9 Years Down.....90 to go!!!

Yesterday Thomas and I celebrated 9 years of marriage and as I think back about the wild ride we've been on, I want to thank God for the man he has placed in my life. We've had good times and bad time but the good far out ways the bad. We've had sickness and health and have witnessed God's healing power. We have watched Makenna Jo turn into a beautiful young lady and have lived to tell about it. We made the two most handsome little boys with the help from God, they were worth every heartache and fertility drug that we had to try. We've traveled through out Europe and made some of the most beautiful memories. I love to work and play along side my husband, I can't imagine him not being there right next to me. I still love to cuddle up next to him on the couch and share a pizza (only 1 piece now)right out of the box. Thomas has given a life that I could only dream of, so thank you Thomas for making my dreams a reality. ILYMTYEK!!!!!

In a Funk

Just in a funk today. Need a big tub of popcorn and a good cry!!

A little blue....

Just found out that I don't get to come home at all this year!! Makens me sad!!

Things that I've been pondering

So we took the family camping this weekend which meant we were totally unplugged for 3 whole days, no cell phones, no Internet and no tv. Sometimes being unplugged is a good thing. Normally when I wake up really early in the morning and head downstairs and turn on the tv or see what is happening on Facebook but not when we are camping. I find that I had all this extra time to think and ponder about my life. Here are just a few things crossed my mind over the past three days.

*No matter how hard I try, my house will never be clean. If you come to my house and don't call first, you'll find bills on the counter, laundry everywhere, dishes in my sink and dust bunnies in the all my corners!! So do me a favor and call first so I have a chance to throw everything in a closet!!

*Camping is a lot of works, setting things up only to tear them down a few days later. However, I love it. I'm not a breakfast eater but somehow breakfast tastes better when we are camping. I love to watch my children play and use their imagination. Sitting around the campfire at night is the very best and if you add a glass of Malibu and diet....it even gets better.

*Being away from my family sucks. The older I get the more I need my the comfort of knowing my family is there for me. Sometimes I miss my parents and brothers so much that it hurts and I cherish every minute I am able to spend with them. I also wanted to say thank you to Auntie Wendy & Sharon and cousins Silvia and Crystal for the gift card to Fashion Bug and thank you for your support!! Love you guys and can't wait to join you next year on you're 3-day walk!!

*Wait Loss Surgery saved my life! I know the decision to have a gastric lap-band was the right decision for me. I feel amazing and I'm doing things I've never done before. I've participated in 2 5K walk/runs since my surgery in May. Its not easy to enter a race when you know you're not going to win but to cross the finish line is amazing. In 2010 I'm going to start walking/running 10K's and my ultimate goal is do run a half marathon the year I turn 40!!

*Napping. The older I get I find that when the opportunity arises for me to take a quick nap, take it!! I feel so much better after a little recharge.

*Sweatpants are amazing!!

*I'm a good cook and even a better baker!! However, my Almond Roca will never taste as good as Grandma's.

*I love to write, the only problem is that my grammer is awful and usually have to have Makenna proof-read everything.

*That I'm lucky to be married to such a great guy. I'm not sure how I got so lucky!! He has given me more then I ever imagined!!

*Someday I want to own a lake cabin. There is nothing quite like hangin' out at the lake all day long.

*If I didn't have children I would be driving a new mustang, but I love my kids and my mini-van, who I've named Sally!! Makenna says is wrong to name a van Sally!!

*I can live without soda and chocolate...is it easy....NO!!!

So, those were just a few of the things that crossed my mind this past weekend. I could tell you more, but it might just scare you!!

#6 - Way to go Jen!!!

Today is a very special day for my friend Jen!!! It's her 6th and final round of Chemo!! She is one of the most beautiful people I know and I'm so proud of her and this roller-coaster journey that she's been on since January! Her can do attitude has inspired me to do things I've never done before!! I don't know how many times in the past few months that I've said to myself, "Callie, Jen is battling cancer, you can walk another mile". I'm thankful for Jen's family and friends who have helped and encouraged her when she has needed it most. If you know Jeni you know how amazing she is and she didn't even let cancer damper her spirit.
Jen, Good Luck today!! So many, many people will be thinking and praying for you today. Always, always remember that, "we can do hard things"

I did it!!!

Well, today I did something that six months ago, I never thought possible. I walked/jogged in a 5K race today! This is the first time I've ever participated in a race so I didn't know what to expect. Despite the fact that I am 25 pounds lighter and 15 inches smaller I was still one of the biggest ladies there and I have to admit that its very intimidating to be surrounded by all these fit and trim woman wearing their fancy running clothes. But I had to remind myself that I'm not running this race for anyone but me, I had to prove to myself that I could do it. Its my starting point, I will compare all other races to this one!! I guess there were about 200 runners and the starting point was the hardest....to see all those people pass me in the beginning but I had to remind myself to put one foot in front of the other and keep on keeping on and that is what I did through out the whole race. I never quit, I never stopped for water, I just kept on going. I've been training for several weeks but today during the last 1/2 mile I was very emotional....just thinking about how far I've come in a short amount of time. Then I turned the corner and could see the finish line, there was my 6' 8" husband (he's easy to spot in a crowd) waiting for me. I'm so thankful the Tom and the boys were there waiting for me to finish!! Crossing the finish line was the most amazing feeling ever, I can't wait to do it again.
I want to thank my friend Jenifer who has given me the strength to never give up. When I'm tired and don't want to go on, I can hear her voice in my head, "we can do hard things, Callie"!!

Going Green

I guess the Going Green slogan has now effected my 5 year old. This morning as we were driving to school he yelled for me to stop. I said why? He told me that there was garbage on the side of the road and I needed to pick it up. I said, why should pick up the garbage on the side of the road. He responded, "Because if you don't do your part, the earth will get sick". I got a kick out of that one!!