Rain

"Rain, rain,
go away
come again some other day!"

This pretty much sums up how I feel. I am not the only one either.

I can almost hear it: "Can I go out and play now??"

It has been raining since last week. I have lost track of how many cloudy or rainy days there have been. Our house is surrounded by water.

The swamp formally known as our backyard

the pond

The river running down our street

I am it does not help that I was up half the night and the sleep I did get was poor. So I am tired and I have cabin fever. The depressing part is that it is supposed to KEEP RAINING! Until Monday! There is a silver lining though. I get to go to Wichita and see a close friend. We are picking out bridesmaid dresses! Yippee! We will also be visiting our old church for a BBQ!

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Psalm 103:1

So though i am some what of a Gloomy Gus today, I know my father is worth praising. I have so much to look forward to. Not just things of this world, but to the assurance Heaven.

Running away

I ran away.

I took the car, I stopped for a soda and some chocolate, and I drove to no where in particular.

It felt so go to drive my car, roll the windows, turn up the radio and just go.

This is something that goes back to the summer before my sophomore year in college. I finally had got my promised car from my aunt. It was a manual so I had to practice driving it (at least that was my excuse). I was a counselor for BCUB at Barton County Community College. The weekends were the only time I had off. I spent many Friday nights getting lost in the country side. I would worship and talk to God. It was wonderful.

Sunday I was having a "bla" day Adam gave me the keys and said go take your car and drive. I am amazed at how well he knows me.


So I drove. While I was driving This song came on:

Crazy Beautiful by Chasen
Everybody's been there
everyone's the same
but mostly we don't care
isn't that a shame
We bring us down
face after face
the inside is beautiful but the outside we want to change.
We want to change.

Chorus
Whoa you're oh so beautiful,
you don't need anyone's approval
You've got to believe in your self you know you are
You're crazy beautiful

There's no need to change
We're different but the same
In the eyes of the King
We're beautifully made
In his image we're made

Take a look it's all around you
See the world from different views
The way you shine from the inside
I know with out a doubt
It's more than what you'll be
In the world's eyes.

Whoa you're oh so beautiful,
You don't need anyone's a approval
You've got to believe in your self you know you are

You're crazy beautiful

I have heard this song numerous times on Air1. But that night I felt God telling me how beautiful I am to Him. I am His masterpiece. He delights in me. He was calling me back in to his arms.

I have been struggling a lot lately with my relationship with God. I know it is all me. He is right here with me! I just need to turn back to him. I have just felt quite distant from Him. But now is a great time to strengthen my walk with Him. The sermon on Sunday was about "life in the gaps." While the sermon was not very good, I took time while driving to reflect on my own gap. Looking at Psalm 119 I found several verses to focus on:

Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me
v.133

Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
v.135

I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
v.162

Let my cry come before You, O LORD;
Give me understanding according to Your word.
v.169

PS I ended up at the county lake (in case you could not tell by the pictures).
I also found a house I want! But is a bit out of our price range.

My town!

It's a bird... it's a plane... no it's

Fun fun!

Big Girl!

We finally did it. Naomi now has a big car seat. She still can't sit in it forward facing. She has to grow 5 inches and about 2 pounds but we got a converter seat. I will miss the little one but I think she fits in this one better! Good-bye friendly frogies.

She crawled all over it while Adam was trying to work on putting it together.


Mmm.. I am not sure this is right dad.

We purchased the seat in Wichita while we were signing our part of the closing papers! It is still not official but we are getting closer! Hopefully we will be done by next week! Please pray that there will not be any more hang ups. The buyer has had to jump through MANY hoops. I am sure she is more frustrated with the delays than we are.

Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day we had a potting party!

You can't play in the dirt without eating a little!

I think she was trying to stick her tongue through the holes in the bottom.

She then put some of the dirt in the bucket and the rest in her mouth!

All the plants we planted and repotted

I started digging in the "beds." She soon took the hand rake and started to help!

Soon after we were done I finally got the results from Naomi's blood work. The nurse said things looked a lot better. We are supposed to continue with her vitamins daily for another month then we will switch to once a week. Praise God!

Also, I am amazed at how faithful God is. After I posted my blog yesterday Naomi and I went out to the yard to play and our neighbor lady to the north was out. We talked for about 30 minutes, then Adam came home and we spent another 20-10 minutes talking to her and her husband. And at my class there is another mom. She has a 3year old and an almost 2 year old. We seemed to make a small connection, The weeks ahead will be interesting.

"So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:21-22

Thank you Father for hearing my prayer. I know you have many more blessings for me. I pray you will work in me and those around me that I may continue to become a part of this community. Amen.

whatever

Today I have no real topic. I just feel like writing something. Maybe it is because the only people I have really talked to lately is Adam, Naomi and my parents a week and a half ago. This is the part about moving I really don't like. Adam is settling in to town quite well. He has the benefit of having met some people through work. Me I am at home all day with Naomi. I am hoping to fix this problem. I recently came across a cake decorating class through the college. The first class is tonight. I am a bit nervous but very excited! I hope I can meet some people. Also one of Adam's coworker's wife called me yesterday. She is a stay at home mom ad has been in the same situation. We made a lunch date for later this week. Things are looking a bit brighter for me. God will provide friendship for me here. He has laid the path for us this far. He will continue to show us His will for our new season in life.

My town!

Today's is going to be short... I have not been feeling well the last few days. Anyway, Indy has an amazing park! I know I have mentioned it numerous times but it is a great park. We live only a few blocks away, which makes it an easy walk away. The park boasts "Beautiful Riverside Park has been the showcase of southeast Kansas since its inception in 1914."
Here is a brief history taken from the website:

Riverside park began as a drive along the river, sunken garden, and band stand. Citizens and civic groups soon added tennis courts (best in the state at that time), playground apparatus, zoo, picnic shelters, and swimming and wading pools. The focal point the was, and still is today, the magnificent sandstone Stich Shelter House constructed in 1917.
By 1925, the park was essentially laid out as it remains today. The years 1930 to 1940 saw great improvements through the efforts of the Work Projects Administration (WPA). From 1950 to 1956, the merry-go-round, miniature train, 1050 locomotive, bird aviary, and Susie the elephant, were added. In more recent years, the Lions Club Kiddy land, fire truck, jet plane, dinosaur, rose garden, miniature golf, Stevens small animal shelter, and a life-size Fiberglass Corythosaurus dinosaur, from the 1965 New York World's Fair have been the main additions.

The remarkable thing is the train ride is a dime, the Carousel is a Nickle and a round of mini golf is a dollar! This weekend was the Grand seasonal opening of the park. We were amazed at the turn out because it rained all morning. Here we are after enjoying a hamburger (a hot dog for Naomi). My husband is quite the ham.

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

My Baby...The Toddler

This has been a big weekend. Yesterday we went to Wichita to get pictures and shop. Then we ran up to Newton for a one year Dr. appointment and Naomi had to have blood drawn for tests to check her Vitamin D. The phlebotemest (spelling?) had quite time trying to draw her blood. Boy can my girl scream!

Now for the big news... Naomi took her first steps about a month ago but she never really took of. Well, yesterday the walking switch was flipped.
So here it is:(it may take a while to load.)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Yea for walking!

Oh, I should probably post her new stats:

Weight: 19lb 12oz (26 percentile) We are going to say 20 because she was not eating well that day)
Height: 30 inches (77 percentile)
Head circumference: 18 1/2 inches (They did not give us a percentile but looking at the graphs it is around 98)



Tomorrow we will be headed to the First Baptist's contemporary service.

Easter and Birthday!

Here we go! This last weekend was full of so many blessings. My parents were able to come for the weekend. They were a bit delayed because Oklahoma was burning, but it was worth the wait. I am so glad they were able to visit. They even made the trek Up north to see my Grandfather. It had been quite a while since they had been up there. We celebrated Naomi's First Birthday. I feel very blessed to enjoy this privilege. Many times that day I prayed for Jess and Joel. I can't imagine their pain. I remember them daily and I make sure to take the extra minutes each day to enjoy my little one! We also celebrated our Savior! We drove up to our first church home (JSBC) to visit and show off Naomi. That was such a huge blessing for us. We were invited to have lunch. And some of our good friends were there as well. God just rained His blessings down on us this weekend! I praise Him for all He has given. And now here are the pictures.At the Zoo

Mmmmm Pizza!

bunny cake

coloring eggs

Easter basket
(Future career?)

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."
Psalm 27:13

My town!

So I am going to do things a bit backwards. I realize I have not posted any of the birthday excitement. I promise this will come. I am going to post Monday now (Sunday night)because it is shorter and not as involved. My parents are still in town and I have a lot to do before I get to bed and I am not sure how much free time I will get tomorrow! So here it goes.

I came across this little island while we were at the Zoo on Friday.

Then I saw this. (There is a monkey in the tree)

Soon I came a cross this sign.It says: Home of Miss Able The first space Monkey. Born in this Zoo December 1957. Independence, KS. Passed through Space on 28 May 1959 in the NASA Jupiter Rocket at 10,000mph and 300 miles altitude.
The sign goes on to give the history of "monkey Island and the importance of research for a "modern" Zoo. So Indy is the home of the first space monkey! Neat!

My baby is ONE!

Happy Birthday Naomi!

Stars

Wow! How awesome is my God?

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

"And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars." Genesis 1:14-16

OK here is the awesome thing:

Crown of Thorns

Hand

These are picture that have recently been released. I have always been intrigued by stars. The cool thing is I was recently reading in Genesis and read the above passages. What amazing reminders of God's power. and His ability to put subtle (and not so subtle) reminders of His power and might. Her created everything! And what a timely reminder to have the Crown image to be discovered. God created the far expanse of space. He named the stars. He clothes the flowers in the field. He knows every little thing about me! and He LOVES me so very much. He sent His Son to the Earth to live among us and He gave the ultimate sacrifice, His life. He died for me. This is what we are celebrating this time of year, is it not? The promise of a new life as a new creation in Him.

Park!

"All Done!"

My little girl and her breakfast mess. Yummy Eggs!

Today is beautiful! I decided to take Naomi to the park. She is still not sure about the swing, but she is getting braver about moving around. We have a small zoo in the park. I wanted to scope it out to see if I wanted to take my parents. I think it is a go. They have a pretty good assortment of animals considering it is a free zoo. It was establishes in 1925 and with help from WPA is is a big draw. Anyway before I use up a Monday post.. The red buds were out in full force. Notice the header pic has changed. It is a picture I took today. We had a lot of fun just walking around. We tried to meet some people as well. This was a bit challanging. I usally don't tend to be too out going. We were able to strike up a conversation with someone while we were swinging, but soon Naomi was not having it on the swing. Oh, well, every little bit.

I have a lot to do. My parents are coming tomorrow. There is so much to do but I honestly just want to play...

I need to:

• get the TV/guestroom put together
• wrap Naomi's gifts
• put the covers on the wood furniture
• clean up all the Stuff behind Adam's chair
  
• figure out a cake for Naomi
• I should probably try to run the vaccume and sweep
  
• more stuff I can't remember right now!

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

My town!

I got the idea of how I can share my explorations of our new town! I am going to start a "My Town Monday." I am going to try to post a picture of interesting thins I find in my town each Monday. "He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Deuteronomy 26:9

This is one of the signs as you come into town:

When I saw it I could not help but to laugh. Just so you know it is a sign for a car dealership in town. I would have to say this is a successful advertisement. It sure got my attention.

PS. Not all of these will be so off the wall (I hope).

Shhhh! I'm hunting for a new church

So my title is a sad attempt at Elmer Fudd, but I am feeling a bit loopy today! I don't like church hunting. It is so hard. You never know what to expect. Today we went to the Westley church around the corner from us. It is a quaint church the preaching was solid, they were very mission minded, but, notice the quaint? There were just about a dozen people there, only one person near our age (She was the pastors Granddaughter), and when I peaked in the nursery it looked like it had not been used in a while. This is hard. We also went to the evening service at the First Southern Baptist Church. We had gone to the morning service last week. It is among the possabilaties but we are going to pray and seek God's guidance. We don't need to join the first church we go to. We know that he has a plan for us here. We just have to rely on Him and follow His desire for our family.
I am reading Redeming Love by Francine Rivers. I highly recomend it! but there is a line

"Oh, God, it's not the way had things planned. But then, what of real, lasting value ever is?"

This line really has resounded lately. Gods plans are always far better than what we could plan for ourselves.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " Jeremiah 29:11

Now for something more fun:


Yes, that is my daughter under the shopping cart. We were at Wal-Mart and Adam put her down to walk around. The next thing we knew she was under the cart! Crazy girl! She eventually got her self out, it was hilarious to watch!

Our moving adventure!

Now that we are here and semi-settled (and the internet is working) I though I would show our moving adventure!The night before the move.

Naomi spent the day with a friend and came home to a house full of boxes.

All loaded up and ready to head out! Bye bye house!
I had the cat and the kid, Adam got the dog.

We had a few stops to make. Drinks for the road!
Greenwood county!
Eureka was our first home.
Ahh, cattle country.
Each spring the ranchers burn off their fields.

We are getting closer!Here we come!Unloading the cars."Kitty come out!"We had to stay in a hotel for the night. Naomi was not so sure about the pool. But she was not nearly as scared as she was last time.
After the pool Naomi got a bath and loved playing in front of the big mirror!
Very fun!

Tomorrow I will try to post about the move in!