Embryo Adoption, Fun Finds

The Gift of Life with Mike Huckabee


Super cool, super exciting news. Mike Huckabee is coming out with a DVD called, “The Gift of Life.” The movie zooms in on powerful stories of individuals who were almost aborted, but were spared by God’s grace. Not only is this a topic near and dear to our heart, but it also features the Lancaster family and their story of embryo adoption. As many of you know, Maria is the director of Embryo Adoption Services of Cedar Park. This is the program that we are working with for our embryo adoption and we are super excited that her story (along with many others) are going to be shared with so many people. Please spread the word—repost this post, and click here to order your DVD! We’ve ordered ours!!! Order by December 19th to have it in time for Christmas. Watch the trailer below.

*Photo and trailer taken from thegiftoflivemovie.com

Fun Finds

Skip a Starbucks and Bless a Child

My sweet childhood friend, Kelly Bowers, is a elementary schoolteacher in the Greenville County School District in South Carolina. She teaches in a low-income area with students that are 100% at or below the poverty line, one of two schools in the situation in the entire state!

Kelly is working on a project to address major bullying issues and needs help with fundraising some money to meet her goal! She only needs $88 more dollars and will be able to use that money to work with these children to break cycles of bullying and take ownership of their actions. Here’s the link to Kelly’s “Donors Choose” website and a below is  a picture of her classroom!!! Skipping one Starbucks won’t hurt you and will be a major blessing to Kelly and her sweet students! Please consider donating—even $5 will help. The sooner you donate the better, as Kelly has secured over $350 from a company if she is able to raise her portion.

Thanks everyone!!!

Fun Finds, In the Kitchen

Yummy Summer Salad Option

So I found this recipe yesterday (from allrecipies.com) and made it last night—I am a cranberry and blue cheese person, so this salad may go down in the history books as one of my favorites ever. It’s light and fresh and just makes my taste buds happy (not necessarily the MOST healthy you’d ever make…but still delicious). So I thought I’d share. The recipe doesn’t call for crumbled blue cheese, but I added it in. I added the sesame seeds to the blanched, sliced almonds right at the end to just slightly toast them. I’d also saute the onions (at the same time as the almonds). Yum!!!!

I’m really into fun, yummy, summery salads lately. Anyone have a recipe they can share?

About Us, Fun Finds

A Frankus Father’s Day

Frankus DiMarco arrives in Washington on July 14th. That’s just a short time away.

24 Days, 23 Hours, 11 Minutes and 12 Seconds (to be exact).

FRANKLY, there are just a few surprises we have in store for him when he gets here. To celebrate this Frankus Father’s Day, we will first be taking Fwankie to his favorite Tacoma store, Tacoma Bike, to pick up his rental bike for the 11 days that he is here.

Next, we will be taking Frank the Tank out to dinner at “Red Hot“, a hot dog and beer joint here in Tacoma with all beef hot dogs, and a million options. Red Hot was voted to have the best hot dog in western Washington by King5 News/Evening Magazine and was recently featured on Chef vs. City.

Most likely choice for Frankus: The Hosmer Hound Dog…

From there, we will be taking Father Frankus DiMarco to the BRAND NEW TACOMA RAINIERS STADIUM for a Triple A game against the Salt Lake City Bees.

And to top it all off, there will be two LITTLE HOT DOGS waiting for Fraahnk to snuggle when he gets home!

A great first day in Washington for a MORE THAN GREAT Father Frankus.

Happy Father’s Day, Father Frankus. We love you!!!!

Can’t wait!!!

About Us, Fun Finds

Over the River and Through The Woods…

…a campin’ we will go!

So freaking excited. We just booked two different weekends this summer in two of Washington’s amazing state parks. There are a whole lot of them, and it’s hard to choose, but here were some of the contenders.

Scenic Beach State Park
Jarrell Cove State Park
Potlatch State Park
Dosewallips State Park
Ocean City State Park
Moran State Park

We went with the first and the last…Scenic Beach State Park and Moran State Park…one of them for our 5th Anniversary Celebration! Now we’re trying to pick a place for when my parents are out here and maybe a few other weekends to do a camping trip with Jason’s family and with any of our friends that want to come. Some of these campsites are TOTALLY booked every single day for the rest of the summer. I guess that’s when you know you’ve found a good one!

Either way, I’m looking forward to waking up to the sun and falling asleep to silence and the smell of a fire slowly dying into the night. Camping is pretty close to heaven, I’d say.

About Us, Fun Finds

One Year

Several months ago I went to a birthday party for Jason’s cousin’s daughter, Kristin. She was turning one. Our gift was the promise to do this “photo shoot” and we finally connected to do it tonight. The photos above are the ones that we’re framing, but we’re still sending copies of the ones below because they’re pretty stinking cute too and a pretty accurate representation of a normal, active, one year old. It was fun! Totally stole the idea from our friends, Amber and Brett. What do you guys think?

About Us, Awesome God, Fun Finds, My Jesus

My Bad Attitude, Hypocrisy, and Hurricanes

If I could say bah-humbug without feeling guilty I would. After all, I have a lot to be thankful for, namely Jesus. I guess for a lot of different reasons the last several weeks I’ve been sort of reevaluating who I am, why I’m here, and what my purpose is on this earth. I have so many things that I’ve struggled with in my (almost) twenty-eight years, and I really want to be at a point where I’m not the victim, where my past doesn’t define me, and where I can be useful to someone. Make a difference. Stop feeling sorry for myself.

All this “yuck” has been jump-started by finishing my Masters. It’s been 4 years coming, and now it’s done and I’m not even sure what I want to do with it. The uncertainty of the future is making me question all the pain of my past. And in turn, my purpose. All of my plans for teaching, youth ministry, buying a home, having babies, looking a certain way, being a certain person, and having a certain impact have failed. I am a shadow of the person that I thought I would be.

The lyrics to the song below start out like this: “I have built a city here, Half with pride and half with fear, Just wanted a safer place to hide…” I don’t know if it was my Masters, the infertility, struggles with my self-image, or all of the above. But my lack of identity has turned into a hurricane in every area of my life.

I’ve gotten distracted. I’ve gotten a bad attitude. I’ve been a hypocrite. I’ve complained. I’ve played the victim card. I’ve felt sorry for myself. I’ve hated myself. I’ve over-loved myself. I’ve tried to self-help myself. I’ve defined myself by the terms and expectations of others. I’ve hit road blocks, detours, and many closed roads. And here I am. It’s another December. I’m about to turn one year older.

And who am I?

I know who I’m not. I’m not perfect. I’m not defined by my successes. Or my failures. I’m not an amazing daughter. I’m not a respected teacher. I’m not a flawless wife. I’m not a faithful friend. I’m not a good housekeeper. I’m not a talented volleyball player. I’m not a mother. I’m not a good neighbor. I’m not an intelligent conversationalist. I’m not a hysterical comedian. None of that is true 100% of the time. I fail at all of it. At one point or another. So I can’t hang my hat on any of those for my identity. I’ve tried. Believe me.

I’m me.

I’m a mess. I’m a work in progress. But in Christ, I’m forgiven. I’m redeemed. I’m the daughter of the King. I’m loved just as I am.

And I’m wanting so desperately to know who He is.

He defines my future. He writes my story. He whites out my horrific, selfishness and pride. He heals my wounds and He waits patiently for me to come back to Him every time I walk away. He takes a beating every time I blame Him for something that was done to me that He has nothing to do with. He whispers truth to contradict the lies as I complain about my appearance, my intelligence, my abilities, and my life.

So I slow it down. Again. I look in the mirror at this wretched sinner that I get so frustrated with and I surrender. And the walls comes crashing down. Again. And I’m forgiven. Again. And He rebuilds. Again.

I have built a city here
Half with pride and half with fear
Just wanted a safer place to hide
I don’t want to be safe tonight

CHORUS
I need You like a hurricane
Thunder crashing, wind and rain
To tear my walls down
I’m only Yours now
I need you like a burning flame
A wild fire untamed
To burn these walls down
I’m only Yours now
I’m only Yours now

I am Yours and You are mine
You know far better than I
And if destruction’s what I need

Then I’ll receive it Lord from Thee
Yes, I’ll receive it Lord from Thee

(Chorus)

And it’s Your eye in the storm
Watching over me
And it’s Your eye in the storm
Wanting only good for me
And if You are the war
Let me be the casualty
‘Til I’m Yours alone
I am only Yours
I am Yours alone, Lord

-Jimmy Needham

About Us, Fun Finds, In the Kitchen

Thanksgiving in New York

After traveling through the night, sleeping for four hours (maybe) and a three hour layover in Salt Lake City, we finally made it to NYC this morning at 5:30 am. My parents picked us up and we jetted downtown to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was the first time for all of us and it was an amazing experience that we will never forget. (see fotos below) The streets were packed, and the parade was well done. The air was filled with energy, and the childrens’ faces were totally priceless. Saw some really cool floats and some famous faces. Highlight of the day for sure was Jimmy Fallon and the Roots. I may have cried a little…I was excited. Then, on our way out of town we saw Jack McBrayer just walking down the street!

We headed home, took a nap, and then had one of the MOST delicious Thanksgiving meals EVER. Hats off to you, Momma. You are a gifted cook and we were blessed to sit at your table tonight. Spent some time with Grammie Grammie after not seeing her for the last year. That was wonderful. She’s 96 going on 16 and is headed down to Florida for the winter after we leave on Sunday.

A fantastic day. Looking forward to some time with friends over the next few days and more time here at home with the family. So thankful for everything we are blessed with in our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Click here to see a slideshow of all of my parade photos…granted they’re not perfect, they were on my phone. More to follow from Jason’s camera!

Fun Finds

Simply Sweet

In sickness and in health.

Yesterday while eating lunch in our back room with Tami and Renee we saw three people walking out of the store adjacent to ours. Two were elderly, perhaps in their 80’s and the other was a woman in her 40’s. We stopped talking and noticed them because the older man and the younger woman had the elderly lady propped up in between them and were helping to hold her up. She was shuffling her feet along very slowly and it was evident that they were essentially holding up most of her body weight.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, something happened with the woman and she started to go down onto the pavement. The older man and younger woman stopped and turned trying to use all of their strength to brace her and hold her up in an effort to prevent her from falling onto the ground. We all jumped up and ran outside to offer our assistance, but by the time we had gotten out there the two had pretty much gotten a handle on her body weight and had prevented her from falling.

We walked with them as they got her to the car and started asking questions to make sure that everyone was okay. It turned out that the man was her husband, and her caretaker. She had alzheimer’s. The man shared that sometimes she forgets to use her legs and that usually she has a walker. He talked about how he helps her from the bed to the bathroom at home, and all around the house. He had walked her to the store with the hope of giving her some exercise, but her legs had given up.

He then focused all of his attention, energy, and 80 year old strength on bending down and gently, carefully, and slowly lowering his wife into the passenger seat, going so far as to totally shield her head with his arm to prevent her from knocking her head on the roof as she sat down. He buckled her up, turned to us and thanked us, and then got in the car and drove away with the younger woman (probably the daughter—she had tears in her eyes the whole time) and his wife.

And not once, not for one second, was there even an ounce of frustration, regret, or despair in his voice. He wasn’t rude. He wasn’t embarrassed. He wasn’t impatient. He didn’t complain about the unfairness of life. He literally acted normal, went about his duty as a faithful husband, and then left on his way with not even a frown.

It was beautiful.

And we went back inside and said to each other: “THAT is what all couples need to see before they decide to get married. THAT is what we all need to understand that marriage should look like. THAT is love. THAT is commitment. THAT is truly the example of selflessness.”

Here’s Philippians 2:3:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

And I really like it in the Amplified Bible:

Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].

Fun Finds

The Next 5 Movies We Will See

1.

Conviction
In select theaters now.
Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo and Ari Graynor

2.

127 Hours
November 5, 2010
James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara and Lizzy Caplan

3.

The Next Three Days
November 19, 2010
Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson, Brian Dennehy and Moran Atias

4.

The Fighter
December 10, 2010
Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo and Jack McGee

5.

Unknown
February 18, 2011
Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Kruger and Frank Langella

We thought we’d take about a half hour on our Friday night to give you some good ideas for YOUR Friday nights for the next several months. Some of these look amazing and have great promise, and a few others are on our list cause we love the actors in them (Russell Crowe and Liam Neeson). These are Jason’s finds, BTW. If they were mine…well, they wouldn’t be worth checking out. Traditionally in our house Jason bats .1000 and I bat about a…well, I’m warming the bench.

Let us know if you see any of them! Or, are there any others that you are excited about that you would recommend?

Fun Finds

Friends for a Fair Form and Other Sweet Old Ads

Chesterfields to ALL your friends? That IS the merriest Christmas any smoker can have. Even if it’s his last. At least you’ll be sending it to him in the beautiful “Christmas-card carton.” And incase you’re looking for a good movie, don’t forget to read the fine print…

Your physician says smoking is bad for your health? WRONG.

You can’t argue with “repeated nationwide surveys!” Nor can you turn down a 30 day test in your “T-zone (T for Throat, T for Taste)”, and yes, that’s a woman with a T on her face.

If you want to live on the edge, but your 30 day “T-zone” trial doesn’t work out for you, or if no one sends you Chesterfields for Christmas, there’s always the option of Iver Johnson Revolvers. Just to clarify: “They are not toys.” “They shoot straight and kill.” But we’re going to advertise them with a little girl in a bed trying to decide to play with the revolver in her hand and the doll at her side. No fear, “Papa says it won’t hurt us” because “They’re absolutely safe” and an “Accidental discharge is impossible.” Just incase you were wondering.

You’re right, Chase and Sanborn, flat coffee is unacceptable. So unacceptable, in fact, you are totally justified in saying that wives should be beaten if then don’t “store test for fresher coffee.” Do you think while they’re store testing their coffee maybe they should also store test for a restraining order?

While we’re talking about dysfunctional families, let’s focus on the “before you scold me, Mom…maybe you better light up a Marlboro” baby. Don’t you think he meant, “before you dress me with another aluminum foil cowboy hat, Mom…maybe you better put out your meth pipe?”

Really? “Picked up?” 1950’s Code for “Got blasted?” A baby getting beer through it’s mother’s breast milk. And of this nutritional impact your company says: “And obviously baby participates in its benefits?” And the beer provides “Nourishing qualities that are essential at this time?” “An appetizing, stimulating tonic?” Start ’em early, Blatz. I can see why your company is still around. Oh wait, it’s not? It got bought out? What’s that you say? Blatz was bought by Pabst? Pabst Blue Ribbon? Ahhh.

So many great adjectives. “Homely.” “Muddy” skin.” “Delicate, dainty” white cream. “Toilet” counter. Good thing she took care of her blackheads and blemishes before Timmy and Tommy Jones came home from school to stalk her from 3 inches away.

FYI: My husband owns Van Heusen ties. And a few shirts too. However, I have never served him breakfast on my knees. Somewhere between 1950 and 2010 the Van Heusen threads lost some of their “magical” chauvinistic piggyness.

That’s right. But not just for cooking…for cleaning and looking cute too!

And finally, the crème de la crème, the pièce de résistance…incase all of that cleaning, serving, and cooking didn’t keep you satisfactorily trim and petite:

How can you turn down a promise that includes: “No diet, No baths, No exercise!” Yes, one might at first be repulsed that the solution is tape worms. But, come on people, they’re “sanitized” AND “jar-packed.” With your “friends for a fair form” there are “no ill effects” AND even better, “they’re EASY to swallow!” Problem solved. “Fat, the enemy that’s ruining your life…BANISHED!!!”

What’s the funniest old-school ad you’ve ever seen? These make me laugh so hard! We needed a good laugh tonight since it’s our last night with Betty Jane in town before she heads back to NY. Booo hoooo! It always goes so fast!

Becoming Parents, Fun Finds

Quiz Your EA Knowledge!!!

Follow this link (also permanently up on the menu bar above) to test your understanding of Embryo Adoption and see what you can learn! There are 25 questions with detailed explanations at the end. And there’s a place for you to type any questions you have for us! Enjoy!!!

Love that option C is Uranus–>