What do you do with???

Two post in two days...wow! So question for those of you reading...what do you do with the Christmas card pictures that you get from people? Most "cards" I just toss (ok, actually, I stack them up and move them around for a few months b/c I have packrat issues before I finally get fed up and throw them away). But obviously, I don't want to throw away these pictures. What creative things do you do with them? Do I get an album? Last year...I adorned the frig with them, but that just doesn't work for me b/c they kept falling down, they rolled up from the heat vent, etc. So I need ideas???

What's in a name??

So, I'm hoping to make a comeback from my recent blogger hiatus. I mean I do have a lot of time on my hands as of late...

I'm on the road to recovery. For those of you (all 2 readers that I might still have) that don't know, I was in a rollover accident on December 30th outside of Glenwood. My sister, Kayla, was with me. I was driving, road was slick, brakes locked up. I failed stunt driving 101, which resulted in a totaled Trailblazer and a very intense ambulance ride for Kate and I to the local hospital. I was transferred to University of Missouri by ambulance. End result: Kayla with 3 stitches in her hand, and me on a backboard for 9 awesome hours. 2 days later I left the hospital in a love/hate relationship with a back/neck brace b/c I have a compression fracture at the T3 vertebrae and a fracture of the C6 vertebrae. As of now, the brace is an adornment until the end of February.

Since my release, I've been catching up on Regis & Kelly, Ellen, & The View. Not too mention, all of the ABC Soaps. Which might sound super appealing, but it's getting a little old, real quick. I'm off work until we get some more concrete answers on the healing process and the recovery. Trenton finally went back to work today. He's been such a blessing to me these past 3 weeks. I know it hasn't been easy on him to have to wait on me hand and foot. But I'm grateful that he loves me and I have him in my life. We've been abundantly blessed by an outpouring of love from our family, friends, and neighbors. I haven't had to cook once since coming home due to a fully stocked freezer of delicious meals. Andrea & Jenn graciously came out and did laundry, dishes, and a little cleaning to make my arrival back home that much easier. What a joy to be surrounded by so many wonderful people!

I'm not gonna lie...there was a brief time right after the accident that I was scared to death. I knew we were both going to be ok. Looking at the vehicle, we came out VERY lucky. But there is just something about seeing your baby sister, hurting and covered in blood, that makes your heart stop, knowing it was at your hands. But we both obviously had someone looking out for us.

So as I was laying awake not sleeping last night...I was thinking about my poor abandoned blog. Can I just be real for a minute? It's hard to write on a blog named Lucky Like Us, when I've been feeling, well... not so lucky.I really do think that Trenton & I have had our share of bad luck. I mean seriously, 2009, or 2008 now that I think about it, just haven't been our years. In the course of that time, we've been through 3 miscarriages, this accident, an impromptu emergency surgery, need I go on? So in the dark of night, I pondered changing the name. I considered the following:

1. UNlucky Like Us
2. Crappy Things that Happen to Mostly Good People
3. What Happens When You Get On Karma's Bad Side
4. Easy (insert disclaimer about easy) Ways to Meet Your Insurance Deductible
5. TV Reviews from the Housebound Girl with One Channel...


While these were my top 5, I just kept coming back to why I named the blog this way originally. Mostly it was because I was a newlywed with stars in my eyes and thought that life was just going to fall into place. While I was wrong, I also stole the name from the lyrics of one of the songs we had played at the wedding.

Here's the song....

Some People

Isn't it a gamble
Layin' your heart out on the floor
Nothin' short of a miracle
When you find the one you're looking for
It's another kind of trouble trying to hang on to who you are
When all you wanna do is lose yourself in someone else's arms
Isn't it a wonder (that) we got this far

Some people aren't lucky like us
Some people they just give up
When the hard times fall
The thrill of it all is gone
Leaves you in a cloud of dust
It's sad to think that some won't find it
And others won't recognize it even when it comes
We're all at the mercy of the will of love
Some people yeah
Some people aren't lucky like us

Two lonely souls that just stumbled into fate
Look how much we've been given babe
In spite of all of our mistakes
And I will never forget I've been blessed with the gift of lovin' you
And when the going aint easy babe
A little faith will pull us through
Thank God we have each other we can hang onto

Bridge
To have someone you can laugh with
Someone you can cry with
Tell all your secrets to
To have someone who won't judge you
Someone who just loves you
No matter what, they stand beside you

Some people aren't lucky like us
Some people they just give up
When the hard times fall
The thrill of it all is gone
Leaves you in a cloud of dust
It's sad to think that some won't find it
And others won't recognize it even when it comes
We're all at the mercy of the will of love
Some people yeah
Some people aren't lucky like us


So, upon further reflection, while I still like option #2, I think I'll keep the name for now. While we've definitely had our fair share of, let's be honest, crap. We've also been extremely blessed. We were presented to move to the country, to an amazing house, Trenton found a job that has given him the freedom to be home with me during Christmas and now after the accident without the worry about jeopardizing his job. I've been blessed with amazing co-workers who have picked up the slack for me in my absences even though they have full plates of their own. I have wonderful bosses who are more worried about my health than the work that is stacking up on my desk. Although, the accident was bad, we both walked away without serious life threatening or life altering injuries. We'll heal and still have full lives to live. And although, we've lost several beautiful children in the past year and a half, we've also gained a beautiful neice and nephew, who are growing into fascinating little people right before our eyes. I have an amazing husband. I never in my life dreamed that the love I felt for him in those first few months could and would multiply a million time over in the years that have followed. He's strong, brave, caring, and much more. And he's been standing by my side throught it all.....how's that for lucky?

On the TTC homefront ("trying")...obviously, we're on a bit of an indefinite break right now. While there are a multitude of emotions I've been through coming to terms with that, ranging from bitterness and anger to just sadness, I'm relatively at peace with it for now. I'll be honest, it's increasingly harder to see others starting their families and expanding their families while we're still stuck in the time warp of being childless. But we still believe it will happen for us. We're trying to stay positive, which is hard. I've made a decision to try to open up a little bit more here on the blog about what we're going through and where we're at in the process. There are a couple of reasons for this. #1 being that you never know who will stumble upon your blog on any given day. I've searched and read a number of blogs of people who are dealing/have dealt with infertility. They've been extremely helpful and comforting, giving me hope to carry on. In the off chance, that maybe one person might just read my words and feel some small chance of hope in the dark world of infertility, I think I can be real and honest about our struggle. #2 reason- I feel like we've been so secretive about what's going on with our journey, that people have started to feel like they have to walk on eggshells around us and I don't want that. I don't want anyone to feel like they can't share their joy with us about their pregnancies and children. Sometimes, it hurts. Most times, we cry. But we also share in your happiness. Children are a blessing, no matter what. And someday, we'll fully understand what it's like to be a part of that lifelong joy.

So.....while I'd love to entertain you more with my rambling and random thoughts...I'm tired and my butt is numb. And I promised my husband I'd do some laundry while he was gone today. So far, mission unaccomplished.

Coming Soon....

House pictures...I promise. Several of you have been asking and I've located the camera, so as soon as I catch a free minute, I'll post some pictures. Promise!

On a positive note, we're in, we're living, and we're chaotic...but we're getting there. Kitchen and bedroom are almost all unpacked. Trenton has all four toilets and showers up and running. We've not *fingers crossed* seen any live mice for a couple weeks (or none my husband has mentioned to me anyway). I baked my first cake in the new kitchen yesterday and actually had room to move around. Mom helped me get the bedroom "mom" cleaned on Monday night and I've slept great the last two nights. We hung a few pictures yesterday and I'm already dreaming of Christmas.

NOW...I feel like I need to express how extremely grateful and thankful I am that God provided us with our little house 2 years ago. As a newly married couple, being able to move into "our" own home was absolutely memorable. I know most people would jump at the idea of moving to a house that has 4 times the space we had in our little house, but I loved our little house with all my heart. I cried several nights while trying to decide if I really wanted to leave it. Sure having to push the kitchen table out of the way to open the fridge was a pain. Not having a single closet in the house caused many moments of anxiety when looking for a certain item of clothing because there was no space for dressers. Having no cabinet space or room to move when trying to roll out pie crust caused me much distress. BUT that little house was where we first made our home as husband and wife. That little bitty spare bedroom was where I dreamed of decorating a nursery and bringing our baby home last year. That cramped living room with the drafty windows is where I sulked all winter because I felt abadoned by God. The tiny bedroom that was always lit up because the pole light shone right in the window ALL night long, was where my husband held me as I sobbed after our loss. BUT that little cramped kitchen is also where we danced to the radio. That same living room is where we snuggled on the couch and laughed while watching the puppies wiggle around on the floor. The basement that flooded and ruined our furnace and water heater is where I think we first realized that well, sometimes life just stinks.

And while I'm extremely happy to have enough room to play indoor football and space to actually have friends over to visit without the CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome).....I thank God for our little house that was filled with love, happiness, sadness, determination, joy, life, death, tears, smiles, and laughter. It was a blessing in many ways to us and our marriage.

By Your Side

The strangest thing has been happening to me lately. Each night when I pray, the same song pops into my head, but only the chorus. I sing myself to sleep silently repeating the chorus over and over hoping that I'll be able to remember it in the morning. I'm sure most of you know the one thing that is always in my prayers, each and every night. Each night, I pray for our babies that we will never hold in our arms here on Earth and I pray that God will bless us with ones we can hold soon. These words have comforted me every night, through my tears, for about the last month. Well, apparently while I'm drifting away, someone erases those words from my memory, because every morning, I think and think and hum and hum, but can never remember them. Now, Oh Happy Day can get stuck in my head for a week at a time, but the words to a song I actually WANT to remember....GONE! Every morning, the minute I get in the car, I turn on Spirit FM, hoping I'll hear the song and it will jog my memory. No such luck. Until today....

I don't know if this song is God's way of comforting me and reminding me that He still loves Trenton & I even though thing have been so hard and difficult this past year. Or if it's His way of trying to tell me to just keep praying and believing. I'm not sure. But in case I forget these again....I'm bloggin' em' down....



BY YOUR SIDE
JAMIE SLOCUM

And I know there’s a plan for you
Your life has a purpose
There’s hope beyond your broken road
Jesus set a place for you
At the front of the table with the weary and the wounded
And He’s showing the way, the truth,
the life for every day
So when you lose your way

CHORUS:
Don’t give up, don’t give in
This is a race that you can win
Every time you get passed by
There is a reason why
God loves and believes in you
He knows the pain that you’re going
through
He’s with you every step of the way
And He’s by your side

When your life comes crashing in
You’re a ship without a sail
Everything you’ve tried has failed you
Never thought you’d feel so sad
It’s a nightmare without end
It's getting harder to defend it
God will send his heavenly host to fight
for you and help you walk on through it

CHORUS:
Don’t give up, don’t give in
This is a race that you can win
Every time you get passed by
There is a reason why
God loves and believes in you
He knows the pain that you’re going
through
He’s with you every step of the way
And He’s by your side

By your side every day every night

CHORUS:
Don’t give up, don’t give in
This is a race that you can win
Every time you get passed by
And you’ve lost your way

CHORUS:
Don’t give up, don’t give in
This is a race that you can win
Every time you get passed by
There is a reason why
God loves and believes in you
He knows the pain that you’re going
through
He’s with you every step of the way

REPEAT CHORUS

Don’t give up, don’t give in
This is a race that you can win
Every time you get passed by
There is a reason why
God loves and believes in you
He knows the pain that you’re going
through
He's with you every step of the way
And He’s by your side

I need your help Ladies- Decorating Question

Ok...I've been looking at different bedroom sets for several months now. I can't make up my mind on a color scheme. Now that I know we're going to be allowed to paint at the new house, I'm trying to decide. Here are my top color schemes: Chocolate/aqua or chocolate/green...or any other suggestions???

Here are the bedroom sets I've found at JCPenney's that I like....BUT I CANNOT pick a favorite. Trenton doesn't like any of them in particular b/c he would prefer our bedroom be decorated like a tomb with like hunter green, navy, black, or something along those lines...not happening. Please give me your opinions. I can only attach some of the pictures...check out the links for the others.

#1) Tranquil Flowers: Blue, Green or Cream

#2) Tobiana: Blue or Green

#3) Sakura:Blue

#4) Laila:Green

or #5) Regatta from Ebay in blue or green