Sarah B

At least I didn't puke, faint, or die.

2011-09-06T22:17:00.000-05:00

Very recently, I had my first outdoor run since giving birth. I know that may not sound impressive, but it was a big step, people. Instead of giving you a ton of boring details, I have decided to beta-cap it for you. (For those of you who don't know what that means, read on.) I will first set the stage. The weather was beautiful. A bit of a north wind, but nothing too crazy. My plan was to run as much of the park as possible, the whole park being 3 miles with rolling hills. I brought no water. It was only 3 miles. Foreshadowing, people. And I set off. The run went as follows:

Me walking. Ipod playing. Wind blowing. Me running. Settling into a stride. Hill coming. Uncomfortableness starting. Wind blowing. Me sweating. Me walking. (Side note: I had planned on doing hill repeats that day, which basically means sprinting up a hill, walking down it and doing it again however many times you want.) Me running. Big hill coming. JT playing. Sexy back bringing. Hill starting. Me sprinting. Old man staring. Me slowing down. Me walking down. Hill repeating. Different old man staring. Me sprinting. Repeats over for now. Me walking. More walking. Me running. Lunch questioning. Lunch cursing. Lunch coming up. False alarm. Hill repeating again (different hill). Me walking. And walking. And walking. Negative self-talk starting. Gritty resolve taking over. Me running. Running continued.

That's all the beta-cap I have for you, my friends. I will say that I majorly overestimated the beauty of the day. It turned out to be hot. Sneaky hot. Not the kind you would notice if you were, say for instance, eating a wheelbarrow full of cotton candy on your back porch. But running is an entirely different matter than eating a wheelbarrow full of cotton candy. I was a hot, sweaty mess by this time. Sadly, I realized that the last half mile or so of my run would be done next to a somewhat busy road. I wasn't worried about safety. I was more worried about the general public seeing me in a sad state. I was lamenting this fact when I realized that the path I was running on would take me right by a basketball court which happened to be occupied by a bunch of guys playing a game of pickup ball. Awesome. General public on the left, basketball guys on the right. At least I had water in my car. Oh, wait....

Peace!
Sarah

Not Your Mother's Tupperware Party

2011-08-09T20:54:00.002-05:00

Some of you know that very recently I decided to start selling Tupperware to supplement our income. For those of you who knew this, you knew this post was coming. Just be aware, this will be a whole post about Tupperware. You've been warned.

I went to my very first Tupperware party about 4 weeks ago. For some reason, it just appealed to me. I enjoy a practical product. I'm all about things to make my life easier in the kitchen. Now I'm no Paula Deen, but I do like to make my family edible dinners. Tupperware has TONS of kitchen gadgets, cookware and storage options. You know that commercial for glad or ziploc containers where all the plastic tubs and lids fall on that poor woman when she opens her cabinet doors? That's me on any given day. What usually happens is that I have a lid but no container to match. It makes me angry. Something has usually happened to the exact container that I'm looking for. It either broke, got lost, or it got warped in the dishwasher. The thing about Tupperware is that none of that will happen. Tupperware generally has a lifetime warranty. Life. Time. This is tough stuff. Case in point: My mom has a set of Tupperware tumblers for little kids. Matt and I used to fight over the blue one when we were super small. Probably around 4 & 6 years old. And now, my daughter uses them. True story. My mom has some pieces of Tupperware that are almost as old as me. And if you're like Candace, you know that's really old. To launch this new business venture, I will be having a Grand Opening at my home on Saturday, August 20th at 2:00. If you are free that day I would love to see you! Please let me know if you plan on coming. There will be food and good times to be had! And if you aren't able to make it but still want to shop, hit up my website at www.my.tupperware.com/sarahhumphrey. This is obviously an easy and convenient way to shop and it will be shipped straight to you. And if you or someone you know could use some extra cash and would be interested in selling Tupperware, let me know. I'd love to have you on my team!!

Ok. Infomercial done. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

Peace!

Sarah

Crunchy like granola. Or maybe closer to the consistency of undercooked oatmeal.

2011-08-03T21:22:00.008-05:00

So, apparently, I've gone a little crunchy as of late. For a month, we've been using cloth diapers on Harper. And I love it. I seriously considered using cloth on Ave when she was about 5 months old. I did all the research. Knew exactly what I wanted to use. Style, brand, even down to the color. I researched how to wash them, looked at forums on how to use them exactly. Rusty so graciously obtained a clothesline and put it up for me. In the end....I don't know. It just never happened. So it was already under serious consideration when I was pregnant with Harper. A sweet friend of mine offered to let me borrow her stash and once I started, I was like a junkie in a bad neighborhood. But instead of being driven by the drug, I was driven by the cloth. And I wasn't ever in a bad neighborhood doing a diaper deal. And I've never done a diaper deal although it does sound incredibly exciting. So really that analogy wasn't great. But you get the point. As of now, we're using almost exclusively cloth diapers. Our families are pretty much on board which makes it that much easier.

Crunchy activity #2: Babywearing

I never really thought this was that crunchy but, apparently, it is. Thanks to another incredibly sweet friend, I now own a Moby wrap. For those of you who don't know what this is, let me explain. A Moby Wrap is basically a 10 foot long piece of cloth. Literally. It comes with instructions on how to wrap it around you to fashion a place for the baby to fit. And not fall out. That's key, you know.

(Images included for your viewing pleasure. Please excuse the camera face.)

Let me assure you, that baby is as snug as a bug in there. I love the wrap and I learned very quickly how to wrap it. I can't wait to use it when it's not 800 degrees outside.

But I need you to know, dear friends, lest you be deceived, these are the only things that are remotely crunchy about me.

Peace!

Sarah

A Battle of Wills

2011-07-28T21:04:00.002-05:00

Today was mostly spent deeply entrenched in a battle of wills. The opponent: A 3 month old baby. The reason: A difference of opinion on appropriate places to sleep. She thought the swing would be the only acceptable option. I begged to differ. Game on. It was touch and go for most of the day. She was a worthy opponent. Finally, she got the best of me. After 8 hours. I held her and she smiled at me, as if to say, " Maybe next time, sucka".

Mom: 0

Baby: 1

Well played, little baby. Well played, indeed.

Peace!

Sarah

I'm Back In Black. Because It's a Very Slimming Color.

2011-07-21T19:45:00.002-05:00

Hello, friends!

Boys howdy, it's been a long time!!! On April 27th, I delivered an 8 pound 14 ounce bouncing baby girl. She was two and a half weeks early and had (and still has) the cutest, chubbiest cheeks that are just perfect for kissing. She is a bundle of love and everything that's sweet. Her name, by the way, is Harper. So, I've been spending my time snuggling, rocking, feeding, changing diapers, doing laundry and loving every minute. I've also been spending my time memorizing her sweet baby face and her delicious smell. Because I know this stage is fleeting. When Avery was this small, I couldn't wait for her to move to the next stage. And then the next and so on. I was always focused on what was to come instead of loving what was in front of me. I have not done this with Harper. I seem to be at the other end of the spectrum this time around. I put newborn diapers on her and stuffed her into little footie pajamas until the absolute last day. When I realized her toes were curled up in her jammies because they were so small, I had to accept the harsh reality. When people tell me, " She's getting so big!", I feel like saying, "How dare you!". Easing this transition, though, is sweet baby Harper. She is moving into the smiley, cooing phase. This phase is actually a lot more fun. She smiles at me and tries to talk but she still loves to be swaddled. My sweet baby.

We are loving being a family of four. Avery loves her baby sister and hasn't been aggressive towards her very much. We did have a slapping incident but that was cleared up pretty easily.

Enough with the hearts and stars, though. Let's get down to brass tacks. I'm talking baby weight, people. Today was my third day back to the gym. I had a good workout on the treadmill that actually included running. Every time I have a baby, my body tricks me. The first week postpartum, I drop 20 pounds. No joke. Then after that the weight steadily keeps coming off. Until it doesn't. So for about 3 weeks, I feel like Giselle. But mind you, I'm still eating like a linebacker. It's the best of both worlds....until about week 5. Then I realize the weight's not going anywhere. Awesome.

All this blogging's made me hungry. Of course.

Peace!

Sarah

Down With the Sickness

2011-01-27T12:09:00.002-06:00

Avery has been sick for almost a month. Ugh. She is finally on the mend, though. I won't burden you with the gruesome details, but I will say that the words "throw up" and "diarrhea" are in my child's vocabulary. Awesome. The one good thing that came out of all this sickness is Avery discovered that she actually likes to be held by me. She actually enjoys snuggling with me. Ever since she discovered that she doesn't have to be held by me (which came around the time she started crawling, around 8 months or so), she has chosen to pretty much not let me hold her at all. After awhile, I missed this so much that I resorted to getting her up when she was asleep so I could rock her while she slept (and couldn't protest). Don't get me wrong, friends, I know this sounds crazy. C to the Razy. But for a very long time, I was positive that we would not be having any more kids. So, there you have it. We are catching up on the cuddling.

I'm not sure if this happens to anyone else, but when I'm sick or someone in my house is sick we enter this weird space-time continuum. Days go by and I completely lose track of basic things such as what day it is, the last time I left the house and even the last time I showered. Frightening, to be sure. So the last few weeks have been a blur of antibiotics, loads of laundry, episodes of Dora and Spongebob, naps, Gatorade, trips to the pediatrician, and trips to Sonic (for me, of course). The staff at the pediatrician's office now know us by name and they're always super friendly. Which they should be. We have single-handedly paid January's rent and possibly the electric bill as well.

Today Avery went to school. Holla!! I have showered and reentered society.
It's gonna be a good day.

Peace!
Sarah

Spaghetti Squash Adventures

2011-01-23T20:20:00.001-06:00

Question: What goes in to the oven smelling like a pumpkin, comes out of the oven smelling slightly like a sweet potato and produces noodle-like strands when scraped with a fork?

Answer: The incredible spaghetti squash, my friends.

Tonight we had this vegetable (or is it a fruit?) with spaghetti sauce. This is the second time we've had this meal and it's a big hit in my house. Which is great, because it's super easy to prepare. Slice in half length wise and scrape out the seeds and guts (this part reminds me of a pumpkin). Season the cut halves with whatever you like. I use garlic powder. Put the cut sides down in a casserole dish with about an inch (or a little more) if water. Put it in the oven on 350 degrees and in 30-45 min, voilà!! Let it cool then scrape the insides with a fork and use it however you want. It makes a super delicious vegetarian meal!

This post would not be complete without a huge shout out to my good friend, Anne. She introduced me to this vegetable (or maybe fruit) and is responsible for the inspiration to prepare it. Thanks, my friend. Avery thanks you too. :)

Peace!
Sarah

Baby Update

2011-01-12T14:12:00.001-06:00

I am now 22 weeks pregnant. This pregnancy has been flying by and before I know it, this little one is going to be here. When I was pregnant with Avery it seemed like time couldn't go fast enough. I had heard that the second pregnancy goes by faster than the first. Honestly, I'm kind of glad. I might change my tune around April. :)

Today, I scheduled the c-section which makes this whole process feel a lot more real and a lot closer. May 10th will be this baby's birthday and I couldn't be more excited!

Our 19 week ultrasound went great. The baby was super active and the tech had a hard time getting good pictures of its heart because it was being so rowdy. But the images were eventually captured and everything looks great. :) As you know, we chose not to find out the gender but I have a sneaking suspicion that we may be having another girl. We'll find out soon enough!

I've been feeling pretty good these days although it's getting increasingly harder to get my shoes on and actually tie them. I came down with an upper respiratory infection between Thanksgiving and Christmas and I didn't go to the gym once. Not one time. So, I'm staring to get back into the groove of things. To my surprise, in just a few short months, I've gone from (in my opinion) a serious runner to comedic relief for my fellow gym-goers. Interesting turn of events, to be sure. So for the time being no more running. Walking and elliptical only for this momma.

T-minus 4 months, people. You better believe I'll be ready.

Peace!
Sarah

Morning at the museum

2011-01-12T13:13:00.001-06:00

Hi friends! Today Avery and I ventured out to the Edmond Historical Museum. They have a kids museum with stuff for the kiddos to explore. Lots of pretending and dress up ensued. Oh, ps, it's free. F to the Ree. Holla. We had never been before and decided to explore it with a good friend of mine and her daughter (Avery's bff), Karmen.

Avery's 3rd Birthday

2011-01-09T20:29:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I know it's been a super long time since I last blogged. The only valid reasons I have for this is that I'm growing a life and I'm taking care of another life that has only been in existence for 3 years. Which brings me to my next point......

Today is Avery's 3rd birthday!!!!

We decided not to have her official birthday party until next week because she has been very sick. But she was feeling pretty good today! The day started out with her breakfast of choice: doughnuts and a Sprite. Rusty and I gave her the Disney DVD Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She got a set of Disney princess dolls for Christmas and has been obsessed with Snow White since then. She was delighted to get this and we ended up watching it 3 times today. :) We decided to move her out of her toddler bed and into a full size bed. (Her crib converts into a toddler bed but since we'll need the crib in 4 short months (yikes!!), we decided to go ahead and make the switch. That could have very well been a bonified run-on sentence but I'm not quite sure. Thus, I will not worry about it.) She has been doing great in her "big girl" bed so far. I wasn't really worried about her getting up a lot since her toddler bed just had a rail on one side. I was worried, however, that my wild sleeper might fall out. No falls as of the publication of this post. Her Nana and Poppy (Rusty's mom and step dad) got her a super cute quilt and shams for her new bed and she has been so happy for bedtime to roll around! Ok, for the rest of the day: For lunch, the birthday girl chose to have her leftover doughnut. Did I object? No, I did not. Then it was time for a nap. We got her a small cake and when she woke up she got to blow out candles and eat a piece. All she really did was eat the frosting flowers off the top, but she loved it. We then discovered it was snowing outside! She asked to go outside and play. Did I say no? No, I did not. She found out that the snow was edible and was completely delighted by this fact. It didn't take long before she decided to come back in and sit by the fire. We watched Aladdin and Snow White, she took a bath and then she was off to bed. A delightful birthday, if I do say so myself.

Every year this day rolls around, I get a little misty-eyed and sentimental. This year was no exception. Especially since it is the last one before our new little one comes into this world. Today I cherished my little family of three. I held Avery as much as she would let me (which has been a lot lately because of her not feeling great). I let her do pretty much as she pleased and relaxed some of the rules. For even though she is 3 today, which is older than she's ever been (obviously), next year she'll be 4. And before I know it, she'll be 14. So when she wanted to dig her fork into the big slab of cake today, I said, "Go for it".

A little cake never hurt anyone.

Peace.
Sarah

Come Together

2010-11-02T20:03:00.002-05:00

Hi folks. Sorry I've been MIA for awhile. Growing a life and taking care of one that hasn't been in existence for long takes up a good chunk of my time. On the baby front, things are looking great. I, reportedly, have a person the size of a peach residing in me. A little creepy, but magnificent all the same. I am 12 weeks along and feeling like a new girl. Gone is the nausea and the extreme fatigue comes usually only at night. I've been back at the gym regularly for the past three weeks doing cardio and lifting weights. Feeling like a new girl. So, those are just the updates. Now on to the heart of the post. And I'm just going to throw out a warning: Some of this post might be controversial. But that's the opposite of the point I'm trying to make. And it may come out as sort of a rant. It is what it is, people. It's my blog and I can say what I want. I don't even curr. (Ok, that was a little sassy. My apologies.) Ok, here goes.

Why is it that people feel they can say anything they want to a pregnant person? It's like all the manners their good mothers taught them fly out the window. I never really knew this was a problem until I got pregnant with Avery. Until then, I had never really thought about the things I said to a pregnant woman. Hopefully, I never said anything awful, but I really don't remember. It's like all the filters dissolve. Strangers bug me the most. I'm sorry but I really don't want to hear about how awful your labor was 18 years ago. I'm just trying to ride the elevator. And I really don't want to hear about how you think I'm crazy because I don't know if I'm having a boy or a girl. It's human and it's healthy. That's all I really want. And don't judge me because I have c-sections. I know there's a huge push to have all natural everything when it comes to childbirth. And that's great. I'm all for it. Really. But I have my babies by c-section. And there's nothing wrong with that. I thank the good Lord for modern technology. To put it in perspective: 2 or 3 centuries ago, both Avery and I would have died during childbirth. Both of us. Dead. There's no way, even today, that I could have had her naturally. Period. A horrific thought, to be sure. Please hear my heart, dear friends. This post is not meant to draw a line in the proverbial sand. More than anything, I would love for all the mothers out there to band together and build each other up with encouragement. Your choices may not be what I would choose but that's why they're your choices. I'm done with the judging. Done with the Mommy Mafia. Let's come together. Right now.

Peace.
Sarah

And baby makes...4

2010-10-07T21:11:00.002-05:00

I'm having a baby. Again. Obviously, Rusty and I are ecstatic. Avery has no idea. I am almost 9 weeks and I'm due in May. A May baby. Just perfect. When I was pregnant with Avery, I nicknamed her Bob Barker. That's just funny, people. You might be wondering why I didn't just call her Avery. Well, friend, we didn't know we were having a girl. We chose not to find out. And it was perfect. By the end of the pregnancy everyone was predicting. Everyone. The carhop at Sonic. The checker at Crest. Everyone. Our families thought they might go crazy. Although, they took it a lot better than most people. Especially strangers. I got the craziest looks. Some people acted downright pissed. Really, people? Seriously? People have no filter when it comes to pregnant women. Awesome. Anyway, we can't wait to find out what this little bean is! We will find out sometime between May 9th and May 14th. When I deliver. Yep, we're doing it the same this time around. It's a choice that fits us. It's not for everyone. But while on the operating table, holding Rusty's hand, he and I will find out. The little person that is part him, part me and totally unique will come into this world. And for us (and our family and friends), it will be like Christmas. In May. It fits us.

I have nicknamed this baby LB. Not for anything specific. Little bean, little bambino, little bug, little bee, little baby, little biscuit. Mmmmm....biscuits.

Peace!
Sarah

Farewell 27

2010-10-07T20:45:00.002-05:00

On Sunday, I turned 28. I should start by saying that I love my birthday. Love, love, love. It's my special day. The one day that I don't really have to share with anyone. I could say, on the other hand, what people usually say about their birthdays. The "I don't want to get older" or "I'm that much closer to _". But I'm not going to say those things. Don't get me wrong, I thought those things but I'm truly grateful to be 28. It's a good number. I'm thankful to have been on this planet for another year. Prompted by Candace, I started to think about this past year.

Highlights:
Training for and finishing my very first half-marathon
Very recently, finding out that we're having another baby
Being present for my best friend's baby's birth

Not-so-highlights:
My best friend moving states away

Goals and hopes for the next year:
Successfully grow another life
Love on my husband to the best of my ability
Love on and be patient with my little wild woman with all that I have
Take every opportunity that is presented to me to spend with my family and make memories
Continue to grow into the person that God designed me to be
Leave behind regrets and mistakes
Nurture friendships new and old

28 is definitely older than 27.
But 28 is younger than 29.
Right now is the youngest I'll ever be.
I think I'll go ninja kick someone. Just for fun. :)

Peace!
Sarah

Randomness

2010-09-09T20:23:00.003-05:00

Things that are floating around my brain:

1. Avery went to Mother's day out today. The first day of the 2010-11 school year was today. Praise the Lord. A welcomed break for both of us. She didn't cry at all when she walked in. She didn't take a nap either. But no worries, friends, she took a two hour snooze when we came home. I think she had a great time. I know I did.

2. The weather here has been rainy, cool and magnificent.

3. I miss my best friend more than ever these days.

4. I started a bible study this week. Pretty excited about that.

5. I just finished the book The Hunger Games. It was fantastic. It was loaned to me (by my brother) on Monday and I finished it tonight. That's pretty fast reading for someone who has a toddler. It was really, really good.

6. I'm listening to Pandora on my phone while I blog and the song Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve just came on. I'm in heaven. Music has magical powers to me. Suddenly, I'm a freshman in high school. An angst-ridden teenager. I think I was emo before emo was cool. Back when it was just called moody. And it wasn't attractive.

7. I got my hair cut this week. About 8 inches or so. It was time. I got a great cut but it's still weird to have a very small ponytail. It's exactly what I needed.

8. I'm in love with Michael J. Fox.

9. My running has been sporadic. Eh. I'll get back to it.

10. Somehow, today I managed to eat ALL processed and refined carbs. Every. Single. Thing. I don't do it very often but today was the day. Awesome.

I'm in a carb-induced fog. Sleep beckons.

Peace.
Sarah

Reasons

2010-08-28T13:44:00.002-05:00

During my run on Saturday morning, I started thinking about the reasons that I run. The reasons that I pound the pavement at a decidedly unholy hour every Saturday. I came up with more than I had expected. Here they are.

I run because...

1. I thought I would never be able to do it. Ok, I know this one is painfully obvious to anyone who knows me. That's practically my mantra. I literally thought it would be impossible. And if I did manage to do it, it certainly wouldn't be fun. I envied runners. I envied their fitness, the ease at which they seemed to complete long runs. I envied their gear, the shoes, the watches, the cool arm warmer things. There was always a nagging little voice in the back of my mind that said, "Who says you can't? The last time I checked, you were in charge of your body. If you want to run, then run. How hard can it really be?" Ok, so that last statement is one of Famous Last Words caliber (a game that my brothers and I made up consisting of, obviously, famous last words). So, I laced up and went around the block to see what I was made of. And the rest is, as they say, history. Since that first run I've run countless miles and hours. I've run with Avery in a jogging stroller, with my best friend, alone, with two different running groups and several good friends of mine. I've run in the rain, snow, blistering heat and beautiful days. I've run on the campus of Texas A&M and around my town, deserted country roads and busy city streets. Since that first run, I've raced in 4 5K's and a half marathon. I can honestly say with all my heart that if I can do it, ANYONE can do it.

2. I think runners are badass. I admire runners and I think they are some of the hardest working athletes out there. And since I'm a runner, I am, by default, a badass. Runners are right up there in badass-ness next to ninjas and nurses. The state says I'm a nurse and I fully believe that I'm part ninja. Know what that makes me, people? A triple threat. I'm just saying.

3. For this little creature:

4. I like to eat. The more miles I run, the more food I can eat. The more food I'm required to eat. I like that logic. That's an idea I can get behind. When I was running the high mileage I couldn't get enough to eat. I didn't complain. I found more to eat.

5. To keep my girlish figure. I know that doesn't sound quite right after the aforementioned reason. That's running, my friends. As long as I run enough, I eat a lot and I lose weight. It's like an alternate universe. A universe that I love to be a part of. One of my favorite running quotes is, "If the furnace is hot enough, it'll burn anything." I'm considering getting that tattooed on me. Kidding. Sort of.

6. There's no skill involved. Serious runners get super technical about stride length, foot strike, overpronation and such. But the basic movement is pretty simple. Put on foot in front of the other and repeat very quickly. A toddler can do it.

7. I like being part of a specific group of people. I enjoy talking to other runners and hearing their stories. We speak the same language.

8. I enjoy researching it. Here's a shout out to my friend, Luci Smith. I have to admit that I really enjoy reading articles and magazines about running. I can't get enough. I like reading about the latest research on runners, the best pre and postrun fuel, how to get faster, the latest gear and stories about other runners. I get on runnersworld.com about 5 times a day. No exaggeration.

9. I did it all for the nookie. Oh....wait....that's not right. Disregard this point.

10. I love it. I love to run. I love the challenge. I love improving. I love the feeling after a run. I love that I've made it mine.

Booyah.

Peace!

Sarah

My Friday Afternoon

2010-08-17T13:28:00.002-05:00

I don't know if you have the experience the I dub "Friday Afternoon". It's when elements collectively come together to create the perfect sensory experience. Let me explain. When I was in school, high school especially, Friday afternoon would roll around and the bell would ring signaling the beginning of the weekend. There is still no sweeter sound than this (except maybe my child's first cry. But ONLY the first time I heard it. Not so sweet at 2 am. I digress...). So, the bell would ring and I would exit the building that I'd been cooped up in for 5 full days. Freedom! What really makes the Friday Afternoon experience, though, was and still is the weather. Sunshine with a cool breeze marking the coming of fall or spring. Add in a Dr. Pepper, the windows rolled down and the perfect song and there you have it. Friday Afternoon. Where nothing can go wrong. Everything is right in the world. No worries. Sometimes music can simulate this whole experience for me. Those of you who know me, know this to be true. One great song and my mood totally changes. Ingrid Michaelson's song "Everybody" is my Friday Afternoon. I hear that song and things are better. Done.

What's your Friday Afternoon?

Peace!
Sarah

An Anniversary...Of Sorts

2010-08-16T14:04:00.003-05:00

Dear Running,

Hello, darling. As I'm sure you're aware, as of last Saturday night you and I have been official for a year. It was the Midnight Streak of 2009 that we got serious about each other. For the 6 months leading up to that point we were trying things out. Getting to know each other. A test run, if you will (Ha! I crack myself up!). After that late night run, I decided to get serious about you and I fell in love. The past year of running and racing has been interesting. It's definitely had its ups and downs. Amazing runs and some not-so-amazing runs. But I still keep coming back to you. Even after the terrible runs, I still hear a faint whisper in my ear that says, "Next time won't be so bad. You know you love me." Of course, I could be hallucinating too. That's been known to happen. All in all, an amazing year. Many more high points and great runs than bad. Many more accomplishments than disappointments. At first, you and I were quite the odd couple. They said we wouldn't last. (Actually, I don't know who "they" are. Maybe I'm referring to myself in the third person....and plural.) But we proved them...ahem...me wrong! We're in it for the long haul, love.
Our anniversary (the Midnight Streak) was great! The t-shirts are way cooler than last year's. Bonus. I had a great run and ran my fastest 5k yet. Rusty was also there. I think he has a crush on you. He thinks you're cute. But that's another post for another time. My training for the Route 66 Half Marathon begins this week. Be aware that, in the coming months, I will most likely fall out of love with you for a bit. Don't worry. I'll be back.
You complete me.
Hearts and Stars,
Sarah

A Story About Cats and Flip Flops

2010-06-27T23:17:00.002-05:00

"Hi, my name is Sarah. I'm a new nurse but if you have any questions or need any help, just let me know." Six years ago, I spoke these words to a new nurse assistant on her first day of work on 7 West at Baptist Medical Center. She had dark hair, gentle eyes and an unassuming smile. Little did I know she would become my best friend.

Later on in the break room over lunch, I learned that her name was Candace and she was in nursing school. An experience I could definitely relate to. I also remembered vividly my first day of work at the hospital. Unnerving, to be sure. Over the next few weeks we worked together a lot. She and I started to get to know each other. I quickly realized that she had one of the sweetest spirits I had ever encountered. She was different than anyone that I had ever met. The more I hung out with her, the more I wanted to. Her countenance was so attractive (not in a creepy way) to me. Looking back, it was the sweet spirit of Christ that was so attractive. She was humble and funny and caring. And she still is.

The funny thing is that we look very similar. Spooky similar. When our patients started to get us mixed up, things got interesting. We still have people who ask us if we're twins. We just smile and say we're not. People can't believe that we're not even related. This has happened more than I can even remember.

When a spot opened up unexpectedly in my wedding to Rusty, I didn't hesitate in asking her to be a bridesmaid. There was no question about it.

When her husband, Jason, got deployed one summer, we cried, had lots of Sonic drinks, watched Frasier episodes and I helped with one epic garage sale. We rode bikes and Razor scooters at her mom's house. We ate Taco Bell at midnight on the campus of Southern Nazarene University. That fall, Rusty and I got married. And on that night of November 19th, also her husband's birthday who was still deployed, she joyfully witnessed the exchange of our vows. Later at the reception, we did the electric slide. That's right people, the electric slide. And it was beautiful.

It's hard to believe it's been that long since the start of our friendship.

We went through a (beyond) terrible code with a patient on 7 West. We cried with each other when things didn't go well. That's not an experience that a person forgets easily. It was the first one (i think) that she'd ever been through. As I looked at her in the corner, her eyes filled with tears, I remember thinking that I wish I could save her from that experience. I don't think I've ever told her that, actually. I remember thinking that I wish I could protect her from it. Sadly, it's something that practically every nurse goes through.

Another time at the hospital, we were on a break and we saw a very elderly woman start to drive the wrong way down a one way ramp. I, of course, was just going to let her do it. (Hey people, it wasn't THAT busy of a one way.) Candace, being the mercy angel she is, sprinted toward the Mustang (yep, grandma was driving a Mustang) and got the poor woman out of a jam. I watched. We laughed for days about that. In fact, we still laugh about it.

When I decided to take a job working for a surgeon, she was nothing but encouraging. But that's just who she is. If a spirit was something to be seen, her's would be made up of encouragement, bright colors, strawberry Dr. Pepper, eyelash curlers, Moe's, all sorts of accessories, Jesus, hospitality, hope and laughter, quick wit, flax seed, fall decorations, John Mayer music, love and courage.

She's the first one I called after the pregnancy test turned positive. She caught the sweetest moment of my life (so far) on tape. She was filming when Rusty came out of the operating room with our brand new baby and announced that we'd had a girl. We'll have that moment forever.

She's the first person I saw (besides Rusty) after receiving the news of my dad's sudden death. She went with me to shop for a dress for the funeral. I was barely functioning at that point.

I was right outside the room when her first daughter, Haven, was born. I cried.

I was in the room when her second daughter, Aubrey, made her entrance into this world. I cried again.

We've run races together and now have a signature post-race pose.

She was at mile 10 of the half marathon I ran in April. She had water and encouragement.

She helped peel crazy stuck-on wallpaper off in our house and reassured me that the carpet looked great.

She's moving in a week. To Florida. Up to this point, I've sort of tried to not think about it. But now, it's sort of about to happen. So rather than think too hard about it, I'm blogging about it.

We've laughed together, cried together and carried on ridiculous conversations with straight faces about mini skirts and prom dresses. After Rusty, she's my sounding board, my second opinion, my encourager, and the other part of my brain. She's my best friend.

I'm not sure there's any way I could ever begin to tell her what she's meant to me. She's helped me become the person I am today. And for that, I'm eternally grateful. She's part of my family now and I love her.

peace.

Sarah

But WAIT, there's more!!!

2010-04-30T21:19:00.002-05:00

So, the race went well. My original goal was to finish. I thought it would be a miracle if I could even finish. Goal #1 achieved! During the race at some point, the goal became finish and live. I think that was around mile 8. Goal #2 achieved! I'm alive!

Highlights of the race:

-The start
-The guy in front of me that stopped to have a cold beer around mile 5 (approx. 7:15am)
-Miley on my ipod
-A cardboard cutout of John Wayne holding an American flag
-My best friend in the whole world waiting for me at mile 10 with water and encouraging words
-My chocolate goo consumed at mile 10. delish.
-My family cheering for me at mile 10
-One of my funniest friends waiting for me a half mile before the finish. Ready and waiting to dole out a butt slap (which i had requested) and a "YOU GOT THIS!"
-The finish
-The nap later
That pretty much sums it up. I learned a very important and painful lesson about socks. Overall, a good day. Since then, I've been taking it easy at the gym but I'll probably start running again next week. I'm planning on doing another half in the fall. We'll see.

But the race was not meant to be the main point of this post. No siree! This post is about commercials and infomercials. I have a real problem with them. Well, maybe just with some of the products that they're trying to get us to buy. Here's an example: I'm sure everyone's heard of the ShamWOW. On a commercial for this super-crazy absorbent towel, a woman comes on the screen clutching said towel. She proceeds to say that she couldn't live without her shamWOW. Wait, wait, wait. Let me get this straight. You're telling me that you would cease to exist without your absorbent towel? Maybe you just wouldn't want to live in a world that didn't have a shamWOW. I'm probably over dramatizing this just a bit, but seriously. If you want me to buy your incredible product, don't put idiots on your commercials. I'm just saying.
Here are some other products that I'm over:

- Recently, I saw a commercial for toilet bowl cleaner. But this isn't just any toilet bowl cleaner. The commercial pointed out the fact that regular, janky toilet bowl cleaners don't get to the pipe that goes into the ground. And there could be terrible germs living there. And NO ONE wants terrible, disgusting germs around their family, do they? Ok, well first of all, all i care about in regards to my toilet is that 1.) when I flush it, it works and 2.) that it doesn't look disgusting. But my big, big issue with this commercial is who the hell is reaching their flippin arm all the way down to the pipe that goes into the ground where said terrible germs are???!! And then when they withdraw their hand from the disgusting breeding ground for terrible germs, through the hole and up out of the water, are they licking their hand?!! I don't care what lives in the bowels of my toilet bowl or any pipes connected to it. I just want it to be clean and work. Is that too much to ask for? I don't think so.

-My next beef is with the new touch less soap dispenser. The claim is that the pump of a soap dispenser is a breeding ground for germs. And no one wants to touch that! I don't know about everyone else, but when I wash my hands I touch the soap dispenser once. And then proceed to wash my hands with the dispensed soap thereby removing all harmful germs. If you're really worried about your soap dispenser being germy, wash it. That's all i have to say about that.

-Kleenex has just come out with disposable hand towels. The claim is that your hands are only as clean as the towel used to dry them with. Alright people. If you keep up with your laundry, you wont have a germ-filled hand towel. Just think how bad these disposable hand towel are!! Soon they'll be hangin out in landfills across the nation. ridiculous. Al Gore probably has a mini-stroke every time he sees the commercial.

-Two more that I won't even comment on: the Snuggie and the Shake Weight.

The funniest part of commercials and infomercials is always the end. You know what's coming, right? " BUT WAIT!! THERE'S MORE!!". You might think to yourself, " I don't know how this deal could get any sweeter!" And then they bust out some ridiculous product that has nothing to do with the original product. " Call right now for your diabetic cookbook and we'll not only double your order but we'll also throw in a super sonic cat whistle. Guaranteed to bend any cat to your will!"

Shenanigans. I mean really.

Peace!
Still alive Sarah

Shamu and other tomfoolery

2010-04-23T20:14:00.003-05:00

First of all, I want to apologize in advance for the potentially scattered post that lies ahead. I am drinking a diet coke right now, getting nervous about the race and I haven't run all week. Needless to say, I'm a ball of energy.

The race is day after tomorrow. Sunday. The event I've been training 4 months for is in less than 36 hours. The first time I ever mentioned wanting to run a half marathon, I was joking. Just popping off to my best friend, Candace. I thought it was the funniest thing ever. I mean really. Me run 13.1 miles? Sure. The more I tried to convince her that we could actually do it, the more I convinced myself that we could do it. I'm pretty convincing. Just ask....well....me. Candace, on the other hand, took drastic measures to ensure that she would not get caught up in this hair-brained scheme of mine. What did she do, you ask? Well, she decided to "accidentally" get pregnant. I told you, drastic. She decided to go and have another beautiful, angel baby. The nerve. If she didn't want to run it, she could've just told me. I would've understood. Well....I probably would've throw a fit and guilted her into it. Or tried at least. Anyway, she will be somewhere along the course waiting to give much needed encouragement.

Last night, I made some music purchases so I can create my race day playlist. A little of this, a little of that. Dr. Dre, Eminem, Train's new song (which I adore), Pussycat Dolls. And Miley Cyrus. Am I ashamed of this? No, I am not. 'Cause let's face it, folks, it is a party in the U.S.A. I'm just saying. Not exactly sure what else will be on there. Most definitely Jay-Z and Alicia Keys singing Empire State of Mind. That song has a physical effect on me. Literally. I can be running like the saddest sack-o-crap you've ever seen and that song comes on my ipod and I'm the best and strongest runner alive. Crazy town. Nothing short of musical glory will be entertaining my brain on Sunday morning.

I started panicking about actually running the half marathon for the first time today. My heart started pounding and I started thinking things like, "Oh crap. what have I gotten myself into. I'm not going to be able to do this! What was I thinking? I can't run 13 miles! Bloody hell!!" The truth is that i can totally run 13 miles. I have trained and prepared like a crazy person. You know those stories of people who are really obese and then they lose a ton of weight but are still afraid to put on a bathing suit? That's what I feel like. I know I can go the distance but my former self still sneaks in and tells me I can't. I'm Shamu turned hottie. I just need to remember all the training I've done. The training runs done at the crack of dawn on Saturdays, the mind numbing runs done on the dreadmill, the excruciating first 5 mile run I did, the 11 miler I did on the anniversary of my dad's death, the 8 miler at Mitch park in the rain. Did I come this far and put in all the blood, sweat and tears to back down? Negative. Am I fully prepared and capable? Oh hells yeah.

Hells. Yeah.

I'll end with my favorite training quote ever. Ponder. Enjoy.
" I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match" Mia Hamm

In less than 36 hours, my friends, I will light the match.

Peace!
Sarah

Random thoughts that couldn't be fleshed out into actual posts

2010-04-14T20:39:00.002-05:00

1. I have officially hit the taper period of my training. Thank the good Lord in heaven. I ran 12 miles last Sunday and it was brutal. Did I ever think I could run anything close to 12 miles? No, I did not. 12 miles. Done.

2. I got new running shoes! Now, I run like the wind! Well, not exactly but that's beside the point. If you're a running person in the OKC area, visit Red Coyote. It's the running store that makes dreams come true.

3. I am officially getting my nose pierced (again) the week after the race. Booyah.

4. If you can't tell, running and training have consumed my life. I was once a thoughtful, deep, well rested person. Now, I'm a hollow shell of my former self. A machine, if you will. One that thinks mainly about this week's training, the aches and pains that come along with higher mileage, the fuel (aka food) that I consume, and the blisters on my feet and other random places. Ok, I realize that I'm being rather dramatic. Bear with me, I'm tired.

5. I have been enjoying my little wild woman more than ever! She is so funny. She's getting to the age where her personality is really starting to come out. And let me just tell you she is dramatic! I have no idea where she gets that from.... But besides that, she's funny and thoughtful and caring. A bundle of sass and energy in one little body. I love, love, love that little girl.

6. NOTICE: If you have bad gas (or any gas at all for that matter), DO NOT get on the treadmill next to me. I sincerely do not appreciate it. And yes, people can smell it. Running is an activity that involves heavy breathing. There's no way around it. So if you let one rip, I have no choice but to breath it in. And in my world, that's assault. Assault on my nose. So, do us all a favor and take some Beano before the gym or stay home. That's all I have to say about that.

7. My brother (Matt) graduates from Texas A&M with his Master's degree next month! I am so proud of him. Can't wait to make the road trip to Aggieland! Whoop!!

8. I have very recently gotten hooked (no pun intended) on Deadliest Catch on Discovery. I can't get enough. It really had never appealed to me. The the intro song, though, is Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi. Once I heard that, I was done. In love. I now have my favorite ship and my favorite captain as does Rusty. Captain Andy from Time Bandit? Yes and please!

9. I'm bringing sexy back. That's right, people, I said it.

10. My favorite quote of the week: "In a perfect world, I would have all ten fingers on one hand so the other one could be used for punching." Dwight Schrute

Peace!

Sarah

The beatings will continue until morale improves

2010-03-25T15:48:00.002-05:00

Here are a few things I couldn't actually write a whole post about:

1. I was introduced to this concept the other day: Just because you're friends with someone right now doesn't necessarily mean you'll be BFF4Lyfe. This fact shocked me. It's true though. I've had many friends over the years that now I rarely speak to. Did I mean for this to happen, not at all. I don't think anyone becomes friends with someone only to say to themselves, "Welp, this won't last long." Unless of course the person you've become friends with is incredibly annoying, but then why would you even want a friend like that......Ah, I digress.

2. I love to say Fo Shiz. An example being: Candace: Sarah, are you going to the store today?

Me: You betta believe it. Fo Shiz!

I tried teaching this to my 2 year old daughter. Then I reconsidered.

3. The big race is a month away. The training continues. And I've lost 16 pounds.

4. I've lost 16 pounds. I thought that beared repeating.

5. I've recently discovered that I actually like oranges. I wouldn't say I love them yet, but our relationship is progressing at a rapid pace.

6. This weekend (sunday to be exact) marks the first anniversary of my dad's death. I find my feelings getting hurt a little that not many of my friends remember this. TOTALLY IRRATIONAL. The closer it comes, the more emotional I get.

7. I haven't been to Saturn Grill in about 3 months. This is definitely contributing to my melancholy.

8. I've lost a legit 16 pounds. Just making sure you're paying attention.

9. As it turns out, MC Hammer is a wise man. One lesson I've learned from him: Either work hard, or you might as well quit. Pretty sure my new mantra is: Too legit, too legit to quit. I'm just saying....

10. I love the word shenanigans.

11. "I am faster than 80% of all snakes" Dwight Schrute

Peace!

Sarah

Diverse City

2010-03-01T19:26:00.003-06:00

Lately I've had a dilemma. Actually, it's more like a nagging question. Is there a place for me in the Christian faith? Maybe, more so among the people of Christian faith. Let me explain. The older I get, the more myself I become. I'm finding that I'm alot more funky than I once thought. I have no desire to be too much like everyone else and my tastes are quite diverse. I love rap. I know this may come as a surprise to most of you, but it's the truth. I love rap and it's not just a phase. Deep down, I've loved rap since high school. But I love music of all kinds. Really, to say I love music is maybe the understatement of the year. Nay, the century. All music makes me happy but rap makes me giddy. Truly giddy. I also have an affinity for piercings and tattoos. (Sorry, Mom, if you're reading this.) My nose piercing will most definitely be making another appearance, hopefully, soon. I love Metallica. They were probably my first musical love. I love taking pictures and if given the choice, I would most definitely become a photographer. Black and white pictures make my eyes happy. I love to dance. Frequently, a dance party breaks out at our house. The party usually consists of me and maybe Avery. Anyone is welcome to join us. It's an open invitation. I used to call it 'interpretive dancing' but that sounds like maybe I should have ribbons or something (which I don't). I now refer to it as 'creative movement'. It's an outlet for me. Sometimes, I just have to dance. I occasionally drop the f bomb. (Sorry again, Mom.) My language is quite colorful at times. I love snarky one liners, also know as contemporary snide remarks by my friend Brian. My personality is very much 'all or nothing'. So much so that it occasionally becomes a fault of mine. The things and people I love, I love with a passion. A fierce passion. I love people who are genuine. All I'm really looking for are people on this Earth who are real and have real struggles and joys. Oh, and I love me some Jesus. Love me some Jesus. So this brings me to my original point. My debacle. Can the aforementioned things and my love for Jesus and my faith coexist? Can I love the Lord and Luda at the same time? Can I adore Jesus and still be a fan of JayZ? Can I worship the King of Kings and still rock out to The Killers? I could go on for awhile, people, but I'll stop there. As it turns out, I got an answer to this question of mine. Last Friday night, I attended a women's conference at which my pastor's wife was speaking. The sanctuary was packed. You could literally smell the estrogen. (The smell was more likely a powerful mix of all the perfumes in the room.) Women of all shapes and sizes, colors and ages. During the worship part, I looked around the room and asked myself, " I wonder if any of the girls ever have a dance party in their living room?" Then came the inevitable question that's been bothering me for, literally, weeks. Is there a place here for me and everything that I consist of? The answer came floating into my brain: A scripture that had struck me a few weeks ago. I had been reading Acts and in Chapter 2 I was intrigued by what verse 44 said. "All the believers were together and they had everything in common." For some reason this stood out to me. So much so that I wrote about it in my journal. In this chapter the first organized church was coming together. These people were the very first Christians. The verse says they had everything in common. Everything. Period. I wondered how exactly 3,000 people could have everything in common. Well, they had Jesus in common. Which translates into 'everything'. Amazing. So, to bring this epic tale full circle, the answer to my question is: Yep, I most certainly have a place in the Christian faith and with the people. I am not a cookie cutter Christian but with other believers, I have everything in common. And, really, that's all that matters.

But I still love me some Luda.

Peace!
Sarah

Run of Suck

2010-02-28T19:30:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, I ran 5 miles. Well, sort of.

My alarm went off at 6 am. Since I never use an alarm, I was confused and a little angry. Not a good start. I never really dread doing a long run. I'm usually a little nervous, especially if I've never done that distance before. Yesterday, I dreaded running. I don't know why. I tried to wake up and get into a little better mood. By some miracle, I found a rerun of Rob & Big. Things were looking up. I tried to tell myself that the run wasn't going to be bad. After all, it was just 5 miles. Famous last words. I blasted The Killers on the way over to my running partner's house. I was in no better shape when I got there. My running buddies could tell things weren't good for me. But the run started out good. We chatted for the first mile. At that point, they pulled away from me, which is totally normal. About the mile and a half point, I had a situation. That's right, people, a situation. A mucous/dry-heaving-on-the-side-of-the-road situation. I'll spare you the dirty details, but I was forced to stop and dry heave in the grass. Luckily, I didn't lose my cheerios. But this didn't stop me. We turned into a neighborhood that had hills from hell. Seriously, sent from Lucifer with love. The more I ran, the more frustrated and angry I got. Last weekend I ran 8 miles. 8. Flippin. Miles. We got lost in the neighborhood but eventually asked directions from an elderly man in a robe. He was walking down his driveway to get the paper. Following his directions, we found our way out and had just half a mile to go. It was then that I found my stride. Things felt good and great music played. The air was crisp and the early morning sun was glorious. Not sure if it was the fact that we only had half a mile to go or if things really improved. Either way, I was glad the run ended on a good note. Next Saturday, we'll run Lake Hefner which is 9.6. I refuse to let yesterday's unfortunate run discourage me. As the saying goes, anything worth having doesn't come easy. So, I'll keep running and know that days like yesterday come and go. I've had them before and I'll have more of them. But they won't stop me. Booyah.

Peace!
Sarah

Dear Half Marathon,

2010-02-15T20:11:00.002-06:00

This is just a friendly reminder that you and I will be officially meeting in just about 10 weeks. I'm actually getting pretty stoked. I met your friend, 7 miles, this weekend. We spent about an hour together. Unfortunately for her, she is just another conquest of mine on my way to you. A notch in the belt, if you will. I will say that 3 miles and 4 miles are getting to be good friends of mine. I really don't mind their company anymore. They were once formidable adversaries but are now welcomed. The great part is that the more I hang out with your friends (3, 4, 5 miles, etc), the better I look. I've never had friends that actually improve my appearance! By the time I get to you, it might be out of control. Crazy hot. I'm just saying....Anyway, back to the issue at hand. Yes, half marathon, you and I have a date with destiny. And that date, specifically, is April 26th. So get ready. Cause I'm comin after ya.

Sincerely,
a chick not to be messed with (AKA Sarah)

Come one, come all! Oh wait. No. That's the opposite of the point I am trying to make.

2010-02-08T19:28:00.003-06:00

Preface: This post is going have more of a negative slant. So, if you don' t want negative, turn around and go back where you came from.

My very favorite place to eat is called Saturn Grill. When I worked for a certain surgeon (who will remain nameless), we had a patient who raved about this place. This patient was sort of artsy and independent. The surgeon-who-must-not-be-named had been to this place and concurred that it, indeed, was fabulous. I finally mustered up the courage to try this little haunt that seemed to have an underground cult following. Now let me tell you that this place is small. I mean really small. You could literally look past it if you weren't paying attention. Incredibly ordinary on the outside. Ordinary and unassuming. The food, dear friends, is a different matter entirely. The food is what dreams are made of. They serve their sandwiches on a flatbread that is most certainly sent from Heaven. There are particular events, people and experiences in a person's life that make them say to themselves, "My life is never going to be the same. How could I have lived without this for so long?" That's exactly what Saturn Grill is to me. Now, I fully realize that I'm being super dramatic. I'm aware, don't worry. Not only is the food fantastic, the atmosphere and people complete the experience. Saturn Grill attracts a very eclectic genre. Very artsy and left of center, if you will. Girls with black rimmed glasses and nose piercings. Guys in skinny jeans, scarves and Tom's. Funky, to be sure. Just my type. To be fair, there are doctors and Nichols Hills folk sprinkled in. The thing about Saturn Grill is that you have to know it's there. It's not the kind of place people just stumble into because they happened upon it. The people who frequent are the people who plan to dine there.

A few months ago, I heard a rumor that was most surely to good to be true. I accidentally overheard a girl in Saturn Grill telling her friend that another Saturn Grill was set to open soon. WHAT?!!! She proceeded to tell her friend that the new one would be by Mercy Hospital, which coincidentally is about 10 minutes from my house. Needless to say, the rumor was not too good to be true and a new Saturn Grill opened. I was so anxious, in fact, that Rusty and I went there before it was officially open. Disappointment followed. A couple of weeks later, after a phone call that confirmed that they were in fact open for business, I set out with great anticipation! Saturn Grill is my very favorite restaurant and the only thing that could be better would be another Saturn Grill. Right? Wrong-O. I arrived and was instantly dazzled by the interior. It's beautiful. Simple but funky. I ordered my usual and talked to the girl taking my order (coincidentally, she's sometimes in the spin class I do at the gym). I loved the layout. Much more space. More seating. I sat down and read a book on my kindle. My food came and was, of course, delish. I sat there eating and looking around. I wondered what was missing. Great music? Check. Cool atmosphere? Check. Amazing food? Double check. Then it hit me like a slap in the face. THE PEOPLE!!! Upon further inspection, the people were ordinary. Now, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with ordinary. But when I go to dine at Saturn, the people are part of what makes the experience complete. The people there that day were so......ordinary. You know, like desk job people. Clerks and such. Paper pushers. The kind of people who probably went to Panera Bread (two doors down) before this place opened. People content to eat. The people there that day were just satisfying their appetites. Eating because it's lunchtime and they had a 30 minute break. Maybe curious to see what this place had to offer. Most of them probably had no idea that this was actually the second one in existence. Everything else was just right. Except the people. The people had no funk. Where did the funk go??!! The answer to this question is quite simple. Location, location, location. The best advertising for the original was word of mouth. The new one is out in the open, really. Easily seen. The people I saw at the new one were depressing. Their lives are probably as sterile as an operating room across the road at Mercy. That being said, I will continue to dine in at the original but I will definitely use the second one for take out only.

I highly encourage everyone to eat at Saturn Grill. But before you go, do some healthy self-evaluation and choose your location appropriately.

Peace!
Sarah

Patience is a virtue. And not just for slow people.

2010-01-26T18:56:00.002-06:00

This past Saturday I went for a 6 mile run. Don't get me wrong, people. I didn't just wake up at an ungodly hour on Saturday morning and decide I'd go for a 6 mile run for funsies. I'm training for a half-marathon and unfortunately, that entails running a distance that I would normally drive. This was the long run of the week and it was along the Oklahoma River. Even though it was insanely early, there was no way I could flake out. Another girl was riding with me and my training partner would be waiting for us to arrive. And I had sort of told a friend of mine that I was definitely going to be there. Flaking out was not an option. The fact that the OKC running club, The Landrunners, were going to be running the same course at the same time was somewhat encouraging. It makes it a little easier when you're not the only 3 or 4 out there. The weather was crappy but actually could have been much, much worse. It was raining when we started but soon stopped. The wind was blowing 800 miles an hour. But did this stop us? Negative. There is something to be said for the collective energy that bubbles just under the surface when people with the same goals and interests get together. I learned alot from that run. The most monumental lesson I learned is that for good things to come, I have to be patient. If I'm as serious as I think I am about running, I need to be patient and just run. My problem is that I start out too fast and then by mile 2 or 3, I'm out of energy (and breath). My reserves have been tapped at that point and I have nothing left to give. Frustrating to be sure. As my spin instructor always says, I need to be patient and aggressive. So on the last half of my run, I settled into a pace that was my own. Not my training partner's pace or the pace of the girl with the really cool sleeve-arm-warmer things. For the first time in a long time, I was able to turn my mind off. It actually wandered. That NEVER happens when I run. I wish it would happen more. I guess I had just decided there was nothing I could do about my running situation. If I walked, I would really not get there any faster. So I just ran. I didn't worry about pace or anything really. I let myself listen to music that I would normally consider too slow for running. That really helped too. In the end, I really just needed to be alone to realize that this is my journey and I have to ultimately go it alone. My partner can't do it for me. Runner's world can't do it for me. My ipod and music can't do it for me. My Brooks running shoes and super fly running tights can't do it for me. All these things help me along, but it's my job to do work. I started thinking about the other things in my life that require me going it alone. The most obvious thing to me would be the grief and healing process I'm going through with regards to my dad. I can talk to friends and professionals but ultimately this journey is mine to navigate. Surprisingly, I'm ok with that. I can't change what happened or how it happened but the roller coaster is over now. I can start to heal. Finally. And there's something soothing in the solitude.
So the run ended fantastically. I was actually smiling when I crossed the 6 mile mark. I was ecstatic in my accomplishment. And the lessons I learned along the way were pretty stellar too.

Peace!
Sarah

I love you...

2010-01-17T22:48:00.002-06:00

Those three little words. So written, spoken, and sung. Overused, probably. Worn out, never. Those really close to me know that I like to say 'I love you'. As all of you probably know, I used to be an oncology nurse. Some of the most influential people I have ever met had cancer. When faced with the real possibility of death, people get really real, really fast. When each day is truly a gift, you have nothing to lose. You have no time for crap or pettiness, material things or insecurities. This is what I loved about those marvelous people who happened to have cancer. Each one taught me something different but they all had a common thread, they all told the people they loved how they felt. Why are we different? We go about our days as if we have an infinite number. Why are those three words so hard to say sometimes? The first time I told a friend that I loved them, I instantly felt a little embarrassed. Why? Did I not mean it? Nope, I totally meant it. The fact is, it's not completely comfortable to be exposed the way that phrase has a tendency to make one feel. However, should I leave this earth tomorrow, I want people to know how I feel about them. And this feeling overrides the uncomfortable-ness. I want there to be no question whatsoever Do I ever regret saying 'I love you'? Never. If I say it, I mean it. And I never, never regret it.

So, dear friends, I urge you to tell the people you love how you feel. Don't let this phrase be reserved for family, spouses and children. If you love someone, tell them. It will only be uncomfortable for a few seconds. But the feeling that comes after that, is totally worth it.

And now to my friends reading this, (you guessed it) I love you. All of you have played a role in my life's journey and you have helped make me the person I am.

Peace!
Sarah

The gym rant

2010-01-15T19:55:00.002-06:00

The following is a rant about the people I come across at the gym daily. If you're not in the mood to hear me gripe, stop reading now.

As many of you know, I workout at a gym. Everyday. I do a spin class twice a week and the other days are spent on the treadmill or elliptical. I love my spin class. Love, love, love. I literally get to the brink of death and come back. Well maybe not literally.... Anyway, when I spin (or do any kind of exercise, really) I work. I go to the gym to do work. Serious work. I don't go to the gym to socialize. Now that's not to say that I don't have friends there. I just don't like to talk and laugh when working out. The most annoying thing is when, in spin class, there are certain people who talk and laugh during the whole thing. I'm trying to concentrate and do work and two gals on bikes across the room are reminiscing like it's a class reunion. Really? Really. I have actually been known to yell to the teacher to turn up the music. I don't want to hear about the latest movies you've seen or what you had for dinner last night, who you saw at the mall or what your stupid kids are doing these days. My time is valuable and I want to actually concentrate on the task at hand. Sounds harsh, I know. But I warned you that this was going to be a rant. And I'm not done. No siree, not by a long shot. Now the spin class I do is cycle/sculpt. Which means that we get off the bike and do exercises in the gym with weights. And we run. Sometimes, we run alot. I am fully aware that it's difficult. I do not need to hear about how difficult it is. I'm a sensible person and I can accurately identify that I'm not having a great time. And I don't need a running commentary about how you don't like pushups or you don't like running. Or how you think the instructor is trying to kill us. Or how the class you did the day before wasn't this hard. JUST. SHUT. UP. If I look like I'm about to die, it's probably because I'm working and I don't want to talk. If sweat is pouring from my face, don't talk to me. If I don't make eye contact with you the five other times you said some pointless remark to me, stop talking to me. Pure and simple. My feelings will not be hurt. I promise.

While I don't like overly chatty people, I despise inconsiderate people. Today I decided to work out on the elliptical. While getting my stuff set up on the machine, I noticed that the person before me had just dropped the magazines they looked at on the floor. And didn't bother to pick them up and put them back in the rack when they were done. So, I picked them up and put them back because someone was going to have to do it eventually. When I was a little over halfway done with my workout I became aware of the girl on the elliptical next to me. She was looking at a magazine. At some point, she dropped it on the floor. You can probably guess what happened next. She got finished with her workout and left. And she left the magazine on the floor. When she was walking out I thought, "Hey girl. No problem. I'll get your magazine. After I workout 30 more minutes than you. No worries! I got it."

Needless to say, I think I need a day off.

Peace!
Sarah

Recap of 2009

2010-01-10T21:15:00.002-06:00

Where exactly did 2009 go? This is what I want to know. Anyway, this is what 2009 looked like for the Humphrey household:

January
I decided that I was going to become a runner. At the time, this decision seemed almost as preposterous as me becoming, say, a 6 foot runway model or a middle aged Italian man. Putting those thoughts in the back of my head, I just started running.

Our amazingly ethereal little girl, Avery, turned 1. The emotions on this day took me by total surprise. Actually, the night before. I got really nostalgic and cried. And cried. Pretty sure I did the ugly face cry. Rusty wasn't quite sure why or what he needed to do. So, like any respectable man, he let me cry alone. Exactly what I needed. I never really understood what changes having a baby would bring to our home. I don't think anyone ever really understands until they have a baby of their own. After she was born, I struggled heavily with postpartum depression. A nasty affliction, to be sure. Needless to say, that time in our lives was difficult. Really difficult. So the night before her first birthday, I thought about how far we had come. Part of the reason I cried. I could no longer measure her life in months. Another part of the reason I cried. I realized that this would be the first of many birthdays for her and I couldn't stop time. Every day that slips away, she gets older. Another part. Anyway, the day went off without a hitch. And even if there were problems, I don't remember them now. We were surrounded by family and friends helping us celebrate the day that Avery Hope came into this world. May I always remember that this is what birthdays are all about. A celebration of the life that changed our world forever.

February
I don't think anything fun happened in February. I was still running at this point. (notice i didn't list that under 'fun things') I was making progress. Slow, but progress, nonetheless.

March
Rusty turned 27. I successfully managed to convince him that he was really turning 28. Ha!
Avery started walking this month!
Still running at this point. More slow progress. I was actually running with Avery in the jogging stroller. I look back at those days and think, "Dude! I was so flippin hardcore!" Those were fun days, i really mean that. So much self confidence was gathered during those jogs with Avery. Exactly what I needed at that point in my running career. And then when I ran without her, I felt as fast as Michael Johnson. Without the gold shoes.
At the end of the month, my dad died unexpectedly and my world changed.

April
My dad was buried on April 1st, April Fools Day. Also my grandparents' wedding anniversary. Why he had to be buried on this day, I have no idea. After this, my running became almost nonexistant for a good 3-4 weeks. The one time that I needed to run the most and I couldn't even get myself to put on my running shoes.
My best friend, Candace, had her first baby. Haven Elizabeth was born on April 17th. Yay!! I'm an aunt!!

May
Struggled to get back into running but did so successfully. Whew! I had some really craptastic runs but managed to stick it out. It got better. Eventually.

June
My grandfather (who had been in really bad health for awhile) passed away. So, another roadtrip ensued. Back to the same funeral home, the same church, and the same cemetery. It was all so surreal. My running, once again, suffered. I didn't run for 3-4 more weeks. By this point in the year, I was just worn out. Worn slick, smooth out. Done.

July
My best friend, Candace, and I decided to run a 5K (3.2 miles). I really had not planned on running a 5k until Race For the Cure in October. Candace assured me that even though I hadn't run in a few weeks, I'd be fine. So, we started running again to prepare for the feat. I noticed that my right shin started to bother me. It actually had been bothering me before I took my little holiday from running in June. I really thought it was probably shin splints. I got new running shoes and tried to ignore it. I iced, stretched and ignored. The race was good. Fantastic actually for my first one ever. No shin pain at all. marvelous. When I passed the finish line (and the nausea was gone), I was stoked. I had come really far in 7 months! The next week, I decided it was time to see an orthopedist for my shin....

August
The orthopedist informed me I most likely had a stress fracture. Great. His prescription was no running or impact of any kind for 4 solid weeks. Earlier in my running career, this would have been heaven-sent news for me. You know, the kind of news that makes the clouds part and a heavenly chorus of angels sings. Instead, it was crushing. I immediately went into panic mode. Four weeks!! Crap!! I can't take another four weeks off!! The wheels were a-turnin. Then a brilliant idea hit me. The gym! I'll join a gym!! And I promptly joined a gym and crosstrained like a crazy person. Meanwhile, at home it's routine as usual. Now we just added in a trip to the gym everyday.

September
September, for me, is the month of patience. By this time, I'm ready for all things fall. My aforementioned best friend, Candace, puts up all her fall decorations on September 1. It could be blazing hot, like surface-of-the-sun hot, but she's out putting a fall garland around her front door. Ever since I've know her, she's done this. I love it. It secretly gives me hope that fall is indeed coming. She and I did our one and only track run this month. The wind was horrible. But it wasn't just super windy. It was hot wind. Like a hairdryer set to hot and blowing in your face. Yuck. I love situations that are terrible at the time, but not so bad later. These situations make for good memories.

October
This month I turned 27. I love October. Not just for my birthday (although that's pretty sweet). Everything turns fall-ish in October. Pumpkin spice latte comes back to Starbucks. People start putting out fall and Halloween decorations. For the record, let me just say that Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love everything about it. The spooky shows on tv, the candy, the colors, the decorations. Everything.
I ran my second 5k this month.

November
This month, Rusty and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary!
Thanksgiving was at our house for the very first time.
On Thanksgiving morning, I ran my third 5k.

December
This is the month that passes too quickly every year. I always think i have more time than I actually do. So frustrating.
We got snowed in at my mom's house with Matt and Rachel. Another good memory-making situation.

January (again)
This month we had Avery's second birthday party. And I again got sentimental, but didn't cry. Just two years ago, I had her. And now she calls me 'Sewah'. Yep. My child calls me by my first name. Well, her version of my first name.
Candace is having another baby girl! So excited to be an aunt again!
I'm preparing to run my first half marathon, which sounds ridiculous. But who knows, I might just wake up some day as a middle aged Italian man. Would this surprise me? No, it would not.

Peace!
Sarah

Randomness

2009-10-26T19:59:00.001-05:00

For some reason, I'm feeling very random tonight. So in the spirit of randomness, here are a few fun facts about me that you may or may not know.

I love to chew gum.
I loathe coconut.
I have broken my left arm. Twice. In the same place.
I enjoy taking pictures and I'm not too shabby at it (if I do say so myself).
I love Dr Pepper and my mood changes from bad to terrific at the prospect of drinking it.
I'm an Aggie.
Halloween is my favorite holiday.
I love to read. And by 'love' I mean LOVE.
I love the humor in The Office.
I love tattoos even though I have none personally.
Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong century.
I'm pretty sure I should have been born Cajun.
My favorite color is pink. Most of the time. Sometimes it's green.
I secretly wish that I was left-handed.
Sometimes I drink coffee because I think it's the adult thing to do.
I am incredibly passionate about certain things.
I can be very moody. Not to be confused with passionate.
In high school, the coolest person I knew was my brother, Matt. I secretly wanted to be like him. This feeling continued after high school.
My best friend and I have the same sense of humor. Sisters from another mister, I like to say. Alot of people don't understand our humor. I don't mind.
I dress Avery in things that I would wear. She wears alot of grey.
I love Frasier and I'm sad it's not on anymore except in reruns.
I love saying "Seriously? Seriously."
I habitually throw a peace sign to my friends as a greeting.

That's all I can think of!
Peace!
Sarah Random

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Running on the treadmill AKA The bane of my existence

2009-10-14T22:03:00.001-05:00

I despise running on the treadmill. I absolutely loathe it. I decided to give it another chance today. I won't make that mistake again. To say that I get bored on the treadmill might be the understatement of the year. Nay, the century. I had made my mind up that I was going to run 4 miles today. I barely cranked out 3. I was pouring sweat and my mood was more foul than my shirt when I got done. Not all runs are going to be great. I've come to peace with that fact. But it doesn't make it any easier to get over. Blah!
Peace!
Sarah

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Definition

2009-10-02T22:12:00.001-05:00

Definition. Websters defines the word as:
a statement expressing the essential nature of something.

When I became a nurse, that was my definition. My career defined me. And I loved it. I was so proud to tell people what I did. Hi. I'm Sarah. I'm a nurse. I would anxiously await this question from new aquaintances. Nursing was my purpose. It's what I was called to do. Well, maybe just for a season. When I got married in 2005, my definition didn't really change. I was now a wife and a nurse. Life was good! When I got pregnant, it got even better. I would be able to add Mom to the list. Then Avery came into this world. Everything I thought I knew, suddenly became blurry and unclear. After about 4 weeks caring for a newborn, I was desperate to get back to work. At least I knew how to do that job. This motherhood business, I wasn't so sure about. At 8 weeks, I had resigned myself to going back to work. I was going back and I was ok with it. Unexpectedly, I got 2 more weeks off. Those 2 weeks changed everything. Avery started sleeping through the night (a major plus, to say the least). We had established a routine and I was finally getting to know this little human that God had blessed us with. So when we made the decision for me to stay at home, I was totally fine with it. After a few weeks of being an "official stay at home mom", a question started to nag at my subconcious. Who am I now? Instead of setting up surgeries and anesthesia, I was now getting bottles ready and planning my showers around naptimes. Big change. During the early weeks, I really struggled with my identity. (Well after I started getting many hours of consecutive sleep, that is. Before that, I was doing good to remember to change out of my pajamas and brush my teeth before being among the general public.) I thought, if I'm not a nurse now, who am I? One of the many wonderful things that has come out of this motherhood journey is that I rediscovered myself. I had forgotten how much I love music. Absolutely one of my passions. And books! Oh how I love the library! The point of this whole post, is that I thought I was defined by one word. I'm coming to realize that my identity is ever changing but there are some things I'll always be. Hi. I'm Sarah. I'm a stay at home mom. But I'm really a nurse. But I stay at home with my daughter. Oh well.

Peace!

Sarah

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Identity

2009-09-28T16:23:00.001-05:00

Today I have been having an identity crisis. Well more of a body image crisis. I have been running since january of this and I had been working out for months before that. My goal for exercising has always been to be healthier not necessarily super skinny. But every now and then, I get bummed that results are not coming quicker. Today has been one of those days. Blah. During these times, it's difficult to remember that my identity is not wrapped up in the way I look. God made me and He doesn't make mistakes. These verses from the book of Psalm pretty much say what I need to hear everyday: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me
were written in your book before one of them came to be." (psalm 139:13-16) Aren't these verses wonderful?!! It's so reassuring and empowering to know that I am the way I am because God planned it that way! I have a book called 100 Favorite Bible Verses. On this topic is says,"Your value isn't determined by your performance, your apperance, or your position in this world. Your value was determined the moment God put his love for you into action by knitting you together."
Another thing that helps be get out of the pit of my shortcomings (or what I perceive to be my shortcomings) is to totally focus on Christ. When you're looking at Him, you can't see anything else.
Peace!
Sarah

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For the Love of the Run

2009-09-27T20:41:00.001-05:00

I love running. But I haven't always loved it. In fact, a mere 10 months ago I loathed running. I couldn't even run for more than a couple of minutes. This morning I ran an easy two miles. That still amazes me. I really started running because I thought I couldn't. Seriously. I really thought for a long time that I could never become a runner. At the first of the year, I just started running. Now mind you, I had already be walking and doing an exercise DVD at home. But I wondered what would happen if I laced up my shoes and ran. I found out quickly that if I ran slow enough, I could keep going longer than I ever thought I could. At first, I could only run a few minutes. Then it turned into a quarter of a mile. Then it turned into a half mile. I still remember the day I ran a half mile without stopping. What a wonderful feeling. I love running because there is absolutely no skill involved. You really don't have to have any athletic ability, in fact. Just
persistance. That's it. You just have to commit to it. It's not fun all the time. Some days are almost downright torturous (well maybe not that bad). But running always gives back more than it takes. I run because it makes me feel good. It's difficult, but when I'm done I'm always proud and I can hardly wait to do it again. I wondered at first what separated the runners from people who run because they have to for fitness or sports. I realized that I was a runner when I couldn't get enough of it. I'm a runner. Those words still amaze me.
Peace!
Sarah
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Fully persuaded

2009-09-25T08:18:00.001-05:00

A couple of days ago during my quiet time, I came across these verses in Romans: "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." This passage is talking about Abraham fully trusting when God told him he was going to be father of all nations and he was to have a child himself with his wife Sarah. Now, this dude was old! I mean OLD! One foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel! OLD! Not to mention, his wife (Sarah) was barren and super old too. Nevertheless, they believed, I mean truly believed. And sure enough, God blessed them with a son, Isaac. The part that really stood out to me was "being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised." Fully persuaded. Fully. Persuaded. Something about those two words really struck me as I was reading them. What does it take to be fully
persuaded about something? Whatever it is, I want to be fully persuaded. Fully persuaded that God is capable to do what He said He would do. I want to be fully persuaded that I can't do this life on my own. Some days I am fully persuaded but some days I like to think I'm taking back control. I think to myself (subconsciously) that God is taking too long on certain things and that I can handle it better and quicker. Yeah right.
Peace!
Sarah

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It Still Hurts

2009-09-23T13:34:00.001-05:00

It has been almost 6 months since my dad died suddenly. For those of you who don't know, my dad had a very serious problem with drugs. He and my mom divorced when I was about 3. Through the years, he was in and out of rehab and halfway houses. On march 28 of this year he died of a drug overdose and was found in a hotel room by a cleaning lady. This post could be super long but I really don't want it to be. He and I weren't very close especially over the last few years. But the fact remains: he was my dad. He's gone and it still doesn't seem real. And it still hurts.
Peace.
Sarah

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Seriously? Seriously. A post about patience.

2009-09-21T15:31:00.001-05:00

This morning during my quiet time, I prayed for patience, among other things. Patience is what I need the most these days with my adventurous toddler. Avery had been up for awhile talking to herself on the crib. When I walked into her room, I smelled poop. (BTW--this post may be a little much for the faint of heart, or stomach.). Ok, I thought to myself, no big deal. As a nurse, I have seen alot and smelled alot. Poop doesn't scare me. What I saw when I approched the crib, on the other hand, struck fear in my heart. Avery was fine. She had removed her pajama pants and unbuttoned her onesie. She was pointing to her diaper which was on the opposite side of her bed. But I still didn't spot the source of the smell. Have no fear, good friends, I found what I was looking for (I'll spare you THOSE details). So within 10 minutes of getting Avery out of the bed, a load of laundry was washing and my little one was in the bathtub. I'm certain that God has a sense
of humor. I asked for patience and He blessed me with it just as He blesses me everyday. Simply put, by myself, I suck at patience. Definitely one of my weak points. One of my favorite verses on this subject is "Be joyful is hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer" Romans 12:12. I love this verse because it's short and sweet. Easy to remember. Anyway, that is how my day started. I love my life!!!
Peace!
Sarah

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The Arts

2009-09-20T19:45:00.000-05:00

I always forget how much I love plays. Today, I watched my youngest brother perform in A Midsummer Night's Dream. (BTW, Aaron if, by some chance, you're reading this, you were amazing!!! I am so proud of you!! You made me laugh so hard today, I was crying! I love you so much!). Anyway, I always forget how much I love plays. In high school, I, by a crazy turn of events, got into drama class. So I know the work that is involved in putting on a production. There is something that is so fascinating about watching people up on a stage. Magical almost. I've never been to a symphony or a ballet but I'm dying to go. I love the arts!! Everytime I see a play, I leave asking myself why I don't see more plays. There was something so inspiring about watching the performance today in the small (very small) theater. The hard work that was put into this show was almost tangible. I found myself lost in the story, forgetting totally where I was, what time it was, and
everything that was on my mind when I arrived. Now that's a good show.
I once again make the vow that I must see more plays.
Peace!
Sarah

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Sweater weather

2009-09-17T19:25:00.001-05:00

It's true. Fall is my favorite season. I love everything about it. You know, the typical, cooler weather, changing leaves. But also I love being able to wear jeans and sweatshirts. Fall is what I call sweater weather. While I enjoy the longer days in the summer, I also enjoy the extra hour the time change gives us. The mention of fall conjures up images of comfort food, watching football (college and high school), Halloween (which is easily one of my favorite holidays), and pumpkin spice lattes. Oh, and my birthday is in October. Fall, for me, signals the official beginning of the "family season". I love to spend time with my family during the holidays that happen during the fall and winter!
Fall is on its way, my friends. I can feel it!
Peace!
Sarah

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Discipline

2009-09-15T21:33:00.001-05:00

So this post is going to be about discipline and no, not my personal discipline. That's another post for another day. I'm talking about the way I'm choosing to discipline Avery. I have really struggled with which method to choose. To spank or not to spank. That is the question. Well, actually, it's not even a question for me. Before I became a parent, I NEVER questioned whether or not spanking was the best form of discipline. I had been spanked as a child, so why wouldn't it work for my child? I turned out just fine. That all changed for me the first time I swatted my precious baby. Something in my heart of hearts said, "This isn't right. Something about this feels very wrong to me.". It actually made me a bit nauseous. I've tried it a couple of times since then and it feels the same. Now I'm not saying that it's wrong for everyone. Every situation is different and I'm positive that it works for some people. As long as the parent is doing it out of love
and not anger. But it's just not right for us. So then I got to thinking, if spanking or swatting is not right for us, what form of discipline is? This is the part of motherhood that I adore!! Being able to explore all the options and decide for myself. I really like the way Supernanny operates. Always cool, calm and collected. Always in control of the situation. So, I purchased a "time-out mat" (really just a fancy name for a small placemat that can go everywhere with us). We've done time out a few times. I just give her one warning then it's off to time out if she chooses not to listen. I've also been encouraged to check into the love and logic method. I will say that I checked out a book on love and logic tonight at the library. So far it looks interesting....we'll see. That's it for me.
Peace!
Sarah!
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I heart blogs!!

2009-09-14T16:21:00.000-05:00

I have very recently discovered that i love blogs! Since i love reading them so much, i thought that i might as well start one myself. So here's a little bit about me:
I'm a stay at home mom. My daughter will be 2 years old in January. I have a wonderful husband that God has blessed me with. How i ended up with him is beyond me. He has truly been a gift from God. I am a follower of Christ. I believe that God sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for my sins. That being said, i am truly a work in progress. I do my best, but i'm only human. I have wonderful friends. My best friend, Candace, will probably come up alot in this blog. She is an inspiration and joy to have in my life. I love randomness. I have a random sense of humor. I am a runner. I'm just getting back into it, though, having been sidelined with an injury. I love music. If you could see my soul, it would be made up of randomness and music. All kinds of music. My little family is not complete without our dog, Lola. She's crazy but lovable (most of the time).
I have a wonderful life! It's not always perfect (far from it actually) but that's what makes it so great!