Wings As Eagles

I've moved!

2011-09-19T10:14:00.001-05:00

Many things have changed since the month of May--including my blog! I've moved to a new design and new address!

www.delightinginhim.com

To stay up to date on my latest events in my life, visit me via the above link!

It's been forever!

2011-05-15T12:53:00.002-05:00

But there is a reason! :)

I know. It's been forever since I've posted anything here. I've been slightly occupied with a few others things that are involved with this event: Luke & Serena--Wedding Day--May 21, 2011.

And it's almost here! Less than a week! I can hardly believe a year has gone by already!

And yes, it will probably be a while before I'm back to blogging. First wedding week, then honeymoon week, then moving week. I'm looking forward to all three!!! :)

I'm ready to move in!

2011-04-06T23:19:00.001-05:00

I'm soooooooo excited!!! Luke and I NOW have a house in Colorado Springs!!!!!! That was one of the super huge, major things to get accomplished before May and it's done! Found, signed, completed and finally ours!

And.....I love it (Luke does too!!)!!!! Luke was looking for something large enough that I would have space to continue my business and hold my office, sewing room and inventory! And he found it! It even has an unfinished basement that will hold all my shelves with supplies and inventory! It's perfectly fantastically wonderful!!!!! God provided just the home for us in His perfect timing!!!

And......I can't wait to move in!!! Last week Dad and I drove out to Colorado Springs with a carload of stuff. As Dad put it, "It didn't even make a dent in my stash." Hmmmm...I think it did! I have a couple empty shelves! :) Anyway, once I packed a few things, I was ready to pack up the rest of my stuff and move in!!! And in less than two months, I can do just that!!! I can't wait!!!!

Take a quick tour with me.....:)

Walk in the front door to the living room with a vaulted ceiling--love that!!! Luke and I looked at houses similar to that layout and loved it, although I wasn't sure if we'd get a house with that! :)

Now walk from the living room to the beautiful, large kitchen & dinning room...can't wait to start filling those cabinets!!!!

And that leads to the family room right across from the kitchen

From the family room, walk through the hallway and you'll find the one bedroom on the first floor

Now, let's go upstairs....:) This part I really, really love!! :) I've never ever had an "upstairs" as in second story upstairs and my sisters and I always thought that would be so fun! My Grandma insists that I'll get tired going up and down all the time and while that may be the case, I'm going to totally enjoy it once I move in!!! :)

This wall I'm so excited about! I know, I know--it's just a wall! BUT, it's the stairway wall that I plan to hang a collage of photos--and yes, I already have some of those planned photos boxed and ready to move to Colorado!! :)

Once you reach the small hallway upstairs, walk into the master bedroom (which is large enough to fit in Luke's cal. king size bed....just barely!) with adjoining bathroom.

And this is the ULTRA wonderful part I love---a HUGE walk-in closet!!!! :) :) And, not only is there one....

But, two walk-in closets!! Whoever lived here before or built this house must have had a ton of clothes!!! I have plenty, but ummmm, I know both Luke and I don't have two huge closets worth! :)

Walk out into the hallway to a bathroom on the left, stairs on the right and two bedrooms ahead!

And then into one bedroom---all the bedrooms have huge closets!! Which in my mind, you can never have too much closet space! :)

And then the second bedroom---just about every room has a ceiling fan! I'll put that long handle feather duster to good use! Most Colorado homes don't have air conditioning (including this one), so there's an abundant supply of ceiling fans. Apparently it doesn't usually get warm enough to warrant air conditioning. That will be something new to me; you could never live in SW Kansas in the summer without air conditioning!

Now, walk down one more hallway to the loft that is another room I love!!!

That even has a window that looks out at Pikes Peak! Granted, there is a tree in the neighbor's yard that partly blocks it, but....it's still there!!! :)

Look over the loft short wall to the living room and front door below!!! I soooo love this photo!!! :) Well, actually being there in person is better, but since I can't be there yet, I'll just look at the photos!! :)

And I'm ready to drop everything, start packing and loading in Kansas and unloading in Colorado! Only two more months!!!! :) Soon!!! :)

Cattle, wheat field, Oklahoma and flip flops!

2011-03-27T21:41:00.000-05:00

Such as this week.

I was in the house all day. (yeah, I know...no big surprise there! ;)) Anyway, I took out several loads of trash out to the dumpster and noticed the cows out behind the garden on the wheat field. Dad has been running cattle out there for several weeks, so it wasn't anything new to see them there.

I walked back in the house and proceeded to finish what I was doing and then it dawned on me. There's cattle outside, behind the garden, on the wheat field. Didn't Dad just tell me last week that he took the cattle off there and wasn't going to run them back out there???

Maybe he changed his mind. I looked out the kitchen window only to see the temporary fence he had up at one time was down. Uh oh. And Dad? Well, he was in Oklahoma for the day. So, why did the cows choose today to get out???

So my call to Dad went like this, "Are there supposed to be cattle on the wheat?"

Dad, "No."

Me, "Well, guess what? There are now! Where are you at? Are you on your way home?"

Dad, "No, I'm still a couple hours away. How many? They must have gotten through some fences. You're going to have to run them back in the corral."

Sure, just run them back in the corral. Most people find it hard to believe I live on a farm or that my sisters and I used to help Dad work cattle. But, it's true. Admittedly, it's been years since I've done it and as one person so accurately announced in church one Sunday morning, "There's this young lady living at Quincy's farm who doesn't help him with cattle." Well, guess what? That's about to change! ;)

I had walked outside while I was talking to Dad and Austin was in the yard (our next door neighbor) with his dog. Help was in sight!!!! I asked him if he would be able to help me round up the cows and get them in. His response, "Sure!"

I went back in the house for sunglasses and shoes. I've been grilled since very young to ALWAYS wear closed toe shoes when working with cattle and horses. Hmmm......shoes. I briefly debated this dilemma. I don't own tennis shoes. And I'm not wearing my good black boots out in a filthy field and corral. Soooo......it's gonna have to be flip flops!

Austin and I walked out into the corral and discovered that the cattle had broken through a gate, which would require repair to hold them back in there once we rounded them up. Austin said he could fix it (thank goodness!), but he needed wire and a post. Ok. Another call to Dad to find out where he kept that stuff.

Gate mended thanks to Austin. Now, to get the cattle. They happened to be clear at the opposite end of the field and I decided that we were not walking all the way out there to bring them back. Austin commented to me that now was the time he needed his horse here. Yeah, I agree. The next best thing? Dad's four wheeler! Worked splendidly!

Thankfully Austin has worked on a farm before and is familiar with repairing fences, herding cattle and driving four wheelers. About the only thing I did was call Dad multiple times as he was explaining to me the what and where with fences, gates and cattle.

I'm thankful I caught the cattle out there before they wondered who knows where. And so thankful Austin was here. He was just getting ready to leave when his dog came over to play with Lady and at that moment I walked outside. Perfect timing! If I would have noticed the cows out five minutes later, Austin would already have been gone! Praise God He worked through everything!

And....the flip flops worked! I still have toes!! ;)

Dustful of memories

2011-03-22T20:41:00.002-05:00

Dusting. It's a chore in any house that needs to be done. It's the one cleaning job I like and dislike at the same time.

I like it because it's quiet. It lets me think, make mental to-do lists or organize my day while I'm doing something else. I can carry my ipod in my pocket, turn on music, a book or program and make my way from room to room with a dust cloth and dust brush. Why do I dislike it? Come on, you know how I stay away from dirt and dust as much as possible!! ;)

Nothing was different this week as I put on gloves, grabbed my dusting tools and started in the kitchen with the ceiling fan and skylight. I really, really love the dusting brush I have because it has a handle about 18" long that allows me to reach the the ceiling fan and high places (ok, I admit--I STILL end up standing on a chair in addition to that, but still...it helps!) and yet the handle isn't long enough that I hit everything behind me as I'm working.

As I'm working, one thing that crosses my mind is that I really should add this wonderful little cleaning tool to my wedding registry list. It's something I'll put to good use. I've already made note of it on my "Will Need" list when I move, but it would be a good registry item. Hmmmm...I'll have to take another look at Bed, Bath and Beyond. :)

This particular dusting brush we've had for years and it has memories all of it's own. It was one that Grandma had given to Mom for Christmas one year at my uncle's in Denver. The funny thing is that that particular brush didn't make it home with us; it ended up staying there accidentally and Grandma ended up buying Mom another one.

It was that same brush that us girls loved being able to dust with. Perhaps because of the pink and purple colors in it?? Mom never totally loved it like us girls did. She claimed that it was only "brushing" the dirt from one place to the next. Not dusting it up and getting rid of it. She preferred to use a dust cloth. Our dusting habits slightly differed from hers. But ultimately, the house still got dusted efficiently every week.

The handle has been bent in half and straightened many times. It's gone behind the fridge and under the stove to collect items out of reach. It's dusted the clock high on the wall every week. And it's the very same one that dusts off the entry way hanging light that Luke constantly hits his head on every month.

It's just a dusting brush. It's old. It's well used. It's been washed, hit against the side of the house to rid it of the dust it's gathered and had Endust sprayed on it too many times. But it holds memories in addition to the dust. Every time I pick up that brush, the thought runs through my head, "Mom didn't like this as much as a dust cloth."

And every time that I dust something with it instead of a dust cloth, I can't help but think, "Mom wouldn't have dusted this with this."

It still collects dust. That filthy, fluttery stuff. But it's also collected memories all of its own through the years. Maybe I'll replace this one with a new one for Dad to keep and pack this old pink and purple one to take with me to Colorado. Wonderful memories that it holds!

Hmmmm.....:)

Two months....

2011-03-21T06:48:00.000-05:00

...until I get to marry this wonderful guy that I love!
...until all the plans put into place over the last ten months become reality!
...until I'm living in Colorado permanently!

Only TWO months left!! (See the last two months of details here...)

Photo credit: Heartland Photography

A cute little helper!

2011-03-14T20:23:00.001-05:00

A while back, Erinn and I were working at the Learning Center, cutting letters, laminating posters, etc. And a little helper named Noah was there too! ;)

To keep him busy, I started to teach him to throw away the trash. What an easy job! With only one time showing him to throw the extra paper in the trash, he knew exactly what to do. He would come over to me, do the sign language for "more" (Erinn's taught him soooo much!!!) and I would hand him the trash.

Then he would walk over to the trash can, stretch up as high as he could and throw it in there!! What a super accomplishment for him!! Then he'd come back and sign for "more". Ahhhhh.....he's soooooo sweet!!! I love him to pieces!!! :)

"more!"

Here's the trash; throw it away!

Ok, this was the short trash can--we had two. The other one was taller than he was and with a swinging lid! Which he still managed to reach up and throw the paper inside! Smart little boy!!!

Such a cutie!!! :)

And yes, he loves my sunglasses!

What's new in Dodge?!?!?!

2011-03-03T20:26:00.002-06:00

Granted, not a ton of world news happens here in western Kansas, but recently there was the grand opening of the brand new event center and convention!! Jena happened to be home that weekend and so we toured the building! Quilt the facility and very neat to see!

gotta love those camera in the mirror pics!! ;)

quite amazing!!!

And since they were handing out free popcorn and pop,
we couldn't leave without our share!!! :)

The balcony is pretty neat too!!!

ice skating!!

fyi--this would be a PERFECT place for a wedding reception!!!
It's beautiful!!!!

Really?! I really thought I was losing my mind!

2011-03-01T20:36:00.002-06:00

My goal is never to lose my mind. But there are times when it seems like that has happened. Like this particular moment.

I had been walking back and forth between the kitchen and schoolroom several times, my mind on a million things running through my head when I saw this on my way out of the kitchen. I took a few steps back thinking, "Did I put that can of Mt. Dew there?"

On my last trip through the kitchen I had just opened a can of that favorite drink of mine, but I didn't do that with it, did I? And no one else in this house touches that stuff!

I turned to look at Dad who was sitting on the couch and saw his smiling face! Ahh, ha! The culprit! He's trying out some tacky tape to hold up fabric for my wedding reception and he's testing the weight. And it's working--that can has been up there for five days and it's still in the same exact spot!

Sometime I may question his methods of operation, but the end result is always just as I want/need it to be! So in figuring out the best way to drape fabric and lights for the reception--I'll leave it entirely up to him! He knows the effect/picture I'm trying to create and I have no doubt he'll know just how to do it!

To stay up-to-date on the latest wedding events, check out my wedding blog!

I LOVE my Sunday School kids!!!

2011-02-27T22:22:00.000-06:00

You already know I love teaching! I love working with the kids and being involved in their lives. And I love their positive, innocent outlook on life! And I couldn't help but laugh this morning!

I was in the kitchen getting some things for class and Felicity walks in, sees me and says, "Miss Serena....I'm waiting for you!!"

Lol!!! Apparently she'd been in my class room, discovered me missing and went searching to where she knew I would be!

Yogurt Fruit Parfaits

2011-02-25T20:03:00.000-06:00

For a quick, easy and healthy breakfast treat, try these parfaits!

Yogurt Fruit Parfaits

vanilla yogurt
mixed fruit such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
granola
small cups

In a small punch or juice cup, layer yogurt, fruit mixture, granola, yogurt, fruit mixture and sprinkle granola on top.

I usually use vanilla yogurt, but I've used other flavors that I've had on hand such as strawberry, cherry or blueberry. I usually buy a bag of frozen mixed berry fruit and thaw that for the fruit layer. When thawed, it creates its own juice and works perfectly with the yogurt. But you can use fresh fruit as well.

The granola that I use is some I make, but it can be purchased granola or other yummy crunchies!

These are best made fresh that morning and don't keep longer than 24-48 hours!

Red & pink or Blue & white?!?!?!?!

2011-02-14T20:29:00.000-06:00

Those of you who know me, know that I decorate different areas of our house for each seasons. I'm a stickler on issues like this--certain decor items stay up for a certain amount of time and then they come down as the season is over. Christmas doesn't stay up until the middle of January and spring doesn't go up until the middle of March. That's just the way it is!

However, Valentine's Day is a little bit different. It comes at a time when I already have a houseful of snowmen and snowy items up which need to stay up from January until March. February 14th is right smack in the middle of that seasonal arrangement!!

So the question always becomes.....do I take down the snow scenes and put up red and pink hearts for a couple of weeks and then put back up the snow scenes? Or do I put away the snow stuff and leave up the red and pink decor until I put up spring? But that's leaving up all that Valentine's Day stuff for a month after the celebration day has passed!!!

Some years I break out the all the red and pink colored hearts and some years it remains boxed up. It's a dilemma I face every year. Yeah, I know what you're thinking--what's the big deal?! True, it's not a life or death situation, but still......

This year? A compromise. All the snowy teddy bears and trees stayed up, but just got moved around slightly to accommodate the red roses and Valentine hearts. And next week? Things will just shift slightly to remove the red and pink and go back to the blue and white. That will work!! :)

February spells C-H-E-R-R-Y C-H-E-E-S-E-C-A-K-E

2011-02-12T08:59:00.000-06:00

I warned you this was going to be a monthly blog feature!! ;)

But it's true. Every year around Valentine's Day, I usually end up making cherry cheesecake. It's not something I make all the time, so it's a treat to have this month.

Awwwww!!!!!

2011-02-11T07:41:00.000-06:00

Pink roses from Luke--an early Valentine's gift!!!! :) :) :) ♥ ♥ ♥

A beautiful snowstorm!

2011-02-10T07:38:00.000-06:00

This is the first really significant snowstorm we've received--with really COLD temps. Like -2 with a wind chill way below that! Brrrrr!!!!! Watching the snow fall, was beautiful--they were such large, pretty flakes swirling around in the air! We ended up with six or seven inches.

Yep, Dad's still out there keeping an eye on cattle!

I couldn't resist!

2011-02-02T20:20:00.000-06:00

I'm always on the look out for various items that I find while shopping that I can incorporate into my kid's Bible teaching. The kids enjoy being involved in the Bible story lesson and being able to act out parts of it are some of their favorite times.

In Hobby Lobby I discovered these two long skinny boxes that I couldn't resist leaving the store without.

A coloring wall. Can't you just see Joshua and the Israelites marching around this wall once a day for six days in the battle of Jericho? And then on the seventh day marching seven times and the walls come crashing down?!?!?!

And especially when I discovered that it was reduced to this price, then it was a must-buy! :)

Then this. Noah's Ark, of course. And origami. I love it. It looks so fun! And of course one of my favorite Bible stories to teach. I won't even mention how many other Noah's Ark crafts, lessons, activities fill my closet....;)

But don't the characters look soooooo neat?! And fun to fold the paper and put together?? They do to me!!! :)

Organization feels soooo good!

2011-01-28T20:10:00.000-06:00

Recently, I've been storing my greeting cards in the top drawer of what used to be Mom's desk. It's worked out fine except for the fact that they are all mixed together--birthday, sympathy, occasions, etc.

For the last couple of months, every time I've reached in there, I have thought, "I need to sort this." Well, I could stand it no longer! I emptied out the drawers, created piles of cards on the floor and started sorting!

The single cards are sitting upright, sorted by blank, friendship, birthdays, congrats, wedding & baby, sympathy, thinking of you and misc.

And the bottom tote has the majority of my thank yous and little note cards. You know--the ones you get in groups of eight or ten. Love those--and they make such cute ones!

Much, much nicer!! And much easier to find!! And three drawers of that desk cleaned and organized! :)

Why the pressure to do this now???? It's just the whole January month thing!! ;) lol!!!

Yummy!!!!

2011-01-25T07:46:00.000-06:00

Fresh bread. Warm. Right out of the oven. Sooooo gooooood!!!!

It's time for snow!!!

2011-01-23T21:28:00.000-06:00

Yep, in my Sunday School classroom. One of the things I treasure doing in addition to loving teaching, is decorating my classroom for each season or with a Biblical theme. It's fun to find the images I want to use to fit the season, find the Biblical perspective in it and develop a theme to decorate from that.

And sooooo...I went a little bit overboard with winter this time. It's a bit more than I usually do, but I had the snowmen....and I just couldn't resist using them!! They're soooo cute!

I usually don't decorate anything but the bulletin board (photo above) and door, but I needed to take down the prayer chain I had on this wall and it seemed PERFECT for this winter snowing scene. And soon snowflakes will appear in the sky with things we are thankful for each week! :)

And this?? I love! I have to smile every Sunday morning when I walk through this door! It's a reminder to me as well--I'm nothing without Jesus Christ! And do I fall apart without Him? Many times, yes!

January spells C-L-E-A-N and O-R-G-A-N-I-Z-E

2011-01-14T20:24:00.000-06:00

Yes, I know what you're thinking--where did I go to school and learn to spell?!?! ;)

But for some reason when January hits, it automatically means it's time to clean and organize. Seriously. One look at my dresser on December 30th and as it was dusted last week, it looks fine. But when I see the same dresser on January 1, it looks like it needs to be dusted from top to bottom, drawers cleaned out and contents organized.

Do two days really make that much difference?! :)

What is it that tricks my mind into thinking that? I don't know. Maybe it's the start of a new year. New beginnings. New things to unfold. New goals to achieve. New challenges to conquer.

Whatever it is, I'm seeing things that need to be cleaned and organized!!!

I could go on, you know. Most months trigger something in my mind. February spells....

Spoiled kitties!

2011-01-12T21:39:00.000-06:00

Really. Honestly. My two cats have no idea just how spoiled they really are. For a multitude of reasons--one being right now as my lap has been overtaken for one of them as I'm trying to type. ;)

My cats have taken quite a bit of time getting used to Luke. When he's here, they aren't particularly thrilled, so I've started bribing them with extra canned food every morning when he's here.

So Luke bought a entire box of 32 cans of food just for them for Christmas. Told you they were spoiled! So my question to Luke was, "Are you going to be in Kansas 32 days before May?" ;) lol!!

They weren't too thrilled with the box until I opened it up. In addition to the 32 cans was a plastic ball and a bag of treats.

The ball they didn't really take much to.

The bag of treats? Oh, yeah---they knew exactly what that was! You have no idea how many of those bags of treats Skittles has taken down off the shelf and eaten without my knowledge. Usually I find the bag the next morning. On the floor. Empty. Torn up. Clawed to shreds. And lacking treats.

However, the ball was made to put the treats in it. Then as the cats would roll it around, the treats would fall out. Ummm, hmmmm. So I showed them the treats inside.

And then rolled the ball. The ball isn't too exciting for them. The treats they want. Skittles figured out to roll the ball, but Scamper still hasn't gotten it yet. I believe this will keep their attention for hours on end. They have yet to accomplish getting the treats out. :)

What's most important this new year?

2011-01-07T08:05:00.001-06:00

When a new year starts, I mentally start taking note of what I want to accomplish. Which usually turns into a month by month list of what I hope to accomplish. Admittedly, by the time December rolls around, some items will be completed, others totally scrapped and many new ones added.

But as I was thinking of those things I want to do this year, I was reminded last Sunday of what needs to be my first and foremost goal as 2011 starts--to glorify Christ with my words and actions. As Pastor Kirk challenged us to fight the good fight of faith, he made mention of several things which stood out to me.

--Understand who you are in Jesus Christ. God has created me in His image. He loves me. He knew me before I was ever born. Jesus Christ has offered a way of salvation and forgiven me. As I was writing these notes in church Sunday morning, Dad elbowed me and showed me his own scribblings. What did he write down? "Remember who you are." I laughed silently and smiled. How many, many times do I remember leaving home (no matter where or when, no matter how far) and Dad telling my sisters and I, "Remember who you are. You are a child of God." Ahhhh, yes. So true.

--Walk in the good works that God has for you. He created me to be a servant for His purposes. To serve others. To minister to others. My goal here on earth is to serve Christ. To be willing to follow what He would have me to do. As I glanced at Dad's notes, I knew I would find the second half of the phrase that Dad has continually told us girls, "Remember what your purpose is. It is to serve Christ." Yes, that's exactly what he had written down. :) Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

--Make disciples. Not only is God working and growing in my life, but I'm also supposed to pass that knowledge that He's teaching me onto others. Part of that is praying for opportunities and open doors and taking advantages of those situations that He puts in my path to share the Gospel, teaching His Word or be an encouragement in the lives of others.

--Glorify God in your life. Yes. In my words. In my actions. In my thoughts. In EVERYTHING I do. No matter how small or large, how simple or complex, how temporal or eternal...I'm to glorify Him. Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus..."

--Excel still more. No matter where I am and what I'm currently doing or involved in, I should be pushing myself, setting goals to achieve to increase my knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ even more. Never staying at a plateau, but aspiring to continue in the work and ministry which He's given me the ability to do. I Thess. 4:1 - "...we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God."

--Present your life as a living sacrifice to the Lord. God has richly given to me and in return, I should render myself; all I am, all I have, all I can do to Him. Keeping in mind that I am to die to sin day after day and live to righteousness more and more. Continually. Romans 12: 1-2 - "...present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

--Deny self. So easy to say and know, but oh so hard to do! My example to follow? Jesus Christ. He willingly laid down His life for me. He willingly obeyed God the Father, even when His human nature fought it. I should have a willingness to obey His commands, serve others, do what He's called me to do, follow His ways and not the ways of the world. Not just once. Daily. Hour by hour. Luke 9:23 - "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

--Servants of Christ. I am a servant of Christ. What's the definition of a servant? One who serves. Willingly. One who exerts himself for the benefit of another. Again, who is my example? Jesus Christ. And what was Jesus Christ? A humble and willing servant. Matthew 20:28 - "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

--Must have a discerning spirit. What I see, hear and do should be aligned with God's Word. His Word is the ultimate source of Truth and the basis of what I do should be compared with His Word. God's Word is living and powerful and needs to be in my heart and mind for It is the true discernment of truth versus falsehood.

--Strive to become like Christ. Jesus Christ is my ultimate example. My eyes should be fixed on Him. Unwavering. Unmovable. Just like driving and following that white line in the road. Gluing my eyes to Him and not allowing anything to deter me from that line of sight. Nothing. Ephesians 5:1 - "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."

What should be my most important goal for 2011? Exactly what is written above. In fact, I want to be reminded of that everyday. I want that to be my challenge week after week; all fifty-two weeks of this year. Right now this list is hanging on my mirror in my room where I see it every morning. Where as I'm getting dressed, putting on my makeup and doing my hair, God can use those words in my heart and mind to remind me what's most important in life.

Last year brought many changes into my life that weren't on my original set of goals for 2010. And this year will bring some changes I'm planning and others that I'm unaware of, but through it all my purpose must remain the same -- to glorify Christ in whatever I do, whatever situation I'm in.

Just like my Dad says, "Remember who you are. You are a child of God. Remember what your purpose is. It is to serve Christ."

What Colorado Springs has that Dodge City doesn't!

2010-12-20T19:48:00.001-06:00

Right after Thanksgiving I spent five days in Colorado Springs. Why? Well, there's just quite a few things that that massive city contains that Dodge City just doesn't have!

Cold, freezing air - The first thing you notice about Colorado Springs is the air. It's colder. Much colder. It's really hard to document this in a photograph, so just picture freezing and shivering. THAT'S what it looks like!

Mountains - Yes, those rather large hills are called mountains and I have to admit that seeing this sight while driving around takes a little bit of getting used to. The good thing?! Those mountains always tell me that that direction is west--it helps to keep my sense of direction!

Current Factory Outlet - In my searching of shops for invitations, I found this store! Ohhhhhhh---I love that place already! I knew I'd love that place once I walked in the door and saw a spinning rack of stickers.

My intent was to look for invites there, which I did do. But I also had to wander up and down each aisle to look at everything else as well. Paper, stickers, cardstock, notecards--all that fun stuff!

Shopping, shopping and more shopping - I came to CO Springs with a list. A rather long, organized, detailed shopping list. And this city contains many more shopping opportunities than DC! And Luke and I spent a great deal of time shopping, looking and registry shopping!

See this cute little, itty, bitty casserole dish?! Isn't is sooooo cute?! I love it! It's the littliest thing, but it's so adorable. Granted, it was at JCPenny's which we do have here, but believe me--they don't have that.

Kohls - This store is neat! Especially their kitchen dept. It's filled with fun stuff. Like these cute snowman dishes. Aren't they fun?!?! Yes, you only use them once a year, but still.....I love them!

Parking meters - Oh yes! And then this---the parking meter! One of the places where I was looking at invitations was downtown and you had to pay for parking. And believe it or not, I have never paid for parking in my entire life. Another thing Colorado Springs has that Dodge City doesn't.
Luke - Perhaps the most important thing, or rather person that DC doesn't contain?! Yep, that would be him!

Baking for Christmas!

2010-12-16T20:18:00.001-06:00

Erinn & I spent Monday baking and between the two of us we got tons accomplished!!!

white trash candy mix
peanut clusters
chocolate haystacks
chocolate/caramel turtles
chex mix
chocolate chex mix (puppy chow)
lots of chatting! ;)

Piles of clean dishes--they were used
and washed multiple times!

Mounds of yummy snacks!!!

It started out simple...

2010-12-12T20:53:00.002-06:00

...and turned into a much bigger task.

Ingredient list in hand, I started downstairs to see what I had and didn't have for the Christmas baking I was planning to do with Erinn this week. That was my sole intent--to gather up those things to bring upstairs.

And then organization set in. It's been a while since I sorted through the freezer and shelves of "extras" and you know how one thing just leads to another? Yeah, well....that's exactly what happened.

First I did this shelf. Then realized that the pasta boxes didn't belong on the same shelf as the breakfast mixes which were all mixed up with the cake mixes! Which in turn led to sorting the entire stack of shelves, to the freezer and then the other stack of shelves.

Now? It's organized. Planned or not, I like it!

Black Friday Shopping!

2010-12-04T23:25:00.005-06:00

Ok, so I'm not a huge fan of enormous crowds--especially when shopping! It's something I always try to avoid. Shopping on the weekend is something I normally do not do. But I decided to brave the stores the Friday after Thanksgiving just for fun. I really can't say I was looking at anything in particular, although I did find some good sales! And I was not waiting in line at 4am at JCPenny's for their front door to open! ;)

But surprisingly enough, when I got to Penny's around 8:30, they still had some snow globes left! I was soooo surprised! I've never been there early enough to actually get one! I wasn't even looking for the snow globe freebie stand when Jeanette (a friend I know who works at Penny's and the library!) called over to me and said she was saving a snow globe just for me! :)

It was fun browsing the mall and other stores, just looking around and running into people I know. Some people I see every week at church and others I only see every so often! Or people who work in stores that know you because you are in there often enough. I have a feeling that will be missing when I move to Colorado Springs. :)

I did find my cats a cat bed, which I'm trying to make them use. You see, they tend to sleep/sit exactly where I do not want them to. My goal is to try to train them to sleep here! I put this cushion on the chair where they always sleep and they didn't touch it for a week. Finally when I moved it to the floor, Scamper decided it was hers! And I've seen her in it multiple times. Maybe, just maybe, she'll adopt it! I can hope!

November whirlwind weeks!

2010-11-29T22:55:00.011-06:00

November has seemed like a flurry of activities! Not only was I in three states (in addition to Kansas!) this month, but there just seemed to be plenty going on!

Week 1 - I made a quick trip to Oklahoma City over two days. My main reason for going was to do some specific wedding shopping, but it also was a fun opportunity to spend a little bit of time with Jena. I have to make those times count--her schedule keeps booked up enough that it's tough to find a couple days that she has free! Jena is training to run the Dallas marathon in December. That Saturday I was there, she was up and running by 5:30 am til about 8:30--16 miles! Glad it's her and not me! I'd never make it!

Week 2 - Kansas City, Missouri! Yep, you guessed it--wedding shopping! Erinn and I spent some time in Kansas City specifically shopping for wedding gowns, which I am soooo, sooooo happy to say I finally found! Yay!! Yay!! Cross that 2000+ mileage search off my list! Believe it or not, I actually was able to find just what I wanted! Hooray! Plus the days spent with Erinn, Noah and some of her family were a treat!

Week 3 - At church we had a Fall Festival meal instead of our annual traditional fellowship meal the Sunday before Thanksgiving. I always love being able to help with that. Saturday and Sunday were busy days getting everything prepared, then serving the meal and then cleanup. But definitely good times!

at Joe & Karen's wedding!

Some friends at church, Joe & Karen--their wedding was the 20th! That is the first of three weddings coming up in the next year in our church (mine being the third!). For some strange reason I look at weddings a little bit differently now than a year ago--can't imagine why! ;) It's fun to see the different ideas in decorations, flowers, tables, programs, etc--anticipating what I'll do in May!

Luke was here the third weekend this month! He was here just as long as he usually is--Saturday night through Monday, but it seemed like a short trip for some reason. Of course, I had lots on my list to discuss and do. That always seems to be the way it is.

We found these invitations that fit Dodge City perfectly
but not quite the theme of my wedding!

Week 4 - Thanksgiving week! This was the first Thanksgiving in two years that we've been home! And a first that just Dad and myself were here. Last year we went to Kentucky to visit Ryan and Krissa and the year before we went to Alabama to visit Krissa who was working there. This year Jena had to work all weekend and since Ryan and Krissa were just home in August, they stayed in Kentucky. So Dad and I spent a nice, quiet day at home and then went to Tim & Erinn's house for dinner. Perfect day!

And then this last weekend in November I'm in Colorado spending several days with Luke and doing more wedding planning/shopping!

What a fun, exciting and busy month!

My cats jealous? Can it be true?!

2010-11-28T19:42:00.000-06:00

My cats love me. With one exception--Luke. They have learned that when he is here, they do not have my undivided attention and they are not happy! At first when Luke started visiting, they would just run and hide when he was around. They have improved much since that time--even letting him pet them. But they still don't like the fact that him being here takes me away from them.

Therefore, I started bribing them a few months ago. I will give them extra treats of food on the days he's here. And the funny thing is--they know it! They will scream consistently until I feed them that special treat every single morning Luke is here. When he isn't here, they don't beg one single bit for it. They know when he's here, they won't get much attention from me, but they will get special food to eat. And since they know they'll be ignored, they demand the food!

They have learned to tolerate his being here, but it never ceases--the moment he leaves and I sit down to do anything, they are right beside me or in my lap within 10 seconds. They know he's gone and they are back to having just me.

Not jealous at all, are they?! ;)

Thankfulness!

2010-11-25T07:36:00.000-06:00

Quick trip to Oklahoma City!

2010-11-18T07:18:00.001-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was still in full pursuit of a wedding gown, so I made a quick trip to Oklahoma City to visit a couple of bridal shops. Jena and I spent a couple hours trying on gowns and bridesmaids dresses and then started searching out invitations.

Then, Jena's birthday was on Saturday, so after she ran 16 miles that morning in freezing cold weather (she's training for another marathon in December!), we spent a couple hours shopping at the mall--fun times!! It's been a while since we've done that together!

It's so nice having a sister living in a bigger city where I can break into her apartment and spend a few days there!!! And I'm sure I'll be back to do more shopping there in the coming months!

Six months!

2010-11-16T21:54:00.000-06:00

Luke and I have been engaged an entire six months! Looking back on the months gone by, six months does not really seem that long! The past few months have flown so unbelievably quick!

A year ago, I never would have believed that I would have been engaged in a year's time to such a wonderful, Godly man! But God has blessed me so much in having Luke in my life--forever!! :)

Sunday School Fall Decorations

2010-11-16T21:28:00.002-06:00

Fall is here and Thanksgiving is on it's way! Believe it or not, it's been a while since I've changed my Sunday School classroom decor, but as of a few weeks ago, it has a brand new look! :)

Family Pics!!!

2010-11-05T21:33:00.000-05:00

When Luke, Ryan, Krissa and Jena were home at the end of August, we managed to squeeze in a set of family pics! I've been waiting for years to get a set of family photos on the wall in the hallway and finally now have it! Yay!!!!!!! I'm so thrilled!!!

LukeandSerena.com! :)

2010-11-01T07:44:00.003-05:00

I love the fact that I'm getting married in an age where technology is so, well, ummm....in my case, necessary! :) Therefore one of the things on the top of my list in regards to wedding planning was to create a wedding website for Luke and myself.

Once I had engagement photos and wedding colors decided, I went to work! Hours later, here's the result! I love it! Most of my wedding blogging will be on that website instead of here, so check there for wedding updates and news! :)

www.lukeandserena.com

The story of Joseph!

2010-10-29T21:51:00.001-05:00

Ok, I admit--I love teaching Kid's Klub every Wednesday! Watching the kid's attentive faces and their reactions each week is something I treasure! There are many stories which are my favorite to teach and one is Joseph! Ahhhh...so many lessons can be learned from his life--jealously, anger, temptation, forgiveness--just to name a few!! We're spending 5 weeks on Joseph--teaching a little bit each week!

One of the kids favorite things to do is act out the story and it's a good way to get their attention. Fun to see their faces as well! :)

For more Kid's Klub photos, check out this album....

Joseph told his brothers and father his dream
of the sun, moon and stars bowing down to him....

.....and his brothers and father did not like what they heard!

Joseph's brothers took his colorful coat....

...and threw him into a deep well!

Then they took his colorful coat and tore it!
(You should have seen the look on the
kid's faces as I actually tore the fabric! ;))

Then the brothers decided to sell Joseph
to traveling merchants headed to Egypt...

So they pulled Joseph out of the well...

....and he was sold as a slave!

Christmas Exhibit!

2010-10-26T21:39:00.001-05:00

I have to admit....I'm not quite ready for Christmas. I'm still into fall and Thanksgiving and those decorations. I'm not even the slightest bit ready to move into the holiday season yet. But when I was asked to showcase an exhibit at the Stauth Memorial Museum for their Traditions of Southwest Kansas, I said sure! I've always enjoyed showcase different booths there!

So I dug out my nativity scenes (I've only just realized how many I have of those!), gingerbread collection and various snowmen, greenery and trees. Added some batting with clear lights underneath to create a "snow" effect and tada--Sights & Smells of Christmas!

Fall Engagement Photos

2010-10-20T20:04:00.001-05:00

From the very beginning I knew I wanted to have engagement photos taken in the Colorado Springs area--ones that included Colorado scenery such as mountains. Something slightly different than Kansas. :)

A couple weeks ago, Luke and I went to Estes Park and had a photo shoot done! Just as we were ready to start, it started pouring rain! But after about 20 minutes, the sky cleared up, it was beautiful and we even had a rainbow! Perfect! :)

Here's a few and there's more here...

I still make mistakes!

2010-10-12T18:43:00.000-05:00

Yes, I do and I had a great reminder of that last week.

In Sunday School, I had cut out black construction paper crosses and my craft project was to cover the cross with colorful shapes of paper. As we were gluing on the pieces of paper, I talked about sin and how the black color can remind us of that and that when Jesus died on the cross, he covered up or took away that sin, so therefore--the colored shapes were covering up the "black".

Then Ben informs me that he is not going to cover up all the black on his cross with the colored paper, he is going to leave some of the black showing. Why? His answer, "I still make mistakes."

I had to smile and say, "Yes, we do." Even though at the time of salvation, Jesus washes that sin away, we don't cease to sin and make mistakes. I still need to daily confess my sin, failures and mistakes to my Savior who is willing and waiting to forgive me.

And Ben reminded me of that and what he "saw" in the craft project we were doing. There was no way for each of those colored squares to cover up every single bit of that black cross--just as there is no way I can live a life free of sin. I do things I shouldn't do. I say things that I shouldn't say. I think things that I shouldn't think.

Yes, I still make mistakes.

A wonderful invention called a pencil case...

2010-10-10T07:18:00.000-05:00

Which can be used for anything and everything. Including pencils. And pens, markers, sticky notes, usb drives, business cards and whatever else I can cram inside....

I have to say that I love using these clear, zippered envelope pouches. They easily fit into a three ring binder and are much more durable than hole-punched paper envelopes. And on top of that they are clear, so not only can I see what's inside, but they match whatever color themed project I am organizing.

Plus with school supplies still readily available, now is the perfect time to stock up! And yep--that's exactly what I've done! In fact, I'm almost tempted to buy Wal-Mart out of them, but really? Seriously? Do I have to have 200 of them?!?! ;)

Perhaps a bit neglected?!

2010-10-08T17:42:00.003-05:00

I think that I've neglected my blog just the littlest bit over the past few weeks. :)

--Perhaps a lack of exciting things to share? Hmmm, maybe.
--Could it be that there are just not enough hours in the day to do everything? Well yes, but I think that all year long!
--Slightly side-tacked with wedding planning and organizing? Yes, that's it!!

The last month I have to admit, that's where much of my time and focus has been. Even though my wedding is not until next May, there's some things that need to be decided and booked now. And I can't complain at all, because I'm loving every bit of it! Last month I was in both Oklahoma City and Colorado Springs for a while and the reason? Wedding related, of course! Ahhhh, but it's nice to have two larger cities to visit easily. Not only do I enjoy the greater shopping opportunities, but also seeing the people that live there. ;)

Dad's been hectically busy the last month. First with planting wheat and then harvesting milo. It seemed strange to be cutting milo in September/October as last year Dad was still cutting in December! After a couple of weeks with long days spent out in the field, he finally finished!

It was just a sticky situation--really!

2010-09-17T13:07:00.000-05:00

Kid's Klub has started once again! It's already been an exciting two weeks! There's always little issues that come up that need to be worked through the first couple of Wednesdays and the very first Wednesday was no different -- yep, a new issue Erinn and I have never faced before!

What was it?! Flimsy little star stickers that would NOT peel of the sheet for the kids to put on their charts!!

Of anything I could ever have imagined having to tackle that first day, it was never those cute little star pokadot stickers! Never! As Erinn and I were discussing how the afternoon went, one of our first comments was, "Those horrible star stickers! Who would have thought we'd be battling stickers?!?!"

So.....when I went to Oklahoma City last week, a school supply store was right next door to one of the bridal gown stores we visited and what did I stop in to find??? Yes, star stickers that peeled off quickly! Ahhhh....much better!

A sticky situation?! Yes, for sure! Who would have guessed?! ;)

They just know!

2010-09-16T20:43:00.004-05:00

I'm not quite sure how, but my cats always seem to know exactly when I'm leaving! They can be anywhere in the house and the moment I get my suitcase out and into my room, they are right there! And just the sight of that suitcase tells them that I'm leaving them yet again. Smart cats. ;)

As soon as they spot my blue suitcase (I guess color really doesn't matter since cats are color blind, but if they can't see color, why do my cats like black pom poms to play with more than any other color?!?!)--anyway, once they spot my suitcase, they either sit right on top of my clothes as I'm packing if it's open. And if it's shut? Yep, they sit right on top!

On this next trip, maybe I should just pack them too....

That wonderful heat machine that I love...

2010-09-05T20:43:00.005-05:00

...called a laminating machine! Yep, I really do love that thing! It makes all my cutouts and posters sturdy, clean, neat and perfect! This week I had a few things to prepare for Kid's Klub (starting next week already!) at the Learning Center and so I dug through my huge stack of posters and cutouts to see what I could laminate while I was there.

I discovered I had a pile. A thick pile. Yes, quite the pile.

Ummm, yes, I know--I have enough fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, winter, spring, Bible themes and misc. posters and cutouts to use for my Sunday School classroom for a zillion years to come, BUT I just love all of them!!

And yes, I know--I said I wasn't going to buy one more single set of ANYTHING!!! But who can resist these cute little swinging monkeys?

Or this pink elephant?

Or these adorable whales?

I know I couldn't! And so these were a couple of the new sets I needed to laminate before using them over the next few seasons. I really don't mind clipping out the characters and laminating each one--it doesn't take long.

What do I get tired of doing? Cutting out ALL those pieces AFTER their laminated! Anybody want to join me for a cutting party??? I'll supply the scissors; just bring yourself!

Marvelous weekend!

2010-09-03T20:28:00.003-05:00

This coming weekend just might seem a little dull compared to last weekend! Luke, Jena, Ryan and Krissa were all home last week and it was splendid! Ok, I admit, it was a little busy and crazy, but still wonderful!

Ryan and Krissa brought home pics and the video from their wedding, which was so fun to see! It's amazing to see how much you miss when you are in the wedding. Plus us girls could easily go back and say, "This is why that happened" and "Do you remember that?" and "That was crazy!" Ahhh---good times!

Plus we spent time at church, time with other family members and even managed to take family pics while everyone was together! Perfect! It worked out great!

Hopefully we got in all our laughter and chatting sessions for the year since it will be a while before Ryan and Krissa are back in Kansas. Thank goodness for facebook, email, and cell phones!

Our love story; watching God's plan unfold! Part 3

2010-08-25T22:39:00.007-05:00

Part 3 - The end, but really just the beginning!

February came and that was the first weekend that Luke came out here to visit me. Keep in mind that at this time, Luke was just a friend to me. A friend who was at this point, was more than just Joanna's brother. A really good friend, but still nothing more than that. I was thinking and praying about him being more than just that, but my thoughts hadn't gone further...yet.

I really hadn't put much thought into the fact that Luke would be coming to church with us on Sunday morning until Saturday night when I went to bed. Then it hit me full force--no one at church knew Luke and having him sitting with Dad and myself in church that next morning would for sure cause quite a stir! Why did I end up being so concerned over that? I don't know. I shouldn't have been because, yes, it did create a few questions, but I recall that morning going so smoothly that it reminded me once again, God is aware and in control of everything.

Later that evening, Luke and I took our cameras and went to the circus! What a fun time we had trying to get the best shots of flying trapeze people, show elephants, dogs and horses, and other performers. That weekend was spent with Luke and I talking quite a bit in addition to Dad as well, getting to know each other more and more. Monday came and Luke left that afternoon to head back to Colorado.

In the next couple of days Dad and I talked about Luke quite a bit and I slowly began to see that this just might work. This was really the first chance Dad had been given to spend some time visiting with Luke and getting to know him...his spiritual views, goals in life, views on various issues, etc. Dad's opinion means so much to me that when he approved of him, that made a huge difference in my mind and outlook on our relationship! A huge, exciting difference!

In fact, after that first visit, I really did begin to think this was a possibility and started getting a little excited about Luke. I saw excellent qualities and spiritual maturity and knowledge that were important to me. Just like what I had seen a year ago that sparked my interest in him on my last trip to Colorado Springs.

I was still uncertain, but began to think more and more that this just might work. It just might. One of the significant things that stood out to me that weekend was how smoothly things went while Luke was here. I had enough apprehension built up in me being concerned about that weekend and then to realize after the fact that it went smoothly?! I knew that was an answer to prayer and one that proved even more to me that God was in control and perhaps something deeper would develop with Luke.

After that first trip Luke made out here, our emails between each other continued, but started to be much more frequent. And longer. And more detailed. Instead of just several in a two week period, it was several times a week or every other day. Which eventually led up to daily emails back and forth. As Luke would tell me later, he is just not that much of a writer! I never would have guessed! Especially considering the number of emails and length of those emails in my inbox with his return address!

Luke started coming out every month for a weekend. I looked forward to those visits, being with him and learning more and more about him, his goals in life and his relationship with the Lord. As April arrived, I began to realize that this was becoming serious. Not that I didn't take it seriously from the beginning, I did. My only purpose in agreeing to a relationship with Luke was for marriage. But I guess it finally dawned on me that this was a very real possibility and I needed to make a decision.

I could tell Luke's emails were changing and if I was still uncertain, then it was best for both of us not to continue. Was I ready to tell myself yes, this is someone who I can see spending the rest of my life with and continue to get to know him even more? Or no, I still just don't see any future relationship between us? If I wasn't sure, then I needed to decide that soon and inform Luke of that before things went any further.

I loved our email conversations back and forth because as I was pondering, debating and praying about our relationship, I could look back on our emails and reread and evaluate the things we shared several times. How well do you absorb something when you hear it? Or how better do you absorb it and remember it when you not only read it once, but several times? And I could reread our emails as many times as I needed to. And as one of my dear friends told me, "You will have a well documented relationship." :)

Through the contents of the next multiple sets of long emails, I could see that God has been working in both of us over the last two years. That this really was the one person with whom I could spend the rest of my life. That this was that special person who I had been praying for years. That this was the Godly man that I could trust, support and confidently call my husband.

Once I had made that decision in my mind, that unrest and uncertainty dropped and I had such a sense of peace. And the fact that Dad agreed with me and approved of Luke made my decision final. Yes, I knew Luke would be the one at some point in the future. But I didn't know how that future would be much sooner than I expected....

The month of May arrived and since my birthday was on a Sunday, Luke was determined to come out that weekend. He arrived Saturday evening after work just like he had with all his previous trips; his fourth visit out here to Kansas to see me. Also, Jena surprised me and arrived home that evening as well for my birthday!

Sunday morning came and Luke gave me one birthday gift to open before church. I opened a set of Christian fiction books which I would be excited about reading later, but as for that morning, my mind flew back to the Kid's Klub program I had planned in church, finishing last minute details on that and praying that all the kids would arrive that morning.

Sunday school, church and the Kid's Klub program came and perfectly. As with every Sunday when Luke was there, I always received more comments, questions and hugs. This Sunday was no different except for the fact that it was my birthday. We went out to eat after church and came home and that's when Luke gave me my second birthday gift--a matching necklace and bracelet wrapped in glittery paper, which I opened and then we continued on with the rest of our day.

Luke and I headed downstairs to work with Photoshop and some photos on my computer. And Jena informed us that there was nothing to do in Kansas and she was bored, so she decided to make cupcakes. Partly because she had given me a cupcake recipe book for my birthday and mostly because after living in Oklahoma City for a year, she had now decided Kansas or rather where we were at in Kansas was rather uneventful. Didn't she know that she lived here for 20+ some years of her life?? Anyway, back to the story...

We finished working downstairs, Dad went to bed, Jena started frosting cupcakes and Luke and I started our late night talks. Usually when Luke comes out, we end up staying up late, talking. This night was no different. Sure, Jena was in the kitchen working on her cupcakes, washing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen, but that wasn't bothering either one of us. Well, let me rephrase that--it wasn't bothering me. Unknown to me, Luke was waiting for Jena to go to bed and she took FOREVER, according to him, to finish those cupcakes! Finally she said goodnight and headed to bed.

It seemed like an ordinary end to the day as usual when Luke was here. We continued talking for a little bit longer and as it was getting late, I made the comment that I really should go to bed. Then Luke informed me that he had one last birthday gift for me and asked me even though it was late, if I still wanted it now? Surprised, I said yes and waited for him to get up and go get it. Except he didn't. He still sat across from me and started talking and that's when I finally realized what he was saying and asking me to marry him! He totally surprised me!

I had already come to the conclusion that he was the one I was going to marry, but I really hadn't considered him proposing until months in the future. I was still absorbing the fact that God had brought someone into my life--I hadn't reached beyond that point yet. But of course, I said, "Yes!" to his very important and best birthday gift of the day! :) It was the best birthday I've ever had and the best gift Luke could have ever given me!

The next day we went shopping for an engagement ring, which was very fun and thrilling to be able to shop for a ring together. I was still trying to absorb the fact that Luke really did propose the night before and I really was engaged. But in the days and weeks since that day, I've fully come to realize that I really am getting married to a wonderful, Godly man! And how thrilled I am that God has blessed me so much in bringing Luke into my life. There's nothing quite as exciting as waiting until God's perfect timing in bringing that perfect person and seeing how He provides in every single little detail. As I look back in how Joanna and I met each other which later led to meeting Luke, I can see God working and preparing me for him even when I was totally unaware of it!

Yes, God had me wait for a while when it would have been my choice and my plan to be married years ago, but even through that, I can see God at work. Through those years of waiting, God taught me so much and there's nothing quite as fulfilling to see how God had a purpose in everything. Even through something as unexpected and tragic as Mom's death, I can see God teaching me to learn to be content right where He had placed me. And once I bended enough to obey His will and learn contentment there, He blesses me with one of my greatest desires! And not just in one way, but many ways! There's nothing quite as wonderful and joyful as waiting for God's best and being fully at peace knowing He is in control of everything!

May 21, 2011--yes, I can't wait for that very important day!! I love Luke so much and am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with him! Right now, I am very much looking to the future months of wedding planning and organizing in preparation for next May, but I still enjoy looking back over the last year. Remember our "well documented relationship?" Well, that statement is so very true.

Much of our relationship over the last twelve months is in those emails to each other and as of now, that email count is 1709! I love it! Every single email that consisted of one word, one sentence, one paragraph, one page or ten pages truly does tell our love story and in reading through those archives, we really have been watching God's plan unfold! What can be more wonderful than that?!

Our love story; watching God's plan unfold! Part 2

2010-08-20T18:07:00.000-05:00

Part 2 - Luke & I? Yes? Maybe? Nope, it just wouldn't work!

The year 2009 rolled around and Joanna and I still managed to work in times to visit each other in and amongst our email and phone conversations. We drove to Houston Quilt Market together, flew out to Seattle to a sewing convention and still continued enjoying our visits sharing with each other in so many areas of our lives.

We both talked about our families and knew about them, but I noticed that Joanna talked more about Luke. I didn't give it much thought, since I knew they were close and I still saw him as nothing more than part of Joanna's family. But as I look back, the things she told me about him would prove to be helpful to me as I would be getting to know him in the months to come.

During one of our long phone conversations, Joanna was talking about several things she was sewing and how she was trying to work in stitching several of Luke's shirts. Because of Luke's height, finding shirts was difficult at times, so Joanna would make them for him. And at that time, Joanna commented to me that she didn't mind sewing his shirts, but that she couldn't be doing it forever. And whoever he did end up marrying definitely needed to know how to sew! At the time, I fully agreed with her, but didn't consider me being that someone!

Unknown to me, Joanna had already been talking to Luke about me since we had met, trying to convince him that he really should consider me as a future spouse. Joanna knew both Luke and I and thought we would be perfect together. As I was to find out later, when I would travel out to Colorado, Joanna and Luke would deliberately plan things to do while I was there to see how I reacted and responded to it. Little did I know that as we went hiking at Glen Erie, played games together and attended an Easter play called The Thorn, they were planning much of it! I honestly didn't have a clue; to which I can see now was a great benefit! If I would have known, I'm sure I wouldn't have been quite so at ease while I was there.

Then in April 2009, I took one of my Siamese kittens out to Colorado to give to Joanna. It was on this trip that Luke stood out to me in a different way than I'd seen him before. I've tried to recall just what it was and can't name anything specific, but I began to see things in him that were characteristics I was looking for and desired in a spouse. I knew Joanna well enough to know that our Biblical values, conservative ideas and outlook and goals in life were very much the same. And I knew enough about Luke through Joanna to know that his would very much mirror hers.

Still, even through some excellent Godly qualities I saw, I still saw a difference in our interests and abilities where I just didn't think we would be compatible. On the way home from that trip to Colorado, I remember thinking and praying about the idea of a future relationship with Luke. By the end of that 6 hour trip, I'd made up my mind. Nope, it just wouldn't work; there were too many differences between us.

Plus I never saw any interest from Luke and Joanna never said one word to me that ever put Luke and I together. And surely Joanna of all people would mention something to me if she saw the possibility of Luke and I in a relationship. I did continue to pray about it for a week or two, but with all those thoughts in mind, I moved on with my summer activities of camp and VBS and forgot about Luke.

July came and camp arrived. That year at camp something happened that hadn't had happen in quite a while there. I had three different people suggest someone they knew that might just be a perfect spouse for me. Although I didn't personally know any of these people, I wasn't opposed to considering them, but I wasn't sure that anything would really develop. And my thought at the time was, "Why did God bring this about this year? This hasn't happened in quite a while, why now? And three people?"

When I returned home and told Dad the events of the two weeks of camp in addition to these three guys that had been suggested to me, I told him one other thing. I said, "There's only person who I've met that's met some of my qualifications in what I'm looking for in a spouse." Which surprised Dad and he immediately wondered who? I told him that he didn't know him, but it was Luke, Joanna's brother. But as I was telling him about Luke, I also told him that I had decided it just wouldn't work, so that was the end of that. I had already made up my mind.

August arrived and a facebook friend request from Joanna appeared in my inbox shortly followed by one from Luke. This was a huge shock as I never expected to see Joanna on facebook. So when Luke sent me a friend request, he informed me that I was the one who convinced Joanna to join!

Yeah, well, I certainly couldn't let that comment go unanswered. So of course, I responded to that and that was the start of our written communication with each other. I know--this seems like another insignificant detail and at this point in my story, it is. But you see, all those typed facebook chats and emails would add up to a significant amount and play an important role in the months to come.

It was also the first part of August when Joanna moved from Colorado to Iowa. On their way to Iowa to help break up the trip, Joanna, Luke and their mom spent the night at our house. To me it was a stop along the way of a long drive, but to Luke (as he told me later), it was a reason to stop and get to know me a little bit better. I didn't know it at the time, but Luke had already been interested in me and been praying about me.

After Luke and his family had been here, I asked Dad for his opinion of Luke, especially since I had told Dad about him in July. Dad didn't really know him, but he was uncertain whether anything would develop between the two of us. That made my decision even more final. I had already come to that conclusion in the past and Dad just confirmed it. And because I highly value my Dad's advice and opinion, I put Luke and any future relationship out of my mind. Except for the fact that Luke himself made that a bit difficult.

For the next couple of weeks after Joanna moved, Luke and I did email each other back and forth a few times. Joanna was so busy with moving and work, that any news Luke heard from her, he would pass onto me, knowing that we were best friends. At the time, I didn't think too much of the initial emails back and forth. They were just a few emails between friends, nothing more.

But after a couple weeks, Luke continued to email me. At the time, I wondered why since our connection to each other was Joanna and she had now moved out of state. But with just about every email he sent me, I replied with one of my own. I'm not sure if I would have admitted it at the time to anyone, including myself, or even really was aware of it, but I did really look forward to and enjoy Luke's emails. I still was not considering anything more between us than just ordinary friends, but through those emails, I started to learn more and more about him.

From August to November, those sporadic emails and facebook chats continued. The week before Thanksgiving was a busy week for Dad and myself; we were getting things finished at home in preparation for traveling to Kentucky that next week. So when Dad came downstairs in the middle of the afternoon on Friday, I was surprised as I knew he had been trying to get as much milo cut as he could.

Then he said that Luke called him and asked him about starting a relationship with me. Which took me by total surprise! Again, much to my surprise, Dad was in agreement to it, whereas a few months before, he was wasn't sure. As for me, I had made the decision months before that a relationship between Luke and myself wouldn't work, so I was rather shocked about this new development, but after a couple days of talking and praying about it, both Dad and I agreed and would see what would happen.

After that happened, one of the first things I did was talk with Joanna. One of my initial thoughts among many others was, "Joanna got tired of sewing all of Luke's shirts and she's ready to hand that off to someone else." Which is exactly what I told her! And she said, "Yes, I know I can hand that over to you in complete confidence that you know what you're doing! But that's not the most important reason why I think you and Luke would be perfect together." That was when she told me several things that had happened over the past couple of years that I knew nothing about and how that Luke and Joanna had been talking about me long before I knew a thing about it.

Therefore, Luke and I continued to email back and forth, but this time with a little different purpose in mind. Right after Christmas, Dad and I drove to Colorado to visit with his family. Even through that visit and our continued emails back and forth, I was still very uncertain and couldn't see any future relationship with Luke. And at one point, I really did think Luke agreed with me. January was a very busy month for Luke and I didn't get an email from him in almost three weeks. That was unusual since we usually had two to three emails back and forth each week.

Was I hurt or disappointed by that? No, not at all. At this time, emotionally I was not involved with Luke, my total focus was getting to know him, his goals, his values, his beliefs to see if he was someone I would be interested in marrying. And since I hadn't had an email from him in quite a while, I decided that he had seen something that wouldn't work between us. Which was good! Perfect! That was something for which I was praying.

During the past few weeks, I had been praying for God to bring up issues and show us very clearly if this was something that would or wouldn't work. But low and behold just as I had come to that very conclusion one morning, that very afternoon a long email from Luke appeared in my inbox. No, it was over yet....

Our love story; watching God's plan unfold! Part 1

2010-08-18T08:08:00.004-05:00

I know some of you have been waiting for the blog post of how Luke and I met and got to know each other for quite a while--well, it's finally here! The first part anyway. I started writing this a couple months ago and it turned into a book which I had to shorten before posting. :)

Part 1 - An Unexpected Best Friend!

When I think back on the last two and half years, it's amazing to see God's handiwork in so many ways in which Luke and I were both totally unaware. Why do I want to share this with you? Because it is a continual reminder of God's sovereignty and proves beyond doubt how He works even in what sometimes seems to us the most undesirable events. The events that transpired weren't just "circumstances". It was God working in the simplest of details in putting a fantastic friend named Joanna in my path and later bringing the one that God has intended for me for the rest of my life - Luke!

As Luke and I were getting to know one another, I found it such an encouragement to look back at the months before that time and see how God planned each and every detail! If I could have told Him what I wanted, could I have even pictured it and given Him an outline to follow? No way! I love looking back, seeing how God orchestrated every intricate detail and allowing that to continually remind me what an awesome God He is! As you'll see, there are a lot of little, what seemed at the time, insignificant details, but I really believe God put all those there for a reason. Looking back I can see how He opened my eyes to some things and completely closed them to others. And now to look back and see all those details make sense is just....incredible! So take a quick (or long!) journey with me back two and half years ago when it all began...

It all started with a miniature Krackle candy bar. In late November 2007, I attended a Bernina National Teacher's Retreat in Chicago for three days with one of my quilting friends. For reasons all of my own, it was a retreat I wasn't looking forward to that much. In fact, I almost considered not going, but knew it was a business opportunity I couldn't pass up. So I went, unaware of how God would bless in the upcoming months and years.

The first evening was a get-together-get-to-know everyone type of meeting in which I was introduced to this young lady named Joanna who was close to my age. In fact, that was the precise reason someone introduced her to me; because we WERE the youngest two in attendance there. I must stop at this point and comment that in the sewing/quilting industry, while younger generation sewers are becoming more common, they are still among the minority. So to have two people under twenty-five in a group of older ladies was unusual. That night Joanna and I didn't talk anymore than pretty much saying hi, where are you from, what do you do, etc.

That night as I returned back to the hotel, I was thinking, "Lord, why am I here? I've worked with Bernina machines enough that I'm learning little new in regards to the machines themselves. And I have classes and stuff piling up at home to do. I'm so ready to get back home." I knew that wasn't the right attitude to have, so my prayer was that God would change it because in Chicago was where I was at that moment and there was no changing that.

The next two days were full of classes and sewing/quilting chit chat conversations. I wasn't totally thrilled to be there, but that all changed in a heartbeat Friday night. That last night the group of 40 ladies was broken up into groups to tour the building by simply choosing a miniature Hershey's candy bar. I choose the Krackle variety. Unknown to me, Joanna did to.

We found ourselves in the same group traveling the building and eating dinner that night and talking back and forth discovering that we both loved machine embroidery, taught sewing/quilting classes, knew and loved working with Bernina software, etc. Before the last group meeting of the night, I asked Joanna for her email address since it seemed as though she could prove to be an excellent business contact in the future. That was it. The last meeting came and went. Everyone started to board the buses to head back to the hotel.

I climbed into one bus and crawled back into the very backseat and found Joanna next to me. We started visiting and then our conversation moved to conservative values, learning that we were both homeschooled, both believers and I honestly don't have a clue what else we talked about on that car ride - but I do remember being excited!

When we arrived at the hotel, we stood out in the lobby intending to finish our conversation we started on the bus and ended up standing there, talking for over an hour--an hour of intense conversation. I had just lost Mom the year before and still dealing with that tragedy and Joanna had just been through some hard things that summer and that was exactly what we were sharing with each other.

For those of you who know either one of us, we don't normally share that degree of our personal lives with just anyone--let alone a stranger who we just met! We have both looked back on that conversation and still don't know why we so easily shared those personal things with each other. The only possible reason - it was God working in both of us to bring us together.

We finally quit talking and once I reached my hotel room, I immediately called Dad, thrilled and excited and told him that I met someone incredible and he just wouldn't believe it. Not only did I meet someone my age who was intensely involved in sewing as I was, but also a believer who with very limited conversation, seemed to agree with my values in so many areas of life. Even he could tell how excited I was and it's one of his favorite stories to tell - how I met someone just like me! :) One insignificant detail about this night that stood out to me: both Joanna and I were wearing high heeled boots and she was still quite a bit taller than I was...

In the next several months, Joanna and I emailed each other every week or so, learning more and more about each other. We discovered that we were alike in so many ways! Not only did we share the same Biblical beliefs and values, but we both were heavily involved in the sewing and quilting industry. We both loved machine embroidery, worked in Bernina sewing machine dealerships, taught different sewing and quilting classes. Even in the little, insignificant details, such as we owned Siamese cats and the best way to watch movies is to sew at the same time! Yes, we had our differences, but yet again, I had never met someone who was "just like me" in the best and most wonderful of ways!

In April 2008, I drove out to Colorado Springs to spend a couple days with Joanna. As I met up with Joanna at the quilt store where she worked, I was once again reminded how much taller she was than myself. The first day I was there, Joanna took me to a bell choir practice where her older brother played. While we were there, Joanna asked me if I knew which one was her brother? Sure I did! Even though I had never met him or seen him. He was the tallest one there with the same dark hair that Joanna had! I now knew why Joanna had her height; her brother Luke was tons taller!

During the time I was there, Joanna and I had our sewing/quilting discussions among many other things. In the upcoming months, we traveled back and forth from Kansas to Colorado to spend several days together. While we spent the majority of our time together with our sewing projects and conversations, we did get to know each others families as well. When I would drive out there, we would do things with her family, which did at times include Luke, although to me he was nothing more than just another one of Joanna's brothers.

It was on one of those trips to Colorado that I did notice something about Luke that stood out to me. I noticed how kind and gentle he was and how he treated his mom and sisters with that same care. I saw that as a very excellent and Godly quality. And at the time, this was my thought, "Whenever Luke does get married, he would be someone who would treat his wife very well."

Yes, believe it or not, that is exactly what I thought, but my thoughts went no further than that...not once did I consider myself to ever be that person. I look back on that now and really believe that God opened my eyes to that fact, but completely closed them to the fact of thinking nothing more of Luke than just Joanna's brother. If my thoughts had branched out further, I probably would have been a little less at ease around him and Joanna's family on those trips to Colorado.

Even when Joanna and I couldn't get together because of our busy schedules, our email conversations continued. Through each and every conversation, we were such a blessing and encouragement to each other. I was amazed beyond belief how God had brought a wonderful person who become my best friend from a Bernina retreat I wasn't thrilled about attending and almost didn't. And even through the past difficult year that Joanna and I had both faced, God was working in allowing those things to happen to bring us closer together. I couldn't ask for more! I was more than content with my friendship with her, my business endeavors and staying at home with Dad. My life was complete; God had blessed in so many ways! Little did I realize that God wasn't finished yet...

August? Wasn't this month supposed to slow down?

2010-08-16T20:14:00.001-05:00

Yeah, that's what I thought too! July--craziness! August--nothingness! What was I thinking?!?!? lol!!! Yes, perhaps not as busy as July, but plenty of things to continue to occupy my time.

It seems as though I've spent weeks catching up on email, business, orders, blogging, photos, sisters, cleaning, cooking and just plain life!! But I have to admit--I wouldn't change one thing I did in July!

Ok, so let's see.....I spent the first two weeks this month recovering from the previous events. You know, when you're physically gone for just about 4 weeks, dust tends to build up, cats tend to get lonely, and mail piles really high! ;)

Luke was here for a few days this month and we spent some time discussing wedding plans, talking, going to the rodeo, laughing, scouting out photo spots all over Dodge and just spending time together! Fun times!!! :)

This week? I'm headed to Iowa to spend a week with Joanna! I'm soooo excited! It's been a whole entire year since we've seen each other! Of course, that can't be too horrible considering the fact that we didn't even know each other the first 19 and 24 years of our lives! :)

The end of the month? Luke, Jena, Ryan and Krissa are all coming home for the weekend! All of us home at the same time--yep, it's been about a year since everyone's been home at the same time! I'm looking forward to it!

Maybe September will be normal? You think?! I'm not sure if I should plan on that or not....;)

Set sail for our High Seas Expedition!

2010-08-14T11:05:00.001-05:00

Set sail on the high seas at Grace Community Church! This year I had the privilege of directing Vacation Bible School at church! It was an exciting week and I enjoyed every minute and was thrilled to work with so many wonderful people using the talents and abilities God has given them! All the work over the previous weeks and months paid off--we had a great turnout of 70 different kids over all five nights eager to learn about God's Word!

The worker meals! The skits! The decorations! The music! The rotating Bible lesson room each night! The water games! The creative snacks! The unique crafts! The lists upon lists!

It took everyone working together to create a week that the kids enjoyed and learned so much! Thank you to everyone who put in so much of their talent and time into that week and the weeks before it!

Can you believe that ship and sail?!?!

Bible lesson classroom for a ship at sea! I love this one!!

Bible lesson classroom for a shipwrecked island!

Our treasure chest filled with coins and blankets which the kids bought and tied each night!

My endless check-list! ;)

Our float in the Dodge City Days parade--it was sooo neat!!!

Erinn & I!!!

It was such a treat to spend the week working with Erinn! What would I have done without her???--I just don't know!!!

Here's a sneak peek from the week that Andrew put together and there's more pics from the week here....

CEF Camp Week 1 & 2

2010-08-12T22:16:00.000-05:00

Simply amazing!

Crazy!
Hot!
Busy!
Exciting!
Exhausting!
Wonderful!

How can I describe those two weeks?? With many, many words! It was great as always! The same usual routine. A few new additions and friendships made. And most thrilling to see God bring in enough kids to fill both weeks!

This year we taught a new CEF lesson--Beginnings! And I loved it! It was exciting teaching on Creation, Adam & Eve, Cain & Able, Enoch and Noah! Needless to say that Noah, one of my favorite Bible stories to teach, could have lasted two hours instead of the 40 minutes I had. The first week, I had to skip so much of what I had planned, so the second week I ummm...skipped some details so I could get the whole story, memory verse and review game in that time frame! Oh, but I loved it!

And even though most of the youngest group of campers already know the story of Noah, it's still exciting to see their faces just waiting for the next "event" to happen as I'm telling the story. And then to see their interest in the size of the ark, just how many animals were inside and how long they floated on the water was so neat! Ahhhhh--I love teaching! :)

The first week I taught in the gym! Great--that's my favorite place to teach! The second week Sharon told me I was teaching in the chapel--ok, that's fine! (I have to admit; I was just a tad disappointed to not be teaching again in my favorite spot!) What was I thinking?!?!?!?

Oh--am I now ever so spoiled!!! I told Brian that I'd come back and teach year after year if he could guarantee my classroom remained in the air conditioned chapel! He agreed!! Remember that next year! ;) lol!!! But in all my years of teaching, I've never taught there and still taught the youngest group of campers--it was a treat!

This was a new Bible lesson review game I did this year -- dress up someone on your team!!! The kids LOVED it!!! After all, wouldn't you want a red nose, black rimmed glasses, feathers around your neck or blue hair???? ;)

Our memory verse rainbow was soooo fun! The kids loved seeing the rainbow being built every single day in the dinning room the first week and in the chapel the second week. They did an excellent job memorizing verses! And thankfully I had lots of help taping up all those rainbow sections every day! Whew!! That's a job--but worth it!!

Let's see--what else?! Hmmmm, so much happened during those two weeks. It's impossible to sum it up in one blog post! There were some friends I missed seeing this year (yes, Jenna--that's you!! :)) and then some others were there that hadn't been in a few years! Ruth and Josh--I'm sooooo glad we could all be teachers that first week--what a thrilling week it was! It was great to catch up on old camp memories!! Ahhhh--fun!! So many years spent at camp together and so many good times!!! :)

This year I enjoyed every minute of those two weeks I was there. As that second week drew to a close, I kept thinking, "This could be the last time I'm...

....handing out memory verse prizes,

....standing on the porch watching flag raising,

....keeping score, listening to kids competing in quiz time and laughing during counselor quizzing,

....melting in the dinning room grading manners,

....watching kids file into the chapel for singtime,

....shooting pics during talent night,

....sharing secrets about Miss Ruth, Luke & Nehemiah with Clara all week long,

....listening to the laughter and delight during final assembly when such photos such as Luke & his funny faces appear,

....pouncing on photo opportunities just like this one,

....watching Lauren grow up year after year and now attending as a camper,

....climbing that stack of stairs up and down & up and down again and again,

....seeing campers, counselors, teachers and staff come back year after year!

Perhaps this year won't be the last time, but this year especially I enjoyed every minute! Ahhh--the memories! The good times! The wonderful friendships! The kids year after year! The ministry God has allowed me to become apart of for 16 years! Wow! Amazing! How thankful I am to be apart of those two weeks out of the year every summer!

As Josh, Ruth and I were thinking back on the years we've attending camp together and all the things that happened year after year; it was so fun to look back! I began thinking...what was my favorite year? Hmmm....I'm not sure I can put one year in that category.

I remember that first year of counseling and winning best manners! And one hard year where God taught me just as much as I was there to teach the kids! And the first time I taught both weeks--the lesson of Esther! And then seven years after that--teaching Esther again! Then leading singtime with Ruth as my ever-so-helpful partner! And Bible teacher talks, outings and late night swims. Looking forward to seeing Brian and Sharon and their family year after year!

The years and memories--perfect! Never to be forgotten! I can't help but look back on those times and smile!

More photos from the first week of camp...

More photos from the second week of camp...

What a month it's been!

2010-08-02T13:02:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's so true! What a month is has been! July proved to be just as exciting, wonderful, full and exhausting as I expected, but what a great month!! In some ways this month has flown by so fast and in others, it seems like it's lasted forever.

Let's see...it all started when I went to Colorado Spring for the 4th of July weekend to spend with Luke. Then a few days after that I left for the first week of camp. Then the second week of camp. Then a week of VBS at church.

And now? Catching up on everything I didn't get done in the last month! Including blogging. And finally able to start making wedding plans, which I'm extremely excited about!!

What a difference a year makes!

2010-07-17T22:46:00.001-05:00

This past month I've been reflecting over the past year and I'm still amazed at all God has brought about! Huge changes to our family! Good changes! Happy changes! Unexpected changes! Fun changes! It's unbelievable to look back over the last twelve months and see God's amazing hand in our lives day after day.

A little over a year ago, Krissa moved to Lexington and met Ryan. At that time and even a year ago this July, none of us would have guessed she would be married a year later.

A year ago, I had met Luke, but at that time he was nothing more than just my best friend's brother. If you would have told me I would have been engaged in a year; I'm not sure I would have believed it!

Someone at camp asked me what I had been doing over the past twelve months since last year. My response? Lots! Yes, what a difference a year makes! It's been an exciting year and I'm so looking forward to the next twelve months!!!

Ready or not -- camp is here!

2010-07-10T21:40:00.000-05:00

Year after year it's basically the same--memory verses, prizes, lessons, object lesson....it's camp prep time! And I love doing it! Especially now that I can say it's done, finished and ready! ;)

By the time I pack all the memory verse work, prizes, my Bible lesson materials and just my stuff for the week, it's a huge load! And I think every year I seem to take more and more! Good thing it's just me! How did my two sisters and I ever have enough room in my car to get to camp in past years??

All my paper strips are cut and ready to create a huge rainbow! I'm so excited to get started on that this week and see how many verses the kids can memorize!

Yep, more VBS!

2010-07-10T16:10:00.006-05:00

This last week I've had a two track mind - VBS and camp. Camp is this coming week and the next, but VBS is that third week after two week of camp, so I managed to get the majority of stuff taken care of before this weekend. And hopefully I haven't forgotten anything of major importance!

Believe me, I've had stuff all over this house, trying to get two huge events organized and sorted. When I was working on the floor surrounded by paper, boxes, sacks, paperwork and who knows what else, Dad's comment was, "You sure do have lots of stuff!"

Yep, I do. But the majority of VBS is now at the church and camp will soon be out the door! Whew!

See? That's lots! And that's only the first room! ;) Oh, and that little itty bitty stack on top the dresser? That's the beginning of wedding planning! :) Don't worry--that pile will grow! lol!!

Of course, candy!

And fun crafts!

LOTS of notes and lists!

Prizes too!

Remember all that tea-stained treasure map paper?? This is it!

Love the clipart!! I have this weakness for cute clipart images and High Seas definitely has some cute graphics!

One of my favorites - the station signs!! These are so fun!!

These took FOREVER to cut, glue and tape, but they are so adorable--can't wait to use them!!

Do you see what I see??

2010-07-01T06:29:00.000-05:00

Yep, two baby owls were camped out in one of our trees this spring!

High Seas Expedition VBS

2010-06-30T21:49:00.000-05:00

Months and months of work by many people has gone into VBS this year....and it's less than a month away! Hooray!!!

Sailing the High Seas...

Mission Blanket Treasure Chest...

love...LOVE...LOVE the treasure map!!

Setting out on the journey...

Yep, gold coins!!!

A HUGE Rainbow!!

2010-06-30T09:05:00.000-05:00

For camp this year our theme is Beginnings - the very first Bible lessons such as creation, Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Enoch and Noah. Once again, I was faced with the challenge of coming up with something that would be our goal to complete for memory verses.

I had lots of ideas....such as creating a HUGE round world like a globe and then cutting it up into puzzle pieces and for each verse the kids memorize they would get to put up one puzzle piece to fill it in by the end of the week. Semi-good idea--still, I wasn't too thrilled with it!

Then, what about creation itself??? Use the same idea as what I've used in Kid's Klub and Sunday School and start out with a huge black piece of paper and day by day add light, sky, seas, dry land, plants, flowers, trees, fish, birds, stars, moon, sun, animals and man. LOVE that idea!! Until I realized just how many stars, flowers, birds, fish and animals I'd have to cut out.

Remember, I cut out 3,000 people last year? Granted, I only used about half, but still, that's 1500!!! I wasn't thrilled with that idea! And the year before that? Yep, the footprints! Ahhh....yes, the kids loved the footprints going all around the dinning room! What could I create again that would be huge enough to go all around the dinning room????

Hhhmmm....Adam & Eve? Naming animals? Reusing people from last year and create a huge chain of people? Noah leading the animals onto the ark? Oh yeah - NOAH!!! That's it - a HUGE rainbow!!!

Aren't they cute?!?!

2010-06-27T21:57:00.001-05:00

Yes, the love each other, follow each other around and would be totally lost without one another!

And don't dare try to separate the two or you'll get an earful of pure Siamese screams!!!! :)

Ryan & Krissa - THE wedding of the year!!!

2010-06-25T21:55:00.001-05:00

We had a blast being in Kentucky for the week of Ryan and Krissa's wedding! Lots to do! Lots of work! But ohhh, soooo much fun!!! And such a beautiful wedding!!! All six of us bridesmaids plus Krissa spent a week full of laughs, fun times and memories that we'll never forget! And that was all before the wedding day!

I came home with over 1600 photos on my camera and it's been sooooo much fun to remember the memories from that week!

Here's a few pics from rehearsal with more here.....

Krissa & Dad!!

Claire (Krissa's friend from BJU) & Jena!!

How neat is that????

Three sisters & three brothers!!!

Our family!!!

Us!!!!

Wonderful!!!

And the most hilarious table of the night?? Ours, of course!!! :)

And here's a few pics from the wedding with more here.....

Krissa's PINK shoes!!!

6 bridesmaids plus the bride!!

sisters!!!!

We had a blast together all week!!!

Ahhhh.....yes!!! The shoes!!!

Ok, so by Friday night, we were a little crazy!!! :)

Caroline, Jena and I!!!!

Two of the sisters!!!!

Ryan & Krissa!!!

Mr. & Mrs. Finch!!!! :)

Wonderful Dad!!!!

More bridesmaid fun!!!

Dad -- there's just no one like him!

2010-06-20T20:13:00.011-05:00

My Dad. Marvelous and wonderful Dad. God has blessed me beyond measure in allowing such a wonderful, Godly man in my life all these years!

Several months ago Erinn and I were talking about our Dads and one thing she said struck me as being so very true! "There's just something about Dads and as daughters, being loved and cared for by them. Who else cares for you unconditionally and has no other interest than desiring the VERY best for you?" She's right; no one at all, no one....other than our Heavenly Father.

I was reminded of that so clearly last week as we spent time in Kentucky for Krissa's wedding.

As Dad willingly washed and cleaned vase after vase after vase...

As Dad willingly drove all over Lexington to find cleaning supplies, clothespins and hangers just for us....going out on a separate trip for each item because we neglected to tell him all we needed at one time...

As Dad willingly drove us girls home, to the church, home, to the church, etc. arriving just at the time we asked...

As Dad willingly helped press bridesmaid dresses and Krissa's gown, even though that's not the typical thing he does...

As Dad willingly draped fabric from pew to pew, hung up silver bows all over the church, set out glass vases and stripped leaves and thorns off fresh roses...

As Dad willingly shopped all over Lexington for a pink dress shirt to wear just because Krissa asked him to...

Why did he do all that without complaint? Because he loves us; he cares for us--his daughters! As I was standing at the front of the church watching Dad and Krissa walk down the aisle a week ago Friday, I was reminded of that very fact. And as I looked at Dad, tears started forming and I had to look away to keep them from streaming down my face in front of a crowd of people.

The look of love, joy and pure content was on his face! I know without a doubt how much he loves us! And how thankful I am to God in providing a father who seeks the Father's will, has taught us to follow Christ and who loves us unconditionally!!

A few days in Kentucky...and more coming!

2010-06-05T08:09:00.003-05:00

A couple weeks ago I flew out to Kentucky to spend some time with Krissa and Ryan, get some sewing accomplished and help Krissa with more wedding details! It was a great trip and we were able to get quit a bit done. And I was thrilled to have the majority of sewing for her wedding out of the way. A few more things to finish right before the wedding, but that shouldn't be too bad.

What did we do the few days I was there in addition to sewing???? Hmmmmm.....let's see....watch Ryan play softball, getting together with Ryan's mom and brothers, running around and shopping all over Lexington, talking, laughing, facebooking, emailing, chatting and totally enjoying being together! And on top of all that it was the perfect weekend to be there as I was able to attend one of Krissa's showers as well!

And in another couple of days, we're are headed back east to that state of Kentucky for the actual wedding! What a busy, crazy and fun week that will be!!! :)

Zoo animals!

2010-06-04T07:54:00.001-05:00

The last weekend that Luke was here (for those of you who don't know, he lives in Colorado Springs :)), we visited the Garden City Zoo with our cameras. And here's a peek at what I caught through my camera lens...

Wrinkly elephants...

Lazy lions that would not look this direction for anything!

Roadrunner - that little bird darted all over SO quickly that it was hard to catch him!

These monkeys were just hanging around - all stretched out! :)

Pink flamingos that weren't really that...uh, pink!

Kangaroos and their babies enjoying the warm sun and ignoring the fact that we would like to have a shot of them jumping rather than sacked out sleeping!

And these, rather...uh, ugly creatures. But at least this one DID like having his picture taken. He just sat there, looking out the fence at us.

Ducks...nothing too exotic, but I really like the rippling water! :)

Lots of chain fences! Especially since my camera liked focusing on that instead of what was behind the fence. :)

Cute little otters that peeked out of the rock wall...

These cute little things...whatever they are! They were baby-somethings in a dark room!

And then the humpy turtle that very slowly crawled away from us.

And the best and cutest little fluffy thing - the red panda! Isn't it adorable?! :) I want this one for a pet! You think my cats would get along with him?!?! Hmmm....

28 years ago today...

2010-05-29T08:10:00.003-05:00

...Dad and Mom were married. May 29, 1982. And 3 1/2 years ago, that bond was broken. Although to us it seems to make not a bit of sense why God would allow such a thing to happen, ultimately, God was and still is in total control.

As hard as it was that first year without Mom, I think the upcoming months and years will hold days where I wish more than ever that Mom were still here. Mom would have been overjoyed to see Krissa's wedding in a couple of weeks and mine in the months ahead!

It's on those days and special times that I could choose to ask God, "Why? Why would you allow Mom not to be here for weddings of her daughters which she looked forward to so much? Why take Mom now and leave Dad here alone?"

Why? I don't know. I don't understand. But then, God's plan doesn't always make sense to our human minds. I won't always understand or know the reason why, but I can trust. Trust, accept and KNOW that Mom's death was beyond my control and ultimately part of God's unfailing plan. And God's plan far outweighs anything else so why would I want anything different?!

The best birthday gift EVER!! :)

2010-05-22T06:21:00.004-05:00

In and amongst daily life, there's another important part of my life that I haven't shared on my blog as of yet. That "important part" is a special someone who came into my life last November...well, maybe I should say August....hmmm...I guess technically it started 2 1/2 years ago in Chicago at a Bernina National Teacher's Retreat......

But that's another story for another time....

That special someone is Luke Nabeta. And he gave me the best birthday gift I could ever ask for - asking me to marry him! :) I could write a huge long blog post about him and the last few months, because I'm very excited about it and cannot believe how God has blessed in so many ways!! But for now....here's a few quick pics! :)

my beautiful ring!! :)

An end to Wednesday afternoons

2010-05-17T19:18:00.000-05:00

Kid's Klub on Wednesday afternoons is over for this school year already! Erinn and I have greatly enjoyed the kids trooping into the fellowship hall each Wednesday afternoon with their smiling faces and bursts of energy! What a fun year it's been!

Sunday morning we had a final end-of-the-year program in church and the kids did an excellent job reciting their memory verses, singing and answering questions from our Bible lessons over the past year! It is our prayer that they'll keep that knowledge for years to come!

Creative clutter, right?

2010-05-14T07:22:00.001-05:00

VBS stuff is supposed to be all over the floor, right? ;)

VERY large treasure map paper!

2010-05-13T06:52:00.007-05:00

Creative projects; can't resist them! Remember the cooked paper? Well, this time I need a HUGE treasure map, so merely cooking 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper in the oven just wasn't possible.

Our theme this year for VBS is sailing...ocean...ships...treasure chest...and yep, treasure maps!

So I took 3' wide white paper and crunched it.

Then spread it out in the hot sun.

Mixed up a batch of strong tea.

And drench the paper.

Then spread it all around.

Then let it "bake".

Iron it flat.

And tape it down.

PERFECT!!

Sunday School Cupcakes

2010-05-12T18:44:00.001-05:00

Cupcakes. For. Sunday. School. :)

Just a spoiled dog!

2010-05-11T06:54:00.002-05:00

And obedient....most of the time! (Although, she tends to obey orders better when a treat is lurking in your hand! Which I failed to have this time.)

Lady, sit! (sorta, kinda!)

Ok, now look at me! (sure!)

Now shake! No, not yawn!

Roll over! (not happening!)

But she did lay down. Does that count?

Let's try shaking again. Nope, still not working...shaking does not mean scratching.

Now she decides to roll over!

And then she heard Dad over by the shed and decided she'd had enough of me and knew she could have more fun with him.

Bits & Pieces!

2010-05-08T18:46:00.000-05:00

The last couple of weeks seem to have flown without getting much accomplished, but here's a little bit of what I've done!

Quilts & Projects! Our local quilt guild did a quilt display at the library and I had a bunch of my quilts and projects there for display. Just last month we took those down and now I've got to stash all that stuff back where it needs to be. All my finished projects/samples needed to be resorted anyway, so this was a perfect opportunity.

WARNING: VBS Spells Very Balanced Stack (and is at any moment threatening to fall over!) Yes! I have multiple table spaces and floor space covered with VBS supplies. That will most likely continue through the end of July.

One of the guys from church dropped by our house last week and brought me these cigar boxes. They are perfect for some future craft project!! What project that will be, I don't quite have figured out yet....but will at some point in the future. They're nice boxes with a hinged lid. I'm sure I can come up with something.

Buttons...buttons...buttons! I'm sure never to need another button in my life! :) (Saying that and knowing myself all too well, I know that I'll have ever single one except the very perfect one I need!) Anyway, someone gave me a ton of buttons..all colors...all sizes! And each organized in their very own little box. :)

Grandma's last jar of pickles! Ahhh...how I've enjoyed that last jar! Somehow this summer I've got to figure out a way to grow or obtain tons of cucumbers just perfect for pickling! And then head over to Grandma's for a day of canning pickles.

Less than 40 days!

2010-05-06T18:03:00.005-05:00

I can't believe it - my little sister is getting married! And it's less than 40 days away! Where have the months flown away too?? Who knows, but June 11th will be here...soon! :)

This last weekend Ryan and Krissa have started painting Ryan's house...in and amongst all the wedding details they're trying to finalize! But to me it finally feels like wedding details are coming together...maybe! It must to Krissa as well as her text to me today read..."Finally making progress, I'm excited!"

I'm headed back to Kentucky this month for one of Krissa's showers and the main reason - to sew. By the time I get there, all the bridesmaids dresses should be there plus everything else on my sewing list. Since I'm flying, I'm planning on "swiping" Krissa's car for a day to do some sewing supply shopping (and if I find anything else fabric related, that's ok too!).

For all the latest wedding news, details and photos, check out their wedding website here: www.ryanandkrissa.com

Merely a skunk

2010-04-30T22:04:00.001-05:00

Lady is notorious for finding four legged creatures...while they look kinda cute, they don't smell quite as nice. Such as the other night. She was barking like crazy in the front yard at this skunk.

Knowing Lady all too well, Dad locked her on the porch to prevent her from getting sprayed...again. She's had her fair share of skunk perfume in the past. :) As Dad and I watched this skunk out the front window, we could see it digging up something in the flower bed.

A rabbit. A half-eaten, dead rabbit that Lady buried there the day before. No wonder she was so upset at this skunk!! That skunk dug up that thing! Once the skunk was gone and it was safe to let Lady off the porch, she immediately ran to the front yard only to discover her "treasure" had been stolen. Poor thing!

Evidence of Spring!

2010-04-15T07:17:00.002-05:00

Fluffy clouds!

Wispy clouds!

Happy cows & calves!

Blue skies!

Diminishing woodpile!

Patches of green!

Tractor tire tracks!

Mittens (before she rolled in the dirt!)

Apricot tree!

Full of blooms!

White and beautiful!

One little bloom!

Lots of wind & bad hair days! ;)

Stash of Mom's pillows...

2010-04-04T17:27:00.000-05:00

Life without Mom has become normal. Not that there's times that I miss her more than others, wish that she could be here for certain events or just want to talk with her one more time, but she's not continually on my mind like she was several years ago. But there are times when something or someone triggers a memory of Mom.

Like a couple weeks ago as I was spring cleaning the hall closets. At the bottom of one of the closets lies a pile of blankets and extra pillows. Yes, the pillows...among the extras were Mom's "special" pillows.

You see, Mom always struggled with lower back pain, but having a small pillow tucked in behind her was a great help. She would have those pillows scattered around the house - in the schoolroom at her desk, in her rocking chair in the family room, on her bed and even in the car. They were available as she needed them.

There was one in particular that she loved the best! This very lumpy, odd looking, well worn thing was the most comfortable to her. I even made her a few brand new, machine embroidered pillows attempting to get rid of the old one, and while they were nice, they weren't "it". That one in particular and a couple others traveled with her quite a bit.

After Mom's brain biopsy surgery in Wichita, she was in ICU for several days, pretty much confined to lying on her back since her right side was paralyzed. We could tell that much of the time she was uncomfortable, but because she was unable to speak and there was so much else going on with her body, we were never able to discover what exactly she was trying to tell us she needed. There were so many other life changing issues we were facing and dealing with, that we didn't fully realize that being on her back so much was a huge problem.

Until.....that one afternoon. We walked into her ICU room carrying a couple of "her pillows". Oh! The look of relief on her face! Unbelievable! As soon as we were close enough to her bed, she immediately grabbed her favorite, small, lumpy pillow and tucked it behind her. And then sat back, breathing a sigh of relief with a slightly contented smile on her face.

Ahhh, yes...we had discovered one thing that helped. That little pillow.

So now that one favorite well-worn pillow is sitting with the others that Mom used. Do we use it for anything? No. Is it more than ready for the trash? Yes. Am I ready to get rid of it? Nope, not yet. Whenever I see that stash of pillows, it reminds me of Mom and that one afternoon when we managed to get a smile on her face in some of the worst circumstances. I'll never forget that. Never.

Life....just life.

2010-04-01T21:40:00.004-05:00

I can't believe my last post here was a couple weeks ago. What's been happening around my house? Not much...just plain, normal, everyday life. Here's a glance at the last few days:

Saturday: Income taxes. A task I dread doing, mainly because there's so much of it I don't understand. Between my slight knowledge and Dad's help, I'm able to get there, but figuring expenses, income and making sure to get it all according to IRS rules it just....well, is just....hard. But my taxes are filed, been confirmed with the IRS and my paperwork stack is much smaller than it was last week. Ahhh....that makes me feel better!

Sunday: Have you ever had two kindergarten girls try guessing your age?! That made for a quite interesting discussion before we started Sunday School. That evening we had a movie watching event - The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, starring of all people - Don Knotts (aka Barney Fife!). I don't care what movie Don Knotts is in, the characteristics he displays in his actions and speech will forever be linked to the "nip it in the bud" deputy sheriff! A fun evening!

Monday: This week we've had 70 and 80 degree days which have been wonderful - makes flip flop wearing weather just around the corner! With the warmer weather and sun shining, I've been trying to get outside and get a slight tan. Let's just say......it's going to take a while. Although I will say my skin has turned color; it's no longer pure white, but not quite the tan I had in mind. Hopefully the "tan" will start appearing soon. :)

Tuesday: Hmmm...what did I do this day?? Oh yes, I finished up some last of the month business deadlines, stitched a couple of alterations that needed to be done and cleaned and sorted the last of my paperwork from doing my taxes over the weekend.

Wednesday: Ahhh...how I look forward to Wednesday afternoons! The kids are so sweet and it's always a treat to spend that time with Erinn and teaching and doing activities with the kids. Our Bible character this week was Thomas and how he doubted and didn't believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. For my introduction into the lesson, I had multiple objects in paper bags and asked several of the kids if they believed me if I told them that there was a green fish, $200, a quarter, a teddy bear or other various objects in each bag.

While I was hoping for a "no, I don't believe you" answer (just like Thomas didn't believe what he was told until he saw Jesus' hands), mostly what I got was a, "yes, I believe you". They continually believed me; which is slightly scary. They are watching and believing what I say and do. My prayer is that my speech and actions are reflecting Christ and bringing glory and honor to Him! What a responsibility! Whew!!

Thursday (today): I just received our VBS program, "High Seas Expedition" yesterday and am soooooo thrilled about getting started on that for this summer! Just imagine - ships, sailing, cute sailing clip art characters, fun-to-sing songs, crashing waves and spy glasses digging out truth from God's Word?!?! And yes, that's what I'm planning on spending my weekend sorting out. :)

A stuffed caterpillar, clean or dirty socks, teddy bears and a couch.

2010-03-16T22:27:00.001-05:00

It's not every week that I schedule in a craft for Kid's Klub, but every few weeks I will and last week was one of them. Our craft project was this fun stuffed caterpillar. Little did I realize what questions this project would bring up. :)

I had long, colorful knee-high socks for each of the kids. We stuffed those with loose poly-fil, then tied chenille stems around the stuffed sock to create the caterpillar body sections, added wiggly eyes, antennas and a mouth and - ta-da! - a caterpillar! How cute is that?!?!

The poly-fil I had was in a 2 foot square box, so I started pulling it out. (Btw, the kids were VERY excited to be playing with this stuff! I knew there was a valid reason why I'd been storing that extra poly-fil for the last 10 years - now it's put to use!)

Here's some bits and pieces of our conversation from that afternoon:

Coltin (in 3rd grade) asks me, "Are we going to put the stuffing in the socks?"

I start pulling out a couple handfuls of stuffing out of the box and respond, "Ummm......mmmmm, yeah, that's what we're going to do."

As I'm pulling out mounds of this stuffing, his eyes get huge and then he asks me, "How many teddy bears did you have to take apart?" Lol!!!

WAIT....it gets better....;) Keep reading....

Smiling, I said, "Well, uh...uh...none. This didn't come from any teddy bears. " (Through the years, I've torn apart a lot of things to get what I want from it, but never a teddy bear! :))

Coltin then asks, "Did it come from stuffed animals?"

I respond, "No, but that's usually what is in stuffed animals."

At this point, I've already pulled out a couple armfuls and am reaching in for the last armful.....and Coltin asks with this amazed voice, "Did you take ALL this out of a couch?"

I couldn't stand it any longer, I started laughing and said "No, I didn't take it out of a couch."

I told him that you could just buy it like that. I have a feeling his mom may regret him knowing that information. :)

Then the youngest kids table starts this very serious sock-washing discussion. First of all, you must understand that we've had a clean/dirty sock debate before. In some of the games/activities we have played, the kids have taken off their shoes/socks and then when it's time to leave, it's quite the chore trying to discover all the sock owners. :)

On one of our previous weeks, I asked one of the little girls if the socks I'm holding were hers? Her response, "No, those are dirty socks and my socks are clean." Fairly certain they were indeed hers, I tried to explain to her that if she had been wearing them all day at school, they were no longer clean. They would be dirty. She didn't believe me; she insisted hers were clean. :)

So when I informed the kids that we were stuffing socks, you know what question comes up, don't you?

I'm going around the the tables, helping them stuff their socks and hear this question, "Did you wash your socks?"
Knowing exactly what's going on in their minds, I respond with, "Yes, I wash my socks. But these aren't mine. These are new, clean socks."

And as I moved to help the other table, I continued to hear bits and pieces about socks, clean ones, dirty ones, yours, mine and theirs. I didn't hear everything they were discussing, but they were having a serious sock-washing discussion. And from what one of the parents told me, the new-clean-making-socks-into-caterpillars conversation continued at home. :)

This is why I love working with kids! They are so refreshing and many times their questions/answers/responses make me stop and think about life through their eyes. They just have a totally different outlook on life. And honestly? I love to hear what they have to say every week; I'm constantly surprised! :)

The next craft I have planned: a butterfly. No socks. No poly-fil stuffing. Only paper. Surely paper can't bring up such inquisitive questions. Then again, you never know....!!!

Cinnamon Twists

2010-03-15T21:26:00.000-05:00

I made these for a church brunch a couple weeks ago and they turned out so yummy and wonderful!! Plus they freeze extremely well! (Even when you've left them uncovered in the freezer for a week! ;))

Cinnamon Twists

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
2 TBSP sugar
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. cream of tarter
3/4 cup softened butter
1 cup milk
2 TBSP melted butter
approx. 1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions:
Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in butter until mixture resembles course crumbs. Add milk and stir until moistened.

Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead in flour as needed until well mixed. Roll out dough into rectangle, approx. 1/4" thick.

Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with brown sugar. Fold rectangle in half and cut into 1" strips. Twist strips and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
few tsp. milk or water to desired consistency for drizzling.

Mix together above ingredients and drizzle over warm twists.

These are delicious with or without the icing and are perfect for making ahead of time and freezing until needed!

Spring cleaning update

2010-03-15T19:28:00.002-05:00

Where in the world did the month of February go to?!?!?! January just ended and then all of a sudden it's March! February is such a short month! Of course, the fact that I was gone for a week and was doing a million other things didn't help to lengthen it. :)

So much for my deep cleaning a room or two a month; that just didn't happen in February. But the good thing - I made up for it this month! :)

Last week I tackled Dad's room, his bathroom, the main bathroom and hallway! Quite a day's work, but at least that end of the house is complete. The only thing that is slightly driving me nuts is the fact that I can't fully clean the windows inside and out as I normally do...mainly because...uhhh...it's still winter.

And fully opening the windows, standing on a ladder outside, hosing down the window, drenching my hands in a bucket of cold water and spraying Windex just is not really conducive to winter-time temps. Not only for the fact that there are NO garden hoses outside at this time of year, but have you ever seen Windex icicles?? Me neither; and I don't plan to find out what they look like either!

You know, that's probably why they call this deep cleaning thing.....spring cleaning. Just a thought. ;)

Can I have a spring break too....please??

2010-03-13T21:05:00.001-06:00

All the kids and teachers are thrilled to have this next week be spring break! Considering what I've managed to do the last few days, I really think I need one as well.

...sprayed sink & tub cleaner on the bathroom window to wash it. Windex works and smells much better.

...put away the milk in the cabinet instead of the fridge. Thankfully discovered that I did that only 2 minutes later.

...uncovered a pan of cinnamon twists in the freezer that I made the week before and totally forgot about.

...pulled a pan out of the oven momentarily forgetting to use a hot pad. Believe me, less than a moment later, full realization of what I did hit me.

...discovered my Google toolbar has disappeared from my Firefox browser and so far I've been unsuccessful in recovering it. Do you know how hard it is to live without that Google search box and bookmarks?!?!

...crossed something off my list only to rewrite it because I crossed it off, planned to do it that very minute and got distracted. Note to self: Don't EVER cross off my list until AFTER the fact.

...almost forgot one of my SS kid's birthday in spite of the fact that she has been reminding me for the past month. (You know what kind of tragedy that would cause?!?!)

Too bad I don't teach school and can't have that much-looked-forward-to-break. Of course, my job being the wonderful job that it is...I can take a break just about any time. And next week sounds like a perfectly good week to me. :)

Matthew - that greedy tax collector!

2010-03-13T18:53:00.003-06:00

Kid's Klub has gone extremely well and Erinn and I have greatly enjoyed spending every Wednesday afternoon with this group of kids. Also, having Debbie there to help fill in as needed every week has been a true blessing. Sure, there have been some trying moments, but anything that is worthwhile, takes work and effort, right? Yep!!

For a full slide show of photos, be sure to check out my pics on facebook here...

Here's a quick peek at our Bible hero and memory verse a couple weeks ago - Matthew!

I told the kids about Matthew, the greedy tax collector, and how he collected his share plus the Roman government's share of tax money. Then we acted out Matthew collecting the taxes and raising prices. (Their absolute favorite thing to do!)

I told Annalise that she had to look greedy! Does that expression spell greedy or what?! Love it!! :) So several of the tax payers filed past Matthew and dropped their coins into the bucket. And when the last one couldn't pay what she owed, the soldier took her to jail! (I find the fact that she was delighted to be thrown in jail slightly disturbing, don't you?!?! ;))

And then Erinn had this great idea for a memory verse review game! And the kids LOVED it!! (Another slightly disturbing fact - Erinn had many volunteers willing to stand with a bag over their heads! ;))

Follow along and say the verse...first, touch your toes...

...then face backwards...

...then sideways...

...now to the front...

...and finally to the other side!

And the afternoon wouldn't be complete without playing the clothespin game!! :)

Kentucky Trip Part 4: A few last highlights and the "relaxing moments" trip home.

2010-03-12T20:56:00.003-06:00

Throughout the entire time Jena and I spent in Lexington, we had so much fun and just enjoyed being together with Krissa and Ryan. There are so many moments that we'll remember for years to come! Here's just a few more highlights from our week!

You can see the remaining pics from our trip here.

Jena couldn't endure an entire week without running!! But considering the fact that she's planning on running a full marathon in April, I guess she has to be prepared for that!

Krissa and I! We were still smiling after a few slightly hazardous driving episodes. :)

Emily and Jena choose to stay in the backseat. Good idea - probably safer. Ryan would agree! :)

Love those expressions!! Can't wait to see the people behind them again!!

Us three!!!

Of course, eating pickles was all part of the plan! And popcorn! And ice cream! So much for well-balanced meals!

Yes, we started on the third, last and large jar of pickles, thanks to Miss Muscles! ;)

We, again, filled Krissa's car up with gas - it didn't take her quite as long to guess what we did this time. :)

And then my dear sister opens up the car door and looks like this! Yeah, I was scared to death! Wouldn't you be the same?! :)

And then the journey home! Our first flight out of Louisville was delayed, which of course delayed everything else. So we...er...had some relaxing (i.e. waiting in an airport) moments. Quite a few of them, actually. And of all things - did you know that Atlanta does NOT have free wireless internet?? What's this world coming to?? Sitting in that airport happened to be our longest relaxing moment. Of course! :)

We did get back to Oklahoma City with all our luggage intact. Glad to be home. Thrilled with the week we had with Ryan and Krissa. Thankful for a safe trip and fun family times. And then the feeling of....I really have to get back to work now after a week-long vacation, but I just don't want to.....

Kentucky Trip Part 3: Sewing, decorating, shopping and "Well, this is embarrassing!"

2010-03-11T22:00:00.010-06:00

I shipped my machine, so I knew I had sewing planned. It arrived perfectly, except for one little piece of plastic that was broken on the door of the case that holds my feet, but that's not too big of a deal. Ryan and Krissa both laughed at the crate it came in, but it served it's purpose.

As I unpacked that and prepared to stitch a few things, I began to think of where I was going to put my machine. I considered the floor, as I have done that before, but it's rather difficult to have a sewing machine on the floor with a foot petal stretched one foot in front of you, trying to make the machine go. Scratch that idea. Use the kitchen counter. Yep; that works!

We spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday shopping, decorating (you'll never believe what we came up with!), cake testing (that was fun!), bridesmaid dress hunting (got that accomplished!), shoe scavenging (that it an ENTIRE story in and of itself - thanks to the lost phone-speak to me baby!-Claire-DSW Shoes-strange phone conversation episode!) and gift registry planning (quite the adventure!).

We did some trial and error decorating at the church and reception area. Oh my - that was a blast! We tried a little bit of this on the railing...and I think we've got that figured out!

And then we tried this decorating style....now just what would you call this??

All of us (except for Jena! :)) came to the conclusion that this is better!! :) lol!!! It actually started this way because I needed Jen to hold the fabric at the top so we could try wrapping the columns. Well, how can you wrap fabric without wrapping her in it?!?! ;)

Perfect!!! Now just stay there all night, Jen!!! :)

I know, I know...if this is the only idea we had, we are in huge trouble! :)

After spending the morning/afternoon shopping with Emily for dresses, we needed a lunch break! Especially Ryan! He endured hours of dress shopping with us! :)

And then Jena brought out her iphone (love that little piece of technology!) and we started watching youtube videos for advice and inspiration. Really!!! You wouldn't believe what's on youtube! Just as you can google anything for an answer; if you want a visual guide, youtube it! :)

So our next planned activity was gift registry shopping! You have no idea how Krissa has looked forward to touring Bed, Bath & Beyond with that little scanner in her hand! I'm not sure she was ready to let go of it when we left! But she had plenty of items to add to her list!

Believe it or not, Ryan did get a chance to scan in a few things!! :)

The hard part - decisions! But there seems to be enough choices, don't you think?!

And after those jam-packed full days of activity, how did our evenings usually end?? Yep, computers, facebooking each other in the same room (I know, it's silly, but we have fun with it!), talking, laughing, watching Andy Griffith....

....and oh, yeah....the "Well, this is embarrassing." message! I could try explaining the meaning of this, but it really wouldn't make a bit of sense, unless you were there. And when you are at the point of laughing so hard as we were, anything and everything seems funny! :)

THAT stash of toys!

2010-03-09T18:17:00.000-06:00

Interrupting this continuing series of my trip to Kentucky to report:

For the past several nights, I have been awakened by two cats digging and trying to scratch their way under my nightstand. The other night, I could take it no longer, so I took a deep breath and carefully stuck my hand into that darkened area, wondering what was drawing their attention there so frequently.

Since both my cats are indoor only cats, I knew it couldn't be a mouse (something that could have happened in past years!), but flies, bugs or crickets - now, that's another story. As my hand brushed against something furry with a long something, I began to wonder if this was a wise idea.

Thankfully, that furry, long thing was a toy mouse and not the real thing. Whew!! Would you believe those cats had stashed all this under there?

Those little black pom poms were Skittles's favorite toys as a kitten! I wondered just where they all disappeared to about a year or two ago! What was she doing? Stashing them away? For what? And I have no idea why she liked the black ones so well (she preferred the black to ANY of the colored ones); aren't cats color blind?!

Anyway, I discovered that they liked to carry those toys over to my nightstand, bat them under there and then try to retrieve them. One problem: there's only a one inch space between the bottom of the stand and the floor in the front. So they are only able to get their paws under there; yep, digging and scratching, trying to find that one toy!

Much to my dismay, after pulling out all those toys and throwing them clear across my room, Scamper promptly goes over to the now uncovered stash, picks one up in her mouth, comes over to the nightstand, sets it down and takes her paw and bats that black pom pom right back under the stand.

Why did I even bother getting all those toys out of there?!

Now back to my regularly scheduled blogging....:)