omg!

Okay, so I just went online and registered Grant and me for a 5k. We are going to compete for the fastest parent/child time (although I know another parent/child team that will be WAY faster than us--Geoff and Asia!) I actually am afraid that he'll run off and leave me in his dust! He is quite the runner and has amazing endurance! We've never done 3.2 miles together before, so hopefully we can get a few practice runs in before the event on April 17th.
In any situation, I'm proud of him for wanting to do this and excited to have my little buddy by my side!

Also, Brooklyn has started her first season of softball and although we got off to a rocky start, she is doing great. The rocky start was probably due to a too-small and not-broken-in glove. Now that we've got the right size for her hand have have gotten it all broken in, she is catching balls great. Now we've just gotta develop that swing...!

Spring Break is next week and I'm scrambling to come up with a "plan" so that we're not just sitting in the house all week screaming our heads off at each other. We aren't going to spend any money doing anything elaborate, so I've gotta summon the creativity I've got hidden somewhere deep inside and make it fun for free! Any ideas you all have are greatly welcomed!

Matt and I are about to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary on the 28th and we are trying to think of something to do for the weekend that won't cost an arm and a leg. My parents have already offered to watch the kids the whole weekend..so we just need to figure out somewhere to go and something to do. Again, feel free to give suggestions! ($300 is the budget)

For those of you who don't read my P90X blog, I just completed a 2 day fast. It was enlightening as to how much I LOVE to eat...but, I not only taught myself some self-discipline, I also was able to use that time to draw closer to God. What a precious opportunity! There is just nothing like the peace and joy that comes from spending quality time with God!

As for my work, I did my last day of babysitting yesterday. While it has been a blessing, I'm excited for my friend Sarah who gets to stay home with her precious babies now and take care of them herself. Noone can love them and "train them up" like their own mommy can! I am still working for the doctors office for the time being. It is going to come to an end at some point, but I'm very thankful that it's lasted this long and am grateful for every week that I get to keep working. I haven't been teaching any classes at the gym lately, other than just subbing when people have to miss a class. I would really love to get put on-with a permanent "regular" class...but until then, I'll just sub and enjoy the extra time with my kiddos! Beachbody coaching has been steadily picking up ever since the beginning of the year and it is such a blessing to me to be able to help people get more fit as well as minister the love of God into their lives!

Okay, well, that's about all that's happening around here right now. Just wanted to write a little update! Have a great Friday y'all!

running it into the ground?

okay, I know, I know...I've put pictures on here from the ball several times now...but I finally got the ones that the photographer took there and they are my favorite, so I had to share them. I wish the quality looked better...but I had to scan them, so they look grainy. oh well...

Would you be o.k. with $20 less?

Through a series of events (and things we've heard recently) we are going to challenge ourselves to give away $20 a month. Not to anyone in particular...just to whoever we feel might needs it (or to whomever God might lead us to give it to). For instance, maybe we'll just hand someone a $20 bill...or maybe we'll get the bill for the car behind us at the drive thru...or maybe we'll buy the groceries of the person in front of us at Wal-Mart. Maybe we'll pick up the tab for a couple who looks like they might be out on a date without their kids!? The possibilities are endless and the prospect of doing this just gets me so excited! What's $20?? Maybe another meal out or a movie night? Maybe another shirt I don't need or a few video rentals we could do without? But imagine the delight of having someone buy your meal or your gas or your groceries!!? It's not the $20...its the THOUGHT! And besides that...I'm ready to teach my "needy, I-want-more, ungrateful self" that I have SO MUCH MORE than I could ever really NEED. There are people all over the world who really are in NEED...as well as people who are hurting emotionally and could use a kind gesture like this to show them that there is HOPE!
I'd like to encourage you to try it. You don't have to commit to it on a regular basis or anything...but just try it once. Give away $20 to someone who would never expect it and then just watch the confusion, delight, and thankfulness wash over their face! That feeling is something you can't buy with any amount of money!
And I haven't even mentioned all the promises God gives us when we become "givers"! What an opportunity to show God's love to someone! Remember...LOVE IS A VERB!