Whittaker Woman

Right Now part 2

Well C and S, (we will not give their real names to avoid humiliating them)  need a refresher coarse in boy scout fire building.
Because after 3 attempts Mama had  to step in.

I Have Nothing On My Plate Right Now

When it rains it pours...
I got in from Dallas 9 am on Thursday.
11- picked up Losiah,
12 picked up Seanna
2 - picked up sohaila
3- back to the airport to pick up my grandma
5- Carlos' work party at the farm
8-10 nap because the night before I only slept 3 hours
11- Jacinda, Leige, Carlos and Daley arrive home.
Talk till 1:30am
Friday: Wake up at 10 and go run 3 miles in the midst of fall colors
2pm pick Sohaila up from bus stop. Find out that she has some kind of infection on her outer ear where puss was coming out and it was beginning to swell.
3pm go to doctors.  Miss hair appointment. We don't see the doctor till 5:15. She tells us Sohaila has impetigo and she keeps repeating how glad she is that we brought her in, because it was beginning to swell.
Leave Drs, fight traffic go out to dinner with MY GIRLS in GA! It was actually a wonderful dinner, but man on man was it hard to get there. We got lost, sat in traffic and got lost again. It really was just one of those days that would not end. One thing after another.
Get home only to find out the Pharmacist would not fill the perscription because she was not sure if it was right. Had to call DR. at midnight. Then sat in the drug store for an hour while they filled it and of course it was not covered by insurance. So it was $158, which we don't have. Have I said it was one thing after another. Oh because I have not gotten to the part where my throat is so swollen I can barely swallow. I hurt so bad. We have 5 guests staying at our house right now, a blog party to pull together and all I want to do is crawl in bed and sleep till Monday.

But this is how I live. I am a mom of three and I can pull it together until Monday when I can stay in my jammies all day! Until then I keep on going. :) H

1, 2, 3 INHALE

Do you hold your breath when you go through a tunnel? I don't. Well I take that back. I do, but only one   tunnel. The one that is right before you hit the Yosemite Valley. I have no idea how long it is, but it is long enough to make me turn blue. It's just something my brother and I have done all of our lives. The worst part is if you get behind a slow car or the driver of your car is being really mean to you and slows down. Oh its hard but oh so fun. So tell me are we the only ones who do this? h

Marathon Done!

THINGS TO DO WHILE I AM ALIVE!

Climb half dome:   (2004, '05, '06, '07/video)
Hike to "my tree"
Skydive:   (Madera, 4/2005 and Kauai  8/2005)
Learn to scuba dive:
Dive to a ship wreck:
Run a 1/2 Marathon: July 19, 2008, August 2, 9, 22, 2008
Run a Marathon: October 13, 2008
Walk on the Great Wall of China:
Drive across the country:
Learn to surf:
Hike the John Muir trail from Half dome to Whitney:
Go on  Dog Sled Ride:
See Northern Lights
Adopt a child: X (11/27/06) Korean Videos
Go on a Safari:  (2/16/08)
Volunteer in a hospital:
Learn to ride a motorcycle: (3/2006)
Work at a soup kitchen:
Climb Mt. Whitney, The highest peak in the lower 48 states! (8/15/2007)
Take a Massage class:
Ride along with a police officer: X ( 5/4/07)   Helicopter: (Sept 15, 2007)
Drive a race car:
Read a book once a month: X so far so good.
Go to the Olympics
See Garth Brooks in Concert:
Backpack through Europe:
Jump off a cliff in Hawaii: X (08/2005)
Hike the Grand Canyon
Go see a live Volcano:
Be on a  disaster relief team:
Bungee Jump off of Victoria Falls:
Swim in all 5 oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Indian, Southern
Run the great wall of china:
Heli-snowboard:
Ice Fishing:
Travel to Kodiak Island and see the bears.                                                                                                               Travel to: Spain, South America, England's countryside, China, Africa, Korea, New Zealand
Visit all 50 states (more than a  layover.) : Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District of Columbia.
*Visit all the continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and  Australia

Whats on my list that you have done? H

Did it, Done it, Wont do it again.

I think I will have many blogs coming these next few days... and that is because I can not walk. Carlos and I just laugh at each other. I guess they say no pain no game!
Ok so here is the run down if you did not check out my man and his twitter. He gave updates as we were running. It actually was one of the coolest things that he has ever done!
We got to Long Beach around 6am and sat in traffic for an hour.

Finally we got parked headed our way to the race. Everyone warned us about the lines for the restroom, but when you got to go you got to go.

Finally we were off. I must admit running through the start line was almost more powerful than the finish line. I loved it!


I felt so good at the beginning. I loved being surrounded by people, you heard stories of people as they ran. One man was 97 years old. Hello! It was so great! My brother was running the half so it was so wonderful to have him there encouraging us on! The first 10 miles went through LB Harbor and then along the coast. The breeze was perfect and it was so beautiful!

We were feeling so good. Not even winded at all. The half and full marathon routes split right after mile 10. So we had to say good by to my brother. I must admit I was quite jealous that he was almost done and we were not even half way done.
We  turned the corner and then all of the sudden Carlos and I looked at each other and wondered where everyone went. EVERYONE went to the half side and we were left alone. It is also where the route took a turn into the city. We were doing good but the dynamics changed so fast. We had been running by the ocean with a crowd full of energy. We turned the corner, hit the black asphalt and the deafening silence of the non existent crowds.

Finally we found this girl who was the pace setter for finishing the race at 5 hours and 30 minutes. We thought it was great and we hung with her for about 3 miles and then it hit me. Or more like I hit it... The WALL. It was about mile 16. I think the combination of not sticking to my pace, the hot sun and loss of energy from other runners just kicked my butt.

Not only did I hit the Wall but Carlos hit a High! He is a words of affirmation guy and after 3 hours of people encouraging him he was so full. He even began to dance. I just wanted to kick him!

I begin to feel like I did when I was in labor giving birth. Carlos just wants to encourage me and when I am in pain I do not want to hear encouragement. I want support but not a cheerleader. I remember accepting my friend Tammy by my side when I gave birth, and not wanting Carlos. I felt the same on the run. I wanted him there. I just wanted him to be quite. Finally I told him to be hush!

Around mile 18-20 was the hardest. My legs were cramping and I could not even imagine the finish line.

And then we saw this. What a glorious sign. One more to go!

We ran in like this. Together as a team. It was just one of our moments! My grandma, mom, kids, brother, close friend Sarah and her husband and brother and sister in law were all there! What an amazing feeling... to stop running that is.
Thank you so much for everyone's love and support! I just can not believe we really did not train at all last month and we still did it. Really anyone can do this.

WE DID IT! H

Holy Crap!

I am going to be running 26 miles tomorrow. I just realized what is happening and I am freaking out! H

From Day ONE

Allow me to be vulnerable, intimate and share something that is so personal about me that only my best friends would know about. You may read this post and think it is lame and not a big deal, but to me it is my heart, my memories and a part of ME.

This is Saint Andrews Abbey.     Or as I would call it Valyermo.

It is a Catholic Abbey that, well... you can say I was Umm, well lets just say my parents met there and well, simply put I was made there. So... I have REALLY been brought up there. :) Oh this is not going down hill fast. Anyways I have a life time of memories and this is one of the harder things to leave when I left California. I mourned the fact that my kids will not have the memories that I do. I have had major events that make this place special. My parents met here, I had my first major boyfriend from here, Carlos has a tattoo of the Abbeys symbol on him and most importantly  my dad is buried here. And yet many of the little things here are just as sentimental.

The smell of the desert and the gravel,

The sound of the trees,

The constant sound of a sprinkler running, all these things bring joy to my heart.

The sad part of my visit here is because of a death of one of the Fathers here. Father Werner was one of the Monks who knew my dad (who passed away when I was 16) There are not many people that I know that were friends of my dad so it was sad to say good-bye to someone who  held that friendship.
The great part is that I was here to be a part of it.


I have not been to funeral here since my dads which is coming up on 14 years. I must say it was weird.

And beautiful all at the same time.

The kids had fun decorating Papa Bills Grave. Its silly but makes me smile.

This is Dominic he was one of my dads best friends, and also one of my moms. He is just someone who I have known my whole life and he just is a special relationship.

So there you go. A very personal side of me that only those closest know. Welcome to my world. My soul. H

I'm Back in the Saddle Again

Well just got from the doctor and I am good to go... Everything seems to be fine and she gave me the green light to keep training for our marathon! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the emails and prayers. They worked. Here's to 26.2 miles!
  H

My shadow

Today I was working on this...

And my shadow wanted to help so we had our first sewing lesson... a button.


Then the switch was hit and she morphed into what I like to call MY BEAN,



I just have no idea where she gets it from. H

You ask, I'll answer set 18

2. Do you have a consistent "quiet time"  seriously where do you find your own time with God and what do you read/do to nurture that friendship? (locking yourself in the bathroom to read some Psalms counts :)
Posted by: jen | May 13, 2008 at 07:42 AM

I promise one day we will have each and everyone of these questions answered!
Wow this post got long! Here it is broken down:
-My answer then
-My answer now
-My journey

*My answer then: I must confess that back when Jen asked this question I was confident in the answer. I was at a good place in my "quite times". My routine was consistent, and I felt connected to God.
I would go to bed, (Carlos and I do not go to bed at the same time) so I was alone and I would do my study. I  had been doing Beth Moore studies for over a year and each and every one lead me deeper into learning more about God. Everyday I was able to see how the Bible is alive. I was able to hear God's love for me and my life.  Beth Moore made me dig into the Word! Was it hard? Absolutely. Were there nights I was so mad that I had to do it. Yep. Were there times when I would justify why I deserved a free pass. Yeah. But no matter what the connection it created between myself and God made every night worth it.
*My answer now: Summer happened. I worked on two studies that about killed me. Finally I gave up. Lately I have been consistent at reading the Psalms, but I am wanting to have a study to go along with it. I want to work. I want to study the word. When I would do a one of Beth Moores studies sometimes it would take me 3 days to complete one of her days, but regardless it made me dig deep into the Bible. I miss that.
My Journey with this: Seriously,  I used to carry a lot of guilt around in my Christian life. Guilt about not following all the "rules". I was overwhelmed with all the rules that I FELT, I HAD to cross off. No sex, no drinking, no gossiping. Read your bible everyday, pray everyday, go to Church every Sunday. Pray this way, dress this way, BE this way.  I was guilt ridden by my constant failures. Then in the midst of it God spoke loud "I AM NOT A GOD OF GUILT"  Ok, it was actually Beth Moore and her words, but I felt God saying it loud and clear to me through her... "Heather I am not the one who is putting this guilt on you, Release it."  I realized that God wants me to give him what I got. Some days I go from dawn to midnight non stop. He knows that. Yet he wants me to give him that. He knows I am a mom. He knows that I don't get to go to the restroom alone. He knows my time is limited.  But when I do set some time for him, I can only imagine how much that time means to him. I guess my simple answer is... I give him what I can.
One last thing. I suck at praying. Thankfully he knows that too. One thing he has shown me is that I need to be in a constant place of prayer.  The season of life that I am in right now does not have an option of sitting on the couch with my bible, coffee, and have one on one conversations with the creator of the universe.  I long for those days but right now diapers, milk and homework run my life. So I have learned the do it now principal. If I think of someone, pray. If I read a need for prayer, pray. If I hurt, pray. Do it now because later I may be knee deep in timeouts or playdough. 
Thats where I am at. That has been my journey in a long jumbled post.

I must ask. What has been the best study you have ever done! I need to get a new study! H

This makes my heart swell

I am that girl who critiques people. I hate it. It haunts me. I see flaws vs possibilities, I focus on the bad vs the good. My glass is always half empty.  And yet I realize that we all have our issues we all struggle with things. My man did an incredible post about his struggles. It made my heart swell because despite his flaws, God is using him. And through his honesty I am able to see my marriage has half full!
How are you "that Guy/Girl"? H

I am bored out of my mind!

Today has consisted of my on the couch and I am bored out of my mind. I am such a busy body that I don't even know what to do. This was my last attempt to entertain  myself.

 

Boundaries

Hey friends! As you all know I blog my life. The good, bad, pretty much everything. I must say today I stand on the line of what to blog. I am trying to figure out my boundaries.  I have had something happen with my health that is personal. I know that majority of you out there don't want to know about it. So I stand in limbo.  At first I figured it would go away after a doctors visit and there would be no need to bring anything up. However I went to the doctor, had a procedure done that consisted of lots of blood, knifes and pain! Only to find out that if my problem does not go away by Wednesday then I will be having surgery on Thursday. For all that I have been told it is not a MAJOR issue just something that needs to be addressed. So... If you want details email me. Otherwise just keep me  in your prayers. Also pray for Seanna she is having a hard time seeing her mommy in pain. Thanks my bloggin family! H

Hmmm, was this a hint?

So I was reading some of your blogs the other day and found a great blog that was about a woman's journey of loosing weight. I loved it. It was real, and honest. However I looked over at her blog roll and found this...

Everyone on there has to do with weight. HMMM, should Carlos and I get the clue phone. HA! H

Girls, Girls, Girls

I never could imagine my life full of princesses and fairy tales, now I can't imagine my life with out them.

Georgia On My Mind...Garage Sales

This weekend I was looking forward to selling all of our junk that we have piling up in our garage. You would think that after moving across the country we would only have what we need, but we don't. We have a ton of things that need to go!  I guess with 3 growing kids things just pile up. So I decided to have a garage sale.
Garage sales are big here in the south. Which for those who were wondering were big in Cali too. 
The difference is that in California garage sales usually take place on Saturdays only. Here in Georgia people have garage sales on Friday and Saturday. I was actually excited about this because Carlos has Friday off so it would totally work with our family schedule. 
I woke up early on Friday and began the chaos. It was around 8 o'clock when Seanna began to whine...
"Mommy why doesn't anyone want to come to our garage sale?" Her feelings were hurt that no one had come.  And that is when I realized that not only is there a difference on the days people garage sale here but also the time they garage sale. In Cali if you do not have your stuff outside and ready by 6am you have missed the boat. People start at the crack of dawn in Cali and by 11 am people are done shopping. Yesterday it was after 8am when we had our first car. Most signs I see around here say that they start around 8 and go till about 3pm. That is a long day of selling.
Finally it was around 11 am when I realized how conditioned I am. There is a five hour window of patience that I have for garage sales. Once those hours are past I AM DONE. Pack it up, give it away... I am finished. So I conclude that even though people here in Georgia have two full days of sales this California girl can't do it. I will give 5 hours of my life to selling junk after that it goes off to the Salvation Army. H

One mans junk is another mans treasure!

My friend Kristen works for Passion and she traveled with them to Uganda back in May. When I heard she was going I was quick to ask her if she would take some things for us to our Compassion friends down there. She was fabulous and said yes...
Today I got a email from our friend Dennis. He works for Compassion and sent me some pictures of our stuff being passed out at a couple of Compassions projects.
 
Nothing today could have brought me more joy! Well except if you go and sponsor one of these kids today!

Turn that frown upside down

Long story short... I got locked out of my house today, for 5 hours!
Tragic I know.  I decided I needed a little treat.  A pumpkin spice latte did the trick. I mean really anything fall will make me smile but when you add sugar, well I am gleaming!

Who's with me? H

You ask, I'll answer set 17

Allow me to give a disclaimer... I NEVER thought that I would be a Christian fiction book lover. If you had to define the stereotypical "Christian fiction book lover" I don't think I would fall into that category. But that is why you can not judge a book by its cover because I LOVE ME SOME CHRISTIAN NOVELS.  I have spent many hours thinking about why I love reading CFNs.  Here are a few reasons why,
1. It is so much easier for me to grasp something when I am able to see it played out in someones life.
2. I am a multi-tasker and nothing can make me stop like a good book. I can not fold laundry and read a book,  I can not help the kids do anything while I am reading a book, I can not clean, make lists or talk while I am reading. It is the first thing I have found that forces me to stop. Which is a good thing.  I need Me time!
3. I have set a goal to read one book per month for the rest of my life. I read every night as I fall asleep. Its my nightly bed time story. :)
And that are the reasons, I confess I love Christian Novels!

Ok here are my answers to your questions...
*Other than the Bible, what one book has made the most impact on your thinking?
Posted by: pam
That is hard, I would say that Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is my favorite book, it was the book that started me on the journey of Christan Fiction. However I am not sure if it has he most impact on my thinking. I try to write down what each book taught me after I read one and although I love this love story and how it humbles me, I am not sure if I could claim it as having the most impact. I am going to say that the Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers has the most impact on me. The reason I say that is because I was able to understand the Bible so much more after reading these books. I was able to understand what words like slave, and master mean. My eyes were opened to what life was like back in the days of Jesus. Powerful stuff! It made the Bible come to life.

*Are you a book lover? What is the best book you have read? Or Top five...
Posted by: debraparker
Top five books and why
1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers- Best Love story out there, I love books that keep me up till 4 in the morning because I can't stop reading!
2. Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers- Books one and two are my favorite, three was ok but a little preachy at the end. 
3. I love the Series Abrams Daughters by Beverly Lewis- this is a book series on the Amish. I have admitted here before that I am fascinated by their lifestyle. I have wondered -Ok so I can admit to Christian Fiction but Amish Christian Fiction, now that sounds Grandma to me! But I've said it, I admit I love them. My reasoning? Because they teach me how to simplify my life. Slow down. Disconnect. Focus on Family. All the things I struggle doing, they do so well. That is what attracts me to these books. Don't make fun untill you have tried them.
4. I Love the Wedding which is the sequel to the Notebook. Now the book the Notebook, in my opinion was not as good as the movie. It had some amazing love notes in it but besides those I enjoyed the movie more. However the Wedding was so great.
5. I am gonna say that my final book is called the Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers- I like this book because it taught me that there are always two sides to a story. It takes two to tango and it takes two to stop tangoing. :)

Ok my friends I have 20 pages left in the book I am reading right now. I need a new book. I enjoy easy mindless reading. I can't do those books where you have to read the same sentence 4 times just to understand it. Right now in my season of  life I like simple, feel good stories. So tell. What is your all time favorite book or give me your top 5.  H

And yes ladies, that is Carlos reading Redeeming Love on a plane!

When will I accept the truth?

I am a mom. Some how most days I forget it. I guess it defines me so much that I don't even recognize the simple fact anymore.  It seems normal to me to be humming disney songs all day long. It seems normal to have someone want to be in the restroom with you no matter what you may be in there for. It seems normal to me to have 5 people sleeping in one bed.  I just don't think twice about these things.
Well, not today. September 2nd has been a day that I stare momhood in the face.  The alarm rang earlier than usual today. Or maybe it was just harder to get out of bed to start the day. None the less the day began. I walked one baby to the bus stop, which reminded me. Hey I am a mom.  I came home to my next baby saying her "throat hurt" translated means QUICK GRAB A BAG I AM ABOUT TO HURL! So I did 3 hours and 9 bags later she sits like this.

The bag did not make it to her once and so I am now washing the couch covers. Which reminded me that I am a mom! That should be enough reminders right?
Oh, but I have one child left, he woke up gave me the best morning hug, I fed him and not long after I smelt him. Nice and ripe. We went up stairs only to find out that I had another introduction to mommy-hood coming my way... a blow-out! So as I put his soiled PJ's in the wash with the cushions with puke, I just laughed and thought...Wow, I am a mom today! H

It's 8:28 on a Saturday and I am still in bed.

This is the first Saturday in three months that I am not out running god awful distances.  We traveled down to Columbus GA yesterday, so I attempted to do my long run yesterday morning. Did you noticed the word attempted? After 10 miles my ankles hurt so bad  I had to stop. This morning I limp. I am old and the body is breaking down. Carlos is injured and I have no idea what to do.
The ankles hurt last week during th 18 miles, but I pushed through it, this time I had to stop and it seems like they are just getting worse. I have no idea what to do.
The running Whittakers are falling apart! H

Just one more time

The snooze button is a curse. Why would they put a button on a machine that allows you to negotiate your wants vs needs while you are sleeping. It makes no sense to me. Of course I am going to press the extra 9 minute button because I am tired. Why do they give me that choice. I am not rational when I am sleeping. I should have no choice, but to get out of bed. **Sigh**
Needless to say this week I am tired. I have not slept enough and I am spent. 
On average how much sleep to you get a night?  Are you tired too?

Sweet

Once is the amount of times in my life I that I have been called sweet. I actually think it was a reader on my blog who called me sweet. I remember it so vividly, I even copied the note and sent it to Carlos because I have just never been called that before. Some days I want to pretend. I want to crawl up inside a sweet facade and live life. Than other times I allow my sinful, prideful soul be revealed and wish I had been quiet. Speaking of words... Quite,  that is another word that has never been tagged on to my name.  Anyways long story short today is a day that I wish I could pretend. Its a day where I wish I could be defined as soft, quiet, and sweet. Kinda like my Bean. H

Not so bad

9 miles on a treadmill sounded horrible! Pure torture if you ask me, but there was no option. I had to run! So I made the best of it. Turned the air down, put on the Italian Job and hit the start button. It was done before I knew it! H
 

Mind Games

This is why I have not lost one pound during this marathon training. This was moments before I needed to go run 8 miles. I felt justified. Nothing like Kettle Corn Popcorn! H

Should I start with the good news?

Or jump in with the bad? Hmm

Lets start with the bad and get it over... this is what I had to Google today:

Why would any rational person want to add weeks to their marathon training? Now that sounds like awful news! I just want this torture to be over with!
Are you ready for the good news?  Carlos and I have changed our plans and instead of running the Akron Ohio Marathon at the end of September we are going to run the Long Beach one on October 13! That means we have to add two weeks to our training, but  I am so excited to go to Cali! I get to fill my tummy with In N Out  or some true Mexican after the race. Oh how delightful. Not to mention my family being able to support us! It may be crazy adding weeks but so worth it! H

Pissed

I am,  for the first time declaring that I am pissed at God.

I find myself able to fall into his strength and love when my world is falling in, but today I have been confronted with something fairly simple and yet I am mad!

I feel like I have sacrificed so much for him (relatively speaking). I have been patient, attempted to be open and willing and given up so much. What fuels my anger is the fact that as I've continued to struggle, I have seen multiple ways out and into the light, but then last minute things turn black again. It is so frustrating.

Sorry for being real and so vague all at the same time! I only share because that is what I do here.  I share because I know there are others out there who are pissed too.

So I sign off as a pissed off woman of God who is confused, but willing to keep on trucking if it means I will bring him Praise! H

Dear Grammar Police

Thanks for your correction on this last post.

YOUR = BELONGS TO YOU
YOU'RE = YOU ARE
Arrgh! Sorry can't hold it in any longer. You can do it! I know you can! YOU'RE smart! I think you may even have YOUR college degree! Please set a good example for those wonderful kids of yours. And please take this in the way it was intended...the nicest possible way. :)
Thank you.
Posted by: Grammar Police | August 08, 2008 at 06:10 PM

I do need it! I will be the first to say that the California school system has failed big time with me! Truth be told, I  have a college degree and still can not spell or write a grammatically correct sentence! English was obviously not my major. I had no intentions ever to write again once the diploma was in my hand. However,  I am married to  a writer who conned me into this thing called blogging.
So here I sit... a blogger who has 1,400 people read my blog everyday and I can't write.
I know blog experts say that in order to grow your blog you need to spell and have correct grammar. I guess that rule of thumb does not apply to me, because people keep coming back! I am always up to learning so please always correct me! I do ask that you leave your email, or blog. There is no reason to hide. My friend Janie is always my grammar police and she does not hide.
This may make you sad if you are a stickler about this kind of thing, but I must tell you my goal and desire for setting a good example for my kids really has nothing to do with grammar. But I can learn and appreciate your lesson today. Keep them coming! H

He's two, part fourteen!

I have been such a patient gardener. I have watched this one tomato grow with anticipation of its taste. The flavors that only a home grown tomato could produce. These past few days the color has begun to change while inside the flavors were only growing richer. I was so excited!
Until today.
When MR. Baseball boy thought he'd scored and found a new ball. He threw it like he was pitching for the Dodgers. Oh I was so mad! That little... Boy! ERR!
H

Plastic or Cardboard?

I'm a plastic girl, I try my hardest to be organic, to recycle and to eat whole grains in my life, but when it comes to tampons I buy plastic! Plain and simple... they are easier to use. There have been moments in my life where I have bought flushable tampons. Once and a while the sale is just to good to pass up, and yet each time I get annoyed. The stinkin things don't slide like they should and it drives me crazy!
Now fast forward to today, I am at church and in need of a tampon. I search some cabinets, but find none. Finally Erin comes into the office and tells me of this secret goldmine of tampons in the bathroom. I grab one, go into the stall, unwrapped it and was in awe at what I saw. Someone, a woman I presume, FINALLY used one of these things and realized it's flaw and how simple of a fix it could be to make better. It has groves.
Amazing!
Novel!
Perfect!
I am so excited to be able to buy these cheaper, biodegradable tampons that work! Hallelujah! H

Blisters, sweat and aching bones

We did 15 miles this morning! As I was running I realized I should ask you if you have any tips on running. I know there are people out there who run, or done a marathon before. I would love to hear your advice... I would love to know about the food you ate while running, stretches you did, and anything else you may feel I need to know. Help get by behind across that finish line. 8 more weeks to go! H

Run it to the ground

I grew up in a household where we fixed everything. I mean everything, plumbing, car issues, air conditioning. EVERYTHING. I remember one time. One time we had someone come into our house to help my dad. I am not as extreme as my parent were/are, but once and a while I see glimpse of things that remind me of them. Hey if it still works keep using it. Right?

Can you see it? My T has been gone for a month now. I could take it in, but why it works.
Who's like me out there? Any run it to the ground kind of people? H

You ask, I'll answer set 14

Remember when you were a kid and someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, the possibilities were endless. No amount of time or money or ability could stop you. There was a certain sense of freedom with it. There was no ceiling, the sky was the limit!
Then we age.
Reality sets in.
We realize we don't want to spend the next 25 years in college,  out of no where bills accrue, and life circumstances hold us back. Chapters in our life books close without ever seeing the light.  Essentially our dreams die.
When  Carlos and I stared dating our dreams were ramped! Millions of idea's were possible. We dreamed of where we would live, the kind of house we would live in, how many kids we would have, the trips we would go on. Our hearts collided for hours as we dreamed of what life would look like. Then it happened. We got married. Reality hit. Things were not as easy as we dreamed. We struggled and grew apart. Our dreams were dying.
We lived this way for a while, but I began to build up walls. I did not want to put hope into something that I assumed would fail. I had done that to many times. I decided I was closing my book of dreams. Life was going to happen the way the deck of cards were dealt.
Life worked fine this way. It was a bit sad at times. I still set goals, I had my list. But the things on it were things I knew I could achieve. I knew no time, money or ability would hold me back. I was not dreaming I was only surviving.
It was not until God put some circumstances in front of me that opened my eyes to HIS dreams. Even though I stopped dreaming about my marriage, my kids, my life HE DID NOT!
I had a choice. I could continue on the colorless path or I could get uncomfortable allow God to color my pages of my dream book. I am flabbergasted at his art. I am in shock when he does something that is 100% my hearts desire, and yet I would never allow myself to dream that big.

So Jen, I know your question was specific about how much time we dream/talk ministry/church in our marriage and I have not answered that directly. I wanted you to know about my life's journey with dreaming and how vital it is. In regards to your question I would have to say that we are always talking about it because it is our life. But we make it a point to go out at least once a month and dream together. Its a date, but one with a purpose. We bring our journal and we dream. We dream big. And let me tell you our marriage has changed. Drastically. Dreams keeps you alive and it has awoke our marriage! 

Let us to get real here. How many of you have stopped dreaming. Have  you let go of something that you once hoped for. Is time, money or ability stopping you? 

What did you want to be when you grew up? What's your dream Now? What's stopping you?
H

30 days of love

I have to say that I have had many wonderful gifts with this month long celebration, but Carlos toped it all when I got this today...

Jacinda is HERE! In Atlanta! In my house!
I had a hunch that Carlos was up to something. I even thought it was this, but the way it went down had me thrown way off guard.
I talked to Jacinda yesterday and she had no time to chat because she was throwing her dad's 50th birthday party last night. We had talked in detail about this party so I knew she was telling the truth. However last night Carlos was acting funny. He said "What could I do tomorrow that would make your birthday the best birthday ever? " Because he was asking such funny questions and acting awkward  I was thinking that there was a big possibility that J was going to be coming. What was throwing me off was this birthday party for her dad.
This morning Carlos left early because he had a "video to shoot".  I questioned his story, but in my head knew that there was no way Jacinda could throw a party in Fresno and get to Atlanta by the morning so I thought his story was legit. When he returned home  i took a double take in his car just to see if he was alone. He was. So he came in and looked at me with THOSE kind of eyes and told me he was horny and needed some special time. As the great wife that I am we went up stairs and did the deed. Once we came down Carlos told me to look at my present and there Jacinda was sitting on my couch. I was so excited! I cried, of course I did... that's what I do now that I am thirty.
We sat and laughed at the means Carlos took to get me upstairs so he could get Jacinda inside without me knowing it. I mean it was a win win. He knew he would have me for at least a few minutes locked up in our room plus he got a present too!
I love my man! He has made me feel so loved. This however takes the cake. I am so excited to have my best friend here. To meet all my new friends, to see my church, to see my life. 
Oh and by the way she did have the party, took the red eye and made it here by 8am! H

I like to grab butts too!

I guess like mother like daughter. I have this habit of hitting people on the butt. Back at Sandals Church it was not a big deal. It was kind of the norm with the people I knew. However here it has got me in a couple awkward situations. But that's my confession of the day. I like butts! :) H

Look how GREEN I am!

I am not filling up landfills with my hand towels, I am using what I got to the end!  How much longer do you think it can last?  Is it time? HA!
H