Team Tuohy

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will"- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1920. By now, everyone knows the destruction that water can cause, by now everyone knows the hurt the ground shaking may bring and by now everyone knows the fear and exhaustion that comes from watching your world disappear. Unfortunately, over the past week mother nature struck again, and all of us watched as Japan came crumbling down to their knees in the fight to save their Country, their homes, their family. As we have sit here wondering how to aide them in this fight when we cannot physically do so, it seems that others have pushed through with will and started in whatever ways they can. A will so great that even in a technology sector of the workforce, we too have made and can continue to utilize technology in tragedy to make a difference.

Look at this article from CNN.com on the California student who found her family alive on YouTube. It was a case of one source of technology to the next that she was able to know her family was okay. Starting with an email from her sister that she was alive at her school, to hearing about a video in which her family could be seen alive, followed by a social network friend reaching out and finding the video for her, to finally seeing the 45 second YouTube clip capturing her family telling the reports to tell her they are okay. Pure amazement. This also continues back with her now trying to use the media to tell them she received their message. There is hope there, all because of technology.

Take a look at the fact that AT&T, Verizon and Time Warner have all offered free texts and calls to Japan through April 10. These companies knew they had the ability and technology to offer something in these tragic times, and so they did, they offered what they knew and provided that for others. Just as artist write songs at these times, or missionaries go across to share their message of hope, everyone must do what they can do. The Red Cross is reaching out and allowing people to text REDCROSS to 90999 for a $10 donation, allowing those that need a easy and simple way to help to get involved. Even March Madness has jumped in with a bracket through WGIRL INC'S Hoops for Humanity , when you join for $22, giving all the proceeds to Save The Children which is working in Japan right now.

All these technological mediums have made it possible to not only know what is going on and be aware as we come together to fight this disaster, but have also given us the power to help in whatever way we can. Which a lot of times in my workplace is through the power of technology. I would encourage each and every one of you to fight back and help in whatever capacity you can, send messages of hope via YouTube to those who need to hear that they are not alone in this, enjoy a basketball bracket at the cost of saving a child, or send a text knowing it is worth more than your two or three Starbucks trips for the  week, take advantage and call those you love or those that need help. However you want to help, just do so and ACT. For as Gandhi said, we do not need a physical strength, just an indomitable will.

*Photo Credit

Benjamin Belew- Aria, a video to send hope to Japan


Some Bieber Fever for Japan as well...

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another" Proverbs 27:17

HA!

The Millers!

The Billmans!

Guiness in America!

Precious! How could you not love this every day!

Sweet Ladies!

So Happy <3

So today we became Teem Tuohy on Facebook. Yes, I can spell, but they do not allow Team so Teem it is. It has come after a lot of talks and thinking about what it is to actually divorce proof your marriage versus not divorce proofing it. The word first came up when he was talking with his guys and it got me to think harder about what that would look like. So naturally I began thinking of other "proof" words such as water proof, fire proof and child proof and what they meant. Let me explain... hang in there with me it is a bit long winded. So if you have a piece of paper and it is sitting on your desk, you would never intentionally walk over and dump water on the paper, you would usually assume you are responsible and that it is not a likely thing to happen. Now, if you were to water proof that piece of paper you would consider the important piece of paper worth protecting no matter what, yes, it is still unlikely you are going to spill water over the paper. However, you are preparing for the unlikely to still happen; you laminate it, you store it away, you keep all water within a safe distance and you are proactive with it. You assume that one day water is going to be spilled or possibly spilled all over it and you want to be prepared. Same with kiddie locks... you can assume your child cant open the door, crawl to the stairs get into the cabinet and do nothing until it happens and it is too late, damage done. Or you can prepare with child locks, gates and stoppers. Never assuming your child is bad or going to disobey you put preparing for the worst case scenario. You see the point, and this is not to be a panic mode event of always fearing the worst, just being commonly prepared. Michael and I don't have a "facebook" problem, in fact trust in social scenes is an area we strive in, but to assume that no other evil factor will ever enter a "safe" area would be wrong, it would be irresponsible of me. As a wife, I want to know my marriage is not just solid and there, prepared for my ideal plans, but that it is actively being looked over and ultimately divorce-proofed. There is enough we already cannot proof or prepare for, so those areas that we can, why not. Why not choose to specifically protect, laminate and put stoppers in every area of our marriage we can? I know I will be thankful when that water spills and we just wipe it off and move forward, or even not seeing that flood for we avoided it first. So here is to "Teem" Tuohy and the facebook collision!


Update: Facebook would not allow - but good food for thought- look out for a Michael & Erin Tuohy Facebook one day in the near future!

I came across this post on Facebook last night with this Kutless video, it is beautiful and so aligned my heart with Gods. So this morning during my quiet time I listened to it again and it just put my heart at peace once again. Something they say in the interview of the song is it is based off the the fact that "you don't realize Jesus is all you need, until that is all you have." So true. When we went on a mission trip as a family years ago to Juarez, Mexico I remember going down thinking we would help change their world and make it a little brighter and faithful to Jesus, what I was not prepared for was how they would change my world. They have faith like I desire to have, they rely on Jesus for their next meal, next paycheck, next everything. Their entire world can be going wrong and they still have faith and still are faithful servants. Could we say we would be the same, I do hope so. Enjoy this video and get right with your Savior who loves you and longs for you to need him and solely him.

ALERT: It snows in Texas!!!! I remember last year when we started talking about where we would be moving to and looking into Dallas hearing something about crazy snow that winter. So naturally, I was hopeful but still completely shocked when 2011 came around and I found myself in a week of telecommuting mode as the snow fell outside our window! Now, Being from Colorado I will say that snow days here come quite easy in comparison, but no matter the depth they are still something that excite me just like when I was a child! It reminded Mike and I of getting snowed in last year in England after returning from a Christmas in San Diego! What quality time we had together snuggled into Bollington!

2010

Snow Fun in Bollington!

Handsome Snow Man!

This year looked a little different in our apartment here in Dallas, while I working from home during the day, Mike began the dissent into Cabin Fever (dun dun dun...) Day one you dream of cuddling up with hot coco after rolling out of bed with just enough time to log into the computer.Day two we got lost in which country we live in with BBC America on in the background and snow falling outside. Day three we ventured out to Starbucks across the street as completely ate it in the middle of the intersection, then came day four. Day four started out like any other day of the week until at one random moment the cabin fever set in and, well, you can see what occurred...

Stir Crazy?

Maybe he was picturing the Alps?

Even Lincoln Hid...

Oh how I love the joy of being married to him! Thankfully all it took was the clock striking five and yet another cup of hot coco and some good old movies as a couple to get things back to normal! Until next year however, these are a great reminder of the amazing life I get to live each day being married to my best friend who makes me laugh from the deepest part of my soul! Not to mention, some great black mail!

My husband loves lacrosse. When I say love, I mean looooooove. There is this sense of joy when he cradles the ball back and forth, or strings his stick. A sense of belonging and comfort when he is out on that field, it just works for him. I use to find that peace, comfort and joy when snuggled up at my grandparents house getting spoiled and loved on, but for him it is all in being on the field. When we moved back over to the states I was hopeful that this love would continue with us, although a bit nervous when Dallas became our home! To our blessing not even a month after arriving though he had a coaching position lined up for the upcomming season and was roaring to go! The day of his first practice, I will never forget the glowing I had in my heart watching him coach these boys... he has a magical way when it comes to teaching kids and every now and then when I get a glimpse of him in action, my heart melts and I remember how I fell in love with  him all over again. See, we met at a camp full of  kids and it was that mutual ground that started this very relationship! So once again my heart was beaming and I knew he had found his nitch here in our new home. I am sure the rest of the season will be documented on here as well as it starts to consume our life more and more! In the mean time here is a glimpse of practice one...


Gooo Panthers!