Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Dogs of Christmas

Every year since 2003 I have been responsible for sending out the Christmas card.  And I am sure it comes as no surprise to you, that for the past 7 years I have sent out pictures of my lovely dogs on the cards.  A few years back, I was told by a few people that they really look forward to seeing my famous almost famous Christmas card to see what I am dressing the dogs up in now.  No pressure, right?  Now, I find myself thinking about the dogs Christmas card several weeks months in advance and brainstorming until I come up with something that will suffice until the next year.  Here are the years cards in pictures starting from the beginning.  Stay tuned for the dogs picture this year, it's gonna be a good one!  (Don't mind the picture quality in some of these pictures, they are old!)


2003 (not the digital age for me yet)

2004

2005
 

2006

2007

2008

2009












 

2010 - Coming Soon


Sunday, November 28, 2010

Sweet Sixteen


We did it!  We battled the 22 mile per hour wind today and ran 16 miles to complete week 12 of our marathon training!  Only 6 more weeks to go!  It's crazy how fast time flies!  Almost 2 years ago to the day, I ran 16 miles with my mom and dad.  I was so miserable that day.  I still remember the pain and agony I felt on that day so well, as does my dad.

Today, I felt for my husband.  I am pretty sure he felt the same pain and agony, if not more so, that I once felt when I was training for my first marathon during that 16 mile run two years ago.  Poor guy!  For some reason, thank you God, I felt great, well as great as you can for running 16 miles in 22 mile per hour wind.  My knees only cursed at me for 8 miles and my feet only throbbed for 5.  I couldn't believe I really felt as good as I did.  I thought that maybe, just maybe I was going crazy.  Why was I fist pumping to the Black Eyed Peas at mile 14?  Why was I pretending to jump up and down at mile 15?  What the heck was wrong with me?  Maybe training for the second marathon really is easier than the first?  Could it be true?  If so, sign me up for a third!  Ha!  Just kidding...I got other plans after this one!

Back to my hubby, I am so proud of him!  He did it!  Longest run ever!  And he didn't even complain...that much.  And why was it so sweet you ask?  Because I kept my eye on the prize and had my very best friend right beside me.  Couldn't ask for anything sweeter than running next to your partner in crime and training for something so few partake in, 2 percent to be exact.  Oh, and we saw BIKER FOX!!!


Saturday, November 27, 2010

Related?


What do you think?

*Don't mind my mom, she doesn't like smiling for pictures.  And my cousin Sean really wanted to be in the pic, hence him waving to the camera.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thankful...

"God is glorified, not by our groans, but by our thanksgivings." Edwin Percy Whipple

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’m going to tell you the significant and less significant things for which I am so very thankful...

1.  The best husband in the whole entire world, he would do anything to make me happy.
2.  My dog Macy, and my other dogs Roxy and Jaxon of course!
3.  My siblings and my parents and the awesome chaos that our big happy family creates!
4.  Being able to run the Walt Disney World Marathon again - thank you Dad!
5.  My profession allowing me to take care of children and dedicate my life to better others.
6.  The cutest little cousin who makes me smile every time I look at a picture of him.
7.  My favorite aunt is pretty cool too.
8.  My hoodie collection.
9.  Some of the best friends around, I love you guys!
10. My loving in-laws and extended family.
11. Our warm and cozy home.
12. Freedom, safety and security.
13. Catching up with a great friend.
14. Christmas Season - Deck the Halls!!!
15. Health and Happiness
16. Coffee.
17. The multiple vacations my husband lets me go on.
18. My camera - it allows me to capture wonderful memories.
19. My car.
20. New York & San Francisco
21. Being able to work with some of my most favorite people!
22. Being a Sooner!
23. Meaningful Quotes.
24. Sweat pants.
20. And above all, God, who gives me everything for which I am thankful for above.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Birthday My Dear Macy!


Today is a big day around our household!  It is Macy's 11th birthday!  And you better believe we are celebrating!  Yes, you heard me right, I am celebrating the birth of my DOG!  For those that know me best, this comes as no surprise at all.  And for those of you that don't know me very well, you probably think I am nuts, unless of course you remember this post that I wrote I about my beloved dog back in September. If that's the case, then you probably already KNOW I am nuts.  That's ok though, I have no hard feelings!


Anyway, back to what I was saying...It's Macy's birthday!  Why am I making such a big deal about it you ask?  Well...besides the fact that I love her to death, when I first found out about Macy's heart and her likelihood of going into heart failure sooner rather than later, I was told she will probably only live 6-12 more months.  It has now been 2 years, and despite a cough, my pretty little princess of a dog is doing pretty well.  Thank you God!   


I am so blessed!  And no its not just because I have a dog that I love more than life itself, it is also because God gave me this awesome guy for a husband who, while the whole rest of the world thinks I am going crazy, he gets me.  He gets my love for this spoiled long-haired chihuahua.  He pretends to be is just as excited as I am to celebrate her birthday.  He lets me spoils her rotten too and loves her just almost as much as I do.   How did I get so lucky?


I love her to pieces and I will continue to celebrate her birthday for as long as she lives.   And as you can tell, she is just ecstatic about getting a year older!  Happy 11th birthday Macy girl!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Route 66 Half

courtesy of www.zazzle.com
This past weekend my husband, my mother, my father-in-law (Matt), one of my dear friends Sarah, and I all ran the Route 66 Half Marathon.  The run was kinda fun.  I say kinda, because well...it was windy!!!  and hilly!!!  But it was a beautiful 13.1 mile run through midtown.  There were spectators and bands scattered throughout the course to help pass the time too.  It was much better organized than years past, with water stops every couple of miles and first aid stations along the way.  Despite the hills and the wind, the race was great, one that I highly recommend.

I have ran 4 official half marathons now, well 4 that I can think of, but this one takes the cake as being the most memorable.  Why you ask?  This was my husbands first half marathon!  And he did great!!! This is the longest distance Andrew has ever run, well...until this coming weekend...this weekend is the make it or break it point in the marathon training.  This weekend is the dreaded 16 miles.  Don't ask me why, but it was at that run 2 years ago during my marathon training when I was beginning to question what I was thinking when I signed up for my first marathon in the first place.  But sshhh, please don't tell him.  If you do happen to see him though, tell him good job, I'm so proud of him I can hardly stand it!!


Matt, Andrew's dad, also completed his first marathon!  We are so proud of him too!  Poor guy, he got suckered into running these crazy distances because as a 50th birthday present, Andrew and I signed his dad up for the half marathon, what a great birthday present, right?!?! Happy Running Birthday Matt!!! 

Please pray for the fallen runner that lost his life during the half marathon and please pray that his family finds peace and comfort during this difficult time. 

Until next time...

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Sometimes I don't know what I would do...

 without my husband standing right next to me... 


He is always there to hug me...


and act goofy with me and make me laugh...


and give me kisses when I am sad.


There is no one else I would rather have...


 by my side every step of the way.


Find the person who will love you because of your differences and not in spite of them and you have found a lover for life. ~ Leo Buscaglia

I heart you hunny!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Black Cloud


I was on-call this past weekend for one of those exhausting wonderful 24 hour shifts.  I most certainly did not start my early morning at a time that is for the birds I can enjoy the early hours of the new day with as few people awake as possible.  I did not decide to stop at my favorite coffee shop convenient store on my way to work for a cup of coffee and gasoline.  I also most certainly did not walk run out of the store, after getting coffee, at the sight of gas pouring gushing out of my car.  I am not that much of a black cloud that I would pick the one pump that doesn't automatically shut off when the gas tank is full and have to pay $20 extra in gas, nope, that surely isn't the kind of luck I have!  You better believe that my car ran fine on the way to work too, the extremely full gas tank surely did not cause my car to break down once twice on my way to work, nor did it allow me to putt putt my way to work, nope, my car ran just fine...

I most certainly was not sleep deprived towards the end half way point in my shift and did not get in a name calling fight conversation with one of my little devil angel patients.  He most certainly did not call me a poop-head and I most certainly did not call him one back.  Nope, not me!  I would never do such a thing, especially not when I was sleep deprived and delirious. 

My black cloud certainly did not cause me to have two three seriously ill patients in one shift.  It surely did not cause me to have to send one patient to the PICU, poor baby, and one patient to OKC due to one two dissecting arteries in his brain, we surely don't see that stuff in pediatrics, at least not when I am on-call. My cloud is as white pitch black as can be.   

*I follow this blog that used to have weekly entries about things she most certainly did not do.  This blog entry is in comparison to that one.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Its official!


I am so excited I can hardly contain myself.  After months of politely begging constant nagging, my mother is finally talked into going to Walt Disney World with us to run during the marathon weekend.  (Thanks for your help dad!)  Although, we have only talked her into doing the half and not the full marathon this year, I couldn't be more excited!  Andrew, my youngest brother, my mom, and I are all going to go to Walt Disney World in January to run in the most magically happy race ever at the most wonderful place on Earth!  I know I must sound like a complete dork, but I am so freakin excited!!!

Some of you may remember this post here, but for those who don't, two years ago I decided to sign my parents, my brother, and I up for the Disney marathon, because I really really wanted to go to Disney World and that was the only way I could get my parents, who NEVER go ANYWHERE, to go on a vacation together.  It was a blast.  We had so much fun, including my mom and dad, who still talk about how much fun (and pain) we had two years ago.  My mom hasn't been on a vacation since.  Getting her to go somewhere and do something fun for herself is really like pulling extremely stubborn teeth.  (I obviously get my obsession with vacations from my favorite aunt.)  And I can't think of anyone else on this earth that deserves to have a fun vacation more than her.  So, if you can't tell, I AM STOKED!!!  Making memories on vacation with those I love the most, is one of my most favorite things in the world, as if you didn't already know that.  

And my husband and I get to run a marathon together at Disney World, a place he has NEVER been?!?!  Of course, he will probably swear off running entirely come January 9th at 10 a.m., and I am sure he will be singing me songs of praise shouting not so nice words to me along the way for signing him us for this painful 26.2 mile run, come mile 20.  But I know deep down he will be so proud of himself and the accomplishment that completing a marathon brings with it, or at least I will be so proud of him and never make him run another mile only make him run one more marathon, or maybe two, in his lifetime.

 We are at week 10 of our 18 week training program.  So far so good!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Give Thanks and Give Back!

Side note:  There is a craft fair in Owasso this weekend.  All proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  It is held in memory of Haley Palmer.  For more information visit www.owassocraftfair.blogspot.com.  This is a way for you to help make a difference and help find a cure for this devastating disease, and do a little holiday shopping while you are at it!

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.  
~Meister Eckhart

I volunteered at the Special Olympics this past year.  It was incredible!  These special children are so amazing.  Words cannot describe it!  They have an ambiance about them that is contagious and an outlook on life that is inspiring.  God made these children special for a reason, actually many reasons.  One of them, I believe to be to show others how to truly live life and realize that regardless of what happens in life, we are blessed and we should be thankful.


Sometimes I struggle, but I sure wish I didn't, and I realize I have a lot of faults and I have a lot to work on about being positive and taking the good from many situations.  However, I have said this many times, and I say it again today, I wish that certain people could just spend one day with me at work and maybe they would get a glimpse into how lucky they are to be alive.  There are times when I deal with heartbreak after heartbreak, sick kid after really really sick kid, abuse after abuse, well you get the drift...

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.  ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

And it is these days that I find myself having a hard time being sympathetic.  I know life sucks sometimes.  But I just wish that people would realize that some where someone else is struggling with so much more, and no doubt its probably someone so close to home.

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.  ~Johannes A. Gaertner

Mistakes happen.  Life doesn't always go as planned.  Things change.  Plans get messed up.  So what though.  Of all the blessings and tragedies that make up this thing we call life, one thing remains a constant, no matter what, without any if, ands, or buts....that thing is God.  Most of us are blessed to live a life full of so much blessing and health that we are just so used to it and take for granted the simple things in life.  God has blessed each and every one of us beyond what we deserve.  And I will be the first to admit that I am just as guilty as the next person to think, "Why me?"  But I challenge all you, my dear friends, people, blog stalkers followers, the next time you are asking "why me?" take a second, think about all of your blessings, think about your health and your family and all your other loved ones, and say "thanks!"

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.  ~Seneca

November is commonly thought of as a month of giving thanks.  Please make it a priority to take time this month and think of all the things you are thankful for.  Take time, if you so desire, to give a shout up to God, tell the Good Man thanks for all he does!

Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.  ~A.W. Tozer
 
I wish we could all live a life full of positivity like the kids in the Special Olympics.  We can, however, attempt to live our life to a life of purpose and thankfulness.  What are you thankful for today?

Bonus video:  This is a must watch video that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face:  If only we could all be like this little girl. :)


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Bahama Mama

We went to the Bahamas this past week for Andrew's best friends wedding.  It was such a great excuse for a beach vacation!  We had a ton of fun and got to witness two people exchange wedding vows, very romantic, to say the least!  I find being married to be one of my most favorite and greatest things in the world and I hope and pray that these two, along with every other marriage, find the same thing in their marriage that I have been blessed to find in mine. 

I love being married.  It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.  ~Rita Rudner

We stayed at the Royal Bahamian Sandals Resort.  If you have never been to a Sandals Resort, I highly suggest going to one in your lifetime.  It is an all-inclusive resort that is packed full of relaxation, fun, nice people, and yummy food.  We I looooove Sandals and islands!  My husband is probably pretty sick of island hopping by now, but he sure is a good sport about my on-going obsession.  


The water was breathtakingly (is that a word?!?) beautiful..


and the view from our resort hotel room was mesmerizing!

 

There sure is nothing like relaxing...


Being goofy...

 

And being with the one you love dearly!


There is also nothing like the first look that a man gives when he first lays eyes on his bride...


And the look of a bride truly smitten with her groom..


Andrew and Danny go way back and have been the best of buds for as long as I have known them. 


They love each other, they really do, even if it is a strange boy sort of way!


Congrats to Danny and Christy!  Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day.  
We couldn't be happier for you both!



Monday, November 1, 2010

Don't follow directions.

So I begged and pleaded my husband and I decided to carve pumpkins on Halloween.  After a lot of me nagging politely asking, he took me to the good ole pumpkin patch in our town and we picked us out some nice round pumpkins.  I had some pumpkin carving stencils that I had bought last year on clearance that I dug out.  I picked out a cool stencil, or so I thought, and began to carve my pumpkin...  

Andrew did the same.  This is his pumpkin...



I carefully followed the directions, as I always do, and did it step by step and was so proud of myself.  I was doing so good, and then...the whole thing fell apart!  Here is my pumpkin...
Wait for it....


 
Stupid pumpkin carving kit.


Needless to say, I will NOT be carving pumpkins ever again!  At least not until next year.