Conquering the Stick Shift

I have been driving an automatic for the 6 years that I've been driving. I've never really felt comfortable driving anything else. Today I forced to face my fear of the stick shift and drive Patrick's car to work. Mine needs to get the tires rotated and alligned before we go on our trip this weekend. He had a half day today so he gets to drive my easy breesy car and I get his shift.

I had a little bit of trouble BUT I did it! I stalled about 5 times just trying to get out of the parking spot (it was parallel parked) and then drove the whole way to work (on the highway) with the E brake on. YIKES! I didn't go over 55 because I was scared and it sounded funny (probably because of the emergency brake being on...). Now I know and hopefully the ride home will be better!

Pin Cushion

Which would you rather have?
or

I'd definitely say these!

Fall Decor

Here's some of my fall decorations so far. I'm kind of taking the gradual approach to my decorating:) I'm slowing putting it all together. This wreath was a wedding gift and was on our door last year, now I've moved it to our mirror... I think I like it.

Marley and Me

Patrick and I finally watched Marley and Me. Since we have had Kirby, many people have commented on how much Kirby resembles the dog in the movie and have highly reccommended the movie to us. Well we finally did it. We ordered (for the second time since we've been married) a pizza, picked up a movie and made a night out of it.

I thought the movie was really cute. The guy at the movie store told me to be ready to cry...I did. Patrick didn't. But he did say he got the knot in his throat:)

I think I liked it so much because 1. the puppy looked so much like Kirby does. 2. We can relate to a lot of the things they experienced with their dog... haha I couldn't quit cracking up when they were driving with him and he practically jumped out of the car and they caught him by his hind legs. That happened to us! We didn't have to pull over like they did. But I seriously barely caught him by his tail and hind legs. 3. Kirby cracked us up while we were watching it. He just sat and stared at the tv for the longest time. He liked Marley:)

Kirby has been a much better puppy for us than Marley was for his owners:)

This is how I found him last night. I did some sewing after the movie and he likes to come in there and sleep.

Is this in my job description?

I work at a bank whose mascot is a bear. The other day I was messing around and wanting to loosen the mood a little at my branch so I put this on...

that led to putting the whole costume on. I went around peeking into offices and making customers laugh.Now, they've signed me up to go to a local elementary school next week with our branch manager. There will be 120 kindergarteners and me dressed up like this.

I'll let you know how that goes!

***UPDATED***

They just told me I've been replaced. :(

FALL

Happy first day of FALL!!.

I think I may have to make pumpkin cookies to celebrate.

What's going on

This weekend I tried to sew to my little heart's content and do a few other creative things. Here's what I made:

I started off by painting this piece of wood and hammering some nails....


While the paint dried, I made a few dog collar things for someone who will be getting them in the mail this week. Kirby was kind to model them for me:)
Then it was back to this project.... A board with a ton of nails that just so happens to display all my thread.
I also ate a WHOLE heck of a lot of this!

Wishful Thinking

Some days my mind just starts dreaming up all these dreams. Today is one of those dreams.





Like being able to make a cutie patootie skirt like this


Or having a little restaurant where I can cook all kinds of yummy country style food. Where people come in and it feels like home.

Or simply being able to stay at home, raise my many future children, bake, make clothes, grow vegies in the garden and welcome my wonderful husband home from a good day's work.

Maybe someday:) But if not.... I'll be content and completely happy with what the Lord does choose to give me.

JT

Went down for another visit with the new little man, here are some pictures from the weekend.









after first Sunday at church

My Weekend Plans

Septemeber 11, 2009

It's hard to believe how fast time goes by. I remember on Sept 11, 8 years ago I thought I'd never see this day. At age 13, I thought the world was ending and I'd die no older than 14 or 15... I realize I was a little dramatic, but my world was seriously shaken. I had always felt safe and thought no one would ever want to do such harm and evil to anyone else.

Since then, I have seen more clearly the evil effects of sin in a depraived world. Without Christ, we are all at enmity with our Creator and one another. Events like 9/11 help us to hold loosely to this world and yearn eagerly with all creation for the coming of our Lord.

Romans 8:22-23 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Here is a prayer from The Valley of Vison:

A Present Salvation

CREATOR AND REDEEMER GOD,

Author of all existence, source of all blessedness,

I adore thee for making me capable of knowing thee;

for giving me reason and conscience,

for leading me to desire thee;

I praise thee for the revelation of thyself in the gospel,

for thy heart as a dwelling place of pity,

for thy patience and thy graciousness,

for the vastness of thy mercy.

Thou hast moved my conscience to know how

the guilty can be pardoned,

the unholy sanctified,

the poor enriched.

May I be always amongst those who no only hear but know thee,

who walk with and rejoice in thee,

who take thee at thy word and find life there.

Keep me always longing

for a present salvation in Holy Spirit comforts and rejoicings,

for spiritual graces and blessings,

for help to value my duties as well as my privileges.

May I cherish simplicity and godly sincerity of character.

Help me to be in reality before thee

as in appearance I am before men,

to be religious before I profess religion,

to leave the world before I enter the church,

to set my affections on things above,

to shun forbidden follies and vanities,

to be a dispenser as well as a partaker of grace,

to be prepared to bear evil as well as to do good.

O God, make me worthy of this calling,

that the name of Jesus may be glorified in me and I in him.

Trip to Hubers

A few weeks ago, a group from church headed up to Indiana to pick blackberries and apples. Of course I brought along the camera to document our findings. These blackberries were the biggest and tastiest I've ever had.

Arrival Of A New Nephew

My sister gave birth to her first child today at 1 o'clock in the morning. He is adorable and they are both doing great!

More of the Bear

The Skirt

Made this skirt for niece, Audrey for her birthday.

Senior Pictures

Patrick had a shoot with a senior from Eastern High School Saturday evening. Olivia is one of his sister's friends and she was kind to let us get more experience in the senior pictures deptartment. Here are two of my favorites.

Go to his blog to see more.