makeover

every now and then, a girl needs a makeover... we just need to be freshened up a bit. right?

yesterday some friends were talking about a makeover and i wanted to join! this makeover is a little different than most. we aren't going to the spa for a mani-pedi or a facial or coloring our hair (though some of us will be getting a haircut just because we need it!). our makeover is going to mean hard work.

here's the plan:
400 crunches per week
at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise three times per week
15 minutes of solid praying per day
15 minutes of bible reading per day
support each other in prayer at an early morning prayer gathering every other week.

doesn't that sound like fun? i think the best part is that this makeover will have a more lasting affect than a facial... and all that exercise (physical and spiritual) will definitely give me a facial. hopefully some of those stress lines will disappear from my face!

so this morning i got started... did 100 crunches, jogged down cherry ave about a half a mile...until i tripped on the curb and almost saved myself, but ended up all the way down--on my hands and one knee. i walked the rest of the way, and then back home. this makeover could be dangerous to my health, but i'm gonna keep it up until i'm injured beyond repair!

I've also done my "daily read" from my phone's bible software. yay! i'm on my way to a great makeover!

the midwest

fred and i have just traveled up and down the midwest.

landed in des moines, iowa on friday; drove to reinbeck to spend the night with rodger & liz; saturday morning up to minneapolis, the starting place of the gutierrez family reunion 09. 2 days later, drove further north to breezy point, reunion location. thursday, back down to minneapolis with a jog over to hudson wisconsin for a fun lunch with larry & carol szyman and their boys.

dropped off our kids at the airport and continued south to des moines to swap rental cars for a smaller one and spend the night. friday morning we drove yet further south to visit my nephew, philip and his wife jen in kansas city. yesterday after church we drove back up to des moines.

we are quite surprised at how pretty it is here...
- the drives are so scenic with the lush green alongside the highway
- downtown minneapolis is charming and clean... once you get around all the construction
- kansas city is full of beautiful architecture and some great food

...maybe we could live here after all. but then we open the car door and are blasted with that wet heat and it's confirmed: california is the place for us!