Bridal Shower, Open House Exhaustion

Congrats to the babies in the family - they have graduated from high school! Sarah and Leah not only turned 18 this year, but are giving my parents gray hairs by the minute by going off to college. It's an exciting time in my parents' life. My brother gets married this summer, my sisters are going off to college. What next?

We also had a bridal shower for my soon to be sister-in-law yesterday. It was a lot of fun. The entire family came down for the two big parties. Needless to say, it was a day full of hugs, laughter and lots of catching up. By the end of the day, I was actually in bed before Matt for once. That'll tell you how exhausted I was.

It's raining and cloudy today. I can actually say that I'm happy about that. It's a great excuse for me to come home from church, snuggle up on the couch and read a book. Yeah for rainy Sunday afternoons.

Summer Heat

It's so hot in our house. We still don't have AC - except for a window unit in our bedroom. I suppose I should be happy, after visiting so many foreign countries where AC is a commodity. And its much hotter in most of those places. But, I'm not. I'm clouded by the American lifestyle which tells me I'm entitled to it. Ha ha. You know its hot when your dog collapses halfway through walking down the hallway. The floor must have felt "cool" there. Ha ha.

New Business?

So, I've been thinking about starting a little side business. This past week, I helped my brother and his fiance design their wedding invitations. It was a lot of fun - and surprisingly I found out I was pretty good at it. This has prompted the question...Should I start doing this on the side? I'm hoping to get a bit of experience under my belt before jumping in head first. So, if you know anyone that would like to have custom invitations designed - at no design charge - just let me know. I'll be posting some photos soon of my samples - but am open to new designs as well.

Hearing Woes

So, I'm going in for my first CT Scan today to make sure I have a brain in my head. Just kidding. I really am getting a CT Scan done, but its to see how much scar tissue I have in my right ear from a boating accident that happened years ago. Either way, the doctor thinks I'm going to need surgery to remove the tissue. Hopefully this will help my hearing to improve in that ear. Be praying that the surgery will be outpatient and only last one hour (if you wanted to get specific)!

Also, we've been enjoying a fun-filled week of Tulip Time - Holland's Dutch Festival. I think they estimated 1 million people visiting our small town this week. Crazy! And we live in the heart of it all. It's a great way to get out enjoy the weather - smell the Tulips - eat lots of junk food - and visit friends. Now, after the parade tomorrow, I might change my tune. :)

Warmer Weather = No Blogging

Has anyone else noticed that when its nice outside, the computer stays off for days at a time? I'm usually a computer addict - paying bills, shopping, blogging, emailing - at least once a day! But, this past week, my laptop has stayed in its case for days at a time. The reason? Beautiful sunshine, warmer weather and a backyard that needs some serious help.

So...if you don't hear from me for a few days - I'm not dead. I'm just resurrecting my yard.

Flashback to Yesteryear

Saturday night was a night filled with "flashbacks" to my high school years. Matt and I attended Calvary's High School Banquet (prom), but this time as faculty! I went to that same prom each year for 6 years! It was a lot of fun this time...especially seeing it from an adult perspective.

Hey Peeps!

So my wife is making me write on this "blog" thingy (I'm old, I know). Our Zambia trip was great - action packed, nonstop, go go go that you would expect... but still a life-changing experience none the less. When you think short term missions trips, you probably think building stuff or tearing down stuff ~ to sum it up, this one was more relational. I'll never forget the bonds we made in the Siachatema village and school we visited. Just walking, talking, eating, visiting, praying and encouraging them were but a few of the things we did.

AIDS. There were some I met and prayed with that will not be alive at this time next year. POVERTY. Because of the recent drought some will not have enough to feed their families and will starve. Just a couple of things that cause me to look at my lot in life and see how truly blessed I am and that I have a responsibility with what God has entrusted me with. Enough said, pray for the communities we served and the missionaries who are laying down their all for the kingdom.

He's Home!

Yeah! Matt and his team arrived home safely yesterday. With a little trouble missing flights and enduring some sickness, we drove to Chicago to get them from O'Hare airport. From the little I've heard, it was a great trip and they were able to accomplish much! I'm hoping Matt will "blog" a little over the next week so you can hear firsthand how it went. Until then, enjoy this picture.

A Wedding and One More Day

I spent the weekend in snowy northern Michigan for my cousin Justin's wedding. It was beautiful and a wonderful way to spend Easter weekend. Justin has had a rough life, making some bad choices, but in the last few years has come to know the Lord in a very personal way. And, I truly believe that God has rewarded him with a wife like Krista. She is a beautiful, godly young woman, that loves Justin. It was such a blessing to watch them exchange their wedding vows and reminded me of my own. I have a renewed passion to see my marriage glorify Christ, which gets me to my second point...

Matthew comes home tomorrow! I can't believe he's been gone for a week and a half already. For those of you that have husbands that travel often, you probably are rolling your eyes at my next statement, but I'll say it anyways. I miss him a lot! We've only been apart for a week in our short three years of marriage. This has definitely been a huge test for me. And I think I succeeded. God used this time to refine some things in me that needed refining, and showed me that my confidence doesn't lie in my marriage to Matthew, but my salvation in Christ. And that will never leave me! Thank you Lord for your sacrifice on the cross for me...and thank you that many years ago, today, you rose from the grace to claim victory over death forever!

Until next time...

Before & After

Kitchen Before - YUCK!

Kitchen After - YEAH!

It's FINALLY FINISHED!

My new kitchen! Click here to view the entire picture album.

Almost there...

Here's the most recent progress on the kitchen. New backsplash, all the cabinets painted in some form (primed or finished), new hand towels to match and a nice new set of flowers! Should be finished in the next couple of days. Just enough time for me to get the house spic and span, go out of town for a wedding and surprise Matt on Monday!

Phenomenon

Have you ever moved your refrigerator? Go ahead, try it. You'll find yourself absolutley and utterly disgusted. Especially if you have pets! I moved my fridge to paint underneath the cabinets last night and what a surprise I had. LOTS of dust, milk tops, twist ties, and hair - the animal kind. YUCK!

Kitchen Progress

My kitchen is slowly but surely being redone. I decided to put up a new backsplash today. I was certain I liked it at the store several months ago, and even brought a sample home to double check. But, now that its finished, I'm not so sure. Although, maybe once I get my cabinets painted tomorrow, it won't look so bad. It's very coppery though. Anways...enjoy the pics. Hopefully by this time next week I'll have a finished kitchen to show off.

And They're Off...

...to Zambia! Matt's team left this morning at 7am for Africa. What a fun experience! The last few days have been crazy, getting him ready to go. But, when he left today, he looked excited and very much ready to lead the trip. Two adults and 13 students - what a crazy time! They will be gone for two weeks, working and teaching in Zambia. Pray for them. It will be an exhausting experience - but definitely something they will never forget.

In the meantime, I'm home. I have LOTS of plans while Matt's gone. Including, getting the kitchen cabinets paitned (some of you are saying "FINALLY!"), installing new counter tops, going to a wedding out of town, cleaning, lots of laundry - and I suppose a little shopping. Hehe.

Anybody want to come for a visit? Now would be a great time - besides, I could use some help painting.

Wild Wild Weekend

What a weekend I had! I just returned from Tennessee, visiting college friends that just had their baby. What fun! Not only did I get to spend 24 hours in a car with my college roomy, but we also were able to love on the most adorable baby I have seen in a long time. Miles Murphy Cope is yummy! We spent a few days enjoying 80 degree weather near the Smoky Mountains. And now, I'm back in Michigan, preparing for my husband to go to Zambia. It'll be a lonely couple of weeks, but very prosperous. I plan to do a lot of things that have gotten pushed to the side while playing the role of wife. Should be a grand ole' time!

Let's see...

Right now our life is filled with studying, packing, emailing, calling, arranging, preparing, worrying, laughing and MUCH MORE!

Matt leaves for Zambia next week, I'm going to Tennessee this weekend...are we crazy you ask? Probably.

And that's all we have to update you on for right now.

Oh and here's a picture of the Zambia Team t-shirt that Matt and I designed. Enjoy!

Zambia in 2 weeks

As every other teacher in the world is preparing for a relaxing week off during Spring Break, my husband is preparing to board a jet plane with 10 high school students and one other teacher to Zambia, Africa! He is really stoked about going, although the stresses of planning a trip like this can sometimes cloud the excitement - especially in the few days before the trip takes place. So, needless to say, his joy is accompanied with thoughts of responsibility. Pray for him?

Also, I'll be staying home alone during those 2 weeks. I'm planning to FINALLY finish painting my kitchen cabinets and hopefully surprise Matt with a finished kitchen when he returns. I may even venture out and get new counter tops installed...but SHHH that's between us. (He never reads this blog.)

Well, hope everyone is enjoying life. Cheer up - warmer weather is on its way!

Home and Sleepy

We're back from California and what a time we had! It was very refreshing for both Matt and I - even though I was technically there for work. Though the weather wasn't as warm as we would have liked, it was still a lot better than snow in Michigan. 60 degrees and a little breezy. The beach was gorgeous. I spent most of the week in meetings, but had a lot of time to relax. On Friday, Matt and I drove down the coastline, through Malibu and into Santa Monica. We spent much of the day in Santa Monica, on the pier and shopping near Santa Monica Blvd. It was really fun. So, now we're back to reality and 4 hours behind schedule. We're hoping to be caught up on our sleep by tomorrow. We'll see.

California - HERE WE COME

So, I'm going to our annual marketing conference in sunny Mandalay Beach, California and Matt is coming with me. Should be a good time away from the cold weather. Hopfeully I will learn a lot from our marketing company - and Matt will have some time to catch up on pleasure reading and sleep! Fun, fun - we've never been to Cali.