A very merry birthday to you!

Rory turned 32 today. I was going to make him a fancy cake, but I tuckered out. Maybe this weekend I'll get inspired. Last year I decorated a cake to look like his weather defender logo, which we served to cousins out in California who I later discovered were trying not to give their children any artificial dyes. As you can see from both the shield and the Settlers of Catan cupcakes, I, myself, am not afraid of food coloring.

Our plan is to lay low tonight. Rory made his mom's birthday chicken for dinner (thanks Mom Groves!) and I'm making easyshmeasy mini-cookie-cupcake-peanut-butter-cup things. They caught my eye because 1) they are easyshmeasy and 2)I love every word I just typed out with hyphens as I described them.

Rory mentioned just yesterday that we make a good team. He said, "I just never knew you were the type of girl I needed in my life." I never knew he was the type of guy I needed either. But he is empowering, motivating, encouraging and I love who I am when Rory is supporting me. He loves me so well. So to you, Rory Groves, here's to a happy 32nd year.

another 'thank you, jesus'

I just finished day two of my Adults with Special Needs week...same programming, different participants. We were praying at the close of our worship service and I said, "And God, we're so thankful for so many things...what are you guys thankful for?" And one man said football and another lady said hotdogs (I had just announced the lunch menu before worship). I continued, "for all of this God, we are so grateful." Then a woman yelled out "and youtoooobe!" And so I added, "and we thank you for You Tube." And she yelled again, "no, youtoof!" And I said again, "you tube?" And she said very articulately this time, "no, thankful for YOU TOO."

a joyful noise

I run the Adults with Special Needs programming here at Carol Joy Holling Camp. Today we had an impromptu recital.

As we gathered for a sing-a-long a man walked up to the piano, set up his music (brought from home in a special folder) and asked for everyone to be quiet and then he prayed before his song. He thanked God for the piano and for his voice and for music. Then he cleared his throat, and began playing any which keys, singing the lyrics on this sheet music to a tune that was created as he sang it. The song was, "I could sing of your love forever" and he sang his own version with his own tune and piano part. When he was done the group cheered and clapped and he beamed and said "Thank you Jesus!"

We made pumpkin pies, painted on gourds and added googly eyes, played harvest bingo and ate hotdogs outside. I love this part of my job, but I always get so nervous before these days. I have trouble knowing how much to plan...unsure if an activity will take three minutes or thirty minutes. So I plan, and worry and plan some more. But each time I am left with some sweet reward like this man who said the words I should say more often for a job that gives me so much to be grateful for: thank you jesus.

that little camera cord thingy...

(this picture was taken at the cemetary...it was a beautiful, dreary sort of day.)

I have much more to report from our weekend of family. Like how when we got to my cousin's farm on Saturday, instead of riding on the combine (the fields were too wet) we shot tomatoes off of tin cans with big shot guns. The daughter in me who was raised to hit the deck if I ever see a gun had to calm down a bit. And in the end, I really enjoyed watching tomatoes and glass bottles explode.

We were at the farm for baby Ida's baptism. I've got some pictures on my camera of all of this (updated: just added a few), but alas, I lost that precious little connector cord that dumps my camera onto my laptop. Tough to say when that will show up again. I vaguely remember seeing it in Sara and Troy's front yard by our car and thinking that I should go back and pick that up. hmmm....

All in all, these past two weekends have been precious days of family and friends and feeling so blessed to take it all in. I drove 24 hours between my two trips to Minnesota back and forth and took in some glorious fall colors and golden corn fields. The sweet reunions with family and friends, the colorful trees, a beautiful life lived fully and celebrated even in death, and the new life given at baptism all served as poignant reminders of the beauty God has given us here on this earth. I feel full, content, joyful and happy.

This picture makes me laugh. We were practicing a chin down, eyes up flattering picture pose. It just makes me laugh because we're all doing it so purposefully. ha.

Sara Groves: Fireflies and Songs

We stayed with Sara and Troy when we were home for Papa's funeral. Man do I love family sleepovers. This might be the biggest perk of moving out of state. I miss my family so much, but coming home and getting to stay at one of their houses is the greatest. Eating cereal together in pajama's is just one of the lovely perks of family sleepovers...that sweet time when everyone is still yawning and rubbing eyes and talking through the day ahead.

All this to say, we soaked up our niece and nephew time, played hard and were very, very sad to have to leave. Sara and Troy live their life so fully, and have taught us so much about marriage and the gift of following God as a married couple. They are so honest and open and teach quite vulnerably through their personal experiences. This new album is fantastic...a less produced sounding album, a bit more like what you hear in concert. The songs are, as always, thoughtful and so fearless leaving me to wonder quite a few times on the first listen, "did she just say that?!! I hope she just said that!!!" The following pictures are from their website. They're doing a prerelease sale right now, and I would recommend getting in on it.