Photography in Hawaii

There are many things I would love to do, but am not very good at. Cake decorating, knitting, and photography. So, I have decided to do something about this. A year or two ago, I got a new SLR camera, and I have not used it to its best advantage. I bought a couple books but am quickly finding out that is not how I learn best. So, I am signing up for an online class.. hopefully I will get in!!

I recently went with my family and some friends to Hawaii... it was a great vacation. And, I decided this would be a great place to begin playing with the settings on my camera. Here are some shots from the trip... most of these are of foliage.. if you want to see family pics, jump on over to the family blog.

God's plan

Today is a strange day. A friend of mine from my MOPS group said goodbye to her eldest daughter this morning, and was there as she left her earthly body to join our Father in Heaven. Her daughter was born with cerebral palsy and recently was given a diagnosis that basically told her parents that the end was near. She was very ill for the past couple months, spending more time in the hospital than at home.

My friend, though she was terribly sad at the impending death of her child, she knew that the time was coming and she was overjoyed that her daughter would finally be able to walk and dance, to be without pain and suffering that she endured here on Earth.

Now, I have only known this family for 2 and a half years, and there are many here who have known them longer and better, but I will say this: I admire their strength, their courage and most of all, their faith. They have leaned on God to support them through this entire time, and surely they will need Him now more than ever.

No one's life is perfect, nor do things always turn out how we plan or expect. Amy didn't expect that when she and her husband decided to have a child, that their future would include a child with such severe health problems and limitations. It was not the picture they had in their head, yet as they moved forward, they did so knowing it was part of God's plan.

God's plan. Hmm. While I do believe God has a plan, it is my greatest struggle to sit back and let that lead me. Many moms I know struggle with this. While we know that we should let go, and let God.... we get so wrapped up in the need to control everything, to know what is going to happen and when...

As I spent the day with my children, I tried to keep this family in my thoughts and vowed to remember each day how blessed I am to have 2 very healthy children. I also need to continue to trust in God and His plan....

Mileage Monday.. Update

So, we missed a week.. due to a very special trip to Maui.. :)

While in Hawaii.. i did run four times!! Yeah.. but they were all short runs.. so, only 16 miles the past two weeks... a bit down, but hey, i was enjoying the rest. I plan to log 20 this week to make up for it!! :)

so, totals are:

Total Miles: 117.5 , Kilometers Run: 189.097
as of February 22
Kyle: due to traveling, did not bike..
Total Miles Biked: 151 as of February 22

Mileage Monday

So, this was a funny week for me running. I didn't do my "long" run.... but did three medium runs.... so that was good. i needed to take it a bit easy ...

and Kyle did one long ride in addition to his riding to work.... so, we are both still right on track...

Stacie: 16 miles this week
Total Miles: 101.5 , Kilometers Run: 163.35 as of February 8

Kyle:
Total Miles Biked: 151 as of February 8

Boot camp to Pedicure

We just finished a boot camp class at the gym, and to celebrate we all with to Spa Bliss for a "Touch of Bliss".... and it was blissful...


We brought some snacks... and wine (I know, shocking!!)....



Facials done. Massages done. Time for our pedicures.




After about 5 hours, they made us leave...


So we headed McMenamins... But no photos of that. :) It was a great afternoon of pampering ourselves and GREAT company.

Thanks ladies....

Mileage Monday

This week was another good running week for me.. I ran four times, for a total of 22 miles. I tried to mix it up with a couple shorter runs, where I worked on speed by going as fast as I could. This seemed to pay off, as when I did my longer runs, I also increased my speed and was able to cut off two minutes from my 8 mile run.

Our Year to Date totals are:

Stacie: This week ran 22.15 miles, thus bringing my total mileage to 85.3 miles, which is 137.277 Kilometeters
Kyle: Biking total for year is 126 Miles. (He doesn't break it down for me. )

A new name....

So, four years ago today my name changed. Before January 30, 2006 I was known mostly as Stacie, though a few close friends called me shmo.... but for the most part, I answered only to Stacie.

Then it happened. I became mom. Momma. Mommy. MMMOOOOOOMMMMMMAAAAAAA. Some days I hear that word so much that I think I am going to go crazy. momma. momma. momma.

It is hard to believe that Allison, my oldest is four years old. So much has changed in four years.

A lot of moms I know say it is hard to remember life before kids. Really? I do remember life before Allie. I remember being able to sleep in past 6 am on days I didn't have to work. I remember going to the movies, and not animated movies. I remember sitting at a restaurant for hours visiting and hanging out, with no one else to worry about (ok, so this is not true.. occasionally I would have to worry about Kyle if he was with Scott.... the two of them tend to lose count of beverages... :) I remember scrapbooking, and leaving my craft stuff all over the house. I remember flying on airplanes with only one small carry on, and maybe one checked bag.

Now, lets see.... I answer mostly to Momma. Even Kyle refers to me as mom when talking to the girls. I rarely sleep past 6am (actually, these days 6am feels late thanks to my youngest). I finally saw Avatar last night, but before that... most movies I see are about talking animals or princesses. When I go to a restaurant, there is no leisure time.. it is all about eating and getting the kiddos to eat without them getting so bored they want to race around the place. I rarely scrapbook, as a matter of fact, I have not finished Allie's first year scrapbook (I plan to finish in March). And all you parents know how much we travel with these days....

Do I miss my former life? Nope. Don't get me wrong, we were perfectly happy and content with our lives. Nothing felt like it was missing. We have a ton of memories to treasure...

And now we have even more. Still we are perfectly happy and content with our lives. I would not say I am more happy now with children. I would say I am blessed, since I am perfectly happy with where I was five years ago AND where I am today. Sometimes I am nastalgic for the carefree happy hour visits... but in truth, I don't miss them. And, I have a sitter, so actually do get to go out every so often.

I love watching my girls play. I love the sounds of their laugh ... I wish I could bottle that sound so I could have it for all times. I love watching Kyle play with his girls. I love the way the girls look at us as if we are everything one minute, then totally mean and crazy the next.

My life is not really perfect, but I am perfectly happy... especially with my name. Momma.