God is perfect!

Our friend Summer who is in JB's class at Mayo sent me this PowerPoint presentation this week. The message was so powerful and so reminded me how much God is in control that I just had to share it.

What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?

Psalm 117

What is the longest chapter in the Bible?

Psalm 119

What chapter is in the center of the Bible?

Psalm 118

There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118.

There are 594 chapters after Psalm 118.

Add these numbers up and you get 1188.

What is the center verse in the Bible?

Psalm 118:8

Does this verse say something significant about God’s perfect will for our lives?

The next time someone says that they want to find God’s perfect will for their lives, and they want to be in the center of his will, send them to the center of the Bible

Psalm 118:8: "It is better to put trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”

I just really needed to be reminded of that this week. I have been really struggling with some anxiety issues over the last two weeks. There have just been 7 or 8 different things going on in my life and all of these combined pushed me over the edge. I actually woke up in the middle of the night this week unable to calm myself down! However, I have been reminded in so many different ways how in control God is. Including:

• I got good news at my job at the RLS Foundation -- they are going to let me adjust my hours. They have to finalize some things, but agree that this is a good idea. It well help me from making a difficult decision (choosing between both jobs) and it will also give me some quiet time at home to write which I have been lacking. Basically what I am going to do is work 8 hours a week at RLS and 24 hours a week at Mayo. I will then have one other day to use as I need it -- maybe some time from home at RLS, maybe going into Mayo or going into RLS, or maybe some time to work on my 2 freelance jobs. This was an answer to prayer.
• Both JB and I have total peace about our infertility appointment on November 29th. For so long, we have both been at different points in the journey. Either I was ready to do IVF and he wasn't or vice versa. Now, when it's time to go in, we are both ready to move forward. This is exciting. The Lord is also making a way that we can pay for this in a fairly easy fashion.
• My hope has always been to be a stay-at-home writer. This is seeming to closer and closer to reality. I am very excited about this opportunity.
• We have been so blessed by all the family and friends that have been by to visit us over the last two months. In addition, we are going to be making 2 trips to Chicago in November, spend a week in DC with my job, and get to spend 2 weeks in Florida -- my longest vacation home at Christmas ever.
• I slept until 9 a.m. this morning. I so needed this.
• This morning, JB and I walked to the Farmer's Market. It was such a beautiful fall day. God is so creative and has blessed me so much with my wonderful husband. We had a great time.

Well, I need to get some laundry put away and get read for the arrival of Mom and Dad Kit. early tomorrow morning.

Go Sox!

It's been a long week. Just one of those weeks that kind of wears you down a bit. Jb has been home on research and that has been a blessing. He's really picked up a large portion of my slack around the house.

I think I would like to blame most of this long week on the White Sox. I mean, thank goodness I don't live on the east coast. I am already staying up until 11:00 every night watching baseball! If I were on the east coast, I would end up staying up until midnight. And when they play in California. Oh man, I think they play in California tonite. Oh geez, then I really stay up late.

One funny thing was, during the game they won on Wednesday night, I got an instant message (IM) from my dad around 10:30. It was the bottom of the eighth, the score was tied 1-1, and he IM's me wanting to play a game of spades! I was like "Dad, aren't you watching the game? It's the bottom of the 8th -- tie score."

His reply: "I know. That's why I want to play. I am too nervous to watch." He had turned on the radio and was listening but wanted something to distract himself with. Needless to say, we ended up losing that game of spades -- I mean if you watched the game, the ninth inning was a little intense, and both dad and I got sidetracked and had to take the loss.

Oh well, at least the Sox won!

In other news, we have a busy last three months of the year. A quick summary:

October 16-20 John's parents in town
November 4-6 Trip to Chicago with John and our friend Tara
November 10-17 Work trip (and pleasure) to DC with John
November 24-27 Thanksgiving in Chicago
December 17-31 Florida

So we've got some busy times coming up! Have a great weekend everyone and GO SOX!

A brief morning note

Well, today I actually stayed home to work. Dr. K (Mayo) is on hospital rotation. I already have all my hours in at RLS, so I decided to work in my pajamas. I got sooo much done both for RLS and Rochester Women as well as for the new free-lance job I have picked up. I am writing scripts for a real-estate company that does video showcases of homes. I actually got this job through the editor of RW. She also works for them. It's fun work, pays per job, and I can take as many jobs as I can handle. Basically, they have hired 8 contract writers including me. I log in to their site, see if there are any jobs I want, and take them if I like them. It's a good gig! They take me 1-2 hours each to complete, and I bill them as often as I want. My goal is to eventually write from home 100%. This is still a ways off but with jobs like this and the flexibility of writing for the RLS Foundation, I am getting closer everyday.

JB is on research. He is working out during the day everyday. Right now he is actually at the grocery store. His parents come in on Sunday morning -- yipee! and I think he just got talked into being in some sort of research project on Monday morning by our friend Hans. They do strange things to you but pay you well for them. Well, Jb is home with the food. I should help unpack.

Blessings!

Let my heart sit down!

Well, today, for the first time in quite some time, there is no company in our house. Jason & Kathleen have long returned to their comfy house in Indiana. Kristi and darling little Logan have returned to New Mexico to be with their Ironman. Now Ray, Gabbi, and little Grace are gone as well.

This morning we found a bowl of dry cheerios on our coffee table. They were the new yogart cheerios, but you wouldn't know it from looking at them. Grace had eaten every one of the yogart ones out and fed most of the plain ones to her "good puppy dog" Jay-bee. Logan and Grace were both so much to have around, and our house is very quiet now.

Having all these sweet kids in our home (and I'm including Jason here) is such a blessing and so emotional at the same time. When they leave, our house is quiet again. There aren't cheerios crunching under my feet or toys littering the hall. We don't hear Logan chirping "hi" and carrying around her little pink blanket. Gracie isn't there to wrap her arms around John's neck and say "Uncle JB, I love you sooo much" or squeal everytime anything with Cinderella comes onto the television. There is no continual singing about wooden shoes and ponytails as Grace bows and says, "Thank you. Thank you very much!"

This morning, we finally made it back to church. With the company in, our attendance hasn't been very good. Pastor Paul was on vacation, but our assistant pastor had a fantastic sermon on "Churning or resting?" One of the scriptures he used really ministered to John and me.

I Cor. 3:6: I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

This verse was such a reminder to me that in everything we are going through, it is God who is in charge of things. It is not Wendi or John or a physician. Instead of having the focus "let go and let God" which is extreme or "it all depends on me" which is also extreme, our focus should instead be "we can do things, but it is God in the end." In my case, I can seek medical attention, but it is completely in God's hands.

It is so hard during this journey not to get anxious and worry. It is also hard to remember that it isn't any medicine I take or procedure I get, but instead, it is God. Pastor Gene also reminded us of the African proverb which I will constantly remind myself of: Lord Jesus, let my heart sit down.

Woah! When he said that, I was totally blown away. Yes Lord! Help my hurting heart to sit down and relax. I wanted to finish today's blog with a poem that has become my "theme" since beginning this infertility journey back in 2003. It's a little long, but it is worth it to share the whole thing. I am sure that as you read it, you can put your own "situation" into the words.

Wait
By: Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...
and the Master so gently said,"Wait.",

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut, and grumbled to God,
So, I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine...
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence are all you can see.

You'd never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,
the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
but oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".

The last hurrah

Well, the first set of Kits has left. We took them to the airport this morning after a brief stop at Caribou. We had a fantastic time here this week, and we were sad to see them go. Gracie was a little sad to leave but the thought of seeing Grama and Grampa overshadowed any sadness about saying good bye to us or Minnesota. When we went out to load the jeep, we realized that we had a good frost last night! They are leaving just in time. But the leaves are in their prime, just perfect for Mom and Dad's arrival next week.

JB got all of these peppers for 50 cents when they went to Heritage Farm in Iowa. He thought they made a nice picture, and he also wanted me to applaud his frugalness. :)

The Ray boys (Cole in the back, now in first grade) and Hunter in the front, make friends with Grace.

By the end of the week, Gracie was no longer afriad of the "nice burdy" Monet, and decided to let "it" come and visit up close.

Ron and Ebby came over last night to see the Rays. Grace and Ebby had a contest to see who could laugh the most when they snorted. I had previously convinced Gracie that snorting while she laughed was going to get her picked on in school. Ebby convinced her otherwise.

Gracie takes a nap with her uncle "JB". Wendi has accepted the fact that she is now only second rate. Last night, we were all getting ready to play a game, and John said we had to wait. He was watching Cinderella and said that he had watched it so many times this week with Grace and had never seen the ending. He NEEDED to see how Cinderella got out of the locked room! He and Grace are big buddies!

Watch out Uncle Matt & Robbie -- there's a new Uncle in town!

Gracie loves to help. I brought in a chair so she could help me unload the dishwasher. She left the knives for me because according to her, her mommy told her she isn't supposed to touch knives!

1st IVF Appointment

Well I spoke with the nurse today, and she gave me the first available appointment with my new reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Cottington for November 29th at 8:45 a.m.

She said that he would like to meet with me before I get started in IVF as the metformin has changed my story slightly.

We spoke with the woman in charge of financing IVF and we came up with a good payment plan that we can afford. We also have the option to take out a student loan to pay for this as well. While we can think of a lot of things to spend $10,000 on, we can't really think of anything better than a child/ren. I remember my cousin Jason telling me, "Well, if you don't spend it on that, you'll find something else to spend it on." A few other friends reminded me, "What is money to God?"

We are excited about what the new year has in store for us. Please continue to pray for us in the next two months. It is still our heart's desire to avoid IVF, however, we have complete peace and are continuing to take this journey one day at a time. If you could add the Kits. to your daily prayer list, we would really appreciate it. Wisdom, emotional strength, and a successful result are our biggest prayers! Our first 7 procedures took a toll on us emotionally, and we feel like during the last year we have really had a chance to heal. I really need prayer that I handle this next adventure wtih a little more faith and comfort.

P.S. On a side note, John, Ray, Gabbi, and Grace went to the zoo, while I (John's 'sugar momma' as Grace now calls him) was at work. If I can snag some pictures from Ray, I will put them on the site.

IVF Clinic reopens

Well I received a letter today that it is my turn to go into the IVF Clinic (invitro fertilization). I called the nurses, they asked me a few questions to update my chart, and said they would get back to me with the details of when and how I will get started.

I am not excactly sure what this means so we can all learn together. I don't know if this means that my first appointment will be in December or that I will start my shots now and plan IVF for December. I am just waiting until the nurses call me back.

I just wanted to share the news and ask that you be praying for Jb and I during this time. More than anything, I ask you to pray for the Lord to give us wisdom. We have a lot of decisions to make.

Ray shares his pics!

Well fall has offficially arrived, and Ray has allowed me to borrow a few of the pictures he has taken over the course of the last week to share on my blog. Today (Wednesday) while I was at work, the rest of the crew went to Heritage Farm in Iowa where they were able to take in the beautiful fall scenery. The temperature also dropped over 35 degrees from the time I left for work this morning. It was in the 70's early in the morning and right now it is in the 40's!

Gracie and her Uncle John who has now become "Uncle Shay-beee" . This picture makes me realize that the warm weather is almost gone and the cold is preparing to take us over.

John and Gracie hiking at Heritage Farm.

Fall in Minnesota.

Gracie in the kids' corn maze at the Apple Orchard earlier in the week.

Gracie with her favorite Aunt Wendi and favorite Uncle JB and a "kittie" at the Orchard.

Fall isn't long here, but is beautiful. Unfortunately pictures don't do it justice.

I love this picture. It is really how John seems to always see the world. And in this picture, Gracie appears to be seeing things just like he does.

"Daddy you are choking me!"

Gracie with the apple she picked.

Getting ready to be swung by her Minnesotan relatives.

On the slide at the park at the Farm (that's a lot of prepositions!)

Karuna meets Gracie

Grace showing Karuna her doctor kit. Karuna only wants to protect her blanket.

Grace tells Lesley about her day.

Grace and Karuna not sure what to make of each other.

Grace checking Karuna out. Karuna staying close to Wendi.

The three amigas!

Making a new friend.

Last night we had our normal night watching Karuna and Grace was here too. We also had Dave & Lesley over for Thai and Christo & Melissa ate a late Thai dinner with us. The girls played really well together and both fell asleep pretty early.

Lots o' fun

Getting served breakfast in the morning

Visiting with the birdies

Gracie and Uncle John

Helping Uncle John with the bills

John's exercise ball became a great source of fun

and more fun ...

and more fun ...

Visit to the Apple Orchard

Gracie with her Uncle John

Grace and John pickin' apples (and eatin' them too)

Gracie made it through the kids' corn maze twice and then spent some time with the pumpkins

I want to take a second to thank my allergist, Miguel, for making this moment possible! I loved the orchard unlike the last time when I couldn't breathe the entire time. YOU ROCK MIGUEL!

Wendi and Grace join Gabbi while the men pick the apples.

"You can't find me!"

"Please dad -- can we buy this one?"

Grace checkin' out the baby chickens while keeping an eye out for new people to meet (Grace loves to introduce herself and her whole family to everyone she sees!)

Grace, Mom & Dad on wagon ride back to the car

A trip to the "doctor"

Well, John's brother, Ray, his wife Gabbi, and their daughter Grace have arrived in Minnesota! They got in on Saturday around 4:00 and thanks to Dave and Lesley who let us use their jeep, we both picked them up and drove back to Rochester. Shortly after arriving, Grace brought out the doctor's kit we gave her a few months back and she and JB took turns checking reflexes and taking temperatures and discussing blood pressure. Afterwards John made fajitas, Ajit came over, and we all walked to Gabbi's favorite -- Starbucks. We are so blessed to have our family here to visit. We just got back from Pannekoken and are now off to the Apple Orchard! Wish you all were here :)

Checking reflexes

Discussing Grace's symptoms

Getting ready to look for animals in Grace's nose

Gracie tells Uncle John about the problems of her life

Grace checks Uncle John's ears and then she lets him check hers!

KIT-MANIA BEGINS

Well, after today, I will have more pictures to post as Ray, Gabbi, Grace and little "dude" (the unborn son!) are coming to visit us today. They come in to the Minneapolis Airport around 4:00. Can't wait. I will for sure include lots of pictures for everyone to see.

In other news, I am facing some difficult decisions at work. To make a long story short, when my boss at Mayo got this huge grant two months ago, the work load on my part really picked up. I am currently not able to get the things he needs done in the 24 hours a week that I am there. We both gave it our best shot including me coming in early and even coming in on the weekends, but there is just too much to do. I have decided that I am probably going to meet with him and my bosses at RLS this week and discuss making some changes to give me some more time at Mayo. I am not exactly sure how this will work out, but I trust that the Lord will guide all of our steps and help work this out.

I also got another opportunity to do freelance writing this week through my connections with Rochester Women (the magazine I write for). I am going to be writing scripts for a company which provides videos for real estate companies. This job will offer me as much or as little money as I would like to make.

So a lot of changes going on -- I will keep you posted. Also JB starts research as of today! Yipppppeeeee!

It ends with you

It usually starts quietly.

A hidden secret.

A survival strategy.

An unhealed wound.

Someone was hurt and never healed. So they taught pain how to parent. 

What doesn't get transformed gets transferred.

You didn't inherit only eye color or traditions. You inherit: 

• Silence
• Rage 
• Avoidance
• Control. 

We call it, "just how we are." But often, it's HOW we survived.

The Bible calls these curses to the third and fourth generation. (Exodus 20:5)

This isn't about punishment -- it's about patterns. And God gives language to help us see them!

The good news?

Christ redeemed us from the curse! (Gen 3:13)

But freedom isn't magic -- it's a process.

Deliverance breaks the curse. 

Discipleship breaks the cycle.

Intergenerational trauma shows that: You were shaped by your family more than you realize. 

Roles were chosen -- they were assigned. Emotions weren't felt freely -- they were managed for you.

And without intervention, you won't just inherit the past -- you'll repeat it. Which one were you?

• The Scapegoat carries the blame so the family doesn't have to face its brokenness.
• The Hero overachieves to prove the family is fine when it's not.
• The Lost One disappears emotionally or physically to avoid the chaos. 
• The Mascot uses humor or charm to distract from the pain.
• The Caretaker becomes the emotional parent to keep everyone else together. 

These AREN'T PERSONALITIES!

They're toxic survival strategies passed down like family recipes. 

Try to heal and you'll be called:

• Ungrateful
• Overdramatic
• Difficult
• "Not the same anymore"

Truth sounds like betrayal to those still committed to dysfunction. 

Can you be the one who said: 

"This trauma doesn't get to raise my kids!" or "The silence doesn't get to bury another truth." 

This ends with me.

You're NOT the black sheep.

You're the pattern breaker.

You're a Hero!

What breaking it looks like?

• Naming what happened.
• Refusing to gaslight yourself.
• Feeling the grief you were taught to suppress.
• Creating boundaries without needing permission.  
• Inviting God and trusted guides into your healing.

Breaking the cycle is holy work:

• It's repentance.
• It's renewing your mind.
• It's carrying your cross.
• It's choosing legacy over comfort.

Healing doesn't mean hating your family. It means refusing to carry what was never yours. It means letting therapy, prayer, and truth walk you home to yourself.  

You won't be perfect.

You will be different.

And that's enough.

Because your children won't have to heal from a home they grew up in.

It's not rebellion.

It's redemption.

You're not ruining the family.

You're rescuing the future.

It ends with you.

YOU MIGHT BE A MINNESOTAN IF ...

You might be a Minnesotan if ...

• If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through l8 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by . NO WAY but I know people who do!
• If you're proud that your state makes the national news 96 nights each year, because International Falls is the coldest spot in the nation. I know this is true but am not proud of it at all!
• If you have ever refused to buy something because it's "too Spendy". Hate this word -- have yet to use it.
• If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March. Yes! Can you believe it? All THREE of the shut down.
• If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time. John has -- no joke!
• If your town has an equal number of bars and churches. It does ashamed to say
• If you know how to say Wayzata, Mahtomedi, Edina, Shakopee, Winton and Ely. Oh my, I only missed one of these!
• If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy. Well, not with my husband the spicy man doing the cooking
• If "Vacation" means going up north past Virginia for the weekend. Oh wow this is so true!
• If you know several people who have hit deer more than once. Does me hitting 2 at the same time count?
• If you often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again Oh boy -- all the time in the car.
• If you can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching . No, this still really stressed me out, but you should see how fast people will go by past me (although they are often in the ditch a few minutes later :)
• If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit. Well I don't have kids, but I can see how this would be important.
• If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow. This is a good point!
• If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction. Holy crap! Did I write that? How did they READ my mind!
• If you can identify a southern or eastern accent. I am improving in this area daily.
• If you consider Minneapolis exotic. Well, I don't but people around here do!
• If down south to you means Iowa. Oh my! It does mean Iowa. I need to get out of here!
• If a brat is something you eat. It is I am sorry to say.
• If you find 0 degrees a little chilly. Believe it or not, I do feel this way. Last night it was 32 and I thought it felt great.
• If you actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Minnesota friends. I think that's what I am doing right now.

Little tid bits

Nothing BIG going on but lots of small things going on. So I thought I would give you some bullet points of our lives.

• My eyelid issue: Well, Jb finally talked me into letting him fix my eye next time. This little snip at the dermatologist cost us $110. If he can't convince me through guilt trips, he can convince me through money. Am I Dutch or what? So next time, I'll let JB cut open my eye on the kitchen counter.
• Buh Bye Kristi & Logan: Well, I took Kristi and Logan back to the airport on Monday. We had a wonderful time. Jb cooked some awesome food over the long weekend and even babysat for us once so that we could do some shopping. It rained a lot while they were here, but I was so blessed to spend time with Kristi and get to know my awesome little goddaughter better. Logan is so much fun. The day after she left, both Jb and I agreed that we missed her cute little "hi" and farm animal noises. She has an awesome personality and is so fun to be around.
• Buh Bye OBGYN: Jb is done with his OBGYN rotation. While he enjoyed this, the hours were tough (about 80 hours a week). He now has a one week endocrine rotation before he starts his research rotation on Monday.
• Weather: The weather right now is wonderful. It has been in the 60's nearly every day. Today it was a little cold (50's) but overall, just wonderful weather. The leaves are changing and JB and I have been going out each evening and either biking or running.
• TV Shows: The start of Jb onto the beloved research rotation has encouraged us to watch more TV than usual. In the past, we've had time for Survivor and that's about it. However, we now have a few more favorites. Two of our interests are Lost and Prison Break. (I really like Prison Break but don't pass that around -- it's very unlike me.)
• Thanksgiving: We plan to go to Chicago for Thanksgiving. We are excited about this as Jason & Kathleen and Josh & Sarah will be with the Huisman side this year. We plan to spend Thursday and Friday with them and then Saturday and part of Sunday with the Kotynskis who are home from Indonesia!
• Christmas Break: Today I got up the guts to ask my boss at Mayo to give me two weeks off for Christmas Break. I was dreading this. He is very good to me, but really prefers that I don't miss more than a few days at a time. But I asked, and even though he gulped, he said yes (with my promise to do some work from Florida). This means that we are going to take the longest Christmas Break that we have ever had. We plan to be gone from the 16th to the 31st or so. Of course, included in this is our cruise to Mexico which we are looking forward to.
• Kits Koming: Well it's about to be Kit-Mania in Rochester. Ray, Gabbi and Grace arrive on Saturday and stay until the following Sunday. Mom and Dad come in the next weekend for a four day visit. We are so excited to see our families and have them in town. JB has been busy planning what he wants to cook during their visit. I can't wait to hug GRACIE!
• Meet & Greet: On Monday evening, JB and I went to a little social for the 2nd floor of our condominium. This was initiated by Susan George and her husband Tom. They are probably in their 70's or 80's and Susan can talk more than any woman I have ever met -- seriously. Her husband just lets her go. They are so cute! Well, we officially met all of our new neighbors as we have had 2 new condo owners in the last 3 or 4 months. Jb and I are by far the youngest. Everyone is in their 70's and 80's and little "Kit" is 90! The next youngest is a divorced woman in her late 40's who just moved in across from us. This was a really fun time.
• Jb's Hobbies: Jb has some recent interests including his 2 love birds (they have a new cage), his fish (he is cleaning out their tank as we speak), Harry Potter, (he finally decided he needed to see what all the fuss and arguments were about), and of course, cooking. He cooks new things everyday. He has also been reading a book about composting toilets. I have no idea what this is about and have decided not to ask.
• Wendi's Work: Things are going well for me at the Foundation, Mayo, and at Rochester Women. Tomorrow evening I am actually going to meet with my Editor from RW about another free lance opportunity. We will see what comes of this. I enjoy the writing but it is a little stressful trying to write what someone else wants. However, my dream since I was young was to be a writer. I was unable to do Newspaper Journalism in college becuase of basketball, but maybe I will eventually be just a writer again.
• My hubby Rocks: I just wanted to take a moment to tell everyone that I am married to the best husband in the world. We've been through a rough few years, but he has stood by my side and been my best friend every step of the way. I truly know that whatever life holds for our future, we will move through it together. I have been to the doctor more times than I like to think about since coming to Rochester, and he has only missed one appointment! He has willingly gotten up with me at all hours of the night and administered daily shots without blinking. I truly am in love. We went through a very rough stretch but have come out on the other side with shining colors. I LOVE YOU Jb!

More pics of the Hunts

Well Kristi and I had a bunch of fun today. It was still rainy, but we did major shopping. We took Logan with us the first part of the day, and when we stopped home for lunch, she was tired, and Jb volunteered to babysat while she slept. By the time Kristi and I got home, Logan was up and playing and having a great time with John. She also blessed him with 2 dirty diapers in 1 hour! GO LOGAN!

Kristi found Logan's Halloween costume while we were out -- A LADYBUG! Too cute. So here are some pics of the new costume. The third picture is Logan with the hat and gloves and sweater that Kristi helped me pick out for her birthday.

I have been so blessed to have Kristi and Logan visiting and will miss them when they leave tomorrow. But we are already planning my trip out there this time next year!

LEE HUNT WINS REDMAN TRIATHALON

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! Lee won the triathalon. You can view the race he was in at: http://www.redmantriathlon.com/! He actually won the whole thing! He just called Kristi, and we just found out. Apparently it was unseasonably warm and a very difficult day but he won despite a 20 minute "recovery crash time" when a cop waved a van on and Lee hit the van! Anyways, I'll post details tomorrow after the award ceremony. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU LEE!

Kristi & Logan arrive!

Well Kristi and Logan have arrived and I am so excited! For those of you who don't know Kristi, she was my college roommate for three years (until I get married at WKU). Kristi is one of my bestest friends in the whole world, and it is so wonderful to have her and Logan (my goddaughter!) here. What is even more awesome is that even though it has been almost a year since I have seen her last, it feels like just yesterday that we saw each other. We are able to pick right up where we left off, and it feels like we haven't been 6 years out of college. I am so blessed to have met Kristi and have a friend like her. She is the type of buddy that I could call at any moment with any problem and she is right there with me.

Her daughter Logan is such a blessing and a wonderful, precious little girl who is a fantastic eater (she'll try anything!) and a big smiler. She loves to play peek-a-book with JB too. Her "da-da" Lee is currently running an Ironman (HE IS THE MAN!) in Oklahama City. We are anxious to here how he did in the extreme heat of Oklahoma today. Logan's favorite toy is a ball and she also likes to make barnyard noises (definitely the daughter of a cowgirl!) She can say "hi" as well.

Kristi and Logan actually got here on Thursday nite, but their 10:40 flight turned into 12:30 so I suppose that means they got in on Friday morning. We didn't get to bed until after 2 on Friday morning and I was at work by 7:15 so definitley needed a nap on Friday.

Friday evening we had the Jones', Tara, and Ajit over as Tara is leaving for Arizona for a 6 week rotation on Sunday. Sam and Nick came over afterwards, and we all watched The Longest Yard -- which isn't the greatest movie in my opinion. However, the guys seemed to really enjoy it.

This morning we took a tour of Mayo and went to the Farmer's Market and Jb is getting some Indian ready for dinner. I wil try to put up more pictures over the course of the weekend. I think their departure Monday afternoon is going to come a lot sooner than I would like.