Bebe!!

Wow, this week has been pretty exciting.  We finally welcomed Lil' Sprang into the world yesterday.  It was so crazy how many of us were watching twitter & facebook like hawks waiting for any word on this baby's entrance.  The world of technology is pretty crazy.  It was so weird and awesome to hold him and look at what we've only seen in the form of a ball in Meagan's belly.  To actually look at his fingers and toes and kiss his head...pretty crazy.   The Sprangs are family to us and the addition of this baby only grows that love for them and him.  We are some lucky peeps to have them in our lives!!

Dinner

Ready for an awesome week!!  Our good friends are being induced tonight so I am excited as I blog.  Can't wait to hear that he is finally here!!  I am ready for work for the next two weeks and am so excited.  We leave for Disney in 12 days!!!  This will be our first family vacation (not seeing grands) ever!!  I am so pumped!

Alas, onto my dinner plan for the week and then more chit chat!!

Monday-cheesey chicken pot pie
green beans

Tuesday- poppy seed chicken
peas

Wednesday-Chiloso with small group-YUMOLICOUS!!!

Thursday- grilled chicken & veggies

Friday- ribs
baked potatoes
salad

Saturday- Block Party

Okay so I ran this morning.  It was my first time back at it since the 5K and I so enjoyed it. never thought I'd type that.  I really did.  I ran longer without stopping and it just felt good!!  Gonna get back out there tomorrow.  I listened to Natalie Grant and man do I love her.  She has some powerful songs. I really felt like I got my praise on as I ran this morning...what  a great way to start the day:)

Menu Plan 9/13

Here's my menu for the week. We're trying NOT to eat out:)

Sunday-ribs
baked potatoes
green beans

Monday- chili  with toppings (fritos, cheese, sour cream)
grilled cheeses- optional :)

Tuesday- poppy seed chicken
peas

Wednesday- pizza bread
salad
DESSERT with C group

Thursday- chicken & rice
green beans

Friday- chicken & veggies on grill
baked potatoes

What are you cooking this week???

Relationships

I'm realizing more and more how important relationships are.  As I read the scriptures and see how much Jesus invested in other people's lives, it's a call and a challenge for me to do the same.  I think at times, I feel choked by all the relationships I have and try to maintain.  There's my relationship with God, with Levi, my kids, my parents, my sister, extended family,  friends (from mommy group, from church, from work, from my kid's stuff, neighbors), students, parents of students, long distance friends, and then there are the people that I'm trying to establish friendship with that I don't know well but I see a lot (like my Chick-fil-a friends,  yeah I admitted it).  Man, it's kind of crazy to list all of the people I'm in relationship with.  You're no different, if you took the time to list all of the people you come in contact with, it's kind of crazy.  It's also crazy to think that I can positively or negatively affect each and every one of those.  I'm sure I have at one point or another and if I haven't, I probably will. I know it's hard to believe but I get an attitude at times.  I struggle with getting frustrated easily, having little patience, and making mountains out of molehills.  I don't want to ever tire of being a relational person.  Levi was telling me about a leadership seminar that he watched and one of things was that leaders have to have a high pain tolerance.  People will hurt you (and the opposite is true too).  That part is hard for me.  Oh, I also struggle with forgetting past hurts, I'm a scorekeeper.  I hate that because I think I guard myself at times.  We had a couple over the other night and we were talking about schedules and Matt told me that I'm always on the go.  I told him that sometimes for me, that's a way for me to be in denial.  If I'm always going, I don't have to face myself or the yucky stuff in life.  I try to balance and even when I'm on the go, do that in a healthy way.  I really do enjoy being out and about.  Let me clarify, my busy isn't always going through my to do list.  Sometimes it's going with a friend to help with something or just hanging out at Katy's house or clipping coupons at Chickfila while the kids play, I'm still enjoying myself and the people with me.  I'm trying to do better balancing that with my downtime at home to make sure I get what I need to done as well.  Ok, I digress.....the point of this blog was to say that I want to always be relational. I want to be a positive impact in the lives of others.  I want to be appreciative for the help and support I get.  I want people to know how life giving they are to me. 

I hope ya'll have a great weekend.  We've got 3 babies due in our church family in the next few weeks and my prediction is they'll all come in the same week, we'll see if I'm right:)

Even when I try to focus on one thing to blog about, I can't help myself.  Thanks for reading my randomness!

5K

So, I finished my first 5K last night.  I was really tired going into and against Wonder Woman's (AKA my personal trainer-ha) advice, I did not hydrate as well as I should have.  I sweated more than I have ever sweat in my life. It was crazy humid. We ran over the river that was flooded which was kind of crazy.  Let me back up, the opening ceremonies were pretty emotional.  They talked about the tragedy of 9/11 and honored some of our own fallen heroes.  There were a lot of firefighters, police & other military personnel that ran.  I told Levi he could run on ahead of me....so Wonder Woman and I stayed together.  She could have gone ahead too, I did hold her back.  We ended up finishing behind the army unit that ran.  They sang and chanted the whole race.  I was okay for a while in the race, I did walk some too.  The hills seriously kicked my butt.  At the last hill, Wonder Woman sped ahead and I started heaving...so embarrassing but fortunately most had ear buds in and couldn't hear me.  Wonder Woman kept encouraging me to run the last hill which I reluctantly did.  Levi was waiting for us with bottles of water.  I think he expected a huge grin of accomplishment on my face.  I don't do "pain & discomfort" well and my face showed it. I just wanted to sit.  UGH!

Today, I do feel pride and accomplishment!!  They both told me that was the hardest 5K here because of the humidity and hills....we'll see.  Levi wants to do another this fall.   I'm up for it...or I will be after I rest:)  I am pretty tired today but feel good!!

GiGi

So, I found out last week that my grandmother has a mass in her throat that is 8 cm across. It is blocking food from going where it should.  They also found that she has a mass in each breast.  Her mother died of breast cancer and she had a tumor removed a long time ago in one breast.  I also found out that she hasn't had a mammogram in the last 10 years.  The doctors biopsied the throat tumor and should get the result tomorrow, there was a delay because of the holiday weekend.  However, they have already called an oncologist in and he has given her a few options. However, none of those options are good.  It makes me really sad.  The thought of her dying a painful death kills me.  The thought of my mom losing her mom breaks my heart.  The reality that life ends and that those I love will not always be with me is one idea that I'd like to stay in denial about. 

I got to talk to Gigi on Monday. She was in great spirits.  I asked if she was in pain, she said no except her arthritis.  I asked if she was scared or nervous, she said no, she'd lived a long life and it has been wonderful.  We talked about all of our loved ones that were in heaven and what a sweet reunion that would be.  I did not cry on the phone.  I didn't want her to hear that.  My tears were with mixed emotions.  I miss my family and so sometimes I cry just because it makes me sad to be so far away. 

I realized that in my own health, I need to be careful to have regular mammograms because there is obviously family history here.  I also realized that I want to be able to say what Gigi said, "I have lived a wonderful life."  I tend to major on the minors and hold grudges and take score. I don't want to do that.  I want to be a lover and a forgiver.  I want to savor each moment.

I'll keep you posted on Gigi.  She is an amazing woman.  My grandpa died when my mom was pregnant with me....thirty something years ago.  Gigi never remarried.  She worked, hard and when she retired, she started working at a "helping hands" type center.  She finally had to give that up a few months ago.  I admire her so much and I'm thankful for the legacy that she left for me.

Catching Up

Ready for my whirlwind of randomness???

Okay so this week has kicked my butt!!  It has been super busy. I started back to work, 2 days a week. I know I'm whining but it is hard for me to get back into a routine.  Levi and I are running our first 5K together next week and I have only exercised once this week...ugh!!  seriously, kickin' my butt!!! 

Last night, we had some friends over for supper.  These are friends from the Chamber.  They actually own the Chick-fil-a in town (that's not why we're friends)!!  We love us some Chick-fil-a.  We just talked and talked and talked.  The kids played wonderfully and it was so nice to catch up.  We see them around town but it was nice to  be able to have uninterrupted conversation.

Yesterday for breakfast, we met a friend from Nashville.  He is a wonderful guy and I'm so glad he squeezed us in his busy schedule.  It was great to catch up and swap stories.  I actually worked for him in Nashville, great guy...missed seeing his wife.  It is neat to reconnect and share what has happened in the past 3 or 4 years and how life has changed so much for all of us. 

Talked to another friend early in the week and she shared a situation that she is going through where the other person's behavior is bordering on evil.  I hate to hear that.  I hate that those of us who call ourselves Christians don't act very Christlike.  I know I'm guilty of not acting Christlike at times.  There's a hard balance between being human and then acting out of our human nature in an ugly way.  I want to be the kind of person that extends grace and mercy and love even when it's undeserved or when I'm justified or when it's really not my fault and the other person is a jerk.  I think that's the test.  It says in the Bible (paraphrased of course), "...even heathens love those that are kind to them, the hard part is loving those who are mean (or evil)."  I hope I got that right. I struggle with letting that stuff go and not worrying about it.  I'm trying to do more praying. 

Lots of great stuff going on with us....there's my whirlwind of randomness...