It caught me

I was at work two weeks ago and my co-worker sounded like a frog. Then she began to sniffle. I made mental note and took an emergenC packet at lunch. The following week my other co-worker has sniffles and a sore throat! Oh it gets better. My husband also wakes up with this sore throat sniffles crud! The girls at work are over the illness but not before I became the next victim! Nic still isn't feeling too hot. I have used the neti-pot (see below) in the past.  

Never, in a million years, did I think my husband would give this thing a try! Yes, this has been bonding time in the Truscott household the past few evenings! I bet you all wish you could be a fly on our wall! We are starting to feel better and it is more of an annoyance not being able to breath than anything else. I didn't know people got colds in February. I thought that was a fall thing.... guess I was wrong! 

until next time...

Growing roots

I've come to realize that as a child our imaginations are vast and expectations of the future are slightly inaccurate. I am 26 yrs old and if you had asked me when I was in elementary or junior high where I saw myself at 26... this would not be it. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my life and where I am at. I just had expected that all I have now would have been lived out at 24 years old. No, I wasn't too far off but sometimes the unknown can sure feel like a long time. The last two years drove me crazy. We couldn't move forward and we weren't moving backward we were just STUCK. We weren't sure where Nic's job would take us so we couldn't start growing roots anywhere and we lived in this world of what ifs and wonder. We did not think a job in Bellingham would arise and were prepared to move south where there are more jobs. And then the unthinkable, Nic started his new job as a Habitat Restoration Engineer at an office in Bellingham! The ball began rolling in November when he knew he had gotten the job. We started looking at houses on Redfin every night  when the urge hit us. We wanted to be responsible and make sure this would be a good fit for Nic. I realized when he came home everyday with these drawings of trees and rivers and bridges (they have a real name I don't know what it is) excited to share them, that this was the position he had been waiting for! February is when we interviewed a few Realtors and picked a duo, Nate and Rob. February 13th is a great day every year for me! February 13, 2010 Nic proposed. February 13, 2011 we were in Vegas. February 13, 2012 our first house offer was accepted!!! Yes, Whatcom County is really our home! 

We are set to close on March 15th. They are finishing up the last little bit of construction and before we know it move in day will be here! 

until next time...

Creepy yet True

I, like many, write a blog for myself (first) and for others to keep up with our life (second). The people who publicly follow me are all family or friends. However, you don't have to follow someone to be able to read their blog. I don't know who reads this little blog and doesn't follow. I know a few family members do and from the stats page there are others from all over the world. I thought about making my blog private a while back and only allowing people I sent personal invites able to read my blog. I changed my mind and thought, nah, maybe something I've wrote has helped someone else out there that read this little blog for fun. Now, the words "private blog" have come to mind again. I was reading a blog of whom I have never met. I know her husband from junior high and high school and found her blog on facebook. I have been reading it for 2 years as she is inspiring. It is also fun to see their girls grow up. However, she was recently informed by a stranger in the U.K. that someone had stolen posts off her blog and impersonated her on a facebook page and a mommy group. This person was trying to be someone they were not and posting it in multiple places on the internet and interacting with other people too! She even was taking pictures from the blog to make it even more real.I am saddened for her and have this icky icky feeling. I grew up with this technology and knew there were hackers and people who make viruses. However, I never thought people would steal other people's lives and pretend to be that person!?! I talk about my life and share a little about my husband. As we continue to grow, and big life changes will come that I wish to talk freely about, I think it is only fair to protect him and myself. I quickly realized there are many people who have become victim to this impersonation thing and I am not going to join them. Please leave me a comment with your email address if you would like to continue following. 


until next time...

Refuge

Refuge is a monthly, mid-week, event of extended worship, prayer and communion.

We have a big prayer campaign going for the month of February. Therefore, this past Wednesday Refuge was packed! It was awesome and so moving to hear everyone sing together. At one point, we were asked to write on a giant white piece of paper taped to the wall what we are thankful for. First, was to be the relationship we have with God and then after that you were free to write with your crayon whatever came to you. I am an honorary aunt to three special children. Everett will be 9 yrs old this week. He attended refuge with us and when he went up to the wall and started writing of course Tami and I wanted to sneak a peak! We didn't but Tami's friend came over and said I just want you to know that your sons heart is in the right place. First he wrote Dad and then Mom. That just melted our hearts. After refuge, we were in the lobby and I had Abigail. She is all of 3 months old. I found it cute that the people who came up to me to see the baby were older gentlemen! Two separate men came up and asked about her and rubbed her back. It was adorable! The second guy asked which service we attended and was bummed that it wasn't the Sunday at 9am. He works in the nursery on Sunday and wanted to have her in there! How cute! I am so proud of those kids! You always wonder as a parent if you are doing a good enough job.... Tami you certainly are!

until next time...

Remember me?

Oh hello, remember me? I am back from the crazy holiday hiatus! This morning I had every intention of writing this blog about the last two months but the events of today have changed my mind! So, stay tuned for the update and read on for a good laugh that wasn't so funny to me until now....

...We have had a winter wonderland around here lately and frankly it just stresses me out. Gone are the days of wishing for snow days and sledding, I am officially a cranky adult! I will say that it was peaceful and gorgeous to look at from the warm cozy insides of my home. However, still being expected to make it in for work and back home safely does not calm my nerves in ice and snow. So, with a stressful week and finally the rain gushing from above instead of snow, I fell asleep on the couch at 7:30pm last night. Exhausted much? We woke up at 7:45 AM with the goal of going to the gym before Nic helped his brother out for the remainder of the day. Simple? Yes, we thought this would be very simple. You wake up. You brush your teeth. You put gym clothes on and walk out the door. Yes, we accomplished that much this morning. Next, walk up the newly bare driveway to "BOB," my car, and take off the chains. Yes, Bob is a beast in the snow with his chains on! Okay, chains are off and it is time to rock n roll to the gym. Hmmmm, uhhh, "Nic my windshield wipers won't go swhhhshhh swhhshhhh." (If you truly know me then you can hear me making the windshield wiper sound while waving my arms back and forth in the same motion they would had they worked.) Push the little arm lever up again....NOTHING! I think in my head, "You have to be kidding me....we live in Washington! How can my windshield wipers not work!!" My amazing husband instantly says okay where is your fuse box. "Uhhhh..... fuse box.... uhhhhh.... on your side?" He kindly tells me that usually they are on the drivers side. I found it and looked at it not knowing what I was looking for. Nic gets out my manual and finds the correct fuse but the fuse puller (yes ladies there is this thing that pulls the fuses out for you... genius I know!) is not big enough because it is the 30 fuse. We pull down the driveway and Nic gets it out with pliers. GREEEAAAAATTT... fuse is not blown. We have bigger problems. This is when we realized the gym wasn't happening this morning! I called my friend the manager at Firestone, I call him my friend because he is always there when I bring my car in but I really don't know him. I know he has the same car and ask him about it. He says that it could be a few things but probably the windshield wiper motor is dead. I thought my car had an engine and that was the only motor... who knew! I have never heard anyone have this problem before but guess what my friend Brian says this is common in the newer civic's. JOY!  "How much Brian?" $207 + tax. Okay I'll bring it in. I call Honda just to see if maybe I am under warranty. Nope, and they want $300! So, here I wait for the phone call to say that Bob is fixed and ready to ride in the rain again! 

While I was waiting at home, I thought I would try to relax a little, take a bath? Mrs. Clause packed my stocking full of new scrubs that smell delish and I  was excited to test them out! I choose coconut and pretended I was somewhere tropical. Sunscreen and coconut are my favorite smells because if I could be a beach bum I totally would! Half way through this relaxing bath, my cell rang. I was chattin it up when KERPLUNK.... mmhmmm.... best luck today....my phone went off the high dive for a quick 15 second swim. The person on the other line was still there and I said uhhh I'll call you back. Turned off the phone, got it out of the case, took the battery out, took out the sim card, took out the sd card, grabbed the towel and went to town. You are probably thinking, wow this sounds so relaxing... I thought so too! I got out and took the blow dryer to it... which I later read online is a bad idea... oops!  then I put it in rice and waited 30min. This could be tmi, but I was the only one home, so all of this running around the house to get it into rice was done so without towel or clothes on. While I am staring at my rice phone in the kitchen, the door bell rings! I instantly drop to the ground and peer around the corner to see out the front window. Darn, I can't see anyone. I waited 30 seconds before dashing up the stairs to my bedroom window where I can see that it is the mailman. Phew, nothing I have to sign for! Did I say I waited 30 min? I meant I got impatient and turned the phone back on after 10 min. The screen lit up HTC and I thought YES! That was until I tried the touch screen and it didn't work. Okay, back off and in the rice. I repeated this about 5 times before I decided to take the blow dryer to it again. And just like magic, touch screen was alive!! 

The highlight of the day was finding the package on my front porch! It was from my second mom, Mrs. Barbara Norman. She knitted me a washcloth and sent my scarf I had forgotten in Whistler! She is the best!! 

Off to get Bob and hopefully my horrible no good very bad day is OVER! 

until next time...

How many do we have?

Ah yes, we have FIVE nieces and one nephew! Welcome Abigail Lael!! She is just PRECIOUS! I met Tami in 2004 at MOPS, mothers of preschoolers, at Cornwall Church. She hired me to teach the kids and we quickly became very close friends. Everett, her son and our only nephew, was 1 1/2 at the time. In 2006, Isobel was born. I have been around these kids since they could talk and were born. Tami and Ian found it only fitting that they call me Aunt Stef, and once we were married Uncle Nic joined too! On November 10, 2010, Tami's water broke and they quickly headed to UW for delivery. After just a mere THIRTY HOURS of labor, Abigail Lael was born! She eats, sleeps, and as the kids say makes "mocha's" aka poops! We are so happy to have another niece! We took E and Bell to church with us last night and I asked both if they liked having Abigail. Of course, both said NO! E does not like when she whines and wishes she was 1 already. Errr I don't think he knows that it is only gonna get worse before it gets better! Bell told me she does NOT like being the middle child. Yes, the baby has only been here a week and she does not like being the middle child. However, she could have fooled me because she loves being mommy's big helper!

MORE BABIES!!! Congrats Nicci and Derek on your second beautiful son, Cruzlee Daniel! Cruz was born on Tuesday, November 15, 2011! Mom has HELLP syndrome. Therefore, baby Cruz was a planned delivery. He was suppose to come out the previous Tuesday but his little lungs were not developed (this was three weeks early mom was having some weird signs) But one week later, all was well and Cruz came out a healthy baby boy at 6lbs 3oz! So proud of the Troupe family for all the amazing hurdles and bumps they have overcome with grace and ease! (or at least they made it look pretty easy)

Ah yes, and a BABY SHOWER for "Cletus the Fetus!" No, they are not naming him Cletus but he does not have a name yet so therefore Megan declared it be Cletus the Fetus! We decorated onsies and hats. How funny is that hamburger hat they made out of puffy paint and a plain tan hat! Megan is due in April and I cannot wait to meet the little guy!!! 

There is one more birth coming up before this years ends and I couldn't make it to that baby shower :( I am so happy and proud for this mama. She might not think she is prepared but I think she is after reading her blogs. I know they are going to be wonderful parents!! I am super excited to meet Miss Eleanor Grace!!

CONGRATS TO ALL THE PARENTS!!! 

until next time...

Greed

Last night at church, I thought to myself, "Oh geeeeeze here we go again, Pastor Bob is talking just to me!" (really he was talking to everyone but there are those times when he nails exactly what life has been shelling out) An appetite for destruction...GREED. It is a battle for control when it comes to greed. And to be quite frank, I think my husband and I do a pretty darn good job at keeping it under control. Yes, we are human and slip up but with that said there aren't too many slip ups! We live a life of cash and envelopes. That is our control. And although some don't agree with it, and make us feel ashamed at times to bring out the envelope in public, it keeps me from being greedy! (thank you to those who don't agree and don't say anything) I am proud of us and our friends who use this same tactic. The cashier at Fred Meyer saw the "grocery" envelope and said, "doesn't that just put things into perspective of how much we spend!" Yes, yes it does and we do not need to spend all that money on frivolous stuff! There is money each month that we could add to the "fun stuff" envelope, but we don't need anymore in there. Instead, we tithe. We sponsor a child in Ethiopia so she has food, education, a better life. I don't need an extra pair of shoes or to go out to eat a few more times a month. I am not saying we don't have fun. We go out with friends to happy hour, dinner, movies, coffee, etc, but we keep it within reason. For me, living life to the fullest is not about blowing all our money on ourselves so we can have the biggest and best of everything but rather giving back. The antidote to greed is generosity.

  MAKE YOUR SACRIFICES BE INTENTIONAL!

until next time...