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phase 1
With an opportunity for new granite counter tops, the ideas and plans grew. Here's our kitchen before with all the counters emptied for the granite people to make template.  
Recently had the wallpaper removed and painted the walls a light beige.
Step one was cleaning out my cabinets, and then Gordon began with taking off the doors and priming the upper cabinets.

Chelsea and I ran the Disney princess race again this year! It was the end of February and I was quite concerned about the flight, since the previous time we went it was during one of the worst blizzards in Ohio... They did have to de ice the plane before we left (a term said alone that makes me uneasy) this time the weather wasn't a big factor. Let that be a lesson for the way my fear can sometimes...

 As my life continues to evolve, I have tried several times to look at things from a different perspective, one of gratitude. I do believe that many of the bad things that have happened turn out to be those "blessings in disguise." But also, there are little things that take place everyday that I need to pay attention to.
Grateful for week of March 11-17
lunch with Zach at Dan's dogsscrap...

 
Lately I've been going through a lot, and running has not been a priority in my life. In fact not much of anything has been a priority and I'm looking to find myself.... again!
But where does one begin? Trying to find a spark in things past that you used to love, like running? I do still love to run, but I do believe last  years 12 in 2012 took a toll on me and although I'm thrilled to say I...

Recently I've been back to crafting...
just a few things, but its getting me back to my happy place, and I like that!
I love shopping at Target for all the new and different things they have to offer during every season.  Recently they had these chalkboard spice jars that I loved! I didn't know yet what I was going to do with them with their bright spring like colors, but I knew I'd find something.
these...

Recently Zach decided he wanted to move his bedroom to the basement. At first I reminded him that that is where the spiders usually are... but he didn't seem to care?Then I told him he's not moving to the basement unless there is drywall, a ceiling and a floor to make the room.  
Let the construction begin...
Good thing for us we have a brother in law that can build or remodel just about anything!
Here...

Can make a big difference in your year!  I decided this year I need to:
THRIVE
To see them "flourish, grow vigorously, prosper", also means to find joy, energy, health, confidence and purpose.

This year more than ever do I need goals and my word to help propel me into greater things...
with a lot of changes in my life, some chosen and some forced upon me, I am learning that we cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to it, and this year I am chosing to find confidence and thrive.
So in deciding my one little word for 2013 I looked up the definitions of all...

Well I did it!  I completed my number one goal for 2012 and ran 12 half marathons...
The finale...
My final half was in Las Vegas and what a great place for a finale... especially since I had never been there!
We arrived on Saturday and after checking into our hotel made our way to the expo to pick up bib and packet. Being in Vegas, we didn't spend much time in the expo as we wanted to check...

Ryan Kenneth Zarlenga
12/7/87 - 2/23/93
On Ryan's 5th birthday December 7, 1992 we had our usual birthday dinner, he opened his gifts and afterwards we went to a tree farm and picked out our Christmas tree.  During our time there, he shared with the owner that it was his birthday. Before we left, she handed him $5 and told him happy birthday.  I can still see the excitement in his eyes as he...