Do You Remember When ...?

• You wore your hair in a short-poodle permed bob? (My sisters and I are all rockin' it!)


• You would re-do your hair if it didn't turn out just right? I literally would stick my head under the tub's faucet, re-wet, and re-style. Now I just go with my bad hair days.
  
• You could kiss your future hubby for hours? Seriously. I still marvel on the hours we wasted, ummmm, I meant spent just smooching. Now if he leans over to kiss me at night I ask, "what are you after?" ;)
  
• You wore a turquoise green turtle neck dress with a purple scarf tied at your waist? Love my outfit don't ya? I like my oldest sister's pink, roman numeral sweater even better! HA!

What did you used to do that now seems ridiculous & laughable?

I'm all blogged out ...

I don't know if it's because winter won't let go of her icy grip here in Michigan, or my everyday routine has provided few blog-worthy moments, or I'm just truly all blogged out. With this in mind, I'll just give you a few highlights from my last week.

• Hosted book club and realized we talked more about our sex lives than the book.
• Weighed in and realized I've lost 9 lbs. in a month. FYI: Diet and exercise combined do work --- darn it, now I've got to keep it up!
• Joined a gym. (See above to know why.) :)
• Played nurse to all three of my kids who thought they'd keep things interesting by each having a different virus. (double ear-infection, the flu, and a cold with a fever.)

That's it. Happy weekend, happy spring ... and all that crap. ;)

Happy Birthday Zachary Eli

Every child is a miracle.

This child's birth and life just reminds us all of that fact.

Happy Birthday Zach. We love you!

Few Questions for Ya

1. Why do my kids have to wear green on St. Patrick's Day when we're Dutch?
2. Why does the Pope have to issue a statement about when Catholics should party? (Since St. Patty's is during Holy Week this year, he recommends that if you must party, you should have already celebrated last Saturday.)
3. What's a girl have to do to get a pap smear? (After scheduling my "yearly" three times and having my appt. cancelled after I waited for an hour in the waiting room yesterday, I've decided it's time to stop seeing a high risk specialist doc just for my routine exam!)

Wanted Woman

Alright, alright. Enough already ladies. I will play along with your tags! My blogger buddies Dana & Amy have both tagged me. One was to write seven unusual or interesting things about myself ---hmmmm ---- I've done this one before. So, I'm choosing the tag to write the 4 things. Hope that's o.k. Fabes! :)

1. Four Jobs I have had in my life:
Big Boy Waitress
Cashier at a Mission Thrift Store
Camp Director
Varsity Volleyball Coach

2. Four Movies I could have or have watched over and over (I'm not exactly proud of this list, but it's truthful):
Sixteen Candles
Serendipity
Never Been Kissed
Karate Kid (#1)

3. Four Places I have lived:
Mt. Pleasant, MI
Traverse City, MI
Big Rapids, MI
Olympia, WA

4. Four t.v. shows that I watch:
American Idol
Pushing Daisies
Friday Night Lights
The Office

5. Four places I have visited:
Bahamas
Santa Fe, NM
Scottsdale, AZ
Moscow, Russia

6. Four people who email me regularly:
Patti
Jeannine
Stephanie
Julie

7. Four of my favorite foods:
Guacamole
Sour gummy bears
Almonds
Flank steak

8. Four places I would like to be right now:
Now that spring has sprung, I'm good!

9. Four things I'm looking forward to this year:
Watching Paige sing two solos at church and school
Joining a gym and toning this bod
Going camping for two weeks in July
Discerning God's voice in my everyday life

10. Four people who should post four things:
Patti
Julie
Brenda
Bradi

That's a whole lot of Jelly Bellys

Seen at Meijers yesterday (all you folks that no longer live in the midwest can now do a collective sigh and say Meijers in an affectionate and longing tone of voice.)

Subject? Young boy, 6-7 years old, weighing a bag full of Jelly Bellys with no mom or dad in sight.

Weight? 4 lbs.

Price per pound? $7.00

Total? 28 bucks. (In case you're slow at math, I multiplied it for you.)

Boy, would I have loved to see that mom's reaction. :)

Wife of the Year?

Jeff is on the far left. Man in orange.

Hubby just returned from a 4 day vacation in Park City, Utah to celebrate one of his old college buddy's bachelor weekend. This is how the conversation went a few months ago when he called from work:

Husband: What would you think if I went to Park City for Nick's bachelor weekend?

Wife: Sounds like fun. You should go.

Husband: WHAT? Who are you? I love you.

Wife: Yeah babe, I know.

DUDE

This post is dedicated to my lovable almost four year old son.

How I truly know that I'm not 4 but 34. Wait, darn it. I'm 35!

1. I no longer jump in puddles in my good shoes. Dude, get out of the puddles when you're wearing Merrells.


2. I no longer stuff my face with so much food that I literally can't swallow. Dude, puking chicken pot pie is so not cool.
   
3. I no longer announce in public when I've just farted. While talking with a teacher at school yesterday, Zach kept interrupting me to tell me that he just "fawted". Nice. Dude, milk this one for as long as you can ...

Here's the Thing

Sometimes Christians are some of the most unhappy people I've ever met. They carry around with them the prayer requests of so many people and are burdened with the heaviness of living a life filled with brokenness and all the evidence of sin in the world. I sometimes fear that unless we are facing difficult circumstances, wrestling with a problem, or have a friend with _______ (fill in the blank) we don't think we are truly living the "Christian life".

Well, this is what I think. The Christian life is one of JOY. It is a life that recognizes our blessings and thanks God for them. It is spreading our joy to others and not letting the details of this broken, sinful world stomp on our spirits. It's about laughing with your kids, singing at the top of your lungs in the house, being silly with your husband (define silly however you choose), and just having plain ole' fun. I used to think that I approached life a little too simplistically and that I should "think deeper" and wrestle with more worldly injustices and personal character flaws. Maybe I will later. Right now, I'm having too much fun.

Walk for Babies

Zach then ...

I promise this will be the only post that I ever ask for money ... maybe! :) We are once again walking for the March of Dimes to sponsor their fight against premature births. This is our 5th (and final) year walking and we would love to go out with a bang. If you would like to sponsor us please go to our sponsor page. Thanks friends!

Zach now ...