Happy Birthday Lily!

My how time flies! We celebrated Lily's 4th birthday yesterday with a family dinner. It was great to have my mom show up with color in her cheeks and enough energy to participate in the festivities. It was a Barbie birthday. We got Lily a doll house and the rest of the family helped her fill it with accessories and Barbies.

I have high hopes for 4.

3 was pretty rough . . . much worse than the terrible 2's.

4, I think, is going to be great!

Christmas in OK

The good thing about an ice storm . . . no school today so that I have time to update my blog.

We went to Oklahoma City a couple of weeks ago to finally celebrate Christmas with Brad's family. We had a great time and enjoyed spending time with his family.

While we were in OKCity, we went by Brad's cousin Dawn's house. They have a goat farm and actually breed them, milk them, and make goat milk soap. I brought some home to try - it smells yummy and works great! (Click here to see their website - http://www.swingingkdairygoatfarm.com/) While we were there, Gracie jumped in and actually milked a goat. Lily (of course) wanted nothing to do with the fun adventure. I can't blame her much . . . the goats were pretty stinky. WARNING - This video is not the most flattering view of the goat . . . my apologies to the goat, but I was doing the best I could to capture the action.

A Plea to the Wordy and Witty

Boy it has been a long time since I have posted! There is much catching up to do. But that will have to come later when I have more time. For now, I am looking for your input. But first, a quick update: My mom finished her last chemo treatment. YIPEE!!!! We met with the radiation doctor last week. She should have another PET scan done next week and will begin six weeks of radiation around the first of February. She will receive radiation five days a week for the six weeks. Then, hopefully, we can put this all behind us and move on . . .

Now that she is feeling a little better, though. She has decided to create a team for the local Relay for Life in April. She is hoping to form a team of family and friends to celebrate her success and help raise money for the American Cancer Society. Here's where you come in . . . the theme for Relay for Life this year is the movies. My mom has chosen Mamma Mia. Now we need to come up with some way to tie the movie into the fight for cancer. Any ideas? We need a slogan . . . or t-shirt design ideas for our team . . . or decorating ideas for our booth . . . or things to sell that night or other ways to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

So here's your chance . . . put on your thinking caps . . . be creative . . . give me your thoughts.

A New Years to Remember

11 years ago I had it all figured out. I had just graduated from college. I had a plane ticket purchased to move across the country, the perfect job offer, and thought that life couldn't be better. I had a plan . . . the problem . . . God had a different one.

11 years ago today, I met Brad. He really threw a kink in my plan. I DID NOT want to be interested in a boy from Oklahoma. That did not fit into my plan of moving to Washington state. So, I continued on with the original plan full force ahead! Until 4 days later when I slid off a highway on black ice in the middle of nowhere Kansas. The car (which was my sister's brand new car that she had let me borrow for the trip to Aubrey's wedding) crossed over oncoming traffic and rolled over narrowly missing a telephone pole and a gas line pole. This was definitely not part of the plan! I spent all of my graduation / moving money towing the totalled car back to Texas and taking care of as much of the negative balance on the car that I could. I spent over a week crying, not sure what to do with myself. I had my life planned out. I knew exactly what I wanted. And I felt my dreams slipping away. I did not want to stay in small town Texas! Then over the next couple of months, my priorities began to change. Brad came around more and more often and I was hooked. Plans changed! I got the perfect job here and I fell in love with the boy from Oklahoma.

10 years ago today there was no looking back. Brad proposed to me on a carriage ride in downtown Fort Worth on New Years Eve. And the rest is history. I wouldn't change a thing! We have been blessed with great friends, loving family, and two precious little girls. This is way better than my original plan! I am thankful that God is in charge. I am thankful that He brought Brad and I together, that He made it impossible for me to continue on as I had hoped, and that He continues to surprise us with unexpected blessings.

In this New Year, I wish your family all the best. May God surprise you with unexpected blessings as he has done for us!

Merry Christmas to All!

It's 7:30 Christmas morning . . . Brad is gone to work, the girls are engrossed in their Santa gifts, and I figured that now was a good a time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

We went to Starla's house last night for food and gifts with my family. We had a great time! My mom came, ate, and even rocked out a bit on Guitar Hero. It was nice for us to all be together again. I don't think that has happened since Thanksgiving. Anyway, enjoy the pictures. And I wish all of you a Christmas filled with family and friends. We are off next to the Cooks' house for a little Christmas breakfast - yum!

A Friend Loves at all Times

This post is dedicated to the amazing friends that God has blessed us with. New friends who have become such a special part of our life this year . . . people who have surprised us with their compassion and with how quickly we have come to love their friendship. Old friends who have stuck with us through the good and the bad . . . the ones who are always there for us, no matter what, who open their doors and their hearts. They are raw and real, and they accept Brad and I as is.

This year more than ever, I want to take the time to express how thankful I am for each of you. It's been a rough year. It's hard to describe how cancer seems to affect every aspect of your life, but I think that it has. It is such a scary word. And although my mom is doing fairly well with the treatment process and her doctor assures us that when this is over she will be fine, it has still deeply impacted our family. Between nausea and low white blood counts, her interaction with us has been extremely limited. But my friends have really stepped in and been a tremendous support through it all. They have helped out with the girls, given me advice, and taken us in as family. I miss spending time with my mom and dad, but these friends have given us a place to feel like we belong, like we are one of their own. And for that, I will be forever grateful! So thanks Sheila, Jessica, De'Ana, Keely, and Donna! I love you all!

Catching Up

Whew! I made it. School was out today at 1:00 and I am free for two much needed weeks of Christmas break. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job - the good days and the bad. It just seems like this time of year life gets so crazy that I find myself longing for the time off to just spend time with Brad and the girls doing absolutely nothing. Between work, meetings, and special programs at school, I feel like we haven't been home together in weeks. In fact, last week Brad and Lily went to OKCity for 4 days to visit Jay for his birthday. They came home Wednesday night, and Gracie and I left Friday night to go to Lubbock for the weekend. In between I had something going on at school both Wednesday and Thursday nights, so I haven't seen much of Lily or Brad in a while.

The trip to Lubbock was great. It was the first time that Gracie and I have gone out of town on a "special" trip, just the two of us. We went to see Amy Carr graduate from LCU (Congratulations again, Amy!!!). It was neat to be able to take my daughter to visit my Alma mater. I haven't been back to Lubbock in years. And I am so thankful that Gracie was able to see Amy's accomplishment. She adores Amy and I am thankful for the example that she continues to be for my kid.

My mom has started the last round of chemo. Only 3 more weeks left. Things seem to have settled a bit. She still feels pretty rotten some days, but it is much more manageable than a few weeks ago. The germy kids and I are just ready for her blood count to be normal at the same time that she feels like seeing people. I think that I can count on one hand the number of times that we have seen her over the past 2 months. We are counting down the days until January! After that, she will see a radiologist so that they can decide whether or not she will need to have radiation. Keep praying! I know that she is lonely and ready for it all to end, but most of all we all pray for total and complete healing.

We don't have big plans for Christmas. Brad's sister and her family are going to Michigan, so his dad may come here for a few days. We have plans to see my family on Christmas Eve if my mom is feeling alright. Brad (of course) has to work Christmas Day, so there will be a VERY EARLY morning Santa "reveal" and then I will get to torture my children the rest of the day making them wait until Brad is home from work to open their gifts. Sounds fun, huh?!? Wherever you and your family will be, I wish you safe travel, precious time spent with loved ones, and a very Merry Christmas!