Monday, September 17, 2012

New to Texas? New to us!

 
We've had a little fun spending our last few weeks noticing the differences between
 Texas and our home state.
When I went to get some information on vehicle registration, I got a laugh.
"To learn how, read our Apply to be Texan booklet. In no time at all, we will be proud to call you a Registered Texan!"
The booklet is SO Texan and kinda cheesy, but, hey! This IS Texas.
 
 
The Texas flag flies the same height as the American flag, and my school aged kids have had to learn to recite the Texas Pledge of Allegiance every morning after the National Pledge. 
One can find the Texan flag everywhere...At Dairy Queen one day, I noticed my hamburger wrapped in paper that was a Texas flag! 
Pickup trucks proudly display the fact that they are "Texas Truck"(s) and most are built with some special package that gives them EXTRA 
manufactured Texas bling-age.
Proud.
 


And lest we forget at some point that we are not in Kansas anymore, the Lone Star itself is proudly displayed on bridges, buildings and houses!
 
 
Now, here is something I like...in the dead middle of the ferocious summer heat, Crepe Myrtle trees are in full, beautiful bloom.  And when I say they are everywhere, I do not exaggerate.  These trees line the streets, highways, tollways in multiples and are in every shopping center and yard. 
 Beautiful.
 
 
And then, you've heard about football in this big state...
and it's all true. 
 This is our high school stadium, and the current largest HS marching band in the US (about 850.
One fun annual tradition in our town is when the marching band spends a weekend going through every neighborhood right before school starts. 
Impressive.
 
 
Two things about this picture:
1)  Dallas traffic.  Ick. 
Construction is everywhere. 
Rumble bumps are used instead of painted lines.
Motorcycle cops are sneaky.
(Kansas City should win an award for BEST road system!)
2)  The puffy white clouds.  Every day brings on a new display, and I love it. 
 



Then there are these little critters...they get in my HOUSE!
Although quite endearing and enamoring to my family, I am not so impressed!
 
 
We also have gotten the opportunity to experience FIRE ANTS. 
More on that later.
Maybe.

 We have SO enjoyed being in a house.  It's been such a long time. 
We've enjoyed making carpet angels and having a couple of empty rooms!
It's interesting that all the houses are brick around here.  And even though they look huge from the outside, they typically aren't that big.  There's no basement to double the square footage like we are used to.
 And the newer neighborhoods are truly small communities within themselves complete with an elementary school, parks, and pools. 
Ours also happens to boast our church! 
***Happy Sigh***
 
 
Remember how I have spent the past few years bemoaning the fact that the hardest job on the chore chart was taking garbage to the dumpster?!
Now, the kids vie to mow grass, to use the weed eater and the blower.
Added incentive is they get to run across the street and jump in the pool when they are done!
We'll see how it goes....I give it ONE season...

Friday, August 24, 2012

We did it...

After eight years and eight months of thinking we would live in our tiny shoebox forever...
 

We pulled up stakes and headed south...



On a Big Adventure...

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Distracted

Today I seem to be distracted....maybe it's avoidance of this never-ending mountain of laundry.  
Maybe it's because I can't stop thinking about the month of May.  The end-of-school year stuff is fun.  My super-duper talented kids shining and showing me what they are made of---awards, accolades for the record-breakers, band and strings concerts, the leadership team campaign, all in glorious prelude to the excitement and anticipation of summer break....I love it all.  
But here's what ESPECIALLY comes to mind in thinking about May 2012....

Jacob's participation in the Cultural Celebration with the Lenexa Stake, and over 3,000 other teenagers!
Attending the Temple Dedication with my three oldest children!

Going on an unbelievable vacation with my best friend!!!
What amazing memories.  A truly blessed time in my life.  
And I foresee more on the horizon....stay tuned.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Just gotta say it...

Friday morning, October 28, 2011, Joe received the news that he passed the last of his national board exams. He is finally able to receive a license to practice. What wonderful, long-awaited news! Way to go JOE!!!

You may know that I posted this on Facebook: “Dear National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Joe kicked your can, now you can kiss ours!” (For the record, I don't care to EVER have to deal with Cleveland Chiropractic College OR the NBCE again in this life...just sayin'...)

I know you can imagine the happiness and relief we feel in our family. All the trials, tears, heartache and heaviness of these past years suddenly became history. It was not unlike the feeling one has after the birth of a long-awaited child. The correlations are so similar!

We’ve been truly overwhelmed at the outpouring of love, tears, cheers and all-out support from so many. Thanking you all seems so inadequate! Your love and support has become a part of who we are, and we are better in countless ways because of it...

Surprisingly, I have noticed how tempting it is to want to bury the difficulty of our trial when we are rejoicing in the triumph. It would be nice to forget the feelings of relentless frustration, and disappointment. But, as with other painful trials in my life, I cannot deny as sure as I live that the experience is EMBLAZONED on the soul! Our wise and loving Heavenly Father needed us to learn and learn and learn some more, and that is why I cannot make light of this. We could’ve taken any path and still would have had to learn the many valuable lessons of life that we did through chiro school and boards. Putting one foot in front of the other day after day; seeking solutions to mind-boggling dilemmas; seeking employment in a disastrous economy...I could go on and on elaborating on the challenges. But our blessings completely sweetened the pot this entire time. Not once have we ever been without immense blessings---Where we live, our church, our children, etc--- We're so richly blessed. We have learned that when He says He will provide our needs according to His riches, He does. When He says to draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to us, He does. He has needed for us to become more humble (ugh-pride!). More reliant and trusting that He does what He has promised. His will and His plan of happiness will be accomplished. It's too easy to become blinded by what WE want in this life. He needs us to be fit for His use, and to do our part and be the strength that He needs us to be in troubled times, so His work continues.

Experience is a miraculous thing. I pray my children learn and apply something wonderful from this experience as well. We don’t need a lot to be joyful and content. We only need:

To love our God with all our hearts, mind and strength...

To love our neighbors as ourselves...

To learn to follow the commandments diligently...

and to take notice of the important lessons He has for us.

Then we apply them. And grow.

I am deeply grateful for the experience.

Painful, yes. But, that is progression.

He loves us and blesses us.

After such a long, hard-fought trial---shame on me if I ever forget…

Thursday, September 29, 2011

"Fashion Fiesta"...from someone who knows...

In case you are in need of some Fashion advice....

"Fashion Fiesta

What To Wear?

Are you coming to a point in your life were you think that your close seem so yesterday?

Well if you are don’t fell bad about it , just go to your closet and see what you have ….

Lay it out on your bed and just look at it ,be grateful for what you have because some people

don’t have close at all . So look at your close and think …. What am I going to wear tomorrow?

Well here is a news flash for you - to much pattern is weird and to much solid is to bland .If you want my opinion you would want a pair of black skinny jeans, a purple blouse and some black open toed 3inched high heals that would be a going out to eat out fit but that’s just my opinion . For a regular day I would wear a yellow blouse with ruffles on the chest with white or black skinny jeans. For school I would wear a black& white checked mini skirt with knee sock for the top I would have a black blouse.

Well that’s it for today for fashion fiesta read next week!

Chow"

I found a copy of this on my printer last week, and just about DIED from loving it so much!

It was written by the 10 year old "fashonista" in my house...

Just thought I'd share it in it's original form...


Monday, August 22, 2011

Checklists-Schedules-Organized Chaos-Oh MY!

...And then all of the sudden, the summer was GONE.

Enroll 2 in elementary school.
Enroll 1 in first year of Middle school.
Enroll 1 in college sciences and algebra.
Piano lessons for three.
Band for two.
Gymnastics-Musical Theater-Football.
Don't forget Boys Scouts/Young Men's/Mutual.
And Activity Days....

All recently were added to my "to do" list...

...to broaden our horizons and enlarge our minds. Really?

Must. Not. Over-schedule.

A stack of brand-new spiral notebooks for 10 cents a piece just out-ranked my snazzy Franklin-Covey-leather-bound organizer. EVERYTHING goes in the NOTEBOOK. They will be labeled, "Thing 1", "Thing 2", etc....one will be close at hand at all times.

Gonna be a busy semester...busy with trying to MAINTAIN BALANCE. I'll keep ya posted....







Saturday, August 13, 2011

The more the merrier!

The line up...
3 nieces
1 nephew
2 friends
my own 4 children...

A day of abandoned responsibilities=mandatory FUN!