SOOOO over it.

Winter that is.  The last few days around here have been tickling the 70 degree marker.  It has been glorious.  But the cold is coming at least one more time to put an end to these beautiful days, for a little while at least.  Seriously, I don't think I have ever been so ready for spring!  And I live in the south!!  Cold weather, GO AWAY!

One year later.

I wrote this a while ago, not really for anyone but myself. It was really difficult to write, and there is no way I could put all of my emotions and thoughts into words. I didn't intend on posting it, but I feel like this is a summary of my testimony and what I have learned in the last year so I am going to post it.  Not so that you will pity me, but so that you can see that Christ can heal any wounds and that even in the midst of our pain He is always loving and always faithful.  It should be our desire to be more conformed to His image, and even in this tragedy He understands.  I'm not perfect, but He is and He is still teaching me through this experience.  I am thankful for His hand in my life.



As I sit here to write this, I am not sure that I want to.  This time last year Kyle and I endured one of the hardest things we have ever had to face.  It was something that I knew happened, but never expected to happen to me, especially not with my first child.  I had no idea that anything was wrong until we went to the doctor and didn't see a heartbeat 2 weeks in a row.  Such a tiny miracle, so often taken for granted, didn't happen for my baby.  It was so surreal and yet the biggest dose of reality I have ever faced.  And all within a week, it was over.  The operation was done and we were no longer going to be parents.  I am still so thankful for my husband and how strong he was for me during that time.  I know he was just as heart broken as I was and yet he was somehow able to give me strength and support me.  I think we were both leaning on each other, but it felt like he was carrying me along.

I felt like I had failed.  My body failed.  It was supposed to be a safe place for my child to grow and it wasn't.  My baby died.  It was, and is, a heart breaking thought.  It is a pain that I wish no one had to endure.  It stung having to go back to the doctor's office for my post-op and seeing all of the happy moms to be, or when people would so casually talk about being pregnant like it was no big deal.  Not that I in any way want to diminish the joy and happiness they very rightfully felt, but my wounds were still very raw and, at times, it just felt like people were pouring salt in them, even with the most innocent of comments.  I did question why.  Why it seemed so easy for some people, why seemingly everyone around me was able to carry their babies and they were perfectly healthy, and so on (I realize this is not the case and everyone shares their own hurts and problems, but that is what it felt like at the time). 

I still don't fully understand why things happened the way they did.  But this is what I do know:  that God had a plan, and still does, that I cannot even fathom.  His plans are perfect because He is perfect.  He knew that child because He was forming it and he loved that baby more than I ever could.  In His providence, He chose to take that child to heaven and spare it from whatever pain and suffering awaited it here on earth.  For that, I am thankful.  In that, in Christ, I trust that my baby is whole and perfectly complete.  He or she is with Him in glory and one day I will meet them both.  That is a comforting thought.  I am not saying that all of my hurt and sadness is gone because it isn't.  Sometimes I still wonder as I pass by the room that will still someday be a nursery what it would've looked like today had things been different.  What my child would've been like.  I don't know that my hurt will ever be entirely gone this side of heaven, but I choose to trust in the Most High God and His plans for me and our family.

Snow Part II

So last night after I posted, the snow kept coming down.  It was really quite fascinating to this native Houstonian.  We had about 5 - 5 1/2 inches by this morning (keep snorting all you people that are used to this sort of thing.  For me, this was the most snow I have ever seen in my life).

Anyway, here are some pictures from last night:

It was coming down!

I put Mugs out there.  He did not appreciate it.  He sunk up to his belly.

Babe, had to borrow your boots to go walking around in the snow.  :)

Watching the snow come down.

And here are some pictures I took this morning:

View out the front door this morning

House from the street

Told you it was deep.

Half of the backyard

Back of the house.  I told you Mugs didn't like it.  He would not step foot off the patio...

My little crape myrtle trees in the back yard.

A close up view of one of the crapes

A close up shot of my cherry tree.  Complete with flower buds and snow.

Aaannnd...my foot prints in the snow.  They were deep!

As pretty and cool as the snow was (was because most of it melted today and I suspect the rest will be gone by tomorrow) I am still so ready for spring!  Maybe I will get my wish next week when the predicted highs are in the 60s!  Keeping my fingers crossed...

Old man winter just won't go away!

Since right after new years I have been eagerly awaiting spring's arrival.  Much to my dismay, it just won't come!  As of right now, it has been snowing (yes, snowing) in Charleston for the past 4 hours.  There must be at least two inches on the ground now.  I know, I can hear you northerners snorting at me, but this is the most snow I have ever seen.  And I must admit, it is pretty.  But after this, winter can seriously go away. 

The cherry tree in our back yard (who is apparently also ready for spring as evidenced by the hot pink flower buds on it)

My feet in at least an inch of snow

Just for Kyle...

And one of our palm trees.  With snow on it.  Seems unnatural huh?

Like I said, the snow is pretty and all, but I am still so ready for spring!  I blame Puxatawney Phil.  Or global warming.  Either one are equally as likely to have caused all of this winter craziness.

Super Bowl!

Today is both a very exciting day, as well as a sad one.  Exciting because, well, it's the Super Bowl.  Sad because after tonight, there will be no football until college starts at the end of August (if you can't tell, football is easily my favorite sport).  Sigh.

Anyway, I am going to make a prediction, well because this is my blog and I feel like it.  So, here it is.  I think the Colts will win, not by much, but they will win.  I think that is who I am rooting for, but I'm not sure.  On one hand, I think Peyton Manning will go down as one of the best, if not the best quarterback of all time and having a second championship ring would definitely help that case.  On the other, the Saints are kind of the cinderella team, what with going 20-something years before they had a winning season and all.  Plus, their fans are so dedicated - and maybe a little crazy, but in a good way.  (Side note:  I am not rooting for them because of the hurricane.  I feel badly that it happened, and it was aweful, but lets face it, how is winning a super bowl going to clean up what is still in shambles?  Maybe moral wise it would help, but it does nothing to help the actual recovery effort that is still going on).  Anyway, all that being said, I think most people are rooting for the Saints, whatever the reason.  I just don't know if they can do it.  Maybe.  I wouldn't be dissappointed if they won, and I am not rooting against them really, I am just rooting for Manning.  But I think it will be a close game either way.  Both offenses are great and the defenses are pretty good.  We'll see, but I have to give the edge to the Colts.

UPDATE:  Props to the Saints.  They played a great game, had some great coaching and deserved to win that game.  It was a fun game to watch (besides the half time show, that was bad).  The commercials were pretty good too; overall I think the Brett Farve commercial was the best.  It's good he doesn't take himself too seriously.  And now the countdown begins for next season...

So it's been a while...

I am sorry for my long absence from the blog world.  I have been in Texas visiting family for the past few weeks and have just plain forgotten to update!  It has been really nice to be back in the greatest state for a while.  I have gotten to spend some really great times with my parents, brothers and Kyle's family as well.  I really miss being able to see everyone on a more regular basis.  We are so blessed to have our families live so close to each other, especially since our frequency of visits has dropped since we moved to the east coast.  I haven't done anything terribly exciting since I've been here; I have eaten some delicious (and very much missed) Tex-Mex, done some shopping, and went to the Houston Auto Show with my family, but mostly I have just been hanging out and enjoying this time with everyone.  It has really helped to make this time so far go by quickly.  1 month down!

My mom and I will be driving back to SC next week and she will stay for a few days before flying back to Houston.  I have a few things lined up in the coming months to hopefully continue the trend of this time going by quickly.  Before he left, Kyle helped me make a new flower bed in the back yard, so I will be putting plants in it when the weather warms up (hopefully soon!  I am so tired of the cold!) and doing a little bit of other gardening in other beds, there are a couple of things around the house that need to be done (including spring cleaning and possibly a guest bath make-over), and I will hopefully be having some visitors come in the beginning of April time frame, and then after that, it is home-coming prep! 

Kyle is doing well; staying very busy.  He has finished his AF schooling already, so in his free time he is just working on his masters class now.  Other than that, I don't know how much I can say other than he is doing well. 

I know its been a while since I have put up any pictures, but to be honest, there were not many things to post pictures of.  But, once I start knocking out projects, I will post pictures of those!  Until then, stay tuned for my Super Bowl prediction, I know you are all just dying to know what I think ;)

BCS Thoughts

So like any good Aggie, I will be rooting not for the Big 12 or even the Texas team but Alabama, the team that will hopefully BTHO (beat the h-e-double hockey stick) out of our rival texas university.  Beyond my genuine dislike for the team wearing what is quite possibly the ugliest color ever, I think Alabama is the better team.  I hope they can pull out a victory.

I do have one question though.  Alabama is the "Crimson Tide".  How does that translate to an angry elephant mascot??  Just sayin', it doesn't totally make sense...  Oh well, ROLL TIDE!  Whoop!

UPDATE:

Even though I am glad Alabama won, it is a little sad that Colt McCoy didn't get to play for 2 reasons:  1)  Because I don't really ever wish for someone to get hurt and 2) Now longhorns everywhere are going to say that had he played, they would have won.  I think that is debateable.  When Colt went out, Alabama got complacent.  Especially in the 3rd quarter.  If Colt had played, Alabama would've played different.  Texas fought hard, but like I said before, I think Alabama was the better team Colt or no Colt.  So, congrats to both teams, but especially Alabama.  And to texas, watch out.  My Aggies are going to give you a run for your money next year (you heard it here first folks).  ;)