bermuda

we're back. got back friday afternoon and boy it's funny how you go on vacation to relax and then come back so exhausted !

ok, in short, the pros:
1. bermuda has beautiful blue water
2. FOOD FOOD FOOD!!! eating 5 desserts a day is worth the extra running. i was kind of living it up because i knew that when i got back i had an 18 miler scheduled.
3. the service was impeccable.
4. time with family was awesome... our jewel just thrived on having both parents home (what a concept!) it was so great to have my man all to myself - or rather ourselves for a whole week!!! no school, no work, no deadlines, nothing!

cons:
1. it rained heavily both days we were in bermuda so we didn't see much of anything
2. seasick (will need to remember to bring something for motion sickness next time)
3. no couple time. we were in bed by 8:30/9 and up by 6. how's that for a vacation?! since we were all in one room, our jewel basically dictated our schedule. it's kind of weird sitting in the dark at 9pm with just the bathroom light on and the door ajar just so. whispering "your turn" while playing cards.
4. our jewel took up 2/3 of the bed. imagine one hanging off the bed, another pressed up against the first, our jewel pressed up against the 2nd (almost so that she was underneath me)... and then 2/3 of the bed wide open! i was so glad to be back in my own bed.
they didn't really have any activities for kids under 3. and their pools didn't allow for kids with swimmies - which i was totally banking on - so it was hard trying to find things for her to do while on the boat.

would definitely like to go again and maybe this time actually see bermuda :)

Bermuda, here we come!

we leave on sunday but between now and sunday - i doubt i'll blog - so i figured i should get in my quota (and hence the 4 blogs in one day!)
here's my theory, if i run two hours a day: an hour in the morning and then an hour in the evening, i think i should be able to net about 1500-2000 calories after taking into account all that i plan to eat. yes, it's true - i'm ALL about the food! you can convince me to do just about anything as long as you promise me food. my man thinks me so strange that that's ALL i've been talking about since we've booked the trip... FOOD FOOD FOOD! i've even started to strategize: if i control my bread intake i can save my stomach for the real stuff like fish and steak! my schedule: grab a banana, run, breakfast, pool, lunch, sleep, dinner, run. ohhhhh just thinking about it makes me giddy :)

Great Country Farms

Great Country Farms (www.greatcountryfarms.com) is part of CSA (community supported agriculture). basically we pay a set amount for them to deliver fresh picked produce to our house once a week. in addition, we go to the farm once a week for u-pick produce and occasionally herbs and flowers. i calculated that it's about $18/week. not bad. it gives our jewel a place to go and pig out on fruit once a week and check out the farm animals. we go with a friend and her little ones. it started late may and will end early october. this is the first year we're doing it. i was so tempted to do it the last two years but i'm glad i waited because our jewel was probably too young to really enjoy it.
this week's delivery included: a bag of apricots, two bags of peaches, one eggplant, one squash, two tomatoes, one broccoli rabe (not sure what to do with just one - salad probably?), and one pint of grape tomatoes. we went to the farm and picked a bag of peaches, two containers of blackberries, and picked sunflowers for our dining table.

hope you'll check out your local CSA. it's a great way to eat fresh produce and support your local farmers.

2008 vacation

it's settled! next year we're going to PEI! i know my hubby's not as thrilled as i am, but don't worry - you can pick 2009's vacation spot. i'm so excited! of course we're going to have to do a marathon of anne of green gable movies before we leave. i think i may be able to convince my man to watch the canadian version, but i don't think my persuasive skills are good enough to get him to watch the BBC and animated versions as well. don't know how long we're going to go for, but i saw this 3 day itinerary online: http://www.gov.pe.ca/visitorsguide/index.php3?number=1009872 . sounds like a good start.

My list of "I wants..."

(not necessary in this order)...
1. I want to be an interior designer. maybe once we're all done with kids and they're in school - i'll go back to school...
2. i want to run an ultra marathon.
3. i want to run a sub-8 min pace marathon
4. i want to expand God's kingdom by discipling younger ladies
5. i want to have a home that invites people in. i would love to have a basement that is set up so that small groups and various BS can use it as a meeting place. with the works! you know, a coffee bar, a pool table, comfy couches, etc...
6. i want to own a lake house that we can use to loan out to people in the ministry who need a vacation
7. i want a mansion that we can fill with kids adopted from north korea. (is that feasible? i don't even know if that's politically possible at this point...)
8. i want to invest in my kids so that my kids "rise up and call me blessed" (pr 31:28). when i come into the room, their faces lit up when they see their mommy.... even when they're teenagers!
9. i want a marriage that brings honor and glory to Jesus and is a testimony to the grace and mercy of Christ.
10. i want 6 pack abs - ok, i'll settle for a 4 pack :)

5 things i dig about Jesus

i've been tagged (actually i was tagged a while ago - accidental pastor's wife probably thinks i've forgotten i even have a blog :) ha ha ha... but i've been in a funk - you know when you can't seem to articulate your thoughts and then you find yourself going through the day singing ABC's without really even having any deep thoughts and then before you know it, a week's gone by?? so my brain has gone to mush and i figure that before it gets worse, i should probably write my list.

I think Jesus is cool because:
1. His Word is true - always has been, always will be. it doesn't matter if there is not one soul who believes it - it's still true.
2. salvation is only through Him. we try go find other ways, the world thinks there are other ways, but there is no way around this one - there is only ONE road to heaven
3. He loves me. he loves me more than i love myself - how's that for a WOW factor?! it's so sad when people shake their fists at Jesus when bad things happen and think that God hates them... oh how it must sadden His heart!
4. He is our creator - i was just pondering how cool Jesus is to have thought up all of those various fruit flavors. we went peach picking several days ago and let me tell you - there's nothing like the sweetness of a peach when it's right at it's peak, picked fresh from a tree. the flavor is rich, you bite into it and the juices just ooze down your chin. YUMM-O! how cool is that?! - that Jesus thought of this!
5. He knows all. some times i act like i know all, but praise God that i really don't. praise God that He knows all and He uses it for His glory. i don't have to know everything - i just need to trust Jesus.

good nite

potty training help!

i think i've gotten rather lazy about potty training. i was all set to do it in one day (following the book: how to potty train in a day) but you know how it is, there wasn't a day when we didn't have to go out for errands... so lack of consistency led to going back to the diapers. now she HATES anything that is not a diaper. she doesn't want to do anything that's related to potty training. it's rather frustrating and i am letting it slide.

any advice?? it would be nice to see her potty trained before she goes to school!

stomach flu

i think that's what i have. went to see doc today, but they said it was viral.... what does that mean? that's so vague. viral what? said wanted to wait for blood work. in the mean time, i'm tired, fevers, chills, all that...

don't you think it's ironic that i feel so tired that i think i'm going to pass out any minute, yet at the same time, lazy for not running for days? am i a weirdo or what??

jewel's bath time and then off to bed for both of us!