whatever

mandy - I’ll echo the others. where did you get that dress??? amazing~

Tiffany - i hope they sleep late – crack me up!

Loni - Meg, that dress looks great on you! You’re tiny! All that running must do a body good! I love you, been reading for a long time. I wanna be you!

Diane Baucke - Your blog is one of my absolute favorites. Never fails to make me smile! I love your sense of humor, your faith, your “craftiness”, your beautiful family, and so much more. Hope to someday make a craft weekend!!! Hope you have a wonderful week 🙂

Tosha Duckworth - Fitness and healthy eating are doing you good. Seriously Meg you look AMAZING!!! I had to do a double take in the first photo…you look ten years younger. Keep up the good work!!

Tiffini - you two ROCK…such big hearts..BOLD hearts
loving on all of us
sharing your gift…sharing your story
all so beautiful…xo

Jen - Looking good, Meg!!

Tiffany - A) You look amazeballs(using your word) 🙂
B) You are so right about how amazing God works, to pull the right ladies together and at the right time, AND how he works through you! You and Kimberlee are such a blessing to so many! I miss you two!
C) Glad it was such a successful weekend, and hopefully you had a great day with your kids!

april R - that red dotted dress!!! <3

and the selfie-face photo XD

Necole@seriouslysassymama - I saw that belt cinched on that dress. Someone is getting skinny!

Chris - Meg…you look fantastic!! Love your dress and you look so skinny!! Nice work!!

Tere Canas - Fun times, fun times. Meg and Kimberlee, you are a blessing to those who attend, such fond memories of CW. xoxo

Sue - Just want to be another person to tell you how fantastic you look! I, too, wish I had your legs!

Melyssa - I can’t wait to meet you, Kimberlee, and a bunch of lovely ladies in November! I am so excited for my turn at the craft table and the barn. EEEEEEK! It is so soon I can barely contain myself.

Alice H - I need to start praying harder/more that I get picked! And yes…amazing legs! Cute polka-dot dress. Congrats on 2 years!!

Sarah K - You are simply ADORABLE…and that Kimberly, she’s one of a kind. So thankful for the memories made at CW!!!!

Amanda - Cutest dress!!!!! Please share where you found it…pretty please!?!?

Hannah - I agree with Gemma! AMAZING LEGS!!! that dress and the boots…so stinkin cute!! 🙂

Carol s. - Fun. Your face is very slim in your Arlie. Happy to hear you are enjoying what I know is hard work at times. I think I’m on the list from way back lol. Someday!

Sarah Madgwick - I saw you and all the lovely craft weekend ladies on Main Street Marion. My husband and I just purchased the building a block down from Bearly Makin It. You ladies were the brightest cheeriest looking group.

Tracy Fisher - Yay.. i love craft weekend stories 🙂 -tracy

Lisa M - Hi Meg! Love the new look! Was just wondering…is there going to be a date shown on any of your posts?

Julie - What an explosion of colour to brighten up my Sunday. Can’t wait to see all the craft weekend photos. Have a fabulous day at the barn.

Georgia - I love your new blog, it feels so good to get a .com doesnt it!

As always your blog is a place of colour and happiness. 🙂

Renee - Christy – you could go far north or south of downtown to get a shot like that. Either to promontory point in Hyde Park or a beach near lincoln park. You could probably get it from North Ave or Fullerton beaches 🙂

susan - Great vivid colors.

katie4life - Inquiring mind….do people recognize your cute fam when you go places?
What fun kiddos you have! thanks for sharing!

tonya mcdaniel - haha…did sean do the “boom, bang, fire power” thing?!

Sara Torbett - I sure enjoyed seeing all your vacation photos. We attempted a Chicago vacation with a toddler and baby a couple of months ago. WORST 24 hours ever. As in, we came home after 24 hours! And it was on Mother’s Day, lol. 🙂 So, I lived vicariously through you on this trip. Thanks Meg! 🙂

Jamie - you were in my hometown! 🙂 lovely photos, it’s always refreshing to see someone enjoying that beautiful skyline.

Molly - Need a vacation from your vacation!!
What a lucky girl to have big brothers like that. those pictures are so fun and so sweet!

Tracy - We’re leaving for our family vacay to Colorado this Friday. Very excited!
The only bad part about vacation is coming home 🙁 Hate that part!

lisa currie-gurney - 🙂

tara - you do have a manchild.
i do too….it’s weird & wonderful.
the girls look older…even annie.
those pictures of the dandelions and the sunset…gorgeous.

Rach - 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!

Amber - 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

Rachel Matilda - Your crayon craft is featured on Pioneer Woman today!!!

Taryn - Love the dandelion pictures. I wish I didn’t live in the desert.

Heidi DeGroot - 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 🙂

Heather Simnitt - 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!
Beautiful photos of a lovely Sunday evening with the fam. Love it!

Sonja - That does look like a really beautiful night. Your dirt road is perfect for bike riding – I wish I had one like it here!

Amy @Lucky Number13 - 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!

Viktoria - 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.

Rachel - 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!”

Carrie - 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!
I hope you enjoy the OKC Memorial Run! Go MEG!

Melissa - 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.

beth - that is awesome, run like the wind!

Lisa - 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!

stephany @ home is what you make it - I started running a couple of years ago, too.
I had a few health issues (shingles and pneumonia) that slowed me down the last two springs, but this spring I am HEALTHY!
I run with my dog down to a beautiful park near our home…along a river.
It’s therapy for me.
I don’t even listen to music (I do if I am running on the treadmill at our health club, though)…I just listen to the sounds around me and let my mind wander.

Valerie - Awesome Meg, just awesome. Bless you.

Stephanie - 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.

Becky McArthur - 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!
You will do great! You have trained. You’ve put in the time. Think of how amazing you will feel as you cross that finish line! Have fun while you’re out there 😉

Christy - I’m running next weekend too! My first half. I loved your words! So encouraging!!!

Vanessa - 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!

Laura Kelley - 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.

tracy dickinson - 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!

Kristin S - That posted before I was done.
I needed that reminder tonight.
He has me.

sharon - Thanks goodness for using God’s lens in all things. Thank you.
But –
The question still remains.
How do you not need potty breaks anymore? What gives?? And furthermore, -How
can I get there??!

Amy K. - HOORAY!!!! I am so uplifted reading this after a long cruddy day.

Stacy - 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!
I love the verse in Isaiah:
But they hthat wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shoull mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint.
I raise my training shoes to you with hopes and prayers that you will have eagle wings upon your feet and you’ll not grow weary!

Tracy Fisher - simply beautiful!!! congrats. -tracy

Heather Simnitt - 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.
But – I LOVE running. I mean, I love the feeling I get when I run. And I dream about running – in a good way. My hope, prayer, plan is that I will be a real runner someday – you know, like I can wear a shirt that says “I’d rather be running” – and mean it.
Best wishes and blessings to you as you look forward to your race. Those verses are awesome reminders. And you know, I have A LOT of jams on my iPod, but ultimately the ones that help me when it’s tough are the ones that uplift God and remind me that He’s the strength I need when I am weak.

Lisa M. - 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 in your race. You will be amazing!!

steph - oh meg… my heart goes out to you.
races are so much more about the mind than the body.
at least for me they are.
you KNOW you can run 13.1 miles… but can you do what you trained to do?
these blasted races.
it’s such a crazy crazy thing.
but you are SO SO right… focus on Christ.
not on yourself.
no matter what, he’s got you!
you WILL finish and you WILL do your best.
just use the time to worship.
you are worshipping him with your body when you run the race.
remember that!
when it gets hard, focus on him.
it will get hard… but keep your eyes on him.
it will be emotional!
ha!
that’s sometimes the best, and the worst part about it.
but i find all my half marathons to be very spiritual.
God has taught me something each and every time.
little tip…
don’t be afraid to NOT use your music.
only put on your music when you absolutely have to.
it’ll give you something to look forward to.
and believe me when i say… the sound of thousands of feet hitting the pavement in the first mile is music to your ears!
it’ll give you such momentum.
so turn off the music… til it’s vital to continue.
it’s worked like magic for me every race!
thinking and praying for you this week as you mentally prepare for 13.1.
love you, girl!
xo

Molly - 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.

Rachel Schindler - 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.

Katie - 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.

Nicole - 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!

Kathy - 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!! =)
Blessings, Kathy K

Lorie - You find the BEST stuff! I’m also a huge Mad Men fan, but we don’t have cable, so we watch it on Netflix the year after. Lame, but still fun!

jeanne - I have been counting down ALL week!!!!! I can not wait.

jody - Whew! im not the only one – let’s start a MM groupie site! ha! I have a huge-o crush on Don. my hubby (yes, he knows of my crush!!) & I have been catching up on past seasons and are almost to season 6!! such a great show. can’t wait to watch!!
Meg, love seeing your finds on antique trips!! so fun.
Can’t wait to see photos of craft weekend!

Lisa - Aw, I really like the embroidered cloth, and the bright, cheery daisy bowl. I was thinking of going out to “the barn” this weekend, but I guess I’d better stay away and leave plenty of room for the craft weekend ladies! Have fun!

Lindsey - Love your thrift store finds! I need a thrift store fix! I have been toying around with the idea of no sugar for a period of time. I think it would be good for me. Have fun at craft weekend! I would love to go back to CW~ So wonderful!~

jodie - Waffle looks dashing sporting his spring attire!!!

Kate - Have a wonderful time! Hugs!

Organic Aspirations - I love the God is Love plate, and I love the yellow container too. Thanks for sharing such happiness!

Linda - looks fabulous! thank you I needed some pretty eye candy to help cheer me up!

stephany @ home is what you make it - Oh, I cannot wait to be there for craft weekend!!