shhhhhhhhhhh

Don't tell Dave.....
This is ONLY the beginning!

Target's my friend

I'll start this post by giving you a little history..

A few weeks ago, I was in Wichita, returning something to Best Buy. When I got back to my car, I couldn't find my keys in my purse. I was SURE I had locked the car, I ALWAYS do when I'm out and about. So I started freaking! I looked in the car, only to see my keys in the ignition. BUT, to my surprise...I forgot to lock the car...the door opened!

All I could think was "oh my, Dave would KILL me if he had to come all the way to Wichita because I locked my keys in the car."

So now we'll fast forward to last night.

I had a show in Wichita, and I figured while I was there on business, I might as well take back some returns so I don't have that extra mileage! So I hit up Target after my show.

I returned things, then of course, did some more shopping. By the time I was done, Target was closing and as I was walking through the parking lot, I couldn't find my keys. I searched my purse frantically and then went back inside. I could have sworn I had them in my hands along with my bag of returns. They were trying to lock the doors and I had to ask if I could come in to look for my keys. A handful of employees were helping me check the area I had been in. No luck.

I asked for a flashlight to check the parking lot. Then decided to use the light to check inside the truck. There they were....my keys, in the ignition...and this time the doors WERE locked!

At this point, the store was officially closed and I had to ask if I could wait inside until my ride came. There was NO way I was waiting outside in a dark, empty Target parking lot.

The manager was nice but I could also tell he just wanted to go home. He said managers can't be in the store alone, so he had to have employees stay with him. So not only am I annoying ONE person, but 3!

I made the dreaded phone call to Dave...and of course the Target manager was even MORE pleased to find out that my ride was coming from Newton. My sister-in-law lives in West Wichita, but Dave could pretty much get to me just as fast. But she did suggest that I call ABC Taxi...they unlock cars for $25. They said they could get to me in 15-30 minutes. So Dave stopped heading my way, and I sat PRAYING that the taxi company would come in the amount of time they said they would....as the Target workers are just WAITING to go home. I called the number for the Taxi company 3 times...the lady was getting frustrated with me, but I just wanted to know how much longer! I kept second guessing myself like crazy and thought I should have just had Dave come all along.

40 min. later, ABC Taxi pulled up. The Target workers darted. And to top it all off, when the man got out of the van, he was not the most pleasant looking person. I was alone, in a dark parking lot, with this man that did not make me feel very comfortable at all. I called Dave and made him talk to me while the guy unlocked my car and I paid him. He could tell by my voice that this man was a little on the sketchy side.

The store manager and I made a deal...he would be okay with staying late, and I would spend LOTS of money there later. This deal was my idea....good one, huh? He went for it, so now I have to hold up my end of the bargain. Sorry Dave!

So Thankful!

We are so thankful for this group of people...

Well, we're not just thankful for those pictured....there are lots more.

Our Young Married's Sunday School class had a fall party last Friday night....out in the country, in a big barn, yummy food, lots of room for the kiddos to run and play (and fall off big 4 wheeler vehicles, head first...she was okay though...and NO, the vehicle was not moving...the kids just wanted to climb on it)...and my favoite part of the night....guitars and singing by the campfire! Unfortuneatly, this was the part of the night that was cut short by our little ones.

So back to why we are thankful...

A year ago, we were attending the church Dave grew up in. A great church, we loved it, and we now miss seeing grandpa and grandma there, and other familiar faces. We loved our pastor, he married us...but he moved to California.

But we both felt that we weren't in the right place. We knew God had other plans for us...step 2, that is.

I think Step 1 (which had already happened), was when Joel and Kendall (my teacher friend at the time) invited us to join their small group, even though we didn't attend their church. SO glad they invited us, and SO glad we said yes! I did a post about our group a few weeks ago....check it out here if you missed it.

Big churches scared us both. We both grew up in small churches, so we were convinced we would not fit in or be happy in a big church. But as always, God had a plan for us.

Being able to connect and build some great relationships with couples in our small group, allowed us to feel a bit more comfortable about trying out the "big" church. So when we finally took that step and visited a new church....we LOVED it! To our surprise, we didn't feel "lost in the crowd" on bit!

We are so happy where we are now. We love our Sunday School class, and feel so blessed to be a part of such a BIG group of awesome young married couples! We love our new church and are so glad we made that step to change.

I'm sure God has more in store for us.

rub-a-dub-dub

Bath time in the baby bath and sink are over! Mason (1 week old) Mason (4 months)


I'm so glad to be done with separate bath times. It's just so much more fun TOGETHER! Especially because we can sit and watch....while Taylor gets her brother clean!

Pumpkin Patch

We had plans at the first signs of fall to make it to the pumpkin patch.

It came down to the final day we could go. And it may have been the coldest and windiest day we've had so far. I had been in all day, and didn't realize what it was like outside. I don't think either of us realized it until we got out in the country. Thank goodness Gma and Papa had a blanket for Mason to borrow in their car!

It was a quick little trip...but just enough fun for a 2 year old!

Mason loved the pool of corn....can't you tell? They have the neatest underground slide...She loved it!And of course, Dave got in on the fun too!Hot dogs, pumpkin chili and pumpkin cookies on our way out! YUM!

It was such a neat place...next year we can hopefully enjoy more on a warm, sunnier day!

boy, boy, boy

Oh MY MY! This little boy of ours is definitely ALL BOY! In the last month, not only has he started crawling (everywhere!), but he just wants to stand up ALL day long!This table of ours, in the basement has become his enemy... He pulls up, falls down, knocks his head or chin, cries, I pick him up, hold him, put him back down the play....he crawls back to the table, pulls up, falls down, knocks his head or chin, cries, I pick him up, hold him, put him back down to play.

This goes on pretty much ALL day! I think we may put some sort of cushioning all the way around it. We never had to do anything like this for Taylor. We also didn't have to lock up any cabinets....but this time around is definitely DIFFERENT!They are so different, but that's what makes them each so special...I LOVE that!

Today's Predictions

So, today will be a day that goes down in history...a day that our children will learn about in their history classes. It's a day definitely worthy of a post to look back on years later.

Out of all the political forwards I've received over the last months...I wanted to share with you the best.

The Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election:

1. The Bible will still have all the answers

2. Prayer will still work

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of his people.

5. There will still be God-anointed teaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings to his people.

8. There will still be room at the cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost.

So regardless of your party, the platform you stand behind, your views and opinions, or who you vote for today....I hope you believe in this.

a treasure

This was Dave's great grandma's. As Dave was helping his Dad with some other stuff in their storage unit, he spotted this.

And now it is at our house.

I wish I had the creative mind that some you have...to just be able to look at this and picture it somewhere, all done up cute, maybe a different color with some other added details.

But for now, it's in the garage. That's a built in flour sifter....cool huh?

Jars of ink....anyone have a feather pen?Hopefully this new treasure of ours will someday make it into the house and be exactly what I imagine it to be...whatever that is!

Give me your ideas! If you have any creative friends pass this post on so they can leave me comments with their ideas too!

Why I work

Here's a conversation that happens just about every Tuesday and Thursday night as I'm getting ready to leave the house for a jewelry show...

Taylor: (as she notices that I am wearing something other than sweats): Mama go bye bye?

Me: yep, mommy's gotta go to work.

Taylor: Mama jew-jew?

Me: yeah, mommy's going to a jewelry show so I can make some money

Taylor: Buy nul? (nul = milk)

Me: yeah, I gotta get some money so I can buy some milk.

Taylor: and ju and kaka? (juice and crackers)

Me: yep, so I can buy juice and crackers too.

Taylor: k, mama. Go jew-jew. Bye mama!

So just in case some of you were confused as to why I do Premier....
it's so I can buy milk, juice and crackers.
Daddy can take care of buying all the other stuff.
If that's all I'm responsible for, then I'll try hard to find SOMETHING to spend the rest of my money on.

The really sad thing is that when I get dressed JUST BECAUSE...she's convinced I'm going to a jewelry show. Maybe I should get dressed more often.

This is obviously an old pic (11 months)...but a cute one!

The Farmer and The Cow

So here is round 2 for our farmer and little cow...


I can't imagine when we actually do the REAL trick or treating, because I was exhausted after just 4 houses. It's no fun getting little ones in and out of car seats in costumes.

We started early, in hopes to be done before the kiddos were pushed too far.

We visited the Laniers (our good neighbor friends), one of Dave's co-workers who insisted we came by, Great Aunt Barb and Uncle Jim, and Grandma and Papa B. I'd say we came out pretty good with the goodies....2 containers of Puff snacks, fruit snacks, granola bars, a tomato, a book, a box of Ritz, a box of Pop Tarts, 8 jars of baby food, a Mickey and Minnie doll, and of course some candy!
Hope you all had a Happy Halloween! Now I'm ready for some TURKEY!!!