Life and Times of the Sharp Family

There aren't many times when it's possible for Colby and I to run together.  Most of our work-outs are carefully scheduled, strategized, planned around children's naps and time at daycare.  Read: NEVER do they occur simultaneously.  Today was an exception.  After what seemed like an eternity today, we finally made it to the beach at Grand Haven.  After an hour of laying in the sun, reading, and enjoying ourselves, it (naturally) began to rain.  We decided to go for a run together along the infamous Grand Haven Boardwalk and Pier.  Even though we didn't talk a lot (we were pushing it the whole way), it was so nice to have him next to me for the 30 minute work-out.  I am not a "social" runner by any stretch of the imagination.  I don't even like to work-out with other people in general.  I like to sweat by myself.  It's my own personal therapy, and I don't like other people messing with it on a regular basis.  Consequently, there...

I LOVE Zum Soap . It feels so nice. It makes my bathroom smell ahhhh-mazing. It is all-natural. I take a shower at every opportunity possible so that I can use it. It is amazing how such a little thing can bring such joy to my daily life. Thank God for Zum Soap! Lord, thank you for Zum Soap and for the little things in life that make me feel blessed.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Tonight the girls and I had some fun.  First, I painted both Dharia and AJ's toenails and finger nails.  It was cute to see Dharia blow on her nails as they dried.  AJ cried when we were done, sad that we were done. Then, reminiscent of my middle and high school days, I gave Dharia a hair wrap.  I can't believe that I remembered how to do it.  One of my very best friends in those days taught me how, and we spent countless hours together picking out colors of floss and beads before wrapping each other's hair.  It was so fun to be able to do one for my daughter -- whose hair is very long, by the way.  Consequently, it was also a long process, but she did well and sat still for her "hair bracelet" the whole time. I love having girls and I love being able to do girl things with them.  Tonight there was a lot of that, and I was so thankful for this chance to bond with my daughters. Thank God for A Girls' Night! Lord, thank you for givi...

I love reading.  Ever since the days of Book It! at Pizza Hut, I have enjoyed picking out a book and reading it through.  I always did the summer reading programs at the Jackson Public Library too.  I vividly remember taking in my log sheets and picking out prizes from the giant treasure chest on the second floor of the Carnegie Branch.  This week I was psyched to find out that the Albion Public Library has a summer reading program for adults.  I hope the prizes are a little better. Anyhoo, Colby has been going on and on about this website http://www.goodreads.com/ .  I didn't know much about it, but today I signed up for an account and I love it.  I still don't know all of the ins and outs of the website, but so far, I have discovered that I can make a list of all the books I have read, so that I can keep track.  I am embarrassed to say that on more than one occasion I have checked out a book from the library, only to br...

Before I begin this post, make sure you check out some of the pictures I added to yesterday's from the triathlon.  I was having a hard time getting them posted last night (dang KOA wireless), so I added them tonight.  It definitely helps give you a better sense of the event; at least I think it does. It was spaghetti night -- probably my favorite night of ever month.  We get together with Evan and Laura and my mom and Bob for Bob's homemade, authentically-Italian spaghetti and meatballs.  We have salad and garlic bread and dessert too, but they are more there because we feel obligated to put them out than anything.  Who cares about those things when you are looking at all that delicious marinara sauce and all those big, beautiful meatballs? So, obviously I am thankful that tonight was spaghetti night. But, during the course of the meal, it occurred to all of us that AJ was ready to begin partaking in the experience.  We started off by giving her...

Coming out of the swim, I had a chance to see my favorite people cheering me on! My dad got some good pictures of Colby and the kids at the beach while I was out biking or running. The last 300 m of the course was through the sand on the beach.  Tough. I got a photo opportunity with my girls and the South Haven Light House after the race. Today was a GREAT day for so many reasons.  Almost all are somehow related to the South Beach Triathlon, so I will list them all bullet-style here for your enjoyment: I did not drown on the swim portion of the race.  I thought I might for about a third of it, anyhow, but I pushed through and did indeed finish.  I am more proud of that fact than I can really convey in words.  The waves were massive and pounding; it was almost as if I was getting seasick just by swimming through them.  Every time I went up to take a breath, I was slapped in the face with water.   I was really grateful that God allowed...

Tomorrow I have an Olympic distance triathlon in South Haven -- the South Beach Triathlon .  Sounds warm and sunny and reminiscent of a day in California, right?  Well, today when I went to pre-register it was about 62 and cloudy at the beach, with Lake Michigan so choppy they couldn't set the buoys out for the swim yet.  I hope tomorrow is nicer, because right now I'm a little terrified of what I have gotten myself into.  I hardly ever got to the day-before registration opportunities for triathlons, and I didn't think this one would be any different, but Colby and I on a whim decided to make a little family vacation out of it.  We Googled some campgrounds near South Haven because we thought it might be easier on the kids to stay overnight, since we needed to be at the race very early Saturday morning.  What did we discover? KOA Kamping Kabins!  We immediately booked one and packed up.  We have a 2 room Kamping Kabin with a double bed in one room ...