Live from Big Spring---Again!

Here is my view of Big Spring today......This is off the porch at Bean's World Cafe. It is a beautifully cloudy day. I was told about this place by a doctor's office staff. It is run by a church and all the staff are volunteers. As I am sitting on the porch waiting on my Spicy Chicken Fiesta Sandwich, I feel a cool breeze, hear birds and they have Christian music playing, and free WiFi!!! They have a fabulous dessert and coffee bar as well. This may be my new hangout every 2 weeks!

I wish I had a video camera to show you the old building directly in front of me. It has holes in the mortar and birds crawl in and out of them . They have apparently made homes in there. This is the older part of town with old store fronts and brick streets. Most of the buildings are abandoned. It is so cool!

Just got my food, you don't even want to know how delicious this sandwich is! Jalapeno cheese bread= yummo! I'd post a picture but I've eaten too much of it already!

This really a part of my job I enjoy. It is not very often I get to sit and enjoy a quiet meal all by myself. It's not that I don't love my family it's just really nice to sit and not have to talk or clean up a mess or take anyone to the restroom! I wish I didn't eat so fast, a bad habit from going to school for 13 years and then working in schools for 10 years. I eat REALLY fast!

I am not getting to run at lunch today, I guess I'll have to do it tomorrow at lunch. I really have begun to look forward to my runs. Not so much the tired part as the alone with my thoughts part. I enjoy pushing myself and that feeling of accomplishment I feel afterwards.

The locals are starting to show up and are staring at me because I am at a table for 4 and they are having to sit at small tables, whoops!

Reese's Soccer Game -#2

Well, Reese had her 2nd soccer game and the first that Shane and I got to see. For as feisty and aggressive is Reese usually is, is as unaggressive and calm as she is on the soccer field! It is the weirdest thing! She has been at soccer games, literally, since she was 3 months old. I though she'd be overly aggressive. I finally asked her why she doesn't take the ball. You know what she said????? "Mom, it's not mine!" We spent 4 years teaching her to take turns and not take things that aren't hers and it totally backfires! I told her it was o.k. because they were playing the game with whoevers ball was out there and it was fine. She asked if her "teammates will trust me if I take it?" What????

She has another game on Saturday pending weather. It rained ALL day today! We offered to pay her if she takes the ball away and scores. I am not above bribery!

Landry FINALLY has a game on Monday so I will post pictures of her after that.

I am totally in love with my kids this week. I can't explain why but all we want to do is cuddle and hang out. I think part of it is Shane is gone and no one cares if we are total sloths! Also, I am beginning to see Landry change. She is becoming a preteen and I am fearfully awaiting the days when she can not stand me! I know it's coming and hold and rock her as much as possible right now.

I'm off to bed to join 2 snugly girls. That's the great part of Dad gone. We all sleep in my bed!

A New Challenge

I have run 2 half marathons before. (13.1 miles) The first one was in Jan 2004 and the second was in Jan 2007. I missed the pattern by 6 months! My third will be June 26, 2010. The first one I did was in Disney World. The second was the Phoenix Rock and Roll. This one is the Seattle Rock and Roll.

My friend Melinda and I have done them all together and this is no exception. It is so much more fun with a running partner to pass the time with. I am pretty sure she and I have solved all the world's problems while running. We use it as free marriage/parenting counseling.

We are T-11 weeks and counting and it's time to turn up the training. Of course in West Texas it is also time for Mother Nature to turn up the wind!! I am running on a treadmill right now. I HATE the wind so I spend most of my lunchtimes at the gym on the treadmill. We will start doing long runs on the weekends and build up to almost the full distance. I have a rule, I will not run 13 miles until that day. I want to do it once and once only!

I cannot explain why I enjoy doing this. i have never loved to run. In high school I was a sprinter and I use that term loosely! I wasn't fast but I also did not like to run for long distances. Once my coach told me to run a mile and I asked if he really meant all at once??? He would fall over if he knew I will run 13.1 miles all at once! After these races there is such a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. I highly recommend doing something in your life that you think will be hard just to show yourself you can do it!

Easter 2010-Closer to God

We spent Easter 2010 closer to God-in Ruidoso! This was the 3rd time we have skiied this year. We really wanted the girls to do it as much as possible to make sure next year we didn't start from square 1.

This trip our friends the Halls went with us. We have been friends with them for almost 10 years and their 2 boys are very close in age to our girls. Hayden is about to be 8 and Harper is 20 days older than Reese. It made for a riding and skiing companion for everyone, including parents!

Friday the kids had ski lessons. Reese and Harper each had a private lesson while Hayden and Landry shared a teacher for an hour. The kids did well and really improved this weekend.

All and all it was a good weekend. No injuries to speak of and all kids accounted for!

Now, I'm officially ready for warm weather!

Kind of...

I've hit a patch where I feel like I "kind of" do most things. I kind of exercise-2 days a week or so. I kind of cook- meaning I heat up frozen food some days. I kind of clean my house-shove things in corners so I don't trip during the night. I kind of work-yes I still work full time but lately I have DREADED work and feel so valueless at work. I kind of go to church-Shane and I go to worship while the girls are at Sunday School.

I feel no passion right now for anything. I don't like that. I want to be passionate about something. I NEED to feel passion.

I don't want to just exist in life, I want to make a difference. I need to find my passion....I'm tired of just kind of being here. Politics? Write a book? I'm on a hunt.....

Live from Big Spring it's......me!

It's a working title! I am blogging from the Subway in Big Spring, TX. I'd post a picture but come on......it is Big Spring! I lead an exciting life, I know. As most of you know I travel to surrounding towns for my job. Most often I can work a town in half a day and either be home for lunch or eat on the road on the way to my next town. Not Big Spring!!! I have just enough work here that I usually have to spend the entire day here which means lunch in random places. I have tried all the local dives....yummy but greasy! I've eaten at the Pizza Hut thinking salad bar and a piece of pizza or 2. They have free Internet but DISGUSTING pizza!
I have brought my lunch before and gone to a park to eat. It is a bit windy today so I opted for the Subway...healthy and FREE Internet! I'm not hard to please!

Spring has sprung around our house and not just the weather! Both girls are playing soccer this season. Reese is older enough by 9 day! She will be the youngest on the team but I'm sure not the smallest! Her first practice is the evening at 6:00. I will be really interested to see how she responds. I predict 1 of 3 things will happen in her game on Saturday. She'll either Knock multiple people down intentionally, score 7 goals or walk off the field and declare, "I don't want to do this!" All three are very much within her personality. I will miss her first game and that makes me sad but I am committed to working at our JL Clayshoot. Shane will try to go and his mom and my dad will be there. I'll send the video camera with someone.
Landry started soccer again yesterday. She is with the same team as the last 2 seasons. They are a fun group of girls that not only play hard but have fun and get along well. Her coach is phenomenal but is leaving after this season to take a job in Boston. We're very sad!! :(
Spring is charity even time around Midland it seems. Shane and I will hear Sarah Palin speak on Thursday night. AS far as I know we will get to meet her and get autographs. I bought her book and am reading it right now. Probably would not have except for this event. I'll post pics if we get them. Friday night we have Buckshot Bash, a dinner, dance and auction for Jr League and the Saturday ALL DAY we have a clayshoot for Jr League along with soccer games!
Next weekend we are headed to Ruidoso for one last trip down the slopes. Our friends the Halls are going with us so it should be lots of fun!
I try really hard to not over schedule my kids. They really enjoy just being kids and playing outside at our house. This time of year really stresses me out as my calendar fills up!
I'll be posting pictures of the girls periodically in all their activities.

Taylor Swift!!!!

For Christmas this year, the girls got tickets to see Taylor Swift. Our neighbors received them as well. We took the girls out of school and headed to Dallas on Thursday. The concert was at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night.

We were all decked out in our boots and dresses like Taylor wears. It was so much fun watching the girls get so excited. The opening acts were Gloriana and Kellie Pickler. They were both great. The moment arrived that Taylor hit the stage. She sang every song we knew and sang for 2 hours! The girls sang along with each song and we all danced and had a great time. I think it is a memory that will last for a long time!