Spring is here!

Finally Rochester is getting great weather. We celebrated that with a fun filled weekend. Friday night John went with the boys in our small group camping. He loves to camp and although I enjoy it now and then, I'm sure it's not the same as just "being with the guys." I kinda got that vibe when I asked if he packed hot chocolate and he gave me a look of pure disgust. Apparently hot cocoa was off the menu for "guys night." The small group gals decided to follow in the guys footsteps with a girls night at Andi's house. We stuffed ourselves with baked goods and pizza while talking and watching girly movies. That is my kind of camping!

Saturday was John's first actual game with the 4th grade girls! He and Jeremy are coaching a RYSA soccer league. It was so fun to watch him yell at the girls to move up or keep with the ball. I loved hearing them whine, "can I go back in yet" or "I don't want to throw the ball in." One sweet little girl was running down the field & John called for her to "guard the goal." She turned with a big smile, "I forgot I was goalie." hahahaah They aren't supposed to keep score, but of course John and Jeremy told the girls quietly they won by 1 goal.

Saturday night we went to Jeremy & Jen's house for a cook out. We stuffed ourselves on burgers, fruit, dips & all kinds of goodies. Sadly it rained, but that didn't keep us from grillin' in the garage or playing board games until 1am. Luckily I made up for it on Sunday by not leaving the house! I relaxed, read half of "New Moon" from the twilight series & did lots of laundry. Twilight will prob. get it's own post one day...all in due time. I didn't feel guilty being a bum since it was still raining...all day.

I apologize for no pictures...I am getting ridiculously bad about that, but I figured I would share anyways!

YAY for spring & lots of fun!!!!

Easter 09

John and I attended our Easter service Saturday night. It was kind of weird hearing the Easter message on a Saturday, but sometimes it's good to shake up tradition, right!? I really enjoyed Pastor Steer & what he had to say about the glorious day our savior rose from the dead & most importantly what we are to do about it....tell others.


This was our second Easter away from family and our second one spent with Andi and Kendall's family. This year we went to his mom's house around 1pm and had a feast! We had turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, fruit salad, cole slaw, basically everything you just need on Easter. :) John and I brought a gallon of homemade sweet tea, peach pie and cobbler with ice cream. Everything was great!


I continued my recent habit of not taking pictures even when I bring my camera sadly, but I did snap a picture of my very first Easter Basket from John!!!! Here it is filled with my favorite fruit (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, a mango & my very favorite a papaya)!!!!! I also got a touch of candy, my fav. gummy bears. Thanks babe!

See ya in St. Louie

My trip to St. Louis didn't have a grand start, but I'm learning that it's all how you look at it. My delay turned into 5+ hours getting me in to St. Louis much much later than expected so I skipped dinner, I had a mix up with my car at the Thrifty rental place, got stuck in the rain, fought with the front desk that my boxes had been delivered, finally found my hotel after my GPS led me astray, etc. BUT in all honesty...I got a good parking space at the hotel, I did find it, I loved my hotel room & it's location, I got upgraded to first class, my bags arrived on time, I was able to catch up on some calls & finish my book at the airport, I made it there safe and sound, etc.!

Monday night I was able to meet up with Brittany and Jeff Eastom. It was the highlight of my trip! I got to see their great new house they bought in a foreclosure & see all the awesome changes they have made. We then went to dinner at chili's & caught up. I was never super close to either of them in college, but when we get together you would think we had know each other all our lives. They are truly a remarkable couple & could brighten anyone's day. I wish I had you along side of me every trip, Brittany! I'm still mad that I brought my camera this trip specifically to get a picture of us and didn't snap one!

The weather the first few days were colder than expected...it even snowed the first night.

tulips bloomed with snow falling should not happen!

I have to admit the rest of my week went by pretty fast. I had a few funny stories to share, but honestly I can't remember them now, dang it! I decided to take a few pictures of the mess Erica and I make when we unload our boxes in our room just for fun. I should have muscles from lifting these bad boys so often, but I don't...I just checked again to make sure and nada.

Here are some of the big boxes...little ones (seen to the right) are packed inside

this time I was able to use this office chair to help me collect all the peanuts in a large trash bag

each box is labeled "doc" and full of samples, "res" for a resident luncheon or just trade sizes. Above are a few doc boxes and some trades.slowly but surely getting my trades stacked for the day. Each day I'll load my trunk full of boxes and discard the old ones.after this I'll break the big ones down so they can be carried out easily (didn't get a pic. of that) This was my shower. I'm only posting this for my mom since this is what kind of door they are looking at for their master bath when they update.

I also had the glorious adventure of running over a curb....a big one....causing damage to the rental car (as seen below). Surprisingly (even to myself) there were no tears. I just snapped a few pics. in case the insurance agency will need them and went about my dad. Luckily we have a corporate account with thrifty & it covers damages like this.

While driving back to the hotel one day I went through a beautiful neighborhood and snapped a few pics. of the houses I liked there. These aren't "the best" of the area, but I liked them.

I love mature landscape!

I also love old homes that have been fixed up & ones that are deceptively large like this one!new, but made to look old...not as good as the real deal.

Beka's Birthday Bash!

Last Friday we joined our small group to go bowling for Beka’s birthday. It was such a fun filled night. We came up will silly bowl names…John was “Bob the Bugman” and I was “Molly the Maid.” The first surprise of the night was that Kerri got off work & joined us for 100% participation! It’s seriously the first time that all of us were there.

We played the first game with 3 couples on one lane and 3 on the other, but the second game we played guys vs. girls. The girls won!!!! But…the guys gave us 300 pins and almost beat us anyway. :) I will say though that the girls were distracted by Jessica’s wedding book during the second game and didn't give it much effort.

After bowling we went back to Beka and Justin’s place to eat our fill in pizza, fruit and an amazing chocolate cake Beka made. I know what you’re thinking and she wanted to make her own birthday cake, but I did volunteer.

These people are such a blessing in our life. I know there is no way we would have lasted in Rochester if it wasn’t for this group. It’s hard to get plugged in when you move somewhere different and there was a time that I didn’t know if it was going to happen for us, but eventually it did and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

The birthday girl and her boyfriend ;)we now know why Kendall's shoulder hurts him so badly!Why is he always better than me at things!?Jess, Ashley, Beka & Kerrinot the score I was hoping for!The girls with their ballsthe boys with theirs...aren't they immature!? come on, where's your sense of humor!?!yay for the whole group! The Koens', Van Dalens, Harts, Turners, Pridies & FishersIt was as good as it looks!

James doesn't get much sleep in residency so you really can't blame him for falling asleep in the middle of our party! :)

go with the flow....

I realized something about myself the other day while talking with my friend Mandy. I'm not the "go with the flow" type. I want to be...and honestly I thought I was! It's kinda hard to face the reality that I'm not.

Here is the deal....I can "go with the flow" on occasion for simple little things like changing dinner plans or spending my Saturday differently than I originally thought. John is good at sporadic things and I'll often give into them at the cost of responsible things...even as simple as cleaning up the kitchen the next day so we can spend the last hour of daylight going for a walk or driving around town. You get the picture...little things that don't really matter. Because I've given in to these little things has given me a false sense that I'm a "go with the flow" kinda gal. HA!

Going with the flow for my life long plans---no, nope, for get it, not going to happen. Yes, I trust the Lord & know he will always provide for me. I know that his plan and his ways are better than mine. I know that he will be faithful even when I am faithless. I know these truths, but what I don't really know is how to practice them in my life--daily. I can do it sometimes, off and on, but to honestly to not worry about my life, where I'll be in three years, what I'll be doing and where the money is coming from to do these things--that is something I'm having to learn over and over again. I want a plan! And, when I have a plan, I want it executed on my time. That, my friends, is not going with the flow!

John and I are at a constant state (or so it seems) of confusion about what to do with our lives--do we stay in MN and buy a house or do we move back to the south or move somewhere totally different or just stay exactly where we are? It's like a disease that flairs up at random times making us feel the pressure...then it subsides for awhile almost unnoticed. It's side effects are draining & very exhausting. I'm trying to learn how to turn this nagging desire to have a plan over to the Lord, but it's a difficult task. I'm trying to learn that God will provide...that I can go with the flow and be happy in the now without the disease squeezing the life out of me. I'm trying...trying....trying, but I keep failing. It's not in my DNA to give over control. :) When will I ever learn the Lord's timing is always the right timing and his plans are better than mine...when!
I guess it's one of those things that you just have to keep learning over and over again. As soon as the light bulb goes off in my head and I begin to really place my life in his hands...my burdens in his hands...it quickly turns off and I'm in the dark again...starting all over. Lord help me learn!

Some lessons are harder to learn than others & those lessons vary from person to person. I'm thankful for his patients as I continue to learn this very lesson again and again. I'm thankful that I am not responsible for the how. I'm responsible for obeying God and living in him...that is it. He will provide the how and the when...sadly regardless of my timing. Waiting on the Lord is not a bad thing...if we're not "waiting" for something, we're just passing the time....waiting means expecting! I'm expecting the Lord to do great things in my life & I suppose I'll be ok with them happening on his time & within his plan....but a little glimpse of that plan here and there never hurt anyone right!?

Isa. 30:18 "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait in him."

Eat 'em up!

Jax looks like a malnourished dog next to Raleigh these days. He hasn't really changed in weight, but she is quite the tubby chubby. I'm partly to blame for this. It seems John stopped feeding her 2 cups of food awhile back...when she was like 6 months old or something, but I have continued to do so until a few weeks ago. I had no idea we cut her food back now that she is full grown...the last time I checked John said 2 cups so that's where I've stayed. Anyway, she will eat whatever amount of anything that you give her & if she can, she'll eat Jax's food too! Jax on the other hand must be constantly watching his weight b/c there are times he just won't eat. I say he's for sure my dog b/c he would prefer to stay in his kennel on his warm bed almost any morning than get up to eat breakfast.

So, this Saturday Jax wasn't eating...again. I picked up a piece of food and threw it at him & told him he was anorexic. :) He ate it....so I threw another piece....he ate that too. So I then decided it would be funny to see if he would crawl forward for a piece...and he did (to my pleasure). Like many things to me, this became a game. John and I set out piece by piece to see how far he would crawl to eat his food one by one. When we ran out of space in the hallway we just put the rest of his food there (gold at the end of a rainbow if you will). Yes, this is totally lame, but it cracked us up & became another thing to keep up from laundry and chores....isn't that what Saturday mornings are for!?

This takes me back to when Jax was our only friend/entertainment in MN...and to think we almost didn't bring him!