October

October has started out as my month to give back and be a part of something bigger than myself. When Jake and I dated and first got married, we were involved with the church with all sorts of stuff. We were in ministry together and enjoyed being a part of it. Since we've been at Gateway, we have led a life group and been in the altar ministry together, but nothing like before. I have been serving faithfully in the altar ministry for 2 years now and I absolutely love it, but I am so ready to get so much more involved and we had an opportunity to be demons for a unity marriage seminar. I didn't realize that I would hairspray my hair so much, it took 30 minutes to untangle. We got to know Sean and Priscilla a little more and we have hopefully been a blessing to them; as we have become an open book for God to use.




Since I run to stay fit and healthy, I decided to start running for good causes and as a way to give back. I decided one week before the Project; Rescue Her run to raise money for the A21 Campaign in Greece. Greece is the largest sex trafficking country in the world. I am just sad about the thousands of girls forced to serve 40-100 men per day and the younger the girls are, the more they are in value. I raised $250 in one week and ran 5 miles in one hour the first weekend in October. I would love to go the Greece next year as Marissa Star will be going now in November to visit this organization that Christine Caine heads up. She is one of my heroes.

October 21 will be 1 year I am a breast cancer survivor. I feel like I am not because I detected it early. I faced all the emotional and fear that any person would go through and it crept back this morning as I sat in a survivor's tent. I was overwhelmed with emotion.
Six years ago I became a runner. I have always worked out, but when I was under a lot of stress, I found myself running to decompress. In the last few months, I have really concentrated on running long distance. I don't sprint, but I do keep a good pace approximately 10 min./mi.

I decided to do this race and I am so glad I did. It was a goal that I achieved. When I got there, it was emotionally harder than I expected it to be. It was chaotic with no direction, at first. Jake parked the car while I got down to see where I was suppose to go and ended up going the opposite direction. Anyway, it made for a stressful start, so I started with a sprint which I don't do. I ran out of gas too quickly so I had to stop and pace myself.
I have to say the best part of the whole thing was that my husband woke up early and drove me there. His support means so much to me.

It was an awesome experience. Not sure I'll do it again because I am just not so passionate about this cause. I think there should be a cure, but I think a healthier cure would be best. It was different than the run I did for the Project: Rescue Her. This is something I am passionate about and would do again.

Ok, it is already fall and the last time I blogged was in the summer about spring break. Whew, I have some catching up to do. How about I blog about my summer break. As summer approached, I was so excited that I would not have to work. June came and I still had a class to finish up the semester. It was great though. I would wake up at 6 a.m. and run, then come home and get ready for the day, and start school at 8:30 am. I loved this schedule, cuz I would spend the afternoons with my kiddos.
One of those weeks, I took the kids and my mom to Austin to meet up with my first cousins, John and Patti from Colorado. I was so excited that they wanted to see us and that we made it happen. We went kayaking with them and had dinner. It was so much fun.

What's awesome about meeting up with John and Patti is that John's dad, my Uncle Jerry, was my favorite uncle. He spoiled me. He was like my grandpa since my grandfather never was a grandfather to me. Uncle Jerry and my mom were real close so I benefited from that relationship. When my cousins would come visit or we visited them, we always enjoyed each other, so since I hadn't seen John in over 12 yrs. this was such a special treat.

I miss my Uncle Jerry so much. Just the thought of how different life would have been with my uncle alive, aches. He was one of the wisest and most godly men I knew. I loved him sooooooooooo much and I know he loved me. Anytime he visited or we went to visit him cuz he lived in Delta CO, he did not like to say good bye, so when he thought I was sleeping, he would sneak in the room and place some money under my pillow in the little coin cards. I cherish those good byes.
John, are a lot like your dad and that is something I know you are proud of. :)

Tami's family visits us

Tami and I grew up somewhat like sisters and she is my niece. Her mom is my sister and we are very close. She is like a second mother to me. Well, I wondered why they would never come to visit, but I stopped wondering and just accepted that's what happens when we move away from family.
While the kids and I were on vacation for spring break, she called me and asked if the could come that night for a visit. We were ecstatic!!! They were finally coming. My kids adore her kids. Those are the cousins they are closest to. We made it home with time to clean it and pick them up from the airport. Tami and Chris didn't tell Ky, Saya and Nash where they were going, so they were completely surprised when we pulled up at the airport and hugged them. It was AWESOME!!! The look on their faces was priceless.
For the next three days we took them to downtown Dallas, Chipotle, Ft. Worth Science and History Museum, Johnny B's, Pink Berry frozen yogurt and lots of shopping. The kids loved having their cousins sleep over for all those days. I cannot tell you what this meant to me and my family. I still look at the pictures so I can believe it happened.

New Braunfels for spring break with the kids

Having spring break is one of the perks of being a school teacher. I always like to plan something special with my kiddos. This year, we went to New Braunfels and went to the Texas Wildlife Ranch and the Natural Ridge Caverns. It is a drive thru zoo and the kids were able to feed the animals from the car and pet them at the end. We watched an ostrich cut across the road and be completely stubborn. It amused us quite well. The Natural Ridge Caverns was beautiful and educational at the same time. It was something both the kids said they enjoyed. Jake could not join us since he had just started a new job two months prior. That in itself was a test of all that we've been through. I passed with flying colors.

Daddy/daughter dinner and dance

One of the best days of their lives. I know that Jeanice will forever remember and cherish the night her daddy took her on this extravagant date that Gateway hosted. I loved taking her shopping for a dress and asking that Jake would stop and get her a wrist corsage but he couldn't get one at the last minute, so he bought the flowers and made one. I have to say that surprised the living daylights out of me. What a great daddy!! Jeanice made him a card and they had the time of their lives. I went to a friend's bachelorette party that night and Josiah was with a friend. I was so happy for my princess. I would have given anything to have had a night like this with my daddy. I love my husband and I love that Gateway goes all out!