The Real Superheroes of Phoenix

This post has been on my heart for a while but honestly it's difficult to write and I've been praying about the words before publishing them in ink (as Erica Albright says in Social Network). Now that our family is back together and life is getting back to normal, I've been able to actually process this experience with CPS and I can say with all sincerity that the phrase, "you will know who your true friends are" became so relevant.

As my life and Mike's life unraveled around us, there were two forces that carried us through. I've blogged about the most obvious one, God; I want to share about our friends and family, our real live Superheroes. Some of you may be familiar with the idea of the Christian Church in action, let me describe what this really looks like:

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells as a story (a parable) about the sheep and the goats and he describes a time when he will recognize those people who fed Him when He was hungry and clothed Him when He was naked. In response to their confusion (because they could not remember ever feeding Jesus when He was hungry), he replied, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." This truly describes the sacrifice that too many people made over the last 6 months for Mike and me. 


Start in Phoenix Children's Hospital where my pastor's wife, Stacy, and my great friends Holly and Kristy visited not just once but several times. In addition, we even had the support of my sister and brother-in-law Christie and Kevin who were only in town for the weekend from Denver, my father and mother-in-law who were getting married that same weekend, and my mom and Bek who drove back and forth from Tucson everyday for four days (sometimes in the middle of the night). My co-workers Rose, Jessica, and Kristin worked over the weekend to plan lessons for a last-minute substitute teacher in my absence.


The night Kenzie was taken, I was surrounded by the love of my mom (who was furiously cleaning my home to manage her own pain), my friends Kristy and Dana and pastor's wife, Stacy who sat and cried with me all night while we waited for an absolution that did not come. 


Two nights later, friends from all over the valley crowded into my livingroom to pray with me including Sarah, Kristy, Christy (my previous pastor's wife), Holly, Jessica, Lindsay (who was already uncomfortably pregnant), Tami, Stacy and her husband Frank (my pastor), and more that I'm forgetting. There were so many unexpected and appreciated gestures such as Tami bringing dinner for anyone who was hungry. 


Only a week later, almost 40 people took time off work, drove from other cities, and sacrificed their time to sit in a court room all day. There were people there I had never met and Mike hadn't seen in years but they heard of our plight and wanted to come and show their support in the courtroom. Two of my pastors (including one from my last church) came to stand in testimony. There were families, friends, church members from both CCS and Chaparral, Tres Dias, and co-workers sitting in Juvenile court. We were even supported by people like Kathy, who by all rights should have never wanted to be there for me (after my appalling treatment towards her), and she came all morning with her three month old son. 


Without diminishing the divine power and intervention of our Heavenly Father, we must attribute our daughter's return to Jim Padish with Padish and Wells Law, who fought for our case relentlessly (and working his influence even when we didn't even know his maneuvers) pro-Bono. 


Additionally, I can't forget my father and mother-in-law who opened their home to Kenzie for 10 weeks while we waited for justice. 


This is the Christian Church in action. These are real superheroes. If anyone ever asks me how I can believe in a God I can't see, I will say, "I have seen the army of God encamped around me."

Being 30 ain't for the feint of heart

Turning 30 kind of means I'm roughly 1/3 completed with my life and of the three decades I've lived, this last one has been the most monumental (in my opinion).
In 10 years, this is what's happened:
1. completed undergrad at ASU
2. started my first career in teaching
3. met, dated, and married my husband
4. had my first daughter
5. had my first daughter taken away by CPS (never could have anticipated that)
6. First time being a bridesmaid and maid of honor
7. completed my first master's degree

I'm sure there are more events I forgot but looking back on this, I cannot possibly anticipate anything that might happen in my 30's. Since I spent most of my 20's looking like I was 17, maybe I'll spend most of my 30's looking like I am 27?

Bucketlist updates...excited!

100 Things to do before I Die

Academics/Career:

1. Be a principal
2. Be either a superintendent/district administrator
3. sing/speak at a public event8th grade promotion May 2012
4. Be a grade level team leader
5. Get my master's degree (so close I can taste it)
6. Get a doctorate degree
7. Teach a college class 
8. Start my own business/support my husband starting a business Epic fail with Mary Kay but at least I tried

Family:

1. take my daughter to get a pedicure
2. Make baby books every two months for the first year of my children(s)' lives.
3. attend a mother/daughter sleepover
4. go to grandparent's day
5. have ALL my children and grandchildren come home for Christmas
6. french braid my daughter's hair 
7. Be a mother-of-the-bride
8. watch Mike walk our daughter down the aisle
9. hold my baby in my home in her Aunt's blanket
10. offer my engagement/wedding rings to my grandson/granddaughter
11. serve on a Tres Dias weekend with my husband
12. speak to my grandfather about his experience in the Holocaust
13. Dedicate Kenzie at church 5/13/12
14. Adopt a baby with down syndrome

Personal

1. weigh less than 140 lbs
2. Have no need for contacts or glasses
3. come up with 100 items for my list
4. VBAC
5. Rectora/Head Cha
6. Own a black pug
7. Own a MAC/Ipad
8. get married 6/19/09
9. have a baby 10/14/11
10. buy a home
11. see someone accept Christ
12. become a member of my church
13. Host a bible study at my home
14. Write and publish a children's book
15. Write and publish a novel
16. Complete a pull up
17. Do a hanging sit up

Travel/World Experiences: 

1. Cruise to Alaska
2. Live in England for a year
3. Take the Lord of the Rings tour of "the Shire" in New Zealand
4. See my husband baptized in the Jordan River 
5. Meet a president
6. Go on the Disneyland Cruise
7. vow renewal in the church Mike's parents were married in
8. Visit the tribes of my Native American heritage
9. Live in a "Stars Hollow" town

DIY/Activities:

1. Collect all the Cinderella stores from around the world
2. Have an entire room in my home with floor to ceiling libraries
3. Own all the Caldecott winning books
4. take a drifting class
5. Make the hair bows for my daughter's sport's team (volleyball, cheer etc)
6. learn to hip hop dance
7. solve the rubic's cube in under 4 minutes
8. Read all of Jane Austen's book
9. Go to the midnight release of the final Breaking Dawn movie the date is set 11.16.12
10. Complete a parallel study of the Gospels
11. Take a ride on the light rail- Thanks Joann!
12. learn to use a sewing machine 
13. trash the dress in water
14. relearn and "speak' sign language fluently
15. Shoot a gun Happy Birthday to David!
16. Learn to ride a sport bike
17. Learn how to do a fish tail braid 
18. Run a 5K 11.17.12 Dirty Girl!

Finances:

1. Eliminate all debt
2. Pay off all student loans
3. Learn how to invest 

Total: 69
Completed:8

Can I really do this?

My friend Kathy (total rockstar when it comes to getting me motivated by the way) mentioned her love/hate relationship with running (she is planning a half marathon in November). I don't have a love/hate relationship with running; I have a hate/could care less relationship with running. I also have a hate/could care less relationship with my weight right now too.

In a random rummage (yes, alliteration!) through some pictures last week, I came across a collage I made of my 2010/2012 weight loss journey with weight watchers. I lost a total of 47 lbs over 14 months and went down 4 dress sizes! Yes, I actually had a pair of size 8 skinny jeans...what?! When I got pregnant with the best thing that has ever happened to me and somehow gained 74 lbs. Yes, 74, there it is. I'm sure you're thinking, "wow, that's more than anyone I know." Yes, it probably is. Anyway, I saw what I looked like in February 2011 and it wasn't just the number on the scale that I mourn. My neck and face were thinner. My pants didn't leave painful creases in my belly. I did not perpetually pull my shirt down over my butt hoping to make it look smaller. I did not have constant rashes and chaffing in multiple places. I did not worry if the yucky sweaty smell was coming from me. I wanted to go swimming. My wardrobe was larger simply because I had more shopping options. I didn't get that look from Mike or anyone else every time I treated myself to a cinnamon roll...mostly because I had no desire to eat them. My back did not hurt every time I walked, sat down, or stood up.

What if something could change? I'm not making huge claims and stating the "here's where it all changes" promise because it is very likely knowing me and my apathy that I may do nothing. But, what if I could. Kathy's honest and transparent struggle with her weight loss makes me feel like I'm not alone. The difference is that she actually tries to do something about it. Could I actually try running? Could I get off the couch? Could spend more time doing something rather than watching TV?

Here are some things that are motivating me to try (or at least think that I might):

Source: fatgirlrunning.co.uk via Sandi on Pinterest

Fat girl Running Blog- yes I am a fat girl but what if I didn't have to be?

Source: amazon.com via Leah on Pinterest

Bob Harper is obviously doing something right. I mean look at the results he spurs people towards.

Source: Uploaded by user via Leah on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Leah on Pinterest

instead of the tire that falls over the pants, creates the gross sweat line, and makes my pants button dig into my belly.

What if I could just get up three times a week (having a baby to take care of isn't an excuse because I am also blessed with a husband who loves spending time with her). How do you dispel that horrible voice that says, "you cannot do this. You've tried before and you failed."

What if I could though....

Book 4 done!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Turn your favorite photos into a photo book at Shutterfly.com.

First fourth of July adventures

Today was Kenzie's first Fourth of July. It came complete with 2 patriotic outfit changes, bathtub painting, and her first handprint flag (I say first bc it is likely that she will make another).

Until next year...

Bathtub paints

I totally saw this idea on pinterest bit had to modify the recipe some do here is what I did.

In a bowl combine:
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 of a 1/4 cup of baby shampoo (I say that bc I can't guarantee it was really 1/8 cup)
1 tsp water

Mix in a bowl and pour into ice cube tray (or individual bowls)

Add 3 drops of food coloring to each and stir (I used a chopstick)

Since its just shampoo, it is supposed to rinse clean away. I'll post later after Kenzie's bath to see how it goes