Summer, Summer, Summertime. . .(think Will Smith here. . .)

Alright, everyone, I know it's not officially the season of summer, but schools all over are letting out, open houses are upon us, the weather has been in the 80's all week, and my air conditioning is on. I'm calling it:

Summer is here!!!!!

Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom, and my kids don't go to school yet, summer doesn't have quite the excitement that it used to. But I'm still pretty psyched this year. Here are some reasons:

*Haiti. Of course, Haiti is at the front of my mind all of the time. In a little over 3 weeks I'll be heading there. I'm really trying to not have any preconceived notions about what the trip will be like. I'm a planner, and a trip like this, where I have no control over what happens is difficult for me. But I am so excited. I believe this will be a life-changing trip for many. I'm ecstatic about being a part of something bigger than me and getting out of my comfort zone.

*Swimming. I love to swim. David doesn't share this love with me, so in our 7 years together we have gone to one beach, and that was in Michigan. But now I have a 3 1/2 year-old who has shown me already in this first week of hot weather that the pool is where he wants to be. So I've signed him up for a few swim lessons, and we're hoping to hit Kokomo Beach (not really a beach, mind you, but a public pool) at least a few times this summer.

*Urban Outreach. Over the last 2 summers we have been taking the youth group kids to help the Kokomo Urban Outreach on Sunday nights. We take food to a low-income housing addition, and while some people serve the adults dinner, we get to play with the kids. It has been such a neat experience to hang out with these children and get to know them. I'm looking forward to being a part of it again this summer.

*Camping. In August we are taking my brother-in-law's camper and going to Ludington, Michigan to camp. We'll be one mile from beautiful lake Michigan (more swimming!), and there are loads of trails, playgrounds, etc. to explore. Definitely looking forward to that.

Along the way I hope we can hit every park in town, go on lots of bike rides, eat lots of popsicles, read some really good books (any suggestions?), spend some time with friends and family, and show God's love all while we're doing this. I want to be an example everywhere we go of what it means to be a Christ-loving family.

All Things TV

While I've never seen an episode of "Lost" or "24", I've still had some good (and bad) tv moments recently.

*TOP CHEF IS COMING! While I've been loving Top Chef Masters, (and am rooting for Jonathan Waxman) I am always excited to see Tom and a new crew of chefs. I get to see the first episode before I go to Haiti. They're going to be in D.C., so I'm sure there will be lots of fun challenges.

*I couldn't watch American Idol. I wanted to see the tribute to Simon, but when I turned to it and Paula came out, and I couldn't handle it---SO UNCOMFORTABLE!! Is she that weird, or on drugs? And then the old Idols singers came out--the song was terrible!! Yikes! I think Simon is making the right choice by getting out before the boat sinks.

*I loved Glee this past fall. These spring episodes have not been as great to me. I don't like storylines that are just developed to get to a specific song (aka the Madonna episode). I did like the episode where the girl sang Christina Aguilara's "Beautiful"--made me cry. And they had to go and sing "Beth" this week, which of course will keep me tuned in to see if Gwen will really name her baby Beth.

*I still have the season finale of "Parenthood" on the DVR and am excited to watch it--just haven't had the time.

*I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jimmy Fallon and his crew are hilarious! Last week they did a spoof of Lost that was so funny--and Arsenio Hall was in it. You need to see it.

*If you have kids, and haven't seen "WordWorld", you need to. It's on PBS and it's really cute. Everything is made up of the letters that spell the item. And the duck with the speech impediment is so endearing. I love him.

*I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I've actually watched some NBA and it hasn't been too bad. We're rooting for the Suns--who doesn't love Steve Nash? Black eye? No problem. Broken nose? Bring it on!

*Lastly, David and I have really enjoyed the new show on TLC called "Best Food Ever". There are probably similar shows on the Food Network, but we don't have that channel. John Goodman narrates as they count down the top 10 of a certain food or type of restaurant. I feel like writing down all of the places so we can take a food vacation and eat our way across the country. This week was best diners, and the winner was in Worcestor, Mass. Almost made me want to go back to Worcestor. Almost.

In other news. . .
I'm on my way to Noblesville today to wish a former co-worker happy retirement and catch up with a few old friends. So excited the summer is here. This week we have gone on bike rides and long walks, been to the park, got out the sprinkler, the kiddie pool, and eaten our weight in popsicles already. I'm so thankful that I get to watch my children experience all of this, too.

Have a great day!

Catch of a Lifetime

When I married David in 2004, it was a package deal. Along with my new, sweet husband was a dog. Half Springer Spaniel half Brittany Spaniel, this brown and white ball of fur, otherwise known as Tee Off, has been a part of David's life since before he even knew me.

Over the years, Tee has gone from being a crazy-hyper dog who jumped on everyone who came in the door, to a mellow, older dog who mainly just lays around. She's almost 12, and, to be honest, she acts a little like an old biddy some days. She barks at nothing. She never wants to be outside anymore (unless you're outside). She has to take several different medicines to keep her healthy (and our carpets dry). But we love her.

The other thing you need to know about Tee is that the only thing that really excites her is chasing animals in our back yard. If you say the word "squirrel" her ears perk up and she runs to the door. Having a fence that squirrels can run on has been great entertainment for us. As they run, Tee chases them all over the back yard. She will also chase rabbits, which are in abundance this time of year, especially with our huge garden (which should be a topic of another post). However, with all of this chasing, in 12 years Tee has caught only one rabbit--and it was someone's pet (another great story for a different post).

Well, all that changed last night. I was gone to a meeting, and David was eating dinner with the kids, when he heard Tee scratching at the door. He opened the back door to let her out, and she dashed to the garden. Somehow a rabbit had gotten inside the garden fence, and when he came out, Tee was there to catch him. Within seconds Tee had that rabbit in her mouth and killed it. Way to go, Tee! After 12 years of trying, she finally caught a rabbit. She should be proud of herself.

And in fact, she was.

She was so proud that she tried to bring it into our house CARRYING IT IN HER MOUTH! So while the kids are eating dinner in the dining room, Tee is scratching at the back door (clearly visible from the dining room) to come in and show off her conquest. David kept shooing her away, and Noel kept asking what was going on. Luckily, she left eventually left it in the yard and came in without it.

So, hats off to you, Tee Dog. You may make me crazy every day with your barking, shedding, and bodily fluids, but I'm proud of you. You've still got a little bird dog in you after all.

In Case You're Wondering. . .

I do a lot of dumb stuff. I wanted to share some lessons from my amazing ideas that didn't go over very well, so you can learn from my mistakes:

*I was trying to be frugal this morning. After finishing up my bowl of Corn Pops, I thought the milk (sweetened by said Corn Pops) could substitute for creamer in my coffee. Terrible idea. It was bad.

*Speaking of bad, Corn Pops are not good. I thought I liked them, so I bought a big box when they were on sale. Now I know why they were on sale. I'm forcing myself to finish them so they don't go to waste. Ugh.

*Don't take a 1 year-old (who is a screamer) and a 3 year-old (who's been hopped up on snacks) to a program. I tried to sit with them and watch my brother's play last night. Big mistake. We were THOSE people who had to carry our kids out. Bad idea.

*Speaking of the 1 year-old. I let her play with my cell phone once in the car to keep her entertained. Now every time I get it out she screams! And it's that ear-piercing scream that only a little girl can do. So if you get a call from me, be prepared for some screaming in the background.

*Don't buy hair dye that costs $3.99 and says it will make your hair 'dark blonde'. No matter how long you leave it on, your brown hair will just turn more orange. Trust me.

*Don't assume that kids know not to pick up dog poop in the back yard. Enough said.

I could share more, but I think you get the point. I'm not a 'think before you act' kind of girl, and these things are proof!! But it does make for a fun ride!

Have a blessed day! Pray for someone today, and then do something nice without them knowing it!

What's for Dinner?

I love to cook. I really do. I love finding new recipes and trying them out. And I usually don't mind putting menus together for each week. However, sometimes it is hard to come up with new ideas for every week, and I'm always thinking that I wish I could see a list of what other people are making for their meals so I can have some ideas.



So, just in case anyone else has been in those shoes, here are some meals that I've been making this week or are planning to make next week:



I made Extra Spicy Linguine with Sausage, Chili Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, and Arugula last night. It's a Rachael Ray Recipe, and I really liked it. Didn't use the Chili Pepper--not sure how spicy it makes the meal, and I have 2 small kids.



Another new recipe I'm going to try next week is Freeze-Ahead Broccoli and Sausage Calzones. I plan on making half of them for now and freezing the other half for when I'm in Haiti. They sound good.



Last week we tried these fish tacos. I thought they were pretty tasty, except I am not a fan of corn tortillas. I tried one the next day with a flour tortilla, and liked it much better. I also used tilapia instead of red snapper, and they worked fine.



I love pancakes, and I make them for the kids on a weekly basis. I usually make a double batch and them keep them in the fridge and reheat them for breakfast all week. A friend showed me this recipe for fluffy pancakes, and they are great!!! Definitely not lying about the fluffy! I added blueberries to some and they were good, too.



Another freezer-friendly meal that is a go-to for us is Hot Chicken Sandwiches. I got this recipe from Caryn Collins, and we are ever so greatful!



Hot Chicken Sandwiches



3 c. cooked cubed chicken

8 oz. cubed Velveeta

1/2 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped celery

3/4 c. mayo



Combine all ingredients. Put on hamburger buns and wrap sandwiches individually in foil. Can be frozen or refrigerated.



Bake (in foil) for 25 minutes @ 325 if thawed or 35-40 minutes if frozen.



Happy eating!!

In the Tunnel

Seems like recently I find myself discontented more and more often.

I'm upset with the way the kids are acting, and it frustrates me. Every day Noel and I clash over something insignificant that turns into an outright war. Yesterday it was over a Capri Sun. I kid you not, a Capri Sun. I'll spare you the details.

I wish I had more one-on-one time with my husband. Our days are filled with half-completed conversations because they've been interrupted by a 3 year-old's questions or a 1 year-old's screams.

I miss teaching. I'm supposed to go to a retirement party tomorrow for a fellow teacher, and part of me doesn't want to go because it makes me so sad that I'm not still working there. It's been four years, and I still miss it all the time. I know that sounds awful, especially to people to would kill to be in my shoes, staying home with their kids. And believe me, I am incredibly thankful that we have the means and opportunity to keep Noel and Elise home. But I still miss it.

I wish I could be a better friend and have closer friends. I struggle with loneliness.

It's kind of like I'm in a tunnel in life--not a valley or a mountaintop, just a dark spot where I'm not quite sure of where I'm headed. Corrie ten Boom, one of my favorite authors, describes our journey with God as a train trip. And she says (I'm paraphrasing here) that when you're on a real train and it goes into a tunnel, you don't jump out because you're scared. You hang on tightly and trust the engineer to get you through.

To be honest, none of the scenarios I was complaining about is life-shattering. We are healthy, David has a job, we have food, shelter, and safety. But when I focus on myself and the areas I am unhappy with, it's tempting to start feeling more and more sorry for myself instead of hanging on and trusting that God has a plan for me. Instead of whining and moping and being discontent, I need to look around and see where I can be a servant right now, what I can be doing to make life better for those around me. Maybe I need to turn on a flashlight in my tunnel and look around to see if anyone else needs to know that the Engineer is in charge, and He will get us through.

More Links

Here are a two more links that I really like:

www.etsy.com
If you haven't been on etsy, take some time out of your schedule for it, because you can easily get sucked in for an hour. The best way I can describe etsy is that it is similar to ebay or amazon, but is handmade/vintage items that people are selling, and there is no bidding--just a fixed price. There are millions of items on etsy--I usually look at the jewelry. I've gotten Christmas gifts, Mother's Day gifts, and graduation gifts on etsy, and have been pleased with all of them.

www.backgroundfairy.com
This is a blog aimed at helping those of us who are blogging, but are clueless about how to make our blogs look nice. She gives step-by-step instructions for changing different settings on your blog, adding images, changing fonts, etc. She also posts free backgrounds and picutres. Pretty cool.

If any of you out there have sites that I need to look at, let me know!

Odd Things

I'm odd. I do some strange things. But I think we all do.

So, in order to make you feel better about your oddities, I'll share some of mine

1. I brush my teeth in the shower.

2. I have to pick up the house in a certain order. Even if company is coming in 10 minutes, I have to start at the back of the house (our bathroom) and work my way to the kitchen (always the messiest room).

3. I love Spider Solitaire on the computer.

4. The first thing I read in the newspaper is the obituaries. Last thing I read is the comics.

5. I have an old-lady bicycle with the big butt seat and high handlebars. It's called 'MoonDog'.

6. I don't own an I-Pod, and I still have a record player in our bedroom.

7. I still get excited about getting the mail every afternoon, in hopes of some sort of letter or card from someone, even though it's nowhere close to a holiday or my birthday.

8. Anything on tv that is about a great teacher makes me cry.

9. Speaking of tv, I still come up with different ideas for songs I would use to try out for American Idol. And yes, I'm well over the age limit.

10. I still don't understand the game of soccer or the game of chess.

Anyone else out there have some odd traits?

5 Weeks to Go

As my trip to Haiti is getting closer, I've been having a lot of different thoughts about it. A lot of my time has been spent thinking about how my kids and husband are going to do. I'm not worried that my husband can't take care of them, I just know that a long time alone with two small kiddos can be draining. I've been working on making freezer meals, getting things organized, and raising money.

But how much have I been preparing myself mentally and spiritually for this trip? We are headed to the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with a dozen high school students to work at a church camp. Am I ready to see the devastation brought on not only by the earthquake in January, but by the years of poverty, voodoo, and corrupt government? Have I been praying for the people of Haiti? For the other members of my group?

When I think about why I signed up to go on this trip, my answers are muddled. Do I want to help with work on a clinic? Yes. Do I want to meet and encourage other Christians? Yes. Do I want to lead by example in our group? Yes. But I know there will be so much more that will challenge me, stretch my faith, disappoint my expectations, teach my narrow mind, and humble my American heart.

I have so much to give and so much to receive. May I be open to both of those on this journey.

Week in Review

Well, it's been kind of a strange week. Both kids, at one point or another, puked, and I am not good at dealing with sickness. I have a hard time seeing my children in pain, and knowing there's nothing I can do about it. I also have about 30 items on my mental to-do list that I know won't get done, and my selfish side struggles with that. But thankfully they are both on the mend. And neither of them had anything terribly bad.



Here are some other lessons I want to share with you from the week:



*If you ever decide to hang clothes out on the line, maybe you should watch the radar first. I've had the same load of laundry hanging out for 3 days because it keeps raining right before they get dry!



*If you haven't read the comic strip 'Pickles' you're missing out. It's funny. Truly funny.



*I've fallen off the wagon. After years of staying away from the hair dye aisle in the grocery store, I gave in about a month ago. The color turned out a little something like this--










a little on the orange side. Now I have about 1/2 inch of dark root popping up. Thus begins the vicious cycle of hair color. Do I try the same color again? Go darker? lighter? Oy.


*My husband is right. a lot. Case in point: "The Amazing Race". This whole season we have been rooting for the cowboys, Jet and Cord. They were hilarious, smart, level-headed, and kind. Right before the finale, David decides he doesn't want them to win. What?! How can you say that? We love the cowboys!
And then he gives me this nugget of wisdom--if the cowboys win the million dollars, it might change them. Turn them into greedy or materialistic people, and he wouldn't want that to happen to such nice guys. I think he's right. Money changes people, and usually not in positive ways. So we were glad to see them place 2nd and maintain their status as country boys, or "Okey's" as they called themselves. If you never watched "The Amazing Race", it's worth watching online to see Jet and Cord. Good stuff.


Have a spendid weekend! Find the joy and beauty in your everyday lives.

What I've been reading

Here's what I've been thumbing through in my spare time. . .

Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Finished it last week. It was pretty sad (not a shocker) and pretty cliche (not a shocker, either), but for some reason once I start a Nicholas Sparks book I have to finish it. I thought the storyline was okay. I just wish that I hadn't watched the trailers for the movie. I kept picturing Miley Cyrus and Greg Kinnear in the roles instead of using my own imagination to come up with the characters. I kept thinking, "Greg Kinnear wouldn't do that. . ." so it kind of threw me for a loop. All that being said, I liked the theme, and I thought he did a good job of presenting faith in God without sounding preachy or stereotypical.

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

I'm currently about halfway through this book, but really like it. It's a true story, actually two true stories (try and say that three times fast) from two different men's perspectives about their lives and how they become friends. Denver is a poor, homeless man from Louisiana who never had one day of school. Ron is an educated art seller who is married to an amazing lady. Because of her drive and passion, the two become friends, and God works in really cool ways through this friendship. I can't give it a 100% seal of approval until I'm finished, but so far it is really good. Very convicting about how we view others and what we do in light of that.

Any other ideas of books I should read? Please let me know.

Courage

As I continue to study through the book of Daniel, I am overwhelmed by these young men's courage. I'm guessing that when Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to stand up to Kind Neb over and over again they were about half my age. Would I have that courage? Do I have any courage in the God that I claim to put my faith in?

Where's the proof?

I'd like to say that we live by faith on a day-to-day basis, but to be honest, with our cushy, comfortable lives, we want for nothing, and we get by pretty well (for the most part) on our own. It's sad to say, but most days go by without my even considering faith. I will spend time with God, pray, study, even serve in His name, but am I taking any steps in faith, not knowing where they will lead? Not always.

My study of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego led me to this website: http://persecution.com which I've also added to the links on the right. If I don't have to live in fear of my life because of my beliefs, surely I can spend some time on a regular basis praying for those who do. I encourage anyone who reads this to pray for believers all over the world who are abused, arrested, cast out, and even killed because they've chosen to step out in faith.

I also need to make some deliberate steps in faith that I know are all around me. Going out and making friends with my neighbors, telling people I know about God's love, showing those I don't know His grace and mercy. There are opportunities out there to grow in my faith. May I take a hold of those and let God lead.

Incomplete

Okay, so I finished the first part of my homework assignment, but failed to complete the last question our minister gave us: What is one thing you would like to change about yourself?

This is kind of a toughie, and not because there isn't anything to change about me. Quite the opposite. When I start thinking about areas of my life that I need to work on, I tend to get on the pity-party wagon and beat myself up. "I'm not ________, I'm too _________, I don't _________ enough. . ." I could do it all day. However, because I know I'm prone to do that, sometimes I don't take the effort to truly evaluate where my real weaknesses are that need to be addressed.

So, I said all of this to say: I need to work on not being so critical -- of others and myself.

I need to spend time encouraging and uplifting those around me, with words and with actions. I need to think about what I say before I say it, and keep my comments about people to a minimum. I've struggled with this for as long as I can remember. It's the same old motivation we all have: if I think about what's wrong with someone/something else, it makes me feel better about myself.

ie. "I might be ______________, but at least I didn't ____________, like _________."

It's a mean, critical attitude, and I need to ask God to help me with it.

Okay, I've completed my assignment.

Sigh.

Now, I feel better. Or worse. Or both.

Homework

Our minister talked about marriage yesterday, and he gave us homework. He asked us to come up with four things that we love about our spouse and one thing we'd like to change about ourselves. So, being the good student that I've always been (ha!), I will share a little of what I came up with.

Four things I love about David:

1. He has amazing patience. I guess anyone who could put up with me (and my family) must have patience, but he is so good about not getting frustrated with me or the kids. At night, David says prayers with Noel (Noel says he's better at it), and they lay in bed and just talk about the day. Instead of trying to hurry up the conversation so he can get on with his evening, David patiently asks Noel all kinds of questions and answers any of Noel's. I love him for this.

2. He is wise. I know that sounds kind of weird, but I don't just mean smart (which he is as well). Unlike me, David has the ability to calmly think through situations before making decisions. He weighs the options, considers the possibilities, and then acts. And guess which one of us a)makes better decisions and b)does less apologizing for things that shouldn't have been said?? Not him.

3. He's a great husband and father. From the time he steps in the door after work until both kids are in bed, David is a hands-on, active dad. He doesn't just go do whatever he wants, he invests in the kids, and it shows. They are excited to see him when he leaves, and sad to see him go. He knows just as much about their schedule, their likes/dislikes, their personalities, etc. as I do. It's so comforting to have a partner in this thing called parenthood.

4. He makes me laugh. I don't know how couples survive without the gift of humor and laughter. I can't tell you the number of times that I've been about to cry about something and David knows just how to lighten the mood and help me realize that whatever "catastrophe" we are in the middle of will pass, and that God is still in control, not me. He keeps perpective of what's important, and what we can laugh about. I won't give away all of his secrets, but he's got a few tricks up his sleeve.

So, there you have it--four of the many things I love about my husband. I want to pass this challenge along to you--share with your spouse what you love about them! Who doesn't want to hear that?

The picture on the left is Noel's first day of pre-school. The picture on the right was taken a few weeks ago at the zoo. Can't believe how quickly the years fly by. I heard someone say once that the days sometimes seem long and the years seem short. I agree.

In honor of Mother's Day, these are some things I've learned by being a mom:

*There will always be a part of your house that is a mess. Learn to accept it.

*You don't have to do it alone. There are people out there who want to help, but you have to ask!

*Kids are really funny. Sometimes they are frustrating, confusing, exasperating, and just plain naughty, but they do a lot of funny stuff.

*The advertisements on Nickelodeon are brainwashing my child. He wants a claw-scratcher for cats--we don't even own a cat!!

*A little bit of planning and forethought goes a long way. So does a bag of wipes.

*Kids can ask really hard questions, especially about God.

*Sometimes you just have to laugh or you'll cry.

*Being a mother is hard, but it's such a joy. My heart hurts for children who don't have moms. We need to be there for those children.

Happy Mother's Day!

You Make Me Smile

Links I Love

www.rhettandlink.com These two guys are hilarious! They do a lot of parody songs and such. Funny stuff.

http://boomama.net My friend Jill turned me onto this blog. She's just a regular lady who writes about her life, but she does it with such humor and wit that you will immediately fall in love with her.

http://donmilleris.com Donald Miller is one of my favorite writers, and although I don't always agree with him, he has some real insight about life, God, and writing.

www.marshill.org This is a church in Grand Rapids, Michigan where Rob Bell is the minister. You can download his latest sermon for free each week.

http://primetime.tv.yahoo.com this is a short video recap of the tv shows from the night before. It's about 3-4 minutes each day, and is really funny. I believe there is a daytime tv version of it, but I don't watch daytime tv.

http://tabtuner.com If you play guitar and need to transpose a song, this is the place for help.

http://marthastewart.com.everyday-food Now, before you get all nervous because it's Martha Stewart, check it out. She has a separate section of her "empire" dedicated to those of us who aren't growing our own lavendar or have three hours to make dinner. Everyday Food is full of ideas, recipes, pictures, and tips.

Well, there you go! Happy clicking!

Control

How many times does God have to remind me that He is in control and I am not?

I guess until I get the picture.

I like to be in control. Really like it. I guess that's part of being a teacher and a mother, but I like to make the plans and organize things. I like it when the plans get followed. I like it when my kids act like they should, when my car runs, when everyone is healthy, and people do what they say they are going to do.

But God is in control not me.

This weekend hundreds, if not thousands of people lost their homes to flooding. Do you think they planned that? Do you think my mom woke up this morning and thought, "I think I'll have my appendix out today"? What about the student I tutor whose dad cuts himself when he's stressed--was that in her plan of growing up? Of course not.

But God is in control not me. He has a plan much bigger than anything we can ask or imagine.

Today I am reminded of Psalm 46--Be still and know that I am God. God didn't put me on this earth to run and control everything. He put me on this earth to bring Him praise and to show others His love HOWEVER HE SEES FIT.

God, may I never hold so tightly to my plans, my control, that I miss out on the opportunities you have in front of me to show Your love.

Week in Review

Alright, here are some highlights from this week:
*Planned a date night for next Friday. Very excited to get away for the evening with David
*Made some really good chicken noodle soup from scratch
*Got to spend Friday night with my small group making lunch for Habitat for Humanity workers. I'm so blessed to have good Christian friends.
*I actually ran twice this week.
*Got to see RoRo and Gerard on the news. Thank you, Pierre Garcon, for using the trip to highlight HCO and Northwest Haitian Christian Mission.
*The cowboys didn't get kicked off Amazing Race
*Funny episodes of The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Community
*Going to plant flowers with Noel today
*Noel and David got to help Dick Blazer plant corn last night. More of a highlight for Noel than me, but it makes my heart happy when I see him talk for hours about his trip on "Big Blue", as he calls Dick's tractor (don't tell Grandpa and Uncle Mike that he was on a Ford).
*My little girl is getting the hang of saying "MaMa". Love love love it.
*Next week starts my month teaching Sunday School for high schoolers. Excited (and a little nervous) about attacking the book of Daniel.

Have a great weekend!