Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Our cutie-patootie on the drive to Quincy this weekend.

I hear these 80's style sunglasses are making a comeback.

{2}
I growled like a bear at said cutie-patootie from my hiding place the other night during a family game of hide and seek. It freaked him out a bit and triggered some tears.

Mommy Fail.




{3}
While I'm not a big stuffed animal lover, I would totally buy the nearly lifesize stuffed moose at Costco if I had somewhere to put it.




{4}
Kendry is adapting fine to the time change. I, on the other hand, am not.

My body keeps trying to wake me up at 4am.

{5}

Phooey on CBS for eliminating online episodes of Person of Interest!

And don't even get me started on NBC ending the Parenthood season in February.

Honestly, we don't watch that much TV, or at least we don't now that we ditched DirecTV.

Just tryin' to keep the budget real.

{6}

Our adopted neighborhood stray cat has ditched us for greener pastures...literally.

A stray bunny has begun visiting in her stead.

{7}

This Week's Blessing:

A fun extended weekend with the family in Q-town and a surprise 30th birthday party for my sister-in-law. As expected, Kendry was smitten with the birthday cake as soon as he spotted it at the party. He insisted that he sit right next to it, and then proceeded to eat a larger piece of cake than even I could stomach.

{8}

Speaking of the birthday party, I whipped up another cute banner for the occasion:

{9}

I ♥ moneysavingmom.com

{10}
I haven't run anything longer than 4.5 miles since October, but I'm gonna buck up and run a 10k in the St. Patrick's Day Run this weekend.
Wish me luck!

This Wasn't In the Brochure

Life is a daring adventure, or nothing.

~Helen Keller~

As previously mentioned, I attended a women's retreat about an hour away this last weekend. There was a beautiful hotel, a toasty hot tub, a nice exercise room, an introductory Zumba class, a late night bunco game, wonderful worship, a group of amazing women, and a message from that Lord so fitting I swear it was fashioned just for me.

Suffice to say, with fresh emotions from the anniversary of our failed IVF cycle last week I was a tad more fragile than I realized. As soon as the speaker, Jan Brauer, introduced her topic, This Wasn't in the Brochure, I knew without a doubt God's perfect timing was behind this entire weekend. Jan dove right into a study of Jonah and compared that with the surprises in our own lives - both the good and the bad. She had me in tears three different times during the Friday message alone.

If you're not familiar with the story of Jonah, here's a quick recap: Jonah was a prophet. God asked Jonah to go to the city of Ninevah to inform the citizens of their wicked ways and tell them to repent. Jonah basically said 'Nope' and ran the other direction...literally. He boarded a ship on the Mediterranean; once it set sail the ship got caught in a terrible storm. Jonah finally told the panicky crew to throw him overboard and the storm would subside. Jonah knew that God had brought the storm because of his disobedience. Sure enough, they threw him over and the storm ceased. But Jonah didn't die in the sea; rather, God sent a whale to swallow him. Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days - where he obviously had a lot of time to lament over his actions - and then the whale spit him up onto dry land. God asked Jonah once again to go to Ninevah and this time Jonah obeyed. Much to Jonah's surprise, the wicked city of Ninevah heeded Jonah's warning and repented.

Thats usually where the story stops. Happy ending, right? Jonah obeyed, Ninevah repents, all is well. Except there is more. After Ninevah repents God decides to spare the city and, believe it or not, Jonah gets mad at God. He tells God: "You see? This is exactly why I didn't want to come preach to Ninevah, God. I knew you would have compassion on them." Then Jonah marches himself outside the city and plops down to pout. God causes a vine to grow and shade Jonah at his pouting site and Jonah appreciates it. He is in the desert, after all. But overnight God sends a worm to eat the vine and it withers and dies. Then the scorching sun and a horrible wind beat on Jonah; without the vine he is no longer protected from the elements. God asks him, "Are you angry about the vine?" Jonah tells him he is and then says, "I am so angry it would be better for me to just die."  A little overdramatic, don't you think?  God then points out to Jonah that he is upset over a vine that grew and died overnight. How then can Jonah criticize God for having compassion for the people of Ninevah?



I could go on and on about what God revealed to me through Jan's message this weekend, but let me see if I can simplify it a bit and capture my main takeaways for you:

1. We will all be hit with surprises. Life is never going to be like the Disneyland brochure: smiling faces, well-behaved children, the perfect figured woman, rides that keep you laughing and don't frighten you.

2. A pattern of peaks and valleys throughout your life is normal.

3. Perspective matters. When you're in the dark belly of the whale you can't see where God is taking you. Jonah probably thought he was still in the middle of the ocean and then -whop!- he is spit up unto dry land.
 
4. At some point you have to accept what has happened in your life - say "it is what it is" and trust God to take you through it.

5. Keep your momentum - keep praising, singing and thanking Him as you trust His direction in your life.

6. Learn from Jonah. He was so busy pouting he completely missed the amazing compassion God had for the people of Ninevah. Have you ever stopped to consider what miracles you may have missed while you were busy feeling sorry for yourself?  Ouch! This realization hit me hard. Sometimes my flesh tells me I have a right to sulk about our infertility. Its not fair. {Visualize me stomping my foot, if you will; I may be 31 but I still pout on occasion.}  But God is always working. If I'm too busy hanging my head in defeat I might miss what He wants me to see or, better yet, what He wants to include me in.



I leave you with this quote:

"We can't have adventure, miracles, faith and a deep knowledge of Jesus while holding on to comfort, security, control and success."  

~"Just Courage" by Haugen~

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Don't forget about Daylight Savings this weekend!

{2}

I tried Zumba for the first time this week.
My 29 year old hips were complaining a bit afterwards but otherwise it was awesome, and fun!

{3}
Fifty points to you if you noticed that I totally just lied about my age.

I'm really 30.



{4}

Actual words out of the hubs' mouth while he made dinner on Sunday:

"Well, thats how Ree does it."

Oh really?

So you and Pioneer Woman are on a first name basis now?


(Bing)

{5}

Anyone remember my 2009 New Year's resolution to start cooking more?

Ha! Me neither!

Justin is still the chef in our household and I'm okay with that.

I've always been much better at supervising anyway.

I plan the menu.

He cooks.

I clean.

It works!

{6}

I received a summons for jury duty this week - a first for me.

For federal court.

In Spokane. 

Say what?!

Everyone keeps assuring me I won't get picked.

{7}

I bought Kendry a green hat to wear in the St. Patrick's Day run next weekend. Hey, if I've gotta push his 40 lbs while running a 10k, the least he can do is oblige my kooky costume ideas.

{8}
Kendry no longer wears pajamas.
Our two year old now looks like a teenage boy at bedtime, insisting that he wear his basketball shorts and a t-shirt to bed.

Basketball obsession, I tell ya.

{9}

We've been working on table manners with Kendry and recently explained that he needs to try to keep his burps in his mouth.

This week he informed us:
"I need to keep my burps in my bum too."

Please do.

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

The opportunity to attend the women's retreat.

God really touched my heart. I will be sharing some of my takeaways with you tomorrow.

Love and Basketball...and Baseball

Justin and I both grew up competing in various sports.

Even before Kendry was born we were fantasizing about attending his future sporting events.

No pressure, kiddo.

No pressure.

We've been advised by older and wiser parents to be prepared, just in case our kiddo doesn't grow up to be as sports-minded as we are.

I realize Kendry is only two and his likes/dislikes could flip flip tomorrow, but thus far he appears to have inherited our love of sports - basketball in particular.

Our temps neared 60 degrees yesterday so Kendy and I took a walk to the playground, him toting his basketball along.

That kiddo can spot a basketball hoop from a mile away,

and he knows the playground has lots of them.

We started out on the elementary school playground where the hoops are lower.

But that wasn't good enough.

Short rims are for amateurs.

Kendry didn't even glance at the playground equipment or the swings. Nooo, sir. It was basketball or nothing.

He promptly set off for the middle school hoops.

"Hmmm...this is a tad higher than I remember..."

"Enough with the camera, Mom. There are big kids watching."

Our future baller:



This photo makes my heart melt.

There was no chance of him making it in, but he sure tried his best.

After Kendry wore himself out at the middle school hoops, I told him it was time to walk home. He only agreed to start walking once I assured him we would set his own Little Tikes basketball rim higher when we got home.

And we did.

Last night I started to ponder whether a baseball themed 3rd birthday party is the right way to go, or if I should consider switching to a basketball party instead.

I needn't have worried.

This morning Kendry was running around the house with his baseball helmet on, his glove on one hand and his bat in the other, asking me to pitch the ball to him.

After throwing a few stellar pitches (if I do say so myself), I asked Kendry to please go put on his 'basketball' shoes so we could leave for daycare.

{NOTE: Since Kendry has outgrown his old 'running' shoes, we have taken to calling his new shoes his 'basketball' shoes to make them sound cooler. He didn't want to wear them until we gave them a new name. The things you do to appease a toddler.}

So I asked him to put his 'basketball' shoes on.

KENDRY: "Mooooom."

{Insert eye-roll here; he hasn't done it yet but I know its not far off.}

"I'm not a basketball player, I'm a baseball player!"

ME: "Oh, of course you are. Well, what shoes do baseball players wear then?"

KENDRY: "White shoes."

ME: "Great! Go put on your white shoes then, baseball player."

His 'basketball' shoes are white.

Mommy wins again!

525,600 Minutes

"525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.

525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?"

A year ago today my blood test came back negative.

Our IVF cycle had failed.

I haven't discussed this much on the blog, but in the wake of this news we decided to pursue a frozen embryo transfer with the one embryo we had frozen from our 2008 IVF cycle. We didn't tell anyone about this cycle - not even our family.

The transfer took place on May 25, 2011.

Another blood test two weeks later.

Another blow of disappointment.

How do I measure 2011?

- Peace -

"My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

~Psalm 73:26~

I do not know why God has us on this path,

but I want to glorify Him every step of the way.

This week I entered an infertility essay contest.

The title of my essay is "Wonderful Infertile Life."

Writing this essay brought so many emotions to the surface for me. Only today did I stop to consider the ironic timing - submitting an essay about our family's success with IVF exactly one year after our failed IVF cycle.

One year.

I don't know if I will win.

It would be nice, of course, but that is not my ultimate goal.

My prayer is that God will bless each person who takes the time to read my essay, and that the peace He has given our family throughout this last year would be undeniably present in my writing.

"A peace that passes understanding is my song..."