Monday, May 30, 2011

Schools out for Summer...

With school ending this week on Thursday, I spent last week getting LQ signed up for summer camps, VBS, and whatever else I could find that wouldn't cost a fortune.  I managed to fill up the entire month of June, the last week of July, and the first week of August.  As a family, we have an out of town trip planned for a wedding in July and then school starts back up Aug. 22.  We will have 2 weeks in July & 2 weeks in August of downtime.  WOW!  And just like that... summer will be over!

A couple of Fridays a month, I join a few of my dear sisters-in-christ to share our "journaling journeys," and food and cooking ideas and whatever we want to talk about.  It's time that I treasure and look forward to every time those days draw near.  In my journal, I write random thoughts of things that I want to blog about or short thoughts that I want to share when we get together. 

We met last Friday and the thought that hit me the hardest was the one I had after putting together LQ's summer "itinerary" and realizing that I had scheduled out almost the entire summer.  Our home is getting bigger.  F lives in College Station, goes to school & works and has been on her own for almost 2 years now.  By the end of this week, V will be graduating from HS and moving into her own apartment with her BFF. 


To say that I'm feeling "empty nest syndrome" is probably too severe as I still have a future 2nd grader in my midst, but I'm sure feeling the onset of emptiness when it comes to the "girl" dominance in this house.


For the first time, EVER, the men will be the majority around here! 


That means, lots of fart jokes, burping, food rolling off of dinner plates, splotches on the shirt sleeves because as long as you're wearing a shirt you can always wipe your face, and a lot of other things that involve body functions, dirt, jumping, wrestling, punching, and ... you get the picture.

A new chapter in my life and a whole new kind of journey!  As those of you ladies that have testosterone-ridden-lairs can attest too (and by all means, give me some pointers, high-fives, OMG-eye-rolls, or whatever else you thing I may need).

All of that said and I'll finish with... I am blessed!  For God to grant me stewardship to 3 unique souls - let me say - I am humbly amazed! 

Psa 127:3-5 Sons (and daughters) are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Amen.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

It began with waffles...

LQ's birthday was Saturday.
He wanted waffles for breakfast - again.



So I made a stack of them with my mother's day waffle iron.



Then I poured myself some coffee.



And enjoyed watching him eat.



Then the hubster came downstairs for his fair share.



LQ's birthday was awesome! I now have to pick through 275 digital pictures to share & blog about. I sometimes miss the days of the "24 exposure roll of film."

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Bowling Results


We had our final round of bowling for the season last night.

It was position round.

We were in 1st place by 1 game!

The best we had to do to stay in 1st place was to split our games.


 
We lost 1st game by 75 pins.
Dad bowled well.
We didn't help him.

We lost 2nd game by 28 pins.
We all bowled well and should have won.
BUT, they had a bowler bowl almost 100 pins over her average.

We needed to win the 3rd game by 104 in order to win total pins.

We won by 38.
DOH!

So we finished in 2nd place.

I know 2nd place is not a bad thing.
But it's not 1st!
Mom & I did our best to keep the bowling spirit alive to the end.


But we were sad.



We'll be back in the fall.
Ready to go for it again!

Last wk's post has resurfaced!

Last week Blogger had something technical happen that caused this post to "disappear" and it came back today.  So I'm re-posting it.  Enjoy

***************
ORIGINALLY POSTED 5/12/11

"BOWLING & HODGEPODGING"
***************

Q & I bowl in a Wednesday league.




We bowl with my Mom, Dad & Brother.
It's a family affair.






This is NOT my family.



He has a 214 avg.  Mine is 143.

He's bowled a perfect 300 game.  Twice.

I've had a 500 series.  Twice this season.

(for you non-bowlers, that's total pinfall over 3 games)



He is clearly more focused on the ball than me.





This IS me & the hubster.


At least 8 weeks ago we were floating at about 6th place of 18 teams.

We were 22 points out of first place.

The last 4 weeks, we've made a significant climb.

As of last night WINS (did you catch that?), we are in 1st place by 1 game!



Next week is our final round of bowling for this season

Position Round.

(for you non-bowlers out there, it's 1st vs. 2nd, 3rd vs. 4th, etc.)



I believe that Q (and my brother and my Dad) will be very focused on their balls this week.







 **********



*** Linking to Joyce's Hodgepodge today ***

Click on the button below for some good reading.
1. How many times in your life have you moved house?

TWELVE.

I instantly got tired when I realized this number.


2. What subject would you study if you had a year to devote to it?
Languages top the list.

Spanish in Mexico.

Castilian Spanish in Spain.

French in Italy.



Academic subjects not so much.
3. What in this world breaks your heart?
Hungry children.

World Vision

This is a great organization and we've sponsored a child for the past 2 years.

She is precious.



4. What is one item that symbolizes the times in which we live? Why?
Texting & Emailing.

Many, many, many people don't have the courage to make a call anymore.

I think this causes "over-reactions" or "lack-of-reactions" when in-person conversation takes place.



5. Share a favorite bumper sticker or t-shirt slogan.
I've liked this t-shirt slogan from Another Mother Runner for a long time.



I haven't gotten it cuz I don't want to hear my 6 year old read it out loud.



6. How do you like your spaghetti?
Al-dente with italian sausage and garlic cheesebread.



7. What is one piece of advice you would give a recent, or soon to be recent, graduate?
V, my 18 (almost 19) year old will be graduating from HS.

She got approved (yesterday) for an apartment lease.

Our advice to her has been...

"Don't take in all the strays you come in contact with - animals & people."



8. Insert your own random thought here.
I am getting really excited about the fall running season!

Marathon training starts next week.

 Texas Marathons = 3 marathons in 3 months.

Add in San Antonio and you get 4 marathons in 4 months.

Crazy!  Crazy!  Crazy!


Monday, May 16, 2011

Sunday Golf...

The hubster, LQ, my brother & I went out yesterday for a round of disc golf.


Here's my brother winding up.


LQ has his own disc and likes to throw "rollers."


Q "trains" via youtube and other websites


Here, the men, are taking a break at basket 13.


Afterwards, we came home and I made us a simple dinner.
I treasure days like these.
...Fun
...Simple
...Together
...Warm
...Love
...Food
...Family

Friday, May 13, 2011

Blessings...

A couple of days ago, I was visiting Natalie's blog, and she was blogging about complaining and about blessings.  It made me think of the "Blessings" song by Laura Story.  Since then, I've heard it quite a few times while in my car and today I really wanted to listen to the words.  I found it on YouTube along with this interview...



We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things


‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise


******
Blog-hopping with the Company Girl Coffee group today.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Do Drink the Water...

Over the winter til almost a month ago, I could go out for a morning run at 10/10:30am and finish my run in a comfortable sweat.  When I go out for 30-40 min, I usually don't carry any water with me since I won't be gone long and like I said, I only get comfortably sweaty.  Monday's run was a different story.  I ran out of my house at 9:15 and there was a nice breeze and, yes, the sun was shining, but it felt tolerable.  I went out for my usual 30 min's and by the end of 10 min - IT HIT ME!  TEXAS SUMMER'S ARE HERE!  So, to all my Running BFF's - Carry & Drink Your Water!!!!!



John 4:14-15 (NIV) ...but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

One of the things I enjoy about running is the time I have to think & pray.  As I was thinking to myself, "You dummy, why in the heck did you not bring any water?  You remember how hot it's been over the last few days?  Didn't it almost hit a 100 on Mother's Day?  You better carry water with you next time!" ... as these thoughts turned to my Saviour, I remembered that I don't want to wait for the heat to remind me that my spirit needs a steady stream of His living water.

Jesus, I am realizing that not only do I need you, but I need a steady streamed dose of you.  Like my body needs water to perform, my spirit and my soul need your living water to live!  "Give me this water so that I won't get thirsty again."  Amen.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Mother's Day

I had a really nice relaxing Mother's Day weekend.

I went to visit Fel in College Station on Friday and she took me to Fish Daddy's for dinner.  Got back to SA on Saturday morning and went straight to the USAFit Kickoff for Marathon & Half-Marathon training that is coming up pretty quick.  (If you're in SA, and want more information, add a comment below.)

After I took a late afternoon nap, I went to Hobby Lobby to get a couple of things to make my Mom's gift but I forgot to take a picture of it.  I made a wall wreath with flowers & butterflies.  It came out really pretty - I'll try to remember to get a picture of it.

On Sunday, the hubster, LQ & V got up and made breakfast for me on my BRAND NEW WAFFLE IRON!  After watching Rachael Ray earlier this year, when she did "waffle week,"  I gave them permission to buy it for me for Mother's Day.  They made blueberry waffles and my house smelled like blueberries all day.  :)  V also got me some new lotions from BBW and LQ made me a foam bracelet.  "Que lindos mis hijos."

After church we went to my Mom's for an afternoon breakfast.  Dad & Mom cooked pancakes on the outdoor griddle.  Then we got a nice pic of us big kids with my Mom.



*****

Here are my Mother's day pics I got of me and each of my kiddos.
Not one of them could give me a simple smile for a picture.

I'm not sure why Fel has her finger under her nose.



I'm not sure why V looks a little freaked out that I'm hugging her.


I'm not sure why LQ has his tongue sticking out.


They're all a bunch of weirdos.  LOL

Thursday, May 5, 2011

American Idol

Last night's performances were all top notch - but, I thought this one by Haley was super! I've liked her style and voice since the beginning. The first song she did by Lady Gaga was really good too and when it finished, I was wanting to hear it again, so I didn't agree with the judges comments.

I'm gonna step out on a limb and rank them...
1- James. I agree with Tyler's comment that it's his to lose.
2- Haley. Wow. Super.
3- Lauren. She really stepped up last night.
4- Scotty. I'd see him & Sheryl Crow in Nashville.
5- Jacob. Time's up.

I'm thinking it could be James & Haley battling it out at the end - what do you think?