I DID IT!!!!!!

We enjoyed 9 hours of fun on Lake Skiatook yesterday. I have not been on the lake in 18 years. And I can't remember a time that I have had more fun than I did yesterday. It was a blast. There were tears before we got there but by the end, we were sitting out in the middle of the lake and as Chad was below me waiting for me, I jumped into his arms and yes....I was completely in the water. I have no idea how deep. I have no idea if there were fish around. All I know is that I did it. I'm excited to go again and I think each time will be easier.

I think this pic was just after I finished tubing and we were talking about how much fun it was. Lukus drove the wave runner and Chad watched to make sure I didn't fall in. (at this point, I hadn't gotten in the water yet) Lukus was a great driver and didn't do anything outrageous to flip me in the water. I can't say I was that generous when I was the driver! OOPS!


I think I had the most fun driving these 3 around on the tube. Baylee, Emilie & Dawson were a blast. They were so light weight they they would just fly on some of the turns.

I promise you....this is not me falling off. I know this...because I took the picture. They caught a wave and off they went!

Baylee was a great sport riding the waves with me. She made me laughed as she "coached" me on how to hang on not and fall off. I had to remind her how many times she fell off when I was driving!

Lukus had a blast. He did it all and had so much fun!

Royals Game was a blast!!!!

We had a great time at our first MLB game. It was the Royals vs. Rangers at Kauffman Field in Kansas City. The ending didn't turn out too great for the Royals, but that didn't dampen our spirits at all. We had many moments where we were up out of our seats for something happening on the field. The above picture is a view from our seats in the field box behind the 3rd base dugout. We decided when we go back, we'll try the same area....but at night! It was very hot and very sunny the entire game.


We had hot dogs (courtesy of a great friend) All I can say is "Thanks! Baseball game hotdogs are the best!)


We had to capture this. This man was sitting directly in front of me the entire game. I had to laugh when Emilie came over and said "MOM!!! Can we ask this man if he knows Terry Rush and if he collects his cards?" But she said we had to get a picture of his hat....so we did! :o)


Our usher was so kind. We really liked her. She came by and took our picture at some point during the game. The staff here is very friendly!


We made an attempt to get a family picure at every angle when we got there. This is the best on that turned out. The sun was just too bright for words.

Ichthyophobia

It is very real. A real fear. Even though.....some may laugh.

It is an intense and persistent fear of ......FISH!

This has been the year for conquering fears for me. Some are big...some are small...some are public...some are private....but nevertheless.....I have been able to conquer 2 so far in 2009 and it has been so freeing. And with each step I make, I find myself wanting to take myself a bit further in conquering other things.

So this one....is a big one. So much that my hands sweat just typing about it.

I am deathly afraid to swim in any body of water that my have another living creature in it. It's terrifying! I have adapted to it, but others find it odd or humorous. Me...not so much. For a long time, it bothered me and I just didn't speak about it. I didn't want to be laughed at or made fun of anymore. So when people went to the lake, I jut made an excuse up so I didn't have to go....or even send my kids. When a news report shows up on TV about the lake....I change the channel. I don't watch shows that involve sharks or oceans. You get the picture.

But this is it! THIS IS THE WEEK. Wednesday is the day that I am fighting against this fear that Satan has put in me.

FEAR: I've always heard this as False Evidence Appearing Real! These are images that we have created within ourselves. I can never remember a time that a fish did anything to me. I've never been bitten. I can't remember even coming close to a fish in the water. EVER! I've probably just watched too many shows about sharks!

Replacement: I am working on replacing the negative images that I have of being at an ocean or lake and putting something positive in its place. If we go to the lake I would love to swim with the kids, have fun on a boat, walk in the water, feel the sand under my feet, have the freedom to play like everyone else.

One of my new favorite quotes is "Thinking breads fear and doing overcomes it."
The more I think about it, the worse it gets. But I have found by just forcing myself to face the fear and just do it makes the outcome so much greater.

I'm tired of missing out on opportunities to have fun and being laughed at. I don't want this to control me anymore. Fear is a scary thing. (no pun intended) The things you allow your mind to dwell on will eventually lead to belief and you acting upon it. Did you know that 90%of things that we are afraid of.....never happen?

I look forward to what will be happening next. What fear I can conquer next. I have more things that I am afraid of.....but not listing.:o)

I will be going with Chad and one of my best friends. Both of them I trust completely with my life in their hands. They don't laugh, they don't make fun, and they totally understand.....it is time.

Ultimately, the trust falls on me trusting God.

1 year down....1 to go!

It's offical! I am now a 2nd year RT student! Holy Cow!

That creates and excitement in me that I can't even explain.

This summer semester was rough, and as we approch the fall dealing with the Neonatal Intensive Care Units, I am sure they will be equally challanging. But I am up for the task.

As for now, I will thank God for his guidance in getting me through another semester and my first year.

I can't believe in 10 more months.....I graduate. It's going to go by so fast....along with lots of blood, sweat and tears I'm sure!

You give me fever.....

Okay....not quite like the song exactly. The thermal kind that goes through your body, to your forehead, and pretty much if it's high enough, I think it can leak out your ears!

Oh no...that was a cartoon. But in medical terms....I am "febrile"
And it's 39.5 C!!! I'll let you figure it out:o)

So that means there will be no brownie delivery today. I did manage to bake cookies for the kiddos. Now I will be studying for my finals which are tomorrow morning. And then crawling into bed. :o(

Disappointment

I think when disappointment hits, it hits all at one time. Today was a day like that. And I will be the first to admit, I don't deal with disappointment well. Inside of me I go from questioning to anger to denial to sadness to giving up to giving in and then to getting over it. WHEW! That's exhausting.

I've done really well over the past year to fight those emotions off but today there was just too much.

I've often heard people say "They'll just have to get use to disappointment" and in fact, I think I have even said that to my kids at one point in time. But I for one still don't like it.

I finally calmed down enough today and wiped the tears away long enough to open my bible to just the right thing.
Phil 4:11-13 I'm not saying that because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me. I know what it's like not to have what I need. I also know what it's like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough.I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.

What I know is that a happy ending is assured for Christians. It probably won't happen today, tomorrow, or here on this Earth, but I know that eternally I will find happiness. I want the tears I cry to be tears of joy and laughter when I enter the kingdom.

Don't get so disappointed in life that you don't know how to deal with life's disappointments.
Hope and faith are the antidote to disappointment. Anything else, doesn't really matter.

Today...Test...TREATS!!!!

Today was a very interesting day. I worried myself sick about a test I had this morning. And then worried about a presentation I had to give. I ended up doing okay on both of them. You're right....why worry?

That really set the course for the rest of my day. I was smiles all day today. It was a great feeling.

I came home and Emilie and I started baking goodies to take to some unsuspecting friends. It was so nice to see the smile on their faces as they were so appreciative of the chocolate they were about to eat. :o)

Emilie asked me...."Why are we giving away all the GOOD ones and keeping the ones that turned out ugly?"

I replied....because we are supposed to give away our best.

I'm not sure if she got it or not. She wouldn't let me break out into a biblical story at the time. But what I loved is when she walked up to the doors and gave away her very best that she had made. It warmed my heart so much.

Shane & Alice on Broadway.....well...kinda!

It may not be exactly Broadway but we felt like it was for one night only as we were showered with show tunes by the Owasso Community Choir. It was great! We had so much fun. And it couldn't go without saying what a great job Shane and Alice did during the performance. They had many spotlight moments where they did very well. I was highly impressed with my friends and how well they did last night. Here's just a short clip for your enjoyment!

Baptized by the vegetable sprayer.......

Today was a very interesting day to say the least!

I went to the building to do my weekly duty at the church. This is a moment where I love to visit with staff, cleaning crew, and then close the doors and embrace the moment between me and God and whatever music I choose for that day. Somedays....like today....I embrace the peace and quite as everyone was gone and just be with God.

Normally when I am there, I am startled by the quick surprise of some expecting person walking through the door. I've also had some think it's quite humorous to sneak behind me and wait til I turn around....again...scary. There are even those days that some sneak in, hide behind the counter, I'm sure snicker at my singing ability, and then eventually crawl around and grab my leg. WHO KNEW these things went on....when it's just me and God. Sheesh!

Okay....today takes the cake!!!!

My job has been completed! But I find 1 spot that needs to be washed off. I proceed to the sink. I thought I heard a noise behind me so I turned around. My right hand is sitting on the faucet as I proceed to turn it on. Now...I'm still looking over my left shoulder and all of the sudden wonder...."WHY IS MY SHIRT SOAKING WET????"

I react fast! I turn the water off, but it's not fast enough. I am soaked! Soaked to the bone! I have been baptized by the vegetable sprayer that was so beautifully strapped down with a rubber band. Now, I am there every Thursday about the same time. Using the same sink. Having my moment with God. Someone knew exactly what they were doing. Yet.....I didn't know it was my time. My time to have my sins washed away without my knowledge at all.

I have a suspecting feeling I know the culprit and I love you very much.

Have I mentioned that I believe there will be pranks and payback in Heaven?

Bring it on my friend. Bring it on!

Friends forever

This week has been one of pure excitement for me as we just wrapped up the night at Lipscomb Summer Celebration and Acafest. I have waited for this week for so long....and for many reasons. For one reason, I get a chance to get away with some great people from our church and enjoy being in their presence while they serve and worship God. It's such an honor to be around them. Secondly, this year brought back many friends for me to see and many of them are so dear and close to my heart. It's amazing how the years can but a distance between people, but when we got together tonight, it's like nothing had ever changed. It was difficult because I couldn't spend time with each and everyone of them as I would have liked. But looking into their eyes, giving them a big hug, and letting them know I still love them is all we needed to say.

I am so blessed to have many many friends in my life. I don't like to make enemies. I feel like one of the luckiest people on this earth to be surrounded by such great Godly people who at times, know me better than I know myself.

Today has been one of the most incredible days I've had in.....well....I don't know how long. I have laughed! I have cried! I have hugged and received hugs. I have been surrounded by life long friends that I can't imagine life without. I love them all.

I learned so much more than that this weekend, but it sure was the highlight for me.