My 2008

2008 SURVEY

Where did you begin 2008?​
On January 1st this year, we were moving into a crappy apartment in Aurora that ended up having bed bugs in it, so then we had to move again!! We moved 3 times within the first few months of this year...


What was your status by Valentine's Day?
Married


Did you have to go to the hospital?​
Yes, to have my sweet baby Logan.

Did you have any encounters with the police?​
No. I have NEVER been pulled over in my life.

Did you know anybody who got married?​
Yes, my friend Crystal, her sister, my cousin, my sister in law...probably more...


Did you know anybody who passed away?​
Don't think so...


What sporting events did you attend?​
Rockies games

What concerts/shows did you go to?
hahaha, I went to the Heritage Square Opera house, and I have been in SEVERAL Colorado Symphony Orchestra concerts (these past 3 weeks non stop!)

Where do you live now?
A different crappy apartment in Aurora


Describe your birthday?
Family around, and a new baby! It was fun.

What'​s the one thing​ you thoug​ht you would​ never​ do but did in 2008?
Ha! I auditioned for and made it into the CSO choir.


What has/​have been your favor​ite momen​t(​s)​?​
There are a lot of them, but having Logan beat them out.


Any new addit​ions to your famil​y?​
see above


What was your best month​?​
May

Who has been your best drink​ing buddy​?
hmmmmmm.....


Made new frien​ds?​
Yes, to last a lifetime


Favor​ite nights​ out?
more than one.


Any regre​ts?
A few...


What do you want to change in 2009?​
My health and my attitude


Overall, how would you rate this year?
Out of what? 1-10, 10 being the best...I give it an 8 1/2


Have any life changes in 2008?
Oh geez, yes! Where we are living, and having a baby!


Change your hairstyle?​
not really


Get a new job?
nope


Do you have a New Year's resolution?
Work out more (doesn't everyone say that?)


Get marri​ed or divor​ced?​
uhhhhhhhh


Be honest did you watch American Idol?
No, I was over it after the first 2 years

Start a new hobby?​
Yes, I did! I took up Knitting one day, and love it!


Been snowboarding?
Not this year


Are you happy to see 2008 go?
Makes no difference


Been naughty or nice?​
both ;)

What are you wishing for in 2009?​
Big changes in our living situation

Rolling River God...

This is one of my most favorite songs ever! I love playing this on my piano and singing it. The words are so poetic and beautful.

Funny Old Yearbook

Okay, so I am obsessed with this website called yearbookyourself.com. I have been playing with it with all of my familys' faces, and also some of my friends! So, I thought I'd post it on here because it really is pretty funny. Some of these are scary, but most of them will make you laugh. Enjoy.










From the top:
Josh, Heather,
Lucas, Ethan,
Logan, Ben (Josh's brother), Elise, Ryan (my brother and his wife)
John and Sarah (Josh's sister and her husband)

Laughing just because

Yesterday when we got home from church, we put the boys all down for naps. I was sooo tired, so I decided to take one too. Now, when we have the boys take naps we separate Lucas and Ethan, because they would play if we don't. So, Ethan sleeps in his room, and Lucas sleeps in mine. After everything was settled, I went into my room and got into my bed next to Lucas for a nice wonderful nap. I had my back to him because I like to lay on my right side. I closed my eyes and relaxed....and then Lucas started giggling. There was no reason why, he just started to giggle. I was trying to ignore him so he would get bored of it and stop. But every time he would try to stop he would sigh really big and then let out another burst of laughter. Soon, I could not help it, keeping my back to him I started to laugh. Lucas could see me shaking with laughter so it made him laugh even harder. Hearing him laugh harder made ME laugh harder and well...you know how it goes. We lied there for at least 10 minutes and just laughed so hard our tummies hurt. There was no reason that started it, we just laughed because we could.

Hiding Place

So most of my friends I know, as well as myself, are all going through some pretty tough trials right now. Something is stirring around in our lives, and things are going wrong. Finances, relationships, maybe illnesses and even deaths. I am remembering the lesson that Rachel gave us on the women's retreat. It was about "resting" in Christ. When we strive to do things on our own, we are not trusting God to take over our lives. He wants us to rest in Him...let Him be our Hiding Place. This song is so beautiful and reminds me that Jesus is my hiding place when everything seems to be going wrong. God is so awesome! He is my rock and my Abba Father...my hiding place.

Think you are having a bad day?

Just for a laugh!!

I love this and thought it was so funny! It is so tempting to get stickers like this for my car...but I won't, don't worry mom.

Fun Survey

I am copying my friend Rachel's little survey that she did and answering them for myself. I thought this was fun! Thanks Rach!

A song/band/type of music you'd risk wreck
& injury to turn off when it comes on the radio? Probably Kid Rock or Rap. Seriously, rappers have no talent. Have you heard the song where all they say is "Red light green light..red light green light" with a beat to it? Ugh! Oh yeah, I just remembered that I can't stand Fergie either.


Best show on television? This is hard....I am really into "reality" shows. The dancing shows are pretty fun, they make me want to drag Josh to a dancing class!


Favorite movie? Princess Bride is my all time fav. But I like tons of others. Romantic comedies are great!


Favorite room in your house? Well...if I had a house, it would probably be every room...because I would have a house


If you could have anything put on a t-shirt what would it be? I was thinking about this one, (And Rach, I have no idea what you were thinking!) But could it be something literally on your t-shirt like Orlando Bloom giving me a hug? That would mean he was on my t-shirt right? Uhhh...next question


The best part about being your age? The fact that nobody I meet believes that I am my age. They think I am wayyy younger. It gets kinda annoying sometimes when they think I had kids when I was 16 though.


Favorite Girl Scout cookie? Thin Mints all the way!!


Poker or gin or bridge? I have no clue how to play any of these


Shower or bath? Depends on my mood. If I want to get ready quick, then shower. If I have nowhere to go (and Josh can watch the kids) I love taking hot baths.


Favorite pajamas? I always see cute pj's in stores, and buy them, but then I end up wearing a t-shirt to bed.


Nightmare job? Waiting tables. I HATE it! I cannot do this job to save my life.


A talent you wish you had? uhhhhh.....I am gonna have to come back to this


Dream vacation? Take Josh to Europe with me and see everything!


What's on your nightstand? I don't have a night stand. We have a rocking chair though, and it has clothes all over it.


Tell us 3 weird things about you:
1. I spontaneously dance in the kitchen while I am cooking
2. When I run my fingers through my hair, if a strand comes out, I ALWAYS wrap it around my fingers in a figure 8 and then break it in the middle (I don't know why)
3. I can make my tongue look like a clover


The talent thing has me stumped. Seriously. I would like to be more active outdoors like I used to be, but is that a talent? Hmmmmm

I saw this and it made my day. Just makes you laugh at Christians being nit-picky about little things!

Oh my goodness

So, some of you know (because I won't stop talking about it) that I want a Wheaten terrier so BAD!!! Well, I found this adorable video of a wheaten that is stuck under a stool. It is a short video, but it shows how stinking cute these dogs are! I love it so much!

Inside out and backwards

I just wanted to post a quick little thing about my Ethan. Yesterday I wanted to post it, but I didn't have time, so I am doing it today. He always comes out of his room with something else on that he decided to put on himself. Like different pants or shorts. A lot of the time he comes out just stark naked. That's how he rolls. Well, yesterday he did it again, and usually he gets the article of clothing on the right way. But this time he came out with a shirt on that was inside out and backwards. He was so proud that he put it on. I laughed at him and said, "honey, that is inside out and backwards!" He looked at me without a hint of worry and said "no not. It's right." I sat back and watched him proceed to play with his toys. Sometimes we think things are all wrong in our lives. They seem not at all what they are "supposed" to be. If we could just have that attitude that it is all okay, and then go on with our daily activities without a care in the world, we might not be so uptight. Well, at least I can speak for myself. Just let God deal with the wrong things in our lives. He wants us to be joyful of what we have and what He has given us. I love how Ethan gave me this little lesson yesterday. Just don't worry mom...it's right.

Perfectly preposterous pork problems!

So I just got finished with a project that should have taken 10 minutes tops. I am making BBQ pork brisket for dinner tonight and it has to go in the slow cooker all day. I chopped the onions, that was easy, and then I got out the 6 pound...yes I said 6 pound pork shoulder I got from the store. All I needed was 3 pounds for the recipe. I put it in my biggest mixing bowl so I could work with it without getting pork goop all over the counters. I had to cut the plastic off from around it. That took me forever because I used a knife instead of scissors. I didn't want to get the scissors all gross from the pork because I used them for many things. I soon realized I should have used them. Then I finally got the plastic off, and now there was string wrapped all around it in all different directions. Did I use the scissors? No. I figured I already got the knife all contaminated, I might as well keep using it. So cutting the string off took me a while too. As I was cutting, tiny drops of pig juice kept splattering on my shirt and arms, and the floor. After I got it out of the stinking string, it was time to cut it in half. I was delighted to find out that it was already cut in half by the butcher. They probably figured that 6 pounds of pork was a little too much for one meal! So great! Now I just had to get it in the crock pot! Easy? No. That sucker was so slippery! It was more slippery than my little naked Logan in the bath tub! (Yeah, I just compared my baby to pork meat.) At this point it was getting ridiculous. It all should have been in the crock pot 15 minutes earlier. One thing that I can say is a good quality I posses is that I can laugh at myself. So, I did. And my kids came in the kitchen and asked what was so funny, and I couldn't even get the words out. I was laughing even harder now, just thinking what they must have thought about their mom. Needless to say I did get it in the pot and put the onions and BBQ sauce on top and it is all good to go. At least I didn't drop it on the floor like my mom did with the Thanksgiving turkey one year ( and we still ate it)! That must be where I got it from...my mom. I could have let this whole thing just make me angry, but it turned out to make the start of my day pretty great.

My 10

So, I am going to copy 2 of my friends' and create a list of 10 things I am thankful for...or things that make me happy etc. I am feeling a little weepy today for some reason, so I need to list some of the good things in my life.
1. Spending last night with my husband cuddling on the couch watching a movie
2. Beth Moore Bible study
3. My band of sisters
4. Double decker tacos from Taco Bell
5. Lucas ALWAYS telling me he loves me
6. Logan giggling when I talk to him
7. Friends who understand me
8. My mom being so happy about her new puppy
9. Going to Petco to look at animals
10. Ethan giving sloppy kisses

Caleb and Crystal's wedding

I just wanted to post a few pictures from the wedding we were all in (except Logan) on the 29th of August. Josh was a groomsman, I was doing some of the music, and Lucas and Ethan were ring bearers. It was a very beautiful wedding.



Josh and the boys getting ready






The cutest ring bearers ever!








I think this is such a cool pic of Lucas

during the wedding...he got tired








I got to sing "Brides Prayer", a song I wrote

for someone elses wedding a long time ago!

Caleb and Crystal praying during their

communion...so beautiful

Made it!!!

So, I found this out last Tuesday, but haven't gotten the chance to post anything yet. I tried out for the CSO choir last Monday night. There were a lot of people there trying out and I started to get really nervous! I haven't had an audition for something in a loooong time! And I thought that might count against me when it came time for them to decide who they wanted in the choir. We had to fill out a sheet about what solos we have done in the past, which choirs we were with, and what, if any, musicals or performances we were in. It has been so long that I couldn't remember most of the things I needed to put down on the paper! Oh yeah, and they wanted the dates as well. LOL, all of my "most current" dates were in 1998 that I did stuff! So, I really thought this would count against me. BUT, as it turns out, they called me on Tuesday and said they would be honored for me to participate in the choir! I was so excited!! I will be an alto, (which I have never been in my life) because my voice has changed so much and they said they really liked my lower register. Sooooo, yeah. I made it! I cannot wait to start practices. They will start this coming Tuesday the 16th of September.

Tribute to my two favorite artists

I absolutely love Josh Groban. I think his talent is such a gift, and he uses it so well. I am feeling really artsy right now, so I thought I'd put up a video of him singing about my favorite artist, Vincent Van Gogh. This song is so beautuful and it pulls you in...just listen. So good.

Not leaving...

So, we aren't cancelling our Internet just yet. We are going to take it month by month. We can't do without it!! I didn't realize how much I use the computer! Besides checking my email and facebook, I use it to find things, and use Google maps ALL of the time! So yeah, we are still here.

My audition is coming up quickly! I am so excited! I will let you know what happens!!

My Brother's Video

Hide and Seek With Noah

This is a video Ryan made a while ago. I love it so much I thought I'd put it on my blog. It is him and his son Noah. It also has a pretty good message in it!

Leaving for a while....

Well, we have to cancel our internet for a few months to save some money. So, of course that means I can't write anything on my blog for a while, which makes me sad, because even if nobody reads it, I enjoy writing about things in my life. When we can get the internet again (and we both REALLY want to keep it) I will definately be back to post some more blogs.



On a lighter note, I have decided to audition for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra Choir!! The auditions are in a week, and I already have a song I would like to do. It has to be an opera or an aria of some kind. I will do "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert. I am very excited about this oportuntiy, and I hope I make it into the choir. It is a HUGE choir! It consists of 245 members, and it is amazing when you hear them sing. I have been putting off my passion for music for way too long. I knew I wanted to sing in a choir, but not just any choir will do for me...I need a dang good choir!! So, if I make it, I will be a very happy girl. Next time I get on here to post, I will let you know if I made it or not...it will probably be in a month or 2.

Wadsworth without the "wads"

I just wanted to say something really quick about how people who are taking your information over the phone are frustrating. You know, like updating your info over the phone for your doctor's office or verifying your name for some type of account. They ask you for your first and last name, and I always hate it, because my last name is not that hard at all but they make it hard. It never ceases that they miss spell my last name. I spell it out and I even say "S as in snake, and N as in Nancy" But they never get it right. I finally figured out that sometimes...sometimes they get it if I say "You know, like Wadsworth but without the 'Wads'...and put in 'Ains'"

Women's Retreat

I just got back from a women's retreat yesterday. We stayed in a beautiful lodge in Monument Colorado located on the side of a mountain. I feel so refreshed. I needed this retreat not only to just get away from the kids and daily life, but I needed it to cleanse my soul. A few posts ago I wrote about something that has been giving me heartache, and had made me bitter and sad. I feel like I was just in a deep hole and could not see the light. But after this last weekend, I can see the light. God is so awesome and faithful. I know He is there for me, and I just need to put it all on Him. He knows what I am going through, and I know there will be changes coming soon. I also learned from this experience, that I need to change some things about myself...big time. I thank God for all of the wonderful women He has placed in my life. They are so full of knowledge, and they are so full of love. I am glad to call them my sisters.

It's been a while!

I haven't posted anything for a few weeks. I can't believe how these weeks are flying by! Each day is going by so fast, which is weird, because usually when I am at home with the boys, the days take forever! Not lately though! Lucas starts pre-k on September 2nd. I am pretty excited for him. It will be good for him to get out of the house for 4 days out of the week and be with other kids his age, and learn new things and play on an awesome playground. It will also be good for my sanity, because he is getting at that age where he drives me crazy and he just needs something else to do!

On a different note, Josh and I have been tossing an idea back and forth about moving to the UK next year. It has been a big topic of discussion lately, and I keep going back and forth as to weather I would like to do it or not. Right now, I am wanting to do it! But I will probably change my mind in a week or so!! Moving over seas is a MAJOR thing. It would be through Josh's work that we could do it. He works for Raytheon. They would help us move and help find housing and even a school for Lucas over there. The city is called Harrogate. I've looked online for stuff about it and it looks wonderful! I don't know. It would definitely be a chance in a lifetime, and we would get to do so many things there that not many people get to do! So, I'll keep you updated on what is going on with that.

Well, not much else to say I guess. I get to go on a women's retreat this weekend and I cannot wait! I really really need this! It will be refreshing.

Can you guess?

Cindy Crawford's kids, one is a boy, but can you guess which one?

I want a dog

Yes. I want a dog sooooo bad I cannot stand it. I even know what kind I want, a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Let me give you a little bit of the background of my pet history. I grew up with cats mostly, because my mom didn't like dogs for the longest time. I had the best kitty named Oliver when I was a little girl. He followed me everywhere, and "helped" me with my homework. Then we got a puppy. It was my junior year in high school. She was a little yellow lab, and we named her Aspen. There has never been a better dog on the face of this earth than she was. She did everything. She was so well behaved, and she loved our family very much. Then I went to college and couldn't have pets for a while, but my junior year in college I got a dog for free that I saw in the newspaper. He was part husky part German shepherd, and his name was Bear. I LOVED him! He would sleep in my tiny twin bed with me and I loved it. But he died while my friend Elaina was watching him for a week. We still don't know why to this day. He was only 2 years old...I cried my eyes out. Fast forward to after I had been married for a while, my husband caved in and let me get a puppy. She was a purebred Australian Shepherd. I named her Layla, and she was mine! All mine! I took her on walks all of the time. People commented on how beautiful she was all of the time. Then I got pregnant with Lucas, and we were in a small one bedroom apartment, so I gave her to my uncle to watch for a while until we moved somewhere better. Well, while he was gone one afternoon, the neighbors dog was "playing" with Layla and took her in his mouth by her collar, and broke her neck. Yeah. So, of course I cried my eyes out when I found that out. I got a cat that I named Peanut while we were first married too, and eventually had to give him away because we found out Lucas was allergic to him. Then I FINALLY got a dog again. We were in a good house, with a good yard...what could possibly ruin this? Well, we just recently discovered that my son Ethan is allergic to dogs. He was breaking out in hives. So, we had to give her away too. So now, here I am. The biggest animal lover in the world, and I can't have any. Josh let me get fish....big whoop. I go up to the tank and say "honey, look, the fishy is looking at me!" Josh just looks at me like I am crazy! So....I want a dog. I have done research and they have "hypoallergenic" dogs, and soft coated wheaten terriers fit into that category. So, I am hoping some day I can get one...or two, and keep them and love them for the rest of their looong lives.

Need Washing?

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in 'Mom let's run through the rain,' she said. 'What?' Mom asked. 'Lets run through the rain!' She repeated 'No,honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied. This young child waited about another minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain,' 'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said. 'No, we won't, Mom.. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm. 'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?' 'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!' The entire crowdstopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocenttrust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith. 'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,' Mom said. Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads justin case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

Complications...

I don't know quite where to start with this blog... Today I feel pretty down in the dumps. I don't want to say anything that will give away too much information right now because who knows who reads this blog!! There has been something going on that has been affecting my life now for a couple of months. It is something that I hope will resolve, but fear that it will only become more an more bothersome. I need so much prayer right now, and I need wisdom on what to do. I know God hears my prayers...I know He is always there...I know that I know that I KNOW He is the answer to all of this, but it is so complicated and deeply hurtful to me. I think that I have been so thrown off by all of this that I honestly have not gone to Him in a while. I feel bitter and scared. First of all, if you are reading this and are starting to get worried about me, don't. There is nothing putting me in danger or anything like that. I wish I could throw it all out there and get it off of my chest in WORDS, but it would not be good out of respect for someone else. I cannot put it on here for all of the world to see...not yet. So, if you are a believer and are reading this, please pray for me. Pray for wisdom and knowledge of what to do. I wonder why God is putting me through this? I know that someday, maybe a long time from now, but someday I will know why He has. He does everything for a reason. Maybe it is to strengthen my own faith.

Dragon Boat Festival

Today we took the boys and headed off to the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. We had never heard of this before (it has been going on for years), so we thought it would be something new and fun to do! It was so cool. There were thousands of people walking around with their little oriental hats on and their beautifully hand painted parasols. There were booths everywhere with little trinkets and things to buy, all having to do with the Asian culture. There was a parade with the big dragon and people walking with big flags and a large group of Buddhist monks at the end chanting. It was very interesting to watch. Lucas loved watching the big dragon go by over and over as they made their rounds. Ethan liked it too, but he was more interested in picking up sticks and rocks and throwing them. It was HOT too! I have a sunburn on my whole face and some on my chest and my back. I am not supposed to be in the sun like that...ooops. So anyways, it turned out to be a wonderful afternoon for the whole family. We bought the kids each a wooden sword and a little chinese drum like they have on the Karate Kid...you know, when he is fighting and all of the people get out their little drums? Those kind. On our way back to our car, we met the sweetest couple! Their names are Vanessa and Jackie, which is his American name that he has. He is from China and has a pretty thick Chinese accent. They are a young couple, and they have a 11 month old son named Edison and she is 8 months pregnant with their second boy! We hit it off talking with them as we walked, so we each took numbers, and we will be going out to lunch with them tomorrow! I can see this becoming a good friendship.
This was a good day for good fun, good food, and good friends!

Mommy times

I love being a mommy. I love my 3 boys. They are all so unique...each one of them has something different to offer the world. Lucas is shy and quiet. His heart is so tender and he has so much love to give. He is the definition of the word love. Then there is Ethan, my second son. I have to laugh when I think of him. He is the opposite of Lucas. I am not saying he isn't loving, he is, but he is rowdy, and fearless and totally hilarious! He makes me laugh every day. He can just give you a certain look and it will make you crack up! He is also fearless which scares me because I think out of my 3 sons, he will be the first with a broken arm or leg. Lastly, there is my sweet Logan. He is only 11 weeks old, so I can't see a personality in him yet. But he will smile at me and make me want to cry because I love him so much. He is probably going to be our last baby...I don't think I can handle any more!!! So, when I look at him, I get sad sometimes, because I want to cherish every smile, every coo that he makes because I probably will not experience it again after him. I love having another baby, but I am excited to see what his personality turns out to be like. I am so thankful to God for giving me these 3 sweet little boys. I pray that He blesses their lives as they grow, and that they become men who love Jesus and are not afraid to do so in this crazy world.

I love being a mommy.

Maybe I can do this...

So, I have not ever had a blog spot before. I think it sounds fun, and I am getting tired of the whole Myspace and Facebook thing. This seems a little bit more...grown up. Plus, I feel like I have a lot to say, especially right now. So, I think I'll give it a try. I may not post things everyday, but I will try to get something on here at least once a week! Ha! Well...here we go!