A Day in the Life

What's on my mind

2011-09-15T22:56:00.001-05:00

As I sit here, excited that it hasn't been another year since my last blog post, I try to distill my thoughts into a single blog theme but it just doesn't seem to want to move in that direction. So, I will drizzle out the rumblings in my brain so that maybe I can sleep more peacefully tonight.

I don't usually talk politics on this forum, but since the issue of our economy is all over the news, I will say that it is constantly on my mind. I thank God that I have a wonderful job! I am finally working normal hours (except for the early morning calls with the UK) but I am able to leave at a reasonable hour and spend time with Joe, eating supper as a family, and getting kids to practices. How many people get up every day and their job is to look for a job? Or, how many people have just given up? How many have lost their home to foreclosure? I have friends that have been out of work for more than 2 years and have drained retirement, savings and are living off credit cards.

Next topic is eating. I know that I am being punished for being a picky eater when I was young! I have an almost 5 year old who won't even try new foods. When I ask why he says "because I don't like trying new foods." Rationale? I am sure he is going to get tired of the 6-7 foods that are in his food diary, but as of right now, the score is child-1 parents-0.

Are computer issues just something that we now have to deal with as a member of society in this century? I read a news article the other day that said PCs are on the decline and in a few years, because of the enhanced abilities of smart phones, they would move along the path of the dinosaur. So why do I feel the need to buy a new computer when mine just died? Should I go with a smartphone and pay the outrageous data fees while limiting my ability to do fun things like digital scrapbooking and irregular blog updates. I could go with an iPad and do most of the things I need but not have Flash. I could go with another PC and worry about viruses and pay extra fees for every application that I need to have a fully functioning PC. Or I pay more for a MAC (AH, I can dream).

Joe just walked in the door from class and it is late to I must end for now. I would love to have your thoughts and input on any of the topics above.

My Life of Clichés

2011-09-01T22:16:00.000-05:00

I say this every time, but "where has the time gone?" This week I took my son, who will turn 5 in October, to his first day of Pre-K. I have heard too many times to "enjoy this time because before you know it they will be graduating." I really didn't know whether to cry or celebrate his first day of school, but I know that I will look back and say that yes, it did go too fast.

I also realized that for my second child I haven't written much on my blog and I feel like she will miss out on all the little day-to-day thoughts that I used to share regularly before splitting my time between kids, husband, work and home life.

Which brings me to "making time for me" section. I just started a new job that enables me to leave my job at a decent hour to come home and spend time with .the family. But I still cannot make it to the gym to workout either at night (since Joe is back in school this fall) or in the morning (since I am usually up until midnight and have a hard time getting up so early). So I guess I will have to wait until I am an "empty nester" to do the things that I want to do like scrapbooking, working out, writing on my blog and date night.

Speaking of date night, Joe and I used to have a regular date night every Friday but LIFE has made that more of a challenge. We used to "make date night a priority" and we hear that from others but when you have soccer practice on a Friday evening or birthday parties on the weekends, dates become "few and far between."

But regardless of all this, I know that "God is good" and that is not a cliché but an unfailing truth that sustains me through every point in my life.

Where has the time gone?

2011-06-15T23:24:00.000-05:00

As I sit here watching "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Part II," I realized that it has been too long since I have written on my blog. Why you ask? Well, let me count the ways:
1. Two kids with activities. Yes, I am a typical mom now who has T-ball practice and games, soccer practice and games, birthday parties, etc. I wonder how some people do it without cloning themselves or creating a time warp to fit it all into one day.
2. A house to clean. Do people really have spotless homes? I'm sure they do if they have a regular cleaning lady, but I can't imagine that the toys are always picked up off the floor or the laundry is clean and folded or the dishes are never dirty in the sink.
3. A new job. My "old" job was exhausting. You can imagine how stress effects your body. I had a second session today with a massage therapist. The first session was when I was still working for my former company. After that session I was bruised and the therapist said that my body was toxic. NICE! Today, a week and a half into my new job, she said I was much better. A few knots that were easily worked out and very little toxins in my body. YEAH!

So, you ask "When do you have time for yourself? What hobbies do you have? What do you do for relaxation?"

I hope to answer these and other tantilizing questions in another blog posting. In the meantime, enjoy this photo.

God has a sense of humor

2010-12-17T11:26:00.000-06:00

Last week was a rough one for our family. Last Friday, when we went in to get my daughter out of her crib, we found out that she had spit up everywhere. Later in the day, she again threw up all over the kitchen floor. I thought it was because Joe had fed her too much zucchini, but by Saturday evening we realized that it was a stomach virus because...you guessed it...Joe came home from work and started throwing up as well.

I have to admit that I am not the most loving toward Joe when he is sick. He will admit that he is a terrible sick person. Let me share and complain for just a minute. Joe came home from work not feeling well but because he had promised our son that he would take him to a movie, he did. After the movie, he came home and started throwing up. I have to say that I don't know of anyone that sounds so horrible when they are vomiting. I know he isn't trying to make it sound more horrible than it really is, but after throwing up he comes into the living room moaning and saying how horrible he feels. This lasted all night long as he laid in bed moaning, slinging his arms over me, begging to die. I have to admit that one time he was in the bathroom throwing up (sounding like he was dying) and I got up and shut the bathroom door. Yes, insensitive.

So God decided to teach me a lesson. Yesterday it hit me with a vengeance. Fever, vomiting, running to the bathroom every few minutes. Just miserable.

So today, I sit here at the computer thinking of how I can ask Joe for forgiveness for being so unfeeling during his misery. Thank you God for your sense of humor.

Starting again...

2010-12-12T19:35:00.000-06:00

I'm sitting here watching the Cowboys fight it out on Sunday Night Football with the Eagles. I guess this is as good a time as any to start writing again on my blog.

I can't believe it has almost been a year since I last blogged. I thought I wouldn't have time to keep it up so I just decided to stop writing. Since I wasn't going to write anymore I decided to have my blog printed in a hard cover book so I would have everything in a journal-type book that I could look back on and remember the good times of pregnancy, new babies, marriage and the many other topics I wrote about weekly. After having the book printed (if you ever need a blog printed, I highly recommend Blog2Print) and reading through it, I regretted that I wasn't writing as much with my second child and that I was missing those opportunities to talk about milestones.

Then, a good friend came over for dinner on Friday and I showed her the printed book of my blog. She said, "I loved reading your blog because your personality really came through in your words." Then last night at our cookie exchange, another lady saw the blog book and starting commenting on how my kids and grand kids (I stopped her there as I am not ready to deal with that term yet) will treasure the book and have something to remember when I am long gone.

So, I am back! I hope to be more consistent. Thinking of the topics for each one shouldn't be a problem as Joe says that my mind is like Dominos - I think of one thing then it goes to the next, then the next, then the next and 5 minutes later I can't remember what started the conversation.

I will stop for now and will update this week.

A picture of the family to close.

Busy is good, yes?

2010-01-29T10:34:00.000-06:00

I say this every time, but "where does the time go?" I look up and I notice that I haven't written on my blog in ages. Then I remember why.
- Colt (name for my son on this blog) and I sat at the table to color and draw pictures
- Rosebud (name for my daughter on this blog) and I sat for a while just talking (or cooing really)
- Joe and I had a date night (FINALLY!)
- We are now taking a class at our church on Wednesday evenings, Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University
- Joe has class every Tuesday and Thursday evening
- I have a ladies prayer one Sunday a month
- Joe works two Saturday's a month
- Colt and I worked puzzles (for hours)
- I layed on the floor next to Rosebud (she was playing under the activity gym) and just watched her
- I went on a business trip for four days

It all adds up to quality family time and work. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Honoring single parents

2009-12-06T21:21:00.000-06:00

I have always had a healthy respect for single parents, but at times my mind is jolted with the thought of how challenging it must be at times for those that for one reason or another have to raise children by themselves.

Today (Sunday) I took both kids to church by myself because Joe had to finish a paper for his class. First, I was extremely tired because Friday night I did all Rosebud's feedings to give Joe a break. I expected to get a nap on Saturday but as fate would have it, that didn't happen. We had company over Saturday evening and it ended up being a late night. I got to bed WAY TOO LATE and was exhausted when I got up early this morning to feed Rosebud. I let Joe sleep late so I fed Rosebud and Colt, got them both ready for church and prepared the diaper bag and snack for Colt.

The rest of the time getting to church, ushering them in, watching Rosebud during the service (Joe usually helps), then getting them back to the car and home was almost more than I could take being so tired. AND THAT WAS ONLY ONE TIME!

Like I said, I can't imagine being a single parent and taking care of children each and every day by yourself. God gives special grace to parents.

Now I lay me down to sleep

2009-11-11T16:16:00.001-06:00

With the addition of a new baby, we rearranged our rooms in our house to give both Colt and Rosebud (names for my kids on this blog) a room of their own while still maintaining a guest room and office. We had to combine the guest room and office which meant selling old office furniture and consolidating "stuff."

Now that the new office furniture has arrived (with less room for all our things), we have spent the last 4 weeks putting "stuff" back in the room. I can't believe that over the years I have just packed up things and moved them from apartment to apartment and then to our house. At the time it was "OK, let's just get the boxed packed/unpacked" with no real look at the files that I was carting around the world.

This time it was different. We didn't have room for all the files, boxes and books so we had to spend the time going through things and sorting, filing and trashing. During the process, I came across several papers that I wrote in both high school English and college Literature classes. Some of the writings were interesting so I thought I would share a few here on my blog. The first one is very appropriate for the Thanksgiving season.

"Now I Lay me Down to Sleep" by Kris Hoover (High School English, circa 1984-86)

I woke up this morning to find my luck hasn't changed overnight. I was still the homeless, cold and tired vagabond who went to sleep last night on the grate.

What is that I hear on the streets? Today is Thanksgiving? What do I have to give thanks for today? I am homeless, cold and alone in the world. My clothes are ready to fall off and I have no money to buy new ones. I have no job to get money. Poor me.

Well, look who is coming down the street. It's Willie the Wobbling Wanderer. He has no feet and one of his legs is severed at the knee so he walks lopsided. That's where he got the name Wobbling. Poor Willie. At least I have two legs that can carry me where ever I want to go.

Look who is coming to see me now. "Hi Charlie. It's me, Birdie." I have to tell him who I am. He is blind. Poor Charlie. Thank God I can see.

I spent the whole day meeting people who had physical difficulties as well as mental or financial. By nighttime, I had realized that there is so much to be thankful for in this world. I began to think of all the people who have houses, jobs, family, friends and money. They seem to complain about their blessings more than I complain about my difficulties.

I complain because I don't have a job. They complain because they have to go to work today. I complain because my cardboard box home is coming apart. They complain because their mattress is too soft. I complain because I have no family to be with. They complain because their family is always butting in their business. I say it hurts that I have no money to buy food and clothes. They argue when the food is too salty or the new dress they bought is too long.

Little do they realize, as I did today, that giving thanks is necessary. Start a list today of the things in your life that you are thankful to have. If nothing else, be thankful for life.

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take
Thank you Lord for making me see
That others around me aren't as lucky as me
Life and breath are mine tonight
Though riches and wealth never come to my sight
Thanks I give for all I have now
For all this my head I do bow.

Big Boy

2009-10-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

So our little Colt is no longer my little baby boy. Each day brings new adventures and milestones that confirm he is growing up.

First, there was potty training which began in June and fortunately took only a few days before he would pee in the toilet and about 2 weeks before he would poop in the toilet. We are still working on potty training during the night, but the days are conquered.

Then, it was on to his pacifier which he only used at nap times and at night. This week we had a celebration of Colt officially being a "BIG BOY." We told him that Big Boys don't have pacifiers and he needed to throw it away. So, he put it in the trash and later we took him to Chuck E. Cheese's to celebrate. That night, he said "I'm a Big Boy and I don't need a pacifier." We were so proud of him! He has done great.

What's next?

Three Year Old Intelligence

2009-10-27T21:07:00.001-05:00

This just blew me away today!

Joe, Colt, Rosebud and I were out for a walk today. Colt had been pulling his wagon most of the time and toward the end of our walk, we could tell he was getting tired. Joe told him to get in the wagon so he could pull him the rest of the way home. BUT NO, Colt wanted daddy to carry him home. Joe told him that he couldn't carry him, that he was too big and to get in the wagon so Joe could pull him home.

SO WHAT DID COLT DO? He took the handle to the wagon out of Joe's hand, put it in my hand, then said "Now carry me home."

I was so amazed! I couldn't believe that he was so smart that he thought by handing me the wagon Joe would carry him home.

The next show on TV will be "are you smarter than a 3 year old."

Legitimate Excuse

2009-10-21T18:43:00.001-05:00

I cannot believe it has been so long since I have had the chance to blog. So much has happened, but the most exciting thing is that our baby girl was born October 1! A little recap since July.

Work has been crazy to say the least. Reorganizations, layoffs and more. I think the stress of it all was the catalyst that caused me to go into labor 2 weeks early. Just the day before I was rounding up people to tell them that they no longer had a job. I had worked very late a couple of days that week and was supposed to help plan an employee meeting and send out communications. BUT, my water broke that morning and a few hours later, our little "Rosebud" (as you know I do not use the real names of my children on my blog so I am calling our new baby girl Rosebud- our nickname for her) arrived.

Several people are waiting for pictures so here are a few. More are posted on Facebook. Please feel free to connect to me at Kris Hoover-Kozamchak to see more.

I am now on maternity leave for a little while so I hope to catch up on posts.

Decisions, Decisions

2009-07-28T18:21:00.001-05:00

First, you have to decide that this is the right person for you to marry. Once that decision is made, then there are ALL the decisions on what kind of wedding, how many guests, what kind of cake and on and on. Then, after all that is over, do we buy a house or continue renting? What about our jobs? Next, kids? If so, when? Then, the biggest decision of all...what to name that child!

Yes, we are in that dilemma again. For our first child (code named Colt for this blog), it was difficult. Do you go with a name that reflects the heritage of the parents? Joe is half Italian and half Ukrainian. Me...who knows. Do you go with popular names? What if you choose a name and the sonogram was wrong?!

So here we are again. This time it is a girl (praying the sonogram is correct). Joe said that last time he had TONS of girl names and no boy names and now it is the opposite. We could agree on boy names but were at a loss for girl names.

Yes, we (I) had a girl name that I like and finally convinced Joe that it was acceptable. He even started calling our baby by this name. THEN, we find out that people we know had animals with this name. Even a popular new movie had the main character as this name. I started to second guess our decision. So we prayed about it (gulp, we should have done that first like we did with our son).

With a little more than 2 months to go, the jury is still out but I think we are hearing confirmation of a name.

Rev. 2:17 ...I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Let Freedom Ring

2009-07-06T15:02:00.000-05:00

This year I have pondered Freedom in a different way than I have in the past. I will share with you a couple of reasons why.
1. Freedom to travel, unrestricted, to visit family and friends. Some countries are in a civil unrest right now. Citizens are terrified to travel even to the next city in fear of being killed by a roadside bomb or a suicide bomber. We were able to travel to Temple, TX to visit family this past holiday weekend with no comprehension of that kind of terror.
2. Freedom to watch a parade, with different views from different organizations, churches and businesses with no fear of repercussion from our government. It was amazing to see people applaud our military as they passed in the parade as well as those that serve on our local police and fire houses. We also saw floats from churches that were playing gospel songs and it was a joy to know that because of the freedom we have, they will not be locked up in jail for their beliefs.
3. Freedom to pray. On Saturday evening we went to a local rodeo in Belton, TX. At the opening, they offered up a prayer of thanksgiving and safety over the participants of the rodeo. Again, it made my heart burst with pride to know that in our country, because of the wars that have been fought on our behalf, we have the right to pray however we wish, wherever we wish.
4. Freedom to go to church. Sunday morning service at Bethal was incredible! I think about the underground churches in so many parts of the world that do not know what it is like to be able to openly go to church.

Thank you God for our freedom and may we not take it for granted.
Enjoy the pictures from our weekend of celebrating Freedom!

Thanks Aunt Janet for hosting us!

Colt in his wagon watching the parade.

This one if for you dad! John Deere in all its glory.

More catching up

2009-06-22T21:33:00.000-05:00

Colt fell asleep early! So what you ask? I get to blog, download pictures to share with family and friends, watch a little TV, or whatever else I want to do. Single friends and those without children, take note!

Time to share on pregnancy again since that is where I am in life. I looked back over my blogging days during the time with Colt and for the most part, things are the same. BUT, working full time is having an impact this time. I am so tired most of the time. I actually took 2 (yes, count them 2) naps on Saturday and 1 on Sunday. Last time I was a contractor working with 2 different companies but I was able to come home over lunch and take a nap. Now, I work 25 miles away so a mid-day nap isn't possible. I think it might seem strange to have people walk by my office as I am lying on the floor snoozing.

Also, the eating thing is a little out of control. Cinnamon PopTarts are my fetish right now. I know. Go ahead and say "Yuck" right now but let me tell you that after 4 months of not being able to eat any sweets (they made me sick) this is the only sweet thing that I can eat that doesn't hurt my stomach. I hope this baby doesn't come out asking for PopTarts. No pickles and ice cream for me.

So much is happening!

2009-06-01T16:13:00.000-05:00

Where to begin. First, I hate that I didn't even have one blog posting in May. Of course my husband Joe noticed. It's not like we don't talk, but I know he loves it when I share my thoughts and our experiences for family and friends to see. So here goes with a quick update.

1. My mom and dad came to visit! Yeah! Colt hated to see them leave and the next day he kept asking "Where is granny and pap pap?" Even this morning (a week after they left) he said "Granny and Pap Pap are coming to visit to eat cereal with me." How cute!

2. Joe graduated with his Associates degree. I am so proud of him. This was such a big accomplishment with us having a kid and me working. Joe took evening classes, some during the day and even had field trips on weekends. Now on to UTD for more!

3. We visited the Dallas Arboretum with our friends Richard and Beth (and their LifeGroup). What a beautiful experience! I can't believe that I have lived in Dallas for more than 13 years and never took the time to see the incredible flowers and plants. Everyone must go!

4. We found out we are having a girl! After my "Conspiracy Theory" posting, Joe laughed and said I can now shop with freedom knowing that girls clothing is out there for my buying pleasure. But, in case you think I am going on a complete, out-of-control shopping spree, I will let you know that my sister immediately called and let me know she would be sending boxes of clothing from her girls to me (love saving money!).

That's all for now and I hope to be more regular in my posting. I do miss being online.

Conspiracy Theory

2009-04-28T22:04:00.000-05:00

The title of this post may lead you to believe that I am going to go off on a political rant again, but this is a little different. I believe there is a conspiracy by the fashion industry against boys. Now don't laugh, let me explain.

Every year at Easter it is the tradition of mothers around the country to hunt for the best outfits for their kids to wear to church. These outfits should exhibit the colors of spring and reflect the good taste of the mother and child. The children are of course expected to wear these outfits all day long, through church, egg hunts, dinner and whatever else the parents demand. They are expected to come through the day with no chocolate, food or grass stains on the outfit.

All these expectations may be OK if you are a little girl, but they differ greatly for little boys. FIRST, you can at least find a cute, fresh, colorful outfit for the girl. Bows and bonnets. White patten shoes or sandals. Flowery dresses. Take your pick! There are rows and rows and rows of dresses for girls.

BUT, try to find an outfit for a boy. Because of work and travel, I had very little time to run from store to store to find an outfit so I quickly hit a couple of stores. Oh the frustration! In the first store, I could have found a onesie for my son if he was 6 months old. Or, I could have found khakis with a nice dress shirt if he was a size 3T or above.

Alas, my son is 2 1/2 years old (still wearing 2T) and nothing, absolutely nothing! I guess little boys are not expected to wear adorable little suits with ties. Dress shoes to match. Looking like their handsome father. Instead, I had to settle for dressing my son in a button-up casual shirt with khakis. Yes, he still looked sweet, but I was disappointed that he did not have a suite to wear on our Easter Sunday.

Maybe those in the fashion industry will hear my cry and design more dress outfits for boys. Thanks for listening to my conspiracy theory.

Reasons for not posting

2009-04-08T21:37:00.000-05:00

Let me list out the many reasons why I haven't been able to post for the past several weeks.

1. Travel: Over the past month, I have been traveling with work to NY, Chicago, Boston and Orlando. Next week I will be in Ft. Worth staying at a hotel for another conference. I thank God that I still have a job even though it is extremely busy right now.

2. Colt: He is experiencing and testing out his new personality. For two days it seemed like he reverted back to baby talk and he would cry if he didn't get his way. I talked to my friend Alycia and she said her son would act up when he wasn't getting enough attention. Joe and I decided to try to spend more quality time with Colt (I think me traveling and working late had some negative effect). For the past 2 days since we have been spending more quality time with him he seems normal again (whatever that is for a 2 1/2 year old).

3. Pregnancy: Yes, you read that right, I am pregnant again. Now 13 weeks and counting. Thank God for all the prayers that have gotten us this far. We know that God will get us through this and bring us a healthy new baby this fall.

That is all for now. I will try to update more often.

Celebrations all around

2009-02-17T20:59:00.000-06:00

It is hard to imagine being born on a holiday, sharing your special day of being born with a national holiday. But this is something that my husband Joe has to think of every year. He was born on February 14. Valentines Day for everyone else, but a time of celebrating his birth for our family.

So what to do? Since we have been married, we settle the issue by celebrating Valentines Day on February 13 or 15 (and we also miss the restaurant crowds), and celebrate his birthday on February 14.

I hear comments from so many other people that share the same dilemma. They either have a birthday on the exact same day or on a day near enough to another holiday that they miss out on receiving a separate celebration and sometimes even a separate present.

If you are out there and have a similar situation, or know of someone, I would love to hear what you do to celebrate the birthday and holiday.

David, you can speak up. I know since your birthday is January 5 that sometimes happens to you.

Salaries capped at $500,000

2009-02-09T14:41:00.001-06:00

I read this article in The New York Times and couldn't help but laugh. Read the article then vote on the Poll to the right.

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February 8, 2009
You Try to Live on 500K in This Town
By ALLEN SALKIN

PRIVATE school: $32,000 a year per student.

Mortgage: $96,000 a year.

Co-op maintenance fee: $96,000 a year.

Nanny: $45,000 a year.

We are already at $269,000, and we haven’t even gotten to taxes yet.

Five hundred thousand dollars — the amount President Obama wants to set as the top pay for banking executives whose firms accept government bailout money — seems like a lot, and it is a lot. To many people in many places, it is a princely sum to live on. But in the neighborhoods of New York City and its suburban enclaves where successful bankers live, half a million a year can go very fast.

“As hard as it is to believe, bankers who are living on the Upper East Side making $2 or $3 million a year have set up a life for themselves in which they are also at zero at the end of the year with credit cards and mortgage bills that are inescapable,” said Holly Peterson, the author of an Upper East Side novel of manners, “The Manny,” and the daughter of Peter G. Peterson, a founder of the equity firm the Blackstone Group. “Five hundred thousand dollars means taking their kids out of private school and selling their home in a fire sale.”

Sure, the solution may seem simple: move to Brooklyn or Hoboken, put the children in public schools and buy a MetroCard. But more than a few of the New York-based financial executives who would have their pay limited are men (and they are almost invariably men) whose identities are entwined with living a certain way in a certain neighborhood west of Third Avenue: a life of private schools, summer houses and charity galas that only a seven-figure income can stretch to cover.

Few are playing sad cellos over the fate of such folk, especially since the collapse of the institutions they run has yielded untold financial pain. But in New York, where a new study from the Center for an Urban Future, a nonprofit research group in Manhattan, estimates it takes $123,322 to enjoy the same middle-class life as someone earning $50,000 in Houston, extricating oneself from steep bills can be difficult.

Therefore, even if it is not for sympathy but for sport, consider the numbers.

The cold hard math can be cruel.

Like those taxes. If a person is married with two children, the weekly deductions on a $500,000 salary are: federal taxes, $2,645; Social Security, $596; Medicare, $139; state taxes, $682; and city, $372, bringing the weekly take-home to $5,180, or about $269,000 a year, said Martin Cohen, a Manhattan accountant.

Now move to living expenses.

Barbara Corcoran, a real estate executive, said that most well-to-do families take at least two vacations a year, a winter trip to the sun and a spring trip to the ski slopes.

Total minimum cost: $16,000.

A modest three-bedroom apartment, she said, which was purchased for $1.5 million, not the top of the market at all, carries a monthly mortgage of about $8,000 and a co-op maintenance fee of $8,000 a month. Total cost: $192,000. A summer house in Southampton that cost $4 million, again not the top of the market, carries annual mortgage payments of $240,000.

Many top executives have cars and drivers. A chauffeur’s pay is between $75,000 and $125,000 a year, the higher end for former police officers who can double as bodyguards, said a limousine driver who spoke anonymously because he does not want to alienate his society customers.

“Some of them want their drivers to have guns,” the driver said. “You get a cop and you have a driver.” To garage that car is about $700 a month.

A personal trainer at $80 an hour three times a week comes to about $12,000 a year.

The work in the gym pays off when one must don a formal gown for a charity gala. “Going to those parties,” said David Patrick Columbia, who is the editor of the New York Social Diary (newyorksocialdiary.com), “a woman can spend $10,000 or $15,000 on a dress. If she goes to three or four of those a year, she’s not going to wear the same dress.”

Total cost for three gowns: about $35,000.

Not every bank executive has school-age children, but for those who do, offspring can be expensive. In addition to paying tuition, “You’re not going to get through private school without tutoring a kid,” said Sandy Bass, the editor of Private School Insider, a newsletter that covers private schools in the New York City area. One hour of tutoring once a week is $125. “That’s the low end,” she said. “The higher end is 150, 175.” SAT tutors are about $250 an hour. Total cost for 30 weeks of regular tutoring: $3,750.

Two children in private school: $64,000.

Nanny: $45,000.

Ms. Bass, whose husband is an accountant with many high-end clients, said she spends about $425 every 10 days on groceries for her family. Annual cost: about $15,000.

More? Restaurants. Dry cleaning. Each Brooks Brothers suit costs about $1,000. If you run a bank, you can’t look like a slob.

The total costs here, which do not include a lot of things, like kennels for the dog when the family is away, summer camp, spas and other grooming for the human members of the family, donations to charity, and frozen hot chocolates at Serendipity, are $790,750, which would require about a $1.6-million salary to compensate for taxes. Give or take a few score thousand of dollars.

Does this money buy a chief executive stockholders might prize, a well-to-do man with a certain sureness of stride, something that might be lost if the executive were crowding onto the PATH train every morning at Journal Square, his newspaper splayed against the back of a stranger’s head?

The man would certainly not feel like himself on that train, said Candace Bushnell, the author of “Sex and the City” and other books chronicling New York social mores.

“People inherently understand that if they are going to get ahead in whatever corporate culture they are involved in, they need to take on the appurtenances of what defines that culture,” she said. “So if you are in a culture where spending a lot of money is a sign of success, it’s like the same thing that goes back to high school peer pressure. It’s about fitting in.”

By the way, the frozen hot chocolate costs $8.50.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My sympathy is missing right now.

Did you know?

2009-02-05T15:46:00.001-06:00

Here is a great video that I have seen over the past couple of years at my company. In today's world, it really gives you something to think about.

2008 Latest Edition - Did You Know 3.0 - From Meeting in Rome This Year - video powered by Metacafe

Are we too connected?

2009-02-03T21:52:00.000-06:00

Are we relying on technology too much for relationships and not creating "REAL" friendships?

I thought about this as:
- I worried that I had not updated my personal blog in a while
- I started an account on Twitter (one for me as a representative of my company and one for my company)
- I downloaded applications for Twitter and Facebook to my iPhone
- I started posting updates to my "wall" in Facebook
- I developed content for my blog at work (both of them)
- I created a Facebook account for my company
- I continued to answers questions and "network" on LinkedIn

So that comes to what:
- 3 blogs
- 2 Twitter accounts
- 2 Facebook accounts
- 1 LinkedIn profile

Are we insane or what? What I really want to do is spend more time with the girls in my book club (we are reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austin). I want to have more dinner parties and "REALLY" get to know my friends. I want to be a good mentor (every Tuesday I go with a few people from my company to a local middle school, get to know the kids and see how we can help to positively influence their lives). I want to scrapbook (still working on my wedding album, now more than 5 years overdue). I want to workout more (instead I sit on the couch holding my son and watch The Biggest Loser).

What now? All I know is I need to sleep more. 6am conference calls for work and late nights updating all my social media sites is a little much.

Social Media - Is it too overwhelming?

2009-01-27T18:38:00.000-06:00

I did a survey a while back asking people which types of social networking sites they use. I wasn't surprised to see Facebook as the #1.
Facebook 75%
Myspace 50%
Twitter
Flikr
YouTube 25%
LinkedIn 12%

I was surprised to see that more people were not on YouTube. I guess I am the only one that loves the "Laughing Baby" video or the "Akmed the Terrorist" act.

I have to say that I am trying to stay up on Facebook now that I was "called out" for my birthday. Let me explain. When I set up my Facebook account a while back, I only did it because I was getting invitations from a few friends. I didn't really intend on using it but I thought I would set up something anyway. Since I wasn't going to use it I decided to use my "other" birthday, you know, the one that I use when I don't want to share information with nosy applications online that require you to put in your age. SO, I put in January 1.

The birthday wishes that flooded me on January first not only were a surprise, but had me laughing uncontrollably. It did say to me that 1) people to look at Facebook and actually notice the small things like your birthday 2) I need to put in my real day, but not necessarily my real year 3) I needed to put in my real name, not just my initials.

So, I am now on Facebook and actually have an app on my iPhone so I can randomly track what others are doing and even post a simple message on my wall when I have the time.

As Stephanie says, "we live in such an electronic age." Yes we do! But I also realized that if people were like me, they didn't really have a lot of time just to surf and see what was out there. You visit your favorite blogs, check out what is happening with friends on Facebook and if there is a video link, you may go to YouTube.

Next Phase in Life

2009-01-20T13:46:00.000-06:00

Last week I began sharing our experiences of going through the pain and recovery (if you can call it that) of three miscarriages. As anyone who has gone through this agony knows, you never stop thinking about it. Even when you finally celebrate the birth of a child, you still think "One of my children was due on November 7" so when that days rolls around each year, the ache in your heart never goes away.

But to continue, I shared the story of our second miscarriage which occurred after only a few weeks. The second time was much harder. We had seen the heartbeat. Heard our doctor say that it looks good. Then the devastation. Over the next several weeks, I remember finding ways to get out of meeting people, not wanting to remember and re-live the pain. I would go to church but avoid eye contact and quickly leave when service was over so I didn't have to go through awkward conversations with people. And for those who didn't know we had a miscarriage, it was agonizing to hear them say "How are you feeling?" or "How is the pregnancy coming?" Then I would lower my eyes and confess that I had lost another baby.

Yes, it was all on me. My body. The guilt that you feel is overwhelming. I remember my doctor urging me not to blame myself. I had asked about working out. Could that have caused this? Maybe it was my allergy medicine. I knew I should have stopped taking that sooner. Or maybe it was stress. I need to relax more. The guilt can be overwhelming.

And much to our dismay (yes it should have been joy but with our track record we weren't hopeful), one month later we found out again that I was pregnant (OK, I still don't understand the ovulation thing!). With a few tests, the doctor pointed out that I was not producing enough progesterone which feeds and sustains the baby until the second trimester when the umbilical cord is developed and able to feed the baby. He started me on supplements and we continued our prayers.

The first several weeks we held our breath. We took a risk and shared the news with our friends and family asking them to pray as well. When I finally reached the end of the first trimester, we were ecstatic! Could this finally be happening? Would we finally hold a child in our hands? Fortunately, you know the answer. Our beautiful Colt was born later that year.

After talking and praying, we really felt that Colt would be our only child. With me working and Joe going to school, we felt at peace in our hearts about our decision. Then one night I had a dream. Not the Martin Luther King speech kind of dream, but a meaningful dream nonetheless. Simply put, I dreamed that my sister Lois and I were pregnant at the same time. This wasn't an earth-shattering dream because in fact, my sister and I were pregnant while I was carrying Colt. She had her baby 3 weeks before Colt was born. So when I thought about the dream the next day it was really no big deal.

Then over the next couple of days, strange things happened. I was getting my nails done and the manicurist asked "Are you planning on having more children?" I informed her that "no, we weren't." The next day I was getting my hair done. The stylist asked "Are you planning to have more" and I informed her "no, Colt is going to be an only child." I remember being asked that same question by at least 2-3 other people. It started me thinking, and praying. After getting up the courage that weekend, Joe and I were lying in bed as I began by saying "What would you say if I suggested that we have another child?" I looked around for the defibrillator then realized he was going to be OK after he calmed down. "I thought we had already decided this?" he pleaded. After sharing my dream and telling him what had been on my heart, he opened up his heart to the idea again.

But as you know, it is never that easy. Last time I got pregnant right away. It seemed easy. Now, I was almost 40. As the months slipped away, we began to think that my dream was just that, a dream. UNTIL, my sister called me after Christmas (6 months after my dream) to tell me that she was pregnant! Well my dream must have been a premonition! We couldn't give up the faith. And sure enough, a couple months later we found out that I was pregnant again. Taking my daily supplements, we were confident that this pregnancy was a blessing from God and "meant to be."

I sailed through the first several weeks, just waiting to get past the first trimester so the nausea would diminish and I could concentrate on preparing for this new child. So much to do! We were planning and planning. Then, out of no where it hit us again. The spotting and bleeding. This was just too much! Not again. I had a dream. This was meant to be. Not again.

This time I was 11 weeks along so waiting to completely end the pregnacy and let everything pass was not only physically hard, but equally as hard on my emotions. To say that I don't struggle with "why did this happen" would be to lie. I still hurt. I know all the words of comfort. They help sometime. But it still hurts and I will never forget.

Thanks for my wonderful husband who planted a tree last year so that we can remember with hope.

Deep thinking brings me to a halt

2009-01-15T13:23:00.000-06:00

When I came home yesterday my husband said, "You have to read Katherine's blog." Yes, I now have my husband following blogs. I wasn't sure what to expect, but as I started reading my heart fell and a great sadness overcame me as I realized that she was referencing her sister, Rachel Anne. Rachel Anne is the author of Home Sanctuary, a blog that I would love to follow on a more regular basis if I didn't have my daily life of work, husband, child, house, church, and on and on.

In Rachel Anne's most recent posting, she pours out her heart as she shares with her audience her pain of a previous miscarriage and the joy of finding out that she and her husband will be blessed to again experience having a child later in life. My heart ached for her and her family as she talks about her latest sadness. As you may know, last spring Joe and I experienced our third, yes third, miscarriage.

I never shared the complete story, but reading Rachel Anne's posts as she opened up her life and exposed her pain and healing from her first miscarriage has inspired me to write a little bit about our experience in the hopes that others will take heart and know that faith is not something you automatically have, but something that takes time to grow and many times can be tested.

After our son was born (I call him Colt on this blog), we believed that he would be our one and only seeing that I was pushing 40 and Joe was close behind in age (yes, I married a younger man and I love him for it!). To share even more, I surprised my entire family when I told them I was pregnant because growing up I was firm that "there would be no grand kids from me." But after a loving marriage and God working on my heart, I was open to the possibility of having children and within a few months of trying, we found out we were going to have a child.

I remember walking around our neighborhood in late August 2005 discussing how our lives would change. And that evening, our lives did change. I started bleeding and with deep dread in my heart , I called the doctor the next morning. After a sonogram, my worst fears were confirmed. After only 6 weeks, we had lost our child. Oh the pain, the questions, the doubt. How could God open me up to wanting a child then let our precious child be taken away so quickly?

Our friends and family shared our loss and grieved with us, praying that God would again bless us with the opportunity to become parents. I will tell you that our doctor said to wait at a couple of months before trying again, but since neither one of us were familiar with ovulation cycles and we are still very much in love, much to our surprise (and our doctor's) we found out were pregnant the very next month!

This time we hesitated before telling everyone. We just couldn't go through the pain of hearing everyone offer their sympathy if something were to happen again. After 7 weeks, we had a doctor's appointment and with relief, saw the baby's heartbeat for the very first time. We took our "picture" with us that evening as we went to a dinner party at a friend's house. How exciting to share the good news with people! Joy and relief filled our hearts as we planned and dreamed about this new child. But later in the evening I went to the bathroom and my heart dropped as I started bleeding once again.

I couldn't even face our friends as Joe and I left the party. On our friend's sidewalk leading to their front door, Joe wrapped his arms around me and held me as I cried so hard that my body shook. The agony of waiting until Monday morning (the party was on a Friday evening) to find out that again, we had another miscarriage and lost another child was almost more that I could take. To say that my faith was wavering does not even begin to put into words the pain and anger that I felt.

I will stop here for now and save our celebration story for my next post.

Meme from Stephanie at Redhead Ramblings

2008-12-22T13:18:00.000-06:00

Instructions: Italicize all the things you've already accomplished in your life.
Bold the things you'd like to still be able to do!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Held a praying mantis
9. Climbed a mountain
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T08:52:00.000-06:00

I haven't been on my soapbox for several months so I figured now is the perfect time.

NOTICE THE HEADLINE OF MERRY CHRISTMAS. Last year I posted on saying "Merry Christmas" and I feel the need to reinforce it again this year. Last night Joe and I were watching the news and heard that 75% of Americans still prefer to hear "Merry Christmas" this time of year. And this morning, I was told that someone at my company was revising our interactive email Christmas Card to say Happy Holidays. I almost lost it!

So why do so many still feel the need to say "Happy Holidays" trying not to offend anyone? With our country in such a turmoil, the one thing that we can hold onto is the hope that comes from the birth of Christ and his ultimate death and resurrection.

For those that are of another faith and celebrate differently, this time of year still needs to be recognized for those of us who celebrate Christmas. If we are going to be so politically correct, we should be saying Happy Holidays all the time, even for New Year or Easter or Ramadan or Chanukah or Memorial Day or Columbus Day.

I say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Let me celebrate this Christmas season and I will let you celebrate your holidays.

That is enough for this year, I am sure I will be back on the soapbox again next year.

Pictures to enjoy

2008-12-16T21:32:00.001-06:00

I have a new computer so it is taking me time to get all the software loaded on it that I had on our other computer. Now I can take the pictures from my camera, download them to the computer and share them with friends and family. SO, here we go! Enjoy.

First, here is Colt and a friend from Lifegroup at the Hillcrest Fall Festival. Both of them showed up as Elmo, a favorite with kids his age.

Colt takes his first trip to the zoo. Colt and I went with our friends Richard and Beth and the rest of their LifeGroup. We had so much fun looking at the gorillas, zebras, lions, elephants and giraffes, just to name a few.

I highly recommend the Fort Worth Zoo! It costs a little more than other zoos in the areas but it is well worth it.

As I mentioned in my last posting, we had family in over Thanksgiving and Colt received his Christmas presents early. One of his favorite gifts (actually his dad's favorite gift) is a basketball hoop. Colt is getting better at being able to shoot hoops. When he misses, he says "almost" and when he makes it he says "swoosh." Can you guess who has been helping him play?

Finally, Colt looks great in his suit! I bought this over a year ago hoping he could wear it for Easter this past year but he is so small that he is just now able to hold up the pants (he is 26 months and the suite is 18 months).

We love his smile and his laugh!

Oh how time flies!

2008-12-08T13:42:00.000-06:00

I finally took a quick look at my blog and couldn't believe that I hadn't posted in almost a month. No wonder I don't have people following my blog on a regular basis. I also have a blog for work (internal only) and have a hard time keeping up with that as well.

I have so many thoughts but I will post a few and I promise to update more regularly. Pictures to follow in the next post.

1. Thanksgiving was great! We had a few built-in babysitters for a couple of days (Thanks MaryJo and Janet!) and my brother-in-law David also graced us with his presence. We did our gift exchange at Thanksgiving (actually, Colt got a lot of gifts as the adults decided not to give each other gifts that we probably didn't need anyway).

2. We had our annual pictures taken again. I will put a plug in here for Portrait Innovations. If you ever need to have photos taken, this is the place. In and out quickly and you have plenty of options on photos to choose from AND they give you a CD with all your photos so you can print them off at any time. This year was hard as I made the appointment later than last year (last year we did it earlier in November and this year it was after Thanksgiving) so it was extremely crowded and we had to wait longer than normal. BUT the photographer that we had, Lacy, was great and gave us a few free extras since we had to wait so long.

3. Colt and I went with our friends Alycia and Zack to the Christmas Parade in downtown Dallas. It was a little cold but so much fun! If you have children I would highly recommend taking a trip to the parade. All of Colt's favorite characters were there including Bob the Builder, Dora the Explorer, Toot and Puddles, and so many more. He loved the firetrucks and police cars in the parade shouting out each time they were coming toward us.

More to come later and I do promise more regular posts.
BTW, don't forget to vote on the poll to the right!

Social Media

2008-11-18T14:21:00.001-06:00

In my job, I am looking at all the social media options out there.

- twitter
- YouTube
- flickr
- LinkedIn
- Facebook
- myspace

It is a little overwhelming and I wonder "When do people have the time to actually participate in all this?" My question for this week is on the right. I know that the people who read this blog are probably just friends and family, but I would like to know from you what you are looking at how you are influenced.

I realized I wrote this post a while ago, saved it but never published.

The Meaning of Life

2008-11-11T21:18:00.000-06:00

I guess you are really expecting me to share some deep and insightful wisdom right now. I have to admit that at this point, I don't really have anything that will rock your world. What I do have is some thoughts to share.

The past 2 weeks have been extremely trying both personally and professionally. I have been working long hours, sometimes until midnight, while sacrificing time with my family and ignoring my own needs. I am sure that many of you reading this right now can relate. You feel worn down, wondering when you are going to find a time to relax and re-energize.

Let me give you some advice (even if you aren't asking).

Spend time with family!!!! Yesterday I had the privilege of spending time with Pam, one of my sisters, that I don't normally get to see. She is my next younger sister (I am the oldest, then Pam, Lois, then Amanda) and at one time we shared a place with another girl right after we all got out of college. I wasn't sure after that time if we would ever be close because as you might know, living with family can be a challenge.

I was amazed at how relaxing our conversation was. How easily we caught up. Talked about our kids. Shared our frustrations. Talked about our dreams for the future (like getting out of debt). Even though I didn't get much sleep last night (Colt has decided that 5am is now his wake-up time), I felt more calm today than I have in a while.

Thanks Pam. And thank God for family.

Pictures and more pictures

2008-10-23T22:11:00.001-05:00

I have had several people comment on the pictures that I recently posted of our son, so I thought I would share a few more.

Grandma "Zee" and Aunt Janet visit Colt and celebrate his birthday.

Colt plays with his new bubble mower from Grandma Zee.

Colt shows off his West Virginia pride while wearing Daddy's house slippers.

Colt showing off his overalls and his cute smile!

Polling question

2008-10-15T14:46:00.001-05:00

Forgot to add that you can choose multiple answers. If you have already voted, please feel free to add in additional answers.

The Arts

2008-10-14T21:13:00.000-05:00

There are many ways to express God in the arts. Which arts do you enjoy most?
Music 90%
Painting 10%
Theatre 10%
Dance 20%
Sculpture 10%
Photography 10%
Poetry
Film/Movies 30%

Music has such impact on us an individuals and as a society. A friend of mine is teaching her 22 month old son a curriculum called Musikgarten. It is amazing how children are automatically drawn to music. Colt, our 2-year old, loves to watch Dancing with the Stars with me. He dances with me, shakes to the music and laughs so hard. He also loves the piano and wants me or Joe to sit on the piano stool with him and play. When grandma "Zee" (Joe's mom) comes to visit, he will follow her into the guest room and turn on the radio. He will stand there and dance to the music. I guess the love of music is demonstrated in the popularity of iTunes and American Idol.

I am amazed at the diversity of music that God has gifted to people. I am not saying that I agree with all types of music and I joke that Country music is depressing and surely cannot be from God (ha ha). But all joking aside, it does bother me that there are music celebrities that our children will look to as they grow up and will see them as an inspiration. I pray that our son will know the difference between the music and those that spent the profits on things that do not honor our God.

Please leave a comment with your favorite group or song to share with others.

Pics to share

2008-10-09T19:48:00.000-05:00

First, Colt has a new look that he loves to do just to make us laugh.
He also discovered his shadow! One morning when the light was coming through the kitchen window, he saw his shadow, pointed to it and said his name. He laughed and laughed as he moved and his shadow moved.
We went to Toys R Us to get him a bicycle for his birthday. On the way out there was a firetruck with Bert and Ernie and an emergency vehicle with Big Bird and Elmo. Knowing how much he likes the characters, especially Elmo, he had to get a ride.
When he got up the next morning, first thing he did was get on his bicycle.
And of course, our little boy turned 2! His cake featured Elmo and Big Bird and he was so excited!

Bills, bills and more bills

2008-10-07T20:32:00.000-05:00

If you had $1000 extra dollars a year, what would you spend it on?
Electronics 10%
Clothes 10%
Charity
Myself
Pay off bills 60%
Other 20%

I was pleasantly pleased to see that the number one way a person would spend an extra $1000 a year would be to pay bills. I was also surprised that there wasn't even one vote for charity.

I am going to make a few assumptions here. First, most of the people who read this blog, including Joe and me, have some debt. Whether that be a mortgage, car loan, student loans, credit cards, or whatever. I would like to know how many people are aggressively trying to get out of debt versus just pay down their debt. We are trying to get out of debt and have a budget that we have been following on and off since we were married. (I will share the spreadsheet with anyone that would like to see it. Just email me.) At one time we were debt free then had to make some investments in our house so now we are back on track to be debt free in a few months.

The question for us is...what is a "need" and what is a "want"?

When we ask ourselves that question, our decision to not spend money and pay off debt becomes much easier. For example, I "want" a new car. Driving our Xterra every day to work is getting old - it is a stick and is based on a truck chassis so it can be a rough drive every day. BUT, our goal is to get out of debt so instead, we are putting extra money toward our mortgage which we figured out could save us $36,000 by paying it off early. That is more than a new car!!!

As I pointed out, I was also surprised that not one person said they would give anything to charity. This is one of the issues that is close to my heart so even though we are on a budget and trying to get out of debt, we sponsor a child through a missions organization called God Loves Kids. The young lady we sponsor is named Cissy and she is going to high school in Uganda. I pray that one day she grows up and is able to pass on a blessing to another child in her home country.

Many things to think about this week. Another poll is coming soon.

All about Weight

2008-09-30T20:42:00.000-05:00

Polling stats: If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be.
44% weight
33% marital status
22% location

I have to admit that I was shocked to see that the number one thing that people would change about themselves would be weight. I expected it to be financial or even marital status (knowing that there are several single people who follow my blog and this did come in a close second).

So what does this mean? I have been pondering this all week as the results seemed to be supporting that answer. Then, I thought about what we see on TV and how that impacts our concept of how we should look.

- The Biggest Loser: That is what I am watching as I sit here and blog. I am also eating my Skinny Cow ice cream dessert. Hungry from my salad, low fat sandwich and baked chips for lunch. Yes, dieting and losing weight has become even more of a consideration in our society. I talk to people at work and they are either going to lose weight (in their future plans) or they are currently working out and dieting trying to get off those extra pounds.

- Dove Real Beauty Campaign: Over the past year you may have seen the commercials from Dove as they travel the country talking to young girls to educate them as to what real beauty is. It is not the images from Hollywood with actresses that have their ribs and collar bones sticking out because they have starved themselves to get the latest part in a TV show or movie. It is developing a healthy lifestyle by eating right and exercising. You may not be 5'10" and weigh 120 pounds, but you can still be healthy and look fabulous.

Final thought: Why does eating healthy cost more? I would think that putting in all the additives and preservatives would cost more than providing a simple alternative. For example, why is organic vegetables (which uses all-natural ways of growing them) more expensive than other vegetables (which use natural fertilizers like manure, which I believe is free). Go figure.

Please vote on the new poll question to the right. Don't forget, you don't have to be a member or sign in to vote.

About the polling function

2008-09-24T20:47:00.000-05:00

You don't have to be blogger or sign in to vote, so please share your thoughts!

Changing it up

2008-09-23T21:15:00.000-05:00

For the first time, I can't think of one thing to write about. Maybe it is because I am so tired. Maybe it is because life is going well.

So in exploring the new gadgets that can be added to a blog, I decided to put a poll question on the blog. Each week I will post a new poll and discuss the results on my blog entry.

If you have a question that you would like for me to post, leave a comment or send me an email.

In a previous post, I talked about your treasure. I have been thinking a little more about this and as our sermon last week was on the topic of stewardship versus ownership, I feel the need to delve a little more into this.

I can quickly list out those things that are important to me:
- relationship with God
- Husband
- Child
- Family
- Job
- Friends
- Home

I then consider whether I treat each one as an owner or as a steward. In other words, which do I imagine that I am actually in control of versus those that I manage?

- God: not sure how to answer this one
- Husband: I believe that this is truly a stewardship. I do not take for granted the fact that I was given a husband that is more that I deserve. We work out issues together. We can truly share our feelings without embarrassment or hurt. I know that I cannot change him; that is up to God.
- Child: The only way that I will make it through the toddler and teenage years is by handing him over to THE ONE that is able to love him even when I am pulling my hair out.
- Family: Address this at another time.
- Job: I have to say that I am torn on this. I know that I only have my job because of the Favor that was given to me, but I know that I have a tendency to push forward and make decisions that are on my own.
- Friends: Address this at another time.
- Home: This is also a mixed bag. Address this at another time.

Big Boy Bed

2008-09-16T19:55:00.001-05:00

Next month our son will be 2 years old! We just can't believe that it is happening so fast. We have been discussing what to get him for his birthday and we decided on a tricycle. So tonight, on the spur of a moment, we decided to go to Toys R Us to see if we could get one. We didn't know that the one near us was closing and moving to a new location so everything was on sale. Let me say that the word "Sale" is like a magnet for things that you don't really need. BUT, there can be those times when a sale is just what you need.

We ended up buying Colt a bedding set so that when we transition him from a crib to a bed he will have something new and exciting. At the store, he saw the Elmo set and kept repeating "Elmo, Elmo, Elmo" so we had to give in and get it.

Joe and I have noticed that Colt is getting taller and if he really tried he could lean over and fall out of the crib. SO, after we got back from the store Joe decided that we should lower the mattress on his bed. I commented (OK, I complained) that if he lowered the mattress then I wouldn't be able to lean over the edge and lay him down at night. So my recommendation was to go ahead and put on the side rails and begin the transition to a "real" bed for him.

WHAT AN EMOTIONAL TIME FOR US (actually me)! GULP, he is now becoming a toddler.

Colt helped us (actually he was more in the way than actually helping), and we finally finished. We put on his new Elmo sheets and he was so excited. I am so glad that we got the sheets because when I said "Time to go to sleep. Get in bed with Elmo." he got right in and laid his head down. It was SO ADORABLE.

We will see how he does in the morning when he wakes up. Will he get out of the bed and come into our room or just sit there and wait for us like he does every morning?

What's on my mind...

2008-09-16T19:55:00.000-05:00

A post with this headline would normally take a novel to fill, but I will write a few paragraphs and see where it leads us.

1. I want to share a little more insight on a book I mentioned in my last post called "The Shack" by William Young. I was discussing the book today with a lady at work, sharing how it has impacted my life. I admit that I have had a negative attitude toward my boss. He is hard to work for, making demands of me and my time that interfere with my ongoing work and at times, with my personal life. When I first started reporting directly to him, I made it known how difficult he was to work for and when asked my opinion of him, I did not keep it to myself. I was corrected by God for my attitude, but is has been difficult keeping my mouth shut. This book, through insights and analogies, directly points out the harm in JUDGING and UNFORGIVENESS and how that is something that we do as humans that we are not qualified to do because we do not have the insight that God has into others. I will say that right now I am seeking to find out more about JUDGING and how to FORGIVE.

2. In a couple months, my son will be 2 years old. Another blessing in our lives that is wonderful yet challenging. Even as I write this, I can hear him through the baby monitor in his room as he settles down to sleep. "Mom-my, mom-my" he says as he drifts off to sleep wanting me to hold him and rock him one more time. AHHHH, how cute you say. Yes, but then there is the minutes before bedtime when I get home from work and try to eat dinner prior to playing with him. He is tired and wants my attention so he tries to grab at my fork and flips food across the room. Yes, he is cute and I love him.

3. I am sitting here watching The Biggest Loser. Every season I watch it and think "I can do that too if I only put my mind to it." I have been working out during lunch at work with a friend for the past couple months. We missed 2 weeks as a result of time off and busy schedules but we are back at it. I guess making Oatmeal/Peanut Butter/Chocolate Chip Cookies on Sunday evening isn't going to help. But for those of you who don't really care about those silly calories or fat grams, here is a great recipe!

Lack of communication

2008-09-07T20:29:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been more than a month since I have written anything. I tell Joe that this is the one thing that I miss when I get busy. Writing down my thoughts and catching everyone up on what has been happening in our lives. Pap Pap (my dad) said I was negligent on posting/sending pictures, so I will start our with a picture of Colt as he is helping his dad mow the lawn. BTW, "mow" is now one of his favorite words and everytime we go in the garage, he asks his dad to "mow."

Before I forget, I want to plug a book I just read. "The Shack" I am sure when you read it there will be many ideas that you will question about religion, God, Jesus, the Trinity, judging people, forgiveness, and many more. The book is deep yet controversial. You really have to see it as a work of fiction that has a wellspring of thoughts. I might have to come back to this book later because it really made me think and touched me deeply in so many areas.

Now on to some updates from the last month. Most recently, Joe and I had the opportunity to go to San Francisco/Oakland for a quick vacation with quality time for the two of us and a visit with our dear friend Bridget. Reconnecting with your spouse is essential, but even more important when you have children. In just a few days, we were able to share experiences and talk about issues that we don't normally have the time to discuss in any real depth without being interrupted by "life." AND we got to do an incredibly, fabulous Segway tour of San Francisco. I HIGHLY recommend this for anyone going to a city to check out and see if they have this. It was so easy and we had so much fun. This was Joe's favorite thing about the trip.

Colt is growing up so quickly and is now repeating and learning new words every day. He has a book that shows construction equipment. He sees the dump truck and says "umb ruck" then points to the man in the truck and says "pap pap." He said his first real sentence last week when he fell off my legs (he was riding the horse) and he said "I fell down." He also says "open door" and other short things that are getting close to real sentences. Tomorrow he will start his first day of "Mother's Day Out" at our church.

A few more thoughts from my last post on Women's Friendships. I know God is answering prayers to allow me to develop deeper, more meaningful friendships with women. To share my heart. Be supported as I listen and pray for others.

Women's Friendships

2008-08-04T17:13:00.001-05:00

There is such a stereotype when it comes to women's friendships. Sitting around drinking afternoon tea, talking about your children. Or sipping a martini, gossiping about the "loose" girl at work. Or going to the mommy's groups where women's go to the mall or a park and watch their kids while they chat about their husbands work or their tiring day of chores that wait for them at home.

My question is...what does it mean to have true women's friendship?

This question has been on my heart for sometime as I struggle to not only be a good friend, but to find the type of friendships that are referenced in the Bible. I will write about this journey along the way as I explore it for myself. I plan on reading a couple of books (the Bible of course, and a book by Dee Brestin called The Friendships of Women). I heard about the second book from Rachel Anne at Home Sanctuary. Any other readings or thoughts are greatly appreciated as I explore this deep and meaningful area.

Even though this posting is geared toward women, I can guarantee that there are men who feel the same way. They need to connect with other men who share their beliefs, who can hold them accountable, and can provide support during difficult times.

Where is your treasure?

2008-07-17T14:28:00.000-05:00

On my way to and from work I often turn on the radio and listen to Christen radio stations with teachings or talk radio. I will probably write a couple of posts on some of the different subjects as they have been rattling around in my mind for the past couple of weeks. Here is the first one.

I have been listening to a series of sermons by Dr. Jeff Wickwire entitled "Talk on the Hill" which is his casual version of the Sermon on the Mount. In one section of the "Talk" there is the scripture that says "where your treasures are, there your heart will be also." He also quoted the scripture that references that we can "lay up treasures" in heaven.

This really hit a nerve with me in so many ways. I started thinking about life. See my prior post a couple of weeks ago. It begged the question with me - "What are my treasures?"

Of course I started thinking of my husband and son, but I know that I do put God first so I know that my relationships with my family follow his lead. I then thought of work and even though I am proud of the work that I do and I know I am good at what I do, I also know that I would give it up in a heartbeat to do mission work full time or to stay home with my son.

So what is my treasure? Do I lay up treasures in heaven? On Wednesday of last week I had to go to the lab and have blood drawn. The lady that drew my blood was very pleasant and I said to her "You have a great personality for what you do." She stopped, looked at me and said, "You don't know how much I need to hear that today." She then proceeded to tell me that she was having a rough time lately and was doubting herself. She also shared that she was dating a guy that was wonderful to her but that she didn't love and she knew she needed to break up with.

That was my time to add to my treasure. I said I didn't know what her faith was, but that God had a plan for her life and if she would let go, God would give her something even better (just like he did for me). Sometimes we don't think we deserve better or we think that if we let something go, we will never find better.

I can tell you that I left the lab uplifted and thanking God that he gave me the opportunity to encourage someone. How simple was that!

Take the opportunity to lay up your treasure. It is so easy to take one minute of your time and think of someone else. Encourage them. Share the love of God with them.

Musings on Purpose

2008-07-14T09:07:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered why you are here on earth? What is my purpose? I have been thinking a lot about this lately. It seems like I have been just "floating" through life over the past couple of months. First there was vacation to think about, then we were sick, then there was a holiday weekend, then there was work, then....

Through all of this, it has left me thinking. What was I meant to do here on earth? A couple of years ago our church, including our LifeGroup, went through the "40 Days of Purpose" study. I guess it really didn't sink in and I need to read it again.

I am not sure why I am thinking so much about it now except that we are getting ready to hit some milestones this fall:
- Five wonderful years of marriage
- A two-year old son
- Debt free
- A decision on career for Joe

This then makes me think, "what next?"

July 4th Weekend

2008-07-06T21:40:00.000-05:00

After a rough start to the week (I ended up home sick 3 days last week), I was able to recover from the virus just in time for the 4th of July weekend.

I have to say that this was the most relaxing and restful weekend I have had in a LONG TIME. On Thursday, July 3, we went to see the Plano Community Band in the town park. They played a patriotic tribute to America and to our surprise, we found out that they play every Monday night during the summer, FREE to the public. I would highly recommend finding a community band in your area to enjoy the sounds of summer.

Friday morning, July 4, we went to see the Fourth of July parade in our town. What a wonderful tribute to the military men and women that serve our country! It was an honor to see them in uniform riding down the street with applause from those watching from the side of the street.

Pictures to come, but I had a few minutes to post so I thought I would share the joy of being an American.

Reasons for not posting recently

2008-06-30T13:38:00.000-05:00

I have been told by some unnamed sources (Uncle David being one) that it has been a while since I have posted anything. It is good to know that at least one person is reading the latest happenings here in Dallas. :-)

Actually, I know there are others because as we traveled to WV and PA for a family visit (yes, that is one reason for not posting more often), I was told that the only pictures I send to people are on my blog. I am working on that issue.

So here goes on the latest updates.

1. We made our annual trek to PA and WV to visit family. I remember commenting on how Colt was getting over his cold he picked up last year from the visit. Not to dissapoint us this year, not only did Colt pick up a virus, but Joe and I also were the wonderful recipients of the gift. Colt's cousin (named Stormy by her grandpa) visited Granny and Pap's house the first night and was up vomiting and has diarrhea. It was then passed to Granny, then on to aunt Mandy, then Joe (my husband), then Pap, then to aunt Lois, then to Colt (up vomiting and diarrhea on Friday night), then on to me. YES, Stormy is definately learning to share things from her daycare.

2. The trip to PA included a visit with Colt's sister (K) and Joe's family.

Sister K with Colt.

Pappy Joe, Sister K and Colt at the lake beside Pappy Joe's place.

3. Highlights from the trip to WV include:
My niece Maycee playing in the sudden rain/hailstorm that came Monday evening.
Oh yeah, the hailstorm and rain came while we were trying to put together a swingset for the kids. I won't mention how many times the men had to reassemble parts after putting them on wrong (they should have read the directions first). In the end (with my help and direction) the swingset was finally put together. And Colt even helped a little.

I gave my nephew Drew a much needed haircut.

We went to the lake (actually a state park) with Aunt Lil, Uncle Frank and cousins Cary and Conner. Can you believe all the deer just walking and lying around at the park.

And to top it all off, we received a concert from Colt and Stormy on the piano (David, I think they could use a few lessons).

Short videos on the John Deere

2008-06-10T21:25:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Granny and Pap.

Fighting the Bulge -- In Japan

2008-06-05T13:12:00.001-05:00

I normally don't have long posts, but this is one that deserves the time and attention of including every single word. Enjoy.

Japan Cracks Down on Waistlines
A rise in diabetes and other ailments is blamed on a growing appetite for sweets
By Rena Singer
U.S. News & World Report, June 4, 2008
TOKYO—Sunstar Inc., makers of GUM and Butler brand oral hygiene products, will be sending select employees to a most unusual three-day company retreat this year. The goal isn't high productivity, product development, or team building but instead slim waistlines. Sunstar's fat farm is part of a broad range of programs instituted by companies and the government here as Japan begins its battle with the bulge.
Japanese wait in a long line in front of Krispy Kreme doughnuts store in Tokyo's Shinjuku district.

In a country seemingly devoid of Rubenesque curves, a country in which tofu makes regular appearances on menus and bean paste serves as a common substitute for chocolates in desserts, a country with the best longevity rates in the world, this may seem a strange preoccupation. But the two-hour lines at Tokyo's Krispy Kreme doughnut shops and the rising rates of diabetes tell of a country in transition.

Indeed, rice and fresh fruit consumption in Japan has fallen by about half since 1970, while beef consumption is up more than 40 percent and coffee drinking has tripled. The crepe shops that have sprouted up on street corners throughout Tokyo demonstrate the growing appetite for sweets. Notably, the number of diabetics in Japan has doubled in the past 15 years, and the government estimates that a further 10 million people have the warning signs for the disease. This is particularly troubling in a rapidly aging country like Japan, adding to the strain on Japan's national health insurance program.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare released an alarming study two years ago that found that half of all men between the ages of 40 and 74 and 1 in 5 women in the same age group showed signs of "metabolic syndrome"—a cluster of risk factors for heart attacks and cardiovascular disease that includes high cholesterol, high blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, and abdominal obesity.

The report shocked the nation and prompted the government to pass legislation to force the Japanese to shape up. The laws to address what the Japanese have come to call "metabo" take effect this year. They've given the government and employers, long dominant forces in Japanese workers' lives, places at the dinner table in ordinary Japanese homes. They've also sparked a flurry of products to help Japanese keep trim or shed extra pounds.

One regulation, effective in April, requires all citizens over the age of 40 to have their waists measured every year. If a man's waist is more than 33.5 inches or a woman's more than 35.5 inches, they are considered at risk and referred for counseling and close monitoring. The government is also requiring companies to slim down their workers or face higher payments into the national insurance program.

Companies across the country have responded with a variety of initiatives. Sunstar has its boot camp, which includes lectures on diet, exercise, and even Zen meditation. Family members of employees over 40 whose love handles won't budge will also be asked to attend the camp. The company also offers overweight workers free delivery of healthful, traditionally Japanese food like soybeans and brown rice.

Computer, mobile phone, and appliance maker NEC Corp. requires all of its employees in its Japanese offices to undergo yearly checks from the time they turn 30, a full decade earlier than the government regulations require. And all employees must attend lifestyle instruction courses. Any employee who shows "poor results" (think beer belly) will receive individual follow-up attention, says Susumu Makihara, general manager of human resources for the global giant's Japan operations.

NEC's cafeteria now sports a "healthy menu option," and Makihara says that for now, the company will not be monitoring what employees eat in the cafeteria. "This is a major issue for aging societies," says Makihara. "NEC is facing this now and going beyond what is required by the law, though we recognize that, at the end of the day, it is a personal choice."

Other companies have made healthful eating less of a recommendation and more of a job requirement. The local press highlighted one corporation, a seafood processor, that will require its staff to eat at least one of the company's own fish sausages every day. The sausages contain an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA, which is believed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Few Japanese are willing to criticize the government's regulations or their employer's plans for the record. But the Japan Times newspaper ran a column quoting outraged, but unnamed, workers. One worker says he intends to fast for three days before his examination to shed the inches he needs to pass his physical. Another told the newspaper, "My waistline is none of my company's business."

Many Japanese have turned to technology to fight flab. Television here is now flush with commercials for exercise equipment and electronic belts that promise to melt the fat away. And NEC has just developed a new feature for mobile phones in Japan, which analyzes the reported daily intake of the phone user and determines if the diet is healthful.

It is now a civic duty to stay fit, says Naoko Takase, assistant manager of public relations for Sunstar. "Many employees are happy for this information and guidance we offer in our program," he says. "But some employees think they want to do this themselves, that their diet is not the company or government's concern."

Summer is Here!

2008-06-02T21:59:00.000-05:00

Can you believe that it is already summer here in Texas? Or at least it feels like it. Starting Memorial Day and going through the weekend, the temperature was in 90s but with the humidity, it seemed like it was over 100. Last week we went to Fort Worth and walked around and were sweating terribly in the humid sunshine. But despite the heat, Colt was outside last weekend helping his dad pick up sticks from the lawn.

But, good news! The pool is now warm enough to enter without gulping in shock of the cold water. In fact, today the water temperature in the pool was 84. JUST PERFECT!

We did get in last week over Memorial Day and Colt seemed to have more fun outside the pool throwing the ball to Grandma. Today, he did stay in the pool with us without saying "Done" in the first 15 minutes.

Some updates

2008-05-28T21:04:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I had a chance to post so I will summarize for everyone.

Our neighbor gave us their old "turtle" sandbox since their kids had outgrown it. Colt is going to have tons of fun this summer.

Our friend Bridget was in town for Mother's Day weekend and came to visit. We miss you terribly Bridget!
We are teaching Colt to sit on his new "potty" that plays music when a liquid hits the 2 sensors on the bottom of the bowl. He thinks just sitting on it is fun.
Joe and I were able to get away this past Memorial Day weekend to the Fort Worth Botanical Garden. We spent the night in Fort Worth then caught an opera the next day, Lucia di Lammermoor.

Joy and Laughter

2008-05-19T12:15:00.000-05:00

Last week I posted about the Mother's Day prayers that were provided in our church bulletin and I had hoped that I could share more of these with you but as you know, life kicks in and we get busy so even my posts become more random.

BUT, the second prayer on the list was for Joy and Laughter and I just have to share it with everyone.

Joy and Laughter (Nehemial 8:10, Job 8:21)
Father, help me to keep a bounce in my step and a smile on my face. Let my home ring out with joy and laughter...beginning with me. Remind me to keep a sense of humor, and never take myself too seriously.

I challenge everyone today to bring the joy and laughter back into your life. Do something that will make you laugh until you cry (if you have seen "The Bucket List" you will know what I mean). Get with a bunch of friends and laugh about how crazy everyone was back in the 80s with the hairdos and clothes. Even better, get out the pictures and really get a big laugh!

Or just sit on your back porch, listen to the birds sing, feel the breeze on your face and experience the joy of just being alive and knowing that God is in control.

Mother's Day

2008-05-14T11:08:00.000-05:00

I recognize that not everyone that reads my blog is a mother, but I thought that I would first honor the mothers and say that God has indeed given each of us both a blessing and responsibility that we will carry throughout our lives. I pray for those that do not have children and have been praying for years for God to answer their prayers. Today Lord, I pray that you will open up the heavens and pour out your blessings on these women/men that they may be fruitful and multiply.

I also wanted to share with you a few prayers that were published in our church bulletin on Mother's Day. I believe these prayers apply to everyone, but especially to mothers.

Day 1 - Energy (Psalm 28:7, Isaiah 33:2 and 40:31)
God, please fill me with Your strength every morning, so I can accomplish all that is set before me. Please help me to never grow weary of doing good things for ________ (fill in the blank) and for You.
Please help me to never grow weary of doing good things for Joe and Colt and for You.

Parenting Lesson #8, 9, 10, 11

2008-05-07T13:34:00.000-05:00

Just to move on from these, I am going to post the final lessons. My comments in italics.

Lesson 8
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.
This does not end at nine months and as I previously posted, with a son that doesn't want to eat this has become a real challenge. When he was younger I think I even invented a few new sounds and noises to try and engage him in eating.

Lesson 9
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.
I think both my Joe and I (probably more Joe) can name every program on Noggin. From Pinky Dinky Do to Wow, Wow Wubzy (Colt's favorite) to Franklin to Little Bill. And it is sad to say that I have often found myself singing the theme song to Wonder Pets and Lazy Town on the way to work.

Lesson 10
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required).
Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Right now, Colt loves to ride in the car and is usually quiet or talking in his cute little voice about something (we cannot translate everything yet). I know the time will come so we are enjoying our time now.

Lesson 11
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
This hasn't happened to us yet, but I see our friends struggling to pay attention in a conversation where the child wants their undivided attention.

Parenting Lesson #7

2008-05-06T15:46:00.000-05:00

Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat.
1. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight.
2. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.

Under normal circumstances, I would agree with this one. But, our Colt has just the opposite problem- NOT EATING! We went to the pediatrician last week and to our horror, he is now in the -10% in weight (yes, that is a negative sign).

Of all the things that we have to worry about as parents, a child eating was not on our original list. We were worried he would fall on the corner of the stone in the fireplace and hit his head. Or that he would swallow a small toy. Or the many other fears you have for your child. Who knew that "not eating" would be one of those worries.

We did get a lecture from our pediatrician and are now trying to get Colt completely off the bottle and on to table food. This morning was good with him eating cereal (with milk) but I will have to check in with "daddy" to see if the afternoon food sessions were successful.

Suggestions on how to transition to table food are accepted.

Parenting Lesson #6

2008-04-29T12:35:00.000-05:00

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

This one left me laughing so hard! My boss had a BWM and tried to convince me that it was the ultimate car and exactly what I needed. He said it had 9 airbags for safety. I told him that with an 18 month-old child, half of those would have to be turned off. Of course his three daughters are all grown so he doesn't have to worry about Cheerios or spilled food in the car.

Parenting Lesson #5

2008-04-24T16:40:00.000-05:00

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hangout.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

This one just cracks me up. Colt is learning to twist his body and arch his back when we put him on the table to change his diaper or his clothes. He makes this cute face (OK, cute when Joe is changing his diaper/clothes).

I can just imagine what it is going to be like when he really decides he doesn't want to wear clothes for the day. :-0

Parenting Lesson #4

2008-04-22T16:51:00.000-05:00

Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

I know this one will come soon enough, but right now I only have to worry about his toys being everywhere and us stepping on them at least 10 times a day. Colt's only messes right now are when he digs his fingers in the flowers pots (in the house), puts them in his mouth to eat the dirt, decides he doesn't like it so he wipes the dirt on whatever he can find. Cleaning the house has taken a back seat, so right now dirt and dust are everywhere thanks to our child.

Interruption

2008-04-21T21:58:00.000-05:00

I haven't had a chance to post the remaining Parenting Lessons, but I will continue later on.

Last week we had an unexpected interruption in our lives. For the third time, we were left with a deep sadness and shock as once again we lost a child. It is hard to write this now, but I feel that at some point it will be help me to express the grief and pain that I feel.

This time was much harder as I was 11 weeks along and we had already begun to make so many plans. We would need a new car. We need to change up the office to be an office/guest room. We need to buy another crib. We need to plan for when I am off work.

Then, in a moment all those plans change. You are left wondering: Why did this happen? What did I do wrong? Why can mothers who do drugs carry a child full-term? Why are there so many women that have abortions and yet there are so many others that have miscarriages or can't get pregnant at all?

We had already shared our news with people which makes it so hard when we have to say that we lost another baby. Our family and friends grieve with us and try to understand the loss.

We held Colt even closer this past weekend and Joe again reminded me that we indeed have a miracle baby and we cannot forget it.

Parenting Lesson #3

2008-04-11T12:59:00.000-05:00

Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM-10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.
2. Eat cold food with one hand for dinner
3. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
4. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
5. Set the alarm for 3AM.
6. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM, make a drink and watch an infomercial.
7. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
8. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
9. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
10. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Thankfully for us, the bulk of this one only lasted 10 weeks until Colt started sleeping through the night. But, we found out that when babies go through a growth spurt, this happens again (and we have felt it about every 4 weeks). Thankfully we, OK, actually Joe, goes into his room, puts the pacifier in his mouth, pats his head, and Colt goes back to sleep.

A big comment on #2. This is the one area that I have the most trouble with. When we go out to eat (or even at home), I spend most of my time trying to feed Colt and really can't enjoy my meal (and yes, it is usually cold by the time I eat it). BUT, last weekend Joe took me out for a late Birthday celebration and it was the most enjoyable meal I have had in 18 months! It was hot. I took my time eating. There was no one to pull at my plate. No one to "Uh, Uh" to indicate he wanted something. It was heaven!

Parenting Lesson #2

2008-04-10T21:04:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I started sharing with you the Eleven Step Program to see if you are ready for parenting. Here is the next lesson.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Oh where to start on this one. Especially number 5. I cannot tell you the number of people that say "Well when little Johnny was that age..." and then ramble on about their experiences. If I want advice, I will ask for it!

Fortunately, the first 4 haven't effected us yet. Colt isn't old enough yet to be officially disciplined or running wild.

In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. [Ps. 31:20]

Parenting Lesson #1

2008-04-09T12:49:00.000-05:00

I received this Eleven Step Program from a friend at work. I laughed the whole way through, but since it involves eleven steps, I will share one a day and let you think on it.

Thinking of Having Kids? Do this 11 step program first!
Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.

I know this will eventually be true, but for right now we are just praying the Colt will eat "table food." We tried to transition him off baby food in a jar and after a two-day fast of only Cheerios and turkey bacon, we gave in and bought more baby food. With another one on the way, I am sure that by ages 5-10 we will find our grocery bill skyrocketing.

I am trying to remember the last time I read the paper and I honestly cannot recall! We did have a subscription to both the Dallas Morning News and the Wall Street Journal but after days of not reading the papers (and piling them up for recycling), we decided to cancel our orders. And the hard part is I love to read but rarely get the chance. The last book I read (Saving Faith by David Baldacci) was on a plane to/from Orlando for a conference. I am now waiting for my next trip to enjoy a book again.

Spring, and allergies, are here

2008-04-07T20:09:00.000-05:00

We have been spending a lot of time outside now that the weather has turned a little warmer. And of course, now that I am pregnant I can't take my normal allergy medicine (which you don't realize how well it is working until you aren't taking it and you are miserably sneezing and blowing your nose 24X7).

A week ago, Colt started coughing a little and sneezing at times. We thought he was just developing a small cold but over the last week, it has gotten much worse. Last night he was fussing and crying, in between coughing and sneezing. We decided to take him to the doctor and to our dismay, HE HAS ALLERGIES! AT 18 MONTHS OLD! His nose was red and inflamed. Mucus was draining into his stomach so he has a decreased appetite. And his ears were FULL of wax.

We felt so bad for him that we bought him a toy. Now I have to say that we don't do this often, but since he was feeling so bad we wanted to do something to make him feel better. A couple weeks ago at a friends house he was playing with a little Fisher Price push toy that makes pops the balls in the bottom and makes a "popping" noise (little did we know how annoying this would be on an hourly/daily basis).

I told Joe that it is so hard with Colt at this age. He can't talk yet so he can't tell me where it hurts and what is wrong. Holding him as he puts his head on my chest because he doesn't feel well is so tough!

BUT, I thank God over and over again that overall he is healthy. I know of children that have serious medical problems that will cause them to have problems their entire lives.

Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessing see what God has done.

More "Firsts"

2008-03-31T20:51:00.000-05:00

Before the haircut.

His bangs fell below his eyes so we

had to comb them to the side.

After the haircut.

Now, his bangs are short and he

is happy he can see!

Colt looks so handsome in his suit for Easter.

2008-03-26T13:50:00.000-05:00

In my first post ever, I wrote "I am pregnant with my first child. There is so much on that topic that I really could fill up pages: Will we make good parents? Will my hormones ever be normal again? How will our lives change after the baby?" Over the past couple of years, I have filled up pages that addressed these questions and then prompted additional questions.

With the excitement of a new one on the way, we are now in the process of updating our lives. It is amazing how your lives change with one child, but with two, the changes will be more noticeable.

- I am again going through the daily nausea routine. Last time, I could just lay down when ever I wanted and rest. On Sunday I went to lay on the couch (roaming in and out of consciousness) and Colt came over with one of his toys, wanting to play with mommy. I was half asleep when BANG!, I was hit over the head with a large toy. Note to self: stay awake around Colt.

- We have to get a new car. Right now we have an SUV and a truck. The truck is not an extended cab so we have to get another car. First, we need to finish paying our debt off so we can save a nice down payment.

- Our guest room will now be Colt's room. But I still want a guest room AND office. I think we figured out how to make this work but we will see.

Pray for grace!

November 7

2008-03-24T20:56:00.001-05:00

Just checking to see who is reading the blog. Give us a shout via phone, email or leave a comment.

Trying new things

2008-03-12T21:20:00.000-05:00

It is interesting to see Colt growing and trying new things everyday. Joe called me at work the other day and said "Guess what YOUR son did today?" I always know that this statement will be followed by something extraordinary, at least for us.

Colt has now learned how to pull himself up on our fireplace (it is raised about 6-8 inches with brick) by grabbing hold of our magazine rack which is right in front. Joe said he was so proud of his new accomplishment and said "Da, Da, Da" to let him know that he was now "king of the hill" or at least "king of the fireplace."

It makes me think about God as my parent and what accomplishments I have in my life. Does he applaud me the way we do Colt?

From sun to snow

2008-03-03T21:46:00.000-06:00

This weekend it was so beautiful that we went outside on Saturday and Sunday to catch a few rays and let Colt play. It was about 75 degrees, sunny and a wonderful day to get out and pull weeds. Colt decided to see what leaves and acorns taste like.
Today, it was 40 degrees and starting to snow. I guess we aren't quite ready for spring yet.

Down and out, again!

2008-02-29T15:33:00.000-06:00

So what gives with the weather and passing around cold germs? For those with big, close families like Katherine, this is probably a normal occurrence to pass around viruses and bugs from one family member to the next. But I guess I have gotten used to being pretty healthy (except for that little fit during Christmas). Even Colt has been relatively healthy.

So I am home today, coughing my head off (wishing that it would fall off because it hurts so bad). My chest feels like someone is sitting on it and to add to that, I still have to work!

I know, there are mothers out there that go through this all the time. They feel awful but still have to take care of the kids, cook, clean, etc. I am amazed and salute you. I hate being sick and I just want to crawl into bed and sleep.

And how did I pick this up anyway? I found out one of our friends also has it. He was at Bentley and Christy's wedding this past weekend so someone probably passed it to us there.

Enough complaining for the day. As soon as I get off my conference call for work I will drag myself into bed.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [Isaiah 53:5]

Focus for a minute

2008-02-26T13:03:00.000-06:00

In the description of this blog, I wrote the following:
This is a blog for family and friends (even new blogger friends) that hopefully can keep you updated on the lives of a modern-day family, living one day at a time.

I don't know why but today, I really noticed the part about "living one day at a time" and I thought, "Am I really able to live one day at a time?"

Joe and I have had this conversation many, many, many times. I can only focus on the here and now. I am not good at dwelling on what happened in the past (this is good for forgiveness, but bad for trying to remember where you put the remote). I am also not good at looking toward the future and getting excited about what is coming. Yes, we plan for retirement and we save, but I mean the more immediate future.

For example, Joe will ask if I am getting excited about an upcoming trip. My response, "It isn't until the end of the week. I still have four days to get through before I can even begin to think of a trip." Yes, I also pack the night before.

But living one day at a time is more than that. Do I make the most of every day? Do I live each day like it is my last? How many of us can say that we do?

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. [Psalms 68:19]

100,000 miles and a wedding

2008-02-25T21:46:00.000-06:00

We celebrated our Xterra turning over 100,000 miles today. Joe opened a couple of "Grand" bars and we toasted the fact that the car has lasted this long and pray that it will last several more years. Long live the Xterra!

And our friends Bentley and Christy are now married and off celebrating their honeymoon in Napa. It was nice to see friends that we have not seen in a while as well as those that we see often. And of course, the ceremony wouldn't have been a success without the officiant making at least one (yes, there were more) error in the ceremony. After the bride was walked onto the stage by her father and was given to the groom, the officiant forgot to tell the audience to be seated. We all had a good laugh and continued on with the ceremony.

Let me preface by saying I love our son, but it was no nice to go to an event and not have to chase him around. So many people asked where he was but for anyone with a young child, you know that trying to entertain them and ask them to sit through a wedding would almost be impossible so I am grateful to our babysitter, Barb, who does weekends.

Wedding Excitement

2008-02-22T10:46:00.000-06:00

Another one of our dear friends is getting married this weekend. My first interaction with Bentley was as a part of our Sunday school class at church for singles. I missed the first couple of classes but I remember the first time I attended and wow, this cute guy (now my husband) sat down beside me. Across the room were people that have ended up being some of our best friends. One of them is Bentley.

Over the course of our singles group, Bentley and I ended up as co-directors. It was during that time that I really came to understand his sense of humor, his passion for life and his love of God. It is these same qualities that I am sure his wife-to-be also sees in him.

We want to wish Bentley and Christy the covering of God in their marriage and pray that they come to experience the same blessing that Joe and I have over the last several years.

Celebrating birthday and holiday

2008-02-16T21:32:00.000-06:00

I can't even imagine what it must be like to have a birthday on the same day as a holiday. Joe said it was always hard to have his birthday on Valentine's Day because sometimes they would be combined and celebrated as one and he would really lose the joy of celebrating a birthday.

So I have tried hard during our marriage to make February 14 special as a birthday and then we celebrate Valentine's Day separately.

On my way home from work, I was meditating on the fact that it was indeed Joe's birthday. I was thanking God for bringing me my perfect mate. Someone who really understands (or at least he fakes it well) and accepts me for who I am. And for anyone who knows how my mind works (and it is a scary thing) I have a tendency to drift from one thought to the next and so on like dominos lined up in a row knocking the next one down.

I thought "What if Joe had not been born? What if his mother had decided to have an abortion?" Joe would not have been born on this day 39 years ago and I would not have this wonderful man to call my husband. This thought then led to another. I have so many single friends. "What if their perfect mate was supposed to be born as well but because of an abortion, they will never know that person?"

Later that evening when I told Joe my crazy thoughts, he said "Wow, that was deep." I don't know if it was really deep, but it did make me sad and I began to pray that God would awaken people to the many possibilities and impacts of abortion.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee...[Jeremiah 1:5]

Are we there yet?

2008-02-12T22:59:00.000-06:00

My husband says this is his favorite saying (quoting from Bart Simpson in a Butterfingers commercial). I think I am feeling that right now.

Last week I couldn't wait for my media tour to end so I could get back home with Joe and Colt.

Now, I can't wait until my executives leave town next week so I can actually get some work done.

Then, I can't wait until the end of March when a major trade show is done. Then....

So when do I arrive? Can I ever say that I am enjoying life and there is no stress? Am I just wishing my life away?

I said last week that I wanted to get back so I could start working out again this week. Well, here I am, late at night logging into work. Tomorrow I have a dinner meeting for business. Thursday is Valentines Day AND Joe's Birthday. Friday is our couples banquet at church. Saturday Joe works and I will be cleaning house.

Are we there yet?

What a week, again!

2008-02-10T22:06:00.001-06:00

The week started off with a shock as we learned that our friend Iarla Mullarkey had passed away last Sunday. It was hard for me because last week I traveled all week on business and missed both the viewing and the memorial service. I think when you miss a funeral or viewing, it is almost surreal and at times you think "this didn't really happen because I never really saw them in the casket." But I know that it did happen and we will have to deal with that reality sooner or later.

The week then became hectic as I traveled to Boston, Chicago and San Francisco all in one week. I will admit up front that I am no longer as young as I used to be. I remember in "my younger days" that I could travel like this for weeks in a row (I have done it many times) with no problem. But after I returned yesterday, I was wiped out. I felt the aftereffects even today as I struggled to stay awake during church this morning.

I am hoping that my working out (only on weekends right now) will help with my energy and allow me to keep my stamina and energy high. I don't know how my friends do it. Katherine with five kids. Stephanie, a transplant coordinator, who is always on call. Nathan and Kerrie who run a business. Rebecca working and trying not to show her worry for her mother.

If you have a secret that you would like to share on how you manage to keep it all together and get it all done (if there is anyone out there that actually does), please let me know.

God still finds ways to humble me

2008-02-04T10:58:00.000-06:00

Sometimes (OK most of the time) I think I am right. Not only at work, but in life and even at home. But this past Saturday night, I was humbled by God in a way so unexpectedly.

Joe and I usually have our date night on Friday, but because of my busy week and other circumstances, we ended up out to dinner on Saturday evening. After a relaxing dinner and a trip to Braum's for our yogart treat, we were sitting at stop light headed home. My dear husband turned to me and said, "You know, you are not as affectionate as you used to be. You used to stroke my hand or rub my neck and head as we sat at stop lights or as I was driving."

GULP!

I couldn't even respond. My heart was devastated. More from the knowledge that affection is MY love language and that this was something that I needed.

So many times I think "If he was more affectionate with me then I would be more affectionate with him." But I realized that it does not work that way. I have been holding back my affection because of my own insecurities. I make excuses (don't we all) that I am to tired and distracted by work, by our son, by ______ (insert something here).

I thank God that he can still open my eyes and humble me to the things that I am doing wrong in the relationship with my husband. I know that this can also translate into my relationship with God. If God would only ______ (insert WANT here) then I would ________ (pray more, be more involved in church, or whatever we bargain with God).

Do to others as you would have them do to you. [Luke 6:31]
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. [Deuteronomy 6:5]

Victory, Defeat and Sadness

2008-02-03T21:24:00.000-06:00

THE GAME of the year was played out today before millions of viewers. We sat in our living room anticipating an exciting display of passes, runs, tackles, blocks and touchdowns in between the ever-enthralling advertisements of the SuperBowl.

The game started with a rush as the first quarter ended and it seemed like the NY Giants still had a chance to win the game, despite the overwhelming odds. Then, in the second quarter we got the call.

One of our close friends called to tell us that Iarla Mullarkey had died. We have only known Iarla for a couple of years, after he met and married our dear friend Melissa. She was a missionary to Ireland when she met Iarla and after a time of courting, they were married here in the US in late 2005. Even though Iarla had been sick lately, we were praying that he would come through this and bounce back. We were very saddened and shocked by the news. We cried and held each other as we tried to process this devastation.

We continued to watch the game (mostly on mute) until the very end when we actually believed the Giants had a chance of winning. To our utter amazement, the Giants pulled off an exciting, lat minute win over New England.

I sit here now, thinking only of our friend and her loss. I believe that she is only in her late twenties and that Iarla was only in his late twenties. We pray that God will sustain her, and all of us, as we comfort one another.

The Lord giveth and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. [Job 1:21]

What do you do when...

2008-01-31T21:56:00.001-06:00

So what do you do when everything inside you is screaming "this is wrong" but you are forced into a situation at your job and there is nothing that you can do to change it? That is what I have been facing this week and struggling with my feelings of "why don't you just quit" to "does this really matter in the long run?"

I would love to hear from people who have faced this same dilemna. In my job, I know I do a good job and as I have said, the only thing that I have is my reputation. So, what do you do when you are told to do something that could possibly ruin your reputation as a professional? I am not talking lying or defrauding the company, but in my business having a message and sticking to it is important.

I have been told that in six years, or even six months, that whatever is stressing you now will just be a memory and you might not even remember what it was that caused you to lose sleep or upset your ulcer. So why do we think that our mountains are so tall? Why are our valleys so low? Why can't we all hold hands and sing "Kum ba yah?"

Thinking about voting

2008-01-21T23:10:00.001-06:00

I haven't been on my soap box much this past year so I thought that with the primaries and caucuses happening, now if the perfect time to weigh in on some of the issues.

- Do we need change? YES! But to be honest, any new person is the White House is going to bring change. I think it is interesting that people think by electing a new president, things are really going to change. The president can propose changes, but Congress needs to approve. So we voted in a new Congress a couple of years ago and guess what, things are getting worse. And what do we do, blame the president who blames Congress. YES, we need a change but it needs to come from the people. Stand up for what you believe in. Sign petitions. Call your representatives. You have no right to complain if you have done nothing to fight for your rights and state your opinions.

- Will an evangelical candidate do better than a non-evangelical candidate? Not if he doesn't pray anymore than the other person. We do need people who are moral and have a faith that will get them through the hard times. I do think we need to seek God for answers in our country. Our country was founded on the freedom of religion and the right to pray to God. BUT, I do think that sometimes we find someone who is saying the right things and we automatically are drawn to them. Before voting, I say pray.

- What really matters, terrorism or the state of our economy? Right now I am more likely to die in a car accident or plane crash than from a terrorist attack. We have given up too many freedoms in the name of National Security. Why do I have to have a state ID in addition to my driver's license? Why won't my passport do the trick? As for our economy, why the downward spiral? We have tried alternatives bio fuels only to have our food prices rise. We have electric cars and other means of lessening our dependence on oil and they seem to go unnoticed. Why are we outsourcing so much work to other countries? Could it be they take jobs we don't want?

Stepping down off the soap box now, I will close by saying that I encourage you to do some research on the candidates. What do they stand for? What have they fallen for? What issues are important to you? And above all else, get out and vote. That is our choice and our obligation.

Where has the year gone?

2008-01-20T23:32:00.000-06:00

Usually I say that in October or November, or even December. But I find myself saying that already and it is only January!

Work has been insanely busy. We are planning a new product launch in a month and I have to go out on the road on a media tour. I will then have to travel in March for a trade show and possibly again in April and May. I guess my excuses for not traveling are wearing thin. Well really, I am needed on most of the trips and at times, I miss the adventure of traveling to different cities.

Joe and I were talking just yesterday saying how we can't even imagine our lives without Colt, but I felt a slight twinge of guilt as I said "Yes, actually I do remember a few things about not having him." For one, traveling and not feeling guilty about being away from home. At one previous job, I traveled at least once a month for 3-5 days, working of course, but also able to stay a day extra to enjoy the sights and experiences of that city. I was able to see the basilicas and art in Montreal, experience the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, ride the roller coaster at The New Yorker in Las Vegas, and on and on.

But now, I have this urge to get home to both my husband and son. I miss falling asleep with my hand on my husband's chest. I miss saying "Give mommy a kiss good night" and having my son open his mouth wide to give me a wet one. Life changes and so do priorities.

So as we cut our shopping short yesterday to rush home so Colt could get his nap, I admit that I miss the times when we would spontaneously grab a bite to each then decide to head to the movies for the evening. BUT, I would miss even more the smile from the back seat as my son jabbers in his own little language and squeals with delight as I walk in the door from work and he runs to give me a hug.

Oh the West Virginia Hills

2008-01-03T17:29:00.000-06:00

Not to rub it in with any Oklahoma (OU) fans, but WEST VIRGINIA kicked some "you know what" last night in the Fiesta Bowl. 48-28 the final score with a solid win to underscore the passion of football to the Mountain State.

This put the final touches on our night of watching football as we finished off the film "We are Marshall" before getting caught up in the excitement of the Fiesta Bowl. Now, to finish my review.

- We Are Marshall: A real tear jerker (yes, I actually did let a tear slide down my cheek) that had you rooting not only for the team, but for the entire town. The film allowed you to see glimpses of the raw emotions that came to the surface as a new coach and new team tried to keep football alive at the university after the tragedy of the plane crash. I love movies that are based on true events, especially when you are told at the end of the film what happened as an update. To learn that not only did football survive at the school, but after 20 years the team won the national championship gave you a warm feeling inside. "From the ashes..."

Sad to say that there probably won't be another movie review until next Christmas when we have babysitters and time to actually go the theatre or rent movies. Until then, I would love to hear your film recommendations. BTW, I printed out the AFI's Top 100 list of all-time movies and from the looks of it, I have a LONG list of films yet to see.

Ah, the movies

2008-01-02T14:19:00.000-06:00

It is amazing how movies can transport you to another place and time, possibly taking you to a mystical place or pulling you into the fabric of a time long ago. Providing fantasy thoughts or just filling in history for events that have long been forgotten. That is where I have been these past couple of weeks. A few years back when I was single and sick over Christmas and New Years, I decided to go through the Top 100 list on the American Film Institute's list and watch as many as I could. Classics such as Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest that I had never seen. Well, I am still behind in my film viewing, but here are my movie reviews, take it or leave it.

- The Last King of Scotland: It is amazing that most of us in the US are ignorant of world events, and especially of the atrocities that have occurred in Africa. I traveled to Rwanda a few years ago and learned of the terrible genocide that happened there in the early 90s only because I was going there on a mission trip and wanted to learn of the culture. I haven't traveled to Uganda so I was quite unaware of Idi Amin, former president of the country, and the stories that surrounded his tenure. The man, the politician, the father, the husband, the dictator and the monster that was Idi. Be sure to watch the additional features on the DVD for additional insight into the life of this man.

- Sweeney Todd: I was in the cast of townspeople singing the song of Sweeney Todd in college. This was the only musical that I performed and it was the most interesting yet disturbing. For the movie, Tim Burton does an excellent job of casting the characters and allowing them to tell the story through song and music. My only grumbling coming out of the movie was that the main chorus was missing (only someone familiar with the play would know that). A "must see" for a musical, although dark and sad.

- The Bourne Ultimatum: The third in a series of movies that has kept me interested. I love conspiracy theories and action movies (as well as Matt Damon) so this movie was a must see. The only problem is the action is non-stop and if you miss one part, you may miss a critical puzzle piece that will pop up later in the movie. So, don't drink too much soda or you will be in misery because going to the restroom on this movie is out of the question.

- We Own the Night: Anything with Mark Wahlberg has to be good, but this movie is also redemptive in nature. Joaquin Phoenix is an exceptional actor and plays this part well. I love a movie with a good ending and this was a surprise for me as I was expecting a shortfall on goodness from the characters. From the movie trailers, you expect Joaquin's character to be hardened and almost evil, but this movie shows that blood is thicker than water and good wins over evil. If you are in law enforcement, this may be hard to watch as the cops are hunted down with a vengeance by the Russian mob, but a good movie to see.

- The Kite Runner: A movie you will never forget! After seeing this movie, I could not stop thinking about several scenes that deeply impacted me and made me question my commitment to my friends, family and faith. The story is about two boys, best friends, in Afghanistan before the Soviet invasion. It shares the drama of their lives even after the invasion and how it was changed forever because of one event. You will be deeply moved by the film, cheering one minute, holding back tears the next.

- Norbit: Ok, so Joe wanted to see this movie and we rented it. Even though Eddie Murphy (which should have been a big hint) plays three different characters very well, it is not as funny as the trailer and after the first 15 minutes, we should have turned it off.

- We Are Marshall: We started watching this last evening but were interrupted by Colt waking from his nap. This is based on a true story of a plane crash that happened in the early 70s in West Virginia. The Marshall University football team was returning from an away game when their plane crashed and all people on board were killed. This is the story of how the school, and the entire town, put aside their loss to rebuild the football program at the school. Being from West Virginia, I am interested in seeing the rest of the film and will provide an "review" later.

Thanks for tuning in. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas 2007

2007-12-28T23:04:00.000-06:00

To all those who read my written thoughts on this blog, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas.

Not "Happy Holidays" or "Winter Holiday Break" or "Season's Greetings."

I am sick of people trying to be politically correct when everyone knows that the reason we have December 25 as a day off of work or school is because of a Christian holiday called Christmas. It is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Period.

When I am out this during this time of year shopping or going to the movies (I will share my thoughts on some great movies in my next post), I wish people a "Merry Christmas" when they smile at me or talk about the season.

I am proud to be a woman who believes in God and I am also proud that I can stand up in this country and still say Merry Christmas. I pray that we never get so offended by our faith that we are either embarrassed or it is no longer allowed by law to state the reason for this time of year.

Thank you for allowing me to step up on my soap box for this occasion.

Questions from a mother

2007-12-19T22:20:00.000-06:00

I have heard it time and time again, but that doesn't put my mind at ease. "All children are different." I know that but it doesn't make my questions any less important to answer.

- When is he going to let go and just walk? Colt is now 14 months old and still "cruising" around the furniture. Yes, I know, when ever he gets the confidence and is ready.

- Will he ever eat real food? Colt is still not eating "regular" food (except for Chex Mix or Cheerios Mix and possibly a few things when we go out to eat). And even with baby food he mostly puts his hands over his eyes and cries until you give him Cheerios to eat then he is happy.

- Will he skip the "sippy cup" and go straight to a regular cup? Whenever we try to give him a sippy cup, he throws it on the floor and cries. BUT, he will try to drink water from my cup.

- When is he going to start saying words other than "mommy" and "daddy" or "wow"? He does repeat sounds and it is so cute when he mimics me coughing when I am changing his diaper or when I say anything that begins with the letter "B" and he will repeat the "b..b..b.." sound and try to say the word.

Of course when he gets older, he will be the one asking the questions.
- Why is the sky blue?
- Why do I have to wear a coat?
- Why do I have to eat vegetables?
- Why can't I have a pet like my friends?

Answer: Because your daddy and I said so.

Chinese food for the soul

2007-12-13T22:03:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I talked to a friend of mine who had moved away to start a new job in a new city. She was sharing with me that she is not happy with her job, hasn't made a lot of friends, and hasn't found a church yet.

Then today, I spoke with another friend who had moved away for a job four years ago and is returning to Dallas after her job, which was very high level in a global company, was changed/eliminated.

Both of these women are extremely intelligent, but have ended up single in life to this point. They have chosen their to pursue their career and have suffered on the relationship side because of these choices.

What God has been telling me lately is that we are always tempted to be jealous of others for what they appear to have. One has a life in a modern city and makes a salary that I used to make when I was single and pursuing my career. One is on her way to Thailand for the holidays, just to visit. I begin to think of these things, then I remember that I am on the other side of the fence (where the grass is always greener) for some people.

I have a handsome and loving husband who helps me clean the house and loves me unconditionally. I have a son that has the most incredible disposition and is so easy going (except when he doesn't want to eat). I am truly blessed.

So on my way home tonight, knowing that we were supposed to have leftover meatloaf (AGAIN) I called Joe to tell him I was in the mood for Chinese. We went to a favorite little place that is quite, shared a meal, watched as Colt threw his food and sippy cup on the floor, and felt the warmth of just being with each and the blessings that come our way every day.

Many are called but few are chosen

2007-12-12T22:00:00.000-06:00

That is what I was thinking as I waited to enter the courtroom on Monday morning after being called in for a jury summons.

First there was the waiting. We were supposed to be there at 8:30 a.m, but because there were inconsiderate people showing up at 9 or 9:15 am, we were delayed being called so they could see the short video and appear before the judge if they needed to be excused.

Then, there was the computer glitch. After several names were called (mine name was missing from those) and people were told to wait to be ushered by the bailiff into the courtroom, the lady calling the names noticed that people were missing and realized that the computer had run names of people that had not been summoned.

After running the list again, my name was among the first (#39 out of 70) that was called. We stood outside the main jury room (feeling like cattle being herded to the slaughterhouse) while we noticed a group of people being let go from the main room and heading to their cars. At first, jealousy rose up in a few of us as we looked at those that we assumed had been dismissed. One lady, after dodging the daggers coming from our eyes, stated that she, along with the rest of that group, had to come back on Thursday. I guess at least we were going to get it over with in one day unless we were among the "lucky" 12 chosen on the jury. A second group left the main jury room and also noted that they had to come back the next day. Finally, the masses left with the knowledge that they were dismissed for the day, but since they didn't make it to a courtroom, they could still be called at another time to serve.

We were then called into the courtroom, one-by-one, starting with number one. Inside, we were told that this was a criminal case and, gulp, was a case of aggravated sexual assault against a child. I almost threw up!

But as the instructions by the judge, questions by the prosecutors and defense attorneys, and responses by my fellow jury pool members ran its course, it became clear to me that this would not be just an open and shut case. A "he said/she said" that might involve a spouse/girlfriend accusing a spouse/boyfriend of something to get back at them or to "make them pay."

It wasn't until the prosecution said something that I realized the defendant, a very young man, was sitting in the courtroom with us! That is when I began to pray "Lord, let the truth come to light."

I was not chosen (as the lawyers said, I was out of the "splash zone" for being chosen), but as I left the courthouse, I realized that these types of trials go on daily and that the process of being chosen is not something that I should take lightly. It also makes me ask God to reveal the truth in these cases because as one jury pool member pointed out (she was in prison ministry) there were many innocent people behind bars. It also made me realize the prejudices against people that are even accused as one jury pool member (who was not chosen) stated "well he must be guilty if he is here," not taking into consideration the fact that the law says we are "innocent until proven guilty."

I know this has been a long post, but this was indeed a life changing experience for me and if I hadn't been so busy at work, I would have been honored to be chosen because I know that I was praying for discernment for truth. We all need to pray that the truth be revealed in all situations.

More sadness

2007-12-07T11:10:00.001-06:00

Yesterday morning as I was pulling into the parking garage at work, I received a phone call from my husband. His aunt Carol has just phoned him to let him know that his grandmother, Mary Alice Zito, had just passed away that morning. Mary Alice was in an assisted living home in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Born in Coffeeville, Kansas, she was 83 years old and lived an exciting life.
Joe has told me many times how he and his grandmother used to ride roller coasters together and she actually went on a white water rafting trip down the Colorado river. I had the opportunity to meet her after we were married and she still had that spark.

To everything there is a season

2007-11-25T21:31:00.000-06:00

Ecclesiastes 3:
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, ...On Tuesday, November 13, my grandmother, Velma Louise Hoover, went to be with the Lord. At the age of 83, after serving God for many years and dedicating her life to being a pastor's wife and mother, her time on earth ended.

It is hard to believe that in less than a year, both of my paternal grandparents are gone. There is a gaping hole in our family and the loss is almost unbearable. Except that God says he will not give us more than we can bear. As with my grandfather, there are many memories of my grandmother that I will have forever. Driving her to town or to visit the sick and elderly (she never did get her driver's license). Walking into her house and the first question she asked was "Are you hungry? What can I get you to eat?" Staying the night and waking up the next morning to eggs over easy with a little crust around the edges of the white. Blinking my eyes after the flash had gone off on her camera at least 20 times at each event.

We joked about the camera at the time, but now we appreciate the stacks of pictures and albums that she left for us to enjoy. Wonderful memories.

Shorter days, but more to do

2007-11-11T21:07:00.000-06:00

I am not sure what the original reason for the time change in the US, but I have to say that it is difficult enough to get everything done that you need to under normal circumstances, but with the time change there is even less light to get projects completed. AND, I think it is a natural body response to sleep when it is dark so my body seems to be getting tired more often.

I haven't found a cure for this yet, but I do know exercise can help. I have been slacking off so much since I have been working full time but I know that I need to get healthy not only for myself, but for my family. I think many people slack off in the winter time because they can cover up excess fat with clothes. But I need to put that excuse out of my head and focus on working out. Now, I just have to find the time.

We did have time yesterday to work outside a bit. Rake leaves. Plant a few vines. I realize that we don't take Colt out often enough because when I set him in the grass, he starts crying at first. This time he did much better because I sat down with him and played in the leaves we had just raked.

And because I have been working so much and not blogging, I missed putting up pictures of Colt on Halloween. We were going to go to our church for a Fall Festival but Colt was still asleep when I got home and we didn't want to wake him to go to the church. So we stayed home and handed out candy to all those who came to our door. I think I was more disappointed than Colt (of course he has no clue at this age) that we didn't make it to the church so I went ahead and dressed him up anyway. He looks so cute!

Canton Trade Days - First Monday

2007-11-05T23:02:00.000-06:00

Now I know why they call it Canton Trade Days. You trade your hard-earned money for--well, what ever you want! You name it, they have it.

From arts and crafts to antiques and "junk." Corny dogs, funnel cakes, under-cooked hotdogs, homemade icecream. Something for everyone. AND, in case you don't feel like walking, they have scooters that you can rent and ride all day. These scooters are not just for the disabled, OH NO. I saw people that I thought SHOULD be walking riding their way through tight aisles. Sometimes stopping in the middle of the path to gaze at the vendor's wares. Between the scooters, strollers, baskets on wheels (anyone who has gone to Canton knows what I mean), we were barely able to get through the crowded pavilions.

BUT, we found what we were looking for. A wooden toy box for Colt. It is beautiful (picture to come later). It is a toy box with a book case built on top of it. I love that because there are many accidents where kids pull TVs and other things on them when they try to climb up them so with the bookcase attached, that will not happen. The only catch is we have to stain it ourselves, but it is worth it to be able to give this gift to our son.

And to top off the weekend, we were able to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary by getting away for the weekend.

Proverbs 13:22 "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children..."
My husband is leaving a legacy of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galations 5:22-23). What a blessing to have such a wonderful relationship and to look foward to the future.

The Fair

2007-10-27T21:45:00.001-05:00

Joe, me and Colt at the Texas State Fair in front of "Big Tex." (Colt is the name for our son that I will use on the blog to protect the innocent. For those that know Joe, you can probably guess what Colt represents.)

The State Fair of Texas has come and gone and for the second time since I have lived here (more than 10 years), I went to the Fair.

First of all, I just have to brag on what an incredible son we have. We were there for more than 5 hours and he did not fuss once, even missing his naps!

I have to say that prior to going to the Fair, I heard several times (OK, a million times) from Joe that he didn't want to go the car exhibit. I guess the first time he went, the people he went with only wanted to check out the auto show and it bored him to tears. So, we checked out the John Deere tent (as if that had nothing to do with autos) and Joe almost bought our son a wagon.

We strolled through stalls of exhibits and vendors selling their wares and I will have to admit that I did get drawn into one demonstration. It is for a product that will clean the soap scum and other film off your shower or bathtub. I watched in awe as the man told us of the miracle product (with no chemicals) that would magically dissolve the film on the shower/bathtub and make it so easy to scrub (yes, it even came with a scrubber) and then protect the shower so the next time it would be so much easier to clean. Visions of my aching back pushed me into convincing Joe that this was the miracle cleaner that I needed. So we bought some and I am trying it this weekend. I will keep everyone updated and if it really does work, then I will start buying stock in the product.

Other than the thrill of buying something, we had a wonderful day eating our corny dog, nachos and other tasty treats that are famous at the Fair.

Things are changing

2007-10-26T15:57:00.000-05:00

Not in a way that most people would think. We are not moving, changing jobs, or starting new projects. We are "getting back to the heart of worship." Let me explain.

Since we have begun volunteering at our church in children's ministry, which by the way is an incredible way to serve, we have noticed that we miss a lot of service and miss the fellowship. In fact, we haven't been in a service at our church since Labor Day! We serve every other weekend but on the weekends that we could be in service, something has always come up. We were sick one weekend, our water was out due to leaky toilets, we were out of town, etc., etc. Now, we have to serve three weekends in a row and the next weekend we are going out of town for our anniversary (can you believe it has been 4 years?).

It is amazing that you really don't know what you have until it is gone. We love our worship services! We love our pastor's sermons! We love our friends! And it can become mundane and meaningless in life unless you have the connection with God.

So starting this week, we are now going to classes at the church on Wednesday and going to a worship service at another church on Saturday evenings when we have to serve. It is amazing how much more connected, not just with God, but with each other that I feel this week.

Life can really lose perspective when you just go through it and try to get to the next day.

Psalms 95: Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Walking...well maybe

2007-10-18T21:10:00.000-05:00

With help from his new toy from Grandma, our son is beginning to move around the house a little more. It is amazing to think that I was once learning to walk. Now I walk and don't even think about that fact that I do it so naturally. Like breathing, we just stand up and walk.

"Yeah though I WALK through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me." (verse from Psalms 23)

I hope my son grows up to walk strong with God.

Our son is one!

2007-10-11T21:57:00.000-05:00

And here are pictures from his birthday party and a few pics of his gifts.

Grandma gave him a toy that will help him learn how to walk.

And a John Deere riding tractor from Granny and Pap.

And our gift? A toy box that will allow me to keep a somewhat clean house.

There is no comparison of the gift that God gave us, which is our wonderful son!

The woes of being sick

2007-10-01T21:36:00.000-05:00

Since my last post, I was planning an update on the fate of transitioning our son to milk from formula. I will share a little on that subject then move on to the fate of our weekend.

First, I mentioned before how our son threw up after his first day of beginning to drink milk. Fortunately he has not thrown up since then, but the next disaster is hitting us hard. He has had constant dirty, runny diapers since then. And I don't mean just the normal dirty diapers. I mean the smelly, watery kind that go everywhere! Since he was born, we have not faced this dilemma yet, but we now deal with it on an almost hourly basis.

For example, Saturday evening I was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner {I will explain about our wonderful dinner later :0) } and I looked down to see our son playing in a mess on the floor. At first I thought he had spit up. OH HOW I WISH IT HAD JUST BEEN SPIT UP! He had exploded out of his diaper everywhere. We rushed him to the bathtub, gave him a bath and fixed him all up. Needless to say this was not the last time. Next time was in our bar area and the latest time was on our living room floor. {BTW, Resolve Carpet Cleaner works great.}

Now to transition our Saturday evening filled with poopy diapers into Sunday morning where Joe wakes up in the middle of the night vomiting. This continues through the morning (where we again missed church) and then it struck me. I believe at one point he was in one bathroom and I was in the other feeling the remnants of last nights dinner. We assume food poisoning, but whatever it was, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, or anyone else for that matter.

Joe recovered much quicker than me so he was able to take care of our son while I continued my trips to the bathroom to flush out the whatever I had eaten. Today, my rush to the bathroom is not as painful, but just as bad and I am glad that I stayed home from work.

Another day in our crazy household!

Keeping one toe in the ocean of reality

2007-09-29T14:25:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe it has been 2 weeks since I last posted a note. I truly miss putting my thoughts down on paper (uh, on the internet) for all to read and mull over.

Just to catch everyone up on the past several days, I will give a few quick bullets and hopefully come back to some later.

- Joe and I were able to "reconnect" with a weekend in Grapevine for Grapefest (two weekends ago). It was an incredibly beautiful day, sun shining, with the smell of funnel cakes, kennel corn, fresh squeezed lemonade and cotton candy wafting through the air (yes, I broke down and had a funnel cake). We strolled the streets marveling at the arts and crafts and just enjoying a day together.

- Work, work and more work. I think that says it all.

- Just this week we started transitioning our son on whole milk, away from formula. I think this was a shock to his system because the first night he was up vomiting. Not once, but twice. When I went to check on him again, he was just laying there in his crib looking up at me so pitifully. I broke my heart. I know when he really gets sick with a fever and cold that I will just go to pieces. I know that is part of being a parent, but I wish I could take all illnesses and put them on me so he wouldn't have to suffer.

- And next Friday is his birthday! I can't believe he is turning one! We now have him in a forward-facing car seat and he looks SO CUTE and like such a big boy. (Pictures to come)

Videos to make you laugh

2007-09-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

Our son loves to laugh!

The gift of water

2007-09-09T21:31:00.000-05:00

You remember the saying "you don't know what you've got until its gone"? I can attest that the saying is true.

On Friday Joe noticed that our toilet in our master bath was leaking. After messing with it for a little while, he decided to turn the water off to the toilet so it would quit leaking and said he would try to fix it after work on Saturday.

First, let me tell you how hard it is to remember NOT to use THAT toilet and run to the guest bathroom when the "urge" hits you. Needless to say, we had to flush the leaky toilet a few times before he started fixing it.

Fixing it did not go as planned. In fact, after four trips (yes, that is four separate trips) to Home Depot not only was the toilet not fixed, but Joe turned off the water to our house because he had to cut a pipe to the toilet. By then, not even a trip to Home Depot (which was closed by then) could have saved us!

Sunday morning, after calling to make sure our shift at the church nursery was covered, we broke down and called a plumber. But after realizing that emergency (or weekend) rates were almost double, we decided we could wait one more day. But what couldn't wait was a shower and cleaning our son's baby bottles.

I cannot tell you what a wonderful set of friends we have. Joe called a couple of friends and even though they were out of town, they allowed us to go to their house and shower. That is one favor I don't even know how to begin to repay!

Throughout this whole ordeal I can say that I am not good at living without water. It is amazing how much we depend on water. Washing our hands (BTW, the hand sanitizer in a bottle is working quite nicely). Brushing our teeth. Wetting a rag to clean the kitchen counter. Rinsing off the dishes. I actually feel like I am back in Honduras or Guatemala on a mission trip.

In a month, this will be a dull memory. I will forget how precious water is because it will have again become a part of my everyday routine.

The homeless

2007-09-06T15:36:00.000-05:00

Last month I traveled to San Francisco for a trade show at the Mascone Center. I stayed at the Hilton (Bentley should be proud of me) in Chinatown which is approximately 10-12 blocks away from the Mascone.

The first day I took a cab to the convention center but was chastised by one of our consultants that I should walk because "it is only a few blocks away" and "it is good exercise." I noted that he was not wearing heels, but that I would join the fight against pollution and walk back to my hotel.

It is amazing when you move outside the city that you forget certain parts that are not polite to bring up in everyday conversation, like the homeless. I used to work around the DC area and spent countless hours riding the Metro and walking to an office in downtown. I used to see the homeless on a regular basis. I would even drop a coin here and there or give them a meal that I had purchased at McDonald's. But moving to the suburbs of Dallas has dulled these images. It all came back in a flash walking down the streets of San Francisco.

So many homeless people, in the middle of the day, lying on the sidewalks either asleep or looking up at you, begging with their eyes. Some are too embarrassed to ask for help. Others will follow you for a few steps asking for loose change. There was one lady that I remember well. She was in a wheelchair with a sign that said she couldn't find work. But she would sell you a bookmarker that she made with her own hands while sitting along the street.

How could I just walk on and not give them anything? There were so many of them. I said a prayer for everyone that I passed. I prayed that God would help feed them (and yes, God does use us to feed the homeless and the poor). I prayed that God would heal their minds and give them hope. I prayed for their souls.

I could not help but notice the disparity between the rich and the poor. People driving by in BMWs or Mercedes. Or walking by carrying $200 purses and wearing $500 shoes. Yet they cannot spare the cost of a meal.

Our son is {gulp} growing up

2007-09-03T21:51:00.000-05:00

In the span of two weeks, our son seems to have bounced out the growth plateau and into a major learning stage. One Saturday when our friend Ellen was here, he decided he would feed himself (with his fingers, not a spoon). Maybe it was that he was looking for more of an audience than just mom and dad (that is Ellen’s theory).

Then, he decides that he is confident pulling himself up on the furniture. Well, actually it started with pulling himself up on mom and dad while we were on the floor playing with him. But once he started, he couldn’t be stopped. Joe had to lower his crib so he wouldn’t fall out when he stood up and pounded on the railing of his crib.

Now, he shuffles all the way down the couch and tries to move back and forth between the couch and ottoman.

AND, he is clapping! I think my tireless hours of playing Patty Cake with him finally paid off. One evening while feeding him (actually, we try to feed him but he won’t eat), he started clapping. Of course after every bite (when we trick him and get a bite in his mouth) we say “Yeah!” and cheer. Now he claps his hands when we say “Yeah!”

Labor Day

2007-09-01T21:03:00.000-05:00

Now I know why it is called Labor Day weekend. Because you save up all the projects that you need to get done during the year and try to cram it into one weekend. Labor is right!

We were going to go to Canton today and spend the day looking around, possibly to buy new Adirondack chairs. But I (yes, it was me that made the suggestion) decided that we really needed to spend time working outside since we hadn't done any yard work in a while (except for Joe mowing the lawn every couple weeks).

First thing, Joe starts to mow and edge the lawn. I venture out to tackle the weeds. I trim back the grass that has grown into the flowers. I prune the crepe myrtles. I start to clean the pool. Beads of sweat begin to form a river that runs down my forehead, to my chest, and then down my legs. On the back side, it starts at my neck and goes and the way down my back. Yes, labor. Hours of labor. Who knew that our yard needed this much work.

And just when I thought it might end, we have to get out the saw and start trimming trees (yes, it was my suggestion). But the small reciprocating saw just wasn't enough for our job. So we had to pull out the big guns. An electric chain saw (not nearly as scary as in the Halloween movies). Oh, and I look over and notice the rose bush could use a good trimming. So I move on to the roses. Finally, Joe tells me the back of his truck is full so he said "We are done, right?"

Yes, we are done. For now. I hope we don't save up all our projects for next Labor Day.