Another Week

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Today was my first day back volunteering in Jades class since December. Amazing how time flies! It feels good to help her teacher and I love doing the repetitive admin stuff. It's just hard to believe all she'd have to do if she didn't have volunteers. Teachers, especially, early grade school are a special people. Jade likes it when I'm there and I get lots of hugs. Today Mrs. Olstad was asking questions about a book she read and Jade wasn't raising her hands to answer any of the questions and when I asked her why she said because she was trying to be quiet. We also get report cards today so hopefully all is well with her academics. 

Well as of yesterday I am officially unemployed again. My one day a week job was terminated due to budget/economy stuff. It really isn't that big of a deal and I actually kind of think it's funny saying that I was laid off because I was so part time! Anyway I'll start looking for something new. . .part-time and somewhat flexible. God willing something will come along shortly.

We are enjoying sunny, warmer weather this week. The air smells good when you can actually breathe it in deep without burning your lungs! But I still find myself longing for spring. Soon. Well 4 months - soon. And Jade, though she's been able to go out and play this week, would still like it to be summer too.

Other than that we've been keeping busy. I've had my healing rooms classes on Sunday nights and prayer for Ellie at the Healing Rooms on Tuesday nights. And tonight Jade has AWANA. We are busy in the evenings during most weeks so I'm looking forward to a little down time . . . tomorrow - by myself, with no agenda. Ah.

-18

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Yes today when I took Jade to school my car read -18. And that, of course, is before wind-chill.  I never did check to see what wind-chill may be because I simply do not want to know. I am thankful that on days like today I don't have to go anywhere. Although I am thankful it comes with a bit of guilt knowing that Gary is out in it. I actually can't believe they school today but that's good for Jade. . . the longer she's cooped up in the house the more havoc she causes!

Even though it's been bitterly cold . . . I marvel at how beautiful it's been outside because the sun has been shining this whole week. It's deceptive. Going from my car to work on Tuesday afternoon I heard the birds chirping. That caught me by surprise but it was so nice to hear. And then I started wondering are they happy the suns out or are they really complaining about the cold. If birds did complain you'd never know it . . . their chirps and songs are so beautiful - especially this time of year. I miss the sound of lawn mowers in the distance. And hammers pounding on new houses in the distance. And kids laughter outside and the smell of a really humid day or of fresh cut grass and the warmth of the sun on my bare skin. Ahhh only a few months to go. . .

Snow Day!

Monday, January 12, 2009

This morning I woke up ready to take on the world! I've been taking some classes through the Healing Rooms located in Lakeville MN and the affect they've had on me in the last week is surreal. . . God is so good! I want to write more but I'm not exactly sure how to put what I'm learning into words . . . Healing and miracles and resurrection power are real and a revival is taking place in the world around us. . . so cool to be a part of this time in history.

So got Jade off to school, went and worked out, came home and got ready for my day. Despite the tons of snow falling I headed out for my Monday appointments and errands. I was on my way to see the my chiropractor when Gary called and asked if I knew Jade was getting out of school two hours early.

I'm so glad he caught that on TV because I didn't know (so much for the text and email alerts I signed up for!) and had he not called I would not have been home in time. But as God would have it I was home in time and now she's downstairs squealing and laughing with her little neighbor friends, Emmy and Noah! 

I guess I'll have to go outside at some point and sled - there's simply too much snow on the ground not to take advantage AND the rest of the week is supposed to be dangerously cold. Yay. But the house is cozy warm and I'm going to make lasagna for dinner tonight - Gary is going to be soooo excited!!

Pictures from Florida

Friday, January 09, 2009

We had such a great time in Florida. Above are a few pictures for our trip. A day hasn't passed that Jade hasn't asked when we can go back to Florida or said she wishes we could live there. Makes me sad because she misses Gramma and Grampa but also excited because part of what she's missing is the weather. . .  she's finally grasped the concept of Florida weather over Minnesota weather. For so long she claimed to like winter which was a little disturbing to her warm weather loving parents! BUT alas she's finally coming around our way of thinking :)

Happy New Year!

Monday, January 05, 2009

What an adventure the last several weeks have been. Our holiday started when we decided to leave for Florida the Thursday before Christmas. Since we were driving we decided to leave early so that we could beat the storm that was headed MN way over that next 24 hours. It was a last minute decision that put us on the road at about 8 pm Thursday night. 

About an hour into our trip Gary got pulled over for speeding. Which is so funny because we were just talking about having the ability to read minds and therefore know if there was a cop ahead or behind us like a character in a movie we recently saw. Not even two minutes after we finish this conversation we passed a cop! Merry Christmas to us though, it was only a warning!

So about 12:30 Friday morning we had made it to Madison WI and decided to call it a night because it was snowing so much that we could no longer see the road. We stayed at an overpriced hotel (I think the raise their prices when they know they're bound to have stranded travelers) and when we got up in the morning the weather report was bleak. Madison was central to the snow and ice storm and had received over 12 inches of snow. To top it off Jade started throwing up as soon as we walked out of our room to check out. (We later figured out her throwing up was an allergic reaction to some juice I'd been giving her.)

Okay . . . long story boring we drove back to MN and flew to FL on Sunday afternoon! ha! My sis called while we were deliberating in Madison and had found some cheap flights (flights that didn't exist 3 days prior - I checked) and with that knowledge we turned around and headed home. So glad we didn't continue as the highways looked like war zones where bombs had gone off. The ditches were littered with cars and more jack-knifed semis than I've ever seen in my life or will hopefully ever see again. Two of the accidents happened right in front of us. . . it was God's divine protection that kept us out of those accidents! And his divine intervention that got us to Florida quicker than we could've driven!

Sunny 80 degree Florida, family, Christmas, New Years, food, laughter, games, gifts, LOTS of reading (sorry guys!), movies, the pool, the BEACH . . . we had such a wonderful time. Thanks Dad and Mom for making it possible for us this year. It was such a nice, MUCH NEEDED relaxing vacation.

Coming home to the cold and snow was a little shocking but we're readjusted and back into "cozy" mode. Jade was excited to see her friends and teacher at school today and I was excited to have the day to get things done! 

I'll get pictures and movies uploaded later this week.