Floggers

Fake Bloggers. I'm gonna be bold and go ahead and address the issue.

What is up with people starting blogs and not keeping up with them??

I am not down with this...

# 499

Since writing 'One time I had a house', my storage unit has been on my mind more than usual. I have this constant fear that one day I'll go back to get my stuff and the unit will just be empty. This may or may not be largely due to a craiglist post I saw while looking for furniture for free storage units and everything inside of them; renters neglected to pay their monthly rent and thus the rental place is craigslisting their belongings. : Yikes. My sweet red couch going to a random stranger?!? That hurts me to think about...

With all this going through my head, I held my breath as I drove to visit my storage unit in Austin. The first time I've seen it since I packed it in August.

'Will my stuff still be there?'

'Will I see some random craigslister hauling my bed, wearing my clothes or lounging on the sofa from my recently auctioned unit??'

Nope. I won't. Because everything was still there; exactly how I left it (plus a couple minor spider webs, but they don't phase me.) Praise God. My mind can rest assured.

While at my unit, however, I was able to admire, once again, the stellar packing job (which could never have been done with Georgeanne, Lane and Bobby; so thankful for them!) and just have to document/brag about it.

Five feet wide and seven feet deep filled to the brim. Insane.

I'm guessing Allison's laughing at me right now. I know she is. She knows how much I love packing things (i.e. boxes, suitcases, etc.); finding the perfect item to fill the perfect space is so rewarding, like hearing dirt sucked up a vacuum (OR I just have too much time on my hands!) But to be able to pack that box on a scale times 10, was AWESOME. Well, awesome for the first hour or so, the next 6 were not so awesome. I'll be sticking to suitcases for now, and sleeping sound knowing #499 has not hit Craigslist yet.

You can take the girl out of Texas...

But you can't take Texas out of the girl.

Wednesday night I headed back to Texas for a weekend in Austin. Due to story overload, rather than one REALLY long post, the next four posts document my visit; one day at a time.

Back to the Homeland

Each visit back is different. People are changing and moving on; it's so neat to witness friendships not ending, but adjusting and continuing. I love that.

Before I even know it, I'm on the plane heading back already. The visits always fly by so fast. I can only do so much, see so many people. I always leave feeling like, 'If I just had one more day...' But it will have to wait until next time.


I miss so many things about Austin. I love that city. It's definitely a one-of-a-kind. Lakes, rivers, happy hours, restaurants, friends, tree huggers, awesome homeless people, sno-beach, UT, the list is endless of things I love. But unfortunately it's missing one huge thing that the northeast coast has...


my family.


They're the best and being within driving distance of them has been so great. I'm blessed to have a place to call home. But how did I get so lucky to have two places to call home and wonderful people that fill each place? :)

Lastly, thank you to the man from New Jersey who hijacked an airport wheelchair in Dallas and gave me a ride to our terminal change about a mile away from our original terminal; I wouldn't have made it without you. And I got a good laugh. First wheelchair ride with a random stranger? Check.

Hammer time?...SHOWER TIME!

Due to the lack of pictures in the previous two posts, I present saturday in pictures. Partly out of laziness and partly out of guilt for dropping the ball on thursday and friday, but nonetheless AMAZING.

 

              

Is it bad that I want to name this post QUESO?

I miss the DR very often. Some days more than others, naturally; but today was one of those 'more than other' days...in a very good way.

Morning coffee at Dominican Joes. Always delicious, always relaxing. I don't know what it is about that coffee shop, but it's just got a great vibe. I may be a bit biased because of its' affiliation with Makarios in the DR, but meh, minor details. The pictures on the walls of all the kids brought me back to this time last year when I packed up my things to follow the Lord to the DR. Such amazing people. Great stories. Unforgettable memories.

Hayley (from 'Hheeyyhhaayy') and I had plans to meet for lunch. Perfect timing. Coming off the memories that the morning unexpectedly brought, it was great to reminesce with and hug someone that I served alongside of. We lounged outside at Shady Grove where I FINALLY got some queso. SO GOOD. The tummy needed it.

Errands filled up the rest of the day until a much-needed coffee date with Kelli and happy hour with the MBSMs (minus a certain someone that I don't want to talk about...she just HAD to go to Florida :) Lucky!) . I just love these girls. So much.

The boot has arrived.

I made it. I'm here. Boot, crutches, and me, all in one piece.

Creature of habit that I am, I immediately put on my long-sleeve shirt after waking up preparing for the cold morning air that I know awaits me outside. One step out the front door, however, reminds me where I am and the long-sleeve shirt immediately comes off. Texas, April and anything covering more than half your body do not mix; especially when you have recently-adjusted Northern blood, as I apparently do now.

A morning quiet time on the front porch swing begins my day and I am back, like I never left. I know people, I know my surroundings, I have my friends; the feeling of comfort I feel hasn't happened in a while and I'm so thankful to feel it again. 

Today flew by. Rental car pick-up, hair cut, lunch date with Allison (which then turned into Sno-Beach and a pool lay-out...first sno-beach of the season could not have been spent with any one else or in any other situation; perfection). The day ended with a God-planned coffee date with an old friend then errands with George and Allison for Kelli's wedding shower this Saturday.

A sweet day filled by sweet moments with sweet friends. 

(My apologies for the lack of pictures; I have not been living in my blogger mindset and thus not photojournaling my life as well as I should be. Don't worry, I'll get on that.) 

Weekend with the 'Rents

Due to my recent handicap, I decided to stay at my parents' house all weekend to let me leg rest as much as possible. Good wine, great meals, delicious desserts and many laughs were just a few of the highlights from my amazingly relaxing weekend.

Mom insisted on waiting on me all weekend because she's awesome like that. As stubborn and independent as I usually am, it was hard to accept and get used to having so much done for me, but once I embraced it, it was such a huge help and much needed. 

I also get to see these guys when I go home; they always make the trip worth it.

Mom and I washed and detailed my car for the first time since before winter. It needed it. Like woah. Now it's supposed to rain tomorrow--figures. But it doesn't phase me, my car still looks ahhhmazing. 

This time next week...

I'll be lovin' on some austin folk. Oooo how that makes my heart so happy. And so does the weather forecast of 85 and sunny :)

Unimportant, yet funny: I googled 'austin folk;' this is what I got...

Haaahahah. Yep, that's about right.

Rockin' some new boots; er, boot.

Faithful readers, I give you my new fashion accessory...
Don't see it? I know, it's easy to miss, I mean, it's not ridiculously huge or anything. I had to try to set my camera up to take a picture of myself, but check the right foot; see that huge contraption?!?

Yeah. That's my new boot.

I have crutches too, but we're not friends right now so they didn't make the picture.

You'd think after nearly 10 years of running my bones would be pretty strong and if they were to fracture, they would've by now. But, not my bones. They're pretty dramatic and decide to fracture just as I'm about run a 10-miler and am training for a marathon. Silly bones.

I thought for the past couple months I had bad shin splints, so I kept running as usual and just started icing my shins. But decided before I increased my mileage anymore I should get checked out so I don't do long-term damage. Thankfully I did go, because a bone scan last week confirmed I have severe stress fractures in both my right and left tibias (shins).

Weak bones + treadmill (it's so flipping cold in the winter here, i had no choice!) + increased mileage = stress fractures

So now I have the boot and crutches for 4-6 weeks (hopefully not longer, but it depends how fast I heal). In a couple weeks I'll start physical therapy for 8 weeks or so, then if all goes as planned, I can start running again in 2-3 months and still be ready for the marathon in October--fingers crossed! I'm trying to be very diligent in my crutch use to aid in as quick a heal as possible.

Through this whole process, my bum wheel (as my trainer likes to call it) has made me thankful for many things:

1. That I am able to walk and run in the first place

2. Health Insurance

3. A removable walking boot rather than a cast

4. That it's not a lot worse and will heal

5. Mom's to go home to

I'm so quick to look at the few negative sides to my new boot, that I forget to think of the many positives and tiny blessings that come with it too. I think this may be God's sign for me to slow down and appreciate, everything. And that I'll do.

Easter con bebe

I haven't been home for Easter (or with family I guess I should say) in a good 5 years or so. I'm so glad for my first Easter back, I got to see the little bundle to the right in her Easter outfit, complete with a bunny ear headband (pictured below).

Easter began with 8am church to celebrate the resurrection of Christ -- Woohoo! Then the day continued with some family hangout at Kyle and Stephanie's house, some eating of delicious food, of course some Wii Mario Kart playing, and a WHOLE LOT of baby holding. No complaints there; Mackenzie sleeps for about 19 hours out of the day, so she basically slept through Easter and her 1 week birthday, but we celebrated for her. We'll show her pictures later, she'll appreciate it.

Scott and Kelly were able to make the trip up from Northern Virginia, thankfully, so the only ones we were missing were Kev and Shan down in Charlotte (NC) :(.

The night ended with some much-needed relaxation time at mom and dad's.

All-in-all, awesome day: great weather, amazing family and a risen King, can't get much better than that.

Jammers

After Mackenzie came, James came! Well, technically, James arrived before Mackenzie, but for posting purposes lets just say James came next :)

We had a blast; Monday night poker, Tuesday night quizzo, Wednesday Philadelphia, Thursday and Friday New York City. And mushed somewhere in between all those are two cheesesteaks, several Yuenglings, dinner with my parents, a run up the art museum steps, chinese buses, new york pizza, learning/experiencing that New York bars don't close, and of course lots of pictures.

That said, I'll let the pictures do the talking; in chronological order...

                                                              

Mackenzie Leigh Denholm

Jesus said, "Let the Children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these."

Matthew 19:14

On Sunday, April 5, 2009, we welcomed our first baby into the family! 

Mackenzie Leigh Denholm, born at 4:00p.m., weighed in 7lbs, 11oz and 19 1/2 inches. Praise God for 10 fingers and 10 toes on a healthy baby girl. She's beautiful and perfect. Besides a little sleep deprivation, Mom and Dad are doing wonderful.

Proud Mom and Dad--I hope I look as good as Steph after 11 hours of labor and a natural birth!

Grandma and Grandpa Denholm are so excited for the first grandbaby.

I'm an Aunt!! Such an amazing feeling.

The amount of love I have for this little girl is overwhelming. 

In the meantime

Keep your mind off the suspense of my life...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=azhgVB5uXlo

Hold your pants

I know, It's been almost a week since you've heard from me. 

But fear not, updates will come, there are a lot of them and trust me, they're real good, but not until saturday. Or maybe sunday. 

Sorry; girl is busy!

Snail Mail

A long week and frustrating friday seemed to disappear when I came home tonight to a letter on the coffee table with my name on it. Well, it was actually addressed to 'Tara Delhem,' but that just added to the beauty of it.

That Allison Matthews, girl knows how to cheer a sister up. 

My letter was complete with not only a long, sweet hand-written note, but also a list of everything we love to do in austin together and will get to do in a couple weeks. A few excerpts from the list:

1.) Snow Beach

2.) Barton

3.) Happy Hour

4.) Starbucks quiet time dates

Pretty exciiiiteeeed.

A much-needed venting session with my mom and then this amazing note from Allison are reminders to me tonight that I have some pretty amazing people in my life. May I never forget this or take it for granted.

My cat is crazy

Although it's not proven yet that my cat has a mental condition, multiple sources that know her have confirmed that something not normal goes on in her brain.

I often wonder, sometimes fear, what she does all day when I'm at work. I assumed she sleeps, but when I came home to this on monday, it made me wonder...

                                                                          

This would be the result of Mica mistaking a shadow casting in on the blinds for a bug. She has good intentions to kill the bug, but unfortunately it's usually at the expense of my blind. I think this may be the 3rd or 4th blind destroyed in mica's 3 years of life.

Good work Mica, keep it up. Maybe try out cooking or cleaning while I'm at work tomorrow.

Oh, hey April,

I'm glad you're here. You came a little sooner than expected, but it's good to see you.

March was so good to me, but not to worry, I have high hopes for you. You hold a visit from Texas, a trip to texas and the arrival of my first niece/nephew.  I don't know if things can get much better than that, but I'm pretty excited to see what else you have in store for me.

I know you're just waiting to bring the sun and warm weather so bring it on, April. I've had my bathing suit on for weeks.