january 28

I love, love, love rainbows. I love being reminded of God's promises. And I've said it before, but Portland is the land of rainbows. This was the third rainbow I saw today after I left the grocery store. I about put my arm out of socket trying to grab my gym bag out of the back seat so I could get my camera. Don't worry, I actually took this picture stopped at a stop light. But I have to say, this picture of the day thing can get pretty dangerous.

january 27

My sister took my picture for me today of my adorable nephew Keegan. Have I mentioned lately that I can't wait to go to Ohio in June to spoil him rotten?

january 26

Today was an inservice day. As you can see, I was totally engrossed in mapping out math curriculum. You can also see that I'm a piler. Check out the top of the bookshelf and filing cabinet. I need an inservice day just to organize.

january 25

Today: Slept in, skipped Sunday School, helped in Jr. Church, warmed up leftovers, took a nap, talked to mom, baked cookies, snuggled on the couch. Tonight: clean up the kitchen, grade papers, do a load or two of laundry, catch up on some thank you notes.

january 24

Phil took this picture of me. Seems like I spent half the day in bed. Took a 3 1/2 hour nap trying to sleep off this blasted cold, and took a break later on from letter writing to talk to my sister. . . and my niece, who is having problems throwing temper tantrums lately. She and I had a nice long chat about her behavior.

january 23

A little love I'm sending to my sister. She called to talk to Phil not too long ago so she could learn the ins and outs of my niece's ipod. Found this little handy-dandy guide in the $1 bins at Target. I couldn't resist. Funny thing is, I should've bought one for myself, because I don't know how to work the dumb thing either.

january 22

Picked these up from the library today. Now, to just find some time to actually read them all.

january 21

Thank God for sick days. And Walmart for its large selection of cold medications. And for Chicken & Stars, the best soup for when you're sick - ever.

january 20

I watched part of the inauguration today in the gym with the rest of the staff and all the students. It was really amazing to see so many people - estimated to be 2 million - packed like sardines in the Mall area to witness it. I think I'm too claustrophobic to ever be a part of a crowd that big. I didn't vote for President Obama, but I am glad to live in a country that allows people to make choices and decisions of who their government leaders will be.

january 19

I kidnapped Phil when he got off work and we went up to Rocky Butte in Portland to see the sights. The weather has been really clear - with NO rain, very sunny - with NO clouds, and quite windy -with LOTS of big gusts, as you can tell by my hair flying all over the place. I love seeing the mountains all snowy and white. (Mt. Hood in the background.)

january 18

It appears that the Beverly Hillbillies have moved to Portland. Granny wasn't sitting up in the rocking chair, it's a bit too windy for that.

january 17

Us. Just before we left for a worship team/trustee appreciation dinner at the church. Good food. Good fellowship. Made a quick stop at the mall afterward. I couldn't believe how dead it was in there. How many stores have closed up since Christmas. It was strangely eerie.

january 16

It's not the greatest picture ever taken, but we sure have had some pretty sunsets. Snowy Mt. Hood (look closely) has been reflecting off all the light. Tonight everything looked pink.

january 15

Found out today during my blog browsing that in just two more short issues, my favorite magazine of all times will be no more. No more Simple Scrapbooks? That's sooooo not fair. They have to end it because of the bad economy. They, the folks over at Creating Keepsakes, can't get enough ads to keep it running. I am so bummed. My Mom has gifted me a subscription to it for about the last 5 or 6 years. I loved the days it came in the mail. The days I'd stop everything else that I was doing and flip through the coolest collection of ideas and layouts. Layouts that I could actually steal and recreate. I loved their special issues that I'd pick up at Barnes & Noble. I have saved them all. I look at them over and over again. The only good news is that bits and pieces of Simple Scrapbooks will be included again in Creating Keepsakes magazine. I'm going to be in mourning for about the next 5 years. In other news. . .Creative Memories has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. Found that out today in a blog too.

january 14

14 days into a "new and better me." Sadly, not seeing that translate into lower numbers on the scale just yet. However, for the first time ever tonight, I set the resistance on 13 on the ellyptical. I pretended Bob & Jillian were there screaming in my face. And, OK, when you normally are on 1 or 2, a setting of 13 feels like you are being sucked into a mud vortex.

january 13

The 13th is self-portrait day simply because my birthday is on the 13th and 13 has always been my favorite number. And because they say that we need to come out from behind the camera to record ourselves once in a while. Now, to make self-portraits not all seem the same. This daily picture taking thing is harder than I thought it would be.

january 12

The bubble bath is blissful. The handsoap smells delightful. The "scent me" lotion is divine after you shave. And the rest of the line is always on my wish list. Phil did really, really good when he arrived in Ohio that first visit with a basket full of this stuff. I gave some to my bridesmaids. My sister gets it nearly every year now for her birthday. It's Satsuma. It's orange. And it's from The Body Shop. It puts Bath & Body Works to shame.

january 11

Nothing says Sunday like taking a nap after church.

january 10

Found myself drawn to my phone today to keep looking at the pictures of my new niece, Lavender, over and over again. I can't wait to meet her. Jenny wrote "Dad's still a baby hog" on this one. We always pick on him for hogging the babies all the time and never giving anybody else a chance to hold them. It's nice to know nothing's changed.

january 9

Today was our Christmas party. The kids got to decorate cookies and watch a movie. They wore pajamas. I didn't. Thankfully, I didn't receive too much flack about that. Wearing pjs to school is just a little bit beyond my comfortability level. I stayed a while to try to regain some semblance of order in my room and then came home to peace and quiet. Ahhhhhh. . . went to the Mongolian grill for dinner and was calmed by some hot tea and some stir fry in which I added a bit too much ginger. Went to bed at 9. That. Felt. Good.

january 8

I'm sad to say, but they're gone. The last of the 3 bags Mom sent to us for Christmas. Gone. Some people claim Wise chips are the best chips. Others say Utz is the best. There are the Lays and Pringles and Ruffles too. But if you are from north-central Ohio, there is no other chip better than a Jones. Pair it up with the local Smith Dairy's French onion dip and there are no words to describe the goodness. This year Mom made a stop at the factory and shipped us out 3 bags of Jones. Yes, they're THAT good that they'll ship them anywhere. We came home from church the Sunday after Christmas and found a big box sitting by our front door. Can I get a whoop-whoop for Mom? She forgot the dip, but that's ok. We got by on just the chips.

january 7

A Christmas concert in January is a very strange thing. We had ours today during chapel. We were told 150 people came. Not bad. My class did a fabulous job. None of them forgot their lines and that, in and of itself, is a miracle. I'm so glad to be done with all of that.

january 6

My favorite show started back up tonight! It was extra fun since my friend Dana and I were instant messenging on Facebook through the whole show. We're both big fans. It reminded me of when Nat & I would be on the phone during The Practice and we'd chat during commercial breaks.

january 5

Since the DASH diet plan calls for legumes & nuts 3 times a week, I made a new chili recipe tonight for dinner. It included, as you can see, lentils. I've never made anything with lentils before. Ever. It wasn't bad. But if I made it again, I wouldn't use 2 cups of them. 2 cups is way too much.

january 4

Since the Christmas decorations are all put away, I brought my Willow Tree angels back out. Lit the candles just for the ambiance.

january 3

Got my hair cut & highlighted today. Yeah for blondes everywhere!!! Phil's taking a nap on the couch. Football game on TV. I'm wasting time on the computer trying to come to grips that I have to go back to work on Monday morning and wondering why on earth it always looks like I have dark circles under my eyes.

january 2

This morning I met with a dietician at Kaiser. 8-9 fruits & vegetables a day??? Good Lord! We were out and about this afternoon - a run to Target & Costco. After dinner, some smoochin' on the couch.

january 1

This is my scrapbook room. As you can see, it lacks curtains. I'm working on that. I cleaned in there today. . .organized the closet, but it's still kind of a mess. It's always a work in progress. Well, at least I managed to find the table. I chose to photograph my scrapbook room because it's where I get creative. And because of scrapping, I heard about Project 365 - where you take a picture a day and do a little journaling for the whole year. This is day 1. Only 364 more to go. I'm going to see how well I keep it going.