Monday, April 6, 2009

Shall I Ramble?

I thought maybe I should actually write something rather than just posting videos. :)

I've been out of my routine for a while. That's why I have resorted to posting videos.

Megan flew home a couple of weekends ago. It was wonderful to have her here. I just love having her around. We had been praying for her to find some work for the summer. So she pursued that while she was home. She managed to land two part-time jobs. One is in a pharmacy. We are thrilled about that because it will help her to get into the pharmacy school. Praise God for blessing her with that. Her other job is at the coffee shop she worked at during high school.

Now for a job for Caleb....

Since the kids didn't come here for spring break (they went to a conference in Colorado Springs), Pete decided we needed to declare a spring break. (Isn't he sweet?) So Pete took the week off and our break was last week A week ago yesterday we took Megan back to the airport and made our way to a Chris Tomlin concert. That was a lot of awesome music! But, can I say? It's a LOT easier to listen to music and praise our Jesus sitting down. We stood most of the 1 1/2 hour - 2 hour concert. I'm just saying.

Sunday and Monday night we stayed with some friends in the Cities. Monday and Tuesday were at a church conference. But, can I say again? I love Wi-Fi. Very much. Not much I love more than finding somewhere that has it and sitting there looking over thing on the Internet and catching up on email. I was able to do that a few times while Pete was busy conferencing.

The next few days were at home working on removing wallpaper and painting. Well, it was my wonderful husband who did all that work. I was busy with another project. (more on that later...) I'll post pictures of the new paint job when everything is put back together. It does look good!

Speaking of pictures... I have so many on my camera that I need to get on my computer so I can put some on here.

Friday Pete and I went to a lunch/theater. The play was called "Alone Together". It was about empty nesters, or so they thought. The kids kept coming back. It was pretty good and Pete thought we probably liked it because of our stage in life right now.

After lunch we both had terrible headaches and didn't feel up to the shopping we had talked about. We found one of those great places with the Wi-Fi and vegged. I think the bagels helped the headaches. :)

We ended the evening with Pete's brother and his family. It was a nice visit and the cake my sister-in-law served was yummy!

Saturday afternoon I worked on cleaning the floors that were a mess because of the painting. (I'm sure you really wanted to know that...)

We met some friends for pizza Saturday night. It was a great evening of yummy pizza and wonderful fellowship. I've been kind of bummed since then as I really realized that they won't be coming back here for worship. They are concentrating on planting a church where they live and are attending a church nearer to make some local connections. Totally what they need to do, but I will miss them on Sunday mornings.

Sunday morning we woke up to about 3 inches of snow! So not right on April 5th! Yesterday was the first Sunday for our new pastor. He came from Florida. I was amused with his comment about the snow. He said that he thought a lot of us looked out our windows that morning and thought of the verse: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. I laughed as I whispered to Pete, "I think most of us Minnesotans looked out our windows this morning and said, "Enough already!"

So here we are at another week. I should probably get moving on the laundry and go run some errands.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Thursday, April 2, 2009

For Caleb & Megan & Peter

This is for my family. These are clips from one of our favorite TV shows. We lived in Singapore for three years. We realized towards the end of our time their that we really loved this show and were a little frightened, because we understood the accents and got the jokes. We'd been there a long time!

Enjoy! Tomorrow I will post a FULL episode of Phua Chu Kang!







Saturday, March 28, 2009

Time-lapse

My son, Caleb loves to experiment with his camera. He really is a good photographer. He recently posted these two time-lapse videos he made. Enjoy!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

My Boy

Today is my boy's birthday. Only he really isn't a boy. He turns 22 today. Whew. I know it's overused, but

Where Did The Time Go?

I just love how his smile is the same in these pictures. (He's 3 1/2 in the above picture and 21 in the below one.)

I am so proud of this guy. I am honored that he is my son. I love him so much! I so adore his sense of humor. I love how he laughs at my made up words.

He graduates from college in May (!) and is getting married (!) July 4th. I know what I am most thankful for about him is his love for God. I am thankful that despite his imperfect parents, he has grown up into a man sold out to Jesus.

I look forward to watching him become a family man. I know he will be successful. He is fiercely loyal. He will love his wife unconditionally. He will be her protector. (He had a great example in these things: his father)

Here are a couple of pictures of Caleb and his beautiful wife-to-be Amanda:
They are made for each other, don't you think? :)
Happy Birthday Caleb! Have a wonderful day!!! I love you lots and lots and lots!




Tuesday, March 24, 2009

All The Way my Savior Leads Me

Warning: Authentic post ahead.

I have been experiencing a very lonely couple of months. I've gone through a couple of tough things that I wish I could have just not done (one being a doctors appointment), but they had to be done. I spent a lot of time crying to God, crying in my pillow, feeling sad. In the past when I have felt like this, I have blubbered all over some close friends and my husband. This time I tried to keep it to myself.

Do you know how loving and amazing God is? A couple of weeks ago, in His kind, gentle way, He began to show me His love. It started with the results of a routine test that I was concerned about coming back negative. I was so thrilled I cried.

Last Friday when I was shopping I called home to see if there were any voice mails. There was one from an old college friend. It has been close to a year since I have talked with her. At first I was bummed that I had missed talking to her. But I was able to call her when I was driving through the Big City. We talked for an hour. That was so refreshing and such a gift. (And it helped get through the rush hour traffic with no stress.)

I also was able to visit (for three hours!) a dear friend and show her the dress I had bought for my son's wedding. (During that visit my husband called to read me a letter saying that my other routine test was also negative. I was so thrilled I jumped up and down!)

Then to top it off my husband and I had a sweet weekend together.

I was feeling so loved by my God. It was as if He was putting His big, strong, gentle arms around me and telling me, "Yes, Judy, you are loved. I care for you. You have friends that care for you."

As I was driving home I was listening to Chris Tomlin's newest CD. At the end is a song using the words from Fanny Crosby's hymn "All the Way My Savior Leads Me."


All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Gui
de?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things w
ell.


I listened to that song so many times on the way home. It soothed my soul. Maybe it will do the same for you:


How has God shown His love for you?

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Things I Like

1. Seeing three pheasants within three miles along the road.

2. Ice cream dates with my best friend.

3. Roll top desks.
4. Just because phone calls from my kids.

5. Seeing grass --- even if it isn't green yet.

6. Our small group Bible study.

7. Fun, unexpected overnight guests. (It was great to have you Mary & Julia!)

8. Waking up on Sunday morning to the sound of church bells playing hymns.

9. The boys (Zach & Ethan) coming back safely from their winter camping trip.

10. Seems likethere should be ten things. I only have nine.