Catch Up

wow, it has been a long time. Where to begin?? We got back from Florida and we had a great trip. We went to Orlando one day. We went to Sea World and then met my aunt and grandma for dinner. It was so good to see my Grandma. The kids had so much fun at Mom & Dad's. They swam every day (at least twice a day actually), they got to ride the horses whenever they wanted. They loved it and so did I. It was so nice to have Mom home. She let me sleep in and she did so much with the kids. It was so nice. She and I got to spend an afternoon together shopping & eating out. It was nice! I love and appreciate my parents so much. They are the most easy going, open people I know. I hate (I know that's strong) but I hate being so far from them. I wish I could merge my two worlds of Rowlett, TX and Newberry, FL or at least bring them closer together...16 hours in a car is TOOO far!! We had a great time with my sister and brother-in-law and niece too. The kids had a blast and so did I. The car ride there and back wasn't too bad either. Xuan and I split it up so we stopped in New Orleans on the way there and Mobile on the way back. The kids actually did great in the car.

It was great to be back with Levi, I felt complete again. We miss him when he can't go with us to Florida but it's always sweet to be back together as a family.

We got back to real life last week and it's been good. I missed my friends and so I've been trying to catch up with everybody. We had the Oakes family over last week and had a great time. I love having new people in my house and really getting to talk to them and hear their story. I think that's so important. This week we're having the Bloomers over (they're "old" friends but we haven't had them over since the Bloomettes were born). I'm excited about that:) We went shopping with them yesterday and they are so dadgum cute!! Addy was their babysitter, she did a good job:)

Yesterday was a heavy day for me, I caught up with a few different friends. They were all going through different issues but it was all sad and frustrating. I wish I could help more or know the magic words to say but I think listening and being there is what they need. I'm trying to be quiet and be a better listener, that's hard for me. I listened to a sermon this morning while I was on the treadmill about the Beattitudes. Is that how you spell that? It talked about blessed are those that mourn and how when we're called to the Christian life it will not be easy. I need to finish it because I feel like a lot of my friends are in "mourning" or hard times. Life is not easy and it is not fun and sometimes we don't feel hope and joy. I hate that. I feel like I'm in a pretty good place right now. And that's good, maybe I can offer more hope and joy.

I've gotten more serious about Weight Watchers. I go weigh in tonight so I will hopefully re-lose the 2 lbs I gained in Florida. We'll see.

This is random because I'm totally changing the subject again....I'm thankful for all my friends here. I have a few different networks and I'm thankful for every one of them. We have our Catalyst friends, I have my mommy group friends, and I have our other pastor friends. Each of those groups are so valuable to me. I am so so so thankful for them.

Okay, that's enough for now...thanks for reading, I think we're caught up:)

We're back.....

but I am so pooped. We had a great evening as a family just hanging out and doing some shopping. I will fill you in on the Florida fun later this week. Just wanted to let you know we're back;)

ShoooShaa

Yeah, I don't know either but I've run out of cute titles. We've had a good and busy week since Wednesday. I took the kids to Wetzone on Thursday and they had fun and slept a long time at nap time. Levi went for a bike ride with Blain & some other friends so he got home late. That was okay b/c that night, I went to Fridays with some girlfriends. We had a great time. I've truly been blessed with wonderful mommy friends. Levi took Friday off so we went garage saling and got some wonderful finds. Then we headed to the wetzone and the kids again had a blast. Levi had to ref last night so I ran some errands. I got a Bath & Body giftcard for my birthday (thanks Gram Lowry). They're having their semi-annual sale and Wallflowers were only $4 so I stocked up. Then I headed to Janessa's to grab some scarves and hats for Wendi (she has some cute cute stuff to wear). Wendi let me borrow a couple of the hats for vacation...I know I kind of felt bad but they are sOO cute. I'll return them when we get back :) Thanks Wendi!! Then, I swung into Bed, Bath, & Beyond to grab an all weather picnic blanket for the sprinkler park, etc. It was marked $19.99 but was on sale for $14.99 and I had a 20% off coupon....score!! Arbys for supper and over to Wendi's to drop off hats. Then home with my laundry date. It was a long day but very productive. I did all the laundry so there are seriously very very few dirty clothes in our house. That feels good. I also packed for our Florida trip. I feel bad that Levi can't go. If you're in the area, check in on him for me. I know he'll keep busy....disc golf and mountain biking as much as he'd like...not having to be home for dinner or help with the kids....it's a rough life. I know he'll miss us and we'll miss him. I'm so excited to see my family:)

Anyway, today's been busy too...birthday party for Kelton this morning(thanks Matt & Rach). We had a great time. And Hunter's graduation party tonight...woohoo!! We're going to party hard;) I probably won't get a lot of blog time when I'm in Florida but I'll be tweeting:)

Today

So today we went with Erik & Wendi to the Sammons Center for Wendi's appointment. They are awesome by the way. When they've talked about the appointments it always intrigued me so I'm glad we got to go today. I was really excited, probably built up a little too much anticipation. Levi and I were kidless and I always enjoy that time too. (Thanks Emily, Heather, & Ansley!!) We got to the appointment and they called them back pretty quickly. Levi and I were in the waiting room and were sitting next to an older couple, in their 70's. We started talking to them. They were so nice and the man started telling us about his cancer. He was fine until he hit 70 and had lung cancer and then a couple of small tumors in his brain. He is cancer free now and was telling us about the state of the art technology that Baylor has and how awesome Baylor is. Then he looked at us and said, "You can have all the money in the world and be wealthy but if you don't have your health, you don't got nothing." And then he said, "The Good Lord has been good to us." And she smiled as if to say, "Amen!" They were called back shortly. I told Levi how sobering the place was. As I looked around the room and as people passed, I thought that each one has a story about cancer and how they are fighting this horrible disease. I almost got choked up a number of times and had the urge to go up and ask them to tell me their story. I've never known someone to have cancer in my adult life. Since we've moved here, I've encountered it in such a real way, it's scary. I'm so glad I got to go with them today because it opened my eyes and my heart in a different way and a new perspective. When Erik and Wendi came out, they were encouraged. She is going to start chemo soon but found out there might be some new developments with the research and maybe one of these will apply to her type of cancer. Again, sobering to look at my friend who looks healthy and vibrant and beautiful and know that she has cancer. Please pray for her in the next few weeks as she begins chemo. I know God can give her strength and a peace during this time. Honestly, I don't know how but I know He can. The weird part to this (not really weird) is that as we were leaving, we ran into my friend Janessa, from my playgroup. I blogged about her yesterday and how we talked a lot about her battle with cancer. She and Wendi hit it off and they had an instant bond, I almost got teary again. Janessa's going to pass on her scarves and hats. It was no coincidence that we ran into her. I had just finished telling Wendi about Janessa earlier. Thank you God for all these strong women in my life and let me learn from them and from you as we journey together.

Word Up

Okay I'm just kind of feeling silly, no significance in the post title. I'm tutoring (kind of). Tuesdays are crazy days for me but I LOVE them. I get up really early, go to the gym, meet the girls at Starbucks, usually grocery shop, and then head home. I get ready and then when the kids get up I am ready to go. I like that. I really should get up early more than once a week. I think I'd be more productive. We went to the sprinkler park today with our playgroup. There were only a few of us b/c it stormed this morning so most of the girls stayed home. It was good. I got to talk to Janessa who I haven't talked to a lot. She is a cancer survivor and she is awesome. I am truly inspired by her and her outlook. It was really cool. My friend Wendi goes back to the oncologist tomorrow. Please say a prayer for her and her family. Levi and I are going to go with them and I'm really excited about it (I know weird right?). We love them and just feel like they've taken us in and vice versa (I hope). I just want to be there for them and just walk through life with them, bad and good. Emily and Ansley are going to watch my kiddos again. They watched them last week so Levi & I could go out for my birthday. It's good to connect with people.

We talked last week after dinner and she's awesome. I'm just so so so thankful for all the wonderful Catalyst people. Truly, they're awesome and I feel so blessed to be apart of them:)

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Hey guys....we're down to our last 2 hours of voting. Please vote for my friend Sheila. If she wins, all 7 of us get a trip to LA...please vote:)