Motherhood:-An-Eternal-Partnership. Jeffery R. Holland

I love this. Very validating. Watch this and feel good... But first pause the music...

Motherhood:-An-Eternal-Partnership

commitment

So, I've been meaning to post this, but the whole blogger dilemma deterred me. Excuses excuses... Well No more for me!!  I have signed and sealed, just need to deliver my first official half marathon!!  First of many I'm sure. It is on Saturday, November 13 in Mesa, AZ. shunthesun.org is the website.

I always used my "bad" knees as a lame excuse.  I've been running for the last few months and my knees have never felt better.  I have also started trying other indoor training due to the heat warnings and ozone and well, our Arizona "hibernation" weather.  It has been really encouraging.  Tim has even picked up road cycling.  He plans on doing a race in October, on our 11th wedding anniversary actually, and then I'll run my race a month later.  I'm sure training will be a challenge as we fight for time away from the kids early in the mornings, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.  I'm excited, and wanted to share.  I needed to think about something great because I just cleaned up a really thick "potty training accident" and since progress is slow in that arena, I was thinking about something that is working!! Wahoo!

Pictures

I found these on my phone. My favorite is the sunrise and sunset from last week during the start of monsoon.  It's really Really hot, but this is the beauty of it...  Not bad for my camera on my milk phone (lol)

Sunrise at 5:20 when I was running last week.  Nickel Creek was playing on my MP3. Nothin' like good banjo pickin' and fiddlin' to a beautiful sunrise over the corn field.

 Sunset last Friday over the mountains, and the sky was amazing.

Submission

I've given up on cute blog.  I will just post. No frills. Oh well. Some day when my devices work properly and don't suck hours and hours of my time fruitlessly, then I may try this again. Until then, we had a good 4th of July. I had 2 days off work and it was nice to not be at work, but awkward at home because I don't know what to do with myself at home. I am so weird. It is me. Someday soon when Tim is working more and in school less, I'll be at home more, and worried about work less and the free space in my brain may increase. Until then, I feel like I'm still in survival mode, which is good for functioning, but not for fun. Someday may be here sooner than I realize. Tim should be done with school in September. Yup. That is the month after next. Unfortunately there won't be a job offer with the diploma, but it will be a mile stone for sure.  We will be open to offers, and even exploring the cars hobby, who knows. We'll cross that bridge when we get there.  Now I'm rambling.  I've spent at least 10 hours this week trying to make my external hard drive work (and it still won't) and my MP3 player is locked because the dang computer sees it as a camera (seriously?!) so I want my life back from my digital time vacuums and now I will not allow blogger to take more of my precious time.  By the way, I'm coming down with a case of July-itis wherein I am feeling self pity about being at work and not on vacation with my family.  I know it is unrealistic and unhealthy but it comes every July despite my best efforts to avoid it.  Better luck next year.  I am done ranting. Thanks if you read this. Have a good week.

But, but, but....ARGGGGHHH!

What happened to blogger? have I seriously been out of it for so long, that I can't figure out how to change the pictures on my blog? I need some validation!! Is it me or blogger? I really want to change and add pictures, but I can't figure it out, and I don't have another hour (conservatively) to spend figuring it out. If anyone can help, please do. Thanks.

Happy Birthday Emma!!

Emma is now 7 years old. We celebrated with some of her friends from school at our house on the most beautiful June day I've ever witnessed.  Perfect 89 degree weather and sunshine breezes.  Perfect to match our awesome Emma!

Some things I love about Emma right now:

She reads. a lot. Just like me. I love that she loves to read.

She is a good peacemaker.

She's a tenderheart with her sisters, cousins, parents, family, friends, animals, anyone really

She loves animals, like me again, and she would do anything for any animal. 

She loves to play the piano. She'll just sit down and play. It is so nice.

She is very responsible and has attention to detail. She planned her whole birthday party herself!

She has Disney princess eyes and consequently, canNOT go outside wthout sunglasses. EVER

and last, that she's asleep right now.

Happy Birthday Emma. My best first daughter. I'm so thankful you are in our family.

 

My first attempt at Fondant decorating... I could get into this!! All the girls taking turns at the boot pinata. Emma's theme was Cow Girls.  It was great.

Just discovered...

the store is opening only 2 miles from my house on june 14. not that i go there ever, but it is so hopeful that the empty mervyns will be replaced by hobby lobby. it shows that people are spending frivolously again. well, some people, and someday me too. (I'm still nursing my creative brain back to health...)

http://www.hobbylobby.com/stores/store_locations_search_results.cfm

Perspectives

This week has been full of life.  I decided today that journaling is critical.  I have lots of reasons, but the most important one is for record for myself, for my children and for records.  I am going to be doing more journaling, like thoughts, feelings, that sort of stuff, that is appropriate, here and I am setting a goal for myself to do it weekly, if not more often.  I am feeling like rambling, so if it sounds like it, it is.  I have been thinking about my goals, and how at the new year for last year, not only was I so glad 2009 was done and in the books, but I was feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of setting some new goals for 2010.  So, now that we're in May, I have a few goals, and their reason for coming to be goals.

First, I am going to run a 1/2 marathon.  I didn't think I could ever do this. I have genetically weak knees.  I didn't think I had time.  After I ran Pat's run, I realized I can do it.  I trained for that on the treadmill, and I just ran 6 miles yesterday and felt great!  I was still hopping and going strong when I got home ( I was outside).  I can do it, because I've been babystepping my distance and I feel strong in my mind which is more than half the battle or training.  So, who knows, maybe I'll actually go for a full marathon, but I am feeling confident about setting the goal for the1/2 and excited about the strength and energy I am feeling in my body as a result of my training.

I am going to spend more time with each of my kids individually.  Yesterday I listened to Kennedy singing twinkle twinkle little star to a little baby in the sweetest way!  She said every word and even did hand actions. Audrey is saying her "R" sounds better, and that shows she's growing up.  Emma's going to be a 2nd grader. Where has the time gone?  Another reason for this is because I have had an increased value of family in perspective or relationship to daily demands of family.  My to-do list will really never go away, and I will be sad when the kiddo maintenance items on that list fade, but I'll be even more sad if I let my kids fade and grow while I worry about the silly to-do list.  I have a wonderful family heritage to pass on to my children and I need to get on that.  I am so thankful for my knowledge and belief in eternal families.  I know that the relationships we form here on earth can and will be maintained beyond this life.

I am going to date my sweetheart Tim more often.  He is the best thing in my life.  The best.  He is my best friend, my confidant, my sense of humor, my personal chef (dang good one too!) and my strength.  I appreciate him so much and I aim to be better at showing my appreciation for him better.

I have had some real struggles in the past year and I wouldn't trade them for anything.  I knew life would be better or more rewarding on the other side of the "dark tunnel" I have been through.  I am so thankful for Tim for his strength through it all.  I know there are still challenges ahead, but I can handle them better now because I feel I have the tools to get through it.

I am so thankful for the light I have in my life.  Jesus Christ is Real.  He is my best cheerleader, and my strength and my coach.  He wants us to be happy but we have to turn to Him.  It is amazing the peace that comes during turmoil when we allow Christ to carry our burden.  I don't share my testimony often enough, and that is the last goal of this list.  To do that.  To bear my witness of Jesus Christ as my Savior, Redeemer, and Friend.

Thanks for reading.