The Heat Is On.

This one time, we drove three and a half hours to the Texas Hill Country for the weekend.

Arent' we so cute and excited?!

We had reservations for 2 nights at this family campground with a pool and a bunch of activities for the kids. We were so excited! We'd heard about the water slides at the campground and we wanted to go "float the river". (That's "go tubing" for the non-Texans.)

Reading material: check.

Brit Nicole Pandora station: check.

The best 3 lbs I carry: check.

We set up the pop-up camper in 102º (feels like 104º) of pure Central Texas heat. My Spouse, like a solid Dad, did most of the work and drank the least amount of water. Dude got so ill from heat exhaustion.

No trees, Kids. No shade.

No joke. Actual heat exhaustion: extreme thirst, fatigue, confusion, nausea, headache, rapid heartbeat...the whole thing. The puppers, too! After he rested a while and drank a little water, the girls and I went to get him some Gatorade. He was so loopy he didn't even know where we were. Blessed assurance.
In case you missed it: I'm the good Spouse who leaves my husband passed out in a hot camper to go ride in the cool car.

We got a treat, too. :) Yah, Dad! We are on our way! Hurrying to save you!

 We got back to learn that the dog was feeling the ill effects of the heat, too. About the time that Spouse woke up, the pup threw up on him. Awesome. He drank the Gatorade and got to feeling a little better. We were all getting excited to float the river, but the AC was not cooling the camper very well. It was blowing cool and all, but this...

We cackled at the ridiculousness of the situation. There were spots in the camper that, if you sat real still, you could feel the cool air blowing. It was hilarious.

Before you ask, "Why didn't you go get in the pool or go to the river, Dummies?" A couple of reasons: the pool was about a third of the size it should have been for the number of sites at this campground. Packed full of people. Packed. Eww. The river, too. My pictures weren't good enough to post, but the river was so full of tubes and people, they were not even moving! I'm not kidding. It was a human dam. In addition, parts of the Guadalupe River do not allow cans on the river, but the section where we were allowed cans. Our drive-bys did not reveal a very family-friendly situation. Then, there was the puppers. It was not cool enough to leave him in the camper.

There was this one time, we drove three and a half hours to the hill country for the weekend. We stayed  5 whole hours and then loaded every.thing.back.up. and went home.

Cause here's why: If you can't take the heat, get out of Central Texas in a pop-up camper with an AC that can not compete with a country state that has its own sun.

How's your weekend?

Good Work: Under Construction!

He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete 

it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Fact: He started it, but He's not done. :)
(Tell me you read that in Dwight Shrute's voice.)

This week is sort of an anniversary for me. Eight years since I had this little "cancer episode".

The BackStory: 
In Spring of 2005, it was discovered that I had a nodule on my thyroid gland. By the Lord's direction, we tested and tested and two surgeries later my thyroid gland was removed, along with the cancer that was growing on it. With some RAI (radioactive iodine) treatment and whole lot of prayers, the cancer was gone and I was free to go about my life with a Spouse, a four-year old, and a two-year old.

That was the year of the cancer, but also the year of the headache. And, I mean THE headache. All year. 11 months of one solid headache. I remember walking around the outlet mall one day with my praying, cooking, and cleaning friends and I said, "Hey, Y'all. Stop. I think my head isn't hurting!" I had to focus for a second because I wanted to be sure!

Let me tell you something, that was not an awesome time. But, it was. I got a front row seat to the show called "The Body of Christ Takes Care of Its Own". My people prayed incessantly and specifically. The headache was keeping me from sleeping, so my friends, Kay & Stephanie, called one another and prayed for me one night over the phone without my knowing. I slept. Jesus. My people showed up.  Spouse and my very best sister friend on this planet were the first faces I remember when I woke up from both surgeries. Meals came floating in to my house for three solid months. I sometimes watched as my laundry was folded, floors vacuumed, and dishes were put away. It was so weird, but I was grateful. And, when I was feeling good, they just showed up. I was going to be recovering on Easter, so my friends came for an Easter Egg Hunt at my house on a Thursday. A sweet young couple who had gone through a great deal of medical bills in the past dropped off $400. No joke. Young couple with two young boys at home. Not wealthy grandparent-types, either. Amazing. Only God compels that kind of sacrifice for your sister. My girls' birthdays were made great. A week after one of the surgeries, I tied a little scarf on and we had dinner with Cinderella & Prince Charming at Disney. Magical. It was something not easily forgotten when your people show up for you that way.

As far as the treatment, it wasn't much more than a little drama, really, and I was never scared. February to May and it was over. Surgeries were not great, but it wasn't terrible. The worst part was the radiation. I took a Radioactive Iodine pill that resulted in 5 days of isolation from everybody. I mean everyone. The nurses only came in my room once a day, wearing a lead vest and pointing a Geiger counter at me. Seriously. It was crazy. I was crazy. I had taken my trusty Beth Moore Bible Study materials with me, declaring it was going to be "Me, Beth, and Jesus." Whatever. I think I did one day of my Fruit of the Spirit Study. I was stir crazy. SANGUINE girl was alone. Isolated. Not really feeling well. I could see a Target outside my room window. Sigh. And, it was the weekend of the Runaway Bride from Georgia. Y'all remember her!? Lord, I'm sorry I didn't do my study, but I was nothing less than obsessed with that bride. She was the cutest thing. I did eventually complete all my homework. :)

Honestly, though, it was all pretty quick. I consider myself and my family on the receiving end of the gifts of early detection and a good life.

Gifts given by the One who gives perfect gifts for His own name's sake. Jesus.

The NowStory:
Follow up treatment includes taking a synthetic thyroid hormone every day and getting my TSH checked every 90 days. My TSH had been pretty stable for several years, but in November and every test since then my Thyroid has been off in one way or another. And, I have felt it. Suffice it to say I was livin' in a fog: there was not enough sleep to be had, inability to make a decision (me. no opinion. that's all.), just foggy. I'll not even mention the rest of the physical stuff, but to say there has been some physical stuff. Evidently, moving can be a major life stressor that can discombobulate your endocrine system. Yay. That's what I need. Discombobulation.

Then, about 2 weeks ago, my doc changed my Synthroid dosage. It was actually a little too high and as of 4 or 5 days ago, I am feeling brand new! Puh-raise the Lord! Seriously! I can make decisions all by myself! I have gone a good week without crying! *Happy Zumba Dance here.*

<<<<Note: I have mentioned before that silence on the part of this blogger is typically not a good sign. It's been a month since the last post, but I noticed today that I have 5 drafts. Fog brain couldn't even finish a post. Well, I'm over it. Brace yourselves. <--- That may be a little unnecessary hype, but I'm excited! >>>>

Also, since my doctors had different ideas about body scans and whatnot, I haven't had one since May 2005 (Hush. I know.)---well, now it's time. This week I begin to prepare for the scan on Friday. I will have an appointment of some sort each day of the week and stop taking the Synthroid. I am getting an injection called Thyrogen that allowed me to stay on the Synthroid longer and avoid the Low Iodine Diet (Which I unknowingly did for 4 days. Boo.) I've already had an ultrasound, which showed no thyroid tissue and I am not concerned in the least about this scan. Not a bit. Jesus peace.
My biggest concern was feeling better and I am. Now, I don't know how I will feel after 5 days off the medicine, but it sure is a lot better than the original 3 weeks off the medicine. :)

Here's the schedule, cause apparently, I can make decisions but have no boundaries:
Monday, Tuesday: Thyrogen injections. Wednesday: Radioactive Iodine pill (Not as high of a dosage as last time, so no isolation.) Thursday: Blood draw. Friday: Scan.

So, here I sit in a little camper while my family sleeps giving you, my five faithful readers, the longest status update in the history of Facebook. (I say "five" because I learned my friend Ricky reads. I used to say "four".) Those of you who get upset about mundane FB posts may never read my blog again! Ha! I am tempted to comment how boring this is must be for you, but I won't.
The God of the Universe began a work- a good work- and His work is never boring. With Jesus, it's a ride!

Thank y'all for being so patient with me and coming back to this little space on the interwebs.
I love it and I love you.
It is the coolest thing to me that you read this jazz.

Building the Circle.

It's been nearly a month, but we had our first REPEAT visitor from home.
Dig that.
Not just any visitor. Jarrett. If you know us and/or Jarrett, you know that with Jarrett comes...shenanigans...

Exhibit A. The sparking scooter.

Entertaining themselves in a gym FULL of chanting volleyball players.

Smitten.

Spouse & Jarrett built us two corn hole sets because they are NOT BUMS! 

Look at that concentration.

This.

Yes, they built the corn hole because they are not bums, but also because I wanted to have this crew of lovelies over to play.

Is this just so happy? These sweet ones are starting to understand that Mel's Diner is where it's at.

The Lord is gracious. He is building my little circle.
It is a beautiful, Jesus-loving, world-changing, big-dreaming, circle.

There was some Jesus-talk going on at that table.

Family pic.

Sunset in the burbs.

Meghan, Holly, Caroline, Sage, Keri, Sara, Me, Maddy

After the food, after the encouragement in Jesus's name, it was Game On.

Lovely form.

Do not let the smile & spontaneous dancing fool you. Sister schooled some boys in corn hole.

Pretty sure there was smack-talk going on here. 

The lovely Sara. Sometimes, she tell stories.

Holly. I wish they all could be like this California Girl. No. Really.

Keri's very first S'more, People. Her first S'more!? 

Sara's first tandem ride.
(Thank you, Kirkpatricks, for this bike. This has been the most fun.)

I'm extraordinarily happy in this picture. Good grief.
I must have been overjoyed to share the moment with her. 

So, after the Cornhole University lesson from the Californian Buckeye, Holly, the girls gave Spouse & Jarrett a ping-pong lesson.

Look at that form. 

Bless em. They look so cute.

Since my Circle Girls (I just made that up this very second)  love us so much and wanted to show Jarrett a little Bayou City flavor, we went out for crawfish lunch after an exhausting sermon on Sunday. (And I do mean exhausting. This may be another post, but you can listen to "Building Babel" on iTunes Podcasts from Bayou City Fellowship.)

The Sisters want to adopt Sage. She's grown. We're doing it anyway.

Holly, Sage, Micah & the crawfish.
I can smell the Old Bay.

Holly giving a crawfish lesson. (Are you seeing a theme here?)

Homegirl went to town on some crawfish. I was so proud.

People keep asking us, "How are y'all settling in out there in Houston?" 

This. This is how we are settling in. 

With a full house and a beautiful circle. With room for more. 

                        ________________________________________________________

I leave you with this parting shot.

Top 12 of 2012

A blog about blogs that I read suggested that bloggers repost a list of the most read blogs this year. This got me curious.

This was sort of a neat exercise, just to see what types of posts resonate with my people.

It says a lot about you readers, ya know. ;)

Here's the list of the 12 most read Spouseisms posts of 2012.


12.  Door. Closed. This was definitely in the top 3 worst days of 2012. A hard post to write and I didn't even like looking at it again just for this list.

11. Beautiful Singleisms. This is one that I hope readers share with some single folks.

10.  Straight Talk about THE Talk. This one, too. Talk to your kids before anyone else does.

9.  Paradox of Going and Leaving. Tough stuff.

8.  BIG BELIEFS, Little Beliefs. I wrote several of these "Beliefs" posts, but this one was the most read. I know why, too! Cause some of y'all straight up knew that somewhere in this post was the phrase "best sex"! Boom. Boost in readership right there. Just sayin'. I know what y'all are thinking!

7.  Revisitng Spouseisms for the Betrothed. Share them with newly and nearly married couples. Not everyone will agree with all, and that's okay. I still stand by them.

6.  Big C Church & Little c church. Loved this one.

5.  Spouseisms for the Betrothed See #7.

4.  Definition of a Bum. I dig when my Spouse writes.

3.  No Words. Whoa. Jesus showed up.

2.  Might + Should = Might Should Challenge to write for my friend over at Most Illustrious Mother.

1.   House Hunting as a Spaz. Our crazy search for a house was the most read? I don't know if I believe  it. Must be the wanna-be hackers. I had two random realtors post on my page. Gets on my blessed nerves.

So, there they are. Top 12.

Far From Home

Merry Christmas, Y'all. 

Sometimes, when you're far from home at Christmas, you get melancholy. When that happens, it's a good idea to look back at the awesomeness that the Lord has allowed the last few weeks.

The most wonderful time of the year: The Month of My Birthday.
Since I am Jesus' favorite, he shares his birthday month with me.
Sorry to you if you didn't already know about my being the fave. 

_______________________________________ 

My beautiful friend, Sandy,  and I got to experience The Nutcracker Ballet with our respective girls for the first time.
Love having girls.

 Evidence of Jesus' favoritism toward me: I had really been wanting to take the girls to see the Nutcracker. We've have had an eventful year, though, and was having a hard time justifying the expense at Christmastime. My homeschool group had a scheduled field trip to see it, but it was too late for me to get a ticket with them (at a major discount!) Anyway, the day before the show, an email was sent out that there were three extra tickets. A woman that I've never met ended up blessing us with her tickets that she couldn't use. So wonderful. Thank you, Jesus.

 

 _________________________________________

San Antonio

Spouse had to work for a few days in San Antonio, so the girls and I tagged along.

Two girls who love posing for pics at the Alamo.

This guy looks like a spy. Just sayin'.

You know how some moms get irate when someone outs Santa? You know the moms: something about the kid's fantasy being ruined because a kid in the 4th grade blabbed. I've seen it happen. Mom gets fired up.
Wonder how those moms would feel seeing this Santa sitting on this bench outside the Alamo? I mean, wouldn't they be obligated to protect their child's fantasy by letting their precious little ones sit on that lap?

_________________________________________

Austin

We took the scenic route home from San Antonio and went to Austin. We visited some cool shops and ate cupcakes out of a silver bullet in a parking lot called The Food Truck. I love that place and would gladly do my part to "keep Austin weird".

________________________________________

Ice Skating!

Homeschool group Christmas Party means making new friends.

________________________________________

We got Elfed!

Our community group from church left these two rednecks on our doorstep late one evening. They brought some goodies, too! Hilarious. (Pics above and below.)

Then, as part of this Christian hazing ritual,  Buddy the Nutcracker and his hillbilly friend, Bubba the Elf, had to be passed on. We are TERRIBLE elfers. Terrible. Spouse was so loud! Pretty sure we were "caught". It was so fun, though!

________________________________________

Had friends over.

Meg & her buddy, Seth.

Goodness, I am in love with these kids. 

Wii baseball.

_________________________________________

Christmas Party.

Sandy had a Gingerbread house decorating party. Bunch of mommas and kids. Bliss.

Publicly fought Maddy over this one. I won.

 ________________________________________

Got lots of love from home.

_______________________________________

Candlelight Service at BCF.

Jesus, Lord at the birth.

Making Jesus famous.

 ________________________________________

Christmas.

Maddy's first apple pie.

No-Bake Cookies for Daddy.

Gingerbread houses.

Spouse was a show-off. He made the least mess and the best construction.
A graham cracker manger with a pretzel stick playing the part of Jesus. He took scissors to a Gummy Sweet Tart and made the star. Ridiculous.

Happy Christmas Eve Fajitas.
After this fab dinner, we went to look at some serious Texas Christmas lights.

<Insert awesome Christmas morning pictures here. 

Wait. 

I can't. 

I accidentally formatted the memory card with the pictures from our very first Texas Christmas.

Brilliant. >

We got to FaceTime with family and open gifts. This invoked simultaneous cheer and sorrow in each of us in some way.

Meg burned her hand on the smoker and got herself a free ticket to the urgent care down the street.
Her pain tolerance has always amazed me. She is such a beast.

The following is a re-enactment of Christmas morning. Although, some missing items were already in the backyard and garage at the time of this re-enactment, the actors in these scenes have done their best to recreate the events as they originally happened.

Don't judge.

Meg reading Luke 2.

Smoochin.

Merry Christmas! 

The man God uses to lead & bless this family.

And, in an effort to completely gross out my kids...

 Sometimes, when you look back at all the awesomeness, you see that there are so many reasons to be grateful.

It's Christmas.
Jesus came.
He was far from home.
He had a purpose.
He did what he came to do.
He had to leave his family. He had to leave people he loved.
Why would it be any different for us?
We came here. We're far from home. There's purpose in it.
We are going to do what we came to do.

Be Jesus here.