Hello?

Wow! So much has gone on since.... WHAT????.. JULY!!!! Where have I been? I think Facebook has ruined my blogging world. Why blog about what has been going on when I can update my status and let you know that "my teeth are freshly brushed," or "AHH! traffic was bad today!" or my favorite, "just woke up..."

Why does the world need to know that? More importantly, why am I rushing over to the computer right after I have opened my eyes to let the world know?

Point being, I am going to start blogging again..... at least right now I am.

Since July, I have completed my 3rd Triathlon, refinished our dining room table (maybe not a big deal to anyone out there, but it might just be blogged about!), competed in So You Think You Can Dance, and have traveled to Texas 3 times.

December will prove to be a very bloggable month.

First, we are getting our second puppy, RADAR, on the 19th. Same as Diesel boy but a different mama.

Before that happens though, JJ Heller and her husband Dave are coming up to Lexington to sing at our Christmas party! We are super pumped and totally honored they are doing this!

Okay, so coming soon.. BLOGS, BLOGS, BLOGS!

The easy road...

Isn't nice when someone else writes a post for you...

I know that I am totally cheating, but HERE is what I did two weekends ago!

Thanks Kat!

Heart Healthy Choices

As of lately, it has been important to me to TRY and be heart healthy...at least in my head it has been. But my eating actions have deviated from this goal. One side of Johns family has a history of heart disease and this disease has shown itself early in the lives of his grandfather and dad.

WELL NOT UNDER MY HOUSE! I want to do my best to provide a healthy, restful home for my family.

My favorite sister-in-law KAT, who is very wise, told me that she wants her home to be the place where her children and husband are refreshed and given healthy foods. She says that the world will provide enough junk on it's own and that her home will be a refuge.

I have already ordered the American Heart Associations cookbook and we have tried many recipes from it. Unfortunately, I still add all the stuff it tells me not use. For example... we

made phenomenal Fish Tacos (thank you Lindsey) that calls for corn tortillas, flaky fish, and home made pico de gallo. MMMMM--- but of course we added sour cream (low fat of course), and cheese.

This is just one example of how I can make anything more fatty.

So now I have decided to try a LITTLE harder to do this heart healthy thing. I know it would be good for me and of course I would be doing my part to keep John around for as long I can. I have "joined" a 12 week program-(Hi, my name is Diana and I have dirty arteries.") that will give me tips, recipes and all the hugs and encouragement a girl could ask for. :-)

I will say that some of it might be cheesy (well, I guess not cheesy b/c that would be unhealthy- oh man I crack myself up!) ANYWAY- some of it might be over the top- but getting daily reminders on my Facebook, and daily e-mails and daily widgets and daily encouraging notes from all my fellow BETTER-U participants, might actually make me want to throw up to remember that this is an important issue that is affecting tons (that is my official statistic) of Americans everyday.

I just wanted to let you know that I decided to get a LITTLE more serious about this after eating at the Cheesecake Factory for lunch and then eating Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. If I set small goals, anything should be possible after that night!

So you think you can dance?

Well, I finally made it to a SYTYCD audition. I have tried for the last two seasons to get to one, and this year... New Orleans Season 6 was accomplished. Season 4, both of my planes were cancelled, season 5, I got sick the night before and even this season I unfortunately lost my grandfather right before I went to the audition. I have a wonderful family though and they encouraged me to go anyway. I got the chance to say goodbye to my grandfather before he passed away, caught a Thursday flight and Friday morning got the news of his death. I wanted to come home and be with family, but since I was already in New Orleans, I decided to stay and at least try.

It was a lot fun and a very long day. Everyone was really nice and there were a lot a cameras around trying to get everyone to do the best tricks and dance moves. I did get to meet the judges and Cat Deeley. All were incredibly genuine and very encouraging

Make sure you watch in September because you just might see me! I am the girl that cried. Can you believe it? I always make fun of that girl but it happened to me. I am not sure how they will (or if they even will) make the story come alive, but I did cry... oh.. and so did my mom. (how embarrassing for both of us!)

Make sure you watch! SO YOU THINK YOU CAN Dance Dance Dance!!!!!!

My sweet grandparents

I have had the privilege to get to know my moms mom and my dads dad for 29 years. My moms mom past away in May and and my dads dad past away in June. It has been a lot of traveling back and forth to Texas for funerals.

My family is incredible and the support they ALL bring each other is a testimony of Gods love and of his purpose for creating family.

Front Sight

Where do I begin? This was an amazing trip and experience. We were in Las Vegas for 6 days. 5 of those days were long 9 hour (1/2 in class room, 1/2 on the range) days of learning all about how to use and defend yourself with a hand gun.The first day, I cried because I had a nervous husband and a gun in my hand! But after some good marriage communication and a long prayer, everything went smoothly. Through this course, I have learned how my gun will and WILL NOT go off. I have learned how to fix types 1,2, and 3, malfunctions of gun and how to do it quickly as if it were to happen during a gun fight. I learned how to load a gun, how to check if a gun is loaded, and the rules of gun safety. (all of those might seem basic but even those who are RESPONSIBLE around guns go over the basics. Guns don't kill people, People kill people.)

I know how to go through out my house safely and check rooms if I feel the need to so.

I know how to shoot my gun at night with a flash light in hand. I know how to deal with a hostage situation and how to shoot with one hand (3 different ways) if I need to (i.e. if there is a child behind me or in

hand.)

I had to learn where to shoot on the body, how many times to shoot, and what to do after wards. They taught us how to act in the court room, how to act IF you had to get arrested, and the mind set of when and why you would shoot your gun. One of the main things that I remember learning was if you can get out of the situation with out using your gun, do that first. Ultimately, if you must use your gun, you want to make sure it is worth it. Am I happy to be alive and is worth loosing my job, my pride, worth going to jail? At the end of the day, you want to go home.

I learned how to conceal my weapon and how to get it to quickly from concealment if needed.

Over all, I feel 100% safer in my house (which already had two guns) knowing how to use and when to use it if I needed to do so. I HIGHLY recommend this class for anyone who has a gun in the house. We are going back again.

The instructors were amazing! They were not conceited at all (even though they deserve to be). They wanted to teach and make sure that everyone there learned how to be safe and protect themselves.

John and I had a little one on one competition. We both lost because we shot the hostage! YIKES! But don't worry, we got better.. see...

It was so fun to do this with John because I saw him grow and he saw me become more confident with a weapon were before I was scared to be around them. It was over our anniversary and I don't regret it at all! :-)

My romantic husband....

I can not believe it has almost been two years of being married to my best friend!  CRAZY!  Last year we went to Florida to celebrate our 1st Anniversary.  It was a lot of fun getting so sun burned with a rash and getting sick.  Ahh...romance! 

Well get ready for this year!  John saved up his vacation and is able to take off from May 7- 17th.  WOW!  So we are going on vacation from May 7th-13th.....to Nevada........Vegas you ask?  Not exactly.  Have you ever heard of the romantic dessert destination location of Pahrump?

  OOOO, AHHHH! PAHRUMP!!???  

Are we going to a spa retreat in the oasis?  Are we hiking on the skirts of romantic Death Valley? Are we staying in Pahrump because hotels are cheaper there than on the strip?  NO, NO, and NO.

We are partaking in a luxurious 4 day defensive handgun course with Front Sight Institute. Ohh la la-- I know. 

 

That's right folks, I will be celebrating the bonds of HOLY Matrimony holding a 9mm side by side with my husband.  There is nothing that says L-O-V-E like pretending to be in a hostage situation in your own home.  I think I even get to carry a fake baby around!  

In all honesty, I think it will be very educational and fun.  We had some friends do it last year and they loved it.  

So instead of dressing up a cute little dress this year, I will be putting on my holster with magazines, flashlight (oh yes, for the night shoot), and of course...my gun.  

But don't worry, I still get to put on sunscreen and work on my .....arm tan.  

PS- never type in "Girls with Guns" to try and find a picture for your blog.  Not appropriate.

Time to organize the chaos

My goal today is to become organized and feel less chaotic.  I have been struggling to get the house "SRING" clean and when I have so many "hotspots" around the house it begins to make me feel like my life is spinning out of control.  I have my list made and I am grounding my self until it is accomplished.  No TV until I am done with my chores.....of course now that I am the adult I don't have to completely ground my self from everything....like this computer, but I will limit my time on the computer to the evenings.....um, starting after this blog.  :-)

Happy Cleaning!

Easter Weekend

This weekend was a very busy weekend.  We are exhausted!  On Friday night we had an awesome time with our youth from our church at "WINGS,WORSHIP, and WHAT-NOT!"  It was a chance for everyone to bring some friends that might not normally go to church and for us to get to know the youth a little more.  John had a chance to lead worship for the kids.  It was good but also that awkward "we have to sing cause it is a small group but we will not sing too loud," kind of singing. Our youth minister is trying to and DOING a great job of explaining who Jesus is.  

Saturday we went out to Keenland.  

About 20 of Johns fellow residents decide to Tail gate before the horse races.  The weather was a chilly with the wind but the sunshine was incredible.  We basically stayed at the the tail gate for 4 hours and never made it into the race.  Still fun.  After that, John and I went to run some errands and hurried home to play with our dog before we headed out to our first INDIAN New years celebration.

Why you might ask??????

Dr. Reddy, (one of John's Attendings), had asked me to choreograph a tap dance to Indian music for 11 girls...who have never tapped before.  We have been working on this dance for the last 4 weeks and they did an awesome job.  I don't have any pictures unfortunately but they were great and super cute.  These kids were some of the best kids I have ever worked with.  

But the night itself was extremely interesting. The program itself did not begin until 6:30..or at least it was supposed to start then.  A little after 6:45, the program began and out came the traditional Indian singers and dancers.  It was very neat and beautiful to watch the dancers perform all the hand motions and foot work.  There were some boring parts to the night also - an Indian comedian......(not funny if you do not know the language).  

John and I did learn a lot about Indian culture and enjoyed some traditional home cooked Indian food.... we were there until 9:45pm.

And of course today.... Easter Sunday.  I woke up this morning so thankful for what my saviour has done.  Today, John and I were in the nursery helping with the 3 yr olds.  OH JOY!

It was eventful..One of the little girls missed her mommy so much that she would not let go of me the entire time.  When I went to go page her mommy, John tried to pick her up and she screamed louder.  I came back, picked her up in my arms and felt a nice warm sensation on the side of my shirt.  I was peed on.  What a hard day for sweet little Ella.  :-(  

After church I came home and prepared four dishes (deviled eggs, green bean casserole, risotto, and cranberry salad) for our Easter lunch with  Blake and Brianna (youth pastor and wife).  We had a great meal at their house with their sweet daughter...who could not get enough of Diesel.....

FINALLY we are home...............I hope you enjoyed my boring long blog about our weekend.  :-)

Our Dog

I know I have not blogged in a LONG time but I had to put this up.   John was outside washing both of our cars (I have a great husband!) while our neighbor was out doing the same.  Our dogs are basically best friends and were playing in the back yard.  John said that he heard Diesel whining and then he heard the gate rattling.  His first thought was that he was jumping up on the gate.  Instead, when he came around the corner, He saw this.......

Here we go.

So I have had so much to blog about that now I have forgotten everything I wanted to blog about!  Well, not completely... but you know when you wake up in the middle of the night and you write out the greatest speech ever or write the greatest article or say the most witty things?   Well, I wish you were back there in my head when that happened like 4 times last month.

Here is small recap of DIANA'S THOUGHT LIFE!!!!!!!!!!

1.  I want to detox my life....  less entertainment, less computer, less tv, more reading, more

 yogurt, more veggies, all equal healthier thoughts, healthier energy, happier EVERYONE!

2.  We went to a great Youth Conference in over V-day weekend and I learned how self centered I am and how thankful I am to be saved from the Wrath of God and thankful that he has chosen to me know Him and to walk worthy of His calling.

3.  John and I have been sick sick sick.... well maybe just sick sick.  I think if there are three "sicks" that requires total bed rest.  We were both in the stage were we want to be in bed all day but you COULD get out and do the stuff that needs to be done.  We are feeling better now, but just so you know... there has been NO P90X for two weeks!   Boo HOO!  

And my running skills have gone down as well.  I am looking forward to this week to get back...."On the road again."

4.  DOG vs Shower.     John was gone at work and I HAD to get Diesel out of the house.  We went to the Dog Park... it was wet and muddy.  When we came back from the dog park.... so was my dog.  Not ONLY was he wet and muddy, he had caked on mud all over his belly area and back of his legs.  So I thought I would wash him because it was the right thing to do for my furniture.  I was doing so well in the shower.  Dog between legs, being submissive, taking the water, taking the shampoo.... and THEN he decides to escape.   Three legs out of the shower, dripping with dirty water and shampoo.......SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE..... goes the dog and the mud all over the bathroom (that I just cleaned the day before).  Anyway... he got clean, and then I had to clean the shower and bathroom and then it was my turn.... oh but wait.... all that was left was cold water..... YEA ME!

So.. if you would like more info on any oh the above stories, just ask!  I have not wanted to blog because I did not want to catch up... but now I am set free, FREE, from my past!  

I am glad to have that off my chest!

I am still here

So much to blog about that I have to write it down.... so I don't forget all share.    See you soon!

The problem with sleeping...

Is just that.. I have a problem sleeping.  Lately.. it has been that I wake up two to three timesa night. (Mom, please do not call because you are worried.. I am fine.)

Tonight I am up because John is at work and I usually like to stay up while he is working so that when he comes home, I sleep while he does.  It is no fun to be awake while he is home and we could be playing together.  It is no fun for him because I usually go in a lot to find out if he has "slept enough yet."  

However, he called me about an hour ago letting me know that he was going to bed.....and here I am typing about it.

  

Sometimes I stay awake because I am scared to be by myself... but tonight I am just restless.  I could put away ALL the laundry that I folded.... but that's just it.. I folded it.  So at least I did something.  Okay.. there is my "lame, it's so late blog."  I am going to attempt to go to bed now.

 

A Sleepy Dog

This is just really funny.  We were watching a TV show and some how forgot our dog was waiting patiently to be thrown a toy.  We looked over and he was doing this sleepy eye, hypnotic look.   Luckily we got it again.. apparently he was very tired...... It is kinda dark but so funny.

Dog Crazy......

  So for KY the weather has been a bit crazy. The kids missed an entire week of school last week and got let out early yesterday and stayed home today!  All that to say that it has been hard for me to get out with Diesel.  We could go for a walk and to the dog park... but it was very slick. The dog park was an ice skating rink... NOT EXAGGERATING!  

Thankfully, we have Daisy.   Daisy is our neighbors puppy dog.  She is a 4 year old boxer that taught Diesel everything he needed to know about playing.  She is a very cute and lovable dog.  They play for hours!  She has been my lifesaver in this weather.  Diesel knows her name and goes a little bonkers when we ask where she is.

They like each other.  One time, after playing for about two hours... I found them face to face laying down on the ground just licking and sniffing each other. 

Enjoy the videos.