Was this suppose to be a race?

I heard an interesting phrase the other day... "we are all in this big race to the end [of this life]... when we will finally be freed from all of our imperfections."

This made me stop and think about my life and what life is really all about. Am I racing through everyday? Am I trying to catch up to the person in front of me? Or just trying to stay ahead of the person behind? Am I racing a 100 meter dash and just trying for 1st place? Am I missing what is really important?

I would like to hope that I am living as though life is not a sprint, but a marathon... one mile at a time... one step at a time... trying to get to the finish line just for my own personal accomplishment and not just to beat someone else there. Am I enjoying ever step... no matter how hard or painful or tiring it is?

I hate the phrase endure to the end cause it just makes the journey sound painful. Of course with the joys of life come trials. We can't always see the blessings or growth that the trials bring us, but then another familiar phrase comes to mind... we can't know sweet without the bitter.

Yes I can't wait to be freed from my own imperfections, but what am I doing with the time I have now... am I just sitting waiting to become perfect? Or am I striving to make the best of what I am and what I have?

I like to think that I am enjoying life to its fullest... every moment... every day. But as many of you... I know that I am looking to the next day or the next big event or next phase of life just to get me through the current one I am in.

Enough with the inner monologue... here is what I am going to do.

Love life.
Love God.
Love my family.
Love my neighbor.
Love myself.

All else will fall into place and I will better enjoy the journey and enjoy a closer glimpse of my destination.

(enjoying every moment)

Wholly Cow!

I just sneezed 13 times in a
row... NO JOKE! Don't believe
me? Ask Ellee... she was
rather amused by it all.

Ahhh the joys...

Teething: (teeth·ing) (t[emacr]th¢ing) the entire process which results in the eruption of the teeth

What this definition doesn't tell you is what exactly you get in this entire process. I had no idea. Luckily Ellee was able to enlighten me in the last few days. Now I am sure that all of these symptoms are not necessarily related to teething, just an incredibly unlucky/unlikely coincidence.

...don't ask how it works... one thing just led to another...

Since last Friday, Ellee has come down with the following symptoms: lack of appetite; congestion; needy (as in not content to play on her own for long, but not needy as in I want cuddles and snuggles from my mommy... needy as in I want you to hold me but you'd better be standing up and let me reach and grab for everything that you aren't trying to distract me with); nasty croupy cough; wheezing; waking in the night (and naps) every 45 minutes wanting her pacifier just so she can spit it out again because she is so congested that she can't breathe with it in; raspy voice and cry; green slimy eye goobers; low grade temperature; constipation and diarrhea (I know they don't usually accompany each other so don't ask how it works... one thing just led to another); one tiny little visible tooth; and finally when we went to the doctor she tops it all off with an ear infection.

Lovely.

Now those of you who are reading this thinking... oh no... my kids were just around her I hope they don't get sick too... don't worry, Ellee is on antibiotics and the doctor assured us it wasn't contagious at this point.

But none the less life here is quite interesting... I have had a suspicion that she was teething from the signs below... but now that I can see that tiny little tooth, I at least know that there is an end to all of this madness! Of course there are still 19 more teeth to erupt... so I guess this is just the beginning! Possibly the beginning to my end. I hope I can survive.

I've been busy...

So I've been slacking on blogging as I have been keeping myself busy working on other fun projects... and yes you can call me Domestic Goddess Abby. Is there anything I can't do? Man I am good! Okay okay, I am totally just kidding (well mostly). Anyhow I have been inspired lately to make all sorts of fun stuff... I've been making hair clips for little girls (maybe one day Ellee will be able to wear them!), beaded bracelets and pacifier leashes/clips also for little girls, head bands and bows and curly ribbon clips and I have been (key word: collecting) more scrapbooking stuff (yes I will get back into it sometime soon... I am very behind!) but my most recent project is seen below... embellished burp clothes. I got the idea from my sister-in-law Laura (who i might add is also a self proclaimed domestic goddess)... no more plain boring white burp clothes...


If you are going to have to be spit upon and always keep your shoulder covered... it might as well be covered fashionably!

What a shame

Yesterday I heard the funniest thing on the radio... funny as in I can't believe what I am hearing funny... as in are you kidding me funny... as in... okay you get the point. Anyhow, it being St. Patrick's day I guess people think that it is okay to go out and start drinking from dawn to dusk... okay really from dawn to dawn the next day.

But anyway, it was about 2:30 and the radio personality was downtown at some of the bars and was interviewing various people there. The first girl was describing how she started off her festivities with a toast to the day... bloody mary I believe was what she toasted with. Next she went to one bar for it's early opening to kick off the party. There she consumed 4 shots and 2 bloody mary's. Next she hit the street parties to dance (if that is what you can call it with this much liquor in your system) and throw down a few more drinks. I believe she made mention of a few martinis and a couple margaritas. Then it was at the next bar that the radio guy caught up with her for this interview. She mentioned that she was currently enjoying another bloody mary, the third of the 3 she consumed at this bar. She said she is still going strong... may I remind you that it is only 2:30 pm!!!!

Then next part is the part that makes me laugh. Well, the radio guy then asks her what her plans are for the rest of the day. And she mentioned a few more bars and street parties and then says church! She actually said she was going to try and make it to church between all of these parties! The radio guy then laughs a bit and asks her why... why church on saturday... amidst all of the partying? She then says that she doesn't want to be bothered by church with the hangover that she is planning on having on Sunday!!!

Can you believe it? What a sad sad day we live in!

On happier note... this was the first year that I got to pinch Devn for not wearing green! I had gotten dressed before him so he was still in his jammies and I got him!!! HA take that Devn!

Also we enjoyed large green Shamrock Shakes in honor of the day. Thanks McDonald's!

How Sweet

This picture is from Early February... Just thought everyone needed to see Ellee and her betrothed, Owen.

Spring???

W

ell last week while I was in UT, we had here in Des Moines what I hope was our last big winter snowy hurrah. This week is definitely looking more promising. It's been 50 degrees the last 2 days and today it is suppose to hit 65! The grass is a swampy mess and the pavement has large lakes of running off melted snow and giant partly melted black snow banks from the plowing of the parking lots... but other than that it is absolutely beautiful! Spring is on its way and I couldn't be more happy about it!