Disney Trip 2010

We went to Disney from June 14-June 19.  We had a blast, but we didn't take NEAR as many pictures as we usually do, because we have pictures of EVERYTHING!  Ha!  We did our vacation a little differently this year. We usually stay in a moderate resort during a time when they have free dining, but this time, we HAD to go in the summer (they're offering free dining in the fall) because I'm out of vacation days.  Plus, even though it is crowded in the summer, the parks are open for HOURS later than they usually are.

So we stayed at a Value Resort (Pop Century) and paid for all our food.  It was a great trip, and the focus was eating, so that's always good!! :)

This is what I did the majority of the way to Florida, since we left at 3AM.  It was worth it, though!  We got there around 2:30 and got to spend the rest of the day in the Magic Kingdom.  Colby forgot his camera, so we didn't get any other pics of that day.

And so begins our eating journey...cinnamon rolls...mmmmm....

The aquarium at Epcot.

I'll bet we have 12 pictures like this, at least.

At Pop Century!  Note:  I was in LOVE with this romper!  I wasn't so sure when I bought it, but it was perfect for Disney!  Very cool and comfortable!

Quintessential castle shot...

They brought back the Electric Light Parade!  It was awesome!  I've gotten tired of watching Spectromagic! the past few years!  Haha...you know you've been to Disney too much, when....

We always take pictures in the teacups!  It's our favorite!

Hollywood Studios in the Indiana Jones gift store.  Snakes!!!  (Colby was pretending to be Bear Grylls and act like he wasn't scared, ha ha)

This was the AMAZING!!! dessert we got at The Flying Fish Cafe.  What an incredible place to eat!  We ate there on our honeymoon, also, and it was scrumptious then, and even better now!

Colby at Flying Fish...

This was the CUTEST Cheshire Cat birdhouse that we found.  It's made by Jim Shore, and it was SO PRECIOUS!

Mr. Potato Head was dead.  It was kinda creepy.  We rode Toy Story Midway Mania three times that day.  Once waiting at park opening, then with fastpass, and then we walked on right at park closing, and hardly waited at all.  I highly recommend doing this!  They'll let you on with about three minutes to go.  It's great!

In front of the Great Movie Ride...

Before riding Kali River Rapids.  We NEVER ride this, but it was SO HOT!!! 

And after...ha ha.

The gibbons at Animal Kingdom.  Love them.  There was a mama and baby that were so cute, but they were too far away to get a picture.

Shot of Everest!  We rode three times that day, but then it got rained out.  There was a MONSOON!!  I've never, ever, been so wet in my life.  It was literally like we'd jumped in a pool with our clothes on by the time we walked to the parking lot!  Miserable!  I was SO GLAD we drove that day instead of riding the bus, because those buses are FREEZING COLD!!

Giraffes on the safari!

At Rafiki's Planet Watch the next day!  Love that place!  You ride a train to get out there, and they have a petting zoo, and an animal veterinarian exhibit, and characters.  It's really fun.

Magic Kingdom picture, taken by a security guard!

Colby pretending to be Jimmy Carter in the Hall of Presidents.  We each pretended to be several presidents, but I look HORRIBLE in all the pictures, so I didn't include any of them, ha ha!

 

The swinging bridge on Tom Sawyer Island.  We hadn't been out there in two years, ha ha.

On the back walkway from Tomorrowland to Toontown Fair. 

Back at MK, going to see the Country Bears! 

Dark clouds over the castle...getting ready to rain...again...

At Narcoosees, MY FAVORTE RESTAURANT EVER!!!  That almond cheesecake is SCRUMPTIOUS!

Sitting in the Grand Floridian lobby.  They had an amazing piano player, and then after that, a big band.  I love that hotel!  We've never stayed there, but we will someday!

And then there was THIS woman, wearing her bathing suit in the hotel lobby.  Colby was pretending to take a picture of me.  It was hilarious.  I know that's wrong, but we laughed so hard.  She just looked SO out of place in the lobby!

We had one of the best vacations ever, but I think we're going to cool it on Disney for a couple of years.  They're getting ready to do some AWESOME things to Fantasyland, and I think that we're going to wait until they're totally finished to go back! 

Shoes!

I bought the most AMAZING flip-flops today!  I had a doctor's appointment this morning to do some lab work (he's checking my progesterone, prolactin, and thyroid--it's Day 21 of my cycle) and went to Dillards afterward to kill some time.  I have been having some terrible back problems, and my massage-therapist sister has told me that it's probably due to my wearing cheap flip-flops (I'm a sucker for the Old Navy 2 for $5!!).  I've been on the lookout for some more comfy sandals, and the other day, I bought these Clark's online:

Cute, huh?  One of my students has them in the Pewter color, and I tried them on and loved them! 

THEN, like I said, I went to Dillard's and found THESE:

They are Sanuk brand, and made from Yoga Mats!  They are the most comfortable flip flops I've ever worn.  And not only that, they're brown Zebra print!!  I was smitten!  They have tons of other colors.  I noticed they also have them on Shoes.com, but they're a little more expensive! 

Love me some shoes!

It's Been FOREVER!!!

I cannot believe that I haven't posted anything since FEBRUARY!!!  There haven't been many exciting things going on recently, but I didn't have time AT ALL in February or March to post, because I was smack-dab in the middle of drama competition. 

The kids were AMAZING at competition.  Three of my students got acting awards, with one of them winning BEST ACTOR!  I was so impressed.  We also got Superior Play for The Diviners, which is the top honor.  Yay kids!  We also received several other awards, for costumes, ensemble acting, etc.  I tell people all the time, if I didn't have the kids I do, there's NO WAY we'd do as well as we do at competition.  I love them.

Spring has quickly turned into summer.  It seemed like one minute it was brown, with little daffodils everywhere, and then the next minute, it's summertime.  It's going to frost tonight, though, so I'll have to cover my tomatoes.  I decided this year that I'm not going to go overboard and try to plant a huge garden.  That little escapade did NOT work last year.  I just don't have time, and I don't enjoy pulling all those weeds.  So my "garden" this year is four tomato plants, and some herbs in pots.  I think that's enough. We have a wonderful farmer's market here, so if I need any veggies this summer, I'll just go buy them. 

There's a  little hopeful news here on the baby-making front.  Dr. Wonderful (that's just what I call him, but he truly is--I've never been to a more compassionate doctor) told me that if I wasn't pregnant by Spring, when I was due for an annual exam, that we'd talk about our next steps.  Well, of course I wasn't.  Last week I had an appointment, and he told me, after I told him how incredibly frustrated both Colby and I are (that really doesn't even BEGIN to cover it) that it was probably time to try something else.  So he's doing bloodwork on May 17, which is Day 21 of my cycle.  He's checking my progesterone, thyroid, and something else, and I'll start Clomid after my period.  So I'm a little nervous, but I'm VERY hopeful. 

Mother's Day has been hard the last two years, but I found this poem on two other blogs that I love.  It's enough to give anyone some hope:

There are women who become mothers without effort, 
without thought, 
without patience or loss,
and though they are good mothers and love their children,
I know that I will be better.

I will be better not because of
 genetics or money or because I have read more books, 
but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.

I have longed and waited.
I have cried and prayed.
I have endured and planned over and over again.

Like most things in life, 
the people who truly have appreciation 
are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.

I will notice everything about my child.
I will take time to watch my child sleep,
explore, and discover.
I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold, and feed him
 and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream.  
My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense; 
that God has given me this insight, 
this special vision with which I will look upon my child.

Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to 
or a child that God leads me to, 
I will not be careless with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. 
I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend, and sister because I have known pain.

I know disillusionment, as I have been betrayed by my own body. 
I have been tried by fire and hell that many never face, 
yet given time, I stood tall.

I have prevailed.
I have succeeded.
I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, 
I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. 
I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.
I listen.  
And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely.

I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, 
of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth when life is beyond hard.

I have learned a compassion that only comes by walking in those shoes.

                                                       I have learned to appreciate life.

                                       Yes, I will be a wonderful mother.


Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, mothers-to-be, and mother's in waiting! 

Beauty Tips

I absolutely love beauty projects, and when I saw that Kelly was doing this for SUYL, I was so excited!

I wash my face religiously with this face wash. I get it at CVS, and it looks like they're discontinuing it.  Boo!  I don't know what I'll be doing then.  I love this face wash because it's 95.8% natural, and has no sulfates, which strip your skin. I have always had a problem with my skin, and I've tried EVERY acne skin care product in the world.  One day I was reading about how doing less to your skin can make it better.  So I tried this, and it really worked.  I've not had a bad zit in over a year.

 

 In the summer, I don't use moisturizer, but in the winter, I use this:

 

I actually don't keep a lot of makeup in my bag, because I've found what I like, and I kind of stick to that.  Whenever I buy a product that doesn't work out, I put it in the makeup case that I use for doing plays.  There are some funny things in there, like sparkly purple eyeliners, an assortment of false eyelashes, bright pink lipsticks, etc.  

I use Revlon New Complexion foundation, and have for years.  I absolutely love it.  It goes on really smooth, covers good (I don't need concealer) and stays on forever.

I currently use the Lash Stilletto mascara in black.  I like it, but I change mascaras every few months, so I'll probably use a different one soon, ha ha.

 

I have brown eyes and fair skin, and I go back and forth between using brown and black eyeliner.  It took me forever to figure out how to really apply eyeliner, and I discovered that the key (for me at least) is to be really careful and use a light hand, then smudge it all in to my lash line.  I buy an eyeliner with a smudger at the end.  If I'm going out, or it's a special occassion, I'll use a heavier hand, and not smudge so much.

I have a bazillion lipsticks, but really all I wear is Burt's Bees Lip Balm.  It's the best thing ever.  I do have several MAC lipsticks and glosses, and I LOVE THEM.  They of course, last me forever, because I forget to use them.

As for hair products, here it is.  BEST. HAIRSPRAY. EVER. IN. THE. WORLD.

If you don't use this, go out and get some right now!  I use the original at home, and for drama stuff, I use the heavier hold.  It's amazing.  I spray it on the bottoms of kids shoes to keep them from sliding around on stage.  I spray it on pantyhose that have runs in them.  I'm sure you could use it to fix a falling hemline, ha ha!

Dolly Rebecca

I was all set to do an entire post on my ridiculous love for Dolly Parton. But I'm going to just post this instead.



Amazing, huh? A video from the 80's, that makes me cry every time I watch it? Love her.

LOST TONIGHT!!!

I cannot tell you how excited I am about the fact that Lost is on tonight!!!  But I must say that I'm quite nervous, because I've heard that even though it's the last season, they're not going to reveal all the secrets!  Booooooo!!!  My husband and I started watching Lost in it's 3rd season, and we rented the first 2 seasons and watched them.  We were hooked!!  We literally watched Lost every night for about 2 months. 

I am so excited about seeing these guys:

There's a lot of TV gossip over "who will Kate pick? Sawyer or Jack?"  I think the choice is obvious...

 

My husband and I jokingly call Sawyer "my boyfriend." 

One thing I'm very excited about is seeing this guy again.  He was one of my favorite characters, WHOM THEY KILLED!!!   I cried my eyes out when he died!!

9PM cannot get here soon enough!  I am DYING!!!  

On a random note, I'm getting my hair cut today.  There's no school, but I have rehearsal, so I'm trying to put a post up really quick before I go to the salon!  Maybe I'll let her do something new and exciting.  Or maybe not...

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.  A church in my area has 3900 blue and pink flags in their front yard, representing the number of babies lost each day to abortion.  It really makes me think about what each one of those children could have been.  It also makes me mad that those women truly thought they had no choice, or that they didn't consider their actions before they chose.

As someone struggling with infertility, it absolutely astounds me that someone would willingly give up the chance to have a child.  I saw this video a few months ago, and it really spoke to me.  I thought I'd post it here.



Please pray for mothers and babies today!

Idols

Lindsay has a wonderful post on her blog about not letting healthy living become an idol in your life.  It is a wonderful, biblical discussion, and it really spoke to my heart.

I am all about "real food" and organic products, etc.  However, about two months ago or so, I realized that it is completely impossible to eat this way and use these things 100% of the time.  I was completely convicted about the "evils" of  processed products, and would feel very guilty if I ate something that wasn't on the "good list."  It was getting in the way of our tithes to the church, it was getting in the way of our budget, and it was getting in the way of my life.  It became an obsession, and therefore turned my thoughts from God.

So I'm slowly trying to calm down about things.  If I make a casserole that has canned soup in it, I won't die immediately.  If I realize that real laundry detergent works better than the natural kind, and is about $4 less expensive, then that's what I'll do.  I can't let frivolities get in the way of giving myself to the Lord.

Thank you Lindsay!

Puppy Antics

Please look at this animal.  She is hilarious. 

Yesterday, I was at the grocery store, and picked up one of these humongous rawhide bones for her.  She's not had one in months, and she just LOVES them.  She becomes 100% obsessed with it, even before I unwrap them. 

Last night, she was loudly chewing it in our room, and so Colby kicked her out.  So then she proceeded to prop the bone against our bedroom door, and gnaw as hard as she could, banging on the door the whole time.  I swear she does these things on purpose.  Colby took the bone away and put it in our closet.  So this morning, before she went outside, she went to get her bone, and TOOK IT OUTSIDE WITH HER.  Of course, she then left it out there.  And we weren't about to go get it, since it was FOUR DEGREES this morning.  No thanks, Piper.

Of course, she's gotten it back tonight, and we've been able to amuse ourselves by watching her chew this ginormous bone.  Love this dog.

 

I tried to get a picture of her carrying it through the house, but she's too fast for me.

Just so you know, she also "hides" her bone in the house.  I stuck my hand under my pillow one night and felt something weird.  And, yeah, there it was.  Thanks Piper.  I'm glad that our bed is just one giant yard where you can hide your things....

New Years Resolution

This year, I only have one New Years Resolution.  To get closer to my Lord.  Back during the summer, I was praying daily, reading my Bible semi-regularly, and going to church every Sunday, except during our Disney vacation.  Then, after my miscarriage, I just quit.  I didn't do it on purpose, it just happened.  I went back to work, got busy, and worldly, but much less important things took over my life. 

I need Jesus.  There are days where I long to be in His Word, where I long to talk with Him, and for Him to show me the way. If it weren't for His amazing Grace, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

This Christmas, I really reflected on what it meant for God to give His Son to us.  As I thought about my baby in Heaven, I realized how hard it was for me to give my baby to God, and how much it affected me.  How much more did it affect my God to give his only son, just to be tortured, and die a horrible death, taking on the sin of the entire world? 

So I resolve this year to spend more quality time with Jesus.  To rest at His feet.  To let Him lead me in all I do.  To know Him better.

"This is what the LORD says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'"

--Jeremiah 6:16

Save the Drama for Your Mama, This is Theatre Class!

It will NOT stop snowing in Western NC!  It has pretty much snowed every day this week.  We've gone to school Monday, and today, and it looks like we won't go tomorrow.  As much as I love snow days, I'm directing two plays for Drama competition in March, and we MUST rehearse!!

Speaking of which, anyone who says they dislike middle schoolers doesn't know what they're talking about.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these kids.  My degree is K-12, so when I was in college, I had to observe and intern in all three grade levels.  Loved elementary schools.  Uncomfortable with high school.  HATED middle school.  (Probably because I hated it so much when I was in middle school.) So, when it was time for me to student teach, of COURSE, my advisor placed me at a middle school.  I loved it from the first day.  I was hooked from then on out.  When I was offered a job in my hometown teaching Drama at the two middle schools, I couldn't believe it.  God really does have mysterious ways...

My favorite grade is seventh.  Sixth graders are babies, like elementary schoolers, and eighth graders are "too big for their britches" as we like to say.  But I really like them all.  I wish I could tell you all of the hilarious stories that I have from over these past seven years.

And yes, they have problems.  And HORMONES! But most of them have tremendous hearts.  I've seen it come out of them so much when they find something they're passionate about, like the Holocaust, or anti-bullying, or treating everyone equally.  And you wouldn't believe the hearts many of these kids have for Jesus.  They passion that comes across their eyes when they're telling me about their church, or helping someone less fortunate, or sticking up for someone who's being picked on.  Amazing.

And yes, whenever God blesses us with children, I would LOVE to stay home.  Some days I think I'm made for that.  But then I have a really, really, wonderful, productive rehearsal like I did today, and I just don't know...

I have such a heart for Theatre.  I was made to be onstage, or directing.  It is such an incredible experience to watch a sweet little shy sixth grader turn into a brilliant eighth grader, winning acting awards at competition.  I love these students.  It is an honor to be entrusted with their Dramatic education.

Sad Snow Day...

It's snowing outside, so school was canceled.  I have literally been in the bed all day.

It's not been a good start to the New Year for me.  I took yet another negative pregnancy test on New Years Day, and saying that I'm discouraged or disappointed would be a huge understatement.  We've been trying for over a year (since Sept 2008) to have a baby, and we finally got pregnant in July 2009, only to have a miscarriage.  We had taken a couple of months off from trying before then, and were so, so excited that I had finally gotten pregnant. I was devastated when I didn't see that heartbeat at my first ultrasound.

Since I had to have a D&C after the miscarriage, we had to wait three months before we could try again.  So December was our first try.  I really, really thought that I'd get pregnant right away after our three cycle wait.  Everyone, including our OB told us that you're more fertile after a miscarriage, but I guess that's not true for us.  We thought we'd figured it all out.

I have gone back and forth about blogging about this, but I'm the kind of person who feels like I need to just get it all out on the table.  It makes me feel a little better to talk about it.

I know that God has a plan for us, and that we will get our miracle baby in His time, but I'm having some serious struggles with waiting.  I also know that there are people who've waited a lot longer than we have, but that doesn't make me feel better.  It just makes me feel even worse for those women.

At the end of the day, I still have hope.  I know in my heart that I am meant to be a mother.  I just wish it would happen a little sooner, and cause me a little less heartache.