Came in under the wire..

..but I did it. My exercise goal for 2009 was 9,002 minutes. My total for the year is 9,007! That's just over 150 hours invested toward improving my health, endurance, and strength.

I'm so proud of myself; to celebrate I'm going to eat extra dessert tonight. ;-) Just kidding...

Just had to write a quick "go me" post. It's almost time to start cleaning up before Chuck gets home. We're planning to go celebrate the new year with some friends tonight. We'll probably be home before midnight, though, since we have to get up early to get to Mass tomorrow morning.

God bless!

2009 Almost Over

I'd really like to share some meaningful insights on the events of the past year. Everything I come up with, though, sounds much too much like Dickens- the best of times, the worst of times, all that.

This year was indeed very good to us in many ways; in other ways, not so much. I can't really say that I'm sorry 2009 passed us by so quickly. That in itself was one of the blessings of this year. ;-)

I'm not sure if 2010 will be any better, but I always look positively at a new year regardless of the events in the old. Things change too quickly to stop hoping they just might change for the better.

So at midnight I'll kiss my children goodnight, snuggle next to my sweetie, and thank God for all His blessings- those of 2009 and those of the new year.

Be safe, everyone; God bless!

Straight No Chaser

No, that's not what I'm ordering for breakfast. ;-)

They are the men's a cappella group who put out the only version of the 12 Days of Christmas that doesn't have me bored to tears by "three calling birds".

Today is looking like it is going to be a brilliant day. We started off a little cloudy, but now about an hour after sunrise the sky is almost clear. We are at a comfortable 11 degrees F. It was a "sloppy" day yesterday with overcast skies and blowing snow, so I guarantee we're all going to be out enjoying the weather today.

God bless, Happy 4th Day of Christmas!

I do moderate comments.

It's really pitiful, but I guess I have to do a better job with moderating the comments left even on this little blog of mine. I sincerely apologize for the link left in one of the Anonymous comments left on my last post. The comment has been deleted, and I'll try to be quicker about these things in the future.

God bless!

Merry Christmas!

Unto us a Child is born. For us a Son is given. His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Almightly God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Jesus Christ, Emmanuel- God with us.

Let us make haste with the shepherds to worship Him.

My prayers are with all our family today. We miss you all so much... I ask that God will fill your hearts with the peace and joy of Christmas.

God bless!

Savage Chickens

I just love these "cartoons on sticky notes".

If you have a few minutes to spend, check it out.

I exercised today!

I've had to take a long break from exercising, thanks to feeling almost constantly sick the last several weeks. I did a 3-mile walk today, with some yoga stretching to cool off. I enjoy exercising so much- if I had it my way I'd probably workout three times a day. :-) I just figured my exercise minutes for the year as of today- 8,425! To reach my goal of 9,002 minutes for the year, I'm going to need another 577 minutes of exercise in the next 13 days. If I get 45 minutes or more every day for the rest of the year, I'll make it.

I'm feeling somewhat better most of the time these days. I'm still feeling nauseous (funny how I always need spell-check for that word...) most evenings, but I'm having more energy during my good part of the day. Last night in the middle of the night it occured to me that I might have miscalulated my due date. So this morning I grabbed my last chart and visited a few websites. Sure enough, I was off by about a week. I had thought I was due June 27, but according to the due date calculators I tried I'm actually due around July 4th or 5th. I'm not convinced it makes much difference, since Baby doesn't use a calendar but will instead prefer to come when he or she is ready. I should be having a preliminary appointment with a new midwife soon, so we'll see what she thinks.

Everybody has been healthy and staying busy. Winter has officially arrived to the UP! Today we are having a brilliantly sunny day with temps in the lower 20's. It's so beautiful.

That's all the update for now. Only 7 praying days until Christmas! Love you all, God bless!

Advent Meditation 2

from today's lectionary, Saturday of the First Week of Advent:


Thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:
O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you. The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, while from behind a voice shall sound in your ears: "This is the way; walk in it," when you would turn to the right or to the left.

Isaiah 30: 19-21

Come, Lord Jesus!

An Advent Meditation

"Small was the cave. Small and graceful the young mother. Small, against the cave, people, and animals, was the Baby. Yet, immensity, eternity, and all power and glory were contained in his smallness!

"Let this Christmas be for us a turning point. Let us kill 'self'. Let us become small enough to kneel at the crib, and big enough just to reach the level of the Baby's eyes. Let us then look into them- and catch sight of Love Incarnate! Then we shall be made whole again, and our hunger will be filled."

-Catherine Doherty