Camp Cousin Heather: Saturday and Sunday

This is a special week! This week Andrew and I get to hang out with 2 of my little cousins. I was 18 when Emma was born and 20 when the Ben came around. Because of the age difference, I have always been more like an aunt to them than a cousin. Luckily we only lived a few hours away and it was fairly convenient for us to make many trips back and forth to visit. 

Around 5 or 6 years ago the kids started going to Midland to spend about a week with my parents every summer. This special week is called "Camp Auntie Jean" and is highly anticipated by everyone, Auntie Jean, the kids, me, their mom! 

Well when Andrew and I got married I joked with my aunt, Ettie, that the kids needed to come stay with us some. The first summer was out of the question. We were newlyweds and well... yeah... even though I dearly LOVE these pumpkins I didn't want to be in the same room with children! The next summer (last summer) we bought a house and it was such a crazy summer that there was no way we could make it work. Besides that I had a full year job and had to work through the sumer for the first summer of my adult life. This summer, due to my open schedule and their summer plans we were able to make a week work. 

This week is "Camp Cousin Heather"!! 

Ettie and my uncle came up here on Friday July 19 and stayed the night. (I STILL get so nervous to have other adults stay at my house!! Will this ever go away??) They left around noon on Saturday and our fun began! 

Right after we were freed from their parents watchful eyes!!
Let the fun begin. Nothing but junk food, late nights and ...
ice cream for breakfast... right Andrew?? 

Lets go see a movie!! 

Our original plan for Saturday was to take the kids to the Caney Zoo and Safari Park, however it was H-O-T outside. We broke a sweat just walking to the car. Andrew came up with the next best idea: MOVIES! I was thrilled... it meant pop-corn and AC! We all quickly agreed upon watching Ice Age 3: Continental Drift!! It was a blast and between Ben and I we ate at least 3/4 of the pop-corn before the movie had even started. This was NOT a proud moment for the Husband. 

Emma all dressed up for church! 

 Sunday morning we woke up and got ready for church. Most of you know that my sweet husband and I struggle with timeliness! 3 of us were up by 7. When I went to take a shower at 8 I woke the last one up. I figured ... NO problem!! We got this!! Church starts at 9:15 we will leave by 9:10 and be early!!! Well... one thing lead to another and we didn't leave the house till 9:17. Luckily we live 2 minutes at most away from our church ... so we made it by the time they were done shaking hands. 

Many people stopped us and make jokes about "wow!! We didn't know yall had been hiding kids all these years!!" "Ummmm do yall have something to tell us??" and at least 4 people told us today that "They could pass for our kids!" What a complement kinda... Great because these kids are stunningly gorgeous and so well mannered, frustrating because I do NOT want to look like I could have a 10 year old!! SERIOUSLY!!?? Oh well... 

Sunday lunch: Foil Dinners!! They were a HIT! 

 Sunday for lunch we made Foil Dinners! I made these often when I was in Girl Scouts and I LOVED them. The kids saw them on Pinterest and said they looked/sounded fun! I mixed hamburger and turkey meat then made small patties. I sliced potatoes, onions and carrots. Then we layered all of these with goodies along with cheese on top of a couple leaves of cabbage. We wrapped them in foil and put them in the oven for a while. I was sceptical. Worried the kids wouldn't like the flavor of the meat, or it would be too "weird" for them to like it. However, they LOVED it! It got amazing reviews!! I was shocked! Even Andrew was pleased! Emma only had meat and cheese on hers; Ben had meat, cheese and a few carrots; Andrew and I had the works : Meat, cheese, Carrots, Onions, Potatoes! YUMMMM-O!! I do believe this is one recipe I will want to remember! 

Andrew showing the kids the composting bin. 

A few months ago we (Andrew) started becoming interested in the idea of composting and doing our share in protecting the planet. We will never be totally "green" but we can do a few things here and there to help out. We have been trying out this composting bin for a few months now. Andrew really enjoys working with it. He is always having to remind me that we DON'T throw away anything 'natural'! When we were eating fruit for a snack and we talked to them about throwing their stems away in the composting bucket, they got really curious about the in's and out's of composting. So Andrew gave them a mini science lesson and they both said they want to help with it this week! As soon as the bucket was full after lunch the kids ran to put their play clothes on so they could help Andrew "compost"! It was so cute watching them all interact together. The kids were so curious. When I'm outside of a classroom I forget how their little minds work... they are ALWAYS learning. Always asking questions!! I LOVE it! 

Tonight we also took the kids to a meeting for our church Prayer Team. They did great. We had burgers again... but they were good. I was so impressed with how well behaved they were and how helpful they were with a little 2 year old that was there. 

I guess I better go so I can get some rest before tomorrow. Tomorrow is our Craft Day Extravaganza!! Woop Woop!! (Yes I might have just done a fist pump in the air!!) 

Blueberry Muffins and memories...

Yesterday marked the 18th anniversary of my Grammies death.
When I first thought about it yesterday, I was a little bitter. I let my heart go to that yucky place where I don't sympathize with her, rather I get angry at her for making the choice she made. There is still are part of me that feels like she would be here if she hadn't made the choice she did.
She took her own life July 8, 1994. Some things I remember about her...

• She was beautiful. Her shoes always matched her purse which always matched her outfit. I specifically remember red shoes, gold shoes and this one green outfit. Now I look back and they were probably silly looking... but to this granddaughter ... it was the perfect look.
• There were 5 of us cousins at the time. Me - 10, Micah - 8, Morgan - 7, Brandon - 7 and Taylor - 6. That made me the oldest. (explains so much of my personality...) Before she died we had the opportunity to make several memories together including trips to Sea World and Six Flags and 2 or 3 week long adventures at Grammie and Papa's house. These weeks included things like: midnight snacks (usually around 9) made of banana splits; putting up a tent in the back yard, only to have it destroyed by a horrible storm that blew through; Baptist pallets in the living room floor; Christmas time around a perfectly apple and red bow decorated, tall, flocked tree; the drive from Dallas to Pampa in their cadillac-- 4 of us in the back seat and one in the front-- my favorite part was we made exactly 5 equally spaced stops so we could rotate spots. 
• Her glasses! Oh heavens!! They were huge! But they were part of the look. 
• Her hair! I live for the day when I can go to the beauty shop once a week and get my hair done in a boo-font! She had this beautifully poofed white head of hair.I can still see it... one of the few things I can still clearly picture. 
• She was soft. I never thought of her as over weight, I was only 10 and weight hadn't become an issue for me to notice yet. But I remember snuggling next to her and it was always comfy, cozy and soft. 
• She planned ... and every thing must go accordingly... this isn't what I remember as much as what I've heard. But I believe this is where I get the "my way or the highway" & "I've got this under control" attitudes! 

Those are just a few of the things I remember but most of all ... are blueberry muffins. We both had a love for the sweet, soft yumminess of blueberry muffins. I can remember, from as early as I could sit up, sitting on the counter in her kitchen and helping her make them. We used a box mix, the one with the blueberries in the tin. It was such a fun sweet time for us. I don't know if the other cousins shared this time or if I was the only one. To this day I can't make or eat a blueberry muffin with out thinking of those sweet times and memories. 

Grammie, I still love you dearly and miss you more than I could imagine. There are so many great things that you have missed in person but I know you have been watching from heaven, loving us through it all. I am sad about the way you chose to leave us, but I know it was harder for you to live than for you to leave. I know you are in heaven rejoicing with the King of Kings now, singing Praises to Him forever more. Thank you for giving me the courage to deal with my personal battle with depression. I don't want to get so lost in my own sad overwhelmed thoughts that I forget the reasons I have to live. 

Thank you for all the great memories! 

200 miles along Historic Route 66!

On June 1, 2012 the day was finally here. The day to leave for my 10 day adventure across Historic Route 66! It has been a full week since I made it home from this adventure. I can't believe it! Not a day goes by where I don't reflect on a special time I had, a fun memory or a moment where God clearly revealed to me that ... He is going to take care of me! Here are a few pictures from the trip. I made a few collages to combine all the pictures... click on them to make them bigger. I took a total of 450 pictures... Thats a LOT. Every day by the time we settled down my phone was DEAD! Poor thing hasn't been used that much... ever! I'll fill in details after each picture! 

 This was right before we left. My sweet husband got up and took me to The Rock at 6:00am! We were there just a few minutes when I realized I forgot my snazzy zebra pillow! I knew I couldn't survive with out a pillow... so my precious husband zipped home and picked it up for me just in time for us to pull away.

Beside the picture of us is a COOL picture of the bikes all loaded up. There were 33 bikes all securely locked down and held in place. It was a work of art watching the 'bike loading crew' work their magic as they locked down our precious wheels.

 Our first stop was near and dear to my heart. TEXAS... as we crossed the Texas state line my heart swelled just a bit with pride and my twang got a little more noticeable. At this point I was still nervous... not being my typical loud obnoxious self. Texas warmed me up. I was the ONLY one excited to be in the Lone Star State. I demanded that my picture be taken with DQ memorabilia. It was at this DQ stop that my personality started coming out... I ordered chicken strips as well as one of the young-uns on the trip. (Micah) Well this creep took off with MY chicken and fries!! I was left standing there waiting and waiting with the lady calling number 23 or something like that ... I said well that looks like mine but my number is 18!! We figured it all out and healed my hurt with ice cream. It was a beautiful moment but I vowed from that point on that I will not let some high school goof ball get away with taking my food again!! Thus... the real "Heather" made an appearance!

The first night we slept in a church in New Mexico. The church was pretty and clean and even had showers! Many blew up their air mattresses and spread out. I was SO tired... that I just spread out on a church pew about half as wide as me. And I slept like a baby. It was beautiful. 

The next morning we were greeted with this beautiful sunrise on the way to Arizona! 

The fist night in CA. We arrived in CALIFORNIA ready to go!! Our first stop was Downtown Disney!! I had a great group of guys that I was hanging out with. My favorite place was LEGOLAND!! It was so fun seeing so many of my favorite Disney characters made out of legos. Look at Genie and Abu... don't they look just like the movie!? 

The next day we went to DISNEYLAND!! It was amazing!! These were the guys I hung out with ... we called ourselves the "Non-ride-riders!" We preferred the slower, flatter, uneventful rides. Well that was until they fooled me and got me on the Indiana Jones Ride (go to 4:30... I didn't take the video but it almost adequately describes the fear I felt... just add LOTS more screaming!!) Jonathan, Trey and Cliff you were a BLAST to hang out with ... even if you did send me into a panic attack on Indiana! I had a perfectly wonderful day at Disney with you gentlemen! 

This was the parade at DisneyLand! So much fun! I watched it both times. It was like watching my favorite Disney movies come to life in front of me!! 

The flowers around DisneyLand were BEAUTIFUL!! 

Our first ride!! We rode 25miles on Santa Monica Pier. I did the whole ride with out COFFEE... BIG MISTAKE!! My first stop at the pier was to find some sweet caffeinated goodness!! The beach was beautiful. The weather was cool and overcast. Perfect for the first day! I forgot my ball-cap in my suitcase. :( So I rocked the fuzz head... Oh well! The day was fun and worth it. My favorite part was looking at all the Beach Houses and dreaming of what it would be like to live in one. I almost fell in love with the beach!! 

After our short time at the beach we took a tour of Los Angeles with Mike the Poet as he has called himself. At the end of our tour he treated us to his rendition of his poem I'm Alive in Los Angeles. Take time... listen to it. It will change your life. Or stick in your head forever! UGH... I'M ALIVE IN LOS ANGELES... 

The tour was good and "Mike the Poet" knew his stuff. We passed places such as the hotel were Whitney Houston died. The church were Marylyn Monroe is buried. The tattoo parolor where LA INK is filmed. The STARS. We rode on a double decker bus and had to dive to avoid being whacked in the head with lower lying tree branches but it was fun!! This is where I got my first sunburn of the trip ... on my thighs. UGH... But totally worth it! I'd do it again... maybe with someone other than Mike the Poet though.

I don't remember what day this happened. I did a HORRIBLE job of taking notes and keeping up with the days. But... one day we were driving in our "family" van and started dodging pieces of tire flying at us. We called the "guys" van in front of us to see if they knew what was going on. They said they didn't see anything. This narrowed it down... it was from them!! YIKES! So what do men do when there is a flat... they change it. Here are the steps:

1. Get a call from the van with the GIRLS that there is a problem.

2. Deny that there is a problem.

3. Pull over and assess said "problem".

4. Submit to the idea that yes... there is a problem.

5. Sniff, spit, burp and grunt while stargazing how to solve this problem in the most manly way.

6. Look for jack to lift trailer and don't find it.

7. Unload trailer.

8. Gather all the muscles you can find and LIFT!

9. Slide spare tire on.

10. High-five and grunt some more at the end of your accomplishment!!

Ok so that might not have been what happened... but that was the play by play going on in my head behind the drivers window. It was entertaining.

 One of these days we went to THE GRAND CANYON, I'm not going to lie... I didn't know what to expect. I'm NOT a nature person. I'm not an outdoors person (here is where you raise an eyebrow and thing... yet you are on a 200 mile biking trip...) and I am not a heights person. We got there and I found my group of "safe" friends. Cliff and Sarah were great. They were fun. We lingered near the railing for a while and watched our crazy friends stepping closer and closer to the edge. My initial thought was ...

"those fools are crazy."

"Someone is gonna die!"

 "HOLY COW... hold on to the little guys!!"

 Then they turned into...

"Wow... they are brave!"

"Look what God has created!"

"I should do this... I might never be here again."

Eventually I was leaving Cliff and Sarah behind and yelling at some of the brave guys saying

"Go again!"

"Take me with you!"

"Help me be brave!"

It all started with me hanging my eyes over the edge of a cliff... my bottom was very dirty... and my shorts look awkward but it was fun! Then I became more and more daring and decided to walk to the edge. I did it. It was amazing... one of my favorite pictures from the trip. Me on the edge... one step to the left or the right and maybe 2 steps back and I was a gonner!

My favorite part about The Grand Canyon was the majesty that it declared. I couldn't help but hear the verse:

"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out!"

Luke 19:40

The Grand Canyon declared the Glory of God and His creation. It was beautiful... which leads me to my next collage.

 These are just a few of the outside pictures I took. Some from The Grand Canyon, some from The Blue hole in AZ, The natural water park in AZ, The beach in CA, Trees in CA and a beautiful Arizona sunrise. The scenery was absolutely amazing... There is no way that the Lord didn't personally paint these pictures...

 The second to last day we were back in Texas. I felt HORRIBLE this day. HORRIBLE! The night before we stayed in a hotel that was "historic" and our AC wasn't exactly cold. I laid in bed all night just wishing I had the energy to get up and puke. The next day was NOT good... I started off feeling yucky and it didn't get better for a while. I made the fist leg of the ride. Wishing so badly that I wasn't so hard headed and could willingly just "pack it in"! However I kept going... at one of our stops two of our leaders Ken and Roger came over and prayed for me. Asking God to give me the strength and energy to finish the miles. This was one of our big rides (55 miles I think) and if I didn't make this then I would not make a big chunk of our miles. The Lord showed Himself yet again in my life and I was feeling better... not great but better. I made it. I cried. I pushed myself. But I made it. Ken and his son (one of our best friends) Andy rode with me over half the time. They made sure I was ok. Making excuses to stop and get drinks or find shade. I made it. It was amazing. It felt good. It hurt like H***! But I made it. At the end of the ride we went to The Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo Texas there we were able to "make our mark" (More on that later) and it was a blast. I still didn't feel great but it was fun to watch everyone work on their 'tagging' skills!

 I think this was the last day of the ride. We stopped here on our way to CA and our way back. Roys use to be a hopping joint back in the 50's and 60's. I'm sure many the icon stopped by here to pick up a pop as they drove Historic Route 66.

These are my new friends. I left on this trip knowing all of maybe 4 people. Now I feel like I know all 36 of the others that went with us well! I wouldn't take back a single thing. I made memories that will last a life time. I have truly been blessed buy each of them.

Every day before we left for our ride we circled up for a prayer and some encouraging words. Ken selected a person to "blow the trumpet" as a way of a send off for the day. Each day it was fun seeing who would be picked. The last day he picked me. He said and I quote "She brings out the Humanity in us all"! Not sure what that means... but it was an honor to send us off on the last day. The last day was amazing. It felt good oh so good to cross that finish line. I cried. I did it! I honestly didn't think I could.

When we left I thought we were doing 275 miles. I am not sure where I got that number... it was only 200 miles but they were well earned. I plan to get another 75 in this summer as i continue taking "JiJi" out for some spins around town.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouraging words as I prepared for and took on this challenge. I still can't believe I did it!

To summarize this trip:

We traveled 3,400.5 miles by car to California and back to Oklahoma from June 1-10, 2012. Thrity-two amazing bicycle riders ages 11-70, rode 200 miles in five different states, traveling along Historic Route 66. We rode along the beach, highway and through the Mojave Desert! I am overwhelmed with emotion as I look back and think about each of those miles, weather it be by car or bike! There were so many who were part of our team, not just the cyclist... but the amazing support team. They took special care of each of us. When I got my sunburn on day 3... sweet Melody was there to see that I was doused in sunscreen at every stop, even offering to let me wear her pants so I wouldn't keep burning! All the riders had to do is say "I need..." or "I want..." and it was there by one of these 4 women. They held us when we were hurting, toughened us up when we were whining, fed us when we were hungry and encouraged us when we were ready to quit. More than once Shannon pulled up beside me in the van and cheered me on! I know they were praying for us every peddle of the way as well as many others back home.

I am already looking forward to next years trip... and rumor has it we are heading to Chicago! I say we do a good 300 next time. I want to keep pushing myself as much as I can as long as I can. This trip was not only good for me physically but it was amazing for me spiritually and emotionally. I was surrounded by such amazing leaders who never hesitated to pour into me at the first opportunity. Any time I had a question about anything from biking, what happens next or anything about the Bible ... someone was there with sage insight.

Thank you all for the privilege of being part of The Rock's Historical 20th Anniversary event!!

I know feel as though I am part of the crew at On The Rock Ministries!

A ride of faith

Faith - Confidence or trust in a person or thing.

Faith is what has been my 'challenge' word this year. I thought it was going to be 'gratefulness' but over and over again this year I have been challenged in the area of faith. Faith is defined as "believing in the unseen." The unseen in my past has included many different events such as graduating college, career after college, countless harmful relationships, a teaching job when I wasn't looking, a job for my persevering husband,  making it to the end of several rough days in Prek... the list could go on and on and on and those are just a few from the last 6 years. In each and every one of these instances the Lord has provided abundantly. He has blessed me beyond my wildest imagination... and yet after all that I still have doubts. I still doubt that we will be ok... That has lead me tho this next step.

Andrew works a few hours a week with On the Rock Ministries  and every year they go on a bike trip to a different state in the US. This year is the 20th anniversary of this trip and so they are holding NOTHING back. (more on that later)

A few months ago it was assumed that my love and I would go on the Bike Trip together, him as a rider and me as part of the support staff. Well, Andrew recently got a new job at Conoco Phillips (an answer to prayer and more proof that the Lord is taking care of us) and thus he can't go. However, I was asked if I could join the trip as a rider. I quickly declined... but then felt like God had other plans. The night I declined I didn't sleep well and all I kept hearing in my head was "have faith"...

The next Sunday I confirmed my commitment after asking someone who works at The Rock a LONG and quite ridiculous list of questions and still being full of doubt and fear...

We leave on Friday June 1, at 6:00 am! We will leave Bartlesville and head to California! From there we will make our way back... partly on bike. We will ONLY be biking 275 of the total miles back. Yes, thats right, I Heather Schumacher will be riding a bike (like the kind with petals) 275 miles between California and Oklahoma. I haven't been told everything about this journey. I believe that is why I am so stressed about it. However, everyday I remind myself... "have faith!" The lord will provide. We are taking about 40 people, half of which will be teenagers between 6th and 12th grade. It has been a LONG time since I have worked or interacted with youth! I am a little nervous about that... "... have faith!" I don't know where we will be sleeping, some times in a hotel, sometimes at churches ... "have faith!"  I don't know what we will be eating ... "have faith!"  I don't know when or if there will be bathrooms or showers... "have faith!!!" 

I have done a few things to to prepare for this trip here is the short list

• gave up Dr. Pepper (I might have had the total of one 20 oz in the past 2 months) 
• 4 practice rides
• bought a new bike :) Finally I have my birthday present (picture later!) 
• bought shorts, teeshirts, socks, bike shorts (saving my life!), make up bag, ribbons, helmet, gloves, bag, bug spray, nail polish, water bottle, sleeping bag, mascara, water bottle cage, granola bars, journal, extra strength Advil, sun screen, book for my Kindle (not yet but will be purchases tomorrow) and gummy worms...  I'm sure there are more things, I'm sure my husband could name a few more things. 
• caught up on my sleep... uh yeah... that will happen after the trip
• learned how to load up my bike
• countless other things... mostly prayed, panicked and packed! 

I am freaking out... mostly internally. I have not had a signature 'Heather Melt Down' yet. I have a feeling it will happen the 2nd night on the trip.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We just got back home from the 'load up dinner'!
We leave tomorrow. In less than 10 hours I"ll be on a bus heading West! WOW!

Here is a rough schedule of our trip:

Day One:
Leaving  The Rock at 6:00am!
Staying at a church in Gallup New Mexico

Day Two:
Leave Gallup NM and driving to
Garden Grove CA where we will stay at a church.

Day Three:
DISNEYLAND all day!!
Staying at a church there.

Day Four:
25 mile bike ride - Boardwalk Bike Trail
Swim and Tour Santa Monica Pier
Lunch/Dinner/Touring -- Hollywood  Hollywood Tour in Double Decker Bus
Staying at Church in Barstow CA

Day Five:
20 Mile ride in Mojave Desert, CA
Staying at Hualapai Lodge on Indian Reservation

Day Six:
15 Mile ride
See the Grand Canyon from top and bottom!
Staying at church in Flagstaff, AZ

Day Seven:
Slide Rock State Park
Staying at El Rancho Hotel, Gallop NM
(Apparently famous people in the 60's stayed here... rooms are only $49 a night!!)

Day Eight:
42 mile ride
Blue Hole, Santa Ros
Rout 66 Motel, Tucamcari (This might be the famous hotel...)

Day Nine:
40 mile ride
Groom TX Cross 
Cadillac Ranch
The Famous BIG TEXAN 72oz. Steak House
Wonderland Park 
Staying at Trinity Fellowship

Day Ten:
55 mile ride
Visit Museum in Elk City
Dinner at Pop's Soda Ranch 660 Rout 66
Back to Rock around 12:30 am!!


Thats all I know. I was told we will start most days at 5:30 am and then be done at the earliest midnight. That means that on good days we will get 5 hours of sleep. If you know me ... yeah... you know how I'll be by day 3 of that little sleep.
I am excited about the change this trip will bring in me. I am sure my heart will change a good deal as I am broken physically, mentally and emotionally! I am curious about the lessons God will teach me on this trip. I will be journaling daily... hopefully clearly documenting my feelings and experiences. This will definitely be a life changing trip.

Please please please pray for me as I do this... I'm mostly terrified with a little excited in there from time to time.
The week after I get back I'll come up with some snazzy way to sum up this trip... might take a couple posts.

Before I go... here is a picture of the sweet wheels my handsome husband bought me for this ride... and my birthday!! 

A moment I'll never forget!

A couple weeks ago Andrew mentioned that him and his dad were going to meet in Tulsa at the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel to watch The Patriot Cup, a golf tournament where pros are matched with Military Veterans. Sounded lame-sauce to me... but whatever. (My favorite way to watch golf is when its on TV, behind closed eyes. I get my BEST naps that way.)

I asked who all was going to be there... if Bubba Watson, Rory McIlroy (who has his own website), or Tiger Cheater Woods (who I am not a huge fan of but hey... I know who he is), were going to be there then I might have asked for a ticket my self. However, he assured me that they wouldn't. This wasn't "that big of a tournament"! So I said great, I'll drop you off at the casino and then run around town while you do that... I had plans to drive around town, maybe check out Target and then to go to Barnes and Noble  where I would sit, look trendy with my coffee, glasses, iphone and mac... all while catching my blog up. (Hopefully finally posting about this upcoming bike trip.) Well I am now sitting at B&N with coffee, glasses, iphone and mac, and I AM blogging... but the Bike trip can wait.. 

We got to the Casino a bit early and I decided to go inside and visit with my Father In Law a bit before heading "to town,"...  

SIDE NOTE: The current time was 7:30am, that means I was up at 5:30 am to get ready to leave my house at 6:15 for the hour drive to the Casino, little did I know it would all be worth it!! Luckily I put my make up on on the way to Tulsa, my original plan was to do it in the parking lot as I waited for Target to open. 

Anyways...  as I was saying ... 

As my precious husband and I were walking in this very tall, well dressed man walked between us. We both turned at the same time (like in a movie) and did a double take. Then stared at each other and Andrew said... "I think that is Craig T. Nelson." I said "Uh me too!! Its COACH!!" Then we stumbled into the lobby to try to find my FIL. We ran into some one that works there and Andrew asked if our suspicions were right. He said, "Yeah! He is here to watch the tournament. He was in the casino last night having a good time. Mingling with all the 'locals'!" I asked the guy if he thought Mr. Nelson would mind if I took a picture with him. He said no way! He was snapping pictures with people right and left last night. So... I, Heather Lynn Hunt Schumacher, thought to my self "You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." (Quote from We Bought a Zoo.. if you haven't seen it GO NOW and rent it. Its at Red Box... GREAT movie!!) So I did it... 

I walked up to him he had just lit his cigar and was talking with an employee who quickly walked off when I got there, and I, Heather Lynn Hunt Schumacher (NO I don't still have my maiden name as part of my name, but it makes me sound much more... well how I felt, little girl like, small, scared, timid... something I haven't been in a while.) said, "Hi, Mr. Nelson. I grew up watching Coach and I am a big fan! Can I take a picture with you? It would really make my dad's day!" (I'm not sure why I threw that in there instead of making it personal... it totally made my day, but I do know my dad has always been a fan, but then again who hasn't. My mom is a fan, my brother, my husband and I'm even almost 100% sure that the crazy man sitting a table away from me at B&N is a fan.) He said, "Well sure!" and put his cigar down and then put his arm around me!! HE put his arm around me. I was just going to stand there nervously and try not to shake... but he Craig T. Nelson gave me a side hug! I will never wash this dress again. I am pretty sure I threw my phone at my husband who quickly very cool and calm like he wasn't phased at all took the picture. It is a little blurry but I'm pretty sure thats because I was 'all shook up'! He smelled like cigar smoke and alcohol. It was beautiful. I could smell him! He is TALL! He is handsome! He is nice. He was nicely dressed. He was kind. He took time to give this nutty girl (woman- I feel so strange calling myself a woman... I still feel like a little girl, especially when I'm hugging a famous person!!) a picture that will always be special. 

Thank you Mr. Nelson for the time and the picture. Thank you for the years you spent on the hit TV show Coach and for the current one that I love, Parenthood. Every time I watch the show I will think about this moment in time... the moment that I am sure you forgot about as soon as your Lexus picked you up for your ride to the course.  

Me and Mr. Craig T. Nelson. May 28, 2012.
He smelled like cigar smoke and alcohol.
It was a beautiful moment. 

An extra tid bit... he doesn't have a lot of hair on top of his head (a look he wears well! and I am quite the judge of 'going bald') but he has a head full in the back. It was almost touching his collar. It is a very pretty dark shiny grey. I'm going to assume that it is shiny because of the product that he uses not because he didn't shower the night before!

Going Home ...

Being a teacher has many frustrations and challenges, however, one of the many blessings that come with this profession are the breaks. My favorite break has always been Spring Break. It is MUCH needed by both the teachers and students. We all have a little bit of spring fever at this point and it is not a fun time to be cooped up in a small classroom!

This year I suggested to my parents that I might look into flying to Midland for my break and visit everyone there. With in the next two days I got a call back from my mom saying that they needed to know when I wanted to come because they were going to pay for my plane tickets. We worked the details out and it was set... I would spend 6 days traveling to Texas and seeing home again.

School was out on Thursday and I had to work till noon on Friday. As soon as I got home I packed and prepared for this trip. I was quite anxious. A mix of both good and bad anxiety. The good was ... seeing family and friends (including my teacher friends that I hadn't seen since the wedding!!) and the bad came from the fear of being away from Andrew for 6 days. We haven't been apart more than 4 days since we got married. I know I know... I'm a sap but you kinda get use to having each other around! Well the good news is that we survived. Both of us were so busy that it was hard to get lonely.

I left late Saturday evening and headed to Dallas. My Ettie, uncle Dustin and little cousins Emma and Ben live there. Emma and Ben are only 7 and (almost) 10. This had made our relationship much different than typical cousins. They are more like my niece and nephew and I love it. I don't have any real nieces or nephews yet so they are my 'trial run'! I get to practice my spoiling on them and then be a pro when I get my own. It also makes me happy that they will be able to do the same for my kids when they come around. Ettie (my aunt) and I have a special relationship. I have looked up to her for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories involve sitting on the bathroom counter watching her do her make up. She was only 15 when I was born and as far as I was concerned... she was the coolest chick I knew. It is fun to be with her and her kids and play "aunt" to them.

One of my reasons for stopping in Dallas first was to get a lesson in cookie decorating. I have inherited my Ettie's famous sugar cookie recipe. It is amazing and so delish!! (However, it is quite TOP SECRET ... so don't even ask!) I got my lessons and feel very accomplished! I made a batch this weekend and even my cookies taste better this time.

Cookies that we made and decorated. They were taste tested by Ben... he approved!

(after all, who cares what they look if they don't taste good!)

Poor Emma. The night I got there she had an allergic reaction to something. She had such a good attitude through it all. It broke my heart to see her so miserable. By the time I left on Monday she was showing some improvements and I think was better by the end of the week. The sweet girl has learned well though... she knew how to milk it!! 

Oh the food in Texas!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Texas food. I had In-N-Out Burger, Steak and Shake, Labodega, Taco Villa (2 times) and Rosas... those are only a few of the wonderful things I had. That doesn't include momma's cooking!

On the way to Midland from Dallas, Brandon and I were on the same flight. It was scheduled to leave around 6:30 (I think) that night. Well at about 11 that night after many delays we were told that it MIGHT leave around 1 am. We didn't want to risk it so we booked a hotel and stayed an extra night. There are several things that I should note about this leg of my adventure. 

1. My little brother, who I use to taking care of... making decisions for ... buying dinners... well he stepped up and took care of EVERYTHING! I didn't have to go check our flight status once! When we needed to get a hotel he booked it. When I needed coffee (which was often) he got it. When my tummy hurt, he got me Rolaids. When I wanted to cry, he made me laugh. When I was HYPER from lack of sleep and singing my silly songs... he rolled his eyes and did his darndest to put a smile on his face! 

2. My brother paid for almost everything... 

3. My brother is awesome. 

4. My brother and I are NOTHING alike ... thus why we had a BLAST being stuck in the rain. 

5. We 'hailed a taxi' to go to Wal-Mart to get this needy sister some essentials ... he paid for the ride and I bought him some sleep pants... but we experienced our first taxi ride together... best part was the driver was from somewhere in Africa and we couldn't understand a THING he said! it was priceless!!

6. My brother's BRAND NEW iPad fell out of his lap and busted as we were getting off the shuttle. He didn't realize it was busted till we were back from Wal-Mart. He handled it like a man! I would have thrown myself under the next shuttle. (PS.He had a brand spanking new one 3 days later!)

7. If ever I'm to get stuck in any airport or town... I hope he is close by! We have now officially moved from being siblings to being friends! I'm a lucky girl!  

If you show up at our house in the evening and there are 4 people there (if I'm there at least) we will be playing cards. It is how we hang out. It keeps the TV off and conversation flowing... it is almost a right of passage in our house! 

This was lunch right before mom took me to the airport. The week was a JOY. I can't wait to go back this summer and spend more time with everyone! 

The week was perfect... it started out rough with the flight delays and such but it was such a joy spending extra quality time with Brandon. I can't wait to go back at the end of the summer!!

Bountiful Baskets

 We have discovered something great here in our corner of Oklahoma. It is called Bountiful Baskets. Truth be told this something great is probably available in your own corner of wherever you are. I highly recommend checking it out and getting signed up. The basic concept is this:
On Monday you get online around noon (or whatever time your local site goes live). You pick what you want. They have different options such as an organic or a nonorganic basket. Then there are different add-ons. In the past there have been 15 lbs (36) organic tomatoes, a citric box, and an Italian add on. Those are the ones that we have done but there are many more options usually. You pay for it all online and on the following Saturday you will go to the site listed for your area and pick it up. It is amazing and simple! And the whole way home your car smells amazing! This has been worth every penny we have put into it. It has greatly helped our grocery budget!! We have been trying to become more aware about what we are eating and keeping around the house. This has been the perfect way to do that. Now I plan the meals I fix around what is in our basket. Often we have a dinner that consists of organic black bean hummus, organic salsa, fruit and veggies. It is delish, simple and refreshing!
I've added pictures of our last two pick ups. I'll list the price we paid and what was in them. I don't have the details for the last few pictures.... but they are pretty nonetheless. (I LOVE my new Iphone4! I take pictures all the time now!!)
Enjoy!!


This is our CONVENTIONAL Basket. It was $15 and contains:

• 8 (lunch sized) Gala Apples 
• 6 BIG green peppers (can't remember their real name) 
• 5 Kiwi
• 1 Pineapple 
• 1 Cantaloupe (I ate half today for lunch... Yum!) 
• 2 Bunny Mangos ( I don't care for Mangos but the hubs LOVES them!!) 
• 2 English Cucumbers 
• 1 head of living butter lettuce 
• 1 bag butter potatoes (I think I'm going to roast them!) 
• 3 heads broccoli
• 2 dozen brussels sprouts (This is the only thing we have ever gotten that neither one of us will eat... so we are giving them to some friends!) 

All that... $15. You can't even do that at Wal Mart! 

 This is the Asian Themed add-on. It was $8.50 and had:

• BIG Bok Choi 
• Celery
• 2 onions
• 1 head fresh garlic
• bag of snap peas 
• a fancy Asian herb that smells like licorice 
• Fresh water chestnuts 
• Green Onions 

This basket is going to require some exploration and research for me. I don't like anything that smells like licorice, tastes like water chestnuts or even know what to do with bok choi. But... I'm up for the challenge and need to find some chop sticks for a date night at home this weekend! 

These are the FRESH water chestnuts. I have never seen them ... I'm curious about how I will make them or if I will like them. I'm thinking stir fry... 

 I don't know if I like it but this is Bok Choi... but isn't this beautiful!!

 The ORGANIC Basket. This one was $25.00 and has:

• Beautiful leave lettuce 
• 3 heads broccoli
• green chard (not sure what it is but I think it looks like a type of lettuce)
• 2 beautiful yellow peppers 
• small box of blue berries (fact - I didn't like fresh blueberries until we started doing Bountiful Baskets. Now I love them for a snack!) 
• Strawberries 
• 7 Tomatoes 
• 3 Kiwi 
• 3 Ambrosia Apples 
• 1 Pineapple (dinner tonight)
• 2 cucumbers 
• 6 of the cutest onions

How pretty is this?!?! OH my heavens!! 

If my body could handle it ... I would live on fruit alone! 

Why OH why does Pineapple have to be so hard to get into? 

These are the Organic tomatoes that I got. I roasted some and made homemade Spaghetti sauce and used some to make organic salsa. (more on that later!) 

This was our citrus box! There were these things called Pumellos in there. They were yummy but So hard to eat. Like a difficult grapefruit! 

Cucumbers, cherrie tomatoes, onions, baby carrots... YUUUUUMO! 

Kiwis, mangos, apples and oranges! 

This was an Italian add-on that we did. It had amazing basil, parsley, onion, bay leaves, lemons and EGGPLANT!! I made the best Eggplant Parmesan out of this stuff!! 

All that green!! Who am I?? This use to make me cringe... now my heart gets all happy!! I love it!! 

I am so excited to see what our spring and summer baskets hold. They are sure to be even yummier than the fall and winter ones. We now have our "Bountiful Basket Monday" marked on the calendar so we don't forget to order. One of the best things is that over half the people I saw there this Saturday go to Church with me. We even made the joke that next time we just need to bring our Bibles and have someone say a message and we can all sleep in on Sunday! :)