In Memory of Grandma Boots

Every year that my friend Barbie Bowen has been doing Relay for Life I haven't been able to attend, except for this year :) I am so excited that I get to be a part of it this year and that I get to do this in memory of my Grandma Boots who passed away from Breast Cancer. At Relay, people from within the community gather to celebrate survivors, remember those lost to cancer, and to fight back against this disease. Relay participants help raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society in its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health issue. The events are held overnight to represent the fact that cancer never sleeps. Through the survivors' lap and the luminaria ceremony, we honor the people who have faced cancer first hand, and we remember those who have been lost to this disease. If you would like to help support us, please go to http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeHighPlainsDivision?pg=personal&fr_id=6481&fr_id=6481&px=4763069

God has blessed them with a beautiful Angel!

Tonight at 9:30 Italy Time, Anna Bella Aramburu was born! She is a petite 7lbs and 2 oz and 20.5 inches long. She has a tuff of dark hair for now and Vany says she looks like me (sucking up to her Zia already I see! ) There were a few complications but Vany did amazing and did what she needed to do and everything worked out just fine! Phillip is overly proud (as he should be) and said he will be sending me photos soon, so standby for more information. We couldn't be more excited for them in this new chapter of their lives and until we get to see that beautiful bundle of joy we will stand by and be the proudest Zio and Zia ever!

Jay Leno's Speech, what do you think?

Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.

Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discha rge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Jay Leno2007

I was tagged

So I was tagged by Christina to name 8 interesting facts about myself so here we go.

1. I am a adopt-a-puppy-from-the-pound aholic. I used to love doing fostering of puppies or hurt dogs from the pound (and look forward to doing it again some day soon). I love sharing them with my friends and watching one of them adopt them, or turning them from a scared dog to a loving fun everyone loves dog that gets adopted.
2. I was in a secret relationship for 2 years, and love the outcome of it. I got to marry my best friend and we have enough stories to put a small book together, possibly called an Officer and a Gentleman ;)
3. I work out in the early morning because I am lazy. Does that make sense? When I get home and settle in to being home from work, I won't leave again to go get sweaty at a gym or anything else like that, therefore lazy!
4. One of my legs is longer then the other which makes one of my pant legs on my jeans get stepped on more and wore through quicker.
5. I like to be messy and then organize on the weekends. I am messier when my husband is at work and try to be cleaner when he is at home to set the example (but don't tell him that one!) ;)
6. I can't sit still during a movie at home, I have to be doing more then one thing at a time! While I am at home, I sit there thinking of all the stuff that needs to be done!
7. I am in love with music, I love to sing it, I love to play it on instruments and I especially love to dance to it. And it's every different kind besides hard rock that I can't understand the words too which then takes all the fun out of it
8. I thoroughly and surprisedly love taking care of my husband and best friend, mostly because he does the same to me

I tag anyone who reads this ;)

Blessed Beyond Belief

Who do we call when we need to vent?
Who will be there for us with a shoulder to cry on?
Who can we call to laugh with us when we do something really dumb?
Who will plan vacations for us because that's not our specialty?
Who will support us in whatever decisions we make?
Who will encourage us to be the best that we can be?

Luckily these are questions that we never need to ask ourselves. I have been surrounded... no let me rephrase that, our friends and family have surrounded us with such love, support, hope and encouragement, we couldn't ask for more. Jonathan and I are completely and truly blessed to have so many people in our lives that care about us and support us. So you guys know who you are, so we thank you!

Happy 2008

So we started out the New Years Eve by stopping by Chad and Monica Streets (friends of Mia's from high school). We go in thinking that we are just stopping in before their party and that we will only be a minute and try to steal a few minutes from them before their company comes over. Let's just say that we stayed longer then intended for all the right reasons. Chad and Monica purchased a fixer uper house about a year and a half ago, and Chad is completely blessed with the talent to do just that. Together the two of them have put together an amazing house and it was so great to be able to see all the things that they have added, changed, knocked out etc etc. While we were there Kevin and his new wife Sarah came over (Monica's brother and new sister in law) and so we spent a few moments with them as well. After a while a few of their guests arrived so we bid our adieu and headed out to the next New Years Eve party! (by the way stand by for pics of their place, it is gorgeous and if you are looking for any interior design stuff Chad is your guy!

So we arrive at our next party in Coppell Texas, and met all the people that were already there and we immediately fell into the crowd. Then we hear THE laughter. . . for all you people in Corpus you know who I am talking about :) Michelle. She finally made it over and once again we all fell into easy conversation catching up on each others life and drama :) We love getting together with old friends and catching up and we sure miss them when they are away!

This isn't my story so I won't say names or give too much away but at the new Years party we were at the hosts announced to the guests and their parents that they were having a baby. Wow you say...but here's how they did it. They gathered everyone and then gave the two sets of parents a small gift, as a token of grattitude for being in their lives(so they said) As the two sets of parents unwrap the gift it turns out to be a hershey's chocolate bar. But they had taken a Sharpie and blacked out all the letters so one bar said SHE and the other HE. The parents all look at each other and say "what's this?" The which they reply "We'll let you know in nine months!" Very cool and very exciting for them! We wish them the best(you know who you are).

So out comes the champagne for the ladies and cigars for the guys :) Everyone was passing out congrats and excitement just filled the air! So as midnight approaches our hostess tells the guys that they have five minutes left to finish up those cigars and then turns to the host to say " and you won't get a good kiss smelling like those :)" Oops, so out comes the gum and freshing up. I find my wif (and no that isn't a mispell) and count down the last 5 seconds and we wish each other a Happy New Years and end it with a kiss!

Here's us wishing you a Happy New Year and many blessings to you in 08.

Our First Christmas!!!

Tidden's First Christmas! Sounds exciting doesn't it?! Well...not so much. It was honestly pretty calm. We made it in to the Tidden parents place late Christmas Eve. Christmas morning was a flurry of wrapping paper. My dad does this thing were he finds the most sedate of gifts and then proceeds to unwrap it as if he's winning the lotto complete with an excited lap around the house hootin an hollerin like a crazy person, Its a sight to see. We spent a few days relaxing with the fam. We managed to squeeze in a little time to ourselves and got to go ice skating together with intermitent moments of my little brother flying by and then crashing to the ice. Drove home on Friday because Mia had to work and then packed up again to drive to Dallas for New Years and a belated Christmas with Mia's parents. Made it to Dallas and spent two days with Mia's mom celebrating Christmas and spending time together. Then off to a New Years party were we partyed like rock stars(more to come in a future blog) Spent the night in a hotel so we wouldn't have to be on the road with all the drunks and crazies. Then it was off to see Mia's dad. We've spent the day relaxing and us men have been watching football all day and the women soaked up a chic flick. We'll be driving back to Corpus tomorrow but making a stop in San Antonio to see Asher(oh and Kev and Shaina too I guess) We've been having seperation anxiety since they moved out (they stayed with us for a couple weeks before Shaina had the baby) All in all we've done alot of driving but been blessed to have all this time off to be able to go visit family and a few friends along the way. We hope you're Christmas was as good as ours!