So Proud!

Bright
Eyed!

How precious is she?

I now have tons of pictures but I wanted to upload all of these with her sweet Daddy. I love seeing the Proud emotion on my brothers face. I have always known he would be an amazing father, and you can see it here for sure!
Im missing my family so much, and Im just so thankful to God for giving them a wonderful safe delivery and being with them every step of the way. I count Karina as my sister, she is such a jewel. I love them all three so much!
Look at how tiny Jade is, the little cusion for their head, she doesn't even touch it - It seems like that I had to remove that thing within the first week because my kids were so stinking huge when they came. Precious litte tiny!!!

Micah Jade Branham

Look at my Beautiful Niece!!!
Im in love!

Interesting Link

Check this out: Controversy

Baby Jade

My sweet little niece has arrived. I am so happy to let you all know! 5 pounds 8 ounces, 18 inches long.

Living 17 hours away has been murder today, as I have balled my eyes out wishing I could go see her.

I love you Baby Jade. Welcome to the World!

1+1+1=3

The biggest news of the whole entire month! IM AN AUNT!!!!
My brother Daine and Karina, had Baby Jade tonight! She was due on September 4th, but sweetie came just a few weeks early. Im so excited. I got to hear her cry on the phone tonight, and Im dying for a picture. We still don't know as of yet details like weight or measurements, but im sure that is soon to come. Im so excited I can hardly contain myself!
YEAH!!!!

FINALLY

Oh thank GOD! This is so well deserved. Finally the judges got this one right! Im so happy for her.
Congratulations Shawn Johnson! West Des Moines is so PROUD OF YOU!!!

Frustrated

I would not make a good gymnast. Besides the fact that I could never be that coordinated or graceful, I could not control my composure as our wonderful American gymnast have after being slighted the way they have been. I was appalled tonight upon finding out that the judges on the floor were not from any of the countries that were competing (so that they would'nt be biased) had never had an Olympic medalist from their countries! WHAT IN THE WORLD? So in order not to be biased we have incompetence! WOW! That's just nuts. I couldn't do it. I just can't take much more screwed up judging. Im so glad tomorrow night is it, and I hope that London gets together a better panel than what China has offered.

question

Why do gymnast walk out in front of the judges with Barbie Arms?

Soon and very Soon!

Im getting ready to be an Aunt! This afternoon I made my niece and nephew cute onesies! This one is for Jade. I can't wait to meet these little squirts! Kim & Karina, these will be in the mail soon.

Congratulations

He did it, and it was amazing. Michael Phelps finished strong, with his team mates by his side. Im at a loss for words. I am totally blown away by the guy! I would love to see him swim in person sometime!
The Olympics Soundtrack is awesome. I have downloaded some of the songs, Chris Brown's Dreamer is a great tune!

Music & Verse

Its been awhile since I posted new favorites in music: Download Chris Taylor. This guy is awesome. His lyrics are wonderful.
Here are some verses I have taped to my mirror for the past two weeks - they are really good.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is HELPFUL FOR BUILDING OTHERS UP according to their needs...Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as Christ forgave you.

Loving discipline does not discipline in anger.

Prov 13:24 - He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who LOVES him is CAREFUL to discipline him.

Prov 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver! Prov10:20

Nail Biting

Okay so last night I said that I liked the sports that were not judged by someone looking on, and that I preferred the race - first one to the wall wins! Wow, after tonight's close finish, It was every bit as suspenseful. I was blown away that Michael Phelps touched that wall .o1 of a second before Cavic. It was an unreal race. What a great day for Phelps, Im hoping and praying that tomorrow night they do just as well - then the nail biting will be for different reasons, like pulled ham strings, and high jumps. Track and Field, here we come. Oh - but I can't forget - Dara Torres! Gotta cheer on such a fierce competitor. I was so proud of her sportsmanship. She did our name proud!

The difference

Well apparently you have to be from China to mess up 5 times to the Americans 1 to get a bad score for it. I am blown away that the IOC has not stepped in and done a thorough investigation on the ages of these sweet little Chinese girls. Its not like they have any control over what they are made to do. It is also just very frustrating that the scores were so badly off in tonight's all around gymnastics. Do all these girls look 16 to you?

Im very happy that Shawn Johnson walked away with Silver, and Nastia Lukin did deserve Gold after all of her performances, went so flawless. However I was cheering for Shawn naturally, shes from HERE!


This is why I am such a huge fan of Swimming and Track and Field. Whoever passes the line, or hits the wall first wins. No judging - just first one to the wall wins! I couldn't handle doing a subjective sport. That would be so frustrating. Especially on a platform such as the Olympics, where it should be done without bias or partiality.


Congrats to the main man in the water tonight as well, He is simply amazing, touching the wall way before anyone else. You can't help but love this guy, and be inspired by his sportsmanship, to also want to swim like he does. They did a spot on the news tonight about how many kids are in the pool this week, and how that swim lessons are on the rise due to this guy!
Was proud of Ryan Lochte as well. I just like him. He went and kissed his momma after he won, what isn't to love about that?

A Day that Deserved Carry-Out

Better yet would have been delivery, Stacy and Clinton would have been appalled at what I went to Casey's in to pick up my yummy BBQ Pizza. I never even washed my face this morning, as gross as that sounds. I hit the day running and in my pajamas at that, because today was a routine annual toy organization - back to school - clean out the room and closet day! I just cant send them back to school with not having a fresh start in their room. To me, the beginning of the school year is like a fresh new start, its a fresher start than the new year to me. So, after 8 hours of strait cleaning and organization, I felt like carry-out was better than cereal for supper. Josh has been pulling a double shift for the day, so today we have divided and conquered.
My plan for the evening is to deep clean my room while watching the Olympic games, and cheering on Shawn Johnson. Ana couldn't be more uninterested in it. Its appalling, and disrespectful in my opinion, but I have to remind myself Im a little overboard. I lectured her while sorting what seemed to be a bajillion books, telling her that tonight was history, that someone in our town was living her Olympic dream, I painted the picture as glamorous as I could, and all I got was a shoulder shrug out of her - HOW IS THIS MY CHILD!???
LOL! Well, if that is how you feel, I wont offer staying up late to see it. Have it your way and go to bed by 8:30.

Ralphy does it again!

How have I not mentioned this? Ralph Lauren did a phenomenal job (as would be expected) dressing the American Team to look Chic and Classy! I loved they way everyone looked at the opening ceremony!

Project Runway's challenge the week before the Olympics started was to create what their version would have been, and the winner of this challenge actually hit it pretty close which I thought was pretty neat!



























I also had to include the Netherlands. Does anyone recognize this Blazer? It was on the back of the Spring J.Crew Catalog this year. (Or one very similar) Grey with white trim. I love it for myself. It was awesome to see an opening ceremonies where you actually got a fashion idea, and thought - hey - I would wear that. Not a pair of swishy pants! THANK YOU!

GO USA!

It was a great night again for the USA team. You could not help but smile while watching the USA Mens Team of Gymnast overcome losing their main men - the Hamm brothers. None of these guys have ever been to the Olympics from what I understand and some have waited to be on the team for YEARS! I loved hearing them say - "Never Give Up" into the camera. It was awesome.

There was a very sad part of this, looking up in the stands there was a gymnast who was not chosen for the Olympics, and he became overwhelmed with emotion and buried his head in his knees and just cried. I felt so bad for him, saying in a David Branham tone - "bless his heart" I totally could have cried for him. I cannot imagine. My heart just broke for him. Josh looked at me and said - "Dara, there is always someone who is left behind." Sad but true, only so many places on a team, and only the best move to the top. I love the come back stories though!
I love those sort of stories. Its how you deal with the adversity, its not the glory, but the struggle it makes the whole thing so much more meaningful.

Who's Talking Now?

France ate some humble pie tonight after talking smack about our swim team Phelps and Co. I LOVE IT! GO Michael Phelps and go USA Boys!!!
AMAZING! I was on my feet screaming, woke up Josh who had fallen asleep on the couch, thankfully my best bud Anna texted me from Texas with - WASN"T THAT AMAZING! I didn't have to celebrate alone!

GO USA!!!! I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!

WOW!!!!

OH MY WORD! That was an opening ceremony to be unmatched. I don't know how that it could ever be out done. The magnitude and scope of the whole thing was just amazing. The Opening number with over 2,000 drummers had to be one of my favorite parts. Im totally blown away right now.
I love every nation marching in waving their flag. It just makes me think about what Heaven will be like, with every people group, every tribe, every nation, coming in and all joining together in Worship. To me its a very spiritually significant event, (watching these opening ceremonies) because where else are you going to see so many nations coming together until heaven? It is a continual reminder to me that we have such a huge job to win our world for Christ.

I LOVE THE OLYMPICS! YEAH! GO WORLD!
And - kudos to China - what a show! They definitely will take Gold for the best opening ceremonies ever.
I can't wait to see the next 16 days unfold.

COUNT DOWN!

We are down to hours now! I can't wait for the opening ceremony tomorrow night!

aww man

Morgan Hamm had to step out of Olympic competition due to injuries. Bless his heart - I feel so bad for him - right at the end of his career. Same happened to his brother. What a bummer!

August 7, 2008

School is just around the corner, and as I listen to the kids rocking out to Hannah Montana Cd, and Colin pounding on the drums upstairs, I would be lying if I said Im not looking forward to the peace and quiet!

Setting here I just realized that I have double booked myself for something. I have to get more organized with my calendar. I need an i-phone. Plain and simple. My phone keeps saying it is having a sim card error. - Over and over. Bummer! :)

Its always something right?

My girlfriend from Oklahoma just found out that she is having a girl! Pretty exciting stuff - its her fourth! She texted me this morning for good name ideas! I am going to have to think about it for a while. Do you all have any great girl name suggestions? If I had to name a baby tomorrow - it would be so hard. I think that Micah Jade can't be topped, although, I don't know if Jade's first name is actually going to be Micah or not, but I think its pretty stinkin Cute!!!

Well I better run and see what I can do about double booking myself tomorrow for something.

Lining Up

Ok so Josh's current sermon series is really making me re-evaluate some things. That is always a good thing and yet tough! I need to spend more time studying and meditating on Scripture there is no doubt, we need to take date nights more often, and the list could go on and on.
So, this week Josh and I went out. After being apart for what seemed to be forever last week, it was great to have a date night and just reconnect.
Today was our sales meeting, and a big training on short sales. I was so overwhelmed with wondering about the documents that I needed that I couldn't concentrate so I left the training to go work on what was pressing on my mind.
I guess I didn't tell everyone but I did make my first sale last week. I met my client on Sunday at an open house and sold her something on Thursday which was my birthday, so it was an awesome day!
My niece and nephew are due in no time at all now. I can't wait! Thanksgiving is going to be wonderful, because I will get to go and see my Niece, and even before that I will be making a flying trip to St. Louis to meet my Nephew! Im getting very excited! As you can tell!

Funny story - Cale Adair and Colin were playing together the other day, and Colin says to Cale, "you wanna be stealer money guys?" (evidently he doesn't know the term "Robbers") It was pretty funny! Then later he said that they were getting ready to be "Quaternines" which play football - so I am assuming he is talking about Quarterbacks! They were a rock band - colin was the drummer of course and cale rocked out on the guitar. Exasperated Colin told Cale, that he could not play any quieter because he was a drummer and the drums are always supposed to be loud. (i have all this on video which makes it even funnier!) Daine will appreciate this when he sees it! He is totally Daine's child - I don't know how he ended up at my house! :)

One day your in - the next your OUT!

okay so one of my favorite shows is back on - Project Runway. I got caught up the other night, I did the unthinkable and watched the show without Josh. OOPS!

I am completely stoked for the OLYMPICS to start! I AM A HUGE FAN! I almost bought some Olympic themed music off of i-tunes last night - how pitiful is that? I should have a big opening ceremonies party but without a huge flat screen, my house is not the go to place for something like that, nor do I know anyone else that would love that like I do?
Yesterday was so awesome and then today has been so gross. I have felt like trash all day with migraine and the whole nine yards, the majority of my day has been spent in bed. ughh

I found out that Josh's brakes went out on his truck, and the rear caliper, so since its neosho, there isn't a part available until in the morning, so it is another night home alone without my kids, and my man. I miss them now, I told Josh that I have had enough alone time for a week. It has been nice, while I was busy, not to have to worry about what I was going to cook for supper, but Im ready for a FAMILY night.

Im going to get caught up on all the laundry and watch some old reruns, should be a whale of a time!