2012 Christmas Wish List...

This is a random post, but it's fun, so here it goes...

I've created my 2012 Christmas Wish List items (you might notice a theme here):

A Garmin Forerunner 10 watch. It's not the fanciest Garmin, but it does the job of
showing me I am putting in the miles and improving my times.
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-Watch-Pink-White/dp/B0090C7A5C

Look at this beauty! How many of you already have one?
I'd love a Keurig not because I drink coffee (maybe I'll start?) but for the variety of teas! Yum!

You can never go wrong with a Dick's gift card! So many things I could buy with this like
a new running hat, socks, shorts, shirt, pants, jacket, chews, gels, running belt, all of those things I NEED (er want!).

Oh this would be the ultimate! I want an iPad so bad, but I don't want to pay for it myself!

A plane ticket to Florida for this spring. I really want to run a half in February and visit my friend, Katelyn. 

Santa, I really think I've been good this year, so any of these things would be AWESOME to get. But, I'll be happy with anything.

~*~ What is on your holiday wish list? Are you a practical or fun gift lover?~*~

A Wonderful 4th of July

The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday! It's hot, usually muggy and loads of fun with friends. It also means it is only 8 days until my birthday!!

Lauren, Jared and Lindsey admiring Jared's wrapping skills
in the Christmas paper!

Tillie loves to play hostess for parties. She also loves to get dirty and needs a bath every time we have people over.

Nikki and Ryan enjoying some great appetizers!

Josh and Kirsten kicking back and relaxing!

The master, Todd, cutting up his creation!

Willie says, "I want some yummy smoked pork too!"

The lovely ladies enjoying their baby shower!

I used to live for the White Cloud Rodeo near my hometown. My friends and I went each year for every night just so we could pretend we were rough and tough cowgirls and maybe get a glance at one of the cowboys. Ha, I learned to steer clear from that a few years ago...

Now a days, my Fourth of July is either at the lake or having a cookout with friends/family. This year we hosted a baby shower for two new little blessings who will be here before we know it. Our friends, Lauren and Lindsey, who grew up together and then married two of Todd's friends from Dearborn, are having a little girl and a little boy, respectively. I love to entertain and throw parties so of course I thought we should host the baby shower. Sometimes I feel bad because Todd gets thrown into the mix of preparing for the party, but then I don't because it seems he gets just as in to preparing as me. He just prefers to stand around the grill or the smoker all day with his lawn chair and cooler of beer. Fine by me. Our friends Kirsten and Josh also helped host the party for the girls. In all there were about 14 of us who gathered on Saturday, the 2nd. We had the most scrumptious smoked brisket, pork and chicken courtesy of Todd and all the sides brought by every one else. Each of the girls got a small dent in the much needed supplies/clothes for their babies, and Kirsten truly outdid herself on the most adorable diaper cakes. Lots of fun! I can't wait for more of our friends to have little ones!



I spent the rest of the weekend doing homework and mentally preparing for the Troy 5K on Monday.

Here's my silver medal for my age division in the Troy 5K. It was fun yet totally hard at the same time.

It. Was. Hard. There were not flat spots, period. It is either up hill or down hill, which I think is worse since you have to slow yourself down. But it was a great time to see and run with friends, John and Heather Cluck. John finished in a great time, and Heather and I finished very close to each other. I was TOTALLY surprised to learn I won 2nd place in my age division considering it was the worst time I've had so far, but I was still humbled and happy. It was a small 5K, but I will take a medal since it was probably the only one I'll ever get! Running has been my solace to take away stress this spring and summer. I have learned to enjoy it and look forward to my 30-45 minutes each day. It is my relaxation. I just wish I was faster at it or had more stamina. I suppose that will come, someday. Maybe...but if not, I'll just keep trucking along and cross the finish line as the slowpoke, but I will still cross it. Until next time, love ya'll and have a great week!

Reflection of the season

I will say each year I get older, I think the holidays get better. I find that kind of weird considering I receive less and the belief in Santa isn't as strong as it used to be (Ha!).

I think as we grow older we learn to appreciate the time we have with family and friends more and more. Gifts are nice, but time is so precious. I know the drive to Nebraska doesn't get any shorter, but I know my time with my grandparents will not always be there. I wish I had more time to visit them.

I especially loved this year as it is my second year celebrating the new life God has given me, and I know it's one year closer to marrying my best friend and being part of my new family, whom mean so much to me. I remember waking up last year and telling Todd on Christmas Day, "This is the best day of my life so far."

Two years ago my world turned completely upside down on Christmas Day, but I know the Lord had his hand in that. I believe I had to go through what I did that day to know how much my family means to me and to be led to the most perfect person I am supposed to be with in life, Todd. I know the other half of that equation is in a much better place too, and as time goes on, I begin to heal and forgive and accept what happened and learn God knew all along what was supposed to be. I didn't know those five years were preparing me to be a better friend, daughter, mother and wife.

I pray each of us do not have to "learn the hard way" but sometimes it takes a life-awakening moment to ground you and make you realize what you were doing, who you were with, etc., is not your life path.  I know several of my friends have had this feeling in 2010 and know this holiday was especially hard for them as they went through the season with a new life path. I know that God works in mysterious ways and often think He knows when to "unanswer" our prayers. I pray those friends find peace and clarity in the new year with new experiences.

I personally can't wait for the best year of my life in 2011. I know it will be. I know from what Todd and I have found through our marriage class and RCIA classes is that we have so much to look forward to and learn about each other.