Easter Eggs. Let the fun begin!

I've loved dying eggs ever since I was a kiddo.  And why the heck should that have to stop now? 
My family is big on it too.  Last year we died 3 dozen eggs and had a full out Easter egg hunt at my mama's house. 

 It's a lot like being a kid again...fighting my sister for an egg that I swear I saw first.  She is still faster than me...

My mom and I had a paint-off.  Mine is on the left.  Her's just looks scary. (Sorry, Ma)

And so, the tradition continues... this was the first year that I dyed eggs at my own home.  A great friend, wine, robin egg candies and Paas dye kits did the trick.  

 Happy Easter, all....can't wait to do it again next year :)

Pray for Our Troops. Pray for My Brother!

Prayer For our Military

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. 

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. 

Amen." 

My brother and I didn't really care for each other until college.  Not anything out of the norm for siblings that are almost four years apart, had nothing really in common and had to endure the same roof over our heads for 16 years.  But when he moved to Laramie his Junior year of college...we became friends.  I realized how much I loved him as a person, which made him an even cooler brother.  I was so proud of him the day that Julianne and I got to pin his "bars" on him when he became and Officer in the Army.  I was honored he asked us to be the ones to be there. 

His first deployment to Iraq made me realize how much he means to me.  I prayed for him everyday.  And I prayed harder than I ever have in my life.  I prayed until it felt like my soul was empty.  And, he came home safe and sound after his tour.  Now, with his 2nd tour, I do the same thing. 

While he was first deployed, I realized how Patriotic I really am.  Now when the National Anthem plays, whether it be on TV or at a ballgame, I cry.  And usually this is fueled by the beer that I paid 6$ for at the stadium.  It embarrassed me the first time it happened (at an Avalanche game...with my entire team from work!).  Now, it just is how it is.  

This last year has been a blessing.  Luke was actually in Wyoming for most of it.  So I got to hang out with him.  He also came to stay with me at my house in Fort Collins a few times.  It was so great to have him come and hang out under my roof.  I picked him up from DIA the day before Thanksgiving...he was going to leave and drive to WY.  I threatened him and bribed him with candied yams to stay.  Making yams and saving the gravy I almost destroyed with him that day might be my favorite memory of him so far.  

I also got to see him fall in love with his wonderful wife Melanie over the last few years.  God bless her for the support she gives him and the puzzle she completes for him. 

Now, he will likely (ok, totally) be embarrassed by my page-long gush about how fabulous I think he is...but he will have to get over it.  And, if he ever reads this...I hope he finds flattery in it.  

So, today and everyday...when I pray for all of our service men and women...I pray for him.  And I am so thankful for those who opt this career choice as I, myself, could never do it.  

So, let's support them, and pray for them all, and watch them come home safe to those, like me, who love them so. 

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS.  

*If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away*

Today I spent two hours of my day driving.  Which, with my job is nothing out of the norm.  But today I spent the day thinking about the ones I love and no longer have here with me.  I think about Heaven and how thankful I am that I believe that I am not forever without those that go before me.  I'd give anything to swap a day of my youth when I thought my Yia-Yia was just a crazy old lady to have her for one day to have an adult conversation with her.  I would love to meet my Grandma Lockerd, who died when my mom was just 24.  She wrote letters to the family during her radiation and chemo which I've read...they only make me realize how much I missed out on not knowing her.  I am pretty sure my mom is a good replica.  And my dad's dad who died when my dad was 14....I don't know much about him other than he was a soldier in WWII and has two purple hearts.  And he wrote my Yia-Yia love letters from the war.  Knowing that someday I will be reunited with them warms my heart.  

"I wish heaven had a phone so I could hear your voice again. I thought of you today, but that is nothing new. I thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have are memories and a picture in a frame. Your memory is a keepsake, from which I'll never part. God has you in his arms. I have you in my heart. " - unknown

 If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away - Justin Moore

Thankful.

The last three days have been spent mostly on griping about the things that I have been forced to spend money on.  Check ups for both dogs $268.00.  New battery and check up on Volvo $198.00.  Grace's broken tooth extraction and teeth cleaning $650.00.   I've been so focused on the dwindling savings account that I forgot to be thankful for the simple fact that I had one at all.  

Sitting down to dinner tonight I was complaining that eating at home is so "boring".  I can only make so many things.  I can only eat tacos, spaghetti and sandwiches so many times. In attempting to not eat out, I have been focusing on making things at home.  Again tonight, as I am thinking about how boring the sandwich I just ate might have been I am thankful that I had the food to make a sandwich.  As I sat in the bathtub after my run (eating), I looked at my plate and realized that boring sandwich I was picking at was more food than some might eat in a day, or even a week.  

I am trying to remember to put things into perspective.  I have so much.  I am so blessed.  

I could learn a lot from my dogs.

I took the girls to the dreaded vet today for their annual checkup and shots.  What is the first thing that they do at the vet?  Get them on the scale.  Grace and Wem are both up about 19% of their body weight.  REALLY?  I mean, it is only a pound or two?!   But, oh yes, they are obese.  They certainly still seem happy and aren't depressed about the scale...but I know it is my job to get them back to a healthy weight.  Now....what can I learn from them??  They  never turn a walk down.  They go outside all of the time just to be outside.  When I grab their leashes, they are STOKED to get out for some exercise.  Me, on the other hand... I sometimes stare at my gym bag with the "stink eye" since I know I've gotta' go.  I wish I could have that excitement that my girls have over getting some pavement under their feet.

I am in love with the crockpot!

I have started to use the crockpot more and more.  Mostly because I just LOVE to come home and have most of the dinner made.  Well, this little one is opposite... wake up and WA-LAA, breakfast is ready to go!  I have linked the recipe below :)

CrockPot Breakfast

Running. For Fun?!

I started to run again.  I used to run for things like soccer practice, swim practice, and to keep up with the prettier sorority girls in college...but I never really enjoyed it.  But now, I've joined a new gym.  I am getting married in a year.  And I have learned that I actually like to run.  (Perhaps "jog" would be a better word choice here...I am  a slight turtle at this point).  I have an issue with starting off slow and working forward; it's never been my strong point.  So I started my new journey with a 4 mile jog.  It took me about 50 minutes, sadly.  BUT, I finished it.  And I did it again the following day.  Within  a month I have gotten to where my 5K (3.1 miles) is sitting at a not-too shabby for a semi retired "athlete" of 33.45 minutes as a PR.  I even hired a trainer.  His name is Bilal; he is well over 6 foot, took 5th place in CO men's body building last year and has dreads.  He asked me my goals and I told him "to get rid of the lunch lady arms!".  We've been working on that ever since.  It feels good to LIKE going to the gym.  And although I am still having a hard time GETTING there, I never regret it once I am inside the doors.  For the girl who used to be in and out and home in a little over an hour...I am not that girl that is on the treadmill for 45min and lifting for 30 and in no hurry to rush out of there.  I think that is motivating.