Happy Halloween!

I don't have too much for halloween decor in my house but I found this little guy at a boutique shop in a small town nearby and couldn't pass him up.  He makes me smile every time I look at him :)

Newbies

I found these two new products at Brennans specialty foods last week.  The first is Kiwi Berries.  I'm a  huge fan of regular Kiwi and thought these were so cute!  You eat them whole like a berry. I was hoping they would be a bit more tart and sweet but they could be at different times of the year.  (Do tart and sweet go together?!  haha- because that's how I would describe a kiwi!)  The other product is sweet potato chips.  These are more common nowadays I'm sure.  They were pretty good and not to bad for you on the calorie count although not nearly as salty and oily as regular potato chips.  

New York City

The youth group I volunteer with at my church is taking 180 high school students to New York City for the next 4 days and I'm one of the lucky winners that gets to go with!  We have two double decker buses and a full motor coach that will hold those 180 plus 40 volunteers!  It'll be a fun long weekend as I'll have about 15 girls and we'll decide what we want to do and where we want to go!  On Friday half of our full group will be going to see the broadway play, In the Heights which just happens to star a friend of mine from High School, Courney Reed!  This trip is totally a relationship building trip, and some/many of the students have never set foot in our youth group before.  I like the concept of having an event that has no planned teaching, team building or schedule. The beauty is that all of those things will have the opportunity to happen organically.  I'm so looking forward to getting to know these girls better, having lots of laughs and trekking around the city.  Wish us luck and if you feel led- please pray for our safety and the opportunities I will get to have deeper conversations.  

Postage Stamp Moments

My new stamps remind me of all the fun with cards we have at the lake.  I 'm also a fan of the colors ;)

The CEO of the company I work for once said that we should look for postage stamp moments throughout our day.  If you go to the post office and ask to buy stamps by default they'll sell you the normal "forever" stamps.  This is the easy safe bet as these stamps never go out of date.  But for the same amount of money you can pick out fun creative stamps and not only does it make a moment of your life brighter, it'll brighten a moment for someone else as well.  All this being said, the postage stamp moments are those that bring a smile to your face, a glimpse of fun in your day or a glimmer of sparkle in a worn out world.  I really liked that metaphor.  Sometimes the details do matter, and I'm trying to pay more attention to the postage stamp moments that are out there to make me smile ;) 

I'm looking for this mirror at Walmart...

Photo courtesy of a random forward ;)

Corn Maze

A bunch of us went to a corn maze in Lodi on Friday night.  I cannot tell a lie as I was mostly along for the "ride" (or walk!) and didn't help with directions too much ;)  

About Sex

There is so much raw truth in this message.  I encourage you to watch it through till the end. 

Gone Campin'... Devils Lake

The mallow and the graham

I'm going camping again this weekend and yes, I'm excited about that fact!  It's been a crazy week, and I'm ready for nature.  I've come down with a cold which has made me tired with a fever and stuffy nose.  Living life as normal has helped me to not feel too crappy.

I had a friend from Marshalltown visit as she was on a bit of a birthday tour. Eveny always has something spontaneous up her sleeve!  We went to breakfast at one of my favorite spots so far, Lazy Janes.  Where scrumptious scones aren't just anticipated, they're expected ;) So great to see her!  Work has also been a little out of control.  The face that I've dreamed about scripts and airline codes all week is very telling.

I bought pumpkins from Copps last night.  Copps is my grocery store!!  Isn't that sad?  Who doesn't buy pumpkins from the farm?!  I haven't even decorated for fall yet.  I do have one burnt orange painted wall so maybe in my own private world, I'm satisfied with that for right now.  Nonetheless, I'm enjoying the gorgeous fall weather and that camping trip is going to do this girl good.

Much love and happy weekend!

The weekend remembered

Here are a few more pictures from my weekend in Michigan.  I saw so many people while I was there, and I was so busy that the camera wasn't used much!  I didn't get to Luke and Becky's house until 1 a.m. due to I90 Chicago traffic.  On Saturday morning we took Goose for a walk, toured around Calvin while Becky had practice, made a stop at Robinettes Apple Farm, and then saw the ArtFair in downtown GR.  Saturday afternoon I headed over to Brad and Jennys and we had fun before the guests arrived for the Oktoberfest party.  That night I saw so many college friends that I haven't seen in years and it was so fabulous and well needed.  There are some people that you can be away from for years and hang out as if we saw each other yesterday.  I'm so blessed that I was able to make my friends part of my family in college.  On Sunday we went to church and then Luke treated to breakfast at a country club.  We were the only ones sitting outside on the patio on a glorious fall day.  We even saw a golfer make a hole from really far away to make an eagle.  Here's a visual walk through the weekend...

Calvin's new pool

He has to minus points in Bagnalls BL for eating "dessert"

Art Fair- Artists from all over the world submit it to the Art Fair in Grand Rapids and it's displayed all over the city.  On bridges, in parks, in the river, in museums, on streets, on the side of buildings... amazing!

My favorite.  He looked so real!

Go big or go home for Oktoberfest 2010!

Macen turned 1 this week!

Jane and Nagels, dear friends that I miss so much!  

One of my favorite people in the entire world!  Jenny and I

Auntie Meg

I got to be Auntie Meg this weekend and I loved it!  I started the week sleep deprived but on a high from a weekend with my beautiful family and friends in Michigan.  Here's to my proud aunt moments with Macen and Goose.  More pics from the weekend to come soon!

This could be you...

Friends that could be in my wedding party someday get nervous every time I post something like this ;)  All the possibilities!!

Michigan, here I come!!

I get to visit West Michigan this weekend, and I couldn't be more excited!  I'm get to see Luke, Becky and Goose (Brother, sister-in-law and cutest fur ball ever!) and Jenny, Brad and Macen (my extended family!  Macen's turning 1 this week!)  The weekend will fly but every second will be marvelous.  We're having an Oktoberfest party at the Whites so an alumni swimmer/ calvin/ friend reunion will be had as well!  I'm sure I'll have much to tell after I get back, but bare with me because I'll be in the midst of recovery ;)

Would you like fries with that?

So there have been a few people wondering what I actually do for a living.  If you're asking about my 9-5p (or 8-5 but who's counting!) during this season of my life I'm a corporate travel agent.  It's kind of funny because when I took this job I had a travel background but not an agent background.  I had no idea what I was getting into- I just wanted to be well rounded in travel/tourism experience.  But I really love my job!  I get to figure out puzzles everyday, every project has a beginning and an end and details have never been more important!  It actually has a lot of the positives of when I was working in event planning.  The time goes by so quickly, and there isn't nearly enough of it.  

This makes me happy because now I know that I not only love taking groups on trips, traveling to places on my own and learning new cultures, but I love EVERYTHING about travel.  hmmm... where to go next...!

The Cool Factor

Back in Marshalltown I worked with students for 6 years.  Long enough to build relationships, live life together through the ups and downs and make incredible memories.  I miss them for many reasons but the one I'm focusing on today is a bit disconcerting.  I miss how much they love me.  Totally selfish, right?  I realize.  Building relationships as an "old" person with teenagers isn't easy.  It takes time, trust and love.  I miss "knowing" my students.  I absolutely adore the new youth ministry that I'm volunteering with.  In a sense though, I'm wishing this first year to fly by so I can be that person that students feel they can confide in.  Someone who cares.  Someone who loves them.   But I don't want to be doing it so they love me back.  I want to be doing it so they know God's love, and I can be a tool in the journey of their life.  

Students can change the world.  Sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement.  

Flight Attendant Fun

True Story

Last Wednesday my coworker came into my office with a story she had to tell me.  The night before her cousin had called to tell her about her crazy day.  Her cousin has two children, one of which has autism, and I think she said he was 18.  He stays at home while she is at work which he is capable of doing.  The day before he had called her at work and told her to get home quick cause he caught a troll.  What in the world? She was confused but thought he must have watched something on tv.  It was a busy day at work so she couldn't leave but he continued to call getting more and more upset and insisting that she must come home because he caught a troll!  Finally after three hours of him calling she decided that there was something wrong and told her coworkers she had to go.  When she got home all of her living room furniture was pulled out of the living room and blocked the kitchen.  Her son was jumping up and down screaming that he caught a troll and was pointing at a closet door that was blocked by a couch.  I can't imagine what she was thinking before she opened the closet.  She was able to move the couch and open the door.  Inside was a Jehovah Witness little person.  No joke.  A real live Jehovah Witness little person.  I have no idea what his reaction was but I'm sure scared and furious played into it!!  First of all think about the fight that must have taken place to get him in the closet.  Second of all, what do you say at this point?

Wish I could have seen your reaction!

Top Five Temptations Single People Face When Considering A Relationship

This post was written by Perry Noble, pastor of Newspring Church.  An amazing speaker who tells it like it is.  Check it out at http://www.newspring.cc/watchandlisten/
Love it!


I did a singles retreat last weekend and, as a result, began brainstorming the top temptations I see single people have to struggle through when considering a relationship…

#1 – Compromise! Hands down this is the first temptation…and I would argue that it is the girl that deals with this way more than the guy. She begins wanting “Mr. Right” but will settle for “Mr. Right Now” if she perceives that all of her friends are getting married and she is not. God has NEVER called His followers to compromise…EVER!!! (And…ladies…if you are constantly having the defend the guy you are dating, then you know you are compromising.)
AND…ladies…if he is not pursuing you in a godly manner (which means he is not constantly trying to stick his hands down your pants) then drop him!

#2 – Believing That Marriage Will Solve The Struggles You Are Facing While Dating! Marriage is a magnifier…and if it is a small deal when you are dating then I promise it will be a BIG HONKIN’ deal when you tie the knot!

#3 – Going Too Fast! Anyone can fool anyone for a short period of time! You need to date someone “until the new wears off!” If two people are in a hurry to get married then it is usually because they are trying to hide something from the other person…or because they just want to have sex!

#4 – Trying To Be The Person That The Person They Are Dating Wants Them To Be Rather Than Who They Are – If you are having to lie about who you are to date someone…then you need to break up today! Ladies…DO NOT SAY you love football and want to go to games with him if you don’t know the difference between the offense and the defense. Dudes, DO NOT SAY you absolutely LOVE chic flics and want to watch them for hours if doing so drives you crazy! If you are doing things you HATE to do…but have refused to be honest and tell the other person the truth…then you are being dishonest with them.

#5 – Seeking Advice And/OR Affirmation From The Wrong People! Single people…please, if you want marriage/dating advice…then go to people who are actually married and have been so for a long time! Why in the world would you ask a single person for marriage advice? Why would you ask someone who has literally blown through relationship after relationship how to have a relationship? Because they read a book? Because they know some Bible verses? REALLY? If you want to know how to have a successful relationship…ask those who have one.