Landon and Erica Trusty

LT

2011-02-09T18:32:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned how awesome my husband is? Seriously.

HSJ Raptors!

2011-02-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

I love my club girls! I have a (mostly) all new team this year. I have players from 4 different area schools and I cannot believe how much joy (and stress) they bring me! In our tournament debut we made it to the Gold Bracket which is the first time a Hot Springs Juniors team has done that!! My husband is also coaching this season (I owe him HUGE) and his girls WON the Silver Bracket in the same tournament!! Not only am I coaching a 17's team, but I also am coaching our 10's team which is very special to me because Maddie is playing this season. Her first tournament is at the end of Feb. so I'll try and post pics!

Trying to Catch Up!

2011-02-09T18:09:00.000-08:00

Back in July (2010), I took over as the head volleyball coach at Lakeside High School in Hot Springs. We had a phenomenal season, going 12-0 in our conference and 17-4 overall. The season brought some ups and downs for us, but I love these girls and have watched them grow not just as players, but as young women since they they were in 8th grade!

Blog???

2010-03-28T21:08:00.001-07:00

I really want to spruce up my blog- but I have no idea where to start! What are some good sites that some of you out there use?? Thanks!

A Few Pics...

2009-12-28T20:42:00.001-08:00

Not happy with whatever he just ate...

Sam's new ride

Awwww...

December Wrap-Up...

2009-12-28T20:22:00.000-08:00

Well, Christmas has come and gone... And I must say, I'm EXHAUSTED!! But we really did have a wonderful holiday. The kids got some good loot--a little too much;) I get a hard time from my family and friends because Landon and I don't do the whole 'Santa' thing. I know, I know, I'm a bad mom. It's not that we tell them Santa is fake, it's more about wanting our kids (especially Madison) to understand where the presents come from. Our church has a large homeless population due to our outreach programs and mission work downtown and Madison has been with me on most days when I work in our children's nursery. She has seen kids come in with no shoes, no jackets in the winter, as well as kids come in wearing the same clothes they were in the last time we saw them. It is heartbreaking for me to see, but confusing for her. She doesn't understand because she has never gone to bed hungry or cold.

If there is such a thing as Santa, then why do some kids go without presents on Christmas?

Maddie sang at our churches benevolence party before Christmas. It was awesome to watch the Lord work through the simple act of giving a gift to a child. Kindness is such a small thing that sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the season we forget that. I am definitely guilty of it myself. It is easy to get caught up in the decorations and gifts and forget the true meaning of this day.

Rejoice! Our Savior is Born!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and the warmth of God's love surrounded you and you family. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Happy Anniversary!

2009-12-07T19:16:00.001-08:00

2009

Paris, 2007

Christmas, 2006

Thanksgiving, 2006

Halloween, 2006

Pregnant with Sam- 2003

On this day seven years ago, I made the best decision of my life. I married my best friend.

2009-09-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted in a while and in the near future I promise I will be posting pics of our summer, but let me explain the reason for the delay.

I woke up the tuesday after Labor Day to a phone call no parent wants to receive. On the other end was the father of my daughters best friend. She had passed away from H1N1 coupled with a Staph infection. He was calling to let us know first before he went to the school. I honestly cannot put into words the grief I felt. Just a week before this I myself lost a friend to Colon Cancer.

My daughter is very bright for a 6 year old. We go to church regularly and she understands the concept of Heaven and what happens to our souls when we die. But honestly, nothing can prepare you for telling your child her best friend is with Jesus. Kharra and Madison were two peas in a pod. They were in the same pre-K and K class and if Madison got in trouble for talking too much at school, I could pretty much guess who else was involve. Kharra was the closest thing Maddie had to a sister. They fought like sisters and loved like sisters.

I have two best friends that I have known since I was 5 years old. We were all in the same Kindergarten class at Madison Heights and have stayed in touch eventhough we are all on different paths. I cannot imagine how my life would have been different if I did not have one of them. Up until I married my husband and gained a sister-in-law, they were they closest things I had to sisters. We fought like sisters and loved like sisters.

Everyday Madison's pain fades more and more; but as a parent, I cannot fathom the pain her family is going through. Having to plan a memorial for your 6 year old daughter is something I just don't think I could go through, no matter how strong my faith.

It is hard to think of the positives that can come out of a situation like this, but let me tell you this: The Davis family was baptized this past summer because of their daughter Kharras love for Jesus. The Lord had put His plan into motion when they were raised from that water and He is in control.

I know my daughter will forever have a guardian angel in Kharra Davis and we will love her and remember her everyday.

Demi Lovato!!

2009-07-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

For Maddie's 6th birthday we got a great opportunity to take her and her cousin Jessalyn to the David Archuletta/Demi Lovato concert hosted by Radio Disney. We have a great friend that hooked us up with tickets and meet and greet passes to take pics w/ David and Demi. I love Demi Lovato and couldn't have been more impressed by her singing. For being a teenager, that girl can wail!! The whole show was live and was awesome!! She is tiny in person!!

Landon was such a good sport through the whole night. Eventhough we got the tickets for free, I think we spent about $150 on snacks and junk!! But it was so worth it. The girls had the best time and were knocked out by the time we got home:)

Fourth of July Fun!!

2009-07-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

For the Fourth, we were lucky enough to be able to spend it with our good friends Ryan and Betsey at Lake DeGray. Between the houseboat, ski boat, tube, and jet ski, we were kept entertained the entire day. It was so funny to watch the kids. Maddie is a natural in the water. She loved the jet ski and being able to float in the water thanks to her life jacket. By the end of the day, she was jumping off the boat into the water!! Sam is a whole 'nother story. On land, that kid is fearless!! He will jump of rocks and walls taller than he is. He'll also climb up just about anything. But in the water, that kid is a WUSS!!!! He pretty much stayed attached to me the entire time in the water. He had a blast, just as long as I was 2-3 inches from him. One major step on this day was Sam's potty training!! He didn't wear a diaper or swim diaper the entire day!! And since the 4th, we have been diaper free during the days!!!

6!!

2009-07-07T07:12:00.000-07:00

I love this girl. She is funny, smart, fearless, stubborn, sassy, energetic, and COOL! She is my little best friend and for the first 3 years of her life, she was the best shopping partner!! Eventhough she's not the only kid in the house, she is still my best girl! I love her more with everyday that passes and cannot believe God blessed me with such an amazing daughter. So, Happy Birthday to one awesome gal!

A Little Late....

2009-06-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

Words cannot describe how amazing my trip to Costa Rica was. I think it was the first time in my life EVER that I have not had any stress. The way God worked to bless this trip was noticed by everyone around us- including our tour guides. I really could go on and on about the trip, but it really would take up too much room. I honestly can say this trip really made me realize how blessed I am to have a healthy, happy family and the opportunities that I have.

Birthday!!

2009-05-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

On May 16th we celebrated my 27th birthday!!! I know this is selfish, but I love my birthday! It's the one day a year that I get to myself. I get to choose what I want for breakfast, lunch, and especially dinner! This year my birthday fell on a saturday- and it was perfect. I gave a personal lesson for vb that morning and played sand vb all afternoon long. We went to a Hibachi-style restaurant for dinner and then had a small get together at a friends house. I have to say, this was one of the best birthdays I've had in a while (last year was pretty good, though). I was surrounded by people that I love and make me laugh- and my husband kept me laughing all night long. I hope 28 can top it!

Field Day!

2009-05-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

Last Monday was the Kindergarten Field Day at Maddie's school- I have to say, I was sooo excited for her! Technically, I had 2 finals that day, but I rescheduled them for wednesday so I could be there the whole day. SO, that meant I had 5 finals on wed!! OY! But, it was totally worth it (eventhough it rained pretty much all day).

For the most part the events were focused on group participation, but Maddie did place FIRST in the only two individual events- baseball throw and broad jump. I have to brag a little bit:)

BUT- I did realize one big thing during the course of the day... I am THAT mom! As much as I hate to admit it, I wanted her to win more than she did! She didn't care what color ribbon she had- in fact, she didn't want the Blue ribbons at all, she wanted Purple (4th place)!! It really made me re-evaluate how I plan to coach her in Highschool. Oh well! In the end, we had a great day and I was so proud of her and the way she cheered everyone in her class on.

Whahhhh...

2009-04-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Fight Gone Bad:

I hate you with a fiery passion.

Sincerely,
Erica

Grass Season is Upon Us!

2009-03-31T09:55:00.001-07:00

Let the games begin!!

Fight Gone Bad...

2009-03-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

3 Rounds, 1 Minute each exercise, 1 Minute break between each Round:
(Count your reps- as many as you can get in a minute)

Squats w/ 10 pound med. ball- squat and throw ball to 10ft.
Sumo Dead Lift High Pulls (45 pound bar)
Box Jumps (14 inch box)
Push Press (45 pound bar)
Burpees

So, a minute for each excercise with no rest until finished w/ all 5. Do it 3 times. Keep track of how many reps you do for each excercise. Add up total at end. This is the third time I've done this work out. The first time I threw up (but I finished!!) and ended up with like 175!! This time I had a total of 263. Landon had 370. He's a freak of nature, though:)

I challenge you to try it- or make your husband's try it!! Post your results!

Operation Spandex, day 1

2009-03-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

5 Rounds (for time):
12 reps Dead Lifts
9 reps Hang Cleans
6 reps Shoulder Press

Total Time: 7:01

5K (not going to mention how long it took)

Aaahhh, good times...

COSTA RICA!!!!!!

2009-03-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

WOW!! I don't even know where to start! Sometimes God gives you amazing opportunities. I still don't know how it came about, but I am going to Costa Rica in June for a Volleyball Missions Trip. I'll be on tour there for ten days!! I know it sounds silly, but I still have dreams of playing competitively. This is an incredible way for me to combine two of my passions; God and volleyball:) And I'll be playing with college players (some of whom were in 7th grade when I was first married). So please pray that everything goes well with the fundraising- also pray that I can slide back into some spandex shorts, haha.

Woo Hoo!

2009-03-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Last year when we moved back to Hot Springs, I got together with another coach in the area and we started a Club Volleyball program for girls in this area. Last year was rocky to say the least. We had 3 teams and really only went to 2-3 tournaments. But we stuck through it and this season, we doubled!! We have 6 teams! We have girls from 9-17 years old, and my 17's team has 5 tournaments this season. After a rough start with our first 2 tournaments, we rallied together for a big weekend in Little Rock! We ended up winning First Place in the Silver division!!!! We went undefeated the second day of the tournament. I think I was more excited than the rest of the girls! This really is a big deal- my team is playing in the 17's division, but the majority of my girls are 15 and 16!! So this means we can only get better for next year, since we will still be in the 17's. Here are some pics after our WIN!!

2009-03-17T06:32:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love weddings! I think it has to do with the fact it's one of the few times I can get all dressed up and cut loose. I love these pictures because the first one says so much about our relationship!! I think Landon was in the middle of saying something that I didn't quite agree with?? And I really love the second picture of us. There's just something about a man in a suit:)

It's been too long!

2009-03-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

I will admit, I'm not too great at keeping up with the whole blogging thing- so I have a few posts to get caught up!

January was a fun month! The kids and I were still out for Christmas break and Landon had an opportunity to play in a charity basketball game. It was a Harlem Globetrotters-type exhibition match where the other team basically tries to embarrass a bunch of old guys or former athletes:) It was really great to watch Landon come in and surprise them! I still think that Landon was a better basketball player than football player! The best part of the night was halftime. I don't know what it is about Landon's dad, Steve, but everywhere we go, ge gets pulled out to dance. I think he just has the whole goofy, white guy thing going on! So I had to post some pics of Steve getting down with his new girlfriend...

Christmas Morning!!

2008-12-29T08:43:00.000-08:00

It's funny how months of preparation, buying, wrapping, decorating, and anticipation are undone in all of 15 minutes! This year was the first year that Landon and I have had our very own Christmas. You'd think after 6 years of marriage this wouldn't be so, but because of Landon's previous career, we never lived in one place long enough to do the whole Christmas thing! This was the first year we've ever decorated a tree and had our own Christmas morning in our own house. Landon and I have been so blessed our entire marriage and experienced things that people only see on TV, but I would not change where we are today for anything! Landon's football days are over, but we have built a life that is filled with love, trust, and true friendship. This was by far the best Christmas we have ever had- hands down!

Maddie finally got her Nintendo DS. I must say, that is my favorite toy! It's so fun!! Sam had so many Diego and Little people playsets that he didn't know where to start! Landon actually did really well this year. I have a boutique here in town that I love and he had the owner help him pick out some new clothes and jewelry for me. I was so proud of him!! I didn't really have a list or anything, but everything he bought were things I would've bought myself.

We spent the rest of the day at Landon's parents house. His entire family was in town and we had the best day!! I had to make 2 pumpkin pies and a greenbean casserole. It's sort of a running joke about how much of a non-baker I am; but this year I rocked those pies!! They were awesome. Well, I thought they were awesome :) I'm posting an old pic of the first time I ever baked a pumpkin pie- it's one of my favorite pictures because Sam is just so dang cute (it's the first one).

A little Christmas...

2008-12-15T14:50:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday at church was the kids Christmas program. I work in the nursery with 1-3 year olds so basically I just had to make sure they didn't freak out! Sam was so cute with his little bells. He wasn't too sure about it at first, really he just wanted to go bang on the drums, but after a while he was ok.-- Maddie on the other hand, was Brilliant! As you can see from the pictures, she is by far the tallest in her class. She was on point with all the words and moves. It's really funny to see her up there! Long before I was a mom and a wife I was really involved in drama in junior high. I always thought I would end up doing something on stage- but that didn't exactly pan out:) Anyway- it was awesome to watch her on stage and her love for Jesus is so inspiring. She always tells me "God is bigger than Everybody" and believes it with her whole heart. Oh, to have the faith of a child. Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Christmas with the ones they love!

Thanksgiving Good (and Bad) Times

2008-11-29T10:30:00.000-08:00

This year for Thanksgiving we travelled up to NW Arkansas to spend the day with Landon's family on his dad's side. On wednesday we drove from Hot Springs to Siloam Springs, about 3.5 hours north. Anyone who knows me knows how motion sick I can get on long car rides! Heck, I can't even play on the swings because I get sick (seriously!!). So I literally spent the entire drive with my head in a Wal-Mart sack. I managed to hold it together to do some light shopping at the Target in Fort Smith, but then it was right back to my sack! Once we got to Siloam, I was fine for the rest of the trip.

Thanksgiving day was absolutely awesome! We travelled to Beaver Lake and the weather could not have been more perfect. The kids played outside all day and we took a walk after lunch to find sea shells. I kept making the comment that it was "the best Thanksgiving ever!" So of course things had to take a turn for the worst...

Just as we were about to head for home I recieved a call from Animal Services in Hot Springs. Apparently all 3 of our Labs (plus one we were dogsitting) got out of the backyard. My precious Mylie was hit by a car on the bypass. She is by far my favorite of the dogs and I know I am her favorite in the family:) I was able to pick her up on friday morning and take her to the vet where she is still under observation. She has no broken bones (thank God), but has a severe case of road rash from where she was hit and slid. They are most concerned with internal bleeding. So if you remember, say a little prayer for my girl. She is the sweetest dog I could ever ask for and is the only one in the family that listens to me!

I hope everyone had a wonderful day filled with laughter and love. I am blessed to have amazing in-laws and I married into such a close-knit Christian family. They are truely a testament to God's wonderful love!

Happy Halloween

2008-11-29T10:25:00.000-08:00

I know this post is a bit late, but I'm working on keeping up with the blogging! We had a great Halloween; Mads and I were cats and Sam was Batman. Landon was a sheriff and I really wish I would've taken a picture of his killer handle-bar mustache. It was amazing and he seriously kept it for a few days after Halloween until I made him shave it!

Fun Times with My VB Girls!

2008-11-09T07:05:00.000-08:00

Last week my volleyball team had State in Wynne, AR. If you've never heard of Wynne, don't feel bad because neither had I! Eventhough we lost, we had a pretty fun time. Also, it was my favorite girl Chloe's Senior night. She tore her ACL about a month ago and just recently had surgery. She is an incredible athlete and one of the smartest people I know. The kids had a great time dancing during pre-game; I just wished I could've captured Sam's facial expressions. He was really getting into it!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2008-10-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my dad's birthday and eventhough he couldn't be here to spend it with us, I wanted to post some pics from his last visit. He is the best grandpa and the kids think he is "cool," which is the best compliment you can get from a 5 yr. old!

The Kids!

2008-10-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

My kids are crazy, to say the least! I can't blame anyone but myself for their outrageous personalities. Maddie is very into fashion and boys (ayay, she's only 5!) and Sam is already an athlete. No joke, he watches ESPN and studies the players. He knows which helmet to wear depending on what highlights are on. Definitely his fathers son!!

Mer's Wedding

2008-10-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to load pictures taken at Landons cousin Meredith's wedding. It was at the Chapel at Garvan Gardens and it was absolutely beautiful! The kids sat through the whole thing with no outbursts, well, except when Landon's sis walked down the aisle and Sam screamed out "Begas!" Her name is Megan but somehow that is what he came up with. Mads just liked all the dresses. She's my girly-girl!

I'm a blogger!

2008-10-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

Well, to sum up the past 6 years in one blog would be extremely difficult! Anyone who knows Landon and I know what kind of crazyness our lives have taken on! We were married almost 6 years ago and I am so incredibly lucky to have married my best friend. We have 2 amazing children, Madison (5) and Samuel (2). We're pretty sure a third one will be in the works soon, but not until I finish school! Landon is in the process of taking over an Insurance Firm here in Hot Springs and I am finishing my degree in History at Henderson State. I coach highschool volleyball and also am the co-Director of Hot Springs Juniors Volleyball Club.