My Life

Monumental Month

2008-10-21T17:15:00.005-07:00

Mark and I celebrated our 11th anniversary this month and shared an intimate evening at our favorite restaurant... you know the one. There is something about small tables, dim lights and oh yeah- wine, that just gets you to open up. And since we were toasting our special day, we discussed the good and bad of the last 12 months. After thinking about it for awhile, we discovered that much of our bad stuff has brought a lot of good. For example, after our anniversary last year we had probably the biggest fight of our marriage and if I ever thought our future looked dim, it was then. For about 4 days, I was a total emotional wreck and for the first time really began to realize how much of who I am, my identity, is wrapped up around being Mark's wife. In large part, I am strong, confident, and mainly secure in who I am because I have him. So the thought of not having him really hit home and scared the crap out of me. Why is that good, your wondering... well I believe any time we learn more about ourselves, we grow as individuals.

So, we got through our relationship low, and even though in the beginning it was bad, in the end it was good. I think we both walked away from the ordeal with a greater appreciation of each other and our relationship. It'll always be in my memory though as the worst gut wrenching moment of our marriage. Which sucks!

So this leads us to the next thing. The obvious- Mark's illness. On the surface, this has negatively affected our entire year and lives like nothing ever has. Initially our relationship suffered and of course, even worse- Mark suffered (and continues to suffer). But when we look at the positive, there are a bunch of great things that have come of this. First and foremost, is our relationship with God. We've grown more faithful and closer to Him through all of this. Secondly, our marriage has strengthened. I guess they throw in that "for better or worse, in sickness and in health" line for a reason, huh? With some work, we've gotten through the lack of communication and the miscommunication problems and feel like we're now on a new level of understanding one another. We're handling this obstacle as a team and as tough as it is sometimes to be positive,we know we can count on each other.

Other relationships with our family members have improved due to this too. Our relationship with his Mom has improved ten-fold and I can see how it's enriched Mark's life so much.
So, all in all, we look back on our 11th year of marriage and see that after conquering this, we're pretty confident we can tackle anything thrown our way. We're solid!

Racing Highs

2008-09-10T14:18:00.011-07:00

In an effort to keep my friend Martin happy, I'm going to try to keep current on my blogging so that I don't post such long ones :-)

Mark ran his first race with me 2 weeks ago in Jerome. It was called the 35th Annual Jerome Hill Climb and not only was it just a race, it was a 1000 feet climb in 4.6 miles and an ALL uphill race. A total leg and lung burner. But, my athletic Stud-of-a-Spouse of course did awesome and I'm trying hard to convince him to run another... but on a flat course.

Last weekend, we went to see our friends, Rick & Lynne, race in a sprint triathlon in Anthem. Lynne placed 1st in her age group and Rick placed 3rd. (They are both 50 and are such an inspiration to us.) This was the first tri we've been to, so it was really new and exciting for us. And of course, we left the race feeling pumped and eager to start cross training. We just need the time and the bikes, which are NOT cheap. So, we'll have to wait until probably next year to start, but it's something to look forward to.

Speaking of racing ... I officially registered for the Boston Marathon today. I'm excited and also a little nervous and am thankful I have plenty of time to get myself mentally and physically prepared. I know April will be here before I know it though. Big events like this always have a way of just sneaking up on you.

Well enough about us. Geeze, you would think this was our blog or something. Dah!

Busy Little Bees

2008-08-23T20:02:00.004-07:00

We're on marathon pace to get my Dad's home in Pinewood complete with only a few things left to do. Fortunately, this week we made some great progress and now have MOST of our large projects done. To date we've successfully: repainted the interior, installed new blinds on all the windows, installed new light fixtures and ceiling fan, repainted all the vents and put them in, installed a new range hood in the kitchen, repaired the toilet, laid new linoleum in the kitchen and bathroom, trimmed the XL pine tree on the front porch, tore down the shower surround, had new carpet installed AND built a fence around his yard.
STILL left to do... switch out the kitchen sink, switch out the back door with an insulated one, replace sliding door screen, make and install 3 wood gates, install a new shower surround, get his place insulated for winter, and touch up paint. Not too shabby! We're hopeful we can get him moved in within the next few weeks. To see Pictures click "HERE"

Amid all this work, we took last weekend off and headed to San Diego to spend a few days with our favorite sisters - Carina and Christine. We had an awesome, relaxing few days, completely enjoying the beautiful California weather. On Sunday I ran The America's Finest City 1/2 Marathon and along the way, I had three little cheerleaders motivating me. Mark, Carina and Christine rode their bikes some of the route and I got to see them half way through the race a few times, which was so great. Our friends, Lynne, Rick and Leslie ran it too, which made it that much more enjoyable. After the race we took a drive to Coronado Island and walked on the beach. It was a perfect day spent with people I adore. To see Pictures of our weekend click "HERE"

Overall Mark's been feeling pretty good. Still not 100% but slowly improving. We still have no conclusive diagnosis from Mayo but three more tests are scheduled for this week. Please keep him in your prayers.

It's Been a Long Time

2008-08-06T16:00:00.023-07:00

Wow, whoever said time flies, really wasn't kidding. SO much has gone on since my last post on April 22nd. And in all honesty, that one probably doesn't even count as a real post since it's nothing personal about me.

So, as you can imagine, lots been going on. Life's been a-happening and we've been a-living. As many of you know, Mark's been dealing with some unexplainable medical issues that have continued to cause havoc in our peaceful, healthy life. The good news though, is there has been slow improvement and I think we've learned from this entire experience. Not that material things were ever all that important to us, but they matter even less to us now. Big homes, nice cars, expensive clothing and jewelry - it's all SO overrated. What truly counts is the relationships in your life and the joy you get from the little things.

Just to catch you all up, since April, in May we went on a Western Caribbean cruise, which was so fun. Click HERE to see pics
Click here to see a video of Jay on the Flow Rider
And click here to see our Speed Boat Excursion
(the quality isn't great because it was on my camera)

As always, the best things about vacation are getting away and spending quality time with each other and with our friends. Jay and Amy are always great to travel with and we had a blast. I've included a video of Jay on the Flow Rider and one on our speed boat excursion.
We plan on doing another cruise on the same ship next year, so in case any of you would like to join us, Click here to take a tour of the ship
We'll be hitting the Eastern Caribbean and everyone is welcome! The more the merrier!!!

My Mom got married in June and the ceremony was beautiful. To see some pics of her wedding click HERE

We're also in the process of moving my Dad to Munds Park/Pinewood AZ. It's about 15 mins South of Flagstaff. He'll be significantly downsizing into a much smaller mobile home on a considerably smaller lot. BUT, he'll be closer to medical, closer to amenities and best of all, closer to us! We have a bunch of work to do on his place to make it nice, but we're excited to get started and think the transformation will be impressive.

Our home still hasn't sold. Go figure! We've had the same people come to look at it three times, but still no offer. Oh well, it's all in God's timing, so we feel fine about it. On the same note- work has been super slow. We've been blessed with some good closings this year, but right now, until the market improves, the future looks dim. We're considering jobs at Starbucks...oh wait- they're not doing well either. Hmmm- maybe the Peace Corp ?? (we could never leave our dogs though)

All in all, this year has been quite challenging. I think God has opened our eyes a bit and for that we're grateful.
Now that I've updated you on the events of the last four months, I can hopefully start blogging again more regularly. But no promises.

Thought Provoking

2008-04-22T11:00:00.003-07:00

You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having "wealth" from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren,

"Purpose Driven Life " author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.

I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.

We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.

If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness,"which is my problem, my issues, my pain." But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.

It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?

Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.
That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.

Meet My New Friend, SPOT

2008-04-11T12:10:00.006-07:00

I love gadgets. Not over the top expensive ones, but gizmos that are relatively inexpensive, but more importantly make sense to purchase. My most recent investment is this little doodad I found advertised in an outdoor magazine... www.findmespot.com This apparatus has made a HUGE difference in my life.

I bought it for my Dad, who as you all know, hikes every day for hours on end, often off trail in the middle of no where. Now you may think I'm just an over concerned daughter, but no... let me tell you a little bit about my 68 year old Father... the man often takes unnecessary risks, carries a loaded gun, shoots it for random reasons, is blind in 1 eye, has a history of seizures, smokes like a chimney, has spent the night in a tree before because he stayed out too late and couldn't make it back to his car before night fall, has had trouble with a bear more than once, has fallen off a cliff, has almost stepped on a rattler... and these are JUST the things he's chosen to tell me about. I can only imagine what other mischief he's gotten into.
So you see... I have good reason to worry.

In December, I finally convinced him to start logging his destinations in a notebook by his back door each morning before he left his house for a hike. But then, last month, I discovered our new friend Spot and now I'm sent an email and text every time he gets to the trail head and again when he gets back to his car at the end of the day. Plus, I can see on google maps exactly where he's at. AND most importantly, if he's in an emergency situation, he can text me "HELP" and also hit an emergency button.

It gives me the reassurance I need to know the old man is all good and it's just one less thing to worry about.
SSAAWEEETT!!!!

The Day is Finally Here

2008-03-20T11:43:00.006-07:00

It's been a crazy few weeks, but we finally " listed " the house late last night. Now it's just a matter of time... send your good vibes our way. (Check out our listing photos and virtual tour by clicking on the word "listed" above)

Progress....

2008-02-28T12:14:00.014-07:00

Yep, we're getting there. Our home projects are almost done. A few more, and the house will be on the market. Which, as you all know, if it sells, will be super sad for me, but accept it, I have. It hasn't been an easy road though. It's actually taken about a year for me to believe that my house doesn't identify "me". Don't get me wrong, it's great to have a nice house, and I do take pride in what I own, but it doesn't make who I am or what I stand for. And it's not a true symbol of my success or achievement in life. It's just a structure, just a place for us to work and sleep. What really counts are all the intangibles in my life... my marriage, my relationships, my faith... that's what identifies who I am and my success in life.
And I'd have to say, I'm pretty proud of our achievements.

All this said, if the house sells, I'll still need some comforting...and maybe a drink:)

Happy Birthday Marky!!!!

2008-02-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

When I think of where I could be,
who I could be with,
what my life would be like,
without you,
I'm humbled.
You are everything I'm not.
You are such a caretaker.
So thoughtful.
You are an awesome husband, son, brother, cousin, and friend.
God put you in this world just for me....
well, I'd like to believe that anyhow.

What I Got!

2008-02-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, our 4 day kitchen remodel has turned into a 4 week ordeal. Overall, I think we're handling it fairly well considering, but I can tell we're each a little on edge and both a little unnerved due to the continual inconveniences. It could always be worse though, right?? Wait- don't say that!

Well, in the midst of all this, we got away for a few days with our close friends, Jay and Amy. It's been a long time since we've not only traveled with them, but spent quality time together. So it was nice.
Mark and I jogged on the beach every morning, we all took walks, we got to see Carina and Christine, we took a day trip to L.A. and ate at The Ivy where we really didn't see any stars, but tons of paparazzi. We then walked on Malibu and saw the beach houses of the rich and famous. It was one of the best days I've had in a long time. Not because I was reminded how poor we are, but because it was just plain, silly fun and I was with people I love.

Looking at my life over the last few weeks, I'm reminded how incredibly blessed I am. No, I may not have a multi-million beach house in Malibu, I may not even have a kitchen right now, but I have so much more than a lot of people. A GREAT family, KICK-A$$ friends, and a husband and 2 dogs I TOTALLY dig!

No Point to This Post

2008-01-23T09:40:00.001-07:00

Mark and I LOVE reality shows. Some of our favorites are: The Amazing Race, Big Brother, Survivor, The Bachelor, The Apprentice, and The Biggest Loser.
I kind of always wanted to be on Survivor until this season when I truly realized how disgusting the living conditions are. No bathing, no shaving, no bug spray, no deodorant, no eyebrow plucking...I would NEVER survive!
At one time, we thought we'd do well on the Amazing Race until we went driving around last week in Payson checking our real estate and found ourselves bickering over directions. Bag that idea...now we know we'd just end up making ourselves look bad on national television.
So, we've settled on just enjoying the shows from our couch and not wanting to actively participate. Truth be told, our lives are enough of a reality show for our liking anyhow.
Last night,we caught up on a couple of shows we DVR'd. One of them was Celebrity Apprentice. Most of the "so-called celebs" are so full of themselves. Bragging on themselves so much that most of the time I just have to laugh at the statements they make. BUT, two contestants have made an impression. First, Trace Adkins,
who so far appears to be the only guy super laid back and cool. And then, there's Tito Ortiz, who does his share of self-aggrandizing, but he said something last episode that took me by suprise... he said "being a celebrity is only paper deep, but being a real person, that's skin deep, blood deep". Wow, those are great words. He's no Bono, but I can't help but think of all the kids he could influence with that statement.

Mom, where's my dog bowl???

2008-01-23T07:16:00.001-07:00

Home Makeover

2008-01-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

Today the contractors are coming to tear our kitchen and laundry room apart and begin the process of installing new cabinets and countertops.

Last night we spent a few hours cleaning everything and moving all our stuff into the guest bedroom. We were amazed at the amount of crap we have! Most of it, we never even use! Tons of serving dishes, baking pans, utinsels....the list goes on and on. It's sickening!

The kitchen should be done by the end of next week, but we're not holding our breaths. It'll just be SO nice to have cabinet doors that actually work without falling off and drawers that open without that annoying rubbing sound. I'm excited and just hope it turns out half as good as I want it to.

In the meantime, we'll be without a stove, oven, and sink. Eating off of paper plates, bowls and plastic utinsels. And spending plenty of time and money at Sweet Tomatoes, I'm sure. SO...if anyone's been waiting for just the right opportunity to invite us over for dinner...now would be about it:)

A Man is a Man.. is a Man ..is a Man.. is a Man.. is a Man.......

2007-12-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

It's probably happened before, actually I KNOW it's happened before, but maybe I chose to not say anything, act like I didn't see, pretended I didn't care. But yesterday, it was so obvious, right in front of me, that I couldn't pretend, act, or ignore. My loving, caring, "hottest guy in Arizona", husband checked out another girls' butt WHILE looking straight at me and WHILE I was talking to him! Can you believe it??? As I'm saying something so important, I see his eyes glance past me, so I casually turn my head to see what he's looking at (maybe it's a beautiful flower arrangement for our living room) to see the back of a cute girl walking in the distance. HHHMMMMMM.... so my head almost flies off as I flip back around to "my favorite person in the world" and say "You were checking out that girls butt, I just saw you" to which he responds "Your a Dork" as he's turning away from me and trying to walk the other direction. Being the persistent wife I am though, I of course don't let it go that easily and I again say "I can't believe you, you were just checking out her butt while I was looking right at you". (Of course there is a smile on my face, and I am giving him a hard time to tease, but in my head, I'm kind of cussing him out, (with nice cuss words though:)). He then starts tickling me and at that moment, any doubts I may have had are gone....he was FOR SURE checking her out. We laugh and joke about it. Then suddenly, I feel insecure. My mind starts reeling... didn't he just call my butt bony yesterday? I can't remember the last time he complimented me on my butt. Why doesn't he ever spank me? (just kidding with that last one). Anyhow, my ego is slightly damaged, but I'll get over it. I think the lingering thought in my head is one of reality. My amazing husband is just a "normal" guy after all, who does look at other women. I guess I always knew that, but I chose to not think about it and believe he only had eyes for me...well it sounded good anyhow. I'm now committed to reading the book my girlfriend lent me as a joke.... "How to Satisfy A Man Every Time...and have him beg for more...and keep him faithful forever". But maybe she wasn't joking after all???

Photo Nightmare!

2007-12-14T06:26:00.000-07:00

Last night when I got home from a wonderful, relaxing time spent with my friends, I forced my husband to get dressed so we could take a Christmas photo. I thought this year I was prepared and I thought I would make it so less complicated by buying cards where I just need a photo inserted instead of ordering online. Well, let me just tell you that due to my own procrastination skills, I am just as stressed as I am EVERY year! UGH! What a NIGHTMARE our little photo session was! Total disaster and so frustrating. First of all, the complicated camera wouldn't cooperate (and it didn't help that it was too dark to see the controls) and kept focusing on our Christmas tree and blurring us, and then our dogs were out of control. They wouldn't cooperate at all. You thought kids were hard to get nice pictures with, hey- try a dog who doesn't care about consequences and has absolutely no reasoning skills. I didn't know whether to cry or strangle them. Not to mention, it was stinkin cold outside. BBBRRRRR! And trying to run back and forth, setting the timer was exhausting too. I now have a new respect for photographers and next year- I swear I'm going to plan our pictures at Thanksgiving (I know I say this every year, but I'm getting too old for this drama!).

It's Just Another Blessed Day!

2007-12-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

Some may say it's age, some may say it's maturity, some may even say it's unsentimental, but whatever it is, my birthday has never really been that important to me. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the thoughtful emails, gifts, cards, etc. but I like those things every day of the year, not just on my birthday.

So, what can I say about being another year older. I can honestly say that life keeps getting better and better. And in honor of this day, this 36 year old is going to forgo New Years resolutions and instead make some birthday ones....

To be a better wife and friend to my husband

To be more like my Dad and Nina and openly express my feelings. (I'm good at doing it in writing, but need to improve on my verbal expressions)

To let my guard down more. (I think this goes hand-in-hand with the above)

To out-serve others

That's at least a start:)

It's the Little Things

2007-12-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

A bunch of small acts of kindness in the last week have added up to a HUGE smile on this girl's heart. Who would have thought two pennies could mean so much, or a simple trophy could make such a big difference, or a text message, phone call, borrowed coat, an email, pasta dinner, t-shirt, or a shoulder to literally lean on, could help someone achieve a goal. I couldn't be more appreciative to all of those who supported and encouraged me this last week. Thank you so very much!!!!

Most of all, I have to thank my incredible husband who rode his bike 36 miles on Sunday, through the dark, cold, and hilly terrain to be by my side the entire route. I seriously would not have been able to do it without his encouragement and presence. He is 1 in infinity and I am the luckiest girl in the world to have him.

Who Me???

2007-11-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

No, I haven't been arrested. I wish I had that excuse for becoming the dreaded "random blogger". I have so many thoughts in my head, but lack the ability to put them into words and express them on paper. It's frustrating really. So instead of boring you with what's been going on in my life, I'm just going to take the easy way out and share some photos. I'm hoping in December, my brain starts working again.

Having it all....

2007-10-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

Happiness is not having what you want,
It's wanting what you already have

Tonight we take the red eye home and as we pack up our things, I find myself excited to get back to my life. Almost more than I looked forward to my vacation. A part of me feels guilty, as though this means I didn't appreciate our trip enough, but what it really means is how fortunate I am to truly love my life. And you know what they say... if you love life, life will love you back!

Hawaii Ziplining

2007-10-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we spent three hours ziplining. The weather was perfect and it was a lot of fun. Here's a video of Mark:
Mark Ziplining
Today, it started raining at about 7a.m and 6 hours later - it's still going strong. We planned on spending the day at the beach, but haven't headed out yet. BUT, we're both getting cabin fever, so I think we might go down there anyhow. We might drown without even getting in the ocean:)

Living it up Hawaiian Style

2007-10-14T21:20:00.001-07:00

It's been a year since our last visit to this wonderful paradise of an island, and boy have we missed it. The great thing is though, nothings really changed. (Other than the fact that Costco opened a week after we left last year and we've already been there twice in 2.5 days to get groceries and goodies- go figure!).

We got to our place in Princeville late Friday evening, so after unloading and unpacking- the day was a wash. Yesterday, I went for an early morning jog, we went to the beach, then worked out at the gym, went back to the beach for a sunset walk and then came back to the condo to watch a movie. Today, almost the same routine. I'm tellin ya, a girl could get used to this lifestyle! (It's actually kind of scary. I keep reminding myself it's only "vacation".)

I know, I know - your wondering if we've hit the waves yet. No, we haven't. Yesterday would have been perfect, but we were still trying to get into vacation mode and today, the water was just too calm. TOMORROW is the day though and I'm really looking forward to it.

We don't have much else planned. I'd like to go ziplining, maybe take a surf lesson and do a little hiking. Most importantly though, I just want to relax and enjoy this while it lasts.

Our Milestone

2007-10-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

Today is the BIG day! Our 10 year anniversary. (Yes, the poor man has been stuck with me for way too long- I know!)
I can't believe how incredibly fast it's flown by and how much our lives have changed so much in such a short time. Some things feel like they were yesterday (like being so broke we had to spend the night in our car instead of hotel), and some things feel like it's been forever. I remember a time when we had no friends, no social life, and no dogs. Just each other. Which was probably okay to establish a foundation, but our lives are so much richer now. So much more complete.
I don't need to tell any of you what a wonderful man Mark is. He is hands down, the most incredible person I know. I never in a million years dreamed I'd meet, date, have sex with, let alone MARRY the man of my dreams...but God has blessed me more than I deserve.
Here's some of the things I love best about my husband:

He makes me laugh so hard. A sense of humor like no one else. It's so HOT!
He watches chic reality shows with me and sometimes he actually enjoys them.
He helps clean, does laundry, AND cooks!
He is "Dr.Mark"- the guy can do anything he sets his mind too. So talented, so smart!
He's expressive, in touch with his feelings and affectionate.
He loves our dogs as much as I do.
He cares about my happiness. Which you might think is a given, but I don't take it for granted one bit.

I guess I could go on and on... but I'm sure you would get sick of hearing me brag. So, if it makes you feel any better - let me tell you the one thing that sucks about being married to Mark....
The longer I'm married to him, the dumber I become. I'm serious! I've discovered that half the time I don't even try to challenge myself to think about something because I know I can just rely on him. That really blows!

Another Overdue Update

2007-10-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Yikes, has it really been over a month since my last post??? Time seriously needs to slow down because my life is going way too fast for my liking!

Here's what's new....

Mark and I met Carina and Christine in Seattle for a few days to visit his Grandma and to hang out a couple of nights downtown. I quickly realized that downtown living is so not for me, but it's fun to visit.

We had a cancer scare with doctors finding a lump in Mark's Mom's breast. After tons of tests -we are again reminded of how amazing God is. Even though she has to go through some radiation treatments, the prognosis is fantastic and we are all so relieved.

My visit with my Dad last week made me realize I'm so much more emotional than I like to think of myself as being and how incredibly brave my husband is. It's a super long story and one that writing won't give justice to. (And unless you love animals as much as I do, you probably won't understand.) Let's just say, I aged 5 years in 2 days due to all the stress and crying.

I spent last weekend in Pinetop, hanging out with Nina, Alinea, Jessica and her family. What an incredible bunch of people! We ate home cooked meals, slept in a luxurious RV and for the very first time, I rode a quad. It was so much fun! The weekend was relaxing and exactly what I needed.

My marathon training is kind-of kicking my butt. I'm getting in the miles and still enjoying the challenge, but it's taking it's toll. I'm over half way through the training schedule and SO glad it's finally cooling off, which makes running that much easier. No doubt I'll be happy when December 2nd is here and gone.

That's it for September. It was a super busy month, but I have this suspicion that October is going to be even busier.

Time with the Old Man

2007-08-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

Here I am. After 4 days in Pleasant Valley visiting my Dad, I'm back to reality. There is something about getting away from it all. It's so good for me. Because where he lives, material things mean zero. No one cares where you've been, what you've done, what you own, or how much money is in your bank. It's a simple town, with simple people. (Not to mention, it's about 15 degrees cooler) .
It's easy for me to get so caught up in being a "more monster", and yet each time I go see Dad, I feel revived. I come home more grounded with a better view of what truly matters in life.(The picture below is of Dad's Valley)

I met a friend of my Dad's this week who doesn't own a house and lives either out of his truck or his tent in the forest camping. You would never guess this by looking at or talking to the guy. He has a great personality with a very witty sense of humor. (not at all a weirdo). I left meeting him, almost envying his freedom. I mean, I of course wouldn't want to be completely broke and left with no choice but to live out of a tent, but to have this as an option, is another thing. To not have the responsibilities of a home, yard, rentals, etc. and kind of be a nomad, sounds interesting. Ok, so this might get old fast, but I think it would be cool for a little while. A way to see what I'm made of. I know I'd survive, but would I be happy?? That's the question.

As always, Dad and I did our share of hiking. On Monday, we went to the fire tower at the top of Aztec Mountain. Unfortunately, it was a hazy day so I couldn't get any clear pics from the fire tower to share with you all, but it was cool because from the trail we could see Roosevelt Lake. On a clear day, they said I would be able to see Globe. At the top of the mountain the tower attendant has set up approx. 30 camp sites. It would be a really cool place for a bunch of us to hike to and camp for a few nights.

Ok, that's about it. Don't worry Laura- I'm not moving to Flagstaff anytime soon, and I'm not planning on disappearing to live out of my car. I'm just sharing with you guys the thoughts in my brain. Scary huh? :)

Where Have I Been, You Ask????

2007-08-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know...it's been forever since I've blogged. Seems as though the Summer has been zooming past me and as always, I'm constantly playing catch up. Just when I think I've got things under control and all caught up, I somehow get behind again and find myself at square one. Funny how that happens.
Well, here's a quick update...

3 weeks ago, I started running with a group that meets near my house. A very cool bunch of people who have the ability to make me laugh at 5:15 in the morning (which is HUGE). Thanks to them, I've not only increased my speed, but am also considering a full marathon in December. Yikes!!

I've realized the importance of spending more time with Family. Not just my family, but Mark's family too. It's easy to get caught up in my own life and miss out on so much. Plus, I want to make sure they all know how important they are to me. So, I'm committed to visiting my Dad once a month for a few days,hanging out with my Mom once a week, popping in to sit and chat with Mark's parents more often, and calling his Mom or scheduling a time to see her. I've taken for granted they are all here in AZ, that I can see them whenever...but I'm realizing that I have to, and more importantly, WANT TO, make them a priority in my life.

Speaking of "spending time with Family", I have to tell you that I've gone on some amazing hikes with my Dad. Arizona is such a beautiful place to live. If you love the outdoors, then take advantage of all this state has to offer. It's breathtaking!

Which leads me to my next topic- Flagstaff. I've fallen in love with this town! Mark and I have been going up there for races all Summer and the more time I spend there, the more I want to live there. No, I'm not moving, but when it's 115 here, it sounds pretty darn tempting! (not to mention the people there are so cool!)

My youngest nephew, Chase, started Kindergarten last week. Whoa- if that's not a wake up call reminding me how fast life is passing me by. Yikes! It was so cute to see him with his backpack on, new outfit, new white shoes, all ready to make friends and eager to learn. I'm so excited for him. (before I know it, Sophia will be starting school- UGH!!!)

Well, I think that's about it for now. I know there is so much more I want to share, but I'll save it for another blog.

Taking the Plunge!

2007-07-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

Today is the day I get baptized. I'm excited but also a little apprehensive. Even though, I bailed on Martin's request to be videoed (sorry Marteen), I would still like to provide my testimony. So, here goes....

I don't actually feel like I have ever lived without Christ in my heart really. Therefore I don't think there was an exact moment when I accepted Him in my heart. I was born into a very loving, God believing family. As a child, my Dad took my brothers and I to church every Sunday, and most nights before bed, I remember all of us kneeling down in front of the crucifix in our living room, holding hands and praying. Believing in God and in Jesus was just a natural thing.

Over recent years as my faith has grown, I have also experienced moments of doubt more than ever. I've never doubted God, but I have doubted that Jesus was my Savior. It's scary to admit that, but it's almost as if when I think about it too much, I can start debating myself with all these "yeah, but what about this?" questions. I hate it. I've recognized that the reason I do this is because 1. it's Satan causing me to doubt my faith 2. it just means I need to spend more time in the word. 3. I need to feel free to talk about these doubts and seek answers to my questions.

If I had to tell you why I believe my relationship with Christ has grown considerably in the last 4 years, here are three main main reasons:
1. Jay & Amy came into my life and challenged me to grow as a Christian. Which I am forever grateful.
2. I started attending the Life at Scottsdale, a church who really does embrace life.
3. Through church I have established friendships with people who truly have become my extended family. And for the first time, I have relationships I feel will last a lifetime.

The coolest thing ever, is feeling the Holy Spirit work on my heart day after day, making me a better person. And because He has helped me overcome so many challenges, I know He has a plan for my life. I'm working on being prepared for that challenge for when it comes.

Accepting Christ in my life and making it public is an incredible, exciting event for me. Probably even better because I'll be surrounded by people whom I love and who have shared this journey with me.

Tonya's 30th Birthday Party Pics

2007-07-08T14:31:00.001-07:00

Tonya's 30th Birthday Party

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

2007-07-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

13 1/2 of us gals went to Flagstaff Friday night to get out of the stinkin heat and do some bonding. We had a fun evening of eating lots of treats (including Jessica's famous Monster Cookies), sharing wedding photo albums, high school year books, talking and playing games. The best game of all, was the Bubble Gum Choker (my made up name for it). We had to see how many pieces of bubble gum we could fit in our mouths. You'll be happy to know that yours truly won with a whopping 25 pieces! My husband was so proud (um...don't even go there:).

After going to bed at 12:30am, Tonya and I woke up at 5:30a to run a 10k. She downed a coffee on the way in order to stay awake and ended up puking it up at the finish line. Yum! I chose not to drink coffee therefore didn't puke, but instead yawned my way through the first 3 miles of the race. It was certainly not our best times, but we were glad we did it.

After the race, we came back to the cabin for some AWESOME french toast, scrambled eggs and fresh fruit, thanks to the culinary skills of Noelle, Alinea and Nona, and then had to pack up to leave.

24 hours together wasn't nearly enough time, but I think we all enjoyed the brief escape. I'm already looking forward to our next trip and it's not even planned yet!

A Strong Spouse

2007-06-27T06:05:00.000-07:00

In our society we're so concerned with equality and fairness, that having leadership in your home is not considered acceptable.

But, I tend to disagree.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the importance of a strong spouse.

Mainly, a strong husband.

So many times, I look at wives who act crazy or say totally inappropriate things and immediately I wonder why their husband isn't calling them on it.

Not that it has to be public, but I wonder what makes the wife think it's okay to behave like this. (And when husbands act out of line, I often have pity for the wife instead of thinking she is responsible. Why is this? I don't know.)

But I do know that we all need someone to set us straight when we get out of line.

We're an emotional breed and we often need help processing our frustration and easing our anger when dealing with sensitive stuff.

And it's not the job of our kids or friends, it's our Spouse.

I'll be the first to admit that it's difficult letting my husband lead sometimes.

I have a strong personality and letting go of control can be hard to do.

When our marriage seems off track and we're not connecting, more times than not, it's because I'm wrestling him for control.

I'm being stubborn or bratty and wanting to rule.

But when I do submit, when I let nature take it's course and go with the flow, it feels so good.

As though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

And I know this is how God meant it to be.

My role isn't to lead, it's to be submissive (that's a tough thing to admit)

and let my husband guide me.

Now the real test is not only letting our husbands rule the roost,

but Husbands having the balls to do it.

I mean, they have to be up for the challenge.

It's probably easy to just sit back and let the wives take over at home after working a 10 hour day, but at home is where the real job is.

This is where every decision you make really counts for something.

Because functioning solely as the material provider isn't going to cut it.

We NEED more, we WANT more, we CRAVE more- we just don't always know it or want to admit it.

Here's the bottom line:

Even though society tells us differently,

in order to have harmony in our marriage and in our home,

we sometimes need inequality.

What are your thoughts on this? I'm curious to know.

Good Eats, Good Times, Not so Good Smells

2007-06-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a recap of my last few days:

Good Eats....

Father's Day was GREAT! Carina and Christine came into town and we went to brunch at the Camelback Inn Golf Club. It was fantastico! The food was excellent, the service was superb and the views of the golf course were gorgeous. The price was very reasonable too. Only $25/person. I recommend it for anyone coming in town that you want to treat to a nice, classy yet casual buffet.

(I didn't get to see my Pops on Father's Day, but will hopefully see him this coming weekend to celebrate.)

Good Times...
Last night, my brother Rick and I went to see The Police in concert. We got downtown early and went to have dinner at Bank One Ball Park. It was my first time seeing the ball park from inside and it was SO cool! We ate at Fridays and the waiter told us they have this deal where you pay $30/person to get a table where you can watch the game and in return you get a $30 food and beverage credit. Sounds like fun, eh?

The Police concert was EXCELLENT! I'm not a huge fan, since they are a tad bit before my time (not by much though) BUT- they rocked. Not only was the lighting and sound awesome, they performed SO great! I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. And it helped that we had pretty nice seats too thanks to my very thoughtful cousin Chaim. :)

So that's all the good things for the last few days...now the "Not so good smells" part...On the way home from the concert my brother had the WORST gas ever! I'm not exaggerating (Betsy) when I say it was by far the grossest I have ever smelled. Now I'm sure your thinking this is a little too much information for you...because even I could have gone the rest of my life without smelling it, but that was just the start of the odor issues. Because this morning, as I was trying to sleep in, I awoke to some serious funky body odor. I mean, I'm not lying when I tell you I could have been sleeping next to a homeless person. I even had to smell my own pits for fear I was not only growing hair like a man but now smelling like one too.

Well, you'll be relieved to know it wasn't me or the homeless guy sleeping next to me, it was burnt lentils that we had let steam overnight. Who would have thought? YUCKO! We've spent all day trying go clear up the odor and it's better, but still not good. So if you come over to our house, believe me when I tell you, we do use deodorant and the smell is not us.

Two Blogs in Two Days??....I'm on a Blogging Frenzy

2007-06-13T05:21:00.001-07:00

I found this website this morning and thought it was such a great Father's Day gift idea. Sometimes it's so hard to buy for the person who has everything and what better way to pay tribute to your Dad or anyone special in your life, than with a gift that supports children and families in need. http://donate.wvus.org/OA_HTML/xxwvibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?cmp=OTC-1185250§ion=10024&xxwvCampaign=1185250

I Choose....

2007-06-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

I Choose Love...

No occasion justifies hatried;

no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.

Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy...

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.

I will rfuse the temptation to be cynical...

the tool of a lazy thinker. I will refuse to see

people as anything less than human beings,

created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as

anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace...

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience...

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.

Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll

invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the

wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment

to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new

assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness...

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.

Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to

the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness...

I will go without a dollar

before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked

before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse.

I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness....

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.

If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.

If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.

If I make a demand, may it be only to myself.

I Choose Self-Control....

I am a spiritual being...

After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.

I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.

I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy.

I will be impassioned only by my faith.

I will be influenced only by God.

I will be taught only by Christ.

I choose self control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

To these I commit my day.

If I succeed, I will give thanks.

If I fail, I will seek His grace.

And then, when this day is done,

I will place my head on my pillow

and rest.

-Max Lucado

Sedona Couples Get-Away May 2007

2007-06-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

Sedona Slideshow May 2007
Se dona Photo Book May 2007

So It's Come to This.....

2007-06-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

May is a month I'll not soon forget. Not for reasons you may expect though, like Sophia learning to wink, or spending a great week with my Dad, or my 2 nieces and nephew from Ohio coming to visit...nope none of those things stick in my mind as much as this does...
In May of 2007, two people told me I had long nose hairs hanging out my nostril. On two separate days! Can you believe that???
If this is what getting older is all about, I want no part of it! Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no problem with aging. I actually kind of like it because I'm enjoying my 30's so much more than I ever did my 20's. I'm definitely more at peace with who I am and where my life is, and I know a big part of that has to do with our church and the relationships we've established. However, this is one issue I'm struggling with - Not only has maintaining my dark locks become increasingly difficult over the last few years, but now I have this to deal with too? Could life be more unfair you ask? -Well I have news for you ... It CAN! Because this mustache of mine is getting furrier all the time too! I swear I'm transforming into a monkey right before my own eyes!
As soon as I get pubic hairs popping out from my chin- I'm slitting my wrists. Just kidding, but seriously, some scientist better come out with a cheap, safe, over the counter product to counteract this disgusting hair infestation soon. Mark is already asking when my new model is coming out. I told him she's already out there and if he would like, I'll help him pack his bags so he can go find her. He just smiled and gave my furry lip a kiss.

The Clock is Ticking

2007-05-18T10:43:00.001-07:00

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about time. Time I don't take, time I don't have, time outs, time lapses, time changes.... just TIME!

Randi put it best when she said we all go through "seasons". Right now, we all seem to be in the "busy season". No one is blogging (except our faithful Betsy Sue!) and we all seem to be a little overwhelmed. Me included. I have had time to think about my lack of time though. And not really wish for more of it, but just desire more productivity out of it.

Ever since Grandma passed away, I think I look at my life and the lives of those around me a little different. I not only cherish it more, I'm also trying to live with my heart more open and exposed. Risky and scary at the same time, but oh so invigorating!

I spent 4 days with my Dad last week and it was seriously such a nice time. We laughed, we cried, we had good talks, we took long walks (why am I rhyming?), we just enjoyed one another. And best of all, he appreciated it SO much...the simple fact that I took time out of my life to be with him. To give him my full attention without worrying about my husband, my dogs, my house, me-me-me. This time away got me thinking...why do I only do this once a year? And why is it such a chore? If something as simple as this can make someone I love so happy, why aren't I doing it more? Well, I'm now convinced to do it every couple of months. Because who knows when it'll be my last visit with him, my last long talk, my last hug?

Something else I don't take enough time for....other people. Sacrificing for others is why we are here. Spending quality time with those we love. But we let time slip away from us and before we know it, it's been months since we've seen each other or had a long sincere talk. I mean, who really cares if my yard isn't manicured, or I don't make it to gym a few days (or weeks), or if I miss the Suns playoff game (when I'm not even a true fan)? These things are important, but not AS important as the difference we can make, and others make, in our lives.

SO, this is my Resolution....I'm letting go, All I need to learn is along this road, And I just wanna be the best woman I can be, Breathe, it's my resolution. (Nick Lachey is so cool! And Yes, I'm such a dork!)

XO

Opportunity to Advertise

2007-05-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

I've been at a loss on what to share, so I'm going to take advantage of this blog and advertise a week in Tahoe we're trying to sell for the 4th of July! (the actual dates are July 1st through the 8th). We scheduled this trip last year, but since then other things have come up and we're trying to limit how much time we're away from our pups. Let us know if you or anyone you know is interested.

$975 / 1br - LAKE TAHOE OLYMPIC VILLAGE (4th of July Week!!)

Enjoy one of the best weeks of the year

at Lake Tahoe's (At Squaw Valley)Olympic Village Inn.

Unit features a bedroom and a kitchen, dining and living room with pull out couch.

www.olympicvilliageinn.com

(Okay, so this is a totally lame blog- I promise to make up for it with my next one:)

Girls Night!

2007-05-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

We had a Bunco party last night and what a great turn out! 18 fun-loving women! We had some really LOUD ones (Amy & Randi), some trash talkin ones (Betsy-who actually was so tired she took it easy on us:) and then some who couldn't roll the dice to save their lives (Noelle & Jackie)

The food was FANTASTIC thanks to our own personal chef -Noelle. She really went all out and we were all so impressed.

It was a so much fun just having everyone together laughing and enjoying one another.

We need to do it again sometime soon!!!

Sick Humor

2007-05-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'm not normally one to like cartoons, but my niece Ashley turned me on to this site and some of the clips are seriously funny.

**I'll warn you now though, most are a quite vulgar** so you shouldn't listen to them while your at work, and you probably want to make sure the kids aren't around OR you have a headset on.

I haven't watched them all, but so far, my two favorite are: "Once you go Black" and "Mexico es Muy Bien".

**If anyone gets offended easily, please don't go to this link**

http://www.illwillpress.com/vault.html

"LOVE"- Not just a four letter word

2007-05-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks, I've given a great deal of thought to "unconditional love". I know we all may struggle with this, but I think God has really put it in my heart to face this challenge head on. I think about it every day and I pray that I may develop more gracious love for others. I guess this is one of the true challenges in life: To love those who aren't easy to love. As the bible says, loving the lovable is easy, but God calls us to love differently. We are to love as God loves, which means we must love even our enemies.
But for some reason, sometimes loving my enemy is easier than loving those people closest to me who are hard to love. And I know why. It's because what my enemy may say or do hurts much less than if a close friend or family member did it. Therefore, over time, the hurt has left scars and in response, I've hardened my heart to them. Which is totally NOT how and who I want to be.
God has loved me even when I was totally and utterly unlovable and it is my challenge to reflect this love on others. Regardless of what they have done or what they may do. It's not easy and it's a little scary, but I know it's so worth it.

Just in case you needed a good laugh....

2007-04-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

So, I was going through old photos my Grandmother had at her house and I came across this one. If we ever needed proof of why a MAN should not style his daughters hair- or help her pick out eye glasses - well here it is! Holy Cow was I a Nerd!!! Too funny!

Packing, Hauling, Sifting, Celebrating....

2007-04-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I've been working on cleaning out Grandma's house. Nothing gives you insight into a person's life like the items in their home. ( I think that's one reason I like to visit people in their own domain- it helps me get to know them. To see the pictures on their walls, the books they read, their style.) It's a wealth of information.

Some of the things we have discovered about Grandma is really cute. My Aunt told me yesterday that she was going through Grandma's checkbook and noticed that she sent $10.00 donations to all these random charities, like the Paralyzed Veterans of America and another to Mother Cabrini. I think anyone who requested money from her got $10.00. Which is a lot when your surviving on Social Security! In the note of one check she wrote "gift from the heart". That's just too sweet.

And she seriously kept every card anyone ever gave her. I opened one card the other day that her son made her in 1951! I couldn't believe it.

Last weekend we took a break from all the "to do's" and we celebrated. Saturday we walked at the Pat Tillman race, which was hot, but fun. And then on Sunday, we celebrated Easter at the park with friends, family and puppies! (kudos to Tonya for the adorable homemade cupcakes!) I think it was probably one of the best Easters I've had in my adult life. It was a GREAT weekend!

It's been a busy few weeks, but I'm lovin every minute of it!

Our Havasupi Trek!

2007-04-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

We made it!!! But, let's just say the hike was nothing that I thought it would be....for several reasons:

First off, after driving on an isolated reservation road for 60 miles , we turned the corner on top of the rim to find a plethora of cars...it looked more like a rodeo parking lot then a hike in the middle of no where. With horses everywhere, hikers galore, a helicopter looming overhead and people on walki-talkies telling us where to park, the commotion was so unattractive, if we hadn't driven for 3 hours after leaving Flagstaff I would have suggested we turn around and go home. We didn't though. Instead we loaded up our packs and with another group of 4 guys and 2 kids (age 8 & 11), we headed down the rugged path to our destination.

The hike was MUCH more difficult than I imagined and I felt like it would never end. With literally tons of people coming and going, I felt like we should have been transporting some sort of goods verses just heading somewhere for the views. Not to mention, the inconvenience of having to jump to the side of the trail every time a row of horses came galloping by us carrying either tourists or their packs.

After a tiring 4 hours of hiking, we reached the Supi village. Let's just say...it's the furthest thing from "quaint" you've probably ever seen...in the US at least. There is trash and graffiti everywhere, which is so sad considering the natural beauty surrounding this place. And it's not like these people are poor- the cost to camp at the falls for 2 nights was a whopping $42/person!

From the village, we hiked an exhausting 2 more miles to the camp site to find tents and hikers literally everywhere. It's like we were at a camp hostile. And due to the ability to get to the falls by either helicopter or horse, there was a very diverse crowd. People you would never expect to see in a camp ground this far from civilization. But for good reason....

The canyon has the most gorgeous falls we've ever seen and what's so incredible about them...you can get SO close. After an adventurous hike down to the falls, you can swim right under them.

We all dreaded hiking out on Sunday because we knew it would be hell. But one of the guys we were with hurt his foot jumping into the falls so we all decided to chip in and rent a horse to haul our heaviest items out of the canyon. Most of us still had to carry a pack, but our packs weren't nearly as heavy as they were coming in...which was a HUGE relief.

The hike up wasn't as miserable as the hike going in, even though the last hour was quite difficult. The final ascent was like hiking Squaw Peak and never reaching the top. Once we were up there though...we felt incredible relief and it was quite exhilarating.

Even though I don't think I'll ever visit Havasupi Falls again, due mainly to how overpopulated it is, I truly enjoyed the trip and the experience. It was nice to get away from our cell phones, computers and the responsibilities of home ownership and reconnect with nature. Plus I enjoyed my time with my Jay, Mark and my pops.

See pics at http://www.terriantonino.com/-/terriantonino/gallery.asp?cat=50787&pID=1&row=7 (the description is underneath the photo to the left).

Life is STILL SO Good!!!!

2007-03-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update to let everyone know I'm Back! I feel like I've totally been out of the loop and in another world for the last two weeks...but I've survived and I'm better than ever. This whole experience has really helped put my life in perspective and I'm so thankful for that.

I must say, I have AWESOME friends and family who have seriously helped me get through this tough time. I know it wouldn't have been as easy without being surrounded by SO much love. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

Anyhow, enough! We're moving up and we're moving on! So much moving in fact, that tomorrow I'm leaving for a 3 day hike in the Havasupi Indian Reservation http://www.havasupaitribe.com/hiking.html

I'm so excited to go and I think it'll be great. My Dad and Jay (Amy's husband) are going with us so it should be an incredible weekend. I will of course bring back photos to share:)

Love to ya all!!!

Her Final Days

2007-03-21T07:56:00.000-07:00

I feel like I've spent the last 3 days waiting. Waiting for this to be over for her. Waiting for her body to let go and stop fighting. Waiting for "that" phone call.... waiting.....

Grandma has been in a coma-like state since Sunday. She can hear us, but there is not response. On Monday, Hospice told us it's just a matter of time. So we wait....

She's pain-free and comfortable. Laying in a hospital bed in my Mother's living room so she isn't separated from all who love her. She can hear her favorite TV shows...Oprah, Dr.Phil, Dancing with The Stars, hear my Mom cooking, hear us all talking. This is how I know she would have wanted it.

Last night I painted her nails. I told her how beautiful they looked. I couldn't help but wonder why I didn't do this for her more often. I think that's normal though. It's inevitable to have regrets. I'm not beating myself up about what I should have done or didn't do. But I can't help but think about it.

I also think about all the things that will always remind me of Grandma....

Goodwill, fajitas, Olive Garden, the Catholic Church, Cinco De Mayo, Greenfield Road, the Mayo Clinic, sewing, Sprouts, Pomeranian's, bottled water, handicap parking spots, a dripping kitchen faucet, Spanish, her little red slippers. Some of these sound silly and insignificant...even as I type them I have to smile.

As difficult as this ordeal is, I know it is inevitable. And I know as much as it hurts, it's helping me to grow.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.
Romans 5:3,4

Chaser Racer!

2007-03-12T06:15:00.000-07:00

Today is my nephew, Chase's birthday.

He's 5.

If you've ever met him or at least seen him, then you know what a character he is.

He's a big boy with an even BIGGER personality.

He's never met a stranger and never heard a song he didn't want to sing or dance to

(even if no one else is dancing and he's in front of a crowd).

He has a love for life we should all feel and he sees the positive in almost everything.

He may not have been born in the most ideal of situations,

but you would never know it by meeting him.

To him, life is just the way it's supposed to be.

Happy Birthday Chaser, we LOVE you!!!!

To Live Like You Were Dying

2007-03-08T07:11:00.000-07:00

This week I heard about the end of the world according to the Mayan calendar. Supposedly, on 12/21/12, when the planets align, some say the world will end. Mark and I did some research on the Internet and there are mixed opinions, however one thing is for certain, it's likely we will all experience the hysteria of Y2K, perhaps even to more extent.

When I think about the end of the world several thoughts come to mind:

I am immediately reminded how our lives on earth are just temporary and eventually we will all die. Whether it be today, next year, in 30 years or in 2012. It's just a matter of time. And no one but God knows when that time is.

Right after thinking this, I realize this is why we should live each day to the fullest, making a difference in someones life, touching someone with a random smile or an act of kindness. Fulfilling God's purpose for us here on Earth by leading more people to Him.

I think it's easy to be afraid of the unknown. To let worry and doubt consume your thoughts for a few minutes. BUT it's faith that leads me out of this worry and doubt and reminds me that no one but the Man Upstairs knows for certain when the end will come.

This is Totally Me!

2007-02-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

How fun is this!!! Meez is a site that allows you to create your very own original 3-D character, you don’t have to settle for one already in existence.
Start by choosing gender. Specify skin color, face shape, features, hairstyle, and wardrobe. Coconut bras, shotgun wedding dresses, and full-body tattoos (among zillions of others) are there for the taking.
Then, put your mini-me in motion by choosing animation, which ranges from strumming a six-string to smooching Brad Pitt to busting out a “Thriller” dance. Backgrounds are customizable, too. The Meez en scènes, if you will, include cityscapes, parties, magazine covers, and a corner office.
When everything is complete, do some cartoon networking by posting your dolly on MySpace, making it an IM icon, or using it as a screensaver.
Come on, let's see what you look like!

Taking Lessons from a 5 Year Old

2007-02-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

Being around kids is pretty darn cool....well, most of the time. There is no better feeling then when Tyler says my name, or when Rya says "I want you" when we're in the church nursery, or when Anglina asks what does "insane" mean? And after I tell her, she starts yelling..."YOU ARE TOTALLY INSANE!"(that kid makes me laugh a lot!)

Well yesterday I learned something from this smart 5 year old. She came over to call my nephews (who are 7 & 9) and tell them sorry because she said some mean things to them on Friday at the park and she had been feeling bad about it all week.

So, she gets on the phone, does her little dance where she moves her arm, squeezes her knees together, giggles, has a smile from one side of her red face to the other...and tells them "I'm sorry for not being nice at the park". I have no idea what my nephews said back, but knowing them the way I do, they had NO IDEA what she was talking about. Typical Boys!!

As soon as Angelina was done talking to them and was getting ready to head home, Noelle said..."I can already tell she feels better". How cool is that!

This got me thinking...Why can't I be this eager to tell someone sorry??? Why is it so hard for me to admit my faults and let go of my pride??? Well, I know WHY...but I wish I could just have more of the mentality of a 5 year old when it comes to this. There is so much we can learn from kids, but I think this is probably the biggest thing. Just learning to say sorry and really mean it. One simple sincere word can almost diffuse any situation. And the cool and not so "insane" thing is...the more we do it, the easier it becomes.

Flagstaff Photos!

2007-02-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

Flagstaff Get Away - Feb 2007

A Month to Remember

2007-02-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Where do I start??? This month has been exciting, fun and the best darn February ever! I know it's only mid-month, but it could all be downhill from here and I'd still think it was a GREAT month. Wanna know why? Well let's start with today. Today it's Mark's birthday. If you know me, you know my favorite person in the world is my husband. AND if you know Mark, then you know why. Because there really isn't anything about the man not to like. Plus he's HOT !

Wanna know why else this month so great...well, I took a trip to Florida last week to visit my cousin Jenny and her family. If you remember from my previous blog, I met them for the first time in November when they came to visit and yet I feel like we've known each other our whole lives. This was the first time I can honestly say I was 100% comfortable being away from home. The weather was great, the accommodations were beyond nice, we ran a 10 mile beach run (which was an awesome experience) and they had horses... my type of vacation!!!

I got home last Weds. night and Friday, we took off to Flagstaff with everyone from church for our FamilyLife marriage conference. The material was good, the presentation was average, BUT the experience was a BLAST! Even though it was only one night, it was so much fun to hang out with everyone and really bond with our peeps. I can't wait for the next get-away (which I'm working on for Memorial Day weekend!)

Wednesday is Valentines and even though I'm not much of a holiday celebrator or a romantic...I'm kind of looking forward to it. Not that we have any big plans or anything special to do, but my brain is trying to think of something to make it extra cool. If you have any ideas, throw them my way.

Well, I hope your all enjoying February as much as I am. ESPECIALLY since most of you have contributed to making it the "BEST" yet!

Just When You Thought You Knew Me....

2007-01-31T06:20:00.000-07:00

I received an email a few weeks ago. One of those question emails that helps other people get to know you better. All of the questions were pretty much the same ones we always get, except for this one..."what is something most people don't know about you?". This question got me thinking...what are the things that some people might know, but most probably don't. To be honest, there isn't much. I'm a serious discloser (much to my husbands embarrassment) and I like to just put everything out there in the open. Like me or hate me, at least you know up front what your getting into when your friends with me:)

Without further delay here are the things you may not know about me:

I was a "Jager Girl" in college. I dressed in what I would now call a "skimpy and inappropriate outfit" and promoted the sell of Jagermeister to every drunk idiot out there. (Mark has held this known fact over me forever... but no more! Now it's out there.)

Mark and I lived together in sin for a year before we were married. Oh, the scandal of it! Can you believe we're still married and happy based on the statistics?? It's all thanks to God.

I've never really had a "best friend". Don't get me wrong, I have some really great friends, but never a friendship I felt completely safe in and complete with. I guess when I look at the friendship Noelle & Tonya share, I know my relationships are still missing something. I'm still in search....and I'm still developing the friendships I currently have. Most importantly, I'm hopeful that one day, I'll experience what they have.

When I was little I wanted to be a nun. Just call me Sister Terri :)

I have a serious mustache. And my mother in law just told me yesterday that when I turn 40, it gets worse. That's just GREAT! Now I can look forward to saggy non-existent boobs AND more facial hair. I can't wait!

I drank so much in high school that when I reached college, I rarely drank at all. I got partying out of my system early. Which for me was good because getting through high school was a breeze. College on the other hand, was challenging for me. Probably because kissing up to the teachers wasn't as easy:

I love disco music. I really think I was born in the wrong era.

If I had to choose between Summer clothes or Winter clothes, I would choose Winter every time. I just LOVE the cozies!

There isn't one person from high school whom I'm still friends with. To be honest, I never even see anyone from high school, which is amazing considering I went to Tempe High. You would think I'd run into someone now and then.

My appearance matters more to me than I feel it should. Maybe it always has and I'm only now aware of it, but JEEZE, I really need to get over myself. It's something I've been praying about.

I NEVER get bored. (unless I'm at Skateland) Oh, and I am an incredibly patient person as long as I have a good book to read.

I was cheer captain in high school. Can you even picture me as a cheerleader? Heck No! Me in front of a crowd??...just the thought of it now makes my stomach turn with nervousness. I'm an introvert compared to who I was then.

My life is 120% better than I could have dreamed it would be. Growing up, I never had any expectations or dreams really. I just wanted happiness. But this...an incredible husband, awesome friends, dogs I love to death, in-laws I adore....this is better than anything I could have imagined!

Well, that about covers it.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can think of.

Now you know my deep dark secrets. Scary huh?:)

What about you??

Tell me something I may not know.

So Much for Celebrating my 36th Birthday at Skateland!

2007-01-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

I'm realizing more and more as time goes on that I'm getting old. Okay, not "old" but older.

For the last few years I've been thinking how much fun roller skating at a roller rink would be. Well, my dream came true this weekend. My nephew celebrated his 9th birthday at Skateland in Mesa. And my dream suddenly turned into a nightmare. Okay, so it's late and I'm exaggerating. Not a nightmare but let's just say it's no "dream".

First of all it cost $9.00 for the cover charge and the skates. HOLY COW! Talk about inflation!!! But, this isn't the worse of it because $9 for 2 hours of fun is so worth it...if only it had been fun. After skating around the less than quarter mile rink 6 times, I realized how incredibly boring skating is. It was terribly monotonous with the same 45 people to look at and smile. UGH! Not to mention the freaky crowd. I looked around and it was as if I was back in Celina, Ohio where I grew up. Population 765 with everyone stuck in the 80's. It totally gave me the creeps and I felt such relief when it was time to leave.

I really hope I don't have my expectations set to high about sledding in Flagstaff in a couple of weeks. It HAS to be better than Skateland if for no other reason than I'll be with friends I love!

Totally Miscellaneous

2007-01-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

I've really been racking my brain lately trying to think of something, anything of value to blog about. My brain has been a complete blank. So, instead of giving you meaningful information, I'm just going to blab about the miscellaneous thoughts and issues going on in my head and life....(I should probably apologize now:)....

I didn't have my (.) this month-- took a pregnancy test last night. Which was (-). Told Mark that he needs to get his little guys tested to make sure they don't work because I still get stressed out when I'm late or miss.

I ordered 2 pairs of shoes off Ebay, hoping one would fit- neither do! One is too big, one is too small. And their both the same size and the same brand. I must have the weirdest size foot ever!

Speaking of Ebay, I've been selling a ton of stuff. We cleaned out our closets and I'm just getting rid of everything we don't wear or use. Today, I'm heading to the post office to mail it out all. Selling is fun, but it sure is time consuming!

We've seen the housing market pick up ever since New Years. Our listings are getting tons of showings and we finally got a signed contract on one property that's been on the market since September. Thank you God!!!

Two of my GREAT friends, Evian and Nina, are making life changes this month. Evian will be moving into her first condo by herself, and Nina just closed on her very first townhome by herself. The first time either of them have lived alone in their lives. They have both grown so much in the last 2 years and are realizing their dreams and potential. I am SO proud of them!!!

I got an INCREDIBLE deal to fly to Orlando *$154 r/t* so I'm leaving Feb.3rd to visit my cousin Jenny and her family. I'm SO excited.

My Grandma is doing good. She has been having some lower back pain, but other than that, she seems to be doing pretty well. Please keep her in your prayers.

Out with the MP3! We finally broke into the "ipod era" thanks to a client who gave us a gift card. We each bought one of the little square shuffles. Now we're so hip!

Like most everyone else in my neighborhood, all of the plants in my yard appear dead. It actually looks like a fire went through my front yard. I'm really hoping their NOT dead because I put a lot of time and effort into planting them all, but we'll see. One thing is for sure, they look terrible and yet I've heard I can't cut them back because even the dead foliage protects the plant if it's still alive.

Well, that's it for now. I think your all up to date on everything. Some of which you probably didn't even want to hear:) Oh well, at least you know I have no secrets and I keep nothin from ya!

FREEZIN!!!!

2007-01-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

Just in case anyone wanted proof of how cold it was in the Valley this morning!!!!

2007 Resolutions!

2007-01-01T07:32:00.000-07:00

1. As I let go of my feelings of guilt, I am in touch with my inner sociopath.
2. I have the power to channel my imagination into ever-soaring levels of suspicion and paranoia.
3. I assume full responsibility for my actions, except the ones that are someone else's fault.
4. In some cultures what I do would be considered normal.
5. My intuition nearly makes up for my lack of wisdom and judgment.
6. I need not suffer in silence while I can still moan, whimper, and complain.
7. When someone hurts me, I know that forgiveness is cheaper than a lawsuit, but not nearly as rewarding.
8. I am at one with my duality.
9. Blessed are the flexible, for they can tie themselves in knots.
10. I will strive to live each day as if it were my 50th birthday.
11. I honor and express all facets of my being, regardless of state and local laws.
12. Today I will gladly share my experience and advice, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so!"
13. A scapegoat is almost as good as a solution.
14. Just for today, I will not sit in my living room all day in my underwear. Instead, I will move my computer into the bedroom.
15. I will no longer waste my time reliving the past; I will spend it worrying about the future?
16. The complete lack of evidence is the surest proof that the conspiracy is working.
17. Before I criticize a man, I walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he's a mile away and barefoot.

On to Bigger and BETTER Things

2006-12-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

Christmas is officially over. Last night we had our final Christmas celebration with Mark's Dad and Deb. It's been a roller coaster of fun this season starting the week before Christmas celebrating with friends, then Christmas Eve with Mark's family and Christmas Day with my family. Then Carina, Mark's sister, coming in town the day after Christmas and us celebrating with their Mom and then with with their parents last night.

I'm gifted and fooded out! Just too-too much!!! For once, I'm ready for the let down of the holiday's being over.

Carina leaves today and even though we are always sad to see her go, we are looking forward to getting our lives back on track. With the new year starts new work goals, new house goals, new financial goals. It's not really fun stuff, but I'm looking forward to seeing some much needed progress.

Surprisingly we didn't take many pictures this Christmas. But here are some of the ones we did get. The ones from the snow are when we went to my Dad's for one night. The little girl is our Sophia and the dogs are our two and Mark's parents dogs: Maddie and Jack!

More Misc. Holiday Pics

2006-12-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

So Much More than Just a Tree

2006-12-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

I love everything that goes with Christmas. The singing, the fancy ribbons, garland, kissing under the mistletoe (who really does this??), beautifully wrapped presents, driving around town and seeing Christmas lights, even the bell ringing outside all the stores...just the spirit of Christmas. BUT most of all, I do love the Christmas Tree.

Every year I get excited just thinking about Thanksgiving because I know it means we can put up the tree. I love getting out all the decorations I've kept stored for 11 months and actually putting them to work beautifying my house.

But the Christmas tree not only adds something to the look of my home, it also has a lot of meaning to me. First of all, my in-laws bought me my tree for our housewarming gift 3 years ago (imagine how excited Mark was about that:). And it's not your normal every day Christmas Tree, it is a stunning tree if I can say so myself. It has wide spaces between the branches to hang long ornaments, it's nice and tall, the bottom branches touch the floor and the BEST part...it's prelit!!! So, in case I haven't thanked Dad and Deb for my tree a million times already, let me just say it once more...Thank you for my tree, I LOVE it!!!

Okay, back to the main purpose of this blog...I also love ornaments. If you haven't seen my tree, let me tell you...it's loaded with ornaments, bows, ribbon, a little bit of everything. I know, I know, I totally overdue it and I'm the first one to admit, "I don't know when to stop decorating it." (And once I have the tree decorated, I spend the next month rearranging all the ornaments because I see a bald area, or something looks out of place. It's totally annoying, and not only to me...just ask my husband:)

Most of the ornaments I bought at The Dollar Tree or the 99 cent store, but some of them actually have meaning. Which brings me to the REAL purpose of this blog. I wanted to share some of my favorite ornaments with you.

This one Mark made when he was a little boy and his Mom gave to me...isn't it just so cute!!

This is one Amy's Mom gave me 3 years ago....

This is one Deb gave me a couple of years ago. It came in a set of three, but this is my favorite...

This one my Mom gave us in 1997, the first year we were married (doesn't the couple look just like us:).....

This one I bought for myself because I really love Snoopy and it

reminds me of the Snoopy Doll I've had since I was a child.....

And this one my Grandmother gave to me this year for my birthday. She said from now on she wants me to look at each year and think of her. How great is that??? I put the year on the back of his little sombrero and I swear, it'll remind me of her for the rest of my life.

So, for me, my Christmas tree holds a whole lot of memories. Every time I unwrap an ornament, put it on a hook and hang it on my tree, I think of the person who gave it to me, or the year I bought it and it brings me immense joy.

My Whacky Iraqy

2006-12-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

There comes a point in a relationship

where material gifts aren't necessary.

Where even words of admiration aren't required, but just known.

Where having things in common are unessential

and going days without talking are simply okay.

Evian and I have reached and exceeded this milestone in our friendship.

You've all probably heard me brag about her more times than I can remember,

but today is her birthday

and I can't let it pass without once again saying what a wonderful friend she is

and how much she means to me.

This Girl has softened my heart and has shown me,

by her example,

what the true meaning of "friend" is.

I can't even begin to imagine my life without her in it.

The BEST gift I can give her on her birthday is to once again tell her that
I will ALWAYS be here for her, will ALWAYS love her
and will ALWAYS cherish the friendship we have.

Your the BOMB Girl and I absolutely ADORE you!!!!
Happy Birthday!!!!!

Let it Shine!!!!

2006-12-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

To celebrate yet another year of my life , we spent a few days in Seattle. The first night we stayed in a cozy little inn a block from the Pike Place Market. We spent the first afternoon shopping and doing tons of walking. That evening we went to a romantic dinner and then to another restaurant known for their award winning Volcano cake. Holy Cow, was it YUM!

Sunday morning we got up early and drove out to Salish Lodge. I got a great facial, but the lodge itself wasn't all that we anticipated. The waterfall was pretty amazing though (we were glad we didn't spend the dough to stay there though).

I seriously could have flown home after only being there one night and my vacation would have been complete. But we couldn't possbily leave without visiting the family.

After lunch we headed to Mia's (Mark's Grandma) for a few days. We played cards, ate tons of homemade cookies, went to dinner at Mark's Aunt and Uncles (and ate the BEST cooked carrots EVER), went to Chinese food, went to the Goodwill Outlet (absolutely disgusting), and I got a pedicure. But mainly we just watched it rain from the window in Mia's kitchen. And rain it did...ugh!

I think we stayed maybe one night too long because I couldn't wait to get home to my dogs, my regular diet, my own bed....and best of all...the sunshine!!!

Getting Away from It All

2006-11-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

Two Sundays ago we got away for a night and relaxed in Sedona. We normally try to go there a few times a year, but with all my family stuff going on ,we skipped last year.
Driving into town, I was reminded of just how beautiful the area is. God really did some amazing work here.
We wanted to stay longer, but one night was all we had, and yet it was so worth it. Getting away can do such wonders for your personal and relationship growth. If you haven't taken the time to get away, either by yourself or with your significant other, then make the committment to do it. You'll be so glad you did.

The Beauty of Winter

2006-11-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

There is something about putting up the Christmas Tree that just warms my heart....I LOVE this time of year! I love putting up the tree, lighting the fireplace, lighting candles, getting cozy on the couch with a warm blanket, bundling up to go out at night, wearing sweats and closed toe shoes, cuddling with my husband, cute hats and scarves....everything that comes with cooler weather and the holidays.

As the temperature drops this week and Christmas gets closer, I'm appreciating every minute of it. Taking in all the winter smells, the crisp air, the sights of my neighbors Christmas lights and trees and just loving every minute of it all.

2006-11-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think "family" is so overrated. Maybe it's because the people I'm closest to and most rely on in my life aren't blood (accept for my Dad). But I have to admit, when I hear or see siblings who are close, or mothers and daughters who have a great healthy relationships, I feel a little bit of envy. Only because I want that type of relationship with my family. All this said though, there is something that bonds two people who are blood and it's not just history. It's knowing you are from the same core.

Well, before I start telling you more about my family, let me give you a little background...

My Grandmother (on my Mom's side) has 8 children, 16 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Whew!! Now, out of all 8 of those children she has, I've never been close to ANY of them. Therefore, I've never been close to any of my cousins. Some I have never even met and most of the ones I've met, I still don't really know. (Mark thinks this is so weird).

Well, last weekend Jenny, my cousin from Florida, who I had never met, flew into to town with her three daughters and spent 4 days with us. I was a little nervous with anticipation, just not knowing what to expect and all. Like, will it be awkward? Will she be nice? Will her kids be behaved? Will I be patient enough? How will Mark handle the extra chaos in the house? Blah, blah, blah.......All those things that go through your head that can be so negative. BUT I'm happy to report, we had a WONDERFUL time and I SO enjoyed spending time with my family.

We watched the Ohio-Michigan game together, we had a picnic in Ft. Hills at the Park, we climbed Squaw Peak (with the 3 month old baby),they experienced a Pazooki at Oreganos, we did a little shopping, and we just hung out, visiting and talking.

At the end of their trip, I was sad to see them leave and wished they lived here and not Florida. Jenny and I had a lot in common and her children were a pleasure to be around. I'm hoping we stay in touch and not let too much time pass before we see each other again. The best part of this visit- I not only met a new Relative, I made a new Friend!

Housekeeping Inquiry

2006-11-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

Why does my life feel SO in control when I have a clean house and SO out of control when it's dirty?

Why do I get so distracted? Why can't I just concentrate on cleaning instead of doing a million other things... like talking on the phone, checking my email or sitting down to watch Oprah???

Why can't I fold the sheets like Mark?- His are always so nice and creased where mine is just an ugly soft square.

Why do I always wait until I see a layer of dust on my entry table to clean?

Why do I LOATH cleaning bathtubs and showers?

Why is it that my closet always turns into a disaster zone within 2 weeks of organizing it?

Why can't I ever finish cleaning in one day? There is ALWAYS something left to do later.

Why is laundry so easy to throw in the washer and dryer, but so difficult to fold and put away?

Why is there always a dumping zone? A corner, a basket, a drawer, my car, the ENTIRE garage...somewhere there is always a ton of miscellaneous crap!

Why am I wasting precious cleaning time typing this blog? (Refer back to #2)

Life's SICK Way of Reminding Us that We Aren't ALL THAT!

2006-11-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

Just when I think your gone for good,

You pop up.

You enter into my life completely uninvited

And then sit there as though your welcome here.

Your head grows bigger and bigger all the time

And your so ugly it's literally painful...

Sometime you even make my eyes water.

Why can't you just stay away and leave me alone?

Why is everyone staring at you?

And why can't Mary Kay be of more help?

A Fun-Filled Weekend!

2006-11-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

Mark's sister Carina and her girlfriend, Christine came into town this weekend.

We had a great visit with them, but it was busy-busy.

Friday night we took the pop-up and went camping on the Rim. It was SO cold! Much colder than I anticipated. Thank goodness we brought the dog's sweaters:) And even though I didn't get much sleep, we had a really fun time.

Saturday we came back home and went to dinner with Mark's Mom and boyfriend. By 7pm, I was so ready for bed.

Sunday morning Tonya, Evian and I ran the New Times 10k in Tempe. The race was packed with tons of people and I quickly realized how much I enjoy the small Flagstaff races instead of these overpopulated ones. We all ran really well though and the weather was perfect.

Sunday afternoon we had Mark's family over so the Girls could see everyone. Noelle finally met Carina, her twin. (well maybe not twins, but seriously, don't they resemble eachother?) It was a nice, casual time for all of us.

Then last night, the Girls, Mark and I went to see the Borat movie....certain parts were really funny, but most were really disturbing in a sick sense of humor kind of way. I probably wouldn't recommend it for a first date or a family outing with older parents or kids.

Today we're back to the grind. We had a terrific weekend with our family and loved every minute of it.

Don't Miss Out!

2006-11-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

Even though Grandma is still in the hospital, yesterday was a darn good day. The tube was removed from her nose, she began eating and she had the BEST Nurse EVER!

Anyone recognize this girl???

Yep, it's The Life at Scottsdale's own "Terra"! She was Grandma's nurse yesterday and it was SO great. She took such awesome care of Grandma and by the end of the day, she was adopted into our (disfunctional but well-intended) family.

Some of you already know Terra and can testify to what a wonderful person she is. But for the rest of you, if you haven't had the opportunity to get to know this One-of-Kind, Huge-Hearted Girl...your seriously missing out!!!!!!

On My Knees

2006-11-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

My Grandma isn't doing well.
She got admitted to the Mayo Hospital on Sunday night with an obstructed bowel. The doctors believe it is the cancer growing and causing the complications.
We are all staying positive. Positive but realistic.
Today will be a big day as the doctors test her body to see if it can work on it's own without the tube down her nose draining her stomach.
Please keep her in your prayers.

What we Could do with a Little of our Moola!

2006-11-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

Ever donate to big churches or to huge organizations and wonder if your little contribution makes any difference? I have. And even though I shouldn't care and I should just leave it in God's hands, I still can't help but wonder what difference my minuscule bit of money makes.

Even when it goes unnoticed and sometimes unappreciated, we all like to see our hard earned money change someone or something.

Well, here's an eye opener... not only does this website tell you where your annual income ranks globally, it also reminds you of what a few good dollars can buy those in need. http://www.globalrichlist.com/

Winky Wink!

2006-11-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

While in line at our favorite restaurant (Sweet Tomatoes), I glanced back at my husband and for the very first time ever, he winked at me. It was so appropriate and so unexpected. And to tell you the truth it kind of made my heart flutter and skip a beat. I may have even blushed.

Then the other day at Marshalls, one of the check-out ladies was dealing with a difficult customer. I looked over at her, made eye contact and low and behold..she winked at me and smiled. No,my heart didn't skip a beat, but it did make me feel kind of special.

So, once again, I've learned something new about myself. I like winks. Not sure if it's because I can't do it, or because my Dad always looks like he's kind of winking....but I like it. (as long as it's not from a creepy guy:)

The Upside of Cell Phones!

2006-10-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

There are many disadvantages to cell phones. Like how interferring, annoying and dangerous they are....but instead of focusing on the negative, let me tell you one of the really cool things I've come to LOVE about cell phones.

Mark recently got a new phone...the Motorola Smarphone. Now he can easily check email, send text messages and best of all email photos!

Last week he drove up to Payson to meet my Dad. While on top of the rim...he emailed me this self portrait of himself.

And then this morning while he's at the track doing bleachers, I get this photo of a beautiful sunrise emailed to me...

Talk about making my day!

So even though cell phones are bothersome sometimes, I'm learning to really appreciate how fun they can be.

Or maybe this blog shouldn't be about how cool cell phones are but about how REALLY cool I think my husband is! :)

My Best Asset!

2006-10-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

I know this sounds weird, and well....sometimes we are a little off our rockers, but the other day while we were driving around town, Mark and I showed each other our tongues. His looked kind of okay at first. It was a little gross (I do remember telling him that I could lived the rest of my life without seeing it & kissing will never be the same), but I thought it was probably normal. I mean, what did I have it to compare to? AHA- my own!! Eager and slightly scared, I pulled down the visor mirror to take a look at my own tongue. Preparing myself for the worst, I was seriously amazed at how pretty my tongue was. Not to brag...well okay just a little...It's actually REALLY beautiful. With not too many bumps, no white coating or green film and a really healthy pink color. Suddenly his tongue didn't look so normal any more.

The rest of the day involved a great deal of teasing him about his ugly tongue and bragging about my own. It was so much fun.

Of course the first thing he did when we got home was go to the bathroom to do some hard tongue brushing. So hard in fact, he hasn't been able to drink or eat anything acidic for 2 days.

But, his tongue does look better.

So, have you checked out your own tongue lately? You might want to. Especially if you've noticed people offering you gum all the time or your spouse not wanting to kiss you:) If you see a whitish-gray layer on it, that's bacteria which can cause the infamous halitosis and can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. AND if you want to compare your tongue to the most beautiful one I've ever seen, just ask. For a small fee I'll gladly show off my Best Asset!

A New Way to Announce Life's Awkward Moments...

2006-10-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

Wanna announce a divorce but don't know how to exactly? Or how about the fact that your son is gay? I came across this website www.otherannouncements.com They sell some pretty raunchy cards, but they are so funny. Maybe it's just me and my sick sense of humor, but I couldn't resist sharing. The one featured above is my favorite, but I also like the "postponing the wedding" one. Enjoy!

My Wish

2006-10-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

I hope that days come easy and moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you want to go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
and if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
if it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,
more then anything, more then anything,

My wish, for you,
is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more then you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you,
and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,

and you help somebody every chance you get,

Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,

and you always give more then you take.
Oh More then anything, Yeah, and more then anything,

Yeah, this, is my wish.

(song by Rascal Flatts)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAKI !!!

2006-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'll never forget the first day we brought her home.

This soft and fuzzy little creature

that would turn our lives upside down.

In the last five years,

she has brought us tears of sadness,

tears of joy

And some SERIOUS tears of frustration.

Many times,

we kick ourselves for creating such a high maintenance,

spoiled pet.

But Most times,

we just are thankful for everything she's added to our lives.

Not Just Another Day at the Gym....

2006-10-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

What are the odds that a random encounter

at World Gym in Scottsdale Arizona in 1994

would evolve into these two monkeys

being happily married for 9 years????

Who would have thought????

Happy Anniversary Baby! xoxo

Pondering.....

2006-10-10T06:31:00.000-07:00

The thing I love MOST about vacation is the opportunity to let your mind rest and to ponder your life. Where it's been, where it's going, where it should be going, etc. Well once again, I was not disappointed. Mark and I got a chance to get away from the chaos of home and reevaluate our lives.

Tomorrow we'll be married 9 years. It's been the fastest 9 years of my life. So many changes, so many moves, so many things I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. It is almost like God has literally taken us by the hand and led us down our own personal path.

I would be lying if I didn't say that our marriage has continued to get better and better each year. I know you probably hear that all the time, but it's the honest truth. We've learned to just mesh together... like two scrambled eggs in a skillet (bet you never heard of that analogy huh?:) It hasn't been easy to get where we are, it never is. But it has been GREAT!

If I had to name the one thing I love most about my marriage it would have to be the sex... just kidding you freaks, ...no in all seriousness, the best thing is that when the entire world is on my nerves and I feel disrespected, unappreciated, unloved and all alone...it's awesome to know I can come home to the one person in this world who will wrap his arms around me and make me feel so secure. What an incredible comfort that is and what a blessing.

So my dear friends, if you haven't taken the time to get away with your significant other, even if it's just for one night alone together away from home, I encourage you to do it. It is SO important to step outside your everyday life, to get away from all the things you have to get done, all your responsibilities, your surplus of obligations and just spend quality time with one another talking about your dreams, goals and lives together. You deserve it, your kids deserve it, and most importantly YOUR MARRIAGE DESERVES IT!

Another UGLY Truth About Me

2006-09-30T23:42:00.000-07:00

How is it that this always happens?? Even when I think I'm prepared... I never am. I've avoided the truth long enough and it's time I've come to realize that to my ultimate dismay, I'm a "procrastinator". It's one of those ugly titles you never want to admit because it sounds so derogatory...but why stop now with admitting my faults??

I can't stand waiting until the last minute to get stuff done and I absolutely HATE rushing, but it never fails. Why can't I be more on top of things?? Why can't I be more in control?? Why the heck am I wasting such precious sleep time blogging??

We leave tomorrow morning at 4:30 am for vacation and here it is 11:50 p.m. and I'm still not completely ready. I just finished vacuuming and packing, and the rest...well it'll just have to wait until tomorrow morning, or should I say later tonight. I guess it depends on how you consider 3 a.m.

Either way, I'm frustrated at myself, tired, anxious, and so ready to be on that plane to paradise so I can relax. What doesn't get done, doesn't get done. One thing is for certain...it'll be here for me when I get home:)

Clock This!

2006-09-29T06:11:00.000-07:00

Mark and I had a great talk yesterday morning. One of those talks that we usually plan for, but this time, just happened. And it's GREAT it did. It was about work. Our business. And my lack of involvement and enthusiasm.
Normally we would schedule this discussion and I would be totally prepared to defend myself, to explain myself, have my defenses up and ready to go. But not this time. This time the discussion just happened and we were both in a great mind set. It was completely ideal. I admitted my faults... how I haven't done nearly as much work as I should or could...and we brainstormed and talked about our feelings. Emotions we both feel. It's not easy to talk about my faults and it's not easy to admit that I've been neglecting my responsibilities, but it felt so good to discuss it in love and come up with ideas to remedy the problem.
The BIGGEST problem is I feel like I'm just floundering around. The hours I'm at my desk are divided between work and internet browsing. I'm not focused and I'm not enthused about work. It's not that I don't want to be though. It's just I feel unfocused most of the time. So, the BEST solution was something that sounds completely ridiculous, but I honestly need. Before I tell you what it is, let me explain how I am:
I am a VERY visual person. I like to track things and see visual progress. For instance, just ask Tonya- I NEVER go on a run or walk without my watch to time my distance and speed. AND I write all of my workouts down. I've had a workout journal for the last 10 years. Every day I write in that journal what I did, how long, how many miles, etc. Half the time, I think I workout not because I feel like I have to, but because I want to be able to fill that day out in my journal. Also, I wouldn't be able to survive without Microsoft Outlook. My calendar is vital to what I'm doing on any particular day. I track everything.
So, with this explained....Mark bought me a time clock. Oh and time cards. 500 of them to be exact, so if anyone needs some, just let me know:) The time clock will allow me to clock in and out every day and visually see my hours. I will have two cards. One for house work and one for work-work.
I'm really excited about this and I truly believe it'll make a huge difference not only in our business but in our relationship. I'll feel better about myself because I'm contributing and he'll feel better about me.
At the end of the discussion yesterday, Mark said he thought it was one of our top 5 best talks ever. That made me so happy. Happy enough that I wrote it on my Outlook Calendar!

Funny- Funny- Funny

2006-09-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

Amy sent me this link and it is so funny. You have to check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo2Lz7m8wKw

I spent many years working in a cubicle so I can totally relate.

Hope your all having a GREAT week!

Another Blur of a Week!

2006-09-21T11:53:00.000-07:00

Where does all the time go?? It seriously feels like it was just Saturday and now it's already Thursday ... how is that possible???

I finally got the pictures from our Seattle trip. I guess they didn't turn out too bad considering
they were taken with a $4 disposable. Hope your all having a fab week!

It Sure Feels Like FALL!

2006-09-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

So, once again I delayed in this posting and someone beat me to it, but I'm still going to post about it anyhow because it's SO exciting!!!

Ever since we went to Seattle, it's felt like Fall to me.

Maybe it's because Starbucks has started serving their Pumpkin Spice Latte's, or maybe because there are Halloween decorations being sold at all of the stores, or maybe it's because our pool has finally cooled below 90 degrees and in the evenings and early mornings now- it's actually nice out. Whatever the reason, I'm Lovin It!

This is my favorite time of year!

It's such a relief to know we've survived the summer heat and it's all downhill from here (at least for the next 7 months).

I think out of everyone in the country, people who live in the Valley here probably appreciate the Winter months more than anyone. We have to put up with unbelievable heat for a few months, but are greatly rewarded by having the most amazing Winters. What a blessing!

With the cooler weather brings so much....

mid-day walks with the dogs, coffee-coffee-coffee, cozy clothes, hot soup, less sweat = fewer showers (jk:), hot tub time, Christmas decorations, and MOST importantly...an option to run in the evenings instead of at 5 a.m.!!!

I look forward to the next few months with GREAT anticipation!

Happy Grandparents Day!!!

2006-09-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

Today is Grandparents Day.

I've never celebrated it before, nor have I really even heard of it, until this year.

This year it's different.

This year I've mailed Mark's Grandmother a card and I'm taking my Grandmother to church and lunch.

It's a special day that deserves to be recognized.

So, pick up the phone and call your Grandparents today.

Let them know how much they mean to you and how much you love them.

Not to be a Copy Cat....

2006-09-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

Even though Randi beat me to it, here is the picture of the absolutely gorgeous sky from Monday night. Seriously, we walked out of my house and were in awe. It's just a reminder of how truly amazing God is!

Back from Seattle

2006-09-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

Our Seattle trip was GREAT!

The bad news is I forgot my camera and had to buy a cheap disposable, but the good news is:

We spent a wonderful time with our Grandmothers
We ate so much fresh fruit and veggies from his Grandmothers garden that I want to plant my own
Mia (Mark's Grandma) gave me several new recipes to try..one being the rhubarb pie I made yesterday
The weather was absolutely perfect
I realized it's highly probably that my husband will outlive me considering the longevity of his family members (One Grandmother lived to be 90+, Mia will be 88 in December and his Aunt Millie is going to be 94....and both have it mentally together like you wouldn't believe!)... not sure him outliving me is good news though.
I was reminded how fun his Aunt and Uncle are

All in all, we're glad to be home among our loved ones, but can't wait to go back to Seattle again. If only it was an hour drive instead of a 3 hour flight!

Family Time

2006-08-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

The last 5 days have gone by like a blur. Let me just fill you in...my Aunt and Uncle are in town from NYC and they got us free tickets to the Soul2Soul concert on Friday night. We had incredible seats and it was a great concert.

Saturday Grandma and I went over to Jay and Amy's to babysit Sophia. She is changing all the time and is already sitting up and rolling over. I can't believe it. Adorable as always.

Sunday we had my Grandma, my Aunt & Uncle, my Mom, my Brother Ricky and the kids over for dinner. For the first time I made my own refried beans and tortillas. Neither turned out too great, but it was fun trying.

Monday we all (everyone from above but Mark) went to the movies to see World Trade Center and then to dinner. The movie was good, but not as good as I had hoped.

It's been so great to spend the last few days with my family without any drama. Good times = Great memories!

Our Favorite City!

2006-08-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a few years since we've been to our favorite city, but yesterday we bought plane tickets to visit Mark's Grandmother in Seattle. We used to go see her at least once per year until most of her family moved here and she started visiting us. We were hoping she would come this Winter, but there is a chance she may not and we didn't want to let the year pass without seeing her.
This is going to be an extra special trip since we're taking my Grandmother with us. She's never been to Seattle, so she's really looking forward to it. Both of our Grandmother's are in their 80's and they've met 3 or 4 times before and really enjoy each other's company. I think this visit will mean a lot to both of them.
It'll be a short trip- Thursday morning to Sunday afternoon, but it will be quality time well spent with people we love.

2006-08-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever accidentally done something so stupid that it almost doesn't seem real?? Like what's happening is more of a dream instead of reality?
Well on Friday I experienced one of those times. I was pulling into Evian's garage and miscalculated how close I was to the side of her garage door and next think I know, I heard scratching. I initially thought I hit a box, but when I stopped the car and walked around to the passenger side, I noticed the side of my car was scratched and dented. And not just a minor scratch, but some serious damage. Initially, I kind of felt like passing out until I remembered to keep breathing. I just couldn't believe it actually happened. To make matters worse, I knew I had to call and tell Mark....and the thought of that just made my knees that much more wobbly.
Mark and I have had several discussions about the importance of supporting one another when we do incredibly stupid stuff and how I often feel scared to tell him when I'm a complete idiot. Recently, he has worked on being more patient with my ignorance. So, when I called to tell him my latest brainless act of idiocy, he was really great about it and only asked if I was on the phone and not paying attention. Which the answer was no.
It's amazing how much better I felt after telling him. He was calm and supportive, and I felt like...okay, we'll get through this. It was such a huge relief.
Throughout the day on Friday, the more I thought about my car, the more I realized once again that I've put too much value on tangible things. I mean, it is JUST a car. It's so minor compared to "what could have been". Like being in a serious car accident where I could have hurt myself or someone else.
So, yes I'm stupid and for several weeks I'm going to have to drive around with a damaged car that tells everyone that either I don't know how to drive (true) or I can't afford to get my car fixed (true)...or both. But on the bright side of all of this, at least I have a car to wreck, at least I have insurance to get it fixed, at least no one was hurt and most importantly, at least my husband didn't kick my butt!
In the BIG picture, regardless of how this mistake will affect me financially, God helped me remember that it's "just a car" and it's "only money" and that NONE of it TRULY matters.

My Boys!

2006-08-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some VERY cute pictures of my adorable nephews.

I can't believe how big they're getting. The two older ones, Dade & Druid are already in 1st and 3rd grade.

Where do the years go????

It's Super Power Prayer Time!!!!

2006-08-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Got another request from all of you....as many of you already know my Grandmother has been battling cancer for the last year. She finished chemo back in March and yet the cancer continued to spread. She then completed radiation in May and tomorrow we take her back to the Mayo for testing to find out if the radiation helped to slow down the cancer's progression. We will get the results on Friday.

Please, please, please if you could include her in all of your prayers. I know it is by the grace of God that she has experienced such little discomfort and has stayed so positive. And I also know that it is by His power that she can be healed. I do believe in miracles!

Thank you so much. We love and appreciate each and every one of you!!!

Give us your 2 Cents!!!

2006-08-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

We're researching new cell phone carrier's and need some feedback on who you all have and if your happy with them. We currently have Sprint and needless to say, have not been very impressed with their lack of coverage. We're kind of considering Verizon, but have also heard good things about Cingular. Any and all input would be greatly appreciated because we value your opinions!!!!

Dream It. Plan It. Do It.

2006-08-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

We just received a new magazine subscription: National Geographic Adventure. What a cool read. You know a magazine is good when even the advertising is interesting because it's all the new gadgets and gear for camping, hiking, etc.
While reading through the articles,this little voice kept whispering...you better do all this active stuff now before you get too old.... This little voice actually tells me this all the freakin time. Like EVERY time we talk about road trips, vacations, or even our future. Mark will say something like..."where do you see us in ten years from now" and right away I think "I don't know but I know we better be enjoying ourselves now because who knows what God has in store for us". It's not that I'm being negative...I'm just thinking the "what if"s" again. But in all honestly, I do have this terrible fear that I'll be 80 and I'll look back at this great life I've had and regret not taking taking advantage of my youth more. I mean, in ten years we'll only be in our mid 40's and we should still have our health, but who knows what responsibilities we'll have that will prevent us from enjoying our freedom. Whether it be our parents, grandparents, sick pets...who knows....only God.
Maybe I've spent too much time at the Mayo Clinic this last year, or maybe that's been a good thing and it's helped me realize that we need to take this energy, endurance and physical strength we have right now and not only dream it, but plan it and most importantly DO IT!

Ho-Ho-Ho....No I'm not talking about myself...

2006-07-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

...I'm talking about Christmas!!!
I've officially started my Christmas shopping!!! I know what your thinking- "holy cow, it's only July" (almost August actually). But every year I try to get a head start on it, and EVERY year I end up rushing around the second week in December buying last minute gifts. Well, this year, I REFUSE!!! I WILL get meaningful gifts now, as I see them and I'll be done by the end of November. That gives me 4 complete months--plenty of time to consider what everyone wants, buy it and still be able to enjoy the holiday stressfree.
So, if there is something you already know you want, you better tell me now (Tonya:).

2006-07-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

While camping this weekend, I was reminded of two things I must request of all my true friends.

Monday morning, as we were all changing, cleaning up and getting ready for the day, Noelle asked "what ya doing?" and I said "I'm plucking my eyebrows". Now I understand that plucking your eyebrows while your out in the wilderness camping, being at one with nature, unbathed and roughing it, may seem senseless to most people. Even when I said it, it sounded alittle silly. But to me,this is a daily necessity no matter where I'm at or who I'm with.
So, here's the 2 things I must share with all of you....if ever I am unable to care for myself, may it be in the hospital in a coma, or just deathly ill in bed...you MUST make sure to.....

pluck my eyebrows every day and
wax or bleach my mustache at least once a month (more if necessary).

Do you promise???

I can handle dirty clothes, long toe nails, even bad breath, but out of shape eyebrows and excessive lip hair--a Girl has her limits!!!

Where Does it All Go???

2006-07-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

Every year when we do our taxes we always say the same thing..."where does all the money go"? Considering we have no children and no debt other than our house, we should be saving by the truck load right??? Well, after a month of TONS of big bills being due including car tags, auto insurance, life insurance, pet health insurance, home warranty, and real estate annual dues...this week we finally did our budget and wrote down all of our mandatory bills, not including food, clothing, and misc. expenses. You would not believe what an eye opener this was! Now we know where a majority of our income is spent and unfortunately there really isn't anything we can do to avoid most of these bills. The one reassuring thing we realized is if the real estate market took a huge dump and we had to get salaried jobs...much of our debt would be gone because a BIG portion of our expenses is related to our employment. When you include monthly office dues, RE/MAX annual dues, annual car washes, storage, MLS annual dues, Scottsdale Real Estate Assoc. dues, office and cell phone bills, health insurance, gasoline, website fees....the list goes on and on...and it really ads up (approx.. $31,500/year). Being self employed is great, but it isn't everything it's cracked up to be.
Sitting down and taking the time to write out all our monthly expenses was a real eye opener. It helped us be able to scrutinize where and if we can cut back on things and what our financial goals are for the next 1, 5, 10 + years.
Bottom line is, if your not quite sure where your paycheck is going each week, try filling out a monthly expense worksheet. Like me, you may be reluctant to put it on paper and actually see where all your hard earned money goes, but it might also inspire you to create some financial goals for yourself such as paying off debt, cutting back on unnecessary expenses or starting a new savings plan.
After analyzing all these numbers all week, I'm reminded of how easy it is to get attached to material things and how our world so much revolves around what we have and how much we make....
I always think of what my Dad once said and I totally agree.... "you can take my house, you can take my car, you can take all my money...just don't take my dog". It's comforting to know (or at least believe) that if I were to lose everything material in my life, as long as I had my husband and my dogs I'd be happy.

Zombie Alert!

2006-07-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

Today feels like the hottest day of the year!!! My thermostat says it's only 101.8 degrees outside, but to me, it feels like it's boiling! I've had a rough morning though, so maybe my body temp still hasn't dropped. After running 4 miles with Tonya at 5 a.m., I had to walk the dogs for 45 mins. and then I spent another hour looking for lost house keys. Nothing is more frustrating then losing something you know you just had. Normally I hate to tell Mark about lost keys because he freaks out, but this morning he was extremely calm, helpful and my Hero. He ended up finding the keys in my car. What a relief. They dropped behind one of my seats when I was reaching for something. UGH!
Even after a shower and a power snooze, I still feel like I'm walking in my sleep. Maybe I have West Nile:)

Recent Pics!!!!

2006-07-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

My Smiling Heart

2006-07-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a really good book "The Glass Castle: a Memoir" by Jeannette Walls. In the book she tells the story of her challenging childhood and the disadvantages of growing up poor and neglected. The entire week I was reading it, I couldn't help but think of how blessed my life has been and is still is.

So, when I was getting dressed this morning, I began thinking of all the things I really love about my life. Wanna hear some of the things I love that you might not know about ???
Here goes:

rain- anytime, anywhere
a good sweat from hard work
Sweet Tomatoes on Sundays with Mark
dangling my legs in water while laying on a raft
a scalp massage
a meaningful, sincere hug (Lisa Shaker and Betsy give some of the best!)
Mark's lower lip
finding a good deal (okay...so you already knew this:)
the smell of a new book
getting my hands really gross in dirt, mud, clay, a Thanksgiving turkey...whatever
typing
saving money
spending money
taking walks at night so I can look in people's windows to see what their eating, how they've decorated, what their doing. (I don't peek though- I only look from the sidewalk and only if they've invited me to look by leaving their curtains open:)
sleeping in the car while Mark is driving

What unassuming things make your heart smile???

Seriously, was my Husband the cutest kid or what????

2006-07-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

The mosquito's are Coming!!!!

2006-07-10T16:31:00.000-07:00

WARNING-WARNING!!! I just read in the paper that West Nile has made it's first 2006 appearance in Arizona! Since the disease first arrived in 2003, Arizona has had a reported 500 cases and 20 of those were fatal. The State Department of Health recommends we take precautions including limiting standing water in our yards, wearing protective clothing and putting on the ever stinky bug spray.
I admit I'm not one to worry about this stuff, but every time I get bit by a mosquito or start feeling overly tired- the first thing I think of is "west nile". Why take a chance? I think it's time to break out my long sleeve t-shirts and knee-high socks.