Blessed. Again and Again.

Sometimes Hubs and I wonder, "Why in the world...?" Last night was one of them.

Thankfully we rest in God's will for us and we are thankful for technology that lets us keep in touch easier.

Thanks guys. We love you.

Here it comes!

I said a few good-byes yesterday. To my sweetest little helper at the office, Madi. To my uncle/boss. To people we love. I. hate. saying. goodbye. It's emotional and I don't do well with emotions. So don't be offended if I disappear in the night.

Um, let me just give you a brief look in the week ahead:

Monday
 - golf for hubs
 - quick trip to wichita for some st. louis necessities including a garmin for me, a modem so i can be connected to the world, and an underground fence
 - a backyard cookout with some of our friends

Tuesday
 - car in the shop
 - coffee date
 - packing must happen
 - some sort of random grocery shopping
 - various phone calls for the move preparation
 - reading for various book studies
 - dinner at Grant & Becky's

Wednesday
 - still no car
 - more intense packing
 - my last wednesday morning book study :(
 - dinner at Norm & Joan's 

Thursday
 - still no car
 - last day of internet access
 - finish the packing
 - last small group study (for me)
 - not sure about dinner since all will be packed

Friday
 - pick up car
 - pick up my brother from Emporia
 - return modem to Cox
 - pick up uhaul?
 - cleaning and any leftover packing
 - dinner will be interesting
 - sure to be a late night getting ready for the big move

Saturday
 - pack up the truck
 - finish cleaning the house
 - drive to Kansas City
 - and its really gonna happen

Not mentioned: random coffee and lunch dates that will pop up, friends coming over to hang out while I work, and everything else I am forgetting.

I'm so thankful for dinner plans this week - means I don't have to worry about it. I'm so thankful for amazing, godly women that I have gotten to know. Wow. I'm so thankful for Hubs. It's just gonna be me and him soon.

Where else?

I've been working through my Israel pictures. Editing and putting together a book. This time I'm using mixbook because of a recent groupon deal. So far, I really like how its turning out despite that I wish we would have gotten better pictures.

No. I haven't packed anything. This is way more fun.

Yes. I do realize I still haven't given much info regarding our trip on this blog. I'll get to it. Someday. 

In the meantime, where else can you find an old grave on the side of the road?

Flannel-graph-style.

Or magnificent aquaducts that go for miles?
Built without machines.

Or hang out with soldiers who have huge rifles at the ready?
Safest spot to be.

Or cool off with a frozen mint lemonade? With real mint leaves.
Drinking it very slowly. No free refills around here.

Or bake your homemade pita bread with a box of fire instead of an oven?
Authentic.

It's going to be hard to capture this trip with a book, a blog, even words. You just have to go yourself. And take me with you!

Finishing up

     just a few of my dear friends

Here's how it goes.

You first get excited about something new. Then you realize how much you will miss everyone here. Then you revel in the time you have left, enjoying each day. Then you stress. You have so much to do and time is running out. After that, you recognize that everything won't get done. And then, you are ready to go. You are sad still. But you are ready to get on wit' it. Then, you start doing the "lasts." Last week. Last day. Last time. People start making plans without you. Because you'll be gone. Then the stress will hit again. This time it is a "get-it-done" mentality because the time is near. The good-byes will come then. Not a moment before. Then you leave. And what you've spent the past 6 months preparing for, will finally be here.

This week is a finishing-up week. Tomorrow will be my last day with my great coworkers. Then I'll have a week of calm before the storm of moving. And I'm still loving every moment.

It's pretty much the same every time. Hubs and I have moved 2 times in the last 5 years and I predict we will move at least 1 more time. This is my 13th move, though. Most of those moves, I remember. And moving teaches you lots of things:

1. To make friends. Quickly.
2. To throw stuff away. You'll still have too much.
3. To love the church body. They are your family.
4. To rely on God. He's there.
5. To love Hubs more. He's there too.

Personal opion. Everyone should move at least once. Not across town. Away. It's awesome. I have friends all over. I have memories. And I've grown in each place. It's as if God has been moving me so that I don't become complacent in my walk with Him.

Here we go...

Happy Day

This afternoon was perfect. The temperature was warm, but not sweat-inducing. The breeze was refreshing, but not enough to knock me over.

Ransom loves to be outside. Even just to sit. And lay. And sniff. Just to be out where the dogs are meant to roam and relax.

So, while I sat and read in the sunshine, Ransom...

Sniffed...

Lounged in the grass...

Tried to catch invisible flies...

And sniffed some more.

Boy was he one happy dog.

Unexpected Shoes

I haven't bought shoes for a long while - in my books. But in the past 2 weeks, I have unexpectedly received not 1, but 2 new pairs!

First, a friend unexpectedly gave me a pair of silver Gianni Bini sandals that didn't fit her right. Think woven 3/4-inch strap up the middle of my foot and then a woven strap around the top of my foot. Look great with jeans and I am very excited to have them. (I can't find a picture of them online.)

Then, I was shopping a few weeks ago and felt I needed a pair of Sperry's Top-siders. I tried on a really cute pair at 3 different stores. But, I never actually bought them. They weren't really a need, and I knew we should spend the money on something else.

Then I unexpectedly received a gift card to the mall the next day. I promptly went over and ordered my new shoes and they came in the mail yesterday. I am very excited about them and now feel very much the need for a sailboat.

This is the first pair of shoes that I have paid full-price for in ages. I don't foresee any other cute shoes in the near future, besides cheapy flips or flats. Have you bought any cute shoes lately?

Um, spring?

When the temperature rises above 90, its a little much for me. Especially before June July. As a girl with her heart in the northeast, I enjoy a mild summer with temperatures steadying out in the mid-80s.

So, although the warmth has not yet become unbearable, it reminds me of the staggering temperatures to come. Really, the only time that I have enjoyed the heat was when I was on the beach.

And, for the last 3 days of heat I have been dreaming of the soft sand, the salty breeze, and the warm water, I could go for living on the beach, or near the beach. Really,  I could go for being within driving distance of a beach.

But, since that is not foreseen in our future, I could just take a few more weeks of spring. In other words, temperatures in the 70s.

From our front porch

I took this picture from our front porch this morning. Two things might surprise you:

1. It's green in Kansas.

2. Part of the road is covered in water.

Water is bubbling from the ground at a pretty good rate (it is hard to see in the picture, but it is there). On closer examination during our morning walk I have concluded that this might be a sewage line that has broken due to the gross color of the water and the smell.

Sewage + forecasted 97 degree day = smelly mess

Funny thing is, everybody seems to just be looking at the mess but not doing anything. Not that I can blame them, I haven't the slightest clue how you would begin to stop something like this. Kind of like the BP gas leak last year. Kind of. Okay, maybe nothing like the gas leak.

Anyway, it goes quite a bit further down the cross-street. Which happens to be where Hubs' office is. Hopefully they figure it out soon.

A new step

On Wednesday, Hubs and I signed a lot of papers that mean today we own a house.

     A house that we have seen once.

     A house that we won't see for another month.

     A house in a town we are unfamiliar with.

     A house that I can't wait to live in!

This means that it is really going to happen. We are going to move soon and we are going to have a house. One in which we can change anything we want to! After 5 years of living in wonderful rentals, (and I truly mean that) I am ready for this. I get more excited about moving each day, not only because of the house, but for this next adventure.

I'm already pretty attached to the house. It is the only thing that I know for sure about the move. And so I've been wrongly clinging it to it. But when uncertainty about a job, church, friends, city, and even what school will be like is lurking above me, I've found comfort in this house that I know we'll be living in. I picture our things there. I think of what we will do to the house and where we will spend out time. I even think about cleaning it and get excited (weird). The problem is that what I should be clinging to is God. Not this house.

I think its great to be excited about this. I think its great to want to change the house to fit our style and needs. But, I remember today that God alone has given us this house and the resources to update and improve. And that now that we have a house, we want to seek to use it for His glory. So, I have to make an daily, active shift to cling to my Savior & Lord in the midst of uncertainty, not this house.

Now to picking paint colors...

We've never been able to paint walls and it kind of makes me nervous. I found a few paint colors that I really like, one that I am absolutely sure of, but as much as I love looking through home magazines and what others have done to their home, I am at a loss in my own. Never fear, though, I'm still searching through what will be the right option and I'm confident we will find something.

Nick of Time by Tim Downs

A forensic entomologist is all science. He thinks logically and rationally and is totally engrossed in his career. With his wedding only a few days away, he takes off to solve a murder case involving an old friend. As the questions grow, it becomes less likely that he will make it back to his wedding on time.

This is a fun, easy, entertaining read. It isn't difficult, there are no underlying themes to figure out - it is just relaxing novel. The science aspects are easily understood and the suspense is just enough to keep you reading. As I read this book, I really thought I had the plot figured out and that it would be very typical. It surprised me. Multiple times. And I really liked that.

Some of the humor was a little overboard, but I could overlook it because I was interested in the story. I appreciate that the novel is clean, humorous and overall, a book worth reading.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”