Potpourri

So do you guys remember that stuff that your mom had in a bowl that smelled like a perfume counter? Yep, that was potpourri. This title has nothing to do with that smelly stuff. It's just gonna be a bunch of stuff that isn't related at all...a little update of the "this and that's" of my life in a bowl.

Today was supposed to be my appointment at this clinic. Due to a family emergency, the doctor had to cancel. They couldn't reschedule until the middle of February, and that won't work for my schedule. God has definitely closed the door to that clinic and I'm not sure what He has around the corner. I believe that since I'm going to be moving, He has some plans for me that will be closer to Creston.

My next bit of potpourri is about Creston. I'm headed back there on Thursday with my parents to do some house hunting. This is both exciting and scary at the same time. I'm excited because I'll possibly be buying my first house. I'm scared because I'll possibly be buying my first house. I'm sure every one of you is familiar with these feelings. I'm very thankful my parents can go with me.

Thanks so much for your prayers and kind words. I know that God has great things in store for the future. Just as He put the perfect job along my path, I know He'll guide me to the perfect house in the right time. I'm so thankful for such a mighty and caring God.

Big News!

You may wonder why you are looking at the welcome sign for Creston. Well, it's because that's where I'm going to be moving. Yep, you heard right. What can I say, I love Iowa!

Through much prayer and God's leading, I've taken a position at Hometown Insurance that will begin in March. I spent some time there yesterday and today and am very excited. It's one of those God things. Hearing how God was leading on their end and on mine just confirmed that this is where God is directing. After I left camp I prayed that God would drop what was next right into my lap when it was the right time. And He did! Why am I surprised when God answers my prayer in such an amazing way?

Thanks for all your prayers! I'll keep you posted on all the new developments.

Health Update

I know many of you are wondering how I'm doing. I know this because I'm sure all my readers are wonderful individuals that are concerned about others. (How's that for buttering you up?) I've been able to get lots of rest during my time off and I've been relatively healthy. There was one two-week period where I was down. But I'm very thankful that it didn't last as long as it normally would.

I am going to be heading to a different doctor the end of this month. I'm getting ready to dive back into the working world and I want to be healthy and ready to give 100%. My dad did some research online and found this clinic. I'm praying they can give me some tools toward better health and that I see some results.

Thanks for your prayers and I'll keep you posted about the new clinic.

Guess What?

Guess where I got to eat for lunch yesterday?

Gazing or Going?

I heard a great message this morning. My dad was sick and couldn't preach (that's not why it was good). So Pastor Gruis filled in for him. He brought us to Acts chapter 1. In verse 11 it says, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?..." In verse 8, Jesus had just told them to go and get busy.

What a great picture of how most of us live today...including me. Instead of being busy for Christ, I'm gazing. Why? It's easier to gaze than go. It's more comfortable to gaze than go. It's more accepted to gaze than go. It's less controversial to gaze than go. Bottom line: because it's more about me than Him.

So I just thought I'd share this tidbit with you. I'm going to work on being more of a goer and doer than a gazer and watcher.

Christmas Celebration

We had a great time being all together as a family. It's been a long time since we've spent Christmas with my brother and his family, so we were very excited.

Jamie made a terrific Christmas dinner.

The kids are growing like weeds and here's a picture to prove it.


Here we are below trying to take a self-portrait. Dad thought it would be funny to get a picture of us taking a picture of us. Was that confusing? I just read it again and thought it might be confusing. Oh well, I have a sinus cold...I'm allowed to be confusing.

By the way, did you know if you take the picture from up above, you look much thinner? It's true...no double chin from up above.

And here are the kiddos again. There was a Christmas Eve service at my grandpa's church and we all went. My step-cousin, Paul is the new pastor there, so we thought we would go offer moral support. You know, like make faces and weird noises. Don't worry, we didn't do anything like that. Paul did a great job.

He here I am with the kiddos.

And here is the entire family. We haven't taken a family picture in a long time. I'm so very thankful for such a wonderful family.

I hope you also had a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior.

I'm not going to share any New Year's pictures since I was home alone with a box of kleenex at my side. Not quite a picture sharing moment.

Tradition

Tra-di-tionnnnn...Tra-di-tion..da...da...da...da...Tra-di-tion. Sorry, that word just makes me think of Fiddler on the Roof. I got a little carried away.

So anyway when we would visit my grandparents (mom's parents), my grandma always made waffles. She made them because my dad absolutely loved them. She spoiled him rotten. He still talks about your waffles and how much he loved them.

I woke up Christmas and had an epiphany. I should make Dad waffles! I asked my Aunt Donna if she had the recipe and lo and behold there it was. So we whipped em' up and surprised Dad. Well technically, we all enjoyed them.

Here's the recipe:

Grandma Wirth's Waffles
1 1/4 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup melted shortening
2 beaten egg yolks
2 beaten egg whites

Sift flour and other dry ingredients. combine yolks, milk, melted shortening and add to flour. Stir to mix. DO NOT BEAT! Beat egg whites until they form peaks. Fold into mixture. Add an extra egg when doubling the recipe.