The Ice Castle

At least, that's what we call it - this huge structure in town made for sledding till your nose freezes off. On Sunday it was a balmy 24 degrees, so we had to do it!

Today schools were on 2-hr. delay due to freezing temps. How does -24 WITHOUT windchill sound to you??

Olive Trees and Kirk Franklin

"But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.

I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.

I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done.

I will wait for your mercies in the presence of your people."

Psalm 52: 8, 9

At the beginning of January, our pastor spoke about the characteristics of an olive tree:

a very healthy, flourishing life

olive trees are TOUGH

they grow well where other trees die

they live long and produce longer than most trees

I try to choose a verse every year that will be my theme for the year - the one I go back to and refer to throughout all the circumstances of the year. And this one is definitely it. This is what I want to be. Help me, Lord!

Music moves and inspires me, so I also ike to choose a theme song or two for the year. This year I couldn't pick just one, so it's "Captivate Us" by Watermark, and for fun, "I Like Me" by Kirk Franklin. Kirk's song is so hilarious, you gotta listen to a clip on itunes - the lyrics go, "I like me, do you like me? I like me, cause God likes me..." it's not for everybody, but it makes me smile.

Your turn - tell me your verse or your songs, or both!

Pain, Pain, Pain

I usually bounce back pretty well after a Packer loss. But last night hurt. I bleed Gold and Green today.

I'd like to say it was a great season, but I just can't do that yet. I'm still too depressed.

Does anyone have some frequent flier miles they'd like to give me? I need sunshine, warm air, and a fruity drink.

Would You Just Come Home Already??

My parents have been on a cruise this past week and I'm just sick of it.
Well, that's exaggerating. A little.

I'm jealous, first of all, but then once I get over that, I simply miss knowing I can get ahold of them at a moment's notice.

I've mentioned this before, but my Mom and I are pretty good at talking about nothing. We share the minute details of our days that no one else really cares about. And when Aaron came down with strep throat, then Gregory got a double ear infection this week, I really wanted to tell my MAMA!

Apparently, cell phone service in the great Blue Lagoon is ridiculously expensive, so it's been a week of silence and brief emails, since they charge you for that on the boat, apparently.

But I really wanted them to get away, too - be free of the cell phone, the TV, whatever noise they needed to get away from. Next time, I just think they need to take their kids and their spouses. That way everybody's happy :)

Mom, is this Narnia?

We can't resist letting fat, fresh snowflakes fall on our faces. Greg likes to quote "Charlie Brown Christmas" when we try to catch them on our tongues and say, "Hmm, needs sugar."

Can You Guess Who Said This?

"When you're a Scientologist, and you drive by an accident, you know you have to do something about it, because you know you're the only one who can really help... We are the way to happiness. We can bring peace and unite cultures."

Here's a hint - he's completely IMPOSSIBLE in his MISSION to take over the world for Scientology.

Somebody give me oxygen; I can't stop laughing....

My 2007 Reading List

If you know me even a little bit, you know I'm a BOOK HOUND. I could live in Barnes and Noble, and have considered entering a 12-step program for Amazon.com addicts. But really, is there a better addiction? So here's what I read last year incase you are just on the edge of your seat, dying to know.

Non-Fiction

The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge
The North Face of God by Ken Gire
The Most Important Place on Earth by Robert Wolgemuth
The Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George
To Be Told by Dan Allendar
Five-Star Family by Carol Kuykendall
Sex God by Rob Bell
Dwelling by Mary Beth Lagerborg
Writing Motherhood
Live What You Love by Bob and Melinda Blanchard
Becoming a Chief Home Officer by Allie Plieter

Fiction ("c" means Christian Fiction author)

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg
Kite Runner by (I won't even try to remember how spell his name...)
Clay's Quilt by Silas House
Levi's Will and Bad Ground both by W. Dale Cramer - c
How to be Lost by Amanda Eyre Ward
House by Frank Peretti and Tedd Dekker - c
Seaside by Terri Blackstock - c
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House
Songs Without Words by Ann Packer

Young Adult Fiction

Sold by Patricia McCormick
Eggs by Jerry Spinelli
Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Poetry

Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver

Scrapbooking

The Big Picture by Stacey Julian
Real Life Scrapbooking by Rebecca Cooper
Life Artist by Ali Edwards

Memoirs/Real-Life Stuff

Waiting for Birdy by Catherine Newman
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

I wish I had time to just tell you a little bit about all of these books, but let's just say if you want to know more about any of them, just let me know!

I'm sure the list will be much shorter this year as I get ready for baby#4, but you can bet I'll have a stash ready when naptime comes.

happy happy joy joy

Little things make me happy.

Mama's broccoli casserole

Magnetic bookmarks from Barnes and Noble

Propel Water - the Grape flavor, if it's ice cold, reminds me of grape popsicles

When Jonathan says "i wuuuuhhh you!!!"

Listening to Gregory read aloud

Dwight Shrute (from "The Office" on NBC)

Dove Milk Chocolate

South Beach Peanut Butter Protein Bars (with peanut butter spread on top for extra protein)

Reading a good book and having another one waiting in the wings

Getting books from Amazon delivered to my door

Finding a great new artist/song on itunes

Getting caught up on dishes and laundry

Baby girl clothes

The baby furniture/nurseries in Pottery Barn catalogs - who lives like that?

Ice Fishing

May of '93

The month that changed my life forever.

It was when I became addicted to a boy named Aaron.

On New Year's Eve, we celebrated 13 years of marriage. (I know, what were we thinking getting married during the holidays?? But I love red, what can I say?)

On New Year's Day we were moving some things around in our closet (can you stand the excitement?!?!) when we came across a box filled with lots of nostalgia, including a letter from Aaron's basketball coach from college, Dave B.

Before the email craze, people wrote something called LETTERS. You would get them in your mailbox; crazy, I know.

Coach would email the team to update them on everybody and to report prayer requests. I enjoyed reading the letter dated May 21. 1993, which I had never seen before. One big paragraph read,

"Big news flash: Aaron R. is missing! He has not been seen in the gym or the weight room in the past week. Aaron had faithfully been in the gym and weight room until one fateful evening on May 7th. With the advice of one Eric K., Aaron escorted a young lady to Fort Wayne for an evening of fun and frolic. The young lady's name will not be released to save her reputation. Since that eventful eve, Aaron has been seen walking around in a daze on campus and even leaving his two closest comrades out in the cold, Mikey and Pistol. Now don't get me wrong, we have been trying to get Aaron a date all year, but every night for two weeks with the finale of meeting her parents in Ohio, come on now, Aaron, tell me it's not true that you have a summer job in Ohio. Enough on Mad Dog, except I heard she has turned our Mad Dog into a Poodle."

This is Fun

The next time you notice on caller ID that a telemarketer wants to try his luck with you, answer the phone, but DON'T SAY ANYTHING.

Then, giggle silently while he says, "Hello??...............Hello??" And then keep him on the line until he finally gives up.