Friday, December 21, 2007

My New Exercise Routine

I really kind of stumbled on my new exercise routine by accident, but I have a fitness-friend who has assured me that it is quite possibly valid.

Every morning I wake up and before I jump out of bed, I groggily look ahead at my day to figure out how much more time I can actually sleep before getting up. Then I get my tea. It is a must!! And here is where the calories begin to burn...I get dressed in one of my stretchy workout pants, struggle into the workout undergarment that never seems to fit right though it is certainly snug, and a big baggy t-shirt from the 90's (they made them long enough back then to cover the thing I want covered).

As I wander through my day, it doesn't really matter too much whether I make it to the gym or not, because I am dressed for workout success! As I run through the house (literally, as Big D can testify) trying to find my cell phone/paperwork/or just be on time to my "next thing", I am in fact working out. As I frantically change out of workout clothes and into normal clothes to get to an appt., etc., I am burning serious calories. And of course when I get back home, I have the whole getting back into the workout clothes thing to do all over again. Really, it is just interval training. I am pretty excited to see the results of my routine after the holidays are all over. I bet you I haven't gained a pound!!!


11:20 update: dropped M at school, tires rotated and adjusted, Home Depot stop, Clinique makeup stop, oil change stop... haven't hit the gym yet but I am still dressed for workout success!!! I can just feel the calories burnin'!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Frosty gets caught!!!




I thought you might need a good laugh!! Consider this a Merry Christmas from me!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

I Corinthians 13...The Christmas Version

A friend sent this my way and I thought it was worth passing along:

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, Strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, But do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, Preparing gourmet meals And arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, But do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home And give all that I have to charity, But do not show love to my family, It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, Attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, But do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.... But giving the gift of love will endure.

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

Monday, December 17, 2007






We are loving all 9 inches of snow that came our way. You may notice in some of the pictures that it doesn't look like 9 inches...that is because of the wind sweeping across the field next to us causes there to be drifts. But we officially had 9 inches. Poor big D labored to snowblow our driveway only to have it filled back up by the wind within a couple hours. Come on white Christmas!!

Sunday, December 16, 2007

The Christmas Mystery Game


The mystery game ended up being so much fun! So I will give you the low down on it in case you need an idea for your parties.

By not telling anyone exactly what the game was and making it mysterious, I had the whole anticipation thing and the surprise factor of it. And the fact that they didn't have to shop but donated a couple bucks at the door was a positive too. I bought and re-gifted a variety of small and cheap gifts (can of wd40, pens, etc) with some bigger, more expensive, funny gifts (huge pink bra with a roll of toilet paper, Christmas boxers). There were more presents then people. I wrapped all of them in plain brown paper. Each person had been given monopoly money ($11) at the door in an envelope with their name on it. Throughout the night, people could win different amounts for different things to add to their original amount. For instance, the first people to arrive and the last people to arrive received $5. The tallest elf and the shortest elf received $1 each, and so on.

After mingling and eating for awhile we circled up and we explained that the mystery game actually was an auction for the gifts which would take place after we gave the chance for a few more people to earn some more money. We then voted on the most merry outfit and least Christmasy outfit, the worst Christmas gift story, the most romantic gift, etc. And to top it off we played a guys vs. girls Catch Phrase with the winning team each getting $5. We pulled out the pile of gifts and put them in the middle of the floor and Big D served as our auctioneer (he and I didn't participate in the bidding since we knew what we had). He played it up and described the gifts but wouldn't let them touch them. When a gift was finally bought, that person had to open it and show it off. At any time in the game, anyone could make an offer on that opened gift. Sometimes the offers were lower and other times higher so the original winner of the gift had potential to "make" money on it. And you could offer on as many gifts as you had money for, so potentially people could leave without a gift or with several.

Just one word of warning...be prepared for pranks. Our neighborhood now see's us in a whole different way. We found our bush in the above state of dress after church on Sunday. It had been snowing so hard when I left that I had not even noticed it.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Wrapping Presents

I love choosing presents for the people I love. Come to think of it, I enjoy buying for those who just fall in the category of duty purchases. But anyways, I like buying presents. I strongly dislike wrapping said presents. I am good at buying fun wrapping paper with coordinating ribbons. I am terrible at folding and taping and tying. And what have I been doing for the last week? Yep...wrapping presents for work related people. The work party was last night and was alot of fun as usual, but I am glad it is over. ( Does that make any sense to you?)

I have 18 more presents to do up tonight. The ones tonight are for my party tomorrow night with my mom's group (and spouses) at my home with a brand new mystery game. I took a poll and we all decided that we would have horribly fattening appetizers and desserts and do anything but white elephant. So I took the time to research all the Christmas games I could find and settled on The Present Auction. I have never done it before and so I will let you know how it goes. To a certain degree, it is already a success because everyone is wondering what "the mystery game" is. And they are all terribly grateful they don't have to dig up a white elephant present to bring because I have done all the shopping for the presents as part of the game and they are just donating a couple dollars each.

So I am off to wrap presents and I will let you know how the mystery game goes.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Beautiful!!

Beautiful best describes my first 5 minutes awake with the Lord at 6:00 AM this morning.

I woke to a feeling of calm reassurance that regardless of what does and doesn't get done this week, He still loves me deeply. That if I accidentally let one of the plates I am juggling fall to the ground, He won't be disapointed in me. That regardless of how others feel about my priorities, etc., His is the only opinion I need to be concerned about. These are things I already know. They are also things I needed Him to remind me of. And so He lovingly did so this morning because He is my Father!

And then I dozed off again for another 30 minutes.

Beautiful!!

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Tracks in the Snow

Out my bedroom window I have a fabulous view of our back yard ending in a stretch of high wild grass which leads to a line of woods which edge a portion of the farmer's soy plot. In warm weather we get to enjoy the regular appearance in our yard of deer and other wildlife. When the weather gets chilly, and as hunting season begins, these sightings are fewer and farther between. But then the snow falls, and I am assured the deer are still around. Right now I count 12 sets of deer tracks in the snow coming up to the water seap behind our house.

I love Christmas time and all the celebration that comes with it, but even still, I sometimes feel a little joy-less rather then joyful. So many items still unchecked on my to-do list. So many responsibilities and commitments. And time is flying by, not crawling. I think about my husband and kids, my friends and the people who happen to be around me for any stretch of time and I sincerely pray my life leaves at least a few tracks in the snow this Christmas season giving assurance that spiritual fruit is still present despite the chill of commitments and lists.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

The Little Lost Library Book

Once upon a time in the wonderful land called Library there was a little white hardback book who loved to be read. She was read by big kids and by little kids. She was read by girls and by boys. She was read in the morning, noon, and at night. She was read over and over and over again. Until she went to the house of C. Where she was lost. Vanished. Never to be found...until C.'s lunch detention has been served and C.'s mom pays a crazy price for another copy. Then she will promptly be found under a pile of blankets/toys/artwork/etc. and will then be returned to the library to sit next to her fresh spanking new twin that was purchased by C.'s mom. The End.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

What is today?

As I sit down to write, I am having a strange moment of panic. I haven't the foggiest idea what the date is today. But I do know it is Tuesday. (Isn't it?!)

Ok, self, don't panic...you know your personal schedule for today, whatever date it might be. Process through your schedule, perhaps it will come to you!!

This morning I cleaned, folded, and straightened like a fiend while the girls got ready for school because I had women coming over for coffee. They arrived and we discussed Foster's chapter on Prayer and then did some praying ourselves. After handing them their coats, here I am sitting at the computer wondering what on earth todays date is. (Not part of my original schedule but then I am such a very spontaneous person) In a second I am going to throw some potato's in the crock pot for soup, I am heading out the door to do some errands (cat food cause she spilled the entire container on wet garage floor...ick) and hopefully will find my way into the gym for at least 30 minutes of sanity running. Race back home, in a slow way due to the snow coming down, and make time for a quick shower. Then back out the door to pick up the girls, D3 from practice, and down to M's basketball game. Run the kids back home, slop some soup in some bowls for a family dinner, and then D and I are back out the door for Missions meeting tonight.

Ok, it is December-something. I am sure it will come to me soon...

Oh, the other day I completely forgot C's birthdate. Just blanked! I was embarrassed. And then, in a completely separate incident, I referred to this year as 2006. At least I caught myself on that one.

Hah!! December 4th!!! Whew, I feel better now! (Sorta'!!)