tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100739872023-11-16T05:07:20.233-06:00CaptivatedTune my heart to sing Thy graceGinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-86990180897915274992011-11-20T20:24:00.000-06:002011-11-20T20:24:24.271-06:00Our Gwynnie-pie!!So much to say!!! We have been parents for nearly 6 months now, and I just haven't been able to find words to describe how much joy Gwyneth has brought to our lives. Every night we sing and pray over her before she goes to bed and my heart is often overwhelmed with gratitude to God for allowing us to be her parents. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hTbJZ8E4mtIaD-DftwiMecekvSWX824fyL0vzdrF1AdDVddQ9KJ6Ni1uLKx9Md4lu82pAN5Kx0m9Grhd94jcxV8uU38byWmJc5YIKnq4xVO2GD22K7uggTnPQDEfmupjHM1KhQ/s1600/P1010500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hTbJZ8E4mtIaD-DftwiMecekvSWX824fyL0vzdrF1AdDVddQ9KJ6Ni1uLKx9Md4lu82pAN5Kx0m9Grhd94jcxV8uU38byWmJc5YIKnq4xVO2GD22K7uggTnPQDEfmupjHM1KhQ/s400/P1010500.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Can you even handle that grin:)?!? <br />
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Parenting is not the only new thing that is happening in our lives! Steve's business (in-home care for elderly) is now up and running and God has answered our prayer that I would be able to be home with Gwyn most of the time. I LOVE my days with her. It is so fulfilling pouring my life and heart into her. Watching her has helped me to know and understand the love of God a bit better. For example, I love Gwyn so much right where she is at today. Though I look forward to her growing to maturity, there will be infinite joys and grace during the process. God's love for us is like that too! He is so patient and gracious with us, loving us more than we could imagine right where we are <i>today</i>. Awesome!!!Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-90902767488533011632011-04-30T21:08:00.000-05:002011-04-30T21:08:11.491-05:00Life Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WddY0cbAjsDKxe6EIwFZFflyT2nvQj3Xp5sXP0upNflok3kJvSsGneC5KdcEVCBA9ir1jGjkRBMTay3DGUxlnBLJpwSk1Zt5RF__DrCukufWOCjpDbiMrqQoHWcymDHWFeoP4A/s1600/P1000721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WddY0cbAjsDKxe6EIwFZFflyT2nvQj3Xp5sXP0upNflok3kJvSsGneC5KdcEVCBA9ir1jGjkRBMTay3DGUxlnBLJpwSk1Zt5RF__DrCukufWOCjpDbiMrqQoHWcymDHWFeoP4A/s400/P1000721.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Hoo-ey... well, with only 28 days (approximately) left until we meet our babe, let me fill you in regarding the joys of pregnancy:<br />
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1st trimester = never-ending nausea and fatigue<br />
2nd trimester = wicked back pain and fatigue<br />
3rd trimester = swollen ankles, multiple night-time trips to the bathroom and, you guessed it, fatigue <br />
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I have been at the mercy of this little one for the last 9 months and, though there have definitely been times of complaint, for the most part I've loved it. Sometimes the baby's kicks and jabs make me laugh out loud because of their force or timing. It's miraculous to see my whole belly move with new life. I love having little "bonding" times with my babe... just chatting about things or poking him/her and then he/she jabs back. Sometimes I put music on my belly and we have worship times together. Steve and I so desire our children to know and love the Lord Jesus. We realize that our kids will be our <i>primary</i> ministry focus during the coming years and this is exciting! We are contemplating these verses in Deuteronomy:<br />
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<i>Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise</i>. Deuteronomy 6:4-7<br />
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Isn't it amazing that immediately following what Jesus says is the <i>greatest</i> commandment (Mark 12:29-31), we are instructed to be continually about the business of teaching these things to our children. It's a high calling and I have to admit that there are times I feel terrified and unqualified. I have to trust that God will give us the wisdom that we need, and I'm so thankful for my husband's Godly leadership.<br />
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Side note... as pregnancy draws to a close I have occasionally found myself thinking, "it will be so nice to have my body back." While I was thinking this a few days ago the Lord brought to mind 1 Corinthians 6:19, which says, <i>Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.</i> It was a great reminder that what I often think of as "mine" really isn't. During this season God has chosen to use my body to grow a miracle, and I am so thankful. But during other seasons it is still not my own... He has given me this body to use for His Kingdom, so whatever He calls me to do, I need to do it! What a privilege. <br />
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In a few short days we will be holding our baby in our arms and that is thrilling! I tear up just thinking about it. Since I was a tiny little girl I have wanted to be a mother. I used to want only dolls that looked like real babies, and when my little sister was born I mothered her as much as I could and hoped people would think that she was MY baby:). We know that we are in for a massive life change, but we know that it's going to be good. Thank you, God, for allowing us to be parents. Every good and perfect gift comes from You!!!Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-66490486059516849962011-01-14T15:48:00.003-06:002011-01-14T15:54:28.273-06:00First Pics!!I'm so in awe of God. We have been counting down the days until we could see our sweet love on ultrasound, and today was the day! It was amazing. I cried and cried. Here are some pictures of God's awesome handiwork!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP6isUSXrkwEXuYkql8B5prUk51pzGVjxDI7DVXY2Dx7eGGS6IQJTtk22GiHHdYXiSbjdi0VGRQgI_PYnsPpnZtPEXdgGdpwRvkBVfDpwpxQ6ahTnR1rnHXdt6rfb52unRYHiwA/s1600/EXP0003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP6isUSXrkwEXuYkql8B5prUk51pzGVjxDI7DVXY2Dx7eGGS6IQJTtk22GiHHdYXiSbjdi0VGRQgI_PYnsPpnZtPEXdgGdpwRvkBVfDpwpxQ6ahTnR1rnHXdt6rfb52unRYHiwA/s400/EXP0003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562162302043141810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLatrwEj9mMJSE1fGTBmawC-WnB0x4dcKqJhzLq5xVq8c3bxj5_Apw46phaSMyMt-0L72rARhZDwklr8OgfcUdjatprr_DRhLYF4R-Dhl6HBzA4w5LVa-mJQBh1su6MxzjBqKU6Q/s1600/EXP0007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLatrwEj9mMJSE1fGTBmawC-WnB0x4dcKqJhzLq5xVq8c3bxj5_Apw46phaSMyMt-0L72rARhZDwklr8OgfcUdjatprr_DRhLYF4R-Dhl6HBzA4w5LVa-mJQBh1su6MxzjBqKU6Q/s400/EXP0007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562162308386402338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3ht9LkHidH2cNVy1te-6Ncm2rV8oZLXm-VdOFC2XEhX9l2mT4FBiDhYX5sZ1bETG6x_52GtbMSQFIUEvhzcg5xgPRjlgRGtjJaMp0tjVsi_9YKg9GaGl1wK17po7Ang3CwDqhA/s1600/EXP0013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3ht9LkHidH2cNVy1te-6Ncm2rV8oZLXm-VdOFC2XEhX9l2mT4FBiDhYX5sZ1bETG6x_52GtbMSQFIUEvhzcg5xgPRjlgRGtjJaMp0tjVsi_9YKg9GaGl1wK17po7Ang3CwDqhA/s400/EXP0013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562162303304336002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-qzDBxKpHcHOa0YkdbGMRIx0omZPkMEL8wBGcqoJb2t8jMApwqgE-h4mNdeCsy4ezQJw6qLquAaL4ckcnwIeNIvRRnwccfpqNoRf-zX32i8MqfmuXj23XYB254SycnfbePKHhg/s1600/EXP0000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-qzDBxKpHcHOa0YkdbGMRIx0omZPkMEL8wBGcqoJb2t8jMApwqgE-h4mNdeCsy4ezQJw6qLquAaL4ckcnwIeNIvRRnwccfpqNoRf-zX32i8MqfmuXj23XYB254SycnfbePKHhg/s400/EXP0000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562162304162195906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcVyBPvyInlL94MNJza2LsjwUWDes1Lv60CuAh8ohFuV2viQQpJ6fSo_s7YPh8mJaZOR1xiQAiOMmK0U8EgORXZRH0Vv7xSTB3obScyNjuESZN1D47hx3XxXKlfoTS5L26uvYtg/s1600/EXP0009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcVyBPvyInlL94MNJza2LsjwUWDes1Lv60CuAh8ohFuV2viQQpJ6fSo_s7YPh8mJaZOR1xiQAiOMmK0U8EgORXZRH0Vv7xSTB3obScyNjuESZN1D47hx3XxXKlfoTS5L26uvYtg/s400/EXP0009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562162298424535042" /></a><br /><br />P.S. We're waiting until delivery day to find out our baby's gender. Any guesses?Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-74092230193807378212011-01-08T21:03:00.004-06:002011-01-09T08:14:16.831-06:00Let everything that has breath...Praise the LORD.<br /><br />Praise God in his sanctuary;<br />praise him in his mighty heavens.<br />Praise him for his acts of power;<br />praise him for his surpassing greatness.<br />Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,<br />praise him with the harp and lyre,<br />praise him with timbrel and dancing,<br />praise him with the strings and pipe,<br />praise him with the clash of cymbals,<br />praise him with resounding cymbals.<br /><br />Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.<br /><br />Praise the LORD<br /><br />Psalm 150<br /><br />He is so worthy!!! I can hardly find words to express how powerfully we have seen God at work over this past year. It has been painful and beautiful all at the same time! After the loss of our first baby in May we both knew that the Lord was moving us from Colorado. So, with a combination of sadness and excitement we went off, halfway across the country to a new home in Wisconsin and many surprises! In addition to being very close to Steve's family and much nearer to mine, we have found here an amazing church family and have been challenged and stretched in our walks with Christ like never before. We also were so blessed to meet a couple who are actively involved with Hands at Work in Africa, the organization I spent a year with in Mozambique. Through this divinely orchestrated friendship and other things as well, God has stirred our hearts in a fresh way to be involved with the plight of the orphan and widow. We are praying about how this will be lived out in the years to come and trusting God to lead. We became licensed foster parents this year and are respite providers. This simply means that we help out other foster families when they need to be gone and can't take their foster children, or when there is a placement for whom a family cannot be immediately found. We desire to do more, but at this point our grueling work schedules do not allow it. But, very soon we hope this will change!!! <br /><br />Steve and his brother are very busy working together on an awesome business opportunity that is most definitely the provision of God for our family. More on that in the future! We celebrated our first anniversary in September and are now <span style="font-style:italic;">eagerly</span> awaiting the birth of our baby who is, at this very moment, making me smile with his/her busy activity in my womb:). May cannot come soon enough! <br /><br />We feel exceedingly blessed, but it has not come about easily, and for this I am actually thankful. All of the change, the stress and the pain of loss and uncertainty this year has challenged our comfort zones and complacency in our walks with Christ and in our marriage. We have desperately needed God and found Him waiting for us to turn to Him. We have seen our sinful tendency to be more consumed with desire for the 'American Dream' than to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. We have realized that more of our thoughts rest on football teams, shopping trips and our plans for the weekend than on loving God and our neighbor, and this is to our shame. We have so far to go, but are thankful that God is not leaving us alone but doing the work of refining. Have your way, Lord Jesus. <br /><br />Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.<br /><br />Praise the LORDGinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-9662349577238275802010-07-05T18:46:00.003-05:002010-07-05T21:30:15.481-05:00It's Been A WhileA lot can happen in a few months it seems! I was just reading over my last post and am amazed by all that has transpired since then. To write in detail about it all would take approximately forever, so I'll just give a brief synopsis...<br /><br />We discovered with delight in mid-March that our first child was on the way! No one could have been more thrilled than we were... we talked to the baby, prayed, planned and dreamed. At 10 weeks I was scheduled for my first ultrasound and we counted down the days. Everything had been going well...<br /><br />We saw our baby but something was very wrong. Too small for 10 weeks and with no heartbeat, our precious child was already with the Lord and we were devastated. Our amazing Colorado Springs family surrounded us in the ensuing horrible hours and my mom, sister-in-law, and best friend arrived two days later to be with us while I went through surgery and while we recovered emotionally. Anyone who has had a miscarriage knows how much it hurts... my arms literally <span style="font-style:italic;">ached</span> to hold my baby. <br /><br />But God. So many times I've seen those two words throughout Scripture and lately they have gotten my attention. But God. He was there in our grief and gave us grace to worship him through our sorrow. As tears flowed we remember that God lost His Son... he knew how we felt. We are so grateful for His nearness in our brokenness and though we would love to have our child back, we have peace. <br /><br />Within a week after our miscarriage we both knew that it was time to move. God had been putting such a burden on both of our hearts to move closer to Steve's family in Wisconsin. We began making plans, notifying our landlord that we would move when our lease was up at the end of June and notifying our places of employment of our plans. We didn't have any jobs lined up but knew that God would provide... He was leading us, after all. He DID provide! Steve is pursuing a position through classes and an internship that would result in the job of his dreams and I have the job of my dreams in a large children's hospital in Milwaukee working in the pediatric ICU. We just moved last Thursday and are getting settled in! We spent the weekend with Steve's family and my family is flying in for the coming one. We feel God calling us to pursue becoming foster parents and are beginning to work on getting licensed. Foster children so desperately need loving, stable homes and we are so excited about this new journey! <br /><br />We're not where we thought we'd be, but we're thankful. The Lord knows what He is doing and I believe that now more than ever! I have a feeling that He is going to do some awesome things in the coming months... I'll try to keep you posted.Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-74462849432837914512010-03-01T12:03:00.004-06:002010-03-01T12:18:42.890-06:00Looking Back to EgyptWhen Satan tempts me to despair<br />And tells me of the guilt within <br />Upward I look and see Him there<br />Who made an end to all my sin<br /><br />I find so much hope in this beautiful verse of music. For a long time I have felt beaten down by all of the ways that I fall short of the glory of God. I don't feel worthy of His mercy and have therefore settled into a life that looks strikingly similar to the rest of the world. I was reading in Acts yesterday morning where Stephen is talking about Israel and says something absolutely tragic. "And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt." (Acts 7:39b) Though they had seen God do miracle upon miracle, yet they forgot all of that and yearned for their former life of bondage! How easily I do the same. My days fill up with work and social events, acquiring "stuff" and wasting time watching tv, even busying myself with church activities. How easily I forget that my first and greatest calling is to "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5) This week I have been on my knees, returning to my first love. It is a great place to be. <br /><br />Because the sinless Savior died<br />My sinful soul is counted free<br />For God the just is satisfied<br />To look on Him and pardon me<br />To look on Him and pardon meGinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-44138595817921387472010-02-25T18:20:00.004-06:002010-02-25T18:45:00.072-06:00My African BrotherI have dubbed February the 'month of guests'. Creative, right? No? Ok you're right. Anyway, our home has been filled with people almost constantly this month and we have loved every minute of it! We were positively delighted when we found out a few weeks ago that Carlos Giua would be coming to visit all the way from Mozambique. Carlos and his wife, Pascua, and their two daughters were our family in Mozambique and leaving them was very difficult. Since that time they have had another daughter and a son and continue their amazing work of loving their neighbors selflessly. Their love for Christ is so obvious and the first thing we always did when stepping into their home for a meal or tea was to pray together. <br /><br />Carlos had never left Africa before and it was a blessing that he was able to obtain a visa and make the trip to the US for a month to travel and speak. I was thrilled that Carlos and Steve would at last have a chance to meet. While we were waiting at the airport for Carlos to arrive and searching the crowds for his face I told Steve, "you will know who he is when you see his eyes." And, in fact, Steve spotted him first. There is a light and a joy in his eyes that comes from being with Christ. It reminds me of the book of Exodus when Moses comes down from Mount Sinai and he is not aware that his face is radiant because he has spoken with the Lord. Such a beautiful thing! <br /><br />One of the really special moments of his short time with us was when he saw snow for the first time! We all laughed as he jumped in it and we showed him how to throw snowballs (of course) and slide on the ice. The Olympics were just starting so we watched some of the skiing and Carlos kept saying, "OH. Is it real?!?" and laughing and laughing. Carlos was able to share about the ministry of Rubatano with many of our friends one evening. There are so many believers in Mozambique who are doing an amazing work of reaching out to orphans and the sick and dying. Please be praying for Carlos as he continues to travel and speak for two more weeks. Pray that the Lord would provide for the needs of Rubatano. The needs are, indeed, great but our God is greater!!!! We were very sad to see him go, but as always, Carlos reminded us that "We are together." <br /><br />Here are some photos... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCTDr_s_xS60movYCmJn5Vyxy67bQagi6_c6lxZ90PH2rk4GAEOf9uSsOuHXYeERPyYU8g3TzqFQw3IVtJAIiq1S7cl2CZ6cCVvjN26COf78YDC6vQOkPx1cSqN8nVLEfpD6Pow/s1600-h/DSCN0768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCTDr_s_xS60movYCmJn5Vyxy67bQagi6_c6lxZ90PH2rk4GAEOf9uSsOuHXYeERPyYU8g3TzqFQw3IVtJAIiq1S7cl2CZ6cCVvjN26COf78YDC6vQOkPx1cSqN8nVLEfpD6Pow/s400/DSCN0768.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442345664082031202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCxfQWzwIrQezuVcQegNw3KIUvePy8TwRkJEp2JtLKDWHpuw7mqLtuxJ0-o2INZICrazqHsoVnegt-wG5-_eXZcrz75068onhgrqoNDb9ECYIJ3UcBUUcbfVeb76HgDRAmjSKUA/s1600-h/DSCN0769.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCxfQWzwIrQezuVcQegNw3KIUvePy8TwRkJEp2JtLKDWHpuw7mqLtuxJ0-o2INZICrazqHsoVnegt-wG5-_eXZcrz75068onhgrqoNDb9ECYIJ3UcBUUcbfVeb76HgDRAmjSKUA/s400/DSCN0769.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442345648917193858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqe7phzBxduMdgb-pQEi3rGyln1wfkv2LqichIF49VEUlZihXnZXqNDwEpRsUGe9pRyBwkb-fWoB9_2ozJ_ht_HkG6ZNJ7quGyVgZzxA37AfEUltkwt2nXvcakSWpL8NH5Kpiwg/s1600-h/DSCN0770.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqe7phzBxduMdgb-pQEi3rGyln1wfkv2LqichIF49VEUlZihXnZXqNDwEpRsUGe9pRyBwkb-fWoB9_2ozJ_ht_HkG6ZNJ7quGyVgZzxA37AfEUltkwt2nXvcakSWpL8NH5Kpiwg/s400/DSCN0770.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442344929260520338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiD7_ZOPflYjLtJs1-w61i13NWcxoaY3mKjpUu4SS-zJjjHQkf0qQZn_J2JXSblicRYuQzxzBx1LBBwaG6PliSL_Pq8SbAftCEvlCzhE9zndXQopSLUozo2Kn8BNirb7qfe4EhA/s1600-h/DSCN0771.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiD7_ZOPflYjLtJs1-w61i13NWcxoaY3mKjpUu4SS-zJjjHQkf0qQZn_J2JXSblicRYuQzxzBx1LBBwaG6PliSL_Pq8SbAftCEvlCzhE9zndXQopSLUozo2Kn8BNirb7qfe4EhA/s400/DSCN0771.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442344919893705266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Y1im4b1-6JWGiHr1_-VB-HIzcn04IlcIPN7c7m4sZ1AbIYXeaw79puN4bM6ilKI3VdGOa3k6XZGD74ezXcZw5A1CKQTXmJBkw2IHvjHWctsLHenq4jguPyzuw4_pBLHvITZq5g/s1600-h/DSCN0774.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Y1im4b1-6JWGiHr1_-VB-HIzcn04IlcIPN7c7m4sZ1AbIYXeaw79puN4bM6ilKI3VdGOa3k6XZGD74ezXcZw5A1CKQTXmJBkw2IHvjHWctsLHenq4jguPyzuw4_pBLHvITZq5g/s400/DSCN0774.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442344905118954386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8heHg5N6td58UEhk-akcrwJHyhyphenhyphenRF2B8UK2pFVbpWyK7N5TvITBvE-ypzqRAXTpbg6ZV954wUzsq4qt9s6zzRJJut7Abvu76GtA2UvgX6n3G2q2oV3WZH-u_CPmoCIBIpUVSLA/s1600-h/DSCN0778.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8heHg5N6td58UEhk-akcrwJHyhyphenhyphenRF2B8UK2pFVbpWyK7N5TvITBvE-ypzqRAXTpbg6ZV954wUzsq4qt9s6zzRJJut7Abvu76GtA2UvgX6n3G2q2oV3WZH-u_CPmoCIBIpUVSLA/s400/DSCN0778.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442344897200703330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU-Mqe7bmHWbXGWPk_cC1zGORdqvTgE6coc799xd1yN-_VcLrjasI1Wn5CKtdQ1fLb6VvSRq_sKRRfJFjqfaHZdwoasujNw5IL-igX0dq4ulBMq1tPTPehf4qKLR8lvRkofkdpg/s1600-h/DSCN0780.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU-Mqe7bmHWbXGWPk_cC1zGORdqvTgE6coc799xd1yN-_VcLrjasI1Wn5CKtdQ1fLb6VvSRq_sKRRfJFjqfaHZdwoasujNw5IL-igX0dq4ulBMq1tPTPehf4qKLR8lvRkofkdpg/s400/DSCN0780.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442344885200293426" /></a>Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-47614160810923558832010-02-10T10:35:00.005-06:002010-02-10T10:53:32.040-06:00Fun ArtWe had been looking for something spiffy to put on the large wall above our bed and just couldn't find the right thing. We finally found this so Steve put it together and.... TA DA!!! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS52CTTqNDBTZbCarfwwFRvNqOzkmRCwU7yZ0atU-PFVa1QX3IJrv9AXrSzLgcWk_mDhKQwTy3nLYtj2BhuzjirSD-WjaU0WW6OvvQX6gx2cJjdqqw84zNsSF1OYiC2wm1l7ycg/s1600-h/DSCN0764.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS52CTTqNDBTZbCarfwwFRvNqOzkmRCwU7yZ0atU-PFVa1QX3IJrv9AXrSzLgcWk_mDhKQwTy3nLYtj2BhuzjirSD-WjaU0WW6OvvQX6gx2cJjdqqw84zNsSF1OYiC2wm1l7ycg/s400/DSCN0764.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436658134832330530" /></a><br /><br />Makes me smile.Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-14320924932256893752010-02-09T11:46:00.008-06:002010-02-09T12:31:44.015-06:00The HapsAbout that eggnog. I suppose we should have been suspicious when the only liquids called for in the recipe were 2 cups of rum and 1/2 cup of milk. It was, how do I say, <span style="font-style:italic;">potent</span>. All but a couple sips of it went down the kitchen sink. But we had fun making it! And we'll try a different recipe next year. Here's a pic... even the smell almost made me pass out... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66IyfbTe3g6FkXMb4aNxsx7cPCOvPLiGA5aUaR8wbjieRTl3atQpy7vdrc5WW3fsFOCeOaaGnx4Dy-00ayVUrHO_uVFryDpVRh5Ea5TC0aDymfzM9znfEmc6fJGobTNPwuWPZFg/s1600-h/DSCN0704.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66IyfbTe3g6FkXMb4aNxsx7cPCOvPLiGA5aUaR8wbjieRTl3atQpy7vdrc5WW3fsFOCeOaaGnx4Dy-00ayVUrHO_uVFryDpVRh5Ea5TC0aDymfzM9znfEmc6fJGobTNPwuWPZFg/s400/DSCN0704.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436302291620690994" /></a><br /><br />To continue on the note of failure, the Super Bowl was last Sunday. <br /><br />I am very sad. <br /><br />The Vikings weren't in it.<br /><br />WHY?!?!? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1Jw5y7s3xlSlcUKjs81eDbvlS7tnLCqbINPi3C5GI1fL7pRSAUzw_B9IOHyYJ7ij-1hC-7YknpU4LblFMs7G5hTKZ-oAUHWwwp7rSYcNpHIBau3ATrIVUVWZ2kdbxI9jWoAZoQ/s1600-h/DSCN0738.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1Jw5y7s3xlSlcUKjs81eDbvlS7tnLCqbINPi3C5GI1fL7pRSAUzw_B9IOHyYJ7ij-1hC-7YknpU4LblFMs7G5hTKZ-oAUHWwwp7rSYcNpHIBau3ATrIVUVWZ2kdbxI9jWoAZoQ/s400/DSCN0738.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436303564802551442" /></a><br /><br />As you can see we were good fans and I was clearly not afraid to give up my dignity. But once again I find myself saying... there is always next year. <br /><br />One of my favorite people of all time, Megan, came to visit a couple weeks ago. It was good times, good times. While she was here we went on our very first snowshoe expedition. See below. While we braved the wilderness Steve and Sean went skiing. Steve had a little incident involving a face-plant:)... hence the band-aid you will see on his nose. I love that guy! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eiYyUITzRjArldajuBBOxTkFcfZ2aVijQSmhjNVVQNM9z7tXwbpyK4iAaUtZBo6s_odMLZHTQ0PbyVkv4fO2LFykRDIldOJPgWmwX6QbvUqloOu6P91EFQV-CJi_Tw5Um3orQw/s1600-h/DSCN0739.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eiYyUITzRjArldajuBBOxTkFcfZ2aVijQSmhjNVVQNM9z7tXwbpyK4iAaUtZBo6s_odMLZHTQ0PbyVkv4fO2LFykRDIldOJPgWmwX6QbvUqloOu6P91EFQV-CJi_Tw5Um3orQw/s400/DSCN0739.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436307197727786610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd0wYk9gSedQPQ7LxzAu2DY4peY59d5B4cbnK7Zwn7McrVCiBoGlwQ9vQKz8Rm0YxB7IvgO4ULgcSIEdWdjSwl00UNpbTa8y3TV5M54UTHjgfxhQmwoA3ocVqGj5vfGl2bAW3Ug/s1600-h/DSCN0740.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd0wYk9gSedQPQ7LxzAu2DY4peY59d5B4cbnK7Zwn7McrVCiBoGlwQ9vQKz8Rm0YxB7IvgO4ULgcSIEdWdjSwl00UNpbTa8y3TV5M54UTHjgfxhQmwoA3ocVqGj5vfGl2bAW3Ug/s400/DSCN0740.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436307205039866018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3RcEhCWn51bfW-nOq0-Wz-bDK31qrnBmLEPo8-mbtqrIsKmNu_-FC7w0YDZ6rPI1fVaoHjx71u9n8rBmcVPYD5-f_MkpAsu_ybaPAiNXBH8XrJ3SMbVAfTvRc5PiO24n8KMaJw/s1600-h/DSCN0741.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3RcEhCWn51bfW-nOq0-Wz-bDK31qrnBmLEPo8-mbtqrIsKmNu_-FC7w0YDZ6rPI1fVaoHjx71u9n8rBmcVPYD5-f_MkpAsu_ybaPAiNXBH8XrJ3SMbVAfTvRc5PiO24n8KMaJw/s400/DSCN0741.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436307214895259714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCHV0_MghTbZKbF0W_rFcIbhogVIsjHmVMAQL5ZDM9cOXOQ3qgBka_auK48m_tSFG87oHMNV3HCjfZp1FMoIyM7AaSYNR4IqFoM-2Zc-chPGvlCzIoG5-DO9VbO-fNdmEW6bL-g/s1600-h/DSCN0745.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCHV0_MghTbZKbF0W_rFcIbhogVIsjHmVMAQL5ZDM9cOXOQ3qgBka_auK48m_tSFG87oHMNV3HCjfZp1FMoIyM7AaSYNR4IqFoM-2Zc-chPGvlCzIoG5-DO9VbO-fNdmEW6bL-g/s400/DSCN0745.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436307222409015426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JdJxVemXD94Wa0xkNGg4sQ-hdGo8T13ewqsfoOsIBcq7mEo__jKolMZfFabP2l6NDBCr5ZBde9u2mZJa96vIR4bBgR4t7rBMHb30vB7s1kqWqrKdnRXSH7u5ch6NDuZiwQ5tPw/s1600-h/DSCN0748.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JdJxVemXD94Wa0xkNGg4sQ-hdGo8T13ewqsfoOsIBcq7mEo__jKolMZfFabP2l6NDBCr5ZBde9u2mZJa96vIR4bBgR4t7rBMHb30vB7s1kqWqrKdnRXSH7u5ch6NDuZiwQ5tPw/s400/DSCN0748.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436312240979108498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SG88X1dffK3SwR7xKP_TKIF1U8VzxvSifnWjGWmDbXzIOEkVfIwJdDlmWhi0yUqy7ovPnu3K2Ps8xRzGkPJPm6dqg0eC-qve7pPIqQi_sdWUfOgem8x9c42mWtFnhviho4mfbA/s1600-h/DSCN0742.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SG88X1dffK3SwR7xKP_TKIF1U8VzxvSifnWjGWmDbXzIOEkVfIwJdDlmWhi0yUqy7ovPnu3K2Ps8xRzGkPJPm6dqg0eC-qve7pPIqQi_sdWUfOgem8x9c42mWtFnhviho4mfbA/s400/DSCN0742.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436312439252104290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu5Pbi6kWxs_rUOnNRSEmpzPzIctUtACs8W9GX93FYi_sFZYfoMb0_wWEzA4hBuT1R0TOKJtleEjby8upEriYcyhcqGEQDWfJQWEnm1vbniU-cFiH4MRguLj-bORNCllofgZy7Q/s1600-h/DSCN0750.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu5Pbi6kWxs_rUOnNRSEmpzPzIctUtACs8W9GX93FYi_sFZYfoMb0_wWEzA4hBuT1R0TOKJtleEjby8upEriYcyhcqGEQDWfJQWEnm1vbniU-cFiH4MRguLj-bORNCllofgZy7Q/s400/DSCN0750.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436312227557251378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixW4Lh3HFUZQEiH2cbPpJR1mU2hqFQcoWj8XD7od9JaHiVcO5kHSR0O0Ln6r-qoHm43E09FwWE3uPN96JOPwlp3_VeXjgkIzAKYHfD49gsr3fU0GJ12G2QR2uyou5iEky4VXVHVw/s1600-h/DSCN0752.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixW4Lh3HFUZQEiH2cbPpJR1mU2hqFQcoWj8XD7od9JaHiVcO5kHSR0O0Ln6r-qoHm43E09FwWE3uPN96JOPwlp3_VeXjgkIzAKYHfD49gsr3fU0GJ12G2QR2uyou5iEky4VXVHVw/s400/DSCN0752.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436312221052493794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuNIlP4WELhpN1qlXxFCm7TEcVCU6r3BjmFv2m-7OZlQwN-w40VMMHQLcPur1zxONSNxMNHb58VKV4FLWnMEso_NaBZWDOLzp3SC0HcPgO1opHh7XW6mR_xF3c3DqYyORuomyoA/s1600-h/DSCN0755.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuNIlP4WELhpN1qlXxFCm7TEcVCU6r3BjmFv2m-7OZlQwN-w40VMMHQLcPur1zxONSNxMNHb58VKV4FLWnMEso_NaBZWDOLzp3SC0HcPgO1opHh7XW6mR_xF3c3DqYyORuomyoA/s400/DSCN0755.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436312251855244706" /></a>Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-8978202464973044342009-12-22T02:45:00.010-06:002009-12-22T03:49:47.265-06:00Eggy-nogThere are only 3 days until Christmas but I am having a hard time believing it considering today was a sunny 50 degrees and there are only a few struggling patches of dirty snow hiding in the shade. Steve and I will be celebrating our first Christmas as a married couple away from our families and have high hopes of going sledding... SO... I never thought I would say this, but, "COME ON SNOW!!!!" Our other Christmas plans involve making homemade eggnog (scary... I'll let you know how that turns out) and enjoying the Christmas tree that we had to put in our bedroom because it was too girthy for the living room:). It's my first real tree ever and I love it so much. The pine smell is sensational! <br /><br />Last week I got to spend a few days in North Dakota for a little bit of family/friend time. There is so much going on! My little sister is half-way through her junior year of high school and I am SO proud of her. My dear friend Tiffany is engaged and it was so much fun to see her and talk about wedding plans and see how happy she is. My beloved Sarah-ki is expecting a baby!! She is due in June. After all of our talk in Africa about our fear of old maid-hood and here we are, blessed beyond belief. Thanks God for hearing our prayers and knowing our hearts!!! <br /><br />I started a new job in November and couldn't be happier about it. The long home healthcare hours and never-ending paper work was taking its toll. I am now back in the hospital and working nights on the pediatrics floor. As much as I loved the NICU I am enjoying Peds even more because of the diversity in age and diagnosis. Since October I have been taking an online class in Forensic Nursing and at my new hospital have an opportunity to take Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner classes in March/April and join their SANE team. Who would have thought that I would love this area of nursing so much? I suppose it makes some sense, since my heart has always been broken for prostitutes and the injustice which angers me more than any other is human trafficking. I see God at work in this whole process, and hope that some day I will be able to be a part of rescuing women and children from sex trafficking rings as well as making sure their captors and the people paying for sex are convicted of their crimes. Steve and I have been praying a lot about where God is leading us and what He is calling us to do with our lives. We have prayed about Africa and seriously considered moving there. But, at least for now, we don't feel like that is the direction we should go. I feel broken about many things (Africa being a huge one) and want to be involved... but my wise husband often reminds me that in order to maximize effectiveness I need to focus. So, with much prayer and God's evident leading, I am diving head-first into sexual assault nursing and we will see what He does! <br /><br />Steve continues to amaze me with all of his hard work as Children's Ministry Director at our church. It's all very new to him, but he's doing a fantastic job. When he is not at church he invests a huge chunk of time into making me laugh... over and over and over again. Every evening we spend together I think to myself, "this was the best evening ever." What an amazing gift... marriage to my best friend. <br /><br />Our prayer for 2010 is that the Lord would bring us to a greater degree of maturity in Him. With all of the great teaching available to us at the click of a button, it is easy to sacrifice the irreplaceable reward of digging in to God's Word and letting Him speak to our own hearts. Sometimes we can listen to a 45 minute sermon online and feel that we have done our duty, but we accomplish nothing if we are not seeking Him ourselves. This Christmas I am so grateful to God for His patience with me, His grace which covers me, and His love which I understand ever-so-slightly more this year than ever before.<br /><br />Here are a bunch of wedding photos for those of you not on facebook... much love and Merry Christmas!!!!!! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlv1RhkSU3JfLnvMZKolpf3rGfVaALtVDiCozEVRJ0iv6ub6aDHCzsh-8Q0RE0Gyj2OO8WYYHvTS9eolyoDDPC1ZpUh9iWLpAabjjDpAPDqgafINq18B-6IZ3pRyrbmLDhmVrKnQ/s1600-h/IMG_4334.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlv1RhkSU3JfLnvMZKolpf3rGfVaALtVDiCozEVRJ0iv6ub6aDHCzsh-8Q0RE0Gyj2OO8WYYHvTS9eolyoDDPC1ZpUh9iWLpAabjjDpAPDqgafINq18B-6IZ3pRyrbmLDhmVrKnQ/s400/IMG_4334.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417992784881346162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwc-DQrMyfFqv0YC-OZNXgcE3uMx0GVnfnmswfjuSh8XyFjhqeMK-VbC4ms_pTTCDhEIJdo_tkM__xrhnBfy7RnHF_cyGldxMOzRCQ_8gBYxWHa-Cr71bZhlqfThXZ8ems1E84xA/s1600-h/DSC_4827.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J8XAoNuomJI4tnYfD1OcGoV_Sc_QcNy1B6-u1SmJ3mgI2HVu87BcFZqeGEWZ2phLa1VSbJx5kTdWg6q2WDhp-iRgTwzlpoENOCyLOmko9qJG4UDBSAsNypiyxllP5xy90G9ZFQ/s400/DSC_5684.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417988700565176546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ek8PYAeIAhXhDIUVFtkBfWNruXW6TaoH4eOZxTvDgEAo2WF5dgQ0HftGLPLI4rtZMoCNrK2Zxx07O4UudX8qn4IEVKbAcuYb4v53ic1ljvGgE0h9pgzcnsDP95KBBEI49ZxP9Q/s1600-h/DSC_5660.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ek8PYAeIAhXhDIUVFtkBfWNruXW6TaoH4eOZxTvDgEAo2WF5dgQ0HftGLPLI4rtZMoCNrK2Zxx07O4UudX8qn4IEVKbAcuYb4v53ic1ljvGgE0h9pgzcnsDP95KBBEI49ZxP9Q/s400/DSC_5660.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417988690997039202" /></a>Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-88256273080885029892009-09-30T14:40:00.007-05:002009-09-30T17:49:39.705-05:00Married LifeHere we are, nearly a month after our wedding and finally getting settled back into a routine. My heart feels so full today I just had to sit down and write about it. Our wedding day was my every dream come true and we savored it all. There was really only one "oopsy" during the ceremony... our sweet nephew Caden took a tumble down the stairs after performing his ring bearer duties like a pro. He was more startled than hurt, I think, and sat down with Grandma and Grandpa. There was also that minute I felt like I might faint during Pastor Jon's awesome message but it wasn't from nerves... my corset was laced a tad too tight:). How did women use to manage wearing those awful things all day? Anyway, after staring at the floor for a few seconds I felt better. Being surrounded by so many people that we love so much while choosing one another for life was just completely amazing. Newlyweds generally start out poor, but we are truly RICH in all the ways that matter. <br /><br />I love my husband more than I could ever express, even though I now know that he starts snoring when he rolls onto his back at night. He quits when I poke him, so it's not a problem in the least. Unfortunately for him, he has now discovered that I am a bed hog... tossing and turning relentlessly... all night long. No amount of poking can make me quit. I think he is adjusting but maybe he's just saying that to make me feel better. <br /><br />We had a few days at home before going off on a 7-day cruise of the Western Caribbean... don't even get me started on how fantastic that was. Now we're back home but it's not even sad because I get to LIVE with my BEST FRIEND. That is the best deal of all!!<br /><br />Not only did I become a wife on September 6th, but I also became "Aunt Ginna". I have been waiting for this title for a long time and couldn't be happier to have it now. On Monday my 5-year-old niece, Autumn, called with some good news. <br /><br />1. "Mommy is having the baby today."<br />2. (Said with MUCH more excitement) "I just lost my first tooth!!!!"<br /><br />What a big week! We have been eagerly awaiting little Austin's arrival, and we now have 3 nieces and 2 nephews. And precious Autumn is down one tooth:). <br /><br />One of the things we decided to do while on our honeymoon was set some goals and stick to them. We will have a lot more time on our hands now that the wedding is over and we don't want to waste it. Neither of us have been working out... at all... for a very long time. So we set a goal to start going to the gym again 2-3 times a week. We have been back from our honeymoon for almost two weeks and have been to the gym zero times. I, for one, am not at all upset about this. It's not only because I enjoy sitting on the couch more than running on the treadmill (although that is obviously true). As crazy as it sounds, as soon as I stopped running and going to the gym I promptly lost 15 pounds, and I don't want them back!! I'm not trying to promote laziness as an ideal weight loss program but hey, it's worked for me. I think running just makes me excessively hungry and since I run slowly I feel that I am burning more calories than I actually am. Whatever the reason, I have mixed feelings about our fitness goals. Perhaps I'll go to the gym with Steve and just walk from machine to machine, laugh under my breath at how ridiculous people look while exercising, and take lots of trips to the water fountain while my husband gets buff and I <span style="font-style:italic;">will</span> myself to stay thin.Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-55671942952027626842009-09-02T13:22:00.003-05:002009-09-02T13:44:21.705-05:00I Failed at Part 2 :)**Generally I try to reign in my urges to use excessive amounts of exclamation points, but I could not control it today. Sorry about that.** <br /><br />Oops! I had such good intentions of blogging more thoughts about this engagement season. I have discovered that wedding planning is, in fact, not as simple as I thought it would be and time has gotten away from me. The wedding is on Sunday!!!!!!!! Can I get a WOOP WOOP?!?!?!?!? Being engaged has been fantastic. I have gained so much of a better understanding of what it means to be the bride of Christ, and how diligent I ought to be in preparing for His coming. I have also gained a better understanding of the unsearchable depths of God's love for me through Steve. Our relationship is positively wonderful, but it takes work to keep it that way! It is the same with my relationship with God, yet I am so quick to neglect it. Wasn't His design of marriage such a fantastic idea?! While being a blessing to us, it also points us to Him and creates a deeper dependency for Him.<br /><br />Like most females, I have spent a good many years dreaming about my wedding. As the day approaches the top 3 things I really cannot wait to experience are... <br />1) Getting to wear my beautiful dress!!<br />2) Having the doors of the church open and seeing Steve!! We will both be an emotional mess I am sure.<br />3) The pronouncement of husband and wife. I know it would not be wise to jump up and down, but will I be able to contain it? Doubtful. <br /><br />On that note, I need to finish packing before we board our plane for North Dakota tonight! Steve and I covet your prayers, and look forward to seeing many of you this weekend!!!!!!!Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-52400713546843150172009-08-02T22:35:00.009-05:002009-08-03T07:50:45.421-05:00Saying I Do - Part 1Not that anyone is counting, but in 35 days I will be Steve Cross's bride! Though part of me is tempted to fill the rest of this post with the famous cyber smiley faces I will spare you the sappiness... for now. The thought of our rapidly approaching wedding day fills me moment by moment with almost every emotion under the sun. During the past few days we have been working on our vows and this morning I was in tears of reverence as I thought through what they mean. These are no ordinary words! I am committing before God and witnesses that I will take this man to be my husband and love him for the rest of my life as I love myself. Even to put him before me! "Lord, are you kidding me?!" The very idea seems utterly ridiculous. Now don't get me wrong, Steve is a <span style="font-style:italic;">wonderful</span> man. The problem is not with him but with me. The truth is I am painfully in love with my own desires and comforts. Never have I <span style="font-style:italic;">ever</span> loved someone above myself. God's intention for marriage is that the two should become ONE flesh. We all know the sad truth that marriage in our society is suffering. Divorce rates are sky-high and often the marriages that do last are ones of learning to tolerate each other rather than celebrating one another. It seems to me that merely 'surviving' in marriage is no great victory. Call me crazy, but I believe there is so much more. This wondrous design of God can never succeed without His direct enabling and working in us to change us more and more into His likeness. We love because He first loved us, says 1 John 4:19. <br /><br />In short, for this high calling of marriage I feel inadequate. I desperately need God to strip away the dark and selfish places of my heart and fill me with His love. How thankful I am that in Him there is an endless supply!<br /><br />More to come...Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-63464828431081582302009-06-23T14:13:00.007-05:002009-06-27T10:11:03.481-05:00No FearDo you remember the clothing line that was hugely popular about 15 years ago? Everyone walked around with shirts that said "NO FEAR" in all different fonts and colors with graphics of scary looking faces next to the logos. It was a fad much like any other fad (pogs and slammers anyone?). Clearly no one wants to be considered a scaredy cat. But I must admit that I am! <br /><br />If there is one thing I shouldn't be, it's fearful. God has led me and protected me through so many situations where I shouldn't have felt safe but somehow did. I wasn't afraid in Africa or in Asia or even as a cook in a strip club. Well, not after a couple of weeks anyway. But somehow when it comes to the day to day issues of life I find that I am a complete worry-wart. I worried myself ragged that perhaps I would never meet my handsome prince. Perhaps God would want me to stay single and I would be an old maid missionary. Then God blessed me with Steve and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Beyond my wildest dreams! Then I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to find a job I loved that had good hours, and now I have a wonderful job that brings me great joy... most of the time. There is always something to fear. Recently I have had a couple of difficult patients and started worrying that I could make one mistake and end up losing my nursing license. Then there's children. Steve and I are constantly talking about and praying for the children we long to have. But what if we're like one of the other countless couples who for whatever reason can't seem to conceive? These are just some of the things over which I want to have control and don't. I think the times where it was easiest to have faith in God were the times when I knew without a doubt that my life and well-being was 100% in the hands of God. But isn't that ALWAYS true? <br /><br />This week I've been thinking a lot about Isaiah 26:3. "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." No matter what the future holds, my God is in control. I absolutely believe that mentally, and I really want that truth to be planted deep in my soul.<br /><br />"There is NO FEAR in love. But perfect love drives out fear..." 1 John 4:18Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-56391146780626835702009-06-13T18:21:00.000-05:002009-06-13T19:21:26.430-05:00My LubOn February 14th this year a few of us were playing Valentine Scrabble. Steve and I had tweeked the original rules so that any love-related word yielded a 10-point bonus. Despite my best efforts, I was stuck. One of Steve's roommates came over, peeked at my letters, and quickly pointed out a couple letters that would work. No one gets too uptight when this happens because I am really not much of a Scrabble threat. I was uncertain about the word Sean pointed out but he seemed confident and he is intelligent, so I laid down the letters to form "Lub". Apparently the word he wanted me to spell was "Lube" but I didn't think of that. Steve looked at "Lub", gave me a funny look and said, "what's lub got to do with it"? They gave me the points and even the 10-point bonus and ever since that day Steve and I have called each other "My lub". <br /><br />Second only to God's saving grace, Steve Cross is the greatest blessing I have ever received. He is the man I used to dream about when I would daydream through Cinderella and Snow White. Because of my "lion" personality, my parents used to wonder what kind of man would be able to handle me. Nobody knew precisely what kind of man I needed, but God did. Steve has a way of leading me that is so strong and so gentle. He is wise and loyal and exceedingly patient. At times when he could get really irritated he stays calm and just loves me. The love he offers is such a beautiful picture in the flesh of the way Christ loves me. <br /><br />We met "randomly" on August 15th of last year while I was passing through Colorado Springs. I was driving from Texas to Montana to start a travel nurse contract and met up briefly with my friend Alecia. She invited me to a birthday party for one of her friends. When Steve walked into the room and we were introduced we liked each other immediately. I felt this very strong sense that there was something different and very special about this handsome man. Later that evening I told my best friend that I had just met the man of my dreams, but I wasn't sure I would ever see him again! But then I was invited over to his house to play cards, then out for lunch the next day, then on a Saturday breakfast that lasted all day long. All too quickly it was time for me to leave for Montana, but we both knew it wasn't the end. <br /><br />September 6th, 2009 is our wedding day. We have had a blast planning the details of our wedding day, but even more fun preparing for our life together. We signed our first lease (I move in July 1st!), found some basic furniture, and got a joint checking/savings account and have started budgeting together. We are both passionate about marriage and family and love to dream about what God might have in store for us. If the Lord blesses us in this way, we positively cannot wait to be parents! What a true treasure to raise children with the man I adore. We don't know where God will lead us, but whether here or on the other side of the world we will be together. Marriage will be a challenge, we are sure, but we look forward to how God will draw us closer to Himself through it. And we pray that our marriage will be a blessing to others and that it will point people to Jesus. <br /><br />A couple of weeks ago our friend Matthew took some engagement photos of us. Here are some of them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWmHwxR4xhPUyZ9j0MDZbVEi7oYX5En0gM5D0q7I0mzTtq3VdxeBhtDXpDgKO5xeK5CBv713mBO_WNHmVjbA6lSbaPgoiwLSGCsVmGc-qVJ_x9ZGm7pCKFWyw-h5JZY1u9bmJYg/s1600-h/4269_576571604059_33806258_33805514_3392554_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWmHwxR4xhPUyZ9j0MDZbVEi7oYX5En0gM5D0q7I0mzTtq3VdxeBhtDXpDgKO5xeK5CBv713mBO_WNHmVjbA6lSbaPgoiwLSGCsVmGc-qVJ_x9ZGm7pCKFWyw-h5JZY1u9bmJYg/s400/4269_576571604059_33806258_33805514_3392554_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346971245346398034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDLFx-VtMvfa1wqHOFXfmzVizwlJgbaLhiUQ8h3lebK06QaoxHTf2VTye2ehUJIT9DwqLvUOoE_xrZwe2OV_Rx1mkzZ_WrF4YG1dCwKMfzBvZUboeEWeFO6L1sSJ-RqOD5cidTw/s1600-h/4269_576571599069_33806258_33805513_117588_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsIy5YnaQNntMVFNlKrune6XTnPSf8X-dOAWTPJVS8JY_bYo-ueudpuPGIbx6NiaT_ssl4aTKYVMP1vRGZb9NUbmN7VU0meXfnfjF5yIeyl2Jekwj2EGplG2SamQZGMg2P9s0JA/s400/4269_576571484299_33806258_33805490_6824863_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346970369917374018" /></a>Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-59975500909715600622009-05-17T22:59:00.008-05:002009-05-17T23:04:39.378-05:00Joy Unspeakable<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5icE1vPcOMJzxn0Z9mPoFcGH97BiigVroAKu6qMp3aFy_6RNC-F0WLQjCGVHYaSiro_w-R5GkKovFoeJdRDdXwjBV_vSrtrEQ5iNOvVWBOcQwbyEoFaW4w6rY92m4SrXFd2ctQ/s1600-h/DSC04061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5icE1vPcOMJzxn0Z9mPoFcGH97BiigVroAKu6qMp3aFy_6RNC-F0WLQjCGVHYaSiro_w-R5GkKovFoeJdRDdXwjBV_vSrtrEQ5iNOvVWBOcQwbyEoFaW4w6rY92m4SrXFd2ctQ/s400/DSC04061.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337008889062887442" /></a><br /><br />The Lord has blessed me beyond words with a man after His own heart... a man that I have spent a majority of my life praying for and longing to meet. I will write the whole story soon, but for now I wanted to post a picture taken just minutes after Steve asked me to be his wife! We're looking at dates in early September or the end of August. I CANNOT WAIT to be Mrs. Cross!!!Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-64588461044132540252009-03-24T16:36:00.003-05:002009-03-24T16:40:36.464-05:00Keep the Conscience Clause!!!You may have heard about President Obama's plan to rescind the Conscience Clause, which was put into place by President Bush to protect medical professionals who are pro-life. If Obama overturns this decision, pro-life doctors, nurses, etc. will all be required by law to participate in abortion procedures even though it completely violates our beliefs. As an RN this will directly effect my future career, as I would never be able to work at a job where participating in an abortion would be a possibility. The announcement was made on March 6, 2009, and the White House gave a 30-day opportunity for people to speak out about this issue. There are only a few days left for all of us who believe in the sanctity of human life to make our opinions known. Please go to the link below, sign the petition and spread the word! <br /><br /><a href="http://beheardproject.com">http://beheardproject.com</a><br /><br />Thank you and God bless!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16</span>Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-19919579883116204342009-03-10T18:50:00.002-05:002009-03-10T19:25:56.703-05:00My Pals the ElderlyTwo months into my new and <span style="font-style:italic;">completely</span> different-than-the-NICU job here in Colorado Springs I am finally getting into a groove. It's not a deep groove, mind you, but it's there. Suddenly I find myself completely comfortable asking, "Did you have a bowel movement today?" and "Can I check your bottom for pressure sores?" <br /><br />Now, since I've brought up bowel movements, I cannot contain myself from going there. My mother is an RN and when Josh and I were kids we were not allowed to call a #2 "poop". It was a BM. That, she claimed, was the correct and least crude way of referring to this touchy subject. However, as we started making friends in school and at church we quickly realized that calling it a BM was certainly not what the cool kids were doing. We got teased relentlessly and quickly changed our terminology to be more socially correct. Though I have adopted the nursing term now, I have made a mental note to never do this to my children:). I love you, Mom!<br /><br />Back to my job. For the most part home care here in Colordao works like home care in Mozambique. The only real differences are that I drive around a company Jeep rather than Suzie-Roo (personally I liked Suzie better) and carry a navy duffel bag rather than a big red backpack. That and I understand the language around here which is a nice change, but Sarah is not here and I hate that with a passion! The vast majority of my patients are over 65 and hilarious. If they are hard of hearing the visits are generally even more comical. Last week I asked a lady to take a keep breath and she responded, "TAKE MY TEETH OUT?" She had them halfway out of her mouth before I could stop her. Some are skeptical of my youth and look surprised when they open the door and I am standing there in my pink scrubs. One gentleman asked me if I was still in high school and I assured him that I was qualified to take care of him:). I'm learning SO much about how to dress various types of wounds, how to assess the heart and lungs, how to teach patients about CAD, CHF, diabetes, and seemingly endless other ailments. The continuity is wonderful, and I can develop relationships much more than I could in the hospital. <br /><br />Having an 8-5 job has made it much more possible for me to spend a good amount of time with the Lord in the mornings, which I need desperately. I had gotten out of that habit working 12-hour shifts when I had to leave the house at 6:15am. I would easily convince myself that I needed the sleep more, but that just is <span style="font-style:italic;">never</span> true! How MUCH I need Him to help me in my great weakness and to show patients His love and care. I used to think that nursing was just going to be a job, but I am seeing more and more how God created me to use nursing, wherever I am, to bring Him glory. <br /><br />Time to go. I'm reading 'Poor People' by Fyodor Dostoevsky and can hardly put it down. Call me a geek, it's fine. Just be aware that I may, at some point, publicly ask if you are having regular BMs. <br /><br />How did your parents teach you to refer to this touchy subject? Will you or are you doing the same with your kids? <br />Comments, please!Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-60612286540502133722009-02-18T15:53:00.007-06:002009-02-18T16:43:08.823-06:00If You Love Someone, Tell 'Em!Recently I received a friendly reminder from my aunt that I am really slacking with the 'ol blog. It's not that I don't enjoy writing on here, it's just that *blush*... I enjoy spending time with a certain someone a whole lot more. But today I am done with work early and ready to get back in the groove. <br /><br />It probably doesn't need to be said that Valentines Day was last Saturday. Everyone knows when it comes and everyone reacts differently... either very positive or very negative. My personal V-day motto is that you can never go "too overboard". People need to hear that they are loved. I certainly do! Some say it's a holiday invented by Hallmark. I don't believe there is factual evidence to back up that claim, but even if it's true I wouldn't mind. It's a great day regardless. I did a little digging this year and discovered that a primary reason for the cynicism is that most people view Valentines Day as a strictly romantic holiday. I found this information astonishing, because for me it has <span style="font-style:italic;">rarely</span>, and I mean RARELY, been that. But since childhood I remember fondly getting chocolate "I HEART U" letters in the mail from my Aunt Kirsten and giving cards with candy to all of my classmates. One year in high school I had a basketball game, and my dad had a teammate put a beautiful card in my gym bag which I got after the game. I cried. In college my brother and I would spend Valentines Day together and it was always a great time. One year my dad brought me so many roses that I tried to trim them several at a time and nearly chopped my finger off. What an amazing man! It has never even been the gifts that made me feel so cared for, but the thought behind them. I love Valentines Day. Just typing about it I'm already excited for next year. <br /><br />But that's jumping way ahead. This Valentines Day was the best <span style="font-style:italic;">ever</span> (sorry dad)! The night before Steve and I got a heart-shaped pizza from Papa Murpheys. Honestly it wasn't the best tasting pizza ever made, but the shape completely made up for that. On Saturday we played "Valentine Scrabble", which was our own rendition of Scrabble with bonus points awarded for love-related words. Then I went home to get dressed up and Steve made an amazing dinner and the BEST homemade cheesecake I've ever had. And I'm not just saying that! It was white chocolate raspberry, my favorite. Then we went to see one of our favorite comedians, Brian Reagan, and finished the evening by fonduing with friends and playing cards. Here are some pics!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDR_CmPgkZqZ3WvZUhi6Ko-V9U0fDdPv-AFZEx-9q20pGzPlAuxnFyhliZhSGVhrYZotG3QAKl1Fecrc0eNuPbsAQL6kbG1PUBBQ4AcY-q-v4tDStkUyskfuMERg4zDs4IvgX8w/s1600-h/DSC04024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDR_CmPgkZqZ3WvZUhi6Ko-V9U0fDdPv-AFZEx-9q20pGzPlAuxnFyhliZhSGVhrYZotG3QAKl1Fecrc0eNuPbsAQL6kbG1PUBBQ4AcY-q-v4tDStkUyskfuMERg4zDs4IvgX8w/s400/DSC04024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304270203929675698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJKdXzFk9QHRvOxe358bRTLpIad3HR5tW95EysEwvv4DhGX42vnMPGYbvtvW0QJMeXSDl8vi4JE6Br0BpQYFbscMpD1uhrDCvQ580Dx3NJ1AF6x8NKmC5GSj5czV9PNAghyghYA/s1600-h/DSC04022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJKdXzFk9QHRvOxe358bRTLpIad3HR5tW95EysEwvv4DhGX42vnMPGYbvtvW0QJMeXSDl8vi4JE6Br0BpQYFbscMpD1uhrDCvQ580Dx3NJ1AF6x8NKmC5GSj5czV9PNAghyghYA/s400/DSC04022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304270203401464578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0XNnSLm38nGM3H22zch6AUSviFc3ARgjW9aC0p6cLSwR-txXekdvw-0TgwD0pMkRKzdTatwi7i-mwWHCUKzUyOS1wOtsKxgTqRKiANYermpo2SIhKpDXd-OzcdiBWJSendCeeQ/s1600-h/DSC04030.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0XNnSLm38nGM3H22zch6AUSviFc3ARgjW9aC0p6cLSwR-txXekdvw-0TgwD0pMkRKzdTatwi7i-mwWHCUKzUyOS1wOtsKxgTqRKiANYermpo2SIhKpDXd-OzcdiBWJSendCeeQ/s400/DSC04030.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304269989866355362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC4OfJr1YPtV0eGZuup5FLYG3uBzGdRy5CSnJFLZZaH5QCOgReuDrHPvbgLPDpbE3Z-PksK539Bjkv9ebwMEOueLYx6PHQMxAJq4JHrI3BTqdcQdkEXwP_tNHQO-rWAfjqrlJUg/s1600-h/DSC04029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC4OfJr1YPtV0eGZuup5FLYG3uBzGdRy5CSnJFLZZaH5QCOgReuDrHPvbgLPDpbE3Z-PksK539Bjkv9ebwMEOueLYx6PHQMxAJq4JHrI3BTqdcQdkEXwP_tNHQO-rWAfjqrlJUg/s400/DSC04029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304269989276614098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rPCGBIbCernVS6XYOn0liA6iPa2dwWePXEAE-vVk2EuceggbC9vxowLTO757VUOgLUdg_cPx3QVmyyZ8I00g1nkPIfdUyVOwYbAWKzirmPh0EkHxeRxeIAZ5tI-VeOWeceKtgg/s1600-h/DSC04035.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rPCGBIbCernVS6XYOn0liA6iPa2dwWePXEAE-vVk2EuceggbC9vxowLTO757VUOgLUdg_cPx3QVmyyZ8I00g1nkPIfdUyVOwYbAWKzirmPh0EkHxeRxeIAZ5tI-VeOWeceKtgg/s400/DSC04035.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304269804299302562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLb3MSoRuYrN-cE5GiYBJXFkqR8frsX4nGkXshdxWPI7yuCQfX1Than0tkYcA8yFZBiLkVQ3BQlHzbsIIo0Ds4f9Rc0vX-YIr4jaFeuQ2VCLLhr2Xb2rwekhhZL7WHegLd3I_Eg/s1600-h/DSC04032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLb3MSoRuYrN-cE5GiYBJXFkqR8frsX4nGkXshdxWPI7yuCQfX1Than0tkYcA8yFZBiLkVQ3BQlHzbsIIo0Ds4f9Rc0vX-YIr4jaFeuQ2VCLLhr2Xb2rwekhhZL7WHegLd3I_Eg/s400/DSC04032.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304269804323523010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWdHYYPu7BlEgj9AC1PKiYmavSFmQ9-h2f8tuvXHo0vzFvNI9wcPdnTboGH4BLiKVGHSPfHNrtd3oA8qwAhluzGUxoxyzalL-Zem27iVpl-nIC3cbr4aAMgDlqk0hAgMPMLyWlg/s1600-h/DSC04038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWdHYYPu7BlEgj9AC1PKiYmavSFmQ9-h2f8tuvXHo0vzFvNI9wcPdnTboGH4BLiKVGHSPfHNrtd3oA8qwAhluzGUxoxyzalL-Zem27iVpl-nIC3cbr4aAMgDlqk0hAgMPMLyWlg/s400/DSC04038.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304269550603082434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUc6aJ7DAfJWSybYdi3RxOqc1rkmVyVqRoy9AMHBsm2aRnLuHCJ-Ikf0Ahj5vdAP0_oZSDGb-iS9yqpbC8_YGU9s7AZrsPJUkNjzwJIgXi20guSRg7nsHDjOPsgJmuS2mkclPeQ/s1600-h/DSC04040.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUc6aJ7DAfJWSybYdi3RxOqc1rkmVyVqRoy9AMHBsm2aRnLuHCJ-Ikf0Ahj5vdAP0_oZSDGb-iS9yqpbC8_YGU9s7AZrsPJUkNjzwJIgXi20guSRg7nsHDjOPsgJmuS2mkclPeQ/s400/DSC04040.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304269545373072434" /></a><br /><br />As for what else is new, I started helping Steve out on Sunday mornings with his preschool class. This past week it was just the two of us and seventeen 3-year-olds. We both agreed that 17 is <span style="font-style:italic;">too many</span>, but we all had fun. At one point I had 3 kids on my lap and I looked down to see a little boy with his messy finger at my eye level saying "I have a boogey!" Priceless. Steve was quite a trooper trying to get them to settle down so he could tell a Bible story! Next month Steve has a softball league starting and I will hopefully get to play sometimes as a sub. I really like batting but the outfield is... a different story. So Steve has been teaching me how to throw not quite so pathetically "girly", and I think real progress is being made! Tomorrow we are starting ballroom dance lessons!!! Guess whose idea that was, tee hee hee? I am SO EXCITED. <br /><br />My new job is awesome. I'll have to post something about that soon!<br /><br />XOXOGinnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-86321741563631206892009-01-15T19:09:00.003-06:002009-01-15T19:32:22.775-06:00Happy ThursdayUff da. Anyone else say that a lot? Oh well, I guess I do. Though not so obvious in North Dakota where Norwegian slang is the norm, it seems a little out of place here in Colorado. Try as I might, it's a habit that's not going away any time soon. <br /><br />My new job started on Monday and boy do I have a lot to learn. I've switched from neonatal intensive care and 12-hour rotating shifts to home health care and semi-normal hours. When I was looking for jobs this one just flew out at me. I loved home care in Africa and I knew it would be a good stretch for me and that I would learn oodles. So I'm very excited!! The problem is I know next to nothing about adult nursing. Sarah and I set our own schedule and pace in Africa and were able to just figure things out as we went along. Additionally, with the language barrier we weren't really able to recognize complicated medical diagnoses. We did what we could and prayed a lot. I can handle that! But I think I'd get fired if I just did a coin flip for my patients here. Hmm. Heads, "Maybe I can do something to help you." Tails, "YIKES! You're doomed." Though my coworkers encourage me by saying I can think of these patients as "big babies", I'm not convinced. It's not that I don't have my ducks in a row... I'm just not sure I have any ducks at all. Fortunately there is a really good orientation and I'm trying to spend evenings studying up on my med/surg nursing from back in college days (that makes me feel old). Everyone I work with is <span style="font-style:italic;">wonderful</span> and to top things off I get a company Jeep! Plus I enjoy getting to be out and about in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains every day rather than cooped up in a hospital. I'll really miss the babies though. <br /><br />It's Happy Thursday! Around here that means there is a new episode of The Office on tv and we're all going to watch it together. At the moment I have Jeopardy on in the background. I always listen to the very top question because sometimes... <span style="font-style:italic;">sometimes</span>, mind you, I know that answer to that one. During the rest of the show I try to tune out.Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-1547292737904390452009-01-09T09:22:00.011-06:002009-01-10T10:29:37.968-06:00Too Much CutenessThese are Steve's nieces and nephews. They are off the charts!!!!<br /><br />Kenzie is 7 months old and is definitely an angel baby.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge55hGE-tdae8iS7xGlaMawJ8c8tUYuZF6qVr_n7HWJf2ApIWGbThj-G6rNPmqcqXLCHnNDwQmfwyDiTvaepfVEJgHHNdIaynvDo9e5ODDvhGMP920EnRm8EJINNEJ2VohN-39UQ/s1600-h/n576086168_1358637_1324.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge55hGE-tdae8iS7xGlaMawJ8c8tUYuZF6qVr_n7HWJf2ApIWGbThj-G6rNPmqcqXLCHnNDwQmfwyDiTvaepfVEJgHHNdIaynvDo9e5ODDvhGMP920EnRm8EJINNEJ2VohN-39UQ/s400/n576086168_1358637_1324.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289315904322404210" /></a><br /><br />Caden is 2 1/2 and proudly showing off his Christmas sweater. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMj2AXMtqvhAR4eR45Y6wEGJvOvwJES0nYDlXgSsLNo0Tu-0sZ4N8VP-Lq9Qdy9yXveZFpwZ2L4oU3-otdrFfH9XZy9Q1x5AYWhOw5jwRLuTjHQNI9f4TY3_JRve7WrggHdXPerA/s1600-h/n500044365_1309101_6637.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMj2AXMtqvhAR4eR45Y6wEGJvOvwJES0nYDlXgSsLNo0Tu-0sZ4N8VP-Lq9Qdy9yXveZFpwZ2L4oU3-otdrFfH9XZy9Q1x5AYWhOw5jwRLuTjHQNI9f4TY3_JRve7WrggHdXPerA/s400/n500044365_1309101_6637.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289315839248383906" /></a><br /><br />This is Nathaniel who is brand new as of Thanksgiving! In this picture he was scowling because he was gassy. I'm not sure what my excuse was... perhaps the same?? <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecBun5TnE9dQEfMtqo8rx4VRCrevY_k_EwJ4a3RX5s_qBKn7kwMB9YIC0GtLXJhyphenhyphenFtXPASx9wTDIsBfXb0F5rpfEsoIC7vLS_fyEzuo8Yl8R8mST1nZuwGaZLBRY0v5rwXk1ExQ/s1600-h/n500044365_1309111_9744.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecBun5TnE9dQEfMtqo8rx4VRCrevY_k_EwJ4a3RX5s_qBKn7kwMB9YIC0GtLXJhyphenhyphenFtXPASx9wTDIsBfXb0F5rpfEsoIC7vLS_fyEzuo8Yl8R8mST1nZuwGaZLBRY0v5rwXk1ExQ/s400/n500044365_1309111_9744.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289315731737775378" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eDZmf_K8O2mbbMwBEF-hOQ9vaZIKhCROQF45Na5rGuScDuyNAw_AIqbVHOKBRzKklf-U2fFVHP-J-M_zpsZVH78-DVj9htQZnPNcQJokkE8AZGZrlNJeUI69fVI-0uIYXA_WBg/s1600-h/n500044365_1309103_7241.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eDZmf_K8O2mbbMwBEF-hOQ9vaZIKhCROQF45Na5rGuScDuyNAw_AIqbVHOKBRzKklf-U2fFVHP-J-M_zpsZVH78-DVj9htQZnPNcQJokkE8AZGZrlNJeUI69fVI-0uIYXA_WBg/s400/n500044365_1309103_7241.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289315730995396802" /></a><br /><br />Autumn is quite the character! In addition to many other games, this talented 4-year-old trounced me in Wii bowling. I mean, it wasn't even CLOSE! Yikes. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb3VGfO3Tc5hXrBWmvFZWhA08uHSr3nCEuLdGv7qkmT3sM3V0TvPEJJw2zRwiY7OxRrimGyYjir3y8A0QkZ2Yjh_K8qE2v5fGNe4m1-_7oDnj-iIgWS0cmE3BdkxjIOXdiy3lew/s1600-h/n576086168_1358639_2083.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb3VGfO3Tc5hXrBWmvFZWhA08uHSr3nCEuLdGv7qkmT3sM3V0TvPEJJw2zRwiY7OxRrimGyYjir3y8A0QkZ2Yjh_K8qE2v5fGNe4m1-_7oDnj-iIgWS0cmE3BdkxjIOXdiy3lew/s400/n576086168_1358639_2083.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289315627781834306" /></a><br /><br />Autumn LOVES her Uncle Steve. Because of that I managed to find favor in her eyes also:). <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPPaCV5I7p77Wx_h-5G3CXGmWTzAH1bPUldQcAMit5F0d8LAMQr9bZiRtpJzadKVjcleJenQA14svHKInIFRA1RWsmcDdPiDKKN7NSsrKBblyh68MiyMDocQTUbuA2W-3-MKQ0w/s1600-h/n576086168_1358640_2396.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPPaCV5I7p77Wx_h-5G3CXGmWTzAH1bPUldQcAMit5F0d8LAMQr9bZiRtpJzadKVjcleJenQA14svHKInIFRA1RWsmcDdPiDKKN7NSsrKBblyh68MiyMDocQTUbuA2W-3-MKQ0w/s400/n576086168_1358640_2396.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289315533335939122" /></a><br /><br />This is totally unrelated to Christmas and Steve's nieces and nephews, but it's a fun photo and I'm very excited about my new home in the mountains of Colorado! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVflR9o2lKtJNu6hd1qt9yE15kiE6wMMqXuu9Y14N3b5ia_OGslEkb7xfmyXR_YWQfDwkfFuWsaqUCRGmvpfIMP2FbWccPL-phFT6-mDgSOQDmA_IR0NGAbcx1FPT6_O6sOQ1vDg/s1600-h/n29411195_35098266_3391.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVflR9o2lKtJNu6hd1qt9yE15kiE6wMMqXuu9Y14N3b5ia_OGslEkb7xfmyXR_YWQfDwkfFuWsaqUCRGmvpfIMP2FbWccPL-phFT6-mDgSOQDmA_IR0NGAbcx1FPT6_O6sOQ1vDg/s400/n29411195_35098266_3391.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289315219952394482" /></a>Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-75802423788851524332009-01-05T18:15:00.006-06:002009-01-09T09:16:28.522-06:00The "L-Bomb" :)A quick glance at years past reveals that New Year's Eve has never been too exciting for me. I usually anticipate an amazing night and wind up disappointed. This year was different! Our group of friends here in the Springs decided to go to Cowboys... a club which, as the name implies, plays country music and encourages line dancing. Hoorah! <br /><br />We started the evening by tacking an exhaustive list of restaurants in Colorado Springs to the refrigerator and taking turns tossing a green marker at it to narrow down our options. In case you're confused it's quite logical really... whatever restaurant the marker left a print on would be added to the list of options. After a lot of giggling, we finally wrote the name of the restaurant we all wanted to go to in HUGE letters at the bottome of the list, then threw the marker until we hit it. <br /><br />After a great dinner we split up into our various vehicles and headed for Cowboys. During the drive I was talking passionately with Steve about a situation I felt was unjust, and what we should do about it. He was trying to get a word in edgewise and I just wouldn't let him do so. After one particulary blatant interuption, Steve (who rarely gets frustrated), said... "GINNA." I stopped, suddenly realizing what I was doing. Not only that, but I also felt an overwhelming conviction that interrupting people is something I do a lot when I am worked up. Just that morning I had been praying that the Lord would reveal my flaws so that I can work on them. He was answering my prayer and I immediately proceeded to burst into tears. "Do I do that a lot?" I asked Steve through my sobs, while in my mind quickly making a list of everyone I know so that I could call and apologize for my rudeness. "Because I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT!" Steve very gently replied that though I can occasionally cut people off, he knew it was unintentional and emphasised that we all have things we need to work on. When he parked, he pulled me close to him and started to pray for me. When he finished (tears were still streaming down my cheeks) he took my face in his hands and said, "I love you." Oh boy, if that didn't really open the floodgates. It was completely unexpected! Granted, there have been many times in the last several months when I've seen love in his eyes and thought, "He loves me... why doesn't he just say it?" But he wanted to wait for the perfect time and was praying that God would show him when it came. <br /><br />Really there could not have been a better time for Steve to tell me what was in his heart. Since he chose to speak those wonderful words NOT at a time when I was feeling particularly love-able (in fact, I was feeling like scum) I truly knew that he meant it. I felt completely transparent before him and at the same time marvelously safe. In that moment I also felt God whispering His love to me and knew that I had been in this place of transparency and safety with God many times before. The times when I am convicted of the ugly sin in my life are quite often the times when I really <span style="font-style:italic;">hear</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">receive</span> God's love. They are also the times when I know without a shadow of a doubt that I don't deserve it. I know I don't deserve God's love, and I know I don't deserve Steve's love either. Both are indescribable showers of blessing for me... a very broken and flawed woman. Day by day God is healing the brokenness, and with His help I am working on the flaws. But what a wonderful thing to know in the middle of the journey that I am <span style="font-style:italic;">loved</span>. And so are YOU.<br /><br />P.S. After the balling slowed to a manageable stream, I also told Steve how much I love him. With all my heart.Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-54316126084716548052008-12-31T12:08:00.005-06:002009-01-01T02:54:24.335-06:00Happy New Year!!!With so much hype leading up to December 25th, it's always a let-down when the holiday festivities come to a rapid end. No more tinsel or bon bons, no more lights or "hustle and bustle", no more carols or mistletoe (boo). <br /><br />The eve of the new year always brings a wave of nostalgia as we reminisce about the year gone by. For me, 2008 was an emotional one! This year I was in 3 weddings, sang at another, and positively sobbed my way through my BFFs "surprise" wedding in June. Standing beside some of my closest friends as they tied the knot was an amazing thing. One of them (Rachel) is now expecting a baby! In July I knew it was time to leave Fargo, but where to go? A long road trip in August brought me through Colorado Springs, where I met Steve! Four months have already gone by, and I'm positively crazy about this man. <br /><br />Since it's been so long since I posted, here's a December recap. After finishing my nursing contract in Billings mid-December, I high-tailed it back to Fargo so I could spend the night with Sarah and Justin. The next day brought the first of many family Christmas celebrations, and the holidays were off to a great start. Two days were then spent snowed in with my family on the farm, enjoying the worst blizzard since 1997. We spent the day in our pajamas, playing games and making massive amounts of Christmas cookies. Even my dad got in on the frosting fun!! Then there was a flurry of lunches and sleep-overs with friends, seeing new babies and catching up. Somewhere during that week I got in a car accident... my "2nd annual". Hopefully the tradition will end there. Stupid ice!!! Steve FINALLY arrived on the 19th. We spent several days with my family and friends, then headed to Illinois (where he is from) on Christmas Eve. A candlelight service at his home church that night was a moment of peace amidst all of the hubbub. During the service the Lord reminded me of the reason we celebrate. So often I sing Christmas carols and neglect to actually ponder the words. But this year 'O Holy Night' caused tears to stream down my face. <br /><br />"Long lay the world, in sin and error pining<br />'til He appeared and the soul felt it's worth<br />A THRILL of HOPE, the weary world rejoices<br />For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn<br /><br />Fall on your knees<br />Oh hear the angel voices<br />O night divine<br />O night, when Christ was born<br /><br />Truly He taught us to love on another<br />His law is LOVE and His Gospel is PEACE<br />Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother<br />And in His name all oppression shall cease"<br /><br />These are not all the words, of course, but what beauty and wonder is captured in this song! Think of the thrill of the shepherds, who knew that the Savior of the world had just been born. Think of the hope of Mary and Joseph, as they held God's son in their arms. Here was the One to deliver them from sin!!! How rarely I fall on my knees in worship. Here is found the true reason for Christmas. It isn't Santa Claus, or buying things or even all of the time with family (though that is wonderful). The reason is Jesus! He was and continues to be the greatest gift the world will ever know. <br /><br />Meeting Steve's family and playing with his nieces and nephews... Autumn, Caden, Kenzie and Nathaniel... was just awesome! Time passed too quickly and we didn't want to leave. But as quickly as it began, "poof", Christmas was gone. A highlight of our time in Illinois was when Steve took me to see the Broadway musical "Wicked" in Chicago. It was INCREDIBLE!!! If you ever get the chance to see it, you really must. <br /><br />Anyway, as of a few days ago I am comfortably moved to Colorado Springs and have two roommates... Alecia and her dog, Opie. I'm enjoying time off and job hunting. I'll enjoy my time off a little bit more once I have a job nailed down... I think it will be soon, but time will tell. <br /><br />At the brink of year's end, I am most thankful for the mercy of God in all things. Though I neglect Him, He continues to pursue me. Though I put my own needs before the needs of others far too often, He speaks gently to do better. He reminds me that He came not to be served, but to serve. My only "resolution" for 2009 is to fight for more of Him every single day. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:24</span><br /><br />HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!!!!Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-6467929107763945532008-11-04T22:09:00.002-06:002008-11-19T17:15:01.172-06:00Yeah Team World Vision!<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamworldvision/2978484833/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/2978484833_679d50cb35.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamworldvision/2978484833/">Chicago Marathon 2008,Yeah Team!</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/teamworldvision/">Team World Vision</a>.</span></div><p>In only 3 short years, Team World Vision has grown from 50 participants in 2006, 500 in 2007 and over 1000 in 2008!</p>Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10073987.post-3447581488938661842008-11-04T22:04:00.002-06:002008-11-04T22:12:30.316-06:00Photo from the Death Run :)<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamworldvision/2979315804/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2979315804_593fa8b70f.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamworldvision/2979315804/">Chicago Marathon 2008</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/teamworldvision/">Team World Vision</a>.</span></div><p></p>Ginnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122907736034723560noreply@blogger.com0