Burgundy Snails

Callie and Jane are background dancers in Uta and Carmen's Biology research project video. These girls CRACK ME UP!

More Life

So, I think most of you know I fractured my tibia. On the bright side, this was a much better outcome than re-tearing my ACL, which was the initial fear. Two weeks post-fracture and I had a good check-up at the doctor yesterday. I am to immediately begin bearing weight on the leg again as tolerated. I am tentative and shaky, but can already feel the strength and confidence increase after just a day! So that is a good thing to be thankful for!

Big news last week is that Madden was chosen Captain of the Trojan Belles Dance team! We could not be more proud of her leadership, work ethic, and God-given dance abilities. If you were tired of dance photos, hold on to your hats, because the volume is about to double. Callie joins the team officially TODAY, so there will be photos en masse of our two girls sharing the same field next fall!

La Familia

All the beautiful juniors on the team!

Edited to add this outtake. This is what's really going on!

Busy in a Good Way

So much going on, so I'm gonna catch you up in photos!

Choir - Won Sweepstakes!

Sea World & Fiesta TX with besties

Another fun night at Ginny's Little Longhorn

Rehearsal dinner for the Normands

Pre-wedding shenanigans with my faves!

Madden's peeps

Beautiful Martha

Back seat drivers!

Why the Inside Matters

Saw this today on Facebook and thought it was great. Here's an exerpt:

"I was preparing to speak at an I Can Do It conference and I decided to bring an orange on stage with me as a prop for my lecture. I opened a conversation with a bright young fellow of about twelve who was sitting in the front row.

“If I were to squeeze this orange as hard as I could, what would come out?” I asked him.

He looked at me like I was a little crazy and said, “Juice, of course.”

“Do you think apple juice could come out of it?”

“No!” he laughed.

“What about grapefruit juice?”

“No!”

“What would come out of it?”

“Orange juice, of course.”

“Why? Why when you squeeze an orange does orange juice come out?”

He may have been getting a little exasperated with me at this point. “Well, it’s an orange and that’s what’s inside.”

I nodded. “Let’s assume that this orange isn’t an orange, but it’s you. And someone squeezes you, puts pressure on you, says something you don’t like, offends you. And out of you comes anger, hatred, bitterness, fear. Why? The answer, as our young friend has told us, is because that’s what’s inside.”

It’s one of the great lessons of life.  What comes out when life squeezes you?  When someone hurts or offends you? If anger, pain and fear come out of you, it’s because that’s what’s inside. It doesn’t matter who does the squeezing—your mother, your brother, your children, your boss, the government. If someone says something about you that you don’t like, what comes out of you is what’s inside. And what’s inside is up to you, it’s your choice.

When someone puts the pressure on you and out of you comes anything other than love, it’s because that’s what you’ve allowed to be inside. Once you take away all those negative things you don’t want in your life and replace them with love, you’ll find yourself living a highly functioning life.

Thanks, my young friend, and here’s an orange for you!"

-Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

http://www.drwaynedyer.com/blog/why-the-inside-matters/ 

Spring Break

I had my ACL reconstruction last Wednesday. My view for the next 3+ weeks looks like this:

I am not complaining (too much). I am so thankful that it is fixable! Surgery went well. Post-surgery was a bit miserable, but thanks to Porter and Nurse Polly, I survived! My village is amazing - we have had meals arriving every day, and sweet friends are driving me to my doctor appointments this week. 

The girls left on Friday for the TUMC Mystery Trip. They found out where they were headed when the arrived at the airport and were given boarding passes to Phoenix (Arizona is a new state on their 50 state quest, so hurray!). So far they've been hiking in Sedona, ate pizza and shot some pool in Flagstaff, and seen the sun rise over the Grand Canyon! Thankful for this amazing opportunity for them. 

Rocky Mountain High

Enjoying a relaxing no-ski ski trip with Porter and family in Vail, Colorado. I've been hitting the gym each day working on my pre-hab physical therapy in preparation for my ACL surgery next week. Hard not to be out on the slopes, but so grateful my little knee is fixable. In the grand scheme of things, this is merely a bump in my road. And I've been happy to join in for apres ski each day. As always, time with family is precious. Grateful to mom for holding down the fort and girls and dogs in Austin this week. And I am sure dad is blissfully eating ice cream each night as he plays bachelor in Corpus Christi!

And just like that, the season is over!

The Belles competed in their second (and final) competition, and it was filled with highs and lows. In terms of the overall competition, the Belles team came in 3rd place, and the officers took 2nd place. This was a bit of a letdown for the girls after winning it ALL the prior week, however, in my opinion, both the team and officers danced better than the week before, but found themselves facing stiffer competition. They were outstanding, but didn't get to bring the "Best of the Best" coveted hardware home this week.

However, Madden had her personal best competition, placing as a finalist for her solo for the first time ever, and taking home a trophy as the 5th runner up. And then she and Kendall took home 1st place for their duet which Madden choreographed! So, so proud of my extremely hard-working dancer girl. Also, the "Newbie" Belles attended the competition and took one of their first group photos. Proud to be mom to these two Belles of mine.

Overall Grand Champions!

Spent the weekend at a dance competition in Frisco. That was fifteen hours in a high school gym. Well, two gyms and an auditorium. And a hallway. BUT, worth it when this is your kid's face at the end of the night when they are announced the GRAND CHAMPIONS of the event!

1st Runner Up Duet - Madden & Kendall!

24 Years!

We headed to Alta, Utah to celebrate our 24th anniversary. We had two sunny bluebird wonderful days!

And then the snow began to fall and fall. And we had wonderful powder skiing! 

Until this happened...on the last afternoon! 

It was my only fall of the trip! Go Big or Go Home!

Got to cross the sled ride off the Bucket List!

Rhodie (Rhododendrum) was kind enough to greet me at the clinic.

Probable diagnosis:  ACL tear and sprained thumb. I see the orthopedic surgeon Tuesday afternoon for confirmation and an MRI. Hoping to schedule surgery ASAP. To be continued....

...and a Happy New Year!