Baby Danielle

Over spring break I went to visit my new niece, Danielle Elizabeth. She is so precious! Pictures are worth a thousand words, so here are a few:

Grandma and Grandpa's 60th Wedding Anniversary!

Wow! 60 years!!!!! Go grandma and grandpa!

On Friday we went to a place called Old Canal Smokehouse in Chillicothe to celebrate grandma and grandpa's anniversary. They had yummy food, but the really great part was just being able to be with everyone again. All my uncles and aunts were there as well as a few cousins too.

I love you two so much. Justin and I want to emulate your commitment and dedication to each other.

PS. Grandma, I just want you to know that I left out the smooching picture because I knew you wouldn't like it being online! 

Weekend in Elk

Last weekend we took a trip to Elk, California, about 3 hours north of San Fransisco along the coast. It is a beautiful drive, though it is quite windy. Compared to other places in California, it is nice to see history again with some historical buildings and a relaxed atmosphere. We stayed at a place called The Griffin House Inn, and we were pleased with our lodgings. The bed and pillows were superbly comfy, and there was an old wood stove as a fireplace, with wood ready-cut and ready to burn. While we didn't have an ocean view, access to the beach was nearby.

Our cottage was half ours, and the other half another guest rooms. Of course, it was completely cut off from the other side of the house with a separate entrance. (You can't see the entrance on the left from this picture) Once we were there, we wished that we could have gotten one with a ocean view, but they were a little too much for our wallet right now. The other cottages are just to the right about 50 feet and sit right above the ocean. The whole complex is like a little neighborhood)  We also ate at their dinner house and it was pretty good too- we just shared a pizza, but I'm sure the other selections would be nice as well.

One thing I really liked was the breakfast. Around 8:30 they bring you hot drinks  of your choice- we had some fabulous homemade hot chocolate. About a half hour later, your hot meal comes delivered to your door! Talk about service! Saturday morning we had french toast with baked apple topping, and Sunday it was eggs, hearty bacon, and potatoes. Of course they have fresh fruit and orange juice also.

After breakfast, we went down to the beach area even though it was overcast and threatened to rain on us. The beach was filled with driftwood and all types of sea kelp. The rock arches along the coast were some of my favorite parts!  Apparently this area used to be a major logging region, and the historical center nearby was a quaint place to visit, though they were only open from 11 am- 1pm because it was staff by the locals.

All in all, it was nice to relax. There really isn't much to do in Elk, and I think that is why I like it so much!

Windy, Rainy, Yucky!

Well, I'm not sure where "sunny California" comes from at this point. We've had rain every day for a week straight! I know that rain is winter out here, but I sure don't like it. If it's going to be cold, I would rather have snow instead of rain. I definitely miss the warm spring rain from back home in Ohio....

Justin was up before me today. After I finally got out of bed, he told me I should go take a look at the barn. Since we rent, our landlord has an old barn on the property. It's been roofless since we got here. He's planning to fix it up. (But he says that about a lot of things) So I went to look, and here is what I saw:

Isn't that nuts? I mean, I knew it was windy, but this must have been an extreme case of the furious flurries! Luckily, all is just fine in the house and everything.

-K.

PS. I'm trying out this new recipe since I had Nutter Butters to use.... I'll let you know how it comes out next time!

I need a getaway...

To say the least, life has been exciting lately. There are several opportunities that I have, yet it is hard to know which one to take. I am trying to pray more and more for a peace about everything and for God's guidance in every area of my life. It is hard to trust sometimes, especially when you feel like you are hanging in that limbo on that rickety swinging bridge of life. But God sustains, and stops the wobbling, at least for a time until I can get a grip again. Because you know, it is me that lost my grip, not Him. He is always strong.

I just received our VBS material in from Desiring God Children's Ministries. The teaching is so solid; I think it is going to be great! We are in a bit of a conundrum on how to decorate, but thankfully I have delegated that to my aunt who is super creative and will do a fabulous job! People from the church are volunteering, and other items are coming together. It will be our second year of VBS, and I have an eager anticipation for what the Lord holds for this year. Most of all, I want children who are unchurched to come so that they can hear the gospel message.

Beyond that, life goes on. I stay busy with work, committees, and classes. And God sustains. Always.

Lifesavers....

It's amazing how we humans can get so distracted by silly things.

This might be a humbling post, so be careful if you read on. For Christmas this year, my mom send me a pre-packed stocking since we wouldn't be together. It was really sweet of her, and one of the things that she put in the stocking was a Lifesaver book. So classic, right? Who doesn't like Lifesavers?

I certainly do.

Too much, in fact.

You see, I brought a roll with me to church so I could savor the delicious cherry, mango, pineapple, and banana flavors. And since I had several rolls of Lifesaver packs, I kept bringing them for the next several weeks. Then, I forget how this thought came upon me- I might have been listening to Christian radio, or reading my Bible or something- but I realized that I was so wrapped up in those Lifesavers that I wasn't focusing like I should in church. I am so easily distracted! Of course Satan knows this too....

In ladies book club at church, we just finished reading "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis. While it is a deep read, every Christian should read it. Though it is fictional account, it reveals how easily we are duped by Satan and his minions into things besides Christ. In my case, all it took was some Lifesavers.

So what is your distraction? Getting to the gym after church? Watching TV till you're too tired to read your Bible? Thinking about what color your getting your nails done? Maybe it's a person that is taking too much of your attention. Whatever it is, please give it up before God so that you can focus on HIM!

In my case, I stopped brining the Lifesavers to church.

Bowling

Last weekend we went out bowling with my cousin Ashley and her boyfriend Zach, and a newly married couple that just joined the church, Katie and Josh. We had a lot of fun, though I had way too many gutter balls. Really though, I did....

I always try to not think about how many people's germs are in the shoes.... or how it smells like a locker room.... Yet, it is just fun to be your own entertainment and interact with people. I just don't think that our society does that much anymore. We'd rather watch a movie...

Anyway, here's a few shots from the night. Don't laugh at our form now!

        

Justin's Birthday!

Today is Justin's birthday!! We started sending messages to each other when I had some leftover sidewalk chalk, and here is what Justin's message today looks like:

I do so love my hubby!!!

The Guide: Colossians and Philemon

Since I finished reading through the Bible last year (I've done it on the even years since 2000), I wanted to get to study one book in-depth. I love reading through the Bible, but one just doesn't have the time to go very deep when you have five chapters to read every night. So I ordered this book- The Guide: Colossians and Philemon by Michael Bentley. And I really, really like it! It just takes 2-5 verses at a time, and explains them completely. Not only that, it give you cross references to other passages that deal with the same theme and concepts. I'm enjoying it because it's making me spend some more time studying.

Colossians 2: 9-10 says, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."

In The Guide, the author uses the following for this point, and it really spoke to me:

"One commentator illustrates this by saying that one day he stood beside the vast Pacific Ocean. He had a small glass jar in his hand and stopped to fill it with some of the water from the ocean. When he held it up, it was full of sea water even though he did not have the fulness of the Pacific Ocean in his jar. He says, 'Thinking of Christ, we realize that because he is infinite, he can hold all the fulness of Deity. And whenever one of us finite creatures dips the tiny vessel of our life into him, we instantly become full of his fulness.' "

You can buy it at http://www.christianbook.com/ !

Happy New Year!

2011!

It just seems so crazy.... time is flying this school year. I am continually grateful that I have such a great class this year, otherwise everything else with school and my master's would be so much more stressful.

I finished last semester with 4.0. I'm pretty proud of myself considering that it was 16 credits and I was working full time. I think I am going to apply for graduation speaker too.... but that means that I need to come up with something really good.

We went to Justin's parents over Christmas. It was nice to see everyone and it even snowed, which we would never get in CA over Christmas! His parents have been working on renovating their house, and it is really coming together nicely.

I read "The Hunger Games" series AGAIN!! It is just so good. Everyone should go read it. I also read "The Devil's Arithmetic" and "Number the Stars," both historical fiction of the Holocaust era. And "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis. Oh, and "One Child," which by a teacher who had special needs class with a emotionally disturbed and abused child. It was very good and reminded me of how as a teacher I can't always see what is behind a child's behavior, but must do my best to reach out to each one. On that note, I bought "Stand and Deliver," a movie about teaching, and watched it again too. Such inspiration!!!

That's all for this catch-up post. I'll really try to be better about posting, but no promises....