Life is CRaZy!

Justin & I at Light the Night for Preston - he's doing well recovering from his Bone Marrow Transplant.


Linc & Kelly on Halloween!


October has been a busy month with both Justin and I getting settled as a cute married couple, moving him out of his apartment, and then battling overtime at work due to some extra things on our plates from the Hurricane having hit one of our major supply points. Justin - you are doing so awesome picking up the slack for the plant. You deserve the best for all of the hard work you've been doing! (yes, I am biased and love my dear husband). The boys are swell. Linc is reading books and in the Accelerated Reader program and Kelly, well, he's a sassy little booger and having to learn some things the hard way these days. He's definitely confident in his decisions, and I love that about him. Justin and I are now members of Facebook, so look for us out there. Not much else. Just dying to go running in the cold once winter comes. Houston & Darra - stay strong, we love you.

So Happy!

Just a quick blog today to let all my loved ones know we are back from our wonderful honeymoon in Hawaii. Justin kept our trip a secret up until the day of our wedding, but hinted I would need to pack little beach clothes and swim gear, so I was ready! He is spoiling me and loving me hard, and I love him hard back for all he is and does! The wedding was beautiful, our 6 kids were as cute as ever and little angels during and after the ceremony, and the small celebration was perfect. It was amazing to finally meet many of Justin's family members and I cherish each first moment with them all. Justin, thank you for making it perfect, I love you.
We are a bit busy now with Hurricane Ike creeping up to Louisville and knocking power out in many homes, with now only over 100,000 homes to go....mine included. Work provided a generator to at least give some relief with food in the kitchen and to do some laundry or whatever, but I am anxious to be back in the full swing of things and COOK my NEW HUSBAND dinner in my kitchen!! Through all things we become closer and stronger. I love ya'll and hope to see you soon. HB & DJ - you are strong and your strength provides energy and hope to everyone around you, making it all flow so perfectly. As always, thinking of you...

Getting Excited!

It's been a while since I've checked in and dropped an update on what's been going on. The job is getting better these days since upper management has decided we might just need some of those folks back that we let go earlier in the year - or new faces, either way, new people to help out with the volume. So, that helps me sleep better at night. Less work I should be bringing home (or think about bringing home anyway...because I haven't been lately). The kids are keeping me busy - and they are too funny! Linc is back into fall soccer playing in the 6-7 co-ed age group. The field is for little GIANTS and 3 times the size it was for the 4-5 age group. He loves it though. He's on a team with his fav opponent from last year, little Jack Cayson, so those too should be studs on the field. Although, some of those 7 year old girls might take them both down from what I witnessed at practice the other night. (They don't know how little they both are - barely over 40 lbs).

Linc's Kindergarten days are swimming by. He's in his 4th week already and loving it. Ready for homework soon and is just starting his little accelerated reader program at school -too cute. Fieldtrips are around the corner in fall, and he's still taking piano every other Saturday (at Mom's Music) gearing up for his electric guitar lessons beginning this fall. You have to check out Mom's Music website - it's the coolest place for little ones to rev up a rockstar career. Too dang funny to watch sometimes.

The Kellster is talking tons and pretty much imitates Linc and repeats what we all say these days. If he could, he'd say - "I want to be just like Justin when I grow up". He just adores that guy, and together they are too darn cute.

The wedding is next weekend and we are SO excited to join our lives and begin our journey. Justin makes me feel so special and is the love of my life! I am excited to walk to him and vow my intentions with him together, forever. LOVE. He's being a stinker about not telling me where we are going on our honeymoon (somewhere warm and requires beach attire). I just want to start. We will have some things to tackle when we get back, selling my house, his house & finding one together, but that will have to wait...Life is good and I am happy. Peace.

It's Always For a Reason...

Today, I officially decided, after spending 3 full days with the love of my life - the cutest, red headed freckled man on the planet, his beautiful children, and seeing his kids play with mine, that my job is not as exciting as I thought it was, nor do I really make the difference that I thought I might make there some day. Not that I don't make an impact every day, it's just that the job is getting to be too much when your boss sends you home with a lap top to continue working at night while your kids are sleeping so that you can catch up on the 250+ emails I get in the day, but can not respond to because I'm training or answering questions or whatever. Love Chevron, but the re-org in Jan. squeezed the place where I work a bit too tight. Money's okay, but I feel Burnout and Stress coming around the corner soon.... Hello Jack D and Johnny Walker. My J-O-B really is important, but at the end of the day, it doesn't give me any sense of satisfaction or happiness like what I felt this past weekend. I have WAY to many other things I'd like to move forward in my life and do, and maybe find a new job (well, i've not given an update in quite a while.....absent from the blog because of my ding dong job is a main reason). Another super wake up call has been watching my brother raise his middle child, Little P, in Kosair Hospital for the past 3 weeks. Life changer for me. Seeing Little P's fight against Blood Cancer, the strength of my brother & his wife, and their love for each other, has motivated me to possibly wander in a new direction. What? I have no clue. But something that definitely makes a true difference in the world, and makes it a better place at the same time. Okay, enough about me. Job is better, the stress level is high there, but that's life. On to my boys.

Linc has graduated from Pre-K at Kayfield Academy & was accepted into Lowe Elementary for Kindergarten. Getting him into a school outside of our cluster was grueling, but I worked my connections and signed my life away with a commitment to school based decision meetings and the like. Always wanted to do that, I guess. It's outside of the cluster of schools around my city, Jeffersontown, KY, but he won't have to bus and will be 1 mile from where I work. Kelly will turn 2 in a few weeks and is a riot. He got tubes in his ears in April and has been sleeping much better since then, can hear better, and is talking up a storm. His new thing is, instead of going upstairs and taking care of business, he'd rather crawl up onto the Thomas Train table and take a dookie and then let me know about the "poopey". Smarties are not working with this little guy like they did with Linc!!! The boys are both as cute as ever, and love their new Justin. We are just having fun this summer....nothing too exciting going on.

Wedding plans are in full bloom. We are getting married outside at White Hall on Sunday, Sept. 7th - it's a beautiful Southern Colonial White Mansion with a pretty garden to the side, adorning a long walkway of trellis after trellis. I fall asleep thinking about my walk to Justin. It will be beautiful. The flowers and the cake are almost there and we are deciding about our dinner menu. It is elegant, yet simple at the same time. Just like us. We just want a good photographer to take pictures so we can hang them all around the house! I will be taking his daughters out later this week to pick out their dresses and we won't fit the boys for a suit until closer to the day since they will grow like weeds.

Everyone I love is doing well. Little P, you are amazing and I love you. Stay strong because everyone is praying for you. Bro, I miss you but know Darra is taking care of you. Justin, I want to meet your family soon! Love you all.

The Conchy Republic

Sat on the beach. Listened to the ocean waves. Felt the sand between my toes, the sun on my face, and the wind in my hair. 75 - 80 degrees every day. Seven full days of relaxation and it was truly perfect. I am rested and have come back to KY a brand new woman! (I knew you guys all wanted to know that...) Tasted REAL cuban coffee in South Beach (the smack your mammy in the creek, teeth staining kind), decided my true-calling in life is to become a breakfast host on Ocean Drive, ate three kinds of Key Lime Pie (the homemade buttery crust with raspberry sauce on the side is definitely my favorite way), was a lounging pool diva, read two books - one crazy and one funny, bathed in strawberry margaritas, & heard roosters crowing from every single place I turned in that darn city (super freaky and I still need to research the migration of this FOUL bird to the Southernmost Point in Florida). Went to a Seafood Festival in Marathon, learned about the Queen Conch, ate soft shell crab & lobster (and left there completely ravenous, since every calorie I put in my body was actully being used during the wrenching task of extracting tiny bites from the shellfish with a white plastic fork and THEN putting it into my mouth). You'd think cheeseburgers and a McDonald's drive thru would be a good thing - right baby?! Sombrero Beach is a perky little place filled with old folk - but definitely beautiful. Had Sushi and Pizza in the same sitting!! Went running from our hotel to Smathers Beach one morning in Key West and bit the dust on the concrete (typical me, so brother, I know you are not surprised to hear this). Busted my new cute little brown wedge sandals while I was walking on Duval St., learned about Gorilla glue - a few times, watched MU basketball, helped a lost, drunk college spring-breaker call her someone from her cell phone, played Speed (I forgot how much fun this really is when you play a cheater), and dined outside at the most quaint Southernmost Cafe - one of my favorite moments in Key West. The other, of course, Snapper's Restaurant - they have a booming view of the Atlantic. I love you JJ (my husband to be).

Little White Dress

It's been close to a month. My new job is underway and I have to say the team of folks I am working with (training) are the best. My boss has been a little invisible lately, and in my job, I sort of assume her duties while she is doing other things (like making her own boss look good to the rest of the darn organization). So, I'm learning to be a big girl and make big decisions that impact little-big processes, yadi yadi yadi. I have more people leaning on me now, and the more I have on my plate, the better I work! It's definitely fun, but tiring. I shall rejuvenate my soul this week during my well deserved trip to sunny Key West with my red headed, freckled beau who loves to see and make me SMILE. Day One (or night rather) - South Beach Miami and Ocean Drive..... the land of hedonism and a place where every job revolves around beautiful people and bodies. One of the night clubs, called Liquid (Madonna's), will no doubt require a VIP pass, but I understand there's a gentleman at the Bel Aire who can help me get a pass to get in? $$$$$. At least that is what I read on a blog. F-U-N. Then, after a night of ZERO sleep from club hopping and dancing to electronica re-mix and doing the salsa & some latin disco cha-cha-cha (yes, baby, this includes you), we will venure on a long, beautiful drive to the Southernmost Point in FLA and watch the sun-rise on our way - (with black coffee in hand, of course)! I am packing: litte white eyelet dress, brown bikini, pink striped binkini cover-up, a mystery novel, suntan lotion SPF 30, sunglasses too big for my face, cute brown flip-flops, a toothbrush, & some toothpaste. Yup, that's it. But, I still have to get my $10 french pedi at the local asian boutique before I leave and then I'll be ready. With 10 inches of snow here, do you think my flight will be delayed tomorrow?? I'll just plan on having some Stellas at the airport bar while I wait, with South Beach or BUST on the front of my shirt and Margaritaville set as my ring tone on my phone. (So cheesy, I know). Peace and Love. (Brother, I am always thinking of you, D, and the kiddos - love you).

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." ...You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
- Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

God keep granting me the courage, strength, & determination to continue climbing my mountains.

Crazy Lazy

I love my Friday nights with my boys. We usually have a fun, greasy dinner and the options might possibly be a regular food item during the week for some families (frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, crinkly ore-ida french fries - or even pancakes & sausage). My 18 month old, Kelly, is my sous chef (and executive head banana eater). Everything in the kitchen is pointed to and claimed as being hot, even me, and I never have a hard time finding the cooking utensil or pan I need because they are always in the middle of my kitchen floor. I was spoiled with my first, Linc (5). He has never tried to dig through drawers, shelves, throw trash in the toilet (or completely taken apart cell phones), or touch cleaning supplies. I should take the time to venture and purchase every clip and clamp I could possibly find to prevent this little diesel (nickname offered by new meat head co-worker) from replacing every item in the house to another location...but, the child-proofability (made up word, I know) of these things usually keeps me out of the places I need to get into and then I end up in more trouble myself around this house than I need to be in. On today's agenda though: BUY A TOILET CLAMP. Or, I may have to call in a plumber monthly to clean out all of the weeble wobbles, star wars men, tiny rubber duckies, make-up tubes & even trash that keeps finding it's silly way in there, some how. Kisses to my Kelly. The coffee smells wonderful, so I'm off to drink a few cups. Lately, I'm in to taking care of myself, so I only made 4 cups. That diet of java, dark chocolate, cheese, smart water, vino & the occasional double cheesburger & fries from McD's caught up to me. The little bit of coffee I do drink now will definitely give me an extra boost for the bowling birthday party I get to go to later today....and keep my engines running long enough to help take care of some other boys in my family that need a little of my care, energy, & strength right now (Love you Dad & Houstie).

Happy Hearts

When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out.
~ by Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973) ~


... I know I have saved-up wishes. Do you?

Office Space

At work this week, I am gearing up for an awesome new job with my company. Let's just say I'm in the lubricant business. Part of gearing up today required moving my office space at an exact time of 1:30 p.m. Oh, I dreaded it. Packing up stuff that I've accumulated for 4 years now? A forceful, yet healthy purge of "I might need that later" office supplies & unopened Christmas candles from 2005 (that I could definitely re-gift) occurred. Ahhh, next I will feng shui my little "office space". For the less fortunate, which seems to kind of be a growing number, our lovely office space is what most business folk relate to as meaning a desk within the droniest cubicle ever, or in my case , a quad pod of four desks with all of our backs facing a little round table we adorn with twizzlers, cupcakes, home made breads (my beau absolutely loves home made fixins and baked sweets), and, of course, chocolates - in particular, my fav, the peppermint pattie! I'm now sitting with three other gals, one of which I know well and have worked with (and trained) over the past 14 months. Same wicked and twisted sense of humor, so that's a definite settle. The other two will be cool in time (me, so positive), for sure, and it takes little time to really get to know someone you basically spend more time with than anyone during the whole year - think about it. Roughly, I'm going to spend 50 + hours a week with these gals, probably end up on some menstrual synchronization cycle because of it (hopefully I'm the strong pheromone leading this young crew), and listen to guy stories, and baby stories, and stories about husbands that husbands have no idea wives tell about them! Those are sometimes quite detailed & distracting by the way, but I always end up listening. And, I really do find time to work in the middle of all this chocolate eating and baby talking. Like someone once told me - networking is 1/3 of what gets you to where you need to be. I agree 100%.

Hail Mary Weekend

My entry for Saturday is being posted with today's since I ventured to South Bend, Indiana, at the last super moment of 6:00 a.m. to arrive the rival week Notre Dame basketball game versus Marquette which began with a tip-off sharply at noon. Britty (yes, I named my boyfriend's sexy & quite bossy british talking Garmin GPS box) got us there with time and spare to pick-up our 8th row tickets in Joyce (most awesome place for a bball game I've been to yet) and visit a questionable, but cozied with Notre Dame alum, "Between the Buns" pub to grab some greasy grub and shoot down an Irish car bomb & a Stella Artois (of course) in honor of my wonderful brother who hooked me up with the tickets. Thanks Bro. The game was sweet - ND 86. MU 83. Wanted to go to the Grotto, since that is a traditional must on every visit (I'm a bit superstitious too if I miss out on even a minute of meditation at such a Holy corner bowing mighty thought and prayer to those we love or loved), but decided to drive on back to Kentucky in time to eat even more carbs, sip wine, and talk about the day. It was definitely a great, unplanned, & well deserved day. Even wandered over to watch some running events at the annual Meyo Invitational at ND hosting premiere runners from all over the country. It's mind shattering to think the human body can press under 4:00 minutes for a mile. Are we all built with the same potential to clip a 4:00 mile, or are there just a lonely few? Hmmm. Life is just so darn amazing, as is the human mind & body - if pushed! "The will to win can not be beat". Right on. I believe in a big way that we can all be sub-4 in our own darn way.

Today - Super motivated from having seen some old MU team mates yesterday, I hit the trails this morning in 20 degrees and chapping wind to get back into gear for the triple crown of racing - fast approaching the Derby town in 4 short weeks. It hurt, good. Thanks JJ for sticking it out in the mud and cold and being my running buddy today - YOU ROCK BABY!! Yes, this year's race results will be much different than last year's triple, but hey, it's all fun to me (I say this, but am really one of those competitive psychos that scopes the field at every road race to check and see right about where I'm going to finish in the race. Yup, 6th. AND, if you are one of those people and know what I'm talking about, you are always dead on close to about where you will finish). Whatever. I'll be on the seeded side of the rope this year, but definitely shouldn't be. Need to eat better and train to show up.

Off to rock my youngest back to sleep.
Love the life juggle and every moment I catch myself in.

Happy Friday!

Today's Reminder:

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand (or red for the cabby lovers) - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "oh yeah, baby, what a awesome ride!"