Seems like lately...

I have been overwhelmed by an abundance of blogs of people in need of prayers. I suppose that this is the way God works... people are put into your path especially when they need it... but yesterday a friend of mine posted about blogs that you read.

I opened the post and it said how she had gotten involved in a random persons blog and she regularly signs on for her "harper fix". It's a great blog... in fact, if you want to read more... it's called Kelly's Korner Blog and she has a gorgeous little girl, Harper, who had some difficulties in the beginning. But she has a fabulous style about her and she is quite fun to read. :)

But, yesterdays post led me to another blog. A blog about Cora. It is NOT for the faint of heart, I assure you. It is a terribly sad yet oddly, uplifting, blog about a little girl diagnosed with cancer. She went to be with Jesus three weeks after diagnosis and her family could most definitely use your prayers. But I started to cry when I opened the blog. I continued to cry when I went back to her diagnosis. And I was openly sobbing when I read that she had gone to be with Jesus. For some reason, this little girl has touched my heart. Her family has touched my heart and I cannot get them out of my mind.

Do you ever notice that when you are first pregnant you notice ALL pregnant people? It seems like everyone is pregnant. Or, when you first have your angel... everywhere you look, people are walking with infants? Now, I am NOT saying that anyone I love or hold dear is battling with this. It's just that all of a sudden I am recognizing it.

It seems that lately I keep reading or hearing about these instances with children being diagnosed with cancer. A friend of mine from high school has a five year old son (Matthew) who has leukemia. He is doing tremendously well and her younger son was an exact match for his bone marrow and was able to be a donor, thank you Lord. He is doing so very well.

Another friend of mine, a little sister of sorts, Danielle, is battling with an AGGRESSIVE form of cancer and had to have something like 200 nodes taken out of her abdomen. She continues to be uplifting and positive about her situation. She is, and always has been, an inspiration to everyone around her.

I mentioned to Jason that I was feeling called to volunteer at Cook Children's Hospital. He thinks I should wait until Joe gets a little bit older and that is probably wise. He knows me better than I know myself and I know that this would rip my heart out of my chest. But volunteering isn't supposed to be easy is it? I don't know. It scares me, but I do also want to help.

I am feeling rather vulnerable in wake of reading about this little angel and then I heard of another one today. This is the story about Tuesday. Tuesday was also diagnosed and went to be with Jesus. Why?

If you could please keep these people in your prayers or in your thoughts, they could most certainly use it. Danielle, Jess and Joel, Tuesdays family, Matthew Gray and I am going to be selfish and ask for you to pray for my family too. All of this scares me. I know it is completely irrational... but can you please pray that I gain the insight to know why all of this has come tapping on my doorstep?

Need to update

I have been very remiss in writing... but I haven't had much to say or the time to say it. :) Last week, my parents came in right before the superbowl. YAY steelers, btw. :) We had a great and relaxing Sunday and watched the fantastic game... Mom taught Joe to say "GO GO GO" and with all of the yelling I wasn't sure we would ever get him to sleep. :)

Then on Tuesday, Jason and I left for Las Vegas. We were going to the World of Concrete. Last year the five of us... mom, dad, Jason, Joey and I... went. We had such fun, although we learned very quickly that Las Vegas is NOT the kid friendly place they tried to sell it as long ago.

So, this year, with a new business under our belt we can't just up and leave it... Mom and Dad came to watch the business AND the baby. Not sure which one we were more worried about. :-D Just kidding... am I? ;)

This was the first time we were going away together, alone, in quite a long time. MAN did I miss my little guy... but I will also say that it was GREAT to spend that time with Jason. We laughed, we ate, we held hands, we cuddled, we went and saw shows and worked. We walked and walked and walked and walked the World of Concrete... and we entertained some customers. We gambled a little bit... we lost... we even went down to Old Town Las Vegas. I loved the three dollar tables... lost there too but at least only lost twenty bucks.

I think my favorite place is the Parasol Down bar at the Wynn hotel. You sit outside and there are comfortable tables, heaters if you need them and a lake with a waterfall that every thirty minutes turns into a mini-show. there is a large frog that sings... a huge talking head that comes out of the water and my new favorite... two colored orbs that come out of the water and one is a girl and one is a boy. :) The boy chases the girl... the girl runs. The girl comes back... the boy turns around. They chase... and all of a sudden a baby orb pops out. :) It's all set to music and super cute.

But even during the day, this area is great. I could sit outside and have drinks and read a book all day... except for the fact that the drinks are hugely expensive. :)

And luckily, I got to meet one of Jason's old Lufkin friends. She is the Food and Beverage Manager at the Wynn and is absolutely delightful. I so enjoyed getting to know her. And she blessed us with tickets to see La Reve on Friday night. It's a cirque d' Soleil show and it's all in water. It is so different than "O" but equally spectactular.

I also had the chance to see my friend, Isabelle whom I had not seen for two years. I worked with she and her husband, James, on ships. Had the great fortune to see the two of them married. Now... she has two beautiful boys and gosh... it's just amazing to me the people that come and stay in your life. I know for certain, that I am better for her being my friend. :)

WE got to come home on Saturday and I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was to see my baby. To hear his little giggle and squeeze his baby fat and have him give me kisses. Awesome.

Now... real life. I learned a somewhat valuable lesson last night. Marriage is an ever evolving thing... and I guess this is why God knows what he is doing. He puts us opposites together to ... make us crazy... make us better... and teach us. Teach us to rely on others, to rely on their strengths and to strengthen their weaknesses.

When we are on vacation... we both go with the flow. When we are home... it's not so easy. It's great to know that I can be a bit more regimented ... working on this, I promise... and my dear husband can be a bit more "go with the flow". So... my love... if you are reading this... thank you for making me better and I love you very much. :)

GO STEELERS

So this is the one I sent in. I cropped it a bit so that some of the background is gone and it's more of his face... :) but, I took this this morning and fell in love with it.

I shall write more later but right now, a glass of wine and CSI from Thursday awaits. :)

Cold... brrrrrr

So, we are going through a bit of a cold spell. Cold spell, I say... it was 17 degrees when I awoke yesterday morning to a nice sheen of ice on my driveway. It took until 12:00 to even get up to 32 degrees... this is so not Texas weather. Well, not that I am used to. :)

So, we had a snow day. Joe and I did anyway... Jason had to come in half way through the day... I say HAD to but really it was a matter of choosing to. He figured it was a good day to work on cleaning the office and really, I couldn't agree more. He put together his to do lists... even put one together for me... thank you hunny! ;)


But Joe and I... well we only went a wee bit stir crazy with each other... but we watched some wiggles... he napped (I worked on defensive driving)... we played, we destructed things (is that a word?) and we enjoyed each other. My hubby mentioned that it seems like I am getting frustrated with Joey more lately. I don't think I am getting more frustrated with him... I *am* tired but that's only from 20 month's of lack of sleep... but I can't think of a more adorable human being than my little one. His smiles make me smile. His giggles are like champagne... full of bubbles and you just can't get enough... and well, his mischievousness... his fearlessness... I think I am just not very good at thinking of new things to keep him occupied.

This morning, Joe is in my bedroom walking into the bathroom and he turns around and does the sign language for cold. It was so cute... he tucks his little shoulders up to his ears and shivers. I said... are you cold? He looks at me and goes... bRRRRR. He wasn't really cold but he knows the sign. :) Too cute!



He fell on Sunday and we had to take him to the ER for the first time. He has always been a climber. He climbs on chairs. He climbs on couches. He climbs on me. He just loves to climb. And he climbed and he fell... hitting his head on the little kids table behind him on the way down. Off to the ER we went... an hour, some super glue and a whiney achy baby later... we are doing our darnedest to keep him off the chairs so that we don't have a repeat performance. Although I am quite sure that we should go ahead now and get the frequent flier card. ;)



Mom and dad are coming in this weekend... because on Tuesday we leave for World of Concrete in Las Vegas. Just Jason and I are going... mom and dad are going to watch Joe and the business... not sure what we will come home to... :) as for the toddler, the grandparents or the business. Ha! But, whatever it is... WE will be rested and will have had some time to spend with just each other... so I am very much looking forward to that. We are even entertaining some customers each evening (except for one when I get to spend time with my dear friend Isabelle and her two adorable boys).


I am so excited for the superbowl. and I am excited that my parents are going to be here for it. You see I am a HUGE Steelers fan. :) We grew up in Pittsburgh (among other places) and although it took me awhile to catch on to football, I now very much enjoy it! :) I thought about having a superbowl party but my hubby convinced me that to do so would be putting stress on myself right before we leave for vegas... and we are prone to big blow ups anyway before traveling. :-D
So, no superbowl party but good family and good food and hopefully a good game! :) anyone want a good friendly BET? :)

So apparently, it has to be taken within the last 30 days...

So... with this new batch of pictures... which one, if any, do you like this time? I know, I know... I am one big pain in the butt... but I appreciate it. :)