The Biggest Dancer/Dancing With the Loser

My two favorite shows are "The Biggest Loser" and "Dancing With the Stars". Why? They inspire, motivate, and entertain me. I'm reminded each week that I shouldn't be afraid of looking silly and that I can do anything I put my mind to (...through Christ!). You know what I want to do? I want to dress up in sequins and tons of make-up and dance around my living room with my kids! I want to take my husband rock-climbing! I want to set up a tent in the backyard and "camp" with my family! If people can get on T.V. and walk around in a sports bra while weighing over 300 pounds; and can do death-spins and Mambo shakes after only 2 weeks of training....well, surely I can start treating my family and myself to a few simple thrills life has to offer. Right? What is it that you want to do?

Thank God!

Well, we made it through another weekend. I'm loving this feeling-better thing. I can actually participate in life again and it's wonderful. There wasn't anything especially dramatic about this past weekend; but it was fun and I got to spend some quality time with my children. Mark was at the Tulsa workshop so the kids and I were on our own until Saturday night. The kids' new favorite book is "The Poky Little Puppy" so we read that a lot. We also got to watch some great classics together..."Scooby-Doo" (the one with Josie and the Pussycats), etc...
This is a fairly short and boring post but it just mainly is to say thanks to everyone for praying for me. Even though this past weekend wasn't full of activity, it was full of me being back on my feet. Small things, like doing the laundry and cooking meals, are huge accomplishments for me now. I take nothing for granted anymore. Not being able to bathe my children was terrible and now I enjoy every splash. Not being able to sit in the floor for long periods of time was awful, so now I am the first to suggest we sit and build with the blocks!
Smiles used to be few and far between...now, they're mandatory! If there's something you used to enjoy but have put on the back burner, or something you would like to do...DO IT!! Don't wait until it's impossible for you in order to realize how special life can be.
I thank God for the illness that made me appreciate life...and I thank God that I'm healthy now to enjoy life!!

What A Weekend!

This past weekend was so much fun! With both mine and Mark's parents here, we felt truly blessed. Maggie had a whale of a party too! Turning five...can you believe it?

It was a Barbie party, so you can imagine the pink. There were pink balloons, pink plates, pink cups, pink punch, pink cupcakes, pink wrapping paper, AAARGH!!! Pink!!!!! Not only were both sets of grandparents "present", but we also were graced with seeing Emily and Caroline. Emily is my cousin and Caroline is Mark's niece who are each attending Harding. They both have a great relationship with the kids and enhanced the party greatly. Caroline is the oldest granddaughter on Mark's side and Maggie is the youngest so...photo-opp!

Maggie got a bicycle and we all went out to watch Mark teach her to ride. She was very excited about it and, of course, Phoenix wanted to ride too!

We got her the size required for a child two years older than her...she's very tall!

Maggie also got a new puppy (thanks, Meme and Papa!!) which she has named Saraphina, but which we have to wait for because she's still too tiny to leave her mama. After the party, and going shopping for new spring clothes (thanks, Grandmother!), we went to Charlie's Pizza for supper (thanks, Papa!). This was at Maggie's request (as was breakfast at I-Hop...forgot my camera for that event). It was tons of fun. Charlie's Pizza is so close to our house, it's visible from our backyard, so Granddad laughed at us when we all loaded up in carseats and it took two vehicles for us to travel a whole block.

This is Grandmother, Caroline and Granddad, waiting for pizza.

Here's Meme, Papa, Phoenix, and Maggie...waiting for the pizza (it sure took forever!)

Maggie wore her new princess crown (thanks, Emily!) and was so big!!

We had a Funny-Faces C0mpetition. Maggie won 2nd Place.

Mark won Runner Up. (I'm so proud)

Phoenix won First Place! (He was happy to rennact the winning face over and over!)

Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Forgive any ramblings...I'm still on the heavenly percocet. I woke this morning to green green green! Maggie takes birthdays very seriously and when they fall on a National holiday, all the better! The dining room had green streamers and green balloons and my three children were dressed in green outfits. "Happy Birthday, Kim!" was written on the dry erase board and a champagne glass was sitting on the island with gold and green beads in it. As if this wasn't festive enough, Maggie pinched me and said we'd better get me dressed for the day... my gown and robe were blue.
Maggie picked out a green pants-suit, green socks, and, yes, green panties for me. After I got greened to satisfaction, she announced that she wanted to buy me a cake that was green and that had "Happy Birthday, Mama; I hope you have a great birthday; and I hope you have a great day!" written on it. I didn't tell her this was virtually impossible. I've decided that NOTHING is impossible.
The horrid infection that held me captive for over a year is blessedly absent from my body and mind now. I feel like GOING and DOING and BEING!!! Even though I'm still recovering from surgery, I have found every moment possible to laugh and play with my children. Mama being here has helped tremendously because she has taken care of all the daily tasks so that I CAN just be with my kids.
We made paper palm leaves Saturday night and took turns being Jesus (Mark was the donkey and the kids would take their turn being Jesus by riding on his back) and the rest of us would throw coats on the ground and wave our palm leaves shouting, "Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!" What a great way to celebrate Palm Sunday! And you know what? I never would've even attempted that two weeks ago. There are so many things I've missed out on and must make up for now.
So, I plan on getting a huge sheet cake and letting Maggie write with icing all over it!!!! Why not? I feel alive again! And why can't a cake have a whole paragraph written on it?
I hope you are all wearing green! Every time you see someone NOT wearing green today, please tell them that the day's not over; and they have time still to get into the spirit and celebrate life!

When It Rains...

...It pours! So, as we're bustling about making arrangements for the upcoming surgery, both boys have gotten sick. We took Phoenix and Luke to see the doctor today and Phoenix has severe chest congestion and a right ear infection. Luke has a double ear infection. They are both watching "Dora" in the living room right now. I'm exhausted (as always), have my flu-like symptoms, and a migraine, and so I can't really do much for either of them; but Mom's here saving the day! I'm so glad she's here.
Also, my friend Shannon called and said she just happened to have extra ingredients when making a quiche and so she thought she'd make us one for supper tonight. How thoughtful! Then, Rita called. Rita is a woman we go to church with and who teaches at Maggie's school. She's been kind enough to pick Maggie up for school on several occasions when Mark's out of town or has to be at work early and I've been too sick to drive. Rita called to say that, because of the upcoming surgery, she's arranged for Maggie to attend, not only her regular Tuesday/Thursday classes at school, but also Wednesday and Friday at no extra charge; she will pick Maggie up and bring her home each day for us; oh, and her mother has "dibs on Wednesday", meaning her mother is cooking us supper for Wednesday night so Mom can just concentrate on taking care of me after the surgery.
Rita also said she would coordinate more meals to be coming to our home during my recovery. And then there's Sharon Plummer, who you've surely all heard me talk about. She's available to help with whatever we need, be it food, babysitting, or Kim-sitting, whatever!
When it rains, God pours blessings all over us!

Been a Long Time

It's been awhile since I've blogged...sorry to those of you who check in. Things have been kind-of crazy around here; preparing for the surgery, Maggie's party, Easter, Spring Sing, etc... Our company begins arriving tomorrow and I'm getting excited!
Mom and Dad are coming tomorrow and, even though they're coming because of my surgery on Wednesday, I am still very happy about seeing them and will treat their visit like a vacation! Any time Meme and Papa visit, our house is a buzz of activity. The kids are happy and things get done in record time. Long live the visits from Meme and Papa!
Grandmother and Granddad will be arriving in just a few weeks for Maggie's party! More excitement!! When Grandmother and Granddad are in town, again, lots of buzzing excitement at our house! Her party falls on the same weekend as Spring Sing (Bryan and Jan will be in town, yea!) and also Easter (gotta clean house for the Easter Bunny!)!!!
Getting ready for whatever may happen during the surgery and then trying to prepare for Mag's birthday has kept me out of the blog-world for awhile; but I've tried to keep up with all of your posts. Thank you for breaking the monotony of my day!
I love you all! And, hopefully I'll be posting more often.