Dressed to Impress?

I'm planning on running the Marine Corps Marathon in October (if I can get entry in April). I'm super excited about it, but also super nervous at the thought of running 26.2 miles. At least the MCM has a decent course--it starts in Arlington National Cemetary, runs through Georgetown, over into the District, through Memorial Mall, and ends at Iwo Jima. Mom and Dad are already planning on make the trip out and we're trying to figure out they best places for them to be so that can see me run, give me goo/bananas if I need them (goo is a technical running term, I promise!), etc. So, while walking through Nordstrom (my mecca) over the weekend, I got the most PERFECT running ensemble for the MCM! I'll be wearing this skirt with a turquoise running top and I'm so excited! I was literally jumping up and down in it in the dressing room!!

Maybe I'll pick me up some hottie Marine in my awesome running outfit! (Or at least my parents will know its me when I pass out at the finish line!)

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Was there life before Wyatt?

(P.S. I think I'm going to rename this blog, because apparently my sister is a good-for-nothing blogger!)

So Saturday was my Dad's birthday. I went home for the first time since New Year's, which I think might be a new record for me. I love going home. There's just something so calming about driving through New Pal, turning onto Mom and Dad's street, pulling into the driveway. I know this sounds cheesy, but it just feels like everything is where it should be when I'm cruising down 52. Weird, I know.

The fam went out for Dad's birthday to The Weber Grill in Indy. Yum. That place is absolutely fantastic! And I thought it was fitting that we went there for Dad's day...growing up, I loved it when Dad would grill hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner. I love the smell that charcoal grills give off. I just love it! But here's my observation from lunch yesterday....our whole family life now revolves around Wyatt! And I think we are all perfectly OK with that! And it got me thinking...what was life like before Wyatt?

He's so stinking funny. He's growing so quickly...I can't believe he's almost two! Where did the time go? I hate that I haven't seen him since New Years...but I love to see how much he's changed in those six weeks. And since I love talking about my awesome nephew, I'm going to make a list for your reading enjoyment.

1. Six weeks ago, I was "Aunt Tel" because Wyatt couldn't say Kelby. Now, I'm "Aunt Kelby" (or something very, very close to that). It makes me slightly sad, because I LOVED being called Aunt Tel. I thought there was something so sweet about it. But I'll deal with Aunt Kelby. I also love that my sister points me out in pictures to him....because he knows who I am when he sees me, and that makes me happy! My biggest fear about living far away from him was that he would not know me, but I love that I don't have to worry about that.

1 1/2. Not only is Wyatt getting so good at saying "Kelby", but he's saying so many multiple-syllabal words and phrases. For example, Oscar the Grouch, "Andad" (short for Grandaddy), train tracks, Coyote (he can make the sound too which is AWESOME!)....he's so smart. Basically, he may just be a genius.

2. Wyatt can eat with utensils. I know this sounds so small, but he's so darn cute trying!

Well, honestly this list could get really long, so I may as well just quit while I'm ahead. But isn't my nephew the cutest???

He is. I know it. His momma knows it. I think even he knows it.

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Snow Day baby!!!

Gosh, I feel like a kid of 10 again! We got a snow day today!!! (Do you remember those days? Waking up and watching the morning news just to see if your school would flash across the bottom of the screen with the word "closed" next to it? Ahh, the minute I would see "Southern Hancock Community School Corporation", it was back to bed for me! Those were the days!)

Anyway, we in the Queen City (aka Cincinnati) got a good three inches of snow last night, with about four more mixed with ice on the way today. So our office deicded to have a snow day! It's amazing! I took a morning nap, and then Yankee and I went outside to play it. She's really never seen that much snow before and I was laughing out loud at her playing in it. She just basically a dog with rabbit and cat-like actions--meaning, she pounces. And jumps on things. And pounces some more. The problem is that she can only last about five minutes out there, but I bundled her up in her coat and we went outside to play! Gosh, I really don't know what I would do if I didn't have my pup in my life.

Yankee really likes to put her face all the way in the snow! She pops up with it all over her face!

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Grand Ole Party?

So this is the week--the week our country has a shift in power. The week we usher in a new President, a new administration, a new everything. Everyone keeps talking about change. This change that we'll see in Washington. A change for the future. Before we get excited about our future, can we please take a look at our past? After all, we don't know where we're going, until we know where we've been. And where we've been has been rocky, but steady. Where we've been has been stressful, but safe. Where we've been has been controversial, but faithful. And for that, we have one man to thank. I'm not sure how I will embrace President Obama, but there is no question how I feel about President George W. Bush.

Thank you, President Bush, for keeping our country safe for the past eight years. Thank you, President Bush, for your faith and your strong leadership during times of terror. Thank you, President Bush, for your humility during times of praise and your praying nature during times of trouble. Thank you, President Bush, for making the tough decisions--decisions that have not made you popular but were for the greater good of the country. Thank you, President Bush, for your loyalty to this country, to the office that you held, and your pride for America. Thank you, President Bush, for loving your wife and loving your family. And lastly, thank you President Bush for serving America strongly and dedicating your life to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for the past eight years. Your legacy will be one of controversy, of making difficult decisions, of safety during horrific times, and of faith and prayer. You will be greatly missed.

With a changing of the guard comes hard feelings for the losing party. As difficult as the next four years will be for our country, it is time we unite. We may not respect the man in the office, but we have to respect the position that he holds. And that's the beauty of America. That's the freedom that most take for granted. Pray for the office. Pray for the man in the position of power....because he will definitely need it. Pray for the safety of this great country we live in.

Love your country. Your country is the land where your parents sleep, where is spoken that language in which the chosen of your heart, blushing, whispered the first word of love; it is the home that God has given you that by striving to perfect yourselves therein you may prepare to ascend to him. ~Giuseppe Mazzini

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I. Am. Resolved.

Kelby here...

So it's that time of year. The time of year to make "resolutions". I use that word losely because I'm not sure how I feel about it. C'mon now...you know what I mean. I feel like New Year's resolutions are just meant to be broken. Honestly, who out there has made one AND kept one throughout the course of the year?? If you have, I'd like to meet you.

But on the other hand, I do like what a new year stands for. A clean slate. A chance to start over and make the next 365 days even better than the last 365 were. So, in the spirit of new-ness, I've made some goals for 2009. Call them what you want--resolutions, goals, whatever--but I feel if I put them in writing, I'm more likely to stick to them. And be held accountable for them. So here we go...

#1. "I have fought the good fight. I have ran the race. I have kept the faith." I began running in 2008 and it is something I would like to continue doing in 2009. Mainly, I want to run my very first marathon in the fall of 2009...the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington, D.C. Yup. A marathon. 26.2 miles. Running. Woohoo. It is a goal that will take me most of 2009 to train for. But I'm looking forward to accomplishing this goal. I've heard that there is nothing like crossing the finish line of your first marathon--and I'm excited that Mom and Dad are already planning on making the trip out with me to cheer me on! And some of my girls have talked about coming too. Go Team Kelby!!

#2. "Communication is the invisible thread bonding our society." I am who I am because of those who have entered and impacted my life. And I will spend 2009 reconnecting with people--friends and family--who have entered, and unfortunately, exited my life for some reason or another. I have cousins whom I haven't spoken to in years. I want to fix that. I will also make more of an effort to grow relationships that currently exist. Burg and I want to make a trip to Boston to see our cousins Kari and Jamie. I want to get to Nashville to see Brian and Melissa, and to spend some quality time with my family down there. I want to be a figure in the lives of all of my friend's children...Blaine, Branson, Lily, Connor, Mackenna, Reagan. I love my friends, and I love their children because of that--and I want all of these little boogers to know that I am in their lives to stay. I want to do road trips with my girls. I want to travel with my college roomies! Just because I live in a different state, doesn't mean our relationship has to change...and I need to make more of an effort.

#3. Shortcake and Co. Yes. Burgess and I are doing it. We are starting our own business!! It is overwhelming and a lot of work, but we are so excited about it!! In 2009, it is our goal to grow Shortcake both online and throughout Indiana through fairs and shows. Look for our website soon....www.hicksgirls.com. (I'm sure you're wondering where Shortcake came from. Well it's an inside story between me and Burg, but one I'll share with you. Growing up, we had Strawberry Shortcake phones in our rooms--phones that were used only to call each other. After we outgrew the phones, we had a hole in our closet wall from where the cords connected. When we got in trouble--which was often--we would go into our closets and talk to each other through the hole. I know, it sounds juvenile but it is one of my favorite childhood memories!)

#4. No Coke for you! This will probably be the most difficult resolution to keep....but I am giving up pop in 2009, with the exception of Coke Zero. In an effort to get a bikini body (I'm sure all that running I will be doing will help too) I have decided to give up pop. Mt. Dew will no longer enter my body. No more root beer at work. Nothing. Its only the third day of the new year, but I'm holding strong. Coke Zero and Sweet Tea will be my new best friends.

#5. The year of my career. With the start and launch of Shortcake, I feel as though I am on the verge of something new...or something better for my career. This will have to be a God thing...and I refuse to put Him in a box by saying what I want to do or where I see my career going. I am putting my entire faith in God for this. He knows my strengths. He knows my weaknesses. And He will put something in my path that will steer me to a career path that fits me and His plan for my life.

That's my top 5. There are definitely more things that I will be working on in 2009...some more personal, some more obvious. Wish me luck with these though. And Happy New Year!

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I'm the new Jessica....

Look to your right friends...yes, you are not mistaken. That is the one and only Nick Lachey. And he's my new boyfriend.

Ok that last part is a lie. But it really is Nick Lachey. I met him. He met me. There was pictures and touching involved. And two hugs...not one, but two hugs. Yup. The classic sign of love...the hug. :) (Don't we look well together?)

Good thing that Nick is a Cincinnati boy and that he loves to come home as often as possible. As luck (or Cupid...) would have it, Nick was in town on Tuesday. The same day as our Celebrity Waiters luncheon benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. We got in touch with the right people and Nick came and spent the entire day with us. He was absolutely one of the most geunine people I have ever met. Very nice. Very sincere. He even dropped a couple grand at our event--all to help with cystic fibrosis research!

Ahh, I love brushes with fame. I love it even more when those brushes with fame include someone who is much better looking in person than on TV. My initial reaction about meeting Nick: #1. He's so little. Seriously. He's a shorty. #2. He's so little. Seriously. Through the waist and everything. Homeboy is little..ripped but little. #3. He's so handsome. Not cute. Not hot. Very very handsome. And finally #4. We look well standing beside each other. I mean, I'm blonde. We all know he likes blondes. I'm just saying....Newlyweds Take 2, coming to an MTV reality show near you.....

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Christians, sex and our biased media

For those of you in Cincinnati, you will know what I'm talking about. For everyone else...read this article first... http://www.local12.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=6e7843b8-c322-4b7b-a7bd-829cfcada45b

First things first, I know this man. I used to work with him during my time at Cincinnati Christian University. And when I saw this on TV this morning, my jaw hit the floor. No lie. Unbelievable. It truly is. Then reality sunk in, and the wheels in my head began to turn. As I read the story online and read posted comments, I began to feel anger. And that's when I decided that today would be the first (of many) of "Kelby's Soapbox Blog"....

Mr. Williams did something wrong. There is no denying that fact. Please understand that I'm not trying to downplay his actions. I'm not trying to justify what he did. He made a mistake and will pay dearly for his actions. But my anger is geared at our stupid, liberal media. If you read the story on Local 12 or any of the other Cincinnati news sites, you will read that two other men were arrested at the same place on the same day for the same thing. But it's Bob that gets the heat. It's Bob that gets his mugshot blasted on the news and all over the Internet. Why? Because he works at a Christian university. He's in a senior position at CCU and that's why it made news. That's it. That's the only reason why he is being attacked. Let's be honest, would this have made the headlines if the undercover cop had been a female? If Bob didn't work where he did? If CCU hadn't already had some horrible press earlier in the year?

Well holy crap, a Christian made a mistake. Should we disgrace them and their families because of it? Because that's essentially what the media is doing here. Yes, I understand that a person in a position of leadership is held to higher standard, as they should be. Believe me, I understand that. However, maybe the other two guys that were arrested are in a position of leadership at their work, or better yet...in their families? Doesn't that count? Apparently not.

I'm tired of being under a "Christian" label when it's convenient for the media to use it. I'm tired of the fact that because I'm a Christian, I'm somehow intolerant. I'm tired of people's reactions when a Christian does something wrong. We're not perfect. We don't claim to be. In fact, if you talk to some Christians, you will learn that we are some of the most broken people. We have issues. Struggles. Temptations. Perfect is the absolute last word that comes to mind.

Christians are accused of being judgmental and on holy high horses, but in fact, it's the other way around. I'm tired of not being able to say "Merry Christmas" at work because someone may find it offensive. I'm tired of not being able to say the Pledge of Allegiance in schools because someone may find it offensive. Well you know what, you stomping on my First Amendment rights is offensive to me. Maybe its you that's intolerant. Maybe its you that is completely judgmental. Did that thought ever cross your mind?

While I will not defend, stand up or ever support CCU nor will I defend the actions of its employees, as a Christian, I can be angry. And I am. As a Christian, I can pray. And I am. And as a Christian, I can love. And I am.

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