I want to adopt them all!

It doesn't matter how often I see this commerical, I weep like a baby every single time it comes on. The newest version is even worse, but I couldn't find it on YouTube. I wonder how many other people are tempted to send the ASPCA half their annual income after watching it?

Everything happens for a reason...

...and I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am that I married Josh. He was something unexpected that came into my life and ended up pulling me in a direction I didn't anticipate. I'd had my eye on someone else for the longest time, someone who I'd thought would be a perfect match for me, and I'll admit, as Josh and I got more serious about our relationship, that little, nagging "What if" was definitely in the back of my mind. But when I look at how my would-be paramour turned out, how he changed over the years to become an utter stranger, the relief I feel is immense, almost like a weight off my shoulders. I am so grateful that things turned out the way they did...I have a wonderful life and the best husband.

Springtime at the Martin household

Yesterday was the first gorgeous day of spring that Josh and I both had off, so we took full advantage of it. I got to use our new tractor (which, I've determined, is total overkill for the size yard we have, but I love it anyway), prune trees, till the flowerbeds, do some weeding, and take care of other miscellaneous stuff that had been waiting for a sunny day. Here are a few pics of how the garden looks this time of year.

PS...The reason why most of the flora and fauna looks young is because it is. I personally planted every single tree and shrub throughout the five years that we've been living here. I shudder to think of how barren it was when we first moved in!


My cherry tree is starting to bloom!





The new tractor. Awesome.

Rockin' the workouts

6 miles in 57:00?? After taking an entire week off and not training consistently for over a month?? I'm so pleased with myself, you don't even understand. And if you can believe it, I'm having so much fun training for the half-marathon (yes, you read that right. It's been hard, but so fulfilling) that I'm actually seriously thinking about running a full marathon. My thought is, if not now, when? This is my opportunity to finally become the athlete I've always dreamed of being, so why not do this thing?