a.rose

This was an extra special Halloween for me, as it was the 15 year anniversary of my friendship with my girl Al.  That may not sound like something very exciting to some of you, I don't know. But outside of my family, that is the absolute longest time I have ever known someone, and stayed close to.  And this year marked the year that we have been friends for more than half the time I've been alive. She came to visit to celebrate, and we went wild and crazy.  We had an entire list of things we thought we should do to commemorate this special time. I don't know how many of the things on our list got crossed off, but we did go to a pumpkin patch, buy apples from the orchard, go to the trunk or treat, go to a Muslim celebration, go to a Halloween party, go to church, talk about the good old days, talk about what is new and current, soaked our feet, made bows, carved pumpkins, and then we baked an apple pie.  how much do you love homemade pie crust?  I'm g...

There are some things in life that you eventually have to concede that you will never be good at doing. For me, making a sultry face is one of those things. I've tried.  Oh, I have tried.  But I am tired of looking like a duck, and therefore, tonight, with you as my witnesses, I retire my efforts. Click here to see pictures of the last time I tried to make sultry faces.  And click HERE to see a picture of the original effort at looking sultry, and to see what I mean when I say "channeling Nicole".  (You know you look good too, Melissa!)  Just scroll until you see the pictures I am referring to.  Keep scrolling... you'll get there. And you'll know you're there. Just before I tried this last time my friend Alison recommend I try channeling my inner Nicole, again.  Which is another thing I think it's about time I faced openly and honestly.  I have no one inside me, but me.  FAIL.  FAIL.  AND ANGRY FAIL. ...

Last year the day before Halloween was a Sunday.  Our church meeting started at one o'clock.  Around 12:40 on the Sunday before Halloween last year I was putting on my own shoes, looking for the lost pair to a tiny black shoe, and wondering if it was cold enough for jackets.  We were just gathering ourselves to walk out the door when the phone rang.  On most days, at that point in the departure process, I probably would have ignored it, letting the machine take a message.  I think perhaps there was some small crisis involving hair bows or some such and I thought that granted me enough time to at least check and see who was calling. The caller id said it was my mother on the other end, and you can't ignore a phone call from your mother.  I answered, "Hi, Mom." "This is Dan." was the response I heard.  In my impatient, self-important hastiness I did not pick up on any of the clues in his voice. "Oh, hey Dan.  Is this important, because we are...

My smart friend Sarah pointed out that I neglected to give you the link for the new blog.  Silly, silly me.  Here it is: Weighting On The World To Change Hello Friends! I wormed my sneaky way into being an author on my friend Alison's blog. I'm super excited. Come check it out, it's going to be lots of fun. AND have a great weekend.

I owe a lot to Shakira.  If it weren't for her and her awesome Waka Waka song, I would have curled up and died my last quarter mile of the Market to Market.  Maybe not died, but definitely curled. If you need a song to really get your legs pumping, you should check it out. Also, check out these pictures from the race: I was a little hyper.  Listen, I only got four hours of sleep the night before, and I was the first runner of our team.  With my team, I am the one wearing all the flashing lights.  Passing on the "baton" to Torrie.  My teammates are actual runners, see, so they're fast. Just because it is really fun, more shots of me wearing my reflective vest and flashing lights.  They were required when running during "nighttime hours".  I had a head lamp and a butt flasher.  It's a classy look.  Our team, after we finished.  Yes, it's dark again.  And Amber had to wear the vest, but not the flasher!...

Earlier this week I posted some pictures of Hanna helping out around the house.  To be fair, Hallie does her fair share. My mom sent me some pictures she took of the girls while she was watching them for me so I could run all day.  Among them: Most days Hallie makes her bed and tidies up her room all by herself.  Most days. And some days I manage to not remake her bed more neatly.

Here's the deal.  I made a new friend a few weeks ago.  Yes, that's a good thing.  She invited me to come to a party? celebration? holiday festivities? of some sort.  Yes, that's a good thing. What you need to know is that she is Muslim, and this is Eid al-Adha that she has invited me to celebrate with her family, and all of her Muslim friends.  Again, that's great and I'm really looking forward to it. Trouble is, that I am in fact not Muslim, nor do I know much about their customs.  So, when I talked to  her she said her little girls would be wearing dresses. That's easy enough, I can have my girls wear dresses. And then, fool that I am, I asked her what I should wear, like what would she be wearing? She's a nice person so she didn't let me feel awkward, but I still don't really know what to wear. She told me I could wear a dress if I wanted to, but that I should just wear whatever I will be comfortable in.  I don't know what that is! T...