I was tagged...

Sorry Reagan for not doing this sooner!! :-)

7 Random Things....

1. I was not able to swallow pills until about 2 years ago.  I’m usually a pretty healthy person and haven’t had to take much medication for anything. A couple years ago I had an ear infection and the doctor prescribed some massively large pills which I struggled to get down…but I did it. My whole life has changed now that I know how to swallow pills. :-)

2. I went to England and Ireland when I was 13, and Gautemala when I was 15. Both trips were taken by myself, but I met up with missionaries once I was there. To this day I can’t believe that I actually did that. I was super shy back then.

3. I was a surprise to my parents. After my two older brothers were born my parents decided they were done and my mom had her tubes tied. A couple weeks following the procedure she went back in for a check-up and told the doctor she was feeling a bit like she did when she was pregnant with my brothers. She soon found out it was because she was pregnant with me!

4. One of my favorite memories from childhood is hanging out with my dad in the garage while he did woodworking stuff. He would have the classical radio station playing while he worked, and to this day whenever I hear classical music I can smell sawdust…or whenever I smell sawdust…I think of classical music. :-)

5. I am obsessed with Ireland and have always wanted to live there. I also think it would be kind of fun to have red hair and an accent. And yes… I do know that not all Irish people have red hair. :-)

6. I have a mole on the wrist of my right arm. Today I think nothing of it, but growing up I was so self conscious about it that I didn’t even like to raise my right hand in school for fear that people would see it.

7. When I was in grade school my friends called me “casper” (as in casper the friendly ghost) because I was so pale.

I'm tagging:

Liz

I can't think of anyone else who hasn't been tagged yet. and my list of friend links seems to have disappeared with my layout!:-(

The last few months (a picture blog)

Hey all! :) I have been horrible at keeping up with this thing. I never really know what to blog about so I thought I would just do the last few months in review through pictures again.

I attended the wedding of Matthew and Leah (one of my former roomates) It was fun and probably the most unique wedding I have ever been to!

Bethany's surprise birthday party at the Japanese Steakhouse. Yum!
Doesn't she look cute in that hat?

a random barn on a fall drive through the country

I went to Lake Geneva, WI to visit my friend Rach for a weekend. What fun!

A cool boat on Lake Geneva.

Iceskating with some friends in Rochester, MN. I was a little wobbly since it was only my 2nd or 3rd time iceskating.

Visiting the Hickman family in Minnesota. I love that family.

I've had fun hanging out with these two. Tiffany and I have known each other since 2nd grade and I was a bridesmaid in her wedding 2 years ago. She now has a sweet little boy named Preston. :)

Girls weekend with some of my former roommates.

Oh how I miss these girls.

Lots and lots....and LOTS of snow and ice....which means lots of shoveling.

Christmas tree!

Christmas with part of my family.

Short but sweet visit with Charity in Waterloo.

and this is one of the things that has been occupying a lot of my time as of late. Scrapbooking! :)

It has definitley been a busy 3 months full of weekened trips and fun, sweet times spent with friends and loved ones. I am blessed beyond what I deserve and so thankful for the people that God has put in my life. Lord willing next year I will be venturing out of the country to a place I've NEVER had any desire to visit until one of my best friends moved there...and that place is Japan! :) If you think of it please pray that everything would work out regarding time off of work, finances and getting my passport renewed so that I can go.

Since it's the last day of 2007 I have been thinking back on the past year and remembering all of the fun, crazy, wonderful, surprising, and challenging things that have happened not only in my life but in the lives of my friends and family. I am constantly reminded of the faithfulness of God and His love and care for us as He unfolds the plan and purpose for our lives even though it can sometimes be puzzling to us. There have been times this past year when all I have been able to do is throw my hands up in surrender or frustration and say "What is going on?! What are You doing?! I don't understand!!". Each time I am gently reminded that I don't need to know the answers to those questions right now. I need to be still and know that He is God. We will always have unanswered questions as long as we are here on this earth but my prayer for myself and for you my friends is that as this year comes to a close, no matter where we're at in life or what challenges lie ahead of us, that we would not forget that we know Who holds the future.

Much love to you all and Happy New Year! :)

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.....

If you haven't seen this video then you need to watch it....and if you've seen it already then watch it again anyway. :-) I tried posting the actual video to my blog but
of course it didn't work so you'll just have to click on the link.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9e7c4b40cf5a13cea6ca

I am doing the bible study "Becoming a Woman of Excellence" by Cynthia Heald with my friend Kayla. We've been challenged each week to memorize scripture. I'm remembering the days of AWANA and how I could memorize verses so easily. It's amazing how I fill my mind with useless information and can recall it at anytime but when it comes to scripture I'm a little rusty. The little girl in the video is such an inspiration to me.

There is nothing like....

......the smell of homemade bread baking in the oven. Tonight I made my first loaves of wheat bread with some help and pointers from my dad who informed me that when he was growing up (in a family of 7 kids, mind you) his mom would make 12.......yes 12 loaves of bread EVERY saturday and he would help her. Making 2 loaves is a lot of work..... I can't imagine making 12 every week. Grandma, if you read this...you are amazing. :-) I love the process of combining the ingredients and letting the dough rise. There is something satisfying about taking that first slice of warm bread and knowing that you put so much effort into it. Mmmmmmm. And now our house smells like freshly baked bread.