[merry christmas]

[what am I thinking]

I made a decision last week to start running.  While I was home for 5 days sick I had plenty of time to blog hop.  I don't know no how I came to find this site but it inspired me.  I am using a program called Couch to 5K.  I hadn't heard of it but it sounded like something I could do.  You run/walk for 30 minutes 3 times a week for 9 weeks.  By week 9 you are running a 5K.  So last Saturday I went to the store and bought my first pair ever of running shoes.  On Sunday my dear husband and I ventured out to the local high school track and pushed our way through 30 minutes of pain.  I still can't believe I made it and who starts exercising the week of Thanksgiving anyway??  Tuesday came and we actually made it though again.  This time we ran in our neighborhood in the dark no less.  Today we made it through day 3 and guess what...we survived.  My goal is to run a 5K race before my birthday in April.  On to week 2!

Photo credit

[day 16 - 30 days of gratitude]

I have been sick most of this week and have fallen behind.  However, I have vowed to finish, not be perfect.  So for day 16 I am thankful for the "Hello Mornings" challenge.  While I haven't made all the changes I wanted to this session, I completed it.

[day 12 -30 days of gratitude]

Today I am grateful for all that served or are currently serving in our Armed Services including my dad and granddad.  I am so grateful for the freedoms I have today because of these brave men and women.

[day 11 - 30 days of gratitude]

I am grateful today for a lazy day of watching Christmas movies before Thanksgiving.  I have been under the weather all weekend and my daughter has kept me company while I cry through some of these tearjerkers.  Can't wait until she and I can watch "Holiday Inn" and "White Christmas."

[day 6 - 30 days of gratitude]

Today I am thankful to live in the United States of America where we have the privilege of voting for our leaders. Even though the outcomes are not always the way I would want them this is still the best country in the world to live in.

[day 5 - 30 days of gratitude]

Today I am thankful for my job in a time when so many are not so lucky. After 22 years I still enjoy it (most of the time)...:)

[day 4 - 30 days of gratitude]

Today I am thankful for my church family, how they love and support us and how they serve helping to show others the love of Christ and carrying the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

[day 3 - 30 days of gratitude]

Today I am thankful for my children.  They have been a true blessing from God and I can't imagine my life without them.  They bring joy (and tears) to my life.

[day 2 - 30 days of gratitude]

Today I am thankful for my husband.  God knew exactly who I needed and I am thankful for his spiritual leadership in our family.

[day 1 - 30 days of gratitude]

All over Facebook and Twitter people are posting one thing a day they are thankful for for the month of November.  I also saw this post today that made me think I should do the same, so here goes.

Today I am thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and through salvation the hope I have for eternal life.

[lazy day]

Today is Columbus Day...which means I have the day off from work and I am home alone.  The kids are in school and the hubby is at work.  It is raining today which always makes me want to blog. Not sure why.  It also makes me lazy.

There are so many things on my To Do list but I am drawn to my coffee and the book I am reading.

It's feeling like Fall today and I think some Taco Soup is in store for this weekend.

[p52...week seventeen]

This week's theme is green...

[relaxin'...]

It's a rainy afternoon in central Virginia.

A quiet afternoon with no where to be...watching movies and just plain relaxin'.

I'm enjoying my new lens for my camera...we went to our local triple A baseball team game last night.

P52...Week Four

These themes are getting harder and harder...this week was a self portrait.  I don't even like having someone else take my picture let alone taking one of myself.  But I did it, as hard as it was...and I ended up with two.

P52...Week Three

So the theme for this week was "I Dreamed a Dream" in honor of Martin Luther King Day.  I really struggled with this, but after a few days of thinking about it, I came up with this...

I bought this wood carving when I went on a missions trip to West Africa in 2010.  It was an experience I will never forget and I have dreamt of going back ever since.  If all goes well I will be returning this summer.

P52...Week Two

This week's theme..."Made With Love."  This is my 15 year old son and I took this picture this morning.  Becoming a man but still very much a boy...

P52...Week One

I really want to become a better photographer.  I got a new camera (DSLR, my first) and I am trying to figure out how to use it.  I stumbled upon this blog and a 52 week photo challenge.  Since I only found it last night I am already a week behind.  The theme for the week ending 1/6 was resolution.  We can be as creative as we want (or not).  Here is my picture for the week...

I read Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts" in 2011 and in 2012 I have resolved to write down 1000 gifts.  And now I have resolved to post one picture a week!

happy new year

I can't believe 2012 is here, but I guess we say that every year.  So much to look forward to this year and I just want to savor all of it as it comes.