Although it may not look like it outside, fall is here. At our house, whatever sport is in play, that's what season it is. Soccer is here and of course, football. That's my son, in the green at practice. He only wears green, he's a huge Green Bay Packer fan. His dad on the other hand is a huge Vikings fan. Yeah, I know. I don't know how it happened either. We dressed the kid in purple until he was old enough to figure out we were trying to push the Vikings. We bought him Viking stuff, posters, blankets, you name it. Suddenly one day he became a cheesehead and he hasn't looked back. Now I am redoing his room and what does he want? A Packer room. So he's getting it. Packer bedding, pillows and even a Packer-green wall. It's great fun to watch these games in the league he's in. It's very serious play. They have drafts, pretty much stay with the same coaches, teams every year to keep up the continuity. They play on a real field under the lights with refs and the whole works. It's a great experience for all the kids. Today he got some exciting news...my good friend is taking her husband and son to a Packer game and with their package they bought, they get 3 autographs. She told me she will bring my son's Packer hat and get it signed by a real live Packer player. Wow, the look on his face was priceless. I can't wait to see him when he gets it back. As he dreams of playing in the big leagues, he's practicing hard. Look out Brett Favre, there may be another Packer coming in about 13 years. But for now, I'll cheer him on while he plays little league football. Great practice, bud!!

Have you ever met a person in your life that just kind of changed your life? I feel like I know a person that has done that for me and I have never met her. Strange huh. It's true. I have been reading this blog of a friend of a friend and it has had such an impact on me. I can't even describe it. It's funny how things happen. I would have never of "met" this person if it weren't for this blogging gig. She lives in small town and has cancer. She is my age with a husband and two small kids. She has had surgery and is now undergoing chemo treatments and her experiences are so inspiring. I feel like I know her. I feel like I want to meet her, introduce myself and tell her I have been praying for her. A complete stranger yet a friend. I sit and think about how this came about and I know it was a God-thing. This person's words came at a time in my life when I needed it most. And God knew it. Ever so gently, He gave my friend the idea to pass her blogs on to me. It's all a plan. And I'm so grateful. This person is fighting this cancer with everything she has. It's amazing. She's amazing. I think of the beautiful flowers that have bloomed and how precious life is. We should never take it for granted. Now, within the last few weeks reading about her life, when I see a flower, I am reminded of life. Someday soon friend, I will introduce my self, give you a flower and let you know exactly how much you mean to me, a total stranger.

I can't believe school starts tomorrow. This picture of my youngest daughter's feet reminds me of one of our favorite things to do in the summer...go to the beach. And after tomorrow, the lazy beach days will be very numbered. We live only a couple of miles from the nearest sandy shore. This summer we actually all biked there quite a few times. Swimming, playing in the sand and meeting up with friends for a grillout are the best memories.

I always get a little sad when school starts up again. Another year older for the kids and for me! I will have a 4th grader, a 1st grader and luckily I still get one at home. It's amazing to me how fast the time goes. With soccer and football practices/games, dance classes, school parties, the time seems to go even faster. I just try and cherish every minute. I have these feet hanging on my wall and everytime I look at it, I am reminded of those summer days.

I wish we could stop time, even just for a little while.

Something happened to me this morning that made me realize there is still such a thing as romance. I got in the shower after getting my bh off to work. I took an especially hot one and created swirls of steam in the bathroom. It felt good. I opened to door to grab a towel and what I saw made me freeze. On the mirror was written, "Hi Beautiful". I looked behind me as if someone else would be there. That surely wasn't meant for me, was it? Who wrote it? Who are they talking too? I thought it might have been my son. No, he wouldn't know how to spell beautiful. It really looked like my bh's handwriting. Finally after a minute of trying to figure it out, I figured it out. Suddenly a smile came on my face as drips from my hair came running down. My bh wrote on the steamy mirror after his shower and he wrote it for me! I guess I don't consider myself as beautiful but it sure made me smile. I couldn't believe how sweet it was. I called my bh at work and asked him about the mirror message. He didn't even know if it would work but thought it would be fun to try. Oh it worked. In more ways than one. My day has been made and it all started with a steamy bathroom and a mirror. The words slowly disappeared as the steam evaporated. I'm already looking forward to tomorrow's shower so I can see them again. Sorry Windex, I think I will hold off on cleaning that mirror as long as I can.

What an awesome weekend. It was Riverboat Days here and if you haven't heard of it, it's like the biggest event of the summer. An extra 150,000 people are in town for the festivities that go on all weekend. Yesterday started out with my 5k race and then the parade. We actually got to see the Budweiser Clydesdales. Yes these are the ones on all the beer commercials. They were magnificent. The kids got their picture taken with one of them. My bh said they should be throwing out beers instead of candy. The last time they were here was in 1961 so we may never get that chance again. After the parade we headed down to the river and ate, ate and ate some more. I don't think I can eat another funnel cake again. We hooked up with our friends and ate again. Then the girls had to get ready for their dance program. Did I tell you we ate a lot? The girls danced their hearts out and my son rode the rides. Then we ate yet once again. The food was amazing. Good thing I ran earlier. Gave me a good excuse to keep eating! We finished the night with scouting out the art vendors and just enjoying the beautiful weather. And of course one more funnel cake. We visited with our pastor for a minute before I noticed him staring at the sunset. I knew we were thinking the same thing, what a wonderful place God has created for us to live. I wished everyone there saw what we were seeing in the same way. My 4 yr. old's face while she was dancing says it all...in her opinion, life is just one big parade.

I swear my 6 yr. old is going on 13. She is starting 1st grade next week and i looked at her today and couldn't believe how much of a young lady she is growing up to be. Then my thoughts came back to reality. Here's why...She had her dance dress rehearsal this afternoon for a performance this weekend. Her hair was all up in a bun, makeup on perfectly including ruby red lipstick to match her ruby red dance outfit. She gracefully performed every step on stage and I was so proud!

We got back in the van, she buckled up and told my son to pull her finger. He did, she "tooted" and laughed like crazy. That's my girl. Secretly, I was glad you did this. I wouldn't want you growing up on me too fast.

Will I ever understand the way a man thinks, why he does the things he does? It's question I may never know the answer to but nevertheless, he's my husband and I love him. He is gone tonight, at a going-away party for some people at his work. I'm envious that he is socializing with adult people in a place that doesn't involve swings, slides or Happy Meals. Dont' get me wrong, I love McDonalds but there comes a time when you just need something a bit more grown up. I was a bit hard on him before he left tonight. My defense mechanism in me reared it's ugly head and I made a mountain out of a molehill as they say. Oops. My bad. Times come when I feel underappreciated but as I settle down and look at the big picture, it's not about me and what I do or don't do. It's about recognizing the signs that I am appreciated and loved. Isn't that just like a man, to do that stuff the hard way instead of just saying it.

So now I must tell you about by better half (bh), my husband. He is a great person and the things I have learned from him are countless. There is no one in the world who can make me laugh like my bh. He is always there for me, even during the hunting season, when the deer take a front seat in his life. He has taught me how to be a stronger person, more confident in everything I do and more aware of my surroundings. Before I met my bh, I never knew the difference between a whitetail and a mule deer. Yes there is a difference. I never knew how beautiful wildlife really was and how amazing it is to see them in their natural habitat. I never knew how much fun is would be to make a roomful of snacks and chow down while watching the Vikings on TV together. I love just watching him work on his bow, perfecting it. Sometimes I wonder why he chose me. He loves the kids and me, even in the chaotic days and the days when we really need to just take a break from each other. It's all the day of the life of marriage. I love my bh and I wish he was here so i could apologize for my moodiness. I am blessed to have him and I know we were brought together for a reason. So even in the days when our little bad habits are driving each other crazy, my heart is full of love and respect for him. I just need to remember that a little more often. Thanks my bh, wherever you are for making me who I am today. Here's my favorite picture I took of you, reminds me of our simple life together.

Hi! This whole blogging thing is very new to me. I'll be honest and tell you I didn't even know what a blog really was until a few days ago. My friend just advanced me in to the 21st century by filling me in. Thanks! After a painstaking attempt at getting this set up, I think I have finally done it and am looking forward to keeping it up.

I don't even know where to begin. Do I start with my life, my beliefs, my hopes and dreams? As I watch my 4 yr. old "read" a Barbie book just at my feet, my mumble jumble of thoughts suddenly simplify. That's how it should be, just another day enjoying a good book of Barbie.

I began a photography business 3 years ago, a longtime dream of mine, and the more pictures I take the more I realize how simple things really are and we just don't see them in the everyday busy-ness of life. Like a flower picture. How often do we really stop to look at them? Or a child just thinking, pondering about what playground equipment to go on next. Pictures for me are a thousand words and more. They give me peace and remind me of the simple, beautiful things in life.

Running does the same thing but in a different way. When I run, I become one with God. That is the time I pray, reflect on myself and all the blessings I so undeservingly receive. I am up to 11 miles, every mile becoming closer to Him. I feel close to God during my runs, especially at the end when all I can think about is getting a cold glass of water. One long run came on a day when it was 150 degrees out and I didn't think I could run anymore. All I wanted was some water. I prayed for God to help me to the end and it wasn't a minute later, a boy was outside playing with hose. I knew the boy and asked him to spray me. He did and it was more refreshing than I could have imagined. Needless to say, I made it to the end of my run and once again realized how God is always with me.

So that is it. My first blog. How did I do, my fellow bloggees? Next to my family, my photography is a love of mine that I like to share. Here are a few that remind me of simple things. Hope they do the same for you.