I usually like a challenge...

My mom asked me recently why I never take pictures of all of the kids together. Here's why....
Because they usually end up looking like this,
or this,
or this.

My Love...

I have realized lately that my dear husband is the oft neglected subject on this little journal of mine. But today is a very special day in our history together - so without further ado - join me in a swoon down memory lane............

Ten years ago today, my life as I know it now began. I didn't know it then, but this handsome young gentleman, who seemed to be taking an interest in me - would turn out to be the love of my life. From the very beginning, Grant was one thing that I was absolutely positively certain about. And nothing has ever changed. Never once have I ever questioned his virtue, his strength, his ability to lead a family - or my unfailing, passionate love for him. There are few lovestories in history that have such an unflinching certainty to them. How fortunate we are to say that we are participating in writing such a lovestory. My life is so richly blessed.

Our life in the beginning was filled with eagerly anticipated dates. We would take long walks in the woods, go on canoe rides, cook dinner together, and talk, and talk, and talk... about everything. All of our hopes for the future, anecdotes from our day, funny stories. It wasn't long before who I was was so intertwined with who he was that the thought of separation was physically painful - and yet we did endure a long physical separation - but our hearts remained so fantasically connected that we knew that this was forever. I have to say - I knew long before that, but the separation sealed the deal: We will spend forever together. I knew it then and I know it now.

And so today I look backward, as I do every year at about this time, and I recall the wonder and beauty that started it all - but I can't help but notice all the beauty that is surrounding me right this minute. Grant and I have a beautiful, passionate, romantic life that is centered around a faith that will take us into eternity. We have built a life that focuses on the Lord and the gifts that abound from that faith are too many to count. Our house is alive with the joy and laughter that come from a life built on love. Love for the Lord, love for our family, and love for eachother. We still have all of the things that wooed us into infatuation with eachother but now we find ourselves with so much more: more house, more children, more responsibilities - more joy, more laughter, more love.

I love you LB, not just today, but always. 10 years down and a lifetime to go.....

The Funniest Thing Ever.

So, I have a tool at the bottom of my blog that tells me what google searches landed a particular individual on my blog. I have seen people googling my maiden name - perhaps from high school? - and they get a glimpse of all this awesomeness! Yesterday I was looking through the google searches and found a particularly perplexing one:

"Sharon Steele Bankrobber"

While I know that I am not the only Sharon Steele out there, it still seems funny, don't you think? So I decided to google it myself - and sure enough a one Sharon M. Steele (which is my other middle initial) robbed 2 banks in Omaha, NE.

I don't have time right now, but I have a recurring daydream that I will one day become a serial bankrobber. True Story. I waffle between wanting to be a serial bankrobber or a cat-burglar. I tend more towards wanting to be a cat-burglar - because I am pretty sure that I would never get caught. Nevertheless, you can check out the story here: http://kansascity.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel07/bankrobberies030107.htm

I wonder what she looks like........

Retro

This is probably one of my favorite pictures in our archives. I post it only to make myself laugh. (If you get a giggle out of it, too - bonus!)

Letter to my Brother

Dear Brother.
Two of my favorite bloggers are on vacation. These devoted writers update their blogs daily - providing me with lots of interesting, thoughtful, funny, witty, inspirational material for my daily brain drain.

I am writing to you today to ask you to fill the void. Write a little something every day this week because if you don't I won't be able to sit idly and stare at a screen musing at someone else's thoughts - and we all know this is my favorite pastime. If you don't - I will be forced to watch TV - and we can't let that happen, can we? Daytime TV - blech.

Make my wishes come true.
Kisses,
Your Sister

What is Wrong With Me?

Yesterday, I took a particularly strenuous walk. My legs were wobbly and tired when I got home - a terrific workout.

Today, I wake up and my arms are sore. What?!

Tomorrow I am going to sit at home and eat those eclairs. I will tell you how it goes.


Yummmmm, eclairs!

All I'm Sayin' Is...

... that I've never been much to take comfort in food. Sure, I love to eat, but it doesn't keep me warm at night. But if I had a dozen chocolate eclairs sitting in front of me right now I would eat every single one of them... and perhaps want more.

It's been that kind of day.

Walk it Off

Most every morning I take my youngest children on a walk. It is the event that sets our day on the right foot; we get out, get our hearts pumping, sweat it out a bit - and return to conquer our day. It started out that way, anyway. It seems our walk has turned into much more. It has given me an invigorated view of humanity.

I'd call myself a people person. I love that moment when you meet they eyes of a passerby, they smile at your kids and return into anonymity. But I have become increasingly wary of the "cords & batteries" culture. It seems that everyone is plugged-in to something - be it their ipod, cell phone, gps, blackberry, bluetooth (For the love of anything, why must people use the bluetooth? It looks SO idiotic. I saw a woman in the 7-11 last week in a full burkha, only her eyes showing, and peeking out from the side of her robe was her bluetooth. Bizarre. I digress.) Information is being pumped into our heads from so many different stimuli, it leaves precious little room for conversation and civility.

And so we have embarked on our daily 3 miles and entered the land of the living. As we walked past the grounds crew on the main boulevard in our neighborhood, they shut off their blowers as not to get grass clippings in our eyes. We exchanged pleasantries as we passed - us in English - them en Espanol - and it was lovely. Neighbors we've never met make comments like "Can I get in the stroller?" and we laugh and pass by. And then today, we were out and the kids were whining that it was too hot. At the point of no return, the whining had escalated in to full-fledged crying when a woman who was outside ran into her house and returned to meet us with 2 popsicles. Immediately their ceased crying - and mine almost began. How thoughtful, how decent, how civil. That woman made me happy - not just for the moment - but happy with my fellow man.

My goodness, we need to get off the stinking cell phones and pay attention to the people who are passing by us on a daily basis. If our lives can be so touched by a simple popsicle, how much would a hot meal mean to a family with a deployed father? Or what would a quick errand mean to a local elderly person who can't get out? I just realized that in all my angst I haven't been the neighbor I could be, either. From this point on I vow to stay off of the treadmill, and keep on walking the hills of my neighborhood - and this time actually pay attention. It is good for my body and my soul.