Archive for the Personal
Monday, March 8th, 2010
100 and counting
Today was my 100th workout at Curves. Just don’t ask me when I got started. But at least I got this far.
Next workout will be #1 towards 200.
I’m curious how many of you work out regularly. How many at Curves?
Saturday, March 6th, 2010
A champion in the family
Outside, germinating seeds are competing with icy geodes. That means spring is near in Minnesota. And spring means the season of playoffs. And speaking of playoffs, our granddaughter Millie is advancing to the Minnesota State Spelling Bee.
Never one to deserve the taj of a dunce, Millie prepared pragmatically for the competition, poring over the libretto of words, words, words. Not even the beauty of the carmine setting sun could lure her from her spelling recitations.
Squashing the suspicion that such obscure words could have been assigned only through misanthropy, she pursued mastery of each word like a vigilante.
Through all this hard work, she wedged her way into the Regional Bee, adjacent to only one other 5th grader–both girls facing down the machismo of 7th and 8th graders. Millie held on obstinately to the end, through 11 rounds and a spell-off for 4th place.
By the end of the Bee, her father was in need of a tranquilizer.
If there had been a sashimi restaurant in town, that would have been a worthy place to celebrate.
Way to go, Millie!
Saturday, March 6th, 2010
Digging out of chaos — I have a study
It’s time for the big update you’ve been waiting for (if you’ve been with me long enough). I’ve dug out of the chaos in what was “the den” and is now “my study.”
My study is beautiful and, most important, I can use it for something besides a walk-in junk drawer. I used to stand in the doorway (because it was unsafe and unhealthy to walk any further) and toss stuff onto the pile. Now I can walk into the room and sit down at my desk and work at my computer.
A visiting grandchild can sit opposite me on that little stool and work at the desk with me. And there’s room beside me for Talitha to pull up a chair so we can look at school work together.
Or I can sit in my armchair and read my Bible or just do nothing.
AND now I have something I’ve never had before–a place especially for my sewing machine. And even better, it’s a fold-away shelf, so it’s out of sight when I’m not using it.
I am so thankful for the gifts God has given our son Benjamin, who took my ideas and wishes, worked with what was left in the room after I emptied it, got creative with Ikea pieces to make them fit with existing shelves, and coordinated the project.
I know I may not be entirely objective, but there are plenty of others besides me who think Piper Construction is pretty great.
Digging out of chaos — previous posts:
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
“I’ve grown to respect this young woman”
I don’t need anyone to tell me how wonderful Talitha is. But still, I do love it when a good friend like Jenny sings her praises. Jenny and her family are our downstairs neighbors. The photo is of Jenny and Sam.
