Let Me Introduce You To...

Last Saturday I was painting Jakob-turned-Julie's room and had my trusted little pink Sansa hooked up to speakers so I could have me some music.

Remember the Sansa? Didn't think so.

Anyways, the Sansa and I have had a good couple of years. Ben got it for me for Mother's Day after I'd started running...I may have begged for it. Turns out, I'm quite attached to it.

Back to my story...so I was in the middle of painting and suddenly realized that only one of the two speakers was playing music. I fiddled with the chords and then did what any reasonable woman does when she still has lots of painting to do...I tapped the speaker lightly. Nothing. Banged it on the floor several times. Nothing.

The next resort was to call in the husband before I pushed the speaker to its limit. Still, the speaker would not cooperate.

Fast forward a couple days. I sit down at the computer with my Sansa and headphones and guess what!?! The headphones only work out of one speaker. Huh. Turns out, I'd abused the speaker for no reason...it was actually the Sansa's fault.

I lasted a whole two days before I had to go out and purchase a new one. This time, it's an iPod. Cute little green one. And I heart it already. I used money I'd earned babysitting...which makes me sound like a 15 year old. Big surprise.

Meet little green iPod and the earphones that actually fit in my ears:

Try not to be too impressed with my amazing photography skills.

And while I'm at it...I'd like to introduce you to my new glasses. I normally wear contacts, but it had been a good four years since I've had updated glasses *gasp* so, here they are:

Ignore the hair. It got washed, but that's about it. Frankly, it's lucky to be clean.

Here's a terrible shot of the side, but I had to show you because they follow my little bit ugly rule. See, they're alternating black and brown and the frames are plastic but the bows are metal. Weird-o.

Love 'em so far.

Vanity, vanity all is vanity ;)

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*Tongue in Cheek*

So, like a long time ago I asked you for some questions.

You delivered.

Here's some more riveting answers *insert tongue in cheek*

Rach asked: If you had to choose ONE outfit (from head to toe) that you had to wear EVERY day until your turned 40.....what would that outfit be?

This is a hard one...but I'm gonna go with what I have on today...I happen to be in love with the new rolled-up-boyfriend jean-with-some-tears-in-it-look. Kinda like this. Because seriously, no matter what I pick, I won't like anything for the next 9 years...except maybe ballet flats. I'm too fickle.

Lori asked: Ok, I have a question. Now, mind you no normal person would ask a preacher's wife this question, but I've never been one to color inside the lines, so here goes. ALSO (I promise I'll eventually get to the question), this is the first thing that came to mind, because my girlfriend and I were giggling just last night about our middle school nicknames... which brings me to the question, are you ready...What is your stripper name? (First pet's name + street you lived on during childhood)See? Not normal, I know. Let's hope once you reveal your name, it doesn't stick among your parishoners, I would feel bad.

Oh Lorie, this cracks me up...I've been waiting and waiting for just the right moment to share with the Internet my would-be-made-up-stripper-name, according to the above set guidelines.

First pet's name + the street I lived on during childhood.

Drum roll.... Maynard Third Street.

Yep. You read that right. Now you know the real reason I became a pastor's wife...with a name like that, stripping would just not be an option. *cough*

I'm also a big prude...which I may not have mentioned yet on this little blog :)

My friend Jenni has nicknamed me "Amish" which might have been a possibility for me, except for my deep love of electricity, plumbing, and epidurals during childbirth. But I digress...I should save this stuff for another post...

Tomorrow's Friday, YAY!

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I Got Lazy...

Three years ago when I moved to tiny-town one thing was blatantly obvious. If I was going to make friends here, it was going to take some effort on my part. In a small town where everyone knows each other it can be a little tricky to convince them you'd be an excellent addition to their little group.

I was on a mission to make friends. I'm certain I scared some off with my neediness eagerness.

Don't get me wrong, people were always kind and friendly to me, and I never felt like they were purposely trying to exclude me, it was just the simple fact that most groups of friends have an unspoken limit...most of the time we're not even aware of it, but I'm convinced it's true.

We get comfortable in groups. It's a weird phenomenon, but it happens to me all the time...it always has. We find those that we have some connection with and we settle in.

I eventually found my niche in tiny town. I've made friends and acquaintances. Connected who's related to who. And formed a group without even realizing it. Has our little group ever intentionally tried to make someone feel excluded? Absolutely not. Is there a chance that we've made someone feel excluded just by being together...probably.

Which brings me to my point (finally). Once I settled in and felt comfortable with the amount of friends I'd made, I stopped trying. Stopped reaching out to make new friends. Got lazy. Real lazy.

Same thing happened in bloggy land. Last year when I first started, I commented on all kinds of new blogs, visited the blog of any new commenter's...desperate to find my niche. And once I did...the familiar feeling of comfort set in and I thought to myself, as I often do, good enough.

And now I hear God whispering....No Sarah, not good enough.

Deep down I know I'm missing out on great new friendships, both real and bloggy ones. Now, I'm not talking about numbers of friends here, because balance is always involved. I'm talking about noticing and recognizing those around me in the same way I noticed them when I was searching for friendship.

So...out of my comfort zone, once again. And if you're new here, I will find you...consider yourself warned ;) And to all of you who've stuck with my boringness and become such good friends, reading and commenting so faithfully, THANK YOU! It really is part of what makes blogging so much fun.

Here's to doing better than enough.

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Lest I Worry You...

Yesterday I mentioned my bout of rebellion in the winter coat wearing department.

Lest I worry some of you, I thought I would prove that I am in fact still wearing a coat...just not of the winter variety. I wouldn't want you to think I was running willy-nilly all over Iowa with no coat.

I bet they don't teach Julie the word willy-nilly over in Norway. I bet they don't teach that anywhere...it's one of those little gem of a words that one starts using when they've had, what should be, and illegal amount of caffeine which was consumed in a matter of hours.

Also, and this is totally random, but at WalMart today, as I was pushing the cart, it kept shocking me...continually! It was the weirdest thing! It wasn't like I touched the metal and got a little zap, it was continual zaps as I held onto it! I think there's something weird going on at WalMart...I'm just sayin'.

PS - Ignore the sweater hanging out from under the coat...I'm sure it is a fashion don't...but trust me when I tell you the skinny jeans need a long sweater, and the long winter coat was obviously not an option in my time of rebellion.

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Giddiness

I am positively giddy that March has arrived.   Spring is coming.  The long cold winter is winding down.

I am dreaming...

• of buds on trees, warm breezes, green grass, tulips and daffodils.  
  
• of wild boys running and tossing the football inside outside.
• of my running skirt instead of under armour.
• of packing away the boots, snow pants, hats, mittens and big coats.

Last week I decided that I was retiring my winter coat for the season.  I do not care if it is still 20 degrees outside.  I am done.  Call me an idiot optimist.

*image courtesy of google images*

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It's What We Do Around Here...

I've been doing my best to not whine to ya'll too much about how tired I am of the weather here.


But I am lamenting. If that even makes sense...which it probably doesn't, but I don't care...I like the sound of it :)


Two things I want the MOST:

1. To be able to run outside 3 days a week without freezing my butt off.


2. A little tan...to get rid of this pasty whiteness...and some green grass and flowers would be nice too.

Yes, I am aware that's more than two things...stop counting.

There are some fun things going on over here in the parsonage though.

Exhibit A:

Exercising...not by me. I figured if it kept them entertained, why not.

I know what you're all thinking...Who's the girl?!? Meet Charleigh (which I happen to think is the cutest name ever) Charleigh is joining us during the days for a little while, and let me tell you she is the cutest little thing, we're all a little smitten with her around here. Imagine that.

Especially after Jake plasters her with band aids.

I'll never understand the lure band aids have over my children.

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Good Thing It's Not...

I received this in the mail today.

It's a thank you gift from the exchange student foundation we are using.

I immediately thought....They did NOT just send me a fanny pack....

Upon further examination I realized it is a lunch box thingy. *smiles*

There are some things I can pull off. The fanny pack would not be one of them ;)

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