Author Archives: intunewithmyautoimmune

About intunewithmyautoimmune

I am a 41 year old woman living with Lupus, dealing with infertility and pursued adoption-he is ours! In spite of it all and because of it all, I am blessed.
Feb19

Date Night

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I was super surprised when my husband texted to get a sitter, he had a reservation and we were going out. First, he is not romantic so him planning date night was super special and second the place was fancy! We had not been to a steak place in like a decade. Steaks were our norm before kids, but then who has 300 dollars for a meal (we drink a lot). So this was a splurge and I loved it!

I got to get super dressed up, take an hour to get ready, and we even did pre drinks and much needed talking. The roads were getting bad so we cut the night short to get the kid, but it was a night we needed and memories to last for the next decade when we do it again!

Feb19

Killing it as a Snow Mom

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No one prepares you to mom in cold weather. Texas women do not get much guidance in handling kids during freezing weather and snow in an area that’s climate is just straight up hot. Exhibit A: Ridiculous Clothing

We don’t ski…enough said. Exhibit B: cooked from the pantry.

Pardon his booger nose…we blew it shortly after the pic was taken. We ate whatever we found in the pantry: tacos, mac and cheese, bootleg dumplings minus the chicken, chili with missing ingredients and lots of breakfast foods and frozen foods.

Who kept that fire going while dad worked all week? This girl!

Who got a workout in while all the whole house watched and tried to wave to the camera? Me again!

Who splurged with some snow ice cream and played outside every day in temps in the single digits? Me.Me.Me!

Hopefully you can agree that moms do what moms do to keep their children happy despite being stuck inside for 6 days straight. We made memories, had fun, learned a little and relaxed a lot! Looking forward to getting out tomorrow, but celebrating we made it today!

Feb19

Wrapping this Crazy Week Up

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Temps are expected to get above freezing today as this winter storm rolls out and I already feel some normalcy in the air. Stores reopening. People driving. Making plans.

It is time. Have not worn a real bra or gotten out of the house since Saturday night. Ate only homecooked meals the entire week….no.take out.at.all. No packages delivered. Just chilled at home. Spent a fortune on water and electricity, but we were fortunate to have no pipes burst. Saw hospitality and kindness in so many different ways. Tried to give what I could in any area around me that did not need it. Walked in the snow to deliver a birthday gift. A neighbor brought me tea bags. Friendship.

Read books, took online classes, worked out virtually, read with my son, watched movies and DVDs. Worked around the house. Binged on social media. Slowed down. Read my Bible and my Book Study for church and school. Recharged. Took a break.

Now back to the grind. Will never forget this week of snow with my son. Taking one last day to enjoy it then kiss it goodbye. Epic pictures and memories to last a lifetime.

Feb18

Made to Follow

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My plans are worthless. I learned that in Covid, then things got back to “normal-ish” and I forgot and now I am reminded in this Winter storm again. My plans are worthless.

My calendar is a wish list and a “I hope to do…”. My dad would always say to EVERY thing “If it is the Lord’s will..” It drove me crazy, but it is more right than wrong. My calendar was slashed again with this Texas ice storm and I am not complaining. I have been blessed with the essentials and luxuries that I appreciate now more than ever. Do not take it for granted, Julia…heat, electricity, water…they are gifts!

As we, Lord willing, start wrapping this Winter Storm up I am reminded we are made to follow Him. We were created to worship.

Created to obey.

Created to trust.

Created to sin.

Created to need a Savior and one willing to sacrifice.

Created to thank Him and tell others about this gift.

We were made to follow!

Feb17

Winter Storm in Texas

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I have lived in Texas 41 years and never seen anything like this! Over 5 inches of snow. Not the icy stuff the Lone Star State is use to…the soft and fluffy stuff! Temps in the single digits and feels like below zero! Crazy! The worst part though is our grids cannot handle the need for this much electricity and heat so many are suffering without power and now broken pipes. Our home has been spared, but the beauty of that is we can share with others. Here are some pics of this week. We have done our part by seizing the day and trying to enjoy it. Who knows if we will ever see this much white stuff again?!

Jan10

Snow Day in Texas

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For those folks that live where snow is normal…our snow day will sound silly. But, we never see it, let alone take pics in it so today was special. Of course it did not stick and was short lived…but it was awesome while it was here!

Sometimes you need just enough of something to appreciate it and capture the memory, but fully accepting this area cannot handle anything more than some flakes!

Jan9

100th Check-in with Camp Gladiator

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I started Camp Gladiator boot camps at the start of the pandemic. With virtual teaching, home schooling, parenting, and staying at home…I just needed something for me. It started virtually then I moved over to in-person. It has been a great way to self care, connect with others, and improve my health all while setting goals and working to achieve them. Especially, when we started the foster care process, I needed something about me and to not let my frustrations explode. So 100 check ins was a huge deal celebrating discipline and sticking with something even when things got busy. January you get the workouts for free so sign up and join us online!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1c7d0zYcqI8HCNxFxD41D14ccuS10kZuAgU42WyhCuDw/viewform?edit_requested=true

If you sign up let me know! You can use Julia Tyndall as your referral!

Another added bonus is my kid and someday kids can go with me and run their energy out before bed. It is not always easy but it is worth it.

Jan9

Adopting in a Pandemic

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As we restart our adoption journey, but this time through foster care, one major difference is all the courses available online. We lose the community…we loved our adoption community and still keep in touch with those families…but learning in your pajamas is pretty awesome too. In fact, doing the courses online is one of the big reasons the fire was lit to start. I learned today even CPR was online so that is pretty amazing also! I say all this to say if you have been praying about adoption then now is the time!

On another note, Happy Law Enforcement Day!

The biggest reason my husband got out of police work, is we adopted our son. Now we had a baby to care for and working nights, weekends, holidays just would not work anymore. He struggled that he was missing all the good stuff needing to sleep so he could go to work. He also realized the reality that he could be hurt or killed while on the job and there were other things he could do…so he resigned and started a new career.

Staying married while doing that job was hard, so I will always have respect for those that serve others and risk their lives for strangers.

Jan9

Adoption is not Easy

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I have some friends going through the adoption process and I hate to say it, but when they ask how it is my first words are “really hard”. It takes a lot of time, paperwork, classes, background checks, videos, meetings and so many questions!! I think what makes it harder is you know you are doing a good thing so why so many obstacles? Also compared to giving birth, you have to prove yourself as a parent. Even 8 years later, the thing I remember most is how hard it ended up being.

The thing is you have no control. The timing, the person, the process…it is out of your hands. A lot of praying and trusting that others are looking out for you. But in the end…it is so worth it! When you meet your child and it all makes sense…adoption is the best gift from God!

One of our best blessings is our adoption is open! I posted this pic today and the first person to like it was his birth mom. Love we can keep up in this way and she can share in these moments with me. If God has put on your heart to adopt…go for it! No one I have met has ever regretted it!

Jan7

2020 vs 2021

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2020 was the year of being stuck. It even shows it in the numbers…not going up, not going down…stuck with two of the same numbers: 2020. Stuck at home, stuck out of the gym, stuck out of the bar…stuck without family. Stuck!

So here we are in 2021 and I would like to believe this is the year of moving forward, making progress taking the next step…it is even in the numbers as well. What comes after 20? 21! Turning a new year does not magically change things in our lives, but it gives us new hope and new vision and I pray that for all reading this, 2021 gives you more of the good stuff.

I pray it gives more opportunities, more clarity and more more promise of the good things yet to come. For me, that is more therapy in the areas I need to develop new habits and mindsets; More working out and putting into my body the fuel that sustains. More quality time with the relationships that feed what is good, noble, honest and true. Finally, more falling in love with my Creator and King. More knowing who He is and how He created me to serve Him.

The year of 2020 had great purpose in our stuckness…but 2021 is of great significance too! No accident the numbers fall in line in an order of progression. It is time…progress is waiting!