I have been to a bunch of Americans' Hockey games in the last few weeks and got all dressed up for the Oscars. 
A month or so ago I made the decision to give up alcohol for lent because I felt that it had become a part of my life and I did not like that. I had been going out on the weekends and would drink and have fun with my friends, but I know I do not need alcohol to have fun and I do not need to prove that I drink to anyone.
I made pancakes and homemade applesauce for dinner on Shrove Tuesday and had a fun evening getting to know some new people from church. 
Lent this year came right before our wild girls weekend in Spokane. God's timing is amazing. I made it through the weekend without feeling much temptation and had an absolutely amazing time in Spokane. We went to the Dierks Bentley/Brad Paisley concert at the Arena last Thursday and then did a half day at the Spa on Friday. The concert was pretty high on my list of concerts...maybe because we stood at the stage and got to interact with the singers. The music was awesome and the experience to be filed away in the surreal category! The Brickhouse Massage and Coffee Bar was just as good as I remember from a few years ago. We got a massage, facial, mani and pedis and hot parafin wax dips. Sooo relaxing!! We had dinner at Stuart Anderson's and the salmon was excellent and the service was great. Our wild night was stomped a bit when we found out our choice club had closed down...I guess it was not meant to be that I rode the bull!! We did find a cute place just down the rode and hung out for a while and did a little dancing.
I spilled my water(a full glass) down the front of my jeans and we all laughed as I clung to sitting at the table the rest of the night. Our hotel was great and I was able to sleep in on Saturday morning. I got to go to my other fave restaurant Tomato Street for lunch with Karen and Elijah and then went shopping at New York & Co. The drive home was a lot of fun and Saturday night was quiet and nice. Sundays are always chaos and the boys were playing basketball after church and I joined in...wearing a sweater and boots with a small heal. I have a few bruises to show for it and lots of laughs. I made a delicious lunch and actually got in a nap so Sunday was a definite good day! But sometimes it is when things get going too well that you don't see the bump in the road coming or more importantly you think your vehicle can race over it. (Maybe I should get rid of my little car and get an SUV) Sometimes God has plans that we did not expect and we are left at a loss even though we know it is the right thing for our lives. This Lent season will be one of building my relationship with Christ...and remembering my time and the things I learned in Poland. The next few weeks are going to rock! I am meeting with some classmates to start planning our high school reunion and March Madness is just around the corner!! It should be some exciting times! Stay tuned!
