The blessings of Family....

Bill Pace is the wonderful man who came into our lives in April 2011.  He and my mom were married February 25, 2012 and lived 11 happy months together.  It may have taken me a little while to get adjusted to the idea of my mom having a new husband but after I met Bill for the 1st time I knew he was a perfect fit for our family.  I used to love calling and talking to him about electronic questions, cameras, or just teasing my mom about something.  He had the best laugh.  At the end of our conversations he used to say, "Bye kiddo."  That is exactly what my dad used to call me.  I never told him this because I just felt it was a special connection that I had with him and I loved it.  He was always so easy to talk to and I felt comfort in knowing he was taking care of my mom.  The day I coached my last soccer game left me sad and missing my dad.  I met mom and Bill for lunch and just gave him a big hug.  All he had to say was, "I understand" and he hugged me back.  He was not in our lives for a long time, but the impression he left will be lasting.  As I met his family, brother and sisters and extended family, over the last week I saw why Bill was so wonderful.  I just fell in love with them.  I know there is a space in our hearts that will never be filled, but we have been blessed with a large family that is full of love.  I have 6 new brothers and sisters and 6 new nieces and nephews that I adore.  God is good and we can continue to see His blessings in our lives.  I feel privileged knowing that God chose Bruce and I to be there in Bill's last moments as he kept an appointment he had with God that day.  We may never fully understand God's plan but we can see that He is working and taking care of us every single day and for that I am thankful.  Through trials my faith is strengthened. 

Mom and Bill on their wedding day

This is the last picture Bill took as he was playing with my new camera he helped me pick out.

4 Girls in a tub

The boys all playing together with trains.  They were so wonderful!



Uncle Beau bought all the girls rings to decorate.  He is the best!




Showing off their rings....



Michael and Whitney.....

With the number of people at the house we tried to recycle cups so this is what it looked like above the sink.  There is a great story behind "The Real Meghan"

My "Manny" partner, Jon.  He and I worked hard all week to keep the house running.  With 11-12 people staying there and the tons of people coming in and out and bringing food it was quite a task.  Oh, did I mention the dog, Heidi who kept eating all the food

Pace/Lodge crew February 2012

Pace/Lodge crew January 2013

I just wanted to remind you all that even through trials we are blessed.  Maybe I needed to remind myself.  Here are some of our blessings.  I am so thankful for each moment and look forward to many more together.  I know God has great things in store for us and our families.

Playing with my new camera...

I have had the same camera, my Kodak Easy Share, for almost 10 years. I love that camera. It has been to Greece, Tennessee, New York, Ohio, Las Vegas, Arizona, Texas and countless trips to Colorado with us and takes good pictures. It is starting to show its age. It doesn't hold a charge very well but everything else about it is pretty good. It is fairly compact and has a great zoom, plus it is very dummy proof. So when I thought about getting a new one it was very hard to find one that would meet these requirements. I wanted something that was just like my old one but took better quality pictures. Wow, the price that goes along with that. Well, after help from Bill I finally made my choice of a Nikon 1 J1 and then Bruce found a great deal on Ebay for a brand new one with a warranty and everything for about $100-$200 less than what I was able to find on line. So excited. It is taking some getting used to and I have just been taking snap shots around the house. The zoom is not nearly as good, but as Bill taught me, with the better quality picture then I just zoom in and crop what I want and you still have really good qulality. I will save up for some of the other lenses you can buy but they are about $250 each...maybe we will find a steal on Ebay again...

(as you may have read, I am having trouble getting pictures to load correctly, so these are not in the order I wanted them...)













Totally love this one.  I don't remember what she was doing but it is too funny!



Uploading pictures

Why can't I upload pictures from my computer onto my blog lately????  Usually when I click the picture link it takes me to a screen and gives difference options about uploading pictures and one of them used to be "from computer" but it is not giving that to me and that is where all my pictures are.  I can click HTML on the post page and  upload them then "old way" but they takes a long time.  Has anyone else had this problem?  Not sure what I am doing wrong.

Wonderful Christmas!

Sledding fun - We had such a wonderful time sledding right in the front yard of our cabin.
It was perfect for Madelynn.  I will try to load a video of her.  I can't believe how big she is getting.

This tells is all.  Beau and Bruce on Christmas morning in the matching pj's mom bought them.

Nothing like a good old gun fight for Christmas.  They were attacking Grady on the stairs.  Madelynn
got a pink gun from Aunt Whitney for Christmas so she is all set now.

Our sleigh ride at RAPP corral.  We did this 2 years ago when Madelynn was 6 mos old; the 1st Christmas
without dad.  It is such a cool tradition and I love seeing the kids' faces when Santa arrives.

We also got to spend time with the Hatch side.  Madelynn LOVED playing with her cousins.  I wish we got
to spend more time with them but I am thankful for the memories she will have.



Most of the Pace/Lodge crew.  They were so cute together and I am so thankful for the was God has blessed
us and that we all have each other.  It is really cool to see how God has provided for us and the
support that we have as a family.

















It has been such a wonderful Christmas break.  I love it when we have so much time after Christmas because we actually get to spend more time as a family.  Madelynn continues to amaze us with the things she says and how quickly she picks up on things.  We are truly blessed and lucky to be her parents. As I realize how big she is getting it is exciting and sad because that just means Dad has been gone that long which makes me sad.  We continue to talk about him all the time and share the amazing memories we have.  Madelynn now recognizes Dad in pictures and tells me that her Papa is in heaven and that she wants to see him someday.  I think she got some of her feisty personality and attention to detail from him which is really cool.   I can't wait to see the amazing ways God will bless us in the coming year.

Winter activities

 Here are a few of my winter projects.  Yes, I got the idea from Pinterest but I really think it cam out cute so I had to share.  Madelynn enjoyed teaching Minnie Mouse about her tree.  She doesn't play with it as much as I would have liked but she is not the best at entertaining herself (can't imagine where she got this from).  It is a great addition to our Christmas decorations and it look me one nap session to put together.  I couldn't find a large piece of green felt so it is flannel and I sewed 2 pieces together and then made ornaments out to flannel.

 Madelynn's new bike from Aunt Ginny and Uncle Tim.  It is so cute.  I will get some other photos of her actually riding it.  I just love this one.  She looks so grown up.

Another apron. This was for my adorable cousin Reina. I really enjoy making these and I am thinking about starting to sell them. If you are interested, let me know.

See, I told you, seriously cute!!!
So, this is what has been keeping us busy so far.  I just realized I never posted pics of our Christmas tree cutting.  I will get those up also. 
Merry Christmas.

Pray your Christmas cards

So, this idea came to me the other day.  No, it is not from Pinterest or Facebook (I guess it might be out there but I didn't get it from there).  I saw all my Christmas cards on my front door, which I have the habit of leaving up until summer time, and I thought about all my family and friends and how I need to be in prayer for them.  Then I realized, if I would pray for one family at a time as I pass by the door I would pray for all my friends and family multiple times, especially if they are hanging there until June.  So each time (ok, maybe not everytime but a few times through the day) I place my hands on one of my Christmas cards and pray for that family.  I often say I am going to pray for people, and I do but not consistantly.  These wonderful pictures serve as a great remider to pray for the people I love.  I am working my way clock-wise around my door, just in case you wanted to know my "system".  So know that if you have sent me a Christmas card this year I am in prayer for you and I am very thankful to have you in my life.  Even if you didn't send me a card, I am thankful for you. 

A chapter in my life is through...

1987 - Who would have thought I would go from this...to a varsity Soccer coach? :)

 2005

 2006

 2007

 2008

 2009

 2011 (I took the previous season off because of Madelynn)

2012 - My final season

As I sat on the bus for the final time the song, Friends by Michael W. Smith came to mind...."Can't believe the hopes He's granted, means a chapter in your like is through..."   Coaching soccer was a chapter I would have never imagined would even be written on the pages of my life.  I started my coaching career in 2005 on the Socorro field and I ended it in 2012 on the Socorro field...how ironic.  As tears came down my cheeks I realized I was closing another chapter that my dad had been part of and for some reason that always hurts the most.  As we open new pages and chapters that he wasn't there for it just solidifies the fact that he is not here (not that I really needed a reminder).  Then the tears really started to flow and the pictures of the past 8 years began playing through my mind like a slideshow. 

I thought about the girls whose blood, sweat, and tears will forever mark the pages of my Soccer Coaching chapter.  I can't even remember how many there have been and sadly, I can't even remember all their names.  I began to look back through my old rosters and then all the old pictures --- and these are just the Varsity ones (I didn't have copies of all the JV ones, although they may be at my house somewhere).  It is amazing the hats you where when you are a coach; and the coaching hat is just the tip of the iceberg.  Counselor, mentor, nurse, mom, diciplinarian, athletic trainer, ref, cheerleader and I am sure there are a few choice ones some of the girls would throw in there at times.  I know that the skills I have learned out on that field will greatly help me as we raise Madelynn. 

There are many girls who will forever leave their mark on my heart and mind.  I have learned from them about being patient, usng kind words, listen more intently, and to realize that all kids come from very different backgrounds.  I have cried over these girls and also laughed so hard with them that my sides hurt. 

I am so thankful to the people who have helped me and been mentors to me during this time.  Bruce, of course, always has the best insight when I am upset or frustrated.  His advice usually included - then quit or at least its Girl's Soccer nobody really cares :).  Coach Comacho - it is all his fault that I have gone through the stress that I have the last few years, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Not only was he a mentor on the field but also in my Christian walk with God.  I am thankful for his friendship.  Coach Lopez - I joke that we are like an old married cupple by the end of a season because we spend so much time together, this year especially with 2 over night trips together (granted our time is not over because we also coach track together).  He has always been there to support and guide me and I am so thankful for that.  I will miss them greatly and tresure their friendship.  And of course Coach Sategna who asked me to coach track at my wedding, of all places, and that was how I first got into the coaching world.  I tried to quit a few years ago but then in came out in the paper that I was on maternity leave and ended up back the next season :)  There is something in me that wants to make Coach Sategna proud when I am out there.  Even though he is was not my boss this year I still found myself looking at the good behavior of my girls at a resturant or something and thinking, "Coach would be proud of our Bloomfield girls."  So I am thankful for him also.

Things I will miss - the girls, the lessons we teach each other, the games, bus trips, laughter, Coach Lopez, Coach Comacho, picking just the right shirt for the season....

Things I will NOT miss - bus trips, my car being full of soccer equipment, collecting uniforms, the heat, did I mention the bus, attitudes, parents, the tears....

What a trip it has been.  One I would not trade for the world and one I will never forget.  Now it is time to spend time with my little girl and, who knows, coach her team someday...but I would rather just enjoy watching.

Side notes - I found it interesting to look at the pictures and check out my hair styles, how much weight I have gained since I started coaching.  I knew it was time to quit when I had come full circle and one of my athletes was now my assistant...