This is getting rediculous...

Well, day 12 has turned into day 13 and still no HUSBAND! Apparently 3 inches of snow is enough to ground virtually all flight out of Atlanta this weekend. I can't even describe my dissapointment in getting a call yesterday saying that not only was his flight cancelled but he couldn't even book another one for over 24 hours. At the moment I was sitting in the nail salon, finishing my "beautifying" for my love's arrival. I'm talking clean house, clean sheets, makeup done, hair done........... all for what? Another night alone! I got up this morning... at 5:45 am... to face a day of utter chaos. I am not only coaching a game this morning but I also have Madyson's birthday party scheduled for today - 15 kids and ONE ME!!! I have vowed that I will not sleep in that bed again until he was there too. Looks like I might be crashing on the couch tonight. Terry has a flight scheduled that is due to arrive in Spokane just after 11 pm tonight given nothing "unexpected" happens between now and then. Ha Ha I say to myself! In my life I've come accustomed to expecting the unexpected! I'm not looking forward to the thought of possibly spending Valentine's Day alone.... but I would much rather have him SAFELY across the country than not here at all. Keep us in your prayers!!!

Who'd have though?

Once upon a time I though cheerleading was a silly, rediculous reason to act like a bimbo and date football players, much less a REAL sport. Okay, so maybe in reality I was actually just a little (or a lot) jealous that I didn't fit that mold. You know....... pretty, thin , popular! So for years I just pretended like I thought it was all a joke. Who'd have though that here, at 28 (well, almost 29) years old I would be coaching a CHEERLEADING team!!! After a disasterous attempt to force Madyson into a team sport (soccer was NOT her thing!) we enrolled her into Upward Basketball and Cheerleading when she was in 1st grade. Despite my previous feelings about cheerleaders it was so much fun to watch her grown and learn. And beyond that it was amazing to see how the love of God is taught to ALL kids through this organization and they are all made to feel equal and SPECIAL! She has been cheering for 4 years now and each year they have asked me if I was interested in being a coach. I had all the excuses in the world! I was raising small children, I am already very involved in MOPS and that took up most of my free time, and most of all I had NO idea what I was doing! But then we went to Evaluation night this year and they were in desperate need of coaches. My beautiful daughter looked at me with her big blue puppy dog eyes and said "Please Mommy! Will you be my coach?" (Yes - I absolutely LOVE the fact that my near 10-year-old still calls me Mommy!) How do you say NO to that??? I didn't! I called my dear friend Ruthe, who happened to be a cheerleader in high school, and convinced her to be my co-coach. I think she felt sorry for me and said yes. Well that was a couple of months ago and now we are over half way through our season. This endeavor has been so much more that I expected. This organization is amazing and the way they way they love these children is inspiring! I have had the opportunity to be a honorary cheerleader, even teaching a few of the easier cheers by myself!! I have also had the chance to witness to these beautiful young girls. Going into this I thought that I had something to teach them but I know that they have taught me far more that I have them! It is hard to step outside of that secure little box that we all live in, but when you do the rewards are GREAT!!! Go Upward!!!

This is hard! I miss him......

Well I've officially made it to the weekend. For those of you who don't know my hubby left EARLY (4:30 am) on Monday morning and is right now in the middle of a 12 day training session for his new job. I knew that taking care of the 5 kids on my own would be tough - and don't get me wrong- IT IS!!! But the worst part about this is how much I miss my constant companion. I know that he is missing us too. Yesterday was his birthday and for the first time in 10 years we didn't get to celebrate it with him. I had a boquet of chocolate dipped strawberries delivered to to his hotel room (Edible Arrangements) with a birthday balloon and card but it just wasn't the same. Birthdays are a really big deal to me! I go all out! Last year I slaved away at the stove to make him Coq au Vin, a dish the he had been dying to try. It was DELICOUS!! Needless to say, I haven't made it since! I also made him his favorite - cheesecake - topped with tart lemon curd! I have recently figured out that my love language is gifts! I was almost embarrassed about that because to me it seemed so shallow. But as I explored it more, it wasn't necessarily ME receiving gifts but the fact that this was how I showed love to others. The little chocolate boquet didn't cut it! I have a grand plan in the works for his return =)

So here it is, Friday evening. This is usually when Terry and I just relax from the week and plan what we want to do with the kids for the weekend. It's hard not having him here to do that with! I have tried to fill their time with some fun outings. We went to the dollar movie on Wednesday night, gorged ourselves with popcorn and called that "dinner" for the night. Tonight we're heading to Chuck E Cheese. I am enjoying my time with them but I do have to admit that it is also a distraction from the obvious. I am alone! I have a new understanding for the moms the do this day in and day out. I can handle the "work" part alright, it is the lonliness in my heart that I'm struggling with right now. I miss you Terry! Come home soon!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Three years ago today (almost at this exact moment!) our little Jorydn Rylee Sanchez entered the world. She was the best "SURPRISE" that we have ever received. I can't even imagine my life without this beautiful child in it. Her smile lights up the room, her giggle is music to my ears and her hugs and kissed make even my toughest days feel joyous and wonderful! I love this little girl with all my heart. Thank you God for letting me be her mommy! Happy 3rd Birthday to my sweet little girl!!!

Goodbye 2009 Hello 2010

I haven't posted a blog update for so long! I just read my friend's (who posts almost everyday) and am now feeling inspired. So while I should be cleaning and organizing my house I sit here instead! :) December came and went in the blink of an eye! We have had almost NO snow and this is the first Christmas in a LONG time that I can I remember the wasn't a "white" one. It was actually a little sad :( I'm not sure whether I prefer this or our massive snow storms of the last few years.

We stayed in town for Christmas this year and while we dearly missed our family back home it was so nice and relaxing to not have pack, travel, repack, etc... There is something so peaceful about waking up in your own home on Christmas morning. The fact that we didn't have to wait long to visit my parents may have helped too. They came over on the 26th and visited for a few days while the boys were in Clarkston with their Grandma and Aunt. It is always so much fun for us when they visit!!! They kids all got far too many things as usual! With all the relatives they have we (Terry and I) could almost get away with not buying them anything at all. It was hard to recieve SO MUCH when there are so many people out there hurting right now. It was amazing to see the kids really appreciate what they have and be aware of the fact that they are blessed and there are others out there that don't have so much. I often marvel at how intuitive children are. They teach me just as much as I teach them, if not more!

We enter 2010 with with excitment for all that is to come. We know that this year just as any other will come with it's share of joy and sorrows, great times and days that we would like to forget but that is what makes life so incredible!!! May God bless you all this year!!! Happy 2010 from the Sanchez's!

Halloween 2009

First off I have to laugh at the fact that I posted my Elf video before I actually got Halloween pics up, but hey, that's my life. I do everything a little backward.

They're pretty cute huh? We found a neighborhood up in the south hills that we snuck into to trick or treat. 30 minutes and 5 king size candy bars later we were done!!!

EXCITING NEWS! Well, for all of you who don't already know this Terry was offered and accepted a new job working as a sales manager for the Northwest Territory for Kimberly Clarke/Jackson Safety. His official first day was on Monday but he doesn't finish up at Norco until Friday. Basically they are paying him to sit around and wait for his computer, phone, credit cards and NEW CAR to show up! They will then begin to train him before sending him out into the great unknown! Can't beat that! The job has been a huge blessing for us in this uncertain economic time. It is something that Terry has always really enjoyed and excelled it and it is a chance for him to continue to "move up". One of the really exciting parts of this job is that they will pay for him to go to school to complete his bachelors degree, something that he has been wanting to do since we met. The new job will unfortunately include traveling but pretty manageable (home every Fri-Mon with travel 2 out of 4 weeks a month) as far a travel jobs go. He will be covering MT, ID and eastern WA which means that in the summer the weeks he spends in MT will now also get to include us visiting with him. We are very excited for this new journey! Please keep our family in your prayers. We need peace, smooth transition and energy as we are about to put our house on the market (AHH!). I will keep you posted as we learn more and get settled into all the newness.

Love to you all! The holidays are quickly approaching - yeah! Remember in all the hustle and bustle to always remember the reason for the season! God Bless!

~Amy

It's that time of year again!!!

Hee hee hee!!!! Always good for a laugh! Go check it out!!!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/2CgUasEL08rrK2kQ2pgs

Love, Amy