It's Sunday Afternoon

And you know, us Mormons, we don't believe in working on the Sabbath. Here's proof. Our almost finished headboard sitting in our kitchen. We could have/should have built this in the garage but it got up to 91 yesterday and the mosquitos were out when we started after the kids went to bed so we brought it inside. And like true Texas weather it's rainy and 51 today so we had to run to the backyard and grab the extra trim pieces that were laying around anxiously to be attatched tomorrow.

Now what color to paint it is the question. We're not trying to match room color, exisiting furniture or bedspread since all will be changing soon. Anyone? Boring white?

Now I'll finish enjoying my Sunday and ignoring the mess that has become of my kitchen.

On Running...

I'm sorry, I just don't get it when people say they love to run. I love the alone time, the music and I love how I feel afterwards but there is nothing about the actual act of running I find enjoyable. So I guess I answered my own question - it's a package deal. I've never been a runner. In fact, I hardly ever run if it doesn't involve chasing a ball of some sort. I have friends that are marathoners and they'll probably laugh at this post. Awhile back I made the goal I would not even think about getting pregnant until I had run a 5k. And I mean run - I wasn't about to pay $20 to wimp out and walk for a few minutes. So, David being the trooper that he is, said he'd sign up with me and stay by my side the whole time. After all, what's another $20 registration fee for some serious moral support? Gotta love him. He let me stay a step ahead so I could set the pace the entire time. That is, until he saw the finish line when it was a third of a mile away. From then on I'm not sure what happened. All I heard was "Come on Sam!" as he took off like a bat right out of hell. I guess he could only suppress his competitiveness for so long. I kid you not, in that last 90 seconds he must have passed over 30 people. They probably all hated him just like I did at the moment. So much for moral support.

I made it. I was totally gassed by the end but I was not last, not even close. I'd say I finished right smack in the middle of the thousand or so people that were there. So my feelings of insecurity at the start, mostly about showing up in my yoga (which I don't do either) ensemble, were all for not. It was a serious boost of confidence when we passed up people decked out in running attire, spandex and all. Oh, and please ignore the hands... apparently I'm implementing something I vaguely remember hearing when I was a teenager about keeping your hands loose while you run instead of fisting them to save energy. Bogus, right? Mostly I just look like I've got some almost dead fish flopping on the end of my arms.

Over all, it was really fun. We'll probably do at least one more before we leave TX. I get it now - why people do these things. There is a lot to be said for having something to train for, the peer pressure of running in a pack and the adrenaline of it all. Plus, scarfing bananas, muffins, frozen juice bars etc. that they had the finish line was pretty awesome. And next time I have big plans to leave David in the dust. Sucker.

Not the best of ideas...

Within 2 minutes of dressing her and heading over to get Ashton's jammies I heard Ashton laughing in the tub saying Hannah climbed in again and then I heard a loud sob. I think she realized it was a grave mistake only when the blankie started sinking.

On extroverts and introverts...

My friend and I were sitting in my living room when David walked in the door home from school. David looked at said friend she looked at him and there was some weird silent acknowledgment and they both proceeded with what they were doing without saying a word to each other. Then I blurt out, "well say 'hello' you two!". The only person that was uncomfortable in that 5 seconds was me because the other two were introverts. To me that is the epitome of extroverts vs introverts. So of course I pull those two out of their comfort zones just so I don't feel awkward. It should be mentioned that David and my friend know each other really well and have had many conversations.

As an extrovert sometimes I just don't understand how someone can be in a group setting have thoughts/feelings on the discussion at hand and not say a word. David and I have lengthy conversations regarding this all the time. While he gets labeled as standoffish I can get labeled as "running at the mouth". David around close friends and family will talk as much if not more than I do but put him in a new social setting and he is close to mute. Essentially, I can tell stories about things he says or does and I paint the picture of who this quiet guy actually is. When we were first married I used to feel a little heart broken that outsiders would never get to know David when he's comfortable and lets his guard down. How poignant is that of who I am that I not only want to share myself with everyone but I want to share him too, dang it. But now I've come to appreciate the humility that comes as part of the introvert package. He doesn't lay all his cards on the table all the time saying look what I've done (for good or for bad). He's not seeking for the public opinion or approval as many of us extroverts do on a regular basis. So, while I'm diligently trying to help him open up more I'd like to say he's earnestly trying to teach me that sometimes less is more but he's not (see, how great he is?). Mostly, he's just trying to teach me not exaggerate too much when I tell stories about him because you better believe those are the few times he'll step out of his shell to tell say it how it is. Maybe, I do enjoy the luxury of describing him a little too much.

So are you an introvert or an extrovert? What about your spouse?

On trials...

I'm without a laptop and camera cord this week which means I can't upload pictures. And eventhough I'm sure you all love seeing pictures of my kids (I've got a great one of Hannah in the tub fully clothed) I thought I'd take a few days to write out my thoughts and experiences on certain subjects.

Today a friend came over whom I hadn't seen for a couple of years. Her son Charlie encountered a number of struggles even before he was born (including a stroke in the womb). He is over come so many obstacles and this summer will have cranio reconstructive surgery with the same doctor we used for Ashton. As I walked her through the process I told her the hardest part for me was actually the day of pre-ops when I had to hold Ashton down as they tried to find a vein. He was crying and screaming and all I wanted to do was rescue him. As I described it she looked at me and nodded knowing exactly the feeling I was talking about. She had done that numerous times already and then showed me her littly guys arm that was still recovering from multiple needle sticks. I had spaced for a moment her long days in the NICU. I told her she was strong and amazing and as I said it I remembered people use to tell me the same thing when they heard about Ashton's surgery. Then we had a very real conversation about dealing with what comes your way. From a far we make look at someone else's trial and say I could never handle that - and yet if we are faced with it we just do it. We have to do it. And we do it with Heavenly Father's help. There we were 2 very different women with different faiths sharing our own trials and how we got and are getting through them. It was a sweet afternoon as I cried when she shared some words from her son's baby blessing.

I love when I have moments of clarity. That the eternal plan just clicks. The trials aren't because we're doing something wrong or we're unworthy to just have it easy. Easy isn't a part of the plan. We have them to make us stronger and more Christlike. We have them because He loves us and He's trying to help us be our very best. Remembering that in the midst of them is the hard part.