"You like skinny jeans??!"

Today Eden made me do a huge, BELLY laugh out loud, and I HAD to write, so I wouldn't forget why...

I finally pulled out a pair of skinny jeans I bought while on a Girls' Trip, (egged on by my much more stylish and "up to date" sisters-- and the fact that they were only $6 from Gap). It has been well over a year since I've worn them, and I was curious if they finally fit again. Once I put them on, Eden asked, "You like skinny jeans??!" I was not daunted by the question, thinking how stylish I must look, and answered that yes, I did indeed. Her eyebrows went up, with a shrug of her shoulders. Then I asked, "Don't you like skinny jeans?" Her reply was immediate, uncensored, and completely blunt, "No, I think they look like tights!"

Pause, pause, I wasn't sure if that was a general observation, or one aimed at what she was seeing right then. I decided there are only 3 possible conclusions to be drawn from this event: 1) She was reinforcing her argument why SHE won't wear the oh-so-cute-and-stylish skinny jeans I bought her. 2) She remembers seeing her friend just last week in skinny jeans, she told me, and said "it looked like she had tights on with a shirt" (As I listened, I was secretely hoping this to be what spawned the comment), or 3) (and most likely) Maybe this is a good indication that I'm not quite back to normal and this is a 6 yr old's sweet way to say so... Oh well, it's back to the gym I go!!!!!!! (No worries, I'm STILL wearing them--just to try and believe it wasn't #3! In fact, if I get brave enough, I will even take a picture of the forementioned skinny jeans...if I do this, then I'm either crazy, hoping for a laugh, or truly in denial) Oh, if we could only be so honest with everyone we meet!!

Top 10, no, 11 reasons I love Life!

I FINALLY changed my layout!! Not that it's important, but change is always good. (At least Avery's excited and cheering me on...)
I thought I'd write a few things I'm grateful for...

1. Nights I can SLEEP more than 5 hours at a time!! (It's starting to happen more regularly!)
2. Girls who love to play in the snow. It may take 20 minutes to get all the "gear" on, but they can spend hours out there if they wear all the right stuff!
3. Girls who remember to use the bathroom before they start the 20 min ritual to get on the snow gear...
4. Childlike confidence: Rilee got a guitar for Christmas, and after just a few strums, she thought she was a superstar!! She had it strapped to her constantly for a few days (slinging it over her shoulder if she wasn't using it). She just knew she was good!!
5. Times when I get a "yeah!" instead of hunched shoulders and chin sticking out while saying "ahhh", when my kids ask, "What's for dinner?!"
6. Days, weeks, or months without sickness!!! We've just gone through 2 bouts of strep throat, coughs, colds, and even a small bout of RSV with Avery. Luckily, it was mild, and although I've felt like I'd never get to go out again as we've kept isolated, I think we're finally through!
7. Family--who loves you even when you lose your mind! It is nice to know that no matter how bad I look, how little sleep I got, how grumpy I am, or how much I vent, my family stillloves me and knows who I really am, even when I don't act like it!
8. Fat Burning Yoga and days I actually get to exercise...I know this sounds cheesy, but I have really come to rely on the stress reliever that exercise is for me. Since the sick girls, I haven't been able to go to the gym and MISS IT! (I never thought I'd say that and really mean it!) So, Denise Austin's Fat Burning Yoga has to do it for now! I especially love it when Eden joins me, then tells me how sore she is the next day holding all the poses!!
9. 1Week Husband--I can't tell you how great it was to have a husband around for a whole week!! Especially since he told the girls, "Hey, run everything through Dad...Mom is off limits for the next few days!" He let me go to lunch, go to the gym, read, or just do anything that was impossible without help. Love that!
10. Friends, Life lessons, and Prayer--I am constantly inspired by the people around me. There are those who are facing true difficulty with grace, humility, and perspective. There are great people I see that serve because that's who they are and want to be, and it makes me want to do even better. I love lessons life teaches if we are humble enough to surrender to the Lord, knowing that is the only way we'll get through it. And, what would life be without a lifeline to Heaven?! We can gain peace, understanding, strength, feel true Love, whenever we want/need it, from the God of the Universe. And, as busy as He is, He constantly calls for us to "come unto [Him]", let Him take our burdens, and make us equal to every challenge we face. Amazing Grace.
11. Oh, and Exclamation Points!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My brother, Jeremy, just made fun of all of us sisters/Mom with our back and forth emails planning a Girls' Retreat, because he noticed that every sentence ended with an exclamation point. He pointed out that not all sentences need to end with one, two, or three exclamation points, unless we are shouting each one. Well, here's to being excited, and LOVING life so much, we have to end each expression with !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I win--we now have a contest of who can use them more often)