Here goes nothin...

I literally signed up for the blog in March 2009...or, at least, that is what the computer tells me. The only posts I have done have been within the last month or two. I never pushed published until today. Yikes. Does that mean I have commitment issues? Who knows! It is definitely a work in progress. I get to manage our volleyball blog, so I thought I would throw this one in there too. Enjoy!

The adventures of Tee Tee

Amidst the sadness this weekend we Cherished life around our family. We have been tackling the potty training thing with Preston the past two weekends. We were reminded, via a note, in Preston's mailbox at school that all kids have to be potty trained before moving up to the next classroom at school in August. All kids got that note, right? Well, I am telling myself that at least. Surely, Preston isn't the only three year old out there not potty trained?!?!

You name it, we've tried it. We have a frog potty that stands about a foot off the ground and is portable for all of your different scenic pleasures. We have an Elmo lid that you just add to the normal toilet lid, but it comes with the security that you won't fall in. Preston has a book to read about Charlie going potty and we have an adult book that we bought for us. The adult book was written in 1970 something and has you train your kid with a doll that wets themselves. Well, we only read so far in that book. We have pull ups, training underwear and big boy underwear (Nemo and Cars and Star Wars and Elmo and Wall E and Incredibles and Toy Story, oh my!)

Needless to say, we are still potty training.

Preston, aka Mr. Independent, as I like to call him will definitely " learn" in his own time. I say "learn" because this kid is smart and I've decided he is just determined to take advantage of all of the bribes we offer. From M&Ms to trips to the park or white water. We offer ice cream and movie time. He also has gotten to play on the iPhone while on the potty...the modern day newspaper right?

Thank goodness Preston has been successful on the potty. Going both "tee tee" and "poo." With most successes come failures though? Let's just say I have thrown away several pairs of underwear filled with the poo substance. I can't seem to talk myself into cleaning those out, nor teaching Preston how to. The pull up route hasn't worked. Why would he tell us he needs to go to the bathroom when he can non-chalantly go in his diaper? We've tried the underwear route and it goes okay with constant reminders. This past week I decided to try the nudist route and it worked wonders! My fear though, was that he was going to expect to go to preschool and take off his clothes. Fear overcome...thank goodness that was not his expectation. We learned this past weekend, after a night at YaYa's that he likes to go standing up...of course he does! Why didn't we think of that?!?! He is pretty successful at keeping it in the toilet from long range (he stands on a stool to do it which puts him pretty far away). He likes the challenge of keeping it in the bowl. Let's hope that remains the cool thing to do.

We struggle still after waking up. He seems to undoubtedly lose all motivation of what he has learned and we generally go through fits, which in turn leads to is bribing him. Without a doubt, this is an adventure! :). I'm clinging to the saying that "boy's take longer than girls" and maintaining hope. We have a month and half to get this accomplished.

Stephanie Thurman Phillips

Steph went to be with the Lord tonight. A long battle with cancer sent her to be closer to Him. Steph will always be remembered. She was inspiring to so many. She was a daughter, granddaughter, wife, mother, coach, forever friend, teacher...the list is long! A legend. Steph was loved beyond her imagination and humbled by her cheerleaders as she battled the biggest opponent of her life. Steph inspired us all during her public battle. She leaned heavily on friends, family, and most importantly God. She taught and coached us all without even saying a word. Her pure determination to do everything within her being to beat this disease is admirable.

I will be forever grateful for what Steph has brought to my life. I have known Steph since junior high (through the Giddens family) and I have worked with her for the past 5 years. I was taken back one day in a conversation with Steph. We were discussing life, which, inevitably meant cancer, her reality at the time. She was talking about her chuch, River Bluff Fellowship and Pastor Scott. She said, and I quote, "I would do anything for that man (Pastor Scott)." Enough said. I knew how heavy with meaning those words were. Steph doesn't say that about just anyone. I knew he had to be special. I knew I had to meet him. We happened to be looking around at different churches at the time so we gave River Bluff a shot. Upon meeting Pastor Scott I could instantly feel what Steph was taking about. He is contagious. He makes you feel like the most important person in the world. His presence brings a sense of peace. He is now why we wake up on Sunday mornings and go to church. I will always, always be grateful to her for leading us to River Bluff Fellowship, Pastor Scott and ultimately, God. Thank you Steph!

Reality sucks right now

I feel like I have been punched in the gut. I know it is just that my heart has sunk as reality sinks in. We have prayed for our dear friend and co-worker for the last 3 years. First we prayed for healing, then a miracle and now simply for pain management. Recently, prayer focus has also been to lift up her caretakers and give them strength and understanding. Prayer has been powerful for many as we all struggle to understand the Why's of this situation that God has presented.

Steph isn't doing well at all and the enormity of it all is hitting me. It brings me to tears to know the immense pain Steph is enduring in order to lengthen her time with those whom she holds dear. It makes me cry to think about those little boys of hers growing up without a mommy and struggling to understand their situation as they get older. It makes me cry to think about Scot and the heartache he will experience without his wife. It makes me cry to witness the selflessness of Steph's caretakers, friends, family and even strangers...the biggest one being the Giddens & George families. It brings tears to my eyes to think about the students/players that are watching their inspiration fight such a battle.

If I was taught one thing growing up it was to find a positive in every negative. Here is my attempt in this situation. 1). God has an ultimate plan here...we might not see it or understand it yet, but we know He is in charge 2). Scot is amazing with those two boys and he will allow them to flourish in life. 3) Many people's relationships with God have been strengthened as we all witness Steph's incredible Faith and Belief...perhaps this is the imprint she is leaving on the world, outside the one she has left as a coach and friend.

I will continue to ask God to bring the following (in no particular order): physical and mental strength to Steph's caretakes, peace and understanding to everyone mainly her husband and children, pain management for Steph, wisdom for hospice as they care for Steph and delicately guide the family and caretakes, and extra love and warmth for those cute little boys of hers. I pray for God to allow us all to lend support where support is needed.

Random

My thoughts are very random here...hold on and keep up!

It's 2:37 am...I am not surprised by the Words with Friends updates that I have just received from two people...the first was my mother, whom I inherited this lack of sleep thing from. And the second being a friend who is a new mommy...she is probably up feeding her little girl...You go, Maria!

As i start this blogging adventure, I must warn you, I am addicted to ... Or, dot, dot, dot...I am positively sure of it... :-). You will notice I use it way too much.

I will type most of these updates from my iPhone. One of my besties already thinks my emails to her from my phone are ridiculously long...so, I am just adding to the ridiculousness of it all.

When I think about blogging I am turned off by the enormity of the responsibility of keeping it updated. But then I also had the thought that it is a pretty overwhelming task to keep all of these thoughts in my head, too. I am a much better writer because I can put my thought down and erase them as many times as I want before I get to the point where I think I've got it right. I also suck at remembering things I need/want to tell people and I tend to think of things I should have said at a later time. I am just plain better with words after a little think time.

That's enough randomness for now. I could quite possibly be back on later posting agin. I definitely wouldn't put it past me.