Roller Coaster Ride

I have always hated roller coasters and I think this picture may be the very reason why! Here you see me, my brother and my mother on a Log Flume Ride at Sea World (mom correct me if I am wrong, but I THINK it was Sea World).  After seeing Shamu and feed some dolphins and rode the Rapids Ride (which I loved and my brother hated) I was somehow coerced in to getting on this contraption (my brother's idea if I am not mistaken). I WAS TERRIFIED!! As if that wasn't enough there is visual evidence of this travesty!  I get to relive the horror over again any time I look at this (adorable) photo.  Needless to say that was my last roller coaster for a good 20 years (until Disney's Rockin Roller Coaster - another terrifying experience).  I have no intention of riding another roller coaster any time soon but if I should I can only hope I won't have a picture to remember it by, haha!

Taco Wraps

Boy do I have a treat for you all today!  Courtney over at Baxtron Life is visiting and sharing a crazy yummy recipe!  Courtney is mom to Zion and wife to Jerry. She blogs about everything from mommy-hood to life in New York  and everything in between!! Be sure to follow the link below to find out more about this awesome lady!  Now, let's get cookin'!! 

You can also add other toppings as you desire.

I love this recipe because it is super easy to prepare, 

and it is incredibly healthy and carb-conscious.  

I hope you'll try it and enjoy! 

***

I'm Courtney, a wife, mama and writer. 

My blog Baxtron{Life} is a place where I share everything that I love, lots of pictures of life in NYC with our little family of three, daily musings, fun link-ups and some of the real struggles of my life.  

I would love to connect with you via: Twitter, Facebook or Email! Come say hello!

TOTALLY AWESOME, RIGHT?!
Like I said be sure to go check her out on her blog or hit her up on twitter!!
Happy Tuesday!!

Prayer...UGH! What is it good for?

Absolutely EVERY THING! Sing it again!! 

          God has a funny way of answering prayer.  Lately I have had a desperate heart aching need for a stronger female support system.  My heart has been yearning for a women's group or a bible study - anything to surround myself with strong Godly women to help build my faith.  I have felt so far removed from my faith lately and I know God is putting this tug on my heart to draw me back to Him.  I have had several obstacles to finding what my heart is after (like working weird schedules and having to share a car with the hubs).  I have felt  defeated and confused and unsure of what to do.  For months I have been feeling this way...Well don't tell me God doesn't answer prayers because I am living proof that He does. Finally just today I discovered that Brooke at Covered By Grace has started this fantastic project called Prayer Warriors. The goal of this project is for women of the blogging community to join together & pray for each other.  HOW STINKIN COOL IS THAT?! It is just what I have been looking for and I don't even have to get off the couch!!!
         Now  I know I cannot be the only one feeling like this and I believe in paying it forward. So If you are in need of some prayer - be it a praise or a need I want to be a source of strength for you! Here is how it works...

I would like to pray for you...for anything that you need. 

No matter how big or small you think it may be. 

Email me,  leave a comment below or Tweet me!

I promise that I will never break any confidence or talk about your request on my blog, unless specifically requested to do so by you.

Follow this link to find other Prayer Warriors in the web.

Puppy Love

WARNING: This is a bittersweet post. On the one hand the picture represents one of the best Christmases any little girl could ever have - it is simultaneously a distant tragic memory.  In any event the picture is too cute not to share.

         For today's  Way Back When-sday Post I am taking you back to one of the clearest memories of Christmas I have.  I was around 7 or 8 years old (I think) and we were living in Virginia at the time.  My brother (the blonde boy in the pic) was around 1 or 2.  Christmas has always been my most favorite of Holiday's. Even as an adult I will wake up super early on Christmas morning and sit in front of the lit tree and just marvel at it's beauty.  This particular Christmas was nothing short of miraculous in my 8year old mind's eye. I went to bed early the night before I am sure and tossed and turned in anxious anticipation (the details of THAT part are a little fuzzy).  When I woke up I awoke to a wet kiss on the face from a golden wagging tail puppy whom I would later find out was named Ginger.
        The picture is the capturing of that lovely moment when I woke in confusion and realized that someone or rather someTHING else was in my bed! I AND my brother were ecstatic and elated to find that Santa had brought us a puppy.  We of course KNEW that Santa had heard our prayers and couldn't figure out HOW Santa had gotten the puppy down the chimney (and kept it quiet no less).  It was a blissful morning.
         This is all so sweet right? Now for the bitter...we lost Ginger two days later. I'll spare you the details but suffice it to say the whole family was devastated.  We ended up getting a wonderful black lab named Tipper a few months later but the memory of Ginger was never lost.  Even with the bitter part of the story, that Christmas remains one of my favorite holiday memories.  I relish in the cuteness of this picture and love the look of sheer surprise on my face! Can you imagine a better Christmas morning than this?

Want more Way Back When-sday fun?! 

Check out Katie's Way Back When-sday link up at The Hill's Country!

Mother's Day Love!

          I am blessed with a wonderful relationship with my mother! For 25 years she has loved me and put up with me and driven me crazy in return! My mom is by far one of the strongest people I know and one of the most beautiful women I know! Not only that but she is one of the most selfless and hardworking women I have ever met! I am so proud of my mom and I do not get to tell her that enough.
         Not only do I have an amazing mom but I got doubly lucky when I married Michael because I got ANOTHER amazing woman in my life - my Mother-in-Law Sylvia! She too is one of the strongest women I know and is a wonderful mother to all her children (and children-in-laws).  Hardworking and self sacrificing she gives all of herself to her family.
         How did I get so lucky to get not just one amazing mom but two?! I don't know how either of them do it to be honest! I only hope that I can carry a little bit of each of them with me once I become a Mom - cause these ladies sure did SOMETHING right! I love both my Mom and Mother-in-Law to pieces and I am so grateful to have them both in my life! No words are sufficient and no gift is sufficient thanks for everything a Mom does but today of all days I'd sure like to try and make it clear just how much I love them both!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Bloggy Soulmate

          I LOVE blogging! I love the outlet it provides for my random thoughts. I love the social outlet it provides and I love the creativity and fun I have. More than anything though, I love the connections I have made and continue to make.  Like Amy over at Love Bug! We were connected through coffee (of course)  at Fake Rain's Coffee Mug Swap and I instantly fell in love with Amy's adorable blog.  Her Blog Love Bug: creativity.art.life is the perfect combination of humor and class! Not to mention she is a fellow Texan! I am beyond thrilled to have found another bloggy buddy and I can only hope to one day meet this crazy cool chick in person! Until then I will just have to live with reading her posts! If you haven't already checked out LOVE BUG I highly encourage you to do so! I promise you'll be just as smitten as I was! If you want to get the coffe mug hook up click the image below and head on over to register for the Swap!

LOVE BUG

Happy Saturday Blogland and to all a good night! 

At {My} Whit's End!

           As a kid we went on many a family road trip (with me being the only girl with three brothers this was often smelly and cramped and well...painful for our parent's ears).  To help pass the time on long car rides it is a family tradition to listen to the Adventures in Odyssey tapes (you know - those things you could rewind with your finger!)  
           It is hard to put these Adventures in Odyssey in to words so I will quote the Focus on the Family website; "Adventures In Odyssey present original audio stories brought to life by actors who make you feel like part of the experience. These fictional, character-building dramas are created by an award-winning team that uses storytelling to teach lasting truths. Maybe that's why over 20 million products have been distributed worldwide." - exactly what I was going to say... 
          I LOVE these tapes - they are so funny and the messages are age old lessons of life ad faith.  So, Now that you know what Adventure's In Odyssey IS allow me to explain the picture...This is Mr Whittaker - the town Sage of Odyssey (He own's an Ice Cream Shop!) How can a fictional character be appearing beside me and my lovely Aunt Lynn, you may ask? Very SImple - Focus On the Family brought to life Mr. Whittaker's Soda Shop at the Focus on the Family Institute in Colorado Springs, CO.  Being  fans of the show(and ice cream) we piled in to my Aunt and Uncle's R.V. (They were visiting us for a week) and headed off for our own adventure in Odyssey.  
            It was a blast! We ate ice cream and explored the town of Odyssey and even got to meet Mr. Whittaker himself. The cherry on top? A three story slide that spirals outside then back in for a 3min adventure (and a rug burn that lasted for days).  To a kid it was AWESOME! To adults? Still AWESOME!  The whole day was just well...AWESOME!  If you want to know more about Adventure's in Odyssey or anything by Focus on the Family - visit there website HERE! If you want more Way Back When-sday Fun visit Katie at The Hills Country.below! Be sure to link up your own Way Back When-sday story there as well!! 
  

HAPPY WHEN-SDAY EVERYONE!!!