Team Jack

Wow, I just realized what big smiles we all have on our faces. We just finished a 6.2 miles walk, running the very end of it because we wanted to finish within 2 hours... To be here, and be a part of this really meant a lot to me. I don't know Kevin and Taiya (the couple to your left) very well, but when the opportunity came to walk for this cause - Neil and I jumped right on it. As you can see, we are the only non-family members here... but we felt like family, and it will be a day I will never forget. (Taiya and Carly swear they didn't plan their outfits for the day - but come on!)

Kevin and Taiya lost their baby in child birth just about a month ago. Taiya heard of the March for Babies event, just a week before the walk...and the 2 of them decided to go for it. They got their team set up, and set a goal on an amount they'd like to raise. I mean, with only a week... they each put a low dollar amount. Kevin told me, during the walk of course, that he kept jumping up his goal because it kept being surpassed. How great is that?

The Fallons have many plans for next year already....team shirts, loading up on carbs the night before....I can already see this being a yearly tradition, and I am so happy to be a part of it.

Brooke-lyn

One of my bestest friends Brooke came and surprised me on my birthday. (I know this is late, but I just now got around to uploading my photos from my camera.)

Now...my goal of taking more pictures this year - didn't exactly happen while she was here. But I did take a few...
Here we are at the Erie Zoo. It was super dreary this day...as you can see.

This is us at Niagara Falls... It was cold!!! It was so amazing though.

And here is Neil trying to feed this black squirrel. We have never seen a BLACK squirrel!! We were freaking out. And then it was actually going up to him.



**Oh, and on a side note - this is me with Flat Kobe.

I just re-read my last blog.
Whoa.
Today, I was running around town trying to get pictures for my nephew Kobe - he sent me a colored picture of himself, "Flat Kobe" and I needed to take him around my community for a class project. So, today was the day. I really hope I'm not all that late returning this to him... (On the letter it said, "please return before school ends in May." What does that really mean?

Well. As I was walking along Presque Isle with my bestest friend on four legs - Cali - I started to appreciate my life, and was thanking the Lord for all that He has blessed me with. I know there is a lot I need to work on in my heart, but I do feel blessed.

I may complain a lot. I tend to be dramatic about stuff...yes, I do realize I'm dramatic... But a majority of my life has been about God's timing and living life with the attitude of the glass half FULL. Not sure what's going on with me, or with my attitude, but I don't like it.

Patience

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God...
...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

-Philippians 4:6 & 11

I have an issue. I am not a patient person. And I really feel God is teaching me patience. Actually, it's more like a Class on Patience, with a student count of ONE...and I'm on the 3 year plan. I'm not happy about it. I find myself fighting. Like, actually fighting in prayer. That doesn't make a bit of sense, I know. It ends w/laughter because who can really fight the Almighty?
It's literally one thing after another, after another....after another. From buying a house, decorating the house, to buying a car, to having kids, down to the construction of my teeth ....everything has been this waiting game. And just when we think something is going to come through - bam! There's a hold up. (Now, we have a home - and thank the Lord every chance we get for it.) But everything else... my patience is wearing thin.

I NEED HELP!!!
I am literally going crazy. I feel like, everything I ask for - gets put on the back burner.

(I know this isn't true, and I know in due time - all of the desires of my heart will be answered.)

Neil and I cannot begin to count our blessings, for we are truly blessed. This blog is mine, and mine alone - and I can vent if I want.

I just hope God will give me my degree already, and let me pass...

Thank You?

So...funny story. I was asked to work today in the office. It's Friday. I never work on Fridays, but I don't dare say no at an opportunity to earn extra money. Of course. So, since the beginning of this week - we had the most amazing, perfect weather - high 70s, just gorgeous. I started to dread coming into work today.

I said a little prayer: "God, please let there be crappy weather on Friday since I have to work, and I can't embrace this Spring weather you've blessed us with."

Yeah. I said crappy.

Well, as I left for work this morning - it started to snow. Thank you Jesus...I think. Snow though? Oh well. Bad weather is bad weather, right? (At least it's not sticking....)

On a fun note, this is what I drive up to when I get home....So pretty.

Brace Face coming to an end....

.....and I'm bittersweet about the whole situation. I had an orthodontist appointment last Monday, and my doctor, Dr. Cardot said "See you in a month, and we'll schedule the day to take the top braces off."
I'm slightly FREAKING out about the whole situation. So many emotions....

March Maaadness

I started the month off slowly getting off the "healthy eating" train...and within hours of landing in CA, I was completely off. (There was no way I'd be in CA for 5 days, and eat healthy...who are we kidding?) Weeks that followed, I did not improve these old habits of snacking, drinking soda, laziness... nope, I did not. Why? Birthday. I had it set in my head that my Birthday week would be filled with crap eating anyway....why eat healthy now?
But guess what? Birthday week is over - and boy did we celebrate!!! I'll have to post more about it in another blog because I have a few pictures to share - that I'm just too lazy to upload at this very moment (hence the word LAZY)...but it was a good time. Ate a LOT, and didn't make it into the gym all that much. (I even slept for 3 hours today, 3pm-6pm...with no attempts to make it to my 6:30pm Weights Class....laaaazzzzy and bleh.)

Neil and I, as you all know, love food. With the history in Neil's family, he should not be eating the way he eats. And we've come to the decision to eat healthy together. When I started the year off eating "clean" I did it alone. As of tomorrow, according to him "what you cook, I'll eat." We've decided that during the week, only healthy eating. Saturdays and Sundays, we can venture off a little bit. I mean come on, Spring is here - and grilling season is around the corner.... Burgers and hot fudge sundaes... We couldn't do without!

Today is Neil's last day of Spring break, and we're ending the vacation on a sluggish, but oh so yummy note: Chinese take out! And yes, today is Monday. But vacation ending trumps Monday. So there.

*Plus my goal of becoming a runner by the end of the year isn't going to happen on it's own. But now that the weather is nice, I'll take the attempt to the streets....

Tomorrow is a new healthy day! (I hope so anyway)

March 15th, 2010

I'm back tracking a little bit because I just stole the photos below from Virginia. I thought they were really fun, and I wanted to share them....

Outside of Rio Rico's, where we ate lunch - we decided to take time out & take pictures. Apparently Brooke and I thought something was funny. It was probably an attempt I had at smiling - which I have to say, I mastered on this very day. And to think, just the day before I had issues with my eyes bugging out.... and then there's Virginia and myself. Lastly, a shot of the 3 of us....

I'm still hunting for more pictures from these 5 days in CA that I can steal....

7 days...and counting.

Am I really turning 30 in t-minus 7 days?

Of course one of the 1st things my husband says to me this morning is:

"In a week, you're going to be an old lady."

Gee thanks babe.

I am completely & totally disecting this photo above...

One eye is bigger than the other.

I have neck fat.

Zero cheek bones.

Zits.

One eyebrow looks raised, even though I didn't do it. Is this a condition of some sort?

(It's freakin' me out!)

And it seems my nose is getting BIGGER!!!

7 days.

CA March 2010, Mr and Mrs Freeman

I made my way out to California (I can never stay away...) and I went out for one purpose....to be by Miss Jenny Murphy as she prepared for her wedding day. Through all the stresses and little sleep - I survived. The 5 days just flew by. (I would like to thank Starbucks and Redbull for helping me stay awake through those 5 days.)
My first day was non-stop. I woke up at 2:30 am, eastern standard time and headed to Buffalo, NY where I then ended up in NJ. With that....the next flight into San Diego was almost 6 hours. I had plans to sleep, but the idiot that I am, I paid the $6 for Direct TV. I got caught up in everything. The Blindside was playing on one channel, then Dexter, Nurse Jackie on another....etc.... It was ridiculous. I finally turned my ipod on, and dozed off. But that lasted about 20 minutes. The stewardess walked by, and I politely asked for "COFFEE PLEASE?" I knew my day was going to be geared by excitement, and caffeine.
As I walked my way down to baggage claim I spot Jenny before she sees me and I ran and squeezed her tightly. It was so great to finally hug her and be there with her.
We headed to Fashion Valley, got Rubios (yum), and had to deal with some returning and buying of make-up. The rest of the day is a blur...all I know is we did the following:

Purchased a 4 pack of Redbull
Stopped at her apartment to drop off my stuff
Vans Store (I needed a new pair of slip ons - they don't have a Vans store in Erie!)
Starbucks
Nails
A bunch of wedding stuff......

The rest of the week consisted of being by Jenny's side and helping her with last minute stuff and decisions. I did a couple of stuff for the wedding, calligraphy-wise...and catching up with her wonderful family that came down from Utah. I just adore the Murphy clan so much! It was so great to see them, and spend time with them. Also, my girl Kelly Wildman came down Thursday and remained in Escondido the rest of the weekend. Of all of Jenny's friends, I know Kelly. So, it was great for me to have her there. :) Getting to know Jenny's other friends, was such a blessing for me as well. She is truly blessed. These friends in her life - AMAZING.

So I didn't take many photos of this trip - I'm losing my touch, I know.... But after I realized I didn't take many, I made a vow to myself that I will never let that happen again. Seriously.
But what I did take.....
Gettin' her nails did.

Dawna and Jenny (yep, not many from my 1st day, until the day. I'll have to steal some from Rene)

Almost Mr & Mrs Freeman....too an hour later as Mr. and Mrs. Freeman....

Dancing with her father (wesssiiide Pat!)


The following day, which was my last day - I spent the 1st 1/2 with the Dunns, which I didn't get any pictures of except of their gorgeous landscaping.... We did breakfast, then church. Then afterwards, went to lunch with Gin and Brooke. I'll have to steal pictures from Virginia as well... And the 2nd 1/2 of the day was with Carol, Zach, Stella and Murphy....which I'm really upset because I didn't take any photos of our adventurous night together. We ate In 'n Out Burger for dinner (mmmmm...) and went hunting for big bags of hot cheetos. We hunted in every grocery/convenient store in San Diego it seemed...and came up empty handed. (I also needed magazines for my trip home.) Finally, in I think a Rite-Aid, by her old apartment did she dig up 2 bags that were hidden. Best bags of hot cheetoes. Ever. It was great being able to spend time with Carol, because I hardly ever get to. Strangely enough, as we were trying to figure out what to do w/ourselves for the night ahead....as we walked the streets of SD....we discovered that we were both 2 episodes behind on this season of Lost. Perfect. So, that's what we did. After all the hunting, we cozied up on the couches and relaxed (sort of) with Lost.

It was a great last day in CA.