Believe!!!!

The weekend was amazing...

Didn't start off that way - why? We got lost!!! We went to the place that it originally is & lo & behold - there is a car show going on. HUH? So we are making phone calls everywhere & eventually make it - only a tad late... & ALOT car sick... UGH!

The message was on SPEAK & how we need to be able to speak up - speak encouragement, speak up to defend, & speak the Word of God to share... it was awesome... can't even explain - but want to share some pictures of the trip!

These are all the girls from my room.... that many? in one hotel room? YES! Me & 7 girls! We giggled until 3:30 am... these girls are hilarious & we also had some good deep discussions which I love to see how their minds work & how they feel... & then we're back to giggles. There is nothing like a Slap-happy room of teenagers & one teenager at heart! I should have recorded our laughter so on a bad day, I could just play it & it would instantly make the day better!

And yeah, I look a mess - wanna know why? MY BAG WAS LEFT AT HOME!!! I had no change of clothes - had to sleep in my clothes I wore, had no make up, had no toothpaste or toothbrush, had no brush. It was horrible! But the hotel did give me some deodorant & a toothbrush & toothpaste & the girls were so cute with giving me whatever they could to help me & so thankful that my friend Erica has a similar taste in make up as me!! Because only true girlfriends let you borrow their make up!

And I did get to buy a shirt at the conference on Saturday so I at least had something fresh on...

Here's a few of us waiting to get in on Saturday morning... it was freezing! We were jumping & screaming to get warm... ready for a awesome day with the Lord!

Our youth minister, Jeremy... this guy is hilarious! We saw this on the ground & he was excited to get a picture making it look like he was puking... it takes a special person to work with the youth... And someone special to love taking a picture of this... its why certain people are called to work with youth!!!!! (& that's for ALL Youth leaders!!!!)

This right here is what it's all about!!!! There were 4,000 kids in that arena that was worshipping God! I had to take this picture because the energy of these kids is invigorating! And it makes my heart just swell to see these kids praising the Lord... I can only imagine how it has to make God's heart soar to see His young children crying out to Him, praising Him, not ashamed of Him!!!

And I know this picture doesnt say alot... but this picture makes me want to cry. Can you see in the middle - in that container? That is full of water... & inside is a man....

Throughout the 2 days, we followed this guy's story - his name was Brent & how he was running from "Drones" which represented the world... its a complicated story, but in the end, they caught him & put him in this tub of water..... he stayed in it the whole session which was about 20 minutes...

In the end, it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.... it was dark, music was playing, a single light was shining down on this stage & the "Creator" came out... this man reached in & pulled Brent out.... He literally was such a big & strong man that he held Brent, a grown man, in one arm! It was so powerful! Brent looked like a small child in this man's arms - he just held him & Brent clinched onto the Creator with everything he had in him...

The chains that were holding him down was taken off & the Creator put them in that water & then he led Brent to the word "SPEAK"... let me tell you - words can NOT explain this skit or how it went down or the emotion in the building.

People - adults & kids both were crying, sobbing, falling on their faces in prayer... it was the most amazing moment I have experienced. I can visual it all in my head & get chills. In those moments, you can feel & KNOW God is moving....

I pray that every person - especially teens - can have an experience like that! A moment where they can sense in every possible way, the presence of God! The way that God moves, the feeling of freedom to worship - just the forgiveness & mercy that they know that God is always there to pull them out of whatever they are in... with power & strength.

I appreciate all the prayers that were lifted - & I ask you continue to pray for all those kids - even the ones I have no idea who they were... there was an ARENA full of kids... they all need prayer - even from strangers - because once they leave an atmosphere of feeling Christ - that's when Satan will attack & throw the world back at them.... so just lift up all the kids who were there- lift up any teen you know - lift up your own children.... constantly pray for the kids of today.... life is hard for them... but God is greater!

Believe

So today is the day we've been counting down to in our youth group! We're heading out for a road trip to a Youth Conference called "Believe" that is in Cincinnati.

The kids look so forward to it & this will be my third year going with them. I think I get just as excited as the kids do. Why? There's just nothing like seeing thousands of youth praising God & just for 2 days, dedicating themselves to nothing but hearing & learning about Him!

Last year, they had all the kid just bow on their knees in prayer... I would bet most youth have never really done that since they were little & maybe knelt by their bed with parents... you could hear sniffling & tear flowing all over the arena in just a matter of moments...the way you can feel Christ with you in those moments - I'm sure its overwhelming for some of these kids.

So I ask you all to pray for us! We have 23 kids & 6 adults going... all awesome, fun & wonderful... I'm expecting great things from God - as always!

Pray for safety, pray for these kids hearts & minds to be open to what they hear!

I'm sure I'll have a load full of stories & pictures when we return LATE Saturday night...these trips are known for not alot of sleep so REALLY pray for the adults!

Time to BELIEVE!

Broken

Have you ever broken a bone? Because of my lack of enjoyment for milk (blah) - my bones are always ready for a break. I've broken fingers, toes, my hand once (my brother accidentally kicked it in a freak Bubble accident - story for another time!) - but the worse was when I broke my ankle.

I was walking off the front porch in the middle of a snowy, icy night & did what I consider a nice triple lutz, but didnt score any 10's on that one. Instead, I landed on the sidewalk with my leg one way & my foot going the other... OUCH! Yep - broke that ankle. The pain was so unbearable, I thought I was going to pass out on the way to the hospital - it was horrid!

And the time it took for a bone to set & heal... I was miserable! .....

What got me thinking about my pitiful broken ankle - besides the cold air that makes it still ache 20 years later? I was listening to a song by Nicole Norderman called "Real to me"... love her! Hope she puts some new stuff out soon.... but there is a verse at the end of the song that says

"So lay down the sword, & put away the doctrine, Love a little more, cause

everybody's broken"

Broken....

I thought of just how a bone feels - & how it fits with our spiritual "brokeness".... its painful, no one enjoys it, it takes time to heal, some even take surgery - more procedures to make it better - & even after it heals, there are marks. Sometimes it takes therapy to work it out, get stronger. Sometimes there are scars, sometimes pain & aches even years later, sometimes a limp or carrying yourself a little differently - but in the end, it gets fixed.

Praise the Lord that when we're broken, He can put the pieces back together again....

Its the most wonderful time of the year!

My favorite Holiday is Easter - it truly is..... its Spring, its pretty colors, its about Christ rising from the dead - it doesnt get any better than that!!! But something that I get so excited for each year.... when I see the first Cadbury Egg!!! Oh my goodness... these are little pieces of Heaven to me!

I think you either like them or you hate them.... for me - its more of a love relationship with Cadbury eggs.

When I was growing up too - my aunt worked in a grocery store in a small Indiana town - the local IGA (do they still have those?). She knew of my addiction & I guess every day she would work, she would buy a few of these for me. At Easter, she would have a whole BOX to send to me... I'm talking like a BOX - not a little thing - I'm talking enough eggs to last me through the end of the year!!!! Look at my aunt literally feeding my addiction!

So do you like Cadbury Eggs? All I can say is thank goodness they only come out once a year!

Masquerade

I used this song in a lesson I gave yesterday & it really hit alot of hearts...

it hits mine too each time I hear it...

Why do we feel the need to put on the "happy face" & act like we have no problems - or that we never struggled? Can you imagine if everyone went in & told, most importantly, what they SURVIVED - what they have VICTORY in? How encouraging that would be - instead of making people feel alone....

The lines that get me most:

"But would it set me free -If I dared to let you see

The truth behind the person - that you imagine me to be

Would you arms be open - or would you walk away

Would the love of Jesus - be enough to make you stay"

Watch this video of a skit a youth group did - its amazing & will bless your heart!!! May it inspire the church!

Have no regrets

OK - I have to share with you a dream that I had... I dont know what it means - but it was SOOO vivid.

It started with me in my wedding dress & the day I got married. It was like a Christmas Carol moment, where I was back in time, watching myself from a distance - like the Ghost of Weddings Past took me back in time.

There I was, young (& skinny) & in my great, awesome, wonderful dress... & I was watching myself at my wedding - enjoying the moment, enjoying the people around me, just enjoying the day.

Then, it was like the scene shifted & I was standing in front of a sewing dummy - where they put dresses on to sew up... I have no idea what they call that - but see them on Project Runway. My wedding dress was on the mannequin, but then it shifted... it changed like something you'd see in a computer program - it moved around, fabric shifting, it was crazy! And it transformed into like a party dress....& in the back ground, I could see stories of my life - things Ricky & I have done- seeing Lindsay & Alaina & Julie & family in the back ground - fun things, laughter - all behind this dress...

Then the dress shifted again & it turned into what I call a "Mother of the Bride" dress - & I could see in the back ground the girls all grown up - & the twins all grown up - & just an older life for myself.... it was the most bizarre thing! Again, the dress just shifted...

Finally - it shifted one final time & it was like a dress that you would put on someone for a funeral. It didnt freak me out - I was just amazed that I was watching this dress change....

But the thing that really was crazy - a bag then covered the dress - like a dressing bag that is over a beautiful dress to protect it...& it was white - & then writing in black came across it & it said, "Have no regrets"....

I woke up with my eyes wide at 5:00 am ....

It was just so vivid & bizarre & touching ....

Maybe because I watched a bunch of recorded "Say Yes to the Dress" ??? - & I think after the Matthew West concert with the song "Going through the Motions" & how he was saying at the end of your life, may we never say "What if I had given everything"...

I have to say - it made me look at my day differently....

Have no regrets.....

Cupid Came! & we have a WINNER!

It was so cute... I woke up to walk into the kitchen to find this....

I love the flowers... it has roses & my favorite, tulips in it...

And I also got York Peppermint Patties - my yummy favorite along with a watch I've been eyeing - it is a Pedometer as well as telling the distance you walk/ran & calories burnt - just what I needed while training for this Mini-Marathon... I was so happy!

Tonight, we're celebrating even more by going to the Sanctus Real & Matthew West concert... stay tune for pictures later!

And finally - I got to have my first giveaway drawing.

Here's Sydney giving one final look at all the entries!

My hubs was designated to do the official drawing... he rooted & rooted

And can you see the name?



Here's a close up!

CONGRATS TIFF!!!!

V-day = Pressure!

Working with girls that are in high school - you can see the pressure that Valentine's day puts on them. Sadly, I can remember it too!

Remember in Elementary school where you made the cute little boxes & waited for everyone to put one in your box. Yes - you had to make a valentine for everyone, but you just wanted that "Special" one that was in every box of Valentines!.... I loved making those boxes! Sticker fun!!!

Then in Middle school - or even yet, High school - someone started the idea of delivering flowers. The Red ones were the love ones - the pink were secret admirers or an "I like you" - & white was for friendships. You'd see the popular girls carrying an arm full of carnations in their arms while other girls would have a look of longing in their face. And the bad thing, these girls also had roses delivered to the school from their boyfriends.... double the knife in the girl's guts with no boyfriends.....

And we grow up & still feel like if we dont have someone - or if someone doesnt do Valentine's just right - we get upset.... & truthfully, I'll admit, if Ricky didnt get me something - even just a card - I'd be upset too! Isn't it dumb how we're programmed to be like that?

One of the youth girls said to me the other day "Its going to be a great Valentine's day because I have a guy that likes me".... really? That's what makes it special? Because you have someone who likes you?

To me - that makes me sad! Every day we should look around & see who likes us - even better yet - who LOVES us! Not the people you are with on February 14th - but the people who are there year round - in the best of times & the worst of times! And we should show people every day of the year that we love them.

Growing up, my parents always got me something on Valentine's day... I knew they loved me every day - & while they showed it in a special way on Feb. 14th - they also showed it the other 364 days...

I hope everyone has a great Valentine's day... one full of love, from family - from friends - from husband/wives - boyfriends/girlfriends! Maybe even love from yourself! That you can take a day & do something special for yourself - a shopping trip or a great dinner or even a spa???

To all my friends & family - I love you... EVERYDAY - not just Valentine's day!

More importantly - God LOVES you EVERYDAY!!!! in EVERY WAY! Find your worth in that right there!!!

You ever been TP'ed?

So we totally got TP'ed last night.... HARD! (The joys of working with youth!) Out cleaning it up in the middle of a wind storm... with a husband who was none too happy....

So I just have to ask? Have you ever been TP'ed...ever gone TP'ing?.... Do you find it a bad thing or a funny thing?

I'm really curious because its been interesting to me to get people's reactions....

The story of Piggy...

We took our (really my) doggie Bruno in from a friend who could not continue to keep him. This lady had spoiled this dog - he went to weekly grooming appointments & would go to doggie day care & he even has his own bag with his name engraved in it full of his toys. He has a different life now, but I think he still enjoys it - he has doggie friends with him all the time, he has a full acre to run around on (& with his little doggie legs, it might as well be 10 acres!) & he has a house full of doggie beds in every room - including OUR beds!

One thing that couldn't change - Piggy.... We were told that Bruno can NOT sleep without Piggy & man oh man - its the truth. He knows that its night time & its actually time to sleep through the night & he better be able to find his penguin.

Its pitiful because he has to hold it & he actually cleans it every night & then sucks on his head or the beak of the penguin like a pacifier.

I have gotten up many a night where this stuffed animal has fell off the bed & Bruno scratches at me until I get it... tell me this dog isn't spoiled...

We actually ran into his original owner the other day & she asked about "PETEY"... I was confused... I said, "you mean Piggy?"...somewhere in the "adoption process" we got the name confused... but when I say "Piggy" - it must sound enough alike, because he knows exactly what I'm talking about.....

Can you imagine how many germs on are this thing? We've actually bought another penguin to see if he would take it (like switching pacifiers on a child)... they know the difference - he'd have none of it... so we daily make sure Piggy is taken care of... if something happened to it, I'm afraid he's never sleep again!!!

How pitiful is my dog... & how cute!!!

Best Valentines Ever!

So I had a Valentine's treat today! My dad called me & said, "Its raining, you're not going out for lunch are you?".... I told him when I have a bad day at work, aint nothing keeping me in the office... he said, "Wrong answer"! He told me that he was brining my twin nieces down because they have a Valentine's gift for me. So around lunch time, there they are - with chocolates & their names written on it that they did all by themselves! We ran next door to the best place you could ever have lunch with 4 yr olds - McDonalds! It was the best lunch I've had in a long time & just enjoyed the company..... when did 4 yr olds act & talk like teenagers? Man, they grow up so fast!

Ricky even got candy too! The Lab candy was mine because it looked like Buffy - & the other one was for Ricky because that dog looked like Sydney. I asked them if I could keep Ricky's candy & not tell him about it - they wouldnt go for it! You can't blame a girl for trying... its chocolate after all!!!!

And honestly - it was the ONLY day I didnt take my camera with me. I usually keep it in my purse, but was charging up the battery... & then the girls show up.... think I was mad? UGH!

A little bit of twin love & time with my dad? Its not even Valentine's Day yet - & its already been the best one ever!!

No more books!!!

OK - here's my book shelf that my dad made me - isn't it beautiful?

I love to read - cant get enough books. And that's actually the problem.... Look at this picture

that is my stack of books that I still need to read! And this picture

Yep - two series of books that I need to read! I love Debbie McComber & hadn't read this series so I snatched them up when there was a sale... & this other one by Janet Evanovich- heard it was so funny about Stephanie Plume - is that the detective's name? (& look how cute Julie & Steve are at their school dance in that picture... )

But I will hear of another book coming out & have to buy it & then end up stacking books up to read "later"....

So I'm on an official Book FAST right now - no more purchasing books - at least till I get at least half of these read!!!! And its been hard already. I love looking in book stores & flipping through books... its my drug of choice (hehe!) - so I'm trying to steer away.

But its funny - I'm making a list of new books that have come out & storing them so I can check after I'm done with reading my own stash & then see if I can find some at "used" prices... this may work out with some cash still in my pocket... nice! Wish me luck... got tons of reading I gotta do!

_________________________

Dont forget about my Giveaway !!!

GIVEAWAY!!!!

I've always wanted to do a give away... have actually won two myself over time... Won my wonderful "Blog Button" that Jen made me (isn't it great!!! applause!!!) & I also won some boot organizer boxes for my closet on another occasion! Give aways are always fun.... so I was going through my house & ran across things I never used or had two of so I thought - hey, in honor of Valentines Day & that I'm coming up to my 500th post... 500??? Seriously??? ... yep! .... I was going to do a give away. So what is it....

First - the best thing - I bought one myself - its a Calendar - but not ANY calendar. Its a calendar that doesnt have days... just dates.... What's that purpose? you can put birthdays & anniversaries & keep them every year - I have mine right next to my yearly calendar... no more forgetting! LOVE THIS! Its made by DaySpring so it has Bible verses on the bottom as well.

Also - a great book - I have this same book - but I have it as a different title. The one I have is called "Fairy Tale Brides" - but its seriously the same book.... dont know how that happened... but its the cutest book - especially for Valentines day. It takes old fairy tales like Snow White & makes it into modern times. There are like 4 or 5 short stories in there of different "princess fairy tales"...

With a book - you need a great book mark!! I love this book mark. Bought a few for Christmas presents one year & had this left over. Great for a Bible too!

And finally - some INCREDIBLE gloves.... I bought these from Pampered Chef to help Breast Cancer awareness.. but I'm not a glove user - they make my hands sweat.... so they've been tucked away & never used - but they look so old fashion with long polka dot sleeves on them... adorable! For all you apron fans out there - this would be perfect to go along!

So what do you have to do? Just comment... simple! And like all the other give aways - if you follow me, let me know & I'll put in two names for you... & if you post this giveaway on your blog, another two names!!!

The drawing will be - of course, VALENTINE'S DAY!!! Next weekend! Enjoy!

Give all for all

This prayer is in a book I'm reading - it is really deep... take the time to read each word....

My friend, let go of yourself & you will find me.

If you wholly give yourself into my hands

& take nothing back

You shall have me.

Some persons surrender themselves to me,
but they hold something back.
They do not trust me fully,
& go on trying to provide for themselves.

Others, at the beginning,
offer all of themselves to me,
but when a difficult time comes,
they put their trust back in themselves.

Such persons will never know perfect peace and freedom of heart.

Give all for all & hold back nothing.

Stand purely & strongly & steadfastly in me

& you shall have me.

You shall be so free in heart & in soul

that darkness shall never have power over you.

Seek always in your heart

to be free of everything that binds you,

that in love you may die to yourself

& to all wordly things

& blessedly live to me.

If you do this

All unimportant questions shall fail & fade & go away.

Crippling fear & misplaced love shall die in you.

You shall live in me & I in you.

-Thomas A. Kempis...."The Imitation of Christ"

Go RED!

You got your red on today ladies???? I've got mine on!

It still amazes me how heart disease is the number one killer of women.... scary!

Stand on your own

I have to say, this morning was the one of the worst mornings I've ever had. I have to cross a bridge from Indiana to get into Kentucky & the bridge I cross was shut down. So had to venture out of the way to get to the other bridge across town.... along with a few thousand people! I sat in traffic for 3 hours to get to work!!!! I literally felt like I was loosing my mind!


I get claustrophobic pretty bad anyways & with concrete walls on both sides of me, cars, not moving - I am serious - I almost pulled a Ricky Bobby - wanted to run out of my car screaming "Help me Jesus - Help me God - Help me Oprah Winfrey".... seriously - it was bad!!! A big thanks goes out to my sister friend Lynn who called me & talked me through about 35 minutes of the SIT!!!

But, I will say - I did get to read alot of my Bible while waiting the long wait. I was actually reading JOB.... Lynn recommended me switching to a happier book of the Bible while I felt I was being tortured....I have to admit, I did after awhile because again, wanting to run down the freeway screaming isnt the time to read of a man being tested....

Something hit me though when I got to work (& after the car fumes cleared out of my head) - Job was a man who feared God - had integrity & shunned evil (all of this is stated in the Bible).... But a few verses stood out to me:

After being through his first test - the Bible says:

Job 1:22 - "In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."

Then the second test happens:

Job 2:9 - "His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God & die!"

Job 2:10 - "He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God & not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

I'm thinking - if Job is a man of God & has such integrity - you would think his wife was a decent woman. But she even turns on him & tells him to curse God!!! She couldnt take the stuff that was being thrown at them & their family.... & admittedly - it was some harsh stuff!

But I love that Job just looked at her & called her a foolish woman.... he didnt let anyone sway his opinion or his relationship with God there!

There are times when our family or friends may break & not understand anymore - or want to bring you down with them.... but this is the moment where you have to be strong - even if that is standing on your own... standing up for what you believe is right!

Note: Husbands!! Do NOT use this as an excuse to call your wives FOOLISH!!! (wink!)

I will also recommend - keep a Bible handy folks ... you never know when you're going to be stuck somewhere for 3 hours....

Mistake

Michael Phelps.... the story is everywhere....

There is so much wrong about this situation.... he shouldnt have been smoking pot. He's an example to so many being an Olympic star that is in the spot light..... he should really think about who his friends are - I mean, how did this picture get out? And why was someone TAKING a picture?....... so many level to go on how wrong this story is....

But what gets me about the whole thing - where he screwed up is out there for everyone to see.

Can you imagine just for a minute if in your worst mistake or screw ups in life, someone took a picture & put it out for everyone to see? Just imagine what that would feel like - for everyone to see you in the worst possible moment! And then to have people who looked up to you turn their backs on you instead of understand.... or worse, try to dig up even more mistakes, even more failures - keep knocking you down!! I even heard the county the picture was taken is going to see about pressing charges.

And maybe there is accountability there too - because its public now, maybe he'll think again before doing something like this - but to me, its just sad how this whole story has worked out. Not so much for what he did - afterall, he's HUMAN - but that people love to see someone fail....

I also have to say - I admire the guy for being out front & saying, "Yeah, that was me...." - he didnt try to put a fake excuse or cover it up.

I just wish people in this world would want to help a man instead of loving to see them fail.... Isn't that what Jesus would want?

Football & Beards!

I went to my first Super Bowl Party!!!! I had so much fun! And yes - that is me with a Hockey Jersey on... It was close enough to me - its a sport! And at least my hockey jersey said St. Louis! I had to be corrected though - I thought for sure the Cardinals were from St. Louis - but was told that was baseball... how do people keep it all straight?

And honestly & truly, I thought they were playing the Greenbay Steelers... why? because there was a boy there with green hair... I thought, "Oh cute - he painted his hair for the team" - I asked him if he was cheering for Greenbay.... I got another round of looks!


I did get some football knowledge by my girls, Erica & Kim....the guys were too busy getting into the game!


I dont know much about football - but even I knew it was a good game! I've read so much about Kurt Wagner (is that his name) that I wanted him to win & was so sad on how he went out in the end with that fumble/ stopper/ stacker/ oopsie (that's what I call it) - whatever its called!




Even better - we got to laugh with friends & some of the kids from the youth were there....they are the coolest kids!

Look how fast Spencer is moving his arms..... that's crazy!!!!

Of course, the room became quiet each time commercials came on....that was one of the best part too!


LAND OF THE LOST.... with WILL FERRELL????? Totally gotta check that out!


And Finally.... got it done - only took me two days! My brother loved it... I had to try it on before he got it though....

Awards & tags...

I've been so bad about posting awards & passing them on... I truly am thankful & try to send a thank you on your blogs if you have sent me one - but I'm going to try & catch up!!!

So my latest award was from Megan from INfertile Myrtle who is awesome! I recently have been following her & she just makes me smile! You'll have to go visit as she's reaching her milestone 100th post!!!

The rules of this award are no rules... love that! Love the word LOVELY too... such a fun word! Thanks Megan!

I also received an award from another friend that I just love... could it be the name?... its everything about her! Its from Rebecca at Wife of Riley! She gave me the BEST BLOG of 2008! That really made me happy!!! And the award has a doggie on it to boot - THANKS! You have to visit her husband as well - he has his own blog... they are the cutest couple! And if you are a Mr. Depp fan... check it out every Monday! I dont know how she keeps coming up with different pictures!

I also got tagged from Annie at Junior Mints & Reeses for a game! Me love Annie! She's so cute & has inspired me to FLY (aka Fly Lady) & I just love seeing what's going on in her life! Me also love games! So the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you -YO ANNIE!!
2. Mention the rules.
3. Tell 6 things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them.
5. Go to each person's blog and leave them a comment to let them know they've been tagged. This is kind of a fun way to get to know people

So hmmmm.... 6 things

1. I am becoming addicted to ALMONDS! I cant get enough! Ricky came home the other day late & he thought I'd be mad at him. So instead of stopping & getting chocolate or flowers - he brought me home some almonds! And not only one but TWO cans - a regular salted kinds & then honey roasted... all was forgiven!

2. As mentioned - I am trying to follow the Fly Lady's idea of keeping the house clean. Seems easy enough - 15 minute times of cleaning & daily challenges - breaking the house into "zones"... so far, after 2 weeks, I've seen some progress! Anyone else FLY?

3. I'm still going training for the mini marathon! Its been rough... come a long way - but have a REALLY long way to go....

4. I'm amazed by Kate Gosslin of Jon & Kate plus 8.... how she handles all the kids & her life - I'm just amazed! Sometimes I'm shocked on how angry she gets, sometimes I'm in awe of how she deals with all the chaos - but everything about her makes me like her... she seems like a really good mom! I really enjoyed reading their book too - wished they would show their faith more on TV. (WOW - have you all seen their new house?)

5. I'm sick of snow.....

6. I really wish I was rich so I could take a Disney trip with my nieces..... they are 4 years old & into all things Princess & Tinkerbell. To see it through their eyes would be so amazing! I cant wait until the day we get to go with Isaac too!!!! Disney World is fun as it is - but to see it through children's eyes has to be just a whole new level!

So who do I tag? I'm going to tag some of my friends that have been blog slackers lately... get them going again! (Except my friend Lynn - she's always got awesome stuff on her blog - check her out!

1. Lynn - if you haven't gone there - you must go now!
2. Julie - our oldest who is far far away in Texas... sigh!...come back home Julie!!!!
3. Kim - my friend who just because she owns her own business, is a mom & is going to school... you think you're too busy to blog? This will be a fun thing for you to get a break!
4. Rachel - who is Lynn's daughter & is just the funniest person I have met in a long time! I love people who make me laugh!
5. Chandra - Lynn's OTHER daughter! She's awesome too - such a great mommy - you gotta see her two blondie babies - they are super cute - & growing so fast!
6. Carly - Finally Lynn's LAST daughter - her last post was on Oct 28th? Seriously??? Here's something for you to do Carly! Lets learn more about your teenage life!

So thanks everyone for awards & tags... love them all... truly appreciate it... am always amazed that people take the time to see what's going on in my little life & to see whats on my mind! For that reason alone - I thank YOU ALL!!!!!