May's Memories

A lot happened in the month of May.
For some reason I didn't do very well at documenting it all.
I guess you could say my mind was a bit distracted.

So I guess I'll give you a quick recap...
and even if you don't really care what I did in May,
I care.
And I don't want to forget.
And if you know me very well...you know I forget easily.
So it's best if I document :)

The first weekend started of with a trip to Taylor, MO with a bunch of wonderful ladies for a short weekend get-a-way.  K, T, and I had bought a "bed & breakfast" stay last year on the Fairview Haven benefit auction, so we were using up the certificate!  Despite the circumstances occurring in my life at that time, I still thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.

a cute little bridge we just had to photograph...

enjoyed singing around the piano

Spent the day Saturday touring Hannibal, a cave, and some old buildings.
Here is the whole crew :)

 The next weekend - Mother's Day weekend - was one that probably won't leave me memory anytime soon.  So thankful to have had these 3 wonderful girls to spend it with.

Saturday night

Sunday Morning...so many emotions...

 The following week was the beginning of an on-slot of decision making... we traveled to Chicago one day to fabric shop.  Thankfully it was a success!

Thanks, ladies, for helping my indecisive mind make decisions!

Special memories with mom & sis - love you both!

Of course ya can't pass up the cheesecake factory... :)

Then came a special evening with K & T...which included Kirk's interview/initiation into our friendship circle.  He passed and was accepted :) But he still had to endure the quaint picnic (which I think he secretly enjoyed) and a few of our other hair-brained ideas...

Somewhere in there we enjoyed a fun night out to eat at Kobe's Hibachi Grill with Kirk's sister and brother-in-law, Troy & Leann and nephew Carter...I do believe I fail at catching flying food with my mouth... oh well...such is life! ;)

Enjoyed a beautiful Sunday at my cousin Sydney's wedding.  Then went to a park in the evening with Brent & Darla and family.

attempted some engagement picts...I think they turned out perty decent! ;) 

Enjoyed a night out with 2 very special cousin's at 301 Mongolian Grill in Champaign...

Kurt was the only one who paid for unlimited bowls...but we still all got a second piece of bread! ;)

Enjoying our bread...

Walked around Champaign...and of course took some picts!
Credit goes to Kirk for the photo...he's learning!

And last but not least...celebrated a special someone's birthday.  Welcome to the 20 club, K!

And that was just a snippet of what May consisted of...add a few more random evenings out doing some things, a lot of decision making, numerous trips to bloomington, finals, and many walks, along with learning all about Mr. Intruder...and there you have a very full month of May!

So thankful for God's blessings and leading in this past month.  Expecting a few more months of craziness!

Recent G-sale buys

Garage saling has recently become my favorite past-time (not that I didn't enjoy it before).  I love the thrill behind the hunt...especially when the hunting goes well like it has the past couple of trips.  It's so different now that I have a whole plethora of items to hunt for.  If any of you out there reading this are in the process of furnishing a house, I have the perfect solution for you - go to garage sales!  You just never know what you  will find!

Just thought I would share a few of my recent bargains...

a pair of cute rain boots that I've always wanted...and red flats
(not really something to furnish a house, but fun none-the-less!) ;)

some fun old books for my library someday...

50 cent ties that match the color of my dress perfectly!!! Possible wedding ties?!? (like I said...you never know what you will find...who knows maybe I will find enough for all the groomsmen!)

Cake/cupcake/deviled egg carrier...

Cute little toy box to store toys for all our little nieces and nephews!

and of course some toys to fill it with...

a cheap upright dresser that I'm going to turn cute...someday...

A bread maker that had only been used a couple times...Guess I'll be learning how to make bread!

a cute lil night stand that I'm sure I'll find a place for

a table w/ 4 chairs for only $50
 (After some research, we found the exact table and chairs at a furniture store for $350 but only with 2 chairs....now don't tell me we didn't get a steal!) ;)

And my favorite find of all...a lazy-boy brand sofa that looks like new!
It was sitting by itself in someone's driveway as we were out g-saling, with a for sale sign on it...

Oh...and one tip to always remember....there is always enough room! :)

A view from the front...notice how the bucket seat is leaning forward...Kirk had to squeeze through there to get in and out the rest of the day...and he only had a small portion of the other seat to sit on...thanks for being a good sport, Kirk! ;)

And I have many other little items that I have found to fill my cupboards and walls...It's been a lot of fun and I can't wait to see what else I might discover :)  Next trip is already planned for this Friday!

In other news...life has been going pretty well.  Planning is coming along...fabric is bought for the dresses...showers are already starting this Saturday...and life is just plain busy! But I'm thankful for all that God has been providing for us. Blessings!

Seasons

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...

This verse seems to be the story of my life right now.
God gives us each different seasons in our lives.
Some good.  Some not so good.  Some expected.  Some very unexpected.
But I've begun to realize that no matter what the seasons are, or how long they last,
God deserves all the Glory and praise.
And even if God orchestrates a new season in our life at a time we didn't have planned,
I know and trust that His will is perfect and I praise Him for that.

So I'm praising God for the past seasons God has given me in my life.
Seasons of singleness, filled with so many wonderful memories that I can't even begin to describe.
And for the new season He has begun to so clearly show me over the past couple months.
Marriage.
A season that involves a lot of change and adjustments,
but I know will be filled with many blessings as past seasons have been.

So with that being said, I'd like to introduce a new member of my life to this blog.
His name is Kirk.

And one of these days...as soon as finals are over with (which I should be studying for right now) and things settle down a little (haha!), I'll do a more in depth post.  But until then, I'd just ask for prayers as we begin this new journey together in life; that no matter what comes our way, we will always put God first, because He is #1.

Oregon

Friends.  Food.  Fellowship.  Fun.
I think that pretty much sums up my weekend on the west coast! 
But in more descriptive terms, here ya go:
(Warning: You may be clueless unless you were there!)

Not attending a jean skirt convention...
Driving a moped over the curb...
Getting caught in the sprocket of a surrey...
Wearing a balloon skirt...
Battling the windy beach...
Not having (or having) a killer sweet camera...
Getting stuck with an X on the bottom of your plate...
Saying "Happy Birthday" to a compliment...
Being "quarantined to the back seat with the luggage...(That was me!)
Having a want-to-be- weanie roast...
Freeze-drying marshmellows...
Having wonderful convos about our spiritual lives...
And just being together!

So many memories were made. 
Ones that only a select few of us would understand, but memories none-the-less.
It was a wonderful refresher.  Spiritually, mentally, and I guess physically as well! ;) (Those Surreys sure were beasts!  Or maybe it was the passengers...)

I'll let the pictures tell the story...they might be easier to understand :)

Hanging out at our cottage Friday night...

Bubble skirts!

My Hostess - Jenna, thanks so much for the amazing weekend!

The clan!

The Surrey...aka beast

X's 3...

Beautiful Coast...

Monday before heading home...

 Thanks again all you Oregonian's for hosting a blessed weekend.  Maybe I'll come back this summer.... :)

single life

Oh the joys and blessings of a single life. 
I have NO complaints. 
Oh the freedom it gives me.
Oh the precious memories I've made.
Packing my bags last minute and traveling for the weekend.
Meeting up with friends from all over the U.S.
Making new friends from all over the U.S.
Random last minute plans with my lovely friends from home.
Scrapping the homework and having fun instead.
Staying out late. 
Spending money for the fun of it.
Going on walks...sometimes in circles in my basement.
Having precious conversations that bring us closer to Christ.
Bonding with one another, and helping each other on this path to Heaven.
Not a care in the world...Ok so maybe that's somewhat of an exaggeration!
Sigh.  I'm soo thankful this is where God has placed me.
Right. Now.


Back a few weekends ago, K, T, Anna, and I traveled to KS to surprise Jodi for her birthday...after much planning, failed plans, and new planning, we dressed up like hooligans and surprised Jodi by jumping on her bed Saturday morning before she woke up.  Loved the reaction! ;)



Dressing up like Goons to surprise the birthday girl!

The birthday Girl w/ T and I...after she survived the surprise attack in bed!

The kind cows who let us milk them...lots of fun, right T?!

The whole crew...after 2 other lovely ladies surprised us all!

The group.  Made for many wonderful memories!  So Precious!

 We were spoiled enough to be able to spend the weekend the next weekend with the KS girls out our way.  Friday K and I took them to B-town, ice skating, and then out to eat.  And you know how K and I's adventures go in B-town...no explanations needed!

Eating at Meat Heads after ice skating :)

Giving the KS girls the experience of a Yogurt bar - TASTY!

Surprising a special friend at work...and Yes, of course she was working! ;)

Then on to OH the same weekend for invite-a-friend...Had the pleasure of traveling with my cousin Kurt...many adventures followed us that weekend as well...cherries and blueberries can give one quite the scare!  Thankfully the owner was a nice man ;) Oh yeah...and learning to drive stick - that was an experience!

Wonderful weekend renewing friendships and creating a few more.  Thanks Leah for the pleasure of allowing me to stay with you! :)

Last weekend my whole family traveled to Cincinnati, OH.  We stayed at a hotel in Indi Thursday night and then went to the Creation Museum on Friday.  Then on to a house for the next 2 nights. 

Creation Museum w/ the Gang

Petting Zoo...this was quite the Camel!

Birthday Girls...They're getting SOOO BIG!!!

Mom got them matching outfits...ADORABLE!

The house had an indoor pool w/ diving board & a hot tub...too bad the pool heater was broken...it was a TAD chilly!

No words needed!

Kitchen

Living room...Sunday Morning

The House

Now another week of school ahead of me and then I'm flying out to OR for Invite-a-friend for the weekend.  :) Maybe one of these days I'll decide to stay home...maybe...

Wishing you many blessings in this Easter Weekend!

sad face.

*UPDATE 3/8/13* - phone is back in commission.  Rice worked it's wonders...I'm sure it was most likely due to the song I sang to it! ;) lol

:(
I had a tradgic day today.
It all started with my decision to wear an outfit without pockets - mistake #1.
Everything was going along just fine until about 3:30 during my lab class.
Nature was calling, so I decided I needed to use the restroom - that was mistake #2.
Mistake #3 was that I decided to take my phone with me while going to the bathroom (I can't remember my reasoning behind needing my phone in the bathroom, but nonetheless, it came with me). 

So, so far I have no pockets, in the bathroom, with my phone. 
Any guesses where this is going?

Mistake #4 - As I was turning to unlock the stall door, I raised my arm (which was holding my phone in it's armpit since I didn't have any pockets to put it in).
And as I'm sure you are picturing...my phone slipped out from its holding place and flew gracefully through the air with a CUR-PLUNK right into the bowl of the toilet (thankfully it was after it flushed!).

Needless to say my phone is now sleeping in a bed of rice where I will probably keep it for the next few days...

So...in case you are wondering.  I'm not ignoring your texts, your phone calls, or anything else I could ingore from my phone...I just plain ain't recieving them. 

In other words - if for some reason you just HAVE to get a hold of me...I guess you'll have to resort to the old fasion route of sending a snail mail, calling the home phone, or emailing me. :)

*Sigh* This is gonna be a painful test as to how well I can manage with out the one thing goes with me everywhere, *literally*. ;)