Christmas Parade 2010

Lillian and I were in the Christmas Parade downtown tonight =) It was fun, but FREEZING. My lips were numb.... teeth were freezing. I put forth great effort to smile... but I'm afraid I probably looked like I was grimacing at people.. Lily did GREAT! She didn't whine ONCE. She had many layers on, boots, gloves, hat, AND a blanket. When we were done with the parade, we got home pretty fast since I didn't stay to see the rest of the parade (it was quite cold..) we get home and start to take off our layers and her hands were FREEZING, poor thing! We read 2 long books with the space heater on and three blankets trying to warm her up. She's such a sweetheart =) I loved being there with her in her first parade experience!

I am Loved.

So I am feeling very loved today =D I got a package from Barb, my dad's first wife. And in it was a TON of things to sew with! So much stuff! Just "Because". WAY awesome! Following this, we sent a couple emails back and forth and it was really nice to share some of my hobbies with her and learn some of hers! In nearly 25 years, I haven't really known her. So it's a pretty cool thing!

AND! My cousin and her boyfriend are spending Thanksgiving with us, even though Lily is sick. This is the first time in 4 years where we'll have company for Thanksgiving. WAY awesome! I wouldn't mind making this a tradition.... (HINT!) Just makes me feel so SPECIAL and LOVED.

AND! A friend who moved away has contacted me through email today and we've caught up a bit. WAY AWESOME!

It's insane, though- how close I am to people hundreds of miles away... but FEEL like I'm hundreds of miles away from people we see every week. Family is seriously taken for granted. Makes me want to be a hermit crab and keep to myself. I try not to think about it much, but it creeps up there and bites now and again. It's sad. But I have Stephen and Lily right here, and I know they love me VERY much and that's more than good enough for me =D

Break, Please?

So... Stephen had to work on Saturday, he went to church without us because he was going to a concert in Grand Rapids, and it'd be too much gas $ having 4 trips back and forth, so Lillian and I stayed home. I haven't had a "Break" (In other words... more than 10 minutes at a time..) to clean the apartment/have a few moments to myself.  Then this past Wednesday, Stephen's writers group went over, Lillian and I were stuck at the gym (Literally...) so we got a ride home with my co worker. I don't have the key to get in the house, so my landlord lets me in. Stephen gets home at 1PM (was supposed to pick us up at 11:30AM....) and not so much as a "sorry" what he said was "it ran over a bit. How'd you get home? How'd you get in?" no sorry, sorry to make you worry.. sorry Lillian hasn't eaten in 5 hours... ETC. So I was angry. Lillian wouldn't nap, kept taking off her diapers, peed in her crib, had urine all over her.. it was HORRIBLE. This morning (Monday..) I had personal training at the gym (youch!!!! She kicked my butt! But I survived!!!), I come home at 11Am, and Stephen is sound asleep as Lillian chatters away in her crib. She gets up at 830AM at the latest anymore..So I was all tensed up. Then my boss calls and asks me to work tonight. I want to work more in the gym instead of daycare anyways, so I say sure. but MAN... I feel like I'm "go go go!!" and sometimes I can't pick up his slack. He is working 50-60 hours a week, I understand he is overwhelmed. I understand he's tired. However, it's his choice to stay up until 4AM playing video games. I'm up every morning at 615 to get to the gym, work out, and then work. And then I have Lillian and house work all day. I'm tired too... I wish I had a friend who lived close that could play with Lillian and let me either take a breather, or do work. Or even just to come over and chat, take my mind off of things..
So that's my rant for the day. I'm so tired! Going to get off of here and snooze!

Fitness, no?

I'm VERY excited! I start my personal training on Monday =) I'm going to start on a list of goals, large and small for losing this weight and inches! I will have 10  1 hour sessions with Shawn! I'm hoping that at the end of 5 or 6 months from now I will be down 50ibs and to 115-120ibs and in a size 4 again. I miss that so much! I have been so uncomfortable in my own skin for too long now!

We're also hoping to get Lillian potty trained in  a couple of weeks! We're thinking Thanksgiving weekend. I ask her one or two times a day if she's excited to wear her big girl panties and get rid of her diapers, she says "yeesssss!!!!!! no more diapers!" too cute. I'm scared to do it.. but it needs to be done.

Tis The Season

So I am a person who LOVES decorating for Christmas. I usually do just fine waiting until after Thanksgiving... but this year I'm having some issues waiting! I want the tree, candles, EVERYTHING up! I want to buy decorative flowers, spray glitter on the pine cones I gathered, make a wreath, make popcorn garland with Lillian, everything and I want to do it NOW! hehe. I'm trying so hard to wait.. but I think I am going to pick up the tree this weekend. We have everything in storage at Katie and Tony's house, so it's going to take a couple trips. 


Lillian and I danced to worship music for 2 hours today! We were singing, dancing and having a blast! Then she had a snack while I worked on Christmas presents (sewing). It was seriously a wonderful day!


I learned that my cousin got to keep her job! 


I learned the my neighbor GOT a job!


And I, too have a new job. God is answering so many prayers, it's insane! It's crazy how you can go months, years without being answered. And a couple of days and *BOOM!* it's answered. I'm flabbergasted... in awe. I love Him =) 


Can't wait to see my cousin and her boyfriend in a couple weeks, only to follow my parents the week after that to celebrate my birthday and Christmas =)

Decision to delete facebook.

       Today, I've decided to delete my facebook page. It is depressing. It makes me angry. It makes my shalom WAY out of balance. I'm looking forward to a happier, healthier me. I'm sure Stephen and Lily will thank me for this, too.

     It was a hard decision to make since our family depends on facebook for pictures of Lillian; but when it brings me down- it's not worth it to me. A simple phone call to see how we're doing is not only more personal, but makes me feel that much better that I was worth a 5 minute phone call versus a 30 second blurb on facebook; which half the time I don't get anyways. Also, if you'd like to see pictures, email/call me and I can send some through email. 

    Peace!

Welcome to our page!

      Stephen, Lillian and I welcome you to our family blog!

As of now, Lillian is two years old and as smart as can be! She knows sign language, her colors, how to sing, how to dance and she is just amazing all around!
Stephen is still working crazy hours at Gentex, continuing to perfect his first novel, and create lots of crazy fun games in his spare time.
I have just gotten a small job at Girlfriends fit club daycare, am about to begin personal training (!!!!!), and am sewing up a ton of gifts for the holiday season.

Welcome, and God bless!