the switch

i'm nearing the end of my job. excited for the most part. gearing up for my new part-time employment! people keep asking me why i want to only work part-time now [no kids yet, less money and such], but why wouldn't i? we'll get there eventually, hopefully sooner than later, so i'm not going to pass up a great opportunity to have the job i will want later now! would you?

things i won't miss:

unorganized management

9 hour days at work

stress and last minute projects

doing all the house work, after work

6x6 cubicle

abundant amounts of testosterone and cologne

the drive

things i might miss:

well...i'm struggling to come up with anything, so that must say something

things i'm looking forward to:

flexibility in my schedule

new boss and coworkers (much better management!)

time, extra time for everything that needs to get done - reading, crafting, exercising, socializing, serving, cleaning, gardening, etc...

and if i'm honest with myself, things i'm a little nervous about:

the budget change (thankfully not too much different, but still some adjusting to be done)

the extra time. it will be a challenge to not get lost in my laziness. i want to be productive with my minutes and hours, but i know myself and i might struggle. i have ideas and thoughts swimming around in my head - but i need to make goals, a schedule. give myself the best opportunity to do more, better

now that i will be working less, i will have more time at home - which means we can have a dog! john loves dogs. i mean, LOVES dogs. ever since we needed to find the last one a new home, he has talked about getting another when we were ready and able. we are now ready, and i am fully able to train and take care of a puppy. i'm looking forward to this (i really am!) but i've never had a puppy before, so i am just praying that we do okay together in the training stages. [stay tuned for future posts...we are going to look at a litter on wednesday, and if you know us at all, we can't say no...so we'll probably be proud parents on thursday. :D ]

party!

we had a whirlwind birthday celebration weekend!

flight arrivals
cupcake bites preparation
chatting and catching up
dinner at roosters
breakfast at annie's
shopping for the party
food prep
party!
after party
sleep
breakfast at mimi's
flight departures
whew! rest :)

[it was so much fun having almost all of the family together]











































[nanny turned 80 yesterday and their 62nd anniversary is today]
































































[liz's birthday was on saturday too]

























































[mom and i sang nanny a little diddy - the same diddy we sang pappy when he turned 80]













we had tons of cards to surprise her with!
































this was our present to nanny. we hurriedly gathered pictures from all the kids and grandkids and assembled them together. in the middle is portions of proverbs 31. i'm really happy with how it turned out and she loved it too.

if this doesn't make you smile...

aren't they adorable!! i can't wait to see them! and the rest of the family on MONDAY!

the calm before the storm

the calm before the storm.

well, storm is a harsh word for my scenario, but i have been contemplating the hurricane and the preparations the east coast is making. people are waiting - waiting for wind, rain, hail, damage, flooding and so forth. folks shacked up miles from their home, praying that it will be spared and waiting for them to return. irene is on her way, and until she gets here - they wait, calm.

side note:
have you ever really thought about the time jesus calmed the storm?
how bad the storm must have been to make a group of men nervous?
how little faith the disciples had while in jesus' presence?
how all jesus had to do was speak and the waters calmed?

oh, how amazing is my savior.

it is so easy to forget that God is in control. that he has a plan. that he is actively working in me, not just watching, passive. it is so comforting to know i rest in His hands, and not my own.

so - the calm, the storm. (again - storm is not the right word. commotion. excitement!) in just a few hours family will begin to arrive, last minute preparations will continue and birthday celebrations will ensue. this weekend then leads into my last three days in my current job, more family returning home, a trip to the cabin and then the beginning of a new job.

i'm counting down the minutes for all of these things to occur!
i'm grateful to be loved by this family and the time we can spend together!
i'm waiting very impatiently to change my work environment!
and who wouldn't want to spend another weekend at the cabin!

the Lord is good. and he blesses often. and he is working all things for his glory.

"they were amazed and asked, 'who is this man? even the winds and waves obey him!"

last few weeks...

a lot has been going on the last couple of weeks! lots of friends having babies, baby showers, get-togethers, zumba [been going for a couple weeks and i LOVE it!] and much more! it's been a whirlwind august so far...

we had an 'indian night' a couple weeks ago. indian food, indian movie and the ladies dressed up in my sulwars! so much fun...and the movie was two and half hours of entertainment!





























jana and i made curtains for her home. three valances for the kitchen and two for her bedroom. they turned out so good! i love making stuff...sewing, painting, crafting...whatever it is, i'm always up to create! it was a late night, wrapped in adorable fabric and lots of laughs!



































we have had amazing sunsets this week. such rich, deep color. just another reminder that God is an awesome God. creative God. and He loves me when i am so undeserving.

sneak peeks and new favorites

john and i have been doing a ton of reorganizing and redecorating in efforts to make room for soon to arrive family visitors. [let's just say our house has too many 'decorations', and not enough kid friendly stuff!] we haven't spent much money - just a few dollars here and there to add a couple new items - that i LOVE. [i know realize that the items i bought are just MORE decorations...but i just couldn't help it. :) ]




















[new silk flowers...clearance, $2]




















[retro green vase...savers, $ .99]















[amazing orange basket...clearance, $4.97]




















[pillow made out of john's old dress shirt...free and super cute!]















[my new favorite little nook...also free, just a new home]




















[owl picture...got the owl idea from a friends blog, whipped out my paint and i absolutely LOVE how it turned out. isn't he cute?!]

more pictures of the completed spare rooms to come...but not until after they arrive and see them first!

cabin

well...here it is, finally. it's been four weeks since we drove up into the mountains for a relaxing weekend with my family. [oh how i wish we could have stayed. in the woods. in the quiet. simple. joy.]














we packed two cars, with just enough to last us the weekend. jedder [jana and joe's adorable dog] joined us and loved it.














we stopped at the red canyon overlook and had lunch. flaming gorge is a beautiful canyon.







































































we spent five days just being...a well deserved lazy.
fishing.
reading.
frisbee golf.
games, games, games.
shooting.
eating.
laughing.

i'm so glad that papa was able to come with us. we all had a great time! this is the traditional, post-camping, gross and dirty, right before you hope in the car to head home picture :) it's just not the same to try and take this picture when you first get there...

i'm so grateful that the Lord has blessed john and i with such amazing families. family that enjoys being with each other. family that shares love unconditionally. family that loves the Lord.

joy, and the zoo

a few weeks ago we went to the zoo with a few friends. i thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the joy of watching animals through this little one's eyes. she is precious. (and her mom, so dear to me.)

God tells in His word that we are to have child-like faith...and i think we should strive to have child-like joy. true contentment and rest in Him. not just fluffy happiness, but hope in our Savior, knowing that He is the ultimate source of fulfillment.

(so thankful for these ladies and their friendship!)

(my husband...where laughs are never far away)

(and the studly GQ kangaroo)