates and first kisses, and fall in love.  We helped plan engagements and plan weddings and celebrate wedding days together.

We have birthed babies that know and love each other (although not living in Dallas, my babies don’t get to see them as often as I would like.)

We love each other…the good, the bad, and the ugly…and we have certainly seen it all.

The photo below shows Ashley, Kristin, me, Kimberly, and Samantha.

…and this weekend something horrible happened.

Two of my precious friends were in a horrible accident.  Ashley and Kristin live in Dallas, but they were outside of Washington DC for Ashley’s little brother’s wedding.  Friday, Ashley was driving she and 5 other people, including Kristin, Ashley’s mom, and a few of her aunts, when a woman traveling the opposite direction veered into Ashley’s lane, causing a horrendous crash.  All 6 people in Ashley’s car were taken to the hospital.  Sadly, one of Ashley’s aunts did not survive the accident.  Kristin was the only one fortunate enough to walk away, but not without bruises and injuries and the mental horror of the accident.

Sweet Ashley is in very critical condition.  She was 8 months pregnant, and she has lost her little baby.  Travis, her husband, and Ashley’s daddy got to hold baby Charlie, but Ashley has been in a medically induced coma since the accident.  We were told that although Ashley lost her baby, the baby probably saved her life.  Ashley has had surgery to repair different parts of her broken and crushed body, but she has many more surgeries to come.  Her left side was basically crushed…her femur, hip, elbow, and shoulder will all have multiple surgeries.

She will one day have to face the reality that her life will never be the same.  She will awake to the very harsh realization that she is in a hospital, hundreds of miles from anything familiar; that her two children (Jack Henry and Finley) are in Dallas with friends and family, that she missed her only brother’s wedding and her aunt’s funeral, that her body is bound and broken, and that her tiny angel, Charlie, saved her life, was born, and has gone to be with the Lord.

She has a long, hard recovery ahead of her.  Hard mentally, physically, emotionally.

But Ashley is a fighter!

The Lord graciously spared her life, and though she is currently in critical condition, I have faith and confidence that He will restore her tiny body completely!  She is determined and I know she will push through for her babies and for her husband and for her whole family.  She is a marathon runner, a go-getter, and one of those people that just seems to be able to do it all.  She will pull through!  But it’s not going to be easy.

At this point, I am begging for prayers for my friend, for her family, for the bride and groom (Ashley’s brother), for the woman that hit them, for the doctors caring for her body, for the friends and family caring for her babies, and for her husband, Travis, to have strength through all of this!

Please join me in lifting this family up today and in the days, weeks, and months to come.  As I type this, Ashley is in yet another surgery, so I am just going to type my plea and my prayer to the Lord.

Lord, as I look at the picture of my precious friend and my baby girl loving on each other, i thank you so much for ashley!  thank you that she gets me.  thank you that we understand each others’ struggles and insecurities.  thank you that you chose to spare her life friday, and i am begging that you will quickly heal her body.  Lord, i know that she is mangled and crushed and that her legs and arms may never be like they were on thursday, but please help the doctors to be able to restore her bones and muscles and skin and all the many parts of her body that they are working on, to be whole again.  to work properly again.  to function without constant pain or a constant reminder of friday’s accident.

please, Lord, help the doctors and nurses to always have her best interest at heart and know that she is a mama and a wife and a young woman that wants to resume “normal” life again.  i pray that they will know exactly what to work on, when, and what parts of her body need the most immediate attention right now.  help her heart rate to come down a little more.  please keep her body free from infection or any illness.  please continue to heal her kidney and her abdomen.

Lord, of course physically, i want you to make her “Ashley” again.  i pray that she will run again.  i pray that you will give her the ability and strength and determination to strap on her running shoes and train again.  i pray that she blows doctors and statistics away with her recovery, her physical recovery.

Lord, i can’t imagine how hard this recovery is going to be for her mentally.  it is going to try her and stretch her and strain her mind…but please, Lord, PLEASE give her the peace that comes only from you.  please give her constant reassurance and knowledge of your love and your presence and your hand.  help ashley see YOU in every part of this, and i know that is going to be hard sometimes. 

please give her sweet husband strength.  he is going to need enough for both of them.  help him to understand her cries and her pain and her struggles.  help him to hold her and love her through it all.  give him a sensitive heart to the anguish that she will endure over the next year.  Lord, i pray that this accident will bring out the strengths of their marriage.  that they would see, because of this, why they love each other so much.  please help travis as he plays mama and daddy and care-taker and house-keeper and all the many hats he will wear.  help him to not tire, and when he does, please provide the people he needs to assist him, rejuvenate him, and keep him strong.

thank you, Lord, for all the friends you have placed in ashley’s life.  thank you for all the people that love her and care about her.  thank you for all the people lifting her up in your name, around the country.

thank you for her 2 precious babies.  please protect them as ash and trav are away.  please give them peace and help them to have “fun” and protect them from knowing all the details of what is actually happening.  Lord, let them welcome their mother home with open arms as quickly as possible.  please help them to maintain a sense of normalcy and help the people caring for them to try to do things as much like ash and trav would as possible.  comfort them as they are without their parents.

thank you for sending sweet charlie to save ashley’s life.  thank YOU for saving her life.  thank you for providing so many to help her get through this.  thank you that she knows YOU as her Lord and Savior!  Thank you that she knows you have a plan for her.  may she never forget that you DO have a plan for her. 

help her to feel all this love from all over the world that is directed at she and travis. 

for now, help her to rest peacefully and to heal.

thank you, Lord, for my sweet friend!

amen.

-kate

20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”  -Eph 3:20-21

Filed Under: real life

Thank You, Lord, For My 3rd Grader!

May 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

It’s 2:31 am, and I have not been able to go to sleep due to the tornadoes in Oklahoma.  My little brother and his family live in Oklahoma City, and the tornado was headed straight for their house.  The path of the tornado is seen in the picture below, and my brother’s house is where the yellow dot is.

The horrible, devastating, destructive, mighty force was headed straight towards my sister-in-law Kelly, and my beautiful baby niece, Brinley!  Praise the Lord it dissipated right as it neared the lake by Taylor’s house.  Praise the Lord that Kelly’s parents have a concrete storm room in which she and Brinley ran to for shelter.

However, not everyone has been so fortunate.

I simply can not imagine what the people of Moore are experiencing, and I pray I never have to!  I just can’t help but be thankful for my third grader tonight!

You know, when the tragedy at Sandy Hook happened, all I could think about was Preston.  What would I do if something happened to my baby?  Any of my babies…but Preston is the only one in “school.”

When the Boston Marathon bombing took place, a little boy Preston’s age was killed.  Again, I just thanked the Lord for my son and prayed over him that night, thanking the Lord for him and begging for protection for he and his sisters.

Tonight, as I watch the footage of this horrible storm, already emotional because of how close it was to my brother, I can’t help but cry and thank God for my third grader!  So many parents tonight are longing to hold their babies, praying for hope, and devastated by so much loss.  I couldn’t help but stand over my baby boy, my firstborn, and thank the Lord above for him!

The picture is blurry because I was trying to take it in the dark, but I am so thankful for that baby boy!  He still sleeps with his blanket, though tattered and torn, and his dog, Rover, beside him in the bed.

I love him!

So innocent and yet so wild.  So big, and yet so young.  So smart, and yet still acts like a fool…but I am pretty sure that is part of the make-up of a 9 year old boy!

What would I do without him?

Today, I am thankful that he is peacefully sleeping in his bed.

Today, I am thankful that he got to play with his buddies in our front yard.

Today, I am thankful that he let LK “pitch” to him.

Today, I am thankful that he kissed me goodbye this morning with a smile on his face.

Today, I am thankful that I got to see him play baseball and pitch a great game!

Today, I am thankful for all his quirks and his little boy-ness.

Today, I am thankful for my third grader.

Lord, thank you for protecting Taylor, Kelly, Brinley, Linnie and Pat.  Thank you for stopping the tornado before any more destruction occurred.  Please, Lord, somehow, bring something positive from this horrific event.  I pray that your mighty hand would be at work through the hearts of all those affected.  Please help the people of Oklahoma seek you and find you.  Lord, please give these poor families who have lost loved ones an indescribable peace.

Also, Lord, thank you for Preston.  Please help me to love on him and show him how much I love him.  Please protect him physically, emotionally, and mentally.  Thank you for all these wild ones you have blessed us with.  Please, Lord, help me to protect them and love them the best I can, but I pray that you protect them from harm and danger.

Thank you, Lord!

-kate

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Filed Under: real life

Friday Fav #16-Ephesians 4:29-5:2

September 2, 2011 By 7 Comments

Around this time last year I started running longer distances, and I memorized scripture passages to get me through some of the longer runs and the half marathons.  One of my most FAVorite passages is Ephesians 4:29-5:2

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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I tried to decide what I should post as my Friday Fav.  I wanted to talk about my most fav stain fighter or my most fav coffee right now, but this verse just keeps HITTING me in the face!  I even tried to avoid posting this and I referred back to a list I made in February of things I wanted to post as Friday Favs, and out of 6 Favs, THIS was one of them.  So I guess this is what I need to hear today…and maybe you do too?!?  :)

Let me start by saying this has been a ROUGH week!  The girls have been precious and have played together beautifully.  LK has even slept a few nights this week.  (YAY!)  However, starting school is always very tough on Preston.  He requires MUCH more sleep than his roommate, Lilly Katherine, and the start of school throws us for a loop.  We sent him to half day kindergarten in part because he napped every day until the day before first grade. :)  Don’t be jealous…I can promise you LK wasn’t napping.

Anyway, Preston is a typical first born male.  He is logical, literal, analytical, TYPE-A, a rule follower, and over-all a very good kid.  He’s smart and likes to do his best at school.  It would CRUSH him if he got in trouble in school and I know that he does as he’s told, which makes me a very proud mother!  However…at HOME…this is not always the case.  Preston is extremely aggressive and intense, and the sleepier he is, the more aggressive and intense he becomes.  He’s so good at school that it’s like he uses up all his “good”ness there and has to let all his energy, aggression, wiggles, and frustrations out when he gets home.  That makes for a very challenging afternoon/evening at our house.

On top of that, my brilliant little boy HATES and I mean HATES to read.  He would rather be throwing a ball, and he’s been still ALL DAY LONG, so he just simply can’t do it anymore.  This is where the aggression and frustration enter.  Let’s just say if any of you have walked past our house in the last 2 weeks between the hours of 3:30-5:30 you would think I was beating someone, but it was just Preston avoiding his homework.  I have talked to him, tried to reason with him, Brad has talked to him, prayed with him, prayed for him, we’ve punished him, taken privileges away, and I was at the end of my rope.

I went for a short jog yesterday and was praying for my maniac when THAT VERSE came into my mind AGAIN, and I realized what I need to do with Preston.  I need to be teaching him scripture, so that his little mind can refer back to it when he needs it.  I need to be able to point to specific places in the Word that instruct him and guide him.  I, KATE, I need to hear the words of this verse echoing through my brain every moment of every day!   I myself need to get rid of rage and anger.  I need to speak affirming words to him that will benefit him and not things that will exasperate him or grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  It’s hard for Preston to get rid of rage and anger if his mother is screaming “Settle down!!!”

Preston needs to know these words.  He needs to hide them in his heart, so that he can recognize his sin as he’s being unkind to his sisters or his friends.  I tell my children all the time, “Be kind and loving to each other” which stems from this verse, but Preston needs to KNOW the verse.  It will be much easier for him to KNOW this verse if he sees someone trying to live it, and I can honestly say that he hasn’t seen that in his mother!

I need to watch my mouth, and not let any unwholesome talk come from my face!  I need to not say ugly things about other people, to other people, or to my children.  I’m learning that they don’t hear a lot of what I say, but they do hear the negative things I say to them, about them, or about others, and they remember it.  How horrible!  I am their example!  And this verse clearly says that it GRIEVES the Holy Spirit of God!

I need to stop dwelling on past issues with people and get rid of bitterness.  This is something Preston struggles with, so I need to be a good example!

I need to treat my children the way I want them to treat each other.  I still have to discipline them, and correct them, and train them, but I should do it without screaming at them in a fit of rage and anger!  Yes, that does happen sometimes.  I am able to sit and calmly talk to them, but sometimes I just get to the end of the flipping rope, and I lose my mind like I’m one of the children!  Yes, good example…I know.

I need to show them kindness and compassion.  I find this much easier to do to friends and strangers sometimes than to my own family.  I also feel that I’m exempt from this statement before 8 am, as I am physically unable to be nice or kind to anyone before 8 am! :)

I need to be an imitator of God!

I need to live a life of love, and for some reason I know that God gave me these 3 precious, wild children to show the meaning of the word LOVE!  I don’t do a very good job of that sometimes!

This verse just keeps coming to mind this week.  I think that’s the point of scripture memory.  I think maybe I should heed the words and try to teach them to my children.  I think this needs to be OUR Friday Fav for the week!

Happy Friday…now go memorize Ephesians 4:29-5:2!

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Filed Under: real favs

11 Years!

June 11, 2011 By 6 Comments

(June 10, 2000)

Today my sweet hubby and I celebrate our 11 year anniversary!  Words can simply not express how blessed I am to be married to this wonderful man.  He is the perfect man for me, and I am so thankful that God allowed him to be my husband.

(Side note:  My scanner is not working, so most of these pics are pictures of pictures I photographed using my phone, hence the POOR quality.)

(First Date, Homecoming…October 8, 1994.  I’m sitting on Brad’s knee, and that large thing on my chest is a MUM.  If you’re not from Texas you may not be familiar.  I’ll have to explain it at another time.)

We have a great marriage.  It requires work, and it’s not always easy, but it’s a great marriage.  I am married to a man that I love with all my heart!

(Belles Dance, Senior Year of High School…December 1995)

Brad is the most Christ-like person I have ever known and he embodies the fruits of the Spirit.  He is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control.

(Kappa Sigma Rush Dance…September 1998)

He loved me then.  He loves me now.  He’ll love me in the future.  He is the most loyal person I’ve ever known.  Loyal almost to a fault, and I love him for it.

(Colorado with Brad’s parent’s…August 1999)

He is joyful, although he would tell you it doesn’t come naturally.  I would never know that, and I know him pretty well.

(Honeymoon in Kauai, Hiking the Napali Coast…June 2000)

He is a peace-maker.  He doesn’t thrive on confrontation as his wife sometimes does, but he’s able to let things roll off his back.

(FIRST Anniversary…June 2001)

He is one of the most patient people I’ve ever known (other than his father).  He is steady, easy-going, and not easily rattled.  He is patient with the world’s most frustrating and slowest person…me! :)  He learned on our first date, when I was 30 minutes late, that patience would need to be a virtue of his. :)

(Grand Cayman, Swimming with Sting Rays…September 2002)

He is kind.  Kind like no other man.  Kind in situations when no one else would be.  I think this goes hand in hand with the patience thing.  I think this helps him to be a wonderful Real Estate Agent…patience and kindness…two things that are hard to come by in that industry.

(Maui, Mama’s Fish House…March 2003)

He is so gentle.  He would rather not spank his little girls to discipline them.  It’s usually his mean wife that’s yelling, “Babe, you have to discipline them for that!”  He would rather give hugs than punishments.  I’m thankful he creates balance in our family.

(Cozumel…April 2006)

He is faithful to the Lord.  He is faithful to me.  He is faithful to his babies.  He is faithful to his parents and to mine.  He is faithful to our church.  He is faithful to his clients.  He is a faithful man!  He does his part, and he does it with his heart.  Again, he is loyal!

(Tubing with the Rosemans…September 2007)

He is good.  He is wise, and he knows right from wrong.  He makes good decisions and he’s a righteous man.  Not a self-righteous man, but a righteous one.  He just makes good choices (as in choosing his wife!) :)

(10-Year Anniversary…June 2010)

He has more self-control in his pinky than I have in my whole body.  He is disciplined, driven, and able to say no when he knows he needs to.

(Cancun…June 2010)

Let’s just say, we make a good team.  He’s the good one and he balances all my bad.  I am truly the most blessed woman in the world.  I am thankful to have been married to this jewel of a man for 11 wonderful years (plus about 6 dating years) and he makes me a better wife, mom, woman!

(Our first Half Marathon…October 2010)

ILYMED, babe!

(Most recent pic of just the 2 of us…February 2011)

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

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Filed Under: real life

Race for the Cure

May 11, 2011 By 7 Comments

Yesterday was a rough day.

I want this blog to be a real reflection of our lives.  We are a normal family with normal struggles.  Yesterday was not very fun.  Monday was not very fun.  We had a wonderful, fun family weekend, which resulted in very tired children, which has resulted in a LOT of discipline problems.  Sleep deprivation rears its ugly head differently in each one of my children.  Monday and Tuesday, I saw all sides of it!  My own sleep deprivation has only made matters worse.

Being a mom is not easy!  It’s constant.  It’s hard.  It’s constant.  It’s exhausting.  It’s constant.  It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me (besides Brad).  It’s constant.

I pray that I can train my children in the way they should go, and I pray that I will love and teach them in the way that they as individuals will be most receptive to my guidance and instruction.  However, I am realizing more and more, as I deal with my 7 year old maniac, that I can talk and talk and discipline, but HE ultimately has to make the choice to be sinful or obedient.  He has to decide.  It’s his heart, not mine.  I can not make him have a good attitude.  I can not make him have fun.  I can not make him be joyful.  I can not make him love.  I can point him in the right direction and try to channel his personality characteristics for the good, but the decisions are not mine…they are his.

At the same time, I have also realized that my maniacs will most likely have a positive attitude if their mother isn’t screaming!  These last few days I have seen an ugly side of myself.  There have been several instances where I could see this awful woman screaming at her children, and though I knew I shouldn’t be, I couldn’t stop it.  I wanted to suck the words back in my mouth, but at that point I was too wound up to settle down and admit my own fault.

I don’t want to be a screaming mother.  I want to talk to my kids, reason with them, work things out like mother and child, not monster and maniac.

I know I need to be in prayer for my kids and myself.  It’s amazing what prayer does for me as a mother.  Why is it that I tend to forget that on days like Monday and Tuesday?

Today is another day.  Today will be a better day.  I will have a good attitude!

I WILL have a good attitude!

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When I started this post yesterday, it was about the Race for the Cure.  The rant above was added at 1:00 am as I was thinking about my day.

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Komen Race for the Cure…Breast Cancer Awareness

Saturday I peeled myself out of bed at the crack of dawn (ok, it was 6:45, but that’s ear-ly for me) for the Komen Race for the Cure.  Our whole family “ran” the 5k…as in, 3 of us jogged and 2 snacked on homemade granola bars and goldfish in a double jogger. Rough life!

(Quick side note.  I have added just a little to the Goin’ Granola-Granola Bar Recipe.  I noticed that it was a little dry the last time I made it, so now I throw in a little peanut butter and/or apple sauce…just for moisture.)

Back to Saturday…

Preston has been talking about running in the Race for the Cure since last fall when Brad and I ran in our first half marathon.  He’s been wanting to “train” with us and run with us, and he’s been very proudly and excitedly telling people for months that he was going to run in a 5k in May.

Well, in typical Kate fashion, May and the race snuck up on me.  (Is snuck not a word?  my spell check doesn’t like it.  Oh well, snuck is a word in East Texas.)  Anyway, it would help if I kept a calendar, but I’m not so good at things like that.  I found out Monday that the race was 5 days away.  Preston and I “trained” one time the Wednesday before the race.  My maniac had never run that far.  He’s 7 years old, and I just hated to throw him out there if he couldn’t do it, so I told him we would walk if he got too tired.

We arrived at the race late, of course.  As we were running towards the starting line, we heard the countdown and the starting fog horn, so we just jumped in with all the other runners that were coming towards us.  However, we had a double jogger and a 7 year old, so we were trying not to get trampled.  Yes, Preston was stressing out.  I think his heart was beating 400 beats per minute.  He was so excited and so nervous.

I was worried about Preston finishing…HA!  He was a ball of energy.  He was ahead of us the whole time.  I couldn’t get him to slow down, nor could I keep up with him.  He would sprint ahead 100 yards, and turn around and wait for us.  As soon as we caught up, he was off again.  He zoomed past everyone.  He ran extra fast if he saw a kid close to his age…chest bowed, and legs pumping (along with a little testosterone pumping). :)  He was so cute.

These pictures are blurry because they are with my little camera, and I was running as I took them.

Preston running ahead.

Preston waiting for us. :)

Quick pic during a water break.

Preston spotted the pink balloons over the finish line and he was OFF!  He’s in the middle of the picture, and he sped ahead so quickly that this was as close as I got to him…despite my end of the race sprinting effort.

FINISH LINE!  He did it!

We finished, and like Forest Gump, Preston wanted to keep running and running…

There was a kid’s 50 yard dash right after we finished running, so with red cheeks and a pounding chest, Preston jumped in line.

On your mark…

Get set…

GO!…

He was running so fast, that this is the only pic I could snap.

He came in SECOND!  YAY PRESTON!!!  (Preston with his friend, George)

Preston wanted to run in the 1 mile fun run after that, but I decided he had run enough for one little boy.

And what were the girls doing while P was running?  Eating chocolate yogurt and chocolate puddin’ for breakfast of course!  Mama’s girls!

We stayed at the park and played and enjoyed the PERFECT weather.

Preston, hug your sisters, so it looks like you love each other.

(As he squeezes their heads together)  NO, child!  Not like that!

And what do 3 kids need after a long day running and playing…a GIANT cup of sweet tea of course.

This was a HUGE treat!  I drink sweet tea like water.  It’s probably pumping through my veins.  I’m from Mississippi, and I was raised with sweet tea in my bottle! :)  My kids don’t get to drink caffeine (for very obvious reasons) so this was a HUGE treat!  They loved it!

It was a fun family day, it was beautiful outside, and it was great to support such a worthy cause.  Thank you McAlister’s Deli for the tea, and thank you to all the hard working men and women who put the annual Komen Race for the Cure together!

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Filed Under: real life Tagged With: ,

Letterboxing

March 25, 2011 By 5 Comments

Due to the nature of the Real Estate biz, we haven’t seen Brad much lately.  We were scheduled to run the Bearathon (half marathon) in Waco Saturday, but we decided last minute that what we really just needed family day.

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It.was.wonderful!

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Brad took the whole day off, and we tried something we’ve been wanting to do with our kids, LETTERBOXING!  If you’ve never heard of this fun activity, you need to look into it.  Basically, there are little boxes hidden all over the world (over 20,000 in North America alone) that you walk by all the time.  This is a secret treasure hunt game where you go on a quest to find little waterproof boxes that are hidden right under your nose.  You are given clues, and then you go on your hunt.  You can find the location of many boxes on Letterboxing.org or AtlasQuest.com.

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We had so much fun!  We didn’t find all the boxes we set out to find, because there were a few that were missing, but we had fun with the Letterboxes we did find. This is a fun, free activity you can do anywhere you go.  To get started all you need is a rubber stamp, an ink pad, a log book, and a pen…and a “trail name” if you don’t want to use your own name.

Then you set out on your search.  Be sure to stop and read any fun historical facts or monuments.  It educational as well as exciting.

When you find the Letterbox you’re searching for, there will be a little book and a unique stamp inside a waterproof bag, inside the box.  Not too fancy.

You stamp your book with their stamp, and stamp their log book with yours.

You can write a message and browse through the book to see who else has discovered this little secret box.

It’s really fun to see how long it’s been hidden and how recently it was found.  Preston has a dog stamp, and his “trail name” is Sam (our dog’s name), LK has a cat stamp, and her name is Lacy (our old cat’s name), and AnnaLeigh has a bone stamp, and she just scribbled on the page for her name, “Anna-wee!” :)

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We had fun exploring, climbing, and playing…

Then back in the car…ring pops in hand (to keep us happy and awake from Letterbox to Letterbox)

Then we went to our state park, and the weather couldn’t have been any better!  It was a simply glorious day!  We picnicked…avoiding the caterpillars that were dropping from the trees.  Poor Preston had 2 land on him, but the rest of us were “worm-free” THANK GOODNESS!  I would have been DONE if one of those things had landed on me.  I’m not afraid of bugs, but I just don’t do worms…and caterpillars fall into that category for me. :)

The kids skipped along, and enjoyed the weather.  With this sweet picture in front of me…

And this sweet picture behind me, how could I not thank the Lord?

What precious gifts he has given me, and what awe-inspiring beauty surrounds me.  Praise the Lord!

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We searched and searched and found another Letterbox!  YAY!

Pinky carried a purse that held the stamps and ink pad.  She felt so big distributing the stamps.

She waited with her hand on her hip in her sassy little style for Preston to finish.  So cute…and such a mess!

So proud!  Preston loved Letterboxing!  Please look at that little maniac in the background stuffing everything back into her purse.  She makes me smile!

We enjoyed a wonderful leisurely day and had fun at the park!

LK encouraged AnnaLeigh to get just a little bit closer so she could touch the water.  Yes, we did end up with muddy, wet pants. :)  Oh well.

We met some ducks along the way, and I just happened to have a few crackers.  The kids were excited.  The ducks were, too.

Another family passed us, and Lilly Katherine handed the little girl one of her crackers so she could feed the ducks with us.  It’s so neat when you see your children do an act of kindness to someone else….and you didn’t even ask them to do it.  I was so proud of my baby girl.

She’s talking to the ducks in this picture.

Preston, on the other hand is trying to lure the duck closer so he can catch it.  The difference in boys and girls never ceases to amaze me.

We also saw another little family of five sunning on a log.

It was a FUN, FULL day and the maniacs were all exhausted.

My sweet baby girl was so tired, and I love how she plays with my hair when she hugs me.

I convinced them to at least look at the camera so we could get a quick family pic.  One day I’ll learn to take the family picture FIRST…not last.  Oh well, we had an absolutely wonderful day, and I’m so thankful for my sweet family.

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

-Ephesians 3:16-21

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Spring Break

March 14, 2011 By 1 Comment

Last week was so much fun, and so crazy!  I’ve decided that I just don’t like routine!  I love being free with my maniacs to do whatever we want to do.  I’m mourning the end of spring break and looking forward to summer!  My sweet little accountant is counting down the days until summer, and you better believe he has it down to the hour.

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Spring Break is going to have to be SEVERAL posts!  We went absolutely nowhere, but we had a WONDERFUL week!  We played and played and played, and I sure wish the week hadn’t ended with stinkin’ Daylight Savings Time!  My maniacs are EXHAUSTED, and changing times never helps that problem.  However, I am excited for sunshine in the evenings!

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Spring Break…we were the Backyardigans!  We traveled from backyard to backyard, enjoying great fellowship with precoius friends!

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First Stop:  Jeffrey, Wells, Henry, & Caroline’s House!

My sweet friend, Dominique, has 4 kids (ages 2-7).  She is SUPERMOM, always throwing amazing bday parties, an incredible cook, a supportive minister’s wife, and she homeschools her boys on top of it all!  She has been an amazing blessing in my life.  We are planning on running a half marathon this weekend…if I can get my act together.  My kids ADORE her kids, and since we don’t see them at school, this was an absolute treat for all of us!

Caroline and AnnaLeigh had fun “picnicking” together.

We ate DELICIOUS pizza that Dominique made.  Homemade pizza with real, homemade crust…not canned biscuit dough. :)

Caroline is about 12 weeks older than AnnaLeigh, and they LOVE each other.  Can you tell that AnnaLeigh is going to be about as tall as me when she “grows up?”

Jeffrey is so creative and imaginative.  He challenges Preston to think outside of the box.

Wells is also very creative, but he loves sports, too.  Wells and P have fun wrestling and playing ball.

Henry is just a sweet little man.  He goes with the flow and LOVES Lilly Katherine.  Isn’t he precious?!?

Sweet Caroline.  Such a little lady.  AnnaLeigh loves her little playmate (so does LK).  She is precious and girly and ALWAYS, ALWAYS has a smile on her face.  What a joyful gift!

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SO SO SO many more pics to come! :)

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Yo-Yo’s and My Demise

February 19, 2011 By 8 Comments

This fall/winter I have enjoyed the fashion trend of wearing fun, long shirts with skinny jeans, leggings, or “JEGGINGS!”  This combo has become my uniform!  I have embraced jeggings with all 62 inches of my being!  I’m pretty sure that jeggings, long shirts, and knee high boots aren’t made for people that are 5’2″, as my legs probably looked 4 inches long.  However, I’ve worn it…I’ve LOVED it!

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Jeggings, according to Wikipedia (yes, I googled the definition of jeggings) are

“a true cross between denim and legging material. “Denim jeggings” are essentially a denim fabric with the elasticity of a legging.”

Did you see that last phrase?  “elasticity of a legging!” Yes, friends, that is why I have embraced jeggings!

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HOWEVER…

A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to wear real jeans and a real shirt.  I wish you could have seen I am so glad that no one saw me jumping up and down like a fool, trying to squeeze myself into my “regular” jeans.  They must have shrunk.  So, I tried another pair…

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

How do my jeggings fit so well, and my real jeans squeeze my guts out?  Well, I guess that elasticity thing was a big trick!  I was doing a huge disservice to myself by wearing jeggings every day!

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Jeggings aren’t the only problem, though.  This winter, Yo-Yo’s have been my most favorite snack…and by snack I mean “dessert” that I have chosen to snack on morning, noon, and night!  I can’t tell you how many batches I’ve made, but I can tell you that my Yo-Yo eating addiction has not helped the whole jean situation.

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Has it stopped me from making more, though?  NOOOOO!  In fact, it only made sense for me to make a batch so I could take pictures for this post…right?  If you’ve never had Yo-Yo’s, you truly haven’t lived.  They are so so so easy to make, and amazingly delicious!  I’ve been told they taste like Reece’s or Butterfingers.  Either way, they’re just GOOD!

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So, with the combo of jeggings every day and Yo-Yo’s every day.  I have been the cause of my own demise.  Guess I’ll be running another half marathon soon, so I can get rid of some of these Yo-Yo’s!  I’m not too worried.  Every bite was worth it!

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Yo-Yo’s

(Entire recipe is at the bottom of post)

You only need 3 ingredients:

Spread a layer of creamy peanut butter on a Ritz cracker.

Top with an additional Ritz cracker.

Melt one flavor of Almond Bark in a microwave safe bowl until smooth.  Do not overheat or it will melt your peanut butter.

Place Ritz-peanut butter sandwich in the almond bark.  Coat the bottom cracker with chocolate.

Flip crackers over to coat the other side.

Pick up with fork and shake off excess chocolate.Place on wax paper and try to resist eating one while they’re still wet.  They really are better when the chocolate has hardened.  (Trust me, I know.)

Just for an added touch, I like to “decorate” the top.  Pretty Yo-Yo’s are more fun to shove in your face.  Melt your other Almond Bark (if you choose to do this step).  I think a small fork makes the cleanest stripes.

Just dip your fork in the chocolate and start slinging it!  Literally.  I just sling it around and most of it lands on the crackers.

YUM!  What’s not to like about this?

Oh…now that’s better!

Yo-Yo’s

Ingredients:

  • Ritz Crackers
  • Peanut Butter
  • Almond Bark  (I use both chocolate and vanilla, but you only need one flavor)

Spread creamy peanut butter on one cracker.  Top with another cracker.  Melt the Almond Bark in the microwave.  Stir often and do not overheat, or it will melt the peanut butter.  Dip Ritz sandwich in melted almond bark, turning to coat.  Shake off excess chocolate and place them on wax paper to dry.  If you want to make them pretty, melt a different flavor of almond bark to decorate the top.

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I’ve even been known to buy a box of Ritz Bitz to make Mini Yo-Yo’s!  ENJOY!

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OUR FIRST HALF!

December 24, 2010 By 1 Comment

Brad and I ran our first half marathon (13.1 miles) in October.  We ran another in December.  We’ve had so much fun running together.  I feel that since I’ve run 2 halves,  I can say I’ve run a marathon! :)  I have so much more respect for anyone that can run 26 miles!

We ran with my sweet friend and inspiration, Ashley Barrett!  She’s WAY faster than I am, but I made it without walking, and that was my goal! (baby steps)

And…WE DID IT!  Our sweet families came out to support us.  It was a wonderful day and I was quite emotional when we crossed the finish line.  They announced our names as we were running in and I was just so thrilled that I finished (and that sweet Brad ran at my pace) that I planted a big “I DID IT!” kiss on him at the finish line!  Maybe one day a marathon…

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