Tulips by the Thousands

Tulips are a sure sign that spring is here :) Here in Utah they seem to bloom everywhere! I love it ~ After the long winter it's a cheery way to move into a more colorful time of year.

This past week Laura, Erin and I went south a little ways to the Tulip Festival At Thanksgiving Point. There are 55 acres of gardens in all different themes. Secret Garden, Italian Garden, Butterfly Garden, Rose Garden, etc. There are 250,000 tulips of 70 varieties planted throughout the gardens! They were beautiful! 

We rented a golf cart to drive around in but there were so many people it would have been easier to just walk!

 We enjoyed a great lunch at the Trellis Cafe. We were so hungry we forgot to take pictures of the food :)

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

~Psalm 8:1

~JanMarie

Renew

We are having a beautiful spring! The tulips and daffodils are blooming right now, the grass is vibrant green and the trees are glowing with the newness of their leaves :)


My trainer was out of town last week and today I cancelled my training session. Next week I will get back on track with that.
I am almost down 8 lbs. I want to get to 200 lbs. by the middle of May and Dani's graduation. That would a total of 20 lbs. lost. 
So.....I need to be diligent about my water intake, really limit my coffee and watch what I eat, increase the number of days that I do my 4 mile walk each week and get to the gym. 

"But those who hope in the Lord 

Will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

They will run and not grow weary,

They will walk and not faint."

~Isaiah 40:31

~JanMarie

Easter and Everyday Life

A bit of Easter decorating~

Where to start.......I haven't blogged for way to long.
I started a new job almost a month ago and it's been an adjustment.   I like my job at the frame and gift shop. I work 3 days a week, 8 hours a day. Some days are more mentally tiring then other days. Who knew there were so many things to learn about framing and matting!
Dani is so sweet to cook dinner on Tuesday nights and DJ does the cooking on Friday and Saturday nights. I'm blessed that they are so willing to help out :)
The rest of the week I'm fitting in volunteering at CCS (our local food bank), coordinating hiking with my group of ladies, coordinating the clean teams at church & keeping the janitor closet stocked and clean, working out with my trainer once a week,  having coffee with my friend LaDawn (we've been doing that for almost 10 years) then of course the usual cleaning and laundry around here.

Ben is practicing for track/field. He's doing the high jump, softball throw and shot put this year.
He also has practice every night now over at the playhouse as their musical starts in less than 2 weeks! It starts April 20th and will run until June 2nd with performances 3 nights a week.

Heather started massage therapy school a couple of weeks ago. It will take her about a year. She's excited to be working towards a new direction :)

And then there's my Loo (Dani) ~ Are we really here already? Where did the last 18 years go? She graduates May 23rd, turns 18 on the 28th and moves in with Heather June 1st. One of Heathers roommates is getting married this week which opened up a bedroom.

I do have great plans for the upstairs loft bedroom after Dani moves out :) The carpet is getting ripped out and the walls will be painted a neutral color.
Then........I'm moving all my crafts/scrapbook materials up there along with my easel so I can start oil painting (I haven't done that since high school). I'm excited to create a cozy place to be inspired in!
DJ has been going to his friend Doug's house on Monday nights. They are rebuilding old motorcycles together.
I've lost a couple more pounds. I've quit keeping creamer at the house. I have coffee 2-3 cups of coffee a week when I'm out and about and I think that has really helped.

Well, that's just a bit of an update on what's going on around here.

I hope you had a blessed Easter weekend celebrating the greatest gift God has ever given ~ the gift of His only Son Jesus who died for our sins and rose again so we can have the hope of eternal life with Him if we put our faith in Him alone.

JanMarie