I Couldn't Help Myself

I got a call this morning from my sister. She was having contractions. I think that it is "false labor" but I hate that I can't jump in the car to be with her during this time. I know when I was having Foster, I wanted Amy to be there with me. I am excited for her. Maggie is going to be so blessed to have Scott and Amy as parents. Amy is one of those people that just loves children. It doesn't matter whose kids they are. I can only imagine how quickly and deeply she will fall in love with little Maggie. I can't wait to see the look on my sister's face as she looks into the eyes of her baby...it will be priceless. I will keep you posted when we get the big news of her arrival.

I have been learning a lot about friendship over the past few weeks. I find it funny how we each seem to walk around like we have it all together and don't need each other, and really we do. Not much has changed since highschool. We all long to be noticed and loved by someone. We all long to be known deeply by another human being.
I have been blessed with some of the best friendships in the world...some I have known for nearly 20 years and some only a few, but each is something so special. I think God gives you different friends for different reasons and He always seems to put that certain person in your life right when you need them the most. For example - Laura has been my friend since Freshman year of high school. We have had a lot of laughs over the years and even a few cries. Now I get to see her about every other month. She knows me and that is so refreshing and freeing...we are different in so many ways but it is the familiarity and acceptance that I have with her that is such a blessing to me. Kelly, I have only known for 3 years but you would think we were sisters. We can almost finish each other's sentences. Hardly a day goes by that I don't see her or talk to her at least 5 times on the phone. She is there to talk when I just need to gab or when I need to work through problems. She is the kind of friend that knows something is wrong even before I say it. Krista is my roommate from college. We don't get to see each other or talk very often because of distance and schedules, but we always seem to connect at the right time...when one of us needed it most. I could go on and on listing the great things about different friends God has blessed me with...I hate to mention more names in fear that I would leave someone out...I hope each of my friends know how much they mean to me.
I am not going to pretend to know any answers or formulas to create great relationships but I do know that friendship takes a lot of work. I've found that if you find yourself lonely (like I have felt many times in my life)....think about what you have done in the past 10 days to reach out to someone. There is always someone wishing that their phone would ring with a friend on the other line or wishing that there was something other than bills in the mailbox. You can't expect to have great friendships unless you are willing to sacrifice. You have to be willing to be vulnerable, honest and available. One thing I know I am going to do tonight is thank God for the friends He has brought into my life - whether from work, church, tennis, high school, college or just life....I am so very thankful!!!

TOP TEN THINGS I WISH I WAS GOOD AT:

1. Being organized - anyone who has been to my house knows this is a struggle.
2. Saying no and not feeling bad about it (especially to people who are trying to sell me something).
3. Being on time...with 2 kids, it has only gotten worse.
4. Having the perfect balance between truth (knowing what is right and wrong) and grace (knowing that God loves us no matter how bad we screw up).
5. Living my life based on my priorities rather than just living by the seat of my pants.
6. Being able to show emotions especially when I am opening a gift or really excited about something. My cousins Kelly and Becky are the best at this.
7. My slice serve and my backhand lob.
8. Being 100% my true authentic self and not worrying about what anyone thinks.
9. Singing.
10. Being a great listener and then having a good balance between saying enough but not saying too much. I have recently been reminded that God has not given me all the answers for everyone...it is more important for my friends to be heard than for them to hear what I have to say.

I included a picture of the boys for your enjoyment.
Blessings,
Becca

My first blog

OUR FAMILY
Life is wonderful as a family of 4. Foster, our oldest if 4. If I could freeze him at this age forever, I would. He is so funny and loving. There isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't have me laughing. He is into superheroes and any kind of animal especially sharks. He is a sponge for information and he loves to be with his friends. Today we are going to a birthday party for a friend at church. I know it is going to be a struggle getting him to come home. Mr Social. We were blessed back in December of '05 to be selected by a birthmom to adopt a beautiful baby boy. It is hard to believe that Caleb is 10 months old now and growing by the day. His first tooth came through this past Wednesday. Caleb doesn't care if he has teeth or not, he will eat anything he can get his hands on. He is crawling all over the place and will walk if you hold onto his hands. I am going to WalMart today to try to find him a walker. I was going to just let him use the one Foster had when he was young, but Foster has ruined it pushing down our steep driveway and watching it crash. Caleb is more reserved than Foster. He seems to be more of an observer but he loves to laugh and he really is a cuddler. I love the new things I discover about him each day. I can't imagine our lives without him as part of our family.
Jason and I are doing great. Today we celebrate 11 years of marriage. Can you believe that? It is such a blessing to be married to your best friend.


WEIGHT LOSS
I am in a weight loss challenge with some of my best friends from college. We are all working toward our goals and encouraging each other along the way. What better way to lose weight than to do it with friends. If we all reach our goals, we are going to take a vacation together next summer. Here are my thoughts and challenges this week concerning the weight loss challenge.
OK....I have a cheap scale - one I have had for at least 10 years now. I don't know why I don't fork out the $30 for a new one. Actually I do know why - it's cause I am cheap. Anyway, I got on my cheap scale this morning (as I do every morning) in anticipation of what weight I have lost. This past week I have been very consistant with my exercise - walks, bike rides and LOTS of tennis. Anyway, the scale said that I had gained 5 lbs since yesterday!!! I thought I was going to throw up and cry at the same time. I got on and off the scale 5 times hoping that the numbers would change. They didn't. I neglected to mention that the scale was back in our bathroom on carpet which in never a good consistant place for a scale to be accurate. Before barfing, I decided to move the scale into the laundry room on a hard surface - thank God I did. It looks like I have lost 3 lbs since the start of the challenge. I am breathing a sigh of relief and I am encouraged and motivated to keep going.
I have to do a better job in the eating department. I am doing "OK". I am not making really good sacrifices....for instance the other day I ate a very early dinner - like around 4:30. Sometimes I am so hungry early that if I just eat dinner then I am good for the rest of the night - otherwise I snack myself to death. Anyway, around 8pm after a walk and a bikeride with the boys, Jason decided he wanted pizza....you guessed it, I had a slice (a rather large one) even though I was not really hungry. Oprah always says that that food doesn't taste as good as skinny feels. In the moment, that is hard to believe, cause man that pizza was good!!!

TOP TEN
My friend Sarah is who introduced me to this site. She does a Top 10 of things she is most grateful for. I am going to do the same.

1. 11 years of marriage to my best friend - being able to be 100% myself with Jason and knowing that he loves me in spite of my many many faults and shortcomings.

2. Every Saturday morning, Jason takes the boys out to breakfast and I have a quiet house for a few hours. I never thought I would enjoy silence this much.

3. In 10 days I am going to Orlando for 4 days to meet my newest niece, Maggie Olivia Lee. Amy's due date is today. I can't wait!!!!!!!

4. Having a best friend who lives right across the street that I can call any time!

5. Tennis. LOTS OF TENNIS.

6. Bowling with friends. Up until a month ago, I had not bowled since high school. I have had the chance to bowl twice in the past month. I stink at it but it was so fun. What happens in the bowling alley stays in the bowling alley :)

7. My Sunday School class. I have hated Sunday School since I was 6 years old. About a year ago, Jason and I gave in and started going to a class at church. We love it...we have been blessed with such great friends. Tonight we are getting together with some the couples from it to play games and hang out.

8. Liliana, our birthmom who not only chose us, but has become our friend.

9. That I lost 3 lbs in spite of the pizza and the rolls from Texas Roadhouse I ate :)

10. Reconnecting with my friend Brook after life pulled us 2 different ways about 4 years ago.

I hope you like the blog. I will get better at this over time.
Have a great weekend.
Blessings,
Becca