An Amazing Journey-Zac's Story

When Jeremy was first diagnosed with colon cancer in June 2009 I began blogging. This was where I found comfort and I also wanted a way to document our story for our 2 boys when they were older. I have found a place to have my blog printed into a book and I am having one made for each of the boys. I just sit and think about when they are our age(still young at the ripe age of 32 :). I know that they will read our story and see our faith and think wow look at our dad, he was strong, he had faith, and he did all this for us. As I blogged I began to meet amazing and inspiring people. At that point I knew that we were not alone, that there were people going through the exact same things and feelings that we were. There is something very comforting about knowing that you are not alone and there are people out there that can say we know how you are feeling and they truly do. One day I received the sweetest email from a very supportive friend, her name is Mandy and her husband was and still is battling colon cancer. He is a 33 year old man who has Stage 4 colon cancer. He has continued to fight a very good fight. I just want to say that this family needs our prayers. The family has had to call in hospice and the fight is getting harder. However they are an inspiring family with an amazing faith. They are members of an amazing church and this video has been an inspiration during their services and also been seen across the internet. Please pray for Zac, Mandy, and their 3 children. Mandy has been an inspiration to me over the past 10 months and we continue to email back and forth each month to check on each others status. I am so thankful to our heavenly father for the glorious news we have received, but I have to say my heart hurts so bad for them. Mandy has been so wonderful in celebrating our wonderful news even as she prepares to deal with something we never thought we would have to deal with at the young age of 33. I pray for this family everyday. I ask God to wrap his arms around them and let them be blessed in each and everyday they have left together. I think so much of you Mandy. Sending lots of love, hugs, and prayers to your family.

This is a link to the video that was produced through their church. It is such an inspiring video on Zac's faith and his story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ojj02nobl4
Here is Zac's inspiring blog:
http://hellorighton.com/

Kites one day...........SNOW the next

Friday was Kite day at our school. This has been a tradition at Asbell for about 40 years. The kids love it and it is especially great when the weather is so beautiful. I have been at this school for almost 11 years and this has to be the most beautiful perfect kite day we have ever had. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, and the kids were having a great time!!!! Jeremy came over on his lunch to help Ian fly his kite. Thank goodness because I am a great picture taker, but not much of a kite flier

Then 1 day later we have this.........................................................................................................

Isn't that crazy! I mean the weather man kept saying snow, but this is a BLIZZARD. Well to us folks in Arkansas it is anyway! So Sunday morning we got up and went to church(along with only 9 other people!) and then came home to build a snowman. This was our first snowman all together! It was fun, but super COLD! Carter doesn't have much time for building because he has to eat as much snow as possible while we are out there. We have to watch him like a hawk because he will just pick up ANY snow and eat it! It was a great day, but this is some CRAZY weather. The last time I remember having snow like this on spring break was in 1999 the spring before Jeremy and I graduated and got married. We came up to see my Dad and Jannie over spring break and got a TON of snow. This is exactly what it reminds me of. I must say though that snow is much more fun with 2 wild boys to play with in it! Weather in Arkansas! Who would have thought sunshine on Friday and snow on Sunday! Did I mention that we now have a foot and the snow is still falling?

Dear Spring Break,

I have been counting the days until you arrive. I only have to wait your arrival 2 more days and I cannot wait. Please please please be everything I have dreamed of. We have no plans, but to enjoy the whole week and play. I hope you live up to all my expectations. Oh yes and if the sun could shine that would be wonderful. Look forward to seeing you soon!!!! I can honestly say you actually can't get here soon enough.
All my Love,
Jill

P.S. If Carter could become full time potty trained over the break that would be absolutely blissful!

TADA!!!!

I finished! I could not sleep last night, so got up and decided to finished my quilt! I am so proud. Believe you me it is not perfect, but for my first sewing machine venture it is pretty darn good :)!!!! If you wonder what project comes next.......already went to the fabric store and stocked back up! Carter helped me pick out some cute puppy dog fabric. So going to start my next quilt this week! I warn you it is addicting and therapeutic!

Napkins Anyone?

Looks like a table of napkins doesn't it? Well not throwing any parties here at the moment.....I have actually taken up a new hobby. These are quilt squares! I don't what is going on, but I have been bitten by the craft bug. I love to scrapbook, alter things, knit, and now I have decided to take up quilting! I really want to learn how to sew. I have a great sewing machine, but I only use it for some mending here and there and for my scrapbooking. So basically my machine has sewn on a few pieces of fabric and lots of paper! Well I decided I wanted to make something and really use my machine to all its potential! Now notice I did not say I would be a pro, I just said I wanted to learn :). So between 2 of my great friends Shelly and Sharon I am now a monster and I can't get my hands on enough fabric. Oh and by the way Jeremy thanks you too(insert sarcastic smiley face here!). So these squares that look like napkins are fabric squares for my first ever quilt, it is actually a rag quilt. I hope to have it finished by the end of the week and I will post pics. If it turns out(which I hope and pray it does!) I promised the boys we will go back to get more boy friendly fabric(not sure why they don't want the pink quilt!). I love how they have full confidence in me though and are already picking out their own fabric for me to make them a quilt! So project #1 is underway and my great friend Brandy has promised to teach me how to sew using a pattern. We are going to start with pajama pants! The skies the limit at this point! Ever since Carter was born......well I haven't been able to do much.......hence the tornado post! I mean he gets into EVERYTHING! As you know many craft things can involve sharp tools and with Carter around not the best decision ever made. Did I mention the time Carter cut his hair when I was gone to Little Rock and no one noticed! It was the first thing I noticed when I got home, it is just now grown out where you can't tell! Well as much as I hate to say it Carter is growing up a little bit and he does kind of let me do things again. I mean I sewed this weekend and he watched. We use the look but don't touch motto. Now he was very tempted, but he was so excited about playing outside that he really left my stuff alone, so I am slowly dragging my craft stuff back out and it feels GREAT! So hopefully I will be posting pictures of a finished quilt soon! Don't you love how a mom of 2 boys picked the girliest fabric ever!

Taken with Taekwondo

Well the title says it all! Ian is definitely taken with taekwondo. We signed him up when Jeremy first got diagnosed because we had been throwing the idea around for months. At that point we knew the timing was perfect and it would give Ian his own thing and his own goals! Well he has definitely attained those goals. We traveled to his 2nd taekwondo tournament a couple of weeks ago in Conway. Well we had no idea he would come home with 3 medals! I mean obviously we would have been happy with one, but 3......we were QUITE proud! Okay so I know a lot of this taekwondo lingo means nothing to some of you, but out of respect to my taekwondo expert I will use the proper terms! Ian got 1st place in his weapons competition. He competed with his new nunchucks that he was so excited about learning. Ian's wonderful taekwondo instructor came up to Asbell over our intersession week and taught him what we call lunchroom nunchucks! He had his first crash course in the Asbell lunchroom and can I say that must have been a lucky spot for him because got 1st! He got 2nd in his form and another 1st place in one step. He didn't place in one steps in his last tournament, so he went to his tournament ready to get revenge! Well he got it! I honestly could not have been more proud of him. Not because he brought home 3 medals, but because when he was waiting to compete and the kids around him were going buck wild crazy he was sitting there just like a black belt would! He was such a good sport. I am sure many of you have been to sporting events where there are those few parents that are not good sports and unfortunately they let everyone know it! Well Ian never let this phase him. I also love that after he won he was so excited and proud, but not over the top. He wore his medals with pride, but in no way rubbed in any ones face about how well he did. At one point he even took them off and put them in his bag. I mean it was honestly those moments that made me so proud! Now on the other hand I was skipping through that gym not having any trouble telling people what he won! I mean if I wasn't a grown woman I would have worn his medals! Okay so I was a proud momma! Ian was so excited because Jeremy got to go with us and then Nana and Grandpa Ted met us there. Of course his BFF Jett was also there, so Ian's day was made! Daddy's day was made when we stopped at Russellville and ate at Whattaburger!

Now I do want to say that when kids are involved in extracurricular activities such as this two things matter. One is you will get out of it what you put into it and this to me shows with Ian because he practices ALL the time. He is obsessed, but that is good and part of the reason he is so successful! The second is the coach or teacher makes ALL the difference in the world. I must say that Ian's instructor Mrs. Gray is SUPER AWESOME! She is phenomenal and there are no words to say how great she is. It doesn't matter if this woman has 2 kids in front of her or 22 kids she has the kids learning and captivated. Ian loves her and pretty much believes what she says or does is gospel! The values she teaches the kids is amazing! I can honestly say it is one of the best decisions we have made to put Ian in taekwondo and it definitely came along at the perfect time in our lives.

Many have asked what about Carter taking taekwondo and to take taekwondo you have to be potty trained. As you know from previous posts he is great at putting lots of things in the potty, but unfortunately none of it is things that are supposed to be there..........if you know what I mean! Don't get me wrong though Carter does his own version of all the moves, so his day will come I am sure. I mean he may be 6 years old, but he will have to be out of a diaper before he can start!

On another exciting note we just found out that Ian got accepted into Camp War Eagle for this summer! We are so excited! I mean I am of course a little nervous about him being gone for a whole week, but he doesn't seem nervous at all! I think it will be a great time for him and I know he will make so many new friends and experience so many fun adventures!