Susan Ran a 5K on Saturday and Didn't Puke!

I began working out again in January. I was going along well and then WHAM-- little Paulie got really sick for 12 days and I did not make it to the gym. Then WHAM - I got sick. So, the two weeks before this 5K run--Susan did not exercise and boy was I worried about Saturday. My worries proved true as I had a difficult time running the 5K at UTSA. So, I had to walk and run. It was a really good morning though - cloudy....slight breeze at times...and 62ish. I picked up my pal Julie and off we went. Her husband and kids came later to see us off and then wait the "blank" minutes for our return over the finish line. It was awesome! I was keyed up afterwards. I talked to a few nice people on the course - who were struggling like me. Now, Julie and I are going to run the SPURS/CASA Speak Out for Kids 5K on March 21 at the AT&T Center. And we're off.....
I am getting back to the gym this week! Julie and I have a goal to do the Rock n Roll half marathon in Nov - so we have some time - but we have a lot of training to do!

Paul had a sleep study done recently and we go next month to the neurologist for the results. He and I suspect Paul has sleep apnea. Danny has it..and I know his brother and Mom probably have it too..as well as my Dad. Did u know babies and kids can have it?! I bet you didn't know....
I reminded Danny we have to take Paulie in for more blood work this week. But this time he has to fast. Danny has a busy week so I need to find someone to go with me. I don't do needles well and will cry when my baby has to lie on the hospital bed and get 7 tubes of blood drawn. Any takers on going with us???? Please....!!! Pretty Please with sugar and a cherry on top!

I am the busiest unemployed person I know..... along with getting things lined up for subbing in NEISD and working on getting a job in the Catholic Schools..here are other things going on in my life....

Monday: ARD/IEP for Paul 8am & ACTS meeting from 7-9pm.
Tuesday: Breakfast with Tina & Digital Photography Class with Rhonda 7:30 - 9pm
Wednesday: The South Texas Pediatric Stroke Stroll Committee meeting - 5:30pm
Thursday: Lunch with my Spiritual Mentor & Book Club at 7:30pm

This is also the last week for me to raise money for my Queen of the Vine Campaign. I fell so short of my original goal, but I will continue to raise money and awareness for Brighton forever!

On Friday is a very special birthday - my best friend Stacey! I met her my senior year at KU. My sweetie pie boyfriend Ace was shaking a rug over the balcony and the dirt was falling...on her head as she came up the stairs. What a first meeting indeed! She was in grad school and even though she did her undergrad work at Kansas State, we became fast friends and remain close. We are so much alike-it is scary at times. She lives in Edwardsville, IL with her husband and 2 boys. Something funny --she and a high school classmate were in my first wedding in 1992. And during our class reunion - learned Elaine lives in Edwardsville and went to MOPS with Stacey. But neither of them remembered one another or the Susan connection. How bizarre is that?!

Danny and Master Paul went to Houston yesterday/today to surprise his Mom for her 85th birthday. Mary Esther moved to Houston and moved in with Danny's brother and his family a few years ago. I understand Paul had a great time with everyone and played hard. Uh, what's new?! He had so much fun that apparently he did not wish to leave and would not give anyone a hug today - b/c he knew that meant he was leaving. I was anxious for them to return today. I was a little sad when Danny called at 3pm to let me know they just left. I was hoping they would be home around 4...but instead it was 6:30.

I read a cute phrase today -- "Good Moms bake..Smart Moms outsource!"

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in that secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16

Ok peeps--just because you accept Christ, life is not in an instant completely bearable. It isn't daisy's and roses. There are still hard times. There is still the pain. Yet along with that pain there is hope. And peace. And a better tomorrow because Christ claims you as His own. I am blessed to have Danny as a husband so many friends who really know me - and love and support me anyway. :-) Danny & I have each other...and we have Christ. If I had real faith and trust in the Lord, much of my pain might have been easier to bear. These past five years have been awesome and I now cannot imagine going through any pain and hardships not knowing Jesus. The peace He has given me... and will give me. The hope and comfort He has offered... and will always offer - one word...OUTSTANDING.

My wish & prayer for the coming month - that all the people I know...and those who I don't know..will watch the movie FIREPROOF. Whether you are married or not - you MUST view this incredible movie. Watch it alone - with your spouse - with a friend. I don't care - but watch it. Not only do we need to fireproof our marriages, but simply put - we need to fireproof our lives from Satan. He will keep coming after us and if we don't have the faith and trust in God--he just might win! And bottom line peeps - Satan Sucks! Tell him to GO TO HELL!

Hugs to all!

By Your Side

This song - By Your Side - is one that I have been listening to a lot the past few weeks. I encourage you to listen to it on ITUNES or FB ILike. It is by Tenth Avenue North. The lyrics are very powerful is you listen closely and take them to heart. I agree that too many people fight God - they don't allow Him to guide them or His hands to hold them.

Today is my friend Paul's 40th birthday. He and I went to elementary school together in Southfield, MI ( a suburb of Detroit). I lived on Red Maple Lane and he lived on Oldstream..one street over. He was the only boy at my 7th bday party - which of course was a swim party in our backyard. He and I and our brothers and Tom Harm and many others would play kickball, kick the can, ghost in the graveyard and football. I wonder if he remembers this - our two homes had the same floor plan. I just realized and remembered that myself. We had so much fun in that neighborhood. We lived near a creek that would freeze in the winter and we would all go down there and ice skate and goof around. Danny had a cousin named Paul - he was tall, handsome, cool and fun to be around; and we would describe my friend Paul in the same manner. Danny's cousin Paul drowned at Lake Amistad in 1992. So in honor of him and my childhood friend--we named our son Paul.

Saturday morning I set out for Friendswood, TX - just a little south of Houston. Danny's brother's wife is having their third child in 4 weeks and there was a baby shower in her honor at 2pm. Hi Chris and Veronica! My bil mentioned he has never been written about in my blog. All went well with traffic and weather UNTIL - the dreaded 45 South (to Galveston) near Hobby Airport. It was a parking lot and I had a few more miles to go but could see it could take an hour or more. Chris called it the Bataan Death March and if you know history - you will get that comment! Good thing I have a good sense of direction and I knew I could go west.....then south and get to their house. I took an exit with Chris' help and made it to their home with about 20 min to change and get ready to leave for the shower. Three aunts from SA were stuck on I-45 and having a meltdown. So, we had to get them off the highway and east of I-45 to a landmark so we could go there and get them. We did so and they followed us to the baby shower. Whew! I had my 12 year old niece in my car with me - and we were jammin out to The PussyCat Dolls - I Hate This Part. The music was loud and we were dancing as we drove along Space Center......we listened to that song about 5 times on that trip! She kept saying.."play it again Aunt Susan." She told me..."you are still fun Aunt Susan!" Yeah, I know girl!

Oh, my brother in law has started is own business - Tejas IT Solutions..or TITS for short. lol His website is still in progress; his email address is chris.nino@tejasitsolutions.com

The shower was nice -a ton of people. I of course was the official picture taker. And given that hell on I-45, I had to have a cold beer! Below are a few pics from the event.

My Mother in Law, Veronica and her Mom Gloria (above).

Danny's cousin Liza and her little boy Will - they traveled from SA too and were stuck on I-45!

After the shower, we went back to Chris and Veronica's house to relax and visit. Then around 10 - Veronica, Marisa and I went to Friday's and had some appetizers. Back at the house later - I was in the study watching Daniel - my 7 year old nephew - play Clone Wars on the laptop. WOW - impressive! At midnight - we sent him to bed. I wanted to use the laptop to do some FB stuff. Chris was on his computer and we hung out for an hour I think. Chatting about music and FB stuff and work issues. My trip home on Sunday was not as crazy. Although it did rain some on I-10. I do have to write about the Sunday morning activity at the house and all its craziness..but another time.

Paul had been sick since Thursday with a fever and a bad cough. He still has the cough and probably will for another week, but the fever is finally gone. He went back to school yesterday!

I am headed to the gym in about an hour. And then home to make dinner for my boys!

My advice for today - It's not too late to be what you might have been! From Isaiah 43:18-19 - "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past...I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

This is a book Santa gave Paul for Christmas. It is a lovely hardback with beautiful pictures. We read it this morning before school - and last night before bed. Paul went to sleep last night with no protest and stayed in his room asleep until 2amish. Then he came in our room and tapped me on the arm and said, "Mama, snuggle with you?" "Oh sure," I said - Danny is in Dallas. Paul is so sweet - he kissed me a few times on my arm and head before drifting off to sleep. At 7:05 I was awakened by a little voice asking for juice and a cereal bar..and to watch The Little Einsteins. The routine was off this morning as Danny always takes Paul to school. So, we had a little meltdown in his classroom when I was leaving....but I know it only last a few minutes. It was mostly for show and for my benefit. Kids are funny that way right?!

My monthly book club meeting last Thursday was a good one. We discussed The Shack. People either loved it or not so much. I was in between really. It is a fictional book - so remember that! Adrianna made a very nice spread and I of course took a bottle of wine. I had prepared discussion questions ahead of time and sent them to all the gals. We had a huge turnout with about 13 people! This month's book is Waiting for Morning by Karen Kingsbury. I went and bought it today and will start reading it this tomorrow. It looks to be a book on forgiveness..something every Christian is called to do..no matter what! Lamentations 1:20 says, "I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed." And Lamentations 5:21-22 says, "Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return, renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure." I ask you to consider this....who in your life has weighed you down with chains? Have you forgiven them? If not - why? Ask God to help you do so.

I finally watched the inspirational movie FIREPROOF..with the handsome Kirk Cameron. He is a doll!!! OMG - incredible movie!! Danny then watched it Monday evening and we talked about it for a while--until the wee hours of the morning. If I had all the money in the world, I would purchase the bundle for all married people. There is a DVD, guidebook and the 40 day Love Dare Journal. Go here for the info on the material. Go here for the primary site of the movie.
Forgiveness and unconditional love are important and real messages in this movie.

Pull out your bible and read these passages........and reflect and act on them!
Proverbs 15:1; James 1:19–20; Matthew 5:21–26; Romans 12:17–21; Galatians 5:19–21; Isaiah 55:5–7; Psalm 130:3–4; John 15:5–7; Matthew 11:28–30.

Tonight I am attending a meeting for the planning of the inaugural Pediatric Stroke Awareness Walk-A-Thon. My friend Julie has a young son/toddler who suffered a stroke when he was only a couple months old. She wishes to start a chapter here in San Antonio for Pediatric Stroke Awareness and I am going to help!

And for the ladies..........these Lancome beauty products ROCK my world - get them!
*Absolue Powder - gives u a younger, softer face! Oh and it sparkles a little. :-)
*Maquicomplet coverup - conditions too! I of course use a light shade...ivoire
*CILS lash conditioner - love it!!!!
Thanks to Robyn for helping me look more glamorous and vibrant!