lately... in list form

1.  i have been drinking insane amounts of coffee this week.  does drinking insane amounts of water counter act the caffeine?

2.  i think spring has sprung and is hopefully here to stay.

3. my favorite uncle came in from colorado last weekend.  so so good to see him and to catch up.

4.  have you seen the new show on tlc about coupon clipping?  no offense to anyone, but i don't really get it.  some guy last night bought 100s of toothbrushes...but why?  great that he's getting a good deal but what are you going to do with that number of toothbrushes.

5.  dad has one more week of treatment.  anxious to see what the results of the next cat scan and what the next steps are.  we are pretty confident there will be more treatment on the horizon but unclear what that looks like.  good news is that he will have 3 weeks off with no chemo/radiation, which i know he is very much looking forward to.

6.  we are seriously considering holding charlie back next year.  in all reality the only reason i'm hesitant is because of the social stigma, but in the long run educationally, i think it will only help him and build his confidence.  the hardest part of being a parent is having to make tough decisions that sometime break my heart.

7.  the weekend was packed with activities.  two soccer games, baseball tournament and a birthday party.  sunday evening sure came way too fast.

8.  considering running hospital hill...but can't seem to commit.  :)

satuday snapshot

i'm linking up with kim at the yellow songbird for saturday snapshot.

i love my inlaws place in arkansas.  when we go to their house we are truly spoiled and i, admittedly selfishly, have to worry about nothing.  no meal preparation, no housework, i don't think about my job or my to do list ever.  it's a slice of heaven for me.

this pic was taken last thanksgiving and it is one of my favorites.  the boys and i out taking a walk on their property just the three of us hanging out .

random

i downloaded my sd card a couple weeks ago.  it had been 2 months since i downloaded my sd card,  i had 240 items on my sd card.  here are just a few snapshots.

Snow...snow...snow...the boys have had 9 snow days. 'nuff said


field trips....i love field trips.  i had a group of 4 kids that i was responsible for.  they all fell asleep on the way home.  too cute.



allen fieldhouse...love that place.  the boys and i got to take dad to the iowa state game.







some cooking going on...homemade pizza and cake creating





celebrating love





enjoying the promise of spring and warmer days



finally orangeleaf recently opened near our house.  that is bad very bad.

cancer sucks

My dad has cancer. I have known for a month and ½. I’ve debated for awhile whether I should blog this or not, but this is my life. Life is not only full of immense beauty it’s full of pain and this blog should represent the good and the bad because that is my story, that is life.

I don’t intend to always speak of cancer and what my dad is going through, but I have to be honest. My life feels as though it’s consumed with cancer. The last prayer at night is for my dad and my first thought is about my dad.

I hate that I’m not a writer. My writing will never adequately address the thoughts in my head or in my heart and it’s even more difficult when they both feel like a big jumbled mess.

In the month and 1/ 2 that I’ve known about his cancer, this is what I’ve learned:

My dad is fighter

It’s difficult to tell people bad news

YOU HAVE TO BE YOUR OWN MEDICAL ADVOCATE.

Waiting is difficult

Seeing someone you love suffer is at times unbearable

Prayer has become simple. Dear God, please help him.

I wish I would have started asking for my dad’s stories before now

Even in his suffering, my dad continues to think of others first

Cancer sucks (ok, already knew that…just saying)

thankful

today i'm thankful for:

reminders that i'm not alone. 
reminders to believe
this song
that i'm the momma of 2 of the best boys ever
getting stuff on the to do list done
for this book

breakfast date

this morning mac and i headed to breakfast.  just the two of us.  i loved the conversation.

we talked about school
we talked about aspire (the gifted program he just tested for)
we talked about friends
we talked about what he wants to be when he grows up (shoe desinger or cultural anthropologist :))
we talked about high school (he wants to go to Stubiaco a catholic boarding school in Arkansas)
we talked about his favorite cars (mustang or a porsche)

i love this boy...i'm one blessed mama

healing rain

tonight, i'm listening to this song over and over.  powerful stuff....