Family Fun Night

The kids ran their little legs off

They ate ice cream...

lots of ice cream!

The men, well, they swapped stories.....

in which they were the heroes....

some played softball...

while others just enjoyed being together.

These are really the best days of our lives......

So glad SBC is a part of mine!

Sunday Thoughts

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheiritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going......for he was looking forward to a city with foundations whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:8-10

You know it's Saturday.....

....when you wake up to the sunlight and not the alarm
....when Ginny makes pancakes
....when you have no plans, except for laundry and a bike ride
.....when your honey says "Let's ride to the camper store and buy supplies for next weekend"
.....when you spend an hour just sitting on the porch enjoying your coffee
......when you can't wait for sundown so you can grill hamburgers
.....when you go to bed excited to get to worship in the morning

My first pair of socks....knitted that is

When I started knitting a year ago, I knew I wanted to knit some socks.

It's official...I'm addicted!

They go fast and take lots of concentration.

Ribbing is my favorite

Bring on the winter....I'm ready!

negativity

Negative people are like black holes. Before you know it, you are sucked into the abyss.  One simple conversation can turn a sunny day into a thunderstorm.  Here are some simple steps to avoid negativity in yourself and others:

1)Where is it coming from?  Negativity usually comes from some reason deep inside the person.  If you understand why someone is negative, it's much more productive to address the reason for the negativity. You NEVER win trying to address the negative thoughts alone.

2)Just smile and remain completely detached.  Don't agree, don't argue.  When you get caught in the web of negativity you will be drained of all your energy.  Better yet, just make a quick exit and leave the room.

3)Say "Now tell me something positive."  This does two things, it either makes the negative person aware of just how negative they sound, or it makes them want to avoid you, because obviously you can't get sucked in. They may even stop coming to you with their whining.

4)It's not your fault.  Don't try to fix other's negativity, because  you can't. They have a problem, and don't make it yours.  Sometimes "I'm sorry" and move on is much more therapeutic for them, and you!

5)Don't be needed.  Sometimes listening to others negativity and "talking them through it" is just a way to make yourself feel needed.  How do you feel after "helping" someone?  If you feel drained, frustrated and annoyed you are being sucked into negativity

6) Keep your perspective. There are people dying of cancer. There are children starving in Kenya. There are people dying for their faith in China. These are the big issues in life. Most negativity comes from really stupid things.

7)Remember Jesus.  He never whined. He never complained. He got to the point, corrected a situation and moved on.

Sunday Thoughts

Guilty

The defendant: Willow

This is the eighth month old puppy belonging to one Miss Virginia Welch

The crime:

Destroying the property of the dog owners mother. 

One leather couch

The evidence: Picture speak a thousand words

The defense lawyer: Wayne Welch

In a  last minute argument, the defense lawyer used a loving and cuteness plea to sway the jury

In fact, the defendant was allowed in the jury box where she proceeded to lick and faces of the jury. 

The verdict: GUILTY

As a result, the judge, overcome by the pleas of the defendants owner, Virginia Welch, and the persuasion of the defendants handsome lawyer, Wayne Welch, as well as the cuteness of the defendant herself,  sentenced the defendant, one Miss Willow Muttdog, to a punishment of spending her days outside on the porch with the cats, while her owner is at school.

The prosecution, Ms. Stephanie Welch (who I think is also the judge in the case) agreed to pay for damages and is now in the process of finding an uphosltery shop in her town.

The defense lawyer, agreed to help her out with cost of damages

watch your mouth

My Ginny-girl rewrote my verse for me.  Can you figure it out?  Hint: watch your mouth! :)

Sweet baby

My cousin had a sweet baby girl this week.  These are going in the mail to her tomorrow morning. Aren't they darlin?  I was thinking about those sweet little baby toes that would go into these booties while I was knitting them today.  Nothing like a sweet new baby girl.

Kenya time

During my recent trip to Kenya, there was a running joke among the team about Kenya time.  When our Kenyan leaders told a time we were leaving, you could usually tack on an hour or two. The first few days this was frustrating.  Our American minds run on minutes and seconds. About the third day, it dawned on all of us that Kenya time meant we would go when we got ready, we would stop when we were through and lunch time was when we got hungry.  It took us most the week to release our American expectations of time management.  Funny thing is, I noticed I got more done and felt less stressed when I worked in their mindset.  I never heard one Kenya talk about being "stressed" or "late" or "too busy"

So we all joked about "Is that American time, or Kenyan time?"  I purposed in my heart to try and keep the mindset of not rushing and stopping to "be in the moment".  That lasted about a week. (actually it lasted about two days until I figured out my boss was on American time not Kenyan time)

This morning my watch stopped. God whispered to me "Spend today on heaven time, not American time."  Instead of putting a new watch battery on my to do list, I laid my watch back on the dresser, picked up my beautiful bead bracelet from Kenya, and slipped it on my wrist instead.

Today, I'm living in the moment......

A big ole mess

Tonight I made homemade chocolate buttercream frosting

to cover these sweet little cupcakes

I made a big ole mess on some of them.......

Who in the world wants an over iced cupcake?

Ok Ok, I'll clean them up....

it's the least I can do.

operation office organization

I'm not sure if it's all the ads for school supplies, or maybe just the feeling of going back to school, but I decided last night, that it is time to organize the tiny spot I call my home office.  It's not much more than a tiny nook off the kitchen, but it's the number #1 visited spot in my house, and the catchall for: charging ipods and phones, computer use, housing bills and school papers and a make shift calendar that the girls change every 2-3 months.
It's ugly. I hate it.  Like the rest of my life, it's usually in a state of chaos.  So I decided as I sat at the computer last night, it's getting a makeover.  Wayne built wonderful cabinets and drawer space that I under utilize.  It's dark and cluttered.

Operation office organization will happen this Saturday morning.  After unloading mounds of junk, I'm throwing half of it away, and the rest will go into organized folders that I am buying tonight at Office Max.  Stay tuned. I'll include before and after shots.

First and the Last

This is her first day of high school. The next four years will fly by.

She is so smart.  She can do and be anything she wants to be.

 I can't wait to see what God will do with her.

This is her last "first day" of high school. Next year will be college.

This year will go by so fast. 

 Her talent has blossomed this year. The possiblities are endless.

Where did the time go?  If your babies are headed to school for the first time.

Don't forget to take a picture.

Give them an extra hug and kiss....even if they wipe it off.

Sunday thoughts

" Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for

whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God."

Hebrews 6:7

Today is the day.....

.....I get my new Blackberry. Welcome to 2010 Stephanie. You'll finally have a phone with internet access.
.....I attend open house  the last time for my oldest.  How did she get to be a senior this fast? It's a blur.
.....I attend the first high school open house for my baby. Now that one is harder.
.....We pick up two new kittens after work.  Seven is on his last leg.
.....I get to have lunch with one of my favorite people in the world. Tina makes me laugh every time we are together.
.....I get back on my running schedule. This summer has been brutal for my running.

Have a great day!

Remember this song?

I spent my lunch break listening to lite rock on AOL radio. Remember this song? No one rocked it like Chicago in 1987.

what i miss

I am emerging from the jet lag cloud I have been in for the last three days.  It has been brutal! I'm either getting older or this trip was a doozy. Either way I have been so sleepy that it has been difficult to have complete thoughts, much less try and compose any kind of meaningful post to this here blog.

I missed Wayne and the girls so much that it was a huge relief to get back on US soil.  Now that I have been home, I find that there are things about Kenya I miss.

sweet chocolate faces that lit up when they saw the "mazungas" from the USA

supper cooked by "Uncle". Fresh fried chicken, pineapples, and ugalie.

Christine. I love this girl, She's my new BFF. Can't wait to see her in September.

Kenyan sunsets

Praise and worship Congo lines.

Wonderful memories!