{iPhone Rewind} :: May

Oh Texas weather...only here is it ok to go from 39 degrees on May 1st to 90 degrees on May 2nd.

 

 

I was up again to teach in the kids' ministry. We are starting to teach catechisms, so I tried to find a way to make it interactive and fun for the little guys. Makes me thankful for growing up in a house where these kinds of ideas flowed consistently {because my mom is awesome}.

  

Sasha has not quite grasped the need for her own mat during yoga. Every time I lie on the floor, she has to lay directly next to or on top of me. #mustbeclosetomomatalltimes

 

I was able to have dinner with my sweet friend Sami and meet this little guy! Baby Jackson is Jon and Sami's third baby, and he is absolutely adorable. I enjoyed getting to meet him, see how much Evie and David have grown, and catch up with their mama!

 

I found this recipe online for Cowboy Bark and decided to try it. It turned out pretty good! We drizzled some extra chocolate on top to keep the toppings in place, and we really enjoyed this yummy dessert. It probably lasted 3 days haha. :)

 

There is currently a nationwide shortage of B-12, so I am hopping around pharmacies trying to find a supply. I wish they could prioritize who gets it {medical vs. personal healthy choice...in other words, I need it because my body doesn't process vitamins vs. healthy Hank who just wants a quicker energy boost}, but it doesn't work that way. It's amazing to me how much power such a tiny bottle holds...

 

Ben and Lindsay introduced us to Tetris Link, and we now have a fun new game! I can't for the life of me beat Mike, but it's still fun. Gotta mix it up with our usual Rummikub rivalry :)

 

The one down side to Winco is that they do not have good salsa. Seriously- we have tried the {few} brands they have on the shelf, and they are awful! You would think we didn't live in Texas. So bizzare. So it has just forced us to make our own! We have definitely enjoyed having fresh salsa in the house, and even I can enjoy a non-spicy version.

 

My goofy hubby...he's so cute. "I 'cow'nt myself blessed and am 'udderly' amazed to have such a beautiful wife! I love you!" Haha- love him :)

 

This article came across my desk, and I couldn't resist reading it. I grew up listening to George, and thoroughly enjoyed this article. It put me in a king-of-country-kind-of-mood! I may or may not have listened to all of his songs. Over a period of a couple of days. Because I definitely have all of them. #lovemesomegeorgestrait  :)

 

We headed to downtown McKinney for the annual Bike the Bricks event. Our friends Brad and Lindsay met us at our house, and then we walked down to the square together. We enjoyed walking around, eating at the food trucks, and watching the races. It was a fun evening out with friends!

 

High Five for Friday!

{one} Confession: I have been listening to George Strait on my iPhone all morning at work. I just was in a king-of-country-kind-of-mood :) It's crazy to me that he is almost done with his farewell tour...I grew up listening to George and LOVE his music! It's Friday...might as well "whistle while I work!"

{two} Mike recently accepted a full time job as a Marketing Lead Coordinator for a company that focuses on the stewardship and fundraising needs of churches. We are so excited about how the Lord has provided! Nothing is changing with the church plant, so that means he will be working full time and pastoring Redeemer as well. This is definitely the next season the Lord has for us, but we know it will be an adjustment, and we would covet your prayers for the transition ahead.

{three} We are in full VBS-prep mode! We are partnering with First Presbyterian to host VBS in June. We will have it in the evening, so I will be running from work to VBS...good thing it's right down the street! I am in charge of the craft time, so I am busy collecting supplies and getting things ready for the kiddos. We are excited about partnering with FPC and sharing Jesus with the kids in our neighborhood!

{four} Tonight we're hanging out with some friends at the Bike the Bricks event in downtown McKinney. None of us are participating in the bike races, but we thought it would be fun to watch. They shut down the square and set up food trucks for spectators. The weather is beautiful, and it will be fun to walk around and enjoy the festivities.

{five} I am definitely looking forward to a 3-day weekend. They always seem to come just at the right time. While I am thankful for the break from work, I am even more thankful for the men and women who have served our country and given their lives to protect our freedoms. This weekend, I am praying for the families who have lost a loved one.

Bing Images

World IBD Day

Happy World IBD Day!! {??}

Is it weird that I now "celebrate" these off-the-wall days? Because I sure think it's weird. It's not exactly a celebration, but I do at least recognize these days now. Funny how that goes. 

  

The good thing about these days is that it helps raise awareness. I didn't have a clue what an Irritable Bowel Disease {IBD} was until I was diagnosed with one. And because not many people know a ton about it, there's just not as concentrated an effort on finding a cure. This world is filled with disease, many a lot worse than my own, so it has definitely made me more mindful of those suffering with physical ailments.

So here's my little bullet-point PSA on something that I {and 5 million others across the globe} live with...

• IBD is a condition that causes chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal {GI} tract, an abnormal immune system reaction
• The two most common IBD's are Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
• UC was first described in 1875; CD was first described in 1932
• CD can affect all areas of the digestive tract; UC only affects the colon, rectum, and anus
• Symptoms of IBD: persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, rectal bleeding, and fatigue
• While most patients experience these symptoms, no two IBD's are alike; meaning, the disease and treatment are different for everyone
• A "flare" is used to describe the active state {with symptoms} of the disease
• IBD affects both men and women equally, and it can run in families
• Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 30
• There is no cure or known cause for IBD, so treating IBD has been likened to playing darts without a bull's eye {fun, right?}
• The goal of medical treatment for IBD is to achieve remission
• About 70% of people with Crohn's will eventually require surgery; after 30 years with the disease, 1/3 of people with UC will require surgery
• People with IBD have a higher risk of colorectal cancer, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, osteoporosis, depression

For more detailed information, check out this helpful factbook from CCFA. #nerdalert   :)

Even typing out this list kind of makes me shudder a bit, just remembering the reality of this disease. But I am also very thankful. That I was diagnosed before my Crohn's was too severe. That I have a doctor that I like and trust. That I live in a time and place that offers some level of medical treatment. That I do not face this disease alone; that I have a community of family and friends who provide prayers and encouragement. And that I have the hope of one day being disease-free, with a new body, in the presence of my beautiful Savior.

{30 Before 30} :: Go to Canton Trade Days

I have lived in the DFW area for almost 7 years and have never been to Canton Trade Days. Not sure how that is possible, as several of my friends have planned numerous trips. Some even go for the entire weekend! I have just always missed it the weekends they go. But now I can cross this off my list and say that I have been :)

 

And of course, the trip could only be complete with Laura in tow! So we left our boys at home and headed out for a fun girls' day. We started the day with breakfast tacos at Taco Cabana, then headed out to Trade Days. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and we went early enough to beat the crowds.

 

 

I didn't get many photos because a lot of the shop owners asked that no photos be taken {creative copyright, I guess}. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but it definitely got my creative juices flowing and made me want to find another project to work on! :)

 

 

Laura and I decided that we are going to brainstorm our niche craft idea and sell our super-awesome product at Canton some day. Haha- girls can dream, right?

 

It was a great way to spend a Sunday. Neither one of us bought a thing, but we enjoyed walking around the varying trade centers and perusing through everything. I am definitely a fan of Canton Trade Days and plan to go back!

{30 Before 30} :: {Finally} Learn How to Fold a Fitted Sheet

Ok seriously, ya'll. I am almost 30, and I could not fold a fitted sheet. For the life of me. 

I volunteered with the housekeeping staff for several summers at BSF, and they taught me several times. I figured I would just need practice and eventually get the hang of it. But every time I have tried, I just ended up cursing whoever invented fitted sheets, rolling the sheet into a half-fold/half-wad, and moving on with my life. 

Until now...

I set out to {finally} learn how to fold a fitted sheet. I graduated with a 4.0 from Baylor, for goodness sake! Surely I could figure this out. I found several tutorials online {which made me feel slightly better about my lack of fitted-sheet folding skills}, and just started practicing. I tried watching several videos, but they usually went too fast, and I just couldn't figure out which corner was corner #3  :)

I found this video tutorial from none-other than Martha Stewart, and I could totally empathize with the audience volunteer. 

This video tutorial is a little blurry, but it was the easiest for me to see the different corners everyone kept talking about haha!

This was also a helpful step-by-step that I found on Pinterest.

Not perfect, but definitely MUCH better :) 

I am embarrassed to admit that this took WAY longer than it should have, but I finally got it down! I don't have a Martha Stewart fold, but my sheets are neat and tidy and fit in their drawer with ease. 

Take THAT, fitted sheets :)