Fall Activities

Like our bedhead?

Finished product

Happy boys eating sprinkles

See Brian's cookie? I think he's trying to get brownie points!

This weekend was wonderful. I love Fall and the feeling it gives you. A sense of excitement comes with changing of the seasons, like something fresh and new is coming your way.

We had a lazy weekend, which was very much needed after the last several weeks I've had at work (If you've been following the stock market at all, you know what I'm talking about)! BTW, I'm an Investment Advisor, if you were wondering. So, to relax, we took the boys to the Tennison Church Pumpkin Patch they have every year. No one was there at that particular time so the boys just ran wild and picked up every pumpkin they could hold. Drew has this new thing where he thinks everything, breathing or not, has a "Mama." So...he went around the pumpkin patch and tried to pair up little pumpkins with there "Mama!" It was so cute.

Saturday morning we decorated pumpkin cookies. Now, normally I'm not the super crafty, creative mom that does tons of holiday activities at home but thanks to Sunny (my mom), we now have a pumpkin cookie cutter and a pumpkin spatula...so of course we had to decorate cookies. And of course that means "I" am the one who rolls out, cuts and bakes 18 huge pumpkin cookies. We bought orange icing, ghost sprinkles, and sugar bats and spiders. Now, that is a "boy" cookie for ya! They had a blast and I was glad I did it, in the end! Now...on to Halloween festivities...TWO Cowboys, comin' up!!

Getting Personal

So...I've had this blog for about six weeks and have yet to get really personal but today's the day. If you know me, you know that I'm really outgoing and pretty open and honest. There's not really anything I mind sharing with people but today's sadness is one of them. The reason I want to share is because hopefully, it will help me get things off my chest but more importantly, help start the conversation and healing with others.

One year ago today, I had my first miscarriage. I was eight weeks along. I had been so excited that I had already been online to pick out baby bedding, for a girl of course. We were already talking about how to arrange our house for the new addition and even baby names! I was so shocked when we went for an ultrasound and the Dr. said there was no heart beat. My stomach dropped and I felt like I couldn't breathe. That moment felt like it lasted forever. I heard what the Dr. said but my mind couldn't process it. I thought it was a mistake & that what he just said wasn't true. I was speechless.

The Dr. talked to us about our options...that day, if you can believe it. How awful. Brian and I didn't even have a moment to ourselves and our Dr. was already talking about what should happen next. He said that we should have a D&C. I didn't even really know what that was. I had never known anyone personally that had a miscarriage, either naturally or thru D&C. I had nowhere to turn...just my loving husband and God. After talking with the Dr. several times and listening to his reason why I should have the D&C...I agreed. He said it would bring closure faster and it didn't. I had a gut feeling the morning of the procedure that I shouldn't be doing it and I kept reminding myself what the Dr. said and that it was for the best. For the next several months, I cried off and on. Sometimes, the tears would come at the drop of hat...seemingly for no reason at all. I was grieving for someone I had never met. There was a hole in my heart and I had no one to confide in that had gone thru the same thing. I got a few emails from old friends saying they had lost a pregnancy but no phone calls or anyone willing to talk me thru the rollercoaster of emotions. The only place I felt comfort was in the quiet, with my Lord.

I have gotten to know Him quite well over this last year. I have questioned his goodness for my life and He has shown me nothing but love, faithfulness, and his promises. I have learned to trust him....no REALLY trust him. My whole life, things have gone just as planned and the one time they didn't, it made realize who I had put my trust in...McCall. God has shown me the joy of living day to day. Not knowing what will happen next and not caring. Just trusting.

The last thing I want to say is that I should have trusted that "gut" feeling (Holy Spirit) because my body never did get back to normal. Not until I had a second miscarriage in July. It was only a few days after finding out I was expecting so of course it happened naturally. I remember just praying daily that this would be a cleansing time for my body, as awful as that sounds, and that my body would get back to normal so one day we could conceive again. Praise God....that's exactly what happened. Things are back to normal and hopefully I will conceive again soon. If not, that will be ok too...we are blessed with two handsome little boys that light up my world.

Thanks for reading my story and I hope it helps others to talk about what they've experienced and not be silent about the sorrow of losing the unborn.

Paint the Town Pink

The office ladies & Brian
(not sure what's up with my hair color...stayed tuned for changes)

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month so Mt. Pleasant did something new this year. Because we now have the Patty & Bo Pilgrim Cancer Center and a new breast cancer Dr. in town, they decided to really raise awareness. The launched this big campaign called "Paint the Town Pink." All the local business were invited to get involved and decorate their windows and doors for a contest. They also sold cute pink T's for "Think Pink Day" yesterday. We didn't win the deocorating contest but it was a lot of fun and I actually learned a lot about the statistics of breast cancer in women and, believe it or not, men. It's been fun participating and seeing that our little town can come together for a very important cause. Of course, we couldn't get Brian to wear pink..maybe next year!

Good times

Me and the Band (like my World Vision volunteer shirt?)

Micki Jo, Jason, and Me

Jason rockin' it out

Last night, Brian and I went to the Building 429 & Addison Road concert at FBC in Mt. Pleasant. Jason, the lead singer for Bldg 429 grew up in Mt. P so it was great to see him and his wife and their two adorable kids. I've seen Jason in concert several times and he's awesome. It's like he's been doing this his whole life! Their new CD comes out Oct. 21st so go buy it...it's rockin'! Addison Road is a new and upcoming band from Dallas that actually have several songs on the radio. It was a great show and thanks Paula for watching the kiddos. Now..on to TX v OU weekend. The Horns need a little prayer tomorrow. We'll see?!?!

Rockin in Big D

Mac Powell of Third Day

Lead Singer of Switchfoot

Me and my cute hubby


We went to Dallas last night with 3 other couples to see a concert at the old Starplex at the Fairgrounds. Concert bands were Third Day, Switchfoot, and Jars of Clay. My personal fav was Switchfoot. If you like music with a little bit of Rock n Roll/Alternative feel, you'll love it. They have so much energy and it just spills into the crowd. They are a Christian band but different than most out there. Listen to one of their songs and let me know what you think.

Mt. Pleasant Festivities

Jessica "Capps" Souza, Me, Angie before the fair

Lovin' the Petting Zoo

Drew, Caden & Hudson

Dressed for the Fair!

So, we finally found some cowboy boots for my biggest cowboy to go with his Halloween costume...Walmart special. But...little did I know, Hudson had plans to wear them all weekend and even to school this week. I always thought H would be a little preppy kid but he's kinda liking the boots and jeans look. Drew wore the boots H had been given when he was that age and they still had the tag on them; he didn't like 'em much. Now Drew is my little rugged kid. He's rough and tumble, messy and ALL boy. He already likes sports, which H still doesn't really. They are a lot alike but I'm beginning to see differences and I love it. Hudson is very outgoing, leader-type, opinionated and active (where did he get that???) and Drew is more go w/ the flow, jolly, class-clown type, but not a loner. They both have wonderful personalities and I can't wait to see them develop there own friendships and make there own choices. What a joy it is to be a Mom.

We went to the Mt. P fair and had a blast. Our friends from Mesquite came and brought their two boys and baby girl. I love the fair...maybe it's just b/c of the corndog!!