Fastest 5 months of my life....

Since January life has flown by! Now it's the last day in May and I can't believe it. In 11 days Zoe will be 8 months old, Daniel will be 28 months old, and I'll be 26.5 years old. Plus it will be one month and 3 days until Michael turns 31! I'm in a state of shock. But then again my life feels back on track. Each day is a little better than the last. I'm feeling satan being pushed back and I know he won't be happy about it and he'll launch a full frontal attack again....he's already trying. The good news is : we have lots of folks praying for us and for strength to battle him back. If we're surrounded by God's Love and the Army of God, satan cannot get into our lives again.

Check out our family blog for some new pictures of the kids and the family! Tomorrow I'll blog a little about my experience today (I'm doing clinicals at James L. West now) and how it affects me.

A touch of Normalcy....

For the last several months my life has felt strange. Maybe it was starting back to School, maybe it was something else....who knows. All I know is, I have not felt like myself. And it has affected my life. Tonight, for the first time in ages I have felt right. I have felt like my life is spinning back onto its track. I'm optimistic again! I'm motivated again! I feel beautiful tonight. Not sure why, because I'm not even wearing make up! But Michael looked at me with a look I haven't seen in awhile, and my heart melted. Last night helped a lot too. We've resumed praying together before going to sleep. We pray and it seems like God was just waiting for us to simply ask. Once we asked, we received. He has already Blessed me immeasurably since this weekend. Unbelievable. I feel oddly at peace today. My heart isn't racing, my mind is not going crazy......I feel good today.

We grilled out tonight. It was great fun. Daniel played in the pool with Gege while Mimi, Bebe, Memaw, Daddy, Mommy, and Uncle Rodney watched on. Oh and Zoe didn't care for the cold water AT ALL!! She looked awfully cute in her little swimsuit and mohawk (like Daddy's). She loves being the center of attention.....and she's worth every minute of it. Daniel wanted her in the water with him so badly, and was sad when she cried. But he didn't let it get him down. Our digital camera was full so once my mom emails me the pics I'll post some. There have never been cuter children EVER....

All of this came together to make tonight a great night. And with the one exception this has been an incredible Anniversary weekend. satan may be fighting but I'm fighting back and that you-kinow-what isn't going to win!!

Thank you for the continued prayers....we sure can use them!

Please pray for me

Satan is in my life. Please pray that he leaves. Please.

Happy Anniversary

Happy 5 years, it seems like so much less!!!! I can't believe how unbelievable we are together. We are so in tune with one another it's uncanny. I miss him when I'm not with him, and I love him more than anything. I watch him with our kiddos and I'm amazed at the way he is with them.

Yesterday was our 5th year Anniversary. We went to the Rangers Game (they WON!!) last night as a present from Kay. It was awesome! It was fun to watch them win. Tonight we went to our Anniversary spot : Texas de Brazil. I'm stuffed. Just call me a jumbo shrimp! :)

Enough witty banter from me for one day. I had two Batidas at Texas de Brazil and my head feels a little light :)

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life.....

Buckleys

The 6th Annual Betty Lynn Buckley awards were held Monday night at Casa Manana. Michael and his kids were nominated for a School record NINE awards for "Children of Eden," including two nominations for Best Actor, a nomination for Best Actress, and a nomination for Best Musical. The evening started out with a bang....first award of the night was a Technical award : set design. Boom, Oakridge takes it! And so the night went, Oakridge cleaned up on the technical awards they were nominated for. Their performance of "Let There Be," the opening song of the show was amazing. They were dead on. It looked beautiful. They sounded amazing. It couldn't have gone better. The other shows were just silly in comparison. In fact, I only enjoyed one other performance and that was from "Big River" at North Crowley. The one we were all waiting for : Best Musical. And it was a tie!! Can you believe it? "Children of Eden" and "Big River!" The kids were thrilled, the parents were thrilled, we were thrilled, the administration present were thrilled. It was a great night!! I'm trying to locate the pictures of the event and when I do, I'll add them.

I have never been so proud of Michael. He did an amazing thing with those kids. He taught them things, he showed them things, he led them to experiences they may never have again. He wasn't here more than he was here. He was exhausted for months on end. He worked his tail off for no extra money. He and his kids had an amazing show, and the nominations echoed that. The win for Best Musical was bittersweet because it was shared. But, it's still a win. And for me, the times I spent missing him deeply, and wishing he was here and not up at School were almost worth it when that win was announced. I say almost, because no wife wants her husband gone so much, spending so much time with people who aren't their family. But the looks on those kids' faces when they all won was priceless, and it made me feel so proud. Congratulations, honey! I love you and we're all so proud of you and your accomplishments!!

Mom's Day(s)

Sunday was my third Mother's Day....it was fabulous. We had lunch at Memaw's with my Mom & Toby. Daniel played with their dog, Jipsy...he's still talking about it today! I received the most wonderful present from Michael....a new ring. It's kind of a long story, but since having 2 kids in as many years, my fingers have not been quite the way they used to be. My wedding day I was the thinnest I have ever been (or likely ever will be) and my wedding band is now a half size too small. After getting it stuck on my finger and having the threat of it being cut off I have not been able to get it back on. This is depressing to me. Michael knew this. So, to celebrate Mother's Day and our Anniversary (which is May 26th) he bought me this gorgeous ring. It's my "new" wedding band, and it's my new favorite possession! :) Here is a picture! (Ignore the fingernails...I can't seem to dedicate myself to "grooming" them!!)

And, for what's been going on in the lives of the Newberry clan :

We're finally all well. Zoe seems to have miraculously escaped the virus! How? I have no clue, because the rest of us were SO SICK!! Nursing school is great....my clinical site is fabulous, and I feel like I'm doing what I was put here to do. I've always felt that I was destined to be a mother....and I keep hearing that takig care of patients is like being their mother..."that's why they call it 'nursing'!" Hehe...appropriate for me, now :)

How's the weight loss? Going well I think....I'm TWO SIZES smaller than I was a year ago...granted, I was 3.5 mos pregnant with Zoe then, but still....I'm TWO SIZES smaller than I was two years ago, too! :) I feel good, and I'm "getting there" on the body image thing. There are some things I want to fix...and I will, but it'll be a matter of time. As of today my grand total weight loss since January (well, really since late April) is : 33 lbs!!! I can't believe it sometimes....so, does anyone know of a good plastic surgeon? :P

And, Daniel and Zoe...there have never been better children on the face of the planet. I'm serious. Daniel convinced me to let him "hold" Zoe the other day....here's a great picture of that event :

Best Mother's day gift.....EVER!!!!!!! :

THE BUG.....

Daniel's got it. Michael's got it (really badly, I might add). And I've got it...sort of. Daniel has woken up every morning since last Wednesday with either vomiting or diarrhea, or (like today) both. Michael fell ill very suddenly last night. I've had diarrhea today. Zoe had diarrhea yesterday, but just once. This is a sick little household. apparently, there is a really nasty virus going around and we all caught some degree of it....good for us, huh?