a few pictures for your enjoyment

Been taking quite a few these days. Today's been wierd though. We went to the Library this morning, and had an incident at Target. Totally useless too. I ripped out the pocket on one of my two daily pairs of jeans this morning, so I'm looking to replace them. And because jean shopping is oh-so enjoyable anyway, try shopping with a two year old and that will just add insult to injury. The mirror says you're fat and your escaping child proves you're slow! :) So we wasted the morning. Well, then we came home and did lunch with Daddy and Sarah went to sleep for a two and a half hour nap. We snuck in an episode of LOST (our latest addiction - as if we needed another one) and then Rob went back to work and I did dishes for an hour and scrubbed the fridge for another hour. Felt mildly productive, but I'm way behind on laundry - so I should get off this computer and get back to work.

matching go-go boots

Just had to share. Nettie and Nae brought over Sarah a pair of boots on Saturday night. Being the girls we are, we quickly found an outfit to wear to coordinate with the boots and I decided I need to wear mine too. The picture's not the best, but you get the general idea. Sarah was downright sassy yesterday, most of it was fun. :) We have a MOPs halloween shindig this morning and trick or treating tonight. Eli's beside himself with anticipation. Off to get ready for the day.

up at night

I hate not sleeping. Especially on a Saturday night, it makes for a rough Sunday. I woke up about an hour ago and just couldn't get back to sleep, so here I am, internetting at 5am, which is really like 6am, but we'll see when my kids decide to grace us with their presence. :)
Uploading some pictures from yesterday - which turned out to be much less stressful than originally anticipated. The kids had a great time, but I felt bad that they had to ride the 'float' (teenagers in a pickup truck w/ signs and candy) instead of watching the parade from the street. But they enjoyed it. Trunk or Treat was really fun too, and super easy - no house to house. Totally my speed.
We've got a busy Sunday today. Church this morning, totally psyched about our lesson, but Purpose Driven is just the easiest book to teach out of. Then we have youth-led service tonight, which is always fun. And a party for Pastor Ed this evening after service. Very cool.
I have a to-do list running through my head, but of course I'm too foggy to start on it. :) I'm going to try to go back to bed now.

Oh my Barlowgirl!

Last night was awesome. Matthew West was good, but Barlowgirl rocked the house. All our kids after the concert were thanking me for begging them to come, it was too fun. Our group is really starting to mesh and I love it so much, they are like our kids, know what I mean?? Anyhoo, the concert was very intense, these girls are uber-talented. Their range is incredible, you'll be singing along to a slow ballad song and then bam - rocking out right after that. Plus they have such a positive message. Watching them just made me want to be a rock star, real bad. I bought a t-shirt that says "Play Like a Girl" and little pins for all our girls on the trip. It was a blast.
Oh, and I got a haircut yesterday. Finally. It's a great one. I went to WAM (Wally And Maggie's) up in Alton and Maggie was fabulous. I had forgotten how much a good haircut makes you feel like a new person!! I've had so many bad ones lately.
The kids slept in till 9am this morning. Rob and I nearly died. Probably the most sleep we've gotten since we became parents almost six years ago! :) Kind of joking, kind of not. Almost nine hours straight. Ooh, dog. Anyhoo, while we were brushing teeth and stuff Rob snapped some pictures. He's really having fun with the new camera - as you can tell. This color intensifier is his favorite feature.
Today. Wow. Big day. Thankfully we don't get going till noon. But we have the Hartford Halloween Parade at noon. Then our boys are playing in the playoffs for football this afternoon. Rob's headed to a corn maze in Godfrey tonight and I'm doing Trunk or Treat with MOPs at 6 and then the town Halloween party after that. The kids are going to be hopped up on candy for weeks to come! Crazy. Our next four days are kind of like that, just non-stop crazy business. But it will go fast and it will be fun and I am just thankful for our life here. God is good.
Well, I need to get a shower and try to do my hair with this new awesome cut and then I should probable choose between bathing my filthy kids and preparing my Sunday School lesson. ah, choices. Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Not sure where to start.
Do you ever wake up and go 'now what??'. Not like there's nothing to do, more like there's a thousand things to do and I just don't know where to start. I usually begin with a list, so I'd better get on that. :)
We've been busy every day this week, the zoo on monday, dentist on tuesday, MOPs and missionettes on Wednesday, so today is a catch all day, big time. I really just need to focus and get a lot accomplished. I know it doesn't seem like it, but Thanksgiving is creeping our way quickly. :) (yay!) I need to get cracking on my christmas cards - I've started with ideas, but I need to print and see what they look like and start playing with them. I'm thinking of being really untraditional and doing an 'all-piture' card - the picture being the front of the card and just kind of dressing it up from there. I try to have my card be representative of my scrapbook style that year - it usually naturally happens on it's own.
Oh, and I really need to start working on Sarah's dollhouse, because that in itself is going to be quite a project. I found these furnishings online and ToysRus in Fairview Heights carries them, so I need to get up there and get started on that. Sick to my stomach though, I threw away a 'Buy $50 get $10 off' coupon for ToysRus about a week ago. Even went so far as to dig through the trash for it the next day, and no luck. It definitely would have helped. Expo TV will be buying my children's christmas presents this year, so that's pretty cool.
Also, I have a ton of housekeeping to tch up on. You know it's bad when your husband starts helping. :) So hopefully I'll get a wind of get-it-done-ed-ness and be amazed at my own abilities by the end of the day. Or I'll plop on the couch and watch Rachel Ray with a box of bon-bons. That doesn't sound half bad either. :) Here's to achievement. happy thursday!

(about the pictures)
Vote on these two pictures that Kim took for christmas cards. I need some opinions. I'm not massively in love with either of them, mostly because Sarah's not smiling in either and I have funky hair in one. I'm thinking of leaving them color again this year, but not sure. Any opinions would be much appreciated.
And these are pictures from our fall party at Missionettes and Royal Rangers last night. Rob had the camera on a funky setting, so that's why the color is goofy.
and also here is my version of the Pottery Barn banner. I love it!!!

I survived.

And thankful to say so. I guess I've grown up in ten years. Yep, it's been ten years since I'd been to the dentist. Pretty frightening. But other than needing a really solid cleaning, and having some 'restorations' replaced and one bad deep cavity from having really ancient metal fillings, I'm good. I'll be spending some time (and money) running back and forth to the dentist to get up to par, but I can't complain. No gum disease, no loose teeth, nothing horrible and I survived. All my worries, all my late night prayers about teeth, God honored it. Dumb, but, I'm super relieved. Just thought I'd share.

what did we do today??

I'll give you a hint. It's a three letter word, it starts with 'Z' and rhymes with 'boo'.

We are so bad. Rob missed the kids, and letting Eli be tardy this morning grew into taking the kids to the zoo. We hadn't spent any family time in way too long and Eli is such a good student - we figured one day wouldn't kill him.
We had so much fun. It was definitely brisk, but the buildings were all heated and we probably saw half the zoo. They loved it. Oh, and I'm still in love with my camera, I'm sure you can see why. No more fuzzy bad pictures of animals and kids.
So tomorrow Rob goes back to work and life resumes. Starting the day with a dental appointment. grr. totally terrified, hope I can sleep tonight. Then I need to buy the tickets for Friday night's concert - Barlowgirl and Matthew West live. Can't wait, it's going to be awesome. So far I have four teenagers I'm taking. Psyched. Hoping to make it to story hour at the library tomorrow am too, Sarah loves it and it's so good to get out and be social. Oh, and MOPs is this week, which is always a highlight for us. Getting ready for Halloween, but even moreso, starting to gather momentum for November. Youth Convention is around the corner (whee!!) and then Turkey Day. I finished up the menu today and wrote my grocery list. Too exciting!
Well, I suppose I'd better get to bed, it's going to be long day tomorrow. If you think of it, pray for me at 8am - I haven't been to the dentist in a frightfully long time and I'm not sure which I'm more scared of - the news or the bill. eeck.

Did you wonder if I died??

I haven't checked my email in 36 hours. That's kind of a record for me - other than france. We've just been crazy busy. It's all good, but I am ready for Monday. The irony is significant. Most people dread mondays - starting the week again. Lots to do. They are a day of rest for us - much needed. Rob hasn't been home a single evening since last friday night. I can't wait to just chill with him this evening and spend tomorrow any way he wants to.

Youth was awesome tonight. I totally see God moving in our kids, it's so exciting. We talked tonight about launching ministry teams. The first we'll probably start with is a drama team - to prepare for the christmas program. I'm very excited about it.

Haven't taken any pictures lately, I should do that tomorrrow. It always relaxes me. I've had a huge urge to just wander with the camera since I got it, maybe tomorrow.

Both of my parents called me today. I nearly fell over. I never hear from them in the same day. Oh, and Mom is bringing great grandma's table to us at thanksgiving. Did I mention I'm hosting for fifteen? Can't wait. Totally need to get cracking on spiffing up the house and meal planning and seating charts. Just call me Martha. :) I, of course, want to do this right and make it worth the 500 mile drive some people are making.

Anyhoo, I need to get my kids into bed. Hope you had a blessed Sunday, I sure did.

(oh, and my changed comment on the title is via Rachel - she actually said that to me tonight. Gotta love a girl who speaks her mind.)

My husband dropped his brain on the church parking lot and it broke.

Seriously. He dropped his palm and it's no longer with us. I seriously thought the man was considering having a little funeral for the electronic organizer, he was so bummed out about it when he told me. I'm not sure how he's going to function without it, it's such a part of who he is. He's going to have to wait though, they run about $200 and while it's well worth the expense, we just don't have it right now. Might have to wait through an expo promotion or two. :)
Another great long weekend at the Thoresons. We enjoyed Kim's visit, as usual. She took some great photos of us for Christmas cards, but one or both of the kids are making a goofy face in every photo, so I'm not sure if they are will make the final cut. I so wish I could be in two places at once, both in the photo and behind the camera. :) But I'll post them here so you can enjoy them too.
Very excited about church lately, I can just feel God doing something within our congregation. Rob taught sunday school this morning because Sarah's been sick and I didn't know if we'd make it or not. He did a good job. Sarah and I went, but she's been a mess all weekend. She refused her nap after church and now she's konked out on the living room floor in front of Eli playing EyeToy. I don't know how she's sleeping, but she must really be that tired. I should go do my expo videos while it's quiet!!
Anyhoo, life is good. I'm really looking forward to eight pm when Rob will get home and we can snuggle on the couch and call it a night. Sarah was up in the night again, every night since thursday, I think. She just doesn't feel good. Anyhoo, off to find some pictures.

blur
It's funny how, sometimes, days slide by and I don't post. What's even funnier is how I mentally post, and then I can't remember the last time I truely posted. I'm crazy like that.
Kim's here. Being with her makes me forget to do everything normal. We've only taken one picture so far, and that was just to show her my new camera and it's fancy 'turn-so-you-can-take-your-own-picture' feature. We did Archiver's yesterday and I nearly died because I found Heidi Swapp's bling, finally. AND the new American Crafts Rub-ons. Woohoo. Now I just gotta find some time to scrapbook!
Working on a couple new projects, saw this in my Pottery Barn email and I have to make my own now.
I'll catch up later. Kimmie's taking our christmas pictures this evening after Rob's done at the church. Very excited for that!

I need to consult my list.

I know there are things that I need to do today, but I've been busy being distracted with other things. I fall (?) cleaned the entire upstairs this morning. My children were so excited, they are up there messing it up now! :)
I cleaned out the car, too. Flylady says Thursday's are for cleaning out cars but Thursday just didn't work for me this week. I still need to vacuum it and wash it, but it's Saturday and that sounds like a job for Rob! :)
I know that I still need to make a card for our new little godchild - whose baptism is this evening and wrap his gift. I know I need to find something to wear. (grrr.) And showering would be good too. But it's just one of those super-productive days where you hate to waste it, know what I mean?
Last night was great. Chonda is hilarious. I laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants. Seriously, doubled over in laughter. The woman couldn't stop. She talked alot about menopause - which is a terrifying thought to me - but I just kept laughing. She was saying she'd be up in the middle of the night in one of her hot flashes, just sweating buckets and accidently wake her husband and he'd give her the look!! Yeah, like that was going to happen. Give me a break!! I just rolled. Oh, she's just so sweet with her little high-pitched southern drawl. I think she could get me to laugh it anything. I would love to hear her thoughts on potty training, it might give me some perspective! ha ha.
I'm adding some pictures from the games the other day. We missed Britanny, she was playing somewhere else and we didn't catch her in time. But all of these pictures were taken from our seats in the bleachers. I *heart* my new camera!!! (so does Rob!)

Oh, and I've been scrapbooking. I've taken some pictures, but don't have time to post them all now. Just really have that creative, clean sweep thing going for me.

(I know it's early but)
I feel thankful.
Sometimes I could just skip right over Halloween and get to the good stuff. You know what I mean? Man, the leaves are falling, the air is crisp, you can see God's presence everywhere you turn. I love this time of year. It just feels good. I have this overwhelming urge to just walk around with my camera and see what I can see through the lens.
Today has been a phenomenal day. I've accomplished a ton - which, if you read my blog regularily, always promotes my self-worth massively. I just woke up on the right side of the bed this morning, hopped out and thought "Let's get'er done!". My today list (a new version of my 'to-do' list - brought on by a oranized Mommy book I'm devouring) has shrunk considerably and a lot of it has been fun. Oh, and I discovered an amazing new (to me) shop today. It's called "Alton Exchange" and most people would consider it a flea market but I thought it was way cooler than that. I found an antique mirror - in really good condition - for ten dollars!! Finally, that bare corner in my living room can be filled. But of course, now I think a little berry swag above it would perfect it!! :)
Sarah was an angel this morning, which almost never happens - contrary to everyone's belief! We had a great time - she loves 'shopping' with mommy. And then, while she napped I refinished my mirror, an old frame of a picture I already had, and painted 10 file folder boxes to match the playroom. Very productive.
But that's not why I'm thankful. This morning, driving home from Alton, I just couldn't help but realize how good life is right now. I love these kids. They drive me bonkers, but they are really good kids. Eli is bright as can be, his teacher informed us after school today that he is reading at an "E" level on an "A"-"Z" system, kindergartners need to be at a "C" to move to first grade. Make sense? The kid's brilliant. :) Sarah is growing out of her aggression, she's very independent and super smart as well. She's talking in whole sentences and recalling past events. Her vocabulary must be somewhere over the 500 word range - I kid you not. The other day she was saying "Budweiser" and we finally figured out that she meant "Bud Lightyear". She has no limitations in her own eyes.
Church is going well. I love my jobs (almost every last one of them). I love the people. I love the youth. I am super-psyched about Momemtum and getting to go deeper with them. Oh, and tomorrow night I get to see Chonda Pierce live!!! woohoo!
I'm feeling really creative, which is always deeply satisfying for me. I feel most alive when I'm pulling things together, creating. Can't explain it, just what I was made to do I guess. (aside - wonder how that will fit into my big picture?)
I love our house right now. It is slowly becoming exactly what I want it to be, each room, each nook and cranny. I am loving the hunt for the perfect accessory, mirror, table, chair. I'm loving that it's taking me time to find all these things and bring it together, it's like a great adventure.
Rob and I are great. Can't believe that we have been living this dream together for nearly ten years now. I have to pinch myself when I think about it. We just read a book for book club called the Time Lottery and the premise was being able to pick a time (and decision) and go back and change it - what would you do. The ladies in club asked if you could, would you? Surely we all have things we regret.
My answer is yes, I have regrets, but NO, I would not go back and change them. I wouldn't want to risk messing with what I have now. I feel so blessed as it is! Oh, but the book was great, definitely read it! A couple of blinding flaws, but I'm picky that way.
Anyhoo, we are off to watch football and volleyball and tennis at the high school, I think. And it's our tv night, so I can't wait. Happy Thursday - what are you thankful for???

Feeling random today. Found this on KelliCrowe's blog. Love her, she's got so much life and spunk! Anyhoo, thought it would be fun to bloglift.

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether or not they have words, or even if they are not any good, but they must be songs you are really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your LiveJournal/blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they are listening to.

My Songs:
1. Crazy by Gnarls Barkly - it's just a happy song that is kind of true about me and Rob and life.
2. OSomewhere Only We Will Know by Keane (from Grey's Anatomy soundtrack). I'm way into that collection right now, it's very inspiring music to create to.
3. the Office Theme song - totally random, but it's fun and light and fast. Good transition music.
4. Since You've Been Gone - Rob and I like this song, it's kind of dumb and meaningless to me, but that's fine.
5. This Never Happened Before by Paul McCartney. It's too happy and sweet. I'm a sucker for a love song.
6. Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet by Relient K. All about holding grudges and making things right.
7.The Girl - the Ditty Bops (more Grey's) This song makes me thing about all the stupid things I do and most people think I'm alright. Know what I mean??

(I could list about a hundred songs right now, but I always have a current fave's list on my iRiver.)

Okay, next, list five weird things about me.

1. I'm extroverted, but I have low self-esteem. Seems that the two couldn't dwell within one body, but alas, I exist, an oxymoron all to myself!
2. I adore order, but don't necessarily know how to achieve it.
3. I read an entire book - last night - for book club this morning. 383 pages. I know, I'm a freak of nature.
4. I'm super addicted to tv right now.
5. I let my children run in the dark street at night. (not on purpose, of course, I just suffer from eternal distraction and my kids are like vultures looking for moments of weakness)

Seven people to tag: I tag the first 7 people to read this and say me.

winds of change are blowing

I've felt this for a while now. God is preparing me for something. He's planting seeds in my heart and I can feel them as each one starts to take root. I can't help but wonder what He's growing??
My kids are getting bigger. My time is coming. That sounds so selfish, but I think after eight years home (at the point that Sarah starts school) that I will be deserving of some personal life goals, don't you?
I went through a period of being terrified of making a decision. Being so excited about so many things and not knowing where to turn my focus. Thankfully, I think that stage is over.
I'm not any closer to making a decision, but I can feel God making decisions for me. Or at least cluing me in on a general direction. I'm starting to connect the dots of my talents and giftings and can see where God might want me to use them beyond these four walls, or (ha) this half acre of church and parsonage. Let me clarify for a moment, it's not that I don't feel satisfied doing my work here. I completely do. But I also, very strongly feel that God is calling me to something bigger. He designed me with this desire and that's why I think He intends to honor it.
I know that God is doing something in my heart, not only because I can feel it, but because I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in about ten days. I've been plagued with nightmares. The only times I have these type of intense horrible dreams are when God is doing something big - and satan is trying to distract and dishearten me. I'm tired, but his efforts are doing the opposite, I'm gaining momentum and excitement. It must be big if satan is working this hard to discourage me.
I'm excited. I can feel it building in me. There was another time when I felt like this in my life - years ago. Rob and I were promised and then engaged. He was in Springfield, MO at bible college while I was in Missouri Valley, IA doing a jewelry apprenticeship. It was tough to be 400 miles apart, but I strongly felt God preparing my heart for marriage. The time I spent with God during those 9 months were some of the most intimate in my life. And I feel it again. That is exciting.
I can see where I can be preparing in the daily. I can be studying the word. I can be moving closer to Him. I can start here with my family and this church. And I can hang on tight to God for the wild ride that will be my life.
So, I'm sure you're waiting for the 'what's next?' statement in this blog. Oh, no, I don't have that yet. I'm not even expecting it for a couple years. I'm just going to hunker down for this season of preparation and wait on the Lord for the next step. I'm going to keep seeking and growing and learning and blessing in the process. I'm going to be faithful and see where He takes me.
I will, however, share my hints. In the past few months I've developed a huge desire to preach and teach - which was never anything I had any inclination to do before. Teaching the Next Gen class has been really good for me. I feel like I'm gaining valuable experience. I also have (and have always had) a huge desire to travel and photograph. This desire has only magnified since France. I have a heart to help people, to serve them, to meet their daily needs.
I think I'm going to be looking into going on a short-term missions trip here in the next few years. I feel like that is one way that God could really use me.