So scared of getting older, I'm only good at being young.

There is always much press and publicity surrounding the Super Bowl. But this year my parents got some press attention that makes me smile. I wanted to share this with you. Thank you to my sweet friend, Sean Cook, who passed this along to me earlier today and brightened my day.

Love,
B

Well I arrived home from the Super Bowl trip about 3pm yesterday after dropping my sis & bro-in-law at the airport and taking a minor detour to have bfast with my friend Adam who was in town for the game form Indy. It was a long drive home after our crushing loss to the Saints in this years Super Bowl. I was so tempted to feel defeated by the end of the weekend but I found myself reflecting on the weekend as a whole and being grateful.

The Lord has brought my family through many trying times and has certainly delivered us much success and victory in our years. We have so many things to be thankful for, starting with each other. I have a wonderful family, all of whom love the Lord and each other - which is perhaps the greatest blessing anyone could ask for. This weekend, we all got to be together for 4 days. Now that were grown up and spread out, this is rare. So a weekend together was a great gift.

The trip itself was a blast! Minus the last 12 hours or so (after the loss), the whole weekend was really pretty perfect. Filled with friends, family, and life-changing food! I'm not sure I've ever had a brunch or dinner quite like those on Super Bowl Sunday! Loved it. My sisters and I knew from last time to save up lots of room in our bellies for all the delish tables of food that awaited us. We were prepared!

I am left at the end of the loss thinking this...

'Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?' - Job, who lost it all but never lost his faith.

May the name of the Lord always be praised.

Thank you to everyone who lovingly supported my family and I through another great season! We anxiously and hopefully await what the Lord has next for us!

Love,
B

Day Two of my trip to Miami! I wanted to pop on blogger before I hit the sack to prepare for the big day to update you all on the trip thus far (hey, I keep promises!).

Thankfully, I hit no traffic from Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale on Friday morning and rolled into the Harbour Beach Marriott at 10:30am. I dropped my bags in the room and went to get my credentials. Our hotel is under level 1 security so it's pretty intense around here. I have to wear a badge with my face on it! So with my new face bearing necklace, I headed up to the room to catch a quick nap while my mom went to pick up my baby sister from the airport.

Later after some travel chaos on everyones part BUT mine, we had a family dinner. Dad had picked a place within walking distance where we could sit outside. Which sounded like a great idea until it started pouring rain. My parents friend Dale and I managed to get us a table inside but not until we had already been thoroughly soaked by the rain. Oh and ps: my caesar salad was terrible but they did have delish coconut shrimp.

I didn't sleep well so I got up about 7 and hit the beach for a long walk. It was a beautiful morning it gave me a chance to clear my head after a bad nights sleep. Later in the morning they bused us to practice at the Miami Dolphins facility (thanks for letting us borrow, guys). Practice was short and sweet but it was fun mingling with everyone on the field afterwards. Got some great pictures (I'll post some soon).

We grabbed a late lunch in a cute little covered cafe when we returned to our side of town. No rain AND my food was excellent. On the way back we scoped out the concert site - which later we walked down too. We watched OAR beachside and then an awesome Super Bowl firework show. How is it that fireworks are so amusing? OAR wasn't half bad either. I love that stinkin Poker song.

It's been fun meeting a few of Dad's players I hadn't met yet. The atmosphere at the hotel has been really laid back and for the most part the security has kept it from being autograph and picture taking chaos. So everyone has felt free to roam around and mingle. Way more fun.

I better hit the sack because tomorrow we have: chapel, brunch, NFL experiencish thing, game, after party! So pumped.

Love,
B

Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning. - John Cardinal Newman

It's time to announce the winner of the Super Bowl Giveaway! First, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who commented, publically started following my blog, and especially those of you who have been following for a while and I just found out! I love blogging and I love my interactions with you all because of my blog even more. So thank you to everyone and if I could afford too, I'd be bringing each of you something back (or taking you with me)...I hope you know that!

I was most taken with the 2 entries in which someone asked to be the winner for someone else. What a sweet thought! That being said I have chosen Elisa's entry as the winner. She wrote:

Well, my entry isn't truly for me - but I do enjoy your blog and leaving anonymous comments on it -- I'm sure your guess was wrong.
My entry is for my almost 6-yr-old freak of nature son who has become "obsessed" -- his word, not mine with football. Today, at dinner, I had to explain to him when exactly February 7th is when the "Colts will play and win the whole season" - again, according to him.
Later tonight, he, completely on his own, traced a little tykes Zebra toy, cut it out and did his best to draw a horseshoe in blue.
Now that deserves a win!

And this is the picture Drew made:



Isn't it precious? I asked Elisa if I could put it up on my blog for you all to see. How could I not award the prize to someone who drew a green horse? : ] Love it! And my sisters and I were little football freaks ourselves not so long ago (ok, long ago..when I was young). So I guess I may have been a wee bit of a sucker for that.

So again, thank you to each of you who entered and I truly felt like each of you was deserving of a prize. Thank you for your friendship, support, and readership!

Love,
B

This my friends is THE skirt. The one I've been waiting for (since last Tueday!). This is the skirt I will wear after we (hopefully) win on Sunday - to the after party. Can't to celebrate a second victory in Miami for my Colts. Of course, I also can't wait to sport this new skirt.

Still working on what I'm going to wear it with. But I make sure there are pictures from the party so I can share the final results with you later, when I return.

Love,
B

Ps: Thank goodness my legs aren't quite as pale as this girls! Ha ha...

Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn't chase. You will look back longingly on risks not taken, opportunities not seized, and dreams not pursued. Stop running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path. - Mark Batterson, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day



I just finished, 'In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day' by Mark Batterson. This is book 3 of 2010. I'm off to a slower start than I had hoped, but I'm holding on that it's still early in the year, I will rally!

In a Pit was a great book. I loved it. And would highly recommend it to anyone who is trying to face fears in their life. It also has great 'bathroom mirror' quotes. You know, words of wisdom we need in our everyday lives.



The updated list:

1. The Sweet By & By - Sara Evans
2. Two Little Girls in Blue - Mary Higgins Clark
3. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day - Mark Batterson


Love,
B