Just a thought...

what is your favorite physical activity?

and, what is your ONE craving that you can't seem to curb?

Winter Retreat 2008.

Since everyone else included their memories, I thought I would list mine. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Aldo coming on the coach instead of the van.

2. Numerous hand checks conducted on the coach.

3. Passing around the chocolate fish on the coach to see if it could feed us all...the biblical story which was later addressed by P. Paul.

4. Hearing about Kenny and his crazy exploding cat story...looking at Aldo when P.Paul asked us to imagine and hope for things we could never imagine (we both thought of the cat story).

5. Making up games on the coach - like the "tickle surprise" and "Whose hand?"

6. Screaming at Aldo and P.Erik for their ridiculous music choices and constantly referring to P.Paul's sermon about serving others.

7. Snow.

8. The brown pizza...that we believe the brown team should have to eat again after its loss.

9. Hearing Jim talk about how hard it was to sleep one night...when someone was sick in the bathroom.

10. Hearing Jim talk about "ranking" girls with the guys in his room.

11. Aldo suggesting "would you rather" to the boys.

12. Playing truth or dare with the girls and the Val/Heather incident.

13. Red - soaring to victory: the Blood Clots aka the Blood of Christ

14. Dodgeball, nuff said.

15. Joyce SCREAMING during the blindfold game.

16. Snow.

17. Joyce SCREAMING again during the blindfold game.

18. Having the students pray over us.

19. Four girls, in my room, who shall remain nameless, talking about ridiculous things at 3:30am, waking me up and keeping me up.

20. Anna hitting her head.

21. Val hitting her head.

22. Amy "falling" out of bed...and then ending up about 20 feet away.

23. Everyone using our bathroom since theirs was out of toilet paper.

24. Jacqi winning the lifesaver game.

25. Belly Bumping - the whole thing.

26. Four on the couch game: my first and LAST time.

27. Talking about who would be the first to go or be eaten if we should get snowed in.

28. Getting the guys to do dares at dinner:
-Aldo refusing
-Jim of the Jungle, then howling like wolf
-Doug giving some girl a random pick up line

29. Long talks about Betty Punctuation and everything that goes with that.

30. Joyce, Carissa, and Heidi interpreting the leaders.

31. Having the students pray over us.

32. Snow...and being reminded that we didn't have to shovel ANY of it.

33. Amber falling knee deep in the snow during picture time.

34. Val and Spelling: enough said.

35. The challenges that came from P.Paul during both of the services.

36. Honestly, lectio divina.

37. Aldo and his crinkly coat, even after P.Erik's reminder.

38. Forcing the girls to tell me if Jim is hot.

39. Comparing gentlefolk.

40. Fun and friendship with people I love!

Feel free to share yours!

A Valentine's Tradition.

The question for the blog today is does twice make something a tradition. After tonight, I think so.

For those of you who don't know, five years ago, Jim proposed to me on the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier (which he personally had turned on since they don't run it in the winter). Since that time, we always go back to Bubba Gump Shrimp for dinner. Unfortunately, because of timing, we didn't get there this year, but instead went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner last Friday.

Last year, Valentine's Day fell on a Wednesday and we decided to try something different: White Castle. We made reservations (you must!) for us and my parents. Luckily, we were able to carry on the tradition this year.

The tables are lined in red vinyl and the workers wear red and pink. They have no skills as a waitstaff, but it's absolutely adorable. The menus are printed, they take polaroid pics of you (we now have two). The tables have votive candles, fake flowers, and the place is decorated!

My mother's chicken sandwich wasn't completely cooked (honestly), we got two extra cheeseburgers (only to find out we had been charged), and the evening ended with four hershey's kisses submitted with our bill. My sweetie was nice enough to pick up the entire tab - and that's even including the 10 pc. mozzarella stix appetizer! My parents did the tip.

The first year we went, there was an older couple there dressed in a tuxedo and evening gown - I want to be that fun when I'm their age.

Before hand , we had time, so Jim and I ran over to Aldi, just to see what they had. We were able to snag a dozen beautiful roses (1/2 for me; 1/2 for mom) since it was closing time! We only paid $3.23 for the whole bunch!!

Honestly, apart from my engagement, this night goes down as one of the most memorable in a long time. Perhaps you'd like to try reservations at White Castle next year - it's a night you won't soon forget...

Recipes...

Just throwing it out there and wondering if anyone has some recipes that are quick, easy and healthy?!?

Thanks!

Edit:

Since Mike is a smart-aleck, I'm editing my post.

Just throwing it out there and wondering if you can SHARE some recipes that are quick, easy and healthy via the comments on my blogspot? If you know of them, please include them on this site.

Again, PLEASE include the recipe on the site.

Gracias.

Congrats...

the only person who was even CLOSE was Megan - and she just really HOPED the Giants would win!

So for that, kudos to you, Megan, on this snowy day in Chicago!

The Giants pulled it off, something I said they would do the moment they made it into the Super Bowl - Jim never believed me.

Now on to a new poll:

Give your thoughts on the following:

1. The Ads

2. The halftime show with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Go.

Why do I...

Bother?

Why do I bother to do the things I do, when it doesn't seem to matter?

Why, when I reach out in friendship and love, do people assume I'm pushing them away?

Why do people feel like they have been pushed away when I see it as they walked away?

Why?

Happy February!

Yay...I wish this snow would leave!

At any rate, thought I'd create a sounding board today for anyone who has any prayer requests.

Just feel free to post them and I'll remember to keep them in mind.

Here's a few of my own:

For stable employment
For health issues (some of you know what this is related to)
For continued family connections

Much love!