My Beautiful Days

For TODAY ... Outside my window ...  the sun is shining, the lake is calm and still like a sheet of glass, the squirrels are running wildly, and someone from the city is outside spray painting lines in our lawn (identifying the water/sewer/gas/etc). I am thinking ... about my UPS package that's arriving today and the fact that I'm hoping it arrives later this afternoon when I'm home because the delivery of it requires a signature! I am thankful for ...  my God, my husband, my kids, my family, my faith, my church, my friends, my doctors, my home ..... my LIFE! I am wearing ...  jeans that are too short, a brown T-shirt and my Hilfiger sweatshirt (you know, the one that I bought for Monte for Christmas last year and then shrunk it down so much that it now fits me!). I am remembering ... Monte's late wife and my kids' mama, Kelley.  I never knew her, but she is always in my mind, especially coming into the holiday season.  I'm looking for creative ways t...

In preparation for hosting Thanksgiving this year, my kitchen and dining room started off by looking like this ... ... and like this ... ... and while I will admit that it took a long time to get all of that organized and into my cupboards and refrigerators, it did eventually get cleaned up!  My brother, Tory, and his family joined us at our home for Turkey Day festivities this year and it was completely wonderful to get to spend some time with them!  It really blessed my heart to see Colin playing so well with my nephew, Elijah, as this has not always been the case in the past - but at this particular gathering, they played as if they were old buddies! Lisa and I spent much time cooking and cleaning (though I have to give credit to Monte and Tory, as they did almost all of the post dinner clean up!) ... ... *sorry Lisa, this is the only mid-cooking picture of us that I have!  Once the meal preparation was complete, we sat down and enjoyed an amazing dinn...

Today I am going to my OBGYN office for yet another appointment.  Today's appointment is going to consist of an ultrasound and a Doctor's Visit.  I am bringing Colin with me, hoping and praying that he will be satisfied playing with the few toys we bring and reading the few books we bring.  Today's appointment determines the next direction that we go.  Today's appointment moves me forward in the fertility process.  Somehow, though, today's appointment does not have me anxious, worried or nervous.  I feel as if I am moving forward confidently, knowing that this is just another step I'm taking toward the day I conceive and carry my baby, another step toward the day I get to be pregnant, another step toward the day that I meet our next child. Today is a beautiful day and I have a lot to give thanks for!

Do you know the significance of this photo?  Well, allow me to explain.  I am quite aware that it is not the most flattering photo of me.  I'm aware that Colin's room is a bit messy (but come on, when is it not?!).  I'm aware that we're reading bedtime stories and this is one of my most cherished moments of the day.  Guess what?  The true significance in this photo for me (at least at this time) is the fact that I pulled it off of my working wonderfully having lost nothing on it  computer!  That's right.  About one hour on the phone to Dell support allowed me to walk through a few steps with the Technical Support guy and VOILA .. the computer is back to normal! Thank You God!! So, now that the computer is working again, I will soon enough be back to regularly blogging (which  means I will be regularly commenting again, too!) and catching up on my email.  However, today is not the day that I'm going to do that, entirely because...

Some days I feel incredibly frustrated with myself. This morning is one of those days. See, about a week ago, I had the pressing thought that maybe, just MAYBE, it would be a good time to run a backup on my computer, as I have not done so in almost a year. However, having many other things on my schedule for the day, I put the thought off. It came back to me several times that day, and I continued to push it off, telling myself that I would do it later. Guess what? Later never came. Wednesday morning I pushed the power button on my laptop and sat there and watched as it crashed before my eyes. AAGHHHH!! Alright, maybe I can't say crashed, but I can say that the crazy thing won't start. It keeps running a "startup repair" program, that just can't repair the startup. I'm at a loss! Thankfully, I purchased this laptop a little over a year ago from my friend Chris, as he has a business account with Dell. Chris has informed me that the computer is cov...

Many of you may have watched the story featuring mommy bloggers on Fox 9 News last night, some of you may not have.  For those of you who haven't seen it, here it is!

There's this woman who you may have heard of.  She sits on the other side of the computer and posts the things that show up on this blog.  She's the one who may walk around for days with a blog post brewing in her mind, only to turn around and put it on your screen in 10 minutes.  She's the 25 year old who is married to a 43 year old.  She's the one with four stepchildren.  Who is she?  She is Kami.  Who is Kami? I am Kami. There are many things in my life that define who I am.  First and foremost, I am a child of God.  I would not be where I am today if it weren't for His mercy, grace and love. I am a wife to an absolutely amazing man.  I am a stepmom to four completely phenomenal children. I am a daughter, a sister, a niece and a friend.  I am the woman who will take fashion over function any day of the week.  I am an extreme extrovert.  I love to try new things.  I love meeting new people.  I love to...

I'm very sorry to have to say it, but you all win.  Apparently my most recent blog post appears to be too personal of a topic for many of my readers to be comfortable with.  That being said, it has been removed and you have my word that I will stick to topics that will make you all smile.  I've saved said post, along with all of your comments, and will keep it for myself, as that is what you wanted originally anyway. I am going into temporary blog hibernation.  I may be back as soon as tomorrow, it may be a week, I really don't know.  I will be back when I have inspiration to write about something that will bring my readers warm fuzzy feelings. In the meantime, if you are in an area that receives Fox 9 news out of the Twin Cities, tune in tomorrow (Wednesday November 18th) at 9pm to see a special on blogging featuring my family.  I'm uncertain as to exactly what time within the news broadcast it will be on, but I have been told that it would be early in...

Five Question Friday is a blog carnival started by Mama M - hop over to her blog to see who else is playing! 1. What is your favorite "eat" on Thanksgiving? While I love to host Thanksgiving, and am excited to do so again this year, there really isn't any specific thing that screams YUMMO at me!  I guess, if I have to choose, I would go with the Green Bean Casserole, entirely because I have a crazy love for green beans! 2. What is the name your best girl friend and the best trait about her or how you met (or heck, both!!)? Her name is Tanya .  She's pretty much amazing.  We met almost 26 years ago, back in the hospital when I was just a newborn babe.  Oh, did I mention that she's my sister?!  Tanya is truly wonderful.  She's 11 years older than I am, which I think is wonderful because it has allowed a very deep connection between us.  Whatever I seem to be going through as a new parent, she usually has great advice for me.  She's all arou...

1.  What time did you get up this morning? I woke up shortly after 6:00am, but didn't get out of bed until about 6:40am.  I let myself sleep in a little bit! :) 2.  How do you like your steak? Medium or Medium Rare, depending on where I'm ordering from! 3.  What is the last film you saw at the cinema? Oh goodness .. ummm .. Monte and I went and saw a movie quite awhile ago, and it was a chick flick, too (my hubby is amazing to let me watch so many chick flicks!) but for the life of me I can't remember what it was!  OH - I think it was "He's Just Not That Into You".  I think. 4.  What is your favorite TV show? I don't watch much TV, but if I had a choice it would be almost anything on HGTV.  Unfortunately, we don't get that station! 5.  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Right where I am at.  I love Minnesota! 6.  What did you have for breakfast? Cereal.  I hate to admit it, but I ha...