Spooky Sister Power!

So our little Cinderella, Indian and Super Hero had a great fun filled day!

Before trick or treating they did a little sister power chant...

to get the energy flowing and ready for the night. they were all so excited!

Sally Jane's custom made Cinderella dress from Ebay for only $19.99 was great and with a 8 inch hem could last her until kindergarten.
Caroline's $29.99 Super Hero costume off the rack at Target saved me 4 days of time and probably save me another $30.00 in materials.

she could jump so high when she had it on.

Annie Kate's hand sewn costume still gave me the chance to say I have sewn all her costumes and a reason to stay up late with her as we didn't start it until the night before, as well as practice for any upcoming wedding dresses to be made in 20 years - I sure hope one of them will pick suede, is doesn't fray, you can leave raw edges and fun to sew with.

and as I type this, (the day after) the girls are in my white sheeted bed eating chocolate candy bars watching Disney movies - I am afraid to go back up stairs!!! (it is 8:00am)

SPT:
challenge :trick or treat

so, I don't really like to get dressed up. It surprises many people. I have had friends tell me my personality seems like the type who would, but I really don't and am often embarrassed for those who do. (kind of like Jill at Plays or musicals)
But I did make this cute hat for my daughters teacher and try it on. We decorated the classroom with ghosts on all the chairs and made this cute hat for the teacher, left her a Halloween t-shirt and some flowers with a not that says.

Thank you for all that you do

for our little Goblins!

Love the parents of your

wonderful,

exciting,

loving,

happy,

attentive,

cute

and oh so obedient

third grade class!

Someone busier than you is ....

Nike has a new ad out this is so wonderful and got me thinking.

The ad says;

Someone busier than you is running right now.
So what are you waiting for
get out there and pound the pavement

Last night I didn't go to the gym because I said I was too busy. Is the Nike company tapping into my thoughts?
This got me thinking about this concept of not doing something we want to do our should do because we say we are too busy. For years I said I could not run or find the time because I was too busy or had small kids or Jeff was not home. I often hear "oh I would love to blog or keep a journal but I am too busy"
I started to think of a few things along these same lines...

• Someone busier than you is doing service right now, what are you waiting for?
• Someone with less money than you is giving to charity right now, what are you waiting for?
• Someone busier than you is reading to their small children, what are you waiting for?
• Someone busier than you is going to church, what are you waiting for?
• Someone busier than you is taking the time for themselves, what are you waiting for?
• Someone busier than you is cleaning their home, what are you waiting for?
• Someone busier than you is making a home cooked meal for the family or someone else, what are you waiting for?
  

This ad has really got me thinking!

this is print is new from Sarah Jane
and the winner is....

Lucy Watson

Lucy Watson said...

My favorite book/s were the Little House on the Prairie series. My mom bought me the box set when I turned seven and I devoured them within a month. I read them, in order, time & time again growing up. I read all sorts of other books too, but especially liked those with several books, like Ramona Quimby, The Littles, and eventually the Anne of Green Gables series. I loved Anne and Marylis, and how Anne and Gil went from fighting to falling in love down the line. But, as a shy child, growing up with only a few close friends, I connected more with Laura Ingalls and her tight knit family. I wanted to roast a pigs tail, to make a corncob doll, and to have a waist like Ma's that could be circled by Pa's two hands. :) As I grew older, I couldn't wait for the day when I'd meet my Almonzo and get married and have children together. My dreams of a tiny waist fell by the wayside, but my "Almonzo" and I, after years of infertility, now have a cuddly 18 month old baby girl through the gift & blessing of adoption. I can't wait to see her fall in love with reading and good books too!

Congrats from Sarah Jane who wrote:
I chose Lucy Watson as the winner. The main reason being that as a child, reading books about motherhood only made me want to be a mother more too. I would dream about the day I got to run around with my kids. Infertility struck me as well, and after three years, we were able to conceive. Addie came followed by Ian only 12 moths later. It was such a blessing, but at the same time, I will never forget the ache that comes from thinking I may never have kids. So, I chose Lucy since my heart just reaches out to her...but like I said. I HATE having to pick. I just love that books serve to teach and inspire children to be better adults...whether it's being a mom, or a better friend, etc. It is so inspiring to hear so many lovers of children's lit!

Sarah Jane has offered a special awesome offer to any Pink Girlfriend (if you are reading this that means you!) if you order a print this week and enter "everythingpink" in the comments section of your order you will get a free card with your purchase and her Christmas Cards are coming up this week - so you won't want to miss it!! I have her Halloween Card framed in my home and love it.
Thanks Sarah Jane for you awesome gift to Lucy and sharing your wonderful talent with us all.

If any of you order the above print or the previous sketch of a child reading take the time to write on the back of your frame or print about your favorite books and the memories the flood back when you remember those books.

Lucy email Sarah Jane to claim your wonderful prize. - sarahjanestudios@gmail.com

Today I had Cutis Anserina!

This morning I had Cutis Anserina. I got ready to go for my first run in a two weeks and my 9 year old asked if she could go with me. I said YES! I let her wear my ipod, which is thrilling for her since it is packed full of Radio Disney music. We ran three miles together and she actually beat me home. The fall colors around the lake were incredible! The weather was wonderful. After two days of straight rain, it was just perfect. As we were running I was reminded of one of my biggest surprises that can happen to someone when they are totally sweaty and hot - you can get goosebumps (cutis Anserina) It was a thrill running with her and on the last mile I got goosebumps. I would often get goosebumps this summer while training in the heat of the summer thinking of the finish line.
today with my little girl was almost a year in the making and I looked forward to many more.

I looked up goosebumps on found them interesting.

Goose bumps, also called goose pimples, goose flesh , chill bumps, chicken skin (Hawaiian Pidgin), or the medical term cutis anserina, are the bumps on a person's skin at the base of body hairs which involuntarily develop when a person is cold or experiences strong emotions such as fear or awe. The reflex of producing goose bumps is known as horripilation, piloerection, or the pilomotor reflex. It occurs not only in humans but also in many other mammals; a prominent example are porcupines which raise their quills when threatened.

Goose bumps are created when tiny muscles at the base of each hair, known as arrectores pilorum, contract and pull the hair erect. The reflex is started by the sympathetic nervous system, which is in general responsible for many fight-or-flight responses.

Goose bumps are often a response to cold: in animals covered with fur or hair, the erect hairs trap air to create a layer of insulation. Goose bumps can also be a response to anger or fear: the erect hairs make the animal appear larger, in order to intimidate enemies. This can for example be observed in the intimidation displays of chimpanzees^[1], in stressed mice^[2] and rats, and in frightened cats. In humans, it can even extend to piloerection as a reaction to hearing nails scratch on a chalkboard or listening to awe-inspiring music.^[3]

Piloerection as a response to cold or fear is vestigial in humans; as humans retain only very little body hair, the reflex (in humans) now serves no known purpose.

In humans, goose bumps are strongest on the forearms, but also occur on the legs, back, and other areas of the skin that have hair. In some people, they even occur in the face or on the head.

Piloerection is also a (rare) symptom of some diseases, such as temporal lobe epilepsy, some brain tumors, and autonomic hyperreflexia. Goose bumps can also be caused by heroin withdrawal. A skin condition that mimics goose bumps in appearance is keratosis pilaris.

Goose bumps can occur only in mammals, since other animals do not have hair. The term "goose bumps" is therefore misleading: the bumps on the skin of a plucked goose technically do not qualify as piloerection even though this is where the term comes from. Birds do however have a similar reflex of raising their feathers in order to keep warm.

4th Birthday

If I was ever in the running or Mom of the year, I am now officially out. Two days after the marathon was Caroline's Birthday. I obviously knew it was coming but was in such a "it's all about me mode" I didn't get much ready before. The morning of her birthday when she woke up Annie Kate said, "Happy Birthday Caroline!" and I was behind Caroline with my hand, flat and palm down, going back and forth across my neck, saying Annie Kate no not today!" And AK said, But mom it is today. I was trying to whisper we were going to do it another day because I was too tire and could not walk. Caroline turns around and looks at me like, "oh my goodness today is my birthday!" The look on her face is still cracking me up. I am sure she is thinking, "how is that possible, last year

The kitchen table is not all decorated with ribbons and bows and my photo everywhere, last year
I don't remember you taking a picture of me before I went to sleep with the caption to read "tomorrow i will wake up 4!" I don't have any plans for a party, we have no cake, last year

there is no embroidered birthday outfit laying on my bed, you didn't come into my room smiling and singing happy birthday.... Are you sure it is my birthday.
I then turned to her and said, "Caroline isn't it great that today is your birthday!" I hobbled over to hug her.
So when Annie Kate got off to school I told her we get to go pick out any cake you want! (at Costco!) She reminded me that she wanted a frog princess cake. We get to Costco and they have 3 to choose from a Spider Birthday cake, one with balloons and one with a rainbow. Caroline said, I don't want any of these lets go find the one with a princess kissing a frog. I tried to explain these were the only options. She said, it's ok then I don't want a cake! Ouch! I then talked her into the Rainbow cake.

Our neighbors were nice enough to come over for dinner last minute to make her feel like we were having a party for her. We kept saying, isn't this this greatest party ever! She kind of kept looking around for the party to appear. We ended up not even giving her any gifts and thanks to our neighbors and grandparents she got fun things to open. I should have wrapped up my medal and said, here Caroline for your birthday you get a marathon running mom. she probably would have kept the medal so instead we gave her a big hug!
When she blew out the candles we said make a wish and she squeezed her eyes so tight. Which I thought was cute and wondered if she had been practicing it for the past few weeks like I had been practicing my arms in the air for the race.
I am sure if there was a caption for this photo is would read,

"I wish that next year my mom and dad will remember my birthday"

I love this little Caroline she is truly a mini me, happy birthday sweetie.

I won't be finishing the box of Glo-balls

tonight on The National Geographic Channel I watched two shows that just may change my eating habits. One was The Science of Obesity. Oh my! They showed a MRI of an obese woman that had rotting moldy food in her body that has never been digested. That I am sure is where those Glo-balls could be found in my body. I don't remember the science of it all but that the more fat we have it is harder for our body to digest all of our food and eventually some may just stay in our body and rot! I am still grossed out by it.
The other show is Incredible Human Machine. this is AWESOME. They showed your whole digestive system from the food going in the mouth and watching everything it does to digest. It was amazing. It made me want to eat a pound of broccoli.
This show is awesome and worth clicking here to see when it will be on again.

And the winner is...
Heather C.

Heather's comment:

ok- so those shoes are just too precious, I have to leave a comment just by chance to win them for Scarlett! Let's see if I could only wear one pair this year...i would have to go with my patent leather black ballet flats I picked up at the Nordstrom sale...they seem to work with most everything and are very comfy! Cute, cute shoes (that is the baby shoes :)).

Lisa picked the winner because:
She also has a little girl to give them to. I also LOVE Nordrstoms and I love ballet flats. So overall it was a good match.

Thank you to Lisa, the awesome shoe artist and Baby Tidbitz

My week of justified eating is over.

Last week I told myself I could eat whatever I wanted as my reward for finishing the marathon. I had been holing off for a month to make chocolate chip cookies because I knew I would eat too much. I surprised even me and was not even that hungry the few days after and didn't even care to indulge myself... Until I went to the store today and found a box of these.

I wish I didn't like these gross things but I do. I really don't know anyone else who does. And people don't just dislike these things they despise them. I am surprised they even make them because I feel like I am the only person I know who eats them.
I have read the calories 100 times and realized today that I was on the exercise bike for 30 minutes and burned of 174 calories. That means after eating one of these I only burned off only 4 calories. You would think that would detour me from buying them. But no it didn't. I still did. And I am sure they sit in my stomach for at least 3 years - hey but they have no trans fat!

Leather books available at Jenni Bick Bookbinding

How to keep a journal without writing in one

I have thought writing a post about this for so long and so it is kind of funny on the day I only have 5 minutes to post, I am writing about this, when I had planned to take more time.
I have a few things on a list that I feel guilty about that I could do better. Journal writing used to be one of them and now thanks to blogging it is not on that list. Not because I feel like my life's journal is on my blog but I have started writing more personal things down to keep and have kept track of little mementos better.
Here are a few things I have done or thought of doing to keep a journal without actually writing in one.

• saving Sunday church programs, three hole punching them and putting them in a binder. write a little something about each talk on the program next to the person who gave it
• if you use Netflix did you know you can print out every DVD you have ever rented. It is always fun to go back and see what we have watched this past year and the months we were in our Civil War phase or now that we are in a Anne of Green Gables phase.

• I buy this toy catalog every year since Annie Kate was little. I keep them in my Christmas boxes. It is so fun to pull out and see what toys were around 8 years ago. Can you imagine how fun it would be to have a Sears or JC Penny catalog from you were a kid to see what toys came out the year you were 3. (that is so dating me with the Sears catalog comment)
• keep a small wooden box to hold all your movie tickets that you have been to. They are awesome because they are dated and have the movie on it. How fun would it be to have your movie ticket from Star Wars. (this makes a great cheap gift for Christmas)
  
• write in your recipe books. write the date you made the recipe, any special quests for dinner, comments your kids made when they ate it.
• when we play board games who ever wins the game gets to date and sign the box. For our game Acquire - this is quite an honor to sign and date the box.
  
• If you use a study manual for a church lesson on Sundays. Write on the top of the chapter, who taught the lesson, the date and a few things you enjoyed about the lesson. Years later it is so fun to go back and read what stuck out in your mind. Draw things they had on the table. I did this my whole mission with my R.S. manual.
• Save your tithing envelopes from every ward you have been in, they have your bishops name and address on them. This way years later you have their address available to write them a thank you note for all the service they gave.
• For a wedding gift Jeff and I were given a journal to write all of our service callings we have had in our church, with the date, who we served with and what we learned. This makes a GREAT wedding or Christmas gift. It is never too late to start this.
• My girls each have a small box that say Washington D.C. on it. it holds any tickets and small things we pick up from monuments or events we do while living here.
• keep your good mail. Find a spot for cards and letters. You don't have to keep everything but find a spot to put them. Even if you never read them again - what a joy for your grandchildren to find them and read them someday. I found out after Jeff's Grandpa's funeral that he had a "received" stamp that he would stamp the date on the mail when he got it. So I then went out and bought one. Cool huh!
• start a blog - it free and you can make it private for only you to look at. You can get them printed.
  
• I got this idea from Amy W.'s mother in law. We buy a Christmas ornament each year for our kids and then write a story to them of how this ornament applies to what they were doing that year. It is fun each year for us to pull out the letters and read them when we decorate the tree. In 2001 I bought Annie Kate an American Flag. We wrote about September 11th. We wrote about that Christmas when we got on a airplane she asked if it was going to crash. Something I would have forgotten if I had not written it down. {Hallmark is a great place to buy an ornament that fits any theme, and I buy them after Christmas}

I will say that nothing beats your thoughts in your own handwriting. So find a spot to do it. If it is your testimony in the back of your scriptures, memories in the front of your cookbook, or feelings on the back of a program, don't let your life pass without having your thoughts in your handwriting.

I had found this in Jeff's Great Grandfather's journal a few years ago and now have it framed in our home.

If there is any particular advice or admonition I wish to leave it is that I hope my posterity will cleave to the church and its auxiliary organizations and love the value and happiness that comes from service to God and one's fellow men.
January 15, 1931

This advice has helped Jeff and I this year with our church service. I look forward to each of my daughters having a copy of this and when they share it with their children they will say these are the words or your Great, Great, Great Grandfather!

Don't wait to keep a journal in some way or form

Do you have something you do that is keeping a journal without writing in one, I would love to know!

so I met someone famous
and you could win something so keep reading

A couple of weeks ago a met a famous new artist. Sarah Jane. She may say she is not famous, but I think she is. I had read about her on many blogs and had been waiting for her new online store to open. So I was in Target in the toy section and there she was with her kids.
I had just purchased two of her prints to hang in my girls rooms the week before.

She is amazingly talented not only as an artist but boy can she sing! (My husband has heard her sing before and still talks about it) Anyway, she has a new online store and offered to give a $40 gift card on my blog. Of course I said yes! Do you realize that means if you win you could buy a print for you and one for a friend.

The three prints I have put on this post are my favorite.

and this Halloween one is framed in my home.

So to win one $40 of Sarah Jane money on her site and in honor of this beautiful print of a child reading...

{What was your favorite book as a child?}
Sarah Jane will pick the winner on Monday
she has a really great blog here....tell all your friends

If you ever go to a thrift store and see a plate like this for $.59. Buy it.

Then wait till you need to take someone a little treat to thank them for being so great.

String it with fun polka dot ribbon.

And wa-la you have a great little "happy" to give away.

And if they have two buy both.

You could win a pair of these.

I love new artists and seeing their business start and I love to see people win things - so bringing the two together is awesome.
Baby Tidbitz is a brand new company that specializes in handmade, washable shoes for little ones. They are a deal at $19 and for a little more you can have one custom designed for your little one or a gift and she is giving away a free pair of shoes to one of you!!!
I gave the artist Lisa, a little interview so you could get to know her better.
Where does all your creative juices come from?
Well my mother is really creative. She sews, paints, draws, designs and anything else you can think of. She always encouraged me to learn to make things. She taught me how to sew even though at the time i didn't really pay much attention. Some how I remembered.

How old were you when you learned to walk?
When I learned how to walk I was about a year old. Not too unusual.

What are you favorite shoes you have designed?
My favorite pair of shoes that I have made are the Carla May's. I love swirls and bows so the combination really appeals to me. And I LOVE orange.

What are some of the comments you get when people see your little girl wearing your handmade shoes?
Anywhere we go Ryan(Lisa's daughter) always gets comments on how great her shoes are. They always ask where I got them and how they could get a pair. They always comment on how fun the style is and how comfortable they look.

Would you rather be in flip flops or tennis shoes?
As far as flip flops or tennis shoes I would say most often I prefer flip flops. I like my feet to be able to breathe and move a lot. I save the tennis shoes for running or other sports.

So if you want to win a pair of any shoes she has on her site in the size you need for your little one or a baby gift all you have to do is....

leave a comment and tell me if you could only wear one pair of shoes for the rest of the year what would they be.

Our shoe artist Lisa will pick a winner on Friday!
feel free to email Lisa (babytidbitz@gmail.com) with any shoe questions! She does take custom orders.

are these little shoes too small for your feet, her are some other ideas of how these shoes may fit you!

• do you have a piece of fabric from your grandmother that could me made is some shoes to decorate a shadow box
• do you have the handkerchief you used on your wedding day to make some shoes for your child on their special blessing/confirmation/baptism day
  
• just can't think of throwing a special dress away that does not fit your little one any more have the fabric made into some shoes
• don't have time to get a baby shower gift, go to the post office and have it sent, let Baby Tidbitz do all the work for you!
  

SPT

Challenge:
is it really easier to see your "true colors" when the photo is black & white? what do you see?

Well, I love black and white photos! But I always think they make my teeth look so big! So i will let you decide.

Here is the color

Here is the black and white.

Thanks lelly! What would my Tuesday be without taking a photo of just me!

First day back.

I think I only have a few more marathon posts up my sleeve and I will back to posting on my private running blog, so bare with me.
I am now 8 days post marathon and am walking totally normal, am now wearing normal clothing and not my marathon shirt every day, even though I do sleep in it. I am online every day trying to figure out my next race or run. We will be on Vacation for Thanksgiving and spent the other night looking to see what runs they had in that town. I actually almost signed up for the Richmond VA marathon that is in two weeks - but realizing that I am totally obsessive compulsive I am baby stepping to that one. (feel free to tell me I am totally crazy, because everyone else is)
I am a firm believer and walking proof you don't have to look like a runner to be one. Because I don't - but still have to plans to someday. I have added a new section to my sidebar called, "Anyone can run" and have added some of my running resources. Even though I don't look like a runner this next story still is perplexing me.
On Saturday I went to a garage sale and with just Sally Jane. I was holding her on my hip. I was wearing my skinny pants that have not fit in FOREVER. Still on cloud 9. When I walked up to the driveway the owner of the home greeted me and asked if I was looking for anything. I said no. She then said, "oh well I do have some great maternity clothes you might be interested in"
If I have said this once on my blog I have said it a million times, I get asked every 6 weeks if I am pregnant. It is a curse! In fact the month I made the decision to make some serious changes in my exercise I was at a birthday party with my local ward and overheard a girl ask a friend of mine when I was due. My friend said, "I don't think she is pregnant" and then the girl asked are you sure? This was one of the straws that broke the camels back of me deciding to train and is on my upcoming motivation list.
I looked at the lady at the garage sale, like "are you kidding me?" I left the garage sale on cloud 8 but didn't care what she said because I bet she didn't run a marathon last Saturday, even though she looked like she could have. Darn that cute girl who I am sure never meant to hurt my feelings even though she did.
So, that was some seriously rambling and back to my first day back at the gym. It was AWESOME. I was so excited to get back and do something. I was welcomed back by all my cheesy Disney Mom songs on my IPOD. I felt some pain, but in a weird sort of way enjoyed it. Have I gone mad?
One of the biggest things training for this has helped me overcome is putting time for myself. I don't mind checking my kids into the nursery at the gym anymore. It is so hard sometimes getting them out the door and dressed to get to the gym and in the past I would have just stayed home, but now it does not seem to bother me. This is a huge thing for me.

one of the pumpkins i made

Chinese Craft

Last week Annie Kate and I went to the Chinese Branch Enrichment night at our church. It was so fun and the food was incredible. They had an artist there, Hui-chen Hsu, who taught us how to make these darling dough figures. She is an incredible artist who does many things at the Smithsonian. It was so much fun and I was amazed at how well all the kids did. She didn't speak much English but helped AK and I to make our little creatures.
I know the recipe may seem a little overwhelming and have a lot of ingredients, but this was like dough I had never seen before, it is worth the effort. They said it is a craft from 1500 years ago. If you have a cold rainy day, I suggest trying it.

Chinese Dough by Hui-chen Hsu

Preparing the dough
(no matter what measurement you use, the ratio of the amount of flour, rice flour, and water is always 4:1:2)

Ingredients: (for making 200 small figures)
Flour 10 cup
Glutinous rice flour* (increases the viscosity of the dough) 2 1/2 cups
Cold water 5 cups
Salt (prevents the dough from hardening) 4-5 TBS
Alum powder (protects against moisture and insects) you can find this at an Asian grocery
4-5 TBS
Water-based preservative (you can get this at a craft store) a pinch
liquid water color paint for coloring
shish kebab skewers 200

Procedure:

1. Add first six ingredients in a bowl, mix well into a paste like dough
2. knead the dough evenly in a pan until the dough has achieved a balance of flexibility and firmness. add some water if it gets too stiff, or add an appropriate amount of flour, rice flour and water (4:1:2) if it gets too soft.
3. Form the kneaded dough into lumps about the size of your palm.
4. Put them into a pot of boiling water and after they float to the surface, take them out and get ready to add colors.
5. Add the watercolors (paste like paint) to the dough while it is still warm and knead the dough until the color mixes evenly.
6. Now you are ready to make the dough figures
7. After you are done, insert a bamboo skewer through your finished dough figures.

Preserving the dough figures

1. paint the finished dough figures in a well ventilated place and let dry for 2-3 days.
2. paint a layer of clear varnish, or clear fingernail polish over the dough, and let dry for about 1 week.
3. Repeat the procedure 6 times to preserve the figure.
   

pinch me!

Our service on Sunday's almost seems too good to be true sometimes. It is hard, really hard but comes with such great experiences and rewards.
I missed most of sacrament meeting cleaning the nursery and primary room. For some reason every week it looks like a tornado hit before we get there. My local ward has been collecting toys for the nursery which needs a whole new makeover. So it was fun to bring in the new toys and clean out the old. A few women got together to buy a nice wooden kitchen set, which Jeff will have the YM set up during the week. The kids will be so excited!
One of the highlights in our ward is having the visitors stand and introduce themselves. On man was visiting from Trinidad and asked if he could perform a musical number because he was so touched by our meeting. His song even included actions.

For primary today we took the entire primary (12 kids) to Walter Reed Army Hospital to visit a member of our ward who is a patient there. His story is INCREDIBLE. His wife is young and so AMAZING! The kids sang our primary theme song for the year and we all had tears in our eyes. I took a photo of his wife as we were singing and the look on her face was beautiful. He has been a patient for 9 months. He shared his feelings about Jesus Christ and keeping the commandments. His words were wonderful. Jeff brought a boy from the young men and gave him the sacrament. The children were silent (miracle).
Each child shook his hand as we left and told them their names. We all said that we would love to do this once a month. It is a blessing we are only miles from the hospital and that we only have a small amount of kids. Some days this seems like an obstacle but today it was a blessing. I seriously felt like I needed to be pinched , like I was dreaming, to have this blessing of being able to serve has changed my family.
I just have to put in a little plug for Chanel's efforts to get flag quilt for the soldiers. Thank you to all of you who have sent them to my friend, it has been so meaningful to her and they will be passed out on Veteran's day. You still have time to make one for Christmas.

photo taken last summer.

We were again so very blessed on our way home. Today started our journey of taking two cars downtown as Jeff needs to be there 2 hours early now. So on my way home with the girls, I went home through Potomac to try to catch my friend and marathon motivator, Emily who was home for a day and flying home back to Massachutes. I raced as fast as I could to just see her for a minute. We ended up seeing each other on the road as she was on her way to the airport. I flipped my car around and she ran out of her car and on the side of the road I squeezed the guts out of her while I cried! I owe her so much for motivating me to run this marathon and her believing in me. I saw her for only 30 seconds but it was a highlight of my day. She said she had a gift for me so I ended up going to her parents house to pick it up. There I ran into her entire family who ended up sending me home with an entire Sunday meal - the works. I didn't have any dinner prepared upon our return and it was such a blessing.

I feel that just when I seem like I can't do much more of this service downtown, an awesome Sunday like today refuels me.

Stock Up!

Bath and Body Works is having a sale on their pump soaps. They are only $3.00 each. What I love about this deal is that they will wrap and package each one for you if you want.
I am going to a birthday dinner tonight for three girls and wanted to just bring something - even though it is a no gift party. I bought three pink soaps, used the clear bag they gave me to take home, some of my pink stripped tissue paper from Target and of course lots of ribbon. I love having a reason to use my silhouette round scalloped tags.
This is a great time to stock up and package ones for teachers, piano teachers, the bus driver, the mailman, the crossing guard, your favorite employee at the coffee shop, you visiting teacher the next time she comes to see you - just everyone I know uses soap.
they even have their new holiday soaps out and they could be packaged so cute for the holidays!

I am still on cloud nine.

I have been writing down and finally making a list of all the little things that motivated me to set my goal this year of running a marathon and I decided this morning to go back and read why I picked my word of the year.
I can't believe that as much as I talk about my word of the year, this is the first time I have gone back and read the details of why I picked this word. This is why writing things down is so AWESOME! I had not remembered a few things I wrote down. I can't thank Michelle enough for encouraging me to pick just one little word.

S t r e t c h

My word of the year that I picked for myself is Stretch.

The reason I picked this word for the year is because I feel like there are some things in my life that come really easy to me. I tend to take advantage of these things and settle with them instead of using them as a head start and really push myself and run with them.(amazing that I phrased it like this)
For example there have been many times I have spoken at church or given a lesson where I don't spend much time preparing or may even just stand up with little or no outline. In the end I do just fine, but always feel like if I would have taken those gifts and prepared or really "stretched" myself I would feel better and learned more.
I never stretch out before or after going to the gym. I can barely even touch my toes. I want to stretch myself physically (at the time I was not even thinking of physical goals) this year just as well as mentally
I have Fibromyalgia and always feel like my body is in one big knot anyway and I know stretching would probably help it feel a lot better. I can't stand getting massages but always dream of getting on some stretching board and having 4 people pull me every-which-way.
So, this year I hope to take the talents I have been given and stretch them out a little more and see what they can do.

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

It is amazing how awesome this quote was to go back and read today, because my mind is in such a "what next mode" .