via roman and williams

Reading this week:

The people at the library know me by name.
I have gone there precisely on Friday afternoons over the past few months.

Yet, can't reminder the last time I have read a fiction book.
I think college contributed to my being drawn to non-fiction, and the feeling that I need to consume more information.
So, I am going to try to read a feel-good-easy fiction read this weekend. Just because!

And also, In re-reading Girl meets God by Lauren Winner on Sunday, I am thinking that 'giving up' reading may be something I should pray in preparation for lent.

notes, cards, and letters

Irish philosopher Peter Rollins taught at Mars on Sunday. I need to listen to his sermons 2+ times to even get my head around half of what was said.

But something little, did stand out to me:
"In a sense, love letters are written for the people who write them"

I think that this is so true.
If you know me, you know that I really enjoy making little notes, cards and writing letters.

There is probably much truth in that maybe I do it because I need to be reminded of the love and things that I write to others just as much as I feel the need to speak these truths to them.

What God and I have been doing in the Middle of the Night

I am grateful for my new job.
But it is difficult. Very Difficult......the weakest parts of me are being attacked every afternoon with this group of teenage boys.
I know that this is a transition, an adjustment, and that I am where I need to be, learning what I need to at this specific time.
But still, it is H-A-R-D.

I have awoke at 4 am many nights in a row (seriously) thinking about these young kids- my clients.
I feel worry and anxiety for them.
I wonder if I have said or have not said the right things.
I wonder if I am 'relating' too little or too much.

And so I pray for them, and I ask for grace and strength for me..And I breathe in God and out each worry that pops in my head.

Eventually, I fall back to sleep....55 minutes before the alarm goes off.

Back in the Saddle again...

I'm excited today. You wanna know why?
I just started up a new gym membership (using a groupon of course...I may have a problem).
I am sooo ready...
24 hr access, classes (I wanna try body pump, Pilate's and spinning), and a SAUNA.
Yay!
Besides a little bit of yoga, I haven't ran at all since before my un-planned emergency surgery. So...it...is....time.
I am starting to train for the RiverBank Run 25k.
I have also decided to run the race supported Alpha Women's Center (more on that later).
I have also also been taking my calcium/vit D supplements regularly for the last 2 weeks.
I'm ready for some change, some movement and some strength!

Meet my new BF

This past weekend I had a lot of fun puppy sitting my mom's new canine boy: Bentley.
He is a 5lb black furball. Our weekend consisted of walking through the snow, eating snow, watching cable television, going outside every 30 minutes, and lots and lots of playing with his many toys. P.S. he kinda looks like that furry creature from star wars, you think?

Sorry Bentley-- this picture doesn't exactly due your cuteness justice

On Saturday night, I did sneak away for a few hours to join a few friends at Bar Diviani. None of us had ever been to this little restaurant so it was fun---It's a very eccentric place. You walk through big drapes when you enter. We had the brushetta and spinach artichoke dip for appetizers. Our server was actually a guy who had graduated a year ahead of us in high school, so that was a little fun too.

Have a Happy Day!

The sun is out! The snow is melting away, and its Valentine's Day!
I baked ginger spice cupcakes this morning, and made some paper valentines too!

Are you doing anything special today? After work I am going to deliver my cupcakes and valentines.

Here is my wish for you today:

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how WIDE and LONG and HIGH and DEEP is the love of Christ. Ephes. 3:17-18

Reading

Valentines

From DesignSponge

Now....these are my kind of Valentines! I plan on picking up some loose leaf at Global Infusion and putting together a few of these sachets.....yum and fun!

up to....

Today I took MyLeah (Jen's baby girl) to lap time at the beautiful EGR library. So pretty...it looks over Reeds lake, so we watched the snow fall and the ice fisherman. I blended in with the EGR 'nannies' in the caregiver population. It was fun.....though, I think MyLeah liked checking out all the other kids more than listening to the stories and songs. She's a cutie! Even though she is 17 mos and can say quite a few words---she still uses her signs (adorable)!

For lunch, I drove over to my mom's and played with the little puppy for a while.
Then, I had a graduate school interview....I don't know what to do yet...such big decisions...and confusing certification and licensing mumble jumble.

Now, I am at Panera awaiting my high school friend Teresa.

Later I will put together my curriculum for my last Thursday afternoon working at the Muskegon IOP Office. I am much looking forward to the switch to the Holland Office, but I will miss these kids even though they are a handful <---understatement

Commercial

Did you see this commercial during the superbowl?

hmmm....I like it. Home-State pride :)

Founders

fOn Saturday night, Elizabeth, Stephanie and I went down to Founders.
It was a lot of fun. Stephanie noted the eclectic mix of people. So true, pretty much everyone can fit in and enjoy themselves at founders. There was live music, but we were tired before the second band even began to play, so we went home...I was in bed by 11pm. A good night!

The trio on New Years Eve.

mud

This past week was a messy one.

I forgot things, lost things, locked myself out of house and car, became stuck in snow, broke my garage door and overall 'dropped the ball' on numerous things.

I have felt like all week I've been walking around with muddy shoes, bringing dirt and grime with me wherever I've gone.

Thank God for the people who've helped calm me down, dig me out, and lift me up in prayer.

Whew....Joy comes in the morning!



The Princess' Things

Tonight I am going to see the Princess Diana Exhibit at the Gram. And guess what? My momma won tickets from a radio station! So excited, we were originally supposed to go on my birthday, but the tckts have been selling out like crazy.

For the most part, Princess Diana's era was before my time of being aware of such things. However, I clearly remember watching her funeral with my extended family while staying at a cottage in Traverse City (which, side note...was one of Al Capone's holiday hideout homes...included trap doors and all).

Anyway, I can't wait to see Di's royal wedding gown!

Going to the Salon



http://hipparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/vintage-hair.jpg

 Today I am going to The Douglas J Aveda Institute in downtown GR. This will be my third visit to Douglas J and I'm using a groupon :) I enjoy the environment, prices eco products, scalp massage and the complimentary tea that they serve!

I'm trying to decide if I want to do a 'real' haircut...something different than I've had for the last um....20 or so years of my life.
Its a hard decision for me, because I'm a really simple girl with two hairstyles: just plain and down or in a ponytail.
I hardly ever use a hair dryer and I'm really not that skilled at styling even my own hair.
I'm scared to go too different, yet change is good, right? It might be a decent time for something new with a new job and all....but I just don't know.
Being a girl....having to make hair decisions sometimes feels pretty silly.
What do you think?

Wallpaper

Are you a wallpaper person, or no?

I'm apprehensive when it comes to the product because in the early 90s my mom decked out our ENTIRE house in wallpaper. A decade later when we were ready for some interior updates....we learned the big downside of this decorative practice. We spent days with our spray bottles of water/fabric softener and little scrapers slowly removing the stuff.
So, I'm still in a wallpaper-recovery phase I guess.
However, I thought this use of paper spotted on http://www.re-nest.com/ was really unique. I like it. It definitely takes some guts to pull it off!

Oooh, and there are hydrangeas on the counter...my fav!