First installment of funny things my husband does

I have been watching the women's gymnastics team throw away a gold medal tonight, and I've been giggling all the while.

Wanna know why?

My husband is downstairs playing a harmonica. I've been making up reasons in my mind of why he's spent the last half hour playing random notes--I've deciphered no tunes. All I've come up with is that either he's writing a song for me or he's realized his life long dream to have his own show in Branson. Maybe he's even bought a harmonica for me on Ebay, and he's hoping I'll join him in his pursuit.

This cracks me up.

Please respond

I will making my blog private soon.

The only reason I'm doing this is because I have students who have googled me and have found my blog...not real interested in this happening again.

It will add an extra step when you try to read my blog, which I'm not real excited about because that can be irritating, and may cause some of you to check back less often, but I'm thinking this is my best option.

I have to put down email addresses of people who I say is ok to read my blog, so here's where you come in. I have most of your email addresses, and I think I know everyone who reads this, but just to be safe, will you reply to this post if you would like to be put on the safe list? You can include your email address on the reply or you can email it to me.

Is says blog authors have access already...does that mean anyone who writes a blog will not have to sign in to read?


EDIT
It occured to me that maybe I should make a list of those I know read, and if you don't find your name on the list you can respond.
People I'm aware of that read my blog:
Amanda Roush
Elizabeth Smith
Paige Burzlaff
Molly Brant/Matt
Steve/Amy Brant
Jackie Zwiefel
Holli Rausch/Miles
Bryan Johnson
Mandy Shew/Keith
Sarah from Kansas (I'm so sorry that your last name is escaping me right now. Allison always called you Schism...I know it's not that! I'll kick myself when I realize what it is. I'll need your email address so I can add you.)
Cara Ashley
Jodi Smith
Kelli Burrier
Allison LaDuke
Debra Wittrock
Meg Vinson
Sara Fitzgerald

Let me know if you want to be included!

Thank God

I start school on Thursday. Tomorrow I will go into school in an effort to get my room completely done before meetings start in two days. I will also attend the new fourth graders' class party for a little bit. It is tradition that the teachers are invited, but I don't think I'll stay for the whole thing. It will be a swimming party, and all 15 students will be there.

Amazingly I feel no dread about this day approaching. I feel ready, and have such a peace. This is a blessing from God. If I would have had my way I would not be teaching this year. I would be at home with a brand new baby girl. I would be fresh off a summer spent with my husband learning how to care for another living soul that is so dependent on us alone. As it turns out I'm fresh off a summer spent with my husband learning how to depnd only on a living God. I could be approaching this school year with remorse and bitterness; instead I have peace. That is because of God.

I have had an amazing summer. I feel like it was the perfect blend of so many things. I had time at Moville home with Luke and by myself, time working on home projects, time being lazy, time with MANY friends from all over, time at Marshalltown home with family, vacation time with just Luke, vacation time with Luke's family, and heart to hearts with God. I cannot express how many times I have voiced my thankfulness to God and Luke for such a soul strengthening summer. It is the reason I feel ok about going back to school. The importance of time off is indescribable. More than that is the importance of laying your heart and plans at the feet of the One who cares the most about them, and directs them.

Luke and I will celebrate our four year anniversary on the day we start school, August 14th. Four wonderful years. Our experience in the last year has strengthened our marriage. We care more for each other. We understand each other a little bit better. I pray that we will continue to always grow in our love for each other and for God. My prayer is that the Lord would guide us and help us trust Him as we approach the coming year(s). I asked Luke this last weekend where he saw himself in five years, and he said what my heart feels too...it's just so hard to even guess. Our world has been rocked, and we have no idea what to even expect. We have hopes and dreams, but there is an uneasiness. We really have no idea where we'll be, but we do know that we will still trust in God and love Him, and that's what matters.

My apologies to Miles and Holli for being in Sioux Falls this last weekend and not calling...I knew you'd understand though. Luke planned a surprise weekend for me in Sioux Falls complete with a stay at a bed and breakfast in Lennox, White Water West, and the Sioux Empire fair. A spendy weekend for sure, but I feel so thankful for a great way to cap off our outstanding summer. We got to stay in the unadvertised attic suite at the B&B, and it was to die for. There was a honeymoon couple who stayed there too, and I felt a little guilty about getting by far the better place to stay. Really there's just no comparison. Do I like a B&B better than a hotel? The verdict is still out.

Well, here we go...another school year is beginning.

Good news

In case you've been kept up late at night wondering...

We came home to find a more chipper Han. We still hear an occasional cough or sneeze, but he is definitely more like his old self.

Welcome back, Kitty!

What I learned on my trip home

1. I have a very cool new brother-in-law. I've spent about 4 hours altogeher with him, and I miss him already. I miss Paige too. I just cannot be ok with not seeing them again until Christmas. Patrick: I need to know you outside of stressing about a recital or planning your own wedding. It would be unfair of me to form opinions of you based on those situations alone. Paige, work with me please, let's remedy this.

2. So as not to draw attention to her she will remain nameless. One of my sisters is anti-recycling.

If this is me:

Then this is her:

I had no idea there were people in the world who did not care one bit about recycling. I guess if pressed I could have imagined this, but not in my own family. I jest a little. I love my sister despite her lack of concern. In fact, I might be able to understand a little why there is no recycling at her house: Marshalltown requires one to pay for their recyclables to be picked up. That's terrible, I think. I'd like to think I would pay for my recycling to be picked up, but in all honesty, it may depend on how expensive it is. And when recycling pick up is not free, I can imagine it would be a chore to drop off the used product containers.

3. A day at the pool offers fun pictures:

I will post pics of the wedding soon.

Misconceptions one may have coming from a family of 8

My sister Paige just got married. (Picutres soon) I was reflecting today about when I just got married, and how many of my concepts of life were changed when I realized we were a family of two, not eight. Maybe Paige will discover some of the same things?

1. When your family consists of two there is no need for a full refrigerator. Resist the urge to buy as much as you remember growing up with. There's just no need. After I went grocery shopping for the first time my fridge was crazy full. Now, more often than not our fridge is frighteningly empty.

2. When you're cooking for two you don't need to make as much food as your mom did when she was cooking for eight. In the beginning I made many meals that provided lots of leftovers. Leftovers aren't altogether terrible, but make sure neither one of you minds eating the friendly reminders of dinners past.

3. Laundry does not need to be done everyday. Just like college, you can wait for a long while. Well, maybe don't wait as long as you did in college.

4. Pets are not evil. Mom's answer to, "Can we get a cat?" was, "We have too many children to have a pet. Absolutely no pets in this house." Not all large families suffer from lack of animal companions, but I have heard of at least one other large family who adopted this theory.

Those are all I can think of now.

A Picture=1,000 Words

Luke had a great time in Rome. We are looking forward to going back there in the spring together. We will also see London and Paris. Anybody else want to come? You can!
The Pope's quarters in Vatican City

We had a great time on our family vacation/family reunion in Brainerd, Minnesota--the home of Paul Bunyan. We drove there with family in the big van you'll see in one of the pictures below. The last picture is where we saw a huge Paul Bunyan. He moved and spoke to us. A little creepy.

This is my rose bush. I am excited about this because all of these flowers are new since I replanted it in a more sunny spot.

I took a picture of my cat Han before we left our house for the final trip of the summer. He is very sick right now. He's lazy, coughing, and sneezing all day long. He's been this way for about a week and a half. If he is still like that when we get home August 3rd we'll take him to the vet ASAP. I took this final picture just in case he was dead when we get back. I told him to "hang in there" before I left. Morbid? Yeah.

On July 27th my sister Paige had a bridal shower. She is getting married August 2nd. What a beautiful girl and a great time with old and new family.

My mom and me.

Amanda, Paige, Liz, and Deb

Liz, Amy, Paige, Amanda, Molly, Deb, and Mom

A large shower after our shower for Paige.

After the shower in Marshalltown we drove to UNI to visit Luke's brother Gabe and his wife Terri. We walked around the UNI campus on Monday and got lots of pictures. Lunch at the Union was so great.

Nostalgic= a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time.

Oh the PL. Hopefully you are more clean these days.