Donate...to save a life!

Today I had the privilege of donating platelets for a family member. I just learned last week that my sister-n-law has Leukemia. Dee Dee Dixon-Rund is the wife of my brother Kevin and the mother of Morgan (16) and Emmery (11). She is fighting for her life! I don't have all the details. What I do know is donating is something I could do to help her in this time of need. She is the president of Oklahoma City Title and Abstract Company in Edmond, OK. They held a blood drive for her last Friday. I was unable to attend the drive due to the weather. I was excited to learn that 25 people donated for her that day at her office. The request now is for 2,000 people to get registered for the National Bone Marrow Registry. I registered today. It really is easy to do. I would encourage anyone in the state of Oklahoma to register on her behalf and donate blood through the Oklahoma Blood Institute. Dee Dee receives $20 credit for every donation given in her name. No matter your blood type or the blood product you choose to give, whole blood or platelets, etc. If you are reading this and unable to donate for whatever reason please pray for Dee Dee and her healing. We serve a Big God and my prayer is that she knows Him as her personal Lord and Savior.
If you are able to donate PLEASE do. It matters!
I would love for Dee Dee to receive the credit for your donation. Please e-mail me and I will give you her name and hospital so she receives proper credit. (meghandickinson@cox.net)

Again, Just Donate!

www.obi.org
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/DeeDeeRund

Thank You!

Sledding our Sunday afternoon away...

We received a warm welcome to join our friends the Hutchins and the Lee's for a Sunday afternoon of fellowship and fun. We enjoyed a warm bowl of chili and a hot cup of tea. We spent time around the lunch table sharing stories and making memories. The girls sat at one table, the boys at the other and Marcus joined the adults as we broke bread together. This is the kind of family and fellowship I dream of for our own family. Wayne reminded me that we'll be this kind of family for our own children and grandchildren as they grow up and have families of their own. You don't realize what your missing until you enjoy a time with others who truly love the Lord and one another. We are invited to join them anytime. I'm sure there will be many more Sunday afternoons enjoyed by our families.

After our warm invite and warm meal we headed outside for an afternoon of sledding. I was only going outside with the guys to take pictures of the kiddos while the ladies watched from the indoors. I was having so much fun watching our kids enjoy the snow and their friends. This was our first time sledding as a family. When I say family I mean I actually got on and slid down the hill myself. I laughed all the way down, twice. It felt so good to have so much fun. Macey was a joy to watch as she enjoyed the snow for the first time. Each time she would ride down with Taylor and before they would get to the bottom of the hill she was already signing for more. She was a real trooper. She was even brave enough to go down all by herself. Tanner had a great time with the boys. They went up and down literally hundreds of times, ALL afternoon. We called it a day when Macey went down for the last time. Let's just say she wiped out, lost a glove and couldn't see a thing. We quickly went inside were we were greeted by a warm fire and something warm to drink. Our family had such a great time together. We thank the Lord for good friends who love us and our children, all of them. (Marcus enjoyed his afternoon indoors taking a nap).

Snow Days...

We have been enjoying the indoors as a family for the past 2 days. Yesterday brought, sleeting rain while today the snow has been falling for hours. We don't normally have this kind of weather here in central Oklahoma. Maybe 2 days a year do we have such weather. Christmas Eve brought a blizzard. We were in for days then too. So this is our second round of winter weather here. The kids love it! Tanner has been outside on and off all day. Marcus and Macey have enjoyed the snow from the indoors. Macey goes over to the window and signs snow and cold. Marcus just loves watching the snow fall. He was very distracted at breakfast this morning. By lunchtime he was more than ready to eat. Since these pictures were taken it has probably snowed another 3 inches. It's just beautiful. Wayne made the comment about loving being able to stay home with all of us and getting paid to do so. The base closed early yesterday so he was home before noon. He didn't have to go in at all today. So we all have a 4 day weekend! We have cleaned, watched movies with our new neighbors and friends, I'm sure Uno attack will be played tonight, Wayne has made a great pot of chili and I'll be scrap booking tomorrow. We're all home safe and warm. I couldn't ask for more. This IS the life!

How do you keep a toddler in his crib?

What do you notice about this picture?
Yes, I had to turn his crib around backwards to keep Marcus IN his crib. I was working in my office when I turned around and noticed Marcus standing in the entry way. What are you doing in here? More importantly HOW did you get in here? It was Marcus' nap time, Macey and Taylor were at school and Tanner was in the dining room. All was quiet! I didn't hear a thing; no thug, crash or bang. I swooped him up to make sure he was OK. No blood, no scrapes, no bruises of any kind. He was just standing there as if to say, here I am. I did pick him back up and put him back to bed to finish his nap. Later that evening I had the brilliant idea of turning his crib around so he could no longer escape. So far, so good. Geeesh!

BL week 3 - I'm not giving up!

Let's just say I don't feel very inspiring. After having a double ear infection and not exercising one time it shows. The scale does not lie. I gained 1 pound this week. Yes, you read right, I gained 1 pound. I will not be defeated! Like I said the first week, it's a matter of prayer, less food and more exercise. The more exercise is were I failed this week. I have now learned that exercise has got to be a part of my daily routine in order to loose these unwanted pounds and then be able to maintain a healthy weight. Boy do I learn things the hard way. Yes, I have been sick and could not have walked one minute on a treadmill without loosing it, literally. But today is a new day!
Over the weekend my husband bought me my own personal treadmill for the house. This means I can walk morning, noon or night. I am so grateful he believes in me and supports my efforts. This will make all the difference to me. It's here, I see it when I wake up every morning. It actually feels good once I'm walking and see the calories I'm burning. I wouldn't say I love it quite yet but I am glad to have it.
Thanks Wayne, I'll make you proud!

How do you keep TWO kids contained?

TODDLER GATE!
A big Thank you to Aunt Jennifer. The toddler gate is a life saver. Really, it is. It keeps the kids contained, I mean entertained in their room where it is safe and fun. If the gate where NOT there Marcus would have opened their bedroom door and would be playing in the toilet by now. See what I mean by a life saver? Who would have thought he would love the water so much, any water. Remember when we brought him home, it took a month to get him to take a bath without crying. I never want to forget just how far he's come in just a short amount of time.
Thanks again!

B is for Bear

A dear friend of ours, Ansley brought over the greatest gift for the kids. This BIG, brown bear. I wasn't sure who would love it more Tanner or the littles. This was a great lesson in sharing. Each one of them have taken turns snuggling, wrestling and lovin' on this BIG, brown bear. Thank You to our dear friend for thinking of us.