Another week (or so...)

Spring is trying to make its way to northern Wisconsin, so I wasn't about to complain when I saw this as my hourly forecast this AM, knowing all too well that I had a plan to run 18 miles.

And in all actuality... the weather was quite nice!  By mile 4, the rain stopped, and it was a very comfortable temperature outside.

Really not trying or meaning to boast here... but I am amazed with my own progress and dedication to running these past couple of months!!!  In March alone, I've run just a hair short of my years 2009+2010+2012 TOGETHER.  Yes, YEARLY totals together!!!!!  ALMOST beat just in one month!!! With one more day left in March, I may just set out to make that a record.  We'll see how my legs are feeling tomorrow after today's 17.3 miles :)

The afternoon was family-time of egg coloring.  This is the first year that I used food-coloring as the egg dye, rather than those Paas kits.  Couldn't even tell the difference :)  

Recipe:  about a cup of water, a tsp of vinegar, and enough drops of food coloring to create a pleasing hue.  Easy-peasy.

Precious patience, right??!!?!??

:D

And another precious pic - Snaggle-tooth here!  Thank goodness corn-on-the-cob isn't in season yet.  Lol.  

We only had Friday off for our Easter/Spring vacation.  :(  Yeah, big sad face here.  So many of us (teachers and students alike) could really use a few days away from each other.  Patience is beginning to wear thin for everyone.  

Most days, the girls ride the bus home after school, but when they need to visit my classroom after school, they usually enjoy grabbing the colored pencils and computer paper.  They waited patiently the other day for me to finish up some tasks before we were able to 'get outta there.' :)

And just last night, I updated my iCal with my running events, so I counted the weeks until the marathon:  SEVEN!

But what made my jaw drop even more......

that means EIGHT more weeks until Graduation!

and Nine-n-half weeks until school is over for the rest of us.

Suddenly, time seems to be flying by again.

Happy Saturday.  And have a blessed Easter tomorrow.

Powerful evening

Despite having lived in my town of Shell Lake for 14 years, I had yet to make a performance of the Easter Alive "passion" that a local church offers out to the public. However, this year, being my first year HOME for Easter weekend, and with a personal invitation from a special student in hand, my girls and I dressed up for an evening of Easter Alive - "How He Loves".

Growing up, I recall watching a live "passion" that my mom had taken me to.......and I'll have to ask her where that was held, because I was VERY little and only faintly recall it. I remember seeing the crosses in the distance. It must have been quite "powerful" for me to remember it.

And that is yet again the word I choose to describe the hours spent at Shell Lake Full Gospel this evening. POWERFUL. Cassie and I were both moved to tears that lasted long after the stone was rolled away and the audience was bathed in the bright light of resurrection. I am certain the girls, specially Cassie, will not forget tonight.

And Grandma.....(I know you are reading this)...... there were many questions tonight that I am certain will be directed your way next weekend

May you all have a blessed Easter weekend.

Easter, 2009; God's Creatures

The Easter Bunny was organized this year, and choose an individual color for each girl. Candace had blue, and all of her 10 eggs were in plain view.....




Caitlyn's color was green. Most of her eggs were partially hidden.










And Cassie's 10 eggs were yellow; definitely in locations that made her "work" a little for them.....










I had to giggle though! Each girl had one "final" egg that stumped them and couldn't find. Cassie's was hiding in a plant on the stairwell; Caitlyn's was hiding in a little cup on the end-table, and Candace's....well.........can YOU see it???? I played "hot-n-cold" with ALL the girls to help them find it......they stood around this little cart for over a minute until Caitlyn was the first to see it.....

Here is a shot of the baby quilt I whipped out this morning. An appropriate name for this time of year, God's Creatures is finished, and tonight, I hope to attach a label and it'll be shipped off to its new owner tomorrow.

I feel good---having run a bit over 2 miles with little walking today (maybe 300 total meters???; 100 meters at the top of one climb, and then 200 meters for the duration of the last slow climb.)

Okay---girls are hungry, and so am I. I've had a pork roast in the slow-cooker since 11:00 am and it smells Da-lish! I just checked on it before I sat, and it's already falling off the bone. yes!!

Happy Sunday!