bible study, food and a big pig.

MY BIBLE STUDY GROUP ALWAYS TAKES A OUTING TO THE STATE FAIR, THIS YEAR OF COURSE WAS NO DIFFERENT. ALTHOUGH- 2 OF OUR MEMBERS COULD NOT JOIN US. AND WE REALLY MISSED DOC NATE- WHO WAS IN OUR GROUP LAST YEAR, BUT HAD TO MOVE TO TEXAS. MOST OF THESE PICS ARE IN HONOR OF HIM. NOTE- COWBOY HATS....CUZ PEEPS IN TEXAS WHERE THEM. AND MAYBE I SHOULD GET A RED HAT...I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
ONE OF MY HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT THE FAIR IS TO GO AND SEE THE LARGEST BORE. YEAH- THIS ONE WAS A LITTLE OVER 1200 POUNDS...SERIOUSLY. THAT'S A LARGE PIG.

AND HERE IS OUR BIBLE STUDY GROUP (MISSING: JEANETTE AND JUSTIN). AND NATE IS ALSO MISSING. AARON, (the one on the far right) PRETTY MUCH CAN EAT AS MUCH AS NATE, SO WE DECIDED HE MIGHT TAKE HIS PLACE. OF COURSE...SOME OF OUR FOOD INTAKE WAS: TURKEY SANDWICH, FRENCH FRIES, CHEESE CURDS (2 ORDERS JUST FOR AARON), 1919 ROOT BEER, GYRO, CORN ON THE COB, MARTHA'S COOKIES, AND A ELEPHANT EAR. THAT'S A LOT OF FOOD FOR JUST 6 PEEPS (oh yeah, paul came along...he is Anna's boyfriend- we allowed him to crash our bible study).

OF COURSE OUR CONVERSATION RANGED FROM FOOTBALL PRACTICE, TAKING VACATIONS, GETTING MARRIED, WHY PEOPLE ARE SO STRANGE, SCHOOL STARTING, HEADACHES AND OLD AGE, MY HAIR COLOR, WHO WAS GOING TO WIN OUR 'WHO KNOWS THE MOST PEOPLE GAME', WEIGHT WATCHERS, SKY DIVING, AND HOW FATING THE FOOD IS AT THE FAIR (that was me mostly), AND THE BIG PIG. OF COURSE- WE CHATTED ABOUT MORE THAN THAT- IT WAS GOOD; SUPER FUN TIMES. AND I LOVE THAT I HAVE A COOL BIBLE STUDY GROUP TO CHILL WITH-

@ the cabin!

last weekend most of my bible study group and a couple other friends hit up the Persuitti Cabin for some summer fun....before the summer ends. Ben, Jason, Jen and I headed north early Saturday morning. we were all excited for some good weather and some boat fun. when we arrived it was very overcast, super windy...and cold-sweatshirt and sweatpants cold. but- like most Minnesotans- we did our water sports anyway. well, i should say they did their water sports. i enjoyed the nice and dry boat. of course, we had out laughs watching peeps biff it. Paul had the best biff on Saturday- it looked like his spin was twisted all in a knot. Jen had a really good biff too and paid for it by not being able to move her head for a couple of days!!! why do we do things that hurt out bodies so bad!!!! we spent the night in a neighbors hot tub and at the camp fire. it was an evening worthy of a fire. Sunday most peeps slept in, but i was up and at it by 7:15ish....i sat outside wrapped in 2 blankets and read. Mr. Persuitti kept my coffee warm and i had a great morning. Sunday was looking like a much warmer day! we started it off with a long 'speed' walk and than hit the boat. again- i stay in the boat....just am not to into water sports, except swimming!!!! Ben has a major biff after he cleared the wake. we had great eats and great conversation...and it was a great way so spend a late summer weekend! Thanks Persuitti's for always allowing us to come crash your cabin. And Anna- we love you, just cuz you are you, not cuz you have a cabin! you rock my fave off!!!! :)

10 pds....lots more to go.

some of you that don't see me day to day probably aren't aware that i am currently on a weight lose journey. i joined weight watchers about 5 weeks ago and have currently lost 10.8 pounds. i am excited about it. i feel great. i cant really 'see' that i've lost 10 pounds...but thats ok. feeling great is most of the battle- right?!?!?!?! i have a long term goal in mind as to how much i want to lose and by when, and i am right on track. if i continue the current pace i am at- i should reach my goal. weight watchers, i am learning, is about life changing habits instead of a diet. so i wont call it a diet!!!!!! i am learning that i can control the urge to eat when i am bored and that i can control the amount i eat. of course, it is hard to give up the yummy sort of food - like peanut butter, and candy bars, and butter, and that most often actually eating 1 serving of something does fill you up..if you just let it. i of course also have had to give up Caribou coffee treats, which is probably been the hardest. yes...i still indulge myself oh so often...which is way i like weight watchers- cuz it allows you to do that sort of thing. i have been learning a lot about food and habits, and am liking my journey so far. of course, the more weight i lose the harder the 'habits' get- but thats ok. This week will be a massive, massive challenge as i head to a friends cabin for the weekend. of course there will be cookies, treats and super good eats...most of which i will need to 'watch' what my intake is. than on monday i head to the state fair...oh goodness- i plan to take tiny bits of things, but thats it. than on tuesday i am having a couple girls over for taco night, which aren't bad for you...if you stay away from chips, sour cream, olives and the shell part. so- i will be interested to see how i do come my next weigh in day. I have been praying for lots of discipline in my life and this is just one area in my life that needs a lot of it. i am proud of myself, which is hard to say sometimes...but i am. it's been good.

reading freak.

way back in july i started a series of books- called 'Redemption', by Karen Kingsbury. I began reading the first book and finished it in 2 days, while in ND celebrating the 4th with Jen and Jay. (started the 2nd while there) Since that weekend i have finished the 'Redemption' series, plus the 'Forever' series-10 books. of course, these books are about the same characters: A Family called the Baxters. I have completley fallen in love with the Baxter family.... it sounds silly, i know, that falling in love with fiction characters could really happen, right? Their just made up characters...well, i've learned a lot of good solid things from this fiction family. First- to TRUST: to trust in God; in all situations, in all seasons of life, in all areas of life, good and bad, when ya want to and when ya dont. Yeah- the book has some pretty cheesey stuff happening, but hey...i am girl- cheesy is what we do. But TRUST is always what keeps the Baxters going. wonder if that whay people think about me? i doubt it! Second- To PRAY: again, in all situations, in all seasons of life, for all areas of life, good and bad, for yourself or others- praying is a must! I have found myself wondering why i am not more like the characters in the books; their first thoughts are always to pray first. ME...well, i pray- and at times i even think i am a consistent prayer. but....man, i can pray way more often and for way more things that at times i think i can deal with myself. Third- To CELEBRATE. there is nothing more important than family and good friends to do life with. As I've read these 10 books i know with out a doubt that i want to celebrate life with my family and friends. Forth- To HOPE. again...these books are cheesey...girly if you will...lots of romance. but...it gives me hope that one day (if i pray more; see #1) romance and the love that i so desire will find it's way to me. I know that there have been a lot of things that i have pondered while reading these ten books the past month +. The kicker is...after the 10th book i thouhgt i'd be finished with the Baxter family, and as the 10th book came to an end i found myself sad. well....low and behold- the Author decided she wasn't ready to finish the Baxter story, so she wrote another series called Sunset; which yes...i am currently on book #2. i actually just bought book 3 and 4 on ebay today. so- there ya have it; I am a reading freak! you should do the same. turn that silly TV off (excpet for the olympics) and read a book. learn something that spurs you on to become a better person. BUT- dont forget to put the book down to read your bible and to go to bed at a decent time...2 things i've sort of forgot to do in my 'Baxter' persuit. SWEET>

girls weekend - 2008

i feel like i just got done writing about last years girls weekend to the Schwitters Cabin and here it has come and gone again...another summer weekend with the ladies. ...this weekend we celebrate our 10th trip. crazy how time flies. crazy that we have already been out of college for 10 years.

this time around we headed south of the cities about 30 minutes to Northfield, MN where we stayed in a comfy Bed and Breakfast called The Magic Door. it was old, but nice. we drew sticks to see who got to be roommates this time around and i was lucky enough to get the shortest one..thus i got to kick it with Sara (and baby). our room was nice, we had a big old spa bath tub and a super soft bed. Tammy and Heather were upstairs, and they had a huge spa bath tub...I'd even call it a mini pool. so, part of our weekend was spent taking baths. something i don't do very often. it was nice.Friday night we pretty much got there, had subway and hit caribou, watched a little of opening night of the Olympics, and than called it a night. Saturday was spent checking out all the downtown shops. they were very cute. i took a bike ride and almost got taken out by a truck...that wasn't so fun. scared the living life right out of me. we found fun places to eat lunch and dinner and spent lots of time chatting about...well, whatever it is girls chat about. but it always seems that while talking i learn something new about my college friends; it's funny how you think ya know someone and than bam...something new comes up. Sunday I slept in. the moms couldn't sleep past 6:30. later that morning we had a little run in with ants in our breakfast; i wont go into detail- and than went to a super nice spa for the afternoon. i got a fantastic massage and a hair cut. very worth it! (although my skin is still very oily and it's been almost 5 hours since.) so...all in all another very successful weekend with the girls.

we have already talked about what our plans should be for next summer. i am so glad that i have these short little get aways with some of the coolest peeps that came out of NWC. girls....regardless if you think i was mad at you our freshman year for moving my stero, or if i was super intimidating, or if for some odd reason you thought i was to cool for you- well, ...your rock my world- i totally dig you all. sweet!!!!
oh yes..this pic need an explanation. we were had set the timer for a group picture after our dinner at the Tavern...and a dude ran right in front of it. i think that perfect timing- and super funny!!!! we tried again-and got a good one. just thought this one was cooler to post.

The Zoo.

Hit the Zoo today with my mom, dad and all their grandkids- my niece and nephews. it was sort of a last minute thing, but was great. we took off at 9:30, and stayed til 3:30. it was hot, but fun. the kids loved watching the 'big cats' (thats what tyler called the lions) eat massive bones. we actually sow them attack the bones that were tossed into to them. it was pretty exciting. watched the giraffe pee for like 4 minutes straight. Austin timed it! pretty amazing; my dad got a headache from the smell. weird huh! although nasty when they pee, giraffe's bye far are my favorite animal- just so you all know!watched the sparky show, of course!!! i remember it being way cooler when i was like 10 years old. pretty lame as a 33 year old. had a picnic lunch...which i spent on the phone (sorry family) talking to Doctor Nate. The kids wanted some piggy-back rides...but i gotta say they might be getting to old to host them up on my shoulders and walk around like that. Austin is 9- and heavy!!!! Emma, who is 10 and super tall wanted a try and it took everything in me to get her up on my shoulders. it was funny- everyone was laughing at us! We spent almost a 1/2 hour in the butterfly park; a place that you walk through and watch millions of butterflies fly around with high hopes that one will land on you. Tyler had a beautiful orange one land on his hand, but i wasn't quick enough to snap a photo. bummer! Than hit up a couple of ride- 'us kids' did the tornado, while the adults watched on. But Ty had to ride the train...why are young boys so into trains? he loved it! it was a great afternoon spent with people i totally am in love with. cant really get enough of those kids, and my parents. But was glad to get home and enjoy some air conditioning. Had a evening visitor for a spell...Anna P. showed up just to chill out for while. She just had an itch to come over. i love that. But she left to go eat Pizza with her lovely boyfriend, and i stayed home and whipped up some chicken and rice with steam veggies. yummmm...right?