Merry Christmas...in July!

After being inspired by this stranger and given a great idea by my friend Susan; tonight, my family and I celebrated Christmas in July! That's right...we put up a Christmas tree, listened to carols, opened presents, ate gumbo (a Gilbert Christmas tradition), made Christmas cupcakes, read the Christmas story, and watched Elf! The best part was the kids asked if they could take some cupcakes to the Millers (our neighbors) and tell them "Merry Christmas in July!" I totally let them and now I'm pretty sure the Millers are convinced we are CRAZY! Here's a little peek at the fun...

our beautifully decorated tree...
decorating the cupcakes...
the finished product...


So, Merry Christmas in July everyone! Hope yours is joyful AND triumphant!

Dear Tooth Fairy...

"I lost a tooth and I don't know where I put it but I could still use the cash. Thanks for your understanding. Love, Jordan."

I found this note next to my coffee pot. It made me laugh out loud.

The Best Lain Plans...

So as I mentioned before, my good friend Emily has inspired me to get moving. What I didn't mention is that she also inspired me to purchase a handy-dandy nike+ ipod gadget that tracks my workouts (distance, time, calories, fastest mile, etc.) and also allows me to challenge and be challenged by other owners of such gadgets!

I'm a sucker for anything that motivates my workouts...even momentarily...so I ordered the gadget and it was delivered on Tuesday (along with a couple of other "have to have to be completely set" items). What I didn't purchase was the handy-dandy Nike shoes made especially for the handy-dandy gadget complete with a carved out spot in the sole to place aforementioned gadget. I can't wear Nikes too well...they hurt my feet...but, Emily told me I didn't have to have the Nike shoes. (Yay!)

I could not wait to get started so first thing Wednesday morning, I got up, read the instructions and place the "gadget" in my New Balance shoes right under my orthotic inserts! It only felt slightly like a rock in my shoe, but I was determined to make it happen! And happen it did...3.31 miles.

Later that day, when I told Emily where I put the sensor gadget for my run, she laughed out loud! And then told me I could just put it under my laces on the top of my shoe.

So this morning, I was up again bright and early and being slightly sore, I decided to go a mere 2 miles and then walk another at the end. I tightened the laces down nice and tight on my gadget, turned on my newly made running playlist, and was ready to go! It was a beautiful morning and so I took off (in a new direction because I no longer needed to stick to my pre-measured route!) in great spirits ready to conquer the run. I ran all throughout Westpoint and ended up at the park. I knew the sidewalk was mile marked so I thought I'd run through and just check my new little gadget for accuracy.

When I hit the half mile marker, my ipod read 1.51 miles. So, I kept jogging knowing that my goal of two miles was just a few minutes away! (Little did I know I had already run over 2 miles and my gadget was not working properly but that's another post!). Anyway, as I crossed the 3/4 mile marker, I glanced at my ipod and to my surprise it read 1.51 miles! AARRRGGGHHHH!

I ran a few more steps and then heard the gadget voice say, "motion not detected, press menu to end workout." WHAT? I look down at my shoe and MY GADGET WAS MISSING!!! Double AAARRRGGGGHHHH!! I was devastated...my brand new super cool gadget gone.

I spent the next hour searching the park for my gadget but to no avail. I ducked my head, turned on some sappy depressing cool down music, and headed to the house. When I got home, I woke the kids, fed them, and took them back to the park to help me look.

Long story longer...after another 45 or so minutes of searching Jordan yells, "FOUND IT!" and runs to me holding my precious new gadget high in the air! WHOOP! I was so excited, I took the kids to McDonalds for some celebration milkshakes!

So, I put in a little over two miles today for a combined total of just under six miles. My hams, quads, and calves are KILLING ME! But, it feels great to be running again. As for Emily and her great tip for gadget placement, I forgive her! Especially since I found it! It sounded like such a great plan too! So now, I just need to find a new placement of my gadget and I'm back in bizz! And, don't worry, I will not make you read about my running anymore!

Let Go

Today, my brother James (who leads worship at our church) said that when we can't hold on any longer, God is holding on to us...He never lets go. I have to admit that I have felt very "let go" lately. I find myself crying out to a God I'm not sure I trust and almost hear my own voice echoing back to me. It's a lonely, scary, uncertain place to be.

I'm finding that my faith is requiring more...well, faith! I feel nothing but sadness. My soul is heavy and my spirit feels empty. I have found myself begging God to reveal Himself to me, to remind me that He is indeed with me even though I feel utterly alone.

As a result of my spiritual barreness, I have been bathing my spirit in the psalms, particularly the psalms where the writer is asking God to "show up." I have been suprised in how many of the psalms the psalmist is crying out to a God that he feels has abandoned him. Words like, "Will the Lord spurn forever and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?" (Psalm 77:7-9) have resonated with me on a level that I've only known one other time in my life.

I find that in this dryness of my soul, I am helplessly longing for God. Much like the psalmist in Psalm 42:1-3, "As a deer pants for flowing streams so my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night..." this is where I find myself: thirsting for a God who seems to have let go.

And yet, there is something deep inside the recesses of my soul that tells me to simply trust what I have claimed to believe all along...that God does love me and that God hasn't let go. I'm clinging to the hope that God indeed works all things for my good and for His glory, and I'm trying to surrender my will and be the kind of believer that is willing to lose it all for the glory of God...even when it hurts so deeply.

Sometimes I sense that God is whispering, "Do you trust me?"

I'm still undecided. I want to trust him. That's who I want to be.

But the hard truth about trust is that trust is only trust when it's given despite the circumstances. It's easy to trust a God who gives me everything I want and allows my life to be free from pain. But trusting becomes more difficult when God disappoints me. Trusting God in the midst of complete despair seems virtually impossible.

So I cry out to God and wait patiently for Him to hear my cry. I'm ready for a new song to fill my mouth and leave my lips. A song that speaks to a God that never let me go.

Toothless Wonder!

If you were to look very closely, you might be able to tell that Emma's front tooth is disgustingly loose in this picture. I'm a terrible photographer, but trust me, it was disgusting!
Here she is doing her Nanny McPhee impersonation..."I did knock!"
After days and days of relentless wriggling, Emma (with the help of Gabi's Granny) finally lost her tooth! Is this the cutest gap you've ever seen or what?

Emily has inspired me...

...TO RUN! And, sadly, I could only go a little over a mile before the heaving drowned out the tunes and the vision began to blur! I typically choose walking over running; but, in my younger years, I was a bigtime runner. Back then, there was way less junk in da trunk...well, actually, there has never been WAY less but there was definitely less! Anyhoo, my sincerest apologies to anyone who happened upon me from behind. Let me just say, if it looked anything like it felt, it couldn't have been pretty!

I truthfully enjoy exercise and feel so much better when I move. So, I'm going to set a goal too (ala Emily). My goal is to MOVE at least 30 minutes per day at least 5 days a week for the rest of the summer.

In other news...I had to butterfly bandage a huge gash in Emma's knee tonight. She slipped on Pooky's spilled water bowl and landed right on my wrought iron veggie holder...I heard her wailing over the vacuum cleaner. Anyhoo, the cute part of the story is...when I had Emma in my bathroom cleaning and red-neck stitching the wound (A special thanks to Shane for rushing over some butterfly bandages), Glory was in there with us looking up at Emma saying (in the cutest voice ever) "y'okay? y'okay, Emma? y'okay?" She must have said it fifty times. Emma was still wailing so she didn't answer. Glory just kept on asking!

I'm happy to report that the "stiches" are holding and Emma is able to walk although she had me call Shannon several times to see if we could borrow Meagan's "crunches." I had no success in obtaining the crunches but she's re-learning to walk with a little physical therapy from Abbee (who fixed Emma a sippy cup so that she wouldn't have to sit up to drink while she was recovering...thoughtful girl that Abbee!).

After the run, I may be the one in need of crunches tomorrow...and I'm not talking about for my belly flab (that's another post entirely!). So thanks, Emily, for the inspiration and Shane for saving us an ER copay. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!