Archives for 2010

The Official Santa’s-Not-Real Convo

February 6, 2010 by Amy 5 Comments

So it finally happened. Santa died. Here’s how it went down.

The big topic of conversation around the house today has been buying the girls a power wheels Barbie jeep. We even went to look at them at WalMart this afternoon just for them to see which they might be interested in getting. Upon finding out they are $300 I explained that we would not be buying one there and we might find one that someone has for sale. Lexi had a suggestion I would love to see work out: “I know! We need to find somebody that’s rich that doesn’t want their money!” If only!

So this evening, devoid of rich people throwing their money away, we searched craigslist and were able to find a few in the area available. So the bedtime conversation consisted of WHEN they were going to get these. I said it was still a little cold to be outside riding them so maybe Easter would be a great time to get a present like that. And this is where we drop in.

Emma: Do you remember last Easter when you surprised me with my bike?

Me: Yep.

Emma: The Easter bunny isn’t real is he?

Me: No. (thankful to have that one off the list)

Emma: Santa’s not real either?

Me: No. *pause* How did you know that? Was that a guess?

Emma: Yes.

(whoops!)

Me: Oh, well, I’m sorry but he’s not real.

Lexi: The tooth fairy either right?

Me: No, not the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny or Santa.

Lexi: So who does the presents?

Me: Me and Daddy. We bought your Nintendo DS’s at Walmart. And we ate the cookies and milk.

Lexi: And who puts the money under the pillow?

Me: Me and Daddy.

Emma: So how do you get under there without waking us up?

I demonstrate sneaking under the pillow which they find amusing.

Lexi, with her little mommy voice on, serious but joking all at the same time: You should be ashamed of yourself!

Me: Why? We were just pretending for a while.

Lexi: Because you were lying for too long!

Me: I’m sorry, I thought you would be mad if you knew Santa wasn’t real.

Lexi: It’s not nice. You lied!

More apologies and an explanation of course that God and Jesus WERE real which was met with basically a “Duh, Mom” reaction.

Emma seemed pretty unphased by all of it. It surprises me Lexi was more mad that we lied versus that any mascots, as Emma calls them, are not real. Kids surprise you sometimes.

So it’s done. They’re all dead. The lying’s done and I’m relieved.

Random

February 5, 2010 by Amy 1 Comment

1 – My ring

I lost another diamond in my ring today. Third one since I’ve had it. I enjoy the cluster of diamond versus one diamond but it sure has been a pain in the neck for the 18 months I’ve had this one. Thankfully it’s all covered under guarantee.

I can’t help but laugh when I see it though because it makes me thing of this:

2 – My butt muscles are sore from my run yesterday. Anyone know any good stretches?

3 – The tooth fairy is officially dead at my house. In the car yesterday:

Lexi: I believe in Santa, God and Jesus

Emma: Do you believe in the Tooth Fairy?

Lexi: Yes

Emma: Well she’s not real.

Lexi: Well, how does the money get there?

Emma: Mommy and Daddy put it there

Lexi: Oh.

So that’s done. That’s what big sisters are for I guess. Still so tempted to say the same goes for Santa but something stopped me. Not sure why.

Couch to 5K – Just Hand Me a Cap and Gown

February 4, 2010 by Amy 10 Comments

I think I graduated anyway. Today I went to finish up week 8 of 9 with 28 minutes of running. I’m still kind of slow with all the running, usually running about a 12 minute pace so I knew when I got to the final week 9 it was unlikely I’d actually make the 3 miles (5K) in the 30 minutes it had set.

I got to 10 minutes today and really thought I might have to walk for a bit. I hadn’t eaten much today, didn’t take any Advil, didn’t have an Energy gel and haven’t been stretching well so things were stacked against me. But if I’ve learned anything over the last 8 weeks, it’s if I push through, I can do it. Shocking revelation, I know. I guess Nike was right all along, Just do it! So I did. I slowed the treadmill down from a 5.7 (10-11 min pace) slowly down to a 4.8 (12 min) and ran through it. By 25 minutes I realized I was feeling great and decided I would run longer than the scheduled 28 minutes. Week 9 you run 30 minutes I guess in hopes you are at a 10 min mile by that point but I wasn’t quite there. I was already over my time though and really nothing hurt. I was tired but my breathing was regulated so I just kept going. And for the first time, I had legit ran 3 miles. Over 3 miles in fact.

It all started with an inspiring and INSISTENT friend

Continued with the help of an awesome iPhone app

About all ended with a tough week 4

And actually ended unexpectedly early. I’m calling myself a graduate. I have gone from my Couch to a 5K.

I don’t HATE running now. I don’t love it like I do spinning still but it’s amazing how my body has adjusted. Everything on me used to hurt when I ran but today, nothing but a little pain in my left hip. My ankles which always felt like they might dislocate my feet from my body are now stronger. My shins which would ache don’t give me any trouble. The burning in my calves is gone. My breathing is easier to control. I guess it figured out that I was serious about this running thing.

Now I haven’t won any races or even signed up for any races but I really want to do a few thank-you’s for getting this far. Just imagine me on-stage with the music playing and Kanye sitting in the crowd ready to interrupt.

I want to thank Melissa and my dad for being the runners they are and inspiring and encouraging me. C25K app creators for making all the cues easier and TrySports Charlotte for setting me up with some fabulous equipment and doling out spot-on advice. I’d like to thank my family for letting me have time away to take care of myself. And yes, God, thanks for the well-being, means, and strength for getting me through.

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So what’s next? I think a spinning class is in order to be honest! Melissa promised me a piece of chocolate cake at graduation back in week 4. And yes, I think I’ll keep running. Maybe even run a few races this Spring. But even if I don’t know, at least I know for a fact I CAN! And more importantly, if I can, you can too! Go get started!

Beginning of the End: Favorite LOST Stuff

February 2, 2010 by Amy 5 Comments

Tonight’s the big night…the beginning of the end of LOST. Man, I’m going to miss this show. So here we go, some of my favorite things. T-shirts:

Sawyer!

The numbers! I hope we find out what they mean!

Java Station! HA!

All of Sawyer’s nicknames

And now some favorite scenes. I don’t really pretend to understand everything that is going on. Numbers, smoke monsters, hieroglyphics…they keep me watching but funny and sweet? I understand these well.

I love Hurley! Funny Hurley Moments:

Great Sawyer Quotes:

And all the kissy face time. Their #4 is actually my #1. Team Jate!

Cooking with The Pioneer Woman: Weekly Update

February 1, 2010 by Amy 7 Comments

Yes, I think I’m making it official. I need weekly updates to what I’ve cooked. Now I’m not going all Julie on her but I am cooking enough to give some decent updates.

OK, so here’s what we made this week. Chocolate sheet cake, Marlboro Man’s Sandwich, Onion Strings, Oatmeal Crispies, Cowboy Calzones, Enchiladas. I also made a pizza from her pizza crust but didn’t do one of her exact pizzas.

Chocolate Sheet Cake

Let me tell you a little story about chocolate sheet cake. It does NOT work to substitute the sugar with Splenda and a few tablespoons of butter with Country Crock. Trust me on this. But when you use sugar and butter? Angels sing and your mouth does a dance. Now there’s nothing new about this cake. If you’ve had sheet cake, you’re not going to be surprised. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth making. I did find the cake especially fluffy and moist and it lasted all week as our dessert.

Marlboro Man’s Sandwich

Dear Marlboro Man, I love your chaps but I do not love your sandwich. It had a fantastic taste and was very moist but I’m just not a fan of cube steak. I really should have known better. Even Scott was not impressed :(. I will say the girls did love the steak cut up as a main dish.

Onion Strings

I actually made them twice this week. I’ve never been good at duplicating the taste and texture of onion strings from restaurants but I think these get darn near close. They are fantastic. Perfect for on top of a steak or hamburger or all on their own.

Oatmeal Crispies

I’m not a huge fan of oatmeal cookies but these are really good. Just imagine a whole lot of sugar and some oats rolled around and baked.

Cowboy Calzones

These almost didn’t happen. I planned them on Thursday when the girls had gymnastics so I almost canceled them. I ended up running home during my longest break at the gym and got everything together and baked. But really, I shouldn’t have made so much effort. They were edible, but nothing to brag about. I think the Cowboy part of this should be stressed. It’s no surprise Scott liked it a lot. If you’re feeding someone that likes more meat and less everything else, this might be the dish for them. The rest of us found we wanted more cheese. Lots more cheese even after I added extra cheese! This was definitely not the calzone you find at your local Italian restaurant. But I guess I should have known that. It is a Cowboy Calzone after all.

Enchiladas

This was probably the biggest disappointment of the week. It was a lot of work to put this dish together and in the end, the girls wouldn’t eat it and the rest of them choked it down. It was HOT. The meat filling was delicious though and Emma was willing to eat that separately. But I think the Enchilada sauce we used was over the top hot. I didn’t care much for the texture of the cooked corn tortillas either.

Onion Blue Cheese Sauce

This one I didn’t directly make but I must include it. Mom made it on Saturday night with filets and it was OUT OF THIS WORLD good. You know when you go to the restaurants and the sauces make the dishes perfection and you just know you can never duplicate it at home? Well, this tastes like one of those sauces but it is SO easy. Mom gave me the leftovers and I also used it with some leftover fish I had. Perfecto!

What I’ll be making again ASAP: sheet cake, onion rings and blue cheese sauce

What I won’t make again (I’m so sorry, PW, I still love you and I’m very sure every other family loves these): calzones and enchiladas

I Was Blind But Now I See

January 31, 2010 by Amy 6 Comments

In small group we’re reading through John together. It’s been great to read back through Jesus’ life and it always inspires awe when I read all the miracles. But when I got to John 9:25 just now, I wanted shout and give a big fist pump for God.

“Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see!”

Jesus had just healed a blind man and the Pharisees were convinced He was a sinner because he had healed on the Sabbath. They continued to question the healed man and that was his response. He didn’t know who this Jesus was but he believed he was from God because of the evidence that simply couldn’t be argued with. I was blind but now I see.

There are moments when I question everything around me and I wonder if I’m making this all up. I wonder if God really is speaking to us about adoption. I wonder if God really has been working in my life. I wonder if that really is the Holy Spirit I hear. But I go back to a statement that I can make that erases all doubt.

One thing I do know, I was deaf but now I hear

I was 5. My mom noticed my hearing was deteriorating when I kept scooting closer and closer to the TV and asking for it to be turned up louder. The teacher confirmed her suspicions when she said I kept asking to sit at the front of the class. A doctor’s visit confirmed I was losing my hearing and would need tubes in my ears. My mom took me to our preacher for prayer and healing. I don’t remember any of this but when we back to the doctor he said he didn’t understand it but I no longer needed tubes in my ears.

One thing I do know, I was deaf but now I hear.

I used to chuckle when we took the hearing test at school. I wanted to tell the nurse that I had been healed. Sometimes when I’m listening to music I whisper a little thankful prayer to God for healing me and allowing me to hear it.

I know some of those healing services are anything but holy. I know healing doesn’t come to everyone. I can’t explain it.

One thing I do know, I was deaf but now I hear.

Just like he healed the blind man, he healed this once hearing impaired girl. You can’t argue it, you can’t convince me otherwise, the evidence speaks for itself. Even to me in my doubt.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

Glory and thanks to God. He’s real, y’all.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow

January 27, 2010 by Amy 16 Comments

31 years ago I was born

29 years ago my only sibling was born

24 years ago I lived with several foster babies as siblings

11 years ago I got married

7 years ago I had my first child

5 years ago I had my second child

4 years and 358 days ago family and friends started asking when we were having another child

4 years and 358 days ago and several times since Scott said with great sarcasm he would never have another baby but I was welcome to adopt a 3 year old

3 years ago Emma started asking for a little brother

2.5 years ago I attended youth camp which featured Spur58

2 years ago I started following Aaron (Spur58’s lead singer) and Jamie Ivey’s blog

2 years ago and since then, Scott and I have been supporting Real Hope for Haiti, the place that the Ivey’s son and daughter was staying

2 years ago I started a blog that has since provided extra income each month

1 year ago and off and on I started secretly finding myself a little disappointed when I wasn’t pregnant each month

7 months ago we joined a church which had a heavy emphasis on adoption from the pastor down

2 months ago we made contact with one of our foster baby siblings

2 months ago I told my mom maybe we’d consider fostering a baby if I chose not to work after my contract ends at the end of 2010

1 month ago I watched on as our best friends adopted their first child

2 weeks ago Haiti had an earthquake

10 days ago I watched images come in, read reports from the Ivey’s of their son possibly coming home unexpectedly because of the earthquake and wondered how I could help, including adopting one of these sweet children with no home

1 week ago Life Unexpected debuted on TV, a show about a child who spent her life in foster care. A show that I started a blog about.

1 week ago Scott says seriously “We should adopt a child from Haiti” and it stopped me in my tracks

6 days ago Friday Night Lights aired an episode where a character aborted her baby. It affected me deeply and all I could think was she could have saved the baby’s life and given him/her up for adoption!

5 days ago we discuss adopting a child from Haiti with the kids. They are excited.

4 days ago I do some research and find out we may have to be 35 years old before we can begin the process

3 days ago was Sanctity of Life Sunday

3 days ago our pastor preached “God’s grace is best seen by us”

2 days ago Scott, unbeknown to me, emailed our pastor about adoption

1 day ago I listened on American Idol as a teenager talked about getting lost in foster care his whole life and just wanted to be loved and it about broke my heart. I turned to Scott and said we should adopt. He doesn’t respond.

Today Scott forwarded me the email to our pastor about adoption and I realize he’s much more serious than even I thought

Right now these things that once seem unrelated suddenly seem like a web that is being weaved.

Both of us feel a little LOT unsure and maybe like we’re going crazy. Actually Scott’s subject in his email was “HELP!!!” I asked God if we should (who have the means, desire, etc) adopt and I’m pretty sure He laughed and said that was the stupidest question I ever asked Him (paraphrasing there). Should we adopt? Pretty sure it’s all over Scripture we should take care of orphans.

This kind of scares the crap out of me. But God usually does.

As you know, this doesn’t just affect us. It will affect everyone around us. We’re not taking this lightly. We don’t want to ignore what God might have been whispering for years. But it would mean a lot of changes. A lot. And I don’t know if we’re supposed to adopt from Haiti or this is just a way for us to take a serious look at adoption in general. Or maybe this is just a bunch of random coincidences! I don’t know!

Yesterday, today and tomorrow God knows so please pray He shows us clearly what (or what not) to do.

Cooking, I didn’t know I could love you

January 24, 2010 by Amy 5 Comments

The cooking is out of control in this house. For the third week in a row, we only went out to eat one time a week. And we’re not skimping on the meals at home. I am WEARING OUT P-Dub‘s cookbook. In fact, I ate a cinnamon roll for snack this afternoon, ate some leftover tomato soup for dinner and now have jalapeno poppers in the oven as a snack this evening. Actually, they were meant for tomorrow but Scott and I just couldn’t wait 24 hours to have them so we cheated and made the filling for all of it but only cut up 4 of peppers. In the span of a week, I’ve also made the chicken pot pie twice, corn bread and beans, blueberry cobbler, chocolate sheet cake and mocha brownies.

To say that you need to go buy the cookbook is an understatement. You need to go buy it, do a happy dance and immediately drive to the grocery store for the ingredients to the tomato soup. It is ridiculously easy and delicious. Make the corn bread with it and dip it in the soup while you’re at it. Oh and then have any one of the desserts. But if it were me, I’d have some more mocha brownies.

I might just have to start a weekly update of my progress.

Oh, and the jalapeno thingies just came out and YUM! That needs to be your appetizer!

Out.

of.

control.