March MADness!!!

I grew up around sports.  I preferred watching football, hockey, and basketball on TV with my brother and dad, to shopping with my sisters and mom.  I played soccer and basketball all four years of high school. I played intramural volleyball in college.  The men my sisters married were very into playing and watching sports. It was just a given that I also would marry someone who liked sports, because it would be weird to even date someone who didn't. It was all I knew of how a man was supposed to be.  Then I met Mark...he was everything I wanted in a man - and he LOVED sports, especially basketball.  How perfect, right? Well yes, of course.  The only thing I didn't realize was how much he loved sports. When March rolls around, basketball is life, life is basketball.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am all about participating in March Madness Bracketology. As I type this, the channels are being switched back and forth between 4 games, and I could start today 3-1 (while Mark might be starting 0-4). I am in 4 different contests because it is competitive and it is fun! BUT, the terminology March MADNESS has a new meaning to me this year.  Before the tournament actually began, I thought I was going to go MAD.  You see, my husband does not just root for one college team.  He has his hometown team (Gonzaga Bulldogs), his childhood favorites (NC Tarheels), and now an interest in the local University of Buffalo Bulls. So, when he was not going to those games, he was watching other games, or talking about the games, or reading articles about the games, or watching ESPN highlights of the games, etc. You get the idea.  It was driving me crazy!!! I told him that he was the reason that I didn't even enjoy basketball anymore!  It was too much of a good thing.  (Of course, this is not really true, but I was being a woman and overly dramatic.)  The truth is, I was just missing him and his full attention.  Now that the tournament has begun, life is better.  We can spend time together watching games, talking trash, and snacking on food that we shouldn't really be eating (chips and dip, doritos, ice cream, pepsi, etc.)  I just have to keep reminding myself that I can only talk so much while the game is on - that is, if I want a response.  For example, I just asked Mark if he wanted to hear my latest blog post, his answer, "Sure! After this game..."  That pretty much sums up the MADNESS! :)

Soul Surfer & The Bachelor???

As I was laying in bed the other night unable to sleep, I was thinking about how I could do a blog post all about how I felt after The Bachelor finale. I wanted to list all of my thoughts and opinions about why Brad chose Emily over Chantel, if I really thought it would it last, how pretty both girls looked for their big night on national TV, why I won't be watching next season with Ashley because I find her to be extremely annoying, etc. I know many of my friends wouldn't even care to read about this reality show romance, but I thought it might still be fun to write. Then last night I was fortunate enough to see a sneak peak of movie coming out called Soul Surfer. This movie was not only very entertaining (as is The Bachelor in my own opinion), but also extremely inspirational! (And, although I joke with Mark that I would like to go on The Bachelor if anything ever happened to him, I really do not find it an "inspirational" show.) Anyway, I was truly both surprised and impressed by how great this movie was! When I use the word "inspirational", I do not mean it in a cheesy Touched By An Angel way. It is a true story about Bethany Hamilton, the young surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack. Bethany and her family go through so much in this film, and it is truly heartwarming! I lost count of how many times I cried both sad and happy tears. It is a wonderful story about faith, courage, family, community, and love. It is also a great reminder of God's promise to give us a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11) even when we can't fathom that it's even possible anymore. I am continually amazed at how God can use great tragedies and turn them into beautiful stories. This movie is a great example of that and I highly encourage you to see it! I believe it comes out nationwide on April 8th. Please go show support for this since it is a good, clean, family film (which can be hard to find without bad actors and cheesy lines.) I can honestly say that it was better use of my time than watching "the most dramatic rose ceremony ever."

Why is it so hard to keep up a blog?

These are just a few of my thoughts as to why it is so hard to keep up a blog...


1.) A child/children - I only have one right now, but he keeps me busy.  Stryder has just started getting mobile and I feel like I always have to have my eye on him.  And truth is, if he is napping, I either want to cuddle up and nap with him, or take advantage of the free time and get other stuff done.


2.) Trying to keep up with other "Mama" duties - the other stuff I mentioned, such as paying bills, doing laundry, putting clothes away, cleaning, etc.


3.) Lack of creativity - sometimes I just don't know what to blog about.  I feel like there is either nothing that interesting going on, or too much.  Lately, there has been so much happening, I feel like I don't know which event  or story to blog about, so then I don't do it at all.  I am going to try though...


4.) I rarely get on the computer anymore - I check my e-mail and facebook from my blackberry phone or  my iTouch, so I rarely take the time to get on a "real" computer.  


5.) I usually share all of my photos in other ways - sending texts, posting on facebook, or tweeting seems to be an easier way to share pics, so I figure there is no point in blogging them.


Anyway, these are my excuses, but I am going to attempt to get this thing going again!