Movie Stars . . .

Today was truly a one of a kind opportunity. As you know, I am coordinator this year for a local MOPS group . . . MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers and encourages and equips moms to be the best they can be through support, speakers, craft time, and prayer.

Simply Fun is a fabulous company that creates and sells amazing games for families and kids of all ages . . . Travis and I heard about this company about 5 years ago and enjoyed selling these products through home parties and fair booths. After we had our second baby and I got so involved in MOPS, we stepped down from our Simply Fun position.

These two incredible organizations combined today in such a fun way. Because of their time speaking and playing great games with our MOPS women the last two years, they have decided to sponsor MOPS international. It's such a great partnership as they both share the same values and goals to promote growth and development in kids as well as create great memories and family time.

Long story longer, Simply Fun will be featured at this years MOPS International Conference in August with a booth/display and a video about the new partnership. They chose our group to help them create this video today . . .

We were filmed having a meeting, then in a set up room with games (and movie star cameras, lights, crew, assistants, director, co-founder of the company etc.) They also set up one of our childcare rooms with tons of Simply Fun games and products and filmed us playing with out kiddos.

The final "job" we had was to take turns with the camera crew having "interviews" about how important play is with our families and what our kids learn from play. After a fun-filled day of filming and a pizza party lunch, the crew packed up their equipment and headed back to their offices to edit this video for use at the convention. (Where over 6,000 women representing hundreds of MOPS groups will watch the fabulous women of our MOPS group share our lives, perspectives and adorable kids!)

What a fun honor . . . and who said motherhood isn't glamorous?

Exercising Other Things . . .

Now that I have admitted my current goals of exercising . . . I thought it'd be good to share the other ways I'm "exercising" to return to health . . .

After returning home from two long hospital stays for my chronic asthma and the side effects that follow, my sweet mother-in-law gave me this book . . . 90 Days with Jesus. It's a daily bible study/devotional/journal. Each day has a few chapters of scripture to read first, a few questions to answer, a page of Beth Moore's reflections then a page for writing your prayer based on the scripture and lesson you just had.

First of all, I love Beth Moore . . . I have done quite few of her "group studies" . . . my favorite being "Living Beyond Yourself - the fruit of the spirit", had the amazing opportunity of seeing her live in Vancouver with a group of ladies from my church a few years ago, and just recently went to simulcast of her new book "So Long Insecurity - you've been a bad friend to us."

Secondly, I have been in need of a way to push myself personally to process, grow and recover in all ways of of myself (physically, emotionally, and spiritually). I have enjoyed spending time each night in God's word, hearing from Beth Moore's perspective, and spending some time in focused prayer . . . I'm 21 days in . . . I take that back . . . 21 nights in . . . it has been such a great way to end each day before I go to bed - gives me a place to reflect on the day and look forward to the next . . . and normally I wouldn't recommend or review a book until I was finished BUT perhaps you want to jump in with me? Join me on this adventure of new strength in all areas? Or maybe this is one more place for accountability as I push myself towards wellness and recovery . . .

Thank you Beth Moore for once again creating an experience to process scripture, learn more about what it says, and draw closer to Jesus . . . the true source of my strength.

The Countdown Is On . . .

As you may or may not know, my little sister is getting married mid-July. And she has asked me to be her matron of honor (not sure about the old sounding matron part but still an incredible honor).

We went shopping months and months ago for bridesmaids dresses and Melissa picked the sweetest strapless, summer colored dress with pockets!! It's adorable and I can't wait to wear it . . . and here lies the problem . . . one of the most fabulous side effects of prednisone (she says sarcastically) is weight gain - and lots of it . . . which means my sweet dress is almost three sizes smaller than me right now . . .

I know, I know, this is not the biggest crisis as I've gone through so many moments of life-threatening illness over the last couple months that I am so thankful to be out of the hospital, with my family and able to attend my sisters wedding. Practically though, I need and want to fit into this dress . . .

Over the past few months, my body has only been in recovery mode (which has not included the ability to exercise as my lung function was limited) . . . BUT (thanks be to God), I am now able to move and exercise . . . so, now starts the countdown. I have a little less than 2 months and a lofty goal to get my body back into shape . . . not perfect size 0 . . . but a healthy weight under the circumstances . . . . and not achieved by ridiculous unhealthy ways . . .but by intentional exercise . . .

On Tuesday I went to Zumba and today I did the Zumba 20 minute work out followed by the "Pilates for Wimps" DVD . . . it says something on the DVD that says "exercise for the partially motivated" . . . that about sums it up!!

So - all this to say, pray for continued health and strength and pray for the transformation of my body - from an unhealthy vessel requiring bucket loads of medication and treatments just to breath - into a healthy, well managed machine that is able and ready to walk down the aisle in support of my sweet sister and her new chapter . . . HERE GOES NOTHING . . .

ZUMBA

In case this is a new concept to you, there is a new workout sensation called "ZUMBA" . . . it's super fun aerobics (think our moms jazzersize) that I used to love doing pre-asthma drama . . . because of my lung function (or lac there of) and my compromised immune system (a wonderful side effect of all the prednisone) I have been out for many months . .

My fabulous and persistent neighbor Mandy has invited me to come back week after week since my release from the hospital and every week I say no. For a while the no was because I literally couldn't walk up the stairs more than once a day without experiencing asthma . . . but after that, I think I was scared - what would happen if I 'pushed' my lungs again . . . what if this sparked another asthma flareup . . . what if . . .

Until today . . . Mandy asked me again and today, I said yes. . . I laced up my tennis shoes and away we went to shake it at Zumba . . .

AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE . . . I couldn't even talk about it as we left because it was so emotional. I was amazed by God's grace in my life. What an incredible journey this has been . . . and what a blessing tonight was . . . to move my body, feel my muscles function again, my lungs breathing full strong breaths as we stretched . . . I am so thankful . . . (and probably won't be able to move tomorrow . . . but totally worth it!!!)

"Dreams" . . .

Today, after an incredible MOPS brunch, and during the set up of the Moppet Brunch, Haley had a melt-down in child care . . . the kind that other moms (who were helping with child care) have to come and tell you . . . yes, that kind. Needless to say, I had to leave Moppet Brunch and bring home my little four year old bundle of mess . . .

When we got home, I fed her a snack, gave her a good amount of snuggling and asked if she'd like to watch a movie (a good rest time for the non-napper). She chose the Disney Princess Sing Along . . . during the movie, the fairy godmother narrator says, "here is a song that says, if you wish for something, all your dreams come true" - to which Haley responded, "Mom, I have wished to be Snow White and all my dreams are not coming true?!"

What followed was a chuckle inside my head and a good conversation about whats real and not real and how just because you wish something, it doesn't always come true . . . and the don't-break-their-heart side of me says, keep on wishing sweetie . . . maybe someday you'll turn into Snow White . . . the been-through-a-lot-of-real-life-that's-not-been-of-my-dreams . . . I remember the line in the "songs for my sons" song . . . "I can't promise that life will always go the way it should, but I can promise that God is always good." (and Haley, keep wishing and dreaming and using your imagination, and snuggling your momma when things are tough . . . )

A sweet daddy . . .

When you are a daddy of two little girls . . . and in your professional life are a football, basketball, and track coach . . . life at home is just a little bit different . . . and I think daddies have two choices . . . one is to try and convert the little girls into little boys . . . the other is to accept their girly ways and have lots of fun . . .

I love you honey - and the incredible way you love the girls (all three of us) . . .

And the way you accept us the way God made us . . . even if it means you have to visit the "beauty shop"

The Duggar Family . . .

I have finished reading a fabulous book full of insight, fun, great ideas, and inspiration . . . I have enjoyed watching the Duggar family on TV and thought I'd search the library website to find a book . . . here it is. I was impressed with the easy to follow recipes, inside on how the family got to be "the Duggars on TV" and incredible ideas for purposeful parenting and intentional family time . . . there were so many ideas, this will definitely be a book I purchase to add to my book shelf to re-read and pass on to friends. One of my favorite tips of all was reading one chapter of Proverbs everyday . . . there are 31 chapters in Proverbs and 30 or 31 days per month so - on the 5th, you read the 5th chapter . . .on the 17th, you read the 17th chapter . . . simple tip with amazing room for impact for yourself or your family . . . as a side note, although I am fully impressed and awed by this family, I'm okay not have 20 kids . . . )

Happy Reading . . .

Another Movie Review . . .

With Travis out of town, I decided it was a great night for a chick flick . . . I settled the girls in bed, set myself up with a glass of Cabernet and a plate of brie cheese and crackers and began the journey of Julie and Julia . . .

What's not to love? It's about blogging and eating and cooking and re-inventing your self into something you dream about . . . it's fun and funny and about building relationships that count and aspiring to do something that's hard . . . and did I mention blogging?!

I'd recommend this movie . . . definitely for adults (with a moderate amount of strong language and a large amount of martini drinking from Julie) . . . but enjoy . . . and I'll send out a Julie quote - is anyone out there? you are reading this aren't you? . . . and from Julia - to me cooking is as wonderful as buying a dress . . . especially because there are no dresses in the country of France that fit me!!

It made me hungry, made me laugh, and made me so glad to be a blogger . . . enjoy!
Bon Appetitte . . .

Spring Time Chicks

Friends of ours have added to their sweet little family with the purchase of three little chicks.

The Marsh girls were enthralled . . . and couldn't get enough of holding them . . .

What a great way to welcome in the spring! And what a fun summer project - to enjoy the company of sweet friends and watch the miracle of growth . . . of chickens . . . (and maybe I shouldn't mention we ate chicken for dinner with these friends?! - although I was reassured these little chicks are not the eating kind I dearly hope the chicks weren't offended?!)

A Great End to Mothers Day

No words needed . . . just glad I'm a mommy . . .

Dates with my Daughters . . .

Today in Hannah's classroom was a precious time called "Moms and Muffins." Each student made a tissue paper flower invitation that was sent home last week and today, we were treated to half a muffin and some apple juice as well as special songs sung by our kiddos and amazing projects the kids had worked very hard on . . . it was so nice to be recognized and honored by my sweet first born as well as her teacher and the kind words she said . . .

And last weekend, while Hannah was at a Dr. Seuss show with Grandma, I got to take Haley on her first trip to Cold Stone . . . she chose the blue cotton candy ice cream with a peanut butter cup on top - "NOT mixed in Momma" . . . and things were tasting so good with one spoon, she thought she'd try two . . .

SOOO . . . Happy Mothers Day to each of you out there with kids, grand kids, neighbor kids, friends kids, nieces, nephews etc . . . enjoy the innocence and hilarity that comes with knowing kids and remember you are SOOO important in their lives . . .

Jesus said, "Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not, for theirs in the kingdom of God."