32 life lessons

In honor of my 32nd birthday...here are 32 life lessons that I have learned:

1. Get over it... not everything is worth fighting over. Choose your battles carefully. Stressing over little things that aren't worth it only takes up time and energy in your life that are better spent on happier things.
2. Stand up and be heard... some things ARE worth fighting for! Never give up on those things you believe most in.
3. A child is God's way of trying to show us just how much He loves us; how much He sacrificed for us when he gave his only son.
4. Having a daughter that is a total Daddy's girl is paybacks for being a total Daddy's girl.
5. Choosing to make no decision is still making a decision to have others decide for you.
6. Only you have control over you and your actions. No one else controls you or can make your choices for you.
7. Traveling is the best way to learn/teach tolerance of others. The further from "home" the better!
8. Guardian angles DO exist... but that doesn't mean you have to take unnecessary risks. Help them out a little, their job is hard enough as it is!
9. No matter how big a mistake, family is still family. Love the person, hate the choices that have been made...but always love the person.
10. ALWAYS pack more in the diaper/race/overnight bag than you think you will ever need.
11. A good book and a bubble bath is the best way to relax after a long day.
12. Having blessings in your life is the biggest blessing of all.
13. Family is important, but sometimes having friends that are like family is even more important.
14. Always have a camera handy!
15. He who dies with the most stuff...is still dead. It isn't as important to leave 'things' behind for those you love, but instead leave memories behind that they will fondly remember and characteristics they will aspire to live up to. Kindness. Generosity. Love. Integrity.
16. Practice what you preach. "Do as I say, not as I do" just doesn't cut it. Be the example for others to live by.
17. The laundry will be there tomorrow, but you will never get this moment with your child back.
18. It's never to late to go back to church.
19. Laugh as often as you can...even if no one else is laughing with you!
20. Never lie to the doctor.
21. Tell your grandmother you love her every day.
22. Never let them see you get upset. Don't let them know where your buttons are!
23. Everyone has a strength, even if it is hard to find - Genghis Khan was an incredible horseman and Hitler was a great speaker.
24. Everyone also has weaknesses. Einstein failed 3rd grade math. No one is perfect no matter how much they may pretend to be.
25. Hit the save button often.
26. Experience is the best way to learn.
27. Learn to laugh at yourself.
28. Sounds are always louder when you are by yourself in the dark.
29. Finishing a marathong (or something you never thought you could) is an increadible rush.
30. Never pass up the chance to watch The Princess Bride (or your favorite movie).
31. Helping others is the greatest gift you could ever give to yourself.
32. 32 is not nearly as old as I used to think it was!

Happy Thanksgiving

First and foremost, I am so very thankful that I have so much to be thankful for this year!!

• I am thankful for my beautiful daughter. :)
• I am thankful for my wonderful husband who is helping me to raise our beautiful daughter (and who realizes that I need some out-of-the-house-me-time once in a while!). I am thankful that he is home for the holidays again this year and not deployed to some far-away country.
• I am thankful that my husband was able to keep his job when so many of his co-workers were being laid off a few weeks before our daughter was born.
• I am thankful that we are financially able for me to take a little while extra off work to take care of my daughter even though it means about a month without pay.
• I am thankful that all of my family is healthy this holiday season. No one is on chemo or radiation.
• I am thankful that I have amazing friends who help to pick me up when I'm sad/frustrated/overwhelmed.
• I am thankful that my doctor finally cleared me to run again!!! :)
• I am thankful for the great news that my cousins were able to adopt a second child and that a co-worker of mine is also approved to adopt a daughter. Both are very wanted children and will be blessed to have such awesome parents.
• I am thankful for a church family where I feel comfortable and like I have been there my whole life, even though it's been less than half a year that I've been going.
• I am thankful to have a nice home and comfortable furnishings.

Last year's list

Word Verification - cycle

I just post a comment on a friend's blog and, as usual, was asked to type in a word verification to certify that I am indeed a human being.

Usually, these things are random letters or made up words that make me giggle as I imagine what the meaning of this crazy word would be.

However, this particular time, I got a real word: CYCLE. Well that's no fun. I know what cycle means. When I was training for my Olympic Triathlon, I did a bunch of cycling (much to the dismay of my rear-end!).

But it did get me thinking about that time of constant cycling on the open road. Sometimes it was really peaceful as we often rode near on a road near the river with little traffic. However, many times it was stressful as many drivers didn't pay attention to us, didn't care, or just didn't realize that we did in fact have a right to the road as well.

A bicycle is a vehicle...just like a car, truck, or motorcycle. We have to follow the rules of the roads like riding on the right hand side and obeying traffic signs. If we are considered a vehicle, then we should be treated as a vehicle. Meaning, if you want to pass us, just like you would a little old grandma who is out for a Sunday drive, you wait until the oncoming traffic is clear then you move over into the other lane and pass. Don't try to squeeze between us and the oncoming traffic. If you hit us, you are definitely in the better position to walk away!

Most bikers are courteous and ride as close to the edge of the road as possible knowing that at top speeds a car will easily be going faster. Cycle "packs" have their own rules too. The last rider will notice a car first usually and will yell "Car Back!" which will be repeated all the way up the line to insure that everyone knows there is a car coming hat is more than likely going to try to pass (similarly, the first person will yell "Car Front!" which will get passed back when there is a car coming towards them.) This allows all the bikers to be ready for the bigger vehicle to pass by 1)being aware and 2) moving over even further if there is room.

Amazingly enough, there was a news piece on about a group of cyclist in a nearby county that is trying to get something done about enforcing traffic laws concerning cycles and cyclist... if nothing else, to make the public aware. Too many cyclists have been forced off the road, hit, or otherwise hurt by careless drivers.

Please pay attention to who is on the road with you as you drive. Cyclists are out there, and even with a helmet on, they are much more vulnerable than you are in your vehicle.


Comment on this post please, and let me know what your word verification is. What do you think it means and what does it make you think of?

Monday Menu Planning

I haven't done this in a while, so I'll see how it works....

I can't even remember the last time I cooked to be honest. Lately, my wonderful hubby has put his grill to good use, as well as his wallet and taken me out to eat. However, I think it is time I get back in there and try again. So here we go...

Monday: Happy Labor Day! Hubby is going to grill (again)...and I still need to go grocery shopping!

Tuesday: Tater Tot casserole

Wednesday: Pizza Pinwheels (probably with turkey pepperoni and various veggies)

Thursday: CORN (Clean Out the Refrigerator Night) - I have a Dr.'s appointment which always runs late so this night will be up in the air! Probably left over casserole from Tuesday and/or something frozen that hubby can grill on his day off :)

Friday: Quick and Easy Ranch Chicken, not sure what veggie to go with it yet but probably either corn or green beans - my favorites. This is a new recipe for me. The girls at work are giving me a shower after school so I hope this really is quick and easy! It looks like it is.

Saturday: Childbirth Class from 9:30am to 5:30 pm- Dinner out afterwards or something easy like sandwiches or leftover casserole (if there's any left!)

Sunday: Baby Shower/BBQ at my friend Alexis's house! I'm sure there will be lots of goodies left over!


Since I have to go grocery shopping... let's see what I'll need:
Tater Tot Casserole - I already have green beans so I'll just need tater tots, hamburger meat, and onions
Pizza Pinwheels - I have tomato sauce and I thought I had pizza crust but it looks expired, so I'll need Pillsbury thin crust pizza dough, turkey pepperoni, green peppers, and motz cheese (I'll use some of the left over onions from the TT casserole too)
Ranch Chicken - I already have seasoned salt, breadcrumbs, and parm cheese, so I'll just need 6 skinless chicken thighs, a new bottle of Ranch dressing (I have some but I don't think it's enough - and I'll need some later anyway), and cornmeal.

Go check out what Org Junkie and her followers are having this week!

First day of school pedi

I hardly ever get pedicures. Most endurance runners will understand why - They take off your hard earned, and much needed, calluses! I earned these calluses with (literally) blood, sweat, and tears... and miles and miles and miles of running!

But I figured since I have to take a few months off, and to celebrate making it thought the first day of school 7 1/2 months pregnant, I should pamper myself a little. I used to go to a woman who knew not to take off all the calluses, that I mainly wanted the foot/leg massage, a little exfoliating, and painted toes... but she is gone/closed/moved/one-day-there-the-next-day-gone. I had gone to her for 3 yeas so I have no idea what happened to her. Lisa where are you?!?!?!?!

She was the rare American. Not that I have anything against the Vietnamese salons, they usually do a great job too, but when you want something very specific, it is sometimes hard to understand them and get them to understand you. Case in point - my heels.

I tried the tell the beautiful Vietnamese woman that I am (was...will be again) a runner and because I have to take a few months off, I don't mind some softening of the calluses and filing of my heel, but lets not go crazy. She smiled politely and asked when my baby was due... then she brought out the razor and went to town on my heels! Don't get me wrong, they look and feel amazing and soft... but it's a good thing I don't have to run multiple miles anytime soon!

The rest of the experience was simply wonderful. The massaging chair, leg/foot massage, and the paraffin wax was worth every penny. Not to mention my shiny new red toes (That I can only see if I sit with my feet up- which I should be doing more of anyway!)

Not the best day I've ever had... and a list of things to be thankful for

Yesterday was one of the most trying days of my life. Yet, it started out so simply and great.

I woke up early and went to early church and Sunday school. One of the women in my Sunday School class brought a big bowl of fruit which I loved! After class was over, she offered to give me the rest of it which I gratefully accepted!

I came home, ate some more of the fruit and a sandwich for lunch and decided to take a nap.

I woke up a few hours later and decided that I REALLY wanted a chocolate milkshake from the McDonald's down the road. So I grabbed my wallet, my cell phone, and my sunglasses and walked out the door, locking it behind me as usual. about half a second after I shut my door, I realized my mistake. I had forgotten to grab my keys!!

So here I am in the middle of the day in the summer sun...the Florida summer sun... seven months pregnant and I can't get in my car or back in the house! I called AAA who gave me the number of 2 locksmiths. Neither of the numbers worked. I may have typed them in wrong since I was trying to listen to my cell phone and type on my cell phone at the same time.

So with no luck there, I call 411. This lady tells me that there are no locksmiths in my town (???) but gives me the number of 2 in a nearby town. I call both of them. The first doesn't serve my area and the second was out of order.

I call 411 again, get a different lady who gives me a credit for the last two but misunderstood the name of my town and gave me a listing for a similar-sounding town in the state...does me no good as they are several hours away!

I finally call 411 a THIRD time and this lady quickly puts me through to someone who does serve my area. I explain that I have been out in the sun for 30 minutes already trying to get someone to come,that I was very pregnant, and tat because of the heat I was staring to feel ill so to please ask the guy to hurry. She said she would do so and that it should be only about 20 minutes or so.

I waited 20 minutes....then a few more.... and a few more. Finally after waiting 45 minutes I call back, get someone different and explain again that I'm not feeling well and the guy still hasn't shown up. She puts me on hold and when she comes back she assures me that he is on his way and would call me shortly.

At this point it starts raining, which is good in that it cooled down everything but bad in that if forced me under my small front stoop which has nowhere to sit down. After waiting another 20 minutes with no phone call from anyone I call AGAIN. This time when they put me on hold, they can't find the guy who is supposed to be on his way. Te girl assures me that she would keep trying to call and would call me as soon as she got ahold of him. She repeated my phone number to me but had it incorrect so I correct the two reversed numbers. She wondered aloud if this wasn't part of the problem saying maybe the guy couldn't get ahold of me. I find this slightly ridiculous as the guy had my address, he could have come by and seen me standing there.

After another 15-20 minutes they STILL hadn't called me back! At this point I'm getting really mad but don't know who else to call in my area of no-where-ville. I call my friend Alexis who lives about 20 minutes away to if nothing else come keep me company, sane, and to please please please bring me something cold to drink. She came immediately and also brought snacks! :)

We sat in her car for a while when she decided to call the place for me. She got a bit more snippy than I did but really got no further than I did. At this point I had been locked out of my house for 3 hours!

After a while, she decides to check all the windows, sliding glass doors, and doors again just to be sure, and yep... all locked. 1/2 joking around, she pulls out a credit card this former Miami girl proceeds to break in my door! Because I didn't have my keys, I couldn't lock the deadbolt behind me so it was only the door lock. I would have never known how or even thought of trying to get in with a credit card in the door jam!!

Once we were in the house, she again calls the locksmith and cancels. They try to tell her that they are going to have to charge me but she flat out refuses saying we waited for 3 hours for someone who was "on the way" the whole time.

We then decided to go to dinner after all the "excitement" of the afternoon. While at the restaurant, my mom calls my cell and asks if I had gone somewhere for the day. I kind of laughed and asked her if I could call her back when I got home. She agreed and Alexis and I went back to our dinner.

Once I was home again, I called my mom back, but instead talked to my dad who told me that my grandmother had passed away earlier that afternoon and that they had been trying to call all afternoon (but obviously didn't think to call my cell phone until later).

My grandmother was an amazing woman, but had been very sick for a long time and was unfortunately no longer herself anymore. We often wondered how she had hung on as long as she had. It was a peaceful death at home with my uncle holding her hand and my cousin singing to her... she just slipped away.

Of course I am very sad and will miss her dearly, yet in a way, it is almost a relief that she is now free of her troubles here on Earth. Growing up, she lived just across the street so I was very close, both physically and emotionally, to her. When I was 5 or 6, my grandfather passed away and eventually my aunt, uncle, and cousin moved in with her to help her. This was the uncle and cousin that were there with her at the end.

In a book I recently read, a boy had been abandoned and raised on the streets by a kindly old man who took in many abandoned children (in this book, couples were only allowed 2 children so often 3rd children were abandoned at birth). This man had a profound faith in God and taught the children that whenever they were having a hard time, they should recite every good thing they can think of and end the list with, "And God loves us."

I started thinking of my list yesterday to keep my spirits up (and my anger down):

I had my cell phone with me so I could call for help.
The rain cooled everything down so I didn't get too hot and started to feel better.
I have a great friend in Alexis who dropped everything to come help me out.
As Alexis pointed out, I didn't have a small baby with me, or have my child locked in the house while I was locked out.
I was able to eventually get in my house and into the AC.
My grandmother is no longer suffering with her illnesses.
Grandma is in Heaven with her Lord.
Grandma was surrounded by those who love her.
...and God loves us.

Happy 4th of July!

Run the Disney Marathon in 3 minutes

Feel the energy... This is why I love to run marathons, and can't wait to start training for Disney Marathon 2011...

Daddy's Little Girl

From holding me in a small white dress, to holding me in a long white dress, my dad has always been there for me.

When I was little he taught me how to shoot a BB gun, ride a bike, ride a horse, and anything else I wanted to learn. He never said, "Little girls don't do that" instead, he would usually laugh, say something along the lines of "Don't tell your mother" and off we would go.

We went to the beach several times every summer. While Mom was sitting on the shore or looking for shells, Daddy was in the water with my brother and I playing, splashing, and pretending he loved us climbing on his back to jump off.

When I was in high school, he worked for the phone company and drove from house to house repairing the phone lines. I was a swimmer. At that point in my life, that was about the only way I described myself as everything I did revolved around swimming (I ran track to stay in shape for summer swim team, I did summer swim team to get ready for the high school team...). Swimming was my life. Daddy knew this, but he was rarely able to take off on Tuesdays and Thursday for my swim meets. However, if it was a home meet, my dad would drive around the pool as often as he could to ask me how I was doing. If I was about to swim, he'd pull over and park so he could stand by the fence to watch, even if it made him a little late to his next appointment. Those few minutes of him being there meant more to me than the parents who showed up to every meet, every time, because they had the time to do so. It was something he didn't have to do, he did it just for me, just to support me, just to say, "that's my daughter out there!"

In 2003, we found out that Daddy has cancer. Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Rare. Aggressive. Hard to treat. Scared the crap out of me. Suddenly the man I thought was as solid as a rock wasn't, or so I thought at first. I vowed to be strong for him, as strong as he had always been for me... but I soon realized, that he was still a rock, he was still strong, and he was still holding me together. Even when the doctor told him he was considered terminal and probably had only 3 years to live, he never gave up. He never gave up in himself, in his doctors, or in God.

Many things will forever stick in my mind about my dad but probably the most important one was what he said to me while he was laying in a hospital bed as I started to cry.

"What are you crying for? There is nothing to cry over. I haven't shed a tear or lost a moments sleep and neither should you. God is taking care of this. It's in His hands now. If He needs me here, He'll leave me here. When He wants me home, He'll take me home. It's out of our control so why worry?"

He was right, there was nothing to worry about. My dad is still strong, still fighting, and still going long after the doctors said he should have passed. He has had chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplants, more clinical trials than I can count ("Even if it doesn't help me, if it helps them find a cure for someone else, my job is done."), and finally last year, a bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor - who we found out this year lives in GA.

I remember praying that God allowed my dad to see me get married and to hold his grandchildren. God is great, and he has answered my prayers with a resounding YES. My dad not only saw me get married, but mustered up the strength to walk me down the aisle and dance with me at the reception. In October, he will see my child born, his newest grandchild (my brother already has 2 sons so I can't say "first grandchild").

God is great, but my daddy comes in a pretty close second! Happy Father's Day Daddy, I love you!

For Today...

A friend of mine did this the other day so I followed the link to the Simple Woman's Daybook as well and decided to play along!

FOR TODAY JUNE 12, 2009

Outside my window... The sun is starting to set on another beautiful day.

I am thinking... that I can't wait for one of my best friends to come visit tomorrow! I haven't seen her in a few years and I've missed her!! She and her husband can probably only stay a little while but I'll take what I can get :)

I am thankful for... only being on a "modified" bedrest where I can still get up and do what I need to as long as it isn't for too long or too strenuous. I can't imagine being on full bedrest for a long period of time. I would go insane - and my house would fall apart haha! :)

From the learning rooms... I've put off my homework until the weekend, it's due Monday. I work best under pressure, or at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

From the kitchen... While Chris and I were in St Augustine, I bought 3 cookbooks from the Columbia Resturant gift shop. Orange Recipes, Key Lime Cookin', and Key Lime Deserts all by Joyce LaFray. I have a tree in my backyard that has both key limes and lemons on it (it must have been spliced). I've never really known what to do with the key limes other than key lime pie, which I love, but now I should have pleanty of new ideas! I should have plenty of ideas for all the oranges I pick from my parents grove as well (other than just peeling and eating - which is probably my favorite way to eat an orange!).

I am wearing... the most comfortable thing I can find. It's amazing howquickly this baby is growing! Things that fit me last week are getting snug this week.

I am creating... a beautiful baby (girl?).

I am going... to travel the world one day. Besides, I have lots of friends/family all over the world that I need to visit! At this very moment I have friends/family in Japan, Korea, South Africa, the UK, and Prauge. Chris can probably dig up some more old military buddies that are stationed overseas too.

I am reading... Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince...again. Every time a new HP book or movie comes out i feelthe compulsive need to read the entire series all over again from the begining. Because the movie of Half Blood Prince is coming out next month, I had to do the traditional re-reading!

I am hoping... like every expectant parent and family member, for a happy, healthy baby for both myself and my sister.

I am hearing... the clackity-clack of my keyboard, the air conditioner, oh and there goes the leaky toilet refilling that my husband is supposed to fix! lol!

Around the house... I just redid the small guest bathroom and, for the moment at least, it is my favorite place in the house! Light tan walls and white trim (this was already done, I didn't repaint) now with dark brown towels, light blue hand towels, a white/tan/brown/dark brown/light blue checkered rug, light tan soap dispencer and tissue box with light blue outline flowers and dark brown trim, and misc art of the same colors. I love it!

One of my favorite things... other than my newly redecorated guest bathroom, is my new iPhone 3G. I may be a bit iPhone dependant at this point as 1/2 my life is on this stinking thing - all my phone numbers and many addresses, a list of my daily blood pressures for my ob/gyn, grocery lists, other shopping lists, to-do lists, all my music, and of course my newest addiction...scrabble!


A few plans for the rest of the week: It's summer break and I'm on modified bedrest...so my plans include a lot of sitting with my feet up reading, watching movies or TV, and sleeping. Perhaps some light cleaning now and then in short bursts, and of course my homework for my online class!

Here is picture thought I am sharing... my newly re-decorated guest bathroom!