Happy 15th Anniversary Mark...while we didn't celebrate together much, I did enjoy a treat at Coffee Cultures during a Fall Fair planning meeting.
Day 275 - October 2, 2014
What a great day we had at the Division B Christian School tournament. We were blessed with awesome weather, good attitudes and a great time of soccer. The kids played very well and we ended the day with a 5 goal game...the most I can remember us getting ever in a game. Congratulations and a big thanks to Sylvia for coaching with me.
Day 276 - October 3, 2014
The mushrooms growing in our backyard are driving me bonkers...they do however remind me of little smurf houses...la la la la la la la la la la la
Day 277 - October 4, 2014
Mark and I had a chance to have lunch out together to celebrate our anniversary. The food at Earl's was delicious and here is a picture of my hot chocolate to warm me up.
Day 278 - October 5, 2014
Love the leaf that Olivia and Kim found for me earlier this week. A beautiful sign of the autumn season.
Day 279 - October 6, 2014
We had a pretty wicked thunderstorm here tonight. This is the 4th and longest time the hydro went out tonight. I thought it'd be a fitting picture of the day.
Day 280 - October 7, 2014
Cross Country for Savannah and Carsten today. It was a beautiful fall day for the race and thankful that God held the rain off til after everyone was done their race. Savannah placed 21st and Carsten 23rd in their divisions.
Day 281 - October 8, 2014
And Kim and I are off to True Woman 2014...
We made a stop in Columbus, Ohio to visit the American Girl and Lego store on our way down to the conference.
We had a great room at the Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel on the Club Floor (10th Floor). We had complimentary breakfast, afternoon hors d'oeuvres and beverages in the comfy Club Lounge every day. I didn't take my real camera so most of the pictures are iPhone pictures. The room shot is from the internet because I forgot to take a picture of our room but it looked like this :)
Great snacks at night in the lounge :)
Day 282 - October 9, 2014
Here is the view from our window...I thought it was quite nice to see all the different buildings .
After breakfast, we set out to explore Hobby Lobby where we found lots of treasures...unfortunately most of them stayed in the store, but we did take a few home with us.
After our Hobby Lobby adventure, we explored the mall, and all around our hotel. There was a beautiful church by the war memorial.
We really enjoyed hearing Joni Eareckson Tada at the True Woman Conference this evening. I loved her testimony and how she spoke that God meets us in our trials. As Joni sang and spoke, she encouraged us to all look past our earthly struggles and towards our heavenly reward. It also really made me think when she said suffering is the textbook which will show you who you really are. Here is Joni's link http://new.livestream.com/accounts/10185548/events/3472918/videos/64427579
After the evening session, Kim and I made our way back to the hotel to get to bed early. Kim bought me a great souvenir, Finn, the sock monkey, from Hobby Lobby since I forgot Bunny...yes, I still sleep with a stuffed animal :)
Day 283 - October 10, 2014
We had breakfast and made our way to the conference where we were blessed to hear Mary Kassian speak on the 7 Signs of a Wimpy Woman. She emphasized that we all need someone stronger...A weak woman tries to act strong but a woman of strength realizes she is weak and needs a Saviour in this life long struggle with sin. Seek the Lord and His strength. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (Ephesians 6:10 ESV) If you want to listen to her message this link should work http://new.livestream.com/accounts/10185548/events/3472918/videos/64470501
We took a break for lunch and when we tried to get some food at the mall...several thousand women in the mall food court doesn't work ;) We made our way back to food trucks and had lunch from Sot&Sot (Some of This & Some of That) and got some Gigi's cupcakes for later
In the afternoon, we had 2 great breakout sessions that we attended. First we were challenged in Jani Ortland's Your Time in God's Treasures - Cultivating a Meaningful Devotional Life. It struck me when she said the next stage of life is built on today, don't always look toward the next stage as being easier...It made me realize that I need to do things well now and not wait til an "easier" time in my life.
The second breakout session was The Power of the True Woman's Fierce Beauty with Kimberly Wagner and it was a springboard to many more talks and examining my life on the characteristics of the beautifully fierce and destructively fierce woman.
We enjoyed Supper in the Club Floor Lounge and dessert at Dairy Queen. Back at the conference, we enjoyed listening to how God worked in Chrissy Toledo's life and hearing the Chicago Tabernacle Choir.
Day 284 - October 11, 2014
Finn and I all packed up to go home. We had to get gas and we ended up in a detour that led us by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Getting closer to home...entering Ohio...
and finally seeing the Ambassador Bridge and Canada.
Home to see the family :)
Day 285 - October 12, 2014
Really tired so just have a picture of my name tag from the conference.
Day 286 - October 13, 2014
Here is my Just like Me doll that doesn't look like me ... her name is Jade and her puppy is Willow. We loved playing with Savannah and Abby on Thanksgiving Day.
Day 287 - October 14, 2014
My favourite colour is October. Autumn/Fall is my favourite season with it's crisp cool breezes, gorgeous colours and falling leaves.
Day 288 - October 15, 2014
Grandpa is finishing up his model of Metcalfe Gardens. What a great job he did!
Day 289 - October 16, 2014
I have gotten into the habit of confiscating stuff that gets left laying around for too long. After numerous times asking for things to picked up, it eventually gets swooped up into a bin where it remains until the child comes and does a chore to get the item/s back. Carsten wanted to get his spy kit back and offered to make supper tonight. He did a great job heating up meatballs, making the mashed potatoes and salad.
Day 290 - October 17, 2014
Career Day at school today...Savannah is dressed up as a gym teacher and Carsten as a spy.
Day 291 - October 18, 2014
I decided to see if anyone else knew how to change the toliet paper roll on the holder, I refrained from doing it just to see how many empty rolls would accumulate before someone other than me changed it...I took the picture in the morning and Alex changed it in the afternoon! Apparently it's this many ;) Then the kids had a lesson on how to change the roll again.
Day 292 - October 19, 2014
Today was a special day for John and Amanda as Logan was baptized. Pastor Rob gave us a wonderful sermon on the Crossing of the Red Sea: A Picture of Baptism from Exodus 14. What a special day!
Photo Credit...Kim
Day 293 - October 20, 2014
Savannah worked hard to finish her project on the Netherlands...she is so excited to share the information she learned while working on the project and remembering our trip there.
Day 294 - October 21, 2014
Facetime is a great way to stay in touch with Mark while he is away for work. He's enjoying some beautiful weather in Phoenix, Arizona.
Day 295 - October 22, 2014
Alex's broken bed is dismantled and out...Putty in the holes. Kim and I are fixing up the boys room...hopefully the paint will go on Saturday...new beds arriving in a week or so...can't wait to see the transformation.
Day 296 - October 23, 2014
Last night was my first indoor soccer game and it was a lot of fun til I hurt my left leg...soft tissue injury and on crutches...Savannah is helping take care of me today since it is hard for me to get around. Hoping to be back to normal in no time. Thanks to Kim and the kids for taking care of me so well!
Day 297 - October 24, 2014
Mark came back from his business trip yesterday and Kim and I were off for our planned return trip to Hobby Lobby with Savannah. We picked up a few things for the boys' room. Still on crutches, I got to try out motorized carts in some of the stores..."Savannah said, "This is scary" when I tried the first one out LOL. Savannah and Kim took turns pushing me in a wheel chair around the stores that didn't have motorized carts...I think it was a relief to them ;) Looking forward to getting the boys' rooms done .
Day 298 - October 25, 2014
Jenny and her family came down and we took pictures at Waterworks Park. Very thankful to have Kim taking pictures as well. We painted the boys room in the afternoon and enjoyed pizza for supper. It was a good time...so thankful for all the help.
Day 299 - October 26, 2014
Kim, Jenny and I snapped pictures on Saturday and Kim and I tried to recreate some pictures of the kids when they were little. So over the next couple days, it is going to be throw back comparison pictures. It's great to look back and remember the kids when they were little...Here's Alex...
... and here's Carsten. I love the spunk that shines through and you can see the mischief in his eyes.
Day 300 - October 27, 2014
Today I will do pictures of Savannah and some of Savannah and I. Wow how she has grown up...
...and one of Savannah and I too
Day 301 - October 28, 2014
And one more day of throwback comparison...the boys have always rough housed...and this shows it...
Does it ever stop??
Day 302 - October 29, 2014
The boys beds were delivered today and Kim and I put them together...Kim mostly :) Thank you so much for all the help as I haven't been the most mobile. In the evening, Alex enjoyed riding the box down the stairs.
Day 303 - October 30, 2014
Carsten couldn't find his iPod and Alex found it in the washing machine...this is what happens when you wash an iPod (especially without an Otterbox). Unfortunately it is not working anymore :(
Day 304 - October 31, 2014
The kids were great as we set up for the Fall Fair. They set to work colouring all the signs we needed and it was done in no time. Hoping we have a great day tomorrow!
