Where are you now?

This morning after my yoga class, I was getting showered and ready for work in the locker room when I heard this song playing for the first time.  I really enjoyed it and wanted to share with you all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4BIJIfe8UA

I love the whole song, but there are parts of it that really just speak to me.

Where are you now?

To my favorite teacher
told me never give up
To my fifth grade crush
Who I thought I really loved
To the guys I've missed and the girls we've kissed
Where are you now

To my ex-best friends
Don't know how we grew apart
To my favorite band
Sing along in my car
To the face I see in my memory
Where are you now

Where are you now?
Cause I'm thinking of you
You showed me how
How to live like I do
If it wasn't for you
I would never be who I am
 
To my first girlfriend
I thought for sure was the one
To my last girlfriend
Sorry that I screwed it up
To the ones I loved
Didn't show it enough
Where are you now

Where are you now
Cause I'm thinking of you
You showed me how
How to live like I do
If it wasn't for you
I would never be who I am

I know we'll never see those days again
And things will never be that way again
But that's just how it goes
People change but I know
I won't forget you
 
To the ones who came
Who we're there from the start
To the love that left
And took a piece of my heart
To the few who'd swear
They'd never go anywhere
Where are you now?

Where are you now?
Cause I'm thinking of you
You showed me how
How to live like I do
If it wasn't for you
I would never be how I am
If it wasn't for you
I would never be who I am
If it wasn't for you
I'd be nothing
Where are you now?

Flip Flops

Monday nights during the winter, my husband takes the boys to swim lessons. 

Here in Ohio, we haven't seen the grass of our yards for weeks, months even. 

This makes the conversation that happened in our mini-van on the way from day care today all the more interesting.

Caden: Can we wear our flip flops to swim tonight?

Mommy: No.

Caden: But Daddy's said we could.

Caleb: No, Daddy said in the summer!

Caden: *whines*

Mommy: Can't you see the snow on the ground??  If you wear your flip flops, your toes will get frostbite, you could get gangrene, and your toes could fall of.  Do you still want to wear your flip flops?

Caleb: Yeah your toes will fall off!

Caden: Oh. 

**I don't normally use scare tactics with my children, but on this yucky, cold, sickly Monday, it worked.

A Simlified Time of the Year

It's a common time of year for people to complain about how dull winter is, and how they dislike this time of year.

I love January, and the next few months until the arrival of Spring.

Why do I love this time of year when so many people dislike it so much?

Life is simpler for us this time of year.  And for me simplicity is something I strive for in our hectic family life.

We've just seen all our family members over the holidays.  We've visited, we've ate, we've drank, we've gave; we've received; and we've spent.  The running to this gathering and this party has nearly stopped; our family has all recently seen us and are content.  Our bank accounts are all a little worse for the wear, and no one is calling and asking to go here, or come to this.  It's just simpler. 

It's a time for us to enjoy our home and our family of four as we snuggle on the couch with movies and popcorn to keep us warm from the frigid cold outside.  We hibernate; we're not rushing around; we're not busy and stressed.  We just enjoying a more simple life this time of year.

And that is priceless.

It give me time to rest, reflect, and re-energize for the chaos that consumes the spring, summer, and into the fall.  

Don't get me wrong; I've always said I don't think I could live somewhere where the seasons didn't change as they do here in Ohio, and I still believe that.  I love each season for it's own merits and what it brings.

So many people are just waiting it out until Spring.  I encourage you to think about what is great about this wintery time of the year and don't left life pass you by.

Who makes hotdogs and people?

Tonight during supper the boys were asking about how things are made.

It started out with the spaghetti we were eating for supper.  The sauce is made of tomatoes, the bread is made from grain.  The milk comes from cows.  The cheese comes from the milk.

Then they branched out to other foods.  They wanted to know about meatloaf and macaroni.  (Some of our favorites.)  On we went talking about our food.

Then they asked what hot dogs were made of.

I paused.

Then I answered with pigs and cows.  They didn't think anything of it.

Then they asked about people.  Who makes people? 

I paused again.

God, I answered.

50 States

Someday I'd like to be able to say I've traveled to all 50 states. 

I only have 16 more to go!

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Running, A Year in Review - 2010

I started working out a year ago on the Wii Fit my husband got me last year for Christmas.  I took a break from working out while we went though our failed pregnancy.  As the healing from our loss began, I needed an outlet, and I started to crave running.  I haven't looked back since!

I started running in March of 2010.

I ran 183 miles this past year.

I ran two 5Ks.  I ran a 2-mile race.  I ran a 10K.

I'm in a cold streak with running right now.  I blame the weather and the darkness for hurting my already weak ambition lately.

My goal is to run a 1/2 marathon.

I'm excited for what 2011 has in store for my health, fitness, and running.

Lotion, lotion

My husband has created his own song.  He sings it to the boys after every bath when they're getting lotion applied.  All three of them sing it now with excitement.  It's a glorious thing to listen to and watch.  It goes something like this:

Lotion, lotion, I've got the lotion!
Put that body into the motion!

Lotion, lotion, Daddy's got the lotion!

Lotion, lotion, I've got the lotion!
Put that body into the motion!
Lotion, lotion, Daddy's got the lotion!

I'd video and post it, but I doubt my husband will allow that!