Unplanned events!

Sitting in the ER with Chris- broken wrist! He's a trooper... Wondering if he will miss school:)
Another reminder to me that we don't know what each day brings. Of course I had a full agenda today with many "to-do's". Makes me think of how many things I put off ... For another day - when really we just don't know what's around the corner. I'm so thankful that the reason to be in the hospital today is not life changing! Praise God!

The days go by!

Busy days! Full calendars.. School, activities, work chores... Busy!!

But not a day goes by where I am not cherishing these sweet angels! Love love and so much joy from my sweet girl and boy!!

Costa Rica

Sitting here overlooking the beautiful tapestry of mountains, pink and orange blooming flowers and the ocean in the horizon. The cool wind blows while the sun shines in this oasis where we are blessed to be ringing in the new year. It's amazing to me how we feel God's presence so clearly when we see His work so vividly. He created the heavens and the earth and in this beautiful country where so many have so little - yet they are so grateful- it's humbling. We live a rich and abundant life and I'm so thankful for this week with my precious family to step back and reflect in this peaceful place and be quiet enough to hear God's voice.

Russo Weekend in New Orleans

What a great Christmas treat to have a weekend in New Orleans with my entire family. There is never a shortage of fun when we are all together! Love my big family with all the entertainment that comes with it!

Simple pleasures!

At the park with Cat and overcome with memories. My precocious little girl all grown up but not too old to freely enjoy the simple pleasures of sliding, swinging and monkey bars. It started in CA .. With stroller rides to the neighborhood park playing in the sand box and running in the open grass. Then in St. Louis trying to keep up with Big brother Chris on the backyard swing set.
I will never forget HOURS of trying to teach both Chris and Cat how to swing. "Back and forth.. You can do it! That's it- you're swinging!!"
On our bike ride today to the park - we stopped to look at the leaves changing- a beautiful butterfly, a family of turtles sitting on a log getting in the pond. We noticed the cool air and the just right clouds covering the sun. In these moments everything in the world is perfect!
I pray that she always has this place in her heart and soul to be free and enjoy simple pleasures.

Thankful

So much to be thankful for...this week finding quiet time with God to be thankful for my wonderful life.. Busy, messy, imperfect, joyful, full and blessed

Turning 12

My baby girl -

Sisters!

This weekend I got to spend time with my big sister! It's been a long difficult year for her and I am praising God for getting her to the other side of things where she can be hopeful about her future and be the amazing person He created her to be!

There is nothing like the love of a sister and I'm blessed to have 3 amazing sisters who are 3 of my best friends in life.

25 year reunion

I love that I have amazing friends to share my life with.. All of it! Who knew 25 years ago the journey we would all take together! Love the ya-yas! (Missing Kim and Lucy!!)

New School year

It is so hard to believe that we are entering Middle School (6th grade) and High School. Catherine announced today that it's time to pack up her dolls. She's completely ready.. I'm not! Just 2 weeks ago she was in my room playing school with all the babies lined up and now this morning she spent over an hour fixing her hair, listening to music and trying on clothes -- and we are still 2 months away from being 12. We got her ears pierced this summer, she's adopted a purse when we leave the house and she's officially ready for a "big girl room". Ugh! I guess I have to get myself ready - because she is moving forward whether I'm ready or not. We have a crazy busy year ahead... volleyball, golf, cheer, school, confirmation! Not a moment to spare.

Christopher is off to a great start at his new school - Praise God!! This is such answered prayer for him to be at this school. We are so hopeful that this year will be an amazing year for him. He is such a sweet boy with so much to offer - with the right environment - he is going to thrive. He is going to love being a part  of the choir and the tennis team. Now if we can just fit all the homework into this busy schedule.

I'm thanking God for getting us through so many trials to get to this point. It's been a winding road with so many detours. Each twist has helped us to learn more about what is really important in life. Praying for the energy, patience and commitment needed this year to be available for both of them.

Another School year completed!! Next year 6th grade (Catherine) and 9th grade (Christopher). It seems surreal as I type this-- my babies going into junior high school/high school. I know I'm so dramatic about all things to do with my children- but this is the really hard part seeing how fast it really is going.   A few weeks ago I watched as Reed got ready for his Senior Prom. Jennifer and I had so much fun helping Sue get her house ready to host the Prom dinner. We got tables ready and flowers set and our daughters all worked side by side (Camille, Cat and Rachel). I had to run to Mom's to get some a plant and on the drive over- I couldn't hold back the tears. It all just caught up with me. Baby Reed is graduating, Camille looks like she's 17 already, Catherine is going to junior high.... Jenn and Sue and I all side by side with our kids... wow! we're all grown up and our kids are all grown up. Wait! wait.. slow down ~ I just want to stay right here and enjoy it all.

I guess it's everything that's changing.. Christopher is so darn tall (6 feet) and Catherine is now as tall as me (5"3). The are growing in every way.  I'm just consumed with a feeling that I'm going to wake up one day and it will all be over! I'm calling on God to help me live in the moment- take it all in one day at a time and know that He is walking us through this life just as it should be...and we move forward.

The Days of our Lives

Filled with joy one day, grief stricken the next, hopeful in one moment and anxious the next....celebrating, grieving, planning it all out and then seeing it all crumble right before our eyes --  the days of our lives. I know now more than ever that the difference in everyone's lives is not whether life is fair or our circumstances are better or worse- the difference is whether we trust God. He has made the promises, He has given us the roadmap and our every day lives are going to continue around us .. the good, the bad, the happy times and hurting times.

I read alot of blogs, I write my own blog and today I felt moved to write a praise blog for God!
I have 2 friends who have been broken and hurt and beat up by life. Their circumstances were difficult, unfair and seemingly without a great outlook for the future. They were without hope, filled with fear, anxious and yes.. .lost! They both lived in a dark place -- and tried to hide from the harshness this life had dealt them. This past week, I had the great joy to hear from both of these friends their joyful testimony that they are on the other side of the hurt, they are hopful, they are thankful, they are humbled...... both of these friends have claimed their victory in the name of Jesus! Out of the darkness .. into the light of Jesus. They triumphed when they gave their pain and emptiness to the One who saves!! Praise you Jesus for healing and for giving strength when we need it. You are the ultimate counselor and provider.

We can't understand our trials and circumstances when we are in the midst of our wordly situations - but we can turn to the TRUTH in our lives. You are constant, You are unchanging. You are soverign!

New Year - New adventures

2012... another year of change. I wonder sometimes if God is trying to tell me to STOP waiting for things to stop changing- because they never do.

• 1992 - graduated in May, married in June - moved to Houston in July
• 1993 - Law school (3 year chapter begins)
• 1994 - Moved apartments closer to school
• 1995 - Moved apartments closer to Woodlands
• 1996 - Graduated law school; New job @ Anheuser Busch/moved to NY
• 1997 - Pregnant with Christopher; Promoted; Moved to OH
• 1998 - Christopher born, Bought 1st house; Promoted, movedto NH; Bought 2nd home
• 1999-  Promoted; Moved to California; Bought 3rd home
• 2000 - Catherine born
• 2001 - Promoted; Moved to St. Louis; Bought 4th home
• 2004 - Left Anheuser-Busch; Moved to Houston, Started new job - Bought 5th home
• 2008 - Left job
• 2009 - Sold house, Moved to apartment, Started new job- SWN 
• 2010 - Bought 6th house, Changed schools for both kids (Coulson Tough/McCullough)
• 2011 - Changed school for Catherine (WCA)
• 2012 - New job (HK), New school for Christopher (Focus)

Wheh!! I'm exhausted.. that's ALOT of change!!

My life feels like the ultimate irony because I actually HATE change. I have lived a life of changing and changing... and yet seeking stability and consistency.  I love routine things. I loved Sundays when my dad would have sports on and barbeque, I loved Friday nights when my mom and dad would go out, I loved every weekday when my mom had breakfast ready everyday and dinner ready every night... it was consistent. I have had my favorite ice cream all my life and I always get it~ I have driven my car for 11 years, I have my favorite pillowcase and I sleep every night with the blanket my grandmother gave me 20 yrs ago when I was married. I have watched the same 2 sitcoms at night before bed for as long as I can remember.. (I've seen them all by now!) I never try new foods, or new hairstyles or fashion.. I have 2 sets of earings, I never change things in my house- I love antiques- old things that represent history and the past and things that remain!!

My most recent job was the Change Lead for a big project team. So Ironic!! I am leading others through Change when I hate it. I just have to laugh at it all!

So maybe God pulls me out of my comfort zone repeatedly to remind me that I am not in control! He is and if I will trust HIM ... I will have all the peace and safety and security I will ever need.s

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Happy Birthday Christopher! I can hardly believe another year has come and gone.. and you are now 14! Not a day goes by we don't thank God for choosing us to be your parents. You are so special in so many ways. You continue to be a sweet, generous big brother to Catherine. You have started taking on more responsibility and with every day you are maturing into the young man God designed. This past year you finished 7th grade and then had a great summer. You flew by yourself to Camp Timberlake for 3 weeks. I was so proud of your courage and sense of adventure. Then, you had another great time at camp Mama and then a week in CO with Gramma and Grandad Joe. Everyone loves you and loves to have time with you.  God is at work in your life and led us to switch you to your new school. You have transitioned without skipping a beat and I'm confident that by this time next year we will see the benefits of the new environment. Tennis is still your main sport and you have now started writing your 1st book. I can't wait to see how you take your creativity and commit it to characters and a story that can develop.

We love you, we are proud of you! You are such a blessing! You remind me to slow down, to be in the moment, to be deliberate and intentional with my words and my attitude and to find joy in simple things!  I pray that this next year will be filled with new adventures for you, that you will continue to grow and learn and that we will not take one day for granted together! Our birthdays allow us to stop and reflect and on your birthday today my sweet son, I look back on 13 years of joy and happiness with you!

Why Blog?

Lisa... I hope you are reading this!!! You asked me "who are your writing to?" and why are you writing? So, I thought about it.. why blog? it's such an easy way to get your thoughts down in writing and what I've realized is that you really won't remember exactly how you felt at the time you are experiencing things in your life. Of course you have memories.. you have stories.. but what fades away is the emotion, the timing of it all during that window in your life. Thoughts and memories become more important when we capture them and share them. I have journals from when I was very young - starting at 12... I journaled when I was first married and I journaled when I had Christopher and Catherine.. when I read some of the writing- I can hardly believe it was me. It immediately takes me back in time. It's amazing how much we grow and then how much we stay the same. Catherine and I have started a journal where I write to her and then she writes back to me. I get completely different thoughts from her when she writes to me. Somehow, the writing is more honest and more complete.

I know that years from now, I will look back at these blog entries and laugh and cry and wish I could go back in time. These are the years I never want to leave ... and I know that they will go by much too quickly.

Me & My Girl Conference - Vicki Courtney

Last weekend Cat and I went to a Mother/Daughter day with Vickey Courtney. She talked about the road between now "tweens" and  the teenage years and what kinds of challenges the world has in store for us. My prayer is to slow down and not be so busy that I miss the little things and to trust God to guide me and give me the wisdom I need during this next chapter in our life. My sweet girl is growing so fast ~ at 10 - she's almost as tall as me and she's wearing my shoes... but we still have a little window of time before puberty kicks in. She loves to play...all the time...  dress up in my closet with shoes and hats and scarves or up with her babies.. and she'll watch Parent Trap or PollyAnna or Anne of Green Gables all day if I let her. So - of course I want to freeze time and keep my precious girl safe and sweet and curious and playful.

It's such a different time than when I was her age. I grew up in the neighborhood - playing till the street light came on... My parents knew all the neighbors and I rode bikes to school each day with my sister. We didn't watch tv, .... probably the worst thing we had was listening to the Bee Gee's and having Shawn Cassidy posters hung up in our room... (which is why I laugh every time I see Cat's little "Justine Beiber" poster Lisa got her taped up on her closet door!)

Each night at bedtime, Cat and I say our prayers and when we talk about this or that... she makes me smile.. We recently agreed that we both LOVE the song Amazing Grace but had to admit that we didn't really know the words.. so we decided to learn a little each night. it's been so sweet to read the lyrics, turn off the light - sing a verse and see how much we remember. We've almost got the whole thing down. It's a precious time... and I'm loving every minute of it.

Heading to CAMP!!

Off to Camp! Catherine is heading back to Nashville for Year 2 at Camp Nakanawa and Christopher has courageously asked to stay for 3. Trunks are packed and shipped, labels ironed on to clothes, new batteries in flashlights - envelopes stamped with addresses... "I'm hopeful for even 1 return letter!!" I love, love, love sending them to camp and I love sending them far away. They are both flying on a plane back alone, they are traveling to states to meet kids from all over the country. They are learning very early to be adventurous, that home will always be here, that you take Mommy and Daddy's love with you -- it's in your heart and that God is with you wherever you go! They have learned to canoe and row and ride horses and shoot a bow and arrow... and they both love their tribal rituals. AMAZONS and IROQUOIS forever!! They learned new songs and went on great camping outings up high in the blue ridge mountains. I will never forget when Cat came home after year 1 and announced that she tried a new food and loved it... "Tacos!" it was hilarious. My poor child had never had a taco! so now we have Taco night often! Christopher loved riflery and archery and paintball and this year he's adding fly-fishing and camping and rocketry.

We love Camp... we thank God for the opportunity to go to camp and we Pray that they are protected, encouraged and grow while they are gone and that they let God's light shine in them.

and maybe Jon and I can have a little camp trip of our own with all of this free time! ... although we will get an upgraded cabin-- one with a spa and room service!

19 Years and counting

Happy Anniversary to us! 19 years! Wow! I feel really old1 I can't believe that 19 years ago at Holy Cross in Lafayette, we walked down the aisle together. My first love of my life, the ONLY love of my life! The 10 months leading to our wedding were amazing - so typical of the way I like things... every detail packed with meaning and a personal element... I picked out my pattern for my dress and Mrs. Linda put it together for me, Ms. Faye sewed the bridesmaids gowns- emerald green with broad white collars, we had my bachelorette party in New Orleans with Mark driving the suburban, Aunt Kim hosted my bridesmaides luncheon and Aunt Martha hosted my shower, Ann and Joe hosted the Rehearsal dinner with rounds and rounds of toasting - I got dressed as Sues (the barn),  I wore my mom's earings on my wedding day, with Lisa as my Maid of Honor - Catherine, Lauren and Nick as the flower girls and ring bearer and Uncle Gary, Paula and Catherine as readers, Heather, Holly, Sue, Jenn, Rhonda and Melissa as bridesmaids and Michael singing Ave Maria! Ms Peg was like a Fairy Godmother flying in from Chicago to transform the Church and reception to a magical beautiful event. At the reception, we had our parents dance to Anne Murray- "Can I have this dance" and to Elvis Presley - "Take my Hand" the wedding party danced to "If You need a friend" by James Taylor and Jon and I danced to "One Friend". and I wore a cute little going away suit in a size 6... haven't worn that size again for 20 years!!

It's been a journey! a move to Houston, law school, then moving across 5 states and back home to Houston, buying and selling houses and of course-- the best part - having our 2 babies. In our wedding video, I am smiling ear to ear. I could hardly contain my excitement to be standing before God making a commitment to the man I love for the rest of our life. Since that day, we've had many trials and alot of life going on!! but we have grown together and God has been doing great things in our life and through our marriage.

We were 23 when we got married... it seems so young looking back on it. We were 19 when we started dating -so technically, Jon and I have now been together for more than 1/2 my life! that's pretty cool!

The Ya-Ya's

Ten years ago ~ Catherine was only 8 months old and I was in California when we took the 1st official Ya-Ya trip. It seems like so long ago. I honestly don't even remember how it really came together. I know that Sue came out to CA for a ski trip and when we hugged good-bye we said we needed to make a comittment to see each other at least once a year -- the trip began that next summer.  Sue, Jenn, Char, and Jayme and I met in Gulf Shores with Christopher, Reed, Rachel, Camille, Alex and Jayme's boys for our 1st trip. We were all 32 with Sue having a lead on the parenting and Char just starting out with Baby Brianna. We  had a great time re-connecting and hanging out on the beach -  but decided we would do the trip the next year without kids. So - we began the tradition. 1x a year, we would meet for 3-5 days in Gulf Shores to recant all of the funny or not-so-funny stories, to laugh, cry, console, encourage one another.. the group has changed members ...Nicole joined in year 3 and hasn't missed since.. Kim has joined many times, Lucy came after our 20 year reunion and Melissa came for 1 trip. We all turned 40 together 2 years ago and it was truly one of our best ever trips. I think what keeps us so connected is that we all knew each other when we were young and had our whole future ahead and now here we are in our future and we are sharing it together. God has had a hand in this little trip for many years as we have grown in our faith through the blessings and trials of life. It's a reflection point ~ each year as we get ready for another trip... we look back to see how the year has gone--- I can honestly say that when the trips started more than 10 years ago I could NEVER have predicted how our lives would all evolve in such a short period of time. One thing is for sure - it's hard to keep 5-7 women connected across several states with very busy lives.... but we've managed to do it year after year. I pray that God will continue to bless all of my dear Ya-Ya's and our time together regardless of our life circumstances!!

The days are long, but the years are flying by!

Well - we are 6 weeks away from the end of another school year. Next year Catherine will move on to 5th grade and Christopher to 8th. It hardly seems possible that my "babies" are in middle school and junior high. How many times have I been told - "you blink and it races by". It's true!!

 Last night, Catherine had her full barbie world set up by the pool. Christopher had his race cars and various toy lizards and frogs diving off of a ramp into the hot tub.  I love this place and time that we are in right now. It's simple, it's uncomplicated. They love being together and they love being at home. Friday - when Catherine came bouncing in from school she raced upstairs to get all of the American girls set up because her neighborhood friends were coming over to "play school." I love that! The strongest memories of my childhood are between 4th and 6th grade. Lisa, Louise, Elizabeth and I were either making pine needle houses in the yard, setting up a roller skating school on the driveway or getting ready for another Monopoly marathon.

I constantly stop and remind myself that when Catherine is all grown up in her 40's like me-- these days -- right now are the days she will remember! When Christopher is a dad - he will be telling his kids... "I remember when all I did all day was build legos!"

so..... when the days are long -- and they are! I need to remember that the years are flying by!! and cherish every moment.