NIAW: April 24-May 1

National Infertility Awareness Week is coming to an end (April 24, 2010-May 1, 2010).  If you've read this blog before, you probably know we have been trying to have a baby for over 3 years; and even though we have achieved at least two pregnancies, because we don't have any children on earth, we are what the world, and doctors would call, infertile.

I remember first hearing that term and being overwhelmed with anxiety because of its implications.  the prefix -IN in front of any root means NOT.  And hearing that you're NOT-FERTILE sounds so final, doesn't it?  I think that's where my anxiety came/comes from...the fact that it just sounds, and many times FEELS, like the end of a dream.

However, it isn't the end and for many, many, many couples, a diagnosis of infertility doesn't mean they will never have children, it just means it won't be as easy as it might be for the Fertile Myrtles of the world...oh, how I loathe that term, in all honesty.

I've thought about posting something during NIAW, but I just couldn't get in my head and my heart what I wanted to say.

So, I thought I would give you few facts and Do's/Don'ts about INFERTILITY.  I guarantee, at some point in your life, you will meet, befriend, or possibly even BE an infertile.  Knowing more can help you relate.  One of the most challenging and difficult aspects of infertility feels VERY LONELY!

FACTS and SUCH

-More than 7.3 million people in the United States experience infertility.

-Infertility is a male problem 35% of the time, female problem 35% of the time, combined problem 20% of the time, and unexplained 10% of the time.

-Don't ever tell an infertile to relax!  Infertility is a disease or condition of the reproductive system and relaxing, in most cases, will not solve the problem.  Plus, it puts a lot of unneeded pressure on the infertile couple and points out to them that part of the issue may be their fault.

-Infertility is a medical condition, NOT a sexual disorder.  The couple knows what has to be done, so no reminders are needed...please, and thank you. 

-Infertility is brutally expensive and can drain a couple of their financial resources.

-Infertility is ISOLATING!  As you look around and see your friends moving on with their lives, having children every other year, you start to feel left behind and stuck in neutral.  This is when support is essential!

This road of infertility, with all of it's twists and turns, hills and valleys, turns and u-turns has taught me more than I ever could have dreamed.  God is BIG!  God is INFINITE!

In God's dictionary, the word INFERTILE doesn't exist and that gives me great HOPE!

GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!!

Happy Thursday, Blends!  

I have a winner for my giveaway and I'm SO excited!  Just so you know everything was legit and on the up-and-up, here is a screenshot of the random integer generator I used online.  I assigned every commenter a number (and more than one if you also blogged about the giveaway on YOUR blog) and then used this fancy schmancy number thingy and VOILA...

The lucky winner is NUMBER 3!!  That would be Heather at Amazing Grace!  Yay, Heather!  Way to go!  I will send you an email and get your address so I can get your book to you, ASAP!  

Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway! 

"How Do You Two Not Have a Show On Bravo?"

If you STILL haven't at least checked out GLEE this season, you are a FOOL!  Okay, so that might be a little harsh, but you are definitely missing out on the show of the year, of the decade if you ask me. 

Here are just a few quotes from this week's episode, #16, "Home."  

 

-Sue Sylvester (see title of this post)

-Sue Sylvester, coach of WMHS Cheerios (cheerleading squad): "I've got to put in a call to the Ohio Secretary of State notifying them I will no longer be carrying photo id---you know why?  People should know who I am." 

-April Rhodes, WMHS graduate and former GLEE member (played by Kristen Chenoweth): "You're looking for a subletter, I'm looking for a place to stay...one catch, I'm full-time fancy now, Will.  I'm gonna wanna check the place out...I'm gonna wanna check the fun shong, or the fing fong or whatever they call it.  Tell ya what...I'm gonna go get myself bikini wax, and I'm gonna see you tomorrow."  

-Brittany, Cheerio member: "I'm pretty sure my cat's been reading my journal."  

-Sue Sylvester: "Mercedes, your vocal chords have had more fantastic runs than a Kenyan track team." 

I could obviously go on and on, but for those less enthused about Glee (obviously only those who have never seen an episode), I will spare you.  

You can tune in and hear them all for yourself, Tuesdays on Fox!  

4-Year Anniversary Giveaway

I promised a few posts back I would host a giveaway for my 4-year bloggy anniversary.  My ACTUAL anniversary was the 19th of April.  Click here to see my VERY first post!  It was fun to go back and see how much life has changed for us in the last four years.

Now, to the giveaway.  When I first announced I wanted to host one, I actually had something very different in mind.  However, once I began reading the book I'm currently in right now, I realized I had to give one away to one of my faithful Blends.

So, I will be giving away a copy of Beth Moore's newest book, So Long Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us.  Y'all, this book is phenomenal and life-changing, truly.

 Every woman I know deals with insecurity in their lives in some form or another.  Whether we don't like our bodies (or at least certain parts of it), are insecure in relationships, don't think we're good enough mothers, wives, daughters, or are insecure in our relationship with God...whatever the case may be...we all deal with one of Satan's greatest weapons...INSECURITY!

Even if you have already read it, and/or already own a copy, feel free to enter to win!  You can give a copy to a friend or loved-one!  

Even if you are convinced you don't need to read a book on such a topic because it's just not that big of an issue for you (like I was), rest assured you will be BLESSED by reading it nonetheless.  I'm reading it on my Kindle and have already bought one copy and given it to a friend in the hopes it will continue to be given away after each woman finishes with it. 

Here are the rules:

1.) Leave a comment here and tell me why you want to win this book.  MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A WAY TO CONTACT YOU IN CASE YOU WIN.  

2.) If you want your name in the "pot" more than once, write about this giveaway on YOUR BLOG and link back to it.  Please link back to this particular post and not just to my blog in general.  Oh, and make sure you TELL me you linked to it in your comment so I will know to go and check it out!  

3.) I will close the giveaway next Wednesday, April 28 at midnight, and will draw for a winner sometime the next day.  I will announce the winner shortly thereafter!  

No Rest for the Weary

 Spring semester as a teacher is always extremely busy.  Because I am the coordinator for Academic UIL and GT (gifted and talented) on our high school campus, this means even more busyness because Spring is the peak of both of these groups.

Our Academic UIL kids had their district meet March 29 and 31st.  Our program is really growing and we have made some changes that we are really hoping will benefit our students and make Academic UIL more of a priority at the high school level.  I have a great principal who is all about what's best for the students, and he has given us a period in the morning for UIL coaches to practice with their teams.

This year we have FOUR Regional qualifiers, which is so exciting!  Last year we only had one, and that was by default; she was first alternate and someone dropped out of regionals, so she was able to attend. 

I am just so proud to be a part of this group and to see the strides they are making.  All of the work and busyness and stress on my part, was completely worth seeing the looks on those kids' faces and to hear the excitement in their voices when they saw how well they were doing at the meet. 

So, we will take four qualifiers to the regional meet in Odessa next weekend!

I just took a group of Gifted & Talented, as well as the Anatomy & Physiology seniors, to Dallas for Bodies: The Exhibition.  I had seen it in Kansas City a few summers ago, so I knew they would enjoy it and it didn't disappoint.  It wasn't as extensive as the show I saw, but it was still so interesting and the A&P kids really liked seeing the "real deal" version of what they had been studying in their textbook.

Needless to say, between school, Emmaus, starting a new business, church, personal/family life I have been one very busy, and very stressed girl!

And this summer it won't be much different.

Here's a breakdown of my summer (SO FAR):

-May 28: high school graduation

-June 3-6: working Women's Walk #40 in Stanton, TX

-mid-June possibly a trip to Uvalde/San Antonio to see family

-June 26: WICKED in Dallas!  Richard got us tickets for my birthday!  I'm SOOOO excited, I can hardly stand it!   

-June 30: leave Amarillo for LIMA, PERU with mom and SIL

 

-July 13: Return from Peru

-Post July 13th...hopefully starting the road to IVF

And somewhere in there, I will have to move all of my things out of my classroom because I've taken a new position at school.  I am moving from sophomore to junior English and will be teaching all of the juniors and one senior Dual Credit English class (which I'm SOOOO excited about).  So, I will also be spending a vast majority of the latter part of my summer, figuring out how to teach these new subjects effectively.  I am replacing VERY BIG SHOES, people!  VERY BIG...and I'm nervous but also really excited for the change.  More about that in another post.

I'm exhausted just THINKING about it all.  But, I'm ready for the summer and all it brings with it!  Hopefully, I can fit some laying out in there somewhere...I have to be the whitest person on the planet!! 

God in the Media...and Everywhere Else He Should Be!

Lately I've been blessed to catch several faith-inspired programs or stories on t.v.  Some are on conservative talk shows, but others have been in the mainstream, liberal Media, which is a pleasant surprise to their usual tight-lipped ways when it comes to any mention of faith. 

First, my sister-in-law called and insisted I DVR Glenn Beck's report on Faith in America.  If you haven't watched it, please do!  It is well worth the time it takes to listen through it.  Talk about an eye-opener!  Wow!  If only we could bring faith into our schools and government as it was intended to be!  Go here to watch/listen to it.  

The other day I was listening to the Huckabee Report on my way to school.  I just love his common sense approach to things.

He mentioned Nebraska's new laws concerning abortion and as I listened I just thanked God for Governor Dave Heineman who led the change in legislation.  The law is two-fold.  First, it holds doctors CIVILLY responsible for performing extensive screening on women seeking an abortion in Nebraska.  Second, and most controversial, is the banning of abortions at 20 weeks past fertilization due to what has been reported as fetal pain.

Praise God we still have people in leadership positions who will stand up for what they believe in and stand on what the forefather's intended for our country.  Go here for the full story. 

Then, this morning I was watching Good Morning America as I got ready for work.  I'm sure you've heard the story about the little girl with autism in Florida, who walked off on a nature hike and was lost in the swampland for four days.  Her story was on GMA, and the man who found her, a fellow church member of her family's gave ALL THE GLORY of finding her to God.  He never took any credit, but said God led him straight to her as he prayed and recited scripture aloud, hacking his way through the swampland.  His interview was about 5 minutes long and he said the Lord's name at least as many times.  He seemed so humble and full of the Spirit; I was taken aback somewhat by his courage and his insistence that he was not to credit for finding her.

 
I think he was living up to Paul's instructions to the people of Thessalonica:  

2 Thessalonians 2: 15-17  So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

Just a Teaser

Hello there, Blends!  Wow, where has the time gone?  Has it really been 9 days since I last posted?  Unreal.  I've been in a blogging funk, but also so busy you wouldn't believe it.  As UIL and GT coordinator at school, the Spring semester keeps me crazy busy but also away from my classroom quite a bit.  Last week I was here 2 of the 5 days.  See what I mean?

Anyway, I don't really have time right now to catch you up (notice a trend), but I promise to do so with some pictures, too!

In 10 minutes, I'm leaving school early, and heading home to pack for a much anticipated trip to Dallas. 

All of my dad's siblings will be represented (he's one of 9), and my parents, and brother/SIL will also be there.

Good times are headed our way and what better way to spend my 31st birthday than with my family (all 647 of them)!

So, here's to a camera full of pictures and an update in a couple of days!

Happy weekend!