4 days...

5 Days...

6 days

It always seems to sneak up on me...yet I know it's going to happen every year. Each time it comes with mixed emotions as I think back to dreams from childhood...

Will I accomplish what I had hoped?

What comes next?

Slight change

So, I did the Blogger Beta thing, and some of you might have noticed that if you have not also done this with your blog you will not be able to post on my blog with your sign-in account. It's a weird bug they are working on - but you can always post as Other or Anonymous....it's annoying - but hopefully the Blogger people will figure out how to fix this problem soon...

in the mean time leave comments anyway!!!

emotions

they can be overwhelming

sometimes I feel like I'm drowning in an ocean of feelings

Technology

it's a wonderful, terrible thing.

Feels Good...really

I generally forget how great I feel after I've exercised, especially early in the morning or after I've been out of it for a while. That is my dilemma. I always feel like a $$$million$$$! I just don't have much for motivation in the wee hours of the morning when the rest of the world is sleeping.

And so I have resigned myself to evening exercise. It's surprisingly refreshing - stress relieving - and especially relaxing as I get ready for bed. I slept great last night after my evening walking, and I anticipate another solid sleep tonight.

It's just those darned mornings...

Randomness:

I had a fairly lengthy giggle in reaction to the following photo. I know, I probably should not have found this picture nearly as amusing as I did, but really......you can't look at this photo and not laugh!!!

Enjoy!

Jedi Squirrels:

Genesis I: Space Probe - Day 5

Fun, fun and more fun, all wrapped in a healthy portion of love!

Noah's story starts out sad, because all of the people on the earth have forgotten about God, except for Noah. And when God warns him about the flood and commissions him to build the massive boat, Noah tries to tell other people, but they just think he's coo-coo. But, Noah could hear God because he loved God with every part of his being.

Love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:5

It's amazing what kids can hear when they stop to listen to God!

Genesis I: Space Probe - Day 4

Another fun night!!

Cain & Abel's story is a sad one, but the good news is that God forgives us and sets us free!

It's God who forgives our sins and sets us free!

Collosians 1:14

God loves us so much, and he will always forgive us when we do wrong.

Genesis I: Space Probe - Day 3

The worst thing that could ever happen is to not hear God ever again! That was the consequence of eating the fruit from that one tree in the garden that God gave to Eve & Adam to play and live in. How sad.

But the best news is that even though we forget about God sometimes, he NEVER forgets about us!!!

God has promised that he will never leave us or desert us.

Hebrews 13:5b

I hope I don't forget God...

Genesis I: Space Probe - Day 2

There was much fun happening at HCF last night!!

God created a little boy & a little girl just so he could love them!
Isn't God great?!?!?

I praise you for the wonderful way you created me,
everything you do is MAHVELOUS

Psalm 139:14

It's a beautiful thing when a shy, timid child begins to open up.

Genesis I: Space Probe - Day 1

IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!

Imagine with me, 107 kids (1st - 6th grade) chanting this sentence:

In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth

Genesis 1:1

And imagine hearing a child gasp in awe as they begin to realize God

...so very exciting

I am a shepherd for the young girls (grades 1, 2, & 3) and we are the yellow stars. I'd forgotten just how much energy young ones can have

Blast-Off!

Tonight is the first night of VBS:

Genesis I: Space Probe

It's gonna be awesome!!!

Homecoming

Jason comes home today, and I'm glad.

Hopefully there will be some rest in the next couple of days. I'm not really asking for a lot of rest, but some rest for Jason would be good.

Genesis I: Space Probe launches in T-minus 4days!!!

I would be a hermit if I wasn't married

I spent the night by myself, and realized that if I wasn't married to an extrovert I would probably spend the rest of my life closed into my apartment, playing computer games, or watching tv, eating occassionally, and sleeping when I felt tired.

I appreciate my husband in a new way. His social nature makes me a better person.

It has been interesting to me in recent days to see just how different each individual is from the next. I'm glad God made each of us unique, it's awe-inspiring if you stop long enough to dwell on it. And, on top of that, he knows each of us in ways that WE don't even know...

it's just too much for my mind...

All by myself...

For the next couple of days I'm by myself. Jason left for Children's camp this morning, and they will return Thursday afternoon. For those of you who pray, please pray for the 17 boys & 6 girls who are at camp this week, and for the 4 sponsors who went with them all.

Change

I just thought I'd get the obvious out of the way: I felt like changing the look, so I did.

Moving on...

We had some new friends over last night, ate yummy food, and played the best game ever!!!

If you've not heard of this game, you have now been enlightened. There have been many hours spent around this game, and many more to come.

Genesis I: Space Probe

It's coming, July 31st! The excitement is beginning to build

another week

Well it's been a whole week already and apparently I don't have a whole lot of exciting news to blog about.

Yesterday however we made a major purchase: A grill!!!!




Jason has been wanting to invest in one for a while, and we were able to save enough money, so here is his new baby. We has filet mignon wrapped in bacon and corn on the cob. It was a beautiful thing.

busy lives

Typically, Saturdays are seen as a rest day or a day to finish up what was left undone during the week. We try to take Saturdays as our Sabbath considering Sundays are by no means a day of rest for either of us.

Today started with a meeting at the Cracker Barrel for the Student Ministry at HCF that we are both involved in. Then, Jason promptly went to another meeting, while I came home to finish our lease business and tidy up our place a little. We then watched The Island - which was actually pretty good. Now we are preparing to go to Lowes to check out a grill Jason has been looking at and see about some paint color samples so we can decide how we want to paint our apartment. I'm excited about the paint. The plain white walls of our new place need some life. Then I think we'll come home, try to rest a little and watch another movie, while we wait for the meatloaf to cook for supper.

Life happens.

Our New Place

We've moved into an apartment, bigger & cheaper. There is stuff everywhere, but it's starting to look like a new home...Jason get's 99% of the credit for the move, considering I was at work while it happened. I helped out today, arranging things and getting the final stuff from our old place, but that's peanuts compared to the work he did. What a man.

It's July now, and we're signing a 6-month lease on Monday, so this is our new home until at least December. Maybe by then we'll be in a better place to buy a home, and actually have time to look around for our perfect house. I know there's one out there for us.

I’m working

My first day was last Tuesday, and it has been wonderful so far. I am working through Manpower here in Kansas at the Honeywell plant, in the Calibration Lab. I am the Office Administrator (if I could give myself a title….I’m not sure what Manpower has given me as a title, but I’ll share that when I know). I work with a great bunch of guys, who are super relaxed, and it is such a wonderful, stress-free environment. There is still much to learn, but I have time to learn. This contract is for 6 months, and I’ll know more at the end as to whether I’ll be hired on permanently.

The waiting was challenging, but I’m glad. God knew, and I’ll be content with that.

The other night I had the opportunity to go and see the Kansas City Symphony play 2 incredible pieces! The first piece was by Rachmaninoff, the 3rd something or other….I don’t recall the official title, but the pianist was Yefim Bronfman – phenomenal! The second piece was Beethoven’s “Eroica”. How awesome it was to sit in the theater and be overwhelmed with the incredible sounds, seeing God in every movement, every breath, every moment as these studied musicians poured themselves into each note! That is where I see God! That is where God meets my heart.

Quicky

I am almost officially employed!!!!!

I had an interview with Honeywell on Wednesday, employed through Manpower, and now we are just waiting for Manpower to do finish their background checking. I hope to start by this coming Wednesday.....but my phone call to Manpower on Monday will shed more light on my exact start date. In the mean time thanks to those who have been praying for and with us!!

God is good! He's done so much for me and my family.....

unemployed

still......no phone calls.......nothin'

it's a bit depressing at times, but then I get over myself and realize there are plenty of other things I can do to pass my days. I've been able to help Jason quite a bit here at Heartland...doing inventory of the resource room. I've enjoyed my time off, but I do need a routine. I guess I will have to create one on my own.

Alright!

I have some time online....so here's the story.

We arrived in Olathe, Kansas on May 8th about supper time. When we pulled into our new place we knew there would be a few people there to help us move in, however we walked into our duplex to about 25 people who wanted to feed us, help us move our stuff in, and show us everything in the place. A few weeks back the senior pastor of Heartland Christian Fellowship (where Jason is now the Children's Pastor) asked us for a list of the things we needed/didn't have. All of the furniture we could call ours was a dresser, a bookshelf, and a small pantry, plus our clothes and books, etc. So, we asked for a few things, fully prepared to purchase anything else that might not be available, or couldn't be found. Well, much to our surprise we walked into so much more than I could have ever dreamed or asked for!! We were given:

1. 2 queen-size beds (both wonderfully comfortable)
2. a master bedroom set (dresser w/ mirror, bed frame, 2 side tables, 2 lamps)
3. a second dresser
4. kitchen table with a leaf and chairs for 6
5. a nice couch for the sitting room upstairs
6. a recliner (something Jason was dreaming of)
7. drapes for the sitting room
8. 2 side tables w/ lamps
9. a microwave
10. a second couch for the tv room downstairs
11. 2 more side tables w/ lamps for the tv room w/ matching coffee table!!
12. an entertainment center complete with nice tv
13. a desk for the office
14. A WASHER & DRYER SET!!!!! (we didn't even ask for this!)

You can see these things below....enjoy!

I still don't have a job, however I filled out an application at Manpower again, and yesterday there were 2 opportunities that I qualify for. I will hopefully know more by Monday. Please continue to pray for a job for me.

A quicky

we're here, but super busy.....settling life

I'll write more when i have time

I'm glad

There are moments when you're just glad.....for random things/reason

Today there have been a couple of moments when I was glad.

The Trip Begins

tonight we're leaving for our trip to visit family.....

might blog along the way.....

we'll be back to MI by May 2nd.....

will blog after we return for sure.....

Leaving soon

Our time in Grand Haven is quickly coming to a close.....

This is my last week of employment at the Ottawa County Environmental Health Department....I'm not that sad about it, because we're going into such a good thing.

Packing is overwhelming when you are just starting...

There are details we still need to tie together

This next week has much potential for stress, but I'll post an itinerary near the end of the week.....

We got the call!

Jason called me shortly after lunch at work today to inform me that Pastor Paul James had officially offered him the position of Children's Pastor at Heartland Christian Fellowship



We are really excited about this new adventure, although there are many things to do in the mean time.

Pending Board Approval

The weekend went well, and I'm tired from the flying...but we waiting to hear from the senior pastor for the final word. We expect to know by the end of the week, and I'll update then!

Tomorrow we go!

So, tomorrow morning (rediculously) early we drive to Grand Rapids to catch our flight down to Overland Park, KS! Please pray for us over this weekend.

I'll post what the final decision is on Tuesday.....

Sad News

So, we got to go and visit my aunt & uncle this weekend in Fishers, Indiana. It was nice to see family, and old Bethany people such as: Sween & his wife, Jon Steppe and family, a few others. However we did receive some sad news from my sister...

Dear Family and Friends,

JoAnn and I have some sad news to pass on. On Saturday
morning at around 2-am the Lord chose to take our Sweet Pea home to be with Him. We are emotionally broken and do not understand the reasons behind this, but
know in faith that God has a plan and this was part of it.JoAnn was admitted
overnight at Glens Falls Hospital. The staff there were fantastic and made the
duration of JoAnn's stay more comfortable.JoAnn is now home again, and we are
starting to work through this rough time.We thank you all for your prayers and
support and all of these are humbly appreciated.

With love to all!Toby and JoAnn, & Gibraltar, Megellan and Oliver Cromwell :)

We mourn their loss with them.

We're home!

After a long day of driving and much anxiety this morning, we went to Jason's interview @ 2:45 this afternoon and walked out 15 minutes later with a temporary stamp in Jason's passport and a promise that we'll be receiving the official paperwork in the mail within 2 weeks! What a relief!

I'm exhausted, so that's all you're getting out of me tonight!

Waiting

So, we're going down to visit a church near Kansas City, KS to see if Jason is the right fit for a Children's Pastor there.

Waiting isn't a whole lot of fun.

But, waiting can be valuable...

I'll see just how valuable after we return to MI on the 27th of March...

In the mean time, life marches on!

News!

My sister's having a baby!!!

The due date right now is September 26th....however I think it will be September 13th

It's Raining???

it's February 16th - the middle of WINTER - and it's RAINING!!!!!! And not just raining...there is Thunder & Lightning!

*sigh*

it's just another February day?

the Sabbath

a day of rest


This morning we slept in for the first time in months! It was a beautiful thing.


Off to lunch now!

For Girls' Eyes Only

Hey girls, this is another one of those funny emails:

***********************************************

Dear Kotex

Some bad language, BUT this is hilarious :)


Dear Kotex,

I recently noticed that the peel-off strip of my panty liner had a bunch of "Kotex Tips for Life" on it. Annoying advice such as:

-Staying active during your period can relieve cramps.
-Avoiding caffeine may help reduce cramps and headaches.
-Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to keep you hydrated and feeling fresh.
-Try Kotex blah, blah, blah other products. Obviously the person behind this was someone who has never possessed a functioning set of ovaries. Go ahead and
tell a menstruating woman TO HER FACE that drinking 6-8 glasses of water will help keep her feeling fresh. See what happens and report back. I'll wait. While
you're at it, dump out the coffee at work and remove the chocolate from the vending machine. I guaran-goddamn-tee that the first responders will be females who just
ovulated.

Look, females don't need or want tips for living on feminine hygiene products. Younger girls are already hearing "helpful" crap like that from their elderly relatives. Veteran females have already concocted their own recipes for survival, many of which contain alcohol. Printing out shit advice while sneaking in ads for the brand THAT WAS ALREADY PURCHASED is just plain annoying, not to mention rude and enough to send a girl running to the Always brand. Mostly we'd like to forget that we even need these products. It's not a fun time, but DO NOT try to cheer us up by adding smiley faces or bunnies or flowery cutesy crap to your products or the packaging. Put the shit in a plain brown wrapper so we can throw it in our carts discreetly and have it blend in among the wine and beer!! There is nothing more annoying than having a blinding pink package announcing your uterine state to everyone in the store. The ultimate goal of your product should be functional invisibility at every stage, including at the point of purchase.

So take your tips for living and shove them right up your a##.
(Try drinking six to eight glasses of water to make you feel fresher while you're doing it!)

Ovarily Yours,
Miss PMS

More Insights from TRG

I am lovable only because He loves me.

Insights from TRG

Here are a couple of things worth repeating, because I know there is so much in them. They are from The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning:

...the more fully we accept ourselves, the more successfully we begin to grow. Love is a far better stimulus than threat or pressure.

...the first move [toward accepting God's acceptance] will always be to recognize that I am that way [prone to sinful ways].

Another Week

Not much is going on with us lately...we're just doing each day as it comes.

I am really enjoying my job. The more I learn, the more I enjoy it.

I've begun reading a book named: The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. This is a book that is read slowly & thoughtfully. Reading it through quickly would be a waste of time. There is so much to think about.....
Sometimes I just want to close the book and never pick it up again.

This whole believing in God thing is so much harder than it was originally presented to me.

Another Day

going to bed early is challenging.....especially when favorite shows are on at 9 or 10pm.

getting up is challenging......our bed is quite comfy.......but I enjoy the ladies I work with, so I can look forward to my days. I'm learning something new each day, and I'm hoping I will not feel so overwhelmed in a few weeks.

I had Joni Morgan cut and highlight my hair over the weekend! I LOVE it! She did a great job, and she will always come highly recommended by the DeRoche family.

Well, that's all from my point of view. Nothing too exciting...just everyday life happening here!