You Just Have to Believe in Yourself!

Cam borrowed our friends bike & pull behind trailer yesterday to take Adi for a ride. We've been contemplating whether or not to get one, so before jumping in and buying one he decided to try one out first. Adi had a blast, confirmed by expressions such as, "Wow Dad, that was amazing!"

Before we returned it (up the street) I took it for a little spin myself. It's been years since I've ridden a bike and I was a little wobbly starting out. Adi kept encouraging me, "You're doing a good job mom!" and "See mom, you can do it!" I really wasn't sure about making it up the hill but when I spoke of my doubt Adi responded with, "You can do it, mom. You just have to believe in yourself." OK, so I have no idea where she got that or how she could possibly be growing up so fast as to be my personal mini-cheerleader but you better believe I made it up that hill after encouraging words from my little girl!

Happy 9th Anniversary!

On June 19th, 1999 Cam and I were married in a little church in a little town called Holbrook, IA

We were married on the one year anniversary of our first date (everyone thought I must have been pregnant or something - obviously I wasn't. Just a girl in love.)

Cam totally surprised me with a knock-out throw-down kiss!

And then he surprised me again by carrying me down the stairs (I almost wet myself ;)

We rode a "short bus" from the church to Iowa City for the reception.

We don't need no stinkin limo! This is the par-tay machine!! We're all armed with our beers before we even leave the parking lot.

We used my parent's cake topper from their wedding on our cake (and yes, we smooshed cake in each others faces...)

Cam's best man Brian (aka Bug) gave the most hilarious speech at the dinner. As you can see, I could not contain myself. I laughed until I cried. It was outrageous!

After the reception we rode back home in the bus, still drinking beer. All part of getting married at 21/22 I suppose.

Garage Sale = New Bed For Adi

We had a garage sale a couple of weeks ago and decided to spend the proceeds on a new bed for Adi. She had been sleeping on a really old full size bed and told me regularly that her bed was bad and she didn't like it! Thanks to the donations of the stuff my parents sold along with what we made off of our stuff we were able to buy Adi a brand new bed - more her size.
Adi has developed a new love - mermaids. So when we gave her the option to choose which sheets would go on her bed she did not hesitate to go for the Little Mermaid. So now instead of being a fairy she is taken with being a mermaid. Loads of fun ;)

When Coffee Love Goes Bad

I'm such a coffee snob that I have purchased one of those single serving brew cups that sits on top of your mug, you place a filter in it and add your fresh coffee grounds to brew a perfect cup of coffee, one at a time. It doesn't get any better than that. Really. So it really wasn't anything new for me to be brewing myself some tasty java at work. I don't know if reading for the past 6 hours had made my mind a little numb or if the mug I had substitute for my favorite trusty mug today fit my brew cup differently or what but when a co-worker spoke to me all common sense flew out the door and I quickly turned to look at her, mug with cup atop in hand. Bad idea. Really bad idea. So bad, in fact, that I ended up burning the s*%! out of my arm!! It really sucked.

Now I have to sport a lame wrap on my arm for days and I'm horribly embarrassed. The worst part was that I was a total wuss about it. I didn't cry while I was at work, though I wanted to badly. My arm was burning up and I felt completely obligated to clean up my mess on the floor. There was all this commotion and I needed to get my arm under cool water... I handled it the best I could. When I got back to my cube I promptly packed my things and quietly exited - I knew if I said one word about my red hot arm I would burst into tears. I jetted out of there. As soon as I opened my car door and climbed inside I started to bawl. Partly because I felt like a loser but mostly because my arm friggin hurt! And getting into the hot car made it worse. The docs office was kind enough to get me in right away so I didn't have to go to the ER and I got all wrapped up and drugged myself with some ibuprofen (if you know me at all you know how much I hate drugs so the fact that I took some says something.)

I'm pretty much fine now. Doc said it was only 1st degree burn which is practically nothing but it still hurts and makes me feel limited. One of those accidents that just happen, I suppose.

A Fresh Start

I've felt over the past couple of years that there's always something looming... a pregnancy that may or may not be viable, a due date that would never be realized, a prophecy that has yet to bare fruit or prove true, but carries weight.

Friday, June 6th was my last outstanding due date. In a sense my miscarriage back in October is now complete. I mourned quietly and alone. I talked to God. And He gave me peace and hope. I got up and I continue on.

Sunday was a sort of expiration date for a potentially prophetic word as the arrival of my monthly cycle verified that once again, I am not pregnant this month. I can't go into the details without violating a dear friend's privacy but I can say that I feel a welcome sense of freedom. Perhaps permission from my body to enjoy a fresh start.

Wonderful Colorful Fingerpaint

I'll let the photos do the talking...