award and 7 things...

Thank you to Holly for giving me this special award.  This is my second award and it feels good to be honored in this way.  Especially since today has been a little rocky.

The rules for this award are that I am supposed to share 7 things about myself and then send the award to 7 people.  I am not one to break the rules but I already typed my entire post up and then when I was trying to paste the award onto it...I lost everything.  So, now I'm starting over and I'm on borrowed time with school about to be out, soccer practice and then bible study.  So...I'll do what I can.

7 things that you may not know (or want to know) about me:

1.   I have known my husband since I was 12 years old.  We went to the same Jr. High and High School but didn't start dating until we went to separate colleges.  And no, I never imagined that we would end up married.

2.  I was a competitive gymnast as a kid and then I was a cheerleader in high school then college and I worked for UCA and travelled around teaching cheer camps to high school kids.

3.  I have a Bachelor's degree in Communication from Cal State University Long Beach and a Masters in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.  At present I am not using either (though it does come in handy trying to help my 11 year old daughter with her Algebra homework).

4.  I absolutely LOVE Diet Coke but try to limit myself to 1 or less a day.  Usually I am successful but today I had 2.

5.  I am a quasi-photographer.  Admittedly self taught but I used to have a decent business going until Nathan died.  I've lost most of my clients and I don't really want to pursue photographing babies so business is slow.  I need to start working again to help out financially.  One day, I hope to volunteer at our local hospital so that I can take pictures for families that experience the death of a baby.  I took pictures for a friend whose baby died at 36 weeks years ago and I hope to be able to do that for others as well.

6.  I am your typical first born type A personality.  I struggle with not being able to control things, situations...okay basically everything.  This is why Nate's death has been particularly hard.  I work on the premise (albeit false) that if I do A...then B will happen.  We did A...but then Nate still died.  Turning it over to God is a work in progress for me.  It's not in my nature, but I'm trying.  I'm trying really hard.

7.  I am forever changed since Nate's death.  I am more insecure and vulnerable now.  But, I also have a deeper appreciation for life, friends and family.  My perspective has grown as well as my compassion.  I have faced more sadness and heartache than most people my age but I also have a greater awareness of pain and joy (in both myself and others).  It's an expensive ticket to ride my roller coaster.  I would have never purchased one.  But, now that I am on it, I will make it to the end and I will find joy before it's over.

3 blogs that I want to honor (I wish that I had time for more)

1.  Christy
Christy's life parallels mine in many ways.  I feel a connection with her and I know her pain well.

2.  Courtney
Courtney is a sweet blogging friend who also has a son named Nate up in Heaven.  She is also the one who encouraged me to start my blog and helped me set it up.

3.  Angie
Angie has given me so much encouragement these past few months and I appreciate it more than she will ever know.


I wish that I had time for more.  If you haven't visited their blogs, please pop over and say hello.