Pictures

I would like to add more pictures to this blog. But I don’t know how to add them without it being this long drawn out process. In fact, we have lost the charger to our camera and haven’t really been able to take pictures. Such a sad story, isn’t it? I don’t even add pics to my facebook because it takes forever. Does anyone know of a fast way to load pictures?

I really really want one of those new HD cameras that take pictures and video. I’ve always wanted to learn to take some nice pictures of the family. Nate actually got me a digital camera book for christmas about 5 years ago and it was way over my head and I didn’t have the right camera. When those cool new cameras go on sale, maybe I’ll save up for one and learn how to take some pics and load them onto this site. 

There’s a random post for ya!

Christmas

-My mom flew in on the 23rd and we did some marathon grandma christmas shopping. 

-Its so awesome to have my mom in town. The kids love her and I love her. I love that she picks up my house every 5 minutes. I love that she gets up early with the kids….she kindof has to because she is sleeping on the couch. I love that she tells Nate and I to go out and see a movie. I love that she cooks. and oh my, my mom can cook. I love that we laugh about only things that we can laugh about. 

-The Restore Christmas eve service was unbelievable. We had some sound issues prior to the night and it was pretty stressful to begin with. I was nervous. But when the crowds showed up…and I mean crowds…all was well. The band did an amazing job. Janet included the kids in the night which was such a great moment. Troy delivered a great message. And then the glow sticks….I think the band had the best view of the night seeing all of those people wave the glow sticks for 2 whole songs!

-After some late night wrapping, Santa showed up, ate the cookies, and left too many presents. The kids woke up way early and were so excited. It was great to see the kids get excited about their gifts. My kids would be happy with just one present. They usually want to open up the first one and start playing. They aren’t concerned with how many. Note to self…

-We headed to Nates moms house and had dinner and then more presents. 

-Dec 26th I worked a 12 hour day and now I am off for the next 3 days. Thats right. 3 days. I’m in heaven.

Partay

Last night we had our staff Christmas partay. Janet made us a fantastic meal. We had fantastic company. This team is so great. I looked forward to this party all week. That says something, when you really want to be with your fellow staff. I wish so badly that I could spend more time with each one of them. I feel so so far removed from all that they do and who they are. I can truly say that I love them. They are all so talented and work so hard. They have all sacrificed so much to help bring people back to God. They are all such quality people and so much fun. 

We took some time and reflected on all that has happened in 2008 and what had impacted us.  We laughed a whole bunch which was my favorite thing. 

To the Restore team, you are the best. I wish I could know you more and I look forward to knowing you more in the future. Can’t wait to see what happens in 2009.

Things that annoy.

Here is something that annoys me. 

When something really great comes out like the ipod or iphone or a great coffee shop like starbucks 😉 and someone rips it off almost exactly. I mean come on, can’t you be more original? Think of something different instead of almost the exact same thing. I keep seeing comercials for this blackberry phone that is touch screen and looks just like the iphone and it bugs me. I’m not sure why, it just does.  You can ask my husband, when the comercial comes on I usually say to the tv “yeah, its called an iphone be original blackberry.”  

Thats the first installment of things that annoy. Stay tuned for future posts.

Day off Jubilee

That is a silly title but you know, its really hard to think of titles. 

Because I’m married to a really great guy, he allowed me to take a day away from everything. So after his big idea meeting I headed to my old starbucks that I used to dread driving  45 mins to. It began to snow which I thought was a great addition to my day off. I met up with my closest friend in KC and as we talked, each of the other partners working took their breaks with us and we talked forever! It was great catching up with those guys. 

I then went to a movie…by myself. May sound pathetic but hey, you do what you gotta do. It was quite refreshing to just be with myself for a while. 

After the movie I braved the roads (the beautiful snow became the “every other car off the road” kind of snow) to IHOP. No not the pancake place, the International house of prayer. Its a place where you can go and pray 24/7. It was good to spend some much needed uninterupted time with Jesus. 

I had a great day off. I felt guilty that nothing was accomplished…no bills paid, no laundry done and no toliets cleaned but I was burned out and I needed time away. When it was over I wanted about 3 more days just like it…who knows maybe next Tuesday!

Gifts

Ever read that book “Love Languages?” Well I have and it is great. But what I’ve found is that my love language is not gifts. I love Christmas time its my favorite time of year but it has nothing to do with the gift part. I wish I could just leave that part out. 

People close to me will say what do you want for Christmas and I always have trouble thinking of things. I want things like to be a size 4 without putting the cookies away or to go away for 4 months on a vacation or world peace/peace of mind or for my son to magically obey. Things that are really intangible. I would rather spend time talking and getting to really know a person than for them to give me something. 

So I’m that person that will wait until the very last minute to buy a single gift because its just so hard to spend that money. I like the money sitting in my account as opposed to draining it. I’m wondering if I can force my lack of the need for gifts on my children. I would like our Christmas time traditions to be more about love than presents. Maybe focus on one or two really special gifts and not a deluge of things they they won’t play with. We got Ethan drums last year and he doesn’t touch them….that stuff makes me crazy. I also like for people to tell me exactly what they want. Its never really a surprise because I want them to have what they want instead of something I think they want. Do you see my delimma? I’m probably overthinking it which is kindof my MO.

So how do you feel about the whole gift thing. Does it excite you to go out and find the perfect gift? Do you dread this aspect of christmas like I do?

Fransis of Assisi

I like to call him “Frank,” its just easier. 

Frank wrote a prayer that I had never heard until Sunday. Troy was talking about peace and we read this aloud as a church. It was a great moment. 

I love this prayer and would like to find it in a really cool art form and hang it on my wall. I need to read this everyday and live it!

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.