March 6th, 2012 - My day!

Hello Every one!

Today's been a good day. I had a lot to do on my list, so I got started early...

First on queue - a 3 1/2 mile run with Robin at 6:00 a.m.

Nice hair, eh?

I was glad to get back and start up on the day... So much to do, yet so little time to do it all... I came back from the run to this:

Puppy would not stand still!

Check out that cuteness factor! On a scale from 1 to 10 = definitely 10 all the way!


She finally stopped moving!!!! Yay!!! Score!!!!!!!

Next, I had to get lunches ready for some hungry boys who were headed out for a loooong car trip... Mommy took Daddy, our brother, and Robin to the airport (headed to the same destination as the "hungry boys...") ;) When they left, I got some laundry done:

And then off to history class! (It was great, and we talked about some subjects that I've always been really interested in :))

We got home, I did some cleaning and chores, then I left for another 3 1/2 mile run - This time, with Maia!

She was so excited! :) (Cute puppy)

It was soooooo gorgeous and peaceful...

We got home, and I tried to get her to pose for a picture, but it was pretty much IMPOSSIBLE. Seriously, I don't think this puppy ever sits still... ever.

Oh well! Still, 3.5 miles + 3.5 miles = 7 miles, done and done!

I got back, made leftovers and roasted root veggies for dinner, and finished with an apple... YUM!

Well, bye! And, if you're wondering why we still have our Christmas lights up, don't ask! I hope ya'll had as good a day as I did!

~Margaret

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, that time of year has finally rolled around... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! :) And now, a brief ode to mashed potatoes, turkey, pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving races (I'm doing it this year, unlike a few years ago.), stuffing, after-dinner walks, and Black Friday (wait... I'm kidding about the Black Friday. That has nothing to do with Thanksgiving...). But, over all those things I just mentioned, I am so thankful to God for EVERY THING He gives us. We read Psalm 104 last night, and it was so encouraging and uplifting! I can't really resist, so here it is. I'll let you guys read it too, because it's such a fabulous Psalm. :) Here it is:

Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.

They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.

By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

-That Psalm makes me want to go out in the woods right now, and take a walk in God's glorious creation that we are so incredibly blessed with. Okay, to stick to a tradition, I will now state what I'm thankful for:

-God

-My family (things are just starting to get fun with every one getting older)

-Beautiful mountains

-Elk tags

-My puppy

-Seasons

-All the "little" things

-Life in general

-There's so many things, I can't mention them all right now, but, you can check out my Thanksgiving Post that I did a couple years ago. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Count the blessings, not the calories,

Margaret

Hunting

We went elk hunting a few weeks ago (Robin, Margaret, Maria, our brother, and our brother in Christ). It was so much fun, and, guess what? We didn't get any thing. Figures... huh? :)

The very first day, my brother and I (Margaret) were sitting in a group of trees, looking out on a BIG meadow, searching for elk. All of a sudden, I heard crackling behind us. Twenty yards away, there were seven elk. I turned, they bolted, I trained my gun on one of them (trotting away from me), took the safety off, and pulled the trigger. My gun didn't go off, because, surprise! I had the safety halfway on and halfway off. That was really really sad, because, before I could pull it off all the way, they had dashed off into the woods. I have to admit, I'm WAY too indecisive.

Of course, I still had lots of fun, but I couldn't help but be disappointed going home. Next time, I'm going to treat the first elk I see like it's the last one I see (because, this time, that was true). And, to move on to my final point: We really ought to see our lives like that. I'm not a bold person. I'm a wimp (there, I said it). I'm convicted all the time that I don't share my love for Christ enough. It is pretty hard to just start witnessing to some one about the Lord, but I feel like I just haven't done it enough. I need to be treating time I spend sitting next to some one on an airplane, standing next to some one in line, talking to some one in the library like it is the last time I can share my faith with any one. In reality, I think I need more boldness, so I'm gonna pray for that! There's no being indecisive in this life. Any ways, just some very random thoughts.

I'll post pictures someday...

~Margaret

OH, BY THE WAY: PRESS PLAY ON THE PLAYLIST! IT'S A NEW ONE, AND I LOVE ALL THE SONGS! ;)

14ers and Puppies

Just recently, we hiked three 14ers in a row. It was really easy, gentle, and fun to be with good friends and in God's creation. I have officially hiked eight 14ers. There's so many more to go! :)

I LOVE the view from the top of 14ers!

We all looked like this going to and coming from the hike

Also, my puppy, Maya, has been growing up, and now looks a lot older (and cuter). I love 'er!

I love that puppy!

She's a good jumper too!

Noble-hearted dog... some times.

Cuties!

~Margaret

A Week of Vacation

So, our family doesn't vacation too often. But, amazingly enough, this past week, our family went on a vacation to beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado. After three days in Breckenridge, we headed off to Twin Lakes to camp for a night, hike Mt. Elbert (a 14er), then head home. We had a WONDERFUL time, swimming, hiking, biking, walking, reading, running, bowling, ice skating, and just enjoying the wonderful company and fellowship of the most wonderful family God could ever have blessed any of us with. ;) Here are some pictures from Breckenridge and Twin Lakes:

There were flowers all over Breckenridge

I thought it was just such a wonderful house for a pizza parlor, I had to take a picture of it!

The inside of our cozy little town home

Robin and Mommy on one of our many walks in Breckenridge. It really is an adorable town!

The outside of our town home

Robin and Margaret (best buds)

Margaret (I love swimming)

Maria - waiting in the car, ready to head out for Twin Lakes

Anna - sliding down the playground bar

Okay, admit it. Water is amazing.

Robin the pro is bowling! *Round of applause*

Who doesn't love Uno?

Anna the bowling beast

Margaret (here goes the 7th-in-a-row gutter ball!)

Yep, can you believe it? We had our own private bowling alley. :)

How could you resist hamburgers...

and watermelon?

We had a fox show up to beg for food. When he didn't have much success, he laid down a few yards away from where we were sitting.

He was a decent fellow... not the type that would eat chickens... Ha ha, just kidding. ALL foxes eat chickens.

Camping, here we come!

Anna got some leaves from the bottom that she carried to the top then "planted" in the dirt up there. ;)

We're headin' to the top!

A lovely morning for some lovely hikers

Time to warm your fingers up!

I slept outside, hence the red nose.

Oh, we're so close, yet so far away! (you normally hear that about a million times on 14er hikes)

Maria - at the top of her 2nd 14er

Also, at the top of Mt. Elbert, we met a rather fat chipmunk. He was friendly, and we guessed he probably got most of his dibs off of the soft-hearted hikers that made it to the top.

He wasn't too opposed to eating out of our hands

At the top!

I can hardly believe summer is almost over! This was the 3rd 14er for this year for me. There probably won't be any more until next year... Well, do have a wonderful fall!

~Margaret