Mid November

Time is rolling along, as is Georgia! Crawling seems to still baffle our 9 month old baby girl, but rolling has become a wonderful way to get from point A to point B...along with scooting backwards. All this brings us to places we never dreamed possible, like UNDER the sofa, BEHIND the footstool, well, you get the idea! The baby walker also helps further our sense of independence, especially at Aunt Stacey's house, where a large amount of hardwood floors makes is possible to FLY!
As Georgia's world expands with each day holding another room or object to be discovered, so it is with my life too. I'm finding my way back to work, helping Dennis a day or so a week, and spending Monday's and Friday's (and one Saturday a month) at Best of Thymes in Pella (next to the Opera House) The work is all very different from my last 13 years, and I'm learning more about what makes life meaningful. My old radio job made it easy to believe that I was doing ministry and fulfilling a purpose..my new life makes it harder. It was easier to proclaim Christ while playing Christian music and programs, it was second nature to encourage people from my 'pulpit;, now I have to find ways to let my little light shine in the way I conduct myself while waiting on a customer, checking in inventory, or using my time. My circle of influence has become much tighter, but that doesn't make it any less meaningful. So while I always considered one of my greatest abilities that of being able to "be real: and connect", I now find myself being more like 'everyone else". Being reminded that it's not so much about doing Great Things, but doing small things with Great Love.

Thanksgiving is only a week away, and there is much to do! May I remind you, and me, that it's not about the cleanest house, or the best turkey, it's about the people around the table. For the first time in a LONG time, I'll be home to start my Thanksgiving feast! I rather enjoyed working that Holiday and leaving a nice long note on the table for my husband about when to start the turkey, and what to put in the oven, before we met at church. I have a funny feeling, I'll be the one up alone early on Thanksgiving morning!

For the day AFTER Thanksgiving, I will not be shopping, but I will be in a store! I'll be working at Best of Thymes, so if you'd like me to help you with your Christmas list, stop by! The coffee (flavored and wonderful!) is always on and always free and I would imagine a snack or two to taste as well!
The morning is getting away from me, I best get dressed, thanks for checking in! One huge thing on my Thankful For list this year: Val has completed her LPN year of nursing and just this morning started her RN year, with a clinical assignment in Grinnell!
God is good.

Travel

What I do not like about traveling ( and mind you, I'm not talking world wide..for me "travel" means a trip to NW Iowa for a family wedding)

• packing. I am bad at it. I keep trying, but I do not seem to be able to come up with a system that allows one to find what they pack...any suggestions??
• living out of above stated suitcase (probably because it is NOT packed correctly...
• repacking to go home one day later, which means throwing everything that was tossed out back in...
• unpacking at home...again, do you see a flow of the problem here???
• playing, tickling, soothing, feeding, changing, singing with a baby in a car seat for 300 miles

What I do love about traveling...

• arriving safe and sound at a destination (even with a traffic ticket and fine....)
• checking into a hotel, finding your room more than adequate, and several family members already checked in!!
• attending a family wedding, seeing cousins and siblings, several children..witnessing vows and exchanging well wishes, and of course, receptions and dances!
• Saturday lunch at Uncle Willy and Aunt Joyce, the usual warm welcome, the abundance of food, complete with the famous Cinnamon rolls, and more family than I could count...
• walking in my own front door and thinking," isn't it good to be home?"

We did totally enjoy a weekend jaunt to Sioux Center for Cousin Laurie's daughter Jenna's wedding. A quick trip indeed, but as stated above, so good to see family and catch up just a little!

Georgia and I can't help but notice the combines, tractors, wagons, and semis all busy with the work of bringing in the harvest. The weather will be cooperating this week, and I'm even thinking we might plan a picnic for Sunday, with a forecast of 60's and sunshine for the weekend!This will be a busy week for us, Noah turns 7 on Friday, and Jodi will celebrate a birthday too! This Friday, I'll be giving my sister her Christmas gift..a ticket to the Mercy Me concert in Des Moines, with one little catch...she has to take ME along! We are soo looking forward to it!!

Enjoy your week, more from us later!