Some much needed R&R

Off to the cabin for most of the week.

I can't wait to see these boys...

Hopefully we'll catch some of these again...(the big one in the back is mine *smile)
And spend evenings doing this...
or watching this...
We'll be sleeping here...

And enjoying some great family time...

Per usual, I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures to share when we get back. Have a wonderful weekend/week!

Before & After

Do you ever think of your life as "before this happened" and "after this happened"? I do. For awhile it was before college and after college. Lots of changes took place for me personally during the "inbetween" of that "before and after" leading to very clear definition between the two time periods. I have always looked back on my college years with bittersweet remembrance because it's there that some of the best times in my life took place but also some of the worst. (I choose to focus on the good, for the most part.) Then it was before I started dating Tom and after I started dating Tom. "Before Tom I (fill in blank) and then once we started dating I (fill in blank)." I have been so blessed to see God's work in my life, always for the better as times have changed...

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As some of you may know, there was an accident over Memorial Day Weekend this year. Someone passed away who I had a long history with. Instantly I was changed. Most recently, I've lived "before and after" MDW. Before MDW, I actually spent time getting ready for work, made complete to do lists and rarely forgot things, was focused and thorough at my job, looked for new recipes and cooked for my husband, looked at the passing of time by the month, was always waiting for the next fun event to look forward to, among many other "normal" life things. After MDW, I have struggled keeping things straight with my mind constantly racing, felt frequently on the verge of tears, made several mistakes at work for no reason other than just being "out of it", had my heart race at every sight or sound of a motorcycle and in general just been processing a lot. I'm not sure what Tom has eaten the last 2 months but thankfully he's not too famished. This week alone, I've been to the grocery store four times - count it - four times because of forgotten items. I've had to plan way ahead to remember to write and mail anniversaries and birthday cards but I've managed to get them out on time. I've had to relax a bit (hard for me when I like everything done a certain way) and be ok with dinner guests waiting 40 minutes to eat and a 4th of July jello pie that turned out looking less than appealing because of my lack of attention to detail in following the recipe. (It looked so easy - HA.) I now look at time by the week...8th week, 9th week, 10th week....since "the accident."

On the positive side, I think deeper and pray harder. Small things that I used to find important just aren't anymore. What IS important is family and friends and making sure they know I love and appreciate them, living my daily life out so He is glorified, being thankful for my blessings and not taking each day for granted while trying to make the most of it. I feel like I've made a lot of progress in the last week despite the ridiculous number of times I have had to make a grocery run *smile. I found a new recipe (Chinese Sauteed Cabbage) bought the ingredients and actually made it for my husband. I started a blog - something I had wanted to do for months. I woke up early on Saturday and went garage saleing. I got my bum off the couch and started a refinishing project this weekend and it's going to be beautiful! I recently accomplished something at work that has been on my to do list way too long. With steps forward come a few steps back - yesterday was a tough day - but I think I'm finally finding my footing.

I lost a good friend. Maybe not in recent years, but you know that "inbetween" stage of the before and after college? He was there for all of that. I can't think of that stage without thinking about him. I am with my husband because of him. I am a lot of things because of him and I will always miss him. I was nervous to say all of this because I don't want anything to be misleading or be a cause for judgement. I hope if you're reading, you know my heart.

So guess what? I finally curled my hair yesterday AND I wore heels. I hadn't done both of those together since "before MDW." Baby steps, right? *smile.

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On a different note, I had a woman approach me Tuesday after work while I was walking to my bus. She asked if I knew where she could get a free can of formula for her baby. She was dressed well, very kind and you could tell it pained her to explain to me about her situation. I heard "husband took off with all money and credit cards" and "tried every place" and "three kids" and "out of formula." My heart broke for her. It's moments like that I wish I carried a $20 emergency bill in my purse or had the right thing to say to encourage her or better yet, change her life. I hope she knows the love of Jesus and if not, I pray that today she feels it from the top of her head to her toes. And I hope she was able to find a can of free formula...

What is the "formula" in your life? I'd love to pray for you.

Wordless Wednesday

Hoppy Hour

I did it. I finally took my 3 year old rabbit, Leo, to "Hoppy Hour." Like a mom sending her child off to school for the first time, I was nervous he wouldn't be liked or would get in trouble (aka biting other rabbits) but oddly enough, the "new guy" did great and seemed to really enjoy making some new friends. It was adorable seeing him compared to the other rabbits that were there. I've always thought he was big and he was the smallest one. And I've always thought he was beyond cute and - gasp - there were two other Lion Head rabbits WAY cuter. No offense, Leo. I think we'll definitely go again but Tom says once is enough for him. *smile. Oh, how I adore my sweet husband. I figure if you're going to have a rabbit for 7-10 years (wait, how long?!), you might as well make the best of it. This Hoppy Hour was one happy hour I'll never forget. Next on the list of ridiculous and hilarious things to do is buying him a harness and leash.

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This was the popular hang out. Notice Leo (far left) hangin' with the cool kids.

Leo and his new girlfriend (who wanted nothing to do with him - poor guy.)

Leo is the black rabbit on the left.

"Lionel" (on ramp) was very popular with the ladies.

We don't have any kids. We don't have a dog. We don't have a cat. But we have Leo. *smile

$20.00

I didn't do quite as well as she did, but for my first try, I'm quite pleased.

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I know these Bumbo seats sell for $35-ish so I thought of my sister Becca right away and grabbed this one for only $10. They wouldn't budge on the price but it looks brand new so Becca said she could return the one she has and buy diapers or the many other things she may need now that Weston is here (born 7/7 - love him.)

These three adorable 3-6 month outfits, also for Wes - $9.00

I don't want my new nephew ever riding one, but I knew his dad would appreciate these 18 month Harley swim trunks - $1.00

I have been looking for a new hobby. I think knitting looks like fun and I can make gifts for people (you lucky duck, whoever you are *wink). Tom made me swear I'd actually learn. But $.75 for the two huge spools of yarn with the hooks included was just too great to pass up. I believe this is my best buy of the day.

As Seen In

Our bedroom...

We went six months with no curtains - I don't even want to think about what the neighbors across the street saw. Neither of us knew what color or pattern to buy and it finally got to the point where we just had to make a decision. Well, Tom made a decision. I try to stay out of all decorating decisions and let him do his thing. I love the end result despite it taking so long. Especially when they blow in the breeze.

Tom turns the big 2-6

On July 3rd, my super sweet and loving husband turned the big 2-6. Because the 4th of July fell on a Saturday this year, we had a wonderful 3-day weekend to celebrate. And celebrate we did.

I woke him a tad earlier than he would have preferred (7:30 am) but sometimes he's random and wakes up really early on the weekends and I didn't want to miss the "breakfast in bed" moment. He was touched by the effort and devoured his Kashi waffles with fruit and whipped cream.

After breakfast, he opened his gift - an ISU bean bag game. I hope we put it to good use. Later in the day we packed a picnic and checked out the Carver Lake area here in Woodbury. We took a nice stroll along the trails - hand in hand, of course (*wink)- and just enjoyed the amazing lower than normal for July temps.

That evening we had a new couple from church over for dinner and games. They were a ton of fun and even brought Tom a gift - Dutch Blitz, which oddly enough he did not dominate at per usual with games. Ha. Tana, however, was basically untouchable. For dessert, I surprised him with what he had two weeks previously told me was his dessert of choice - French silk pie. I had never made French silk pie and may or may not have messed something up, but no one seemed to notice. Except for me. I tried not to focus on it. Ok, I'll tell you...I used the wrong kind of graham crackers. No big deal, right? Cinnamon with chocolate isn't MY favorite but I ate it anyway. And no one else dared complain. :) Especially Tom. He knows what happens when he complains about my food....

He requested chocolate cake for next year. Ohhhh, Tom......

Tom, you...

love to be healthy

do your own laundry

teach me patients

love hugging and kissing me

spend hours on the computer

watch most shows I want to

complain about the Bachlorette but have followed the entire season

take some encouraging to clean up but usually eventually get to it

love your job

baby your flowers and veggies

mow our courtyard in about 60 seconds

buy a lot of garden supplies for our very, very small garden

find great deals online

like going to movies or renting from Red Box

go on bike rides with me

get the mail every other day

want to build your own computer

talk about getting a dog someday

love naps

want to grow your hair out

can't find clothes that fit

tell me you love me at least 10 times a day

call me three times a day

like lifting with me

are great at making random music CDs

listen to my work stories

are addicted to Survivor

spent a month finding us the perfect "new" car - glad that's over!

dream with me

make me laugh

have great stories

drive very cautiously

are tender hearted

watch our money closely

eat organic and all natural foods

leave the stickers from your apples on the counter. every day.

love life

love others

love god

I hope you had a great birthday, honey. I love you!

A time for everything

A year ago, I would have had zero interest in blogging but now I find myself very excited to start my own blog. I now have a long list of blogs I check regularly - some are funny, some are encouraging, some are sad, some are uplifting, some are about baking, some about photography, all are about life and the ups and downs of it. They all have made me slow down a bit and marvel in the great blessing that is my life. I wanted to start this a couple months ago but never got around to it. But here I am.

In the last two months, I have grieved the death of someone very special and celebrated the life of my sister's first son. Just as the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, there is a time for everything...

...and a season for every activity under heaven:

² a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³ a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

I want this blog to be about healing, laughing, dancing and mending.