As parents we try so hard to protect our children. When a woman is pregnant she gives up certain foods and drinks. When the baby gets here we buy the safest strollers and car seats. When they are toddlers we baby proof the house (which is nonsense...you can never really baby proof anything). Parents set aside money for college. Sacrifice their own wants and needs to give a child something they want or need. I've watched my own parents continue to sacrifice for my siblings and me. It is so true when they tell you that you won't understand certain things until you are a parent yourself.

I think that one of those "parent" moments hit me tonight. Because I try to hard to protect little Isaac from everyday things, like what he eats, what he watches on tv, what music he listens to, that he doesn't run into the street, etc. So, when something happens that I can't control and I know is going to effect Isaac and Israel it crushes me and gets me all panicky. The first time I felt that way was when Obama was elected. All I could think about was, " Oh, crap. What does this mean for little Isaac's future?" Then today they passed the Health Care Bill. I was planning on going to bed after I found out the results. Instead I found myself going crazy with the thoughts of how bad this was going to be for our Country and what kind of life Isaac and Israel are going to have to face. And that I couldn't protect them. I waited until big Isaac had gone to bed before I started crying on the couch and worrying. And then I heard little Isaac say "I want mama!" and he came in the living room half asleep and crying. I picked him up and rocked him. And as I did this all I could think about is how much I wanted to be held and rocked and told everything was going to be ok for my kids. And then part of an old hymn I used to sing to Isaac when he was first born came back to me...

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
and feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He lives!

Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
and life is worth the living just because He lives!

That song sums it up for me. Nobody holds the future for my children except for God. And He also holds me. And that's all I need.

Why My Husband is Awesome

Now that we've announced we're having a new little Cavazos in July I have to share some of the reason I fall more in love with my husband everyday.

For starters this pregnancy is way different than little Isaac's was. With him I had morning sickness all of three times. I was super tired. But I got to stay home and sleep all day b.c. I didn't have any kids. And I didn't have any cravings.

The week after we found out the big news I pretty much couldn't hold anything down. Then of course I would cry b.c. I was hungry. And Isaac would hold me and run out and get me random things like Sushi and cereal. B.c they don't smell and I could eat them. Also, if I even smelt a hint of grilled chicken I would toss my cookies for hours. One evening I couldn't find him and he was in the cold shed grilling chicken for his lunch. How sweet is that!?

And when he comes home and catches me sleeping on the couch (pretty much all the time) he doesn't complain. Instead I wake up to folded laundry, clean dishes, and a happy toddler that has a new playmate.

His latest and greatest thing that he's done...One night I was craving watermelon like nobodies business. But of course they are out of season. However, I saw an add for some in a local paper and he drove 45min at 11pm to go get me two of the smallest, saddest, ( we're talking maybe the size of softball) expensive melons.

I am so thankful for the man God's given me! He's such a great Dad and Hubby!

Dear Crazy Holiday people,

It's Christmas time. A time of giving, peace, love, and joy. However, it is very hard to feel any of these things with all you crazy shoppers. The following things are not very Christmasey...

1. I don't care what parking spot I get. Please, don't give me a million and one heart attacks in the parking lot because you have to walk an extra 10 steps to the store.

2. Please quit racing through the parking lots. I don't know what stores you just have to get to that you are practically running over the elderly and woman with children.

3. Store clerks. It is not ok to mess up when scanning an order and then send the customer to look for the correct ticket price, and then leave your register and let another clerk take over that has no clue what she's doing. Therefor leading other people to believe that they are in a shorter line, when in fact they are not, and have to wait another 15 min.

4. And lastly. If you do not have a list please do not put your cart in the middle of the isle and plant yourself in front of everything. There seems to be plenty for everyone and I won't fight you for the last item. You can have it. They'll restock it in a week anyways and it will probably be on sale.

Sincerely,
Jan Cavazos

Tricks and Treats

Last night Isaac went to bed at 7pm (b.c. he had to get up at 2:30am). And the little guy went to bed at 8:00pm. Hurray! I thought to myself. A whole night of watching what I want on the tv. So, I turned it to WE or OXYGEN and it was one of those woman killer shows that you don't intend to watch but within 30secs it has you completely sucked in. So there I am watching this show and I think I hear our glass door open. I told myself it was just my imagination. Then I heard the door handle jiggle and our dog starts barking like crazy. I bolted off the couch and ran down the hall to our room and the following convo takes place....

Me: Isaac get up! Someone is trying to break into the house!
Isaac : *groggily" huh? what time is it? Go away, I need to sleep.
Me: I swear someone tried to open the door get out of bed and check the house!
Isaac: No.
Me: Where's the gun? I'll check outside myself!
Isaac: Top drawer.
Me: I didn't mean it! I don't even know how to load the dumb thing! Get out of bed!
Isaac: No.
Me: *jerking the covers off of him and hissing* You're supposed to be the man of this house! Now get up!

Isaac finally got up. Complaining the whole way and telling me to call Security Forces next time I panic about nothing since they're up already. He checks through the peep hole, the kitchen, the other rooms. Looks at me like I am crazy and says, "I'm going back to bed".
So, until 2:15am I sat on the couch talking to my sister (her husband is Army and doing some training , so she was paranoid too). When Isaac wakes up he says, "what were you talking about earlier?" I go over the whole scenario again. And his only response is "oh, yea Kubuy said some kids left a Halloween bag at his door yesterday and he thought they were playing a prank." Of course after that I go and check the front door and there's a Halloween bag with a note, candy, and a candle. So sweet! To bad they had really tricked me this year! Oh, well the treats in the bag were totally worth it :)

And the award for worst parent goes to...ME!

This last summer I got a bike with a bike trailer in hopes that I would lose weight. I rode it everyday for 3 weeks. And I didn't loose one pound. So, for the most part I don't ride it. I find many excuses. The weather, I don't feel up to it, etc. You name the excuse I'll use it. Today was actually a sunny day after what seems like an eternity of cold dreary ones so I decided to get the bike out. Little Isaac was excited. We did our usual route from our house through the woods, past the apartments and then to the park. I usually turn around every now and then to make sure he's happy and that the bike trailer is still attached (yes, one time it did come unattached. If you have not heard that story ask me about it.) The apartment area also happens to be down hill (my favorite part b.c. then I don't have to peddle:) However, today it was wet and I really didn't think anything of it. That is until we got to the park and I turned around. Poor little Isaac had mud all over his clothes and face! That's right I didn't think to put the rain guard up! He was giving me the dirtiest look ever. I proceeded to apologize to him and asked him if he was mad at me. He shook his little head yes while rubbing mud out of his eyes. I felt like the worlds worst parent until I saw a man riding his 4 year old sons scooter down from the apartments while letting his dog pull him as the 4 year old ran as fast as he could behind him. I guess that makes me only the worlds 2nd worst parent ;)

Me? A dog person!?

I am not a dog person. Never was. When I was growing up my brother and sisters each had a dog of their own. The only type of dog I wanted was a Chihuahua. My Dad wouldn't get me one b.c. he says that they are not real dogs. In college I got one. That relationship lasted all of 2 weeks. So, when we got little Isaac a dog for his Birthday I thought I would tolerate her. Surprise Surprise it turns out I really like this dog! I pet her, play fetch with her, praise her, give her food and water. Things I said I would NEVER do until Isaac gets deployed. Lately, big Isaac has been taking her on runs. He makes it sound real easy, "Malaya and I went for a run. She's a really good dog. Makes me run faster." Well, tonight Isaac had to work from 6pm-6am. I was going for a walk so I thought 'why not take Malaya?' Can't be that hard right!? WRONG! The walk started out ok. I even figure out a way to hook up the leash to the stroller so that she could run ahead and help me pull the stroller ha ha. Then things started to go bad. She would try to run off in the grass and the whole time I am saying "no, sweetie come back on the trail!" And trying to balance the stroller so she doesn't pull it over. Then she starts to tangle the leash into the wheels of the stroller. So, every 100 ft I am stopping to untangle the leash. On one of the stops a couple comes back to help me. The little Asian wife says, "I hold dog for you." I tell her it's ok. I've done it plenty of times by now. She takes the dog from me. Ok, lady, I think to myself...whatever floats your boat. The next thing I know the lady is saying "whoa doggie.no you stay doggie". I look over my shoulder in time to see Malaya pulling the lady along the path. The lady has her feet planted and is sliding. Not good. I quickly untangle the leash and grab the dog back. Off we go again. More tangles. By the time I get home I am out of breath. From running, trying to get the dog to stay untangled, and keeping the stroller from tipping over. My wrist hurt, my shoulders ached, and my teeth hurt from grinding my teeth so certain words a 2 year old are not suppose to hear don't come flying out of my mouth. The really insane part is I am thinking about doing it again tomorrow!

Do you smell something burning!?

My awesome hubby has been redoing our lovely base housing cabinets. He is taking them from a really dark brown to white. However, he has had to sand the cabinets, wipe down the cabinets with linseed oil, prime them, and then paint them. He did one whole half of the kitchen 2 weeks ago. And today he decided to do the other half. So he sanded, wiped down the cabinets with linseed oil, then primed them. It was getting late and he was tired so we decided to sit and watch tv together. There he was sitting. And there I was sitting playing around with facebook when I smelt something. I mention it to Isaac and he tells me it's the paint fumes. I had been smelling paint fumes all day and I knew it wasn't that. A few more minutes pass. Something was odd and familiar about the smell....FIRE!!! I tell Isaac, "Something is on fire!!!" I think at that point he thought I was crazy but got up to check on things so I would leave him alone. I start sniffing the air and run to little Isaac's room. Not in there. I go to our room, the guest room, and the bathroom. Negative. So, I head to the kitchen. The smell was definitely coming from there. But the hubby and trash can are missing. I walk outside and there is smoke coming from our trash! What the heck!? This doesn't make any sense!!! We had eaten take out all day b.c. Isaac was busy redoing the cabinets. Really odd. Isaac, dumps the trash out and uses the fire extinguisher. I start pouring cups of water on it. Only the rags he used were on fire. So, I look up some info on linseed oil. Check this out....Linseed oil can polymerize and the reaction is exothermic, and rags soaked in it can ignite spontaneously. (from Wikipedia) Wow! Did we ever avert a disaster! The moral of this story is: Never put soaked linseed rags in the trash! It will catch on fire!!!