Soccer, Track, Tae Kwon Do...I am exhausted

Carter has kept our spring busy to say the least.  He has been doing Tae Kwon Do now twice a week since December.  He loves it and so do I!  Master Kim's number one rule is, "Respect Your Parents."  Now, tell me if, why you would not love it.

Carter tested for his yellow belt last week. I can not believe it.  I wish I got a better picture of his face when he broke the board this time.  Why might you ask, because it was with his foot!  He thought that was the coolest thing in the world at the moment...too cute.

Carter broke the board with his foot.
I wish I got the picture of his face right when he did it...priceless, he was so excited

It is soccer season again as well. This is Carter's second year to play soccer and 4th season with the same team.  He figured it out last week.  Carter has a leg, I mean, when the boy kicks the ball, everyone hears it.  But he finally grasped the concept of dribbling the ball and following the ball after he kicks it. He was on fire! He is definitely not lacking in the aggressive aspect, but now that he has figured the dribbling part out, he is a machine.  I am so proud of him!

If Tae Kwon Do and soccer were not enough, I thought it was a great idea to sign him up for track as well.  Carter is having a blast, but I on the other hand am wondering what happened to our evenings.  Here is a look at my weekly schedule (I did it to myself, so no complaining here)...

Monday - Tae Kwon Do 6-7pm

Tuesday - Soccer 5:30-6:30pm

Wednesday - Tae Kwon do 6-7pm

Thursday - Soccer 5:30-6:30pm and Track 6-7:30pm

Friday - Nothing!!

Saturday - Soccer Game and Track Meet (that lasts at least 2 hours)

Sunday - Possible Soccer Game

I am crazy, what was I thinking!

Carter loves track though and it really is a lot of fun to watch them.  The meets are long, but luckily we have had nice weather and only 4 meets total, so 1 more left.  He normally gets to run in 4 to 5 races.  The kid is like Forest Gump, he loves to run.  We were at our cabin a few weeks ago and he probably ran 3 to 4 miles in a day period.  He just takes off and we let him of course, knowing that it is all to nice at bedtime.

Carter' Teacher, Mrs. Wilson and her son, Marshall, came to watch the boys one Saturday.
Marshall and  Kristi Wilson, Logan, Carter and Elliot

Carter Running
The way the do these relays in crazy

Well, that is what Carter has been up to lately and I guess us as well.  Spring time is here finally and we are getting in the mood for summer! 

The Heart Kid 5K and Family Walk

Thank you to all who came out to walk and run in support of 

Natalie and all kids with Congenital Heart Defects!  

And thank you all who could not come out, but made donations!

Team Natalie
We are missing a lot of people, who either had to leave early, came right after this picture or could not be there, because of our obligations. Next year, we are going to be way more organized with Team Natalie.  We plan to order shirts earlier and have a time for a group  picture the day of, so we can try and get everyone in.  

Dr. Rebecca Scott, Natalie and Nurse Cassie
We have the best pediatrician and nurse ever! 

This year, we released Heart balloons in memory of all the little Heart Kids who have earned their Angel Wings
Such an amazing sight to see all those balloons going to Heaven, as we told Natalie that is where they went.  She was so happy that a few of our loved ones who have passed away had the heart balloons float to Heaven for them to play with.

Easton and Kelli Glass

Mackenzie Weir, Bre King, Kenzie McAfee and Allison Teuscher

Camden and Kelli Glass, Lola and Kalley Sadler, DJ Powers and Allison Teuscher

Molly Doyle, Andrew and Abigal Teuscher
Oh yes, the Fire Truck came out again this year!

Hayden Powers and Natalie

Quinn Family
Bobby was born with a VSD, but is doing awesome now

Jason and Des Manning

Cody and Abby Rogers

Family Walk

Me and Dr. Scott Running
I thought it would only be fair to post a picture of me running too, if I post pictures of others running.  

We also had the Game Truck come out this year.  Needless to say, that is where my son stayed most of the time once he discovered it and what was inside...pretty cool.

If you missed the Heart Run and Walk this year, do not worry, we will have it again next year! I will be starting posting around the New Year.  Larry and I really want to get the shirts ordered earlier next year, so it is not so last minute and we want to give everyone a chance to order one if they would like.  Thanks to Kelly Caviness and her team for helping us with the amazing shirts!

Minnie Bike

We have been telling Natalie that once she mastered using the potty, she would be big enough for her own bike.  Well, after a day of constantly asking her daddy, she got one.  Carter helped pick it out, too. Now does that not fit her personality or what..

We have also decided that the little bag on the front of the bike is our new purse or "fanny arm purse" as I call it.  She straps it on her arm and carries it around with all her stuff in it. We are in trouble, she is so girly girl!

Renee's Prayer

A few weeks ago, Larry had a really good friend whose wife passed away.  She had been battling Lyme's Disease for several years.  Renee has been in and out of the hospital and treatment centers trying to get the disease under control.  I do not know much about Lyme's Disease, but what I do know is it is extremely painful and a lifelong battle.

Renee's wrote this prayer back in December and her family shared it with everyone during her funeral.

One word comes to mind, Wow! Someone that has been battling so much and still strived after God's heart and desires for her life.  She is truly an inspiration to all.

I find this prayer extremely touching, especially with all we have gone through with Natalie, will go through and just the daily worries of having a child with a congenital heart defect.

I pray you find this prayer as touching and inspirational as I do.  Renee's goal was to memorize this prayer and try to pray it daily.  She has touched my life so much and I have read this prayer several times and will continue to do so forever.  God has one more precious angel up there...

"Dear Lord, I thank You for this day.

I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.

I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an

Understanding God.  You have done so much for me, and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you

I ask now for Your forgiveness

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.  Help me to start this day

With a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.  Let me make the best of each and every day;

To clear my mind so that I can hear from You.  Please broaden my mind so that 

I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.

And give me the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.  Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me so that I may be a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak.  Keep me uplifted so that I may have

Words of encouragement for others.  I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.

I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.

I pray for those who do not know You intimately.  I pray for those that don't believe.

I thank You that I believe that God changes people and God changes things.

I pray for each and every family member in the households of my family, friends, and foes.

I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes;

That they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is NO problem, circumstance,

Or situation greater than God.  Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every being that reads it.

In Jesus' name. Amen!"

By Renee Rhynehart

I guess it is time for a long overdue update...sorry about that

I know, I know, I keep saying I am going to be more responsible about posting at least once a week, but having one little and one not so little ones at home just makes things trying to say the least.  But not to worry, we are doing amazing since my last post.  No complaints here...

Let me catch you up since March 13.  We had spring break, which can always be a challenge to entertain Carter.  He is full of energy 95% of the day, the other 5% is when you can get him to lay down for bed and he passes out within 30 seconds.  He brings a whole new meaning to playing hard.

We had a great spring break!  We went out to a friend's ranch the beginning of the week.  The kids loved being outside, riding jeeps, really just running around.  The did get to shoot their first BB gun, not my idea, but we do live in Texas. Never to early to learn gun safety!

The second half the week, we just hung out and enjoyed sleeping in.  I am glad the time changed happened for us at the beginning of the week, because it ROCKED  my world as usual. 

Carter had now started soccer back, so our busy schedule continues, but we love it.  He has his first game this weekend.  He also has his first track practice this week, if the weather will cooperate (you know 80 degrees, 40 degrees and rain, to top it off with 30 degrees and light snow, only to go back to 70 degrees). 

Natalie started back school this week and she could not be happier!  She has not gone since before surgery, so she is so happy to play with friends.  I am not going to take it personally that she is tired of being with me, plus I am pretty happy to have at least a few hours to myself at home.  I am hoping now to be better at posting (no promises though).

Our Easter was blessed!  I love the fact that Carter is really understanding what Jesus did for us.  I was watching a clip of the Bible series and he walked in right when they were hanging Jesus on the Cross.  He really only saw Jesus for a minute, but I think the impact will be ever changing. 

On a side note...If you have not  had the chance to watch the bible series, please go buy or rent them. They are truly amazing!

We went to Texarkana for Easter this year.  Larry's grandmother is about to turn 90 and we celebrated a few weeks early.  What a major accomplishment, 90!  She is totally with it and truly amazing.  We were so blessed to be able to celebrate her life with all of Larry's family.  Plus, the kids had a blast playing with their cousins all weekend. 

PS...Natalie's Easter quote..."When do we get to shoot the Easter Eggs?"  She asked this dead serious, where did I go wrong?  I think she has been around her brother a little too much.

One Word....PANTIES

I am so happy to say, Natalie is finally in panties!  You do not understand how big of a deal this is, she is over 3 1/2 years old.  I started the effort last summer, but stopped once I realized she was going to have surgery again, plus she had zero desire or care.  

I have been talking it up to her since surgery, but I have one strong-willed child.  I say that carefully, because for Natalie, it is so nice she is so strong-willed, it has helped her stay strong and fight.  However, it is has also caused her to fight me on things like potty training, too.

I finally had it a few weeks ago and decided that I was only going to buy pull-ups.  It took her a few days to be okay with it, but I was not going to buy more diapers; it was time.  I know some kids it takes longer, but Natalie wanted to be changed the minute she peed or pooped, so I knew it was time.  

We then had a terrible February with the flu, so I waited until she was all well.  The past week, I decided it was time.  I put panties on her.  Now, to say it was that is easy, yeah right.  She peed and pooped the first 30 minutes she had them on.  Seriously?!

Then, she refused to go for the next 2 hours.  I had about 45 minutes until I had to go pick Carter up from school, so I finally put her princess potty in the living room and made her sit on it until she went; 30 minutes total.  She was so happy when she finally went and of course, I was too!  

I think she thought it would hurt, but when she realized it did not, she was okay with it.  Get this though, she needed to use the potty again that afternoon and went into the bathroom and pulled her potty back into the living room to go.  Really?!  I then had to convince her, we use the potty in the bathroom...to funny.

She has had a few accidents, about one a day for the past week, but I will take that. It normally, because she does not get her pants pulled down in time.  Hey, it is a start and I will take it!  So proud of my little girl, guess she is not so little anymore...

Heart Kid 5K and Walk

Put on your running/walking shoes, because it is time for the Second Annual Heart Kid 5K!  We are putting together a team this year, Team Natalie.  We would love for you all to join us Saturday, April 20th and walk and/or run in honor of our Natalie.  I plan to run and walk; Larry will just walk of course. Maybe I can convinced Larry to run if we get some many to join Team Natalie this year...just a thought for now, but a pretty good one, because he does not like to run (unless someone is chasing him, that what he says).

Bring the family out for fun and we are having a cookout afterwards too this year and everything is set up right by a playground!

I will post more information soon, but we plan on making Team shirts again this year.  Thank to the Berry Family and other members of our church RUN family, who last year surprised us with Team Natalie shirts.  We hope to use the same design as last year, but are not sure if we can or not.  I will keep everyone posted on the shirts.  If you do plan to run or walk, please be sure to put Team Natalie on your registration form.  Also, email me or Larry and let us know that you plan on walking/running, so we can make sure you have one when it is time to order the shirts, we order you one...Thanks!

If you can not walk/run for whatever reason; out of town or just plain to not want to, that is cool.  You can also donate to our team too.  If you are interested, you can mail a check to the address on the registration form; just put Team Natalie in the Memo line. Also, you can mail me the check if you have my address, just be sure to make the checks out to High Plains Mended Little Hearts.  They are a non-profit, so make a copy of your check before you send it, so you will have record of your donation for tax purposes.  

Here is a picture of part of our Team from last year.
Please consider coming out and supporting Team Natalie again this year!

Let's try to double the team size this year!