Wow! What a fun weekend it has been! Yesterday was Ashleigh's (a good friend from our small group Bible study) baby shower. My, my, my was that a beautiful shower - every little detail was thought of. We even played a fun little game called B-A-B-Y-O (kind of like Bingo) where you fill in all the boxes with things you think the new mommy is going to get... things like diapers, baby monitors, onesies, blankets, etc. Then, as she is opening the presents, you place markers (our markers were hershey kisses -- YUM!) and get prizes as you make a BABYO! A very cute idea to keep guests engaged in the present-opening.
Then, today was Beth's (a friend from the "old" small group) baby shower. Her's was a little more intimate but still a lot of fun! She had a great idea to have all the guests draw a number from 1 to 12 and then write Baby Audrey a birthday card for that respective birthday year (i.e. 4 for the 4th birthday). This is such a cute idea that I will definitely keep in mind for down the road... No mom, that is NOT a hint! :)
And then, here is an easy recipe to tempt your tastebuds:
Cake Balls:
INGREDIENTS:
box cake mix (plus any ingredients listed on the box)
meltable chocolate (white and milk)
can of frosting (any flavor)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. make the cake mix according to the instructions on the box. cook in a 9x13 very well-greased pan. cool completely.
2. turn entire cake out onto wax paper and cut in half.
3. take half of the cake and mix with half the can of frosting in a large bowl until the dough can be formed into balls. repeat with the other half of cake and frosting.
4. place each ball in a spoon. use another spoon to coat ball with melted chocolate. use a third spoon to push the ball onto a piece of wax paper. allow chocolate to cool and harden and then drizzle with other melted chocolate (i.e. milk chocolate over white chocolate or white chocolate over milk chocolate)
Such a great recipe for showers where cute little yummies are the items of choice - kind of like petit fours.
On another note, the 101 in 1001 list is under way (I will be updating totals as soon as I finish this entry) but I have tried a new recipe (chorizo and cornbread stuffing in cornish hens baked and braised in white wine, butter, and olive oil - by no means healthy but delicious!) and a new recipe (yay for authentic Greek gyros! - you know it's good when the entire Greek family is stuffed inside a little 4x5 stand (babies and all) and they all talk with a thick accent!!!). Also the health choices are well underway and the graduate school is in the "figure out what I am doing" phase.
Stay tuned!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Graduate School
I think word has gotten around and most everyone knows... but I have been accepted into Lamar University's Master Program. In a short 18 months I will be walking across the stage as a Principal-to-be!!! This is such a fabulous opportunity and I am so excited to be taking part in this.
Now, I have to study for the GRE, take the GRE, and make it through my classes. Whew! It's back to school for me - I haven't been a student in 3 years! Time surely flies...
101 in 1001 item number 93 is underway. Many of my other challenges are also underway or in the planning stage - life is good; Thank you Jesus!
Now, I have to study for the GRE, take the GRE, and make it through my classes. Whew! It's back to school for me - I haven't been a student in 3 years! Time surely flies...
101 in 1001 item number 93 is underway. Many of my other challenges are also underway or in the planning stage - life is good; Thank you Jesus!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Day Zero and the List
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Start Date:
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
End Date:
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Completed tasks will be changed to the color green. :) Why green? Because it's my list and I like the color green, that's why...
Health & Fitness
1. Run a half marathon... working on it! Just ran a 5k!!! Got another 5k in the works for April
2. Give up diet coke for a week... planned for February 22-28
3. Floss every day for 30 days (0/30)
4. Get down to 135lbs - lost 17 1/2 so far!!!
5. Complete a 40 week running/walking/biking training program (0/40)
6. Get a stride analysis for running shoes
7. Give up chocolate for a week... planned for February 22-28, sorry, didn't happen this week...
8. Drink nothing but water for a week ... planned for February 22-28, didn't happen either...
9. Do 100 crunches straight - up to 20... pitiful, I know...
10. Go a month without ice cream
11. Take a yoga class - video or in person
12. Read "What to Expect Before You're Expecting"
13. Buy a bike helmet - at a garage sale for 25c no less!
14. Run 10+ miles total a week for a year (0/52)
15. Try vegetarianism for one week... planned for February 22-28 - operation Eat Veggies complete!
16. Go snorkeling
17. Bike to the store for groceries
18. Give up fast food for a week... planned for February 22-28
19. Take vitamins every day for 30 days (30/30)
20. Go snuba-ing - scheduled for July 2010!
21. Run a sub 10-minute mile... at a 13:38 minute mile and working on it.
22. Learn to drive a dune buggy - scheduled for July 2010!
23. Run in the Cowtown Marathon
Home
24. Vacuum once a week for 10 weeks (2/10)
25. Install granite countertops in kitchen
26. Host a dinner party - Clint's cousin and his fiancee
27. Host a family holiday meal
28. Bathe dog once a week for a month (2/4)
29. Double savings
30. Pay off student loan debt
31. Give Penny vitamins once a day for a week (7/7)
32. Create a living will
33. Bake a pie - a quiche counts! it's a breakfast pie!!!
34. Take a cake decorating class - scheduled for each Monday in April
35. Use reusable shopping bags when grocery shopping
36. Go to a farmer's market
37. Shop at Central Market once a month for a year (2/12)
38. Put up all new curtains in every room (4/10)
39. Give up TV for a week
40. Try 50 new recipes (11/50)
* chorizo and cornbread stuffing in a cornish hen braised in white wine, olive oil, and butter
* Tom Kha soup (coconut soup) - a little too sweet; need to try with more spice
* Massaman curry - a little overcooked to the point of caramelizing; too sweet
* Belgium Waffles - very tasty and really not too hard to make from scratch
* Home-made almond whipped cream - super yummy!
* Carrot and Onion Quiche
* Black Bean Cheese Enchiladas
* Chilled Avocado Soup
* Mushroom Strudel - nasty, don't EVER try it
* Black Bean Burgers - surprisingly tasty
* Cake Truffles - originally called Cake Balls, but since I was taking them to work, we had to think of a more appropriate name...
* Vegetable Stir-fry - yummy with fresh veggies from a vegetable stand in Weatherford
41. Make dinner in the crock pot once a month for a year (0/12)
42. Make limeade from scratch
43. Make soup from scratch
44. Bake a cake from scratch (frosting included)
Social/Entertainment
45. Host a game night - Clint's cousin and fiancee - go Dutch Blitz!!!
46. Attend a concert
47. Give blood
48. Get a Concealed Handgun License - scheduled for April 18
49. See 10 movies in the theater (3/10)
* Sherlock Holmes
* Leap Day
* Dear John
50. Try 15 new restaurants (5/15)
* Greek Gyros
* Mary's Cafe in Strawn, Texas
* Spiral Bakery and Diner
* Baker's Ribs in Weatherford
* Golden Moon in Weatherford
* The Pyramid in Dallas - highly recommend!
51. Join a book club
52. Go to a comedy show
53. Read a Jane Austen book
54. Go to the Gaylord and see the ice sculptures at Christmas
55. Listen to the DaVinci Code on audio
56. Camp near the Grand Canyon
57. Go see a play
58. Read 50 books (2/50)
**1. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella
**2. The Pregnant Father... don't ask, it looked interesting
59. See an IMAX movie
60. Go to a college football game
61. Go to the Fort Worth Science Museum - March 9
62. Vote in an election
63. Watch every season of "Charmed" (4/8)
Marriage
64. Go on a cruise - scheduled for July 2010
65. Surprise husband with a vacation
66. Have a candlelit dinner
67. Tour the Stockyards and get lost in the maze
68. Randomly write my husband a love letter
69. Watch the sunset with my husband
70. Watch the sunrise with my husband
71. Join a library
72. Make baby plans
73. Have a dinner date with my husband once a month (4/32)
74. Make out with my husband in an elevator
Travel
75. Go to NYC
76. Go tandem Sky-Diving - tentatively scheduled for Summer 2011 (post-graduation)
77. Go on a weekend getaway to Houston
78. Visit another country - Puerto Rico among others scheduled for July 2010
79. Go to a Disneyland/world - scheduled for July 2010 - we even have reservations to stay in a Disney resort!!!
80. Go to the zoo
81. Go deep sea fishing - scheduled for July 2010
For Myself
82. Take Trash the Dress photos
83. Read the Bible Chronologically in a year (57/365)
84. Paint a picture
85. Give up my iPhone for 24 hours
86. Ride a roller coaster three times in a row
87. Treat myself once a day for a month (0/30)
88. Learn to play chess
89. Memorize a book of the Bible
90. Update my blog once a week (7/30)
91. Identify 100 things that make me happy (29/100)
**1. my husband
**2. Penny
**3. my mom
**4. my dad
**5. my sister
**6. my brother
**7. my other brother
**8. chocolate
**9. thunderstorms
**10. the color green
**11. finishing a project
**12. snow
**13. sunshine
**14. Xena: Warrior Princess
**15. reality shows - it's nice that other people have bigger problems than me! Sadistic, I know...
**16. sleeping in on Saturday mornings
**17. breakfast in bed
**18. snuggling
**19. hot cocoa
**20. cooking (as long as the recipe turns out...)
**21. new clothes
**22. new purses in cute colors
**23. pretty dresses
**24. new organization or office supplies (bring on the sharpies and fun shaped post-it notes!)
**25. cold nights with 17 layers of blankets!
**26. cooking
**27. sharpies
**28. my new car
**29. the Bachelor/ Bachelorette
**30. avocado
**31. pulled pork
**32. chorizo
**33. trying new recipes
**34. planting a garden (now the real test... will it grow!)
**35. going to school (not that I "go", but I do have classwork!)
92. Identify 25 things I like about myself (12/25)
**1. my drive and determination
**2. my ability to love
**3. my ability to see someone else's point of view
**4. my eyes
**5. my ability to see potential
**6. my love for life
**7. my taste in men - love you hubby!
**8. my cooking style
**9. my shopping restraint
**10. my teaching style
**11. my flair for organization
**12. my desire to do more
**13. my innate realtor and travel agent abilities
93. Finish graduate school
94. Memorize Jeremiah 29: 11-13
95. Use my camera once a month (0/30)
96. Get a facial
97. List one thing I am grateful for, every day for a year (30/365)
**1. my salvation
**2. my Savior, Jesus Christ
**3. my husband
**4. my family
**5. my puppy
**6. my church home - Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas - a great place for anyone looking to build their relationship with Christ.
**7. my beautiful home
**8. my awesome, but challenging and sometimes exhausting, job
**9. technology
**10. my sweet tooth
**11. my graduate program
**12. my students
**13. good food
**14. air to breathe
**15. fun music
**16. my new car
**17. my safety
**18. my cell phone
**19. Canton Flea Market
**20. ice cream
**21. energy to run
**22. Mexican food
**23. the gym (it's more of a love/hate thing)
**24. discount shopping stores (otherwise I would get in trouble more often)\
**25. my sewing room
**26. flowers
**27. butterflies
**28. chocolate
**29. fun tv shows
**30. the Bachelor/ Bachelorette
98. Learn "Merry Christmas" in 5 different languages (3/5)
1. Feliz Navidad (Spanish)
2. Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian)
3. Froliche Wienachten (German) - dad, did I spell that right???
99. Feed ducks
List-Related
100. Donate $5 for every task I don’t complete to Christ Chapel Bible Church
101. Put $5 into savings for every completed task
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Start Date:
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
End Date:
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Completed tasks will be changed to the color green. :) Why green? Because it's my list and I like the color green, that's why...
Health & Fitness
1. Run a half marathon... working on it! Just ran a 5k!!! Got another 5k in the works for April
2. Give up diet coke for a week... planned for February 22-28
3. Floss every day for 30 days (0/30)
4. Get down to 135lbs - lost 17 1/2 so far!!!
5. Complete a 40 week running/walking/biking training program (0/40)
6. Get a stride analysis for running shoes
7. Give up chocolate for a week... planned for February 22-28, sorry, didn't happen this week...
8. Drink nothing but water for a week ... planned for February 22-28, didn't happen either...
9. Do 100 crunches straight - up to 20... pitiful, I know...
10. Go a month without ice cream
11. Take a yoga class - video or in person
12. Read "What to Expect Before You're Expecting"
13. Buy a bike helmet - at a garage sale for 25c no less!
14. Run 10+ miles total a week for a year (0/52)
15. Try vegetarianism for one week... planned for February 22-28 - operation Eat Veggies complete!
16. Go snorkeling
17. Bike to the store for groceries
18. Give up fast food for a week... planned for February 22-28
19. Take vitamins every day for 30 days (30/30)
20. Go snuba-ing - scheduled for July 2010!
21. Run a sub 10-minute mile... at a 13:38 minute mile and working on it.
22. Learn to drive a dune buggy - scheduled for July 2010!
23. Run in the Cowtown Marathon
Home
24. Vacuum once a week for 10 weeks (2/10)
25. Install granite countertops in kitchen
26. Host a dinner party - Clint's cousin and his fiancee
27. Host a family holiday meal
28. Bathe dog once a week for a month (2/4)
29. Double savings
30. Pay off student loan debt
31. Give Penny vitamins once a day for a week (7/7)
32. Create a living will
33. Bake a pie - a quiche counts! it's a breakfast pie!!!
34. Take a cake decorating class - scheduled for each Monday in April
35. Use reusable shopping bags when grocery shopping
36. Go to a farmer's market
37. Shop at Central Market once a month for a year (2/12)
38. Put up all new curtains in every room (4/10)
39. Give up TV for a week
40. Try 50 new recipes (11/50)
* chorizo and cornbread stuffing in a cornish hen braised in white wine, olive oil, and butter
* Tom Kha soup (coconut soup) - a little too sweet; need to try with more spice
* Massaman curry - a little overcooked to the point of caramelizing; too sweet
* Belgium Waffles - very tasty and really not too hard to make from scratch
* Home-made almond whipped cream - super yummy!
* Carrot and Onion Quiche
* Black Bean Cheese Enchiladas
* Chilled Avocado Soup
* Mushroom Strudel - nasty, don't EVER try it
* Black Bean Burgers - surprisingly tasty
* Cake Truffles - originally called Cake Balls, but since I was taking them to work, we had to think of a more appropriate name...
* Vegetable Stir-fry - yummy with fresh veggies from a vegetable stand in Weatherford
41. Make dinner in the crock pot once a month for a year (0/12)
42. Make limeade from scratch
43. Make soup from scratch
44. Bake a cake from scratch (frosting included)
Social/Entertainment
45. Host a game night - Clint's cousin and fiancee - go Dutch Blitz!!!
46. Attend a concert
47. Give blood
48. Get a Concealed Handgun License - scheduled for April 18
49. See 10 movies in the theater (3/10)
* Sherlock Holmes
* Leap Day
* Dear John
50. Try 15 new restaurants (5/15)
* Greek Gyros
* Mary's Cafe in Strawn, Texas
* Spiral Bakery and Diner
* Baker's Ribs in Weatherford
* Golden Moon in Weatherford
* The Pyramid in Dallas - highly recommend!
51. Join a book club
52. Go to a comedy show
53. Read a Jane Austen book
54. Go to the Gaylord and see the ice sculptures at Christmas
55. Listen to the DaVinci Code on audio
56. Camp near the Grand Canyon
57. Go see a play
58. Read 50 books (2/50)
**1. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella
**2. The Pregnant Father... don't ask, it looked interesting
59. See an IMAX movie
60. Go to a college football game
61. Go to the Fort Worth Science Museum - March 9
62. Vote in an election
63. Watch every season of "Charmed" (4/8)
Marriage
64. Go on a cruise - scheduled for July 2010
65. Surprise husband with a vacation
66. Have a candlelit dinner
67. Tour the Stockyards and get lost in the maze
68. Randomly write my husband a love letter
69. Watch the sunset with my husband
70. Watch the sunrise with my husband
71. Join a library
72. Make baby plans
73. Have a dinner date with my husband once a month (4/32)
74. Make out with my husband in an elevator
Travel
75. Go to NYC
76. Go tandem Sky-Diving - tentatively scheduled for Summer 2011 (post-graduation)
77. Go on a weekend getaway to Houston
78. Visit another country - Puerto Rico among others scheduled for July 2010
79. Go to a Disneyland/world - scheduled for July 2010 - we even have reservations to stay in a Disney resort!!!
80. Go to the zoo
81. Go deep sea fishing - scheduled for July 2010
For Myself
82. Take Trash the Dress photos
83. Read the Bible Chronologically in a year (57/365)
84. Paint a picture
85. Give up my iPhone for 24 hours
86. Ride a roller coaster three times in a row
87. Treat myself once a day for a month (0/30)
88. Learn to play chess
89. Memorize a book of the Bible
90. Update my blog once a week (7/30)
91. Identify 100 things that make me happy (29/100)
**1. my husband
**2. Penny
**3. my mom
**4. my dad
**5. my sister
**6. my brother
**7. my other brother
**8. chocolate
**9. thunderstorms
**10. the color green
**11. finishing a project
**12. snow
**13. sunshine
**14. Xena: Warrior Princess
**15. reality shows - it's nice that other people have bigger problems than me! Sadistic, I know...
**16. sleeping in on Saturday mornings
**17. breakfast in bed
**18. snuggling
**19. hot cocoa
**20. cooking (as long as the recipe turns out...)
**21. new clothes
**22. new purses in cute colors
**23. pretty dresses
**24. new organization or office supplies (bring on the sharpies and fun shaped post-it notes!)
**25. cold nights with 17 layers of blankets!
**26. cooking
**27. sharpies
**28. my new car
**29. the Bachelor/ Bachelorette
**30. avocado
**31. pulled pork
**32. chorizo
**33. trying new recipes
**34. planting a garden (now the real test... will it grow!)
**35. going to school (not that I "go", but I do have classwork!)
92. Identify 25 things I like about myself (12/25)
**1. my drive and determination
**2. my ability to love
**3. my ability to see someone else's point of view
**4. my eyes
**5. my ability to see potential
**6. my love for life
**7. my taste in men - love you hubby!
**8. my cooking style
**9. my shopping restraint
**10. my teaching style
**11. my flair for organization
**12. my desire to do more
**13. my innate realtor and travel agent abilities
93. Finish graduate school
94. Memorize Jeremiah 29: 11-13
95. Use my camera once a month (0/30)
96. Get a facial
97. List one thing I am grateful for, every day for a year (30/365)
**1. my salvation
**2. my Savior, Jesus Christ
**3. my husband
**4. my family
**5. my puppy
**6. my church home - Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas - a great place for anyone looking to build their relationship with Christ.
**7. my beautiful home
**8. my awesome, but challenging and sometimes exhausting, job
**9. technology
**10. my sweet tooth
**11. my graduate program
**12. my students
**13. good food
**14. air to breathe
**15. fun music
**16. my new car
**17. my safety
**18. my cell phone
**19. Canton Flea Market
**20. ice cream
**21. energy to run
**22. Mexican food
**23. the gym (it's more of a love/hate thing)
**24. discount shopping stores (otherwise I would get in trouble more often)\
**25. my sewing room
**26. flowers
**27. butterflies
**28. chocolate
**29. fun tv shows
**30. the Bachelor/ Bachelorette
98. Learn "Merry Christmas" in 5 different languages (3/5)
1. Feliz Navidad (Spanish)
2. Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian)
3. Froliche Wienachten (German) - dad, did I spell that right???
99. Feed ducks
List-Related
100. Donate $5 for every task I don’t complete to Christ Chapel Bible Church
101. Put $5 into savings for every completed task
A New Year and a Fresh Start
Ok. So, of course, I am a little late getting to actually listing my new year's resolutions (I think I resolved to be more on top of things - I guess that's out the window!), but here I go...
* I resolve to fully rely on God. And, no, I'm not talking F.R.O.G. I am talking about the real, genuine, my-world's-falling-apart-yet-I'm-still-keeping-calm kind of trusting on God. I have really been shown yet again how powerful our God is and want to acknowledge that by making Him my first and most important resolution.
* I resolve to read the Bible chronologically in one year ending with my last Scripture reading at midnight on New Year's Eve 2011.
* I resolve to once and for all lose the 50 pounds I've put on since the wedding so that I can do a Trash-The-Dress photo shoot in my wedding gown. I'm thinking about going down to the coast or somewhere with a lot of water... Any ideas?
* I resolve to work out by walking, running, and biking in an effort to prepare myself for a Half-Marathon in September. Clint and I are doing this as a joint effort - we will start with a 1K walk, 5K walk, 5K run, 10K run, and finish with a Half-Marathon! I am so excited!!!
* I resolve (ok, Clint and I resolve - I guess I can't take all the credit) to continue our accelerated debt repayment plan in an effort to be debt free! Target date: July 2022. Just 12.5 years to go and that will take care of all student loans and the house loan without any new loans (car, etc.).
* I resolve to start every day with a renewed sense of purpose. (I know that is vague, but it felt right to put it in there!)
* AND FINALLY... I will start the 101 in 1001 list. This will be a list of 101 items that I have to complete in 1001 days... Wish me luck!
Happy New Year everyone!!!
* I resolve to fully rely on God. And, no, I'm not talking F.R.O.G. I am talking about the real, genuine, my-world's-falling-apart-yet-I'm-still-keeping-calm kind of trusting on God. I have really been shown yet again how powerful our God is and want to acknowledge that by making Him my first and most important resolution.
* I resolve to read the Bible chronologically in one year ending with my last Scripture reading at midnight on New Year's Eve 2011.
* I resolve to once and for all lose the 50 pounds I've put on since the wedding so that I can do a Trash-The-Dress photo shoot in my wedding gown. I'm thinking about going down to the coast or somewhere with a lot of water... Any ideas?
* I resolve to work out by walking, running, and biking in an effort to prepare myself for a Half-Marathon in September. Clint and I are doing this as a joint effort - we will start with a 1K walk, 5K walk, 5K run, 10K run, and finish with a Half-Marathon! I am so excited!!!
* I resolve (ok, Clint and I resolve - I guess I can't take all the credit) to continue our accelerated debt repayment plan in an effort to be debt free! Target date: July 2022. Just 12.5 years to go and that will take care of all student loans and the house loan without any new loans (car, etc.).
* I resolve to start every day with a renewed sense of purpose. (I know that is vague, but it felt right to put it in there!)
* AND FINALLY... I will start the 101 in 1001 list. This will be a list of 101 items that I have to complete in 1001 days... Wish me luck!
Happy New Year everyone!!!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
April 2009
Happy Easter!!! Thank you Jesus for everything you have done for us - thank you especially for caring for my family in a way that I couldn't have ever imagined. You are truly amazing.
For an update... We are a mere 36 days away from closing on the most beautiful house we could have ever imagined. We are looking at furniture and have even purchased a little set for a sitting area in our bedroom. What do you think?
For an update... We are a mere 36 days away from closing on the most beautiful house we could have ever imagined. We are looking at furniture and have even purchased a little set for a sitting area in our bedroom. What do you think?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Contract on our house
So, about a week and a half ago, Clint and I were just laying in bed on a lazy Saturday morning, talking and dreaming about the future. We had been talking for some time about wanting to buy a house and had even been looking online at different house listings. As we were talking, we decided to call up a couple of realtors and get a feel for what we wanted.
Fast forward to today... In just a week and a half we have done the house hunting thing, settled on a lender, put in an offer, counter-offered, and now have a contract on the most amazing house we could have ever dreamed of! What do you think?
Fast forward to today... In just a week and a half we have done the house hunting thing, settled on a lender, put in an offer, counter-offered, and now have a contract on the most amazing house we could have ever dreamed of! What do you think?
It is truly our dream house and we cannot wait to make it ours. We close on May 18!!!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Whirlwind Holidays!
Wow! It seems like time just crawls and flies at the same time. So much has happened in such a short time. Let me back up and recall the events...
December 6th promised to be a night full of fun - Clint's company party was that night and we would be enjoying a relaxing evening of games and good food and prizes! The party was wonderful and afterward we went upstairs to the hotel room we had decided to stay in. We so rarely treat ourselves as a couple, so we had decided to splurge just a little. The room was amazing, but we when we started to settle in, I realized that I had a missed phone call on my cell phone. It was dad... He knew we would be busy until late, so I was curious as to why he had been trying to call. His voice message was vague and haunting: call me back soon. When we called (at 11:00 at night, mind you) we were horrified to find out that mom had been admitted into the hospital. This completely came out of nowhere and I was devestated at the thought. Clint immediately wanted to pack up and drive back to Fort Worth, but I realized that driving that late would not be safe and mom would probably be asleep anyway. Maybe I knew in my heart that we would be in for a terrible ordeal and we would need a good night's rest. Well, the "good rest" didn't exactly come because I cried myself to sleep, Clint holding me the whole time. That night was terrible... we didn't know what would happen and why this had come about all of a sudden...
The next morning we awoke very early, checked out of the hotel, and rushed to the hospital. When we arrived, we found mom lying in a bed at Baylor Cityview hospital. There was too much confusion to truly understand what was happening. As the day progressed, we heard a word that no family ever wants to hear - Leukemia. "We don't know for certain" and "we will need more tests" but we all knew that this was not going to be good. For the next 2 days we cried, held each other close, and cried some more. I don't think that little family chapel had ever seen so many people! Our days dragged horribly. Mom had a bone marrow biopsy and the tests came back positive. My mother, my best friend, my everything, had Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Research shows that this particular form of cancer is very fast moving - if not diagnosed and treated, it can be fatal in a matter of weeks. The doctor told us that if mom had not come in, there was a good chance she would have been gone by Christmas.
Just let that sink in for a moment... imagine your loved one not exhibiting any signs (or at least no major signs) of illness, gone in 3 weeks. The thought is enough to make you stop and re-evaluate your life. I know that we all re-evaluated our priorities after this.
Mom was transferred to another hospital with a more advanced oncology ward where she was started on chemotherapy within days. If you have never had experience with chemo, you might be surprised to learn just how toxic this stuff is. Nurses suit up before setting up the IV bags. A pix line has to be run so that the chemo can be delivered straight to the heart so that it can be diluted before it has a chance to damage veins. Horrible stuff. But, it saved my mother's life. The first week of chemo was actually better that I would have imagined. There were very few side effects and we were very thankful that God was bringing us through this as painlessly as possible.
Then, the chemo ended and the struggle began. Mom's hemoglobin, white blood cells, and platelets began to drop staggeringly - she received platelets and blood transfusions almost daily. Her appetite dwindled until even the thought of food caused her to feel nauseous. She started to lose her hair. Once again we all sent prayers up to heaven, praying that God would touch mom's body and heal her.
As we prepared for a Christmas in the hospital, we set up a tree, strung lights, and tried to make the experience one that we could all enjoy, despite the circumstances that we unexpectedly found ourselves in. The house in Leander needed to go on the market, and we all pitched in to make it sale-ready. Mom's hope was that the house would go on the market by Christmas. On Christmas day the house was listed and ready. We all cried as God answered yet another prayer.
New Year's Eve was a blast as we all sat in the hospital room snacking on munchies and watching tv. The nurse and the tech came in at the stroke of midnight and we all toasted to a happy new year (with sparkling grape juice, of course).
A few days later, mom was declared to be in remission and was able to go home. For the first time in a month, mom was free from the hospital. For about a week, we were able to celebrate all of the blessings God had given us. You begin to see the world in a whole new light. Every moment of your life should be cherished. Even when the times are hard, and you are sure that you can't make it through your situation, each minute is precious. Each day is a gift from God.
All too soon, mom had to go back in to the hospital to begin her first round of consolidation therapy. We began to relive the effects of the chemo over again. Again, mom was tired and needed to sleep all the time. Again we had to be very careful to make sure that we didn't bring in any germs. Again, we spent so much time at the hospital with her.
Mom is back home now. After a brief return to the hospital following her first round of consolidation, she is doing great! She starts her next round on February 13th, so please pray that all goes well. The house in Leander has an offer, that my parents have accepted, and we are praying that all goes well with that.
God is moving in miraculous ways that we could have never imagined. Our family is so close, but God has brought us so much closer. Relationships have been mended, hearts have been changed, priorities re-evaluated, bonds strengthened. Who would have ever guessed that cancer would have made our lives better? No, everything is not "safe" yet. We still wait for every procedure and every test with bated breath. But, we are constantly reminded that God is still and always will be in control of our lives. He is guiding our paths, making them straight for His will and His purpose.
Through this, God showed me a Scripture passage that has really touched me deeply. I have adopted it as my life's verse and quote it every chance I get. Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." ESV
Lord, I come before you right now, humbled by your mighty power. I am in awe of the awesomeness you display. Your Will is perfect and your path straight. You are the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus, my heart is so full of love for you - you have never forgotten us, you don't neglect us. Even through the toughest time in my life, you are here, holding me in your arms of comfort. Without you, I am nothing. My works are meaningless, my good intentions trivial. With you, through you, and only because of you, I have the hope of everything. My life has meaning because you provide the meaning. To know that I am your treasure and that you desired me when I was so hopeless I could not even know to desire you is empowering. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for dying on the cross to redeem me from my sins. Thank you for rising from the grave to give me a hope for the future. Thank you for your boundless grace that reaches out to me in my time of need. Thank you for your salvation. Please give me the strength and the deligence to seek your will every hour of every day. Continue to work in mom's body. Give her the strength to continue on through the hard days. Give us the strength to praise you continuously. We love you. It is in your name we pray. Amen.
December 6th promised to be a night full of fun - Clint's company party was that night and we would be enjoying a relaxing evening of games and good food and prizes! The party was wonderful and afterward we went upstairs to the hotel room we had decided to stay in. We so rarely treat ourselves as a couple, so we had decided to splurge just a little. The room was amazing, but we when we started to settle in, I realized that I had a missed phone call on my cell phone. It was dad... He knew we would be busy until late, so I was curious as to why he had been trying to call. His voice message was vague and haunting: call me back soon. When we called (at 11:00 at night, mind you) we were horrified to find out that mom had been admitted into the hospital. This completely came out of nowhere and I was devestated at the thought. Clint immediately wanted to pack up and drive back to Fort Worth, but I realized that driving that late would not be safe and mom would probably be asleep anyway. Maybe I knew in my heart that we would be in for a terrible ordeal and we would need a good night's rest. Well, the "good rest" didn't exactly come because I cried myself to sleep, Clint holding me the whole time. That night was terrible... we didn't know what would happen and why this had come about all of a sudden...
The next morning we awoke very early, checked out of the hotel, and rushed to the hospital. When we arrived, we found mom lying in a bed at Baylor Cityview hospital. There was too much confusion to truly understand what was happening. As the day progressed, we heard a word that no family ever wants to hear - Leukemia. "We don't know for certain" and "we will need more tests" but we all knew that this was not going to be good. For the next 2 days we cried, held each other close, and cried some more. I don't think that little family chapel had ever seen so many people! Our days dragged horribly. Mom had a bone marrow biopsy and the tests came back positive. My mother, my best friend, my everything, had Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Research shows that this particular form of cancer is very fast moving - if not diagnosed and treated, it can be fatal in a matter of weeks. The doctor told us that if mom had not come in, there was a good chance she would have been gone by Christmas.
Just let that sink in for a moment... imagine your loved one not exhibiting any signs (or at least no major signs) of illness, gone in 3 weeks. The thought is enough to make you stop and re-evaluate your life. I know that we all re-evaluated our priorities after this.
Mom was transferred to another hospital with a more advanced oncology ward where she was started on chemotherapy within days. If you have never had experience with chemo, you might be surprised to learn just how toxic this stuff is. Nurses suit up before setting up the IV bags. A pix line has to be run so that the chemo can be delivered straight to the heart so that it can be diluted before it has a chance to damage veins. Horrible stuff. But, it saved my mother's life. The first week of chemo was actually better that I would have imagined. There were very few side effects and we were very thankful that God was bringing us through this as painlessly as possible.
Then, the chemo ended and the struggle began. Mom's hemoglobin, white blood cells, and platelets began to drop staggeringly - she received platelets and blood transfusions almost daily. Her appetite dwindled until even the thought of food caused her to feel nauseous. She started to lose her hair. Once again we all sent prayers up to heaven, praying that God would touch mom's body and heal her.
As we prepared for a Christmas in the hospital, we set up a tree, strung lights, and tried to make the experience one that we could all enjoy, despite the circumstances that we unexpectedly found ourselves in. The house in Leander needed to go on the market, and we all pitched in to make it sale-ready. Mom's hope was that the house would go on the market by Christmas. On Christmas day the house was listed and ready. We all cried as God answered yet another prayer.
New Year's Eve was a blast as we all sat in the hospital room snacking on munchies and watching tv. The nurse and the tech came in at the stroke of midnight and we all toasted to a happy new year (with sparkling grape juice, of course).
A few days later, mom was declared to be in remission and was able to go home. For the first time in a month, mom was free from the hospital. For about a week, we were able to celebrate all of the blessings God had given us. You begin to see the world in a whole new light. Every moment of your life should be cherished. Even when the times are hard, and you are sure that you can't make it through your situation, each minute is precious. Each day is a gift from God.
All too soon, mom had to go back in to the hospital to begin her first round of consolidation therapy. We began to relive the effects of the chemo over again. Again, mom was tired and needed to sleep all the time. Again we had to be very careful to make sure that we didn't bring in any germs. Again, we spent so much time at the hospital with her.
Mom is back home now. After a brief return to the hospital following her first round of consolidation, she is doing great! She starts her next round on February 13th, so please pray that all goes well. The house in Leander has an offer, that my parents have accepted, and we are praying that all goes well with that.
God is moving in miraculous ways that we could have never imagined. Our family is so close, but God has brought us so much closer. Relationships have been mended, hearts have been changed, priorities re-evaluated, bonds strengthened. Who would have ever guessed that cancer would have made our lives better? No, everything is not "safe" yet. We still wait for every procedure and every test with bated breath. But, we are constantly reminded that God is still and always will be in control of our lives. He is guiding our paths, making them straight for His will and His purpose.
Through this, God showed me a Scripture passage that has really touched me deeply. I have adopted it as my life's verse and quote it every chance I get. Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." ESV
Lord, I come before you right now, humbled by your mighty power. I am in awe of the awesomeness you display. Your Will is perfect and your path straight. You are the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus, my heart is so full of love for you - you have never forgotten us, you don't neglect us. Even through the toughest time in my life, you are here, holding me in your arms of comfort. Without you, I am nothing. My works are meaningless, my good intentions trivial. With you, through you, and only because of you, I have the hope of everything. My life has meaning because you provide the meaning. To know that I am your treasure and that you desired me when I was so hopeless I could not even know to desire you is empowering. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for dying on the cross to redeem me from my sins. Thank you for rising from the grave to give me a hope for the future. Thank you for your boundless grace that reaches out to me in my time of need. Thank you for your salvation. Please give me the strength and the deligence to seek your will every hour of every day. Continue to work in mom's body. Give her the strength to continue on through the hard days. Give us the strength to praise you continuously. We love you. It is in your name we pray. Amen.
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