Weekend Warriors

After weeks of inactivity and Kevin working like a dog, we were blessed with a three day weekend. Being overachievers, we decided to make the most of it and pack it to gills. On Friday, we strapped up the canoe (a feat deserving of two standing ovations) and headed to Brushy Creek Park. It was beautiful and we basically had the creek to ourselves since it was a Friday afternoon.

Since I'm not supposed to be lifting heavy things (and I have no muscles to speak of) my trusty pack mule had to do most the carrying. I call him the 'canoe bug'. Then Kevin treated us to a lunch a Z Tejas. It's a very nice restaurant to go into after sweating on a lake for an hour, but no one seemed to mind.

Clare did amazing in the boat. Only a few bonks on the head from tipping over. The wind was way too strong for us to be out there for very long, but at least the experience answered the question that we do not want to go on the kayak adventure on our cruise. My arms were killing me the next day and we are there for relaxation!

Then on Saturday, we packed up a lunch, picked up some friends, and headed to the Zoo in Waco. It was perfect timing. We went early in the morning before the spring break crowds, timed the naps so they would all be in the car, and had a great time at the zoo. Don't know how much Clare actually saw, but we really went for Kevin and me! She did love the fish and would 'bark' at the large cats. Luckily for her, she doesn't seem to be allergic to orangutans like her father. (Trust me, I don't buy that line either, but he does seem to get sneezy every time we are in the orangutan exhibit. Very suspicious!)

 

 

Saturday night, we were lucky to have an old coworker of mine come over to babysit so that we could go celebrate a friends birthday. The night was great with food, poker, friends, and running into unexpected mutual acquaintances. We wished Chris a happy 30th, but it all seemed to end too soon.

Our plan was to completely pass out on Sunday and do nothing but go to church. Unfortunately the weed infested yard got to Kevin, and he ended up doing a lot of yard work instead. Luckily we were able to dust off the darts in our garage and get in a few games. We're ready for my parents, David and Liz to come into town this week for a match up!

This was truly an active and jam packed weekend for us. I don't think either of us have slept so hard in a long time. Now it's onto packing and cleaning for the cruise in 5 days. I'm going to try and enjoy Clare as much as I can right now, because I know I'm going to miss her dearly when we head out on Saturday.

Not My First Rodeo, but I Could Use an Intermission

Pregnancy number two is 10 weeks in, and while the symptoms are familiar and nothing new, it doesn't make them any more fun to go through. There are many women in the world who relish in their pregnancy. Some even never feel morning sickness. I am not one of those women. Now I respect and love the life in me, I just hate the growing process.

True Story: For one of my baby showers last time, the hosts played a cute little question/answer game. They asked Kevin a bunch of questions about our pregnancy and I had to guess the answers. They asked "What would Mary say the best part of being pregnant is?" And bless his heart, he said "I don't think Mary would say she likes anything about being pregnant, except that it will be over soon and Clare will be born." Ding Ding Ding. He was correct and I guessed his response on the nose.

I'm making the bold prediction that this little one will be our first little boy. I say this because I don't feel like my hormonal emotions are on a roller coaster like last time. No unexplainable weepies and no arguing with Kevin in Wal-mart over shampoo. When I asked Kevin if he's noticed my lack of huge mood swings, he smiled, shrugged, and plead the 5th. To which I swiftly slapped his arm like any non-hormonal, non-moody woman would do!

I'm looking forward to a few weeks down the road. Not only will the all-day sickness be gone, but I'll also be getting on a boat to go cruising to Mexico with Kevin. I'm sure I'll be super homesick for Clare, but I think this couple's-only-vacation is an opportunity we can't pass up. Watch out naive college students on spring break, this pregnant, mom-of-one is taking her stretchmarks and bikini and hitting the beach!

Silent No More

This picture immediately brings tears to my eyes for many reasons. I am proud of my mother's courage, impressed at her leadership skills, joyful to see how far she has healed from when I was a kid, and thankful that I am alive because of her. This photo was taken at the Texas Rally for Life in Austin. My mother is standing on the capitol steps showing people what really happens to women after an abortion. She came to show support for Cathy Kerr who was giving a testimony for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. The silent no more campaign is an effort to make the public aware of the devastation that abortion brings to women, men, and their families.

As many of you know, my Mom has worked for years with the Rachael's Vineyard retreats for the Lubbock area. These retreats are for women and their families to finally come to grips with, find peace, and heal from their abortions. As a pro-life person, most of us feel anger and sadness over the lost lives abortion brings, but many times we stop there. We forget to see that along with every abortion is a wounded, broken, and hurt woman who deserves healing, peace, and forgiveness like all of us. God asks us to hate the sin, not the sinner, and that's what my mother strives to do.

I sometimes think about my half-brother, Samuel. Would he look like me? How different my life would be if he lived. Even though he never made it birth, his life matters. His life changed my Mom, which then changed my life, and is still changing the way I am as a Mom. His life, though brief, has sent ripples of change throughout my whole family's life. You must know that one life does matter.

You can not imagine how hard it is to stand in front of friends, family, and strangers telling about you painful past, all for the hopes that it will bring healing to someone who needs it. My Mom needs all the support, love, and encouragement she can get. If you're proud of her like me, you should let her know.