Thankful

I have a few fun posts in the works, but today, and this week, I just feel thankful. Thankful that we serve a God that often spares us from the things we deserve, and blesses us with things we often don't.

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Ephesians 3:20-21

Happy Thanksgiving from our little family to yours! Hope it's the best one yet. 

It Was the Best of Times...

 We woke up bright and early Saturday morning for the Vulcan Run. I really love this race. I love the course, and it's a great distance. We haven't run in a couple of years due to it falling during our honeymoon in 2010 and in the middle of marathon training in 2011, so I was excited to pick up our packets Friday and get ready to race!

 For reasons I won't go into, I wasn't feeling it Saturday morning. It didn't seem that it was going to be my day...and I was sort of ok with that. You win some, you lose some.

 I forced myself to take it slow out the gate, which is something I struggle with in races, and it seemed to pay off. I ended up feeling great and pulled out a PR. Granted I've only run like 3 10k's, but still....

One of my favorite running quotes:

 "In the first half of the race, don't be an idiot. In the second half, don't be a wimp."

I'm getting a little better at that in my old age. Maybe there is something to this growing up...

 

 Speaking of adulthood, after celebrating with mimosas and omelets, we headed to the Home Depot for mulch. To balance things out, we also bought an 80 quart cooler. You know, for all that water people will be drinking during the football game.
 

 Namath was kind enough to participate as landscaping supervisor. His resume continues to grow. Much like his Freddy Kruger nails. I haven't had the heart to take him anywhere even mildly upsetting since the surgery/drain fiasco, but the time has come to put the big boy pants on.

  And then it was time for some football. Unlike that morning, I wasn't nervous at all. Over confident much? Maybe. By the end of the 4th quarter I had resigned myself to the kitchen to wash dishes and preach to myself  it's just a football game. Those were some CLEAN dishes.

I came back upstairs just in time for the last three minutes. Incredible. I think we scarred Namath for life with all the screaming and jumping.

If I didn't feel before that my college years spent in the Shula era had been redeemed, I certainly do now. Roll. Tide.

 The food and drinks were nearly gone from all the nervous eating at halftime.

 But the corndogs that were left over, tasted even better on Sunday.

Onwards to Texas A&M.

Bulldogs and Ziti and Tigers, Oh My.

 Another week gone, let's look back at the week according to The Grizz, shall we?

 Last Friday we headed to a favorite date night spot to celebrate two years. We took a bottle from our trip to Sonoma. It went well with baked ziti and chicken marsala. But, wine goes well with everything.

 

 No dogs allowed....
 

We left Namath at home to man the newly redesigned bar. It seems to be missing something...I can't quite put my finger on it. Thankfully, it's not missing a bulldog tribute.

We had trick or treaters this year! Which was fun for about 20 minutes for us, 0 minutes for the Grizz. He is not a fan of the doorbell, and was forced to find refuge with his elephant.

Please make the ringing stop....

And just for good measure, a little shot of AJ McCarron's fortune this week. Ready for Saturday night! Corndogs are on the menu, from Costco. So you know there's enough to go around.

Happy Friday!

They Say It's Your Birthday

 This weekend, we celebrated Matt's birthday. How did we celebrate? Glad you asked, since I was sure to take photos.

 Namath was super thoughtful. Or he knew Matt would need a drink when we looked up and saw him WALKING ALONG THE TOP OF THE WALL. I may have had a mild panic attack. Guess that knee is feeling better. I didn't document this, in fear that I would miss the opportunity, if it presented itself, to catch a 55 lb bulldog.
 

 We enjoyed some wings, french fries and cold beer.

 Despite the fall weather, we did some sunbathing. I use the term 'we' loosely. 'We' also did some mopping of these dirty floors that 'we' have slobbered all over. 

 'We' smoked some victory cigars.

 We got some glittery artwork from the nieces.

 We ate cake.

 Decorated with candy corn. Brilliant.

 All in all, we celebrated Matt, and what a joy he is to all of us. 

Wishing you the happiest of days, on your real birthday. So proud of the man you are, and continue to  become.

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Friday Favorites - Geriatric Edition

Happy Friday. I have major blog writing block. I have nothing exciting to share and things are pretty routine right now. Evidenced by the fact that the following have made their way into Friday Favorites. If you have any ideas for wonderfully exciting blog ideas, send them on my way.

• Our cooktop is glass. Ceramic. Whatever the flat tops are made of. Which I've found harder to clean than one would think. Until I found this trick on pinterest. 

Hot water. Baking soda. Fifteen minutes. Coincidentally, the perfect amount of time to drink a glass of wine and watch half a tv show. This is the type of cleaning I can get excited about. Cock a doodle doo.

• But since all cleaning isn't a breeze, I found this little concoction to be the next best thing. Plus it's easy and not chemically. What? That could be a word. My hat's off to anything that cuts through shower scum on the glass doors. I warned you this post was lame.

In non-cleaning and non- lame news, my most favorite, this guy, has a birthday coming up.

If anything like last year, lots of good food and libations will be had. Two years later, and this list continues to grow.

Distressed

Somehow this week totally got away from me.

Last week, MS was gone alllll week long. Grizz spent allllll week alone in the guest bathroom. It didn't hurt my feelings in the slightest.

 

 As soon as I picked him up from the airport, we hit some stores to search for a piece of furniture for this space.

Somehow, I haven't seen the cable-wires-and-dog-bed looked in any of my recent Pottery Barn or Southern Living magazines.

 I knew we wanted something distressed and didn't have many requirements other than hold the cable box in one way or another. In a roundabout way, we found a piece here and snatched it up on Sunday.

  It was listed on the website as sold, so when we found out it never got picked up, it seemed to be meant to be. Love the tongue and groove look on the side, and the top is brown leather.

 Speaking of distressed, Grizz was none too happy that we had the nerve to MOVE HIS BED TO THE WHOLE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIREPLACE. If the Israelites can cross the desert, I have faith he can navigate himself to his new spot.

She had a couple more pieces I have my eye on. I thought she did great work and had some unique pieces. If you're in the area...

The rest of the week got sucked up in excel, meetings and proofing, but thankfully the weekend is here with plenty of time to spend  admiring my distressed furniture and distressed animal. Happy Friday!

Wordless Wednesday

Someone has the eye roll down. Cannot imagine where he's learned this look.