I Want a Vacation!

We haven't been anywhere since Christmas when we drove to spend part of the weekend with Marshall's parents in Houston. Shortly thereafter he had to work on his car, my car broke and we bought Donny, then his classes started, following by him getting his part-time job and logging the majority of his hours over the weekends. We still want to take a trip to Utah/Wyoming this summer, but can't commit until we confirm his internship schedule, which is non-existent right now. My grandparents have invited us to come to Jacksonville to visit whenever we can, and that may be a nice getaway for a few days, especially before it becomes Africa-hot again here in Texas.

I guess I need to think more on where I really want to go to get away for a spell.

Disc Golf

Last weekend we went to a nearby park we had not visited before because they had a disc golf range there. We borrowed 2 discs from our neighbor and went to try something new together. I wasn't feeling all that well that day, and wanted to practice before taking on the course. I learned a very important lesson. I suck at throwing a frisbee and have no aim whatsoever.

Marshall and I decided we would try the course another time, and instead we just chased after each other's frisbees. I was about 25 minutes, then it started to drizzle, and we went home. We had fun just being outdoors together. I think I'm going to go to Academy, a local sporting goods store, and pick up a decent frisbee or 2 that we can use to do that again. :D

DIY Inklings

My brother's child is due in mid-August. I was finally able to talk to my brother since the end of December because he had been deployed. He's doing great, and he and his girlfriend aren't going to start buying anything for their baby until the baby shower in June, which is in Phoenix. I won't be able to attend; however, I do intend on sending them some baby clothes and accessories. I have an inkling to make the following: 

I also have an easy pattern to make bibs too! 

If Marshall is away all summer doing an internship, and it is 100,000 degrees outside again for three months straight like last year, I'm going to stay inside in the A/C and pump out a whole mess of these cute baby items!

Early March

March has started off very well all around for both of us. We've received lots of rain, so our yard is once again green with weeds. I'm in the middle of adding new plants to the front yard right in front of the foundation. My boss gave me a $25 gift card for doing so well with one of our bigger customers at the end of February, so I decided to use it towards gardening supplies at Home Depot. I won another $25 gift card today for a contest at work. Hopefully I can finish it up this weekend now!

My youngest brother turns 17 tomorrow. Next year I'm want to do something really cool for his birthday. On my 18th birthday I got the Beatles CD I wanted and $60. Shouldn't be too hard to beat that!!

Marshall is officially on spring break. He's going to be doing his computer programmer work Friday and the weekend, then tackle his car (Natasha) during the week. I'm praying like a nun that Natasha is functional again by next week. I still have my Christmas decorations up because I can't get to the attic to bring down the containers everything goes in. Plus, it would be really nice after 3 months to no longer be a 1 car family.

This Sunday morning we have a tentative date to go play disk golf together. I've never done it, but I think it would be good exercise. May turn into our new favorite outdoors activity to do together.

My Girl Scouts event on February 25th was a huge success. We had 400 scouts and adults participate, and everything went so well. This upcoming year I've volunteered to help organize fundraising events for the Girl Scouts, and I already have a few in mind. :)

I started watching a new series (new to me at least) on Netflix from Showtime called The Tudors. I like historical based dramas, and although they don't have the history exactly correct, it's still interesting. The actors do a pretty good job as well. I'm also watching a 6 part documentary on the UK Monarchy from the Romans to present day.

Marshall's parents are planning on riding their motorcycles up to Austin Easter weekend, and we're looking forward to spending time with them. April looks to be a busy month for Marshall with lots of foundry conferences and another visit to Lufkin Industries. No official word yet on his summer internship, but it appears that the powers that be are unfortunately focusing more on the short term than the long term, and just haven't put much effort into making decisions about their summer internship program yet. We're still optimistic an opportunity will pull through for us.

Marshall's part-time job is going amazingly well. He can work up to 30 hours per week, which he's been reaching quite easily. This is a wonderful opportunity for him and our family. I'm really glad he has this positive purpose to focus on since he is half way through his college career, at a time when it is so easy to get distracted and lose sight of the finish line. We talked about this this morning, and both feel very blessed for this opportunity.

My niece/nephew Thiele will become gender specific on March 21st, so less than 2 weeks away now. My brother returned safely home yesterday from his 10 week deployment. Hurray!

New Opportunity

By the end of January, Marshall's management professor Chris emailed his class and other audiences a part-time computer programming internship opportunity at the successful small business he manages. The paid internship would be March 1 to May 31st with 20-25 hours per week. Chad is their sole computer programmer and has a mounting pile of to-do projects, thus, the need for some part-time help. 

Marshall decided that with his computer programming background, he would apply. The offer included that they would be flexible around students' school schedules. Why not take a stab in the dark? A few days after submission, Chris contacted him for more details. Shortly thereafter, Marshall had a great phone interview with Chad. He had a face-to-face interview on February 10th, along with other candidates. Sunday night he received the acceptance confirmation in an email from Chad, and they would like him to start the following Friday the 17th, which was nearly 2 weeks early! 

Turns out Marshall was the only candidate they selected although they would have hired more if they would have been competent in computer programming; turns out they were not. Marshall had a successful first day and got along splendidly with Chad and everyone else he was introduced to. He's been set up with all the information he needs to begin telecommuting from home or school as well. 

I'm having to do some adjustments of my own because with his homework, torn apart car in the garage, and now new job, his responsibilities will mean less time for me. I really do need a hobby to keep me occupied and entertained while he is busy. I think it also may be necessary for us to designate a particular evening during the weekend to be just for us together so that we remember that we comply with our crazy schedules for our ultimate goals together. 

I'm very proud of him, and I know he's going to do fantastic at his new job!

Fondue Fever

Sunday the 12th was my February Fondue Fiesta that I was hosting at my house for my girlfriends from work and Meetup. Of the 9 ladies who RSVP'd, 2 showed up on time, and 1 had told me she was coming late because she had a previous commitment that was going to interfere. 2 other girls later told me about their unforeseen circumstances on their absence, and I understood, moreover, I really appreciated them letting me know that they just didn't blow me off.

I prepared enough fondue for 12 people although I only cooked up enough for us 4 who got to enjoy it. I'm able to use all the left overs, but now I have 4 milk chocolate bars in my baking cabinet that I need to make sure I do not tap in to out of boredom or cravings.

I was envisioning a vibrant party with lots of laughter, conversation, delicious food and wine. I was sad it didn't turn out that way even though my three guests all said they had a good time. I think I'm going to take a break from party planning for a while.

Tough Love

Do you think you are strong? How strong are you? Do you curl fourth graders at the gym amongst the squeals of laughter? Do you crush the extended hand when you shake it? Can you push a car by yourself?

How strong are you emotionally? My friends are as strong as the Empire State Building is tall. Who am I hanging out with you wonder. These ladies see tomorrow as both a blessing and a curse yet they progress towards their goal of taking home a baby from the hospital. My friends have suffered through the losses of their unborn children. Their pregnancy is confirmed, and sometimes as soon as that same day they find out their hope has fallen to the ground like a cannon ball. 

I wish there was a way for us to see the rush of hormones and chemicals that flood the body when a woman finds out she's pregnant. The excitement of success for a long awaited goal having been reached would just have to evident throughout her body. Her heart becomes more tender; her ego fades to the background; and she embodies her vision of what it means to be maternal. She no longer holds herself on a pedestal but instead her growing womb encompasses her number one. A pregnant woman starts planning immediately on how to face her fears and how to best maximize her joy. I'm not sure a man can relate to such an organic change like a woman can in this situation. 

Then, through no fault of her own consciousness, she's delivered a telegram somehow, some way that her dream has just been popped. Her body isn't producing the right balance of hormones. How was she suppose to know?! Now she has to muddle through the despair that follows such sorrowful news. The doctors do not know why she continues to have miscarriages. Why is her body broken while others' are baby-making machines?! What did she get dealt this deck of cards?! She continues to research anything and everything that can possibly give her insight into the mysterious cause of a miscarriage. She wants to understand what her doctor is talking about, and have an engaging conversation with him about what she needs to do going forward. 

Going forward. These women do not know how to shrivel up and quit. No. They are strong because they do everything in their power to achieve their dream of holding their child one day. Their world is a blur of numbers that give meaning to their journey. They mourn, and they make a special place in their heart for the life they created and envisioned cuddling with one day. They acknowledge that they need time to heal, and do so in their own way. Their journey comes with pent-up excitement for a positive and realistic unpleasant news with a sign of a cramp. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. My friends willing go through this cycle because they are strong. 

You may have strong friends too, and you never knew the source of their strength. I am not as strong as my friends, but should I need to be, I know I have them close by. 

I'm saddened too because I won't get to see the pictures that you post or the videos that you share. Now I won't have those adorable cheeks to want to pinch. I won't witness the proud smile you always wear while holding your baby. One day though, I will awe at your child in the pictures. One day I will laugh at your baby's uncanny sense of timing while being caught on camera. Not only will I tenderly nip at those cheeks, but I'll feel those little fingers wrap around one of mine. One day you'll get to introduce the world to your child, and it will be the moment that is keeping you strong today.