A random game of TAG

Here are the rules:

Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write 6 random things about yourself.
Tag 6-ish people at the end of your post.
Let each person know he/she has been tagged.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Six random things about me:

1. I save bows and Christmas paper, (assuming it is in good shape) , tissue paper and gift bags

2. I am super competitive and hate to lose.

3. I drove around with a box of flairs in my car for 7 years and who knew that they had a picture of my husband and father-in-law on them! Brian was with me before I even knew him!

4. I love to garden (but don't have a lot of time to do it)
5. I have broken my arm and my foot (2 times).
6. I get a Christmas ornament every time we visit someplace new. Then it is a reminder of all the places we have been!

3 Days I will Never Forget..

On November 7 - 9 I participated in the 3 Day Walk for Breast Cancer. I feel so honored to have been part of it. I walked with a team of 7 others. Our team was formed because we all knew and loved one incredible woman, Kim Harlow. Through the blisters, wrapped ankles, sore legs and all, I would definitely do it again.

The 3 Day team does such an amazing job preparing you for the walk. They send out weekly virtual training schedules that help build your endurance for the 60 mile walk. I was following along pretty closely until I injured myself on a 12 mile training walk. I had a partial tear were my calf and achilles come together. I was in a lovely black boot for 4 weeks and then went to physical therapy 3 times a week for 4 weeks. I had my last physical therapy 2 weeks before the walk. I was allowed to walk only one mile until there was no pain in my leg and then was able to add one mile at a time until there was no pain. I managed to get up to 6 miles right before the walk. Needless to say, I was sooo nervous about walking. I had no idea what to expect. God is so good though. I felt called by him to be part of this walk and He was faithful to the end. I walked the 60 miles (not very fast at times) but I did do it. I love the people at the Medical tent! They treated my blisters and sore leg and were able to get me back on track.

My tent mate and I won the tent decoration contest. We had our tent decorated like a Longhorn in honor of the Ultimate UT fan. I know she was smiling down on that one!!

Through all the ups and downs of getting ready for this walk, I was able to see how God is faithful to the end. When you are called and follow, God provides. He will not leave nor forsake you. It was such an amazing thing to witness. There we people from all age groups, all shapes and sizes, all levels of physical abilities, yet each of us was called to be part of this walk for one reason or another. Such an amazing thing to witness.

First Day of School

He started school this morning
And he seemed so very small
As I walked there beside him
In the Kindergarten hall

And as he took his place beside
the other in class
I realized how all too soon
Those first few years can pass

Remembering I saw him as
He first learned how to walk
The words that we alone made out
When he began to talk

The little boy so much absorbed
In learning how to write.
It seems that he must have grown
To boyhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred but hastily
I brushed the tears away
Lest by some word or sign of mine
I mar his first big day

Oh how I longed to stay with him
And keep him by the hand
To lead him through the places
That he could understand

And something closely kin to fear
Was mingled with my pride
I knew that he would no longer be
A baby by my side

But he must have this chance to live,
To work his problems out.
The privilege to grow and learn
What life is all about

And I must share my little boy
With friends and work and play;
He's not a baby anymore
He's in kindergarten today.

~author unknown
First Day of Kindergarten - August 26,2008

First Day of Kindergarten - Round 1

Today was Luke's first day of Kindergarten. We had meet the teacher on Friday and after a summer filled with anticipation, we found out Luke's teacher was Ms. Beakley. She is a Texas Tech grad (Woo Hoo!) and recently graduated from SMU Law school. She is sweet as can be and I know she will look after my sweet little boy.

Frisco actuall has what I call 2 "First Day's" of Kindergarten. Today, Brian and I got to go with Luke to school for about 2 hours. We had orientation and he got to meet some of the specials teachers. (PE, Music, Art, etc.) Tomorrow he goes to school all by himself for the whole day. He is totally excited and can hardly wait! Brian took a bunch of photos from today and I know we will have a bunch from tomorrow. I am smiling in the ones from today but I know there will be tears in the ones from tomorrow. I know I keep promising to post pictures. I will do it, I promise! I have a hard time gettting my laptop to connect to the network and I am rarely upstairs in the office to post them. I will do it tonight though.

Miles, Miles and More Miles

Oh my gosh.. my legs are so tired. So far I have walked 16 miles this week. I have an 8 mile day Saturday. I am not sure the legs can make it! It is a good thing the virtual trainer spaces them out!

Help! Where has the summer gone!

I can't believe how fast the summer has gone by! It seems just like yesterday we were planning our trip to NYC and our trip to Surfside. Now both of those trips have gone by and Luke starts school in 33 days (but who is counting).

In 16 weeks, I will be walking 60 miles for the Breast Cancer 3 Day. I can't believe it! It seems just like yesterday that the virtual trainer started sending me my weekly mileage schedule for the 24 week training plan!

I guess time flys when you are having fun! In addition to all our trips the kids have been busy doing VBS, gymnastics, Pump It Up Camp and Music Camp at the church next week. Next thing we know it will be August and then I will start back to work.

I had such plans for this summer. I haven't accomplished all of them but the most important thing was to make sweet memories with my boy before he started kindergarten. I knew that this was our last summer before the grind of school started and I wanted to make the most of it. I can definitely say I accomplished that. He is so sweet and precious.

I also have gotten some great time with Emma this week. Luke has been in camp, so she and I have done some fun girlie things this week. She has gotten to experience what life without Luke around all day will be like. She has missed her "brudder" a lot but really enjoyed getting her nails done today and having lunch with Grandma! What a treat! She was so cute!

Before I know it, I will be blogging about the end of Luke's first year of school. Time has sure gone by fast! That is the importance of living each day to the fullest. To be the best God has called us to be and to live the life he has so graciously given us to max. I am so thankful for the time God has given me this summer with all my family (my immediate family, my parents, my in-laws). I am sure it is cheesy but I can't help but think of the 10000 Maniacs song "These are Days". Brian has that in Luke's baby video and every time I watch it, I cry. I end with this:

These are the days These are days you’ll remember Never before and never since, I promise Will the whole world be warm as this And as you feel it, You’ll know it’s true That you are blessed and lucky It’s true that you Are touched by something That will grow and bloom in you These are days that you’ll remember When May is rushing over you With desire to be part of the miracles You see in every hour You’ll know it’s true That you are blessed and lucky It’s true that you are touched By something that will grow and bloom in you These are days These are the days you might fill With laughter until you break These days you might feel A shaft of light Make its way across your face And when you do Then you’ll know how it was meant to be See the signs and know their meaning It's true Then you’ll know how it was meant to be Hear the signs and know they’re speaking To you, to you

Vacation - Round 2

Just when we were recovered from our trip to NYC, we headed off to the beach for 7 days! I know life is rough but when your kids get up every morning at 6:00 a.m. requesting sunscreen, it gets to be a little tiring.

We headed down to Surfside, TX for a fun-filled 7 days at the beach. My parents rented a beach house and it was AWESOME! The name of our beach house was the Nirvana. We just had to walk across a little bridge to the beach. It was perfect. The kids had the best time playing in the sand and ocean.

We did do a couple of other things besides being beach bums. One day we went to Galveston and played mini-golf and then enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Gaido's.

We spent another day playing golf. My dad, brother, Brian, Luke, Emma and I all hit the links at Freeport Muncipal Golfcourse. We had the best time. Luke did so well. I only played one hole but I did good. I impressed Luke, so that is all that matters.

In between outings to the beach we would go to Buc-ee's. It was the highlight of our afternoons! Luke was consistent getting his Deja Blue Water and Lucky Charms. Emma's snacks varied every trip and I discovered Oreo cakesters. Those are so yummy! Buc-ee's is pretty awesome. I will say that we were pretty excited to go again. Where else can you get Reef Flip Flops and fishing bait! You can guess which one I purchased!

On our last day at the beach we were able to spend some time with my Aunt Alix, my cousin Tim and his wife Tiffani. We realized we hadn't seem them since their wedding last May. We had the best time and the kids really enjoyed spending time with them.

We were so sad to come back home. This week it has been rough not being able to roll out of bed and look out the window and see the waves rolling in. Oh well.. there is always next year!

p.s. - I will be posting pictures from both vacations soon! There are just so many to choose from!