the back door

it's kinda weird how much i miss blogging.  i really do, but apparently not enough to carve out time for it.  maybe i will try harder in 2015.   i love the new years.  it always seems like a refreshing time.  a time to take stock of where i've been and a time to take hold of what is to come.  i usually choose a word for the year.  i have a few thoughts on that swirling around in my head, but am not ready to share it yet.  however, i can share some of my favorite things from 2014!! i honestly loved the polar vortex that kept us snuggled in our home.  i always enjoyed the "in the interest of student safety" phone calls and hearing the enthusiasm dwindle in them.  while i enjoyed the extended christmas vacation last year, i guess i will be okay with the return to school next week. spring break in naples.  we were cold, oh so very cold, but at least there was no snow.  or a sunset to be seen.  but the lightning show on the beach was pretty impressi

 while this post is long overdue, i'm finally taking some time to blog again!   this year i flew with the kids to naples, fl to hang out with my parents.  we had a blast, even if it felt like the cold weather followed us south:)  when we arrived it was wonderful.  so we changed into our shorts and went to find manatees...this is all we found, but it is cute.  and so is that girl of mine!  see...cold, we were wearing sweatshirts!!!!  we ate some burgers at this place outside.  but then it rained.  thankfully we were mostly done!  this guy was found downtown naples.  doesn't my boy look thrilled to pose with me?  one afternoon we headed out on a boat to see manatees.  we had a great time spotting manatees, dolphins and some kind of sting ray.  the guide let each of the kids drive the boat and gave us a lesson on how manatees mate.  the boy was embarrassed, the girl just giggled.  if you see them you should ask them about it.  t

so this friday i have a birthday.  they used to be way more fun than they are now!  something about the cake going straight to my thighs, not enough air to blow out all the candles, and instead of being pampered the kids still need taken care of:) regardless, i still enjoy my birthday.  this year the kids have the day off of school for the end of semester.  that was something i loved about my birthday - every 5 years or so i got a day off of school in honor of it.  i recently found out i share my special day with michelle obama.  hmm...i'm gonna pretend the white house is throwing the party for me too! i started dreaming about my birthday a few months ago.  i'm kinda like that.  i wanted my birthday to be a celebration!!  i love a party!!!  but i wanted to put a twist on it.  because i'm not normal!  so this year, for my birthday i would love to throw a party.  you are ALL invited.  you can even invite others to join us.  here is what you have to do.....t

So yesterday, before it turned bitter, I took a little hike in our woods.  The creek was partially frozen.  Birds were scavenging.  All was quiet.  So quiet I could hear the snowflakes landing on my coat.  It was amazing.....and made me incredibly grateful for our little place we lovingly call Sycamore Hill.  The english major in me couldn't help but ponder this...... Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening By Robert Frost Whose woods these are I think I know.    His house is in the village though;    He will not see me stopping here    To watch his woods fill up with snow.    My little horse must think it queer    To stop without a farmhouse near    Between the woods and frozen lake    The darkest evening of the year.    He gives his harness bells a shake    To ask if there is some mistake.    The only other sound’s the sweep    Of easy wind and downy flake.    The woods are lovely, dark and deep,    But I have promises to keep,    And mil

in years past i've chosen a word of the year.  i love that concept.  a word to focus on.  in the past i've had words like change, discover, joy, create.  this year i've chosen one that may seem a bit peculiar - TEN. so what does the word ten bring to my little world?  well, i spent the first 9 months of 2013 getting back in shape, faithfully reading through the gospels, faithfully eating better.  then i kinda set those all aside in the chaos of fall and winter. so this year i'm focusing on the simple power of TEN.  my goals with this....making sure i spend atleast 10 minutes a day with God, atleast 10 minutes a day in cadio, atleast 10 somethings with weights, and adding 10 glasses of water to my day. now ultimately, each of those would lead to way more than ten minutes.  but for my simple mind i needed this idea of ten.  if i make it to july it will be purely by the grace of God, the help of friends, and pure survival.  i have a pac

so 2013 has come and gone.  it seemed to fly by.....there were all sorts of changes in my little world and whole lot of experiences and a whole lot of grace. january i headed into the year working full time for the first time in my marriage.  this was quite a change and provided opportunities for me to learn and grow. i celebrated 38 years of life i moved into the high tech world with an iphone first instagram photo february i again headed off to a counseling conference while my hubby surprised me with building me an office cubby we began the never ending stairway/2nd bathroom remodel march my daughter had an art showing in the local gallery we were given a big lowes cart for blessings in a backpack....huge blessing snow abounded the project continued april i moved into yet another  new office at work we had our final elementary concert may kurt picked crazy amount of mushrooms we said goodbye to menominee elementary