You Can Always TRI

Okay, so I write a lot about WB. This post will be no different. I need to take a quick trip down memory lane.

We met at Tech and he still had the cross country runners body he had in high school plus the token college pounds. Then came grad school, long hours working on his thesis and finally graduation. He found himself working a new job, spending less time exercising and with more money for food! The pounds slowly crept on.

This was us on our wedding day. I have to say my body has changed shapes over the years as well!

Anyway, back to my story. After a few years of my cooking and living a busy and at times stressful life the pounds continued to add on. With a new baby in the house there was even less time to exercise and it was easy to grab a quick and not so healthy meal.

After our second child was born the doctor told him he would have to go on medication for high cholesterol. He tried to alter his diet somewhat in hopes his cholesterol would go down. It didn't. The doctor said he would probably just have to take the meds for the rest of his life.
Several things happened soon after. He got laid off from the job that was making him miserable (he wouldn't say that because he doesn't complain so much, but it was), he had some blood work in which his liver function was off (the doctor said it was probably just the meds and switched them), and we lived through some of the darkest moments of our lives. I believe he began to see the light at the end of the tunnel with God's roaring voice giving him a few suggestions along the way.

He started making little changes at first. There were set backs and frustrations of course. Eventually, he completely changed what he ate and began exercising again. It was a lifestyle change. It didn't happen overnight, but within a few years he lost 40+ pounds and his cholesterol is now normal without the medication.

I see in him today, what I saw in him 15 years ago, the man God wants him to be. And I'm just so proud of him. Which is why I will now post these pictures from the second triathlon he has completed in a year, despite a long recovery from a knee surgery. He continues to push himself and do the unexpected.
The girls and WB waiting for the start. The finish line!
WB with his fan club.

He's an inspiration to those who know him, especially his family. God has blessed us tremendously. So I write not only to once again tell everyone how much I love my WB, but to share a little bit of our story in hopes it might benefit someone else. After all God works in mysterious ways!

Posted with WB's grunt of approval!

Obstacles or Blessings?

I've been trying to post now for a week, and one obstacle after another has gotten into my way.

First the upstairs AC is out, which makes the 105 degree temperatures outside for the last week feel cool compared to my upstairs office. My laptops Internet card broke, which means I can't sit downstairs and work. Then there has been club volleyball for the oldest. Practices and games take up three evenings a week, swim lessons for Soph, and grumpiness from the 2 year old who just got her shots fill the rest of my days. Next up was the meeting my husband had at our house for the homeowners association. I did a much needed scrubbing of the downstairs and in between running my kids around made banana pudding from scratch for the guests. Not to mention WB is still working long hours and I can't seem to get him home for two weekends in a row. That means I get to mow Cotton-Top Hills on my own. Herding has become my latest occupation. The big, brown momma cow from the ranch behind us likes to hang out in our garden. The same garden that is drying up and about to blow away. Momma cow managed to eat all the corn that was still alive though, bless her heart.

I long to sit at my computer, as a cool breeze blows past my face, and write. Write my blog, write my articles, write my stories. I want to read what everyone in the blogging world has been up to. Darn the obstacles that keep me from it.

But the other night as I lay sweltering in my bed, unable to sleep, I heard a voice telling me these weren't obstacles. I began to think about the last week and all the times I've spent with my kids. I hear their laughter, see their smiling faces, and feel little hands grabbing onto mine as we walk across the yard. The very things that were keeping me from what I wanted to do were actually blessings. Lots of little blessings wrapped up in the daily routines of life.

Someday my house will be empty for hours at a time. The pattering of feet, the girly giggles, and the cry for "Momma" will be gone. I suspect that in their absence I will have plenty of time to write. My writing will spill forth full of life. Full of the life I lived not counting obstacles, but counting blessings.

I'm Still Here

I am so sorry for my absence once again!! Keeping up with it all has been difficult recently. There's been illness, and computer problems, and illness, and travel and then some more illness...geez it's getting a little old. I plan on getting back on track this week, even though I am back again in Houston without my two oldest and my husband. Waiting on another ear doc visit and hoping this time we get things fixed, keep your fingers crossed will ya please. But I will be posting soon because we've celebrated birthdays, 5K's and tri-events recently I want to share with you. And I can't wait to catch up with all my blogging friends!!!

Counting Blessings Even In Our Failures

When WB and I had Em, our first born, she came into the world in crisis. I would spend a week in the hospital with her before we could go home. WB visited us when he could, but it was mostly my mom and I that stayed with her that first week. Then I had to have major surgery when she was just four months old. Again, my mom and I would take care of her while WB remained back at home working for most of the time. It was no wonder that bonding was difficult at times for WB and Em. Even though she looked just like him and resembles him in many personality traits. The road was a difficult one to say the least. Being a new parent is like being thrown overboard without a life preserver...sink or swim. Many days you do both!
WB was having a difficult time in many ways. He'd gained 40 lbs since we started dating, he had a job that was thankless most of the time and stressful to say the least. I'm sure the signs were there that he wasn't happy, but I was too busy to see. I was a new mom. Breastfeeding what seemed like 24/7 , not sleeping, not thinking my husband might need my attention as well, and adjusting to staying at home while all of my friends went off to work each day. Family was far away and we rarely, if ever, had a babysitter or went out without our daughter. Life wasn't exactly picture perfect, but at the same time it wasn't the end of the world either.
Then came our second child, I knew things would be different. It wasn't that WB was a bad father, it was more like he just needed more time and more practice. Unfortunately, our second came about the time his work situation was at it's melting point. He was laid off, things looked dismal. But at your darkest moments your faith seems to shine the brightest.
The same company that laid him off hired him back for consulting on a project. So now we not only collected severance pay, but also his consulting fees. We still had insurance and benefits and a little bit of the weight was lifted off our shoulders. We suffered through the whole finding a job and interviewing process. Had our hopes dashed a few times and then WB was offered a job. A job a half an hour away (no moving) and with a company that was thriving.
WB loved his new job. People listened to his ideas, asked him for input, and LISTENED. Something that had been severely lacking in his last job. He started exercising, eating better, and slowly began to shed those 40 lbs. We had our set backs, but we managed to weather the storm. The girls left their baby stages and WB had more time to concentrate and be comfortable in his fatherly skin. I learned to relax, not be so critical, and listen to that inner voice. I learned to sift out some of the other voices. The ones that might mean well, but didn't live in your marriage day to day. WB blossomed into fatherhood and I into our marriage.
Life was good. WB loved his job and began to move up the career ladder. The company he used to work for slowly began to fold and now 5 years later is no longer running the plant he worked at. Blessings, yes. We were bestowed many blessings, even though at the time they felt more like punishments.
So when I learned I was pregnant with my third child, I cried. I asked God if he was serious, three pregnancy tests later told me he was. I wasn't prepared, I had things to do, and I was not ready to start over. I was trying to finish a novel for heavens sake, on top of being a director of a school that had some major issues!! I cried to my sister like a big baby. I struggled with the gift I knew I had been given, but pouted with the timing never less. I dreaded telling WB. We weren't expecting this right now. In fact, I had cried months earlier over the fact I may never be able to get pregnant again. So I had moved on, told myself to suck it up, it just wasn't in the cards. I made other plans.
I told WB over the phone. I was in Houston and he was at home. I held my breath and listened as he said, "No way...Really. That is so wonderful." Really, even though it wasn't planned. He reminded me none of them really were and this would be great. I'd like to say it was all happy times from there but it wasn't. It was a difficult pregnancy, we moved an hour away to a new house. A fixer upper at that. WB buried himself in projects to prepare for the new arrival and for the whole family. I tried not to be miserable and to enjoy each day. Some days I was a huge success, others a terrible failure.
Blessings, they sort of sneak up on you. I sit today and watch my 22 month old as she holds her big sisters hands as they walk around the yard and my heart melts. I smile when her daddy lifts her up each night as she rushes to greet him at the door. I see the ease into which he handles all three of his children, an ease I have to admit I wasn't sure would ever be possible. He is an awesome dad. And I have become a much better wife.
God has blessed us in so many ways. Many of which I probably am not even aware of. He gave us everything we needed, He put people in our lives that have taught us so much. He steered us through the toughest of times. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that even in our failures there are blessings.
So as I sit here today I am overwhelmed when I start counting my blessings. They are many. So are my failures. But thank God He has found a way to lift us up even when we fall flat on our faces!!

As We Usher In A New President Think About This

My friend Aimee sent me this link on Facebook. I think it is a wonderful thing for all of us to think about us we listen to the news, watch the media coverage, become excited over this man being our president. I bet he's glad his mother made the right choice!
CatholicVote.com

Posted using ShareThis

Memorable Moments Monday...

So I'm still getting back into the swing of things, but I thought I'd share a few memorable moments from the last couple of weeks.

First my mom retired. Yee, haw!! She has been a nurse for well over thirty years, maybe forty. She is an amazing nurse at that. Her speciality being Critical Care. I've watched her work nights, days, shifts that last over twelve hours, seen her cry over lost patients and rejoice with patients when they recover. I've seen her spend vacations and weekends pouring over the latest medical journals. If she had a chance to better herself she did. Her focus was always being the best caregiver her patients could have. A few years ago she left the bedside part of her career behind and worked on educating the nursing staff of her hospital. She shared her love of nursing with new nurses and seasoned nurses alike. I watched everyone from the kitchen staff to the CEO of the hospital come by to wish my mother well at her retirement party. If former patients and family had known they would have been there as well. Many times we've been stopped while out when people recognized by mom and wanted to thank her for the care she gave a loved one or themselves. And you know she remembered every last one of them, that's just the way she is.

Pay no mind to my frizzed out big hair, that humidity in Houston always puts it into a sort of 80's shock, minus the big bangs!

And Little One graduated from her infant Kindermusik class! My parents were here to watch her graduation class so it was extra special. She was the oldest in her class so we have left behind many wonderful friends to move on to the toddler class. We had the first class today and I think we're going to make many new friends. But could someone remind her she is my baby and not supposed to grow up so fast!!

Little One proudly displaying her diploma, right in front of her face:)

Oh, and my sweet friend at The Fritz Facts rewarded me with this and I'm just now getting around to it, sorry.

The Lemonade Award.

Thank you for thinking of me!

This award is for blogs that show great attitude and gratitude.

There are rules:1. Put the logo on your blog or post.2. Nominate at least 10 blogs with a great attitude / gratitude.3. Link the nominees within your post.4. Let them know you have given the award by leaving them a comment on their blog.5. Share the love and link this post and to the person from whom you received this award.

And see I'm really bad about these awards because I love all of my blogging friends. But the following are who I think do a good job at turning lemons into lemonade.

Smockity Frocks

Life In the Crazy Lane

Cherished Moments

Buffaloes and Butterfly Wings

At Pat's Place

Because I Can

Family Blog With A Difference

Anyway, that's a few things that have been going on around here. How about you? Any memorable moments today!

All in a week...

I've spent exactly four hours and twenty minutes in the doctor's office this week (I have another trip tomorrow so that number will be higher).

Made 12 trips into town, 18 trips to school, and used half a tank of gold, I mean gas to do it.

I've talked to two different doctor offices at least five times for appointments, test results, etc.

Driven through the pharmacy drive-through twice.

Discovered I left my wallet at home after driving all the way into town for dry-cleaning.

Been rear-ended by a big ole pick-up truck while I was attempting to obey the law and actually stop at a stop sign, he obviously didn't feel that was necessary.

Been disillusioned by the lack of voters and the outcome of our failed school bond.

I've had very unkind thoughts ( and maybe words) for my fellow mankind. (see above two comments)

Had to cancel a must needed hair appointment.

Neglected my blog.

But...the weeks almost over and I'm sure next week will be a breeze:)

Life

Yesterday at church our priest was talking about death. Just the fact that we all are going to die and what are we going to leave behind. What did we do with our life? That got me to thinking about my life and what I can be proud of.

I'm proud to be a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, someones friend, a teacher to others. All of these things make me who I am. Not the size of my checking account, not my house, not the car I drive or the clothes I wear. Don't get me wrong I enjoy shopping for clothes and I enjoy having a nice house, but if that were all taken away from me I would still have the most precious things to me. I have the love of my husband, children and family. I have friends, true friends, that bless my life every day whether we haven't seen each other since college or whom I see every weekend. I belong to a church community that feeds my spirit and strengthens my soul.

When I meet my Maker I want to be able to say my life was full of love and blessings. That the hard times I endured were overcome by my faith in Him and by the love I was given by the people who meant the most to me. I hope to be able to say I made a difference in someones life. That my most valuable gifts are the ones I can hold in my heart, not in my hand. That is what
I hope I've done with my life.