Steps

All in one week
a first step for one
and a final step for another.

Both make our hearts rejoice
And thank the Heavenly Father above.

For He alone can give the needed strength
to keep our next step faithful
until the very end.

Giving

This morning I'm thinking of a dear friend going to surgery today to be a donor.  I've loved this friend from the first time we met, but I love & value her even more now as I witness an unselfish sacrifice to help another.  She knows the risks better than most.  I remember when Mom donated her bone marrow at the City of Hope....done with deep love & hope to help her brother.  And it didn't come without cost.  I'll never forget that part. 

To read about Ginny & the one receiving her kidney, click here.

Getting Started

This year I turn 40! 
I have many things on my bucket list for this year.  One of them is....running a 5k!  I've ran a lot in the past, but never once have I been in a race.  Running was a wonderful way to get exercise & clear my mind during college, PT school, & even afterwards.  I've switched to other forms of exercise (HIIT, free weights) and haven't done a lot of cardio recently.  So, let the training begin!

The best part of the Truffle Shuffle (yep, it's on 2/14/15) is that my sister is running with me!

Here WE Go

While I love blogging & keeping up the chapters in our life, I haven't found a good time to consistently blog about our household.  The experiences & lessons of life taught me to do less & spend more time with my little ones, with my husband, & just enjoy life. 

 

But I can't quit...journaling here really helps me with our Picaboo year book.  So, I'm going to restructure & reorganize things to make it easier for me to blog. 

 

We started the year with coughs & sniffles.  Thankfully we have not joined the Flu Club.  I worked 5-6 hours each day for 2 weeks during the boys' break.  It was a balancing act, but they truly enjoyed time with Russell.  Our cousins hosted a New Year's Brunch which was loads of fun with games & yummy food.  Then we came home & enjoyed a quiet evening together....thinking about the new year ahead. 

 

Since then we've visited the Austin aquarium, had a sleepover with cousins, gone to a funeral, started school again and have begun planning our 2015 travels. 

"Look, Papa, let's touch the stingray."

 Little hands touching the hard turtle shell

Breakfast together after the sleepover...and for the record, all 4 kids slept soundly all night long.  I'm the one who didn't....I tossed & turned, wondering when one of them was going to get up & wake the rest of the household!  Of course!  I sure wish I could quite worrying about things...