Not the best blogger, but I have been behaving in my absence. Despite the fact that I have wanted to do one of 2 things: hibernate like a bear or move to South Carolina and wonder who would really miss me...

I'm being good in that I have been on my trusty Gazelle, yes, the Tony Little Gazelle, JUST ABOUT every day for JUST ABOUT a month. I mean, we all have the occasional day off. I ain't gonna lie.

If it wasn't enough to be in the midst of Doula Certification, I am going to meet with an admission counselor at a massage school this weekend. I would love to see me juggle a school schedule AND expectant mothers! I'm so adventageous! (stay tuned for my nervous breakdown).

For fun I have successfully caught up on 3 seasons worth of How I Met Your Mother and it has turned into somewhat of an obsession. I refer to Lilly and Marshall as if they are my closest friends, and I wonder if Barney would return my phonecalls and allow me to be his "WingGirl". Not healthy. But it's SO like me to get into something a little over my head.

Winter in Michigan is bringing me to my knees. Never in my life have I despised a season as much as the one I am currently in. As a result, I have had a very foul attitude and my attitude has been preventing me from seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I think it could be the ungodly amounts of snow that is prohibiting me from seeing the light.
Winter in Michigan has made me so desperate that I have been visiting a TANNING SALON! Me!!! TANNING! To give you a clue on how pathetic my need for warmth is, and not my desire for a tan: I slather on a SPF 30, wear a tanktop and shorts, and lie on a towel. God give me WARMTH! (ok, confession: the fake rays have made me look "less dead".) And... YES, it really makes me feel better.

Exercise, goals, fake sun, mixed with the world's best sitcom has pulled me through.
What's been giving you the up & at 'em's?

hoopdy-doo and dickory-dock

my cry.

new year.
new beginnings.
REnewed heart
new me...

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

underway...

The process has officially begun!

I attended my weekend training this past weekend for my Doula certification!

The word doula comes from Ancient Greek δούλη (doulē), and refers to a woman of service.

My head is whirling right now. Full of checklists that keep changing their order. I have time, so I just need to relax - being careful not to lose my drive.
What I know now:
Childbirth Education class at Providence (Dec.)
Breastfeeding class, Ann Arbo (Jan.)
I need to finish my "packet"
LOTS of books to read, and start building my lending library.
... and, AND...
I'm waiting to hear from a potential first client!

Big stuff.

decision pending

If I talk about it...
it will become too real.
With that reality comes the commitment.
I'm still prayerfully considering,
but I thought I'd give YOU a hint.
Stay tuned...

rewind

How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground

To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,

Content to sleep, their work well done,

Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly

Until they nearly reach the sky.

Twisting, turning through the air
Til all the trees stand stark and bare.

Exhausted, drop to the earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow.

by Elsie N. Brady

Overdue amounts of fun

+ absence of manners and maturity = GIRLS NIGHT!

... and just in case the photo confuses you...