well, better late than never.

well i took an awful long time to write again, eh? I've felt like I was just on auto pilot for awhile, just living my life, learning to abide, practicing being a proper wife and mama, and getting runs & yoga/pilates in when it's not stinkin cold or ferociously icy outside.

I'm excited for spring, more than usual, because for the first time in a few years I'm not pregnant or recovering from giving birth, and i'm actually in decent shape! Not that I've arrived at the ideal physical state, or any other state, believe you me, but I'm well on my way and my mind is in the right place. I can't wait to start running on the Sakatah Singing Hills trail again. I've been relegated to snowy side streets that are far from ideal when the sidewalks are full of snow and slick as anything and I get to contend with traffic. Anyway, I also have the goal of getting up and learning to be a MORNING RUNNER!! I decided to set myself up for success rather than continually fail this winter (who wants to get up to run in the cold, icy, snowy dark when your sleep was punctuated by 2 toddlers who have sleep problems and you're currently snuggled up with one of them on the couch?).

Idyllic, no?

 So I'll wait until it's a little lighter in the morning, and my girlies are more apt to sleep for more than 2 hour stretches. It's going to happen!

Andy & I went to the 11th (I think) marriage retreat our church has hosted in the beautiful St. James Hotel in downtown Red Wing.

We had SUCH a nice time, learning a lot, but even more just getting to know other couples & having a date/night away from the gals. I love that hotel and the city, and I think I'm going to plan another getaway in the summer so we can enjoy the area even more.










I'm still involved with the youth group at church and I have grown to really love it:) My sweet guitar skilz are due to using the few I had in the first place and I'm actually giving lessons now. I love the kiddos my husband and I get to be around. We're a part of a team who leads the 7-12th grade in our church. I'm SO looking forward to going up to Camp of the Woods in June with a crew of them to do our mission trip for the summer. I miss the wilderness of northern Minnesota. Canadia will work;-)