3/25/2008 Crown Financial Bible Study Last night was the final session of our second Crown Financial Bible Study. I don't quite know how to explain my sadness as this group came to a close. It has been so neat to get to know the other three couples in a much deeper way!  I have been in numerous Bible Study groups over the years, and I have learned it is unwise to compare any two groups. God uniquely uses each combination of people to work something different in my heart! L to R: Tim and I, Adam and Katie, Brad and Ellen, Roger and Dianne It was so neat to watch as God used our different stages of life to bring unique perspectives to the discussions.  Tim and I are just starting our family, while Adam and Katie are in the midst of a busy household with five young children.  Roger and Dianne's children are in high school, and Brad and Ellen's children are all working.  We also had a wonderful mix of personalities and backgrounds!  Thank you, Lord, for giving me the opportunity to learn more about your financial concepts . . . but so much more . . . thank you for allowing me to spend ten weeks growing to love and appreciate three other couples from our church body!!

3/21/2008 - 3/23/2008 Easter in Kansas Tim and I just returned from a wonderful Easter weekend!! I am still stuffed from all of the great food! On Saturday, Grandma Pearl hosted us for breakfast, Lori hosted us for lunch, and Mom fixed a fabulous Easter dinner that evening. I think it was the first time I have had 3 desserts in one day . . . cappuccino ice cream, strawberry shortcake, and berries on a cloud! WOW! Tim and his dad were able to enjoy some nice time together as they cleaned up yard debris from the winter, and I had a wonderful Saturday in the kitchen with Mom. Thankfully, Cade didn't strange, like he did at Christmas, and he is now old enough to "play" with his cousin, Collin. Thanks to all who made our weekend in Kansas so special! More Photos

3/21/2008 Family Videos I have uploaded three video clips. Enjoy! Videos

3/16/2008 Another Party! Everyone was home for Sarah's wedding, so we hosted an official family birthday for Mom. As expected, the dinner converstaion got a little "interesting" (toilets and pizza don't usually mix well), but we told Danni there was no escaping our family now! Our true family personality could now come out!! Some of my favorite family memories have been made around our supper table.  Growing up, our meals would often last an hour or two as we recounted the days events.  There was a lot of laughter, and Jackie occasionally had her drink come up through her nose when we caught her off-guard with a joke!!  Thankfully, Tim's childhood experience was very similar.  One time he was called in from playing to have supper, so his friend said he'd just wait outside for Tim to get finished.  "That's probably not a good idea," Tim said, "because this will probably take at least an hour!"  I am so thankful for our godly heritage, and I pray Tim and I can make many memories around our own family table!!!  More Photos

3/15/2008 Engagement!!!!!!! Well . . . our family circle is officially complete!! After a snowy scavenger hunt around the farm, Darin proposed to Danni . . . and she accepted!!!! They are planning an October wedding, despite it being in the middle of bow season. Darin said he might be a little late to the Friday night rehersal if he gets out of his deer stand later than expected! Welcome to the family, Danni!!

3/15/2008 Sarah's Wedding Congratulations Eric and Sarah!! As I was listening to their wedding service, I had no desire to trade places!!  My mom used to tell me you rarely desire to go "backwards" in time, and I have found it to be very true.  I am so thankful to be nearly 5 years from our wedding, and I love our current stage of life!!  But, in the same sense, my mom would have no desire to return to the "diaper stage"!  In our Crown Financial Bible study we talked about how Paul, in Philippians 4:11, said , "I have LEARNED, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."  What a powerful statement of truth!  We can be content in ANY stage of life.  It is a matter of choice!

3/12/2008 Pharmacy Update, and More Cade Pictures Well . . . God is SOOOOOOOO faithful!! As of this week, our pharmacy is fully staffed, and I am back to working ONE day a week!!!!!! I am loving my time home with Cade, and thanking God for his provision!! More Photos

3/10/2008 Happy Birthday Grandma!! We enjoyed getting to celebrate Mom's 51st birthday on Monday! What an AMAZING lady!!! Thanks for the godly heritage you have left to your children and grandchildren, Mom!!!!!!!!!! More Photos

3/9/2008 Snuggle Time!! Sunday evening, Cade fell asleep on Tim's chest. Tim didn't want to move!!!! Cade is not a snuggler, so we cherish the moments we get to cuddle him close! More Photos

3/9/2008 Susie's Baby Shower Susie, the pharmacist I work with, and her husband, Abe, are expecting a little boy in July!! We enjoyed attending her shower with all of my co-workers! More Photos

3/7/2008 Friday Night Company To add more chaos to the mix, we invited Jeff and Carrie's family to join us for our Friday night supper. We enjoyed getting to know them better, and the kids had fun racing around in our basement after supper!!! Jeff and Carrie recently moved to the area, and it has been such a blessing to have another young couple in church! More Photos

3/1/2008 Wedding Shower Tim was out of town for a meeting, so Cade and I enjoyed attending my cousin, Sarah's, wedding shower. She is pictured here, on the right, with her sister Annie. Sarah is a daughter of my dad's sister, Beth. I enjoyed being able to catch up with some of my aunts and cousins, and look forward to Sarah's wedding which is only 2 weeks away! More Photos

2/29/2008 Bubble Fun!! Dad and Mom gave us a small container of bubbles they had received at a wedding, and Cade LOVED them!!!! The next few days he kept pointing to the container and saying, "bu, bu, bu" (translation: bubbles). When Dad and Mom returned from Chicago, they brought a bubble machine that sticks to the bathtub wall. We have had so much fun with the new toy . . . and it has even ventured outside the tub!! More Photos

2/24/2008 Amy's Wedding My first year at Purdue I shared a room with a shy, introverted girl named Amy. For those of you who know her, you realize the falicy in my first sentence!!! From day 1, she was full of energy, grand ideas, and fun and was a great balance for my hard-core year of studying. It has been so neat to watch Amy grow and mature in Christ, and it was such a blessing to attend her wedding. I don't know Jon, but I get the feeling it won't take long. It sounds like they might come to visit within the next month, and we are really looking forward to hanging out as couples!! More Photos

2/22/2008 Happy Birthday!! On our way out to Indiana, we stopped in Illinois to celebrate Darin and Jay's birthdays. We enjoyed a fabulous meal at Alexander's Steakhouse, and were honored to meet Jay's brother Seth's fiance, Angela!! Jay and Jackie hosted us overnight, and we were able to enjoy some wonderful family time before we headed out to the wedding. More Photos

2/17/2008 Welcome Home!! We arrived home late Sunday night, and I had to work early Monday morning . . . so I called Mom and decided to drop Cade off there for the night. They had been in Arizona for our church conference all week, so they were very excited to see Cade!! Cade was all smiles and giggles, and Grandma asked me if he HAD TO have an early bedtime. They wanted to stay up and play!! I am so thankful to have my parents close, both for my sake . . . and Cade's! More Photos

2/16/2008 - 2/17/2008 Champaign Bible Class Trip We had a wonderful weekend in Champaign with our church's high school students! David, Jackie, and the Champaign students did a fantastic job preparing a fun-filled weekend that included games, bowling, great food, a work-project, tons of sugar, and a campus road rally. Video

2/15/2008 Visit from Darin & Danni Darin and Danni stopped by so we could spend a little time together before Tim and I headed off to Champaign. Danni was babysitting Ashlyn and Cailen, so it was fun to see how they are growing up! Darin is currently going through an internship at a company that designs and manufactures the steel components of a building. He is really enjoying the experience! More Photos

2/15/2008 Pharmacy Update and Random Pictures of Cade Well, a woman has the perogative to change her mind . . . right!?! On our drive home from church, Sunday, we received a call from Susie. After a long talk with corporate HR and our store manager . . . she has decided to stay!!! During the prior days our store manager had already recruited "temporary emergency help", so we now have a full pharmacist staff through the end of February. He is also in the process of signing some permanent help! Tim and I just stood amazed at how God worked!!!! Why does my mind even entertain any worry when He has ALWAYS provided in the past? I guess that's why we are allowed a life-time of growth! More Photos

2/14/2008 Valentine's Date Last Valentine's Day we ate with my parents at a local steakhouse. They had prepared a special Valentine's Day buffett that rivaled any food I had ever tasted!!!!! They also had a dessert table that kept calling me back, even though I was STUFFED!! This year Tim and I had the great idea to go back to the buffett and take some of our friends. We had already done the inviting when Tim called to make reservations . . . only to find they were all booked! I can't explain my disappointment!! I had already been pre-eating the food in my mind! I called back the next day, just in case someone had backed out, but the kind receptionist just chuckeld and said they were completely full. She said they only have this buffett on New Years and Valentine's, so I guess my stomach will have to wait another year! We did end up enjoying a nice evening with Jesse & Amy and Joe & Lindsey at a different restaurant, but the food didn't quite satisfy my "mental appetite"! Aubrey and Madison did a great job watching Cade while we were gone!!

2/11/2008 New Bible Study Group In January, Tim and I began another Crown Financial Bible Study with 3 other couples from our church. We currently have around 50 people going through this study, and I am really excited about the potential for spiritual growth for our church body!!! Our Bible study members for this session are Roger & Dianne, Adam & Katie, and Brad & Ellen. It has been so neat to get to know another group of people, and with each passing week I feel more drawn to these couples. I'll have to take a picture at our next Bible study and get it posted! This particular Bible study night, Alex and Aubrey watched Cade. When I turned on my camera the other day, I found these pictures they had taken! More Photos

2/9/2008 Rotating Potluck We had a wonderful evening of fellowship with three couples from our church: Arnie and Marge, Mike and Louann, and Brent and Charlotte. It is nice to see people at church, but it is so neat to get to know them past the surface level. Cade really enjoyed playing with Brent and Charlotte's kids, David and Jennifer! They were a refreshing addition to our evening.

2/9/2008 First Family Walk

Although it was colder than it looked, we still had a great time on our first walk as a family!!!! I sure hope our neighbors were not looking out their windows, because we looked like quite a site. We were bundled up, complete with a camera and video camera!! Not your typical afternoon stroll. Cade LOVED being outdors, and it was fun to watch him explore! He didn't really get the concept of a walk: going from one point to another at a good pace and in a relatively straight line. Today made me really excited for warm weather!! More Photos

2/8/2008 Little Women Mom and Dad were so thoughtful in watching Cade for the evening so Tim and I could enjoy dinner out and the play, Little Women, at our community theater!!! It was wonderful to have some alone time, and it didn't take long to realize one of us would have been outside the theater with Cade . . . as he wouldn't have lasted the 3 hours! Alex, a junior in high school, works 2 afternoons a week at our pharmacy, and he did a great job playing the professor, Jo's love interest.

2/7/2008 Growing Up It's hard to explain how much joy Cade has brought to my life!! His smile warms my heart, and his giggle makes me want to squeeze him so hard! It is so fun to watch him take his first steps as he waddles with arms outstretched. He can now walk across our living room without assistance, and he seems mighty proud! I don't know if it has anything to do with his parents screaming and clapping like he's just won an olympic race!! It's even funny to see him growing up in other ways . . . like temper tantrums. They are pretty small at this point, enough for us to get a good laugh. Wow! I never knew I could love a child so much. Thank you, Lord, for the blessings Cade has brought to our home!! May you teach me to love him with your love, and help me to remember that he is yours, not mine. More Photos

2/7/2008 Pharmacy Update Well, remember how I said our staff was down to the pregnant pharmacist and myself . . . well now it's just God and me! Susie turned in her 2 week notice and is leaving in search of better hours and less stress. My mind keeps running to the words of my father: I cannot trace God . . . but I can trust Him! Thankfully, our store manager is getting some temporary help from a staffing agency, so my hours shouldn't increase. It will be interesting to watch the next few weeks unfold!

2/2/2008 Invite-A-Guest Servants Each year half of our church invites a guests for the weekend (inviters), and the other half work to prepare a nice meal for Saturday evening (servants). This year Tim and I were on the servant team, but since I don't have much experience cooking for large crowds . . . I volunteered to work on decorations for the evening. For those of you who know me well, you already realize this is one of my favorite "hobbies"!! It was a lot of fun to work with Susan and Bethany to come up with some decorating ideas for the evening. As always, Hobby Lobby came through for me! Annette, I read your post on spray painting your evergreen . . . and it sparked my interest. Let's just say part of our decorating involved spray paint, and we headed your advice to do this a day ahead of company to avoid gasing them out. Great suggestion! I had my head by an open window at the end of our painting session. Tim is thankful my decorating got a temporary outlet, so I'm not rearranging decorations at our home . . . again!

1/27/2008 Welcome Home Biloxi Team! A group from our church recently went on a work team to Biloxi, Mississippi to help with rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina. The team arrived home Saturday, so Sunday afternoon we had a "welcome home" dinner. After the wonderful meal, the microphone was passed around and each team-member was able to share about their experience. It sounded like the week was filled with hard work, but each person seemed to "take away" more than they had given! Tim's grandmother, Pearl, had went on the trip, so it was wonderful to be able to catch up with her!! More Photos

1/26/2008 Wonderfully, Lazy Saturday!! Oh . . . the absolute joy of looking at my calendar and finding . . . NOTHING scheduled for Saturday!!!!!! We enjoyed spending a lazy day just being a family. It was fun to laugh together and stand amazed at the joy Cade has brought to our life! It takes effort to keep weekends free, but it sure does feel good when one comes around! (It's been so long since my last posts . . . I thought the these 2 events happened in February. I was wrong, but it's too hard to move them to the January page!!) More Photos

1/25/2008 Breakfast Potluck We decided to try out 3 breakfast casseroles from Renae's 3rd cookbook for our potluck, and they were all a great success!!! The Southwest Breakfast Bake was a great break from the "normal" breakfast casserole, while the Tater Tot casserole was a happy medium. The Toffee Apple French Toast was so yummy . . . it probably should have been our dessert! We had a fun evening of conversation and laughter, and it was great to welcome a new couple to our group. Adam and Katie recently moved to the area, and they were a great addition!! More Photos