Strawberry Patch

We hit up the Bottom View Farm a couple of days before Jack started school. It was spring festival time and it was a blast! Check it out in the fall and next Spring-they have farm animals, a tractor/train, strawberry picking, tractor bikes, a huge jumping pillow, gold mine, playground, and more! The farmer even pointed out the pigs they would slaughter in the winter and quizzed us on what meat comes from what part. "This part's to educate the parents" he said. Boy, did he!
Worth the 40 minute drive and $6. Hardly anyone was there, highly recommend!

Merry-go-round

Baby chicks that were terribly frightened of Dalton

These are big enough for Jack and I to ride. Yes, we had a race. 2 to 1, Jack won.
I didn't want to admit it, but it's true.

There's gold in them there hills!

The best slide EVER! I took full advantage.

Little Man no likey the eggy

Dalton continues to become fun and exciting. He cracks me up everyday and has proven to have some of my quirkiness. He definitely has Jack's social spark, following the crowds or any kids he sees. He's quite a ham. I could brag about how smart he is, but why bore you, right?! Ha. He is still so sweet and cuddly. I just love it. God has blessed me beyond my imagination. I'm am so thankful to be his mother.
I decided to try egg since he's turned 2, suggested by his doctor. It was a complete epic Fail. An hour later, he was sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and throwing up. After two bites. Not surprised! Good thing I didn't have a lot riding on it. The bad part was all the wheezing because something besides the egg continued to spur it on for days. Lets hope our next attempt will go more smoothly. We are thankful it's not an anaphylactic response and now we are stocked up on albuterol! The good thing is he is used to taking medicine and taking breathing treatments. He actually started asking for "smoke" since he gets to watch the computer when he's getting one. We'll try a different allergen in about a month. I pray it goes smoother, but I'm thankful that God continues to give me new ideas. I'm thankful Dalton loves rice, quinoa, and couscous. I'm thankful it's not worse and I will continue to pray God heals his ouchies and allergens.
I have become creative lately... the latest hit were "pizzas" made out of corn tortillas, sauce, pepperoni, and daiya cheese. I was so excited and he liked them! Sometimes I get really excited and then he won't even try it, like this chocolate pudding (which you must try! Vegan, gluten free). Our latest excitement is rice english muffins, he was quite excited to be getting bread! He loves carbs and being allergic to wheat is quite an inconvenience. I'm so much better than when I first started trying to find him food, but continue to try and experiment.
His skin is continuing to do better, but proving to get worse in summer. Heat is aggravating to eczema. I find Aquaphor works best now and Cerave moisturizing lotion works best in winter. Lather lather lather and repeat! I bore you with these details incase you or a friend need eczema suggestions. If God is going to give us certain things to battle and overcome, my greatest wish to help others in the same predicament. It's a blessing to be a blessing.
Jack has been taking drum lessons for the past three months and Dalton loves to bang on them. He's a natural:

Somehow I will get this cereal through this hole.

Half Marathon

Carb loading before the big day

Such a cheater

I ran my fourth half marathon, but my first after being cancer free. It was magical.
It rained the whole race, not a pause from the rain, but I didn't mind. This was my best time yet and I felt fantastic. The rain just added to the whole symbolism of this race.

Signing a message to Boston survivors at the Expo

My friend, Audra, stayed with us for the weekend and ran the race, too. She's super fast! She is a good friend from Auburn. We headed to the Expo on Friday to pick our packets and get pumped. If you've never done a race, this is when you get super nervous and excited! I love it! We had a wonderful dinner at Athen's Greek Restaurant before we settled in early.

We knew the rain was coming and we were both nervous about it. We bought ponchos, had old socks for our hands if they got cold, and a long sleeve shirt we would feel okay about loosing on the way. The temperature wasn't bad, mid 50's, and that was our saving grace. I was dry before starting thanks to my trusty junior poncho (all the rest were sold out at Target but it worked great!). After I started, there was no going back, I was just going to be drenched. It was great, I never got tired or over heated. The only bad part was after the race. We were shivering, especially Audra who had to wait for slow Cindi. Jack picked us up and we took a hot shower as soon as we walked in.

I cried throughout the race. God kept reminding me of his goodness and the strength he provides his children if we trust Him. I was reminded of all the pain and heartache of this last year and how He pulled me through, just as He was doing in this race. It was a total spiritual experience for me.

The starting line is on Broadway towards the river and they open up all the lanes just for us. Something about all of those runners surrounding me, the crowds cheering on the side, and a open road made me weep. The perfect song came on my running mix right at that time, Land of the Living, by Matthew Perryman Jones. This song tears me up every time and especially at that moment.

I wore a shirt that said 6 months cancer free and that lead to lots of cheers. Some of my favorites:

"Go cancer free girl"

"Woohoo, cancer free. F, yeah!" (except this girl used the actual F bomb)
"Ma'am, congratulations" (a police officer blocking one of the side streets)
I also got lots of comments on the quote on the back of my shirt. I wanted something uplifting and encouraging, but I did like Jack's suggestion of "Cancer Sucks".
Special shout out to my occasional running partner, Katherine Echerd! It was fun having a partner and you were helpful to keep me pushing ahead. Thank you!

Kim, Mike, and Carson came out to cheer me on in the pouring rain!
It made me feel so special and loved.

My main cheerleader and helper during all those long runs!

Soaked!

Lyrics to "Land in the Living". If you haven't heard it, go listen now. You're life will be better because of it. Honestly.

Into the land of the living

Black bleeds orange into blueI am coming to life,Light is breaking through
I can hear the bells in the cityAcross the ancient shoreI am ready to fightLet down the scarlet cord
It's time to shed this masquerade
You cannot love in moderationDancing with a dead man's bonesLay your soulOn the threshing floor
Between the walls of the river,Shoulders bare the sacred stonesWe made it aliveWe are not alone
Kiss the groundAnd change your name
You cannot love in moderationYou're dancing with a dead man's bonesLay your soulOn the threshing floor
I heard the distant battle drumThe mockingbird spoke in tonguesLonging for the day to comeI set my face, forsook my fearsI saw the city through my tearsThe darkness soon will disappearAnd be swallowed by the sun
I am coming homeI am coming homeI am coming homeI am coming home

6 Months already?!

Today marks 6 months from the last time I had chemo. 6 MONTHS. I can't believe it. Time flies faster when you're not on chemo.
I am humbled at God's love for me. I wish I could share everything I learned in this season of my life by letting you into my heart. It's hard for me to share when I have so much to say (and I'm a horrible writer) and feel it only scratches the surface. I pray God reveals whatever it is he wants me to share at the perfect time.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:16,17

We are still studying Genesis in my bible study fellowship. I have been blessed beyond my imagination in this class. The stories of suffering, waiting, and humility have struck to the core of my heart. God is gracious to speak to me through the old testament of all places! to my exact circumstances.

God is sovereign. He knew what I would face and will face.

I have no doubt he's preparing me through this and every moment.

I'm trying to continuously grasp the truth that God is always for me. Always. Even in discipline.

God is enough for me. He. Is. Enough. Being content, it's always a battle, isn't it? But I have to daily ask him to "satisfy me in the morning with your steadfast love, that I may rejoice and be glad all of my days"Psalm 90:14. I wake up craving so many things-more rest, appreciation, easiness, accomplishment-and I need him to be my only satisfaction. Lord, give us mercy and grace to come to you instead of the lesser things. Is an extra 30 minutes of sleep really going to satisfy? Short term, yes. If I had it, I'd probably wake up early anyways. He knows we need him.

I consider it pure joy to walk through suffering, but rejoice at the grace he's lavished on me for the past 6 months. Thankful.

**I would be a crazy person not to tell you about BSF. If you live in Nashville, they are having a new members meeting tomorrow, May 1st and May8th 9:15am at Brentwood Church of Christ (off Franklin Rd) to start in fall of next year. If you come, you will meet with other women starting next year and they will have an informational meeting telling you everything about BSF. Afterwards you can stay for the lecture. It meets every Wednesday at 9:15am starting in fall and goes along the school calendar. We are doing Matthew next year. It has transformed my joke of a quiet time into reading deep into scripture and actually hearing from God! If you are craving to hear from him or feel God calling into something, come. There's also one on Monday nights 6:55 pm at Otter Creek and a men's one, same time at St. Paul in Green Hills. They have bible study class for the little ones, too. It's very structured. They have a lesson, sing, and quiet time. Even the nursery babies are prayed over in class. Dalton loves it.
Here's the website for more info. Ask me any questions about it.

Dalton is 2!

"Monster Truck Party!" is what I heard for weeks before Dalton's 2nd birthday party. To say he was excited was an understatement.
Here was his invitation:

Redneckin' Good Time Ya'll
Everyone did a wonderful job dressin up redneck. Impressed. It was easy to decorate because Dalton has a bizillion monster trucks passed down from his cousin, Cooper. Our house also has a lot of yard junk due to the ever lasting renovation projects, it just worked. We had a blast, enjoy the pics!

Dalton and his cousin, Dory, helped me make these table covers
with paint and monster truck wheels.

Dalton and his friend, Amelia. Dalton and I both ordered
our shirts from etsy

The Dunns

Kate and Evie in plaid

Dalton really hasn't had cake or anything that resembles it since his one year party. He was pretty happy. I found
these great mini cupcakes at Ivey's Cakes that are gluten free and vegan.

Jack took the kids for a ride in the "daltonator" monster truck.

Everybody just chillin' on the porch

The food of champions (and when I say champions, I mean nauseated, I feel disgusting, champions):
White castle burgers, corn dogs, funyons, pork skins, and cheese puffs.

Don't forget your string cheese

I borrowed some tire mulch from the playground down the street. Shhh.  It was
very hard to keep all the monster trucks on display with Dalton around.

Anna and Baby Ellen. Love the leopard 

My grandfather's jacket from his "Nashville Now" days. 

Cooper, Steph, and Matt

Not seen: flip flops with socks

Classin up the neighborhood