Memorial Day?

By Flag by djwest36.

I am ashamed to admit that I actually had to ask Justin what Memorial Day represents. To me it is a Monday that I don't have to work! It is a long weekend. It is more time that I get to spend with my family because I don't have to work. It is my first holiday of 2010 and I am thankful for it! But for some reason my curiosity struck and I realized that I didn't even know what the day represents....I knew it was something in regards to our military and that I feel the need to fly the flag but past that I was clueless. I had to google it...SHAME ON ME! But I am really glad that I did. So , in case I am NOT alone ( I hope that I am alone and that everyone else really already gets it) I want to share what I learned and some of my thoughts.

Memorial Day is a day to honor, salute and give thanks to those soldiers who have fallen during a time of war. Memorial day is not a day to honor all of our military people but it is a day to honor those who have died in protecting our country. I am extremely thankful for all of the men and women and their families who sacrifice so much for the sake of my freedom. They give their lives and put our country before themselves. Now that is a true HERO. I am proud to be an American and it is because of the freedom that I have and I have this freedom because of these men and women who serve our country in good and bad times. These people put themselves in harms way to protect America and our freedom! It is the families of the hero's who have lost their lives while fighting that I lift up in prayer this weekend: The mothers and fathers who have lost children and the children who have lost their mommy or daddy. It is a selfless act to serve this country and I am thankful for their sacrifice!

I hope that you will peek over at Pioneer Woman's photography page and see her pictures of soldiers and military 'coming home'. It gives me chills and tears in my eyes because not everyone is able to welcome their loved ones home safely. I also can't imagine that feeling of relief when they do arrive after being away and fighting for our country.

In my research to learn more about Memorial Day I found this poem that I liked:

In Flanders Fields

by:John McCrae, 1915.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place;

and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

I hope that you have a wonderful Memorial Day and that you will also think of our fallen soldiers. They should be honored and remembered because they are the true hero's of our country! Enjoy your Monday off!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sleeping and Brinkley

Ok, so the sleeping situation has gotten much better. We went from standing up to sitting up and this was just too funny not to share. Sorry for the poor quality it is a video of the video monitor! He has totally gotten better and by tonight he is not sitting or standing but back to his normal routine. Only difference this week has been him waking up at 6am instead of 7 or 7:30! Big difference.


Tonight Collier said Brink Brink for the first time. As she gave him kisses and he patted and loved on her he kept saying Brink Brink Brink! So sweet. We tried to catch it on video but of course he stopped talking as soon as the video came out!

Swing and Sleep

Yesterday we finally hung Collier's swing that he got from his Mela and Buzz for his birthday. I have been dying to get it hung because I know how much he is going to enjoy it! He swang yesterday afternoon and today! loving the swing already!

Yesterday was also the beginning of an unusual sleep habit. Actually Mom had mentioned that earlier in the week he had been standing up in his crib instead of sleeping. Normal routine is when he gets sleepy, turn on his music, lay him down, be sure he has both Ginger (Giraffe) and Maurice (Monkey) in his arms and he goes to sleep. This routine is the same for naps as well as bed time. Yesterday every time Mom laid him down for his naps he would roll over and stand up immediately and cry. She laid him down SEVERAL times and no luck. So, she got him up and decided to give him early lunch - fill that tummy up and try again. No such luck again. All day yesterday he had a 30 minute nap and 10 minute nap and finally took an hour nap before dinner. At 9:00 last night we were getting ready for bed and he acted really sleepy so we laid him down as usually and immediate he popped up and stood at the edge of the crib crying. Justin laid him down 2 or 3 times and he couldn't get him to stay down. So, we decided to just let him cry it out and see what he would do. 20 minutes later he was still screaming and crying. So I gave in and went in and got him, rocked him and got him settled down. He fell asleep in my arms and I laid him down and before I was out of the room he was standing up crying again. I decided to try and let him watch his favorite video (Cedarmont Kids...I highly recommend it) and after 3 songs I realized that it wasn't winding him down and that I needed to turn it off. So, I went back to his room and rocked him, again he fell asleep I put him down and he was immediately up. By now it is after 10:00 and I am tired and ready for bed. Change of strategy. Stay in the room and as soon as he rolls over lay him back down. No talking and no eye contact. I did that about 30 times before he finally stayed on his back but it was only realizing that when he opened his eyes and could see me that he didn't try and stand up. As long as I stood by the crib and he could see me he was fine. So I did and he finally went to sleep BUT he was awake at 5am STANDING UP! for another 30 minutes of my lay him back down strategy he finally closed his eyes long enough for me to sneak out. He only slept an hour longer before he was up. He did the same thing with my Mom today. This afternoon I decided that I would going to let him cry it out....and not give in. Being VERY tired (he has only had a short 30minute nap today and that is it) and it took him about 7 minutes of standing up before he sat down. The then almost fell asleep sitting up before he fell over and finally gave in! Whaoooo. Nappy Time!

I am praying hard that this is just a weird week and not an actual habit. Any suggestions? He also has his top two teeth that are about to pop through and I assume this may have something to do with it????????

20 Miles Logged

That is 20 miles and 4 hours of running time that I logged on Sunday with my TNT group! Whaahooo! You may ask, how do you feel? Please let me share:

• Happy
• Very proud of myself
• Hot
• Sweaty
• So thankful that it was cloudy 90% of the time we were running
• Thankful to have it done and prove to myself that I can do this
• I had energy and wasn't exhausted at the end
• I felt that I had the endurance to continue (which I will still have 6.2 more to go on race day)
• Love'n me some gu gels and Gatorade!
• My legs hurt - thighs, calves, hamstrings, knees are very sore
• Not sure how my legs didn't fall off
• I am thankful for 'the stick' to massage out my muscles
• Thankful that my husband rubbed my back and shoulders
• I didn't like sitting in a bath of cold water and ice AFTER the run (I was supposed to sit for 20 minutes and ONLY made it about 5 before I had to jump out...brrrrr!)
• I burned over 2000 calories and so I ate a guiltless bowl of chocolate ice cream last night
• Thankful that I didn't have to do this alone and that two other STRONG women were there to encourage, support and make the miles go by faster
• Thankful for a proven training program through Team In Training
• Thankful to God that I am healthy and able to run and survive 20 miles!

Here we are AFTER running 20 miles - these are two power women!!!

Toddeling

Being a Mother

It really is a special privilege to be called a Mom (or momma or mommy or mother). It is an honor and a joy and I am thankful to be one. Being a mom means that you love your baby or babies with more love than you ever knew that you had. It is no longer having your own schedule but revolving around their sleeping and eating times. It is picking up toys. It is getting up in the middle of the night to sooth and calm your sweet baby. It is changing lots of diapers, and even being peed on. It is a gentle spirit to care and nurture them. Being a mom means that sometimes you are all they want/need. It is having your heart melt when your sweet baby falls into your lap to be showered with love. It is watching as your tiny baby grows way too fast into such a big boy. Being a mom is a satisfying feeling. It is a blessing and I hope and pray that in every moment of my Motherhood that I am a blessing to God!

I pray that Collier will be a man who loves the Lord and who knows that our Father in heaven is with him and that He will provided for his every need. I pray that Collier will trust and depend on God always and that he will have an impact on the Kingdom of God!

I am also thankful to have such an amazing mom, myself, who did all of this for me. She has always pours out her love to Chris and me (and even our spouses) and she has made so many sacrifices for the sake of us! She is a wonderful example of living a Christ filled life. I know that she prays for me and there is peace in knowing that someone is praying on your behalf. I love you mom and thank you so much for all that you do. Thank you for being my friend and my mom. I am so very thankful to have you close by and wouldn't know what to do if we lived in difference cities. I love to watch the love between you and Collier! You are so special to us!

Birthday Celebration

We had such a fun and special day celebrating Collier's birthday with our friends and family at Compass Lake! I couldn't have asked for anything more! Hard for me to believe that he is one already. I love this man so deeply and am so thankful for who God created him to be.

Friday was his actually birthday and we loved being at the lake and playing and preparing for Saturday. Collier loved swinging and we're so glad to now have one for our house! (thanks Mela and Buzz). He also enjoyed his birthday cupcake but when it came to the real thing on Saturday he was WAY too tired and wanted nothing to do with it!

Here are a few of the pictures from Saturday.