3 Miles and Candy Free!

I set out to the gym yesterday with intentions of following my training schedule for the 5K, and then hitting the weights. Along the way, I decided to check out the 5K running course. It was a cool day and the views were beautiful. Reds, yellows, and orange hues filled the skylines. Tennessee Autumn.

So, I got to the gym, parked, and started walking to warm up. I don't know what I was thinking, but when I broke into my run, I just kept going. I ran the whole 5K course. It was awesome. I was tired when it was over, but it only took about 37 minutes. Not an impressive time, by any means, but I've only been training for 3 weeks. Can't complain.

I stayed out of the candy too. Cottage cheese and peaches is my thang. Love it. Yum.

It's Monday. May this week be one of Faith, Family, and fitness!

Note to Self

25 minutes. You rock. Run, baby, run. 5K in three weeks. 1/2 marathon in 6 months. You can so do this. Run because it feels good. Run because it gives you a rush. Run because it makes you strong.

Just do it (sorry Nike).


~You

Camping Pics aka Brownie Points from the In-Laws.

The little guys LOVED cooking their food over the fire. They said it was the best food they ever had.

Blurry. I think the campfire smoke is to blame. I still love it, though. Aren't we adorable?

A month has passed...and I'm more VAIN than ever.

Not a single recipe posted... What a letdown. I had ambition and plans to make things so pretty around here. I was going to write about my delicious banana bread, pumpkin muffins, and homemade waffles with cinnamon syrup.

But then, I got sidetracked. First of all... my husband is HOME. So, I don't need to go into the intimate details here, but uh... I've been busy. And we're having fun. He still loves me, and I think he's hot. It's so nice to have him here. He's so... SWEET. Just don't tell him I said that. And... he's wearing clean clothes today. Nice.

Not only did my husband come home, but I still try to spend a few hours a week at the Y. On top of that, I've started training for a 5K on Thanksgiving day. I ran for over a 1/2 mile yesterday, which was great considering that I couldn't run more than 30 seconds 3 weeks ago.
I attribute some of my success to the new running shoes I bought yesterday. Asics Gel 100's. Not too expensive but they sure did help ease the cramps I was getting after my run. If I could memorize my pilates floor routine without always looking at the book, I'd be thrilled.

I also spend massive amounts of time looking at myself in the mirror. I'm shrinking, and I look weird. I have sort of a square jaw, and my chin kinda juts out...cutely, of course. I even have COLLAR BONES.

Oh, and the boys just had 2 weeks of Fall Break. We went camping. It was fun. We also spent lots of time watching movies and playing video games. Constructive stuff. They played soccer on Saturday. Great games. They've all gotten really good, and they're learning tons. Even so, it was good to get back into the school routine today. Focus.

Having said all this, I feel I've justified why I haven't been cooking for the past month. Well, I have been cooking, but it's not those Autumn yummies I anticipated. I made a great dinner the other night with a few homemade chinese-y dishes. Yum. Tonight, it's Chili. *MY* chili... my recipe. Perfect.

How's that for vain? :)

I Must Really Be Home...

Pre-Katrina, I had a pretty good thing going with frugality and smart-spending. We so rarely ate out, as the deep freeze was always full, and I was a pro at keeping the kitchen running efficiently.

Since then, we've become fast friends with fast food. I never seemed to get back into the swing of things after we got the last house. Maybe it was because I didn't like the kitchen? Or the fact the water pressure wasn't very good, and so the dishwasher didn't work all that well. I don't know, but I didn't cook all that much there. I missed it at times, but mostly I just felt guilty.

So, here we are...Fall is in the air. It got down to the 40's last night, and yesterday's high was 70. BeAuTiFul! But, I want to bake..and bake...and bake. Yet, I can't eat and eat and eat. I want to make soups and broths and beans and... I just want to spend some time in my kitchen. I LOVE this kitchen, btw. It's small. I call it "nooky" and no I don't want to have babies with it. I just like that it's a small little alcove in the main area of the house. Everything is easy to reach and has a nice place.

So, I'm going to buy a deep freezer this week. I'm excited. It's sort of like a rite of passage in making this place home. I'll start filling it up before Christopher gets here, and then life will just be that much better and that much more comfortable. He's so sick of eating out it's not even funny, and I would love to have lots of comfort food ready for him.

So, I'll be posting my recipes and whatnot, too. I'm happy to be getting back into my groove again. I'm going to really work on keeping my recipes healthy. I've dropped a pants size since I got here, and I don't plan to go up again. Chris loves eating healthy with me, so it should be a fun culinary adventure!

I think I'm going to call the orchard today and go pick some apples with the boys this week. I've never picked apples before. I'll probably have more fun than the boys!

Soccer Season Kick-Off

The boys started soccer today at the Y. They had so much fun, and so did I. No coaching for me this season. I was still panting and busy running between three fields. Who the heck needs kickboxing? Just enroll three boys in soccer, and attempt to be at each of their fields during the quarters they get to play. I succeeded! And now, they're all sound asleep. A quiet lazy Saturday afternoon.

All that's missing is Dad. *sigh*

I was so glad he came home last weekend, but I miss him more now. Much more. It was easier before, somehow.

20 more days...

This Blog *is* my Blog...

First of all, I didn't kick him out. My husband, that is. It's just that after a couple of hot nights together errr... I mean good entries , he showed up at my door with his suitcase, and started looking like he might redecorate!

And besides, he's got a great body he's witty, he's intelligent, he's got great taste, and he's creative as heck. My place is a little too meager and plain for his excellence!

So, the creation of BrainFlakes. I love that name! He's so smart!


Oh, on a better...much more satisfying (for me anyway) note, my amazingly creative guy came HOME this weekend.

He loved the bedroom house! I've been trying to decorate and get it looking a little homey in the past few weeks. Poor guy has only spent like 5 nights here, total. But, I've attempted to make each of them count. :)

It was hard to let him go. I really realized just how much I need him while he was here, and I think those 2 days went by way too fast. 24 more till he's back again, and for good this time!

I can't wait...

....and I'll bet he can't either...

This land is your land...

This blog ain't my blog.

Apparently I am... being kicked off!

With stark, vengeful qualities my dear, dear wife is removing me from the ability to really publish anything on her blog. Sure I will still be here, but it's more like as a sort of 'here I am' quality instead of a 'let me write this' quality.

With most of the internet's powerful rage directed at me for my last huge update, I have nothing left to Google for a while as I pack my bags and move my distopian future elsewhere.

Elsewhere across the street, and, also using the same template because I am really lazy.

I have decided to open up:

http://brainflakes.blogspot.com

So you kind folks be sure to put lots and lots of links to me so I get lots and lots of people to vote on my polls, view things I see on youtube and go 'that sure is funny right there har har har!' and point out facts you already know.

With Brainflakes, I plan on rerevolutionizing the entire Internet housing problem! Bring the minority websites into the spectrum! Stop URL seggregation! Open a hand to my poor, hurting Yahoo neighbors.

All this and less, if ever, awaits you at the above listed URL.

I will certainly look forward to seeing the immense hit that my bandwidth takes when the ones and twos of you flood into there to vote on my polls.

Anyhow. I am signing off to sign on to my other wild blog. No doubt you will all keep up to date with my thoughts and imagery.

Who Are These People?!

Since I've been contributing my near awe-inspiring wisdom and dynamic insight to this amazing blog I've noticed something.

Something that makes a person sit back, place their finger to their cheek and go 'hm'. Not a long drawn out 'hmmmmm', just one of those quick, half-second sounds that signify something is amiss in the world.

And indeed, on this blog, something is amiss!

If you look to the right of this, so long as it's on the front page, you'll notice that there are several columns. These columns are filled with links. Links that I not only don't know what they are really, but also things I have no idea what to expect when I click on them.

I say!

Links?! On my blogpage?! That I know nothing about?!

Why I never!

So I went ahead and visited some of these links. And I've given a small review of each item as I discover my own webpage. It's fun! It's exciting! I can barely contain myself!

The Well Drained Mind : :
Apparently this webpage is dedicated to people whom love coffee. Not only love coffee, but also can't drink it unless it's filled to the brim and chock full of cinnamon.

Further inspection revealed it to be some sort of place for homeschooling moms. Immediately, I felt like I was invading enemy territory. Not only am I not a mom, but I'm also not homeschooling.

It seems very uplifting and very personal.

I give it ** asterisks out of ***** asterisks.

Life is Like a Lunchbox : :
The sassy wife of a pastor made this page. And she is certifiably crazy. I... didn't want to look too much into the mind of a crazy person...

But what the hell! Let's do it anyway!

This site appears to be filled with more of that homeschooling rhetoric that is insightful, wise, and has links to win free stuff.

Free stuff gives extra asterisks!

I've also learned that Nan likes to take pictures of stuff! I love pictures!

I give it *** asterisks out of ***** asterisks.

Classless and Lovin' It
Another homeschooling mom who loves her family and the Lord. I'm starting to see a... what do you call those things that keep happening over and over again.

Oh! I know! A sudden realization!

I'm starting to suddenly realize that all of these webpages have something in common!

Pictures! And... selling me things!

This blog is like a journal, and I love journals, too.

I give it ** asterisks out of ***** asterisks.

I-Monk : :
I get a very 'I'm going to be sued by Apple Inc very shortly... lol!' aura from this webpage. I say aura because I know that auras have to do with stuff like magic, I think. And this webpage clearly is not about magic.

It is, in fact, about a man's walk through life whilst interacting with God. It's actually interesting and neat. And I don't think he tried to sell my anything.

I-Monk does not take photos, either. He writes words. With letters. He has many letters that combine to form many words on his webpage. I approve of these words.

I give it gggg g's out of ggggg g's.

The Foil Hat : :
It's another journal about a homeschooler! And in one entry she talks about her period! OMG!

Tomorrow I think I'll blog about an erection. It was so horrible!

I give it / slash out of ///// slashes.

Walk Slowly, Live Wildly : :
A website powered by photo manipuation and Photoshop. Well as long as it brings in the money, I approve!

I give it :):):):) mercenaries out of :):):):):) mercenaries.

Choice Central : :
This is a nice one! The author gave me her name! And like any dedicated fan, I Googled the everliving funk out of it until I found enough dirt to bury her at the 10-yard line of a football field beneath concrete.

She is on top of politics:
"Hispanics are taking away our jobs," said Angela Broussard, 38, a black playwright.

She likes lots and lots of milk:
Angela Broussard, director of the Lafayette Diocese Food and Nutrition Service, said Borden is the sole supplier of milk for their school system.

I don't know about you, Angela Broussard. You perhaps are just a little TOO WILD for my internet.

I give it ~~~ ACs out of ~~~~~ ACs.

Pioneer Woman : :

Pioneer Woman is going to need an entire blog about her. I can't squeeze in all the goodness into one single entry, so people will have to wait...

Coons!

A couple of weeks ago, we had some surprise visitors. These three little guys were actually trying to get into our shed, but we lured them with some chopped ham, and got some really cute pictures!

They stuck around for awhile before bounding off into the darkness towards the hillside. Perhaps they were looking for mom, or just more nice people that would give them some ham.

Some Verbage to Jordan...

In just a little while, it's going to be your birthday.

You're going to be around nine years old now.

Nine is a fine number, it's just one year away from having a double-digit number. Once you break those double numbers, it's pretty much rocky from there.

But for now, you're nine. Nine years.

Just imagine all of the things that took nine years to create.

Unfortunately I can't think of a single thing off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are a few great things out there that have taken nine years of manufacturing to be perfect.

Luckily for you, you already have that.

As a person, you're a wonderful boy. As a son, you're a gift to me. Logical, smart, witty, creative and well adjusted.

As I write this for you, knowing that the Internet will forever keep it in place for you to review later on down the road, unless www.blogger.com goes suddenly belly up... I wonder what all I can write here.

In much the same way that I impact your life, you impact mine as well. You forced me to grow up even more, and be a man that I only saw on television.

The smart, confident, bold, stable man. The man that even when kicked, somehow manages to stand up again. Not to fight, but rather, to shield and protect. Nurture and assist.

It's you and your needs that drive me forward. It's your smile that makes me walk into a downpour of rain and go to work. It's your wants that make me make a U-turn through four-lane traffic to go to McDonald's.

It's your future that makes me stop, rub my chin and glance to the sky and rethink a rash decision.

It's my love that makes me urge you into more things, new adventures, to not ever say no to something you want to try that's different. It's why I stood out in the rain (lots of rain these days) to watch you kick a soccer ball around. It's why I told you to never give up when you kept losing those games, too.

I know it might seem like it, but you're not the only one who's growing up. We both are. It's an adventure in life. Something where the next turn isn't necessarily a page you can skip ahead to to read to see what happens. We're getting bigger, and older, and smarter, and soon nine will be nineteen, and no doubt you'll be educating me in things.

I love you, I miss you.

And when I get there, even though I won't be there for more than a couple days, we'll still go to the toy store. I do it for that smile...

Not first but not last...

I'm one of those people who never quite come in first, and never quite come in last.

What's that mean to somebody? In life, though? Sure, I get Publisher's Clearing House envelopes proclaiming that I've won trillions and trillions of dollars... only to open it and see that all I really won was using my own stamp to send in the chance to be a winner.

And like many people, I also need to go the extra mile to get that 'extra cent stamp' because hell, I never use stamps. It's the age of the internet! I don't even remember what stamp glue tastes like anymore, though I do recall it being sweet and tangy at one time. I think I should go pick up a pack of pepperminty postal stamps for all my postage needs.

As all zero of my readers whom keep up with my daily life and constant paparazzi attacks know, I'm currently living in Mississippi. Or as it is better known today: Above Ground 100% Humidy Pool & Sauna.

The simple act of going outside blasts you with air so hot that you might feel like you suddenly stepped out of the relative comfortable domain of your home, or in my case, company apartment, and into the part of hell where they put the naughty Eskimos. You know the sort. The ones who enjoy to beat on baby seals.

Like the baby seal who got away, they neither won nor really lost. Kind of like me. Isn't that cute how that ties the continuing story back together again? It's like a literary bridge. Though this bridge won't be in Minnesota. And again like the baby seal whom got away, I too am missing my family.

Though not because they've been transformed into amazingly useful bottles of expensive oil, but rather because they are all so very far away. Too far away, I'm afraid. A couple of states north of me, and many hundreds of miles.

While it is sad, it isn't all bad. This is a year of writing things off. Like the Dodge Stratus on the fence we lost in Katrina. We had to write that off. Also the house next to it. Another write off. The two cats whom escaped out a window and lived on in the woods around the house? Well... we didn't write them off... but the fish. And a few other things.

But like all good stories, the time is closing in for this to come to an end. With each passing day I get closer to tomorrow. I'm a time traveler, traveling through time one second per second in order to fully experience just how things went back in the future when I was now.

I miss my wife and my children. All of them. Though probably my darling wife the most. Because she is my number one fan. My superstar. My hero. The woman who makes me feel like a winner even when I placed somewhere in the ten-thousands range of people across the United States who are 'people with nothing special about them'.

Were I not obligated by contract with my time traveling company to not skip ahead so quickly through time, I would switch myself to being with her now. To feel her warmth again and kiss her soft lips. Erotically grabbing her leg and raising it along my hip. The grazing tips of my fingers lifting her hair to the side and slipping behind her adorably cute ear...

And of course from that point it only devolves into us playing a game of pachinko over a tall glass of something made with ice, strawberry and alcohol after which we watch a movie starring Kevin Costner as Kevin Costner and then going to bed.

To sleep.

Honestly.

...

I don't like the vibes that I'm getting from you, the good reader now. I feel as though you feel as though I'm not being fully honest with you. For shame. Shame on you and your dirty little mind. Gutter head. You make me want to clean my brain with a brillo pad and gargle acetone.

...

Maybe sometimes I do come in first. But it's only because I have an adoring wife who lets me.

So here is this, the post that lets me tell my wife that she makes me number one!

And naturally, that makes her number two.......

Wait a minute... let me rethink this......

First Day of School

Yesterday was the big day! The boys started school. Jordan went into 3rd grade and Cayden is in Kindergarten.

I was up at 5:30 (how in the HELL does one do this every day?!?) making breakfast, laying out clothes, and downing massive amounts of coffee. We headed out around 7:30, everyone excited and apprehensive.

I walked the boys to class, and at one point along the way I instinctively reached for Cayden's hand. It was like something on a really bad TV movie as he looked up at me and shoved his hands in his pockets.

I wanted to strangle that kid. I wanted to shake him and remind him that I gave BIRTH to him. I BREASTFED him. I CHANGED his POOPY DIAPERS. ME!!! He was selling out on me way too quickly. Instead, I smiled knowingly, and we walked into his class. Somehow, I managed to get a little hug before I left.

When Jordan and I reached his class, I knew I couldn't take rejection twice in one morning. I just held out my hand and he gave me a "five" before he turned into his class. Damn kids. Who said they get to grow up and get all independent anyway?

I made it all the way to the truck before the tears started to fall. I called my husband. All he could really do was offer feeble amounts of sympathy in response to my incoherent babble and sobs. Poor guy. What else was he supposed to do 600 miles away? Demand that I go get them and homeschool?!?

So, they survived, and even had fun. Lunch was great, they said.

As for me? I just wish school started at noon instead of 8. This 5:3O thing is going to kill me. I'm sure of it.

Aren't they handsome?

Sunny Days!

At the beginning of summer, I coaxed my boys into the apartment pool.

"We'll DROWN," they whined. "We can't swim!"

I promised them that dad and I would show them how, and so the lessons began. Panic would set in from time to time as they attempted to swim the short distance across the pool, and they'd come up gasping like it was their last breath.

Here, in TN, we've been going to a much bigger swimming pool, with slides and diving boards. Jordan and Cayden both started off on a small diving board, wearing Adrian's life jacket because they just couldn't envision themselves swimming the whole 8 feet to the ladder after diving in that deep water. After a day, Jordan worked up the nerve to dive off the big board, still wearing that lifejacket.

Some kid took to picking on him about that jacket, and so I beat the kid up Jordan decided to try diving without it. Cayden followed suit, and the next thing you know...

OH MY WORD (as my dear mother-in-law would surely say)!

Can you see him?!? It's Cayden, just about to jump off that high board. My precious 5 yr. old middle child, fearless and confident.


He dived off that board at least 20 times, and I cringed and prayed every time!

Here's Jordan flying sailing through the air. Fortunately, most of his diving was feet first, so I did a lot less cringing.


I was busy taking pictures and video of the boys on this day, so I didn't do much relaxing, but we sure had fun!

Happy Times

The boys got new bikes last weekend before dad left. Cayden started out with training wheels. One fell off and he kept going, so we took the other one off. Noone ever did teach him how to ride a bike, but he figured it out within *minutes* and has been having a blast. There is a hill as you drive up our street, so they love coasting down it right into the yard. Pretty scary how fast they get sometimes! Boys will be boys, they say. Wait until I post the pictures of them diving tomorrow!

Home Sweet Home

We made it! We're finally in our new house up in TN. We love it. The weather is nice, the people are well... country-fred, homestyle nice. Today, a neighbor introduced himself with a bag of homegrown tomatoes in hand. Another neighbor came over and sprayed my cable box that was infested with wasps nests. The lady across the street stopped by, too, with a flyer for her church. She goes to the little white baptist church up the road. The other neighbor came by to tell me the dump was closed on Thursday and Sunday, but I forgot and went to the dump anyway. Go figure.

Anyway, it's a great place. The neighborhood, besides being friendly, is really beautiful! Our house is gorgeous. I can never decide if I should put something in the garage, or the shed...or the sunroom. So many choices! I feel like the queen of my own castle. :) Thanks, honey.

Oh, and I joined the "Y" today. To all you "gym-membership" folks...you can stop reading now. To those that haven't joined a gym, carry on...

Doesn't that sound a little SPOILED? *mimicks* "I'm dropping the kids off at school and going to the gym." I used to think those people were nuts and had way too much time on their hands. In my defense, I still have one at home ( and the "Y" has a kids' playroom). I promise not to act like a typical, uppity, soccer-mom (no, I did *NOT* sign all three boys up for fall soccer today). If I start to take a condescending tone, then please knock me back down a few notches.

So, yes, I'm happy. On top of the world happy. I have a great husband to thank for spoiling taking such good care of us.

Speaking of said husband... he's in Mississippi working. *sigh* I miss him, terribly. I hope he comes home to a thinner wife in a few weeks. Somehow, that'd just about sweeten the whole "Y" deal...right?

Gotta go. The boys need their bikes out the garage...


~Me, happily spoiled, loving TN, missin' my man...

Bliss or Bust

It's been so much fun RELAXING this summer. Yesterday I was at the pool with the boys, and really just enjoying the heck out of myself. I called my dad just to tell somebody how damn happy I was.

The water was sparkling, the sky was blue, and I readjusted my chair as I chatted. I laid back, and the chair...


The chair... It FLIPPED! There I was, in all my glory, splayed out on a lawnchair with my head on the ground (in the flowerbed!) and my arse up in the air. Oh my... and my dad was dying on the phone as I relayed the details of my position. Not good.

I'm so glad that noone else was at the pool, and of course noone was looking down at me from their glass doors at the 900 apartments surrounding the pool. Noone was laughing. And if they were...

NOONE was laughing.

I'm still picking flowerbed mulch out of my hair...

Yesterday's Dinner

Chicken Curry (recipe by Pam Anderson)

• 2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 rotisserie chicken, skinned and boned, meat pulled into large chunks ( I browned 3 chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces)
  
• 1 (13.5 ounce) can light coconut milk
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix spices in small bowl. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or small soup kettle over medium-high heat; add onion and saute until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Add garlic; saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add spices; toast until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add chicken; stir until completely coated with spices. Add coconut milk, tomatoes and broth. Bring to a simmer; cook uncovered until flavors blend and stew is thick, about 20 minutes.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Serve over basmati rice.

Okay, so I made this yesterday. I served it with basmati rice, garlic bread, and a delicious salad. Pam recommends serving this with mango chutney, which I did not have. She also loves using cilantro but I am one of those people that hate everything to do with cilantro, and I think it tastes like soap.

The salad: fresh romaine, olive oil, sea salt, fresh cracked pepper, the juice of 1 and 1/2 tangerines, dried fruit, and roasted pine nuts. Garnished with sliced Driscoll strawberries.

It was sooooo good. I've never cooked Thai or Indian food, but this dish was incredible. Chris is loving all the fresh salads and new dishes we've been having lately.

I'm going to start taking more pictures...

~Me

I'm having fun just being a mom...

So, I'm coming out of the closet, now. I did decide to put the boys in school next year. I know, I know. I changed my mind several times previously, but about a week and a half ago, I had a day that it just... became so clear to me what I wanted and needed to do. So, I sent the school books on to TN, and decided to take the summer off. Aside from reading "Bridge to Terabithia" we're doing nothing.

Yesterday, the boys started VBS. I've got the next 4 weeks planned with VBS activities. They're loving it so far. I love hearing about their morning, and then there's lunch and swimming. It's been WONDERFUL so far. I don't have SCHOOL hovering over my head. I'm just enjoying being "mom" and having fun with my boys.

I'm excited about them going to school. I was previously riddled with apprehension, no matter my decision. But, now... there's no looking back. I know I've made the right decision. I know they'll both do great in school, and I intend to be involved with their education every step of the way. I'll accept nothing but their best, and I'll give them the same.

I'm a little sad that our decision will cause Chris and I to be apart for a few months, but we both feel optimistic nonetheless.

In a year or so, the kids won't be the only students in the house. TTU is calling my name, and I intend to fulfill my dream of getting my degree. I'm going to get a degree in something PRODUCTIVE, rather than the history/english degree I once intended. I'm thinking math or some science...

So, there's my ramblings for the day.

Oh, and it was so sweet to hear the Father whisper my name this morning. I love those moments that His spirit flows over me, like water... quenching a thirst I didn't even realize I had. Thank you, my Lord for giving so generously....

Back Already...

Don't I look good?!? I ask because I came surfin' in on my cool new HP laptop that Chris bought me yesterday. I was tickled as he picked it out and talked with the sales guy. I felt like his princess, and he was so intent on making sure I had *exactly* what I wanted.

So, moving on... I've been tagged! Angi apparently wants to know 8 MORE things about me (see below where I quickly threw out the first 8). I think I'll give it a little more thought this time.


8. I love to read. Right now, I'm reading Wicked. It's so good. I hope to be able to see the musical production someday.
7. Worthy of repeating, I still get major flutters from my husband. His touch is like fire on my skin. The last 2 years of our marriage have been especially blissful, and continues to get better. I'm so blessed!

6. I LOVE to cook. Lately, I have been devoting some time to this lost love of mine. No longer carby processed foods, but truly healthy cooking. My whole family has enjoyed the food I've prepared, and it's so good for them. I credit my accomplishments to Pam Anderson, author of "How to Cook Without a Book".

5. I am really NOT a people person. There was a time when I really truly loved unabashedly, but beyond my husband... I no longer feel capable or willing to love,trust, invest without reservation. A hard lesson learned, but valuable nonetheless. As time progresses, I find myself embracing solitude and the comfort it lends. People fall to the wayside, but to no fault of mine or theirs. Tis is the way that life leads, I suppose. As I feel more comfortable in this skin, I find it easier to accept people, because no longer is there any expectation. Just...acceptance. And I know that acceptance often can feel like love. So, then, all is not wasted.

4. Since I rambled so much in #5, let's just say... I absolutely adore my kids...and my dogs. Not just in a "they live here" sort of way. I really ENJOY them, especially my dogs.

3. I recently made a difficult decision. After changing my mind many times, I came to great peace with my decision, but I still haven't "come out" about it yet. It's my own little secret, but I know that my husband supports me, and we have chosen wisely.

2. I'm truly enjoying life right now. I woke up this past Saturday, and went into a fit of giggles. Why? Because, for once, I had *nothing* to concern myself with. Nothing was unresolved at that moment. Nothing was waiting to be done. Nothing. It was incredible. Of course, people started getting hungry shortly after, and my moment went *poof* as I started cooking breakfast. But, even still, life is good.

1. My faith in the redeeming love of Jesus has been pivotal to making me a better woman. Walking in His grace has allowed me to see myself for who I really am, and to become more like I should be. I am thankful for His comfort and leadership as he has guides me through the fire and refines my heart and soul.


So...there you have it.