My friend Traci Root

I have to take a minute and tell you about my friend Traci. I've known Traci since she was 12 years old and I have a hard time thinking of her as anything but the scrawny little girl with the beautiful smile and huge heart, who I loved hanging out with because of her humor and intelligence way beyond her years. But when I watch this video - I marvel at her talent and I have to accept that she has grown up and is bound for great things.

I am so proud of how far she has come since "I knew her when", but mostly I am blessed that I can call Traci my friend. I am sharing this video with all of you here in hopes that you will check out her music, download her songs (available on iTunes), and support her amazing ministry.



I love you Traci. You go girl!!

Child Labor . . .

Something really exciting happened this weekend. And it involved 'child labor.'


Here we see my best friend and cousin's daughter sweeping.


And here is my oldest daughter . . . sweeping (very quickly, as you can see by the blur!)


And my son - mopping up a storm . . .

What is going on, you might ask?

See if you can tell from these pictures . . .




Did ya figure it out? Well, if not, I'm going to tell you anyway . . .

My bestest buddy in the whole world (almost literally since were born) who also happens to be my cousin - MOVED IN DOWN THE STREET FROM ME! I AM SO EXCITED!!!


That's us in the front (and her older sister). I was almost in tears over the fact that my lifetime best friend would be nearby to laugh with, cry with, scream with, and all manner of other things with . . . I don't know if she has any idea how much I've missed having her close by. (not that we didn't talk on the phone and e-mail ALL THE TIME since I moved away from her.)

Anyway - It is a good week and I'm so thankful that things worked out the way they did. The only downside --- muscles I didn't know I had are still hurting from all the cleaning and moving this weekend . . . but it was worth it.

I can't wait for all of my new friends to meet my oldest friend - because I know everyone is going to love her as much as I always have!!

Welcome to the neighborhood, my dearest friend! :-)

My newest health inspiration

I want to share a new website I found . . . well, kind of found . . . okay so it was on a link at the end of an email . . .

This is a website about my friend Kristen who is blogging about her weight loss experience and wanting to be an inspiration to others who are trying to lose weight. I was very inspired and am really happy that she is doing this. SHE LOOKS GREAT!!!

Don't you think????

I am ready to get back on track myself, thanks to her and this awesome website. Check it out - great food reviews and recipes. :-)

Have a great evening.

Snow in China

I know I haven't done a great job of posting every day. It's been really busy - and I hope you will forgive me.

However, I wanted to bring your attention to my friend Rett's blog and her most recent post entitled "The Girl's Homeland". Rett and her husband recently adopted twin girls from China.

The orphanage where these girls lived until they were almost 2 years old has been greatly affected by the record-breaking snowstorms in China.

There is an organization that is doing what they can to help:

"LWB is a volunteer organization so 97% of all donations reach the children. Also, all donations are tax-deductible and you will receive a receipt for tax purposes. We can take donations either online or by check.

If you would like to donate online go to http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/ and click on ‘Donate’; click ‘Other’; enter your information and in the ‘Notes’ section please write ‘Yifeng Orphanage Assistance’.

To donate by check make your check payable to ‘Love Without Boundaries’ and write ‘Yifeng Orphanage Assistance’ on the Memo line. Mail your check to: Love Without Boundaries, 306 S. Bryant St., Ste. C, PMB 145, Edmond, OK, 73034."

I hope you will take the time to read Rett's blog and learn about her journey to her babies, and think about donating to help these people who helped raise these beautiful girls and continue to care for other children who are waiting for their forever families.

"Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay." -Psalm 40:17

Jailbird or Fashion Disaster?

Okay - so I promised you funny cat pictures . . . but I have to put that off until tomorrow . . . because today, I must pick on my friend Ron. (FYI, Ron is Ruth's husband.)


Ron coaches Upward Basketball and also referees for the other games . . . I got some great pictures of him the other day and wanted to share them (and pick on him mercilessly) here . . .

So what do you think? Is he an escaped convict or someone seriously in need of a fashion makeover?

"Hey, Ho . . . Hey, Ho"

Wet cat pictures tomorrow . . . I promise . . .

Day One of 2008

Starting the year off with a bang - I'm updating my blog. Yay.

Last night, our small group (minus Don & Karen) got together to play games and ring in the new year together.


We had a blast laughing and picking on each other - and eating WAY too much food. (Ruth is showing us how tired she is after making ALL THAT FOOD . . . now ask her how much of it she actually made . . .)



We were all hoping that Christopher and Jennifer were going to get that tax deduction for 2007 - but alas, it was not to be. The little girl was not ready for all the hype and paparazzi that might come with being the New Year's Baby.




And speaking of babies . . . here is one gratuitous Baby Gracie picture showing how tired she was from all the partying.



Happy New Year Everyone!!

I love our friends!!

Tonight was our small group Christmas get together. We had such a great time. I promised to put up pictures of Don, Karen, and Christopher - so that is what I will do.

We had a ton of snacky food (including way too much sugar, several of us love to bake.) We had devotion and prayer time - (Thanks, Don, YOU ROCK!) Then we had our "White Elephant" gift exchange. It wasn't as competitive as I thought it was going to be - but it was still fun.

The MOST WANTED gift was a singing/gobbling/walking Christmas Turkey.

Jennifer stole it and got to keep it. :-)

Here is a picture of Christopher (Jennifer's husband)

Here is Karen

And here is Don (Karen's hubby and our fearless "leader")

We had a great time and I know we are BLESSED that God brought this group of people together. We know that any of us would do whatever we could to help the others out. I am so thankful for each and every one of them.

And now a few more pictures . . .

Scott with Ronnie, Alex, and Baby Grace.

Baby Grace in full belly heaven.

Oh - and I forgot to mention that Ruth and Little Ronnie made me a birthday cake. This was a huge thing for me because Ruth DOES NOT like to cook, bake, etc. I was very touched that she took the time to do this for me. They put candles on the cake and sang to me and I was very appreciative. It was a wonderful thing to feel loved by such a great group of people.

Yes - tomorrow I will be 32 years old. And I'm okay with that.

Have a great evening everyone!!

This post is long overdue . . .

Okay - I kept threatening to do this, and after Ruth made a crack about my first batch of fudge that didn't turn out too well - I decided it was time. Yes - it is once again time for the Embarrassing Photo of Ruth of the Day. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

We had another fun adventure with Jennifer a few weeks ago and Ruth had to go under the DRYER. Do you remember those old portable dryers? Well, if not -- here's an example.



Isn't Ruth beautiful? It was so loud she couldn't hear anything we were saying - so she started singing to herself. It was REALLY funny. We love you Ruth!!!

To be fair . . . I have to go on. Tonight our small group had a diaper shower for Jennifer who is due to have baby Addison at the beginning of January. Here is Jennifer unprepared for the camera (and hiding her baby belly with a gift bag!)


Ahhh, here's the baby belly.


Everyone is going to hate me tonight - here is most of the rest of the group.

My husband and Jodi dressed alike . . . not on purpose.


And here are Scott and Ron, pretending they don't like to have their picture taken.


I'd show you a picture of Don & Karen - but the only pic I got of Karen, she'd kill me for posting - and Don, our fearless leader, did not attend this evening. I'll post one of them the next time, when they are least expecting it. I also didn't get a very close shot of Christopher, Jennifer's husband . . . but maybe she'll let me borrow one of those old high school shots with his hair in ponytails. Ha ha.

Really - I just wanted to post pictures of these friends who I am so blessed to have. We have a great time together and I think it is amazing how God brought all of together.

I hope you all forgive me for these pictures. I love all of you lots and lots!!!

I'll leave you with one last picture of Santa Gracie.


Have a great evening!

My friend Ruth

I know that Ruth is going to kill me for this - but I had to take a moment and post about my friend Ruth. :-)

When my family first moved to our present location in November of 2005, we felt pretty lonely as we didn't really have any support system and we didn't know who to ask about where to go to the doctor, the vet, church, any of those things. It was hard, not having anyone to lean on. The first year was rough, but I learned a lot during that first year.

We started attending a local church in January of 2006 and slowly got connected to a few people there. However, it wasn't until we finally took the leap of joining a small group that God really blessed us with wonderful friends.

It is a funny story. I was unable to go to the meeting that our church has once a month, to try and connect people to small groups - but I sent Hunkahubby. He went and sat down at a table with other people with young children such as ours. He came back home telling me he signed us up for a group and that the people all seemed nice. He was excited, and I was terrified. Most people don't understand the part of me that gets a little phobic in social settings. People who have known me for a long time or have worked with me see me as really outgoing and social . . . but I would usually rather curl up and read a book or listen to music than be out 'socializing' with people.

The night of our first meeting, I tried to think of every excuse I could for why I couldn't go. Robert finally was like, "fine, I dont' care, don't go . . ." which he knew would kick me in the butt enough to make me go. I whined all the way there . . . "I'm not going to know anyone, what if they don't like us?" Well - God took care of that too.

When we got to the house (very close to ours), we went up to the door and rang the doorbell. A nice, but a little unsure (like me) lady opened the door and greeted us. I looked behind her and . . . there stood someone I had known since the 8th grade!! I could not believe it. Ruth's husband grew up in the same area I did and we had a lot of the same friends. He went to church around the corner from where I grew up going to church and our grandparents lived within a few miles of each other on the same road. How's that for finding a way to break the ice??

Our group went through our first study together and although we all got along well, it wasn't until we took the summer off that we realized how much we missed everyone. Our first meeting for the fall went really well and we were all really happy to see each other again - we seemed to connect even better this time than we did the last time. Maybe we all felt like it was time to loosen up. ;-)

Ruth's son and my son are about a year apart and they both LOOOVE Spiderman and Superheroes and just being boys . . . so we have had sleepovers and playdates and we enjoy every minute of it. Best of all - I have found a very good friend who I know I can rely and depend upon and she knows she can do the same with me. She loves having my kids over to play and I love having hers. It is a joy!

We went garage saleing last weekend, and as we were driving, we started saying the same things at the same time and quoting songs and movies . . . I KNEW that God had meant for her to be my friend - because I could be myself around her. I am SO THANKFUL.

So the picture at the top of the page is when our other friend Jennifer (from small group) came over and did our hair on the same morning. And just because I want to make Ruth laugh . . .

Here is a picture of Ruth in her pretty hair covering . . .



Don't kill me Ruth!!! I just wanted to use my blog to let you know that I'm so blessed that you are my friend and I'm sure we'll have many more exciting adventures together.

I just thought it was very interesting that when I looked up the name Ruth . . . I found out that her name means Friend and Compassion.

Your parents named you well.

San Antonio - and my wonderful friends

I have been in San Antonio, Texas since Wednesday on a business trip. It has actually been pretty relaxing, because I didn't have to plan it. This was a learning excursion for me.

Last week, my husband started a new job - as a visual merchandiser. He is finally getting paid for doing something he loves - and I am so proud of him. The only crazy part was learning how to handle both of us being out of the home more often. It has been quite a change.

Luckily - God has blessed us with some amazing friends. While I was gone, our daycare provider had a family member die suddenly and we had to figure out what we were going to do for childcare. We had 2 awesome friends who stepped up to the plate and offered to watch our children for us. So I just want to take a moment to say thank you to Jodi and Ruth for being there for us. We are all in a church small group together - and we all hit it off from the very beginning. Our friendship is one of the ways that I see God at work, and I am so thankful.

Yesterday morning - as I was standing outside looking at the sunrise, I was hit with how very much God loves us, because he is in the small things, and in the big things. Although we don't deserve this kind of love, he gives it freely anyway.

Isn't that awesome?

Friends and Seasons

The past week, I have been cleaning out some boxes that have been moved around with me for probably the past ten years. I found a lot of old pictures and letters. Some made me laugh, and some made me cry. I even found a letter my Grandma had written me one year for my birthday - I shed quite a few tears over that gem. :-)

Through all of this 'house-cleaning' - I took the time to share some memories with some old friends I hadn't heard from in a while. It was nice to catch up with some people. During all of this, I realized what people say about certain people coming into your life for seasons. This popular internet email says it all . . .

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person or people involved; and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships, and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

I am so thankful for the friends I have in my life - whether it be for a short time or forever. I am especially thankful for those forever friends, who even though it may be years between contacts - when we get together again, it is like time has never passed.

I am even thankful for those relationships that for some reason or another, one of us decided to walk away. I know that each of these relationships was a lesson of some kind - and I cannot regret learning.

To all of my friends -- old, and new . . . thank you. Thank you for coming into my life and giving a part of yourself - and allowing me to give of myself to you.

Love,
Iz

May today there be peace within you.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.
Let His presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun.
It is there for each and every one of you.