Tearin' up the streets (kinda)

It has been cold...really cold, but I love to run and I don't do very well on treadmills. I love being able to breath in the fresh air and get distracted people watching and admiring creation around me.  Treadmills just can't provide that, plus I fall off ...or I run too fast and hit the front or I run too slow and slide off the back.

I prefer to stick to the outdoors, even if that means snow. It's actually a lot of fun! Just remember to tip toe around icy corners. Looks a little silly, but a complete full speed wipe out looks even funnier.

BBBRRRRR!!!!!

It has been snowing almost constantly in Cleveland for about a week and a half.  Matt and I decided to go take a look at how the lake was freezing up.  Remember this?

Now take a look!!!

Isn't it incredible!

We had so much fun playing on the ice, but to get here was no easy task.  We had to climb across an icy snow covered jetty.  Matt did it very gracefully with only one slip. I, on the other hand, went on all fours was covered in snow up to my thighs, and I looked like that scene in Bambi when Bambi is trying to skate on a frozen pond.  I know I got a good laugh out of it all and I am sure many other spectators did too.

But it was so worth it!!! Take a look!

This is underneath a fisherman's bridge

The ice was 3 inches thick at least

I am surprised I got such a serious shot considering Matt was laughing at me slipping all over the ice. I was trying to get in the right position to capture the right angle.  I was grabbing onto icicles trying to catch my fall.  A lot of good they did.  I was left almost on my bum with a three foot icicle in hand.

 

Matt is just a touch out of focus, but I had to show you how much ice there really was

This is the water!

I had so much fun but I think I pulled some muscles, but it was worth the laughter and pics.

Over the River and through the Woods

From the city of Cleveland back to the rolling snow covered hills of Northern New Jersey. Yes, there are some parts of New Jersey that are absolutely beautiful, unfortunately I have no proof.

Here is just a small recap of Christmas back in our hometowns.


Both Matt's mom and my mom do an amazing job decorating and baking around the holidays! Their houses look like they came our of a catalog and there cooking is so much better than Martha Stewarts- actually I have no proof of that either, but let's just say they are really GOOD!
Do you see the little white envelope underneath the tree? That is for me...and... it's LIGHTROOM!!!

One of my favorite times at Christmas is reading Christmas Stories. My favorite- The Polar Express.

Present Time!!! Matt's up FirstThis game is all about persuasion- He is going to win every time
Grandmom V
Grandmom P
And this is one of my favorite photos. This Christmas we gave both sets of parents a wedding album that we personally made for them on Shutterfly. They turned out beautifully. I wish I had a shot of my parent opening the book.Now this post is missing a few people. Britt and Katie- I only took one pic (beginning photographers never take just one picture) and you will be glad I didn't post them. The picture does not show off your true beauty.
And...I forgot something when we traveled to my Grandparents on Christmas night...ummm...I forgot MY CAMERA!!!! How could I do this I just do not know, but I missed capturing Christmas with my family and extended family! CJ you are lucky this year, but next year I will not forget my camera and then it's war hehehe. Don't worry I love him.




I had to sneak these in too because it was our First Christmas!!! Here we have picked our very own Christmas tree!!

Many people giggle when I put his hat on, but I love it!!! It's got everything a winter hat should have- it doesn't give me hat hair, POM POM, hand knit with love, and it has a rim on the front to bring me into style. Thank you Goodwill!Matt did a scavenger hunt for me this Christmas!! One of the clues was= where you first said yes to me- well that was 6 years ago when he asked me to go to Homecoming with him. I almost fell over I was so shocked. Where did that happen? In the basement of our hometown church. He had me searching all over the apartment and almost 5 floors down in our building until I found my favorite ornament on our tree.

I had a wonderful Christmas. I am so thankful to God for the families that have raised and surround Matt and I. I was blessed in so many ways, but the best Christmas present was spending it with Matt. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Unexpected Joy

Are you ever busy doing something and all of a sudden a warmth comes over you... a smile comes across your face and you feel joy? Not happiness, but joy. It is a feeling that brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes at the same time. That is when I know that I am loved by Him. Only He can surprise me like that. Only He (Jesus) can bring me this feeling. His soft words...His words are unbelievable. They ask me to dance... to rest... to sit with him.

Do you hear what I hear??

We were driving through a small town the other day searching for where we would get our Christmas tree and heard this beautiful song!!!!! It has become the first of my top three new Christmas favorites

1. It is called "How Many Kings"

It says:
How many kings stepped down from their thrones
How many lords have abandoned their homes
How many greats have become the least for me
How many gods have poured out their hearts to romance a word that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their son for me??

only one did that for me!!!

What an amazing song!!!!! and what an amazing God!!

The next is called "Christmas Day" by Michael W. Smith and does anyone remember Mandissa? The beautiful voice from American Idol a few seasons ago? The song also has children singing in it which is absolutely heavenly.

2. Listen here: "Christmas Day"


The last one is called "A Baby Changes Everything" by Faith Hill. This song gave me chills listening to the words and the amazing voice of Faith Hill.

3. Make sure you click on this one: "A Baby Changes Everything"


May God bless you and fill you with his warmth and overwhelming love this season.