Colorado - Tornado Valley?

When I moved to Texas, I was scared of being hit by a tornado. We had one in 2001 that hit Decatur, and it caused some damage - especially to our church building. My sister called yesterday to see if I'd heard about the tornado in Colorado. I didn't really believe her at first because tornadoes aren't a "Colorado thing". The town of Windsor got hit by a huge tornado. My entire family lives near Windsor in Ft. Collins. If you have seen the pictures or videos you would've seen a tornado that was almost a mile wide. Some good friends of my sister and her husband got hit hard, and their house was destroyed. My parents have a rental house in Windsor that was hit too, but it was not destroyed, thankfully. There is a woman with two children that live in their rental, and right now they are having to stay elsewhere. Please pray for those two families and the others that were hit by this devastating storm.

American Idol and Hurricane Harbor

Yeah! David Cook won AI! I love it when the person I want to win, wins! I really didn't think that he would, but he won by a lot, as it turns out! On to next season...can't wait until January!

On Sunday, we went to Hurricane Harbor. The kids always win tickets because they raise money for the American Heart Association by doing Jump Rope for Heart. We decided to get there bright and early - the kids were pretty anxious waiting for the gate to open!!!!

The kids were the very first people in the wave pool! I have never seen it empty, but they weren't the only ones for long. The water was freezing, but you could get used to it quickly. This was Jacob's first time, and he had a blast!!!

Jacob and I had to hang in the "kiddie pool" for a little while when the girls and Mark were on the Tornado. Jacob isn't big enough yet, but we had fun on the pirate ship.

We were ready to go...the kids weren't. But they gave me a big smile at the end of a fun day.

Camp Deer Run

In one week we will be headed to Winnsboro for the 50th anniversary at Camp Deer Run.  I am so excited.  I cannot even express in words what CDR means to me, and I know it means a lot to a lot of you that read my blog.  Where would I be in my life if not for CDR?

During my freshman year at Harding, Doug (the director at CDR at the time) came looking for staff members.  I wasn't too fond of going to Texas for the summer (this was before I even knew how hot it was here), but I was really interested in working at a camp all summer.  I had to fly to Dallas from Colorado, so someone needed to pick me up at the airport.  When Shara (another CO girl that was going to CDR to work) and I arrived in Dallas, Mark and John Boles were there to pick us up.  I didn't know then that June 6, 1994 would be the day I met my future  husband.

If not for Camp Deer Run, I wouldn't be married to the amazing husband that I have.  I met Mark when I was 18 years old.  What did I know back then about men?  Nothing.  Well, if my child told me that they met their future spouse at 18 I would tell them that they are too young and aren't ready.  Thankfully, my parents didn't tell me that.  It sure is a good thing that Mark turned out to be such a good guy!  Mark and I only dated for 3 months when he proposed to me.  He said that after working at CDR for a summer together that it was like we really dated for a year.  I think he means that he saw me at my smelliest, ugliest, and most disgusting but he still fell for me!  (Out camping wasn't my fave)!  I only spent two summers working at CDR, but it changed my life.  It is one of my favorite places to be, but we don't get to go there often enough.  

It was a happy day in our lives when Morgan started going to CDR.  She has gone for 2 summers now, and she absolutely loves it.  She will be going to a two week session this year, and she is so excited.  She wanted to go for 2 weeks last year, but I wasn't ready yet.  Now she will get to experience out camping!  I bet she will love it.  I am just so excited to go next weekend and see a lot of friends that we haven't seen in a long time and just have some good old fashioned CDR fun!  

Cinderella

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfxL0S-7yVo

This is our new favorite song. I think it tugs at Mark's heart strings (a little)! Check it out - it's a beautiful song and performance. I just love Steven Curtis Chapman.

Mother's Day, Broken Dishwasher, and Morgan's Party

I told Mark that all I wanted for Mother's Day was a massage. I knew that he went and bought me a gift certificate because I saw it while I was balancing our checking account online (I love online banking)! So, I told him that I needed it early. So, yesterday after school, I went and enjoyed my Mother's Day gift a few days early! I love Mother's Day. I love spending the whole day with my husband and kids. It is a sad day for us as well because I don't live near my mom and can't spend it with her. But, it is really sad for Mark. He lost his mom 8 years ago. It has been a huge loss for us - one that we cannot even put in words. "They" say time heals all wounds, but I don't think that is true for Mark. He has a big hole inside him that his mother once filled. I don't know that he will ever heal from it. He has times where it is better, but this last couple of years have been especially difficult because he lost his mom's parents. When the died it was like his mother was really gone as well - a big connection to her was gone. So, I will try to make this Mother's Day special for Mark as well as for me. My husband and kids are great - they really do show appreciation for me all year round and not just on Mother's Day. But, Happy Mother's Day to all my friends and my mom! I hope it is a special day for all of you.

My dishwasher broke - well, to be honest, we don't have a dishwasher. It was me that broke! This rental that we are living in has no dishwasher. I didn't think we could live without one, but we have made it. But, like I said, I broke. So...the kids have a new chore. The girls are supposed to wash the dishes every day after school. They hate it as much as I did. They usually make it fun though. They listen to Hannah Montana or some other cd and sing while doing their work. But, Friday, this is what I found...

Morgan had her birthday party last Saturday. We took four of her close friends to the mall in Grapevine. We ate at the food court and went to see the movie Penelope (cute movie by the way). At the food court, there is carousel that the kids wanted to ride. Here are a few pictures of the kids...I'm including Mark in with the group of kids.

Morgan's friend Stormi...she is quite the character.

Mark is wondering if his purse matches his horsie!

The girls aren't laughing at the ride, they're laughing at Mark.

This is why they are laughing at him.

They wanted to take a picture with the Hulk.

Morgan has some great friends, and we had a great day out celebrating her birthday.

TV, WW, and Job Search...

So, as I have mentioned before, I am a reality tv junkie. I cannot seem to break my habit! American Idol is still ridiculously predictable. Why does it take so long to get to the final two? At this point I wish that they would just let the two David's duke it out. I really do like David Cook, but I think the other David will win because people just think he is so cute. Anyway, Dancing With the Stars is starting to drive me crazy. I think that the whole goal of the show now is to see who can wear the least amount of clothing while doing sexy dances. I think I am going to set a new goal for myself - no reality shows. That will be really hard for me - what would I do without Wife Swap?

I have now reached 15 pounds on Weight Watchers - it has taken a long time, but I think maybe I am finally ready to change my eating habits! Just 25 more pounds to go!

I am still looking for a job, so please pray. There was only 1 job open at the school I work at now, and I thought the job would be mine (I was pretty much told that before the principal left). The new principal decided to bring one of her teachers from her old school with her, so I am out of luck! I will keep praying for the right job to come my way! I know it is out there somewhere :)