Lesson Learned

I have just completed my 6 long hours of an online defensive driving course for dismissal of a speeding ticket. I received a speeding ticket back in November while traveling to Fort Worth to be with my family for my grandfather's back surgery. I have really learned my lesson on speeding! :)
~jen

Crazy Weather!

There is a saying around here, “if you don’t like the weather in the Texas Panhandle, just wait about 15 minutes and it will change”. Boy, was that ever true these past few days. We have seen temperatures ranging from the 70’s to the 30’s in 2 days, a tornado about an hour or so from Amarillo, snow, and even a dust storm from severe winds! How crazy is that? :)
~jen

A New Look

I thought I would try out this "new look" for my blog. It looked kind-of "Spring-y" (is that a word?). I don't know about you all, but I am SO ready for Spring!
~jen

Just some thoughts.....

Hi everyone. I hope all is well with each of you. Things here are well. Both boys are getting over from being sick. We went to our family doctor last Friday. Both boys had ear infections and upper respiratory infections. Both started antibiotics. They seem to be feeling better. It may take a while to get over completely. Cody has had early-morning track practice every school day, so being out in the 30 degree weather isn't helping him any! Caden is still pretty stuffed up. All I have heard from him is "huh?". Bless his heart he can't hardly hear anything!

Mike is doing well. He has been so busy at work. He seems to really be enjoying his job lately. Today is supposed to be a beautiful day, so he has plans to take the boys to play golf this afternoon.

I plan on getting a manicure this afternoon. I am really looking forward to my "alone" time! I also have great news to share.... While at Caden's speech therapy this morning I popped into the office to say hello to everyone at Ridgecrest. The nurse happened to be at the school this morning and was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about the possibility of working as a RN within the school district. There are going to be a few openings this fall for RN's. She was kind enough to give me the name and number of who to contact and she said that she would also call and mention my name. She thought with my experience at the hospital, previous employment within the school district and in Groom, and being a mom, I have a pretty good chance of getting a job! I am going to turn in an application tomorrow and go from there! This is something that I know I would enjoy. It would be the perfect work schedule with the boys, and especially with Caden starting school in the next year or so. Please say a little prayer for me! I'll be sure to post again as soon as I know something!

Well, I guess this is all for now. I've got a ton of stuff to get done today!
~jen

Tornadoes and 4 year olds

Have you ever heard (or used) the expression "this place looks like a tornado hit it!"? We'll for the past few days Cade's room has looked like a tornado hit it. I literally had to clear a path from the door to his closet and then to his bed. How can the average 4 year old make such a mess? Here is a picture of Caden's room this morning. (By the way, the "white stuff" is the stuffing from one of Caden's teddy bears!)

It took me 2 hours and a TON of patience (still working on those New Year's Resolutions) to clean up this mess. I made Caden help, but between the "look, Mom I found my ____" with every discovery of a lost toy, and the ever constant checking of the trash bag to make sure I wasn't throwing away something "very important", he didn't help that much!

Lessons learned:
1. Caden has way too many toys!
2. Never underestimate the power of a 4 year old. They are as destructive as tornadoes!

Here's an "after" shot of Caden's room:

Basketball Pics

Cody's basketball season ended last weekend. His team lost during the semi-finals. Cody had a great season. It is amazing to see how much he improves each year. He had a great time playing. It was hard for me as a parent to hear him get yelled at and pulled out of the game. We are in the big leagues now, so it's something that I am going to have to get used to! Overall, I think his coaches did a good job, but then again, I am a novice to the game of basketball and coaching! The only thing that is important to me is that Cody has fun, and he has had fun these past few months. Here are a few pictures of Cody from last Friday afternoon's game. (Thanks, Angie for taking such great pictures for me!)
~jen

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope everyone had a "lovely" Valentine's Day. I have to show off my Valentine's Day surprise. I received these beautiful roses Wednesday at work. I was so surprised, I even cried! Thank you, Michael for the beautiful roses. They are lovely. I love you!
~jen

Vitamin Guide

I came across a Vitamin and Supplement Guide from Women's Day Online. I thought I would share it with all the women in my life.
Here's the link:
http://click.email-publisher.com/maafJofabwoghch78PbeafpLMx/
~jen

Thought for the Day

I have subscibed to a 'Thought for the Day' from a minister in North Carolina and today's message hit home. While this message would have been perfect to read back in December when I thought everything around me was falling apart, it has given me the realization that I wasn't alone... God was with me through everything. Here's today's message. ~jen

Wednesday's Thought For The Day (Feb. 7, 2007)

HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU

The following touching story comes from the book, "Chicken Soup For the Soul":

In 1989, an earthquake almost flattened Armenia. This deadly tremor killed over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. In the midst of all the confusion of the earthquake, a father rushed to his son's school. When he arrived there he discovered the building was flat as a pancake.

Standing there looking at what was left of the school, the father remembered a promise he made to his son, "No matter what, I'll always be there for you!" Tears began to fill his eyes. It looked like a hopeless situation, but he could not take his mind off his promise.

Remembering that his son's classroom was in the back right corner of the building, the father rushed there and started digging through the rubble. As he was digging other grieving parents arrived, clutching their hearts, saying: "My son! "My daughter!" They tried to pull him off of what was left of the school saying: "It's too late!" "They're dead!" "You can't help!" "Go home!" Even a police officer and a fire fighter told him he should go home. To everyone who tried to stop him he said, "Are you going to help me now?" They did not answer him and he continued digging for his son stone by stone.

He needed to know for himself: "Is my boy alive or is he dead?" This man dug for eight hours and then twelve and then twenty-four and then thirty-six. Finally in the thirty-eighth hour, as he pulled back a boulder, he heard his son's voice. He screamed his son's name, "ARMAND!" and a voice answered him, "Dad? It's me, Dad!" Then the boy added these priceless words, "I told the other kids not to worry. I told 'em that if you were alive, you'd save me and when you saved me, they'd be saved. You promised that, Dad. 'No matter what,' you said, 'I'll always be there for you!' And here you are Dad. You kept your promise!"

What a beautiful illustration of the promise that God has made to us. "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'' (Heb. 13:5).

That is a promise with which we can trust our lives. Time and time again, God has proven His faithfulness. And we have every reason to believe that He will continue to keep that promise. Maybe you find that your world has collapsed around you. Your marriage is struggling. You're not sure where the money will come from to pay your bills. You just got off the phone with the doctor and the news is not good.

Hear these words of God. Fix them firmly in your mind. God said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." It may seems that hours have passed by without any sign of God in your life, maybe even days, weeks, months or years. Take heart and be assured. God said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." No matter how it may seem, God has not forsaken you. And he longs for the day when he can once again hold you in His arms.

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

If you would like to subscibe:
mailto:join-thought-for-the-day@hub.xc.org

BEAUTIFUL Day

What a gorgeous day today! It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! The temperature was a perfect 70 degrees with a light breeze. I took the kids to the zoo this afternoon. We had a great time seeing all the new animals. Amarillo is moving up in the zoo department. Now along with the goats, sheep, bison, and longhorn... we have lions! (By the way....Caden gave the pitiful 50 year-old looking longhorn the Hook-um-Horns sign with his fingers... how cute is that!) Our little zoo is really coming along. There are more animals than I mentioned, but it is still a very, very, small zoo! Here are a few pictures of Caden and his cousin Samantha from this afternoon.














Thank you Lord for this blessed day. Thank you for the glimpse of Spring...it was a beautiful day.

~jen

Can't sleep

It's after 1:00 am and I can't sleep. Thank goodness for the Internet! It never sleeps! I've caught up on my reading of all the top headlines and latest entertainment news. Nothing like that to put you back to sleep for sure!

It's been a few days since my last post. Things are going better than they have been. I was looking back at my last few posts and they were kind of, well..... negative! Things are much better now!

Cody is doing great. He will finish his basketball season this week. He has one last district game on Wednesday and then city championship games this Friday and Saturday. I think he is ready to be done. While I know he has had a good season, I think he is ready for a break from his coaches. He has decided to run track this year. This will be a first for him, so I am anxious to see how he does. He claims he is the fastest of all his classmates. We'll see. :)

He is also looking forward to the golf season. We already have our calendar marked with the upcoming area golf tournaments. His first one is next month! He is really excited about getting out on the course.

Caden is doing well. He had a day or two with the stomach bug last week but has rebounded quite well. He is doing pretty good now. Nothing really new with him. His favorite word at the moment is "awesome".

Well, I guess this is all for now. I should probably try and get some sleep. It will be time to start the day soon enough.

~jen