This is not your Grandaddy's Cruise... Oh, wait IT IS- Houston

Anniversary Cruise 2016- Caribbean Princess

Houston Traffic Strikes Again

Houston, TX

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Disclaimer 

Chris and I have become true cruise addicts and we have completed 6 cruises thus far. In the summer of 2015 we noticed a major Houston news story that mentioned the Port of Houston closing in April 2016 due to the 2 major cruise lines of Princess and NCL pulling out and not renewing their port of embarkation contract with the Port of Houston. Chris and I have only cruised on Carnival and Royal Caribbean and have always wanted to try other cruise lines and we took this as a sign to get on board. We looked into and saw that a Spring Break cruise aboard the Caribbean Princess was actually cheaper than both Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships in Galveston traveling to the same ports. We booked this cruise in August 2015 and have been anxiously waiting to get on board a new cruise line. This lovely floating resort took us to the following destinations: 

Cozumel, Mexico
Mahogany Bay, Isla de Roatan- Honduras
Belize City, Belize

This cruise was all about trying a new cruise line and "escaping COMPLETELY" from our busy and hectic teaching and parenting lives.  This will be a multiple entry blog about not only our 7 days at sea but a food blog (Revamped style) from each of our perspectives, a side by side by side comparison of the 3 cruise lines, a pictorial review of The Caribbean Princess and a few more. Thank you SO MUCH to all my followers... without you the blog would not be as popular as it is today! Be sure to check back as these posts come through in the next few days and weeks. 

Embarkation Day

After living in Houston for nearly 5 years I have become accustomed to the never ending traffic but I had no idea it would delay my cruise... 

Morning

The day we had been looking forward to for the past 8 months had arrived and we were ready to see what all Princess had to offer. We collected all of our bags and double checked so we didn’t make the same mistake as we did on the MAGIC (Click link for more details) and forget all of our formal attire. We had it all but I knew we were forgetting something and then it dawned on me that I did not buy a small fan like I had planned to since on ALL of our past cruises the room has been hot. We made a quick stop at Chris’s parents’ house to borrow a fan of theirs and we were on the road by 8:30AM. This turned out to be the best decision we made the whole cruise as our room was in fact HOT but thanks to this little camping fan we slept comfortably the entire cruise. If you are a hot sleeper or just like to be cool as you sleep, go and get a small 12" box fan and take it with you! Otherwise it may be REALLY HOT!  Thank you Dan and Jackie for letting us borrow this fan! A true life-saver!

We made a small pit-stop about halfway to the terminal at a local Starbucks to get some caffeine as neither Chris nor I sleep well the night before a cruise as we are giddy with excitement. We arrived at the Bayport Cruise Terminal at the Port of Houston at 10:07AM and were parked by 10:10AM. This cruise terminal is REALLY nice and very well laid out. The parking lot is literally at the port and owned by the cruise terminal which is part of the Port of Houston. It is not all paved but the fact that it is within a few hundred feet from the actual terminal is amazing. The cost is $75/ week if paid ahead of time and $85/ week if paid when you arrive. This is a little higher price tag than most parking lots in Galveston but again, the easiness of this made it all worth it. This is so much nicer than the Galveston terminal which does not have its own parking lot and uses local businesses for parking. This was so much better and easier and I just wish Princess and NCL were not pulling out of the Port of Houston this year so we could continue to cruise out of this terminal.

The 1st look we had of this somewhat beautiful ship! 

As we got closer we were able to see more of her beauty!

We were able to walk our luggage from our parking spot to the terminal and drop it off by 10:20AM and then get into the security line which was about 30-40 people deep at this point. They opened up the security check points and metal detectors at 10:30AM exactly. We had our 2 bottles of 750ml wine in our bags and they never asked us to pull them out or even look at them. On both Carnival and Royal Caribbean we have been asked to pull them out and they inspect them before we take them on board. I was surprised they didn’t inspect them or even look at them since this was Spring Break cruise. This could be because the terminal is only open for the next month or so and they are being lenient or maybe they just don't care … either way, I was shocked we got by so easy with our wine.

A view of the parking lot from the Lido deck of the ship. 

Once we got to the check-in counter we got all checked in and got our magic key cards by 10:37AM. We noticed that they did not take a picture of us which was a security measure that both Carnival and Royal Caribbean did. We also noticed that we did not get a sticker that some of the other guests did. We asked a worker and she said that the stickers were traffic measures. Those guests who have forward rooms have stickers and those without are staying in aft rooms. It was an interesting way to direct traffic but I think it worked as the elevators and area we board were not crowded at all. We also noticed that they did not give us the daily newsletter “Princess Patter” as we checked in. This would have made passing the time to board a LOT easier. I did not like not knowing what was going on.

We were all checked in and just waiting to board the Caribbean Princess!

Once we were all checked in we got a Group 2 boarding card which meant that once all of the Back-to-Back, which turned out to be 660+ guests, and the Elite/ Diamond groups were called, we would be the next group to board the vessel. They started making announcements at 11:29AM and by 11:41AM we were on the Caribbean Princess.

We immediately went to find our room and put our luggage away. Unlike Carnival or Royal Caribbean, our rooms were ready when we boarded and we really liked having this perk automatically. We dumped our luggage and headed towards the Coral Main Dining Room for embarkation lunch. This was nice to be able to actually sit down and dine and not be rushed and pushed in the buffet area. The food was very good and right off the bat we were impressed with their offerings, service and overall food quality. Be sure to check out this dining opportunity if you want more of a quiet lunch atmosphere.

The Coral Dining Room... a lovely enclosed space! The Caribbean Princess offered 3 main dining rooms all of which were identical and felt very crowded as we are used to the 2-3 story open feeling. 

Afternoon

After our dining room lunch we decided to check out the much talked about Piazza on deck 5-7 and the 24/7 International Café and Coffee Bar. The Piazza was very nice and laid out well but it was not near as nice or extravagant as the atrium areas on the Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships we have cruised. We were underwhelmed to say the least. The International Café was a 24 hour café that offered anything from breakfasts to sandwiches to fancy desserts. We were impressed with their offerings and quick service and this became a ritual for us over the next few days. Be sure to check out the International Café soon in your cruise as their selections change daily.

A view of the Piazza from Deck 7... This is where the musicians played daily. 

The International Cafe offerings for Embarkation Day. 

The pastry offerings... Yummy donuts and delights! 

The International Cafe is located on deck 5 (Piazza) mid-ship. 

More offerings in the International Cafe. 

As a tradition of ours we decided to make our own ship tour and really get a good feel of the ship before the cruise actually started. We were able to check out the middle and upper decks and see all FOUR pools that were on the Caribbean Princess. The amount of pools made the layout of the ship a little weird but we got used to it by the end of the voyage. Soon after that we decided it was time for more food… what else do you do when on a cruise ship, right? We went to the Café Caribe for their lunch buffet and had some of the best scallops I have EVER had and we knew within minutes that this was a buffet WAY ABOVE the other cruise ship buffets we have had. The food was fresh, crisp and actually had FLAVOR. Be sure to check out the Café Caribe and Horizon Court buffet areas… even if you are like us and not really buffet people.

The Aft Pool on deck 14. The Skywalkers NightClub hanging above made for PERFECT amount of shade throughout the day. 

Another view of the aft pool from deck 16. The aft pool was for adults only which was a very nice added touch. 

A view of the Neptune mid-ship pool. This was a pool for families and children. 

A view of the Sanctuary (adults only) area and the Spa pool in the forward area of the ship. 

The "Princess Links" golf course... if you can call it that! Unfortunately, Chris and I were NOT able to play our golf game this trip since this is all they offered. 

We love exploring the ship!
Overlooking the Houston Ship Channel in the background!

This was at the forward of the ship overlooking the Neptune Pool. 

Selfie #1 of the trip... At the Calypso Pool (MUTS pool)! 

We continued our ship tour and went up to the highest, and most difficult area to find, on the ship, Skywalkers Night Club on deck 18. This is only accessible from the very back "aft elevators" and only the middle 2 of 4 take you up that high. It was a completely enclosed nightclub with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the aft and the wake of this ship. It even had a conveyor belt style of ramp leading up to the dance floor. It was really neat area to spend the afternoon in and read a book and a very lively nightclub once the sun went down.

Shortly after this we took a Spa Tour and learn all about the Lotus Spa offerings for the week. One of these days we will splurge the $150-200 PER PERSON and get spa treatments and messages but not this time. The spa area was great and very well laid out. The fitness center was a great size but the treadmills were directly above passenger cabins below and they were only available from 8AM-8PM which was a little frustrating, especially since this ship did not have a jogging track either. Needless to say, I would not book a cabin on deck 15 forward on the Caribbean Princess.

Chilling out at the Thermal Spa area... ONE OF THESE DAYS! 

The treadmill area in the fitness center.
Plenty of treadmills but since everyone had to wait until 8am; they filled up FAST!

The spa pool was small but had covered shade areas... We spent a LOT of time here!

The Caribbean Princess also offered an adults only retreat called The Sanctuary but it was for an additional fee. Guests could pay $20 for a half day entrance or $40 for all day entrance. This entitled them to a deluxe chaise lounger, shade, deluxe spa towels, special spa water as well as some other amenities. This seemed great but I was annoyed that it cost $20-40. Especially as a fair skinned red-head, I wanted the shade and retreat but I was not willing to pay the extra fee. Throughout the whole cruise we never saw more than 6 people in there at a time.

The water offered in The Sanctuary. 

You could even have your massage within the canopies inside The Sanctuary. 

In front of the Sanctuary... It was WINDY!

We knew we would be setting sail soon so we went back to our room to unpack all of our suitcases. This was a larger inside cabin and was well over 185 SQFT. Despite being an inside cabin it had the most closet and shelf space of any cruise ship cabin we have ever stayed in. Plus the layout of the room was very well thought out and allowed for lots of extra space. This may actually be our favorite cabin ever. The Grand Princess class ships only have about 6 of these cabins on each ship and are “sideways” inside cabins. If you are looking to book an inside on these ships be sure to look for these cabins as they are not to be missed.

Our home for the next 7 days... Good thing it was AWESOME!

A view of the bed area... This room was MASSIVE for an inside category!
It says on the brochure it is 185 SQFT but I think it could actually be bigger! 

This was taken from the bed... LARGE closets, and shelves/ cabinets under the TV. 

We headed up to deck 17 forward for the sail away and we heard the Captain come on over the announcements saying our sailing would be not happen until 6PM instead of 4PM due to “delayed embarkation processes”. This made me a little nervous as I knew the Houston Ship channel has had all kinds of issues the past year and we even knew someone on the same cruise as us who was only sailing on this voyage because their original voyage was cancelled due to a wreck in the channel earlier in 2015. We went back to our chaise loungers in the shade and even missed the Muster Station drill by accident. Later I went and got us checked off the muster list and we just sat back and enjoyed the ships atmosphere before our first dining room dinner.

I might as well prop my feet up...we  aren't going anywhere anytime soon! 

One last selfie before we go to eat... I am loving this ship!

Evening

As we got back to our room to change for dinner I decided to do some investigative reporting and called the Guest Services to ask why we were going to be delayed. Of course the agent who answered the phone gave me the same “forced” answer she did everyone so I just asked to speak to a manager. He too tried to give me a textbook answer but I kept asking more and more questions until he finally gave in. He told me that a ship carrying our fuel for the week was delayed in “Houston Traffic” as he said and we would be sailing shortly. He also laughed saying “Mrs. Davis, you must be an experienced cruiser to ask so many questions”. Why yes sir… I am and I wanted to be sure I would have 1 more cruise in my experience. Thank you kind sir for answering my questions! I feel better about our voyage.  

Time for our 1st dinner aboard the Caribbean Princess! 

We went to dinner still not having set sail and it was past 6PM. We did finally set sail from the Port of Houston at 6:23PM and both Chris and I felt better almost immediately knowing that our cruise had finally begun. Once again, Houston traffic showed its UGLY head and delayed our journey to Cozumel. Gosh... I just HATE HOUSTON TRAFFIC! Once we finished dinner we went to the promenade deck expecting to see open Gulf waters but we saw lights from what turned out to be oil refineries from Texas City and even Galveston lights.

The sun setting over the bay as we pulled away. 

We were just leaving the channel... you can see a buoy in the background! 

The lights in the distance are Galveston Island. 

We headed to the Welcome Aboard show for a comedian who turned out to be not as funny as I would have hoped for, especially on opening night, but I laughed nonetheless. After the show we went to the Prego Pizza for what is hailed as the “Best Pizza at sea” and it proved to be true. It was incredible brick oven baked pizza with hot and fresh toppings. Be sure to try it out early in your cruise as it will be come a daily ritual.

The Caribbean Princess did not offer as many trivia games as we like and the one they did offer were at night but we opted to go to the Hollywood Faces trivia at 9:45PM. This was a neat game of “guess who” but we did not do well. We did notice that Princess offered a bottle of champagne as prizes instead of key-chains and hats. I personally would like a memento or keepsake instead of booze but it was a very nice gesture.

Finally we decided to go to Skywalkers Nightclub and have an evening of dancing and fun. It was here that they offered a Buy One, Get One $1 daily happy hour. This was a GREAT deal as the drinks were $8.95 and then a 2^nd one for just $1. This made the total, with the required 15% gratuity, $11.44 for TWO drinks. They offered this deal daily at 4-5PM in the Club Fusion and 10-11PM at Skywalkers Nightclub. If you enjoy a good drink, be sure to check it out as it is not to be missed. The strobe and disco lights of the dance club and the near 100% windows gave me a headache so we did not last very long at the nightclub before retiring for the evening at 11:30PM. Once we got back to our room we noticed the next day’s “Princess Patter” daily newsletter and chocolates on our pillows. This was a nice added touch but I much would have preferred the Patters earlier in the evening. As I have mentioned in previous cruise blogs, we are not in our twenties anymore and we were tired.

No budget cuts with this cruise line... They still offer the nightly chocolates on your pillow! 

Tomorrow is our first day at sea and we are ready to do… well NOTHING! That was the whole idea!

Next Up… Sea Day #1
Thanks for following along!

God is Good… All the time! 

Only HALF Crazy... Part 1- Training

Blood, Sweat and Tears... LOTS of them

Spring 2016 

Disclaimer: I have a TERRIBLE memory and wanted to write down my thought process for this Half Marathon training and how I felt physically, mentally and emotionally as I prepared to run 13.1 miles. This is one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. 

In March 2016 I ran my very 1st Half Marathon. I am not a runner, like at all, but my husband is and in 2015 after he did "26 point freakin' 2" miles at his full marathon, I decided I could become a runner too. Within weeks, we had purchased a treadmill to use indoors as I quickly learned that I do not like running in the cold (or hot/humid) temperatures. My body would happily take running indoors in 68* temps instead of the balmy 45-55* we were facing in winter 2015. I later found out this was a true blessing as June and July showed it's ugly head with 90* temps and 100% humidity at 6:00AM. The treadmill was a MAJOR investment and it has paid for itself and then some. 

I began running on the treadmill daily in April 2015 and began my running routine. I had signed up for the Diva Run 5K with my sister in late April and this gave me a tool to train with and an event to train for. I had never ran in a race and my sister had ran in many. I used a program called "Couch to 5K" which was an 8 week program to get me from the couch to my race. By the time race day came in late April I was ready to go. I easily finished my first 5K and race on the coast in Galveston and for the first time felt the "runner's high". I came home from that trip and told Chris "I could be a runner. I think I might race again". I could tell he was immediately excited as I was now sharing a passion of his. During the month of April 2015 I ran 33.05 miles total. 

From that point on I decided I would continue to run and race and I continued my training daily on my treadmill at 5:00AM. Towards the end of May as I was adding up my monthly miles on the treadmill I noticed I was able to run  nearly 48 miles just in one month. I starting talking with Chris and he said "I bet you could run 50 in June. And I think you could run the Half Marathon in March". Challenge ACCEPTED (Y'all KNOW I am competitive)! I knew right then and there I was going to run a Half Marathon. I never back down from a dare or a challenge. During the Month of May 2015 I ran 47.54 miles total.  

So during the month of June I ran over 51 miles, despite being on a cruise ship for 7 days. I continued this with the same amount of miles in July and August. As the 2015-2016 school year approached I slowed it down a little bit but was still training for what would now be The Woodlands Half Marathon in March 2016. 

June- 51.08 miles 

July- 55.88 miles 

August- 43.79 (my 1st 10+ mile run... on the treadmill of course, it was 100*+) 

September- 38.97

Chris and I signed up for the Houston Half 10K in October to run together but unfortunately, it got cancelled due to weather. This turned out to be a blessing because at the time Chris was still suffering from a knee injury that had happened in the fall. I still ran my 10K in the neighborhood that morning but I was still yearning for that RACE DAY feeling. 

October- 29.48 miles 

November- 28.12 miles 

(our 4 day cruise #TriumphantThanksgiving put a kink in my training... but it was worth it)

I continued running daily 1-1.5 miles and longer 3-4 miles on the weekends. I found a training plan that I thought I could stick with and I was officially training for my Half Marathon by December 12th. 

My Training Plan

I stuck with this the best I could. The long runs on the weekend were usually FIRM but the weekday light runs were not as consistent. 

Week 1- December 13-19, 2015- 7.5 total miles 

This was the last week of school before the Christmas Break and I was already physically and mentally exhausted so I just continued with my daily 1 mile run. I also ran 4.5 miles leading up to the 1st week of the training plan so I did not run on the weekend like I normally would. 

Week 2- December 20-26, 2015- 5.67 total miles

We were officially on Christmas break during this week so I ran more daily than I would have during school simply because I had time to do so and for this reason I did not follow the training plan exactly. 

Happy Christmas Eve... I got my 1.57 miles in! 

Now it is time to EAT! 

Total miles for December 2015- 30.15!

Week 3- December 27, 2015- January 2, 2016- 13.36 total miles

This too was another week of vacation and I was pushing full force to train as much as I could before we got back to the daily grind. Most of these runs were on my treadmill as it was still too cold to run outside. 

2016 started with a BANG... 5 miles! 

Week 4- January 3- January 9, 2016- 13.12 total miles

The week going back to school killed me and I skipped one day in the training plan. I do not think it hurt my training too much. 

January 6th- 4 miles on treadmill

I got up at 4:45AM only to find out it was raining so I ran 4 miles at 4:30PM after work... WOW, it was hard! I will need to hydrate more if I am going to continue to run after school. 

January 9th- 6.1 miles 

My 1st "official" outdoor/ weekend long run of my training. This was HARD... It is all mental for me but this just about killed me. Thinking that I have to DOUBLE this in just 7 short weeks has me really worried. 

Week 5- January 10- January 18, 2016-19.2 total miles

I pushed my longer (7 mile) run to Monday as it was MLK day and a holiday from school so I would have extra time to recover. This meant my Week 6 weekday runs were lighter too.

January 18th- 7.05 miles
This run was not that bad while I was doing it but I was REALLY sore and tired afterwards. 
I ate lots of carbs and protein the night before and I think that rally helped during the run!

Week 6- January 19-23, 2016- 12.0 total miles
My weekday runs were lighter as I would have 2 long runs within 5 days of each other.

January 23rd- 8.10 miles 
I did this on my treadmill as the temps were in the low 30's in the morning.
It was a struggle but I did it! I was VERY dehydrated after this run and felt TERRIBLE for the next 36-48 hours! I did not drink enough water!

Week 7- January 24-30, 2016- 15.33 miles

 January 25th- 4.03 miles 
This seemed hard at first but got better as I continued to run. I really pushed hard to try and beat a 12:00/ mile pace but averaged 12:08 per mile. For a MONDAY, I was VERY pleased!

January 26th- 1.1 miles 
Did this on my treadmill in the morning. Went well... should have done MORE! 

January 28th- 1.06 miles 
This was supposed to be a 3-4 mile jog but we had a personal/ family emergency and I had to tend to that situation instead of do my long jog. I am now wondering if the smaller jogs leading up to a longer run is better FOR ME. We will see how Week 8/ 10 mile jog goes. 

 January 30th- 9.14 miles 
This run was INCREDIBLE. I was able to RUN the ENTIRE time... like no lie! I stopped 2 times for water/ Gatorade and Gu but the rest was jogging. AND I  was able to complete this run with an under 12:00/ mile pace! This was the run I needed and hope I can do it again in 5 weeks! I ate LOTS of carbs (lasagna and Blue Bell Ice Cream) the night before, got lots of rest and tried out a new "endurance" pill from my friend Jacqueline. 

Total Miles for January 2016- 63.63!!!

Week 8- February 1-7, 2016- 16.58 miles
This week I was supposed to run 5/3/5 on the weekdays and I knew I would not be able to do that but I had no idea how much of a struggle this week would be. I ended up having a week full of stomach troubles and was in pain and nauseous every day.

February 1, 2016- 2.04 miles
This run was BRUTAL as I had a throbbing pain in my lower right leg (cankle really) and it hurt with EVERY step, run or walk. I was planning on doing 4 miles but I just couldn't. It was 78* and humid plus I only had a banana and cashews for lunch. This was a wake-up call that LONG afternoon jogs just may not be possible. I am hoping the heating pad, ice and rest will heal it until Wednesday where I need to run AT LEAST 3 miles. I also learned through this run that I need NEW running shoes! Hello Fleet Feet!

February 3, 2016- 3.0 miles 
The pain in my leg was better but my stomach was in knots so I just did 3.0 miles and they were awful. Don't let the forced smile fool you!

February 4, 2016- 1.5 miles 
I was still not feeling well so I just did 1.5 again to try to help relieve my stomach issues but I was still miserable all day. 

February 6, 2016- 10.04 miles 
I felt like I could throw-up at any point but I knew I HAD to run these 10 so I just did them on my treadmill. They were not easy but I was able to pound them out. Unfortunately, I was still ill afterwards and the rest of my weekend was spoiled because of it BUT... I did it! 

Week 9- February 8-13, 2016- 10.5 miles
Monday, February 8, 2016- 1.5 miles 
I went to the doctor on this day and was FINALLY feeling better and on the recovery track. I was hoping my next few runs would be back to normal. 

Tuesday, February 9, 2016- 1.5 miles 
I was still in pain from the stomach issues and didn't sleep well so shortened this run too. In hindsight I wish I would have just done the full 3 miles I was supposed to. I played a LOT of mental games with myself as I progressed in this training! For next time (IF there is a next time) I will just DO IT! 

Wednesday, February 10, 2016- 1.5 miles
I was leaving for my annual TMEA trip on this day and still was not feeling well and was nauseous all night so I took it easy since I had a 5 hour car trip on this day. 

Saturday, February 13, 2016- 6 miles 
The whole business trip I was sick with stomach problems and did not sleep very well (4 hours or less a night) so I decided to forego the 11 miles that was in the training plan and just do 6 on my treadmill. In the long run I think it was a good idea as I began to start feeling better the next few days. Maybe I was just pushing myself too much!

Week 10- February 14-20, 2016- 18.02
Monday-Thursday, February 15 to 18th- 1.5 miles daily (6 miles total) 
I was still not feeling well and woke up almost every morning with nausea and indigestion. Plus I was still not sleeping well so I decided to forego the longer runs and just make it simple all week. I did still get my miles in so I felt good about it.

Yeah... I was exhausted!

Saturday, February 20, 2016- 12.02 miles 
I was feeling somewhat better but not 100% but woke up at 4:30AM so I just got out there and ran the 12 miles I was supposed to. It was LONG and hard and there was a LOT of walking but I conquered it! I did it in under 3 hours total with small stops for bathroom and water so I felt confident that I would beat the sub 3:30 time I wanted on the Half Marathon in 2 weeks.

Week 11- February 21- 27, 2016- 9.5
Monday- Wednesday, February 22-24, 2016- 1.5 miles daily (4.5 miles total) 
I was feeling MUCH better but the shorter jogs daily really worked for me so I continued this and threw the training plan out the window.

Saturday, February 27, 2016- 5 miles
I did this on my treadmill as it was below 40* on Saturday morning and I just wanted to get it done and not wait for warmer temps. It was somewhat of a struggle but I was happy with the run and my last LONG run before the Half Marathon.

RACE WEEK
Week 12- February 28-March 5, 2016- 18.39
Monday- Tuesday, February 29-March 1st- 1.5 miles daily (3.0 miles total) 
This system worked out greatly the past 2 weeks so "If it ain't broke don't fix it".

Wednesday, March 2nd- 1.5 miles 
This was my last "early morning" run before the Half Marathon and as exhausted as I was... It was good to know I NEVER HAD to get up early and run again (unless I wanted to, of course)!

Total Miles for February 2016- 57.60.!!!


Pre-Race Day
I took Friday, March 4 off from school so I could rest and relax the day before the race and NOT have to be on my feet all day. I attended the Health Expo at the Marriott Convention Center and it was awesome. I was able to get lots of questions answered and get some great goodies. It was finally beginning to feel REAL... Which meant I was getting more and more nervous. I picked up my BIB and my race day packet and I was ready for RACE DAY.

I went for a drive before the Expo so I could get a better look at the course.
I was able to see the traffic signs informing residents of closures. 

Here is my MAGIC number and OF COURSE my Nickname... which is EVER SO FITTING! 

Today... That is ME! I feel special!

I listened to the Race Director's talk about the 2016 Full and Half Marathon courses. I loved being able to have him describe each turn. I enjoyed this 30 minute talk.


I had ran 154.38 miles in the 12 week training plan alone and well over 430 miles from (June 2015 to Race Day) in preparation for this race and it is time to get out there and show myself what I am made of! No matter how I felt at the time and the MASSIVE amount of butterflies in my stomach... I HAD to get out there and run those 13.1 miles! I CAN DO it!

Race Day came and I was more nervous than ever but knew no matter what I had to push on and persevere. I was ready to tackle these 13.1 miles... CHECK OUT PART 2 of ONLY HALF CRAZY . 

A HUGE shout out to my husband Chris who was so supportive and stood by me from the very beginning. Also to my parents who came down from Tyler to help cheer me on and were part of the BEST spectator sections PERHAPS ever! Plus my in-laws took the kids in on Friday night so we could get some much needed rest and not have to wake them up so early to get to the race. Without all of these MAJOR supporters I would not have been able to even participate in the Half Marathon let alone FINISH!

It was an amazing day and I am grateful to my Lord and Savior for allowing me the opportunity to run in this life changing event! 

God is good... All the time! 

Moving Forward... Part 2- The Healing Process

Let the Healing Begin... But now we wait

February 2016 

The entire month of February I had felt not 100% and sometimes just down right SICK! I went to the doctor a total of 3 times within the month and found out that the nasal spray, Afrin, I was using and addicted to had caused me to develop some severe stomach pains and I had now developed a case of acid reflux, amoungst other health issues and side effects that come with using this medicine continuously over the course of 18+ months. The Clinic doctor gave me a steroid shot and prescribed some medications for these issues and took some blood samples. I was still thinking "It is just a bug" or "I am just nervous and anxious about _____(1/2 marathon in March). This will pass". The doctor assured me that this was not a "bug" but something else and perhaps something MAJOR. 

On Friday, February 19th I went to the Clinic to have them take my blood and despite drinking over 70 oz of water right before I went in, the nurse was still not able to find a vein and take my blood. She even had the PA come in and try and he could not take it either. This was the second day of them poking me trying to get my blood with no luck and I was running out of patience. They sent me down to Conroe to go to a Labcorp since they "poke 100's of people a day" as the nurse said. I hurried down to Conroe, on my planning time mind you, to get this whole thing over with. I was already feeling better than the previous 2 weeks but just wanted closure. Of course, the very 1st poke the technician was able to find a vein and get the blood samples they needed. 

The rest of that weekend and even the following week I felt much better and close to 100%. In fact, I even ran the furthest I have ever ran at 12+ miles. I was still not sleeping very well at all with only 5-6.5 hours a night but I was able to eat more foods and I was drinking 100-150 oz of water per day, which is well over my recommended amount. On Friday, February 26th I went back into the clinic to get the lab results. I had looked at them the night before and nothing popped out as bad and nothing was flagged RED in the computer system. When I got to the clinic the nurse took my blood pressure and pulse and it was all perfect. I expected to just shake the PA's hand and leave this whole mess behind me.  Little did I know what was coming! 

As I arrived that morning the PA went over all of my results and pointed out an additional test he ordered for H. pylori gut bacteria. I had never heard of this but he said it is a spiral bacteria one can get from traveling to a 3rd world country or from eating local/ uncleaned fruits and vegetables or even from a local restaurant. This bacteria forms in your stomach and causes the acid to sit in the stomach and can cause 1) peptic acid disease 2) stomach ulcers 3) tissue movement and even 4) esophagus or stomach CANCER. Of course the PA gave me all of this information as a broad diagnoses but imagine my surprise as I thought this was a "closure" visit and not a whole new ballgame. 

He explained the H. pylori more and let me know that the H. Pylori M that tests if I have that bacteria NOW came back as negative but the H. pylori A/G that test for past exposure was "HIGH". This means that I was exposed to this bacteria at some point in the past 3-5 years. He also explained that patients can test high or positive for H. pylori for up to 18 months after they have been exposed and this bacteria can live in your stomach for YEARS without any symptoms being exposed. 

He referred me to a GI specialist and said this specialist might want to do a Endoscopy procedure, biopsy or even a colonoscopy (At 33 years of age... AHHHH?!). I left the clinic with mixed emotions. I was scared, nervous, sad, emotional and confused. At first I thought about just shrugging it off since this PA is a true "QUACK" by definition but after talking to my daddy I decided that I should schedule the GI appointment. As my daddy said "Even a QUACK gets one right sometimes". 

I came back to my campus and asked my campus nurse her thoughts. She had suffered ulcers in the past and had an experienced opinion so I trusted what she had to say. Despite feeling better the past week she advised me to make the appointment. I called and the earliest appointment this GI doctor's office offered was March 23rd so now... the waiting part. This is always the HARDEST part and where I struggle the most. In the meantime I am going to monitor any pains or issues and I am going to really strive to stick with an acid reflux diet (no citrus, few tomatoes, no spicy) as best I can. Of course, I do have stress factors like a 13.1 mile run/ Half Marathon and crazy school issues thrown in there before then. Plus Chris and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary on  a 7 day Caribbean cruise as well (No stress... maybe this will be my FULL healing) the week before the appointment. 

I am very anxiously awaiting this appointment as I literally have no idea what to expect and what will be the outcome. But I am confident that no matter the outcome God will help me along the way. 2 Timothy 1:7 says "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind". I do not know what this specialist will do or recommend but I know God will not give me anything I cannot handle without also giving me the strength to do so. 

Please remember to keep me in your prayers as this March 23rd date approaches. I am very nervous and anxious about the whole ordeal. Once again, I am reminded of an old hymn which encourages us to lay all of our care on Him: 

I cast all my care upon You 

I lay all of my burdens, down at Your feet

And anytime, I don't know what to do 

I will cast all my cares upon You

Thank You Jesus for yet another opportunity to trust you. 

God is good... All the time!

Hello, My Name is Kellie Davis and I am an "AFRIN-aholic"

Yes... I am was addicted to Nasal Spray

Part 1: The Backstory

February 2016

Yes... I am addicted to Nasal Spray and trying to get off this addiction. I have been tired, weak and sick for the better part of 2-3 weeks and finally went to the doctor, for a second time, and while explaining my symptoms and etc. said I was addicted to Afrin and almost immediately, the doctor said that this issue could be what is causing all of my pain and discomfort right now. So... The next 2 weeks will be HARD but I have to overcome this... for my health!

Disclaimer: 

Plexus

I was continuing my Plexus regimen of Plexus Slim, BioCleanse and ProBio5. In fact, I tried NOT taking these Plexus products for a few days and desperately needed them so I went back to taking them. They have been cleared by my doctor as well as the clinic doctor as safe and I have been taking them for well over 2 years. I will continue to take them during this journey! 

So here is the backstory:

In November 2014 I had a major head cold and sinus infection, as usual for that time of year in Houston. I went to the district well clinic and the doctor informed me of my condition and gave me a steroid shot. Within a few days I felt better but I was still having some nasal congestion. I called the doctor and he advised a nasal spray such as Afrin. I DID read the package and it said "do not use for more than 3 days". Well, long story-short... I have been using ever since (15-16 months). At first I used 3-4 times a day and then in the fall of 2015 I tried to quit, knowing this could not be healthy. It was then that I learned that it is very easy to get addicted to Afrin; however, I did now know at this time what the medicine in Afrin would do to someone's "insides". I went 2 days without my Afrin and I just could not take it anymore... I was crazy congested and I could not breath through my nose at night which was aggravating and did not allow me to sleep. I gave in and began to use again but this time just in the morning and evening. I felt good about reducing my quantity of times used. Later in December 2015, I tried to quit again by combining the Afrin with simple saline spray and hoping I could just wean myself off of it but no luck. It was at this point I realized the TRUE MENTAL addiction. I would jokingly tell people I was addicted and never really thought much about it, knowing I NEEDED to quit and SOON.

In December 2015 I began a training program to run a Half Marathon in March 2016. Due to this major life event (for me at least), I just didn't want to have to deal with the 5-7 day "addiction-breaking process". Right after my Half Marathon, Chris and I will be going on a 10-year Anniversary cruise on a new cruise line so once again, my habit will have to get broken AFTER that! Or at least I thought.

I had trained for about 7 weeks and endured long, hard and early morning runs. In fact, on January 30th I ran 9 miles WITHOUT stopping. NEVER in my wildest dreams did I think I would EVER be able to do that. I usually have to stop and walk for a short period of time on practically ALL my runs. I was feeling AMAZING! Then it hit me like a ton of BRICKS!

February 1st

I tried to run 4 miles after school and I just didn't have it in me. I was only able to finish 2 before I literally got sick with pain both in my legs and stomach area.

February 2nd

The next day I had some stomach cramps and was nauseated all day. I wondered what could be wrong but figured it was a stomach bug of some sorts since they were going around. I did not sleep very well this night but again just assumed I had a stomach bug.

February 3rd-7th

These days were much of the same with lots of nausea and stomach pains. I was physically weak and very tired. Most of these nights I was only getting 5-6 hours of sleep and I would wake up in the middle of the night anxious and somewhat scared or worried. Of what? I do not know. On February 6th I did run 10 miles on my treadmill and that took a HARD toll on my already worn out body. This was part of my long run training and I debated about not doing it but I knew the following week I had an out-of-town conference and fitting my long jogs, if not all of my jogs, into my schedule would be difficult so I just pounded it out. The day after my 10 miles I was really weak and tired. The beginning signs of dehydration were showing up but I just didn't feel like drinking water or eating at all.

February 8th

I decided since I was going out of town I would go to our FREE district health clinic and try to get something to kill this "bug" as I thought it was. The doctor asked me several questions and listened to lots of body parts and even did a urine sample test. But everything was negative  (even the pregnancy test... I know you are all thinking that and I was too but NO SURPRISE for us) and after poking around at my colon he told me I was constipated. My descending colon was impacted and blocked. He told me to take a suppository for 3 days and I should be fine. I kinda thought this was a crazy diagnosis but took it for what it was worth and that evening began the remedy process. The suppository didn't work so I took just regular laxative pills and they seemed to help.

February 9th-12th

These days were much of the same as I still didn't feel 100% and was losing a LOT of sleep over this condition diagnosed as constipation. While I was at my conference I would feel fine 1 day and then "crummy" the next. A friend of mine thought maybe it was indigestion as I was beginning to feel less nauseated and more bloated. Plus I was feeling like there was something heavy in my throat or upper stomach. We made a quick trip to a drug-store and got some Alka-Seltzer and I DID feel better. I was not taking laxative pills anymore but I was taking Citrucel as prescribed by my doctor to help with the lower GI tract problem. 

February 13th

I woke up early this morning with extreme nausea and had several moments of dry heaving just trying to "throw-up" so I could feel better (That is the general rule, right?) but I didn't have any luck. I was supposed to run 11 miles in my training plan on this day but I spent most of the morning just laying around VERY weak. I tried to drink water but was just nauseated at that too. Around 1PM I felt better so I decided to run 6 miles on my treadmill as the training program was on the forefront of my mind and had me worried and anxious throughout this whole process.

February 14th-15th

I felt back to normal, maybe not 100% but definitely at least 85% and not as weak, I was able to eat REAL food on these days and again felt like I was on the mend.

February 16th

I woke up again with extreme nausea and was incredibly dizzy. In fact, I tried to jog on my treadmill and was dizzy the whole time. I only did 1 mile instead of the 3 I was supposed to do. The drive to work was literally scary as I was REALLY dizzy. Luckily, by the Grace of God, I made it to my school fine. I felt like I could throw-up all morning and was VERY dizzy. I went to our school nurse around 10AM to have her check my blood pressure and it was a near perfect 123/82. Despite trying to eat lunch I was still dizzy at 2PM so I went back to the nurse to have her check my blood pressure again and it was 130/82, so higher than normal (for me) but still healthy. I explained my symptoms to her and she said it was more than likely stress and acid re-flux but suggested if it did not get better to go back to the clinic and have them draw blood. She kept asking me about prescriptions and medicines I was taking. I do not take meds except for Plexus and birth control. Then one of my near and dear teacher friends overheard and stepped in and said "Kellie, aren't you going to tell her?" At first I didn't know what she was talking about because I didn't really think that Afrin was "medicine", but I told the nurse and she almost immediately said these issue could be related. She advised me to go back to the clinic and have blood drawn for a complete look and to tell the doctor I was addicted to nasal spray. 

February 17th

I felt great all day and not dizzy or nauseous. I was still really tired because I was still not sleeping well or for normal amounts but I did feel fine all day. I came home from school and jogged a mile and still felt fine. I was still really tired from the near 2 weeks of little sleep but I, again, felt like I was on the road to recovery. 

February 18th 

I woke up early once again and felt very anxious but not as nauseous. However, the drive to school and me trying to eat a regular protein full breakfast made me feel bad. I ended up throwing up at school and decided to go ahead and go back to the clinic to get this figured out once and for all. The constipation diagnosis was not healing and I am tired of being sick and tired. I got to the clinic and went through the same steps as before but I added the info of being addicted to Afrin Nasal Spray. The doctor said that could be contributing to my current issues and explained that prolong use of the medicine in Afrin can cause all kinds of stomach issues including chronic constipation, ulcers and so much more. This would then lead my food to settle else where since my descending colon was impacted which is why I was having acid problems the past few days. He reiterated how bad the medicine in Afrin (Oxymetazoline) really is. He said it was one of the most powerful drugs on the market and never should be OTC and has a very high addicting factor to it. That all seemed to be true in my case as I was going on 2.5 weeks of weak and weariness. He gave me a steroid shot and a proactive plan to get my lower GI tract back in tact and get the acid re-flux more under control. 

The rest of that day at school I was very emotional as I realized that the next 2 weeks would be VERY hard and I only have 2 weeks until my Half Marathon and these 2 weeks especially I need to be 100% as I prepare for this MAJOR and physical life event. 

As tired as I was at the end of the day I tried to hold my head high and be strong and know that God will get me through this. He never said it would be easy but He will see me through. I spent that evening researching scriptures and singing songs of praise. I am going to get over this addiction and I am going to run my Half Marathon! I will be stronger at the end of this journey! Stay tuned for the "rest of the story". 

Thank you Lord, for opening my eyes and as the Great Physician I give my life and my health to You. 

God is good... All the time! 

With This Ring, I Thee Wed

The Saga of the Missing Wedding Ring 

January 2016

The past few weeks I have been training really hard for my half marathon and drinking/ retaining a LOT of water. This made my hands swollen and my wedding ring did not fit as well as I would have liked for it to. I didn't want to take it to get up sized because I really felt like "this too shall pass" and it will be fine after I am done with this intense training. I decided to not wear my actual 15 diamond wedding ring for a while and just wear my fake "Cruise Ship" ring as I call it. This is a ring I bought at Sam Moon a few years ago to take on cruises so I do not take my actual wedding ring. So for the past 3 weeks or so I have worn the "Cruise Ship" ring and had my wedding ring at the top of my jewelry box. Everyday I would see the wedding ring as I put on the "Cruise Ship" ring and some days I would try on again just to be sure it fit. 

On Thursday, January 28th I woke up and got ready as I usually do and then went to put on my jewelry and noticed Chris's wedding ring out of it's usual place in the jewelry box. This led me to look for my wedding ring as I routine put on the "Cruise Ship" one. I looked and looked and I could not find anywhere. I look for about 10 minutes before calling Chris and asking if he took it or misplaced it. I am VERY straight-forward about my daily getting ready and coming home routine and I am also VERY subconscious of my 15 diamond ring so I knew I had not "lost" or "misplaced" it. Chris said he knew nothing about it... then he reminded me that our maid, of 10 months, came and cleaned the house on Tuesday. 

The rest of the story unfolded fast and furious and like a soap opera of some sorts: 

Thursday, January 28- 6:00AM 

I called Anna, our maid, in a panic of "where is my ring" and "you took it so I am going to call the police". Looking back I should not have accused her so quickly but I KNEW I did not lose it and it was in fact stolen. Unfortunately, Anna does not speak English very well if at all so it was hard to have a conversation with her. I had my secretary at school, who speaks Spanish, call her and talk to her and we discovered that she had a new helper with her on that day and that helper was in our bedroom cleaning while Anna was cleaning our master bathroom. 

I rushed home on Thursday during my planning time to search through the jewelry box again and try to catch the trash before the trash truck came. Our trash hardly EVER gets picked up before 5PM but of course, it was gone by the time I arrived back at home at 10:15AM. I was devastated thinking it was thrown away by accident and laying in some landfill. I then searched my jewelry box again and it wasn't still. I began to quickly do an inventory of my jewelry and items kept in the box. I was now missing a sapphire/ diamond necklace and our PASSPORTS, which we keep in the large 4 foot jewelry box. I knew I HAD to be back to school for my next class so I drove back all the while my brain was torn between "The passports are in the luggage since we just got off a cruise ship and getting back on in a few weeks. The necklace is there too" and "OK... now she/ they stole THREE things". I will be honest, the rest of my day teaching was all but lost. I was so scatter-brained and focused on the missing items. "Will we be able to go on our upcoming Spring Break cruise?", "I need to call Life-Lock and warn them" and "This is way worse than a missing wedding ring... this is our identity" went through my mind. I left early to go home and search some more. I immediately went to looking for the Passports and like I thought, they were in the luggage left form our Thanksgiving Cruise. I took them out and put them in a more secure location. I later found the necklace as well but was still missing the Wedding Ring. 

By the end of Thursday, I had talked to Anna multiple times via phone call and text and she led me to believe that she may have vacuumed it up and thrown it away when she emptied the trash (which was already collected by the city at this point) so I just knew it was gone FOREVER. 

Friday, January 29th

I was super depressed and torn all day. I contacted Anna and asked her to come to my house so we could go over what exactly happened on Tuesday. She and her son, who translated, came over to our house around 6:30PM and told us what was going on. Anna had a new helper with her on that day named Maria as well as her original helper who was also named Maria (RED FLAG). She told us that Maria Guadalupe who goes by Lola (the suspect) was in our bedroom dusting and cleaning and the 2nd helper was not at all in our room. Anna also mentioned that Lola was acting very suspicious and told Anna she needed work and money because her husband was sick... HELLO MOTIVE! 

Anna and her son left after about 20-30 minutes and Anna was upset about having this happened to me and I truly believed she did not do it. She seemed VERY sincere and helpful in the matter. Plus sh drove down from Willis and had her son come with her to help translate. But her story had LOTS of holes in and Chris was just not sure about the whole ordeal. We told Anna to meet up with Lola again on Saturday and call us with an update. We also got all three of their names and numbers so we could file a police report. 

Saturday, January 30th 

I had to do a 9 mile run on this day and I spent those 9 miles praying to God to show me where the ring was. I kept praying for wisdom and guidance to show me where I left it or enlighten us as to who took it or what to do next. Honestly, it was the best RUN ever and I feel God was speaking to me during those 9 miles. 

The rest of the day I tried to take my mind off the whole situation and enjoy my family. We spent time at the park and then that evening Chris and Natalie went to the Daddy Daughter Dance while Luke and I went and had a date at Chick-fil-A. While we were at Chick-fil-A Anna called and said she met up with Lola on Saturday afternoon and she was acting really weird. Lola asked to meet with us and I immediately replied "at a common location, not our house". So we set up a meeting for Sunday afternoon at Costco. 

Sunday, January 31st 

Natalie got sick the night before at the Daddy Daughter Dance and I was not feeling well so we did not go to church. We rested and tried to get well most of the day. Natalie was much better in the morning and whatever she had she seemed to be over. Anna called and asked to meet at Costco at 3:30 so we loaded up everyone in the car and went to meet her. Anna and her son met up with us first and told us what happened on Saturday and some other information. Anna was certain that Lola, the helper, took the ring and we would have to convince her to give it back. The 2nd helper, Maria, met up with us too. We waited for about an hour before Lola finally showed up. 

While the 3 of them plus their translators, and Chris and I were talking Natalie was in the car taking videos and pictures of the whole ordeal so we would have evidence to take to the police. Lola kept denying she had it by saying "Yo no tango" (I do not have) but then she would look at Anna and smile. I did notice this after the 4th or 5th time but did not think anything of it. We told Lola that if she knew she didn't take it and had nothing to hide then to give us her formal name and all of her information, such as an ID card, so we could file the police report. In fact, I insulted THEM all by saying "Adios USA and Hola Mexico" since I knew they would be deported if they were found guilty. However, I do feel like this is what made the situation turn around. After about 30 minutes of talking with Lola, Anna and Maria we finally got Lola to give over her Resident Card of which we took a picture evidence of. Lola'a family also gave us numbers for references and their personal information as they insisted they had NOTHING to do with it. In the meantime Anna was yelling in Spanish at Lola to the point Chris had to separate them and tell Anna to leave.

Our investigator... having fun with mommy's phone!

The other investigator... Being silly as usual!

The group of us trying to figure this all out in the Costco Parking Lot... What a CRAZY situation! 

Later... Natalie took a picture of her hands!
Silly little princess! 

We left Costco empty handed around 5:30PM with our poor kids tired and bored. We had the names and information for all 3 but Chris knew it was all but a lost cause. Before we left the Costco parkign lot Anna called and asked to meet with us so she followed us to our house. 

As she came in she was very emotional and asked for water. She then said that she thought about the meeting with Lola on Saturday and how weird she was acting and thought about how they were meeting at the Kroger parking lot in ANNA'S CAR. So she called her daughter and told her to search the car and the daughter did and FOUND the ring in the front passengers seat! WHAT? Sure enough I saw a text of my ring. I immediately praised God for this blessing and said I will go and get the ring because I did not want Anna's family coming to our house. We went back to Costco only to find Lola and her crew still there so we went across I-45 to Walmart. Initially I went alone so Chris could get the kids fed and etc but he quickly decided that was not safe and we had my father-in-law Dan come over and watch the kids. After a brief 15 minute wait at Walmart Anna's husband and family showed up and gave me my ring back (inside a ring bag... another red flag). I was so overjoyed and grateful to God. I really thought I had lost it all FOREVER!

The most perfect and gorgeous wedding ring EVER and it is mine!
Thank you Jesus for this answer to prayer! 

I have NO IDEA what actually happened and a part of me does not ever want to know. I am just happy to have it back! We always said if they returned it we would not press charges and we are going to honor that, if though my gut says the opposite. I just Praise Jesus for returning it to us. We are not going to be using Anna anymore for our household maid services or ANYONE for that matter. I feel like we have been burned enough and I can just clean my 3,300 SQFT house myself... Lots of people do this! I can too! 

Through this whole ordeal I felt like I was drawing closer and closer to Jesus. I had a come to Jesus meeting back at the end of 2015 when I was faced with one of my GREATEST fears of all... mice. Through that event, then the dogs running away and then this Wedding Ring saga I have grown stronger in my faith and kept my trust in him. I know there was a lesson in each of these events and hopefully I have learned this lesson but if not... I will keep my faith and trust in him. 

Some of my favorite verses through these times have been: 

• Psalm 56:3-4
  3- When I am afraid, I put my trust in you
  4- In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere man do to me? 
• Psalm 28:7
  The Lord is my strength and shield. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. 
• Proverbs 3:5
  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 
• Romans 8:39
  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  (This one REALLY hit home... not even a lost/ stolen Wedding Ring will make me turn from Jesus and His never-ending love). 
• Psalm 139:12
  Even the darkness is not dark to you, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to you. 
• Lamentations 3:23
  Great is Your Faithfulness
  (This is my all time favorite verse and especially Hymn. The words speak to me during the deepest of trials to the heights of accomplishments and answered prayers. Thank You Jesus for your faithfulness.)

Even in the midst of trials and tribulations... My God is greater and BIGGER. 

MY God is GOOD... ALL the time! 

Fur Babies

Come Home Abbey and Oxford 

January 2016 

Thursday, January 21st 

I ran home today from school with one thing on my mind... My 4 mile run for my half marathon training program. Chris always has tutoring after school on Thursdays and does not get home until about 6:30PM and I am always on my own for feeding the kids, bathing them and getting them ready for bed. This is a routine we do each Thursday but this Thursday my miles were bigger than previous weeks so I knew it was going to be a hustle and draining. I had no idea how draining it would actually be. 

I got on the treadmill and did my 4 miles then showered and began to cook dinner for the kids. All the while Luke kept asking to let the dogs in so they could play with them. I usually do not let the dogs in with just the kids while I am running as the dogs usually play around and get into things and I wanted to be available for this process. I cooked the kids dinner, they ate it (taking 20-30 minutes) and we even unloaded and re-loaded the dishwasher before I agreed to let the dogs inside the house. I was a VERY windy day and when I opened the back door to let them in they were not there. I called for them and looked and looked with no luck. Then I turned to the east side of the house and noticed our gate was open. I knew they had gotten out and I had to act fast to find them as the sun would go down in 20-30 minutes. I got shoes on the kids and we got in the car. I immediately called my mother-in-law Jackie who lives in our subdivision and asked her to help us look for the dogs. In the meantime, Chris was stuck in traffic coming home from tutorials. 

The kids and I looked and looked through the neighborhood and the sun went down and never saw them. We asked neighbors and LITERALLY drove down EVERY street in our subdivision and even surrounding neighborhoods. Abbey and Oxford are beagles and Abbey is especially prone to just follow her nose and a scent she picks up so I knew they could be ANYWHERE. 

Chris made it home by 6:30PM and he looked and drove around in his car while the kids and I were in my car. We called out their names and had flashlights looking around each of the houses. Around 7:15PM Jackie offered to take the kids home and bathe them and get them ready for bed while Chris and I made one more trip around the neighborhood. Chris and I stayed out until about 9PM and then turned in for the night just hoping and praying the dogs were OK and not lost or worse. 

After we came home I posted a photo of the dogs on our neighborhood Facebook page and within minutes I got replies that people had seen them running around the neighborhood. Time ranging from 5:15 to 6:00PM but no one noticed them after 6PM. This gave me a little hope. 

Friday, January 22nd 

On Friday morning, I woke up and called my principal to ask if I could be a little late to wait for daylight so I could look for them again. She was VERY UNDERSTANDING and I am incredibly grateful to her for her kindness. I got the kids some kolaches and then made a few drives through the neighborhood... we spent over an hour and nothing. We left for school all with heavy hearts and I was crying the whole 15 mile/ 20 minute commute. Natalie was very optimistic and said "mommy, they will come back. Let's Pray". So we spent the next few moments praying about their safety and return. 

During my planning time I came back home to post signs and flyers all over the neighborhood and to go to the local animal shelter and see if they were picked up and dropped off there. Jackie knew I was coming and met me there which was very sweet. They mentioned at the front that they had an older beagle which let me get my hopes up but as we walked to the back of the facility I realized it was not Abbey or Oxford. My heart just sank. 

I made my way back to school to eat lunch with Natalie as I do often on Fridays. Again, her hopes were high and she just knew they were out there. I on the other hand was facing the reality that they might be gone FOREVER. Abbey was a wedding gift from Chris and she was coming up on her 10th birthday as we are coming up on our 10 year wedding anniversary. Chris got her for me the day after we returned from our honeymoon in London and we appropriately named her Abbey after the Westminster Abbey, which was our favorite attraction we saw while on our honeymoon. It was a real emotional day and became harder as the hours passed. 

At the end of the day a teacher friend told me I should be sure to post a LARGE sign in the front of the subdivision as well as the other flyers I had put on the community mailboxes. On our way home, the kids and I stopped at Walmart to get the stakes and "garage sale" style signs to post at the front. We made it home just in time to post them at 5:30PM for a few minutes of daylight. Chris and I both were not optimistic but Natalie sure was. 

We ate dinner and continued our Friday night as usual and around 6:15PM we got a phone call from a man who had picked up Abbey and Oxford on Thursday evening around 6PM at the very front of the subdivision. He said they were just sniffing and running around but were getting close to the State Highway 242 and he worried they would get hurt so he picked them up in his truck and took him to his home where he had 2 dogs of his own. He told Chris that Abbey actually snapped at him when he tried to get her in his truck but the rest of the time they were very pleasant. This sweet and generous man took these stray dogs into his home, fed them and even walked them for us. What a good Samaritan and a true example of God's mercy. 

We got Abbey and oxford back and became a happy family of SIX again! I truly thought I had lost them both and it was so heartbreaking. Abbey is older and has seizures daily so I knew she was not going to make it much longer but I always knew I would have Oxford there when she did pass. This was almost unbearable as they would BOTH be gone. But in the midst of this storm I tried to Praise God and thank him for the 10 amazing years we had with them and for the joy they brought Chris and I and our kids. I also thanked God for the amazing FAITH my 6 year old had during the whole thing. I tried to keep the faith and trust God. I kept singing the familiar tune "God is in Control". This song got me through many trails in my life and kept me going through this trial too. 

This is no time for fear

This is the time for faith and determination

Don't lose the vision here carried away by the motion

Hold on to all that you hide in your heart

There is one thing that has always been true

It holds the world together

God is in control

We believe that His children will not be forsaken

God is in control

We will choose to remember and never be shaken

There is no power above or beside Him, we know

Oh, God is in control, oh God is in control

History marches on

There is a bottom line drawn across the ages

Culture can make its plan oh, but the line never changes

No matter how the deception may fly

There is one thing that has always been true

It will be true forever

God is in control

We believe that His children will not be forsaken

God is in control

We will choose to remember and never be shaken

There is no power above or beside Him, we know

Oh, God is in control, oh God is in control

He has never let you down

Why start to worry now?

Why start to worry now?

He is still the Lord of all we see

And He is still the loving Father

Watching over you and me

Watching over you, watching over me

Watching over every thing

Watching over you, watching over me

Every little sparrow, every little thing

Oh, every little thing, oh

God is in control

We believe that His children will not be forsaken

God is in control

We will choose to remember and never be shaken

There is no power above or beside Him, we know

Oh, God is in control, oh God is in control

Oh God is in control

Oh God is in control

God is in Control and knew that situation before it even began. Thank you Lord for bringing our fur babies home and for helping us get through this struggle by bringing your word to our minds and wonderful words of Praise. Thank You Jesus, once again, for answering our prayers.

Oxford... I love this little guy so much! The thought of losing him AND Abbey was just too much!

My Abbey... The most perfect gift from Chris nearly 10 years ago.
I know her time is coming but I was NOT ready! 

Thank you Jesus for bringing my FUR BABIES back! 

God is good... All the time!