Tip for the Day

Stephanie's tip for the day, and let me tell you, this one is profound......

DO NOT TRUST A FIVE YEAR OLD TO EVENLY APPLY SUNSCREEN TO YOUR BACK.......

Beneath both shoulder blades - ouch! Oh well. I've enjoyed the beautiful sunshine nonetheless!

A Couple of Questions LXXI

These were inspired by Michele - let's see if I can get the phrasing right.

1. What's one thing (adventure) you did before you were married, that you wouldn't have been able to do if you were "tied down" (perhaps something exciting in college)?

2. What's one thing you did after you were married, but before having kids that you wouldn't be able to do with kids in your life?

Hope that's not too vague - it sounded better when Michele said it. Hope you all are enjoying the amazing start to summer with these 80 degree temps.......

More Sunriver Scenes

For posterity sake- here's some more pics to commemorate the great times we've been having this weekend-
Along the bike ride, two couples were taking pictures of their brand new 6 week old puppies. Of course, animal-super-lover Nati could NOT resist loving on them.
I'll admit, I'm not a big fan of initiating "group games" - but almost always, once I'm involved, I have a lot of fun. So was the case when we all partook in a family game of baseball
Here are our guys - we're so lucky.......
Notice, in this occassion, I'm not partaking in the game-playing.....
After playing with the puppies, our bike ride eventually led us to the stable where the girls had fun tempting the horses with grass just beyond their reach
This picture caught Brayden just after he connected with the ball - run Brayden, run!
It was a bit colder today, so this was Ellie crawling into Michele's sweatshirt
More food pics - this is a knock-off of a fantastic drink I had at Red Robin the other night- drinking these, on the patio, at sunset - what a great time.
Here's a picture of the Dutch Babies I made this morning - topping options included pie cherries, raspberry sauce (both with whip cream) or lemon juice and powdered sugar - yummy!

Scenes from Sunriver

I just can't tell you how great the day has been. In the last couple of years there have been situations and reasons why things have been a bit less than ideal. This year, everyone here seems to all be in a sort of "cloud 9" state - the kids have been playing tremendously together (and staying out of our hair), it's just been GREAT- here's some pics of day one of our get-away-
all 18 of us set off on mountain bikes, cruiser bikes, tag-a-long bikes, bike seats, or bike trailers. I discovered something amazing - a "cruiser bike" keeps my head and neck in perfect posture and has the potential to revolutionize my enthusiasm for bike-riding. In the past couple of years, bike riding has been something I've enjoyed, but knew I would pay a hefty price for (in terms of headache due to posture)- thanks to the bikes here at the house, I think that might all change....
The back-seat driver on my bike
Some of the adults of the group hanging in the kitchen
all 10 kids eating lunch prior to our bike ride
The youngest three are quite a trio- Ellie and Jackson have a "thing" for each other, and Adam is constantly bringing smiles to our faces, Michele snapped a great shot of them all happy at the hot tub
John did an excellent job grilling this huge platter of marinated tri-tip -
This is a very happy sight for me - perhaps one of my favorite meals of all time - tri-tip, baked beans, bbq chips, corn on the cob, raspberry pretzel salad, topped off with marionberry cobbler for dessert......

A Couple of Questions LXX

"Lost" is currently being paused while John is gabbing with Travis. Additionally, Dennis and kids just arrived to drop off the utility trailer for us to start loading up for the trip. So, while the "boys" tend to their chores, I'll offer up a few questions......

1. What are your Memorial Day weekend plans?

2. As the sun has come out and golden tans are being sought out, do you have any stories of the worst sunburn experience you've ever had? If you never have never had a sunburn - congratualtions and feel free to share any story you want.......

Love Is in the Air

For the past three years we have taken a group trip to Sunriver for Memorial Day weekend. This year is no exception. Part of the fun of preparation for me is realizing that the week prior to going is the last week for tv finales. So, I have had fun memories of packing clothes and food and baking cookies while watching season enders. Last night I watched "Heroes" in the bonus room (I sure hope Parker doesn't die....) and then John and I watched the finale to "Bachelor".

Yes, I know that show has a terrible track record. Sometimes, it can be just plain awful. But, I have to say, this season has been pretty good. Andy Baldwin, from my perspective, has been a very above-board, honorable guy - and very serious about choosing his "soulmate". From the start, I've rooted for a gal named Tessa, partly because I've liked her and related to her trepidation about the whole process and partly because she very much reminds me of a very classy friend of mine. It came down to two woman I think he legitmately believed he loved. Poor Bevin is going to need some serious counseling because he did end up sending her home and asking Tessa to marry him. I know, I know - will it last? Well, I'm rooting for this couple, because love doesn't follow a rule-book, every relationship and "story" is different - and well, I'm just rooting for them. Needless to say, it was very ROMANTIC.

Ironically, watching this show came on the very same day that I heard some news about another friend of mine. Very good news, incredible news - news we've been praying for for a couple of years. Let's just say it relates to the the title of the post - and hearing about it literally brought tears to my eyes (Michele's too, I might add), chills down my neck, and praises to God. We've been praying and believing that such a "story" would happen for this friend, but to see it actually unfold (or at least hear about it) - oh, it's just amazing. I'm SO HAPPY for her.

So, 'tis the season for love - and for me, more packing and tv finales too.

The Struggle of the Butterfly

This is the second time I've received this in an email - but the message has stuck with me (particularly with my kids) so I thought I'd pass it on to you.......

The Struggle of the Butterfly

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared and he sat and watched the butterfly as it struggled for several hours to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any
progress. It appeared it had gotten as far as it could. The man decided to
help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the
remaining bit of cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and small,
shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he
expected that at any moment, the wings would expand and be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent its whole life crawling
around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It was never able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the
restricting cocoon and the struggle required to get through the tiny opening
were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its
wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved freedom.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us
to go through life without obstacles, it would cripple us! We would not be
as strong as we could have been.

And . . . We would never fly!

Take a Deep Breath, "Mom"

That title is directed at me - yesterday was a bit of an "emotional mommy day" for me - I think one look at the pictures and you'll see why-

Yesterday was Mikayla's dance studio's "Spring Recital". So, we put her together to look eerily like a much-publicized child model that met a dire ending- (the costume was pre-chosen for us) and sent her on her way to the "green room", only to see her again when she appeared on stage. She did great. Fortunately, the 3 year old class went before her 4 year old class (age determined when she entered last fall), and compared to those sweet little things, Mikayla's class looked like pro's. Mikayla plastered a sweet smile on her face the whole time, avoided waving at us, and remembered most of her steps. Yeah. During the Act 1 Finale in which the younger kids came back to play an "act like an animal" game, Mikayla clearly had a blast. There's nothing better to see a child so happy- I was so delighted to have Mom and Dad, Stephie, Amy and Christina, and Erica there (Lisa sweetly forfeited her ticket so Dad could unexpectedly came). Quite fun.

Now, on to the part that caused the deep emotions. When I woke up yesterday morning, it was earlier than it was supposed to be as I had woke myself from a nightmare. In the bad dream, there was a big group of us at the coast and the kids were playing in the waves. I saw a large wave come up - yelled out, but all of the kids got swept under. When the wave receded, everyone was recovered except Mikayla. I'm telling you, even typing this has me teary-eyed - it was AWFUL! Throw in a larger than normal fear of ocean surf and drowning*, and yes it was one of the worst nightmares I've had in a long time. I did kind of let it go through the day though - UNTIL- they brought out the first Senior Tribute Dance. A gal that had been dancing with the studio for 12 years and did a BEAUTIFUL ballet piece. She danced to Josh Grobin's "You Raise Me Up" and behind her they had pictures projected of her growing up, including one of her being baptized in a river. Tears streaming down my face.....can you imagine the pride her parents must have? It was so moving. Then, after that performance I stupidly tried to tell my mom about my dream, completely lost it, and cried through the next senior performance. Good Grief! I had to work during intermission selling cookies and such and knew I better get my act together before I came out looking like I had been at a funeral. I'm not even PMS - I think the whole thing just hit me about how deeply I love my children, how proud I am of them, the bright future I see for their lives, and what an amazing ride it will be --- but, oh how hard.

This evening, we have the 2nd and final recital. We'll see if I do any better this time, but just in case, I'll pack plenty of Kleenex.

Here are a few pics of our little star:
This is a pic of Mikayla from the back. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but for a "stay at home mom" I think I did a fairly decent job on her hair - what do you think, Hollie?
Looking reflective.....
Like I said, the costumes weren't our choosing, but they turned out actually better than I thought. Put her in a group with 6 other little yellow angels and it's pretty adorable.

* Regarding that fear- growing up, when we'd play in the waves, Michele ALWAYS went out further than I did. It upset me a lot as a child and I remember yelling and begging her to come closer to the shore. So, what do you know, but perhaps 8 years or so ago, she and some friends went for a trip to the beach and got swept out with the current and barely lived to tell about it. Certainly, her biggest "Near Death Experience" story as the 3 of them worked and worked to keep their heads above water and try to swim back. Also, just this last week, I read about the dangers of sneaker waves in the paper - throw it all together and mix in my concern for losing Leona's John and Mikayla's recital- yeah, I can see why the dream happened.

Another Update on John

Just to let you know, things are looking SO MUCH BETTER for John. The doctors are thinking that, due to a lack of enough water, he had complications with his liver and kidneys. All of the medical details are still a bit fuzzy, but he is coherent, off all of the breathing and assistance tubes and seems to be well on the road to recovery. I'd call it a miracle.

Leona told us last night that she "felt all of our prayers" - so, thank you, thank you, thank you. What a blessing it is to have people to turn to and know that our petitions are being shared with the Lord. God Bless you all.........

"Leona's John" Update

Thank you for all of your prayers. Leona called tonight and left a message saying John is off the main oxygen tubes and is speaking a bit and more coherent. Hallelujiah! We will keep you posted as we find out more, but this is definitely good news.

Urgent Prayer Request

I just came home to find out that John's mom, Leona - her "John", the "love of her life" is now in critical condition at the hospital. He had had some problems that we knew about last weekend, but obviously things have gotten much worse and the doctors do not know what is going on. Please pray that he would have a remarkable full recovery, that they would all see a miracle occur with his health. And, Leona - we love you so much- I even had a dream of praying with you about him (a couple of nights ago). Thank you for everyone's prayers for both of them and his family.

A Couple of Questions LXIX

In light of yesterday's post and the "I can relate" comments - I think some of us are definitely feeling the effects of getting older- So,

1. What is something that you (or your body) can no longer do that you used to be able to do when you were younger?

2. On the positive, what is something you can do now that you weren't able to do when you were younger?

Why I'm Tired of Stuffing My Bra with Socks and Choosing Cosmetic Surgery

I couldn't resist.....

This really isn't much of a post, but I thought I could come up with such a fine title, it would be worth it......

On Thursday, I'm having some moles removed (for no other reason than inconvenience)- They've been with me all my life and have always caused me to be very careful when shaving my armpits. However, I think I've had a new skin tag come on to the scene, and because of working out more, it's come to my attention that it rubs right against my underwire on certain bras - PAINFUL! In an attempt to protect it, I put a band-aid on it, and now I'm suffering more from the adhesive burns than the actual skin tag. As a result, I used a sock in the side of my bra to protect the area- hence the title.

So, no, I've been endowed with plenty - no need to supplement- certainly a "gravity lift" would be great, but that's not the point......

Mother's Day 2007

Good Morning! I hope all you moms out there are "feeling the love" this morning, and at the very least, were blessed with a really great cup of coffee (or, in my case) Russian Tea.

Here's a pic of how I spent my morning shortly after waking up - we're in Mikayla's room, FYI - my room obviously doesn't look like that -
I was blessed with a Plug and Play, Disney Dance Dance Revolution game. It is what I asked for, but I'm a little disappointed it only comes in "Plug and Play" format vs. PS2, so I can't use it with the 2 dance mats we already have and do it side by side. I'll add in my comments if I think the $19 cost is worth it to purchase for other families. I also scored a jacket John found on clearance that fits PERFECT, and future luxury time at Bello Spa....... OH YEAHHHHHH!
However, this was one of my favorite presents, a card Brayden made in school. I love it so much because it shows he really does know what makes me tick - sometimes I feel like I'm not getting through.......but, he knows - particularly that I love him and think he is very special - what could be a better gift from your child..........

Mothers' Day Tribute Story

Michele recieved an email with this story and forwarded it to me - apparently it was contributed to the "Ellen Degeneres Show" for a contest they had - pretty adorable. HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY EVERYONE!

This is a submission to a contest from a viewer of The Ellen Show:

So, we had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just recently died.
Jack was a great cat and the kids would carry him around and sit on him
and nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long
on this mat in our bathroom.

Well, we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years
old, 3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really
loves chapstick. LOVES IT. He kept asking to use my chapstick and then
losing it. So finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep
my chapstick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed
to put it right back in the drawer when he was done.

Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and
try to get ready for Church with everyone crying and carrying on. My
two boys are fighting over the toy in the cereal box. I am trying to
nurse my little one at the same time I am putting on my make-up.
Everything is a mess and everyone has long forgotten that this is a
wonderful day to honor me and the amazing job that is motherhood.

We finally have the older one and the baby loaded in the car and I am
looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally round the
corner to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was applying my
chapstick very carefully to Jack's . . . rear end. Eli looked right
into my eyes and said "chapped." Now if you have a cat, you know that
he is right--their little butts do look pretty chapped. And, frankly,
Jack didn't seem to mind.

And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was
the FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth?

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds us
that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little
creatures, there will always be that day when you realize they've been
using your chapstick on the cat's butt.

A Couple of Questions LXVIII

And the theme for this week- MOTHERS.... can't imagine why-

On a quick funny note, I was amidst the gals yesterday doing some yard work when the topic of me going to bed early the night before came up - I had been worked on by my mom and since it had been a long time since she'd done her massage therapy on me, it had loosened up some "locked in" places, and caused a doozy of a headache Tuesday night. As expected, I awoke on Wednesday feeling great, sometimes that just happens. However, one of the gals doesn't know me very well, or my mom so this is what she heard-

"Yeah, Nancy, I often get a headache so bad I have to go to bed after seeing my mom"

Shannon, (the newer gal) looked at me, looked at them and laughed, thinking my relationship with my mom must be horrendous to cause such side-effects. I quickly clarified, but it really amused me, as my relationship with my mom is quite the opposite.......

OK, on to questions:

1. What are your Mother's Day plans?

2. Do you recall a favorite Mother's Day - or gift - either given or received?

Have a great rest of the week everyone!

Life These Days.....

I figure it's time to post again but I really haven't had anything profound to write about, so I guess I'll just address the mundanes of my life- Here's a sampling of what consists of my life these days......

- nighttime protein smoothies with orange juice, strawberries, vanilla protein powder and sugar free vanilla syrup - not too bad, actually
- soccer games for Brayden with such GREAT kids - I can't tell you how awesome it is to see how they respond when someone gets injured - they all take a knee in reverence - really cool. I consider his class so sweet, supportive, and innocent, but I don't think they've lost one game yet. Somewhere over the last couple of years this team has gotten just awesome, and Brayden's doing his part too. Quite inspiring.
- daily dates with the cardio room at ESTC - rotating between the EFX, Elliptical Machine with bars, and the treadmill
- a house that I just can't seem to get a handle on, perhaps because, lately, I've spent very little time in it
- kids restless with summer fever, particularly with the temps as warm as they've been (Praise God)
- a Tuesday Bible Study that's been the best group I've been a part of in years..... yesterday discussing "submission" - now there's a heavy topic
- finally getting to see my mom again after her adventures in Portugal - and trying to convince her to speak about her experiences to Brayden's class (his teacher asked), but her being a little concerned about it (yes, Mom, the kids will love you, they'll think you're beautiful, funny, and full of adventure......)
- preparing mentally for Mother's Day with 5 kids. Thanks Schillings, I can't wait..... actually, it will be fun, but something tells me I'll be doing just a little work and effort on the day Moms are supposed to have the day off.....

So, there you go - interesting stuff, eh? Today, I'm going to help weed lawns for a family that are strangers to me, but friends of one of my friends - the dad just found out he has stage 4 brain cancer - that tends to put all of this mundane-ness right into perspective, I'd say.......which is why I thank God for it all-

Sahalie and Koosah Falls

We made it! Hiking is a passion of mine - has been for a very long time, but as of the last half-decade, it's been largely ignored. When Brayden still fit in a backpack, Michele and I took the two boys out and have quite a few pictures of fun adventrures to show for it. But, since then, it's been a difficult thing to do with small kids. They don't have the stamina to walk that far, and we don't have the stamina to carry them when they quit.

But, lately, I've noticed my kids stepping it up when it comes to exercise and I was guessing that they might finally be at the age to actually make it on a hike. My guess was right. We did a one and a half mile loop, with a little bit of change of elevation, and they did FANTASTIC - both of them! John and I kept expressing how proud we were of them.

A few quotes that made my day:

BRAYDEN & MIKAYLA: Upon seeing the Sahalie Falls, both of them were wide-eyed and said, WOAH!!!!
BRAYDEN: I love hiking, I think this is probably my favorite subject on weekends!
BRAYDEN: Daddy, hiking is my favorite sport.
MIKAYLA: Praying to God that He would help her get up the final steps....

On to some pictures:
The "fam" in front of Sahalie Falls
The Whites
Stephie and Mikayla started out as early hiking buddies
I know this picture doesn't do it justice, but one of the things I love the most about this hike is the aquamarine waters, just breathtaking-
John, Brayden, and Syd on the bridge that crosses the river
At the Carmen-Smith Reservoir we took a little pitstop and the dogs started wading in the creek. That led us to testing Syd in the reservoir with a stick, and what do you know, she "retrieved" - GOOD DOG!
Koosah Falls - The hike is a one and a half mile loop that starts with Sahalie Falls, heads upstream, crosses the McKenzie, goes downstream to Carmen-Smith Reservoir, then goes upstream again to Koosah Falls, followed quickly by Sahalie Falls again.

A Time for All Things

For five days (Monday through Friday), I:

- cardio exercised for at least 30 minutes a day
- did some sort of weight training each day
- spent time "hurting" on my ab lounge
- ate in a manner I'm unaccustomed to, virtually eliminating carb-snacking in the evening hours
- lost 4 pounds

On the sixth day, Saturday, I:

- did not exercise
- went to see "Spiderman 3" in the movie theater
- ate (by myself) a large bag of popcorn with "light butter"
- and, about a dozen Brach's Strawberry bon-bon candies
- and, a half a LARGE box of Good and Plenties
- and, a handful of tootsie rolls (all while watching the movie)
- gained a pound

Was it worth it? Oh, ABSOULTELY YES! There is a "time for all things" - and this is what I call finding balance in life!

Today, -hopefully- off to hike around Sahalie Falls with the family (including Sydney) - I'm hoping for some great pictures to post......

A Couple of Questions LXVII

Hope it's been a good week for everybody- WILD weather around here - I'm looking forward to the forecasted 70's set for this weekend.

I wasn't in the mood for anything deep, so here goes:

1. What are some endings you would like to see occur in the season finales of your favorite shows (reality or otherwise)?

2. There's lots of talk about the domestic chores we all really dislike, but how about something (besides raising kids) that goes with your job description of "domestic manager" that you like?

A Couple of Questions LXVII

Hope it's been a good week for everybody- WILD weather around here - I'm looking forward to the forecased 70's set for this weekend.

I wasn't in the mood for anything deep, so here goes:

1. What are some endings you would like to see occur in the season finales of your favorite shows (reality or otherwise)?

2. There's lots of talk about the domestic chores we all really dislike, but how about something (besides raising kids) that goes with your job description of "domestic manager" that you like?

Too Good to Pass Up

That was the phrase Stephietoo used when she emailed this "story" to me - I laughed out loud - hope you do too!


A blonde finds herself in serious trouble. Her business has gone bust and
she's in dire financial straits. She's so desperate that she decides to ask
God for help.

She begins to pray... "God, please help me. I've lost my business and if I
don't get some money, I'm going to lose my house as well. Please let me win the lottery."

Lottery night comes, and somebody else wins.

She again prays... "God, please let me win the lottery! I've lost my
business, my house and I'm going to lose my car as well."

Lottery night comes and she still has no luck.

Once again, she prays... "My God, why have you forsaken me? I've lost my
business, my house, and my car. My children are starving.

I don't often ask You for help, and I've always been a good servant to You.

PLEASE let me win the lottery just this one time so I can get my life back
in order."

Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light as the heavens open. The blonde
is overwhelmed by the Voice of God, Himself....


"Sweetheart, work with Me on this.... Buy a ticket."

Gettin' To Know Ya' from Literarygirl

This is from Literarygirl's website - so, I thought I'd have fun with it on my blog too....feel free to take it to your own blog or comment......


Are your parents married or divorced?
Married for 40 years.

Do you believe in heaven?
Yes, and I don't think there's any way we can possibly fathom how amazing it will be.

Have you ever come close to dying?
Yes, when I was 18 months I needed an emergency tracheotomy to keep me breathing.

What jewelry do you wear 24/7?
My wedding ring, and if I'm beyond sweats, some sort of matching necklace from usually Target or one that Jodi made.

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
No, I would have to eat broccoli at all to do that.

Do you wear makeup?
Yes, every day.

Would you ever have plastic surgery?
Not unless it could be done without anasthesia, wouldn't take a risk on behalf of my family for that.

What do you wear to bed?
Totally depends, sometimes cozy flannel jammies, sometimes t-shirt and capri jammies.

Have you ever done anything illegal?
Yes, I allowed my best friend to drive without a driver's license and we got caught, I then denied knowing it to the police officer.

Can you roll your tongue?
Yes.

Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?
Husband.

Do you believe in abortions?
No.

What is your hair color?
Auburn reddish, with more and more white creeping in.

Future child’s name, boy and girl?
All done!

Do you smoke?
NO.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
Discovery Cove, FL with my family.

Do you sleep with stuffed animals?
No, they go to the floor when we get in bed.

If you won the lottery, what would you do first?
Pray a lot.

Gold or Silver?
It's a toss-up.

Hamburger or hot dog?
A really good cheeseburger.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I couldn't limit it to one - KFC bbq wings, my baked beans (Lisa's recipe), raspberry pretzel salad - Combine those and oh, I am so happy......

City, beach or country?
City home, mountain vacation home.

What was the last thing you touched?
Other than this computer, my new "ab lounge".

When’s the last time you cried?
Teary eyed listening to Dave Mertz lead worship at church.

What color are your pants?
Black work-out sweats

Ever been involved with the police?
Outside of being pulled over for speeding and above-mentioned infraction, no.

What’s your favorite shampoo/conditioner and soap?
I had to go check....Herbal Essences "Hello Hydration" - for the moment, I change often

Do you talk in your sleep?
Snore, yes, talk, no.

Ocean or pool?
Pool.

What’s your favorite song at the moment?
I go through favorite songs fast - but, there is a song you need to be on the look-out for from Steven Curtis Chapman - yet to be released, but titled something like, "Dance with Cinderella" about never missing an opportunity for a dad to dance with his daughter as she grows up.

Have you ever had a cavity?
Yes.

Window seat or aisle seats?
Aisle.

Ever met anyone famous?
Yes, if you count Mark Schultz.

Do you feel that you’ve had a truly successful life?
Absolutely yes.

Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
Cut.

Are you self-conscious?
Sometimes, but so much less than I used to be.

Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
Yes, but I wasn't the primary reason for the ambulance (transit from a car accident).

Last gift you received?
A drawing of a tiger from my son (today).

What occasion did you receive your gift?
"Because you are such a good mom"

Last thing you spent lots of money on?
The basketball hoop out front and the ab lounge.

Where do you live?
In the city, in the valley.

Last wedding attended?
One of my best childhood friend's.

Favorite restaurant?
Hula Grill in Maui.

What is your favorite kind of car?
I soooooo don't care about kinds of cars - whatever's red and semi-cute and practical.

What’s your least favourite chore(s)?
Daily re-cleaning up what was just cleaned (loved the stringing beads analogy from Jodi).

Favorite drink?
Russian Tea.

Life Goal

John and I listened to a lot of music this weekend, and upon doing so, listened "carefully" to a few songs we'd never really bothered to before. One of those songs was from Mark Schultz (surprise, surprise) - and titled, "Until I See You Again". We decided the song was written as if Jesus was speaking to us, and it really is very moving. My favorite part is the chorus - if I just lived like that on a regular basis...........

UNTIL I SEE YOU AGAIN
Lyrics:
Oh child, precious one
Let your life shine like the sun
But you say “How long ‘til I can come home
‘Til I can rest in your arms again”
And I say “Not long but don’t miss this life and I’ll be
Waiting ‘til then”

(Chorus)
Live with the wonder of a child
Pray with your arms thrown open wide
Love with a love that has no end
Until I see you again

Oh child, precious one
With each breath know you are loved
But you say “How long ‘til I can come home
‘Til I can rest in your arms again”
And I say “Not long but don’t miss this life and I’ll be
Waiting ‘til then”

(Chorus)

(Repeat Chorus)

(Repeat Chorus)

Mark Schultz / © 2006 Crazy Romaine Music (ASCAP) (Adm. by The Loving Company)