Leap Day!

I'm usually a natural with words, but there are no words to describe how happy my heart is that it is February 29, 2012 and it's over 60 degrees outside! I have no way to adequately explain what an open sunroof this afternoon has done for my soul. They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so I took a few pictures of my favorite summertime lunch I made this afternoon...it won't do the day justice, but it's as close as I can get!

 Fresh Spinach leaves, Mandarin Oranges, Strawberries, Blueberries, 

Raspberries, and Raspberry Cabernet Vinaigrette

First, cut strawberries, then clean them, along with the blueberries

and raspberries.

Add a few mandarin oranges to the mix; do not rinse.

Place spinach on plate, then top with fruit.

I dropped a blueberry. Sophie loved it.

Next, a heaping teaspoon of the dressing. A little bit goes a long way.

In the words of Joey Tribbiani, this looks, "like summer in a bowl!"

If you really want to go nuts, add chopped pecans (get it?) I may move this to the back patio...such a pretty day. Enjoy it!!

Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired

Friday night after work, I hurried home because I knew Brett wanted to hurry out to a basketball game. I called him to tell him I was on my way. No answer. Sometimes he just doesn't hear it. A few minutes later, I called again. Notta. I finally pulled in to our home and saw him sound asleep in bed. Within hours, his voice became more and more raspy and he would get really hot then really cold...


I turned to him and said, "I'm sorry you're sick." Being a man, he sharply responds, "Oh I'm not sick." Right. What is it with men and denying they're sick? Does it really make them feel vulnerable? I, on the other hand, always view it as a time to finally rest. And I won't lie, I milk it.


Brett fell back asleep for a few hours, so I spent my evening on Pinterest (an evening well spent, might I add.) When he woke up, he turned to me and said, "Baby, this is what I'm thinking for my funeral..." The boy went from extreme denial to extreme drama in no time. I love living with this guy...never a dull moment.


Needless to say, the rest of the weekend was spent getting him meds and water and watching him wither away due to his lack of appetite. It's sad and a little lonely when your other half is down for the count. I just wanted to talk to him and watch movies but his head hurt so bad, he wasn't up for anything.


This is the first time I've been around him when he's sick. Weird, considering that we're a married couple, but it's true. He's seen me sick soooo many times, and he has always taken such great care of me. Last summer, he hooked his arms under my armpits and used his hands to hold my head up so I could throw up for 24 hours. He deserves a medal, really.


Anyway, he is finally better and back to work, so this nurse can finally kick her feet up (now that she's done disinfecting every square inch of the house). Ahhh...

Prosperity Gospel: No Gospel at All!

I can't beg you enough to watch this video by John Piper. This is a portion of his sermon talking about the Prosperity gospel...a "gospel" I cannot hate enough. I am working on a blog post right now about this and what the Bible says about it, but for now, here's a preview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTc_FoELt8s&feature=related

Mama Drama

I'm a mom at heart. I've been practicing the art of motherhood since I was a little girl. Whether it was caring for my dolls, comforting my siblings when they fell off their bikes, or asking my mom if I could go with her and Dad when they'd leave us with the babysitter because I wasn't, "a kid like the other two." As I got older, I started mothering silly things like my clothes. Yes, you heard me right. I have this thing where, when I hang my shirts up, I want them to face each other, so that none of them "feel left out." When I buy new clothes, I feel bad leaving them in the shopping bag. I try to put them in my closet right away so that they can begin to "get acquainted with the others." You can't make this stuff up.

I've mothered my pets, as well. Yes, first it was our pug, Kandace. She was sick a lot, so I liked to rock her and rub her head. Then it was our miniature schnauzer, Kalvin. He was my first boy dog, so we played and went on little adventures. Now it's my Sophie. She's really just a girl after my own heart. Whether it's brushing her hair, going on walks, or rocking her to sleep, I can't help myself. I know she'd call me Mama if she could speak, but until that magical day, I'll settle for her standing on her hind legs wanting to be held. So between her and my friend's kiddos, my Mama cup overflows.

Is it just me, or has anyone else discovered that after you're married, the moment you sniff or cough, everyone assumes you *must* be pregnant. I wasn't home from our honeymoon two weeks when I complained of a stomach ache. Forget the fact that I have Celiacs disease or that I just ate expired meatloaf: I said "I do" and went on a honeymoon and did the things people do when they go on honeymoons, so let's go pick out nursery colors because the only reasonable explanation is I'm having a baby! One time, I refused a beer, and everyone looked at me like I had an announcement to make. They forget that I've never drank a beer, because it contains barley and that's a BIG no-no for those with a gluten intolerance. It made me laugh at first, but after a while, it was like, "Good grief, people!"

Let me make this clear: I cannot wait to be a mom! I WILL wait, but I can't wait! The day my favorite man in the world and I discover there's a teeny person living inside me will be the epitome of all perfect days. Hearing the heart beat and feeling him move and finally delivering our kids will be remarkable. And as much as I can't wait to be a mom, I'm even more excited to watch Brett be a dad! Ah, that's awfully grown up of us! It will be such a wonderful time in life.

Until then, I'm going to enjoy the little things. When I have a headache, I'm gonna take Advil. Shoot, I may even take three! I'm going to sit in our hot tub longer than I should, and drink a grown up beverage when I'm with my friends. I'm going to take long showers and enjoy peeing alone. I'm going to experience the rush of leaving for Target 20 minutes before it closes, knowing I have plenty of time to get there and don't need to pack a baby in the car seat. While I'm there, I'm going to buy clothes in my size, knowing they will still fit me in a year. I will clean my whole house in 15 minutes, and rest assured by the time I'm done, I won't need to start over. I'm going to watch Ellen and the History channel, because there will be plenty of time for Toy Story and Monsters Inc. We are going to go to sleep early and wake up late, with the only interruption being Sophie growling at squirrels. My car will be Cheerio and Sippy-cup free, and I'm going to jump in it at 11:00pm just to run to the Marathon to pick up Swedish Fish and a fountain pop.

Life will be wonderful when my house is array with toys and paci's. But until that blessed day, I'm going to "live it up" by doing all those awesome things that will be scarce the day the doctor lays our baby on my chest and says, "It's a boy!" (Yes, a boy, because, according to Brett, 'Foxes produce football players.') Be it sleeping in, going on road trips, or simply doing nothing, you will find us soaking the freedom and all it's glory in full fledged!

Our Humble Abode

We at the Fox household (aka me!) are always doing new little things to the homestead. It's fun to look back sometimes and see how far we've come! Here's a couple of before and after pictures!!

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Guest Bathroom Before

Guest Bathroom After

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Fearfully and Wonderfully

Last night I saw one of the most beautiful black and white pictures ever. It was a small, simple picture that represented big, complex things. At first glance, all I saw was hope. But the more I looked at the picture, the more I saw things like beauty and amazement and wonder. Feelings overwhelmed me and my eyes flooded with tears. Our God is so, so good!

Last night my family gathered together, and my brother and his wife announced that they're expecting a baby boy. We laughed and cried and couldn't stop staring at the ultrasound picture. How could a 3x5 fuzzy, colorless picture display so much life? Because our God is good. He is the Author and Creator of life, and if He cares enough about the sparrow to provide it with nourishment, how much more does He care about this baby? Enough to form his heart. Enough to give him fingers and toes and a brain and a mouth. The Creator of the Universe is intricately weaving this baby boy into a precious, healthy child. Fearfully and wonderfully!

We have so much to praise Him for. Congratulations, Kyle and Lydia. And keep growing and kicking for another 20 weeks so I can squeeze you, sweet baby boy!

Dear Kalvin

Fourteen years ago, we brought home the runt of the litter and fell in love with him instantly. Sunday, he passed away in our arms. Kalvin, you brought so much love and laughter and spunk to our family. From singing along with the piano, to eating our candy bars, to sitting beside our side when we lost grandparents and loved ones, you were one of a kind. You watched me grow up and have seen me though it all. My heart is so heavy. Here is a letter from my heart to yours. Love you, Bubby.

Dear Kalvin,



 There were only two of you left in the litter. On our way to Ohio to pick out our new puppy, we talked about how hard it would be to decide which one of you to choose. When we arrived, you ran out onto the porch and jumped right into the bushes. It was clear: You were the newest addition to our family.
  I was barely ten. Naturally you became my brother, sister, and I's favorite play mate. At that time, our mom was really sick. I remember being jealous that you always laid beside her instead of wanting to play with us. But now I thank you. Thank you for not leaving her side and helping her get better. You had such a sensitive heart.
  As I got older and entered the lovely middle school stage where I quickly learned you can't trust anybody, I trusted you. I told you secrets I would have died if anyone else knew. But you wouldn't rat me out. I just rubbed your ears and told you everything...come to think of it, you probably wouldn't have stuck around to hear my rants had I not been rubbing your ears. I won't hold it against you, Bubs. :)
   One day, Dad came home with the sad news that our grandma and cousin were killed by a drunk driver. We were all devastated. Looking back, I feel kind of bad for you. You went from room to room comforting everyone in the household. I'm sure for the first time, you felt relieved when we were all out of the house, just so you could regroup. You did this again years later when Grandpa died, and again when my dear friends lost their baby girl. You let me hold you and rock you and you gave me so many kisses. Thanks for that, Bubs.
  The next couple of years we had such a blast with you. We played lots of fetch, introduced you to the lazer pointer, and I think it's safe to say we gave you way too many table scraps. You were cute; it was hard to say no. I believe there was even one Thanksgiving where you jumped on the table and ate our turkey. You became a staple in our house. People came over and loved playing with you. Between all of our sleepovers, all of our campus life meetings, and all of our dances, our friends came over and loved seeing you.
  You were there for me the night my heart broke for the first time. I came home, feeling so broken and sick. You slept by my side that night, and followed me into the bathroom every time I felt nauseous. That's the night I truly realized how special you are. Kalvin, that meant so, so much to me. Thank you for being such a faithful friend.
   Years later, I bought my first home. I knew you'd be proud, but I felt so guilty leaving you. You had a few slumber parties here, but I knew, no matter how much you loved me, you preferred being in your own home. I couldn't blame you; it was the only place you knew. The last three years, whenever I came over, you were the one I wanted to see. I'm so sorry that my visits became fewer and farther between. You know it wasn't because I didn't love you. It was just that I was growing up, faced more responsibilities, and...there's no excuse. I'm just really, tearfully sorry.
  You really grew up too, you know. The boy that once jumped on the back of the couch to lounge in the sun settled for the floor in front of the couch. The puppy who used to run out the door anytime he had a chance became tired, and settled for a leisurely stroll then became excited to walk back inside. The dog who used to go nuts every time someone walked in the door later slept through the chaos then greeted us by laying by our feet and licking our shoes. The bounce in your step (especially after your hair cuts) became less and less free and more and more carefully graced.
  It wasn't an easy decision. It ate away at us for weeks, months, even years. We only wanted what was best for you. You know this already. I think you were ready. I remember telling myself, "You have to be brave for him." But you were much more brave than me, just like you've always been. I told you how sorry I was for walking out so long ago, and you licked my nose and forgave me just like that. We all told you how much we love you and how our lives are forever stamped with your tiny feet and huge heart. And then it was done, just like that. We weeped. I held you and rocked you and promised you I'd never forget you. And I won't.
  You will be the reason every miniature schnauzer will make my heart melt. You will be the reason I will always have a dog. You will be the reason my kids have a friend they can trust in middle school; why they will have a puppy to rock when their hearts break; the reason we will always keep a lazer pointer close by.
  Thank you for being who you are. It was a privilege to know you for fourteen years. And it will be impossible to forget you the rest of my life. I love you, Bubby.

Love,

Kayla