I have, however, been watching her show once or twice a week, mainly because her show follows Ellen, and, hey, who doesn't love Ellen?
Today, Oprah had a cute little couple on her program. He (Kristian) has cancer and is in the process of fighting through it, and she (Rachel) went back to teaching high school to support Kristian and their children, even though it would never be able to pay off the cancer treatment bills. At the end of the day, she said she felt as though she was too tired to give Kristian the love and care he needed as he fought for his life. Oprah gave them $250,000 like it was no big deal... now Rachel can take a year off from work and spend it with her family.
Background info aside, Oprah found out about them because of a sweet video Kristian made for Rachel as a birthday present, thanking her for all of the love and support during his struggle with cancer. Maybe I am the last person in the world to see this video, but I still thought I would share it regardless, especially with the big V-day coming up.
And also maybe because I cried like a baby when I watched it.
Just a little bit.
So, here you go. Grab a tissue, watch the video, and then tell those you love how thankful you are for them.
I love maternity leave. I can be laaaaaaazy and not care one bit about it. Tyrel is out playing basketball, so I think I am going to eat some yummy {pregggers} candy...
...cuddle with my little Kemster...
If I use my camera, I can see my little feet. Oh how I have missed them!
I am not a very patient person, and I am not always the most loving person. I can get a fiery temper and let myself get caught up in emotions...like today. Let's just say that I am tired of renting and cannot wait until we can just buy our own home. No apartment managers avoiding their responsibilities, no more loud neighbors screaming at the top of their lungs and practically breaking doors almost every day of the week (sometimes at 2 in the morning...in the room directly below your future baby's nursery), no more 24-hour chain-smokers just 5 feet outside your drafty front door...
You get the idea.
Well, today I just couldn't take it anymore and lost my cool (luckily just in front of my saint of a husband and my amazing dad {via the phone}), both of whom told me that I just needed to calm down a little. I really felt hate for people I hardly even know but didn't care one bit about it. It felt nastily good to be so mad at someone else and to over-magnify all of their flaws...
...until I stumbled upon this quote:
"We need to be kinder with one another, more gentle and forgiving. We need to be slower to anger and more prompt to help. We need to extend the hand of friendship and resist the hand of retribution. In short, we need to love one another with the pure love of Christ, with genuine charity and compassion and, if necessary, shared suffering, for that is the way God loves us." {Howard W. Hunter}
Ouch. That one kind of burned a little. Taking a step back, was reminded that if Someone could love me so unconditionally, even with how {obviously} flawed I am, especially in that moment, I needed to readjust a little. A little more humbled, a little embarrassed...ready to start over :)
When I listen to her, or him, or her, or him...or her (I think you get the point), Kemry goes hog-wild. I love it. Even if she kicks a little too hard :) I was even worried about her not moving enough today, but I these folks helped put me at ease.
What good taste in music she has already. She is definitely our daughter :)
Yeah. So I am not as good at blogging as I was determined to be. I guess with the start of a new year, I can add that to my list of resolutions :)
Christmaswas wonderful this year! Tyrel and I drove to Wyoming to surprise my whole family (with the exception of Lyle and Melissa who were in on the whole thing). My parents decided to come to my Grandma's to celebrate this year since it is only about 7 hours away from all of us kids (only 7...that is better than the 16 back to South Dakota). Tyrel and I really wanted to go, but we weren't sure if we could with work, the weather, and how close we are to having the baby. We pretty much told my parents that we were out for this year, but we would celebrate next year with them. After no scares on the baby end-of-things (along with an okay by my doctor), good weather reports, and a little trading of schedules with the other managers at work, we decided to go and show up on Christmas morning. We drove to Bozeman, MT after I got off work on Christmas Eve and got up at 4:30 so we could spend as much time as possible with my family. Goodness were they thrilled (as were we!) when they saw us! We only really got to spend one day with them, but it was totally worth having all of us there at one time :)
New Years isn't quite as exciting as it used to be, but we still had fun playing games with Tyrel's family until Midnight. The best part about New Years is MATERNITY LEAVE! Hallelujah! I never thought it would come! I really don't mind just hanging out (and getting paid, cough, cough) and waiting for our little girl's arrival! Ideally, Tyrel would get the next 14 weeks off with me, but I guess that isn't too practical, is it?
I did get a baby before my actual baby comes!
I guess it is still technically in the mail, but I can't wait to start playing with it! We decided to upgrade to a DSLR since we will be taking so many pictures in the future, and we wanted them to actually turn out nice. After selling our old camera and a few other things just lying around the house (thanks ebay shoppers!), we ended up paying hardly a thing for this little guy and 3 lenses. I always said that I needed a hobby for while I was on leave, so I guess I found it!
And our actual baby is still a-kicking and growing like crazy. I love being pregnant, but my little body is sure getting a little sick of it :) I have been pretty fortunate to have such a good pregnancy, so I shouldn't complain. I sure don't like my right ribcage being bruised (it's her own little private fort), being short of breath all the time, feeling cramps and false contractions (come on...just let them be real ones...), and (oh!) the back pain! I do love (love love love), however, watching her move around (especially her little elbow...it is wicked cool to watch it stick out and slide all over my stomach), not having any stretch marks on my tummy (yet..knock on wood), sitting in her little nursery, and knowing that my little girl will be here sometime within the next 24 days! I think all of that can tide me over until she gets here :)
36.5 weeks down...less than 3.5 to go!!!
Oh, yeah. Our New Year's Resolution? To be kinder with our road rage. I didn't say that we were getting rid of our road-rage completely (...you have been warned Idaho drivers...), but we will at least not say as nasty of things about you as we witness your [mad] skills on the road :)
Maybe someone should check on us daily with this one to see how we are doing...
