Yup. We're still here. Living life to the fullest!
I've been falling out of the blogging routine lately. Facebook is sometimes such an easier tool for quick updates and pictures. Not to mention the feedback is 1000% times better. It just seems like more people are connected to FB than to blogging. And let's be honest, we ALL like comments.
But anyway. We're here again! Ready to record some more memories.
This morning I took the kids to the library for a special "teddy bear tea party".
It was probably more geared towards Kensie's age but Mason got in on some fun too.
And we all know the boy loves food, so he wasn't gonna pass up the opportunity to munch on a cupcake and guzzle some punch (I'm not kidding with the word "guzzle" either).
At the end of the tea party, the kids "left" their stuffed animals for a sleep over at the library. This was probably the cutest idea ever. Each animal was given a name tag and an empty frame (that the kids made). Tomorrow we will go back to pick up our monkey and bear and hear about all the adventures the animals had at their sleepover!
I thought Kensie would be hesitant to leave her sweet teddy but she quickly gave her a kiss goodbye and waved wildly as we left the building,
"BYE TEDDY! Have fun with your friends!!"
And that was our teddy bear tea party.
***
UPDATE: We picked up our stuffed animals today from their sleepover. They had SO MUCH FUN. Check out all their adventures HERE.
Eight years after graduating college, the Cornerstone University Athletic Department called me on the phone to tell me I had been inducted into the Hall of Honor.
Actually, let me give you exactly how that phone call went....
I was sitting at the counter enjoying a cup of coffee for the morning while Kensie and Mason were playing with some multi-colored pasta beads on the kitchen floor. In order to keep the mess to a minimum, I had the brilliant idea of pulling out a large metal bucket to pour them all into (we're talking like a gallon-sized zip lock bag of these pasta beads people). I swiftly and sternly told the kids they could play with them as long as they kept them in the bucket. So they happily grabbed some plastic cups and began scooping and sorting through the beads in all their glory. The pasta bounced loudly off the bottom of the bucket as they repeatedly dumped them out of their plastic cups.
THEN my cell phone rang.
NOTE: Why is it that as soon as mom gets on the phone, all hell breaks loose?? Suddenly, noises become louder, kids become more whiny, and they start creeping your way to see how long it takes for them to get your attention. Anyone else's kids do the same thing?? Ugh. Anyway...
I was congratulated on my achievement at CU and they quickly rattled off information about a formal banquet I was invited to attend, and how the induction ceremony would go, and how I would be recognized with 4 other inductees into the Hall of Honor, and to wear something nice and etc, etc.....and all the while my kids are clamoring in the background, dumping beads onto the floor by this point (b/c they were obviously not keeping them in the bucket like I asked) and fighting over which plastic cup they wanted to use. And the only thing I could say into the phone with the craziness around me was, "I don't have to say anything at this banquet do I??"
Yep. That's how it went. I'll be happy I recorded this later in life. Oh the everyday life of young children.
Anyway, that's how I found out. I had about a month before the date of the banquet. I invited my family. I bought a new dress. I asked my sister if she'd want to introduce me at the banquet. Those were things I was planning to do. But I certainly wasn't planning on speaking. Maybe a quick thank you and some generalized words about my experience, but not what was really on my heart.
So I wrestled with God over the next three weeks. I would hear the Holy Spirit usually when I was running on the treadmill. When I was able to clear my head, I would start to get these ideas about writing a speech. A very difficult speech...full of honesty, and vulnerability. But then I'd quickly push it back and go on with my day. It wasn't until the actual day of the banquet that I finally sat down and said, "Okay Lord, I can't accept this award unless I write what's on my heart."
So I did.
And here it is....
I have had so many real life conversations with people as a result of this speech. It's amazing how much God has been using it to touch people right where they're at. I don't give myself ANY credit because I usually FLEE from anything that requires public speaking.
I gotta be honest though....I want more. I want more of His presence in me. I want to see Him work through my weaknesses. I want to make impact in a very real way.
This was a small taste that I will savor for a very long time.
And to wrap up the event, here are some pics...
The current Head Women's Volleyball coach gave me my old jersey as a gift! Yes, it had been washed first :)
Lauren (our team manager) along with some former volleyball teammates you heard me talk about at the end of my speech. Great group of girls.
Aaron, Allison, Me, Greg
My sister Lauren and her sweet baby bump!
Lauren and Katelyn--sisters forever!
Induction ceremony before the Men's basketball Homecoming game.
Inductees into the CU Hall of Honor.
I feel like this is the first award I've ever really received well. Does that make sense? As weird as it sounds, all my previous awards just left that empty feeling at the end. Like I would never be good enough no matter how many All-American titles I received. But, this? No. This made my heart so completely full as I watched God work through the whole process.
I AM enough. And it's not because of some silly plaque or bouquet of flowers. It's because of Him.
I graduated college in the spring of 2005. With Greg, my college sweetheart.
We married just a few months after this pic.
Feels like yesterday, but also like forever ago. Anyone else?
Anyway, this blog was started a few years after I graduated. Most of my blog posts nowadays are about marriage, kids, decorating and the like. Therefore, leaving out a very large part of my life. Something that has shaped me in SO many ways.
SPORTS.
There was a time when my life literally revolved around sports for many, many, many years.
I was a two-sport athlete through high school and college. I played volleyball in the fall every year since I was in 6th grade. I would get a short break in the winter and would start back up again in the spring playing on a traveling club team. I also ran track every spring during the school year as well. I say "ran" but I really only did one event, the high jump.
Most of my memories as a student-athlete are filled with practices, smelly uniforms, late-night bus rides, wins, losses, pre-season training, out-of-season training, and goofing around with teammates on and off the court.
It was pretty much my entire life, and I truly loved every minute of it.
Cornerstone University
Women's Volleyball Team 2003
I studied hard and got pretty good grades. But all I could think about was the next season in terms of sports. I still joke that playing volleyball and running track were my biggest motivators for getting through college. And I'm so thankful I had the privilege of being on so many amazing teams.
Cornerstone University Women's track team
2003? WHAC Champs!
2004 Indoor Nationals--with my jump coach (far left) and fellow high jumpers who all qualified for Nationals that year.
2005 Outdoor Nationals. Can you find me in the back row?
This is all just some background info for my next post (which I can hopefully get up and running soon). I had the honor of receiving a special award last Wednesday that has resurfaced many of my track and volleyball memories.
And looking back, it's something I feel God leading me to share with you all.
It's that lovely time of year when the germs start to spread...gotta love winter!
NOT.
Kensie and Mason are down for the count with the following symptoms:
Fevers. Coughing. Tight chests. Watering eyes. Waking up in the middle of the night (from coughing so hard). No appetite. Wanting to be held ALL day long.
Their fevers finally dropped this morning, and they both ate a good breakfast. I think they are on the upswing (slowly) but I was pretty darn close to taking them to the doc's today! (I spoke with a nurse over the phone who assured me they probably have a mild version of influenza but based on their symptoms and the fact that they've both had a flu shot, they'd probably recover fine on their own. BUT, if they got worse to make sure to bring them in! Yes ma'am.).
But in hopes of trying to be positive around here...
{1} I'm SO thankful our kids are not in school yet. It seems like the yuckiest of all germs get spread like wildfire in that setting and there's no telling what they'll come home infected with!
{2} Greg and I have not "caught" anything yet so I can spend all my energy comforting our poor sick kiddos.
{3} I'm reminded of the blessing it is to be a stay at home mom in this type of situation. I don't have to worry about taking time off, or finding alternative child-care. I love being home, despite the hard work.
{4} No puke or diarrhea. Praise the Lord above!
It feels like we're on a "two-weeks-healthy-followed-by-one-week-sick" cycle.
I don't usually do a whole lot for Valentines Day. But I still love ALL the creativity out there for holidays such as these.
Greg and I will exchange cards (maybe a gift), possibly make some heart shaped food, perhaps a craft with the kids, and hopefully a date night without the little ones! But I don't really decorate for V-Day, nor do I care to. It's too hard to keep up with all the holidays sometimes, that I just say NO. I stick to Christmas, and that's about it. And I feel quite happy with that.
Every year starting on Feb 1st they wake up to a new heart on their door that says something you love about them. By Valentine's Day they have 14 reasons and their gift is waiting when they wake up:)
I've decided I'm not a big resolution person. I think it's good to evaluate life every year and try to make positive changes. But take my inner competitiveness, major procrastination, and discouragement when I fail (I'm still working on it people)....honestly, resolutions are a recipe for disaster in my book. But then I saw this, and thought....
"Now that's a resolution I could aspire to EVERY year!"
I usually wait until New Years Day but I was feeling ambitious yesterday. A little claustrophobic too, perhaps. The holiday decor was crowding me in and the house needed to take a long, deep breath.
Anyway, it was time.
It seems like it gets to be more work every year--this whole packing up the Christmas stuff. But, I'm okay with it. I love transforming the house every few months. When the mantel is finally clutter free and all cleaned off, I get quite excited. I imagine it's the same if you were a watercolor painter who was just given a clean, white canvas, and someone said "Okay, GO!"
With summer on the brain, I just couldn't help myself....
The giant ship, white lantern and two starfish in frames are from TJ Maxx--golly, I love that store.
The shells were all from our cruise when we stopped in the Bahamas--such good reminders of the fun we had there.
The vintage lantern on the left was a sweet gift from my Mama and Terry back when they got married.
I found the tall sea-glass bottle at a local antique store.
Last year, I decided that the best way for me go from "surviving" Michigan winters to actually enjoying them is to have a better attitude about it. Part of that is determined by how I decorate our home. If I can keep a beachy, warm feel inside our home even though it's blustery and snowy outside (which it currently is), then I can at least imagine that it's summer. It's surprising how much it lifts my spirits!
And it doesn't hurt to try a yummy new soup recipe to warm up during these chilly winter evenings!
