Better Late Than Never

This is actually from the day after Thanksgiving. Yes, we were really dressed with that light of clothing. We were shedding clothes by the end of our walk around down town. It was warm and gorgeous. Our friends, the Ni's, came to visit from Illinois and we got to know Dubuque a little better. This picture is of the Ni's (minus Bill) and us on top of the Fenlon Elevator, overlooking Dubuque. The story behind the elevator is that way back when they had horses and carriages a business man lived on top of a hill and his business was at the bottom of the hill. It took him half an hour, by carriage to get between the two. Well, this posed a problem as he only had an hour and a half lunch...half hour to get home, half an hour to eat, half an hour to get back to work. This left no time for a noon time nap. So, he petitioned the city to have an elevator built so that he could get to and from work in a matter of minutes and have time for a lunch and nap. It worked! Now they have the elevator open for tourists.
This picture is of Amelia Ni and Chris while we are going up the Fenlon Elevator.
This is the beautiful view of downtown Dubuque and the Mississippi River.
This is a water wheel in front of the museum and aquarium. It was too expensive and we didn't have time to visit though.

We had a wonderful time with our friends and we are glad that they live close enough that we can keep in contact with them on a regular basis. We hope to have more visitors so we can show them around our "new" town as well. 

Bad Hair Day

The title says it all! 

Who's Seat Is This Anyway?

Libby got a stroller for Christmas to push her doll baby around in. I see it getting pushed around the house alot...usually empty, sometimes a kitty cat, rarely her doll baby. When it isn't being pushed around the house (or rammed into my legs) it's being used alright. It's being used as Libby's television chair. It fits her little hind end just perfect and she likes it just like that. I don't know how long it will work for her, but she's going to get all of the use out of it that she can. 

What Is Up With This Look?

So everytime I pulled the camera out...this is the look that I got? What in the world? Her sweet smile turns into this cheesy look! I was amused...and somewhat scared. Ok, not scared, but seriously! Oh my!

 

What's in a Name?

I started Beth Moore's "Daniel" bible study last week at our new church. One of the lessons talks about what Daniel, Meschach, Shadrach, and Abednego's Hebrew names and Babylonian names meant. She talked about the importance of names back then so I decided to look a little harder into my name. I knew that my name meant "Consecrated to God", but I didn't really know what concecrated meant. I looked it up at dictionary.com and the closest meaning to what I needed was "devoted to or dedicated to". Therefore my name means "Devoted to God". I hope that I can stay true to my name and be devoted completely to God. I hope that I can effectively show Libby God's love so that she can also be true to her name someday. I love what my name means and I intend to do just that...no matter the price!

More Books

Chris was reading a book to Libby last night. She LOVES to read...and I like this. Anyway, he was reading "Winnie the Pooh Colors" which has Christopher Robin giving all of his friends lollipops of every color. Well, Libby has never done this before, but last night she licked every lollipop on every page. I don't know how yummy they were, but she didn't lick them again this morning when I read it to her.

Ape Over Bananas

Libby is so funny. Every time we go to Wal Mart she HAS to have a banana. I'd rather it be a banana than a candy bar, but it's still funny. She won't eat bananas at home...only at Wal Mart. Yummy bananas!

Answers

I am amazed at how God works! He cares about little, old me. Amazing! Last Friday I emailed the pastor at the church we were considering going to. I let him know our desires and basically asked if they were the church for us. That Sunday...the pastor's message basically answered all of the questions I had asked in an affirmative manner. Amazing! It had to be God because it was part 2 of a 4 part sermon...it's not like he preached it just to answer my email. Obviously, we decided to stick with that church. I was glad because I had been talking to God about an accountability partner and/or a mentor. He had laid a lady on my heart that attended that church. I was really nervous about asking her to be my mentor, but after Sunday I decided to do just that. So, I emailed her. Today, at MOPS she told me she had read the email and wanted to talk to me before I left. She said that just last week she had been talking to another lady that has a mentor/accountability group of a few girls and she was saying that she didn't do any of that, but wanted to do something of the sort. Then...came my email asking her to do just that! Wow! Isn't God good?! I was so nervous about being a bother or sounding stupid. I almost didn't do it I was so nervous about asking that one question. I am SOOO glad that I obeyed God and did what I was uncomfortable with. I am so glad my God works in his mysterious ways. It makes me all the more certain, that yes, we do belong out here. Some things are starting to fall in place...and those things are the things that need to fall in place first...the God things!

Let It Snow

We finally had a decent snow for Libby to have fun with! As soon as she heard daddy with the snow blower she was ready to go outside. She had a blast playing in the snow. She loved seeing her foot prints and swishing the snow back and forth with her gloves. Libby wanted to run the snow blower so daddy let her help him just a little bit. I think she had more fun running around in the snow though. The only thing that could have made it a little better is she really needs some snow boots. We are going to Payless tomorrow to buy some...then, look out snow here Libby comes! 

CHEERS!!!

Yesterday at church we had communion. I saw something that I have never seen in my life at a communion. It was amazing! Everything was normal until we were to drink the juice. The pastor told us to drink and two middle school-aged girls clinked their communion glasses together (like they were on Cheers) and then drank!!! It was hilarious. I had to share the joy!

Desire

I have been busy today...looking for God. I want so badly to live for him. I desire it with all of my heart, actually. I feel like I keep stumbling and I get frustrated. I know that I can't just "BE" the perfect Christian, but I feel like I keep struggling with the same things over and over. I want to FOLLOW CHRIST!!! I don't want to be a "Christian". That sounds so religious. I don't want religion...EVER! I want a relationship. I want to grow closer and closer until I can feel God whisper to me in my chest that he loves me. I want to shut the world out, but yet I want to reach out to the world and bring it in with me. I want to be an open vessle that God's power can flow through. I don't want people to see me, but I want them to see Christ. That is what I so desperately want in life. I pray to God today that I empty out my vessle and let him fill it. I want to do God's work, no matter how trivial or big.

Please, those of you who read this, pray for me in my journey. I feel like I am failing across the board, yet my desires are so great. Pray that God drags me along until I can find my own footing. Pray that I don't loose this urgency that I need to be where God is.

Thank you!

Kitty, Kitty

Last night Libby started to get really tired. We knew she was tired because she was actually snuggling with us. We snuggled for about half an hour and then decided we should really let the poor girl sleep. I took her back to her bedroom and laid her down in bed. As I was walking out of the room she started crying, "Kitty, kitty". Her kitty cat was still in the living room so I went out, retrieved her kitty, kitty and took the kitty back to Libby. As soon as she felt the kitty in her arms...she was done. She was out like a light bulb. The power of the kitty!

Life Lessons from a Goose

My sister took these notes from a Wednesday night youth meeting. I found them very inspiring and thought they should be shared. It made me think more than once!

God's Creation

You can see characteristics of God in every animal you look at. Take geese for example-Have you ever tried to think of why geese fly in "V" formation when they migrate? Well that's because it makes it easier to fly w/ the air resistance and junk! When they fall out of formation they feel an automatic drag.

It's easier to "fly" when you're not alone.We are one body-many parts- working together1 Cor 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

The front goose breaks the wind and the others draft off of him so therefore, the one in front works the hardest.In order to give the goose in front a break, other geese jump in to help out.

Take turns; doing hard tasks, taking leadership, taking opportunities.
When geese honk, they aren't being annoying. They are simply giving encouragement to each other.

James 3:7-8

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Be there to encourage and build up a friend.

When one goose gets hurt, two other geese drop out of formation and stay w/ the other one until either it dies or gets well enough to fly again.

Are you ready to drop everything to help a friend? "May we be so sacrificial that we might have a friend like that when we are in need?"

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Put others needs before your own. [give up your desires to put others desires before yours]

In 1 Samuel 18:1-4 Jonathan and David make a pact not to let anything come between them two. Not only w/ themselves, but w/ God.
The most important thing in life is God.

Take time to look around you; don't be so busy that you don't see somebody else’s pain.

Seek God's creation and it will tell you

-All God's creatures know what he has done-
-we need to work together as a team-
-hold each other accountable-
-be willing to put others desires before your own-
-do all you can with talents, knowledge, and abilities that you've been given-
-be willing to lead-
-be willing to let others lead-
-encourage each other-
+stand by those who fall along the way+
-be *courageous* [let others see Christ in you]-

People aren't going to evolve into amazing people. They have to be taught. Why not teach them now?Why not you?Somebody needs to take control...you can't just sit by and watch the world die...they need you...they need GOD!

Unleash yourself and don't hold backSatan will try to make you fail...my suggestion...don't let him!Make a difference in someone's life...do it soon before it's too late.

Christmas 2006

After almost 2000 miles on the van (and our hind ends) we are home and recuperated. Everything is even unpacked...I think. We started by driving to Warsaw for a pit stop. Then we went on to Bellefontaine on Christmas Eve. We had Christmas at grandma and grandpas and had a good time visiting with all of the family that we don't get to see all of the time. It was good to see my cousins again. On Christmas day we had our family Christmas. Steph and Hannah and I got to talk alot. I miss them so much. I am very lucky to have my family...even when we drive each other crazy! On Tuesday we went down to Cincinnatti to have Christmas with my cousins that just moved there this past year. I was glad to see them again. I enjoy talking with them. Unfortunately I didn't get to talk to them as much as I wanted because there were SO many people there. Wednesday we got to just enjoy my grandparents' and parents' company. Oh...and we got to go to House of Szechwan...I miss my Szechwan. It was good to spend time with my family. I do miss them being way out here in Iowa. On Thursday we hopped back in the car again and went up to Defiance. I got to visit with my good friend Sara, who is pregnant with her first child. I can't wait to visit her once she has her baby. We also got to eat supper with another good friend, Meghan. After supper, we headed back to Warsaw. At Warsaw we were able to visit with some more friends, Carter and Jenny. It was wonderful to see them again...they are hoping to come out here this summer and I can't wait! We also had Christmas with Chris's family. Libby got lots of presents and she was, of course, doted on. After that we just relaxed until January first when we drove back to Iowa. We were hoping to go to church on Sunday, but we had visitors and I wasn't feeling well. We hope to be able to do that next time.

Here are some pictures from our journey.

Christmas 2006