Crazy huge, bigger-than-my-Head beautiful flowers at the St. Louis Zoo.
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The City museum in St. Louis, MO. Oh my goodness-we were there on the 13th as well! That is crazy! we love the city museum, so much fun… i think i might love it as much as the kids!!! Ah, in my neck of the woods. Isn’t that those most amazing place to explore? We love it! So much eye candy! I love that place! Hope to get back there soon… that is so cool! in the words of cooper “whoa. i want to go there.” now i just have to figure out how to get to st. louis…. OMG! Ya’lll are in my neck of the woods. Enjoy! Our most favorite “playground”. Not a great place for helicopter parents, though 🙂 And there is a website completely dedicated to lawsuits against City Museum! But it really is the most awesome place (and just 10 minutes from our house!) You need to go get frozen custard at Ted Drewes before you leave St. Louis! I highly recommend the chocolate chip concrete! And City Museum rocks! It reminds of an Anthropology! Love that place! I could spend all day there! yay!! love you. WOW… love it. Great colors! Enjoy. -tracy OH, great shot!!! Are you at The City Museum in STL? It’s an amazing place to visit and explore! Did you try the new slide?
hopefully it comes through >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Liz Bernard said:
I love this chair, here's hoping!
Reply | Edit | View | 4 days ago on the new table
email me at cdduerksen @ yahoo dot com to claim your prize LIZ! congrats!!!
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Wow! Wow! Wow! Thank you so much! Yay for Liz! 🙂 Awesome! Enjoy! Gooooood MORNING! We’ve got a special surprise for you today… who doesn’t love a little friendly competition and GIVEAWAY?!?! (there will be a randomly drawn winner in addition to the winner of the contest, so you should enter both ways!) The premise of this contest stems from the fact that ALL OF US are guilty of Pinning an idea without ever checking the source… guilty as charged! But there are likely pins on your boards that are from your favorite bloggers, and you don’t even KNOW it! (amiright?) And that’s where the contest comes in:
Here’s the line-up! SUCH an amazing group of bloggers that we wrangled!! And below are projects from each blogger (including ME!) that you’ve likely seen viral all over Pinterest! Before we get to the rules, can we talk about how RYOBI is giving away $800 worth of POWER TOOLS? Just… in time for Father’s Day! Perfect timing if you ask me. $400 RYOBI Giftcard goes to our randomly selected winner, and $400 RYOBI Giftcard goes to the first person to correctly match up all 16 bloggers with the correct projects! SO! When you click on the Contest Form (at the bottom of this post), it will direct you to a page that will show you an image of the project, and a drop-down menu of bloggers. You just go down the line and select away! Some projects you probably know already, but some you may need to SNOOP AROUND blog-land to find! We call this BLOG-HOPPING. And it’s highly encouraged in the blogging world. Here’s the links to the home page of each blog (in no particular order). Now get busy!
This contest/giveaway is in NO WAY affiliated with Pinterest or Facebook, and we hereby release them of any liability related to this promotion, the receipt of prize winnings, etc. The giveaway prize has been generously provided by RYOBI Nation. All prizes will be mailed by the sponsor and all participating blog owners are not held responsible if the prize is not fulfilled. Giveaway starts Monday 6/10/13 at 5am est and ends at midnight on Saturday 6/15/13. Alternate entry available by sending your entry via email to wehopeyouwin@gmail.com. Winner will be announced on Sunday 6/16/13 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize, or another winner will be chosen.Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US citizen in order to win. May the force be with you. Enter me please! I’M FEELING LUCKY!!! It was so much fun to do all the match ups! 🙂 Great Meg! When my boss asks what I did today instead of payroll I’ll say I found 16 awesome new blogs to check out daily. You know while I do my other tasks… Thanks a lot! No seriously, thank you!! And a few things I’ve been wanting to comment on Lauren is such a beautiful young lady, and your little girls will be towering over the boys in no time! Lastly you look great, ever since you started running you look so slender and young! Thank you for sharing your world with us lucky “blog friends” (or creepy stalker as my friends call me when I talk about my “blog friends”). I know yours. That was fun (: craft weekend #15 was wonderful. i got home and it was a gorgeous night with a brilliant sunset.
the chicks are getting big.
everyone's bikes got aired up and WD40ed. it was the perfect night to ride on our dirt road.
my man child.
waffle got a hose bath.
then ice cream cones and it was time for bed. for everyone. 🙂
i am sleeping off craft weekend today while the kids are at school. have a great monday!
you do have a manchild. your photos always make me smile. Looks like the beginning of summer is near. I’m sure your summer list will be packed with fun and silly things as well. My kids still love summer afternoons covered in shaving cream thanks to you! Gorgeous photos… Can you will you please add the dandelion field picture to your prints for sale? : ) Please? : ) Whenever my boys bring them to me in front of their Dad, my hubby tears up remembering this song about the love between a son and mama. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLwvtEUiQXw You take such beautiful pictures! What kind of camera do you use and what editing software? Your crayon craft is featured on Pioneer Woman today!!! That looks and sounds like such a perfect evening! Still waiting for our ground to dry out more here so we can take the bikes out. Not much beats a family evening ride followed by ice cream! Btw- stunning pictures, as always. Miss you! Love the dandelion pictures. I wish I didn’t live in the desert. love your photos. and your “happy” reflections. -tracy I can’t believe you already have dandelions in KS and the ones that have gone to seed too! We finally have green grass, no snow, and buds on the trees here in southwest MN 🙂 Megs, I always have such a great time with you and you do an AMAZING job with craft weekend. You and Kimberlee ROCKS! That sunshine did NOT make it up to Topeka! Poo – still dreary here, even now. Praying for some sunshine later today ‘cuz I really need to feel it! That single dandelion photo is soooooo awesome!!!!! Love it! That does look like a really beautiful night. Your dirt road is perfect for bike riding – I wish I had one like it here! I would describe these pictures as “golden” 🙂 Thanks for sharing the happiness. Can’t wait to see Craft Weekend pics! 🙂 Happy rest day to you. i love those warm Spring nights with the gorgeous light. my kids got new bikes this weekend but it rained all weekend long so i hope it dores up this week so we can ALL bust out our bikes and Charlotte can learn to ride a bike already! happy Monday, have a great week! Oh Meg, how I already miss you! I feel like I did one blink and CW was all over-so sad. And…SO sleepy today. Me thinketh the kiddies will watch lots of shows this afternoon so I can get some snoozing in. 🙂 My kids love their bikes. we live in the city so it’s not a lot of space to ride, but they menage to have fun even here. What a lovely country road you live on. I live in the burbs, but my back yard is huge, and secluded with large trees. I like to sit out there and pretend I live in the country. Great pictures! It looks warm there. I am in Western PA and it will just not warm up, but the sun has been shining and the grass is green…I’ll take it! I had my son (who is 7) watch the two videos that you posted on your last post and he was laughing so hard at “the way animals eat their food” he could barely breathe. You know those laughs where nothing comes out? My husband was laughing at Evan laughing! They were great. Thanks for sharing! Cannot wait to see Craft Weekend pics. Especially the aprons…my favorite part! i have been on this Running Journey for over two years now…maybe even three! i really like that i have good friends to run with me. i KNOW i wouldn't have kept running if there was not accountability and reward with them. we have run a few races and maybe lost a few pounds. we have run probably hundreds of miles together by now. we have strengthened our friendships (it's amazing what you can talk about while running 5 miles) we have gotten much stronger in our two years. we no longer need bathroom breaks…even on long runs.
in six days we will run our first HALF MARATHON. and for 6 months i have cringed when i said that. but this past week the Lord changed my heart. "You were bought at a price. So glorify God in your Body" and the same verse in a different translation…. "God owns the whole works. So let people see God in i love that…the whole works!
so now i am feeling different. "Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that
i have felt full of gratitude when i think about the race the past few days. grateful for a body that CAN move (even as slow as mine does). thankful for the friends that run with me. blessed with a body that is healthy and it is a GIFT. i may not be a size 5. but i am blessed. "I appeal to you therefore, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship"
because running a race with thousands of people 2 weeks after a terrorist attack at a race is a little scary….at a memorial race for past terrorist attack? "Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; how could i read that and ever worry? ————————————————————————————————————————–
two more things: 1. we will revisit the subject of raising teenagers again.
2. the winner for the Lisa Leonard giveaway is: Bree said…
I would love to buy the jumble of charms necklace with our sweet kiddos names 🙂
email me Bree for the details! Congratulations!!
I’m just now catching up on all of my blog reading! LOVE THIS! Hi Meg, I’ve been reading your blog for a while now but have never sent a comment…I wanted to thank you today though because I really needed to hear these words for myself, for something I’m going through right now and wanted to let you know how much these words helped me! Good luck with the half marathon, I’m a runner as well but have never done anything longer than a 5k…you are an inspiration and I can’t wait to hear how it went…doesn’t matter how long it takes you, when you’re done you will forever be able to say “I ran a half marathon!” Meg, Thank you for these verses. I’ve read most of them before, but they hit me in a powerful way today. My son was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and God is just as sovereign as He always has been. Those verses ring so true–no matter what the challenge before us. Thanks for the sweet reminder! Enjoy crossing the finish line and completing your fabulous goal with your encouraging friends!! You can do it! I am part of a race organizing committee (3 states, 6 cities, 1 run! Wahoo! Mother Road Marathon!) and I have the utmost respect for runners! I would try it but I am terrified of how it would hurt my fibro body. But runner’s are awesome. They encourage and uplift and even though it isn’t a team sport they are a team! I know you can do this and I am so happy for you for your attitude shift! Love it when God does that! Ps. Best of luck!! You are gonna rock this, momma! This spoke to my heart today. I haven’t been eating healthy like I want to, thus I’ve gained weight, which makes me feel bad about myself, which then in turn makes me eat bad. Vicious cycle huh? So, thanks for sharing this. I ran the Marine Corp 10K last October in memory of my cousin who was killed in Afghanistan last June, and to prepare for it I obviously had to run and eat well…since finishing the race I guess it just all took a backseat to life. God does not want that for me. LOVE. Thanks for sharing. that is awesome, run like the wind! Good luck on your race! You will rock it! You can do it! Who cares if you’re in the last group – you’ve still conquered not only the race but any self-doubt you might have had. Best of luck to you! You go girl! You’ve got this! I did my first half marathon in November and am doing a 10K in 12 days. Eek. But I remember praying and feeling the momentum of those around me at my half and when I crossed the finish line, wow, what a moment! GOOD LUCK! Have fun! You’ve trained, and that’s the hard part … now RUN RUN RUN! Thanks for your inspiration and those scriptures – love it! “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” I started running a couple of years ago, too. You have this! I am reading Made To Crave and my lesson that hit home was that we cannot follow after God with a divided heart. We have to totally give up those things we desire more than Him. The Israelites wandered in the desert 40 years and never let go of their own desires so that they could grasp what God had in store for them…. the Promised Land full of so many wonderful things God had planned for them. You’ve let go of your fears and insecurity and grasped His blessings! He IS with you and will run alongside you helping you with each and every step. Awesome Meg, just awesome. Bless you. You have worked hard for this and you will LOVE how you feel when you cross that finish line. I weigh 230lbs and ran a half marathon a couple of years ago. I was in the last group to finish and you know what? I FINISHED! One of the proudest moments of my life! Love the encouraging words of this post! I am running my first marathon next Saturday & I am soaking up these reminders! I run to glorify God…who healed my legs 6 years ago! Praise Him! You will never forget this half-marathon day! So run that ye might obtain the prize! Amen. God be with you. You go girl! That is awesome!!! I know how you feel – when Robyn and I trained for our half marathon 2 years ago, we kept on saying “why doesn’t this feel like it gets easier?!” I wish I loved running more. I wish I was faster. But I love knowing that I accomplished running that whole 13.1 miles! Go, go, go. I “trained” for a 5K a few years back, did it and hung up my running shoes. So I sort of get it. Love your quotes, especially the last one from book of Psalms. I heard at a womens’ church retreat that Psalms is the most poetic book of the bible and many believe it was written by women. After reading that quote, yup, it’s just beautiful and I’m suspicious the author was a she. God bless you Meg, go, go, go! I’m running next weekend too! My first half. I loved your words! So encouraging!!! I’m so glad God has worked in you and you are now in a more positive place with this race. It will be great! YOU will be great! You are going to do great because you have friends and The Lord with you the whole way! OKC was my first half marathon and I will never forget it. I hope you get to feel the power of the opening ceremonies at the memorial before the race. The weather was horrible so we missed a lot that wasn’t done, but just the prayer was powerful. Enjoy the vendors when you get there! There is so much cool running gear to ooh and Hahn over. Have a great time . .and gorilla hill really isn’t that bad! So excited for you–and that you will be so close in OK! But I will be out of town closer to Ashley. Will be thinking of you and some of my friends brave enough to do this. I got a cold, couldn’t breathe enough to run, and now have to start from zero again. Thanks for the encouragement to get back out there! I absolutely love this post. It totally speaks to my runners’ heart. And for 1/2s I write scripture on my forearms…just seems fitting when taking on a running task like 13+ miles 🙂 Can’t wait to hear how well you do…the finish like is always completely stellar. YOU ARE AMAZING! love this! i started running at the beginning of this year and just did a 10k a couple of weeks ago. i plan to do a half in november! good luck at your race! i am sure you will do awesome! This is a beautifully awesome post! That posted before I was done. He has you!!! Thanks goodness for using God’s lens in all things. Thank you. Congratulations to you for meeting a goal you set for yourself! Just think how proud you and your running mates will feel afterwards!! You go girl! HOORAY!!!! I am so uplifted reading this after a long cruddy day. Thank you for this. I’m not a runner at all but I will be walking Bloomsday, a huge 12K race with 50,000 participants in 2 weeks. I’m nervous about it but I’m doing it to honor the memory of someone very dear to me. I walked 6 miles a week ago for a friend who has MS and I felt so good after. I know I can do this and your words give me strength and joy and hope as my event gets closer! I’m thrilled for you! And 13.1 will be no problem for you all—this from a NON RUNNER who did a marathon (and after crossing the finish line promptly threw my running shoes in the trash to never run again!). Whoo-hoo! Meg!! I’m running in the same marathon and it’s my first half too! Maybe the stars will align and I’ll “run” into you! 🙂 Which pace group are you going with? Best of luck!!! simply beautiful!!! congrats. -tracy You will rock this lady! I love your heart, your willingness to always share your faith, and how you have just kept treking on! Looking forward to reading about the post race recap!~ Oh sister – I hear ya! I am a recovering asthmatic. Yes, I will always have asthma, but I am working on increasing my lung capacity and to stop being a person who uses my asthma as an excuse to not run. I began two summers ago running from mailbox to mailbox in my neighborhood (lots are 3 acres, so short sprints). Last summer I got up to running 1.5 miles without stopping to walk. Then over the fall/winter I walked with a friend multiple days a week. A friend who is a runner…who just hadn’t been running. She’s wanting to get back into running…so she’s taking me with her. 😉 Today we ran 1.25 miles without walking…and I TALKED the WHOLE TIME! This is beyond huge for me. I am dreaming of a 5K. I am actually dreaming of my whole family doing a 5K. My hubby can do it easy, but I think my oldest may have asthma as well…she complains of shortness of breath and a tight chest, so we’ll look into that. I understand….I ran a race on Saturday (5K) five days after Boston….But I felt stronger if that makes any sense (and I posted a better time from the race I did on Good Friday). YOU CAN DO THIS! God Bless you and I envy you for doing a 1/2 marathon. I have been running 5K’s for 10 years, and I’m not sure if I can do a longer one! That is awesome!! Thank you so much for your words. I often pray when I’m running and I am always thanking God for my legs that work, my heart that pumps blood, for my lungs that allow me to breathe, for my entire body that allows me to run! Thank you for all of these verses…I will defintely be re-reading them often. Good luck with your race. God only gave us one body, and we need to show him respect by taking care of it. oh meg… my heart goes out to you. awesome. I have done a half and a 20k. Both have been deeply spiritual for me. I have an 8 month old so I haven’t been running lately. Your post makes me want to get back out and running. You are so right…this body is a gift. I did my first Half Marathon in November 2012 in San Antonio, TX and I loved it! It was definitely hard at first but in the end 100% worth it!! Good Luck and I am sure you are going to do FANTASTIC!!! What an inspirational post at least for me. I hate running too, but I do it for my health and needed to read this. Love your thoughts on God and running. And by the way, what shoes do you run with? If my feet didn’t hurt so bad, I would probably run more (haha). Wishful thinking. Again, thank you for posting this. Wonderful post! You’re gonna do awesome!! I ran a half marathon last April. It was really hard and the weather was terrible (35 degrees and sleet/rain). But I did it and no one can take it away from me. I am glad I did it. It is amazing to be out in God’s creation and hearing him and talking with him. Love these verses! How perfect. you will do amazing!! I just ran a half yesterday and am feeling VERY sore today so dreading the fact I am running another half in Lincoln NE in two weeks – these bible verses inspired me to look at it differently. Thank you. I can understand so much how you’re feeling, especially that dread part. I signed up for a 5k a month and a half ago and I’m dreading it. I’m afraid of failure, too. It’s in August, so I know I have time to keep training, but the time in between then and now scares me. You’ll be in my thoughts! I am grateful to have met you through your blog and your words. I LOVE this! I have run off and on for about 2 years but never really enjoyed it till about 6 wks ago when I found a partner — she is training for a half and I just run with her on the shorter days {like 4-5 miles max} … I have grown so much since running with her and now look forward to the runs. Having a partner makes ALL the difference! Best of luck on your half, can’t wait to hear all about it!! =) This post ALONE gives God the Glory, and you haven’t even run yet. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. You got this! Your body will go anywhere you mind takes it 😉 good luck |
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Mindy - Beautiful – both you and the flower!
Liana - I too would have loved to have run into you and your fun family in my city! Enjoy!
Comfypjs - Talby looks just like you! I like your longer hair too.
Amanda - I was at St. Louis Zoo weekend before last ( I live 2 hrs away) I probably would have screamed if I saw you there! Lol 🙂 Have a great trip, there are so many great things to do St. Louis!
Jen - Welcome to St. Louis! You must get Ted Drewes while you are here…yummo. You should also visit the Magic House if you have time, your kids would love it. Enjoy your trip!
Tasha roe - Yay! If you guys have time the Botanical Gardens are awesome too!! Huge play area – think Swiss family robinsons- and mini splash pad to cool off. Enjoy your trip! I love STL 🙂