Ashley's Skiing

This is the first of 3 new posts - filled with pictures!!

Ashley and Libby preparing to ski.

Here she comes!

The first day of skiing (post-surgery) was a success! Two hours and she was tuckered, but she did it!

Family Guitar Hero Night

Okay, there's like 3 posts one after another but they're worth the pictures!

I declared last Saturday night as Family Game Night. We had cocktail shrimp and played Wii Guitar Hero then watched a movie.

Aprons and Cupcakes

Ashley and I bought a new cookbook devoted to decorating cupcakes. Her favorite were the little schnauzer dogs - of course!

She made this one first.









The decorating process.






























The same night, she made a new apron! It was from a pattern her Great Grandma Beach used. Pretty cool. She loved using the iron to press the apron.

Go Debbie!

A few years I ago, I began watching TLC's "What Not to Wear." Love it. (Yes, I love clothes!) Then last year, my diva-in-training discovered the show, too. We have sat and watched marathons of this program!

Ashley has gone so far as to email Clinton Kelly and suggest that he do a children's show on how young women should dress modestly because they show their bellies too much.

Now stay with me, this gets confusing!

Last night, I had a facebook from Jill Palmer that her sister, who lives in New York, had a friend who would be featured on "WNTW" that evening. We set the DVR and thought we'd have to watch it later because of our boys. But - the boys had soccer! So we watched the program!

As it turns out, Debbie (featured on the show) had been reading my blog about Ashley's surgery. Debbie had read Jill's blog - sent there from Jill's sister - then hoped on over to us. I had seen New York on my ticker but didn't know who it was (I love seeing the different places that people read us from!) Once, Debbie had asked Jill's sister how Ashley was doing while Jill and Sis (confused yet?) were talking on the phone.

So now, Debbie - we fell in love with you last night! Your wit and humour - you are such a lovely human being! You must come to Durango! (Don't bring Clinton - he'd have a heart attack. We've been voted the Worse Dress City in America three times!) Come ski, or hike - whatever! And we'll take you shopping Durango style - which means buy whatever you want because no body really cares!

Ashley and I love watching and talking fashion. Cerebral Palsy does not hold this Diva back one bit!!!! Even in a wheelchair, she was styling - bows on the legs of the chairs. In a cast, she was gorgeous - I had to match outfits to go with a green cast! I love mostly that she knows that the inside makes a person beautiful - the outside is just the picture frame for a gorgeous masterpiece.

Adaptive Sports Association

Tomorrow is the Dave Spencer Ski Classic at Purgatory.

This is an annual fundraiser for the

Adaptive Sports Association in Durango, CO.

They provide winter and summer activities for children and adults with physical disabilities.

Ashley will be on the mountain helping raise funds for their scholarship program!

Yes, the economy is tight, but even $2.00 goes along way towards letting those with disabilities feel the freedom of skiing down the mountain or the rush of riding the rapids or

the beauty of camping in Utah.

Check them out at www.asadurango.org

Thanks! I'll post pictures soon.

Thankful Thursday - Keep Moving Forward!

This week has reminded me once again of the reality that people everywhere are in crisis or pain. That life is happening and hurting people are everywhere. I've talked to several friend in the middle of divorce, another with the death of a close friend while another friend lost their step-dad. I spoke with a class of students who are hurting and in trouble. They have the opportunity to turn their lives around - but will they?

After Ashley's stroke I was very angry when I looked around me and saw other people going on with their lives. Inside I would scream, "MY LIFE HAS STOPPED! WHY AREN'T YOU STOPPING WITH ME?" I would be angry when I heard about movies my friends and family saw or dinners they went out to have with friends. All I did was go to doctor's appointments and therapy appointments. I learned a new language - medical speak. I learned how to give medications, track seizures and then, with whatever spare energy I had, I spent with Chris trying to make his life "normal."

The angriest I ever became was with a dear friend who said, "at some point, you have to pick yourself up and move on." Move ON? Was she kidding? (Yes, we are still good friends today.) I wanted her to sympathize, to cry with me. But after 8 weeks, crying more would not change anything. After 8 weeks, retelling the story would not make it go away. This stroke was part of our lives. Another tear or pat on the back was what I wanted - I got a kick in the pants that I needed!

Oddly enough, I had to embrace the stroke. I could not go forward until I looked it in the eye, addressed it and said, "let's go!" Then I had to embrace David's knee surgery - 4 weeks after the stroke - and his cane (for another 2 months); I had to embrace the miscarriage and then the hysterectomy that took from me the ability to ever have another child - 4 weeks after the knee surgery!

Okay, 1999 got off to a really bad start! But it's part of who we are now. Oh, yes, I would take it all back. Yet that's not an option. So, it has become part of the molding of who we are today in Christ.

Today I am thankful for that friend (I love you Rhonda), who spoke in love knowing it would hurt me and that I would probably be furious with her.

I am thankful for those friends who kept going on with their lives. I view those friends as the river that was running along a sandy beach. My life boat had been thrown violently on the beach. They kept the river flowing so that when the time was right, I was able to push my boat back into the river that was still flowing.

I am thankful that I learned to look at those around me and breathe a prayer for their own storm -tossed lives.

I am thankful that God has taught me to "Keep Moving Forward!" Keep my focus on him and the cross and realize that "these light afflictions cannot be compared to the glory of God that awaits us."

If you are in a crisis, rest on the beach - but get back in the river!!! If you're the river, keep it flowing so that others can jump in!

What do I look like?

Anyone who knows me knows that I like to shop, I like clothes, I like to dress up, I like to dress casual; shoes are a passion and so is makeup and lipsticks. (Last week I had 9 in my purse at one time!) Every Sunday I ask David, "how do I look?" He always compliments my clothes or hair and smiles and hugs me. Well, every Sunday except when we have nursery duty - that's a jeans and t-shirt day!

This past week, David was musing over our closet. It's a large walk-in. Around 6x12' with double racks on one side. You could make it a nursery! Or an Office! About 2 feet of this closet is occupied by a filing cabinet. David has about 4' - maybe. The rest is mine! Mine! Mine! All Mine!!!!

I am very organized in this closet. By season, by type, by sleeve length and pant leg length. Dressy or Casual. Two shoe racks on the floor with shoes on each side; hats on the shelf; and a large storage box full of purses.

David made the mistake of saying outloud that he was amazed at how little space he had in the closet.

"Do you need more?" I asked.

"No. But why do you need so much?" he questioned. Foolishly.

"Because I have more," duh!

"I don't understand why you have so many clothes? How many can you wear?" Now, he's ticking me off.

"I wear everything in that closet. I dress for work. For church. Soccer games. Girl Scouts events. You like me looking nice and I do my best," with the little hairs on my neck beginning to bristle.

"Yes, but why do you have so much? I just don't get it." Really?

"Yes, you do. I'm the same as you. You love the hunt. Providing for your family. Meat. A home. This is my hunting and gathering - clothes for the family. Not a thing in my closet cost over $20.00! Most things less than $10.00!!!!! Our children are dressed for less than anyone around because I hunt for bargains!!!!!! I find, I gather." Now I'm starting to see myself as alittle crazed.

"Hmm. Okay." And he walked off! Not that he bought the argument, but he was done.

I am good at shopping for bargains. God has blessed me with the ability to find deals on clothes. My kid's closests can attest to that. I am trying to do more "as needed" shopping, but that usually costs more than buying shirts for Ashley for $3.00 at the end of the season and storing them until next year. (I did that this week! 4 outfits for $21.00)

After this confrontation, I finished dressing, but on my jewelry and left for work. Ticked that he would question my closet capacity.

Skip to today, Geri Swingle spoke at the Dreamer's Encouragement class. It was great! The challenge to me was as follows: Do I look like my Dream?

We often wonder what our dream is to look like, but at what point do we begin to look like our Vision?

Challenge. Not that God is saying, "Giveth thouest clothes to the naked and bare thy closest for thou husbands sake!" No, he's saying that clothes don't make me look the Vision. My heart does. My character does.

And if I don't look like my vision now - pretend! Play dress-up. What do I think my dream should look like? Then dress like that!

We want to be organized. Well, take steps to get it together!

We want to be a good housekeeer. Well, start cleaning!

A cook - buy a cookbook.

You get it? I thought of an old "Fake it 'til you make it!" Not be a fake person. Practice being who you want to be until you become that person. Practice being gracious. Practice self-discipline.

Thanks God for giving me a full closet. Not just of clothes. But a spiritual closet full of people to guide me towards your Vision. A closet full of experiences that guide my heart. A closet of armor so I can Stand for you.