My trek through the Amazon Rainforrest

So yesterday it rained we got 2 1/2 inches our raingauge says. To preface this story I just got done reading Anne of Avonlea. I am always looking for a good book. I have read some old classics like this one and Little House on the Prarie. Now Anne of Avonlea has no plot it is just little chapters on what is going on in Avonlea. It is only half way like the movie. But what I loved was the renweal of Anne's imagination and the way that she make things better than they really are.
After sitting in class for 4 hours we were dismissed and it was pouring rain. Luckily I have my rain coat, but I need to get from good old Bluemont to Vattier, where I parked. I had the best time! I like Anne, pretened I was in the Amazon Rainforrest. I had taken off my flip flops and was splashing through puddles higher than my ankles. Came home and jumped into my sweatpants and enjoyed dinner made by Luke.

PS- I should have been with Julie and her kiddos she was babysitting!

Any good book recommendations I prefer to escape rather than think in my books.

Lake and Race

1. Kevin and I with our catch, something fishy about Kev's clam.

2. SMYL 5K, I took 3rd place overall for the women. YEA!! I was in shock too!

3. Adventurer Annie; already this summer has enoyed riding the SEA DOO, and tubing with Dad. We are so excited that she loves the boat and all the lake activites. Skiing next summer!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads that read my blog HA!

MOAB, UTAH

Luke and I had a great getaway in Utah. We hiked in Dead Horse Canyon and Arches national Park. Even the days when we would decide not to hike and just drive to the different sights, Luke would talk me into hinking to a better veiw. Come on Stace it's just 3 miles, SHEESH! I should have known, I did marry a mountain boy. I hate to dissapoint him.

We stayed at a sweet lodge in Castle Rock Valley the CO river was right outside our porch. It was the sight of many John Wayne movies. It was a time of fun, adventure and so we had to have a massage to relax. Oh and the place had cable which was exciting to us too. We were addicted to the Discovery channel-Survior man and Deadliest Catch.

I am glad to be back home and do summer. Which means food to me-Lots of salads, grilling and desserts. Dessert count: I have a cheesecake, chocolate sheet cake, and I just made chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches. If any of it sounds good stop on by. Thankfully I ran 2+ miles today.

Look for my updates on Work Week and Memorial Day. (I can't find my camera)

5K

Here we are at our 5K last weekend. I did it but it was tough. I think Kevin's got me in another next month. I finished under 30 min, 26th place in the women. Kevin in 19 min with an overall 3rd place finish. Nice trophy!!

We leave on Mother's Day for Work Week at Frontier. Then Luke and I will have a little getaway in Moab. We will return right before Memorial Day weekend, which then we will head to the Lake.

Family Day

Family Day!! We went to Gymnastics, the Libraby. We were suppose to have a picnic, but it was raining, the living was nice too.

WE LOVE FAMILY DAY

Bruisie Boy

Here is life with Bruiser. We spent 2 1/2 hours at the vet last week. He sure gets sick alot with a couple feet of his intestines missing. But he is better. This week I just leave him outside in the rain. Gone are the days of spoiling the dog.

Spring Game

Here are my fav pics from our day!!

Easter

Happy Easter!! We hosted Easter a day early, a pre-ressurection Easter. It was really nice to have all day to prepare and for others to be able to leave town at a decent time. We had my parents, Tio Kevin, Luke's parents, Nonna, Great Aunt Phyllis and her friend Doug from Lincoln. It was cold but a great time too. Annabelle looked for eggs in the living room. Basically the eggs were laid on the floor and tables and couches, but after a couple of days she found all of them.

A special picture with Nonna.

Balance From Moderation to Passion

So the MOPS magazine has given us a sample of Full Fill magazine, living out your leadership and influence. I really like it, one night I was reading this article and it was like yes, this is exactly how I feel. Here is a taste:

Domestic Equilibrium Definition: that mystical, magical state where
one can actually pivot potty training, Martha Stewart-esque decorating,
dinner prep,
spiritual development, pilates class, blogging,
small group night, organic baby food processing, grocery shopping, bill
paying, friendships (huh?),
volunteering, beauty regimens, and a vibrant marital relationship on an axis the
size of a pin-head. Of course, if we're good women, dedicated women, savvy women, we should be able to manage this.
Get just the right mix of it all. Right?.... However we define balance
in our lives as women, we cannot avoid this truth: Jesus engages people
primairly on the level of what manages them, not what or how they can
manage. Jesus presses first and foremost to know the passions that
drive them. Becuase for better or worse passion organizes our
lives. It's what gets us out of bed and how we set priorities.

What a relief, find your passion, protect it. That is what gets us through the overscheduled week. So I treasure my ballet and my relationships with the YL leaders, my passions.

No More Peanuts

It has been confirmed Annabelle is allergic to peanuts. Boo Hoo!! There could be worse things, but it is just annoying. We will just aviod them, and carry around Benedryl and and Epi pen. I do not know how hyper-sensitve we will be, like not eating anything that has been produced in a place that has peanuts. She has not had an anaphylactic reaction, just a rash and swallon face thank goodness.

"MACE" aka Macy

Annabelle has discovered her friendship with Macy. After our week at Trail West she is asking about "Mace". And likes to look at the picture of her in her room. We went to Wichita this weekend for Kate's dedication. Annabelle asked for Macy throughout the 2 hour drive. Unfortunatley I did not take any pics of Baby Kate just the girls.

In PJ's at Trail West waiting for club to start.

Palm Sunday together.

Spring Break

Spring Break- what a wonderful idea!! We began with a nice weekend with the family in Denver. Mark and Maria and their 4 kids and us stayed at Tia Angie's house. We met up with three of the Carr families at the Denver zoo. There is a pic of the crew we had to work hard to keep track of all 12 kids. Annabelle just plopped into other people's wagons no problem. And then the kids are racing, Anaya is 6 and on the left, Annabelle just runs like the little girl that she is.

Then we went on the Trail West. Relaxing, a great time of fellowship and enjoying God's majesty among the mountains, with the great YL service to boot. Lots of memories: Apple to Apples, jumping 10 feet out of a chiar lift, lost lift ticket, lost credit card, typical things for us, yet entertaining to others. Just ask!

Fashionista

Annabelle loves her black shiney shoes! She has her opinion about what shoes she will wear. To Panera Sun. morning she wore her PJ's and her black shiney shoes. Of course we saw people we knew. I was still in my PJ's and of course they were coming from church. I just NEEDED coffee since Luke was still sick from Wed. and Annie had a temp. on Saturday. So I wanted to take a picture to share this stage of life (I love my black shiney shoes, and screaming when I don't get what I want). Annie thought that sitting in the cabinet would be the best shot. Yes, she screams alot. At the grocery store she let out one and the college girl on her cell (of course)next to us said "whoooa". Opinonated and loud, like mother, like daughter.

Annabelle and her BOYS!!

Annie and her boys here. Alex will be 2 in May and Joshua will be 2 in April. Annabelle gets to spend alot of time with her pals. She is getting a little bossy I am afraid. I am grateful for my friendship with the moms Lisa and Julie.

Cabin Fever

Well, the weather has been nice this week, but before we had cabin fever!! We love to play in the fort, and wear sunglasses and carry our purse. Hopefully the nice weather will return again soon. I mean Punkapuny Phil did not see his shadow, Spring is around the corner. How are you surviving this long February??

In Remembrance

In remembrance of the baby that we lost on January 19th, 2007 we had a dedication. It was just the three of us and we threw white roses into a river. It was a healthy way for us to let go.


Into your arms Lord we give our baby.

"Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for ther kindom of God belongs to such as these. " ~Luke 18:16~

Footprints

By

Dorothy Ferguson

How very softy

You tiptoed into our world.

Almost silently,

Only for a moment you stayed.

But what an

imprint your footsteps

have left upon our

heart.

I'm Backkkkkkkkk!!!!

Here is Annabelle "little mamma"
I love to watch her be a mom. She kisses her babies, feeds them, and my favorite is bouncing them on her knee for fun. It just confirms that she feels loved and well taken care of by me. I am where she learned all of this. I am her already her teacher. How rewarding and humbling.

I will post more when I can find my cord that goes to my camera.

Christmas Vacation!!

I am back!!! We had a fab trip to Colorado. We enjoyed skiing, sledding, and other outdoorness.
Left is Tia Angie with Nerea, one-eyed Annie and Anaya 5 yrs old. Then we have Grandpa and Annie sledding in Vail. Right are the cousins on New Years, Nerea is 10 days older.


Pregnancy Quirks:
* I am growing sideburns
* I hid from Annabelle to eat a donut today
* I think ice taste funny

I am giving thanks for Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving Day '06

Well Thanksgiving has been over for a week, but I will continue to give thanks for it. We dashed off to KC, baring with the traffic and made it to our warm getaway at my parents. We had a great time of being taken care of by my parents, lots of good food, football and shopping. And when I say good food more than turkey, Jack Stack BBQ as well (see pic). Football, means not only the chiefs won againist the Broncos but the Ed Schmidts won as well. I had one reception, and two completions as quarterback. Luke, hyperextended his leg but he is OK now. Shopping, well It is December 1st and I am about 60% done. It was fun to go with my mom on black friday, and all the different stores in KC. After running errands with Annie today I don't enjoy it as much when she is throwing tantrums in public.
HOPE, hope is essential for Faith. I am finishing up my Beth Moore study of Believing God. It has rocked my world. So the challenge is do you believe in miracles? Do you ask God for the things you really want and BELIEVE? Right now we are praying for a miracle; The Carr family in Denver essentially Luke's cousins and Aunt and Uncle. Anyway Amy is 2 years older than Luke and her sister-in-law was staying with them and went out shopping the Saturday before T-giving and has been missing ever since. Her name is Nonnie, she is in the Air Force, going to be discharged in 3 months so most likely not AWOL, and has a 15 mo. old that Amy was watching while she was out. They have been living a nightmare, it pretty much has been like CSI and those shows. They don't have much on leads, but they interviewed them on Fox for a national story to go out. So, God knows that we need and believe in a miracle in this situation. I hope that Amy and her husband Tony can find Hope in our God.

Princess Annabelle's Party

Princess Annabelle went to a Birthday party last Sunday. Tatum is the birthday girl to Annabelle's right. All the girls had tutus, tiaras and wands, we had a great time!

Things are going well with the Feathers. Luke's lateset challenge to the YL team is: Good is the enemy of Great. I have been thinking lately about what in my life do I view as good enough when Christ calls me to be great, and to run to win the race not just finish it. So in my quite times, I am challenged to connect with God and not just cross it off my list. As a mom to stop, play, enjoy, make the effort to be more patient to be the BEST mom.

Great is the Lord!