Clam bake

So we had this awesome, once in a lifetime meal with my six of my seven RA's!

To the right I have pictured all of the 4 girls on my newest staff - Jillian, Melissa, Emma and Brianna - beautiful ladies with big hearts who love to laugh! I can't wait for this year to get into full swing!

The Center is a pic of Jesse and Melissa two wonderful additions to my staff this year!

To the left, The yummy food and great company to enjoy it with...

We hope to do it again someday for now - we call it "Once in a lifetime meal"

when you give a mouse a cookie...

So, I was making cookies last night in our new kitchen aid and thinking...

I was thinking about how grateful I was for our kitchen aid, my mom waited 25 years of marriage before getting one... The Lord has been good to us.

Then as I began to ponder my gratitude for the green kitchen aid, I how thankful I am for many things this summer... I decided I wanted to write and acknowledge the Lord for the many big and small things this summer that have blessed us!

Yes, a gratitude list, not like Oprah's, instead gratitude toward my Redeemer and friend, Jesus. Below in no particular order.

1. my precious and loving husband, Brendon

2. open blue sky and puffy white clouds

3. the bluest blueberries one can imagine

4. driving with the top down















5. the big purple couch I sit on every day and cuddle with the Lord, in the morning, and my husband, in the evening...

6. the way you moved the fog on 7-13-08


7. the hugs of three 3rd girls at once during our soccer camp


8. freezing cold water splashing you in the face as you fall into the Genessee River while white-water rafting with my brother


9. my grandma's excitement of the simplest meal ever made ;)















10. a husband who thinks of you while you are away, and redecorates the bedroom just the way you like it, as a surprise.



11. a professional conference that reminds you why you do the job you do.




















12. Kelina's Lord ordained and beautiful wedding ceremony - thanks for the sneak preview of heaven
13. meeting the Sanisaiths... a drive in movie under the stars at the Charcoal Corral
14. the gorgeous milkyway at the cottage with the Last's in Canada and the shooting star

15. the day in MN, I got to hug, all three of my previous RD's :)

16. the book "Freedom of Simplicity"

17. and the time to finish it.
18. dog sitting for Keough

19. The book of Colossians. Lord you are great!

20. A night at the Roycroft for our first anniversary

21. The Tantalus Resturant - 2 visits with great friends.
22. 14 mile bike rides.
23. the doctor diagnosing my exhaustion.
24. chatting with friends of the heart and soul.
25. the joy of being a part of a 2nd wedding for my father-in law and the joy he now has!

26. a late night conversation with my sister-in-laws... it was the way life was supposed to be...

27. my mom.


28. our bikes


29. the youth group girls

30. a conversation with an old co-worker that was challenging and inspiring - it was like I was having a face to face conversation with Jesus.

31. my sister's excitement of being in the country and with us as her family


32. Caribou coffee


33. Butter Cafe in downtown MPLS - with all my Midwest sisters!



34. time to chat with my best friend and sister at "Cupcake" in Dinkytown



35. my dad and his sweet trust in the Lord's provision for a job.

36. discovering the blogs of others...

37. music.

38. organic farming in innercity Buffalo, and the women that have a passion for it.

39. taking up the art of painting.

40. HGTV

41. wildflowers in a vase on my table.

42. discovering soul connections with a married couple in this area in which we live.

43. winning Settlers. twice.

44. almond milk ice cream.

45. the Lord restoring my soul.

46. tubing over glass like water

47. my sister's closet

48. and her generous spirit.

49. rolling hills spotted with rows of yellow corn, black and white cows and red barns

50. "He is making all things new and his mercy is new every morning."

Oh Canada

Bren and I just got home from a three day trip to the beautiful country of Canada!





We loved seeing the place of Tim Horton's, rib joints, and hockey.


So, I got sunburned and misquito bites - made me feel like I was home in MN.


We traveled to Ben and Emily's cottage on Silver Lake and then spent one night in Ottawa walking around the city and eating yummy ribs.


We were there for a pastors retreat - Ben and Brendon spent the morning quietly floating on the boat in the middle of the lake, praying and preparing for the year together... basically, getting on the same page.


While they worked - Emily (Last) and I, chilled on the dock, basking in the sun, reading and both prepared for our years ahead (Emily is going to have her 1st year of teaching and I am going to have my first prepared year, or 3rd year of RDing)...

I thank the Lord for that time on the dock. I felt a so at rest, spiritually, talking to the Lord about the year to come and resting in his presence... honestly, it doesn't get better than that.


Some day, I would love to have a cabin on a lake, to join as a family, playing together and eating well together... with the spirit of the little boy in the movie, "Angels in the Outfield"...

"It could happen."





Here are some pics from the trip!

Below: Last pic "before we died" - at the zipline course we took...
From left to right (brendon, emily, emily, ben)

Above is Bren at his best... fluttering along glass-like water.

Above: Maybe this is really Bren at his best... on the kayak, he almost loves as much or more than me... ;)

Not much to say here... just knee boarding ;)