Yeah!

Congratulations to Tammy and Ryan on the birth of their little girl earlier this morning! I'll let them share all the details but jump over to tell them congratulations!

Time to Change Things Up

Right now, I am sitting on the couch with Hubs while he watches Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers for the eleventy-hundreth time. Not that I mind - I got to see my favorite scene. I get chills every time I see the elves march up to Helm's Deep - there is something about the solidarity, the hope in that moment that I just love. Now he just flipped to David Blaine doing some street magic. He loves to flip!

I have so many things I want to blog about, a huge list of ideas and hopes and hurts, but when I am not sure who is reading my blog, I don't know how honest I can be. Which honestly just stinks. Because this is my blog. And I started it to talk about my life and my thoughts. And now I'm censoring my thoughts because of who might be reading. Augh!

Some of the things I want to blog about are happy things, some sad, others troublesome, and even other things I'd like advice on. But I feel very censored on here. So I am in the midst of developing a new blog, somewhere where I can share my thoughts and feelings and joys and hurts without certain people getting ahold of them. If you're out there and still reading, and would like to know about the new site (when it's ready), drop me an e-mail or comment here and I'll get you the new info.

Thanks for reading thus far.

My Absolute Favoritest Song in the World

Everlasting God
Lincoln Brewster
From the album Let The Praises Ring - Best Of Lincoln Brewster

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God You reign forever
Our Hope our strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God

You do not faint You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
The everlasting God
The everlasting

Do I Have Time For a Nap?

According to the calendar in our home office, April was supposed to be a fairly uneventful month. That's only because I didn't have the time to update it in March! We have managed to sail over halfway through the month without stopping to catch our breaths.

Hubs' parents came down for a few days to help us celebrate his birthday - it was so good to have them here. With us here and them in Michigan, we definitely don't get to spend enough time with them. On the Saturdaybefore they came down, we hosted a little cook-out/birthday party. We ended up with 8 adults and 7 kids (4 of them under the age of 2)- wild! Despite the cold, rainy weather, we all had a great time and were able to celebrate the birthdays of 6 of those present.

Easter was nice too. We have a huge potluck breakfast at our church between the early and late services which was fantastic. Hubs and I then head to Des Moines. We had a visitation to attend late that afternoon and decided to make a day out of it. We had a late lunch and saw a movie. I was too enthused about seeing Meet the Robinson's but it was so precious. Hubs and I both cried. We don't buy many DVDs but will definitely be adding this one to our collection.

Hubs spent the past weekend in Michigan doing his fighting in the woods thing. He had fun and I was able to spend some time with friends around here. And now Hubs is sick. The poor guy had a 102 temp this morning. He is still not doing great and is crashed on the couch.

And now almost another month has passed us by. Kind of amazing when I stop to think about it.

Oh yeah, a huge shout out to the Big Guy - LOVE the weather! This week is one of those that I seriously LOVE my job more than I can ever imagine. Tomorrow I am heading up a group of 26 high school students and 11 adults and we're going to do a snapshot on the watershed. (Our event is not listed on the upcoming events since it's not open to the public.) It's supposed to be in the high 60s and sunny and I'm getting paid to spend the day outside! Can life get any better!

Hope you all have a great week!

A Tuesday Funny

Thanks to Catherine for sharing this:

go to google.com
click on maps
click on get directions
from new york,new york to (end address)paris,france
read line #23

A Wedding, Philly and Friends

Hubs and I just returned from a long weekend in the City of Brotherly Love. Our friends Amy and Ross got married on Sunday and we flew in for the big day.

I really want to write about the whole experience but I don't know, I just feel weird writing it all down. It was a really strange trip and I am much more exhausted than I ever dreamt I'd be. Hubs is beat too. So I thought I'd share the highlights with you, along with a few pictures (our camera broke on Friday afternoon so no wedding pics yet, those are coming).

Highlights include:

• Having a blast with Todd and Stacie in the Happy Van (Oy vey - we spent HOURS in the Happy Van - and not always happy, but we tried)


• Dancing to Siman Tov and Hava Nagila


• Hanging out with some of the other awesome bridesmaids


• Spending a little alone time with Hubs in the Independence National Historic Park (the big center across the street from where the Liberty Bell is housed)


• Eating the most fabulous chocolate bread pudding at Moonstruck - amazing!


• Catching up with some old friends during the various activities
• Finding a little Irish pub with Todd & Stacie


• Lots and lots of laughter with old and new friends

And now the pictures -

Todd with Amy's mom, Roz

Todd & Stacie at our little Irish pub Me, Amy & Stacie at the hotel

Ross and his awesome mom, Susan
Stacie, Amy and me

Orly, Amy and Dana Dana and Dean (aren't they adorable!?)

Amy K and me
And my favorite picture so far, me and Hubs

(not the most flattering of us but he's so darn cute!)

Day 2

Do you remember the sound that you here when you hold a shell to your ear? The wooshing and howling - that is the constant background noise in our house. And the weatherman says I may continue to hear it through tomorrow.

Hubs and I woke up to that howling early this morning. We both thought that the plows would have come through already and we'd be on our way to work shortly. Right. Hubs walked out and checked out the situation and I jumped online to see what the World Wide Web could tell me. By the time he got back, I figured we weren't going anywhere. I called my boss to let her know I probably wouldn't be in - she understood totally. She's the only one from our office who lives in town - and she couldn't even get to the office. So thank God for good, smart bosses who know when to close the office. Hubs got an e-mail from work telling everyone to work from home as there was no way they could get to the office. And even if they got there, there was no way they could get in the building. His boss included photos of drifts covering the doors.

So here we are. It's been another good day. Watched a little TLC, made a yummy lunch, joined Hubs outside for a bit - it wasn't bad as long as you kept everything covered and turned away from the wind. Hubs is intent on building a snow fort. I took a bunch of photos - will post some in a bit. We were relieved to hear that the blizzard warning for our area expired at noon. But just found out that it's back on again - until 5 in the morning. Plus it started snowing again - they say probably just another couple of inches - hey what's a few more inches when you already have 16?

Gah - my goofy husband is getting his stuff on to go back out. He is so excited about his snow fort; it really is neat but I would so prefer that he stay in. At least he's only about 10 feet from the house so I can watch him. He even found the gardening tools so he can use them to help dig it out and shape it from the inside. I just opened the door and got a couple of really cool now-you-see-it/now-you-don't photos - the wind is unbelievable.

OK, more wintery photos - and then I'm off to bake peanut butter cookies. I've been so good eating healthy snacks and watching my calorie and fat intake but this weather just begs for baking and yummy treats. And I'll have warm cookies for Hubs to eat when he brings his frozen self in. Here's more pictures -

Hubs climbing up one of the drifts in our yard

Crawling out of his snowfort

See the little pine tree beside the big hardwood tree - and the corner of my garage?

Can you see them now?

Random photo of the blowing snow

Hope you're all staying warm and comfy - especially those of you northeast of here!

Snow Day

Whoops, strike out snow day - it's more like Blizzard Day!

We had been hearing that we were supposed to get a huge blizzard. When Hubs and I woke up this morning, there was nothing - no snow, no wind, nothing - big bummer. So we both got ready for work and I headed out. Between the time I looked out the window, then turned around to put on my coat and grab my bag, it went from nothing to pelting snowy, ice rain. On my way to my car, I called the office to let them know I was coming in and to look for me if I wasn't there in 1/2 hour (my office is in a town about 15 miles southwest of our house and it usually takes 12-15 minutes to get there). I hopped in my vehichle and backed out onto our road when my co-worker called. She recommended not coming in at all and told me to tell Hubs to stay home (he works 10 miles south of the town I work in - and his office is located in the country - seriously it is surrounded by corn fields!). That was at 7:05 - our office officially opens at 7:30. Today it also closed at 7:30. Hubs is able to work remotely from home so he called in. By 10:00 they had closed his office completely (most people didn't even come in or turned around and left shortly after arriving). They decided to shut down when they closed the state highway that everyone uses to access the company. One of Hubs' co-workers lives less than 1/4 mile up the road - he couldn't even make it home so one of the owners drove him there on a tractor! Another couple of co-workers got stuck at the office until tomorrow. Good thing for them that the office is attached to the other owner's house and they have food and other accomodations for them.

So we are at home and snug. It has been a very nice day. I'm getting caught up on laundry and even pulled out some cod to marinate and bake for dinner. Got a few crafting projects completed and read several chapters of a book I just got off of Amazon. Hubs even brought his laptop in the family room so we could snuggle while he fixed computer issues. Since most of his client's businesses are closed, he's had a pretty light day too.

The wind is absolutely roaring right now. We live in a wonderful, old farmhouse that's been built onto many times - lots of places to hear the wind! The wind is so bad that we can't tell if it is done snowing and just blowing now or if it's still snowing and blowing. Originally we heard 8-12 inches - now they've upgraded it to 15-20. I'd say we have at least 14-16 here. I opened the front door and took a few photos so you can experience this with us - I'm sure you're all jealous of our weather! Cori - I especially thought of you when taking these - no chance you'll see this in your current location!

First shot from our front porch - doesn't seem so bad but those drifts by the garage are about 4 feet high. Here you can see the wind a little better.
Looks so peaceful, doesn't it?
More blowing
Check out the drifts near the swing set.

Hope you're all staying warm!

Some Photos From the Holidays

Thought I'd post a few photos of our time with the family over the holidays. We spent several days in Michigan visiting Hubs' family and had an awesome time.

First, me and Marshall, one of the cutest nephews in the world.

Next - Mike (Hubs' brother), Hubs, and our friend Bill - the boys were hanging out on New Year's Eve.

Hubs and I on Christmas Day at our friend's house. Like the hats? :)

Hubs and Marshall - hanging out on the couch at Grandma's house.

Marshall beaming on his new toy from Grandma and Grandpa - the kid LOVED this thing.

Home

As I sit here starting to type, I cannot describe to you the feeling of comfort running through me. I am home and I am so very happy to be home.

It is strange to me to have been so homesick. I have always been a bit of a homebody but I am usually able to be away from home for at least a week before feeling like I need to get home ASAP. But this time was very different.

Hubs drove me to the airport early Thursday morning and waited with me in the crazy-long line, walked me to security, kissed me goodbye and left so he'd get to work on time. I was fine on my flights and was super excited to see Amy. The first several hours were great. I think it was sometime later that evening that I realized that I was missing Hubs something horrible. And it only got worse. By Saturday I was almost desperate to get home. I was having fun with Amy, but I am struggling with some aspects of our relationship and was feeling a little out of place. And I just plain missed Hubs.

It does give me comfort to know that I missed him. How horrible would it be to be gone and NOT miss your husband? But I did miss him, so much that when my plane was late and I had pretty much missed my connecting flight, I burst into tears at the gate! Gah! Yep, I actually did that! My flight landed at 7:22 and my connecting flight was to take off at 7:24! I literally ran through the Detroit airport - and I didn't even get to enjoy the tunnel that I love so much. Kept going and made it to my gate around 7:30 - to find 3 people there. After inquiring, I found out that the flight had already boarded and there was no gate agent there. I headed across the hall to the other gate that had an agent and a guy from my original flight started talking to me - and I started sobbing. Poor guy! All I knew was that I did not want to spend the night on the floor of the Detroit airport and my flight was gone. But God was so watching over me. I glanced back at my gate and the agent had reappeard. After telling her that I was supposed to be on the Omaha flight, she asked my name - and said according to the passenger list I was already on board. What? Don't ask me how that happened! But again, God had a plan for me - the flight attendant had miscounted due to the fact that there was a maintenance guy on the plane that she had counted accidentally. They had already pulled back the bridge - but after the supervisor came over, they decided that they'd use the maintenance guy as an excuse and took me down, moved the bridget back and got me on the plane! Thank you, Jesus! Just a couple hours later and I was in my baby's arms!

Amy had mentioned a couple of times during the trip that maybe I should just bring Hubs with me from now on. I kind of think that may be happening. It will definitely be happening on our next trip to Philly since we'll be going for the wedding.

I know it's good to get away from each other now and then, but is it strange that a few days seems too much for me? I don't see Hubs all day when we're working, rarely on certain weeknights due to various committments, etc, so is it bad that I really want to spend time with him when I can? Do any of you feel this way?

Hope you're week is off to a great start!

Pray Without Ceasing!

Please send up prayers for Baby Gideon and his mom and dad, Deborah and Gavin!

Deborah and Gavin lost a baby in November of 2005, Gwendolyn. Gideon was born yesterday and had breathing issues. Deborah and Gideon were rushed to the city shortly thereafter.

Just got an e-mail that Gideon is doing better but please keep praying.

Out East

I'm currently in the city of brotherly love - yep, Philadelphia. I flew out here on Thursday to visit my best friend, Amy. Amyla is getting ready for her wedding (just a month from tomorrow) and I am here to help de-stress the bride-to-be. As always, it is fun to be here. But it is also tough. Tough in that our friendship is changing, growing, evolving - in both good ways and bad. Let me see if I can explain this.

I grew up with five sisters. We were never really close. I mean, I call them when I need to and exchange e-mails, but if there is something happening in our lives, all six of us have other friends we call before we call our sisters. I would say I'm probably closest to my older sister Roma (I can't use initials here since ALL of our names start with R). She and I fought horribly growing up pretty much through her going to college. But when she left for college (well, honestly, after she'd been there a while) we started becoming friends. I *GASP* actually missed her. My senior year, the day after Prom (our Prom was always held on a Thursday night and then the seniors had a free day on Friday) my girlfriends and I piled in the car and drove up to see her. We went bowling and went to pig roast and picnic on the banks of the Missouri River. We had FUN together. Then when she got her first teaching job, I went and visited her and hung out. A couple of years ago we met up in the Twin Cities and had a shopping fun weekend. I seriously wished she lived closer - i could see us doing more stuff together. As it is, she lives about 10 hours away with her husband and 14 month old little boy. And as life would have it, it is much more likely that Hubs and I will be moving 10 hours in the opposite direction sometime in the next few years.

I tell you that story to explain my friend situation. As I mentioned, my sisters and I all had friends we would most likely call before we called each other. Through my growing up years there were a few people who were my "best friends" at the time. Christy and I met when we were three and were friends up through junior high. She then became one of the popular kids and I was left behind. We reconnected our senior year of high school when I knew she needed a friend. Stephanie and I became friends in 4th grade and I actually still talk to her a lot - less than when we were both single but I still know she's there. Then there was Christine in high school. I was so hurt by her actions - and lack of actions. Victoria was my saving grace in college. I honestly believe I would not have made it through all of the muck of college without Victoria's friendship. Our friendship is in a tough spot right now. She doesn't seem to need or really want me around anymore. It breaks my heart but understand the need of some people to move on. Katia and I met when I moved to eastern Iowa. Although we are so different in many ways, she is a sister of my heart. She gets me when few else can. She was my first friend to meet Hubs (he picked me up at her house for our first date) and is probably the most supportive of our marriage. Hubs loves her too - she is the sister he never had. And then there's Amy. Amy and I met (officially) in driver's ed. Before that we had seen each other at Temple - I babysat the Temple kids while the parents and older kid went to service. During our sophomore year in high school (we went to different high schools), we were both nominated to serve on the Mayor's Youth Commission. Only 4 students from each school served on the MYC so it was a pretty big deal for us. So when we were in driver's ed that summer we knew that we'd be working with each other on the MYC. Amy was so different from my high school friends. She was more worldly, more fun in many ways - not stifled by the Catholic school upbringing the way we all were. I can't pinpoint exactly when we became friends, or best friends, but I don't rememeber when she hasn't been there. Since we graduated from high school, I have live in South Dakota and in five different places in Iowa. Amy has lived in Kansas, Israel, NYC, Tulsa and now Philadelphia. Yet we have always been there for each other. She was my maid of honor; I will be a bridesmaid in her wedding next month. She, like Katia, is a sister of my heart.

Ok, so I've had friends. And I love to meet new people. But there are few who I let get really close to me. I have been hurt, almost destroyed by friendships gone bad. So I tend to be leery, and sometimes a little standoffish. I may let you see a part of my life but bets are you only know a small part. But Amy and Katia know it all.

And it is tough that things feel like they are changing so much. I love Amy's fiance' but there is fear there too. Fear, because he is so different from us, so East Coast, and although I do not for one second doubt that he loves Amy, I fear the fact that this is his life out here. And my friend is changing. Not in really bad ways or anything, just things that used to not be so important becoming priorities. By not feeling that she and I are speaking the same language, that we are on different wavelengths. Amyla swore when I got married that things between us wouldn't change, but in the 15 months Hubs and I have been married, things feel different. And since Amy got engaged last spring, things have been more different. And with her wedding a month away, I feel a little lost. Sad for what we are losing, but glad for what we are gaining. Hubs says that the right things are happening - that he is my best friend now, and that Amy and her fiance' are each other's best friends. Yes, he's is right, but it is still tough.

Part of me wants to hole away with Hubs and forget about the world. He makes me feel that safe and loved. But I know that it would be wrong to turn my back on friendships and people who have loved me.

I think I am just feeling very uncertain right now. We are trudging into uncharted waters in our friendship and I don't know what to do, other than trust that all will be OK.

OK, if you're still reading - Bless you! Thanks for letting me sort out my feelings here. Hope you all are having a great weekend. Will post photos etc from Philly later.

This Little Thing Called Life

So this little thing called Life has been getting in the way of my blogging. And despite my hopes of keeping my blog updated weekly or at least monthly, I can't say that I'm sorry that I haven't been blogging. Because, honestly, each of those moments when I could have been blogging and wasn't, I was cherishing the moment that was currently happening. And you know what, there were some incredible moments in there.

And since those moments are what my life has been all about, here, just for you, dear readers is a re-cap of the past 2 months in moments:

• My in-laws, Mom & Dad N, visited in mid-November - the entire weekend with them was a blast! Especially beating the boys (Hubs and Dad N) at Pictionary, not once, but TWICE, to become the Super Pictionary Champions of the World with Mom N
• Attending a work meeting in the state capital and getting to see two very good friends.
• Getting our new KING sized bed delivered (Happy Anniversary, Thanksgiving, Christmas to us!)
• Thanksgiving with my family, followed by a hike to the top of a bluff to visit the First Bride's Grave, followed by some serious game playing with friends.
• Playing hooky (OK, we actually took leave) and heading to the city the day after Thanksgiving. Much looking and a little buying ensued.
• Celebrating our first anniversary in 2 parts! Yeah! (Pictures will be posted eventually) First part was on Friday night (day after Thanksgiving) - dinner at our favorite restaurant in the city. Second part was on Sunday (actual anniversary) with new, tiny cakes that our friend/cake baker made for us (YUM), plus eating the old cake (not so yum), and just spending an incredible evening with my husband.
• Painting the church nursery and getting to spend time with good friends - and meet new ones. And even though I could be bragging here, the nursery looks fabulous!
• Helping with our Extreme Surrender weekend! Amazing youth event! Have you ever seen 70-80 teens on their knees praying to God? You will never be the same.
• Having my friend K and her little one I come visit for a long weekend - we shopped, baked, cooked, talked, laughed, cried, sang, decorated and just enjoyed our time together.
• Hosting our 1st Annual Christmas Open House in December. We had a house full of friends and it was awesome. We can't wait to do it again!
• Attending our Pastor's daughter's wedding to a great guy fromLatvia - beautiful wedding.
• Followed the wedding with late night shopping in the city and a movie with Hubs. It was 2:00 in the morning before we got home - we were literally trying to keep each other awake all the way home. We are so old! :)
• Christmas Eve with my family.
• Christmas Day just the two of us, followed by games at a friend's house, and just the two of us again.
• 10 hours on the road with my baby heading to the big MI!
• Spending 6 days with Mom & DadN, Mike, Carrie and Little M and Hubs and I. Lots of games of Settlers, Pictionary, Carcassonne, and Wii games.
• 10 hours on the road with my baby heading back to IA.
• So many moments of snuggling, relaxing, talking with Hubs.
• Seeing, talking to, catching up with lots of friends and family.
• Feeling so, so, so loved.

I hope your holiday season was blessed!

Off to my burrow to work on my thesis. Will try to pop out now and again.

Be well.