It's been a busier week!

This week has been a busier week. I don't think I have the right to say it was a busy week, because it wasn't overwhelming. It was just busier than normal. It included a few runs, lots of snow, data entry work, dental hygiene work, birthdays, and much more.

The week began last Sunday doing a long run on the roads close to our house. We had fun running with our friends Nick and Taryn. The guys ran 6 miles and the girls ran 5 miles. It was a pretty good day to run, especially since the sun was out.

This is after the run, and we are starting to get cold. 

Monday was a low key day. So all you get is a picture of my dinner. This is how it goes around the Smith house: quesadilla, popcorn, and apple sauce.

Tuesday morning I was woken up at 6am by an office manager from a dental office in South Bend asking me to fill in for a hygienist. I scramble to get ready to get down there in a timely manner. Then she calls me as I just start the drive and tells me she doesn't need me until 11am. So I go back home and watch the Today show. Glad I got to work, but it would have been nice to get the extra sleep. I'll never turn down work, though!
It took me twice as long to get home Tuesday night, because the "blizzard" had started. I made it home safely. Matt and I decided to make the rest of the night a game night, just us two.

Holla, Mancala!

Rack-O... Super fun game!

Wednesday we woke up to about an additional 20+ inches of snow. Matt was excited, because Josh and him headed out and made some buck snow blowing driveways. Also Andrews University took a rare snow day. They have only taken 4 snow days in the past 12 years, quite different from the south!

We did make it to our friend Joshua's b-day party on the blustery snowy day!!

As you know... Thursday night is date night. Matt and I have really been enjoying having date night at our house instead of going out. We also got a 3.5 mile run in too. The snow really messed up our running schedule. Kinda difficult to run in a foot of snow.

We mad pigs in a blanket!!

Friday I had a working interview in South Bend and got home when our cell group was supposed to be meeting. I was exhausted, but so glad I could spend the evening with good friends and digging in the word. Check out John 17... Good stuff! 

It was Michelle's birthday. So we celebrated with Indian food, date bars & pistachio pie (per Joshua's birthday request), and yellow cake with chocolate icing (per Michelle's birthday request). 

We had a lot of fun with our friends this Saturday after church. We ate meatless meat loaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, salad, homemade bread, juice, and coconut pie. Don't get too jealous!!

Josh and Brittany chilling with Maglee!

Nick and Taryn

This morning, my husband was so sweet and made a good breakfast for me. It included some Taryn's homemade bread toasted, eggs, tots, and O.J. I have had a little bit of a sore throat/cold, so Matt took me to the store to get some yummy tea. So far today I have drank 4 cups. (Thank you, Taryn for convincing me that I like hot tea!)

This afternoon we decided that even though it was flurrying outside and there was snow on the ground, we would run our scheduled long run. Matt ran with Nick at a faster pace, and I ran behind them. I was so proud of myself, I did all six miles by myself with no ipod. My running buddies, I've run with in the past, weren't able to get together today. 

Matt and I decided that the Super Bowl is even more fun, just us two at our cozy little home. 

This is us "watching" the Super Bowl. Really Matt did most of the watching. I finished a book, read a magazine, and now I'm doing this blog. 

So that was my busier than normal week!

Proverbs 6:6,7 The Message

You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do.

Ordinary to Extraordinary!!!

This week was an interesting week. We did have some extraordinary moments this week, but it was mixed in with the ordinary. I got a little down about the Michigan weather this week. A wind shield wiper blade on the Civic broke on Wednesday while the snow was coming down after I had to walk through all the slushy snow. It's also kinda depressing that the sun rarely comes out, but when it does... I can't get enough of it.

Maglee is a little chilly and is going crazy with the lack of time she is getting to spend outside. I think she looks cozy in the scarf. (She is not demon-possessed. It was the flash from the camera!)

Tuesday night we met my Aunt Cheryl in Kalmazoo. She treated us to BD's Mongolian Grill. It was neat that we got to spend some time with her. She lives in Washington state and was in town on business. Thanks for the fun night and the yummy food, Aunt Cheryl!!!

You got it... Thursday is date night. Matt treated me to homemade pizza. Don't get jealous as you look at all the delicious pictures!!!

Yes, it tasted as good as it looked. Yes, I ate all four pieces and enjoyed every bite!

I apologize this is the only picture I got of our wonderful dinner at the Bennett's for cell group on Friday night. We had corn cakes, rice, black beans, homemade salsa, guacamole, cheese (that's what we contributed) and tomatoes. This was followed with some fantastic juice and homemade oatmeal, coconut, raisin cookies. 

Our cell group meets every Friday night. We have dinner and then a Bible study. We just finished the book of Nehemiah. What a blessing!! Who knew all that good stuff was packed in those 13 chapters?

This morning we went to church. I never get pictures while we're dressed up. So I thought today would be the day, and we had a few extra minutes that doesn't ever happen. Probably the highlight this morning was the little girl behind us belting out "To God be the Glory". Awesome!! Nothing like children praising the Lord!

Today we wanted to truly rest and spend some time with our family. We read this afternoon. Matt actually started and finished a book. We also took a little snooze.

Then we headed out on a walk and decided to build an igloo. 

It was starting to get dark. So we stopped at three layers. 

The pup had a blast because she got to spend an hour and a half outside.

This is how we left it. But plan to return tomorrow with some extra hands. You can't build an igloo in the south!

Highs and lows this turned out to be a pretty good week. I even got some good running in too. Tuesday 3miles, Wednesday 2.68 miles, and Friday a 30 minute bike ride on the trainer and a 2 mile run. Tomorrow I'm doing 6 miles. Kind of exciting!!! 

The Lord has blessed us so much. I need to take the time to enjoy the small things in life that may seem ordinary but are really super extraordinary!!!!

1 Thessalonians 1:11 The Message

Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time -- pray that our God will make you fit for what he's called you to be, pray that he'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. 

Let the Good Times Roll!

 I don't have a lot to report, but I did have a really fun weekend!

Saturday night we went with some friends to a church in St. Joseph, MI to hear Bryan "Head" Welch. He was in the band Korn. I never listened to Korn. But he has a really awesome testimony. Check out his book, Save Me from Myself: How I found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Live to Tell my Story.

Saturday night we also had a game night at our house. Lots of good friends and lots of fun!

Here are the guys, Josh, Nick, and Matt (minus Tiago) hanging out with Maglee after the games.

Here are the girls, Brittany and Taryn (minus Carolyn and me) hanging out eating some yummy snacks!

Sunday, I did my "long" run. I ran 5 miles. I started out at Nick and Taryn's house with Matt and Nick in front of me and ran to my buddy, Joshua's house. It's about 1.5 miles from Nick's house to Joshua's house. Then I ran about 2 miles with Joshua and ran back toward Nick's house.

This is before the run begin. The weather with cold, 16 degrees, but the sun was shining!

Sunday, we also made a trip to Home Depot to use the gift card my dad gave us for Christmas. We bought fluorcent compact light bulbs and a humidifier.

Today, Monday, was a pretty busy day. I had an interview for a dental hygiene job. I'll keep you posted on that. I also worked and did 6 hours of data entry.

I also made some "no bake cookies". I've got a sweet tooth!

Proverbs 25:27a The Message

It's not smart to stuff yourself with sweets...

I'll ration the cookies and not stuff myself!

Frosty the Slow Woman!!!!

This was a pretty exciting week. One of my New Year's resolutions is to run a half marathon. Matt and I had already decided which one we were going to run, but it is sure sneaking up on us. This week marked 12 weeks from the Holy Half Marathon in South Bend, IN on the campus of Notre Dame. So let the training begin. Matt and I ran a half marathon on Thanksgiving day in 2009. After beginning my training this week, I realized we had it much better training in the fall in TN than training in the winter in MI. 

Monday was a pretty chill day, as you can see from the puppy sleeping on the bed. Sundays are the days I do my longer runs, and Monday will usually be a rest day.

Tuesday was the first of many frigid (34 degrees, the high for this week) runs. It was a lot more fun with good company. Nick and Taryn ran too and are planning on doing the half marathon with us. 

Wednesday, we made it to the cornfield for Maglee's walk. But all the snow has a layer of ice on it from the warmer temperatures.

Poor Maglee, got scratched up by all the ice, but she still thoroughly enjoyed her walk (actually more like run for her).

Thursday, is usually date day/night. This week we decided to do something a little different.

Matt picked up a delicious sub from Baguette de France, probably one of our favorite restaurants here, and we just ate it at home.

Thursday night we also made it to Petsmart. This was Maglee's first time there, and she did so great! She even came out with a sweater. Just so you know I'm not one of those people that dresses my dog up. This was strictly for warmth. My dog is from the south, just like me, and she is freezing in this Michigan winter. She will be much warmer now!

This morning (Friday), I did the coldest run I have ever done. When we started it was 16 degrees. When we finished it was 12 and snowing a pretty good bit.

Here's Matt covered in snow with icicles from his goatee. He is looking very chipper!

I am also cover in snow with icicles all over my face. We both had on lots of layer: 3 on top and 2 on bottom. I did run in gloves too. At this point I wasn't really cold just wet from sweat and melted snow. Matt and I are strongly considering getting gym memberships soon.

This is kind of off the wall, but I was very proud of myself. This is our shower. I scrubbed our shower clean for about an hour this afternoon. Originally the entire shower was the orange color around the handle in the picture on the left. But now the whole shower is white like the picture on the right. This is one the many things I've experienced in Michigan, lots of iron in our water. It doesn't taste as good as the water in GA or TN either. Yay.... Now I can get clean in a clean shower!

Psalms 51:10 The New Living Translation

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.