A days in the lives of...

Remembering Josh

2011-01-02T13:53:00.000-08:00

I can't help thinking that Josh was just with us a few years ago, and now, on his 53rd birthday his memory is with me stronger than ever. I wonder what he is doing now. I imagine him on the beach, any beach really, just taking in the beauty and rating the brilliance of the sunsets. Or I can see him with a fantastically delicious dinner right out of Bon Appetit magazine cooking in the kitchen and all of his friends and family around him smiling and laughing. Maddox was with him that year he died and was just over a year old when it happened September 2, 2007.and we tell him stories about Uncle Josh all the time. He knows all about him, and when he asks questions I feel like he is living on. When Micah gets older we will be sure to reminisce over the person Josh was and show him the pictures and tell him the stories of all the beautiful places Josh lived.

My colleague and friend Cath was just talking about a class she took that was all about Rumi. This lead me to some Google exploring and I just came across this saying that is on Rumi's tombstone; "When we are dead, seek not our tomb in the earth, but find it in the hearts of men." -Rumi This is exactly where I think Josh lives on, in our hearts.

Overwhelmed

2010-11-15T07:21:00.000-08:00

I know this is not the correct place to have my diary but I have an immense feeling that I am doing too much and not dedicating enough time to the people who mean the most to me in my life. Not so say that I don't enjoy every single thing that I am doing, but it seems that when I have a free moment to really spend time with family I always have something else that comes up that takes precedence. What I need to do is to prioritize everything that know that I can take some time out for 'me'. I'm sure this happens to so many people, we feel like we can do it all and in reality there are just not enough hours in the day. Something has to give. Lately it's been my family.. That is the last sacrifice I want to make. The question is what do I need to change, how do I balance everything so I can do everything that makes me happy? That's the million dollar question isn't it...

Only comes once..

2010-09-04T20:55:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since my last post and I'm exhausted so this will be a short blog. Everyone is out of the house with the exception of a sleeping baby and my dog, whom are both enjoying the evening in a very productive way which is catching up on sleep. I on the other hand am working on attempting to clear off my desk, which started out with about 7 stacks of things to get done, and now I have cleared it down to one. What an accomplishment. Things have been so overwhelming since Micah came to the world. I feel pulled so many directions because I am fighting what I am naturally supposed to do which is to just let go and relax with my family, spend time with my new baby, and take this amazing experience in. Every day I see his face and know that every minute he is changing and growing. His toothless smiles will soon disappear and in it's place will grow some teeth, every day changing. I look at Maddox and he is nothing like the baby he was, arguably much better now that he can get dressed on his own and maintain his independence rather well, but it is the experience of having that baby that I don't want to let slip away. Time really does pass before our eyes, in a good way. Life goes on and so do we, but being present in this experience that we go through is key. Just have to keep reminding myself of that... Will write soon.

Snow Tomorrow

2009-02-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

ALL RIGHT!! We are supposed to get some snow in North Carolina. I guess we will have to see it to believe it but it should be coming tomorrow.

So today was such a relaxing day with rain all day. We just sat around the house and just spent time with each other and read some books. This morning Randy and Maddox went out to Bounce-U and then Randy made another trip to the bookstore and to get coffee. MMM MMM He knows what I love...

We are going to start working on a web site but still trying to figure out the basics on our Mac program Go Live...it will be a good project for us to start doing together.

Other than that--there is not much new news. :)

The world as it is now..

2009-02-26T08:11:00.000-08:00

The world turns, isn't that the name of a soap opera on TV right? Well I feel that is our lives now too. We are all trying to keep up and gettting all this new information from the media sources--we are a world that depends on the connection. We depend on each other, but how deep are our connections? What about that time where we can reflect, try to understand about others, develop a real relationship with one another. Where we are not worried about the things we can't change, but work on the things we can in our communities.

I have been trying to keep up on the president's different ways he has been trying to stop this caving in of our economy, he is using the stimulus bill, trying to increase education spending, trying to focus on the war, etc. There are so many things that we are trying to do as a nation. The hard thing is how can we turn around a ship so big, we have already started on a path that lead us to greed, and now we are slowly trying to change the minds and hearts of our people, moreover the people who have had power and control in our nation for so long. I just hope that in the end that the United States will be open to this type of change, which means giving up some things that we have had for a long time. We have been a "I" centered nation, what can we do for me?? Now it seems it is time to change and think what we can do for us. Our children will have to deal with these issues down the line--I just wonder if we all care enough about ALL of the children to do something.

Just needed a little break from my Article Review...

2008-11-16T18:12:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday evening...I do dream frequently of a relaxing weekend at the beach sipping on a pina colada and not having a care in the world...then a stench reaches my nose and brings me back to reality. I have a diaper to change, a husband to love, homework to do, never-ending dishes in the sink, and a load of laundry that is piled higher than Mount Everest. It's the way I enjoy my weekends, not to say that I don't cherish every minute of it, because I do. It's the time I get to laugh with Maddox & Randy and take walks outside, just enjoy being with each other. I wouldn't trade it for anything...well..if you catch me at the right time I may tell you something different.

Thanksgiving is coming up soon. We stuff ourselves full of a big turkey and enjoy time with the family. Love the idea of that, it's the only time of the year I can get away with my emotional eating binges. This year will be one to write about because we are driving up to Long Island, NY. It's the road trips you read about in your family book, the one where everyone ran in to a mishap and something unbelievable happened. Yet I am scared to say the story will be written about us three...and who knows what adventures lay ahead. If I had only given in to Randy and bought those expensive airplane tickets...we might have skipped out on all the fun. Who wants to rehash old arguments anyways, we are driving to NY, car seat and all.

The best thing about this is that everyone is going to be there...Mom, Wes, Brian, Grandma, Aunt Naomi, Uncle David, Sasha, and the talented and wonderful Lily. The anticipation of seeing my family is just making me full of excited energy...I have forgone my family for so long and now that I am grown with a family of my own never more have I realized the importance of family. Uncle Josh is not with us this year and the whole trip from the minute we leave until the minute we get back he will be on my mind. We need to make this a great Thanksgiving for him...especially make good food. He would love that...

I have a few more points to discuss on my article review on "Frequency Characteristics of American Sign Language". Most of you who are reading this might think nothing of this but to me I feel like I have unlocked the key to my language that I have spoken for years but now understand more of it than I have ever known.(Cheesy I know) Although these research articles are so condensed full of verbiage that just trying to wade through the thick bog of words makes you lost at times. It's hard work but anything worth anything in this world is hard work. We just got to fight through it...so instead of me PROCRASTINATING on my blog (which I am doing no matter how I can justify it) I will get back to my paper.

PEACE~LOVE~HAPPINESS

Inspirational Quotes Video...just something to uplift you today.

2008-10-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

Leaving to the beach....

2008-10-03T09:30:00.001-07:00

We are leaving to the beach today...ahhh yes! Sand, Surf, and family. Don't you love a good vacation?? Will post more when we all get there.

Warmly
-sw

The POLITICS is taking over my Blog..AHHHHH!!! RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN (I won't suggest driving because there might not be any gas left)!

2008-09-29T11:48:00.001-07:00

I am in the middle of surfing the internet about politics and doing my posts for my masters program and felt like I had to give an update on my blog. I would say I am either multi-tasking or procrastinating. I would most likely assume the latter. :) That's all right, it's a Monday and I have all week to get my work done so that is my not so great excuse. It's the only day I can use it. LOL. I have been posting some very seeming "left-wing" posts lately but they have aligned with the strong way I feel. So you are going to have to put up with these until the election when Obama takes the office. If for some strange case McFart takes office we have been debating fleeing the country...maybe to North Korea or Russia...oh I don't know I heard they love Americans there.

This weekend we are heading down to the beach..(sigh) what a nice break to look forward to! I'll be posting some family pictures on the blog on Friday because we really have been doing some fun things around here. Not just talking politics around the house...I promise!

BTW....MOM IS GETTING MARRIED TO FANTASTIC WES THIS WEEKEND!!! CONGRATULATIONS!

Message about the Wall Street Buy Out from Michael Moore

2008-09-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?id=235

A Very Important Message From…. Sarah Silverman

2008-09-25T17:30:00.001-07:00

I had to put this up...my family is Jewish!! :) Sorry for the profanity.

See more Sarah Silverman videos at Funny or Die

Sarah Palin Interview - This one will leave you laughing...

2008-09-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

9-16-08 Press Conference. BARACK OBAMA

2008-09-16T17:08:00.000-07:00

There is NO doubt that Barack Obama should be our next president. We need a change from the Bush regime, we need a change. Our economy is in dire need of a person that understands that in the position of president you have to DO SOMETHING to make a change for ALL the people..not only for the rich and powerful. YES WE CAN!

Subject: Opinion from Gloria Steinem on Palin

2008-09-12T22:28:00.001-07:00

Subject: Opinion from Gloria Steinem on Palin
> By Gloria Steinem
> September 4, 2008
> Here's the good news: Women have become so politically powerful that even the anti-feminist right wing -- the folks with a headlock on the Republican Party -- are trying to appease the gender gap with a first-ever female vice president. We owe this to women -- and to many men too -- who have picketed, gone on hunger strikes or confronted violence at the polls so women can vote. We owe it to Shirley Chisholm, who first took the "white-male-only" sign off the White House, and to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who hung in there through ridicule and misogyny to win 18 million votes.
>
> But here is even better news: It won't work. This isn't the first time a boss has picked an unqualified woman just because she agrees with him and opposes everything most other women want and need. Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It's about making life more fair for women everywhere. It's not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It's about baking a new pie.
>
> Selecting Sarah Palin, who was touted all summer by Rush Limbaugh, is no way to attract most women, including die-hard Clinton supporters. Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Clinton. Her down-home, divisive and deceptive speech did nothing to cosmeticize a Republican convention that has more than twice as many male delegates as female, a presidential candidate who is owned and operated by the right wing and a platform that opposes pretty much everything Clinton's candidacy stood for -- and that Barack Obama's still does. To vote in protest for McCain/Palin would be like saying, "Somebody stole my shoes, so I'll amputate my legs."
>
> This is not to beat up on Palin. I defend her right to be wrong, even on issues that matter most to me. I regret that people say she can't do the job because she has children in need of care, especially if they wouldn't say the same about a father. I get no pleasure from imagining her in the spotlight on national and foreign policy issues about which she has zero background, with one month to learn to compete with Sen. Joe Biden's 37 years' experience.
>
> Palin has been honest about what she doesn't know. When asked last month about the vice presidency, she said, "I still can't answer that question until someone answers for me: What is it exactly that the VP does every day?" When asked about Iraq, she said, "I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."
>
> She was elected governor largely because the incumbent was unpopular, and she's won over Alaskans mostly by using unprecedented oil wealth to give a $1,200 rebate to every resident. Now she is being praised by McCain's campaign as a tax cutter, despite the fact that Alaska has no state income or sales tax. Perhaps McCain has opposed affirmative action for so long that he doesn't know it's about inviting more people to meet standards, not lowering them. Or perhaps McCain is following the Bush administration habit, as in the Justice Department, of putting a job candidate's views on "God, guns and gays" ahead of competence. The difference is that McCain is filling a job one 72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency.
>
> So let's be clear: The culprit is John McCain. He may have chosen Palin out of change-envy, or a belief that women can't tell the difference between form and content, but the main motive was to please right-wing ideologues; the same ones who nixed anyone who is now or ever has been a supporter of reproductive freedom. If that were not the case, McCain could have chosen a woman who knows what a vice president does and who has thought about Iraq; someone like Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine. McCain could have taken a baby step away from right-wing patriarchs who determine his actions, right down to opposing the Violence Against Women Act.
>
> Palin's value to those patriarchs is clear: She opposes just about every issue that women support by a majority or plurality. She believes that creationism should be taught in public schools but disbelieves global warming; she opposes gun control but supports government control of women's wombs; she opposes stem cell research but approves "abstinence-only" programs, which increase unwanted births, sexually transmitted diseases and abortions; she tried to use taxpayers' millions for a state program to shoot wolves from the air but didn't spend enough money to fix a state school system with the lowest high-school graduation rate in the nation; she runs with a candidate who opposes the Fair Pay Act but supports $500 million in subsidies for a natural gas pipeline across Alaska; she supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, though even McCain has opted for the lesser evil of offshore drilling. She is Phyllis Schlafly, only younger.
>
> I don't doubt her sincerity. As a lifetime member of the National Rifle Assn., she doesn't just support killing animals from helicopters, she does it herself. She doesn't just talk about increasing the use of fossil fuels but puts a coal-burning power plant in her own small town. She doesn't just echo McCain's pledge to criminalize abortion by overturning Roe vs. Wade, she says that if one of her daughters were impregnated by rape or incest, she should bear the child. She not only opposes reproductive freedom as a human right but implies that it dictates abortion, without saying that it also protects the right to have a child.
>
> So far, the major new McCain supporter that Palin has attracted is James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Of course, for Dobson, "women are merely waiting for their husbands to assume leadership," so he may be voting for Palin's husband.
>
> Being a hope-a-holic, however, I can see two long-term bipartisan gains from this contest.
>
> Republicans may learn they can't appeal to right-wing patriarchs and most women at the same time. A loss in November could cause the centrist majority of Republicans to take back their party, which was the first to support the Equal Rights Amendment and should be the last to want to invite government into the wombs of women.
>
> And American women, who suffer more because of having two full-time jobs than from any other single injustice, finally have support on a national stage from male leaders who know that women can't be equal outside the home until men are equal in it. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are campaigning on their belief that men should be, can be and want to be at home for their children.
>
> This could be huge.
>
> Gloria Steinem is an author, feminist organizer and co-founder of the Women's Media Center. She supported Hillary Clinton and is now supporting Barack Obama.

Friday Morning...

2008-09-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

Friday mornings seem to be the best mornings ever. This morning I had some time in the morning before work started so Maddox and I woke up early and just spent some time together. It's the kind of morning today when you look outside it is all hazy and overcast but it feels like you are living in the clouds. Everything just seems so peaceful and calm...and we were feeling that way too. We went to the library and the park and laughed all morning until it was time for him to go to daycare. Today is one of those days I always want to remember..

Tonight is date night for Randy and I. We are so lucky to have family here who love to watch Maddox so we have the opportunity to focus on growing our relationship. We haven't decided where we are going tonight...maybe out to have a few drinks in Downtown Greensboro. It's nice to be an adult every now and then.

Our mailbox project last weekend

2008-09-12T07:45:00.000-07:00

We decided over the summer that we can complete at least one simple project around the house on the weekends where we have a little bit of extra time. So this past weekend we painted our mailbox and put some beautiful mum's around it. Maddox was a great helper with our weekend endevor. Over the next few weeks we will be updating some of the light fixtures around the house...just one thing at a time but slowly we are watching our house become our home.

How to live your life

2008-09-09T23:37:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Life

From: thiru.kalpa, 8 months ago

Beautiful Life

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: quotes life)

Life is Beautiful - A musical slideshow

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Fun at the Zoo

2008-09-07T18:26:00.003-07:00

FREE SPIRITS!

2008-09-07T18:26:00.001-07:00

BOUNCE U with Mom, Wes, & Maddox

2008-09-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

Never once have we set foot in bounce u...actually we still haven't but Mom, Wes, and Maddox have. That gives us a new inspiration to go soon...they had such a fun time as you can clearly see on the VLOG's below.... we might go this Thursday.

Cornfield Maize with Mom & Wes

2008-09-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

We had an amazing time at the Cornfield Maize. This place is only open weekends and in September and October but we had such a FUN time! Figuring out how to get through the maize was challenging but we finally got through it....and we felt like we were flying!! We'll have to go back sometime soon.

Posting of the fun times we had with Mom , Wes, & Brian!!

2008-09-07T17:46:00.000-07:00

Monday....UUGH!!

2008-08-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

Monday...back to work I go....it's weird because it seems that I actually am one of those people who love their work...I really do....but with my mom and Wes in town all I want to do is spend time with them. They are only here for one more week and sometimes I just want to stay in my mom's arms all day and turn in to a baby again. What a weird feeling huh? I'm 27 years old and a mom and a wife but sometimes I feel like I miss the good old days...don't we all....

While we are on the topic of being a kid...my beautiful son Maddox and I had a really special bonding moment last night. I feel like we really connected and understood each other... I love my son more than anything in the world of course... but last night he really felt like he was meant to be in my life and I really was meant to be in his. It's hard to explain but it was just a really special moment with him...I'm sure there will be many more to come. I guess that is what a relationship is all about...building one special moment together to the next until your special moments all blend in together and you just love someone so much that you bubble over with mushy love goop. (Wow...that might just be a good enough quote for a Hallmark Card)

I got to get to bed...it's midnight and my eyes are getting heavy with sleep....catch up soon.

I feel so good I finally ran today!!

2008-08-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

It was a little under 2 miles but at least it was a run...I need to find some people out in Greensboro,NC who like to run too. :) I'll be back on the running path tomorrow morning...

Back from the beach with the Teeples

2008-08-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

Carolina Beach is one of the most relaxing places to go...with the sand, surf, and family there it really was the most relaxing week we have all had in a long time. We actually are planning another trip to the beach hopefully the beginning of October. So now that we are back we get to start fresh...not only have we begun to have a new idea of how to approach our daily lives, a mantra that is repeated at the beach "NO WORRIES" but now we can start living our lives in the best way possible. There is no mountain too high or no valley to low...we just have to do it and enjoy the road we are on....life is just too short and there is so much I want to do and see. The Teeple family is just so much fun, the energy is contagious and everyone had so much love to go around. You can tell they all really care so deeply about each other. It was a privilege to be a part of the vacation and be around such great people.

Maddox is still at the beach with the Grandparents and will be back tomorrow afternoon...Randy has left to his Fantasy Football draft with one of his good friends from Florida...and Mom and Wes don't get back until tomorrow. So today is one of those days I can spend cleaning (not only the house) but my paperwork, my diet, and get started back on my running. A day just to refresh everything....of course I miss everyone....but I only have to wait one more day.

Here are some pictures of our trip!!

Our family trip bowling

2008-08-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

We decided that a little friendly competition would be fun between all of us one night...and we all thought that we would play for bragging rights and a crazy looking donkey doll. Randy and Mom were leading all of us through each of the 3 rounds that we played. Guess who pulled it out and won...of course it was Randy! We'll get the donkey back Randy...next time....oh yes.....next time. HAHA!

We went bowling for some friendly competition...

2008-08-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Reflections...

2008-08-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here at 11:30pm on my computer...I've got most of the lights on because I'm scared of the dark and scared of being alone. I've got Alicia Keys on the radio which always makes me feel a little better...but just a little bit. Mom and Wes left to go up to NY today to visit Grandma and Randy left with his friends to play some poker. Maddox is gone with his Grandma Tee and Papa tonight before getting ready to head out to the beach tomorrow and Randy and I are going to head to Charlotte to celebrate Mark's birthday before heading down to the beach. Needless to say we have had a busy few weeks...still haven't completely updated all the pictures from Mom, Wes, and Brian's visit yet but I'll get it done this week...I promise. It feels like I just went from 100 to 0 in a few hours but I am not sure if I quite like the feeling...it's almost an empty feeling but at the same time a good time to collect myself and reflect. A cup of green tea and a good book might just do the trick to help me just unwind. It's strange....when there is nothing to do I feel like I HAVE to do something. There is just too much in life that I don't want to miss. Strange...but sometimes when you are too busy with "stuff" you tend to miss more. Things work out so well, it's almost like we have this cosmic pull that makes things fall in to place the way they should be. It feels that way now...for some reason this all feels right. Someone once told me if things are really hard and you have to push things a lot to get it to work and fit for you then it wasn't supposed to happen, but if it just feels natural, comes naturally then it is the way that things are supposed to go. Things just feel right....and that is how things are right now. Sometimes I get scared that things are just too good...my life was never supposed to be this way.....that I don't deserve to be this happy. I just know that everyday I value every single person in our lives and everything that we are able to do. Our family came a long way to get to this point....and the only place left to go is up. Seeing mom this happy really gives me a feeling of peace. It's the first time in a long time that mom really has allowed her beauty to show from the inside out. Wes has been a invigorating force in her life, and I feel the relationship works very well in return. He is a wonderful man with a vigor for life, and mom is too. I guess that is where I get it from...never growing up did I appreciate the people around me for the things that they all taught me. It was hard to realize at the time that the things they were showing me and modeling for me would impact my thoughts and actions for the rest of my life...can't thank them enough. I guess now that through my rambling on I am able to semi decipher that I am mostly feeling very thankful right now. There is never enough time in a day, money in the world, or good politicians out there...but one thing I can count on is that there is always enough love to go around.

Brian is leaving tomorrow at 6am back to Sunny California

2008-08-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

We have to return Brian back to California...we have borrowed him long enough. SMILE Really it is never long enough. Brian is the light of all of our lives....we really enjoyed having him here.

The familly's visit...

2008-08-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

You may have been looking at the blog for updates...we have been having a BLAST here at the Wheeler house. I tell you...there is just so many things to experience in life! We have a ton of video's and pictures to post on the blog...just not enough time to do it so hopefully soemtime this week we will be able to get it done. As you can see Brian came down for mom's 50th birthday and we all went skydiving. Randy and Maddox were there too all morning with us 100% of the way to support us. There is absolutely no way I could have done it without them there...and it was nice for everyone else to have their support too! We have been golfing, to the park, watching movies together, bowling, and just enjoying every minute we can together. It has really felt like a family. It has energized all of us to just get this month to BE together and spend time together. We all have gone on these wonderful paths and still have a long way to go. We don't know where we will end up but it is wonderful that we all take the time out of our busy lives to re-connect with each other and just to enjoy these times together. Life is too short to let it fly by without spending time with the people you love the most.

Skydiving for Mom's 50th Birthday!!!

2008-08-11T04:07:00.001-07:00

Golfing with the family...

2008-08-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time teaching our young "Tiger Woods" how to golf! :)

Our big baby....

2008-07-29T04:08:00.000-07:00

Randy was cuddling with Maddox's stuffed animal "Monkey" the other day....awwwwwwww too cute!!

Randy is in NY for a business trip....We r going to miss you!!

2008-07-29T03:45:00.000-07:00

Randy is gone on a company trip to THE BIG APPLE! He is right in the heart of Manhattan and we all miss him. He is having fun and just saw "The Dark Knight" and is planning to see a Yankees game in their stadium before it shuts down today. Of course the main reason he is there is to take a class and he is really learning a lot from it.

Mom and Wes are flying in today and we are all so excited to see them!! Will post more about their visit. Mom is celebrating her 50th birthday with us and we have some surprises lined up for her...shhhhhh!

A very busy week...

2008-07-25T04:17:00.000-07:00

For all you people who keep up with our blog this week has been an extremely busy one. I am currently in training for my new part time job (it is so much fun) and Randy is gearing up to go to NY this Sunday. Guess what that lucky guy just got...the newest and greatest I-Phone. It is really the coolest phone we have ever seen...it is just like his 1st Christmas all over again. Maddox is unbelievable with the things he is now doing. He is starting to use the potty more frequently and is grasping more difficult concepts like letters in words and the sun going down the moon goes up. We talk about these things around the house but sometimes he just seems to pull a concept out of no where....like it just suddenly clicks. Amazing how the mind works... He is becoming more lovey every day and just says the sweetest things to his mommy and daddy. We couldn't of asked for a better son...he is perfect. There will be updates this weekend but since I will be nose deep in my study materials for my NIC test (a HUGE national test for interpreters) next week it may not be too exciting... but that's our life...

Music in the Park- Summer Concert Series

2008-07-21T05:50:00.000-07:00

Greensboro has almost all the things we were looking for in a place to settle down...a great cultural feel to it, people who are very involved with community, a strong focus on the arts, and a strong sense of giving back. On NPR there was a whole discussion about when you move to find a place not only that will be a good work environment, but a good place for a family life, single life, or what ever goals you have. For example, I like running and it would have made sense to look in the community that I was moving to before to see if there was an active running community. Web sites like this one and http://www.bestplaces.net/ or http://top100.relocate-america.com/ really can help you research a place and see if it is a good place to settle down for you and your family. Fortunately Greensboro, NC seems to have everything we need right now...as a new family with new careers it has a great job market for our professions. Plus it has tons of fun museums, water parks, and zoo's for Maddox's age group. Music in the park is just one fun example of the richness of Greensboro, NC. We were lucky that we had family in High Point that led us here. Randy is learning just as much about the things to do here as I am. A place is a lot different when you are growing up to when you are an adult. I think it has to do with your priorities and the things you enjoy. We had no idea that there was so much to do here...and so many cool people.

We met up with Dawnenne and Carter and their son Parker there. It was a fun day...a nice way to spend Sunday.

It's my first week at Sorenson for training so I am actually working a full week in the summer. Wow!!

Sunday Morning at the Farmers Market

2008-07-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

We bought some really yummy things at the farmers market....and it's wonderful exposure to all the different foods for Maddox. Plus we are supporting the Local Economy! It is just a win-win for everyone.

(Sarah) Where are we at right now?
(Maddox) Farmers Market
(Sarah) Farmers Market Yeahhh
(Sarah) Tell everyone Hi
(Maddox) Hi
(Sarah) Are we going to buy some…What are we going to buy? Are we going to buy some eggs?
(Maddox) Eggs…
(Sarah) And Bananas?
(Maddox) Bananas…
(Sarah) And fruits and vegetables.
(Sarah) We are at the Farmers Market…Check it out!
(Randy is on the phone in the background)

Who knew trains could be so fun!!

2008-07-20T07:40:00.001-07:00

What a perfect day to go see the trains...Tyler and Maddox absolutely loved it, and so did all the adults. It is great to see the kids have so much fun and really the whole park is never too crowded, expensive, or too much to handle. It is just right for the younger kids. The train of course is the main attraction which circles around the park and has a bit of action with the cowboys and Indians. Although I enjoyed it there were kids crying on the train because the fighting was too much for them...lucky we raise our kids around violence on TV so they are used to it and aren't too shocked. LOL. Just kidding...that is my only complaint about Tweetsie Park WAS the violence in the shows that they put on during the train ride.They could make it a little more friendly and maybe focused on trade or something between the Cowboys and Indians. I am sure they did not fight ALL the time!! Also I was wondering about the Co2 that that Coal Train was letting out. Completely not environmentally friendly...but some of the charm of the park is the fact that it is a "real" coal train.

It is a beautiful park located at Blowing Rock, NC. Such a beautiful part of North Carolina. It just feels like you have run away to a part of nature and are so far away from your regular life. Both Maddox and Tyler were able to go on most of the rides at the park and the wait time for the lines were at the most 10 minutes but most of the time we just waited one ride before we got on. It's nice to be able to spend time with the family, it really makes Randy and I appreciate the wonderful family that we have. Tweetsie is on the list of things to do next summer for sure!

You are never to old or young to Dance

2008-07-18T04:01:00.000-07:00

What a blast it was last night... We all enjoyed some really sensational music from Warren Bodle & Allen http://www.warrenbodleallen.com/home.html at "Music in the Courtyard" in Winston-Salem. There are music concerts during the summer all over the Triad but have never been to the one in Winston-Salem. It felt like a much more grown up vibe and it was a lovely place to relax and eat dinner with friends. It is added to our list as future "date night" place for Randy and I. (wink) It was really nice to see everyone that I knew from work relaxed and enjoying themselves with their families. We have got to get together and do that more often... Maddox did really well and I think wore himself out from all the dancing and running around he did! :)

My running inspirations....

2008-07-17T13:11:00.001-07:00

Everyday there is a choice to be made...to run or not to run. That is always the big question...for the past 5 years now I have had a goal to run a marathon. Lucky for me I have set goal date of sometime in my life which gives me a lot of flexibility and dare I say procrastination time. Of course as women we know that it is our needs that comes last before the child, husband, chores, the list goes on and on and on. But...this can't be my excuse. There are many people out there who MAKE the time to reach their goals...not to say that I am a slacker. No, I think a better term would be a flexible goal setter. I like that much better :) Anyhow Randy lately has been encouraging me daily to get my runs in, buying me really cool running toys to keep track of my pace, my time,keep my knee from hurting, things to link up to nike.com, etc. He really has been a great support and a wonderful motivator. Almost like Bobby Knight but not quite...lol...okay maybe more like Lane Kiffin.

This nike.com web site has this avatar called runningoddes http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?l=runners,avatar_viewer,81860578 and Becky can check this at her leisure...and before today I was topping 10 days with absolutely no run. It was almost time for me to attend a Running Anonymous meeting when my avitar started to play paddle ball on me and tell me that she was bored....(she is on my screensaver) It was about the same time that I started to get these e-mails from Becky telling me that she was going to send flowers to my avatar's funeral and that my avatar was looking like she just down in the dumps. Becky's e-mails are hilarious and really got the point across. Between Becky, Randy, and my avatar runninggoddes keeping me honest with myself...I think I might make my goal this year. I just wanted to say THANKS GUYS!!

Tweetsie

2008-07-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

Here is our most recent trip to "Tweetsie" which is an amusement park in the mountains near Boone, NC. It was just Maddox and I and the most enjoyable day I have had in a while. He was so excited about seeing Deigo and Dora and the trains that there was no time for whining or anything. All we did was enjoy ourselves and eat ice cream and pizza for lunch! YUM! Having kids really does keep you young!! We are going back to "Tweetsie" this weekend with Tee & Papa (Randy's mom and step-dad) and Tyler our nephew. FUN FUN!

I am sure many of you have noticed the long stretches between postings on this blog....all I can say to that is that I have been enjoying my summer way too much! SMILE.

xoxo

Eating Snow Cones

2008-05-19T09:08:00.001-07:00

Sunday - Brian & Amber are here in North Carolina...

2008-05-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

It's so nice to have Amber and Brian over at the house....we have been relaxing, cooking, going out to eat, and most importantly spending time together.

We went out to the "Idiot Box" a comedy improve place and a local brewery "Natty Greene's" on Friday. The next day we just relaxed around the house, made vegetable kabobs, watched Tyler, and enjoyed the weather and the rabbits and birds in our back yard. Sunday we went out to a really fancy restaurant "Green Valley Grill Restaurant" for our one splurge and went on a walk through the Bog Gardens. It was a nice time, Maddox was really enjoying the whole day a LOT!

It's Monday morning and I'm making coffee, Randy is already off to work. Maddox is watching Nemo and eating some raisins with yogurt. I am going to attempt to wake up Brian and Amber up.... will post more later....

Connecting with the ones you love.

2008-05-10T05:02:00.001-07:00

No one talks about how marriage is and the result from this is that people get divorced all the time. The lessons of a good marriage need to be learned by all generations. Learning to love and how to be loved is one of the hardest things to understand. There is no manual, usually we are all on auto pilot from what we have learned from our past experiences.

From our personal experience when we had a child, went through a move, job changes, and hours that didn't match up we started to grow apart. Every day it seemed we wanted to spend time in different rooms, doing different hobbies, and eventually it lead to us speaking less and less to one another in a day. We both loved each other but something was missing.....

It wasn't until we got in to some REALLY big fights over REALLY small things that we started to realize that there had to be something we could change to make us connect again. We loved being together and loved each other but we had no idea what was happening.

We decided to start putting each other first. Easy to say but not easy to do because most of us don't live for the moment. We are always worried when we are going to pay our next bill, what we are going to do tonight, worried about how our kids are doing but are completely oblivious to the very thing that we are doing right at this moment. We forget that living and loving the people who are close to you ARE the most important things.

So we planned some things to do together. The Herb Garden which was Randy's wonderful idea. He said if we plant the herbs and take care of them and love them and watch them grow...and we are successful that would be like our love growing through our hard work and dedication. We have a camping trip planned Memorial Day weekend. These things that we will do together will help us all gain new experiences together. With no TV, no distractions, just US together. Enjoying the moment.We now are taking the time to tell each other I love you, we laugh together, we do special things together, and take the time to enjoy the moments together.

No one ever tells you how to be successful in a marriage. It is a learning experience everyday with the people who are around you. You learn what works, what they like, what they need from the relationship with you. You try to give 100% and hope they are equally committed to making the relationship work. I usually don't like to share my personal issues and in particular blog about them but this topic seems to be one that we all need to talk about and share ideas together. We can teach people how to connect with the ones you love.

You just got to be so thankful everyday to wake up next to such special people like Randy and Maddox. Everyday is a day to cherish with them...they are my heart.

Get out and VOTE!!

2008-05-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is voting day...now it seems like everything is undecided. It's Barack...then Hillary....then Barack....then Hillary. The Democrats need to make up our mind and just stick with someone so we can get on with the elections. Since I drive so much I am up to my neck with CNN and NPR....that is all I listen to on the radio. It sounds so much like a married couple arguing over such little things. We need to get back to the issues and not focus on a tax break on gas for the summer that will not do much for the individual family but will lose so much for the highway and road funding. It's crazy...it's all about the votes and politicians will say anything, change to be who the latest polls say is best to get them elected. This is turning out to be another political battle that is becoming too political. I just want the facts and then I can decide. It is turning in to a game....how can we sway the American public to vote for us. The problem with that is while they are trying to sway us and many of American people believe their many persona changes, it feels to me like we are losing the focus on who the candidate truly is and what they stand for. Well it is getting close to the end. You bet I am voting tomorrow and I am on edge to see the results of North Carolina and Indiana. It's a close one.

From Charlotte....

2008-05-04T07:12:00.001-07:00

I am writing from Mark & Christy's house here in Charlotte. Maddox is in the room next to me watching "Lazy Town"...one of his favorite shows.....Randy along with everyone here are all sleeping. It was a good time last night. Sometimes when things are going so fast and you are doing so much you sometimes just get caught up in the "doing". We took this weekend to just get away and celebrate Todd's Birthday and spend time with family. We are really enjoying ourselves here...it's not only that we are here but we are really connecting and getting to know everyone and really REALLY like them. You know how family is...or people in general are now days. It's all on the surface but we don't really try to get to know another person because it just takes too much time or it's too personal. With all of them here it just feels like we have known them forever and have grown up together.

Today we will be leaving back to Greensboro....and getting some relaxation for the rest of the day. I will keep the blog updated with any new things.

Plus the elections here in NC is right around the corner!! GO BARACK!! I just hope that the people can see him for who he is and not what the media is making him appear to be.

Easter 5K - Easter Egg Hunt

2008-03-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

I just ran the Easter 5K this morning and it felt so wonderful to get out there in the fresh air and actually work my body out. After this long bout of being sick and Randy and Maddox being sick too it was much needed. Not to mention that I won in my age division and so did Becky!! It was really unbelievable but wow what a motivator. So now I am going to sign up for some more 5K's later on this month and tomorrow I am going on a 6 mile group run with some fellow Greensboro runners from "Off N Running". It's going to be good to have other people challenge my distances so one day hopefully I can reach my goal of a half-marathon and then finally a marathon! One day...

Randy and Maddox went to Tee's house to celebrate Easter. They went to City Lake Park and did an Easter egg hunt, rode rides, and just got a ton of candy. Then I met them back at the house and we ate lunch and hid eggs. Both Tyler and Maddox were both so tired but I think they had a good time. We are back at the house and Randy and Maddox are STILL sleeping at 4 in the afternoon. WOW! They are pooped...so I am busy catching up on my blogging, laundry, dishes, and anything else that is sitting around the house needing to be done. When the house is quiet it is the best time for me to get all of this done.

Tomorrow I am going to finish my application for NorthEastern University's MIP program and will get it submitted on Monday. I have my fingers crossed that I can get in to that program. I'll keep you updated on that.

Running

2008-02-27T19:44:00.000-08:00

My running schedule has been not so good. What is going on?? I guess that is going to be a part of just going with the flow. I guess in the whole process I have to realize that it isn't always going to be easy to get my run in but I have to make time. So I ran Monday & Tuesday...but today I didn't have time to go. I am hoping I can find some time tomorrow. I need to go with a running group. I know some days "Off & Running" has training groups. I'll look in to them for this week. I can just imagine it now...all these super fit people and me lagging way behind them clutching on to my every breath. LOL. I need to get up to 4 miles by the end of this week, I'll check back in to make sure I reach that goal. :)

Another crazy week with Maddox being sick!!

2008-02-23T05:25:00.001-08:00

Most of this week has been dedicated to Maddox feeling better. Days off work, trips to the hospital, just a crazy busy week. He is actually doing much better now but I don't think that Randy & I got to spend any time this week together. It was just in and out, making sure Maddox got to all of his appointments and got his medicine on time. I am drained but still moving forward. As long as Maddox is improving...and he is....then we are doing the right thing. Randy had a sick episode this morning and I am just hoping that it was just something that will pass.

While we are on the subject of being sick...why is it that we have insurance but we are still paying on doctors bills?? It's absolutely crazy! That is the whole reason we have insurance to begin with! The antibiotic that we had to just recently buy was $80.00, plus each doctor's visit is $20...it all adds so quickly. I couldn't even imagine being older and having more health problems. I really think I'll be a citizen of Canada by then for the free health care. smile! GO WES AND MOM!!!

BARACK THE VOTE!!

2008-02-06T19:15:00.001-08:00

I am so glad that you guys seem to be supporting Obama...he is the "new kid" on the block and had a lot of cynicism to face from the American public. Especially with the machine on the right wing trying to busily put the "RIGHT" candidate on the republican side. This year has been quite the year for a change (a word rightfully stolen from the Obama campaign and used by everyone) From the start Randy & I really thought his message was great. He can hold this nation together, I can see myself in Obama. He has the same spirit that I have, the same home for our nation. He will be able to bring people together, not polarize them. I thought it might be the generation I am in is sick and tired of not being able to do anything while the rich white men in control took over. I see now from the voting that in fact it is all people that are sick and tired of a small group of religious right people trying to push their agenda. Since when did religion become such a big part of politics? Since when are we stripped of our freedoms. I thought we were in America, land of the free, but I felt my voice slowly slipping away from me during the 8 years the Bush administration destroyed our pride in America, Economy, freedoms thanks to the Patriot act, and has imposed specific religion on the world. Not to mention starting a war that never needed to take place at all causing the whole world to look at Americans even worse off than they had before....as if we are trying to impose our beliefs and our thoughts on the rest of the world. So many people have died and reputations have been destroyed, lies have been told and people have gotten rich. All for a small cost of the AMERICAN PEOPLE. If had anyone to represent my voice right now in all of this mess that we are in I would want Barack more than anyone to lead the United States of America.

As much experience as Hillary has, and she has TONS, I just don't see her representing my thoughts and feelings. She is too political for me, plays the game too well....although Barack must be able to keep up with the best of them regarding politics I don't leave after watching him speak thinking that I just saw a show. Like the tear that Hillary produced before New Hampshire. I didn't feel it was genuine. It may have been...but I didn't feel it. I am proud that a woman is running for president and there are a lot of women that I respect and have a lot of admiration for. I don't feel the honesty and compassion from Hillary. These typically female traits that I look for are apparent in Obama which is a odd twist with the democratic candidates. I leave feeling like he is honest and being true to himself. I like that...other people like that...and I really have let out a sigh of relief that he just might win. That people are changing their minds...that gives me hope. Your e-mails have given me hope for this nation...and the hope that Maddox will live in a better America. If we can only start to try to dig ourselves out of this hole....

I want a leader that inspires me to contribute and gives me hope that we can change. We'll see as times goes on with this election. I am really excited about this process this year...and following all of it on the news. We have got to take a stand and make a difference this year.

MLK DAY / What are you reading??

2008-01-21T10:48:00.000-08:00

I am settling in front of the computer after a fun filled morning with Maddox. His daycare is closed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. We took our time getting ready this morning. I sat around playing ball with Maddox in our PJ's and indulged in a shower at about 9am. I say indulged because shower time in the mornings are just so hard to get these days. We went a few places to pick up some things for the house and then decided to go to Pier 1. I got a gift certificate and figured since Maddox was just doing so good we would go in there to see if I could find something to add to our home. HA! Maddox was all over that store, it was like someone flicked a switch on him and I think I had gotten a dirty stare from every single person in that store. I quickly realized that I was the highlight of everyone's shopping experience and quickly picked up my kicking and laughing son in my arms and as quietly and calmly as I could, left the store. He did great at home and we enjoyed our lunch with Randy. Not too bad for a morning out, it could have been worse. :) The joys of parenthood...

Maddox is sleeping now and there is laundry to do and hopefully I will be able to start on my new book. It is called "Three Cups of Tea. One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time". If anyone has read this book before let me know what you thought of it..or just let me know the books you are reading now. I haven't had much time to read but 2008 is my year to do the things I haven't had time to do before.

This afternoon the Children's Museum locally will be having an event for MLK day and I look forward to just exposing Maddox to the basics of this powerful and inspiring man. His words really touch my heart as I know they do millions of us around the world. Sasha's blog really had some wonderful web sites and a great post about Martin Luther King. http://headinghomeagain.blogspot.com/

The other day I was working in a hospital in Winston-Salem and as I passed their chapel I heard this music just flowing out of the room. I looked over long enough to see someone motioning to me to come in. I took a seat and realized that in this room, at this point of time...30 people of all races were together to listen to beautiful music and the words of Martin Luther King Jr. His words do live on... Towards the end they started to sing "We Shall Overcome.." Not knowing a single person there we all took each others hand and lifted them up to the ceiling. There were people crying, the song and words were so powerful. After it was done I looked around at the people around me..people of all different backgrounds all together in the same place. I wondered, is this the dream that Martin Luther King Jr. wanted for us? How much more do we have to go to realize the full extent of his dream and what kind of leader do we need to get us to that point? I left filled with hope and took a piece of Martin Luther King Jr. home with me that day. He had a dream, and with that dream he changed all of us.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

The Lost Art of Blogging

2008-01-12T18:27:00.000-08:00

How rusty my blogging skills have become over the past few months...what has been going on? I guess a lot of life.... with 2007 being full of moving to a new house, new jobs for both of us, a new car, and a very sick Maddox we had our hands full just by ourselves. It seems that now we are actually settled in I find I have the time to stay on top of laundry, dishes, and things that would seem like such a normalcy in everyday life became a BIG task in the face of doctors appointments, organizing the house, working, etc. How things can be placed in perspective now looking back. There are things that I enjoyed such as blogging about our daily lives, a way for me to vent my joys and frustrations. The ironic thing is that during our hectic time I might have benefited from blogging...if only I had the time.

Now my 27th birthday is around the corner...what a life that we are living, and what a world we are living in. Both Randy & Maddox are sleeping now. As the world lay still for a moment around me I relish in the peace that I have with me, my cup of hot peppermint tea, and the computers soft glow bouncing around the room. I might have lost the art of blogging for a few months, but I'm back.

In memory of the GREAT Uncle Josh

2007-09-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

Admiration is a word that I'll use to sum up for how I felt towards my Uncle Josh. He was always just so cool and growing up he was larger than life to me. He lived in the most beautiful places, had the coolest friends, and always was himself. I can remember feeling like I needed to be one of the adults because I just wanted to hang out with someone as cool as Uncle Josh but I was never quite there until a few years ago. It's funny because I remember moving out to California and I knew he had a roomate...but it didn't dawn on me until maybe a few years later that they were dating. It was actually a wonderful learning experience for me to be exposed to that because it helped me to form opinions I carry with me through life. He was outspoken, funny, and a FABULOUS cook. I mean I can remember back to when I was a little girl eating his Thanksgiving meals...I would look forward to eating his food all year and when Thanksgiving came it was a feast. Dishes everywhere with only the best of the best foods placed just perfectly on the table. I can only hope that we will be able to try to match his Thanksgiving dinner to honor him and show how much we love him.

I remember the last time I saw him this summer and brought Maddox with me to New York. He & Maddox and really lit up when they were around each other. He was so proud that he and Grandma Judy were "GREAT" Uncle's and Grandma's and we would tease each other about that often.

That was one thing about Uncle Josh...he loved Grandma Judy SO much. They had such a special relationship and really gave each other a lot of support. Grandma was such a caring and open mother to him...they really had such a wonderful bond together. I love that in their relationship hope I can have a bond with Maddox like they had.

He had so many really good friends and family who really cared for him. It just shows how much people really loved him. It's a really special thing to have him as my uncle.

May he always have a window view of the world...

Donations in his memory may be made to the Long Island Association for AIDS Care

Childress Winery Trip

2007-08-26T05:12:00.001-07:00

2007-08-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

Maddox had a great opportunity to spend a week with Tee & Papa at Carolina Beach here in North Carolina! Randy and I went down as we could between our work schedules but it was a beautiful home. They really did good! We also got to see Jennifer, Joe, Papa & DeeDee there too from Tenn. which was a great time. They looked great and it's always so nice to see family that you haven't seen in a while. We love you guys! Thanks for the wonderful time.

GrandmaLa & Maddox enjoying a relaxing summer day together...

2007-07-14T18:14:00.000-07:00

There is a quote that says you can't move forward until you know your past. As some of you may know my wonderful mom has been staying with us this summer. It has given us a wonderful opportunity to really connect, develop a stronger relationship, and to really understand each other at our points in our lives. I think we have both grown from these moments that we have shared together. We have laughed together, cried in movies together, shared huge hugs together, and most of all enjoyed spending time with Maddox.
Our lives are amazing in so many ways because of Maddox and one of many ways he has brought joy in our lives is by bringing so many of us together. GrandmaLa (Mom) has really enjoyed spending every hour by bonding, playing, and communicating with her grandson. He grows more and more each day with each sign he learns watching us use sign language everyday. As much as Mom loves spending time here with us we love it even more. She brightens up our home and makes it feel so inviting just like a ray of sunshine. It's been a great time for all of us to get to know one another...renew our relationships....and look to the future for many wonderful years ahead. Here are three pictures of GrandmaLa (Mom) and Maddox today...

Ocracoke Island Trip-Our Romantic Weekend Getaway

2007-07-03T02:32:00.000-07:00

We needed some time to ourselves..don't get me wrong. We love our friends and family and spending time with everyone but we haven't had an opportunity to spend some time with eachother in a while. We decided to take our first camping trip together in Dr. Beach's #1 beach in the United States...Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Our trip started at 1:30am on Saturday morning. We were both stumbling over our bags, clothes, etc. to try and get out the door. Grandma La (Mom) met us at the door to say goodbye and we were on our way. A 4 hour drive and then another 3 hour ferry ride finally put us on the island. I can't believe we actually made it but we did sleep on the ferry ride over so that helped out...I think. I was still a bit groggy when we stepped off and made it over to the camp ground. We got such a great camp site. They had a system that was first come first serve and we had driven around twice wanting to find a spot by the beach. Of course there was none avaliable so we settled for D36. The very last one across from the beach side and with a beautiful view of the trash can. The thing we didn't know was that there was a private trail to get to the top of the sand dune and a cleared out spot for a tent. That's right, our own private spot overlooking the campground...we loved it. Now here comes the setting up the tent part...yes I know what you are thinking. Novice campers...it took hours to set up the tent. It took 20 minutes, that's right. We were really supprised too...and after that we got some lunch, filled up our cooler with water and beer and started on our vacation. There were many walks on the beach, a relaxing rainy night, and a day for exploring the island on Sunday. We walked the nature trail, stopped by the speciality stores,Blackbeards Museum since Ocracoke island is where he was laid to rest, and walked along the beach some more. There were times we were the only people on the beach and there are no houses built on the beach, just a beautiful ocean view as far as your eye can see. Randy and I had some great time to talk, enjoy our company, and focus on our relationship. Maddox was the topic of many of our converstations naturally and we really were glad to see him when we got back but I think more than ever we realize that we really need to take some time out for ourselves so we can give more of ourselves to Maddox. When we came home Maddox was just wanting to cuddle with us all day on Monday...as if he was letting us know how much he missed us. We were more than happy to cuddle back, we missed him too. It was a great weekend, we are planning another weekend camping trip in August. This time in the mountains....until our next adventure....

Weekend with Mimi, Papa Ran, & Todd

2007-07-03T02:19:00.000-07:00

What a weekend for Maddox!! He got to spend some time with family and take a dip in the pool, go to the park, and just enjoy his time with the family! We are so glad to have such wonderful family that will watch Maddox (and I am sure enjoy the time with him) so we can enjoy some time with each other. We really needed it! :) Apparently he had a great time because the next day Maddox and I took a 3 hour nap together during the middle of the day! SMILE.

Summer Solstice Festival at a park right down the street from us

2007-06-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

Putting Maddox to sleep on his own...DAY 4!

2007-06-21T20:03:00.000-07:00

I've read the books, looked on the Internet, even talked to other moms. Nothing has prepared me for what we were in for these past few nights. Maddox is finally sleeping in his own bed. This may seem like such a small hurdle, and yes...if we had started him earlier sleeping in his own bed this would have never happened but the nights where we would all be cuddled up in our full size bed would be so comfortably warm. That is until we found a finger up our noses at 5am, or he would be completely turned around facing the edge of the bed, we would be in these puzzle like positions in the morning just trying to fit somewhere in the bed. It just wasn't working but more than that he couldn't put himself to sleep without one of us holding him and to no surprise this came to lead to many nights where we would be off to sleep at his bed time 8pm and miss out on catching up on dishes and laundry. We made it through and loved the time with Maddox but the time was here as soon as summer rolled around. We had more time to spend with Maddox and to really get him on a firm routine. Ha! The idea of a routine is funny to people who have so much going on they are just trying to fit everyting in to a day...but we HAD to create a sense of routine in our family for Maddox but most of all we needed it for ourselves. The first night we actually did great. I thought I was going to run in there, this theory was supported on a previous attempt which had failed miserabley, but I just listened. A half hour passed and the crying turned in to these cute little sobs and Maddox was off in his dreams. He proceeded to wake up at 11pm crying putting him back to sleep, then at 2am, then 5am, then of course his normal time at around 7am. What a night that was...just hoping that he was just crying it out. What if he is sick?? It could be his teeth! I could just run in there for a second...but we stayed strong and stuck it out. The second night Maddox fell asleep in 10 mintues...not to bad and he only woke up at 2pm...and it's hard for me to tell you how long. I was half way in between sleep and being awake. Knowing that this was part of the process. The third night fell...yes the third night was the hardest...not for him but for me. I just missed sleeping with him. The bed felt different, there were no legs over me, no finger in my nose and ear, no baby cuddles....I have to admit and I don't know how I SHOULD feel about this although I knew how I WAS feeling. I missed my little Maddox at night...I hate to hear him cry and love when I know that he is safe. I'm doing the right thing I kept telling myself that third night when 2am rolled around and Maddox struck again. This time with screams that made my brain go in to automatic flight mode....go to Maddox and make sure he's okay. Logic was yelling back that I had to let him fight through this. He'll thank you one day....he's better off learning to put himself to sleep in his own bed. It's the first step of many towards independence. I leaned over and shook Randy..."Do you hear that??", I asked nervously. "Do you think he's okay?" "Yeah he's fine. Leave him in the bed.", Randy's sleepy voice mumbled next to me. Well courage I had but by the 3rd day I was exausted and my reseilence to my son's crying was wearing thin. Tonight is the 4th day....I am sure Maddox was worn out by spending the Day with Tee and Tyler and going to the Summer Solstice with Grandma La and I. We brought him back, changed his diaper and gave him some milk and within 10 minutes we have a sleeping baby in his own crib....for now.

First Day of Summer with Tee & Tyler

2007-06-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Maddox enjoyed a wonderful day with Grandma Tee and his cousin Tyler! It was a beautiful first day of summer and he got to enjoy it with family! Here are some pictures of them outside playing and out to dinner.

Happy Fathers Day!!

2007-06-19T15:23:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!! To all the wonderful fathers in our lives! We love you!

Maddox Loves Lemons!

2007-06-14T12:02:00.001-07:00

Hiking in Chimney Rock

2007-06-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

We had a blast in Chimney Rock...4 hours of hiking with Mom & Wes. Maddox loved every minute of it! He got to play in the waterfall half-way on the hike and just look around on the hiking backpack and he just sat there looking around, sometimes we would get the occassional "OHHHH" from him. They filmed the movie "The Last of the Mohicans" there. It was really breathtaking and challenging having a baby on your back during the hike. We went last Saturday when Randy was out with his Dad and 2 step brothers Mark & Todd to a Atlanta Braves baseball game! He came home with no voice...that has to show what a great time they had together.

White River Rafting on the Nolichucky River!!!

2007-06-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky to have opporutnities such as these in Maddox's first year. Randy's mom "Tee" watched Maddox overnight on the 25th of May so we could drive up to the Nolichucky River in Tennessee and go White Water Rafting....that was the plan at least. We are driving all through these winding back roads of the mountains....our stomachs growling which seemed to progressively grow louder with each turn of the road that reveled no restaurant in sight for the next hour or so. We left after work and were still on the road by 9pm....but then luck was on our side....a small town....one Hardies....with eyes bigger than our stomachs we ordered meals big enough for a family of four. Two burgers for the each of us, 3 french fries, we were almost at our hotel and our stomachs were ready to dig in. Unfortunatly for us that grease didn't seem to agree with out stomachs too much and we ended up spending some time in the bathroom that night but as the morning light started to come in to our rooms we were ready to go. Our anticipation had gotten the best of us and although we had to meet the bus at 9am we were up getting our coffee at 7am....taking turns getting coffee, talking about how excited we were, and just watching the clock until it was time to go.

After what seemed like an eternity of waiting we got in our car and drove over to the bus pick up site. There were a group of what seemed like young college kids all huddled around and some women that were in their late thirties. It looked like a good group, we tried to blend in and not seem like we were these excited newcommers to rafting so we lathered our lotion on and like experienced rafters we climed on the bus. About 20 minutes our guide was giving us a whole book of what to do in case you end up in the water, saftey tips, etc. Not a big deal to us...we listened and enjoyed the beautiful scenery around the mountains. We arrived to a dirt lot right next to the river with a comotion of many other river rafting company buses and people scattering all around. We decided to take a funyak which is a one person raft sort of like a kyack. It was strange...many people decided not to take that choice and stayed on the raft...but we were told it was going to be the best way to see the river and really fun too!

In the water we started out really well...following our guide and trying to make it over the rocks and rapids by ourselves. I don't know who was the first person to go in the water, Randy or I...but out of our group of 6 funyaks we were the ones most in the water! By the halfway point where we stopped and got our lunches Randy and I were exausted but felt so refreshed. We were in the middle of a canyon with trees all around us...beautiful fresh air....and a feeling of accomplishment. We felt this feeling for a while before the realization of the fact we had to finish our rafting trip. We got our gear back on...and went back in the water. After a big battle with the river Randy decided to switch with one person in a raft who really was wanting to jump in a funyak and he finished the river out on there. The weather started to change and the last stretch of the river ended with a light rain that was progressively getting wetter. By the time we arrived at the buses the sky decided to downpour and we were running to take cover and change our clothes in to some dry ones along with the rest of our group who were all scattering every which way to get some kind of cover. The group back in the bus were all talking about the great time we had, it was like we shared some kind of bond together. We had made it through the river as a group and shared this wonderful adventure together.

We got back in our car...It was a challenge, we had done something we had never done before and made it through. I was so proud of the both of us and know that over the summer we will be planning more trips like this. It makes me want to challenge myself and my family to new adventures, see the world, and live life to the fullest.

Maddox's 1st Birthday

2007-06-14T06:48:00.004-07:00

Maddox is ONE...he's walking....talking...signing...giving kisses....the big ONE! I can't believe it...it was just yesterday he was in my belly kicking me in my ribs. Now he's so real and such a great part of our family. Randy and I are both so in love with our son...he brings such a happy feeling in our lives. Everytime he gives us kisses, to the books he reads, to the way he loves to point at nature, to just the new words he is learning and signing. He is something so special...

Many of you might not know how many parties Maddox had...but of course Randy and I were reaching heavily for the coffee by the time the weekend was through. He had one on Saturday, Sunday, and of course on his actual Birthday June 5th at Chuck E'Cheese! Although his mom and dad were on the verge of getting a coffee IV put in Maddox was enjoying every minute of his party...seeing all the familar faces, enjoying the ballons, and really learning from the joyful environment around him. We tried to show him the things in the time capsule...we really did. He loves the taste of coins we found out and seems to think pictures look better crumpled up than in the original state. (ha-ha) The Time Capsule has been retired to our basement (with a few more future additions we are waiting for) but after that....it will be taped, padlocked, and placed in a frozen cryogenic state for the next 25 years....

I remember the day we had him and knowing that it was something so new in our lives and wondering how we can go from just being us to now being three. Even more so being responsible for another human being in every aspect. We would be a mom and dad...it's not just us any more. It was awkward at first there is no doubt about it...all the changing diapers, breastfeeding, baby crying in the middle of the night took some getting used to. We are developing that bond everyday, a relationship, a sence of security and safety where Maddox feels it's okay to learn and make mistakes and grow. The funny thing is Randy and I have grown as well...in ourselves and in our relationship. We really have a stronger bond now because we both have the same vision for our lives, our son, and our family. Why didn't any of you tell me sooner how amazing this feeling is to have your own child?? I guess I wouldn't have been ready any other time but now! :) Things always work out the way they are supposed to.

We really are one lucky family. We all have such great people to learn from, talk to, and really love. It's so obvious from something like this that we have something so special in our family and I am grateful that Maddox has all of YOU to grow up with! I hope you enjoy the pictures of his party! Thanks to all the special people that came to the party! You guys are WONDERFUL!! For those of you who couldn't make it because we have family as far as California we are glad you could ALL still be a part of the celebration and know when Maddox opens the time Capsule you will all be a part of his memories!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY MADDOX!!

2007-05-21T03:36:00.000-07:00

We finally SOLD our house in Goldsboro!! This is it...we feel so good that it was a young military couple who had just got married and loved our house as much as we did! We felt really good about it!

Mothers Day at Carolina Beach

2007-05-21T03:31:00.000-07:00

These are some pictures of our Mothers Day Trip to Carolina Beach! We had an indoor pool and Maddox was just cruisin around the water with us! It was a really great first Mothers Day! Anytime I can spend time with my two favorite guys in the world is a great day for me.

Why I love Sign Language

2007-05-15T12:00:00.003-07:00

10 Month Pictures of Maddox!!

2007-05-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

Catching Water

2007-04-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, it is the most amazing thing to witness first hand your child making connections to the world around them. They grow from these little things that just need milk and sleep, to a baby who is curious about the world around them. It was one of these moments last Thursday night when Randy and I both were giving Maddox a bath. We were having fun and we noticed that Maddox was running his fingers through the water. It wasn't a big deal but a closer look revealed that he was trying to catch the water with his hands. Again and again his hand slid through the water, trying to grasp the liquid water that just flowed through his fingertips. His expression was perplexing, his actions were demanding. He really was trying to figure this out. Naturally he is to young to understand that water is a liquid and not something you can catch with your hand but he was really trying to understand why. Although he will not understand the concept quite yet he's building that piece that will help him realize one day..."aha" and understand the concept of what water is. It was such a magical moment, I LOVE being a mom to Maddox.

Waiting for the world to change...

2007-04-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.kiva.org/app.php I got this web site from my Uncle Davids Blog...it's a great way to help someone out who is really working hard to make a life for themselves around the world. You can do as little or as much as you want to loan and you won't even miss anything because you get re-paid from that individual. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

BE THE FIRST TO READ IT!!

2007-04-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I haven't written in a while and I am right now modifying our family blog but I need some more time to really sit down and write. I do want to let you know some quick updates on what's been going on.

First and foremost...Maddox took his first steps Monday April 16th! He's been gaining confidence and every day it seems he's walking more and more, today he was up to 6 steps on his own! We got him his first fish tank today, ever since we came back from California and Maddox saw his Aunt's and Uncle's fish tank that's all he can talk about! So we gave in, we got a fire red beta fish named Chariot. He's already liking his BIG tank and has been watching TV this evening with us.

Our California trip was wonderful and I want to thank all of my family for showing us such a good time! We love you all and can't wait to visit with you again soon! You are all in our hearts and thoughts everyday and every time I see you my heart breaks when we leave, it never is easy.All I can do is look forward to next time and do things in my life to make you proud. When you look at your life, the greatest happiness are family happiness. ~Joyce Brothers

Randy has a full time job with benefits!! WHOO HOO! It's been great for our situation but he has had all wonderful things to say when he gets home about the people he works with, what he does, and the climate of the job. That is the most important thing about finding a job, is finding a place that you look forward to going to, and can really grow with. I think he has found his place.

I GOT MY NEW BASKETBALL TODAY AND I'M ALREADY DUNKING ON MY MOM!

9 Month Pictures of Maddox

2007-03-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

Daddy is teaching me to shave!!
I love to eat!! Yummy!
I'm SOOO ready to go to the beach!!
WHEEEEEE!!!
Mom...I don't know about this one!

NC State Tramples on Undefeated Duke's Basketball Team!

2007-03-03T20:04:00.000-08:00

GO WOLFPACK!!
What a game....Duke Women's Basketball team has been undefeated this whole season...and NC State was ranked 24th in the ACC. The game was neck in neck the whole time right down to the buzzer....I went with one of my girl friends Taylor to watch the game and my throat is killing me from yelling so much! :) Their coach Key Yow has been surviving breast cancer for a very long time and really is an inspiration for all people. It's a wonderful story that they won and Key had an opportunity to carry her team to beat Duke! Lets hope they can win the ACC Tournament tomorrow against North Carolina! See the article below from http://www.theacc.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/030307aam.html -see article for more information.

NC Film Festival at UNCG

2007-02-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

http://www.ncfilm.com/news_detail.asp?id=246

Last Thursday Maddox spent the night at his Grandma T's house and so we had the night to have fun. What in the world do we do?? We looked at each other like two people who were trying to solve the problems of Iraq all by ourselves. Let me check the Internet I chimed in, in hopes that we could find something different, something fun, something memorable. The North Carolina Film Festival being hosted at UNCG came up on the screen. It just so happens to be that I go to school there so we would get the $1.00 off admission which brought the price down to $4.00. Wow, what great marketing...we were hooked already. A cheap night where we can enjoy movies. The question is what kind of movies...we had never seen independent movies before. I mean...not the ones that weren't main stream. As soon as we arrived we had problems getting in because the box office was closed. We needed to buy some things at the store to get exact change to get in the show. We felt so out of place....there were these older college professors there with their wild beards looking each like they had their own style too smart to understand, very artistic looking people with the coolest hair styles and clothes that weren't supposed to look expensive but must have cost a fortune, and then us...late, awkward, stepping over people in the isles, the parents of an 8 month old, couple who has been married for 5 years, and inexperienced independent film watchers. We should have had that stamped on our forehead, but that wasn't necessary, one look at us and the people already knew that. Lucky for us the lights were dim and the movie was playing. We started watching the first film...all in sub-titles....about a guy who took pictures of bugs and now had to take a picture of a guy on his death bed. What a bad movie to start the night with. I looked over at Randy moving very uncomfortably in his chair, trying to look as interested as he could, while thinking it would have been much better to stay at home and watch sports. I needed to sound encouraging, " This next film looks really great. I mean...the last one was really good too. Don't you think?" I said with a convincing smile. He wasn't convinced but I could tell he was trying think of something nice to say as he ate another piece of his chocolate candy. Then the next movie started. It was an animation short film and it had us laughing out loud. Okay...not so bad, we sort of liked this now. The next film was by a high school senior and was about a law firm hiring a security guard to act like their top executive and break in their new hires. It was hilarious. Whoa...the talent in these film makers. One of our favorites was the Wine Bar. I don't even think explaining it would justify the movie. It was really great....we were really getting in to these 15 to 30 minute movies. I even teared up in a few spots...I mean really great movies. The funny thing is that we left the theatre feeling like a part of the crowd, and not the outsiders we had felt like when we had entered the theatre. We really got it, it was ALL about the art. It was watching a movie and realizing that you were a part of so many other people who all experienced the same emotions and events. We all laughed at the funny parts, and cried at the sad parts. We didn't have to look a certain way, or live a certain life style to get these movies. We not only ended the night with some great conversations and some laughs, but we had a quiet connection of understanding who we were and how we shape our lives to be what we are.

Our Weekend Adventures

2007-02-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday evening...I'm looking at my slightly sick husband on the couch. I had self-diagnosed my husband with Norwalk stomach virus because he had most of the symptoms over the weekend. Needless to say he's been relaxing on the couch and really just feeling crummy since Friday. Even though he felt so terrible, he still got his achy body up and out to spend a few hours with us at the Natural Science Museum. It was Aquarium day and Randy got to taste some "strange and exciting" seafood which included calamari and muscles while Maddox and I cheered him on. Maddox got to see the sea of parents with their children "ohhing" and "ahhing" at the many animals and fossils in the museum.

After our museum visit we took care of some things around the house as Randy's condition every hour seemed to get worse. Maddox and I went in the bedroom to give Randy some time last night to just relax without distraction and today he seems to have more sunshine in his eyes. We have our Randy back with us!!

Today Randy has sent out 3 resumes, one to a company as a Marketing Analyst. We got to keep it going even though Takata is on a hiring hold, it's important for Randy to keep his options open. That's exactly what he's doing.

We'll leave you with few pictures of Maddox and his books. We love you.

Pictures of Maddox's Surgery

2007-02-11T17:36:00.000-08:00

Here we are at the hospital...he's doing all right....a bit tired.....all of us are.
Look at his face...maybe getting a bit nervous...

Oh NO!! No more pictures...I am getting surgery people and all you can do is snap pics?!?!

10 minutes after when the surgery was over....he's just wanting to be held. Look at that face!

Our baby is so brave!! We are so proud of him!

Later that day...all he needed was a few snuggles with his daddy! :)

Who says love doesn't last forever....

2007-02-06T18:07:00.001-08:00

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=434454&in_page_id=1770

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

20/20 Waiting for the World to Change

2007-01-27T16:58:00.000-08:00

Did anyone see the 20/20 show last night on Camden, New Jersey? It made me cry the whole way through... there are so many people who just need the opportunity to succeed and are stuck in situations they can't change. Camden, NJ is the poorest city across the nation where it is not unusual to hear gunshots on a daily basis. The drug trade is so rampant there that it seems that it is most of the youth's only option. There's got to be a better answer...here's the web site to check it out. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/

Owl's Roost Rumble Trail Half Marathon-April 28th, 2007

2007-01-27T16:53:00.000-08:00

We are off and running....training for a half marathon in April. I backed out of the Marathon in Miami because unfortunately it has been way too hectic around here to make any time for training. I still have had this goal in my mind and still am determined to make it happen. This race should be more attainable with it being a local race and not as long as the Miami Marathon. :c) Will post more as my training progresses. My first step is to find some training partners to run with.... To health, life, and happiness!

The surgery was a success!

2007-01-27T06:59:00.000-08:00

As the day started at 5 in the morning...a dreadful hour in the morning for just about anyone. We felt like we were going together as a family to help Maddox's ear infections subside. All we want is to do the best for our little boy. We stumbled around our still packed up house gathering 2 bags full of the things we might need. We were the first ones called up when we went to the doctors office, filled out our paperwork and sat down in the waiting room among 5 other kids with nervous parents feeling the same thing as we were. We were called back and we got an overwhelming response from all the nurses on how sweet and handsome Maddox was... that made us proud it still didn't alleviate the feeling of nervousness that had gradually made it's way to our faces. It's real, our son is here at the doctors office, we got to do this now. We put on the tiny hospital gown covered with clowns and took some pictures (we need to download the software to the computer so we can post those pictures) The anesthesiologist came in and explained how he was going to give Maddox a combination of inhaled drugs to make him sleep only for 15 minutes. He would be back and doing his usual routine after the feeling of confusion from this big change and funny feelings went away for him. We felt comforted by the fact that he would be back to his normal self soon and there were not many risks...I think the only answers to our questions was at that point to see Maddox after the surgery went well. All we wanted to know was that Maddox was going to feel better. Immediately Maddox fell asleep on my chest, the sweetest feeling in the world to me. The doctor came in and picked Maddox up, one look at the doctor and he feel back asleep on his shoulder. We knew then he was going to be all right...we waited long enough to eat a banana and read a little bit of Money Magazine when we heard,"The Wheeler Family...The Wheeler Family??" That's us....we go back to the room and they bring in Maddox his eyes were red and as soon as he took one look at our faces he started crying, he wanted us, he wanted a bottle, he wanted something comforting. We gave him everything, got a prescription, and took off to CVS to get the prescription filled. At first he seemed a bit bothered by the whole situation and whenever he looked at us he would cry, as if to tell us that he didn't want any part of that again. As we arrived home we got our happy baby once again, playing with his toys on the floor and giving us big smiles. We can tell he feels better, last night he slept from 10pm until 8:30am which is the first time he has ever slept in that long. He seems to be less fussy and has not pulled at his ears once...this is wonderful news for us. We'll keep updates on his progress but at the time being it was a really good experience with great doctors and a great result. Thank you all for the great e-mails!! We love you!

Maddox Ear Surgery-FRIDAY

2007-01-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

THE SURGERY WILL BE THIS FRIDAY JANUARY 26, 2007

Maddox is getting tubes put in his ears tomorrow morning! After multiple ear infections we have decided with the doctors recommendations to press on with this surgery for Maddox's health and comfort. We just went to the ENT yesterday and he set up the surgery for tomorrow so it was very short notice for all of us....we just want to keep everyone informed and we will post updates and pictures as we go through the healing process. We are all a little nervous about this procedure and are both taking the day off to be with Maddox. Feel free to call us anytime!

We have also moved!! I haven't had a chance to send out the announcements quite yet, so this will do for now!! Our house is still a mess although it has improved greatly from last week. :c)

(we will post pictures of the house VERY soon!)
We have kept our same phone numbers for the time being....

2007-01-11T19:31:00.000-08:00

"If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle."

Vincent van Gogh quotes (Dutch painter, one of the greatest of the Post-Impressionists, 1853-1890)

The BIG move

2007-01-11T19:13:00.000-08:00

Yes we are moving....it seems like our lives are running together in this big blur of progress. Greensboro has been quite a great experience for us. We are in our groove....Randy has a job at a place called Takata as a business analyst. I am still working at Lindley Elementary as an interpreter but going to school to be a Deaf Ed. teacher. Also at night on Mondays and Wednesday I am intrepreting at the college level at UNCG. All the while we have a thriving baby boy who is in constand need for love and attention. It's been a pleasure to watch him grow from this little infant who could hardly open his eyes to this grinning and giggling ball of fun and couriousity. Everyday is something new and it's so exciting to be able to branch off in to our new home....a place we can actually call our own. It's been a pleasure having Randy's parents take us in and allow us to "take over" their house for 6 months. :) It's going to be strange...now having to do our own dinners, laundry, etc. I think we can get used to it again...6 months can really get you used to being a big kid again! Honestly we have been waiting for this moment to get back out on our own...being new parents and married it's hard to be in your parents house. Especially when we first got here and could barely make our bills month to month, Randy was looking for a job, and we had to put our sweet baby Maddox in daycare. We took a BIG risk....HUGE risk but in the end it really worked out. I would never be foolish enough to say that everytime you take a risk you will gain great things from it....but this time I can say that it fell in to place. I can't really say exactly why but for the first time in my life I feel like things are where they need to be...externally but internally as well. Maybe I have just answered my question...because I am really happy with myself is why things are coming together. It's a thought.... Neverless... it's a great feeling to have such a fresh new start with my family. I may not be saying this in a few days when we are hauling boxes over to the new house and unpacking boxes....because things will be a little chaotic to say the least...but Randy and Maddox will be there to help me center my thoughts and stay focused on our goals. The bed is calling our names.....