Mom is on Her Way!...

...and I'm super excited to see her!! I'm picking her up from the airport TODAY! Can't wait for the long weekend with her!

All the Happenings Around Here

So, I thought I'd take a moment and update my faithful readers about what's happening in our lives.  Sounds like fun, right?  : )

I have been stressed beyond words lately and am trying to take one day at a time.  Over the past few months I've been thinking about going back to school and just decided this past week to do so.  I'm excited and nervous for this new venture.  I feel that this is a good decision, but definitely a very scary one for me.  School has never been my strong point and unlike my cousins, I don't excel at it.  I'm trying to relax my nerves while facing a huge fear of mine.  

I'm going to be going to a community college close by to obtain my associate's degree in business administration.  This will take me 2 years and after this time I'll think about going on for my bachelor's.  I'm taking this in baby steps to help ease my fears and not make this feel so huge.  I don't know if it's working, but I like to think it is.  Ha!

In other exciting news Ben's parents are coming to visit us this coming Friday!  It will be so wonderful to see them for the 4th holiday.  We haven't seen Ben's dad since last October...way too long in our books!  I'm sure tons of good laughs, games of euchre, and other great memories will be made.  They arrive on Friday and leave Tuesday.

Then I will pick my mom up from the airport next Thursday for a weekend with us!  I can't wait to see her either!  She's coming in for my cousin's wedding and will also spend some good time with me.  After the wedding weekend, we'll be packing and taking mom with us to Ashland, Ohio for our Brethren Conference.  Dad will meet us in Ashland to pick her up and then Ben and I will spend the week at conference as well as with friends that we dearly miss.  It will prove to be a very busy week, but a great one reconnecting with our friends.

What a busy month July is!  I'm not sure how often I'll be updating this during July, but wanted to ask you all to keep us in your prayers as we travel, see family and friends, and just enjoy being busy.  After we return from conference we'll have our county fair and our church is hosting "The Kitchen".  We'll be serving all kinds of food that week and Ben and I have volunteered our time to help serve.  It's the first time for our church to do this, so it should be a fun learning experience as well as a great way to serve the people of this area.

Busy month!  Whew!  No reason to be stressed...right?!?!

Puzzles

Ben and I have been looking for some fun things to do that are inexpensive. Unfortunately around here, most activities cost money, whether by gas prices, ticket prices, or eating out prices if we go somewhere for a day.

Ben was taking Maddie out to go potty one day and looked over at our dumpster. He noticed a puzzle box laying on top (no, my husband does NOT dumpster-dive!). Remembering a conversation he had with me weeks or even months earlier he thought, "this might be fun to do together". (Good man by the way for remembering this conversation...ha!)

So, he brought the box upstairs...I couldn't believe he picked it out of the dumpster, but it was just laying on top and hadn't even been opened and was clean on the outside (had to throw that in there).

Thus began our puzzle fun....500 pieces of a scene I wouldn't have necessarily chosen, but the puzzle was FREE and we love FREE activities. : )

We worked and worked and eventually got the border put together and then we worked on the obvious portions of the puzzle that we knew just "had" to go together.

We had a lot of fun putting this puzzle together and talking and watching TV on our breaks. Maddie wasn't too pleased though because we weren't paying attention to her. I would laugh at her whining and giving us all her toys so we'd play with her instead of whatever we were doing on the table. Poor girl is so deprived! ha!


We eventually got the bottom half of the puzzle put together and were thrilled when we got the right side trees/bushes in place. Trying to find pieces that are all one color and fit together is hard work!

The last portion was the sky and this was another tough part!

Eventually we came to the end, only to find that one piece was missing (maybe that's the reason the puzzle was in the dumpster to begin with?)! We were so bummed, but happy and proud that we accomplished our first puzzle together. I don't know if we'll be doing another one any time soon, but it was something fun and different to do together.

Freedom in Christ

I'm reading this book entitled "Get Off Your Knees and Pray" by Sheila Walsh (best-selling author and Women of Faith speaker). This book has been teaching me a lot and last night as I was reading I came across the following sentences and I wanted to share them with you all:

"If so, have the faith to remember that with God all things can be made new. Your past is just that. But your future in him is limitless. God looks for a desire to begin moving...and he will be there. And not just passively but waiting to embrace you. Just say the name of Jesus, and the condemnation of the enemy, who would love to keep you in the belly of the whale for the rest of your life, will have to go. You are loved; you are loved; you are loved!" (page 79)

Following this the book stated that we need to be able to forgive ourselves whatever our burdens. Incredible words followed to end this chapter:

"From out the depths I cry, O Lord, to Thee,
Lord, hear my call.
I love Thee, Lord, for Thou dost heed my plea,
Forgiving all.
If Thou dost mark our sins, who then shall stand?
But grace and mercy dwell at They right hand."
(The Psalter, Based on Psalm 130)


May we all feel freedom in Christ!

Thunder and Rain

It's storming out right now. I just heard loud thunder and as I look out my window I'm watching the rain pour down. Not just a light sprinkle, but pouring...like someone turned the faucet on full blast "upstairs". The cars outside are getting a free bath and I must admit, I'm glad I'm inside right now!

I love the sound of rain. It makes me want to sit on a couch and just listen. Listen to the sound rain makes and the occasional big "boom!" of thunder. We've had a lot of rain here so far this season, so I'm also looking forward to the beautiful sun coming out soon.

We are so blessed to have a roof over our head and to be dry...not just now with the rain, but always. God has blessed us immensely and we are so grateful.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

The End of April!

Today is the last day of April! I can't believe how fast this month has flown by.

April started with a roar and is ending with a roar. What a busy month! At the beginning of April our mom's came to visit us. It was my mom's first time flying since I was a little girl. What an experience for her! They came just in time for our church to hold an emergency meeting regarding us being able to stay at SJBC due to finances (which they voted to keep us here...if you didn't already know those details). A fantastic meeting, but an emotional one.

Ever since that meeting, it seems like our schedules have picked up and Ben has had a lot of meetings, district conference, he's preached, oh and of course the Easter holiday...which really isn't a relaxing holiday for pastors. I've been Ben's trusty side-kick...which hopefully was a good thing for him. ha!

We did manage to get away for a night which was much needed. It's so easy to not relax when things get so hectic and stressful. Relaxation can do a world of good!

In May we are looking forward to more events here at the church as well as more meetings and of course Memorial Day. I am looking forward to getting through May and June because that brings us closer to seeing family and friends in July. More details on that as we get closer to summer.

Have a wonderful last day of April!!!

Warmer Weather....Please!

I'm so ready for warmer weather. We were teased this past weekend with 70 degree temperatures, but now today it's cold, rainy, and dreary again. It has made it hard to wake up this morning and feel motivated. Monday mornings are so hard!

I think this coming weekend is supposed to be warmer, so that will be really nice! Poor Maddie needs a hair cut really bad as her hair is so long, but it'll just have to wait for a bit. Her tongue hangs out quite a ways when she's outside with the sun beating down on her.

I guess I should say that Maddie is doing great! She will be 7 months old next Monday and she's so cute! I may be bias, but I do think she's adorable. She is such a great puppy too. She whines to go potty (yeah!), she doesn't bark, shed, or do really anything that is utterly annoying for a dog. I think she's just perfect! : )