Saturday, January 23, 2010

Birthday Blessings!

I still can't believe that I am 42. I used to think that people who were 42 were older, wiser and way more mature than I feel! But the birthdays seem to keep coming so I accept them with open arms. I had a great birthday filled with phone calls, cards, texts, and wonderful gestures of genuine love! It was a fun day.


I started my day at the local coffee shop with a new friend, Stacey. We shared a cup of coffee and then headed across state lines to Kansas to a place called Towne Center. She has been so great to show me around, draw personal maps, answer crazy questions, connect me with other people..tell me who I am related to :-)..etc. We enjoyed a nice lunch at Andre's. I didn't want to freak her out by carrying a camera with me all day so I just snagged this napkin to take a picture of it. Then we went to a few shops. I just enjoyed a day to "get out" and chat and enjoy getting to know someone. We got back and enjoyed another cup of coffee before heading back home!




I have never lived around family so being able to have family close is a new experience for me...and I love it. We had Eric's brother, Phil and our neice Heather and her husband Major. They have two of the sweetest boys that we love being around. It was a nice evening. We enjoyed our dinner and just hanging out! I look forward to being able to spend time with all of them now that we live so close.




Eric has been really sensitive with helping me adjust to our move. He has been very supportive and an all around doting husband and father to his four women who are getting used to a new place. I am thankful to have a husband who loves me. I know I take that for granted sometimes. No other man could love me the way that Eric does! He gave me a basket full of...well...everything! He has a Beauty Brands (store here) connection and just loaded me up with the whole shabang! You will see in pics that follow the Birthday makeover Julia and Ellie gave me this morning! To top of my birthday weekend he let me SLEEP IN! It was glorius.



The girls were so thoughtful with their gifts. Coffee, a candle,chocolate, a bath and body set. Kathryn also gave me the gift of service. I had been out all day so she got right off the bus and willingly helped me get everything ready before our guests came.Her acts of service allowed me day to be stress-free! Ellie was pretty excited about my birthday in general. She came into my room that morning and called me her birthday girl. Of course after the day was over she reminded everyone that her birthday was next! She was a little deflated when I told her it was 74 more days....but none the less she is next.

>k


Julia and Ellie used some of the products that Eric bought to give me a spa. I had a pedicure, manicure, facial and my make up and hair done. I think the before and after pictures are pretty impressive!! I was treated very nicely at the spa and enjoyed spending time and talking with them as they pampered me!





BEFORE and AFTER...






I really had a nice day. The Lord has blessed me with friends and family who care about me. This past year has been the year of change, but I look with anticipation as to where that change will lead me. It is sure to be an adventure!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

God is just too cool



I had a chance to tell a lot of you, but when we finally got the last box moved into our house we gathered outside to thank the men who came to help. We looked up and stretched above and over our house was a rainbow. By the time I came to my senses to grab a camera, the sun set and it was gone. It was a great reminder and a great promise and totally a GOD thing.

11 times in 15 years.

That is how many times we have moved. As we have unpacked our things in our house we couldn't believe it as we stopped and recounted the many times that we have moved over our married life. I know some of you are shaking your head knowing how many times you have been a part of those moves!
This move has been different. Not only has been it been our biggest(across five states) but it has also been the biggest in realtion to change in our lives. We are excited about home ownership, and how moving into a place you can call your own brings a different feel (not to mention expense!).
I am an avid UNPACKER. You can ask anyone who knows me or has seen me "in action" I do not like the boxes and unfinished areas to linger. But now that we are "home owners" some of those things are a work in progress. Eric did a lot to get the house ready for us to move into, and we are UNPACKED and pictures are hung. But, there are still those things that need to be done that we just can't do all at once. I know many of you are thinking..."It is OK to just do one thing at a time. You can't expect do it all at once." But that is not usually how I roll!
Today when I was having my quiet time I was looking around at those "little" things that are still left undone....those blank spaces and places in our home that if I were able would conquer all by myself and all at once. But, I can't. We need to make sure we think through what we will do and how we will do it and then I realize that realistically we can't do it all at once.



I have stared at this picture window every day wondering what in the world I am going to do with this thing. We live so far out I don't need to worry about privacy! So I am searching and looking for the best deal and what will look right. I am impatiently trying to get these kinds of things finished so I can say I am done, instead of enjoying the whole process of "setting up a home"
I do that a lot in life. I am not comfortable with those blank spaces God places in my life. I want to get my life all "unpacked and decorated" instead of waiting and seeing what would be best. God has certainly given me one of those blank spaces in my life. I have no idea what He has in store for me. But I was reminded today that he does have a plan and a purpose and if I will allow Him to guide me He will unpack those things for me in His time. It will all be "put into place" all the details and finishing touches will get done.

"As for God, His way is PERFECT!" Psalm 18:30