Thanks for being patient with me through my blogging woes. I read on another blog recently that the writer was taking a break because she'd found that she felt guilty when she did blog and guilty when she didn't. I so identify with that. My feelings toward blogging currently are confusing to me, but it's just how it is. I think of my blog and then think about how much I don't want to write and then how much that doesn't make sense. Like I said, it's just how it is.

Anyway . . .

Springtime finally came to our area of the world. In the past five days or so, we've had some beautiful, sunshiny days followed by pouring rain and flood warnings. The tree just outside of our living room has little baby green leaves shooting off of it (they may be an inch long, no more). Jason mowed the lawn for the first time on Friday afternoon. Tulips are blooming along the driveway (weeds have emerged, as well). It's really here. Although I love fall and winter, it is fun to watch the seasons change. It adds variety to life!

Since I talked to you last, my husband has begun seeing the world in a whole new way. His vision was 20/550--far beyond legal blindness if left uncorrected. Three and a half weeks ago, he had Lasik surgery, and his vision is now 20/15. It's truly amazing, and I'm very glad for him. He's worn glasses for about twenty-five years, so this is a huge but very welcome change.

Ministry-wise, life is smooth and encouraging and stressful all at once. We've had some encouragement in the way of attendance, visitors, and spiritual growth in our people. Simultaneously, though, Satan is doing his best to bring reproach to Christ's name in some of our church families. Jason's dealing with some tough things right now. We pray for soft, repentant hearts and openness to needed change.

Personally, I'm trying to get on the exercise bandwagon (is that one word or two?) once more. Jason has come to the point in his life where he feels he needs it too. (He's still trim, but he's not skinny like he was--and skinny is the right word!) Last week, we found a NordicTrack elliptical trainer marked down to $150! We've both been using it for a week today. Oh--that made me so sore at first! I want to continue and not be dissuaded by the pain. (It's a good kind of sore, anyway.) I can do this! I'm working to have reasonable expectations and work for longer times as I continue to use it, and so far, it's working. I've been able to increase the distance even in these first seven days. That's encouraging to me.

So there you have it. An update! Again, thanks for your patience with me. I'm just weird.

Oh, and I'm adding a protected post above this for some of you. If you can't see it, don't worry--I just don't want to steal someone else's thunder. You'll hear it another way eventually--just not from me.

I know it has been a long time. How about a month or so in review?

• Finished the church's annual report in mid-January. I love that job! It was far easier this year than last, as I reused the formatting from last year.
• Made a lemon meringue pie for my husband on the weekend of the annual meeting. Do you remember my post about that tradition a year ago?
• Was happily sick on the evening of the annual meeting.
• Rejoiced to see Herm Edwards fired as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.
  
• Made gobs and gobs of chili for our church's chili supper the last Sunday evening in January. One hundred and twenty servings, to be exact. It was the best attended chili supper we've ever had, so there wasn't a scary amount left over. What was left over I sent home with other people and just brought a little home for us.
• Wrote "Twenty-five Things" for Facebook and thought about posting it here.
  
• Hosted another Awana Grand Prix at church. What a fun day! The adult whose car won for both design and speed benefited from being laid off. He worked for forty hours on his car! A week after the Grand Prix, he was rehired, so hopefully he won't have that much time available to work on his car next year, and others will have a chance.
• Was intrigued by the hiring of Todd Haley to be head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.
  
• Took a "mental health day" on the second Sunday of February. I found myself wanting to pull the covers up over my head, so I did.
• Prayed a lot for my brother as he experienced a huge life change.
• Experienced some really warm weather which melted our mounds of snow.
• Baked heart-shaped brownies and carrot cake cupcakes (with frosting piped inside) for Valentine's Day. The brownies were for my Sparks leaders, and the cupcakes were for Jason. He liked them.
  
• Ate at The Melting Pot for Valentine's Day with my husband. What a fun experience! I wish I'd remembered my camera, because it was worth documenting in pictures. There has to be a next time, and I must remember my camera.
• After a long Sunday afternoon nap, drove halfway to church in the dark without my headlights on. I felt pretty silly!
  
• Was disgusted with Alex Rodriguez and didn't believe his story.
  
• Hosted the board members and their wives for dessert last night. I made Layered Mocha Cheesecake and a traditional cheesecake with caramel, chocolate, and raspberry sauces and chopped pecans.
• Today--watched it snow, did laundry, cleaned up from last night and . . . oh! blogged on Xanga for the first time in a long time and . . .
  

Will I ever really want to blog again? Right now, I just don't want to, and I don't know why. Maybe it's winter blahs, or just general blahs. I can't explain it. It's just true.