Laundry Doesn't Belong in a Bathtub...just sayin'

Surprise!

I'm back :) Since the holidays are over (which I hope were happy for everyone!!), I figured my excuses for not blogging are done for as well. Although, I have to say, I think I'm busier now than I was over the holidays! Which kind of leads me back to the title....

Last weekend, our washing machine just randomly quit working.... in the middle of the rinse cycle of a huge load of our kids' clothes.... So, after wringing out the clothes in the downstairs bathtub with Dave, I got my dad on the phone and proceeded to delve into unknown waters by taking apart random parts of the machine, per my dad's instructions....

Now, I have to say, for a girl, I'm pretty handy...but staring at a disorganized mess of tangled and bundled wires was a bit much for me... especially while getting instructions over the phone without having anything written or visual to guide me (VERY visual learner, here...) So, after awhile, I handed the reigns over to Dave...then we worked together for awhile.... and finally came to the conclusion with my dad that we would have to call someone...

Then came the trouble with deciding whether we should risk wasting money on having someone come out--just to tell us we needed a new one, or just go ahead and buy a new one...which is where we still are 5 days later... (to be fair, first thing Monday morning, Dave was ordered to drop his job and take on a huge project that has kind of thrown us off-balance...but more about that in a few!)

So, in the meantime, I've been doing laundry in the bathtub... I know I could go to a laundromat, or have it done at the cleaners, and we have had several friends very kindly offer the use of their washers, but...I have to admit, I actually don't mind doing it...Other than jeans, which are impossible to wring out (which our friends SO kindly let us wash at their house!!), it's super easy, and doesn't take much time (a major benefit to the mini-loads I usually do). I have a whole new respect for women who used to *always* have to wash their laundry by hand (although, if I lived back then, I definitely would have had servants to do my laundry...just sayin)

Don't get me wrong, I plan on getting a new washing machine (I'm not insane...), but until next week when we either get a new one delivered, or get someone out here to look at it... I'll just go on with my bad Victorian-era self :)

So back to Dave's fun work situation.... I won't even try to get into the whole explanation since this is already getting long.... but basically, it involves Dave being in training all day most days...getting lunch whenever they say, for however long they say, instead of coming home at the same time for lunch everyday....and staying at least an hour late everyday. The biggest kicker is that, after spending the last I-don't-know-how-many years being able to text throughout the day, all of the sudden we can't.... and it has really sucked. I didn't realize I was so dependent on our conversations throughout the day!!

 Needless to say, I am horrible at dealing with change, and for the first day and a half, wasn't too gracious about it all... But then I put it into perspective, in comparison to the rest of my life (this project is only supposed to--unrealisically, according to Dave--last until July....so I'm crossing my fingers!!), and realized I can probably survive :) So my goal is to make Dave's life at home as easy as possible while work is so insane and to NOT COMPLAIN....I so do not want to be the nagging wife Proverbs talks about...so wish me luck!!! :)

Time to go.... until next week! :)
Ashley

Getting back in routine!

Hello!
I haven't blogged in weeks...sorry! I moved home, then the holidays hit, then I forgot one week, then I was sick. blaaaaah! Now getting back on track, though!
I love being at home so far, although it is hard adjusting to living with mostly guys again. I miss having girls around!

I have so much peace now, I know I made the right decision! Most of you know I did not have peace while I was in Georgia. I kept praying about what to do, and it was clear I needed to come home! Certain situations definitely made that decision easier, which kind of sucks. I almost wish it would've been harder =/. I love the thought of YWAM and the way Loren designed it to be! I'm definitely not ruling out going back at some point, but I will most likely be going to a base closer to home.

God has done so much in me since I've been home, I can't imagine missing it! I am now confident in who I am, not just ok with who I am. I can't please everyone, and that's totally ok =]. God has shown me exactly how "ok" I shouldn't be, and that I should be excited about who I am - He made me this way on purpose! He has also been so awesome about showing me that I am totally fine on my own! I don't need a man to complete, God does that and will always do that. I went through a rough week a couple weeks ago. It felt like Satan was constantly throwing in my face that I was alone and that wasn't ok. I was desperate just to get away from it! I really feel like God and I got SO close and intense that week because every time I had a negative thought or feeling, I would cry out to God and ask for His help. Normally, I wouldve turned to friends for reassurance. But, God made sure every single one of them was busy =] Yeah it was a tough week, but the result was AMAZING, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I'm currently waiting to hear back about a job, babysitting a 6 month old baby girl! I am really excited about it and I hope it works out! I need to do something, my life is starting to get boring =p. However, if that does not work out, I will continue looking until I get a job!

Something else that's up...my sister convinced me to RUN a 5K with her at the end of April. I do not run. We both have started training though, and surprisingly, I love it! My brother goes with me and runs next to me, which is very helpful and encouraging! I am going to do this thing, no walking involved =D

Ok, I think thats the extent of the busyness in my life! Hopefully, I'll be back on next week! I hope you all are doing wonderful!!

--Hann

Late

Well this is late, its now 1:05 am which means its Sunday. The problem is I cant think of anything to say, Its been a good week overall, basketball is doing good, Bears play tomorrow and other then that all seems "normal" Im still trying to figure out whats next in this life for me. Also trying to figure out how to Love myself again and Letting God fill the voids that only he can fill. Always easier said then done. Well if i can think of more tomorrow i will post then since it seems we have some holes in our 7 days lol Hope you all have a great week!

Charlie

High on life

This is one of my favourite (this is what spell check KEEPS changing my "favorite to! hmph!!) quotes! And I made it up! "High on life". There really is no way to describe the feeling you get when everything is good and you're happy! (well in my opinion) I really wanted to make this post yellow, but it's quite blinding! Ha.
I have not only pulled through my "Christmas Blues"!! Yaah! Looking back, I *still* don't really understand WHY Christmas season is such a depression for me, but I'm so thankful I got through it though and am back to the high energy Katie and planning all sorts of fun things to do and accomplish this year! i.e. planning a short vacation for the end of February to go to WI. Dells and go go-carting and a few other things! I'm excited!
I was listening to Pandora today at work and heard a song that really clicked with me today. "Dare You To Move" By: Switchfoot. I have always loved this band and this song! It really made me think today and challenge myself. "I dare you to move, I dare you to life yourself up off the floor, I dare you to move like today never happened". This was both motivating and encouraging (I know close in meaning) to me. Act like all the bad things that have happened, never happened. Act like today (when bad things happen, thoughts, feelings ect) didn't happen! Start new each day! I dare you to move! The part where he says "pick yourself up off the floor" made me think of someone having a bad day/break down and just laying on the floor with no motivation to move and he's saying I dare you to move! Make the best of your life! And that's my challenge to myself, and to you! I dare you to move! Pick yourself up off the floor and move like today never happened!
I hope you all are well and in high spirits now that the holidays are over!!!

Really?

Well first off Sorry this is onto Sunday's blog post, but tonight was a long night. Tonight we played a home game against a Class 2A school. I think that they thought they would just come into Judah Christian School and beat up on some small Class A school and get a easy win. Well that didnt happen. It was one of the most physical games Ive ever been apart of. Seems The refs couldnt blow their whistles when they needed to and when they did blow them, no one could understand why. Long story short, we only ended up losing 1 tooth and some bruises, but let this serve notice to anyone who thinks that they are just going to come into Judah Christian and bully us , Its not going to happen. We are going to play just as hard if not harder and we will protect our Homecourt.

On a side note for the Coach of the other team, who for their sake i wont post here, lemme set you straight on the record, I know you know we are a GREAT team, but we are only 15-0 at home, but thanks, we will be 16-0 after the next home game we play. So before you want to get all loud and say that the only reason we are 16-0 at home is because our fans defend our players, take a close look at what our record really is. And yes I will look at the film and see what players went onto the court, but when i do that ill make sure to send you a personal copy of the incident where your player not only kicked my player but also pushed another one to the ground.

As you can tell im still fired up about this game. I hate it when teams think we are just going to roll over and play dead.

Great Wins Guys and I did this all in purple for Judah. Go Tribe!!!

Charlie

ps- This game was posted online, if anyone can find it could you let me know ? Thanks

Soup & Bread

Today I am in a kinda blah/gloomy mood! I woke up today... well my alarm went off at 7:23am (I always set it for a weird time so when I hear my alarm and look at the clock it kind of catches me off guard so I think I'm late lol). I didn't actually get out of bed until probably 7:55! I had to take Wynsten out and then shower, and then feed him, and then get ready... sigh... then I realized my boots were in the car.... and I still needed coffee... and I had 3 mins to get to work! Story of my life! haha
So since I HAD to go to work today... yes I'm pouting.... I'm sitting in my office with my space heater on and my door shut... every leave me alone! Yah! =D
I realized today that I like HOT soup and COLD bread! I left my lunch in my car due to my crazy morning, so my bread was *really* cold! I have always put my bread in the oven! I love toasted bread! Yum! But today I realized I really like COLD bread!
This year is a year of excitement for me! I can't wait to see how many goals I can accomplish! One of the things I started this year was my own blog! You guys should follow me!! =D

http://katiemillersblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/blanket-book-and-my-puppy-type-of-day.html?spref=fb

Hope that link works! If not, you can find it on my fb profile! Hope you all are excited about this year! I haven't heard any ones New Years Resolutions!? I want to know!!

Day 1 of 2011

Well First off I want to say Happy New Year!!! I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year's. Funny how things work out since im the oldest of this group of 7 that I get to post the First Blog of the New Year!

I do hope that 2011 is better then 2010. I know i have alot of friends who agree with me on this topic. Im hopeful that there will be less people i know who die, less friends who i know who file for divorce and less hardships on my friends and people i know as well. I know There will be hardships, but i also know that WE will make it through them. One way or another we will become stronger for them.

This past week has been fun as well. Its always fun when my family gets together. I must say as much as ive wanted to be an only child at times, there is nothing better then being the oldest of 6 with a brother-inlaw and a niece and nephew all under one roof. It just makes family complete. I wouldnt know what to do if i didnt have siblings. There would be no one to trash talk to over a game of spades or watching an 2 1/2 hr long movie only for everyone to agree at the end we should of stopped it 15 mins in. Side Note ( dont watch WallStreet 2)

It was fun to have both my sister and her 2 kids stay the week between christmas and New years. Also good to have Dave too, but he had to go back to work. After playing with my nephew for sometime, he had gone to bed, it reminded me that I could of had a son who was 6 months older then him. I know it wasnt in the plans and thats why i dont, but it made me think, wow we really would of had a house full then. Im grateful for the Family I do have and I pray we are continuly blessed in 2011.

So who has any New Year resolutions? Me? I dont make any. Although I do think that this is going to be a great year, I pray that as I begin a new journy in life, that I can give up control and just listen and go where I am suppose to go. I know that God has plans for me and I dont think nursing is in his Plans. You can only be Jonah for so long before you have to realize that God wants to use you in ways that even if he told you, you wouldnt believe. ( I believe thats in the book of Malachi) So here goes nothing to 2011 and I wish you all the best of 2011 !

Charlie


ps-Sorry no video this week, I'll get back to that next week!