Races that are amazing and birthday wishes

Miles is asleep. Junebug, the cat, is roaming somewhere in the house. Casey is at the student center ('headquarters' of our campus ministry) playing Phil, the host of The Amazing Race. My husband being a campus minister, and today being the first day of classes...well, this is quite a busy time for him. But the first week is soooo much fun. We call it 'Disorientation Week' and have a different activity for the students every day. Today they are playing our version of The Amazing Race, in which teams have had to drive to several of our church elders' houses and perform a task, and they came to our house as well, where they had to -- and this made me a little nervous -- start a fire and make it burn through a string above the fire to receive their next clue. It was a lot of fun watching all of the running around, and not just because the rain was perfectly timed to start just as the first team arrived. I wished that I could have been on one of the teams, going to each house and doing these silly, crazy things...maybe next year.

With all that has been going on lately, I completely forgot to note that my blog passed its second birthday nine days ago! So, a happy and a healthy to Trace Talks. I am really wanting to dig in and catch up on all of my favorite blogs out there (I have a HUGE list of them in my bookmarks), but so far I have read maybe one or two posts. Ah, the life of a new mommy!

Unconditional

Just a quick post before the weekend is officially here...

It's still really hard to believe sometimes that I am a mom. I am somebody's mom! It's just crazy, and really scary too, knowing that this tiny little person depends on Casey and I for everything. He looks at us with so much hope in his eyes that my heart almost breaks every time. And the smiles -- oh, that unconditional love is so amazing! I've messed up so many times in my life, but he doesn't know and doesn't care. All he wants to know and be sure of is that his mom and dad love him and are there to take care of him. If parenthood doesn't teach you anything about God's love, I don't know what else can.

Here's our sweet Miles

I took this picture about a week ago. Isn't he a cutie?

Updates, sister, and -- to quote Lori -- "Churcheros"

I have finally made some much-needed updates to my blog, woohoo!

I saw two of my doctors yesterday, both good visits. I got my PICC line taken out -- it's basically a line that can stay in your arm for a long time so that meds can be administered and blood can be taken more easily. Having that removed is one more step in the right direction. It was a pretty exciting day for us. I am completely done with my antibiotics, but I still continue to take some other meds for pain, my auto-immune disorder, etc.

My sister is visiting this weekend, which is really awesome because I haven't seen her since February, and this was her first time to see Miles in person! It's pretty neat to see Miles with his Aunt Kerry...I will be sad to see her go in a few days, but I am so thankful that I have her here for a little while.

To answer a question that Lori had: "What are Cruncheros?" -- they are mini beef and cheese chimichangas made by El Monterey, and you can find them in your frozen food section at the grocery store. Casey and I also like the chicken and cheese taquitos, but I could eat those Cruncheros every single day! They are...YUM.

I hope everyone is doing well. I am tired but persevering. This recovery plus motherhood thing is tough! I wouldn't mind at all if anyone wants to put me on their daily prayer list -- I just need peace and a quick recovery. Thanks to all for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement!