12,053 Days

On the eve of the day of my birth, a little perspective. 

I was born 12,053 days ago. 

That's: 1,041,379,200 seconds ago. 

17,356,320 minutes ago. 

289,272 hours ago.

1721 weeks ago. 

3,316 days ago I took a new job that I instantly hated. I didn't think I would come back after my lunch break. Thankfully, a friend (thanks, Chanda!) laid it out for me and talked me into going back because that's the day I met my future husband. 

3,244 days ago I was still working that terrible job, but that's ok because my co-worker/friend asked me to go play trivia at Bennigan's with him. About half way through I wondered if we were on a date. I really hoped we were. 

3,152 days ago my life changed in a way that I never even fathomed. Surprise! I found out I was going to be a mom. 

3,092 days ago (or 74,208 hours ago) I married my best friend and partner on this adventure we call life.

2,892 days ago (or 69,408 hours ago) After 24 hours of labor, our Dude was welcomed to the world in a room filled with love and exhausted family. 

58 days ago I began the AdvoCare journey with my hubby. (*Side note: 366 days from today, I will be at my goal weight and helping others make healthier choices.)

Most of us don't spend our time counting the minutes and seconds of our lives, but how many of us have let important moments pass right by? Be mindful of the moments. Grab tightly to the ones you love and cherish those moments. If we wait for someday, it's likely that someday will never come to make healthy choices or follow our dreams. Start somewhere. 

A lot of things have happened in the last 12,053 days. Some wonderful. Some difficult. All made up this life, and I wouldn't change that for anything. Sure I did things a little out of order here and there, but I'm so thankful that God used some of my messes to give me some of my greatest blessings - to teach me some of the best lessons. The last 12,053 days have been an adventure. I look forward to the next 12,053 days...or just the very next moment. 

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it!" 

Yogi Berra

The 2.5 of you who regularly read this blog may have noticed that Chas and I have been hosting an internet radio show this past year called IllumiNATION Radio. Internet radio was something that the hubs and I had considered doing since the start of our concert ministry, Ten Talents, back in 2010. In May of 2012, the time was finally right for us to make the leap into radio. 

Our very first guests on IllumiNATION Radio - This City Awaits

IllumiNATION Radio was a great addition to Ten Talents, and it was super fun! Even when things were completely crazy - and that happened quite a few times - I was totally loving it! Mostly because I was loved spending a few hours each week doing this crazy radio thing with my best friend. 

Chas & I rockin' in the IllRad studio!

There have been a lot of wonderful and fun moments over the past year, but the time has come for IllumiNATION Radio to come to an end. While it is difficult for us to walk away, we both feel that it is the right decision for our ministry and our family at this point in time. 

Our 8th anniversary fell on an IllRad night. We had a blast!

So next Monday night will be our last show. We definitely want to thank everyone one who has tuned into the show over the past year. Thank you for sharing your Monday nights with us. Chas and I have appreciated your support and your friendship along this journey. Thanks to the AMAZING bands and musicians that we have had the pleasure of interviewing and playing the music of on IllumiNATION Radio. You are the reason we enjoyed this experience so much. Keep up the good fight! Thanks, also, to Sammi G and the Fishbowl team for giving us a place to play our crazy Jesus music each week. 

The Dude even joined us on the show a few times. 

I'm looking forward to the next phase of the journey (which I'll be posting about soon) with a few tears in my eyes, but I have peace and am excited about where we are headed. I hope that someday the Lord will see fit to bring the internet radio opportunity back around because I sure enjoyed yappin' away on the internet each week. Until then...

Blessings! 

Recap: Run for Rescue 5k

Last Saturday was a great morning for the 4th Annual Run for Rescue 5k at First UMC in Colleyville, TX. Considering that North Texas can't decide if it's Winter, Spring, or Summer yet, the weather was quite pleasant.

Rocking out the start . 

(Side Note: Love that this person with Peace on her t-shirt seemed to make it in so many of my pictures from race day)

This was my first 5k in quite a while. I had every intention of training and walking/jogging in at 45 minutes or less, but my health and schedule just didn't seem to cooperate. That's ok, though. 5k is a great distance for me. I enjoy walking it and love the vibe and encouragement I get from going to events. 

The FUMC Bedford Running / Walking Group. Doggies welcome!

It is so wonderful to have friends and teammates to run and walk with. Some are experienced runners. Some aren't. It doesn't matter. It's just encouraging to have someone out there with you. 

 These are my training buddies C and Claire. 

I didn't quite finish in the time I had wanted, but I was definitely proud of my time. While I was on the course, I couldn't help but think how grateful for the ability just to be walking and how blessed I am to have family and friends cheering me on. I couldn't help but be thankful!

And here's what was waiting for me at the Finish Line:

C5's adorable smiling face and...

My first pancake in quite a while (more on that and my 24 Day Challenge in another post)

I was so sad to wake up this morning and hear about the 8 year-old boy who was killed in the explosions at the finish line at yesterday's Boston Marathon. I had my own almost 8 year-old waiting on me at the finish line. It didn't even cross my mind during the race that something so sad and tragic could happen. It just reminds me how precious life is and to treasure every moment spent with the ones we love. Our family's thoughts and prayers are with the people affected by this tragedy. 

Blessings!

M

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! So it's already 3 days into 2013, and I'm just now getting around to posting Happy New Year on the blog. That's life. I've come to accept it. Here's hoping that 2013 is a year full of blessings to you all.

Odd side note: When I was kid (I was born in the 1980's), I never would have imagined being "alive" in 2013...or being 32 for that matter. If that kid knew what I know now...we'd probably all be in a lot of trouble ;-)

Since New Year's Eve happened to fall on a Monday, the hubs and I rang in 2013 on the radio of course. What's better than starting out the New Year doing something you love with someone you love?

We expanded Illumination Radio from 2 to 4 hours and had in-studio acoustic performances by our friends Paul Demer, One Soul, someGuynamedbart, and Divine Retribution. Some friends stopped by to chat with us as well. Funny story: Our friend, D, stopped by and happened to bring her knitting. She's just learning to knit and thought I might be able to show her how to cast off (take her knitting off the needles). Well it's a good thing that she brought her knitting, because later in the show I found myself furiously casting off her scarf so that the drummer from One Soul could use her bamboo sticks as drumsticks because he left his sticks as home. How many radio show hosts can tell a story like that? It might not be glamorous, but it sure is fun. 

One Soul

someGuynamedbart

Divine Retribution

Click the player below to hear a podcast of the show! 

It's Christmas Eve!

In case you hadn't noticed yet, IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE! We are in full-blown, 5-Alarm holiday mode. What I'm looking forward to this Christmas is the Christmas Eve tradition of putting on some Christmas tunes and setting up for the communion and candlelight Christmas Eve service as a family. Working at a church, "working" on Christmas Eve just goes with the territory. I am blessed to have a family who so willingly comes to serve with me and helps to make it so much fun.

And since it's almost noon on Christmas Eve, I guess I better get to work instead of blogging :-)
With that, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

From my family to your's:

IllRad Christmas Wish List

Is it just me, or does it feel like time speeds up between Thanksgiving and Christmas? I am generally a busy person, as you can see from my blog posts or lack thereof. When the holidays roll around, it feels like life goes into hyperdrive.

I've mentioned it a few times, but the hubs and I host a weekly internet radio show called Illumination Radio. Last Monday was our Christmas show! We had a blast. Since this was our first Christmas on the air, we decided to do something fun and include "The IllRad Christmas Wish List". On the list, we included a few of our favorite things, a few things on our wish lists, and a "Wish List for 2013" from some of the charities and ministries that we have spotlighted on the show over the past 7 months.

Here are a few things I included on the list.

1. "Love Song" from the Created to Create, a screen print art collection created by Vision City. Vision City is the graphic design and photography studio of Melanie Greenwood in Southern California. Melanie is the wife of Manafest. Vision City launched in 2011 and focuses most of its energies on music branding, cover artwork, and promotional campaigns. It includes two of my favorite things: love and music.  (Picture Source)

2. TOMS Kitty Sunglasses: But honestly any of their sunglasses are pretty groovy. The best part about purchasing anything from TOMS, shoes or sunglasses, is the One for One policy of TOMS. You're used to the buy a pair of shoes and a pair of shoes is given to a child in need, but when you purchase a pair of sunglasses, your purchase will help give the gift of sight by either providing prescription glasses or necessary sight-saving surgery or medical treatment. *Be sure to take advantage of Ten Talents Ministry's $5 discount when you type in the code XFEST at checkout at the online store. (Picture Source)

3. Through the Night: Is a young adult fiction book by Lynette Theisen. I fell in love with this book as soon as I started reading it. I literally couldn't put it down. The small town life of the 16 year-old, Skillet-loving (the band not the kitchen pan) heroine of the book is turned upside down when she begins to have unexpected feelings for the new boy in school. Her life and the life of those around her are changed forever in the spiritual warfare that ensues. Great Christian fiction no matter how old you are. (Picture Source)

4. Bleeding Heart Scoodie from Custom Catastrophes: Is it a scarf? Is it a hoodie? It's a scoodie! . Custom Catastrophes is a fashion line created by Ariel of Icon for Hire. Ariel has a passion for handmade fashion and a love of the unique. (Picture Souce)

5. Are You Gentlemen Prisoners Here?: This is the photography book of David Hostetter who also happens to be the singer and guitarist of punk band Children 18:3. Gotta love the panda and the raccoon on the cover. (Picture Source)

When I started thinking of items that I wanted to include on the list, I knew that it had to be interesting and unique. I love Christian Rock music, and I have been blessed to meet some really amazing artisans and musicians through Illumination Radio and Ten Talents Ministry. I had so much fun putting together this list.

Merry Christmas!

Life Lately: November Edition

Could it actually be the end of November already??? Where did the time go? That means Christmas and BUSY are right around the corner. Working in ministry, the end of year goes so quickly and gets so hectic. I'm savoring the last few days of November before the craziness of December rolls in.

Here is what happened in November according to my Instagram addiction:

Elementary-aged boys full of hot air + Raingutters full of water = Cub Scouts Rain Gutter Regatta: This is the Dude's second year to participate in his Pack's event. He had a wonderful time this year and actually won a few of his heats. Cub Scouts has been a great experience for him.

Hanging of the Green: After our church's Thanksgiving meal fellowship, some of us went over to start working on decorating the church for the Christmas season. I enjoy being a part of decorating the church, but I think what I enjoy most is watching the Dude grow up and participating. He and his friend X helped with decorating the trees. Such fun!

Turkeys on Turkey Day: Thanksgiving in Texas was wonderful and warm. We were blessed to have been able to visit with most of our family, especially one of the hubby's grandmas who recently moved here from Arkansas. Once the turkey haze started setting in, the Dude and I took to Instagram for a little photo fun. That's him being cool and me just being his mom.

Random Acts of Craftiness: My sweet momma's birthday is in November (Happy Birthday, Mo!), and this year she asked me to transform a vase for her. I'll be posting more about that later, but it sure was fun to get out some Mod Podge (best stuff ever) and pop in the cd of one of my favorite bands, Don't Wake Aislin (awesome people and awesome music), and just create something.

No Shave November: Ok so the Dude is a little young to participate in that, but doesn't he just look stachetastic?

Well that's our life lately. What's going on in your world?