Muddy Buddy

Last weekend was the Austin Muddy Buddy's 10th annual race...and Kyle and Erick got a medal! They did awesome...they finished 2nd in their division and 10th overall for the WHOLE RACE (about 1,000 teams)!!! Stu and Cat were a team also and did awesome too, despite a broken bike! It was fun to watch everyone cross the mud pit right before the finish line - some other friends raced also so we got to cheer a lot.

In case you haven't heard of the Muddy Buddy, here's a quick run down: 6.5-7mile partner race with 5 trail legs. Each person either runs or bikes each leg and they alternate, for ex: Kyle biked the first leg while Erick ran it; then Kyle ran the second leg while Erick biked it; etc. In between each leg is an obstacle and at the end both team members have to crawl through the mud pit together and then run across the finish line. It's a unique and fun race! There's also a costume contest so some people are running/biking in crazy costumes.

Here are some pictures to tell the story...(even though I didn't manage to appear in any of the photos, I promise I was there as spectator and photographer!)...

top: the mud pit pre-race...and Erick & Kyle pre-race

the award ceremony - 2nd place!!

...with friends Donnie & Mark

Stu and Cat crossing the mud pit

with Camilo and Juan Carlos, our neighbors

cleaned up and enjoying the prize for all participants...they don't even look like they just did a hard race!! super stars!

first flutters

i got to celebrate my first Mother's Day as a mom (-to-be)! my sweet husband got me some beautiful roses, my parents got me a sweet card and the best gift of all came from our baby him/herself!

...i started feeling little baby movements for the first time this weekend! it's the coolest feeling. i kept doubting at first that what i was feeling was really the baby because i just didn't know what to expect...but i am certain now that the little flutters i'm feeling are the movements of our little bambino/a! i guess they'll just keep getting stronger from here :)

i'm loving it!

God blessed Texas - especially Austin

So I know that a lot of non-Texans get annoyed that we Texans talk to highly of our state, but I just have to say it... I love Austin.

I think I have the best drive to and from work every day. This is my route: 2222 W. to 360, across the bridge and south to Bee Caves. And then I get to drive it back at the end of the day. I have just been amazed at how beautiful it is - the windy, hilly roads, the views of Town Lake, the rocky and stoney cliffs, the different shades of green trees that fill the hills...the views are breath-taking. While slowly inching along in rush hour traffic can often be frustrating, I realized that it allows me more time to soak in the sights.

I thank God that He created such beauty for us to live in and to enjoy.

...I'll have to find or take some pictures for a good visual to put up here soon. In the meantime, if you don't know what I'm talking about...COME VISIT!

cumpliendo years, trabajando and growing!

(that was a little Spanglish for ya)

here are a few updates to catch you up...

Kyle had a great bday, our baby and my "bump" are growing quickly and i got a J-O-B!

* we had a great bday celebration (for Kyle, Erick and Stuart) / Easter weekend out at Lake Travis...relaxing, eating, relaxing, hot tubbing and enjoy the beautiful views!

* we find out in a month if we are having a FraziercitO or FraziercitA! and don't worry, it won't be a secret...we will spread the news as soon as we know :) which do you think it will be?? praise God that everything has gone really well up to this point! it's all so exciting!

* last week i started my new job at Children of All Nations, a new division of Great Wall China Adoption. it's an international adoption agency/non-profit. currently we are placing children from Mexico, Ethiopia and Rwanda - and adding others soon! my title is Adoption Consultant but my job description is still a little unclear. i think i'll be doing a variety of things. so far i like it a lot! it's going to be awesome to be a part of growing international families :) i'm also getting to use Spanish quite a bit...and some of the business/marketing "skills" i learned from way back when.

if you haven't heard from me in awhile, sorry!...the new job is why. it has me pretty tired...oh, and i'm not allowed to check/send emails or use my phone during work hours, sooo...i'm a little separated from my personal/social life during the week :(

but i know i'll adjust to the schedule soon and hope to get to talk to and see lots of you!!! i miss all of you out there!

the infamous "bump"...and growing! Alex, our sweet nephew, in his Easter outfit :)

warning: this post is a little "heavier" than the previous ones; but just wanted to share some things we have been reading from a book about that mediates on the cross of Christ



"Jesus hath now many lovers of His heavenly kingdom...but few bearers of His cross.

Many He hath that are desirous of consolation...but few of tribulation.

Many He findeth that share His table...but few His fasting.

All desire to rejoice with Him...few are willing to endure any thing for Him.

Many follow Jesus unto the breaking of bread...but few to the drinking of the cup of His Passion.

Many reverence His miracles...few follow the shame of His cross." (Thomas a Kempis)

This book studies a verse a day for the 40 days leading up to Easter, all focused on the purpose of the Cross. I hope to study through it again and again because I have learned that there is so much depth and profound meaning in everything that was prophesied, fulfilled, suffered and said during those last few days of Jesus' life. And it is important that we not overlook the significance of it all. This is our faith. This is the love and grace we talk so much about. But it's intense, it's hard to sit and try to relate to. It's easier to focus on the resurrection and the 'after'.

I think when Paul talks about sharing in Christ's sufferings ("The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 1Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:16, 17) so that we might share in His glory, he is talking about the importance of knowing all of Christ. To know all of Christ includes meditating on all that He went through in His last days; to know the depth of the price He paid so that we can know (or seek to know) the depth of the salvation, righteousness and inheritance that He gives to us instead.

"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." 1 Peter 2:21-24

the little things

i love that we live close enough that we can walk to the grocery store.

that's all i have to say. it was just a fun part of the day. and it reminds me of being in argentina.

:)

tattletales and crybabies

as of this week i am back to the world of being a substitute teacher. every day brings something new and unexpected. after doing a lot of elementary school, i was hoping to try out the older kids and see if the classroom environment was a little more mature and discipline was not as needed. but so far, i haven't picked up any middle or high school jobs...just lots and lots of the little ones. and i typically LOVE the little ones...but a class full of 20-something of them and it seems like i'm surrounded by...
...tattletales and crybabies. in the moment, i usually just want to laugh because it's pretty humorous. but i've been stumped many times with how to respond professionally, and as a good teacher would.

for example (real live situations from just today):
- "he said i was cutting and i wasn't cutting" cries the little boy from under the desk (really? that brings on tears? all i could think of to say was - "stand at the back of the line and just don't talk to that boy. come on, get out from under the desk. you'll be ok." note: he cried about 3 more things throughout the afternoon)
- "my finger really hurts. i need to go to the nurse" cries the boy who has misbehaved ALL day (your finger? how did you hurt your finger doing a math worksheet?! i didn't let him go. is that so mean? what if there was something serious with his finger...? i mean, who knows.)
- "he keeps getting up and policing around. it's not his job to be the police" tattles multiple kids at the same time...who have also gotten up to tell on him. (first it makes me laugh that they say "policing around". the kid was bossy and trying to maintain order. it was actually helping me. but, i had to stick to the rules - stay in your seat. actually, i was more annoyed with the tattlers than the "policeman."

ok, so i realize this makes it look like i don't like to be with kids. actually, i LOVE this age! they were 1st graders and they're so cute and really funny when you get to have a conversation with them! but getting them to listen, follow rules and do their school work (when you're just the sub, not the real teacher) is HARD!

but i'll end with a couple of cute things some of them said today. these are the moments that remind me that i love kids and that help me get through the day :)
* at recess: "they made me laugh so hard i peed in my pants" says a little boy, with absolutely no embarassment or shame. it was just a matter of fact! poor guy didn't have a change of clothes
* a very blonde little girl telling me about her mom: "she has brown eyes and brown hair. my dad says i got my blonde hair, my prettiness, and my tomboyishness from him. he says all i got from my mom is a bad attitude. (pause) i guess that's a joke. i don't know."
* "teacher, when i first saw you today i thought you were mean. but really, you're nice." (not really sure how to take that one. i think he meant it as a compliment...i think.)