Reflecting

Yesterday, after logging on to write the brief update here, I started thinking about the purpose of having this blog.  I'm not sure what I envisioned when I started it~I mostly just wanted an easy place to post pictures and videos for family and friends who were far away.  With Facebook it just doesn't seem necessary for that purpose anymore though which is, perhaps, why I'm so terrible about updating it! 

I do, however, have a myriad of unusual life experiences/bits of random knowledge that I'm constantly journaling about and wondering about the purpose of.  While I am often able to help a friend of a friend, or a coworker, or even a stranger met on an airplane or some such place, it seems like I should be somehow making myself available to a broader range of people.  People who might be in the early stages of something I've already gone through and researched exhaustively, or who might be plugging the same words into Google for the one millionth time just hoping to get something new to pop up that might ease an experience or offer some peace or a sense of not being the only person on planet Earth going through "it,"whatever "it" might be.

So, for that reason, here is a list in no particular order, of the things that have come up in my life over the last 5 inexpressibly challenging years.  Perhaps no one will ever read this other than the family and friends who already know about these things and who for the most part, other than because they love me, have no need for any of the knowledge.  But, just in case, here is the list.  I imagine I'll think of some other things to add but this is just what comes to mind while sitting at the computer for 10 minutes with a napping 1 year old and a 4 year old in "quite time" (who is, of course, anything but quiet yelling down to me constantly from the top of the steps "Mom, can I tell you something?" :o)

Miscarriage
Private, open, domestic, newborn adoption
Sine Scleroderma
Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (G.A.V.E.)
Raynaud's
Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover (after all of the above wreak havoc on finances!)
Raising kiddos with no local family support
Surviving 8 job/schedule changes in a 3 year period
Reinventing my nursing career to find something that works for my family, schedule, and health


Over the next few weeks I will attempt to write detailed posts about each of these things and my experiences so that anyone who comes across this can read more about what I've been through/discovered and can be in touch if I can offer any support.  I'll also update my "favorite things" list to include many of the places I have found support for all of the above!

Another New Chapter

After another super long break from adding to this blog (Chris and I have both had several new jobs in the last 6 mths and a whole host of other life complications) I'm back to say, onward in a new direction!  Just in time for my 35th birthday (perhaps it was 35 I should have been looking forward to all along??).  We're freshly and intensely focused on ridding ourselves of the debt that has crept up during the last 2 years of health challenges, job changes, and unexpectedly rapid fire adoption (not complaining, we just weren't prepared to pay for it that fast).  The motivation?  Aside from the obvious benefit of making our money "our money" instead of sending it all back out the door as fast as it comes in, drum roll please....ADOPTION!  We just don't feel "done" growing our family and, for us, that is a financial undertaking.  Chris always said he wanted a middle child so he could spoil them most of all and Daxton makes the perfect kiddo for that role so, we will be paying down everything we can think of as fast as possible Dave Ramsey style so we can get ready to do it all over again, this time better prepared in the $$ department.  Just thought I'd log this in here cementing my commitment to a Total Money Makeover even further!!!

15 Months Later...

I have avoided adding anything to this for MONTHS (15!) because I just feel like I don't have any idea where to start. Funny how you can begin something for fun but it ends up becoming a source of guilt and dread!

Life since December of 2008 has been incredibly complicated (exhale). During that time Chris has had 3 different jobs (all within the Department of Homeland Security but each with its own collection of schedule changes/commute changes/pay grade changes/etc), I was diagnosed with 2 autoimmune diseases (and now have a Rheumatologist, Cardiologist, Gastroenterologist, Pulmonologist, and an ENT at the ripe old age of 33), and we brought home our sweet baby boy, Daxton Alexander Whit Burford, after only about 6 weeks of navigating through the adoption process again (meaning, we were totally unprepared).

It has been the most challenging time of our life, without question. So, what do I say about that here in this electronic scrapbook?! I could certainly go on and on FOREVER but it would serve little purpose. Instead, I'll try to pick some of my favorite pictures and memories to share and keep the rest to myself :o) Here are a few to get myself started...

A Christmas Gram from JT Burford

Jameson has become nearly obsessed with singing songs! He has quite a repertoire at this point so here are some music videos for your viewing/listening pleasure.

Fwinkle Fwinkle Little Star

Away in a Manger

Away in a Manger Take 2

Jesus Loves Me

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Fwinkle Fwinkle and Away in a Manger, revisited for the last time!

Happy Thanksgiving!

First, Jameson's "My First Preschool" class had a Thanksgiving party on Tuesday and we got to videotape this little diddy for your viewing pleasure :o

Second, JT got these moose ears from a dollar bin at Target the other day and we've all been "assigned" at various times to act as the moose...

Now third, as I sit here in my pj's on Thanksgiving while Chris is at work, it is tempting to feel sorry for myself especially as I think back over the years and realize how rarely we actually get to celebrate a holiday the "normal" way (nursing and law enforcement~can't beat the job security but it comes with the price of 365 day/year, 24 hours/day operations). It's particularly tempting today as I've been dealing with a myriad of health problems and we've had a very complicated schedule for the last couple of months with no end in sight!

Fortunately though, I'm quickly snapped back into the reality of our incredibly blessed life full of fun, noise, and chaos just like I love :o) In many ways, things are just as I imagined them all those years ago (17!) when Chris and I met in the hall at Lutheran South right by the pay phones (remember pay phones?!) as he innocently tossed a piece of trash in my direction. In other ways, things are even better than I imagined! There have certainly been disappointments along the way and there will, no doubt, be plenty more but through all of it God's hand is always there guiding us along, spinning the complicated web of our existence intertwined marvelously with all of your webs as well. I am so unbelievably grateful, even as I sit here in the office procrastinating about housework on Thanksgiving. I wouldn't trade a moment!

Ahhhhh, retirement. How much better can life get for a dog who used to rip up cars and sniff out drugs all day?!

Talking to Grandma (Burford)

Reading Oma's (Grandma Whittle) Wine Spectator


Reading to "the guys" while enjoying the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

Halloween

So Halloween was surprisingly fun this year! I didn't expect JT to really "get it" yet but he enjoyed dressing up, going to Nate's party, and even tricker treating with Claire and Nate (friends who live in our neighborhood). He spent a lot of time looking for spiders (lots of people had them up as decorations and he was beyond thrilled) and singing Fwinkle Fwinkle Little Star (complete with "like a diaper in the sky") over and over, even enlisting Nate and Claire to join in :o) He did bark whenever asked. Next year, Chris definitely has to get the night off so he doesn't miss it again!

Practicing being a puppy before the party

At Nate's party

Tricker Treating with Nate and Claire





Trying to get someone to open a piece of candy for him...

First candy bar!

"All done pictures mama"

Present Omama

We've been a bit election crazed at our house and here is the result...

Fwinkle Fwinkle Little Star

It is unbelievable to me that tomorrow is the start of November! 2009 is nearly here, how can that be? I am so enjoying the change of seasons this year~last year was the first time we got to experience it after many years in San Diego but life was so chaotic that we barely noticed. This year I am savouring every changing day! The trees are just BEAUTIFUL even right in our own yard. One of God's most amazing gifts I think, nature changing all around us to mark the passage of time.

Lots of updates to add but I have to put a couple of videos up for your viewing pleasure. JT loves to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (they sing it at preschool) and can be found singing/humming it throughout the day but he doesn't quite have all of the words down yet...

Thoughts on Vegas

Vegas Baby!

When we lived in San Diego we frequented Las Vegas (it was a 45 minute flight or a 5 hour scenic desert drive) and jumped at the chance to spend our anniversary there this year. It seems an odd place for us to enjoy as much as we do but it is truly one of the best getaways I can think of! It's as if you've stepped out of time into a place with the best collection of fabulous restaurants (over the years we've enjoyed 2 of Emeril's, several of Wolfgang Puck's, Bobby Flay's MESA Grill, Picasso's at the Belagio, and many others), shows (Cirque Du Soleil~10 different versions, Stomp, BlueMan Group, and an ever changing variety of concerts), and people watching like I've never experienced anywhere else in the world. We rarely spend more on gambling then we are comped ($50 or so when you check into your hotel or hear a timeshare presentation) and I hardly even think of it as a place to gamble (though I know for many that is the draw and even the problem with this intriguing place). I'd never want to live there but I do love to spend 72 hours in this alternate universe and thoroughly enjoy the total escape from reality!

Jameson loved Vegas! He followed patterns on the floors (rugs, tiles, etc) for miles each day and then passed out each night. This was our very first night there, he actually fell asleep while being pushed down the Strip~just couldn't take any more stimulation!

This picture was taken at the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage. They have amazing lions and tigers (we even got to see a litter of 5 tiger cubs that were only 18 wks old, some white with blue eyes and some yellow, all playing together with a trainer) and 2 giant pools with dolphins. Jameson loved it! http://www.mirage.com/attractions/secret-garden.aspx

We saw the Beatles Cirque show "LOVE" which is also at the Mirage~it was fabulous! If you've never seen a Cirque show before, that is an experience in itself but then add Beatles music with personal speakers in each seat, divine. http://www.mirage.com/entertainment/love.aspx

We ate at Carnevino, Mario Batali's new restaurant in the Palazzo which is attached to the Venetian. Best service we've had in a long time and wonderful food/atmosphere.

http://carnevino.com/

Palazzo and the Venetian are 2 of our favorite spots to explore...In the video on the right, that is actually a person!





Next, onto the Bellagio...

These pictures are from the Sculpture Gardens at the Bellagio which change seasonally. Jameson loved the trains that are part of the current show. We also went to the Richard McDonald Sculpture Gallery~it is amazing!

http://www.bellagio.com/amenities/richard-macdonald.aspx

Opa gets another lucky shot with everyone smiling

at the Flamingo our favorite place for breakfast!

http://www.harrahs.com/casinos/flamingo-las-vegas/restaurants-dining/paradise-garden-buffet-detail.html

Time with the Las Vegas Whittles

The video is dark but I think it provides a smile anyway :o) I included the still images so you can imagine the video with proper lighting!

We just got back from celebrating our 9th anniversary in Las Vegas and since Uncle Dev and Aunt Kim live there, we got to spend some time with them! Aunt Kim is definitely not a "kid person" (she'd be the first to admit it) but she and Jameson always have a good time...

Bucking Bronco

So I feel like a broken record when it comes to our crazy dogs but I believe this video will shed some light on life with "the boys!" Welcome to my world...

Our Farm

Picking blueberries, our faves!

The scenery is just so beautiful with farms and even wineries all around the area.

One of the very best things about living right where we live is our close proximity to DC on the one hand (thriving interesting city full of action etc) and a beautiful rural area on the other. 45 minutes one direction and you hit our nation's capital, 45 minutes in the opposite direction and you hit farm land. Yes, I know I go on and on about this but I just think it is perfect! We joined a CSA farm this year called Great Country Farms (they are already wait listed for next season so if you are interested check it out ASAP!) and it has been one of the best things we have ever invested in. Tons of great produce, both fruits and vegetables, and a farm to call our own! We go out every weekend to pick up our share, see the farm animals, and pick whatever is available (blueberries, blackberries, peaches, edemame, potatoes, etc). Jameson adores it and definitely prefers the food we get there, especially if he aided in the gathering of it. Here are some pictures we have taken this year~now go out and support your local farmers!!

They have tons of slides and things to
jump on/play with etc all over the farm.



Jameson would eat the blackberries as fast as he could pick them, even the ones that were still red, and he'd say "ummmm" after every bite no matter how tart!



Making friends on the porch...