Tuesday, January 23, 2007

I heart puppies



This is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (which my cousin Debbie has) and a Bichon Frise (which Kyle's family has). These cross breeds are supposed to have lovely teperaments and be sweet and easy to train. I love these pictures and miss having a dog. Hope these make you want to hug them too.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Soccer hillarity




Our team has survived 2 games so far. Our first game wasn't quite our finest showing but this week, we came back with avengence! I was the first girl on our team to score a goal and I am loving every minute of it. Also, a tip to all of you who played sports in childhood and think you are ready to return again...stretch first! I made that mistake at the first game and it cost me. This week, I wised up and no soreness afterwards. I feel so blessed to have such great co-workers and I think you will enjoy these photos. My principal is in there too...see if you can figure out who she is.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Soccer is back in my life

School is back in session after the holiday break and all is well. The 3 day weekend is now upon us and it is now time to rest, relax, and play SOCCER!!! I am so excited! I played soccer for about 9 years and really, it is the only sport that I feel comfortable playing.

To make a long story short, my teacher friends at school found this out about me and I was recruited for our staff soccer team. Our first game is tonight and they put me in the position where one has to run the most...midfield. Have I been running lately? No. Have I played this beloved sport in the past 7 years? No. Is this about half of our team's first time playing soccer? Yes. And my principal is on the team...this should be fun! My colleague Ben was scouring my office for belongings he would claim after I went to the hospital tonight. Some have little faith in my skills... More pictures to come...

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

When we first met...





I was thinking of funny pictures or stories that I could put on my blog when this particular one crossed my path. This picture was taken by Kyle at the chapel of Hope College on our very first day as college students, the day we first met. I knew one other person at Hope, and that happened to be Kyle's next door neighbor at Durfee Hall. After meeting Kyle and immediately liking him, I knew that I wanted to get to know him more so I asked him to be my chemistry lab partner. This began our story, and four and a half years later, I can't wait to see where life takes us! These pictures of our freshman year of college made me smile...and maybe they will make you smile too.

Look how young we are!

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

New Year's Resolutions...

Happy New Year to all! I was always the person to make goals, write them down, then see if I achieved any the following year. My suspicion is that many of us do that very same activity and also, that many of us also have the same resolutions. So I did some research because of my curiousity and here are the Top Ten Resolutions of 2007:

1) Spend More Time with Family & Friends
Recent polls conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken, and others shows that more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year.
2) Fit in Fitness
The evidence is in for fitness. Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better.
3) Tame the Bulge
Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese ]by recent studies, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Americans who made a New Year's commitment to shed extra pounds.
4) Quit Smoking
If you have resolved to make this the year that you stamp out your smoking habit, over-the-counter availability of nicotine replacement therapy now provides easier access to proven quit-smoking aids. Even if you've tried to quit before and failed, don't let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. Start enjoying the rest of your smoke-free life!
5) Enjoy Life More
Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that "enjoying life more" has become a popular resolution in recent years. It's an important step to a happier and healthier you!
6) Quit Drinking
While many people use the New Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, most are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once. Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold turkey but do much better when they taper gradually, or even learn to moderate their drinking. If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available.
7) Get Out of Debt
Was money a big source of stress in your life last year? Join the millions of Americans who have resolved to spend this year getting a handle on their finances. It's a promise that will repay itself many times over in the year ahead.
8) Learn Something New
Have you vowed to make this year the year to learn something new? Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to fix your computer? Whether you take a course or read a book, you'll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Year's resolutions to keep. Challenge your mind in the coming year, and your horizons will expand.
9) Help Others
A popular, non-selfish New Year's resolution, volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house, there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help.
10) Get Organized
On just about every New Year resolution top ten list, organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and resources should get you started on the way to a more organized life.


Surprisingly, many of these matched up with my own...and maybe they matched your's too. Have a great start to the new year!