Today was an amazing day. In more ways than i can probably express. For one, we had no school. Even though the forecasted blizzard didn't come, I sure loved being home with the kids without having to be somewhere by this time, get picked up by this time, etc. Snow days are an an excuse to HAVE to stay home and inside. Honestly, I think one day like that can only happen every once in awhile or we all may go a little stir crazy. But by the looks of things, school will be on again tomorrow and we'll be back to the regualr schedule. I'm scheduled to run another 5K this Sat. in Vermillion but another round of snow may be heading our way so we will see. We'll see if I hit my personal goal of winning my age group.

So you may be asking why this was such an amazing day. It's because I finally let go of a burden that has been on my heart for quite some time. I've prayed faithfully about this stronghold, asking for strength and courage to overcome it. Over the last few weeks, I've noticed signs of how to finally let it go. From people in everyday conversation talking about how God forgave a prostitute in the bible. I remember Beth Moore talking about strongholds in one of her studies. That started the transformation but it seemed to always be there, hovering around. He forgives even the worst people if they ask. I realized I need to be like that. Can you imagine what he goes through everyday? Listening to people doubt him, talk about him, sinning, even going against him. And what does he do? He forgives. I know we are supposed to be like God, we can't be him by any means, but we can strive to be like him. After months and months of this stronghold on me, it was released. I knew it because I recognized it. I knew why I've been in the right place at the right time to hear I've heard. It made me think, it opened my eyes. Once again, prayers were answered in HIS time. He knew it would happen, it just had to be in his time. There is nothing better than to forgive.

So that was my day. I feel light. I feel un-jumbled (refer to previous post). I wish I could find the bible verse to go along with this. I know there is one.

I feel like such a loser! I mean, here all my faithful blog girls keep up with their posts and I'm just plain behind. I seem to have lost the touch for writing on this thing, just can't seem to nail down one thing to blog about. I love reading yours, they all seem to have such meaning, such inspiration. I especially love how you can pull these awesome verses out of the bible and right them down and really think about the meaning. I have never been able to do that. I wish I could associate life...things...with bible verses. Maybe some things would make more sense to me.

I love the posts I've been catching up on. It makes me happy to hear about everyone's happiness, new hairdos which by the way are beautiful, new house in a new town, killer lasagna, kids, families and a newfound album. I need to regroup and get my thoughts out of my head and in a post. Everything right now is in a jumble. Is there a bible verse for that?? I would love to know!

We did it. The final tally from the 2008 Mile-A-Day Challenge. 12 of us completed it. Pictured is 6 of us, celebrating with beer and food. And it was a challenge. But fun for the most part. Except for those days when you're running in the dark so you can get your mile in. Or those days when it's raining...or snowing...or the dreaded "dreadmill" is just the last thing you want to jump on to. So far 2009 is starting off great, no mulligans yet. So we'll see if my stamina keeps up for yet another year. I've got a loooonnnnggg way to go!!

Here is the chair. The chair that was almost thrown away. The chair that I knew had potential. And thanks to you, the chair has new life. Everyone who has come over for pictures has said what an awesome chair it is. Funny how we come across something we weren't even looking for and made a whole new use for it. I love that part the most about this find. I'm looking forward to all the many little kids who get to sit on this chair. I think the chair is looking forward to that too!!

NO SCHOOL TODAY!

It was such a beautiful day, I managed to talk the kiddos into posing for some pictures. They kind of complain at first, but after we start shooting, they really get into it. My favorite is the bottom one. I tried to be, well, creative. Just wanted to share these with ya. Hope you're having a great week!

I need help! Especially from all of you vintage experts. Our youth group at church is redoing their youth room and this chair was going to go in the dumpster. I saw it and thought it might make a really great photo prop. The fabric is from the 70's and my husband thinks it's ugly. But it spins, sits low on the floor and I think it would make a great chair for children. What do you think??? I need to know. Honestly. Should I leave it? Should I recover it? Should I go with the original plan and throw it away? Is it just plain ugly? My gut tells me it has potential. Just give it to me straight...and soon. I have some appointments this week!

I've gotta do it...I've gotta ask...why does there always seem to be a wet towel laying on the floor in the bathroom? With 3 kids taking showers nowadays, damp towels are a daily thing. But why do they end up on the floor?

We have 2 bathrooms, each with a shower. "My" bathroom is upstairs which seems to be the favorite with the kids. So, hubby gets the bathroom downstairs essentially all to himself. I always say in my perkiest voice, "Hey, why don't you guys use the bathroom downstairs?" Response? "No, it's too dark" "Ewwww, that's daddy's bathroom" "All my stuff is up here" Alas, I get to deal with the towels and the water that somehow makes it way outside of the tub. I've asked, I've blackmailed, I've demanded that all towels need to be hung up or else! But they somehow manage to fall back on the floor. Must be that little invisible man that does it, according to the kiddos.

Um, yes, this is a pet peeve of mine. No more being a softy. I mean business this time! Maybe I should putting up a sign...

Cupid made a stop at our house...and he did good. Real good.

Last night went out for a steak supper, ate forever, made a pit stop at this quaint, sophisticated bar downtown, had drinks and dessert, came home and watched a movie. It was a perfect valentines day with my valentine.

Hope yours was full of love!

Thanks to Susan, I decided I better get back to blogland too. For what is supposed to be my slow time of year, things seem to be pretty steady. Brody finished up basketball which frees up a bit more time. Although whenever his last game rolls around, it bums me out. I love going to the games, watching him play, cheering on his team. But now we will wait for track. And soccer. and I'll be cheering again. I ran a race a couple of weekends ago, hence the photos attached. It wasn't as cold as it appears even though it's called the Frostbite Four. Last year I was registered but it was 20 degrees below zero. I opted to stay home. This year, it was 35 degrees and beautiful. Only problem...my ipod died only a few minutes after the race began. Note to self: Charge ipod before races no matter what. I messed with it, hoping for a miraculous charge. No luck. So I gave up and tried to focus my attention elsewhere. The race had an impressive turnout...about 400...for such a small town event. It was fun and a nice getaway from doing taxes, getting out picture appointments, making sure everyone is where they need to be, etc.

So life is good. And I'm seriously glad I've had your blogs to catch up on while I try and figure out what to write on mine. Welcome back to blogland.

I am addicted to facebook. When Carey first asked me to her friend, I honestly didn't get it. Of course I wanted to be her friend so I accepted and it's all been downhill from there. It's been amazing to be reconnected with people I graduated with coming up on 20 years ago. Some of those friends I have known all my life. I think it's realizing how small the world really is. Kind of makes you feel safe and content knowing you have so many friends in your world that you thought you'd never see again.

But, last week I got a few of those "you've been tagged in a photo" comments. When I clicked on the photos, I almost died. Um, these are pictures from cheerleading days when my hair was huge and kind of blondish-orangish color. So I realized these pictures could turn up at any time for everyone to see and comment on. And they're in my facebook albums. But I never put them there. Oh yeah, someone else did. ugh. I'm kind of scared! I wonder who will tag another crazy hair photo? It's out of my control I guess. I will just have to hope and pray no photos turn up that I would rather have in the confines of my high school photo album for my eyes only.

Either way, I love this facebook thing. Big hair or no big hair.

I don't know what it is about being in church that makes me want to cry. I don't know if it's watching my son diligently taking sermon notes, soaking in the words. Or maybe it's listening to my girls sing their little hearts out on songs they know, even if they're off key. Or maybe it's seeing a guy with a pink mohawk sitting in a pew all by himself, worshipping God because God doesn't care what you look like. Or maybe it's just God revealing himself.

I don't know what it is but if I think about too much while I'm sitting in church, the tears would stream down. It's kind of strange. Or maybe not. All I know is, Sunday mornings sure have more meaning now than they ever did before.

And that's a good thing.

...some beautiful kids from a few recent appointments...

Ow.

That's all I can say right now. It's 3 in the morning and i can't sleep because I am in pain! Making a long story short, no one told me it was going to snow today. So I put on my snazzy brown boots with the cute heels and headed out. Then it started to snow! Who knew? Apparantly more people than me as I was the one of the few people out and about with high heeled boots on. Anyhoo, I needed to drop off a CD to a client of mine after picking up my girls from school and before going to Brody's BB game. Needless to say I was in a hurry, got out of my jeep, took a few steps and boom...there I was, on the ground. It was a hard fall but yet, slow motion. I remember thinking as I was heading down, "...my race, my race..." which is not for a few weeks yet but still...

Thank God I didn't break a bone, hit my head or really anything else serious. But as I sit here with an ice pack on my hip and some sore muscles, I feel like I got hit by a car. Ow.

Note to self...pay closer attention to the weather forecast and don't wear my snazzy brown boots on days where there is even a slight chance of snow. Ugh.

Thanks for your vacation advice. And I'm glad Vegas was vetoed out of the list. Personally, I never really wanted to go there but didn't want to miss out on something. Just in case it was great place to visit. Belize sounds heavenly, so does Cancun. But hubby wants to stay in the country this year. If you knew him you would know he just couldn't relax in Mexico. So, we're leaning towards San Antonio. The Riverwalk, the Alamo, warmth...I'm already looking forward to it. Thanks again to all you seasoned travelers...

In the meantime, I'm going to cuddle up in my blanket and sit in front of the electric fireplace which surprisingly enough, warms even me up. And i'm always cold.

So today as we wait for the big vikings/eagles football game, hubby and I are contemplating where to go for our 15th anniversary. It's not until May, but this cold, crappy weather is starting to get old. It doesn't help when the current football game is in Miami where it's 80 degrees, sunny, warm...did I mention warm? And I just got a family picture from my wonderful brother who spent the holidays at their home in Palm Springs. Everything is green, lush, warm...did I mention warm? Umm...next time I may just invite ourselves along.

The finalists for our getaway in May have come down to:

San Antonio
Arizona
Vegas
Anywhere warm

Any advice here would be great. The last place we went together childless was Sacramento/San Fransisco. We honestly don't know places that don't involve amusment parks, zoos, reptile gardens...you get the idea. I want this to be just for us. No kids. Must do some more research and hope it warms up here in the meantime.

Did I mention Miami is 80 degrees today?!

This is what I did today...now I better get to more important things!

Christmas cards...check.

Christmas cookies...check.

Presents wrapped...check.

List of presents still needed...check.

One last trip to the store to get the Santa present for Emerson who changed her mind...check.

Hubby just bought a new bow and said that was his xmas present, decided to still give him the coat I already bought him...check.

Birthday cake for Madison tomorrow...check.

Ready for the blizzard...check.

So why does it still seem like I have a million things to do?!

Did you know Santa can fly a plane??

He can. Now you know. His reindeer were sick so the plane brought him to town. If you look closely, you can see him in the plane as he landed at Yankton's airport. We were lucky enough to see him land safe and sound. Brody came along to help me with keeping track of his sisters (although he did admit this whole event was kind of cool for the little kids)): So the girls got to tell him what they wanted which is totally different than the first list so we'll see if Santa pulls through. Whether Santa comes by plane, car or sleigh, the kids were just oohed and aaahed over the deal. That really was pretty cool.

Madison and her friend as blue angels in the Nutcracker...

Ringlets, ringlets, ringlets...

Here is the Yankton Lewis & Clarks Runners Club after we ran the Nike Cross Country race in Sioux Falls. We placed 3rd!!

Dress rehearsal night...oh she looks like an angel!