Pictures from fall 2009

The Amana Colonies

Homecoming 2009
"Pie Your RA" program
Painted windows for Homecoming
Our first go at organic
"Duck Tape Your RA" program
Our dear friends' daughter, Madelyn
Busch Stadium
Andy at a baseball game
Andy and Spike ready for Panthers football
Our first 5K together!

Thanksgiving Break is here!

It's the Saturday that begins Thanksgiving Break and I cannot be happier! The weather is beautiful outside, Andy and I are spending the day together, and all I have is time for the next several days. Having a job that keeps me so busy day and night really makes me cherish our vacations. It's always a chance to relax, unwind, and re-energize. The other beautiful thing about Thanksgiving break is it's a preview to Winter Break, which is always even more extraordinary.

Andy continues to keep busy with school and work. The people he works with really like him, so he's blessed in that way. I've had a rough couple of weeks but things are looking up and I know that I can hang on until Christmas! Spike is doing well too. :-).

We got some amazing news this week regarding Andy's schooling. After working with his amazing academic advisor, he's switching to a BLS degree (bachelor of liberal studies) which is like general studies but you have areas of focus instead of colleges of focus. Anyhow, he found out on Friday that he only needs 6 more credit hours to graduate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He'll only need to take two classes next semester and it is goodbye (and thank you) undergrad degree! I couldn't be more proud and happy for him. He's worked very hard for a long time and deserves for his final semester to be simple and rewarding.

We're planning to host my mom and stepdad for the Thanksgiving holiday. I currently have a 15 lbs (free range/no antibiotics/hormones) turkey awaiting his debut on Thursday. I can't wait to have some family up for a visit.

Fall has been an exciting season! I'll add pictures soon to share all of the cool stuff that's been going on.



I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I know live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Slowing Down

Over the last couple of weeks God has really opened my eyes to my desperate need to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n. I've always been someone who is looking for the next step. I make plans constantly and am always daydreaming about what life will be like in a couple of weeks, months, years. But lately, God has given me these amazing opportunities, in the most random of situations (driving home from church; outside with the dog; etc.) to realize how happy Andy and I are here in Cedar Falls. After two and a half years of homesickness and longing to get back home, it's actually feeling a lot like home here in Iowa. I couldn't be more thankful and am blessed that God would grant me this peace. It feels nice to be content.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

First Go at Organic

In an effort to be healthier and after some research on going organic on a budget, Andy and I (okay, I have...Andy's just along for the ride) have decided to try to begin introducing some organic stuff into our lives (thanks, Liz, for the inspiration!). We don't have the income to go 100% organic but we're making a conscious effort to put better things into our bodies.

In my research on going organic, this document from the Environmental Working Group has helped us to create our priorities regarding which foods to definitely get organic and which foods not to worry much about. I also appreciated this blog post because it gave a list of the top things to buy organic. Armed with my information, I headed to the Farmer's Market yesterday morning to check out the produce and talk with the family that sells organic meat and eggs a few Saturdays a month there. (Before I go on, I should clarify the word "organic". I'm less concerned with making sure that things are USDA certified organic and more concerned that the products are simply grown or produced without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and hormones.) Unfortunately, that family was all out of ground beef for the season, and eggs that day, but did direct me to Hansen's Outlet, which is just a few blocks from our apartment and sells all kinds of great food! There I got ground beef, eggs, and cheese. The man working was so thoughtful and helpful and really took the time to explain a lot of stuff to me. Hansen's is famous around here for their milk, and the man working said that they go through as many as 300 gallons a day! After going to Hansen's I made my way to HyVee, our local grocery store to check out their organic section (it's nice that organic is becoming so much more trendy...it makes finding quality food less impossible) and found milk (the most delicious milk I've ever had) and some yummy produce for reasonable prices. Once I got home, I showed Andy all my delicious finds and he thought I had gone crazy. I turned many of my ingredients into a delicious beef, cheddar, and potato pie that I found in the latest issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray . It was so fun to make and I was really excited that the majority of the ingredients were organic. In Andy's words....we've created a monster!

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11

St. Louis Weekend!

Last weekend Andy and I met our great friends, Lacy and Jason in St. Louis for a wonderful weekend! Andy and I headed down on Friday and stayed in Chesterfield, MO, right outside of St. Louis. Then, Saturday morning we headed into the city to meet the Bolings and go to a Cardinals Game. Andy hadn't been to the new Busch Stadium, so it was so great getting to experience that with him. Also, Lacy and Jason have a beautiful 10 month old daughter and she was too cute for words and so fun to have around for the weekend. The game was at noon, which gave us time to wander around town that evening. We checked out the arch (although we didn't go inside...) and had a fun evening just catching up in our hotel. Then on Sunday, we headed to the St. Louis Zoo before coming home to C.F. Overall, we couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

Hilarious video...

Hilarious and Ridiculous Video!

When you have time, get ready for a laugh and follow the link above!! One of my colleagues made this and sent it to all of my co-workers!

Bring on the fall weather!

Oooooh how desperately I want fall to be here! Well, according to the calendar, fall IS here, but the weather is up and down. I love the changing of the seasons because it always feels like a fresh beginning. Of course, fall is by far my favorite season, as I love jeans and hoodies, so I'm especially anxious for the weather to turn more fall-like. Tonight I went on a walk with Spike and thought to myself "it's an absolutely perfect last afternoon". I wish every day was just like this day! If someone knows of a place where it is perpetually fall, please let me know. I'm thinking 60 degrees, beautiful leaves, blue skies, puffy white clouds. Let me know if you have a place in mind!

Last week Andy and I and headed down to Kentucky for Andy's friend's wedding. I headed over to Frankfort on Thursday and stayed until Saturday morning. I had a chance to spend time with Aubrei, Mom, and Trent and it was so fantastic! I miss everyone so much :-(.

Next week, Andy and I are going to St. Louis to see our friends Lacy and Jason, and their daughter Madelyn. We haven't seen them since last Christmas, so it will be so good to see them again! And, we get to go to a baseball game, so of course Andy is very excited (and I am too!)!

I'm currently reading a few really good books. At this actual moment, I'm listening to the audiobook Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. I'm also reading his new book Outliers as a part of professional development for work. Both books are really interesting and are refreshing in the ways they're making me think! I'm also really enjoying our women's ministry Bible study book Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone, as it's seriously challenging me to reveal the idols I have in my own life. After making a list in my journal this evening, I realize that I have MANY! Luckily, God is working on my heart to give me strength to remove these idols from my life. The work is going to be slow, but it's going to be oh so good!

God also continues to work on my heart in terms of allowing me to place my burdens on him and know that he will provide for all of our needs. While I have a tendency to worry about everything imaginable, I've been blessed lately in such ways that I'm truly amazed. While Andy and I may be dealing with a heavier burden than we'd like, in the last few days I've been feeling more at peace than I have in months. I was even able to praise God tonight for EVERYTHING that has happened, as I know that it's all part of his divine plan. It was a huge moment for me, as I realized more than I ever have before that God is so powerful. Praise Him!

I also praise God for simply being able to write this blog, as I know that some of my friends and family who read it don't understand how much I've changed over the last few years, with the last year being the most significant. Sometimes it's difficult for me to actually write so openly about praising God and including Scripture on my posts, because I'm terrified of what some of my closest friends will think. But, I keep going, because I feel compelled by God to do so. I desperately want everything I say and everything I do go to the glory of God. It's not always an easy road, but it feels good to be traveling down this path.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9